The Right to Rule Recruitment (LGBT friendly, Still accepting)

[RPGer]

Player Name: RPGer

Character Name: Reynard Harkan  AKA:  Reinhardt Lindemann

Face Claim: Harry Lloyd

Age: 28

Sex: Male

Blood Status: Royal (Exiled and Dispossessed), Believed to be Common

Sexual Orientation:  Straight

Ons & Offs:  ONs:  Intelligence, Passion, Submissiveness, Bondage  |  OFFs:  Unnecessary Cruelty, Impulsiveness, Outright Stupidity

Place of Origin:  Gaunton

Occupation:  Vigilante/Assassin

Personality:  Reynard keeps to himself, mostly.  He does what he can to avoid drawing attention to himself, given his history, as he doesn't quite know what happened to his family or their fortune when he was a child.  He has adopted the name Reinhardt Lindemann to further disquise his identity.  In truth, he is a person who values loyalty, honor, and the protection of the weak and innocent.  He cares nothing for those that behave in a brutal or barbaric fashion, and will likely cut down anyone that attempts to harm the innocent.  He isn't stupid, however, and will, if possible, postpone vengeance until a more advantageous moment.  He also values his freedom, and isn't certain he wants to reclaim his family's lands.

History: Reynard was born nearly 30 years ago in Gaunton.  His parents were nobles that had inherited the title and lands in the region, but, around the time of his birth, the region fell on hard times.  For some reason, his family made preparations to have him sent away from Gaunton, along with a small fortune, and a key.

As a teenager, he was presented with the key and told to go to the bank.  He opened the box and found a note explaining that his parents had sent him away for his safety, along with some money, patents of nobility, and a signet ring.  He has yet to figure out what happened, but he has heard stories and rumors over the years that several different things happened in and around Gaunton around the time of his birth.  Some rumors indicate that maybe his family was involved with illegal arenas.  Others stories tell of a war that had consumed the region resulting in Gaunton itself being invaded.  Others mention famine, disease, or the loss of prosperity in the region.  In any event, Reynard has yet to actually return to Gaunton, and isn't really certain he wants to.  He, to a large extent, enjoys that he has the freedom to engage in whatever activity he wishes to pursue.

As a career, he tends to act as an avenger of the innocent, and has beaten, maimed, and killed numerous brigands, thieves, and other assorted criminals over the years.  While acting as a vigilante, he conceals his face and goes by the name Reinhardt Lindemann.

Common Knowledge: Reynard is unassuming when approached.  There are rumors of a vigilante named Reinhardt that has been known to pursue, apprehend, and/or kill criminals.  As far as Reynard's history, there have been rumors for years that there was a lost heir to the Duchy of Gaunton, though no one has ever actually stepped forward legitimately to prove it.

Skills: Rank these in order from Strongest to Weakest. These will be used to settle disputes between players should they arise.
1.) Stealth - Reynard has always found stealth to be helpful in his job.
2.) Perception - Having no idea what happened to his family, Reynard chooses to keep an eye out for potential threats.
3.) Melee Skill - Reynard was well-trained in fighting, which he puts to use hunting criminals.  Master of swords, daggers, and hand-to-hand.
4.) Willpower - Reynard has been injured in combat a number of times, and has had to pull through.
5.) Acrobatics - Helpful for avoiding an enemy attack.
6.) Skullduggery - Reynard has often found trickery and misdirection necessary when ambushing targets, but only uses it to even the odds.
7.) Ranged Skill - While useful, Reynard rarely uses ranged weapons.
8.) Resources - Reynard's family left him with a small fortune, but he's burned through most of it just surviving all these years.
9.) Riding - Rarely does Reynard ride a horse.  He prefers to remain on his feet so he can disappear into a crowd or hide in a forest.
10.) Popularity - Reynard takes care not to be heard of.  His alter-ego, Reinhardt is more well-known.

Talents:  Camouflage, Gathering Information, Silver-Tongued, Situational Awareness

Weaknesses:  Reynard has a terrible habit of getting himself into situations he shouldn't be in, especially if it comes to protecting or avenging the innocent.  This is part of the reason why he became a vigilante.

Additonal Info: 

Optional Themesong:  Disturbed - Vengeful One
                                    Black Label Society - Stronger Than Death

[la dame en noir]

I think we got a healthy enough group that you don't necessarily need too.

But the story itself is centered around the participants, my concern would be that you'd be on the outside with less to do.

No problem then, I'll just stalk the RP. Don't wanna mess up the flow.

[Ontan]

A character sheet is in the works! Until then, I had a world addition I wanted to submit for your approval:

Tezcacali Outlanders

East of East:

As the name suggests, Estlynd lies to the Empire's south-east, and has long been held by the dreaded Sigvat clans... but what lies east of Eastlynd? It’s a question that’s posed by any child who sees a map, and wonders why the corner trails off to nothing. In most cases, the impertinent question is met with a cuff across the head, and a stern instruction not to ask again. There is nothing beyond the borders of Estlynd. The gods had to stop somewhere, and drawing attention to their limits – even in innocent curiosity – is said to risk their displeasure. More prosaically, though, one could also observe that there’s a featureless wasteland along Estlynd’s most distant border. The bleak, empty steppes stretch on seemingly forever, with virtually nothing for life to subsist on: open water is almost non-existent, and the vast undulating plains are covered in a strange grass which kills off all other plant life… along with any beast unwise enough to nibble at it. Even if a man could carry enough supplies to march eastward for two whole years of his life, he would find nothing but desolate, lonely emptiness. For centuries beyond counting, only the wind stirred in those forsaken steppes.

And yet, there is life beyond that lifeless continent: an alien mirror to the Empire, where steppes lie west instead of east. However, when the fanatical Tezcacali civilisation looked upon the incalculable wasteland, they saw a realm death and divinity intertwined. They believed the lifeless expanse to be a vast gate into the underworld itself. They revered the wasteland, and whenever a person of prominence was on their deathbed, a sacrificial funeral procession was assembled to carry them as far as possible into the steppes, thus shortening their patron’s journey to the afterlife. The entourage would inevitably perish alongside them, of course, but the honour of being sacrificed was something to aspire for in Tezcacali culture.

Divine Emperor Xilotaca the Great unwittingly launched the expedition that would carry his dying body towards Rin. In his final months of life, an almighty funeral procession unlike anything ever seen began to take shape: tens of thousands of souls, from slaves to high priestesses, were to carry their lord deep into the “underworld”, travelling far further than anyone had before. When the time came to depart, the sacrificial Tezcacali expedition didn’t even bother to send explorers to precede them. For three whole years, a veritable army trudged through the featureless purgatory of the steppes, sustained by the colossal urns of water and grain they rolled over the grasslands, and the frightening intensity of their faith. Even when their lord took his final rattling breath, the fierce insanity of the Tezcacali faith drove them ever deeper into the wastes… and ever closer to the Empire. The goddess of mischief must’ve been smiling on them, though, because the senseless mission did not end in its intended annihilation: with scarcely a week’s worth of supplies left, the desolate steppes finally fell away, and the Tezcacali outlanders took their first steps into the new world.

The Outlander Occupation:

In the west, news of an invasion from beyond the steppes was slow to gain credibility. The fault lies almost entirely with the infamous Sigvat clans, who were already in a perpetual state of war with the Empire of Rin: even as their defences were blindsided by an inconceivable assault from the east, their Great Jarl refused to put out a call for help, instead opting for a series of prideful counterattacks that only hastened the collapse of his reign. Ironically, the first sign that anything was seriously amiss came several whole years after the Tezcacali Outlanders arrived: the Empire’s border garrisons noticed it’d been a suspiciously long while since the last cattle raid from Estlynd, and warily dispatched scouts to investigate. They returned with muddled reports of civil war, speaking nonsense of bizarre temples rising out of the Sigvat villages, of feather-clad demagogues jabbering in tongues and rousing commoners to rebellion and bloody murder. Unsettled, Imperial commanders opted to leave the hated Sigvat to their fate, and concentrated on fortifying their own borders.

What of the Tezcacali now, a full fifteen years later? Their continued presence gives rise to all manner of chilling tales: their twisted appetite for human sacrifice; nightmare scenarios of fierce, wild-eyed priests hypnotising the commonfolk; the pure ugliness of their foreign ways and the strange monoliths they take to building. For all this talk, however, the Tezcacali outlanders have proven to be an unexpected boon to the Empire. First, they annihilate one of the Empire’s most troublesome neighbours; now, they send envoys and ambassadors, seeking to become a peaceful vassal of the Empire. King Thadius Dormer has always been wary of this supposed supplication, and while he was always been respectful in his dealings, he also feels that the abrupt subservience of the outlanders must be too good to be true… but very soon, it will no longer be his decision to make. His abdication dawns, and like every ruler before him, he must trust that The Ordeal will produce a leader capable of making the right choice for all of Rin.

[Untamed Skies]

A character sheet is in the works! Until then, I had a world addition I wanted to submit for your approval:

Tezcacali Outlanders

East of East:

As the name suggests, Estlynd lies to the Empire's south-east, and has long been held by the dreaded Sigvat clans... but what lies east of Eastlynd? It’s a question that’s posed by any child who sees a map, and wonders why the corner trails off to nothing. In most cases, the impertinent question is met with a cuff across the head, and a stern instruction not to ask again. There is nothing beyond the borders of Estlynd. The gods had to stop somewhere, and drawing attention to their limits – even in innocent curiosity – is said to risk their displeasure. More prosaically, though, one could also observe that there’s a featureless wasteland along Estlynd’s most distant border. The bleak, empty steppes stretch on seemingly forever, with virtually nothing for life to subsist on: open water is almost non-existent, and the vast undulating plains are covered in a strange grass which kills off all other plant life… along with any beast unwise enough to nibble at it. Even if a man could carry enough supplies to march eastward for two whole years of his life, he would find nothing but desolate, lonely emptiness. For centuries beyond counting, only the wind stirred in those forsaken steppes.

And yet, there is life beyond that lifeless continent: an alien mirror to the Empire, where steppes lie west instead of east. However, when the fanatical Tezcacali civilisation looked upon the incalculable wasteland, they saw a realm death and divinity intertwined. They believed the lifeless expanse to be a vast gate into the underworld itself. They revered the wasteland, and whenever a person of prominence was on their deathbed, a sacrificial funeral procession was assembled to carry them as far as possible into the steppes, thus shortening their patron’s journey to the afterlife. The entourage would inevitably perish alongside them, of course, but the honour of being sacrificed was something to aspire for in Tezcacali culture.

Divine Emperor Xilotaca the Great unwittingly launched the expedition that would carry his dying body towards Rin. In his final months of life, an almighty funeral procession unlike anything ever seen began to take shape: tens of thousands of souls, from slaves to high priestesses, were to carry their lord deep into the “underworld”, travelling far further than anyone had before. When the time came to depart, the sacrificial Tezcacali expedition didn’t even bother to send explorers to precede them. For three whole years, a veritable army trudged through the featureless purgatory of the steppes, sustained by the colossal urns of water and grain they rolled over the grasslands, and the frightening intensity of their faith. Even when their lord took his final rattling breath, the fierce insanity of the Tezcacali faith drove them ever deeper into the wastes… and ever closer to the Empire. The goddess of mischief must’ve been smiling on them, though, because the senseless mission did not end in its intended annihilation: with scarcely a week’s worth of supplies left, the desolate steppes finally fell away, and the Tezcacali outlanders took their first steps into the new world.

The Outlander Occupation:

In the west, news of an invasion from beyond the steppes was slow to gain credibility. The fault lies almost entirely with the infamous Sigvat clans, who were already in a perpetual state of war with the Empire of Rin: even as their defences were blindsided by an inconceivable assault from the east, their Great Jarl refused to put out a call for help, instead opting for a series of prideful counterattacks that only hastened the collapse of his reign. Ironically, the first sign that anything was seriously amiss came several whole years after the Tezcacali Outlanders arrived: the Empire’s border garrisons noticed it’d been a suspiciously long while since the last cattle raid from Estlynd, and warily dispatched scouts to investigate. They returned with muddled reports of civil war, speaking nonsense of bizarre temples rising out of the Sigvat villages, of feather-clad demagogues jabbering in tongues and rousing commoners to rebellion and bloody murder. Unsettled, Imperial commanders opted to leave the hated Sigvat to their fate, and concentrated on fortifying their own borders.

What of the Tezcacali now, a full fifteen years later? Their continued presence gives rise to all manner of chilling tales: their twisted appetite for human sacrifice; nightmare scenarios of fierce, wild-eyed priests hypnotising the commonfolk; the pure ugliness of their foreign ways and the strange monoliths they take to building. For all this talk, however, the Tezcacali outlanders have proven to be an unexpected boon to the Empire. First, they annihilate one of the Empire’s most troublesome neighbours; now, they send envoys and ambassadors, seeking to become a peaceful vassal of the Empire. King Thadius Dormer has always been wary of this supposed supplication, and while he was always been respectful in his dealings, he also feels that the abrupt subservience of the outlanders must be too good to be true… but very soon, it will no longer be his decision to make. His abdication dawns, and like every ruler before him, he must trust that The Ordeal will produce a leader capable of making the right choice for all of Rin.

I think this will be very interesting to unveil as the story plays out, I'm going to give you a poke and ask a few general questions but I like the creativity and the intrigue this brings. 

[Vlexia]

Player Name: Vlexia

Character Name: Hyacinthe (pronounced Hi-ya-SIN-thay)

Face Claim: Nargis Fakhri

Age: 22

Sex: Female

Blood Status: Common

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Ons & Offs: sensual romance, intellectual connections, impulsive gifts, surprises. Oral sex, intimacy. Offs: non-consensual, pain, watersports.

Place of Origin: Western lands of Rin, no real hometown

Occupation: Tavern barmaid/ traveling gypsy

Personality: Sweet with a musical laugh, Hyacinthe is a gentle soul to be around. She may be a little rough in her speech with her soft country and common accent, but she’s selfless, generous, and forgiving. There’s an inner strength in her to not hate those who look down on her, but that’s just a feat her mother passed along. She loves children, animals, and nature, often choosing to see the more beautiful and gentle side to life than anything else.

History: Hyacinthe’s mother was raped by a band of marauding bandits from Valdrun along the Western Border of Rin. The band of gypsies were traveling through the border for trade when they had met the rogues and were overwhelmed by their mastery at weaponry. The attack was merely out of sport against the hated Rinians, since the marauders had not seen any action for months, and viewed the gypsies as easy pickings. The men were killed and the women were raped and left for dead. Hyacinthe’s mother survived by being found by a local milk herder and the multi-ethnic child was born nine months later.

Despite how she came into the world, her mother loved her, the child being the only one she had been able to conceive. And they had resided with the farmer for years before departing when Hyacinthe was six.

The mother/daughter duo traveled throughout Rin collecting money as palm readers, musicians (Hyacinthe had a natural talent for the violin), fortune telling, dancing, and singing, but her greatest talent was the ability of potion making. This had become the duo’s bread and butter for years, Hyacinthe’s potions becoming quite famous and heavily sought for all along the western borders.

At the age of 18, her mother died of a fit of shivers in her old age, and Hyacinthe went through a small depression, traveling alone and taking odd jobs here and there to feed herself before heading towards the Capital for Work. She still makes potions and has had thoughts of settling down, but her daring spirit doesn’t allow her to stay in one spot for long.

Skills:
1.) Perception
2.) Willpower
3.) Skullduggery
4.) Acrobatics
5.) Stealth
6.) Ranged Weaponry
7.) Melee
8.) Riding
9.) Resources
10.) Popularity

Talents: Singing, violin, camping, healing medicines

Weaknesses: Ignorant to politics and the “proper way” of doing things. She also can’t tell when someone is lying to her, very gullible.

Theme Song

https://youtu.be/q68SkORzcLs

[Untamed Skies]

She looks great! Feel free to add her to the accepted thread.

[Dragongoddess]

So...I can't help myself and even though it's been a while since I've written anything, I was wondering if there was any room for a female royal?  I'm still adjusting with everything going on with COVID-19 but I seem to have more time on my hands and would like to pick up a game again.  I'm not worried whether or not my character wins...or even makes it all the way through the Ordeal but I am super interested.  I was considering making a royal who definitely has plentiful resources and whose family has their hands in a lot of different profit-making "businesses" (including the Gladiator Rings with rumors spread that people believe them to take part in the darker side of the rings but no proof to be found about that.)  I'm thinking she might be pretty outspoken for a female royal and while she won't be NEARLY as wicked or evil as the resident Countess, I'm thinking she might either have a bit of a dark side (or at least people either love her or hate her, there's not much in between).

[Untamed Skies]

So...I can't help myself and even though it's been a while since I've written anything, I was wondering if there was any room for a female royal?  I'm still adjusting with everything going on with COVID-19 but I seem to have more time on my hands and would like to pick up a game again.  I'm not worried whether or not my character wins...or even makes it all the way through the Ordeal but I am super interested.  I was considering making a royal who definitely has plentiful resources and whose family has their hands in a lot of different profit-making "businesses" (including the Gladiator Rings with rumors spread that people believe them to take part in the darker side of the rings but no proof to be found about that.)  I'm thinking she might be pretty outspoken for a female royal and while she won't be NEARLY as wicked or evil as the resident Countess, I'm thinking she might either have a bit of a dark side (or at least people either love her or hate her, there's not much in between).

Absolutely, in fact we haven't officially started because I was giving time for last minute additions, and for people to make their characters.

I love the concept for the character. If you need any help or have any questions don't hesitate to reach out ^^

[Dragongoddess]

Absolutely, in fact we haven't officially started because I was giving time for last minute additions, and for people to make their characters.

I love the concept for the character. If you need any help or have any questions don't hesitate to reach out ^^

Consider this me reaching out.  Are there any face claims anyone thinks would make for a good face claim for this time period/character type?  The only one that I can think of is Katie McGrath but I'm not sure she's the right face for this character.

[Untamed Skies]

Are you looking for a specific hair color, or anything?

[Dragongoddess]

Are you looking for a specific hair color, or anything?

No.  I feel like I'll know the right face when I see it but at the moment, I have no filters for her appearance, except that she should be a woman, obviously.  Hahah.

[Untamed Skies]

possible faces

Eva Green

Megan Ohry

Katrina Law

Jaimie Alexander

Keira Knightley

Annabelle Wallace

[Ontan]

They're still a work in progress, but I thought I'd post by character and NPC sheets up to let everyone know what I had in mind. I also wanted to check everything's on the right track, of course. Let me know what you all think 

Edit: And finished!

Ysberin Cadwalader, The Convert

Player Name: Ontan

Character Name: Ysberin Cadwalader

Face Claim: Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Age: 35

Sex: Male

Blood Status: Royal

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Ons & Offs: Ons: Humour, passion, contrasting personalities, ongoing relationships (friendships, rivalries, etc.). Off: Non-con. Other offs discussed as needed.

Place of Origin: Estlynd, near the Empire’s south-east borders.

Occupation: Converted zealot and reformed saboteur

Personality: Arrogant, detached, and armed with a dry sense of humour, Ysberin does little to dispel the usual stereotypes surrounding nobles, though his scars attest to some familiarity with rough work and occasional danger. He always ensures he’s impeccably dressed (even if his ‘frontier fashion’ often misses the mark by standards of the Empire’s capital), and while his whipcord frame tends to be more gangling than imposing, he still carries himself with the self-assured stride of both a noble and a zealot. Ysberin does possess a thoughtful side, as evinced by the books and exotic religious charms he carries about his person, but these aspects are often eclipsed by his aloof nature, and the proud certainty he places in his newfound faith.

For all his quirks, Ysberin does seem to possess a genuine (if occasionally controversial) interest in the welfare of the Empire, rather than just the corner he calls home. He has sworn not to commit any act of espionage against the Empire, essentially foregoing many of underhand skills he's spent years refining, and shored these promises up with an Oath of Honesty.

History:
The Cadwalader line can trace its origins back to Empress Valencia’s grandchildren, who were famed generals in their own right. Historically, they played a crucial part in reclaiming lost swathes of the Empire, and subsequent generations have tried to uphold that military tradition. Ysberin was no exception. He was born to relative privilege, afforded both a good education and, in time, a position as a junior officer. Eager to follow in his forbearers’ tradition of expanding the Empire, he joined the infamous Third Estynd Campaign, which – much like the First, Second, and Fourth – aimed to retake verdant moorlands from one of the Empire’s ancestral enemies, the Sigvat clans. Like every other campaign before and after, it proved a catastrophe. Warlike and cruel, the Sigvat warriors lured the armies of Rin deep into their territories with a few easy victories, only to tear them apart when they were stranded amid unfamiliar moors and valleys. Unfortunately, Ysberin had neglected to tear the officer insignia from his uniform before he was captured, and wasn't given the luxury of a ruthless execution.

Ysberin doesn’t speak of what happened in the forsaken pits of the Sigvat dungeons. What matters, according to him, is that he still clung to life at the time of the Tezcacali invasion. They killed his captors, and that alone would've been enough... but they also freed the prisoners, Ysberin included, and reset their broken bones, and nourished them back to health. And all the while, their priests sang, chanted, screamed…

Unsurprisingly, Ysberin was one of the many, many locals to convert to the Tezcacali’s cause, violent and ugly as the foreign faith initially seemed. The first order of business was to wipe out the rest of the Sigvat clans, a task that Ysberin eagerly accepted. He worked his way up from the bottom, beginning as a lowly sapper charged with digging the tunnels that would collapse the enemy defences, though in recognition of his prior military training he advanced quickly. By the time the last of the Sigvat strongholds had collapsed, Ysberin had proven himself to be a capable engineer and skilled saboteur, equally capable of building mighty siege engines, or slithering over the enemy walls to torch something first hand. Estlynd has since enjoyed a period of peaceful isolation – assuming, of course, that life under the fanatical Tezcacali faith can ever be said to be peaceful. Ysberin has made a new life for himself, smothering the painful memories of imprisonment with newfound zealotry, and even turned his skills towards rebuilding Estlynd into the Tezcacali’s fever-dream image of a paradise, where outlanders and converted natives work together to a greater goal. Given a chance, he would have quite happily settled into his new life, and let the last vestiges of his royal lineage disappear into obscurity… were it not for two things. The first is the reticence of King Thadius Dormer, who has been ever suspicious of the Tezcacali outlanders’ overtures of peace and vassalage. The other is the Ordeal itself.

Ysberin understands the odds arrayed against him, but he also understands what is at risk. Uncertainty sweeps the Empire, and its citizens are wary of the both the Tezcacali outlanders, and their native converts. The next ruler is as likely to wage war as make peace with something unfamiliar – and that is a risk that cannot be tolerated. Ysberin has grudgingly invoked his royal blood to assure passage to the capital, and hopefully secure the future of Estlynd... and the Empire of Rin as a whole.


Common Knowledge:

• Ysberin’s early life is a matter of public record, should anyone muster the will to sort through the appropriate archives: his distant claim to royal blood, the martial traditions of his family, and of course the disastrous campaign against the Sigvat clans on the Imperial border.
• Information about the Tezcacali outlanders is a trickier prospect, if only because it’s hard to separate fact from hysterical exaggeration. It’s known that the strange foreigners arrived from beyond the poison steppes, which were previously thought to be impassable and quite possibly endless. It’s known that they butchered the Sigvat clans through a mixture of military conquest and incited peasant uprisings. It can be easily deduced that they were responsible for Ysberin’s escape from captivity, and that he joined the throngs of converted zealots as a result. Beyond that, the details are muddy. Many aspects of Tezcacali culture are unknown to Rin, and those few known aspects are usually alarming: ritual sacrifice, obsessive proselytization, and an unsettling hint of a shadow-Empire far across the steppes.
• Ysberin’s motives also remain something of a mystery, and – not unreasonably – there is some concern that the Tezcacali are hoping to install him as a puppet king. For his part, Ysberin has tried to win some trust by publically undertaking an Oath of Honesty, which prevents him from telling any direct lies.

Skills:
1.) Ranged - When armed with a bow or crossbow, he's arguably one of the greatest marksmen to ever live. If enemies close in, he relies on his whip or throwing weapons to strike from a safe distance.
2.) Acrobatics - City walls and raging rivers scarcely even impede his path. In combat, he’s as lithe as a dancer on the stage.
3.) Stealth - Lookouts and roaming patrols pose no obstacle to this practiced saboteur.
4.) Resources - Ysberin has arrived with a sizable contingent of troops and precious artefacts, but they’ll have to last him the entire Ordeal, as there’ll be no resupply from his distant homeland.
5.) Perception - Sharp eyesight and quick wits make him a dangerous mark, though a professional foe could exploit his occasional lapses of attention.
6.) Popularity - Most people openly revile the Tezcacali cause, though this hostility is partially offset by a small minority of hardcore fanatics throughout Rin.
7.) Riding - Given a properly trained horse, he can pass for a competent (if otherwise unremarkable) scout.   
8.) Willpower - There’s a brittle quality to Ysberin’s zealotry, and his decisions are often ruled by compromise or superstition.
9.) Melee - When forced into the crush of melee, Ysberin is no better than any rank-and-file militiaman.
10.) Skulduggery - Ysberin has foresworn acts of criminal espionage for the duration of the Ordeal, and has even undertaken an Oath of Truth. 


Talents:

• Military engineering: Ysberin is versed in siege-craft and engineering. Given a few basic resources and a competent crew, he can build anything from siege engines and war barges, to grand bridges and complex windmills.
• Chemistry: the smallfolk’s counterpart to alchemy, chemistry is more focussed on industrial processes such as metallurgy and fermentation. Ysberin can also use these arts to produce non-magical ammunition and battlefield medicine (i.e. for first aid only). Technically, he can also make some potent poisons, but he will refuse to facilitate any nefarious acts during the Ordeal.
• Runebreaker: Ysberin can produce basic anti-magic runes, and can safely ‘disassemble’ magical runes. Either process takes considerable time and concentration.
• Armchair strategist: Ysberin is skilled at various chess-like games, both those endemic to Rin and those introduced by Tezcacali outlanders.

Weaknesses:

• Oath of Truth: Ysberin has undertaken an Oath of Truth, which prevents him from telling any direct lies. This Oath will last until the Ordeal’s victor is named. It won’t punish him for accidental inaccuracies, deliberate silences, or obvious hyperboles (“It’s hot as an oven in here!”), but he cannot rely on cryptic riddles or convoluted double-meanings to skirt the Oath’s restrictions, lest he incurs the Goddess’s wrath.
• Symbolophobia: Ysberin has an irrational fear of runic magic. He’ll only use anti-magic runes, which dampen or drain the effects of other runes.

Additonal Info: Arriving by ship, Ysberin has brought a contingent of almost 400 soldiers with him. Their ranks are comprised of both Tezcacali outlanders, and converted Estlynd natives. The contingent is largely self-contained, with all the skilled labour (including cooks, healers, and entertainers) and preserved supplies needed to last the full duration of the Ordeal, plus the lengthy journey back to Estlynd. An area of riverbank just within the city limits has been temporarily turned over for their exclusive use. In return, envoys have consented to routine inspections from the city watch, and also made assurances that soldiers will only enter the city proper in groups of ten or less.

Notwithstanding the fact he can't use the damned thing, Ysberin can often been seen carrying his family's heirloom sword.

NPCs: The Friend, The Ghost, and The Priestess

NPC Creator Ontan

NPC Availability: Exclusive. Exceptions on request!

Character Name: Loper

Face Claim: Tricolour Border Collie

Age: 6

Sex: Male

Blood Status: Common, but pedigree.

Purpose: Bodyguard, assistant, and best friend

Personality: A paragon of his breed, Loper is eerily intelligent and inexhaustibly energetic, even by the high standards of other sagehounds. Measuring 80cm (31 inches) at the shoulder, he cuts an imposing figure with his athletic frame and powerful jaws, though the effects are softened by a thick coat and natural charm. Loyal and clever, he thrives in his master’s company, but is prone to mischief when he doesn’t have adequate outlets for his energy. 

Common Knowledge: Originally bred as herding dogs, sagehounds have always been prized for their energy, intelligence, and athleticism. Their name is derived from an inauspicious chapter of Estlynd’s history, when tyrants repurposed the breed for hunting out sages and supposed witches, mainly via the dogs’ ability to scent hidden stashes of alchemical reagents. These days, however, they’re more likely to be employed for herding, accompanying militia patrols, and (ironically) assisting alchemists seek out rare reagents in the wilderness.

What of Loper himself? The animal is credited an astonishing seven kills in battle, including a Sigvat lieutenant who was dragged from his saddle by the hound’s ferocious lunge. Loper’s service has been acknowledged with a blessing from a high-ranking Tezcacali priest, but the hound doesn’t live for the glory; he is just as happy passing tools in his master’s workshop, learning a new trick, or even herding animals on the open grasslands, just as his ancestors did. Loper has sired three litters, but family commitments have since been put on hold while he accompanies his master to the Ordeals.


Talents: Sharp senses, phenomenal scent tracking, agility, endurance, close combat, digging, charming strangers.

Additonal Info: Sagehounds are the Empire’s third largest dog breed, and are native to Estlynd.


 

NPC Creator Ontan

NPC Availability: Available on request.

Character Name: Hollow Man

Face Claim: N/a

Age: 55

Sex: Male

Blood Status: Common

Purpose: Astronomer and unreliable servant

Personality: Disconsolate in extremes, this Hollow Man believes himself to be already dead, or at least condemned in spirit. He wanders listlessly, a soulless echo of the living man he once was, numbly performing whatever task he is asked to do: relay a message, fetch a sundry, nibble at some bread to sustain his own wasting form.  He performs all such tasks unreliably, as likely to stop halfway as see it through to completion. There is only one thing he does of his own accord, and that is to take a reading of the stars. In those quiet moments, his mood buoys to something akin to nostalgia, before invariably slipping back to its moribund state of desolation.

Common Knowledge: Even if they knew nothing else of Tezcacali culture, any citizen of Rin could look at the hollow man and immediately know two things: the Tezcacali have Oath Rituals of their own, and the man before them has broken one of those oaths. Granted, the curse manifests slightly differently: rather than being plagued with misfortune, the offender becomes a sort of poltergeist trapped between two worlds; the spirit is lost, and only the body remains. These are only trivial details, though, as there is something universally recognisable about a doomed soul.

Even a cursory investigation would reveal a few details of the man’s past: he was once a soldier, and he was the one who freed Ysberin from the fetid hell of a Sigvat dungeon. Beyond that, the precise nature of his sin is difficult to unearth, as the Tezcacali are reluctant to acknowledge the past of any oath-breaker, preferring to treat all “hollow men” as one and the same.

Talents: Astronomy, mathematics, feels no pain. Also brings the mood down at social gatherings.

Additonal Info: As a foreigner, he does not qualify to participate in the Ordeals.


 

NPC Creator Ontan

NPC Availability: Available on request.

Character Name: Itotia

Face Claim: ((Unknown))

Age: 30

Sex: Female

Blood Status: Common

Purpose: Priestess & military officer

Personality: Brisk and businesslike, Itotia carries herself with a sense of efficiency and authority. She clearly resents having to travel out to the capital, but when visitors approach the riverside encampment, she at least tries to treat them with the professional courtesy they deserve. In matters of religion, she makes for a point of contrast to the other Tezcacali outlanders: in place of frightening zealotry, there is merely a calm, matter-of-fact certainty about the truth of their faith.

Common Knowledge: It’s immediately apparent that Itotia holds a position of authority among the Tezcacali troops; she’s the first to be fetched when visitors demand to see someone in charge, and even the ship’s captain asks for her counsel before issuing important orders.

Talents: Navigation, astronomy, theology (Rin and Tezcacali), anatomy, research, combat using harpoons.

Additonal Info: As a foreigner, Itotia does not qualify to participate in the Ordeals.

[RPGer]

Curious:  Would it be possible for me to cram a second character in?

[Untamed Skies]

Curious:  Would it be possible for me to cram a second character in?

Absolutely

[Ontan]

... And I've finally finished off the last few details of my character sheet! Apologies for the delay, it always takes me ages to settle on a faceclaim.