Application for Tiarnán ap Howell

[The Broken Sword]

Do you have any prior experience with Requiem? If so, please detail when (and what characters, if desired) you previously played:

Yes, I started playing Requiem during Act III as Tiberius Falco. Later, I also played characters such as Robert Ashton, Arthwys Rhyn, and Caiden O'Tagh.

Briefly summarize your prior role-playing experience in a sentence or two:

I started my adventures in RP during the early 90's through text-based stories on AOL chatrooms, and eventually picked up a couple of D&D books to drag my friends into RP kicking and screaming. In time, I found myself RPing on Ultima Online (Europa) in an organization known as the ERPA/CoY, which was a pact formed between various RP guilds to set forth a standardization for RP, PvP, and PvE rules. Finally, I began to write for private, player-owned shards.

Why do you wish to play on Requiem, and what do you expect from the shard?

Nostalgia is a driving factor; however, beyond that, I'd like to see where this final story for Requiem goes. And, it's always fun to see how other people react to the story as well.

What will your character’s name be?:

Tiarnán ap Howell

Please briefly describe the physical attributes of your character, including age, looks, height, weight and any notable features:

Tiarnán is an aging man, perhaps in his mid- to late- forties. A thick sea of inky black waves have long since faded to the color of ash, offset by the vibrant green of his eyes. And, while healthy, Tiarnán has put on some weight, often causing the old soldier to complain of his knees. Aside from these very obvious characteristics, Tiarnán does not hold to any particular fashions or culture, borrowing heavily from the various locales that he has travelled through during his service to the Republic. The most notable of these, a silvered ornament that clings to his belt, just beside his left hip -- a Marshall's star.


Briefly state your character’s intentions or motivations for entering the First Province:

Tiarnán has served his time faithfully, and after a long campaign in the Western Territories, seeks to return to his humble estate in the Midlands. In seeking to reunite with his son, Ciarán, however, to his dismay, the young man will have gone missing, and his home burned to the ground. Uncertain of what this could mean, Tiarnán begins to make his way toward the First Province, namely the former Republic garrison of Fort Praesidium, following leads on his estranged family’s whereabouts. He will utilize what resources he has left to make this journey overland.

Briefly provide a pertinent detail or notable quality of your character’s history (this does not have to be exhaustive nor revealing of any information you wish to keep secret):

Tiarnán is motivated primarily by a sense of honor, and duty, but also to those he considers family. And, while there are no atheists in foxholes, Tiarnán is a man constantly struggling with understanding his faith. He is a former soldier, having served in the XIVth Legio within the Western Territories, namely Prodai -- he returns home after a long campaign to find his home burned to the ground. His son, Ciarán, and ex-wife, Evelyn are nowhere to be found, and without much else left to keep him company but the ghosts of his former life, Tiarnán sets off on a long journey to find his estranged family and ascertain their fate -- what he will discover along the way is something else entirely.

Briefly write an in-character response to the following scenario:


You have finally arrived at your destination; the Rumbling Pass checkpoint. Before you stands a massive outpost, looking to have been erected only recently, of which is patrolled by numerous Legionnaires and Church Templar. The outpost guards the only viable entrance to the recently quarantined First Province; the home of Tor, the fallen capital of the Republic. Sitting at the foot of the massive mountain line that effectively contains the First Province within, the outpost serves as the last obstacle you must overcome before gaining entry into the quarantined territory. You and others like you assemble outside of the palisades of the outpost, awaiting the opportunity to speak your case to the presiding Legion officiant who is processing admittance to the Province.

You watch as but a scant few of the dozens that approach the officiant, whom stands at the outer gates of the outpost flanked by a few heavily armored Legionnaires, are actually allowed to pass through the man-door and into the outpost. You see some slip pieces of gold to the officiant, while others plead their cases and rationale as to why they should be allowed to enter the recently fallen territory. Some appear to provide some sort of paperwork to the officiant, whom promptly waves them through. While eavesdropping, you manage to overhear the well-rehearsed speech the officiant provides to those whom don’t provide paperwork or grease his palm.

“By decree of the Venerated Church, the First Province is considered to be a mortal health hazard, and as such, is quarantined under Article Eighteen of the Republic Treatise of Health Act of 1320. Citizens who do not possess a Quarantine Visa issued by one of the recognized Factions of the Republic are considered non-essential to the reclamation of the First Province. Under Article Eighteen, non-essentials seeking entry into an official quarantine zone must petition for entry into a said zone, and state just cause for the issuing of a visa by the perimeter authority. State your business and make it good, citizen; we’ve enough bodies in there to keep us busy for months without adding yours to the pile.”

You ponder the situation for a moment, evaluating your options. It’s well known that with the right connections and the right amount of coin, one can get their hands on a Quarantine Visa from any one of the major Factions of the Republic, or even a passable counterfeit from more nefarious sources. At the same time, it would appear that the officiant doesn’t appear to be above some simple bribery. However, you’re sure that some of those let in appeared to have made a convincing case with the officiant. Gathering your wits, you make your decision as to how to gain access to the First Province.

The First Province... there was a time that this place was a veritable crown jewel. Adorned with her many riches, be they material or otherwise -- and, showcasing the very might, ephemeral though it may be, of the Republic. Today, it was a miserable place to be, but it was where all his leads had pointed. You see, Tiarnán had returned from campaign to find his home burned to the ground, nothing left but charred timbers and smokey ruins. Any sign of his family, the boy Ciarán and his ex-wife Evelyn, completely missing. Throughout this time, Tiarnán has been traveling east from Drolund, following what little trail his estranged family left behind in their supposed escape from the tumultuous events within the Midlands. During that time, Tiarnán found himself under the employ of the Republic once more, this time, not as a soldier, but as a man of the law -- bringing "justice", or the Republic's version of it, to outlying shires and townships that have long been bereft of Republic law. In fact, it would be such papers that the old soldier would present to the Officiant when it was his turn for processing.

"Ah'm Tiarnán ap Howell, folk call m' "Tyr", jes' doing ah marshall's job out of th' Wildlan's.. followin' up on a lead."

A pair of gloved digits flicked the silver badge clinging to his belt just beside his left hip. It was a common-enough occurance for far-flung towns to employ such peacekeepers rather than maintain a costly garrison. And, this was no different. However, he had no authority here, no resources -- he'd have to rely entirely on his own talent, and perhaps given time, a new set of allies.

[Coty]

Congratulations, adventurer! Your application is...

Approved!

Please ensure that your character name is spelled correctly upon exiting the Songmaker's chambers. A GM will approve your character at their earliest convenience.

Welcome to Requiem!

The officiant looks at the papers a moment before returning his gaze to you and handing them back. "You know I read a book 'bout a marshall once. Carried with him a genuine pistol! In this one part he rolled into a town and-" The officiant's eyes shift past you to the lengthy line at your back. "Uh, nevermind. Best of luck to you!"