Who's a heretic now?
This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers.
Trigger Warning for mentions of [death, stillbirth, incest]
Trigger Warning for mentions of [death, stillbirth, incest]
Taken up the idea for a new character so this is to gauge/offer adoptable for anyone interested.
DUNEDAIN
Weighed and measured inside and it's an old scar
P R O L O G U E ──────────────────────────────────
Like a pair of common vagrants, they huddle in the dark of night away from prying eyes and ears. The rolling hush of the tide creating enough noise to keep their voices from carrying too far while the man looks over his shoulder toward the singular slumbering form of his daughter, half buried in the sand beside that silly crab again...twice it had tried to escape this afternoon.
Twice had he intervened to keep her from wandering into the shallows in pursuit of it - no other cubs had been born to the pride in some time, leaving her little choice but to find company in whatever small creatures she crossed paths with. Though he considered the crustacean beneath them, it made her -
"There are rumors."
His mothers voice cuts through the air, bringing him back to present rather sharply. Her voice was even but the knot between her brows suggested a severity to whatever it was she was about to say.
"Rumors?" She brought him out here over something so trivial?
"A land to the South, some of the me-"
But he cuts her off before she can continue. "Maua!" He nearly growls, biting back the sudden rise of generational resentment from bubbling to the surface. Not this again.
"Sss-shhh! You know what the others will say." She interjects, glancing around as if at any moment one of the others might materialize before them with a great big aha! How uncharacteristic to see the Queen Mother behave so clandestinely.
"I can't believe you would-" He starts,
"Would what? Would WHAT? Take a look around you! The Dunedain are dying." She hisses under her breath, there's a pain lingering with the weight of every word. A blooming desperation.
"You KNOW the stories about that - that witch. If the stories are true, it puts us at greater risk. It puts her at risk!" He snaps back before gesturing towards his cub.
"It's for her sake that I say this. Every generation we grow smaller... If we are to survive, you must go." She insists, "Have I not always sought what was best for you? For the Dunedain? When your father passed I did not pressure you to take the crown. When your wife died giving us that precious girl, I let you shirk what should have long been yours to carry. I will not see you hiding in the shadows any longer. It's time my son."
A bile rises in his throat, threatening to transform into something more menacing before his eyes fall on his daughter again. She'd already lost her mother well before her time, could he really stand in the way of her future too? It was his duty as a Prince and a father to keep her safe.
To see her thrive and surpass them all one day.
"I'll go." He murmurs with a sense of finality,
She sighs with relief before he adds, "But she's coming with me."
"It's too dangerous, you don't know what will happen once you-"
"I am her father. I'm not leaving her behind." He levels her with a hard stare and the Queen Mother gives a quiet nod, swallowing back whatever it was she was going to say originally, "You must tread carefully, return within the year. Any longer and you risk tethering your soul to that place, and hers as well."
"If this Maua-" He says with a mocking sneer, "-is what they say, we will return much sooner, I promise you that."
O R I G I N S ─────────────────────────────────────
coming ;3
B E L I E F S (and lore) ───────────────────────────────
— Far, far to the North along the Coast of the 'Rōvēgrie vys' (or Great world) is where the Dunedain live.
— They believe the majority of "Gods" are in fact false idols. They have different stories spun over the years based around the numerous "Deities" worshipped across the land, some brought from wayward travelers; others shared from one generation to the next. Those who follow these false idols are considered heretics and dangerous as the deities they worship.
— The Dunedain worship the "Natural Law". They Believe there is a god for the Sun, The Sea and other aspects of Nature. Their primary worship is to the Sea God
— the Dunedain do not support direct incest but have betrothed third+ cousin marriages in the past.
— they have been both monogamous and polyamorous; individual preferences are generally based on how they were raised.
— wip more incoming
C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S ────────────────────────
— the Dunedain speak Valyrian
— they have fertility issues; cubs are often born singular or stillborn, if at all. There has not been a twin/multiple cub litter for nearly 9 generations.
— webbed toes, developed genetically a life time ago given they are a sea/coast pride
— Sea, Pale, Beach and Dusk colored pelts
— Eyes range from sunset to sea hues, silver blue being the rarest.
A D O P T A B L E S ───────────────────────────────
*** DESIGN PREVIEW
it is said her mother died giving birth to her - a parting gift to the man and pride-mates she loved so dearly. she is unaware of the familial "curse" at this time and was born as the sole child to the entire pride - the first in over two years. As such she has never met or seen any other children before beyond small creatures along the coast. Her pride as a result of bearing no cubs in a few years are fiercely protective of her, though her father has done his best to not hover overwhelmingly at times.
a non-direct descendant of Dunedain, and wife of the Late Dunedain King. She is as sharp of wit as she is cunning. There is nothing she would not do for the sake of her family and pride. She was raised in politics and intrigue her entire life and knows how to navigate it with a level head. What her son and granddaughter don't know, is that she is responsible for the death of her daughter-in-law. Her grand-cubs birth had been a struggle; her son was away with a hunting party when the Princess went into labor leaving the Queen mother only to attend. Shortly after giving birth, the Princess admitted plans to leave and run away with her daughter, even going as far to say her husband would come with them and leave the Dunedain behind. That that was where their future was meant to be. The Queen mother didn't blame her daughter in law for desiring a life elsewhere; knowing full well the pain and struggle they faced in their line. Something just snapped however... instead of giving her the usual after-birth herbs for healing, she laced them with a poison instead. Telling the others she had passed shortly after from difficulties. A guilt she resigned herself to carry for the greater good of the Dunedain, but not one she regrets.
coming
coming
He was just minding his business, pillaging the sweet sands of the earth when it swooped down upon him. The bane of the skies! The Seagull.. How dare this lowly creature try to pluck at his eyes and innards. Hell the thing tried to swallow him whole when suddenly the paws of an angel squished that rotten bird and set him free. Or so he thought. She calls him such disgustingly cute names that some days he wishes the Gull had just smashed him against a rock and been done with it.
-- not a serious character, mostly intended for anyone wanting to write about a small hermit crab believing himself Lord of the Oceans (god complex) but now owes a life-debt to the 'Princess'.
ADDITIONAL NOTES ─────────────────────────────
1. The Group is not looking to settle in Amaryllis, they've come looking for a way to lift their familial "curse" and return home in 1 IC Year. Whether they end up going or not will depend on what happens between now and then.
2. Old Lore Passes will be required for the adults
3. Given their intent, it's unlikely they would abide/follow any pride, well known laws and structures given that they wouldn't recognize any Ama IC authority. They consider themselves more like an "envoy" and might unofficially form a band officially to keep it that way.
4. the Last Daughter is under an adoption clause should the character/player go inactive, they will be re-adopted out.
5. Character Concept/Design art will be provided if the player doesn't have one in mind.
code by corvus
