Rayna Star

Keldra Ruthern cheers with gusto at Maric's announcement. "Wha' a happy day! Esn't tha' grea', Aleksei? Maric es a margrave! We mus' have drinks to celebrate!" The Volik woman grabs her husband by his arm in an attempt to haul him off to the tavern.

I'll start. Chirr would play the cymbals because it's low-effort and she could crash them on either side of someone's head if they made her mad.

Big upvote here from me. This is why I value capture/jail roleplay so much more than immediate death for villainous characters. There's still the chance for punishment, but it actually does something towards character development for both parties. You could even insert the chance for certain guards to be more willing to take bribes than others, which is an incredible angle to develop guard characters from imo. There's even other options, like having a hand removed for thievery, which are far better than simply death (even death by CRP, to say nothing of PVP). It couldn't hurt to be at least a bit more creative with our punishments. After all, there's so many interesting ones out there in history! This leads back into the protagonist problem you mentioned, where good always triumphs with a clear immediacy. Yes, it's generally good for good to triumph, but delayed response makes a story better. Darth Vader didn't die in his initial confrontation with Obi-Wan because his story wasn't ripened yet. His story developed through several Episodes of confrontation, chasing, and other interactions with the "good guys". If we could find a reasonable way to translate that sort of manhunt into guard/villain interactions, I think the stories of both sides would be all the more developed for it. And, in the end, if the crimes become piled high, trial and public execution in the square is far more interesting and engaging than lopping someone's head off on the side of the road. These sorts of sentiments are a tale as old as time from me, but I still hold out hope that even small changes could help these sorts of rp interactions go more smoothly and be more rewarding for both sides.

Hope I'm cute.

I'm a Ravenclaw. ❤️ (But I better not be flipping Cho, I swear.)

Keldra Ruthern bows her head, murmuring, "She was a lovely, carin' sor' o' woman... May her spiri' dance among tae stars." Isabel de Falstaff halts in her trek through a faraway forest, suddenly placing a hand to her wrinkled forehead as she senses that a sorrowful event has occurred. With a deep frown of concern, she kneels down to pray.

Isabel de Falstaff sits alone at the dining table of Ostrov Keep. One of her trembling hands clutches the letter her father addressed to her, its parchment speckled by teardrops. The other holds a paper falcon, the last thing Konrad ever created. “Oh, Papej…” Tears threaten to resurface in Isabel’s grey eyes, and she lets out a slow, saddened sigh. It’s hard for her to imagine that her father is truly gone. They’d had fifty-eight years together, and yet it still feels as though their time was cut too short. Throughout his life, Konrad had always done his best to balance his dedication toward his work with his love for his family. One of Isabel’s earliest memories was hearing about the Duma where her father worked. She was nearly six years old, if memory served her right. There was the swishing and twirling of her skirts, the sound of her laughter like a little silver bell, and the feel of her tiny hand in his. He had taken her the next day to watch the session, and after… “Can I help sometime? I want to sit up there with you, Papej!” Her father’s smile had been the widest she had ever seen, his love and pride for her clearly evident. Then, over half a century later, that same smile had faltered. Her father had died in the Speaker’s seat of the Duma, the same seat that had inspired a young daughter to pursue greatness. A paper falcon had been cradled in his grasp, and the words he’d written on it brought her consolation now, just as they had on that fateful day. “For Isabel. Never forget how much I love you, my little falcon.” Isabel shifts her gaze from the paper falcon to the letter he had left for her, a phrase of it catching her eye. “…you have endured each and every one of them to rise from the ashes and soar above the clouds as falcons do.” Despite her tears, Isabel’s quivering lips turn upward as she remembers her father’s long life, full of achievements. She would endeavor to keep smiling and rise above her grief as her dear father would have wished, comforted by the fact that he died doing what he loved: Making a difference in the world. Rest in peace, Papej, and know that your little falcon loves you.

Isabel de Falstaff looks up from a towering stack of diplomatic paperwork as Armande shares the news with her. A bright smile spreads across her face as she quietly murmurs in disbelief, “It’s over.”

“THE KING IS DEAD.” --------------------------------------------------- Isabel Stafyr’s fingers fly across the pianoforte keys in a futile attempt to drown out that ugly refrain of words playing incessantly in her head, along with the accompanying chorus of gasps and sobs that had permeated the crowded ballroom that fateful night. --------------------------------------------------- “He’s dead.” --------------------------------------------------- The familiarity of those words sickens her… a glaring reminder of her own pain and loss that she’d rather forget. A betrothed killed in a never-ending war. A five-month marriage brought to a close by her husband’s terminal illness, robbing her once again of the happiness and contentment that seems to evade her at every turn. --------------------------------------------------- “I may not know you well, though I wish to say how impressive your strength has been despite everything that has occurred to you, Lady Isabel.” “Thank you, my Queen. It has been hard, but we all must share in the pain of this world, da?” --------------------------------------------------- If only time could be turned back so the Queen would not have to share in this pain. Isabel blinks away the tears as she plays on, hating the harsh reality that their common bond will now be young widowhood. Why must the world be so cruel? Her Majesty had been impressed with her strength on that night long ago at the Masquerade, but the unspoken truth was that Isabel had never been more grateful to have the festive mask conceal her feelings of profound loneliness in a room full of merriment. --------------------------------------------------- “It seems that I taught you well, my princess.” “Papej, you have indeed, although the music is not quite the same when played alone… It cannot be helped though.” --------------------------------------------------- A wave of guilt and shame washes over Isabel, as she realizes the self-pity that has crept into her thinking, her hands lifting off the keys as she finishes her song. She closes her eyes, offering up a prayer for the Queen and her five children, saying an extra prayer for young King Otto, who will too soon have to bid farewell to childhood and bear the full weight of a King’s crown. --------------------------------------------------- “I believe I’m going to ready myself for the rescue expedition now. I bid you a good day, Lady Isabel.” “Good day, Your Majesty. And Godspeed to you.” --------------------------------------------------- Isabel closes the lid to the pianoforte as she remembers those final words exchanged between herself and the late King. How often is it that we speak with the assumption that we will have the chance to say more later? Death is like a savage vagabond who comes under cloak of shadow, striking when we least expect it. Perhaps it is best that we treat each moment as if it is the last one we will ever have. Only then will we be able to truly live without regrets. --------------------------------------------------- Rest in peace, King Andrik. You shall be dearly missed.

Isabel Stafyr, one of the governesses to the royal children, briefly confers with fellow governess Frida Barbanov before briskly making her way down the palace halls, seeking out Prince Otto and his sisters for etiquette lessons. There is much to be learned before the upcoming festivities!

Isabel kneels beside the bed that holds the lifeless body of her late husband. She brushes a stray lock of hair from his forehead with her fingertips. Cradling the cold skin of his jawline in her hand, she speaks through her tears. “I thought we would be beside each other through all things, but the world has struck us a cruel blow. You were there to comfort me when I had no one else to turn to, and I shall never forget that. Though I may be the only one to say it, I shall proclaim your innocence until my dying breath. Rest peacefully, dear Robert, and know that I love you.” Eyes tear-filled, the former Duchess kisses the forehead of her husband for the last time. Blinking away her tears, Isabel regains her determined regal posture as she exits the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Isabel claps her hands together in glee, grinning from ear to ear at the thought of another wedding. “Ooo, I do hope Markus will be there!”

Discord: RaynaStar#8944 Skin: Purple Gown Bid: 1600

Discord: RaynaStar#8944 Skin: Purple Gown Bid: 1450 Have a heart, man... ❤️

Discord: RaynaStar#8944 Skin: Purple Gown Bid: 1350

Isabel carefully writes out her application with the help of Princess Sofiya.

I felt I should put my two cents in, having been both a villain and a victim. Many have said it before me, but people are far too quick to kill on both sides. I think this is one of the roots of all villain rp problems. The reason people kill so quickly is because they don't want the same to happen to them. It's a tricky problem, because it can only be solved by both parties recognizing that they both want good rp to come out of the encounter and want it to go well for the other party in addition to themselves. I've seen both villains and good guys act kindly like this and it can create some amazing rp when it happens. Another problem (from the villain's side) related to this is that good guys, whether guards or your average guy, are too quick to "kos" random villains. Hasn't anyone ever heard of prison? Ever? My main reason for leaving villain rp was because it got stale: Attempt villainy. Villainy attempt results in pvp. Either I win or (more likely) I die and do not remember villainy attempt or have any character development of my villain occur. I really feel prison rp would add a whole new layer to villain rp. Maybe escape attempts and such would land in both parties coming out alive? Or simply punishments that aren't execution? I realize the time period and all, but still. I just want my rp, same as you. <3

Natalia Vanir walks along the coast, where she can freely weep her tears of regret... Regret for a king's reign cut short by the ravages of war and poor health. Regret that he'd not lived long enough to celebrate peace and the return to their homelands in the North. Regret that she'd never see her cousin again in this lifetime. "Rest in peace, cousin Marius. You will always be greatly missed."

Natalia finds herself caught up in the contagious excitement of the cheering, jostling crowd as she presses forward, hoping to satisfy her curiosity with a closer view of the newly-arrived prince. "A Horen..." she silently muses. "His weathered appearance is quite different from the Horens I've read about, though I must admit, he is rather easy on the eyes." A light smile graces her lips as she turns to weave her way back through the boisterous onlookers. "I must speak to Uncle Lukas about this..."

A familiar face on the poster catches Chirr’s eye. Seeing no one around, she swiftly rips down the notice, crumpling it up and shoving it into her pocket. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Chirr shakes her head as she turns to walk away. “It seems you’ve grown careless in your old age, Rel…” she mutters.

...But he's so cute!

Edit, full skin or head? – Full skin Race - Human Age – 12 (though I’d like to be able to use the skin throughout adulthood) Gender - Female Hair style – Long and wavy down the back and over both shoulders in the front. Small barrette on the back of the head. Hair, eye and skin colour – Hair is black. Eyes are pale green. Skin is pale. Outfit description – Long sleeves, sort of a diagonal trumpet style. Navy or dark blue outer dress with silver or grey or medium blue underskirt showing in the front. Play with those colors and see what looks best together with the hair color. Black accents would be okay as well, if they don’t get confusing with the hair color. I don’t really have specifics I want for the bodice. You could do a low or slightly higher waistline with long corset laces or not. Either way is fine. Maybe add a necklace if there’s room. Overall, I’d like it to have a darker colored, elegant tone. Other details you want me to add – If anything else sparks your interest, go for it, as long as it still looks like a noble dress. Steve or Alex skin base? - Alex

Do a coloring book sheet and post it for all to see! (Or find a new Netflix show. Series of Unfortunate Events has been good.)