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Topics - Rhindeer

#41
"This place stinks," Axieva said as she walked alongside her godly mate, Rit. She wrinkled her nose in disdain and looked up at him, ears back, wings folded, hooves clicking lightly with each step. She waved a hand in front of her nose. "I did not miss the city."

Because cities, indeed, reeked. To someone with a sensitive nose like hers, it was sensory overload. Humans had a particular...stench about them, and the city stank of human waste and industry and filthy animals kept in cages. Already she missed the wild places outside the human places, but alas, a girl had to eat. Animal meat kept her sated and nourished, but nothing compared to human livers.

And she had learned that society down south was different than her homeland, where perytons and humans came into violent contact frequently. Here, she was an outsider, and so she just had to learn how to cheat the system. She had found her calling in mercenary work, especially bounty hunting. It was a socially acceptable form of killing. How strange humans were.

Of course, to humans, they were the strange ones. Two perytons walking down the road, Axieva especially drawing disdainful stares. As usual, she wasn't wearing much at all: a thick fur skirt, and nothing else. She had gone all her life wearing nothing, or close to it, except when going outside into the cold, and after spending so much time with Rit in the woods, she had forgotten about human modesty. Her bare breasts were small, barely there, but her hips and presentation was feminine enough to give her away. She drew surprised or disgusted looks, or whistles, and Axieva hissed at them in annoyance as they passed.

The reason still hadn't dawned on her.

"I forgot how annoying humans are, too," she muttered under her breath, ears twitching. "What a shrill sound. Hurts my ears."
#42
__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Patches
Real Name
Lyric Viitani
Age
18
Gender
Female
Species
Human
Ethnicity
Serenian
Height
5'3"
Occupation
Noblewoman
Residence
Serendipity, but currently she's...hiding.

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
A sleek, short-haired calico cat with a right blue eye and a left green eye.

In human form, she's a slim young woman with pale skin, the same bi-colored eyes, and long white hair with patches of black and brown. It falls down to mid-back, but she usually ties it back into a messy braid.

Personality
I'll figure it out as I play her! 8D

Magic/Abilities
Shapeshifting! She comes from a line of shapeshifters, though her family line can only shift into one other form. In her case, her form turned out to be that of a cat. She is naturally gifted when it comes to magic, though, and has the potential to be quite powerful. She learns quickly and easily.

Relationships
Her family is dead (parents and older brother). They were accomplished mages, and though only had a minor title, had acquired a significant amount of wealth through a mix of luck and lucrative business decisions.

Currently adopted by a small peasant family, the beloved pet of a 9-year-old girl. They give her food and shelter and cuddles, and she keeps their barn rat free. |: It was gross at first, but she's gotten used to it.

History
Her family was robbed and murdered in their sleep four years ago. |: Lyric only survived because she had gotten up to sneak a snack, and she escaped by transforming into a cat. Terrified, she has maintained the form ever since, rarely taking human form. She's afraid she'll be next if it comes out that she's still alive--but she's also determined to bring the killers to justice, whose faces she plainly remembers.

She also knows they were hired by another noble house, though she doesn't know who.

And that is why it's unsafe for her to reveal herself, and why she doesn't feel comfortable asking for help. Not until she has the answers she needs.

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#43
The village she was currently staying at was still sleeping when Tikaani slipped out of the plush tent she'd made her home and picked her way down to the seashore, thick furs bundled around her form. It was still dark out, though the sun was beginning to rise and cast just enough light to see by, but for her it was the perfect hour. Few people would be out and about, the ocean was calm and still. It was just her and the sea; just her and her true home.

She walked along the shore for some time before she reached the cliffs where she had stored her skin the night before. Pulling it out from a deep crevice, she unrolled it, smoothed out the crinkles, and for a moment just relished in the familiar smell and feel of it, the sense of connectedness, of wholeness. It was getting more and more difficult, wandering the tundra and spending less time at sea, and she relished these moments.

Shedding her clothes--her human skin, in a sense--she slipped back into her sealskin and took to the sea.

She lost track of time, hunting fish the old fashioned way, enjoying the taste of raw meat, and when Tikaani returned the sun had risen almost completely. Fish guts! She had lost track of time! The village would be awake and moving now, and if she wasn't quick, things could get awkward fast.

Reaching the shore, she waddled her way onto land, dragging her body through the sand, and began to wriggle free of her her skin--which looked easier than it was, for it was a tight fit. She kicked free of it, hissing at how bloody cold it was as a naked, hairless human, grabbed it and rolled it up quickly, and then scrambled for her clothes to dress.
#44
[PM to join! 8D]

For all the notoriety Connlaoth had, getting their troupe inside had been a rather uneventful affair.

The soldiers had been polite enough and no one had needed to be marked, as not a single member of their troupe was a mage, and many had seemed curious about their group. Which was understandable and, in fact, was exactly why they'd set out to try their luck in Connlaoth. A group of traveling performers, none of which possessed a lick of magic, would be far more impressive in a place without magic than in a place that had it. Their art was often a tough sell in Serendipity and Adela, though Adela, at least, was a little more receptive. But here, people could appreciate tricks and illusions done not with any vile magic, but with sleight of hand and dance and pure athleticism.

They had figured that Uthlyn would be their best starting point, city of knowledge and all that, and so that is where the group headed. They parked their wagons--ten of them, most of them serving as cages for exotic animals though a couple carried their supplies--just outside the city. There they moved their wagons into a circle to create a natural "stage" at the center, set up their simple props and equipment, and sent a couple of their crew into the city to spread the word.

People came in a trickle at first, but word of mouth doubled the numbers as stories spread of flexible acrobatic twins, sword-swallowers, fire-dancers, and horses that did tricks. They didn't have a large crew; most of their members were proficient in multiple areas. The sword-swallowers also fire-danced, the horses were the same ones that pulled the wagons, and one of the twins was an illusionist. And most of them were at least quite skilled in the art of pick-pocketing.

Perhaps it wasn't as fancy or as impressive as other acts elsewhere, but it was something, and it was different. And they at least had a few animal species that were quite exotic, including a fledgling gryphon and a full-grown tiger.

Then there was Iris.

Iris had always been a bit of an oddity in the group, for she didn't actually perform as the others did. Or at least, not in the same way. Set apart from the main area, out of the way of swords and horses, she had set up a little table beneath a shady tree. An old cloth covered it, decorated with tassels, and an assortment of crystals and runes and carved bones were laid out on it, as well as a deck of Thanati Fuiyun cards. Just as her table was eclectic, so to was she, her white and lilac hair decorated with little beads and bells that were also woven into her colorful skirt. A shawl was draped over her shoulders.

None of the colors she wore matched, either. But that didn't bother her. Her cloudy eyes were proof of her blindness.

But blind or not, she could tell the future and read fortunes, she claimed. It was a gift from Ansgar, this sight. Though He had taken her eyes, He had given her a new kind of vision in return!

Some people were uncomfortable with this, finding it too close to witchcraft even though she didn't bear the mark. Others, curious, were drawn in.

And even as Iris played her role, she paid close attention to what was going on around her. She knew she was pushing boundaries here.

But she was used to that.

The day wound down, and evening approached, and her troupe prepared for the final show that night. Iris, having nothing better to do, returned to her table and called out, "Fortunes! Get yer fortunes! Fortunes a-plenty, learn yer future, find yer soul mate! Past-life readin's, too! Fortunes!"
#45
Sirantil Valley / Skinny dippin'! [open/PM to join!]
April 07, 2018, 11:10:40 AM
"Are you crazy? The lake's frozen."

"Yeah, but it only like just froze. It's still all thin."

"But it's frozen. It's freezing!"

"Ya sayin' yer scaaaared?"

"No, it's just...you're going to get sick."

Standing at the edge of the lake, atop a small ledge overlooking it, Siobhan turned and gave the other three Adhara with her a look. She huffed, hands on her hips, and looked down her nose at them. Being up there made her feel very tall, so she may as well take advantage. "You're sayin' that like I'm the only one gonna do this. I'm tellin' ya, this is an initiation. A tradition! All Adhara do it at the first freeze. Proves yer toughness!"

"I think you're just being crazy, Siobhan."

"I think yer all just bein' wusses."

"Seriously, I've never heard of this being part of any sort of initiation thing."

"Really?" Siobhan scrunched up her face. "Rose told me last year it totally was, that I was the only one hadn't done it."

"Rose was probably pranking you."

Siobhan frowned, thinking back. Rose had been laughing an awful lot...

"Whatever. Look, I'll even go first, just to prove it ain't no thing, ya buncha cowards!"

"Siobhan, I really think you shouldn't--!"

But Siobhan had already yanked off her clothes, tossing the garments to her horrified companions, and before they could cry out another warning, she shouted out, "Watch!" before she hopped off the ledge--

And landed on her bare ass on the ice with a loud THUNK that had her rolling over in pain. "AWWWWFU--FUDGECRACKERS!"
#46
This was a particularly dangerous road, but Tessa had crossed it many times before and had no choice but to do so. The other roads were longer, less direct--and she needed to get to Reajh fast. Desperation and necessity had her chancing the more dangerous path and hoping that this time she was as lucky as she had been the last few times she'd been forced to choose the more dangerous route in favor of speed.

God was with her, and He always provided. He'd protected her before, had given her this second chance, and she had faith that He would now.

That night, wolves had descended upon her flock. She'd been tired and while she was conditioned to sleep light and stay aware even in sleep, exhaustion had made her drift into a deeper sleep than intended. She'd awoken to the panicked bleating of her flock and the snarls and growls of her sheepdog, Fable, as she fought off the pack--which was blessedly small and young and gave up as soon as it got what it had come for.

In the end, she'd lost one lamb and Fable had been injured; she couldn't walk right and had some bad cuts elsewhere, and a lifetime of experience with animals told Tessa that if the wounds weren't properly treated, they could go septic.

And she didn't know what she'd do if she lost that dog; she'd been her companion for the better part of six years, raised from a puppy. She was a gift from God, protecting her when she needed it and keeping her company even when others had rejected her.

"C'mon, girl. Almost there," Tessa called to the dog, trying to keep the panic out of her voice. She could see the city in the distance; maybe an hour more and they'd be there. Fable only whined in response, limping along in obvious misery.

If the dog hadn't weighed almost as much as Tessa did, she would have carried her.

Minutes passed in relative silence with no sign of trouble and Tessa started to relax, though she still remained alert and scanned the flat lands ahead for any signs of danger.

It was only when they reached a bridge that crossed over a small section of stream that the bandits revealed themselves, stepping out from the cover of the bridge.

There were three of them, and each of them was stocky and well built, a couple with the scars to show they'd done this before and come out on top. And there she was, a lone girl with a small flock, money and meat on legs.

Their grins only broadened when they noticed the mage's mark embroidered onto the breast of her tunic.

"Well hello, little witch," one of the men sneered, hand playing with the dagger at his belt as he approached. "There's a price for crossin', y'know. Time to pay up."

Panic gripped Tessa, but she gripped her crook tightly and backed up slowly. She wasn't defenseless and she'd had to defend herself against trouble before. The problem was that she'd always had Fable to help her and the dog was in no condition to fight.

And the only other defense she had was one she dared not touch. Ever. Not even if the alternative was death.

Better death than damnation.

"S-stay back! I'm warnin' ya!" she said, ready to start swinging if they got close and praying that they wouldn't. She was terrified of them--but terrified of what could happen if she did act. A mage's word wasn't worth much; if she hurt them, she could easily take the fall for it, even beyond what they could inflict on her. It was all too easy to convince others that a mage had used magic in self-defense even if they hadn't, and that was what made her pause, made her lower her crook.

As much as death was better than damnation, she still didn't want to die.

"Or what? You'll bewitch us? Zap us with lightnin'?" The man's grin broadened. "Go ahead. I dare ya."

They closed in, and Tessa said a silent prayer right before she gave Fable the command to attack, what little good it would do and no matter how it terrified her that she might not come out of this.

Everything happens for a reason.
#47
All Katxiel wanted was some fresh air, free of all the fussing of her servants.

And so she had slipped out of the temple when they weren't looking, well familiar with their habits and routines, and headed out into the jungle where she could be alone. She knew better than to go too far; it was dangerous out there, and all too easy to get lost. But she felt confident that her goddess would keep Her avatar safe, so what was the worst that could happen?

That was Katxiel's thought an hour ago.

Turns out, a lot could happen in an hour.

Like losing herself in her thoughts, and not watching her feet, and stepping on what she thought was solid land and plant matter--but that turned out to be a hole covered by leaves.

In the fall she'd twisted her ankle, of course, and now she was stuck at the muddy bottom of a pit, mud covering her legs clear to mid-shin. She couldn't climb out despite how she'd tried; the sides were too sheer, too soft, and she couldn't gain purchase. And even if she could, her ankle was already swollen and bruised and not much use when it couldn't support her weight.

After an hour of trying and failing, all she could do was lean against the pit wall, supported awkwardly on one leg, and shout for help.

And hope the hunters that set the trap would come by soon, and that they hadn't already checked the traps that day.

If they had...

She could be here all night.

"Hello! Anyone! Please, if you're out there, help!" she called, miserable in her coating of mud.

Hopefully the priests and servants would notice her absence. Hopefully they'd come looking for her.  And soon. She couldn't stay here all night, in the mud and filth! What would she eat? And how...how would she take care of other functions?! She couldn't hold her bladder all day and night!

Oh, she had wanted some alone time. But this wasn't what she'd had in mind!
#48
Connlaoth / Rook; thief
April 03, 2018, 12:52:54 PM
__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Goes by "Rook"
Age
18
Gender
Female
Species
Human
Ethnicity
Connlaothian, with some foreign ancestry.
Height
5'2"
Occupation
Thief
Residence
Connlaoth, and trying to get the hell out.

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
A small slip of a girl with a boyish build, and clearly underweight. Of course, it is fairly hard to tell that she is a girl, because she hides it by dressing like man and speaking very little. Her hair is short and messy, curling around her ears and jaw, and is black in color. Her eyes are bright blue. She has a pretty face and full lips, a look ruined by the burn scar on the right side of her face, covering her eye (and burning away the hair of her eyebrow and eyelashes) and extending down to her jaw. Her eye is also damaged; she can still see through it, but not well.

Generally dresses in masculine clothing--old, ratty tunics and breeches and battered boots. Usually wears gloves and long sleeves, to cover up the burn scars on her arms and hands. Wears a tarnished silver locket under her clothes.

Personality
Quiet, and terrified of the world, which makes her suspicious and jumpy and very, very cautious. Is the sort that will take forever to make a decision, because she likes to weigh out all the risks and rewards. Rook is a thief out of necessity, taking only what she needs to survive and praying Ansgar will understand. She tries to put on a brave, tough front, but it's truly an act.

Magic/Abilities
Fire mage, but lacks control. |:

Relationships
They're all dead. |:

History
Not a happy one! 8D

I will flesh this out more later. For now, it can come out as I play her. Currently, she's trying to get the hell out of the country and into Serendipity.

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#49
Do not post in this topic yet! It's not complete. ;D I am cleaning stuff up and making it more streamlined. Stay tuned!

This handy little list lays out some available ranks and the current leaders or lack thereof. You're not necessarily limited to just these occupations, though. (:

Claiming Open Positions

  • Positions which are always open and can be filled by an unlimited number of characters are green and marked with an asterisk * like so.  Feel free to join these positions without approval!
  • Exclusive positions can only be filled by one character and require approval.
  • All other positions are open unless noted! :D
Lastly, feel free to reply to this post to let us know of any changes and updates that need to be made. Be sure to include a link to the relevant character profile.

LIST OF NATIONS
Click on the links below to go to each nation's respective rank list.
#50
Ketra / How the mighty have fallen. [open]
January 03, 2018, 02:07:46 PM
Kyori paced the floor of her cage, tail lashing like a striking snake and claws clicking along the dirty floor. It was a busy day at market, and there were too many people crowding around her confines--but very few people bold enough to get too close. She had almost gotten her claws into one foolish human who had pressed in for a closer look, but his reflexes had been solid. Not solid enough that she hadn't taken a chunk out of his tunic; the tatters were crumpled on the floor of her cage.

Her ears rotated, listening. One of the men who had captured her was talking about her in an effort to sell her, listing off her "good" qualities. She was inhumanly strong, great for manual labor, and intelligent enough to follow directions--with the aid of whips and prods, at least. She was also an unrivaled huntress, good for using on game hunts and able to taking down animals far larger than herself. She was also an oddity for personal collections of exotic beasts, capable of turning at least a few heads with her ability to camouflage herself--though one must also take caution with that, considering she could be easy to lose. She could also be a decent guard, if kept on a leash and properly controlled and tamed so she didn't turn on her master.

Oh, and as for the muzzle. Yeah, she spits poison. Best take care with that.

Kyori rolled her eye as she listened but smirked a little, even as the muzzle chaffed. He was doing a terrible job of selling her, since those points only made her sound scary--which she was, and which made her puff with pride. One of those squishy humans would have to be insane to think they could handle her--for she would kill them the first chance she got, and she didn't need her teeth or poison or even her claws to do that.

She would kill this man, too, and his friends, for capturing her. And she would make it a slow death for boasting about it, when in reality they had caught her in a moment of weakness, half dead and nearly frozen in the snow of  her homeland.

And when she returned to her homeland, she wouldn't be there long. She would come back with her people. And they would reign hell on this damned village, if she had anything to say about it.

Which, as their leader, she did.

Another human inched in a little closer to look at her, and she hissed like the savage they thought she was and launched herself at the bars, claws lashing out, the bars trembling as she slammed against them. The human fell back on his ass with a strangled cry, and Kyori nearly doubled over with laughter at his pitiful response, so like prey.

But instead she just growled again, low and deep in her throat, to hide the laughter bubbling up.

Idiots.
#51
Yoreiq / In over my head. [open]
December 06, 2017, 01:56:20 PM
In over her head.

That's what Koi was.

It had seemed like such an easy hunt: an injured young boar, alone, its tusks not even grown in. It hadn't seen her--she knew they had horrible eyesight--and didn't notice her as she grew closer, spear at the ready. Normally she wouldn't even dream of taking on a boar alone but she had the upper hand here and this was a rare opportunity.

So confident was she that she forgot one crucial fact: boars rarely traveled alone.

And that boar's mama was pissed.

A great deal of squealing and screaming later and Koi found herself stuck up a tree, her spear out of reach on the earth below, while beneath her the boar grunted and paced, clearly wanting to make sure her tormenter would not be tormenting her again and her baby again. Heart hammering in her chest and sweat beading on her brow, Koi shifted her balance on the branch she was perched on and watched the two through the leaves.

Go away, already!

She didn't know how much time had passed since she'd gotten herself stuck up there, but enough time for the jungle to grow darker. And she did not want to still be here at nightfall; larger things came out in the dark.

A sharp crack made her freeze, all thought clearing from her brain and leaving behind only a singular one: Oh shit.

The branch. That was the branch. Koi held her breath. as though the slightest move would break it, but that didn't stop it from giving another low, ominous crunch.

Her time was very quickly running out.
#52
__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Frost Novali
Age
23
Gender/Sexuality
Female/pansexual
Species
Human...?
Ethnicity
Serenian
Height
5'5"
Occupation
Slave
Residence
???

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Short white, curly hair with a streak of dusky blue in the bangs. It curls just a little past her chin and covers her delicately pointed ears in messy waves, as well as partially hiding the strange birthmark on her forehead. It's a starburst shape, silver in color. Her eyes are a bright, pale silvery blue, she has full pink lips, and her skin is very fair.

She has a petite and dainty build but is a little too thin. She prefers to wear gowns with long sleeves that cover her arms, but as she's currently a slave she has no choice but to wear what she's given. Notable is that her arms and hands are covered in thin scars, some old and healed, some fresh wounds.

Personality
Confident, fiery, and spirited. Frost is passionate, the sort of person who doesn't feel things in degrees but rather with her whole chest, the sort of person who doesn't do anything halfway. She has a temper, but it tends to flicker out as quickly as it flares and she tends not to hold grudges once she's gotten something out of her system.

She's quite used to giving orders and having them followed, and on the opposite side...she absolutely hates being told what to do. She's rather privileged, considering her upbringing, with really no clue as to how the commonfolk live. Perhaps naively, she's actually jealous of them--from her perspective they have more freedom whereas she spends her time mostly stuck indoors learning how to be a lady.

She's filled with wanderlust and a deep love of nature and the outdoors, and she craves adventure and novelty. She often gets harped on for being unladylike, as she has a snarky mouth on her—but she does know when to behave and play the role.

Magic/Abilities
Frost does not have the ability to cast magic herself--but she is herself magical. Her blood is potent, and can be added to alchemical concoctions to more than double its effectiveness and potency. Likewise, her body itself can be used to double the power of a magic-user's magic, as long as a physical connection is maintained (like putting a hand on her shoulder, holding her hand, etc). This is incredibly draining and exhausting, as it is her own energy being poured into the magic, so it is as though she herself is casting the spell. Thus, if there are consequences for casting a certain spell, she will also manifest those ill side effects instead of the actual caster--but can also take more of a beating than the caster perhaps could.

Magical creatures (including humans who have the gift of magic) tend to be drawn to her, sensing the magic inside her.

Relationships
Her adoptive parents are still alive and well and she has a...complicated relationship with them. They love her, she loves them, but noble women have certain roles to fill.

She has a younger brother, though he shares no blood as he's the child of their parents.

Is set to marry into another noble house to a man she doesn't really know. (Except she knows she doesn't like him, just because.) Very resentful of the whole thing, had a fling with a guardsman she liked just to vent, and ended up getting him dismissed from the household. Needless to say, she's pretty pissed off.

History
Frost was adopted by a family of minor nobles who treat her fully as their own flesh and blood, even though she looks nothing like them. She doesn't know who her birth parents were; all she knows is what she's been told: her mother found Frost one day when she was out on a ride, and she was just an infant then, tucked away in a briar patch. (And quite upset about the whole thing.)

The truth of the matter is that Frost's birth parents were a human man and a unicorn shapeshifted into a woman. Her father's fate is unknown, but her mother was killed by hunters seeking immortality, and she only just managed to hide her daughter before her death.

She discovered her ability rather young. Or rather...she just sort of innately knew she could do it, just as she knew she could breathe. Her first use of it was saving her brother from a venomous snake bite with her own blood.

In between learning to be a "lady" and preparing for marriage, she took to working with an alchemist in secret, learning more about her ability and honing her use of it. Unfortunately, this ultimately lead to her kidnapping: such a powerful ability could be very, very valuable in the right hands and at the right price.

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#53
Essyrn / Snaaaaaake! [Aeyt!]
October 16, 2017, 12:18:12 PM
There was a pool in the temple in which Sahar lived, and it was there that she chose to do her scrying. While it was not the only way in which she could use her gift--fire and glass worked just as well--there was something pure, cleansing, and calming about water, and she felt connected to it in a way she didn't with the others. Water was in her veins, after all; it was part her and everything else.

Some days, people visited the temple for answers and guidance, and she put her skills to work to, hopefully, set them back on their rightful path. Sometimes, her mother visited her and warned her of the dangers that came with counsel.

You've got a gift, but don't be too free with it, she'd say. It might catch someone's interest, and not in the way you'd hope.

Sahar pretended to understand and didn't ask what she meant, because it made no difference. She was a servant of Hakeshna and she was given this gift for a reason.

It was early morning and the city was waking, and no one had come to the temple yet. But after a rough night's sleep, Sahar had woken early and gone out to the pool to meditate and reflect. She trailed a hand through the water in a spinning motion, causing whirling ripples and scattering the fish swimming beneath, and peered at the shapes the ripples made. But it was just water, no visions for now.

She had no questions to ask for herself; she knew she was on the right path. Besides, the gift did not work that way.

She was still watching the fish, their easy movements lulling her into a calm, relaxed state that was bordering on drowsy when something fleshy landed with an audible plop on her shoulder.

Sahar went rigid and, slowly, turned her head to look.

And found herself staring into the beady eyes of a snake.

Whatever calm tranquility she had been going for shattered in that moment.

With a blood-curdling scream to wake the dead, Sahar jerked to the side as though trying to get away from it--even though it was on her--and, still screaming, smacked at it to dislodge it--

Right as that jerking motion sent her toppling over and into the fountain with a splash.
#54
Yoreiq / COWABUNGA, DUDE! [open!]
October 01, 2017, 12:05:35 PM
Yawning, Koi stretched out on her board and let her arms dangle over the sides and into the clear water.

It was a rather disappointing day, the sea calm though she'd managed to catch a few good waves--but now she was once again at that boring place in between decent waves, waiting for a good one to come in. But that was okay. The sun felt good on her tattooed back and the rocking of the waves was soothing. It would have been easy to doze off here and now, but she didn't want to wind up miles off shore--or mistaken for a seal by some hungry shark. It didn't happen often enough that she was worried about it, but it could happen!

Paddling lazily with her arms, she glanced up toward the sun, which was high in the sky. She should probably also head home to help with chores, but--oh!

Movement caught her eye and she saw it coming. It wasn't the perfect wave, but it was a decent swell, and with a grin, Koi paddled toward it. About time! With a quick thanks to the ocean spirit, Koi hopped up into a crouch, balancing on the carved wooden board and feeling the water beneath her, and it wasn't long before she was riding the wave.

Unfortunately, it just didn't last long.

Maneuvering skillfully, she attempted one of the new moves she'd been working on, ducking and attempting to go under the crest--and promptly ate it. Her timing was off, she was too close to the shore, and the wave crashed down onto her, knocking her off her board and sucking her under, throwing her into a barrel roll beneath the wave.

It always felt like forever, somersaulting through the water, and for a moment she didn't know up from down. But as soon as the pressure let up, her feet found the ground and she pushed to the surface and came up sputtering and spitting out salt water. Blech! So nasty--ack!

She managed to duck back under the water just in time to avoid getting smacked into my her board, which was a couple seconds behind her. Resurfacing, she made a grab for it, then sighed and waded for the shore.

Hopefully she hadn't had an audience. That had looked so much cooler in her head.
#55
The Colosseum / Make it RAIN...blood. |: [Aeyt!] [M]
September 30, 2017, 09:20:07 PM
Lions.

Why was it always lions.

Yasmin paced as she waited for the portcullis to open, her hands twitchy with nerves and belly tight with anticipation, as it always was before a fight. One of the guards had let on that the match today would be a team sport against lions, so that...wasn't as bad as it could be. Lions were predictable; they were powerful and they were deadly, and one misstep would mean jaws around her throat or a ripped off face--but they weren't cunning or manipulative like people were. They were just frightened and confused and starved and beaten into aggression.

And like her, they had no choice.

She felt terrible having to kill the poor beasts--but she thanked Hakeshna that she wouldn't have to add any tattoos to her fingers today. Better animals than people.

From beyond the heavy door, she could hear the shouts of the crowd and feel the vibrations of their stomping feet, all eager for the bloodbath to come, and she took a deep breath to clear her mind. It was almost time, which meant it was time to get into role. To lose herself and become the Lioness that lived for the sport and smiled through the blood spray. She checked herself over, adjusting the straps of her breast plate, checking the ties of her sandals.

When the door finally opened, she let her breath out and darted out into the arena with a skip in her step and a grin on her lips, scimitar in hand. She waved to the crowd and blew them kisses, turning in a circle to see them all, and saluted them with a flourish of her blade.

Yeah, that's right. Cheer your hearts out, you bloodthirsty jackals, she thought bitterly as she smiled and twirled her sword to show off--and keep her nervous hands busy. Like to see how long you'd cheer without these walls between us. Also, go fuck yourself. Kisses!

And she blew the crowd another kiss.
#56
It had been a long, long journey sailing through the frozen sea of the North, all the way to the port of Cerenis. Niamh had lost track of the days and nights, but could tell they were getting closer to their destination when the freezing cold gave way to a more bearable cool. There were no icecaps where they were going, no seasons of darkness followed by seasons of daylight. Where they were going, she'd been told, day and night both came daily.

Niamh could hardly believe it--but then the daylight hours shortened along their journey until, before long, they shared equal time. It was jarring at first--where were her days of light?--but after a few days, she came to like it. The daytime hours might be shorter, but didn't that also mean this land didn't experience the months of darkness like her home did?

Maybe...maybe she could get used to this.

A number of their people already had.

When they docked at Cerenis, they were welcomed by more of their people, missionaries who had come in the years before. They had even built a small temple there years ago--which they had to rebuild and repair now and again due to vandalism. Not everyone was receptive to their message, it seemed.

That was fine. They were secure in their righteousness. And with time, their numbers would only continue to grow, and their message would continue to spread. If anywhere was a good place to grow roots and spread the word, it was Cerenis. They weren't too out of place among all the other foreign travelers, and people were always coming and going, which meant they could reach more people.

Which was exactly why she was here. To educate. To spread the Living Sun's message.

After a few days of rest, to recover from the long journey (Niamh had quickly discovered that she and ships and long trips did not agree!), it was time to get to work and brave the new wilds of heathen lands. It was...definitely a new experience here. So many strange creatures--so many not even human! Women who bore so much skin. People honoring false gods and showing more interest in material things rather than the gifts all around them, gambling away their money and their souls. It was...startling.

But if she could save at least a few souls, it would be something.

Niamh stepped out of the temple that morning in fresh clothes that didn't smell of fish or salt, white-blond hair gleaming in the dawn. She had ditched her furs in favor of cool robes and sturdy boots; it was nice and cool here, but not cool enough that the furs didn't make her sweat. But even in thinner layers, her palms felt clammy with nerves. She was a stranger in this land, and it was strange to her, but...no, she couldn't hesitate. She had been brought here to do the Living Sun's work--had chosen and fought to come here for this purpose!--and so it was time for her to put her faith in action, and pay for her passage with holy service.

And so, nervous though she was, she walked tall and proud and straight-backed. The Light was with her and she had nothing to be ashamed of, and now was the time to prove herself a true believer, faithful through and through. She found a corner on a street that seemed well-worn and well-traveled, right in front of a shop selling curios (plenty of false, foreign idols, from what she could see of the inside), so it seemed like a good place to start.

Clearing her throat, Niamh began to speak.

"Blessed is the Sun, our guide in the darkness, He who shines Light upon the world. Cast yourselves away from the false gods of this world and bask in His glory, for it is He who makes the lands fertile and rich and heed my warning--He will burn the unbelievers to ash and smoke and abandon them to darkness..."
#57
Sirantil Valley / Blood and Roses. [open/PM to join!]
September 11, 2017, 11:25:19 AM
[PM to join, please! 8D]

You know a hare won't be enough, the voice whispered in Sadb's ear, lover-close, as she pulled the dead rabbit free of the thorny vines that had entangled it, the vines shifting and uncoiling like a living thing by her command. Sadb grit her teeth. The fae didn't have to remind her. It had been months since a person had visited her house of thorns, and she could feel the fae growing restless, dissatisfied with animal tributes and her own meager blood offerings. The thorns were growing thirsty.

"You said animal was enough."

I did, the fae answered, but I've grown bored.

Sadb felt like throwing the rabbit, if there was anything to throw it at--and if it wouldn't damage the pelt. Instead, she just held it by the ears and headed, stiff-backed, outside, the vines parting as she walked to allow her passage as she traveled through the labyrinth of her creation. "Bored, hm?"

Yes. You're boring. You've been very boring lately. Sometimes, it was easy to forget the fae was ancient and dangerous when she took such a petulant tone. You haven't visited any villages in aaages! And no one's come to visit us! Animal just isn't the same. It's not as rich. If you don't snare a human soon, you may soon be snared instead.

And the vines closed in around Sadb then, swinging down to block her passage and pressing in until she could feel the prick of thorns through her clothes. And though Sadb's breath caught, her heart leaping as a chill went through her, she swallowed down her fear and made a point of rolling her eyes. Fae were like animals; they smelled fear.

"Don't be so dramatic. I get it, trust me," she said, and with a flick of her hand the vines receded and she ducked on through the passage and into the bright light of day. "You need to learn a little patience, you know."

I've been patient, and it's been months, the fae pouted. I want human this month. And this month I will get it. And then, just like that, Sadb felt it as the fae receded from her mind and went off to wherever it was she went, leaving her, for a moment at least, in peace.

With a relieved sigh, to have her mind to herself, Sadb went to her fire pit--which was empty--and sat down beside it where she could work on gutting and skinning and cooking the rabbit. Its fur had gotten a little too damaged from the thorns to be worth salvaging, she found, but its meat would still be good. About the one good thing about the fae was she never hungered; her thorns sprouted blossoms, and the sweet smell attracted animals. There was never a shortage of beasts killed in the vines.

And as she worked, she found the rabbit was, like all other creatures killed there, bloodless.

Even though she had grown accustomed to it, it was still as eerie as the first time she'd realized it.

With the animal skinned and gutted, Sadb rose to her feet and walked the short distance to the stream to clean her knife and hands, her fingers growing numb against the cold water.  It was a beautiful day, the wind constant but not so biting, the sun warm, the land rich and green. And yet, here she was. Just another day nursing a bloodthirsty fae.

Just another day both hoping for another person to come on by, and wishing they would stay away.
#58
Lore Submissions / Submission Guidelines
May 18, 2017, 11:33:27 PM
User-submitted creations are awesome, and they are something SotE has always thrived on! We welcome them and adore them. However, to maintain consistency within the setting, we do have some guidelines that must be followed when submitting your ideas.

Submitted lore becomes canon upon acceptance, but remember, it's not a requirement to submit your species ideas before you play them! This is just so that other players have the option of playing them, too.

HOW TO SUBMIT

  • Fill out the forms as completely as you can! The more information you can provide, the better for everyone looking to roleplay your creation!
  • All submissions will be reviewed. Please check your submissions for spelling and grammar! You may be asked for edits or clarification.
  • Once accepted, the submission becomes site canon! Yay!

GUIDELINES

  • Original races/species only! So for example, we are not accepting submissions on generic werewolves, vampires, faeries, etc. But if you have created a unique type of vampire, faerie, werewolf, etc, then go ahead and submit it!
  • Submissions must not contradict or alter established lore. It should compliment what's already here.
  • Do not create new nations around your races/species. They should be native to canon locations. Feel free to create villages and small cities that your creation hails from, but we are not looking to add new kingdoms, nations, or large metropolis areas.

FORM
Feel free to add to and alter this form as needed! This is just a basic template and is more of a suggestion than anything.


[center][b][size=2em]NAME GOES HERE[/size][/b][/center]

[b]1. Racial Description[/b]
What do they look like? Average height? Build? Average hair, eye, and skin color?

[b]2. Society[/b]
What is their society like?

[b]3. Names[/b]
Do they use any particular naming conventions?

[b]4. Gender and Sexuality[/b]
Views on gender, including non-binary genders, and views on sexuality.

[b]5. Diet[/b]
What does their typical diet look like?

[b]6. Views on Magic[/b]
What kind of magic, if any, is common among their kind? How do they feel about magic in general?

[b]7. Style[/b]
How do they dress? Do they practice any form of body modification? What is their aesthetic?

[b]8. Religion[/b]
What do they believe? Who/what are their god(s), if any? Do they believe in an afterlife? Reincarnation? Celebrate any special holidays or have any religious rites?
#59
News and Updates / Yoreiq updates! 8D
April 27, 2017, 09:11:24 AM
BIG OL' YOREIQ UPDATES ROLLIN' OUT, YO.

All of Yoreiq has been updated and expanded upon! AND it now has information about its government, military, and history. Go check it out! 8D
#60
General Discussion / RECIPES~!
April 26, 2017, 10:20:20 AM
Gimme yer recipes. |:

So I dunno about everyone else, but I quite like to cook, even if I'm a total novice at it. And I'm always looking for delicious things to try! So, what're your favorite recipes? 8D GIVE THEM TO ME. And I'll share my faves!

I'm vegan, but I can pretty much veganize anything. And all my recipes will be vegan, but feel free to give 'em your own non-vegan twists. (Though they're delish as is!)


Some current faves of mine:



And my own personal favorite smoothies:

Smoothie #1
Makes about two servings
1 medium or large banana
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups vanilla almond milk
2 medjool dates
1 cup frozen strawberries
I cup frozen peaches
1 cup frozen pineapple

Smoothie #2 (THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS, DRINK YO OATMEAL)
1 medium or large banana
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup rolled oats, uncooked
2 tbsp ground flax
2 medjool dates
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 handful frozen strawberries
1 handful frozen peaches
Sprinkle some cinnamon in it

BLEND THAT SUCKER UP. ENJOY.

And if you wanna extra fancy with either of them, toss a handful of spinach in there to get your greens. It doesn't change the taste or texture at all. 8D