Welcome to Surrender Dawn. Before starting your journey, make sure that you read everything that's on the Beginner's Guide Board:
First, make sure that you get to know the rules by which we manage our site and community.
For this, visit the Guide to Rules.
After that, it's fundamental to read all that there is to know about the world your character will be inserted into.
In order to do so, go to the Guide to Lore.
Lastly, please take a close look at all the mechanics that dictate our roleplay and its characters.
You can do this by checking out the Guide to Mechanics.
When you've done all of the above, you'll most likely be ready to start creating your character:
Create your Application Thread on the Character Creation Board.
To do so, follow the instructions on the Character Application Template Thread.
Once you're done, just copy the link of the thread and head over to the Grading Center.
To submit your application for review, use the General Submissions Thread.
We hope you enjoy your time with us! Happy Roleplaying!
Updates
11/11/19: Open for Beta Testing! Feel free to explore the site and start creating your characters! If you have any doubt feel free to contact a member of the Staff Team.
The Fishing Hamlet at the Wharf wasn't exactly the brightest place. It was where the poor of the city settled and where they did their best to survive. Of course, as with all people facing hardships, they did the best they could do to enjoy what they had. And with the safety of the city, they at least didn't have to worry about roaming bandits and monsters as much as those that ventured outside of them. So even when they were destitute and struggling they could laugh and play and have a smile on their faces. That's exactly what the children of the FIshing Hamlet did. On this day, in particular, the children were playing hide and go seek.
The classic game that had some kids hidden away tucked in little nooks and scurrying into crannies. And each time a kid took a turn trying to find the rest. All the way up until supper time the kids played their game while the adults worked and slaved proudly to provide for them. That was until it became time to eat. And one by one each of the kids was asked to come home to have dinner. All the way up until there were only a few of them left and it was time to call it a night. They grouped up and got ready to go home. This involved calling the other kids out of hiding so they could look after each other. However, one of the kids, a boy named Geoffery was still hiding. No matter how much the other kids called and yelled his name he never came out. Did he think they were playing a trick on him or cheating at the game? Those were the thoughts the children had as they searched more. But as it was getting later and they didn't want to get in trouble, the search was abandoned and they would just make fun of him for it tomorrow. It was just another night in the fishing Hamlet as far as anyone else knew.
At least until a new player entered the game. Someone else had come out in the dead of dark to search for Geoffery by yelling his name. This time it was his mother. The look on her face was one of anger. She told him when to be home, so why was he still outside playing in the dark? He was going to be punished for behaving the way he did and she wasn't going to deal with any of his excuses. But when she couldn't find him right away she was confused. This was when the strategy changed to asking the parents of the other children. Maybe he was at one of their homes and forgot about the time. But once that turned up nothing, the mother's face turned from anger to fear to desperation. Where was her son!? Was he hurt, lost, custody? What happened and why wasn't he around? The woman was panicking and now frantically yelling out the boy's name while she searched all over the Hamlet for this chubby little boy.
[attr="class","itsover"] In the white room, the sound of a whip echoed loudly.
Crack!
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Crack!
Four seconds. Five seconds. Six seconds.
Crack!
Seven seconds. Eight seconds. Nine seconds.
Crack!
One kept on counting to himself, as if that would allow him to keep any amount of sanity; the other, like a perfectly timed clock, kept on going with all his power and might. As the liquid dripped and dripped onto the floor, the once pure room became increasingly flooded with the dark red fluid.
His weak, depleted body was hanging, arms extended to the skies and hands locked to the roof of the room. Head down, apparently defeated yet still alive, waiting for the next day. And the one after. And the one after that.
A door opened and, in that sinful room, a shadow entered. Purple eyes. Pointy ears. No face, yet there was no doubt of her beauty. She just stood there. Seeing. Listening. And then she pointed. And, as a devoted follower, the punished one looked.
Crows feasting on the bodies of two young men, men that he recognized. The crows noticed how they were being observed and flew away. Far and far away. They flew to their home: a peak in the center of a city, a peak so high that no man could reach.
His eyes returned to the shadow - nothing was in her place. Just a void.
Crack!
Ten seconds. Eleven seconds. Twelve seconds...
A loud gasp. Heavy breathing. In the middle of the night, Gwrtheyrn Medrawt woke up with cold sweats, not remembering the dream he just had. It happened every night and every night was the exact same. Not this one...
"Geoffery! Geoffery! Where are you?"
Screams coming from the beach, all calling for the same name. Worry was evident in every single one, but real pain was only in the voice of Lenaa, the single daughter of James and the single mother of... Geoffery. They were his people, so he knew all of their names.
Getting up, he dressed the only pieces of clothing in his possession - if they covered his hedious body, they were the only ones he needed. Gloves on his hands and Regalia Slaga on his waist, the man with long, white hair stepped out of his tent. Perfect timing.
"Knútr", Yldra had just arrived, torch in her hand to guide her and others through the dark, "Geoffery, Lenaa's son, he is not anywhere. Some of us are trying to help her, but..."
Nothing?, Gwrtheyrn completed the sentence of his first love.
"Yes, nothing... I know it's probably not a big deal, but I've talked to the other kids he was playing it during the day and..."
Gwrtheyrn began walking while Yldra continued to speak while keeping alongside him. She explained how the kids had been playing hide and seek. How Geoffery couldn't be found. How, even after hours, he hadn't shown up. How, while this could potential be nothing, it could also be something...
You're afraid he ventured too far?
In all of the cities, the Fishing Hamlet of The Wharf was the only location to be on the outside of the protection zone, depending on its proximity with Pale Rock and the rest of the city for protection - monsters and beasts don't like to go near the realms dominated by the human kind, especially ever since those realms began having more and more Vanta at their disposal. But, if one walked too far, they'd eventually not be in the Fishing Hamlet anymore... they'd be properly in the Outlands.
"Yes... And if he did..."
... we'll have to wait for the morning, because sending men to the Outlands during the night is even more of a death sentence than sending them during the day, he completed her thoughts once more, a loud exhale at the end, Don't tell Lenaa about that scenario, there's no need to worry her even more.
After some more walking and talking, Gwrtheyrn and Yldra reached Lenaa. In a long, difficult, conversation, he was able to calm her down. To explain to her that everything would be fine. That everyone was going to give their best and that they'd find Geoffery. He was able to send her back to her mediocre hut, in which she obviously wouldn't be able to sleep at all. He instructed most others to do the same, keeping only himself and a small party on the look out for the rest of the night - wasting energy in the Fishing Hamlet can very well be in itself an invitation for the Old Gods to tell you that your time has come.
Hours passed by and the sun was now arriving. Geoffery was not.
"Should we head out?", Yldra asked.
Give me ten minutes, he replied, I need to weigh in the risks.
A poor, dead-beat kid that no one would want disappearing like he didn't even exist in the first place. How was that even possible? And, if it was, and in a case of not being just a case of Geoffery wandering to far (after all, all kids were heavily instructed to not do so, hence this situation being so odd)...
It was the fresh morning and the harrowing search of the previous night was still on the minds of the Fishing Hamlet. What would have been another day of work, play, and socializing was now a heavy cloud hovering around a set of residences that were already bogged down by the fog of poverty. It was a situation that would be immediately noticeable by anyone that cared enough to pay even the slightest bit of attention to them at all. However, even that wasn't likely considering the nature of the Fishing Hamlet compared to the rest of the Wharf. In fact, it was something that would have just flown over the head of many unless they had a reason to go there. And that was just the case for a single person. A mercenary by the name of Synelle. Despite her profession, she was mostly a courier. Not everything could travel by train. Whether that was because of the nature of the item carried or the cost of it. And there were even fewer people willing to brave the outlands.
But Synelle was one of those few individuals that could do such a thing. One of those few that connected the different cities on foot and outside the operation of the government. She had come to the Wharf to drop off a parcel and receive her payment. Of course, those that could afford her services weren't in the Fishing Hamlet, but her destination was pretty close to it. She had arrived the night before, very late and after dark. Seeing as how the city wasn't walled off in the same way as the rest, entering was easy enough. She was able to find a place to stay and could deliver her item in the morning. Her destination? A shop that sat on the edge between the city and the Hamlet right by the sheer cliffs that acted as their barrier. It was because of its location, that she was able to move freely and because she was hired to deliver the item. A lot of people feared to leave any protection the cities offered.
And as she walked to the shop with the package in hand she could fee the depressing nature around her. This wasn't her first time to the Wharf, but it was her first time at the Fish Hamlet. It felt off. Weird, different, and sad. Synelle knew exactly what it felt like to be poor, but this was different. It was more than just stress and worry, there was desperation. But she wasn't going to get involved. Not unless it was something she felt she could help with. But social standing with the city was something Synelle had no control over. She went into the shop and rung the bell for the owner inside to come to the first. "A delivery from Vantalux." She explained as the man came from the back of this store. He looked sleepy and groggy, mostly because he was kept up over the night because of the search. While he wasn't a resident of the Fishing Hamlet himself, he was aware of what was going on down there and even hired a few of the people that lived there. And their search over the night was a rough one. One that kept him up and worried. Not about the boy only, but the state of his workers or if they were going to come in at all. It was obvious enough for SYnelle to pick up on and once her services were paid for she asked him about what was wrong. There was always a chance for some extra money after all. And with a brief conversation, Synelle got a basic rundown of the situation from his point of view.
It sucked that a child went missing. And considering Synelle's history her mind went to traffickers right away. It would have been really easy to snatch a child from the Fishing Hamlet compared to trying to do so within the Wharf itself. But it also gave Synelle an idea. One that presented her with a chance at some extra money. "You know that I'm a courier." She explained, making an obvious statement that would be confusing so that the man would be intrigued. "If you want, I can ensure the safe delivery of your workers today. And without the stress and worry of a missing little one." Of course, she was phrasing it weird. But that was because she was selling her services. She could ease his worries and she was framing it as a job. Both because she wanted to help the people out and because she wanted to keep working. She needed money to live after all. Of course, it was a separate thing than what was happening already outside but soon enough Synelle would cross paths with an interesting fellow and make an even more interesting partnership.
Word Count: 872. Notes: Building up for their meeting!
[attr="class","itsover"] He looked at the girl intensely, his old, weathered eyes going up and down as he tried to see what she was up to with those words. Owning a shop so near the Train Station, a shop that was on the same side of Pale Rock as the Fishing Hamlet, this old shopkeeper saw a new character every single day. Some were big men that were as brittle as hard clay; some were small women that could take on the beasts and mysteries of the Outlands.
"They don't like outsiders, them folk. Y'know that, don't ya, courier?", he asked her in a raspy tone, the accent ot The Wharf being noticeable.
His words were, in fact, correct. The poor are weak, but in their community lies their strenght: outsiders usually disrupt the community; disruption often leads to bad consequences to the side that doesn't have any value in the eyes of society. Hell, even the few that the shopkeeper sometimes employed for little coin could be tough to deal with. But he liked them, for this shopkeeper knew that the entire world had turned their back to them. So he helped them. He helped on the previous night, and he was about to help them again. After all, there was little risk:
If the girl tried something funny, the Fishing Hamlet had now a protector, someone who could give them a face.
"My partner in Fumehat needs something. Something that, y'know, doesn't do well in railroads. If you brought me this from Vantalux y'know what I mean."
He crouched and, from an hidden compartment, he took out an identical package to the one Synelle had just delivered, a note with the information of where to make the delivery attached to it. If she was an experienced one, she'd know there'd be no point in asking the contents: a good courier doesn't ask what he is delivering, he just make sure that it reaches it's place.
"The pay is good. Half now, half in Fumehat", he said as he threw three gold coins, six silver and twelve bronze in her direction.
He wouldn't say it directly, but his proposal was obvious: she would help the poor in The Wharf and, in turn, she'd now have another job to do - a good paying one at that. Better than going home empty handed and, hey, the shopkeeper needed to get something out of it to so, in his head, it was a fair deal. If Synelle didn't agree, she could just leave... although the man didn't believe someone in her field of work would deny a pretty straightforward business arrangement.
After Synelle catched the coins, the much older man, would, once more, hide the package in its hidden compartment. He had just showed it at that point to show her that he was being honest and serious in his offer.
"I'm giving you the coin now in good faith. Know y'fellas don't like to get crossed. You can come pick up the merchandise once you're done over there", he said before continuing, "Just follow the shoreline and you'll surely find them and their miserable huts. Look for the pretty one: long hair, blue eyes. He's the one they trust, so he's the one y'oughta talk to.
In the meanwhile...
How many do we have, Yldra?
"With real experience out there, just two. But Blake is in bed sick and Elgr is recovering from the beatdown he received from that Enforcer, so..."
... It's just me and you.
"... Yes."
A soft silence as the wind blew between the past lovers. The conversation had been going on for awhile and it had culminated in this outcome.
I cannot send the others with us, if we are unlucky enough to find a beast it could be a disaster.
"And yet only us and our little knowledge of what's out there..."
Gwrtheyrn let out a loud exhale.
I know, he simply said.
Risking not fullfilling his promise to Zair and Libbert just because a fat kid decided to go somewhere he shouldn't or couldn't defend himself from the ones who took or killed him. Risking everything for something so worthless like that in the grand scheme of things. For a little kid who probably wasn't even out there. Yet, it still mattered. Deep down, it still did. And, more important than that, he needed to continuosly show the Fishing Hamlet that he was and would forever be the man they should raly behind.
It was a stupid bet, but a needed one. As simple as that.
I'll head out in five. You stay here and make sure that everything remains within order and Lenaa doesn't do anything stupid, he annouced.
"You're not going alone", she protested.
I said what I said, he took no time in replying.
She swallowed dry air.
Another silence - this one not soft, but heavy.
"Make sure you come back then", she replied as she turned her back to him, heading towards Lenaa's hut.
Gwrtheyrn, who had been crouched while facing the sea, now lied down with his back pressed against the rocks, fingers interlocked behind his head and eyes following the clouds in the sky.
A fucking kid, he thought and repeated, A fucking kid.
It seemed that Synelle was going to be gifted quite a treat. Two jobs to occupy her time. One that was going to pay and another that was going to sate her interest in what was going on on the other side of the rock formation. That was definitely going to be interesting. She, of course, took the deal. "Sure thing!" She said as she stretched out her hand until it was under the pouch of money and let it drop into her hand. She was a businesswoman in the end. She wasn't going to just say no to a job that was offered to her. But this also gave her the chance to figure out what was going on and she liked that. And now she had a job for when she left the city. Not only that it was going to take her back to Fumehat. She could meet up with her group before getting back to work again. The fun and stories she had to tell them about could fill up a few days.
With that said, she smiled and nodded to the shopkeeper. "Thank you for purchasing my services and I hope you use them for your future endeavors." She replied. It was her usual goodbye to customers after she started or completed a job. Good customer service was really what kept her employed. That and being reliable. As for the shadiness of what she was delivering, SYnelle knew there were much worse things than anything he could have given her. It wasn't large enough to carry a person, so she could cut that possibility out. And considering she was once a person transport like a product, she knew what to look for if someone tried to get her to traffick another. That said, she wasn't interested in what the item was and would deliver it once she was done. The purple-haired girl gave the man a quick bow and headed out of the shop. Now she had to find some guy with long hair and blue eyes. Not the best descriptor, but hearing the Hamlet had a protector really made things easier. Just with that, she could probably find him. But with the advice of following the shoreline, she made her way to do just that.
Heading in the direction of the sea and then along with the beach was simple enough. It didn't take many steps to make her wish she had worn something for her legs, but the red top and black dress she had on was good enough for the sea's winds. If she needed to, she could always travel through the tunnels to change again. The girl took careful steps, mostly because it was unfamiliar terrain and she didn't need to get herself hurt when she had another job lined up already. And as for finding the guy, that wasn't too hard either. There weren't many people out here on the shoreline and as Synelle moved down it, she did spot a single person. She couldn't see his eyes just yet, but he definitely had long hair. There was a noble feel to his stance and aura as well. One could say like a protector! Was he going to stop the waves or something? She couldn't help but chuckle to herself at the thought just before raising her hand into the air. "Hello~!" She called out to catch the man's attention. It was time to see if she could prefer a free delivery, namely bringing a lost kid home.
Word Count: 414. Notes: Synelle and Gwrtheyrn meet!
[attr="class","itsover"] So be it, his lips spelled out this final thought.
It was these words pronounced by himself that made him get up from his lying position, standing tall once more. The front side of his body facing the sea, the small breeze flew by as he gently moved his right hand across his hair, not allowing it to come in the way of his eyes. Finding the kid was, in the grand scheme of things, important. If not finding his body, at least finding out what happened to him in order to bring peace to his mother and later act revenge upon who harmed him.
Gwrtheyrn's goals were much bigger than himself and, as such, there was no way he could allow himself to die. He simply couldn't: if he was betting his life by going deeper into the Outlands, he'd be the one coming out with a profit.
He was ready to turn his back into the waters and head away when, suddenely, a female voice made itself heard. It was a few feet away and it came from his right side, the side of Pale Rock. He turned his body that way, his eyes now locking on the girl who was approaching him.
Much shorter and, by the looks of it, also lighter, Gwrtheyrn believed as he analyzed her. Her skin was dark and her eyes as purple as her hair, her red top and black dress revealing the curves and beauty of her body, details that contrasted with her younger countenance.
Despite all this, the first thought in his mind was just one: she was a stranger. And a stranger with the timing of making an appearance in the moments of a child having disappeared. It was, rightfully or not, a suspect timing.
Hello, Gwrtheyrn repeated the salutation in his serene and calm voice, adding, Never seen you before. What brings you to the Fishing Hamlet?, he asked in the same tone.
In his long white shirt, gloves which gray color matched the pants that were tucked into his high brown boots, color equal to that of the belt he wore and in which his rapier was sheathed, there was nothing threatning in the composed words Gwrtheyrn directed at the girl he was now directly facing.
However, he did indeed go straight to the point. It was just as the man from the shop had warned Synelle: in the Fishing Hamlet, outsiders often mean bad news. Especially in such a scenario.
