Tales of Xernia [Pokemon Gijinka Game] [Recruitment Thread]

[PentheWonderful]

Tales of Xernia

Premise:

This roleplay is going to be an alternate universe Pokemon RP set in a medieval kingdom with royalty, knights, dukes/duchesses, commoners, and a vast, beautiful meadow landscape to explore. It is a sandbox RP with an optional running plot, meaning that players are free to come up with their own stories, with some special events for some plot progression that players can participate in every now and again.

Here, you will be roleplaying as gijinkas, or humanized versions of Pokemon (think hot anime girl/boy versions of Pokemon) which allows characters to have a limited set of special abilities based on what species they are. Your character's training status (ex. average civilian, a knight, nobility, or part of the royal family) will dictate how many special abilities you can wield. However, they are not to be confused with Furries, or anthropomorphic characters (ex. Zootopia, Beastars). Gijinkas are the humanization of animal characters (often with an anime aesthetic), meaning, they are still human, but can sometimes have animal-like traits like fangs, claws, or wings. The extent of these features is up to the players, but they must have at least one prominent feature.

As most characters are predominantly human, we will not be following Egg Groups. Additionally, this game is open to LGBTQ+ characters and the setting does not stigmatise non-hetero relationships. Normal animals (ex. dogs, cats, fish, birds) still exist, but normal humans do not. Our Gijinkas will be taking the place of humans in this universe.


Setting:

The Kingdom of Xernia is a beautiful utopia where pokemon of all types live in harmony. Well, as harmonious as a kingdom can be. Unfortunately, there is a strong prejudice against 'delinquent' types such as Darks, Ghosts, and Poisons, “affectionately” termed Mistypes by the other residents of the kingdom. Tension between the Mistypes and the palace has been slowly building over the years due to the assassination of Xernia’s former king ten years ago, leaving the kingdom in the hands of the queen until the crown prince can ascend the throne.

But aside from the political unrest, Xernia is a prosperous kingdom blessed with fertile soil and an abundance of clean water. For this, the inhabitants of the land praise the god Xerneas, who brought their once barren and unforgiving land to life.

On the outskirts surrounding the south and east of the capital city are where the farms lay, with acres of fertile meadow irrigated by natural rivers and abundant with flowers through spring and summer to plant or raise livestock on, and lakes in the southeast. The kingdom was built on high elevation, surrounded by a scenic mountain range covered in forests as far as the eye can see, with a narrow trail that leads out of kingdom borders.

The game is set primarily in the capital, which has 3 primary layers.

The first and outermost layer is known as Delinquent Town. This seedy area in the west, just outside the capital walls, is where 99% of the capital’s Darks, Ghosts, and Poisons reside alongside the poorer elements and working class. The palace has almost completely forsaken this particular area: sending fewer guards for patrols and letting the infrastructure fall into disrepair. As a result, it has become an infamous red-light district known for illicit activities such as gambling, adultery, illegal battling rings, and a black market. They say missing or stolen goods all end up in Delinquent Town one way or another. Gang wars are especially prominent in these areas, so visiting tourists will need to keep their guard up. 

The second layer is Midtown this is where most of the capital’s middle-class citizens reside. The streets are paved with artisan stones with beautiful fountains in nearly every roundabout. There are shops and eateries at every corner and a vast network of narrow alleyways to take you to gorgeous secluded or forgotten locations unknown to the rest of the world. Midtown is known as the capital’s commercial district, and thus, it boasts a bustling marketplace where you can find most any good your heart desires and a massive town square where festivals are held.

The third layer and the layer closest to the palace is known as Castle Town. This is where the wealthiest citizens of the kingdom congregate. Nobility, scholars, and other people of importance all reside here. As such, it is the best-kept neighbourhood in the city, in part thanks to the financial contributions of its wealthy denizens. Performance theatres, battle stadiums, and museums for art and natural history can be found here. As is the national library and the most prestigious schools in the kingdom. Additionally, Castle Town also boasts a robust health district, with many doctors and surgeons setting up Pokemon Centers in this area.

The final and innermost layer of the capital is The Palace. It is the pinnacle of the kingdom's beauty, located in the center of the capital and separated from the town by a strip of forest, and a winding trail to its gates. With ivory towers and marble pillars, it stands tall and elegant for all to behold. Within its sturdy walls are a vast land containing a small town of itself; nucleated layers of housing for royal guards, and knights of the court, with the guards in the first layer, up the steps to the knights in the second, and finally, the palace in the third, and highest ground. With lush, rolling gardens, it holds a luxurious view of the entire kingdom from its elevation. Servants (including maids, butlers, chefs, and groundskeepers) reside in the mess hall within the palace itself.

Within the count of weeks, a big festival and ball are being prepared in honour of the eldest prince's coming of age ceremony, and coronation. Farmers will be busy delivering farm produce, villagers decorating and setting up the town square, and servants, setting up palace. However, criminal activity has spiked significantly, with some individuals being determined to sabotage preparations for the ceremony, festival, and ball. Delinquent Town is under strict supervision by knights as a result. As are most Poisons, Ghosts, and Darks. Well, more than usual, anyway.

Political Structure:

The nobility of the country is split largely into four different tiers; Xernia is a smaller country than many of its neighbours, so the number of nobles is comparatively small. There are only six major cities within Xernia, including the capital city; the capital city is ruled directly by the Royal Family, but the other five - settled roughly equidistant from the capital - are overseen by their own ruling Noble class. The Nobility is divided as follows:

• The Royal Family is at the top. They rule over the capital city and the surrounding area directly.
• The Dukes. There are five dukes, each ruling a "Dukedom" that consists of one of the other five major cities and the surrounding land, towns and villages.
• Each Dukedom is split into four "Marqettes," which are each ruled by a Marquess. The Marquess rules from a "Regional Capital" Town, and oversees the nearby villages, the number depending on the area. There are currently 20 Marquesses.
• Each Marqette is split into four Baronies, each ruled by a Baron, who are in charge of looking after a quarter of the Marqette's towns directly. There are currently 80 Barons.

The military is similarly heavily structured and organised. Unlike some other countries, the military within Xernia is not controlled by individual Nobles; each noble will have a household guard and likely a number of Crown-authorised Knights, but their numbers rarely exceed a couple of hundred at most. The structure of the dedicated armed forces is as follows:

• Local Militia: Villages, towns, neighbourhoods and the like often have their own local militia of volunteer civilians who have been given basic training by an assigned Captain. These are not professional soldiers, and are instead a collection of “concerned citizens” who organise when there is trouble. They are often overseen by a local Captain, who is usually a low ranking officer in the professional army that has been assigned to organise and train them. The Militia tends to be overseen by a local noble - often a Baron - with limited powers.
• The Xernian Guard: The professional soldiers, these warriors are trained and paid to act as Xernia’s standing army. There are three generals that command the army; The Commander Of The Earth, The Commander Of The Depths and The Commander Of The Heavens. These three internally-promoted Generals are in charge of the land, sea and sky forces respectively. Each of these report directly to the Supreme Commander, a position currently held by the late King's brother.
• The Royal Knights: The largest concentration of Knights in the Kingdom, they are generally considered to be the elites and are often recruited from the Xernian Guard upon display of excellence and / or valor. They exist outside the normal military structure, taking no orders from anybody within the Guard. They have been known to outright ignore the demands of Nobles in the past, too! They are commanded by the Lord Commander, who answers directly to the current King and / or Queen. They have unofficial authority over the military, in that they are given deference, respect and general subservience due to their position, but they don't technically have jurisdictional powers unless they hold a royal edict for a specific situation or if the situation directly involves the safety of the Royal Family and the palace. The Royal Knights have a dedicated land, sea and sky division as well with their own lieutenants who report directly to the Lord Commander. Celibacy is not required to be a Royal Knight, but you must swear allegiance to the crown above all else, forfeit any Noble inheritance or privileges from your title for the duration of your service, and foreswear any official political offices until you retire.

Religion:

Across the world, countries tend to venerate the Poke-God that originated their individual nation above the others, but that doesn't mean that they deny the others' very existence or power. For example, Xernia was founded by Xerneas, so the populace tends to - as a majority - venerate Xerneas as their most important deity, but they still recognise Celebi and Arceus and even Yveltal as existing and being powerful in their own right. In terms of Xernia, the worship is kinda loose and informal, centering around the individual and small groups rather than having a strict clergy that directs all worship. The worshippers tend to follow the same basic premise - respect for nature, life over death, etc etc - but it's not an organised Thing. Which Gods people tend to prefer is up to individual preference, though the most popular ones behind Xerneas tend to be Arceus and Zygarde, and strictly speaking less powerful but more nature-aligned deities like Celebi (not necessarily in that order).

There are no specific "Mistype Gods," because Mistypes are only - for lack of a better term - a racial group rather than a unified community, so opinions within that group tend to be very diverse. There might be the occasional person who quietly reveres Yveltal or Giratina, but they understandably keep that pretty quiet if they do! Because Xerneas is a nature deity, some of those that follow his principles and ideals would argue that to confine him to a set of rigid doctrines and a strict hierarchy would be antithetical to the inherent uncontrollability of nature itself. Therefore, it is not an official state religion in that those who don't worship are punished, though the Royal Family do tend to be - or at least portray themselves as - deeply spiritual and devoted to Xerneas.

Character Sheet

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[center][b][size=24pt][glow=red,2,300]PLAYER NAME[/glow][/size][/b][/center]
[float=right][img height=350 padding=3]https://monstar-lab.com/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2019/04/male-placeholder-image.jpeg[/img][/float]

[b]Name:[/b] Character Name
[b]Age:[/b] Character Age
[b]Species [Type]:[/b] Pokemon Species [Pokemon Type]
[b]Gender:[/b] Gender Identity
[b]Orientation:[/b] Sexual Orientation

[b]Residence:[/b]
[b]Occupation:[/b]

[b]Appearance:[/b] Brief description of the appearance, any distinguishing features, etc.

[b]Personality:[/b] 1 - 2 paragraphs detailing the character's personality, likes, dislikes, motivations, etc.

[b]Inherent Abilities:[/b] Traits & Abilities based on your species. EG, Pidgeots can fly, Houndooms can produce and control fire, etc.

[b]Special Abilities:[/b] Special Abilities based on Lore, Dex Entries and in-game special abilities (Lucarios could sense aura, Corviknights could have Unnerve, etc).
Average Individual: 2 Special Abilities
Trained Individual: 3 Special Abilities
Royal or Noble Family: 4 Special Abilities

[b]Egg Move:[/b] Select one egg move that can be learned via breeding that your character knows [Optional]

[b]Strengths:[/b] Non-Supernatural or species-based skills, talents and personality strengths.

[b]Weaknesses:[/b] Non-Supernatural or species-based weaknesses and flaws.

[b]Likes [Non-Sexual:[/b]
[b]Dislikes [Non-Sexual]:[/b]

[b]Ons:[/b]
[b]Offs:[/b]


[b]Backstory:[/b]

2+ Paragraphs detailing the character's history.

Reserved Pokemon List!

Absol [Pink Professional]
Ampharos [Sukada]
Arcanine [Gardsorm]
Corviknight [GM]
Cubone [Heartsink]
Decidueye [GM]
Dragalge [Gardsorm]
Dusk Lycanroc [Kathadon]
Espeon [Amarlo]
Flareon [GM]
Galarian Rapidash [GM]
Galvantula [Marie Reynolds]
Gardevoir & Gallade [Crensler & Chaosfox]
Gengar [RobynTheWitch]
Houndoom [QueenHaze]
Jolteon [GM]
Leafeon [GM]
Liepard [GM]
Lopunny [GM]
Metagross [Sukada]
Midnight Lycanroc [GM]
Mightyena [InnocentSyn]
Minior [Cuttlephobia]
Pa'u Oricorio [GM]
Pyroar [GM]
Salazzle [ChaosFox]
Scolipede [Stargazer]
Staraptor [Pink Professional]
Thievul [GM]
Zoroark [indarkestknight]

Other Links:

Discord

Navigation Thread

[PentheWonderful]

Key Characters (Sheet Samples)

Dantarius Ryzerion

VERGIL TANNER

Name: Dantarius Ryzerion
Age: 28
Species [Type]: Corviknight [Flying / Steel]
Gender: Male
Orientation: Bisexual

Residence: Owns a small plot of land outside the city, but resides mostly in Castletown.
Occupation: Lord Commander of The Royal Knights

Appearance:

Dantarius stands at around 6'6" tall and weighs roughly 280lbs out of armour; whilst that might sound really rather heavy, he is in no way chubby or obese. A lifetime of training and discipline has honed his body into a chiselled Adonis-like shape, with firm, powerful muscles rippling every time he moves. But Dantarius is not a lean, wilting twig. Far from it, in fact; the Lord Commander of the most elite Knights in the Kingdom cannot be anything approaching weak! He requires speed, balance, poise and power in equal measure, which is why he deliberately avoided the trap that many warriors fall into; specialising in one form of combat and giving up other advantages. All speed and no power, or all power and no finesse, etc etc. As such, he has perfected an intensified form of training to broaden his shoulders, strengthen his back, hone his speed, agility and endurance and also give him some degree of force behind his swings. He has given up specialisation, perhaps, but in so doing has made himself perhaps the most versatile fighter in the Kingdom. His body is muscular and toned, and every ounce of muscle on him is there for a purpose.

Past his body, however, his facial features are very striking. Whilst possessed of the paler complexion of his northern heritage, Dantarius has tanned a little in his time further south. His dark black hair is usually kept short and neatly ordered, and he tends to keep himself clean-shaven, though the occasional shadow does creep in later in the day. His jaw is strong, powerful and angular, with relatively prominent cheekbones and a surprisingly changeable face; when he wishes it, his face can be extremely expressive with very animated eyebrows and ready to move lips and eyes...but when he requires it, his face can become an unreadable stone wall that many people fail to register emotions on. His piercing ice blue eyes are one of the most noticeable parts of his face and never seem to stay still, flickering this way and that as if constantly analysing everything with his keen, cutting mind. His bearing is usually very formal and stiff, preferring to stand on ceremony and refusing to ever really relax. He seems to take most things very seriously, and has an almost severe figure at times...not that it has stopped many young women from swooning over his upper class, cultured and clearly Noble accent.

He tends to prefer – in his day to day life – formal-wear mixed with a lightly armoured aesthetic. Most of the time he will be clad in his heavier armour and imposing beaked helmet, but on occasions when he must mingle in upper crust parties, he tends towards more ceremonial generals garb that still maintains some degree of protection should he be required to fight. When not in armour, he enjoys adorning his left ear with a simple black gemstone stud earring - a new fashion he discovered in Delinquent Town that he took a liking to - and a signet ring of his family's crest on his left index finger. Beneath his armour, he has an angry, nasty scar on his left shoulder, running the length of his clavicle and marring his otherwise flawless skin. Like other Corviknights, he has a pair of gigantic black feathery wings that are light as a feather but hard as steel when locked together, the full wingspan being around 20 feet wide. When furled up on his back, they cling to his shoulders and droop down to the floor almost like a cloak. When in his armour, he is clad head to toe in shining black steel, his face obscured by a full-face mask with a stylised beak on the front. He carries his signature weapon, a long black-steel spear, at all times, even when unarmoured.


Personality:

Dantarius is, above all, supremely pragmatic; logic is really the only consistent, reliable way to approach any problem you might encounter in your life, and in order to properly weigh logic and reason, you must have; 1) strict standards by which to judge; 2) as much data as possible, and; 3) as little emotional interference as possible. To that end, he is controlled, rational and methodical to a fault and very rarely allows emotion to cloud his judgement. His emotions have caused a great deal of issues in the past, leading to some of his greatest failures so he keeps them firmly under control, only allowing himself to feel what is constructive and reasonable at the time and no more. Emotions cannot be allowed to rule your decisions, or you will be doomed to forever repeat the same mistakes and be vulnerable to the same manipulations that hurt you in the past. However, this strict approach to self discipline has the side effect of creating an individual that many would consider aloof, calculating, cold and standoffish. Indeed, he often comes off as robotic to some people, and thanks to his insistence on controlling his emotions, he does sometimes have difficulty empathising with people.

It isn't that he's a sociopath; he simply operates on a different wavelength to most people, and his lack of understanding his own emotions leads to a failure to understand others, too. He can understand on a logical level how people might feel, but he often fails at predicting how they might respond to certain stimuli, especially if he accidentally offends or upsets somebody. Despite this, he does have a great deal of hidden depths; His wit is biting at times, though he rarely means it in a condescending manner, and he sometimes - when comfortable - displays a sardonic, ironic, sarcastic sense of humour that most people are not prepared to deal with. One should not mistake his lack of outward emotion for an absence of feeling in its entirety; he does, in fact, feel and does so very deeply, his self control more being a self defence mechanism for just how raw his emotions can be sometimes. When he feels happiness or sadness or anger, he feels it intensely, and when it bubbles over the results are often spectacular...hence why he tends to bottle them up and vent them at appropriate times. Despite his aloof stoicism, he has a great deal of inner passion and drive that does not usually display itself in any way other than his relentless determination.

And determination is the name of the game; his will is all but unbreakable under normal circumstances, and if there is something he does not understand or is not capable of, he will not rest until he achieves his goal. Alas, this unbreakable will finds itself tested on a near daily basis as his own inner darkness and whispering demons seek to drag him down, some days being a struggle to gather the energy required to move from his bed in the first place. Several times, he has very nearly lost the battle with that all consuming void, each of which left its own mark somewhere on his body. Despite his standoffish nature, however, Dantarius is surprisingly loyal; should you win his loyalty, he will stand by your side through thick and thin, and it will take a great deal of concerted effort to change that. However, Dantarius does not speak about himself; he is reserved and closed off, preferring to deal with his problems by himself. This stems from his experiences with his sister; he has always had to be the strong, grown-up one, and so it could be said that many of the mechanisms people develop as they grow older simply did not stick with him through necessity. It would not be an unfair statement to say that in many ways, he grew up much too quickly.


Inherent Abilities:
-- Flight, via wings
-- Extremely keen eye sight
-- Resistant to most forms of damage
-- Ability to breathe normally in thinner air
-- Enhanced agility
-- Limited Aerokinesis


Special Abilities:
-- Aura Of Doom: Some Corviknight's very appearance can unnerve their opponents. Merely Dantarius's presence on the battlefield imbues in his opponents a sense of fear and anxiety, making them more likely to move slower, to hesitate or to - in some cases - flee entirely.
-- Mirror Armour: Attempts to lower Dantarius's physical abilities - such as attack, defence, speed, etc - are ineffective and are reflected back at the originator of the attempt.
-- Blade Bird: The eight large feathers on Dantarius's back can detach and fight semi-autonomously, though Dantarius can give them orders. They can scout, attack, defend, distract or any other simple task Dantarius directs them to do. If one is destroyed, it takes a week to grow back.

Egg Move: Tailwind


Strengths: Driven, intellectual, logical, determined, highly skilled with spear and blade, loyal, principled
Weaknesses: Poor social skills, mental health issues, standoffish, comes across as aloof, difficulty expressing emotions

Likes [Non-Sexual: Knowledge, reading, experimentation, history, honesty, reliability, order, cooking, certain muggle sports, dogs.
Dislikes [Non-Sexual]: Unnecessary deception, outright chaos, ignorance (wilfull or otherwise), stupidity, bullies, his father, tomatoes

Ons: D/s, BDSM, Rough, Dirty Talk, exhibitionism, dancing, intimacy, a dash of humiliation (not much, though), Choking, spanking, roleplay, Dominant side of Player's Ons
Offs: Gore, scat, vore, violence, snuff, non-sexual rough play, cucking, Player's Offs.


Backstory:

Dantarius of House Ryzerion was born in the grand city of Corvus, the northernmost major city in Xernia, nestled amongst the peaks that protect its northern border. Corvus is the seat of the Ryzerion Dukedom, and has been held for as long as anybody can remember by a long line of Corviknight Dukes and Knights; through selected breeding and family tradition, the head of the family has always been a Corviknight, and the bulk of their household guards are the more "Noble" flying types that can traverse the treacherous landscape surrounding Corvus, though rock and ground types are also common. Charged with protecting the Northern Pass - the only way through the mountains into Xernia from the outside world - the Ryzerion family has a long tradition of powerful knights and warriors, many of whom have either been Generals in the military or officers within the Royal Knights. Proud of their lineage and their reputations as some of the finest knights in the Kingdom, the purity of the bloodline is often of the utmost concern to the Dukes of Corvus. Dantarius was born the second son, a twin alongside his sister, and thus would never inherit the title of Duke. As was tradition, being the second son, Dantarius's place was always destined to be representing the family in the capital city.

As he grew, Dantarius was rigorously trained for his future, denied most physical comforts and even most companionship besides that of his sister and the pet dog that he was allowed to keep thanks to his mother's intercession. Due to his isolation, he came to depend deeply on both his dog and Grace for affection, and became deeply protective over both of them. Whilst otherwise a model student in the hopes that his father would show approval eventually, he often got into fights with other young Nobles his age when they attempted to bother his sister. Whilst she could handle herself, she was often uncertain about how to turn them down, and more than once, the noble brats attempted to take liberties to extract a promise of future betrothal. This bred into Dantarius a deep loathing for the entitlement so rampant amongst the noble classes, especially when he saw how troubled it made Grace. As they grew, the attentions became more direct and Dantarius's training became more and more intensive, to the point where he was no longer able to protect Grace as vigilantly as before. Though their bond remained strong, the pressure mounted on Dantarius's shoulders, crushing him beneath the weight of expectations, his duties, the loss of sleep to ensure that Grace was safe, and the bottling up and ignoring of his own emotions in an effort to give Grace the stable, loving parental figure she was owed. This inevitably led to tragedy.

One night, at a party designed to officially announce Grace's entrance into noble society - and probably begin finding her a worthy suitor to forge an alliance between families and produce a worthwhile continuance to the line - and introduce Dantarius as the Second Son, Dantarius was called away to demonstrate his capabilities to a gaggle of his father's cronies and connections. The excuse given was that it would assist him in making headway in the capital to have connections and friends there, but truly, it was simply so that his father could show him off like a prized pony to bask in the second-hand adulation and praise. Dantarius attempted to extricate himself, but ended up being forced to go along with it for a short time. By the time he escaped, he returned to the party to find that Grace was nowhere to be seen. Nobody seemed to know where she went, until - after intimidating one of the lesser nobles - it came out that she had left the party with another noble brat who had apparently been rather forceful. Following their trail to the garden, he found them hidden in the trees...with the noble brat pawing at his sister's half-naked body and Grace trying to fight him off in tears.

One heavily wounded, half broken Noble brat later, Grace was sobbing in his arms and begging him to help her escape. She was sick of being used as a prize horse that could be given away to the highest bidder for breeding, tired of the gilded walls of her cage...she wanted to explore the world, see the sights and sounds she had only ever read about and be free from the frankly bleak future that awaited her as a scion of the Ryzerion name. Dantarius didn't think twice. He took her back to her room, packed her essentials, and moved to flee the palace that very night. Alas, they were discovered, and Dantarius was forced to stay behind to distract and divert the chase long enough for Grace to escape. When his duplicity was discovered, he was punished harshly - though the altercation with his sister's assailant was swept under the rug, of course - and confined to his quarters. Dantarius did not listen, obviously, and soon broke out to try and find his sister. He spent the next few months trying to track her down, and even came close to picking up her trail...but upon discovering a spy sent by his father trailing him, he realised that him finding her would mean that his father found her....so he had to abandon the chase. As much as it hurt to do so, he was forced to abandon any chance of finding his sister for the time being, faked his failure, and returned in "defeat" to the castle.

After being reamed out by his father for his disobedience, something inside Dantarius snapped. He didn't shout or yell or scream. He didn't threaten or curse. He simply looked his father in the eye and stated with frozen, frigid certainty, "We're done." Before he turned and left Corvus with only the clothes on his back. He had not been disowned - his father would not dare risk the scandal - so he still had access to Ryzerion holdings and assets...but Dantarius decided to only use them in the direst of circumstances. Instead, he made his way to Xernia and decided instead to put his skills to use; if he could join the Royal Guard and rise through the ranks, then he could have the wealth and power to track down his sister and protect her from their father without issue. If he could make his name widespread enough, his father would not dare sully the Ryzerion name with a scandal, when he already had other children he could bend to his will. And so...that is what he did.

He arrived at the Capital City at 16, enrolling in the military as soon as he arrived. Whilst his training and noble birth would have allowed him to begin at an officer level, he instead enrolled in the lowest rung without revealing his noble connection. If he was going to rise through the ranks, it would not be because of his father's name, like the entitled brats he so despised. It would be on his own merits. Two years later, he was serving patrol duty in the Castletown streets when the King was assassinated. He scrambled to organise his small group of men in time to try and find the culprit, but all he found was a single scrap of cape as a mysterious figure hopped over a low dividing wall in the palace gardens. He flew himself over the railing, hurrying to give chase, but when he turned the corner...the mysterious figure was gone, and he was faced with nothing but a high stone wall. Whilst he reported what he saw, nothing was found. They caught the assassin a day later and summarily executed him, and the case was closed. As far as he could tell, the wall was not even investigated, and the story that the assassin was a Mistype made perfect sense given the people's predispositions, so...why look into it further?

Nevertheless, he had failed. So he threw himself further into training and honing his instincts and skills, and his renewed determination and effort accelerated his rise to the top. Eventually, when he was 19 - a year after the assassination of the King - he was offered a spot within the Royal Knights. It was then that his lineage was discovered - Royal Guards underwent extensive background checks, after all - and the news exploded within the capital. His father reached out upon hearing the news, but Dantarius ignored him, dedicating himself to proving that he was more than the sudden burst of fame that his lineage had given him. He was famous as a rising star within the military, but the revelation that the son of Duke Ryzerion had been secretly in the capital for almost half a decade? That was gossip that everybody was interested in for just long enough to make it public knowledge. By the age of 22, he was already in line to succeed the Lord Commander thanks to his skill, intelligence and dedication to the Guard. When the Commander passed a year later, Dantarius was selected as the new Commander, becoming not only the first Ryzerion to hold the position in over a century, but the youngest Lord Commander in three.

Over the years, he has consolidated his power, saved the stipend he receives for his position and invested in several small businesses and properties to gather himself a small degree of wealth to support himself. He has done his best to cultivate allies in court and weed out corruption amongst the Royal Knights, ensuring their loyalty is unswervingly to him and the Royal Family. He has even made an unexpected connection with a certain notorious criminal that has strong connections to the underworld...it was not something he planned to do - he fell in love rather accidentally - but at least now he has somebody he knows he can rely upon if the nest of vipers within the palace decide to sink their fangs into him. But over the years, something has bothered him. Something about the assassination of the King has always crept into the back of his mind, details that didn't quite add up, things he couldn't seem to make sense of...but he needs to be certain that the shadows he passes in the dead of night are not holding daggers of their own. He needs to tread carefully, because if there's one thing he learned growing up a noble? It was that politics was just another kind of battlefield, and was just as lethal as every other warzone in history. He needs to tread carefully...or he knows his story might end rather too abruptly for his liking.

Dimitrius Maranzano

VERGIL TANNER

Name: Dimitrius Maranzano
Age: 39
Species [Type]: Decidueye [Grass / Ghost]
Gender: Male
Orientation: Pansexual

Residence: Shady Acres, Southern Delinquent Town
Occupation: "Consultant." Is in fact the Crimelord and "Mayor" of Delinquent Town.

Appearance:

Dimitrius Maranzano is a deceptively large man; he is often found lounging in his favourite chair or behind some desk or other, which serves to disguise his true size and stature from those who ordinarily size him up. When he draws himself to his full height, however, people are often surprised to find that the ordinarily even-tempered, seemingly mild-mannered gentleman stands at a towering 6'6, with broad shoulders and surprisingly wide arms, enough that he easily weighs around 270lbs. The fact that he is almost 40 – old for a crimeboss in his neck of the woods – seems to not bother him, as his body is in as good a condition as its ever been. He has a sharp, well defined jawline, bright, piercing golden eyes and a head of luscious dark green hair.

When seen dressed, he is rarely caught outside of an elegant, formal, expensive suit that highlights his well-built form and compliments his figure. Fashion is one of the first things people see about you, after all, and a well-dressed, clearly wealthy individual of impeccable taste elicits certain reactions and responses from people even if they don't realise it on a conscious level. Besides, he just likes dressing his best. When out of his clothes, his body is noticably muscular, rippling with no wasted fat, indicating that despite his age, he has a great deal of power to his body yet. His back has several long feathers sprouting from his spin and falling down around his waist, and a thin membrane can be found on the back of his arms from which his feathery wings can extend and retract at a moment's notice. Whilst he is unable to fly per say, he can indeed glide, and his wings can help give him a boost when he needs to jump especially high into the air, or hover in place for a few seconds before descending. His feet are normal human feet, save for the big toe on each foot that ends in a sharp bird-like talon and claw. His body also has several noticeable scars that he has taken no effort to disguise; several gunshot wounds, two or three incision scars from surgeries to repair internal damage, a couple of knife wounds and even one reasonably sized burn on his left ribcage. Beyond his scars, Dimitrius's body is adorned with only one decoration; a spreading black Decidueye wing stretching from his shoulder and chest down the length of his upper arm, seemingly spreading out from the centre of his body. Whilst it might seem like that is intended to cover up his scars, a closer inspection indicates that the tattoo is much, much older than most of his oldest wounds.

Personality:

Dimitrius is an older crimeboss, which means he's either very lucky, very dangerous...or both. People who cross him will find that he is very much the latter. Professionally speaking, he is cool, calm, collected, and controlled, viewing most people from afar rather than allowing familiarity to cloud his judgement. He expects to be obeyed the moment he speaks, and oftentimes, that is exactly what happens. It isn't that he's unfriendly or rude; he is simply an analytical intellectual who has little time for pointless games and people who believe themselves to be clever just because they can string a witty word or two together. He is, however, formal, polite and engages people with the warmth and welcoming respect that he believes they have earned; whilst his smile often doesn't reach his eyes, he is a genial and affable enough individual so long as you have not given him reason not to be. Despite being intelligent and measured, however, it cannot be said that he is cruel, condescending or uncaring; if you find yourself under his employ, he will treat you fairly, with the respect that your attitude and your skill deserve. He will always attempt to do right by you, since for him, loyalty is one of the most important traits of all...and loyalty is a two way street.

To his friends and lovers, he is genuinely warm and compassionate and often entertains parties and gatherings at his holdings for the community around him. He is often quick with a mischevious or dry joke, is quick to join in with friendly teasing or jokes and lavishes affection on the people he loves with little regard for decorum or refinement; he views his affections as something to be spread amongst his loved ones without hesitation or embarrassment, and often treats great shows of physical and emotional affection as almost casual. He is quick to support and praise the people he loves, and is always ready with a smile, a laugh or a hug, or a flirtatious remark or suggestive comment. This is to the extent that those that first met his professional facade sometimes have trouble believing that they are the same person! The reality is that when he is conducting business, he has to adopt a more critical, frosty demeanour...but the real Dimitrius is far more warm, caring and genial than a crimeboss is often able to be.

This is exemplified in one small detail; whilst many in his position have attempted outreach programs as a method of control and ingratiation with the locals, Dimitrius seems to genuinely want the best for his community. His own illegal actions notwithstanding, he rarely acts in a way that deliberately harms the people around him more than necessary. Whilst his network was built in undoubtedly immoral and illegal ways, he also serves to keep the crime in his territory under control; murders happen only when necessary, sexual crimes are punished brutally and the sexworkers under his employ and the employ of other business owners in the area are protected, given a fair wage and are allowed out if they want out.

Despite his aloof stoicism, he has a great deal of inner passion and drive that does not usually display itself in any way other than his relentless determination and commitment to his ideals of chaos, self-fulfilment, self-determination and the combatting of autocratic authoritarianism. Order is important, but chaos must be given its place to grow or humanity as a whole will stagnate and die. Those who try to halt progress will inevitably be left behind by it.


Inherent Abilities:
-- Limited Herbokinesis
-- Plant Matter Generation
-- Certain Grass-Based moves become more powerful in bright sunlight
-- Wings (though used to assist in jumping; he is unable to fly)
-- The ability to become incorporeal, intangable and / or invisible for short periods of time


Special Abilities:

-- Unerring Accuracy: Even when affected by accuracy-reducing conditions, Dimitrius's ranged attacks very rarely miss.
-- Long Reach: When making contact with another Pokemon, it does not activate any ability that relies on contact [EG, Static]
-- Photosynthetic Metabolism: Whilst food and water sustains him much more easily, it is possible under sunny conditions for Dimitrius to survive entirely on sunlight.
-- Aura Detection: Dimitrius often knows when an unseen or hidden individual is close by; whilst unable to tell their species or precise location, he is often able to detect their presence and general direction. 


Egg Move: Double Team

Strengths: Athletic, determined, confident, intelligent, strategic, charismatic, knitting, organisation, cooking, gardening, good with animals, skilled lover
Weaknesses: Distrusting, older, loves his people, technically a criminal, more likely to take drastic action, sees manipulation everywhere.

Likes [Non-Sexual: Reading, Intelligence, Games of Strategy, Whiskey, Suits, Money, Power, Things Going According To Plan, Obedience, His Pets, Brattiness, Directness, Honesty.
Dislikes [Non-Sexual]: Treachery, Idiocy, Incompetence, Dishonesty, Things Not Going To Plan, Pickles.

Ons: D/s, BDSM, Rough, Dirty Talk, exhibitionism, dancing, intimacy, a dash of humiliation (not much, though), Choking, spanking, roleplay, Dominant side of Player's Ons
Offs: Gore, scat, vore, violence, snuff, non-sexual rough play, cucking, Player's Offs.


Backstory:

Dimitrius Maranzano was not born Dimitrius Maranzano. Whilst his real name is largely lost to time and only his closest confidantes know his story, it is known that he and his mother appeared in Delinquent Town about 38 years ago, when he was already a screaming babe in her arms. The story before that point is unknown, but many different hypotheses have been put forwards; was his mother a traveller from a distant land, a refugee of sorts that found herself in Xernia's not quite so loving embrace? Was he of noble birth, a bastard born out of wedlock who was cast out to hide their shame? Was his mother the member of some dark cult who gave up her soul to birth a child destined for greatness? These theories and more circulate the slums - with varying levels of believability and acceptance - but Dimitrius has thus far declined to comment on the validity of any of them. What is known is that regardless of where he came from, he had a very typical life by the standards of the dark streets of Delinquent Town; by age 5, he was already on the streets, stealing whatever he could get his hands on to help him and his mother eat while his mother worked any job she could get for as long as she could keep it.

He stole, he scrapped, he fled from the guards and received more than a few clipped ears in his time, ducking and weaving and just doing his best to get to tomorrow. By the age of 8, he was inducted into his first gang; a step up from stealing, he was now directly involved in the dozens - hundreds - of gang wars that raged across the various streets and neighbourhoods of DT as varying groups of varying sizes and strengths vied for territory. It was the wild west, borders changing daily, bosses rising and falling within the span of mere weeks at a time. Beatings and the occasional murder were not uncommon in the back alleys as gangs of youths backed by older, more wily crimelords clawed for whatever piece of the meagre crumbs of pie they could get. Like most youths his age, Dimitrius ended up travelling through several different gangs as they formed and collapsed, switching allegiances as often as he had to to stay alive and come back to his mother. It wasn't something he gave much thought to; it was simply the way it was.

Until when he was 13, disaster struck. A gang war erupted in his neighbourhood, and escalated to such violence that a noble brat who had decided to go to the slums to 'Play Tough' was injured. He didn't die, fortunately, but the injuries were severe enough that he required immediate medical attention...which also meant that his parents found out. In true noble fashion, rather than holding the child accountable for his own actions, they kicked up a fuss and dispatched their household guards to perform an almost-purge of the area as punishment for their sweet child suffering an injury. The uptown guards entered, blades flashed, and blood was quickly spilled. The residents attempted to fight back, of course, which just led to more violence and death. In the chaos, somebody - whether guard or resident, nobody could tell - set flame to wood, causing a great fire to erupt down the street, choking the neighbourhood with flames, smoke and screams. When the smog cleared...Dimitrius found his mother, burned to death trying to escape.

This loss nearly destroyed Dimitrius, but he decided right then and there that this was the last time he would allow such a tragedy to happen; it was well known that those in Mid-Town and Castle Town didn't care about the plight of the Mistypes. It was clear that they couldn't wait for help from the palace, and that if they wanted to make something of themselves, it was down to them and them alone to do so. And thus was born his new purpose; past simply survival...he loved his home, and he realised that he couldn't rely on anybody else to protect it. And so began his climb up the ladder of Delinquent Town; by 15, he had control of his first street-gang. By the age of 17, they controlled an entire neighbourhood. By the time he reached 20, he had successfully expanded his influence and - through a mixture of guile, brutality, diplomacy and intelligence - had managed to bring half of the slums entirely under his control.

But perhaps the most important moment of his life was yet to come. At the age of 21, just as he was preparing to embark on his latest quest of expansion, he found a particular young Purrloin abandoned on the streets near his home, yowling and attacking anybody who came close. She was perhaps five years old, but acted more like a wild animal than a person, which demonstrated just what kind of upbringing - or lack thereof - she'd actually had. Something within him reached out to the young girl, sensing a kindred spirit, his heart breaking at her plight...and despite his advisor's warning, he found himself gently - and carefully - taking the poor thing in to nurse her back to health. He had done similar things before, of course, extending helping hands to people who needed it, but this little thing...she was special. He could tell. And so began his fathership of one "Cassandra," a Purrloin who would grow to be one of the dearest people in his life, and - regardless of whatever else he achieved - one of his proudest accomplishments. As he raised her, trying to win her confidence and encourage her development into the fine young woman he knew she could be, he also expanded his Empire until - by the age of 23 - he had successfully united the underworld of Delinquent Town beneath his leadership.

And thus...began the real work. Over the next 16 years, he would continue to bond and raise Cassie, help others get back on their feet and reinvest in the community to try and foster some kind of allegiance, some kind of shared kindred spirit amongst the people he now found himself ruling. It was an unofficial title, but one he found bestowed on him with a mixture of fear and respect; "Mayor." Whilst the slums would always be the slums, whilst they would never be rich or powerful or influential, he could at least make life bearable for the people stuck there. Unofficial taxes were collected, housing was patched up and rebuilt into something that might last, local businesses were protected and fostered, and he did his best to encourage a sense of community spirit. Mistypes were Mistypes, of course, and mischief and crime would always happen, but he became proud of the community he fostered; a community that might bicker amongst themselves, but could always be counted on to come together when it mattered. Food drives, cooperation, protection, publicly funded neighbourhood revival initiatives...gangs had a lot of power, a lot of income. He was determined to see his put to good use to protect and nurture the place he'd grown up in. Rival street-gangs popped up from time to time, of course, but they were quickly either brought into the fold or crushed as soon as they made too much trouble.

As time went on, Cassandra grew into a capable, beautiful woman who soon became Dimitrius's right hand. Dimitrius himself always kept an eye out for skilled individuals who could do great things in positions of power and authority, and often helped them build themselves up from the ground to provide for the community. He created a reputation for himself of being a stern but fair leader, and for always being willing to offer a helping hand to those in need...but also not being somebody you wanted to cross or attempt to make a fool of. He was a benevolent crimelord, but a crimelord nonetheless and a crimelord needed to maintain strict authority and a clear indication of just what "crossing him" entailed. Over the years, his household has gotten rather more energetic with some of his "Strays" staying with him in a more personal manner...but surely nobody can begruged him his vices, after everything he has done to nurture Delinquent Town. And that's where he sits now. The Slums might still be the Slums...but they are far more peaceful and stable than they ever were before he took power, and that is something he is determined to keep going long after he is dead. Because that's the thing about being a Crimelord; nobody wins for long, and eventually...the life will always catch up to you.

Cassandra Mia Maranzano

Pen The Wonderful

Name: Cassandra Mia Maranzano
Age: 24
Species [Type]: Liepard [Dark]
Gender: Female
Orientation: Demisexual

Residence: Unknown, though she had once called the Maranzano Household her home.
Occupation: Right Hand of Dimitrius and secretly The Phantom Thief of Xernia.

Appearance: Standing at 5'4 and 110 lbs, Cassandra is not the most powerfully built. She does not throw the hardest punches, nor can she take it. But where she lacks in strength and power, she makes up for in agility and stealth. Cassandra has complete command of her perfectly proportioned and limber body. Her dainty limbs are tight with muscle and capable of performing complex acrobatic moves, providing her with the flexibility to move in fluid, sinuous motions, almost seamless in its succession, but also allow her to bend in half in a single snap. Just watching her walk is almost enough to give you a sense of satisfaction with the ease and near-surreal grace she holds herself to as she floats across the room – like a satin sash caught in the wind - catching one’s attention with ease despite her smaller stature.

Her legs in particular account for most of her height, being long and slender while also toned and with a shapely bubble butt on top. Her body is perfectly sculpted and formed for function; with a tight, tiny waist flaring out into wide, well-balanced hips. Firm, sleek muscles accentuate her curves and generous C-cup breasts. Unlike most Liepards, her eyes are bright mercurial silver, though still possessing the vertical slit that all felines shared. Her long, violet hair falls to her waist and curl in any direction they please, like a bouquet of lavenders framing her heart-shaped face. Her skin is a cool peach colour underneath the sunlight but in the darkness of nightfall, it takes on a cool lilac hue, allowing her to blend into the shadows more easily save for certain parts of her skin which make up her Liepard markings on her back and face.

Her ears stand erect on the top of her head with violet fur and pink inner sides, similar to the pinkish hue of her eyelids. Her tail is long and slender with the signature sickle-like end which helps her retain balance and obtain hard to reach items. Cassandra's claws are deadly weapons that she can extend and retract at will, and she takes great pride in their care. Her fashion sense is rather eclectic, though she always tries to dress her finest. Stylish, chic, and functional describe her wardrobe rather well. She has dresses and coats for a variety of 'professional' encounters as well as leather bodysuits specifically for her 'hobby'. Though she looks her best in silver, Cassie likes to mix up her predominantly dark wardrobe with pops of yellow or gold. However, when she is laying low, she likes to don her favourite deep violet cloak, which has become tattered from the many excursions it has seen over the years. It now has multiple holes and tears on the back, which creates the illusion of a leopard print pattern if she were wearing something yellow underneath.

Personality: Silent, precise, controlled, and calculated are four words you might use to describe Cassandra. An enigma to perceive and behold, she is a puzzle with blank pieces that befuddles and teases with her reserved, closed off ways. She chooses carefully those to share her secrets with, if at all, but more often than not, her lips are tightly sealed. A lone wolf, she does not work with others, but rather, manipulates others to her will. Everyone and everything are mere tools to her own survival, and never the other way around. However, there are a few exceptions. And for those few, she would gladly risk life and limb without a moment of hesitation, and strive every single day to do right by them.

But, beneath that debonair smile and alluring energy is a cruel and selfish creature with a bitter heart and a grim outlook on life. Her early childhood years have corrupted her, leaving irreversible scars she must carry for the rest of her life. And she has never forgiven the person who had caused it in the first place. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants, no matter how low she must stoop. However, just as she knew cruelty, she also knew kindness, and the positive influences in her life have stopped her from truly going off the deep end doing more heinous acts more often than not. But when those moments come, she is methodical and a perfectionist in her ways; carefully planning one move to the next. She retains a cool head and even temper; a facade that hides a tattered mind and a broken soul, gripped by spite and unbridled pain. She plays her part as a cat burglar to the tee; stealthy, cunning, fluid, and graceful, she resembles a dancing shadow. One moment there, and the next, gone.

At home in the darkness, Cassie prefers to operate in the nighttime, when every corner casts a shadow and every shadow hides a bounty. Some may call her nocturnal, for she is rarely seen in the daytime. But in truth, her eyes seldom find rest in the clutches of insomnia. As darkness avoids the light, Cassie has a strong dislike of fire.

Devastatingly clever, she takes pride in her ability to outwit and out-strategize even the sharpest of knights, relying heavily on her quick thinking, resourcefulness, and creativity. She is tactical, focused, driven and eloquent; a gifted liar with a silver tongue that allows her to talk her way out of any situation, and steal as many hearts as she pleases. Leaving behind a string of broken hearts. However, she is flighty and very easily bored. Despite her facade, she is deeply troubled. She struggles with her demons every waking moment, and as a result, her emotions and interests are fleeting, so she must always chase them. This often leads her to cause or get herself in trouble, but she actively enjoyed that. She loves her thrills, dangerous situations to get her blood pumping, and adrenaline-driven activities to grasp those split-second highs of ephemeral emotion to fill the void within her. Even for a moment. Always moving from one shiny object to another, but once possessing it, leaves it behind. Living from one thrill to the next.

Inherent Abilities:

• Psychic Immunity
• Enhanced Sight, Smelling, & Hearing
• Darkvision
• Umbrakinesis
• Cat-like Reflexes
• Speed and agility boost in dark environments

Special Abilities:

• Limber: Her limber body protects her Pokémon from paralysis and allows her to squeeze through the tightest spaces.
• Sneak Strike: Cassandra has an uncanny ability to sneak up on almost anyone without fail, attacking before they can react.
• Disappearing Act: Her kind has been known to vanish and reappear without warning, much like a Ghost. She is especially stealthy at night. Whether it is because of her speed, her ability to suppress movement noise, or other factors is uncertain.
• Gift of Silence: With incredible control over her body, Cassandra is able to prevent herself from emitting any kind of noise when she is in stealth, be it from her clothes, her footfalls, breathing, or movement.

Egg Move: Copycat

Strengths: Cunning, resourceful, charismatic, tactful, perceptive, well-spoken, intelligent, hardworking, controlled, devoted, mature, flirtatious

Weaknesses: Cruel, vengeful, flighty, heartbreaker, easily bored, mentally unstable, apathetic, manipulative, untrustworthy, competitive, petty, insecure

Likes [Non-Sexual: Belue Berries, rain, classical or acoustic music, silence, privacy, exploration, adventure, thrill-seeking, getting into trouble, flirting, favours, being right, freedom, stealing things (including hearts)
Dislikes [Non-Sexual]: Following orders blindly, absolute authority, self-righteous people, fire, failure, loud rock music, upper-class parties (not that she attends them anyway), owing favours, being wrong, commitments and responsibilities (feeling chained down)

Ons & Offs: See O/Os

Backstory:

The story of where Cassandra had come from and why she had ended up on the dangerous streets of Delinquent Town as a 5-year-old Purrloin is one that has seemingly been lost to memory. Should you ask the Liepard herself, she may tell a different tale each time. That she was born from parents of two different types, but that she received the short end of the stick and was abandoned. That her two Liepard parents were on the run from the palace and skipped town, but accidentally left her behind and died in their escape. That she had escaped from a child trafficking ring. No one really knew, and Cassandra seemed content to keep things that way. Though her beginnings are unclear, what is known as fact was that the day she appeared in Delinquent Town, she was more a wild animal than a child. Hissing and attacking anyone who came near her. She couldn't speak, read, or write, but she was very good at evading capture, and thus, she quickly became a new menace in the neighbourhood. But really, she was simply doing her best to survive. She stole food and clothes, the odd blanket and toy, or anything shiny that happened to catch her eye.

As such, she caught the attention of Dimitrius Maranzano, the person in charge of the territory. No doubt he had received endless complaints of peoples' belongings going missing, and had come down to investigate for himself after she eluded so many of his men's capture. Unlike the others, Dimitrius managed to successfully corner and capture Cassandra, and just when she thought she was going to lose her life or face harsh punishment, she was meant with kindness and patience, which was a foreign concept to the Purrloin at the time. Everything she had stolen (that weren't food or any other perishable goods) had been returned to their rightful owners and Dimitrius took her into his home and nursed her back to health. She was incredibly small and malnourished for her age, and it was a miracle how she managed to survive as long as she did. Despite this, she continued to try and escape and exhibited unruly behaviour, not realizing Dimitrius was only trying to help. Eventually, he managed to get through to her (with a lot of food and bribery), and before she knew it, she had been adopted.

She was slow to take to her new life, always paranoid and untrusting and afraid that she was going to be hurt or cast out. She acted out, continuing to steal and getting herself in trouble with various gangs and undoubtedly made Dimitrius' life a lot more complicated than it already was. But Dimitrius' love and patience eventually reached her little heart, and she began to realize that perhaps she had found her forever home. He had fed her, gave her shelter, clothed her, taught her to read, to write, to speak, and more than that, he loved and supported her unconditionally, and their bond only grew stronger as the years passed. Dimitrius was a positive influence on her, staving off some of her darker tendencies and she always does her best to do right by him. She came to see him as a father and even adopted his surname and the name he used to call her before she could learn how to speak to tell him her birth name. She loves him dearly, though it took time to adjust to the other 'strays' Dimitrius would bring in every now and again.

She became determined to never worry or inconvenience him, to the point she learned to conceal her true feelings and put on a facade. Though, that was in part learned from him as well. Despite this, something in her past continued to haunt her, keeping her restless and anxious. She often thought of leaving and living life on her own again, but she couldn't quite understand why. Though perhaps, the answer lied in her long-buried past. Her fear of becoming comfortable and attached. When she was 16 years old, she saw a corrupt knight harass a family that lived down the street from her and Dimitrius' residence. The knights stole the family's money for 'tax' and angered by their actions, she embarked on her first endeavour as The Phantom. That night, she snuck into the knight's post and stole back the family's money, then returned it to them by leaving it on their bedside table through their open window. That was the night that changed her life, the catalyst for her evolution into a Liepard.

Of course, it was inevitable that Dimitrius would catch wind of this, and after a stern talking to about putting herself in harm's way, she had his blessing to continue these covert operations to help disadvantaged families and 'redistributing wealth' from wealthier ones in the upper rings. She even received training from his finest agents to hone her skills further, and she quickly gained a reputation for herself across the kingdom. Either as a petty criminal and a menace to the wealthy and a hero and saviour to the poor Mistypes in Delinquent Town. Cassandra had finally found a purpose. Perhaps, even her calling. Thus, as she turned 18, she finally decided to leave the nest, parting ways with Dimitrius to travel the kingdom and expand her reach as The Phantom Thief. Of course, being a wanted criminal meant that Cassandra could not have a permanent place of residence, often moving around from one tavern to another to avoid detection. Few can identify her as The Phantom Thief of Xernia, as no one has ever seen her in the act. And those who do have closely guarded her secret in respect for her deeds.

It was then, at the age of 20, that she encountered another individual who would become quite dear to her. It was a rather serendipitous meeting, but before she knew it, Cassandra had fallen in love with perhaps the last person she should be considering romance with. Though she has had nearly countless partners over the years - she took after her father in that way - this was different. This was the first time she allowed herself to connect and become attached. It motivated her to better herself. And so, at the age of 22, she returned home to Delinquent Town, reuniting with her adoptive father and deciding to follow in his footsteps to better the lives of the Mistypes in the kingdom. She became his right hand and engaged in further trained for the role. However, she continued to embark on her exploits as The Phantom at the same time.

[PentheWonderful]

LORE AND KEY EVENTS

This is information that all characters living in Xernia would know or heard rumours about. Think of it as common knowledge. However, speculation and conspiracy theories do muddle the truth of these stories, such that the line between fantasy and reality is often blurred. Thus, players must be wary of false information spread by fear-mongers or rumour mills.

The Marking Ritual

The selection of the next heir to the Xernian throne is a sacred and mystical process. It is closely guarded and witnessed only by members of the royal family and their trusted knights. Rulers of Xernia are bestowed with the Mark of Xerneas, which imbues them with Xerneas' ability to bestow life.



This mark is said to be bestowed by Xerneas himself through a sacred ritual that is performed when the previous ruler of the realm has passed away. Participants of the ritual are members of the next generation of the royal family and are required to be of at least 16 years of age. They are taken to a sacred temple - the location of which is kept secret from the public - where they will be purified by the land's sacred waters and dressed in sacred garments. They will then stay overnight for a chance to be visited by Xerneas in their dreams. However, only one participant will experience the encounter and wake up the next morning with Xerneas' mark on their body. This mark is the indicator for the next ruler of the realm.

On the night of the ritual, an aurora borealis will paint the sky overhead, signifying Xerneas' arrival.

Day of Equilibrium



The Day of Equilibrium is the most important day in the kingdom. As told by legend, the land of Xernia was once a barren wasteland that was incapable of sustaining life. Thus, to prevent the land from returning to its original form, the bearer of Xerneas' mark must periodically replenish The Nourishing Spell that was originally cast by Xerneas thousands of years ago in his stead. On this day, The Marked One is taken to The Heart of Xernia - a location known only by the royal family - where they will use their ability to replenish the land, returning it to its height of prosperity. On this day, the grass turns greener, the waters are cleaner, and flowers throughout the kingdom bloom. This day is considered a national holiday and is said to be the most beautiful day of the year.

The Mistypes



Throughout the world, Poisons, Darks, and Ghosts are considered second class citizens due to their kind being "more naturally predisposed" towards mischief and crime. Many wars and conflicts have arisen with a Mistype as the head. Thus, many will often hesitate to engage with these misfits, often turning them away or arresting them for no real reason aside from 'precaution'. Thus, their existence is very scattered as they struggle to find a place to settle, though most countries have a minority population of them.

The Royal Assassination



Ten years ago, tragedy befell the Xernia. On one fateful night, King Perseus Xeridian - the previous bearer of Xerneas' Mark - was killed in cold blood, leaving the kingdom without a ruler. The assassin managed to escape, but witness accounts claimed that they had walked through walls, went undetected by the Royal psychics - including the king himself, who was a powerful Espeon - and used a lethal poison to end his life in an instant. Thus, suspicion immediately fell upon the Mistypes, deepening the divide between the citizens of the capital, and sending the late king's brother - a fiery Flareon and Supreme Commander of the Xernian Guard - into a grief-stricken rampage.

The Mistype Massacre (Banquet of Blood)



After the death of his younger brother, Supreme Commander Darius Xeridian launched a campaign against the Mistype community that would come to be known as the Banquet of Blood by many. Mistypes from all corners of the land were arrested and interrogated to find the culprit for the king's death. Any Mistype that resisted arrest were immediately killed, including those who were once faithful servants of the royal family. This led to mass executions nearly every single day until the assassin was eventually caught and executed. Since that day, Mistypes were no longer permitted to set foot on palace grounds or enlist in the Xernian Guard.

Queen Lorelei



With the death of her husband, the responsibility of ruling the kingdom fell on the shoulders of Queen Lorelei. Queen Lorelei was once a commoner who resided in Midtown, but her beauty captured the heart of the young Prince Perseus at the time, and she soon became his bride. Given her humble beginnings, she is a compassionate and benevolent ruler who had softened some of her husband's more hardline stance on Mistypes. She seems to bear no ill-will towards Mistypes despite them supposedly killing her husband. She just seems to be desperate to hold her kingdom together. She has made numerous public appearances and pleas to promote unity and acceptance rather than division and violence, but public opinion is split; some love her, some hate her. Some "Normal" types like her and what she's trying to do, others don't like her supposed sympathy for the Mistypes. Some Mistypes are hopeful about her attitude, and some are suspicious and don't trust that it's genuine.

The Marked Prince



The mysterious heir to the Xernian throne is a hot topic among the villagers. There is very little known about him, aside from the fact that he is the son of the late king and that he has just been chosen as the new bearer of Xerneas' Mark. Since the assassination of his father, he has been hidden from the public eye for his own protection, such that no one outside the palace walls even knew what he looked like. Insider information from maids and butlers have provided vague descriptions of his appearance and resulting in many artistic renditions of the future king of Xernia. The accuracy of these depictions are questionable at best, but with the prince's coronation fast approaching, the kingdom is eagerly awaiting with bated breath to lay their eyes upon him for the first time.

The Coronation



Within the count of weeks, a big festival and ball are being held in Xernia's capital in honour of The Marked Prince's public debut and coronation. Farmers will be busy delivering farm produce, villagers decorating and setting up the town square, and servants, setting up palace. However, criminal activity has spiked significantly, with some individuals being determined to sabotage preparations for the ceremony, festival, and ball. Delinquent Town is under strict supervision by knights as a result. As are most Poisons, Ghosts, and Darks. Well, more than usual, anyway.



Urban Legends

These are stories and rumours that are one would whisper about in taverns or back alleys. Heresy children would tell each other, or superstitions that have been passed around. Perhaps these stories are recollections of firsthand encounters, or perhaps they are simply cautionary tales to keep the children in line. The validity of these urban legends are questionable at best, but that doesn't stop them from reaching the furthest corners of the kingdom!

The Phantom Thief



An urban legend that has only recently surfaced but quickly gained a lot of traction is that of The Phantom. The rumors of this mysterious being originated in the lower districts some years ago when various reports came in of children finding toys they did not previously own. At first the people were worried about the obvious invasion of their homes but when only toys were added and nothing else stolen, rumors quickly began to spread about the mysterious benefactor of poor children.

At the same time, ever greater and more elaborate heists and thefts were being committed in the homes of the wealthy, nobility, and government officials. No private collection remained private for long, and soon enough, people began to link the two phenomena. Public opinions are divided, where some claim The Phantom to be a hero, others brand him a common criminal. So far there have been no clues as to the identity of The Phantom, if it is just one person, a collective, or if he was even a real person.

One thing is for sure, everyone is always looking forward to hearing of The Phantom’s latest exploits. Whether it is because they idolize him, or hoping to apprehend and unmask him depends on the individual. The Phantom is keeping the kingdom’s guards on high alert each night, especially during festivals or high valued exhibitions. Meanwhile, many merchants are capitalizing on this legend by selling merchandise dedicated to, or claimed to have been owned by The Phantom.

[Vergil Tanner]

AND WE'RE LIVE! Look at my two juicy bois, eh?

And people better like that map, it took me five bloody hours >.>

[RobyntheWitch]

And people better like that map, it took me five bloody hours >.>

No, it's terrible, I hate it. Suffer.

Joking aside, good work! Time to get a writing for all the character stuff. Ugh!

[Vergil Tanner]

Dimitrius can't wait to see his precious little Gengy

[RobyntheWitch]

Dimitrius can't wait to see his precious little Gengy

That's terrible, it's terrible and you should feel bad.

[Vergil Tanner]

I REFUSE! You love my bad puns

[PentheWonderful]

Arright gang! We're ready for sheets! Post 'em up here and feel free to ask questions

[Chaosfox]

Wanted to say the map looks great.

[Marie Reynolds]

Yay!

The map does look amazing.

So its a safe bet Upper Middle Class would still be in Midtown for their main residence?

[Vergil Tanner]

Probably, yeah. Castletown is mostly for the Nobility.

[Pink Professional]

Lady Anna, the Absol

PinkProfessional

All pictures by artist Emukon

Name: Anffawd, although she prefers going by the name 'Lady Anna'
Age: 33
Species [Type]: Absol [Dark]
Gender: Female
Orientation: Pansexual

Residence: Flits between her two businesses: The Sweet Kiss in Midtown, and the Night Daze in Delinquent Town
Occupation: Owner of the above establishments, as well as a prolific 'Investor' in the Delinquent Town economy.

Appearance: Beautiful scarlet eyes, White-silver locks, and pink lips are the first features that might strike someone gazing upon Lady Anna. She has a striking beauty to her that often enraptures and ensnares the unsuspecting. Darker skin that contrasts her white hair, and the half-crown horn on her head are the only real hints that there is something more than just a pretty face before them.

Standing at roughly 5'9, and weighing around 160 lbs, Lady Anna is more curvy than most in her profession, although she remains careful not to veer into the realms of excess which she has learned to despise. Not particularly strong or swift, and instead preferring to focus on her cunning and guile as weapons, she is thankfully unblemished by scars, bruises, or cuts. Her nails are long dark things, carefully snipped, clipped, and manicured to avoid them growing into the claws they could so easily become. A fastidious and near obsessive need to be clean leaves her smelling faintly of lavender and  summer berries at nearly all times.

Personality: Outwardly, Anna is a flirty, confident woman with a near constant smile and a non-existent ego. She is the sort of person to sprinkle praise upon those she talks with while they are useful, or in favour; but then unload with a barbed insult or thinly veiled threat the moment things get tense. Even when in danger, Anna is surprisingly confident and fearless to the point of seeming vain or foolish. Whether this is because of her own confidence in herself, and her guile; or because of a sense of acceptance is hard to know.

Inwardly, Anna is a somewhat vulnerable woman who mostly just seeks to improve her lot in life. She resents the world that was robbed from her at birth, and has fought tooth and nail to prove that she is not only worthy of the last name she lost, but that she is beyond it. To some degree, she has already done so. Her business acumen and ruthless pursuit of wealth has left her a success from nothing that even now probably outshines her old house. Still, the niggling voice of doubt in the back of her mind portents constant disaster, and leaves the Lady wanting to keep expanding, and growing. Mostly, she just wants to finally reach that point where she feels completely in control, and safe.

Despite her harshness in business, Anna is a protective and kind boss. The girls under her employ are well looked after, and anyone who abuses them finds that ruin follows soon after. She is especially kind to the downtrodden and those with nothing, offering stable employment to anyone desperate and without other options. Perhaps this is a weakness, but Anna stands by her choice to always be better than those that threw her away.   

Inherent Abilities:

• Immunity to Psychic attacks
• Expanded Life Span
• Superior Darkvision
• Umbrakinesis
• Retractable Claws

Special Abilities:

• 'Fate' Manipulation - The very world seems to bless Lady Anna with a degree of enhanced luck. If she bets on the losing outcome, things seem to shift and bend to make her more likely to succeed. If she bets on a winning outcome, it basically becomes impossible to buck that trend. In short, Anna is a being with Superior Luck; although she hardly advertises the fact. Generally, her ability cannot supersede skill, and nor will it literally make things that are unlikely by design happen. A card shark who is sculpting a deck will not find his order ruined, while a dealer who is randomising a deck of cards will find that the cards fall in her favour. If someone attacks her, they won't find the world suddenly turning against them with mysteriously hostile masonry falling from the sky, or the ground opening up to swallow them. Should Anna blindly throw an attack however, it is more likely to hit somewhere vital.
• Noble Bearings - Although it is something she mostly suppresses, Anna has a sort of intense aura about her that intimidates lesser beings. Her pressure makes it so that those who she dislike feel the crushing weight of misfortune upon them, and the sense of dread can lead to those same feelings of dread and misfortune build upon them.
• Fortunes Favoured - Perhaps most scary of the woman's abilities, Lady Anna often enough has prophetic visions of the future. It is draining, but given time she can generally portent whether a venture will end in 'fortune' or 'misfortune.' This makes her an incredibly valuable ally in business, and her word alone has been known to end businesses in Delinquent Town, for fear of going against the Prophet of Delinquent Town? Of course, what Lady Anna doesn't advertise is that her prophecies are not perfect, and that a strong willed individual can - with enough effort - defy misfortune and disaster. After all, she does it frequently enough herself.

Egg Move: Magic Coat

Strengths: Intelligent, Business-Minded, Well-Connected, Subject of Rumour, Beloved, and Desirable

Weaknesses: Physically Weak, Motivated by Revenge, Protective of her 'Girls', and Subject of Superstition.

Likes [Non-Sexual: Intelligent People, her Girls, Dark Chocolate, Sweet-Things, Flirting, Challenges, Games.
Dislikes [Non-Sexual]: Nobility, Superstition, Idiots, People who try and muscle in on her territory, Being Underestimated.

Ons: Power Dynamics, Light Bondage, Single Partners, Small groups, Oral (Giving and Receiving), Penetrative Sex, Comfort, Compliments, Cuddling
Offs: Boring People, Degradation Play, Too-Many-People, Leaving permanent marks, Violent Sex, Toilet Play
Player's O/o


Backstory:

Once Upon a Time, Anffawd was the result of an illicit affair between an unknown father and a daughter of a Marquess. Several times in the early years, Anffawd was put in severe danger of punishment for the crime of being born. Her deviancy was her burden, and the Marquess tried a great many things to try and hide his daughter's shame. Anffawd never left the estate, and rarely saw the light of day until she was twelve years old, when her destiny took a sinister turn.

With the Marquess' daughter in line to be married off politically, Anffawd was set to be silently 'removed' from the equation. The young girl sensed disaster on the horizon, and escaped with the help of a few servants who pitied her. Years later, Lady Anna would discover that those brave souls were brutally dealt with for their crime.

With no real coin to her name, or value to her life, Anffawd fled to Delinquent town and found work wherever she could. There was little a young woman could do in those times to earn her keep, but she made due. Whether it was through lucky thefts, or through careful deals, the Absol survived as best she could. Growing thin, but growing up into an attractive woman. As most women on hard times did, she eventually found herself propositioned to work at a brothel, which she accepted.

Working as a prostitute was hardly glamorous, but Anffawd made it work. She learned her trade, and she found herself able to draw secrets from lover's lips better than most. Her talent and cunning soon had her finding a use for all of these whispered secrets: A lucrative tip-off here that helped a street gang ambush a merchant's caravan here; a winning bet on a rigged fight there; soon enough Anffawd was starting to make more than the meagre wage of a whore. She was becoming wealthy off her of talents, as well as her newly discovered manipulation of the fates itself.

By the time she was Twenty-Four, Anffawd had saved up a mighty nest egg, and she 'retired' from her profession. The Absol disappeared for a year, for two years, even. Then, Lady Anna returned. Her first business was to buy the whorehouse that she'd worked at, rechristening it the Night Daze. For a few years, Anna grew her business and taught her 'girls' the skills they would need to help elevate her up the hierarchy of Delinquent Town. She would grow her reputation as a cunning consort who seemingly always had a winning tip for the right price, and whose network of spies didn't simply limit itself to the bedroom.

Now a regular in the politics of Delinquent Town, Lady Anna has spread her network greatly. She only claims to own one business herself, although her owning stake in a several businesses in her 'hometown' as well as a newfound interest in businesses outside of it make her a cunning and useful lady indeed: One who has weaponised cunning, and wealth as her weapons of choice, and who is constantly on the prowl for new customers, new clients, and new business partners.

Connections:

Player Characters

Dantarius Ryzerion – Handsome as he is, Dantarius and Lady Anna just live in different worlds. (Neutral)
Dimitrius Maranzano – Lady Anna shares a fine relationship with the 'Mayor', acting as an information broker to the man, in return for protection and – on occasion – affection. She likes it when he takes the suit off, and talks dirty to her pillow, even if she enjoys the teasing and the tension just as much. (Very Positive)
Cassandra Mia Maranzano – Dimitrius' cute little shadow has passed along Anna's view from time to time, and occasionally they have met at a certain Society after dark... (Neutral-Positive Leaning)
Lady Anna  - <N/a>
Luca Zajac – A single act of kindness connects them, although neither knows it. (Neutral)
Hena Glowglide – A fellow woman of class, culture, and delightful talents. Anna and Hena get on well, and she does so enjoy the Society that Hena has set up; to the point that she helped found it. (Positive)
Scyla IronHide – A single guardian in Midtown has not likely attracted Lady Anna's attention. (Neutral)
Quiqui Zola – Lady Anna likely doesn't know Quique, although a dramatic family death involving the murder of a matriarch could potentially pique her interest... (Neutral/Potential Plotline)

NPCs

TBD

Open Spots for Business Partners, rivals, and a potential Physically gifted subordinate to act as her bodyguard.

[Vergil Tanner]

Oooh, looks fancy! She definitely has connections with the resident "Mayor" of Delinquent Town, even if only professionally...though we did talk about some WTWT going on there

Just one small thing, can you clarify how far her fate manipulation extends? Does it make her ALWAYS win, or does it just make her more LIKELY to win, and if so, by how much? And what does it apply to? I would assume that it would only apply to outcomes of chance, right? So...a game of dice would be affected, but not a game of cards (since the cards are already in a set order, so "luck" isn't about to change which card comes next)?

[Pink Professional]

Generally I like to leave these things vague enough that a DM can decide; I imagine it depends on whether there is any skill expression or not? A person dealing cards who has fixed the deck might be better able to stack the deck, but someone generally shuffling it might find it leaning in her favour.

It was meant to represent her Superluck ability.

[Vergil Tanner]

Oh, I gathered as much! I'm just generally wary of Super Luck as a power, since it can kind of turn into an "I Win" button, because I've seen it used to justify all kinds of ridiculous chains of events xD So I'm generally asking for a kind of "what's the most this power can reasonably accomplish" limit, as a general bar. xD

[Pink Professional]

I'll imagine it is best when things are completely random. There aren't going to be times when the floor just happens to cave in underneath someone's feet because lolfunny, it's just that things just sort...go her way sometimes, y'know?

[Vergil Tanner]

That's fair! I trust you, but I'll be keeping an eye on it and get the spray bottle out if you go too far. I shall be adopting the Irish system of legality. "That's Grand," "Ah Don't Push It" and "Now You're Taking The Piss."

[Marie Reynolds]

I like Lady Anna and it seems  like some connections with my Galvantula Girl I am working on Hena Glowglide. If you want, we can make ties Pink. Given that she runs  the local bondage society maybe she had days where there is private events for even Lady Anna to learn about bondage and for the girls that work under her if either party would like to. Also I could see a friendship or more between the two  if you like. Cause I plan for Hena to be a socialite with some rough edges given her parents had her learn pugilism and fencing. So could be an interesting foil  foe each other.  Especially with her taking up an interest in Escapology as well though I see her at best be an amateur  considering she just started learning. I hope to have my sheet up soon. But if you want to discuss ties Pink I would be up for that while building the sheet.

[Vergil Tanner]

As a note, my characters - Dantarius and Dimitrius - are both in the post by Pen up above. So if people want to sort out connections, just drop me a line!

[Pink Professional]

I like Lady Anna and it seems  like some connections with my Galvantula Girl I am working on Hena Glowglide. If you want, we can make ties Pink. Given that she runs  the local bondage society maybe she had days where there is private events for even Lady Anna to learn about bondage and for the girls that work under her if either party would like to. Also I could see a friendship or more between the two  if you like. Cause I plan for Hena to be a socialite with some rough edges given her parents had her learn pugilism and fencing. So could be an interesting foil  foe each other.  Especially with her taking up an interest in Escapology as well though I see her at best be an amateur  considering she just started learning. I hope to have my sheet up soon. But if you want to discuss ties Pink I would be up for that while building the sheet.

I imagine Lady Anna probably has a good knowledge of it, which leads her to rub shoulders with your Galvantula in a friendly sort of way. She may have even offered financial backing, or at the least is a regular customer for both business and pleasure; so to speak. Anna is very much not rough and tumble, so it'll be a fun contrast between the two of them I reckon.

Oooh, looks fancy! She definitely has connections with the resident "Mayor" of Delinquent Town, even if only professionally...though we did talk about some WTWT going on there

I'm still game for the Will They//Won't they dynamic. They may have even shared information and perhaps even an evening or two together, although I imagine their station and status probably means they have to pretend not to outwardly be allies, for fear of other powers in Delinquent Town disapproving of a potential Power Couple.

[Marie Reynolds]

Sounds great to me Pink!  Pink would you mind If I pm you to discuss more of their connections.

[Vergil Tanner]

I'm still game for the Will They//Won't they dynamic. They may have even shared information and perhaps even an evening or two together, although I imagine their station and status probably means they have to pretend not to outwardly be allies, for fear of other powers in Delinquent Town disapproving of a potential Power Couple.

Well, at the start of the game, he is the de facto ruler of Delinquent Town. He crushed the last real resistance years ago, so right now, there is no other real "Power" whose disapproval really matters. Now, that might not be the case going forwards, but at the start of the game, all of the street gangs either work for him, or they keep their heads down enough to avoid catching his eye. It's kinda like if The Kingpin took out Tombstone and Diamondback and Hammerhead and the rest and took their territorities. So right now? He doesn't have to pretend anything, that war has already happened and he's already won xD There are a couple of smaller names, perhaps, but they're not really a threat. Yet, anyway. Will there be a new war in the future? Quite possibly! But for now, he's the king of the mountain and other (NPC) contenders haven't even begun to climb yet xD

All of this is to say that he doesn't have to hide his friendship (and possibly more) with your lass. He can be as open about it as he wants, because nobody he knows of is in a position to challenge it even if they wanted to xD

[Pink Professional]

Sounds great to me Pink!  Pink would you mind If I pm you to discuss more of their connections.

Go ahead.

Well, at the start of the game, he is the de facto ruler of Delinquent Town. He crushed the last real resistance years ago, so right now, there is no other real "Power" whose disapproval really matters. Now, that might not be the case going forwards, but at the start of the game, all of the street gangs either work for him, or they keep their heads down enough to avoid catching his eye. It's kinda like if The Kingpin took out Tombstone and Diamondback and Hammerhead and the rest and took their territorities. So right now? He doesn't have to pretend anything, that war has already happened and he's already won xD There are a couple of smaller names, perhaps, but they're not really a threat. Yet, anyway. Will there be a new war in the future? Quite possibly! But for now, he's the king of the mountain and other (NPC) contenders haven't even begun to climb yet xD

All of this is to say that he doesn't have to hide his friendship (and possibly more) with your lass. He can be as open about it as he wants, because nobody he knows of is in a position to challenge it even if they wanted to xD

In that case, they have probably bumped nasties once or twice by now. Anna, being as fiercely driven and independent as she is, probably wouldn't let anything too serious develop, but a few casual flings? I could certainly see that happening. She's got the ear of so many people that their friendship probably helps him out a lot, and as we said before; People tend to talk loosely when they are cuddling up with their favourite Lopunny Lover, or what-have-you.

[Vergil Tanner]

Lmao, well, Dimitrius certainly wouldn't have argued if she seemed receptive to advances, or if she came onto him. He's definitely up for a few casual connections, though his girls would of course take priority xD I imagine they have a very beneficial relationship, though. He gets gossip and information and potential blackmail material if a certain Castletown Noble comes down for a dalliance with a Mistype or two, and she gets protection, some rather large "Donations" and the ear of the "Mayor" of Delinquent Town. Plus, some pleasant dinner, intelligent company and a fun night or two here and there. What's not to love about a Win / Win / Win, eh? xD