< atton revisited > The information page for Atton has been fully revised and updated with the new map!
< updated calendar > The Fortuna calendar has been updated in the "Other" lore section! This includes a document which displays the calendar for you to see, making it much easier to understand.
< moving map > The first functional map has been released in the News section! This map is also interactive, allowing you to drag and drop between points in order to determine distances. This is the first iteration, and there's more and better to come!
< first annual awards > The results for the First Annual Fortuna Year-End Awards have been posted! Go and take a look at who the finalists were, and who took home the big prizes!
< new default skin > Our new skin has passed the beta test, and is now the new Default for the forums! If you have any issues with this skin, send a PM or Discord to Mellie.
< 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.
< a change to member groups > Member groups are now based on storyline! You can change your displayed storyline by editing the settings in your profile.
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 Relos Voden on Nov 21, 2017 16:06:16 GMT -7
Before Relos could process what Marie had done to not only open up the secret entrance, but close it back up again, all he could think about was how impressive her magic was. As he looked at her more closely, Marie seemed… different. More confident and certain. She seemed young at first, but Relos was starting to suspect that she might have been a little older. If he ever had the slightest idea that she'd be working for him like Markus Woodrow had said, it was all but gone now. Marie was in charge here.
Relos smiled at the idea that the SSPB liked abjurers. Woodrow had trusted Relos with this job, and Marie was sure to tell Woodrow what she thought of him. He wanted to impress Marie, and Woodrow, too. "I'm still learning the basics, but usually I use it for casting protective barriers, or healing some minor wounds." He hadn't brought his sword with him, but he held his hand to his side, in a sort of mock gesture of reaching for the hilt. "Abjuration's always seemed like the kind of magic that's suited me best. I've also tried my hand at swordplay. As far as fighting's concerned, I prefer the self-defense approach."
Post by Markus Woodrow on Nov 24, 2017 10:17:48 GMT -7
[attr="class","mwoody"]
[attr="class","mwoody2"]
[attr="class","mwoody3"]A PREDATOR OF THE SEAS
[attr="class","mwoody4"]CURING THIS OCEAN DISEASE
[attr="class","mwoody5"] She nodded somewhat as he explained himself, her face impassable in how it contained her secrets. "That's good. Self-defense, and defense of others, is our primary goal in the field. It is not always the best option, however. We need to know that you'll be able to strike when push comes to shove. So I'll put you in combat training with Kamil.
"I hope I won't need to remind you that the people we will be hunting for are slavers. They care more about profit than a mortal's life, and that includes your's."
Post by Relos Voden on Dec 12, 2017 11:55:40 GMT -7
It wasn't too surprising that proper combat training was going to be a part of this. She was right, these were slavers they were talking point. People were nothing more than another piece of property that they could toss around. He couldn't expect them to be above killing anyone who could get in the way of a paycheck.
Relos remembered how quick he was to pick a fight with Thomas Abernathy. Relos could try to justify that, but all it really came down to was that he flat-out did not trust Abernathy. He would have far more reason to be angry with someone who took pride in slavery. Relos cupped his hands together, each one trying to hold the other back from the thought of what he'd do. Even if it was combat training, the first thing Relos was concerned about was if he could show restraint. There was some truth to what Marie said, that self-defense would not always be the best option. And yet, it still sounded better than waiting for opportunities to go on the defensive.
"Alright, that sounds perfect," he said at last. It was a little half-hearted, mostly acknowledging Marie's direction. As important as this was, the idea of combat training… it was still a little intimidating, to say the least. "Training sounds good, but I'm… well, I was wondering if there was some way we could get some help from here in the District. Senator Lirrae's really the best person to talk about this, and I was wondering if there was some way we could talk with her. Or, well, someone who works for her, maybe. Just so at least someone in the District can approve this." His hands were now wringing; he wanted to take at least some initiative in the plans. Whatever those were supposed to be. "Sorry, I'm just a little worried about doing this behind the Senator's back."
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 18, 2017 20:50:34 GMT -7
[attr="class","mwoody"]
[attr="class","mwoody2"]
[attr="class","mwoody3"]A PREDATOR OF THE SEAS
[attr="class","mwoody4"]CURING THIS OCEAN DISEASE
[attr="class","mwoody5"] Marie noticed Relos' hands, how they seemed to telegraph his thoughts, but she didn't say anything. Whatever he had going on in his head was a problem for later, not now. For now, she was focused on what he thought important enough to actually say.
"How long has slavery been a problem in Telon?" She responded, not particularly challenging him, just an inquisitive suggestion. He was meant to be the expert, and so she would let him fill in the details.
Post by Relos Voden on Jan 11, 2018 18:22:48 GMT -7
Relos smiled for the moment, confident that he could answer Marie's question with ease… only to fall silent. He wasn't sure how to answer that question, not with any certainty, at least. His fingers wrapped around a charm he kept on a necklace. The Seer had given him the charm to still his nerves, which is exactly what he needed to do right now.
Relos cleared his throat. "I'm not quite sure. It's… always been here, I guess. At least in Sector D. It was pretty much the center of Christel Lirrae's platform. In this Sector, people kind of just accept it. I mean, this is the dumpster pile of Dirys. Slavery almost seems like it fits in a place like this. Even if people know it's wrong, they just sit back and act like it's… like it's normal. Lirrae's probably the first senator we've had that I remember who's really wanted to do anything about it."
Relos lowered his head sheepishly. He didn't know what Marie was expecting to hear, but he knew it wasn't much of anything that she could work with. "I… I don't want to just sit on the sidelines and keep praying that someone else will make it right. I want to help."
Post by Markus Woodrow on Jan 20, 2018 16:05:16 GMT -7
[attr="class","mwoody"]
[attr="class","mwoody2"]
[attr="class","mwoody3"]A PREDATOR OF THE SEAS
[attr="class","mwoody4"]CURING THIS OCEAN DISEASE
[attr="class","mwoody5"] At first it was clear that Marie, if that was in fact her name, was unimpressed. She had anticipated that, if nothing else, Relos Voden would be able to provide some background information on the case at hand. Preferably something she hadn't already read in her dossier. He was supposed to be the lead investigator, wasn't he? It didn't matter that the SSPB had it's own intel, his was more important, as she was intended to make him the official leader of their group. Legally he needed to be. Legally, they weren't the SSPB. Legally, they were concerned citizens.
Things changed as Relos lowered his head and pined his philosophy to her. The edge of her lip quirked up somewhat, and a sharp exhale of air scoffed out of her nose. "An E for effort, then," She told him, putting a hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze, "We all start with that attitude, so you've got the right stuff. You ready to meet your team?"
Post by Relos Voden on Jan 20, 2018 16:49:07 GMT -7
By the sound of her breath, Relos wasn't sure if Marie was holding back her anger, or if she was simply disappointed. In a weird way, she reminded him of the Seer. She knew so much more about… well, anything than he did, and he could only barely follow the conversation. Marie and the Seer would probably get along very well.
He tapped his fingers rhythmically along the Seer's charm as Marie squeezed his shoulder. He tried to imagine what could have been going through her head. That she had a job to do, and whether she liked it or not, Woodrow had chosen him. When Marie said "your team", Relos almost wanted to correct her that it should have been hers. He was, at best, a junior deputy. If even that.
He was wondering how many people Marie had brought along. Who Kamil could be, and what kind of combat training he should prepare himself for.
"I've waited long enough," Relos sighed. "Show me the team, Marie."
Post by Markus Woodrow on Jan 27, 2018 15:24:11 GMT -7
[attr="class","mwoody"]
[attr="class","mwoody2"]
[attr="class","mwoody3"]A PREDATOR OF THE SEAS
[attr="class","mwoody4"]CURING THIS OCEAN DISEASE
[attr="class","mwoody5"] Marie nodded at Relos' assent, and stepped back to where they had entered from. She started from the talisman on the wall, and followed with her hand a full nineteen, deliberate and perfectly even, steps. Then, she crouched down, and right near the base of the wall scratched three times as if petting a cat, then pinched and pulled like she was finding a hair in her soup. As she did, the rest of the warehouse formed around them.
It was a full operation. There were segments of the room dedicated to an impressive display of weapons, others covered in parchments of all kinds, some layered in shelves upon shelves books. Curtained off areas fashioned the far, corner pieces of the large space, with some being pulled back to reveal beds. A metal stairway from the opposite corner lead up to a walkway above them, which worked into a single room with porthole windows and a heavy-duty door.
Also appearing with the shift in magic: The supposed team. They did not seem to be acting as if anything had changed for them.
"Keep up," Marie advised Relos, and then she began to walk the perimeter of the room. Her first stop was at a wide frame of a human with dark black skin, a freshly shaved head, and piercing silver eyes. The man was in a stool, stooped over a table where he worked with small-sized tools (especially for him) on a standard SSPSB grade pistol.
"Kamil," Marie greeted with a nod, and the man stood from the stool, his height becoming apparent as he towered over them both. Easily six and a half feet, his bright white smile was the only thing that broke the fright of his heavily muscled and hulking frame.
His hands found Relos' shoulders as he patted them excitedly, and greeted in a thick French accent, "Zis must be our fearless leader, eh?"
"Kamil is a field agent, and an expert in citizen-safe, SSPB-approved combat techniques and weapons. He'll find something appropriate for you, weapon-wise, and give you some proper field training. In general we aim to disarm, and apprehend - not to kill. We kill only if it is required to protect the life of ourselves, or of citizens."
"Oui oui, if we kill zem, we get no information. If we capture, we can interrogate ah-ha-ha-"
"And then I won't be so bored," A voice sounded from behind, and the light padding of footsteps joined them to announce another member of the team. This one was a beastfolk, his muzzle and ruff clearly noting him as a Wulven. His body was secured in dyed black leather, and though he had no weapons to show he appeared to be hiding something. His height, being more on par with Relos, was not so intimidating as Kamil, but the stark of his eye and the knowledge of the fangs in his maw do enough to make up for it as he stepped in to leave just a small, half-arm-length space between himself and Relos. "So, do you think you can do it, Voden? Stop this operation?"
Post by Relos Voden on Feb 26, 2018 17:00:54 GMT -7
Relos wanted to tell himself that he didn't do well with crowds, but that would be a lie. He had no trouble waltzing around the busy streets of Enezenn like it was nobody's business. Because, really, who cared what he was up to? Sure, there were people who raised their eyebrows at his wings, but the moment always passed.
The real problem, Relos realized, was that he didn't like being the center of attention. Even if this gathering was supposed to be the team that Lord Woodrow had assigned him, he couldn't help but compare this situation to when he had met Thomas on the airship, and the many guests that would be going with them to Artavia. As Kamil approached, Relos slowly raised his hand to shake Kamil's, but Kamil instead patted Relos on the shoulders. They were firm, but inviting. If this was who Relos would be training in combat with, he was both looking forward to the opportunity, and terrified at the possibility that this man was not going to take it easy on him. Still, as Marie stressed the importance disarming and apprehending criminals, Relos sighed in relief. He put aside Kamil's excitement over the prospect of interrogation, and focused on the solace that there wouldn't need to be any blood on his hands if he played his cards right.
As the Wulven approached, Relos could feel a chill up his spine. So far, he was more afraid of his own team than the slavers they were all meant to hunt down. As soon as Relos took a deep breath, he immediately regretted it. No doubt the Wulven could smell fear and uncertainty on him. "I… honestly didn't think I'd have a chance." Taking in the room around him, Relos couldn't help but he impressed. This didn't like a room that they had hastily thrown together in the first building they found. The weapons, the shelves of books, everything they had brought with them showed that these people took this job seriously. "But standing here, in this room, it's starting to feel like that we can actually do something about Telon. I'm probably going to need all of you more than you'd need, but…"
Relos sighed again. Why was he the leader? If all this needed to be was him learning to work with the SSPB, could he handle that? Would this feel so much less awkward? "Look, just don't think of me as your leader. I'm not ready for that yet. You guys are the experts, so as long as we're in this together, I'm ready to learn anything you have to teach me."
Post by Markus Woodrow on May 3, 2018 12:56:48 GMT -7
[attr="class","mwoody"]
[attr="class","mwoody2"]
[attr="class","mwoody3"]A PREDATOR OF THE SEAS
[attr="class","mwoody4"]CURING THIS OCEAN DISEASE
[attr="class","mwoody5"] The wulven howled a laugh in response to Relos, the end of the raucous elation coming in a repetitive-- 'kh, kh, kh'-- sound as he attempted to restrain himself in response to Marie's serious squint.
"You know I don't mean to laugh!" The wulven whined a little, but then his maw shifted to something like a smile. However, on a creature such as him, it was the raising of his ears and shaking of his tail that truly lightened his look, and not the appearance of glistening fangs. "You're right about it, though, Voden... We can do something about Telon. We have to, 'cause no one else is--"
"Not entirely correct, Rolfe," A voice interrupted in deadpan, toned with nasal and little else. Marie leaned over somewhat to look behind the Wulven - Rolfe, evidently - and Rolfe pivoted to reveal a woman of two and a half feet approaching. She was clearly a gnome, with a slight frame and large head, and wore clothes more befitting a human child than an adult smallfolk. As the two looked at her, she raised up a scroll she had in-hand, and pointed haphazardly at it, stepping forward and dragging a likely mile of parchment behind her.
Moving to gather the trail of parchment, Marie spared a moment to gesture to the gnome for Relos' sake as she introduced her: "Fenna Furnak."
"Yes, yes--" The gnome continued, waving off Marie's efforts to help, "There are others looking into the Telon case. My surveillance has picked up a couple'a interesting folk asking interesting questions."
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