Name: Shaeli
Species: Asura
Age: 19, having graduated from the College of Synergetics about a year ago.
Gender: Female
Appearance: Short, even by asura standards
◊
Profession: Necromancer (“Ahem, I prefer Necrologist, thank you very much”) and magical researcher.
Other Abilities: Surgical skills, anatomical knowledge and a few healing spells make her a competent medic. Watch her bedside manner, though.
Equipment: Travel clothes, a pack with supplies, a general surgical and biological sampling kit (and a somewhat excessive amount of insect repellent), and an asura-style glyphic staff. Also has her BRTI (bio-resonant thaumetric imager), a silver metallic apparatus studded with blue power crystals, worn around her left arm and on her left hip.
Personality: As you might expect from an asura, Shaeli is highly intelligent, ambitious and inquisitive, with a thirst for knowledge and a keen analytic mind. She is also extremely confident in her own intelligence – of course she’s among the finest minds in the room, what else would one expect? While she isn’t exactly disdainful of the less enlightened, she does have a tendency to express her exasperation with deadpan jibes and quiet eye-rolls. For most of her life she has been an academic, without much in the way of field experience, but her current situation has led to such crippling boredom that the promise of new specimens is enough to offset the prospect of grime, mud and swarms of bugs.
Backstory: “Necromancy is such a loaded term these days. People always seem to assume you spend your days constructing abominations of flesh from the bodies of cute little bunnies and turtles. I mean, I could do that, certainly, and maybe I have once or twice, but it’s not all I do! I’ve always had an interest in undeath and it’s various mechanisms and energies. Such processes appear to be aberrations from the so-called natural order, and yet the terms and functions of the eternal alchemy do not preclude them. This is why I chose to study necromancy at the College of Synergetics - it is a truly fascinating field, once you get past the shamanistic trappings and rituals placed upon it by less enlightened species.
When the Pact formed and invaded Orr, I was putting the finishing touches on my thesis (“Physiological adaptations in orrian undead - telltales of hyperefficient necro-aetheric manipulation”, if you’re curious). Interest in necromancy was at an all time high, and I could see the glorious heights of my career stretching out before me. Then they went and actually killed the dragon, and funding plummeted. Now the only krewes still hiring necromancers are with the Inquest, and my ambition hasn’t quite yet outpaced my principles enough to make them seem like an attractive option.
Cursing the fickle whims of my peers, I’ve been forced to get by on the strength of my ancillary qualifications. My expertise in thaumetric resonance imaging has at least opened doors for me with medical research krewes, but such placements feel more like glorified technicianhood than anything else. I am, quite frankly, bored out of my considerable cranium. Perhaps it’s time to seriously consider the Durmand Priory. I’ve had their recruiters sending me pigeons since my thesis published, you know, but they’ve always seemed a bit too keen on archive-diving and… *sigh* field-work for my tastes.”
edited 14th Jul '14 3:36:16 AM by gaunt88
Thom Raiwhat?
Given that you're a GM and this whole thing was your idea in the first place, I guess I can let you in. 
- Name: Caleiwyn
- Species: Sylvari
- Age: ~3 months old, as of the beginning of the RP. Born just in time to miss Wintersday, much to her own disappointment.
- Appearance: Her vines glow red in the dark.
◊
- Profession: Elementalist and Warden in training, although the latter may no longer apply, under the circumstances.
- Other Abilities: Caleiwyn is a fairly decent cook, thanks to her experience in the Dream, as well as some practice after her awakening. Aside from the skills she learned in Warden training, the rest of her knowledge and skills are largely basic and fragmented at this stage. She is just a sapling, after all.
- Equipment: A backpack containing a fast-dwindling supply of food, a blanket, winter clothing, miscellaneous tools and utensils, and a small amount of money. Also carries a plain staff and two small daggers on her person.
- Personality: Like all young Sylvari, Caleiwyn is insatiably curious about the world around her. She is still very much in the process of maturing, and hasn’t yet developed much in the way of emotional control – although she is not necessarily unkind, her grasp of other people’s wants and needs as compared to her own can be tenuous sometimes, leading her to act in selfish and inconsiderate ways. She is hard-working, and determined to the point of being single-minded. Although she is a fast learner, Caleiwyn’s intense one-directional focus can lead her to ignore peripheral details, and she does not necessarily think before acting.
- Backstory (in-character):
"I always wanted a Wyld Hunt. Well, who doesn’t, really? The way the Valiants always talked, it seemed so exciting – to have a purpose, to travel the world, to know exactly what you were destined to do. Sitting there on some mushroom in the Grove, listening to a Valiant talk about all of the amazing, exciting things they’ve done... I wanted that for myself so badly. I’ve been in Warden training since I was a sprout, and I was glad I had a chance to defend the Pale Tree, but it’s not the same. Nothing exciting ever happened, and none of it really felt important.
I received my Hunt a week ago. I just... went to sleep one night and saw it in the Dream. I saw an Asura lying in a pool of her own blood, reaching out to me, and I knew that if I didn’t find her, didn’t save her, she would die. So I left the Grove for Lion’s Arch. It’s lonely here. There aren’t that many other Sylvari around, and everyone’s preoccupied with cleaning up wreckage. I’ve been helping, too, but mostly, I’ve been searching for the Asura from my dream. I can feel my Hunt winding itself around my heart – I do not think I will truly be able to rest until I find her."
edited 22nd Jul '14 7:38:18 PM by KiriAme
Anyway here's Blackwall
Never Trust
Definite interest, thinking about a Sylvan character 9although I culd do him as a human if you don't want too many of one race in the group), but a Thief. Not familiar with the game but you said that was okay?
edited 14th Jul '14 10:19:14 AM by tricksterson
Trump delenda est
The Warrior Monk of Coeurl
Only slightly familiar with the game itself (played a bit a year or so back, I think?) but i'm sold on this.
Would having weapon types outside of those established on the wiki be cool, presuming they're pretty logical (and not broken) in nature? I have an odd attraction to greataxes, spears and sometimes lances, none of which are actual useable things from what I saw when I skimmed a bit during my work break. More specifically, i'd like to make a greataxe-wielding Warrior here, if that's cool.
"You lost, Dio. You lost for one simple reason - you were using charcoal." - Hank Hill
Thom Raiwhat?
More than one character of the same race is fine, as are weapons that the game mechanics don't allow for. 
- Name: Aleksandrov Baldersson
- Species: Norn
- Age: 28
- Appearance: Taller than your average Mesmer.◊
- Profession: Mesmer and shaman of Raven.
- Other Abilities: Aleksandrov is quite well-read, having made a point to study the tactics and cultures of Tyria's most prolific races and factions. He still has a lot to learn, but he has a good grasp on general information, military or otherwise, regarding most any of the races the group is likely to encounter. In addition, he has a knack for cartography, which he attributes to natural talent born from the "explorer's blood" in his veins.
- Personality: As a Norn, Aleksandrov is highly independent and self-reliant, having been raised with the knowledge that if he wanted to be respected and well-reknown (and what Norn doesn't want that?), he would need to make his own legend. As such, he has an almost single-minded dedication to building rapport and seeing word of his deeds spread throughout Tyria; even if those deeds tend to be rather exaggerated. More than that, however, Aleksandrov is a man of large size and larger emotions. At his best, he is boisterous, big-hearted, magnanimous, and earnest. At his worst, he is stubborn, quick-tempered, and brash. However, there is another side to him, as well: While some of Tyria's residents see the Norn as simple, straightforward folks, Aleksandrov is a Mesmer through and through, and a shaman dedicated to Raven, at that. As such, he has a sharp mind for trickery and deceit. While he can be a loyal and trustworthy friend to his allies, he is anything but direct when it comes to those who stand against him.
- Equipment:
- His sword◊, his axe◊, and his focus◊. The focus is really just there for when Aleksandrov needs to conjure a particularly complex illusion, or in case he needs some light reading. Being a Norn focus, it obviously consists of some choice excerpts from several of the most influential epic poems throughout the ages.
- His robes and ceremonial skull mask, as shown in the picture.
- His backpack, which is stocked with a bedroll and a few days' supplies, some ink and writing implements, and a few odds and ends.
- A large scroll case, stocked with maps of the southern Shiverpeaks, as well as blank vellum for when he needs to chart their path through Orr.
- His sword
- Backstory (in-character):
"My legend begins on the peaks of Frostgorge Sound, high in the Shiverpeak Mountains. I am Aleksandrov Baldersson, and I am the mountain. Before I could walk, I was swimming with the Quaggan, and I even competed in their famous Quaggan Games. When I was eight, I made my first kill: A Dredge war scout, who ambushed me while I hunted a great bull moose. And then I killed the moose and had it for supper that night.
When I was nine, I went to study with the Kodan, and learned of their ways; their history, their way of thinking, and their way of fighting. I've always had magic at my fingertips, and with a little practice, I was able to combine that with the Kodan's training to make myself a formidable warrior, even at an early age. I finished by the time I was sixteen, and that was when I received my first vision from Raven himself. He showed me that even though I could grow up to be a powerful warrior indeed, my real strength was in my mind. My magic was his gift to me, and he wanted me to use it to carve out a path most of my brothers and sisters would never even think of. With that one message, Raven opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking! I immediately set off on a pilgrimage to Hoelbrak to become a shaman of Raven. My journey took over a year, and along the way I faced enough perils to fill another story altogether! Perhaps I'll tell you all about that journey another time, but suffice to say that by the time I finally arrived in Hoelbrak, I was still not quite a man, but you wouldn't know it from looking at me then.
Ever since that day, I've dedicated myself to Raven above all the other Spirits, although naturally I still revere them all. Since then, I've had six visions from Raven in all, and each one has brought with it a new way of seeing the world, and a new perspective on how to apply my talents to immortalize myself in history. It's already been eleven years since I started my shaman training, and eight years since I was made a proper shaman, and already I have become far wiser and even far stronger than I was previously. While I dedicate myself to Raven and the other Spirits, I know that they give me their blessings and wisdom so that I might write my legend in the stars themselves. I may live as a shaman for now, but this isn't how I'll die. I've already decided on how I'll make my name known: I'll drive the Dredge from Frostgorge Sound, and send them running scared, back under the Shiverpeaks. They're a nuisance to Norn and Kodan alike, so once there are fewer of them around, people are bound to notice the difference right away. I've studied the history, culture, and military tactics of every race on Tyria, because if there's one thing I learned from the Kodan, it's that a good balance can make you stronger than just sticking to the same thing as everyone else.
Well, that's how I got here, at least. That's not the end of my story, though. Ooooh no. I've still got a hundred years left in me, at least! Well, maybe ninety. Who knows when I'll run into something that finally does me in? Anyway, if you want to see how my story ends, you'll just have to stick around. Don't worry, you're in good hands while you've got me here."
edited 15th Jul '14 6:58:21 AM by DoctorThunder
The Warrior Monk of Coeurl
Damn it Soda Man, I wanted to make the first Norn! D:
Whatever, your character makes mine feel all the more worth it in my head. (Which is not to say yours is bad, I just mean that when I was thinking of the concept for yours in my head, the concept for my character felt like it'd play off of that well. Hopefully i've correctly displayed what I mean in the following sheet.)
- Name: Gest.
- Species: Norn.
- Age: 53, although considering that Norns have pretty long and youthful lives Gest is probably physically in his prime right about now.
- Appearance: Standing at 7' 7'', one might mistake Gest for the largest human they've ever seen - truth is, he's probably the shortest Norn they've ever seen. Although he retains the general body structure of a Norn, standing him beside a more typical Norn would highlight differences other than his height - a thinner body, a lack of the tattoos typical of Norn everywhere except from the elbows to the hands and sharper facial features are the most identifiable. The degree to which these contrast traits of your typical Norn is debatable but the general consensus is that Gest is "an odd one." The only other features of note are the dull auburn beard (thick but neatly trimmed) and long-ish (Bigby length) hair on his head of the same color, accompanied by dark brown eyes. Underneath his armor are far too many scars to count, some of which are deeper than others - a select few look as though they still pain Gest to this day.
- Profession: Warrior. Important of note is that Gest wields a Greataxe in combat, a large weapon meant to take advantage of the strength and supreme control of the user through a light material being the bulk of the weapon, with the business end and opposite end being weighted, often times decorative in some sense. This design allows for the weapon to be effective in both single encounters and when fighting groups but carries the drawback of real risk - with enough practice a user of the Greataxe can launch himself straight into the battle but this and most any other move the user makes leaves them open to attack if they're not able to manage the encounter well themselves or do not have adequate support.
- Other Abilities: From his Nornic heritage and upbringing, Gest has always kept the teachings of survival close to his heart - he is at home in urban environments due to his history but can just as easily survive in the wilds alone - shelter (manmade or natural), hunting, tracking and even basic cooking are all a part of Gests natural arsenal (although in the case of his food, it's... healthy, at least? Maybe? It works for Gest, but it's doubtful it would work for anyone else...). An odd skill Gest has also picked up is the ability to weave simple cloth - he has never shared how or why he learned this.
- Equipment:
- A visibly worn but well-maintained suit of armor - despite it visibly looking pretty heavy, it's as though it's a cloth garment to Gest on account of it pretty much being the only thing he wears.
- A medium sized pack of all the travelling essentials (and perhaps some non-essentials).
- A bedroll rests diagonally above the pack, which seems to be wrapped around three long poles. These are essentially the Warrior's Battle Standards, although judging by the way they're packed, they may not exactly be that just yet.
- Personality: Gest is a disillusioned man - he's lived by Nornic tradition in hopes that one day his life will change around and gain meaning, purpose, but the sheer length of time he's had to wait and live through the life he chose for himself (almost seemingly in vain) has quieted him far more than any Norn ever should - while he will speak his mind, he will hold back, constantly unsure of himself. This unfortunately applies to the battlefield as well - in more vital moments, Gest feels that he pulls his punches without intending to, and is thus unsure of his capabilities at times where he should know he's trying his damnedest. While he still lives by the creed - independent, self-reliant and proud to be a Norn as a Norn should - he is unsure id he's willing to die for it. The only thing he still clings strongly to, if for deeply personal reasons, is the Spirit of the Wolf - the spirit of the pack. To this end, Gest serves as an aspiring leader and a worthy ally to his companions, if one with some deep-seated issues.
- Backstory (IINNN CHARACTEERRR): "When I was little more than a boy, my father taught me of the Spirit of the Owl. Home. Family. Hearth. These were her teachings - and my father taught me to think of Hoelbrak, and those who lived there, as these. We were Norn. We were family. I never forgot these teachings.
But it was not the Owl who came to me in that vision, on the day I became a man. It was the Wolf, who taught me of the hunt - and taught me of the pack. I received these teachings eagerly. I vowed to live for the pack and to fight for home. The news of Lions Arch came years after. How soon after, I could not tell you anymore. I only know that at first, I thought little of it. Then I heard the stories - of humanity's struggle, their struggle for home. I looked to Hoelbrak then, my home - it was then I understood my purpose. I would go to them, the humans in Lions Arch, and fight alongside them for the home they deserved to call home, as I deserved to call Hoelbrak mine. I would fight with the pack - with the Wolf - for the Owl. I set out soon after to answer, in retrospect, the only calling I had ever felt was a worthy challenge for me.
So I went to Lions Arch, a world its own, and fought the good fight - fought in any way I thought I could help, as smartly as I could. I am not that smart. Surely, if I was as smart as I thought I was then, I would have realized that the life I lived only served to make me the very thing I fought to remove. I was nothing more than a common thug, unfit to lead any self-respecting beings in the war for their homeland. That's a very dramatic way of putting it, but it doesn't make it any less true. Regardless, word has spread around about the Durmand Priory needing serious aid from men like myself. Strong men. Honorable men. They need a group to perform what is called by many a suicide mission. All the better, then.
... This group will need me to survive as much as i'll need them. They can be my pack, at long last. I just hope i've still got what it takes.
edited 14th Jul '14 11:40:53 PM by InfiniteParagon
"You lost, Dio. You lost for one simple reason - you were using charcoal." - Hank Hill
Thom Raiwhat?
Both of those Viking gentlemen are accepted, including the one who was technically pre-accepted. 
Also, for tricksterson, this page has a pretty comprehensive guide to creating a Sylvari, which can be helpful if you haven't played the game. I can probably find different versions for other races if people need.
Two good questions to start off with when creating a Sylvari character are "what Cycle were they born in?" and "do they have a Wyld Hunt, and if they do, what is it?" The Cycle a Sylvari is born in affects their personality, although it's not the be-all and end-all. For example, Cycle of Day Sylvari are characterised as fighters who prefer the direct route, but they might not necessarily apply that to a combat situation - they might just be a really determined opera singer or something.
A Wyld Hunt is basically a quest sent to a Sylvari by the Dream. Sylvari with Wyld Hunts are called Valiants. It's a momentous task given to a select few Sylvari, and it basically gives them a purpose in life that they will then have to figure out how to fulfil. Usually it's extremely difficult, and you can't give up a Wyld Hunt - either you achieve it, or you die trying. The way it's described in-game, it seems like the need to fulfil their Hunt is so overwhelming that a Valiant can actually feel it, and it apparently bugs the shit out of them to the point where ignoring it really isn't an option.
Sylvari that don't have a Hunt still tend to believe that they have a purpose in life - they just need to work a little bit harder to find it.
edited 15th Jul '14 4:48:00 AM by KiriAme
Anyway here's Blackwall
I really like the sound of Gest, Paragon. I think our two viking gentlemen will play off each other really well.
Never Trust
I may or may not be able to get to this because of RL concerns so if you reach your quota before I post a character worry not.
Trump delenda est
- Name: Adam Ingvar
- Species: Human
- Age: 26
- Gender: Male
- Appearance: Hes got a ponytail in the back of his head too.
- Profession: Ranger and experienced hunter.
- Other Abilities: Tracking, sneaking, survival, and skinning animals are some of the skills he has picked up from being a hunter. He has some experience with taming and calming beasts as well, from when he doesn't need to kill them. Also surprisingly alright at patching up tears in clothing.
- Equipment: A pack carrying the essentials for short stays in the wild, such as a bedroll and flint and tinder. He carries around a knife for skinning animals. Uses an oaken long bow and arrows in combat. He also is always accompanied by his pet brown grizzly bear named Broer.
- Personality: Adam is a self-reliant person, almost to a fault. He doesn't hate people, but he doesn't trust them to do anything. If something needs to be done, he will be the one to do it. He is a quiet man who likes to keep to himself and keep conversation to a minimum. Comes across as a bit gruff and more than straight-forward in conversation. Adam doesn't really have any goals or motivations that he would be willing to risk his life for. He will always put his own survival first. He also hates anyone who wastes anything, food more than anything. He does have a bit of a soft spot for Broer. If he'll put anyone's needs above his own, it would be his pet bear.
- Backstory: "I don't really like talking about myself, but here goes nothing. I was pretty young when my parents died. They were traders and were victims of a bandit raid. I don't really have a lot of memories about them. I ended up getting raised by my older sister, Victoria. She tried her best to provide for both of us, but she was barely an adult at that point. She was a Seraph stationed close by Kryta so she could watch after me. Occasionally she would get assignments further away and would be gone for a few days, so I learned a few things to take care of myself.
Except one day she didn't come back. I found out she had been stationed at Kessex Hills and her unit was hit by a centaur raid. She didn't make it out of that. Now I was out of family and quickly had to figure out how to survive. I was about ten at the time. Victoria had been the one paying for our home, so I was quickly kicked out on to the street to make room for new tenants. All I had was a knife I managed to swipe off of the bastard of a land lord. I wandered Kryta for a while, trying anything to survive. It wasn't fun to see how quickly people ignore you when they notice you're homeless. I eventually got hungry enough to wander outside of the walls of Kryta to one of the surrounding farms. I waited until it was night before I took my knife and killed one of the chickens on the farm. I took it and ran like my life depended on it, not willing to stick around to see if anyone heard me. That night was the first time I hunted something and the first time I cooked my hunt. It was burnt and tasted awful, but at that point I could have eaten an old shoe and called it gourmet.
So after that I figured, if I had no one to provide for me anymore I would provide for myself. I ventured out of the city more and more often after that to try killing more wild animals and less live stock. After an encounter with a buck and a broken rib, I figured I should learn how to use a bow. Trying to tackle an animal and stab it repeatedly wasn't always going to work out for me. It was around this time I met a recently orphaned young grizzly bear. I had just managed to kill a Moa and was going to cook it when I saw him. I could tell he was hungry like I was. Against my better judgement I decided to share my bird with the cub. I couldn't eat all of it by myself anyways. After that, whenever I got more than I could eat, I would go to the cub's den and give him the rest. Well after a while he started to follow me around, growing fond of me after a while. I figured, having a bear to help hunt is never a bad thing, so I named him Broer. We grew up together and I became a pretty well known hunter around Kryta, even if I spent more of my time outside of the walls than in them.
That brings us to today. I got word from some mystery person about the hunt to end all hunts, and some pretty good pay. Figured I'd give it a shot, got nothing to lose really. I've arrived in Lion's Arch and now wait for more details on the job."
edited 17th Jul '14 11:57:09 AM by Oni-Lord
Don't have time at the moment to put it up here, but I should be able to get something up here sometime tonight. Nornsquad hoooooooooo!
Thom Raiwhat?
Adam is accepted, and once you get your character sheet up, Lynk, I reckon we'll have enough people to start this thing. -n-
I'll make a discussion thread soon.
Anyway here's Blackwall
Thom Raiwhat?
Double posting to announce that we now have a discussion thread.
Never Trust
Okay, I've decided I'm going to pass. Good luck, have fun
Trump delenda est
Discussion thread
RP thread
Lion's Arch, 1327.
It's been two years since Zhaitan's defeat at the hands of the Pact, but the remaining Elder Dragons still ravage Tyria. Lion's Arch is in ruins, and the dragon of jungle, Mordremoth, has begun to stir.
In the wake of Scarlet's attack, many people are more concerned with survival than retaliation. But in the background, the fight against the dragons still continues.
You have been called upon by a mysterious benefactor with connections to the Durmond Priory, who is working on developing a formula to reverse dragon corruption. In order to pursue his research further, he needs the assistance of a band of adventurers, with the courage to go to the ends of dragon-corrupted Tyria, and the skill to return alive.
Welcome to the as-yet-unnamed Guild Wars 2 RP! A couple of things to keep in mind - it's not necessary to have played the game in order to join this RP, but it would help immensely in discerning how things work. If you haven't played the game, or you just want a refresher on various things, the wiki is here
, and you can always feel free to ask questions.
We're trying to keep the number of players relatively small so that we don't get overwhelmed G Ming this, so this is going to be a small RP. The advantage to that is that it's going to be a lot easier to connect everyone's backstories together, and to give characters closer connections to one another and the story as a whole.
As the flavour text suggests, you have been summoned by a mysterious benefactor for a dangerous mission. However, it is up to you to figure out why or how this came to happen. Maybe you were attracted by rumours that some rich person was offering large amounts of money to daring adventurers. Maybe a friend with connections to the Pact recommended this mission to you, and either for gold, glory or the chance to help against the dragons, you signed up. Maybe one of your friends got involved and you just wanted to hang out with them in new and exciting places. The general gist of all this is that, ideally, your characters will have some form of connection to the story and one another before it even begins.
All of the TV Tropes and RP sub-forum rules apply, as per usual. I'm co-G Ming this with Doctor Thunder and Gaunt 88, but ideally this is going to be a largely player-driven RP - we're just there to push the plot along and resolve disputes.
If you're interested, you can sign up using this template:
Accepted Characters:
edited 26th Jul '14 5:20:13 AM by KiriAme
Anyway here's Blackwall