Divinity/Humanity OOC

[Cainesland]

No problem and thank you for the helping hand.

Also, I'm surprised at the size of the roster we have. Didn't expect this to get much attention, but it is cool to see. Once we get Nephele, Archipelago, and the rumors worked out, would everyone want to start or wait for more apps?

I would not mind waiting until Monday.

[Canis Rex]

Sure, that would be fine. Or if anyone needs time beyond that just let me know, I'm not in a hurry. Would rather have fully thought out characters than rush anything.

[Cainesland]

Sure, that would be fine. Or if anyone needs time beyond that just let me know, I'm not in a hurry. Would rather have fully thought out characters than rush anything.

Sounds good. I’m not in a big hurry either .

[Cainesland]

Merlin expanded backstory

Merlin was born by way of his father, Cygic, and his mother a well known orator and lawyer Oriana Araneaeus. Over 6 months his mom remained at work before stopping to rest. She asked some friends of hers to be god parents, to which they agreed. They were a banker, another orator, and an alchemist. His mother died in childbirth. In her will Merlin was expected to inherit her estate in thirds, when he turned 21, 23, and 25. In the meantime it was to be managed by her banker friend.

He was adopted by a lighthouse keeper named Oliver Marlinspike, and his godmother Author and alchemist Terentia Marlinspike. His new mother worked creating alchemist fire for the kingdoms military. He was raised by Oliver and Terentia in their small home, the lighthouse. From them, and his god parents, he learned what was right and wrong.

He doesn’t remember much from his first couple years. It wasn’t to bad for him, but it was a tumultuous time overall. During this time the deities left and the black snow came. 25% of his town died, and food shortages were caused by the decline in the fishing and farming population. During this time the lighthouse became more important for advanced land warning than for its previous role in sea travel. With the city pretty much landlocked the city had its ships return to harbour and turned into floating buildings. At first they were houses, then infirmaries and orphanages. Some were abandoned.

He was a curious youngster, interested in learning, seeing how things worked, and was ordered. Erudite, he learned to read before anyone else of his peer group. Before the deities left his home city was a coastal community of 30,000 known for its mercenary export, temples, harbour, and its scholarly court in its palace. Three aqueducts fed the city water and flushed its sewers. After the snows came the scholars were trapped and the exports stopped.

When he was 5 he was being formally home schooled. He was a good student, excelling in most subjects including history, rhetoric, science, art, mathematics, and languages. Especially languages. His parents brought in outside help to tutor him in his studies. They drew from the large remaining scholarly population to help. An avid reader, he learned much about his favourite topics on his own by visiting the local monastery and reading the books kept there as well.

Alongside his formal studies, he began helping his grandfather with collecting manure from the streets. His grandfather owned his own business collecting material from the streets to soften the cow hides at the local Tannery.

When he was 7 he would sometimes be called on to take a break from his studies and help his dad with the lighthouse work and his mom with her alchemy work. This usually involved running errands, fetching tools or alchemy ingredients. As he got older he began to help out more with repairs or working as a helper with the alchemy tools. Alongside his introduction to helping his parents in their duties, when he turned 7 he stopped helping his Grandfather and started helping his Uncle with mudlarking. His uncle went through the sewers looking for valuable materials to sell, and Merlin searched the beaches.

When he turned 9 he met a man named Victor who had a pet Rat named Simon. Victor had a habit of letting the rat eat from his mouth. Merlin joined up with Victor to help him catch rats. Merlin wore a pair of gross boots that attracted rats, luring them to Victor. When enough rats were caught they’d bring them to bars in the city for use in gambling games. Rats would be put in pens with a dog, and the dog that could eat the most rats the fastest won. Those betting on that dog won their bets.

When Merlin turned 10 he developed a taste for art, and started painting. As well he was being trusted to help his Dad light the light House fire, and help his mom make simple potions and alchemist fire.

After nearly 2 years with Victor Merlin found him dead. It appeared Victors habit of letting Simon eat out of his mouth had caused poor side effects with his health. Merlin then adopted Simon as a pet. After Victor died the bars started offering him half for the rats due to him being a minor. After that Merlin stopped Rat Catching.

When Merlin turned 11 he had a little world experience, some trades knowledge from his parents, and a bunch of academic knowledge from studying. He didn’t have very many friends, but he had a couple friends in his age bracket. Rather than continue with other activities he turned his attention to his academics and helping his parents.

After years helping his parents his mother started trusting him with more advanced missions. On one particular errand he went out of the city for alchemy ingredients for his mom. He was captured mid transit by a group of bandit cultists following a hag. They operated out of a seemingly abandoned house. They wanted to sacrifice him. He escaped but it was close.

He is now 12. He has grown up in the general fear of black snow. In his lifetime his hometown has shrunk from 30,000 people to a little over 11,000. People have been almost continuously dying from plague, hunger, being burned, being tried as criminals, and natural causes. He is now hoping to make things better and one way to do that is to help find the Moon child.

What do you think?

[Canis Rex]

Impressive, nice work.
And for anyone else that sees it and notices certain details of the world (such as trade becoming landlocked), those are lore accurate and were discussed beforehand so feel free to incorporate them as well or pitch your own ideas.

[Cainesland]

Impressive, nice work.
And for anyone else that sees it and notices certain details of the world (such as trade becoming landlocked), those are lore accurate and were discussed beforehand so feel free to incorporate them as well or pitch your own ideas.

Thank you

[Canis Rex]

Anytime.

[The H Corporation]

Name: Nephele
Age: 13
Gender: Female
Appearance: Long dark hair, pale skin, skinny, light green eye color.
Divine Parent: Eir Goddess of Healing
Inherited Ability: Healing

My name is Nephele, I live in a big cave in a mountain far away from civilization and I know that since I can see from the top of the mountain a lot of houses living their comfortable lives down there but I don't complain, I love living here, since every day I am blessed to eat small creatures that I am able to hunt, but I am always aware of other big creatures that roam around the cold mountains but it's okay I already know how to hide in the snow. I sometimes go down the hill to get some wood for myself, although the journey is rough which is why I made small checkpoints to get some rest sometimes it is not enough so I always wear lots of fur around me to bear with the cold, my mother blessed me with this fur clothing so there is nothing I can fear as long as I can feel her.

Mother left me nearby this mountain I call home, my Lyfjaberg, I used to fear the mountain and roam around the forests to hunt for myself and stole from the people around me, there was this time I found 2 explorers lying on the floor injured, their injuries were a lot of tiny scratches all around their bodies. I touched them praying for my mother to cure them, so I close my eyes and pray for them and when I opened my eyes they were fine. Since they were still unconscious I took an ax and a round shield for myself hoping to be ready to tame the mountain and so I did

Today is the day, I heard lots of rumors about the goddess Luria giving birth and that the child may be the salvation of humanity, and I want to know more about this child and what makes him special. So I grabbed my ax and my round shield and climbed down the mountain and finally settled in the woods for a little rest, I looked up to the mountains I used to live in and hope that I can come back. I have been in the woods before but I don't know too much about them so I am a little nervous about what I may find deeper, I hope this child is worth something and hope he is the salvation humanity needs

Rumors:
-She is very timid when meeting other people (True)
-She is used to living with animals (False, she never lived around any kind of beast)
-She is really caring (Partially true, she cares for others but she is not willing to help unless you give her any payment)
-She is not used to hot temperatures (True)
-She loves trading (True)

Idk if this is okay I hope it is :P

Fixed

[Ceystile]

Here's some rumors about Polly:

A somewhat humorous and biting tavern song was written by her (true)
She has siren or fae blood (explaining her unusual hair and voice)
She runs a side hustle writing satire or love poetry for those who request it.
She put itching powder in a duchess' makeup one time as a prank
She has a drawer full of writings addressed to her dead mother.

[Canis Rex]

Nice work, both of you. I'll wait until Monday and if there isn't any more to fill out with our characters I'll try to get an IC up.

[Cainesland]

List of animals confirmed to have been created by each deity thus far

Ardemia, Goddess of the Hunt
Lions, Tigers, Leopards(a lot of the big cats basically). Eagles. Sharks. Raptors. Snakes.

Cygic, God of Logic, Reason, and Order
Ants, Termites, Honey Bees, Spiders, Beavers, Raccoons, Corvids and WereRavens, Parrots, Dolphins, Octopi, and Elephants

Darcon, God of War
Dogs, Wolves, Werewolves, Vultures

Eir Goddess of Healing

Eiryia, Goddess of Death
Vampires

Fás, Goddess of Harvest
Horses, Mules, Donkeys

Grasta, Goddess of the Sun
Songbirds, Cicadas, Lightning Bugs and Sunflowers

Liara, Goddess of Freedom, Chaos, Rebels
Cats, Foxes

Luria, Goddess of the Moon
bats, owls, catfish, badgers, scorpions, koi fish, and hyenas.

Myrcon, the Deceiver, God of Deception and Malice

Vashti, Goddess of Wisdom and Craft

Zimde, God of Music and Poetry

[Kaledoria]

Cainesland: I was wondering about the relation of Cygic and Liara and I though instead of making them plain boring animals, how about Liara is Cygic's daughter? She inherited her father's interest in human society but got her mother's passion and sense of individuality and turned his teachings upside down. (no idea about the mother goddess, some nature goddess I guess...)
Their relationship is rivalry with some angry shouting and insulting and trying to convert each other's followers but generally no trying to kill each other? Like Liara's opinion of Cygic is, that he is an old fool, who is unintentionally providing fertile soil for tyrants and slavers and that his order just breeds psychopath at it's top and by trying to teach them laws, he only teaches humans to find loopholes and how to abuse the letter of the law to break the intention. He on the other hand looks at his misguided brat and notes that she has no far-sight or sense of scale and that her "hippy communes" would not work for a nation of hundred thousands or millions. She creates zealots who just tear down what they dislike without a solid plan to fill the vacuum left by it.

[Cainesland]

Cainesland: I was wondering about the relation of Cygic and Liara and I though instead of making them plain boring animals, how about Liara is Cygic's daughter? She inherited her father's interest in human society but got her mother's passion and sense of individuality and turned his teachings upside down. (no idea about the mother goddess, some nature goddess I guess...)
Their relationship is rivalry with some angry shouting and insulting and trying to convert each other's followers but generally no trying to kill each other? Like Liara's opinion of Cygic is, that he is an old fool, who is unintentionally providing fertile soil for tyrants and slavers and that his order just breeds psychopath at it's top and by trying to teach them laws, he only teaches humans to find loopholes and how to abuse the letter of the law to break the intention. He on the other hand looks at his misguided brat and notes that she has no far-sight or sense of scale and that her "hippy communes" would not work for a nation of hundred thousands or millions. She creates zealots who just tear down what they dislike without a solid plan to fill the vacuum left by it.

Sounds interesting. Sure.

He isn’t trying to prevent change entirely, he wants to keep stability and things thought through. Which I could see the followers of Liara seeing as taking to long or unintentionally allowing problems to continue longer than needed.

It seems like it could also see their relationship represent the generation gap between older and younger people.

The closest thing we currently have to a nature goddess is Ardemia. That could be interesting.

Canis Rex: What do you think about Cygic and Ardemia being the parents of Liara?

Edit: I suppose doing this would make Merlin the uncle of Saoirse O'Gwalchmei, as half sibling of Liara.

[Canis Rex]

I honestly hadn't considered it. So far all of the deities were their own individual without direct blood ties(sibling, parent, etc.) to each other. It could make for some interesting points both between the pantheon as well as our characters though so I'm open to the possibility.
Also, that relation throws Armir into the group so three of our characters are suddenly family. That could have some nice story potential.

[Cainesland]

Canis Rex: Neat

Merlin Rumours

Erudite, he is very knowledgeable about scholarly topics, potion making, and alchemy.

He enjoys painting.

He is Superstitious. Seeing dark clouds is a sign of issues. Ravens are a sign of good favour. One should not harm a Raven.

He was nearly sacrificed by a bandit cult.

He can see the future (False). Because his father is the deity of Logic people assume he can see the future, or at least predict the future, as well. Maybe one day but not currently.

[Kaledoria]

I had not meant that any of the already established goddesses needs to be Liara's mother but Ardemia sounds good, especially if the "hunt" aspect sometimes borders into the primal, like a predator hunting down his prey and not like an hunter sitting on his raised hide only fighting tiredness until some animal comes along, that he can shoot.

But even though I can see the "attraction of opposites" that can happen between reason and instinct and how that resulted in a young rebel goddess a few millennia ago, ... are you sure you want to go straight on and make Cygic and Ardemia husband and wife, as you did on your page 1 overview, Cainesland? Especially when considering their new obvious tendency to create new children with other partners, I think the status "former lovers" would be more reasonable.

[Cainesland]

I had not meant that any of the already established goddesses needs to be Liara's mother but Ardemia sounds good, especially if the "hunt" aspect sometimes borders into the primal, like a predator hunting down his prey and not like an hunter sitting on his raised hide only fighting tiredness until some animal comes along, that he can shoot.

But even though I can see the "attraction of opposites" that can happen between reason and instinct and how that resulted in a young rebel goddess a few millennia ago, ... are you sure you want to go straight on and make Cygic and Ardemia husband and wife, as you did on your page 1 overview, Cainesland? Especially when considering their new obvious tendency to create new children with other partners, I think the status "former lovers" would be more reasonable.

Thank you. I suppose my instinct was that if two people are having children they are probably married. Thinking about it, Greek mythology has examples of married deities that have mortal kids. It seemed to be that having children with mortals was more acceptable to deities than having children with another deity. Although Hera got upset so maybe not. I suppose I didn’t think about the adultery perspective very much. The child out of wedlock perspective doesn’t seem great either for raising a child in a stable home environment, as would probably be desired by a deity of logic, reason, and order.

[Ceystile]

I may actually change Hattie's character a little bit, just her powers and backstory, y'know?

[Cainesland]

I may actually change Hattie's character a little bit, just her powers and backstory, y'know?

Ok

[Ceystile]

I just decided to make one last character, I think this one would be pretty fun.

Name: Argo Kydd
Age: 14
Gender: Male
Appearance: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/de/f0/b7 ... 109cbd.jpg (he's not a jerk. he just has RBF, I promise)
Divine Parent: Vashti, Goddess of Wisdom and Craft
Inherited Ability: Argo is an immensely talented sculptor and can carve certain sigils into his statues in order to animate them (a lot like golems). He also has the ability to "see through stone's eyes", by touching a statue, Argo can see the things that happened near that statue recently.

Background(This doesn't have to be long, just something of how and where they have lived growing up): Argo is the son of one Lavender Kydd, a young woman who made her living as a gardener and flower-seller in southern Ayrtica. Lavender was said to be exceptionally beautiful and talented with plants, possessing unique blue-violet eyes that she was named after. It was due to her talent with horticulture that she gained the attention of an enamored Vashti, who visited her under the guise of a normal human woman. She'd buy flowers from Lavender's shop, and eventually the two became close enough that they became friends, and eventually lovers. It was through this union that Lavender became pregnant, which she was quite puzzled by seeing as neither of them were men (gods like to spring shit on you) until her divine lover explained the truth of the situation to her. Lavender was frightened and didn't wish to lose her life, causing her to flee and cut off all contact with Vashti then and there. Staying with family further up north for a while, she debated on whether to use her knowledge of herbs to kill the child but ultimately decided to spare him instead, knowing he'd be destined for great things. Lavender lived just long enough to name her son before passing away in her childbed, calling him Argo, meaning "shining" as he'd been the one light in the reveal of this dark news.

After his mother's death, Argo was raised by his mother's large family. He'd inherited her blue-violet eyes which endeared him to them, and his talent for art was apparent from an early age. At first he would sculpt little animals out of clay, like most toddlers would do but then as he grew older he graduated to earthenware and eventually stone. He eventually got an apprenticeship with the local sculptor, Nigella Verocchio which is where he spends most of his time to this day. Nigella has become like a second mother to him, but he never forgot his birth mother and holds resentment toward his divine mother for not informing her of the risks. Hearing about the moon child from his grandfather, Argo wishes to find said child and prevent the gods from using them as a pawn like he felt his mother was.

The ivory angel that serves as Lavender Kydd's headstone in the local cemetery was carved by Argo himself.

He dug up the body of a priest of Vashti one night and dipped them in plaster as a "fuck you" to the goddess. That "statue" hangs out in his master's workshop to this day and nobody is the wiser.

Calling him a girl in any way (he has kinda androgynous looks) is the fastest way to get karate punched in the throat.

He's bi-romantic and makes no secret of it.

He carves little wooden and stone toys for the kids in the village from time to time to see the smiles on their faces.

[Canis Rex]

The pantheon, for the most part, doesn't have marriage. They can be lovers but very few would expect any binding ceremony to link them. Some might not even expect their partner to be faithful. Living for eternity has given them a very long-term view of relationships and they realize how difficult it is to find someone they would be happy with forever.
As for children with mortals, it isn't a problem for them. There's pretty good leeway with the deities as to what they will tolerate from each other before it's an issue.
Except Darcon, he can take things personally pretty easy.
Argo is accepted and the deities probably deserved that jab, haha.

[Ceystile]

Just realized I made Argo and Hattie the same age and they have the same divine parent…so I’m gonna say that after Lav found out what was up and took off, Vashti went and hooked up with Edward very shortly afterward.

[Cainesland]

1. I updated the roster to say former lovers. Maybe they were together for awhile as a stable family, raised their child, and then broke up a hundred years or so later amicably.

2. How big do you think the last kingdom is? Are we looking at a France or England size? Or something bigger or smaller?

3. How far apart do you think our characters start? Or do we start in the same locality?

[Cainesland]

Ayrtican Kingdom Summary this far:

-Ayrtican Kingdom: The last true nation in the world, its two bordering neighbors having fallen to storms and plague in recent years. It is stretched thin as well, deploying mages and knights in numbers and manner that would be considered reckless were there other threats to worry about. Recruits are being fast-tracked into full robes or armor and cities are left few warriors to enforce order, all out of desperation to possibly appease the higher powers that forsake them. Much of their hope has been placed in the Purgist Knights, and elite anti-magic order capable of neutralizing many magical beings and cutting them down. But with the order already small in number and requiring highly specialized training to enter, even they will be disproportionally damaged by any loss.

Size: A little smaller than modern day France
Est. 580,000 sq km (223,939.252 sq miles)

Population:
Pre-Plague 12 years ago - est. 15,300,000
Current population - est. 195k-200k

Industries
Southern - Sculpture making, stonework, toy making, flowers, gardening
Coastal - Mercenary’s, Tanning, Alchemy, Potion-Making, Banking, Education, Medicine, Shipping (land only now), fishing (defunct), Farming, orators, lawyers, shipwrights (defunct), honey, mead
North: Farming, Ivory, Plaster, grapes, wine, Blood magic, Marble mining
Somewhere: Hat making, forestry, Carpentry, traveling minstrels, festivals, fur trapping, furrier, hunting, magic, black smithing, weaving, medicine making, Horse breeding, stabling, farriers.

Climate
“The climate is rough. Black snow events make it cold and the storms dump mass amounts of rain/hail to make it worse. Would probably leave a lot of abandoned and non-forested areas somewhat marshy or harshly frozen.” Canis

Mean temperature examples in degrees Celsius
Capital: -2 in January, 8 in May, 14 in July, and 2 in November.
Reme: 1 in January, 10 in May, 14 in July, and 4 in November.
NE R: -2 in January, 4 in May, 9 in July, and 0 in November.
B: 0 in January, 6 in May, 10 in July, and 3 in November.

Politics
Feudal. Has a Queen and possibly a King, Dukes/Duchesses, knights, clergy, merchants, trades people, and peasants.

Municipality
- At least one on the coast with a little over 11,000 people in it
- At least one in the south
- At least one village in the North

Top 9 cities pop. Before plague and present.
1. 180,000 and 60,000 (North east)
2. 94,208 and 31,403 (South West)
3. 91,584 and 30,528 (South East)
4. 75,890 and 25,297 (North)
5. 46,350 and 15,450 (Center)
6. Reme 34,500 and 11,500 (West)
7. 29,100, and 9,700 (North East)
8. 18,900 and 6,300 (Center)
9. 18,684 and 6,228 (East)

Charities
Orphanages, maybe some infirmaries?

Races
Human

Orders
Purgist knights
Stellarum Tripudium (Based in the North)

Temples
- Presumably many for each deity
- At least one monastery on the coast

Infrastructure
Coastal
- Roads
- At least 3 aqueducts to coastal city

Environments
- At least one coast
- At least two Forests
- At least some grassland suitable for farming
- At least one mountain far from civilization (Possibly the same mountains the aqueducts go to. If not then there may be one mountain closer to civilization as well).

Threats and weaknesses
- Black snow
- Slow trade
- Food shortage
- Population decline
- Brain drain from the population decline
- Fear and anxiety from the poor situation
- Crime and banditry
- Cultists
- Marauders invading from former Cwarensgard in the NE
- Mages and Knights spread thin
- Has refugees from Cwarensgard coming across the border
- Monsters, such as Chimera, Dragons, Fae, Giant Ants, Giant Spiders, Hags, Minotaurs, Sirens, Trolls, Werewolves, and WereRavens.

Edit: I tried to take from everyone’s back stories. Hopefully this is representative. Please let me know if I missed something. I didn’t see where the Queen was so I didn’t mention it. I didn’t know if there was a capital, or if the capital moved around.

Edit 2: It seems interesting that there are traveling minstrels and banditry. I wonder if they are Warrior bards? Or have escorts - possibly from mercenary’s or soldiers or the Stellarum Tripudium?

Edit 3: Map

[Flohaland]

Application
Name:Azron
Age: Unknown (appears to be about 12)
Gender:male
Appearance:tall and slender, he has his father's eyes and raven dark hair, which he keeps short and contrasts with his pale complexion.
Divine Parent: Mycron
Inherited Ability: Shape shifting and strength. When he is angry he becomes even stronger.
Background(This doesn't have to be long, just something of how and where they have lived growing up):
Azron doesn't know his mother or anything about her. He was raised by a shepardess after he had been entrusted to her by Ardemia. The Goddess would some times visit him and even took him hunting. However, she stopped visiting years ago without explanation. Azron's foster mother and her flock were captured by raiders, four years back. Since then he has been searching for her and killing thieves of all sorts as revenge.