Fantasy LotR-Inspired Fantasy Craving

[Lucyfer]

Lord of the Rings inspired Cravings​

• Introduction
• Rules and Guidelines

• 
  
  "I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?"​
  
  So, long story short, I rewatched Lord of the Rings and awoke my desire for an original fantasy thread. I hesitate to do these, because as anyone who's done these knows, it's a lot of world building, and when it falls through, you're just left...drained.
  
  That said, I have gone ahead and put in some work since I can't get my mind of fthe subject.
  
  These are going to be heavily inspired by Lord of the Rings, and pull on these major themes:
  
  1. The "Big Bad" is obvious. As much as I love Game of Thrones, Berserk, Dark Souls, and other things with questionable morality, for once I want the Big Bad to be unambiguous. Their allies and minions can be, sure, but not the Big Bad.
  2. There is going to be a cursed magical item that has to be destroyed. There may also be other magical items, but there will be at least one, main item, like the Ring, that needs to be destroyed.
  3. A large group will come together - not all at once - and will split.
  4. Fate. I like thematics of Fate, so it is something we should consider with the characters. Think of Aragorn and his fate to become King of Gondor, or Smeagol's fate to destroy the ring - Bilbo's pity playing out. These sorts of things. We'll obviously have to do some loose plotting ahead to determine some of these, but I've always been more interested in the journey than the end, anyways.
  
  There are two ideas below, separated in boxes because that's how I wanted to do it this time and so that things wouldn't be confused. Take a look at them, and take a look at my rules, please!
  
  
• 
  
  1. Don't God-Mod. In other words, don't make my character speak, don't make my character, don't make my character take damage, and don't control my character. If you want something to go a certain way for plot purposes, just PM me and ask. Usually, I accept "god-modding" during travel and the like. It is usually acceptable to assume movement if a character is already committed to the journey.
  
  2. Please be able to play both genders, and play multiple roles. Your main character(s) may be just male or just female, but I expect all the side characters and NPCs to have life and flavor, too.
  
  3. On the note of characters: I will always play one female character. So, be aware of that. With that said, I usually also always play one male character, and I do MxM, MxF, and FxF pairings, though I prefer MxF.
  
  4. 4. I only RP on threads, (or GDocs in rare cases), so no PM, kik, discord, e-mail, or other rps with me. So that I know you’ve read the rules this far, please tell me about your favorite food!
  
  5. Please be able to write more than a couple of sentences as responses to me. I have tried to do “simple” RPs, but I end up not feeling motivated to respond or continue the RP. I will need you to be able to write a paragraph or two, each post, at least.
  
  6. PM if you are interested. The only reason for you not to PM me is if you cannot do so due to the fact you haven't reached 24 hours/10 posts.
  
  Guidelines:
  
  1. I do not like to be hassled for posts. Especially if I have already posted that day or the day before. Do not bother me for posts until at least two days have passed. Otherwise, I will start to resent our RP and lose interest in it.
  
  2. I enjoy OOC talk, however I will not respond to "hi" or "-poke-" or equivalents. Have substance to the chatter, even if it just asking "How are you?".
  
  3. Do not bump our thread if I have not posted. I will not post out of spite. I have a problem with this, I acknowledge it, I'm not fixing it.
  
  4. On that matter, please keep OOC to PMs and not on our IC thread. IC is for posting. If you have a question, concern, or comment, just shoot me a PM.
  
  5. In general, I do not enjoy immediate romances or "slice-of-life" RPs, so do not come to me expecting I'll do either. I may make rare exceptions.

 

[Lucyfer]

In The Darkness, Bind Them​

• Background Info
• Role Ideas and Beginning
• Race Ideas
• Terminology and Plot Bunnies

• 
  
  
  "But today of all days, it is brought home to me: It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life."​
  
  Once upon a time, there was a powerful sorcerer who was trusted and beloved by many. He granted great gifts, and great powers, bestowing gifts upon bloodlines to make them last ages and other such things, all in a bid to gain influence…and trust. That trust was something that he could play upon, as he started to give out heirlooms and trinkets to others, enchanted as they were with minor gifts.
  
  A magical sword here, a powerful circlet there, and a calm voice to negotiate during feuds between kingdoms.
  
  Only to bind them all to him, when he bound power within himself from the Shadow, shackling his fate, and the fates of those who took his enchantments and blessings, to that same Shadow. For some, it was slow. Others tried to fight it – some succeeded – but the majority were brought down into the Shadow with him, and brought to his side to fight for his ends of world domination with all others mere servants to his will. The Shadow spread with him across the land. What crops he planted were just as corrupted, and they spoiled the lands they touched. What people were captured by him, no matter how good-intentioned, were soon Shadow-touched as well.
  
  He did this through two bracelets he wore on either wrist. It bound him to the Shadow, but it allowed him to control it just as well.
  
  The source of his power was obvious to many, and one day, a lucky man was able to severe his arm and break the binding. The other bracelet slipped off in the moment, and the sorcerer was able to be destroyed.
  
  Unfortunately, the bracelets were not taken to Light and destroyed.
  
  The slayer took them as his own family’s heirlooms and intended to try and set things to right through them. For a time, it seemed to work…but of course, the bracelets eventually turned all the good to Shadow, and took the slayer down with them, his bloodline forever tainted by the Shadow.
  
  The bracelets were split between heirs, one never to be seen again, and the other seen until only recently, when the presumed last of the line passed without issue. The bracelet was assumed to be buried with him, but was in truth spirited away and pawned off. With only one bracelet known, its power and its influence in the duo has been nearly forgotten – it is known only as an emblem of that family, and valuable.
  
  The Sorcerer, still bound to the bracelets, has also begun to stir, regaining their power through taking the lifeforce of those who have bourne the bracelets. It is only a matter of time….
  
  
• 
  
  Roles Needed:
  
  
  
  
  • The Lost Heir with the Bracelet that’s been missing.
  • The one pawning the stolen Bracelet.
  • The one buying the stolen Bracelet.
  • A wizard/witch, probably.
  
  Notable Villain Roles:
  
  
  
  
  • Sorcerer of Shadow
  • Those Shadow-Tainted by the “gifts” of the past.
  
  The story would begin simply: the one who stole the bracelet has opportunity to sell it to another character, both of which are oblivious of the nature of the bracelet beyond it being a royal heirloom. The Lost Heir has heard of the bracelet going missing, and tracks it to this event, perhaps with a friend or bodyguard, or perhaps on their own. They may be somewhat aware of the nature of the bracelet, and aware of why the family split in two (to keep it from coming together again).
  
  We would determine things from there, but this would be our starting point. Likely, Shadow-Tainted would interrupt things and try to take the Bracelet(s).
• 
  
  This is not all-encompassing and it is not including "creature" potentials, like kelpie, giant eagles, or other such things. Just thoughts for the major races that shape the world/want to shape the world.
  
  Human: The standard race that has spread across the continent, and the easiest to corrupt. They are the shortest lived, and so desire the most in their short lives.
  
  Elf: Creatures of the forest. They tend to live in isolation from the other races, though they do venture beyond their borders, they do not often let others know where they reside. They do trade, and leave their homes, but it is rare to be brought into an Elf society or to find one, as they are often hidden by enchantments.
  
  Dwarf: Rulers under the ground and within mountains. Most of their dealings are with the Sirens, who tend to live upon the mountains that they reside inside of. Known for their mining and craftsmanship, as well as their ale. They tend to keep to themselves as well as the elves, but they aren't quite so isolated. It's more that people just can't get to where they are.
  
  Sirens: They tend to live atop mountains or other naturally high places, their wings granting them the ability not to mind them. Sometimes mistaken as 'angels'. Most of their dealings are with dwarves.
  
  Undines: Unlike merpeople, Undines can come up from the water and walk among the other species. Most of their interactions are with humans and elves; most of their societies are beneath water, so little is known of it due to this.
  
  Merpeople: They can't walk on land, but they are still rather well known and spoken of.
  
  Shadow-Tainted
  
  Wraiths: Shadow-tainted humans.
  
  Orcs: Shadow-tained Elves.
  
  Goblins: Shadow-tainted dwarves.
  
  Furies: Shadow-tainted Sirens.
  
  Nix: Shadow-tainted Undines.
  
  
• 
  
  Terminology:
  
  Shadow: In the beginning, there was Light. And Light cast a Shadow. The Shadow seemed at first just like the Light, it's true nature revealed only later as more than a poor imitation of the Light, but a corrupted reflection of the Light. Those things 'Of Shadow' are considered evil. Shadow is the terminology for Hell. The Sorcerer of Shadow did come from the Shadow, not born human or dwarf or anything else, but truly a being of the Shadow.
  
  Shadow-Tainted: Those things corrupted by or touched by the Shadow. It is not always extreme, but in cases where it is, the signs are obvious, the creature no longer what it once was.
  
  Light: Light is how the world was brought into being, and Light is what was there first - with Shadow, for all Light casts a Shadow. It was soon revealed how different things of Shadow and Light were, and how those things of Shadow seek to eliminate the Light - even at the risk of their own destruction, for there can be no Shadows without Light.
  
  Plot Thoughts:
  
  
  • Definitely think a "Fellowship" Vibe would fit this one, with the crew having to run to a safe haven and a group gathered to deal with the threat. In this case, there would likely be two bearers of the bracelets - but one should die (maybe) so that one bearer has to deal with both bracelets and that balancing act. Plus the risk of losing one.
  
  
  

 

[Lucyfer]

Woven Together​

• Background Info
• Role Ideas
• Race Ideas

• 
  
  
  "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing. "​
  
  
  Once upon a time, there was a woman who spent her life as a wife to a powerful lord who conquered much of the lands. The woman herself spent her time as most women did – sewing and running the household. Most of her time was spent on tapestries reflecting the victories of her husband. Her time and dedication these poured in magic to her needle and those tapestries, making them real.
  
  Her husband was, for a while, blissfully unaware until a decision he never would have made in his right mind was made for him, by him, but he did not feel in control of it. Rather than allow a city that had surrendered peacefully to do just that, he had it razed, losing resources, laborers, and much else in the process. His men didn’t seem to notice, but it bothered him. When he returned home, he found the tapestry, like all the others, and began to notice that given the time he was away and the time it took his wife to sew, she had done all of these before knowing the outcome.
  
  He accused her of being a witch and influencing him, and he would have killed her – but she was wealthy, and a noble. A trial was needed.
  
  A trial never occurred, of course. She was allowed her tools to sew while she awaited it, and she sewed a new story – one where her home itself was razed by her dutiful husband, after he had slipped on some attire she had embroidered with her will. He became naught but a puppet after that, and she used him in her schemes for world domination, weaving through battle after battle and leaving a bloody trail behind.
  
  At first it was her husband who was blamed, and people amassed armies to go to war against him, but soon realized there could be no victory against him.
  
  Then, rumor of the needle spread, of its’ power to shape reality, and a group united against the woman’s home, fortified though it was, to burn it all to the ground, thinking they would burn her, the tapestries, and the magic she used. She did burn, of course, but the tapestries were only frayed.
  
  The needle was lost, slipped through the cracks. It was assumed destroyed, until recently, when one of the tapestries was bought and the needle was found within the threads. The unknowing individual wanted to finish the design, and in doing so, they brought the woman back to life – her final act to design was her own resurrection, aware of what was coming for her, and intending to survive it.
  
  Now she plans to find her needle, and finish the work, for with her rose her own fortress and armies once more – at least, all those who wore what she had given to them.
  
  It must be discovered how to destroy the needle, and the woman, once and for all.
  
  
• 
  Roles Needed:
  
  
  
  • The one who finished the tapestry.
  • Friend/an acquaintance who knows tapestry-finisher.
  • Someone who lived near/within the area the Sorceress revived in.
  
  Notable Villain Roles:
  
  
  
  
  • Sorceress
  • Sorceress’s Husband
  
  We could start this with the purchase of the tapestry, or near it being finished. The buyer would have felt compelled to finish it a certain way, either due to the will of the Needle, or clues within the tapestry itself (phoenix imagery or something like that). In either case, they would sew to the point of restoring the Sorceress, who would then restore her fortress and allies.
  
  This would be visible to at least one individual, but we could also make it visible to all characters with a towering spire for the sorceress to be within.
  
  Hunted down for the needle, the one who finished the tapestry would need to flee with an ally, and get somewhere safe to figure out what to do. Obviously, allies would need to come into the picture to help guide them to a safe area.
  
• 
  
  Human: The standard race that has spread across the continent, and the easiest to corrupt. They are the shortest lived, and so desire the most in their short lives.
  
  Elf: Creatures of the forest. They tend to live in isolation from the other races, though they do venture beyond their borders, they do not often let others know where they reside. They do trade, and leave their homes, but it is rare to be brought into an Elf society or to find one, as they are often hidden by enchantments.
  
  Dwarf: Rulers under the ground and within mountains. Most of their dealings are with the Sirens, who tend to live upon the mountains that they reside inside of. Known for their mining and craftsmanship, as well as their ale. They tend to keep to themselves as well as the elves, but they aren't quite so isolated. It's more that people just can't get to where they are.
  
  Zombies: Those in service to the Sorceress due to being revived by the magic of her thread. The mindless sort.
  
  Revenants: Those in service to the Sorceress due to being revived by the magic of the thread - not mindless. Precisely what the husband is.
  
  

 

[Lucyfer]

Morning bump~