[Horizon Pact] Werewolves, Vampires, and Witches, Oh My! LF Wolves & Vamps

[InnocentSynn]

I'm digging this.  Definitely interested and the creative juices are flowing.

[Dhampyress]

Lowkey interested in playing a vampire. Love this worldbuilding.

[Aethyrium]

Aww, thank everyone for the lore love. I am quite happy with it. Excited to do something with it, with everyone! :)

PMs will be returned as they come in. Might take me a little bit to get back to everyone, but should always be within a day. I try to be quick. Can also field quick or generic questions here.

[Xurtan]

Insofar as artifacts, what qualifies as a 'sacrifice from the witch'? Is that primarily just a reference to the amount of power needed? Sort of idly musing on ideas, the fact that I'm reading Wraith and side-eyeing Soulforging isn't helping. 

[Aethyrium]

The intent with the sacrifice would be something like a permanent willpower loss. A forever spell. However, artifact creation is certainly open to creative solutions. Artifacts are specific, but powerful; they're rarely created just on a whim and usually with some task in mind. Anchoring magic, and more importantly giving it the fuel to repeat itself, is costly. Another option might be the sacrifice of another artifact. The right deals made, and a creature from the Edgerealms might gift you the needed power to do it (and, probably, this is where many artifacts come from. Thus the concept of a deal with the devil). In short, it's extreme magic, it has some sort of cost, but that cost can be handled in unique ways.

[Aethyrium]

Two quick notes for those creating characters:

If playing a Vampire, please consider that most vampires of Savannah should be below 200 (vampire) years in age. If you were embraced at 23 the "ideal" maximum age would be 222 (199 vampire years). I will likely only be accepting 1 or 2 vampires older than 200 (vampire) years. This is mostly just to keep everything in line, more or less, with one another. But also because Savannah has only been around for about 300 years in total, and the first generation were the first ones here. (Interesting bit of story lore for you though, that definitely means you are probably 2nd to 4th generation at most, unless you came from somewhere else. And it's very possible for you to have been sired by one of the first generation. If only power was based on distance from the first generation and not total age... or is it.)

For witches, I have updated the witch history bit of the sheet (section 2a), if you have already messed with your sheet, please grab the new section and revise. I forgot to include a section for born powers and for sources. Oopsie. Also that they should, in general, be 1st or 2nd generation. Turns out, with all the trouble and drama of the real world (before you even factor in the supernatural one), it can be quite difficult to keep your line going, alive, and interested in following the family tradition.

[Xunthrae]

For witches, how does spending willpower in general work? I know there are a few powers that use it, but what else is it for?

[Love And Submission]

Thinking of either a human or a witch. 

[Aethyrium]

For witches, how does spending willpower in general work? I know there are a few powers that use it, but what else is it for?

In general assume that spending a willpower will be required whenever you cast a spell. They require, even simple spells, some amount of concentrated force from the witch. There's nuance to this, but a lot of that is to be determined based on what you're trying to do. Very generically, all magic will require at least one willpower behind it.

[Xunthrae]

In general assume that spending a willpower will be required whenever you cast a spell. They require, even simple spells, some amount of concentrated force from the witch. There's nuance to this, but a lot of that is to be determined based on what you're trying to do. Very generically, all magic will require at least one willpower behind it.

Makes sense to me. I have one last question. What is the method of recovering willpower?

[Aethyrium]

Finally got our first approved character. That sheet should be getting posted into the repository and world building thread any time now.

Makes sense to me. I have one last question. What is the method of recovering willpower?

Rest. Sleeping lets you recover your willpower.

[Aethyrium]

We've got three approved characters thus far, that are either in, or will be soon, the repository. 2 wolves, 1 witch. I know we've got at least 2 vamps coming. Anyone else lurking in here, or who hasn't talked about their plans yet?

If you're looking around the game, we'd love to have more. Still lots of "key pieces" available - as of right now, it appears only the Silver Talon Assembly rep has been spoken for.

[Amarlo]

I'm here still. Just busy, and plotting and brainstorming. I hope to have a character tossed in within the next few days.

[Psyk]

Hello! This game sounds right up my alley 

[Xurtan]

*glances at the avatar* Is that a Miqo'te? Well I see you clearly have good taste.

[LamentingQuill]

Here is what I have done so far, looking for some connections for one Valentine Lafontaine. Perhaps even some guidance on the points system.

WIP

Name: Valentine Lafontaine
Alias | Nicknames: His fans call him ‘The Dark Prince’
Nature: Charismatic (please tell me if I misunderstood this)
Demeanor: Valentine has a very elegant and charismatic outward demeanor, he enjoys projecting a beautiful and profoundly intelligent tortured soul to the mortals who adore him… other vampires of course know this is a ruse, but even around them, Valentine never drops his charismatic and seductive nature.

He likes the attention honestly, Valentine has ALWAYS been made very well aware of how beautiful he is and even after two hundred plus years, he has never grown tired of hearing it.

On occasion, Valentine will pout when his beauty goes unnoticed or undersold.

Valentine really is as intelligent in truth as he makes himself seem, he is clever and crafty, always looking for the resourceful and unexpected route in various things that others would likely not have contemplated.

However, he is not tortured at all, he enjoys his undead life thoroughly. He finds it absolutely hilarious that mortals are so willing and eager to accept his ruse and never suspect a damn thing. Mortal females especially, like moths drawn to a beautiful dancing flame.

He has a habit of switching to French when he gets angry or frustrated, though it’s not the easiest task to push him that far.

He can sometimes have a sarcastic tongue in humor or when offended.

Age: Appears 20/21, but is actually 215 years old.
Height: 5’6
Weight: 140 lbs
Ethnicity: French
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Face Claim: Yohio

Faction: House of Varius


General History

Valentine was born to a wealthy and widely popular French merchant, Rene Lafontaine, individuals with more than few coins to rub together all over the world sought him for trade from France, the man had a reputation for being reliable, trustworthy and providing only the very finest of requested items.

He had high hopes that Valentine would one day take over for him and had been teaching his son his trade since the boy could speak… however, the beautiful youth had no interest in business and trade… for all long as he could remember, Valentine had always wanted to be a performer, he wanted to sing and be celebrated for it.

He was certainly talented too, he liked to sneak to the more upscale taverns to sing and play his guitar for the ladies present… which was more than well received, some even tried paying him to sleep with them. He always refused that, he wanted to be a performer, not a male prostitute.

Valentine knew though that he dreams were far beyond his reach… his father would never finance him, he would never support anything so ‘uncertain’ or ‘dangerous’ or ‘infamous’ as this… he regarded many stage performers as having poor reputations in social circles, the subjects of a unflattering gossip.

Eventually he knew… his father would force him to take his place of his trade empire…

One Summer, the Summer that would change Valentines life forever… his father brought him to America for business, hoping to introduce him to some repetitive business clients…

Valentine eventually slipped away and found his way into an upscale tavern, his one release that kept his mind from snapping beneath the crushing pressure of his father’s expectations… he sang and played guitar, all the while accepting drinks from new admirers… this inevitably led to a very plastered Valentine sitting at the bar into the late evening, spilling all his woes and miseries to the bar tender… he told the man everything, every last depressing detail…

Little did the beautiful blonde Frenchman know… he was being watched…

One vampire by the name of Varius had taken notice of the golden Frenchman whom so easily charmed all the people around him… and all the young man’s depressed laments about his future…

After most of the guests had gone on to bed or gone home, Valentine sat by himself near the hearth… he himself didn’t wish to go back yet to the hotel his father had rented for them…

It was then that Varius approached him, taking the other seat to begin engaging him in conversation… it was something that Valentine really appreciated, because the man was actually listening to him and sympathizing. It felt wonderful to have someone actually hear him.

Over the summer that Valentine spent in Savannah, Georgia, he frequently spent time with Varius at the same tavern, always at the same time after sunset, they met and enjoyed drinks every Friday… granted that Valentine didn’t get shit faced drunk again, his depression had lessened a bit with having a new friend that actually understood him.

By the time that Summer was about to give way into Autumn, Varius dropped a bombshell on Valentine… he offered to walk Valentine back to his hotel because he wanted to tell him something private…

He told the young Frenchman that he was a vampire...

Of course, Valentine was skeptical about his friend’s claims and requested proof...

Well… climbing up the side of a building in the alley with absolutely no footholds of any kind, all the way up to the roof and jumping back down with all the grace of a feline… that convinced Valentine plenty…

He was a little bit scared, yes… who wouldn’t be? However… this man was his friend, he didn’t believe Varius would do him harm…

Varius offered Valentine a way out from the dismal road his father had planned for him… he could become one of his children and live an exciting life as a vampire…

The two of them spent the next week talking about it, smoothing over Valentine’s fears and Varius answering all questions Valentine had about it… after that, Valentine happily agreed to accept that vampiric embrace from his trusted friend.

He had been steadfastly loyal to Varius ever since. He’s never looked back or been tempted to.

As years became decades that bled into the present day, Valentine began himself a career as an alternative rock idol first in the early to mid 90s, then pretending to retire to France after awhile in the mid 90s to supposedly settle down and get married as far as the mortals were concerned, he eventually came back into the limelight again posing as his own son in 2020 and has been a popular sensation ever since.

What is your relationship to your faction? Very secure, Valentine is fiercely loyal to his friend and would never betray his new family. He would be incredibly dangerous to anyone disloyal or potential defectors.


What is your character's interest in Savannah?
Valentine does travel for his career, but his home and heart are in Savannah with his vampire family, the place where his rebirth father is and where his life changed to make all of his dreams possible.

What is your relationship to your faction?

Definitely, when he’s not on the stage performing, Valentine functions at the eyes and ears of the House of Varius… people and vampires alike, are uncommonly willing to open their jaws around him, something about his beauty and charisma seems to soothe individuals into letting their guards down a bit.

What are your personal, social, and power goals?

Goals that Valentine has for the moment is simply to sing and be adored, plus whenever possible, be of use to his friend and father, Varius.


Does your character have a special skill or service? Are they known for something specific?

Valentine is adept in the arts of subtle espionage, he is smooth, seductive and charismatic, clever and silver tongued, stealthy and quick when he needs to be. His fame does occasionally give him an extra edge with a sprinkle of starstruck from vampires he’s told to investigate.


Vampire History
Where and when were you embraced? Who is your sire? Where is your sire now? What is your relationship to them?
Valentine was embraced in Savannah 194 years ago, his sire is presently in control of their house, Valentine is close friends with Varius and views him as a better father than his biological father had been.

What have you been doing since your embrace? What plots have you been a part of, what do you spend you countless hours doing, what are some things you have accomplished or helped succeed?

When he isn't doing things requested of him by Varius, Valentine is often writing new songs or playing his guitar, perhaps even keeping up to date of the newest literature.


What is your stance on witches?
He does not trust them, but could be open minded if impressed by ones attitude about the power they wield and the level of responsibility they carry with them at all times. That’s quite a bit of power to be wielding and one cannot be sure what any particular witch might do with it, he sees a large portion of witches as loose canons or potential nukes capable of either deliberate or accidental mass destruction. However Valentine does believe people can prove you wrong every day… therefore, he will be open to being surprised, but he will all the same, be highly cautious and on guard 24/7 when in close proximity to a witch.

What is your stance on werewolves?
Sit boy, sit. Bad boy, we do that outside! Dogs, unsophisticated mongrels unfit for finer social circles and/or society.

Years Embraced: Valentine has been a vampire for 194 years.
Sire: Varius

[Quillyan]

Super interested - love this lore, and Savannah happens to be one of my favorite little cities.

Thinking a vampire from Aurelia’s House, approximately 100ish years old, perhaps sired by Aurelia herself.

New to site and structured games, but not writing or role-play, so I may have a ton of questions. :)

[Codexa]

Still very interested!

Working on a character/concept, I hope to have it finished over the weekend.

[Xurtan]

Savannah happens to be one of my favorite little cities.

I kind of love Savannah. I watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil last night, which really just rejuvenated my general interest in that area of the country. Lived in Georgia for a few years, and it has such a specific feel to everything I haven't felt elsewhere.

[Crash]

I kind of love Savannah. I watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil last night, which really just rejuvenated my general interest in that area of the country. Lived in Georgia for a few years, and it has such a specific feel everything I haven't felt elsewhere.

That was a fun movie.

[Xurtan]

It was, yeah. One of those quintessential 90s films that are just fun in that style. As much as I appreciate the greater focus on art and cinematography of more modern movies, I do occasionally miss that feeling. 

[Quillyan]

I kind of love Savannah. I watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil last night, which really just rejuvenated my general interest in that area of the country. Lived in Georgia for a few years, and it has such a specific feel to everything I haven't felt elsewhere.

Yes!! I live a few hours away and we used to go on weekend trips there all the time. In fact, we had a trip planned earlier this year, but like everything else, it was cancelled.

So many good times, and such a hauntingly beautiful city.

[Aethyrium]

General Update for the Public
Here's where we stand with submissions so far.

Witches: 3
Werewolves: 1
Vampires: 2

Though I have not seen all character sheets yet, and haven't discussed with everyone who has expressed interest, my understanding is that in addition to the above already submissions there are 7 vampires, 2 werewolves, and 0 witches currently being plotted. Again, that I know about. Nothing is to say that we need an equal mix of all these things, so this isn't a problem. However if you're looking at the game and haven't made up your mind, or are looking at a second character, this might be useful information.

As for key positions:

Silver Talon Assembly Rep has been taken.

All others are still currently on the table, but there are candidates for House Varius Leader (I think), and House Aurelia Leader. In an ideal world, I'd like to see one or two more Assembly candidates out there, but we can definitely work without it if needed.

[Wyatt]

Very interesting and detailed concept and Savannah is an incredible setting.  Hmm, so many tempting possibilities.

[Amarlo]

I will be making a wolf. :)