This thread is the Pre-selection stage of RP for the Order of Tears. This will let applicants get into the heads of their characters, feel out your literary fluff, and allow me to feel out character styles and possible relationships. Once you introduce a character into this thread he is "locked in" as your character and you cannot switch. The contents of this thread may or may not be cannon for the campaign, depending on what happens and who I select.
Also, please have your characters fully completed before posting in this RP thread.
Applications are still being accepted at the Recruitment Thread
You come from vastly different backgrounds, life experiences, and upbringings. Your races are only the skin of your differences. However, you have all been led, or sentenced, here. Where 'here' is exactly, you cannot say. Gulls can be heard outside and the smell of salt still hangs in the air, so it must be Dockway. Perhaps this is the Order's operations center?
The room is bare save for a few tables and chairs. There is one door, and space enough for three times the people here now. You know all this only after they take off the burlap hoods. The floor is stone, but the walls are made of thin wood, and they look like they aren't designed to stand the test of time.
Flanking the solitary door are two figures clad in full black robes and identical, full face masks. The only difference in their appearance are the words embroidered around their collars and sleeves. One is Absentia and the other is Ministrant.
You are told nothing. Given nothing. All you have is taken. You are left with only the clothes on your back and the questions in your mind.
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A brilliantly red kobold in the corner is quite obviously suffering the effects of both a hangover and sleep deprivation. The tired little lizardman, in his absent mind, breaks off a piece of his chair and attempts to drink from it, only to realize that splinters are a poor substitute for even the worst of rotgut ale.
Pthooo! Okay, whoever put caltrops in my mouth, very funny, I'm awake now. Hey, who are you people? Last thing I remember from last night was a cleric offering me money to kaboom something...
He starts scratching one of his many horns in confusion.
The young man with heavily tanned skin blinks a few times as the sack is removed. His dark eyes glance around the room, taking in the others like him as well as the robed men. Guards...
Moving a bit slowly, he picks up a chair sets it off to the side, sitting to watch the others in the room and listen to their conversation. He frowns periodically, as if in silent struggle with troubled thoughts.
The sack finally removed, Ariana shakes her head, her long hair a mess of knots. The look on her face is displeased as she looks around taking into account the number of other prisoners, the guards and the location of a single entrance and the lack of windows. She tenses, as if preparing to do something before calming herself. Her expression clearing and leaving her face emotionless.
As if feeling the need to state the obvious, she stands and speaks to the room in general. This is no prison. As such, I can only surmise you have either re-considered your foolish charges or have a less stringent punishment prepared. Based on these others.. She pauses, giving a scathing look at the drunk kobold attempt to gnaw or drink on a chair leg. I can only assume the latter. May I inquire as to where we are currently being held?
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The kobold spits the last few splinters out of his mouth.
Punishment? Charges? Huh? What did I do? Did I accidentally set fire to a school again?
Dissatisfied with the piece of chair, the kobold shoots a small spark out of his thumb. The wood chunk catches fire as he throws it to the floor, fortunately a fair distance from any of the walls.
"Korrith? Cayden's Bloody Hangover! What are you doing here? Is this a really s&$%ty bar?" The tall elf shakes his head in confusion. "What am I doing here? Where the hell is here?" He stretches almost methodically, a byproduct of unused training, or, rather, ill-used. He tries to smile at the others in the room until he sees Ariana. Oh, Gods preserve me. One of us, and she's already talking down to everyone.
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The hulking ulfen groans as the hood is pulled off of his head and the bright light assaults his vision. He reaches up with a large calloused hand to shield his acclimating eyes and surveys the scene.
Ursus is a great bear of a man, standing over two meters tall and half as broad. He is gifted with the hulking musculature that makes his people sought out as bodyguards - his massive limbs and chest thick with corded muscle. His body acts as a testament to his experience within Magnimar's judicial system and his continued defiance - a pattern of mottled bruises cover the majority of his massive upper body's rippling musculature. His long golden hair and beard hangs in dirty tangled knots.
"Gods above, have you brought me here to talk or to kill me?" the big man grumbles aloud. "What are the rest of you in for?"
As you are all coming to your sences, a large, easily read list of names appears above the door. Each name is accompanied with a short note describing each of your crimes and which judge sentenced you, though there is no hint of where 'here' is and what exactly the sentence was. Freia's name has no comment and no judge's name next to it.
Arthiien looks over the list. He wracks his brain for the previous night's activities but comes up pretty short. Broke in ...yeah, OK, maybe ...surely I didn't actually ...well, maybe. Oh, man, I wonder what I wrote ...it must have been bad. Or really good ..
Freia blinks a few times as her eyes adjust to the lighting and she quickly looks around, surveying her surrounding. Contrary to some of the other people in the room she seems neither surprised nor annoyed by her predicament. Rather - strangely enough - her stance and expression conveys anticipation or excitement.
She takes a few movements to collect herself, brushing imaginary specks of dust and straightening her meticulously clean but worn uniform. The uniform itself appears to be at least as old as her but shows signs of recent refitting and repairing - infact, anyone familiar with Magnimar might realise that the uniform belongs to the town watch, only that it went out of use around twenty years ago.
"Greetings - I am Freia and ..." she starts speaking slowly, taking great care to try and make a good and proper impression - but abruptly stops with an loud "EEEEK!" when the kobold throws the burning pieces of wood not far from her feet. She desperately tries to stomp it out with her boots before she realizes her folly and picks up the smouldering splinter of wood and puts it in a nearby brazier - her face momentarily shifting from blue to red. Great work Freia - act like a child scared of fire. That will surely get their respect she thinks mockingly to herself as she turns back to the rest of the group.
edit:Freia briefly glances across the list. Public drunkenness, destruction of property, arson? kidnapping children ?! well this will certainly be interesting. She swallows and gives the kobold an quick and fearful glance then giggles quietly Atleast he looks kindof cute - lets hope he wont throw any more fire around for a while
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Aye... Listen, big fella, if you see any other red kobolds in Varisia, don't tell them you know me. The egg I broke was from the dragon my clan worships.
As the sentences are read, Korrith laughs. A church? That's it? I was hired by someone who couldn't wait till I was sober? He regards the tiefling woman with confusion. What? It's just fire. Nothing wrong with it, so long as it's well away from anything dry and planty.
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"I'll keep that in mind", Ursus says as he scratches at his unkempt beard.
When the list appears, the big man studies it briefly. The others were here for lesser crimes. The realization left the hulking ulfen with a mixed reaction. On one hand, he was being grouped with these largely innocuous criminals. On the other, the powers that be apparently didn't think him a danger.
Ursus crosses his thick arms across his barrel chest and glances down at the tiefling, "Why's there's no crime listed for you?"
"Well ... yeah - of course. But still - " she trails of and looks around trying to gather her wits. With a forced laughter and a quick wave towards the list she continues "I think the churchgoers would agree with me on this one atleast" She sighs at her lousy attempt to disarm the situation and instead offers the kobold her hand. "I'm sorry I think we got of on the wrong foot. I'm Freia - and I sometimes consider myself far to flammable for my own good"
She turns around to the rest of the people and adds to Ursus trail of thoughts "We southeners also dislike squishing, crushing and pillaging of our things" She smiles and adds "Even we poor southeners feel that way"
As the big ulfren man addresses Freia she quickly glances at the list - mentally crossing of the people and crimes she can put together. The realisation puts a lump of ice in her stomach. She involuntarily takes half a step away from Ursus before responding.
"Ah well - you see - it's simple" she stumbles over the words before she takes a second to compose herself and straightens her back before continuing on. "I volunteered. Most people would not associate with me nor let me work for them - just based on the fact that I am not like them. But here - " She pauses and appears calmer now that it is out in the air. "But here - they wont care if I am dammed or cursed or something different altogether - it really felt like the best place there would be for me"
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Ursus watches with satisfaction as Freia takes a cautious step back. At least someone around here took him seriously. The big man uncrosses his arms, hoping the less aggressive posture will put the girl at ease.
When she points it out, Ursus studies the tiefling closely for the first time. She was monstrous but not frightening. The hulking ulfen pauses to consider his own lineage. He silently wonders how many knew his secret after the performance that landed him in this situation in the first place.
"Everyone's different in a way", Ursus answers while scratching at his hairy chest. "But good on you for making your own way."
Zayid looks up at the wall as it lights, then winces and looks away from it. The word next to his name burns itself into his memory as if it were inscribed in blood: MURDER.
After a few moments he glances back up and surveys the interactions happening. His eyes rest on the Ulfen in a thoughtful, pondering gaze. He shudders.
after sitting in the corner to himself for some time Johnny looks up at the kobold talking. the slim and tall human with wavy blonde hair and blue eyes stands looking around wondering what this all means.
looking at Korrith he smiles
you can make someone dead by pointing at them with out magic.
Laughing Johnny stands and stretches.
It may take a little slight of hand or poison but it can be done.
Johnny bends over stretching some more and then sits back down.
passed out for a while a half tien woman dressed in what can be presumed to be dock worker attire consisting of a plain shirt and some torn pants. she is barefoot and her clothing has what appears to be old blood stains on them. from her looks it is possible some of the blood is her own. she looks as though she must have put up a fight in her capture.
the woman starts to stir and come to life.
what the blazes? she says with a slight lisp. she starts to look atround the room gathering her senses discovering she is not in a cell alone.
as her adrenaline suddenly kicks in she quickly stands. what the hellsh? I shee ya needed shome friendsh then she says to nobody in particular but probably directed at the guards. she assumes a defensive Muay Thai fighting stance. she looks around waiting to see who wants a piece of her first.
the smell of her breath might help deduce a little of her condition. seems she is still a bit inhebreated and pretty obvious she thinks everyone here is to rough her up some more.
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Brothel? That explains why I've never heard of it. I have no need for human women, nor, I think, have they any for me. Korrith turns his red eyes toward the drunken barbarian. Huh, and I thought I was a raging drunk. But then, I get drunk on mutagens, so... Yes. The alchemist starts reciting his formulae in Draconic.
Brothel? That explains why I've never heard of it. I have no need for human women, nor, I think, have they any for me. Korrith turns his red eyes toward the drunken barbarian. Huh, and I thought I was a raging drunk. But then, I get drunk on mutagens, so... Yes. The alchemist starts reciting his formulae in Draconic.
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Ursus studies the newcomers as they're brought in and unhooded. He quickly looks toward the magical sign to deduce their crimes too.
When Korrith speaks up, he returns his attention to the little kobold.
"I don't suppose the Swan had many lizard-types on hire", the hulking ulfen muses aloud. "Where do you go in Magnimar for a little soft company?"
Ariana wrinkles her nose at the lot of seemingly disorganized criminals. She glares at the list above the door, fingers twitching in irritation. She smooths her robes, shaking her head lightly. What have I gotten myself into..well I shall hope some of the others have their own excuses for their behavior. Perhaps I am not here with rampaging murderers but simply the misunderstood.
She spins on a heel and walks to Freia. I'm surprised no one was intrigued by your words. You said you volunteered..volunteered for what. Where are we and why would you volunteer for sentencing?
"Vengeful kinsman..." whispers the darker-skinned young man quietly. Turning his eyes from the Ulfen to the kobold, he asks softly, "What did you do? I mean..." he pauses hesitantly, then continues in the same soft voice. "It was an accident, right?"
sensing noone here is after her noro relaxes but remain wary.
seems most are more excited about a kobod that speaks instead of just gurggling fits of death throws at the hands of some warrior's sword.
Noro sits back down waiting to see what may happen next looking about for any indication weather or not she can get a drink.
Freia listens to Ursus and Korriths exchange and appears more at ease now that Ursus has given his short explanation for his crime. An overzealous pitfighter is better then a cold blooded murderer - but still, maybe not the best of people to hang around with. And the kobold hasn't set anything else on fire for a while, so that is a plus.
When Ariana approaches her she is briefly startled but quickly manages to put forth a response, hoping to satisfy the woman curiosity. "Sorry, sorry - The order of the Tear is an organization which cares for wayward souls and hope to put them back on the right track - by letting them work for the betterment of the society. As for exactly were we are I do not know" She takes a deep breath before she answers the last part of the question. "If you complete the work set for you you might get a chance to join the order which oversees this - an order which don't care about race or gender or appearance." She gestures towards her face - her skin is pale blue covered in white lines, her batlike ears far to large for her head. She gives Ariana a sad smile, revealing a line of surprisingly mundane looking teeth "I am sure you can see why that might attract someone like me"
Zayid's gaze jerks to the Ulfen in surprise as he's addressed, his question having been directed at the kobold. He hesitates a moment, then shakes his head.
Noro mumbles something in Tien at the Ulfen man's rhetorical question.
every frickin day
Misinterpreting Korriths plea for a drink, Freia hands him a small canteen of water. "Here. They let me keep this - probably a perk of not coming here thru jail" She looks around at the group of people again before adding "I guess they didn't think anyone could use a canteen of water to escape or something" She tries to make the last part sound like a joke, but some faint traces of worry can be found in her voice.
You have been left with only the clothes on your backs and Freia's canteen.
Noro and the Kobold could be best buds but it will take some getting used to each other
Freia blinks and briefly looks confused before she understands. She whispers an hushed incantation over the canteen before handing it back to Korrith. What is now in it looks (and tastes) like dark ale, but lacks the telltale sting of alcohol.
Zayid turns his head slightly and studies the blue-skinned humanoid before him. Kindness... from one such as that. Ugh... don't think like that. She's no different from... no, she is different. She committed no crime.
"Yes - the idea how this is going to work is fairly simple. If you complete the tasks set infront of you - your crimes will be null and void. You repay whatever debt to society you have and then it is all forgotten - but I cannot tell you exactly what the task is or how long it is for I do not know."