Mirandae

Welcome to Santa Somabra [Fantasy Noir]

I've decided to keep my involvement in this roleplay to a fancy 'guest appearance'. The reasons are not important, really. However, I will complete the collaboration that I'm currently doing with @potatochipgolem and @XSilentWingsX. So, no worries. After that, I'll be on my merry way!

A simple system for everyone.

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A simple system for everyone.

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What's the attraction in Sandbox roleplays?

What would be a good balance between story and sandbox? Those 'seasons' sound like a good option, but is there another?

Welcome to Santa Somabra [Fantasy Noir]

There is a distinct charm to observing things that crawl and flounder and fester consume the tender beauty of nature and flesh. All that is built upon the essential pillars, of dust and earth and bone and fluid, sooner or later return to whence they came and nurture the circle of life. Such was the case with the unfortunate soul who had ventured too far, stretched and reached his liberties where they had neither purpose nor privilege being. His body was devoured by earthworms and spiders, woodlice and pillbugs, moths and beetles, poisonous toads and snakes, and many other insects of the Wormwood Marshlands. The man was a bookie and a drug peddler, an individual of lesser talents forced to seek the superiority of others in order to survive in the unforgiving city of sin and vice. Many of his kind sought out the services of that shady Witch of the swamp, thinking; what could that old hag possibly do to hurt me?

Sophia fiddled with one of many chained pendants in her possession. It had some esoteric meaning described in ancient tombs, none of which mattered much in this day and age, but they certainly had sentimental value to her. After all, the elegant woman did not aspire to be cruel in spirit even if what she did in the flesh and material world had minuscule moral meaning or impact. Besides, she lived in Wormwood for a reason. It was a garden of ingredients for alchemical and occult practices. She had called upon one of her servants to do the dirty work of collecting insects from the feast of the bookie’s rapidly decaying body. Sophia did not know the servant’s name or who he was now or back in the old country. The brainwashed goons in her horrid cult were known in Santa Somabra as the Faceless, as they wore pallid masks and dark clothing in order to be one with the shadows and embrace the unknown. The Faceless were eerie and uncomfortable, a chilling presence.

The dark clad woman pointed and selected the ingredients for her servant to acquire. She refused to speak to the Faceless unless she absolutely had to, as their presence and voices were utmost disturbing. Sophia had never seen their actual faces, but she knew that they were horridly scarred from whatever vile ritual her father had put them through during initiation. However, the Faceless themselves did not seem to care, no matter how badly Sophia treated them. They were completely blank, ghosts of their former selves, thoroughly detached from the material world and their personal being, and wherever they appeared, the Faceless struck fear and despair into the hearts of even the most hardened individuals.

Apparently, the bookie nearly died from a heart attack when he awoke from his slumber in the middle of the night, feeling the presence of a silent Faceless looming in his apartment. They surely had a talent for sneaking up on people, simply existing and not existing. Even Sophia herself was always startled whenever a Faceless seemingly transitioned itself into her abode to deliver a message or heed her call. They were just…creepy, like the Grim Reaper itself arriving at your door step. When another one of them now appeared at Sophia’s side, in the midst of the dank swamp and the burial ritual of the bookie, her body twitched at suddenly realizing the hulking and chilling presence, the metallic voice.

“Mistress………,” the second Faceless said. Sophia’s heart jolted, but instantly settled as per routine.

“Would it hurt you to announce yourself a little earlier? It’s like a constant horror film around here,” she muttered in annoyance while returning her focus to the first Faceless, whom collected insects from the bookie’s body. “What the Hell do you want?” She continued.

“The full Moon stirs the pack….. rivers of red engulf the streets…. silhouettes approach from the city, invading the haven….,” the second Faceless spoke. However, it did not remove itself from Sophia’s presence, which they usually did when delivering a message or information. The woman glanced at the dark presence.

“You’re still here,” she said, implying that the Faceless should remove himself.

“The source of the rumor exists within this domain….. however…. its soul and flesh unknown….,” the second Faceless concluded.

“Let the others know that I hereby lift my decree of pacifism. Do what you must to discover who this wretched being is,” Sophia said. Her voice was cold and monotone, her eyes pale and dead. “Also, ensure sentinels around the haven… those rabid dogs can slaughter the entire city for all I care, but I don’t want them here,” she continued.

“Yes, Mistress…..,” the second Faceless said and seemingly vanished into the shadows and fog of the swamp.

“That’s enough… give me the ingredients,” Sophia spoke in Romanian, grabbing a small bucket of insects from the first Faceless. “Get lost,” she continued, ordering the Faceless to discard the body of the bookie and return to his duties in the city.

Sophia retreated into the depths of home. The Wormwood Estate was the abandoned haven and escape of some Eighteenth century aristocrat turned mad, meddling in black arts and necromancy. Lucien was his name, as Sophia had discovered in old journals and documents. The structure had several bedrooms, living spaces, two kitchens, a wine cellar, and a basement. The underground of the estate was vast. It also had an escape tunnel that led all the way out of the marshlands. However, in all her years, Sophia never had to use the means of escape or be afraid. She was too much of an asset to the psychopaths of the city. And with a small army of creepy, Voorhees -esque serial murderers at her back, Sophia was an influential member of the underworld community. However, unlike many other kingpins and dangerous individuals, she was mostly uninterested in running things or disrupting the business of others, which had made her a neutral party in most situations.

The woman seated herself beside a massive cauldron in one of the kitchens. The apparatus was boiling with a pitch black liquid. It was the beginning of an enchantment recipe, her own design. After the proper ingredients were added to the putrid fluid and the complex rituals preformed, it was ready to be coated on a melee weapon of choice, and then heated to form a strong crust. An individual, who would then be penetrated with the weapon, would suffer horrid nightmares every night and hallucinate during the day for at least a week. The enchantment was a passion project, a personal pursuit, a potent mix.

Sophia fell into a deep trance, as she devoted herself to the ins and outs of alchemical practices. A light hum of some ancient melody emerged from her presence. Some of the Faceless patrolled the outer rims of the haven, hulking minions of nightmares equipped with vile hatchets and machetes, ready to strike and murder the unwanted. Something was going on in the city that would sooner or later reach beyond its borders and invade everyone’s privacy. Sophia could feel it in the dank air. She could feel that a knock on her door was imminent. They would once again drag her into their shady dealings, drama, and emotions that always ended with extreme bloodshed. Maybe it had something to do with the rumor of her father being alive and in Santa Somabra, the man who had once attempted to sacrifice her to his imaginary God, the man from which she had acquired her uninvited talents.

A Faceless appeared behind Sophia, but she was too deep into her meditation to react.

“Mistress….. someone approaches….,” it said.

“………………let them in,” she silently retorted, elegance and depth in her tone.

Why do you RP?

I enjoy the possibility of multimedia expression. It's not just about the writing, but music and imagery as well, setting a specific mood that will evoke different feelings in the players.

Welcome to Santa Somabra [Fantasy Noir]

I plan to write an introduction post tomorrow, or there about. It will mostly set things up for my character and her personal story, but it will open up for visitors at the end, and hopefully I can get into the swing of things.

Welcome to Santa Somabra [Fantasy Noir]

Sophia Liana Moldoveanu

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Aged Fifty-One | Human | Witch & Enchantress

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☩ Appearance ☩

Sophia stands at 5’7” tall and weighs in at roughly a hundred and forty pounds. Her posture and build is robust and voluptuous, accentuating tantalizing flow. She has dark hair and brown eyes. Her spruce is heavy on the eyebrows and shadows with colors that complement her hair and natural pigmentation. Sophia usually wears knee-high leather boots and generally flowy, dark garments. She also has a massive collection of pendants, necklaces, and trinkets that she wears randomly. Her voice often carries a deep, slow, and sensual tone.

☩ Personality ☩

This elegant madam is a league of her own. Her presence carries an air of mystery and awe that can inspire or demoralize. She embodies a deeply rooted confidence that can sometimes translate to capriciousness and bedlam, which accompanied by fearlessness, sublime perception, aptitude, cunning, and sophistication makes her a cerebral individual worthy of worship by lesser minds.

However, the aforementioned lofty attributes makes Sophia blindly egocentric and disorganized to the point of being completely unaware of her pride. Her stubborn and dominant nature always assumes her will to be the will of others as well, and she always attempts to win every single argument or debate. Resistance might plunge Sophia into the depths of intense self-critical, introspective, and brooding behavior. Therein she can dwell on pains or perceived injustices brought upon her by external agents, while plotting a gruesome revenge.

Sophia values her own passions as above those others’. When the contrary surfaces, she can conduct extensive philosophical musings concerning the circumstances that brought upon that state, accompanied by a cynical, world-weary, jaded view on things. Insodoing, her arrogance can sometimes transform into a Marty-like attitude, which is highly unpleasant. Either way, Sophia’s confidence, awe-striking presence, and charisma is enough to make lesser men fall on their knees before her.

Sophia shows affection for those close to her through action in contrast to words. She might spontaneously braid their hair, offer physical intimacy, or display a faint smirk when the special someone presents themselves. However, Sophia can also extend her graces in a sultry fashion to complete strangers, but exclusively under pretense. Whoever is blessed with the warmth of Sophia’s body will meet a swift end thereafter unless they have caught her heart beforehand. Being a part of her inner circle of trust is an extremely rare phenomenon.

☩ Biography ☩

Sophia hails from the depths of southeastern-central European forests and mountains. Her mother was a lowly villager, a housekeeper of no significance until the day that the local cult robbed her away from the estate in which she served. The leader of said following had taken notice of her and decided for them to be married. The husband, an extremely charismatic man, was a prophet who had foretold the reincarnation of some esoteric being in his first born, whom were to be a boy. When Sophia appeared, the prophecy fell to fallacy and the whole family barely escaped the cult with their lives intact.

In the wilderness of the dark lands, Sophia’s father attempted to sacrifice his newborn daughter in an attempt to prove his loyalty and regain his power. However, the mother had already taken note of his madness and slipped away with her child into the frosty shadows of the forests. The harsh conditions of nature almost claimed the mother and daughter, but they reached the edge before all was lost. They managed to board a ship that destined them for a new world, a new life far away from the bitter and accursed Romania.

However, the endeavors of the mother and daughter in a foreign land were unforgiving and one of them eventually lost their life. Sophia was stranded, deserted at a young age and time of her occult blooming. What she soon discovered, however, was how deeply her mother had underestimated the name of Moldoveanu and the cult her husband had set the foundations for. He was not just a random madman. He was a mastermind of manipulation and naturally gifted in black arts. The cult had followed Sophia and her mother to the new world.

The remaining followers wished no harm upon the young girl. In fact, they hailed her as their new leader, seeing the same dark talents in her as the saw in her father years ago. However, Sophia wanted nothing to do with them. The first thing she decreed as the ‘dark mistress’ was that neither she nor the God they worshiped favored child sacrifice. It was to be forbidden along with seeking Sophia’s presence without an urgent and proper cause. Ever since then, the cult members have observed and protected Sophia from the shadows, only ever emerging at her call.

It was not until Sophia caught wind of some disturbing rumors and reached the city of sin that she began to embrace the usefulness of a group of brainwashed goons at her disposal. The Dark Mistress has appointed them one task, and one task only—to find clues and solve the rumor that to Sophia is utmost disturbing. They are not to interfere with the existing activities in the city, nor its influential inhabitants. However, due to Sophia’s somewhat neutral stance and exceptional talents, her inquisition is often interrupted by more than shady figures and their wants and needs.

☩ Other ☩

Sophia generally keeps to herself in a formerly abandoned house, in the middle of dank swamp, at the outskirts of the city. She is utmost uninterested in the dealings of criminal masterminds and dangerous gangs, but her talents drags her into their shady businesses more than she would like to. Whether it concerns charms and enchantments, drugs and potions, or dangerous black arts, her services does not come cheap. The goons of her cult live in and around the city, but never interfere in the daily lives of its citizens, as per her order. When and if Sophia needs them, she will call upon them.

Welcome to Santa Somabra [Fantasy Noir]

@potatochipgolem@DJAtomika
Both of those sound great to me, if it works for everyone else and the GM.

Here's the character sheet for this witch-type character. I turned out a bit different from what I had first imagined, but it seems decent enough. I'm ready to adjust wherever needed.

[+]

Sophia Liana Moldoveanu

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Aged Fifty-One | Human | Witch & Enchantress

---

☩ Appearance ☩

Sophia stands at 5’7” tall and weighs in at roughly a hundred and forty pounds. Her posture and build is robust and voluptuous, accentuating tantalizing flow. She has dark hair and brown eyes. Her spruce is heavy on the eyebrows and shadows with colors that complement her hair and natural pigmentation. Sophia usually wears knee-high leather boots and generally flowy, dark garments. She also has a massive collection of pendants, necklaces, and trinkets that she wears randomly. Her voice often carries a deep, slow, and sensual tone.

☩ Personality ☩

This elegant madam is a league of her own. Her presence carries an air of mystery and awe that can inspire or demoralize. She embodies a deeply rooted confidence that can sometimes translate to capriciousness and bedlam, which accompanied by fearlessness, sublime perception, aptitude, cunning, and sophistication makes her a cerebral individual worthy of worship by lesser minds.

However, the aforementioned lofty attributes makes Sophia blindly egocentric and disorganized to the point of being completely unaware of her pride. Her stubborn and dominant nature always assumes her will to be the will of others as well, and she always attempts to win every single argument or debate. Resistance might plunge Sophia into the depths of intense self-critical, introspective, and brooding behavior. Therein she can dwell on pains or perceived injustices brought upon her by external agents, while plotting a gruesome revenge.

Sophia values her own passions as above those others’. When the contrary surfaces, she can conduct extensive philosophical musings concerning the circumstances that brought upon that state, accompanied by a cynical, world-weary, jaded view on things. Insodoing, her arrogance can sometimes transform into a Marty-like attitude, which is highly unpleasant. Either way, Sophia’s confidence, awe-striking presence, and charisma is enough to make lesser men fall on their knees before her.

Sophia shows affection for those close to her through action in contrast to words. She might spontaneously braid their hair, offer physical intimacy, or display a faint smirk when the special someone presents themselves. However, Sophia can also extend her graces in a sultry fashion to complete strangers, but exclusively under pretense. Whoever is blessed with the warmth of Sophia’s body will meet a swift end thereafter unless they have caught her heart beforehand. Being a part of her inner circle of trust is an extremely rare phenomenon.

☩ Biography ☩

Sophia hails from the depths of southeastern-central European forests and mountains. Her mother was a lowly villager, a housekeeper of no significance until the day that the local cult robbed her away from the estate in which she served. The leader of said following had taken notice of her and decided for them to be married. The husband, an extremely charismatic man, was a prophet who had foretold the reincarnation of some esoteric being in his first born, whom were to be a boy. When Sophia appeared, the prophecy fell to fallacy and the whole family barely escaped the cult with their lives intact.

In the wilderness of the dark lands, Sophia’s father attempted to sacrifice his newborn daughter in an attempt to prove his loyalty and regain his power. However, the mother had already taken note of his madness and slipped away with her child into the frosty shadows of the forests. The harsh conditions of nature almost claimed the mother and daughter, but they reached the edge before all was lost. They managed to board a ship that destined them for a new world, a new life far away from the bitter and accursed Romania.

However, the endeavors of the mother and daughter in a foreign land were unforgiving and one of them eventually lost their life. Sophia was stranded, deserted at a young age and time of her occult blooming. What she soon discovered, however, was how deeply her mother had underestimated the name of Moldoveanu and the cult her husband had set the foundations for. He was not just a random madman. He was a mastermind of manipulation and naturally gifted in black arts. The cult had followed Sophia and her mother to the new world.

The remaining followers wished no harm upon the young girl. In fact, they hailed her as their new leader, seeing the same dark talents in her as the saw in her father years ago. However, Sophia wanted nothing to do with them. The first thing she decreed as the ‘dark mistress’ was that neither she nor the God they worshiped favored child sacrifice. It was to be forbidden along with seeking Sophia’s presence without an urgent and proper cause. Ever since then, the cult members have observed and protected Sophia from the shadows, only ever emerging at her call.

It was not until Sophia caught wind of some disturbing rumors and reached the city of sin that she began to embrace the usefulness of a group of brainwashed goons at her disposal. The Dark Mistress has appointed them one task, and one task only—to find clues and solve the rumor that to Sophia is utmost disturbing. They are not to interfere with the existing activities in the city, nor its influential inhabitants. However, due to Sophia’s somewhat neutral stance and exceptional talents, her inquisition is often interrupted by more than shady figures and their wants and needs.

☩ Other ☩

Sophia generally keeps to herself in a formerly abandoned house, in the middle of dank swamp, at the outskirts of the city. She is utmost uninterested in the dealings of criminal masterminds and dangerous gangs, but her talents drags her into their shady businesses more than she would like to. Whether it concerns charms and enchantments, drugs and potions, or dangerous black arts, her services does not come cheap. The goons of her cult live in and around the city, but never interfere in the daily lives of its citizens, as per her order. When and if Sophia needs them, she will call upon them.

Welcome to Santa Somabra [Fantasy Noir]

@Kingfisher I imagine the character to be a kind of gypsy, fortune teller-styled witch. She's middle aged, and appears a bit capricious, disoriented, and chaotic to others. However, she herself is perfectly calm and organized in that disorder, which would enhance that superstition.

Maybe she has some kind of trade that keeps her relevant to the outside world and the gangs/individuals of the city. You mentioned charms to reinforce weapons and containers, so maybe she'd be into that. And, also, maybe she'd possess some kind of formula that spikes the potency of Fairy Dust, or prevents coma in the event of overdosing.

However, I doubt she'd get herself involved in whatever is going on in the city without being dragged into by someone else. Is it possible to get an NPC or player to seek her out? Create some kind of urgency for her to get involved?