The Awesome Project

The idea here is to create a fantasy story which people are interested in, can participate in, and have fun with. This can only happen if we have action which isn't repetitive, characters which aren't cliché, and dialogue which doesn't cause people to vomit. The big challenge is to create a storybook that people will actually read and follow along; even if they aren't writing in it. This entails some pretty high standards. If you're interested in becoming a part of this I have a couple requests.

1. Write well. There are so many spelling and grammar checkers on computers, browsers, and even this site, that there is no excuse for poor spelling and grammar. Run a spelling and grammar check on your favorite word processor, then read it through once before posting. I expect the authors to take pride in what they write.

2. Write coherently. I've always hated it when I have to look at a post and decipher just what is happening. It takes precious seconds from my life that I could be spending writing. If any author makes a post which is utterly confusing or incoherent, then the next posting author may say "I'm ignoring the last post because it was incoherent." After he has done this, the author may write whatever he wants, without reference to the last post. Hopefully, this will not be necessary.

3. Write often. If you are unable to post at least once a week, then you probably don't have enough time to write here. After a week of inactivity, your characters will be considered NPC's.

4. No dangling conversations please. This is a personal pet peeve of mine. A dangling conversation is when two writers have their characters talk to one another. They go back and forth, writing six line long posts, and it can go on for a week; at the end of which nothing has really been said at all.

If you write a conversation between characters, then write the full conversation. If the other author has done their job, you will know exactly how each character will respond. If you don't know how they would respond, you can ask them, or you can make your best guess. Personally, I like to use my own judgment about what a character would say, I usually write better dialogue than the other would.

5. No boring repetition please. Many fantasy stories end up descending into fighting off endless waves of orcs; during which authors compete to write the most unrealistic fighting characters. I want to avoid the hack and slash scenes as much as possible. Stealthy approaches, quietly taking out sentries, building traps, and laying ambushes display cleverness and daring, any dumb character can hack and slash. Many do.

Time for the plot:

After many years of fighting for the glory of the empire, our hero retires and settles down into a quiet fishing village of Haven. Things are peaceful in Haven, until a traveler from our world arrives. Unable to understand a single thing the traveler says, our hero must return to the people he left behind, friends and enemies alike in order to return the traveler to our world.

Things aren't that simple though, because the arrival of a traveler is a bad omen of things to come.

Further notes: Haven is a quiet fishing village, it's not a major port nor is it at any crossroads. It's a place of little importance except to those that have grown up there. A fully armed warrior draws attention in this place, strangers in particular are noticed. When a big ship comes to harbor, it is a major event.

Magic does exist, but it is extremely expensive. Healers, like Doctors, usually serve their immediate community. Traveling healers, outside of war, are rare. If characters are injured, their best bet is to get to a town quickly and hope they have plenty of cash to pay the healer. Characters are limited to weak magic objects, no casting. Higher level magic can be used by NPC’s.

Please post character profiles. I’m looking for a hero and a traveler, along with a full range of supporting characters.

Name: Talon Dahlia

Gender: Male

Age: Early twenties.

Skills Class: Huntsman (Human)

Starting Location: Wavecrest (due five miles north of Haven)

Particular Skills: Through rigorous adventure and practice, Talon has nearly perfected his archery skills. Leaders of his home village consider him a master archer and a skilled horseman. Under its hushed voice, word has it that he once tamed a wild stallion with the mere scruff of his voice.

Particular Flaws: Despite his agility on horseback and the speed of his arrows, when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, Talon falls behind quite noticably. He'll take himself and his horse through rain and sleet and snow and lightning, but at the first sign of fire, his courage bottoms out.

Appearance: Talon, standing a moderate 5'10" never cared much for his appearance. While growing up, he was known as the most handsome boy of his age and many mothers wept after his departure for the chance to marry him their daughters would never have. He is fairly brown-headed and has vivid green eyes the luster of the trees he has come to love. He's always wearing dark green, cotton-woven light armor that blends him into his environment. On his back there is always a quiver full of arrows, and he wears leather boots and gloves at all times. His only distinguishing feature is a small birthmark stemming from his right ear down his cheek. It is the color of dried blood and has often been mistaken as a head-wound during combat.

History: Talon was born in a small village in the southern wilderness of the world. His mother died during a sentry raid when he was a small boy and his father left home years before Talon did in search of her murderer. Talon, however, found it pointless to seek vengeance on an unchangeable deed, but he lusted after the world beyond his eyes, so he left home on horseback for the mere lifestyle of the hunter.

On his journeys, he picked up a few skills in herbology and can tell an ivy root from a parsnip, but has never dabbled in the magical arts, fearing that they taint the soul. His one encounter with the magical arts came upon his meeting a crazed sorcerer named Kor'Makhan. Makhan's minions found Talon foraging for food in the forest near his keep and attempted to seize him, only to be shot down by his quickdraw. Makhan watched Talon religiously through his watchglass, and struck at the opportune moment.

Disguised as a Damsel in utter distress, Makhan trapped Talon in his herbal snares and proceeded to torture him in vengeance of his fallen minions--one day for each arrow shot through their hearts. Talon refused to break under his spells and was at long last rescued by a roaming Forest Nymph. Her trickery distracted the wizard and Talon escaped by firing one of his beloved silver arrows through the heart of Kor'Makhan. The wizard then vanished without a trace, just as the nymph. For months, he searched for her in the edges of forest where nymphs lived, but with no success. Having finally moved on, he continued wandering aimlessly for what adventure may await him.

Along his journey, he finally found his place in the world, roaming the far stretches of forests surrounding the small fishing villages on the southern coast. His favorite place to stay is among the woods between the villages of Haven and Wavecrest.

Equipment: His aforementioned bow and quiver full of arrows. On both of his thighs are tucked-away daggers, forged from a mysterious metal that gives Talon a peace within in a critical situation. The blades were dubbed priceless by their maker, and Talon tries his best to uphold that value.

Personality: Talon is light-hearted and enjoys making a joke whenever possible. He never holds grudges and tends not to remain angry. (if he ever gets angry, that is) Talon always does his best to keep a sly smirk on his face, especially when he's in his element. However, he can't help himself whenever he's around an attractive girl and blushes at the mere sight of a fair lady.

Role: Supporting, preferably.

This sounds great. I'll put up a profile after school today.

I think I'll join. As a travelling Healer? I'll be back with a profile.

I'd like to join - is there any particular character profile template that you'd like us to follow?

The main idea of a character profile is to give the other authors a sense of the character, how to describe them, as well as their temperament. A good template would be this:

Name: (What they're called)
Species: (Are they human?)
Age:(How old are they?)
Gender:(Male, female, other?)
Occupation: (If applicable)
Starting Location:(Where you intend to introduce the character)
Appearance: (Tall, short, fat, skinny, anything you think would identify them.)
Skills: (What they're good at. Casting magic is forbidden)
Flaws: (What they are bad at. None of this weak stuff like "He's allergic to doughnuts" or "She's really shy." The first weakness only applies in very particular (and very rare) circumstances, the second is only a weakness if she has to find a date. A better weakness would be "He only has ten arrows in his quiver, after which he'll have to recover the arrows, or make new ones.")
Equipment: (What they got. Keep in mind that if they are carrying 100 lbs of gear, they won't be very fast. Also, one weak magic item is allowed, which is about as magical as we're going to get.)
History: (What the character has done. I recommend you include other characters in this part, either as old enemies or as friends. This would make it easier for characters to join up with one another and it would also add a little bit of conflict. Character X saved Character Y's life, but Character Y doesn't like Character Z, who is X's girlfriend. Etc.)

Name: Gwendolen "Gwen"

Species: Human

Age: Somewhere between 18 and 22

Gender: female

Occupation: Criminal

Starting Location: Traveling in the direction of Haven

Appearance: As being independant is looked down upon for a young woman, Gwen lives under a disguise. Her black hair is cropped short, just above her shoulders, and she wears a long hooded cloak. The hood covers about half of her face. She has dull green eyes, and tanned skin. She wears men's clothing, and typically appears a thin, young man when not studied closely. When she is out of sight, she wears an old green dress.

Skills: Going unnoticed and getting away without a trace

Flaws: Her only useful weapon is a small dagger, she's only identifiable as man from afar, and can be easily recognized as a female up close.

Equipment: She travels with a horse, who carries her basic survival equipment such as cookery, a blanket, etc. She carries a dagger, a rusted old sword, and a bow with an empty quiver. Every so often she'll come across some weak magical object, but never anything that lasts for long. Currently, she has just disposed of several items with depleted magic.

History: Gwendolen woke up one day in the middle of a farmer's field, only able to remember her name. She was approximately seven at the time. The farmer took her in for three years, letting her work for her keep. She repaid him by stealing a horse, a stash of gold, and running off.

She traveled anywhere she pleased, stealing what she needed. Around the age of thirteen she adopted her male disguise to ward off immoral gentlemen. She fell harder into her criminal activity and began hiring her services to townspeople needing 'business' done.


Gwen has rarely ventured near the town of Haven, being aware of the nosiness of it's townspeople. She's recently found herself in some trouble back in the city and is looking for a place to lay low for a while. She hopes maybe to find something past Haven, but is in a hurry to settle where she can, as soon as she can.

Despite her criminal activity, she is a pleasant person and not cold-hearted. Being a criminal spawned from need to survive. She has always wondered where she really came from, and why she doesn't remember.

Known Associates:
Talon Dahlia - Traveled together for a short time. Gwen thanked his company by stealing one of his bows and an empty quiver.

Noah - the criminal's paths crossed once, and the two had a rather heated affair. Gwen, fearing an attatchment would hinder her profession (as well as her disguise), slipped a certain illegal substance into his drink one night which knocked him out cold. She deposited his body on a wooden raft, attatched a note to his shoe (reading: it was fun) with honey and sent him out into the bay.

Can we make two characters? [I might not do that, I'm just curious]

Name: Asele [pronounced Aseli/asily]

Species: Human

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Occupation: Apprentice ship craftsman

Starting Location: At the port or within Haven

Appearance: Has fairly long brown hair and dark brown eyes and is quite curvy, figure-wise. She also has the brand of a thief on her lower right arm for stealing an amulet from a market stall. [see equip] For this reason she tends to cover her right arm with either a bandage or long sleeves.

Personality: Impulsive and curious, Asele longs for a life bigger than the small town of Haven. She is an energetic soul and can never stay still for long. However, she is also quite argumentative and reckless.

Skills: Skilled at woodcraft, can steer a boat pretty well, and can defend self reasonably at hand-to-hand combat.

Flaws: Not well educated -> cannot read or write. She has little skill with any weapons.

Equipment: Well, at the moment she lives in a house... so not much equipment. She does however still have the stolen amulet, which she claimed to have sold to a traveller. In truth she kept it after discovering it can predict storm clouds by turning a misty grey. [Not too powerful...?]

History: As the only child of Naltan, Haven's leading shipwright, it has been her duty to follow in his footsteps despite her mother's wishes that she would be more ladylike. She has heard of the exotic tales told by the boatsmen returning from afar and longs for a similar adventure across unknown lands. She has also recently been engaged against her will to the son of the town carpenter. [anyone can take this character]


This sounds really interesting, do you know when we will start?

Known Associates:
Marlon Grey: Meets him often as he is currently teaching her to read. She looks up to him as she is aware of his previous travels - she often tries to wheedle information out of him to little avail.
Talon Dahlia: Has seen Talon in brief encounters at Marlon's house. They don't know each other particularly well but there is a mutual respect. Asele often queries Talon on his recent travels, and is more than slightly envious of his ability to wander from place to place so effortlessly.
Jack Johnathon: His boat was made by Naltan, and Asele remembers Jack as her father's friend. She is particularly fond of the ship as it was the first that she was permitted to work on, along with Naltan's help.
Cressida: Met once when they were children. Although her parents may remember this it unlikely that Asele would without prompting.
Elijah Edwards: Has little respect for him due to a previous encounter when she was insulted by him when helping to repair his father's ship. Although she has some respect for his father she sees Elijah as a waste of space who leeches off his parent's influence.
Brother Gredon: In his travels to and from the town of Haven, Brother Gredon has become familiar with the shipwright girl. She once confided in him a strange dream of hers, seeking the spiritual guidance that is looked down on by her parents.
Noah: Although she doesn't know it, she once encountered Noah aboard one of her ships in the guise of a woman. She chased him with little success, only succeeding in tearing off a small part of his cloak.
Other than this she has met him on occasions in the market place and at the port when returning from trips.

I'd like to make the profile for the retired hero, is their anything about him I should know or can I have free roam on him.

We won't be starting until a week from the first post. That way everyone that's interested can join and everyone that is flaky can leave.

Jok, why don't you focus on a supporting role for this story for the time being.

*Fair nuff*

Name: Jack Johnathon

Species: Human

Age: 36

gender: Male

occupation: Adventurer

Starting location: Arriving in the port of Haven after years of travel.

Appearance: medium length brown hair, a few greys are starting to appear. He has a slender and muscular frame standing at just over 5'10. He wears a long brown coat and has a leather chest piece. He also has tanned skin and wrinkles at the side of his lips from smiling so much.

Personalty: Calm and collected. He's a light hearted guy. He's not drop dead gorgeous but he's quite a charmer and makes good use of what he's got. He's not without flaws though, he has some emotional baggage that he hasn't been able to put away yet.

Skills: Is great with a sword and insanely fast, it's rumored he can split an arrow in half as it travels through the air.

Flaws:
*He's got a gambling and drinking problem that is often getting him in to trouble.

*He's getting old and some ancient battle injuries are coming back to haunt him in particular a leg injury because of it he can no longer run very vast. His reactions and blade is as fast as it it ever was.

History: He was born in one of the large cities surrounding the many palace's . His childhood was simple, while him family was never rich they were never poor and he had a comfortable life style. He was a standout at the local school for sword training. The teacher at the school recommended that he go to the mountains and learn the way of warriors who lived their, They were the greatest blades men in all the land.

When Jack was 15 he joined the army and served for four years until the King died and his son took over. Jack didn't agree with the sons policies so left. He traveled to the mountains ,like his old master had suggested so many years ago, he trained with the warriors for two years.

Jack had many years of adventures working for the people and helping to solve their problems. Perhaps one of his most famous or infamous of adventure ,depending on were you stand, was his quest against the Hunters. The Hunters were a band of powerful magicians and skilled warriors who's goal was to destroy all none humans. Their leader Karzen was a powerful Magician and great warrior. Jack fought him and his organisation for three years. He banded with heroes and villains alike to bring The Hunters down. After years of saving non human tribes and villages it all came down to a final confrontation between the two sides. The Hunters were destroyed and Karzen killed.

He was now twenty seven and decided to settle down. He returned to the mountain village were he had completed his training. He married a woman called Carzel. She was the most beautiful thing Jack had ever seen, He didn't care that she was a criminal or that she was from an enemy nation, He loved her too much. Shortly after getting married she became pregnant. They had a beautiful baby girl. However happiness didn't last long and when the baby was three an old apprentice of Karzen, Kor'makhan, came while Jack was out training new warriors ,in the mountain training ground. Makhan killed his wife and child. A year later when he went to seek vengeance, he discovered that a young huntsman ,unaware that Makhans life had be promised to another, Had killed him.

Jack went to Haven ,were he met Natal His daughter was only fifteen. Natal and Jack became firm friends and Jack hanged around for a few years until the thrill of adventure called again. He left on Natal's newly finished ship, The Carzel. Named after Jack wife.

The ship has now finished it's three year trip and is close to returning to the port that it first emerged.

Equipment: A Katana that is slung over his back, it was made for him by a brother in law that he met on his travels called Tarlin. Last Jack heard he was becoming one of the most famous blacksmiths.

Associates:

Asele: Was friends with her farther for three years, he told her many stories of adventure and cares for her greatly since he see's what he would of wanted his daughter to be like in her. After three years he worries that he has faded from her memory.

Name: Macha

Species: Red Fox

Age: Four (In fox years, twenty four)

Gender: Female

Starting Location: Forest

Appearance: I'm small but have lots of lean muscle, hidden by reddish orange fur around my stomach and back, white fur on my chest, and black fur on my legs. My tail and ears are both a smoky red and black. My nose isn't quite as long as most foxes, and has white on the tip. I have a fierce expression that I wear at all times, but usually appear to be more harmless than I'd prefer.

Skills: I can hide well, and I can move silently everywhere, including over dried branches and leaves. Even though I look small and harmless, I can leap out of my hiding spot at any time and rip a man's neck open, or slash at his face.

Flaws: Although I can attack, I can't dodge. I stand there in shock if anyone comes close to harming me in a fight. Usually I just kill and then it's over, so I've never had a need to dodge, really.

Equipment: My teeth, my claws, my sense of intuition.

History: I've lived three years in the forest, happily being the natural predator that I am. A woman, Saare Hathrim, saved my life once, when someone tried to kill me for my hide. I haven't left her side since, and feel as though I'm forever in her debt. Nothing will ever happen to her as long as I'm around. I will never forgive myself if she's hurt in my presence.
From being her traveling companion, I've learned much about the life of humans and just how incredibly predictable they are. If I think someone is dangerous, I growl softly to let Saare know.

Associated With: Saare Hathrim, Cressida Velia

Character: Supporting

Name: Marlon Grey

Species: Human

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Occupation: Retired Hero

Starting Location: Haven

Appearance: 5'10" with a medium build. He generally looks tired.

Skills: Our hero is a cunning tactician and strategist. He specializes in indirect tactics that feature diversions, deceptions, and traps. He is known for his ability to plan and anticipate the actions of his foe. He is qualified with a variety of different weapons, but prefers a short sword.

Flaws: Our hero is a control freak and rather secretive. He becomes frustrated when things don't go according to plan or when people demand to know each part of his own carefully thought out plan. He may routinely engage in deception; like saying "I don't have a plan" when in fact he is just waiting for one of the last elements of a plan to fall into place. He'll lie to people in order to preserve a greater surprise.

Equipment: He still has his battle gear from his time in the Army and he either has or can purchase traveling equipment. Among his more unusual pieces of equipment is a magical tinder box, which can instantly produce a small flame that can't go out and a gryphon feather.

History: Marlon Grey was born to James & Linda Grey, both of whom were librarians at the Royal Academy. He spent his childhood reading in the library, from collections of fairy tales to physics texts. His fascination with military history and strategy led him to seek a commission in the army through the Royal Academy. He was nearly kicked out twice after using "questionable tactics" against some of the more wealthy students. He received his commission and was promptly sent to a fort on the edge of the kingdom, where he would be out of the way.

While there, barbarian tribes began to launch attacks on neighboring villages. Now Lieutenant Grey led an ambush on the barbarians. In the resulting skirmish, thirty barbarian warriors were slaughtered, without a single loss to Lt. Grey's team. The barbarians withdrew immediately and Lt. Grey became a legend in the Army. At 23, he became the youngest Commander in the Army. During the next four years, he planned and oversaw three campaigns against various hostile forces, all of which were successful.

During his fourth campaign, his unit of 3,000 men walked into an ambush. Losses were extreme, out of three thousand men, only 750 survived. In an investigation following the incident, Commander Grey accused another officer, Commander Black, of informing the Barbarians of their presence. These accusations could not be verified and Commander Grey was recalled to the royal city. At the suggestion of his superiors, he resigned his commission and returned to civilian life.

Marlon was given a healthy portion of the treasure that was recovered from the raids he led. Using these funds, he moved to Haven and purchased an old run down mansion which the locals claim is haunted. The people of Haven are blissfully ignorant of this man and his record; to him he is simply a rich bachelor. He now leads a comfortable and quiet life at Haven as the owner of an apple orchard, with the exception of his encounters with Mrs. Angela Goose, who is determined to have him marry one of her three daughters.

Known Associates:

Talon Dahlia: On his way to Haven, Marlon was rescued by Talon from a group of bandits. Occasionally, Talon comes to Haven, where he is a welcome guest at Marlon's house.

Asele: Marlon has been teaching Asele how to read and write. This is hampered by her job as a ship-builder. In addition to teaching a promising student, he had hoped that the presence of a 21 year old woman in his house would dissuade Mrs. Goose. Unfortunately, this didn’t work; Mrs. Goose decided to visit during Asele’s lessons, interrupting them so that no work could be done. This issue is ongoing.

Brother Gredon: When Marlon was still a Lieutenant in an outpost, he had an argument with then Captain Gredon about how to engage the barbarians. Captain Gredon advocated a direct approach, while Marlon advocated a more indirect approach. Captain Gredon saw his tactics as "dishonorable", while Marlon thought Captain Gredon's tactics were "inefficient." The Commander on site chose to use Captain Gredon's approach, but allowed Marlon to operate a smaller force with his tactics. The two didn't see much of the other after that period, being busy with combat. Marlon did attend his honorable discharge though, but neither of them spoke much. Marlon is aware that he is now a Monk, but they haven't spoken since the discharge ceremony.

Personal: Marlon has spent his entirely life being absolutely brilliant and he is sick and tired of it. His chief ambition is to lead a normal life and otherwise be left alone. He keeps everyone at a distance and doesn’t seek relationships, at this point.

GriffinKeeper, does this mean no-one in Haven knows Marlon was a hero? (Just to check, I don't want to write something contradictory later on. )

Did he originally come from Haven or move there after quitting hero-work?

Here's my profile. I may be editing it. And could the fox be her companion?

Name: Cressida Velia. (Or just Cressi)

Species: Human.

Age: 22.

Gender: Female.

Occupation: Travelling Healer.

Starting Location: Approaching Haven.

Appearance: Tall, willowy but athletic with pale golden blond hair, unusual vivid, dark blue eyes and pale-ish skin, Cressida is often mistaken for an Elf at first and her occupation as a healer does nothing to correct this. She is always seen wearing a hooded cloak when travelling. Beneath this, she wears men’s clothing. A loose white shirt with a leather vest* and cotton pants.

Personality: Cressida is brave, stubborn and often pretty blunt but she is always shy at first. She really cares for those she knows, such as friends and what little family she has left. She panics when she’s been backed into a corner but has incredibly, and ridiculously, good luck but it rarely works and is usually bad, really bad.

Skills: Cressida is a good shot with her bow and arrow, but only if you’re within a hundred feet. She is also deadly with a dagger, but only if she close enough to use it.

Flaws: Panics when backed into a corner and tends to overreact on rare occasions, such as confronted with past misdeeds of her father. When using her magic to heal, she -with life threatennig wounds-only partly heals and takes on the wounds herself. With minor wounds, she takes on the wound herself. Cannot heal herself.

Equipment: A wooden walking staff and a bow and arrow. Cressida also has a dagger and a necklace, the necklace is magical, according to the person who had given it to her (which was a stranger on the street).

History: Who her mother is, is unknown but he father is, according to rumour, a sorcerer by the name of Serkan, who appears to have been a dark sorcerer. Not much else is known about where she came from.

As a child, Cressida was taught a few spells by her father but she doesn't use them. She prefers healing to the...questionable things she was taught.

Cressida has been wandering since she turned eighteen. The reason why? No one is quite sure of that, but rumour has it that she travels to see new places and forget her past, which is continuously coming back to haunt her-especially all the nasty things her father has done during his life.

She is currently heading to Haven because she's heard rumours of someone she knows currently residing there. A few years ago, Cressida got into a battle with a rival sorcerer who didn't like her father. He cursed her and now, though her luck is good there is more bad than anything.

Known Associates:

Noah:Cressida found him in the forest, healed him and after a brief walk to the nearest Tavern, he left her with a kiss. She wasn't expecting how he thanked her.

Brother Gredon: Cressida met him once during her travel, but it was only in passing. She would recognise him if she saw him again as he's not hard to miss.

Talon: Cressida once met him in a tavern and had shared a brief night of comfort, which left her without any coin in the morning. Apparently, Talon found this highly amusing.

Asele: Cressida met her only once when they were childen when Asele's father had some businiess with Cressida's.

Macha the Fox: Cressida's father once tried to skin her hide and she helped the fox to escape.

*When I say leather anything, I mean the old hide leather, not the modern stuff.