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 Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:55 am
Society: Since prehistoric times, Avarice has been a crossroads of trade, travel, and invasion. The diverse species of people have blended over the centuries to make up its present population. Since then, its birth rate has fallen but remains higher than that of most other west European countries. Traditionally, Avarice has had a high level of immigration.
The feudal hierarchy starts with Kings at the top. The next step down are the Liege lords, Dukes, and other nobles with titles who are given manors and diocese(fiefs) to control within the King's Domain. Below them are the vassals, or lesser lords who control smaller pieces of land on the Leige lord's manor. Each manor has its own army made up of knights, who are warriors that owed the King a minimum of 40 days of military service. Below the knights are serfs. Serfs are peasants who were indebted to the vassals, and in order to pay off their debt, they have to not work the land and give half of their crops to their vassal.A serf is bound to their land, meaning that they can not travel without permission. A serf's debt can be sold from one manor to another. If the lord of the manor dies, then the serfs continues to pay their debt to the new lord. In urban areas popular agitation leads to the setting up of autonomous "communes" that serves as units of self-government.
Daily Life: This small scale agriculture is a part of what gives Avarice its beauty and part of the reason why so many people, both from abroad and within Avarice, love to visit the Avarian countryside. Farming in Avarice is also held in very high regard by the population as a whole, because even many city-dwellers come originally from the countryside and consider their family roots to be in farming.
Many sculptures and such in an attempt to make up for the filth of their capital city.
The majority of events are, of course, held in the cities but you will also get quite small villages staging classical music concerts and the like.
Noted For: Cheese, execution by guillotine. Issues between the church and the monarchy.
Terrain: Mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west. Total Ground Cover: 674,843 km squared. Capital: Cupidité, located in the north eastern region of the kingdom, about 50 kilometers from the sea.
Military: The Avarian Army switched from multi-brigade divisions to smaller divisions of about four to five battalions/regiments in the line of the last round of attacks with Humility. The previous structure's nine 'small' divisions and sundry separate combat and combat support brigades were replaced by nine combat and four combat support brigades, making them more efficient for offensive and defensive attacks.
~The King And Queen of Avarice~
King Vincent & Queen Aliyavenya
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:57 am
Dominique Arielle d’Aquitaine ◄ ◄ ◄ ephemeral spiritxxxxxxxxxxxx   xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | Ɍ | u | ɗ | ɨ | ɱ | e | n | ȶ | s ]... N a m e : Dominique Arielle d’Aquitaine S p e c i e s : Muse (Divine Child, Descendant of the God Talaran Aquinas) G e n d e r : Female A g e : 22 H e i g h t : 5'6" W e i g h t : 120lbs E y e s : Color Varies H a i r C o l o r : Color VariesS k i n T o n e : Slight Tan S e x : Left Deliberately Blank – Apologies. A Muse does not share her secrets. B u i l d : Slim, seemingly frail and all too delicate. Though this belies a lithe frame, hidden under skirts and lace. Dominique is fair, her skin flawless, hair always in motion, occasionally changing shade; Eyes god touched. One moment they look blue, the next green, perhaps lavender, depending on her mood. She has a dancers body, and often wears intricate gowns and hairstyles that give her an ethereal appearance. Even more often, they are gifts from her mothers. Or she creates them herself. She has a perfect form, and moves with the grace of her forefathers. O t h e r N o t a b l e F e a t u r e s : Her hair and eyes change color with her mood. xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | Ρ | σ | s | ɨ | ȶ | ɨ | σ | n ]... K i n g d o m : Avarice C l a s s : High Princess O c c u p a t i o n : Grand Duchess - Heiress A l l i e s : TBA.. E n e m i e s : Cambion, and by proxy-Select Dragonborn. The Kingdom of Humility. xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | H | ɨ | s | ȶ | σ | r | ӌ ]... H i s t o r y : Dominique grew up a tepid, eclectic child, who had always known that she was the apple of her fathers eye. She was his little princess in all things, and that would never change. She grew up in the lavish south-eastern lands of Avarice, beneath the capital Cupidité. Though her present is worth detailed notation, it is her past that sets the course of the future. To be more specific, what divine blood runs freely in her veins.
Before the plague of the Malcanthet spoiled the land, Before the Cambion infested the soil… Before the Incubus and Succubus roamed freely, populating and creating more of their kind as they saw fit, the land was owned and ruled by the Aquitaine. And centuries before that, by their ancestors, the God Talaran Aquinas. Through complete civil war and blood shed, political unrest and eventually a coup d’etat by the more plentiful Cambion, the Aquitaine were forced to abscond the throne. The land however, has, and always will be bound in name, life, and blood to those descended from the Aquinas. Any other that claims themselves ruler of Avarice is a dim witted fool. They act merely as transitional Regents that warmed the seat of the empire, until the proper heirs are returned to power.
Despite their usurpation, the true royal family in years past have re-gained the support of the people, their frustration with their Cambion rulers growing. There were always greedy claws, small rebellions, revolutions, trying to pry away the grip the Malcanthet kept on the Kingdom… All have failed. But none of them have had the massive support that the Aquitaine’s have… Literally eight tenths of Avarice’s vast armies have pledged themselves loyal to the rightful rulers, with the promise that in turn for their support, the capital city will be purged of the filth it has become, and returned to its proper glory. The promise to unite the Kingdom under one banner.
The Aquitaine are exceptionally long lived, and have waited for century upon century for the blight upon their name to fade so their celebrated return to could be staged. The memory of the Cambion’s are long, as are their penchants for vengeance…And for years, they’d bred like rabbits in the spring. But winter was coming for the soul-theives… Their birth rates had dropped dramatically in recent years. They were at war with a previous ally, a white Kingdom. Humility. There were assassins seeking to wipe out the current rulers. And the Malcanthet for all of her ability, was powerless to stop it. With those losses, the time of the Cambion was coming to a grinding halt… And the time of Aquitaine was resuming where it had left off.
D'Artagnan Marcellus d’Aquitaine (Dominique’s Father) has been alive long enough to watch the foul Cambion rise into power… And for hundreds of years had watched their inevitable decline. This was a coup, a millennia in the making. He was growing weary, though he didn’t look a day past his prime…Even for an Aquitaine… He was older than most. He was infact the original King of Avarice from what felt like a lifetime ago… They had survived by changing their names from time to time, building support, moving frequently… Winning over in secret the many leaders of the city-states… Marrying their stunningly beautiful daughters to their sons to lock in their loyalty… Though Aquitaine Nobility had occasionally bred with other peoples through the years, he himself had chosen to wait bring offspring into the world.
His three wives, Dyanna, Esmeraude, and Isabeau had never quite forgiven him, even in the centuries that had gone by, for denying them children, that they had wanted so terribly. It was against their nature not to reproduce…Not to bring about the most beautiful of things. Children. It had… Bothered him to deny them. Especially when they tended to band together against him to get what they wanted…But as hunted exiles in their own Kingdom, it was no place to raise those that would inherit their legacy. It wasn’t safe. He could not bare to bury a child before their time. This was his war. His problem to solve. He’d not force it on them. But he’d had a vision one summer, an enlightening one… And his refusal had ended abruptly.
Much to his wives delight.
He would have a child. A female. With his eyes, and Esmeraude’s lovely hair. Or was it Dyanna’s? With Isabeau’s smile of course. He could note the kiss of her mouth anywhere. Which was his wives mothered this precious one was inconsequential. His Lady Queen’s were all equal in his eyes, all of equal importance. But this child, she would be the first. She would inherit all the glory he carried. This vision was a sign… That when his heir came of age… He would use his manipulated and earned status as an Ambassador for Avarice to bring down the Cambion.
And to bring down the Cambion… He would need to bring the Malcanthet to her knees, and force her, to command them to leave, or to throw down their swords and obey their new masters.
☆·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.¤ ~
For Dominique, life changed severely from being what she knew as the truth. To riding around in gilded carriages in the cities of Avarice with the people shouting their family name. She understood the history of her family, and accepted that they had been wronged by the Cambion… That the dark creatures had ruined their country, murdered her family. Spilled gallons of gold tinged blood all over the beautiful countryside. Avarice was a beautiful pearl that both parties had fought over… Only one could be left standing.
To her understanding, the Malcanthet had been brought down. Not without resistance from the Incubus King, but, with relative ease. Without their Dragon born son to help the small faction of their army that still remained loyal to them, their reign had crumbled to nothingness.
As it should be.
The Cambion had stolen from her family for the final time. They would never again be disgraced. By Talaran’s grace, Dominique swore it.
The little muse, filled with god blood, had been raised to rule. And was filled with a wisdom, an eerie perceptive viciousness that did not befit her age. Her mothers had taught her all they knew, sparing nothing when it came to her education and training… She loved them all dearly. Her family was close, closer than most. Creativity and bringing about beauty was their focus… To breathe live into Avarice, to coat everything in gold and stars so that it shown bright at night like a city befitting the children of the gods.
Her second week in the castle in Cupidité an attempt was made on her life. One of her mother’s, Dyanna, foresaw this and requested that the girl stay the night in the Queen’s chambers…Much to the consternation of her father. Come morn, they found her bed shredded, feathers everywhere… The Princesses rooms were in distress… All of the finery she owned had seemingly been destroyed, silks ripped to pieces. It looked as if a blood curse had been set off in the room, with the intent of obliterating her.
This confused D'Artagnan. Why attack the heir, and not himself or his wives? What threat, did his little Arielle pose? No matter… As a seasoned King, he did not take threats idly and guard around the princess and his wives increased ten fold. He half wondered if somehow the Malcanthet, now rotting sexless in the city dungeons had pulled one last string in her captivity… But he wasn’t stupid. He had of course heard of the assassinations, and despite his best efforts to keep his children safe, the enemy had slipped past their wards.
After spending a week in counsel with his advisors, and many Aquitaine Nobility that had been returned to power… It was decided that as before, with the children of the Malcanthet, Dominique would be sent to stay with the God King Veritas for her protection. Veritas, a cousin of sorts to their godly ancestor Talaran, would not deny a child of his own blood from his care. Not that the King expected any favors… But no doubt, the former heirs of Avaraice would be…Unaware that they had been uprooted. It would be…Beneficial to see how they would react to their replacement.
Whether they would have to face the same fate that the Malcanthet and her consort now suffered, or if they would be allowed life. The faults of their live givers did not fall on their shoulders… But they were not erased from their blood. P e r s o n a l i t y : She can be incredibly beguiling, but tends to scheme more than one person ever should. Once her trust is earned, more of her is accessible-- Other than a cold, manipulative shell. Her only loyalty is to her family, to her people. She believes that she is self sufficient, secure in her promised seat on the Avarian throne. L i k e s : Shiny objects, beautiful things--Including people. D i s l i k e s : Cambion, Cambion-Touched Individuals, Anyone that Questions her Birthright. xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | A | ɗ | ɗ | ɨ | ȶ | ɨ | σ | n | s ]... P o w e r : Being a Muse, a full blooded Muse is something of a gift and a curse. Though twenty two in human years, and seemingly fully grown…She is still but a child, a toddler in the eyes of the Aquitaine. Her family, dote on her, treat her as if she is made of glass. Her true potential at this time is entirely unknown… Unlike the Muse myths of old, she is not bound by the laws of only being able to influence others… Though by nature, they strive to create beauty, wherever they go, and usually do so through a form of magic, called the glom.
But their heritage is a double edged sword. Nothing comes to the descendants of gods without a price. As they give beauty… They can also take it away. Their emotions can, if left unchecked affect the world around them. And not always for the better.
Things like, creating flowers, a frame for picture she’d thought up, a statue, a sword, a staircase would be easy enough. Causing decay, by accident, would be her imagination failing her. Though the creation of beauty is in her nature, it may also not be her intent. For example, giving a disrespectful person a pigs nose for a day. This, is because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Such a thing might ‘inspire’ the wearer of the pig nose to be more… Respectful, in future meetings.
It is much like inception. The more powerful the god blood in the muse, the more powerful the ability. They create in the image of their ancestors, their masters.
***
Other: Completely immune to the alluring effects of the Cambion, or Succubus/Incubus touched. (Those who have been fed upon.) Can smell them, a mile away. The scent repulses her, disgusts her.
There are things that she cannot create with her ability; For reasons she does not understand. She cannot create sentient beings, be they animal or man. She can…Adjust them, however, this is most taxing if she intends the changes to last. Things lower on the evolutionary scale, such as plant life are easily subject to her will.
She can also become very jealous, if someone were to make something more lovely than she could. She thinks highly of herself, and is proud of her heritage.
She is slightly better senses than the average human, a side effect of her heritage, and as she ages over the centuries, the blood within her will solidify as divine and make it very difficult for her to be killed without being beheaded. But as she is now, still a toddler, an infant by the standards of her people…They treat her as if she is fragile, because to them, she is… So young to them, she could easily be killed by human means, and children to the Aquitaine are most precious. ]xxxxxxxxxx P o w e r S t r e n g t h s : It's very versatile, and useful against the unknown. ]xxxxxxxxxx P o w e r W e a k n e s s e s : She cannot create life-- Only a God, may do that. Being the great grandchild of one simply isn't good enough to replicate the spark that makes life what it is. Should she attempt...It would likely come out wrong, all wrong.
Flesh eating Zombie's, are a true possibility.
If her will fails her, than what she brings into existence will be shaky-- A ghost, or partially finished construct. Occasionally, imagination fails. ]xxxxxxxxxx P o w e r M a s t e r y : 6 = Trained. She has few problems, but to her people she is still a child-- She has much to learn. W e a p o n s : Very, very skilled in sword play. Deceptively fast, graceful. 
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:58 am
Fandral Vincent Wolfram ◄ ◄ ◄ Lindsays Tracheaxxxxxxxxxxxx   xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | Ɍ | u | ɗ | ɨ | ɱ | e | n | ȶ | s ]... N a m e : Fandral Vincent Wolfram S p e c i e s : Human G e n d e r : Male A g e : 24 H e i g h t : 6’ W e i g h t : 210 lbs. E y e s : Brown H a i r C o l o r : Dark brownS k i n T o n e : Light tan S e x : Straight B u i l d : Uncannily fit and toned, very flexible O t h e r N o t a b l e F e a t u r e s : A branding of an orchid on his right shoulder blade xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | Ρ | σ | s | ɨ | ȶ | ɨ | σ | n ]... K i n g d o m : Avarice C l a s s : Assassin O c c u p a t i o n : Duchess’s Vice Marshal A l l i e s : Dominique d’Aquitaine E n e m i e s : Any Cambion, any supporters or allies of the Cambion, anyone Dominique decides is an enemy xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | H | ɨ | s | ȶ | σ | r | ӌ ]... H i s t o r y : Though not explicitly of royal blood, Fandral’s family has served as advisors to the Aquitaine for many a generation past, extending as far back to serving the king under the original rule of the land of Avarice over a thousand years ago. His father, one Franco Wolfram, was often considered by most to be not unlike a brother to the rightful king, but this is not his story.
The man now commonly known as the White Shadow throughout the lands’ many taverns was originally raised to be a politician, not unlike his father. Throughout his early years, due to the nature of his father’s work, Fandral often found himself in the company of the young heiress Dominique. While originally he was not so fond of the somewhat uptight young girl, but due to his not having any friends in his younger years(now doubt due in no small part to his cold demeanor), the heiress often clawed her way into his company. Eventually he grew to understand the girl, and even began to develop feelings for the girl, though he would never dare act on those feelings.
As a child Fandral never really took to his education well; the game of politics was not one he enjoyed in the slightest. He often distracted himself with tales of war and adventure, and he often found himself fantasizing about being a great warrior and commanding legions into battle against whatever enemy was thrown in front of him. While they often brought on teasing from Dominique, these fantasies certainly made his life more fun when he wasn’t being tormented with the teachings of diplomacy.
It was on one fateful night that his life would forever truly change. During a botched assassination attempt on Dominique’s father and in a last act of unending loyalty, Fandral’s father ended up blocking the sword meant for his king with his chest. While the killers were slain quite easily by the rightful king’s men, there was nothing that could be done to save Fandral’s father. The boy was 17 at the time.
While the king, feeling indebted to Franco’s family, offered to take in the boy, Fandral decline and chose to live in exile as a nomad. Fandral grew to resent what he perceived as his father’s, and inheritably his own, and so chose to leave and only return when he became stronger, someone able to protect those he was most loyal to. Dominique gave him a memento of her, a pendant of her house symbol, and asked him to promise to return to give it back to her in the near future. He swore that he would, and after gathering all the money he could, he left in search of his strength.
However, after a few short uneventful months on the road he eventually found himself brutally attacked by bandits, taking all his money and leaving him for dead; the only reason they did not take his pendant was because he hid it under his tongue. After being left for dead, he was eventually found and nursed to health by a wandering dancer by the name of Danika. This would later prove to be a defining moment in his life.
Danika was the leader of a small assassins’ guild that took the disguises of wandering entertainers. After befriending many of the members during his recovery, Danika officially made him a member of their group. Training with every single member in the finer arts of killing; everything from dealing with poisons and explosives, to ranged and mounted combat, to his specialties of stealth and bladed combat. After four short years he gained a reputation as a very skilled assassin himself. He became the group’s violinist, a position that opened up after the previous one was killed on a mission, and became known for his many duets with Danika, in which he would play solo while the woman danced for the crowds’ entertainment, both with uncanny grace.
After his fifth year with the group things took a turn for the tragic. After being offered a substantial reward by a rival guild, the group’s flutist betrayed his clan by poisoning them in their sleep. Fandral was out on an assignment, only to return the next morning to a camp of his dead best friends. Seeing that their flutist was missing, he instantly came to the conclusion that he was a traitor and immediately took off after him. After a long trek on horseback, he eventually found and killed the traitor, and made it his priority to avenge his guild’s death by going after the group responsible. It took a few months, but he eventually eliminated each member of the rival guild one by one.
In the time since he has made a reputation for himself as a lone assassin willing to take on the most dangerous missions available for the right price, traveling wherever the road took him. For the longest time he had no real motivation other than monetary gain. That was, until he received a letter by envoy from the king of Avarice himself.
It finally happened. The Aquitaine had finally gotten their rightful seat of power in the kingdom. But the letter was not merely an update on the happenings of the kingdom. It also served as a summons to duty. It seemed that recently an attempt was made on Dominique’s life, and he has sent her to be protected. But he also wanted someone who could protect her from any dangers that may occur in the castle, and who better than a warrior with the ability to protect her whom the girl trusted and cared about so dearly.
Without a second thought he accepted his assignment. But he briefly wondered… was he strong enough yet? P e r s o n a l i t y : Very reclusive to anyone but Dominique L i k e s : Assassination, Dominique, money, Avarice D i s l i k e s : Any Cambion, any Cambion supporters or allies xxxxxx[ ȶ | ћ | e | A | ɗ | ɗ | ɨ | ȶ | ɨ | σ | n | s ]... W e a p o n s : A pair of daggers with foot-long blades, but proficient in most forms of bladed combat
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:59 pm
Theoran Lynth - SellsSword - Reserved
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