This thread is for players to brainstorm character concepts among each other, decide on the group's role/theme, work out any background ties/experiences, etc. If your concept involves something the other players probably shouldn't know, post the character's known details here and message me privately with anything else. Also, bear in mind that while beginning play as a party is very convenient, it is not required. Some of the most enjoyable groups form during the course of early friendships or adventures.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 1):

I guess I'll start this ball rolling.

Conceptually, I'm considering either a Sanctuary Aeon priest, or an Ex-Soldier of the Stigmata Garrison that has become an Imperial Cohort in order to bodyguard a noble.

I might want to get some idea of what our GM envisions, and maybe what some of the other PCs preferences are, before I commit to something.

As of now, I'm not envisioning anything concretely - primarily due to the fact that I'll be tailoring the Epic to the characters (and players' preferences) rather than the other way around. So this thread is really here for each of you to air any and all potential character concepts that you can see yourselves getting behind, but you don't have to commit to any of those concepts yet.

This is more of an opportunity to brainstorm ideas for characters publically, rather than privately, so that each of you can get a general feel for what kinds of characters the other players in the group might like to play, and evaluate your own concepts accordingly.

For instance, each player might start off by listing 4-5 different character concepts that could potentially appeal to them, perhaps adding contingencies such as, "I'd like to play an Eskatonic confessor or a Li Halan bodyguard if someone else in the group would like to play a Li Halan noble; otherwise I'd prefer to play a Vorox ex-Stigmata Garrison war veteran working as a Muster mercenary or an Ukari Scraver, depending on the other characters in the group." Then later, after other players have fielded their character ideas and preferences, each person can better decide what type of character they'd most enjoy playing.

Well OK then, thanks for giving us the input.

I'm put-off by the pseudo-Christianity, so a priest is out.

I've played a lot of nobles, so I'll probably give that a pass.

Maybe a Charioteer, or an alien? The Charioteer more likely if we'd spend a significant time zipping through space, so I could actually pilot.

What aliens would you consider to be good choices for PC?

In general, I'd say the Obun, Ukar and Vorox are probably the most playable alien races, which is likely the reason behind the FS authors' concentration on those races in the Character Creation section of the corebook. This is not to say players aren't free to take on the role of any alien race they like, but the information on those races is not as readily available (most of the general info for them is covered in the Players Companion, except for the Vau and Symbiots), and it tends not to go as in-depth as what is provided for the Obun, Ukar and Vorox.

But my policy has always been that the character concept outweighs everything else; if you have a good concept, are able to firmly flesh out your character, and it promises enjoyable roleplaying for you and the other players, go with it.

Well, I kinda like the POV of the outsider, and having an outsider journeying through the Fading Suns worlds might be cool. I was thinking possibly of the Ascorbites, Hironem, or Etyri. Maybe an outcast from his own race and culture, as would seem likely if he's roaming about.

It's been so long since I've been able to play Fading Suns, I'm up for just about anything.  Here are some character ideas for me:

Urth Orthodox Priest (plain vanilla priest, maybe confessor if we end up with a Noble entourage).

Brother Battle monk.

Ur Obun Mystic.

Perhaps a Muster "Adventurer for Hire."  :)

To GM:
So if I were to choose a Charioteer, would that make this a more spaceship-based campaign?

To Players:
If so, would that be OK with other players?

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 4):

Pedantically speaking, Vorox have been forbidden at the Stigmata garrison ever since an entire frontline unit of Vorox Commandos was infected by the Symbiots and turned into unstoppable killing machines.

It could potentially work. I would recommend a Hironem or an Etyri more than an Ascorbite, as Ascorbites are particularly difficult to play due to their complete lack of any anthropomorphisms and how little is truly understood about them by humans (which of course includes us as players). While being enigmatic and inscrutable can be intriguing, it is also alienating to others and tends to lend more toward being merely 'observed' by characters and the audience, narratively, than meaningfully engaged. Ascorbites don't offer much in the way of potential for character interaction, due to the extreme difficulties in communicating with them and understanding them. Their goals are described as "alien and unfathomable". So they seem more or less set up like the Vau - intended as mysterious NPC's more so than PC's designed to work well in a group.


Charioteers are a hybrid of pilots and traveling merchants, so I would say: potentially, but not necessarily. If any of you decide to play a pilot, I would of course take steps to ensure you are involved in your fair share of space travel and space-related action. But you could just as easily play a Charioteer with a stronger emphasis on the traveling merchant aspect than on piloting ships through the void for weeks at a time. So ultimately, it would depend partially on your character concept and partially on the style of game everyone prefers. It could go either way.


Hehe yes, I'm aware. I merely mentioned that concept as an example of how the brainstorming process can work in this thread. The Stigmata Garrison's current forbiddence on Vorox joining their ranks is the reason the concept was an ex-soldier working as a Muster mercenary (i.e. one of those Vorox shock troops whose service in the Garrison would have been discontinued following that notorious disaster, most likely now an elderly war veteran forced to do freelance work to earn a living).

I do strongly encourage at least one or two of you to play an alien, it adds to the diversity and colorfulness of the party. A Charioteer would also work very well, especially if the group will be traveling a lot.

First time as a player for FS, I’m having a difficult time choosing just one character ;)

Two ideas come to mind :
-  A middle aged Ur-Ukar cut from his people and in need of a protector while he rebuilds himself a life.

- A young traveling eskatonic priest not shy on dirtying his hands.


@Baron : I wouldn't mind, no.

ok dude, that concept really clicks.  Consider that my primary concept now.

Nice. You wouldn't happen to know the date when that Vorox incident occurred on Stigmata, would you? I remember reading about it, but I don't recall a date being given.

I don't recall a date either, but I can't seem to figure out which book I read that snippet in anymore.

I checked and the corebook very, very briefly mentions this incident in the end of the Rolplaying Notes for Vorox - but all it says is that this occurred during "the Symbiot war". The Symbiot war of course is technically still ongoing (it began in 4900 and continues on the Stigmata front), so it's probably referring to earlier stages of the war before the Manifest Light and the Scions of Zahl beat back the Symbiots decisively.

I'm not entirely sure when that happened but if I had to guess, I'd say that since the Eskatonic Order was officially brought into the Church's fold in 4955 to legitimize the Church's contracting Eskatonic theurgists as Manifest Light Inquisitors to fight the Symbiots, the Symbiots were probably beaten back within a few years after 4955. The Stigmata Garrison most likely wouldn't resort to throwing Vorox shock troops at the Symbiots after the Manifest Light had proven so effective, so I'm guessing this infamous incident concerning Vorox commandos being converted by Symbiots must have occurred sometime between 4900-4955.

This means a Vorox who was discharged from service in the Stigmata Garrison upon the instatement of this policy would now be anywhere between his 60's or 70's to well over 100 by the year 4996, depending on exactly when this incident occurred during the Symbiot war.

Admittedly, when I brought up the concept of a Vorox ex-Stigmata Garrison veteran to illustrate an example of brainstorming character ideas, I had been thinking of a previous Fading Suns game I once ran on RPOL which took place on Stigmata during the Emperor Wars, prior to the rise of Alexius. Before the group decided on the game's time period and theme, there had been a player entertaining the idea of playing a Vorox who had been discharged from the Stigmata Garrison following the Symbiotized Vorox incident and now working as a Muster mercenary. When the group later decided they would actually like an Epic set on Stigmata during the Emperor Wars, with the PC's being soldiers in the Stigmata Garrison fighting the Symbiots, the player asked about the possibility of playing a Vorox in the Garrison - which led to this discussion.

Ultimately, what I've read in my FS sourcebooks has been unclear on exactly when this incident occurred during the Symbiot war. If you'd like to play such a Vorox, I'd like to see if we can unearth more about this event from the canon. Anyone's help with that would be much appreciated.

my idea for a character would be a noble from a minor house and given the fact that there seems to be a good amount of talk about aliens maybe Juandaastas.

Of course there is the possibly of a Guild based adventure where we have a group of guilders who control a starship locked in a Passage Contract (10) to a noble.

I honestly have no real clue what to offer as a character concept for Fading Suns. but i look forward to seeing more of everyone's suggestions

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 16):

Is there any note of a maximum age for Vorox anywhere?

Guild-based campaign might be fun.

Not that I'm aware of. I would imagine that most detailed info about Vorox exists in Alien Expeditions: Vorox, which unfortunately I don't own. Does anyone here have that sourcebook?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:35, Wed 27 June 2012.

From "Alien Expeditions: Vorox," page 61:

"The average lifespan for a feral in the wilds is 30-40 years. Civilized Vorox--generally used to better sanitation, medical care and less-dangerous daily lives--live  to 50-60 years (sometimes longer)."

In reply to lurker (msg # 18):

Vorox enter puberty at 7, are adults at 18. Feral Vorox last an average of 30-40 years while Civilized Vorox last 50-60 (sometimes more). The King Kummanga of the Ferals is a 'doddering ancient' at 45.

In reply to LaserEye (msg # 22):

Shoot, well that kills the stigmata garrison part of the concept if I stick with Vorox.  I could just go with a retired Vorox commando turned Muster Merc.

If you go with the whole retired Vorox commando. Maybe have the Vorox ex-Stigmata Garrison war veteran working as a Muster mercenary might be Vorox's patron in the guild or his recruiter.

Thanks for the info, eskatonic and LaserEye. Is there anything in that supplement that talks about the Symbiot conversion incident and Vorox being banned from the Stigmata Garrison thereafter?

It sounds like we have some good concepts forming for the group:

Vorox ex-(Li Halan?) commando Muster merc, ex-Stigmata Garrison soldier serving as a bodyguard or Sanctuary Aeon priest
Charioteer pilot or alien outcast (Ascorbite or Hironem or Etyri)
Urth Orthodox priest/confessor, Brother Battle monk, Obun mystic or Muster adventurer
Ukar outcast or traveling Eskatonic priest
Juandaastas nobleman

Now that several of you have fielded your ideas, is anyone leaning more heavily toward a particular concept?

I skimmed through all the books I thought would have more detail, and there doesn't seem to be any more than the blurb in the main rulebook, sorry.  Since the Symbiot Wars ended 50 years before the start of the Emperor Wars, it would have been a looong time ago, by Vorox reckoning, I think.

"Vorox are highly sought by humans as shock troops or guerrilla warriors. They were gleefully dropped on Stigmata during the Symbiot Wars, but when converted Vorox returned with Symbiot abilities, they wreaked more havoc than could be imagined. They aren’t allowed near Symbiots anymore."

Well the Symbiot Wars hadn't actually ended 50 years before the start of the Emperor Wars, merely "calmed" according to the 2nd ed rulebook. Since the Symbiot Wars began in 4900 and the Emperor Wars began in 4956, that would mean the Symbiot Wars "calmed" around 4906 - after just 6 years. But we know it wasn't until after 4955 (when the Eskatonic Order was officially accepted into the fold) that "the Church unleashed other Eskatonic Order priests and rogue psychics (promised absolution for their service) onto Stigmata" and "the Symbiot War was brought to an uneasy standstill."

That's a huge gap (50+ years) between the Symbiot Wars "calming" and the point when the "long, protracted guerrilla battle on the frontier was at an end, and an uneasy silence descended upon the front." So this incident with Vorox commandos being dropped on Stigmata and converted by the Symbiots could very well have taken place sometime during those 50+ years before the Manifest Light and Scions of Zahl beat back the Symbiots on Stigmata.

Actually, the only way the canon can be interpreted in such a way that it doesn't contradict itself is if this "calming" of the Symbiot Wars refers to this:

"Finally, in one area, surprisingly and for no apparent reason, the tide was turned and the Symbiot forces pushed back. Upon investigation, it was discovered that two people were largely responsible: Friar Berthold of the then-heretical Eskatonic Order and Damiana, a Charioteer trader."

So this could be what the canon is referring to with the Symbiot Wars "calming" 50 years before the Emperor Wars began. Otherwise, it contradicts itself by saying that "the Symbiot War was brought to an uneasy standstill" by theurgists and psychics after the official acceptance of the Eskatonic Order into the Church's fold, which happened in 4955. We would have to interpret the Symbiot Wars "calming" and their being "brought to an uneasy standstill" as two separate events, 50+ years apart, even though they sound like the same thing.

Of course, it's also conceivably possible that the authors originally intended the Eskatonic Order to have been brought into the Church's fold sometime between 4900-4906 (meaning the Symbiot Wars would only have lasted about 6 years before this "uneasy standstill"), with the Emperor Wars beginning "fifty years after the Symbiot Wars had calmed, leaving a tense and fearful populace waiting for the next alien expansion" - and then subsequently forgot about that and changed their minds, placing the official acceptance of the Eskatonic Order by the Church in 4955 instead.

But I'd prefer to go with the first interpretation, since I'd rather not start doubting the authors' accuracy with dates of landmark events in the timeline. Besides, 6 years can hardly be called a "long, protracted battle."

Regardless, in conclusion: even if the Symbiot Wars came to a standstill in the late 4950's and even if Vorox were dropped on Stigmata right up until that point (unlikely), those Vorox who were subsequently discharged from service in the Stigmata Garrison (even if assuming they were merely adolescents by Vorox standards at the time) would now be at least 50 years old or more in 4996, which is "ancient" by Vorox standards. If those Vorox were discharged from service anytime before about 4940 or so, they are probably all or almost all dead by now. So unfortunately, that particular concept probably isn't viable in this game's time period. But you could still play a Vorox ex-commando of some sort now serving as a Muster mercenary or as a noble's personal bodyguard or in some other capacity.

I'd like to play a human Trader, with skill in a laz gun as good as a soldier but the rest would be dedicated to merchant skills like Selling/Buying; Assessing the potential Wealth of an object; and Economic Lore knowing the places where a better deal can be done for the product in question.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 25):

I have never actually PLAYED FS. I ran two fairly long campaigns for it and spent a lotof time on the original FS MUSH where I played a Decados noble and some of his entourage.

So would be interested in playing something along those lines again - Most everyone else seems to lean towards guild etc, so this would 'balance' things perhaps.

Okay, so as of now, these are each player's potential concepts as I understand it:

lurker:      Vorox ex-(Li Halan?) commando Muster merc, ex-Stigmata Garrison soldier serving as a bodyguard or Sanctuary Aeon priest
Baron:       Charioteer pilot or alien outcast (Ascorbite or Hironem or Etyri)
eskatonic:   Urth Orthodox priest/confessor, Brother Battle monk, Obun mystic or Muster adventurer
mrstrange:   Ukar outcast or traveling Eskatonic priest
LaserEye:    Juandaastas noble
Dalewarrior: Yeoman trader/merchant
Camojoe:     Decados noble
Exile:       (pending)
Yuber Okami: (pending)

lurker, Baron, eskatonic and mrstrange - are any of you leaning more toward a particular concept at this point?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Wed 27 June 2012.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 30):

I'm set on the Vorox ex-commando (no longer in service to House Li-halan), Muster Mercenary.  I see him as older, kinda getting long in the tooth and grey bearded, but unwilling or unable to stop seeking the thrill of combat.

Excellent, go ahead and submit your character details to me per the Character Creation thread's guidelines.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 30):

I'm leaning more towards idea 1, especially if we play within human territory. The idea was to impersonate a character with conflicting morals.

Ideally, having an identified protector or employee within the cast at the start would be good. The Jundaastas, being usually open minded towards xenomorphs could be a good candidate, but any one with the will to help, the need for particular talents or masochist tendancies would work put :)

Heh, honestly I'm still undecided. Are any of those alien races I liked a possibility as a charioteer pilot? Maybe the winged ones?

(I'm not really interested in the charioteer/trader type, just the idea of a pilot.)

I don't see why they couldn't be. I seem to recall Etyri being somewhat claustrophobic (though I could be misremembering), which might not lend too well to being couped up in a cockpit for weeks at a time, and there are of course the difficulties I mentioned with playing Ascorbites, but a Hironem pilot might work.

Right now we have a Vorox Muster mercenary and a yeoman merchant for certain, probably a Decados noble and a Juandaastas noble, and possibly an Ukar outcast in need of a protector of some sort. Once each of you are set on a particular concept, go ahead and submit your character details to me (again, per the guidelines in the Character Creation thread).
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:40, Wed 27 June 2012.

Well, let me look at the Etyri and Hironem tonight then, and I'll see if either works for me. Otherwise I'll just look at a vanilla charioteer pilot. Thanks!

Since we don't yet have a Priestly type, I call dibs on my Urth Orthodox Priest.  I'll throw something together for the other thread.

Oh, can anyone point me to any canon references to Etyri? It's been a number of years since I looked through my FS stuff...

I'm only aware of their being detailed in the Players Companion.

The Players Companion is the only place i believe they have anything really given anything on the Etyri. Tho in the legions of The Empire book there is a sample Etyri Knight. They are claustrophobic.

I would think if you could come up with a way for your Etyri pilot to overcome his claustrophobia .... like 'When s/he is flying either behind the console of a ship or through the atmospheres of the Terraformed worlds of the Empire. s/he always feels free.' or something less honkie like that.

I would think that an Etyri would feel most free when actually flying with his own wings though - out in the open, able to traverse the air physically rather than staying immobile in a seat all the time. It would be like a fish piloting a submarine instead of indulging its natural urge to swim. Or an athlete driving a bus all day.

There is probably a great deal more info on the Hironem in the Orphaned Races sourcebook than what's provided for Etyri in the Players Companion. Generally I think it's best if players have as much information as possible available to them when taking on the roles of their characters - especially when playing alien races that differ drastically from humans.

Players Companion, pg 127:

Charioteers tell tales of Etyri pilots who out-maneuvered superior spacecraft, anticipating the enemy's moves by watching the opposing pilots through a viewing portal as they worked the controls. (The humanoid eye can only discern this kind of detail at close docking distances.)

I think I'm going with the Etyri charioteer. :)

I had forgotten about that bit, fair enough! So we now have:

lurker:      Vorox Muster mercenary
Baron:       Etyri Charioteer pilot
eskatonic:   Human Urth Orthodox priest/confessor
mrstrange:   Ukar outcast (more likely) or traveling Eskatonic priest
LaserEye:    Human Juandaastas Knight
Dalewarrior: Human yeoman trader/merchant
Camojoe:     Human Decados noble
Exile:       (pending)
Yuber Okami: (pending)
friarjohn00: (pending)

One thing occurred to me - I saw mrstrange's two concepts and wondered if they might not be combined? An outcast, traveling Ukar Eskatonic priest? Entirely up to you of course.

LaserEye and/or Camojoe - would either of you be interested in having an Urth Orthodox confessor and/or an Ukari in your entourage?

Still waiting to hear concepts from Exile, Yuber and friarjohn00.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Thu 28 June 2012.

Both or Either would be fine with me. Given my character concept it might be interesting to see how an Orthodox confessor or a priest of anytype might look on his or Decados's actions.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 43):

I was actually thinking of making the Ukar a priest, but Banjak !
I had imagined him forcibly expatriated after having been raised as true Ukar, and play him with the disputable morals etc.
In that scenario, being eskatonic does not fit too well right ?

Hi everyone! Nice to be here with you!

First of all, it's true that there is a ban on Vorox fighting in Stigmata, but i'm almost sure that it is enforced at unit level, that is, you are not being allowed to get a platoon of vorox troopers there, but i'm almost sure that from time to time a vorox shows up there, in the same way as they are banned to leave their homeworld unless decalwed and sometimes you find a full-clawed vorox roaming the Hub, so if you want a vorox character who served in Stigmata, why not? maybe he passed the controls by sheer luck or thanks to someone looking otherway ("So you want this beast to get killed alongside you and your mates? right, i have seen nothing"), being deployed in some remote base until a more responsible commander noticed him, or after something happened to him so as to become noticeable by higher command.

Regarding my own character, i have a concept for a charioteer pilot with a connection with Baron's charioteer (we could even coordinate in order to specialize in different areas, if you don't mind), but i would like to discuss its history privately with GM (PM on the way...)

Either choice could work actually. I'd allow an Eskatonic Ukari if you preferred - maybe he was cast out of his culture because he left the Banjak fold to join the Eskatonic Order? That would surely have been frowned upon by his people. Ultimately, it's up to you. Go with whichever concept you find most intriguing.

In reply to Yuber Okami (msg # 46):

Sure, another Charioteer is OK. No one can be on duty 24/7.

My character would be all pilot, no trader. He will also have experience as a fighter pilot, so using ship weapons and so forth.

I'll mention that he's a strong introvert, so that you can take that into account when working out their relationship.

Decados, right? That will be interesting with my character. House Keddah of Grail having to work with Masseri on behalf of the Decados, against the al-Malik. My character flew a fighter craft in that conflict.

I thought mine to be just like that, but with no spaceship combat habilities at all... maybe we could be pilot/gunner and copilot/tech?

And about the introvert trait, let me say it fully fits my idea of their relationship. By the way, would you consider saving some free points in order to acquire a spaceship?

Certainly, and take extra curses/afflictions if reasonable. But I think that would have to be a group effort, no? Two characters wouldn't have enough points.

Unfortunately, starships cannot be purchased with points. However, you may be assigned to pilot a starship by the Charioteers guild - but the ship will belong to the guild, not to you. Keep that in mind.

Well, i think we were both thinking about the blessing presented in the technology book, but your game, your rules, so no problem with that on my part.

Nor on mine.

We've got some great characters forming:

Baron:       Kidhido'on (Etyri Charioteer pilot)
lurker:      Shikaalgargund (Vorox Muster mercenary)
LaserEye:    Sir David Juandaastas (Human Juandaastas Knight)
Yuber Okami: Human Charioteer pilot
mrstrange:   Ukar outcast (more likely) or traveling Eskatonic priest
eskatonic:   Human Urth Orthodox priest/confessor
Dalewarrior: Human yeoman trader/merchant
Camojoe:     Human Decados noble

Still waiting to receive character details from mrstrange, eskatonic, Dalewarrior and Camojoe. Also haven't yet heard concepts from Exile or friarjohn00.

That's because there were two tech supplements. I'm sure yours is arcane tech: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/...ilters=0_0_0_0_40020

, the one in which technology is presented in different chapters with names as "sinful technology", "church accepted tecnology" and so on. Mine is a different one, with chapters for weapons, transport tech, starship combat rules, and so on... it was called "Forbidden lore: technology", and had some really unnerving rules for owning vehicles and starships (if you got enough handicaps for your ship, you could made an entire campaign simply describing the voyage from a planet to the portal, with hoards of Amen'Ta running amok, husks crwling in the air conducts, the ship's computer gaining conscience and deciding he does not like you ("Daisy daisy..."), and the old owners of the ship showing up to recover what they think it's theirs.

In reply to Yuber Okami (msg # 56):

No, you misunderstood my comment. I have Forbidden Lore and know the rules you were writing about, and I had read that you could purchase a starship by pooling the party's points.

My comment meant, "Yes I agree, it's your game Mr GM, I have no objection to your rules."

So, how is everybody's concept coming along?

Anybody ready to talk about some overall direction?

Yuber is suggesting a relationship between his Charioteer and mine. I threw out the possible connection between Camojoe's Decados and my background fighting on the Decados side against the al-Malik. Anyone ready to toss out common connections between us all?

In reply to Kidhido'on (msg # 58):

I think my Vorox merc is pretty much done.  He'll probably hire on as a bodyguard for one of the nobles.

On whose side did he fight?

In reply to Kidhido'on (msg # 60):

During the Emperor Wars he fought for House Li-Halan as a Vorox Commando.  After the war he was retired due to age and joined the Muster, just so he could keep fighting.

We have a Etyri Charioteer pilot.
A ex-Li Halan (by the way, how closely did he follow their Church dogma?) Vorox commando who joined the Muster (by the way how old is he that he was forced to retire due to age?).
A Human Juandaastas Knight who has fought against Al-malik in private power plays and whose father died at the hands of the Decados.
A second Charioteer pilot (possible chance for him to be a Killroy in secret? or maybe a member of a hong looking to recruit the Etyri into the hong due to his skills.)
A Ukar outcast (Possible member of the Al-Malik military units who deserted or escaped or was given leave. Or a member of UFM (Ukari Freedom movement).)
A Human Urth Orthodox priest/confessor (Did he come to spread the message or is he attached to one of the nobles and is attempting to convert and/or control the excesses of the noble he is attached to.)
A Human Yeoman Trader/merchant (Given our two charioteers there could be a possible attempt to bring the lost sheep back among their ranks assuming that he didn't become a yeoman due to being kicked out of the Charioteers.)
And Finally a Human Decados Noble (how old is this noble? if he is old enough could he have been part of the attack of Carmetha Decados on al-Malik worlds.)

The overall direction seems to be 'What got all these different personalities together.'
In my opinion The overall direction seems to be set up for a start on a charioteer ship carrying passengers to whatever world the GM decides. And due to some action decide to keep together and in touch. But i have no real suggestions just alot of branches that go nowhere

I figure Vorox commandos are pretty heavily indoctrinated with Li Halan dogma.  He's a very pious Vorox, basically.  As for how old, well I've heard 35 referred to as a "doddering ancient", so I'm thinking early 30's.  Starting to slow down a little, occasionally runs out of breath when exerting himself too much.

Sorry!  I will bang that out this weekend.

Our sharp-eyed Star Fox pilot look-alike and our pious, long-in-the-tooth, gun-toting Vorox mercenary are nearing completion of character creation, and our alien-friendly Juandaastas Knight isn't too far behind. Looking forward to working with each of you a bit further today and over the weekend to get your characters fleshed out and ready for action.

Regarding the particulars of starting out as a group, while binding ties are of course encouraged and conducive to adventuring as a party, none of you are actually required to begin play as companions. Depending on each of your character concepts, I will hatch up something to eventually bring you all together. 3 or 4 of you beginning as a group with some direction or quest in mind might be nice though (think of Erian Li Halan, Alustro, Cardanzo, and Julia Abrams from the FS flavor bits).

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 43):

I would also be fine with either. Would make for some interesting times.

Will start to get things together over the weekend.

He will be a youngish Decados noble, can say that already at least :-)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Fri 29 June 2012.

I will leave it up to you guys to work out what your relationships are, if any. A noble with a confessor and a bodyguard certainly works well.

Still waiting to hear concepts from Exile, friarjohn00 and Dagretto. I'm seeing the multiple/daily posting from some but not from others...

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 67):

Of the two nobles, I think it's more likely that Shik would work for the Juandaastes knight.  They have closer ties to Li Halan allies than Decados.

In reply to LaserEye (msg # 44):

Hi all,

Well, I was thinking about a Decados noble (fun to roleplay!), but it looks like that one has been taken. So I'm leaning towards a Hawkwood Questing Knight. Might make an interesting foil...

Damon.

I'm OK with all, some or none of us having a relationship established from our pasts. Whatever works best.

Wish I would've seen Star Fox. ;) First I've heard of it.

Someone had suggested a noble with a passage contract as the keystone of the group; that would work for me.

What if we were under the sway of the Decados player for some reason, perhaps on his mission? Might be challenging!
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Sat 30 June 2012.

In reply to Dagretto (msg # 69):

My character concept sort of requires that I am attached to one of the nobles in the group.  If you are going to play a Hawkwood Questing Knight, that would work out wonderfully.  If you're interested, we can work out the particulars.

Or you could go for a "noble" Decados (black sheep of the family?) questing knight. Remember that you don't need to feel constrained by stereotypes. Now that i think of it, it could give you some interesting roleplaying opportunities: imagine the other decados noble is related with your character "Now, if it is cousin/brother/uncle Whoever, and the priest who twisted his mind beyond recognition! (killer stare against eskatonic's character)",  "Stop talkng about that honour nonsense. You sound like a Hawkwood, for God's sake!!!" and so on :)

Neither.  And both.  Here's my concept so far:

He was called to Quest after some evil (TBD) overran his town/parish, and he assisted in pushing it back and protecting the people.  He follows his mentor now to provide religious guidance, warn him when he's in danger of tarnishing his Soul Mirror (or worse, the souls of those who follow him), and continue flushing out the darkness he witnessed first-hand.

What he won't do is play nanny/scold grown men.  *Everyone* grows up with the Church teachings, especially the nobility.  They know damned well (pardon the pun) what is sinful and what isn't.  They will realize the error of their ways, and come to him when they need to seek absolution. Or they won't. He will always be there when there is doubt in their hearts.

I want to try hard not to do the cartoon stereotype of an Orthodox Priest.  He has more in common with the eskatonics, in that he is Mahayana & follows the Questing virtue.  But he believes strongly in the grounding the Orthodox faith brings to the people in the time of the fading suns, and first and foremost wants to protect the souls of those who need it the most.

I was thinking of a relatively young noble, not particularly high ranking. Potentially a diplomat of some kind, or at least having travelled somewhat.

Not sure what House they'd be from, probably depends on where other people are planning on being from, though Hawkwood could work.

If those of you nobles or high ranking personas could tell what is easily known about their whereabouts and needs, us lowly people could choose our boss/partner better.

From what I'm reading here everyone is okay with pretty much anything, so either our esteemed master wants to make the final calls with the info he has, or we need to become more specific !

I've yet to receive the confirmation about the details for my character, but I should be able to offer muscle work, preferably of the subtle kind. Or counseling for someone looking for an...huh exotic point of view.
My character will not be picky at the beginning of the epic, and have been available for a short time (so no long time friendship, or it was an on and off kind of thing).

In reply to mrstrange (msg # 75):

The Juanasstas Knight I am planning on playing is young. I mean after his coming of age he spent the last days of the Emperor Wars (4994-4995) he was on Ishathr (mostly in the working in the Market area where everyone and everything can be found at one point). so assuming that the game starts on Jan 1 4996 or however the new year is marked and 16 is the coming of age year in FS then my character is coming up on his 19th birthday.

He is a follower as well as a believer in Sanctury Aeon's teachings of the church and is a near hostile entity towards the Avesti and their 'Knowledge must be purified, by flame' stance.

At present, he is on Gwyneth or whatever the Gamemaster decides to start the game from. He wouldn't object to having one of the children of the gods (Ur-Obun or Ur-Ukai) attached to him. He wouldn't object to have anyone in his employ.

Sanctuary Aeon is active on Grail, my homeworld...

Have you written anything about this relationship yet? Just curious...

I'm considering two character concepts which I really like, so I thought I would ask for input from you all.

The first is a Brother Battle monk who is a quiet, calm and contemplative holy warrior.  He gained some media notoriety for his role in the conversion of a Decados noblewoman to the Urth Orthodox faith and spearheading an Inquisition raid into the heart of Severus.  He is worldly and tolerant, but when he decides on a course of action he is difficult to sway.  This character is very good for combat situations, but also very pious, and his character revolves around that.  He has much more to his concept, which will only become apparent over time.


The second is a down-and-out Decados noblewoman, a spoiled brat whose world has fallen apart, and now she's in a crisis worse then she ever could've imagined.  She has been exiled from court for her pathetic incompetence and running up her family's selchaka bill.  She's been wandering the Known Worlds with a passage contract, barely keeping her head above water via a number of tawdry methods.  This character is designed to have only basic combat skills, but very effective with intrigue, seduction, knavery and court related skills.  Unlike the Brother Battle monk, most of this character's issues are up front at the beginning.


So I'd like to get everyone's thoughts before I make a decision, especially since the party is forming up.

In reply to ucat (msg # 79):

For my two talons, while I love Brother Battle monks, the concept as presented is a little cliched.  Admittedly there is probably more to the character under the surface.  I find the Decados noble more interesting.

Love the Decados!

In reply to ucat (msg # 79):

The Battle Brother monk would be an semi-interesting thing to figure out what his problems might be but in my opinion the Decados noblewoman would be much more interesting. The real question is could you play the character long-term without getting bored.

Most of my characters are intense people and I never get bored with them. I've played both of these characters before.  What I want to see is where we are with roles in the group.  The Brother Battle monk will do fine and he will contribute a lot to whatever challenges the party faces; the Decados not so much, unless there are meaningful opportunities for her to use her social skills to the party's advantage.

I think I'm definitely going to go with the Hawkwood minor noble diplomat - I like the idea of being a social character for once, whilst also being in a relatively flexible position depending on who he's interacting with (above non-nobles, but below most of the aristocracy).

So just to recap for everyone - we currently have the following concepts being developed:

Etyri male Charioteer pilot (finished with character creation)
Vorox male ex-commando Muster mercenary/bodyguard (finished with character creation)
Human male Juandaastas Knight (in process)
Ukari male Banjak priest/traveler (in process)
Human male Urth Orthodox priest/confessor (in process)
Human male Brother Battle monk or female Decados noble (in process)
Human male Yeoman merchant (in process)
Human male Hawkwood emissary/diplomat (not yet submitted)
Human male Decados or Hawkwood Questing Knight (potentially; not yet submitted)

For those players interested in forming inter-character relationships and/or employing/being employed in noble entourages as bodyguards/confessors/whatever, I would recommend deciding on which characters you want to be attached to and beginning to discuss those attachments with each other. If everyone is just 'fine' with potential attachments, but not actually decided yet on exactly whom they'd like to be bound to or under what circumstances they'd like to be related, progress is unlikely to happen in fleshing out those ties.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:18, Thu 05 July 2012.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 85):

I'd like to work with the Juandaastas Knight, since he was noted as being alien-friendly.

Cool deal. I'll let you two work out the particulars of how and where you met, why David felt the need to hire Shik as a bodyguard (assuming that's your intention), what your immediate goals are, and anything else your relationship entails.

In reply to ucat (msg # 83):

Ucat both sound fun and usefull albeit in very different situations.

No strong preference on my side. Maybe a bit more intrigued by the monk.

No, sorry. Seems the character concept des not fit the game, so i won't be playing a charioteer.

Ah well. So what is your character concept now?

Sir David I have some history with the Al'Malik, it could be grounds for some common interet, past or future. I'll send you some suggestions of what I can suggest.

So it's possible that my Etyri Charioteer could have some sort of connection with any Decados, by the same reasoning as above. Even with that down-on-her-luck Decados female (PM me if you're interested, Ucat, and I'll drop a hint in confidence).

The only other Guilder is the Sgt, right? Again, if you wanted we could come up with some war-time connection.

Open to other ideas, too. Anyone Sanctuary Aeon? I could've met you on Grail when I was a wide-eyed chick admiring the human spacefarers.

Just sent over my character concept, etc, via PM, GM.

Like I mentioned before my character is going to be a Follower of Sancutary Aeon however I suspect that my character is too young to have meet you on Grail before you left However its possible that they meet while the good Captain was transporting him between posts.

That would be fine. He's the alien-friendly pc, correct? Generally though, it would be likely that they would just be acquaintances, if it was just one voyage. Nonetheless, a tenuous contact is better than none.

Yep the Alien-friendly PC :D

If you wish to try to find a more solid link between my character and yours. Your welcome to PM some suggestions.

Its possible since Juandaastas has quite the Forestry operation going on Rangor. Captain Kidhido'on could be protecting Charioteer interests on Gwynneth (They control the Agora with the Muster) or he could be the pilot/captain of one of Juandaastas' primary cargo carriers.

In reply to Sir David Juandaastas (msg # 96):

He was in the war pretty much up to the end, and I don't yet know how our GM is going to set us up, so I'm a little hesitant to establish him on a specific world as of yet. Also he wouldn't really be looking after Charioteer interests on his own; he would have to be on assignment.

It's a good idea though. Let me see how things develop a bit.

Plenty of good ideas going around. I would say those suggestions are viable if you both decided you wanted to go that route (as Kid' said, he would have been on an assignment from the guild if that were the case). One thought I had is that it seems Istakhr is becoming a common location between various characters' backgrounds during the Emperor Wars (Sir David served there during the very tail-end of the wars, Shik served there on a contract from the Muster and mrstrange's Ukari would have been there at around the same time). Kid' flew star-fighters during the Emperor Wars and with the League's close ties to the al-Malik, it's quite possible that the Charioteers were hiring out some of their best pilots to al-Malik fleets to help defend their holdings - those on their homeworld of Istakhr certainly being no exception. On the other hand though...


It could also mean that if Sir David and company ever need to travel somewhere and need a reliable pilot, Kidhido'on might be the first one who springs to mind, and they could seek him out at the spaceport.

Heh heh, putting me on the al-Malik side is a possibility. Funny contrast since his home world's House Keddah was compelled to fight for the Decados against al-Malik. Means if he fought for al-Malik, he might've been killing the first humans he ever knew.

True, although despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that House Masseri - and by extension via an old agreement of honor, House Keddah as well - is bound into war with the al-Malik under the auspices of the Decados, I suspect both the Masseri and the Keddah detest the Decados greatly and have no actual desire to fight the al-Malik, but are simply forced to do so by treaty.

This is the reason so many young Masseri nobles are renouncing their status and joining the guilds (that's right, the League! Allies of the al-Malik!) or the Church instead. If that persists and the House becomes extinct, the old agreement of honor whereby the Keddah must assist the Masseri will be null and void, and the Keddah will thus no longer be held into war with the al-Malik. House Decados would be on its own.

Anyway, this is just to make the point that though Kidhido'on's human friends from Grail might be held into war with the al-Malik, they'd probably rather be fighting on the al-Malik's side if they could choose, so I doubt Kid' would feel much compulsion to fight the al-Malik out of any misplaced notions of patriotism. ;)

No no, not from patriotism! Purely from having nightmares of killing friends.

Anyway, I'm open to either side. Whichever works best for the story.

Hi again!

I'm still struggling to get a character concept for myself. As GM stated, the group seems to be in need of some "technical specialist". We thought about an engineer but being one in real life makes it really unattractive for me, so we thought about a scientist-like character. Lately i thought about playing a church scientist (they are extremely rare but they do exist, i understand) who could even be a member of Academia Interatta, with a several areas of study in order to understand a broader subject (formerly i thought about terraforming, but lately i'm thinking about an annunaki "specialist"). Do you think that could fit in the stories you are planning?

Absolutely, a scholar of the Annunaki could fit in brilliantly (perhaps an Eskatonic with a fascination for Ur technology/artifacts). I'll let other players weigh in with their thoughts and suggestions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:19, Mon 09 July 2012.

Sure, works for me.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 103):

an Annunaki specalist who is disinterested by the scheming of the guilds so works freelance or even just a Eskatonic priest with a fascination for Ur Technology/artifacts sounds like a nice addition to the group.

a possible thing is have the character obsessed with the the Annunaki Thunders and any hint of them brings out a desire by s/he to recover them before the church can destroy them. The character completely believes the story that once the 15th book is found. The world will end.

At the moment i can't think of any different ideas sorry.

What is the Annunaki Thunder?

Let me give it a shot, and tell me what you think:

Professor Jonathan Brayton was born in an Engineer family in Ligaheim. His parents introduced them to the world of science and technology at a very young age, in order to prepare him for joining the guild once he reached adulthood, but the Pancreator had other plans for him. When he first set foot in the city's cathedral Jonathan knew his love for the Pancreator was stronger than anything else, so, in spite of his parent's objections, he applied and was easily accepted into the eskatonic order. But then, although his faith was great and his profficiency with the rites was not low, something inside him wanted to rebel against the teachings of the order: the eskatonics supported the orthodox idea that technology impoverished and endangered the human soul, but Jonathan, surely due to his upbringing, could not cope with such an idea. He thought that God had put laws for the humans to discover in order to reach their destiny among the stars. It was true that technology should be restricted by morality in order to avoid the renaissance of the horrors of the second republic, but it should not be something forbidden per se. In the end, much to the dismay of his tutors, Jonathan became an hesycast monk and left his home planet. The next things his companions knew about him was that he had been offered a post at Academia Interatta after uncovering an annunaki archeological site at some forgotten place. Rumours abound that he made a deal with aliens, or even demons, in order to locate it. Actually Jonathan is known to be in a gap year, although there are people who think he is in a quest for his ignominous patron, whoever he (or it!) may be.

Sounds awesome, sir.

Sounds fantastic!

Sounds like quite the character concept. If you go with that, I will totally be looking forward to seeing how you have the character progress through the epic.

I have to say, this has got to be the most interesting, colorful, varied composition of character types I have seen in a single adventuring party. We have an Etyri Charioteer pilot war-veteran, an elderly Vorox ex-commando Muster sergeant serving as a bodyguard to a Juandaastas Knight discharged from his House's Guard, an exiled Ukari Banjak theurgist trying to reconnect with his roots, a down-on-her-luck Decados noble drifting aimlessly through the Known Worlds, a Hawkwood Questing Knight diplomat, and a Hesychast 1-part-Engineer/2-parts-Eskatonic-theurgist Annunaki scholar. My mind is now awash with ideas for this Epic. :)

For those of you that "hear" characters when you read, in my mind Shikaalgargund has a voice that sounds like Michael Clarke Duncan, with the speech patterns of Christopher Judge in the part of Teal'c in Stargate SG-1.

For those of you that "hear" characters when you read, in my mind, I picture Sir David has a voice and speech pattern of Kevin McKidd from the movie Kingdom of Heaven.

ps. yes i did pretty much copy Shik's post nearly word for word
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Thu 19 July 2012.

Hello All, the GM just added me to the Cast.  I was in a prior FS game with the GM (actually we've been in a few previous FS games) and I'm looking forward to playing here.

I could use a little help in picking a character concept.  I haven't had a chance yet to look through all the back OOC posts, so I'm not entirely sure what sort of character concepts are already covered.

I have a few concepts to consider.  First is the concept I was playing in the last FS game (which seems to be either dead or dying) which is a Decados Engineer/Knight (who is a Questing Knight).  He's mostly a techie whiz-kid but his marginal noble title entitled him to an Imperial Charter as a QK (his angle is that the QKs were getting a first crack at any new tech being discovered).  He is not a wide-eyed idealists like many QK but rather someone very practical and perhaps even materialistic.  However he can get kid-like when presented with new or rediscovered high technology.

My second concept was a Hazat Marquis who has joined the Questing Knights as a bit of an idealist, hoping that the Emperor can unify the Known Worlds since he saw the horrors of war during the Emperor Wars.  He is a duelist and socialite who tries hard to uphold his own code of honor.  He also hopes to gain enough influence among the Imperials to be able to persuade the right members of the Court for an Imperial Crusade against the Kurgans.

A third concept is a Brother Battle who has become an Imperial Cohort in part to repay the debt he feels when Alexis came to the rescue of the Stigmata garrison (after the Regent Fleet had been pulled from the system in a political/military move during the Emperor Wars).  He would be fairly martially oriented but would have some basic Theurgy and could even act as a confessor (I'm thinking he's an Adept, which I believe is the equivalent of a priest).  He would have a strong faith but unlike some members of the Church, he believes in the Emperor's vision and feels that, as one of the Stigmata garrison saved, he owes the Emperor his life (or rather he feels that the Pancreator guided Alexis to save the Stigmata garrison).

First off, Welcome to Fading Suns: A futuristic Passion Play. Look forward to RPing with you.



Interesting idea, most Decados are seen by the world at large (Sir David sees only the worst of them thanks to an event in his backstory which probably will come out during gameplay) as worst kind of nobility. A very practical Tech junkie, sounds like quite a good change depending on how you RP him. However, just going with an old character (or concept) might be confusing (only slightly) and might get boring for you.



Could some of the horrors he saw be the Siege of Jericho or the fighting on Surtek.
Don't mean to pin down the character too much but where might you say your lands/assets are for the Marquis? Hira, Surtek, Vera Cruz (its peaceful might be the breeding grounds for a duelist) or he could be one of the few Hazat with holdings on Velisimil (and its the influence of the Ur-Obun during his childhood that makes him an idealist), or he could be a Hazat Noble who owns a chuck of the Throne World (Byzantine Secondus) and when he is off adventuring a close friend and ally of House Lambeth manages it for him.



If you choose this one then your binding yourself to a Hawkwood Questing Knight (since he is the only one in the group, so far) but given the fact that Alexis was House Hawkwood when he landed a military force on Stigmata that might work out. You stated that a part is to repay the debt, another part could be he was assigned to protect a piece of valuable land the order 'acquired' during the Emperor Wars instead of protecting the faithful like he believes the Order should be getting back to. So he joined up with the new order of Knights that Emperor has commisioned 'Questing Knights' because he feels that a quest will require that he defend the faithful from the Terrors that lurk in the Darkness in his fellows hearts and beyond the Fading Suns.
If you go with this option, a way that the Brother could know Sir David. Sir David and a squad of Juandasstas soldiers could be the first responders to the attack when the order seized a Church on Istakhr (because of belief the Pastor and some of the flock were converted to Symbiots) and now that they have met again. Only instead of as possible enemies like then, they are now supposedly on the same side.

A fourth concept is he is a brother Battle who joined the Sanctuary Aeon version (the Sanare) after being saved on Stigmata from a spore infestation. He provides protection for the Priests and Priestesses whose mission requires them to travel into possible hostile lands to aid the suffering. He was recommended to our Questing Knight (up to you and the Questing knight to decide who recommended him) because they felt his services would provide the most influence (or aid) elsewhere.


Well, Welcome again, Good luck with picking out your character concept.

In reply to Vasuvik (msg # 113):

Hello and welcome !

Out of your ideas the first is the one I like best. For your info there is a decados noblewoman in the current cast. You should find a quick description a couple posts up.

The other two ideas sound fine as well.

One easy tie-in to implement would be to have him working as a starship Engineer on the ship Captain Kidhido'on is currently piloting. Another possibility (perhaps more plausible if he's a Questing Knight) would be for him to be on an Imperial mission to locate and retrieve a rumored cache of 2nd Republic tech - which could involve an expedition somewhere for which he'd need to hire some able adventurers (who would thus become his temporary cohorts). This could even be deemed a mission important enough to warrant sending two Questing Knights together (i.e. you and the Hawkwood). And actually, that could work equally well for your Hazat if you decide to go with him (or as David mentioned, your Brother Battle could be a cohort of the Hawkwood Questing Knight).

Hmm... well since there are a couple of priests already in the group (I assume at least one of them has a bit of Theurgy?), I'll probably pass on the Brother Battle concept.

I'm still having a tough time deciding between the social/duelist Hazat Marquis Questing Knight and the pragmatic technophile Decados Engineer Questing Knight.

For either one of those concepts I would like to have a tie-in with the existing Hawkwood Questing Knight.  The Engineer concept would also lend himself to tie-ins with the existing Guilder characters (in many ways he's more Engineer/Guilder than Noble/Knight).

I'm very open to working out background connections with other PCs once I settle on a concept.  While the Engineer was not particularly active during the Emperor Wars (he was at the Academy on Leagueheim and then apprenticing on Guild merchant ships), the Hazat Marquis was on the front lines as a loyal Hazat noble/officer and as someone suggested earlier it was the Battle of Jerhico (and the personal loss of family & friends) that was the tipping point that convinced the Hazat that rallying behind the unifying force of the Emperor was essential for humanity's survival (ie Humanity could not afford another Emperor War).

While I won't say that either concept is "better" per se (because both are good and could work), the Hazat does seem to bring more pathos and soul to the Epic, which is a central theme of Fading Suns as a futuristic passion play. The Engineer brings more of a skill-based contribution, which is perhaps less meaningful.

So I decided to go with my Hazat QK social/duelist.  I'm just curious in general about the other concepts that were decided upon and what the final "mix" of PCs will look like once character creation is completed?

In reply to Vasuvik (msg # 119):

The Cast atm i think:
Shikaalgargund = an elderly Vorox ex-Li Halan commando, Muster sergeant
Tchak'Ikhlul = an exiled Ukari Banjak theurgist (however as far as i know the priest part is not known to anyone)
Kidhido`on = Etyri male Charioteer pilot war-veteran, rank Captain
Sir David Juandasstas = a Juandaastas Knight discharged from his House's Guard, former rank lieutenant
a down-on-her-luck Decados noble
a Hawkwood Questing Knight diplomat
a Hesychast monk who is 1/3 Engineer and 2/3 Eskatonic trained theurgist with an interest in the Annunaki
Vasuvik = a Hazat Marquis who is a socialite and a duelist who has taken the Emperor call to fill the ranks of the Company of the Phoenix (Questing Knight)

Some corrections:

Captain Kidhido'on - Etyri Charioteer pilot
Sergeant Shikaalgargund - Vorox Muster mercenary (bodyguard to Sir David)
Sir David Juandaastas - Juandaastas knight
Anna Sviatogora - freewoman
Tchak'Ikhlul - Ukari Banjak monk (companion to Sir David)
Daniel Hawkwood - ambassador/diplomat
Rafael Hazat - ambassador/duelist
Andreas Scheuzeri - Hesychast monk/Anunnaki scholar

So it looks like Rafael is going to be a Baron rather than a Marquis (ended up making more sense since the higher the rank, the less freedom to really travel).  Rafael spent quite a bit of time with the Decados both growing up and during the Emperor Wars.  Aside from the Hazat fiefs, Rafael has spent time on Severus and Byzantium Secundus.  During the War, Rafael was a liaison officer between the Hazat forces and their Decados allies (he was usually in the rear echelon helping to coordinate efforts or keep the lines of communication open between the Hazat and the Decados).  Typically Rafael spent more time with Decados forces/HQ or aboard Decados flagships than among his fellow Hazat troops/officers.  While he generally stayed out of the actual fighting, there were a few times that the ship he was aboard was assaulted by enemy boarding parties (thus forcing him to join the defenders to repel boarders).  He has recently lost his elder sister who died fighting the Kurgan barbarians on Kurga/Hira (which resulted in Rafael rising to the rank of Baron and gaining a rich fief to support him on his travels).

I mention this in case anyone thinks their PC might have crossed paths (or swords?) with Rafael either growing up or during the Emperor Wars or in the recent months following the end of the Emperor Wars.  Certainly anyone with links to the Decados (or the Hazat) could have had the opportunity to run into Rafael.

As for Rafael, he is a socialite (with ambassador/diplomatic elements without being a dedicated diplomat) and a skilled duelist.  Currently he is traveling among the Known Worlds trying to "find himself" or find a place for himself or looking for a purpose.  He is reticent to go home as his current relationship with his father & family is a bit strained.

Yeah!  Baron Rafael Santiago Javier Eduardo de Fidelis lives!  ;)

And I see I'm not alone in being newly christened as it appears Sir Daniel Hawkwood has also made his entrance onto the Cast List.

If anyone is interested in possible background connections to Rafael, just let me know (or drop me a PM).

Yes, yes he does. :) Still need your final confirmation regarding your character sheet though.


Indeed he has - though he's still not quite done with character creation (though he's very, very close).

In reply to Lord Rafael Santiago Eduardo (msg # 123):

Welcome into the world :)

My character has never set foot on any of the worlds you have visited, no links possible that I can see sorry.

In reply to Lord Rafael Santiago Eduardo (msg # 123):

The only time Shik might have been on the same planets, he would have been on the other side of the battle lines... Or deep inside the Decados lines spilling their blood...

In reply to Lord Rafael Santiago Eduardo (msg # 123):

Sorry but never been to any of those planets and am a member of a house that would have been on the opposing side against the alliance between Hazat and Decados.

Fair enough... and it is probably unlikely any of you would have "crossed swords" with Rafael as he was rarely on the front line (more a rear echelon type).

What about Anna or Capt. Kidhido'on?

In reply to Lord Rafael Santiago Eduardo (msg # 128):

Kidhido'on is a Charioteer, and is from Grail. He trained on Leagueheim. He was a space-fighter ace during the war. He participated in battles against the al-Malik, as part of the forces mounted by Houses Keddah and Masseri.

Since those forces were mounted on behalf of the Decados, and you were a rear-echelon liaison, I don't think it would be completely unlikely for us to have crossed paths. Either during the war, or in its aftermath. (I haven't specified what his path was after the war ended, having left that to the GM to set up however works best for the campaign intro.) If you feel like making the connection, go ahead and write a couple of lines and shoot them past me. FYI, Kidh is not outgoing and doesn't make friends easily. He has quite a chip on his shoulder. OTOH he could very well have found something to admire in Lord Rafael.

Hi all!

Just to give a brief description, Daniel Windsor Hawkwood is a diplomat of House Hawkwood, being raised on Delphi in the Hawkwood Court, before being sent out across the Known Worlds during the Emperor Wars, where he spent time on the Decados homeworld as he was part of the diplomatic mission to try to get both House Decados and The Hazat cease their opposition to Alexius taking the title of Emperor. During that time he's made a few enemies, and also a few allies.

He's not the type to brook insult to himself or his House, and will challenge any who slight his name to a duel of either sword or pistol. Otherwise, he is well-educated, enjoying discussion and debate with his fellow nobles, as befits someone raised to blend into noble society with little trouble.

This means he's got a half-decent chance of having run into any Decados or Hazat nobles, depending on where they were during the Wars, and might have been on the same ship as Charioteers, again, depending on where they were serving during the Wars.

Any chance of Daniel having run into any of you guys?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:38, Tue 21 Aug 2012.

Would Daniel have ever visited the Hawkwood world of Gwynneth?  If so, perhaps he and David have met before (perhaps in their youth)?

It's entirely possible - he wouldn't have spent long there, but he might have had cause to go there before being sent to Severus.

Well here is... the 'short' form of my character concept.  Please forgive the clipped writing of this - it was originally designed to fit in a limited space on a character sheet and all my usual detail and story-telling was somewhat... abbreviated.
----------

'Oblate' Brother Arthur Aerin Weldensson - Brother Battle, Cohort Companion of the Phoenix / Hawkwood of Delphi
Character Concept:  Wandering Heroic Paladin-Knight in Crisis of Faith but still dedicated to Truth, Justice, Mercy and most of all HOPE

Story:
Father & Mother both BROTHER BATTLE warrior monks.  Mother pursues Vendetta upon The MUSTER for personal reasons.  She is murdered, 1year after having Arthur, by MUSTER agents.  Father pursues legal restitution in the courts for 3 years with no result.  So he hunts down her murders and executes them personally; dying in the process.  Orphaned, Arthur is raised by BROTHER BATTLE and continually hunted by the MUSTER for his sires’ deeds.  They kill all family friends who try to protect Arthur as he matures - so he fights back.  Thus he inherited his mother’s vendetta.

Completing his training he takes a tour as an Imperial Cohort – Arthur Companioned 'Dame' Alyssa Fairborn Hawkwood ‘The True’, as Questing Knight, {Companion of the Phoenix}.  They became Intimate friends, Passionate lovers and parted after term sworn to stay in touch.

At the end of his Imperial Tour he returns to church service to hunt for ENGINEER Heretics.  Which he did for two years... necessary as it was Arthur always felt uneasy always having to use violence to bring these...mostly scholars and educated men and women to justice only through killing them.  He always felt that something was just not right about enforcing ignorance instead of enlightened understanding of the wonders of the 2nd Imperium.

In his last engagement his Church Official/Commanding Officer, a friend he had known for years in his apprenticeship and early career,  'Adept' Brother Brian Stonesworth, overzealously attempted to slay a helpless mother and her new-born changed-child in a outlaw technician base camp that resisted Church troops as she plead for mercy.  Arthur cannot stand by a let this happen something in his heart siad it was wrong - he defends her and his friend flew into a blind rage attacking Arthur.  Arthur sought only to calm his enraged friend with reason but, Brian's savage assault causes him to impale himself on Arthur’s Flux Sword – POLARIS slaying him instantly.  Arthur fled, no longer sure if such self-righteous fervor was not a path of ‘EVIL’ as well.  Now he wanders; seeking True Righteousness and direction.

Assuming my current character concept is approved, I'll be playing Nicholas Tolent, owner of Anaurochs Ltd. and Muster animal handler.

Well, Arthur's issues are not with "legitimate" Muster members of the Armed Mercenary Forces of the Imperium... his 'Vendetta' is with the "Chainer's" specifically.  He has taken a vow to oppose slavery and end it with force at every turn if it is possible to within his power.  Usually he spirits such freed slave into the Sanctuaries of Aeon Sanctuary and the Amaltheans.

As such it is the "Chainer's" that have declared him 'Outlaw', but that goes only as far as they can enforce it.  As such Arthur has committed no crimes... other than the freeing of slaves whenever he can... so that might be considered theft even though he does not keep the slaves or sell them himself for a profit.

Of course not ever time he runs across slaves in chains can he reasonably free them without cause more potential for death and destruction... likely his own.

A righteous and wise man looks for the opportunities that present themselves.

LOL! Just don't leave untended slaves in his presence or you will not likely find them on your return as he will likely free them!
This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

Well as I understand it, slavery is legal in the Known Worlds and the Chainer side of the Muster is just as legitimate a business operation/franchise as the mercenary or labor force side of the Muster.

In fact I believe even the Church can have slaves.  At the very least the Church has serfs to work church lands and the difference between being a slave and being a serf is fairly minimal.

Of course as a member of the Church, it might be difficult to legally bring a BB to trial... assuming Church superiors cannot be persuaded to bring charges in a church court.

Slaves are considered "property" and someone who frees them without the consent of the owner would most likely be regarded as a criminal & thief.  Worse yet, how does one free a slave current in the custody of a Chainer without violence against the Chainer?  And what if the Chainer comes across the slave as the slave is being set free?  The Chainer would be within his legal rights to use force (even lethal force, though it is wasteful to damage costly goods) to recapture the slave or prevent the slave from running away.

Then again... the GM may view things differently for this campaign.  I'm just saying that from a FS canon view, someone who actively works against the Chainers and deliberately frees slaves is apt to be "branded" a criminal and might be legitimately hunted as a fugitive felon.


On a different note, Sunphoenix the GM has informed us that this campaign is set right after the end of the Emperor Wars (say 6 months up to perhaps less than 1 year after the War ended) and as such the Questing Knights (and their Cohorts) aren't fully formed or are only just forming.  As such, it would be impossible for any QK or potential QK to have actually completed a tour of duty as a Questing Knight (they just haven't been around long enough) and I would imagine the same would be true of an Imperial Cohort.

Again... that said... the GM may have other ideas about how to handle that.  But I'm pretty sure, given the timeline for this campaign, that your BB could not have served a full Tour as a Cohort and then returned to the Church full time.

I bring this up as the earlier timing for this game (compared to 2nd Ed.) may be something you want to keep in mind (it may require a little rearranging regarding your backstory).

You make some good points but.. The Muster is NOT 'publicly' a Slavers guild.

Quote 2nd ED FS Core p.51 - The Muster(Chainers), bottom of 4th paragraph, "Chainers are well-known among the peasantry for kidnapping people on small worlds and shipping them off far away where they'll never be recognized.  The Church frowns on this and punishes it when discovered."

Quote 2nd ED FS Core p.52 - Roleplaying Notes, latter part of paragraph, "They are much less willing to talk about the slaves who make much of what they do possible.  They may enjoy the fear their reputation causes, but it often seems they would prefer not to have that reputation at all."

So I get the feeling that the public face of The Muster is one of a legitimate skilled labor resources and that in general the Imperium public frowns {as the Church sets policy in the Imperium} on the practice of shanghaied freeman put into slavery at gun or sword point.

Plus I'd bet ANY noble that was accused of their serfs being slaves would have words to the opposite.  A Serf is NOT a slave.  Serf's have rights, Serf's can sue for justice to the Reeves, Serf's can own possessions.  A 'Slave' cannot do ANY of that!  A marginal difference but one that counts the Noble-Serf relationship is one of mutually agreed upon duties.  The Noble owns the land and materials on that land that the Serf works and tends for the noble in exchange for protection and material support to make their living.  They are NOT slaves.  There are no penalties for harming a slave but a Serf has protections... albeit minor ones under the law.
Certainly a Noble could not kill a Serf out of hand but a slave is a possession and can be done with as they chose... at least as long as its not too public.  Though there are some Decados courts where such extravagances would be quietly tolerated.  Though in general I'd expect it be seen as wasteful.

As for Arthur's actively freeing slaves, it is not his intention to slaughter and kill members of the Muster just because they are leading a train of slaves around... but he would take every opportunity to quietly, if possible, see to it they lost possession of their human-cattle.  If he was discovered freeing slaves he would not shirk his action having been discovered and would be willing to use force and indeed, if needed, Lethal force to effect his and the slave's escape or stop opposition to freeing them.  Though, with 'Slapper' rounds in his .47 Revolver he can subdue with limited force - he is not a murderer.  Though more likely his fist and foot are more than adequate to deal with 'Chainers' not anywhere near as skilled in dealing with a fully trained, armed and armored Brother Battle Warrior Monk!

That said YES, Arthur is an Outlaw... but considering what he is wanted for by the Muster, I'm sure not very many local authorities or for that matter freemen would be interested in pursuing or even informing on his location and activities to the Muster because of the general opinion of such nefarious Muster Activities.  Even still in play he would make every attempt to conceal his identity and travel because he is being pursued by them Muster for this... and other reasons not known to him... currently.

Though ...like I said before it will make a difficult situation playing a wanted outlaw even if pursued be a faction of a major guild.  Remember the 3rd Imperium has not internet or easy access news network connecting all the world with a rapid flow of information.  Arthur's actions have helped quite a few and I'm sure he could find available safe-houses as needed or even temple sanctuary {not with Brother Battle as he is effectively AWOL} to avoid pursuit.

The MAJOR issue is the time period which I was not aware of...

I will obviously have to do some discussion with the GM about the particulars to see how the character may need to be modified to fit within his universe...but I'm still waiting on a response to my PM character I sent him.

We shall see what works for the GM's game and make needed adjustments.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

Well as I sort of indicated earlier, the issues of slavery, the Chainers, the Muster, and the law and how they are viewed in this game's campaign have not yet been clarified by the GM.  So the GM may have a very different view on those issues than what I am more familiar with from other FS games (which is cool, I can roll with however the GM sees the FS universe working for this campaign).

As for character concepts, if the GM is fine with it then that's cool.  I just mentioned the timeline thing because the issue of whether PCs would start out as QKs was raised a little while back (and the GM clarified that given the earlier starting date/time for the campaign, the QK concept is brand new to the Known Worlds and thus their numbers are likely small and there probably aren't any "experienced" QKs at the moment).

Just to toss my hat into the ring:

Per Pandemonium Unchained, authored by Andrew Greenberg, "The Church has labeled slavery a grave sin, and anyone suspected of trafficking in slave (sic) may well have to face the Inquisition."

Of course this raises the issue of Sin vs. Crime.  While I knew that publicly the Church frowned upon slavery, I didn't realize they actively pursued slavers.

I wonder what Imperial (or Noble) law is on the issue of slavery?

I guess I never realized that Chainers were in such a precarious position (profitable though slavery is supposed to be, with various notations that the reason the Chainer faction of the Muster is tolerated is due to the significant income they bring into the Guild, I didn't realize the work was so dangerous as to risk being attacked by Church forces who would have legal impunity).

Then again... this could be one of those areas where Church Law and Guild Law clash with the Nobles & the Imperials preferring to be "hands off" (ie let the priests and the guilders sort the mess out).

EDIT: Then again, it could just be that prior FS GMs had a grittier view of slavery in the Known Worlds and didn't stress the dangerous sinful element.  Not having played a Muster or had a PC deal directly with slavery, I never really looked that closely into the issue (I just skimmed the general slavery/Chainer bits in the sourcebooks).
This message was last edited by the player at 16:12, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

Going on the idea that the prevailing morality in the FS universe is similar to that in pre-Renaissance Europe, though, it's important to remember that while outright (chattel) slavery is not allowed, the same can't necessarily be said for things like indentured servitude or penal laborers.

It's always been my assumption that the majority of the Muster's trade in humans (or aliens) falls most publicly on the latter two.  Now, that's not to say that there aren't those Chainers who're a deft hand at trumping up legal charges, or in setting up fees for indentured servants that keep them perpetually in that state.  As well, the Chainers are probably the main force behind anything like press gangs, and this likely helps further their reputation as "People thieves"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

Indeed Whisky!  I'm sure that 'Slavery' may also be on the books as an acceptable punishment for high crimes not quite deserving of death.

Indentured servitude is also a form of potential punishment and also outside my character's point of view as being something that needs to be stopped his issue is with the worse kind of abduction chattel whole-sale purchase and trafficking in sentient life.

Yes that would include the buying and sale of aliens as well... Arthur is not a racist believing that sentience in all its forms is a gift and a divine expression of the Pancreator's bounteous love and creativity.

Yes a very forward thinking mindset considering the churches usual feeling on alien species.

Ahh well that's an interesting (and logical) take on "Chainers".  After all, if taking/owning a slave is illegal, then it would seem logical for the Chainers to find "legal loopholes" (perhaps guided by paid legal advice from the Reeves?).

Of course the question is, do indentured servants and/or penal laborers have the same (albeit limited) rights enjoyed by a serf?  Or due to their indentured or penal status, do these people now have fewer/lesser rights compared to the standard serf?

Of course the rights of a serf seem to me to be more "on paper" than anything else unless the serf has some practical/pragmatic way of "enforcing" his or her rights.  I would imagine that the further away one gets from cities and civilization, the more those in charge become "laws unto themselves" (making it very difficult for a mere serf to stand up for his or her rights when there's no neutral 3rd party around to see that justice is done).

If slavery is in fact Illegal (according to Imperial Law), then I would imagine that it is not very likely that a Chainer would parade his or her slaves around in public (or admit that the peopel he or she has in chains are in fact slaves as opposed to something more "legimitate") or that a "buyer" (who could be Noble, Guilder, or even Priest) would show off or admit to owning slaves.

And of course there's the interesting problem of verifying that someone who claims to be a slave actually is one.  I imagine the word of someone already in chains is not held to be as credible as the person wielding the chains (or whips).  And what happens to the honorable/helpful 3rd party who accepts the word of the alleged slave, frees that "slave" from his or her chains... only to discover that he/she has just released a convicted criminal rightfully punished?  And who decides if someone is a true slave (probably depends on who claims "ownership" of the person in chains... so maybe a Guilder court or a Noble court or even perhaps a Church court).

Interesting.  ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

Well, not exactly.  I think calling slavery illegal is a bit strong.  It is 'frowned' upon by the church... but the church is not everywhere!  Known space is huge, and though the church effectively controls most of the 3rd Imperium it is not every at once and neither can it look everywhere at once.

Obviously the 'Chainers' have enough freedom on worlds not so well watched with church presence to make a very lucrative trade in sentients... they are after all known as the "Chainers" for a reason.  I expect that on very closely monitored world like Holy Terra, Delphi, Rampart and Pyre... no Muster slaver would dare ply their trade there... but other backwater worlds like say Ungavorox, Tethys, or League Worlds like Bannockburn, Leagueheim or even the noble worlds of the al-Malik or Decados; the Muster/Chainers find rich opportunity to abduct or press innocents into forced slavery with little worry of drawing too much Church or Imperial attention to their trade practices.

Plus, remember corruption IS the name of the game in the balance of power between Church, Noble, Guild, and now the Emperor all vying for dominance... sometimes it may be just easier or more profitable... politically and perhaps even financially for the powers that be to simply look the other way and ignore some of the Muster's excesses.

Political and Resource expedience can make for strange and corrupt under the radar deals and tacit acceptance of a practice {though publicly rebuked and reviled} that is not always actually pursued and stopped or opposed.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:12, Sat 01 Sept 2012.

Actually based on some of the quoted source material by others, it isn't clear to me whether or not Slavery is in fact "illegal" (in a formal & official sense) based on Imperial Law.

So while there is always corruption and people who will choose (or be paid) to look the other way, it actually makes a considerable difference if the taking & keeping of slaves is technically Illegal by Imperial Law.  As you say, if this is merely a matter of the Church "frowning" on the practice (without the Church actually stating that Slavery violates Church Law), that is one thing.  After all, the Church frowns on a great deal of Guilder activity in general without such activity actually being criminal or in violation of Imperial (or Church) Law (and thus legitimately pursued/persecuted by Church officials/forces).

But if slavery & Chainer activity is in fact legally criminal, that puts the activity of freeing slaves in a very different light.  After all one would think that the Muster could not officially/publicly sanction (ie hunt down) a person for freeing slaves if it was illegal for the Chainer to have the slaves in the first place since legally the Muster would have to official & publicly disavow knowledge of the slaver operation/activity (of course unofficially they may have a contract out on the person).

But this issue of the official legality (or criminal illegality) of Slavery in the Known Worlds will likely need to be ruled upon by the GM when he gets more free time to address it (ie after the Labor Day holiday).  If Imperial Law doesn't cover the issue, I suspect it may become a regional thing where the local law dictates and, as such, slavery may be legal on some worlds or on some portions (estates/fiefs) on certain worlds but then be illegal on other worlds or parts of a world.  If this is the case, that could make for an interesting dynamic... sort of like pre-Civil War USA where the legality of slavery depended on which side of the Mason-Dixon line one found one's self.  Of course using pre-Civil War USA as an example, as I remember it the Fugitive Slave Act required the non-slave northern states to respect the "rights" of slave holders living in the pro-slavery southern states with regards to "escaped property" and I think similar legal thinking formed the basis for the shameful Dred Scott Supreme Court decision.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:28, Sat 01 Sept 2012.

In the year 4996, slavery is neither illegal, nor upheld or enforced by Imperial law. Its legality or illegality falls under the jurisdiction of local governments on each individual planet, and thus is up to those governments to enforce themselves. Imperial law enforcement will not interfere with local law enforcement, but neither will it provide any support or make any attempt to apprehend or try slavers (or slave-thieves) in Imperial courts. If a person is wanted for crimes committed on a certain planet that are not in violation of Imperial law, the most Imperial authorities will do is defer to local authorities' jurisdiction, and enable those authorities to enforce their laws, whatever those laws may be.

The Church, as well as a few other factions - most notably House Juandaastas - is pressuring the new Emperor to outlaw slavery (at least in regard to human slaves - the Church is less concerned about alien rights, though of course House Juandaastas and other alien rights activists are championing that fight) with an Imperial mandate that would make slavery illegal across all the Imperium, while the Muster and certain Noble Houses (most notably the al-Malik and Decados) are lobbying opposing political pressure. The Emperor has yet to make a judgment regarding this matter.

Yep! Mr. GM that is how I figured it worked as well.  Arthur has chosen to take up that 'cause' against the evil of slavery and whenever he can he makes every effort to oppose its spread and take a stand for freedom.

I have no problem with that idea. Inter-weaving characters' backgrounds pre-RP can help incentivize PCs to group together and galvanize them when the plot's events would not otherwise motivate them to do so, though I often remind players that it's equally possible to form lasting bonds without any preexisting ties. The drama-propelled nature of FS epics tends to push characters from vastly different walks of life together for common goals or concerns (take Alustro's group for example), and sometimes it's rewarding to see those bonds develop without any pre-contrived nudging.

Hi all; just wanted to throw me few proposals into the ring, so to speak. So in order of preference at the moment (But open to change):

• Muster or Scraver Hironem sharpshooter/sniper who served the Decardos in the War.
• Scraver smuggler in "reclaimed"/salvaged items. Street-smart and socially savvy.
• Engineer who cannot help but be interested in various proscribed technologies especially nanotech when/if he can lay his hands on it.
• Young Hawkwood, 3rd son so unlikely to inherit much, somewhat of an Obun expert.

Well EVIL... I know you have him listed as the 4th of your preference options, but assuming that Sir Daniel Hawkwood does not return to the game (he hasn't logged on in months)... what do you think about playing a Hawkwood Questing Knight and thus a comrade-in-arms to Lord Rafael who is also a QK?

I have to admit that I would like it if Rafael wasn't the only QK (or at least the only PC associated with the QKs/Imperial Cohorts).

It was always my plan to link up Marcus with Lord Rafael at some point and if there are so few of us it may just be a good idea to bring him into the game that way, and interact with whatever you and your QKs end up doing.

Well I'm not overly attached to any of the ideas so if the GM wanted me to play a Hull rat exterminator I would. :)

The initial thoughts about the Hawkwood Obun expert is that he isn't a QK but rather a younger noboe of the house potentially looking to be cohort for a QK. A protege of sorts.

The Hironem is my first idea purely in that it's an idea/concept I've had for a long time and would like to see him realised eventually, he has a vaguely "Wild-west" feel to him, all slug guns, dusty desert gear, slightly surly attitude and very rough around the edges.

Happy to go with most ideas though.

Well depending on who comes back and who does not (and trying to avoid having too many former PCs turned into GM controlled NPCs)... we may all need to do a little revamping.

Also I suspect that the story may be altered or adjusted so as to get the existing Players/PCs together in a single active IC thread (which again may mean tweaking both the former storyline as well as perhaps adjusting some potential shared backstories).

I am certainly open to the idea of shared backgrounds.  Anyone with ties to: 1) The Hazat, 2) House Decados, and/or 3) Questing Knights (Imperial Cohorts) could potentially have a logical tie-in with Rafael but I can expand that if need be.

Given House Juandaastas' backstory of having the only half-human half-Obun plus its close allies of House Hawkwood. A Hawkwood Ur-Obun Expert might have come in contact with my house at some time. If so that character could provide a link between our two groups.

Idea: The Questing Knights (Lord Rafael and company) needing an Obun Expert to translate some Ur writing or an artifact with the Expert being currently squiring/employed with a Juandaastas noble.

But Evil, I would suggest you pick a type of character you feel comfortable playing and we'll do our best to find a place for you.

I will attempt to get in touch with the missing players via email, as that is originally how I brought many of them into the game in the first place. Let's hope we can get at least some of them back. I'm not too keen on retconning the existing threads and character backstories.

One other option for both Marcus and EVIL to consider, in the event that we cannot get those players back, is for both of you to take on the roles of missing PC's (most notably Sir Daniel Windsor Hawkwood and either Sergeant Shikaalgargund or Tchak'Ikhlul). I know that isn't anyone's favorite solution, including mine, but we're currently in an unusual situation in which we both have important PC's that are missing and two new players who haven't yet created characters.

There's potential in that idea, though I'm usually loathe to take on a former PC character, I wouldn't necessarily shun it in this case.

Sir Daniel (My first ever FS character was a Sir Daniel!) may be a good match, dependent on backstory etc and how tweakable it is. Also I'd have to change the profile picture!

The Vorox, whilst I love 'em, might be something too combat orientated for me; it's something I've done numerous times now!

The Ukar ... let's just say my own game is going to feature them a fair bit so I've plenty of Ukari NPCs rolling round my head at the moment!

Now that Shik's player is back, that leaves Sir Daniel, Tchak'Ikhlul, and Andreas. Sir Daniel might be a good fit for EVIL if his player doesn't return. Marcus, if we can't get Tchak's player back, how do you feel about playing an Ukar Banjak disciple in the entourage of a traveling Juandaastas Knight?

Fingers crossed Sir Daniel returns and I can play my Kigazi Hironem!

Failing that ... a Hawkwood it is. They are, after all, the best noble house to hail from.

:)

We've got more players joining the game, which is always a good thing. Marcus, still waiting on your reply to my post above.

I tend to do badly when playing characters not of my own design, I am either unsatisfied with the quality of their construction or rapidly find myself bored due to not having forged a connection to them, often both.

Very well. In that case, lasombradeluz and searchr999, would either of you be willing to play Sir Daniel Windsor Hawkwood or Tchak'Ikhlul?