Circus OOC

This is the OOC thread for Freddie's Fantastic Flying Circus!

I am Freddie, your Ringmaster. The Cygnet is the only Ephean airship to venture out of Ephean airspace. Take a good, long look, because we won't be back for awhile!



I bring you wondrous and astonishing things to thrill, chill, and entertain you! We have acrobats and clowns, lion-tamers, and magicians, and the likes of things you have never before seen!

Come one, come all! To the greatest assembly of creatures and talent ever-before witnessed in all of Saiph!

Prepare to be amazed!

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Welcome to the circus!

This is a fantasy world that incorporates both magic and technology. Some magic is actually technology, some gadgets little more than a casing for magic, and some are indistinguishable from each other.

This is a human world, but there are unexplored pockets all over the continent, the mountains, and the seas/oceans. Many non-human races have figured out how to camouflage themselves and others have been hunted to extinction. Others have inter-bred and appear humanoid but for a few hidden features.

Who will you be?
Where are you from?
Why do you think you will make a good addition to my crew?

(all char bios should be PM'd to me so we can chat prior to posting and joining)

Rules:

1. I will allow one magician/sorcerer. first-come, first serve
2. One char per person
3. NPCs are playable by all and must have a short blurb to accompany them
4. As we get more players, we'll cycle out some NPCs for new PCs
5. Good grammar and spelling is a must.
6. Meta-Gaming will get you booted. PM me if you are unfamiliar with this term
7. No double-posting, unless you PM me first
8. All non-human chars must have a racial profile
9. All humans must have a blurb about their country/culture, more if significantly different from what's been given, or if describing somewhere new
10. more to come (if we need them)

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IC Thread will be here.
Adult Thread will be here.

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The world setting is Steampunk, which is a merge between sci-fi and fantasy genres. In this world, the setting is generally Ancient Civilizations (bronze age weapons), but with the addition of some 18th century technology. If you wish to introduce something, please run it by me first. Most likely, it'll be OK, I just want to make sure we can explain it so that whatever magic/technology it is will fit in with the rest of the world.

To follow is some geography, and then we'll begin the Character List.

This is the world of Saiph!



This is a world where technology reigns supreme and magic is heresy (in a lot of places) or confined to religions or entertainers; however, magic is on the rise and technology on the decline.

There are essentially 5 different areas of the world. Our airship, the Flying Circus, mainly tours around the Ephean Sea and the Confederacy.

Here's a break-down of the main sections:

West: The Empire & the Confederacy
This is the oldest and most powerful kingdom on Saiph, once made up of all the countries on the Western edge of the world. The sons of the last emperor have been feuding since his death about 40 years ago (now their sons continue the battle). The top half is comprised of the first 10 regions on the map. Here they are called states. The Imperial City is found in #9.

States 11-13 (yes, I'm aware there are two 13s. I didn't do that on purpose, and I'm too lazy to fix it) have become independent of one another and call themselves the Confederacy of Southern Nations.

These two countries are heavily militarized and regulated. They are also stereotypically Greek/Trojan in their societal structure. Their navies are the largest in the world and practically no one gets across the border unless they're in the army (on either side).

A great deal of the area where 11, 12, and purple 13 meet is desert and uninhabitable. This is our world's sahara desert. This used to be the barrier between the feuding countries, but the Confederacy has been steadily gaining territory under the leadership of their army's great General Tusas.

The Confederacy has torn down most of theirs, as symbols of their casting off their imperial yokes; however, the Empire has magnificent civil structures: wide, smooth, brick roads, formal education centers, temples for debating philosophy and (usually military) strategy, and were leaders across the world for trade. The Empire is still the greatest importer of slaves. These are not just the people they capture in battle, but those brought in through the sea trade.

The Confederacy is the only place in the world where slavery is strictly outlawed. Most turn a blind eye or actively engage in it. Both the Confederacy and the Empire are strictly patriarchal societies, where the men run the country and women are one step up from slaves. They have their own small groups, but are never permitted to even think they have any power (other than a few exceptions here and there). A woman's place is to produce children and manage a few household things. Women are valued for beauty first, docility second, and intelligence third. A man is not a man until he has a son to pass his legacy down to.

The Empire still permits (and encourages) multiple wives, and having more than one is an indicator of wealth (ie the richer you are, the more slaves and wives you have). This has fallen out of practice in the Confederacy, and there is a very active women's rights organization.

There are rules in the Empire governing treatment of wives and they are protected even in marriage. There are, however, no laws for slaves, save those of property laws. Children born to slaves are also slaves, and even those citizens who fall into debt may be sold (they and their entire household) to pay off their debtors.

The Confederacy and the Empire share a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses, and it is not uncommon (and often expected) for an individual to pray to several before an important event. Priests are more often philosophers and businessmen rather than teachers. The priesthood is the only occupation in the Empire where women are able to have any kind of responsibility. This has expanded in the Confederacy to allow women to run certain orders (mostly those dedicated to gender-typical structures, like love or motherhood, marriage, etc).

North: Wild Lands
Areas 14-19 are tribal lands alternately at war and working cooperatively with each other with changes in individual leadership. Each tribe speaks a different dialect and communication is such an issue that their holy leaders (the only ones with any education) are revered more for their ability to speak to other tribes than their communion with the spirits.

The borders are flexible and often out of date in the Wild Lands. Each borough (the colored sections) have multiple tribes and are mapped solely by the general area they tend to inhabit as cooperative groups.

The far North is inhabited by the vikings of Saiph, the Keltoi. They have villages along the edge of the world, but keep mostly to their ships, preying upon each other, the land-dwellers, and other nations. They dare the ice-packed North Sea in search of wales, bears, and sea lions (and other wondrous creatures of the deep). Their land-dwelling cousins are the chiefest exporters of slaves, raiding the inland tribes to sell to the Keltoi who in turn sell them along the Northern edge of the Empire and Kievan Rus.

The Keltoi is the tribe that most of Saiph is familiar with and are fairly equally loathed for their wild clothes and manners, and feared for their war-like society. Amongst the Keltoi, prestige is their currency and women are just as likely to be warriors as men, but only old men stay at home with the children.

The wild lands have very little in the way of technology, save what they have stolen from others. Their religions are based on the elements and spirits rather than to any one God/Goddess. In the Wild Lands, the Chief's word is law, but the shaman communes with nature and the spirits and can override any decision. In a few instances, the shaman and chief are the same person, but this never lasts long, for balance between the physical and spiritual planes is very important to the people.

East: Notable Kievan Rus, Akkadia, Shinar, Tibira-Eridu
The four countries are spread out over this section of the continent.

Kievan Rus is #24 and sometimes extended to #25, though 'everyone knows' that island is uninhabitable. The kievans are on fairly friendly terms with the Keltoi and philosophers have often debated the relationship between the two people. Who came first? and comparisons between their hunting styles are favorite topics. The kievans might similarly be called the 'friendly Keltoi' and they are also a sea-faring race that hunts within the northern Zeanti Ocean and the frozen Northern Sea.

Their country is very rocky and cold, the ground frozen under snow for most of the year and they are a small people, but trade along the Eastern coast. Their sea chanties are popular in every port. They are known for being big men and women with appetites to match.

The Akkadians settled three areas (Sargon - #27, Akkadia - #29, and Koine - #30) and are the most advanced of the Eastern cultures. Most historians agree that writing and mathematics began in Akkadia.

These three city-states are largely rolling grasslands, and the people are farmers. They trade freely with the Epheans and have been at peace for centuries.

Science and Mathematics rule in Shinar (#34). This is a country that believes that the movement of the stars dictate events on Saiph and they are dedicated to advancing their understanding of the world.

Most of the East is founded upon a very Taoist/Buddist philosophy of living a good life to be re-born as a greater being, and living in harmony with the world around them, but the Shinarites preach almost the opposite. They believe that the world can be and should adapt to them, rather than striving to become one with the land like most everyone else. The greatest doctors in the world come from Shinar.

Shinar is an meritocracy, where the people face off in talent competition to prove who is the smartest or wisest. Those who prove themselves capable continue to be elevated as guides for their people, with the young challenging the old as new knowledge is discovered.

The last major power in the East is Tibira-Eridu (#33/36).

The Eridans (#36) are a very quiet people that rarely venture from their jungles to interact with other races/cultures. Little is actually known about them, save what has been observed from trade ships, or the few people who have managed to find their way back over the borders.

Most who venture into Eridu are never seen or heard from again, although their ships are sometimes seen. All accounts describe a very tall, graceful people with architecture both beautiful and practical. (these would be our elves) Their ships are gorgeous, sleek and speedy, built of the strange, silver wood found only in Eridu and only rarely bartered. Legends say that the trees are alive and will sing to entrap unwary travelers.

The people of Tibira (#33) have their own stories of the Eridans, and their storytellers and bards (storymasters or songmasters) are found in all corners of Saiph, welcome wherever they tread, especially when speaking/singing of their neighbors. In fact, the ignorant have sometimes confused the two people, for the Tibirans are tall and graceful, black-skinned and beautiful. They are also passionate and fierce fighters under their placid, gentle exteriors. They guard the shores of Eridu and Tibira equally against the depredations of the southern raiders.

Central: The Epheans
This is the name given to the people of the salty Ephean Sea. The Epheans discovered the power of steam and are the most technologically advanced peoples of the world.

There are nominally four countries (in order #20-23): Bhimbetka, Madhya, Pradesh, and Vedik. Epheans are also those people who have no land or country but live entirely upon their houseboats on the sea or airships above the sea. They are governed by no one, accept no laws, and fiercely reject any attempts to bring them into any kind of order. Their histories proudly list their rejection of the stifling laws of the land for the freedom of the sea and air.

For all their technology, they remain aloof from the rest of the world, rarely stooping to involve themselves in the base trivialities of who owns or wants to own what. Their technology is so advanced as to appear almost like magic to most of the rest of the world, and they are likewise feared/hated for their foolish pride, haughty pretentiousness, and military might. They are the only people to have guns or cannons, and have successfully managed to merge magic with technology to the point that they are considered the same thing.

In direct contrast with them, the rest of the Epheans revel in their technology, delighting in showing off what they can do to visitors. Madhya's cities are prime tourist sites, filled with wondrous things for guests to come and gawk at. They also have a contract with some families of air-Epheans to ferry tourists across the sea or along guided tours of the coast. The Epheans who have allied themselves thus are often despized by the rest of their kin (but they don't care).

The Epheans are generally matriarchal, which has caused strife in the past with the Empire and the Confederacy, but they have never feared a take-over due to the independents who maintain the borders on that side.

South: EˈStreɪlje
This is the island to the far South, comprised of areas #38-43. Their rugged coast defies exploration. Only experienced sailors knowledgeable of the trade routes are able to go to and from the island. The E'Strellans are commonly referred to as the Keltoi of the South or the Southern Raiders. They have developed little of their own, instead stealing from everyone else.

In their society, a youth must prove his might and leadership in battle by conducting a successful raid. His target is decided upon by the other Ship-Lords, and one or more will also accompany a new captain to report back on the raid.

The E'Strellans also war upon each other. Women rule the land, and men the sea. Their ships are rowed by captives and/or slaves, and others are purchased to wage war inland. Where sea battles and raids are won by numbers and weapons-skill, inland wars are based sometimes upon a single confrontation between the two women leaders. These battles can be as deceptively simple as a tea party in which they sling veiled insults at each other, or as crude as a gladiator bout between champions.

Powerful or warrior slaves are often gifted to the women for the purpose of the gladiator circuit, the chief entertainment of the island. Wealth and prestige is based upon the success of the women. The men bring back supplies and captives to continue the cycle.

The Empire and the Confederacy are united in an ancient feud against the E'Strellans and the three countries are bitter enemies. Tibira will also sometimes ally with the Confederacy or the Epheans to push back another raid from the South. As terrible as the Keltoi are, they are far removed from the people of the South, little more than stories for those who have not encountered them. Those that have generally believe the E'Strellans to not be so bad. They actually treat their captives with respect.

The E'Strellans raid and trade all along the Southern and Eastern coasts, typically staying away from the West unless to jump into a naval spar between Confederacy and Empire. They have gotten so good at lying in wait that the other ships have started to travel in fleets so that some can battle and the rest keep watch. (The Epheans consider this pure idiocy.)

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Misc Odds & Ends

• there's no rhyme or reason to the colors on the map!
  
• the world is flat, if you travel too far East/West, you'll fall off the edge
  
• those that live close to the equator are dark-skinned, those closer to the poles pale-skinned
  
• the five mountain ranges hold up the sky
  
• most of the ocean is inhabited by monsters
  
• slavery is an accepted trade
  
• it's acceptable (and even encouraged) to persecute and/or enslave those who are different from the norms of their culture (physically or otherwise)
  
• if you draw a horizontal line through the number 26, above that line is an environment similar to Canada or the Arctic Circle
  
• harming a Tibiran Song/Storymaster is illegal everywhere
  
• the Wildlands are populated by uncultured brutes and savages; it's okay to kill them just because
  
• bad kids get sold to the E'Strellans
  
• the Akkadians are weirdos who talk to dirt
  
• creation myths vary, but most religions agree that some powerful force took all the separate lands of the world and smooshed them all together
  

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Name: Oxfen Esaur the Fourth, twenty-third Regent of Jan
Species (sub-species/race): Human (Janvian)
Physical Description:
Personality:
Background:

[the Dro]

Name: Reth
Species (sub-species/race): Human (Imperial)
Physical Description: Reth has a blending of features that is both exotic and ordinary. He can blend in almost anywhere, his skin lighter than those of the people around the equator, but darker than those of more Northern or Southern latitudes. His eyes are hazel and he as a pleasant, unassuming face.
Personality: Reth is the type of person to be charming and your best friend to your face all while cheerfully plotting your demise and/or stab you in the back as soon as the opportunity presents. Typically, however, he stays out of actual engagements. He knows his strength is in his mind and strategies. He leaves the missions to the people best suited to them.
Background: The son of an Imperial soldier and a slave, Reth earned his freedom with this posting to command the dissidents. He began life a slave and toiled as a youth in the Imperial army. On his own he learned to read and eventually began manipulating his master. Within short order, the military officer's surprising string of victories brought Reth to the attention of the Intelligence Unit who recruited him and trained him for the purpose he has today. He left the Empire with very little, discovered and befriended Kaedan, and slowly but skillfully grew a hidden army of his own.

Name: Kaedan
Species (sub-species/race): Human (escaped Imperial slave)
Physical Description: small and wiry, Kaedan has the pinched look of someone who has not eaten well or often for a very long time. He stands out in this region because he is very fair skinned, with blond hair and blue eyes. He wears garments typical to the regions around the desert, loose-fitting pantaloons and layers to keep the desert heat away from the body. He has a brand on the back of his left shoulder that depicts his status within the Empire. He also has a number of old whip marks.
Personality: Kaedan trusts Reth and a handful of others, but otherwise hates everyone. He is very stubborn and independent, extremely protective of what he considers his territory. To strangers he appears very brusque and insensitive, because he says what he means and if the listener misinterprets or becomes offended, well, that's their problem. Kaedan prefers to kill first and not bother to ask questions at all.
Background: Kaedan was born a trouble-maker, but punishments never seemed to work. He grew steadily wilder and more defiant as he grew older until he eventually ran away. He ran to the Confederacy and made it through the lines with a mix of luck and sheer cussed determination, but he found no safety there. To him, the people on the other side of the border were exactly the same as the people he'd left, so he sought solace within the desert and there he remained alone until another stubborn soul (Reth) refused to be scared off by Kaedan's illusions. Reth was so impressed by them, in fact, that before Kaedan knew it he had a friend and a purpose in life.

Name: Mick
Species (sub-species/race): Human (born in the confederacy)
Physical Description: Mick is gorgeous, and he knows it. He is tall and well-proportioned with big, green eyes, eyelashes a woman would kill for, and long, wavy black hair. His clothes are impeccably tailored to show him off, and he can be either very masculine or very demure depending on what the situation calls for.
Personality: Trained and raised to very precise social manners, Mick is adept at innuendo and pushing the social graces just to the edge, but never crossing over to inappropriate (not in public, at least). Perpetually jolly, he smiles and jokes all the time. He lives to be the center of attention, playing with people's emotions just as easily as musicians pluck their instruments to wring out just the right response at the right time.
Background: The son of a prominent member in the Confederate senate, Mick was born to riches but bored stiff with the idea of becoming his father and listening to all those endless, boring debates. He much preferred charming the pants (well, skirts) off of the daughters and wives of the other senate members while they were all talking politics. He was very easy to recruit and had the connections to take Reth's master plan to a new, even bolder level.

Name: Pherris
Species (sub-species/race): Human (originally Keltoi)
Physical Description: Pherris looms head and shoulders above most men, with wide shoulders, brawny arms, a deep chest, and legs like tree trunks. His hair is long and uncut, tied back in a sloppy knot in the style of his people.
Personality: Everyone loves this very gentle, awkward-seeming man. He speaks little because his deep, booming voice embarrasses him, and he has a love and fascination for machinery, but under the soft exterior resides the savage, brutal nature of the Keltoi.
Background: The lure of the city drew Pherris away from his raiding party to the cities of the Ephean Sea, where he made his living as a tinker of sorts before landing on the shores of the Confederacy and getting caught up by Reth's vision for a united world.

Name: Ois
Species (sub-species/race): Human (Imperial)
Physical Description: tall, elegant, and fair, Ois comes from the far North. Her hair is silver-white, light enough to float around her head like a cloud if she didn't keep it tied back in a thick braid or buried under jewelry. Her eyes are a very light blue and she is all angles, and her tongue is just as sharp.
Personality: Ois takes crap from no man. She is confident in her abilities, and convinced that her God speaks to her directly, guiding her hand and cloaking her with darkness when needed.
Background: She was sent to Reth to get her out of the Empire, but Ois doesn't see it that way. She doesn't like Reth, but she respects his vision. Countries and borders mean little to her, but she is dedicated to her God and he is interested in seeing Reth's ventures succeed, so Ois is, too.

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Char Bios should have the following:

Name:
Species (sub-species/race):
Position in the circus/ship:
Physical Description:
Personality:
Background:
Racial Profile or Culture Profile:

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Name: Freddie Fantastik

Species (sub-species/race): Human (Ephean)

Position in the circus/ship: Ringmaster, pilot & captain of the Cygnet

Physical Description: In general, Freddie appears to be a very androgynous man in his late 20s/early 30s, about 5 ft 10 in and 175 lbs. He deliberately attracts attention with flamboyant clothing and altering his physical appearance as a master of disguises. He refers to himself as male, but most have no idea if he's really male or female, as he can appear equally convincing as either at the drop of a hat. The clothes he wears are in the Ephean style (1800s European, sort of), which are worn by both men and women. He has been known to even dye his hair, eyes, and even skin tone, and no one's been able to figure out how he does it. It's not uncommon for Freddie to go through several transformations a day. Some speculate that Freddie's even forgotten what he really looks like.

Personality: Freddie was a shy teen that turned his shyness into an amazing act that he turned into a business at an early age. He hides a sensitive introvert behind his outrageous clothes and over-the-top personality. He is fiercely protective of the men and women (and creatures) in his care, going out of his way to provide a home for the 'freaks' and misfits of the world. Some only stay for a short while, but they are all family.

Freddie limits his time spent with people, and though he has come to a certain understanding of his eccentricities, he fears for his safety (and that of his family) should his true nature be discovered. Thus, he takes every precaution to appear as one of those 'crazy Epheans' rather than whatever it is that he is.

Background: Freddie's parents found him carefully smuggled inside a corner of their airship's engineering compartment. They guessed his age around 5 years old, and although they searched for years, they were never able to find out where he came from. 'Freddie' is as close an approximation as they could manage from the name he gave them.

When Freddie reached puberty, something strange happened. He was raised as a boy within the small family unit, though his gender defied definition even on physical inspection when he was first found. Freddie has both male and female genitalia. As he grew, he maintained his lithe, willowy form, which could be either a slender man or strong-featured woman, and was nevertheless thought to be an Ephean child. His eyes had always been very mobile, however, the pupils swirling like water in a glass when upset or angry. As he was an agreeable, happy child, only his parents had occasion to notice this attribute, and they counseled him to keep it hidden.

At puberty, everything changed. Freddie's physical features began to change randomly, to the point that he shaved his head and refused to come out of his room for days on end. It took them many years to figure out what was happening, and resulted in Freddie learning to disguise himself in plain site by taking advantage of his peculiarities. He used his skills to attract lenders to finance his circus and has since paid back every penny. He owns his airship and circus out-right, now.

Ever since puberty, Freddie's features change based upon the people he is around. He has to be careful of his clothes, because he can suddenly grow inches (or shrink) in a few days' time, develop breasts, and other such mortifying characteristics. As best he can figure, he changes to appear as other peoples' sexual fantasies. If the person he's around likes tall, skinny blonds, then that's what Freddie will become. The changes happen faster the better he knows a person and the more time he spends in their company.

In a group, his features will fluctuate based on the desires of those around him. He will generally leave before the strongest-willed person wins out and his body starts to gravitate towards that individual. When in a large group, or in front of a crowd, his body adapts to what he can typically describe as the local ideal, a mix of the masculine and feminine, which adds to his androgynous style. If he's alone, his body keeps the last changes until he comes into contact with somebody new.

He had one disastrous affair in his early twenties, and still bitterly remembers going home and blurting out, "I'm a freak! Nobody'll ever love me, and I'm going to die a viiirgiiiin!" He's since avoided any romantic entanglements. Nevertheless, he's remarkably happy and content with the way his life has turned out. He keeps an eye out for others like himself, but has long-ago stopped expecting to find 'his kind,' if there even is such a thing.

Racial Profile or Culture Profile: From the Imperial Library of Erun, an excerpt from 'A History of Slavery within the Empire' (unfinished), by Senator Grunhyld (executed for treason against the Empire)

... Opinions vary regarding the history or location of the Chameleon people, but they are widely believed to have populated an area on the Northern side of the Ephean Mountain Range within the Wildlands.

What little is known about these people depicts a plains-dwelling, primitive race being squeezed out of their territory by encroaching tribes. The Chameleon people were grouped according to their skills, and the young left their general care group as soon as they developed an interest or skill.

Where the Chameleon people attracted the notice of slavers was through their elaborate coming-of-age rituals. The young Chameleon child is an androgynous creature, neither male nor female, but with the sex organs of both. With the onset of puberty, which could affect a child as young as seven, the youth's body entered a state of flux, vacillating between genders until the youth bonded with a mate. The Chameleon tribes met each summer where the young would mingle and this became the prime hunting time, for large numbers could be caught at one time.

Records of slave owners state the adaptability of the Chameleon slave as the prime reason for the popularity and value of the slaves. According to these records, the unmated Chameleon can mimic the secret desires of their masters and great care was taken to prohibit contact with other members of their race to prevent bonding. The Chameleon's flux state could exist indefinitely, and inter-species mating was uncommon, but not unheard of. The only cure for an unanticipated mating was to destroy half of the pair. This would send the surviving Chameleon's body back into its flux state.

According to physical studies, a Chameleon's body is very soft, and although muscle strains and sprains are common, they do not often break bones or become ill. The internal organs also differ, in that they are not fixed but move in a fluid manner around the body cavity. There are two hearts, and four small lungs, and the blood does not clot easily. Early deaths were due to light wounds through lashings or beatings that resulted in the Chameleon bleeding to death. Their blood flows quickly, and death is swift.

Few species were as valued for slaves as the Chameleon people. The most common sale was for pleasure slave. A low life-expectancy helped raise the price of these slaves, and, this researcher opines, led directly to their extinction ...

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Name: Saquir (no last name)

Species (sub-species/race): Doskar

Position in the circus/ship: First Mate/Acrobat

Physical Description: Saquir is fairly short, about 4'3", abnormally small for his race (since they're normally 5' on average), it kind of made him an outcast. He's got messy, silvery hair and bright teal colored eyes that seem to catch the slightest of movements. He has tanned skin that doesn't quit, even beneath his loincloth, but his skin is broken up at the knee where thick silvery hair grows. He has three quite articulate toes on each foot and a raised hock-foot, mostly covered by shag and scruff, much like a Clydesdale horse, and a long, sweeping tail that reaches his feet, also like a horse's. He has two curved horns that run from his forehead and arch back, just a little, barely six inches long as well as perceptive leaf shaped ears.

Personality: Calm and steady minded, he controls all the socializing between the performers and even audience members. He organizes and puts together the circus, making sure everything is working and running for Freddie. He's friendly and easily liked, and has a distinct way with words that allows him to get away with murder easily. He has a charm, even though his appearance is quite odd in comparison to the rest of the world, but he manages. However, he is quite clear when he doesn't like someone, it's easy to tell and he doesn't conceal such things well.

Background: His youth was fairly average, but puberty saw him not much taller than he was as a pygmy among his people and it served to have him looked down on. Eventually he decided he did not want to see himself admitted into the service of a harem master, who had expressed interest in him because of his small stature. He escaped, ran away, ran and ran, working his way around the Ephean Sea, all the while growing quite adept at climbing and slipping through holes that don't seem big enough to let him through. He managed, against all odds, to avoid and escape slavers when caught in a tight spot, his skills coming in handy for hiding in high places and getting away when he needed to. He made his way all the way down to the heart of the bustling city where he made small change from performing feats of surprising agility. He was met shortly after by Freddie, approached with helping build up the circus and such until it is where it is today. To keep from immediate notice, most of the time he wears thick robes that cover his obvious non-human traits, or he'll stay out of sight on the rooftops of whatever town they're in.

Racial Profile or Culture Profile: The Doskar are a soft spoken race, but are wicked warriors with almost frightening agility. A patriarchal society, they're run by a council, chosen by the collective tribes, who makes all the decisions, from whether they're going to attack, or if they're going to move the herds. They're extremely picky about beauty and if a child is deemed 'ugly' they are often traded to slavers for profit. They live deep in the evergreen/coniferous forests north of the Ephean Sea, their unnatural agility comes from their abilities to climb the trees and move through the forest without ever once touching the ground. They have treehouses high in the trees, so it's rare that they have to go to the ground, except when one or two of the tribal members have been hired to be taken through the forests. Explorers sometimes want to study the Doskar, so sometimes they'll take those people on a tour of the tribes.

I'm loving everyone's characters

Here's mine.

Name: Enrir

Gender: Male

Species (sub-species/race): Elemental (Fifth - majoring in Fire)

Position in the circus/ship: Sky Lights/ Acrobat/ Fire Fly (flyer)

Physical Description: Relatively humanoid in appearance. Fiery red hair (deep crimson), short cut (just below his ears). In the Circus he has different outfits for different performances - but favours black leather with red lightning bolts. Pale skin with emerald green eyes. He is of slender build; tall at six foot yet built powerfully for one that looks so young. You cannot put an age to him - but he seems in his early 30's.

Personality: Lightning quick moods. He is fiercely loyal and protective of those he cares about and those that love him. He can have a fiery temper, but he can be as cool as ice. One never knows what mood he will be in. He can be quite masculine, but prefers the more effeminate personality.

Background: Native of the Southern Lands. As a child Enrir used to live in a tribe of elementals, staying away from civilisation as he could. But the E'Strellans raided his home in his middle years and took off with him and several of his family. He was sold into slavery but his fiery temper and attitude earned him a place in the Warrior's Circle instead. A glorified term for a Gladiator. Because he was a slave before becoming a Gladiator, he had to earn his freedom by winning his bouts. He had to win fifty fights - using nonmagical means - to become a Citizen and another fifty more before he could exit the Circle.
Enrir was a more than attractive catch for a female, but because of his reputation they felt he was more trouble than he was worth. After winning his way free from the Circle - he found himself a Citizen with no prospects. He was also no longer comfortable with other Elementals, being a rare Elemental himself and immersed in Human culture for so long. After his violent history, they no longer included him in their Society.
He moved to the Confederacy, hoping that their aversion to Slavery would be able to help him. Even though he was male, he found himself too much of a ‘free thinker’ to fit in that society. He created a small one man travelling show and earned meagre pickings for a few years before those he met started talking about a Flying Circus. Following their advice, he presented himself to the Ring Master – once he found him – and asked for a job.



Thise are five Elements. Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Fifth. As their names suggest, each Elemental has limited control and abilities with their Element. As well as very minor abilities in othis elements. However, the Fifth has almost equal ability in all four elements and is able to control and meld them togethis in ways the othis Elements can't. Each Fifth majors in one Element, however and are rarely born; usually as a result of cross Elemental breeding. Thise are no Halfs with Elements, you take on one of your parent's elements, or are born a Fifth.

Each element also has an affinity for their elements. Eg, a Water Elemental will have an affinity for water, thisefore will be able to calm stormy seas or draw up water from a well.

Elementals live in a Tribal community. Several family groups making up a tribe with their own boundaries and rules. Thise is often a crossing of tribes, usually through Unions or 'trades'. They have their own deities that they believe in, with their own Proffs (shamans) whom they listen to when seeking spiritual advice. Their clan system can be led by eithis a male or a female, but they must prove their worth through both intellect and demonstrated power.

Elementals are extremely long lived with their middle years occurring roughly after 200 human years. The oldest Elemental to live died at the human age of 578 years.

OK everyone:

And the show begins! Everyone gets one (1) add to describe any events leading up to or about their performances in the show.

After a week or when everyone's had their turn (whichever comes first), I'll jump back in to start the after-party.

Have fun, y'all!

Name: Jasair
Species (sub-species/race): human but might have something mixed in minimally due to his skills being a little more than perhaps a normal human could do consistantly.
Position in the circus/ship: Knife-thrower and cook

Physical Description:
He is about 5.6" with a slender build and rather bland brown hair. His eyes are likewise brown and often showed a caution he is known for. Looking at him in normal circumstances you would not think him to be anything dangerous. Indeed if anything he seems a bit like someone you would consider an easy target for whatever nefarious purpose you have in mind, for he is neither strong looking nor that confident in normal circumstances. He appears in his early 20's.

Personality:
By nature he is a quiet man, generally softly (and rarely) spoken. He dislikes all forms of violence, including shouting, and the sight of blood makes him ill or faint. When wishing something from someone, he will likely always ask quietly, never demand unless the situation is dire. Despite this, and despite living in the circus (a naturally loud and rucus place), people will tend to listen when he does speak (once they realise he is speaking, for sometimes their own loud conversations will drown out his quest for an audiance), and will generally be far more polite when around him, perhaps because of his quiet and polite personality rubbing off on them. He almost never swears, offers no real strong opinions for the most part, though its likely he does have strong opinions, but voicing them is too close to insighting violence in words in the form of a debate.

Background:
As far as anyone (including himself) is aware, he was born in Vedik, in the city of Jalfahka near the southern border of the Ephean states, on land, rather than in the air or ships. He lived in the city, or at least survived, for when he was found, when roughly 4 years old, he was living in the back streets and alleyways of the bustling tourist town, scrounging, stealing, whatever he could do to survive. It was Saquir who found him, or less found and more as took on, for he had gone begging to him for food, likely finding the small man less intimidating than the taller people.

For whatever reason Saquir took on the young human and brought him back to the airship, bathed and fed him, and over time the youngster learned to earn his keep on the ship, a place where he didn't need to worry about his next meal. He was often found in the kitchen, and while he didn't steal, even when he was not hungry, he liked to be close to the food, as if it gave him comfort knowing it was there, likely from his harsh upbringing on the street.

He was taught proper language, and given the basics of all the skills on the ship, but it was in the kitchen that the first sign of his talent showed, for he was rather good with knives. Over time, and as he grew, he would become the ship's cook, mainly because few others really cared much about cooking enough to make decent grub, and because he had little talent for other things. He practised with the knives a lot, and over time his talent would become more useful as he became good enough to do it on stage. He disliked performing, but he got extra money for doing it, and so had a little of his own to spend when they reached port, which he was glad for.

That was many years ago now, and he has been the ship's cook ever since, and is one of the best knife throwers around. Unlike other entertainers doing the same task, he does not use illusion and slight of hand and other tricks to make it seem like the knives were thrown. He actually throws them, and most of his act is proving that to people.

Racial Profile or Culture Profile:
Being a tourist town Vedik is constantly filled with people of many different races and subspecies. It is difficult therefore to speculate what type that he actually comes from, though his aversion to violence especially might point to him belonging to someone of the Kievan Rus, though his skill with the knife (as opposed to other talents) would promote the idea that perhaps at least one side of his parenting came from a more battle-ready race. No one knows for sure, but it is clear that he has faster and surer reflexes, though perhaps is more highly strung than most.

Crud! I had no idea the thread had started already! Sorry!

Due to my absense next week: is it better that I not post for now and do an intro and back post when I come back?

Sure, that's fine. Just jump in when you get back! We may be at the get-together after the first night's show, or it might be the next day.

Kewl! Thanks so much! I'm sorry for the delay. It looks fun too.

Heheh the regent totally did this to freddie. *points finger* I know he did!

OMG... I finally read through it all!

Yeah it takes a while huh lol, took me ages to

Now I'm just trying to see where I should fit Enrir in....

Wraith! You're back!

LOL, yeah, sorry for the long absence.

I tried to figure out why Enrir hasn't been seen for the past two days, so i forced him into a Retreat (Elemental religion thingy) and so he's been locked up in his room meditating for the past three days.

I enjoyed the read too!

That's okay, it's an interesting twist/addition for the species. Glad you enjoyed reading.

I find it interesting how much everyone seems to hate the Regent. Granted, he's not the most loveable characters .... Just a chauvinistic bigot, what's wrong with that? lol

LOL, I don't actually hate the Regent. I just don't know who he is

he totally poisoned freddie in such a way that he would get his way with him!

Do you need me to reply? Or should I wait?

I think we are just posting whenever the situation arises that we can, both in rp terms, and in rl terms heh.

Scribe's absolutely correct; generally, the idea is to post generally when our char would need to reply to some conversation or action that they're involved in (or to get them involved).

Feel free to jump in whenever RL allows, just be careful of having other chars do/say stuff, just like in the university threads. Not every scenario is going to involve every char, so if you're not directly in the mix (or don't wish to be), you can have your char do something else. Even though we're posting in a single thread, if you want to talk about or have your char do something separate, that's fine, too.

If you want to do something radical, then I'd appreciate the heads-up so that I can make sure the overarching plot and setting can accommodate. Otherwise, I'm pretty open to anything you want to do.

Yeah, I know all of that. I just wanted to know if you wanted me to wait for the regent to reply before I did (as I've not got much to put into a post anyway)

(sometime people plan things and when other people post and it screws things up )

hahaha. True enough! Looks like everything turned out okay this round. Do let us know in here, though if you want to do something in particular with your char, especially if it involves the others (or if you want us to stay out of it). I'm sure the others would love to brainstorm and help you out, too. And/or you can include short author notes in the IC thread. But more than a quick sentence should go in here so we (and I mean everybody) can discuss if need be.

Forgive me for repeating the guidelines. It always seems that when you assume everyone knows, it turns out nobody does! Anyway, add when you can. This RP seems to be on a fairly fast pace right now.


Oh, yeah! Forgot to mention that we're doing a fantasy-version of a Midsummer Night's Dream for the nighttime show! Think something of a cross between shakespeare and Cirque du Soleil.

Freddie's the narrator, of course. Saquir is Tuck, Enrir is the evil king Oberon, and we'll fill in the other chars as they fit. It should be fun!!

OOOH! Me likey!

LOL, if I remember correctly, Oberon was the one that told the sprites to switch everything around? (its been that long since i read it!)