Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Name: Lewin Tarrindell
Age, Race & Gender: human male (DOB: Ashan 21st Arc 677)
Skills: Fieldcraft - 78 / Hunting - 75 / Combat: Blades 59 (One-handed and throwing) / Stealth - 47 / Teaching - 47
Immortal Marks: Unknown

Lewin is the undisputed master of tracking and hunting on the post. He considers the two to go hand-in-hand, most of the time. The only reasons to do one without the other is if he's trying to find someone who is lost, or to find someone that has information needed by the men of the post. He does not do the interrogations however. It was an incident along this line that got him banished to the post in the first place.

He does not actively seek students, content to simply employ his talents in day-to-day service to the post. He does not object when Commander Bassett assigns him one. But this student had best be prepared to be tested in genuinely perilous situations. But then, Idalos offers few situations of any other kind. Tracker Lew will see to it that his student reaches a high level of competency, but refrains from giving up all his secrets.

Name: Mar'Laen
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB: 54th of Ymiden Arc 683) sev'ryn male
Skills: Medicine - 76 / Gardening- 65 / Brewing - 55
Fieldcraft - 59 / Science - 37 / Teaching - 47
Immortal Marks: Unknown

Every bit the green thumb as he is the healer, Doc Marlin is one of very few members of the post that is not here to avoid a capital charge of some sort back in Etzos. As is often the case with sev'ryn wanderers, he arrived in the area by pure coincidence and got a sense of a spiritual connection. Naturally, since he stayed around the area, he inevitably encountered the Houndmaster. But this was by accident, not assignment.

The fact was, the Houndmaster had been tasked to pick up a new recruit who proved unwilling. Mar'Laen came across him after clarifying to the recalcitrant recruit that joining the post was not optional. Without being asked, Mar'Laen set to work dressing the wounds that the Houndmaster received during the fight. The prospective recruit was beyond such aid.

The Houndmaster was quite impressed with the young sev'ryn's medical focus, and even more impressed with the innate amity that the newcomer enjoyed with his patient's otherwise imposing companion. The two are now best friends, and the sev'ryn seems content to serve in this capacity as both medic and gardener to the post until he feels a call in a new direction.

Mar'laen is always ready to share his knowledge of both medicine and gardening, feeling that no wilderness outpost can afford to be without knowledgeable practitioners of both these essential skills. This also helps assure that when his quest to locate his familiar takes its next step, he will be able to leave at once.

Name: Tobilias Morgan
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB: 23rd of Cylus Arc 677) human male
Skills: Sovereign - 76 / Attunement - 55 / Hone (Lucis) - 45
Combat: Blades (Two-handed) - 59 / Endurance - 47 / Teaching - 47
Immortal Marks: Unknown

A veritable force of nature, he got his nickname when a new arrival recognized him and began to address him in an overly familiar fashion, by surname alone. This fresh face got as far as the first syllable before a ram of gravity dumped in a heap thirty feet away. Morgan stalked over to him and let him know that all past affiliations were dissolved, and that propriety demanded correct titles when addressing a superior officer. He then helped his old friend to his feet.

But anyone can determine the nickname's potential accuracy while watching the Battle Mage go through his exercises. His hone-enhanced swordplay, coupled with tactical lances of sovereign force make him a formidable opponent indeed. Just about the time an inexperienced adversary believes he has dodged one of Morgan's empowered two-hand strokes, and seeks to step in with a quick thrust, he meets a pummeling wall of telekinetic energy, spent from the hand just released from the hilt of his great sword to swing around behind him.

Morgan does not teach swordplay to recruits at the post, since he alone, of all the men, favors the great sword. But at Commander Bassett's bidding, he will impart much of his acquired knowledge of Sovereign or Hone to those that show promise.

Name: Malachai Tarr
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB: 65th of Vhalar 694) biqaji-human male
Skills: Athletics- 78 / Stealth- 65 / Swimming - 72
Navigation - 59 / Endurance - 67 / Combat: Unarmed (Wrestling)- 67
Immortal Marks: Unknown

"Trekmaster" is the men's term for the man that sends them on runs, swims and climbs, and combinations of the three, to get in condition for survival in the wild. When not undergoing weapon training, or building their control of magic, or simply engaging in their productive vocational skills, the men are put through rigorous conditioning regimens. The man who accompanies them on these treks is Malachai Tarr.

He does not shy from putting himself through everything that he subjects his men to. As a result, he will brook no excuses short of outright injury. And even then, he is more likely to make the others carry the injured man for the remainder of the trek, than return to the Post. His one concession to the varying degrees of condition that one can find on any military post, is that he tries to arrange groups of men that share the same state of fitness before scheduling their treks. But woe be to the one he thinks is sandbagging. Such a one will soon find himself trekking with the elite and being left behind. But then, it's all survival training in the end anyway, so a night spent alone in the wilds is an inevitable test anyway.

Tarr does not view his treks in the way of formal "teaching", in that he does not sit anyone down and make demonstrations, or take notes of questions and answers. But all his treks develop the skills for which they were designed, and he does observe progress. It's simply that you have no choice but to get better.

Name: Krelline Senneka
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB: 1st of Saun Arc 687) aukari female
Skills: Combat: Ranged - 73 /Woodworking - 52
Combat: Axes & Bludgeons - 59 / Fieldcraft - 47 / Teaching - 47
Immortal Marks: Unknown

In a post constructed primarily below ground-level, primarily of stone, and nearly awash in sources of water, one can fairly safely install an aukari. Miss Senneka is an unusual case, not in the fact that she was among a party of aukari raiders that brought aggression to the gates of Etzos; but in the fact that when her party was inevitably subdued, she chose surrender over self immolation.

Of equal rarity is the fact that she was spared mob vengeance by the appearance of Karnos Vuda, who had been greatly impressed by the woman's archery skill; which had been brilliantly tactical, rather than lethal. He was also curious about her hesitation to "go up in flames." Using Empathy and an uncharacteristically gentle touch, he found that the woman had come to question Sirothelle's version of the historical conflict between the two cities and had come to see what would happen. After all, she said, she could still "go up in flames" if the situation warranted it.

Instead of that, Vuda offered her a position on a post where she would stand side by side with past enemies to secure the coast against current, mutual enemies. Her relationship with Post Commander Bassett is understandably cold, his family having been lost to an aukari incursion, but nothing has come of it yet. In the meantime she is available at times to impart some of her tricks with the bow.

Name: Jolanna Ma'Loma
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB 2nd of Zi'da Arc 655) human female
Skills: Basket Weaving - 63 / Cooking - 85 / Needlecraft - 62
Pottery - 49 / Textile Production - 47 / Leatherwork - 60 / Etiquette - 70
Immortal Marks: Unknown

Though there are several men here that can cite this rule or that, to support their belief that they occupy the status of second-in-command, there is no one on post more quickly obeyed than 'Mama Joe'. If they want to be fed, or have their shoes repaired, or their socks stitched, or their hair cut, or nearly anything done by someone who knows what they are doing, they had best toe Mama's line.

She alone is the reason that Commander Bassett and Bow Sister Senneka did not come immediately to blows upon the aukari's arrival. She interposed herself between them and shushed their raging almost immediately. It still stands in the memories of most men on the post as the most incredible thing they had ever seen, when she ordered Bassett to his quarters...and he went! She then sat the aukari girl down, also ordering her to be quiet while she explained that the Commander's entire family was killed in an aukari incursion, and that she will have to be patient and non-confrontational. Now Mama has the sense to stay out of it while the two hash it out themselves.

There is no one on base that does not have some story of Mama Joe having just the right approach to nip some difficulty in the bud, and bring those involved to view themselves as childish and thoughtless. Anyone who found it difficult to become a part of the post's social dynamic immediately found a friend in her, and this always led to a relaxed growth with "the boys". She is one of those people that seems to know at least a little bit about everything, being able to assist in most any task; as well as being the camp expert in a number of essential skills. She would be the first to deny it, but most of the Post's personnel consider her the only indispensable member of the crew. For this reason, she is far too busy to formally teach. But such skills do wear off on those who assist her.

Name: Brock Sullery
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB: 14th of Zi'da Arc 677) human male
Skills: Smithing - 63 / Leatherworking - 65 / Mining - 52
Combat: Axes & Bludgeons - 69 / Strength - 47
Teaching - 47
Immortal Marks: Unknown

A very likeable guy, Brock is not named "Smith". It was just a play on words that stuck. But he is more than able to meet the metal working needs of the post, with the help of men tasked by the Commander to assist him. His focus being on armor rather than weapons is sensible, considering that most 'recruits' sent to the post have weapons of their own.

He runs the mining crews as well when such things are scheduled. It is too far to the Etzos mines for any relay of materials to come from there, especially given that there are no roads to the Forbidden Post. The initial supply was understood to be all that the post would ever receive from Etzos. But he is capable of training the men to be useful to him when mining is required.

Other than that, he is a formidable man-at-arms, and teaches the use of bludgeons of all sorts. This also serves when men finally ruin one of their weapons with misuse or battle. Making most blunt weapons does not require the sort of advanced smithing skill that it takes to create a fine bladed weapon. So when a soldier at the post breaks their sword, they had best be able to pick up a mace with some competency. And both these weapons, and lessons in their use, the post's "Brocksmith" can provide, in addition to expert repairs or modifications to their armor.

Name: Larros Farneroy
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB: 2nd of Ashan Arc 680) human male
Skills: Hunting - 53 / Leatherworking - 76/ Fieldcraft- 62
Needlecraft - 67 / Textile Production - 62 / Teaching - 47
Immortal Marks: Unknown

Though he may not be the tracker and hunter that "Tracker" Lew can claim to be, "Studded" Larry Farneroy is the entire package where leather is concerned. He possesses more than enough skill to provide himself with the leather he converts to bags, belts, cloaks, armor or whatever else the members of the Post might need. But the time he must spend tanning, measuring, marking and cutting takes so much time that Lew is usually the one that brings in the game.

He and Lew are becoming fast friends as a result, Lew claiming that Larry couldn't hunt a one-legged ox if it was tied to a tree, and Larry claiming that Lew couldn't make a place mat out of it's hide to save his life. Lew will just grin and respond that "If I didn't have to spend all my time teaching Leather Workers how to tell the difference between tracking through grass, and through mud, I'd make a place mat out of your hide."

"How can you teach them something you yourself don't know?" Larry snaps back, reaching for another tool and waving off Lew to reclaim his learner's attention. Time to return to the art of working leather. He usually has at least one recruit assisting him, doing the fundamental stuff while he concentrates on the artisan-level work.

Name: "Eill" Velina Mazarine
Age, Race & Gender: (DOB: 18th of Cylus Arc 684) naer female
Skills: Animal Husbandry (Birds) - 68 / Linguisitics - 65 / Writing - 52
Animal Trainer (Birds) - 59 / Medicine - 34 / Combat: Unarmed - 47
Immortal Marks: Unknown

An exiled naer, "Eill" Velina goes by the name of "Eilleen", seeing it as a compromise between the name she was given, and the disgrace she bears as an outcast. Her devotion to the birds raised on the post, and used as messengers between it and the patron city of Etzos, is apparently greater than that which she showed to her race's creator, the Immortal Audrae. And it is her new religion now, as bird-keeper of the Forbidden post.

Banished to a life of scorn, both at the hands of any of her own people that she might meet, and at the hands of most other races as well, who view the Naerikk as an implacable foe, she found herself shipwrecked on the shore which lies under the watchful eye of The Forbidden Post. Her arrival being an unacceptable compromise to post security, she was given a choice, summary execution or a life term of servitude. She chose the latter, and has found the turn of events quite satisfactory. The wild lands of central Idalos are quite different than those found in the southern regions, but the basic untamed spirit is no different.

The blue eyes for which she was named gaze in appreciation as she watches her birds soar, both during training and hunting, and spring a tear when they must depart to bring news to Etzos. She appreciates the city's non-supportive attitude where immortals are concerned, seeing in it the only position to take to avoid the manipulations she found unbearable in Augiery. But she can fully understand the same city's refusal to allow her to go free. She would have done likewise.

She wears a sword, one which she won in a game of "Suits" while shipboard. But for actual combat she long ago acquired a pair of unique falconry gloves, each of which secretly hold three spring-loaded blades, which are capable of carrying a charge of toxin. These can either be anchored for melee claw use, or freed to be fired like darts. She only wears the sword to keep a foe off balance, as he assumes that this is the weapon he will be contesting against. More than one raider has died with a sword in his hand, and surprise in his eyes.