Re: Blackshard 2 - Revenge of the Nethermancers (Chat RP game interest check)
For the continued work on story and so on, here's a list of other characters that you may have heard of, who are coming along for the journey as NPCs. Feel free to compete with them a little bit, as these people won't be party members unless you guys go out of your way to recruit them.
Gotta have someone to walk into inconveniently on, right? :3
P.S. Blame Hope for nearly half of these figures. He helped kick-start my brain when it was stuck and singularly wrote many of these.
Captain Alia Skyray, Sky Pirate Captain of the Windcutter
Noctis Blossom by growth, Alia started her life cemented in the lush forests of Braxil. However, upon finishing her growth cycle she grew captivated with the birth of airships and other such crafts, eventually acquiring one such for herself. When her ship was captured by a incompetent crew of early sky pirates, however, the fires of revenge burned in her, causing her own crew to turn into pirates. While mostly striking other pirate vessels over the great sea, Alia has occasionally struck at civilian vessels on accident.
Ordered by Braxil's monarchy to assist in this potential operation and with a warden constantly on her ship, she's holding out on any pirate activity during this operation, but with a story like this she's eager for yet more adventure.
Jack Rickster, Braxilian Warden
Braxil's Wardens were established after the recent wars with Nullium, acting as wandering lawman between the towns of the small kingdom. Jack was originally a sheriff in one of the smaller towns before elevated to Warden after serving in the military as a rifleman. Given a much larger jurisdiction hasn't diminished his gruff, moody attitude and slight bit of misogyny, however. To add insult to injury, this attitude has led him to get written up over and over again, making him more sullen. With that said, though, he does have a strong sense of justice, willing to put criminals away as needed.
For now, he's been especially appointed by the monarchy to watch over Alia Skyray, to ensure she doesn't do anything illegal to the shipping lines. Naturally, the strong, independent woman is causing quite the sore spot for Jack but he's still here to ensure that law and order is kept this trip.
Jewel Antiana, Famed Cubite Musician
Recording devices has just started to be developed in Braxil's tech meccas, resulting in a new field of work for the aspiring bard and musician. Jewel Antiana is the forefront of this new media, with synthetic and automated instruments adding to her melodic voice to create a one-woman act full of upbeat anthems. Recordings of her work has been selling madly, and live performances in opera houses and open-air venues have been sold out in a matter of days, mostly to younger audiences. Dressing flashy and always chipper, this young cubite's more than flooded with the sensationalism her species thrives on, and the constant flood of overeager groupies doubles up her own essence energies to far beyond what has been known to the species before.
With her side hobby of euromancy being second to her yearning for fans, it's only natural that she sees the Second Blackshard Incident as being something that's not only worth investigating but also a hell of a publicity stunt. Postponing her 'Apocalypse Never' tour for the time being, she's hopped into her luxury airship and beelined towards the Kaliferian capitol.
Ryos Blackiron, Black Orc Highblade
To say that Black Orcs have a bad rap is a understatement. Known for the following of dark magics and a lust for violence, and none moreso than those that can't contain this extreme touch to darker spirit magics. However, the Black Orcs do still have a honor system in their society, and as far as warriors are concerned, Highblades are some of the most reknowned warriors. Ryos herself has served as a Highblade for several years, using a massive cleaversword to fight desert monsters and duel her fellows for honor and power. Scars dot her green hide and leather armor, acting as badges of honor from her most ferocious opponents. Mildly addicted to Blackchew and having a rash temper, Ryos seems to only care about herself and her own honor.
While she isn't too concerned with the rest of Kalifer, Ryos has been sent by the Black Shamans to try and get some more care for the Black Orc's home town. And naturally, it is much dishonor for going against the Black Shamans...
Kalia Athelia, Helius Golemancer
A young woman from beneath the ocean, Kalia grew up in the sheltered kingdom of Helios, with only her personal protector- a Machina that is taller than she is, called 'Scaley'- as a friend. Her sheltered life lead her to being lonely and curious about other worlds, even as she was taught more and more about the art of Machina and how they work. Easily spotted with her pure white hair and ebony skin, Kalia dresses light and has several pieces of jewelery on her, many of them Spectre Crystals glowing ready for enacting their power into Machina.
Kalia has been sent as the envoy of the tribal leader of the Helius people, with strict instructions to find out what happened to the citizens that were affected by these creatures.
Melissia Coldheart, Snow Elf Scholar
From the Northspire Mountains comes this mysterious woman, carrying bags of books and much knowledge on mysterious subjects. The background on the Snow Elves in general, and Melissia is no exception. Any attempts to ask of her story is met with a aloof, dismissive gaze. What is known is that she apparently has researched much of the past of Kalifer and seems to have a massive interest in the Rift Wars.
Assumingly, Coldheart is here due to the Blackshards themselves, looking for living examples of creatures from the Rift Wars.
Mona Spotfeather, Harpy Civilian
Living in Herdspire for all of her life, Mona gathered herbs and rare plants in the Silverpine Forest for the small monsterkin society. Mona's never really seen the world before, or even that educated, thanks to her growth in the sheltered town. This has made her somewhat timid, yet receptive to other's emotions. Being able to fly and identify rare herbs certainly doesn't hurt either.
Sent by Herdspire as a ambassador, Mona literally has no idea what she's getting into, hoping to death she doesn't embarrass herself and looking for any form of help she can find during this journey ahead.
Halfdan Hring (aka Halfdan the Damned or Halfdan Kinslayer), Kaliferian Monk
Halfdan's life started nearly a century ago, when as a child his family was slaughtered during the Rift Wars and only surviving under a basket. Growing up to fight from there, he eventually assisted in the final strikes against the Blackshard commanders, doing the final swordblow on one of the damned creatures. After the war, he hung his two-handed sword and raised a family with the love of his life, Sigorna, rearing two young sons from the union. However, the nether cultists were enraged at the death of their champions after the war, and one of the last bastions of the cults raided Halfdan's home. What started as a one-sided fight against the swordsman changed drastically when a werebeast struck him down and infected him with Lycanthropy. Thinking their task was done, they left him to die, only for him to survive and stagger home. As his wife patched him up, the curse struck, forcing him into full beast mode and in a uncontrollable fury. When he awoke from the lunar curse, he had found himself the murderer of his family. In utter anguish, he wandered the countryside, screaming for death until a monk took him in, teaching him of the Goddess's plans for mortals and managing to console him about his dark crime.
This legend is spoken to many households about the dangers of the Nether, but none still realize that Halfdan, Slayer of Shards, still walks, until he appeared on the steps of the royal palace, greatsword over his shoulder and ready to purge the threat to his land in memory of his lost family and vengeance over the Nether Cults for his curse.
Ephinia Mordin, Head of Mordin Demolitions
Ephinia Mordin has two great loves in life: explosions, and fine (non-dwarven) foods. She is fairly tall for dwarven standards, and fairly short by everyone else's. She started her career as an apprentice demolitionist, assisting her father, Erpham Mordin, in mining operations. After an unfortunate accident involving a drunken subordinate, her father was presumed killed in a cave-in, and Ephinia took over the family business. She became an excellent judge of workers since that experience, and her expertise in hiring and demolition made her mining work a great success for the dwarves. Her first exposure to non-dwarven foods occurred at a banquet held in her honor, and she has since become obsessed with tasty human delicacies like bread and mutton.
She may not admit this readily to her employers, but food played no small part in her decision to assist the expedition.
Madame Serila Webhunter, Spellblade
Younger sibling to the leader of the Webhunter Dynasty, Serila has always been under the shadow of the Lady Laseri for as long as the two have been adults and Laseri was chosen to rule the house due to her age. While both are accomplished spellblades (Laresi trained with longswords, Serila with chakrams), Serila has fought an uphill battle to gain notoriety with her elders in order to gain control of the house for her own lust for power, culminating in even hunting Spiritmad Black Orcs, a encounter that scarred her deeply over her face and shoulder.
Naturally, with a national threat underway, the attempt to usurp her sister's rule is strong again, leading Serila to the court of the royals to use her house's backing to further strengthen her position.
Nidalina Bloodoath, Shiriti Priestess
Nidalina was birthed into the priesthood of the Shiriti, growing into a strong woman like many of her tribe even as she took the oaths of worship. She eventually became amorous with the strongest warrior at the time, and went through the binding process with her. Unfortunately, her love was found to be sterile, and after many attempts at siring offsprings the tribe wound up banishing her lover. Heartbroke, Nidalina tried to focus her thoughts on her goddess, but part of her still yearns for a chance to find her lover.
Given the vision of much bloodshed by Grendrin, Nidalina has come to preach the Goddess's teachings to a new battlefield, either in words or in actions. Perhaps, however, she could find Kileena out there, somewhere...
Kiki 'Fangs' Nemura, Braxilian Mercenary
A rash-actioned, booze-swilling mercenary, Fangs is most recognizable for choosing to let her werewolf features show, with a long wolftail and wolf ears nearly constantly. Kiki has traveled all over the world, seen action all over the place, and has crossed swords against many foes. Her latest adventures took her through the Nullimite War, assisting the Braxil people regain thier lands, but naturally shortly after beating back those religious extremists, it was right back to booze and short-time work.
With a sizable bounty getting dangled over the finding of the new Blackshard's source, naturally this boozehound rapidly drags along one of her friends to join in the hunt.
Zilinaria Whisperbow, Under Elf Defiled Ranger
One of the cursed Defiled, Zilinaria met Kiki during the early events of the Nullimite invasion that led to the Nullimite War, also assisting the Braxilian military by guarding one of the major figures of that war. Zili is optimistic at finding a cure for her curse, but naturally after having combed the entirety of Braxil for a cure, this ex-ranger is now moving to other continents to find a source.
Before figuring out a new location, however, Kiki suddenly pointed out she'd be dragging her after this whole 'broken black thingy *hic* malarkey' during one of her drunken stupors. She's more or less going for making sure her newest friend and ally doesn't fall over from exotic booze.