jenki
Clueless newb
Posts: 156 
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 8:52:42 GMT -5
After reading another thread about Boopsie Borsail and then reading one of his histories I was prompted to start this thread. Enjoy.
Lord Templar Boopsie Borsail
Olive-tone skin oiled to perfected smoothness plumps all about this man's body. His frame is light and soft, while his posture is severely maintained. Burnt-black hair is pulled austerely from his face. The smooth crown of his head begins at a prominent widows peak and sharply angled brows. His hair is intricately woven into detailed patterns which trail to the middle of his back. The strands are elaborately decorated with beads and strips of ostentatiously bright silken cloth. Eyes the color of silt-stormed skies stare hawkishly down the edges of a sharp, straight nose that maintains a prominent hook as it strikes out from the center of his face.
The olive-skinned templar begins, in tatlum:
Boopsiefiel. I don't find it to be an undignified name. Even the short form that was so lovingly passed to me from my beloved mum is not something that I find odd in any way. "Boopsie" was quite the fashion of the day when I was born. Besides, it is not the job of a templar of noble blood to cater to the unfashionable whims of the populace. The style of the nobility is far more pertinent as the ruling hand.
The cruelty that has been necessarily imposed upon the lower class has made them callous and stupid. Their failure to see the true virtues of a wealthy life is not of my concern, and I will not be held to informing mere beasts of burden about the fashion to which I owe my lifestyle. After all, were they not the ones to pain and toil, who else would do such a thing and provide for the city? Certainly, you do not expect it of me... broken nails and sunburnt skin is so.. blasee. It went out with the so-called 'rugged look' and Jumbeverlor's stint of championship in the arena. Whyever anyone would wish to pattern their styles after a mul is totally beyond me....
The common tramps and their mullish little men flaunt their sun-bleached hair and darkened and sweat-laden skin as though the concept of their labor is somewhat noble. They trounce about like so much vermin, pushing their obviously used wares upon any who will watch with drunken eye and spice-laden tongue. It's quite disgusting and I cannot fathom its emulation in the high-bred classes of proper society. It hasn't a place.
But the days of benefits and social gatherings grow long, the necessary politics of this life are intricate and subtle enough to keep a man's mind sharp, yet they are seldom provocative to the will of true poets and heroes and the grand wiles of legends. Such things are foolish and quite often poorly bexecuted by the bards who fabricate their like. What I seek in this life is simple enough... A life of high fashion and firm rule separate of the follied hopes of heroism and great poetics. I do not believe in them, and indulging in fantasy takes far too much of my precious and noble time.
Summary and commentary by the player:
Lord Boopsie is quite the snob. High society interests him the most, in knowing who is doing what and how and why, as long as it is the blue-bloods and templars.... commoners are beasts and tools—nothing more. He seeks to advance himself in his ranks as it is fashionable and maintain his reputation and appearance while keeping law as it suits him best and most fashionably.
He is somewhat shallow, apathetic to causes which are not his own, and quite cruel when it suits him.
I realize that the name is somewhat ridiculous. It is meant to be. Please do not take that to mean that this character is doomed to frivolity or not to be taken seriously by the player. The name, in its ridiculousness is one of the things that flavor this character to make him what he is. Similarly to having a Paige (male) or a Chelsea (also male) or a Ralf (female and not abbreviated of Ralfina or whatever), I would like to consider this templar as being the recipient of sincerely bad luck attributed to a societal whim (or perhaps just a very stupid mother). The name does not bother him, as he has raised to a position of respect. My OOC goal is to see if I can get this seemingly ridiculous fop to garner some respect and maybe even some fear from the people he works with as well as the people he works against.
the scarred, buff mul says, in sirihish:
"Whatever you say, /Lord/ Boopsie.."
the scarred, buff mul flashes the darkly tanned man a grin.
the olive-skinned templar says, in sirihish:
"Oh? and what is your name, mul?"
the scarred, buff mul scowls and looks at the olive-skinned templar before replying.
the scarred, buff mul says, in sirihish:
"Dharkaron."
the olive-skinned templar grimaces in distaste.
the olive-skinned templar says, in sirihish:
"How blase... Guards!"
Boopsie was the consummate flamer templar. The favorite emote was something along the lines of "the olive-skinned templar lets his hand hang limp at the wrist" often compounded with a careless and dainty wave of his hand to clear a wisp of hair from his face.
You worried when you said something and he narrowed his eyes at you. Normally, he would not say anything or note you, but he'd hire someone to kill you later. He spent his spare time in the tower playing crystal glasses filled with conjured water and contemplating philosophy of the Highlord's magick. As a Borsail, consorting with the common populace really didn't hold much appeal.
But, when he had to do it, it was most often with nobility or his guardsmen, and occasionally a merchant or another.
To start Chronologically, I must begin with Battling it out with the Blue Robes. When Boopsie was a blue robe, he was blue robes with Vashtem, and Lassiter. There might have been one more, but I don't think he lasted very long, or else Ijust had nothing to do with him. Octavian and [Garrick Kasix] were the Red robes at the time. Garrick used to like to sit in the tavern with Boopsie (the consummate brown-noser) and get Boopsie to say his name. At which point, Garrick would have no end of mirth to snickering about the name behind his hand.
Well, needless to say, Garrick had adopted me as a favorite of sorts. The sort of favorite one has for entertainment rather than for functionality, of course. The Oash nobles at the time (I can't remember his name, but it was long - designed so that it wouldn't rhyme with anything, from what I recall - vaguely insane guy) kept writing snide songs and selling them to bards and getting the bards to anonymously sing them about Boopsie and run and hide (posted on the boards). They were all silly plays on Boopsie's name or character.
Boopsie's full name was something ridiculous. Like Boopsiefiel Saliemind Foo Bar Bat Borsail. I could never remember the whole damned name. I had it written on a post-it note and affixed to my monitor. Truth be told, I think it changed at least three times before I actually wrote the damned thing down or else asked for it to be added into my character keywords for reference.
Anyway, shortly thereafter, Garrick disappeared. It was rumored that Oash had gotten him, but Octavian then ascended to the top of the templar hierarchy. It was an outrage to all of the rest of us, Vashtem most specifically. Octavian was the biggest screw up of a templar in all our eyes, as he had consented to marry a commoner, etc etc. So we plotted and plotted, and we could not come up with a way to kill his ass. Vashtem had all the shady contacts, but no one was willing to go after a red robe. I had all the noble contacts, but Borsail was under-represented at that time. Lassiter was just sort of following along trying to see what we'd do.
Then one day a black robe appeared to me and endowed me with flamestrike. I think, at this point, the imms were getting sick of Octavian, too, and realized that none of the current blue robes were competent enough on their own to engineer his demise without help. I spent most of my time woefully poor as I had not contrived the means to fund myself.
You see, most people weren't willing to bribe anyone named "Boopsie" because they didn't take him seriously. There was a lot of pressure during the time to get players to come BACK into Allanak because prior regimes of Templars had been too harsh on the commoners, and they had all opted instead to play in Luir's or Tuluk.
So, I developed the walking 1040EZ Tax form while I formulated a plan to get Octavian alone. I'd walk down the streets asking people how much income they claimed, how many dependants they had, etc. While most looked confused, they played along, because it would definitely arouse my ire if they played stupid. It was funny at the time.
Octavian, stupid as he was, wasn't stupid enough to go anywhere alone with me, strangely. So, I conned Lassiter in on my plan. Lassiter, the guileless one, couldn't possibly be against Octavian, so we set up a meeting with Octavian at his estate together. When the gates were locked, I flamestriked him to death as Lassiter held him off with a sword. Three later, and Octavian was dead.
It got a "ding dong the witch is dead!" from Azroen who was just happy to be done with it. Then Lassiter ended up dead, I got promoted to Red Robe, and the new generation of Blue Robes became Boopsie's to deal with. Also, Boopsie inherited Octavian's manor and re-decorated it in pleasure silks, a hammock instead of a bed, lots of floor cushions, and some extremely lewd artwork which he kept on shelves. They always got startled looks from whoever came near there, which was fairly amusing to me.
On to Vatriala. Fale was run by a commoner woman at that point, as the head of Fale had died. They were, I believe, the only active noble house other than Oash at the time, and they mostly centered around having parties. Lots of parties. Boopsie had figured out that these parties were thinly veiled meetings for espionage or other information trading, so made a few threats to the now head of Fale, Vatriala, and ended up bedding her repeatedly for no good reason other than boredom. It was enough to keep Boopsie near the plots going on, and I guess that was the IC motivation for it more than anything.
Boopsie hired on some militiamen who were scared as shit of Boopsie for some reason. I thinly remember meting out punishments for half-giants who disobeyed orders that involved sending them into the city with no weapons as a cityguard and making them leave their dollies behind (half giants with dollies, really...) I think the experience of being hated cityguards in the middle of the populace and being disallowed the privileges of weapons scared the shit out of them. Or maybe it was that Boopsie became extraordinarily vicious at that point. Vatriala became identified as a spy, and Boopsie took her into custody, implicating her in a plot against the city-state and claiming that she lacked noble heritage as reason that Templars could take her into custody. We tortured her for a while, and the guards were very disturbed by this.
All I know is that they were really nice to me after that. heh.
Anyway, [Petre] showed up shortly after that. A blue robe. It seemed like nothing he did came out right, and I remember punishing him and the guards all together. That was all Boopsie knew how to do was punish people because rewarding anyone underneath him would be validating them somehow. But the only thing I really remember about any of that was sitting inside my estate with a guard, Petre, and one other person - a merchant, I think? And being hopelessly drunk.
The code at this point had added in agility failures in addition to speech slurring for drunkenness. We were in my estate, behind a locked gate and a locked door, and then, all of a sudden, a black robe is in the room and clearing his throat.
The four of us immediately looked up with wide eyes, and I'm hiding the jug of wine behind the couch. The black robe says "Can you talk?" and I'm wondering the same thing myself. "Of course, master." He beckons, and I stand, and I follow him. Two rooms later, I fall flat on my face. So much for playing it straight. It was never really Boopsie's strong suit anyway, I guess.
Anyway, the Black robe wanted to inform me that I would be leading a mission to Luir's. The objective was to "damage the outpost" to make a statement of the will of the Highlord to supress resurgents in that area. I was given a staff and the magic words for the staff that would let me raise undead from the fallen. I was to take three wagons, Petre, and two Oash red robes with 7,500 NPC soldiers to Luir's to damage it.
The next day was an RPT, and the city was abuzz. Spies at the gate watched us loading up, knew exactly where we were going, and sent advance notice via the way (there were a lot of 'slightly wounded' or 'very tired' people by the gate who were known to be spies, anyway). We split the wagons and the NPCs (there were like 30 NPCs) between the templars. Petre was to go first and meet me at the road. Then the other wagon, and me.
We got outside the gates of 'Nak, and there was a sandstorm. =/ The code was separating all the army regiments, the wagons, and half the templars. After an hour, an imm had reset the zone to clear it and re-consolidated the march so we could continue towards Luir's. I was told, explicitly, not to go to Tuluk.
So, we're going along the shield wall, and one of the pilots fails his skill check. This is the point I should mention that Boopsie, never having been allowed to leave the walls of Allanak has no knowledge of the terrain, has no maps to reference, in spite of repeated trips to the Highlord's library to ask for one, and has had no luck hiring a guard or guide who has the knowledge required. Boopsie, Petre, and the other PCs have no piloting skill amongst them, so we're relying on the NPCs to pilot us to our destinations. Now, that said... heh.
The NPC fails the piloting skill check for the second wagon, and the wagon plummets over the shield wall and splinters into two dozen pieces. Despite repeated attempts to rescue a full third of our force in NPC army regiments, no one can climb the skill wall, so we're indefinitely separated.
Here's where my memory gets fuzzy. Some of this was relayed to me via the Way, some of this was stuff I experienced, and some of this was stuff I found out about OOC later. I'm just going to tell what I know happened and to whom.
The wagon that split off ultimately met its fate when two tribal elves came upon them. The rest of us had, at this point, opted to continue on, hoping to meet them where the shield wall once again met the main road. The Oash, noted most for their hatred of elves, decided that the best course of action when confronted by two tribal elves would be to fireball them. Well, these happened to be very senior members of the Blackwing tribe. Those two PCs managed to wipe out a third of the Allanaki militia, a Red Robed NPC, and a Blue Robe PC templar single-handedly.
The rest of us, oblivious to this, had continued to the intersection of roads. We received a final contact from the PC on that mission who said they were done in, beset by elves, and they wouldn't be meeting us. We were too far away to do anything about this, so we decided to continue to Luir's with the remaining 2/3 of our force.
When we got there, arrow fire quickly decimated our forces from the ramparts. The first third of our troops went down in hailfire, and all attempts to hold the NPCs back failed because of the auto-combat initiation due to the arrow fire. So the remaining 1/3 of the army rushed into the outpost and auto attacked. I quickly set about raising the dead (both from Luir's and from our forces), but the arrow fire cut the zombies down too quickly. Almost as soon as they rose, they were cut down again. Over and over this happened, until finally the staff ran out of charges.
Then the outpost PCs and NPCs attacked, and I ordered my pilot to pull the wagon away from the combat to a safe distance. The battle spam was too much for me to actually see what was going on anymore. Imagine, you're in a room where arrow fire is coming in, and more than 15 separate combats are going on (so at least 17 people fighting with arrows coming into the room, all echoing inside a wagon).
My pilot (who I believe was the only PC who had a piloting skill, and a negligible one at that) pulled us away from the battle, and all the unengaged soldiers followed us. The remaining Templar saw us pull back and thought that we were retreating, and so also followed us. We got lost. The pilot thought he had it figured out, and ended up in the Gray Forest. Whereupon the rage of Tuluk got set on us. I think Petre ended up getting eaten by halflings. All the NPC soldiers were dead, and my pilot was making a mad dash South as fast as he could.
But, since the pilot had no grasp of geography (and, keep in mind, this pilot might VERY well have been me. I don't remember, but do note what I said about Boopsie's grasp of Zalanthan geography), we over-shot Allanak and ended up near Red Storm. At this point, a sand raptor entered the wagon (because whoever had built the wagon had neglected to give the wagon any closable/lockable doors) and killed Boopsie.
I was told to hang on, that someone would res my character because that wasn't supposed to happen. 5 minutes after I got ressed, Blackmoon raiders stumbled across us and entered the wagon (which, again, still had no lockable doors), subdued me, and slit my throat. No questions, nothing.
They distributed my stuff amongst them (including the staff of raise dead), and that was the end of Boopsie. I learned OOC that, after they killed me, a Black Robed templar showed up from Allanak and wiped all of them out, to a man, to take back the staff.
At the end, by my calculations, the efforts of that day had killed more than a thousand represented NPCs, destroyed three Allanaki wagons, lightly damaged Luir's outpost, and killed just under half of the online playerbase within the 4 hour time.
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jenki
Clueless newb
Posts: 156
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 8:54:18 GMT -5
Thanos
Born in the sands outside of Allanak in the times surrounding the IronSword siege of Allanak, Thanos' parents were craftsmen, driven out of the city by the distrust created by the Ironswords. They were slain in a gith assault and Thanos would likely have made a tasty treat had his paternal uncle, a desert dwarf named Cliff, happened along and dropped the gith at range. The old dwarf took Thanos with him, and taught him the laws of the desert, and indoctrinated him into an ancient philosophy called Dakin. Dakin, the path of honor, became the basis for his life and philosophy. His simple demeanor, his honor, and his skill with a blade began to draw people to him. He would teach his philosophy, as well as his blade skills, to anyone who would listen.
It was in this time, in his relative youth, that Thanos founded the Feydakin. Unafraid of magick, and wishing to harness its power for the good of the people who had begun to follow him, Thanos began to take elementalists in. He paired Warrior to Elementalist in teams. Teams that worked together, learned to fight as teams. They were bonded, life mates. He took as his own bond a powerful krathi called Carthoric. In this time Thanos became strongly connected with the Conclave and the Tan Muark. Becoming fast friends with the ranger Vendei and the assassin Trevelli, their adventures in the future would shape them all.
Chased out of Allanak by the forces that be, Thanos looked for a home for the Feydakin, he was drawn to the city of Mal Krian. Through negotiation and pledging the strength of the Feydakin's magick and power to the village, the Feydakin was accepted as citizens of Mal Krian. Unfortunately, the gypsies caught wind of this and sent an emissary to Mal Krian. The powers of Mal Krian were angered by this and Thanos was asked to bring the head of the gypsy to the council of Mal Krian. Thanos would not break his oath of friendship to the gypsies, and as such had to walk away from Mal Krian. This was the death of the Feydakin; they wandered the desert for some time, but never again found a home.
Thanos eventually returned to Allanak. He sought out the head of the T'zai Byn and offered himself as blade master. His offer was accepted, and soon he was placed at the head of Allanak's old mercenary guild. Thanos brought the Byn up to a strong force within Allanak, but as a dwarf, he was destined to fail. A Borsail noble eventually threatened to enslave him. Thanos knew that if he would stay in allanak, he would slay this noble, and thus he left the T'zai Byn and moved to the north.
For several years, Thanos set his blade aside, and made a living with the mandolin. It is said that after mastering the mandolin, his blade work stepped up to a level that was unparalleled. It was during this time that Thanos was given his magick rings, two rings that enhanced his strength, which were created by Dalaran, a Krathi belonging to the J'Karr who later joined the Conclave.
Also during this time Vendei, Trevelli, and Thanos explored the chasm north of the Grey Forest. They beat back an army of gith, explored Fel Karran's keep, a place filled with undead, and battled a demon. Vendei and Trevelli both lost portions of their souls that day. On their way out, they battled and killed an Ankheg. Each made it out alive.
Thanos moved on from there to become the weapons master of the noble House Reynolte. Later, after the destruction of the house and the city of Tuluk, he was named Lord Protector of Gol Krathu, a position he held until his death.
Thanos' focus was to bring respect to the dwarven race. He wanted to show that they were people would could be relied upon and trusted, as it was fear and mistrust of dwarves that led to his parents death.
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jenki
Clueless newb
Posts: 156
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 8:56:15 GMT -5
Lord Garrick Kasix the Red
Born the second son of a minor noble in House Kasix, Garrick was never expected to amount to very much in the house. That might be why his father decided to turn him over to the templarate. Garrick was sent to them at a somewhat older age than most, studying his lessons of magick and Tatlum and politics about as well as could be expected. He never really wanted to be a templar, but he understood duty to his family and persevered. Over time he grew into a fierce loyalty to Tektolnes more out of a desire to succeed despite what was thrown his way than any duty to his family.
Garrick entered the ranks of the templarate and immediately threw himself into his duties. He studied under an older templar, a mentor for young Garrick. His name was Htanyal. Htanyal showed him the intricacies of politics and dealing with the nobles. In time, Htanyal was promoted to the rank of red-robed templar and given control over a small set of blue-robed templars who were loyal to him. Garrick was one of these templars, and learned more from Htanyal in these times.
Garrick's network of contacts and spies began to take shape almost immediately. The guild leader at the time, named Arendor (or Severin,) put Garrick on his payroll to overlook certain indiscretions perpetrated by the guild throughout the city. As it was simply petty theft, Garrick let it go.
Interestingly enough, Arendor came to power because Garrick brutally executed his predecessor, Fat Jak in a public show of power. Fat Jak wasn't playing nicely with certain people, and an example had to be made.
Garrick was fortunate enough to hunt down a criminal trying to escape, quite fruitlessly, from the jail in the templar's quarters, who was wearing a metal breastplate. Garrick wore the brigandine hauberk, one of the last pieces of full metal armor, until the day he died. It saved his life more than once from would-be assassins.
One day, Htanyal warned Garrick of a potential threat from outside the city. Magickers of great power named Alkyone and Ra were gathering power and other elementalists to plan harm to the city of Allanak. Garrick was warned to be very careful of these two magickers in particular. Shortly after this warning was given, Htanyal disappeared. Garrick knew exactly who to blame.
With the assistance of an elven assassin named Sunjar, Garrick arranged to make Alkyone and Marit disappear in turn. Sunjar further informed Garrick that the two were often seen in the company of a tribe of gypsies - the Tan Muark. Garrick offered Sunjar quite a lot of money to go and take care of the problem as he saw fit.
Somewhere around this time, a young gypsy named Corvelli began to reveal certain information to Garrick regarding the gypsies. What Htanyal had suggested to be a covert plot against Allanak suddenly became more concrete, and far more dangerous.
Filling the gap left by Htanyal, and due to his organization of the remaining blue-robed templars into a cohesive unit, working together, thanks to the work laid down by Htanyal, Garrick was granted the red robes and far more power in spells and authority by the blacks. His tasks now included defense of the city, execution of traitors, and investigation into the various plots threatening Allanak at this time.
Making his life difficult, however, was Lord Lawrence Oash, who unbeknownst to possibly even Lawrence himself, had hired a gypsy spy, an assassin named Trevelli. Lawrence and Garrick had a very public feud for quite a long time.
Somewhere around here the Israeli hackers were discovered, and things took a short hiatus.
One of the the first things Garrick did to attempt to get the Oashi off his back was to imprison their trusted guard, Galen. (At this time Galen was not a recognized bastard.) While in jail, Galen met the buff mul, several times. He never spoke of these encounters.
Galen and Corvelli combined to inform Garrick of the gypsy spy in their midst, and Garrick was convinced Lawrence didn't know of his allegiance because Galen was the one who led Garrick to Trevelli, who when threatened with a set of half-giant soldiers immediately quaffed a potion-fruit of teleport and poofed away out of Garrick's reach. This began a witch hunt of sorts; all gypsies or suspected gypsy spies were hunted down and killed.
They missed one, however, Charyka who set up in the 'rinth and started what was eventually to become the Allanaki Liberation Alliance, its sole purpose at the time I believe to occupy the templars and militia from noticing more important problems in their midst.
Sometime around these events, a new Guild leader, Goldy, emerged. Somewhat unpredictable and very devious, he fed Garrick a monthly bribe of five thousand obsidian coins to look the other way from a great deal of petty crimes. Considering one of these petty thefts was ripping off the Oash estate, Garrick had no qualms whatsoever about this.
With the threat from outside growing stronger, the black-robed templars began to take notice of Garrick's research and decided to do something. Garrick, accompanied by a team of other templars, and a great deal of soldiers, traveled north from Allanak, through the sands, past Luir's Outpost (at which a brief but obscure transaction took place) (which was cut short because the game kept crashing) and did something to the Conclave's area just north of the 'Post (which is now the Kuraci fort.)
During the trip, Garrick fell off the Shield Wall, due to a Whiran's hands of wind. He was rescued by a black-robed templar who climbed down to haul him up off his tenuous perch, clinging to a rocky outcropping.
Garrick's feuds with Lawrence of Oash continued. Ever could they be seen bickering in the Trader's Inn. However, Garrick began to spend a good deal of time with Kara Fale. It is the only time in his life he ever may have considered someone a friend. Kara and Garrick took a trip in his wagon one day out through the Salt Flats, discovering far to the east a verdant grassland. Garrick was a little worried and so they turned around and left. It is perhaps because Garrick never had to watch his back around Kara that they got so close.
One of Garrick's closest allies was the first mindbender to develop his mental talents in Zalanthas, named Drath. Through him he was able to spy on the thoughts of those around him, and gained a great deal of information this way.
Perhaps Garrick's finest and most successful cohort was Lord Boopsie Borsail. No one who heard the name and saw the man would ever utter a snicker at it. Boopie was a fearsome templar, ruthless and efficient. He and Garrick worked more or less closely, depending on the situation. They were never at strong odds, however.
Due to Garrick's closeness with the Fale nobles, and an issue of minor offense perpetrated by someone in the House (I think ) Garrick was forced to exact payment in the form of one Elaira Fale, a baby born to Vatriala and Lysear Fale. The child was given to the templarate as soon as she was old enough, and eventually led the attack on Tuluk which took the city.
Garrick's wagon was a gift from Oash, and ironically served to put an end to several of Garrick's foes from the House. He invited Lord Galen Oash, Lord Xiphias Oash, and one of their guards out on a wagon trip, under the pretense of discussing some topic which could not be spoken of openly in the city. Galen drove out into the desert, and then one of Garrick's allies, a vampire named Vale, proceeded to rip him to pieces and devour him. The others in the wagon immediately suspected something was afoot and turned on Garrick. Using his magicks, he sent Xiphias Oash to a far away place from which he never returned, and then burned their guard to a smoking mass of burned flesh. Garrick returned to the city with an empty wagon. I don't believe there was ever any proof of what happened, only suspicions.
One day, the assassin Trevelli, after shadowing Garrick and learning his habits, routes, and daily schedule, stuck a large knife into his back while Garrick was preparing for bed in his apartment.
The end.
Comments and stuff
Garrick was very brusque at times; he had a tendency to be straightforward and honest rather than devious or sneaky. This helped in some cases, and probably hurt in others, where a delicate touch might have been more effective. In Garrick's later years, he mellowed a bit, partly because I changed as a player over time and matured Garrick into a deeper character, and partly because of his contacts with people he found he could trust. Kara Fale, Drath, and Vale were the most notable examples.
Garrick had a very large contingent of PC soldiers under him at one time, including "A human soldier" who eventually had to change his sdesc. I think at one time there were a good half-dozen PC soldiers in the Allanaki militia, of all ranks from private to Lieutenant. It made hunting down criminals that much easier!
I learned later that Garrick's death wasn't caused by Lawrence Oash, as I initially suspected, but in a roundabout way by Khann of Salarr. Obviously Trevelli had his own reasons for doing what he did, but it took a push from Khann to motivate him finally into doing it. I believe Trev had been shadowing Garrick for several RL weeks from time to time, sneaking into and out of Garrick's apartment in the templar quarter. I doubt anything like this could happen today in the game. I was also afk getting a beer at the time; I think one banish would have prevented the death if I was there, and I've often wondered just how far Garrick would have gone had I been there to react.
More than anything I think Garrick personified fear to the common populace. He made no effort to conceal his use of magick when he needed it. Fireballs in the Inn and on Arena Way, banishments in Meleth's Circle, detection spells in the Bazaar, all the tools Garrick was granted by the Highlord (and he had many) he used. A listing of the granted spells (to the best of my memory) is as follows: detect magick, detect ethereal, detect invisible, detect poison, ball of light, strength, fireball, banish, remove poison, heal (I think ), tongues, dispel magick.
Garrick wasn't the most diplomatic or subtle of templars. He left most of that to his underlings or associates. He was brutal and merciless in pursuing justice, as he saw it. He took bribes quite frequently, as long as it was something that could be ignored without consequence. He was quite unliked, by outsiders and by commoners, I would have to imagine, due to the constant hands of wind'ing by Whirans, and arrows flying in from archers perched in Meleth's Circle. None were effective, they served as but nuisances.
All in all I played Garrick with a lot of myself in him. When I read logs of him, I still see similarities to how I play now. Like a movie actor, who brings mannerisms to all his roles that hold something in common, so do we actors on a much smaller stage have commonalities between our characters. It's unavoidable. Garrick was my first high profile role. I enjoyed it immensely and through playing him I hope I made the game more enjoyable for others.
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jenki
Clueless newb
Posts: 156
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 8:59:05 GMT -5
Shoka Windrunner
Shoka Windrunner was one of the last members of the J'Karr clan after it fell apart and still wore the crimson J'Karr cloak openly. He travelled much of the world, aided Kul in getting a artifact from a tomb near Luir's, discovered a castle full of undead near the canyon of mutants, found the mutants down south where the conclave eventually moved to, and basically spread many true stories, half-truths, embellishments, and outright lies to people causing people to become more interested in these stories. He was a fun lover and a carefree individual who feared nothing, until it was about to kill him. He was never the best or most powerful Whiran/Drovian there has ever been but he embodied the persona of Whiran to the max in my opinion. The wanderlust for Shoka was strong and he never sat still in one place for very long.
He assisted in the attack on Tektolnes where the Conclave opened the portals to the elemental planes, where he died, having had his soul yanked from his body. I was quite happy about the way he died actually. It was awesome. Shoka was a name that at one point in time many knew, especially the Allanaki templarate who, in some cases, hated him with a passion due to his ability to push their buttons. No templar likes to get dragged throught the streets of Allanak by gusts of wind. He was hunted and nearly died more times than even a litter of kittens should be allowed, fell off more cliffsides than anyone ever and lived to tell about it, and all around was really a good guy. He was immature, but that made him fun to have around I think, at least for short periods of time. Shoka was the 7 year old boy who never really grew up.
I guess that's all I have to say, there is a lot of other stories and things I could tell but, well, I think they were only cool to me, and probably not to anyone else. Oh yeah, one more thing, he always had a huge crush on his teacher, Alkyone. And he really thought he might have a chance with her when she became an ethereal spirit, but it never happened. Heh.
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 9:01:48 GMT -5
Lady Karaluvian Fale
Kara, whose true name was Karaluvian, Fale (the pale, purple-haired woman) was one of the more prominent Fales. She and her brother Thadrian Fale established the tradition of the Fale Whatzit, a servant who acted social secretary, helpmeet, and advisor to members of the House and hired the first Whatzit, Jadine.
An accomplished musician, Kara composed a number of satirical songs about other noble houses in order to embarrass and annoy them, paying bards to play the songs for the general populace. A number of her songs are now played in the Bard's Barrel, including "Tors and Conversation" and "The Oash, They are A-hiring".
Kara was good friends with Lord Garrick Kasix of the Red. When he gave her a silver ring set with diamonds, rumors flew that a marriage was in the offing, but the two remained steadfast friends instead. When Garrick held the first Allanak Festival, he asked Kara to coordinate arrangements, which she did with skill, hiring Whirans to fly above Meleth's Circle showering candies on people, arranging a parade of clowns and freaks, and setting flower-covered archways in jade, purple, and black along the streets. In the process, she managed to embezzle enough funds to keep Fale afloat in comfort for a number of years. Garrick was instrumental when Kara wished to dispose of her brother Lysear Fale, who had married a commoner and was steadfastly, in Kara's opinion, making the house ridiculous with his posturing and attempts to accumulate a small army. Lysear was eventually charged with high treason and executed in the arena. His wife Vatriala gave up her daughter, Lady Elaira
Fale, to the templarate to be raised in their tradition. Elaira, also known as Ellie, would later prove instrumental in the conquest of Tuluk. Vatriala went on to become a concubine to a lord in House Tor.
Kara fell in love with a bard, Alesander. When he revealed to her that he was a mind-bender, she fled with him to Red Storm, knowing that if his secret was revealed, House Fale would have him killed. Little is known about her fate after that, although her picture remains hanging in the foyer of the Fale mansion.
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 9:06:47 GMT -5
Berlian
Sdesc: the hefty, broad-shouldered man
Remembered for:
• Fanatically Loyal Kadian guard who often quarreled with the family.
• Most notibly quarreled with Gwynalia Kadius in his early years and Karsani Kadius in his later, with a little Karleon Kadius in the middle.
• Quit the house for several years and became a successful T'zai Byn Sergeant during the modern Byn's first golden age. Sergeant along with Kroz, Gowynn, Mazzel, Iltrin.
• Returned to Kadius and rose to the rank of Captain of the guard.
• Trained Eldor Torque, who became a prominent guard in the north. Also had Luis, a well known Lieutenant, serve under him.
• Lived during the same time that Ysania, Jak, and Eldor ruled the northlands. Kadian World Domination.
• A Falcon and member of the Falcon high coucil.
• Was blinded in one eye by the Sage.
• Famous combat trainer in hammers and shield. Founded a hammer-based combat style (Krrx's project) which he taught to Eldor.
• Started a world-wide hammer craze among warriors which probably lead to a several decades long hammer shortage in Salarri shops.
• Had his wagon stolen from him by a Tan Muark in what was arguably the greatest theft in Armageddon history.
• Was killed by a mekillot in an epic, though foolish, battle along with several of his men (the survivors killed it).
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 9:09:59 GMT -5
Masiki Sath
Masiki Sath was a brutal and violent Allanaki Templar, known for his strict ways and his horrible facial scars. He gained support from the Senate of Allanak by leading a successful campaign against the tarantula's threatening the obsidian mines of Allanak, managing to destroy and burn to the ground three nests while suffering few casualties. His outstanding record of performance was marred by furious quarreling with his fellow blue-robes and ownership of a feral, unpredictable slave woman named Calla. During his life, he was reputed to have dalliances with Fianna Salarr, niece of Pheraton, Salarr's Senate representative, and Pearl Terash, hostess of the Atrium. Masiki's career came to an end on the day Allanak was besieged by strange powers from the rinth, when he led a charge against several demonic foes and fell to their flaming slams. He died one of the few blue-robes to outlive his superior - the notorious Malos of the Red was killed hours before in the sewers of Allanak.
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 9:11:29 GMT -5
Davaz
Davaz of House Kurac was a mul slave who lived from year 70/19 to year 67/20 (1456-1530). Born in the House Borsail breeding pens in Allanak, he was purchased by House Kurac at age 15 and trained for a further five years before entering active service. Initially, Davaz escorted Agent Kilem of House Kurac to and from Allanak, and also served as a caravan guard. In 1480, after four years of guard duty, House Kurac allowed Davaz to operate outside the outpost walls. Over the next few years, he worked as Quartermaster and as part of Kuraci Special Operations, and began his long association with Sargax, who was later to rise to high position in the House. Increased gith activity meant more work for the House's soldiers and outriders; unfortunately, good recruits were hard to find, and Davaz became feared for his harsh discipline and well-known for knocking out poor recruits in sparring with his bare hands. In his middle and later years, Davaz developed the Blade Storm fighting style, making potent use of paired swords. House Kurac granted him the title Weaponsmaster in 1497. Davaz also trained Samar Kurac, who later rose to be a Captain in the House. During his lifetime, the T'zai Byn began construction of a fort upon an old Salarri trading sit (1482) and Red Storm Village was destroyed by a wave of silt (1488). Davaz died in his sleep at the age of 74 with his bondmate, Jelen, at his side.
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 9:13:44 GMT -5
Mazzel Mazzel was born in Tuluk, where he eventually found work as a guardsman for the Noble House Reynolte and moved into the barracks at the Silverwood estate at the age of 17. There, he spent a fair amount of his time training with the axe under tutelage of a number of trainers, including a blue-skinned Mul who was apparently one of the last surviving members of the J'Karr (I think his name was Talis or Talos, or something like that...). Mazzel eventually bested the Mul in the sparring ring, and did so using only a single axe in his offhand. During one of his years with Reynolte, a female noble, Vivian Reynolte, developed a feud with the Kadians, and ordered the Kadian village burned. Mazzel was one of the Sergeants that led the horrific event. The Reynolte troops were met with virtually no resistance, the little that they encountered they quickly cut down. Mazzel remembers setting buildings on fire with torches, and hearing the horrific cries of children still within them, and their parents fighting to get them out. Days later, after the fire was put out, Mazzel remembers walking the streets of the Kadian village, and seeing the burned and scarred faces of many of its villagers staring at him with fear and spite. Only months later, Mazzel's best friend, also a guardsman within the house (I can't remember his name) was slain on a hunting trip, ambush by a pack of gortok. Having too many painful memories in Tuluk, Mazzel, in a state of depression, decided for a change in life and made the choice to ride down to the Black City. When he arrived at Allanak, he found employment hard to come by because of his northern roots. He also feared execution of he mentioned his previous employment with House Reynolte, so he chose to bury that bit of information with the rest of his memories of the north. Mazzel, while born in the north, became a southerner right down to the bone. After using up all of his savings, he eventually took a job with the Allanaki Mercenary's Guild--the T'Zai Byn. Not having enough coin to pay the entry fee, a Sergeant by the name of Kroz took a liking to Mazzel, and sponsored his fee in, taking Mazzel into his unit. It wasn't quite what Mazzel was use to from his years in Silverwood, but it was better than living on the streets. Mazzel graduated his Runner training in well under a year, and opted to remain with the company as a full-fledged mercenary. During his Runner Training, Mazzel's only "competition" by means of skill with blades was a quiet, but very large warrior by the name of Brom. After only a year or so under the ranking of Trooper, but Mazzel and Brom were promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and Kroz made the very rare jump up to Lieutenant. After Brom was killed on mission, Mazzel was earning the reputation as one of the finest warriors in the lands. One day, he heard word of a large arena games that was to be held in the stadium. The T'Zai Byn, home to some of the very best swordsmen/women in Allanak, entered a unit into the Team division of the competition. Mazzel paired up with an elf by the name of Gowynn. The unlikely pair dominated the matches, defeating opponent after opponent . Nobody knows quite how it happened, but the pair accidently killed one of their opponents, a Borsail Half Giant. The matches were not supposed to be to the death, and the giant was property of one of the foremost noble hou ses of Allanak, so, naturally, the templarite had to take action. Sathis, one of the templars at the games, and also the liason to the T'Zai Byn took control of the situation, announcing that Mazzel and Gowynn would have to fight each other to the death, and that the winner would be granted freedom. While Gowynn was a skilled fighter, he would have been no match against Mazzel toe to toe, and Mazzel did not know whether he had it in him to kill Gowynn, who had become one of Mazzel's best friends. Sathis, taking pity on the pair, contacted Mazzel's mind, and suggested that if the pair could come up with a way to fake the death, he would support it and make sure the "corpse" would be safely removed from the arena. So, Mazzel and Gowynn agreed with each other that they would give the audience a show for a while, and then Gowynn would allow a number of blows to be dealt to him before he would collapse as if he had been struck down. Nerves tense, and thousands of spectators watching, the plan carried out, and Gowynn was carted off by Lord Templar Sathis' soldiers. Sathis remained true to his word, sparing Mazzel and Gowynn's life, but Gowynn had to face exile, at least Mazzel was led to believe, as word could not leak out that the whole thing was a hoax. For winning the games, Mazzel was granted the title of Champion of Allanak, and awarded a bronze axe and shield. Years later, Mazzel was approached by a crazed man who told a tale of a demon who lived in a tower in the Northlands. Mazzel did not know why the man approached Mazzel with the tale, and truth be told it was the first time he even thought of his home in nearly ten years. He didn't know why, but he believed the man's story and took pity on him, giving him some coin for food and shelter, while he reported the story to Lieutenant Kroz. Kroz and Mazzel decided to send a couple of units to investigate--Kroz believed defeating a demon could bring fame and perhaps wealth to the Byn, and Mazzel, truth be told, was just very curious to return to his home, if even briefly. Unfortunately, Mazzel never quite made it home... In one of the dumbest deaths I've ever had as a character, Mazzel was guarding a female Vivaduan on the ride up to Luir's. Inside Luir's, the guard command still in effect, she accidently tried casting a spell in a room filled with halfgiant and human guards, who all now jumped Mazzel. It was one of those deaths that happened before I even knew what was going on, since Mazzel was unarmed. I remember I was eating a piece of chicken for lunch, heard the Beep Welcome to Armageddon, and I just stared at the screen blinking for a few minutes. Anyways, afterwards I heard stories that Mazzel was slain by the demon up on the trip, which was way better than what actually happened, so i'll be willing to just go with that 
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 9:16:25 GMT -5
Luin
Luin Aldrinith originated from a small village in the scrublands southeast of Tuluk, which was comprised of both elves and humans. His mother and father were both half-elves, and veterans of the guerilla war against the Allanaki invaders. It was during the final decades of the occupation of Tuluk that Luin was born into these humble conditions.
After spending perhaps a year hunting around Gol Krathu, though meeting with so little success later on that he was forced to sell even the shirt off his back for food, Luin joined the Kuraci military. It was during a sandstorm, when conditions were unfavorable for the hunter, when Luin met with Kuraci Outrider Drat. Luin and the dwarf soldier became rather close soon, the latter supplying the half-elf with enough food just to keep him going until transportation could be provided to Luir's Outpost and begin training for a Regular. However, after about a month of waiting, Luin became impatient and slightly doubtful, and chose to take the long journey to Luir's Outpost on foot. He arrived the day after he started out, living off his one waterskin and whatever he could kill or forage for on his way.
Luin's training lasted for a little over a year before he was allowed to take the examination to become a full-fledged soldier in the Kuraci military. Despite lacking in combat skills somewhat, he passed and was promoted to the rank of Regular by then-sergeant Samar-da Kurac. It was shortly after that Luin met Rheasha, a human female from Allanak, the very person who Luin was taught for so long to hate.
Ironically, Luin and Rheasha soon formed a very close bond, especially after the Regular consented to accompany the merchant to Tuluk in a transfer of position. The very day Luin arrived in the Kuraci compound in Tuluk, which at the time was just one building with a token military force, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. For about eight to ten years, he held on to this position and raised a small force of soldiers. Several fine soldiers underwent basic training through Luin, a couple proceeding to become Outriders and later lieutenants.
Rheasha and Luin were a very successful couple, able to rent decent pace in a Nenyuki apartment complex in the northern Warrens area of Tuluk, never having a worry for money. Under their care, Leif and Kune grew up to be healthy offspring of Sergeant Luin and Merchant Rheasha. For many years, they lived very nicely with only the occasional emotional and verbal scuffle between Luin and Rheasha. However, this did not last.
It was a few years after attaining the rank of sergeant that Luin's downfall slowly began. Perhaps the first incident of note was his encounter of a very powerful bandit, who single-handedly routed the half-elf and his accompanying Regulars. The elderly brigand wielded a supposedly magicked blade, a bone sword shot through with gold veins and bearing a stone pommel. For his failure to defend against this threat, and his flight from the battle, Luin was near to meeting death as his punishment from Northern Commander Varda. If not for Rheasha, who sent out a hefty bounty on the head of the bandit, Luin would have perished. However, a group of tribal elves hunted down the criminal and slew him, returning the sword and other identifying items to Kurac. Luin was still devastated by his failure to the Kuraci, from whom he desired a great deal of acceptance.
In later years, Luin embarked with several other Kuraci, including Sergeant Timmic, on a mission deep into the Tablelands to an outpost commanded by escaped slaves. During the following skirmish with a large force of gith, Luin remained unwounded and somewhat trapped in a pit with a broken wagon, angering him later for his inability to truly assist his fellow soldiers. It was not long after that Luin felt increasingly restless with his position, and desired to once again be "free" and out into the wilderness. His frequency of solo hunts increased, as he desperately attempted to prove himself to be just as skilled and capable of performing the duties of an Outrider as anyone else. However, he was constantly overlooked, and the promotion of his underlings to Outriders greatly damaged his perceived amount of acceptance from the House.
Sergeant Luin was eventually demoted to Regular, after failing to board the proper wagon departing from Tuluk and unable to stop bandits from stealing some wares from it. He was lashed severely for his failures, and the penalty of death was threatened. For this reason, Luin grew increasingly self-defeating and reserved, withdrawing into his family for support and acceptance which he felt he could not gain from House Kurac. Not long after, Luin was devastated when his beloved Rheasha passed away due to complications with their third child, who also died in the miscarriage. Keeping a deathbed promise to his "wife", Luin painfully parted with Leif and Kune, who left the city of Tuluk in an attempt to keep them from the influence of the Kuraci. A broken man, Luin was soon transferred of his own request to Luir's Outpost, where he died a few years later in the mantis conquest.
Luin should also be noted for his participation in the Kuraci discovery of the present-day location of Ten Surak, where he sustained many injuries at the blade of a mullish raider. This event further reduced his value in his eyes, for under his watch a Kuraci-blooded agent was slain.
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 9:18:53 GMT -5
Lady Taeri Fale
The daughter of a reasonably well off merchant, Taeri became the aide of Lord Templar Ihsahn Kasix, and somehow, through his political maneuvering, improbably ended up married to Kojiro Fale. Though she and her husband got along for a most part, Taeri was a terrible Fale, being far too serious and straight-laced, with an insurmountable work ethic. As a result, Taeri conflicted routinely with her family, occasionally separating from her husband to remove herself and her children from the estate when she periodically feared for her safety, often preferring to live with her patron, Ihsahn. Taeri was the best friend of Celyndria of Kadius, Ihsahn's first wife, though their friendship was often strained and not particularly sincere in the end. His second wife was Taeri's wayward aide, Celisa, who had previously hidden a mindbender lover from her employer, sparking feelings of bitterness and betrayal, and creating frequent tension in the home of Ihsahn. After nearly fifteen years of service, a peculiar romantic relationship formed between Ihsahn and Taeri, causing intense confusion about her feelings for him (as he was both a father figure and she closely identified him with the Highlord - worshipped and untouchable) and leading to both a break from her husband and withdrawal from public life. Taeri Fale likely became a scribe at that point, having learned written sirihish. She is the mother of Simeon, Atashi and Ilyana Fale. Throughout her life, Taeri also became the foster mother of the bastard child of Naal Borsail and a Fale woman (I can't remember either the kid's name or the noble's), when the mother suicided shortly after the birth of her child; and she was the focus of a haunting, though she was never told exactly why. She also masterminded the only Fale party ever to hit the conquered North, and was a fierce Empire loyalist.
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 10:15:17 GMT -5
Rancid
Born in the gladiator pens and sold secretly, the half-giant Rancid never knew a family. Mistreated and abused horribly as he grew up, he also knew nothing of happiness. The merchant who bought him as a child raised him for use as brute labor, often beating him mercilessly. He was often forced into the dank alleyways of the Labyrinth as this merchant had shady dealings within, and little care for the young giant. Mugged and beaten on many an occasion, Rancid would often find himself bloodied and bruised, cowering in a cul-de-sac During one of these humbling sessions, he awoke in an alcove to discover several rats gnawing at his flesh. He soon developed a ravaging skin-disorder, splotching his body in fierce crimson rashes that give off a putrid odor. Little wonder then where he acquired the name that would stick in his mind and erase any memory of a proper one. Strangely this disease never did more than cause odorific lesions and weight-loss to the giant, making his appearance one of horrible wretchedness but with no obvious effect on his health. Unfortunately for his mercantile master, this was not the case and he died painfully.
After the merchant's untimely demise Rancid found himself alone and took to wandering the alleys and the city proper aimlessly. Ultimately he wished to find someone to emulate, someone he could aspire to be like and receive praise from. It was then that he met Priest, a half-giant soldier for Kurac. The two became sudden friends and Priest brought Rancid up to Tuluk in hopes that he could be recruited into the Northern Garrison. Unfortunately for Rancid his appearance precluded the dwarven Kuraci Sergeant from bringing him on, instead suggesting that he go to Red Storm and seek out the elven Sergeant Pendeh. Saddened and dejected, Rancid took the long walk back to Allanak alone. Though an obstacle had been placed between their new friendship, Priest and Rancid would spend the next five years in contact with each other.
Soon after his return to 'Nak, fate crossed Rancid's path with the popular face of the Guild at the time, Digger. The two took to each other immediately and Rancid was hired shortly thereafter. Seeking Digger's constant praise and approval, Rancid would attempt to complete whatever task was set before him no matter the cost to his health or safety.
One of the more defining moments in their relationship occurred in the Gaj when an Allanaki Private called Nago charged into the bar and attacked Digger viciously. Without saying a word Rancid erupted into action and threw himself at the Militiaman, brutally assaulting him. Had it not been for the intercession of a half-giant soldier Rancid would have killed the Private. Digger was hauled off to jail and Rancid was sent fleeing back to the alleys. The Guild was able to work out a deal with Templar Kishime after Digger was released which pardoned Rancid publicly in an Arena match, allowing him to once again walk the streets. Rancid would spend the next year or so attempting to kill Nago and came rather close in an episode in the Bard's Barrel that ended with the soldier crawling away on the brink of death, a stunned tavern crowd and a dead Bynner called Ralen who turned out to be the bastard son of an Oashi. This event would see Rancid banished from Allanak until negotiations between Digger and the Templarate could secure his return once again.
Rancid spent the next year living in the mul outpost in the Tablelands. On occasion he would travel to Red Storm and Ten Sarak where he would go hunting with Priest and get connected rather strongly to Kurac through this friendship. After this year in exile, Rancid returned to Allanak and discovered that Digger had been killed in the alleys. He was told now that he would now report to a new boss, a rather imposing woman called Biggy. Saddened by Digger's loss, Rancid's memories of the day Digger revealed himself as a vampire and actually sucked some of Rancid's blood faded to obscurity. Another loss would rock Rancid's world shortly thereafter.
On an unassuming day in the Barrel Rancid heard that Priest had been killed. Nearly sent into a blind rage by the news he was quickly told by the half-elf Agent Aine to seek the details of this tragedy at Red Storm. In moments the wretched half-giant traversed the distance between Allanak and RSV. I t was here that he was told by Sergeant Shannoh of Kurac that Rancid was killed, supposedly by a tribe of elves called the Sand Jakhals. With little information to go on other than cursory descriptions of the elves involved, Rancid set off for the Tablelands. On his way out of Red Storm however, he came upon a unit of Byn who regrouping to assault a silt horror a few leagues away. Desiring to assist, Rancid offered his services and was accepted into the hunting party. It soon became apparent, however, that the Byn had other intentions and under the order of their Sergeant attacked the half-giant. Rancid survived that ordeal and vowed to destroy all six members of the party who tried to kill him after dealing with Priest's murderers.
Over the next month Rancid successfully hunted down and destroyed the active elements of the elvish tribe. In the course of these actions he crossed paths with the Northern Templarate and an elf called Eloran. Faithful Lady Ishadli Lirathu and Faithful Lord Rykon Jihae took active parts in Rancid's life, paying him a tremendous amount of obsidian for disposing of the elves and promising future jobs. Rancid found friendship with Eloran, the two of them having disposed of the final Sand Jakhal together. Having completed this task in the memory of Priest, Rancid received a mighty warbow from Kurac and returned to Allanak to kill the Bynners who attacked him in the desert.
In a series of brutal encounters, Rancid murdered three of the Bynners involved in his attack almost a year previously. Rumors of these bloody assassinations filtered through the taverns and the ranks of the Byn begin to thin, recruits quitting the ranks in astonishing numbers. (Please note that this has not been confirmed by the T'Zai Byn staff member, and should not be taken as fact. -Sanvean) As time passed however Rancid's memory of those involved began to fade and those Bynners who quit and no longer wore the brown aba were spared unwittingly by the lumbering beast. The last Bynner to lose their life at the hands of Rancid was Joren, a Sergeant. Rancid called down Eloran from the Northlands and the two entrapped Joren in a room in the tenement building outside the Barrel. Joren pleaded for his life, vowing to deliver the remaining Bynners to Rancid if only he would be spared. Joren learned the most important lesson of his unnaturally short life that day: Rancid doesn't negotiate with people that attacked him. Apparently eyes were watching through one of the windows in the apartment when Rancid held the Byn Sergeant and Eloran hacked him to pieces with his axes because shortly after the room was stormed by Allanaki soldiers . Eloran was taken into custody, only to be summarily executed in the Arena a day later. Rancid fled the city and returned to the mul outpost.
It was here that Biggy contacted Rancid and informed him that a deal would be struck to secure his return to Allanak, that the Byn would cease their pursuit and no more would die at Rancid's hand. In the meantime, Biggy told Rancid to travel to Tuluk to speak with Faithful Lord Rykon who apparently had a job for the giant. Unwittingly,Rancid ventured to the Northlands and suddenly found himself caught up in the politics of Faithful Lord Mali Jihae. Rancid was approached by the disfigured Jihaen and announced that he had come up to do a job for Lord Rykon. Lord Mali calmly asked Rancid to come with him and the two shared idle chat on the way to the Jail. Still unaware of what lay ahead, Rancid happily did as he was told and peacefully accompanied the Templar to what would end up being the half-giant's final resting place. In a confusing barrage of questions it was revealed that Rancid had been supposedly exiled from Tuluk for crimes that were never spoken of, though the he retained no memory of such a thing. Reeling in frustration Rancid would never understand why his life was about to end... Mali's last words echoing through his thoughts before a blade was hacked into his neck viciously:
Looming near you, the stooped, disfigured templar says to you, in northern-accented sirihish:
"Your affront, southron, is one of circumstance."
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 10:19:43 GMT -5
Mordaga
Prominent Blackwing Elf
Highly respected in the Blackwing community, with influental voice. Commonly mistaken as actual leader by outsiders for many years during the Time when Blackwing lacked a Heru. Acted as visible voice to the outside world during this time.
After 13 years, avenged the death of her mate at the hands of the Tar Kroh, by leading a raiding party to burn down the then-location of the Tar Kroh Village.
Aided Blackwing in defeat of long-time tribal rival, the Leaping Sands, finishing their leader with her knife, and recovering Skullsplitter, the Heru's sword.
Often attempted to sway hotter Blackwing heads into more reasonable courses of action, despite probable, and deserved reputation as quick to anger, and stubbornness.
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jenki
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 10:21:37 GMT -5
Aldane
Aldane's youngest years were typical enough, a mul slave being trained for the gladiatorial pits. His escape from that particular bond was as bloody as might be expected, though the source was raiders upon the caravan he was sequestered in. In those days, wild ("free") muls were relatively well tolerated, and after a short time hiding out in Red Storm he eventually trekked to Allanak -- but seeking what, he did not know.
It was in Allanak that the sand-blasted young mul met the immense charismatic oaf of a merchant human known as Khann, and there that he tentatively agreed to throw his muscle around on Khann's behalf -- with the full intention of earning a few sids, or simply some quality gear as Khann was well-endowed with Salarr, then break away after a year or so. Yet somehow the bullish temperament, quick wit and challenging ideals of the human earned his loyalty and he was to remain so for the remainder of his long life.
Shortly after his employment, Khann brought forth the ideals of what was to become the J'Karr, ideals which appealed further to the still young and otherwise unguided mul. In those early days there were three muls handling most of the daily activities, guided largely by Khann's goals, and over the years only a small number elevated themselves to the respected leadership positions. Among those were Sigmund, colossal even among half-giants but respected for his simplicity, and Serbitar, a white-haired elf who (once overcoming the humiliation of being forced to learn basic riding techniques as a recruit) drew amorous comments even from the harshest Blackwing elfess.
The J'Karr were to suffer political pressures from local militias due to their militant training, and from Salarr itself due to their being employed directly by Khann rather than by Salarr. Khann himself satiated many of the problems, and they took to selling their services much like a mercenary clan and gained some favor of other politically powerful groups. Aldane used those opportunities to develop and maintain numerous contacts across the Known World, in part for information and in part for the safety of Khann and the J'Karr as a whole. Among them were the gypsies (only later to be known as the Tan Muark of lore), The Guild, the Conclave, and a certain restless Whiran known as Alkyone.
Perhaps astonishingly, Alkyone was the only female capable of getting under his skin, although nothing more than deep friendship and loyalty, probably exceeding that to Khann (although those loyalties were never pitted against one another), ever developed. They, among few others, were heavily involved in the Lord of Ash plots, and it was towards the end of that that Alkyone passed him a certain Kruth card, promising then to always be there when needed.
If she was in the end is only known to the two of them and perhaps certain elves, as Aldane was set up by the Blackwing. It is known that he took a contract with a little known elf and was led deep into the Tablelands with another J'Karr mul; the other mul never returned, but Aldane was spotted covered in blood (not all his own) and being trailed by half a dozen Blackwing elders into Luir's Outpost. The locals scattered, and Blackwing was blamed for his death. Rumor has it they believed he was responsible for the death of a tribemate -- truth is that he was not, and most likely the gypsies were.
Following his death, Khann partly immortalized both he and Sigmund in statues outside his compound in Tuluk, prior to its razing by elementals years later.
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jenki
Clueless newb
Posts: 156
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Post by jenki on Oct 24, 2018 10:24:30 GMT -5
Aalthei
Aalthei's earliest memory was that of hiding in a hole. She lived her entire young life alone in the Grey Forest, hiding from halflings, gortok, and people. She learned to speak (Sirihish) by listening to the conversations of hunters while she lurked about in trees or hidden in the brush. She acquired things such as armor and weapons to protect herself from the bodies of hunters that had been slain by halflings by waiting hidden until the halfling was gone, and then snatching up the items she wanted.
Some time after reaching adulthood, she decided to venture into this city she'd heard called Tuluk. She found she could sell off things she'd scrounged up in the Forest to people for black coins that could be traded for other things. She bought herself a bow, and soon found that she ran out of arrows much more quickly than she could get the black coins. One day while sitting in Sanctuary, she met a man named Krass who told her that she could get paid the black coins on a regular basis for doing what she was already doing, and thus she went on to join House Salarr as a hunter.
In Aalthei's five years working for Salarr, she spent a great deal of time in and underneath the ruins of Old Tuluk. She discovered pieces of parchment scrolls, broken fragments of old Tuluk, beautiful stones, and a small city of people who lived underground there. She also had the misfortune of getting lost outside the Ruins after dark, wandering north on Guar-Pandu road, and falling over the side of the cliff to the gully below. Aalthei also met up with many various interesting creatures while out on hunting trips for Salarr. A bahamet charged her group, grabbing her by the arm, lifting her from her kank, and flinging her around like a ragdoll. She stumbled upon a strange cave in a cliff just south of where the scrub ends, meeting up with yellow-skinned humanoids, and a gargantuan ankheg.
While Aalthei worked for Salarr, she met a half-elf named Jivar, who she thought she'd fallen in love with, until she realized that he was crazy. She met another half-elf named Tobin a little further down the line, whom she became really fond of. Just when she thought she had fallen for him, he was killed during training by another hunter named Ferathule. She never forgave Ferathule for Tobin's death, and thought many times that she would have killed him in an instant if she knew it would bring Tobin back.
Salarr sent Aalthei to Allanak, a place that was wholly frightening to her. She felt extremely out of sorts being surrounded by nothing but desolate wastes and people who hated her simply because she was from the Northlands. In the first month there, Krass disappeared, as well as one of the Cadets who was in the Tor Academy at the time. Reorik, her only friend left, was killed during an attempt to assassinate Lady Maoko Tor. Fearing for her life, Aalthei spent the majority of her time in Allanak hidden in the Salarr compound. While she was there, she spent many nights in conversations via the Way with a man she'd met shortly after she'd joined Salarr - a guard named Hosea. The two of them planned for an escort to meet Aalthei at the gates of Allanak in order to assure her safe passage back to Tuluk, as she had grown weary of waiting for Salarr to send her back. Much to Aalthei's surprize, she did not have to wait too terribly much longer. She sent word to Hosea that she woul
d make it as far as Luir's Outpost, and would be sending something to Tuluk for him. Instead, she made it all the way back to Tuluk, Wayed him telling him that what she had sent was waiting for him in Sanctuary, and waited for him there.
From that point on, Aalthei and Hosea got to be very close. She'd always had a crush on him, and soon she confronted him about it. He was still mourning the loss of a previous love, so he told her that anything with her would be out of the question at the time. A short time later, he decided it was time to move on, and he and Aalthei got involved romantically.
Aalthei's growing discontent with Salarr led to her parting with the House on amiable terms. Captain Kella was sorry to see her go, but Aalthei just could not stay with them any longer. The very next day, she went with Hosea to speak with someone to be recruited into[House Winrothol's guard. She proved herself to the House, and swore a life oath of service, and went on to be promoted to Serjeant.
Around the time when Luir's Outpost fell to the mantis, Tuluk was under attack as well. Aalthei was assigned guard duty at the Estate (as she was the best archer in the guard, her superiors felt that she would do better to defend the House there) while Hosea rushed to the western gates of the city to defend against a pack of kryl. Aalthei was told by a fellow guard that Hosea had fallen during the attack, and she was utterly crushed. She had lost the one person she cared about more than anything, and at the same time, had to perform his duties as well as her own. She spent nearly all her free time alone, with the exception of a couple times when the Kurac merchant Danu tried his best to console her.
A month after receiving the news, she was summoned to the Winrothol Estate by Chosen Lady Kiye Winrothol, who informed her that Hosea had not actually died at the gates, and had been being tended to by Dasari healers who had refused to give up hope. Within a week, the two of them had an emotional reunion.
Some time after then, Aalthei realized that she had changed. She realized that something was missing from her life, and brought this up to Hosea. The two of them talked at great length, and decided that their previous reasons for not wanting to have children were no longer valid. A little over a year after this, their identical twin daughters, Felicia and Noemi, were born. Noemi's birth went normally, but Felicia's was a great deal more difficult because she was born feet first. Aalthei suffered injury during the birth, and was unable to walk unassisted for three weeks following. Since the birth of their children, Aalthei and Hosea cannot imagine life without the girls, and they hope that the girls will follow in their footsteps by serving in House Winrothol's guard when they are of age.
Life went on as per usual. Aalthei came to be very close friends with Danu. The two of them spent a great deal of time together, and she came to realize that he understood her in a way no one else ever had. He gave her lessons on how to make arrows and hide scrapers, how to tan animal hides, how to haggle with merchants, and also shared a few tidbits of gossip. She helped him to gather wood for Kurac (she took down a tembo that was encroaching on them with 5 arrows: two to the neck, three to the rear end), brought him various rocks from her ventures outdoors with the guard, even sneaked him into the training chamber beneath the servants' quarters at the Winrothol Estate to give him lessons on how to defend himself. (They sparred two rounds, him armed and her unarmed. In the second round, she knocked him unconscious.) She often brought him tasty treats, knowing how fond he was of ginka fruit. He gave her a stable ticket for Ten'Sarak so that she could go sledding whenever she
went to visit.
Danu convinced Aalthei to participate in the greased tregil wrestling that he had organized at the Tembo's Tooth. She won by puffing thodeliv smoke at the tregil, covering it with her cloak, and pinning it. When she returned to the Tooth after getting all of the grease cleaned off her armor and replacing her cloak, Danu told her that he would be leaving for a year to help his family rebuild the caravan that the mantis had destroyed. Aalthei sent him off reluctantly, with a ginka treat.
After a great deal of drama and tragedy within House Winrothol's guard, Aalthei was been left in contemplation of herself and where she is in life. She and Hosea spent as much time as they can together, and with their children, although much frustration came from the fact that it did not happen nearly as often as they would like.
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