Greetings one and all; please use this thread to post some information about your characters; specifically what your fellow classmates would know about you, given that they've spent a few years at least tangentially in your company. I'll also use this thread to provide any public statements or explanations about the game before we begin.

Yasha Tankou: The superstar of the military for the last fifty years, the Eastern Wind swept away not only the enemies of the Empire, but also the military theories and stratagems of those who came before her. A founding member of the academy you graduated from, she is also its namesake. Her tactics and history formed much of the core of your theoretical training while in the academy, so all of you have become quite familiar with you life. She was unable to attended to graduation of your class, but did send a messenger who spoke on her behalf;

"To the young officers who set forth this day on the greatest campaign of their lives, I salute you. The ideals of youth burn hot within your hearts and I would not douse that fire, lest the light of our Empire fade with it. Nevertheless I must say this to you; Do not let honor, circumstance or tradition shackle your hand to inaction. Only by perceiving without filters and acting without limitations can victory and survival be guaranteed."

This speech fit much of her teachings and in general Tankou holds all methods of victory in assorted esteem, but also requires those who follow her philosophy to consider the long term ramifications of their actions. A short-term victory that causes unrest, revolt and an inevitable loss of the campaign is worth literally less than nothing. This sort of holistic approach to battle and warfare is why the Western Empire is not only remarkably free of rebellion, though it has been under control for only a few decades, but also amazingly productive and valuable despite having recently been a locus for bitter armed conflict.

The most recent portrait of the Empire's most Famous General was you suspect, not very accurate. It portrayed the ninety-five year old woman as looking surprisingly robust and muscular, wrinkles and gray-white hair of no consequence beneath her steel colored stare that seemed to pierce the canvas and assess you. Her battle armor was displayed as well, rather than her official dress of office. Creased and well-worn, the leather and scale combination gleamed, but still held blemishes and scratches. To only be expected from a garment more than twice as old as you.

Her death, two months prior was mourned seemingly by the entire Empire, with black shawls and face-masks muting the colors and exchanges of commoners and nobles alike for almost a week in some cases. The news coming out of the West about the state of the war in her absence is, to say the least, not promising.


Illyana Fairchild: One of your instructors at the Eastern Wind Academy, she is also the Grand Marshall of the Order of Roses, to whom you were inducted in your sophomore year at the Academy. A driving woman, she challenged all of you to embrace your potential and constantly pushed you both in your scholastic studies as well as you personal training and the cultivation of your personal 'Power', which she ascribed to your Noble blood. She believes that Nobles with 'Power' will be the backbone of the Empire moving into a uncertain future. Incredibly well versed in all sorts of military lore, she is also the reigning champion of Chess in the Empire and has not lost a match in the last decade.

Tall for a Jhoikian, Illyana has the heart-shaped face, ice-blue eyes and sunny blonde hair of her House, well balanced against her taut warrior's physique. In sparring she was like a predatory cat, all potential ultra-fast violence and vicious utilization of weakness and distraction. She wields two blades a good-deal shorter than is standard for her House, but its hard to argue with her effectiveness.



Xavier Mennin: The eldest son of Hassan Mennin is a patron of the Academy and sent small gifts of coin and incense to each graduate as well. Some of the coin in your pocket came not from your family, but the Imperial Treasury. He is known to be generous in his gifts to all military officers, be they Jhoikian or even just Mercenaries. It is known throughout Mennin that any man who can swing a sword with proficiency can find a position amongst his legions and a man of talent can easily find himself in the Royal Guard.

(More to come, I'll add a few of the NPCs who also graduated at the same time as you.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:29, Tue 25 July 2017.

Aidan Ironspike: A big guy (for you). Speaks very little, is rarely ever seen doing anything despite his size, but is almost always where he's needed, lending out his immense strength where it is required. Has an almost cliched fondness for cute little animals. Extraordinarily strong and favors the biggest of weapons.
This message was last updated by the GM at 23:43, Thu 13 July 2017.

Thorpe is a charismatic man from House Perielle, sharing many of that houses hedonistic characteristics, as well as a highly developed belief in the innate superiority of the noble born over the common. Despite that he is rumored to occasionally dress as a commoner and go "slumming".

He has a sly humor, is never seen angry or upset and has been criticized as not taking things seriously enough.

He takes great care in his appearance; his grooming, wardrobe and jewelry are always on the cutting edge of fashion.

He is capable, but a bit unfocused, able to do almost anything but excelling in no particular area.

He has a reputation as a "fixer" who can handle things with a mixture of skill and sometimes morally ambiguous action, other noble students have occasionally gone to him for help in alleviating entanglements, issues or problems.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 19:10, Wed 26 July 2017.

Sethra Mousegrave Lavode:

Many of the more interesting members of the class seem to be the quiet ones, as Sethra seemingly never initiated conversations, but her tendency to respond directly and take everything literally actually made her a great straight woman to bounce jokes off of, as she'll always deliver the expected line; if you can wrap your head around the way she thinks.

If it were just that, she would have been just another intermittent part of your scholastic experience, but her willingness to repeat verbatim lessons that others were perhaps not paying attention to; or even to explain obscure or complicated concepts moments after the rest of the class was supposed to understand them that really made her an asset.

Popularity is a generous term to describe her status thereafter, but its clear enough that everyone found her useful, if a bit unnerving. Like a few others in the capital, Sethra has some of the telltale signs of not-quite-human blood, a bit of a point to her ears and pupils that take up too much of her eyes; remarkably pale as well, though that seemingly has nothing to do with what might be a distant elven ancestor.

As a military commander, she excelled in a strategic role, flawlessly coming up with whatever the teachers thought was the best option going into any situation. Tactically, she wasn't so fearsome; though hard to get your hands on her in a sparring situation, she seemingly lacked the ability to easily command the attention and obedience of men-at-arms. Its generally thought that if she does pursue a military career she'll be an adviser or aide rather than a captain.

When it comes to her Power, nothing is exactly known. There were some suggestions that her long white hair seemed to move on its own without the presence of wind to stir it; and what wounds or scrapes she suffered on the practice seemed to heal without so much as a scab, much less a scar.


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:03, Mon 07 Aug 2017.

Andern Crocein:

The youngest son of the current leadership of House Crocein, Andern has little patience for the politics of the realm, preferring to leave leave that to elder his siblings.  Instead he has thrown himself into his studies, proving himself a most skilled student, and one capable of harnessing not inconsiderable magical forces at that.  Many a student has taken his lack of physical prowess as a sign of weakness, only to find themselves facing blasts of raw elemental magic that wound and cripple just as readily as any blade.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:35, Sat 15 July 2017.

Ekram Anrolon:

Ekram could be described as his
instructors and peers as "intense" or perhaps "enthusiastic". Despite the pomp and ceremony that naturally accompanies military officers and their administration, Ekram was never shy and harbored no illusions as to why he was there. He wanted to fight, and he wanted to kill.

While he was as martially and physically inclined as most other students, whatever he lacked in drill he attempted to compensate for with sheer bloody mindedness. He lingered near the more veteran soliders in attempts to pick up tips and tricks, and spent hours watching and participating in mock fights and battles.

This mindset did little to endear him to most of the more "civilized" members of the instructor cadre, but there were a few , Illyana Fairchild for example, that seemed to appreciate and even foster his predatory instincts.

Given his interests and his time in the saddle, Ekram will likely wind up with the Calvary, where the wind in his hair and the thrill of the charge can feed his viseral cravings.

Mjoll Grant:

More vivacious and outspoken of a classmate, Mjoll stood out for the wonders she could work with a roll of bandage and her quick application of them. Only the most stoic and prideful refused her brief and effective ministrations on the mock battlefields of the Academy.

Stocky would be a polite description but thick is more accurate. Mjoll's fondness for archery and staying well away from the fray did not prevent her from building some serious muscle mass and weight over her years training for a position of leadership in the Army.

The more perceptive might note that for all of her outgoing and seemingly empathetic nature, her ranking on the test scores never wavered from right behind Sethra and Andern. Though some are quite open with their own 'Power', she was not and if she has any, it is unknown by the Academy at large.

Jac Dinier:

More interested in anything outside of academy, no one considers Jac as one of the academy's star pupils. Jac would spend his days fraternizing with the student body rather than try to learn, much to his teachers' chagrin. Considered a fat kid throughout his entire youth, he has only recently developed a habit for participating in martial exercises (mostly as punishment for his misconduct).

Viscount Konrad Anrolon:

More active in politics than most of his house, Viscount Konrad served with distinction for several years in the Army before returning to the capital and taking up his House' distinctive knack for raising and taming beasts.

Or so someone who hadn't paid too close attention might think, its more accurate to say that he returns to the capital frequently in between hunting trips, bringing in the not-quite-exotic but-still-dangerous animals that make up the backbone of Anrolon zoos, menageries and shows.

The extravagant larger than life mentality of his house in general is surely distilled in the Viscount, who plays it to the hilt and thus rarely gets invited to the 'right' sort of parties; but few enough turn down invitations to his own raucous events!


This message was last edited by the GM at 05:47, Wed 26 July 2017.

Viridian Wymess

Born to the venerable and waning House of Wymess, Viridian's place in the Academy seemed something of a mystery to those that knew her prior. To all accounts, she was pleasant and almost devoid of original thought, forever fussing over her own appearance or directing sullen glances at the attire of those she considered better dressed than herself.

This facade is near impregnable, being one she has perfected over her life so far, but had to be lowered for the sake of her schooling. Her classmates would have witnessed, when required, a formidable intellect and even fiercer drive behind the vapid shell. Once revealed, Viridian's saw no purpose in maintaining the illusion and reverted to a state of refined and charming sociability, conversing with any and all during their free time. Astute observers, however, might have noted how she tended to gravitate towards the highest fliers in their midst.

The precise nature of Viridian's skill set is not known, though it looks to have something to do with arcane magic and manipulation of the mind.

After many years in training, close quarters drilling and activities best kept between we scions, the personality and skills of Kafiem are known.

Kafiem is a religious man as well as a scholar, his House duties and instruction in all manner of engineering does not oppose his faith in Yassir, he swears that it informs and stills his mind, giving him an insight to design that could not come from intellect alone.

When not training or studying, Kafiem has been attached to the Siege units of the military and has spent years helping build, repair, design siege engines for use the field.

Kafiem has not trained to be the fastest, quickest, strongest, most blade adept student. After all this time, you know him to have focused on weakness', tried to round out his skills. Wily veterans that have tried to pull unorthodox maneuvers find Kafiem has applied his own sense of martial maneuvers to counter these tricks and theft of his own weapons.

Years ago, just after his 12th year celebration, his martial training changed when he returned with a gauntlet, masterworked, made of metal. Since that day he has never taken it off in your presence, except that one time.

There was that one time where, fully aware and in his right mind, knowing that after years of training and being that induction into the Order was assured, the gauntlet came off.

There in the palm of his right hand was the square knotwork symbol of Yassir, faintly colored and not an inked or scarred symbol, one that defied a worldly origin. Then it burned with light, a white, pure and it blazed from his palm but it did not blind, it only illuminated as not a lantern or a moon or even the sun could, it filled spaces it left no shadow. Then, while still in full effect the gauntlet was placed back over the hand, the light continued with no barrier, the symbol now displayed on the surface of the palm's metal surface.

Kafiem has no explanation, has no answer to all the questions he himself has asked the Clerics of Yassir. From that day on you understood only six others in Mennin knew of this, now you knew as well.

After that day and in the years following, Kafiem would use his gauntlet to slap away weapons, even arrows or to use leverage and balance to disarm and even take weapons from opponents as they closed to strike.

Beyond all that, beyond all the training of his House in the families of the Empire, Kafiem plays chess and is eager to pass time at night or after a hard days routine to sit, sip tea, discuss the Empire and play.

Knows the langugae of the Dwarves, Elves and Old Common
This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Thu 27 July 2017.

Beatrice Corvid
Though not a student or teacher at the Academy, Beatrice was nonetheless a common sight on the grounds over the last several years. Her House is a subsidiary of two other houses; Grant and Klarich and specializes in ranged weapons, which puts them slightly beneath the dignity of the Emblematic houses, but parlays well into Klarich's historical and modern strengths.

Her betrothal to Kafiem Klarich was hardly a secret and certainly a factor in her frequent trips to the Academy, with servants bearing fresh food for the students, new prototypes for the instructors and bushels of ammunition for the practice grounds. Her gifts were welcome enough without the pretense and in public, the relationship certainly seems to be above reproach and 'correctly' glacially slow.

A keen shot in her own right, her House was instrumental in the advancements in Crossbow technology over the last two decades and their introduction to the selection of noble weapons whose use is covered in the Academy and other institutions of war. Beatrice often demonstrated her own adeptness with the new, stronger weapons, easily puncturing the most armored of training targets.

Approachable when present, her milieu tends to small talk or technical matters rather than politics or more insubstantial intellectual matters.

Charlene arrived at the academy followed by three ox carts, each loaded with the best examples of her family's well known products. These were the choicest of product, rare bottles of wine, whiskey, rum, champagne, and some items they had yet to introduce to the public, like vodka, mead, and sake. One cart went to the academy's administration and faculty, the other two were hers to dole out as she chose. Charlene was instantly popular, getting invitations even to upper classman parties.

She also brought her sense of style, which was immediately emulated by the other females in the academy. Charlene is nothing if not a trend setter. Even some faculty began to look for outfits like her own. By the end of her first year, the fashionistas brought new creations to her, a flick of her wrist could send them back to their drawing boards, but a smile meant money in their pockets. By now she is at the center of all things social at the academy.


At first this prim and delicate young woman was thought an easy victory. Who would suspect her to be anything but an immediate tap out, she was not physically strong nor did she seem suited for this sort of activity. She seemed far more suited for getting manicures and sipping her wines. Those who underestimated her in her custom made studded leather armor and swanky scabbard with it's swirling designs soon fond themselves on the wrong end of an unorthodox but very effective technique that married ballet with swordsmanship. She built momentum with kick turns, cut opponents to pieces with piorettes, and generally made men twice her size look slow and clumsy.

She is a master feinter, her fientes are things Of beauty to behold. More than one opponent has been left "jelly-legged" by her feinting attack to the eyes or throat. She is vicious, but she is all offense. A patient fighter with a good shield can make her tire smashing against him, but he must survive her onslaught. No one underestimates her now.


Charlene does just enough, academically, to get by with 'C's, but generally gets A's especially in classes with male professors. Rumors circulate that she trades sexual favors for better grades, but no proof can be unearthed. Another unsubstantiated rumor has her sleeping with half the senior men, and while many will brag about bedding her, none do so in her presence. Whether this is because they do not wish to anger her with lies or truths is unclear.


Things she says often enough that others can pick up on the idiosyncrasy:

"I'm bored, entertain me."
"You can't afford me."
"If only girls had penises."
"My work here has concluded."
"I could do that. I could also eat feces, but I won't."
"Congratulations, you have bored me."
"You have my leave to go."
"Crazy as a bag full of cats." (Referring both to herself and others.)


Killer Queen Queen
She keeps her Moet et Chandon
In her pretty cabinet
'Let them eat cake' she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
A built-in remedy
For Kruschev and Kennedy
At anytime an invitation
You can't decline
Caviar and cigarettes
Well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatin
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Ooh, recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try ?
To avoid complications
She never kept the same address
In conversation
She spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China
Went down to Geisha Minah
(Killer, killer, she's a killer Queen)
Then again incidentally
If you're that way inclined
Perfume came naturally from Paris (naturally)
For cars she couldn't care less
Fastidious and precise
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatin
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Drop of a hat she's as willing as
Playful as a pussy cat
Then momentarily out of action
Temporarily out of gas
To absolutely drive you wild, wild
She's all out to get you
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatin
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Ooh, recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try ?
You wanna try
This message was last edited by the player at 15:09, Mon 14 Aug 2017.

Barret Corvid
As common a sight that his sister was on the Academy grounds, her brother made regular appearances at her side. Leaving his sister to her own devices, Barret instructed those entrusted with the prototypes on how to properly operate and maintain the new devices. After finishing with the trainees, it was common for Barret to wander off and partake in some classes the Academy offered on the subject of healing.

While playing his own part in his houses' achievements, Barret took his family's aptitude for mechanical engineering and applied it to the human machine. Following in his grandfather's footsteps, the young man is a skilled medic in his own right, having a wide knowledge of medical techniques and medicinal herbs and their uses. This wonder of plants and their healing properties lead Barret to be an avid outdoors man, and a good eye and powerful crossbow made him capable hunter.

Barret's focus on both the houses' trade and his own medical pursuits has lead him to being a bit of recluse, his repeated retreats in the wilds not helping with his socialization. Not to say he isn't friendly or approachable, but