Smike

Intrigues of Venedig - High Fantasy Mature RP

Player Faction: Alhryt-Liu Trade and Lending Company

Contact us for loan and slave appraisal

Founded a little over three centuries ago by a Tian and Xul, both immigrants to Venedig, the Alhryt-Liu Trade and Lending Company (better known simply as the Company) got its start in a modest stall in the Bazaar exchanging currency brought in by the hordes of travlers from all corners of the globe. The pair did well for themselves, making a modest amount of wealth before moving into money-lending and trading. They shipped wool and wine, swords and shoes, anything anyone needed to anywhere on Erde. The pair had been well-off before but now they were rich, both of them attracting good wives and making friends in the higher circles of society. By the time they retired the names Alhrty and Liu were respected in Venedig, known for being dependable and able to investments into steady profits.

As time went on trade and currency exchange took a backseat to moneylending which left the Company with a problem: what to do with people who defaulted on their loans? Sure they could confiscate property and what little money the debtor had but that was rarely worth much. Every time someone wasn't able to come up with the money the Company made a loss, an unacceptable turn of events. So fifty years into it's existence the Company jumped into what people were already doing: the slave trade.

It was simple. Once the time ran out on a contract the debtor was given a week to come up with the money or something of equal value. If they couldn't they forfeited their freedom. They were no longer people but property, a red mark in the ledge suddenly converted to an asset. If their body still couldn't cover the cost their meager belongings were taken as well.

Of course, many tried to run away from their debts but the Company quickly built a network of bounty hunters, trackers and thugs to return escapees. It is rare for someone to evade the Company for more than a month.

Jobs Offered
Trackers:People who specialize in find property that decides to run out on agreements. Consisting of a highly paid but relatively small professional core supplemented by temporary mercenaries and thugs. One time contracts pay well enough and contractors that do well are often offered a permanent job with good pay and benefits as well as a pension for next of kin if they die in the line of duty.

Traders: This refers to people that sell slaves as well as those who sell non-sentient property. There are always plenty of assets that need to be sold off and traders working for the Company can expect a 20% cut of every sale as well as plenty of stock provided to them for no charge.

Silencers:By far the smallest of the employee categories Silencers are the in-house spies and assassins used by the company in situation where it might be too awkward, expensive or simply not convenient to hire the Razors. Silencers are expected to keep a low profile but how they handle any particular job is up to them. Whether they kill a target with blade, poison, arrow or magic doesn't matter as long as they're discrete. They are only sent to to deal with things that pertain directly to the company such as bandits harassing caravans or slaves plotting rebellion. The Company never takes contracts as a matter of principle and a sense of politeness towards the Razors.

General Labor:The men and women who serve as general muscle for the Company. They serve as bodyguards for the traders and higher up personal and protecting caravans or bringing in debtors who ran out of time, run messages to the various offices in the city, take care of the horses and repair the wagons. They take care of all the small things that go into running a business that most people wouldn't even think. It's not exactly glamorous but the Company would fall apart without them. The largest subset of the Company, the vast majority of employees start here. They are free to apply for a shift to one of the other positions or might be offered one if they show impressive aptitude in a particular area.

Intrigues of Venedig - High Fantasy Mature RP

Cocheta

Name: Cocheta Alhryt
Age: 27
Physical Description: Cocheta's whole body is coated in scars and burns from fighting, marks from battles with bandits, beasts and people who had to be "convinced" that she was in charge of their lives now. Her arms and legs bulge with powerfully corded muscles, made for propelling fist, feet or blade into the skulls of her opponents. If one caught her bathing or in some other situation where she wasn't wearing her solid steel and leather armor they'd see a strong back and eight pack abdomen, a hard body for a hard life. Her face is a different story. Salesmanship is the single most important aspect of her job and a warm smile is often the difference between someone walking away or shaking hands on a deal. She keeps her face clear of any blemishes, her tusks and the gold nose ring she wears well polished, the thick ropes of her hair done up in neat dreadlocks decorated with feathers and beads. A bit of makeup applied to her lips, cheeks and eyes give her that bit of appeal that can be so helpful in suckering people in.

Cocheta

Important items:

Quick Sprint

A noble stallion Cocheta raised since he was a colt. Strong enough to carry her and one other person as well as her equipment.

Freedom

A simple iron tomahawk decorated over the years with engravings and trophies from defeated enemies.

Captivity

6 feet long and made of black leather, Cocheta wields this cat 'o' nine tails with vicious skill

Blow-Breaker

Steel lamellar armor with thick leather beneath it, it's saved it's owner from many a wound.

Short Bio: Cocheta was born to Delshay Alhryt of Alhryt-Liu Trade and Lending, heir to a banking empire built off the backs of slaves. Her life was planned out for her as soon as she was born: training in the arts of bartering and diplomacy as well as honing her skills in combat to ensure that she could defend her family business. The young Xul took to her lessons very well, memorizing byzantine trade laws and currency exchange rates as well as learning to use a tomahawk and whip. There was a certain symetry she enjoyed about her teachings, being instructed on how to dismantle a person's finances as well as their body. A properly worded contract could be just as devastating a weapon as any blade provided the signer was desperate enough. There was no shortage of people who needed a loan, families trying to keep their homes, mothers who couldn't make enough money to feed their children, men who had gambled away their wages. Her father taught how to get all of them to sign terms they couldn't afford. Short term losses that led to new stock to sell on the block.

And when too many people actually managed to pay off the exorbitant interests rates there was always plenty of people traveling the roads by themselves, hunters that could be snatched from the woods, stock in other countries that could be quietly seized. There were plenty of opportunities to make money once you knew where to look. And she got her chance to start looking at the age of twenty when her father retired.

Seven years later she managed to do quite well for herself, increasing profits by almost fifty percent. But it's not enough. Cocheta is determined to make as much money as she can for as long as she can.
Starting Faction:
Spell List: None
Exceptional Skill List: Exceptional Trade (2) Exceptional Tomahawk Usage (2) Exceptional Whip Usage (1) Exceptional Diplomacy (1)

~ Phantom Thieves of London: The Calling ~

CS

Name
Elizabeth Astor

Gender
Female

Age
19, March 19,

Sexuality
Bisexual

Nationality
American

Appearance

Elizabeth

The most noticeable thing about Elizabeth is her height, or rather her lack of it. Standing at an impressively diminutive four feet and eight inches it's quite easy to overlook her, not helped by her tendency to sit in the back of any given room. When not in her school uniform the young lady opts to wear elegant blouses and skirts or a comfy sweater and slacks, brightening up the usually dark ensemble with chokers of red or blue. Her face is delicately proportioned and tends to express only dreamy nonchalance at any given situation.

Her most distinctive feature is covered by her clothes, a surgical scar from when her ribs were broken by a kick from a young horse on her mother's ranch. A long line tracing over the right side of her body, it serves as a painful reminder to never let her guard down in any situation.

Metaverse Appearance

A regal cavalry officer's uniform with this Hat and this Mask.

Height
4'8"

Personality
At first glance Elizabeth seems like a gentle woman, kind and thoughtful even if she was quiet and maybe even a bit slow. When people speak to her it takes a moment for her eyes to focus on them, the young lady shaking her head like a dog trying to scare off flies. Often times a near whispered "Come again?" are the first words to come out of her mouth, her New England accent shining through. While her conversational partner repeats themselves they might find her humming quietly to herself or fiddling with her choker, nodding her head in time to unheard music while reaching down to pet her dogs Basker and Buck. She's often written off as airheaded and harmless, a pretty face with nothing behind it.

Nothing could be farther from reality. Her relatives on her father's side are all old money Yankees whose family had made it's forturne selling gunpowder to both sides of the American Civil War and crushing coal miner's strikes during the Gilded Age. Her maternal grandfather was a Texas oil and cattle baron who had crushed all his local competitors using underhanded business practices and benefited from "mysterious" arson attacks on rival wells and ranches. Besides receiving education from world renowned private tutors from the age of three she picked up from her family a shrewd mind for business and cold analysis of situations. One habit she has is making lists of weaknesses and past trauma she gleans from conversations and making plans on how utilize them to force favors out of the person.

And she hates it. Both sides of her family had ingrained her with a brutal mindset focused on extracting money out of every possible situation and leveraging all relationships for insider information and wiggling into backroom deals, had tried to make her into the next Washington lobbyist or boardroom cutthroat, and she's not about to play their game. Elizabeth is caring person, an animal lover who will turn out her pockets for every last bit of change in them to give to the less fortunate. She also carries a firm sense of right and wrong and a fierce belief in free will, a direct contrast to the amoral family that had tried to force her into the life of a ruthless capitalist.

Persona

Fenrir

A massive canine glowing orange and blue of the Justice arcana, Fenrir is capable of tearing apart enemies with teeth and claws or utilizing attacks of blinding nuclear energy.

Skill
Nuclear

Equipment
Model 1840 Cavalry Saber
Beowulf Rifle

Education
Sociology (St. Paul's College)
BTEC Business Studies(Evergreen)
A-Level Music (Evergreen)
A-Level Religious Studies (Evergreen)
Elizabeth also speaks fluent Spanish and Chinese and is a talented pianist, besides her ability to ride horses and shoot.
Biography
Elizabeth Astor was born three weeks early to Johnathan Astor and Katherine Simmons in the upscale resort of Martha's Vineyard during the parent's vacation, being delivered by a private doctor in a hotel room that was bigger than most people's houses. It was a sign of what was to come, the young girl being whisked off to the family mansion in New Bedford to be tended to by an army of nurses and nannies. The moment she wet herself her diaper was changed, she could hardly let out a single cry before some attentive nursemaid scooped her up and quieted her down. The closet full of diapers and baby clothes was big enough to have served as her playpen if she didn't have a room stocked with toys and stuffed animal hung with paintings of cherubs and woodland creatures. She had more than any baby needed or wanted but lacked a functional family.

Johnathan Astor and Katherine Clark were a marriage of a convenience through and through, a shrewd attempt by both families to try and gain an upper hand on their competitors and to secure an heir to both empires. It was a completely loveless relationship. The couple had separate bedrooms and had various affairs in them that the other knew about and didn't care. There was no animosity, in fact they were on friendly terms. They were both business oriented sharks who devoted themselves to their private ventures and worked together to mold their daughter into the next Rockefeller. To that end they surrounded her with the best tutors money could buy, teaching English, Chinese, mathematics, the classics, art history, any and every subject that they could.

When Elizabeth turned ten her mother moved back out to her grandfather's estate in Nevada, the young Astor splitting her time between the cold of New England and the heat of the Mojave. On the ranch she learned to shoot guns, ride horses, and train dogs as well as continued her training in the art of the deal. But the most important lesson she picked up was to never let her guard down. When little Astor was twelve she earned herself a kick to the ribs from a horse she was grooming after having failed to notice its agitation. It was a glancing blow, but even a light tap from a full grown horse is cause for alarm. Elizabeth managed to escape the situation with three broken ribs, a punctured lung, a scar from the emergency surgery, and an important lesson: watch your surroundings and pay attention to how people react.

While she was recovering she spent a lot of time with a cousin named Jacob who would show up with books and board games, the two playing Monopoly while he would tell her stories of robbers who would break into people's dreams to find the location of their treasure. Elizabeth didn't recognize that she was being groomed, prepared to be introduced to the family's real line of work when she was older. Both the Astors and Clarks were families that could enter the Metaverse and used their skills to ensure that things went their way. Elizabeth was simply the next in a long line of young men and women inducted into the business when they reached the age of twenty.

But she left the country before that could happen. She had grown to hate the way both sides of her family tree seemed to focus on money over anything else. She didn't want to make profit for profit's sake, to be drawn into the soulless world of business. She wanted to be a musician, an writer, a painter, anything that involved life and joy. She was allowed the chance to break free at seventeen when her grandfather passed away, leaving her with an inheritance of millions dollars as well as a small ranch of her own in New Mexico. The opportunity had presented itself and she seized it, going through the process of getting herself legally emancipated so she could get the inheritance transferred to a personal account.

As soon as the money was in her bank account she took off for London, selected at random. The ranch ran itself and she never needed to work a day in her life, she was living out a scenario most teens could only dream of. Now what to do with this freedom?
Affiliations
Katherine Simmons (Mother)
Jonathan Astor (Father)
Jacob Simmons (Cousin)

Relationships
To be filled out as the RP progresses

Character Theme
Not necessary, but can be used if wished.

The Calling ~ Persona 5-esc RP

Tag, even though we were already talking lmao

Noble Arms: Restoring Hope - With Gratitude to TheHangedMan

On the Road Towards Rasafeh

The troops nodded and murmured varying words of assent, as well as a few muttered comments about her way of speaking and dress. What kind of person wore full medieval armor to fight in a desert? The horse made some sense, but a cape and plate mail? And why did she speak like that? "So-called nuisance who dares foil our cause?" What was that about

It only takes an hour or so of riding under the bone bleaching Syrian sun before the Hammer agent is contacted via her radio by one of her underlings. "Hey boss, hope you're not too hot in that armor. the nameless voice snickered. "Anyway, intel from the Holy Trinity: the good Doctor is traveling in a white Jeep Wrangler with tinted windows and is believed to be accompanied by two private security guards working for Academi, formerly known as Blackwater Security Company. According to files pulled from records, you're dealing with Martin Eichmann, a former US Navy SEAL, and Marissa Short, graduate of the Seaborn Acadamy of Arms. Short is a C ranked Arms User while Eichmann is simply well trained and well equipped. You are advised to deal with both of them in a way that minimizes risk to Dr. Black. Keep riding and report in when you have her subdued."

The call ends and within minutes the target vehicle is in site, dust streaked Jeep barreling down the road and leaving a cloud of dirt in its wake. Nearly two hundred feet off from the armor-clad woman the jeeps veers to the left as if making room for her to pass by.

@Argonaut

Noble Arms: Restoring Hope - With Gratitude to TheHangedMan

John Smith
Somewhere in Syria

There was a certain level of finesse that went into running a worldwide organization bent on the destruction of the current order. Smith was the absolute commander of an army consisting of thousands of Arms Users with weapons and vehicles, two major cities and a large swath of the Middle East as well as millions of dollars scattered across the globe in secret accounts and stashes. It was no mean feat managing it all. Shipments of Type 56 rifles from Cambodia, surplus LAW rockets stolen and sold by leftist and rightist factions in South America, an influx of foreign volunteers to train and equip, Soviet era tanks to station at hidden outposts, a horde of mind controlled double agents to put to use scrounging up information and assassinating threats...

Things every leader had to deal with.

Luckily for him his underlings were mostly competent. Amaterasu and Abbadon were both out preparing for the initial invasion, brother and sister setting up some nasty surprises for the Symbiosis bastards. He could also draw on the support on a intelligent and loyal officer corp, dedicated men and women who could lead with the perfect mixture of respect and fear from their troops. One of them was in the perfect position to deal with a couple of problems for him. The dignified man scribbled down a note and handed it off to one of the many junior officers and guards scattered about the makeshift office.

A few minutes later Carmilla's radio buzzed to life, a curt female voice detailing the errands that needed to be ran. "Orders from HQ. You're given the choice as to which one you'd prefer to handle, as long as you do so in a timely manner. You can take ten men with you, please send the remainder back to base. As always efficiency is valued, and failure will reflect poorly on you." It was the standard polite warning: fuck up too many times or even look like you're a threat to the security of the Hammers and you will be dealt with violently.

"The first errand involves a DFS armory holding a variety of small arms as well as explosives and anti-vehicle weaponry. Obviously this material is better off in our hands. You will go to the coordinates sent and'persuade' the militia there to hand over there supplies on pain of death.

"The second option is a one person job. Dr. Leslie Black, general practitioner from Sydney and advocate for healthcare initiatives in impoverished areas, has recently stumbled into business she should keep out of. During one of her visits to the outskirts of Hama to distribute medical supplies and do check ups one of her young patients let slip his father's involvement in our organization. She and an armed guard are currently driving back to Rasafeh, where she might let someone know about what she learned. You will stop her vehicle and take her, alive, to a drop off point."

"So take your pick and good luck. HQ out."

The radio call dies out in a crackle of static, leaving the agent with her choice.

Steampunk: Dragons and Battleships

Is there going to be a discord chat for this RP?

EDIT: Would the ship's doctor be considered an engineer?

Steampunk: Battleships and Dragons

Sounds dope

Intrigues of Venedig [Reboot, Lore-Rich, Mature]

Player Faction: Alhryt-Liu Trade and Lending Company

Contact us for loan and slave appraisal

Founded a little over three centuries ago by a Tian and Xul, both immigrants to Venedig, the Alhryt-Liu Trade and Lending Company (better known simply as the Company) got its start in a modest stall in the Bazaar exchanging currency brought in by the hordes of travlers from all corners of the globe. The pair did well for themselves, making a modest amount of wealth before moving into money-lending and trading. They shipped wool and wine, swords and shoes, anything anyone needed to anywhere on Erde. The pair had been well-off before but now they were rich, both of them attracting good wives and making friends in the higher circles of society. By the time they retired the names Alhrty and Liu were respected in Venedig, known for being dependable and able to investments into steady profits.

As time went on trade and currency exchange took a backseat to moneylending which left the Company with a problem: what to do with people who defaulted on their loans? Sure they could confiscate property and what little money the debtor had but that was rarely worth much. Every time someone wasn't able to come up with the money the Company made a loss, an unacceptable turn of events. So fifty years into it's existence the Company jumped into what people were already doing: the slave trade.

It was simple. Once the time ran out on a contract the debtor was given a week to come up with the money or something of equal value. If they couldn't they forfeited their freedom. They were no longer people but property, a red mark in the ledge suddenly converted to an asset. If their body still couldn't cover the cost their meager belongings were taken as well.

Of course, many tried to run away from their debts but the Company quickly built a network of bounty hunters, trackers and thugs to return escapees. It is rare for someone to evade the Company for more than a month.

Jobs Offered
Trackers:People who specialize in find property that decides to run out on agreements. Consisting of a highly paid but relatively small professional core supplemented by temporary mercenaries and thugs. One time contracts pay well enough and contractors that do well are often offered a permanent job with good pay and benefits as well as a pension for next of kin if they die in the line of duty.

Traders: This refers to people that sell slaves as well as those who sell non-sentient property. There are always plenty of assets that need to be sold off and traders working for the Company can expect a 20% cut of every sale as well as plenty of stock provided to them for no charge.

Silencers:By far the smallest of the employee categories Silencers are the in-house spies and assassins used by the company in situation where it might be too awkward, expensive or simply not convenient to hire the Razors. Silencers are expected to keep a low profile but how they handle any particular job is up to them. Whether they kill a target with blade, poison, arrow or magic doesn't matter as long as they're discrete. They are only sent to to deal with things that pertain directly to the company such as bandits harassing caravans or slaves plotting rebellion. The Company never takes contracts as a matter of principle and a sense of politeness towards the Razors.

General Labor:The men and women who serve as general muscle for the Company. They serve as bodyguards for the traders and higher up personal and protecting caravans or bringing in debtors who ran out of time, run messages to the various offices in the city, take care of the horses and repair the wagons. They take care of all the small things that go into running a business that most people wouldn't even think. It's not exactly glamorous but the Company would fall apart without them. The largest subset of the Company, the vast majority of employees start here. They are free to apply for a shift to one of the other positions or might be offered one if they show impressive aptitude in a particular area.

Intrigues of Venedig [Reboot, Lore-Rich, Mature]

Name: Cocheta Alhryt
Age: 27
Physical Description: Cocheta's whole body is coated in scars and burns from fighting, marks from battles with bandits, beasts and people who had to be "convinced" that she was in charge of their lives now. Her arms and legs bulge with powerfully corded muscles, made for propelling fist, feet or blade into the skulls of her opponents. If one caught her bathing or in some other situation where she wasn't wearing her solid steel and leather armor they'd see a strong back and eight pack abdomen, a hard body for a hard life. Her face is a different story. Salesmanship is the single most important aspect of her job and a warm smile is often the difference between someone walking away or shaking hands on a deal. She keeps her face clear of any blemishes, her tusks and the gold nose ring she wears well polished, the thick ropes of her hair done up in neat dreadlocks decorated with feathers and beads. A bit of makeup applied to her lips, cheeks and eyes give her that bit of appeal that can be so helpful in suckering people in.

Cocheta

Important items:

Quick Sprint

A noble stallion Cocheta raised since he was a colt. Strong enough to carry her and one other person as well as her equipment.

Freedom

A simple iron tomahawk decorated over the years with engravings and trophies from defeated enemies.

Captivity

6 feet long and made of black leather, Cocheta wields this cat 'o' nine tails with vicious skill

Blow-Breaker

Steel lamellar armor with thick leather beneath it, it's saved it's owner from many a wound.

Short Bio: Cocheta was born to Delshay Alhryt of Alhryt-Liu Trade and Lending, heir to a banking empire built off the backs of slaves. Her life was planned out for her as soon as she was born: training in the arts of bartering and diplomacy as well as honing her skills in combat to ensure that she could defend her family business. The young Xul took to her lessons very well, memorizing byzantine trade laws and currency exchange rates as well as learning to use a tomahawk and whip. There was a certain symetry she enjoyed about her teachings, being instructed on how to dismantle a person's finances as well as their body. A properly worded contract could be just as devastating a weapon as any blade provided the signer was desperate enough. There was no shortage of people who needed a loan, families trying to keep their homes, mothers who couldn't make enough money to feed their children, men who had gambled away their wages. Her father taught how to get all of them to sign terms they couldn't afford. Short term losses that led to new stock to sell on the block.

And when too many people actually managed to pay off the exorbitant interests rates there was always plenty of people traveling the roads by themselves, hunters that could be snatched from the woods, stock in other countries that could be quietly seized. There were plenty of opportunities to make money once you knew where to look. And she got her chance to start looking at the age of twenty when her father retired.

Seven years later she managed to do quite well for herself, increasing profits by almost fifty percent. But it's not enough. Cocheta is determined to make as much money as she can for as long as she can.
Starting Faction:
Spell List: None
Exceptional Skill List: Exceptional Trade (2) Exceptional Tomahawk Usage (2) Exceptional Whip Usage (1) Exceptional Diplomacy (1)