Andante
Roleplaying Moderator
War does not decide who is right and who is wrong...
...it may only decide who is left.
...and those who are left, are faced with the consequences of the actions of their forebears. Eight years have passed since the official end to the conflict between an over zealous Empire, and the Stormcloak resistance in Skyrim. The Empire successfully stifled the uprising, securing their influence over Skyrim once more, and leaving both the ruling classes and the people of the province crippled both in body and spirit, and in need of recovery. As a show of good faith, the Empire seemed more than willing to lend a hand to the struggling province, but it had shown signs of its weakness before, and so it would again. With treaty clenched firmly in hand, the Aldmeri Dominion saw fit to use this opportunity to utilize the subservient Empire as a vessel to assert their dominance over the people of Skyrim, and enact their radical law. While it wasn't met without resistance, both sides weakened from war could do little to halt their growing power.
In the years that have passed much has changed for the people of Skyrim. Little now exists of life as was before, hardly a whisper of what it once was. A wealthy, and powerfully corrupt elite stand at the top of the social order now. Jarls and statesmen, are kept well in gold to betray their kinsmen, and sell their rights to the new Dominion. Even the lowliest of beggars may find himself in fortune, should he know the right things to say. The rest fight to survive on spoiled farmland and contaminated water sources - the most basic of necessities now priceless commodoties. Disease runs rampant, and starvation less than common. Those who dare try to stand up to the tyranny, or speak out are met with swift retribution. Entire families dragged from their homes, and murdered in the streets. The luckiest of them simply disappear in the night, without a trace.The import of supplies to the province has essentially been halted, and foreign trade goods have become rare and invaluable. Borders have been completely closed to those seeking to leave, and those may enter only with express, documented permission from the Aldmeri Dominion. Control of the mining industry has been seized, wages cut and ore hoarded and exported by the wealthy minority. Even the grandest of Skyrim's cities have been reduced nearly to ruin, overrun by vermin and disease. Shanty towns, and makeshift townships have sprung up across the province, claiming to be sanctuaries, but to no avail. Many Nord rituals and traditions have been banned, and Talos worship expressly forbidden, and driven completely underground.
Resistances and uprisings have been staged all over the province, only to be snuffed out quickly and quietly. Though there are a few who resist in other ways. A delicate alliance of ex-soldiers, escaped prisoners, and hopeless rabble have taken refuge in the crumbling ruins of Helgen. It is here, in this once Imperially loyal city, that they hoard what supplies they can while planning, in secret, their final revolt against the tyranny that has consumed their beloved homeland. There, they hide, and wait for their chance to strike...for there will be only one opportunity.
► Andante as ..... Commander Hana Stone-Hilt, Stormcloak Veteran and Rebellion Co-Founder
► Uther Pundragon as ..... Captain Aengoth, Rebellion Co-Founder
► Kir the Silent as ..... Kir Dayash, Chief Adviser and Tactician
► Melee as ..... Fenditura, Blacksmith and Crafter
► rizen as ..... "Cooky", Cook
► Ashleigh as ..... Eruaviel, Enlisted
► OPEN
► Znowcicle as ..... Le'zha Rinjin, Refugee
Inactive / On-Hold Characters
► .ol0w0lo. as ..... Swain, Enlisted
Rules and Other Info.
Please read everything below carefully before applying.
1. All general forum, and role play rules apply. Please keep that in mind.
2. Power playing (or, "god modding") will not be tolerated. Give your character reasonable abilities and skills. Do not make them knowledgeable of information they cannot possibly know. A realistic character with believable flaws is much more likable and interesting.
3. Please try to remain active in the thread. If you need to leave for any amount of time, please be sure to let us know.
4. Be fair to your fellow role players. Try to make sure all participants are included.
5. Please keep all posts consistent with the content and lore of The Elder Scrolls.
6. This is a MATURE thread, rated 18+. Profanity, violence, and sexual themes will be included, so please be advised.
7. So long as any profanity or sexual themes are included both tastefully, reasonably and at the best of discretion they will be accepted.
8. Please try to use proper spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Type your posts in a word processor for proof reading if it will help. This makes posts easier and better to read. We will be expecting this of all players, so please keep that in mind when applying.
9. We would prefer that players in this story be only involved in 2 or 3 other roleplays simultaneously. Simply for the fact that posts are generally of better quality when there are fewer obligations for the player.
10. Player involvement will be capped at a maximum of 8 players. However, further down the line, players may be invited to create and include their own minor, recurring "NPC" if they so choose. This would be a character of the player's choosing meant to enrich their own experience and the experience of the other players. This "NPC" can be a friend or relative of the player's main character, or someone completely new. Having these characters present can create the illusion of a larger, more involved resistance without crowding the thread with too many players.
We would like to keep posting limited to one or two posts per player, per day. This will keep the story from progressing too quickly, and allowing other players to fall behind. In addition, this will hopefully allow each player more time to work on their posts.
Character Needs in Regard to the Plot
1. The province has been ravaged by war. This is an uprising by and for the people, so characters from all walks of life will be needed, and should be involved. Farmers, fishermen, hunters and miners would form militia groups. Not all participants in the resistance will be trained or seasoned warriors.
2. Though this is an oppression of the people of Skyrim, any person is welcome to participate. Characters such as Elves, Argonians, Khajiit, apologetic Imperials, and any person born or living in the province are accepted. Not all characters will start as part of the resistance, recruitment will take place during the course of the story. An even ratio of male to female characters would be appreciated, but is not necessary.
3. There is a shortage of supplies and goods in all parts of Skyrim. Food, medicine, tools, weapons, armor, and raw crafting materials are extremely difficult to come by. There won't be much in the way of advanced, enchanted, or expensive equipment coming into the province so it is unlikely many characters will have it.
4. Please be reasonable and realistic with your characters. There's no need to have fifty assassin vampires, or immortal warriors. Real, believable characters are more fun and relatable. Characters don't have to be "badasses" to be good, and likeable. Remember, it takes more than brute force to fuel an uprising.
5. Major organizations such as the Dark Brotherhood, the Thieve's Guild, and the Companions have been forced to either temporarily disband, or have been forced far underground. Virtually no organized groups will have been heard from in years at this point.
Application
Name:
Age:
Sex:
Race: [Within the constraints of the Elder Scrolls.]
Position: [Include the position you would like to apply for.]
Birthplace:
Current Residence:
Alliances or Affiliations:
Occupation: [Either prior to, or after the war.]
Appearance: [Include a photo or screen shot if you like, but please include at least 3-5 sentences detailing your character's appearance.]
Personality: [Include at least a paragraph detailing your character's personality. Likes and dislikes, skills and weaknesses, etc.]
History: [Include as absolutely much as possible about your character's history. Who he/she is as a person, how they came to be who and where they are, and why.]
Roleplaying Sample: [Include here 5 - 10 sentences that display your roleplaying style for us, so we can get a feel for how you write. Try your best to include things like dialogue, or an interaction. This can be taken from a previous roleplay post, fanfiction, or other writing of yours if you so choose.]
Character Applications may be approved by either Andante, or Uther Pundragon.
Hana Stone-Hilt Profile:
Name: Hana Stone-Hilt
Age: 33Sex: Female
Race: Nord
Position: Resistance Commander
Birthplace: The Pale, Skyrim
Former Residence: Windhelm
Current Residence: Helgen Keep Ruins
Alliances or Affiliations: Resistance Member
Occupation: Civil War Veteran; Hunter, Farmer, and Leathersmith.
Appearance
Dark red hair, grown longer in recent time, frames a pale and quickly maturing face that bears signs of being older than it is. Her eyes are dark green, the left of which has become slightly hazy with age and lost some of its vision. Hana reached her current height of 5' 2" about the young age of twelve and never grew taller, though her body continued to mature. Despite her stunted height, she has a very stout and demanding presence. She carries a bit extra weight that perhaps makes her look a bit slower and weaker than she is, but bears great strength in her arms and legs, though her speed and athleticism are lacking.
Personality: A lifetime of hardship and difficulties has left Hana a woman very difficult to get along with at times. She has little to say in most situations, though finds it difficult to keep quiet when angered or provoked. Often, she can be very bitter and resentful and is very slow to trust new people which, admittedly, has made it difficult for her to expand the resistance effort. She can be harsh and judgemental, and does not take criticism very well. However, she does have a rather well guarded softer side, especially in regard to children and suffering brought on by the war. While she doesn't talk often of her own misfortune, she sympathizes easily with those affected, or who have suffered similar situations.
History: Born and raised in the Pale, Hana spent her entire life in the frigid northern reaches of Skyrim. She and her family were farmers, fishers, and hunters, and lived their life self sufficiently. They kept themselves much set apart from the conflicts facing the rest of the province. As such, she never knew much in the way of war and conducting battle in her younger years. Despite the fact that both her mother and father were both young, retired soldiers and avid travelers, they returned to Skyrim to settle permanently after their first child, Hana's elder brother, Razanur was born while they were abroad in Valenwood. They never spoke often of their days in service, or traveling abroad.
Even when the Great Uprising began, and the news of King Torygg's death reached the Pale the family turned a blind eye to the impending Civil War. They kept themselves and their swords far away from the conflict, despite their very way of life being at risk. But, when the threat moved too closely to their home they relocated to the hold capitol of Dawnstar, where her mother and father re-enlisted in the military and took up arms with Ulfric's Stormcloaks to defend their home. Hana and her brother Razanur stayed behind, but joined the defensive guard of Dawnstar to defend the city in the event of an attack. Though the city remained well prepared, no conflict came to the hold. However, it was mere weeks later that word arrived that both of Hana's parents had been killed in battle, leaving she and her brother to fend for themselves.
Enraged at what he called the injustice of it all, Razanur left immediately to Windhelm to join the uprising himself, despite the protests of his younger sister. She reserved just as much right as he to fight and avenge what she had loved, and lost. Though, he refused to bring her along out of fear for their family - the two of them were now the only surviving members. It was difficult for her to accept, but in the end she resigned knowing what her brother had said was true.
A few weeks passed in silence, and the defensive guard of Dawnstar disbanded, but were advised to remain on high alert, as they could be called to arms at any moment. Hana returned to her family's farm, and salvaged what she could of the crop that had gone to waste in their absence. Unable to work the substantial plot of land alone, she planted only enough to sustain herself and her brother upon his return, and went back to hunting. She began crafting small leather items as a hobby and pastime to earn herself a bit of gold while she waited for word from the war front.
Months passed in anticipation, and while no news of Razanur's death made its way back to Dawnstar, neither did any indication of his well being. Dozens of letters to the stewards of Windhelm went unanswered and she began to fear for the worst. Having lost both her parents already to the war, losing her one and only brother as well and being left entirely alone was nearly too much for her to bear. Anxious, and fueled by anger, Hana left Dawnstar herself and made for Windhelm, though many had tried to stop her, if for no reason more than to find her brother. Though her intentions were no less than to join the ranks herself, and bring the fight to the legion for what she had lost. Vengeance was the very least of what she sought in return for the lives of her parents and brother.
She was bold enough to attempt storming into the Palace of the Kings itself to face Ulfric Stormcloak herself, but her aggression was met with equal resistance. Seized by the palace guards and held at sword point, she was threatened with jail time. Though sympathetic to her plight, and struck by her fiery contempt Ulfric's first in command, Galmar Stone-Fist, pulled her away from the Jarl, and listened to her story though he seemed less than interested. However, he was taken by her family's struggle and undying support for the uprising, he admitted her to the Stormcloak ranks, and promised any information regarding the welfare and whereabouts of her brother be brought to her first, and foremost without question. Though it went entirely unfulfilled.
She was sent to serve her time at a small Stormcloak out camp in the Pale. It was home to very few active soldiers, and even more wounded. It was poorly supplied, and many already ailing soldiers died there from exposure to the cold. They were dispatched to lend aid in a few small battles and unpredicted skirmishes, but stayed away from major fighting on the front lines of the war. It was during this time she met, and entered an informal relationship with a fellow soldier of the uprising. Though they were routinely separated for up to weeks at a time, they carried on professing love for one another through a year and a half of military service together. No word or sign of her lost brother came during this time, and she began to give up hope of ever seeing him again.
When the war began to escalate, the small out camp was disbanded and the soldiers there scattered to different holds to aid in the effort. Though they were to be separated anyway, Hana and her companion consigned to part with one another, agreeing that the midst of war was no place for a thing like love to thrive. Sent back to Eastmarch to join the main defensive line of Windhelm, she discovered some months later that she was with child. Though the higher command insisted she be discharged, she resisted and was relocated once again to a peaceful outpost until she was fit to return to combat. She sought to reconcile with her child's father, but was met soon with news of his death in battle.
It was during that time she met her partner and fellow founder of the rebellion, Aengoth. Taken prisoner by Imperial soldiers, their caravan passed through Stormcloak territory and were attacked by Hana's fellow guardsmen. Wounded in the fray, Hana pulled him to safety amid the chaos allowing him to escape. He made contact again months later, and they became fast friends, though they were careful not to be seen together, especially while news of the attack was still being spread. He would return the favor years later when the war ended, and the tide of power began to shift, and the Thalmor tightened their grip on the province. Aengoth managed to smuggle her young son, Einar, who had barely seen his third winter to safety in Valenwood and return to Skyrim without much difficulty.
With her son gone, she sold her modest home near Windhelm and began paying rent on a room at Candlehearth Inn with money she earned from her weekly hunting trips and small scale leathersmithing. It wasn't long though before political tension and religious persecution drover her from the city to seek shelter elsewhere. Life became difficult, unpredictable and dangerous from that point onward. She struggled to survive, not only as food became more and more scarce, and the persecution stronger, but through the pain of the uncertain fate of her only child.
Roleplaying Sample: [An excerpt from a story I wrote years ago.] He looked down at his hands, stained in sanguine patchwork, trembling as his mind struggled to wrap itself around what it uncharacteristically found itself able to allow them to commit. His baleful blades plummeted to the floor, rippling the surface of a still accumulating pool of blood, skewing his own remorseful reflection in its placid and vermilion surface. He closed his eyes, as they began to sting with the welling threat of tears, and dried them with the sleeve of his robe.
He could not...he would not shed a tear on their behalf.
Making a small, defiant sound in his throat he crouched down next to the vanquished at his feet and delicately closed the hollow eyes still agape in distress. Sighing he looked away and said a silent prayer, not only for the fallen, but for himself, and the sins he knew his now tightly clenched fists would commit before he finally, after this night, lay down the sword forever.