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[Tastes Like Blue]

This spiraled into something. I tried to keep with the themes of the RP while gently sliding some religion in. Anyway, let me know if it works or if I need to edit anything. I know I need to add more Interesting Facts, but my brain is coming up with nothing. I'll edit as I think of it.

City Name: Saasarnda, The Red City Of The Ill-Fated, Carmine Cliffs
Region Number: 9
Current Leader/s: Dynast - Æsc Braddock; Speaker - Sister Starla Everille

Major Factions:

• Our Lady of Oblation: The church holds a heavy sway here. Their worship is primarily of Saint Anna Perenna, the daughter of a baker who was able to lead an army of twelve and defeat an army of hundreds during the protection of the Stolen Lands. While they are not an opulent church and do give to the wanting and needy, people know not to cross them. There's a militaristic order within their ranks called the Scions of Sacrifice, rumored to be a band of powerful assassins.
• The Braddock Family: This family holds Saasarnda after brutally murdering wresting it from "pagan sea witches." They were a rich family that poured their money into trying to make something from nothing in a coastal town where shores were limited and the ground was infertile. But they did and have held it ever since. Unfortunately, the church has become prominent and usurped some of its power. Still, Our Lady of Oblation cannot fully take over due to a) the Braddock's hold on the mead and swill industry and b) a rumored monster that lives in the craggy shorelines of Saasarnda. The less skeptical believe it's a nasty warship that could easily decimate the religion's churches.
• South Shore Mining Company: The faction in charge of the clay pits for which Saasarnda is famous. While they swear fealty to both heads of Saasarnda's ruling snake, they do have the second highest revenue of the seaside City State. And as such, their mining camps are entirely run at their own discretion, and neither faction looks into them. It is known that the Mining Company employs "indentured labor" for its workers, which is a fancy way of saying slavery. Of course, not everyone falls into this category, but those who don't do the worst work. SSMC's private "camps" are heavily guarded, and their "hunting parties" are the things of children's bedtime stories.
• the Blacktide Hags: These are the ancestors of the "pagan sea witches," AKA the heraedyne, that were "driven" out of Saasarnda. They still hold their traditions and knowledge close, but they've changed with the times to stay fearsome. They run the harbor of Saasarnda and are the reason that fish and other sea-related goods aren't the primary export of the City State. While both the church and the Braddock's deny their existence, the signs are there. It is said that they practice magic and can control the seas to their whim. But mostly, they have a massive stash of muskets and no fear of death.

Form of Rule: Hegemony

Geography: From the north are rocky slopes that lead into what looks like fertile plains, but a foot below the soil are more rocks. The ground is bright green, though, watered by the rivers flowing back into the ocean. As you move south, you might notice that the land is not dipping before you reach the sea. There are very few places along Saasarnda's shoreline that actually have a shore. Most are steep drops into the craggy waters below. But the sea is a beautiful blue with low landing clouds sometimes laden with rain. The roads are made from crushed oyster shells, making them a bright white against the scenery, and a lot of the wooden structures are formed from driftwood--of which there aren't a lot. The major form of building in Saasarnda is made of rock and clay. It's known for its bright red buildings, formed from its equally bright red clay. Not even the process of making bricks from it dampens the color. It's eerie against the more natural-looking landscape.

Key Trade/Industry: Clay, Alcohol, and the gracious donations of the patrons of Our Lady of Oblation.

Interesting Facts:

• The Red Clay: It is said that the blood of Saint Anna Perenna is why their soil is red, but it was red before that--honestly. But not to discount the strange rumors about the clay. It's said the more they pull up from the seafloor and surrounding areas, that the more "miners" go missing. It's recently traveled to townspeople. Many believe that the SSMC is feeding people into their clay mixes to produce the red (that's not how blood works, yet again.) Others believe that a horrendous monster lives underneath the clay and is dragging people away as a warning.
• Saint Anna Perenna: Believed to be a holy figure, this saint is only canonized within the Stolen Lands. The witnesses of her deeds now form her church and worshippers. According to them, the Braddocks had a hard time riling together an army to protect them, so they commanded the villagers to rise as well. A baker's daughter stood before him and told him he would not sacrifice their young for this battle. Enraptured by her beauty and fierceness, twelve of the strongest warriors in Saasrnda joined her to fight. Never once had she lifted a sword into the air, but she sliced down soldier after soldier, her blonde hair said to be alight with holy fire. Eleven of the twelve warriors died, only leaving the youngest, a man whose name was scrubbed from history. As Anna leaned down to help him up, she took a sword from the back and fell. A lightning bolt struck the man and the remaining soldiers down. Anna was held aloft as a saint, and her body was interned in the massive cathedral in the middle of Saasarnda.
• The Caverns Underneath the City: A city built atop rocky land and outcroppings are bound to have some natural tunnels. These were discovered when they were trying to bury their dead, but after a season or two, they either rose from the groundwater or sunk so far into the earth that they couldn't be recovered. This led to Saasarnda using mausoleums, cremations, or sea burials for their dead. But it led to finding an immense cave system made of walls so white and shiny it almost looked like glass. They call it the Glass Maze, and over the years, it has been used by smugglers, citizens, the church, and storage alike. Yes, there is a small underground town underneath Saasarnda, only accessible by stairs leading down into it and openings unknown to the regular passerby.

Relationship With Other Cities: TBD

 

[Tastes Like Blue]

I will preface this by saying that I'm not an artist. I downloaded Krita and have a real cheap drawing tablet. But I did find some watercolor brushes the other day, and I've been looking for a place to use them. So, I figured doodling Pascal would do it. Please note that I will refer to the profile image on the character sheet; this does not replace that. I just wanted to expand on what's going on under all those layers. So, part of the design is not mine either. I also thought it'd be fun to make it look like he just got into a barfight.

Anyway, I just did way more research than needed into the physique of longbowmen. They had beefy arms and shoulders and fucked up fingers. I've omitted the last bit. Sorry, I'm allowed to take SOME liberties. Also, I don't know why I'm prefacing it that much... it's not good.

Pascal

 

[Hecatoncheires]

Bruh that's fuckin awesome. For someone who says they're not an artist, that sure looks damn good to me.

Anyway, I just did way more research than needed into the physique of longbowmen. They had beefy arms and shoulders and fucked up fingers.

Oh aye, longbowmen were absolutely jacked. Drawing and firing a longbow requires the kind of back muscles you don't see outside of professional athletes or fighters these days. You've definitely nailed that look with Pascal there.

Banging my head against Premiere Pro to try and make it work still, but I'm thrilled to see a City State. I'll give it a proper read over tonight and get back to you about it.

 

[allthekingsmen]

Pascal looks great! I had a brief stint in middle school where I really, really wanted to be a cool archer and was a little wigged out when I found that many longbowmen could be identified by their skeletons because of their bones, which morphed according to their professions. They were strong guys; some of those draw weights were insane, and they'd sometimes draw them back to their jaws rather than their lips for extra power. Scary! Can't wait to see him in action.

 

[Tastes Like Blue]

Bruh that's fuckin awesome. For someone who says they're not an artist, that sure looks damn good to me.

I have friends who are actual artists and are fabulous. So, I always try to lower people's expectations with mine. Also, it helps cut down on the critiques and criticism. I do this for fun. Don't insult me. But you go online and everyone SUDDENLY becomes an art critic. But thanks!

Oh aye, longbowmen were absolutely jacked. Drawing and firing a longbow requires the kind of back muscles you don't see outside of professional athletes or fighters these days. You've definitely nailed that look with Pascal there.

Thanks! I'm a weirdo who likes to map out how characters look in my head so I'm not contradicting myself down the line. I do this with everything, even published short stories. And considering Pascal is probably going to wear layers, his form is going to be ambiguous. By all means, he is NO Juna. But I get tired of every archer or ranged fighter looking like elves when you must send those arrows out like cannons for it to be effective. And while I didn't look up the weight of an arquebus, I can imagine that its kickback is enough to warrant a strong upper body. And the belly is because, on the inside, he is a court bitch and DOES NOT miss meals or alcohol. Man, I need other hobbies to keep me from thinking about this shit.

Pascal looks great! I had a brief stint in middle school where I really, really wanted to be a cool archer and was a little wigged out when I found that many longbowmen could be identified by their skeletons because of their bones, which morphed according to their professions. They were strong guys; some of those draw weights were insane, and they'd sometimes draw them back to their jaws rather than their lips for extra power. Scary! Can't wait to see him in action.

omg. Yeah. Their fucked up spines. As someone who does a lot of physical work for their job, I don't want to think about that. Hah. So, it's also omitted, but considering diets and the sheer constant shooting, I can imagine. I saw a mockup of one while looking this up, and I was like: "Yeah, I'd be dead. Thanks." Oof. And pulling a bow with your jaw hurts my teeth.

Thanks! And the same for Juna. I imagine them having an okay relationship. Just him going, "You have to take that armor off sometime. And when you do, I do not want to be around. Probably smells like a ton of fish in a hot metal barrel. But I have some soap if you want it. I made it from deer fat-- a little tiny baby deer, they're very cute and chubby."

 

[allthekingsmen]

And pulling a bow with your jaw hurts my teeth.

That sounds horrifying! I was mainly meaning pulling back the bowstring with their fingers to the point of their jaw by the ear when it's normally done just up to the mouth (seen in Olympic archery), not literally with their jaws (can you imagine the neck muscles that would come with that?), but you've put a new image in my mind. Maybe I'll try that one day with, like... a toy bow.

And the same for Juna. I imagine them having an okay relationship. Just him going, "You have to take that armor off sometime. And when you do, I do not want to be around. Probably smells like a ton of fish in a hot metal barrel. But I have some soap if you want it. I made it from deer fat-- a little tiny baby deer, they're very cute and chubby."

It probably does smell very bad in there, considering he's moving around and getting sweaty all the time. Juna does make the effort wash himself and clean his armor a normal amount, but that's not always possible (he puts a sack on his head when he cleans his helm, just in case anyone walks in/past him while he's doing it, but that requires taking off the helm in the first place). Juna will probably dip his head in shame and frantically, happily nod upon the offer of soap. He may even pump his fists in joy upon hearing of the cute, chubby baby deer, only to dip his head again in sadness once he realizes that the deer that helped make the soap is definitely dead.

 

[Tastes Like Blue]

That sounds horrifying! I was mainly meaning pulling back the bowstring with their fingers to the point of their jaw by the ear when it's normally done just up to the mouth (seen in Olympic archery), not literally with their jaws (can you imagine the neck muscles that would come with that?), but you've put a new image in my mind. Maybe I'll try that one day with, like... a toy bow.

Well. That's just my reading comprehension failing me on a catastrophic level. I'm with you now, though. Pulling the bowstring back to the jaw. I can only imagine, holding tension that far back. Anyway, I'm going to retake English now.

It probably does smell very bad in there, considering he's moving around and getting sweaty all the time. Juna does make the effort wash himself and clean his armor a normal amount, but that's not always possible (he puts a sack on his head when he cleans his helm, just in case anyone walks in/past him while he's doing it, but that requires taking off the helm in the first place). Juna will probably dip his head in shame and frantically, happily nod upon the offer of soap. He may even pump his fists in joy upon hearing of the cute, chubby baby deer, only to dip his head again in sadness once he realizes that the deer that helped make the soap is definitely dead.

lol. That'll be an interesting interaction. Pascal is older and everything is mildly grimdark. I'm going to play him as much as the straight man that I can with the occasional "wtf did he just say" thrown in. Poor Juna. Just a softie made entirely of murder muscle.

 

[Applo]

Heya. Are you still looking for people? (I know the thread has the open tag but I wanted to check before I just cool aid man my way in.)

 

[Hecatoncheires]

Heya. Are you still looking for people? (I know the thread has the open tag but I wanted to check before I just cool aid man my way in.)

We most certainly are, the more the merrier.

Sorry for the radio silence on my end, chums. I just finished up a video project last week and then got kicked in the arse by a cold, but I'm just about on the mend now. @Tastes Like Blue I'll get back to you about Saasarnda in the next day or so (though initial glances tell me that it looks grand).

 

[Applo]

Name

Rieke

Age
Forteen years and however many more needed to get the more than a few gray strands in her otherwise blonde hair.

Appearance
In some ways Rieke has a quite striking appearance. Brilliant blue eyes sit just above high well defined cheekbones surrounded by fair, unblemished skin and under a cap of nearly pure blonde hair tinged with just a few strands of grey. In otherways, Rieke looks perfectly average. Standing at 5'8 she is neither tall nor short and her frame is neither muscley or slender to a degree worth mentioning. In the right crowd, it could be quite hard for those who don't know her to pick Rieke from the masses.

Role Within Company
In another life Reike was the daughter of a traveling merchant. When she isn't standing in the path of hot lead or throwing herself at cold steel, Rieke is likely found in the company of the companies' various beasts of burdens or tending to the many dull and onerous tasks that keep a fighting force on their feet and fall under the general purview of the quartermaster.

Lance: The Verlorene - Death is an occupational hazard for most soldiers, a constant companion whose gaze one tries to escape for as long as possible. For the men and women of the Verlorene, death is more like an elusive lover to be forever chased after.

The expendable tip of the company's spear, the Verlorene role is to throw themselves in loose order upon an enemies formation with musket, sword, axe, dirk, fist and tooth and spill both their own blood and the enemies to create the smallest flaw in their foes formation for the rest of the company to exploit.

Skill at arms and valor are of no consideration for those who become one of the Verlorene's ever changing ranks. All that matters is that one will charge towards certain doom with an unhealthy disregard for the sanctity of one's own skin and a gleeful determination to take others with you in one's heart. Promotion in this lance happens through dead men's boots

Five Words
Reckless. Libertine. Guarded. Haunted. Venomous.

Reason For Joining
Rieke's joining of the Crows wasn't much of a plan. She found them... or maybe they found her, the details are more than a little hazy, in the gutter of some no name town after a loosing fight with some faceless thugs and enough wine to floor an ox. The Crows that picked her out of the dirt, beaten and broken, took Rieke back to their camp and she never really left

Skills
Wagon driving - Spending nearly a decade and a half traveling by wagon, Rieke has learned a thing or two about keeping them moving and how to fix them when they break.

Carpentry - No one would consider her an artiste or commission Rieke to carve decorations for a chapel, but when it comes to the humdrum every day working of wood, she is quite proficient enough with a hammer and chisel.

Basic Healing - Life on the road means many days away from civilization and healers. For those, like Rieke, who know where to look, nature can provide much of what one might need. Also it helps to know how to sew. Truly serious damage may be beyond her ability but she knows enough to pinch off a vein or pack a wound.

Drawing - Some talents just seem to be innate, gifted by the gods and so it is with Rieke and the arts. Give her the materials and time and she will produce a drawing of style and beauty.

Character Connections
TBC (Lazia?)
TBC
TBC

 

[Kuno]

Raoul Renault

⬤ ⭘

Interactions

@username @username

City-state

everywhere

⭘ ⬤

Name: Raoul "The Rat" Renault
Age: 33
Five Words: Cavalier, Greedy, Intelligent, Flamboyant, and Keen

Role Within Company: Gunpowder is deadly in his hands. As the company's leading pioneer in ballistics, Raoul occupies the strange and unofficial role of concocting new weapons that make structures and things go boom. In addition, his stylized turn of phrase allows him to serve from time to time as the negotiator - or what he calls a "master of palaver" - between the company and surrendering offensive parties. Personally securing means of defeat from the enemy serves to stroke his already massive ego.

Lance: Those apart of The Rat's retinue all pledge to the same profession and delight: blasting through the toughest of an enemy's defenses. Fortresses fall to the might of their cannons and catapults, and those unfortunate enough to be without walls find themselves at the mercy of musket and culverin fire. There are no more than a few dozen specialists that belong to his noble cause, and each are as eccentric and conflated as the last. Any man who is a trained marksman with delusions of greatness may join.

Reason For Joining: In the simplest terms, the Crow Company offered far more money than his previous company. But there are rumors that a certain mustachioed rat was actually caught making romantic advances on a certain violent Company leader's wife, and he was subsequently forced to flee. The Rat denies these charges.

Skills:

• Faux Knight - Before he tossed all sense of chivalry for money, Raoul served as a true and blue knight for nobility. His skill with a rapier was recognized long before he became known as the ballistics expert he is today. It surprises his enemies to realize that the man is just as deadly in close combat as he is from afar.
  
• The Rat's Charm - In spite of his nearly insufferable personality, Raoul is incredibly adept at playing the role of a genteel, charming individual. Verbally diffusing situations has saved him from many a fist to his face - though his facade can only cover his irritating arrogance for so long. The man has also convinced himself that he is irresistible to the ladies.
  
  He is not.
  
• Slight of Hand - Raoul would make a fantastic thief if he ever fell on hard times. With alarmingly deft hands, Raoul can swipe small items off someone's person with little notice. Usually he relegates this trick to card games when he needs extra "help." The Rat does not enjoy losing.

Character Connections: This dude has friends? Jk

Coded by Ardent

 

[Applo]

As an aside, I'm now getting YouTube videos about the tactics and formations of this kind of warfare fed to me by the algorithm.

 

[Hecatoncheires]

As an aside, I'm now getting YouTube videos about the tactics and formations of this kind of warfare fed to me by the algorithm.

Youtube seems to have me dialled in for that content stream as well. I have zero complaints. Rieke looks grand, all shock troops and hard drinking. Am I right in thinking you're wanting her to fill a similar role to Lazia, or is she more focused on tending to the animals and other such tasks?

@Kuno oh thank god we have someone who's down to clown with cannons, I was worried no-one was going to go for that particular niche. Raoul is absolutely delightful, if "smelling of gunpowder, sweat and extremely bad perfume" can be considered delightful in any way.

 

[Applo]

Am I right in thinking you're wanting her to fill a similar role to Lazia, or is she more focused on tending to the animals and other such tasks?

I was more aiming at a niche somewhere under Lazia. Somewhere around the general vicinity of a wagon driverish with a bit of being an all around dogsbody/fetch and carry-ish.

 

[allthekingsmen]

Rieke might interact with Juna quite a bit then! He hangs out with the horses and does hard labor for whoever is willing to order around a boulder of muscle like him. He might be a bit (or a lot) scared of her, though.

 

[Applo]

He has mostly nothing to worry about, unless someone important tells her to that Juna needs to go. Mostly she'll just be unpleast or half-cut or maybe both. If she's really drunk, then well maybe then worry ;). But yeah she should know him. I've tried to drop her a bit into the roll of a generalist. She knows a bit of medicine but you would rather have Lyanna or one of her minions. She's literate but not voracious at reading. Shes a determined fighter if not a skilled one. That kind of vibe.

 

[Reliance]

Hi all. Question that I hope doesn't run afoul of posting etiquette. Is the IC for this role play up yet?

 

[Hecatoncheires]

Hi all. Question that I hope doesn't run afoul of posting etiquette. Is the IC for this role play up yet?

No posting etiquette foulage there chief, IC isn't up at this time so you're all good to get involved now if you want to be in from the start.

I'm aiming to have this thing up and running by early August, if possible, so if anyone feels like throwing their hat into the ring on the City State/Mercenary Company front as well as some more characters, that would be most excellent.

 

[EldridSmith]

The Excommunicated [WIP]

Armor Face Personal Info Combat and Company Extra/Trivia Themes

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  Fine, fine, if you're that eager to spoil it...

  
• Name: Raven the Branded, formerly Raven Blackwood
  Titles/Nicknames:
  Age: 27
  Gender: Male
  Sexuality: Straight
  Height: 6'
  Five words: Irreverent, Stubborn, Cunning, Resourceful, Resilient
  
  Personality: Raven's past experiences have led him to reject religion, tradition, and most authority, as such he has a defiant attitude towards authority these things, often displaying a mocking or disrespectful demeanor towards those in those positions who he considers undeserved or unproven. Considering he is less skilled than most with every weapon and relies on many tools and different weapons and to defeat his oppnents, he relies on his wits as much as his physical abilities, as such he has become extremely resourceful and never plans on a "fair fight".
  
  Background: Raven Blackwood was born into a, now fallen, noble house, however this is of little importance as through events he has no clue of, his family was gone before he could think and he was in the care of the church.
  Trained as knight
  Trained as Apothecary
  Found out ???
  Spoke out
  Excommunicated + Torture
  Time after
  
  
• Role Within Company: Apothecary, Rogue, Fighter
  Lance: Place
  Reason For Joining: Revenge, Coin, Nowhere to go
  
  Abilities:
  
  • Skills:
    • Tarnished Apothecary: Raven has the ability to make all manner of chemical from gunpowder to poison to balm for wounds, with his excommunication his focus has turned to learning to use his creations to harm of which he has become adept. On the flip side while he can make medicine skillfully, he's terrible at using or applying it.
    • Veilknight: Once aspiring to be a knight of the church, he learned to practically live in armor and knows how to use most weapons instinctively, while he favors a longsword and shield in close combat, he always carries a pair of small crossbows and a smattering of guns. The most notable thing about this is his ability to use cloth to dampen any sounds he would make while armored. Due to his unspecialized nature with weapons, when in a fair fight he is destined to lose... but, "If you find yourself in a fair fight – you didn't plan properly."
  • Traits:
    • Unbending Knees: After his excommunication he has not bent his knees to pray to his former sham religion, bow to a noble, or quake in fear. In his own words "If I no longer kneel before a god, why would I kneel or cower before men?" He is iron willed and incredibly stubborn as well as having strong legs to back up his claims. Though this is tempered by his better judgement.
    • Trial by Fire: Having been beaten, tortured, and finally burned alive before escaping, it's rather plain that Raven is tough as nails and uses his iron will to survive many a scenario that would kill any a lesser man.
  
  
• Character Connections:
  1) Everette Fabian-Fallon, fellow poison maker and respective students of one another sharing knowledge.
  2) Raoul Renault, best rat, i mean gunpowder buyer and fellow firearm connoisseur.
  3) Immanuel De Acutis, melee combat instructor and someone to butt heads with theologically.
  4?) Marina "La Bella", the one to drag him from the mud post attempted execution. Also someone he gladly helps with their fix at a discount out of courtesy.
  5?)
  6?)
  
  Likes: TBD
  Dislikes: TBD
  (I will expand on these later)
  
  Trivia: ???
  
  
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  .[/COLOR]
  [/b]

 

[rozukitsune]

Name: Charlotte, Zola, Shianne, Pria, Delaney, Eleanor, Margaret etc, etc, etc

Age: 20s? 30s? (27)
Appearance:
(This changes depending on what she is doing and who she is doing it with)

Role Within Company: Charlotte is a chameleon, not a fighter - though she can do that too. Well versed in the art of fencing - she can hold her own in any duel; but she far prefers the art of conversation. Her main role is that of a saboteur, an information gatherer and spy. Her job is to go behind enemy lines and insert herself seamlessly - finding the weak points of any given army by any means necessary and returning to report on her findings. She can do just about anything, from doctoring to fixing things; from riding horses to construction - she is a fast learner and a disguise specialist. She'll pretend to be just about anything she needs to to be believed as an ally to whomever she is trying to gather information on and can speak enough European languages flawlessly that no one would ever suspect a thing.

Lance: She doesn't have her own lance, instead performing as a lone wolf - a mercenaries' mercenary - floating from one side to another depending on whomever is paying her the best at the time. After all, money talks: and more than anything else that is the language she converses in.

Five Words: Friendly, generous, empathetic, selfish, jaded
Reason For Joining: The Crow company was just the highest paying company - it doesn't need to be more complicated than that. (Maybe she's gathering intel on them for someone else? Who knows...)
Skills: Master of Disguise, Language, Misdirection, jack-of-all-trades

Character Connections: She would be known by whatever alias she's going by at the moment (She's Zola to the Crow Company), and as those things go they probably trust her as well as they can trust anyone they've hired.