Diexsmiling

Forgotten Realms

@shivershiver Awesome, well written bio that I really enjoyed reading. Officially approved!

His drinking abilities are balanced nicely, although I would say the stat changes are a bit modest. Still, they can stack with the default alterations I had planned already. For example, an average man might gain 1 strength from drinking an ale, but Merek could gain another +1 on top of that, essentially making the effects more potent. Overall I like the idea.

I will be expanding further on the impact of statistics on the OOC frontpage, so I suggest everyone takes a look at it every now and then to make sure they're all caught up.

YOU WANT BLOOD? - DARTEGA VS. ZANDE

@Doc Doctor

The spray of venom was absolutely unexpected, and although Dartega possessed lightning fast reflexes, he could never have been prepared for such an underhanded tactic. By the time he realized what was happening, the mist had already blasted him in the face and seeped into his eyes. It was definitely painful, and the thought of kicking the jungle man into his own fire instantly vanished from his mind.

He staggered backward slightly before regaining his composure and entering into his combat stance. Although the venom might be excruciatingly painful for an ordinary man, it was actually something Dartega was quite accustomed to, and after just a few seconds he opened his eyes again. The demons from his past had done their job well, providing brutal punishments and even torturing those who resisted their dominance. Compared to that, this was quite bearable.

Most importantly, he had learned something valuable about his opponent. Obviously, not just any bandit would have prepared such a devious and cunning attack. Zande was well trained, skilled, and probably had many more tricks up his sleeve. He was exactly the type of opponent that Dartega had always despised fighting. The high price for the contract was beginning to make sense, and from now on he would be much more careful.

At this point, it would be wise to call upon the power of his demon blades. The sooner he could finish the jungle man off, the better. Softly, he whispered the words of power to his blades in the demon tongue. "Zasalamel... Inguz Mahadar Nu Kanta... Mobidir!" When the invocation was finished, K'Girr erupted in flames and Bozar glowed red hot. The conjuring of their power would send a wave of heat outward in all directions, possibly even singeing the jungle man unless he had something prepared.

Now Dartega was prepared to engage Zande with his full potential, and with a much different state of mind. Despite the character's less than honorable strategy, he was still dangerous and would be granted the respect he probably deserved as an enemy combatant.

YOU WANT BLOOD? - DARTEGA VS. ZANDE

@Doc Doctor

At this point, Dartega felt as though he was simply wasting time. Obviously, he hadn't come to drink and eat rabbit. If this Zande character wished to defend himself with a cheap bottle of rum and a pointy stick, then so be it.

Casually, he pulled K'Girr from it's sheath and began striding forward, a blade now in both hands. The time for nonsense was over. A swift and powerful front kick straight into the fire would do the job, he thought. And it would even save him the trouble of cleaning blood from his blades afterwards.

Now standing nearly face to face with the wild man, he lifted a greaved knee to his chest and prepared to place a well aimed kick upon the center of Zande's torso.

YOU WANT BLOOD? - DARTEGA VS. ZANDE

@Doc Doctor

Rum? Incredibly tempting. Dartega was absolutely caught off guard by the figure's response, although he didn't show it. For a few brief moments, he actually thought about taking up Zande's offer. To share a simple moment of peace, drinking and eating by a fire. He might even be able to learn a thing or two about his enemy, as well. He seemed like a friendly enough character, a decent human being.

It didn't matter though. Dartega was there for one reason, and that was to kill. He was even disappointed in himself for the brief moment of hesitation. "Shut the f*ck up, you goddamn clown. Draw your weapons!" He shouted, pulling Bozar from it's sheath and pointing it at his target. He wanted a fair battle, man versus man, grit versus grit. That was simply his style, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm cutting your head off and taking it with me." He continued, in case his purpose wasn't clear enough yet.

Forgotten Realms

Overview/Guidelines

This page is meant to contain an explanation of the guidelines and mechanics for the RP. It includes helpful information and knowledge that should be taken into consideration by your character wherever they travel. The idea is to add some depth and structure to the RP while also leaving open as much opportunity as possible for creativity.

Basic Mechanics

Basic Mechanics:

-Sleep
-Hunger
-Thirst

Every character in the roleplay, unless specifically specified otherwise, should remember to occasionally eat, drink, and sleep. Exactly how often will of course depend on the character and their situation. For example, if a character had just spent an entire day hiking up a mountain, they'll probably be hungry. Exactly how you handle the situation, of course, is entirely up to you. Perhaps your character is a mage and they prefer to cast a spell to fill their belly. Or maybe your character possesses a ring that makes them less hungry and eat less often. These examples are both fine, and you are free to come up with your own creative solutions, just as long as you keep in mind your character's status. If these things are neglected, it will likely have negative consequences for the character.

Statistics

Statistics

Statistics serve as a baseline for what every character is capable of. Every stat is gauged on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being considered extremely low, 5 being average, and a 10 being almost legendary. Whenever a stat alters a portion of the story in the RP, the related effects will be highlighted in the corresponding stat's color. For example, if a character spots a trap in the corner of their eye because they have adequate perception, the dialogue will be highlighted in yellow. If a character is able to identify a certain item because they have adequate intelligence, the dialogue will be highlighted in blue. This makes it very clear and easy to see where a character's stat has either given them an advantage or disadvantage.

-Strength = Red
-Perception = Yellow
-Endurance = Orange
-Charisma = Purple
-Intelligence = Blue
-Agility = Green
-Luck = Silver

Terrain and Travel

Terrain and Travel

Terrain has a major impact on characters and the RP in general. The environment a character is in can affect them in various different ways. For example, a character travelling through a blizzard or tundra will have their strength and perception reduced, especially if they are poorly equipped. Likewise, travelling through a murky swamp will take it's toll on a character's endurance, and there will also be an increased risk of disease. Therefore, characters should always think wisely and properly prepare for the environment they will find themselves in. The kingdom of Gadabastia spans an entire continent, and travel from city to city could take many days, if not weeks depending on the landscape. The stat that most dominantly affects a character's ability to travel over various types of terrain is agility.

Traps

Traps

The forbidden realms are a dangerous land, and throughout your character's journey they will undoubtedly encounter many different types of traps. These traps can have a wide variety of effects, but all of them have the potential to severely harm your character. Some traps might simply inflict damage, others might grant negative status effects, and the more elaborate and skillfully crafted traps can do both. Spotting and potentially avoiding a trap depends largely upon how well it is designed and the perception of your character.

Items and Artifacts

Items and Artifacts

Below is a list of items and artifacts, along with their description and how they work within forbidden realms.

-Weapons and Armor
Weapons and armor are forged from various materials found throughout the kingdom. All materials have an intrinsic property called "essence", which affect whatever is created with them. For example, a blade created from the bones of an ice wyvern would be extremely powerful against anything with a flame affinity, such as a lava troll. There are limitless combinations of materials and essence, which makes forging an extremely valuable and nearly impossible skill to master. The most important stat for equipping weapons is strength and the most important stat for equipping armor is endurance.

-Scrolls
Scrolls are magical items imbued by wizards that are capable of casting different spells. They can only be used once before the magic within the scroll is depleted and it crumbles to dust. Unlike traditional magic, anyone can simply read a scroll and use it, making it valuable but also very dangerous in the wrong hands. The wizard imbuing the scroll must have the proper materials, a complete understanding of the spell, and a tremendous amount of energy. A character's ability to imbue scrolls is also directly related to their intelligence.

-Potions
Potions can have a very wide variety of effects, depending on the ingredients used to make them. Some potions are best when consumed by the user, granting increased strength, healing, or clarity of mind. Others can be used as poisons on weaponry or be thrown at enemies as a weapon themselves. There are still many more, however, with different uses that can only be made by the best alchemists. It is a very difficult skill, considering that the addition of one wrong ingredient can have disastrous results. The chances of successfully creating a potion are largely dependent upon a character's intelligence and luck.

-Artifacts
Artifacts are entirely unique and incredibly powerful items. They are very rare and normally closely guarded, with a wide variety of effects. Some are capable of teleporting entire armies, and others capable of destroying them. Whoever has the most artifacts generally has the most influence in the realm, although there are a few exceptions. Using an artifact can require practically any combination of stats and skills.

Secrets

Secrets

Although this page contains a lot of useful information, there is still so much that can only be learned IC. All throughout the land are hidden shortcuts, items, characters, and quests that can dramatically alter the story. The best way to find the rarest items and treasure is by actually exploring the realm and looking in the right places. Having connections and being diplomatic are some of the best ways to learn about these secrets, which makes having a high charisma particularly desirable.

Forgotten Realms

Sounds great to me. Also, I do plan to create a cover page for the OOC section, which will have a whole lot of new information about the RP. It's going to include explanations for things like travel, food and eating, environmental factors, items, artifacts, and a bunch of other miscellanous topics. My goal is to add depth and mechanics to the RP, while also leaving free as much room as possible for creativity. Think of it as a sort of foundation, or guideline for the story that we can build on. If anybody has any suggestions, questions or topics they would like to see covered, feel free to let me know.

YOU WANT BLOOD? - DARTEGA VS. ZANDE

It had been a week or so since Dartega had accepted the bounty hunter contract for the wild man, Zande. How ironic, he thought, that a bounty hunter would have a price placed on their own head. Still, Dartega didn't care much for the details or the background of the contract. He needed gold to continue his mission, and it was as simple as that. Combat was all he knew, and although he was no expert tracker, the price on the contract would be more than enough to pay for new supplies and continue on his journey.

Luckily for him, a few travellers happened to see a character that matched the description of Zande moving toward the torched wastes just a couple of days ago. At last he had a lead. There wasn't much of a trail to follow, but he thanked them for the information and carried on. Little did they know of the dark deeds Dartega had planned to carry out.

At last, he arrived at his destination. It was no glorious place to be, but Dartega was used to this sort of environment, and of course had been to places much worse. Squinting his eyes, he scanned the area looking for his target. The smoke obscured his vision slightly, but in the distance he saw what appeared to be a human figure, sitting by a small fire. As quietly as possible, he moved to about thirty paces from the figure.

Although he was trained to kill since he was just a boy, he was also raised by a strict code of honor and discipline. Without trying any sort of stealthy attack, he wanted to confirm that the target was who he appeared to be. If at all possible, he wished to avoid shedding innocent blood. All he really needed was a better look at the figure to match the description, and then he could carry out the contract.

"Zande!" He called out, smoke swirling about his armored figure with flames behind him. His two demon blades, K'Girr and Bozar, were still sheathed on his back, ready to be drawn in a split second. With keen interest, he awaited the figure's reaction...

YOU WANT BLOOD? - DARTEGA VS. ZANDE

Dartega

Dartega

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 195 lb

Age: 22

Race/Species: Human

Appearance:

Without his helmet, Dartega has long black hair and maintains a clean shave. There's always a very serious composure on his face, probably due to his grim history and the nature of the duty he feels he must carry out. A wicked looking scar pierces vertically across his right eye and halfway down his cheeck. Despite his seemingly cold, hard gaze, there is a hint of warmth and emotion buried deep within him that only the most perceptive might see. His build is tall and lean and his physical condition is exceptional, aside from having many scars across his back from lashings that he always keeps concealed.

Personality: There is little Dartega thinks about aside from his dark past and the goals he has for the future. Although he is not averse to humor and merrymaking, he generally avoids being the center of attention. He is consumed by his sense of duty to become faster, stronger, and smarter, and only spends his time relaxing when he's recovering from training. His usual daily habits include working out, practicing his techniques, and preparing himself mentally for battles to come. As a whole, his life has become dedicated to the art of war.

Abilities, Talents, Traits, Powers:
His many years spent as a slave and countless lashings have granted him a tolerance to pain far greater than that of an average man. Having spent a majority of his life around demons, he also possesses a basic understanding of their ancient language, and is able to use their weapons and artifacts. Since he was a boy he was taught to show no fear, to fight aggressively and furiously, and to be prepared to meet his end at any moment. His skill with blades and his martial arts techniques are prodigal, and even at his young age he is able to stand toe to toe with those who have dedicated their entire lives to the craft. He has transformed the essence of his being, his very mind and body, into an exquisitely crafted weapon.

Items/Equipment: A full suit of high quality, black plate armor over a set of chainmail. The chestplate has cruel looking spikes protruding from the shoulders and back to help deter and punish would be adversaries. Spikes also pierce menacingly outward from his knuckles and greaves to deliver knees and punches, respectively.

Sheathed on his back are two demonblades, K'Girr and Bozar, named after the demons that were slain to empower them. K'Girr, his broadsword, is a wider and heavier blade forged to brutally cleave through anything in it's path. When it's words of power are spoken in the demon tongue, it becomes engulfed in flames that burn all but it's wielder.

Bozar, on the other hand, is a shortsword forged for speed and efficiency, and is far more maneuverable. When it's powers are invoked it becomes red hot and is capable of melting through just about anything, with enough time.

Both are covered in dimly glowing runes, and radiate the demonic power imprisoned within them. These powers come at a price, however, and drain the very life essence of their wielder when used.

History:

History

Raised in a warrior village near the border of the outlands, Dartega lived a harsh life from the beginning. His father, Antidas, was his best mentor and began training him to become a soldier when he was just a boy, as was tradition in the village. The first time he picked up a sword, he was only five years old. His father was a stern man, hardened from years of battle, and was very serious about his training. Bordering the Outlands meant that their village was the first line of defense against the demon kingdom Gyr'adur. Although the demon sovereignty had never officially declared war, there was always the chance of a raid by rogues who didn't necessarily owe their allegiance to any higher council. It was much the same threat as human bandits and thieves on their own side of the border. And to top it all off, there was still the occasional trouble with trolls and other wild beasts.

Even though the village was constantly threatened, it had survived so many years for a reason. It produced some of the finest quality warriors in the kingdom, and battle was their specialty. Dartega never questioned his destiny, either. When his father began training him, he trained hard and learned all he possibly could with a quiet focus. His mother, Katessa, was the source of tenderness within the family, and always made sure he ate well and was healthy. Despite the harsh, barren wasteland that Dartega was raised in, and despite having very little in the way of material wealth, the greatest advantage he did have was parents that raised him well.

"You will make for a great warrior some day, my son," his father would say as he tucked him into bed at night after a hard day's work. "This, I know for sure. What's more important, though, is that you become a great man as well."

"I will father. I'll be just like you some day!" Dartega replied with a smile, the young determination evident in his voice and eyes. His father even passed him a grin back.

"Don't set your standards so low, Dartega. Your fate has much more in store for you than the life of an old, wounded warrior. Now, get some rest. It will be an early day tomorrow." His father gripped his son's forearm firmly before leaving him to sleep.

By the time Dartega was 14 years old, he was already an incredibly skilled swordsman, and practiced by duelling the village blade master. His martial arts had improved drastically as well, and it was safe to say he was the pride of the village. After winning an arena combat tournament for his age group and even making it to the the semi finals for the age group above him, there was no doubt that there was something special about him. In a village of warriors, he was the most promising combatant they had seen in years. His peers admired him for his ferocity, the elders praised him as well, and even when presented with the prestigious golden lance medallion after winning the tournament, he continued to remain humble.

"Never let the failures get to your heart, my son. And never let the success get to your head." Dartega nodded, soaking in all the advice he could from his father before accepting the award. It would soon be time for him to officially become a soldier in the village, at the age of 16. It was a high honor, and signified his passing from boyhood into manhood. His mother could hardly contain her excitement, and even his father looked forward to the day with a gleam in his eyes. Little did they know, that day would never come. Only a few months after being awarded the medallion, a burning meteor storm devastated the entire village from out of nowhere.

Chaos ensued afterwards as the villagers rushed through the streets and the soldiers grabbed their weapons. Despite being well trained and disciplined, they were still caught off guard. Meteors continued to barrage the village from all directions, destroying everything. "This cannot be natural. It is the work of demon magic," Antidas spoke, demonstrating his wisdom. "Men! Follow me!" He roared, charging out into the storm and rallying the village warriors. Although not yet recognized officially as a soldier, Dartega put on his gear and followed.

Outside, a horde of various different demons was rapidly approaching the village, with the obvious intent to lay waste to their homes. Among them, a larger and seemingly more powerful demon raised it's staff in the air to halt the firestorm. The damage had already been done, and the village had been consumed by a raging inferno. A cruel smile possessed of wicked, sharpened teeth formed upon the creatures visage as it gazed upon the destruction. "Form a wall, watch the flank!" Shouted Antidas, gritting his teeth and preparing for what would inevitably be a bloody and terrible battle. Seamlessly, Dartega formed up with the other village warriors, entirely prepared to do what he had trained to do his entire life.

Moments later, the horde of demons smashed violently into the defensive position of the village warriors, erupting in chaotic and frenzied fighting. From that point forward, everything was a blur. The blood of both men and demons streamed into the air as swords and axes clashed together. At first, it was very evenly matched. Antidas wove through the demon horde with great skill and fervor, slashing through their ranks with his greatsword. The other soldiers as well as Dartega followed valiantly in step, fighting for their homes, their families, and their very lives. The demon raiders would pay a very heavy price this day for attacking a simple village.

After heavy losses on both sides, the demon with the staff stepped forward. With a brief channel, the demon cast a bolt of green lightning with a flash at Antidas. The bolt blasted a hole through his chest and armor, burning him and knocking him back and onto the ground unconscious. Upon seeing this, Dartega skillfully fought his way to the demon mage as quickly as he could. The Warriors continued fighting ruthlessly, but without commands their ranks were beginning to fall apart. Dartega got as close to the mage as he could without being seen, and with vengeance in his heart, lunged forward with his blade. Some invisible barrier deflected his strike, and with unnatural speed the demon mage cracked him with it's staff, knocking him out as well.

When Dartega awoke, he found heavy iron cuffs attached around his wrists and ankles. A single chain bound him and the other survivors together, and their armor and weapons were gone. Many of them were still badly wounded from the battle. After keeping his voice low and speaking to the others, he discovered that they had been sold into slavery and would soon be marching through the Outlands. It was a long and arduous journey, with little food and water and no time to rest. The steady cracking of the demon whips marched the prisoners forward. It was a sound that would soon torment the minds of the prisoners in ways they never before could comprehend.

Eventually they arrived at the obsidian fortress, where they were forced to work in the mines. The work was constant, seemingly unending, as they eventually lost track of day and night. Anyone who fell asleep was lashed and put in the stocks, until they had completely lost their will. Dartega had no idea where his family was, until one day he saw his father put in the stocks as well. Carefully, he left his work area and made his way to the stocks, trying to avoid being seen by the demon slavers. "My... my son..." said Antidas, now barely clinging to life. His chest was still severely injured and his back had been brutally lashed.

"I... I tried to resist... to revolt. So.. they put me here. They think they can take my heart. But... they never could, and they never will. I may die here, but they will never... take my heart. You have the same gift, Dartega. You will lead the villagers to freedom. I... believe in you..."

"But... but father... you're not going anywhere. You're still alive. We will make it out of here together. We can do this..." spoke Dartega, devastated to see his mighty father in such terrible condition but trying to conceal it.

"Enough of this." A deep, powerful voice bellowed out from a demon as it unfurled it's wings and jumped down from a balcony carved of stone. The demon had been watching from above the mining pit the entire time. The creature pulled out it's whip and lashed Dartega, in front of his father's eyes.

"Don't give in, Dartega. With all your heart... Never give in..." Antidas spoke, with every ounce of strength he had left. Dartega resisted as long as he could, but eventually collapsed to the ground. The demon pulled out a cruel, curved dagger and began striding toward his father, helpless in the stocks. The last vision Dartega would have before fading into the unconscious again, would be of his father's throat being sliced open by the demon.

Dartega awoke to find a bitter hatred inside himself, for all demonkind. Although he knew not all demons were the same as the slavers, he couldn't help it. They fed him his father's rations as well like it was some sort of twisted joke. Instead of eating them, however, he split them among the other prisoners and began plotting a rebellion. He would finish what his father had started, or die trying. Eventually, word of a mysterious red powder made it's way to him. One of the other villagers had found it while mining, and together they uncovered what it really was. Zaudite, a magical powder with many uses, that when properly activated became an explosive. The goal became clear: they would need to collect enough powder to make a bomb, bait the demons down into the pit again, and set off the device. Afterward, they could take their keys and weapons and free everyone in the fortress.

It was a very bold plan, but still Dartega convinced everyone that it would work. The villagers began collecting the magic powder, but it was a slow process, and they needed to be careful to avoid being caught. It would take a few years to collect enough to create a formidable weapon. During this time, Dartega found a way to eavesdrop on the demons that watched from the balcony. He discovered that the one who killed his father was named Graahl, and knew that one day he would seek revenge. He also learned that the entire slave business being carried out inside the obsidian fortress was highly illegal, even among the demon sovereignty. The most important thing he learned though, over the years, was how to speak in the demon tongue. This would allow him to use their weapons and equipment to their fullest potential, and aid in his grand escape.

The years also brought countless lashings for he and the other villagers. The slavers were relentless, and demanded nothing other than complete and total obedience. It was extremely difficult to keep the plot a secret and stay organized, but it was their only hope, and they clung to it desperately. Dartega most of all, for if his plan failed, the blood of all the remaining villagers would be on his hands. His father had not died in vain.

At long last, the bomb was ready. They only had one, so they would need to make it count. It was carefully hidden by the stocks, and covered with shrapnel. Dartega went to the usual spot he would hide to eavesdrop and waited to set the device off. The rest of the villagers formed up in the middle of the pit and began faking a brawl, to lure the slavers down from the balcony. Almost too perfectly, the slavers jumped down from their perch and immediately the crowd of villagers dispersed to take cover, knowing what would come next. It was the moment they had been waiting years for.

The bomb went off, blasting shrapnel toward the demons and completely obliterating them. The entire fortress rumbled, shaking loose a few rocks from the ceiling of the pit. Afterwards, the villagers rushed any slavers that had survived, and quickly overwhelmed them. Dartega swarmed in as well, searching for the keys and a weapon, before stumbling upon Graahl in the chaos. The demon lay on the brink of death, it's legs having been completely blown off and it's body savagely burned. "You... you have already failed... I see the hatred in your heart..." it said to Dartega as he approached, coughing up blood through it's sharpened teeth.

"No. It's you that has failed," Dartega replied, pulling the demon's own curved dagger from it's sheath. "Now, look into my eyes, and witness oblivion," he said, driving the blade mercilessly into the demon's throat. Finally, he had his vengeance.

He rushed out of the pit with the rest of the villagers, unlocking any cells that they passed by. After many years of torture in the mining pits, the villagers once more tasted fresh air as they escaped from the obsidian fortress. It was by far the most exciting day of their lives, but there was no time to celebrate. Everyone was still malnourished and wounded, and eventually more demons would make their way to the obsidian fortress. Together, they decided to go back to the village and see if anything was left.

They arrived to find that their once great, warrior village was completely destroyed, with only a few piles of rubble remaining. With the few survivors there was, they would either have to start fresh again or journey to the center of the kingdom, and hope that nowhere else had been attacked. Some stayed, wanting to restore the village to it's former glory, while others went their separate ways, hoping to find a better life elsewhere in the kingdom. Everyone thanked Dartega for helping them escape, but he knew it wasn't over. He still needed to find his mother, who he hadn't seen in years. He didn't know if she was even still alive, but he was determined to find out. First, he would need to gather some equipment, which meant he would be travelling toward the center of the kingdom as well.

Perhaps someday, he would return to find his once mighty warrior village had been restored. For now though, he was destined to return to the Outlands in search of his mother. There were a few blades he managed to scavenge before leaving the fortress, and hopefully he could get a fair price for them. Any demons he encountered in the future on his journey, he vowed to slay. The torture and torment they had caused him and his people would forever scar his heart.

After saying his final farewell to the remaining people, he gathered what little he could and set off toward the center of the kingdom. There he would buy supplies and equipment for his return to the Outlands. What else the future had in store for him, he had yet to find out...

Forgotten Realms

We are going to be starting soon but there's still room for more players if anyone is interested! The more the merrier haha

Forgotten Realms

We are still accepting players, and anyone can feel free to start posting in the IC section. I just assumed that once a character was approved, they would start posting haha. Maybe I should have said something sooner or gave an official start. Sorry about that, I'm still sort of new to this. Anyway, whoever wants to start posting IC can just go for it! I still have a ton of ideas for this RP that I can't wait to post