Alright, we're starting to get decent progress with characters being made, so I'm going to look at starting things up soon. Do people want to start individually or in small groups? Do people have preferences as to who they want to be with?
Alright here's mine Inky. Sorry it took so long for me to finish it.
Character Name: Irla Dhuran
Player Name: LWinter1
Race: Nekomata
High Concept: Wandering Subashi Mercenary
Trouble: Disgraced Subashi
Stress (Use O for open and / for filled):
Physical: O O O O
Mental: O O
Social: O O O
Consequences (list as Mild/Moderate/Severe/Extreme then P/M/S then Aspect, only add as used):
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Extreame
Aspects
Aspect 1. - Trained in the Courts
Aspect 2. - Knight's Blade
Aspect 3. - Headstrong
Aspect 4. - Hounded by Emir Muhmir
Aspect 5. - Honor-Bound
Other Aspects:
Skills:
Skill Cap: Great (+4)
Average (+1) Slots Used: 4 (4 points)
Average Skills:
-Rapport
-Intimidation
-Athletics
-Might
Fair Slots (+2) Used: 3 (6 Points)
Fair Skills:
-Presence
-Discipline
-Archery
Good Slots (+3) Used: 2 (6 points)
Good Skills:
-Weapons
-Driving (Horsemanship)
Great Slots (+4) Used: 1 (4 points)
Great Skills:
-Endurance
Stunts and Powers (list ability, with cost in parentheses following, then a description of. Section each off with a bullet or -.):
-Claws (-1)
-Subashi Training; Your Horsemanship is considered Fantastic whenever it might restrict, complement, or otherwise modify another skill (page 214). This has no effect when Horsemanship is rolled directly, however. (-1)
-Mounted Archery Training; You can fire from horseback even while moving without difficulty; if mounted, you never take the -1 penalty to bow attacks when you also move as a supplmental action. Furthermore all bow attacks from horseback have +1 stress. (-1)
-Leadership; When you talk, people listen. When using Presence to command a group (page 137), gain +1 on the effort. Further, your efforts to coordinate group are efficient, moving one time increment (page 315) faster than normal. (-1)
Consequences (list as Mild/Moderate/Severe/Extreme then P/M/S then Aspect, only add as used):
Mild
Moderate - Broken Ribs (recovery yet to begin)
Severe
Extreme
Aspects
Aspect 1. -Silent as the Grave
Aspect 2. -Knows when to quit
Aspect 3. -Night Owl
Aspect 4. -Heartless
Aspect 5. -Never Plans Anything
Other Aspects:
Skills:
Skill Cap: Great (+4)
Average (+1) Slots Used:
Average Skills:
Investigation-1
Discipline-1
Resources-1
Survival-1
Fair Slots (+2) Used:
Fair Skills:
Conviction-2
Contacts-2
Athletics-2
Good Slots (+3) Used:
Good Skills:
Weapons-3
Deceit-3
Great Slots (+4) Used:
Great Skills:
Stealth-4
Stunts and Powers (list ability, with cost in parentheses following, then a description of. Section each off with a bullet or -.):
Powers:
Channelling: Spirit (-2),
Guide My Hand (-1),
Righteousness (-2)
Base Refresh: 6
Refresh Adjustment: -5
Adjusted Refresh: 1
Current Fate Points: 0
Focus Item: +2 discipline
Description: Neither overly tall at 6 feet nor unusually muscular Ar is a knot of lean wire, scars, and grace. Spending years honing both his abilities with his strange weapon and staying to the shadows had left him quiet and lethal. The mark of his Malak heritage coming out in his black eyes, No iris, no pupil, just darkness. Emotionless and unrelenting those eyes have been the last sight of many an evil man and spirit wishing to do the world harm. He never goes anywhere without his Scythe or a long black cloak. The cloak has several straps and clasps to secure its normally billowing folds to his arms and legs, concealing but not impeding movement. His clothing is plain and simple, being made of leather from animals he had hunted and claimed himself, the soft but sturdy material muffling his movements. The buttons and clasps made from polished bone
Well, let's see if I got this right. And we'll see how things go. (And I love it. Made it before looking at the other sheets. This is going to be fun...)
Character Name: Atair
Player Name: Copper
Race:Nekomata
High Concept:Aspiring Subashi
Trouble:Curiosity is going to get him killed
Stress (Use O for open and / for filled):
Physical: O O
Mental: O O
Social: O O O
Consequences (list as Mild/Moderate/Severe/Extreme then P/M/S then Aspect, only add as used):
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Extreme
Aspects
Aspect 1. - Cuddly when he wants to be.
Aspect 2. - Fastidious groomer
Aspect 3. - Pretty Kitty.
Aspect 4. - Always lands on his feet.
Aspect 5. - Grandfather's blade.
Other Aspects:
Skills:
Skill Cap: Great (+4)
Average (+1) Slots Used: 4
Average Skills:
Investigation
Discipline
Scholarship
Stealth
Fair Slots (+2) Used: 3
Fair Skills:
Fists
Rapport
Presence
Good Slots (+3) Used: 2
Good Skills:
Athletics
Alertness
Great Slots (+4) Used: 1
Great Skills:
Weapons
Stunts and Powers:
Claws (-1) - You have claws (or something similar) that do +1 physical stress on a successful hit. This bonus stacks with any other powers or stunts that boost the damage of a Fists attack.
Acrobat: Gain +1 on Athletics when using it to survive a fall. Also, gain +1 to attempts to dodge ranged attacks (throwing and guns), so long as you describe it colorfully.
Base Refresh: 6
Refresh Adjustment: -2
Adjusted Refresh: 4
Current Fate Points: 4
Equipment:
General traveling gear
Money
Grandfather's blade (WS2)
Matched pair of knives (back and boot) (WS1)
Leather armor (AS1) - A few pieces of reinforced leather to protect more vital spots in a fight, Atair prefers to be able to move and dodge rather than rely on armor to keep him safe.
As what Chib's did, this is Atair's old sheet. Description and pics still apply, pendant may not, depending. Not to mention storyline details may change, though the whole "glory and honor" for the clan and the elders, not so much...
Alright, just need to work out what I'm going to do with everyone now.
I'm thinking one group will contain Winter, Sin and CWolf, possible Chibs as well in that.
As for the others, I'm not entirely sure. We have a pair of Sirens, one a mute outsider, the other silver tongued but has made a few bad decisions... and we've got an angry angry Harpy who hates non-harpies, and unlike last time, we don't have other harpies, so might need to start him off solo or have him already on some journey that sends him into the broader world.
And we've got Copper's nekomata who at this time still needs some finishing touches. I could easily attach her to Winter, but I think it might be better to split the nekomata...
Festival of Springtime Blooms (Occam, Garb, Tass, Copper)
Eastlake Haven, colloquially known as the City of Flowers, was in full swing now that it's annual festival was upon it. Once a year, beings gathered from far and wise, drawn to the Festival of Springtime Blooms, some to compete and show off their work, transporting rare and delicate flowers for miles in the hopes of winning the grand prize; many more came simply to witness the sights, sounds and smells the festival provided. As had become custom, the streets were lined with flowerbeds, where neat rows of matching blooms decorated the lane-ways as crowds wandered through the town in the flowing, airy garments that had become as much a part of the festival as the flower themselves. In recent years, the fashion shows and competition had become almost as big an attraction as the flowers themselves.
But for some, the festival was almost unrelated to why they were here. Drago had travelled north-east from his homelands following an attack on their nest, sent out by his elders to gather more information about the state of the world, for some suspected the harpies responsible for the attack may have been contacted by dark, fell powers. Despite his misgivings, he was sent out into the world to learn if there were any other such events occurring, for if it proved to not be an isolated incident, it would mean the Accursed were returning once more. He was specifically directed here, because this multicutural gathering would both be an ideal place to go unnoticed amongst the crowds, as well as providing a wider amount of information and stories in the one area. Assuming at least, he could adapt himself to the situation, given his personal distaste of other creatures, and lack of patience for things such as this...
Atair's masters had come to similar reasoning and and goals when they directed the youth here, for the Nekomata Empire was always looking for signs of darkness returning and lately it seemed they had begun. There had been some rumours back home about the Black Pyramid, an ancient site where a decisive battle against the Accursed had been fought... but he was told that was not his concern when he attempted to speak to his elders, to determine truth from rumour. Still, this was an important mission, he was told, even if the spectacle of the festival was a little overwhelming at first.
Violet had also been directed to Eastlake Haven by another, although in her case, she expected it was for more malevolent reasons. In any case, she had found her way there under the direction of her "benefactor", with no idea what exactly she was looking for or what would occur. About the only thing should did know for certain is that something was going to happen here and there was a good chance it wouldn't be pleasant; but leaving rather than seeing it through would be even worse for her.
Still, it wasn't all work and bad news, Keti just happened to be here for the flowers. It was the largest flower festival on Vira, after all; and this year there were rumours of a huge and rare flower not seen in many years as the top contender to win the competition.
Each of them had checked into the same inn, a cheap and nasty place when all was said and done, although even it had been cleaned up somewhat for the festival. While hardly the best accommodation, it suited the limited budget of each of them, as well as being one of the few places that wasn't entirely booked out. The innkeeper was a surly elf by the name of Rodash, who looked incredibly out of place with a flower in his hair and half the time looked like if it was up to him, he'd sooner die than wear it. At this time of day, the inn was empty but for him; what other guests it may have held were out and about in the festival, as well they might be; either at fashion shows, the flower shows, the market place literally swamped with vendors or at one of the many squares about the town where song, dance and games brought strangers together in celebration.
Storm cloud gathered in the sky above the great stone structure, as dark as its namesake and a foul smell carried on the winds that whipped around the area. The structure itself has rested abandoned ever since the battle with the Accursed so many years ago, the land scarred by the foul energies thrown about that fateful day. Long said to be the turning point of the war, it was here that the greatest of the Accursed was stuck down, his body spirited away by the defeated as their dark servants were put to flight.
But now, something stirred within these forsaken grounds, the warning signs were all but obvious and so a response was put together. Notably out of favour in the empite's politics and thought by many to be over her head in dark magics herself, Irla was the official response of the Nekomata Empire. It almost went without saying that the current Great Family who held power in the courts did not take the threat of the dark ones seriously, the prevailing opinion was that the Accursed had been defeated long ago and that all that remained to rise up were minor and lesser servants of theirs, no true threat to Vira. The disgraced subashi entered alone, with orders to find and deal with whatever little pest had decided to stir up some trouble and take to scaremongering.
But the emissary of the nekomata empire, such as she was, was not the only one who had slipped into this dark place to investigate. Ar, an initiate of the oracles was one of the few who had been sent out into the world when the signs had began to point to another dark uprising. Many were tasked with warning the world, and spreading the word so that the residents of Vira would be prepared; Ar was granted a different task, the elimination of problems before they grew too serious a threat. He was the knife in the darkness, one of the Hand of Malak, extinguishing darkness before it knew the light grew near.
Soren also slithered through the Black Pyramid, drawn westward by the unusual weather patterns and other ill omens. Not an official visit, Soren's was more one of discovery, alterations in the weather patterns of an area were usually signs of influence from the spirit world and he sought to discover what had caused them and see about fixing it, before the problem festered as these things often can. It needed to be attended to and as far as he could tell, no one else was taking the problem seriously. He could not stand idly by while it went ignored.
And lastly, a fourth entity sauntered through the halls, one more enlightened on what was occurring here than any other, for it called to her, drew her here, little knowing that it had chosen the wrong champion. Meaghan had little interest in providing assistance to whatever creature had taken up residence here, but she did know without a doubt that it had ties to the Accursed, she could feel it through her very being, drawing her in like sweet music. The darkness here did not bother her, if anything it reminded her of home, but still she crept through it with one hand on the hilt of her blade, constantly reminding herself of what she had come here to do, lest the sweet melody it sung to her slip into her mind and influence her actions.
As the group moved through the dark halls of the pyramid, each following after faint noises, there came a sudden crash, followed by the sounds of rapid movement and they raced to the source. There, in a moderately sized room, Soren stood still, a brazier knocked over upon the floor beside him, even as the nekomata Irla charged into the opening of the north facing door, the oracle Ar from the west, and the Vampyre Meaghan from the east. And from elsewhere below, a low, faint sound began to hum...
Ar
Due to your Contact skill, you've heard rumours of a Dark Nekomata Knight, disgraced for dabbling in the foulest of sorceries. The details are fuzzy, but many versions of the tale have it that it resulted in the death of the young daughter of one of the nobles of this place.
Soren
Due to your Lore skill, you know that while the body of the Accursed defeated here was removed by the dark one's allies, the death blow likely poisoned the land in a way that would take centuries to heal, and that scarring would also extend to the Spirit World. This could theoretically result in the corruption of any number of spiritual beings, turning them into a servant of the darkness to enact some sinister plan. Most spirits are bright enough to avoid such corruption, however if one was forcibly summoned here by a mortal servant...
Soren loudly, and in many languages, cursed his clumsy tail. This was exactly what he had not wanted to do, as it seemed he'd awoken whatever broken spirit had been slumbering here. Whatever it was though, he was not going home without some sort of proof that would convince the School Governors that this was a serious problem. Unusual weather happens, yes, but not at the magnitude at which it had been occurring.
He stared at the others that appeared suddenly from the darkened corridors and hoped that none of them were looking to fight him. He held up his hands to show there were quite empty. If they did decide to go after him, well... he didn't want it to come to that. His nerves were already frazzled enough.
((May go back and edit. Brain frazzled right now))
Meaghan drew her sword, lips curling upwards in a smile that exposed her fangs. Her eyes darted between the other three, until the Lamia raised his hands up, revealing them to be empty. The crash... had it just been a clumsy oaf knocking over the brazier. Who were these people.
And was that an Oracle? Things were certainly getting interesting quickly. The thought made Meaghan's heart race.
"So... this is unexpected," she said in a low sensual purr with an edge of threat.
Irla entered the room sword in hand, and immediately gave a disapproving growl. She had been sent here to investigate and had sincerely hoped she would find something worth sending word back to the Empire about. But all she had found was empty corridors and now treasure hunters and tomb raiders. No doubt she would face more accusations of dark magic were she to return and report that all she found were others picking through the ruins.
"I should have known better than to expect something interesting..." She muttered to herself, her tails irritably flicking behind her. Still, she might as well see what exactly these others were up to; lest one of them be the cause of the 'signs' her Empire were so interested in. For the moment, however, she was content to merely wait and see what unfolded.
Re: Festival of Springtime Blooms (Occam, Garb, Tass, Copper)
Atair stopped just to the side of the inn's stoop and shook himself out, grateful for the warmth and golden light that the sun brought. Glancing back at the dubious building through eyes narrowed to slits, he went back to absently combing his fingers through his hair. Granted, his room hadn't been that bad, but he couldn't shake the twitch that he'd felt looking at it for the first time. At least the linens looked clean enough. He might have to seek out a little extra to make a bath bearable. But then again, if one was going to find proper soaps and oils, a flower festival was the place to do it.
Of course, he couldn't let himself get too distracted. He was here to sniff out rumors, though he hardly imagined anyone talking about such dire things amid all of this celebration. Then again, that might very well be the perfect time to do it, since no one expected it.
He shifted the strap that held his blade across his back. In deference to the festivities going on, he'd knotted it into the scabbard, a compromise he'd reached, since he wasn't willing to leave the thing simply lying about in his room, even with the door locked. For now, prowling the market and the vendors seemed a good idea. If anyone might have news, it would be craftsmen and the like who had journeyed here over more miles than he'd covered. And, well, if anything happened to catch his eye while he was investigating, he'd just consider it a good omen.
Ar slipped into the pyramid like the shadow he aspired to resemble, Stealth was his forte but something was off and in all honesty, he had been distracted. The Vampyre was the major surprise. "Indeed... If you do not sheath that blade, then I will be forced to respond in kind. I am here for the threat this place represents, I am not here for you today Vampyre..." Although his voice barely registered above a whisper, it showed no hint of fear, Taking a neutral stance and focusing his black eyes upon the woman he slid the long, curved Scythe off of his back, blade low.
rice on his Head