sSilvana
“In your sword still beats a heart.”
The Takala live on the soil of a very precious commodity: a hunting ground rich in life. Their hunters have never known hunger, their priestesses haven’t needed to treat wounds without their herbal remedies. And the Vahlos, a kingdom that has lived to the mountains north of them in peace for centuries, are now a looming threat, their bellies empty due to their queen’s persistence on overhunting, and her own mind wrought with a secret grudge. Circe and her troops have been responsible for many deaths of the Takala, including the recent assassination of their leader, Zaros, who had never sired an heir.
With the Takala vulnerable and without leadership, an emperor by the name of Lazarus Rokan heard of this news from a fleeing Takala hunter while leading the survivors of his clan, the Nashoba, across the wilds of Endala to find themselves a new territory. They had been driven out of theirs mere weeks ago by a devastating forest fire that claimed the lives of many of their troops.
But this Lazarus is no savior of the Takala. Him and his soldiers assumed dominance over them, assimilating them with the Nashoba and staking their territory as their own. This emperor is on a brutal conquest, a mission to slowly spread his grasp over each and every clan that makes its home in the wilds. And before the fire, he was successful; The Nashoba are known for their greed and their viscous fury on the battlefield. And Lazarus is known as the monster who killed his father in cold blood for the throne.
Now, the Takala are faced with a fatal decision: where must their loyalties lie to survive? Lazarus may be a tyrant, a monster, but the Nashoba may be their only hope in defense against the malicious queen Circe and the Vahlos, who have only temporarily eased their pressure due to the Takala’s change in leadership. Will they stand beside an evil emperor to fight for their land, or try to beg for a wicked queen’s mercy? Or will they run, and leave their heritage and legacy behind?
(IC = in character, OOC = out of character)
OOC chatter goes in this topic, and when the RP starts I will make an IC topic for the RP itself. The IC topic will also include dynamic information such as season (currently late summer), time, and any recent or upcoming events.
We’re a lot more active now on Discord, so if you’d like to join our server, the invite link is here:
Thrones of Darkness Discord
Above, you will see four tabs for your ease of navigation. Below, I will give a brief summary of what you will find in each one.
Intro/Rules
You are currently reading this tab!
Characters
This will provide rank descriptions, openings, and links to the page of a character's signup for easier navigation. Past the rankings of the packs, it also includes Adoptions for high ranks that need to be auditioned for or family members of existing characters.
Knowledge
This includes the territory descriptions of the packs, their lore, religion, and customs, and the former ranks of the Takala. I would highly suggest reading through it all, even though it's a lot, since it will give you insight as to how these groups operate and how to better shape your characters.
Signups
When you're ready to create your character, this is the form you will need. Post character signups in this thread, but send any auditions for important roles to my PMs.
I. Be courteous to everyone. Drama must be kept in character.
II. No power-play or god-modding. This includes (but is not limited to) controlling others’ characters, giving your character OOC knowledge they wouldn't otherwise possess, or the maiming/killing of other characters without their writer's permission.
III. Please provide at least one decently-sized (5+ sentences) paragraph per post.
IV. If you want to begin a plot/implement a character or character change that greatly affects the plot or lore of the story, please post it in plot approval and wait for a response.
V. Regarding explicit content, follow RP Nation’s site guidelines. Any descriptions of violence and gore must be contained within spoilers. Explicit sexual content is NOT allowed, and to be safe, it is paramount to add a spoiler with a warning to any posts that contain suggestive or offensive language/cursing as well. Silvana may reach out to a moderator and ask for some further clarification on what we can and can't get away with.
(Adult 2-7 yrs, Elder 8-12 yrs. Characters younger than 2 yrs are currently forbidden until we fill ranks.)
[ANNOUNCEMENT NOTE] We currently are in need of more characters to fill out the ranks for Paladins & Hunters/Huntresses in Vahlos as well as Knights/Dames in Nashoba.
[ANNOUNCEMENT NOTE] We currently are in need of more characters to fill out the ranks for Knights/Dames.
[Pack Census] 9 Members
(CLOSED)
- Lazarus Rokan of Nashoba (Written by Silvana)
(CLOSED)
Unavailable; Lazarus currently has no children or siblings.
- Calef Nida of Nashoba (Written by Comet)
(2 OPEN)
(CLOSED)
- Vestigo Mori of Nashoba (Written by Alfred.)
- Imani Abadi of Takala (Written by CallMeLoki)
(OPEN) (Unlimited, from Nashoba or Takala)
- Sinari Omaru of Takala (Written by TwistedMisfit)
(Unlimited from Takala) (OPEN) (2 to start from Nashoba) (CLOSED)
- Kaya Ramira of Nashoba (Written by Takka)
- Virmia Delnari of Nashoba (Written by Fayolah)
- Meridia Rokan of Nashoba (Written by Alfred.)
- Jax of Takala (Written by Impius)
[ANNOUNCEMENT NOTE] We currently are in need of more characters to fill out the ranks for Paladins and Hunters/Huntresses.
[Pack Census] 7 Members
(CLOSED)
- Circe Dreios (Written by CallMeLoki)
(CLOSED)
Unavailable, unless you contact CallMeLoki about an idea for an heir.
(CLOSED)
- Salem De’raq (Written by Impius)
(1 OPEN)
- 1 reserved for Silvana
- Tanelia (Written by Talathel)
(OPEN, Unlimited)
- Pythus Arezio (Written by Silvana)
(OPEN, Unlimited)
- Akela Suake (Written by Comet)
- Nova Ramun (Written by Rabid Gravity)
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Circe [Sur-see] Dreios [Dray-ose], Queen of the Vahlos
Please PM me your signup to audition.Played by CallMeLoki
Circe is a vital character in the RP. You must be active, give her a detailed history (doesn't have to be crazy long; just make sure you accurately depict her life), and have a good sense of making a realistic "villain". Circe has more depth than just wanting bloodshed, and I want you to portray her as such.
Her appearance, personality, family, and much of her history is entirely up to you! However, there are a few important events you will need to include:
- Circe was born into a nomadic rogue group who knew extreme hunger, and although she is now well-fed in the Vahlos, this is the main reason she chooses to over-hunt.
- At some point in her life, she fell in love with the former Chieftain of the Takala, Zaros, when he was an heir to his father's throne. They agreed to elope together, but before they could execute their plan, his father passed on, and Zaros chose power over love. This heartbreak and anger have never left her, and she was the one who assassinated him herself, not just for conquest but for revenge. She wants every one of the Takala dead for what he did to her.
- In order to achieve her royal status, she challenged the former Queen of the Vahlos, Memphet Arezio, and won against her in your choice of a hunt or duel.
Unnamed, Priestess of the Takala
Please PM me your signup to audition.
You MUST read the Takala's history and customs!
This character is also quite essential to the RP, as she is the only one who knows the Takala's secret.
Everything about her is up to you, outside of the lore. Just make sure you're active with her and, again, provide a somewhat detailed signup.
Unnamed, Inquisitor of the Vahlos
Please PM CallMeLoki your signup to audition.
- Must be loyal to Circe.
- Could have known Circe before she joined the Vahlos, or be from the Vahlos originally. If from the Vahlos originally, they would have been a former hunter/huntress or paladin, which means their skillset would lean one way or the other due to their training. They must be exceptional in their field to have been chosen as Inquisitor.
If you have any ideas on their relationship with Circe, please contact CallMeLoki.
Unnamed, General of the Nashoba
Please PM me your signup to audition.
- Preferably raised within the Nashoba. Can have any name, gender, personality, etc.
- I'm also very lax on their history. They could've served as Talos' general, been appointed after his death when Lazarus ruled, or even have been newly appointed if the old General died in the fire.
- Since the Nashoba base their rankings primarily off of achievement in battle, they must be an exceptional warrior and have fought in successful battles. Their ability to both follow and give orders is also valued.
- Lazarus didn't have any good friends in the Nashoba, so if they did spend quite a bit of time with him, they know him only from battle and court, but they don't know him well.
Feel free to contact me and supply me with information for a character you'd like someone else to play, such as a family member to yours, so I can list them here. The player will have to contact you specifically, however, about the character.
Meridia [Mare-id-ee-a] Rokan [Ro-can], rank ??, Mother of Lazarus Rokan
Please PM me your signup to audition.Reserved for bad wolf
I'd love for Lazarus to have interactions with his mother at some point during the RP. At the very least, I'd like him to meet someone who reminds him of his mother.
Here's what you should know about Meridia:
- She has deep lapis (dark blue) eyes. I picture her with a black pelt, but honestly anything works. She must be 6+ years in order to have had Lazarus at a minimum of age 2.
- She only avoided standing against Talos' abuse out of fear, but now deeply regrets it, and she wishes she could have her son back.
- When Lazarus was a pup, his mother was his only source of comfort, but that quickly soured when she did nothing to stop her mate's violence. His hatred for her and her cowardice has buried his love for her, although it is there somewhere.
- An idea I'm also playing with is that maybe Meridia hoped that the abuse would make him strong, and that could be a reason she did nothing.
Endala refers to the vast region in which the RP takes place. The Nashoba, Takala, and Vahlos territories are only small pieces in the giant puzzle, but are the only ones we'll be focusing on in this RP. The global religion of Endala consists of fabled gods. Nobody knows what created them or how, but what they do know is that the purpose of these gods was to establish equilibrium of life and death in the world.
Venassi The Goddess of the hunt
Beltoro The God of war
Caelus The God of the sky
Mordhau The God of death
Amara The Goddess of life
Ocira The Goddess of the sea
This dense forest is lush and bright with greenery -- angel hair, ferns, ancient trees whose mighty roots spread far across the mossy forest floor. A variety of herbs can be found in abundance here, and the forest teems with prey; black-tailed deer, boars, squirrels and rabbits all make their home here, and yet the enchanted forest has a surprising lack of predators aside from the wolves. Occasionally, a black bear or a mountain lion heading south might taunt the borders, but they are usually easy to ward off with the right number of sentinels.
The Takala’s camp is placed in a hollowed-out grove in the center of the forest. It is difficult to find unless one is familiar with the territory, and even their dens are fairly well-disguised, the mosses that reach across the branches and caves of their shelters blending them in with the rest of the vegetation. It is only apparent at first glance by the slight clearing, and atop the Chieftain’s cave is a small cluster of rocks on which they can address their tribe. Water trickles down one side of these rocks into a small pond, which is often used to bathe. The water source is from a river that travels all the way from the Vahlos mountains down through the Takala forest, and is typically the best source of navigation if one finds themselves lost.
Rain is common here, keeping the forest fresh with morning dew, but it is almost constant during winter. Snow does not fall here, and the weather is mild throughout the year.
- 1 available for audition
- max 4 available
- unlimited availability
- max 2 available
It is said that this forest was not always this bountiful, that centuries ago, this place was a barren stretch of wood that provided only a scant amount of resources for a nomadic tribe that had survived a bear attack and needed a sanctuary to recover. Soon, their wounds became infected, and some couldn’t hunt or even walk. The healer of the tribe, Calanthe, searched desperately for herbs she could use as medicine, but to no avail, and her empty belly kept her from travelling far. In one final, desperate plea, she called upon the goddess of life, Amara, to grant her with the herbs necessary to heal her tribemates.
As legend goes, Amara took pity on the distraught healer and her tribe, and she blessed the land with eternal bounty; deer and hares would forever bound through the ferns that now grew proudly from the fertile earth, and every herb Calanthe could possibly imagine would be at tip of her paws. Calanthe returned to her tribe that day with the proper remedies for their ailments, and the hunters soon brought full meals back to share. The Takala are forever in the debt of Amara, and although they respect and believe in all of the gods, it is she who is their life-giver. They decided to settle down and stay in the enchanted forest, and centuries later, have yet to leave.
There is a cost to all life, however, and there was a price Calanthe had to pay that only a few selected tribe members know of. In order for life to bloom in the forest, the Takala had to make an offering in wolf blood to the goddess every season. A life for a season of prosperity for all. If they ever ceased to honor their accord, life would be stripped from the forest and the Takala would forever walk with a curse of the gods. What that curse entails, well nobody has ever found out, because since Calanthe’s deal, the tribe has always ensured they have a priestess to worship the goddess, and every season, the Priestess and Chieftain would lure an unsuspecting rogue or omega to their death. (more on this in Customs & Traditions)
Of course, this is what this tradition appears to be from the outside. Only the Priestess and Chieftain know of the land’s blessing -- or curse -- and it is their duty to provide a wolf’s life as a payment to Amara.
Often, the sacrifice is a loner that had at some point wandered into their territory, but other times it is a criminal that has recently been “banished” for one reason or another. The Priestess will typically poison venison for them, but the Chieftain is there on the chance that matters get bloody. Once they have cleaned the cave, they utter prayers to Amara and bury the body somewhere out of sight.
-After each life taken, be it predator or prey, the killer is meant to utter a prayer to Mordhau to guide their prey’s soul to the afterlife.
-After a pup is born, a prayer must be uttered to Amara for granting her fertility to the mother and father.
-ONLY the Chieftain and Priestess know of the tribe’s price to Amara. If the secret were to be shared to anyone else, the future of the Takala would be at stake.
North of the Takala Forest lies a vast mountain range of treacherous and rocky terrain, and wide stretches of evergreen woods that typically shelter predators and prey alike: elk, mule deer, moose, various bear species, mountain lions, bobcats, etc. Mountain goats even traverse the rocky outcrops to the far north, and provide challenging game for the most skilled and agile of hunters.
The Vahlos Falls are a fresh source of water for the kingdom here, located in the northeast corner of the territory and flowing into two separate rivers: one that branches west to Lake Maesta (Latin for “majesty”), and the other that leads all the way to the Takala Forest. Other pools of water can be found around the falls themselves, and although they are difficult to get to, they are certainly worth the trek on a blistering summer day. The mountains tend to suffer from hot summers and frightfully cold winters, but the wolves that live here are hardy, and are accustomed to the harsh climate.
The Vahlos camp is located between the two rivers, nestled within the crest of a mountain that has been eroded by the elements for many years, and is now home to spacious caves. A rocky outcropping extends from the cave of the King or Queen and serves as a perch for the ruler to address their subjects.
The Vahlos have resided within their mountain range as far back as any elder or scholar can tell. They believe that they were created for a special purpose, assigned by the gods themselves to protect the mountain range. And although the cliffs were treacherous and the predators deadlier, there were still several neighboring kingdoms who attempted to strip this duty from them, perhaps enticed by the peril of the jagged peaks.
Some of the Vahlos see this duty as an honor, and others as a curse. Leaving the mountain range, unless banished, is a crime, and it is said that any who do so shall not join their family in the afterlife, but instead be tortured by Mordhau for eternity. Some claim it is an old wives' tale, while others will believe it down to their very last breath. The Vahlos have always kept to themselves, refusing alliances with other clans in order to preserve their oath to the gods. They have only ever fought for their home... That is, until now. Nobody knows the true details of the gods’ request, nor did they ever anticipate that their sacred mountain range would run dry of prey, and so their values are now being put into question. They must ask themselves if this oath, this legend, is worth starving for, or if ensuring their survival is more important.
Far to the east, some of the wilds’ strongest, most capable warriors were bred within a vast forest of oak, alder and pine, broken only by a few clearings that the Nashoba clan would put to use for training purposes. This forest encased their training grounds and their camp, built from fallen trees that had been knocked from their roots by storms over the years. Within the southern area of their forest lay Beltoro’s Glade, a fabled battlefield on which many wars have taken place, and the very earth on which Beltoro himself fought the other gods for his freedom.
Now, the forest remains as nothing but ash and dead wood, the fire having stripped the land of all life. Even the surrounding territories the Nashoba had claimed over the years are waste. It will take many moons for life to grow as it once had.
Beltoro was the youngest of the gods, and by far the most bold. The gods were meant to control the balance of the earth, to establish an equilibrium that would ensure life and death. But until Beltoro was born, the world knew nothing but peace and goodness. Mortals could not appreciate this peace until they saw chaos, and this is why Beltoro, the god of war, was destined to bring change.
He began to corrupt the minds of mortals, instilling greed, ambition, and hatred in their hearts. But his brethren did not take kindly to this; they saw no balance in bringing warfare and suffering to their precious world. They tried to cast him into the underworld, but Mordhau refused to take his soul. “My duty is only to guide souls into the afterlife, not to decide who meets their demise,” he’d told them.
And so, excluding Mordhau, the gods attempted to kill Beltoro on the soil of the what could come to be the Nashoba territory. Caelus sent down his rain, and Ocira called upon her sea in an effort to quench Beltoro’s fire, boring a southern gorge so deep into the earth that Mordhau could feel dust shake off into the underworld. But Beltoro’s fire still burned, and his claws still swung strong. He poured all of his might into a thrust of his paw against the soil, subduing his foes with a shockwave that destroyed the nearby greenery and formed an empty battlefield now known as Beltoro’s Glade.
Since then, the gods reluctantly accepted him as one of their own, as they were unable to rival his might in battle. Amara sired Beltoro’s children, the first of the ancient line of the Nashoba, and their army grew to become conquerors, expanding their reign and tearing life from their foes, with greed (and some would say honor) in their hearts. It is said that Beltoro’s blood still runs through his warriors’ veins.
-Victories in battle are celebrated by festivities that will often last for a few days, giving the wounded enough time to recover so that they may participate or at least bear witness to the celebration.
You may rearrange or decorate this form in any way that you please, so long as all relevant information is there. My apologies for it not showing up well in the code box; when you highlight or copy/paste it should.
* means optional.
If your character was a former member of the Takala, make sure to include somewhere what that rank was (see "Knowledge -> Takala -> Original Ranks).
If you need help with recolouring a wolf's eyes, adding scar tissue, or adjusting slight colours/markings in an image, just shoot me a PM or tag me in the OOC topic and I can do it no biggie.
Code:[center](* image here) [b]Name :: Rank :: Age :: Gender :: Sexuality[/b] [/center] [u][b]Appearance: History: [/b][/u] [b][u]Personality[/u][/b] [u][b]*Family *Other[/b][/u]
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