World of Tarsus

[GoldTongue]

Background:

This ORP is open to several players who are keen are creating and writing an adventure together. Each of the players is asked to manage two PCs (as opposite as possible) in the game/story. Each player/writer is encourage to kill off their PCs overtime and to replace them with new ones to keep the story/adventure fun, entertaining and realistic.

I am looking for players/writers commited to roleplaying and who enjoy writing. This isn't for players who want to create or run supercharacters. Instead it's for players who would like to play out any traditional humanoid races, classes and occupations.

TARSUS: Is a planet far away in time and space from everything. A world still very primitive and savage. Men and women fight in clans against their real and imagined enemies. The planet has been ravaged by war, famine and plague for countless centuries.

TO THE NORTH: The forces of the Red Calixte rule supreme.

TO THE SOUTH: The forces of the Green Calixte share governing with a powerful order of clerics.

TO THE EAST: The Wizards of Id control the people and towns through sorcery. Many outsiders contend it is done so with the blackest of magic.

TO THE WEST: Is the great unknown.....

Please join in..... Post and play. At some point please post a detailed PC description.


IC

Tilbert had ridden his chestnut mare the better part of a week as he traveled from the East. He was a man who believed only in the power of his arm and the strength of the blade he was wielding. He had hired himself as a mercenary in a foolish adventure that had netted him no gold and cost the lives of his companions. Yet, he was glad to be leaving the lands of the wizards. If the local fools would not rise up, why should he risk his soul and body.

Several small wounds caused him aches and pains as the horse trotted through the most recent in a series of forests. He was alive and free. The dark magic had not followed him. Perhaps they figured he was already dead or maybe they had looked into the future .... He did not know and did not care.

From a week of travelling Tilbert's food supplies were low. He had been fortunate to find water along the way and grass had been plentiful for his horse. Now he knew he'd have to stop in one of the villages or towns. He'd risk being seen for he had no choice.

Tilbert could see a ring of huts from the distance. He readied his wooden shield though he elected not to draw his long sword. The horse trotted into the village while Tilbert looked high and low, to the left and right for any signs of danger.

 

[little_golden]

Othana Travels The Land

Orthana of Ray

Character profile:

Orthana stood a mere 5’4” (and 89 lbs) and though human was often mistaken for one of the smaller races. Her body was petite and she was often mistaken for a young girl rather than a young woman of twenty (20). Her hair is a chestnut brown color that blends easily with the natural hues of the forest. Her breasts are small 24”A, her waist was tiny at 20”, and her waist slender at 24”. Though petite her beauty is radiant as evidenced by her perfect snow white skin, her enchanting smile, her pearly white straight teeth and her full soft crimson red lips. But it was her deep brown eyes that reflect warmth, friendship, hurt, sincerity, betrayal, love and lust.

Looking down at Othana, one would first notice her long chestnut brown hair. She wears it in a single braid whenever possible to keep it manageable. A tiny tight red bustier covers her the lower portion of her breasts and effectively forces them together adding the illusion that she is more busty than she actually is. Her crimson red nipples are inviting and are barely visible upon close inspection. Sporting a tiny black leather skirt, her short but curvy legs are well displayed. Under her the skirt is a thong that is crimson red. A hooded black cape reaches to the ground and allows her to shield her body from wandering eyes and to provide her warmth from the cold.

Magic is her life! From a young age it was obvious and to earn money for her parents she would demonstrate her powers of telekinesis and levitation. These natural gifts are what attracted the attention of the Great Utani of Ray. It was this older wizard who introduced her to taught her to read magic, work charms, do incantations, summonnings and potions. For eight (8) long years she had served the warlock Utani of Ray. To pay for the apprenticeship to the arts of sorcery she had performed as his concubine and house servant. The old wizard was disappointed that she never grasped higher level spells and summoning and seemed contented with her powerful telekinesis.

Over the eight (8) years, Othana has developed a seducing personality that has enabled her to acquire certain gifts of magical jewelery from admirers. She had eagerly accepted such gifts in exchange for her favors. Unfortunately her looks and personality often attracts the darker elements in society who prefer her as a concumbine, or who like to try to control her gifts and body. Her tiny size often attracts domineering men who want to care (i.e. control) her.

In addition to her strong telekinesis ability she has three magical items that help her to cast the image of being a powerful sorceress. The first is a pair of diamond earnings enchanted to provide protection from death magic. They adorn her delicate ears and sparkle drawing attention to herself. The second item is a red ruby pendant that dangles on a gold chain between her small perky breasts. The ruby is enchanted to allow her to unnaturally charm men. It works best with men of evil alignment but seems to cause women of good alignment to view her as an untrustworthy manipulator. The third item is a blue topaz embedded in her navel. It acts to protect her from pregnancy.

Othana is vain about her beautiful long chestnut hair. She spends excessive amounts of time brushing it and touching it. Her hair has never been cut (apart from very minor trims) and Othana believes the strength of her magic is tied to the length of her hair.

Upon the death of the Great Utani of Ray - Othana was free of her obligations to the old man and assumed his title as his apprentice. To succeed in her new position she is prepared to travel and to adventure to gain the status of the old wizard and acquire new magic.


IC


Othana had traveled to the East to register her claim as the Sorceress of Ray. She approached the Great Wizards' Keep slowly and carefully. It was rumored to be enchanted with thousands of charms, spells and relics. The keep actually carried a magic hue of colors reflecting its magical protection.

As she approached the outskirts of the great keep she felt a thundering rain drenching her body. It was a magical rain cold and penetrating. She was alone in her traveland lacked an entourage that would have befitted her status the new "Othana of Ray". But the truth was that she no had retainers and no money to hire any. Her magic did not allow to create any magical familiars, summonings, or even a mount. She would not sell her prized possessions for a mount so with her head high she had walked to the castle.

As she traveled no one had recognized her. The peasants in the fields simply dismissed her as a mere girl. This annoyed her to no end. She was now the ranking sorceress of the small town of Ray and figured the good citizens of the surrounding counties should show her some respect. Yet she was unknown and worse still often treated as a school girl. The only attention she had received was from a young teenage boy who had his plans to teach her about her womanhood. She had escaped him on the carpet but it was a reminded of her vulnerability.

The trip should have taken half a dozen days but it had taken only two days. She had taken an old carpet and using her telekinesis had fashioned the appearance of riding a magic carpet. Unfortunately, she couldn't use it for long periods of time and it exhausted her, but it saved her a boat trip and helped her travel through a few unpleasant areas. Now she was eager for a meal and a warm bed.

Othan approached by careful footstep leery of each step. As if she crossed a magical line she now see see townspeople and tradesmen. She moved the gate used by town folks and merchants and waited for a formal response from the guard. He was a lumbering giant towering over 6' and his arms were the size of Othana's waist. His eyes had a vicious look and Othana could sense a dark side to the man.

"Be gone girl!!" he yelled crossly at Othana. The whif of a girl at 5'4" and looking light as a feather.

She was used to such a reaction - the imbecile.

"I have Othana of Ray you fool" she replied as she pulled back her robe to display herself. She was definitely pretty and a treat for the guard's eyes. Her clothing was more than a little revealing and it reinforced his opinion that she was some sort of harlot or gypsy.

"I don't care what type of harlot you are! My shift don't end for a few more hours but if you come back - I'll pay ya a nice silver coin" the big guard explained.

"You must of heard of Ray. The Great Wizard Utani of Ray is deceased and I have succeeded him in his post" Othana explained to the guard with her best efforts to remain calm and polite.

"You look like a harlot and maybe a country witch at best" laughed the guard.

"You have no business in this keep!" he shouted at her in an aroogant manner.

"Look here - I have a scroll with the Great Wizard's emblem summoning me to register my title and rank" Othana continued to explain to the brute.

"Could be stolen!" barked the guard.

"For all I know you may be a runaway or a street thief" the guard went on.

Othana was frustrated as she stood there staring at the guard...

"Now see here Harlot - I'll be finishing my shift shortly - I'll meet ya over at the tavern and we can have a few ales and get better acquainted" he smirked as he jiggled some coins in his pocket.


OCC: I'm looking to write regularly in one thread.

 

[GoldTongue]

Tilbert On The Move

Tilbert spent the night in the alleyway. If only he had a dew copper coins for some grog or a silver piece for a nice room and a hot bath. But no, his luck had been poor and his employers were now dead along with his companions. Now he was hiding in a capital city with no friends and a hostile population. Oh why he had he come this cursed magical place.

 

[GoldTongue]

Tilbert Surviving the Streets

It was morning for Tilbert and now as the streets awoke with their peddlers and merchants it was time for him to be up as well. The city came alive with the local people too but they were a strange lot. Tilbert figured it was all the hideous magic in the place. There was no land anywhere (known to him) that had the raw abundance of magic. Most of the locals were mere peasants who served those in the mighty wizard cast - but still there must be hundred of wizards residing in the city and hundreds more visiting on any given day.

With the black tunic hiding his worn leather armor and small wooden shield he continued down the sidestreets eager to avoid the main streets. The wizards were smart and powerful and they had guards posted here and there too. He best be on his guard lest he be turned into stone!

As he wondered the outskirts he couldn't resist picking the pocket of a merchant. It had been too tempting and the conditions simply irresistable.

"Excuse my man" Tilbert apologized profusely as he bumped into a well dressed man on the street. As he did he grabbed the money money's purse and slid it into his own pocket! A worthy day's work and it was still early. He'd count it later, but he knew by the weight, at least some grog, a bed, and maybe much more.......

OCC Little Golden: Marvellous character description. I can see her in my mind when I post!

 

[poohlive]

Simon leered atop of the carriage. In his hands were worn leather reins, which he used to ease the aging horse to a galloping stop. Behind him a melody of crashes reached his ears. He cursed, and hoped he hadn't broken ay of his good Fortan pots.
If he had...
On the corner of the forest, just far enough so when he squinted it still troubled to see clearly, looked to be a small battle.
Nothing of the great wars, in which any travelling man such as himself had sung, and spoke about hundreds of times. They had to learn the aspects of a good battle, in most cases, a filled belly was on the line.
The problem on the edge of the forest looked more like a skirmish than anything else. Just a few barbarians who had travelled down from the mountains to scare a few passerby's out of some pelts and a day's worth of food or so.
Smoke rose low over the horizon, like a black snake slithering up to the sky. Something in Simon's gut told him that wasn't right.
He cursed again, whipping the reins. The horse gave him a haughty grunt before turning towards the trouble.
They moved away from the old road, which moved in a great arc from the southern remnant to the north. At the time, he had been heading south, trying to find a few more customers with deeper pockets, but it had been slim pickings on the road.
It had been slim pickings everywhere.
As he turned the corne that revealed the edge of the forest to him, he could see more clearly what the problem was now. Barbarians, just as he had thought. Three of them, all wearing similiar clothing, wolf pelts, if he knew his animal, and all brandishing lethal double handed swords.
Simon eased the horse back, getting out of sight before he anyone spotted him.
"Grab him," Simon grabbed his longbow from a side compartment, and a nice little quiver of arrows as well. Slipping each of them across his shoulder, he kneeled down just as the forest's edge, looking at the sight that now held all of his attention.
One of the men growled, pointing at what looked to be a rather large wagon. It was twice the size of Simon's own, and from the look of the wood that held it together, he assumed it had just been built within the last couple months or so.
A burly man was taken out from the wagon by one of the men. The other took a torch to the new wagon, and threw it inside. Flames began climbing on top of the sides within moments. Crackling once or twice, it went up fast.
Within two minutes the thing was nothing more than a pile of charcoal.
The man was set upon the ground, on his knees. All three of them stood over him. The man looked like he was bleeding from several places. Bruises covered most of his body, what hadn't been clothed in fine leather armor. Simon looked at him, loading one of the arrow's from his quiver.
The bigger barbarian, who was apparently some sort of leader grabbed the fine raven black hair that came off of the man, pulling his head back. He spoke loud, despite the fact that the man was right beside him.
"This is what happens when you don't listen. Roarc will not be ignored. Where's our payment?"
The man's words were short, and depserate. Simon got the distinct notion that he had said them over and over, just the barbarians chose not to listen.
"It's not here, we don't know where it is. There wasn't enough time to find the pendant."
The growl came from deep within his throat, the sound of two rocks grinding against each other. Simon pulled the string taut.
"Lies. Lies! Lies!!! You have it, you know. At least your master did. He won't be telling anyone else though, and you are headed right next to him."
Simon looked at the source of the first fire, the smithering snake that rose into the dark blue sky. The remains of a corpse, well beyind any sort of recognition lay only a few feet from where they all stood. It looked like a blackened pice of wood that had been in a great fire. The only thing Simon saw that showed him it was human were a few arms reaching out.
They could have been legs.
He felt sick to his stomach.
Careful aim.
The head barbarian unsheathed his sword. A long thick blade that reflected the sun and looked as sharp as it was deadly. Simon's eyes turned to saucers as he saw this weapon, and the two more just like it on the other barbarians.
He was nothing compared to the man, who stood there about to recieve death.
The arrow flew.
The leader fell with a heavy thud. Around him, a rift of air came out, sending old leaves scattering about his already dead form. The arrow stuck out from his heart, and blood ran like a river from him.
Pouring out onto the cold soil.
Simon jumped into the clearing, already another arrow poised and ready to fire. The two men glanced around, unsure as what had happened. One of them saw him, and drew his sword. The other was soon to follow.
"Halt," he didn't aim at one or the other, but between the two, "I said stop right now."
They continued, sickening sharp swords in their hands.
"I'll kill one of you right now. The other might rush me before I can reaim, but I'll take at least one more down today."
Both animals stopped dead in their tracks. They glanced at one another, contemplating his words. He made no distinction aiming at one or the other. It was halfway from both, each of them thinking it was pointed right at his skull.
After a moment of apparently wide deliberation, one of them spoke, "You won't get away with this. We'll track you down. We'll track all who seek the pendant."
They ran to the forest, and he saw them no more. For a moment, he heard the galloping of horses, big ones that made thunder in the distance, and could strike fear into the enemy if it were ridden in battle, but that too faded away.
Simon lowered his weapon, walking towards the man. He could see that even though he was bruised and bloody, the man had been tied up as well. From the look of it, those guys had taken no precautions with this man.
From the look of him, Simon could tell why. He was a bear of a brute, standing nearly as tall as a barbarian, but his clever blue eyes gave away human. The clothing he wore was of fine tailoring as well. If Simon had to guess, and he usually was good at his guess, this was a royal guard of some kind.
"Your name," he moved to the back of the man, loosening the ropes that bound him.
"Baer," Simon liked that, it was fitting.
"What in the hell did those guys want?"
Baer hed his now free hands in his lap, still in the kneeling position. He looked a bit better though, at least some color had returned to his cheeks.
"It's a long story. Could I have a drink of water and some rest first?"
Simon nodded, searching through various pockets for a canteen.

 

[little_golden]

Othana At the City's Gates

Othana looked at the guard in disbelief. Never had she been so verbally abused by a man. In Ray she would have punished such a being but here in the capital she had to be careful. If she raised too much of a fuss she might be accused of being "disloyal" to the Great Wizard and that would mean great pain and suffering. No it'd be best no to attack this beast of a man.

Within herself she was severely tested. Her ego insisted on avenging the insult, yet her mind told her that killing a city guard would only invite unwelcome scrutiny on herself. In a strange place where she was new and unproven it was best not to test new relationships.

"You impudent swine - it would be a waste of good magic - to give you a lingering death! Now let me pass or I'll report you to the Great Wizard when I audience with him...." threatened Othana.

"Oh sure... I'll play along... Oh Great Sorceress....." laughed the guard as he moved aside to let Othana pass into the walled City and closer to the Great Wizard's keep. But as she passed he gave her rear end a great slap.

"Ouch!" cursed Othana as she was shocked by the slap to her ass. The uard simply laughed along with others who now seemed queued behind her in line.

"Beast!" yelled Othana as she walked off. Her blood was boiling in anger as she realized the man was mocking her.

"Don't forget to meet me in the tavern girl!" shouted out the guard.

Othana began to walk the streets.......

 

[Darkthought]

Pain. That was all there was.

He strained his eyes, to no effect, as he tried to open them under the bright sun. Even opening them a little brought more pain.

He reached his hand up to the back of his head. His hair was matted together with dried blood. He could feel the coagulated liquid crack on his face as he slowly began to move.

'What had happened?'

He tried to remember how he had arrived at this place, but nothing came... nothing at all.

He slowly rolled over and forced himself to his knees and hands.

'Where am I?' he wondered to himself.

He took a few minutes to get comfortable in his new position, and just before he'd gained the courage to attempt to open his eyes again, the horror and dread flew through his core as the reality of the most important question hit him....

'Who am I?......"