Legacy of the Black Queen - Yet another Fantasy RP (Signup Thread)

The kingdoms of Zakarath and Godsforge have been at peace for four hundred years. It is not an easy one - there are reports of clashes along the border from time to time and the allegations of kidnapping and incursions, and the slightest military movement sends fear and uncertainty rippling through both nations, from the capitals all the way to the smallest hamlet. But they are at peace nonetheless. And should they even think of going to war again, the Blasted Lands to the north are an ever-present reminder of the fate that may befall them should they be foolish enough to go down the path of blood. But times change, and people forget...

The affairs of kings were not your concern - not until two weeks ago, when a royal messenger came to your door bearing a missive from Queen Zakarath the Fifth. "By royal decree, the recipient of this command will stand before the Queen's Court two weeks hence. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the lands, titles, belongings, and life of the recipient and their family up to the third generation."

On hindsight, that option might have been the preferred choice.

---

So, welcome to yet another fantasy RP. I'm going to be your host / GM for this RP, and I'm looking for a few committed players to actually bring this one to completion. (Incidentally, people who've seen my previous signups might recognise one or two familiar names.) So with that in mind...

Gameplay

• Number of players: (31/8) The cap has been lifted. Players will be accepted based on past RP track records and whether or not the signup fits the setting - feel free to ask for additional details if needed.
• Frequency of updates: Expect posts from me every 1-2 days (or after every player has posted at least once), so player commitment is required; if you won't be able to post for one reason or another, do let me know in advance so we can work something out or find a replacement.
• Mood: More serious than light, but not WH40k-esque grimdark - there's nothing stopping you from introducing a little humour as long as it doesn't end up derailing the RP.
• Linearity: Fair warning - there may be a bit of railroading if the RP goes way off-track, and sidequests will be linked to the main plot as far as is possible. If you have an idea for a sidequest, please discuss it with me so that we can work it in.
• Rules: The RP subforum rules apply, as do the general forum rules. Please discuss any potentially game- or world-changing actions with me before attempting anything, and cooperation and discussion between players would be very much appreciated (as opposed to infighting).

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World

• Setting: Expect your typical D&D-esque Medieval European Fantasy setting, mainly centred around the two kingdoms mentioned and the northern wastelands. Expect a mix of urban interactions and wilderness exploration.
• Races: Humans (or derivatives thereof) are the sole sapient species / "race" in the setting, but both Zakarath and Godsforge are melting-pots of different ethnicities and cultures.
• Magic and Religion: The Gods are worshipped, but work in Mysterious Ways and don't normally intervene. All magic is "arcane" unless stated otherwise, with the most basic subtypes being offensive (direct damage and debuffing) and defensive (healing / buffing), a la Final Fantasy; other schools and applications may be present depending on how it's applied. Excessive use of magic will fatigue the user. Magitek is at a minimum, alchemy is a science, and magical items (that aren't spellcasting foci, e.g. enchanted swords and magical armour) are rare.
• Technology levels: Military technology is post-gunpowder but pre-firearms.
• Power levels: Super Weight 1-2 is a good guide - the average mage should be capable of utilising single-target / anti-personnel spells with a moderate expenditure of energy, but should not be able to take on small armies, for example.

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Characters: I'll need a few basic details and a couple of hooks:

• Name:
• Gender:
• Age:
• Appearance:
• Occupation:
• Equipment: Try to make it relevant to your character's background. Remember, magical items are rare in this setting.
• Backstory: Any relevant information - friends, family, childhood, whatever.
  • Hook 1: What did you do to incur the wrath of the Queen, and why should the royal court have taken notice of you instead of letting the regional / city authorities sort your case out?
  • Hook 2: What's your incentive to come back to Zakarath and complete the mission? (Note: The mission briefing will be delivered in-universe; for the purposes of the signup, what you need to know is that you're being sent out of Zakarath to find an artefact; completing the mission or dying in the process will result in clearance of all charges, while any attempts to forfeit the mission or run away will result in the same penalties as stated above.)
  • Hook 3 (new players): Players starting in the Exiles' Quarter will not have had a mission briefing - Why would you consider joining the current party?

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12/5: Signups are currently closed. Should any players drop out, signups may be reopened. 31/8: Signups are re-opened.

Current Players:

• Nman (Temporary co-GM) - Marcus "Mark" Escalonius
• PBlades - Riviera of Ark
• daltar - Sarah Wrynn
• Lemurian - Dr. Nicholas Barnett
• RedSavant - Jhelani Elinh

Link to RP Thread.

Link to Discussion Thread.

edited 31st Aug '14 8:19:55 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Voicing interest. Will submit my character tomorrow.

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

Definitely interested.
Question: What is the setting's stance on Necromancy?

edited 27th Apr '14 6:55:46 AM by Savato

Is Time Magic a bit too far off hand in this RP? I'm not speaking about world stopping Time Magic, but about buffs that may hasten/slow a person, including the user.

Posting interest. I likely won't be able to have a character up until Monday afternoon at the earliest, though.

It's been fun.

Seems like an excellent idea, interested, will get a sign-up up ASAP.

If you're reading this you have 5 seconds to...

Regarding magic in this setting:

• Time Magic: There's no magic that actually alters the flow of time, but spells that tweak the body's reaction time and dexterity (within limits) would definitely exist.
• Necromancy: The undead do exist, but the process of reanimating them usually requires the expenditure of excessive amounts of magical energy and (usually) human life, with variable results at best. Experimentation on necromancy is considered unethical and has been forbidden by both kingdoms. (What D&D would consider Negative Energy is okay on its own, since it counts as untyped offensive magic.)

edited 27th Apr '14 9:33:56 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

I'll make a pseudo-alchemist criminal with a hand arbalest and/or crossbow when I have time later tonight.

• Name: Kyle Andores Of Alsace
• Gender: Male
• Age: 21
• Appearance: Kyle is a muscular, though thin and tall young man with ruddy hair that rests somewhere between red and black, and shall we say the curtains match the windows. He usually dresses in a cloak over light armor, a cotton shirt under that light armor. He wears a pair of slacks with a tassel at the waist, and leather boots. Most people would remark on his stoic, dour appearance, and the fact that he only smiles once in a blue moon. He carries himself in a practiced, constantly aware way.
• Occupation: Ex-Nobility, now just a mercenary. No title, no nothing.
• Equipment: His sword Cadfael, a long one handed sword.
• Backstory: Kyle started off as a rather sweet kid, known during his childhood as a member of a lesser noble family for being kind to his servants, and always protecting his little sister Fina. However, their parents made some unwise political moves, and by the time Kyle was fifteen, their lands had been forfeited and something happened to make it so Kyle "never saw his mother nor father again". But this has not changed one thing, namely, his love for his baby sister. He kept on protecting her as his father told him to before he "left", and he started to do work to pay for his sister's lodging and food. Given he had trained with a sword from a young age, he became a mercenary recruit, and began to rise up in status. At some point, he met Inez, and while the two initially fought, the odd duo became an even odder pair of "best of friends" (not like Kyle will ever admit to this being friendship). However, as a mercenary, he often got involved in details that made him wonder if he was going to escape notice forever. As far as personality quirks, he will never, ever admit to considering anyone a friend - even when its obvious. "...Its not like we're friends...I just happened to be in the area...and I expect payment later."
  • Hook 1: Kyle finally did something the Queen could not ignore - apparently, a very high ranking noble was making moves on Kyle's sister, who had grown into being quite beautiful, and the only one Kyle approved of was his old friend Inez in terms of a relationship to his sister. The noble beat up Inez when he objected and tried to force the girl's hand in marriage. Kyle did not appreciate this, so he murdered the noble and his entire regimen of armed guards. This wasn't handled by regional offices because the noble was apparently a royal relative.
  • Hook 2: His sister is one of the few things held dear to his heart. Most of his mercenary money goes right to making sure she has food and good housing. Hence, he cannot simply skip town.

edited 27th Apr '14 5:32:21 PM by NickTheSwing

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

Nick: One major problem. Is there a reason why the local authorities haven't simply executed your character for murder? (I should probably make a note of that in the sign-up sheet.)

edited 27th Apr '14 5:45:56 PM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

I'm not too sure I'd join this but if I did, I had one idea for a character.

Would a wererat who ticked of the queen by willingly infecting one of her favourite knights (or if not, another they like) as an act of vengeance for something the knight did in the past be an okay concept?

Some people say I'm lazy. It's hard to disagree.

The local authorities sent people to arrest him for murder. The people did not come back.

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

Sorry, no can do. The court would never allow your character anywhere near the capital or the Queen, unless it's with your head on a pike. Too dangerous.

If it's a character who's human most of the time and occasionally transforms into a rat or hybrid (like your classical lycanthrope), that might be acceptable, but it'll take a lot of work. I'd like PCs to be standard humans as far as possible. Full-time hybrids are out, sorry.

edited 27th Apr '14 6:33:20 PM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Is this character better?

• Name: Eins Ceilheur
• Gender: Male, though Dude Looks Like a Lady to such a degree everyone thinks he's a girl, him being male is not common knowledge.
• Age: 17?
• Appearance: Eins looks a lot like a lady, that much is to be sure. He has a delicate, effeminate face, very pretty snow-white hair that seems to have a similar feel and consistency to down feathers. He has bright blue eyes that, while they can give off a cold appearance during combat, hint that he's a sweety deep down. He usually wears a black shirt under a white light coat with a hood, some odd white fur at the neckline, tight black leather pants, and steel toed boots. He seems to be wiry and slight of frame. Strong enough to make powerful attacks, but middling in endurance to attacks.
• Occupation: Wanderer / Ex-Cult Leader?
• Equipment: Camarad, his "Dual Blade", which is essentially a two sided sword that can change configuration and become a single blade with two sharp edges. He is also capable of magic, being able to create blue and white lines of power that seek out opponents, or which swirl about him in destructive "storms". However, to do these spells, he needs to concentrate and be surrounded by sufficient "noise". If its too quiet, he cannot cast anything.
• Backstory: Eins is a simple wanderer who it seems has an innocent, if rather determined view point. He considers it his perogative to atone for his "wrongs" by helping people, and does so by helping people who cannot fight do so in their defence. Eins is really the ultimate Nice Guy, though he is really something of a doormat once he starts helping people. Though it is made evident he had a shady past already. Even so, he's a remarkably good friend.
• Hook 1: His past is why he was pressed into service. He used to lead the Cult of the Crimson Glare as its Prophet. The Cult used to compose a lot of high level knights and lords, and when the cult...ah, splintered between Eins and the "daughters of Eins", it was feared that Eins knew some stuff he shouldn't and might say things.
• Hook 2: Eins has friends in the land he was called out of, and as such, due to his friendship bonds, he cannot in good conscience just skip town.

edited 27th Apr '14 6:40:04 PM by NickTheSwing

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

Interested. Will post a character soon.

"You're an enemy of art and I pity your ignorance" - Domingo Montoya Help save the rainforest for free simply by going to Ecosia.org.

Better. No major issues for now pending the other applications, but you'll have to come up with some information about the cult. (Also bear in mind that acceptance is still not guaranteed.)

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Can I PM you the details about the Cult?

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

Yes.

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Alright, I thought I'd go for a twist on the typical rogue so you don't get stuck with a generic thief. And also cause it's only fair I make a gangster in your game to reciprocate for Orgun Traydor.

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• Name: Marcus "Mark" Escalonius
• Gender: Male
• Age: 27
• Appearance: A tall well-built man with dark skin, a shaved head, and five-o'clock shadow on his face. He has several tattoos on his back and arms, and always wears somewhat dapper attire◊.
• Occupation: Back-alley-alchemist Legitimate Businessman
• Equipment:
  • Steel Arbalest: An arbalest with a quick-reload mechanism. (Quick being rather relative. Given that it's still an arbalest, not a machinegun, I imagine it being about one shot per "round" of combat)
  • Crossbow Pistol: A small handheld crossbow. Packs far less punch than an arbalest, but has the benefit of being concealed in his jacket.
  • Dagger: It's a piece of metal about six inches in length designed to cut things. What? I needed to put a description here or else it would look empty!
  • Vials: A vial of paralytic agent, a vial of arsenic, and a vial of incendiary agent, each one is good for a few dips.
  • Tube Sock: Instead of a wallet or coin-purse, he uses a thick cotton tube sock to store his coins.
  • Sand: He keeps a good scoop of sand in one of his pockets.
• Backstory: Grew up poor, like the vast majority of people do. His father died when he was young, and he joined up with a small gang of other young men engaged in activities of questionable legality - but it at least kept his family fed, and he just gave them the excuse he was working at a mine, or for a carpenter, or for whatever he had to make up until he finally moved out. It was here that he learned his knack for being able to cut up alchemical ingredients, and became somewhat of a self-taught apothecary. He had his first big hit a couple of years later when he brewed up something he sold as 'Moonlight Shadow', a night-vision drug that was popular with thieves. After that it was a matter of trial and error, and soon enough he had an organization consisting of a few dozen men that was counterfeiting fine liquors and incense, peddling all sorts of illegal alchemical substances, and generally bashing in the skulls of other gangs that got too aggressive. When his mother has already passed away, he didn't want this life for his little brother, Pablo. Instead he continued to hide his activities from him, and doesn't get involved in his life to avoid influencing him, aside from sending him money to pay for his studies at a magical university.
  • Hook 1: Robbery. Murder. Manslaughter. Battery. Assault. Aggravated assault. Fraud. Racketeering. Witness intimidation. Bribery. Banditry. Distribution. Tax evasion. Extortion. Forgery. And he probably didn't do himself any favors by naming one of his most potent poisons Fifth's Kiss. As for why he's not on the executioner's block, he happens to be a firm believer in generosity, and tries to make life easier for members of the constabulary. As a man who has never had solid evidence linking him to a crime, gifts from such an upstanding businessman are completely appropriate. And tax-deductible.
  • Hook 2: His younger brother not dying is a pretty good incentive for him to stick to the mission. The thought of returning home and redoubling his endeavors with the goal of making the Queen Zakarath the former Queen Zakarath is his reason for wanting to come back alive.

Okay, let's see... Good to know that the law can't pin anything on him, so we'll have to use the "Suicide Squad" pretext instead of sending him straight to the gallows, even if I'm sure that other less scrupulous rulers would probably have favoured the latter.

(A note to other players: I have nothing against characters not being fans of the current monarch, as long as they're savvy enough to avoid flagrant treason or provoking encounters with law enforcement. So if you want to have a criminal background, make sure that your character also has a good enough reason for the kingdom to keep them alive.)

Expect tighter security, of course. *makes note to prepare sniper squads just in case* Aside from that, no major issues at present. Stand by.

edited 27th Apr '14 9:47:46 PM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Working on a rabble rouser/ Paladin archetype. Can I assume that, despite the "peace", there have been some minor skirmish and raiding along the border?

"The literal meaning of life is whatever you're doing that prevents you from killing yourself." Albert Camus

No need to assume, it's there in the intro. (Okay, you can assume that the reports are true.)

edited 28th Apr '14 2:01:32 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

• Name: Robert Botin
• Gender: Male
• Age: 32
• Appearance: More medievally dressed of course.◊
• Occupation: Ex-Chef for some noble.
• Equipment: A really big knife, a frying pan and a whetstone.
• Backstory: Originally just the son of an inkeeper and his wife in the countryside, Robert's life changed completely as one fateful day some noble's carriage broke down nearby, forcing the noble to stay at Robert's family's inn for the night. Impressed by the child's cooking abilities, the noble offered him to work for him and Robert gladly accepted, being able to pay for a better life for his parents with the money he would be earning.
  • Hook 1.1: Robert's latest dish nearly killed the aforementioned noble's food taster, so obviously it must have been poisoned. While it had not been Robert who did it, it is he who has been blamed for poisoning the food. Not being able to prove anything else, he's been charged with attempted murder.
  • Hook 1.2: The case is being handled by the royal court, because Robert has more or less willingly had to listen to quite a few drunk ramblings of the noble and his guests. As these guests tend to be quite important people from various places, including the royal court, Robert would be able to tell a few interesting stories, should he have reason to do so. Just killing him would not be wise either, as Robert has been rather generous towards the poor in his time as a Chef, having quite a positive reputation with the suffering masses. While Robert himself would not lead them against the government, his execution would be quite unpopular.
  • Hook 2: Robert refuses to simply abandon the mission as he values his honor, hoping to find the true culprit behind the entire poisoning incident.

edited 28th Apr '14 9:25:49 AM by Savato

• Name: Riviera of Ark
• Gender: Female
• Age: 29
• Appearance: Batter up.◊
• Occupation: "Paladin", Magistrate of Ark, Rabble-rouser extraordinaire
• Equipment:
  • (Alchemical Silver) Bastard Sword - A big, ornate, fuckoff hand and a half sword wielded with an exacting amount of litheness and brutality. Forged to commemorate the unofficial union of the trading settlement of Ark and the mining township of Silvershard. Potent against supernatural threats of a nocturnal persuasion.
  • Reinforced Leather Armor w/Stylishly tattered cloak - Self-explanatory.
  • Lucky kitchen knife - Sentimental values.
  • Signet Ring - Symbol of Office of the Magistrate of Ark and worn as a necklace, this ring is enchanted with a simple but potent magical effect - it warms noticeably when its wearer is being lied to.

• Backstory: Stop me if you've heard this one before. A girl, her white skin pure as virgin snow, her blue eyes blazing with fiery determination, her every movement with an unnatural fey-like grace, with undeniable charisma. A girl, born the only daughter of the town’s magistrate –the closest us rabbles and peasants ever see of the Queen’s “grace” and her noble “divine right of rulership” – yet one who would willingly dispense with luxuries, one whose wear a smile always on her dirt-caked face after long days of rough housing with millers’ sons and the farmers’ daughters. At eighteen years of age, she knew every single one of us poor bastards- and we all fell in love with her. Within our heart of hearts, we –know- she would lead us all to greatness; we would follow her to the netherworld, and she would leads us back. For this girl, barely a woman, we would go to war.
• And we did. Well, you obviously know about our “territory disputes” and “minor disagreements” between us “god-fearing, loyal subjects of Zakarath” and “baby-eating cannibalistic heathens of Godsforge”. It was during a particularly grueling winter, barely a week after “King’s Rite” and a month after the old Magistrate, Riveria’s father, went to the great town hall in the sky of some disease or the other. Riviera –only twenty winters old, then- was elected acting magistrate in lieu of the queen’s appointment. Funny thing, the orders still haven’t arrived. Heh- I wonder what poor bastard of a clerk messed up that bad.
• …I’m digressing, aren’t I? Yeah. Sorry. Honestly, it’s something I’m ashamed of- I was away for the entirety of the decade, chasing fool’s gold in another continent. Oh, atleast have the tact to keep your irritation out of your face, man. Still, you brought me good ale- so, I’ll tell you the gist of what happens.
• Basically, that was the day Ark was sacked almost entirely by “a band of rogues, cutthroats and deserters, led by a bandit lord.” Yeah right, and I’m the queen’s magic talking chamberpot. Riviera led an organized retreat from the town, putting herself and but handfuls of militia to cover the evacuation. It was a miracle, in a word- not one citizen of Ark died that day. That was the first of a dozen skirmish between Riviera of Ark and Ser Gaffrigron of Silvershard, actually. Ah, I see your eyes lit up with interest, but, well… I’m awfully thirsty.
• Much obliged, much obliged! The Queen’s blessing upon your line, and all the good stuffs. You asked for me –because- I’m a writer, so I’ll just assume you have read my magnum opus. Every single words, every single lines- they’re all true. Er, well, except for some of the saucier details. “Artistic license”, they call it in the east. So, the parts left out by the book-
• You see, eventually, the battles become little more than squabbling, routine, almost an in-joke between our Riviera and Ser Gaffrigron- Pfft. Heh. Yeah, I made exactly the same kind of horrified face you’re sporting. But, listen- it turned out alright. No, not alright- it turned out incredibly well! Apparently, the both of them grew weary of war by the seventh skirmish and see the merits of a mutually beneficial relationship. From then on, they turned their attention inwards, to quelling the rages and instilled hatred of their people. By the twelve battle, they decided to dispense with the charade altogether, and thus formed the incredibly prosperous trade agreement and alliance between the trade outpost of Ark and mining town of Silvershard. Quite unprecedented, I’m told.
• We loved her, more than anyone. And so, at her callings, we make war. That never did, and never will, changes. And so, at her request, we make peace.
  • Hook 1: Treasonous dealings, cavorting with the frenemies, standing testament of a possibly lasting, mutually prosperous peace between Zakarath and Godsforge. As magistrate of Ark, she proves surprisingly popular- and, well, suppressing a peasant revolts can get terribly tiresome.

  • Hook 2: She promised to protect her people. Moral fiber of a conscientious person have a nasty effect of binding them to their words.

"The literal meaning of life is whatever you're doing that prevents you from killing yourself." Albert Camus

Savato: While I see no problem with the overall signup, you're going to need a more compelling reason for the royal court to take an interest in this case, and a reason why offing your character would make things inconvenient for the kingdom. A simple near-poisoning might not be a sufficient incentive; I'd imagine that the court would just tell the noble to get a new food-taster, a new chef and a new judge.

PBlades: ...Okay, despite what I said about open treason, I like your character's backstory and your reasoning is sound. No major issues noted. Stand by.

edited 28th Apr '14 8:30:55 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.