To Wake the Sleeping King

[IrishWolf]

To say it was the end of days, would have been overly dramatic, although it was surely the end of the Kingdom of Welum. Whispers of doom had come for years, tales told of conquering armies to the east but they had never alarms the nobles of the land. But now the enemy is here, flowing over the border. The King’s own brother is dead and the royal army, along with every noble’s retinue the marshal could find, have been broken. The cream of the nobility wiped out or in captivity. It will only be days before the host will reach the gates of the capital and laid siege to the city.

There is no hope.

The priests and priestesses pray in their temples, as the remaining knights and man-at-arms gather the people, their livestock and stores behind the walls, prepared to resist. Maybe their allies in the neighboring kingdoms will finally ride to their aid. Alone, the Loremaster pours over ancient scrolls and runic inscriptions. Even in these final hours, some members of the clergy, find time to mock the mage, who can barely cast a spell of light, which is more than most of those few still learning magic, can do. Although it should be noted, that no miracle of the Gods, have appeared to save them.

But salvation may yet be found in those crumbling tomes.

In the days of old, before the coming of the Gods and the age of Miracles, when magic was strong in the world and the fathers of men worshiped their own ancestors or pagan spirits, great kings were laid in the Barrows, when life left them. They were entombed before an alter, in their armor, with weapons in their hands and treasures at their feet. The Mages of yore, would incant long spells, laying curses for those who might plunder and more importantly, weaving their magic, so that the promise each king made, to return when his people most needed him, could be fulfilled.

In the long passages, deep underground, around the chamber of the King, would rest his retainers and household, when they too past into the Halls of the Dead. Each would be wrapped in sorcery, as they were laid in the grave, so that they could answer their King’s call, should he be awoken again and be in need of warriors. While it might not be an army of the dead, a core of fighting men, who could not be killed, would make an army invincible. 

As time turned and magic began to fade, this art was lost and the later barrows were simple graves. Yet the magic laid on the tombs of the first Kings of Welum, was strong still. When the Loremaster awoken the King and summoned his council in the middle of the night, he was scoffed at by the Priests. If this magic was so strong, why had not the Kings of old arisen when the country was first invaded? But the old mage had an answer. When the Gods arrived, the old rites had stopped and the attention of the sleeping Kings, had been drawn away from the mortal world.

They would need to perform a new rite, one that was as old as the Barrows themselves and make a sacrifice, to awaken the great warrior kings of old. And not just any sacrifice would do, not treasures and animals but it would have to be a human sacrifice. A bride of noble blood or better still, royal blood and new servants, their blood to wake him, their bodies to keep him entertained while in the flesh and to go with him into the Halls of the Dead, when the foe was broken.

This would be the last chance for the Kingdom of Welum, no matter how slim.




So, anyone interested?

I don't have all the details set in stone and I would love some input. I am thinking that the setting for the story would be something along the lines of late medieval, knights in plate armor, stone castles, the whole classic fantasy thing, with the King and warriors being more heavily inspired by Anglo-saxons and the Vikings. The invaders could be other humans or a more high fantasy enemy, like orcs or trolls.

After long arguments, the modern day king agrees to the Loremaster’s plan and orders that a young noble lady or possibly his own niece to be taken into the Barrows, along with a few common serving women and sacrificed on an alter, to wake a dead king. The Loremaster was right about the magic and the rite doesn’t kill the girls (at least not yet) but bring a King to life, to lead his warriors and the remaining knights and nobles of Welum to victory, however long that might take.

Depending on interest, this could be a smaller story, one king, one noble lady and the servants or one king, some of his warriors, the noble lady and the servants.

Or it could be a larger game, if there are more people interested, several kings, several ladies and servants.



Character Sheets

Sacrifice

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[b]Player:[/b]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Social Rank:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b] (A picture is fine but please add a written description)
[b]History:[/b]
[b]Notable Skills:[/b]
[b]Sexual ons:[/b]
[b]Sexual offs:[/b]

Retainer

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[b]Player:[/b]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b] (these men, when returning from the halls of the dead, will be restored to when they were at their best in life)
[b]Social Rank:[/b] (These (mostly) men should either be a Thegn (noble companion of the King) or a Huskarl/Shield-maiden (professional warrior)
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b] (A picture is fine but please add a written description)
[b]Arms and Armor:[/b]
[b]History:[/b]
[b]Sexual ons:[/b]
[b]Sexual offs:[/b]


Current Cast

Sexmund

Player: IrishWolf

Name: Sexmund the Just

Age: 32

Social Rank: King

Personality: Sexmund well earned his title of Just. His words was always truth and any oath he spoke, was honored. It should also be said, that oath-breakers aroused a great and terrible wroth in the King. More then one of his wars were caused by another king or lord breaking their word to him and when their lands were despoiled, the plunder was dealt out fairly by his own hand, from the lowliest of freemen to the greatest of eoldermen. When matters were brought to him, when he held court, it is said he always listened to both sides and carefully weighted the words spoken by each party. He had a great love of hunting and relished every chance he got to pick up a spear and face down a charging boar or a cornered bear.

Appearance: It was said that Sexmund was a giant among men, although the stories might exaggerate the truth. He was tall, almost by half a head to most, with wide shoulders and a broad chest. His limbs were thick with corded muscle and the tales tell, that he could cleave through horse and man with a stroke of his mighty axe. Even when he grew hoary, after many years of kingship, they say his strength never failed him and it was only in the last days of his life, when he could no longer weld his sword. He carried some heaviness in the stomach, from a love of mead and feasting but never grew fat. He was handsome in the face, even though he held the sternness of a judge in his looks, even when he laughed. His hair was golden, grown long so that it fell around his shoulders and some was bound into braids, hanging just behind his ears. His beard was thick and not grown overly long, so that his foes couldn't grab him in battle by it.

Arms and Armor: His longaxe Fjôrsváfi, the pattern welded sword Hneitir and a seax. He was laid in his grave dressed in a quilted tunic of blue and a hauberk of mail, with his helm of iron and decorated with silver and bronze, upon his head

History: Much of Sexmund's reign as been lost to history but what is know and remember in the old tales, that he was an eoldermen, when King Winfirth died. Winfirth's young son, Turbert, died within days of his father, under strange circumstances. When the crown went to Winfirth's brother Leofwig, Sexmund accused Leofwig of murdering his nephew, nearly causing a civil war. Before warriors could be called to arms, Sexmund volunteered to prove his words true, by undergoing Trial by Cauldron. One of King Winfirth's rings was placed in a cauldron, covered with water, as deep as Sexmund's elbow and brought to a boil. As the water bubbled and frothed, Sexmund looked Leofwig in the eyes and plunged his right hand into the boiling water. He slowly pulled his hand out, showing that he was not scalded or burned and between his fingers was the ring, proving to all the assembled noblemen that he had spoken true. Before anyone could stop him, Leofwig jumped upon Sexmund with drawn knife and the two struggled, as their retainers ran to their aid. As the men reached the pair, there was a loud cry and Leofwig slumped to the ground, his own knife buried in his heart. The other eoldermen and high-reeves, who had gathered to witness the trial, spoke among themselves and offered the crown to Sexmund, for plainly he was favored by the spirit of the old king.

Sexmund would reign for over forty years and nearly to his seventieth winter, he would march to war for the final time. Despite messages came from the Kingdom of Odrein, with whom Welum had alliance for many years and they had proven to be faithful friends, had now been invaded. With his ally sorely pressed, the old king once again raised his banner, called upon the warriors and marched to the sea, where waited the longships. The army sailed away and would return, their ranks diminished but covered in glory. However, their faces were grim, as they returned to their homes, their king was dying. Near to the final battle, Sexmund had been struck in the chest by an arrow, the wicked point piercing his mail and wedging itself in his ribs. The healers had tried but had been unable to remove the iron from his chest and the wound caused the king terrible pain. He did command his army in the last battle however, borne upon a litter, sword still in hand but the return to Welum had been hard and now fever gripped the king. He was carried back to his hall but perished from his wound, only a few days later, leaving his eldest son, Wiglac, as heir.

Sexual ons: Feisty partners, submissive partners, public sex, oral (giving and receiving), rough and wild sex, receiving body worship

Sexual offs:Mutilation, scat, watersports , chastity

Raya Ophelia Merriweather

Player: Levi
Name: Raya Ophelia Merriweather
Age: 19
Social Rank: Princess
Personality: Raya is as free spirited for her rank and the time in which she was born as she possibly can be. Although her rather large family are not overly caring towards her she still can not help trying to please them. Raya loves to learn and despite the restrictions upon women she still managed to sneak books to her room and reads late into the night. Incredibly romantic she dreams of being literally swept of her feet by a man worthy of her family.
Appearance: Raya stands at just over 5'3, her petit form is trim and her waist is narrowed as per current fashion although her great is supprisingly luxurious. Raya has the most luxurious midnight black hair that falls almost to the floor in its length. Her bright intelligant blue eyes look out from a heart shaped pale cream face.
History: Raya was the last born child of the noble line of Merriweather, however her father was bitterly disappointed by her sex, although she was one of nine siblings and three were boys both her parents wished for another boy. Having six daughters all around madrigals age or older had drained the coffers of the family and having a son meant another family giving them doury. Without the money to give her hand in marriage her parents basically pretended that she didn't exist. Despite this however they still made sure she wouldn't be an embarrassment to the family name so still had all the education and lessons a princess should.

Being "on the shelf" as she was from the moment she was born gave Raya a degree of freedom that her sisters never had, the threat of marriage of the pain of childbirth not in her future meant Raya could dedicate her time to other things. During the day she did the meaningless and dull practices that were expected of a woman needlepoint, dancing, eleqution and so on but in the evening she would sneak out and try her hand at horseback riding, swordplay and educating her mind with her brothers old text books.
Notable Skills: Needlepoint,  dancing, sword play
Sexual ons: oral giving and recieving, breast play, foreplay, romantic sex, the thrill of the chase and being caught by her lover
Sexual offs: scat, vore, gore, non con

Eawynn

Player: DinaFlower
Name:Eawynn
Age:17
Social Rank:Servant
Personality: Eawynn can be shy around those she does not know, having an awkward stance and phrasing. This often comes off as shy, though she simply does not know how to interact with strangers. Past her socially awkward outer shell the girl is very kind and full of joy, though demure.
Appearance: Eawynn has pale skin due to all her time serving in doors. Bright blue eyes that sparkle when the light catches them just so. S small frame at 5'3" and 106 pounds. Golden hair that flows down to the small of her back, un like the picture where it is all cut off, WHY TAYLOR?!?! Sorry, where we talking about something? Oh yes! No scars or marks that would stand out, a few small nick here and there that one would build up through out life. Due to the very pale nature of her skin, Eawynn bruises and shows markings at a very quick rate. If how she sounds would belong here as well, Eawynn has a very soft and sweet voice, Everything spoken in a very sing-song type way.
History: Eawynn was born to the farmers Harold and Mildritha. She was their third child, second daughter. The farm was all she ever knew for the first 14 years of her life, but she was happy. Cooking for her family, tending to the animals, and sometimes just laying in a field of dandelions, she enjoyed all of it. For many years the farm did well, providing a comfortable life for the farmers. It wasn't until Eawynn was 13 that hard times fell on the family. Entire harvest where lost, And her parents where not able to keep things afloat. At the age of 14 both Eawynn and her older sister where sold to noble families. Not sure where her sister ended up, or what became of the farm in the years to follow, Eawynn ended up as the personal servant of Princess Raya Ophelia Merriweather
Notable Skills: Eawynn is wonderful in the kitchen, good with massages, and a talented singer.
Sexual ons: Rough, bondage, forceful, public.
Sexual offs: scat, overly abusive, body shaming.

[Levi]

I follow the wolf :)

[IrishWolf]

Levi! Lovely to see you interested. Any thoughts on what sort of character you might want to play?

And I made a small edit, opening up the possibility of Shield-maidens being part of the sleeping king's retainers.

[Levi]

It is possible to do a character of noble blood worthy of being a bride but for reason yet to be decided she is currently  a shield maiden.

[IrishWolf]

Maybe not a true Shield-maiden. A modern young woman, at least in the context of the story, may have been raised on stories of the Shield-maidens of old and might have figured out a way to get some training with weapons but she wouldn't have been allowed to go and fight anyone. But now that she's being given to one of those heroes of the old stories, well, she might just get the chance to be the Shield-maiden she thinks she wants to be.

[Levi]

That sounds fun :)

[Envious]

The idea behind this seems really fun.

I'm going to summarize to make sure I understand. A few ladies are "sacrificed" and become the harem of the Awakened. The King and his Retainers pew pew the bad guys dead. What exactly is the role of the sacrificed women once they are used to awaken the warriors?

[IrishWolf]

Your summery made me chuckle and is fairly accurate. Although a little less pew pew the bad guys dead and more a sustained campaign.

Now to the role of the Sacrifices. Your are correct, they are to basically be a harem for the Awakened but there will be more then that. This is ancient and unused magic and it's going to come with some rules no one knew or didn't write down. Like that the Sacrifices need to stay close to the King, like on the battlefield, like uncomfortably close to the combat, like "Oh God someone just shot an arrow at me" range. Which might be a boon to a character like the one the lovely Levi has suggested but might not as fun for the others. And if the Sacrifices and the Awakened do become separated, there will be consequences for both.

Since this is also going to take a lot longer then a few battles and their not raising an entire army of the dead, the Awakened and the Sacrifices will be interacting with the remaining nobles, which means feasting and hunting. More feasting if their smaller victories can bring in allied kingdoms/dukedoms. The Sacrifices may be forced to help smooth things out between the Awakened and the modern men, as the honored dead are basically a barbarian chieftain and his warriors and might cause offense to those with a more refined chivalric code.

[Haibane]

I will lodge my interest if I may, as a sacrificial princess, or as a handmaiden who goes with her mistress, I've no preference.

I wonder if, after the zombie kings rise again, they need a certain "sustenance" to keep them going, something only their sacrificed undead wives and concubines can provide?

I also wonder if, they get greedy for power and go on the rampage to other kingdoms, taking them over with their unbeatable combination of undead swordsmanship fuelled by the powerful lusts of the sacrificed women?

Also, hi everyone :)

[Levi]

Would this be acceptable for art fc?

[Haibane]

Wow.  :-*

[IrishWolf]

Thats a very nice fc Levi

Hi there Haibane! To answer your last question first, I did take the possibility of someone waking up the dead kings and warriors to conquer nearby kingdoms and the spells allowing their resurrection wont let them do that. Once they have beaten the big bad, all of the Awakened are going to start feeling an increasing desire to return to their barrow and eternal rest. The Sacrifices will also feel the increasing need to return to the place that they technically died in and to join the warriors in their graves.

And your first question, is a way yes.

[Levi]

Player: Levi
Name: Raya Ophelia Merriweather
Age: 19
Social Rank: Princess
Personality: Raya is as free spirited for her rank and the time in which she was born as she possibly can be. Although her rather large family are not overly caring towards her she still can not help trying to please them. Raya loves to learn and despite the restrictions upon women she still managed to sneak books to her room and reads late into the night. Incredibly romantic she dreams of being literally swept of her feet by a man worthy of her family.
Appearance: Raya stands at just over 5'3, her petit form is trim and her waist is narrowed as per current fashion although her great is supprisingly luxurious. Raya has the most luxurious midnight black hair that falls almost to the floor in its length. Her bright intelligant blue eyes look out from a heart shaped pale cream face.
History: Raya was the last born child of the noble line of Merriweather, however her father was bitterly disappointed by her sex, although she was one of nine siblings and three were boys both her parents wished for another boy. Having six daughters all around madrigals age or older had drained the coffers of the family and having a son meant another family giving them doury. Without the money to give her hand in marriage her parents basically pretended that she didn't exist. Despite this however they still made sure she wouldn't be an embarrassment to the family name so still had all the education and lessons a princess should.

Being "on the shelf" as she was from the moment she was born gave Raya a degree of freedom that her sisters never had, the threat of marriage of the pain of childbirth not in her future meant Raya could dedicate her time to other things. During the day she did the meaningless and dull practices that were expected of a woman needlepoint, dancing, eleqution and so on but in the evening she would sneak out and try her hand at horseback riding, swordplay and educating her mind with her brothers old text books.
Notable Skills: Needlepoint,  dancing, sword play
Sexual ons: oral giving and recieving, breast play, foreplay, romantic sex, the thrill of the chase and being caught by her lover
Sexual offs: scat, vore, gore, non con

[Deathnote]

Hi there.  Tentatively interested.

So... I have an idea for a character, but I'm not entirely sure if you'd be willing to go for it.

In the narrative description of the game, you mentioned the King's own brother being dead.  What if the King's brother was accidentally brought back as one of the dead warriors.  If not him, then another member of the royal family like the King's nephew (or even son) who was killed during the current war.  He could've been a good friend of the Loremaster and supported his idea of awakening the dead warrior kings of old.  Before going off into battle, he decided to make the same oath that the dead warrior kings made as a way to give himself some extra courage and boost his own morale.  He once joked about wanting to be buried in the barrows, but the current king took his request seriously upon seeing his dead body, returned (mostly) intact from the battlefield.  The Loremaster, being a good friend, decided to try replicating the spell that the mages of yore used to cast for the dead warrior kings way back when.  He was not the least bit surprised when he saw it didn't work, but of course this would be before the Loremaster found out about the necessity of a human sacrifice.

If that idea doesn't work then... I'll play as Wiglac.  :p

[DinaFlower]

Very interest, much excite.

I would like to state my interest in playing a servant. Would she have to be on board with it? Like is it something she is doing willingly because she has faith in the magic? Or something she is going into kicking and screaming?

[IrishWolf]

Man, that was a rough week at work. But on to better things!

Levi, your charming Princess has been added to the roster.

Deathnote, That is an interesting concept but doesn't fit into the lore I've worked out for setting. While the oaths the warriors of old have taken are important, its the powerful spells wrapped around them after death, which is bring them back into the living world. The ability to cast magic has lessened in the world and the Loremaster is weak, barely able to make a ball of light. He's not casting any magic to wake the sleeping king, he's activating already cast magic.

DinaFlower, I would say kicking and screaming is the most likely option for the servants and even any handmaids of the Princess. Like I was saying above, the only magic anyone has seen in living memory has been very very slight. And this is a major attempt with pagan rituals and blood sacrifice. One might hope the magic works.

[DinaFlower]

THankies! I worked out a bit of back story with another player, and I will be writing my CS today. Should I post it here or DM it to you when finished?

[IrishWolf]

You can go ahead and post the CS here

[DinaFlower]

Ugh. Been a bit hectic. I should have the CS done today, I think hectic is over.

[DinaFlower]

Player: DinaFlower
Name:Eawynn
Age:17
Social Rank:Servant
Personality: Eawynn can be shy around those she does not know, having an awkward stance and phrasing. This often comes off as shy, though she simply does not know how to interact with strangers. Past her socially awkward outer shell the girl is very kind and full of joy, though demure.
Appearance: Eawynn has pale skin due to all her time serving in doors. Bright blue eyes that sparkle when the light catches them just so. S small frame at 5'3" and 106 pounds. Golden hair that flows down to the small of her back, un like the picture where it is all cut off, WHY TAYLOR?!?! Sorry, where we talking about something? Oh yes! No scars or marks that would stand out, a few small nick here and there that one would build up through out life. Due to the very pale nature of her skin, Eawynn bruises and shows markings at a very quick rate. If how she sounds would belong here as well, Eawynn has a very soft and sweet voice, Everything spoken in a very sing-song type way.
History: Eawynn was born to the farmers Harold and Mildritha. She was their third child, second daughter. The farm was all she ever knew for the first 14 years of her life, but she was happy. Cooking for her family, tending to the animals, and sometimes just laying in a field of dandelions, she enjoyed all of it. For many years the farm did well, providing a comfortable life for the farmers. It wasn't until Eawynn was 13 that hard times fell on the family. Entire harvest where lost, And her parents where not able to keep things afloat. At the age of 14 both Eawynn and her older sister where sold to noble families. Not sure where her sister ended up, or what became of the farm in the years to follow, Eawynn ended up as the personal servant of Princess Raya Ophelia Merriweather
Notable Skills: Eawynn is wonderful in the kitchen, good with massages, and a talented singer.
Sexual ons: Rough, bondage, forceful, public.
Sexual offs: scat, overly abusive, body shaming.

[noric]

I have an interest in playing an antagonistic force. Be it invader forces, someone hugely opposed to the required magicks that comes out of the woodwork when whispers begin, peasant rebellion, mercenary, or maybe someone playing as many sides as they can for funsies. Or perhaps someone with an interest in prolonguing the war as long as possible to keep a sacrifice alive...

I'm totes fine if this limits my interactions on day-to-day scenes.

What think you, o glorious GM?

[DinaFlower]

I have an interest in playing an antagonistic force. Be it invader forces, someone hugely opposed to the required magicks that comes out of the woodwork when whispers begin, peasant rebellion, mercenary, or maybe someone playing as many sides as they can for funsies. Or perhaps someone with an interest in prolonguing the war as long as possible to keep a sacrifice alive...

I'm totes fine if this limits my interactions on day-to-day scenes.

What think you, o glorious GM?

Or someone who is profiting from both sides, thus needs the war to keep going.

[IrishWolf]

I have an interest in playing an antagonistic force. Be it invader forces, someone hugely opposed to the required magicks that comes out of the woodwork when whispers begin, peasant rebellion, mercenary, or maybe someone playing as many sides as they can for funsies. Or perhaps someone with an interest in prolonguing the war as long as possible to keep a sacrifice alive...

I'm totes fine if this limits my interactions on day-to-day scenes.

What think you, o glorious GM?

O glorious GM? Flattery will get you everywhere. lol

Now there is an interesting possibility. I'd like to keep the invaders as NPCs but I could easily see some sort of Church Knight/Paladin/Templar/Crusader type character, maybe leading a contingent of their fellows, who arrived too late for the big battle but have sworn to fight to the last to save the Kingdom from the enemy hordes. Magic is for pagans and heretics but thanks to his/her oaths and orders, has to stick around as a major pain in the ass to the newly awoken dead king, as part of the leadership for the new army.

Or perhaps some sort of young nobleman/court page, who wasn't at the big battle for reasons xyz but is now part of the defenders and really really doesn't want one of the sacrifices to in fact, join the dead when the threat to the kingdom is gone.




DinaFlower, Eawynn is looking good. You don't need much Anglo-Saxon influence on her appearance. That was more for the warriors and kings of the past. A "modern" character can and should have more of the standard high fantasy/late medieval period  look to them.

[DinaFlower]

I updated it! And that picture is ginormas!!!! It was NOT that large on google.... Tell me she don't look high as hell with it that big though.

[Levi]

Dina if you use this formula you can alter the size

Code Select Expand

[img height=200][/img] by putting height in the bracket it will shrink it for you xx