SyrianHamster

Of Steam and Ambition -

Nation's Name

Karanova

Government Forces Shell Refugee Camp

Another government campaign against the communist guerrillas; another slaughter for the foreign media’s cameras.

With the communists, led by Comrade Mirinov Galdovsky, gathering on the very frontier of the Karanovan government’s control, Supreme Commander Alexi Christophe ordered for the direct removal of the civilian population in and around the town of Orangal.

At first, the “evacuation”, or “relocation” as some are calling it, went smoothly; thousands were moved with little incident, and government infantry battalions deployed themselves around the town in preparation for a long-planned offensive.

However, the communist rebels soon found themselves a juicy opportunity, and attacked the government formations with a mixture of small arms and mortar fire. Though casualties ranked lightly in these attacks, Supreme Commander Alexi Christophe himself gave permission to the 6th Karanovan Artillery Regiment to open fire on the neighbouring refugee camp, just four miles west of the town.

Packed with thousands of women and children, it seems that the Supreme Commander paid little heed for the loss of innocent life resulting from the barrage. It is not known how many have died inside the camp, but the Nationalist Rebels have seized the opportunity to point out the government’s long line of criminal actions.

President Helga Rakonov, of the KNR (Karanvoan Nationalist Republic) party issued the following statement:

“This total disregard for civilian life is sadly a customary fact of life for the Karanovan common folk. Why the government, headed by that self-proclaimed ‘Supreme Commander’ butcher, would shell a densely packed and defenceless refugee camp escapes me; it is an outrage, and my heart goes out to those who were murdered illegally by those bastards.”

Meanwhile, the government hit back, and Jacob Trivan - the spokesman of the Security Ministry - claimed:

“…the camp is a well known, and well documented communist stronghold. Yes, it may look like a refugee camp, but we have evidence to suggest it is really an arms factory. Our intelligence services tracked the terrorists to the settlement, and so with this in mind, we opened fire with God’s Graces. We do not apologise for the deaths of traitors to the Great Karanovan Nation!”

The communists have declined to comment, stating only that they will seek revenge for the “savage attack”. Time will tell, however, if the peasant-soldiers have it in them to finally make themselves a recognised regional force.

Of Steam and Ambition -

Awesome.

First post inbound.

Fallen Realms: The Ruins of Ironshore (An exploration and dungeon crawling based RP)

Ink Blood said
Hamster, you didn't update my chracter listing.

My bad, I'll have that sorted pronto.

Kal-El said
Whoa. I wouldn't say Vyce is evil but he is quite chaotic but if he can be placed in the evil tier without actually being "evil" in a sense then I can dig it.

Villains aren't always evil, they're just... um... what's the word I'm looking for? Bah, forget it. The guy just seemed dodgy to me, too dodgy to be considered neutral.

Truth be told, I have no system that I use to decide where they go, it's just down to my own judgement; the feel I get from them, ultimately. If you want him to go into the neutral category, then I'll move him.

PhoenixWhite said
I will go abead and apologize/warn you all now-- I tend to be rather quiet, but unless I say 'I won't be here', I'll be here.. Reading... Watching... Waiting.

No problem, so long as you don't post lock anyone :)

Fallen Realms: The Ruins of Ironshore (An exploration and dungeon crawling based RP)

All characters accepted and added to the Active Characters list.

Ink Blood said
Hamster, I did an overhaul on my character and made another one. I just edited my original post.Sorry if I caused any inconvenience.

No problem. It's early days and so such changes shouldn't affect anything :)

Where Angels Fear to Tread (Community Revived Edition)

Stefan0620 said
Manner of timeline, I believe neph and I are about a day ahead on our forest journey, so I think we may have to pause a moment until you peoplez catch up

Once Mundhir is done tripping on shrooms, our side of things will advance very quickly.

One post away from coming back to the waking world.

Where Angels Fear to Tread (Community Revived Edition)

"I tire of voids," Mundhir quipped as he once again found himself in an endless expanse of nothingness. "Am I carrion? Asleep? Worse?"

Nothing made a sound; no one answered his queries. He was alone, in infinite darkness, with only the slow drum of his heart to keep him company. Duranar was dead, though he had hoped Ebli was a mere hallucination - a manifestation of the Ice Venom - he knew it in his bones that the menace had spoken truth. The world had been in a constant revolution of war and thunder for a thousand years... any good God worth his or her salt would have intervened by now.

"So then, humour me," Mundhir spoke again, "what purpose did I serve in the mortal realm? Ebli spoke favour of my actions. What fell plot have I unleashed upon the dwindling peoples of my country?"

Nothing.

The Prince sighed. Dark thoughts started to creep into his mind, and for a moment his heart fluttered as he mulled the possibility of his death. If there was no Duranar, then there was no Undying Lands, and nor was there the Underworld. In the great being's absence, would there be only darkness? Surely his machinations would thrive without him, built from his infinite power as they were? So many questions, and nothing but dread to answer them with.

"I'm sorry father," the Prince said finally with a sad wheeze of regret. "You were right all along; Duranar's will was peace, and I was a fool for heeding vague visions."

A white haze suddenly set upon Mundhir's surrounds. He rolled his eyes as the familiar fog started to swirl, and another aspiration came forth to visit him. As the figure took on solid form, the Prince raised an eyebrow in a mixture of intrigue and indifference.

"You too?" He asked, smiling slightly.

Prince Thrandel had been a handsome man in his living years; porcelain skin, wrapped tightly in the reflective green of Elven silk. Eyes, deep and full of youthful good wil, and the colour of the deepest ocean. A friendly, yet sad smile formed under a hawkish nose.

"So it would seem," the Mad Prince said.

"What fate befell you, after your encounter with Ebli?" Mundhir asked, giving little patience to formality.

Thrandel paced, hands clasped behind his back. He stopped when he spoke, and looked at the Prince; anger twisting his lips. "What you see is my soul; what you see in the waking world is my body. The two were cloven from each other."

Mundhir clambered to his feet, to look the Mad Prince in the eye. "This... does not surprise me, unfortunately," he said, "I have learned much of the world since I came here."

The Mad Prince's anger vanished, and his smile returned. He nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, the void does well for one's wisdom. I too have learned much in my time here."

"Where is here?" Mundhir asked.

"It has no name," Thrandel said immediately, as if reading from a script, "it is truly a void. We are outside the realms of logic and time. Trapped with the nightmares of the universe's unsettling dreams."

"Can we escape?" Mundhir pressed, stepping forwards as if doing so would haste Thrandel's reply.

"You can, not I," the Elf said, still smiling. "You carry the blood of a God in your veins; Ebli was no apparition. He came here in person to see you, to torment you - to temper you for his designs."

"I will kill him," Mundhir spat, "and any who aligned to him."

Thrandel's smile vanished, and he shook his head. "No. You cannot. My father tried, and he was an infinite amount more powerful than you will ever be; divine or no." A tear strolled down the Elf's left cheek, and his right eye twitched with some hidden rage. "Though you can escape."

"How?"

"Kill me," Thrandel said plainly. "Kill me; it is his price for your freedom."

"Ebli's price?"

"Yes."

Mundhir shook his head, "I have no weapon with which to run you through."

"Really? I see a sabre in your hands," Thrandel shot back, nodding his head at Mundhir's right hand.

Mundhir looked down, and realised he was clutching his ancestral sabre as if it had been willed there by an invisible force. Hesitantly, he stalked towards Thrandel. "You are sure this will work?"

"Yes."

The Eblistani Prince drew his hand back, ready to run the Elf through the chest; a clean, lightning fast strike. It would be both humane, and-

"No," Mundhir sighed, lowering his blade. "I have killed enough in Ebli's name. He may have taken everything else, but of what there is left, he shall not have."

The Elf Prince looked saddened by this, as if he was hoping Mundhir would kill him. Perhaps doing so would have been a mercy? How long could someone dwell in the void before their sanity was lost to the ages?

"Then you will be here for a very long time," Thrandel said at last.

"Perhaps that is best," Mundhir grunted. "I grow wearisome of being a pawn in another man's game. The death of some hapless Elf's soul on my hands will do little to help things."

Mundhir felt a sudden unease; Thrandel's sad smile flattened, and he peered over Mundhir's shoulder.

"What is it?" Mundhir asked, half-afraid to turn.

"You have won someone's curiosity," Thrandel said, and he stepped backwards, gradually fading away into the darkness.

Where Angels Fear to Tread (Community Revived Edition)

Colossus said
Is this RP still open and accepting new characters? I was thinking of playing an Ocrish character and sinking my teeth into a High Fantasy RP.

Open and alive.

Post a CS, and we'll talk about the manner of your entry. I don't expect you to read the IC up to the current moment in time, so I'll work on drawing up a synopsis so's that you have an understanding of what's been going on.

Nephriel said
OOOK.... So what with the long post here are the finer points:Dreha go the men to regroup and is defending the war room.Aevah explained a few things to Kyrtaar and stopped to rest for the night, believing that Mhundir is healed and well because she is choosing to not act on what she saw because she's never seen things like that without touching someone and especially not about several people. She isn't sure whether it's just another bit of the Norn's curse.

Awesome, look forward to reading it.

Of Steam and Ambition -

I

Where Angels Fear to Tread (Community Revived Edition)

The void was black and unfeeling. Not cold, nor heat, reached him. His mind was likewise; everything was numb.

"What have I done?" he uttered. Tears streaked his face. "How could I hav- how could WE have been so blind?"

Some white fog stirred suddenly in the darkness, swirling around him. A chuckle reverberated from far off, and then right next to him - before retreating to a distance of miles. Mundhir sighed, as one would do were they facing the inevitable.

"Do not fret, my son," the voice said, pausing to release another unworldly cackle. "You did admirably."

As if conjured by the Prince's mind, the hulking armoured giant of Ebli Khan slowly materialised in front of him. Mundhir trembled at the sight, though not out of fear, but repulsion.

"You are not Ebli Khan," he said.

Ebli let forth a rupturing orchestra of laughs. As if many mouths occupied his one. "Oh, oh, but my son," he roared, "you doubt me even now?"

"What are you?"

"Ebli Khan, son of Eblan Khan of the World Breakers Clan, of course," Ebli replied, taking on solid form.

Overlapping plates of ornate steel mounted the giant like an exoskeleton. His helm was of a terrible design, fashioned in the form of a screeching hawk. The red of his banner fluttered in a wind that drew no breeze.

Mundhir stood to his feet, feeling weightless and full of vigour - though lacking will. "Show me your face."

Ebli sighed, but then shrugged. "Of course, my son. Of course."

The helmet was not removed, but rather, it simply ceased to exist. The face that greeted the Prince was a soulless one; red eyes, and fangs, gazed at him menacingly.

Mundhir shook his head in disgust, "was you always this way?"

Ebli nodded, "yes, my son."

"I am no son of yours, demon spawn," shot back Mundhir, growing angry despite the impossibility of his situation.

The giant laughed once more, clutching his sides in some terrible amusement. "Wrong! Wrong, little Princleing, so ignorant you are! I knew your mother well."

"THAT IS A LIE!" Mundhir shouted, and he ran forwards to tackle Ebli, but the hulking mass of steel vanished suddenly, only to reappear on his right.

"No lie, my son," Ebli chuckled. His evil smile growing wild. "It was wrong of your grandfather to break the line of succession; he disrupted my plans. My mistress's plans."

Mundhir scoffed, half in disbelief, half in rage. "You mean to tell me Duranar is a lie too?" he spat, rounding on Ebli for another assault.

"A half lie, my son," Ebli grinned. "He was a good God, always banging on about unity and peace; it was easy to twist his words into weapons of war."

"What do you mean?" Mundhir asked, waiting for the giant to drop his guard long enough for him to pounce.

"North Olcra came to Eulona believing they were bringing Duranar's love to savages; in truth, they were just slaughtering his many, many children." Ebli stopped to stroke the pale, bare flesh of his chin. "He is dead, my son, he died the death of a weakling; despite his power, he was felled by lesser beings."

Mundhir's eyes widened. Surely this was all lies? An attempt to trick him into despair? He recalled his dreams however, and with dread realisation, remembered that Duranar's and Ebli's voices were one in the same. He had been tricked, like so many others it seemed.

"He was unwilling to take the world as his own, my son, and so others took it for him; they killed him, stole his power, and now he is no more," Ebli explained, taking great pride in his words. "He would not interfere with the mortal realm, and so it was oh so very easy to twist his given beliefs into tools of war. Yes. Very easy."

"Enough," Mundhir sneered, "fight me, let this nightmare end."

Ebli grinned even wider. "Yes, my son, yes! Embrace the anger, and the doom."

"The only thing I will embrace, is your neck as I snap it demon, now fight me," Mundhir pressed, advancing on the giant with no weapon, and no prospect of victory.

"Soon, my son, soon," Ebli grinned. "My mistress had deemed you Her Chosen, since before I even walked this earth. Her power is infinite, you see, and her will cannot be denied."

As Mundhir lost his patience, and gained his courage, he ran at the giant once more.

A blinding light seared his eyes, and he stumbled backwards; Ebli cursed, a thunderclap shook the void.

Where Angels Fear to Tread (Community Revived Edition)

Steel fist said
Dude, why is my character deleted from the characters in play list? I'm still here and attacking the mad Prince! :) I'm thinking of developing Shorus in influence of the Native American culture, I don't like the wide spread perception of the Minotaurs as savage, stupid and evil beasts, it's just too shallow..I'm thinking of the Minotaur society like of more related to the primitive Native American cultures that were spread in America before the conquistadors arrived, the Minotaurs have their own laws and justice system (also primitive) and their own warrior etiquette that Shorus obeys.Shorus also has some personal spiritual advancement in compare to his compatriots (the other Minotaurs), he doesn't eat any intelligent creatures, so he is not a cannibal.As to his new armor, I think of integrating spiritual elements into it, so the further development of the artifact will be based not so much on magical crystals like I wanted in the beginning but more on Shorus's spiritual and mind abilities (not like the mages abilities, but more like the advanced Indian warrior's abilities).What you think?

Sorry man, I was supposed to scratch Tick from the list, I must've gotten Shorus instead. My bad, it's been fixed.

I don't see a problem with your suggestions; as I've said, we're at a stage now where we've found our core players, and I encourage characters developing from their original concepts. Go crazy - just not too crazy.

Mundhir is about to undergo a change, which reminds me...

Nephriel said
Ok, so... I was going to post for Dreha but I'm not sure how many assassins you had coming at him so I'm not sure if she should still be fighting or if she should be trying to get him tended to.

They're still at large, but out numbered. The success of the attack relies on surprise, and so far Mundhir's men are losing.

Mundhir and Dreha will be joining the fray very shortly, my next post will either fall tonight, or tomorrow.

If you'd like to post before then, then have Dreha defending Mundhir's unconscious body against waves of the assassins; or rallying his men to drive them off.

Things about to go crazy, so everyone buckle their seatbelts.