Realistic or Modern The Broken Crusade

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Hi! This is the CS for the Crusades RP I'm doing! Remember that this is set in 1192, so no huge historical inaccuracies. And remember that most knights were not the heroes in white shining armor stories cut them out to be. They were men in silver killing and slaughtering of kin, country, and God. Not all of them were bad, but many suffered from PTSD and killed themselves. So, anyway, here it is!

Name:

Title: (Any titles they might have, as in nobility)

Age: (must be at least 16, as that was when boys would normally start fighting, though some places started them at 14 or 15)

Appearance: (Hair and eye color, height, etc.)

Marital Status: (Most likely married, since people usually married at 16 in England)

Sexuality: (No judging here. But this can effect them. Many lords and knights were secretly gay, and we're known for sleeping with stable boys and the like.)

Religion: (Basically if they believe in God or not.)

Personality: (Not required)

Background: (Not required)
Waverly
Winter_Wolf
adrian_

 

[MasterRed]

Please point out any inaccuracies with my character, I'm a history buff but not for any specific time period so I'll probably get something wrong. I also haven't roleplayed since I was a child so there might be some things making this character not good, again please tell me if that's the case.

Name: Bertram Beauford
Title: Bertram himself does not have any titles, despite being the son of a (very minor) noble, because he is the youngest son of many.
Age: Bertram is sixteen
Appearance: Bertram is tall for his age and decently fit. He has messily-cut reddish brown hair. He has tanned skin and is covered in freckles, and has a very visible scar on his cheek. He has hazel eyes and a nose that looks as if it had been broken several times.
Marital Status: Bertram is betrothed to a noble girl of 14, who is of slightly higher status of him. Because Bertram was training to be a knight, they have never met yet.
Sexuality: Bertram is uninterested in sex or romantic relationships, through modern lenses he would likely be seen as asexual.
Religion: Bertram was a very devout child, and would have gone to Church every day if he could. After his experiences, while he still believes in God, he privately doubts His benevolence but he would never tell anyone even if he had knowledge they would never tell anyone else.
Personality: Bertram, to an outsider, would probably appear cheerful for his circumstances, and occasionally even optimistic. This is not true. Bertram has difficulty with the contrast of how he believed war would go and the realities. Most of the time, he feels numb and empty. He seeks other peoples approval, and will often go with what other people want to do. Even now, his greatest dream is to become a hero, if only because he wants people to finally notice him and not be the forgotten seventh son of a forgotten noble.
Background: One of the many children of a minor noble, Bertram, as the seventh and youngest son of the duke, was often ignored. Pretty much everything inheritable was left to his older brothers, and he was seen as unimportant. The only person in his family he really bonded with was one of his sisters, Rhyannon, who was married off to someone and left the house when Bertram was six. He was happy training become a knight, because at least then he would be noticed. He was almost excited to head off to war, seeing it as a way to gain fame and finally not be forgotten, but he is severely struggling with the harsh realities of war.

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Please point out any inaccuracies with my character, I'm a history buff but not for any specific time period so I'll probably get something wrong. I also haven't roleplayed since I was a child so there might be some things making this character not good, again please tell me if that's the case.

Name: Bertram Beauford
Title: Bertram himself does not have any titles, despite being the son of a (very minor) noble, because he is the youngest son of many.
Age: Bertram is sixteen
Appearance: Bertram is tall for his age and decently fit. He has messily-cut reddish brown hair. He has tanned skin and is covered in freckles, and has a very visible scar on his cheek. He has hazel eyes and a nose that looks as if it had been broken several times.
Marital Status: Bertram is betrothed to a noble girl of 14, who is of slightly higher status of him. Because Bertram was training to be a knight, they have never met yet.
Sexuality: Bertram is uninterested in sex or romantic relationships, through modern lenses he would likely be seen as asexual.
Religion: Bertram was a very devout child, and would have gone to Church every day if he could. After his experiences, while he still believes in God, he privately doubts His benevolence but he would never tell anyone even if he had knowledge they would never tell anyone else.
Personality: Bertram, to an outsider, would probably appear cheerful for his circumstances, and occasionally even optimistic. This is not true. Bertram has difficulty with the contrast of how he believed war would go and the realities. Most of the time, he feels numb and empty. He seeks other peoples approval, and will often go with what other people want to do. Even now, his greatest dream is to become a hero, if only because he wants people to finally notice him and not be the forgotten seventh son of a forgotten noble.
Background: One of the many children of a minor noble, Bertram, as the seventh and youngest son of the duke, was often ignored. Pretty much everything inheritable was left to his older brothers, and he was seen as unimportant. The only person in his family he really bonded with was one of his sisters, Rhyannon, who was married off to someone and left the house when Bertram was six. He was happy training become a knight, because at least then he would be noticed. He was almost excited to head off to war, seeing it as a way to gain fame and finally not be forgotten, but he is severely struggling with the harsh realities of war.

Accepted! I like how accurate he is! Although, most girls married when they were sixteen in England. But you can keep it. It was just a tendency, and I'm sure people married at fourteen a few times back then.

 

[MasterRed]

Accepted! I like how accurate he is! Although, most girls married when they were sixteen in England. But you can keep it. It was just a tendency, and I'm sure people married at fourteen a few times back then.

It was intended to be a political marriage, so that's why she is very young. I know for noble families, that wasn't uncommon with arranged marriages, though I'm not sure if it's entirely accurate for the time period.

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

It's totally fine. I like how he's asexual as well. A few nobles were asexual and only married for power or out of obligation.

 

[KingofAesir]

Name: River Carnet

Title: N/A

Age: 21

Appearance: River has medium length, curly black hair and blue eyes. His skin is a darker color, almost brown looking. River's facial features are sharp and pronounced.

Marital Status: Married; Cade Bolbec was the daughter of one of his father's workers, River met her when he was 15 and they were engaged to be married not long after. Cade is 17 currently. (He actually really likes her, shhh)

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Religion: River was raised under the stern hand of his religious mother. He believes. He's always believed and has only once questioned the assistance if God when his baby brother was taken from them at a very young age due to fever.

Personality: River is a naturally charming and good natured man. He enjoys being kind and helping wherever he can, though he has a tendency to be a bit quick to anger. A bit cocky, River has had his fair share of instances where he felt himself the king of the hill. But, ultimately, River had a large heart and a want to fill it.

Background: WIP

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Name: River Carnet

Title: N/A

Age: 21

Appearance: River has medium length, curly black hair and blue eyes. His skin is a darker color, almost brown looking. River's facial features are sharp and pronounced.

Marital Status: Married; Cade Bolbec was the daughter of one of his father's workers, River met her when he was 15 and they were engaged to be married not long after. Cade is 17 currently. (He actually really likes her, shhh)

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Religion: River was raised under the stern hand of his religious mother. He believes. He's always believed and has only once questioned the assistance if God when his baby brother was taken from them at a very young age due to fever.

Personality: River is a naturally charming and good natured man. He enjoys being kind and helping wherever he can, though he has a tendency to be a bit quick to anger. A bit cocky, River has had his fair share of instances where he felt himself the king of the hill. But, ultimately, River had a large heart and a want to fill it.

Background: WIP

Accepted!

 

[darth]

Name: Willem von Krueger

Title: Baron

Age: 27

Appearance:
Willem stands at roughly 5'10"(1.7 m) and weighs around 196 lbs(88 kg). His skin is a medium tone and slightly sun-kissed from the long years in the desert. Willem is stocky and lean, with broad shoulders, though he does not have an extreme amount of muscle mass. Willem's hair is reddish-blonde with hazel tinted eyes. Willem's short, unkempt hair is accompanied by a scruffy beard. Willem also bears some light scarring, freshly acquired from the campaign. He has a deep gash across his left cheek from an arrow that missed its mark.

Marital Status: Married(Willem married the daughter of an English Viscount; Willem's reason for serving under Richard I, and not with his fellow countrymen)

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Religion: Devout Catholic

Personality:
Willem has always been stoic. In fact, it was his defining quality. William was known by many of his close family members as a man who never really smiled. Apart from that, Willem has also been known to be occasionally stubborn. Especially when confronted with issues that tested his resolve. However his somewhat negative traits, Willem is also known to be very loyal to his family and close friends. He enjoys the comfort of surrounding himself with those he trusts.

Background:
Willem was born within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire and was raised in German noble courts. Willem's father was a minor noble in Bavaria. His family owned a small estate in the eastern area the region. When Willem came of age, his father had a marriage arranged with the daughter of an English Viscount: Lord Rowdon. The young lady's name was Marion Rowdon. They married young, at 16. Willem lived on their lands once he was married, and learned his place among the English gentry. Once Willem became an adult he became enfeoffed to the Kingdom of England. Soon, Willem found himself en route to distant shores to wage righteous wars in the name of god.

(Please let me know of any discrepancies in terms of history or the RP)

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Name: Willem von Krueger

Title: Baron

Age: 27

Appearance: Willem stands at roughly 1.7 meters(5'10") and weighs around 196 lbs. His skin is a medium tone and slightly sun-kissed from the long years in the desert. Willem is stocky and lean, though he does not have an extreme amount of muscle mass. Willem's hair is reddish-blonde with hazel tinted eyes. Willem's short, unkempt hair is accompanied by a scruffy beard. William also bears some light scarring, freshly aqquired from the campaign. He has a deep gash across his left cheek from an arrow that missed it's mark.

Marital Status: Married( Willem married the daughter of an English Viscount. Willem's reason for serving under Richard I, and not with his fellow countrymen)

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Religion: Devout Catholic

Personality:
Willem has always been stoic. In fact, it was his defining quality. William was known by many of his close family members as a man who never really smiled. Apart from that, Willem has also been known to be occasionally stubborn. Especially when confronted with issues that tested his resolve.

Background:
William was born within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire, and was raised in the German noble courts. Willem's father was a minor noble, and when Willem came of age, he had a marriage arranged with the daughter of an English Viscount. The young lady's name was Alice. They married young, at 16. Once Willem became an adult he became enfeofed to Kingdom. Soon, Willem found himself en route to distant shores to wage righteous wars in the name of god.

(Please let me know of any discrepancies in terms of history or the RP)

He's great! I like him!

 

[Shadow]

Name: Eamon Wynchell

Title: Earl, his father is already dead so he has the title of the Earl of Wynchell.

Age: Eamon is twenty-six and considered well-seasoned in combat as he became a soldier when he was fifteen

Appearance: Eamon is tall and broad-shouldered, with perfect posture and a long stride. He has well-defined cheek and jaw-bones, and a smooth complexion. Thick lashes frame his grey eyes, curtained by wavy brown hair. His eyes smile more than his mouth does, but his face is most often impassive. Several scars litter his body from combat, but they are all easily concealed.

Marital Status: Eamon is just recently engaged in a betrothal that was arranged by the girl’s parents. He has strictly avoided marriage so far and he hopes to dodge this as well.

Sexuality: Eamon considers himself heterosexual, but he has secretly desired other men

Religion: Eamon is no saint. However, he believes there is a single God, although he doesn’t worry too much if he misses a prayer or two. God knows he is busy.

Personality: Eamon is a soft-spoken man of few words. He won’t speak when a pointed look will do, so when he does speak it is with a tone that commands attention. He leads his men fairly and almost never lashes out in anger. He is not entirely emotionless, but his smiles are rarely given. When he drinks is when he is most vulnerable, laughing and joking around a bonfire. He still keeps most of his thoughts to himself, even when drunk, but he is far more likely to show enjoyment if he has been drinking. However, it is a habit he saves strictly for when a victory has been won.

Background: Eamon was the first-born son of the Earl of Wynchell. Being the heir, he was educated and trained to some day be master of the house. He wasn’t particularly rebellious, but he preferred combative training to reading and writing. At fifteen, a girl was promised to him, but luckily he was called to become a soldier, so she was then betrothed to his younger brother. Eamon was more than happy to get away from his home to fight and he took to it naturally. It wasn’t the killing or dying screams that he enjoyed; quite the opposite, in fact. He hated it. But he was born with a free-spirit and he preferred camping in the wilderness with bonfires and tents over sleeping in a cushioned bed catered to by servants. The only time he went back home was when he got news that his father was ill. By the time he got there, it was too late. He only stayed long enough for the title to be officially passed on to him before he returned to his company of soldiers.

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Name: Eamon Wynchell

Title: Earl, his father is already dead so he has the title of the Earl of Wynchell.

Age: Eamon is twenty-six and considered well-seasoned in combat as he became a soldier when he was fifteen

Appearance: Eamon is tall and broad-shouldered, with perfect posture and a long stride. He has well-defined cheek and jaw-bones, and a smooth complexion. Thick lashes frame his grey eyes, curtained by wavy brown hair. His eyes smile more than his mouth does, but his face is most often impassive. Several scars litter his body from combat, but they are all easily concealed.

Marital Status: Eamon is just recently engaged in a betrothal that was arranged by the girl’s parents. He has strictly avoided marriage so far and he hopes to dodge this as well.

Sexuality: Eamon considers himself heterosexual, but he has secretly desired other men

Religion: Eamon is no saint. However, he believes there is a single God, although he doesn’t worry too much if he misses a prayer or two. God knows he is busy.

Personality: Eamon is a soft-spoken man of few words. He won’t speak when a pointed look will do, so when he does speak it is with a tone that commands attention. He leads his men fairly and almost never lashes out in anger. He is not entirely emotionless, but his smiles are rarely given. When he drinks is when he is most vulnerable, laughing and joking around a bonfire. He still keeps most of his thoughts to himself, even when drunk, but he is far more likely to show enjoyment if he has been drinking. However, it is a habit he saves strictly for when a victory has been won.

Background: Eamon was the first-born son of the Earl of Wynchell. Being the heir, he was educated and trained to some day be master of the house. He wasn’t particularly rebellious, but he preferred combative training to reading and writing. At fifteen, a girl was promised to him, but luckily he was called to become a soldier, so she was then betrothed to his younger brother. Eamon was more than happy to get away from his home to fight and he took to it naturally. It wasn’t the killing or dying screams that he enjoyed; quite the opposite, in fact. He hated it. But he was born with a free-spirit and he preferred camping in the wilderness with bonfires and tents over sleeping in a cushioned bed catered to by servants. The only time he went back home was when he got news that his father was ill. By the time he got there, it was too late. He only stayed long enough for the title to be officially passed on to him before he returned to his company of soldiers.

Accepted!

 

[Neon Valkyrie]

Name: Cairstine MacKenzie

Title: Mormaer/Countess of Ross

Age: 16

Appearance: A betting man could make some money wagering on Cairstine's lineage on sight alone. Fiery red curls, now cut close to her head, used to tumble down to her waist in a thick cascade. Lean, athletic, relatively tall albeit generally pear-shaped, her feminine attributes are lacking, but her lithe form hides muscles earned over a decade of chores. Her ghostly pale skin is riddled with freckles, all the more-so since she arrived in the east, which stretch across her nose and cheeks, her arms and legs, and presumably everywhere else. Long, thick plumes of lashed hide the vivid, pastoral green of her large eyes, often overcast by her heavy, fiery red brow. Her nose is relatively flat, and wide set, like her jaw, while her lips are large and plump, though flaked from the harsh air.

Marital Status: Unmarried/Unpromised

Sexuality: Undiscovered

Religion: Roman Catholic

Background: Cairstine was born in the fall of 1176 in Avoch, Scotland. Her father was the Thegn of Avoch, an old, hereditary title that meant next to nothing after the political revolution of King David. Her mother was the daughter of the chieftain of a neighbouring clan, and though their marriage was one of politics, their love was real. Her older brother, Craig, was 4 when she came into this world, and she in turn was one when her younger brother Dougal was born, though a fever took him before that year was out. They lived a quiet life, in a small stone-and-grass home with dirt floors and box-beds. People came to her father when they needed civic matters settled, disputes resolved, things like that.

The family had been staunch supporters of the disgraced King Williams since the uprising of the last king of Moray, despite the grim outcome of the actual battle. It wasn't until 1179 that their loyalty bore fruit. William, wanting to keep the Norsemen of Caithness at bay, built Edirdovar on the Black Isle and gave it and its lands to the MacKenzies. Her father also earned a new title, Earl of Ross. The nearby parish provided supplies, while the nearby hospital of St. Germains, and the local Templars provided able bodies. Cairstine grew up hearing the clashing of Norse and Scottish swords, the cries of battle, though she was always kept safely behind the walls, knitting and cleaning and cooking.

It wasn't until her mother passed of pneumonia in late 1185 that her father brought in workers to help around the castle, take over the house duties. She was now technically a noble lady, but her father had lived too long as a peasant to care about court. He would be happy if she found a husband from the community, stayed out of trouble, had a strong son. Everyone heard about the siege, the fall of Jerusalem, the death of Urban II from the shock ... everyone heard the call to arms. The rally from among the Scots wasn't very large, but as her father described it, "Those who count themselves as Catholics first came ..." But in honesty, those who didn't had families, had lands that the Normans would surely seize in their absence. And so a small, strong few made preparations, and sailed with King Richard to France in 1190. Fearing what the french might do to her if she were left as steward of Edirdovar, Cairstine's father brought her alone as washerwoman to he and her brother.

The journey itself took over a year, with a long stop-over in Sicily, where the king revelled the winter away. Eventually they reached Acre to find both camps ravaged by disease, and a double-siege of the city, and the christian camp outside its walls. The fever and disease plaguing the christian camp spread quickly to the arriving troups, and eventually the leadership. Cairstine's father died of fever during the brief cease-fire. Cairstine and Craig, while ill, survived to see the fighting begin anew. The fighting went back and forth for a month, a blur of bloodshed ... Craig was killed on July 3rd, when a large section of the city wall came down, spilling Saladin's men out into the christian camp. Cairstine was devastated, but his was only one in a mound of bodies, and there was still a war going on around her. Perhaps out of fear, or anger, or stupidity, she stole her brother's armour and cut her hair. She heard what happened to women taken by the Saracens, and would sooner die. She didn't get her wish, not even after being dragged into the final battle on July 11th.

Acre gave terms. The battle was over. The Scottish Templars were ordered to stay and keep watch over the city with a portion of Richard's army while the rest went on to Arsuf. Thankfully Saladin's armies were too involved in the defence of Jaffa to worry about recapturing Acre, and it was only months later that a treaty was signed.

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Name: Cairstine MacKenzie

Title: Mormaer/Countess of Ross

Age: 16

Appearance: A betting man could make some money wagering on Cairstine's lineage on sight alone. Fiery red curls, now cut close to her head, used to tumble down to her waist in a thick cascade. Lean, athletic, relatively tall albeit generally pear-shaped, her feminine attributes are lacking, but her lithe form hides muscles earned over a decade of chores. Her ghostly pale skin is riddled with freckles, all the more-so since she arrived in the east, which stretch across her nose and cheeks, her arms and legs, and presumably everywhere else. Long, thick plumes of lashed hide the vivid, pastoral green of her large eyes, often overcast by her heavy, fiery red brow. Her nose is relatively flat, and wide set, like her jaw, while her lips are large and plump, though flaked from the harsh air.

Marital Status: Unmarried/Unpromised

Sexuality: Undiscovered

Religion: Roman Catholic

Background: Cairstine was born in the fall of 1176 in Avoch, Scotland. Her father was the Thegn of Avoch, an old, hereditary title that meant next to nothing after the political revolution of King David. Her mother was the daughter of the chieftain of a neighbouring clan, and though their marriage was one of politics, their love was real. Her older brother, Craig, was 4 when she came into this world, and she in turn was one when her younger brother Dougal was born, though a fever took him before that year was out. They lived a quiet life, in a small stone-and-grass home with dirt floors and box-beds. People came to her father when they needed civic matters settled, disputes resolved, things like that.

The family had been staunch supporters of the disgraced King Williams since the uprising of the last king of Moray, despite the grim outcome of the actual battle. It wasn't until 1179 that their loyalty bore fruit. William, wanting to keep the Norsemen of Caithness at bay, built Edirdovar on the Black Isle and gave it and its lands to the MacKenzies. Her father also earned a new title, Earl of Ross. The nearby parish provided supplies, while the nearby hospital of St. Germains, and the local Templars provided able bodies. Cairstine grew up hearing the clashing of Norse and Scottish swords, the cries of battle, though she was always kept safely behind the walls, knitting and cleaning and cooking.

It wasn't until her mother passed of pneumonia in late 1185 that her father brought in workers to help around the castle, take over the house duties. She was now technically a noble lady, but her father had lived too long as a peasant to care about court. He would be happy if she found a husband from the community, stayed out of trouble, had a strong son. Everyone heard about the siege, the fall of Jerusalem, the death of Urban II from the shock ... everyone heard the call to arms. The rally from among the Scots wasn't very large, but as her father described it, "Those who count themselves as Catholics first came ..." But in honesty, those who didn't had families, had lands that the Normans would surely seize in their absence. And so a small, strong few made preparations, and sailed with King Richard to France in 1190. Fearing what the french might do to her if she were left as steward of Edirdovar, Cairstine's father brought her alone as washerwoman to he and her brother.

The journey itself took over a year, with a long stop-over in Sicily, where the king revelled the winter away. Eventually they reached Acre to find both camps ravaged by disease, and a double-siege of the city, and the christian camp outside its walls. The fever and disease plaguing the christian camp spread quickly to the arriving troups, and eventually the leadership. Cairstine's father died of fever during the brief cease-fire. Cairstine and Craig, while ill, survived to see the fighting begin anew. The fighting went back and forth for a month, a blur of bloodshed ... Craig was killed on July 3rd, when a large section of the city wall came down, spilling Saladin's men out into the christian camp. Cairstine was devastated, but his was only one in a mound of bodies, and there was still a war going on around her. Perhaps out of fear, or anger, or stupidity, she stole her brother's armour and cut her hair. She heard what happened to women taken by the Saracens, and would sooner die. She didn't get her wish, not even after being dragged into the final battle on July 11th.

Acre gave terms. The battle was over. The Scottish Templars were ordered to stay and keep watch over the city with a portion of Richard's army while the rest went on to Arsuf. Thankfully Saladin's armies were too involved in the defence of Jaffa to worry about recapturing Acre, and it was only months later that a treaty was signed.

Accepted! The IC will be up soon!

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Name: Bryce Lewis

Title: Lord of the fief of Longshire

Age: 25

Appearance:

He is a very tall man, standing at 6'3, which was absolutely massive for the time period. He is well built, as he is a knight, and he had a thick beard and his hair is tied back most of the time.

Marital Status: Married with a child

Sexuality: Demisexual, as he has never felt any sexual or emotional attraction to anyone but his wife.

Religion: Roman Catholic

Personality: (Not required)
Bryce is a decent man trying to do his best. He isn't perfect, he makes mistakes, is misguided, and has committed horrible atrocities, but he still wants to do what he sees as right. He misses his wife, and longs to see her and their child for the first time. He always berates others for their horrible deeds, despite doing those same deeds himself in the past, as if making others pay for it will have his sins be forgiven.

Background: (Not required)
Bryce was born to a lesser noble family just east of Ireland on April 15, 1167. Bryce was raised to be a warrior from the day he could walk and his father was always... aggressive. This would eventually cost the man. His father hated the Irish, as he himself was a proud Anglo-Saxon. But Bryce was eventually married to Claire McDermit, the daughter of an Irish noble when he was twenty two. Their marriage ensured the Lewis' past aggressions stayed in the past, and that there would be peace. Well, until Bryce's father threatened to cut the couple's child out of Claire's stomach a few months afterwards. The man was exiled, leaving Bryce the Lord of Longshire. Then, in 1189, the Third Crusade was launched, and Bryce had no choice but to leave his pregnant wife to go participate in the holy war.

When he got there, he was told that they were all heathens, and he listened. He killed dozens of men with no guilt whatsoever, feeling like he was a holy warrior of God. But then the Siege of Acre happened, and his whole viewpoint. He saw the senseless slaughter and it destroyed his will to fight. He was found on his knees with his longsword beside him, praying to God fervently. He was soon put into a battalion of other English knights that were to go home, the man spending his last night in Rome praying in the cathedral that he would be forgiven for his sins.

 

[Neon Valkyrie]

Any progress?

 

[Rusty of Shackleford]

Any progress?

Hey! Sorry! Just been busy! Might be a while!