The Sellswords

Prompt: King Saman ruled his kingdom well for many years, but a recent coup has ended in his death and the capture of his wife. The Prince and Princess escape to form a resistance group. Running a resistance takes money, manpower, and expertise, which neither of them have in quantity.

Taking a large portion of their treasure, the Princess goes to the Gryphon Mercenaries to find a capable commander to help them regain the throne. In turn, he looks to friends, colleagues, and other mercenaries for help.

Rules and Stuff: This is a Storybook RPG, which means that each writer may select a character and write for them. I advise against writing for multiple characters unless you plan on being around a lot.

Rules are basic. No team killing, god characters, or extreme god modding. Feel free to work with other authors to make character interaction as real as possible, but don't let an absent author keep you from making a post.

On Gimmick Characters: If your character consists of angst, cool looking weaponry and/or clothes and nothing else, then you don't really have a character. Write for the character, not the gimmicks.

On Magic: Magic is rather difficult to use and unwieldy during combat. Quick magic things (like casting fireballs) just doesn't happen. So, if your character is going to heal someone, it's going to take about 10 minutes to do it properly.

On Species: Light Species (elves, humans, gryphons, etc.) are allowed. Dark Species (dragons, dark elves, werewolves, vampires, etc.) are not going to work well in the light. Half-species (half-elf, half human) are not allowed. Pick one and stick with it.

Characters: So here is the basic cast:

Princess:TNCowgirl

Younger Princess: (Reserved for Via)

Prince:?

Commander: Griffinkeeper

2nd in Command: piepieman22

Healer:?

Mercenaries:?

If we can fill these roles, we'll be happy. I left the plot completely bland of these details so that you can take these characters and make them your own.

On NPC's: Inactive characters become NPC's. It is wise to have characters interact with NPC's like civilians, soldiers, etc.

On Bad Grammar, Spelling, and hyper angsty/stupid plot twists: Don't do it.

I want this storybook to last for a very long time. So please, just write what you can when you can and count on everyone else to do their part.

Please post your profiles.

Name- Cedrick

Age- 26

Race- Human

Position- 2nd in Command. He doubles as one of the best spies. He is one of a few trusted by the gryphon race and has skill in the art of silent killing.

Appearance- http://ronindude.deviantart.com/art/Mercenary-15005619 Brown hair and brown eyes. Plain travel garments. He wears gloves with a metal plate on the top.

Personality- Very straight forward attitude. He doesn't like jokes and is usually rather aggressive to people he doesn't know. He's loyal to his commander and would give his life for him. When he's with an Alli he can be a little more laid back, but he's usually on edge.

Weapon(s)- A short sword he wears on his belt and martial arts.

(If I'm missing anything let me know okay)

EDIT: Sorry, but I've decided that I won't have the time to do two storybooks right now. I'm really sorry about the confusion, but my character will have to die...

You don't need to make him an NPC, since the story hasn't started yet. Just forget that I was ever here.

Sorry for the confusion...

Teh Wozzinator

Name- Cara

Age- 24

Race- Human

Position- Princess, if you don't mind, if not mercenary.

Appearance- http://wolfgangraven.deviantart.com/art ... -47754588# Long brown hair, sharp blue eyes, tan skin, she is about 5'5, and has a very girly build. Though she doesn't like to show it.

Personality- Not self centered at all and would rather attention be on someone else. She is tough and doesn't like being treated like a princess, she would rather take care of herself. She is very sweet and caring.

Weapon(s)- Daggers and the bow in the picture. She can also fight hand to hand, but sense she is small it normally isn't very affective.

Name: Lennel Ten'seer

Age: 25

Race: Gryphon

Position: Mercenary Leader

Appearance: http://www.caradorian.com/library/treatises/monsters/monstersimages/firenorthern.jpg

Personality: After a few missions, he was placed in charge of training a new wave of gryphon mercenaries. Now he is eager to get a new challenge. He likes order and organization, is constantly alert and thinking about what could go wrong. He is usually worrying about something. If he isn't worrying, then he is teaching new skills to others or telling stories. He's really a work in progress.

Weapons: Steel claws.

Name- Kaiya

Age- 23

Race- Human

Position- Princess (younger)

Appearance- http://kisu-ayla.deviantart.com/art/Princess-Princess-53043315 She looks a lot like her sister in many ways. She has long light brown, curly hair, big bright blue eyes, she's about 5'3" and rather slender.

Personality- Kaiya is rather a rebel and hates being a princess. You will often find her out in public attempting not to draw attention to herself as the princess. She wishes more than anything to live the life of a normal citizen over that of the princess as she hates the responsibility. But, at the same time she tries not to do too much that would bring shame upon her family/father.

Weapon(s)- She is a martial arts whiz. She is skilled with tomahawks and other "pointy objects," as she calls them, but rarely carries them.

Name: Satika
Age: ummmm ....i dont know 21
Personality: Shy, quiet, loves to help people.
Race: Human
Rank: Healer
History: Basically llike all my other characters. Orphaned when she was 5 years old. The (last) healer found her and took her in. She is now the healer since the last one died and she has discovered an unnatural talent to heal people.
Weapons: Medicine, her hands, s sharp knife she's had for a long time( though she doesn't know where she got it from. She believes it belonged to her mother, but isn't quite sure.)
Picture: something like this:
http://dl6.glitter-graphics.net/pub/306/306196w75sosucm9.jpg
Her eyes are not brown they are an unusually deep deep emerald with purple sparks in them..
*shes single*

Name: Mika
Age: 16
Race: Human
Rank: another healer(apprentice)
History: Doesn' t know who her family is. Was found wondering in the woods by Satika when she was 7. Has been with Satika and the healer since. (believes Satika is her older sister.)
Picture: something like this: (her eyes are a unusually deep deep purple with green sparks in them.)
http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/vampire/tsukihime_idol.jpg
Weapons: Just a bow and arrow set that she found otu in the woods when she was lost, plus a special pouch that contains medicine. A small dagger with a deep deep purple and emerald stone in it
*shes single too*.

Let's go ahead and start writing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For four hundred years, the nation of Alten had not engaged in war. Part of this was because of it's policy of neutrality in all wars. Another part was because of the ring of mountains that surrounded the country. The other part was that it was the home of the largest concentration of mercenary forces to be found in the world and all of them had signed contracts to defend Alten if it was attacked. The arrangement worked well for both sides.

The size of the mercenary groups differed from individuals, to entire regiments. The largest of these groups were the gryphon mercenaries that lived in the mountains. They had training camps located all over the country. At one of them sat Lennel Ten'seer.

At the age of twenty five, he had achieved a desk job, of which he was most dissatisfied. Each day he would come in and work on paperwork. There were never any problems of consequence. So, he was caught completely off guard when, for the first time in a year, the boss came in unannounced.

Lennel looked up when the door opened and snapped instinctively to attention.

"At ease Lennel," he said. His boss was a large gryphon with more than a few gray feathers. He was familiar and needed no second glance. Behind him came a human girl- woman Lennel corrected himself. She had long brown hair and an athletic build. She looked like a girl, until he saw her eyes. They were a cold blue that spoke volumes of hardship. Their eyes met briefly and Lennel realized he was staring. He broke eye contact and that brought him back to the situation at hand.

"I wasn't informed that you were coming sir. I'm afraid that I'm not able to receive you and the lady," Lennel said.

"Your office will do as it is. Call in your aide and have him bring in a chair for our guest." This Lennel did promptly and a few moments later, the door opened again. Cedrick carried in a chair and sat it down in front of the desk. The lady took it quietly. He began to withdraw, but the boss stopped him.

"Stay with us, this matter concerns you as well." Cedrick closed the door and sat nearby on a table.

"The reason we did not send word is because our guest is the Princess Cara. She is from the lands to the south and has survived two separate attempts on her life just getting here. She has come here to meet with you."

"I'm honored."

Name: Alejandro
Age: 25
Height: 5'11"
Physique/Build: Lean.
Race: Human
Class: Skirmisher/Scout
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black
Complexion: Pale,
Physique: Lean but muscular
Appearance: Athletic and thin. Very large leg muscles. Constant dark stubble and short cropped black hair. Jovial disposition.
Weapons:
--Javelins-- Long, light spears used as ranged weapons. Alejandro carries three at all times -- one in his hand and two strapped to the inside of his shield. He is proficient at constructing replacement javelins if they are broken in combat.
--Short Sword-- Plain short sword used as a secondary weapon if caught in combat. Alejandro primarily favours quick, lightning attacks to end fights fast. Swordfighting is not his best skill but he can best most standard swordsmen simply through superior speed. The sword hangs in a scabbard at Alejandro's waist.
Armor:
--Studded Leather-- the leather of Alejandro’s armour is a deep brown.. The individual studs are made of steel, designed to deflect the slashing weapons usually used by foot soldiers. The protection offered is only rudimentary.
--Light Shield-- Alejandro uses a Peltarion, a light wooden rounded shield designed to stop ranged weapons and deflect melee attacks. Alejandro carries it with a central strap that he ties near his elbow. It also has a carrying strap that Alejandro uses when evading the enemy. Of simple design, the peltarion nevertheless features bright paintings Alejandro draws.
Clothing:
--Light Brown Tunic/Pants
--Short, Light Boots
Misc Possessions:
--Rations
--Waterskin
--Belt Pouches
--Knife
--Replacement Spear Heads
Personality Profile: Alejandro was brought up a mercenary his whole life. The unwanted product of a one-night stand, Alejandro was abandoned in the mountains and taken in by a small village used frequently by a small mercenary group. There was little else to do once he was old enough but to fight. Alejandro is a very fast runner and has incredible stamina. He is skilled in hunting, tracking, riding, hiking and other outside pursuits. He does not enjoy killing but sees it as a necessity to survive. He is generally approachable and kind; however, he is distrustful of strangers. He likes to take command and lead and is very single-minded in his actions. Confident, strong-willed and determined, Alejandro is not usually caught wrong-footed.

Welcome Jack. Just so you guys know, this storybook will be a little slower paced, so don't be discouraged if there are long intervals between posts.

(If TNCowgirl doesn't post tonight, I will later on. I have an idea, I just don't feel like it's my place, but I will if it'll help it move on.)

Cara listened to all that was said, she looked the gryphon over and listened to the little conversation there was.

"The reason we did not send word is because our guest is the Princess Cara. She is from the lands to the south and has survived two separate attempts on her life just getting here. She has come here to meet with you."

"I'm honored." The gryphon in front of her said,

Cara frowned, “I wouldn’t say that,” She replied bitterly, “What I am going to ask of you is something I wouldn’t blame you if you turned me down, though I have been told you wont.” She looked at the Gryphon and continued holding his gaze. “I should probably tell you what my problem is. I don’t know if you have heard yet or not, but my father has been killed, my mother taken. My brother and me are trying to get control the kingdom back before all chaos breaks lose, but mostly we want to find out mother. We would like your help.”

“You have my services, but,” The gryphon replied looking her in the eye. She smiled, she needed someone who would be able to tell her the truth no matter how bad it hurt, and could look her in the eye when he did.

“But what?” She asked looking him back in the eye keeping her shoulders squared.

“Services aren’t free.” She smiled at the comment.

“I understand that, and planned on it. I thank you for excepting.” She grinned.

*i dont know when to come in so can some one please bring me in?*

I was thinking of bringing people in after the meeting with the Princess. Lennel would probably assemble them as a small team of mercs. So don't worry, we'll bring you in.

ok thanks!