erter

The Republic of Chorasia WIP Geography The geography of Chorasia can be divided into three largely distinct regions. The Republic's capital, the bustling entrepôt of Chorasia, and general economic heartland lies in the south-east, where the river Choras, from which the Republic and its capital take their name, drains into the sea of Ortassa, forming a large estuary. This estuary is made up of rich, clay fields, well suited for all manner of agriculture; partially flooded bogs and mires, which are mined for their peat; and long, sandy beaches and dunes that cover most of the actual coastline. While these lands are blessed with valuable clay and peat grounds, they are also vulnerable to floods, when summer storms push the waters of the sea of Ortassa deeper into the estuary, or when the Choras swells beyond its banks. The north and north-east of Chorasia are lined by rugged, rocky hills, interspersed with steep valleys cut out by the Choras and its tributaries. Vegetation on the hills themselves consists mostly of moss and finger-grass, and a handful of shrubs clinging to the rocky surface, while the valleys are covered by thick forests lining the rivers that flow through them. The region is known as the Howling Hills, because of the eerie sounds that can be heard when the wind blows through the steep valleys. Together with the Choras, these hills form a natural barrier against anyone trying to invade the republic from the north or north-east. Apart from a handful of trading posts, the Howling Hills are sparsely populated, mainly inhabited by scattered groups of foresters and shepherds. Going south, the hills remain, but they gradually change from rugged to rolling, until they eventually meet the sea of Ortassa. The forests remain as well, but the shrubs and moss of the Howling Hills make place for meadows and farmland. The long coastline itself consists of low, clay cliffs and the same large, sandy beaches that are found in the estuary of the Choras. Named after the distinctive red hue of the clay cliffs, the Carnelian Coast is home to several sizable port cities, which occupy the scarce few bays and inlets that provide adequate shelter against the ferocious summer storms. History The history of what would end up becoming the Chorasian Republic began several centuries before the unification of Avakonia, when the first Sea Elf sailors, adventurers and merchants arrived in the region. They founded several colonies along the Carnelian Coast and the estuary of the Choras, including Chorasia, which was named after. With the fertile clay soil providing food aplenty, and a steady stream of new arrivals hoping to strike it rich on the frontier, these colonies quickly grew from simple settlements to sizable cities. Initially, the colonies mostly traded among themselves and with their Elven homeland. However, the journey south was a long and dangerous one, and the Sea Elves, opportunistic and adventurous as they were, soon resumed their voyages of exploration, searching for safer and more profitable trade routes. Before long, ships from the city states of Avakonia and the various kingdoms bordering the Bay of Glass could be spotted along the Carnelian Coast. As the trade with the Elven homeland lost its importance, the ties between the growing city states along the Carnelian Coast and the Sea Elven kingdoms that had once founded them also began to fade, and the city states gradually developed their own unique identity. While Chorasia also profited from these new trade routes, true wealth would not come to the city from the east or west, but from the north. While rivaling city-states sent expeditions down the coast, Chorasian merchants sailed up the Choras, following the river to its source in the mountain range that runs along the continent of Inyaka. From there, they ventured further north, sending out envoys to the kings and chieftains that ruled the cold, harsh lands the Chorasian's discovered on the other side of the mountains. Before long, a burgeoning trade had sprung up between Chorasia and these northern lands, with Chorasian merchants exchaning bronze weaponry for hunting throphies crafted from the remains of beasts and monsters of the north.

I'm going to stake my claim on region 14 if that's okay.

Czerny arrives at the CAT offices on Friday morning dressed in a black dress shirt with matching trousers, but no hat, revealing his thinning, straight black hair. In one hand, he holds a sizable, brown leather briefcase that contains everything he needs for the trip: enough spare clothing; the necessary bathroom utensils; his passport and other important documents; his chequebook and purse; his agenda and notebook; something to read during the journey to Switzerland; and a handful of pamphlets detailing the product lineup of his chess company. Despite having wanted to do intelligence work for a long time, Czerny couldn't help but feel a little underwhelmed as he worked through the final preparations with Carrington, He knew full well he wouldn't be going on some James Bond-esque adventure, but he had been hoping for something a little more exiting than just another business trip. At least he wouldn't be travelling alone this time, like he usually did. All he knew about his partner was her name, Aubrey. Czerny was looking forward to meeting her.

Posting in general had been pretty slow before things died down, so I wouldn't too much of the blame on yourself Kylen. I'd love to get things going again, but it seems like Tiffany has left the game. You could always send her a message and see if she is still interested. Otherwise we could maybe put up another advertisement and get one or two additional members that way?

OOCI would like to play out the first meeting of Tadeusz and Aubrey, but I'm fine with skipping ahead to the train after that.

"I might have met someone going by that surename once, but the name doesn't ring a bell. Departing today is fine with me, I just need to pack my things and let my secretary know. I'll give Aubrey a call once I've taken care of everything. If by some god given miracle we don't get stuck in traffic, we can be in Paris before the end of the day.

"That's understandable. When do you want me to leave for Switzerland? And will I be working alone, or is someone going to accompany me?"

OOCOnce again my apologies for dissapearing for so long. The first two weeks after getting back from vacation were a lot more hectic than I thought they would be, but I'm finally getting back into my usual rhythym, so I hopefully shouldn't go AWOL like that again for the foreseeable future.   "That doesn't surprise me. The soviets are just as dogmatic as the church they so vehemently despise." Tadeusz said with thinly veiled disgust, then nodded at Stevie's remarks about chess. It was a fair point, and especially someone like Antonov would easily pick out an operative that was simply pretending like they knew a lot about chess, from someone that actually knew what they were talking about. "Do we know what Antonov's relationship with his father is like? You mentioned he is a higher-up in the navy. I served in the army myself, but I have my fair share of experience with the soviet military apparatus, so it might be another way to approach him."

To be honest, it never quite got off the ground.

I should have mentioned this a bit earlier, so aplogies for that, but I'm currently on vacation to Ireland. I'll try to get a reply in if I can find the time, but I can't make any guarantees. Feel free to move the story ahead without Czerny if that's easier. I'll be returning home on the 21st, after that my replies will hopefully be back to normal again.

Czerny followed Blake's gaze to the commotion outside, but payed little attention to it, his mind already focused on the task presented to him. For a start, he'd need more information on Antonov. Everyone works differently, and if he approached his target the wrong way, he'd just end up scaring him off. "What else can you tell me about Antonov? What's he like? Do we have any idea why he wants to switch sides?" Then, a more personal question struck him. "And why me? I'm a cynic, not a charmer. You should know that if you've read my file."

Phil Bromlin Phil sighed and pinched his nose when Molly, once again, won the pot. This was why he hated poker. Just as he was trying to come up with a snarky reply to Hondo's complaining, to vent his own frustration at the poker game, their clients arrived. "Hopefully you like this band better." He said to Hondo, as he recognized who had sat down in front of them. Digging in to his chicken wings, Phil listened to what the Deltas had to say. As George and Larry gave their little talk, he couldn't quite hide his surprise, both at the fact that these wings were actually pretty spicy, and about what the two band members were getting at. Helping a famous band to get out of a record deal they were having second thoughts about hadn't even crossed his mind as something they might end up doing for their first job. "You'd think after all these years musicians would've learned to be more careful around big corporate and their greedy record labels." He mumbled to no one in particular. "So where do we come into the picture. Seems to me like you need a contract lawyer, and you aren't going to find one here." Phil responded. He had a feeling the band were looking for something a little more radical and a little less legal, but he didn't want to make any assumptions.

Czerny nodded at Blake's remark. "That's true. Perhaps the Soviets didn't take the talks as serious as the Americans, if they sent Kosygin instead of Brezhnev. But who knows." Scanning the leaflet that Blake had handed to him, he nodded again. "I've heard about the tournament in Biel. If I'm not mistaken, it's the first edition of the tournament. And yes, Grand Master is the highest title that a chess player can attain. But Pyotr Antonov doesn't ring a bell. There are dozens of Soviet Grandmasters, and even more Soviet chess players that are trying to become a Grand Master. What makes this guy special?"

Czerny waded through the crowd as quickly as he could without upsetting anyone, and took a seat opposite of the dark haired woman. "Good afternoon, Blake." He greeted her, and then waved over a server. When his order for a sandwhich and a cup of tea had been taken, he turned his attention back to Blake. The cover of the Time magazine she was reading, featuring a picture of the US president and the Premier of the Soviet Union, caught his attention. "So, what are the yankees writing about Johnson's and Kosygin's little get together in Glassboro?"

Phil Bromlin Still dressed in his stained, dark blue, protective jumpsuit, his face smudged with oil, Phil was the odd one out at the poker table. His head buried in one hand, the other hand incessantly toying with his credits, the mechanic was muttering to himself about outs, draw percentages and rivers. Some people called poker a game of skill, yet his calculations would never quite add up. It was why he didn't like the game much, but it killed the time, and kept some of his more intrusive thoughts away. Startled from his pondering by the server and Hondo's urges, Phil quickly scanned the menu. "A double shot of vodka for me, and the uhh... spicy supernova chicken wings?" He liked spicy food, because much like being occupied with a poker game, it kept his mind from wandering too much. But for some reason it was always marketed with the most overly dramatic or corny names possible. And most of the time the food barely lived up to its name. Like a lot of things in life, if you wanted it done well, you'd have to do it yourself. With the groups order taken, Phil turned his attention back towards the poker game and Molly. "You are either really lucky, really bold, or both." He said, a hint of annoyance in his voice, before he shoved a sizeable stack of credits towards the pot. If he had done his math properly, this should be a safe bet, but he had a bad feeling about it.

I can definitely see Phil being involved in some sort of spaceship heist, simply to get off-world or maybe to settle a debt with someone. Knowing the ins and outs of repairing ships probably helps with stealing one too. Perhaps our characters all worked together to steal the ship we are currently on, and that is how they got to know each other? But I also agree with Basil that we should wait if we hear anything from Kylen. It would be a shame to write a cool collective backstory without the campaign actually getting off the ground.

Czerny reached for the handset to silence the piercing ringing. "Clockworks, Czerny speaking." He answered, cracking a slight smile when he heard Stevie speak. Czerny had been waiting for her call. "It took you long enough to get back to me. I'll be there." His reply was curt and to the point, a habit from his military days. The next three or so hours Czerny used to get his most pressing tasks for Clockworks done. The less important work could be taken care of by his secretary and colleagues. At exactly eleven thirtyfive he was out on the street, wearing a black fedora to shield him from the prominent midday sun, together with a matching black dress shirt and pants. He slowly began to make his way towards towards the South Kensington tube station. From there it was just a single stop to London Victoria.

Talk about a coincidence, I've been born and raised in The Hague! Also, my apologies for being so quiet lately, I'll make sure to get a post up tomorrow. With the academic year wrapping up I'll have all the time in the world for the next two and a half months, so hopefully no more delays from my side for a while.

Tadeusz was looking forward to the summer. With his company steadily expanding over the last several years, a fair few of his tasks had been delegated. The usual uptick in orders during this time of year was gave him something to do, as did meeting up with his acquaintances during the summer chess tournaments. While he waited for the post to arrive, which usually signaled the start of his day, Tadeusz sipped his morning coffee and browsed through the morning newspaper. Castle's jaywalking proposal felt rather frivolous to him, especially compared to the legalization of homosexuality. Although it seemed silly that it only applied to those over 21. The age of consent for straight people was 16 years old. Why should that be any different for gay people?

Sounds good. I'm honestly fine with whatever when it comes to group composition. I like the idea of a single partner, but I have nothing against a larger group either.

I think a plasma torch is very fitting for Phil. When it comes to ship stats, I feel like taking a +2 in either Body or Mobility would be a good idea, as that should help with the general survivability of our ship. My vote probably goes to +2 Mobility and +1 Systems, because I just love the idea of a rust bucket with an oversized engine strapped on.

I think Tadeusz is all done, let me know if I missed anything. Also, that Guardian was a very nice read, thanks for the suggestion.

I'm glad you like it. Personality is all wrapped up. I'll try to get his description and the remaining info done tomorrow, and then I think my character should be ready to go. Also, thanks for suggestion that article. It looks super interesting, and I'm definitely going to give it a read.

Backstory is up, feel free to give any feedback. I have a decent idea for my character's personality, so I'll try to write that down either tomorrow or the day after that. Depends a bit on when I have the time. Regarding place of residence, would you happen to know of any London areas that are known for their Polish communities @Silent Hunter UK?

Full name: Tadeusz Kazimierz Czerny Date of birth: 21st of May 1913 Place of birth: Warsaw, Russian Poland Physical Description: Standing at 5ft10, with a black taper cut that is slowly starting to both bald and fade, Tadeusz is a rather unassuming man, who easily blends into a crowd. He has a weathered, clean shaven face with plenty of wrinkles, that is usually lined with a subtle, wry smile. His light blue eyes are piercing, but have a tired, hollow glint to them. When it comes to clothing, with all the time he has spent in some sort of military dress, wearing a suit has pretty much become second nature for Tadeusz, and you'll rarely see him dressed in anything else. His preference is a black two piece suit, most often with a white shirt and black tie, although he'll occasionally opt for a black shirt. A Polish flag lapel pin is a sublte hint to his origins. Personality: Two events have molded Tadeusz' personality more than anything. His career as a military officer, and his experiences during the second world war. 15 years as a soldier have ingrained a strong deference to authority in Tadeusz, and he's unlikely to challenge the orders of his superiors, how unreasonable they may be, even if he has eased up a bit since becoming his own boss. Maneuvering through the hierarchy of the Polish and Red Army has also left Tadeusz with a strong tendency to tell people what they want to hear, instead of what he actually thinks himself. Discrediting your superiors too often is an easy way to torpedo your career. Then there is the war. Tadeusz has never been an idealistic person, but before the war started he at least believed in something. The death, destruction and barbarism he saw on the Eastern Front pulverized any vaguely optimistic beliefs he might have held, replacing it with a vicious cynicism that borders on misanthropy. That, and a burning hatred of communism. In his mind, all that stands between humans and savagery is the shaky constraints of governmental order. And although Tadeusz tends to be rather reserved, he isn't afraid to share his cynical worldview and distaste of communism with those unfortunate enough to broach the subject, which can, at times, make him a rather unpleasant person to be around. His cynical nature is also why Tadeusz has grown so fond of chess. To him, chess is fair in a way that the real world isn't. In chess you can't cheat, you can't deceive your opponent, and you can't get lucky. It is simply a battle of the wits, where the sharpest mind is almost guaranteed to come out on top. Languages: Polish, English, Russian Nationality: English (naturalised) Background: Tadeusz' story began in 1913 in Warsaw, when what was once Poland was ruled over by the German, Russian and Austrian empires. The city was spared from any fighting during the great war, but in 1920 blood would still flow on the streets during the battle of Warsaw. It was here that the advance of the invading Red Army was halted, guaranteeing Polish independence for the next two decades. Tadeusz still remembers the battle vividly, and those two weeks in August left a lasting impression on the young boy. At twenty years old Tadeusz joined the Polish army as a career officer. Realising how vulnerable the new Polish Republic was, wedged in between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, he wanted to contribute to the defence of his country. He had worked himself up to the rank of captain when in 1939 Poland was invaded by Germany from the west and the Soviet Union from the east. The Polish Army fought back as best it could, but they were simply no match for the combined German and Soviet armies. In the aftermath of the invasion Tadeusz was captured by the Russian forces, and spent several years in prisoner of war camps, until he was recruited for the Polish armed forces serving under soviet command in 1943. During his time on the Eastern front he saw extensive action, but no battle changed Tadeusz as much as the Warsaw uprising. With the Red Army entering Eastern Poland in late summer 1944, the Polish Home Army rose up and captured large parts of Warsaw, hoping to be relieved by the advancing soviet troops. Instead, the Red Army halted combat operations, and Tadeusz could only watch as the Wehrmacht razed Warsaw to the ground and slaughtered its inhabitants. After the end of the war there was nothing left for Tadeusz in Poland. His parents had died during the occupation, the city that was once his home had been wiped off the map, and the country he had once sought to defend was being turned into a communist puppet state. Instead, he reached out to the British forces while he was stationed in Germany, offering them his knowledge on soviet military workings in return for a new life in the United Kingdom. MI6 had its reservations at first, but with the Cold War beginning to take shape, they had to be pragmatic. For several years Tadeusz gathered as much intelligence as his rank would allow him, before slipping through the Iron Curtain. Back in the UK, he wanted to do field work, seeing it as his way to fight back against the red menace that now controlled Poland. However, he was declared unfit for duty, officially because of his "psychological difficulties", but Tadeusz blamed the distrust his superiors had towards him. Following his rather ugly break with MI6, Tadeusz went on several long treks through Europe, trying to come to grips with his past and find some new purpose now that his military and intelligence career seemed to be over. He eventually found it in chess, and created his own company specialising in the production of chess clocks. These days, Tadeusz' company has expanded far beyond its humble beginnings, selling all manner of different chess accessories in several different markets, and his business contacts, especially those with soviet countries, where chess is wildly popular, have once again brought him under the attention of the British intelligence services. Place of residence: 38 Cranley Mews, London Relations who live in the same house/flat as them: none