These Grim Days (RWBY)

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Remnant has always had its problems. Good people die, and the monster who stabbed you in the back gets to smile while you struggle to kill it: That's just how it is.
Bleak Comings 1.1
I had an idea and I decided to give it a go and make an attempt run my own quest for the first time. Decisions on semblance, weapon choice, and attribute allocation will occur next vote. I would prefer if you voted by plan to keep things organized. I will close this vote by 10/26 11 AM PST. I'll be busy sunday, so we'll see where this goes. I'll try and answer any questions directed at me, and fix any inconsistencies when I can.

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Bleak Comings 1.1

Sitting on your knees, your hands slowly slid off the chest of the still body you were cradling in your arms. If you were more aware of yourself, you might have cared that his blood was smearing all over your clothing. You stared numbly at the cooling corpse of your mentor for all of your youth. The old man died for you. You had to sit there, and watch as the spark of life faded from his silver eyes. The light that shrouded you both with a protective haze collapsed with his last exhale.

His blood was still warm on your hands, crimson splatter covering them completely. You blinked.

The darkness stirred, raging against its prison

The ruins fell silent. A ruined hallway and the bodies of the men and women strewn across it, that betrayed you, littered the floor. Their grievously mangled forms were your only company now. A last effort from your mentor to keep you safe.

Every good thing that happened to you always was ripped away.

Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong.

It met its match in the stone that wrapped its form.

Hands balled up into fists, anger flowing into your veins like acidic venom. That son of a bitch. Why would he do that? He smiled at you, a sword in his stomach, and said he was as proud as a father could be of you. Even if he wasn't your real father. Gutted like a fish while he split his attention between your sudden foes and the thing you were sent here for in the first place, and the last thing he thought of was your safety.

He told you to run. Get out of this place and the hell off of Anima. Going to Mistral proper could be a death trap. He was betrayed by a Huntsman he trusted implicitly. That you would die or worse if caught. There were people after you and they now knew you were here.

"Vale or Atlas," He coughed while blood dribbled from his lips, "Your best bet, kid," He sounded hoarse, his deep, gravel-laden voice weaker than you could ever imagine it being, "Look at me, thinking I could keep you safe. Damn fool I was. Promise, promise me that you'll run and won't look back."

"And if you meet a man called Ozpin, tell him—if he drags you in this mess deeper, and gets you killed, I'll be waiting in the beyond to do the job that she couldn't do properly and kill the bastard for real."


Unable to look away from his lifeless form, you slowly rose to your feet. The world continued spinning while you stood stock still.

You retched, but managed to swallow the bile that nearly clears your throat. The crack of stone behind you caused your heartbeat to thunder in your ears. Your intact aura shimmered and surrounded your body like a shield. A cold comfort that you found hard to take relief in.

Strong as its holder was, a mere fragment of the fairer Brother's Light couldn't stop it for long.

It was only a matter of time now.

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Your mentor, the closest to family you once had, found you as an orphan and saw something about you that made him chance his own well-being to keep tabs on you and let you shadow him to keep you close. What would that something be?

[] (Silver Bloodline) Your eyes: just as silver as his. You know of your heritage as a Silver-Eyed Warrior, and even how to use it. Even then, it is extremely difficult to do. The hope of him tutoring you further died the moment he passed in your arms.

[] (Access to a Complex/Stronger Semblance from the start) Your semblance was an ability that truly was remarkable to behold. The power given to you by your soul made you a force to be reckoned with.

[] (Mantle of Summer) ~Locked to female gender. You exhibited control over the elements of nature that should be impossible without the use of dust or a semblance. Despite the power you wield, your capacity to use the elements is weak compared to myths and recollections of what you should be capable of.

Still, the magic power of a maiden is awe-inspiring. You just need time to refine your control, time that you might not have.

Choose two of these traits.

[] (Impassioned Wrath) Your anger is very much like fire. Easily stoked, and it burns everything it can once lit. The old man tried his best to reign in your impulsiveness, but ultimately relented when you showed you could hold yourself back if you thought it prudent. He was an old soldier who loved his discipline, but he knew he wouldn't be able to fully curb your emotions unless you worked with him to do it.

You gain a positive bonus to rolls related to offensive combat. If Mantle of Summer is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: boosting your control of the season's preferred element: Fire.

[] (Composed Calm) While you never had anything other than the clothes off of your back and what the old man would give as hand-me-downs, you turned to control of yourself as a way to gain some measure of stability.

You gain a positive bonus to resisting mental effects. It is possible to take this with Impassioned Wrath. If Mantle of Summer is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: boosting your control of Ice.

[] (Astute Learner) Courtesy of your bookish nature, your ability to comprehend and fully understand complex subjects is startling. Any textbook you were handed was devoured within the day.

Research topics you choose to engage in are completed in one less action. If Mantle of Summer is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: boosting your control of Lightning.

[] (Magnetic Charisma) People tend to hang on your words more-so than most. Your ability to say the right things at the right moment is a natural knack you've picked up. Much to the chagrin of your late mentor, you've swindled people out of their lien with a sob story more than once.

You gain a bonus to social rolls. If Mantle of Summer is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: boosting your control of wind.

[] (Compassionate Defender) You loved life, and no matter how often you stepped on. Even when everything screwed you over, you gritted your teeth and did what you thought was right: what you thought was good. The old man always went on about how much you reminded himself of his youth when saw that look in your eyes; you always rolled them at that.

You gain a bonus to defensive rolls in combat. If Silver Bloodline is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: you find it much easier to manifest your light in any situation.

What is your gender?

[] Male

[] Female

What is your aura color?

[] Write-in

Are you a human, or something else?
[] Of course I'm a Human!
[] No, I'm a Faunus.

What does your appearance look like?

[] Write-in
 
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Character Sheet
Character Sheet of (Setanta Solas)

Background


Species: Faunus, Type Canine
Animal Trait: Tail
Gender: Male
Age: 18

You would not claim to hail from any kingdom. Never straying long in one place to lay roots would be chief in the factors that caused you to hold this view.

In your traveling with the old man, it is perfectly reasonable to say that you have stepped foot in all three of the continents. He avoided the big cities like a plague and kept you both on the move from settlement to settlement. The closest taste of a big metropolitan environment you got was your recent visit to Mistral, and that was because you were on a job that required him to meet a huntsman that refused to compromise and meet him in Argus instead.

Coincidentally, that job is the one that upended your comfy drifter lifestyle causing the mess you're in right now.
Attributes

  • 2 (+ 10)

    Lifting heavy weights, and allowing you smack something really hard.
  • 2 (+ 10)

    Increases your Vitality Pool and Aura at the same time. There are times were dodging/parrying an attack simply isn't possible. Also is used in checks in maintaining an effect that you are concentrating on if you're being beaten the tar out of while trying to keep it going.
  • 4 (+ 20)

    Who said that you couldn't try and dodge and parry everything that comes at you? Some weapons allow you to use this in substitution for strength for a damage modifier and to hit rolls.
  • 4 (+ 20)

    Not everything can be resisted by your body. An open mind unguarded is an invite for shenanigans, and not the fun kind. Also used for Will Pool.
  • 4 (+ 20)

    Puzzles can't be solved by brute force and dumb luck. Investigations and research don't just complete themselves. Using maiden powers, or dust casting in combat, will use intelligence to hit.
  • 1 (+ 5)

    Words fail when a situation is unresolvable without bloodshed. But, when you don't need to absolutely kill everything in the room words are nice to have.
  • (5/5)
    Total Vitality pool is the constitution modifier halved and rounded up.

    Your life. You die if it hits zero, enough said.
  • (20/20)
    Five plus half of both the Willpower and Constitution Modifier, after being added together, is how you determine current Aura capacity.

    A shield for damage, it powers your special brand of soul magic, and it can be used to reinforce your other physical attributes in brief bursts.
  • (20/20)
    Total Will Pool is the modifier of Willpower with no other additions or subtractions.

    This is a resource to trigger effects unrelated to your semblance (Mantle of Summer, Silver Heritage, Etc.)
Semblance
(Aura Runes)-[Jack of All Trades/Dust Enhanceable] Whenever you used your semblance around people other than the old man, the comparisons between the Schnee family semblance and your own was made without fail. Their comparisons wore on you immensely. They looked nothing alike. Your crimson red colored-symbols did not look a bit like those atlesian damned white snowflakes. Richest family on Remnant, and they had to win the soul superpower lottery too.

It gave the old man a chuckle when you admitted that, yes, you were jealous of not being able to mess with time like they could. And, it was infuriating to not have a family history, like they did, as a baseline for what you could do.


Algiz, Can be traced in the air or ground. A physical barrier made of aura materializes in place near where the user drew it. The rune itself maintains this construct as long as it has aura left feeding it, blazing a bright red when something strikes it hard enough to drain its strength. Dust may be used to provide a secondary effect to this use of the rune. The size of the barrier can be molded slightly.

A single point of Aura is consumed every two points of damage the barrier sustains. If your concentration is disturbed, the rune can lose its coherency and shatter the barrier.

Concepts Realized
Protection
__

Thurisaz, Can be traced in the air or ground. Once the rune is traced, an order, command, or demand is made by you. The target is forced to roll against your Willpower, being forced to obey if their mental fortitude fails them. They are perfectly aware that they are performing an action beyond their control. This can only affect one creature near you when used.

Creatures with aura protecting them double their roll to resist you, however, if it is broken... well. It certainly isn't protecting them anymore.

Expends four Aura to trace this rune and cause this effect.

Concepts Realized
Conflict/Chaos

__

Tiwaz, must be traced on the object or near it that you are affecting. Spreading from where it is placed are faint tendrils of crimson that course around on the surface of weapon. This rune reinforces your weapon's durability while being used and adds an additional 1d4 of damage to strikes you make.

Expends two aura when traced, concentration checks are not made if you are struck while instances of this rune exist. Lasts ten minutes.

Concepts Realized
Victory
__
Traits
(Silver Bloodline) Your eyes: just as silver as his. You know of your heritage as a Silver-Eyed Warrior, and even how to use it. Even then, it is extremely difficult to do. The hope of him tutoring you further died the moment he passed in your arms.

(Compassionate Defender) You loved life, and no matter how often you stepped on. Even when everything screwed you over, you gritted your teeth and did what you thought was right: what you thought was good. The old man always went on about how much you reminded himself of his youth when saw that look in your eyes; you always rolled them at that.

You gain a (+ 15) bonus to defensive rolls in combat. If Silver Bloodline is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: you find it much easier to manifest your light in any situation.

(Impassioned Wrath) Your anger is very much like fire. Easily stoked, and it burns everything it can once lit. The old man tried his best to reign in your impulsiveness, but ultimately relented when you showed you could hold yourself back if you thought it prudent. He was an old soldier who loved his discipline, but he knew he wouldn't be able to fully curb your emotions unless you worked with him to do it.

You gain a (+ 15) positive bonus to rolls related to offensive combat.

(Lore-Keeper's Eyes) Your interaction with the medallion has added another layer of the world you apparently peek into at will. This ability can be turned off, and can be distracting if you don't focus your attention on a specific person or object.

Gain the ability to visually perceive the presence of people's auras and magic. Within a few feet of you, you can read a person's aura to gain an insight to their character. This allows you to see the motions of someone's aura even when it is not manifesting as a barrier to protect them.
Silver Eyes
Flash (Expends four Will), Force every creature afflicted with (Animated by Destruction) within your field of vision to roll their willpower against yours. If they fail, you inflict blindness on them. This mildly irritates anyone else, your eyes projecting bright silver light.

Flare, (Expends eight will) Force every creature afflicted with (Animated by Destruction) within your field of vision to roll their willpower against yours. If they fail, you deal 1D10+1 worth of untyped damage that cannot be mitigated by armor. Significantly more intense than flash, this can be used to blind creatures other than Grimm.
 
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People and Inventory
Known People of Note
The Old Man "Mimyir"- Deceased


For having lived on the go with the guy for ten years, you know almost absolutely nothing concrete about your mentor. He just seemed to have a way to shake your attention and disappear for lengthy intervals, leaving you to your own devices for a time. However, there are things that you have learned about him by virtue of being his second shadow during your travels.

He didn't have a family, or at least if he did, he did not any more. He spent too much of his free time training you for you to think that. You two made enough lien to get lodging comfortably in any town you stopped at.

Andat some point he started to value your life over his. His sacrifice being the reason why you are still breathing air and not a corpse.

Weapon: White plated gauntlets, Dubbed "Binding Call"

Semblance: Living Chains
Inventory
Gáe Bolg, Your huntsman weapon that you've used ever since the Old Man handed the spear to you after deeming you ready to graduate from training wood to live steel. This weapon deals 1d10 physical damage, and 1d4 fire damage from the fire dust in its blade used for a spearhead.


Can be used as a focus to trace runes.


Modifications,


Dust Integration, In the space where your weapon's shaft meets the fire dust enhanced metal that makes its lengthy spear edge, you can slot in a dust crystal to trigger varying effects depending on the type choice. "Gravity" is currently slotted in the weapon.


Dust Forged/Tempered, The fire dust in the metal of the spear has added a passive amount of fire damage that does not fade. A way that this bonus can be lost is if the blade/spearhead gets shattered. You'll have to buy a new spearhead, or forge your own.


Huntsman outfit, A set of worn clothes with some pieces of plate armor that you use to help your aura to cushion blows. Your ensemble carries the three colors: blue matching with your hair, black, and the fading silver tinted metal that makes up the armored plates.


Rhombus Pattern Scroll, The Rhombus pattern scroll is an older model of handheld scroll that lacks an adjustable panel to deploy to use it. It functions with a fixed dimension, which can be inconvenient. However, compared to its more advanced and slimmed cousins, this thing was made to last. You could detonate a crate of fire dust on top of this thing, and it'll probably sparkle afterwards after the heatwave cleans its surface.

It is absolutely a favorite of older huntsman/huntresses. One of the more amusing historical facts about the device was that there was a dust accident with one of the facilities that manufactured them. After the building was completely burned down, stacks of completed Rhombus scrolls were found unblemished in the burnt remains of storage crates. They ended up selling those to recoup the loss of the tooling and the structure.

A relatively common device to see in menagerie for its robustness, and cheap cost relative to other more advanced models.

Lien, Keeping track of exact Lien amounts sounds like a good way to drive me crazy, so we're going to use abstract buying power:


You currently have 2 resources to make major Lien purchases with. This includes renting a place to stay, buying equipment, or purchasing information.

Medallion,
You took it from the Old Man. Its different looking now. The fingers intertwined with a flower were still present, but there was a wolf covered in leaves on its opposite surface.

Rations, You have enough food to last for four days. This can be supplemented by staying in a settlement or city.


Dust Crystals, Three gravity dust crystals.
 
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[X] plan Cu Chulainn

-[X] (Silver Bloodline) Your eyes: just as silver as his. You know of your heritage as a Silver-Eyed Warrior, and even how to use it. Even then, it is extremely difficult to do. The hope of him tutoring you further died the moment he passed in your arms.

-[X] (Compassionate Defender) You loved life, and no matter how often you stepped on. Even when everything screwed you over, you gritted your teeth and did what you thought was right: what you thought was good. The old man always went on about how much you reminded himself of his youth when saw that look in your eyes; you always rolled them at that.

-[X] (Impassioned Wrath) Your anger is very much like fire. Easily stoked, and it burns everything it can once lit. The old man tried his best to reign in your impulsiveness, but ultimately relented when you showed you could hold yourself back if you thought it prudent. He was an old soldier who loved his discipline, but he knew he wouldn't be able to fully curb your emotions unless you worked with him to do it.

-[X] Male

-[X] Blood Red

-[X] No, I'm a Faunus

-[X]
 
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[X] plan Cu Chulainn

Shit, I almost missed this plan! Let's go and be best doggo!
 
[X] Plan Revolutionary
-[X] (Silver Bloodline) Your eyes: just as silver as his. You know of your heritage as a Silver-Eyed Warrior, and even how to use it. Even then, it is extremely difficult to do. The hope of him tutoring you further died the moment he passed in your arms.
-[X] (Magnetic Charisma) People tend to hang on your words more-so than most. Your ability to say the right things at the right moment is a natural knack you've picked up. Much to the chagrin of your late mentor, you've swindled people out of their lien with a sob story more than once.
-[X] (Compassionate Defender) You loved life, and no matter how often you stepped on. Even when everything screwed you over, you gritted your teeth and did what you thought was right: what you thought was good. The old man always went on about how much you reminded himself of his youth when saw that look in your eyes; you always rolled them at that.
-[X] Male
-[X] Silver
-[X] No, I'm a Faunus.
-[X]
 
[X] plan Cu Chulainn

Not really thrilled about being a SE Warrior, but I like the character concept overall. Spears are awesome and I like the rough and tumble, impulsive characters that this seems to be. If there was a trait that made us be a bad luck magnet, I would take it just for the memes though. :D

Time to be best doggo!
 
[X] plan Cu Chulainn

Not really thrilled about being a SE Warrior, but I like the character concept overall. Spears are awesome and I like the rough and tumble, impulsive characters that this seems to be. If there was a trait that made us be a bad luck magnet, I would take it just for the memes though. :D
You don't need a trait, its already built in. ;)
 
Nobody doing a Mantle of Summer route?
Doesn't look like it. If you're interested, go ahead and make a plan for it and we'll see if it gets votes. It looks like the court is pretty stacked on a variation of Silver Bloodline at the moment. Vote is going to be open for a while yet, still. So, I suppose anything can happen.
 
[X] Plan Revolutionary

I like the combination of compassion and charisma, and faunus is an interesting choice.
Not sure why magic sharingan eyes are in both plans, I'm more interested in the powerful mystery box semblance, but I suppose it's too uncertain of a thing. And being a Maiden is most likely the most dangerous choice, besides locking in gender.
 
[X] Plan Iris Argent

[X] (Mantle of Summer) ~Locked to female gender. You exhibited control over the elements of nature that should be impossible without the use of dust or a semblance. Despite the power you wield, your capacity to use the elements is weak compared to myths and recollections of what you should be capable of.

Still, the magic power of a maiden is awe-inspiring. You just need time to refine your control, time that you might not have.

[X] (Astute Learner) Courtesy of your bookish nature, your ability to comprehend and fully understand complex subjects is startling. Any textbook you were handed was devoured within the day.

Research topics you choose to engage in are completed in one less action. If Mantle of Summer is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: boosting your control of Lightning.

[X] (Magnetic Charisma) People tend to hang on your words more-so than most. Your ability to say the right things at the right moment is a natural knack you've picked up. Much to the chagrin of your late mentor, you've swindled people out of their lien with a sob story more than once.

You gain a bonus to social rolls. If Mantle of Summer is chosen, this trait will synergize with it: boosting your control of wind.

[X] Female

[X] Silver

[X] Of course I'm a Human!

 
Tally Ho!
Adhoc vote count started by UNKNOWN01 on Oct 25, 2020 at 6:21 PM, finished with 21 posts and 13 votes.

  • [X] plan Cu Chulainn
    -[X] (Silver Bloodline) Your eyes: just as silver as his. You know of your heritage as a Silver-Eyed Warrior, and even how to use it. Even then, it is extremely difficult to do. The hope of him tutoring you further died the moment he passed in your arms.
    -[X] (Compassionate Defender) You loved life, and no matter how often you stepped on. Even when everything screwed you over, you gritted your teeth and did what you thought was right: what you thought was good. The old man always went on about how much you reminded himself of his youth when saw that look in your eyes; you always rolled them at that.
    -[X] (Impassioned Wrath) Your anger is very much like fire. Easily stoked, and it burns everything it can once lit. The old man tried his best to reign in your impulsiveness, but ultimately relented when you showed you could hold yourself back if you thought it prudent. He was an old soldier who loved his discipline, but he knew he wouldn't be able to fully curb your emotions unless you worked with him to do it.
    -[X] Male
    -[X] Blood Red
    -[X] No, I'm a Faunus
    -[X]
    [X] Plan Revolutionary
    -[X] (Silver Bloodline) Your eyes: just as silver as his. You know of your heritage as a Silver-Eyed Warrior, and even how to use it. Even then, it is extremely difficult to do. The hope of him tutoring you further died the moment he passed in your arms.
    -[X] (Magnetic Charisma) People tend to hang on your words more-so than most. Your ability to say the right things at the right moment is a natural knack you've picked up. Much to the chagrin of your late mentor, you've swindled people out of their lien with a sob story more than once.
    -[X] (Compassionate Defender) You loved life, and no matter how often you stepped on. Even when everything screwed you over, you gritted your teeth and did what you thought was right: what you thought was good. The old man always went on about how much you reminded himself of his youth when saw that look in your eyes; you always rolled them at that.
    -[X] Male
    -[X] Silver
    -[X] No, I'm a Faunus
    -[X]
    [X] Plan Iris Argent
    [X] (Mantle of Summer) ~Locked to female gender. You exhibited control over the elements of nature that should be impossible without the use of dust or a semblance. Despite the power you wield, your capacity to use the elements is weak compared to myths and recollections of what you should be capable of.
    [X] (Astute Learner) Courtesy of your bookish nature, your ability to comprehend and fully understand complex subjects is startling. Any textbook you were handed was devoured within the day.
    [X] (Magnetic Charisma) People tend to hang on your words more-so than most. Your ability to say the right things at the right moment is a natural knack you've picked up. Much to the chagrin of your late mentor, you've swindled people out of their lien with a sob story more than once.
    [X] Female
    [X] Silver
    [X] Of course I'm a Human!

So, um, it had almost been an entire day, I though a Tally would be nice!
 
[X] Plan Iris Argent

all of these plans guarantee that Salem will be hunting us for one reason or another, just want to make sure that everyone is aware of that.
 
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