"But remember from here on in... History has its eyes on you."
–George Washington, Hamilton: An American Musical
1775.
The year that the tension between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain, which had been stretched and taut so tightly it could have been cut with a knife, finally snapped. In this year, the Shot Heard Round the World was fired at Lexington, leading to eight Americans dead and many more wounded. In this year, Ethan Allan and Benedict Arnold led the Green Mountain Boys in the daring capture of Fort Ticonderoga, securing its many artillery which would prove crucial in the years to come. In this year, the British bled and sold their lives dearly to capture Breed's Hill, this crucial engagement erroneously known later on as the Battle of Bunker Hill. In this year, two American expeditions would invade Quebec, then in the hands of the British, but meet with only disaster and failure. In this year, the struggle between the British sun that never set and American flame that wouldn't be put out commenced.
In this year... History, and the world, have turned their eyes upon you.
This is your story. And like all stories–the good ones, anyway–let's start from the very beginning.
What is your name?
[] Write in your name.
How old are you?
[] Write in your age. (Preferably 17-24.)
What is your gender?
[] You are a boy.
[] You are a girl.
What do you look like?
[] Describe your appearance. (Or just put in an image, either works.)
Where were you born?
[] Write in the city and state you were born in. (This just adds a +1 to all Relations to anyone also from your state. States were more like their own nations back then; most Pennsylvanians cared only about Pennsylvania and most Virginians cared only about Virginia.)
Who are you?
[] You came from a long line of respected doctors, with your father having been an early advocate for inoculation. (+3 Learning, +2 Stewardship, +15 to all Learning rolls involving medicine, +10 to rolls when resisting and recovering from diseases, and +1 Relations with all.)
[] You came from a military family, with your father having served, and still serving, as the captain of a militia company during the French and Indian War. (+3 Martial, +2 Prowess, +10 to all rolls when in combat, and +2 Relations with those in the military.)
[] You came from a simple hunting family, with your father teaching you everything he knew about hunting wild animals. (+3 Prowess, +1 Martial and Intrigue, +10 to all rolls when using any ranged weapon, and +10 to all rolls when in an ambush.)
[] You came from a respectable and well-off merchant family, with your father having made much profit trading overseas. (+3 Stewardship, +2 Diplomacy, +10 to all Stewardship rolls when purchasing or selling items, and +1 Relations with merchants.)
[] You came from a humble family of innkeepers, with your father teaching you how to talk to and listen to clients. (+3 Diplomacy, +2 Intrigue, +10 to all Diplomacy and Intrigue Rolls targeted toward people on your side, and +2 Relations with all.)
[] Write in who you are. (Subject to QM approval.)
And what is your backstory? (This is optional)
[] Write in your backstory.
Author's Notes:
So, here comes my muse again with the chair. This time, I've gained this idea after rewatching a lot of Liberty's Kids and rereading historical quests. I like Magoose's old American Revolution quest, but if I'll be honest, I wasn't really enamored with the whole magic thing. So, this quest will be as historically accurate/authentic as possible.
Jonathan "Mad John" Halbert The Rational Abolitionist
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia
Birthdate: February 12, 1751
Current Age: 25 years old
Appearance: A man of Scottish descent, tall and lanky but with a wiry strength behind it all. Light-brown hair made up in the popular style of the time, and piercing green eyes that have intimidated many a rival that thought to underestimate him.
Origin: You came from a respectable and well-off merchant family, with your father having made much profit trading overseas. (+3 Stewardship, +2 Diplomacy, +10 to all Stewardship rolls when purchasing or selling items, and +1 Relations with merchants.)
The "Rational" Abolitionist – You are an abolitionist through and through, no compromises made on the matter. However, while other abolitionist focus on the moral, or rather immoral, aspects of slavery, you expound on the economic downsides of slavery and how untenable it is as an economic system. In the eyes of most slave-owners, this makes you more agreeable with than your colleagues. (+10 to all Actions that involve abolitionism and freeing slaves, with Stewardship Actions gaining +15 instead, +4 Relations with other abolitionists, and -4 Relations with all slaveowners instead of the usual -8.)
Carpe Diem – Your audacious raid on the HMS Lively and your daring Noble Train have confirmed that above all else, audacity breeds victory. (+3 Martial, -2 Intrigue, and a stacking +10 Bonus to Battle Rolls for every Roll you win beforehand–capping at +40–but -10 to Battle Rolls for every Roll you lose beforehand–capping at -40.)
Diligent – You are a hard worker and make what work you do count. (+1 for all Stats, +1 Action per turn)
Calm – You are slow to anger and able to keep your cool. (+2 Diplomacy, +2 Learning)
Deceitful – No one can ever accuse you of being honest. (+3 Intrigue, +1 Prowess, -3 Diplomacy)
Skills:
Micro-Economics – You are well-trained in the smaller-scale aspects that run a business's economic health and success. (+10 to all Stewardship rolls that involve personal business and profit.)
Macro-Economics – You are well-trained in the large-scale aspects of a nation's economy and economic health. (When working on mass-scale economics, Policy and predicting Large Scale economic trends gain a +10 to stewardship rolls, When using it for business, gain a +15 instead.)
Social Manipulation – You are skilled at convincing people, be they single persons or multiple masses, to your point of view. Be it through honest means or deceitful half-truths. (+10 to all rolls when speaking to anyone with a write-in speech.)
Political Theory (Liberalism) – You believe in liberal policies and are able and willing to argue for and convince others of their Merit. (When working to convince someone of Liberal Merit, gain +5 to all rolls, When attempting to work on policy on Liberal Principles, gain a +10 to all rolls. If you are ever elected in a public office in the United States and have the ability to shape policy, you will lower the DC needed to pass policy.)
Moderate Feat: By a Thousand Cuts
Jonathan Halbert helped turn the Army of Observation from an ill-trained and undisciplined rabble of militiamen from across America to a well-trained and relatively disciplined rabble of militiamen from across America. Halbert also helped organize a tight guard and watchtower system that has destroyed British attempts to forage for and acquire supplies.
Moderate Victory: Battle of Bunker Hill
Jonathan Halbert participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill and were one of the four main heroes lauded by the Patriots. Halbert wasn't really in charge during the battle, though, so he's earned less credit than he could have.
Moderate Victory: Sinking of the HMS Lively
With a hastily assembled ten man group of saboteurs and no rehearsals or intricate planning, Halbert led a daring nighttime raid that saw the HMS Lively blown to smithereens with no casualties on both side. This daring feat earned him the sobriquet "Mad John".
–1,600 Continental Dollars
–100 British Pounds
–A wagon that holds your personal belongings.
–An officer's sword and uniform, as well as a pistol.
–An officer's winter coat and other assorted fancy wear.
–A silver pocket watch.
–Military History Books: A small collection of books on military history, the most detailed being one focused on the Second Punic War. (+5 to all Martial rolls.)
|==================================|
Aides-De-Camp
1st Lieutenant Thomas "Tommy" Navarre
Name: Thomas Navarre
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
Birthdate: July 4, 1759
Current Age: 16 years old
Appearance: A tall and strapping young lad for his age, Tommy has thick blonde hair and blue eyes that promise both violence and tomfoolery. His most prized possession is a sword he stole from a British officer.
Short Biography: Orphaned from birth and cast to the streets, Thomas was determined to scrape his way out of the dirt no matter how long it took or whatever it took. During the Siege of Boston, he orchestrated an escape from the city, bringing ten women and children with him. He then decided to join up with the local soldiers in order to give the British some more kicks to the groin. He is noted for his reckless bravery and skill in combat.
The Street Urchin – You are a dreg abandoned by society, a child forced to do anything he could to survive on the streets of Boston. And by God, did you survive. (1/3 of your Martial is added to both Intrigue and Prowess. +15 to Battle and Prowess Rolls when using unconventional or dirty tactics.)
Brave – You are utterly fearless on most occasions; and even when you aren't, you soldier on anyway. (+2 Martial and Prowess, +1 Diplomacy)
Kind – You always find it in your heart to help out your fellow man. (+3 Diplomacy, -2 Intrigue and Prowess)
Wrathful – You are quick to anger and slow to calm down. (+4 Prowess, -4 Diplomacy and Intrigue)
Coarse Tongue: You have the mouth of a sailor, and you alienate most people with it. (-2 Diplomacy)
Skills:
Swordsmanship – You know how to use a sword and various fighting styles. (+10 to Prowess Rolls when using a sword.)
Criminal Networking – You are adept in forging ties with the criminal underworld. (+10 to Intrigue Rolls when doing anything criminal.)
Spycraft: You are skilled in the matter of spying and spycraft. You... hey, where did you go? (+10 to Intrigue Actions that involve espionage and scouting.)
Unarmed – You know how to fight without any weapons at all, using only your body to fight. (+10 to Prowess Rolls when using no weapons.)
Sergeant Thomas "Tommy" Navarre: (46/50) Halbert is one of the best officers Tommy has ever met, in his perfectly unbiased opinions. Brave as a lion, cunning as a fox, and not a non-arrogant bastard who could punch his way through piss soaked paper: what more could Tommy ask for?
Lt. Colonel Ezekiel Hubbard: (37/50)
Colonel David Wooster: (37/50)
Colonel Benjamin Tupper: (37/50)
Colonel John Brown: (37/50)
Lieutenant Colonel William Maxwell: (37/50)
Lieutenant Colonel James Easton: (37/50)
Major Samuel McClellan: (37/50)
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Rogers: (37/50)
Lieutenant Cornelius Doxtator: (32/50) He's a bit wary of Halbert, having wanted to stay with General Lee instead. However, he is willing to trust Lee's judgment and stick with Halbert for now.
Lt. Colonel Aaron Hawkins: (42/50) While a little annoyed about a younger and less experienced officer taking charge of the regiment, Hawkins respects Halbert's skill and bravery and believes that he is a good man for the job.
Major Harlan Warrington: (42/50) Knowing he is not that experienced in war, Warrington is more than content to follow along with Halbert's plans and carry them out accordingly.
Major Saunders Millett: (37/50) The most conservative of Halbert's subordinates, Millett can sometimes be disturbed by Halbert's disregard for conventional tactics and reckless streak. However, he respects Halbert's authority and is a consumate professional in how he speaks with Halbert.
Major Nathaniel Wheeler: (43/50) To the younger man, Halbert is one of the best Patriots fighting for the American cause and wishes to become more like him.
Commander-in-Chief George Washington: (31/50) Halbert vexes the Commander-in-Chief sorely due to his reckless antics, brash personality, and recent disrespect. Yet, the general also sees a talented young officer with initiative and courage the army needs. And due to the young general having proven himself over the past few months, the iniial rift between the two is slowly reconnecting.
Major General Charles Lee: (31/50) He is not too fond of Halbert, viewing him as reckless and glory-seeking. However, Lee acknowledges that the lad has some military skill and thinks he will be able to work with Halbert.
General Artemas Ward: (36/50) Though initially put off by Jonathan's rather... memorable introduction, General Ward is impressed with his handling of the foraging problem and more impressed with his drilling of the men. With his continued successes, General Ward is pleased that his investment in Halbert has born fruit (he was even the one who insisted the man were promoted to Lt. Colonel).
General Philip Schuyler: (37/50) A bit wary of Halbert due to the man's quiet reputation for bending the rules, Schuyler nonetheless respects his capabilities.
Major General Israel Putnam: (37/50) Putnam still views Jonathan as an arrogant and slightly pompous man, his opinion not improved by Jonathan's abolitionist views. Putnam does, however, begrudgingly respects the younger man and acknowledges that he has both performed well in combat and masterfully thrown himself into whatever task he has been assigned to do.
Brigadier General William Prescott: (50/50) Initially mildly amused by their first meeting, Prescott now respects Jonathan as someone with a natural talent for organizing and training, which has only increased as the months have gone by. The two have bled and fought for the same cause, and for that, he has Halbert's back. So much so, that he wanted only Halbert to lead his regiment. He's also impressed with Halbert's abolitionism, and even more so by the fact that he's an abolitionist who doesn't own slaves himself. +10 to all Actions involving this character.
Colonel Henry Knox: (45/50) Knox considers Halbert a good friend whom he can trust and depend on, as well as a good person to converse with regarding Poor Richard's Almanac and other pieces of literature.
Colonel Daniel Morgan: (35/50) Though perturbed by Halbert's abolitionism and readiness to disregard authority, he respects Halbert's talent for organization and bravery.
Colonel John Stark: (42/50) He's impressed that a man as young as Jonathan has accomplished something like this. And with no military experience to boot.
Colonel Ebenezer Bridge: (36/50) He was pleased with Halbert's performance at Breed's Hill and appreciated your advice.
Colonel Benedict Arnold: (50/50) Arnold feels that Halbert is one of the only men in the Continental Army to understand him and vice versa. +10 to all Actions involving this character.
Lt. Colonel John Glover: (41/50) Though they had a rough first meeting, Glover has been impressed by Halbert's audacious ideas and personal bravery. In his words, "You're one clever son of a bitch."
Captain Elizabeth O'Conner: (36/50) While not particularly impressed by Halbert, O'Conner considers him a decent man and a fellow Redcoat killer.
Major General/Dr. Joseph Warren: (43/50) He has been impressed with Halbert ever since he first met him at Breed's Hill, finding you a diligent worker and good soldier. He also appreciates that he advised Colonel Bridge to not pursue the British, as well as the help you supplied with the field hospitals.
Captain Arthur Smith: (40/50) Captain Smith respects Halbert's bravery, initiative, and ingenuity. As such, he hopes that Halbert will come out of this war in one piece, both mentally and physically.
To Be Written
Halbert's Family: (43/50) They love Halbert unconditionally and are happy to see him succeed, although him mother grumbles a little about him being so reckless in joining the army.
James Hiller: (42/50) He thinks that Halbert is one of the best and bravest Patriots fighting for the cause, and he especially appreciates the advice Halbert gave him and Sarah.
Sarah Phillips: (34/50) While she doesn't agree with Halbert being a rebel, she does appreciate his taking of the HMS Lively and his words of encouragement to her and James.
Henri LeFevbre: (36/50) He thinks Halbert is awesome.
Moses: (39/50) He appreciates a hero as much as everyone else, and he especially appreciates that Halbert is an abolitionist.
Anthony Benezet: (38/50) Benezet, impressed with Halbert, hopes that with Halbert's enthusiasm and newfound fame, he'll be able to help grow the abolitionist cause even more than ever.
|==================================|
British (Your Opponents)
Major General William Howe: (9/50) Not only is Halbert rebel scum, he's a treacherous rebel scum with his dishonorable trickery involving the HMS Lively.
Major General Henry Clinton: (1/50) Halbert is just under Prescott and Bridge in the list of rebels that Clinton thoroughly despises.
Governor Thomas Gage: (9/50) Good men died at Breed's Hill, and Gage naturally disdains any rebel who fought there, including Halbert.
[X]Plan: An angry, angry Irish-American Huntress
-[X]Elizabeth 'Liza' O'Conner.
-[X]Age: 22
-[X]You are a Girl
-[X]Appearance: An Irish-American Woman with fiery red hair and blue eyes, lithe and muscular from years of working outdoors, often dressed in Hunters clothing.
-[X]Place of Birth: New York (State, not City, on the Frontier near the Iroquois Territory)
-[X]You came from a simple hunting family, with your father teaching you everything he knew about hunting wild animals. (+3 Prowess, +1 Martial and Intrigue, +10 to all rolls when using any ranged weapon, and +10 to all rolls when in an ambush.)
-[X]Write in your Backstory: Elizabeth is the daughter of an Irish Immigrant Family that was driven out of their Home on the Emerald Isle by the oppressive British Policies, especially after her Father was implicated in a plot to assassinate several local Landlords who were planning to jack up rents so they could evict Catholic Tenants and sell their land at a higher price.
Settling down in the State of New York near the Frontier to the Iroquois Confederacy, Elizabeth's Father, Brian O'Conner, made a living as a capable Hunter and Frontiersman. He and his Wife, a Childhood friend who had accompanied him from Ireland, made sure to give their only child at least a decent education...but above all, to train her in the art and skills of Hunting, even in the depths of winter and the thickest woods. Elizabeth took to this with vigor, soon proving herself quite capable a shot and Hunter.
But their past followed them. Her Fathers reputation as a Catholic Irish Rebel lead to him often being bullied and mistreated by certain people around town...and especially by Soldiers of the nearby British Garrison. Things began to escalate when her Family began to openly support the Patriot cause, helping it spread in the Area too. Always highly critical of the British and their taxes and not afraid to voice these thoughts openly, the O'Conners soon angered the nearby British Soldiers enough for them to take action.
Last Winter, a gang of British Soldiers caught Elizabeth's Father on the way home form the bar and beat him senseless and bloody, calling him a Traitor and worse, before leaving him bleeding in the snow. The beating itself hadn't been fatal, but weakened as he was, he contracted a heavy fever and died soon after.
Enraged and out for vengeance, hating the British now twice over, Elizabeth did not hesitate when the call to arms for the Militias came. Gathering boys and Girls her age alike from the surrounding Area, she soon marched east to join the fight that she's sure is coming.
The British had taken her Family's first home and her Father. They will take no more!
I do love me female Protagonists in Quests like this and I do enjoy the idea of an Irish American Huntress leading Light Infantry to kick British Butts. So here.
[] Plan: To be or Not to be
-[] Erik Hammerstein
-[] Write in your age.
--[] 18
-[] You are a boy.
-[] Describe your appearance. (Or just put in an image, either works.)
--[] A German-American man with brown hair and emerald eyes, he is slightly muscular with the amount of drilling he's had to practice by his father since he was declared to be 'of right age', he out of habit would learn clothing akin to an Officer's, of course less formal as he isn't of the rank at all.
-[] Kittery, in the region that is known as Maine.
-[] You came from a military family, whilst your father having served, and still serving, as the captain of a militia company during the French and Indian War, your family legacy is more than that. You ancestors from the region of the Holy Roman Empire fought in many battles and wars over the course of history, and thus exists a military tradition that is passed down from generation to generation.
-[] Write in your backstory.
--[] Erik was born to a family of a long lineage with its roots back to the old times of the Holy Roman Empire, wherein built of great expectations following the family line of being part of a military core: whether that be part of a Lord's army, a militia group, mercenaries, any military position is a great boon to your family's eyes. It is from this that there exists a long storage of works of literature that details life practically as a soldier, commander, and leader..until one day when your Great Grandfather saw opportunities to live a new life in the Colonies, and a new way to live a more peaceful life. Unfortunately, your father would've been one of the firsts in the family to join a military core. Now, you walk on cross roads: Shalt you follow in the footsteps of a long family tradition, or join your Great Grandfather to see the world more than it meets the eye.
[X] Plan: Industry and Abolitionism
-[X] Jonathan Halbert
-[X] Write in your age.
--[X] 24
-[X] You are a boy.
-[X] Describe your appearance. (Or just put in an image, either works.)
--[X] A man of Scottish descent, tall and lanky but with a wiry strength behind it all. Light-brown hair made up in the popular style of the time, and piercing green eyes that have intimidated many a rival that thought to underestimate him.
-[X] Virginia (Richmond)
-[X] You came from a respectable and well-off merchant family, with your father having made much profit trading overseas. (+3 Stewardship, +2 Diplomacy, +10 to all Stewardship rolls when purchasing or selling items, and +1 Relations with merchants.)
-[X] Write in your backstory.
--[X] Jonathan was born into a merchant family of Scottish descent in Richmond, Virginia, his father having fled the exploitation of his native land by the British and set up a profitable business through trading and shipping. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he found slavery to be both distasteful and hypocritical considering what he and his fellow Scots were fleeing from, and he would impart these views, as well as a strong sense of patriotism, onto his son. During his education, Jonathan would become a known figure among his university's admittedly small abolitionism society, arguing against slavery not just on moral grounds, but providing evidence of it being less economically efficient then other systems, hoping to appeal to people's greed if appealing to their morals didn't work. With unrest against the British growing, and fed up with their controlling ways, he has decided to put his financial skills to use for the revolution, and hopefully beyond to help repay the country that has given him so much.
Okay, so I just looked up some young Founding Fathers to do some research on the American Revolution, and guess who Business Insider lists as some "young founding fathers".
Peggy Shippen, wife of Benedict Arnold and probably a reason why he betrayed America.
James Armistead, a slave who managed to becone free by spying on the British.
Joseph Plumb Martin, an American soldier whose memoirs are treasured by historians precisely because he was just a normal soldier.
Sybil Ludington, a girl who allegedly performed a similar ride like Paul Revere's to warn nearby militia of the British attack on Danville.
Deborah Sampson, a woman who joined the Continental Army disguised as a man and was honorably discharged.
All very fascinating characters? Yes.
Are any of them actually Founding Fathers? No!
How the hell were any of these guys founding fathers, and how did Business Insider screw up this stupidly?!?!
While this is funny to think of, it's sadly not true. Peggy was the daughter of a judge suspected to be a Loyalist and was a Loyalist herself. She was the go-between for her husband and Major John André, the spy chief of British General Henry Clinton, and played a huge role in the conspiracy to sell the plans for West Point to the British. She is considered to be the highest-paid spy of the American Revolution.
Also, we actually have a tie for votes as of now! How exciting!
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