Zeroth

The Little Hamlet

@Theyra@Dark Cloud The entire town is just empty, flat ground save for like, the well and the inn, and all the other houses are spread out like a mushroom fairy ring cause no one wants to live away from the "outskirts" XD

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

I have most of a post written up, but if anyone else would like to shoot a reply in there, go ahead! I'll give it a little more time before the update.

Also, I have some time off from work this week, so I may be able to get a midweek update in as well. But I want to be sure others aren't left behind and we don't end up with a timeline discrepancy between groups.

The Little Hamlet

Speaking of connections, how bout we forge dem connections while we all wait in the meantime?

@Dark Cloud

This is what I've got so far. I took some liberties with worldbuilding here and there, so everyone--especially @Mae--feel free to veto or correct anything I've written out.

Goh's Musings

Miss Nibiria - "A bright child, if perhaps blinded by her own brilliance. She and I are kindred spirits in tw---one way. The reason we have few connections, is because we have not reached out for them. Nonetheless, this old fool has been greatly appreciative of her help whenever he's gotten himself injured."

Wormwood - "...I am ashamed to say I am a little wary of this creature. Non-humanoids in my homeland, in my experience, were usually more...fierce? He seems to get along with the children, and I will put my faith in their innocence."

Miss Mary - "Listening to her sing is a joy for these wrinkled, dull ears. I am troubled by what to bring her as a greeting gift, as I am sure she would not be appreciative of animal meats or furs..."

Rowan - "A talented young man with a clear heart--Good fishermen can't have evil thoughts, you see. Unfortunately, the wanderlust of heroism is upon him. I fear he won't have good sense until it's been knocked into him, and the world is far too harsh a teacher. But, we men are drawn to such things...as if it's in our blood."

Penumbra - "...William's little "experiment" deeply worries me. But it's not my place, and I am not familiar with the various creatures of this land. I shall let it be so long as it does the same. I hope it will not attempt to eat little Wormwood."

Rallis - "Those with something to hide, often become apparent in their efforts to do so. I know not the lad's purpose in such things, because to peer deeper would be rude when he so clearly doesn't wish to share. I have tried to learn his paths through the forest for the sake of not intruding on his territory--I don't know if I snared the rabbit he shot or he shot the rabbit I snared, but I've no interest in competing over such things."

Boro - "I...have trouble reading this nation's language. The librarian, despite his appearance, has proved a great help in this regard. If only I remembered enough of the poetry from my homeland, I would gladly contribute to the sparse shelves."

Ingrid - "...I know I've shrunken with age, but ye gods...Ah, not to be rude! Chief Ingrid's devotion to protecting this place is quite admirable. But, it must be said...her skills are somewhat...lacking. Oh, um, but...well, don't pay any mind to me. This lazy old man shouldn't criticize those who have taken up their own initiative."

Zrer - "I'm not sure what these "Elves" are supposed to be. They look and act just like humans, save for their ears! Though I suppose, they do remind me a bit of the hanyo...Well, in any case. Young Lakeilu's potions often smell bad and taste bitter, but have worked quite well for my aches."

Jada - "Hmm. I can't say I'm all for this...Adventurer's Guild...opening up. It will only encourage some of the foolhardy young folk to put themselves in danger. But, only experience can teach one the art of perspective. Anyway, as for Miss Jada, she is clearly a very hard worker. I don't quite understand her interest in magic, but then again I don't understand magic very much at all in any case. They don't seem to have onmyoji in this land, and I tended to avoid them anyway."

Yung - "I've only visited the Monastery once. I thought that, perhaps, it was a place where I could gain what I seek...but no. I am...very good, you see, at cutting things. And these people have cut themselves off from the world. Whatever enlightenment they gain, it cannot do anything for those they've severed themselves from."

The Three Students - "Well now...the chubby one is a bully, with no self-control or consciousness of others. If I do not beat it out of him now, he will never be of any good to anyone. The girl...should not be training with me, regardless of her talent for the blade. If she is struck by the same need to travel as the other youths, she will end up experiencing what I would prefer to save these children from. The other boy...he is simple, and honest. Perhaps in teaching him, the way I wished I could have been taught, I will find some measure of solace. His passion for training may even surpass talent--it was much the same for me, though far less kind."

Dalton - "The innkeeper treats his permanent guest more as a daughter than a customer, I'd wager. I can't imagine she can afford to pay him every night on a town guard's salary. I enjoy his cooking and an occasional drink...though he still tells me he hasn't been able to find any sake. This land's alcohol is too heavy on the stomach--it is like drinking bread!"

William - "Why would one sell monsters? Are they meant to be eaten? Kept as pets? I don't understand. Like Young Rallis, I've shared a hunt or two with William before. He's amicable, if a bit...eccentric? When I arrived in the village, it was actually he who showed me some of the more common game trails. In return, I taught him how to prepare sashimi."

Squig - "...I almost stepped on it once when Wormwood was running around underfoot. I was deeply ashamed. Were I a man of higher status, I might've considered opening my belly if I deprived the poor creature of his best friend."

The Little Hamlet

@Zeroth I'm imagining Old Man Goh's house might be close to the Smithy so he gets some residual heat in the part of the house closest.. but maybe not. purely curious, does he like to grab his meals at the inn or cook for himself at home? I can imagine him enjoying the slow life and he might know Ingrid as well.

Accepted! Happy to have some kids running around town too. Skill lists we can develop together, I'm trying to keep the syntax consistent for referencing during the RP more then anything. Feel free to add anything you think is missing. 'Dangersense - Protect Ward' is ward as in student. If the kids were in trouble nearby, he'd know.

Slash Resistance II
Blunt Resistance I
Cold Resistance I
Passive: Dangersense - Killing Intent
Passive: Dangersense - Protect Ward
Inert Magic - Killer Glare
Swordsmanship (Precise)
Wayfaring - Plains
Fishing
Swimming
Crafting - Trapmaking
Trapping
Jack of Trades: Odd Jobs
Training: Swordsmanship
Leadership
Detect Deception
Detect Intent
Sneak

@Mae

Being close to the smithy would be fine--he'd probably enjoy wandering over there to admire the craftsmanship from time to time. He would cook for himself, though it would be very basic: Rabbit caught fresh from a snare trap, some wild onions and herbs plucked on a walk, and some dry rice from a big sack he keeps in storage all thrown into a boiling pot, that kind of thing. Self-sufficient stuff you'd expect someone used to roughing it to eat.

I think he'd know Ingrid, and given that the idea was that he'd been in the village for perhaps 5-7 years, I was going to do a little write up to add to his character sheet that was basically his "first impressions" of most other characters and NPCs.

Would the following proposal be suitable for Skills? Feel free to change any names:

First Aid: Self (He knows how to stitch and bandage himself up, disinfect his own wounds, reset his own bones, etc, but he's not a trained doctor or experienced in treating other people like Nibby)

Passive: Identify - Technique (The ability to understand--not copy--someone else's combat skills, for instance if he saw Rallis at target practice he'd deduce something like "Hm. He crouches low and aims through the target, instead of launching the arrow up and over. He's a game archer, then, not a soldier." Or he might recognize that someone's a student of a prominent sword style just by the stance they take up.)

Inert Skill: Instant Movement (High speed, no telegraph, multiple directions, greater distance)

• Inert Skill: Blink Step (High speed, no telegraph, one direction, medium distance)
  
  
  • Active: Quick Step (High Speed, telegraphed, one direction, short distance)

Essentially, the above would be your generic "move real fast" technique any good swordsman should have. Quick Step just covers about 2 meters, but if one knows what to look for they could predict it and it basically moves in a straight line. Blink Step is where it gets to "flicker out of sight" levels because it uses the enemy's blindspot, and Instant Movement just improves on the whole package while being usable from any bodily position, such as standing still, without giving the movement away.

Home is where the Hearth is [Closed]

@Zeroth I think story beat wise that'd fit in really well. Would you be willing to fit in having some sort of curse or wound from his last battle that butchered some of his high tier skills? A seasoned veteran should definitely start with some upgraded skills if his specialty. But I don't want a vastly different power level if it might tilt the balance too much. I think it'd be fun for his resistances to stay intact so we could do the tropes of the old man thing out to be a bit of a beast when he does need to be. And also his key weapon skill. But there would be a reason why he doesn't have access to some abilities he might of picked up...although if you prefer, we could instead say it's his ages that's made him rusty. Of course he can develop as oyu like through the roleplay either way.

Also yeah - the warzone is far to the south and won't affect the story, but it gives an opportunity for people to want to travel here and join the village. Any dangerous dungeons would have reasons to be sealed and people would have to go out of their way to find them.

@Mae

My thoughts on progression were definitely along the lines of: For everyone else, they're growing and getting stronger. For him, it's more like "shaking the rust off." Rather than a curse or wound, though, a big limiter on his abilities aside from his actual age getting in the way would be his own sheer stubbornness--he really never wants to take another life again if he can at all help it, and he wouldn't even be willing to fight in self-defense or for his own honor in a large number of cases. Something like stopping an angry boar or cutting off fish heads wouldn't bother him, but he'd go pretty far out of his way to avoid violence as long as there wasn't someone else who needed his help--and in that case, it's easier to grab the dumb kid or whoever got themselves into trouble and drag them away than it is for him to actually inflict harm on someone again. If it were just him, and somebody wanted to kill him...he might just stand there, honestly.

Also, if it helps at all, I hadn't envisioned him having many magic-oriented skills aside from, maybe, some representation of "Murderous Intent that inflicts Fear status". If something like "Dynamic Vision: Able to see and track fast moving objects" counts as magic rather than something that could be trained, maybe some of those would be there, but no like "Enchant weapon with an element/Shoot a sword beam while screaming the move's name/Create shadow clone" type abilities. His whole deal is cutting--to the point that he could probably actually serve a secondary purpose to the village as a surgeon, if the need required it, because he's mastered not "swordsmanship" on its own, but the concept of "dividing substance using a sharp edge."

Maybe you could represent the degeneration of age by having "higher level" versions of skills with a strikethrough, and the lower level versions of them that are still usable until he "gets back into shape?" Some of them might have "degraded" multiple times, even, or it might not be a question of physical ability, but mental state--like maybe that "Murderous Intent" move from before isn't usable to the same extent anymore cause he doesn't have enough hatred in his heart anymore.

The Little Hamlet

Hello all! Since the GM like'd my question regarding my character in the interest check, I assumed that was go-ahead to post the CS draft? Let me know if there are any issues that need to be fixed!

The Elder Swordmaster

Old Man Goh

_{+ Martial Arts Instructor +
67 || Male || 5' 8" || Human}

• In the Hamlet I live in... A cozy, fairly large house I've spent several years furnishing and adding onto after moving into it, so it doesn't look run-down or abandoned at all. It's smack dab in the middle of town, where it's easy to get to the shops. Let all those stand-offish youngsters have the "outskirts of town" and their patchy, leaky roofs!
• I spend most of my time... Watching youngsters practice, taking long walks in nature, or meditating somewhere pleasant. But when there's actual work to be done, I spend a great deal of time chopping wood, carving fishing poles and tying hooks, and checking animal snares.
• I am known for... A kind nature. Very rarely, a glare that makes one feel as if they are drowning. A past I don't like to talk about. And...walking too quietly. People are often startled when someone seemingly "appears" behind their shoulder, but they just haven't practiced their awareness!
• My current goal is...To reach an understanding of the things I wish I'd known years ago; to do something that will atone for my past; to lift up the next generation.
• My secret is...There are some very dangerous people out there who would love nothing more than to find me, and kill me. They might even be justified in it.

S T A T S

[ ★ ] [ - ] [ - ] S T R E N G T H
[ ★ ] [ ★ ] [ - ] D E X T E R I T Y
[ - ] [ - ] [ - ] V I T A L I T Y
[ ★ ] [ ★ ] [ - ] I N T E L L I G E N C E
[ ★ ] [ ★ ] [ ★ ] W I S D O M
[ ★ ] [ - ] [ - ] C H A R I S M A

S K I L L S & R E W A R D S

Skills & Rewards

[ - ] Empty for now

C U R R E N T G O A L S & Q U E S T S

Goals and Quests

[Understanding] - Once, I thought power was all that mattered in life. I came to understand that there were many kinds of power, but for too long I relied on only one. Then I came to question what "power" really meant. Then I questioned the "purpose" of power. Now I question what, if anything, in this life has enduring, unquestioned value? If it can be found...I hope these little ones will learn it far earlier than I did.

[Atonement] - What is a life worth? If I kill a man in the morning, and deliver a child in the evening, are the scales settled? I do not think so. And I doubt I have enough time left to make things right. But, at least...I will do no more harm than I already have.

[The Next Generation] - Children admire strength without understanding what it truly is. So that they will not repeat my mistakes...I will strive to keep them off the path I once walked. And perhaps make up...for my derelection of duty to my own blood.

I N V E N T O R Y

Inventory

[ Clothes ] An old black coat, embroidered with silken clouds. It is wearing thin in places, and seems to have been sewn back together more than once...and sometimes, if it hasn't been washed in a while, blotchy stains seem to rise up here and there. Beneath this, plain, loose clothing makes it clear that "comfort" is vastly prioritized over fashion.
[ Shirasaya Blade ] - A sword with no handguard, and a scabbard of plain wood that could almost pass for a cane when closed. Its fittings are tight and, though old, the blade is clearly well taken care of--oiled, sharpened, and polished to a gleam. Very rarely, however, is it ever drawn in the sight of others.
[ Sling ] A popular game and toy in the village. Powered by pebbles and rocks.
[ Corked Gourd ] For when you get thirsty. Or if you need a little...pick-me-up.
[ Snacks ] It's simple food, but lounging in the sun always makes lunchtime special.

C O N N E C T I O N S

Connections

[ Gareth , Student, Village Child. Human] A boy no older than eight, with a messy head of red hair and bright, shimmering brown eyes. He wants to be a famous adventurer, and protect all his friends and family from evil! But Master keeps asking him hard questions, like "If you want people to be safe, why wish for an enemy to fight?" It's okay though, because he likes the training, and he figures one day all the hard stuff will make sense as long as he keeps working at it!

[ Alyshia , Student, Village Child. Human] A girl who is seven and a half, but looks younger because she's so small. Her long blonde hair and sharp blue eyes indicate she'll be quite the looker someday. Best friends with Gareth, but frustrated that he wants to spend so much time doing stuff that gets them tired, sweaty, and dirty. She likes doing the forms, though, because they're pretty...but sometimes, when she asks what a move is for, Master just says "Don't worry about it. In your hands, a blade should never draw blood."

[ Eric , Student, Village Child. Human] A chubby and surly nine year old with short, dark hair and a squinty green glare. He doesn't even want to be here, especially with that stupid Gareth. Alyshia's...okay, he guesses. For a girl. But Master just grabbed him one day after his stupid mom yelled at him just cause the stupid shopkeeper said they saw Eric stealing--which he didn't, he just found the stuff! But anyway, Master dragged him out here "Because you lack discipline." And every time he tries to run away, he gets bonked with a stick!

Skill Thoughts

I wasn't sure if I should attempt to draft out any Skills, since the GM has been handing those out, but if it helps when deciding, he wasn't a "battlefield" soldier as much as he was a...misguided...wanderer, dedicated to mastering "the art of cutting." In his old age, however, his preferred methods have changed because of his diminishing strength and stamina. One of the "scenes" I'd pictured in my head when I conjured him up (not for this particular RP, so feel free to adjust power scale where needed) is: A now-weak-and-frail anime swordsman who doesn't care what other OP anime swordsmen are doing. Usually, the best swordsman in the world could do something like "Cut everything in front of them for 100 feet with a single swing." (Insert massive shockwave that can be seen over the treetops) To which Goh responds, "One hundred feet? Pointless. The enemy's neck is only a few inches thick." (Insert the click of a sheath and the thud of a head falling off)

Home is where the Hearth is [Closed]

@Timemaster Hm, not so much the flavor of a former commander retiring from the armies. More of an individual who once sought mastery of the blade, and did a lot of things he's no longer proud of in the name of perfecting his craft...only to eventually question whether everything he'd devoted his entire life to, and everything it cost, ever had any real meaning in the first place. And after retiring to the hamlet he struggles to decide if he's doing the right thing by taking on students, hoping that none of them will take the same path he did.

Home is where the Hearth is [Closed]

@Mae Tentatively interested, depending on some questions.

It definitely seems like this RP is meant to be a "starter" tale, where the mostly innocent and inexperienced PCs will slowly build up their skills and their quaint village into something more fantastic. It also doesn't strike me as something where war, dungeons, vicious orc hordes, etc might be around every corner, but maybe that's just me getting the SoL vibe. So with that said, would you be opposed to having a character who's at the "end" of their story rather than the "start?" Someone who's already had a lot of experiences, even if he's unwilling to share them most of the time?

Specifically, an old (and I mean actually old, not an elf who's been around 200 years or anything to justify them still being youthful and spry) swordsman who, after spending most of his life fighting for one reason or another, retired to the hamlet? Becoming something of a simple self defense teacher who will half-heartedly entertain any child who dreams of becoming the "chosen hero," yet he prefers to simply sit under his favorite shade tree and sip tea?

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

I'm Hurt my dude

@Rune_Alchemist

:( I sowwies

Because I was limiting the number of players this time around I didn't think it'd be fair to throw out a big mention list of all the previous peeps in the Interest Check, so I just sorta threw it out there fresh.

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

I'm going to keep the short-responses limited, because I don't want to end up with one group or character getting too far ahead of others in between "real" GM posts. Hopefully that's not too big a disappointment to anyone, but I did want to give you all a little bit more to go on in between so that each player could do a little bit more than just wait to see if something works or make some blind attempt at their own plan without any relevant info on what someone else is doing at roughly the same time.