Relics of Atlantis: An Ocean Punk Fantasy RP (interest check/signup)

RELICS OF ATLANTIS

RP Thread: Here

Discussion Thread: Here

Those rebellious humans will pay for their arrogance. They have stolen my treasures, and they have proclaimed themselves superior to my will. For their hubris, they shall perish by the hand of Tethys, goddess of the endless ocean.

I've never GM'd before, but I've had this idea kicking around in my head and I'd really like to try and RP this, and see if there's anyone who'd be up for it as well. Any questions, feel free to ask, and I will try and update the post and eventually put up a discussion thread for people to ask anything they need.

Story

Our story takes place on a world of water, where the continents have mostly sunk. Long ago before the continents sunk, the city of Atlantis was the great bastion of power in the world, and its wealthy and powerful denizens compared themselves to divinity on Earth. However, the goddess of the sea, Tethys, had grown tired of the hubris of humanity, and decided that she would declare war. When humanity fought back and began to beat back her armies, Tethys sunk the continents. It's been over a thousand years since that war, and humanity is still recovering. The goddess, deep in slumber since the climactic battle, is beginning to stir and this is threatening to bring war back to the surface world. Atlantean artifacts are beginning to seep back into the world, and humanity feels that with enough of them, humanity can beat back the goddess and secure their freedom.

Players and Races

The player characters are a band of swashbucklers who are on the hunt for Atlantean artifacts of power. Every other seafarer on the great sea is also on the hunt, and this has led to infighting between them. In addition, some of Tethys' merfolk have rebelled against their master and decided to join the fight on the side of the humans. The players are not only going to have to battle Tethys' forces (like loyal merfolk, sea monsters, and the Deep Ones), but also other sailors who want the magical Atlantean artifacts for themselves.

Player characters will be able to be human or merfolk.

• Humans are the surface worlders who are trying to stop Tethys from destroying their civilization. Their tech level is roughly between the 1500s and the 1700s, and so the greatest extent of their technology is a few small-scale steam engines, no steamboats yet, just sailboats. They are a proud, rebellious race, and eager to take their world back from the goddess.
• Merfolk are the followers of the goddess Tethys, but player character merfolk have rebelled against the goddess for one reason or another. Both mermen and mermaids have the top half of an attractive human and the lower half of a large fish, though they can switch between a tail and scaly human legs at will. Merfolk are usually more knowledgeable about the artifacts of Atlantis, and often have more access to certain magical artifacts than humans do; however, they have limited access to human technology and as such their technology rarely passes the Bronze or Iron Age.

Human Nations

There are three distinct human nations in this world: Tyria, Bellenica, and the Jade Empire.

• Tyria is a naval powerhouse hailing from the northern part of the continent of the same name. The king rules Tyria with a fair but firm hand, and modern society is mostly based around Tyria. Tyria has been at war with Bellenica for hundreds of years, but only recently with the threat of Tethys looming over them have they put aside their fighting. People from Tyria usually have more pale skin and lighter hair, and are thought of as having a stiff upper lip and being egotistical, but when it comes down to it, they are noble and righteous people.
• Bellenica, a more southern land on the continent of Tyria, has more of a Mediterranean climate and disposition. Bellenica is one of the older nations in the land, and more of its land survived the flooding than Tyria. Bellenica is ruled by a council that rules the nation democratically. The people are olive-skinned and tend to have darker hair, as well as being more passionate and emotional overall than the comparatively stuck-up Tyrians. Bellenica is legendary for its delicious food, extravagant music and dance, and beautiful women.
• The Jade Empire was only introduced to the rest of the world relatively recently, within the last hundred years. The Jade Empire is the only given name for this mysterious nation, which resides on the similarly-named Jade Continent ruled by the equally-mysterious Jade Emperor. Far different than the nations of Tyria and Bellenica, the Jade Empire's citizens are honor-bound to defend their nation from the influence of outsiders. Using unorthodox weaponry and martial arts, it is thought that the Jade Empire's archipelago colonies hold a lost treasure trove of Atlantean artifacts, but whether this is true remains to be seen.

Signup

• Name:
• Race: Human or merman/mermaid.
• Appearance: Either describe your character, or link a picture.
• Position: What position on the ship does your character serve? I will be playing the captain.
• Personality: Tell us how your character behaves. How do they act on duty? How do they get along with others? What is the character's motivation for taking the fight to Tethys? Be in-depth but don't write a novel.
• History: Why is your character on this quest? What is their history with the sea and the fight against Tethys? If your character is a mer, why did they rebel against Tethys? Again, don't write a novel, but give me enough to work with.
• Artifacts: Every character gets one or two Atlantean artifacts starting out. Atlantean artifacts are usually made of the magical metal orichalcum, which moves through water as easily as iron moves through air. In addition, artifacts have some sort of magical property endowed to them, giving the wielder some sort of power: whoever wields the artifact controls said power. In general, the more powerful an artifact, the more valuable the artifact is. Try and keep these starting powers at Super Weight 2 or 3, and I will approve them on a case by case basis. Try and keep them thematically consistent with the concept of Atlantis, and sufficiently mystical in their form.
• Equipment: Besides artifacts, what does your character use on a regular basis? What do they carry with them aboard the ship? Useful tools? Weapons? Mementos?
• Miscellaneous: Anything else we should know about your character?

• Alaryn Brightwaters, the Forward Scout/Guard (daltar)
• Xenon, the Boatswain (nman)
• Neressa Almerin, the Navigator (Daydre)
• Altansarnai Bilguun, the Merchant (Tojin)
• Toby, the Scout/Scavenger (Firock Finion)
• Snake, the Striker (Justa Username)

NPCS:

• Erik Sandersson, the Captain (me)

edited 18th May '15 10:16:41 AM by AllHailThrall

I would join, but that would disgrace all Seto mermaids!

(jk I'm totally interested and will put up a char sheet soon.)

Going with totally typical mermaid trident user.

That's fine, sometimes something is typical because it works. For the record, in this case the trident would probably be the artifact in question, unless it's a standard iron or bronze trident.

I'm thinking of joining too. Was thinking of a merperson who has an artifact that can be used to give either himself or another a different form although it's power can only be used for one person at a time.

They were trying to find a way to permanently turn humans into merfolk, feeling it would help them with the current state of the world.

Definite interest, though I'm not sure if I should go with a human brawler or merfolk knife wielder. (Maybe a mixture of both since there seem to be a lot of people who want mer characters?)

@Justa: So do you mean a disguise artifact, or an artifact that keeps the same appearance but transforms the character from human to merfolk?

@Daydre: Do whatever you want, but it does seem like we have a lot of merfolk characters. Maybe it's that Humans Are Average but it would make sense to have more humans on this human-commanded ship. xD

@Thrall: I was supposed to be a versatile device, allows shift of species overall and can be used for humanoid disguises. I can change if this is overpowered.

I'd imagine that this artifact would only change how someone looks, it wouldn't be a physical change. Otherwise it could be a little overpowered, yeah. It also keeps the character from using it in order to shift their physical strength to lift or move something they otherwise couldn't, or use it to slip out of bindings or something like that.

I will work on someone with a very big grappling hook anchor.

Definite interest. Thinking of someone with orichalcum knuckles (like brass knuckles, but orichalcum).

• Name: Alaryn Brightwaters
• Race: Mermaid
• Appearance: Looks like this, with this skin color when in mermaid state, as well as the same ears and carrying this spear, sans the shell on top and ribbon.
• Position: Forward Scout and Guard
• Personality: Alaryn is somewhat overly formal and polite, a dignified figure in a world of daring and recklessness. She tries to think before she acts, values honor and duty above and all and would be willing to lay down her life for a cause she believes in. She is a bit more relaxed dealing with other members of her species, however there remains a light layer of formality in those dealings depending on the caste and origin of her fellow mer. With humans she's a bit more serious, still not completely able to deal with them without considering them as a different, separate entities she deals in with some distance and politeness. Though a bit stiff she is at heart a good person, a lover of arts and culture, with a lot to learn and experience about dealing with others.
• History: The Brightwaters Clan is an old family of mer, belonging to a noble warrior caste ruling over a small town on a corner of the sea, watchers of an old temple where worship of Tethys as well as a harmony between sea and sky were paid, old traditions of paying respect to all of nature and the world. Alaryn was born thus into a life of duty, responsibility and discipline, having to hone body, mind and spirit to be able to do her family's duty to their people and land. It was up to her family and their knowledge of the martial arts that their community was kept safe from raider and threats from the depths, of their knowledge and wisdom to guide and rule fairly and of their purity of spirit to pay proper worship to their responsibilities to the temple. The Brightwaters clan lived near to a small peaceful island, Laris, inhabited by humans and over time, the two grew a bit closer... assisting one another over generations in small things, holding a cordial if somewhat distant relationship, meeting every few years for religious festivals dealing with sea and air. It was a good peaceful life... however, when Tethys rose once again, it was all set into disarray. Mer society became more radicalized and while the Brightwaters tried to keep themselves neutral, eventually their views were pushed to the test. A higher ranking lord of the mer, Lord Hardscale, came into Brightwaters Land, taking hold of the Seasky Trident for a religious festival... however, then they made a startling declaration. They spoke of the sins of humans and the great cataclysm... and how it was time for the mer and their Goddess to rise once again. They would use the Seasky Trident to lead an attack on the island, slaying all humans and trying to destroy the island utterly, sinking it to the depths. Alaryn's parents argued furiously against this... and in the end honor won over duty, making the Brightwaters rebel and fight against their lord. The fight was bloody and hard... Aralyn's parents fought hard, wounding Hardscale gravely before they both were slain. Alaryn ended their struggle as seeing them being stabbed by the sacred relic made her rage and pain push her to the utmost... striking the final blow against Hardscale as the power of the Seasky Trident failed him. With the Trident now in her power and the battle momentarily won, Aralyn was faced with a hard choice and a heavy heart... her remaining loyal retainers she ordered to mix among the population and hide to avoid retaliation for the rebellion of the Brightwaters. Putting her father's armor on, she then set out... going Laris island to warn them about the danger now posed by her people to them before she sets out into the world... believing that the new worship of Tethys is wrong, that the attack on the surface is not the way to go. She fights to find answers, grieving what happened but not regretting it. If possible she'd bid her very own Goddess to reconsider, to maintain the balance between the sea, skies and land. She just knows that she can't abide righteous wrath upon peaceful humans. Then in her wanderings, trying to find answers and learning of humans she came upon the ship of those with her same cause.
• Artifacts:
  • Alarant - The Seasky Trident: An old artifact venerated as a relic in the Brightwater shrine for generations, this powerful trident of light blue metal, as it name implies, holds power over both skies and sea, a relic meant for the warder of both, crafted in harmony between the two worlds of depths and surface. Besides being a mighty weapon, it grants the user control over water, allowing them to make waves and currents with a single swing, aquakinesis and even turning saltwater into fresh and viceversa. For the skies, the trident grants light control over the flow of winds as well as power over lightning, giving the chance to shoot bolts of power at the enemy. If the possessor is worthy, when the trident is thrown or lost it makes its way back to the owner.
• Equipment: When escaping her home, Alaryn could only scrounge together a few basics before setting off in her journey, filling a seaweed cloth back with what may be useful. She carries a bag of mer money, the most expensive jewelry she could get her hands on as their value per weight is the most convenient for someone on the run. Pearl necklaces, coral earrings and more. She also brought a coral comb, some changes of clothes, including a skirt for when she shifts into legs, a bronze knife, some food important documents of Brightwaters nobility and the claim on their lands, a small religious figurine and her father's circlet and mother's ring. She also wears light scale armor.
• Miscellaneous: She doesn't like coconut and thinks the feeling of wet sand around her toes when shifting into legs feels funny. Even when shifting into human form, the long, blue fins on her abdomen remain, she can move them a little bit.

edited 17th May '15 2:50:57 PM by daltar

Gonna kick ass as a big ol Human Blacksmith. If possible. Can I?

@Silence: Go for it!

Finished Alaryn!

The goddess' name is Tethys, not Thethis. Other than that, Alaryn is Accepted!

Could it be possible to be a mer-human hybrid?

Relations between humans and merfolk are not unknown (hell, mermaids have long been known as incredibly beautiful), but the results of said unions tend to be either human or merfolk. No one is really sure why this occurs, it might have something to do with the old legend that the merfolk were once humans given aquatic form by Tethys. So, a child of a human and a mermaid would either be human or mer, not a hybrid.

Okay, got it. I think I should have a sheet up later today, conditions allowing.

That does bring up an interesting point, though. There are quite a few merfolk who rebel against Tethys because they, indeed, fall in love with a human. So it could be an interesting character trait.

• Name: Neressa Almerin (But she'll let you call her Neri for short.)
• Race: Human
• Appearance: A 22 year old woman, 5'5" in height. She's pretty skinny, though not without muscle. Her hair is deep red, and comes down to her waist- though the sea necessitates she wear it held back most of the time. One part of it is held in a dirty gold colored ring, and her eyes are brown. She wears a thin brown jacket on top of a white shirt, with a piece of red cloth wrapped like a belt over both layers. On top of this is her knife belt. She wears tan pants tucked into boots.
• Position: Navigator
• Personality: Capricious as the sea she sails. Her moods will change depending on certain infinitesimal factors, but most of the time she's at least professional. On her best days, she'll be pleasantly mellow and amiable. On her worst, she won't hurt you, persay, but you'll at least get a speech on why you suck or a death glare. Though, you can only tell when she's off duty. On duty, even if she hates your guts, she'll (try to) interact with you in a neutral fashion. Sometimes you can see fragments of the spoiled sweet girl she used to be, but she'll hide that pretty quickly.
• History: Once upon a time, a young merman fell in love with a sailor's daughter. The two ran off together in secret, due to the sailor's dislike of merfolk. They started a life together in a port town near the border of Tyria and Bellenica, and had a daughter. Her name was Neressa. Neressa lived happily with her family, her father frequently doting on her and spoiling her. Her father gave her the gold ring she wears as a birthday present.

However, this would not last; for you see, Neressa's father used to be in a high position in one of Tethys' temples. The ring he'd taken and given Neri was highly important to the temple (for reasons Neri could never figure out), and many of his fellow temple workers desperately wanted it back. So desperately, in fact that a few of the more radical ones attacked and killed her father. Neri was devastated, and soon began on a quest of revenge. Though she doesn't have a personal hatred of Tethys, she figured joining this crew would lead her to her father's killers.

She's been travelling for a few years, actually, and already found one of the killers. She stole the Wind Knife from him, but he escaped before she could follow.

• Artifacts:
  • Wind Waker Knife: Neri's not exactly the best with coming up with names, but hey, it fits. A six inch long bronze colored knife engraved with runes. The knife has the ability to shoot out gusts of wind at the user's whim- however, the gusts are only the width of the blade. It can also be used as a breathing apparatus underwater if held in the mouth.
  • Directional Ring: The ring she wears as a hair ornament. It's etched with little wave patterns, and is about an inch in diameter. Neri speculates it's part of a bigger artifact, but who knows. It gives the wearer fairly good directional skills, and, with a little focus, a natural knowledge of where north is. This ring is not omnipotent, however, and Neri sometimes ignores it in favor of her own intuition. (Sometimes she's right.)
• Other Equipment: A small knife in her boot, just in case she's disarmed of her main weapon.
  • A lute that was originally her mother's. She takes extremely good care of it, and will play it for her fellow crew when she's in a good enough mood.
• Misc.: She learned how to read maps from her mother, who was a seafarer back in her day. Also some knife wielding skills.

edited 13th May '15 5:19:36 PM by Daydre

I know this is WIP, but which nation is Neri from? I should've posted that I have human nations for the game now in the first post.

Whoops, knew I was forgetting something. Fixed now.

• Name: Xenon, some people tend to shorten his name to Zee.
• Race: Human
• Appearance: A veritable bear of a man in his mid-thirties, Xenon is just under two meters with tanned olive skin, black hair that goes down to just under his ears, a muscled build, very large gray eyes, and thick eyelashes. Wears what is basically this outfit◊
• Position: Boatswain
• Personality: Xenon has many of the traits of your typical Bellenican. He enjoys drinking, enjoying fine fruits and meats, laughing, music, spinning tall tales and listening to the bards, and festivals that involve setting things on fire. His work has given him a love of the smell of the ocean, of the wind on his face, an almost artistic appreciation for woodwork, rigging, ropes, and metal. These interests (and being big enough to handle anchors and chains) are what made him into an effective boatswain, his naturally boisterous personality allowing him to exude confidence as he oversaw the deck department.
• History: A human from Bellenica, he unsurprisingly spent years working on various ships, hiring onto any crew with any destination so long as they'd pay. Also unsurprisingly, when he finally found a crew that he became a permanent member of, one where he made brothers out of the ship, it was utterly destroyed by the cruel ocean. They had risked everything on an expedition to uncharted waters, and discovered a great chest of treasures on a small island, only to invoke the wrath of Tethys as they set sail with their plunder. As the vessel was torn asunder, Xenos took what he could out of the chest, its power allowing him to grab a beam of wood and drift away to safety. He vowed that not only would he see the goddess destroyed for the sake of his dead companions, but that she would never reclaim her trinkets so long as he drew breath.
• Artifacts:
  • Praoganti: A simple-looking pair of orichalcum gauntlets, their cuffs extend to just before the crook of the arm, and they grant him tremendous strength. Mostly he uses this ability to throw anchors at people.
  • Metalusis: An orichalcum chain, its magical property allows it to change its length and thickness to suit what it is tied to, ranging from only a single thin link, to a great length of anchor cable.
• Equipment: Aside from his clothes and artifacts, he has
  • Anchor: He currently has an anchor tied to his chain, which he normally carries on his back. It is roughly a meter in length, and just over half that in width.
  • Boatswain's call: It looks pretty nice for what it is, and what it is is a relatively cheap pipe made out of brass. If he had more money he'd buy a nicer one with gold and jewels.
• Miscellaneous: While he is an astoundingly skilled boatswain, he is an equally unskilled cook, capable of poisoning an entire crew if left to run the galley. He has a remarkable ability to stomach even the most vile-tasting concoctions without complaint, though, which means he thinks his cooking tastes fine. Like many people, nobody ever taught him how to properly read.

Xenon is Accepted! Despite the silly-sounding name, it is in fact a real name (ancient Greek at that!).