Letter Bee

Kingdom Hearts - The Lights of the Multiverse (KH and Alternate History) [Full]

@MagusDream, It is okay.

Intrigues of Venedig - High Fantasy Mature RP

@Smike@Stern Algorithm@Overlord Thraka@Aqutanama@Rune_Alchemist@Zoey White@Landaus Five-One@Solaris@jdh97@MagusDream:

Everyone had a busy 4th of July, I assume?

[ASOIAF]: Before the Dragons Danced

New Ghis, 110 AC

The palace's 'War Room' was a fairly large chamber of wood and brick, with thinner and narrower windows than the norm in order to ensure safety from darts and arrows. This would have made the heat sweltering if not for pipes that carrried cool water to underneath the floor - A marvel made by a privileged Myrish slave, one who now commanded slaves of his own despite his own lack of freedom.

King Grazdan the Chainbringer busied himself over preperations - Food had to be supplied, weapons forged, and armor and shields repaired for his gamble. And indeed, it was a gamble. Raising two Legions' worth of troops, including a hundred Unsullied. Getting Astapor's good offices long enough to let his army through their territory to Yunkai - His sister and her husband were useful for that purpose, but not a game-winner. And finally, actually taking Yunkai by land and by sea, with a significant portion of New Ghis' fleet being sent to arrive at the enemy's capital in order to tighten the upcoming siege with a blockade.

But the real battle will begin once the Astapori realize that his armies had no intention of departing, once a new Military Governor had been installed over the people of Yunkai. For the Good Masters of Astapor were not all willing to agree on reunifying the Ghiscari Empire - Independence was a metaphorical nacrotic.

As King Grazdan sat in conference with his generals - He had insisted on the presence of scholar-slaves in this 'war room', so as to emphasize the importance of logistics, he can tell that a few were getting bored with discussing matters of supply and just wanted to march to Yunkai already.

Well, they'd get their chance. As the King read a scholar-slave's memorandum about the state of the siege engines to be brought to the coming siege of Yunkai, he noticed one of his generals being less bored than the rest - Perhaps even alert. Good old Draknoz mo Rarahl, it seemed that his long-postponed promotion was for the best.

Once the discussion was done, King Grazdan said in a firm tone, "Then it is settled. We will go through Astapor, giving gifts to the Good Masters beforehand to let us through and with our diplomats instructed to give our reasons for marching on Yunkai as 'disposing of a competitor. A large detachment of our fleet will, at the same time, sail northwest, then northeast, to blockade Yunkai. The land forces will number two Legions - a total of 12,000 men, while the fleet will contain another legion of 6000 alongside the overseers assigned to keep the galley slaves in line. The army we will send over land will have a large siege train to construct catapults, ballistae, and even one trebuchet."

He paused, "Because Draknoz mo Rarahl, though a veteran of our wars, did not get bored by the discussion and the speech, he is to be put in overall command of the expedition - His word will carry the same weight as mine. Will anyone disagree with me? If so, speak up, please."

The sudden sharp edge in his tone reminded everyone just why he was their King - The reason was not just hereditary right. The scholar-slaves paused, even as the generals broke out into a sweat, especially the ones that were previously the most bored. Draknoz mo Rarahl, a middle-aged man whose prematurely graying hair marked years of fighting other commanders' battles for them, laughed and said, "My King, as gratitude for your trust in me, I promise you this - Yunkai will fall in less than five years!"

Intrigues of Venedig - High Fantasy Mature RP

City Event - Mostly for the Main Party

Mergoux, Rote, Jehenne, Tamlorn and Noel

"That we have, Milady Alcroft," Rote said to Jehenne as the Gondola docked at a side entrance of the Black Cathedral. His face was solemn, solemn and sad. "I'm sorry about all this tragedy - I wasn't lying or deluded when I said what I said on the slave market about its cause, but I wasn't expecting to have additional proof so early. Assuming that our good Inquisitor here has additional proof, of course."

Inquisitor Malamocco looked at Rote and said, "Not now. Inside the building first. Although if you want small talk with the Alcroft woman, you should do that - It seems you don't know how to talk to women or what to talk to them about."

Then turning to Tamlorn, the Inquisitor said, "Haven't you been listening to Rote's words? We're on the brink of the greatest crisis since Wolfram's Cataclysm! Whoever won the Nobles' Rebellion, Noble or Crown, was going to play into the hands of the enemies of civilization itself! Now no more delays, we have to go in!" Inquisitor Malamocco frowned deeper, and then entered the building, muttering about, "These young folk nowadays..."

Once inside the Black Cathedral, Inquisitor Malamocco continued, "The Nobles' Rebellion was instigated by the Cult of the Keeper, who wanted to return the Old Gods back to Erde. The Cult also had agents in the Royal Court in Kaisersdat, whose job was to ensure that if the Crown won, it would come down hard on the rebels. As I said, whoever won, Noble or Crown, was going to play into the hands of those who want to destroy civilization - Only by bringing Humanity down to the level of savages can the Old Gods expect regular worship once more."

A pause as the Inquisitor waved to the just-arrived Libero and Noel accompanying them, before he continued, "If the Nobles won, the Reich would have fallen apart. If the Crown won, all that was needed was to provoke the Emperor into overreaching with the Iron Decree, thus compromising the credibility of the Crown and the Reich as a whole. Either way, the sense of security of everyone in the Western Continent would be impacted in some form. Do you people get where I am going with this?"

"I do," Rote said as he noticed Noel and Libero's presence. "Now, give me a break from business to meet with an old friend, please." And with that, he ran up to where Noel was, tackle-hugging, the young man and saying "NOEL! I'm so happy to see you! Heck, the only thing that'd make it better is if I had an excuse to be naked -"

Inquisitor Malamocco rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. "Young men nowadays." He then looked at Libero and said, "Greetings, Fragach scion. Your actions have brought the approval of the good aspects of Existence today." A frown as he continued, "Here is something that might stay your father's anger - We have the identity of the Cult of the Keeper's agent in Kaisersdat. As I said, the Cult of the Keeper is a group trying to bring down civilization as we know it so that the Old Gods can be worshipped due to everyone forgetting they are mere mortals with great magical power."

The Inquisitor smiled, "Her name is Katherine Sophia Gotha, and she is the one who planted the idea for the Iron Decree in our sovereign's brain."

Louise

N/A for now, waiting for Smike.

@Smike@Stern Algorithm@Overlord Thraka@Aqutanama@Rune_Alchemist@Zoey White@Landaus Five-One@Solaris@jdh97@MagusDream:

[ASOIAF]: Before the Dragons Danced

House Grazadan of New Ghis

Recent History: Many say that the Ghiscari are a broken and decadent people, playing at the glories of Empire while not lifting a finger to make good on their claims of superiority. Those people have not been to New Ghis, where the spirit of the Old Empire still beats strong. Founded by more martial Ghiscari disgusted by the increasing sloth of their brethren, New Ghis is the most dynamic of the cities of Slaver's Bay, able to deal with Astapor, Yunkai, and even Mereen as equals despite its relative youth. And behind this dynamism is House Grazdan, which presents itself as the descendants of the Imperial Line of Old Ghis, whether by blood or by achievement.

House Grazadan was founded by Grazdan the Renewer, who claimed to be the descendant of a survivor of Old Valyria's purge of the original bloodlines of Old Ghis. Before making this claim, however, he was a son of a Mereenese aristocrat who preferred fighting above lounging and commanding free men to slave soldiers. Eventually, Grazdan tired of the decadent ways of Mereen, and left for the island that New Ghis would be founded on with many among Mereen's elite who shared the same sentiments. Once the city was founded, martially-inclined Ghiscari from Astapor and Yunkai would later follow, putting themselves under Grazadan's command in order to refound the glories of the Ghiscari Empire.

But it was not just aristocrats seeking nostalgia that followed, but also pirates, mercenaries, and of course, slaves. New Ghis quickly became infamous for its raids on the Summer Islands, the Qartheen, and even other Ghiscari when the leadership can get away with it. Over time, even ships from Volantis were preyed on, although only when the New Ghiscari can get away with it. And New Ghis grew rich as well as resented.

Now, New Ghis reigns under a new King, Grazadan the Chainbringer, so-called because of his participation in slave raids and campaigns of conquest in his youth, where several cities and outposts on the mainland were forced to acknowledge the rule of New Ghis. But the Chainbringer desires more - His brethren in the Slaver Cities do not acknowledge the need to reform the Ghiscari Empire, and they must be made to.

And no cost will be too high.

Family Members:

Grazadan the Chainbringer

Name: Grazadan the Chainbringer

Age: 36

Appearance: A tall, muscular man with a heavy build, Grazadan the Chainbringer is not an ordinary Ghiscari, with his only concession to traditional custom being the spiking of his hair into horns. Unlike other Ghiscari, he eschews the traditional tokar in favor of full armor, or even just more practical clothing. Face-wise, he keeps a thin beard and mustache, while his broad features are neither ugly or handsome, but more average-looking.

Biography: Grazadan the Chainbringer was the firstborn son of Grazadan the Blademaster, a formidable warrior of New Ghis and grandson of its founder, making Chainbringer himself the great-grandson of Grazadan the Renewer himself. Raised with a high sense of entitlement and desire for glory, Grazdan the Chainbringer soon became a formidable fighter and warrior who had memorized a few military texts as well and desired to use all of those to glorify New Ghis. He would later get the opportunity to do so on a raid against the Summer Isles, where many Summer Islanders were enslaved and brought to New Ghis in chains.

Grazadan would later venture out onto the mainland, subjugating many settlements there and regaining much land that belonged to Old Ghis. One of his greatest achievements was the defeat of a Yunkai-led force of slave-soldiers trying to retake lost ground, and in a touch of irony, enslaving the commanders while freeing their troops, many of whom joined him in many later battles. This was an unprecedented move in Ghiscari culture, and Grazadan was only saved from accusations of being a traitor to custom because he took slaves from other sources and showed no other signs of radical emancipatory urges.

Nevertheless, Grazadan the Chainbringer saw the efficacy of a 'join-or-die' strategy once he became ruler of New Ghis. Not just that, but due to the Unsullied from Astapor being one of the few forces who can match or exceed New Ghis' 'Iron Legions', he has decided to try and get into the Good Masters' good graces by marrying his sister to one of their most influential members, as well as cooperating with them on missions of enslavement. He has also bought Unsullied in increasing numbers, with most of New Ghis' surplus wealth spent in buying these Eunuch-soldiers to supplement the Iron Legions...

[ASOIAF]: Before the Dragons Danced

House Grazadan of New Ghis

Recent History: Many say that the Ghiscari are a broken and decadent people, playing at the glories of Empire while not lifting a finger to make good on their claims of superiority. Those people have not been to New Ghis, where the spirit of the Old Empire still beats strong. Founded by more martial Ghiscari disgusted by the increasing sloth of their brethren, New Ghis is the most dynamic of the cities of Slaver's Bay, able to deal with Astapor, Yunkai, and even Mereen as equals despite its relative youth. And behind this dynamism is House Grazdan, which presents itself as the descendants of the Imperial Line of Old Ghis, whether by blood or by achievement.

House Grazadan was founded by Grazdan the Renewer, who claimed to be the descendant of a survivor of Old Valyria's purge of the original bloodlines of Old Ghis. Before making this claim, however, he was a son of a Mereenese aristocrat who preferred fighting above lounging and commanding free men to slave soldiers. Eventually, Grazdan tired of the decadent ways of Mereen, and left for the island that New Ghis would be founded on with many among Mereen's elite who shared the same sentiments. Once the city was founded, martially-inclined Ghiscari from Astapor and Yunkai would later follow, putting themselves under Grazadan's command in order to refound the glories of the Ghiscari Empire.

But it was not just aristocrats seeking nostalgia that followed, but also pirates, mercenaries, and of course, slaves. New Ghis quickly became infamous for its raids on the Summer Islands, the Qartheen, and even other Ghiscari when the leadership can get away with it. Over time, even ships from Volantis were preyed on, although only when the New Ghiscari can get away with it. And New Ghis grew rich as well as resented.

Now, New Ghis reigns under a new King, Grazadan the Chainbringer, so-called because of his participation in slave raids and campaigns of conquest in his youth, where several cities and outposts on the mainland were forced to acknowledge the rule of New Ghis. But the Chainbringer desires more - His brethren in the Slaver Cities do not acknowledge the need to reform the Ghiscari Empire, and they must be made to.

And no cost will be too high.

Family Members:

Grazadan the Chainbringer

Name: Grazadan the Chainbringer

Age: 36

Appearance: A tall, muscular man with a heavy build, Grazadan the Chainbringer is not an ordinary Ghiscari, with his only concession to traditional custom being the spiking of his hair into horns. Unlike other Ghiscari, he eschews the traditional tokar in favor of full armor, or even just more practical clothing. Face-wise, he keeps a thin beard and mustache, while his broad features are neither ugly or handsome, but more average-looking.

Biography: Grazadan the Chainbringer was the firstborn son of Grazadan the Blademaster, a formidable warrior of New Ghis and grandson of its founder, making Chainbringer himself the great-grandson of Grazadan the Renewer himself. Raised with a high sense of entitlement and desire for glory, Grazdan the Chainbringer soon became a formidable fighter and warrior who had memorized a few military texts as well and desired to use all of those to glorify New Ghis. He would later get the opportunity to do so on a raid against the Summer Isles, where many Summer Islanders were enslaved and brought to New Ghis in chains.

Grazadan would later venture out onto the mainland, subjugating many settlements there and regaining much land that belonged to Old Ghis. One of his greatest achievements was the defeat of a Yunkai-led force of slave-soldiers trying to retake lost ground, and in a touch of irony, enslaving the commanders while freeing their troops, many of whom joined him in many later battles. This was an unprecedented move in Ghiscari culture, and Grazadan was only saved from accusations of being a traitor to custom because he took slaves from other sources and showed no other signs of radical emancipatory urges.

Nevertheless, Grazadan the Chainbringer saw the efficacy of a 'join-or-die' strategy once he became ruler of New Ghis. Not just that, but due to the Unsullied from Astapor being one of the few forces who can match or exceed New Ghis' 'Iron Legions', he has decided to try and get into the Good Masters' good graces by marrying his sister to one of their most influential members, as well as cooperating with them on missions of enslavement. He has also bought Unsullied in increasing numbers, with most of New Ghis' surplus wealth spent in buying these Eunuch-soldiers to supplement the Iron Legions...

Kingdom Hearts - The Lights of the Multiverse (KH and Alternate History) [Full]

Mysterious Keyhole, Ongoing World War II

"It seems the Keyhole was not the main priority of the Seekers here - Nor is capturing me despite my supposed importance to their plans," Tocsax said. "This is ominous." The Nobody then gestured to make a Corridor of Darkness, but the latter fizzled out as soon as it was created, causing the former to shout, "And to think that this was a trap after all!"

Footsteps can be heard behind them, and Tocsax turned around to find a man in a black robe, hood lowered to reveal tan mediterrenean skin and unnaturally-white hair that fell down to his shoulder blades. There was a thin, fox-like smile on his face as he extended his own Keyblade, whose dark hilt had two bat wings radiating from a central eye.

"False Hakim!" shouted Tocsax, "So, you're the one they sent to capture me." There was a trace of the fear he had shown before, but the Nobody dealt with it better now - Or was it because False Hakim seemed to be alone? "Whatever the case, you're not taking me - No one is taking me."

The response from Leo's Heartless was a thin smile as he said, "Poor little Tocsax, still flailing around in desperation, all the while playing into our hands..."

Astus could see that False Hakim had as much power as a 'God'... But so did Tocsax when the latter chose to unveil himself, such as now when the Nobody shouted, "Zero Graviga!," causing False Hakim as well as the unconcious bodies of the men and women from Fallout: Apocalypse Averted, to float around along with their weapons. Tocsax then followed up with a "Zantetzuken," a straight slash that seemed to cut through False Hakim's body for a few moments, but turned out not to have done only the measliest bit of actual damage. Nevertheless, Tocsax, with Astus in tow, was running outside the chamber where the Keyhole was -

Only for Mount Etna behind them to suddenly erupt, the smoke and fire from the mountain mixed with pure Darkness, deep unlight that rained down on the surrounding area, allowing masses of Crimson Jazzes* and Flame Cores** to manifest all around Tocsax and Astus. And behind the two, False Hakim was in quick pursuit, saying, "Surrender now, Tocsax! A new future awaits!"

"Never!" Tocsax said as he raised his Keyblade and shouted, "Deep Freeze!," causing the area around him to chill for a moment before he continued his escape, trying to find some safe place where he can open another corridor or call for help. Of course, Astus can do the latter as well, but who'd answer?

*khwiki.com/Crimson_Jazz

**khwiki.com/Flame_Core

London, England, Ongoing World War II

Judah ben Issac chuckled as he began cooking kosher chicken, lamb, and vegetables, al the while singing to himself as he cooked. Then he said to Agni, "You can chop the peppers - The Moogles have been importing them for a discount from so-called 'other worlds' to lighten our food shortages in Great Britain. So despite the hopelessness of everything, we at least no longer have to ration our food."

Lucy, meanwhile, had finished repairing the Army Truck and said, "I'm going to shower - Make sure none of the boys you brought in peek!"

The response from Judah was, "I won't, don't worry!"

-------

Food was prepared, and over a plate of lamb, Judah asked Agni, "Alright, so, what do you and the Moogles need with Lucy? As in, what is the 'Princess of Heart' nonsense all about?"

Berlin, Germany, Ongoing World War II

The wind was growing colder, and a sound like the clanking of coins can be heard upon the wind. Georgia might - might - sense that the cold feeling came from whatever bits of currency - Munny or just money - they had on their person. Surely she can get the implications of this, right?

@Double@Gentlemanvaultboy@Ryteb Pymeroce@ShadowVentus@Nerevarine@Shoddy McCoy@MagusDream

Re: Zero: The High Council

Flame Brooks

Flame had gone to the Vertti mansion, expecting Grisaia and Aer to be with him, along with Chieko and Aerith. But all except for perhaps Aerith had gone on their seperate ways, and now Flame was close to the stairs, waiting for those who had gone on to Lady Vertti to come back. It was then that he detected the reset to just less than an hour ago, and knew that the 'checkpoint' had moved again.

The reset gave him another chance to do more than just wait for things to happen, and he followed Chieko to the top of the stairs, where Grisaia and Aer hopefully were. Thus, when Fritzi and her cronies broke in, he might be able to see them approaching said stairs.

Looking at Chieko, Flame said to her, "So, your allies? If so, I'll follow your lead dealing with them."

Ashton Andrews

Ashton felt it, the reset, and knew that the 'checkpoint' had been moved forward, as he was still facing an angry Gris Art Fortye while Belrigger fought Sandra Fotos. And of course, there is still the risk that he might have killed innocent civilians and that wasn't undone. Hubris. Naivete, All those were his sins and he was not going to run away from them. Blood was on his hands and all that was needed was to move on and atone.

Then Alistair swooped in at the last moment, saving the boy's life. Ashton smiled, and shouted anew, "Sandra Fotos is an Artificial Witch! If Captain Crunch is nearby, I need to tell her again and again! Also, we might need people to play the Sword Saint, Dragon, and Sage -"

He was cut off from Alistair by a wall of fire, but hopefully fire didn't cut off sound. So Ashton continued, "As I said, Sandra Fotos is an Artificial Witch! The most powerful of them all! You and Belrigger cooperate to destroy her, then we can all restrain Gris until we can convince him that he was being manipulated by said Artificial Witch!"

And yes, he knew it contradicted what he had said earlier about potentially needing a Sword Saint, Dragon and Sage. Not just that, but Ashton realized how preposterous it was that the Artificial Witch of Envy can be destroyed this early - While life did not run by narrative tropes, Ashton knew that his allies were not in an advantegeous position. Nevertheless, he can still try, right?

Intrigues of Venedig - High Fantasy Mature RP

@Solaris, Thanks! Let me PM you what I was planning for the 'Heretic', then...

Letter's Own Persona Stuff

Name and Age: Ariel Fitzherbert, 21

Physical Appearance:



Personality: Right now, Ariel's current mood is anger and resentment at getting passed over by the Rider Conglomerate, as well as a certainty that this was because of the strength of her competitor's connections instead of actual ability. This feeling of being 'cheated' also dovetails with her feeling that she was passed over because she was a local of the town, even though that should have been an advantage. Though aware of her talents and clearly not humble, Ariel possesses a strong civic loyalty towards the place she was born in and returned to after long years of international study, loyalty only strengthened by her absence from it.

Mundane Skills: Ariel is experienced in computer programming and cyber-security, able to lead an IT team to secure entire companies' mainframes, design websites, and provide tech support to consumers. Unlike most other people of her professional class, she is also good with a gun and has hunted Feral Pigs along with her father in her youth, and knows how to drive rougher vehicles like tractors and SUVs as well as the sleeker sort of car. She also knows the basics of Art and Architecture, as some of her prospective clients wanted good-looking website art and 3D models of planned buildings.

Arcana: Fool.

Persona: Fortuna



Elemental Strength: Wind.
Elemental Weakness: Electricity.

Memetic Wild Weapons: Hunting Rifle, Plasma Saber.

Short Bio: Ariel Fitzherbert was born in Breezeton itself, to loving parents who ran a small restaurant together. Her intelligence was noticed from an early age, leading to isolation from other children from the start, isolation lightened by the presence of her father and frequent hunting trips to eliminate the local meneace of feral pigs. Her father was a shining beacon in her life, and she later regarded him as the most important person in her upbringing. But nevertheless, as she grew up, her skill and experience with computers grew, and it eventually drew the attention of a prestigious NGO that searched for young talent everywhere they can find it.

Leaving was hard, especially as it was at sixteen, when people like her should be enjoying life, but Ariel knew the benefits by now. Her parents' restaurant was failing and so was the town, and she knew that whatever happened, she was going to need a way to help it. And so she left for the East Coast, and later Britain and Japan, expanding her horizons at prestigious universities as she learned the pleasures of the educated and professional life. Part of her was glad to finally have peers, to be part of a world that was sophisticated and subtle, intelligent and worldly. News of what was happening in her town reached her, but she began to worry less and less.

Then her father died, reminding her of her obligations to home. She returned home for the funeral, during which she saw what was happening to Breezeton firsthand. An increase in drug abuse, less-safe streets, young people fleeing, it was a disaster. At least the Rider Conglomerate was still going strong, with its products even reaching the countries she studied in - Wasn't that a boon? Either way, perhaps she should seek a job in it after she finished her education.

And Ariel did just that, but after taking a few job interviews, during which she behaved as professionally as possible, Rider Conglomerate decided to give the job she wanted to another person from out-of-state, Ephraim Thompson. It was then that she actually inquired as to what Rider Conglomerate was doing, which was using automation and new technology not to benefit people, but to reduce jobs and drive out people she'd known since childhood, with her mother only being safe because Rider had not gotten to her block yet.

This town was dying and Rider Conglomerate was clearly profiting from that. She would not take it lying down.