City of IF

[Tavanesh]

Introduction: The sun beat down on the desert city of Ish’anfe (pronounced Eesh-on-fay), nestled next to its saving grace, The Ink River. Merchants shouted out their wares in the marketplace, and shady figures slipped through the alley ways. Faction leaders declared their stands, and citizens were forced to choose sides. This is a city in turmoil, this is

The City of Ish’anfe

Hello everyone. I am a somewhat new member to The City of If, but I really enjoy it. However, onto a different topic, his is an RP set in a pre-modern desert city. Your characters are normal people trying to survive and prosper. Hope you enjoy.

Tips: This is set in a pre-modern world, so there are no guns or science fiction items. Also there is no magic, except maybe an occasional divine artifact. That mean conflict will have to be settled the old-fashioned way, with swords, shields, and diplomacy. I will decide what characters are legal or not.

New Concepts: This will for the most part be a freeform RP. I am, however, implementing a new concept of a semi-GM. I will not control outcomes and the like because that would be restricting creativity. Instead, I will occasionally post a GM post, where event would be declared that people might have to react to, and faction relations will be shown. I also promise not to use my GM abilities to unfairly heighten my character.

Character Creation:
Name: Please make it realistic.

Age: 15 is considered adult, 60 is old.

Appearance: Please give a written description, and/or a picture of your character.

Personality: Please give a description of your characters personal traits.

History: Please give a description of your characters history.

Status: Your characters social status. It can change throughout the game. You can choose one of three.

Urchin- Lives on the street doing odd, unsteady jobs.

Middle- Lives in small houses, or huts, doing more steady jobs.

Upper- Usually either an heir or heiress, valued supporter of the king, or skilled businessman.

Career: What your character does for a living. It can change throughout the game.

Faction- Choose a faction that you have aligned yourself with. It can change throughout the game. They are as follows:


The Underground- Not a specifically defined faction, but more a series of connections. They are made up of assassins, shady-dealers, etc.

The Merchants Guild- Bases them selves in the marketplace. They are made up of merchants, traders, and artisans that are trying to boost the economy.

The Royal Assistants- Base them selves in the palace, and the royal houses. They are made up of supporters of the emperor.

The Developers- Base themselves in the hospital, the lab, and the greenhouse. They are made up of scientists, doctors, and alchemists that are trying to turn the desert landscape into a more suitable environment.

The Shields- Base them selves in the barracks, and gate house. They protect the city, and its city from outer invasion, but are starting to develop their own political views. They are usually made up of warriors, and tacticians.

The Zealots- Base them selves in the church. They know them selves as The Purifiers, and are made up of religious fanatics that will try and convert anyone to worship Zaed.

My Character

Name: Tasni Orcha

Age: 24

Appearance: Tall, and lanky. He has long dark brown hair that reaches mid-back. He is rather shady looking, and wears scarred leather armor under a long flowing white robe. He has a small pointy nose, and piercing blue eyes.

Personality: He keeps to himself. He is careful in what he says, and may sound over-bearing at times, but he has a kind heart. He does omit a somewhat shady aura, however, that you have to get used to.

History: He was abandoned when he was born. He was found and taken in by some street urchins who brought him up, and taught him how to fight, and live on the street. At the age of 15 he fell in love with a nobleman’s daughter, a pretty, young girl. She showed him love, and he developed kindness, and a heart. He soon realized that his friends, assassins, were unjust, and cruel. He abandoned them. Two days later a hit was declared on his lover, and she died of a slit throat. He swore revenge on her killers, and took up assassin work, but he never took cruel or unjust jobs.

Status: Urchin


Career: Assassin

Faction: The Underground

Where to Next: When I feel we have enough people, I will start us off with my first GM post.

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

Name: Evanthe Oakblosom

Age: 18

Appearance: Her eyes appear to be a link to an undersea cavern, you look into them and see the water shimmering, the black gaing end of the cavern far off. She seems to be able to stare right into your soul. Her skin is flawless, smooth, and moon-pale. Her hair falls in waves to her waist, the colors a wonderful mix of red, blonde, and brown, providing a lovely shade of strawberry blonde. Her frame is lean and petite, all curves. Her face a magnificent heart shape, the strands of hair fall to cup her face. Her feet are small and danity, yet hold a lot of power. She wears a long skirt slited on both sides clean up to her hips, with a hair of midthigh length shorts underneth. The skirt a clean white, the shorts black. She wears a belly shirt with long sleves, which end at a tilt. Her shoulders are somewhat bare, and her shirt has a small v, with a crisscrossing black string. Around her neck is an amulet she doesn't remember the origin of. On her feet are a part on large boots when she's traveling, or a pair of small slippers when she is preforming. Both are black. Her eyes are wide, the lashes natrually wide and lush. Her lips are constantly chapped however, due to a knack for forgetting to drink. Her nose is always grimy, with smears of dirt on it.

Personality: A quiest girl, she isn't very talkitive. She's been burned in the past, and no longer trusts as easily, if you do earnher trust though, she'll defend you to death. Very protective and smart, she is easily mistaken for violent. She's not though, all she wants is peace. She is very loyal, and nothing is closer ot her then the few friends she has. One of her downsides though, is that her temper is one of hte worst. If you get her angry, you aren't likely to live it down anytime soon. Nor are you about to recover from the wounds anytime soon. She can be cold and calculated to those she doesn't know.

History: She was born to a rather rich man, but soon bored of that life. Her father nad mother adored her, and made sure she had the bightest knowledge, and an extreme knowledge of martial arts . She was soon consdered a very good fighter, one who had earned that title. When he father tried to marry her off, no one except a grizzly old man would take her, so she an off. Since then she has been livign as an enntertainer, using her soothing and soft voice to earn herself a living. She recently found a wolf pup, and has tuaght it tricks to help her. The pup remains by her side at all times, and is Evanthe's only true friend at the moment.

Status: Middle
Career: Entertainer

Faction- The Merchants Guild- somewhat

[bookwizard]

Am part of way to many of these, but am going to give this one a try, here it goes...


Name: Philip Sursen

Age: 55

Appearance:



Personality: Very kind, and very direct, he is a strong believer in the church, but has his own way of expressing his beliefs. He is never slow to help any urchin on the street, for he posses a large amount of money and land, and loves to help those in need. He has acquired many enemies in the church as well, because of his quick rising through the ranks, and direct ways.

History: Philip grew up in a neat large house, with his father, who was a priest. His father was the one of which he acquired his opinion on how the church should be run, and howe direct he is about it. After his father died when he was 19, he took over as priest of the church his father had been working at. He stayed there for about 10 years until he was successfully elected prior, and has stayed in that position for most of his life now. He leads services, helps the income of the church greatly, is organizing a new cathedral, and helps the poor on a daily basis.

Status: Upper, but insists in living in a modest house

Career: Prior of Ish'anfe, which is right under the Bishop

Faction: The Zealots

[duffman666]

Name: Atticus Kaine

Age: 31

Appearance: Kaine is a tall gentleman measuring at 6ft 2" he is of a muscular build due to the training his father made him undergo as a child and continued into his later life. He has short cut black hair and is usually seen in expensive finery with a small silver dagger under his robes.He has slate gray eyes and a beak like noise

Personality: Kaine is a very intellectual and intelligent man after receiving a good education from private tutors paid for by his father. Kaine always tries to talk himself out of a situation only raising a blade if no other options is available. Kaine however see himself as better than the lower classes holding huge prejudice against them branding them all as thieves and liars. Kaine himself is not religious but as he must deal with the Zead due to his job he keeps an aura of general religiousness around him

History: The son of a rich merchant and the daughter of a noble man he received the best education he could his parents provided everything for then only son spoiling him as much as they could. His father insisted he was trained in combat and all the other things he would need to be a nobleman. When Kaine was offered the position of a diplomat in the royal court his father was thrilled and rushed out to find him but he was killed mugged in a dark alley and stabbed. This drove Kaine wild with vengeance and to this day he is still troubled with this knowing the man who killed his father is still out there on the streets.

Status: Upper

Career: Royal Diplomat

Faction: Royal Assistance

[Tavanesh]

This is a reminder to all who have created characters, and all that will create characters. Everyone is human! That means you can not be the best at anything, and you can't be really good at everything. Thank you.

[Tshern]

Name: Theodorus Sliam
Age: 38
Appearance: The entire of figure of Theodorus tells about years spent in wars and underground fighting rings and this huge man stands at 6'6'' and as violence has been his way of solving problems eversince his childhood, his muscles are large and well-developed. He always keeps his head bald and makes sure his beard is in check. Brown eyes, plenty of scars and a few fingers crooked in a way that implies severe fractures.
History: Born to a poor family usually means either living a life of a poor person or quite literally fighting your way out of it. Theodorus quickly chose the latter path and grew familiar with omnipresent violence of the dark nights of his home city. Endurace, strength, determination and streetwise nature made up his lack of intelligence and he survived over the roughest years of his life and in his late 20's he surprised all by becoming a devout believer.

His special talents were swiftly realized by the church and for a decade he has worked as the main problemsolver of the church. Vandals, infidels, nonbelievers, you name, should watch out whenever he is near, because he might be after anyone and any given moment.

Status: Middle
Career: Problemsolver
Organization: Zealots, formerly Underground

[scissorkitty]

name: Tekeuro (or Tek as a shortform) Delsdatter
age: mid twenties, possibly older (though most likely not by much)
appearance: A shorter, stocky woman in her mid to late twenties, Tek has wide hazel eyes, a friendly smile, and arms thick with muscle. She's as like to smack you with the sturdy cudgel held in her belt as she is to hug you. Tek wears close fitting black leggings under calf-tall lace up leather boots- with a bit of heel to make her taller. She has on a black, thigh-length sleeveless tunic, cut with a low v-neck, over a brown long sleeved shirt, also cut low to show off an ample bosom- and further propagate sales.
She has a thick leather belt around her midsection, behind which rests the cudgel, as well as several small pouches carrying various things. She has freckles across her nose, several piercings in her ears, and her dark brown hair is cut in a swingy bob style just below her chin.

personality: friendly, helpful, distrustful of shady characters, but willing to give most a chance. It doesn't matter to Tek where someone comes from- it's the attitude with which they come that will earn them either a cookie or a good beating.

History: Tek's father, Dell, was a small-town merchant. Growing up alongside his expertise, Tek became more and more part of the business until, with Dell's eventual retirement, she took over the stall completely. A very competent business woman, Tek runs a tight ship. She'll sell anything to anyone- but only on her own judgment. What she says goes. Her father still lives in Ish’anfe in a nice little house, surrounded by his friendly old cronies.

status: middle
career: merchant of mostly anything, including baked goods on occasion
faction: merchant class with ties all over the place

[Phang]

Name: Deiz Mium

Age: 21

Appearance: Though not so tall, quite slender and almost angular - commented by some to be near birdlike. Wide blue eyes seem to watch everything at once. Wears a lot of loose-fitting black, with a needle-like dagger tucked into her belt.

Personality: Distrustful at best, paranoid at worst; Deiz is highly suspicious of new people and change, which leads to her having an uncanny tendency to find out information she shouldn't.

History: At a young age, Deiz was taken in by the very same group who murdered her parents. She was tortured by half-known memories of them and, still not knowing the reasons why, was eventually driven to attempt murder. She failed, but her 'carers' saw talent and, along with an increase in security, forced her into training to serve them. So she does - knowing one day there shall be vengenace and the truth...

Status: Middle

Career: Spy and assassin*

Faction: The Underwhere...uh, Underground


*Lol, I said ass. Twice.

[Tavanesh]

Please note that the following factions are full, and can no longer be applied for:
The Merchant's Guild
The Underground
The Zealots

Thank You.

[The White Blacksmith]

Name: Mariana Otine

Age: 12

Appearance:
(sorry about the size)

Personailty: Withdrawn and shy, but a good friend to anyone who takes the time to know her. Not afraid to speak her mind about something she feels strongly about, but otherwise will always be content to stand in the corner and listen. Slightly mysterious because of this, so some can be afraid of her.

History: Left as a baby on the servant's doorstep of the palace, so was taken in by them. Has been working since age 5, with the basic education and trainging she needs. Rarely leaves the palace grounds, as there is so much to do inside, and so has little knowledge of the city proper. However, knows the palace like the back of her hand.

Status: Middle

Career: Royal servant

Faction: The Royal Assistants

[Tavanesh]

Please note that the following factions are full, and can not be applied for:
The Royal Assistants

[bookwizard]

It seems there is a very large amount of people now, shall we start this RP at any time soon, Zead is calling me.

[Tavanesh]

I'm psyched about playing this as well, but there are just a couple more people I am waiting on. Thank you.

[NeverNeverGirl]

Name: Zeta Carlway

Age: 26

Appearance: Medium build, healthy, green eyes (see pic)

Personality: A very placid, friendly person. She is not easy to anger and is more into meditation than aggression. She is very zen though do not be mistaked she is not a fool. Shes intelligent and has a sense of loyalty. Trustworthy. has a house full of plants and sunlight.

History: From a two parent family both still alive and ordinary, she has older brothers (3), discovered a skill for ecological sciences, so chose that career field. Is a very satisfied person. She lives on her own and is content with that. No relationships in her past, no skeletons in her closet.

Status: Middle- Lives in small houses, or huts, doing more steady jobs.

Career: Zeta is a greenhouse attendant. She maintains the delicate ecological balance of the greenhouses for the Imperial family. She is not interested in plots and intrigue, she is steady reliable and efficient. Her job seems to be just watering plants but is in reality a very difficult task of cross polenising plantlife in an effort to produce certain desired results.

Faction- Developer

[Tavanesh]

While seeing that we have a lot of people, I think it's about time we get started. Since their still isn't anyone on the shields, I will be accepting one or two more chracters, but for now I'll start us off with my first GM Post.

[Tavanesh]

GM Post 1

Event None
We're just getting started. Don't worry, something will happen soon.

Faction Relations Everyone is on neutral terms.

[bookwizard]

Philip walked down the dusty road to the church he was planning to give a sermon to, it was in a very bad part of town. What the rich arrogant clergy had nicknamed urchin churches, but Philip being himself was determined to make all churches in the favor of Zead. He would give these people hope and then give money to keep there church in good shape. He walked in to this broken down church and as many times before all the urchins stared at him as if he was zead himself. He prepared to preach his sermon, and everyone waited expectantly...

[Tavanesh]

Tasni ran through the twisting black alleys, the sand underneath his feet. The shouts of men, not so far behind, clouded his ears. He did not falter, though, for at times like this he wore a mask of grim determination. He sped along until he reached what he was looking for. A small rope ladder leading to the building tops. He jumped on it, and climbed up pulling it up behind him. Then he pocketed the bloody knife that had stabbed a merchant that had scammed one to many customers....

[duffman666]

Kaine walked the dusty streets of the rich sector of town they were quite except for the usual heavy guard presence. Kaine adjusted his belt tightening the leather strap around his money bag. Kaine was wearing dark red red robes which had a intricate purple pattern around the hem.

Kaine rounded the corner to the gate which separated the rich sector from the poor he gestured to the guard to open the gate shifting the tube of letters under his arm he had to take these papers to some priest in the urchin church "god he hated the poor sector" He thought as he entered the loud smelly atmosphere of the slums

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

Evanthe stood on top of a building, sitting with her legs hanging off, enjoying the breeze. She knew she wasn't in teh safeest part of down, but this had the best view. She heard footsteps, and for a moment didn't want to look back, but she did. Swinging her legs over the ledge, she stood up and looked at the man before her. He appeared slightly shady, but appearences could decieve. Then she caught the glint of metal. Ah, oh well. So long as his weapon doesn't point towards me, he is not an enemy of mine. She looked down at her wolf pup, Tala, who was stareing intently on the newcomer. Evanthe then looked back up, and smilely lightly.
"Hello."

[duffman666]

(((((OOC This Is a Desert I don't think you encounter many wolves in the desert i think its mainly as they die of the heat just a suspicion))))

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

((she found the wolf pup, nursed it back to help, and it now caring for it))

[duffman666]

(((I have made a mistake if its an Egyptian wolf im fine with it i thought you meant like a gray wolf my apologies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Wolf)))

[Tshern]

It was another day of living hell for Theodorus. He had to live on a planet with heathens, evildoers and infidels who surrounded him and his religion like an overwhelming blackcloud of hellfire and brimstone. However, all the might the cloud of evil could muster would conquer Theodorus' mind or make him surrender his ideals. Before he was nothing but a thug, but now he is a devout believer, or even more, he is the law of the righteous, hammer of the divine!

As established, this was nothing but an ordinary day for Theodorus. Training like crazy while muttering religious mantras and using his contacts to find that vandal who threw rotten tomatoes to the walls of the church. None would get away with such a desecration. While walking through the marketplace, he got a lot of attention as he was not only of respectable size, but a feared figure who was known for giving no mercy to unbelievers. This time his search yielded no result, so he came back to the temple to conduct a rigorous prayer and making small sacrifices to the gods.

"Only the lords above know I am their humblest servant. Bringer of justice, smiter of the pharisees and, above all, the divine tool of god. Give me strength to live on this rotten globe of rock..." he muttered.

[bookwizard]

Philip started his sermon...


Everyone is equal and unique in the great eyes of zead, he has given us the gift of life for a reason. There is always evil yes, but even evil people are looked upon kindly in zeads eyes. We must kill the evil ones to bring them closer to zead so he may help them, for we can not. To do your duty to zead you must...ect


After the service was over Philip went over to one corner of the room to answer the urchins questions, and relive them of sins. This would take a large amount of time, but he did not care, he enjoyed it...

[duffman666]

Kaine eventually reached the urchin church checking his money pouch was still there before entering. He made the holy triangle with his two for fingers and thumbs and bowed before entering.

The church was not like any he had seen they normally had vast stain glass windows and flowing tapestry depicting Zead but not here it was plain furnished with wooden pews and the occasional wooden triangle he reached the corner and saw the priest and waited patiently by the alter for him

[Tavanesh]

Tasni flew across the building tops. This merchant must of had good friends, for men were still chasing him on the ground below. He sped into a sprint, and vaulted across a particularily wide alley. Shouting from the ground below urged him on. As he ran he passed a small girl with a wolf pup. He ignored them for he didn't have time to question. He continued on, until something happened that he had not factored into his plan. As Tasni went to jump across another alley, he heard a twang. It was too late. The arrow slammed into his lower thigh in mid jump, and he was thrown into the ground below. He quickly, ignoring the pain, rolled out of the alley, and saw one of the old urchin churches. It was his only hope. He crawled inside.....

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

Tavanesh wrote: Tasni flew across the building tops. This merchant must of had good friends, for men were still chasing him on the ground below. He sped into a sprint, and vaulted across a particularily wide alley. Shouting from the ground below urged him on. As he ran he passed a small girl with a wolf pup, and a man. He ignored them for he didn't have time to question. He continued on, until something happened that he had not factored into his plan. As Tasni went to jump across another alley, he heard a twang. It was too late. The arrow slammed into his lower thigh in mid jump, and he was thrown into the ground below. He quickly, ignoring the pain, rolled out of the alley, and saw one of the old urchin churches. It was his only hope. He crawled inside..... ((oy! My charrie was talking to YOU!))

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

Evanthe watched as hte man rushed off, confused. Then she heard the twang of the arrow. Sighing, she leaned over it to see him rushing inside the church. Maybe. . . she shook her head. She didn't know the guy, why did she suddenly feel like she needed to help him? Glancing down at Tala, she decided something. She was gonna help him. She slowly climbed down the rope ladder and walked in front of hte confused people that had been chasing the man. She pretended to have just spotted them, and set about trying to useing her voice and martial arts to stall them. Whoever you are, I hope to god this helps.

[The White Blacksmith]

Mariana pocketed her dustcloth with a smile of satisfaction. She had just finished dusting the intricate loops and folds of the carvings on te wall of one of the more important palace temples. There was going to be a ceremony tomorrow, and the carvings required expert attention to detail. She had already mopped the floor, and some more servants were coming soon, to polish and fix things.

As she started strolling back to the foodhall, she heard the crash of glass breaking and raised voices. Something had gone wrong, and by the sound of it it was in the ecology greenhouses. The professors there are so fussy, she thought, I don't know how anyone gets through an apprenticeship. No doubt they'll need someone to clean up the mess again. Muttering curses under her breath, she started to run towards the commotion.

[bookwizard]

After all the work with the people was done, Philip walked to the priest and gave him a sack of gold coins, "this is for the church he said, get some tapestries, and statures, add-on, and make it truly in the favor of zead". Philip walked away as the pries continued to stutter his thanks, thats when he spotted the strange aristocrat standing at the alter. So he calmly approached him and kindly asked "and what beings you into the holy abode of zead on this day my good sir".

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

The men were not amused by her tricks and singing. They were much to focused on finding that man. One lifted his hand to strike her even, but she quickly dodged. The man said, or rather yelled,"Begone wench! We are searching for a killer, otherwise we would never even be in you disgusting area!" Evanthe refrained from mmaking an outburst, merely bowe dher head and walked over to the church. She inwardly sighed as she walked in. Churches, oh how they could get annoying. Well, not hem rather, the people inside who seemed adament on getting ehr to believe in zead. She looked over at the man she'd seen before and bent next to him. "You're wounded, do you need any help?"

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

Evanthe had a starnge tingling ont he back of her neck, and turned tos ee prists rushing over to the man. Standing, she noticed Tala was gone. Icy fear grippedher gut, and she rushed otuside. Breaking out into a run, she franitcally looked for her wolf. She had just opened her mouth to call for her when she spotted her wolf being held in the hands of a dangerous looking man. oh no. she shifted into a fighting stance, and hear a vocie say. "Move and the wolf dies." She bit ehr lip and she felt the slide of metal rest on her neck. Aman who had slid behind her licked his lips noisily. "Looks like we've got quite a prize here."

[duffman666]

"I am Diplomat Kaine of our majesty's high court I have been sent here today as your signature are needed on some important parchments." Kaine pulled the parchments from the leather tube he held under his arm.

"There just your usual parchments about the Zead's but there is also a more important parchment in there our neighboring country has gone to far again they have been crossing our borders and stealing our resources it is a parchment saying the zead support our cause"

Kaine looked around there were urchins everywhere Kaine grasped his money bag out of fear it would be stolen as he waited for the cleric to sign the paper endorsing a war which would send many men to there deaths

[Tshern]

After finishing his prayer and eating his lunch he got back to his work. This time it meant hunting for the bunch of hoodloms who threw stones through the church window breaking all the expensive and historical glass paintings. In the morning he had no luck, but right now the self-proclaimed hammer of the divine had a good feeling about this. "I will find those desecrators and make them pay..." he muttered and left his apartment.

His instincts once again were worth trusting, only an hour had passed before he spotted an interesting view. All three vandals talking to a girl and while holding a wolf that apparently meant something to her. Silently, but with conviction he walked behind the man who held the wolf and grabbed him to a chokehold only using his huge right hand. The wolf dropped on her feet and ran to the girl while Theodorus thunderously exclaimed "You filthy pagans! I have been looking for you and if the two of you move, I will snap the neck of your dirty leader! We're going to take you to the authorities."

All three criminals were shaking as they knew Theodorus' reputation as a ruthless man who used anything at his disposal to catch anyone defying the church. They, however, did not know that before he used to be just like them, only stronger. "Girl, I need you to come down to the station, your testimony will give them a longer sentence. I figure ye won't mind punishing these punks," Theodorus said to Evanthe and his tone made it certain that it was not a suggestion, but an order. Having said that he gestured her to follow him and started walking towards the local barracks.