The Wide World

mkooper · 8:26am

I'll present a cartographer extraordinaire:

Shnarl bounded away from his mother. They were back in the forest after crossing the high mountains from their summer settlement called Highnoon. In winter they settled in the forest of Seven Hills in a place called Fern Gulley. Snarl was 5 years old and he loved the forest. The mountains were cool too, but it got a bit lonely up there with his father, mother, and older sister. They were shepherds and summer was spent with the flock of goats high in the mountains where the best grass grew.

With a nice fat herd they returned to the forest to sell of the yearlings and to slaughter and preserve the meat for their own consumption. There wasn’t much money in it, but they were a happy family. On that winter, his father went looking for another job, and initially he sent a steady flow of money their way, with word that he was going for the mother-load and would return soon. Then it was like an axe severed the link. Not a word since. Joanish, Shnarl’s mother, was devastated.

That was 20 years ago, yet Shnarl still longs for those carefree times in the summer mountains with his whole family. He has gone back to visit his mother many times, even spent the whole of the last winter in Fern Gully with his mother. His sister, Jamaik had just given birth to her second child, a son and also still lived in Fern Gulley. Shnarl’s first niece was now 3 years old. He had come with lot of presents of warm clothes, fishing hooks, new knifes and loads more. His mercenary career paid a lot better than being a shepherd. But as usual he returned without any word about his and Jamaik’s father, Joanish’s husband.

During his searches that started 10 years ago, when Shnarls decided to leave home and look for Gruph Hounder, his father, he has found small clues here and there, but never any decent links. Shnarl had his own adventures in those first years. First he was earning a living as a bouncer for the “Boar’s Tusks” inn, then a stone mason in a quarry, as a friend offered him the job during a boom time due to the building of a new temple in the same town called Bronsedale. The town was about 3 week journey from Fern Gulley. He graduated to become a guard of the quarry and finally a guard for the town.

When he earned enough to survive for a few months on his own he left, following a thin trail of his father’s. A trail that has all but disintegrated over time. He was given a beautiful cloak by his comrades in arms that grew very fond of him. The trail hopped from town to village to town again, never stopping for very long. Then after several years, several jobs and countless miles, Shnarl completely lost the trail in Emington, only to suddenly find it again at a business selling horses, where one stable-hand mentioned that he had not seen a shifter like him in about 4 years.

He did get the feeling that his father went out of the normal civilised world and had taken up adventuring further abroad. At the stables in Emington he found several clues that his father was planning something big. What Shnarl had going for him in his search was that there were not many Longtooth shifter’s in Emington and on top of that his father had lost an ear during his shepherding days to a hungry Yeti. Apparently, Gruph and his companions had bought a wagon and several horses as well as some spare wheels and axles. Then they had filled it with survival materials for a long range expedition.

So when Sharl left his mother in the last spring he told her that it might take some time for him to come back, he was leaving in to unknown territory. Several weeks later he arrived in Emington and heard about Duke Ignolias of Emington’s search for heroes.

Excellent!
Just what he needed to kill two birds with one stone.

Magil · 6:27am

This sounds pretty cool. I'd be interested. I assume we're just supposed to make up the details of where we're from from scratch? ~~I'll add in a sheet in just a bit.~~ Got a sheet up and the required information for the character. Gonna fill out the other various details (such as information on his familiar and the like) over the next day or so. If there's any other information you need, feel free to let me know and I'll edit. One quick query: what kind of post rate are you aiming for for this game?

Name: Rosseau Dublith
Race/Class: Human Wizard
Appearance: Rosseau has no especially striking features; he is somewhat short and not especially well-built, with fair skin and long black hair tied back in a rather long ponytail. His clothing is somewhat expensive-looking, a white hoodless robe with sky blue accents on the cuffs and collar over a simple white shirt (which naturally cannot be seen) and white slacks with more sky blue accents near the ends. He wears extravagant-looking white leather boots, and is usually seen carrying a faintly glowing staff and with a mundane (non-magical) tome at his side.
Background: Rosseau was born to the noble house of Dublith in the human city of Nasgran, just a few days by caravan north of Emington. An exceptionally bright child, Rosseau was gifted in being born to this family, as he had the money to obtain a proper education.

His mother and father, both nobles with considerable status, generally encouraged Rosseau's studies, even when it became clear that he had an affinity for the arcane and went to study under the tutorage of a local elven wizard named Sheemas. It was during his late teen years, while mastering the basics of wizardry that he began to realize his calling in life: he wished to be a lorekeeper, or a collector of knowledge. Put simply, he wants to know the unknown. And there is a lot of unknown in his world. This is why, against the wishes of his parents, he has abandoned his life as a noble and responded to the call of Duke Ignolias, as he sees it as a prime opportunity to collect all sorts of knowledge that he could not possibly acquire on his own. Further, Rosseau's ultimate goal is to use the knowledge, land, power, and wealth he accumulated during his adventures to establish a grand library, wherein he will share his wealth of knowledge with the populace. If he is able, he would also like to establish a university open to all, regardless of wealth or social status, and possibly a museum to showcase all the rare artifacts and items seen or acquired throughout the adventure. This aspiring young scholar has taken his first step into a larger world.

Meinos Kaen · May 18 '09, 2:21pm

I guess a Ranger or a Druid would be pretty useful in such a campaign. Or maybe a Shaman too. Hmmm, so many choices...

Belabras · 3:42am

Orach
Race/Class: Deva / Druid

History:
Ages ago, when the world was young and the Gods and Primordials still warred for dominion over it, there existed more deities than those that dwell in the astral plane now. One such, Molead the Earth Lord, was struck down by an unknown assailant. Nearly all of Molead's host of Archons and Devas were destroyed in the conflict, and the vast majority of those that were not perished in grief and despair with the fall of their master. Seven, though deeply wounded by the loss of their lord, survived the destruction of Molead. Orach was one of the Seven.

Paralyzed by sadness, Orach existed in a fugue state until well after the rise of the Primal spirits and the withdrawal of the Gods and Primordials from the mortal plane. Eons passed and Orach existed as nothing more than a disembodied soul in what was once a holy place of Molead the Rockfather. Slowly the plants and animals of the natural world crept into the barren fastness, and their spirits brushed the Deva. With each touch he could hear the voices of the Primal spirits of the world. Those half heard whispers drew Orach forth, leading him to once more put on physical form and seek them out. Following the call of the Beast, he climbed out of what had become a mausoleum to a long dead god and beheld a world much changed from the one he once knew. And so began a journey that would span many lifetimes.

Orach has only existed a few years in his current incarnation. In that time he has traveled the edges of civilization until finally arriving in Emington. A wanderer by nature, the Deva found the Duke's call to explore and by doing so help others a perfect opportunity.

Personality:
Orach serves the Primal Beast in much the way that other Deva's serve their deities. As such he is a passionate protector of the natural world and a ceaseless hunter of the creatures and forces that would do it harm. At a deeper level, he still holds the precepts of Molead dear: to revere the land, to do good works by strength of will and heart, and to protect those that lack the strength to protect themselves. He constantly seeks a path that marries the two ideologies.

Kind and with a deep supply of patience, Orach has a warm demeanor that is only slightly tinged by the lingering sadness from his lost god.

Appearance:
Orach is pale like chalk, with blue patterns on his upper body. His eyes are a pale grey bordering on white and his blue hair is short and spiky, almost like quills. He is tall and thin, like most Deva, but dressed in the simple cloth and skin of a typical druid, though perhaps constructed in a slightly otherworldly manner.

When wildshaped he invariably takes on a form similar to a bulette with coloring like his own.

Hooks:
-Orach has never learned who or what struck down Molead. Any hint as to the culprit would spur him into a life long quest to avenge the dead god.
-Orach knows he has 6 surviving siblings, but has no idea what has become of them. In dark moments he fears they have become Rakshasa.
-An immortal who is forever reborn but can never truly reproduce, Orach's nature is fundamentally alien to the natural world he embraces, a point other followers of Primal spirits waste no time raising with him. Sometimes violently.

FreeRange · May 18 '09, 5:42pm

@Zolem - How long are you planning on accepting applications?

Zolem · 6:30pm

@Free Range: I plan to accept aplications untill the end of the month.

@Magil: I would hope for people to post either once a day or at least check in daily; but I wont't be too stict about it. I also liked your idea to list which book powers are from. I won't require it, but it is apreciated. And yes, feel free to make it up from scratch, it encourages creativity and gives me more material to work with.

Asuril · 9:09pm

This game is exactly what me and my friend have been looking for! Posting some extreme interest. Expect a half-orc Barbarian profile up later today in this space!

Query: Are we allowed to take items from the Adventurer's Vault (provided we provide you with the details?)

All done, here's my character. Sorry his background is so long; I trimmed it down as much as I could but it's still pretty darn long. Ironically I typically only ever write short bios, this time I just really got into this character. That's a good thing, though! Btw, this is a joint-bio with SaveVsDm's character "Xavian Starsong," so expect his submission later.

Name: Vargas Strakenberg, “The Crimson Avalanche,” Rusk
Race: Half-Orc
Class: Barbarian

Rusk was the son of the cruel orc bandit chief Umdurag and a half-orc mother he never knew. He was one of many sons, and far from the favorite. His time spent with the bandits was short; the majesty of Emington’s famous Guilded Wyrm knightly order captured his fascination during their skirmishes against his father’s men, and he fled the tribe with dreams of joining their ranks. He discovered that this was no simple task for a half-orc, and was met with no more kindness in the vast city of Emington than he was within his own clan.

The closest Rusk could get to the life of a knight was working as a stable boy. It kept him near the castle where he could watch the knights and squires train. At night he would practice the sword swings as best as he could remember. One fateful day he ventured a closer look at a group of sparring squires. Their ring-leader invited him to a duel and gave him a practice sword (with many snickering comments). Their fun was spoiled, surprisingly, as he bested the bully with brute force. Before they could punish him their sword-master, the renowned Vargas Strakenberg, intervened. Vargas Strakenberg was once a valiant knight known for his skill with a sword and his billowing red cloak. Strakenberg was not unkind and saw the potential in the young half-orc. He began training the boy in swordsmanship at nights when they would not be disturbed.

Over the next few years Rusk became the sword-masters finest pupil. Vargas Strakenberg was everything Rusk hoped to one day become; honorable, heroic, and terrifying with a sword. He was like a father to the young half-orc. Strakenberg began taking Rusk to the tournaments to watch the knights fight and to observe their techniques. It was at the tournaments that Rusk first saw Lady Elmire, the beautiful daughter of Duke Emington. The half-orc fell head-over-heels in love at once and dreamt to one day win her heart. These times were the happiest of Rusk’s life; he had good, hard labor during the day, disciplined swordplay at night, and freedom to explore the city hoping for a glimpse at Lady Elmire during his free moments.

When Rusk was 18 Umdurag and his bandit clan (which had grown tremendously over the years) launched a surprise attack on the outskirts of Emington while the knights were occupied elsewhere. Vargas Strakenberg entrusted his signature red cloak to Rusk, donned the tabard of the city watch, and lead the guardsmen in a heroic defense. The murderous gang of orcs was destroyed, but Strakenberg and Umdurag both died, locked in mortal combat. Rusk was devastated. With no reason to remain a stable boy, he donned his master’s cloak and renamed himself Vargas Strakenberg. He vowed to become as knightly as his namesake.

The reborn Vargas Strakenberg was not sure how to begin this quest; while his skill with a sword had grown tremendously, he was no more liked by the nobility than the day of his arrival. Help arrived in the form of Xavien Starsong, the half-elf bard. Xavien used his charm to get Vargas into several of Emington’s smaller tournaments and melees, all the while gaining reputation as the half-orc’s minstrel. Vargas was initially met with scorn from the crowd, who did not approve of his adopting the sword-master’s name and famous cloak, but his skill on the field could not be denied. He became known as “The Crimson Avalanche,” and his terrifying combat style that was equal parts ferocity, speed, and technique was something to behold and respect. He bore the skill of his master and the savagery of his bloodline, and often took incredible risks during combat, exposing himself to attacks but allowing him to inflict terrible blows on his opponents. Compared to the knights he fought against he was both savage and unorthodox. In time, and with Xavien’s incredible ability to win the hearts of listeners, he became a crowd favorite.

Vargas Strakenberg had begun to gain a reputation; it wasn’t as a heroic knight, but it was a start. Outside of the tournament ring he strove to be as honorable as possible, even if his antics were met with laughter. His unrequited love for the Lady Elmire was ever present, and he began each tournament by requesting her favor. “One day she will accept,” he would tell himself. But to Lady Elmire, Vargas was nothing more than a simple brute to be bested by the dashing knights in the melees. The most recent and far grandest of the tournaments held in Emington was of cataclysmic importance to Vargas; the rewards for the victor were twofold: a kiss from Lady Elmire and the mammoth sword “Bloodwake” retrieved from the slain orc chieftain Umdurag two years ago. Vargas knew that he could not accept defeat. After a full three days of bloody combat, Vargas emerged victor, but was so terribly wounded that he collapsed before he could retrieve his kiss (much to the Lady’s relief).

Afterwards Vargas sought Lady Elmire out at the castle. As the tournament winner he was reluctantly given entrance, but was met with ridicule and embarrassment by the present nobility as he openly declared his love and intentions for Lady Elmire. He was laughed out of the castle. He never did get his kiss, but he uses his father’s colossal sword (renamed “Bloodrose”) to this day. The following month the Duke declared his challenge to any with courage; to travel the world and begin documenting the first map ever created. To Vargas this was destiny. He accepted this challenge and swore to return only when he had gained fame, honor, and the love of Lady Elmire.

Zombiekillerninja · 12:40am

Reserving a space for a Halfling Sorcerer. I'm at school right now, I'll fill this in later. Bells about to ring.
Look below! I'm done!
Name: Shimon Volk
Race/Class: Halfling Sorcerer (Wild Magic)
Appearance: Shimon is thin and wiry, barely tall enough to reach most tables. He dresses with a ratty cloak concealing the finer items underneath him. Several scorch marks cover his clothing from the unfortunate side effects of his magic.
Background:
Shimon was born in the small town of Faral, to common parents. They were visited one day by a being, heavily cloaked and who appeared to be leaking different elements from his body. The being touched Shimon's mother's stomach when she was still pregnant and a flash occured. The being spoke in a tongue unheard around the parts then disappeared. When Shimon was born he seemed normal enough and the event was discounted as unimportant. At age 3, Shimon summoned a small burst of light that caused in his parents a large headache. They took him to the local temple and left him there for the priests to take care of. They raised him for a time then shipped him to the Duke after they determined he might know better to do with the now very destructive youth. The Duke put him under the tutelage of the court mage, Grano, who taught him a bit more about the arcane fabrics. Shimon is now undertaking this quest as a way of repaying the duke for allowing him to stay in the court and learn.

Zolem · May 18 '09, 9:33pm

@ Asuril: I got the book this mornign actualy, so consider it legal as of now.