Fantasy {OOC} An Adventure of Cowards

[BlueXBlood]

The Order of Seekers

​

Kirlia is an ancient land. Swaths of knowledge and history have been lost to the ages, swallowed whole by time's endless march. The Order of Seekers teeters on the edge of this oblivion. Once a fellowship of prestige, purpose, and meaning, the Order has since degraded into a shadow of its former self; a loose band of thieves, mad scholars, and foolhardy adventurers barely aware of their lodge's former oaths and purpose, and how they saved the realm several times over.

• The Distant Past
• The Near Past
• The Present
• TLDR and Author's Note

• 
  Kirlia was once home to many arcane and mystic relics. Some scholars say that these artifacts were shards of creation from when the world was made by the gods. Others postulate they were fragments of pure magic, condensed down into the purest form. Whatever the case may be, these mystical artifacts contained immense power, so much so that they presented a danger to the realm should they fall into the wrong hands.
  
  One such artifact, rumored to be a celestial shard, was used in a battle ages ago. The warring people's names have long been forgotten, but not the result. The shard destroyed an entire continent to the east, now known as Axasterke, reducing what was one a lush and vibrant country into a blasted desert of black sand and spires of ebony glass. After this apocalyptic misuse of power, the rulers of the realm convened to ensure that never again would such a relic be used to cause such death and destruction. Thus, The Order of Seekers was founded.
  
  
  

  
  Axasterke post-destruction​
• 
  The Seekers were a noble order comprised of the realm's bravest, all united with a singular goal: to root out and destroy and and all vestiges of power, restoring balance to the world. For centuries they were entrusted with this task. They wandered deserts for time-lost secrets, scaled mountains shrouded in legend, and delved into the deepest dungeons of the world for their mission. The Seekers were given the utmost respect anywhere they travelled, seen as both the guardians of the common folk and sage counsellors to rulers.
  
  The Seekers established Sanctuaries throughout Kirlia, hidden places of refuge known only to those who underwent the Order's sacred initiation. These Sanctuaries, hidden by powerful magic, acted as headquarters for the Order, allowing agents to rest and resupply. No matter where they travelled within the realm, they were never far from a place of shelter. Each Sanctuary operated independently, allowing Seekers to operate with greater flexibility in order to find and destroy dangerous fragments of the past.
  
  The Seekers did not fail in their mission, and this was ultimately their undoing over the next few centuries. As they rid the world of these relics, the search became more and more difficult. It seemed there simply weren't any fragments left. The Order started to lose political sway, with fewer rulers willing to empty their coffers to search for an ancient threat long destroyed. In the waning days of the Order, they often took to forgery, creating false artifacts and destroying them in elaborate rituals to justify their own existence.
  
  Over the years, the Order slowly decayed. The Sanctuaries, rife with corruption and conflict, grew further and further apart, each pursuing their own mission. No longer did the bravest and wisest seek to join the Order, but the greedy and craven.
  
  
  

  
  An abandoned Sanctuary​
  
  
• 
  The Order of Seekers is a far cry from its former glory. Most in the realm have forgotten their original purpose entirely, and that includes many of those within the Order itself. Countless Sanctuaries have been either lost or forgotten, and those that remain vary wildly in what their actual mission is. Some have attempted to maintain the old ways, though these are far and few between since no artifacts have been located in living memory. Others have turned into preservation societies, trying to uncover the Order's past and learn what the relics actually were. Most, however, have degraded into mere bands of adventurers and thieves, seeking to find whatever magical items they can, ancient or not, and use them for their own personal gain.
  
  A Seeker is ostensibly welcome in all Sanctuaries, but this is often not the case. Many Sanctuaries now compete with eachother, whether it be for knowledge or riches. The more debased Sanctuaries are rife with backstabbing and thievery, so many Seekers choose caution when meeting others of their Order. The one thing unifying these disparate factions is their endless hunt for the Cradle of the World.
  
  Some Seekers believe the mythical Cradle is the last remaining shard that their order failed to destroy. Each Sanctuary dedicates at least some of their time and resources to locating the Cradle, though their intentions with it vary wildly. Some wish to use it, others preserve it, and a minority seek to rid the world of it entirely, thus completing the Order's original mission. As such, many adventurers searching for the Cradle will end up at least partially aligned with the Order of Seekers.
  
  Though the Order is much degraded, it still offers something to its members. Merchants who buy and sell rare magical items often frequent the Order. Each Sanctuary is warded with ancient magic, its origins long forgotten; only those with knowledge of Seeker's Cant, a secret written code, can unlock the entrances to each Sanctuary. Otherwise, these places are almost inaccessible to outsiders, which makes the Order very popular among criminals or those who do not wish to be found. Above all, the Order offers knowledge. Though poor maintenance and record-keeping has seen many of their scrolls and tomes crumble to dust, even the most humble Sanctuary boasts a modest library. This knowledge often does not come free, however. The leaders of each Sanctuary, known as Wardens, do not give away their Sanctuary's secrets with ease, even to fellow Seekers. It must be earned.
  
  
  

  
  A lone Seeker surveying the landscape​
• 
  
  OKAY. SO. Way back when, The Order of Seekers was founded by a bunch of rulers to destroy magical items that were really dangerous. They pretty much succeeded, and ran out of stuff to do, so the Order fractured up. The Order is divided into Sanctuaries, which are little hidden places warded by magic and generally hard to find. In each Sanctuary, there's some old knowledge like scrolls and stuff, and if it is occupied, Seekers and the Warden (basically the head honcho of each Sanctuary). T
  
  There's no overarching authority beyond each Warden. Every Sanctuary is totally different, and many have been totally lost. Some are basically thieves guilds, others adventure clubs, so on and so on. The only thing that unites them is that they all want to find the Cradle of the World.
  
  
  My intention with creating the Order is so that everyone can kind of be a part of the same club (or, at least, those who want to be). I wrote it as loosely as possible, which hopefully allows for every player to write it/head canon it into their character's backstory, or join it later. I'd imagine most characters, regardless of background, could find a way to join it. You're all free to create a Sanctuary of your own that fits your character's backstory as well! Like I said, I wanted to leave this as open as possible, so people can do whatever they'd like to with the Order. Some characters might work tangentially with the Order, using their resources while not really believing in their cause, which is totally cool. Really, just go wild with it. Later on in the game, the Order could also serve as a built-in antagonist as Sanctuaries compete with each other to gain access to the Cradle; just a thought!
  
  BlueXBlood, Xen6n, and I will be having our characters stumble across an abandoned Sanctuary and work to revive it if anyone would like to join
  
  Thanks to BlueXBlood and @Xen6n for helping with this!
  
  
  
  

  
  Unrelated image but Jules Guerin is amazing​

For those of us who recall (and/or approved) the idea of a central, run-down guild/community that can unite the array of characters in the roleplay, I did take the time to create a brief write-up of the abandoned sanctuary that Aris and her gang will be staying at/fixing up. If y'all would like me to share that, let me know, but my intention was to have our party invite people to the sanctuary as we encounter them and discover their fugitive/criminal-ness.

If y'all have other ideas/suggestions on how to gradually round everyone up in a natural, free-flowing way, shoot it my way. In the meantime, just waiting for the okay from everyone and/or _ChickenWithTeeth_ regarding the Order and the sanctuaries.

 

[BlueXBlood]

Going to assume the likes on the post were a "yes" to sharing the write-up?

Southwestern Sanctuary of the Order


In the southwestern part of the land, between the verdant plains and sprawling desert, is a tranquil landscape that houses a secret and abandoned sanctuary belonging to the Order of Seekers. Sitting atop a ridge, it overlooks the western coast, offering a mysterious and captivating view of the horizon beyond Kirlia. The overwhelming silence within its desolate walls speaks volumes of the years in which it has been forgotten; its once-noble purpose of protecting adventures now faded with time.

The ward over the sanctuary remains, magically inhibiting wanderers from finding it until revealed by the Seekers' Cant.
​

• Central Rooms
• Right Wing
• Left Wing

• 
  
  Main Hall
  
  Upon entering the sanctuary, one is greeted by a staircase that descends into a large hall that has been overrun with vegetation, its many pillars tainted with moss and vines. Much of what once furnished the room has been reduced to rotten wood scattered across the ground. Blemished tapestries might still be found, though the images they bear are ruined beyond recognition. The stairs at the entrance stretch to the left and to the right, offering a means of accessing the upper floors of each wing. Underneath the stairs are two doors that lead to a hollow, interconnected room that was once used for storage in the past. Astonishingly, the room remains intact, merely dirty and dampened with rusted crates and equipment placed about.
  
  
  The Terrace
  
  Past a corridor is a stone terrace that overlooks the ridge, providing a view of the western coast. Much of the stone railing has crumbled, and though offering a sense of peace and awe to an extent, one might look upon it and fear the fall that waits underneath. The crashing waves resound from the ocean beyond it, and the salty air fills the atmosphere outside. The silhouette of the Kingdom of Breathia is visible in the distance, along with the desert in the opposite direction.
  
• 
  
  Training Grounds
  
  From the right-most corridor in the main hall, the training grounds become accessible. Weathered by time, it appears more like an empty greenhouse, adorned with overgrowth all the way up to the roof. Though the floors are still relatively undamaged, it would take much time and caution before one could use the room for its intended purpose again, the vines and branches rising from the floor making for a hindered sparring match.
  
  
  
  Right-Wing Barracks
  
  From the stairs at the entrance stretches a hall, leading into the upper floor of the right wing. The hall winds around the perimeter of the entire floor, eventually leading to the left-wing barracks as well. Many rooms line the hall, providing members of the sanctuary a place to rest their heads in the privacy and comfort of their own dorm.
  
  The rooms most commonly feature nothing more than a wardrobe, a chest for storage, and a simple bed. The only exceptions are the rooms that belonged to the warden and a select few, which are situated in the left wing. These rooms offered a bit more space in addition to windows that overlooked the fields to the south as they fade to the desert sand.
• 
  
  Library and Secret Archives
  
  Similar to the training grounds, the library is found through a corridor on the left side of the main hall. As it stretches up to the second floor, the higher parts of the library connects to the hallway of the left-wing barracks. The ceiling has caved in to some extent, making the lower level a disasterous mess. However, beneath the rubble, some documents from the past may have been preserved.
  
  At the very end of the library, there is a door that leads to the secret archives of the sanctuary. One can imagine that it was held under lock and key, but its abandonment has left it open to whoever can wade through the ruin and reach it. Whether or not anything useful remains, however, is debatable.
  
  
  
  
  Left-Wing Barracks
  
  The left-wing barracks are a series of rooms reserved for those who closely aided the warden in managing the sanctuary, treated as a privilege to some extent due to what it offered. Aside from being more spacious, the rooms contain traces of unique decor that have quite obviously lost their value over time. There are only four rooms in the left wing, though one could easily make room for many persons in them.

 

[Aegis]

Going to assume the likes on the post were a "yes" to sharing the write-up?

View attachment 1155273
Southwestern Sanctuary of the Order


In the southwestern part of the land, between the verdant plains and sprawling desert, is a tranquil landscape that houses a secret and abandoned sanctuary belonging to the Order of Seekers. Sitting atop a ridge, it overlooks the western coast, offering a mysterious and captivating view of the horizon beyond Kirlia. The overwhelming silence within its desolate walls speaks volumes of the years in which it has been forgotten; its once-noble purpose of protecting adventures now faded with time.

The ward over the sanctuary remains, magically inhibiting wanderers from finding it until revealed by the Seekers' Cant.
​

• Central Rooms
• Right Wing
• Left Wing

• 
  View attachment 1155274
  Main Hall
  
  Upon entering the sanctuary, one is greeted by a staircase that descends into a large hall that has been overrun with vegetation, its many pillars tainted with moss and vines. Much of what once furnished the room has been reduced to rotten wood scattered across the ground. Blemished tapestries might still be found, though the images they bear are ruined beyond recognition. The stairs at the entrance stretch to the left and to the right, offering a means of accessing the upper floors of each wing. Underneath the stairs are two doors that lead to a hollow, interconnected room that was once used for storage in the past. Astonishingly, the room remains intact, merely dirty and dampened with rusted crates and equipment placed about.
  
  View attachment 1155275
  The Terrace
  
  Past a corridor is a stone terrace that overlooks the ridge, providing a view of the western coast. Much of the stone railing has crumbled, and though offering a sense of peace and awe to an extent, one might look upon it and fear the fall that waits underneath. The crashing waves resound from the ocean beyond it, and the salty air fills the atmosphere outside. The silhouette of the Kingdom of Breathia is visible in the distance, along with the desert in the opposite direction.
  
• 
  View attachment 1155277
  Training Grounds
  
  From the right-most corridor in the main hall, the training grounds become accessible. Weathered by time, it appears more like an empty greenhouse, adorned with overgrowth all the way up to the roof. Though the floors are still relatively undamaged, it would take much time and caution before one could use the room for its intended purpose again, the vines and branches rising from the floor making for a hindered sparring match.
  
  
  View attachment 1155278
  Right-Wing Barracks
  
  From the stairs at the entrance stretches a hall, leading into the upper floor of the right wing. The hall winds around the perimeter of the entire floor, eventually leading to the left-wing barracks as well. Many rooms line the hall, providing members of the sanctuary a place to rest their heads in the privacy and comfort of their own dorm.
  
  The rooms most commonly feature nothing more than a wardrobe, a chest for storage, and a simple bed. The only exceptions are the rooms that belonged to the warden and a select few, which are situated in the left wing. These rooms offered a bit more space in addition to windows that overlooked the fields to the south as they fade to the desert sand.
• 
  View attachment 1155279
  Library and Secret Archives
  
  Similar to the training grounds, the library is found through a corridor on the left side of the main hall. As it stretches up to the second floor, the higher parts of the library connects to the hallway of the left-wing barracks. The ceiling has caved in to some extent, making the lower level a disasterous mess. However, beneath the rubble, some documents from the past may have been preserved.
  
  At the very end of the library, there is a door that leads to the secret archives of the sanctuary. One can imagine that it was held under lock and key, but its abandonment has left it open to whoever can wade through the ruin and reach it. Whether or not anything useful remains, however, is debatable.
  
  
  View attachment 1155280
  
  Left-Wing Barracks
  
  The left-wing barracks are a series of rooms reserved for those who closely aided the warden in managing the sanctuary, treated as a privilege to some extent due to what it offered. Aside from being more spacious, the rooms contain traces of unique decor that have quite obviously lost their value over time. There are only four rooms in the left wing, though one could easily make room for many persons in them.

Very well done! It’s definitely a great place of respite as everyone comes together when they’re found!

 

[Goonfire]

Indeed. Good picks for the art; it has this familiarity, kinda like the fort in DS2's Forest of Fallen Giants and Majula. Yes, I still have that brain rot.

 

[MageMantis]

_ChickenWithTeeth_ Hello, is it okay if you can review this? ^^ Barracuda

 

[BlueXBlood]

_ChickenWithTeeth_ Hello, is it okay if you can review this? ^^ Barracuda

Woah-ho. That is a package of lore, lol. Interesting. Hope you don't mind that I took a quick read.

 

[Aegis]

_ChickenWithTeeth_ Hello, is it okay if you can review this? ^^ Barracuda

Gun!

 

[Aegis]

Has anyone heard from _ChickenWithTeeth_ recently?

 

[BlueXBlood]

Has anyone heard from _ChickenWithTeeth_ recently?

Nope... and frankly, I'm trying not to be too impatient. It's been too quiet lately for my taste but the content/plotting is worthwhile, so I'm holding out.

 

[Goonfire]

Not to be that guy, but it's been two weeks without word. If we don't hear from them in another week, should we attempt to launch this ourselves?

 

[BlueXBlood]

Not to be that guy, but it's been two weeks without word. If we don't hear from them in another week, should we attempt to launch this ourselves?

Oh, whew. I was afraid I was the only one thinking that. I wish we could jumpstart things in less than a week, but if everyone would prefer to give it that much time, I'll wait.
Nonetheless, if things don't get moving, I would very much like to start things off ourselves. Nothing against Chicken, it'd just be a shame to let all the good ideas and excitement go to waste.

 

[Goonfire]

Oh, whew. I was afraid I was the only one thinking that. I wish we could jumpstart things in less than a week, but if everyone would prefer to give it that much time, I'll wait.
Nonetheless, if things don't get moving, I would very much like to start things off ourselves. Nothing against Chicken, it'd just be a shame to let all the good ideas and excitement go to waste.

We've worked hard on this for a month now. While I wouldn't mind pushing ahead ASAP, I also believe in giving the one who set this universe in motion a fair chance to either launch it or allow us to take the reins.

 

[Aegis]

We've worked hard on this for a month now. While I wouldn't mind pushing ahead ASAP, I also believe in giving the one who set this universe in motion a fair chance to either launch it or allow us to take the reins.

I agree! I was trying not to be too quick to jump to conclusions, but all of us have invested in this and I didn't want it to go down in silence. I think-- if necessary, a few GMs could probably take this and do something cool with it if Chicken doesn't come back.

 

[BlueXBlood]

I agree! I was trying not to be too quick to jump to conclusions, but all of us have invested in this and I didn't want it to go down in silence. I think-- if necessary, a few GMs could probably take this and do something cool with it if Chicken doesn't come back.

Corn Orc Vandal has already volunteered and reached out to Chicken, so if things go south and we move on without them, I nominate Corn as one GM, lol. Aside from that, I trust you and Goonfire as well.

 

[Goonfire]

Corn Orc Vandal has already volunteered and reached out to Chicken, so if things go south and we move on without them, I nominate Corn as one GM, lol. Aside from that, I trust you and Goonfire as well.

Call this quite the committee. I'm flattered and trust you, as well.

 

[Aegis]

Corn Orc Vandal has already volunteered and reached out to Chicken, so if things go south and we move on without them, I nominate Corn as one GM, lol. Aside from that, I trust you and Goonfire as well.

I would be willing to step up, but my personal schedule could complicate that somewhat. For context, I'm in The Army in real life, so I often have random and unexpected times where I may be gone for a week or more depending; I'd definitely need a Co-GM for those times. However, if that's not too major of an inconvenience, I'd be willing to give it my best!

I agree with the selections and I think everyone in it has proven to be good contributors in terms of activity and lore-- yourself included. I appreciate the trust and return it in kind.

 

[BlueXBlood]

I would be willing to step up, but my personal schedule could complicate that somewhat. For context, I'm in The Army in real life, so I often have random and unexpected times where I may be gone for a week or more depending; I'd definitely need a Co-GM for those times. However, if that's not too major of an inconvenience, I'd be willing to give it my best!

I agree with the selections and I think everyone in it has proven to be good contributors in terms of activity and lore-- yourself included. I appreciate the trust and return it in kind.

Call this quite the committee. I'm flattered and trust you, as well.

Heh, this is definitely a creative collective I wouldn't want to lose to inactivity. I suppose we have a plan then, if Chicken doesn't come online anytime soon and nobody else objects. ✌

 

[Corn Orc Vandal]

Hi folks! I PM'ed Chicken last Thursday and haven't received a response yet; I hope everything is ok with them. Like you all, I've also been thinking about this RP and what we should do if Chicken doesn't return. We have a good plan laid out here: If we don't hear from Chicken by next week, say, Monday the 15th, then we should re-launch the RP with the same concept and cast of characters, now under new (and hopefully temporary) management. I think a triumvirate of co-DMs would be great; Aegis , Goonfire , and myself if no one is opposed! Should Chicken return, we could relinquish our benevolent GM titles and continue as normal, no problem.

RPs tend to fizzle out, and I'm already wondering how many players are still hanging around, so I think Chicken wouldn't have a problem with us doing this in their absence. I think in the meantime, I'm going to PM Aegis and Goonfire to talk logistics and whatnot. If we don't hear from Chicken soon, hopefully we can get started by next Friday!

 

[escapist]

I hope Chicken will answer until then and also that they're fine, otherwise it will look like we started a revolution and conquered the world he started creating haha
I think we should use the rule about activity on them which ironically Chicken wrote down themselves. Btw I'm still around if someone was wondering~

 

[Goonfire]

Daylight Fantasy Rohan riwole_ ThatGuyWithSouvlaki sorengg mocca rakshasa

We're just taking a quick roll call to see who is still invested. If you received the @, it means we just haven't heard from you in recent days. We simply need a sign you're still alive and with us, at least a reaction to this post.

 

[Daylight Fantasy]

Daylight Fantasy Rohan riwole_ ThatGuyWithSouvlaki sorengg mocca rakshasa

We're just taking a quick roll call to see who is still invested. If you received the @, it means we just haven't heard from you in recent days. We simply need a sign you're still alive and with us, at least a reaction to this post.

I'm still down, just waiting a bit for some starting date confirmation or update from our gm.

 

[rakshasa]

^ Same!

 

[Corn Orc Vandal]

Hello rakshasa and Daylight Fantasy ! I kind of outlined our plan in my last post, but basically, we’re waiting on Chicken to return; if they don’t by next Monday, our plan is to relaunch the RP under new management, that being Goonfire, Aegis, and myself. This is pretty much in accordance with the rules Chicken laid out, since they said if anyone is inactive, including the DM, we can progress the RP without them.

Once we get a headcount of all the players still interested, we may or may not open the RP up to others, but we’re hoping to get the IC going by next Friday either way.

In the meantime, I just set up a Discord server for the RP, so feel free to join!

 

[Daylight Fantasy]

Hello rakshasa and Daylight Fantasy ! I kind of outlined our plan in my last post, but basically, we’re waiting on Chicken to return; if they don’t by next Monday, our plan is to relaunch the RP under new management, that being Goonfire, Aegis, and myself. This is pretty much in accordance with the rules Chicken laid out, since they said if anyone is inactive, including the DM, we can progress the RP without them.

Once we get a headcount of all the players still interested, we may or may not open the RP up to others, but we’re hoping to get the IC going by next Friday either way.

In the meantime, I just set up a Discord server for the RP, so feel free to join!

Click here for da discord

Alright, i'll check it out

 

[riwole_]

Daylight Fantasy Rohan riwole_ ThatGuyWithSouvlaki sorengg mocca rakshasa

We're just taking a quick roll call to see who is still invested. If you received the @, it means we just haven't heard from you in recent days. We simply need a sign you're still alive and with us, at least a reaction to this post.

i'm sooooo sorry guyssss, i've been really busy with other roleplays and i forgot about this one. Just summarize everything that happened in the past thirty days or so that i havent been active in, i'll hoplefully do all i can!!