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Posts posted by Karnatheon
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1 minute ago, Steel Speedster said:
Either way works fine for me. I say just play it by ear. We can have it happen on the edge of the Mistwarrens/Smokestack, so we have that flexibility. I can set the scene, but I think it will have to wait 'til tomorrow.
That works for me.
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1 minute ago, Steel Speedster said:
He's got a hideout in Smokestack.
Okay. Laonin has a house near the Miswarrens. So either one could bring the other to safety if we wanted to go that route. Up to you.
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5 minutes ago, Steel Speedster said:
Thav hasn't done anything since he left the Silver Dagger. It's been a full day since then, so I guess I probably should have caught up on what he was doing, although I suppose this way we have a bit more flexibility.
Thav knows very little about who he's looking for. He believes there to be multiple, but he's only met one (who is still alive): a Hemalurgist who is very Inquisitor-like in appearance. (This isn't a properly defined character yet, as I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to execute the idea. He could appear as an NPC, or he might not appear this era.) Thav has basically been looking for information. Anything regarding Hemalurgy is a good lead, and currently Perses is the best lead he has.
So, given all that, it might be a bit difficult to tie this into Thav's background. Laonin would be unlikely to have the knowledge Thav wants or any connection to his goal. As far as your idea of someone getting attacked, we could probably work something like that out. I'm not sure if there's any player characters who could do so. The main characters who might be potentially antagonistic to them that I can think of are Leon (who's busy), Perses (who wouldn't have any reason to attack someone who is currently completely unknown to him), or some UFO character (and once again, I don't see UFO having the slightest interest in sending someone to attack either of our characters.) So, I don't think we could get another player to send someone. However, NPCs are still an option. I could have a group of Thav's unknown enemies attempt an ambush on him. Would that work?
I think it being NPCs makes the most sense, as it doesn't require getting another person in on it, and it allows for the combat to have consequences for the people we would be fighting against. Does Thav have a base or home of some sort? Something that could potentially happen during the fight is they could get injured, potentially knocked unconscious, and whichever is okay could bring the unconscious one to safety to recover. I would be fine with Thav's enemies ambushing him, and going from there.
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@Steel Speedster I'd be interested in interacting with Thav. He was in the Silver Dagger when Laonin walked in, correct? As for how to make that happen, there's plenty of options. What is Thav up to? If either he or Laonin was attacked when the other was nearby, one could theoretically help the other. I see he is looking to get revenge on people who killed his friends, are there specific people he is going after or a group?
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On 2/25/2025 at 8:28 AM, Koloss17 said:
how's things going y'all? It's been about a week since there's been a post. Is everyone just busy, or is there issues with communication?
For transparency, I ideally don't want to have to facilitate every interaction, with some of you guys taking initiative when starting or continuing interactions, but if that's something I have to do to keep things rolling for now, that's something I can do.
@SpiritOfWrath I believe @Stormlightsong and @TwinStorm are waiting on you, as you being the truck driver can heavily influence the scene.
@Karnatheon I believe we've wrapped up that particular scene between Laonin and Venser. Do you have any plans to continue your character/interact with others?
@Steel Speedster, @Lunamor, and @Lord Ruler Sylphrena how are y'all holding up?
Also @KnightSkye and @BridgeBoi I notice neither of you have commented on Ep. 2. Are you taking a break, or are you hunting for a new interaction? If you want to RP but don't have anyone to RP with, I'd suggest reaching out on the Collaboration Thread.
I've just been busy. I'm still trying to figure out how to integrate Laonin, and I'm considering creating a new character that can get more involved and is capable in a fight and have Laonin more out of the action.
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GG everyone. To my team, I just want to say I had a great time chatting in the doc. We had a strong start Day 1, and then things went downhill from there. This game was a fun one to be my first game back to SE, so thanks Steel for running it.
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On 2/19/2025 at 10:14 AM, Koloss17 said:
Venser, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger
Venser was surprised by the man's naivety. Though, he had been here longer than Venser, and was likely older than him. Perhaps it was idealism. He was like that, once. Yet over time, he had seen the futility of such a notion. Alleycity was a lawless place, with no structure or power ever lasting. People came and went, and vast powers could pop up at any moment. Even now, Perses exerted his power over the weak and needy. He was a customer of Venser's, wielding a weapon he forged. To a degree, all the pain Perses had caused was his doing.
Yet with or without his help, the monster would have caused this pain. Hunger for power knows no bounds, and at least with this, Venser had gotten richer.
"I am sorry. I am not the man you think I am," Venser said, looking away. "I admire your views, but I fear I cannot share them. A partnership would be ruinous, for the both of us. You do not want my reputation tainting your goals."
Venser had made that decision long ago. He was a businessman, not a hero. He had prioritized money over the good of others, and he sold his morality to the highest bidder. Those with corrupt intentions will always pay more, and one cannot be this successful without ceding something. Looking at the covered merchandise, his actions haunted him once more. His success was paved with the blood of innocents. How many people has he killed, without even knowing they existed? At least Perses saw the faces of those he killed. Venser didn't even have that luxury.
"I am sorry, I cannot help you. Please leave."
Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger
Laonin's hopes were dashed as he listened. Of course it wouldn't be this easy, it was never this easy. Laonin's heart ached, hearing the good that was left in Venser explain that it was too broken to be of use anymore.
"I understand. I wish you the best, and pray that the kernel left within you grows and thrives once again. Thank you for your time." Laonin said as he walked to the exit. He turned back as he opened the door, "If you ever change your mind, I shouldn't be hard to find" he said and walked out into the night.
As he walked through the dimly lit streets of the Corridor, Laonin began to think. There were plenty of people in similar positions to Venser that he could approach with the same intentions, the same questions. But was that truly the best way to go forward? Unfortunately, he didn't have all the answers. He decided to go home and get some sleep and think more on it in the morning.
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16 minutes ago, Koloss17 said:
Venser, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger
Venser opened the door, ushering the man in with a smile. "Come in friend, come in! We have much to discuss and little time. I have an appointment in an hour. However, it is always nice to chat with a fellow merchant when I can. What would you like to discuss?"
With the shop closed, the great shop appeared rather dull. The many shelves and racks of items were carefully covered, and the displays locked tight. "I do apologize for the lack of seating. I hope you don't mind." This was, in part, a lie. There was no seating in the shop itself, but the workshop had plenty. Depending on how the conversation went, Venser would show him to his true work, but not before truly knowing what this man was after.
Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger
Laonin returned the man's smile, wrinkles creasing around his eyes. "Thank you for your hospitality. I will do my best to not squander your time." Laonin said, walking inside the Silver Dagger. "No need to apologize, I've spent most of my life on my feet, that doesn't need to change now." while the fact he was not offered a seat did not bother Laonin, it did tell him that he would need to earn Venser's respect. He did not begrudge the man's cautious nature.
Laonin had put a good amount of thought into how to try and approach this conversation while he was waiting, and he hoped that his efforts would not be in vain. "I don't know how long you've been in the Alleycity, but I assume it's been long enough that you've seen what it is capable of. Great tragedies, loss, and despair. A sometimes overwhelming number of people, most who are or were lost. People without homes, people without friends, and people without families. But it is also capable of much good. I've made some very close friendships in my past, and some people I would even have considered family. There have been people who have opened their lives up to me, and shown me that not all who inhabit this place are lost, that you can find your place here and make it your own."
"There was a time when my Forge was a hub of restoration in the Mistwarrens, renewing the district and the people within it. With the help of the people that change spread across the city, and more and more people joined in. There were efforts made to form a central government over the city, for the good of the people. They listened, they made plans, and in the end I think they did make a difference. But time has passed, the people pushing for change have gone, I was gone. Now I return to see the city much as it was then I first arrived, all those years ago. It still has it's good, it still has it's bad. There are many forces at work in this city, many with hidden goals, many whose presence is likely unknown to the rest of us. I don't think that will ever change." Laonin said all of this, his gaze periodically fading off into the distance, as if he was seeing what he described.
"But I know that if the right people work together, that they can be a force for good, for stability. That people can make a change, hopefully a lasting one. I know that you're a business man, but also an artist, a man who likes to shape a portion of reality into what his mind envisions. I share that passion for creation. The knowledge that with the proper tools you can create, alter, and destroy. I would not consider myself an ambitious man, but I am a man with dreams. Big dreams. Dreams of a city that doesn't need to hurt anymore, dreams of a place where people can thrive. Dreams not for myself, but for all of us." As Laonin said this, he gestured out the windows toward the city.
"You have done very well for yourself here Venser. I have heard your name spoken of by many people as someone reliable to do business with. From the little I know of you, you seem to have a good life. But can I ask, is this your dream? If not, what do you dream? A life like this, providing goods to the people who need them, can be very rewarding, I've lived it at times. But there can be more. There can be purpose to creation, a deeper drive behind it all. I know a man like you must have something, the question is, what is it?" Laonin said all this, and then stood there, observing Venser's reaction. He didn't expect the man to simply bare his soul to him, to let forth all of the secret thoughts and desires within him. But Laonin would take what he could get.
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Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger
Evening in the Corridor had arrived, and with it, lights. All of the proper art installations had lights present, allowing passersby to marvel at them all hours of the day. And several of the more ambitious street artists had used rope lights to produce their art and it shone bright. Some of the murals had been painted with luminescent paint, which glowed in bright neon colors of the rainbow. Laonin passed it all and approached the Silver Dagger. He had spent his time cleaning up his home, and not being sure how stable the current nightlife of the Alleycity was, he had made tonight one of the rare occasions he carried a weapon on him. Nothing fancy, just a simple Revolver and a steel knife, which he had made himself. Walking up to the Silver Dagger, he knocked on the door, waiting for Venser to answer and resume their discussion.
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22 hours ago, Koloss17 said:
Venser thought for a moment. This man was surprisingly forward, which he appreciated. But still, he didn't know the man's motivations. He said one thing, and his body was saying the same, but in Alleycity, you could never fully trust someone.
"How about you meet me here after the shop's closed. I will consider your offer, and we shall discuss this further then. For now, I have customers to serve."
Laonin understood the man had a business to run, and that he needed time to think. This was likely an unexpected proposal for him. Finding something to keep himself busy while he waited wouldn't be a problem.
"Of course, I shall return at that time. Have a pleasant day." Laonin said, then turned and walked out the door.
Walking back out into the sunlight, Laonin reveled in its warmth. He took a look around the street, then headed back home to keep himself occupied until Venser had closed shop and was ready to continue the discussion.
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Quote
That's fair. I'm still trying to figure out how I want Laonin to try and accomplish his goals. Would Venser be open to showing Laonin around his crafting setup and some of the stuff he's made, or is he significantly more cagey about the black market stuff? I don't know how extreme of a situation it is. Either way, I think it would work for him to say no to Laonin, either now or after more conversation. That would put Laonin in a position where he needs to reassess things and maybe try a different approach.
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13 minutes ago, Koloss17 said:
This man was surprisingly open about his intentions, which Venser appreciated. He was used to having to read someone’s story from their mannerisms, so not having to do that for once was a pleasant surprise.
”The designs and many of the crafts are my own, with some being imported. However, a true craftsman knows the works that sells the best are the ones that have soul to them,” Venser said, winking.
”yet with a shop like this, there is only so much that one can do yourself.”
There were distinct advantages to success. ‘A merchant that doesn’t have to work for their money is a successful merchant’ his babsk had said. But there were also disadvantages. Looking upon his shelves, there were only hints of his labor on display. He chose what to stock, and even designed some of the wares himself. The glass and obsidian daggers were carefully crafted, with the various styles of mistcoats and mistcloaks being designed, but not made, by him. Yet so much else was outsourced, bulk trades being sold for slight markups. He controlled the stock, yet few of it was his. Luckily his side business, that of custom weaponry, was all done by hand.
“What of you? Looking to start up shop? The Corridor has served me well, but I came here due to a unique opportunity.”
Laonin watched Venser as he spoke, feeling that there was more to the man than met the eye. His Jovial attitude seemed sincere though.
"Indeed. While there is skill in being able to recreate multiple of the same object very quickly. the true art of creation takes time. Many of my best pieces I would not wish to produce again, as each of them was a unique challenge to create, and some part of me was infused into them during the creation. I would not cheapen that by attempting to copy it." as Loanin said this he couldn't help but look down at his arms, his hands, and see the many marks and traces of his line of work upon them. The physical representation of the memories made during the process of creation.
"Which pieces are yours?" Laonin asked, looking around the shop. "I would love to be able to see your craftsmanship for myself. I believe you can learn a lot about a man by his work, his mind and soul brought forth into the physical realm. Do you have any favorites?"
"As for myself, I'm still trying to figure that out. I know I have the capability, as I have done so in the past. I'm just not certain if that is what I still wish to do. My perspective has changed somewhat during the last 5 years. I used to think that I could simply fix what was broken, restore what was lost, and that it would be enough. But coming back to the city, seeing that while my work did have some lasting affect in small ways, it didn't have the weight I had once hoped it would. As evidenced by this Perses I've heard tale of, it seems the city is still all too susceptible to the wrong kind of man grabbing it by the throat and forcing it into submission. It still seems as though the people are not empowered enough to be able to stop someone like him on their own, and the people with power to do so are either too busy with their own problems or not concerned enough to care." Saying all of this, Laonin realized he had begun clenching his fists tightly, causing his knuckles to whiten. Relaxing his hands he quickly shook out the inner tension that had built up, and continued.
"Apologies, I tend to get carried away sometimes. To more succinctly answer your question, I want to get involved in the city again. And I figured, what better way than to start with the kind of people I know, the kind of people I understand. Those who pour themselves into their work, whose blood sweat and tears have been infused into their creations. This may come off as being a little too forward, but I don't tend to beat around the bush. Would you be open to the idea of a partnership? Perhaps even a Coalition, if things take off. I know we've just met, and I don't expect you to throw your hat in with a stranger, but perhaps we can start things off with getting to know each other, and our workspaces, better?"
QuoteDon't feel like you need to agree to this, I know Venser his own motivations and his own stuff going on. And if this wouldn't be appealing to him, that's okay.
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Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger
Laonin watched as the young man made his purchase and left. His boots making a satisfying thump on the floor as he walked, Laonin made his way up to the counter to have his discussion with the shopkeeper.
"Hello there. My name is Laonin Kungli, pleasure to make your acquaintance." Laonin said, reaching forward for a firm handshake. "I haven't had the pleasure of visiting your fine establishment, as I have been away from the Alleycity for many years. But I am glad to see that those with the drive and motivation to succeed are still rewarded here." he said, taking the interior of the Silver Dagger in. "There was a time where I was fairly well known in the Mistwarrens, and had some amount of influence in the city as a whole, but given my prolonged absence I am sure all of that has faded, along with people's memory of me. I am trying to get myself refamiliarized with the city and with what has been going on in it, and your name has come up as someone who might be good to talk to. I am also trying to make new connections, and perhaps partnerships with the right people. I am a blacksmith and Forger by trade, and from what I can tell your wares have the mark of a skilled craftsman. Do you produce your own goods, or do you have staff who do that for you?"
Saying all of this, Laonin watched the shopkeeper with interest. Trying to observe any hints in body language or in his eyes as he responded.
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58 minutes ago, Steel Speedster said:
Personally, I would probably want to wrap up the Silver Dagger scene (I’ll try to get to that later today), since that’s almost over. Fenna’s current scene might not end for a while, so we don’t need to wait on that.
Once you do I'll continue Laonin's scene there too. Just don't want to butt in since you were there first.
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I think it's going to take quite a while for me to get through all of Laonin's flashback/backstory stuff, so I'm going to say that he has returned to the city and gotten his bearing a bit.
Laonin, The Mistwarrens,
Leaving his home behind him, Laonin walked through the Mistwarrens. It had definitely changed during the time he was gone. A lot of the work he had put into it had been undone by new conflicts, time and age and people wearing things down. But some of his work was still intact. He had taken some time to clean himself up after catching up on what had been going on in the city. There were power struggles, as always. This tyrant, or that gang, or this hero, all throwing their weight around. Some trying to make a name for themselves, some seeking power, and some abusing it. They say history repeats itself, and Laonin could attest to that.
Laonin eventually made his way into the Corridor, a chaotic and beautiful part of town. He was happy to see that while the art was almost all completely different than it had been on his last visit, nearly every surface was still covered in some sort of artistic expression. He made his way along the streets, perusing the various displays of talent and allowing himself a little time to enjoy the view. After a while though, he found himself at his destination.
The Silver Dagger. Laonin wasn't familiar with the place personally, as it had sprouted up in the time he was away, but had heard enough about it for him to intrigue him. He looked it over from the outside, and then entered through to front door. A bell rang as he walked in, a nice little touch. There appeared to already be a customer inside, waiting for service. He appeared to be a young man, likely an Allomancer based off the Mistcloak he appeared to be wearing. Laonin nodded a greeting to him, respecting his privacy by not walking over. Laonin instead began looking over the various supplies and equipment on offer. He picked up a couple items, inspecting them to judge the quality of the craftsmanship, and then continued to peruse the shop. He glanced back toward the counter periodically, so he knew when the shopkeep was available.
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At the recommendation of Koloss, this is going to be a solo thread for me to post about what has happened to Laonin since he disappeared from the Alleyverse several years ago, ie I stopped playing, and how he makes his way back. This way it doesn't clog up the main story thread. If any of this interests you and you want to read what led up to this, The Forge is where Laonin came from.
The Forge, somewhere near the Mistwarrens, Era 3
Laonin stepped out of his home and onto the street, carrying a small toolkit. He looked at his surroundings, proud of what he and his friends had accomplished together. This street had once been dirty and filled with ruins, now it was clean and well maintained. Houses and apartments lined the streets, and there was even talk of starting up a new school for the locals. He saw people walking around and chatting with their neighbors, couples out for a stroll, and families spending time together. This of course was just a small section of the Alleycity. There were plenty of other areas of the city that were doing just as well, or better. Industrial areas churning out new products, gizmos, and gadgets. Densely populated areas of the city that many people called home. There were, of course, still areas that needed fixing, but it wasn't just him doing it anymore. He had his friends, his allies, and even strangers that were all working together to improve the city, to bring it to new heights.
Letting his introspection fade, Laonin began walking down the street. He waved at passersby, most of whom recognized him. There wasn't much in the way of vehicles in this part of town, but he kept an eye and an ear out for them just the same. As he walked he began whistling a jaunty tune. After a while he realized he had made a wrong turn, and would need to correct his course. The fastest way would be to cut through one of the nearby alleys, so he did so. As Laonin stepped into the Alley out of pure instinct, he came to the realization that this was a needless risk, but it was already too late, he had accidentally entered The Alleys, the domain of the DA. As his perception of reality began to go awry, he shut his eyes. He had heard too many tales of men wandering into The Alleys only to emerge with all traces of their sanity stolen away from them. He was lucky he made it to the Alleycity intact the first time, he didn't want to chance it again. His other senses were assaulted by an incomprehensible barrage of noises, sensations, and feelings. Time became immeasurable, did he stand there for days, weeks, years, or merely seconds? As the rest of his senses told him things were reassuming some semblance of normality, he opened his eyes.
Unknown location, Unknown Planet
Laonin stood at the entrance to an alley, looking out on an unfamiliar landscape. Ruined buildings as far as the eye could see. Some covered in moss, some simply destroyed, but as far as he could tell, all abandoned. Looking behind him he saw more of the same, the opening to the Alleyverse had closed as quickly and unexpectedly as it had opened. Looking up at the alien sky, he wasn't sure how much daylight he had left. Did the sun set in the East, the West, or something else entirely? And even then, which was was North? Knowing that he would need shelter, and not being the type to simply stand there and mope, Laonin began scouting.
Due to the work he had been doing in the Alleycity he was fairly experienced with traversing ruins. He knew which building to stay away from entirely and which might be sturdy enough to walk into. It took some time, but he eventually found one stable enough that he was confident it wouldn't simply crash down on him in his sleep. Based off what he had observed, whatever planet he was on was at least advanced enough to make use of electricity, but beyond that he had no real clue as to the nature of his whereabouts. He had thankfully been headed out to continue work on an old apartment building that needed fixing, so he had his necessities with him when he entered the Alleys. Laonin managed to scrounge up enough wood to start a fire using one of his Fabrials. Given that he was likely not on Roshar, and definitely no longer in the Alleycity, he would need to use his Fabrials very sparingly. No Highstorms meant no Stormlight, and no Stormlight meant no Fabrials, so once he ran out of juice they would simply be a fashion statement. Once he had a fire going, he made sure it had enough wood on it to last for a while, and then set out to find something soft to use for bedding, and maybe something to eat.
Some time later Laonin returned to find his fire had died down a bit, but was still going. He piled more wood on it to keep it going, and looked over what he had found. A couple tattered blankets and some canned food weren't much, but given the circumstances they were more than he had hoped for. Not knowing how long he would be stuck here, but knowing he needed to keep up his strength in order to survive, Laonin ate one of the cans of food for dinner that night. Piling up some leaves, Laonin fed the fire some more, setting it up so the coals would still be there in the morning, and then lay down and covered himself in the blankets, hoping it wouldn't get too cold tonight.
QuoteThere will definitely be more of this to come. I might write some more this weekend, I still need to figure out what I want to happen and how to write it. Also, just in case any of you ever see this, I just want to thank those who continued to post in The Forge after I left. It really meant a lot to me personally to see my contribution to the Alleyverse live on and take on a life of its own. If you do ever see this, feel free to let me know. I likely won't be posting in that thread going forward just because the RP takes place in the main thread now, and I was requested not to necro it.
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2 minutes ago, Koloss17 said:
Overall, the odds of this being approved is astronomically high. First though, I have some questions.
1. I'm interested into how the essence mark was obtained. Was his wife a forger? Was it something that was made by someone else? What were the few years that he spent getting the Essence Mark to stick like? This also seems like a massive rewrite, even for an essence mark. It's interesting enough so that I will let it slide, but I wonder if you have a justification for how an Epic from another universe's Spiritweb got rewritten into being born on Sel and having a completely different life. Even Shai's essence marks, though complete rewrites, had more of an air of plausibility to them.
2. What were ThunderShriek's abilities? I understand that the likelihood of that part of him resurfacing is very low, but in the off chance that would happen, having a rough idea of abilities would be useful. Also, I'm just curious.
To clarify, because for some reason I'm forgetting how English works right now, he will more than likely be approved?
So when I originally created this character he was just Laonin, wasn't an Epic, was never married, etc. He had a backstory that took place on Sel. I don't remember the exact nature of how things played out but at some point the way we did characters for AV was changing and there was a point system being created and characters were being reworked. So with that going on, and also with the RP stuff that was going on I needed Laonin to be able to fight. So I retroactively changed things so that he had originally been an Epic and added the stuff with his wife and son, and the Essence Mark, and went from there. His wife was a Forger, and she created the Essence Mark to change who he was because he was dangerous and needed to be stopped, but she couldn't bring herself to kill him. Guilt over that combined with the death of their child is what lead to her leaving him. I'll be honest, the whole facet of him being an Epic and then Essence Marked was all kind of rushed back when I first did it. There was a battle that took place in the Alleycity where Laonin changed back into ThunderShriek to defend The Forge and his friends, and in the battle was knocked unconscious, and then at his request one of his friends reapplied the Laonin Essence Mark. I was honestly considering retconning it to just get rid of the whole Epic part and returning him to his original version of just Laonin, but wasn't 100% sure if I wanted to do it that way, or just kind of say that this is how it happened, but it won't be very relevant anymore because he can't go back to being ThunderShriek because that Essence Mark has been lost. Again, I get it doesn't necessarily make a ton of sense in cannon with how Forging is supposed to work.
ThunderShriek had the ability to fly, generally around like 15-20 mph but if he pushed himself he could make it up to 30 mph for short durations. His body generates electricity, which he can manipulate in a manner of ways. He can shoot lightning bolts from his palms, generate an electric shockwave, or just have an electric aura that injures those who get close to him. With some effort he could also hypothetically get precise enough with it to effectively use it to restart someone's heart or more delicate things like that. He is immune/invulnerable to electricity, and can absorb it from outside sources to empower him as needed. He is strong but does not have enhanced strength or durabilty.
So to summarize, I'm fine with either re-retconning his origin and stuff back to what it was originally to him just being a native of Sel, or trying to refine things to keep the Epic stuff in a way that makes more sense with the knowledge that he most likely will never turn back into ThunderShriek.
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Spoiler
Name: Laonin Kungli
Appearance: A short stout man in his early 40s, who stands about 5 feet tall. He has a long bushy beard which he cares for well, and his skin is tanned and leathery from long hours at the forge. He wears an off-white shirt and dark brown pants, and can often be seen wearing a leather apron. His face has more wrinkles in it now than it used to, and scars as well as other signs of misfortune have made their marks upon his body. The first streaks of gray have begun to show up in his hair as well as his beard. The only item of clothing that doesn't look worn down is a well cared for pair of leather boots.
Affiliations: Laonin never officially joined any guilds, as he saw them as one of the root causes of the Alleycity's problems. He did help found a small organization of people long ago, whose purpose was to help the downtrodden of the city, and to help repair it. He had partnerships with people and groups who have long since faded away, who at one point were making major strides in rebuilding and repairing the city's infrastructure. He is currently affiliated with no one, but hopes to change that.
Personality: Laonin thinks people oftentimes rely too heavily on Investiture to solve their problems, and isn't afraid to tell them how he feels. He'll attempt to avoid a fight if possible, but will not run if it cannot be avoided. He stands up for what he believes in even in the face of death, and will sacrifice himself for those he cares about if needed. Laonin has seen hard times, and understands what it is like to fight your inner demons. He is hardworking and determined, and enjoys the act of creating.
Concept: A man trying to build a better future for everyone.
Motivation: Having just returned to the Alleycity, Laonin's current goal is to find out what has happened to his friends and allies while he was gone. After that, his goal has been, and continues to be, peace. To uplift the less fortunate, to heal the hurt, to protect those he can and to resist those who don't deserve their power or authority. To bring hope and prosperity to those who need it most. And hopefully, one day, to forgive himself.
Merits:
Major - Laonin is a Forger, and possesses several Soulcasting Fabrials which he is experienced with using, Spark (Fire), Lucentia (Quartz, Glass, Crystal), Foil (Metal), and Talus (Rock and Stones).
Normal -Laonin is a highly skilled Blacksmith. He is also rather physically strong, though not supernaturally strong.
Minor - Laonin has a stoic charisma to him that tends to make others trust him. He is a pretty good judge of character. And he has a very high pain tolerance.
Flaws: Laonin was once a very different man, an evil man. He has changed for the better, but the memories of those times, and the scars they've left on his spirit remain. He is also stubborn as a mule, and it's gotten him into trouble more times than he can count. He judges those in power, and with power, more harshly than they oftentimes deserve.
Relationships: Laonin had a wife, many years ago, but has not seen or heard from her since after their son died. He also had several friends and allies, but he has not seen them in many years either, and for all he knows they are long gone.
Home Planet: Sel
Current Residence: Currently sleeps in the worn down remains of his old home, The Forge.
Backstory: Laonin's identity originates from an Essence Mark. He was born and raised on Earth, and eventually became an Epic named Thundershriek. Thundershriek, like most Epics, caused much death and destruction at the height of his power. Through a convoluted series of events he eventually wound up on Sel. Being away from Calamity's influence and the presence of other Epics allowed him to eventually rid himself of the corruption that had warped his mind. He lived a life, got married, and had a son. Unfortunately, disaster struck and his child was lost. Stricken by grief, Thundershriek went on a rampage, only to have it ended by his wife, who used his weakness to subdue him, and then used an Essence Mark to stop him from hurting anyone else. He became Laonin, a Forger who was skilled in the art of blacksmithing. The memories of what he had done, both on Earth and on Sel, were still there however, haunting him. His wife left him, her grief too much for things to last between them. Knowing he had been granted a second chance, Laonin set out to try to undo the harm he had wreaked upon the Cosmere. He may not be able to help his victims, but he could hope to save others, and maybe eventually, forgive himself for what he had done. After years of traveling he found himself in the Alleycity, a strange and unforgiving place. It was here that he felt he could do the most good, make the biggest impact. He set out to build himself a home, to build a home for the homeless, to provide sheltered to the endangered, and to bring hope to the distraught. Over a long period of time, he did help people. He used his Forgery to repair buildings that had been destroyed during some of the many wars and conflicts that had ravaged the city, he used his skills in blacksmithing to provide tools to those who needed them, and he gained a following. Nothing large, nothing fancy, but a close-knit group of individuals from many different backgrounds with one thing in common, a desire to help. Together they achieved many things, and actually made an impact on the city for the better. The status quo improved, and Laonin felt happy for the first time, and he almost felt like he deserved it. But then one day, while out scouting for more work to be done, he accidentally wandered into an Alley. And he would up somewhere far, far away from the city. Somewhere strange, and terrible. He spent many years in that place, alone, and hurt. The memory of his friends all but faded. Eventually, through sheet luck, Laonin found his way back to the Alleycity. He hopes it isn't too late.
Loose ends: Regret and remorse for the things he did in his past life hang over Laonin, influencing his every decision. He doesn't know the fate of his life's work, of all of his effort.This is an old character of mine, the one I was definitely the most invested in. I did my best to update him to meet the current format. I probably need to still fill out the section of his backstory between when I stopped RPing in the Alleyverse and now, but for the time being that's what I've got. I'm also not quite sure if I have the Merits done correctly or not, but I figured that was good enough for a first draft and to get looked at. At one point he also had an Essence Mark that let him turn back into his Epic form, but I think I'm going to have had him lose it when he disappeared from the city. I also wasn't sure if I should put his home planet as Earth or Sel, but went with Sel. No rush on getting him approved, and let me know if I need to change anything. Thanks!
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We'll see if this is just a short term return due to nostalgia, or if I stick around long term. But I can definitely commit to being active for this game. And these mechanics seem intriguing. So I would like to sign up please.
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Also just have to say now that I've read it, I love the final write up. I love this line
QuoteKarn was going to be doing most of the killing, though. He had found a talent for that these past few days.
Yay Rebels *stabby stab*
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GG everybody! I'm so glad I got to be elim this game it was a ton of fun! My team was amazing, I'm glad I got Hazekiller cause I always felt useful. The ruleset was a ton of fun @StrikerEZ thanks for running an awesome game. Congrats on the win Kas I'm glad we didn't end up needing to off you like we were worried we would.
I killed so many people this game I had a blast murdering all of you haha(almost all of you)
Edit: At one point Striker said I did more actions in a turn than he had slots prepared in his sheet so I'm proud of that.
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I'm cool with shorter days I was kinda thinking about that earlier.
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Hm... I was almost certain Tani was an elim.
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Like I said before, Tani seems pretty sus so gonna follow my gut
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Era 8 Episode 2
in The Alleyverse
Posted
Laonin, The Mistwarrens
Laonin was walking back to his home, after his meeting with Venser had proved unsuccessful. The dimly lit streets lay still in the night, the only sound he could make out was the sound of his own feet carrying him. He rubbed his arms briskly in the chill air, almost wishing he had brought a coat, when he heard a gunshot ring through the air. Then another. Pulling his revolver out of his coat, Laonin quickly dashed in the direction the sounds had come from.
Rounding a corner into an alley, he stopped and saw several men who appeared to be attacking someone alone. Laonin watched as the young man managed to hold his own against his attackers, taking two of them down. With a start he realized it was the kid he had seen back at the Silver Dagger. Hoping that the person being ambushed was in the right, Laonin decided to help him out.
Pulling his knife out and holding it in his other hand, he proceeded forward, watching the fight as he approached. He knew the element of surprise would be his only advantage, as he didn't have any offensive Investiture. Sneaking forward, Laonin saw as one of the thugs tackle the man to the ground hard. Rushing forward, Laonin aimed his gun at the thug's head and pulled the trigger, announcing his joining of the conflict. He then turned and fired his gun at one of the others, but that one Pushed his knife out of his other hand, which threw his aim off enough that the shot went wild.
"You okay kid?" Laonin shouted as he ran for cover as shots rang out toward him. Laonin crouched down behind his cover as he watched the other thugs do the same now that there were multiple people to shoot and avoid being shot by.