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[Azthor]

Welcome, foolish mortal, to You are King: Chronicles of Nocte!

You Are King is, and I quote, "A surprisingly deep game of politics, intrigue and feudal rule.  Play a noble, advisor or simply a minion of the King and seek royal favour - or risk the role of a rebel or independent and seek fortune at the risk of the King's wrath".

That basically describes it. It's a roleplay heavy affair, with simple mechanics to keep things balanced, and emphasis on player interaction and the use of 1d6s to the best tradition of RtD.

Updates are handled by the following GMs:
- Azthor
- Filiusenox

And to a lesser extent, the following King:
- Ghazkull

IC Thread

Spoiler: Kingdom Map (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Continent Map (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Application Format (click to show/hide)

Name:
Description:
Background:
Skills/Traits:
-
-
-

New characters start with 3 points to distribute among the following:

Spoiler: Starting Traits/Skills (click to show/hide)

Noble: you come from a noble background and possess the rights & obligations reserved to those.

Mage: you are capable of channeling dreaded mystical forces, but face the stigma common to all those such as you.

Weaponmastery (insert weapon here): +1 to personal combat rolls/skill level with the weapon of choice.

Agility: +1 to acrobatic, reflex & movement rolls/skill level

Subterfuge: +1 to pickpocketing, stealth & disguise rolls/skill level.

Charisma: +1 to persuasion & bartering rolls/skill level.

Tactics: +1 to tactic rolls/skill level.

Logistics: +1 to logistic rolls/skill level.

Offensive Strategist: +10%/skill level to army strength when on the offensive.

Defensive Strategist: +10%/skill level to army strength when on the defensive.

IRC channel: #YaK4 on freenode.net

[Azthor]

Reserved.

[Azthor]

Reserved.

[Azthor]

Reserved.

[Azthor]

Reserved.

[Shootandrun]

Let's do this.

Spoiler: Jarod, Bastard of Calladrim (click to show/hide)

Name: Jarod, Bastard of Calladrim
Position: Holy Knight of the Third

Appearance: A tall man with an eye of glass on the left side and a dark eye with a dark stare on the right one. He keeps a beard and relatively long hair, both brown, which he attaches behind his head. He has a formidable scar on the left side of his face, starting on his forehead and going down three inches, across his eyebrow and his eye and into his cheek. He is somewhat broad of shoulders, but he is more on the slender side than the muscular one. He walks like a feline; every movement flowing, calculated, precise, with no waste of energy.

Background: The bastard son of the old Duke Calladrim and some serving wench who died giving birth (or died a few weeks later due to the words she was spreading, some say), Jarod was raised secretly, so as to not comprise his half-brother's claim to the duchy.

He eventually became a guard in his father's castle, where he rose to the rank of captain through formidable martial skill. Harsh and unforgiving, he was a sinister man who held no love for his men and who received no love from them, but he was competent, and many a bandit fell to his sword during his youth. And interesting quality of his was that he was a formidable talker; his men did not love him, but when he made one of his speeches, they were willing to forget that. He was eventually knighted by his father, for his talent if not for his birth.

During these years, he learned much about intrigue and crime, and a few legal tricks which may very well save his life later on. Notably, he became a Priest of the Third around those years, because he believed in the Aspects (the non-limiting policy of the faith appealed to him) and also because it excluded him from the line of inheritance, making him an unlikely target for assassination. Later, the Calladrim line died out and their holdings were inherited by the king, making his gambit as success.

Skills: Weapon mastery: Swords
Subterfuge
Charisma

Also, guys, I wrote a religion. If you want, your character can be one of its followers (note: it is highly unlikely that a priest would also be a noble, since they can't inherit conventionally).

Spoiler: The Three Aspects (click to show/hide)

The Faith of the Three Aspects
The First Aspect - Life
The Aspect of Life, or the First, represents the celebration of life for as long as the followers of the Aspects live. It encourages pleasure - some might even call it hedonism - for as long as life lasts, and as such does not frown upon polygamy (and even forbids celibacy for priests) and constant celebrations. It does, however, frown upon excesses which push back work - such as sloth - or might reduce how long the individual may live - such as gluttony. After all, while life must be celebrated, it is also too short to delay the work to be done, or to risk shortening it further.
It is the duty of the Priests of the First, the most common priests, to guide the followers in their everyday life, ensuring they live a good life and do what is needed when it is needed.

The Second Aspect - Death
The Aspect of Death, or the Second, represents the acceptation of death and the journey towards the afterlife, in the Domains. Depending on how well one spent his life, he will be sent to one of the Domains. Sins are not particularly defined in the Faith of the Aspects, but it is generally agreed that those who waste their lives  (by killing themselves, or simply abandoning) go to the Lower Domain, where they must endure eternal work, while those who lived normally go to the Middle Domain, where they may live in happiness for all of eternity. Those who die while honoring the Third Aspect go to the Higher Domain, where they will live in eternal pleasure and experience anything they might wish.
It is the duty of the Priests of the Second to ensure the dead will have a safe travel to the domain they have earned during their life, by praying for them and burying them. They are the least common priests.

The Third Aspect - Battle
The Aspect of Battle, or the Third, represents the middle ground between the first two, and often the transition from Life to Death. The followers who honor it are not seen as murderers, but as guides, who send their enemies on their way to the Domain they deserve. Since all warriors dying in battle go to the Higher Domain, it is generally seen as a favor.
Priests of the Third do not exactly have a specific duty; however, they generally booster morale of the troops if they are fighting with other followers, going into battle while chanting prayers and giving death rites to the dead after the act, if no Priests of the Second are present.

[Ardas]

Here I go.

Spoiler: Valerian Vingarde (click to show/hide)

Name: Valerian Vingarde

Description: Aged 27, 5'11, shoulder length dark blond hair tied behind and blue eyes. He is well built and of good structure, due to life-long weapon training and horsemanship.

Background: The only son of a minor knight, from the youngest age he always was surrounded by knights and warriors, tagging along his father while his mother tried to manage a declining estate. He intends to build his own legacy and desires to attain honors and renown to surpass his father, who still lives at the estate with his mother, now as a cripple after being mauled by wolves after fleeing from battle.
As fitting for a glory hound, Valerian is in first line of fight or ready for a tournament.
While subscribing himself to the philosophy of the Aspects and with a desire to be an exemplary knight, Valerian is prone to outbursts of cruelty and opportunism when pursuing a goal.

Skills/Traits: Preferred weapon; two handed hammer/bec de corbin with a backup sword.
War Hammer/polearms +1
Noble
Agility +1

[adwarf]

And done

Spoiler: Talasam Son of None (click to show/hide)

Name: Talasam Son of None

Description: Talasam is a man of average height among his people, generally seen wearing an aged, battle-worn suit of platemail consisting of a chestplate, greaves, and gauntlets with the rest being lost long ago. With wavy blonde hair coming down past his eyes, mostly to partially hide the crimson tattoo that covers his face marking him as a mage.

Background: Talasam was born in a small village in the far northern reaches Nocte, there shortly after his birth he was abandoned on the edge of the woods not far from town. There he was found by the town's healer, a woman looked at with suspicion by the village for the mere fact that she was a witch, yet they accepted her for the services she could offer. Taking in Talasam she gave him the name he wears to this day, and brought him teaching the young Talasam in both the arts of healing and stories of battles her long-deceased husband had told her.

At the age of fourteen the villagers found out about Talasam, and like most magicians in the region he was brought forth and branded with a mark to prove to all who and what he was. From that moment forth he was shunned from common society, and unlike most who would turn cruel and bitter at the world Talasam understood what they did, he knew they feared and hated him for his powers. As his life went on Talasam grew more and more desperate to change things until finally he decided to leave and head to the capital to try and forge a place for himself in the histories.

As he began his journey Talasam was unwillingly pulled into the Civil War, at first taking the side of the Prince Gared Talasam worked his skills as a messenger of secret documents at first, the nobles relying on his magic to prevent even the most well-planned ambushes from revealing the information he carried. Not but a month after his enlistment Talasam was forced to take part in the siege of Galden, a small fortress on the border between the Capital and Caedan, during which his company was ravaged in the first hour of the fight as it was torn apart by the defenders arrows and the commander slain by bolt to the neck. With a bare handful of men left Talasam was the highest ranking soldier left, wishing to end the siege quickly he lead the remainder of his men in to the fort, using his magic to break into an underground aqueduct connected to the fortress.

Taking his men through there he lead them on a valiant charge upon the gates of, in the process he lost all but three men, they fought their way to the gatehouse and managed to open the gates inside thus breaking the Siege of Galden. By the time the siege had ended Talasam, and one other soldier were all that was left of his company.

Skills/Traits:
- Mage
- Weaponmastery (Sword)
- Charisma

Spoiler: Mages in the Northern Reaches of Nocte (click to show/hide)

All Mages born in, or live in the Northern Reaches are marked upon discovery by a unique tattoo upon their face in crimson ink, this mark stays with them permanently and shows to all the truth of their being. While not openly hated most people in the North refuse to deal with Mages unless the most dire of circumstances require them to, even then the treatment of the Mages is terrible some even being killed if they should fail or stray from the contracts they make. The entirety of Nocte knows of the brands the Northern Reaches put upon Mages and for that branded magicians will know no rest no matter where they go.

[micelus]

Spoiler: Journeyman Chronicler Korolle Olsiefv (click to show/hide)

 Name: Korolle Olsiefv
Description: A journeyman chronicler of the Order of St. Loreis. Of average height and slightly rounded width. He is of a slightly dark complexion and has dark brown eyes. His brown hair is tied in several ropes and knots. He is usually clothed in the traveling tunic of the order; it is a dull brown with long sleeves. On the centre-back of the garment is the emblem of the order: the Withering Violet. He is 28 years of age.

Background: The Order of St. Loreis originates from the far south, beyond the sea and beyond the freezing hills in the lands where only the Many-Tian holds sway. Ever since the days of St. Loreis himself, eight centuries ago, the Order has sought to recover knowledge from the four corners of the globe, and to keep it safe. They do this for they believe that at any moment and in any form, the Apocalypse may emerge to turn all of civilization into rubble and ash.

Olstein is but one of many members of the Order. He was raised in a river-merchant family and would have become one himself had he not come upon one of the Order's many lecture halls. He listened and was amazed by what he heard and saw. He forsook his inheritance and kin (not unkindly) and left to join the Order. After 4 years training and a year of apprenticeship, he has been sent to the far north with only his equipment and his trusted woolen steed to accompany him.
Skills/Traits:
-Subterfuge
-Charisma
-Noble (Order has same status as noble)

[Ghazkull]

Spoiler:  Logan den Coldraen, King of Nocte, The Blackhand (click to show/hide)

Name: Logan den Coldraen (the den declaring his status as Noble)
Description: Age 32, 1,90m, black shoulder-length hair, stubbly black beard, stinging blue eyes and a lot of scars. Built like a brickhouse he rather looks like a street-thug then a king.
Facial Features
Background: Logan, born as the Fourth Son of the King, was pretty far behind in the succession. When his Father died the Land fell into a Civil War. While his three brothers duked it out between each other the land sunk into a state of perpetual warfare. When Logan decided to join the War he first fought on the side of his elder Brother Gared. As the War dragged on Gared was killed and Logan hated by both brothers and the remaining men loyal to his brother was forced into hiding. Over the Years he fought against the remaining two, slowly clawing his way to the crown over a heap of corpses. Having killed 3 Lords in personal combat (one among them his third brother), Logan finally claimed the crown after defeating the champion of his second brother Erid and sealed his claim by bashing his head in on the throne. Logan is far from the perfect King, having taken the Crown only to put an end to all the bloodshed. Bloodshed that many think was only so excessive because of him, going so far as that the peasantry calls him the "Blackhand" for all he can do is kill. While willing to prove the rumours wrong Logan is easily riled and lacking any skills in the administration of a kingdom, Nocte looks into a more than uncertain future.

With the War over it is time to divide the Spoils of War among his supporters.

Skills/Traits:
King of Nocte
Weaponmastery (Axe) +1
Tactics +1

[Taricus]

Spoiler: Raoul Sercynian, Duke of Ceadan (click to show/hide)

Name: Raoul Sercynian

Description: Raoul is a slighty short, physically unimposing man in his mid twenties with brown hair and blue eyes. His skin is of a fair tone, and his hair is kept short. He usually wears a thick, concealing robe with the hood raised over his face, in order to obscure his face, along with a pair of authentic warg leather boots, a pair of trousers and a shirt.

Background: Raoul is the second son of a duke who had lost his life during the civil war. With the impending invasion of the duchy by Logan, He and the other four sibilings held council for a day to determine what they had to do in the face of an impending sucession crisis (Not counting the one that had started the sucession war). The council had only lasted a day before they had resolved their problems. Raoul was crowned as duke, and his older brother Franz would be sent to fight alongside Logan.

Raoul is the second child out of five, with two brothers and two sisters. His own education was focused mostly upon diplomacy, his parents believing that none of their children should become specialised in the same thing, hiring some of the best teachers in the land to educate their children. His older brother, Franz, was educated in military matters and martial disciplines. His younger brother, Matthew was trained in the arts of stealth and subterfuge. His sister Sara, the eldest of the two sisters of the family yet still younger than her brothers, was given an ecumenical and classical education. The youngest sister, and the youngest child, Adriana, was given a practical educations of land and monetary management.

The former duke and duchess worked hard to groom their children into being able to work together cohesively, something that they managed to achieve, if postumously. The five siblings are accustomed to letting the other four handle their roles. Their own reasoning for electing Raoul to suceed their late father was his ability to keep the other four from infighting, and to settle disputes among them.

The duchy of Ceadan is famed for the wargs it breeds. These large wolves are known for their ferocity and temperment. While not as strong as horses, they are faster and tougher than one, making ideal mounts for raiders and other light troops.

Skills/Traits:
- Noble
- Charisma
- Agility

[Dwarmin]

Spoiler: Araline Logherhain, Duchesse of Blackberry (click to show/hide)

Description: A long haired young woman with faded grey eyes and stringy blonde hair-tan and ruddy skin, with a healthy glow. Tall but thin, slim of hip, with a strong chin and the famous tilt of head-is usually dressed in coats and slacks, loose buttoned vests and the latest in Noctes fashionable accoutrements. Is known to carry a cane shaped like the beak of a hawk in her left hand at times, and seems to favor rubies around her neck. Conventionally pretty in style and body, her odd fashion choices could be considered non-gender specific-it is in fact, difficult to even tell she is a woman at a distance if she does not wish it so.

Background: The Logerhains of Blackberry have ruled the bleak hills overlooking the farmlands of Nocte for many generations-the long ago remnants of the cunning yellow-haired and ruddy skinned 'barbarians' that settled in the area, using the rocky and inhospitable terrain to raid the lowlands, escape pursuit and hide their clans. A series of wise rulers eventually smoothed out relations with the Kings of Nocte, and turned their raids to other nations. They eventually grew enough gold and popular support to be awarded titles, when they finally united under the Logerhain banner and fought for the country,during a long ago war. They officially abandoned Banditry long ago, so they claim. Not that it stops the rumors of their rampant wealth and criminal intrigues.

Araline Logerhain is the current Duchesse, and one of Noctes 'nouve riche'-young, prosperous, influential and brilliant, the outcome of many generations fine breeding and education. Born the only daughter of an almost barren union, she was considered lucky to have no competition for lead of her house-she spent most of his youth in frivolous hedonism, only grasping for leadership when his father was lost during a Warg hunt during her 19th year.

She quickly put her wits to running the family business-and found she had a natural knack for numbers and stratagems, and a cunning insight into moving men and supplies at minimal cost and great speed. She embraced new ideals and different ways of thinking, investing a great deal in foreign inventions and knowledge-which gave her a reputation as an oddity among nobles. Her business acumen was second to none, and the Logerhain Trade network is admired for it's exceptional professionalism. Had the war not started, she would have likely taken control of nearly all Noctes trade guilds by now...

In the year of the start of the civil war, she was yet 24-and unlike many of her fellows, she wholeheartedly jumped into the effort, supporting Gared first with supplies and intelligence-later accompanying him on the battlefield indirectly. Her overwhelming logistic support and unique intuition into warfare were certain advantages he never lacked. Rumors say they had a personal relationship with him, but no evidence of such has ever been presented. In any case-when he fell in battle, Araline subtly shifted her lines of support to Logan, swearing fealty to him. Most say, if for no other reason the remaining two brothers demanded the head of that 'Blonde haired caravan wench' on a spike.

The rumors says-the nicer ones, anyway-the young woman earned Logans support by betting her own life that she could keep his entire army fed and clothed to the man in the worst winter Nocte had seen for almost 20 years-one that would reap untold havoc on all sides.

She won the bet, preserving his strength while others waned-and would spend the rest of the war in his employ-often referring to herself as 'Logans Packmaster', usually with a subtle nod. Eventually, she learned enough from him to be in charge of her own forces, usually rear-gaurd or fortification work.

Araline was also credited with the first employments of strange new weapons, most of which were more terrifying and expensive than useful, but they served their purpose for demoralization purposes-screaming arrows, barrages of diseased carcasses, primitive caltrops mines and fire-pot slingers. She was noted to have viewed most of the demonstrations herself-with an unwholesome fervency-and done exhaustive study into their future implementation. In war, she was as ruthless as she was pragmatic, accepting no loss without a heavy toll taken upon the enemy. In her mind, war was an equation, and it was one she had worked out long before. It is entirely possible her victories cost as much as her defeats-but no place or position she defended ever fell to the enemy, not permanently anyway.

When the war for succession was finally over, Araline moved quickly to entrench herself in politics, solidifying her power base and replenishing her depleted treasury from the coffers of the defeated. Now, they say she aims to be Logans right hand, if not more than that-some say she aims to be a Lord, the first woman to ever hold the title in Noctes long and bloody history. Less wholesome rumors say Araline would prefer to be a Queen Consort, but she gives no credence to them-or denies them either.

All these rumors, of course, she might be spreading herself.

Skills/Traits:
-Noble
-Defensive Strategist
-Logistics

[Azthor]

@Ardas, Ghazkull & Shootandrun: approved.

@Micelus: approved, but you should take Noble as a trait if you expect to be treated as a knight, otherwise you will just be seem as an adventuring commoner, and the same may well extend to the Order.

@Adwarf: as a commoner and a mage with no connections in the Capital, I fear you may quickly segregate yourself away from the bulk of player interaction, as, really, the King has not a reason in the world to receive you in his Court. I suggest that you add a more concrete hook to the Royal Court, such as having aided the King during the Civil War. Approval pending.

@Dwarmin & Taricus: approved, but I need you to get Ghazkull's confirmation on your starting fiefs if you haven't already, including how much land each of you get to start with.

Lest I forget myself, the Kingdom has:
- 25 parcels of land (1d/2 seasons each)
- 2 size 1 cities (1d/2 seasons each) - to which the two Duchies are attached.
- 1 size 3 capital city (3d/2 seasons) - to which the Royal Fief is  attached.

A year has 4 seasons, taxes are received and soldiers paid every 2 seasons.

[d] stands for ducat, the unit for a large sum of money in YaK involved in the likes of army recruitment, royal ransoms, the building of castles and the largest of bribes.

Edit: @Adwarf: revised application approved.

[filiusenox]

A religion I cooked up.

Spoiler:  The Earth Goddess (click to show/hide)

The Earth Goddess
The Mother
   Cold as the longest winter nights and warm as the hottest summer days, this figure has existed over many empires and cultures, stretching back to the first peoples to settle the land.
   Due to the differences in culture, there are many cults and religions based around her, but the two most dominant follow the teachings of either the Summer cult or the Winter cult. Both demand respect for the land, as well as blood tithes to pay the Earth Goddess back for keeping them alive another year.
   There are two, lesser known cults, Autumn and Spring, both are more moderate than their kin, but are less popular, due to not sensationalizing their rituals, leaving the bloodletting to the other two and not getting into politics to nay major degree.  And, unlike the Summer and Winter cults, these two get along quite nicely, not being allies, but not being enemies. Both these cults do not practice self-mutilation, ritual sacrifice of animals and people. However, Winter only uses those who ‘consent’, whereas the Summer cult often kidnaps its victims.

The tale of creation involves a single mother-figure creating the world and universe, as well as many animals teaching mankind how to advance in the world.
   
Spring Facet
The Flowering Maiden
   Also called the loving Facet, aspect of the flowering plant and growing, as well as preparing for Summer. Priestess and Priests wear as little as they can get away with and a single earring made of hummingbird feathers, and often recruit the young and fine-featured, man or woman.
   The Hummingbird welcomes the return of life with energy.

Summer Facet
The Hunting Damsel
    This Facet is one of bestial hunger and bloodthirst, stressing the freedom from law and order, a return to savagery.  Summer, however, is currently on the wane, due to the last king being kidnapped as a prince along with the village he was resting and nearly being killed before breaking free.
   Priests of this religion often go clad in nothing but soft-worked bear-skins, killed by the initiate before he becomes a priest, and are often male.
   The Bear grows strong but hides terrible anger beneath his warmth.

Autumn Facet
The Harvesting Lady
   The Facet of the harvest and preparation for Winter. A number honor the Lady with harvest feasts, in thanks.
   Priests and priestess of this facet wear a large number of fine-plumaged owl feathers on a necklace,  in addition to their other clothing, often recruiting from the work worn populace. These are gathered from an owl the initiates train themselves, and then are made to slaughter and pluck.
    The Owl watches over the lengthening nights.

Winter Facet
The Tranquil Crone
   This Facet is one of hidden deceit and cold calmness, stressing perfect self-control and deprivation for it’s priests, as well as the order of civilization. Its recently gotten popular, due to the care they show for their followers and their support of those fallen on hard times, as well as cunning nature.
   Priests and priestess of this facet wear wolf-skins in addition to their other clothing, and are often women. Initiates are made to hunt a pack of mighty wolves with nothing but a knife for it with others.
   And the Wolf prospers as snow falls and men die.

[Brood]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Mathias Dejone.

Description: Mathias is 5'10  with a well muscled athletic build. He has short brown hair and warm brown eyes.

Background: Mathias was the second born son of a minor noble and as such had a comfortable early life, he spent all of his time around the children of other noble families or playing the dutiful son.
But as he grew up he became restless and began to explore the world outside of the privileged society he had grown up in and over the course of several years became very fond of the freedom it offered.
Upon his 16th birthday he was informed that it was time he began training for his future role in the family, being the second born son he would inherit very little and so he was to be trained as an administrator to assist his older brother in running the families affairs.
For a time he accepted the lessons but at the same time he began in secret to take lessons from a retired old soldier along with the soldiers own son, he had met the soldier during his exploration and learned how to use knives and how to avoid being seen during this time and in thanks spent a lot of time on the streets gathering information in secret to help the old soldier.
Shortly after his 18th birthday the old soldier died and seeing that his son who had no other family was likely to end up on the street Mathias found a job for him as his personal guard and they continued to train together in secret.
Turning 21 and profoundly bored with his life Mathias finally made a choice and stealing what money he could he fled his family and the town where he had been born with nothing but his equipment and his guard.
Over the following few years he explored far and wide but now the money he stole has run out and Mathias is forced to look for work to support himself and to give his life new purpose.

Skills/Traits: Bodyguard, Stealth, Dagger Mastery.

Off to bed now so if I need to make any changes I'll take care of it in the afternoon once I get home from work.