» Tue May 17, 2011 3:54 am A realm once green now ruled by Frost,Where flesh and field both pay its cost.Those dearly loved, forever lost . . .
- The Dynasty of the Winter Kings
The Story
During the waning years of the Third Era, a mighty hero rose from obscurity to defeat the Devil of Morrowind, Dagoth Ur. This hero was the reincarnation of Nerevar Indoril, the Nerevarine. Beneath Red Mountain, the outlander slew the demon, freeing Morrowind from the Blight, and ushered in peace. Seeing that calm had returned to the land, the Nerevarine settled down. However, his peace was not to last, and he was soon on another adventure, this time in the cold land of Solstheim. After triumphing over the Daedra Prince of the Hunt, Hiircine, he was employed by the East Empire Company to aid in the creation of a mining colony at Raven Rock. It was here that he met a man who would doom Tamriel, Athellor the Altmer.
Convinced that he bore the blood of the ancient Falmer, Athellor enlisted the aid of the Nerevarine to find evidence of the Snow Elves on Solstheim. Accepting the task, the Nerevarine scoured the land, searching for the proof the Altmer sought. He found it in the form of an old book. After returning to Athellor, the Altmer was overjoyed to see the ancient book. Convinced now that he had old blood, Athellor thanked the Nerevarine, and departed Solstheim in high spirits for the land of Skyrim. In 3E 431, Athellor found himself in White Run. Despairing of ever finding further evidence of the Falmer, the once proud Altmer had fallen into drunkeness. Spending his days in the Mead Halls and Taverns, he drank himself into Oblivion daily. This cycle was to end when, after a day long binge, Athellor was happened upon by servants of the Witch of White Run. Hearing him mumble of the Falmer, he was taken to the palace.
There, he met with White Run's ruler, the self-proclaimed Priestess of Shor. Demanding to hear his tale of the Falmer, Athellor was compelled to tell her. Hearing him out, the priestess gave him what he sought, further evidence of the old lineage. West of White Run towers the ancient dungeon of the Labyrithian. Deep within this maze lies the Glamoril, A Falmer artifact. After bestowing on him the necessary supplies, The priestess sent Athellor to the Labyrithian. After countless hours within, Athellor finally found what he sought. In a dusty chamber deep underground, surrounded by the skeletons of ancient warriors, the shining sphere known as the Glamoril sat on a pedestal of ice. Entranced by its beauty, he approached, only to have a whispering voice speak into his mind.
What is it you seek from the Secret of Life?
After recovering from shock, he spoke aloud that he sought the Falmer.
You search for those long dead? Burned alive by the Sun's rays, they were. The land warmed, and the ice melted. The Falmer were no more.
In a fit of madness, Athellor called out that he wanted to Falmer back. The Glamoril granted his wish. And Tamriel's doom had began.
Slowly, but surely, the land began to cool. Winter became more severe, and the warm seasons began to last shorter. But this didn't alarm anyone, for they had more pressing matters to concern themselves with. The Oblivion Crisis began in 3E 433, almost destroying Tamriel. But, by the luck of the Gods, Dagon was stopped from fufilling his plan. Once again peace settled over Tamriel. But it did not last. In the fifth year of the Fourth Era, the most severe winter in recorded history hit, and it never ended. The Nords of Skyrim proclaimed it was the Curse of Atmora come to freeze Tamriel as it had the cradle of man. After five years, most of Northern Tamriel was an icy waste, habitable but none too pleasant. The once warm jungles of Cyrodiil had died, replaced with trees for colder climates. The Age of Ice had come. And with it, the elves of old.
The Roleplay
I know the story is a tad confusing. To put it simply, Athellor wished for the Falmer to come back. Because they can't survive in warmer weather, the Glamoril manipulated Nirn's climate, giving it an glacial age. Most of Skyrim, a good deal of High Rock, and the highlands of Cyrodiil have had their climates changed the most. To give some clarification, all of Cyrodiil now resembles the Pacific Northwest of America and Canada, while Skyrim (and most mountainous regions like High Rock) look like Alaska and Siberia. Things are cold.
For the first arc, your characters would start in Bravil. It is the 12th of Sun's Height (July). You are their to answer the Count of Bravil's summons for mercenaries. I would like if you guys could interact with each other first before heading over, as a group, to Bravil's castle.
First Arc: Death's March
Forty years run by slowly, especially during the colder months of the Long Winter. In Cyrodiil, things are not terrible, but neither are they ideal. Most of the Colovian Highlands, along with the southern foothills of the Jerall Mountains are covered in snow for all but two months out of the year. Because of this, most of the their former inhabitants moved south. The Colovian West Weald saw massive immagration, swelling the cities of Skingrad, Kvatch, and Anvil to great proportions. To accomadate these new arrivals, the lords of these counties were forced to make some hard decisions. In the end, all those who could pay for land were allowed to stay; those who couldn't were kicked out of the city to survive on their own. With winter fast approaching, the refugees made all haste east. Bravil, long a den of corruption, saw increased crime as refugees poured in. Leyawiin did as well.
However, there were those who did not just want to mooch off the established cities. Going to the Count of Bravil, the leaders of a group of refugees appealed to him for supplies so that they might establish new freeholds. Overjoyed at the chance to get rid of some refugees, the Count gave the what they wanted. Crossing the Niben Bay, the settlers split into two groups, the first landed at Fort Grief. There, they would wait till the warmer months before trekking inland. The others landed at Fort Aurus a few miles north. They would do the same. During the brief Spring and Summer of 4E 12, the settlers headed inland. The second group that had landed at Fort Aurus had headed to the hamlet of Cropsford. Over time, and with hard work by the new settlers, it grew into a thriving town. The other group decided to settle in the eyes of the Gods, establishing the town of Cadlew; and in the center stood Cadlew Chapel.
By the time the second year of the 4th Era's fourth decade rolled around, both of these new settlements were prosperous and safe. Despite the savage winters, they managed to pull through. In recognition of Bravil's support, they pledged homage to its count. The Count of Bravil became the first of the Winter Kings. But peace wasn't to last.
On the Second of Sun's Dawn, 4E 43, a priest of Arkay went renegade after unleashing terrible necromancy upon Cadlew. The town militia was able to drive the former priest, his followers, and the undead off, forcing them over the Silverfish River, and into the wildlands between the Silverfish and Panther River. Town leader theorized that he had been touched by Rime-Rot, one of the few diseases to thrive in the ice age. The disease affected the brain, which explained why a devout Priest of Arkay turned to necromancy. But he had been driven off, and all was well again.
In 4E 45, he came back. Dressed in worm-infested clothing made from his own hair, he arrived in Cadlew accompanied by spikey-haired, blue-tinged barbarians. He had been taken in by Rime-Wizards. He had joined the Cult of Boreal, the North Wind, and had come back to convert his former home. He preached that those who would not submit would be purified by the Rime. A few townfolk joined him, but most held to the Nine. He was not pleased, and left calling out curses upon the town. What started as the odd undead sighting by hunters soon turned into groups of the risen attacking the smaller outposts around Cadlew. Unable to defend themselves properly, they appealed to Bravil for aid, and a call for mercenaries was sent out.
Interesting Notes
Because an ice age is such an important, world-changing event, Tamriel is different than has been seen. We were all expecting the Empire to collapse after the OB Crisis, but it is taken a step further in this RP. Cyrodiil itself is broken up into a collection of petty rulers. The Colovian Estates (the counties of Skingrad, Kvatch, and Anvil) are once more back in force. At the current time, Bravil is the most "powerful" state, owing to the fact that its count holds the homage and fealty of new settlements. Leyawiin has become a major port for trade with the Elyswere city-states, most notably Senchal.
The climate of Cyrodiil is also very different than it is in lore, and is more in line with how it appears in Oblivion. However, because of the change in climate, the highlands and foothills near the Jerall mountains and the border with Hammerfell are covered in frost for most of the year, and it takes the snow much longer to melt. During Winter, ALL of Cyrodiil (and most of Tamriel except for the southern provinces) is covered in snow. Luckily for you, the RP begins in Tamriel's Summer.
Some of you may be asking what Rime-Wizards are. Well, a Rime-Wizard is a devotee of Boreal, the North Wind. They practice both powerful Frost Destruction spells, as well as ancient Nordic and Falmer magicks that manipulate ice and the weather. These men and women often have frozen, spikey hair, and blueish skin.
The Falmer have come back! But they won't be making an appearance until the third arc, and then only in Skyrim. Like the Dunmer and Altmer, the Falmer have colored skin (blue), and dominate hair colors (usually white or black). They have a weakness to fire, and die when it gets too warm.
Important NPCS
Lord Regulus Terentius II, Count of Bravil: The son of former Count Gellius Terentius. Regulus II is named after his grand-father, Regulus I, who was Count of Bravil during the Oblivion Crisis. Unlike his predecessors, Regulus II is a very pragmatic individual, eager to take part in governing and the defense of his lands. Regulus is also a Winter King, and holds the fealty of two prosperous settlments, Cropsford and Cadlew. Because of this, he is currently the most powerful man in Cyrodiil.
Gilgondorin: The Lore Master of Bravil, owner and opperator of Silverhome on the Water, and one of Regulus's advisors, Gilgondorin is one of the most influential men in Bravil. Before the Oblivion Crisis, he was a traveling historian. After his parents died on a Bravilian wasting disease, he inherited Silverhome on the Water. Dissatisfied with his lot, he complained constantly about his predicament. This changed when he met the Champion of Cyrodiil, whom he aided in freeing Grantham Blakely from undeath. After this, his mood improved. He was appointed to Regulus's council after he made the suggestions that the refugees fleeing the ice should settle and owe fealty to Bravil.
Rules
The usual list:
Only I may create a new thread.
Follow my character sheet.
Don't move time along.
Don't character control without the persons permission.
Don't go all uber please - I will tell you whether or not you've broken this rule - Just be realistic.
I would love it if you could speak in a language we all understand.
Keep it real.
Romance is fine, I don't care quite how far you go, but ofcourse.. six scenes aren't allowed by forum rules so.. No explicit stuff, please?
No enchanted weapons/armour/clothing/etc to start off with - These are to be very rare.
PM all your character sheets to me.
OOC chat is to be kept at a minimum.
Character Sheet
The character sheet
Name:
Nickname:
Race:
six:
Age:
What your character is good at: (AKA, ingame and noningame skills.)
Appearence:
Hair:
Height:
Eyes:
Scars/Tattoo's:
Weapons:
Armour:
Clothing:
Inventory:
Personality:
Misc:
