[WoD] Aperta Terra (Vampire: Dark Ages)

[Elanir]

@Starship Tical: Thank you! I’ll try to finish the character’s history this weekend.

[Starship Tical]

@Elanir: No rush! You still have plenty of time!

What you have put on the plate so far was above average work! I really like the look, feel and theme of this character!

[1Skell]

On a strike of bad luck my PC crashed while I was finishing my character and I lost a lot of progress on it and left me too frustrated to redo what was lost now. Because of that I am giving up on applying. Either way, thank you to both Starship Tical and Ladytron for the help.

[Starship Tical]

@1Skell: Sorry to see you go, but I respect your decision all the same.
It is not too late to resubmit (even point form for the history as a suggestion) should you will want to take a stab at this again.

I hope you get your chance to dip your toes in the WOD at some point!

[Hotshot lasgun]

if he wants a solo game, some of mine have crashed and burned!

[Elanir]

@Starship Tical: It took a bit longer than I expected, but my application should now be finished.

[Starship Tical]

@Elanir: I just read through the expanded character history and I have to say that this was like a dash of mushroom butter sauce added to the already sizzling steak!

That was a great read!

Thanks for that and for your sweet application overall!

[Classic Gamer]

Excited by what everyone has posted so far. Wondering if a few more entries make it before the deadline. Hoping 1Skell changes his mind about submitting. Seems like a thoughtful player who really gets into the whole world building aspect.

[Starship Tical]

@Classic Gamer and everyone involved in this thread really:

I feel more than blessed with the caliber of all the applications so far!

I would not mind seeing 1Skell jump back into the thread, but in the end, we will respect the decision.

[dr kekyll]

i'm working on something.

[dr kekyll]

also, re: Kindred the Embraced, it never felt like it was made in '96 to me. which is weird because Buffy came out the next year and the quality of the first season is about on par production-wise, but Kindred always felt older. possibly because Whedon's stuff felt hip and new at the time... (and Buffy was about teenagers...)

[Starship Tical]

@dr kekyll: Thanks for throwing your hat in the ring so to speak! I will keep my eyes peeled for anything you throw up here at some point!

Regarding Kindred the Embraced: I never revisited the series since watching it for the first time in the late 90s, but I cannot imagine that it has aged well in 2023. Buffy was good stuff at the time... everyone was watching that show religiously back in the day.

[Andor]

Name: Guiscard de Brienne

Clan - Bloodline: Brujah

Quotes: “Eat well, laugh often, love a lot.”Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup.

Demeanor: Soldier

Sire identity & concept: Generally open to sires. Guiscard fought in the Baron's Crusade, so it's possible that he was captured at some point. Perhaps a Brujah sire saw his potential as a warrior/scholar, and also wanted to prevent the Assamites from claiming him. (If more specific information is needed, I can detail the Sire better.)

Physical Appearance: Guiscard is slightly above-average in height (5' 9") and athletically built, if not particularly muscular or large. He has large, brown, expressive eyes that always seem to be searching for detail and naturally curly brown hair. He has a prominent full beard that he's rather proud of, though in truth it can be attributed more to an unwillingness to bother shaving than any particular fashion choice. His hair is usually a mess, either because of his helmet or simply because he forgot to comb it that morning. His moustache has taken his upper lip, leaving his bottom to look like a permanent pout, though there's always a trace of a smile...unless he's been forced to do something he doesn't like. When troubled, he becomes brooding, almost darkly reflective, with even the shade of his eyes darkening until they appear nearly black.

Personality: Guiscard was always a scholar at heart. Oh, he enjoyed physical activity well enough; wrestling, riding horses, swordplay. It was invigorating and made him feel alive. It was just unfortunate that so many physical pastimes took such a dark turn. Wrestling often turned to brawling, riding to hunting, swordplay to battle. Guiscard was torn when it came to those things, for in order to be a good knight, he had to master combat and courtly pursuits such as hunting. Truth be told, deep inside, he felt a thrill when he was fighting, hunting, or fighting. While the violence disturbed him, the sheer sensation of truly being alive when tracking a prey, or fighting for his life, was overwhelming. The rush of blood, the sharpening of senses...he could swear that the air itself took on a scent and flavor!

Still, he was most content when he was at study. Aside from his education in literature, Greek, Latin, philosophy, history, archaeology, anthropology, art, mythology and society, he is also excited about the growing humanist movement from Italy, particularly the teachings of Petrarch and Boccaccio. He longs to travel across Europe and Mediterranean, perhaps someday even to the Far East, though he feels that his duty will keep him closer to home.

History (both past life as a mortal and present life as a Cainite): Guiscard is the eldest son of his father Roul and mother Jehanne, though he has an older sister, Melisende. As the eldest male, he was raised to guide and protect his siblings, including younger brother Piers and sister Isabeau, a role he took quite seriously. Raised in eastern France as landed gentry, he received training in knightly skills as well as a classical education. His father had fought in the Albigensian Crusade under Louis VIII and was involved with the Inquisition established under Pope Gregory IX. Roul raised his son to follow in his footsteps, not only as his heir to run the family estate, but also to uproot heretical movements. However, before Guiscard could become involved in the Inquisition, he was called to the Baron's Crusade. While Guiscard was technically not involved in any fighting, he was involved in the negotiations and concessions that occurred afterward.

After the concessions, when the army had to secure the release of those captured at the Battle of Gaza, Guiscard was approached by one who claimed to be of the Knights Templar, who had been observing him and several others. The two spent a long evening discussing matters of oppression, peacekeeping, and scholarly advancement of society. By the time the sun rose, Guiscard de Brienne was listed as one of the many casualties of the Baron's Crusade, and Guiscard himself had a new mission...and a new master.

Please provide a writing sample (this can only be a short paragraph if you wish and should involve your character in the midst of doing something remotely interesting).

*<Translated from the original French>

Guisard kept his eyes focused on the ground, knowing full well it was a sign of disrespect to side-eye a superior knight as if he'd lost his mind. However, since no other reaction seemed rational, Guisard was forced to stare at dirt.

"<Forgive me if I misunderstand, my lord,>" Guisard said slowly, measuring his words carefully. "<You seem to be confirming that...there are indeed monsters. But, they are not the monsters we seek? Or, rather, not the true monsters?>"

"<Just so,>" responded the knight, who, for all the world appeared rational and calm, despite speaking madness. "<The Inquisition, the Crusades...they have the right idea, but the wrong message.The Greeks believed that there needed to be a proper order of things within their world. Greek culture needed to abide by the many messages of the gods; if they did not, their existence would be at risk. Where they failed, of course, was focusing primarily upon humanizing their polytheism, rather than...>"

"<The Bible is clear,>" Guisard stated with more reflex than conviction. "<And, it's full of monsters. But what is a monster? Job is forced to explain his actions to his neighbors, and would seem a monster to them. In the Book of Judges, the judge Ehud confronts the grotesque Moabite king Eglon, who is fatally fat and dies in an explosion of his own feces when a sword gets stuck in his stomach.>"

"<And yet,>" countered the knight, "<We are told throughout the holy book that God's servants appear as monsters as well. Genesis, Daniel, Ezekiel...sometimes, the agents best suited to combat the greater evil are fearsome beasts. Right now, you wield a sword. If your sword were not adequate, would you wield a stronger weapon?>"

Guisard hesitated a moment. The knight seemed to make sense, yet...did not The Enemy use logic to bind men's wits? Then again, the knight quoted the Bible without slurring or stuttering. Was that not proof of holy intention? "<I suppose,>" began Guisard, with no small amount of trepidation, "<it would depend upon the manner of the weapon.>"

The knight smiled. "<What if the weapon could slay demons?>"

That night, Guisard received the Embrace, and began a new existence. His Sire taught him new ways to use his abilities to fight, but also taught him secrets not available to mortals. Guisard was excited about the wealth of new learning and opportunity. Yet, his excitement was tempered by disappointment. The edge of life he'd always enjoyed, the quickening of pulse and breath, was gone. He still felt, of course, but it seemed muted now...blunted. While it was a worthy enough sacrifice for new opportunity, Guisard felt the loss deeply. The replacement, it seemed, was not in his blood, but the blood of others. His Sire had a stable of willing donors, kine who allowed kindred to drink, though it was a constant struggle to leave the vessel alive. Guisard felt the Beast within him, always screaming, tearing at him.

He had to make sure the Beast never won, or he truly was damned.

[Starship Tical]

Hello there Andor!

Thank you for your interest!

Just as long as you can get your submission in before the deadline (this Friday at 11pm Eastern) we will be golden. We are all itching to get the show on the road!

Thanks again and I look forward to seeing what you may have in store!

[Andor]

Great! I'll need to finish it tonight, then, which means I have some research to do!

Oh, another question, from a practicality standpoint. Is there a language everyone needs to speak so we can actually function as a group? Ideally, my character would most likely speak (or work on speaking) French (native), Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic, though mechanically that's unlikely. I also realize we'll be in Spain, so that comes into play, and I'm willing to sacrifice my character's "classic" education for a bit of functionality.