L0L182:
[SPOILER]I guess i take on the role as the badass of the big island, protecting the so called eternal water source.
Where i demand various stuff in order to send water to perhaps a town or harbour on the island.
And i will have my forte at the mountain, Tower of Mogun.
And as my character? what the hell to come up with.....
Well i guess a beast man with various magic, such as controlling any creature on that island and few of the other islands except summoned creature made by others i cannot control only confuse for few sec.
Magic power consists of manipulating growth of plants, also some creatures, ofc also to controll the rocks to create golems or perhaps make a wall etc.
Thats how i control the water by sending it in the direction i desire.
ofc, cloths belong to the nature so i can also adjust them to have the look i desire, female warriors be-aware.(note that include various magical user)
Name: (don't have any name yet)
Age: 21
Skin: Suntanned
Hair: Brown/black with some white areas.
More information will be added later on.
Alright i guess i should write the story of my character....
Long ago when i was at the age of 7years old, there was a war that had started on our island where most of us inhabitants lived peacefully since we co-existed with humans with knowledge of tools and machinery also impressive sword abilities, also the Beast men who has the knowledge of the forrests, animals and various fighting abilities with either Spear or Bow.
These Inhabitants lived in harmony with each others some humans also crossbreed with the beast men, and this is where my life started.
Iam born from a Human father and Beast Mother, we lived happily with the rest of the ppl on the islands, even thought some times both humans and beast men stared at me like an outcast.
When i were at the age of 5 years old i was taught sword fighting and simple magic from my father and hunting as well as elemental magic from my mother with the help of a bow.
Then later on i had mastered most of the skills both my father and mother have taught me, but then at my 7th birthday a war broke out on our island.
Our island that is located far away from the rest of the islands where we can barely see the islands even with our great eyesight as beast men, or should i say half beast men as i am.
The attack that came was fierce and apparently it was a co-ed attack from all three opposing islands and we witness this since they were wearing different Armour and symbolic flags from those floating islands that we are aware of.
We were no match since we are a peaceful island so most of the magic knowledge that we beast men or humans possessed were lost in the time that has flown pass, since we had no use of magical attack or defense.
We were overthrown in just 7days resisting, my father and mother wanted to save their only child so they gave me some ancient books containing the ancient magic of both humans and beast men, and they used up their magic to safely teleport me to a destination where the other Sky people can't get to me.
While my parents were doing this using a ancient magic that has not been used for around 700year time, i could witness the murder that were taking place in the town, this was no war this was a slaughter that those 3 greatest islands floating in the sky did.
When i was finally teleported i found myself in a area i have never seen in my entire life or even heard of, this savage land that reeks of death of several different unknown animals to me.
What would i a 7 year old child that posses little knowledge of magic, a sword and a bow do out in this stone land.
While i was thinking what to do in order to survive i was trying to figure out how to display my revenge against those 3 islands that massacre an entire island inhabited of both humans and beast men that lived peacefully.
While thinking all this i found out that i no longer are standing on a island that is floating in the sky but rather on a islands that is stuck at the ocean, i have heard story of a continent that once used to fly in the sky with the rest of the islands and were the island that connected the others true trade but that a war broke out on that island for supreme control over the trade, the war was so fierce that the magical chain broke and ended the dispute of who would control the trading stock.
Those living on that island has ever since then prepared for the second war that never happened since no one want anything to do with the island that is no longer part of the sky.
With this story in my mind i decided to gather the inhabitants that live in this continent and prepare a great army to overthrow the 3 great kingdoms of the sky and make it equal for all.
So as the days pass i read the books i inherited from my parents and eat the small amount of food supply i had with me, then i finally reached a mountain and i also found water to drink so instead of taking any precautions i dropped all my belongings and clothes and just jumped into the fresh water and enjoyed myself, until i noticed a creature on the other side drinking the water.
I quickly swam back to where i dropped my belongings picked up my sword and bow, the creature tries to scare me away but i still stand with my guard up, thats when i notice this creature i read about it in the books before so i quickly dried myself of on the clothes and picked up the book and found the page i was looking for, thats when the creature started to move towards me, i quickly read as fast as i could and found a spell to use against this creature.
I casted my spell against the creature and the creature stopped for a moment but then kept on coming closer to me and just when i think it would attack me i raised my sword ready to spear the head of the creature when it attacks, but instead of attacking the creature bow down its head towards me.
I picked up the book once more and read carefully, "When confronted of the Dragon you want to posses as your familiar you should stay calm and not move when the Dragon itself tries to provoke you. If the Dragon moves closer to you then the Dragon do feel a certain presence from you that make the Dragon not wanting to rush faster to you, with this you then have a chance of making this Dragon your familiar by casting the spell that is written at the bottom of this page."
So it seems i found myself a familiar i guess i should learn some more of this creature then what kind of creature it is.
While time passes even further into the future when he has become 12 years old.
With the help of my Dragon familiar i have scouted around what exists on this island and i have also found a tower at the top of the mountain that seems to be vacant so i moved in there at the age of 8, and lived there since then.
The tower itself is a maze inside i have yet to figure out every room it has but it seems to be a castle within the mountain itself with only the tower sticking out at the top and also some of the side can be seen from the ground.
I have nothing to worry about from the other Dragons in this land since apparently my familiar is one of the noble Dragon you can find on this island and at the time it became my familiar it was only the age of 3 years old so my familiar that has the name Drake has become even larger then it was when i first met him, Drake has guarded me well from other dragons also making it hard for others to get close to this tower.
During the past years i have studied the books i obtained from my parents and kept on training on my sword, bow and staff skills so it wont rust away with the time.
I have discovered i can freely make various not all nut most of the plants to grow at a extraordinary speed and also to the shape i wish it for, i may also control rocks at my will creating various rock-Golems or wooden-Golems that obediently listen to my commands, water is something i may control as well.
I cannot control fire since that does not belong to my elemental skills of a half human and half beast men as iam.
Elements i can control is *Earth, this is where plants are included i can make plants grow with just dropping the seed of one and make it grow to an adult tree for an example, rocks are included into this element as well so are many more but i have yet to figure out what that may be. *Water, i may control the flow of the water also creating water-Golems as well as rock-Golems and wooden-Golems.
I also practice in using this magic for Offensive attacks as well as Defensive moves, also trying to get the healing abilities to work better then just heal minor scratch wounds.
As the year pass even further ahead with 8years that now this half human and half beast men has become 20years old.
Now that the time has flown rather fast, ive done nothing to get closer to my revenge beside training myself to become stronger.
The only ppl i have seen so far and talking to are dwarfs that lives in teh deepest room of the mountain castle, where they construct Armour, weapons and various machines.
So i have discussed with them to create Armour and Weapons for a future army as well as Machines that should be able to fly to the floating islands without any major problems and carrying part of the army and other machines that should be use for the war.
Apparently the accepted this on one term.
The term was to restrict the water that flows from the mountain to the citizen living on the island, so i agreed with this term.
The reason was that these dwarf would need a great amount of water supply so they could quickly cool-down the magical-metal they uses.
This agreement was done 5years ago at the age of 15 i was then.
Shortly after i restricted the water supply, the inhabitants of the islands started to complain quickly, thats when i started to explain to them what it was i were doing and planning to do with the excessive amount of water.
After a few days quarrel with them, most of them agreed to what i said.
So they started to show me what they had stored deep down an old mine they used, there they had weaponry and machinery ready for a war after getting some service done to them since most of them are incapable of moving or to be used, so i told the dwarf about this, and they were really happy about these news since they knew the ancient had better construction the they have at the present since the dwarf now only worked for hobby and assisting the farmers with farmer tools, they lost some of the arts in the years, but with this they seriously started constructing several weaponry and armour as well as machines.
5 years after they started doing this they are almost complete.
So the time has come to start training up warriors and magic users for this upcoming war that will take place in 5years from this day.
At the age of 20 he have assembled a small army that are training hard everyday in several different skills, getting familiars of their own that will assist them in this war.
While this fierce training is taking place i myself and some more of my subordinates went out to gather more ppl for this upcoming war, gather some beast men North and South-West of the map that were living outside the forrests, gathering some dwarfs that rather wanna fight out there and operating the machine they have built while some stay behind smithing more various stuff, gathering fishermen from the East of the map.
While doing all this were also gathering various animals that will assist us fighting the enemy in the air since we know they posses Gryphon's, Winged horses and there is also legends that some Human like species has wings growing out of their backs that might pose a great threat towards us since apparently they might posses magic abilities that is far greater then others.
We posses our various Dragons of all sizes with different skills such as breathing fire or speed that can't be compared with.
Another year passes, now i am age of 21 and has formed an army possessing the amount of nearly 26'000 people.
And were hoping that the number will increase even further with the 4years before the war starts.
With all this i can see that my revenge will come true, for my home island and parents, the 3 sky kingdoms will pay with the cost of their lives.
What happens now in the future i cannot say since i have yet to arrive there[/SPOILER]
nnnmmm:
[SPOILER]I've decided to name my character Tophziel (Toff-Zy-el)
Name: Tophziel
Age: 36
Height: 5ft, 10in
Body type: Skinny, Muscular Build
Skin type: Slightly tanned
Hair: Mahogany
Main attribute: Spellcasting
Weapon of choice: Scythe
Armor Type: Light armor with cape
Here is a page from his Memoirs. Tell me what you think
Impossible. Just when the plans to invade the heathen land are set, I've come across a most disturbing scroll from an old scholar. It must be thousands of years old for it mentions events before our recorded history. However, there's one passage in particular that disturbs me. This passage states that long ago there were six islands connected by chains until a war broke out between the islands over control of the largest island, Levinay. According to the scroll, the last battle took place on Levinay's chain. The battle was so fierce, Levinay's chain actually broke sending Levinay plumiting to the ocean below and ending the war for there was nothing to fight over. From then on the fallen Levinay was called The Lost Continent. No, no this can't be true. There's no way that I share origin with such heathens. I must investigate this further.
Tophziel's Memoirs part two
There can be no denying it. Indeed the lost continent was once a part of the floating chains. To my disgust, In the midst my investigations, I've come across irrefutable evidence of this. Beneath the surface of the Lost Continent, deep under water lies a chain extending to the bottom of the ocean. If this were wide spread, faith would be shaken throughout the lands. But wait..... I wonder how many know of this.
It's decided. No one shall ever know of this. I've already killed the scholar and burned the scroll. The last remaining evidence is the heathen land itself. It must be destroyed. But how to do it so His Majesty thinks it was an unavoidable tragedy?
Tophziel's Memoirs III
I have now made a second voyage to the heathen land and I now have all I need. I've captured and interrogated people close to the Palace in New Haven. It was more trouble than it should have been for two of the men I captured were guarded by disgusting sideways walking monsters. Once I got used to their strange movements, they were no match for my power. However I was almost overcome by the foul smell released by those monsters when burned. I'll have to combat them differently in the future. Once captured the men talked easily. I always love seeing people's loyalty disappear when they're on fire. From them I learned that there is still some magic in the heathen land mostly centered around New Haven. From that and other evidence I concluded that it is indeed magic that is keeping the Lost Continent afloat. I'm sure of it. And so the goal is set. I shall follow his majesty's invasion plan for now. Once we've conquered New Haven I will drain the land of its mana and send the heathen land plunging into oblivion with the scum that inhabit it. Lost Continent indeed[/SPOILER]
Genjuu
[SPOILER]Tower of Mogun...? Baddie roles all taken? Heh, in that case I dibs Neutral Character. I'll be that of a alchemical scientist whose ultimate goal is to create the woman he sees in his dreams... and will destroy anyone or anything that gets in his way. He uses magical machines instead of magic himself as his only power is to sense a machines soul. He has an assistant known simply as "defective maid" a maiden like person with albino skin and eyes who is incapable of speech (ie she's a mute). What he needs most is magical stones that process knowledge of the ancients. He hopes to gather enough stones so he may fulfill his goal. Some of these stones are held by royalty, others are heirlooms, or used to strengthen weapons.
Some of the machines he has built is the very slow levistone airship, magic cannons, mechanical golems, etc.
I don't know where he would reside just yet, I'm thinking he could be one of the kingdoms chancellors, or royal scientist. He will side with anyone as long as it suits his fancy.
Well thats just my idea for a character
For my character I've made some revisions. Instead of just being able to sence a machines soul, he can also sense a tool and weapons soul. I do this as there would be a low availability of machines in this land. Also, He can wield magical items such as staffs, etc. however, he only has enough magical power to activate the items own internal power, and not use it to focus his power like a proper mage. He does make up for this with his mastery of alchemy so he can make and strengthen magical items easily. His magical machines are interesting as even his souless doll assistant can wield them.
Also, he has a great peer glass on his tower that looks at the lost continent below, (What he can see depends on the winds, its just a telescope crooked to look over the edge of the floating links.
He likes to send his golems to fight the beastman's golems, as a measure of his skill versus a natural golem creator. Its one his favourite shows, his own personal arena.
I'm going to post his introductory story later today and read the posts more in depth.
Virage, the inventor. Maker of magical creatures and machines.
In a room filled with stone carcasses stands a large stone man; a golem who is has just been born. Standing at attention like a soldier the hallowed out sockets of its head filled with a warm yellow glow.
“Bring the power down” said Virage with a scowl looking directly into the golems eyes. “This golem is a failure. Dispose of it in the usual manner.” Virages assistant stared blankly with her deep red eyes and shut down the animation machine without blinking. The magic aura emanating from the box covered in valves, charms, and other such widgets, evaporated to a faint nothiningness with the throw of a lever. The golem lurched forward from its bold stance to collapse like a rag doll shaking the floor beneath it. “As thought, this one hasn’t the strength to be useful, prepare the mirror cannon.”
The maid wheeled a carriage of mirrors with a staff erected in the middle. It looked like a great mirrored rose, beautiful and deceptively dangerous. The maid, graceful yet rigid, placed the carriage down and began to crank the rear power wheel without hesitation. The machined moaned softly and angrily wound up to a loud scream. The mirrors began to glow while the staff pulsed with a blue aura. Suddenly, the mirrors beamed with intense light which blasted the stooped golem.
The golem slowly raised an arm to block the blast which raised Virage’s blood pressure. The arm was melted in a matter of a few seconds. “Stop!” Bellowed Virage, visibly annoyed. The maid stopped the crank and the flowers light faded quickly. The golem was scourged but still functional, despite smoldering , with its eyes glowing defiantly.
“So you DO have the strength to move! Then move for Damn’s sake! MOVE!” The wounded golem stared blankly, as if to spite him. “Maid, bring me the hammer” said Virage coldly. The maid picked up Virages favorite hammer perched against the wall and presented it to him. It was a large spike hammer, a head shorter than Virage himself. Despite its size Virage had alchemized it so he could lift it and be wielded with great power.
“Disobedience is a sign of failure in a golem so I suggest you move.” Still the golem sat still, which only raised Virage’s blood pressure even more so. “If you bloody well won’t move, I’ll make sure you can never move!” With a mild swing, Virage brought the hammer over his shoulder only for it release a burst of fire and propel forward with great speed viciously into the golems head. Half of the golem’s head was crushed as if it were sand as it was blown flat on its back. Its remaining eye still glowed faintly, however, it was certain that it would never again move.
“That was fruitful.” Said Virage with his trait sarcasm, dropping the hammer with disinterest. He slinked to a metallic pipe randomly jutting from the wall and sighed. Virage was known to perform and test several experiments at once. All of which he believed brought him closer and closer to creating his ideal love. However, even when one failed he could never feel the joy of the others success. He sighed again and looked through the end of the pipe.
Virages tower stood high on the ends of the lands, and his peerglass (Built out of the wall) crooked to peer over the edge. He looked through his great peer scope pointed to the continent below. He sees whatever the great winds dictate; the floating links move with the winds as do the view. As he focused the peer glass it groaned cheerfully at a chance to move again. “A pity.” Virage thought aloud. He was looking forward to send the golem down to the lowlands to fight the Beastman’s golems. Each Golem varies in quality so each fight would be different. He liked to watch his personal arena as measure of his own skills. Though he could create such things with magical staffs and potions, or machines that even his souless doll could use, he still envied the use of a natural magic user. He himself is only able to activate the individual power of a staff; and not to focus his magic like a real mage would. He compensated this with his ability to sense a tool or machines souls.
The souls of tools and machines would whisper in his ears, telling him their mood, what they desired, or their inner most secrets. Each soul was dependant on what materials it was made from, and how they have been treated. A gnarled staff made from a hangman’s tree for instance would whisper its wish for massacre, while a lantern whispered of its dislike of the darkness. This one of Virages few powers made him a master weapon smith. He listened to the whispers to make a weapon more powerful, a machine more efficient, a tool more effective. He could not however hear the souls of living creatures; they themselves were far too complex a machine to be comprehended.
His machines and tools loved him; however his golems and dolls were silent. Soulless husks of rock or flesh where supremely silent. This Virage could detect as the absence of a magical machines soul was oxymoronically audibly silent. All magic dolls were like this unless they were infused with a real soul. He however was trying to go against this law of nature by creating the beauty from his dreams: complete with a real soul that only ever and will belong to it. In other words, a doll with a real soul that wasn't borrowed. The ancients knew a great deal of magic and alchemy, they infused this knowledge into magical stones, however, not all stones where created for this manner. Many stones where created, as Virage theorized, by a soul of the departed, while others were made by skilled mages.
Virage beckoned his doll to come forward with an open palm. It gently placed a newly acquired stone into his palm without question. He took the ovular stone and placed it onto an alchemic ruin tattooed to his hand. His instantly saw the vision of a peasant during the ancient cataclysm. These sort of memory stones where not uncommon but they never revealed the nature of the cataclysm. This peasant was doomed by an overhanging boulder that would crush him. Yet, the peasant resisted the weight for as long as possible until he was crushed, the end of the vision brought Virage back to his golem graveyard. “Why would he choose to… wait.” Thought Virage as he stared back at the mauled golem with a keen interest. “To the lab.” He said with Vigor. “We have more work to do yet”
The doll opened the doors to the graveyard chamber to the grumpy elevator, carrying the hammer with unkempt grace. As Virage got on, the doll pulled a lever, paused at the immobility, and then kicked the magic gears into activating. As they ascended Virage saw glimpse of the land of links. The closest landmark was the kingdom of an arrogant brute. Virage foundly remembered when the king threatened him. One of his doll messengers was enough to scare him away. It parroted his message of an army of monsters and experiments ready to destroy his kingdom then died with a hysterical laughter and dropped dead with a wicked smile as it ghoulified to a hideous corpse. Virage smirked at the memory until the elevator stopped with a screech.
The view of the lab was that of disarray. Glass beakers and pipettes, unnatural creatures sealed in large cages, banshees trying to scream from their mutes, machines with valves; charms; and flowing steam all around, papers strewn everywhere, soulless dolls which wandered about while others only followed you with their eyes, along with hideous failures which where unrecognizable as anything. Virage smiled, he was home, and it was time to start another experiment. Perhaps today we would try again to make the woman of his dreams, something to give him mirth, a magical weapon, or create a monster to destroy who opposed him. He wheeled around to look at the defective doll. Reminded of his most impressive specimen, yet greatest failure, Virage was ready to better himself yet again. What Virage didn’t know is that he soon would have more to think about than experiments…[/SPOILER]
Griever
[SPOILER]
Achilles Bollinger
Age: 22
Height: 6'2
Weight: 186
Build: Muscular/Athletic. Think a light-heavy weight boxer
Hair Color/Style: Dark Brown, curly in an unruly fashion. roughly 4 inches in length.
Skin: White, Sun tanned
Normal Dress: Black charred armor of the Specials Unit, often covered by a brown cloak.
Bio: Achilles is the son of a baker and a minor noble woman that was lured away her lifestyle by the smell of sweet bread and the promise of love without drama. Raised on the largest of the floating islands, Majorca, Achilles spend his childhood mastering the flute and the art of baking. At age eight he joined church orchestra. Noticing his talent with the flute an elderly priest took an interest in Achilles and help to develop his religious interest. Soon he was in church almost every day rather than only going on the seventh day as mandated by law.
When his magic developed at puberty he was ranked above average, perhaps due to his noble ancestry. At age sixteen rather than join the army for the two tours the law demands Achilles was drafted by the Holy Order of the Chain, endorsed by the old priest. Here he refined his magical ability and religious knowledge, not knowing he was being trained as a Paladin from the moment he caught the priest's eye many years ago. At age eighteen Achilles officially became a Paladin for the Order of the Chain. While the regular Army focuses on the conflict with the grounded continent the Paladin's main focus is to suppress alternative religious groups and ideas which would upset the status quo. He quickly rose in the ranks and participated in several key conflicts when the false prophet, Paulus Moya, raised his army and declared war on the order.
By age twenty two Achilles had gained four blood stripes and obtained the rank of Strike (equal to Captain in regular Army, or US Marine Force). For his consistent growth and vigor Achilles was invited to join the Specials Unit who's members are beyond elite. During this time the conflict with the grounded continent grew and the Paladins were also fighting battles against them.
As the enemies attacks grew more efficient it became obvious they have spies within the hierarchy of the Floating Links. Enemy intelligence caused the Specials to believe a Cardinal of the Order is a traitor. A gun-ho General decided to seize the suspected traitor without informing any higher ups to avoid information leaks. The attack goes horribly wrong as the Cardinal posses immense power and wipes out almost the entire strike force before being killed by Achilles. During this conflict Achilles has his armor carbonized by the Bishops final attack which amazingly leaves him unharmed. Following the botched attack all survivors are brought to trail where Achilles is singled out by the adviser to the high lord. That several of his missions have had information leaked to the enemy ahead of time coupled with the traitor Bishop apparently showing mercy on him is used as proof of treason.That he killed the Bishop rather than captured him is considered further proof. Achilles is stripped of his rank and made to jump from the edge of the island as penance.
This ordeal is survived through what he perceives is divine intervention. In order to prove his innocence Achilles decides to destroy the enemy rebellion, thinking it weak and disorganized. He comes to discover it is more sophisticated than he thought. Also catching his interest is the religions of the lower world and the so called prophet who roams the land. One story says the man a mark which resembles a lion on his back. A similar legend exists in the Order of the Chains religion. To prove himself innocent and find this man are Achilles Bollinger's goals
Achilles Bollinger's story: Part I
I do not understand these people of the land below. They believe their will is as strong or stronger than the magic of the Floating Links. During my time as a paladin I have slain many who suffer this delusion. They are unblessed, sentenced to spend eternity looking up at those loved by the Gods. The chains ensure that the view does not change.
Here there is poverty in the extreme, war amongst neighbors, and creatures that devour all that cross their path. There is not a central faith to bind these people together in purpose and spirit. Divided though they may be it is their prerogative to wage war with those above. This should be madeness yet their tamed beast and abominations of machinery prove to be troublsome. These things and their will.
I hear there is a man. He walks this cursed land and spreads hope to the hopeless. They say he has preformed miricles beyond the ability of our magic. I must find him. I may have to end him.
Achilles Bollinger's story: Part II
Things were much simpler when my armor shined with the liquid clarity of my faith. Among the paladins in the Linked Order I had received the rank of Strike and was placed in the Specials Unit at an age when most are still cleaning latrines. The Specials are an arrogant lot, allowed to participate in any battle of their choosing how could they not be? To be in the Specials transcended being elite, an entire battalion of paladins ranked Strike or higher and all with at least three blood stripes cannot be described with any single word; even special fall short.
For three months I ate, slept, fought, and bled with these men. I loved knowing that I was at last among men that were my equal or better in skill rather than in rank alone. In the Specials rank is of almost no importance, if you are the best person for a job it is assigned to you regardless. I learned much in the way of magic and swordsmanship from men who could make air bleed and fire cry. Best of all was my armor, instantly noticeable as that of a Specials unit member. Blue steel made with secret methods by the priests of the Order; the Specials armor is light weight and durable beyond average steel. The pauldrons are shaped in the likeness of lions, the holiest and most noble of creatures and the only predator found on our floating islands. I loved my armor more than I love the woman who bore me.
Now this armor is a curse, charred black by flames that should have baked me within it. I was called out as a traitor by the high lord's most trusted adviser and striped of my rank. For a traitor there are three choices: Death by the Sword, removal of the senses or a leap of faith. I chose the third knowing that I had not wronged the Gods. My faith was rewarded and I was ferried to the lost continent on the back of a griffin, long thought extinct. Unless I dreamed it. Now I am a one man counter attack, a typhoon of chaos and destruction. I'll prove myself worthy of renewed ascension by right of battle. These people have a title for me, the Black Lion of Despair. I bring no despair with me, the dead cannot despair.
Will I be granted new armor when I once more raise above the heavens? I hope so. This armor is murky, that it was marred so pains me.
Achilles Bollinger's story: Part III
The sea is truly majestic. I had never seen it up close before and now that I stare upon it I am breathless. Winds strongly laced with salt blow against my face and I consider growing out my hair. I am not presently a military member and already it has grown from the regulation three inch length. Do these people know what a wonder surrounds them? Can they ever appreciate it or will they always be too busy gazing upwards in contempt? I call upon all my will to keep from crying.
We have bodies of water in the Floating Links but nothing on the scale of the sea. In its stead we have oceans of clouds that swirl at our base. You can not swim in the clouds. You may fly through them but the sensations are incomparable. The Gods bless us by allowing us to live in the skies yet to do so is to be denied the sea. For their love this trade is fair.
From the shore, maybe four yards away, something shimmers under the sun's harsh light. Slowly it pulls itself forward from the sea and onto the sandy banks. At first I think the bronze carapace belongs to an enemy automaton but when I see the legs under it I know it is organic. I've seen one of these before, a horseshoe crab. Its somewhat flat dome shell is three feet across and from here I can see the length is around ten feet. This is not a creature to be trifled with.
Slowly I began to back away. Their vision is poor and I may be able to escape unnoticed. It too moves slowly, pulling itself from the tides that are rolling steadily behind it. Suddenly bright shards of rainbow colored glass are falling all around me. Turning I see a cloaked figured moving over the slope of the hill which slants down into the shore. I turn back and find the crab more acutely focused in my directions, attracted by the light reflected off the glass. Without warning the thing dashes with astonishing speed. Do I look like I giant mollusk in this charred armor of mine? Reaching to my left side I draw my sword. I am about to fight a wild giant crab. Life here is certainly eventful.
The way I envision it is the floating islands live in a state of relative harmony as there are enough resources that people don't lack food or homes. There are conflicts of a more political nature with the nobles, army, and religious sects all trying to gain power over the general populace. This would lead to secret raids and assaults within the islands that are hidden from the general populace which believe their home to be a utopia.
They trust their leaders largely because they keep the threat from below at bay. As attacks from the grounded continent become more frequent and efficient discontent grows. Rather than drawing them together this makes the three sects fight each other more as they blame each other for the failure to quell the conflict. Of course there are internal problems within each of the three sects of Nobel, Military, and Religion too.
It should also be noted the paladins are an extension of the religious order separate from the general army. This adds to the discontent as most military leaders feel a religious sect does not need an armed force. High nobles also have their own defense groups but these are limited by law. The holy order argues that their paladins are simply devout followers and limiting their numbers through law would have cast doubt in the eyes of the public. The army particularly hates the paladins Specials Unit which is allowed to participate in any battle of their choosing.
This does not have to be the case for the story but it is a set up I enjoy and hope others will approve of. It allows characters from the floating islands to have clear loyalties as well as a chance to use political intrigue for the writers.
Achilles Bollinger's story: Part IV
I've never seen such carnage as this in my home land. Fire engulfs the entire town square and yet people concern themselves more with looting than quelling the flames. In an ally two men are raping a girl who's probably not bleed yet. I here no bells or signaling of any kind; this village lacks even an amateur fire brigade.
I hate these godless folk but still I pity them. I wonder what makes them so different from the people of the Floating Links. Is it their lack of a unified religion? Lack of resources? Inability to cast magic? What is it that prevents their civilization from equaling ours?
Beyond this village is the mountain range in which a great warrior and supporter of the rebellion supposedly lives, a golem shaper. I've fought with his creations in the past and found their magic resilience to be impressive. This shaper may be able to provide me with the location of other high ranking rebels. I'll soon end this war and be welcomed back to my home land.
How can they still rob with this smell? Clarely there are people burning alive in these building yet they think only of personal gain. In Majorca this sort of thing would never happen; even if the fire brigade was busy someone would try to help his fellow man. Even a stranger from the lands aboves would have more empathy then these people show their neighbors.
For a moment I fell the urge to help these people, to show them the frue spirt of man. But, no. I will not. That would negate the point of having started the fire in the first place. [/SPOILER]
Quirk
[SPOILER]Here is my character, you know the one the heroes and villians walk past with out a thought, yes the mad begger, here is his story.
Derfel wasn't really in a good way he had been possessed by a demon(or whatever in your story) but the spirit hadn't been strong enough to control the body the whole time. The resulting condition sent them both quite mad. It wasn't unknown for Derfel to trip over a tree or other supposedly inanimate object and have a very loud and agressive argument with it. If the tree was of a particularly curvy nature Derfel them would elope with it, often with the aid of an axe. Derfel's favourite past time was to sit in the street and be called an idiot by everyone, then start screaming and run around alot, everyone would then scatter. He would then collect all the dropped produce and money and eat them both.
P.S. Every story has a comic relief character, he could pop up anywhere. You know in an epic battle, he could wander across the field with a cut up tree, murmering sweet nothings to it. whatever
That's my characters down on paper, Sicques is in spirit form so only the derranged, magical and possessed can see him.
Don't worry the demon is locked up in Derfel, a pervert you can see, but be warned! Because of the demon possesion he has many powerful powers. The ability to cause a handy undraft (careful women in dresses) vision that can undress a chick and other more sinister powers
Well here is more info on Derfel- he sticks mainly to the wilds depending on his delusions, once he lived in the city sewers for a month convinced he was a count and was holding court.
He is homeless, as you would expect for a rather crazy character and is niether good or bad, just wandering the thin patch inbetween.
He has powerful magic but never uses it because he doesn't believe in such rot, despite being possessed by a demon. The magic is somwetimes used accidentally, like when he walked off the floating isles.
ok here is an overview of my char's
Derfel
Flaws: No grip on reality, often kills people, eats minerals
Goodside: Um, he doesn't take sides?
Abilities: Can do powerful magic, but doesn't, it still helps him surfive stuff he shouldn't, his is quite strong and resistant to torture, mostly because he doesn't notice it.
Background: He got possessed and went crazy, now wanders around killing, scaring and generally being stupid, but acting like he is doing the right thing.
Siqcues
Flaws: Arrogant, power hungry and no patience
Goodside: Likes kittens
Abilities: Also does powerful magic, but doesn'y cause he wants Derfel to die, so he can be released, can fight other spirits and eat them.
Background: Was a high prince in the demon realm, but when on holiday in the human realm, got stuck in Derfel after a practical joke went wrong, now plots to kill him so he can go home
Derfel Does Stuff
By Quirk, with use of Virage, Genjuu Mugon's guy
Derfel sat there by the road in a despondent mood, he hadn’t eaten any gold or silver in the last week and he really needed them to survive, sure human food helped, but what he needed was valuable trace elements, in a handy coin size. As he sat there. people who passed him either sneered and spat at him or made the sign for evil and passed on as quickly as they could, he didn’t feel their fear or disdain all he felt was loneliness and a need for coins. Getting up he looked around and saw a wealthy traveller coming his way with almost no guards, Derfel strode up to him and was stopped by the 4 almost guards. He decided they needed to be reminded that he was no threat, but people never listened while they were conscious. He grabbed the first guard’s shirt and fell backwards, as he fell on to his back he shoved his feet up into the mans stomach and kicked, giving the throw an extra impetus. The guard catapulted in to the ground and stayed still, good Derfel would talk to him soon. He rolled into the feet of two of the guards next to each other and threw out his arms catching both their ankles with an arm, he wrapped his arms around and stood up, the two guards fell over and Derfel kicked them in the head to clear their ears. He ran at the final guards and shot an elbow into the man’s stomach and then a knee into the head, he turned to the merchant who had fallen on his knees.
“Please don’t hurt me! I’ll give you everything I have to remain unhurt!” The man blubbered and wailed, walking on his knees to hug Derfel’s legs.
“Do not worry kind sir, I won’t hurt you.” As the man thanked him and praised his name, Derfel reached down and snapped his neck.
“Hah, I’m not the weak little human any more! I am the great and powerful Demon lord Sicques!” Derfel stood up straight now and had a regal carriage to him as he went through the guards pockets and snapped their necks as well.
“I f you are so powerful, why couldn’t you beat me and take control of my body completely?” As Derfel spoke again, his posture returned to that of the beggar.
“Silence fool! I was tired and it was a Monday, not the best day for a hostile take over!” As the powerful demon took control again, Derfel stood up straight and proud.
“Whatever, just fill us up with gold, silver but no nickel it gives us indigestion, oh and some human food if they have it.” Said the human Derfel.
“What the hell do you want to eat metal for you freak!” Sicques said. “I don’t know how you haven’t died from metal poisoning yet.”
“If I was human, I would have.”
“Hear we go!” Moaned Sicques, dragging his hand over his face.
“Yes, I am a nymph!”
“A Nymph today is it? A female woodland fairy!”
“No! I am a male one; they consort with the trees to make new ones.”
“Yes I’ve seen your ‘consorting’ and it makes me sick!”
“Whatever just eat the gold.”
“No! You freak.”
“Says the Demon stuck in male Nymph’s body”
Derfel grunted and the Demon went away exhausted at his attempts to take total control, he could have just shared the body but always tried to take over and this would exhaust him, letting Derfel have complete control until he tried again.
Derfel grabbed the gold, silver and food that the demon had gathered and started to stuff it in his mouth, for some reason he could never chew and savour the sweet taste of the metals, as when he tried the body tried to spew them up. Probably the demon trying to ruin his fun, so he had to just swallow them as quick as possible. He sat back down and tried to relax, he was full and could absolutely do anything, so he lay back and went to sleep only to be rudely awakened by a travelling knight.
“You there peasant, do you know what happened here?”
“What do you mean?”
The Knight scowled at him and gestured to the dead bodies.
“Holy crap! When did they get there? Did you do that? You must be awfully skilled in killing things!”
“No you fool I did not kill them I want to find out who did and why, then I shall run them through with my sword”
“So that’s all you can do? Stab people, you can’t hack their limbs off? Or impale them on a stake and watch them die slowly over days.”
“I could to kill in other ways, just shut up, I’m leaving!”
The Knight heeled his horse, who promptly unseated him and ran away, the knight glared at him and went to walk after the horse in his heavy Calvary armour.
“Here let me help you.” Offered Derfel, he reached over before the knight could reply and broke his neck.
“There! Now you don’t have to walk for miles to get your horse back.”
Feeling good that he had done so may good deeds, Derfel started to walk down the road, when he suddenly saw the greatest sight in his life. There was a tree so slender and beautiful that it brought tears to his eyes, the branches beckoning in the wind, begging to be with him, the silver bark so comely he started to run to the tree. He stopped short when he realised it was out of reach on a floating island. That’s funny he thought islands aren’t supposed to float, he gasped when he saw a lot more and a lot bigger, he had to tell someone. He ran and ran until he got to a village and started to scream his message.
“There are islands in the sky we must bring them down! They have kidnapped an innocent and beautiful tree, she is in need of help, does any one have a spare catapult?” One youth looked at him, full of pity and helpful advice no doubt.
“Errrh! Are you totally brain dead you piece of beggar trash! Those islands have been there for ever, and you just noticed them, get going before we get a mob and burn ya.”
Derfel reached down to comfort the poor deranged lad, but his mother snatched him away first. Right thought Derfel I must do this myself, it is obvious that the floating islands are putting a magic spell on everyone, he must do it himself. He ran back the way he came, angling towards the smaller island off to the side, to where his beauty was being kept, near some tower, that looked ominous and dangerous. But that could have just been because of the strange lights and sights coming off it, the sickly light making him sick and wanting to turn back. He ignored them and thought that if he went fast enough he should be able to jump the hundreds of feet between him and the love of his life. She was even more beautiful then those twin beeches in the last town, she probably wasn’t as experienced and able to flex like that but he wouldn’t care. He was giving up on ever getting to the tower, when a vat of liquid light fell out of the tower, Derfel wasn’t far behind at this point so he had to leap over it in order to miss it. Just as he leap over it, the vat exploded, the force of the explosion propelling him up and away, he was going to make it! But then he over shot and landed on the island next to it, as he had sailed over his intended island he had noticed a thin shining chain between them. He landed and rolled and rolled until coming to a stop next to a guard, standing over him with an axe.
“Halt intruder!” He boomed
“Actually it’s Derfel, but you can call me Halt Intruder if you wish.”
The guard blinked at him and opened his mouth twice before answering.
“No I mean Stop! Person who isn’t supposed to be here.”
“Why don’t you just say Halt intruder, it’s the stereotypical thing to say, actually can I borrow your axe?”
“What? No!” He swung it out of Derfel’s reach so Derfel playfully pulled the guards own knife and stabbed him in the stomach.
“Pretty please?”
The guard fell over and started to moan and groan, Derfel leaned over and grabbed the axe.
“Many thanks.” And he walked towards the chain to the other island, just out of sight. He came across another guard who was guarding the chain. He looked at Derfel suspiciously as he walked up, the axe very obviously hidden behind his back.
“Halt Intruder!” He bellowed
“Really is there actually someone called that because that’s the second time I’ve been mistaken for him, arrragh!”
“Excuse me?”
“See what I meant to say was, are you really that attached to your head?” Said Sicques
The guard moved his hand off his weapon towards his head and Sicques lopped his head off watching as it spun off and dropped to the ground, the body fell backwards on to the chain and stayed there.
“Curious, thought the Nymph Derfel, his body didn’t slide off onto the ground.”
“Shut up, you can not just say stuff like ‘I thought this’ or ‘he was suspicious’, it is weird and creepy, you are definitely not my voice over guy.”
“Of course not, I am my own voice over guy said Derfel forcefully.”
“Arrgh!”
Sicques went away again and Derfel took control and started to walk across the chain, a layer of air or something around it made it the same as walking on a invisible path. He kicked the body off and started to walk before turning back and grabbing the severed still dripping head of the former guard.
“Derfel grabbed the head, as you never showed up empty handed to another persons place, its just rude, he thought.”
He continued along the chain and stepped onto the towers land, there was only a small space to stand as the rest had been walled off. He knocked on the door and waited for it to be answered. No one came, so he decided to allow his own entry
“Who is it?” He thundered
“It is I, the noble Derfel a simple yet handsome Nymph, I’ve come for the princess trees hand in marriage.”
The voice on the other side of the door laughed and mocked him.
“To get her hand you must complete the terrible tasks, most of them involve breaking in and hiding from everyone and stealing the tree, but it’s alright as long as you don’t get caught, ok” He bellowed at himself from the other side of the door. Hang on he thought if I am guarding the door on the other side that means I’m already in.
He laughed this is so easy, he climbed the 20 ft wall that was riddled with glass and small biting creatures until he was on top of the wall. It was built like a normal wall with walls on top to stop little people from falling off. He was laughing at this until horde of tiny people complete with weapons and bad attitudes, started to attack him.
“Hang on my brethren! I am a wood Nymph, I am one of the little people just like you.”
The leader, a small man sitting on an equally small horse looked at him funny.
“But you be so big how could you be a little person like us, and by the way the politically correct term is vertically, horizontally and weight challenged.”
“Many pardons I am from the country you see and I am here on a errand of the heart.”
“Oh?”
“Yes that beautiful tree behind the tower is being held captive by the tower, I must rescue her even if it means fighting the tower man to masonry.”
“It is a man in the tower with his strange inventions that holds that tree hostage, if you can free her we will be in your debt. You may go and good luck with your quest.”
Derfel left the little men and fell off the wall, landing in a graceful lump at the bottom, making sure he still had his severed head present he went to the tower, opened the door and walked in. He nearly bumped in to a tall man, who started at his presence.
“After you.” He bowed and stepped back, the other man nodded and went past. Derfel stepped in and started to walk through the tower, until the man shouted and came after him.
“Hey you what do you think you are doing?” He thundered
“Me? Oh I am just passing through and may I say what a wonderful evil, mad scientist laboratory you have, is it up for sale?”
As the man stood there gaping at him he took in the labs interior. Tasteful throw rugs of flayed victim scattered over the floor, with tortured remains on the walls to showcase the owners skill in the art. There were large glass and twisted steel machines that looked be able to rip anything apart and turn it into the madman’s will. Many machines and items stood around looking menacing and with unknown agendas until they were manipulated by the scientist’s will. The lighting looked like it was made of metal that just wanted to snap and fall on a victim to burn and crush.
“I must say the atmosphere of murder and malice is just a major drawcard, if you are selling, there will be stiff competition to get this place, I especially like the hollowed out human chest cavities for storage, the way the ribs swing shut is really just marvellous.”
The man finally caught his tongue back from the cat and reattached it so he could speak again though he didn’t actually have to do that as it was just an expression.
“Do you know who I am?”
“No but are you Halt Intruder? I’ve gotten mistaken as him twice today!”
“What? No I am Virage, the most feared man in this miserable stinking chain of islands.”
“Sorry I’m not from around here and don’t know who you are, I’m just here to free the tree from the mighty and oppressing tower, why don’t you join me? We could take him easily together.”
“What? No! I will pull apart with exquisite pain and for a very long time, you shall die in screams of agony!”
“Can I watch?”
“Eh! Oh yes of course just stand under this dangerous, er I mean undangerous machine and stand still for a moment.”
“Ok”
Derfel stood under the machine and waited for the man to come back so they could watch the torture together, maybe he was hurting the tower! He threw back his head and laughed and laughed. Virage coming back studied him with cold eyes and began his pre soul stealing check list.
“Now of you of sound mind?” He asked
“Derfel nodded and waited for the fun to begin, he was hoping the tower would scream.” Said Derfel
“Right. That’s a no. Are you willing to sign over your soul to me? This is just for insurance purposes.”
Derfel nodded and signed his soul to Virage.
“Good, ok then we’ll get started. You may feel your soul being sucked out of your body, buts that’s just normal.”
Derfel watched as Virage started up the machine, it didn’t take long for it to start whining and complaining. Virage appeared quite mad as he was talking to the machine, Derfel pretended to look somewhere else and tried to ignore the argument.
“Hurry up and suck his soul out, I don’t care if it is hard just do it.”
“What! You can’t do it, that’s it.”
Virage turned and grabbed a large hammer and was about to smash the machine when he paused and turned to Derfel.
“You wouldn’t happen to have any gold or silver on you by chance.”
“No.”
Virage grunted and hurled the hammer head at the machine.
“Although I did eat a large meal of gold, silver and some bronze coins.”
Virage tried to miss the machine but it was too late the hammer jumped forward with an exhaust of fire and smashed into the machine and it exploded in a whirl of smoke and gears.
“You eat metal coins?”
“Yes, its what male Nymphs need to maintain their strength and stamina, a must for the tree, believe you me.”
Virage stared at him, shook his head and lead him over to a new machine, this one smug and self assured, Derfel stood inside it and waited again as Virage started it up.
“What! You too! Whats the problem?”
Virage turned to Derfel.
“Now this may sound mad, but do you have another soul inside you?” Virage questioned
“Another soul, man you are really off the hoop!”
Virage nodded and turned to the machine.
“You hear that, you better work or you get the same as the other.”
The machine whirred and strained, not so smug now that it was straining to complete it’s one and only task.
“That’s it your gone too!”
Virage grabbed his hammer and swung it up to his shoulder and looked at Derfel, who just looked back. He swung his hammer it burst forward riding on flame and smashed the machine to bits, the machine fell apart not believing it had failed.
“Actually.” Derfel added once the machine was well dead and quiet. “Do you count an invading demon spirits as a soul?”
Virage stared at him and gave a strangled yell
“Do mean to say that you do actually have another soul in you and you eat metal!”
“Yes.”
Virage yelled and threw the hammer at a maid, Derfel hadn’t even noticed before, she grabbed the whirling hammer in the air and placed it against the wall.
“Damn it! Come here!”
Both Derfel and the maid came to him.
“No not you!” He yelled and they both walked away.
“No! You the freak go away, maid come here!”
Derfel shrugged and walked away to look at some interesting, delicate and probably valuable things.
“ARGRrgfgH!!” Sicques surfaced again and looked around, right he thought time to leave this place, but first some pay back, the attempted soul stealing hadn’t affected Derfel but it had hurt him. He grabbed the hammer that the spaz had thrown and went to town, smashing the things around him; first he swung the hammer into a tall spindly series of poles and wires interspaced with glass. Some how the hammer was lighter then it should have been and had a magical booster in it. The force propelling the shafts of metal into other machines and making them squeal and scream in protest, some just giving up and releasing great gouts of black and white smoke.
“What are you doing! Why are you wreaking my place!” Virage’s screaming reminded Sicques he wasn’t alone.
“Oh this I’m just redecorating.” Said Derfel
“Shut up you freak, he was talking to me” Growled Sicques
“I think he was talking to me after all you are the one wreaking his lab.”
“Shut up! Just shut up!” Screamed Virage. “Just shut up”
The mad scientist took a couple of deep breathes as Sicques kept on smashing the lab, suddenly he stopped, dropped the hammer and looked at Virage.
“All right you are the Nymph now?” He asked
Derfel nodded and started to walk around with his hands behind his back to study the half wrecked lab.
“Now will you come over here to stand under this incredibly menacing pain wrenching soul sucking machine?”
Derfel nodded and stood under the machine.
“Now you say you eat metal and have another soul in you. Do you have anymore strange things about you?”
Derfel shook his head and started to whistle a merry tune. Virage stared at him and began the soul sucking anew with the third machine. The machine’s whirling and swirling started off quite normal but then started to screech and groan in agony.
“What now!”
“I didn’t want to interrupt before, but there is a shaft of metal sticking into the side of the”[/SPOILER]
Pff this took me a while
I didn't make a compilation on the people on the red list
I simply didn't have enough to work with...
