IAmTheIsland

To Hold Back The Dark

Nope. Just me moving my character over.

To Hold Back The Dark

Erik Elfhame Ostreicher V

---

26-6’2”-Mistmoor

Light Bearer

---

Personality:

• Diligent
  
  
  
  • Erik is nothing if not a hardworker. Dedicated to the pursuit of his chosen crafts, and loyal to the tasks placed upon him, he rarely abandons his work before completion. This often comes at the expense of a normalized social life, as he prefers to spend his idle time putting in extra work, whether tending to a small detail he might have missed in a prior task, or simply supplemental time to practice one thing or another.
• Self-Critical
  
  
  
  • You’ll almost never find anyone as quick to critique Erik as quickly as Erik himself. When he’s not actively engaged in something, he is reflecting on what he has done, and analyzing his own efforts several times over. More often than not, he finds a flaw in his prior actions or inactions, and is likely to labor on those mistakes until he can demonstrably do better. It can be hard to pull him out of this headspace, and he often waves aside efforts to assure him that he did or is doing just fine.
• Load-Bearing
  
  
  
  • As a knight charged with the defense of his city, Erik is one to shoulder great burdens and pressures, especially those associated with his purpose at hand. He frequently assumes responsibility for a great many things. He is one to stretch himself thin; at times he forgets that there are others that [would] share his burden if only he would allow them to.

---

History: Born and raised within the mountainous landscape of Mistmoor, Erik is descended from a long line of blademasters. Over no less than six generations, the Ostreicher family had lived and died by their swords. At least as far back as Erik’s great-great-grandfather, the family had been among the warriors, soldiers, and knights that directly defended Mistmoor. Starting with his grandfather, the family was also responsible for the training of the next generations of baldewielders, having done so in the service of several noble lines.

Needless to say, Erik was born with a great deal to live up to. He has carried a sword at his side since his hand could first grip a hilt; some joke that he could barely lift the swords he was given… others retort that it would have made for good conditioning if he had. Such banter aside, his upbringing meant that he was constantly being pushed on grounds of physical, mental, and spiritual attributes. His grandfather and his father afterwards proved hard taskmasters and tough teachers. Erik would describe having been worked to the bone to condition himself to one day take up his family’s mantle as a protector of Mistmoor; at times, his training may have bordered on abuse, with perfection being demanded at all times.

Since his father and grandfather frequently instructed both soldiers and nobles alike in the arts of combat, Erik has brushed shoulders with many within the city’s upper echelon. He has taken his place at the forefront of Mistmoor’s defensive walls.

---

Spells and Abilities:

• Spirit Charge.
  
  
  
  • Erik draws from a pooled reserve of magic to flow directly into his body, amplifying his physical prowess for a short period. Using magic in this manner strains the human body, as the physical essence of a being cannot process energy from beyond so easily. Erik cannot sustain this state for very long. Nor can he use it in rapid succession. Excessive reliance on this ability can lead to fatigue, and possibly even death.
• Aura Pulse
  
  
  
  • Erick projects an energized aura that can ward off foes, and even block against attacks. The potency of an Aura Pulse is dependent on how wide an area Erik attempts to cover with it. Its effective range is within a ten foot radius, but maintaining a closer range enables it to create a more formidable barrier.
• Uncanny Prowess
  
  
  
  • Erik’s abilities in combat are commendable to say the least. Perhaps not always the mightiest in strength, or the quickest in his footwork, his surety, awareness, and technical form stand among the elites among those standing against the Darkness.

---

Weapons or Tools:

• Aleathen Edge
  
  
  
  • Erik’s primary weapon in combat is a single-handed European-style sword. A 30-inch blade, maintained to pristine condition, glowing with pearly aura, handled from a gold plated hilt that seems to never stain. Erik’s is a blade of long history as one from the early ages of Darkness when the Goddess Aleathen first intervened. The Aleathen Edge was blessed by the Goddess herself, at least they say, making it both significantly more durable and resistant than others like it, and uniquely effective, especially against the hordes of Darkness.
• Light Forge Shield
  
  
  
  • A Heater style shield, large enough to cover the whole of Erik’s torso from waist to chest. Its white facade is trimmed in gold, featuring a similarly colored sigil of protection. The magic imbued within the shield allows it to repel both physical attacks and offensive spells.
• Traditional Armor
  
  
  
  • Erik is adorned by a set of armor traditional to the Knights of Mistmoor. It was crafted specifically to fit him when he officially took up arms to the city’s defense. Thus, each piece is uniquely adjusted to his size and form to the greatest extent possible. The metallurgy is that of a tradition from the deeper recesses of the mountains surrounding Mistmoor, the materials having an uncanny mix of both relative light weight and high protective capability for that weight.

---

Miscellaneous Information:

To Hold Back The Dark

Erik Elfhame Ostreicher V

---

26-6’2”-Mistmoor

Light Bearer

---

Personality:

• Diligent
  
  
  
  • Erik is nothing if not a hardworker. Dedicated to the pursuit of his chosen crafts, and loyal to the tasks placed upon him, he rarely abandons his work before completion. This often comes at the expense of a normalized social life, as he prefers to spend his idle time putting in extra work, whether tending to a small detail he might have missed in a prior task, or simply supplemental time to practice one thing or another.
• Self-Critical
  
  
  
  • You’ll almost never find anyone as quick to critique Erik as quickly as Erik himself. When he’s not actively engaged in something, he is reflecting on what he has done, and analyzing his own efforts several times over. More often than not, he finds a flaw in his prior actions or inactions, and is likely to labor on those mistakes until he can demonstrably do better. It can be hard to pull him out of this headspace, and he often waves aside efforts to assure him that he did or is doing just fine.
• Load-Bearing
  
  
  
  • As a knight charged with the defense of his city, Erik is one to shoulder great burdens and pressures, especially those associated with his purpose at hand. He frequently assumes responsibility for a great many things. He is one to stretch himself thin; at times he forgets that there are others that [would] share his burden if only he would allow them to.

---

History: Born and raised within the mountainous landscape of Mistmoor, Erik is descended from a long line of blademasters. Over no less than six generations, the Ostreicher family had lived and died by their swords. At least as far back as Erik’s great-great-grandfather, the family had been among the warriors, soldiers, and knights that directly defended Mistmoor. Starting with his grandfather, the family was also responsible for the training of the next generations of baldewielders, having done so in the service of several noble lines.

Needless to say, Erik was born with a great deal to live up to. He has carried a sword at his side since his hand could first grip a hilt; some joke that he could barely lift the swords he was given… others retort that it would have made for good conditioning if he had. Such banter aside, his upbringing meant that he was constantly being pushed on grounds of physical, mental, and spiritual attributes. His grandfather and his father afterwards proved hard taskmasters and tough teachers. Erik would describe having been worked to the bone to condition himself to one day take up his family’s mantle as a protector of Mistmoor; at times, his training may have bordered on abuse, with perfection being demanded at all times.

Since his father and grandfather frequently instructed both soldiers and nobles alike in the arts of combat, Erik has brushed shoulders with many within the city’s upper echelon. He has taken his place at the forefront of Mistmoor’s defensive walls.

---

Spells and Abilities:

• Spirit Charge.
  
  
  
  • Erik draws from a pooled reserve of magic to flow directly into his body, amplifying his physical prowess for a short period. Using magic in this manner strains the human body, as the physical essence of a being cannot process energy from beyond so easily. Erik cannot sustain this state for very long. Nor can he use it in rapid succession. Excessive reliance on this ability can lead to fatigue, and possibly even death.
• Aura Pulse
  
  
  
  • Erick projects an energized aura that can ward off foes, and even block against attacks. The potency of an Aura Pulse is dependent on how wide an area Erik attempts to cover with it. Its effective range is within a ten foot radius, but maintaining a closer range enables it to create a more formidable barrier.
• Uncanny Prowess
  
  
  
  • Erik’s abilities in combat are commendable to say the least. Perhaps not always the mightiest in strength, or the quickest in his footwork, his surety, awareness, and technical form stand among the elites among those standing against the Darkness.

---

Weapons or Tools:

• Aleathen Edge
  
  
  
  • Erik’s primary weapon in combat is a single-handed European-style sword. A 30-inch blade, maintained to pristine condition, glowing with pearly aura, handled from a gold plated hilt that seems to never stain. Erik’s is a blade of long history as one from the early ages of Darkness when the Goddess Aleathen first intervened. The Aleathen Edge was blessed by the Goddess herself, at least they say, making it both significantly more durable and resistant than others like it, and uniquely effective, especially against the hordes of Darkness.
• Light Forge Shield
  
  
  
  • A Heater style shield, large enough to cover the whole of Erik’s torso from waist to chest. Its white facade is trimmed in gold, featuring a similarly colored sigil of protection. The magic imbued within the shield allows it to repel both physical attacks and offensive spells.
• Traditional Armor
  
  
  
  • Erik is adorned by a set of armor traditional to the Knights of Mistmoor. It was crafted specifically to fit him when he officially took up arms to the city’s defense. Thus, each piece is uniquely adjusted to his size and form to the greatest extent possible. The metallurgy is that of a tradition from the deeper recesses of the mountains surrounding Mistmoor, the materials having an uncanny mix of both relative light weight and high protective capability for that weight.

---

Miscellaneous Information:

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

Ken Shimazu, Zhang Taiwu

The Lucky Noodle, Little Asia

“A fair question,” Shimazu couldn’t hide that he was taken off balance by the young man’s question. By now, the Lucky Noodle’s reputation had grown enough that the question was seldom asked even out on the streets. True to form, however, he reaffirmed his footing. “My staff and I certainly do our best. In the end, you’ll have to defer to your own judgement.” Shimazu began to turn away from the young man when his name was spoken. His one-eighty became a three-sixty that pulled him face-to-face with none other than Xiao Feng, and another familiar face. 

“Xiao Feng,” Shimazu offered a respectful bow of his head, but extended no air of pleasantry. His jovial disposition melted into a formal expression. He assumed a stance as if anticipating a confrontation, his hands held readily at his side. “Taiwu,” he made no gesture to the man at Xiao Feng’s side, besides a staccato nod of acknowledgement; his gaze upon Taiwu was, if anything, colder than that which he set upon Xiao Feng. 

“It’s been a while, Shimazu.” Taiwu snarled, returning the cold disposition twofold, punctuating it with the faintest of flames that seemed to come from his jaw line. 

“And upon what occasion do you and your boss honor my establishment with your presence?”

“We stand on matters of business. No more. No less.”

“Then by all means,” Shimazu gestured for Xiao Feng to join him at an empty table nearest the kitchen. He stood himself on the side of the table facing the entrance. “No need to make a show of it. Have a seat.” Shimazu, ever the gracious host, remained standing, ushering for Xiao Feng to be seated first. He gave a quick look around the shop, noticing the tension among the customers. He caught Hoshi’s eye as she passed by; with a gesture of his hand, he eased her concerns. With a knowing nod around the dining room, he urged her to assure the patrons that there was no need for worry; she returned his nod, and carried on business as normal. 

“Can I interest you in anything?” He directed his attention back to Xiao Feng. “My kitchen can make us a pot of tea to discuss matters over.”

Meanwhile, Taiwu gave a cursory glance around the restaurant. He locked eyes with a small huddle of Blue Dragons sitting near the entrance. “I’ll watch the door,” he assured Xiao Feng. He leaned against the counter separating the dining room from the kitchen, and continued to survey the room. The young man Shimazu had been speaking with, and a woman enjoying a dish of Dan Dan Noodles, had a particular draw on his focus. He passed stares between the two as if to say “give me a reason.”

---

Theresa Torres

Bank, Financial District

“Pfff! A smartass, huh?” Theresa scoffed at the snide retort from the whatever it was. “Don’t care much for smartasses.” She took her stance, poised to respond to whatever the machine did. But her focus was thrown off when a trio of her cohorts ran in from the hallway. “The f*ck? I TOLD YOU TO--” 

She didn’t finish her sentence, as the sound of metal feet bounding towards her brought her back to the problem at hand. Theresa braced for a strike from the metal hand, but instead felt the grasp of its fingers. She pressed her strength against the machine’s force, but it was too late to keep herself from being lobbed towards the wall behind her. She broke the impact as best she could, splaying her arms behind her. In the process she knocked over the 70s that had come in. “The f*ck is with all the throwing lately?” she spat out.

Stepping out from the shallow imprint was left within the wall, Theresa brushed the dust from her shoulders. “Grab Mendes and get out of her,” she ordered her ‘brothers.’ They were slow to move, but did as they were told, grabbing the downed member of their crew and dragging him towards the hall and away from the scene. “Your fight is with me now,” she said bluntly. She cracked her knuckles, walking, at first, casually closer to the mecha. With her last few steps, the strength she mustered pushed through her legs, sprinting her forward at speed over the short distance. 

In the final bounding step, she reached for the suit's arm. Her hands made to grip with clamping force. Her intent to return the favor with a spin and a throw into the opposite wall.

---

Katherine Tran

Veridian Technologies, Executive Suite

KT wasn’t kept waiting for very long. Five or ten minutes after she arrived on the Executive level, she heard a familiar voice. KT was on her feet instantly. She exchanged the brief embrace with her best friend and followed her through to her office. "If it's not too much to ask," she said to the offer of food; if it was anything like the 'old' days, the Veridian Tech cafe was as good as, if not better than, any restaurant in the city. "Just something light."

She looked once around the office and nodded and grinned. "You've really made it for yourself here," she said. "How has your mother been?"

Have At You!!! A Game of Swashbuckling Adventure

The life of a pirate,
That's the life for me

Kingdom Hearts: Heroes of Hope

Anyone else starting think we should take some of our OOC discussion to Discord?

Primality: Act 1

@shylarah, @Crimson Flame

R O B I N G R A C E L E E
R O B I N G R A C E L E E

^{To The Arena!
Wolkwitz Auditorium, Merryweather Institute}

Wren managed to stay close to her friends as they assimilated into the larger grouping of students en route to the arena. “Yeah,” she said, showing some concern for Jonathan as he delivered a static shock to himself. “I get that. Learning control is important. But one of these days, we all might have to use our Primalisms in a fight.” She shrugged at her own comment, and continued, “Even if it’s just to defend ourselves. You know?” She shrugged again; she hoped she’d grow old to be proven wrong.

Once their “Stormkin Trio,” as Wren had just then decided to call their party of three, walked through the door out of the auditorium, she danced her way around them to set herself at the front point of their formation. Once firmly in place and on step, she capped her sidestepping with a small “Pasion Twirl” as she called them; a slow and steady toe spin [modified for lack of proper footwear] while keeping a narrow stance and forward momentum.

Much in the same position as Jonathan, her finesse with her Primality still had much to be desired. As she spun, a circle of air blew a minor gust out from her knee downward. Otherwise innocuous, the more densely packed grouping of students might catch a stray pocket meeting their walk with resistance; something likely due to draw the ire of at least one person.

Primality: Act 1

If I may be so bold, it would help the writing process to have a blurb about what's going down in the arena.

As in we might as well bump everyone to the arena and get down to it.

Do You Have RP Pet Peeves?

<Snipped quote by IAmTheIsland>

Yeah... I've undergone that sort of experience outside of RPGuild.

As for Time Powers/Magic... I will admit to having made OCs who use it, although I am starting to regret having given them that sort of power.

I use Discord as an OOC Plotting place, btw.

@Letter Bee

The best application of Time magic that I've see was a character that could, for example, pick up a broken sword and rewind it to when it was newly forged. Basically they could reverse time on individual objects.

Do You Have RP Pet Peeves?

Not sure if I ever brought up these points on my end:

Things GMs do/I've seen them do:
> Ignore (often significant) aspects of their own settings to hyperfocus/center attention on their character's personal matters. Like, maybe don't present an lore-filled fantasy/scifi environment just to play out a soap opera family drama. Really it's just the question of "why go through the process of setting up the lore and mechanics if those aspects aren't going to be meaningful in the grand scheme of things?
> Waiving the internal politics of their universe to enable their own (or select peoples' characters) while citing said politics to either deny or water down someone else's.
> In essence, wanting to be both ways about how they manage their RP. Establishing that everyone is on their own as far as creating plot points, yet policing how players pursue interactions between their characters and others; not having an official centralized storyline, yet more or less pulling people into their fold anyways.

Other Pet Peeves:
> People being salty because your post cuts in on a post they haven't even put up yet. I'm not sorry: if you haven't dropped your post in, then it's on you to either let people know what's up so they can hold off, or adjust your in-progress post accordingly.
> > In relation to above, not having an open, public plotting session so everyone involved can be on the same page with what everyone else in mind. Especially so in the absence of a unifying plot.
> Running multiple characters and either A) Only really giving attention to one or two of them, or B) Clumping all of them into the same IC circles/not extending into the different groups.

> In general, anyone or any character that uses Time-based powers/magic. Most of these characters bank on an idea that time is a material element, which, in application, creates an issue in terms of RPing rules. Most people apply such powers in the form of stopping/slowing the flow of time to halt or impede the world moving around them, and often don't elaborate on how Time in their context works... in itself, outside of a GM, this implies dictating the physics/metaphysics of the RP's universe to benefit the character/player, which can be problematic. To boot, the common applications of Time-based powers can be more appropriately/fairly achieved through means of Telekinesis and manipulations of momentum and/or kinetic energy. The alternatives are farm more amicable in the context of characters coming to blows, as most will be able to apply some skill or ability to work around such forces; in order to combat Time magic, you basically have to create a character specifically to combat it.