OOC Info Ravok Wish List

[Prophet]

Name: Jay Garrot
Race: Human
Sex: M
Birthday: 67th of Fall, 481
Occupation: City guard
Skills: Short sword - 15
Unarmed combat - 15
Negotiation - 10
Purpose: A city guard that is one of Solomon's friends. Always trying to stay out of his problems.
Background: Jay grew up in Ravok and always wanted to be a mercenary so as soon as he could he signed up for some work, and ended up working with Solomon on his first job. On this job, he was nearly killed from having his leg torn open. This lead to him and Solomon becoming acquaintances when the Solomon is the one to drag him out of the battle and then friends as he helped him and his wife go through the rough period while he recovered and before he got work in the city guard.

Over the years he continues to run into his friend, but less and less.

Notes:Recently this past season he has been the one to deliver Solomon's letters from his sister for him, and sends them also for Solomon as a way to repay but is living a regular day-to-day life while raising a young son.

Has a small scar on his cheek and a limp on his left leg.

I'd like you to define his rank and expand upon his skills a bit (make sure they match the rank). Everything else looks good, though.

[Maya Lark]

Name: Festival of Dedication
Date: 85th - 91st of Winter
History: After a hundred years of building Ravok, the people decided that a party was in order. Towards the year each family throws a party in their homes. After a week of partying separately, everyone gathers in the streets and throws a city wide festival. Booths are set up along the cobblestone pathways. Prizes can be won; food and drinks can be bought; and there is endless dancing in the center of the city.

On the last day of winter everything takes a more serious tone. Several booths changed out their normal wares for small lanterns on a disc. Each lantern has one side that was tougher than the other three. People began writing messages to lost loved one; some wrote dreams on them; and the little ones would draw pictures on them. One bell before the season change all lanterns are lit and ravosala's fill with people. They are taken out into the lake as the last few chimes dawn closer. The five main families release their lanterns first as a sign of unity. With a shout to Rhysol in praise, everyone else releases their lanterns and follows suit praising the god.
Purpose: The festival of lights was created as a way to honor Rhysol through partying, before sending him all the peoples worries, dreams, and heart aches.
Notes: let me know if anything needs to be fixed

[Maya Lark]

Name: Carnival of Ravok
Date: middle of summer
History: Just a few years after the festival of lights had began the officials took a survey for a new holiday. The people were already praising Rhysol for their previous year. But the leaders wanted the city to rejoice their patron god more than that.

After tossing some ideas around the Carnival of Ravok was created. Around the middle of summer, everyone in the city decorated their homes and businesses. As the sunsets all the lights are lit, and everyone dresses up in their best consumes with elaborate masks. Musicians go all over the city performing for the masked peoples enjoyment. On that night games are played, everyone dances with no regard to status of family name for one night.
Purpose: This was created to celebrate the mystery of Ravok and Rhysol
Notes:Like before let me know what needs to be edited

[Baran]

.

Name: The Red Run
Date: Summer 50th, late afternoon running into evening.
History: The Red Run's origins stem from an old folk story of Ravok that occasionally makes the rounds amongst the elderly of the city. There are many different spins on the tale, some gruesome, others jovial. But the general gist, what someone might say when asked about the Red Runner, is this:
"Once, a handsome man loved a beautiful girl. He was rich and popular, well-loved by neighbours and priests. She was fair and gorgeous, a wonder to the eyes, and a pleasure to talk to. They seemed the perfect couple! They were happy and wealthy, and set to become very important people indeed.

However, there was one problem. They were both fiercely competitive. One evening, as they were sitting at home, they began talking. They could see where each of them worked from their house, and they could see the watery streets of Ravok. One said, "I suppose I could run from here to there with ease." The other said, "I think I could too..."

The idea was seeded, and the man began to run from home, to work, to home every day, jumping across the narrow canals and swimming where he had to. The woman did the same, for now that they had mentioned it they simply had to do it. Each day, they got faster and more cunning, until they began to build in traps for the other. One day, the man hired a ravosalaman to oar away when his wife rounded the corner, as she had been relying on the boat as a stepping stone. The next day, the woman ran a length of rope across her husband's favourite route, causing him to stumble.

Neighbours soon understood that the two were deadly serious about their new routine, and began taking sides. Finally however, the traps took a turn for the worse, and in an effort to halt him, the wife placed slippery oil for him to tread on. However, it resulted in more than she'd bargained for, and the man slipped and fell, cutting his head, gaining concussion, and falling into the lake to drown. As she held him in her arms, the bloody water pooled on her clothes, dying them red. Overcome with grief and shame, she ran as fast as she had ever done, dancing from building to building and throwing herself into the open waters beyond the city, never to be seen again." [There are many variants of the story, some where the couple end up together, others where the race ends with the woman dying. All are valid, as it happened so long ago that not many remember the true origins of the story.]
Description: The festival itself is a lot less gruesome than this story, but it is based on the principle of freerunning through the city. Competitors start in designated places around the outside of the city, which often vary year on year. It is in these places that crowds gather to cheer their chosen ones on and provide encouragement. Then, as the belltower tolls frantically, the runners begin their course through the city, running towards the centre where the first one back to the finish line in front of the Temple of the Black Sun is the winner. As the runners progress, the crowds follow in ravosalas, which often act as convenient places for competitors to jump from and to. Citizens that apply with interesting trap ideas beforehand in the run up to the race day are allowed to place these non-life-threatening traps across Ravok for runners to encounter, which often leads to amusing stories to tell afterwards.

The entire festival celebrates a mix of athletic prowess, quick thinking, and the city itself, as many buildings put on proud displays for all to see as the crowds move to the centre. Those that win receive a medal and a prize, and there is an acknowledgement for everyone that manages to finish the Red Run, as a handful of tattooists provide a permanent red stripe tattoo for any that wish to show off their completion of the race.

Over the years, the number of competitors has grown sharply and now the race is almost split in two- those at the front who are serious runners intent on the prize and the fame winning brings, and those at the back that just wish to explore the city in a different way, usually pandering to the crowd by voluntarily getting caught in the traps or running in peculiar fashions, like backwards or on their hands.

The whole race usually finishes with a party, where winners get ultimate bragging rights. There is also a tradition that the winning male and female get painted all over in red and thrown into the water together, to much laughter and applause. Thankfully, they are fished out soon after.

Winning & Categories:

• The first male & first female each receive a medal and a prize
• The second male & second female each receive a medal
• The top ten runner-ups, of either gender, receive a small certificate

Purpose: The purpose of the Red Run is, of course, to win. But it is also a celebration of the richness of Ravok's history and the city. Most establishments and vendors take the opportunity to show off their own pride by draping red and selling crimson-coloured objects, that the crowds duly enjoy. And the party outside the Temple of the Black Sun also serves as a celebration of Ravok's patron god, Rhysol. Overall, the Red Run is a chance to have a little fun and serves as a distraction from the daily grind.
Notes: I am unsure whether this would need mod approval or not, so I'll leave that up to you, oh wise one.

.

[Elias Caldera]

 

Roven

Name: Roven Tarrow
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Unknown
Date of Birth: 3rd of Summer, 479AV
Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier

Skills:
Rhetoric [65]
Teaching [61]
Intelligence [55]
Interrogation [50]
Investigation [49]
Persuasion [40]
Dagger [40]
Duel Wielding [35]

Faith and ambition are what define the truly devoted, and as a man once uplifted and now bound by such rigorous principles, Roven Tarrow sees himself as something of a guide and mentor to Ravok's less fortunate, one whose divine task dedicates him to seeking out such potential in others too often overlooked and disregarded as he once was. Notorious for his grandiose eloquence and ominously intense demeanor, Roven is the rare kind of warrior whose cunning mind is often considered even sharper than his blades. It is a mind frequently pitted against the unsuspecting passerby and his fellow Ebonstryfe alike, for separating the wheat from the chaff and finding only those with the true capacity to serve his god is what drives the sentimental soldier in his hallowed hunt. Obsessive and uncompromising in his "tests" once he believes he's finally found someone worth the pursuit, Tarrow's many scars and scorched flesh are testament to both his own arduous trials in the past, and to what extent he is more than willing to push his victims to for the sake of their deliverance.

 

Alimar

Name: Alimar Ducat
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: 1st of Spring, 490AV
Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier

Skills:
Tracking [90]
Hunting [65]
Short Bow [60]
Unarmed Combat [55]
Wilderness Survival (Forests) [50]
Interrogation [50]
Investigation [40]
Horse Riding [35]
Falconry [15]

Begrudgingly lauded as perhaps one of Ravok's finest trackers in generations, Alimar is simply known as "the Huntsman" by those aware of his impressive reputation. As a wastrel and all round good for nothing drunkard however, it is a reputation that many find clashes harshly with the bitter reality of things. Originally a slaver by trade, Ducat found his calling to Rhysol's service late in life, but his keen eye and remarkable skills as a hunter of men easily found him a place and a purpose among the Ebonstryfe. Now his name is the one commanders and noblemen alike call upon personally when their needs demand only the very best. Along with his companion Cleo, a particularly cantankerous falcon seemingly always at odds with her scoundrel of a master, over the years Alimar has run to ground hundreds of escaped slaves, rebellious youths, and enemies of the state without ever once missing his mark. Unfortunately for him, his fame is something entirely unwanted, as the Ravokian would much rather the freedom to drink himself into a stupor when unfettered from his duties than take up yet another tedious chase only to have it end like all the others that came before. Whether it be among the brick and mortar of Ravok's cramped alleyways, or amidst the looming canopies of her surrounding wilderness, no man, woman or beast has ever managed to elude the Huntsman's grasp for long. Now, he sees his talents as wasted upon the mundane, and the hunter desperately seeks a prey that will one day truly put his skills to the test.

 

Sigvald

Name: Sigvald the Grim
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: 1st of Spring, 440AV
Rank: Marshall of the Ebonstryfe
Occupation: Master at Arms of the Vitrax

Skills:
A Bunch of high level combat and weapons skills


A hardened veteran of war in all its fervent forms, Sigvald's decades of combat experience and his immense tactical talent make him not just one of Ravok's most menacing generals, but also one of its most valued teachers.

In his youth, the Ravokian was very much a zealot without equal, bloodthirsty and ravenous in his lust for conflict, he sought out his nation's enemies far and wide without rest, bringing the righteous wrath of his god to the foe's very doorstep. Those times are behind the old soldier now however, and these days Sigvald is a familiar fixture within the hollowed halls of the Vitrax. Gruff, guarded and ever watchful, he prowls the training grounds of his longtime home like a predator, surveying both the bloodied sands and the young hopeful souls desperate to drench them anew.

Despite an endless tide of duels and schemes at the hands of envious challengers seeking to take his place, his role as the Vitrax's head instructor and Master at Arms has gone unchanged for so long few can even remember a time before his draconian rule began to shape Ravok's army into what it is today. As such there are hardly any among Rhysol's holy order that can claim to not have some measure of the fierce warrior's influence in them. Whether it be as benign as the manner in which one holds their blade, or as the thorough as to guide their strategies on the field of battle, Sigvald's shadowing legacy over the order grows ever greater with each new generation of soldiers reared under his demanding gaze.

 

Eris

Name: Eris Trakand
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: Spring, 503 AV
Occupation: Ebonstryfe Apprentice

Skills:
Short Sword [40]
Unarmed Combat [32]
Stiletto [30]
Torture [30]
Stealth [25]
Poisoning [20]

Eris Trakand was born to a happy and humble household, complete with doting slaves who tended to her every whim, and loving parents who strove each and every day to make sure their daughter wanted for nothing. Reared under the benevolent skies of Ravok and its patron lord, the young girl never knew strife or hardship in a world so often fraught with anything but.

How then, or even why Eris became the monster she is today, is still a mystery to many.

Bloodthirsty, barbaric, and seemingly barely in control of her actions at the best of time, Eris is a dangerous and restless psychopath that even her fellow comrades in the Ebonstryfe are uneasy around, and for good reason. Friends and foes alike can fall victim to her sadistic will, as the young apprentice revels in the suffering of others, taking sick pleasure in pain and woe, though whether it be hers or her victims seems to matter little. Adding to a very long and troubling list is the fact that she has also been known to scribble strange and unearthly markings across her flesh, and more unsightly still, paint her body in the blood of the freshly slain. The only thing that appears to keep her in line is her curious respect for power, and those with the will to use it. Constantly seeking conflict at every turn however, Trakand grows anxious and excitable whenever the promise of more is not near, a fact that led her to the ranks of the Stryfe in the first place, and one both her instructors and superiors often endeavor to harness.

As a talented and devoted soldier in Rhysol's army, there is little doubt she could one day pass her Crucible and join the ranks of the warrior elite. Whether or not she can survive herself until such a time however, is another matter entirely.

 

Tannen

Name: John Tannen
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: Summer, 504
Occupation: Ebonstryfe Apprentice

Skills:
Farming [40]
Heavy Mace [35]
Shield [34]
Shortbow [30]
Herbalism [30]
Hunting [25]
Fishing [22]
Wilderness Survival [20]

Born the son of a lowly and widowed farm girl, Tannen grew up along the shores of lake Ravok with his three rambunctious brothers and four unbearable sisters. Tending to the vast fields his mother owned, his days were tedious and long, and the young boy often sought escape by listening to the grand and gallant tales the people of the lakeshore told about his father. While his mother cursed the bastard's name for abandoning them as he did, John and his siblings were enraptured by the stories they heard of the great warrior who'd become something of a legend in days gone by. Many of them were too young to even remember the man's face, but all of them took pride in bearing his name, for with it came the respect of all those who remembered his valiant sacrifice. As the youngest, John watched as one by one his sibling grew up, grew bold, and grew apart from the family, almost all of them eventually setting off across the lake towards Ravok in hopes of joining the Ebonstryfe like their brave father before them... and, one by one, John watched from the waters edge as each and every one of them returned to the farm in coffins.

His mother pleaded and begged for her son to stay, to abandon this foolish notion of joining the holy order that had already claimed so many of her children, but John knew he had a destiny, and it wasn't tending to lilypads or harvesting cattails.

Despite being naive to the much of world and the way of things, the young Ravokian somehow survived his initiation into the ranks of Rhysol's army, only to quickly find himself listless and threatened by a fate he considers worse than death; insignificance. Like all young men cursed to live in the shadow of their fathers, John desperately seeks a legend of his own, and is determined to earn a level of renown that will one day surpass his old man's, regardless of the cost. This overzealous ambition has made the simple farm boy vain and proud despite his humble and oftentimes unassuming demeanor. Endlessly, he hunts for the next fight, the next challenge, the next 'something' that will bear him the chance he needs to show the world John Tannen is more than just his father's son.

 

Corbin

Name: Eric Corbin
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: Winter, 498 AV
Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier

Skills:
Long Sword [45]
Unarmed Combat [40]
Short Bow [40]
Childcare [38]
Teaching [33]
Larceny [15]

Erick grew a up a rambunctious and tormented child, one who never knew the parents who'd left him on the steps of the orphanage where he'd been found, and one who never could bring himself to understand why they had chosen to abandon him. His youth was a troubled one despite the fine care he received at the Galatos Commorancy, and his short tempered and rebellious nature seemed as if it would doom him to a cruel and and sorrowfully short fate.

That was until the Ebonstryfe took an interest in the boy.

Under the tutelage of a particularly patient and prodigious Stryfer who saw in Erick the potential for something greater, the young man eventually found a new family in the holy order, his purpose and pride renewed amidst the ranks of Rhysol's army. These days Eric Corbin is a common fixture around the orphanage where he grew up. Caring and kind to a fault for the children there who now look up to him, the armor clad warrior's imposing figure belies the gentle and nurturing man beneath. With the patience of mother who never loved him and the diligence of a father who never knew him, Erick now strives to do for those unfortunate souls at the orphanage what was once so graciously done for him.

 

Duncan

Name: Duncan Blackwell
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: Fall, 500 AV
Occupation: Ebonstryfe Apprentice

Skills:
Longsword [48]
Riding [40]
Tactics [35]
Reimancy [30]
Flux [30]
Shielding [30]
Endurance [20]

Few have the combination of wits and courage to be accomplished battlemages, and those cursed with such a combination of talents are invariably pulled from their mundane lives and assigned to the armies of Rhysol. Duncan's earliest memories are a painful slog of training, study, prayer, and exhaustion -all the elements of being groomed for battle as most raw recruits can attest to, but Duncan's education and disciplining always seemed much crueler and more demanding than that of his fellow peers'. It was eventually revealed why he had undergone such grueling trials when Duncan inevitably ascended to the rank of apprentice. As he learned that day -a day that would forever change his life, Duncan had been selected for greatness by Maathias, the Ebonknight himself.

Handpicked by the Druvin for some still unknown reason, Duncan now serves as a personal attendant to the dark lord, much like a squire would to a knight in many respects. This special attention, mixed with his trying upbringing, has made Duncan a cold and secretive young man, one prone to keeping his thoughts to himself and his ear to the ground. Dedicated wholeheartedly to his master and rarely ever seen not acting in his service, none can deny the apprentices loyalty or diligence, nor his bright future as one of Maathias's great generals.

[Clyde Sullins]

Ebonstryfe soldiers: Per our discussion, placeholder names and no images. Name: Adam Race: Human Sex: Male Birthday: 4 Winter 498 Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier Skills: Endurance- 26 Interrogation- 28 Intimidation- 27 Riding- 26 Unarmed Combat- 32 Weapon: Buckler- 40 Weapon: Shortsword- 28 Weapon: Bastard Sword- 57 Purpose: Member of Ebonstryfe Unit Background: The only son of a single father and city guard, Adam always dreamed of serving Ravok. From a young age his father trained him in various forms of fighting, or sent him to instructors to learn things he himself didn't know. As soon as he was old enough he became a petitioner to the Stryfe, and soon after a full apprentice. During his apprenticeship he studied how to use his vigor to intimidate and glean information through interrogation, in hopes that it would better serve him as a solider some day. Only just passing his Crucible the summer of 516, Adam only recently became a Soldier of the Ebonstryfe to the immense pride of his father. He is utterly devoted to Ravok and Rhysol, and eager to prove himself to his higher ups. Notes: --- Name: Bea Race: Human Sex: Female Birthday: 32 Fall 485 Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier Skills: Hunting- 27 Intelligence- 21 Riding- 24 Running- 26 Scouting- 22 Unarmed Combat- 30 Weapon: Ballista- 52 Weapon: Crossbow(Heavy)- 30 Weapon: Dagger- 28 Weapon: Longbow- 60 Purpose: Member of Ebonstryfe Unit Background: Bea is the youngest daughter of a small Ravokian merchant, however was never too interested or skilled in all things mercantile. From a young age however she was interested in one thing, ranged weapons. Starting with a small bow at the age of 2 she began to experiment and learn. By the time she was 7 she could fell a duck as it tried to take flight, and had traveled to Nyka several times by caravan with her parents. Seeing that she had no future in their family trade, and with several older siblings to take over the family business, her parents pressed her into joining the Ebonstryfe where she became a petitioner at 12. During her time as a petitioner and later as an apprentice Bea explored other ranged weapons she found of interest, learning how to use a crossbow, how to wield and throw daggers, and to her particular delight how to operate and fire a ballista. She was also ordered to learn to scout, to better serve her future unit seeing as her skillset didn't really apply to direct fighting. Instead she focused on her specialty, ranged weapons, along with gathering information. Notes: --- Name: Chris Race: Human Sex: Male Birthday: 7 Summer 493 Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier Skills: Calligraphy- 56 Copying- 44 Glyphing- 26 Leadership- 20 Meditation- 30 Reimancy- 32 (Earth, Fire) Riding- 2 Unarmed Combat- 16 Writing- 16 Purpose: Member of Ebonstryfe Unit Background: Initially a citizen of Zeltiva, Chris studied at the University there. At first he focused more on the written word, forming it artistically and copying texts. When he was 15 he was offered the chance to learn magic, and was initiated into Reimancy. Soon after being initiated however there was an unfortunate incident which resulted in another student being burned alive. Fearing for reprisal Chris took the first boat he could north, staying in Nyka for a short time before ending up in Ravok. Once there he applied for citizenship and to learn at the Institute of Higher Learning. He was accepted in exchange for also applying to the Ebonstryfe, becoming an apprentice at 16. There he expanded his knowledge, learning to better control his magic through meditation and Glyphing, and took an interest in leading seeing as he was never really the type to directly fight himself. Eventually he took and passed his crucible and became a Soldier. He dreams of some day becoming a paladin, though currently his mediocre magic skills hold him back from progressing much further within the Ebonstryfe. Notes: --- Name: Dan Race: Human Sex: Male Birthday: 82 Spring 472 Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier Skills: Brawling- 26 Cooking- 14 Endurance- 27 Foraging- 12 Herbalism- 19 Hunting- 22 Land Navigation- 30 Riding- 15 Tracking- 21 Weapon: Dagger- 28 Wilderness Survival- 30 (Forest, Marsh) Purpose: Member of Ebonstryfe Unit Background: Dan has spent most of his life living outside, out of cities and far from people. Growing up in Syliras, from an early age he spent as much time outside of the castle city as possible. He quickly learned about plants, animals, and how to get by with as little contact with civilization as possible. Once he had saved up money he went exploring, spending years traveling across Sylira, visiting almost every land based city it offered and learning a bit of various skills while taking up jobs guiding caravans and others through the wilds. In his late teens Dan ended up in Ravok and decided to make it his home. He tried his hand at hunting, being a guide, and other jobs, but eventually found his place serving in the Ebonstryfe as someone specialized in the wilds. With little interest in progressing beyond his current rank, Dan it satisfied serving as he currently is, and spends as much time as he can getting to know the nature around Ravok. Notes: --- Name: Eliza Race: Mixed Blood(Half Viper Dhani/Half Human) Sex: Female Birthday: 45 Summer 477 Occupation: Ebonstryfe Soldier Skills: Acrobatics- 32 Body Building- 30 Boxing- 28 Brawling- 31 Dual Wielding- 26 Endurance- 40 Flux- 35 Hunting- 29 Poison- 28 Riding- 5 Stealth- 29 Unarmed Combat- 55 Weapon: Dagger- 32 Wrestling- 27 Purpose: Member of Ebonstryfe Unit Background: Growing up from birth as an Orphan at the Commorancy, Eliza's origins are to her a mystery. In truth her mother, a member of one of the larger Ravok families, accidentally became pregnant by a personal Dhani bed slave. Ashamed of the "accident" her mother had the Dhani killed for some invented sleight, and had another slave deliver the child at birth to the Commorancy. She then had this slave killed as well before they returned to the household, permanently erasing almost any connection to the child. Eliza for her part has no idea of her ancestry, though quickly enough learned that she was different in some way and has since gained some suspicions that she isn't totally human. Only half Viper Dhani she does not exhibit their full nature, but did take on some part of their traits, seeming to age much slower than the other children (appears a little bit more than half her true age compared to a normal human) and moving a bit faster and swifter than a normal human would. As an adult she is slight of build and short in stature, but as a child she was especially so. Despite her size though she was often picking fights with the other larger children, not out of any malice or desire to hurt them but out of an enjoyment of the activity and a desire to prove herself and what she was physically capable of. Seeing her interest one of the adults at the Commorancy steered her towards combat training, helping her to refine and expand her natural talent and ability. Eventually this led to her joining the Ebonstryfe and becoming a soldier. Once she became a soldier she had the chance to further her combat prowess even more, and after studying at the Institute of Higher Learning was initiated into the Flux. This magic seems to best hide some of her natural traits, if nothing else making it appear her speed is due to this magic. She also learned the art of Posioning at the urging of one of her higher ups within the Ebnonstryfe, which she finds suits her other combat abilities. While she might not know her true nature clearly others within the Ebonstryfe do or have an idea. Though she has been in the Ebonstryfe for decades she is still a soldier by rank. Notes:

[Elias Caldera]

Criminals & Guards

 

Guldo

Name: Guldo Barsavi
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Lake Ravok
Date of Birth: Summer, 470 AV
Occupation: Crime Lord

Skills:
Leadership [60]
Knuckle Dusters [55]
Brawling [45]
Larceny [45]
Endurance [40]
History [25]
Subterfuge [25]
Tactics [20]
Gambling [15]

Crime in Ravok is an intricate and perilous thing, one where deception and unspoken accords are as crucial as a good knife and the steady hand that wields it. In a city ruled by so many shadowy factions working behind the scenes, one has to be smart in order to survive, let alone prosper. The guard, the stryfe, the families, the people, and even the gangs, everyone plays their part in Ravok, and one step out of line can see a man sinking to the bottom of the lake alongside the rest of the poor sods who weren’t clever enough to see the big picture. It’s a dangerous game, and though the rewards can be great, few criminals ever live long enough for the chance to reap them.

Guldo Barsavi has been on the wrong side of Ravok's law now for more than four decades. To call him a veteran of his trade would be an understatement.

Having fallen in with the wrong sort of crowd early on in his youth, Guldo doggedly worked his way up the ranks from petty pick pocket to underboss, proving himself as cunning as he was diabolical. The young thug peaked early however, and his old school, uncompromising nature which once proved a boon for his rise to power in the streets now saw his accent stymied. For even as the gang evolved and shifted around him over the years, Barsavi remained the same, always the dependable right hand who advised the throne, never the king who sat upon it. That all changed when his last boss's foolish bid for power ended with the daft bastard slain, their syndicate nearly dismantled, and the majority of the gang hanging from the gallows. Barsavi never forgave himself for not stepping up and stopping what he knew had been a bad idea from the start, but for years he had avoided outright leadership and the responsibilities it had entitled. With his crew on the verge of collapse and no one else to turn to, Guldo was finally forced to accept his calling.

Now Guldo Barsavi is Boss Barsavi, the latest head of the Bastards of Bright Bay gang. Eager to reclaim the power and wealth his organization once wielded in this city, he leads his cutthroat band of thugs and thieves with all the fatherly caution of a man whose played the game long enough to know what happens to those who lose, but with the grit and brutality of one determined on making sure he always wins in the end.

 

Zeb

Name: Zachariah "Zeb" Kreshik
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: 23rd of Fall, 503 AV
Occupation: Rapscallion

Skills:
Larceny [35]
Leadership [25]
Persuasion [25]
Stealth [20]
Disguise [15]
Intelligence [15]
Brawling [15]

Young, dumb and bold beyond reason, Zachariah Kreshik is an impassioned youth with the all the zeal, bravado, and natural charm an up and coming crime boss could ever ask for. With a knack for larceny and all the nefarious skills a proper near-do-well can't do without, he leads his merry band of escaped orphans turned pickpockets and spies as best he can amidst a city of so many lurking dangers and dark designs.

From plotting daring capers to reciting bed time stories, Zeb is fiercely loyal to his crew and has since grown more than just accustomed to his role as boss/den mother ever since staging the foolhardy prison break from the Galatos's Commorancy for Children where he and his ilk had been raised. Unfortunately, he, along with the motley gang of misfits that had seen fit to follow him, soon found they were forced to take to thievery and other less savory means in order to support themselves and their new found freedom. Aptly named the "Guttersnipes" by the infuriated city guard, the gang of children were eager to adopt the name as a badge of pride, increasing the brazenness of their antics and earning the ire of local law enforcement whose good name was further dragged through the mud with every market stall looted and purse snatched.

It seemed unthinkable that such a ridiculous rabble would ever be allowed to run rough shot over a city so refined as Ravok, and so to no one's surprise, the gang very abruptly went quiet soon after bursting unto the scene. Many assumed they had been hunted down and hung for their crimes as was appropriate, but there are few things in a city so refined as Ravok that escapes her dreaded machinations, even petty criminals like Zachariah Kreshik.

 

Shay

Name: Shaylin "Shay" Vale
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 77th of Fall, 502 AV
Place of Birth: Ravok
Occupation: Miscreant

Skills:
Unarmed Combat [30]
Dagger [30]
Teaching [25]
Larceny [25]
Medicine [20]
Scavenging [20]
Singing [15]

Tough, brash and calculating beyond her years, Shaylin Vale has been forced to grow up in a cruel and uncaring world where things like innocence and naivety have only earned her a lifetime's worth of hardship most children should never have to endure. Yet despite this the solemn young thief fiercely insists that her past only served to make her stronger, and it is a strength she intends to impart on the rag tag gang of miscreants she calls a family, whether they like it or not.

While Zachariah Kreshik happily embraces his role as the heart and soul of the Guttersnipes -a small gang of escaped orphans turned pickpockets and delinquents- it falls to its menacing matron to be both its brains and its fists whenever necessary. A thankless and maddening task that Shaylin has yet to waver in the face of ever since the gang's escape from the orphanage. Now, serving faithfully as Zeb's right hand, she desperately tries to impart her hurried wisdom and know-how unto her fellow orphans before, like her, they are forced to learn the hard way. Unfortunately for Shay however, she often finds her task of teaching the children she has found herself responsible for as daunting and as frustrating as trying to herd a gaggle of cats. As such, she is rarely ever seen without a look of growing annoyance or sheer exasperation upon her pale countenance.

While she is loathe to admit the depth of her caring, Shay is not one to openly show such emotions for fear it might weaken the children entrusted to her. When push comes to shove however, Shay is loyal first and foremost to her new family, and on occasion might even be convinced to confess she 'loves' them... in her own way.

 

Jorah

Name: Jorah Hercan
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Unknown
Date of Birth: Spring, 484 AV
Occupation: Commandant of the City Guard

Skills:
Sword Breaker [62]
Stiletto [46]
Acting [40]
Gambling [38]
Forgery [30]
Larceny [28]
Intelligence [25]
Interrogation [25]
Politics [20]
Subterfuge [20]

In a world filled with heroes and gods, the name ‘Jorah Hercan’ is not a particularly distinguished one. It is, in fact, merely the latest in a long, egregious list of those used and abused by its less than scrupulous bearer over his less than distinguished lifetime.

No one really knows where Jorah came from truth be told, and no one ever will if the proud guardsman has any say in the matter. Having earned his place amidst the city watch nearly half a decade ago, Jorah has since made it his mission to become accepted by those who once condemned him as an outsider. Now, all that need concern those who concern themselves with the commandant is that he is not a man to be trifled with, nor is he one who tolerates fools or dissenters in his midst. To the city and its denizens who fall under his jurisdiction however, the guard captain is a familiar and somewhat lauded face around town. A loving father and doting husband, he is regarded highly as one who not only takes care of his family, but also his people as well. That is the image Jorah Hercan strives to project to all who care to look, and that is all he needs them to see. For the truth, in all its wretched glory, is far too harrowing to ever reveal.

A slave to his vices and a master of his sins, the commandant is a deviant and hedonist by any other name. Crooked and rotten to the core, Hercan is particularly reviled throughout Ravok's underworld as one of the most corrupt guardsman to ever grace the shadowy underbelly of Rhysol's domain. Constantly manipulating and extorting the criminal element he is tasked with eradicating, few who call the back alleys and dark harbors of Ravok their business place can claim to have not fallen victim to the guardsman's long and greedy reach at least once in the past. Though united in their hatred for the man, none would dare move against him, for like his depravity, Jorah's powerful connections seems to know no bounds. Much to the chagrin of his many enemies, friends in all the right place make the venal guardsman a very important man to some very important people. People who rely on him to keep their secrets secret, and their supply of sin steady and sound.

Others

 

Kain

Name: Kain Hightower
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Zeltiva
Date of Birth: Spring, 455 AV
Occupation: Harbor Master

Skills:
Leadership [65]
Sailing [52]
Organization [48]
Fishing [45]
Teaching [35]
Negotiation [30]
Persuasion [30]
Swimming [25]
Politics [15]

A hard working and humble man, Kain is a stout old sailor whose always been too damn stubborn to show his age, let alone allow it to slow him down. His respected position as one of Ravok's harbor masters means he toils diligently day and night scrutinizing over the countless vessels and shipments that enter his particular port on the edge of the city, making sure nothing and no one escapes his notice. Most would be hard pressed to remember a time when the grizzled Zeltivan had ever shirked his responsibilities or even a hard day's work. This dedication to his trade and his word was something Kain brought with him from the merchant city when news of his brother's unfortunate passing in Ravok reached him. Claimed by some strange illness, his brother had left behind a young son with no one to care for the poor boy, and Kain had arrived in town fully intent on taking his nephew back home with him to Zeltiva. When he beheld the sheer resplendence of Rhysol's domain however, the old man found himself falling head over heels in love with the city, and hasn't looked back since.

With his new home came new responsibilities though, and just as it was in Zeltiva, Kain's strong and compassionate nature made him something of a 'go to' man in his neighborhood. Folks naturally began to gravitate towards the Zeltivan sailor, and before long they were coming to him when disputes needed settling or problems needed dealing with. Ever since then the sea dog has become nothing short of a leader among the dockside community thanks to his reputable nature and steadfast values, but just don't get him started on one of his tedious tales about the 'good ol' days' or you'll find yourself listening to the old coot drone on and on for more bells than there are boats in the harbor.

 

Creed

Name: Carliya Creed
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Ravok
Date of Birth: Spring, 499 AV
Occupation: Institute of Higher Learning Instructor (Auristics and Flux)

Skills:
Flux [75]
Auristics [60]
Unarmed Combat [60]
Long Sword [40]
Medicine [35]
Teaching [35]
Acrobatics [30]
Bodybuilding [25]


Often referred to as 'uncomfortably enthusiastic' by her students and fellow staff, Carliya Creed is the youngest and perhaps most 'chipper' instructor to have ever taught at the Institute of Higher Learning. Two groundbreaking achievements the sprightly young woman happily holds with with no small amount of pride. As the foremost expert in both Auristics and Flux at the Institute however, it may surprise some to discover how exceptionally skilled in the art of combat their overly upbeat teacher actually is. Through a combination of Auristics to help her decode and predict her opponent's movements, Flux to enhance her already impressive physical prowess, and hand to hand combat skills better than that of many warriors twice her age, the lively Mrs. Creed may have only just recently joined the University, but in her short amount of time with the Institute she has already more than proven herself a force to be reckoned with, both inside and outside the classroom.

[Tanna]

Not that you aren't swamped with stuff or anything, but might maps of the North Ravok Outpost and Southern Trading Post locations be something that's on your never ending to-do list? I ask because I'm a mongrel and love having visual representations of things - more for orientating characters IC than anything. My experience with mapping programs leaves a lot to be desired but I'd be happy to offer assistance if you'd like

[Shiress]

Name: Elene
Race: Human
Sex: Female
Birthday: 8th day Fall 505, age: 13 years old
Occupation: Lark House Slave
Skills:
Candlemaking [15XP]
sewing [24XP]
Cooking [30XP]
Escape Artist [25XP]

Taken from her widowed Mother at the age of 3, Elene, born in Sunberth to the given name of Niya, was cared for by a slave in Sunberth for the first of her years, where Elene began learning the do's and dont's of ownership at a young age. Eventually, and at at a nice price, Elene was sold to the Lark family of Ravok at the age of 7, there she has remained a slave.

[Shiress]

Name: Maddy Merrit
Race: Human
Sex: F
Birthday: 45th Day, Summer 485
Occupation: Lark Slavewarden
Skills:
Leadership-33XP
Tactics-24XP
Teaching-17XP
Torture-27XP
Intimidation-56XP
Weapon-Whip-32XP