Deserted

The Whispering Badlands

Seriously, I'm cool with waiting. You all are writing some seriously well-written posts. I don't think it is a good point for introduction at this time. It seems rather rushed to me.

The Whispering Badlands

“That was a close one,” Emmett spoke softly in a whisper to himself as self-talking was a habit for him. But it was safe as camp stood far behind him at this point. He headed to the nearest tree he last sighted.

@FetzenSetting is outside of camp, dude. =) We've also had this for a week, so we are probably pretty used to camp noise. I guess I'm saying that I don't have a reason for Rook to be awake or active at this point.

The Whispering Badlands

Rook is probably unaware what's going on just yet, or is too far from it to really be involved in the setting, so I'm going to wait for either time to pass or to have someone wake him.

The Whispering Badlands

Rook Warde

Age:42 | Role:Lead Explorer | Reason for being here: His lifelong dream

Character Relationships

Friends ☺ | Romantic Interest ♥ | Neutral ◑ | Friends with benefits/flirtation/together ♥♥ | Enemies ☠

◑☺Emmett Warde II☺◑

"Time to taste the world."
He could probably achieve anything he wants, especially when he crawls out of feeling like he has to prove himself to everyone. Doubly so once we restore The Hand.

I doubt he believes me about any of this. He was the most moody youth, and now that his body has slowed growing he can get his head on straight. He’ll probably go back to brooding in a tavern until his body and mind are spent for good. I’d better make sure we actually achieve something on this expedition, so that he doesn’t feel a failure.

☺☠Othen Perelyn☠☺

"The man is a storm."
He’s a little odd. I cannot say exactly what he would do with his success. But he was available and on our side. I’ve been working for a while to collect his talents. I am much relieved he is along. He is exactly what I need for my gaps in knowledge of surviving the badlands. I think we will do well together. Just... wish he didn’t look like poop.

I bet he will be offended should we encounter distinguished guests and I ask him to bathe.

☠Rook Warde☠

"No sinister a villain have I ever known."
I kind of wish I cared more about the people on my expedition more than the treasures and glory ahead. Trying to care, not really succeeding. I guess ‘kind of’ will have to do for now. I feel terrible about it, but it appears to be my nature.

☺☠Floure Camlo☠☺

“A lion in the grass"
The front of a delicate flower. She’s no more helpless than a cactus in this desert. She seems to have done a spectacular job at pulling the wool over most of the eyes of the expedition. But what healer willingly tags along into the Badlands without qualm, and what delicate creature could possibly be bred from a traveling troupe? I think should she vanish while out here, we should find her doing quite well without us.

Now, if only there were some to prevent her from stealing our treasures and leaving us with nothing. I’m pretty sure she would do it more out of the sport than the need. Two can play the game and she is a rookie. I must confess that I have far more than her at gaining the upper hand in this game.

☺☠ Grace O'Faolain☠☺

"Confuses the devil out of me"
She holds nothing in reserve, save for the Rasmus Map, which is the one thing that she would do well to be rid of. I believe that I like her quite a bit, since she offers insight not regularly within my thoughts. It is remarkably convenient for me, I don’t even need to ask, I just need to point the conversation in the direction I want, and she will handle the rest.

Of course, this is going to be a problem as she runs her mouth to every slaver and caravan we encounter. While there is no secret that treasure hunters enter the badlands, not everyone needs to be insulted in the process. I might have to hang her out to dry when she turns this into an invasion and liberation from the Bonedry Slavers, instead of staying focused on our task at hand.

☺☠Cillian O’Houlihan☠☺

"He makes me uneasy"
He makes me uneasy. Good. He could scare half of the wildlife out here with a mere look, and the other half should he bludgeon a predator to death with his bear hands. It is always more successful to surround yourself by the most dangerous people you can find. I can see that below his quiet exterior is a crafting mind... again, he makes me uneasy. Better to stay too close for his hostilities to lash out against me and pointed to the opposition.

Of course, he is a bit of a fool, taking risks just because he gets a thrill from it. He’s probably going to die out here by an infection in his leg that prevents him from walking... just like Riggor, Colin, Colin Jr., Norelle, and a few others that expired on my expeditions. Oh well, I shall toss his name on the pile when the time comes.

The Whispering Badlands

Where exactly did we gather? Just for reference that is. Some little dusty town on the fringe of the badlands, or is there a city of larger proportions perhaps farther away?

I would say it depends on your character. If you want them a real bad-ass, then he would have probably tracked you down and set up his rumor mill to draw you in. If your character is a nobody, he probably didn't really have to look very far. (You could have a chance encounter just about anywhere, and we could just say that it was en-rout to pick up one of our more glorious members.) Likewise, if nobody particularly wants to be famous or adept, we can have it be a short search and just have them lurking at the edge of the badlands.

Fae Courtis: The Wylde Hunt

Eleven? Wow, no thanks, I will get lost in the crowd.

The Whispering Badlands

So, since we are jumping in the middle, I think it important to point out how Rook recruits.

The Recruitment

Rather than tracking down any individual (save for Emmet, who just got a "Get your stuff, we're heading to the Badlands.") he allowed the individual to come to him. It came a buzz of rumors and hearsay and exposure that Rook was the fast-track to solve problems, get glory, or feed the family... for those who don't mind the threat of getting killed in the process. It was like one of those peer-pressure challenges that people find themselves talking about even though they have no interest in the subject. To a number of people, they swear that a level of destiny was pushing them together. His nephew could vouch, however, that it was nothing of the sort. How exactly it worked remained befuddling. But what was certain was that it was all under the control of Rook, and rarely did he walk away without acquiring the talent (if not specific individual) that he had written in a list earlier.

The recruitment was odd as well. Whereas nobles would enter with fanfare and have a line of potential candidates clear down the street that they slowly eliminated one by one (or on occasion large populations without consideration.) His was hardly even an interview. When someone entered, after expressing their interest, they would often try to sell themselves, plead, persuade, or rationalize. Their attempt was usually interrupted by Rook, who would explain. "I only need three questions answered...
First, it is very perilous to go on this journey. Your own exaggeration of skill, or lack of commitment could get us all killed. Even if you are loyal and accurate, we may all still die. Are you aware of this?

Secondly, is there anything I need to know about that could endanger the team?"

After asking these two and receiving a satisfactory answer he would start working out the meeting places and needed equipment. If asked what the third question was, he would look as if it were obvious. "Third question speaks for itself. Are you ready?"

From the front, this was sheer insanity. Rook could wind up with any crazy fool tagging along. However, from the inner workings of his nephew was able to observe that Rook was anything but disinterested in his team. Hours, days, and sometimes months of research had been poured into finding people just the right fit. Even before they knew that they were wanting to go with him, he often had a name, reputation, witnesses, and references who told him what he wanted to know without realizing that they had been interviewed or that he had been "asking questions about so-and-so." So natural were the conversations, that at first Emmet thought it was casual conversation to kill time. It was nothing of the sort.

Upon clarification in a written document. It made it very clear more for the relatives and friends of the expedition that each member was doing this of their own free will and because they thought it was a good idea. There was always an equal share of treasures and glory, it was divided up in equal portions. 1 share per member, no favorites. The only restriction was if a member willfully chose to jeopardize the mission, or depart from the leadership (Which by definition was NOT deemed to be Rook, but established him as default should other leadership not arise.) Even then someone could return (assuming the task had not been completed) with the exception of if they did not resolve their error or it had resulted in the death of one or more of the team. This was considered a willful withdraw from the contract, and the lot in question would be divided into additional shares among the loyal members, or had there been loss of life, distributed to the next of kin to compensate for the loss. If anybody died without fault of any person in the team, then their share would be distributed to the next-of-kin even if a single member returned.

These were written on parchment 4 copies for each member (including Rook, just like he were on equal footing with the rest.) One batch was wrapped in oiled cloth, and sealed in the local church. One copy became public record, just in case someone deserted and returned to town. These also came with a sketch of the member. The other two copies were given to the team-members, one to be held on their person, the other to be held by their next-of-kin.

Fae Courtis: The Wylde Hunt

How many active players do you have right now?

The Whispering Badlands

Is the last character a player or an NPC?

Never mind, I keep seeing the ooc before the rest of the postings.

The Whispering Badlands

So that's all of the characters. That means it's story time!

Story... story... story...

@MacabreFox@beyond visions@Fetzen@dreamingflowersCome on everybody, let's get the chant rolling

Story... Story... Story...