Vampire: Dark Ages - Act I: The Beginning

[Goatkiller666]

The year is 1205 AD. The story begins in Hungary, near the town of Zombar, just north of where the Drave river joins the mighty Danube.

Recently, the Fourth Crusade sacked Constantinople. Now, soldiers from that great war are returning to homes across Europe, bearing riches beyond imagining from perhaps the greatest Christian city in the world.

Your character is a human in this area. It's up to you why. Are you from here? Just passing through? Move here years ago? You are mortal, of course, with no direct involvement with vampiric existence. Are you a commoner or a noble? Do you hale from the frozen north, or the saracen lands to the south? Which god, or gods, or goddess, do you worship?

Your characters, and others, have been invited to the manor of Claudio Giovanni, an Italian lord with lands near Zombar. You do not know Lord Claudio, and it is somewhat surprising that one such as he would know of you, much less wish your presence. Still, it does not do to anger a noble, so you are making your way there.

Please post a brief introduction to your character here. Do not include stats or clan information, just let us know about the mortal life of this person. Also include a physical description, please.

(Apologies for the map being set in 1911. I really love the look of the thing, so let's declare it to be correct for 1205 as well.)

[Sabine]

My name is Sabine. I am a young girl, perhaps as young as eight, or as old as twelve years. I am poor, wearing raggedy dress of an older girl, tied around the waist with a length of rope. I am unwashed, and my hair is matted together.

I come from the small village of Kana, Lord Claudius' hunting lodge. I'm an orphan, but his lordship's huntmaster allows me to stay there. I like animals, and usually am sleeping with the dogs in the pens. I especially like watching the nobles and their pretty nice animals. Their horses manes are so glossy and nice. And the ladies falcons preen so nice. I want to be like that when I grow up.

Brother László teaches all of us orphans a little bit. I don't think he knows I'm a girl, because he doesn't let any of the other girls sit in classes. And Mrs. Marta the huntmaster's wife, talks to me about cooking and taking care of the animals, and how to keep the brownies happy with a bowl of milk by the door. I think it's really just the ferel cats who drink the milk, but she gets mad when I tell her so.

[Seska Karantanija]

Lady Seska Karantanija is a noble, originally from the Caranthia region. She is married to the Lord of the small trading village of Tótkomlós. (Tótkomlós is at the north end of the brown Slovak region between Arad and Szentes.) A weekly farmer's market is hosted at the edge of their estate and the Lord is quite popular due to his constant and beneficial involvement in local affairs. They have three young children whom the villagers take great pride in.

Lady Seska herself is of small stature, with brilliant red hair usually worn in a long braid with a triple-moon circlet and sometimes interwoven with flowers, grasses, or ribbons. She is frequently seen riding through town, local fields, or at the edge of the woods with a bow or falcon at her side and on more than one occasion game from her hunts has graced the weekly market.

She is also known to be an strong defender of local traditions and not very hospitable to the few traveling missionaries in the area. Rumors suggest that one of the reasons for being married off so far from home was for her own protection.

[Taduz Illyannovich]

Taduz Illyannovich, itinerant tutor to nobility and their children. Those nobles who are tired of the dogma and forced servitude demanded by the church.

Born to the Rom, traveled much of Europe, fast talked his way into a religious education, and saw through the smoke and mirrors, eventually finding his way and his calling as a teacher.

Black hair slightly longer than shoulder length tied back with a leather cord, grey riding cloak, with simple traveling gear, blacks and dark colors. Clean shaven, with jagged scars on the cheeks that run almost to connect on the slightly crooked nose. It has been broken once, possibly more. Eyes almost jet black, you can see yourself in them, but not into the owner. Not pretty to start with, those scars only make it worse. Physically unimposing, but his easy smile and soft manner almost coax you into his confidence. No laugh lines grace his face, but with his occupation of choice, there isn't much to be joyous about, is there?

[Alína Nyárí]

The plump, slightly aging “witch” sat by her fire, tapping the letter in her hand and looking back at the manservant of the l-rd of a neighboring area. One does not turn down the invitation of a l-rd. With a curt nod, she answers the summons. “I will be there,” she tells him in Slovak, the language in which he read the letter to her and turns back to gazing at the flames. The manservant bows and takes his leave. “L-rd Giovanni will be pleased by your acceptance. A healer of your renown at his table will stimulate much curiosity, I am sure.

“Good night, milady.”

“Alína…” her father calles out to her in Yiddish. “You put off our study of Talmud long enough for tonight. Come, read tonight’s passage for me. You know my eyes can no longer make out the words of the gemara, especially in this light.”

“Tati, a moment more, please. I need to give instructions to Vilem for your care and the care of my herbs and the animals while I am away.”

Alína rose from the fireside and sought out her teen ward, he who has taken over many of the duties of caring for the homestead whenever she travelled to care for the sick and injured, as well as those gravidly laden. When she returned to her father, they spent an hour in study, then she saw to his comfort for the night and sat back in front of the flames, recalling her experiences in an attempt to understand why she received the summons to the castle.

• Danek was laid to rest peacefully, after the horror of his murder. The defaulting client escaped detection by Prague’s guards, though Alína knew they did not try all that hard to find the Chr-stian murderer of a Jewish money lender. Leaning against the shoulder of her son, she smiled at her grandchild in the arms of her daughter-in-law. The resemblance to his grandfather, who they just laid to rest, was heart wrenching. They will miss me when I am gone, she thought to herself, but they are secure and do not need the hassles an aging 30-year old “healer witch” in the family will cause them. Vilem and I will travel with Tati to a remote area where none know us and are welcoming of “pagans.” I hear the village of Tótkomlós, in the domain of Count Branimir Karantanija and his Lady, the Countess Seska, in southern Hungary is such a place…
  
  The homestead was small, but isolated and large enough for her needs. The surrounding forest supplied all her ingredients for her potions, powders and poultices. Her bow supplied game while her garden took root, and her reputation as a healer became known. But while pagans were accepted, Jews were still regarded with suspicion. Still, her successes in her profession, helped along occasionally by her secret practices, caused her to be sought out.

Satisfied with the answer she found, she once again rose from the fire. Alína then went outside and did a small ritual to the New Moon. How appropriate to receive the summons on Rosh Chodesh, she smiled to herself as she rejoiced and danced in the moonless starlight. This summons can only bode well…

[Johann Von Braniff]

My name is Johann Von Braniff, though I rarely devulge it. I usually create a new name for each new place I end up in. So here, in Zombar I choose to call myself Xander. My given name carried too much baggage and pain.

I was born small and frail, attributes that I never truly outgrew. I stand smaller than the average man with a lean build. My hair drapes down my back, most of the time snarled and uncombed. I wear mismatched clothes. My eyes are gray and my face is stubbled and scruffy.

Looking at me, one would never know I come from noble blood.

My father is a tryrannical bastard who I couldn't wait to get away from. I grew up a nobleman's son in Austria, drenched in money, finery and the lash of my father's crop. At sixteen I ran from him, which no doubt enraged him. I fear he still seeks me, even after two years since my flight. I never stay in one place very long. I am always travelling, wandering. My keen sense of survival and roguish guile has gotten me out of dire situations on more than one occasion.

I entered Zombar penniless a week or so ago. Pilfered a heavy pouch from a fat noble on the street and was able to acquire lodgings. I will leave once the money runs out....

[Olaf_Magnusson]

*a tall, imposing figure, with long blond hair single-braided, a moustache flowing into a beard which is itself divided into two braids. Cold, ice-blue eyes stare out from beneath a conical, horned helmet of some odd kind*

Heilsa!

I am Olaf, son of Magnus. A Dane am I, but also the last survivor of my clan. Our village was raided, and all were slaughtered. Had I not been a-Viking with my friend Nils, I would have died as well. Before I was even born, near a third of our clan went south, in search of the old stories, where soft princelings hired the Folk as warriors, the "Stranger Guard".....or Varangian, in their tongue. To rebuild the clan, I come seeking my cousins. I have served as a paid warrior in many places to earn the money to pay my way, seen much.

[Dante Nachtzehrer]

(Couldn't post in Character forums - locked)

Background:

Having spent 3 years in brutal warfare, Dante Nachtzehrer returned weary and bloodied from the Crusades. In hopes to repent for his sins, Dante joined a Christian monastery in the Bohemian region on the outskirts of Prague. Greeted with cheers of welcome and praise for his service to the Pope, Dante the Crusader became Dante the Monk with the encouragement of his fellows and superiors. The praise did not last, however, as Dante was unable to fully rid himself of his sins and grew distant from his fellow monks. Plagued by nightmares, the memories of battle haunted his psyche constantly, threatening to push him to the brink of insanity. Dante grew insular, spending his time alone in meditation with his God; praying for release from his sins.

Dante's reflection took on unnerving qualities, as he would fast for weeks at a time without speaking to anyone. His meditation broken only by the humble pleadings of a local servant boy, carrying with him an important looking scroll bearing an important looking message.

"What is this," Dante asked, "that has abrupted me away from my duties?"

"I carry a note from one Lord Giovanni, good monk, he requests your presence in one month's time.", spoke the servant lad. Having delivered his message, the lad promptly leaves the monastery chambers.

Dante examines the scroll, rolling the message over and over in his mind. "I will go.", he decides.



(OOC) Goat is it possible to retroactively make me the monk who jeered at the crusaders in the inn, and watched the fight with the boy? It seems to fit Dante's profile well enough, especially the monk's contempt at the crusaders. It can then be assumed I took passage in the carriages with the rest and remained silent during the trip and during the dinner. I suppose I had a harrowing of my own, as well. (OOC)

[Erick Shinnings]

Erick Shinnings is a man of Wales, traveling to the kingdom of Hungary from his far home of England. He sports short brown hair, in a style remnant left over from Roman occupation, and luminescent green eyes. He is soft-spoken, but commands attention when he wishes. He often receives compliments on his boyishly attractive looks.

Erick is a devout pagan and scholar of the Old Ways, a worshiper of the Earth, and now travels on a personal quest of knowledge of occult lore, pagan religions and customs, and encouraging adherence to them. Above all Erick despises those that would defile nature, and those Christians who seek to unify the peoples of Europe under their faith.

[Goatkiller666]

This thread is closed. It has been moved to www.encyclopediainfernalis.net/games instead.