MiddleEarthRoze

Escaping the Blight: A Collaboration of POOHEAD189 & MiddleEarthRoze

Giggling again at Gideon's response, Feri began leading the way towards her make-shift camp. Only as she approached did she realise that she was laughing and smiling again. These past few days, Feri had been uncharacteristically grim - but judging by the circumstances, that was an appropriate response. While Lothering hadn't been her birthplace, she still considered the place home, and had made plenty of friends there. It was heart-breaking to see it destroyed and overrun by creatures as foul as the Darkspawn... not to mention the amount of lives that were lost. But now, with this soldier who had survived against all odds, and his wonderfully silly Mabari, Feri's horizon began to look just that bit brighter. At the very least, it was nice to no longer be alone; to have someone to talk to as they traversed the kokari wilds.

After perhaps 15 minutes of brisk walking, Feri shifted a low branch to the side to reveal a small clearing. Within was a burnt-out campfire, and a worn patch of dirt from where she had been sleeping. Heading for a particularly knobbly looking tree, Feri - using a large stick - prodded the foliage until her knapsack came loose from above, falling into her ready and outstretched arms.

"Ah, good. No tree-climbing Darkspawn got it." Said with a smile, the young rogue backtracked to where the campfire had been, kneeling and putting her things on the floor. After a few moments of rifling through, she had found bandages, oinment, and even some stale beef jerky for Gideon. Throwing the meat at the jumping Mabari, Feri handed some of the first-aid to Rannon. He didn't seem to be in enough pain to warrant a potion (of which she only had a few), but for all she knew, he could be shouldering his pain. She could understand that; sometimes it was easier to hide what you really felt rather than risk seeking help from others. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"I have some potions, if you need something with more punch than ointment. Also, whiskey. Better for drinking than applying to wounds, or so I've found." She held a bottle in each hand; whiskey in the left, health potion in the right - looking up at Rannon with a grin. "Or how about both?"

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 1 (Completed)

Best Action Sequence:
There were some awesome action sequences, but the one that sticks out to me the most was written recently; Marcel blowing up an attacker and just splattering blood everywhere. The melting of the Dunmer's brain was fun to read too - it was delightfully gruesome, and the description was well-written and graphic.

Most Emotional Tear-Jerker:
There were a few good moments for this one, but I'm going to go with Do'Karth and Niernen's reunion. It had been so long since she had been written for, and by the time the mission to Bthamz rolled around I had no recollection of any relationships she may have had - but the writing here was so believable and emotional I didn't even need to go back and re-read all the scenes with the pair in the past. Also, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her when Do'Karth let slip about Sevine. This relationship man, it's friendzoning people everywhere.

I will also give an honourable mention for Sevine's reaction to finding Roze and Sagax alive in Windhelm, after their fun little suicide mission. Sevine was sad, relieved, angry, worried, and happy - it caused a whirlwind of emotions, from Sagax wondering if he was going to be throttled to death by the Huntress, and Roze being just so shell-shocked at the fact that Sevine had been so worried about her. I really enjoyed writing this scene with Foxy and Frizzle, and I think in Roze it further instilled the fact that these people weren't just comrades anymore, but family.

Most unexpected twist:
Farid killing Orakh. Even after Farid busting the door down and threatened the Orc, I didn't think he was actually going to succeed in hurting or killing him. This was another brilliantly written bit of action, but for me, was totally unexpected. How naive of me to assume someone would come in to save the day, or that Farid would come to his senses.

Dankest Meme:
Keegan singing the Pokemon theme song when he's casting soul trap on a chaurus. Fuckin nerd.

Also, I think the names of the NPC Khajiit's deserve an honourable mention, as they got me laughing; R'ihanna the bard and S'riracha the hot sauce merchant. All we need now is a Khajiit dressed as a sweet pastry called "Nyan Khat."

The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion - Crimson Skies

@RokkuHoshi
Master Skill Levels are only permitted if your character is abov ethe age of 40 - therefore, Jan-Hei is not eligible for a Master Level.

Expert Level Skills: You can have One; alternatively, you cna have 2, but must give up both of your Journeyman Skills.
Journeyman: 2 Skills
Apprentice: 3 Skills
Novice: 4 Skills

In addition to these your character is allowed 2 additional skills under the "Crafting and Miscellaneous" Category, providing they are of a Novice or Apprentice level (Unless higher levels are rationalised in the backstory; e.g is an expert Smith as they have smithed all of their lives, etc). These additional skills are for the basics that many people would need in this world, such as foraging, smithing, first-aid, hunting, etc. They are optional, and you do not need them; these additional skills have simply been put in to not use up your slots for anything else. If you want more than 2 extra skill options, they will be allowed; they will just substitute one of your other skills from the other levels.

Additionally, the Specialisation section will be one of the following: Combat, Stealth, or Magic - your character's broadly defined preferences of fighting, not the specific manner in which they fight.

It'll be One-Handed Blades, not One-Handed Swords.

The pelts, hides, and Pickaxe are still in his inventory? Unless you're going to say why in his backstory (For the former 2, I think it would still be a bit pointless to be carrying them) they need to be removed. Also, 500 gold is a lot of change to be carrying on oneself. That's 500 solid metal coins; not only is it a strangely excessive amount of money to be carrying on oneself, it would weigh quite a bit too.

@Chasers115@BurningCold@LadyTabris@Leidenschaft

Check in, ladies and gents. I didn't tag anyone when I moved the post along, so here be the tagging now. :)

Into The Dark: Mercenaries (Heroes of Fame and Fortune)

@Jollan

Looks like it's all down to Kayden now. Chug it, o great leader. You're gonna get fucked up on this mission.

Escaping the Blight: A Collaboration of POOHEAD189 & MiddleEarthRoze

Removing her overcoat and laying it on a nearby rock away from the water, Feri undid the buckles of her braces to roll up her shirt sleeves. Her teal gloves were so stained with blood and dirt they had turned black; her hands hadn't fared much better either. Now kneeling close by the water's edge, Feri began scrubbing at them in the water, darting a glance at Rannon as she washed. From under his shirt she could see a worrying amount of cuts, but they didn't seem to be too serious. They were clean at the very least. Older wounds were littered across whatever skin she could see... and she could see quite a bit of it through his ruined shirt. Feri's face flushed red as she realised she was staring and her eyes quickly returned to her gloves in the stream. Most of the grime had been washed out, thankfully.

"Oh! Thank you. I'm no warrior, but I know how to make my blades dance." She replied with a chuckle, standing up and wringing out her gloves. Feri herself was no stranger to scars; from underneath the rolled up sleeves of her shirt (That seemed nearly as dirty as her gloves, at this point - the bleeding from her side wasn't doing it any favours either) pale lines could be seen dotted about her tanned forearms and hands; hands which, while certainly more slender than the average Dwarf, were calloused from years of hard work.

Dousing a handkerchief in the water before stepping away, Feri ran the sopping cloth across her face and neck, smiling at the cool relief as she walked back over to Rannon.

"I moved to Lothering a few years back, with my Mother. We're not from Orzammar, or any of the Dwarven Thaigs. I don't think I've even been underground, actually." She answered with a somewhat uncomfortable laugh. "I doubt I'd be let in. I'm half-Dwarven, you see. My father was - is - a sailor from Rivain. The traditional-thinking Dwarves down below don't think highly of half-breeds like myself." She laughed again, this one sounding bitter. While Feri had never felt any want or need to go underground, there was always that niggling feeling of discomfort that people she could well be related to would shun her because of her blood. And speaking of blood, the wound on her side was now beginning to soak into her trousers. Pressing the handkerchief to it with a grimace, Feri retrieved her things and threw her coat over her spare arm, motioning back towards the clearing.

"I have a make-shift camp not too far from where you found me. I have a bag there, with some bandages - I always like to scout ahead before I choose a path, so I dumped my things before leaving. Thank the Maker I did, otherwise all of my supplies would be covered in Darkspawn blood." Pausing before moving on ahead, Feri glanced at the lolloping Mabari in the water, stifling a giggle at the daft sight.

"I'll bet I have a treat for Gideon too." She added, waggling her eyebrows encouragingly at Rannon.

The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion - Crimson Skies

Great start, glad to see him finished! There are just a few tweaks needed, especially some clarification in his backstory.

First off, from all we have seen of Argonians, they don't have surnames, just forenames. They tend to be named for their experiences - or hopeful experiences - in the world, as opposed to being named after their mother or father. So, his last name needs to be omitted.

Specialisation is in regards to what bracket his style of fighting falls under; so Magic, Combat or Stealth - or a combination of more than one if their skills echo that. From what I can gather of your Class you've listed him as a Fighter/Thief - except he has no mention of thievery in his skills or his backstory, so unless THF stands for something else, it'll have to be omitted. Also, the Class name can be made up or taken from this List of Pre-Made Classes from the game, or you can make up your own. You can just stick with Fighter, if you'd like.

For his skills, if you're happy with him having only what he has now, that's fine with me - but he's allowed several more than that. Also, your skills of "One-Handed" and "Blade" will go together as one skill as "One-Handed Blade." I've not explained it very well in the OP so it will be re-worded, you're not the first to be confused by that, so I do apologise. This will mean he's only been trained in the use of One-Handed Blades; which is a very different style of fighting to One-Handed Blunt, or Two-Handed Blades; hence why they are separate categories. Let me know if you're still confused by it; again, it needs re-wording.

There's a good start on his appearance, but it could use a little more detail. Perhaps point out eye colour, scarring, build, etc? Also, his personality needs a lot more detail. There needs to be a least 2 paragraphs, and what is there isn't particularly in depth. Maybe describe how he reacts in different situations; in battle, being threatened, how easily he is to like or dislike someone - stuff like that. All I've got from his personality is that he likes to travel alone, is shy among adults, and likes to play with children because he's kind to the innocent. Gonna need more depth in there; including flaws.

Backstory:

• Why did his parents leave Black Marsh with a newly-hatched child? And why did they go all the way up to Skyrim, a place notorious for being filled with xenophobic Nords? I doubt they would have travelled that far with a Hatchling without a plan?
• What advice could his father give to the Jarl to be so good and impressive that he received a job right there and then? What was the conversation between the woman and the Redguard even about? Even if it were simply him tipping the Jarl off about an assassination or something, I doubt the Jarl would then give this strange Argonian a job as his personal adviser.
• How did Jan-Hei - as a young, untrained and unequipped Argonian - survive a 3 and a half year trip around Skyrim, a place know for it's inhospitable climate, fauna, and people?
• What changed him when he got back?
• He'd have to be a pretty good fighter to become the Jarl's personal bodyguard what with being such a young and new recruit in the town guard; but you've made no mention of his training or capability in a fight? There's also no mention of where he learned alchemy - a skill which one realistically couldn't have learnt themselves unless they used a lot of trial and error in consuming ingredients and risking illness/poison.
• *"If too many were sent to the Emporer asking for aide, it would seem suspicious"* Why would it be suspicious? Also, the Emperor is dead at this point, the Jarls and the High King would know this.
• There is a big issue with Jan-Hei's timing. Gates outside of Kvatch only started opening once the Kvatch one was closed. Between the closing of Kvatch and then opening of others, to news getting to everyone in Skyrim about Whiterun's gate, to then holding a Moot about the issue and deciding what to do, to then sending Jan-Hei alone to Kvatch, easily 3 months will have passed. There'll be no sign of the group or Daedra in Kvatch by the time he'd arrive, and you would have to wait way too long to start writing in the IC. You'll have to arrange a way for Jan-Hei to be at - or nearby - Kvatch at the time of the gate closing. Maybe he was in the city and got out in time, and is waiting down at the forward camp. Or, he saw the commotion from afar, and went to investigate to give help/curiosity, etc.

For his inventory, you may want to include money and a pestle and mortar - there's no point having the ingredients if you can't grind them into a potion. Also, why is he carrying around a bunch of heavy pelts and hide? It seems a pointlessly cumbersome thing to have; so does the pickaxe, at that. Does he have any experience in mining for it?

That's all I have to say, but I'm loving the start of it. As long as you can explain it, I love the idea of Argonian nomads beating the odds and getting a prestigious career in Skyrim, of all places. Just follow up with what I've said and let us take another look when you're done. @Leos Klien - if you have anything to add, here be the tag. And [@Rokku Hoshi] if you'd like to contest some of the points I've made or need something explaining, feel free to ask here or send me a PM if you like.

The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion - Crimson Skies

@RokkuHoshi

Ah, my mistake. I wonder if my wording is confused or misdirecting in some places. Sorry you got confused!

@MacabreFox

Don't worry about it bud, it's great! Hope you enjoyed your trip, by the way. :

The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion - Crimson Skies

@RokkuHoshi
You can have 2 Journeyman and 3 Apprentice if you want - all the info about skills is on the first opening post in the OOC.

@ShieldsOfWar
We certainly are open, and happy to have you apply! Do give the first post a look through for instructions on how to fill out the CS and rules.

Escaping the Blight: A Collaboration of POOHEAD189 & MiddleEarthRoze

Feri couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved at the soldier's reaction; a laugh, a warm grin, and a spark lighting up his grey eyes. Even in battle, she had seen a dullness there - and if he was a survivor of Ostagar, it was no wonder he seemed so haunted. From the stories she had heard, she could only imagine how much worse it would be in person. Especially if he lost someone there.

Looking somewhat uncertainly at the large dog, Feri carefully patted the top of Gideon's head after deciding he wasn't going to take a chomp out of her fingers. Even after all of her years in Ferelden, she was unused to the size of dogs. Any dogs, actually - you never had a hound on a ship. A mongrel got on board once when they docked in Antiva, and it had taken 3 whole months to coax the cats out of their hiding holes. The mice population really boomed during that time.

Shaking her head slightly as her thoughts drifted, Feri followed Rannon to the stream, Gideon trotting behind them. She stayed in silence for a moment, wondering if she had been somewhat insensitive in asking about Ostagar. But then, they were in quite the desperate situation - now wasn't the time to play along with social niceties.

"We had some Grey Wardens come through Lothering a few days before the Darkspawn arrived - I was wondering if anyone other than them had survived." Feri said as she knelt at the stream, running her blades through the bubbling water. She glanced at Rannon again, smiling slightly. "Glad to see someone did - otherwise I'd be Blight fodder."

Into The Dark: Mercenaries (Heroes of Fame and Fortune)

From the Banian ale the night before to the decor in the manor they stood in, Lis was getting a serious sensation of deja vu. Part of her remained uncomfortable at the memories of Bania; she had left the country precisely for a different kind of work, and now here she was, seemingly thrown back into it. Either that that, or she was just over-thinking the entire thing. They were still in Starkvale, after all. The other half of her, however, seemed rather content at her situation. Lis had gained access to an up-and-coming mercenary group with their own guild hall (God, the beds were so comfortable she nearly slipped into a coma - not that she was going to tell anybody that), and they already had a job. Well... they might have a job. Pursing her lips slightly in annoyance, Lis glared at the servant as they offered wine.

"Why is it every time an outfit like this gets invited to some noble's mansion, they're never available to greet us? It's always "They're in a meeting", or "He's busy at the moment, have a drink while you wait and stand out like a leper in a ballroom." Lis' glower seemed to increase as she spoke to Kayden, not putting any effort in keeping her disgruntled complaining down. Still, she did have a point. The servant stepped away uncomfortably before Lis could even take the offer of wine - not that she was bothered. She didn't trust this place, no way she was going to start drinking in it. Perhaps this was paranoid of her, but the half-dwarf had never been harmed by cautious thinking before. Especially in a place that reminded her of the monster-ridden Bania.