Dnd-esque fantasy.. Hm. Would a straight up dragon be on the table then? Or would it be limited to only dnd-esque dragonborn and half-dragons? Or to only working as something ala the manaketes from Fire Emblem?
Dragons and dragon descended/half-dragons/dragon-based beastfolk are not an option for lore reasons.
Manaketes is possible as an option
EDIT: TO clarify, Manaketes as the concept of Dragons who are forced to withold their true form due to the world's limits disabling them from taking hold of it is an option. I'm not well versed in FE lore to know if Manaketes are like demigods or soemthing like that
Realistically, a Manakete could probably be considered a subset/subspecies of Changeling, no? Maybe some form of curse limiting them to only a Dragon and a Humanoid shape instead of being freeform shapeshifters...? Maybe as some metaphysical counterweight of sorts, a 'cost' they took on in order to gain more of whatever magic might be inherent to dragons than purely physical shapeshifting could...? Anyways, this is basically just me spitballing ideas.
Realistically, a Manakete could probably be considered a subset/subspecies of Changeling, no? Maybe some form of curse limiting them to only a Dragon and a Humanoid shape instead of being freeform shapeshifters...? Maybe as some metaphysical counterweight of sorts, a 'cost' they took on in order to gain more of whatever magic might be inherent to dragons than purely physical shapeshifting could...? Anyways, this is basically just me spitballing ideas.
Manaketes are specifically Dragons sealed in human forms, well humanoid/mortal forms. Changelings are entirely different in that they're a race of shapeshifters.
Essentially your idea is that it's a race of not dragons trying to be dragons
While Manaketes are dragons trying to be not dragons
Manaketes are specifically Dragons sealed in human forms, well humanoid/mortal forms. Changelings are entirely different in that they're a race of shapeshifters.
Essentially your idea is that it's a race of not dragons trying to be dragons
While Manaketes are dragons trying to be not dragons
I'm familiar with Fire Emblem, so yes, I'm aware of what Manakete are. That said, it's mostly just a habit at this point for me to try fitting ideas into a setting with minimal alterations, so it's less likely to get rejected by any given DM/GM/QM. "If you want to be a Dragon, use the Shapeshifter race" felt like less of an alteration to the setting than "introduce a new race entirely", y'see.
I'm familiar with Fire Emblem, so yes, I'm aware of what Manakete are. That said, it's mostly just a habit at this point for me to try fitting ideas into a setting with minimal alterations, so it's less likely to get rejected by any given DM/GM/QM. "If you want to be a Dragon, use the Shapeshifter race" felt like less of an alteration to the setting than "introduce a new race entirely", y'see.
Dragons and dragon descended/half-dragons/dragon-based beastfolk are not an option for lore reasons.
Manaketes is possible as an option
EDIT: TO clarify, Manaketes as the concept of Dragons who are forced to withold their true form due to the world's limits disabling them from taking hold of it is an option. I'm not well versed in FE lore to know if Manaketes are like demigods or soemthing like that
Manaketes aren't demi-gods, most of the crazy powerful FE dragons are just high level spellcasters who take advantage of being natural powerhouses and having a *long* time to get good at magic shenanigans.
EDIT: TO clarify, Manaketes as the concept of Dragons who are forced to withold their true form due to the world's limits disabling them from taking hold of it is an option. I'm not well versed in FE lore to know if Manaketes are like demigods or soemthing like that
Manaketes aren't demi-gods, most of the crazy powerful FE dragons are just high level spellcasters who take advantage of being natural powerhouses and having a *long* time to get good at magic shenanigans.
Pretty much the only thing i've gotta add to this is the reason Manaketes sealed their dragon-forms in the first place, is because dragons apparently suffer from really bad Alzheimers as they get really old (hundreds or thousands of years old) and tend to go insane or feral as a result. Somehow, becoming a Manakete prevents this, without ever shortening their lifespan.
Manaketes aren't demi-gods, most of the crazy powerful FE dragons are just high level spellcasters who take advantage of being natural powerhouses and having a *long* time to get good at magic shenanigans.
Pretty much the only thing i've gotta add to this is the reason Manaketes sealed their dragon-forms in the first place, is because dragons apparently suffer from really bad Alzheimers as they get really old (hundreds or thousands of years old) and tend to go insane or feral as a result. Somehow, becoming a Manakete prevents this, without ever shortening their lifespan.
The Nabateans are fucking weird and outliers, especially because we have no idea WTF Sothis, their progenitor, actually is. Anyways, this is starting to get a bit off topic so I am off to go look for faceclaims now, thank for okaying em Cat.
Motivation: "Magic. I just wanted magic and this world is... Too dull for me. It's like I was born thinking the world was glittering gold and I only found dull iron. And no matter how much I polish it, I can't make it shine like silver, either."
Backstory: A book-loving kid that turned into a reading-loving adult. An eternal child that never adapted to reality. No money, no job, no interest in going to university, almost no friends, definitely unable to see his own future. Fated to keep walking into the muck and mire, until he got submerged and either lost his spark, turning into a zombie for the sake of a paycheck or died, probably by his own hand.
When the chance came, why wouldn't he grab it?
Major Arcana: Magician
Master of Magic: Innate knowledge of magic, incredibly fast learning of magic and skills. Master Speed reading.
Master of One: Must specialize in a single theme. Spells from other themes are weaker.
Looks like we have our first evil or Amoral PC! While I'm surprised you made a Cup Companion into a Rival, It does make for an intersting story. Anything you want specified about the Necromancer? Also any element unless it's straight Necromancer.
I just thought it would be funny if the two necromancers were rivals lol. As for my element (I think you're asking for my element anyway) if possible I would want Necromancy, if not Death or Decay or something similar would work.
Now the real question is if it's just one guy with an eternal hatred of all player characters, or if it's an Order of Knights or something now that so many of us choose that specific drawback, lol
Now the real question is if it's just one guy with an eternal hatred of all player characters, or if it's an Order of Knights or something now that so many of us choose that specific drawback, lol
I think Cat mentioned in Discord that it's gonna be a merc group of knights. The questions that are brought up tho is who's paying them all and for what
Unfortunately, there are no hints as to who the Dame of Discord is in my case
I think Cat mentioned in Discord that it's gonna be a merc group of knights. The questions that are brought up tho is who's paying them all and for what
Unfortunately, there are no hints as to who the Dame of Discord is in my case
Motivation: "Magic. I just wanted magic and this world is... Too dull for me. It's like I was born thinking the world was glittering gold and I only found dull iron. And no matter how much I polish it, I can't make it shine like silver, either."
Backstory: A book-loving kid that turned into a reading-loving adult. An eternal child that never adapted to reality. No money, no job, no interest in going to university, almost no friends, definitely unable to see his own future. Fated to keep walking into the muck and mire, until he got submerged and either lost his spark, turning into a zombie for the sake of a paycheck or died, probably by his own hand.
When the chance came, why wouldn't he grab it?
Major Arcana: Magician
Master of Magic: Innate knowledge of magic, incredibly fast learning of magic and skills. Master Speed reading.
Master of One: Must specialize in a single theme. Spells from other themes are weaker.
I just thought it would be funny if the two necromancers were rivals lol. As for my element (I think you're asking for my element anyway) if possible I would want Necromancy, if not Death or Decay or something similar would work.
Sixth Sense - A gut feelings which allows you to read people, find objectivesd and even who and what ever yous eek just by pointing at the spot on the map just by going with your instinct. In a fight, you have the feeling for your enemy's next move and potential weaknesses.
Cassandra's Curse - your intuition will be disregarded if you cannot offer the proof beyond 'gut feeling'.
Motivation: "My people are hated and distrusted across this world for something out of our control, for something our ancestors purportedly did. We are supposed to repent for the sin of being born.I refuse.I will not bow to the gods, I will not give them supplication they demand. I would rather tear their thrones and cast them into the oblivion myself, if possible. But, above all, I want to give my kind a safe haven. A refuge, where we can be ourselves, without slaving away for unnecessary 'redemption'."
Backstory: An Infernalblood born in old Sybaris, before the Crimson Mist ravaged the country, Agares narrowly avoided both death to the Mist and then capture by Noer slave markets, his kind being quite popular source of... indentured servants, since few would care about 'sinners'. Instead, by accident of fate, he found himself at the doorstep of an ancient mage living off on his own, away from civilisation. Initially merely working as a servant for the roof under his head, meal on his plate and basic education, Agares eventually became the man's apprentice in the matters of magic as well... whenever his master remembered to have the lessons focus on the arcane.
This secluded upbringing left him with little in the way of respect for the religions of Mantle, especially with them viewing him as sinful simply for the blood in his veins, and his own past left him with no love for Noer.
Skills: "Put the skills related to your Major Arcana here as well as any you'd normally have, you also put Minor Arcana Wands here"
Magic: Evocation (Arcanism)
Boundless Energy
Fast Learner
Endless Courage
Companions: "Put allies and so on here, as well as Cup Arcanas"
Ancient Mage (his master in things magic, as well as adopted father)
Inventory: "Notable items you have, put Pentacles Arcanas here"
Evolving Weapon (rapier, also serves as magic focus)
Comfy Home (Technically, my master's home)
Drawbacks: "Put Swords Arcanas here"
Public Enemy: Kingdom of Noer
Black Knight (Religious Zealot)
Dame of Discord (a high ranking clergywoman within Noer)
Name: Donavin Patterson
Age: 24
Major Arcana: Death
Origin: Hero
Motivation: If powered is offered, what type of man would I be if I didn't use that power to help others? I will destroy the Crimson Mist and I will leave my name on the lips of every historian as I reshape the world into a better one.
Backstory: I know the feel of a rifle in my hands somehow it never had the same weight as trying to save a friend bleeding to death. I've been on both ends of that as an army combat medic and a part of me never wanted to leave. I was always bad at life. You know the little things, remembering all your bills or meds, keeping your papework in order, making the right impression with people. It was never any one big thing, it was a million little ones.
The army wasn't like that. While it was, but not when it mattered. I still kind of felt like I rubbed people the wrong way, or things just never quite worked out. However, my reputation was stellar, because I studied medicine in my free time and became a bit of a gym rat. Range time was mandatory so eventually I ended up a good shot. I was still bad at the little things, but the little things didn't matter and take up every waking moment anymore. There was a simplicity to it, and a purity to it that I loved. I will never have goverment issued friends again nor will I ever get a promotion at work because I can reload an m-16 while driving (it's actually rather easy)
Then I got injured and life became about all those little things again. I wasn't saving lives, and I could get by okay. Who wants to just get by okay when you know you have life saving skills and talents. I wanted more, and one night in a dream I was offered it. I took the chance to make a difference again. I can only hope it works out.
Skills:
Fate Change 1/week
Fast Learner
Boundless Energy
Ethereal Wings
Emergency Medicine
Tactics
Martial arts
Companions
Necromancer
Inventory
Master Tools (Medical)
Karma Necklace
Evolving Weapon: Black Dagger
Card List:
(Pentacles) Master Tools: Medical Tools
(Cups) Necromancer
(Wands) Fast Learner
Stats:
Attack: Grandmaster-Your capabilities are enough that you are widely known locally and even perhaps outside for it, you'd likely be the Champion of the Arena, able to best even monsters larger than you and match their strength as well
Defense: Untrained-Your stats are akin to the average mortal commoner, you're as squishy as them
Speed: Untrained-Your stats are akin to the average mortal commoner, you walk as fast as a normal peasant
Magic: Heroic-This is when you start getting tales sung about you in taverns or excited whispers in noble galas. You are a cut above the rest, a Hero of your own right. You are an Archon, or at least experienced as one, Archons are the Lords and Ladies of Magic, some say the Archons were the original users of Magic, with Magic being formced from the sheer power of their souls, thus granting magic to others in ancient times. Nowadays Archons are simply just the top leaders of Magic, capable of enforcing great change as their magic pushes the boundaries of the Schools, people were certianly notice you if you show the greatest heights of what you could do.
Skill: Grandmaster-Your capabilities are enough that you are widely known locally and even perhaps outside for it. A local legend who make masterworks often and are applauded for them
Normal rings that I have in real life and like enough to want to keep them, nothing more. One is silver, the other is steel. If I can use them as focus, good. If I can't good as well.
Ideal partner is going to be something like a soulmate or something. Details can be talked and I'm not going to want an overpowered - or even a comparable to Major Arcana - kind of guy. I just like having a partner in fiction, seeing as I'm alone in RL.
Name: Lavinia Bader
Appearance/Face Claim
:
Age: 37
Major Arcana: Justice
Motivation: "I am the Law."
Backstory: WIP
Skills: Discern Lies; Judge; Endless Courage
Companions: Chivalrous Knight
Inventory: Book of Law - a variation of the Hearsay Tome, this hefty volume contains a digest of the laws of the land - that is, all the formal legislation in the area as well as the customary practices and traditions. If it affects a person's legal status in society, it's in the book.
Legendary Weapon - The Gavel - a massive hammer attached by a chain to an ornate gauntlet, The Gavel is as much a symbol of authority as it is a weapon. It strikes unerringly, and heavily, when Lavinia uses her Judge ability, but its greatest prowess lies in its spiritual effect, laying its target's soul bare and forcing them to confront all the evil they've done and all the hurt they've caused. This can have a devastating effect - or very occasionally barely any at all, when directed at someone who is perfectly comfortable with being wicked....
Drawbacks: Heart Turmoil; Dame of Discord
Age: 32
Major Arcana: Death
Motivation: "If ye cuid chaynge yer fate, wid ye?" A question Alisa has asked to many people over her travels wandering from place to place. The stories of others told and heard, written down in copious journals left in libraries and towns all over the world. She believes its her job to offer insight and guide those who could be lost in their time of need. Wandering from one calling to the next as the winds of destiny take her wherever they lead her feet.
Alisa was borne to a noble family of mages, forcing their dogma and practices onto each and every one of their line. Thus fostering a 'Holier then Thou' attitude. Though being a half elf she was always chastised for her lack of a greater magical talent, and scrutinized more then the others of her lineage for this apparent 'deficiency' pushed to study harder to make up for it. While she loved her parents and siblings the family as a whole always seemed claustrophobic to her. Bearing down on her, and watching her every movement as if keeping her in a cage. The answer to her problems came to her in a dream, a dream of winding paths. Stories connected by word of mouth told for generations upon generations only to die out with those last breaths of the teller. Never to be heard from again. Her story was just a small one, but her path connected through the stories she saw and solidified them forevermore.
This dream set alight in her a passion she had never felt before. Like something was guiding her steps, setting her along that path, driving her forward to escape this cage she was in and walk the path meant for her. It took some convincing, and some clever lying, but she eventually found herself thrust into the wide open world. From her travels she has met many individuals and offered advice, and guided their path, only asking for their story in return. Each of those stories written down in a journal she keeps with her, and every time she fills a journal with the words of her travels she leaves it in the nearest library and moves on.
The stories she hears endings may never reach her ear, but they live on forevermore in the trail of journals she leaves along her never-ending path.
Skills:
Attack: 4
Defense: 1
Speed: 1
Magic: 5
Skill: 4
You can, once a week, once per target, change the course of fate. Make a dying person survive. Make someone lost find their way. Give good luck to someone. Or, for the opposite. You and your target both know of the change you affected. The effect cannot be retroactive. The target can, with great effort, break this fate. If they kill you it is nullified. This ability cannot effect yourself, nor can you change the result of the fate change once you made it.
You cannot get lost; Mazes are trivial, you have a photographic memory for places you have been and so on. You also have innate knowledge of where the closest town is.
Immune to all fear effects and intimidation effects.
Intimidate is greatly improved.
A skill Alisa picked up during her travels wandering from here to there. With a small amount of magic Alisa can turn any cardlike object into a weapon capable of harm.
Companions:
All of Alisa's companions are people she has met on and off over the years. They never stick around for long, just enough to help out, but they happen to meet each other where their paths cross quite often for some reason.
Ancient Mage: A man named Nizzix. Though they are not around each other very much they happen to meet quite often on their travels, swapping stories between the other.
Expert Journeyman (Rival): A beast-man named Johnny, rivaling her own experience on the trail. They somehow got into a competition to see who could see more wonderous sights then the other.
Chivalrous Knight: A wandering magic knight named Rhys. He seems to have taken a liking to Alisa, though doesn't stick around very long.
Inventory:
Evolving weapon: A simple deck of fortune telling cards Alisa uses as weapons. Seemingly they don't run out despite her throwing a lot of them.
Travelers clothing
Backpack
Tent
Tinderbox
Mess kit
Many journals, like holy shit that is a lot of books.
Drawbacks:
Call of the wild: You cannot stay more then a week in a town.
Nightmares: Terrible nightmares plague your dreams. You'll never know when they will come, but the longer you go without sleep the worse they are.
Name of Discord: Someone spreads rumors about you, they are hard to get rid of.
Alright. I said I was going to post this today, and I posted it today, lets goooo!
Age: Unknown
Major Arcana: Tower
Motivation: Broken promises, and ancient oaths kept. To ensure these things, there must be a world left.
Backstory:
Around a campfire, deep in the woods of Noer, someone rests.
The fire crackles merrily, and across from them, their sole companion recites her story. They have forgotten much, but their companion ensures they do not forget their purpose. Their gift.
Their companion was a small one, barely the size of their hand. A faerie. Creatures that are seldom seen, and seldom heard from.
The faerie cleared their throat, and began their tale, a tale they had told so many times before.
In first forests Hallum, eternal were our forays.
Countless were our numbers, and countless were our days.
And then the mortals came.
First, they cleared the forests, slashing and burning all our ways.
Then they made a promise, that they would stay the same.
Next, they built their towers, faster and faster they came.
And then they made a promise, that they would never harm any of the Fae.
Time came and time went, and our people ever declined.
For the mortals for us now, to imprison and to bind.
Three promises were made, and three promises broken.
And so our vengeance against the mortals was awoken.
Children without faces, in the guise of mortal man.
Mortal whelps stolen away, replaced within a span.
Many would fall, and many would cower away.
But one would rise, to throw themselves into the fray.
A Knight, an oath-keeper, a reminder of the past.
So that promises once broken may be kept to their last.
The faerie finishes it's tale, and someone else stands before the now smoldering fire.
They clean their knife against the ground, and strip the clothes from the remains whoever had once lit this fire. Once, those remains had been those of a person. One who had broken oaths, betrayed their fellow man in the name of some meager benefit.
They claim their face, their skills, their magic, and whatever meager physique they once held as price.
And someone moves on.
They know not the truth of the tale told to them by their companion. But it is all that they have, and so it is what they shall live up to.
Skills:
- Ruinous Power
- Boundless Energy
Companions:
- Fairy Companion
Inventory:
- Cloak of the Meek
Drawbacks:
- Public Enemy: Kingdom of Noer
Anyways, I'm not sure if my schedule will allow it, but this seemed to fun to pass up on. Sheet below. There is one skill I made up whole-sale (wind sense), but I counted it for the limit and can remove it if that's not allowed.
Motivation: "The winds have guided me here. I shall not deny them."
Backstory:
When the boy was born, it was at the tail end of a year-long dry spell. That morning, the strongest wind his village had ever witnessed passed through, even wrecking the oldest homes and the ruins of a church, all unused at the time. Then, the morning after, rain finally came, sating their thirst. As such, the boy was named Botucatu, the Good Wind. As a child, wanderlust consumed him. When he was 15, he bid his parents farewell and left to see his world. Wherever he went, the winds followed. Or was it he that followed the winds?
Back then, it wasn't that simple of a question. But with time, he became more aware of the shivers in the back of his neck, when he felt the wind passing. Soon, he became able to tell in which direction that shiver was pointing him towards. And he followed. With the winds to guide him, he saw all the wonders the world had to offer. He couldn't imagine a better life.
Then, one day, the winds took him to the edge of a cliff. As he stopped, the wind kept telling him the same thing: forward. He looked once to the bottom, seeing the gray expanse below. He steeled his heart, hesitation left him.
And he jumped. And he died.
Next thing he knew, he had woken up someplace he had never been in before - those had become far and few between! - and the wind could speak to him louder than ever. It could lift him, empower him… he could even talk back to it clearly and the winds would listen. He could feel it passing through the cracks in walls and rustling the leaves of the forests.
Endless Courage: "The winds guide me towards the path I should walk. I didn't have anything to fear once I accepted my destiny."
Inner Compass: As long as the winds are there to guide him, it is not possible for him to be lost.
Ethereal Wings: "Sometimes, the winds deem fit to let me fly alongside them."
Unseen Servants: Can manipulate the winds to handle objects. Difficulty increases with weight and size of the objects. Fighting him close to sand is inadvisable.
Boundless Energy: "The winds give me strength to weather this journey."
Hermit Sage: "The Old Man says something has blessed me. He's the one that comes closest to understanding…"
Spoony Bard: "He tells me the winds sweeten the sound of his song… It is a sweet sound regardless. I enjoy his music."
Motherly Countess: "She seemed amused by what I had told her of the winds. Then… unamused… when she learned of the travels it took me on. Before I left, her ladyship decided to watch over me. It is a bit suffocating, but I appreciate her nonetheless."
Cloak of the Meek:"A Cloak I've taken to weather my travels… I care not for how it might make me seem."
A simple wooden staff, adorned with bells and chimes. So that he might see where the winds are leading. He rarely needs it anymore, but it serves as a reminder of his earlier travels. It has no special properties, though he leans on it far more than someone of his age should.
Master of One: Can only learn magic related to wind.
Nightmares: "The winds show me signs of what is to come. None of it is good."
Call of the Wild: "The winds beckon and I follow."
The Call: "By the winds they are blessed. Why wouldn't I do what they ask of me?"
Betrayal
Dame of Discord
Public Enemy: It seems a traveler that never stops in one place and spouts gibberish about the wind is somewhat unnerving. More so when that traveler is declared by the Kingdom of Noer to be a pagan heretic sent by foul forces to defile the words of the Saint.
