Horvatt Mikaels Application

[haltfire302]

Do you have any prior experience with Requiem? If so, please detail when (and what characters, if desired) you previously played:
No previous experience

Briefly summarize your prior role-playing experience in a sentence or two:
Brief role-play in online games such as Garry’s Mod, Roblox, and other miscellaneous video games, as well as a new experience in the form of Dungeons and Dragons recently. (One campaign completed so far, in the middle of a second).

Why do you wish to play on Requiem, and what do you expect from the shard?
I was invited by my friend who is a long-time player. The concept with the level of openness also seems interesting. I intend to mostly be a crafter or otherwise enter a trade, but I’m also open to the experiences that I may come across and change my goals accordingly; with proper character motivation, of course.

What will your character’s name be?:
Horvatt Mikaels

Please briefly describe the physical attributes of your character, including age, looks, height, weight and any notable features:
Caucasian male, mid-20’s in age, average overall build with more prominent upper-body muscles. Weighs around 185 lbs, reaching up to 6’3” in height. The somewhat square-ish silhouette of the face is broken up by black-colored locks of hair on either side, with dull forest-green colored eyes in between them. On each hand are a number of small scars and calluses, signifying heavy mechanical or industrial work.

Briefly state your character’s intentions or motivations for entering the First Province:
An apprentice blacksmith and tinkerer, Horvatt was intrigued with the First Province from an economic and knowledge standpoint. The First Province seems like a figurative goldmine for those in a trade, and the shroud of information within may hold some strange and exciting new inventions. Ignoring the inherent dangers of the region, he traveled to hone his skills and maybe make some money in the process.

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):
Hailing from a small settlement outside of Keluben in Aedenshyr, Horvatt became an apprentice smithy, often visiting the city to work inside various forges; though in his spare time he frequently trifled with inconsequential gadgets or trinkets. An active mind plagues Horvatt, and he cannot help himself from wondering how items, objects, or structures are created or how they function. If given the opportunity, he would gladly take apart such things to figure out their mechanisms or functionality.

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

You have finally arrived at your destination; the Rumbling Pass train-yards. Before you stands a massive outpost, looking to have been erected within the past few years, 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 range that effectively contains the First Province within, the outpost serves as the last obstacle you must overcome before entering 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. Behind him, a passenger train, a marvel of technological advancement, sits idling on its’ tracks, dozens of persons filling it’s numerous passenger cars. A true rarity within the Republic, you can hardly believe your eyes (and ears) as the locomotive releases a massive plume of steam from its’ smokestack. You overhear many a bewildered citizen around you gossip as to how the only truly safe way into the Province is now by rail, for the Rumbling Pass’ mountains are nigh impassible and miles long, with the only safe navigable tunnels being those traveled in the safety of locomotives and rail-cars. You shudder for a moment, pondering how many forsaken souls attempted to flee the cloistered Province through the Pass’ winding, dark tunnels, hordes of Afflicted upon their heels, only to be cut down in the pitch-black darkness.
It strikes you as peculiar that so much effort has been made in securing a means of logistical supply and personnel transportation into the fallen First Province. You’ve heard rumors before of Quarantine Zones; entire Municipalities and even Territories being cut-off from access due to the blight of the Torment and the over-abundance of the walking dead – but in most instances, no one is ever trying to get into to those forsaken places. Yet here, mere miles from the ruins of Tor, masses congregate in order to make their way into the First Province Quarantine Zone. If you hadn’t known any better, the entire scene – the Outpost, the mass of military personnel, the throngs of citizens and the hissing locomotive – resembles more of an evacuation rather than a one-way ticket into anarchy and lawlessness. As you make your way closer to the train-yard outpost, you can’t help but recall all of the wild and crazy stories concerning all manners of rumors about the First Province since it’s fall two years ago. Some say that the treasures awaiting the bold are beyond measure – others swear that Salvation and Ascension is guaranteed for those who would follow their Faith and help reclaim the First Coast.
Where the truth lies, you’ve no idea – you only know that you’re here, at the precipice of it all, and your destination is within reach.
You watch, somewhat defeated, as but a scant few of the hundreds that approach the outpost officiant, who 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 and train-yards proper. You see some swarthy fellows 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, flashing official looking papers from a Faction or influential Prelacy house, who promptly waves them through. While watching and eavesdropping, you manage to overhear the well-rehearsed speech the officiant provides to those whom don’t provide paperwork or grease his palm, the words monotone and nasally.
“By decree of the Venerated Church, the First Province is 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 Quarantine Visa by the perimeter authority.”
The officiant snorts in disdain, then adds the last line to the rehearsed monologue:
“State your business and make it quick, citizen; we’ve enough bodies in there to keep us busy for years without adding yours to the pile, and those VIC are stirring up problems something fierce as of late.”
You ponder the situation for a moment, evaluating your options. It is 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 or Prelacy Families 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 – although his price may be hefty. However, despite it all, you’re sure that some of those let in appeared to have made a convincing case with the officiant without resorting to subterfuge or immorality. Gathering your wits, you step forward towards the officiant, and make your decision as to how to gain access to the First Province.

Horvatt carefully approaches the officiant, his hands splayed open, palms upward, as a gesture of peaceful negotiation. He speaks in a low, but not quiet tone as he says:

“Pardon me, sir, if I may have a moment of your time. While I may not possess a visa at this time, I do believe I can be of great help inside the quarantine zone. I happen to specialize in the creation and repair of equipment, and Decus knows nobody ever has enough of that in this age. I simply ask for passage into the area, so that I may help the cause against the Afflicted inside.”

Horvatt makes a small motion towards his coin-purse with his hand, slightly moving it forward a bit more prominently.

“If it aids your judgment, I can offer some coin for you to hold onto as collateral until I can acquire a proper visa for travel back.”

He then looks at the officiant, eagerly awaiting a hopeful reply.

[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!

A smirk spreads across the officiant's face as he eyes you. "Travel back." The sentence a statement, his tone amused. He begins writing upon a piece of parchment stamping it and handing it to you. As he bring his hand back he grabs the purse of coins from your hand. "Have fun."