forum Hope is your survival. // OxO // closed

Started July 30, 2019 by @croccin-champagne

tune

This may or may not be a reboot of another rp of mine, but it is for a fact loosely based off of The Kiss of Deception, though you don't have to have read that book or the series to join.

The kingdom of Katolis and the kingdom of Virnia have a complicated history, one fraught with war and tension, tension that hasn't left even now. For centuries, the two kingdoms have barely been able to call themselves allies, and at a few points, were quite the opposite. But with the threat of a kingdom rising from the ashes of it's former glory on the horizon, the Kings of these two kingdoms set up an arrangement. An arranged marriage, to be specific, between the Crown Princess of Katolis and the Crown Prince of Virnia.

There's one main problem with this plan, though. The Crown Princess doesn't want to get married, not to someone she doesn't know.

Seraphina Katoli is known for her fiery hair and attitude to match, a free spirit and hopeless romantic at the same time. And she desperately wants to fall in love, but she wants to do it on her own terms. So the only logical solution, obviously, is to run. On the day of her wedding, she flees with her lady-in-waiting, determined to charter her own path and seize her own future. They make it to a small-ish portside town, popular with traders and fishermen, and settle down to live a life they've chosen themselves.

But fate has other plans for Sera, whether she likes it or not.

The open spot for this one's kinda vague and mostly up to you. Sticking to the theme of the books, there are a few options. The first, is the jilted prince, tracking down and finding the bride that pretty much ditched him before even reaching the altar. The second, could be an assassin, whether from the uprising kingdom without a name yet, or from either of the already named kingdoms. If you come up with something you'd like more, run it by me.

1. No OP characters, or I will yeet your ass outta here before you can say 'this bitch empty'. I can't stand invincible characters, man.

2. Proper grammar, punctuation, and capitalization, please. I can get making a few mistakes, when you're tired, or English ain't your first language(It's mine, and even I have my issues), but if it's too common a thing, it irks the hell outta me. Call me a bitch, but hey.

3. Slurs, homophobia, transphobia, rascism, sexism, anything that ends in -ism and that harms or promotes the harm of other people will not be tolerated. See my first threat.

4. Detailed-ish responses, please. Think three or more sentences. To keep it going.

5. Please, be on fairly often. Vacations, school, and jobs are all things I can get, but I'd like for this to have a regular pace!

6. Mary Sues/Gary Stues are the worst. Don't be That Guy. Think of your characters as actual people. Give them flaws, give them emotions(unless they're specifically lacking in emotions, as an actual part of their character. In which case, carry on.)

7. I have the full right to add and edit this list. I also have the right to boot you if you're causing too many problems.

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Sexuality:
Appearance:
Usual Clothing/Style(think the normal fantasy adventure land shit. Not modern.):
Backstory:
Fears:
Skills:
Magic(if applicable. keep in mind that it's not super common):
Other:

Name: Seraphina Katoli
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Pansexual
Appearance: Dark red/bronze hair that, when it catches the right light, looks like flames atop her head. Cut choppily to about the bottoms of her shoulder blades, and often has small braids in it, with the occasional colorful bead or feather. 5'4 and curvy, though she's managed to put on some muscle, and has quite a bit of strength hidden under the softer look. Tanned skin, with a smattering of freckles on her cheeks and overtop her nose, and a few scattered on her shoulders.
Has a scar across the bridge of her nose from having her face slammed down onto a counter top, and her nose is kind of crooked because of it. Also has gained various scars from other fights she's gotten in the middle of to brake apart, and a couple burn scars from accidentally knocking something over in the tavern's kitchen. What look like bite marks from something definitely canine mar the skin of her left side.
Almond shaped eyes that are a bright gold, and spark when she's angry. They match the color of the markings along her right arm, flame designs trailing from her wrist to her shoulder and part of her upper back on that side.
Usual Clothing/Style: Easy to move in trousers, usually in black or brown. These are tucked into black boots that come up to her mid-shin, boots made for easy running and riding. White button ups are her preferred top, because they're neat and just professional enough for the tavern, but also because they cover her markings. The sleeves are usually down, but if she's sure no one is around, she'll roll them up to get something done. An apron, if she's working, but she always has multiple pouches on her belt, and keeps a dagger in her boot. Her hair is kept back most of the time with a colorful beaded scarf, and she's got more than one. One of the few things she brought with her was a pendant her mother gave her(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/578853358336909999/) before she died, and she wears it on a thin leather cord.
Backstory: Bullet points for the sake of my one am brain
~Despite her parents both being royals of such high station, Sera grew up very loved, and was taught that her people were important, but so was she.
~However, when she was fifteen, her mother fell ill with an incurable sickness.
~Sera promised to find a cure, but was ultimately unsuccessful, and her mother passed a little while after Sera's sixteenth birthday.
~Her father, in his grief, blamed her, and hasn't spoken with her since the Queen's passing.
~Things very much went downhill from here, as the Queen wasn't around to put a stop to royals and people of high status being bitchy and toxic to Sera, and it developed some long lasting effects, including her inability to eat around other people.
~When she found out she was to be married, it was about two months before the wedding itself was scheduled. She tried to go through with it, she really did, but she couldn't, and so the day of, she and her best friend and lady-in-waiting fled the castle, towards the coast.
~They both got jobs at a tavern in a small fishing and mercenary town, and have stayed there for almost two moths, minus a few weeks, that were spent travelling and avoiding soldiers.
Fears: Terrified of dogs, scared of what will happen to the people she cares about if she's caught, and deep down, what will happen to her. Is scared of falling in love, because she doesn't want to go through the pain of losing them.
Skills: A people person, good at manipulating when need be. Can be absolutely terrifying, despite her height. Not bad with knives, and speaks quite a few languages, and is good at picking new ones up. Good with animals.
Magic: She's under the impression that it's only speaking with animals, which nobody else ever figures is what she's doing, or really believes. However, she did gain another ability from her mother's side, though it has yet to show itself. Basically, Pyrokinesis.
Other: Has a cat.

This sounds interesting. I haven't read the book, but I want to try it out. I could be the prince, tracking Seraphina with a small escort. Or the assassin hired by the rising kingdom, undercover and waiting for the time to strike. Or I could be one of the soldiers in the prince's escort, chancing upon Seraphina by complete accident.

Is there one of those that you'd rather do?

Also, it's totally cool if you haven't read the books, they're more just inspiration for bits of this than anything.

I dont really have anything in particular that i want to do. Honestly, they're equally appealing

In that case, I could flip a coin to narrow them down, if you'd like?

Yeah, flipping a coin could work

The coins hath spoken, and soldier has been decided upon. Poor guy, he's going to end up going through hell just because he accidentally stumbled upon the Princess.

Also, I can't remember if I mentioned this, it's likely I didn't, considering how late I made this, but if our characters have chemistry, then romance was originally the end goal with this. Well, one of.

I feel kind of sorry for the soldier. But welp, fate can't be denied. As for the romance, we'll see where it goes. Sometimes our characters get a mind of their own in roleplays.

That's why the chemistry's important. Without it, the romance never really works out well.

Anyway! Fill out the temp and post it, and then we can get started!

Name: Zachary Rimmer
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Straight

Appearance: Choppy brown hair, it's jagged edges left over from when he last hacked it off with a dagger. It's kept short enough to be manageable, but just long enough to be styled. Somewhat. His life as a soldier allowed him to keep fit, gaining some muscles and a scar on his face to show for it. He has fair skin, occasionally marred here and there by bruises.
Usual Clothing/Style(think the normal fantasy adventure land shit. Not modern.): He is expected to be at the prince's side at all times, and his clothing reflects that. A soft wool tunic is worn underneath a shirt of chainmail, with a steel cuirass bearing the seal of the prince worn over everything. Similar layers of armor are worn on his legs. His arms are guarded with padded gauntlets, but they are the most mobile bit of him. Of course, he can't be expected to wear this much armor all the time, so when he isn't actively escorting the prince, he walks around in his chainmail hidden under civilian clothing. But wherever he goes, he never leaves his sword behind.

Backstory: Zachary was lowborn, one of the peasants scrambling in the dust for enough money to scrape by. When the local lord announced an upcoming tournament, he saw it as a chance to earn some money. So he trained with a stick he found until the day of the competition. His training paid off, as he managed to beat back his fellow villagers. But once he was done with them, by some twisted turn of fate, he was matched up against one of his lord's knights. Zachary fought bravely, but he was eventually disarmed and forced to yield. After the tournament, the knight sought him out. He saw his potential, and offered to take him on as his squire. Of course, Zachary accepted. And he climbed the ranks through sheer willpower and determination, eventually being noticed by the prince himself and selected to be his escort in his hunt for the princess.

Fears: He is scared of disgracing himself, and falling out of favor. He climbed all the way to the top, and being knocked back to the beginning would be his worst nightmare.
Skills: He is a master swordsman, worthy of being called the prince's escort. He is also able to go long days without eating(a trait remaining from his past). In a pinch, he's good with his fists too.

sorry it was raining for a week straight over here, and wifi was cut off

It's totally cool dude, don't worry! Also, I love Zachary with all my heart.

I'll get up a starter as soon as I can. It's late, and I tend to get carried away with them, but I'll try and get it posted tonight.

There was something about the Lucky Clam that drew people in. Whether it was the tavern's good food, good beer, music or even the sense of family and companionship, there was something there for most people. Locals often brought their children in for a good meal and dancing, and sailors often came in off of the boats to grab a pint of something and swap stories of mermaids and sea creatures and storms, not all of which were entirely true. It was a warm and inviting place, maybe just a bit loud, and the locals here in Port Hennsfer loved it.

For Seraphina Katoli, it was even more.

It had become a home to her, a sanctuary that had made a perfect hideaway from her father's soldiers, and a place where she could choose whatever she wanted, be it a path, work, or companionship of varying degrees. It was a home. And Sera couldn't be happier with the luck she'd had in finding it, in landing here with Lizzie and Ares. Though travelling would be wonderful, so would a quiet life here, with her best friend, her cat, and the friends she was making.

Tonight wasn't the busiest night the Lucky Pearl had seen, by far, but it was busy enough that Sera made note of it. Almost two months ago, she and Lizzie had arrived in town, Sera with a tattered wedding dress stuffed into a cheap rucksack, and Lizzie with a cat in her arms. They'd searched first for a job and then a place to stay, finding both at the mercy of Maria, the kind and feisty middle-aged woman who ran the tavern, and leased the rooms above it on occasion. The rest had been history.

Tapping her coworker Caleb on the shoulder as she passed him, motioning to a family waiting for a server, the runaway carried a tray of glasses in one hand and a pitcher in the other with a grace that had only come from many broken cups, headed for a table near the door. She chatted with the patrons as she passed their tables, laughing and smiling and greeting each like an old friend, until she reached her destination. The joke one of the fishermen told her had her laughing almost uncontrollably, until she fired another back that had his whole table in tears as she poured their drinks, blissfully unaware of the twist the Fates would be throwing her that night.

"Make way! Make way for the Prince of Virnia!"
Zachary was in front, proudly displaying the prince's banner and clearing the path for the prince's horse. The villagers crowded around the edges of the road, murmuring among themselves as the prince and his escorts passed. The knights were wary, keeping their hands on their swords at all times and staring down anyone who came too close. It has been a long journey of misleading rumors and dead ends, but finally, they came across someone who told of a girl living in Port Hennsfer matching the description. The person left with a purse full of gold, and the trail ended here.

"This better be worth it," One of the knights beside Zachary muttered, which caused him to elbow the knight.

"It's for the sake of the kingdoms," Zachary hissed, then noticed the Lucky Clam as they passed by. "I'll buy you a drink once we get the prince quartered. I hope this place has some decent drinks. I'm tired of drinking water all the time."

"Hey, Raph!" A shout drew Sera's attention, her head shooting up from the drinks she was gathering. Her eyes landed on Heidi's grinning face, as the blonde motioned from across the room toward the counter. "Lizzie need ya in the kitchen!"

"Tell 'er I'll be there in jus' a minute!" She called back, giving her coworker a two fingered salute. As she finished gathering empty cups, promising the fishermen that she'd return with another round of ale as soon as she was done, Sera was shocked again by the knowledge that she was happy. Just a few months ago, she'd been as far from it as someone could be, a shell of an undernourished girl, and nowhere near fit to be a Queen. And now, she still wasn't fit to be one. But she was happy.

She didn't look much like a princess, especially not with a tray wedged against one hip, her other hand free and waving to a group of kids that had gathered at a table next to their parents' table. Her hair was somewhat hidden, and she was dressed in an apron and a button up, but she was glowing, so unlike how she'd looked two months ago. She even spoke differently, in a commoner's accent that was laced with mirth and confidence, that she had originally developed to blend in. The accent itself had at some point managed to become a part of her, and served to help keep her from suspicion.

The prince and his escort made their way to the local lord's place, commandeering the best room they had and swiftly converting it into a room fit for royalty. The knights got rooms adjacent to the prince's, in case he was in danger, and posted two guards in front of his room. And once that was done, Zachary headed over to the Lucky Clam with a pouch full of money and some friends to relax and unwind after their long trip. Without their shiny plate armor, they didn't stand out too much from the crowd.
Still, they were new people. Knights escorting a prince into a small town. And rumors spread like wildfire, reaching the tavern before Zachary and co. even set foot in the place.

Five minutes later, by the time the Prince's escort had arrived at the Lucky Clam, Sera was already well aware of their arrival. Lizzie had worriedly pulled her in to the kitchen, rambling on about the Prince being in town, and Sera had just managed to calm her down and tell her to keep off the floor before they'd arrived. And, with a confidence and ease that didn't match the writhing fear in her gut, she stepped back out to greet his companions herself. None of her coworkers stopped her, though they knew something was off, but she did stop to greet a little girl who asked for something to feed the cat winding it's way around the floor. That drew a snort from Sera, who handed the girl a treat from her pocket for the cat before continuing to the door.

"Welcome t' the Lucky Clam." She greeted with a friendly grin, propping a hand on one hip and thanking the gods she'd remembered to check and secure the buttons of her sleeves. If the markings showed, she would be recognized and snatched up immediately. "I been hearin' that y'all're from the capital, so if it ain't been done yet, let me be the first t' welcome you t' Verity's Cape."

Zachary offered a polite smile. "Thanks for the welcome." The off-duty knights took a seat, looking around warily. He continued, "We need some good food and drink. The boys and I just came from a long journey, and need something to lift our spirits."
Fortunately for her, the escort seemed oblivious to who she really was. People see what they expect to see, and they only saw a small town serving girl ready to give them drinks. The fake accent that she adopted only served to convince them of the disguise.

"Spirit liftin' is what we're good at, tha's for sure." Sera didn't bother with a notepad. Her memory had never failed her when it came to orders. Or remembering things you would rather forget. Her smile didn't falter, never once belying her inner turmoil and wariness. "Anythin' specific, 'specially if any o' ya got allergies or preferences?" Her lack of a notepad was odd, but not really anything most people would notice, or even connect to the Princess's memory.

Zachary shrugged, and looked over at his friends. They each called out drinks one by one, requests that they had no doubt been saving since they heard that they were travelling to a port.
"My friends will have their drinks. Me? I'd rather have a cold drink and a warm meal." He paused for a moment, thinking. "Bring me one of the local meals. Something simple, that anybody could afford."
He was trying to pass this off as saving his money, but in all honesty, he wanted some 'peasant food' as the knights called it. It was good to have something somewhat familiar in a foreign place.

"A'ight, I'll have those right ou' for ya." Sera promised, a quick nod accompanying her words before she spun on her heel. Marius was on bar duty tonight, as he was technically the only one of them hired for the serving of drinks. They tended to swap though, different duties for different nights. Some nights, she was the one behind the bar. Others, she took Maria's place in the kitchen. Whatever worked.

It took a little less than ten minutes for the drinks to be poured, and the food to be made, but soon she had all of it on two trays, balance carefully on her hands as she made her way back to the soldiers. She could feel Lizzie's eyes on her now, as her friend had finally gathered the courage to leave the kitchen and continue working. She stayed far away from the soldiers though, and Sera didn't blame her.

"Here ya go!" She said, her voice raised just enough to be heard over the constant noise and music. She set one tray on the table, handing each drink to it's respective orderer without issue, and then moved to the next tray. "An' beef stew was yours." There was a slightly wrinkling to her nose, as though just the mention of beef grossed her out. "'S a popular one 'round here."

Zachary and the others took their meals and drinks without much fuss, and proceeded to unwind. It's been a long journey and they felt that they deserved a break.
They talked and laughed among themselves, drinking merrily. Pretty soon, others were drawn to the newcomers, tentative at first, then welcoming as the escorts gradually grew drunker and more merry. Weeks of saved up wages were used to buy a round of drinks. And then another. And another. The escorts were surrounded by locals at this point, laughing and making friends with the power of alcohol breaking down barriers.

Zachary disentangled himself from the crowd once it started to get a little loud, and stumbled onto the window - almost slamming into Sera. "Oh… Hey, sorry 'bout tha" His speech was a little slurred and he was a little unsteady, but he wasn't as drunk as he seemed. He couldn't handle alcohol as well as his peers.

Sera left the soldiers to their meals after tucking the money into her apron, on occasion coming back to take more orders. She left them to their conversations though, finding herself smiling as they drew in quite the audience. Whether local or visiting, the people in the tavern where curious, and they loved a good story.

It was maybe an hour later, as she was gathering empty dishes from tables, that Sera had any sort of contact with one of the soldiers.

"Oh…. Hey, sorry 'bout tha'."

She just managed to keep ahold of the tray of dirty dishes in her hand as she stepped out of the way of the drunken soldier, a flicker of something passing over her face before quickly being replaced by a smile. "Don' sweat it, sir. I was the one no' watchin' where I was goin', anyway. Lookin' for a breather? 'S gettin' loud o'er there." Not as loud as the group of rowdy fishermen in the corner, who'd been told to quiet down twice now. One more issue with a server or patron would have Sera over there to throw them out, as she was the only one willing to start and end a fight if she had to. The scar over the freckles on her nose was proof of that.

Zachary took a deep breath, rubbing his face with a sleeve. "Yeah. I don't do well with crowds." He grimaced, "You must be an expert with those."
This was the first time he got a good look at the waitress after he got here. And it could be the alcohol talking, but she was attractive. "I didnt catch your name..?"
Sure, he did not have time to pursue anyone. Especially not with him being on the road all the time. But a name would be nice, at least.