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[PbP] Rhapsody of Blood - Faded Glory (1 Bloodline Remains)
Matev
Cero MiedoRegistered User regular
Cero MiedoRegistered User regular
There's a wound in the world, and it's bleeding. Some people think it's just the way of things. Power corrupts, and men must have power at some point to shape the world.
But you know different. This world is corrupted, and you are cursed to see that corruption. It's seeping corrosion flows and finds it's way across the world. From Edo to Timbuktu, Moscow to Budapest, and even to far flung Cheyenne and Macchu Pichu, this malevolent force suffuses the world and drives people to depredations subtle and gross. You and a few chosen others have tracked down the source of this corruption, known only as The Castle.
The Castle is a chaotic, ever-shifting sprawl. It's very edifice spawns nightmares and fuels occult magic, all at the behest of The Castle's Regent.
The Castle has expressed itself in your reality time and again over the course of generations, collecting the pain and misery caused by it's presence to pour into the Unholy Grail guarded jealously by the Regent in their Sanctum. When the Grail overflows, the Regent will unleash it's power in a blight on the land. That is....unless your bloodlines can stop them once more. Who knows, perhaps you will claim the Grail and bring about new Golden Age for humankind...
***
What's your game this time Matev?
Something slightly less body-intensive than my previous measures. Rhapsody of Blood is cool variant on Legacy: Life Among the Ruins that takes the idea of generational development and building, and puts it together with the idea of a shadow war against the forces of darkness. Obviously this game will draw a lot from the milieu of Castlevania, but other sources and ideas will be encouraged as well!
What system is it?
Powered by the Apocalypse, meaning it's 2d6+relevant stat and the occasional modifier. 10+ is a pretty good success, 7-9 means a success with consequences/qualifications, and 6- means The Castle will take it's due.
I don't have the book, but want to play, what do I do?
PM me and we'll work something out.
What kind of characters can I play?
In Rhapsody of Blood, there are 2 major characters you'll manage. Overall, you will have a Bloodline a lineage who can see and track Corruption back to The Castle and have chosen to fight it for one reason or the other. The Bloodlines are as follows (The other character component, Explorers, will be expounded upon in a following post):
The Legendary Heroes: A lineage that has a particular talent for fighting back the night and so has trained it's scions to both be fierce warriors and compassionate protectors, because a loved hunter is a well-fed hunter. Even if they aren't aware of their heritage, descendants of the Legendary Heroes find themselves pulled to The Castle by Fate.
The Half-Damned: A people marked by Corruption, they live on the fringes of society and master the gifts given to them by the dark. In The Castle, they become top notch infiltrators due to their Corruption masking them in the Regent's ranks. Though apparently monstrous, the Half-Damned are well respected for their ability to use enemy's weapons against itself.
The Holy Church: The most faithful whose devotion to great good grants them the ability to defend humanity. Not usually frontline combatants, the Church is integral in preventing the spread of Corruption. Though at times, some have been known to martyr themselves and in doing so perform miraculous acts.
The Hidden Hand: Known by many names, the Hidden Hand are a select group that cheerfully collect artifacts from the castle to leapfrog humanity to further heights. They can provide backing for expeditions, as well as rarified resources and information in exchange for due consideration.
The Magi: There is power in Blood and Corruption, and the Magi know just how much of their souls they need to mete out for that power. The coming of The Castle allows them to revive or make new rituals that they then use for their own arcane ends.
Sounds cool, how do I sign up?
Make your mark below. 3-6 players initially would be preferred. By I'll also allow bloodlines to offer up multiple explorers if people get super excited by the idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoMJ35P7fe4"Go down, kick ass, and set yourselves up as gods, that's our Prime Directive!"
Hail Hydra
Matev on
+1
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Each bloodline is composed of many explorers, specialists that exemplify the Bloodline at that time. Any Bloodline may choose any explorer type. Explorer options are as follows:
The Assassin: A graceful dealer of death, with particular aptitude for poisoning the abominations of the darkness.
The Bonded: You have forged a link with a powerful spirit, and it allows you to do extraordinary things.
The Captain: A natural leader, the Captain expertly rallies their fellows in the face of doom.
The Joker: A trickster full of surprises, borrowing talents from other explorers
The Knight: An warrior of exceeding honor and implacable constitution
The Mascot: An intelligent animal or familiar with your own powers.
The Medic: A healer of physical wounds, they can deal with Corruption to enhance their life-sustaining skills.
The Mystic: An expert at extracting power from the The Castle and coaxing into objects of power.
The Packrat: What others call hoarding, you call careful preparation. You seem to have the right thing at the right time always.
The Professor: A creator of fantastical devices, able to take The Castle's resources and make amazing things with a box of scraps.
The Reckoner: A navigator par excellence, you turn the topography of The Castle into a weapon
The Slayer: A hunter of monsters. You are adept at combating the horde and titans alike.
For the first players to choose the Bloodlines, the following Explorers will be given:
Legendary Heroes - The Paladin
Half-Damned - The Tainted
Holy Church - The Saint
Hidden Hand - Mastermind
Magi - Ritualist
1. Egos - The Legendary Heroes
2. Discrider - The Half-Damned
3. AustinP0027 -The Holy Church
4. Auralynx - The Hidden Hand
5.
Current Generation/Time
The Kingdom - 1145 AD
Rosters
The Bearers of the Holy Flame (The Legendary Heroes)
Aella - Founder Paladin
Lons-on-dale (The Half-Damned)
Henry - Tainted Founder
The Golden Signal (The Holy Church)
Raphael - Founder Saint
The Daedulus Society - (The Hidden Hand)
Demetrius - Mastermind Founder
... I didn't want to be the heroes as my preference :P
If you go Magi or Holy Church, we can be an epic Triumvirate
the Tainted
it was only thanks to your fellows that you
remained human. Maybe the darkness was
always inside you, and your struggle to stay in
control is even harder now the castle has given
it physical form. Either way, it's time to put these
gifts to use.
One of the other founders is helping you keep
control. Give their bloodline 2-pact on you.
You say how they're keeping you sane, they
say what will happen if they stop.
Your weapon:claws (tags: tether, close) or a
rapier (tags: piercing, grazing).
Looks: Half-human, half-beast; undead
pallor; grotesque chaos.
Name: Willem, Annah, Petra, Mico, Amelia,
Lyko, Tali, Haruto.
Your stats:
Iron 1 Glass -1 Sulphur 2 Mercury 0.
Weapon: Claws (tether, close)
And flavour so:
Looks: Haggard, Hunted, Haunted
Name: Henry
Just some guy who managed to get out of the Castle after being 'conscripted'
Will start digging into char creation today
combat. But you know evil, and you know good.
And so long as good people stand against evil, you
will be there with them to keep them safe.
One of the other founders joined your flock
and helped spread your healing truth.
Give their bloodline 2-pact on you. You
say how you blessed them, they say what
doubts remain.
The Saint
Name: Raphael
Iron 1 Glass 2 Sulphur -1 Mercury 0.
Weapon:ceremonial staff (tags: holy,
brace)
Looks: Ancient and venerable
The Holy Church
Chalices 1 Swords 0 Coins -1 Wands 1
Style: Simple Symbol of Faith
Lore: Holy book filled with ecstatic visions
Name: The Golden Signal
Name: Aella
Iron 2 Glass 0 Sulphur 1 Mercury -1.
Weapon: Greatsword (tags: cleave, unstable).
Looks: Rugged traveling gear.
The Legendary Heroes
Chalices 1 Swords 1 Coins 0 Wands -1
Style: Family crests and heirlooms
Lore: Picking it up as they go along
Name: Bearers of the Holy Flame.***(see spoiler for note)
For covenant, I was thinking Aella attempted to warn a nearby village of the dangers the castle posed. But was thought to be an agent of evil attempting to send villagers off to their doom on a dangerous trek. It wasn't until @AustinP0027 character intervened that the villagers relented.
As for pacts, I'm happy to complete the triangle if we only have three players at the moment.
Henry came to Raphael hoping for freedom, but is unsure how Raphael knows so much about the Regent, nor whether he is capable of being redeemed from the Castle despite what Raphael might preach.
Cries of "Deus Vult!" ring out across the land. Europe prepares for a Crusade to retake the Holy Land. This fervor has awoken a deep hunger. Those with eyes into the other world foresaw the coming of a Castle and so it appeared, on the border of the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary. It's strange lord promised power to the voiceless, and a connection to God that would surpass that of the church. Avaloc, the King of the Unseen, twisted men to his will, creating abominations in the course of a grand design. Though to what end could not be determined. The Church, not wishing to leave a true enemy on the doorstep, quietly organized an expedition to root out Avaloc and his creatures, putting them to the fire if need be.
It has been a long, bloody road, with The Castle seemingly larger on the outside than the inside, but it has come down to this. Several explorers, Aella the Paladin, Saint Raphael, and Henry have broken through Avaloc's defenses and burst into his Throne Room, prepared end the mad ruler's reign.
***
A large scale tilts to and fro, a silvery liquid pouring from above onto both ends and through the floor below. At the center of the scales is a throne. There sits the man you have been sent to find, Avaloc, the self-proclaimed King of the Unseen. He wears darkness about him like a cloak, as if to ward off winter's chill. You feel the eyes of many on you, though they are shrouded by more dark corner of the throne room.
Avaloc's ragged beard splits to reveal a grin of yellowed teeth, his sunken eyes full of malice and hatred.
"You fools. The Church will never claim what is mine to rule! At least your bodies should serve as a suitable warning that I am not one to be trifled with!" He stands, his robes rustling in the cool darkness, his hands tracing sigils of blasphemous magic. What do you do?
Geth roll 2d6-1 for See Clear
What should we be on the lookout for?
Result:
Geth roll 2d6+1 for Line It Up
Henry could feel more the denizens of The Castle coming from the shadows. They would overwhelm the explorers if they didn’t end the fight quickly. Avaloc had command of the shadows and of blasphemous magic as well. This battle would be grueling.
“They will be here soon my boy. It is not too late to rejoin them in my loving bosom. All will be forgiven if you stand down.” The King’s words pulled at Henry’s mind, it would be all to easy to sink back into that abyss, but he knew to do so would damn him utterly.
***
Qualities Discovered!
Avaloc, King of the Unseen
Arcane Magics
Command of the twisted
Enveloped in Darkness
.. Henry seems unlikely to be able to close distance in time for instance
"Never!", he spits, "Release them!"