[OOC] Swords Beneath the Starlight

In a land long shattered,

a realm forgotten by the gods,

will the light of hope be rekindled?

Or will the flames fall to ash?

Welcome to Swords Beneath the Starlight! This is a play-by-post forum game based on the Fire Emblem franchise and using the bay12 Fire Emblem forum game ruleset as a source of inspiration (though I plan on deviating in certain areas, especially the class system). In this game, you will be playing as one of a band of refugees brought together by circumstance, a band of nobodies thrust onto center stage by the machinations of fate. Will you bring hope back to your despairing homeland? Or will you watch as the last light is consumed by the dark?

For those unfamiliar, Fire Emblem is a series of turn-based tactical role playing games centered on unique units with unique strengths and weaknesses and a permadeath system. In this system, each player will control their own individual unit rather than having one person run the whole show. There will be battles, and between the battles there will be an opportunity for the story to advance, along with your characters. Unlike in the Fire Emblem series, there will be no singular main character around whom the whole world turns. Your characters and their collective choices will determine the fate of the realm, for better or for worse.

This will be my first time running this sort of thing, so I'll be looking for active feedback in order to make adjustments as we go along. I thank you in advance for being understanding!

If you're still here, I imagine you're interested in how character creation works! Below I will list the classes available to your character, along with an application guideline in order to get started. Let's begin!

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Trainee ClassesIn general, trainee classes are the 'baby' classes. They start out very weak, and need to be protected and to participate in combat before they can advance into proper fighters. This is where you'll begin!

Novice - All around the world, hotheaded youths dream of becoming brave swordfighters. It's easy to see why: Swords are heroic and versatile weapons, capable of blindingly quick slashes and great, devastating swings both. The novice is unskilled, untempered, and weak, but as they learn their weapon's strengths, they will quickly grow into one of three sorts of warrior: the bold, brawny mercenary, the quick, graceful myrmidon, or the quiet, sneaky thief.

Journeyman - The lumberjack taking up arms to defend their village; the peasant rushing into battle with the only tool available to them; the foolhardy youngling hoping to make it as a bandit: all sorts of folk can be a journeyman, so long as they walk the path of the axe. A mighty weapon, perfect for smashing through anyone who stands in your way, the axe would be a perfect weapon were it not so heavy and slow. Journeymen are still clumsy with these great hunks of metal and wood, but as they grow, they will advance into one of three classes: the skilled, well-balanced fighter, the surprisingly nimble pirate, or the burly, brawny bandit.

Lancer - The lance is a weapon commonly seen in the hands of infantry and cavalry alike the world over, and it's easy to see why: it's a well-balanced, easy-to-use weapon with none of the strengths or weaknesses of the axe or the sword. Its mechanics are simple: point and thrust. It demands very little to use. All the same, those who dedicate themselves to the path of the lance can rise from mere chaff, utilizing the weapon in ways green recruits can hardly comprehend. As the lancer walks down this path, they'll find themselves advancing along the path of the heavily armored knight, the skillful, diligent soldier, or mounting a horse to become a cavalier.

Rider - Some people dedicate themselves to learning a weapon; others a school of magic. The rider is dedicated to learning to understand their companion. As a rider, you begin somewhat weaker than most units, and your options for advancement are somewhat limited: while most classes have three options for advancement, you only have two. However, you come with a massive boon: you have been given a horse, a loyal friend to the very end, who you may count on to bring you through combat at all times. Your specialization is mobility, and through that mobility, you'll find your way forward. The rider gets to choose one of two weapons to start with: either the lance, through which they'll grow into the mighty cavalier, or the bow, which will guide them down the path of the quick, ranged nomad.

Flyer - While the Rider travels swiftly across the earth, the Flyer... flies. These fragile units speed through the air, annoying any terrain that may slow them down, and strike while the iron is hot - or they will, once they're strong enough. The flyer may choose one of two mounts: the nimble, magic-resistant pegasus, or the powerful, decently-armored wyvern. The choice you make will lock you into an advancement path for either of them. It will take some time for you and your mount to grow into your roles, but once you do, you will be a force to be reckoned with!

Scout - The front lines are chaotic, hectic, and scary. Some would prefer to attack from afar. Be it out of cowardice, prudence, or a mere affinity for the bow, the scout hangs back from the fray, supporting their allies with indirect strikes. They are frail and fragile, and their attacks don't pack the same wallop as a close range strike. They may be weak now, but give it time, and the scout will advance quickly into one of three classes: the rapid, mounted nomad, the reclusive forest-dwelling hunter, or the swift, accurate archer.

Scholar - Some prefer to study esoteric and arcane arts. These folk - fragile as any, and weak to boot - must call on another form of strength to bolster them. Some choose the conventional anima magic - a sort of magic which evokes the forces of nature to fight on one's behalf. Others delve into more obscure texts, summoning the power of the Old Dark to destroy their opponents. As a scholar, you're still weak, but you're learning how these things work. You may choose either anima or dark magic. Your choice will send you down the path of either the spell-slinging mage, or the dark-stalking ritualist.

Acolyte - The acolyte is a servant of all that is righteous. Invokers of the gods, these clerics use holy magics to protect their friends or smite their foes. Beware, though: they're about as fragile as the scholar, and ending up on the wrong end of a sword is a real danger. As an acolyte, you must choose to either wield healing staves, or holy light magic. Depending on your choice, you'll advance into either being a gentle cleric who heals the wounds of the sick, or a steadfast monk, bringing light down upon your foes.

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Base ClassesIn time, you'll advance into a base class! I'll keep the descriptions here short, since you have an idea of what's going on from the last section.

SWORD USERS

Mercenary: Some treat swordplay as sport; others, an art. The mercenary treats it as a tool. Focused on great, hacking attacks, and decently balanced stats, the mercenary is here to get the job done, whatever that job may be. They can advance into the Hero, gaining an extra melee weapon and even more bulk, or the Vanguard, a staff-wielding commander whose ability to heal and buff their comrades compliments their bulk nicely.

Myrmidon: Only few understand that the sword is not merely a weapon - it is an extension of yourself. The myrmidon is a quick, skillful warrior, one who has dedicated themselves to swordplay as a way of life. It's not always clear what lies at the end of their path, but should it come to arms, one might expect a trail of bodies in their wake. They can advance into the swift Swordmaster or the deadly Assassin - a specialist who has found meaning in the sword, or in killing. The former is a specialist, dedicated to their weapon first and foremost; the latter a pragmatist who has learned to use the bow as well.

Thief: Not all who wield a blade are here to fight. Some just want to survive. The thief is better suited to the shadows than the frontlines, and while their speed helps them, their frailty is unmatched among other melee units. However, not all is lost: they're able to use their various tools to pop open doors and chests that your other party members cannot without a key, and their quick fingers can snatch goods from their enemy before anyone even notices they're there. These dastards can advance into the Assassin and become true dealers of death, or ply their trade with even more skill and become the graceful Rogue.

AXE USERS

Fighter: Too many use the axe like it's a blunt instrument, swinging with wild abandon. It takes a real expert to know how to slice them with the sharp end. The fighter is, much like the mercenary, here to deal blows and take them. Unlike the brigand, the fighter doesn't forsake speed and skill for just destructive power; you have to swing hard, and you have to land it. They come equipped with reasonable defenses so they can make it out alive. The fighter can advance into the level-headed warrior, mastering more weapons all the while, or turn into the Barbarian, taking up the bow and putting their skill to use at close and long ranges both.

Pirate: The sea be a cruel mistress - but you don't need to have been on a boat to become a pirate! This scurvy dog is a fast, brutal powerhouse, dedicated to dealing (or trying to deal) as much damage as is possible as quickly as possible. In terms of style, one might relate them to a myrmidon - but while the myrmidon will snark that you have to land the hits to do damage, the pirate would remark that you have to get through the enemy's armor for it to matter. Unskilled, wild, and excitable, the pirate can refine their skills and learn a thing or two from the Myrmidon to become the salty Sea Scourge, or they can say 'fuck it' and get an even bigger axe, becoming the Berserker.

Brigand: If a pirate might accurately be described as 'unrefined,' the Brigand is as raw as it gets. Big, lumbering brutes swinging big, towering axes to deal massive blows - assuming they can actually connect. But hey, if you can't land a hit, you just need a bigger weapon to swing with, right? (Don't tell them they're wrong, they don't like that.) The brigand can either take up the bow to launch projectiles with equal abandon, becoming the Barbarian, or just scream really loud and become the mighty, crit-heavy Berserker.

LANCE USERS

Knight: A stalwart, heavy-armored unit focused on holding the line above all else. Though they lack in speed, these fellows are immovable by common means. That said, their armor acts as an arcane conduit, making them rather susceptible to magic, so watch out!

Soldier: ‘Spears are the weapon of the peasantry’ - so say the arrogant nobles in their hallowed halls. They have little to say when their fine cavalry charges are met by a wall of spears. It takes someone divorced from their impractical classism to recognize the true power of an individual with a spear. The soldier is a well balanced unit, competent in defense and offense both, playing off their weapon’s well-balanced practicality to hold their own in combat. They can take up armor to become the defensive General, or further focus on the ‘peasant’ way of fighting to become a Sentinel - a fighter who would strike true fear in the hearts of those who dismiss the powerful polearm. 

Cavalier: [See Riding Units]

BOW USERS

Archer: Quick, precise, and skilled, the Archer fights from afar. While their fellow bow-users might decide to use the bow to supplement their fighting style, the archer treats the bow as a way of life. They are competent in using the bow in all situations - no gimmicks required! Can promote into a Sniper or a Bow Knight.

Nomad: [See Riding Units]

Hunter: Many bow-users are competent in the hunt, but only those who bring hunting onto the battlefield can become Hunters. While the Nomad specializes in the open plains, the Hunter makes their home in the woods. These sneaky fighters aren’t as good in straight battles as archers, but excel at utilizing rough terrain to make the odds uneven. Where cavalry fear to tread, the hunter makes their home... Can promote into a Ranger or Guerilla.

RIDING UNITS

Cavalier: Valiant riders seeking to prove themselves on the field of battle, Cavaliers ride forth! Capable of using a second weapon in addition to the lance that come naturally to them, the Cavalier is versatile, swift, and strong. Their biggest weakness and their greatest strength is their four-legged companion, as their horse is vulnerable to certain weapons and travels more slowly in rough terrain. Can promote into a Paladin or a Great Knight.

Nomad: Swift and deadly, the Nomad combines mobility with range to bring terror to the open field. While they're fairly fragile, they're exceedingly hard to catch, and should the volley be followed by a swift offensive maneuver from one's allies, they should get out scot-free. Can promote into the Ranger or the Bow Knight.

FLYING UNITS

Pegasus Knights: Dancing like feathers in the wind, Pegasus knights ride their majestic mounts through the fray. Delicate, but quick and strong, armies the world over use these winged warriors as the most mobile sort of shock cavalry, to strike quickly at the enemy’s weakest units before flying back to safety. The blessed Pegasus is very resistant to hostile magic, but lacks in physical defense - they must rely on their speed and mobility to avoid enemy counterattack. These battlers can Takes extra damage from arrows! Can promote into a Falco Knight or a Valkyrie.

Wyvern Riders: The terror of land and sky, the Wyvern Rider takes advantage of its huge, bulky mount to lock into melee and see the enemy broken. Swinging into battle with daring confidence and heavy armor to back it up, the Wyvern Rider fears only two things: the sting of magic, the zip of the arrow, and their own unfortunate lack of speed. Can promote into a Wyvern Knight or a Wyvern Lord.

ARCANE USERS

Mage: Bringers of destruction who rely on natural magic to dispense of their foes, Mages are strong with all sorts of anima, and have chosen a particular subcategory of anima magic as their expertise: wind, thunder, or fire. Each has its uses, strengths, and weaknesses - wind magic is effective against flying units, and is light, fast; thunder is powerful and can easily land critical hits; and fire is balanced, versatile, and useful in any situation.

Ritualist: There are two types of ritualists: the practitioner of dark arts which oughtn't see the light of day, and the wielder of Elder Magic, a lost art from a bygone era. Either way, dark magic is slow, powerful, and unrelenting. It often comes with an additional effect as well, making it well suited to destroying one's enemies or benefiting oneself.

LIGHT USERS

Cleric: Healers might not be the flashiest members of the team, and they rarely get the glory, but they're absolutely essential to any functioning army. Defenseless, the healer pours holy magic from sacred staves to heal and buff their allies, as well as to bring chaos to the enemy line. A staff user might set an enemy to sleep, or bring a comrade back from the brink of death. Their job might not be glorious, but that only makes it even more important to make sure you thank them for their hard work!

Monk: Evil is out there, and it must be destroyed. Protectors of the weak and slayers of the wicked, monks fight not to do harm, but to prevent it. They fight only because they must. 

Advanced Classes: Coming soon!

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Laguz Classes!The Laguz aren't 'classes' so to speak, but are rather several species of intelligent people sporting animal features and the ability to transform into beastlike bodies. The form of Laguz you appear as will be somewhat customizable, but will fall into one of two categories. Beware! A laguz can only remain transformed for so long, and after they revert back to human form, they are incredibly vulnerable to attack, and more or less helpless to respond. In addition, a variety of weapons are made to specifically counter the Laguz. I will probably limit you to one to two laguz in your party, depending on how large it is.

Beast Laguz: Fierce fighters who are physically powerful, these Laguz tear across the ground and fight their enemies with claw and tooth. Can take the form of cats, bears, tigers, lions, and other land mammals, pending GM approval.

Bird Laguz: Swift and solemn, these Laguz travel more easily than their beastly counterparts (on account of flying) but must fear arrows, wind-magic and standard anti-laguz weapons, as all do greater damage to them when they are transformed. Usually appear as ravens, crows, and hawks, but can take other forms pending GM approval.

BASIC LORE NOTES

A series of magical and technological breakthroughs within the Revotrian Republic have created a new god: Progress. His worshipers have embraced the idea that his mighty word must be spread to all corners of the world, that all lands will be beautified by his gentle touch. The Republic is a coastal nation, neighbored by the fractured polities of the Ilyun League - a cluster of agrarian fiefdoms, peasant-republics and city-states incapable of getting along for any goal but to hold off foreign incursion. The Revotrians have looked their way before and always failed. This time, though, they have Progress on their side.

The word of the Revotrian governorship is clear: These lands must be liberated from the backwards traditionalists who would shackle themselves to the past, and beyond that, from the Laguz. "Beastmen," says the Revotrian Consul, "are incapable of moving beyond their ties to the past. It is tragic, but they cannot be trusted to govern themselves." The Laguz make up less than ten percent of the Ilyun population, sticking to the dwindling forests and mountains, and to the Wilds beyond, but they dominate the headlines of the Revotran press. And so they march.

The Ilyun Federation has collapsed. The center of the federation command, Achaim, has been claimed. All is lost.

You are a refugee. Be you an Ilyun running from conquest, a Laguz who flees enslavement, or a Revotrian who understands the monsetrousness of their nations acts, you flee the advancing wall of steel.

All you can do is flee - flee, and hope that something better, someplace better, waits beyond the horizon.

CHARACTER APPLICATION

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AppNAME:
APPEARANCE:
TRAINEE CLASS:
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?:
BIOGRAPHY:

NAME: Sunny Newvale

APPEARANCE: Sunny's skin is a dark tan in color, her face and shoulders covered in a heavy spattering of freckles. She has bright golden eyes and the hair to match, long and wavy. Tall and thin, Sunny has the appearance of somebody who spends their time asleep on the beach rather than hitting the books. Sunny likes to keep a smile and an upbeat attitude to match her name. She typically wears a long black skirt and a dark emerald crop top, with a sheer black shawl over top. She also has heavy boots and a pair of fingerless gloves.

TRAINEE CLASS: Scholar
FIRST CLASS: Ritualist

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: Yustava, one of the dedicated 'holy cities' within the Republic.

BIOGRAPHY: Progress, the god of advancement, of development, of growth. All things Sunny valued, all things she supported the Revotrian cause for.

Born in the city of Yustava, Sunny was raised to understand magic. Which tended to be for the best, her constitution was not suited for heavier combat, and the study of such things provided her an ample outlet for her energy. Thus, many of her early days were spent in the sunlight, nestled under trees or in a hammock, keeping up with her studies.

Her life was changed, for better or for worse, upon her introduction to the Progressive faith. The god Progress was weaved into her studies, and Sunny found herself especially attuned. Her parents and teachers were surprised at how well she adapted her work to his word, and how intently she worked to weave his teachings and his concepts into her intellectual pursuits. It was almost startling, really, how readily she worked to pick Progress up. Sunny went on to continue her pursuit of knowledge and experience, moving on to more in depth endeavors, finding herself doing low level state work for Yutsava itself.

Her tireless studies in both bookkeeping and magic served her well, catching the attention of those in Yustava connected with the 'core' of the Revotrian Republic. They claimed to value her dedication to Progress, and wanted her to work for one of their branches in magical studies. A simple research project based on Dark Magic, nothing she would be unable to handle. Ecstatic to contribute to the spread of Progress, Sunny was more than willing to accept, being moved out of the city to bigger and better places. Or so it was intended.

Nobody was quite sure what it was, really. The catalyst was something unknown to everybody but Sunny and her co-workers. But whatever the reasoning, things took a strange turn when Sunny arrived at her place of study. Her presence became grating, her words ignored. Verbal conflicts became the norm when Sunny was around. Sunny's tenacity was replaced with bullheaded stubbornness, and her work ethic shifted into an almost counter productive effort. She became difficult to work with, to the point that she was often left to her own tasks, separate from the others.

One day, Sunny volunteered to join a scouting group headed into some lands bordering a former Ilyun territory, claiming to want to bolster her studies with some 'in the field' experience. Her co-workers, seeing a chance to give themselves a break from her presence, agreed with and backed up her request. Her request was approved, and Sunny was given a minor briefing on what she was to expect from the mission. Of course, the mission was not why Sunny was there, and that was showcased when she slipped away in the middle of the night, nothing but the clothes on her back, some rations, and a couple of tomes in her possession.


Character Sheet:

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SpoilerNAME: Sunny Newvale
AGE: 21
CLASS: Ritualist
AFFINITY: Fire

CHARACTER SKILL: Wrath
PERSONAL FAULT: Overbearing Devotee - When Sunny is adjacent to a non-supported ally, she takes a -10 penalty to Hit and Evade.
PERSONAL SKILL 1: Arcane Routing - When Sunny is hit with a magical attack, she gains +15 Crit until her next turn.
PERSONAL SKILL 2: March of Progress - If Sunny reduces an enemy to 0 HP on her turn, she gains +10 Crit until her next turn.

PREFERRED STATS: Magic, Skill
WEAPON SKILL: Grimore ( C ), Dark ( D )

LEVEL: 1
TOTAL LEVEL: 6

CURRENT STATS:

HP: 19 (40%)
STR: 1 (25%)
MAG: 11 (70%)
SKL: 10 (60%)
SPD: 4 (10%)
LUK: 2 (25%)
DEF: 4 (50%)
RES: 7 (50%)
MOV: 5
CON: 7
AID: 6

STAT PROGRESSION:

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SpoilerINITIAL STATS:

HP: 18 (40%)
STR: 0 (25%)
MAG: 6 (70%)
SKL: 5 (60%)
SPD: 3 (10%)
LUK: 1 (25%)
DEF: 2 (50%)
RES: 3 (50%)
MOV: 4
CON: 5
AID: 4


STAT GAINS:

Scholar Lvl 2: +1 MAG, +1 SKL
Scholar Lvl 3: +1 MAG, +1 SKL, +1 DEF, +1 RES
Scholar Lvl 4: +1 HP, +1 MAG
Scholar Lvl 5: +1 STR, +1 SKL, +1 LUK, +1 DEF, +1 RES

Scholar -> Ritualist: +2 MAG, +2 SKL, +1 SPD, +2 RES, +2 CON, +2 AID, +1 MOV

Inventory:

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SpoilerSlot 1:

Code:

Worm (Dread, E)

MT WT HIT CRT QL
4  6  80  5   30/40

Slot 2:
Vulnerary - Heal 10 HP (1/3)

Supports:

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SpoilerWith Roland (Fire+Anima), Rank C:
+1 Damage, +2 Hit, +10 Crit

NAME: Barnabas Vere

APPEARANCE: Long, greasy black hair, a dark greyish streak in it, and pale, rough skin, clearly more of a night owl kind of dude. Pretty good looking, in a rough, if he cleaned up and had a bath kind of way, a short scruffy beard and slightly crooked nose and haggard pale grey eyes. He's about 6' 2, and wears worn clothing, that probably was a decent set of traveller's clothing once, but is on the very end of keeping itself together with holes in his cotton-grey vest, frayed brown trousers and falling-apart torn slippers. His grey cloak is the most held together item, looking like it was made from several tough hides and pelts, and warm looking, if smelly smelling. He keeps his expression neutral and suspicious normally, but keeps a strong bearing if talked to, pulling himself to a more proud stance and posture and a slightly haughty tone. Has a large, long-healed set of scars down the left side of his face, crossing his eye which is slightly squinty but still functional.

Laguz Features - A long tail, a lil floofy. Fangish teeth. Large irises like most animals. Fur in areas around his body, mostly his lower arms and legs, slightly feral looking hands. Thankfully his foot fur could just look like a sock or leggings in the little bit visible between shoe and trousers. Wolf ears too on the side.

TRAINEE CLASS: Beast Laguz - Wolf

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: The mountain-spattered woodlands of Travai.

BIOGRAPHY: BIOGRAPHY: Barnabas was raised to be proud of himself. You always have to have pride, even when you're down in the dirt, you need to hold onto something. His tribe, the Vere tribe, wandered the territories of Travai, spreading the word of inner lands and tribes amongst the general region, and spoke with and kept up relations with the homes of the Bird Laguz that lived on the upper levels of the lone mountains, collecting information from the bird tribes and their networks to spread amongst the more localised and cut-off beast tribes that populated the woods.

They were one of several smaller tribes, or basically large families, that had free, or at least recognised with permission, passage through other territories, and would help do business with moving goods from the bird tribes to beast tribes, and dealing/trading with outsiders, either humans or other entities be it Laguz that for some reason lived isolated or so on.

They also have the important responsibility, alongside some of the other small wandering families, of spreading word of danger or threats to the Laguz as a whole, at least on the ground. Obviously bird Laguz are superior for rapid transfer of information, but these families of which Barnabas is part of would be speakers on the ground and assist in any diplomacy or verification. Basically these several large families had the roles of easing relationships and keeping the Laguz, at least the beast Laguz, tribes operating smoothly as neighbours and a larger entity.

Barnabas wasn't so hot at this unfortunately. He was a little too proud from an early age, seeing his family's responsibilities as more important than that of any single stationary tribes duties or respecting and caring for old sites and maintaining old wisdom and ways. He was taught a lesson one day for speaking too out of turn, and wears the scar to this day. The remains of a brutal wound from an enforcer of a tribe of Bear-laguz, a set of scars from a claw tearing past and over his left eye. His family told him to consider himself lucky that the enforcer hadn't gone deeper and taken the eye itself, and that it would remind him to respect his neighbours. Took a while for emotions on that to settle and for him to learn from it.

Anyway, humility achievement unlocked, Barnabas took some time to A. realise who he could and couldn't take in a fight and how not to get wrecked like a fool, that was a big one. And B. Not be a little punk teenage turd, and y'know, actually take on and be worthy of trusting with the responsibility of talking with and getting along with different tribes and people. Unfortunately, still in the process of growing as a person, now a young adult, the world decided to throw a wrench at the process by a bunch of insane humans who thought Laguz apparently couldn't be left to their own devices despite, you know, centuries of them doing okay for themselves thanks very much.

Travai was one of the larger group-lands of Laguz, holding a high number of clans, so maybe that's why they were targeted soon after the fall of the Illyun federation. The Vere tribe suspected it was more a matter of resources, wood and ore. It was a hard duty, the Vere tribe heard the news of the fall of the Illyun federation from the bird tribes first, and so had to spread the word and attempt to call a meeting of families of Travai, to band together and see if this was a fight to buy time, to survive or just so that some could flee.

The final decision was that, the adults and some of the oldest, would remain, to see to it that guerrilla tactics could be used to slow down the desecration of their lands, and to do their best to try and care for and maintain their holy places in secret and with minimal people. The rest, being some other elders and the younger adults, would try to escape and flee to other lands and survive, to carry on knowledge and history and pass it on.

That... Had some mixed results. Barnabas, unfortunately, was part of a splinter group. Two elders, a mother and her two children, and himself. Those that were fleeing had picked out locations in the outer neighboring territories to try to flee to and meet up in, and break apart into smaller, less notable groups. And one night, when Barnabas was returning from hunting, he found that his group had been captured in the interim.

He tracked the party for a while that had captured them, but after nearly getting noticed and attacked himself, he bit back the shame and split off to make his own way, lost and alone for one of the first times in his life, and in never such dire straits. Pride seems hard to keep in these times, as one struggles to avoid notice and scavenge food for silent meals as he hopes that other Laguz have made it to freedom to reunite with one day, yet fears facing the shame of meeting them alone. Either way, he can't see himself lasting much longer alone anyway.

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Spoiler 
NAME: Barnabas Vere
AGE: 22
CLASS: Beast Type Lagus
AFFINITY:

CHARACTER SKILL: Charisma (Pack Tactics)
PERSONAL FAULT: Not a lone wolf: If the character isn't within 3 squares of 3 allied units, take -15 to hit until their next turn.
PERSONAL SKILL: Teamwork makes the dreams work: If adjacent to 2 units, +10 crit until their next turn.
PREFERRED STATS: Skill, Speed

[LAGUZ ONLY] TRANSFORMATION EFFECT:+1 movement, take effective damage from anti-beast weapons, double CON score, +1 SKL and +3 to STR, DEF & SPD, +20 Eva when attacked from range 2 or greater
LEVEL: 2
TOTAL LEVEL: 2 [This is a measure of your level across all classes you've progressed through!]

Weapons:Claws (80 Hit, Might 4, Crit 0)

HP: 20 (60%)
STR: 4 (60%)
MAG: 0
SKL: 3 (50%)
LUK: 2  (30%)
DEF: 4 (60%)
RES: 1 (10%)
SPD: 5 (60%)
MOV: 5
CON: 5
AID: 4

Level ups

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SpoilerLVL 2: +1 SKL, +1 SPD 

NAME: Airitech mac Tíre

APPEARANCE: Some gruff, vaguely late twenty-something dude. He is grey-haired and blue-eyed, with a lupine slant. He has a shitty facial hair is way beyond stubble but not quite enough to be a true beard. His arms are decorated with vaguely tribal-like markings, the sign of his hybrid nature.

Airitech dresses pragmatically. He is never seen without his headband (which almost covers his eyes) and his wolfskin cape.

TRAINEE CLASS: Scout

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: Ossory, a backwater kingdom and (former) member of the lyun Federation. The terrain is predominantly wetlands (bogs) and forests. The kingdom was founded by a semi-mythical wolf Laguz and his kin. While no wolf Laguz (or any Laguz for that matter) exists in Ossory as of current era, his legacy lives in his descendants, as there is not-insignificant percentage of Branded among the population.

Ossory has been conquered by Revotrian Republic not-so-recently. While a good portion of Ossory has been converted to Revotrian tastes (read: fantasy-gentrified), there has been rumors of a rebel-group existing in the still-untamed wilds.

BIOGRAPHY: In the past, Airitech was a mere peasant. The work was thankless and paid little, and Airitech was compelled to poach the hunting grounds of his lord. Eventually, he was caught red-handed but his Branded nature was revealed to all. The lord, seeing usefulness in his supernatural nature, elevated Airitech to the position of militia leader and all that training that entails.

Airitech participated in many skirmishes. The senseless violence and the number of deaths in these skirmishes had instill in Airitech a dismal outlook on life and a contempt for those in power.

The Revotrian Republic came rolling in. Airitech threw in his lot with the invasion force, viewing their incursion as a hope for better life. Ossory fell without a problem but Airitech realized the Republic will not keep their promises. His people were without homes; the luckier ones shoved into poor-quality communities, out of sight and out of mind. Airitech was incredibly upset. He made a vow to the moon, he will fight the Revotrian Republic until his people are allowed to choose their own destinies.

Thus, Airitech became a lone wanderer, committing vigilantism whenever he could. He has been at this for a while. However, Airitech wished there was some way he could make an impact beyond time and small-scale heroics...

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Spoiler
NAME: Airitech
AGE: 28
CLASS: Scout
Affinity: [tbh]

CHARACTER SKILL: Luna: When you hit an attack, there is a Skill % chance that you ignore half of the enemy’s defensive stat.
PERSONAL FAULT: Uh Oh Stinky: If the character is adjacent to an enemy unit, that enemy gets +10 hit until their next turn.
PERSONAL SKILL: Lassie Faire: If an allied unit within 3 spaces takes a hit, +5% chance of triggering Luna next combat.
PREFERRED STATS: Skill, Defense

WEAPON SKILL: Bow (E)
LEVEL: 2
TOTAL LEVEL: 2

BASE STATS:
HP: 17 (100%)
STR: 4 (20%)
MAG: 0 (0%)
SKL: 6 (70%)
SPD: 4 (50%)
DEF: 3 (40%)
RES: 1(40%)
LCK: 2 (10%)
CON: 4
AID: 3
MOV: 4

EQUIPMENT:
Training Bow: RNG 2, WT 4, MT 4, HIT 95, CRIT 5 QL 40(-1)

NAME: Mazelina Mühle

APPEARANCE: What would you imagine an agent of the Goddess of Creation to look like? Whatever one answers is wrong, because the agent looks like Mazelina. Towering and statuesque, many might think Mazelina beautiful. If you ask her, she supposes she is, and very much chalks it up to a blessing by her Goddess. Her skin (bless Her for making it strong) is as pale as snow. Her eyes (Bless Her for letting them see) are a vibrant green. Her hair (bless Her for making it full) is straight and silky, draping past her shoulders. Her body (bless Her for its health) is full-figured, often hidden beneath her robes. Modesty isn't necessary, but it helps worshipers focus, and nothing matters more than the Goddess. (Bless her for all the lives she helped build.)

CLASS: ACOLYTE

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: Hadleigh, was a small kingship in the Ilyun League. The Lord's castle was the most massive structure in the town, rich and impressive, but Mazelina would insist that the church itself was the place to be. While the church might have pale in comparison to the Lord's home, it made up for that with its brightly coloured glass, pure white bricks, and bell tower. The rest of the town was full of sturdy buildings, though most were ultimately unimpressive compared to the two standout buildings. The farmers would have their markets every other morning, and the town square was often full of life, celebration, and the laughter of children. (Bless Her for letting them have that joy, however fleeting it proved.)

BIOGRAPHY: Mazelina was born to a father and mother who believed they would never conceive. Thus, she was deemed a miracle baby of sorts, and her parents fawned after her accordingly. Her father (Mikkos) was the Deacon of the church in town, while her mother (Olleta) was a school teacher before leaving her job to raise her daughter. Growing up, little Mazelina was educated privately, though she didn't want for friends. The church had plenty of children her age running around, and her father made sure she knew the word of the Goddess of Creation.

The Goddess was (is) good incarnate, and Mazelina grew up loving her like she were her dearest friend. Often, her parents would catch the girl whispering to the intangible deity, giggling at a joke no one else could hear. It's one she made up herself, of course, but that made it no less funny. The Goddess is a being of all forms of creation, and the church would worship her by building monuments, sculpting statues, painting...Mazelina knows many arts as a result, and considers them all to be a passion. Music, cooking, painting, sketching, molding clay...all give back to Her. (Bless Her for these hands she was given to express herself.) She grew up educating herself among the church until the day finally came for her to join the ranks as a proper Initiate. It was the happiest day of Mazelina's adult life.

Of course, the opposite force of creation is destruction. It's only natural for it to seek out that which it mirrors, and only a month ago, Hadleigh was sieged by the Republic. The castle was taken. The church was destroyed. Mazelina lost all she knew, and her parents are unaccounted for. Given the chance to live, Mazelina fled, taking her hiding spot as a sign from the Goddess that she had more to do than try to heal the corpses of her fallen townsfolk-- though she still attempted this. (Bless her for taking all that they worked to create. There must be a reason for it. There had to be a reason.)

Now, she travels, bringing the word of hope and the Goddess to all she encounters...even if it's a hollow word she's faking until it becomes real again.

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SpoilerNAME: Mazelina Mühle
AGE: 24
CLASS: Acolyte
AFFINITY: TBU

CHARACTER SKILL: Weapon Saver: When you make an attack, there is a (Luck*2) % chance your equipped weapon will not degrade in quality.
PERSONAL FAULT: Wavering Will: If below 50% HP, take a -2 DEF.
PERSONAL SKILL: Flourishing Faith: If above 50% HP, gain +15 EV.

PREFERRED STATS: RESISTANCE & LUCK
WEAPON SKILL: STAFF (E)

MAZ HAS A HORSE NOW!
STAVES:
HEALING STAFF | DURABILITY: 36/40
SHOVE STAFF | DURABILITY: 38/40 (One-1/2MAG range, 30 uses, moves ally in range 1 space in any direction.)
PHYSICAL WEAPONS
KNIFE:


LEVEL: 5; LEVEL 1 TROUBADOUR
TOTAL LEVEL: 5

BASE STATS:
GROWTHS | PRESENT %s
HP: 20 (50%) (0%)
STR: 4 (0%)
MAG: 8 (70%) (80%)
SKL: 3 (10%) (40%)
LUK: 8 (75%) (80%)
DEF: 3 (30%) (20%)
RES: 7 (50%) (0%)
SPD: 6 (50%) (0%)
MOV: 5 ON GROUND, 7 ON HORSE
CON: 6
AID: 5

NAME:  Milo Carter

APPEARANCE:  Milo is a young man somewhere in his early to mid twenties, with the slim but athletic build.  His blonde hair, while short, is starting to grow out a little and he struggles to keep it looking neat and proper.  Similarly he does his best to keep shaven but clearly lacks the personal skill to get rid of the fine stubble that is constantly gracing his face without the occasional cut.

While generally affable, especially with those from similar class backgrounds, Milo seems generally tired - more mentally and emotionally than physically.  He's usually slouching and sullen by himself, though when something sudden happens or anyone addresses him formally he immediately stiffens up and becomes notably sterner.  Tolerant of most races and creeds, he doesn't tend to ever speak of his own personal beliefs.

He is usually wearing or maintaining a suit of fairly generic light armour: a breastplate, greaves, gauntlets, and a helmet, with light leather gambeson underneath to protect where the metal doesn't.  The armour is patchwork at this point, repaired numerous times since both before and Milo joined the group.  It's vaguely familiar to most, and he's clearly gone to some effort to remove any distinguishing signs; insignias scratched and worn away, badges torn off, and even the colouring scrubbed to a plain grey.  Outside of his armour, he wears the gambeson over a cloth tunic, with heavy boots and gloves.  The only part of his attire that doesn't scream soldier is a worn but significantly more lovingly maintained cloak that he wears in times of cold or bad weather.

Between the armour and attitude rumours abound about him wherever he goes, generally negative.  An Ilyun deserter too afraid to stand up for his homeland, a dangerous Laguz hiding in Man's attire, a Revotrian spy just waiting for the right moment to spring a trap.  None of them are quite true.  Some look and see the actual truth.

TRAINEE CLASS:  Lancer
BASIC CLASS:  Cavalier

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?:  Revotria's bustling capital, more specifically Gallows Way.  The Gallows is one of the city's many slums and, thanks to its namesake, a place of increasing political importance as the Republic expands and becomes more and more despotic.

BIOGRAPHY: 

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SpoilerBorn and raised in the slums to common dock workers, Milo aspired to more than the long hours, back breaking labour, and rampant poverty his family and neighbours seemed trapped with.  As Progress became more and more prominent within Retrovia it seemed it's promise could have been tailor made for him.  Advancement, growth, the promise of a world where people could become more than they were born as?  It was more than he could dream of, and why wouldn't it be Restovia's duty and privilege to spread this dream to the rest of the world, one way or another?

And so like many, Milo was an almost immediate follower of the faith, and quickly grew into a zealot.  When a new war was declared on the Ilyun league, he was one of the first to volunteer to serve as Restovia and Progress' front line.  These first tests of his faith amidst the blood and chaos of border skirmishes and major engagements saw him pass with flying colours, and his fanaticism and ability to do whatever it took to defeat his foes drew more than enough attention from his direct superiors.

And so, of course Milo was present as the Restovian armies reached the first Ilyun towns.  He partook in the destruction and slaughter of the villages and towns Progress' war machine passed through on its path.  These second tests, facing the burning of homes and the dying screams of civilians saw his faith waver.  He knew this must be necessary, but these people were not the soldiers he had faced and killed before.  Milo could see in them his parents, his siblings, his friends and everyone he grew up with.  Was this not for their future too?  Was Progress' promise of beauty and happiness not meant for them as well, before they were thrown dead to the ground by those who swore for their cause?  His superiors insisted that surely more could be saved by the sacrifice of these few, and so he pressed on and quieted such rebellious thoughts.

And so, Milo was there when Achaim fell.  He was there when the orders were given to storm the walls, give no quarter, show no mercy.  He was there when the walls fell, when Restovians rampaged through the streets, when the final push was made on the city's castle.  He was there to see his fellow soldiers, his fellow champions of Progress and his promises, run down hapless peasants and surrendering soldiers and loot their homes.  He was there to hear many of them laugh and make merry.

Finally, he was there in the castle itself, roaming the rooms for the remains of the royal family after Achaim's leaders fell in one glorious last stand.  His previous fanaticism running on fumes, he hardheartedly looked with his fellow soldiers room to room hoping to find where they had hidden, when they finally came upon a small group, bearing the colours of the enemy attempting to make their way through an old library.  It was them, the heirs of Achaim and a single old knight.

Immediately Milo saw true righteousness as the warrior struck, slaying a half dozen of his comrades before being overwhelmed and brought to heel.  Milo's captain taunted the knight for failing to follow Progress' cause, and gave the order to kill the others.  Two could have not been any older than he was, and the third was but a child.  Milo paused for a moment, until his captain promised him that they would all receive a small portion of the reward he would get for finding and killing the brats.

It was at this third test that Milo's faith, finally, shattered.  In an instance, his spear was dug firmly into his former commander's heart, and the knight of Achaim and his two older wards took advantage of the shock of the moment to take out the remaining Restovians surrounding them.  Milo was barely cognizant as they, for one reason or another, decided to repay him the favour he didn't deserve and rush past him into a secret passage.  He finally snapped to as the passage sealed itself behind them, and he heard the shouts and footsteps of reinforcements in the distance.

So he ran.  He ran out of the castle, through the streets, and outside of the city.  Through some act of divine intervention or just the rampant chaos as Achaim fell he wasn't questioned, much less stopped, as he stole away and fled from his countrymen further into what was - or one was - the League.  He quickly learned that, deserter or not, few would tolerate for a Restovian or would even allow them to live and either abandoned, replaced, or altered himself to avoid attention, and eventually found another group of refugees fleeing Progress and his endless, merciless hordes.

Tl;dr:  Restovian zealot turned deserter after he couldn't take his own people's ruthlessness and hypocrisy anymore, ran far far away after snapping and helping to get his squad killed and letting the heirs of Achaim escape.

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SpoilerOh boy, I went overboard.  Let me know if any of this conflicts with what you want for the setting, and I can remove or change it.

CHARACTER SHEET:

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Spoiler
NAME: Milo Carter
AGE: 24
CLASS: Recruit/Lancer -> Cavalier
AFFINITY: Light

CHARACTER SKILL: Sol - When you hit with an attack, there is a (Skill + Luck) % chance that you recover the damage the enemy takes as HP.  You can't regain more HP than the enemy has remaining. 
PERSONAL FAULT: Mercy - If you are fighting someone who can't counter, -2 DMG until the next turn.
PERSONAL SKILL: Survivor - If you are below 50% health, gain 15 Evade.
PERSONAL SKILL 2:
CLASS SKILL: Triangle Adept - 
CLASS SKILLS: Horseback, Dismount, Canto
PREFERRED STATS: Defence, Health
WEAPON SKILL: Lance: (E), Sword: (E)

LEVEL: 1
TOTAL LEVEL: 5

STATS:
HP: 26 (80%) [20/100]
STR: 7 (45%) [80/100]
MAG: 0 (0%) [0/100]
SKL: 6 (55%) [20/100]
LUK: 3 (30%) [20/100]
DEF: 9 (45%) [80/100]
RES: 2 (25%) [0/100]
SPD: 6 (50%) [0/100]
MOV: 5
CON: 6
AID: 7

Initial Stats/Growths:

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Spoiler
HP: 20 (80%)
STR: 5 (45%) +1
MAG: 0 (0%)
SKL: 3 (55%) +1
LUK: 2 (30%)
DEF: 6 (45%) +1
RES: 0 (25%)
SPD: 3 (50%) +1
MOV: 4
CON: 5
AID: 4

Trainee Level 2: +1 HP, +1 DEF
Trainee Level 3: +1 HP, +1 SKL, +1 SPD
Trainee Level 4: +1 HP, +1 STR, +1 DEF
Trainee Level 5: +1 HP, +1 SKL, +1 LUK, +1 RES, +1 SPD
Promotion Level 1:  +2 HP, +1 STR, +1 SKL, +1 DEF, +1 RES, +1 SPD, +3 CON, +3 AID, +1 MOV

GEAR:

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SpoilerWeapons:
Slim Lance (33/40, RNG 1 WT 5 MT 5 HIT 85 CRIT 5)

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SpoilerHIT: 92
AS: 3
EVA: 8
CRIT: 6
DG: 2
DMG: 10
DEF: 7

Items:
Vulnerary (2/3) - Heal 10 HP

NAME: Saya z Beybek

APPEARANCE: Saya is an androgynous, golden-haired youth with large brown wings. They have honey-colored eyes and sharp facial features. They are slender with a runner's physique, and are 5'6" tall (not counting wings). Saya is fond of scarves, and are rarely without one. They wear earth-tone tunics and trousers, light and well-suited to flying, and on fighting occasions, leather armor. Saya has a silver circlet and two small bracelets around their wrists.

TRAINEE CLASS: Laguz (Hawk)

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: Azutai, the holy mountains of the bird-Laguz situated near the forests of Travai.

BIOGRAPHY: Saya is the heir to a tribal band, a position earned through much grit and determination. As the child of chief Beybek, all eyes were on them to prove themselves worthy to be their mother's successor. They have trained in combat, leadership, and song, and won the respect of their peers through a series of contests held when old Beybek announced her successor. And it was not a moment too soon.

The Hawks had always wandered, serving as traveling minstrels, merchants, and messengers for the other Laguz. Saya themself has been as far as the human-dominated regions of the Ilyun league, at least before the war. Now, they can only reminisce about those peaceful days past. A small trade-band of the tribe had been exchanging rare herbs with the humans for metalwork when the news came - the League was under attack. The Revotrian Republic was approaching fast, and had already taken the heartland of the federation, and would soon be there as well.

Saya decided that the would not allow this to happen. For weeks, they scouted the enemy lines, trying to figure out how to disrupt the invasion. They soon realized that it was an impossible task. The hawks fled, first to allied Laguz territories. They aided evacuations and fought as guerillas, trying to delay the slavers as much as possible. Saya lost good friends in that fight. When their strength was spent, Saya ordered the retreat to Azutai. The band would stand with the rest of the tribe and defend the Holy Mountain from the invaders.

Despite the passion of the defenders, they could not stand against an army. After a disastrous counter-assault, Beybek called together the remaining chiefs. They decided together that they would have to abandon the Holy Mountain. Azutai would fall. The strongest warriors would have to hold out and delay the invaders as long as possible so the rest of the tribe could flee. Saya wanted to join the fight, but Beybek refused. She told them that they were needed elsewhere; they had to lead the tribe to safety.

And so, Saya fled, leading the tribe members who couldn't fight out and away from the invasion. They cried bitter tears at abandoning their homeland, but nothing could be done. A few days later, they found more refugees, Laguz and human, and decided to travel together. Saya went on ranging missions to find the safest path ahead and also see if any of the warriors had returned alive from the final fight at Azutai. They still refuse to claim the title of Chief, believing that their mother still lives.

On the most recent scouting mission, however...

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Spoiler
Saya z Beybek:
Age: 26
Class: Hawk Laguz

Code:

HP  STR  MAG  SKL LUK  DEF  RES SPD CON AID MOV
20   4   0    3   2    1    2   4   6   5   5

60% 70%       40% 30%  20%  40% 70%

Preferred: SPD STR


Transformed:
HP STR MAG SKL LUK DEF RES SPD CON AID MOV
20  4  0   3   2   1   2   4   6   5   5
+   2      2   1   1   1   3   6   6   2  
20  6  0   5   3   2   3   7   12  11  7 


Stats (level 2):
HP: 20/20
STR: 5/7
MAG: 0/0
SKL: 3/5
LUK: 2/3
DEF: 1/2
RES: 2/3
SPD: 5/8

Effect:
Canto

Personal Skill:

If the character is under 50% of Max HP +15 Evade until next turn

Personal Flaw:

If an ally is reduced to 0 HP the character gains -15 Hit until their next turn.

Charactor Skill: Savior - Rescuing and Dropping no longer use up your Action. You can rescue a unit and drop them in the same turn.

Code:

Weapon: Talons

RNG MT HIT CRIT
1   5  70    0

NAME:  Baylee Hicks
APPEARANCE: Short and stocky! Shes chubby but Built and tan,  Messy braided Dark blond hair! Wears a lot of plaid and leathers.
TRAINEE CLASS: Journeyman
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: The League, Ceyswe Grove. A small little farming community on the frontier that's under Lady Eleanor Cunningham the 3rd. A woman who was kept pleased with many niceties because if she wasn't there would be unrest and anger.

BIOGRAPHY:
Baylee was born into her village and spent most of her childhood learning the ways of her family and father under the dangerous logging business. She also was able to learn carpentry as well, as that tends to go well when you have access to wood and lumber. She had a few siblings as well, an older brother who had his head in the clouds and left to be knighted. One day the letters home stopped coming. The family firmly believes he's alive but unable to write anymore, and believes he'll be back to visit. A younger sister who found her true love early apparently and married off. And a final younger sister, who was smart as a whip and was praised across town. Everyone in the village pitched in to send her off to a fancy school called Landcaster some where or other.

Baylee was all happy for them and wished them well, knowing her own happiness came with this work and her village. Her Carpentry work was praised and requested all along the village and nothing could beat the look of a couple of parents who just got a Baylee special crib for their newborn. Many joke that its a wonder she can make such quality works with her burly arms and rough hands, but she gruffly remarks back that the wood needs to come from somewhere and furniture isn't exactly the lightest thing around. None would argue at that. There have been rumors around town that she could fell a tree with three strokes of a recently sharpened axe and she was happy to let them just think that cause there might be some truth to it, who knows!

She's never strayed too far from Ceyswe, Maybe the farthest shes ever been was the next village over. She enjoyed that life and never felt the need to go anywhere or do something grand. This Ceyswe Grove was where she was born and where she was when this all started happening.

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SpoilerNAME: Baylee Hicks
AGE: 26
CLASS: Journeyman
AFFINITY: Earth
CHARACTER SKILL: Renewal - At the start of each Player turn, you regain HP equal to 1/5 of your Maximum HP, rounded down.
PERSONAL FAULT: Superstition - When entering a combat with a Ritualist or its promotions, get -2 AS until the start of your next turn.
PERSONAL SKILL: Big sister mode - When attacking a unit that attacked an ally on their last turn, get +15 HIT until the start of your next turn.
PREFERRED STATS:Strength, Health
WEAPON SKILL: Axe (E) - HATCHET
RNG 1-2 WT 6 MT4 HIT 80 CRIT 5 QL  37

LEVEL: 2
TOTAL LEVEL: 2

Base Stats
HP: 25(100%)
STR: 8(%60)
SKL:  2(%30)
LUK: 1 (%10)
DEF: 5(%50)
RES: 0(%30)
SPD: 5(%50)
MOV: 4
CON: 6
AID: 5

Signups will close TOMORROW at FIVE PM PST!!! I'll accept any apps posted within a day of that, but after that there's no guarantee. I might open up more signups down the line.

NAME: Lyander of Ashvale
APPEARANCE: Lyander has short dark brown hair, gray-blue eyes, fair skin tanned by outdoor work, and a lean, thin build. He is sixteen years old and stands at around 5'7", though he is still growing. One would describe him as neither ugly nor particularly pretty, but rather plain and exceedingly average. He tends to wear whatever clothes or armor are available, and is often seen mixing and matching armor pieces to try and put a full suit together. He's too damn poor to afford proper armor.
TRAINEE CLASS: Novice
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: Ashvale, or more accurately a farm just outside of Ashvale. Ashvale was a peasant village located on the frontier with the Beast Kingdom, and Lyander grew up experiencing seasonal raids from them. As he got older, life seemed to get harder in the settlement. Food became scarce, tempers rose, and the village's sense of community began to break apart. Just a year ago, a full-blown famine hit. Many in his village died in the Autumn, and those that didn't succumbed to the winter. Lyander's parents were in this latter group, and Lyander himself only barely survived by walking through leagues of cold, icy, dangerous wilderness to reach the nearest major town. He was the village's sole survivor.
BIOGRAPHY: Lyander was born to Helvast and Lydia, two farmers living in the vicinity of Ashvale. Both were kind, well-to-do people except for one rather glaring fact: they were mildly racist against the Laguz. Part of that had to do with them being raided by Laguz periodically, which doesn't tend to make friends.

Lyander received a rather typical upbringing for a peasant: he farmed a lot, enjoyed himself at the seasonal festivals, and generally just lived life. He never learned to read or write, had a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics, and could be rather superstitious at times.

When the famine finally did hit, it led to mass starvation in Ashvale's entire region. Soon, not a scrap of food could be found, and banditry became more commonplace. The Laguz did a few raids during this time, taking what was left. Lyander's parents died near the end, and a starving Lyander resolved to TRY to survive rather than remain and succumb. It was a near-impossible journey, and the whole way he had to avoid starving bandits, murderous wildlife, Laguz raiders, and his own gnawing starvation and mounting injuries to finally make it to the town of Belmore. Once there, he basically walked up to the gates, weakly hailed the guards, and passed out.

He was unconscious for several days as the town garrison nursed him back to health. In return, he did various chores and labors for the town. He picked up combat wherever he could from the garrison, knights, and mercenaries in the town, all the while sleeping in a curled up heap at night trying to recover from the horrible trauma he'd been through.

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Spoiler
NAME: Lyander of Ashvale
AGE: 16
CLASS: Novice
AFFINITY:
CHARACTER SKILL: Discipline -
PERSONAL FAULT: Conscious about Cowardice - If the character misses an attack, -15 evade until the next turn.
PERSONAL SKILL: Bold in Battle - If the enemy is over 50% of their max HP, +2 damage until the end of combat.
PREFERRED STATS: Speed, Skill
WEAPON SKILL: Sword (E)

LEVEL: 1
TOTAL LEVEL: 1

Base Stats
HP: 18 (80%)
STR: 5 (45%) +1
MAG: 0 (0%)
SKL: 5 (50%)
LUK: 2 (25%)
DEF: 4 (45%) +2
RES: 0 (40%)
SPD: 5 (45%) +1
MOV: 4
CON: 4
AID: 3

NAME: Logan MacDomhnaill

APPEARANCE: A young-ish individual of mysterious and indistinct gender, kind of short but pretty toned from years of Ranch Work. Moderate-length hair pulled back in a ponytail, in a greenish hue that is totally definitely natural. Totally. Dresses like… well, a peasant. Not much else to say on that front.

TRAINEE CLASS: Flyer (wyvern)

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: The countrysides of Tuathain, formerly a member of the Ilyun League and one of the first nations to fall to the Revotrian offensive.

BIOGRAPHY: Honestly, there’s not much to say about Logan’s life, at least for most of it. They were born the third child in a family of wyvern ranchers, a profession their family had been in for generations. From an early age, they learned the art of wyvern-rearing - and you know what, they even enjoyed the family business. Imagine your standard Horse Person, except instead of horses it’s huge, intimidating not-quite-dragons. Honestly, life was pretty good - and they even learned the basics of wyvern riding while they were at it. Battle wasn’t really something that ever entered their mind.

See, when the Revotrians began marching in the name of Progress, Tuathain was unfortunately right in the line of fire - and even more unfortunately, a wyvern ranch was exactly the kind of thing the invaders would love to take over to fuel their war efforts. So, you know, they did. In the blink of an eye, the ranch was under new management, and Logan’s family was bowing to their whims and vowing to serve the Revotrians. Of course, the alternative was probably death or being thrown in a dungeon somewhere (followed by death), but to Logan, that just wasn’t right.

So, they left. There was no plan, mind you - just a series of things that happened. They took up a pitchfork, fought (or rather, dashed wildly and got lucky) past some well-equipped guards, and hopped on the back of their favorite wyvern, Morven, before she could be taken as some Revotrian soldier’s new mount. And… off they went.

Pretty dumb idea, to be honest, but Logan was never one for thinking things through. Still, somehow it worked - maybe the guards were just too bewildered by this peasant charging past them and flying away to actually do anything about it. So now, woefully unequipped for the trials ahead, they travel, hoping to find something better...

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Spoiler
NAME: Logan MacDomhnaill
AGE: 19
CLASS: Flyer
AFFINITY:

CHARACTER SKILL: Pass
PERSONAL FAULT: Panic Mode - If under 50% of their Max HP, attacks have a 10% chance of using 2 points of QL.
PERSONAL SKILL: Fearless Fool - If within 3 space of 3 enemy units, they gain +2 DR until their next turn.
PREFERRED STATS: Skill, Speed

WEAPON SKILL: Lance (E)
LEVEL: 2
TOTAL LEVEL: 2

BASE STATS:

HP: 20 (70%)
STR: 5 (50%)
MAG: 0 (0%)
SKL: 6 (60%)
LUK: 1 (10%)
DEF: 4 (50%)
RES: 1 (20%)
SPD: 5 (70%)
MOV: 4
CON: 5
AID: 4

ALRIGHT! Time to get this party started!

We'll be using the basic format of the Bay12 Fire Emblem on Forums system (handbook listed here, Laguz handbook here) with some major alterations to classes! I'll give write-ups for the new classes as they become available, but generally speaking, if it isn't mentioned in my intro post it's not an option - at least by default. Feel free to ask if you want to include something that I haven't included in my class tree.

This is all pretty big, so let me try and boil it down to a sheet! I'll include instructions with what you should have here, with basic instructions and directions on which page to check in the PDF for more info.

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The Sheet

NAME: Should be obvious!
AGE: Also this!
CLASS: This is your starting TRAINEE CLASS, or your LAGUZ TYPE if you're a Laguz.
AFFINITY: I will make a post later assigning you your affinity! This is basically a descriptor of how your personality affects other people, complete with stat bonuses once you have bonded with them. Please edit this in once you have your assignment!

CHARACTER SKILL: One of a set of skills which will grant you certain major bonuses in combat! Some are free, others are labeled COST, which means you get THIRTY POINTS LESS for your growths. Keep in mind which you've picked!
PERSONAL FAULT: An aspect of your character which gives you a NEGATIVE effect on your performance in combat! Examples might be things like "Afraid of Wolves (-2 DR vs. wolf laguz)". Check page 51 for more details and better examples! Laguz, check page 9 of your guidebook!
PERSONAL SKILL: Same thing, in reverse! Check page 51 and page 9 once more!
PREFERRED STATS: Since we're using static progression this won't matter as much, but some skills still use it. Check your class in the guidebook to see what these are for you!

[HUMAN ONLY] WEAPON SKILL: How good are you with weapons? This determines what sort of weapons you can use! Find this stat on your class sheet.
[LAGUZ ONLY] TRANSFORMATION EFFECT: A special bonus you get when transformed! Check page 8 for options!
LEVEL: 1
TOTAL LEVEL: 1 [This is a measure of your level across all classes you've progressed through!]

BASE STATS: [Here's where there's some math involved! For all of these except CON, AID, and MOV, you'll need to determine your BASE STATS and your GROWTHS. You'll write them out in the form of X (Y%), with X being your base and Y% being your growth percentage.

Your bases are determined pretty simply: Take your class's base stats. You have four points to add to them! You can add them to any stat except MOV and AID.

HUMANS: You have 330 points (unless you choose a cost skill for your character skill! Then it's 300!) You must put at least 40 POINTS into HP, and 10% into all other basic stats. You can choose to take a 0% in either STRENGTH or MAGIC if you so choose, but keep in mind what classes you want to end up in as these effects are permanent!

LAGUZ: Check the LAGUZ HANDBOOK for your rules, as they are SIMILAR to but DIFFERENT from humans.

HP: Your HEALTH. When you RUN OUT OF THIS, you are KNOCKED OUT and have THREE TURNS not to DIE.
STR: How HARD YOU HIT. This determines your damage with PHYSICAL WEAPONS.
MAG: How HARD YOU BLAST. This determines your damage with MAGICAL WEAPONS.
SKL: How PRECISELY YOU STRIKE. This determines your HIT and your CRIT.
LUK: How the GODS SMILE ON YOU. This affects your HIT, EVA, and CRIT EVADE. 
DEF: How you TAKE A HIT. This reduces the enemy's damage with PHYSICAL WEAPONS.
RES: How SUSCEPTIBLE you are to MAGIC. This reduces the enemy's damage with MAGICAL WEAPONS.
SPD: How SWIFTLY YOU FIGHT. This affects your attack speed and EVA.
MOV: How QUICKLY YOU MOVE. This determines the number of spaces you can move on a turn.
CON: How BUILT YOU ARE. This determines how hard it is to rescue you, but also how heavy the weapons you can use are before they start reducing your speed.
AID: This determines how MUCH YOU CAN CARRY. This is used when rescuing friends. Your AID is your CON minus 1. Flyers and Riders get bonuses!

If you have any questions feel free to ask!

Name: Casey

Appearance: Casey's appearance would generally be best described as approachable. Casey is small in stature, a lean frame standing at about 5'4". His hair is a rich shade of violet, self cut and overgrown. He's taken to wearing a headband simply to push the annoying mop out of his face. His eyes are a deep brown, and just below his left he has a mole. Everything he owns is either stolen or scavenged, from the mismatched scraps of cracking leather armor to the ale-stained cloak he hides them with. He keeps himself completely covered from the neck down, save for his hands. Casey makes an effort to stay relatively clean, but for the most part the best he can do is to keep his face clean; his clothes show their age very clearly.

Trainee Class: Novice (Thief Trainee)

Where are you from?: Achaim

Biography: Casey was raised since boyhood on the busy streets of Achaim. He knew nothing of the parents who had abandoned him, and struggles to remember the days before he'd been taken in by his mentor.

Simon was a gentleman with a very peculiar skill set. Under his guidance Casey learned that nothing is off-limits, so long as one possesses ability and determination. The two of them spend several months together, picking pockets, stealing food, and fading into the shadows. Simon taught Casey everything he knew, and before long, the impressionable boy began to see his mysterious benefactor as something of a father.

Unfortunately, Casey never had a great track record with fathers. As soon as Casey was able to survive on his own skills, Simon disappeared. There were no warnings, no heartfelt goodbyes, only a note left on the ground one morning; “You’re on your own.” From that day forward, Casey has thought only of his own needs and enjoyment. He’s had enough guile and wit to keep his days interesting and his stomach full, often seeking out gullible traders or travelers to scam. He’ll draw you in with his dazzling smile and falsified tales of adventure, then pinch your coin pouch as he says his goodbyes.

When the war began, things began to change for Casey. People in Achaim began to grow callous and distrustful, which led to higher risks for fewer rewards. Soon, soldiers were posted in the city as a line of defense, their presence making his work yet more difficult. Travelers were replaced by refugees, fleeing from a conflict Casey couldn’t quantify. When he’d seen smoke on the horizon, he hadn’t thought much of it; a war wasn’t any of his business. He never expected the defenses to crack, for Revotrian invaders to march on his home, slaughtering soldiers and capturing civilians. Casey had never been in a crisis situation, and the simple skills of an amateur thief weren’t enough to escape the chaos. Yet again, fortune had smiled on him. A single Federation soldier had stumbled across the young man, urging Casey to flee with the soldier as his escort. Just as the pair seemed to be near safety, they were set upon by a trio of Revortrians. Before Casey could react, his escort had shoved him towards the city’s edge, brandishing his lance with the intent to fight.

Outside of Achaim, Casey pondered the sacrifice of that nameless Federation soldier. His actions perplexed the young man as he fled the city, his future now completely uncertain.

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Spoiler 
NAME: Casey
AGE: 24
CLASS: Novice
AFFINITY:

CHARACTER SKILL: Adept+
PERSONAL FAULT: Shortsighted: If the target has an item that can be stolen the character suffers -15% Evade
PERSONAL SKILL: Disdain: If the target has attacked the character on their turn the character gains +5% Critical
PREFERRED STATS: Speed, luck

WEAPON SKILL: Hidden (E)

LEVEL: 2
TOTAL LEVEL: 2 

BASE STATS:

HP: 17 (+1) (40%)
STR: 4      (40%)
MAG: 0      (0%)
SKL: 5 (+1) (40%)
LUK: 4      (70%)
DEF: 1      (30%)
RES: 1      (20%)
SPD: 6 (+2) (60%)
MOV: 5
CON: 4
AID: 3 

Stat Gains:
Novice Level 2: +1 LUK, +1 SPD

Current Stats:

HP: 17      40% 
STR: 4      40%
MAG: 0      0%
SKL: 6      40%
LUK: 4      70%
DEF: 1      30%
RES: 1      20%
SPD: 7      60%
MOV: 5
CON: 4
AID: 3

Alright! Tohru got permission to join before applying, so I'll allow it - With that, we have hit our character limit for the moment, so signups will be FOR REAL closed for the moment. Here's our character list!

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Spoiler1. Sunny Newvale
2. Barnabas Vere
3. Airitech mac Tíre
4. Mazelina Mühle
5. Milo Carter 
6. Saya z Beybeck
7. Baylee Hicks
8. Lyander of Ashvale
9. Logan MacDomhnaill
10. Casey

Edit - IC thread is up!