< atton revisited > The information page for Atton has been fully revised and updated with the new map!
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< human lore update > Humans have been updated with TWENTY-FIVE subraces/subcultures which add numerous options, and a little extra lore and flavour.
< magic lore update > Magical Lore has been enhanced with the addition of a post on Magical Education. From Beginner to Expert, this is how you learn the spells.
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Welcome to the world of Fortuna, a land of fantastic proportions. This is an original fantasy roleplay that takes place in a world developed over nearly a decade of work and collaboration. We aim to encourage all participants to have a hand in the stories of the characters here, and the world around them. Your choices are key - so make them with pride. You decide who wins the wars, you decide who becomes King, the world is ours, and together we will bring it to life!
Post by Merlyn Astra on Jan 3, 2017 20:15:16 GMT -7
The wind rustled Merlyn’s hair as he looked out over the open sea before him. The air was cold and bit at his open face. It was enough to keep him from losing his attention from the vast emptiness. One of his arms was slung around the top of the mast a level above the crow’s nest. He had the best vantage point here than he did anywhere else. Merlyn affectionately called this place the Eagle’s Roost, as it was the place where he could release his predatory instinct and find a suitable prey to swoop down upon.
The Captain of the Defiled Grail released a tired sigh as he was unsuccessful in finding any prey so far. He stood up from his crouched position, with one foot pressed against mast and the other hanging off. It was time for him to give up on his search for prey, leave it alone for a few hours and then return to search again. While he was about to release his footing and fall into the formal crow’s nest to climb the rest of the way down, he saw a shadow far in the distance. It was so small he had nearly missed it. He held up the spyglass that was in his other hand, tossing it fully open, and brought it to an eye for him to see what the shadow was. A smile crept across his face when he could make out a few of the features, notably the sails and size of a hull. Of course there would be a discrepancy for the distance between them, but it was one that Merlyn was willing to forget about. The wind was behind them, there was no need to fear whatever the ship turned out to be. They would take it a prize with all the spoils, regardless of any future consequences.
With new energy Merlyn hopped down to the crow’s nest, startling the man that was stationed there and had apparently fallen asleep.
“On your feet, sound the alarm for everyone to be to quarters, we are about to begin a hunt,” he said while pocketing the spyglass and starting a descent from the mast. Once he made it down to the deck he shouted orders to the helmsman to take the ship in the direction of the prey he had spotted. Once that was done the Captain went to the bow of the ship and pulled the spyglass out again, wanting to keep track of the ship that he was going to hunt down. They would gain on her in another hour or so, and then he and his crew would close their talons on their prey. _____ Tags: @any pirate and possible SSPB member that might want to be on the ship they are going to attack, as an agent or heck, even have it as an undercover SSPB vessel Notes: So yeah, time to get some spoils, can turn into an SSPB battle if you want though, but for now just gonna be a regular pirate attack on vessel
Post by Leigh Haskell on Jan 4, 2017 13:33:03 GMT -7
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[attr="class","wavesundtext"] When Leigh heard the call, she'd been lounging below deck, drink in hand. She'd been awfully bored lately, and it seemed that polishing her hook was all the day would amount to. Nicole was sleeping, so that was boring; the seas were clear and easy, which was definitely boring, and she'd finished going through all the documents found on the last merchant vessel they'd rode up upon, which left her lacking even something to read. Which was why the call seemed to almost bring her to life.
She stood up quickly, knocking her drink over. Grabbed her belt with her hook, and slung it on in a few swift motions, getting herself armed and ready to go. She was on deck less than thirty seconds after she'd heard the yell, and raced to the sailing master. She stood next to him, not grinning - Leigh didn't grin - but obviously pleased when he told her that the Captain had spotted another vessel. He slipped her his spyglass (not half as nice as the Captain's, but it did the job) and she looked out ahead. It had been a while... But Leigh had polished her hook, so she couldn't say she was rusty.
"For a while there, I thought we'd turned into real sailors," Leigh commented as she passed the spyglass back, and the sailing master offered a breathy chortle in response. She abandoned her spot next to him to observe where her most useful post might be, taking note that they were before the wind and having a good laugh from it. The ship they were gaining on wasn't going to have a chance. The Grail was fast - and before the wind, she couldn't be beat.
Kali had thought, when the man she'd accidentally rescued from guards had invited her to be a pirate, that it was going to involve a lot more action and a lot less... sitting on a boat doing nothing. This was a far cry from her usual activities of cage fighting, bar fighting, and fighting elsewhere and for any reason she could find. After she had beaten the shit out of the guy who got her to join the crew in the first place, something she thought he deserved for lying about what exactly it was that pirates did 99% of the time, she had been told sternly and with no room for misinterpretation that her crew mates were not there for her to beat the shit out of and she should never do something like that again. Unless she had good reason, of course. And no, that did not include imagined slights just for the sake of starting a fight.
She couldn't sit around doing nothing like all the rest of these people. Some of them were doing actual jobs, but she had absolutely no experience sailing or even being around large bodies of water, and she had no job or task that she needed to complete around here. So she trained. She did pullups on anything that she could grip. She sparred with some of the other pirates (sparring was ok, which only showed her that she had to let them win at least some of the time and she could beat people up as much as she wanted). She did pushups until her arms physically couldn't push herself up anymore, which was a lot of pushups. She sparred some more. She let the other pirates use knives and swords if they wanted to, but for herself she only had her fists and hooves. They'd never let her down before. She realized that most of the pirates on the ship actually weren't particularly trained. Many of them were runaways or ex-sailors, but as far as raw physical strength and conditioning went, she was basically the height of it except for the orc guy and maybe a couple others. And even the couple others who were stronger than her seemed to be because they were some sort of strong race, and not because they trained particularly hard for it.
It was depressing. It was infuriating. Kali was so pent up she could scream, but instead she sparred some more, until no one around wanted to spar anymore.
And then word came that the captain had put them on a hunt. A ship on the horizon was about to have a very bad day, and Kali was going to have a very, very good one.
Post by Nicole Vanros on Jan 23, 2017 13:34:38 GMT -7
Sleeping in the bunks of a pirate ship was not something Nicole could see herself getting used to. "On your feet, newbie!" One of the pirates was nudging her awake. In seconds, she was standing on her feet. This was nothing like the barracks, but her body moved as if she was being woken up for real combat. There was almost certainly about to be combat, but she didn't know who it would be against.
She needed someone she could recognize. There were still so many pirates that she was a stranger to. She barely got to know many of her fellow soldiers. Not that it mattered anymore. Leigh would just tell her to get over it, and the other pirates had their own reasons for being here. Nicole wasn't anyone special. Even as she slipped into her uniform, it felt wrong. More than her not deserving it, it only made it harder to believe that she had a pirate. She didn't "look the part", so to speak. Not that the Defiled Grail had any dress code, but she didn't look like a pirate, or even a soldier. She was neither of them. She was just Nicole Vanros. No, she was just Nicole.
Leigh was up on the deck, while the captain was watching from the bow. Nicole approached Leigh, keeping her distance, but slowly taking the occasional step closer. "So, who's our target?" She sounded excited, but she was afraid of their answer. If Leigh said it was just one of Woodrow's crew, that would be fine, but if it was an ordinary fishing vessel, or innocent sailors minding their own business, she would prefer if Leigh said nothing. This crew was supposed to be a chance at vengeance, not some collection of bullies.
Post by Leigh Haskell on Jan 23, 2017 17:24:14 GMT -7
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[attr="class","wavesundtext"] A voice came from next to her, and before she could realize who it was, she licked her lips. She turned to find Nicole, and frowned a bit - though she had to admit, Nicole's voice was an absolute pleasure to listen to. If she'd only said some more appealing things, she might win Leigh's favour back. Unfortunately, the green soldier was still a green soldier.
It hadn't taken her this long to warm up to piracy, had it?
"Merchant ship," She put her left arm around Nicole's shoulder and lifted the girl's matching arm up with it, holding her at the wrist until bringing it to point directly at the ship they were growing ever closer to. It was still a good couple of leagues away, but the energy on the Grail was lively. "Right there." She dropped Nicole's hand as quickly as she had grabbed it, giving the girl a once-over as she pulled away. Green military girl still wearing military uniform. "Maybe they'll have somethin' less... Strict for you to wear. Or are you still in the trial of all this?"
Post by Nicole Vanros on Jan 23, 2017 19:47:00 GMT -7
Leigh took Nicole's hand, point her to the merchant ship. Merchants. They had to be innocents. Why would they pick on innocents like this? "Trial. Yes." Leigh meant it in a different sense, but Nicole would have been facing another sort of trial if Leigh hadn't brought her here. She owed Leigh a debt, and to Wight as well. "Maybe they'll have something like what Wight wears. Something loose and baggy." Nicole laughed. She wasn't sure how funny the idea really was, but hopefully it would put Leigh in a good mood.
She couldn't just say that going after the merchants were wrong. This was… how would people put it? For the greater good? Leigh had said this was a matter of survival. It had to be survival of the fittest. The merchants didn't have to die, just… no longer be in possession of items that could be be put to better use. It was a thief's logic, but everyone in this ship lived by that logic, and Nicole would have to as well. "How long does it take? To fit in?" Her father had always told her that people cannot accept you if you cannot accept yourself. It wouldn't be enough for Nicole to simply say she could be a pirate. She had to be a pirate.
Last Edit: Jan 23, 2017 19:47:14 GMT -7 by Nicole Vanros
Post by Talindra Pherithil on Jan 23, 2017 20:57:28 GMT -7
Tali was not pleased.
When the call to arms came, there was a scattering of hearty cheers and rumbles of approval from other pirates in the crew quarters. Not from the high elf. In fact, it was with an annoyed and audible sigh that Tali tossed aside the book she had been reading and jumped out of her hammock, shooting a glare at the poor deckhand sent to inform them in the process. The past few days had been perfect for her. The sea had been calm, the sky clear, and with no sightings of other vessels, the ship at peace for once. So at peace that the sorceress was able to do something she had been unable to do for some time, especially aboard a ship full of illiterate thugs. Read. Tali still needed to find a means of defeating the Supreme when she returned to her homeland, and so the high elf had sought to catch up on the personal library she had accrued while aboard the Grail, the many tomes, recipes, and scrolls which were as much a source of excitement for the former scholar as they were of bewilderment for those around her. So much so that, finally, the days had even begun to be productive. Had, as rather than reach for the pile of books near her corner of the ship, many of which would no doubt fall victim to the coming fight, Tali found herself instead forced to reach for the sword leaning against the side of the hull.
Tali was really not pleased.
Soon, though, the sorceress had gathered her gear and climbed her way out onto the deck of the Grail, dodging her way around pirates rushing to their stations as she headed toward the bow of the ship. Many of them Tali could not put a name too. In fact, some of them would not even be around that afternoon, which was almost a pity to the high elf. But the sorceress did notice a familiar voice, and while adjusting the final strap on her sword belt and still walking, she turned to Leigh and who she recognized as their new recruit standing near her. “And would you have her wear the same rags you do, Leigh? Come now, let the girl have some fashion. I for one find it a nice change of pace.”
With a smile Tali lifted her mask and pulled it over her eyes as she continued on. Not even close to as much as the high elf had, of course, but enough to make the ship feel a little less like a boat full of street urchins and a little more like the courts of Rielcia. The new girl could at least pass for a guard there.
It was not long until Tali reached the bow of the ship and found their captain gazing out to sea with a spyglass. A man who both infuriated her as much as he had helped her, not least of all because he insisted on chasing every tiny dingy that had the misfortune of sailing in their path.
“Pray tell, Captain, what useless venture are you putting us on this time?”
Looking out across the water the high elf squinted and noticed the small form a ship in the distance, and leaning against the nearby rail, turned to the other pirate and cocked her head to the side.
“And do you wish it whole, or sunk?”
Oh, how she hoped for the latter. It would be something to raise her sour mood.
Post by Leigh Haskell on Jan 24, 2017 8:26:51 GMT -7
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[attr="class","wavesundtext"] She had to admit she was a little proud of Nicole. Even if she had qualms about taking on a merchant ship, it seemed she finally understood. It was survival of the fittest. It wasn't as though pirates could go into port and buy supplies - they'd be shot on sight. No, they targeted merchants... Merchants just like Leigh was once upon a time. She wondered if this Captain would give them the same offer Leigh had received from her old crew.
Live, and take up arms against the law. Become a pirate. Nicole had already made that decision, and she knew it well. It wasn't just a choice of survival. It was a choice of vengeance. She had taken it because she despised the law that had taken away Amelia and her hand. Others picked it because they worked a hard life and had nothing to show for it. Some picked it because of Woodrow. Many these days picked it because of Woodrow.
Live, and leave the loot. Take a rowboat and enough supplies to survive, and go back to shore. They would lose their haul, of course, and any money they could make from it... But they would have their lives, and the story of the dastardly grail to run to Woodrow with. The Grail's menace would grow.
Or, they could choose to die for the sake of materiality. Fight them, and lose - they always lost. Get ripped to shreds and tossed to the sharks. Leigh would not hestitate to cut down any man who chose this option. She was certain Nicole would do the opposite. She hadn't quite lived the life of a pirate yet.
Leigh was about to answer Nicole's question, but then Phoenix of all people walked by. There was no one but the haughty bitch who could ruin Leigh's day so quickly. Her face turned to a glower and she watched as the woman went to go and suck up to the Captain as usual. If the Captain weren't so immune to sex, she'd be certain it was Phoenix on her knees for him on the daily. "I shouldn't be surprised you consider a dirty uniform 'fashion'," Leigh snarled, "Or a cheap masquerade mask." By the time she'd finished her statement, Phoenix was long gone to the Captain's side. She knew that Phoenix had incredible power, which had to be why the Cap permitted her on board the ship... But she did a number on crew morale.
"Ignore her," She seethed to Nicole, crossed her arms in frustration, "As long as you don't take her way about it... I don't know. Didn't take me long on my first crew, but I went from merchant ship to pirate ship... And I had stewed in anger at the law for a long time before then. You've only had a few days to stew so... Give it time. And maybe take a backseat on this one. Don't want you gettin'..." She shook her head to clear out protective thoughts, "No need to take a beating on your first fight."
Post by Merlyn Astra on Jan 25, 2017 11:04:38 GMT -7
The Captain did not budge from his position. He still had both eyes open while looking through the spyglass. A trick he had learned from many years at sea. If he were to close an eye, then he would not be able to see as much of the surroundings actually close to him. A trick he had learned some of the best sharpshooters did in order to keep an eye on anything that happened to get too close when they were focusing on something far away. The Defiled Grail was not a ship that could be taken lightly. While not the most dominating of all types of ships, it did have two gun decks, and then even more cannons atop the main deck. Normally some would argue that this massive amount of firepower would make the ship slow, but this was not always the case. When Merlyn had liberated the Defiled Grail it was already a state-of-the-art ship. A newly designed hull and rudder system allowed the ship to cleave through the water much faster than other ships of similar size that were older. To make everything more incredible, the ship had a massive number of sails, that when put on full could definitely ensure that the ship would outrun anything that was following it, but more importantly, it meant that it could catch up to any prey that came before it.
Merlyn was listening to all the commotion behind him. His pulse was quickening in anticipation for being able to once again get into battle. The man would bark a few orders for getting the ship up and maneuvering with the wind so that they could reach their prey. When he saw that they were going faster than before, he knew that they would be reaching their pray faster than before. Before he could think up any other method of speeding up, he felt the presence of someone appearing next to him. Though not magically appearing, the person did walk up next to him.
”There is a merchant vessel all by its lonesome, it was practically calling me to it, and it would have been rude to not answer,” Merlyn responded, getting a sly grin on his face while looking over to his masked companion. The Phoenix, a high elf mage, not exactly one of his crew members, but still someone that he could rely on. As long as their contract was still being honored, he knew she could be used aboard his ship to help him get what he needed. Until the SSPB was off his back and the seas regained their freedom she would have to help him, because once that was finished, he could move his entire fleet to the high elf’s homeland, and then get more riches than he might ever get from piracy.
”Preferably the ship should be left alone, maybe a warning shot of your magic, show them what we have on our side,’ the Captain said as he took up her offer, ’Also, I’d appreciate it if you did not start any fights on my ship, at least any fights involving magic, the Grail might be old, but I’d appreciate keeping her seaworthy for a while longer.”
It would not be long now before the Defiled Grail caught up with her prey, maybe twenty minutes if not less, and then a volley would be fired and the merchants would be given the opportunity to choose to fight back, or give up their ship and cargo. If they defied, then that meant a battle would ensue, and that is something that Merlyn was waiting for.
“Talindra, want to make a bet with me, I’ve got twenty gold on them still choosing to fight after seeing your magic.” _____ Tags: Talindra Pherithil , Leigh Haskell , Kali , Nicole Vanros Notes: I'm so sorry for not seeing these replies, PB Dashboard didn't have anything listed as participated threads until I was tagged in the roulette thread. I apologize for this delay in replying!
Last Edit: Jan 25, 2017 11:05:14 GMT -7 by Merlyn Astra
Post by Nicole Vanros on Feb 3, 2017 16:23:23 GMT -7
Leigh's frustration with the masked woman was surprising. It was unlikely that the entire crew would get along, but even Leigh had her limits. She had hated how much Nicole was hesitating back in Magei. If Leigh found someone who could be too much, Nicole had no interest in seeing firsthand what the masked woman's "way" was. For once, Leigh was letting Nicole take a step back, but she was hiding something. Leigh wasn't just talking about Nicole, she was thinking about someone else. Nicole judged Leigh with her elbow. "I'm fine with sitting back, but I'm not sure if the captain would be. I don't want him thinking I'm slacking off."
The masked woman was talking to the captain, so Nicole nudged Leigh again. "So what's her story?" Admittedly, Nicole did have some interest. With her mask, she looked like she was late to one of Edgar's dances. She certainly carried herself with the pride of a noble. "Something tells me that she and I wouldn't have the same idea of fashion."
Last Edit: Feb 3, 2017 16:24:16 GMT -7 by Nicole Vanros
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