KnightNES: The Black Sacrifice

Name: Garvan Bearach / Adrogans
Knightly Style: Legionnaire
Patronage: Self
Order: Ridire Tintrí Crois (Temperance)
Squire: none
Cohorts: none
Relics: none
Stats
Might: 4
Mind: 3
Mastery: 4
Magnetism: 2
Moxie: 3
Traits: Fierce
Reputation: 0

Garvan was the third son of a minor noble in the land known as Eire. He knew he had to find his own way as soon as his eldest brother was going to inherit the lands and titles of their father due to a mutual lack of trust between them. So he turned to the only thin he knew well, the arts of the warrior.

He began as a man at arms for a neighboring lord and quickly proved his worth in combat by defending his lord from a group of bandits who ambushed their entourage. He slew the ragged thieves left and right when they tried to approach his liege. His liege rewarded him by making him a Knight and introduced him to the Ridire Tintrí Crois, a local order of Knights dedicated to self control and martial skill. They valued the combination of the cool head in battle to the merciless warrior.

Once a member of the Ridire Tintrí Crois he was trained constantly to improve his skills and hone his combat sense. The Ridire Tintrí Crois rode the country side and attempted to control brigandry in the region. They became so good at it that a number of them gathered together and systematicall ambushed and hunted down the Ridire Tintrí Crois Knights and killed all of them off except for Garvan.

Garvan then swore his vengeance upon all those involved and supported himself with all the remaining possessions of the Ridire Tintrí Crois as he travelled the lands hunting down everyone who was involved and especially the leaders of the various groups who gathered to destroy his order.

Before he could complete his task he awoke one morning not in the bed he was in, but in a land he had never encountered but quickly knew all the stories of the Fae he had heard as a child were true.

It's Rodrigo, Rodrigo Díaz. And no, I don't mind if you do that. The Condado de Treviño is the best one my mind can recall.

Name: Sir Giovanni of the Sheathed Sword
Knightly Style: Gallant
Patronage: Royal
Order: Order of the White Rose (Chastity)
Squire: None
Cohorts: None
Relics: None
Stats
Might: 2
Mind: 2
Mastery: 3
Magnetism: 5
Moxie: 3
Traits: “Expert”
+1 Magnetism

Sir Giovanni started life as the third son of the Earl of Seingalt. As was the custom of noble houses, he grew up as a squire in a different noble household, the Duke of Baldissera. At the age of sixteen, the Duke of Baldissera’s eldest daughter Marzia and nine of her handmaidens were kidnapped as they were picking flowers. Giovanni pursued the kidnappers and rescued the maidens, a deed which caused him to be knighted. However, while he had saved the maidens’ lives, he did no save their virginity, as, rumors claimed, several of the girls, including the Duke’s daughter had “rewarded” him for his efforts. To preserve his honor, the Duke attempted to marry Marzia to Giovanni. However, Giovanni claimed to be of unworthy lineage for such an honor, and proposed the elderly widower the Duke of Bragadin as an alternative. Giovanni himself led the negotiations, succeeding thanks to the influence of the Duke of Bragadin’s sister, who Giovanni allegedly seduced.

Giovanni went with Marzia as part of her household. However, his stay in the duchy of Bragadin did not last. Allegedly Marzia once called out Giovanni’s name during a love making session with her husband. Furious, the Duke wished to geld Giovanni, but his manhood was saved due to the petitions of Bragadin’s sister. Instead, Giovanni was enrolled as a knight of the Order of the White Rose, where he would live a life of chastity in one of the houses of the Order. Such a plan did not count on Giovanni’s certain “talents.” After a year, a rich merchant’s wife was accused of adultery, though the name of the offending man was never released. Giovanni, who just “happened” to know the lady stepped in as her champion in a trial by combat and successfully defended her honor. In gratitude the woman donated a rather large sum of money to the Order on the condition that it be used to found a new house over which Giovanni would be placed in charge.

At the invitation of a nearby abbess, Giovanni built the new house near an abbey to serve as the protectors of the abbey’s female and material treasures. The new house rapidly gained a reputation for attracting the dissolute younger sons of nobility, who spent their time gambling and consorting with their “sisters” in the abbey. Several times other, more pious (and chaste) members of the Order attempted to kick Giovanni out, but each time he was protected by the abbess (who, it was rumored, was the chief recipient of Giovanni’s “protection”). One of the younger dissolutes who briefly took advantage of the house’s hospitality was the youngest son of the King of Foscarini. Thanks to his influence at the royal court, Giovanni was entered into the royal lists and moved to the royal court, becoming the official liaison between the King and the Order.

Giovanni took advantage of the new position, and the new women it opened up to him. He became one of the “favorites” of the Queen of Foscarini. The favoritism ended, however, when the Queen discovered Giovanni in her bed with the Duchess of Acquaviva. Giovanni still had his allies in court, primarily of the females gender, but also some of his well placed comrades in pleasure. They ensured that Giovanni escaped the capital until the Queen’s temper abated. The Queen proved slightly more vindictive then his allies expected, however. When the Red Queen asked Foscarini for their greatest champion to take part in a deadly quest, she issued an edict commanding Giovanni to travel to the kingdom of Terminus, fully expecting his death in said deadly quest. Giovanni obeyed the edict, not so much because he had no other choice as because he had heard tales of the beauty of the Red Queen and wished to add her to his list of amorous conquests.

hahaha! An unchaste knight of chastity. I'll have tons of fun with that. Do you want +2 reputation or -2?

Definitely interested. I should be done with the template and back story some time tonight.

Interested. Sir Edwin the Merry will be with you when I get time to write about him.

Name: Julius Octavius
Knightly Style: Sentinel
Patronage: Royalty
Order: Praetorian Guards (Courtesy)
Squire: None
Cohorts: None
Relics:
Destrier, Heavy Warhorse
Stats
Might: 3
Mind: 2
Mastery: 3
Magnetism: 2
Moxie: 3
Traits: Courageous

Born to wealthy Patrician family, Julius was bred for one thing, war. By the age of 17 he already commanded one of Canfre's largest military forces in the north and fights against the "barbarians" on a near daily basis. Over the years he and his army has become a seasoned fighting force envied around the world for their experience and status. Octavius himself was mentioned many times in the reports as a fearless leader and bold on the attack and tenacious on the defense, his abilities were well known in Canfre and to the enemies of Canfre. Octavius and his army were so feared that it was rumored that the "barbarians" were willing to march 1,000 miles out of their way to avoid a battle with Octavius. Despite these cowardly actions by the "barbarians" the Northern War ended with a resounding victory by Octavius' army when they sacked the "barbarian" capital and captured the leader and his family, the men were shipped to Canfre for punishment in the Arena, the women were raped then sold into slavery.

With the Northern War over and Canfre no longer suffering raids from the "barbarians" of the north, simply because there are none left, Julius Octavius was called to the court of the Emperor Augustus. Octavius was tasked with forming a Praetorian Guard, whose sole duty is to protect the Emperor and the city of Canfre.

Octavius dutifully set forth on his task, recruiting most of his Guards from his old army and within the week had already created an army within the city. Over 2,000 Guardsmen were serving and Octavius commanded them all in the name of the Emperor. Almost daily Octavius and the Emperor met to go over military campaigns and over time the Emperor began to see Octavius as a brother, despite the age difference of 30 years. The Emperor decided to reward Octavius' unwavering loyalty to the throne, he granted Octavius a villa and plantation in fertile land south of Canfre with 1,500 slaves. It was not the only thing the Emperor gave Octavius, he also gave him a bride, his niece to be exact. Octavius asked to marry the Emperor's young and beautiful niece so Octavius can become family.

It has been only a week since the wedding ceremony when Octavian was summoned to the Imperial Palace. Upon arriving Emperor Augustus waved him closer and informed him that he will be sailing in support of a realm in trouble and that Octavius had no choice but to go, failure to go would bring disgrace to Canfre and his family. Octavius dutifully went, but first he named his successor in the Praetorian Guard, kissed his wife goodbye and mounted his War horse and rode into the distance.



This good?

Yep, it all checks out.

Karalysia said:

Name: Aradia Dionissia of Tyras
Knightly Style: Chevalier
Patronage: Self
Order: Daughters of Hera (Holiness)
Squire: None
Cohorts: None
Relics:
~Courser(Warhorse; "Fast")~
"An agile warhorse."
Stats
Might: 3
Mind: 3
Mastery: 2
Magnetism: 3
Moxie: 4
Traits: "Beautiful"
Reputation: 0
(+1 Might)


Background:

The Amazon warrior women of the East had long waged war against their neighbors slaughtering and enslaving enemy men. None had dared challenge the Amazon for centuries. When Hercules came he was well received and begged the Amazon Queen Hippolyta to take her magical girdle which had been given to her by her father Ares the God of War. The girdle granted great power to its wearer signifying that they were the Queen of the Amazon as well as granted them the power to raise armies, burn cities and crush entire kingdoms. Hercules as one of his tasks had been commanded by Admeta the daughter of King Eurystheus to recover the Girdle of Ares for him for he coveted it's power. Hippolyta was willing to grant it to him, enraging the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus who hated and despised her stepson Hercules and sought to make him fail his 12 tasks. Taking the form of an Amazon called upon them to attack Hercules. Fearful of capture Hercules kidnapped Queen Hippolyta and made off with her in his ship whereupon he raped her repeatedly and killed her taking the Girdle of Ares. The Amazon warriors enraged by this action immediately set out in pursuit.

An Amazon army was sent to invade Attica to destroy Athens in which Aradia distinguished herself in combat slaying many enemies. She and other Amazon warriors were tasked by Hera with recovering the Girdle of Ares and killing Hercules and it was declared by Hera that whichever Amazon warrior recovered the Girdle of Ares would be made the new Queen of the Amazon and also gain the girdles awesome powers. Motivated by lustful thoughts of the power of the girdle Aradia Dionissia of Tyras mercilessly hunts Hercules and seeks to seize the girdle for herself. Her ship was mysteriously blown off course and she now finds herself in an unfamiliar land. Clearly Zeus must have had his brother Poseidon blow her of course to prevent her from carrying out Hera's command. No matter, she will find the wretched Hercules and slay him herself, and then seizing the Girdle of Ares become Queen of the Amazon and raise a grand army to lay waste to the Greeks. None shall stop her in this task.

Click to expand...

Because he cannot post it himself. APPROVED!

Is it a mistake that I am not in the stats yet? If anything needs to be changed let me know so I can make the proper edits.


I might post a history of my Empire and Emperor later if I feel up to it. With a possible Family tree.

Not a mistake, I just kind of forgot after I closed the tab with me editing you in!

And more background/lore only helps me hurt you so I encourage it!

Expressing interest while brainstorming on the character concept.

EDIT: I assume it's alright to start with a negative or tainted reputation?

Yeah, as long as you have chosen the 'Gallant' knightly style.

Would you accept a samurai inspired knight?

Yes, I am not holding any restrictions on background (though know that Terminus itself is a land rife with Christian mythology)

All of us are supposed to collaborate in this task, don't we?

Well, you will collaborate only as much as you want to. Initially, yeah, it would be a decent idea, but who knows what will drive you all apart later on.

EDIT:

As a note, Each player receives a Vox Orbis, basically a ring of communication that allows them to freely talk to the knight of their choosing (so long as they have their Vox Orbis)

Name: Dietrich von Marburg, “the Black Fox”/das
Knightly Style: Sentinel
Patronage: Self
Order: Order of the Orb (Justice)
Squire: None
Cohorts: None
Relics:
Stats
Might: 4
Mind: 2
Mastery: 2
Magnetism: 3
Moxie: 4
Traits: “Jaded”

Dietrich is the bastard offspring of Richard I, the second to last Falken king of Greater and Lesser Waldensia. Due to the peculiar circumstances of his birth, as well as the unceasing civil wars tearing the two kingdoms apart since the death of Richard’s father Heinrich the Fat, Dietrich had to be raised away from the court at the castle of a poor but faithful vassal, aware of his royal lineage but forced to hide it from his peers. This proved fortuitous for him as when Dietrich was six years old, Richard I met his end in the Battle of Meerwald, and his enemies the Sturmbergs managed to put many of his family and retainers to death. Dietrich did not appreciate his good fortune, however; he swore to dedicate himself to revenge against the people who killed his father and denied him his place at the court, training relentlessly in the succeeding years. When the surviving Falkens rallied under his half-brother (to be known as Richard II) and managed a brief return to power, effectively putting an end to the ten years of relative peace, sixteen years-old Dietrich swore his allegiance to their cause without hesitation. Despite early successes which earned Dietrich his knighthood, title and distinction, within two years the Falkens were driven out of all but a few staunchly loyal regions of Lesser Waldensia. After suffering another critical defeat, the faction all but fell apart, Richard II himself fleeing abroad and some of his closest supporters signing peace with the Sturmbergs to put an end to the destruction.

Dietrich did not accept the truce and refused to flee the kingdom. With a handful of loyal Falken vassals and retainers, he continued to wage war in the borderlands, resorting to increasingly ruthless and unorthodox tactics to stay afloat in the face of his enemies’ overwhelming numerical and strategic superiority. Though this, combined with the indecisive and divided nature of the Sturmbergs and their allies, did indeed allow him to make a major pest of himself for three more years and for a short while even seemed to herald the resurgence of a Falken hope, Dietrich’s brutality eventually backfired when he managed to turn both the commoners and the up-to-now-vacillating Barons’ League against himself. Even when faced with defeat, a mix of charisma and fear that Dietrich’s followers felt for him allowed him to give the Sturmbergs and the allied Barons a final battle at the Black Lake. Dietrich fought desperately but as all his allies were cut down and he himself was effectively surrounded, he found no other way out but to jump into the lake.

It was only months later that it was discovered that Dietrich had survived. Stubborn to the end, he came to his adaptive father’s castle, requesting help to start the war anew. To no one’s surprise but his, Dietrich was turned away, but provided with a horse and enough provisions for him to make it to the border. Disillusioned, Dietrich got by abroad alternating between mercenary work and outright banditry, hoping and failing to gather enough gold or allies for his venture. At his wits’ end, he eagerly jumped at the Red Queen’s call when it came, hoping to change his fortunes for the better or die trying.

(Will this do? I realise his Patronage is kind of ambiguous, but it ultimately leans to Self all things considered. As for why he was picked, obviously he had some reputation, even if it did not really reach the Terminus outside of the Red Queen and her advisors (or whoever is responsible for picking the heroes).

For the country, maybe I’ll elaborate on it later, but for now think a somewhat more advanced, slightly more centralized and less cumbersome and ambitious version of the 13th century Holy Roman Empire.)

Everything checks out and it was a fun read I would love to hear more about the country (see above statement about how it helps me break you) but I won't force/require it. Welcome to KnightNES!

OK, so far we have:
Chevaliers: 2
Gallants: 1
Legionnaires: 1
Paladins: 2
Sentinels: 2

And so far I am the smartest.

EDIT: I have a question: does everyone have a mount or will we have to pay a guy to bang some coconuts together?

EDIT 2: Dammit, man, you broke my being the most intelligent guy around!