Monkee

dope and flavorful +1

Tournament Sign-up Please respond to this thread with the following information MC Username: MmmMonkee RP Name: Vytrek Tundrak

From their perches atop the withering foliage, the caws of crows sound off stone and dirt, echoing through Ikur’fiyem. Autumn had arrived, and even in Fin’hesin, that land of stout winter, did life wither. Green turned to orange, orange to brown, and brown to nothing. Brisk winds from the north chilled to the bone; a harbinger of what was to come - for following autumn would be winter, and the winter of Fin’hesin was a deep, lifeless freeze. And so, while they could, fauna and ‘fenn alike scavenged the lands, picking them bare in preparation for their hibernation. Those who failed to secure their resources before the deep freeze would wither away and perish in Wyrvun’s frigid breath. It was a time for competition; a time for war. And so, among the faithful of Isvinity, word was spread of the impending Equinox of War - to be held at the very height of autumn. “Hark! Mali’fenn - As faith demands, and tradition encourages, we will celebrate the Equinox of War - a time for you to help our Remnants gather food in preparation for winter’s hibernation, and prove your martial strength. We shall hold a hunt, whereby the individual to collect the most pelts will be awarded the title Ihnsil’fenn. Thereafter, come and feast in the tavern, and listen to stories of martial prowess. Further, a melee tournament shall be held, and the winner crowned Wyrvun’s Champion. They shall be granted a professionally forged weapon, and may ask one thing of their prince - to be delivered so long as it is within both power and reason.” _______________________________________________________________________________ [[OOC]] The hunt will be held this Saturday at 7pm EST, to be followed by a feast in the tavern. The winner of the hunt will be determined by a rolling system, and will receive: -The title “Ihnsil’fenn” -A free bust sketched by the very talented @JJosey The melee tournament will be held this Sunday at 7pm EST, and is open only to citizens of the Remnants (though spectators are welcome). The rules are as followers: -No leaving the arena -No ranged weapons -No mounts The winner of the melee tournament will receive: -The title “Wyrvun’s Champion” -A custom RP weapon -The ability to ask one thing of the prince, to be granted so long as it is within power and reason _______________________________________________________________________________ Tournament Sign-up Please respond to this thread with the following information MC Username: RP Name:

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

Having already spoken, this enlistment is accepted and filed away.

Having already spoken, this enlistment is accepted and filed away.

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak Having already spoken, this enlistment is accepted and filed away.

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

Vytrek, his secret exposed, makes hasty plans to abscond to a foreign, tropical nation.

hey i know that guy

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment. "Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there." -Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

The Ivae’fenn The Ivae’fenn is the Snow Elven military. From Anthos to Almaris, it has a lengthy, centuries-long history of fighting in some of the descendant realm’s bloodiest wars and battles. Across the years, it has garnered a fearsome reputation, particularly among the Elves. Service in the Ivae’fenn is more widespread than among any other standing army. Many Snow Elves will actively serve for their entire lives, while others will engage in active service for a time, only to enter into periods as a reservist. Nonetheless, the Ivae’fenn enjoys the participation of a significant proportion of the adult population, male and female. As a result, conscription is a rare policy, reserved only for the utmost emergencies. Where once it served the Princedom of Fenn, it is now reformed to serve the Fennic Remnants. A Guardian. Initiates in the Ivae’fenn are subjected to rigorous training, focusing upon discipline, individual fighting, and formation fighting. It is often a brutal process - spars are fought until a combatant yields or falls unconscious, and out of pride, the former is rare. Thus, the Ivae’fenn breeds hard warriors. After their initial training, soldiers ascend to the rank of Guardian, as full-fledged soldiers of the Ivae’fenn in cloaks of blue. Even then, however, training continues. The next historical rank is the Vanguard, denoted by cloaks of green, and these soldiers represent the experienced among the enlisted. After Vanguards are the Valkyrim, a special rank denoted by cloaks of purple. Their status coveted, they serve as royal guards. Wardens, dressed in cloaks of black, are the lowest rank of officer. They are enforcers of discipline, trainers, and tacticians - often leading small formations into battle. Beyond the Wardens are historically the Sentinels, cloaked in gold. As the highest rank of officer, they serve as tacticians and strategists, leading the Ivae’fenn on and off the field. Last is the High Sentinel and Prince. Both typically wear white, though the latter may opt for purple if they are an oathed Valkyr. In service to the Fennic Remnants, only the ranks of Initiate, Guardian, Warden, and Valkyr are opened. From left to right: A Valkyr, a Warden, and a Guardian [[Art courtesy of JJosey]] Taken together, when the Ivae’fenn fight, it is primarily as heavy infantry. They march and give battle in dense formations of spears and shields, supplemented by archers and heavy cavalry. The Valkyrim With sharpened mind and unmatched limb, My life I pledge in battle grim. Let prince and Wyrvun hear my hymn, Beware - here come the Valkyrim! A Valkyr. To be a Valkyr is among the highest aspirations in Snow Elven society. These soldiers are carefully selected from the ranks of the Ivae’fenn on the basis of supreme discipline and martial ability. They are the best fighters of the Snow Elves. It is common for soldiers to pass up careers as an officer for an opportunity to join the ranks of the Valkyrim. These soldiers wear cloaks of purple. Whilst standard battle-dress sees the rest of the Ivae’fenn don helms, the Valkyrim typically opt for purple veils, shielding the face beneath the eyes. This allows them better visibility. The veil, or bandana, was introduced to the Tundraks during the many interregnums of the Snow Elves, where their people were scattered to the winds. During these times, many Tundraks took up service with mercenary companies, where the bandana was prized as a symbol of martial prowess by mercenaries and bandits. Thus, it was adopted by the Valkyrim. Together, the Valkyrim serve as royal guards. Their primary responsibility is to the prince, and thus on occasions where the prince is on the battlefield, it is only from him that they accept their orders. As the prince’s personal armed retinue, they spend much time with him, and are counted among his closest friends. Often, the prince will be a Valkyr himself, if before his ascension he has proven himself worthy of the coveted title. As a result of their reputation, the Valkyrim may also be tasked with some of the Ivae’fenn’s most difficult feats, including high value raids and flanking operations upon the battlefield. Strategy and Tactics Among the Ivae’fenn, most soldiers in a given battle serve as heavy infantry, fighting in dense formations of spear and shield. Behind them are positioned the archers, often in equally heavy armor, whilst heavy cavalry shield their flanks - wielding lances. The resulting structure is dense - and so on the defensive, it often holds a static formation, repositioning cavalry and reinforcements as seen fit. On the offensive, this structure sweeps across the battlefield. Should a formation break, typically through the incurment of too many losses to hold it together, spears are replaced with personal weapons. Upon raids and in loose skirmishing, this is also often the case; a soldier of the Ivae’fenn is prepared for both formation fighting and loose, individual combat. Swords, glaives, axes, and warhammers cut through the battlefield once the space has been created for their use. To dictate strategy, warhorns and drums are used, signalling orders throughout the ranks of the Ivae’fenn. This is often supplemented by shrill whistles, intended to intimidate the enemy. Strategically, retreat for the Snow Elves is a difficult feat, for most of their soldiers are laden down with heavy armor. Further, they are a stubborn people, and so it is often not in their will. Across many a battlefield, Snow Elven formations have held the line even as their allies have melted away. This has led to either instances of mass death, or slow, messy withdrawals as lumbering formations give ground. The Cyanic Creed and Honorifics The Cyanic Creed In din of battle, in peace of glade, No act unjust shall sully my blade. Against civilian and surrendered, and those low-laid, Forevermore my hand is stayed. The Cyanic Creed is the basis for honor among Snow Elven soldiers, and dictates a code of conduct. The Mali’fenn have very specific ideas on what the proper conduct of warfare should look like. The Cyanic Creed bars the use of magic upon the battlefield, for magic drawn from foreign deities is sacrilege, and that which is drawn from the void corrupts. Further, the creed dictates that civilians are not to be harmed, with exceptions permitted for government officials and self defense. Those who have surrendered upon the battlefield are not to be harmed either, unless previous crimes of theirs warrant punishment. Should it not prove an inconvenience, soldiers are also instructed to aid the sick, aid the wounded, and aid civilians in need. Respect is to be accorded to those who have fought well and with honor. Further, no Snow Elf is to be left undefended, and soldiers are to strictly follow orders. They are to hold their ground at all costs unless ordered otherwise. These are the tenets of the Cyanic Creed. It is not law, however, and merely serves as an unofficial guide to the principles of honor among the Mali’fenn. Honorifics Honorifics are recognitions granted to soldiers of the Ivae’fenn for great feats and desirable qualities, and are represented upon uniforms in the form of a small, colored piece of cloth wrapped around the left arm. The blue armband represents Loyalty, and is awarded to those whose participation in the Ivae’fenn is worthy of admiration. The gold armband represents Valor, and is awarded to those who successfully perform risky feats during battle. The red armband represents Service, and is granted to those who sustain a grievous wound in the service of the Ivae’fenn. The coveted purple armband represents Prowess, and is awarded to one who manages to vanquish an impressive number of enemies in a single engagement. The final armband, black, is posthumous; it represents Sacrifice, and is awarded to the families of those who give their lives in battle for the Ivae’fenn. Enlistment Before you stands a Warden, palm outstretched in waiting. Upon the table nearby - parchment, and short sticks of charcoal. The forms read as follows: Name: Race: Age: Gender: [[OOC]] Username: Discord: Timezone: Afterwards, you are told that an officer will reach out to you for an in-person meeting, and told to move along.

Vytrek sends it straight to spam.

Vytrek Tundrak's brow perks at the invitation, ignorant to its purpose. Nonetheless, he makes plans to attend.

Stone walls loom in the north. Cold winds howl, beating against the ramparts with a frigid ferocity, only to be rolled back like the tide. Through a dense fog, the faded dance of flames; Ikur’fiyem stands as an oasis in a sea of frozen white. Though wooden cranes loom above the walled settlement, for the first time in years, they grow idle - their work all but complete. Beneath gates of steel and stone stream settlers. Though their environment proves harsh, a rare optimism reigns among them. The Fennic Remnants stand together - the culmination of a decade of politics and labor. Now, they have come to turn houses into homes. There was much work to be done. _________________________________ OOC: Hello everyone, the Fennic Remnants settlement is complete! To pay a visit, go to north hub and follow the signs! Heading south on the road from the hub, you should turn right (west), and then turn right again (northwest) very shortly afterwards towards a tunnel. That path should take you right there, through three separate tunnels! If you arrive at what looks like a dead end in the first tunnel, there’s a double ladder on the wooden scaffolding. Special thanks to @Space_Solstice for the video, and to @JJosey and the other builders for their hard work on the city!

Trial 1: Birth Elvenesse It called from the stalks of tall grass, waving in the warm sea breeze. Grating, shrill, desperate; its caws struck an unpleasant chord. He waded among the sea of green, gaze trained towards his sabatons, which flattened the long lime-hued blades underfoot. Hither and thither he tread, until at last he arrived at the source. Upon gauntleted palms, he scooped up a little ball of blackened feathers, lofting it to his visage. Its calls answered, the young raven fell silent. Intelligent eyes stared back, brown to his grey. “Hesin,” he spoke, and it cawed in response. With delicate digits, he nestled it upon the furs atop his shoulders. There, in the coming weeks, it would gorge itself upon many a worm. Trial 2: Peace The Vale of Nevaehlen Sweat clung to his brow, light as mist. It pooled in droplets, torn away with each swipe of the back of his gauntleted hand. He was a man out of his element. Whereas the eastern wind had carried some measure of relief to the Snow Elf during his time in the Vale of Nevaehlen, he now trod through the continent proper, and there he found no respite from the sun’s golden rays. He had come to that settlement of Wood Elves laden with questions and empty parchment. As a result of their hospitality, through lengthy conversations with the Archdruidess Miven and her family, he left with answers - pale pages of parchment sated with blackened ink - that written knowledge held so dear to the ‘fenn. Trial 3: War Rimeveldian Wilderness Deep snows soaked up each heavy step with a muffled crunch, that familiar sound of fresh powder underfoot. Venturing forward, the Snow Elf stalked those barren woods, digits curled around the wooden shaft of a spear. Grey eyes scanned a grey horizon, until from behind a tree, he found movement. Broad antlers crowned the head of a bull moose. Closer and closer he crept, until its snout rose to the wind, picking up his scent. Their gazes met. Simultaneously, horns and spear lowered. Steel met bone as its charge was halted, and there in the snow, a melee ensued. Hoof, antler, and blade arced through the air, and when the powder settled, it ran red. Pierced upon each flank, the moose forced its last gasps, before steel to its throat ended the beast’s misery. A quiet prayer was muttered, and then the process of taking its hide began. Trial 4: Death Rimeveldian Wilderness A thousand points of light mirrored upon a pond’s frigid surface, dulled only by the occasional patch of pale ice. Ripples spread from the featherlight touch of a toe upon water. It alone was enough to make the blood run cold. Foot by foot, he stepped into the cold, and lowered until it surpassed his shoulders. For the unprepared, it was a death sentence. With Kindrel Araaloq over his shoulder, it was a challenge. Enveloped by the cold, it took seconds for his body to seek defense. It began as a quiver in his fingers, spreading up his limbs and to his abdomen. In minutes, it was a violent shaking, played to the chattering of teeth. Pale skin grew white, red lips dulled blue. Darkness took hold of his periphery, pulsing inwards to claim him. Minute after minute, he staved it off, until at last he accepted sleep. Vague outlines of pallid shapes danced in his vision. He awoke next to the fire. Trial 5: Hope The Summit, Southern Rimeveld Five months earlier Apprehensive digits curled and flexed as Vytrek Tundrak stood upon the ice of another pond, in another time. On the banks formed ranks of his people. For so long, they had surrendered to despair; their nation was dead, and their futures bound to a foreign existence. A nervous glance here revealed sullen faces; there, the hallmarked thin lips of skepticism. And yet, within his chest, a burning. It had begun in years prior as a spark, the mere idea of rebuilding that which was long-lost. Now, in this moment of import, the result of years of hard work, it was an inferno. He dared to hope. Ascending the rock, he would see its flames spread. Present Day Flames licked and bit at the frigid air, droplets of the pond burning away to mist upon Vytrek’s countenance. Pulled from the waters but minutes before, he sat cloaked in dry furs, grey gaze lingering upon the orange sparks. There, amidst the final of the five trials, witnessed by Kindrel Araaloq and Aldred Tundrak, he swore his moniker. "In darkest hour, on steepest slope, When weak distress and bold must cope, My strength I lend and fray-wards I lope, To quell despair and give them hope." Thus rises the Vigilant of Hope.

except, wheelbarrows, cranes, and some of the other stuff u mentioned was invented long before the medieval era