Somewhere in the Dark (Fantasy) [RETIRED]

[Audunia]

This fella here seems like he has his own thing going on. Did you plan on him going on adventures with other characters and the like?

Oh yeah, I should've mentioned his not on Tregal currently, I left it open ended cause I didn't know which story needed a person most or which ones were open

[Zarkenis Ultima]

This fella here seems like he has his own thing going on. Did you plan on him going on adventures with other characters and the like?

Oh yeah, I should've mentioned his not on Tregal currently, I left it open ended cause I didn't know which story needed a person most or which ones were open

Ah, alright. Well, then I see no issues. I reckon give the story prompts a read and ask myself (for the Blade of Amaranth) or Tomia (for the others) for any details if you're interested in one more than the others. I think right now the most loaded quest is the monster hunt but I don't see why you couldn't join that one if you wanted.

Just for information's sake, does his ice bear heritage give him any special abilities beyond making him very strong physically?

[Audunia]

Oh yeah, I should've mentioned his not on Tregal currently, I left it open ended cause I didn't know which story needed a person most or which ones were open

Ah, alright. Well, then I see no issues. I reckon give the story prompts a read and ask myself (for the Blade of Amaranth) or Tomia (for the others) for any details if you're interested in one more than the others. I think right now the most loaded quest is the monster hunt but I don't see why you couldn't join that one if you wanted.

Just for information's sake, does his ice bear heritage give him any special abilities beyond making him very strong physically?

Physically, his hair turns white like snow whilst his teeth become sharper, blue swirling tattoos begin growing and glow when in the grips of the Ice Bear. He becomes very strong, his skin becoming slightly harder to pierce, going from the relatively strength of skin to leather (can remove or reduce if too much), and his endurance is greatly increased as well, whilst his speed is increased. In return, he requires significantly longer to sleep following it and his need to eat is greatly increased to meet the demands of it, whilst the longer he stays away from his fate, it starts to look like his skin is peeling back and the spirit of the Ice Bear can be glanced, but he remains in control longer, whilst if he returns to Tregal, he begins to look human again but loses control of himself until his father and brother are killed.

When it affects him really depends, if he feels an intense emotion then that's almost guarenteed to wake the Bear and unleash it before withdrawing, whilst it can happen inexplicably. If he meets a Mardir or anyone who knows the story, they could attempt to inform him if they know the warning signs, otherwise he'll just feel an intense and inexplicabale need to return to Tregar.

And was thinking the Blade of Amaranth, if that was alright?

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Ah, alright. Well, then I see no issues. I reckon give the story prompts a read and ask myself (for the Blade of Amaranth) or Tomia (for the others) for any details if you're interested in one more than the others. I think right now the most loaded quest is the monster hunt but I don't see why you couldn't join that one if you wanted.

Just for information's sake, does his ice bear heritage give him any special abilities beyond making him very strong physically?

Physically, his hair turns white like snow whilst his teeth become sharper, blue swirling tattoos begin growing and glow when in the grips of the Ice Bear. He becomes very strong, his skin becoming slightly harder to pierce, going from the relatively strength of skin to leather (can remove or reduce if too much), and his endurance is greatly increased as well, whilst his speed is increased. In return, he requires significantly longer to sleep following it and his need to eat is greatly increased to meet the demands of it, whilst the longer he stays away from his fate, it starts to look like his skin is peeling back and the spirit of the Ice Bear can be glanced, but he remains in control longer, whilst if he returns to Tregal, he begins to look human again but loses control of himself until his father and brother are killed.

When it affects him really depends, if he feels an intense emotion then that's almost guarenteed to wake the Bear and unleash it before withdrawing, whilst it can happen inexplicably. If he meets a Mardir or anyone who knows the story, they could attempt to inform him if they know the warning signs, otherwise he'll just feel an intense and inexplicabale need to return to Tregar.

And was thinking the Blade of Amaranth, if that was alright?

Eh, I think that's acceptable. Wouldn't be the first character with this kind of "possessed" vibe to it, Maka the Howler in the Dark also has something like that.

For joining Blade of Amaranth, there's two routes you could go. The group is currently at sea aboard a ship called the Pride of Eldengard, where they have been engaged by, and are currently battling, a marine abomination known as a Firstborn. The crew of the Pride are all Madren sailors, so you could say your character was hired as extra crew for the journey if you want, and say that that's how he's found himself in the vicinity of the group.

Alternatively, you could just wait until the crew makes land again and we can sort out the details of him joining up once that happens.

[Ceystile]

Sorry it took so long to post guys.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Sorry it took so long to post guys.

No worries Ceystile. Glad you're still with us

Is Saffron not participating in the sea monster battle, by the way?

[Ceystile]

Dude, there was a sea monster battle?! Hold on, gotta edit my post.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Dude, there was a sea monster battle?! Hold on, gotta edit my post.

XD

I can link the relevant posts if you want. I think my initial post for timeskipping the group past the campfire scene might've confused you; I mentioned the city of Erisen there but also that after their day off the group set off on a ship bound for Avernus in Harush.

Comic book time is tricky to write around, so I might not have been clear enough.

[Ceystile]

Ok, got her edited

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Ok, got her edited

Looks good!

[Audunia]

Physically, his hair turns white like snow whilst his teeth become sharper, blue swirling tattoos begin growing and glow when in the grips of the Ice Bear. He becomes very strong, his skin becoming slightly harder to pierce, going from the relatively strength of skin to leather (can remove or reduce if too much), and his endurance is greatly increased as well, whilst his speed is increased. In return, he requires significantly longer to sleep following it and his need to eat is greatly increased to meet the demands of it, whilst the longer he stays away from his fate, it starts to look like his skin is peeling back and the spirit of the Ice Bear can be glanced, but he remains in control longer, whilst if he returns to Tregal, he begins to look human again but loses control of himself until his father and brother are killed.

When it affects him really depends, if he feels an intense emotion then that's almost guarenteed to wake the Bear and unleash it before withdrawing, whilst it can happen inexplicably. If he meets a Mardir or anyone who knows the story, they could attempt to inform him if they know the warning signs, otherwise he'll just feel an intense and inexplicabale need to return to Tregar.

And was thinking the Blade of Amaranth, if that was alright?

Eh, I think that's acceptable. Wouldn't be the first character with this kind of "possessed" vibe to it, Maka the Howler in the Dark also has something like that.

For joining Blade of Amaranth, there's two routes you could go. The group is currently at sea aboard a ship called the Pride of Eldengard, where they have been engaged by, and are currently battling, a marine abomination known as a Firstborn. The crew of the Pride are all Madren sailors, so you could say your character was hired as extra crew for the journey if you want, and say that that's how he's found himself in the vicinity of the group.

Alternatively, you could just wait until the crew makes land again and we can sort out the details of him joining up once that happens.

Gotcha, tough deciding when to hop in since being a hired crew and joining the fight feels a bit like barging in whilst waiting for the ship to reach port may take a while. What other characters of on the Blade, might I ask?

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Eh, I think that's acceptable. Wouldn't be the first character with this kind of "possessed" vibe to it, Maka the Howler in the Dark also has something like that.

For joining Blade of Amaranth, there's two routes you could go. The group is currently at sea aboard a ship called the Pride of Eldengard, where they have been engaged by, and are currently battling, a marine abomination known as a Firstborn. The crew of the Pride are all Madren sailors, so you could say your character was hired as extra crew for the journey if you want, and say that that's how he's found himself in the vicinity of the group.

Alternatively, you could just wait until the crew makes land again and we can sort out the details of him joining up once that happens.

Gotcha, tough deciding when to hop in since being a hired crew and joining the fight feels a bit like barging in whilst waiting for the ship to reach port may take a while. What other characters of on the Blade, might I ask?

Currently active characters on the quest would be the party leader Aleish, as well as Anlolar, Klelane, Saffron, Sveta and Teriani.

There were some others on the quest but those players haven't posted in a bit, so yeah.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Nice intro, Audunia! Feel free to drop by the discord if you want, also.

[Tomia]

Btw for convenience sake lets say that Narill told those going to the Herbalist to meet them back outside town when done

[Audunia]

Nice intro, Audunia! Feel free to drop by the discord if you want, also.

There's a discord? Somehow the link has escaped me, but thank you!

[Audunia]

The Preacher of Heresy

Heretic. Liar. Deciever. Seditionist. These are all words his fellow preachers have used to describe Harcos Carida. An from a certain point of view, they would be correct accusations, but come, sit with me, let me tell you the tale of Harcos, true preacher of our Goddess, Themis.

Like many in our lands, Harcos was born to parents unknown to him. Be they nobles, peasant, alive, or dead, killed by war or by famine, it is unknown to both him and us, it is possible they have forgotten him somewhere in the dark of their minds. But he was afforded a rare chance, one that can only prove he was divinely chosen. The abandoned babe was founded by a travelling layman of the Themicite Temple, displaying the compassion expected of all followers, he took the babe and brought him to the Orphange in Valaran. He spent his youth there, taught in the truths of Themis and raised in accordance with all the sacred rites held and conducted by the Temple, the layman that had found him dictated his education in the finer matters, rhetoric and Arcana, the lifeblood of the Menai. It is said he was amongst the finest swordsmen of his class due to his extra tutoring.

An incredibly skilled theologian, the decadence of the upper clergy could not stand to be near so pure a being, within whom the touch of Themis could so clearly be sensed. No, they demanded, they would not have, they would not suffer to be shown up by a mere laymen. So, in hoping the end the threat to their corrupt leadership, they barred him from standing Archon in any temple or outpost. For regular men, this would have meant the end of their ambitions, but not so for one chosen by Themis. Harcos accepted this barring dutifully, instead becoming a paladin of the Temple, affecting change for their followers in person rather than afar. In this duty, he excelled, his skill with the tongue as well as the sword caused many problems for his flock to end abruptly, all the while bringing followers into the fold of the Temple. Again, the brutish clergy feared for the power that was not theirs and gave him his most dangerous assignment yet.

He was sent to the land of Argentios, a land ravaged by pestilence in the isle of Teraden, itself comsumed in the chaos of war. Yet in this, he did not waiver either, remaining resolute as he assisted those that needed him. Here, he was struck by the same disease that ravaged the land, a great fever overtook him, boils and lesions covered him. He refused medical care, insisting that it belonged to those he had come to help, relying on prayer to Themis to cure him. It was in this state that the Goddess appeared to him, decrying the state of her Temple and its learners, beginning him to reform it, to correct her truth that they had so cruelly twisted. He accepted this divine task and it did not take long for his illness to pass. Unsure of how to approach the task his Goddess had given him, he felt an urge to visit the village of Herakye, somewhere in the dark lands of Teraden.

Virtually abandoned, he inquired to the remaining inhabitants why, they stated a sabrecat had laid claim to the hills around them, slaying dozens as it sought to assert itself and keep itself fed. Believing this a sign, he travelled to the hills and found the lair of the beast. Upon seeing the greatbeast, it's body the length of a man and a half and muscles that rippled with pure strength, he fought every instinct to grab his blade. Instead, he faced the beast down, words appeared in his mind to bind the beast to him. He spoke them and it is said the mountain's themselves shook as he did so, his body overcome with exhaustion, he collapsed. He awoke hours later, to a ticklish sensation on his face, finding a black and white house cat next to him, its fangs elongate, making it seem like a Vantyr turned pet. It was there that he discovered the true message of Themis. Where the Temple seeks to adapt the Abyssal Chain to its newcomers and denziens, Harcos discovered that they were instead meant to be bent to adhere to the Chain, including adherence to the only natural religion, the Themicite Temple.

He returned eagerly to Valaran to tell the elders of the Temple of his discovery, but he arrived to find the clergy in the midst of a feast with numerous monarchs of the Isles, dining of foods so fine that the materials used to make them could feed entire villages for weeks. It was then his fury erupted, his cat reverting back to its true form, though he held it back from attacking the particpants. He decried them as hypocrites and blasphemers, happy to ignore the poor and needy of the world in exchange for wealth, happy to shape the message of the Goddess to further their own power. He departed from the feast, swearing he would return at the head of an army and tear the temple they defiled brick by brick and use it to stone them to death.

Two harvests have passed since then, he has spent travelling much like his days as a Paladin, except now he seeks to convert those he meets to join him in reforming the Themicite Temple, engaging in debate and duels with Paladins and Clerics he encounters in his journeys, slowly trying to build a force of fanatics large enough to fulfill his promise to the Archons of the Temple.

Oh, how do I know this? That's simple, he told me at an establishment much like this and I was much in a state like you are. Now, perhaps you would wish to know just how it is he intends to reform the Temple?

[Ceystile]

I'll get a post up tomorrow guys

[Tomia]

I'll get a post up tomorrow guys

Sounds good!

[Ceystile]

I’m sick RN guys but hopefully I’ll get a reply up when I’m feeling better.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

I’m sick RN guys but hopefully I’ll get a reply up when I’m feeling better.

Hope you get well soon!

[Ceystile]

Thanks!

[Tomia]

I’m sick RN guys but hopefully I’ll get a reply up when I’m feeling better.

Feel better!

[Ceystile]

Now that I feel better I should be able to get a post up.

[Tomia]

Now that I feel better I should be able to get a post up.

Great to hear you're feeling better!

[Ceystile]

I'll post tomorrow y'all.