Ocelot79

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The Black Undeath

@ArkmageddonCat I'm not planning to make a post right now, so don't wait for me. I'll post again right after the next one.

The Black Undeath

Edric Rane, Cartelom

Just like most buildings in Cartelom, the Lord's Keep had seen better days. From the outside, it was giving a sense of abandonment, as if it was vacant and weathered, yet it was still standing strong. Cartelom as a whole was rotting away, with priorities set elsewhere. In a way, the keep symbolized the city, where progress had been halted but the final verdict on whether they'd be allowed to resume normal life was not given out yet. Edric was one of the last to enter but everyone inside was still waiting for Captain Hannigan to appear.

If there was something that made Edric feel old, it was the people in the hall. As if his country wasn't detached enough from the western provinces, the twelve years he'd been in exile rendered his remaining knowledge of "western" nobility nearly useless. Cartelom was much closer to his homeland than the countries he'd been, yet he felt he was the furthest he'd ever been. But he wasn't the only foreigner in the room, judging from appearances. People of all ranks and sizes were present. Some were clearly nobles, others not so much. A few seemed trustworthy, while others seemed like cannon fodder for the so-called undead hordes. Most were younger than him, but the difference in age didn't bother him. What worried him the most was how this sense of duty that motivated these people to be there would play out on the battlefield.

Formerly a member of a powerful mercenary, Edric knew that a thousand disciplined men could best a disorganized army of ten thousand. If the undead were as numerous as everyone was saying, they'd need this kind of discipline to avoid getting overpowered. But would inexperienced volunteers or self-centered nobles hold the line and die if they were ordered to? Would front-liners maintain their position against a rampaging horde ten times their size? For one, these people had no uniformity, as each and every one of them had their own equipment, their own weapons and, most importantly, their own goals and motivations. That could be catastrophic in an event where sacrifices would have to be made.

Edric was no better, he knew that. His goal was to reunite with his family or, if fate had it otherwise, find out how they died. And maybe find out if his people were still alive somewhere westwards of home. In any case, he wasn't planning on perishing in Rhogain defending the living, at least not yet. Casting his cynicism aside, he finally considered the silver lining of the situation. The Lord's keep only seemed abandoned from the outside.

The Black Undeath

@ArkmageddonCat

I'm going to make a post until Wednesday. Was busy this weekend.

Sum up your week in roleplaying in just 3 words

Bloody zombies everywhere

The Black Undeath

Edric Rane, Cartelom

The partial absence of the sun made the already grim atmosphere even worse. Headaches were plaguing Edric, who was still not used to the bone-pinching cold or to the damp and dark reality of his new home. The sun was rising, except it wasn't, a new day was coming except it was going to be more of the same. The bland marshes beyond the city welcomed no one, as if they were tired of all life. Was this place always like that?

Hope was a powerful force. Edric knew that better than most. Being forced to seek unknown lands and endeavors, having to travel to mysterious lands that didn't necessarily accept him for what he was, hope was essential in keeping him from losing his identity. But not everyone understood it's importance. The people of Cartelom were struggling, but they did not believe in a better future, they didn't envision it. That much was clear to Edric. Struggling would keep them alive, for now, but it would not be enough if they were to rebuild again in the future. The undead were strugglers and much better that, having laid waste to most of civilization in that part of the world within a short period of time. From his point of view, something more was needed if they were to overcome this profound crisis.

Gearing up was second nature for Sir Edric. His armor was welcoming, his sword was sharp and his house insignia was as radiant as always and a reminder of who he was. The least he could do was keep not just his gear, but his own self in good condition, for Cartelom was not meant to be his final destination.

Stepping out of the barracks should have made him feel better. Not used to cold environments, his head was pounding. He knew it would come to pass eventually but for now he'd have to endure. Cartelom's militia assembled once again, to guard the city and push forward, away from it's walls. The country of Rhogein was vast and it's many mines and villages reportedly abandoned for the most part. The few people who dared explore it were like uninvited visitors, transient and insignificant. As if the place was not meant for their kind any longer.

The Black Undeath

And just like that, I realized I never pointed out where my characters begins his story. Brb expanding the bio.

The Black Undeath

I'd like the idea of starting together but explaining how we got to that same place in our opening posts. What do you think?

The Black Undeath

How many characters will there be before we begin? Also will we start together or will be get together later on?

The Black Undeath

Edric Rane

Name: Sir Edric the exile Rane
Sex: Male
Appearance:

My Hider

Age: 38

Fighting Style: Edric has been trained to use a one-handed sword with or without a shield and his fighting style is defensive and protective.

Equipment:

* A one-handed sword in good shape. It's hilt has a silvery look and ends up to a rhombus-shaped, reddish pink ruby, the symbol of his house, encased inside the hilt.
* A relatively new medium-sized iron heater shield. It's decorated with the same rhombus-shaped, reddish pink ruby in a blue background, the colors of his house
* Medium armor. Pretty standard for a knight of his caliber. Can slow down the strongest man but provides much needed protection against anyone who doesn't know how to exploit it's weak spots, such as the undead.
* A small knife. Pretty standard for heavyweights, it can be useful in a myriad of situations.
* Memorabilia, small gifts and other trinkets Edric has gathered throughout his journeys.
* Money

Biography: Edric Rane is the youngest member of the house of Rane, a minor, relatively old noble house that ruled over a small fertile region in the east. Noted for it's heroism, it's members enjoyed the appraise of other nobles, as well as peace and prosperity. Edric was the first Rane to be knighted by a fellow knight, and the first one to be exiled, at the age of 26. His banishment was caused by his decision to adopt a foreign religion that was somewhat unaccepted at that time. The fact that he did so as a noble and knight caused the King's anger, who was constantly afraid of impending instability and wanted to purge anyone who deviated from his standards. Edric's punishment for returning to the country would most likely be imprisonment, which for Edric was worse than death.

For the next 12 years, Edric was discovering the lands west, sometimes settling for months at a time. Being a trained and tested knight made him a respected mercenary and headhunter and, as such, Edric has no qualms about pressing on. Eventually, he got over his past and became content with being a traveling mercenary. This was solidified by his decision to join a prestigious mercenary company, which gave him the opportunity to rise in the ranks of a different hierarchy, working with people he could trust. The constant need for mercenaries at that time kept Edric exceptionally strong and capable, despite his age.

Edric vowed to return to his homeland as soon as he heard about the undead invasion. It was clear that his home was either destroyed or about to be and Edric knew there was no way to reach them in time. Banishing himself for the second time, Edric left the company illegally to find what happened to his family. Knowing his father, brother and sister, they should have fled before the calamity could hit them and were either hiding in a nearby city or in the mountains to the north. Or they could have moved further towards the north or the west, in an attempt to escape.

His travels led him to the country of Rhogein and from there to the city of Cartelom, which was nothing like home. What seemed like the first stop of a much greater journey ended up quite differently, as Cartelom wouldn't let him leave so quickly. What he would discover after twelve years of absence was a very disheartening situation even for a man who had been through a lot.