The Living Waste of Mekhallah (Low Fantasy/OOC/Open)

[Lancearc]

Absolutely, the area to the north and west is kind of intentionally left a bit vague for that reason, though the general idea is that the are is inhabited primarily by nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples due to the geography and climate. If you had a concept for a group or small kingdom inhabiting that region I wouldn't mind working alongside to make it more established within the world as well.

Is there a Persian civilization in this world?

In the Sultanate there is no equivalent, but I'd be more than happy to work in a Persian-themed people in the Southeast, since I'm painting Ji-Alsim and its border regions as the more alien-but-developed regions as opposed to the north's alien-and-wild areas.

That would fit well.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Character Name: Shadhaa Samita (The Silent)
Character Race: Human
Character Description/Image:

(Image)

Character Personality: Shadhaa is someone who is almost entirely unreserved. She speaks her mind and she speaks the truth, unless pure necessity dictates otherwise. As a Qadi, or Justice, her task is to bring a truth to the world, no matter how large or small this truth may be. However, as much as she will know and speak the truth, it is not her position to alter the truth. She isn't even in a position to judge. Her duty is to know and to explain, rather than to decide and alter. At least, this is the tradition in which she was raised. Meeting Shadhaa can be uncomfortable to those who are not familiar with a person speaking truthfully, and especially for those in traditions that do not allow women to be so bold and forward. However, the wisest men of the Sultanate have found that it is always good to have a Qadi nearby, if only for truth in moments of desparation, where no-one else can be trusted.

Shadhaa is a naturally curious individual, and she is known to ask too many questions for comfort. Nothing lies particularly outside her intrests, although she focuses on matters of law and sociology, as well as what we today would call political sciences. This interest is not merely secular, but religious, and Shadhaa is a very religious and observant woman indeed. The existence of the divine is presupposed and clear through all the beauty in the world, and it is understanding the will of the divine that gives Shadhaa her natural curiosity.
Character Flaws: Shadhaa fears that being too much of a presence will somehow disturb the world she wants to observe. She enjoys company, but cannot allow herself to rely too much on others. She has to rely on herself, in fear of being intelelctually 'infected' by those she wishes to observe. As such, while she has no trouble making superificial friendships for a time, she shuns close bonds with people that might be beneficial to her. Likewise, she is unable to use her knowledge to actually affect the world, because that is not her purpose, and she might actually befoul her subject matter by interfering. She gathers wisdom for the sake of wisdom, and to help others make decisions, but even then she is reserved. She makes a good councillor, but a terrible leader.
Character Bio/Backstory: Shadhaa was born into a farmer's household of median wealth, owning land surrounding a small oasis in northern Makhalga. Although generally unsuited for growing crop, it provided a good base of operations for their sheep and goat herds. Because she was of median wealth, Shadhaa had to suffer the worst of both worlds: not being extraordinarily wealth, the family could not afford to live their lives in a city like Almaqa, but still being rich enough that she was kept inside, not being required to help with the running of the farm. She got to play with the sheep every once in a while, but generally, she was expected to learn the ancient stories of her people by heart, and to sing the songs of her ancestors. Simple, boring work.

When she was eleven, the oasis of her family hosted peace talks between two neighbouring clans, who laid claim to land whose ownership was in dispute. For seven days, the chieftains negotiated, under the watchful eye of a visitor: a woman, a Qadi, from the Mardiyya el-Amen school of jurisprudence in Almaqa. The ancient tribal traditions in the region, still from before the Sultan's conquest, held the wisdom and neutrality of women in high regard, and seeking a final outcome to their dispute, the two clans had spared no expense. The woman was a true matriarch, keeping order and granting wisdom when asked. When she told a story, everyone was at her lips, and when she decided in the small disputes that made up the final dispute, some might grumble, but all accepted her wisdom.

The dispute was settled peacefully and the clans returned to their home, and so did Tulaiha, the female Qadi. However, not before Shadhaa's father had extracted from her a payment for his hospitality: that his daughter be allowed to study at Mardiyya el-Amen. Now, Tulaiha had grumbled, but the ancient ways would not allow her to deny such a gracious host, and soon they received word that Shadhaa could come and study at Mardiyya el-Amen. Now, these studies were not the light reading she had received back at home, where books and scrolls were scarce. In her first five years, until she was seventeen, she only read the stories, and multiple versions, being taught how to distinguish between the versions and the reason for their differences. Until she was twenty, she was taught the various different schools of taught, with the Mardiyya el-Amen school providing her with a particularly liberal methodology, based on the ancient tribal laws of yore. The final four years of study were spent actually applying these rules, and reading the various tomes of legal scholars to that effect.

Shadhaa was 25 by the time she was finished with her studies, and her hard work had paid off. She was offered a position at the school itself, to teach the younglings. However, the teaching life did not suit her. She wanted to write a legal tome of her own, based on the various local laws that already existed from before the Sultan's conquest. Thus, supplying herself with a donkey, some writing gear, and an iron staff, she headed out on her own, doing the work of a traveling Qadi. When in cities and towns, she was paid in gold and silver, and when in the countryside, she was paid in meat and foodstuffs, as well as clothing. She appreciated the countryside more for its similarities to home, and because of their peace and quiet. Yet, in the towns and cities there were large cases stretching back hundreds of years, as well as rulers who needed advice.

Her travels took her east, until she arrived at the mouth of the Qaara river, which she followed northwards through the river valley. Here, she had her first experiences with Horned Folk and Hooved Folk, and though she was afraid of them at first, through her natural-born curiosity she also learnt a lot about their customs. From this sprouted the idea of an entirely separate tome, on the nature of Dzho'Drakt. Their love for balance was one that really stuck with her, as a lover of peace and justice, and many of the Dzho'Drakt teachings made their way into her notes.

Now, she has arrived at Alkhafat by river barge. She is in need of hospitality, money to pay for her trip, and stories to fill her ever-growing piles of notes. In short, she seeks a case to crack. With the ever-encroaching Living Wase advancing towards the city, she hopes to make it her home, to see the reaction of humanity, and to bear witness to a monumental, historical event that would surely change the world for generations to come. Such wisdom, from such a special event, could only be gained once. So, she seeks to settle, and to take the last possible barge out of the city when the Waste finally arrives, or until she grows bored. In the meantime, she will seek the wisdom of the Horned and Hooved folk, for as long as their civilisations still exist, and her great wish is to visit an Alrifaq mountainside village.
Character Skills and profession: Shadhaa is a Qadi, a master of Tabala jurisprudence and learned, not just in its religious texts, but specifically knowledgeable about the sources of law within the religion. The study of Fiqh Tabala is almost as old as the worship of the stars itself, when the Magi of old tried to divine the way society should be organised from the stars. This study was soon separated into its own field of study. Fiqh Tabala does not follow a single methodology. Rather, the methodology has regional differences as well as philosophical differences, depending on the context of the age and the demands of a given time. Generally, however, most Qadi study the life of the Lunar Mantle and the many stories told since the foundation of Tabala, as well as the ancient legends from before that time. Qadi try to interpret these stories to find hidden meanings and truths that are applicable to the modern day. These rules are then extrapolated into laws by which all followers of Tabala should conduct themselves. Fiqh Tabala holds rules about property, family, criminal justice, and all other kinds of law.

In court, the Qadi is generally does not determine outcome of a case, or sentence. While some Qadi are judges, they generally tend to advise sheiks and sultans in their law-giving, and in lower courts they simply law down the matter before a local jury or a village elder, depending on local customs. Qadi are frequent travellers, since there aren't enough of them to provide every town and village with legal advice. As such, they travel from location to location, and with their arrival all court cases that have come up since the last Qadi left are settled. Qadi of the court are paid handsomely for their services, while travelling Qadi are often paid in food or other items. Being frequent travellers, Qadi often use their time to collect stories and legends of their own, which in turn can be adopted into great legal tomes. The tomes of the most prolific and wisest authors are often themselves seen as law, and reference to these writers is enough to sway most judges.

Shadhaa is a part of the Qadi tradition that looks mostly to nature to find the true meanings of right and wrong, as an addition to the sacred texts. More specifically, she adheres to the school of thought that sees humanity as part of nature, and thus, through watching humans at their most natural can you find out the true nature of the universe. This school is among the more liberal of the Qadi jurisprudences, since it seeks to respect human nature above some laws, and puts emphasis on the idea that human desires are not necessarily the work of evil. This puts them at odds with Qariqism, which they in turn percieve as the chief heresy.
Additional information: Carries an inscribed iron staff for protection, which she would never use to kill. Only to incapacitate.

And here she is! Shadhaa the Silent, here to judge, observe, and learn.

[Somerania]

Character Name: Shadhaa Samita (The Silent)
Character Race: Human
Character Description/Image:

(Image)

Character Personality: Shadhaa is someone who is almost entirely unreserved. She speaks her mind and she speaks the truth, unless pure necessity dictates otherwise. As a Qadi, or Justice, her task is to bring a truth to the world, no matter how large or small this truth may be. However, as much as she will know and speak the truth, it is not her position to alter the truth. She isn't even in a position to judge. Her duty is to know and to explain, rather than to decide and alter. At least, this is the tradition in which she was raised. Meeting Shadhaa can be uncomfortable to those who are not familiar with a person speaking truthfully, and especially for those in traditions that do not allow women to be so bold and forward. However, the wisest men of the Sultanate have found that it is always good to have a Qadi nearby, if only for truth in moments of desparation, where no-one else can be trusted.

Shadhaa is a naturally curious individual, and she is known to ask too many questions for comfort. Nothing lies particularly outside her intrests, although she focuses on matters of law and sociology, as well as what we today would call political sciences. This interest is not merely secular, but religious, and Shadhaa is a very religious and observant woman indeed. The existence of the divine is presupposed and clear through all the beauty in the world, and it is understanding the will of the divine that gives Shadhaa her natural curiosity.
Character Flaws: Shadhaa fears that being too much of a presence will somehow disturb the world she wants to observe. She enjoys company, but cannot allow herself to rely too much on others. She has to rely on herself, in fear of being intelelctually 'infected' by those she wishes to observe. As such, while she has no trouble making superificial friendships for a time, she shuns close bonds with people that might be beneficial to her. Likewise, she is unable to use her knowledge to actually affect the world, because that is not her purpose, and she might actually befoul her subject matter by interfering. She gathers wisdom for the sake of wisdom, and to help others make decisions, but even then she is reserved. She makes a good councillor, but a terrible leader.
Character Bio/Backstory: Shadhaa was born into a farmer's household of median wealth, owning land surrounding a small oasis in northern Makhalga. Although generally unsuited for growing crop, it provided a good base of operations for their sheep and goat herds. Because she was of median wealth, Shadhaa had to suffer the worst of both worlds: not being extraordinarily wealth, the family could not afford to live their lives in a city like Almaqa, but still being rich enough that she was kept inside, not being required to help with the running of the farm. She got to play with the sheep every once in a while, but generally, she was expected to learn the ancient stories of her people by heart, and to sing the songs of her ancestors. Simple, boring work.

When she was eleven, the oasis of her family hosted peace talks between two neighbouring clans, who laid claim to land whose ownership was in dispute. For seven days, the chieftains negotiated, under the watchful eye of a visitor: a woman, a Qadi, from the Mardiyya el-Amen school of jurisprudence in Almaqa. The ancient tribal traditions in the region, still from before the Sultan's conquest, held the wisdom and neutrality of women in high regard, and seeking a final outcome to their dispute, the two clans had spared no expense. The woman was a true matriarch, keeping order and granting wisdom when asked. When she told a story, everyone was at her lips, and when she decided in the small disputes that made up the final dispute, some might grumble, but all accepted her wisdom.

The dispute was settled peacefully and the clans returned to their home, and so did Tulaiha, the female Qadi. However, not before Shadhaa's father had extracted from her a payment for his hospitality: that his daughter be allowed to study at Mardiyya el-Amen. Now, Tulaiha had grumbled, but the ancient ways would not allow her to deny such a gracious host, and soon they received word that Shadhaa could come and study at Mardiyya el-Amen. Now, these studies were not the light reading she had received back at home, where books and scrolls were scarce. In her first five years, until she was seventeen, she only read the stories, and multiple versions, being taught how to distinguish between the versions and the reason for their differences. Until she was twenty, she was taught the various different schools of taught, with the Mardiyya el-Amen school providing her with a particularly liberal methodology, based on the ancient tribal laws of yore. The final four years of study were spent actually applying these rules, and reading the various tomes of legal scholars to that effect.

Shadhaa was 25 by the time she was finished with her studies, and her hard work had paid off. She was offered a position at the school itself, to teach the younglings. However, the teaching life did not suit her. She wanted to write a legal tome of her own, based on the various local laws that already existed from before the Sultan's conquest. Thus, supplying herself with a donkey, some writing gear, and an iron staff, she headed out on her own, doing the work of a traveling Qadi. When in cities and towns, she was paid in gold and silver, and when in the countryside, she was paid in meat and foodstuffs, as well as clothing. She appreciated the countryside more for its similarities to home, and because of their peace and quiet. Yet, in the towns and cities there were large cases stretching back hundreds of years, as well as rulers who needed advice.

Her travels took her east, until she arrived at the mouth of the Qaara river, which she followed northwards through the river valley. Here, she had her first experiences with Horned Folk and Hooved Folk, and though she was afraid of them at first, through her natural-born curiosity she also learnt a lot about their customs. From this sprouted the idea of an entirely separate tome, on the nature of Dzho'Drakt. Their love for balance was one that really stuck with her, as a lover of peace and justice, and many of the Dzho'Drakt teachings made their way into her notes.

Now, she has arrived at Alkhafat by river barge. She is in need of hospitality, money to pay for her trip, and stories to fill her ever-growing piles of notes. In short, she seeks a case to crack. With the ever-encroaching Living Wase advancing towards the city, she hopes to make it her home, to see the reaction of humanity, and to bear witness to a monumental, historical event that would surely change the world for generations to come. Such wisdom, from such a special event, could only be gained once. So, she seeks to settle, and to take the last possible barge out of the city when the Waste finally arrives, or until she grows bored. In the meantime, she will seek the wisdom of the Horned and Hooved folk, for as long as their civilisations still exist, and her great wish is to visit an Alrifaq mountainside village.
Character Skills and profession: Shadhaa is a Qadi, a master of Tabala jurisprudence and learned, not just in its religious texts, but specifically knowledgeable about the sources of law within the religion. The study of Fiqh Tabala is almost as old as the worship of the stars itself, when the Magi of old tried to divine the way society should be organised from the stars. This study was soon separated into its own field of study. Fiqh Tabala does not follow a single methodology. Rather, the methodology has regional differences as well as philosophical differences, depending on the context of the age and the demands of a given time. Generally, however, most Qadi study the life of the Lunar Mantle and the many stories told since the foundation of Tabala, as well as the ancient legends from before that time. Qadi try to interpret these stories to find hidden meanings and truths that are applicable to the modern day. These rules are then extrapolated into laws by which all followers of Tabala should conduct themselves. Fiqh Tabala holds rules about property, family, criminal justice, and all other kinds of law.

In court, the Qadi is generally does not determine outcome of a case, or sentence. While some Qadi are judges, they generally tend to advise sheiks and sultans in their law-giving, and in lower courts they simply law down the matter before a local jury or a village elder, depending on local customs. Qadi are frequent travellers, since there aren't enough of them to provide every town and village with legal advice. As such, they travel from location to location, and with their arrival all court cases that have come up since the last Qadi left are settled. Qadi of the court are paid handsomely for their services, while travelling Qadi are often paid in food or other items. Being frequent travellers, Qadi often use their time to collect stories and legends of their own, which in turn can be adopted into great legal tomes. The tomes of the most prolific and wisest authors are often themselves seen as law, and reference to these writers is enough to sway most judges.

Shadhaa is a part of the Qadi tradition that looks mostly to nature to find the true meanings of right and wrong, as an addition to the sacred texts. More specifically, she adheres to the school of thought that sees humanity as part of nature, and thus, through watching humans at their most natural can you find out the true nature of the universe. This school is among the more liberal of the Qadi jurisprudences, since it seeks to respect human nature above some laws, and puts emphasis on the idea that human desires are not necessarily the work of evil. This puts them at odds with Qariqism, which they in turn percieve as the chief heresy.
Additional information: Carries an inscribed iron staff for protection, which she would never use to kill. Only to incapacitate.

And here she is! Shadhaa the Silent, here to judge, observe, and learn.

The picture is a painting of a 17th-16th century Bengal woman clad in silk

[Ovesa]

And here she is! Shadhaa the Silent, here to judge, observe, and learn.

What an awesome app! Very well written. Can't wait to see her interactions IC!

[Lancearc]

Awesome stuff as always James. I’ll gladly add this to the roster!

It’s looking as if we’ll be kicking off tomorrow, so keep eyes out for some more stuff as I slot lore into the second post.

[Theyra]

Character Name: Ehsan Shariati
Character Race: Alrifaq
Character Description/Image: Ehsan
Character Personality: A curious soul, Ehsan is ever wanting to learn more of the world. Willing to travel to see it first hand and is a friendly person. Eager to hear of the stories of others and share some of his own. Ehsan can be a loner at times. Sometimes preferring to be alone with his own thoughts as he studies the world around him. Still, he welcomes the company of another person and tends to be more open with friends than with people he does not know. Also has a good memory that allows him to remember things most can not.

Character Flaws: Ehsan can be stubborn at times and be hard to dissuade on certain topics. Sometimes his curious nature gets the better of him. Asking too many questions and annoying people which he then clams up. Sometimes he can be rash in stressful situations and not think things through.

Character Bio/Backstory: Ehsan was born in the Alrifaq village of Dirakh located east of Akhafat and the eldest of three. From an early age, he was curious about the world. Always asking his parents questions about the world outside of the village. Getting the attention of a village elder and he was taught was the elder knew. Eventually, when he was old enough, he was allowed to travel with the village's merchants to the human city of Akhafat. Ehsan's first visit to the city and was wowed by the size of the city and its people. Meeting humans for the first time and found them to be interesting and pleasant to be around. After several trips to Akhafat over the years. Ehsan decided that he wanted to learn more about the world and see it first hand.

After learning how to defend himself with a sword, Ehsan left his village and started his trek to explore the world. Finding himself traveling around the Sultanate and wrote much of where he traveled and what he learned. After three years of traveling in the Sultanate. Ehsan decided to return home to tell of his family of what he had learned. While traveling with a caravan to Akhafat, it was ambushed by bandits and was overwhelmed. Ehsan was taken prisoner along with the rest of the caravan.

The bandits had set up a base for themself along the Qaara River, and while the bandits were torturing a prisoner. Ehsan tried to fight back and managed to land several punches on a bandit. The rest of the bandits did not like that and started to beat him up. During the beating, one of them said aloud what much an Alrifaq horn is worth. The bandits were quick with wanting to find out and put Ehsan in his place. They saw off one of his horns and pushed him back with the other prisoners. Ehsan would not have to wait long for his revenge. In the night a patrol of Jai-Anar found the bandit encampment and came upon the bandits. Killing most of them and set the prisoners free. Ehsan thanked the Jai-Anar and collected his missing horn. Traveling with the Jai-Anar until they reached Akhafat and Ehsan went on to his home village.

When he finally reached his home village, Ehsan found a sight he did not expect. The Living Waste was on the edge of his village and the village itself was deserted. The first thing he did was to locate his family which after some looking. He found that they had relocated to a village west of Akhafat. Once there, Ehsan embraced with his family and learned of the pace that the Living Waste was spreading. Also, his family was deciding on whether or not to leave the village and head south far away from the Living Waste. Ehsan was conflicted at the news, Mekhallah was their homeland and with the Living Waste expanding like it is. It may never stop and that was when Ehsan choose to study the Living Waste and find a way to stop it or reversed its effects. In the hope of saving his homeland from becoming a barren wasteland.

Character Skills and profession: Wandering Scholar - Ehsan travels the land learning what he can from the people he had met. He has a good understanding of the history and culture of the Sultanate and the Alrifaq despite not having not been schooled officially. To help with traveling, he was taught how to fight with a sword and is skilled at it. Over the years of traveling, Ehsan has met and befriended several people. Establish a network of contacts of scholars that he regularly keeps in contact with. Which if pressed, Ehsan can rely on for information about topics such as the Living Waste and others.

Additional information: Ehsan carries several journals on him about his travels and what he has learned. Also carries a sword that he received from his mother. Along with wearing a necklace that bears a symbol of a half-moon and a half sun. Symbolizing the equal worship of the sun and moon of his people. He carries his broken in a small box and does not like it if someone asks him what is in it. For he hates the fact that bandits sawed it off.

[Lancearc]

Character Name: Ehsan Shariati
Character Race: Alrifaq
Character Description/Image: Ehsan
Character Personality: A curious soul, Ehsan is ever wanting to learn more of the world. Willing to travel to see it first hand and is a friendly person. Eager to hear of the stories of others and share some of his own. Ehsan can be a loner at times. Sometimes preferring to be alone with his own thoughts as he studies the world around him. Still, he welcomes the company of another person and tends to be more open with friends than with people he does not know. Also has a good memory that allows him to remember things most can not.

Character Flaws: Ehsan can be stubborn at times and be hard to dissuade on certain topics. Sometimes his curious nature gets the better of him. Asking too many questions and annoying people which he then clams up. Sometimes he can be rash in stressful situations and not think things through.

Character Bio/Backstory: Ehsan was born in the Alrifaq village of Dirakh located east of Akhafat and the eldest of three. From an early age, he was curious about the world. Always asking his parents questions about the world outside of the village. Getting the attention of a village elder and he was taught was the elder knew. Eventually, when he was old enough, he was allowed to travel with the village's merchants to the human city of Akhafat. Ehsan's first visit to the city and was wowed by the size of the city and its people. Meeting humans for the first time and found them to be interesting and pleasant to be around. After several trips to Akhafat over the years. Ehsan decided that he wanted to learn more about the world and see it first hand.

After learning how to defend himself with a sword, Ehsan left his village and started his trek to explore the world. Finding himself traveling around the Sultanate and wrote much of where he traveled and what he learned. After three years of traveling in the Sultanate. Ehsan decided to return home to tell of his family of what he had learned. While traveling with a caravan to Akhafat, it was ambushed by bandits and was overwhelmed. Ehsan was taken prisoner along with the rest of the caravan.

The bandits had set up a base for themself along the Qaara River, and while the bandits were torturing a prisoner. Ehsan tried to fight back and managed to land several punches on a bandit. The rest of the bandits did not like that and started to beat him up. During the beating, one of them said aloud what much an Alrifaq horn is worth. The bandits were quick with wanting to find out and put Ehsan in his place. They saw off one of his horns and pushed him back with the other prisoners. Ehsan would not have to wait long for his revenge. In the night a patrol of Jai-Anar found the bandit encampment and came upon the bandits. Killing most of them and set the prisoners free. Ehsan thanked the Jai-Anar and collected his missing horn. Traveling with the Jai-Anar until they reached Akhafat and Ehsan went on to his home village.

When he finally reached his home village, Ehsan found a sight he did not expect. The Living Waste was on the edge of his village and the village itself was deserted. The first thing he did was to locate his family which after some looking. He found that they had relocated to a village west of Akhafat. Once there, Ehsan embraced with his family and learned of the pace that the Living Waste was spreading. Also, his family was deciding on whether or not to leave the village and head south far away from the Living Waste. Ehsan was conflicted at the news, Mekhallah was their homeland and with the Living Waste expanding like it is. It may never stop and that was when Ehsan choose to study the Living Waste and find a way to stop it or reversed its effects. In the hope of saving his homeland from becoming a barren wasteland.

Character Skills and profession: Wandering Scholar - Ehsan travels the land learning what he can from the people he had met. He has a good understanding of the history and culture of the Sultanate and the Alrifaq despite not having not been schooled officially. To help with traveling, he was taught how to fight with a sword and is skilled at it. Over the years of traveling, Ehsan has met and befriended several people. Establish a network of contacts of scholars that he regularly keeps in contact with. Which if pressed, Ehsan can rely on for information about topics such as the Living Waste and others.

Additional information: Ehsan carries several journals on him about his travels and what he has learned. Also carries a sword that he received from his mother. Along with wearing a necklace that bears a symbol of a half-moon and a half sun. Symbolizing the equal worship of the sun and moon of his people. He carries his broken in a small box and does not like it if someone asks him what is in it. For he hates the fact that bandits sawed it off.

This must be one of the most academic casts of fantasy characters ever assembled

I'm a fan! Accepted, and will add him to our cast shortly. The timelines line up well for Almasa to be perhaps have been among that band of Jai-Annar who came upon his captors.

I've also added some more info to our 2nd post on some of the other sheikdoms.

[Ovesa]

This must be one of the most academic casts of fantasy characters ever assembled

I'm a fan! Accepted, and will add him to our cast shortly. The timelines line up well for Almasa to be perhaps have been among that band of Jai-Annar who came upon his captors.

I've also added some more info to our 2nd post on some of the other sheikdoms.

Thanks for the updated second post! Really like the info, it's very well-written and helpful

---

Man, looks we're gonna be fighting the Waste with the power of KNOWLEDGE! (and maybe swords)

[Lancearc]

This must be one of the most academic casts of fantasy characters ever assembled

I'm a fan! Accepted, and will add him to our cast shortly. The timelines line up well for Almasa to be perhaps have been among that band of Jai-Annar who came upon his captors.

I've also added some more info to our 2nd post on some of the other sheikdoms.

Thanks for the updated second post! Really like the info, it's very well-written and helpful

---

Man, looks we're gonna be fighting the Waste with the power of KNOWLEDGE! (and maybe swords)

Knowledge is power of course, looks like this’ll be a short story

[Somerania]

Character Name: Shirvan the sellsword
Character Race: Human
Character Description/Image:
Character Personality: Stoic: Shirvan spends most of his time doing jobs for money and the rest alone drinking and gambling, he sees this as a problem but doesn't try to solve it, he keeps to himself not being very talkative.

Character Flaws: he is addicted to gambling and spends a lot of money in alcohol, most of the time he starts a break when he gets drunk and is regularly kicked out of taverns due to his aggressive nature

Character Bio/Backstory: left at the doorstep of an orphanage at 5 months old in Jazallay, Shirvan had a harsh childhood often getting bullied by other kids which made him a frequent brawler often breaking the other children's bones which quickly made him the most feared boy in the orphanage but he was alienated by the children due to this and was given harsh punishments by the adults.

He was almost never given food to eat so he often sneaked out of the orphanage and stole food but he got away most of the time but one day he tried to steal the money of a sellsword who was impressed with the boy's skills and gave the young 12 year old Shirvan an offer: "grow up in this orphanage and become a beggar in Jazallay or come with me and see the world, life will be harsh but you will travel with me across the sultanate, see things you never knew existed, gain a deeper understanding and I will teach you all the tricks I know" Shirvan agreed and the sellsword adopted him, the sellsword later told Shirvan that his name was "Mir"

He spent his later childhood and teenage years under the guidance of Mir, his guardian who was very much like a father figure to him, they had a strong and unbreakable bond, he spent his years travelling around the sultanate, his favorite spot to visit was Mekhallah where he and Mir would spend their earned money on things such as armor, swords, food and drinks, when Shirvan turned 18 Mir decided he had to go on his own journey but Shirvan protested against this decision so a few days later in the dead of night in a tavern in the strange city of Ahadoud Mir wrote a note and left is besides Shirvan's bed wolf with a big pouch of coin then left never to be seen again, Shirvan upon reading the letter had come to acceptance with Mir's decision but if he ever meets Mir again he will greet Mir like and old friend because Shirvan realized he should go on his own adventure instead of following Mir around forever and decided he would also travel around the sultanate, 10 years later (28 year old Shirvan) Shirvan arrives in the great city of Mekhallah.

Character Skills and profession: Profession: Shirvan is a sell sword. Skills: Thievery, gambling and brawling (he never fights "honorably")

Additional information: he often gets into tavern brawls when drunk.

[Lancearc]

Let it begin my lovelies

Will review the new app shortly

[Lancearc]

Character Name: Shirvan the sellsword
Character Race: Human
Character Description/Image: (Image)
Character Personality: Stoic: Shirvan spends most of his time doing jobs for money and the rest alone drinking and gambling, he sees this as a problem but doesn't try to solve it, he keeps to himself not being very talkative.

Character Flaws: he is addicted to gambling and spends a lot of money in alcohol, most of the time he starts a break when he gets drunk and is regularly kicked out of taverns due to his aggressive nature

Character Bio/Backstory: left at the doorstep of an orphanage at 5 months old in Jazallay, Shirvan had a harsh childhood often getting bullied by other kids which made him a frequent brawler often breaking the other children's bones which quickly made him the most feared boy in the orphanage but he was alienated by the children due to this and was given harsh punishments by the adults.

He was almost never given food to eat so he often sneaked out of the orphanage and stole food but he got away most of the time but one day he tried to steal the money of a sellsword who was impressed with the boy's skills and gave the young Shirvan an offer: "grow up in this orphanage and become a beggar in Jazallay or come with me and see the world, life will be harsh but you will travel with me across the sultanate, see things you never knew existed, gain a deeper understanding and I will teach you all the tricks I know" Shirvan agreed and the sellsword adopted him, the sellsword later told Shirvan that his name was "Mir"

He spent his later childhood and teenage years under the guidance of Mir, his guardian who was very much like a father figure to him, they had a strong and unbreakable bond, he spent his years travelling around the sultanate, his favorite spot to visit was Mekhallah where he and Mir would spend their earned money on things such as armor, swords, food and drinks, when Shirvan turned 18 Mir decided he had to go on his own journey but Shirvan protested against this decision so a few days later in the dead of night in a tavern in the strange city of Ahadoud Mir wrote a note and left is besides Shirvan's bed wolf with a big pouch of coin then left never to be seen again, Shirvan upon reading the letter had come to accept Mir's decision and decided he would also travel around the sultanate, 10 years later (28 year old Shirvan) Shirvan arrives in the great city of Mekhallah.

Character Skills and profession: he is a sellsword

Additional information: he often gets into tavern brawls when drunk.

While I like where this is at, a few things:

1) Primarily I'd ask you clean up the grammar and especially sentence structure (many of your sentences run on for quite a long time), just so your fellow players enjoy learning about this character more.

2) Mir seems like an interesting thing in Shirvan's backstory to expand on. Why did he originally take in a child? How old was Shirvan at that point? Did Mir explain in his letter why he left Shirvan to his own devices, or no? Since Mir was his only father figure, how has being abandoned for a second time made Shirvan perceive Mir? If he ever saw him again, would he be glad or break his nose?

It might also be worth expanding on his skills and misc info. He's a sellsword, but from the biographic info he also seems to have some proficiency in thievery and street survival. Does he simply fight with a blade, or was he trained in a more unconventional method? All these just to help flesh Shirvan out and make him feel like a unique individual in the world.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Let it begin my lovelies

Will review the new app shortly

Very nice atmosphere you've created. I'm looking forward to posting tomorrow.

What kind of post are you expecting of us? How liberal can we be?

[Lancearc]

Let it begin my lovelies

Will review the new app shortly

Very nice atmosphere you've created. I'm looking forward to posting tomorrow.

What kind of post are you expecting of us? How liberal can we be?

As far as I'm concerned, your character can be doing whatever they would be doing at this point. While I've left some hooks out there for a couple of major events to encourage some early involvement, there will be other happenings both in the city and around the sheikdom that will allow you guys to become involved.

As far as building the world, go buck wild as long as you're not introducing entirely new organizations or massively important people. Hell, I'll even work with those who are interested in some small sub-plots for their own characters as I've said, so if that strikes your fancy more in the early goings feel free to let me know!

[Ovesa]

Wow, the IC is absolutely incredible!!! Excellent work, Lancearc

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Tagging for interest

[Rodez]

Let it begin my lovelies

Will review the new app shortly

Great post! Excited to get mine up tomorrow.

[Union Princes]

Can I create a crusader knight on a holy quest in the Sultanate?

[Lancearc]

Can I create a crusader knight on a holy quest in the Sultanate?

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing some foreigners wandering about, as I'm guessing he would be from elsewhere.

If that's so just TG what you have in mind as you're working through the character if you have specifics about where he's from, because I do have some established locations elsewhere in the world he may fit in well with. If he's actually from somewhere in the Sultanate though, carry on

[Ovesa]

Can I create a crusader knight on a holy quest in the Sultanate?

Only if his theme song is from a Sabaton album.
For The Grace, For The Might Of The Lord-

All jokes aside, a holy knight type of character would be really interesting to see. There's plenty of unique interactions to be had

[Lancearc]

Finished up the lore entry for Mekhalga and will finish Mekhallah tomorrow once I'm free. Then I'll begin compiling the additional lore from apps and conversations with you all!

[Union Princes]

Character Name: Lorin Lothar
Character Race: Human
Character Description/Image: Lothar is extremely tall at 8 ft in height with his arms and legs thick as tree trunks. He weighs several hundred pounds with his body mass being nearly all muscle and very little fat, giving him the strength of 10 men. In battle, he wears the largest, thickest plate armor ever crafted in his kingdom. So heavy is his armor that no other man could ever hope to move an fight in it. Lothar wears a layer of leather and chainmail armor underneath his plate effectively making him nigh-impenetrable in battle. Such is his strength with his spiked warhammer, Lothar can smash his way through several ranks of footmen. He also wears a gothic sallet helmet since the smooth edges would, at a certain angle, glance any blades aim at his head. The surcoat he wears depicts his house heraldry: three upside-down red chevrons forming three mountains on a gold background.
Character Personality: Lother learned that his immense size and warhammer would do most of the talking for him. Whenever he speaks, he would usually get straight to the point. Since the knight is in a foreign land with a foreign culture, this habit became his translator. Through the pointing of fingers or the enlisting of translators, the natives would find him to be a rude stoic hellbent on trampling his way through to get to his destination.

Privately, Lorin is a lot more self-conscious of his decisions and life and has genuine concern about the futility of his quest. However, he tends to elevate his stress through the adrenaline of battle. He becomes an unstoppable force of metal and fury, becoming a champion of his patron god.

Character Flaws: Despite being so big, Lorin is a fish out of water in the Sultanate. The heat boils him in his armor, battles are skirmishes in the desert and the wars are won through gold and murder. Educated only in the art of war, diplomacy and stewardship are difficult subjects for him to master. Without his siblings and mentor, Lorin has no expertise that could guide him through the foreign politics Mekallah.
Character Bio/Backstory: Little Lorin. If you have told him, being the smallest babe out of 4 children, that he would grow up to be the biggest knight in his country’s history, he would cry at that mockery. No one could have foreseen the boy’s hidden talent for destruction on the battlefield as he hid behind his mother’s cloak or his father’s cape. Having two older brothers and an older sister, Lothar was a spare and had the freedom to form his own path. Given House Lorin’s martial history, he was sent to squire under an old friend of his father. Unfortunately, that arrangement caused a small embarrassment to the family when Lothar was jeered as “Lady Lorin” after being found in the company of some noblewoman gossiping. The young lad had stolen some of his sister's clothes in order to escape from his training session. The nickname stuck when Lothar repeated his actions in order to prank his older brother who was developing a reputation for being a skirt-chaser.
After several letters urging greater agency on training his son to be a worthy knight, Lothar’s mentor became more strict on his swordplay. It was difficult due to his small size but that all changed when Lothar entered his teenage years. His height and strength exploded while the boy went to bed with growth pains after eating several dinners and lunches. His mentor didn’t even consider anything extraordinary of this change until he saw Lothar towering over him and complaining that a sword was too light for him. Upon knighthood, the giant of Lorin had a large spiked warhammer forged to his liking and begun his epic journey as a feared killing machine.

Yet, the glory could not last as Lothar got into a bitter dispute with his uncle and killed him in a duel. Kinslaying was a serious crime and in order to serve his penance and earn the forgiveness of his god, the priest sent Lothar on a holy mission in Mekhallah: to obtain the cloak of the Daughter of the Sands. An impossible mission since no one knows where she lives in the region. For some nobles, it was an exile in disguise and a hidden blessing no that House Lorin lost its greatest asset.

Taking his equipment and packing essential items for the journey, Lothar gathered 20 men-at-arms from his father’s household to form his retinue. After weeks of sailing, the knight and his band of adventurers finally landed on the shores of Alqarn and the first thing he did was smashing the face of a corsair with his warhammer after a raiding party foolishly attacked them. Their first instinct was to search for a nearby town or city to gather information on the location of the Daughter of the Sands. Much to his frustration, Lothar nor his band of companions could not speak the local language. It was a sheer stroke of luck that they have managed to grab the attention of Alrifaq of the Shrouded Star. Wary of a person of a race or religion he never heard of before, Lothar couldn't believe that she would be selling her services as his translator. His men were rightfully paranoid of this woman and spoke in hushed whispers of what ulterior motive she has. With no better option available, Lothar gave her one of his coin purses as payment and for the nest few months, the merry band would travel all over the region locating all the known shrines erected in honor of the Daughter of the Sands. The hope was to meet with those who had an encounter with the diety in order to pinpoint an area where she most appears.

Sadly, money and supplies had to be kept high and the quest was delayed numerous times in order to perform odd job tasks in order to obtain money to fund their mission. One by one, the party dwindled from desertion, bandit attacks, and illness until it was down to Lothar, the Alrifaq, and his last companion. Downcast from the lack of progress, he released Sharp-eared Mystic of her service and proceeded to march back to the nearest harbor. With moral so low, Lothar's last adventurer deserted during the night, taking a horse and camel with him. Now, he was finally alone and abandoned in a land he had little knowledge in.

Needing coin to obtain a passage to a ship, the knight switched his goal to go roam the countryside and aid the villages in their plight against the bandit camps. With news of the Daughter of the Sands being just mere rumors with no concrete facts, Lothar pondered the possibility of being stranded in this desert forever apart from his home.
Character Skills and profession: It is no secret that Lothar is good at killing and since he is so good at killing, his reputation as a mountain of steel intimidated many foes before him. Not very honorable for Ser Lothar, a knight, to leverage his famed reputation to coerce peasants to carry out favors. Nobles and guards are just as prone to fear whenever his presence is seen.
Additional information (any quirks, oddities, equipment, or distinguishing characteristics/mannerisms that make them themselves): Lorin wants to see an elephant. He heard of stories of these creatures being ridden by groups of men and he wonders if he can take one as his mount.

[Lancearc]

While I'm not completely opposed to the concept, the biggest issue is that the landmasses outside of our setting are not geographically nearby enough for a sailing venture to take only a few weeks, and the only real knowledge continents across the Saber Sea have of the sheikdoms is that they exist. It's exceptionally rare for people to make an oceanic crossing, and no great explorations have occurred yet, so the concept of him being sent to the farthest corner of the Sultanate in search of a very specific object from a mythical figure that has only popped up in the past few years is inconsistent with the world's scale and history.

Beyond that it seems just a bit too high fantasy for my liking in this world to claim that one man (even the Mountain ) is capable of "smashing his way through several ranks of footmen." Once a man in the type of plate you describe lost his footing, it wouldn't be likely he'd live long enough to find it again.

I'd also like to hear more about his religion if he's intended to be a crusader parallel like we discussed.

[Union Princes]

Oh, I thought it was the size of the Mediterranean, not the Atlantic.

I also kinda need a religion template since it it would clutter my character app.

[Lancearc]

Oh, I thought it was the size of the Mediterranean, not the Atlantic.

I also kinda need a religion template since it it would clutter my character app.

No worries, I thought I'd clarified well enough in our convo.

We can talk about the religion over TGs as well, there's not really an official template I could provide, though I'll format whatever we flesh out into lore if it's necessary (though seeing as it would be a faith from a great distance overseas the specifics may not matter much to other players, and may be better served being revealed over time, though I'd still like to have a good idea of the framework for storytelling purposes).

See what you can do as we rework this, it's a good base to build on. Though I would like to know a little more about our knight other than he's big and good at fighting.