Saber

Forged in Gold

"On the hooves of a blizzard, far from the north he had flown,
Little Bear Kingbreaker stormed down from his home.
A trail of blood and bone did he leave; salted lands and burning trees.
Banners fly in ire of peace, subjugation broken; our bonds are released.
With a swing of an axe, Warrhon's small lord did fall..."

Her voice trailed away, her fingers dropping from the melody of her lute. Pyrra Salt lifted her head, tucking long strands of black hair behind her ears as the crushing rhythm of the Hinterland Horde slowly halted before her. Most seemed to be grizzled men, uncomfortable to be so close to the heart of a despised empire. Yet, too, among them she spied the fair; her hazel eyes falling upon the younger brother of Brogan Arten.

She had been sent to receive this large host, though the song 'Kingbreaker's Ride' was purely her choice. There was something about the rough and reverent songs of the distant lands that filled her with a secret joy.

Above her, as she fastened her lute to her hip, the archers stared down with their bows drawn and their eyes narrowed; a fact that was quickly protested by Brogan...the bear of a man who rode at the van. Once the lute was secure, she straightened her tight leather bodice and offered a sweeping bow. With her nape of her neck exposed, she spoke her first words to the man; the eyes of the northerners and the King's own soldiers on her as she began.

"Hail, Brogan Arten, son of Arten Kingbreaker. And to all those who ride with you. I am Pyrra Salt."

She tossed her hand up, unceremoniously, letting it linger there as she stole quick glances at each of the men in the front. The archers tensed, the sound of the strings stretching obvious even from where she was standing. With an abrupt turn, she shouted up the city's walls.

"OPEN THE GATE, YOU LOUTS! OR DID YOU NOT SEE THE FUCKING PROCESSION COMING?"

After the groaning cacophony of chains began, she turned back to Brogan.

"If you would follow me, Lord Brogan. I am to take you to meet with King Piervue and your bethroted, Seralle Loroughe."

The Dead Cairn Chronicles [Interest Check]

PrinceOfQuills said
And before I forget, is there a lingering prejudice (even to the slightest subliminal degree) against women? What is the level of feminism in this universe, if there is any?

Not on a cultural level. Sure, some people may think less of women; but the truth is, they all worship what they know is a mortal woman and her teachings.

I'll shoot you a PM answering your other questions sometime later in the day.

Sorry for the belated response. I was without power for most of yesterday.

Bunnita: Hiya and no problem ;) You seem like an interesting sort. I'm curious to see how much different your in-character style is.

EDIT: Probably going to have the OOC up tomorrow.

Forged in Gold

Man...we made a lot of characters just to start off with, haha. Ready to get started whenever you are.

The Dead Cairn Chronicles [Interest Check]

Mages are not inherently evil. It's just that everyone (generally everyone, anyway) believes that they are due to their connection to the Gods. Mind you, this doesn't mean that they've traded their souls for this power or anything; it's more of an exchange of their own vital energy to enact some kind of change in the world. There's no real oath to be taken or contract to abide by.

More about mages and magic will be explained in the OOC. Waiting for, perhaps, one or two more people before I put it up.

All that aside...

Welcome.

The Dead Cairn Chronicles [Interest Check]

What Sicarius said. ^^

Welcome and stuff. I'll be posting a CS in the OOC, once a couple more people have shown interest.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

The Dead Cairn Chronicles [Interest Check]

Sup, Ashgan? It's a pleasure to meet you and an even greater pleasure to know that I've managed to get your interest!
Now, to address some things you asked about.

Ashgan said first thing out of the way, how high fantasy is high fantasy for you? I get that you've got mages and gods and monsters, but high fantasy typically includes (arche)typical races like elves, dwarves and orcs. Will those be present here? So far you only mentioned, and put great emphasis on, humans, but what do I know? I'm personally not a fan of these Tolkienese (??) species as I've seen them one time too many

Nope. Human is the only race. There was a short debate about this, when work first started on the setting, between myself and the co-creator/cartographer. Ultimately, the decision was reached that we would implement no races other than Human.

Ashgan said
I would like to know in general what some of your inspirations were for this, to help me to better position your setting.

The entire idea was inspired by Planescape: Torment. At least, it was in the beginning. After playing it for a short time, I realized that I had become enamored with the idea of a torturous immortality; more a curse than a blessing. From there, I posed my idea to my co-creator (Sicarius, for future reference) and we set to work building a world that has admittedly undergone many changes...and timelines.

Core influences on my side, though, are as follows; Arcanum of Steamwork and Magicka Obscura, various D&D campaigns I've been involved in, my vested interest in creating a 'fleshy' fantasy setting, some steampunk stuff, several anime and manga, several fantasy books.

Ashgan said Now your world is a very unexplored map for me, and I'm admittedly lost to some extent. There's a certain charm to that I admit, and I understand wanting to keep an IntChk brief, but you bring up plenty of names and expressions that have a lot of significance, while shedding very little light on them. As an example, the part about the Death Touched; they were former Immortals. That's cool and swell, but, what exactly is an Immortal? It's described in name only. I like the flavor of their description a lot, but I also don't really know where to place them or what to do with them.

The Immortals are those who have engaged in a contract with the Gods. The bargain is a harsh one, granting the mortal with a life that is nearly impossible to extinguish in exchange for the complete service of that mortal; allowing them their Passing, their true death, upon the completion of their terms. The reason an Immortal is chosen is rarely revealed directly, with the Gods providing little aid or insight beyond the abilities granted to them upon the enactment of their servitude. Many who accept this agreement often come to regret it, performing their tasks with deadly efficiency; seeking with a blackened fervor the Passing that had been promised to them.

Quick explanation.

Edit: My fault! There is a map, for the setting (though it is incomplete, as of now) that will be posted when it is finished.

The Death Touched will serve primarily as Nycyd's servants; most likely opposing the main group of characters. They will be enforcers of Death's will and probably a frequent threat (and perhaps allies, at times) to the player-characters. I don't expect anyone to want to play one, but if they do they're free to shoot me a message and we'll talk about what all goes into being Death Touched.

Ashgan said I have a similar feeling of lacking a certain context with other parts of the information presented, like you were writing this post addressed at an audience perhaps already familiar with your setting to some extent, but you did say you were going to post a large amount of info in the OOC, so I'll just wait until then, I'm sure you'll cover all the holes. Could you tell me perhaps a little more about technology in this world? For example, with trains around, are rifles/revolvers a thing? Have they already made traditional weaponry obsolete, if they exist?

While guns exist, they would be a rarity. A large portion of the cities that produced guns were destroyed, as they were in the northern part of Lerayis. However, I am willing to make exceptions for Mage Slayers. As they are provided for by Vigil, it would make sense for them to carry a rifle or pistol.

Most folk, however, carry simple weaponry.

Ashgan said What their society is like, how they typically operate, and similar matters.

Mage Slayers are generally chosen from the ranks of the Lerayissian military (whichever country they happen to be from, those'll be posted up later) and put through rigorous training. They operate in varying numbers, depending on their target and the suspected threat that it poses; though generally, they would be dispatched with their squad. Squads are composed of four members, though there is no appointed leader; as Vigil's Council expects their soldiers to enact quick action.

They're granted a certain amount of immunity to the law, when writs are handed down for the life of a mage. This means that they can carry out their executions in broad daylight, so long as they can prove that the order was from the council.

If that was too vague, lemme know and I'll provide some more information.

Ashgan said Lastly, and this is a more precise question, I have a rough concept in mind that I would be willing to try out, but I'll have to make sure it works within the setting. The idea I had was a character who is afflicted with some kind of long-term curse or disease, that manifests in some form of visible aesthetic on their body, most likely as a vile growth or deformation, and which is gradually spreading to infect more and more of their body. They might be looking for a cure, or some rare-to-find remedy that can temporarily abate the affliction's progress. Thing is, is such an affliction plausible? I would have to work together with you to work out a source for it that is appropriate to the setting, as it would have to be supernatural (and maybe unique?) in nature.Thanks for bearing with me, Saber, hopefully I didn't ask too much ;PI'll be looking forward to your reply! Thanks again.

Alright, I'll shoot you a PM and we'll see what we can get worked out.

Thanks,
Saber.

The Dead Cairn Chronicles [Interest Check]

Hi, there! I'm Saber! I intend to keep this Interest Check brief, because I have a bad tendency of dumping a lot of OOC information in these threads.

Speaking of which...OOC is up!

Flavor

"You wanted that much essence, for this?"

Death's query was placid, but tinged with disappointment. His voice a dry whisper in the dreamweave, emanating from an unseen crevasse. His lover smirked, tapping her fingers against her chin.

"Nycyd, my love, you do me a great dishonor. Have you ever known me to be wasteful?"

She sat on her throne of water and ivory, smiling through the shifting silver veil of her hair at the mortal tapestry below.

"No," he admitted, "but if not for them, then what?"

Cibest, goddess of the moon and keeper of secrets, offered him a wink before speaking.

"If it were the lives of those petty men I sought, they would have been delivered to you long ago. The Vyiren are merely a catalyst to set the world in motion," she stood, her gown of night and shimmering constellations twisting about her form, "and those who answer the clarion wailing of their bitter vengeance shall be instruments of my will. I shall sit silent all the while and they will find the truth of their folly...in their own time."

Setting: Mid-summer of the year 202 D.E (Dead Era). A half-destroyed Lerayis, roughly two hundred years after the death of the Gods. High fantasy along with some rather modern technology (trains and the like), with a cultural emphasis on despising magic and praising mortal strength. We'll be exploring ideas about fanaticism against the divine and the persecution of those born with a connection to the old Gods. This is a rather fleshed out world, presented in 'The Pyrrian Transcripts' (though it has been in development for quite some time) roleplay that was in its infancy just before the old guild went down. I will provide specific information when asked for it, though I plan to post a rather large amount of information in the OOC.

Plot: The staunch city of Merrifort sits on the southern skirt of the Godwastes, a bastion against the terrors that lurch out of the fetid wastelands to the north. While two members of Vigil's Council (the governing body of the largest religion in Lerayis) are visiting, the city is swarmed by creatures believed to be absent from the world. Vyiren, the shadow-servants of Cibest, goddess of the moon and secrets, swarm the city; slaughtering several innocents and claiming the lives of the visiting council members. Humanity sees this reemergence of the Vyiren and subsequent murder of the council members as the first strike in a new war against the remaining Gods. Vigil's remaining council members send out an order to several Mage Slayers and capable warriors to follow the Vyiren horde into the Godwastes and exact revenge for the Gods' slight against humanity. Those who have answered this call gather in Merrifort, three days after the murder of council members Atayr Quinn and Solen Bree, prepared to receive their orders.

I will go ahead and give a few bits of information...to whet your appetite, if I have such a power over you ;)

Information

The Dead Cairn: Forged when then blood of Vysold spilled onto Lerayis two hundred years ago, the Cairn stands as a staunch reminder of the maliciousness of the divine. It is a grotesque thing, jutting up like a broken bone from the rotten flesh of the land. Though it is generally avoided by those who would make their home in the Godwastes, there are some tainted with vile ambition; cruel beings that offer blood to the old stone. It is believed that this arcane growth is the source of all corruption in the Godwastes. While theories on the less obvious effects of the Cairn existing on the mortal tapestry are plentiful; it is whispered that all mages draw their power from this stone.

Godwastes: The expanse of scarred, fetid land that takes up the northern portion of what was formerly Lerayis. The earth there is cracked and deeply pitted, bearing little in the way of life. There are sparse, gray patches of grass that dot the landscape and an occassional petrified tree in the south; which is furthest from the point of the Gods' impact with the mortal tapestry. Heading north, the land becames ashen and unstable. Great chasms that belch poison line the Godwastes like old wounds. Posing the most peril, however, are the innumerable monstrosities that roam the land; be they aberrant creatures or humans twisted by the Dead Cairn's influence, they are a constant threat to those who dare to enter these pale and cursed lands.

Death Touched: What once were Immortals are now the Death Touched; those bound to servitude in the name of Nycyd, God of Death. Removed from the former perks that came with immortality, the Death Touched merely can not die; regardless of what wounds they suffer through and will continue fighting even after they have sustained enough damage to kill a mortal several times over. Yet, they must suffer through every wound. Since there are no healing magics left in the world, the Death Touched often resort to stitching themselves back together and waiting for their still living tissue to mend its self. The Death Touched are widely despised and reviled.

Mages: Those who draw their power from the Dead Cairn. Mages have always been distrusted in Lerayis, moreso in these turbulent times, for their unpredictable and nigh uncontrollable abilities. Once, there was an organization devoted to understanding and practicing magic; hidden away in a realm separate from the mortal tapestry, suspended in a realm of chaos. It was these mages of old that turned upon their Gods, bringing them forth into the mortal realm and laying them low.

Magic displaces time in a localized area, causing dysfunction in most complex machines. As such, mages are often discovered by their effects on their surroundings. Currently, mages are killed if discovered in a community. Be they formerly innocent or not, there is no greater sin than to offer a piece of yourself to the dead Gods.

Yildeanic Faith: Founded by Lady Yildeane, in the bygone ages of Lerayis' glory days. Originally a group devoted to enslaving Vysold, they were inevitably turned away from their founding goal through increasingly radical actions. Spurred by Yildeane's fear of losing the fervor of her followers, she began to warp their minds; turning those who followed her completely against the Gods. While the she succeeded in pushing them into the final stages of her plan, Yildeane was made a martyr by her cult; her blood offered as a catalyst for the most destructive spell ever wrought by mortal hands.

After the culling of the Gods and Yildeane's 'sacrifice', she was raised up as a hero to the people who survived. So widespread was her influence at the time of her death that what remained of Lerayis quickly adopted the worship of human qualities that she taught. Now, two hundred years after her death, Lady Yildeane is seen as a goddess to those who would follow her false faith. She is immortalized through the words she left behind and the golden images cast of her by the faithful. Every prayer spoken aloud in Lerayis is offered to Yildeane.

Currently, those who worship Yildeane are vast and varied; but all share a common hatred of magic and fierce sense of loyalty to humanity. These people are often strong of arm and sharp of mind, driven by strict tenants of self-discipline and an untarnished belief in mankind's continuing glory.

The Yildeanic Faith is a force of political and economic relevance within Lerayis, built atop the ruins of the city of Wyverncliff; a symbol of new growth from the decay of an old world. It is from the sprawling fortress of Vigil and its surrounding towers that Mage Slayers are sent into the world. Mage Slayer deployment and other important matters fall into the hands of the city-fortress' council; a reclusive and mysterious group of six that governs much of Vigil. They primarily survive by the income produced by a tax placed on the people that live within the city, though several wealthy benefactors often 'donate' to the church when they have need of discreet assassins.

Merrifort: Situated in basin of a large valley, on an island in the middle of the Merriweather Lake; Merrifort stands as staunch sentinel, reminiscent of the days of wanton bloodshed in Lerayis. A military outpost and stronghold, Merrifort is a bit removed from the implications of its name. Sitting atop an outcropping of stone, elevated above the muddy shores and large docks, the stronghold appears to be, at least partially, carved from the very rock of the island. Heavy towers rise above the bulk of Merrifort, where guards often keep watch on the distant Godwastes, encircling the sprawling city within. A quiet city, there are no trains or loud machinery; though there is an elevated platform near the easternmost tower to accommodate incoming zeppelins for trade and transport.

There is a relatively small population that actually lives on the island, though they often receive visitors for trade from sky or water. Zeppelins are seen drifting lazily over Merrifort during the summer seasons; leaving bloated and slower than they arrived; weighed down with supplies for the winter months. Fishermen or farmers from outlying, smaller villages in Euphius often take their small skiffs or canoes through the turbulent river that connects Merriweather Lake to the rest of Euphius to trade for goods and occasionally seek aid from the well trained Euphian Guard Corps of Merrifort.

Despite being so isolated, Merrifort has an extensive and vested interest in lumber and steel. Many of those who make their residence in Merrifort often spend their time harvesting one or the other, contracted by the city to engage in their labors for a fair price. The lands surrounding the valley in which Merriweather Lake sits have been almost completely stripped of trees, giving the land a harsh and battered look; with the towers of Merrifort overlooking much of the eastern part of Euphius. Zepplins are the main method of transportation for their goods, which are shipped out to several cities in exchange for food and other necessary goods. Merrifort houses, also, a derelict industrial weapon manufacturing facility. Rumor has it that the de facto leader of the city, Commander of the Euphian Guard Corps of Merrifort, Lord Orin Norath, has been seeking skilled laborers with a plan to reinstate the manufacturing of weapons in Merrifort.

Inside of the city is peaceful, with a low crime rate and friendly community. Dominating the plaza beneath Gryphon's Keep, the base of operations for the Guards, is an open air market, full of traders making stops before proceeding on to Vigil or Lightlea; making it a different scene every day, with a variety of different goods available to those with something to trade; though, solid coin always works as well. Beyond the market are various alleys and smaller open areas where tradesmen can be seen plying their craft. Most of the homes in Merrifort are low to the ground and constructed of stone, being partially underground and in orderly rows near the heart of the city; though it is not immediately obvious from the outside.

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe [Interest Check]

Unfortunately, I'm dropping this idea. I won't be on for a couple of weeks and I feel like I've taken too long as it is to get this idea collected and off of the ground. So..yeah...PM or something and I'll reply when I have time. Sorry about all this.

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe [Interest Check]

Pariah Dreams; Guardian souls present in each cycle, bereft of memories of their countless prior lives; latent, until the time comes when they are called by the unheard clarion of imminent destruction. They are known to be a sort of contingency plan, ensuring that the current world reaches one of three conclusions. However, before all this they seem to hold no ties to one another (unless it is through sheer 'coincidence') before their powers become apparent. Most often there are six of these fated 'heroes', though such things are subject to change with each repetition.

[Complete list of titles and related attributes to come later]

Archaic Souls; A loosely knit group of existence's most nefarious and vile. They are varied as widely in their overarching goals as they are in terms of ability and duration of existence. Headed by a woman who calls herself 'Rose', the Archaic Souls have been present through thousands of cycles and are most often attempting to bring chaos and woe to the forefront of corporeal reality.

[List of available slots to come later]

(Still rough and spontaneous. Will edit soon, along with a 'preexisting character list'. Thanks to everyone for bearing with me, here.)

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe [Interest Check]

I'm back after a long medically related absence. I apologize for how brutally absent I've been. I intend to resume work on this posthaste and I'm glad to see that people have posted in here recently. Stick with me and this should be up and running in a few days.

A little bit of info that I have for you;

(These are all rather rough and may be edited)

New Graeline City; Nestled in a basin between two opposing mountain ranges, New Graeline is a peaceful, sleepy place in a relatively untouched countryside. The city has a population of roughly around four hundred thousand and is busiest from noon to five. There are several divisions within the city, physical or social; most obviously is that the city is divided into eastern and western sections by a bridge spanning the wide river that cuts through the center of town.

Some Notable Locations in New Graeline;

Bruce's Brews; A small cafe located in the hustle and bustle of the eastern half of the city, near the bridge. Surrounded by big businesses, its easy for one to overlook, but is renowned for its piping hot coffee, selection of freshly baked pastries, relaxed atmosphere and relatively friendly staff. A popular hangout for all types in the morning and students in the afternoon. Formerly run by a man named Bruce, though he passed away two years prior to the events of this thread.

N.G.H.S: New Grealine High School is a spread of faux brick complex, nestled in the heart of the western half of the city. It is located to several large apartment complexes and due to the 'poor' nature of the western half of N.G City it is advised for students to stick together when leaving the grounds. A few police officers roam the campus during the day, looking for students skipping class. Several clubs hold their meetings here, after classes are over. There is a large courtyard in the center, where most students spend their free periods.

The Disk Jockey; A west-side music store that offers a wide variety of services for those seeking entertainment. A popular hangout for those who love music, video games and movies. Notorious for its apathetic staff.

Apartment Complexes: There are several in N.G, on both east and west sides. It is most likely that some of your characters will be living in one of them.

Under the Bridge; A favorite of ne'er-do-wells, thugs and drug-takers. Covered in graffiti and littered with refuse. Most often there are several people beneath the bridge at any given time of the day; though is known to be far more dangerous at night.