The Sea Wolves

Started by HairyHeretic, June 22, 2015, 07:10:54 AM

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HairyHeretic


From your darkest nightmares our vessels sweep
North, South, West and East,
We bring our prows from the twilight shores
That the great grey wolves may feast.

To the outmost roads of the plunging sea
Our dragon ships are hurled,
We have broken the chains of your mortal thanes
And now we break your world.

Out of the dark of the misty night
We come, shaped of your dread
To harry again you mortal men
The crow's feast off your dead.

The ravens circle above our heads
Our chant is of victory.
They hear our roars on a thousand shores
And they know the Wolf is free.

 

It has been generations since the dragon ships had last been seen, the Northland raiders having been defeated at the Battle of Crimson Foam, their strength shattered and the survivors send fleeing, never to trouble civilised lands again.

With no threat seen, vigils grow lax, guards grow lazy and people forget why walls were kept so high, and a strong watch kept on misty nights.

And now?

Now a strong leader has risen in the North, uniting the tribes once more under one war banner. Merchants have carried tales of the riches to be found on southern shores, and towns ripe for the taking.

The fog hangs heavy in the air, muffling the sweep of countless oars, and ahead, through the fog, are the dim, twinkling lights of a slumbering town.



So, nothing too complex here. A viking inspired group of sea raiders, a town ready to put to the torch, loot and slaves there for the taking.

Can be played with fantasy elements (non humans and magic) or not, the basic premise works either way :)

Anyone interested?

Edit - adding a few potential roles

Raid leader / Thane / Ship Captain
Raiders
Vitki (Sorcerer / Magician, runecaster)
Bearsarks / Ulfhednar - semi magical warriors

City Nobles
Citizens of note - Priests/Priestesses, Merchants, Craftmasters/Craftmistresses
City guard / Mercenaries
Regular city folk


OOC Thread
Character Thread
Game thread

Existing characters

Raiders:
Brev the Wolf - Ulfhednar scout
Ragnar Stormtossed - Huskarl / Skeppare (Ship Captain)
Thorgrim Thoralfrson - Thane of the Crag Isle

City folk:
Arren Ironskin - Mercenary
Inanna of the Amonian Temple - Priestess
Jenit Sulla - Captain, City Guard
Magnhild 'Mag' Ylvania - Military officer
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
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Keaton

This sounds like quite the adventure! I may be interested.  O:)

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IrishWolf

I am very very interested!

HairyHeretic

Glad to hear it. What sort of role interested you?
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Cattle die, kinsmen die
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Amarlo

#4
I am likewise interested, however I'm not sure whether I'd rather play a Village Priestess or one of the Raiders! Normally I'd play one of the feisty raiders in this type of setting but I'm not sure that bodes well for a woman uninterested in playing out a sexually dominant role xD Then again, the 'traditional' S/M roles typically bore me....


Woops, ranting! -throws interest in-

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HairyHeretic

If you felt up for it you could always play both :)
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
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IrishWolf

I'm thinking some sort of lesser Thane

Julles

Hmm... I'll declare my interest. No idea what I'd play, though. Haha.

HairyHeretic

Well, we seem to have a preference for raiders so far. :)
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Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
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Julles

Maybe I can play two. A baddie raider and a princess/priestess (someone in a hugh class). Looks like fun.

GnothiSeauton

Tentatively interested here.
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King Serperior

Possibly interested in one of these roles:

Vitki (Sorcerer / Magician, runecaster)
Bearsarks / Ulfhednar - semi magical warriors

Mercenaries

It depends on some specifics regarding them.

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HairyHeretic

What sort of specifics are you looking for? I'd favour more of a fantasy approach on them than pure historical, more opportunity for fun that way I think :)
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Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
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Fair fame of one who has earned it.

King Serperior

Well, I guess I'll list out the specific questions about them.  I also favor a fantasy approach as well.   :-)


Vitki (Sorcerer / Magician, runecaster):  I think I lean moreso to the 'Sorcerer' aspect than the 'Magician' or 'Runecaster' ones.  However, I have some ideas for a character on each 'classification.'
Sorcerer:  It's rare that I get the chance to play a Necromancer.  However, a necromancer seems too limited.  When I see the word, 'Sorcerer,' I always imagine someone who dabbles in that realm's 'Dark and Forbidden Arts.'
Magician:  I am under the assumption that a Magician is a front lines fighter, using destructive magic to blast foes into powders.  I normally don't prefer such characters though.
Runecaster:  I am least familiar with this type and assume you mean it literally?  As in, a Runecaster uses runes to lay traps and fortify defenses, weaken opposing offenses, and/or create 'healing circles.'  I could play this type if need be.

Bearsarks / Ulfhednar - semi magical warriors:  I imagine these to be the standard 'Spellswords,' using a combination of magic and swordsmanship.  However, I don't know just how powerful in magic that these warriors may be.  I assume the most of their magic comes from weapons and/or armor that has been enchanted by wizards, witches, priests, and other magical beings?

Mercenaries:  Are these 'mercs' going to be solely soldiers and warriors?  Or will there be 'mercs' that are classes as 'Battlemages,' 'Wizards,' 'Spellswords,' and similar types of warriors?

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Amarlo

I suppose I'll play a Priestess :) Any ideas on specific practices you want to see done? As well as the expected religious practice? Or will we be given free reign for that? I'm guessing something polytheistic. Or maybe a Shaman... I like the idea better.. Town Shamaness o:

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Cold Heritage

I am tentatively interested. Maybe as a bearsark or ulfhednr. If things go the fantasy route and they get to be berserkers who can withstand iron weapons without harm or shape-changers who can take on the form of bears or wolves, that would interest me most.
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HairyHeretic

#16
Sorry for the delay in responding. 6 am starts means I have to get to bed fairly early :)

Vitki - technically they would be a magic user who specialised in the runes. I figured adding sorcerer and magician would make it clearer what they did. If we're going with a somewhat more magical approach, I'd probably swipe the Vesten runes from 7th Sea

https://confusticate.com/~tisfan/7thSea/Runes.html

That should give an idea the sort of stuff you could do with them, as well as using them for runic divination and so on.

Mainlander magic users might use other forms of magic. Priests would call on their faith in their God(s) / Goddess(es), Shamans might work with spirits, Mages would draw on another source ... there's lots of options, and little yet set in stone.

The Bearsarks would call on the spirit of the Bear when they go into battle. They become stronger, tougher, perhaps they evoke a sense of fear in those they face. Perhaps in the absolute height of frenzy some might even turn into a giant bear (shades of The Hobbit, anyone?)

Ulfhednar call on Wolf. They're scouts, rather than front line fighters. Maybe they see better in the dark, have heightened senses of hearing and scent. Maybe they work instinctively as pack fighters. Maybe the Alpha can shift into wolf or wolfman form?

Again, lots of possibilities depending what people want to do.

The story belongs to all of us, so we each get to share in shaping it :) If you have ideas, throw them out here :)

Mercenaries .. again, the possibilities are open right now. I don't see why a mercenary couldn't fight with magic as well as steel. A healer would always find a good spot in a mercenary company too. They might be hired by the town, or by a caravan, or be here looking for work. Heck, they might even offer to sign on with the raiders, if it's a choice between loot and death. :)

With mercenaries coming from anywhere, you can go with something exotic. Same for the retinue of an ambassador or merchant.
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Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
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Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Max

If I might suggest, while the town is up in the air in regards to the type of people living there, it would be a good idea if the majority of people are from the town.  So there are 15 different cultures in one town, and almost everybody is not from the town.  Although I am not sure it will be a problem.  Just saying.

Just how big a town are we talking about.  Guessing fairly small, but looking for an idea.  1,000?  10,000?  50,000?  1,000,000?  Is it walled?  Or did the town outgrow its walls?

Would slavery be legal in the town?
"Are you into whips and chains too?"
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HairyHeretic

Agreed. The majority of the town would be from a single culture, but traders (either by land or sea) could represent a few others.

I'd imagine the town something like this



The area around 3 would be the noble quarter, 9 would be the Temple district.

6 is the slums, poorly built, small buildings.

The town would have a population of maybe 3,500 - 4500, with anywhere up another 1000 slaves who work the fields around the town alongside the freeman farmers, and a perhaps a few hundred transients .. merchants mainly.

How does that sound?
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Max

Would also think that a good number of the mercenaries would be from people not native to the town.  Probably most from the same culture, but msybe not the same town.

Map looks good.  Just curious, where do you find all these cool maps?

Am interested, probably as a noble, living on an estate outside of town?
"Are you into whips and chains too?"
"No, chainsaws."  (just kidding)

Ons and offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4738.new#new

HairyHeretic

Yeah, mercenaries could come from anywhere.

I just did a google image search to turn up the map.

So what do you see as this nobles fate as the story would progress? :)
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Max

A slave of course.  :)
"Are you into whips and chains too?"
"No, chainsaws."  (just kidding)

Ons and offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4738.new#new

HairyHeretic

It's polite to ask :)

Besides, if you had any personal plot ideas you'd like to run, now would be a good time to mention them.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

King Serperior

#23
Quote from: HairyHeretic on June 23, 2015, 01:14:52 PM
Sorry for the delay in responding. 6 am starts means I have to get to bed fairly early :)

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide
Vitki - technically they would be a magic user who specialised in the runes. I figured adding sorcerer and magician would make it clearer what they did. If we're going with a somewhat more magical approach, I'd probably swipe the Vesten runes from 7th Sea

https://confusticate.com/~tisfan/7thSea/Runes.html

That should give an idea the sort of stuff you could do with them, as well as using them for runic divination and so on.

Mainlander magic users might use other forms of magic. Priests would call on their faith in their God(s) / Goddess(es), Shamans might work with spirits, Mages would draw on another source ... there's lots of options, and little yet set in stone.

The Bearsarks would call on the spirit of the Bear when they go into battle. They become stronger, tougher, perhaps they evoke a sense of fear in those they face. Perhaps in the absolute height of frenzy some might even turn into a giant bear (shades of The Hobbit, anyone?)

Ulfhednar call on Wolf. They're scouts, rather than front line fighters. Maybe they see better in the dark, have heightened senses of hearing and scent. Maybe they work instinctively as pack fighters. Maybe the Alpha can shift into wolf or wolfman form?

Again, lots of possibilities depending what people want to do.

The story belongs to all of us, so we each get to share in shaping it :) If you have ideas, throw them out here :)

Mercenaries .. again, the possibilities are open right now. I don't see why a mercenary couldn't fight with magic as well as steel. A healer would always find a good spot in a mercenary company too. They might be hired by the town, or by a caravan, or be here looking for work. Heck, they might even offer to sign on with the raiders, if it's a choice between loot and death. :)

With mercenaries coming from anywhere, you can go with something exotic. Same for the retinue of an ambassador or merchant
.
Thanks for the clarification!

Judging from this, I am thinking I'll play as a Sellsword.  He'll be born of magical blood, but be highly skilled with the blade.  His blade, pale blue and almost translucent, as if it were made of ice, was forged using both spell and hammer, thus creating an edge that is extremely sharp, sharper than a razor, and bites with the deepest cold, numbing the foes body with even the smallest of cuts.  Wielding Frostbite, this 'outsider' was hired by a local merchant from a northern region and is well-known for his skills.  His magical talents don't end at his blade though.  By entering into a semi-trance state, he can enter the mind of a wild beast and coordinate his efforts with that of the beast to aid his combat. 

Or something along those lines.

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Amarlo

So any preference for the type of information going onto character sheets? :)

Seduce my mind and my body will follow.
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