Okay so I was doing some looking around while taking a break from writing on my manuscript and I noticed two things. 1) we have quite a few large cities in our world (Reajh, Uthlyn, Arca, Selevea, Ketra to name a few) and 2) We have a distinct lack of a continental Courier system (Used for international mail and transportation of important documents between governments) Enter...
The Runner's Society
The Runner's Society is a organization of couriers that are trusted in nearly all governments that was formed about 60 years ago when the nations realized that they needed an effective form of communication between one another. In the beginning, each individual nation owned it's own portion of TRS which led to a rather ineffective system. Ten years after it's formation, each branch of TRS signed a petition against their host nation and ceased all productivity until they earned their right to be it's own independent organization, what followed was a series of non-violent protests that eventually led to TRS being named an independent group in all nations. After which the effectiveness of TRS as a whole more than tripled and grew into the well know and used system it is today. Marked by Black pants and and a white long sleeved shirt with one red or blue sleeve. Flag one down if you have am important document and a destination. The Runner's Society has no official leader and consists of two ranks, neither which has more leverage than the other.
The Runner's Society does have a hierarchy and it is based around experience as a runner, there are the new and promising Red Sleeves, they are the lowest level in the TRS Caste and are often seen with a Blue Sleeve. As a Red Sleeve there are two ways to become a Blue Sleeve, one being seven years in service as a runner, and the other is to win the Red Cloak GamesC.B.LOW.
The Blue Sleeves have the most impact on day to day life in TRS as they are the highest active runners in TRS. Blue Sleeves share the upper half of the TRS caste with the House Keepers. Blue Sleeves that have served as a runner for fourteen years have the opportunity to retire whenever they wish, those who have served for twenty years are more-or-less forced to retire.
Runners that have retired are given the opportunity to further work for TRS by becoming House Keepers, House Keepers are in charge of one of the twenty-four TRS offices that are scattered across the continent. There can be several House Keepers to an office as the Office is also home to the runners, House Keepers handle everything from actual housekeeping, to money management, to dispatching runners.
There are two ranks in TRS but they are more of a class of runner than anything, they call them ranks as a reminiscent of the early days of TRS where they were actually ranks.
One of the two Ranks in TRS is the Sirch (Pronounced Sir-Sh). They wield swords and they carry anything from Mail that has been paid for in full and then some, to legal documents, to treaties between nations. They carry one or two swords across their back and are well versed in swordplay. Sirch are also used as security for Soar carrying precious cargo, they tend to be taller and stronger than Soar. The Sirch Rank is often revered because they have to be selfless and serve as a decoy for a Soar when ambushed.
The other Rank is Soar, they have high endurance and carry knives. They mainly carry special deliveries and mail that needs to go over a long distance quickly. They carry two daggers and often a throwing knife or three.
Among the runners there is a reverence term, SUAR, for talented Soar runners which was coined some forty years ago, A Sirch and a Soar were en route to deliver a peace treaty between two warring families when they were ambushed. According to the record of the event, the Sirch turned to engage the assailants and the Soar refused to run, unwilling to abandon his comrade. The Sirch then shouted "Shut up and run!" which somehow got the Soar to run the forty or so miles to the destination office. The Sirch was never seen or heard from again and everyone believed that his last words had indeed been "shut up and run". Eventually someone made the connection that letter S-U-A-R sounded Ironically similar to the name of the rank Soar. Thus the runner term SUAR came into being.
Best part of the job
The Runner's Society is well known for taking the route less traveled, that includes over buildings, market stalls and pretty much anything they can climb over. They are basically Free Runners (Parkourists). Every six months or so, all of TRS gathers in outside a large city and has a race to a find the red cloaked runner (Who is chosen from the blue sleeves) and it becomes a game of tag/capture the flag the goal being to get the cloak. This Game is called the Red Cloak Games. If a Red Sleeve wins, they become a Blue Sleeve. If a blue sleeve wins there is a small cash prize and the game is redone the following month in another city. If the cloaked runner is not caught before dawn the next day (He/she cannot hide away and must remain moving or resting somewhere on the streets) then they win a major cash prize. the House Keepers proctor the game.
Have a letter?
If you a looking to hire The Runner's Society, remember that TRS is by no means a free service. It does have to support itself. Some may find the rate to be affordable, if not a great deal. Just know that these rates have been in place for fifty years.
Same town mailing: 1 copper piece per letter
Same Province mailing: 5-10 copper pieces per letter (at the discretion of the house keeper)
Cross Province mailing: 1-5 silver pieces per letter (at the discretion of the house keeper)
International mailing: 1 gold piece per letter per border crossed
Thanatos mailing: 2 gold pieces per letter + 1 gold piece per border crossed
Now TRS understands that not everyone can write. So for an additional copper the house keeper will write your letter for you. Or for a copper piece per paragraph you can have the runner memorize your message.
Not sure where to find us? TRS has offices all across the continent and Thanatos. Our major offices are in Hyoite village, Reajh, Utherlyn, all proviences, Arca, Selevea, Cerenis, Ketra, Kunata, La'marri, Zantaric, and Essyrn. We also have several outposts in smaller towns that dot the land. All our offices are marked by our seal (http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x170/Vulvan/runnerssociety-1.png), which you will find on the wax seal of our letters and on our currency.
Sirch Runners:
Scipio Prosper (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13667.0), Blue Sleeve [Played by Zane]
Margot Lemaire (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=14213.0), Blue Sleeve [Played by GoblinFae]
OPEN!
OPEN!
OPEN!
Soar Runners:
Jypsei Danzer (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13783.0), Red Sleeve [Played by GoblinFae]
Wind (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13784.0), Red Sleeve [Played by Dreamwolf]
Ms. Fluffykins/ Radustan (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13875.0), Red Sleeve [Played by Winters-Feather]
Asuhok Snowborn (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13872.0). Red Sleeve [Played by Winters-Feather]
OPEN!
House Keepers
OPEN!
OPEN!
OPEN!
OPEN!
OOOOOH I Love this idea <3 "Shut up and run" is whimsy, but not that professional, though.
IN anyc ase, I wanna join in.
hmm you have a point...I wanted it to more be a connection to Soar (when you run quickly you seem to soar) and SUAR worked...might have to edit it a bit
Question, there are both red and blue sleeves in Sirch and Soar? Or is Sirch and Soar the two different ones of red and blue sleeves? Sorry I'm slow this morning @.@
From what I understand the Red and blue sleeves denote experience levels, think the difference between a gray muzzled dog and a brown one, whereas Soar and Sirch are the two different teams.
Also for Zane, What about mass mailing? if there is a large amount of messages to be delivered to a city at a slower pace? I was thinking my char, Ragnr, could be something like a helper, using his cart to deliver large packages or batches of mail, it would make sense given he travels all over, he could be easily commissioned to bring a Runner and their large package to the next town to another country. (excluding Connlaoth))
Fae: the red an blue sleeves donate experience as a runner (it takes seven years OR winning the red cloak games which is a rare thing for a red sleeve to do considering the amount of blue sleeves in the the game and the skill of the blue sleeve that has been named the red cloak) but to answer your question there are both red and blue sleeves in Soar and Sirch. Most red sleeves won't get a solo mission until their 2-3rd year which is to ensure their safety and that of the document.
More to be added later gotta go to class
Thanks Zane. Thinking on joining up but I have been told if I don't catch up on replying to my posts some people are going to commit a riot on me xD. I'll need to do that before I can make yet another character.
If (more like when) I do join I promise not to start another string of all the guild members having "S" names xD.
Fae's right. All their names shall henseforth start with the letter.... M! :<
As for a different acronym...
society of angry raiders? (lol not likely)
society of agile ranks
society of (the) accelerated races
system of advanced runners (huh)
system of accelerated resources
Systematic operations of accelerated ranks/races (SOOAR orjust leave out one of the o's. w/e)
Special (or systematic) Operation of avionic runners
The last one is my fav, but you probably can come up with more and probably a more apt one XD
This information you will find in the first post (Paragraph before "best part of the job" section)
Pretty hung up on that acronym huh? Soar is the official name of rank it is a reference to speed (Sirch is a VERY indirect reference to strength (pm if you wanna know it as it would take way to long to explain it here)) the acronym SUAR is a term among runners for a fast and high endurance Soar runner. It was coined more than forty years ago when a blue sleeve Sirch and a red sleeve Soar were ambushed while carrying a peace treaty between two feuding houses. The Sirch turned to engage the ambushers and the Soar hesitated, unwilling to leave his comrade. The Sirch then shouted "shut up and run!" Which somehow got the Soar to run the remaining 40 or so miles to the destination office. The Sirch was never seen or heard from again. Everyone guessed that his last words were "shut up and run" which someone the made the connection that the letters S U A R sounded very similar to Soar and thus SUAR became a runners term for a talented Soar runner.
Huzzah for backstory and development
Nice Zane! Add that to the guild info at the top ^.^
I shall once I get home
edits made to the group info:
-given a proper history
-the Hierarchy has been described
-the Ranks have reworked/rewritten
-Named the TRS gathering game
and now to commit a great crime..a triple post (hope I dont hang for this)
DreamWolf: you have a pretty valid point but I will have to say no and my reasons are as follows. TRS charges a pretty exuberant rate for their service, mailing within the city is a copper piece PER LETTER and it goes as high as 50 gold pieces (per letter) should the destination be over fifteen days travel (It took Scipio three months to travel to all 24 offices even though he was a Soar) so mass mailing would be very very costly to the sender...even if someone were to pay for the mass mailing, mass mailing is a common way to spread propaganda, and TRS will not spread propaganda as it makes them look bad (downside of being a middleman). and even if it wasn't propaganda, in the time it would take to track down Ragnr and get him back to the place he was asked for, a group of Soar Runners could be a majority of the way to the destination office. AND FINALLY. The Runner's Society is a courier system, if it can't fit in a satchel, carry pack, or hidden compartment, it wouldn't be TRS that would be delivering it. It's a really good idea and I feel like a rearend for shooting it down, it just doesn't fit with TRS
Alright Zane, Winters is going to kill me. I want to make a Soar if that's alright. ^.^ Setup looks much better, go you!
it's alright with me ^_^ welcome to TRS
valid point Zane, Thanks!
Zane, could you put official prices on the page using Serenian coin terms? (Copper could mean penny, shil, etc)
Also, what would the price be for recited messages? Most people wouldn't be literate but still might have the need to send someone.
This info is in the first post (you will find this in the "have a letter?" section)
Sure no problem. I put it here first the add to the first post when I next get to a computer
In city mailing: 1 copper per letter
Same Provence mailing: 5-10 copper per letter (at discretion of house keeper)
Cross Provence mailing: 1-5 silver per letter (at discretion of house keeper)
International mailing: 1 gold per letter per boarder crossed
If there were an illiterate customer the house keeper should offer to write the letter for them. Otherwise it is one copper per paragraph
Zane I might also suggest adding that to the top information so that it doesn't get lost in all our comments of praise on this WICKEDLY AWESOME guild ^.^
Also still working on my own runner, she is finely coming along nicely. ^.^
Was already planning on it Fae. Just didn't have the time then. But it's up there now ^_^
ONE MORE question xD Do we service off-continent regions such as the isles? I believe that could potentially make things difficult. We cannot walk on water after all ;) Perhaps we could have branches or outposts set up?
there is a Runner's office on Thanatos but not Yoreiq. the runners have a lovely group of NCP sailers that they use for travel to Thanatos...unless of course someone wants to make the sailors...anywho I should probably put where all 24 offices are shouldn't I?
^.^ That would be an excellent idea! Sorry to make more work. You know you love me!
Yeah, it wouldn't make sense to have one on Yoreiq. If there is to be one on Thanatos, it probably would be at the port. So far, though, this all sounds pretty terrific.
so I cannot for the life of me remember where I wanted to put the 24th office...so for now we have 23 :D
Also...
anyone wanna make a seal for TRS? I suck at visual art
Does it matter what the design is? I could something temporary until someone gets a better one. like this?
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x170/Vulvan/runnerssociety.png)
I like the running man silhouette but perhaps use TRS instead of the full name? Otherwise.............
I LOVE IT!!! <3<3<3
Can do!
Also perhaps charge could be more for mainland to Islands while between islands is the same as international?
Like this?
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x170/Vulvan/runnerssociety-1.png)
yep that works...I'll add it to the top in a little bit
I'll keep my eytes open for a courier one xp I think that would look better, but I couldnt find one.
Nope it wasn't on Yoreiq because I told myself that it would be impractical because it take on average 3 months to get there, Yoreiq is a "sharing" community so there is no money and most everyone on Yoreiq is illiterate.
Money has been updated
right, that's what i figured, too. plus a lot of the people there have -wings-.
However, I know this is really nitpicky, but do the runners carry word-of-mouth messages, or write letters for people? Not everybody that needs to send a message can write.
As for characters, sorry if the app is taking a while. I -should- be able to post it by the end of this week ><
You can pay to have a message written for you pr it memorized
Yep like Fae said you can pay to have it written for you or pay more to have it memorized. It's in the paragraph under the rates
Can the runners get time off? I'm sure of course once in a while there will be injuries due to the nature of their journeys but are others possible? As soon as I have my fabulous calibrator look my character over, she will be up and ready to run, literally ;)
Okay so. First and second year runners are normally with a blue sleeve, at the most there will be two beginner red sleeves with a blue sleeve so when the blue sleeve is on break so are the red sleeves (s)he is charged with. From a runner's third year and onward they get as many days off a month as they have been serving TRS. After a runner becomes a blue sleeve they are mainly doing international runs carrying letter sacks and paperwork to other offices. Before they start the run they are given a target time to get there (From Arca to Ketra the average target is fifteen days) any time they arrive ahead of the target is paid vacation. If they arrive after the target they have a few days to recover then they get back to work. Otherwise. A runner can request time off or the opposite and work on an off day. House Keepers are the unlucky ones. If they run an office by themselves they don't get days off though they get the pre and post office hours to themselves (noon to an hour after sunset) the offices have water clocks in them to keep time.
Please don't ask me to add this to the top I have no idea where I would put it and its a massive first post as it is (thank you JelloxTime for pointing that out to me)
She's done! ^.^ Meet Jypsei (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13783.new#new)
WELCOME TO TRS FAE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you want we can do a thread for Scipio and Jypsei, she is a second year Red Sleeve so it wouldn't be unlikely
Okie dokie artichokie! That is, if you want ANOTHER THREAD where I sit on it xD.
I don't mind XD I seem to be trying to drown myself in thread LOL I go from not posting at all thanks to writers block to over 120 posts in about a weeks time XD
That's how it always starts! Alright welp we can talk plot in PM's after everyone stops swamping you xD That's what you get for becoming popular!
Muse Gnomes are at it again. They have half formed a rather interesting runner... they threaten a strike if I do not make this character...
(http://rmckeever.sitesinseconds.com/cs/37095%20on%20strike%20garden%20gnome.jpg)
xD Love the picture. Now if only THAT was your runner. I would never stop laughing!
I welcome you to make one DreamWolf
Behold! (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13784.new#new)
Is wind Soar?
o.0 i forgot that part, yes she is. willedit that just as soon as my muse gnome is up...
IF AND WHEN we get at least 3 runners for both Soar and Sirch and 2 house keepers (Which I may make one I'm still deciding/plotting), I shall start a group wide:
THE RED CLOAK GAMES!!!!!
Here's Ash, a SOAR runner: http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13872.msg118196#msg118196
also going to get on making that cat. He's going to need a House Keeper as an 'owner', so when I make him, maybe that house keeper you're still debating on , Zane, can be it :P
edit: http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=13875.msg118214#msg118214
Here ya go. Changed my mind about some things, but not really. (?) ^~^ and yes, the name annoys me, too. but that's part of the fun lol XD
*****UPDATE*****
We are in desperate need of Sirch Runners!!! Poor Scipio is so far the only player controlled Sirch!! Poor Scipio is also the only player controlled Blue Sleeve. We need our blue sleeves!! They are essential to TRS as they train the red sleeves and what not.
If we can get two more Sirch and two House Keepers we shall start a guild thread. THE RED CLOAK GAMES! Only red sleeves that have taken their last training examinations can enter so if you need to do that just poke me and Scipio can administer them.
Just keep running!!
http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=14213.new#new Margot Lemaire, Blue Sleeve Sirch...finally got her done. Sorry for the wait Zane
She's been added to the list. Care to start a thread?
Is that a rhetorical question? Of course! But you know how it is with me of late. Going to be very slow. >.< We can plan in IM or PM
Hi there. Is TRS still up and running? (::))
If so, I think I'd like to join and create a character that would be a Red Sleeve Sirch runner. I really like the idea of this guild.
It most certainly is still alive and kicking ;) We would be happy to have you join our ranks. As soon as you have the character profile written up just post the link here so we can add you up to the page :). If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Zane can answer you pretty quick if I or someone else can't.
Doest mine eyes deceive me or is a fan of elfin lied wanting to join my guild?
Sweet, welcome aboard. If you have any questions, I am merely a quick PM away.
I have begun creating my character, Kumiko (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=16732.0).
But I had some ideas, for which I might need some plotting with TRS. It's about how Kumiko comes to join TRS.
I'd like to RP her meeting with the guild, and I already have some ideas and scenarios in mind. But of course this depends on who of you feels like playing it out with me and what would fit your character.
So... someone wants to thread? Or would it be better if I line out my ideas first?
If no one feels like playing this, I also have ideas, how I can write her joining with the TRS by myself ;)
Well, here are my ideas for now that I had for meeting Kumiko with TRS. Everything of course as very rough outline and heavily depending on whether one of you wants to play this with me or which char is the one that meets Kumiko.
Starting point always is, that Kumiko ended up with a thieves guild (or similar) after deserting from the military.
1. Kumiko gets a mission that she cannot arrange with her conscience and decides to flee before being killed because of insubordination. When fleeing from the thieves guild, she is cornered by them and rescued by a TRS runner that saw what happened ((this I also could write without interaction of an actual TRS-Player, and Kumiko could already be a TRS member when beginning RP))
2. When in thieves guild, there is a mission to intercept a message that is transported by a TRS Runner.
2.1 She didn't know, that the mission also included to kill the runner
2.2 mission changed when they realized that the message was not written but was only memorized by the runner.
2. She refused to kill the runner and instead tries to rescue him.
2.3.1 She rescues the Runner
2.3.2 she and runner can flee together
2.4 She and the kind of unexperienced Soar runner are rescued by a third Sirch runner that is protecting the Soar
Sorry about the lack of a post friend. Been very busy with life and all that jazz. But anyway!
As a general rule, most Runners in TRS are self serving, meaning they put the needs of their team and themselves first, so most would likely *not* intervene. Notable exceptions is my Scipio and possibly GoblinFae's Margot. However, a Housekeeper may very well intervene. So up to you. I personally am not taking on new treads at the moment due to an ongoing job hunt (save for one thread that has been in plotting for a while) however if you still require a thread by the time I return for good. PM me.
Oter than that. I don't see a problem.
On the other idea (I may be missunderstandingbut isnt 2.0-2.4 a second idea?) could work. With possibly Jypsei being the Soar and Scipio the Serch.if you wanted that, it would have to wait until I get back.
well, actually, i haven't used Ms. Fluffykins in a while...
so assuming if the thieve's guide is in his area, perhaps he has some secret mission involving that and he happens to be teamed up with her.
Dude.
Medieval... parkour?
MEDIEVAL F***ING PARKOUR! Yes! So much yes! All of my yes! Coolest. Thing. Ever.
So is this guild still alive? And if so, would anyone mind if I made a Sirch runner?
This Guild is very much still alive, I tried to set it up so these characters can be used for any kind of thread. Feel free to join up. Sirch is always looking for members to fill it's ranks. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me and I will answer them as soon as I can.
Oooh! Awesomesauce! Alright, I'll get working on that now. Thanks, Zane.
Alright, still working on him, but here's (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=17461.0) what I've got so far.
Your character looks great so far! Once you have finished his history, let me know so I can do a quick skim of it to look for continuity issues, then I will add him to the list. (also I am logged in from my phone..)
But as of now, your character is a member of TRS, welcome to our blissfully free ranks. Feel free to rp with any willing victi- I mean participant. I, unfortunately, have been experience some pseudo-awayness, thus am not taking on any new rp at the moment. But we have several other members in need of play!
@Sir ZaneNow I'm wondering why I didn't think about making a character for this guild earlier (although, I did make a passing mention to it in my own guild page here (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=17988.0))! I'm definitely tempted to make one now... Any restrictions regarding race, species, etc?
Not really no, TRS has a Were-Cat and a wolf who are runners. While humans are most common, anyone is welcome.
What we need more than anything are HouseKeepers. The people who take care of the TRS offices and make sure any runner who enters has a place to sleep and the ingredients together for a warm meal, (though they seldom do the cooking themselves)
But yes, all free to join.
Très bien! If it's alright with you, could the inn double as the La'Marri TRS office? If not, I've got other ideas for a character.... Mwuhahaha!