Dark Depths

Five years ago Harenghal, Northern Vigil, the great isle which alone safeguarded all of the secrets of Earthsea, sank beneath the waves.

Courier ships raced between the islets and outcroppings of the world, spreading the news and seeking answers from every exalted high priest to every backwater oracle. In turn the people fled from the remaining three Great Islands in droves, fearing that Duluvaan, Boreskos, or Tidehale would be next to fall. The brave and the foolhardy plied the waters that used to wreath Harenghal, seeking both survivors, answers, and what treasures that may rise to the surface.

Of all of these, few reached their destination, and even fewer returned.

It was then that the truth became known, the oceans, which had given birth to countless prosperous civilizations across all the islands of Earthsea, was no longer safe. The waves grew harsh and unforgiving, and the denizens of the ocean rose up to conquer the land.

In the northern seas, the island kingdoms fell into disarray, bereft of the mages and augers of Harenghal to provide stability. With the newfound dangers cutting off nearly all transit, the tightly clustered isles that once ringed Harenghal were cut off from the rest of Earthsea. News from beyond became sparse, and outside aid even more so.

The sea, which used to yield bounties of fish, now unleashed countless Tritons. The people who lived on land were forced to hold off what seemed to be an unending army from the deep.

Illonspire, one of the outermost islands forming the Kingdom of Dross, teeters on the verge of annihilation. Each day new waves of Tritons storm the beaches and the towns, testing the defenders again and again.

It seems in a short time the last standing town of Illonspire - Mariscose - will be overrun.

Before these tragic events, many of the current defenders may have been mages or merchants, soldiers or shepherds. Now, they are the remainder, surviving through skill or some god given luck in a town that seems all but doomed.

No one knows much about what remains of the wider world, whether if these trials are contained to the North alone, or if all of Earthsea is on the verge of collapse.

But everyone knows just one thing.

In the days following the sinking of Harenghal, countless courier ships were dispatched to seek answers. Most were lost at sea but some few did return, all bearing the same message. Regardless of when or who or how answers to these questions were sought, the oracles and prophets only ever saw something terrible lurking in the Dark Depths.

--------------------------------------

The world seems to be collapsing. No one knows why. And even though everyone and their brother has a ship of some type, the danger of the ocean makes even short trips unappealing and long journeys downright suicidal.

You sorry lot have been stranded, in one way or another, on Illonspire.

Your early missions will involve fighting off the Triton horde, procuring a boat and supplies, to ultimately figuring out just what has gone wrong in Earthsea.

Standard Profiles will apply.

 

The majority of the populace is human, and while there are other races they are sparse and rarely integrate themselves into human culture. Also due to the vastly different environments and climates of the different regions of the world, humans have also evolved and adapted differently into four subspecies each named after the Great Island of their region.

The Great Island Boreskos is the only landmass in the east. It's a mountainous region high in altitude with a unique natural phenomenon that is much like a hurricane just much, much more dangerous which forces the residents to inhabit within the mountains themselves. Boreski tend to be short, stout, and hardy with generally longer hair or more hair to combat the cold as well as to make cave crawling that much easier.

To the south lies Duluvaan, where nature is most abundant. There are only a few large towns along the coast of the Great Island, with greenery and foliage inland as well as covering the rest of the islands. The residents, Duluvanni, either have yet to construct any cities or they simply do not wish to, instead leading tribal lives in smaller village-sized settlements and leading the rest of the world to label them as backward or barbaric. Duluvanni are the closest thing to elves you will find in Earthsea, as they tend to grow tall and skinny, as centuries of climbing trees and a hunter/gatherer lifestyle have made them very limber and agile.

Some Duluvanni however are what they call 'afflicted' and are basically werewolves. On the surface they look just like any other normal Duluvanni, however during the night as the moon gains strength they become savage monsters. Pretty much all of the afflicted are feral once transformed, and have locked themselves deep inland in self-exile. The relationship between Duluvanni and afflicted are strenuous, as one hunts the other during the day while the roles reverse during night.

Tidehale is by far the smallest of the Great Islands, but it is still the largest island in the west. The people there, the Halimari, are what we would consider the 'normal' humans and rely on the bounties of the ocean to survive, which also meant that they suffered the most from the disturbance of the seas.

And last is Harenghal. Considered the pinnacle of progress this magically raised landmass served as the seat of knowledge and magic of the entire world. The Renghali have small, frail bodies unsuited for any kind of physical labor, but makes up for it with a much larger cranial cavity. Since the sinking of Harenghal, less than 5% of Renghali remain on Earthsea, and they are few and far between.

 

Honestly I would prefer it to be relatively active. I'd say two or three times a week at least.

 

Cerby, I will hurt you. Only I am allowed to use the Ellipses of Interest, the Gods of the Dots have made it so.

 

Uh, preferrably a fourth, though I can run it with three four seems to be the magic number for me, and then for everyone to actually send me profiles.

 

I have yet to get confirmation with Spaught regarding whether or not he's satisfied with the racial choices presented. But everyone else can start sending in profiles. I will start as soon as I have the fourth profile in or within a week, whichever first.

 

Okay, as I've said I will take up to four profiles. If I get three and the fourth has yet to be sent in by Friday next week, I will start without our fourth.

 

Alright I've gotten three profiles, so the profile thread will be up tonight. The one who has yet to send me a profile, you have until the end of the day Friday to do it.

 

Okay profile thread is up. Everyone who's sent in a profile may post, opening post will come tonight.

 

1. Yeah, I can make a post. No idea where Spaught is since he hasn't posted, but for this one it doesn't make much difference since he'd be outvoted anyway.

2. http://www.zejroleplaying.org/showthread.php?tid=2404