[HEADING=1]Prologue- Vincula: The Awakening[/HEADING]
The world of Vincula is on the brink of collapse. A war is brewing on the boarders of the two largest nations on the continent, a war that will guarantee the mutual annihilation of every soul, unless diplomacy prevails or the tide of war changes.
The year is 1930, two decades into the past
Vincula had been a quiet continent nestled in the far corner of the Eternal Ocean for several thousands of generations. It was a home to over two dozen countries and 2.8 billion people, a beacon of civilized harmony, trade and equilibrium. Peace was a luxury that everyone took for granted, till it was all lost in one day.
The largest country on the western block of the continent was called, The Republic of Raada. Its unique location on the trade routes and large natural harbors meant that it was a sought after stopping grounds for traders, merchants and businessmen alike. Its fertile grounds yielded bountiful crops and it's natural resources were the pride of the continent. Raada experienced a golden age that lasted for centuries, trade flourished, the local regions prospered and the population was happy. Eventually though, the prosperity brought about a problem. Raada faced a population explosion, the people began to demand more and more from the government. Productivity was stretched as far as the lands could offer; the country had expanded too fast and too soon. It now had to increase its land area and acquire new resources to maintain the growing society or it would face collapse.
Raada was pressed for options. All that it could see it in it's power hungry eyes was its neighbors. Sparsely populated in comparison, with plenty of land to offer Raada saw its permanent solution.
The war took the region by surprise. Despite each nation having a standing army, they were not anticipating at attack from within. Raada, blitzed through the western shelf in one swift move, purging the lands of those that opposed them, but something went wrong. They did not stop the bloodshed once they had what they wanted. They had tasted the might of their armies, they now wanted more, more than what they thought was possible. The leaders had visions of an empire, a continent ruled by one society and one law. Those that surrendered were instantly absorbed into the empire; those that resisted faced a slow death. All, Raada had to do now was to capture the eastern countries and the fate of Vincula would be sealed. So great was their confidence that the western continent was renamed as the Jian Tzu Empire.
Fearing a similar fate, the eastern countries banded together forming the Elsaarian Territories. United, they marched across the boarder to the west and for eight years they fought, for eight years neither side yielded. Vincula it seemed was doomed to be locked into a power struggle for eternity.
Fate though had a different tale to tell. Elsaarian spies had been operating within Jian Tzu Empire since the war began. Their services had been invaluable to the allied efforts in keeping one step ahead of the enemy; however when the chance came to assassinate the self proclaimed emperor of the Jian Tzu, the allied forces wasted no time in seizing the opportunity to end the war by using the spies to carry out assasination orders.
The details of the assassination are shrouded in mystery to this day. All that is known is that the assassination was a success, the fanatic leadership of the Jian Tzu collapsed, and the war grinded to a halt. The remnants of the Jian Tzu retreated from the captured eastern countries and fled deep within the Jian territories. In 1939, the Jian Tzu officially surrendered to the allies. A new government was formed to maintain the law and order on the rampaging western territories and a peace treaty was signed with the east, dubbed the Kantaar treaty.
Over the years of conflict the Elsaarian Territories suffered heavy casualties and as a result, the least affected allied nations merged with those that were ravaged and formed the unified region; Elsaaria. By 1941, both Elsaaria and the new Jian Tzu Empire began the process of restoration of war torn regions and started the foundations of a new age of friendship.
During a world summit the leaders of Elsaaria met with the leaders of the Jian Tzu Empire and began discussion of the creation of a continental assembly, where the two nations or any seceded nations could meet to represent themselves and bring forth ideas and suggestions to improve the relations between all members of continental Vincula. The idea was met with much enthusiasm from both parties and in 1942, the continental assembly, called the Joint Vincula Assembly (JVA) was formed.
Modern day Vincula, 1950
Eleven years after the end of the Continental War, both sides remain weary of one another despite the years of progress and peace. In January, the Jian Tzu brought forward accusations to the JVA regarding the Elsaarians, who they suspected were carrying out skirmishes along the boarders settlements and conducting covert operations in direct violation of the Kantaar treaty.
In retaliation, the Elsaarians accused the Jian Tzu of abducting Elsaarian citizens and conducting secret weapon testing in the frigid north of Jian territory, which also was in direct violation of the Kantaar treaty.
The JVA conducted independent investigations into the matter but due to uncooperative officials from both parties, the results were inconclusive. This did not make matters easier for either nation.
February, 1950
An Elsaarian reconnaissance airship was shot down over Barrok. The Jian claimed that the airship had gained unauthorized entry into Jian Tzu airspace, the Elsaarian's claimed that the craft had navigational difficulties and had strayed off course.
April, 1950
The JVA declare the Jian/Elsaaria boarder a no-fly zone for military airships after investigations reveal several unspecified flights into Jian territory by the Elsaarians.
Elsaaria begins mobilizing troops to the boarders, the Sea of Aruun and the Bay of Storms in response to Jian Tzu's increased military activity.
The JVA calls for diplomatic talks between the leaders of both nations. Both nations decline.
Jian Tzu makes a media broadcast, claiming that 'war with the Elsaarian's is a possibility' due to increasing aggression from it's neighbor.
May, 1950
The Elsaarian region south of the Kaantar Dunes, formally known as the Mirumbaatar Territory secedes from Elsaaria. Southplain is designated as the region's capital and the territory is renamed; The Lythyngil Realms.
The Lythyngil Realms acquire a seat in the JVA and both nations are invited once again for diplomatic talks.
July, 1950
Elsaaria and Jian Tzu arrive at the discussion table to discuss a Lythyngil brokered Non-Aggression Pact.
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The story begins in August, 1950. The two largest nations of continental Vincula, Elsaaria and Jian Tzu are locked in diplomatic discussions to seek a way to end the escalating arms race in the region. On the surface, both sides have agreed to a cessation of hostile activities but beneath, both are conducting one treacherous deed after another.
You, the players, are Elsaarians. You take the role in the warfront, though not as the military or the Special Forces but as secret agents. You are part of the Elsaarian Tactical Espionage Division (ETED), an organization that was formed at the beginning of the Continental War.
Espionage has been the greatest asset to the Elsaarians throughout the years. Despite several captured and lost operatives, the majority of military intelligence is still gathered via these spies. They represent the best training achievable by the men and women of Elsaaria. Their goal is to listen, sabotage and report and if an opportunity presents itself, assassinate.
The ETED is broken according to 5 espionage and counter-espionage divisions, ranging from TEC 1 through TEC 5. Each division represents a level gained in training and skills; TEC 1 represents fully trained recruits and Tec 5 representing elites with field experience. As the agents progress with each mission their skills are evaluated and weighed according to their merits and they will be promoted to higher levels in the division. With each division gained, new weapons and skill sets will be unlocked and more of the 'restricted' information will become available.
As your tale progresses, you will climb the ranks of the ETED, but for now you will start as TEC 1 agents.
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Vincula, will involve your imagination, your detective skills, the ability to think outside the box and the ability to work alone as well as in groups. As spies, you will enter a world of deceit and illusions, the missions can get you killed, captured and tortured, you can even get lost and trapped. The world is full of dangers for spies fresh out of the academy, but there is much to learn about the world that has not been revealed.
Mysterious disappearances are plaguing the land of Elsaaria; engineers, scientists, diplomats and even members of the government have vanished with no trace. The ETED have been called in to run a counter-espionage mission within Elsaaria itself in an attempt to survey and if possible contain the source of these disappearances. However, with the majority of the specialists on classified missions on foreign soil, the ETED have turned to their reserve TEC 1 members to report for active duty.
Your initiation into this RP will be finalized with the submition of the Character Sheet.
Note: even though the basic structure of the RP is set as a squad/team setup, you are free to carry about explorations and interactions on your own and therefore at your own pace.
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[HEADING=2]Accepted Characters[/HEADING]
Name: Alyson Banesteel
Age: 24
Sex: Female
Description: Alyson is relitivly tall at 5'10". She has an average build and isn't very athletic, but stays in shape. She has long black hair and she has sectoral heterochromia in her left eye, meaning the iris is 1/2 blue and 1/2 brown.
Equipment:
Standard issue weapon: Stub musket
Secondary Equipments: chloroform vial, poison blade and blackout bead
Bio: Alyson was born in the west. Her father lived in the west before Raada invaded. his life was peaceful with his wife ,10 year old son, Jake, and 4 year old Alyson . When Raada struck, he fled the country as a refugee with his wife and daughter, but his son could not be found. He went into an orphanage and join the Jian Tzu army at 14, while the family led a mostly normal life in southplain. When Alyson was twenty, her mother passed away and her father told her about Jake. She vowed to find him and bring him back.
After a 4 years of military service, she discovered from a prisoner taken by the ETED that her brother died in a battle fourteen years ago. She knew that all Elsaarians must have lost family and freinds as well. She knew that unless the two large nations went back into all out war, a common soldier could change nothing. So, she applied for the ETED.
She is a more diplomatic than violent, and she trys to smooth talk her way out of problems.
Age: 24
Sex: Female
Description: Alyson is relitivly tall at 5'10". She has an average build and isn't very athletic, but stays in shape. She has long black hair and she has sectoral heterochromia in her left eye, meaning the iris is 1/2 blue and 1/2 brown.
Equipment:
Standard issue weapon: Stub musket
Secondary Equipments: chloroform vial, poison blade and blackout bead
Bio: Alyson was born in the west. Her father lived in the west before Raada invaded. his life was peaceful with his wife ,10 year old son, Jake, and 4 year old Alyson . When Raada struck, he fled the country as a refugee with his wife and daughter, but his son could not be found. He went into an orphanage and join the Jian Tzu army at 14, while the family led a mostly normal life in southplain. When Alyson was twenty, her mother passed away and her father told her about Jake. She vowed to find him and bring him back.
After a 4 years of military service, she discovered from a prisoner taken by the ETED that her brother died in a battle fourteen years ago. She knew that all Elsaarians must have lost family and freinds as well. She knew that unless the two large nations went back into all out war, a common soldier could change nothing. So, she applied for the ETED.
She is a more diplomatic than violent, and she trys to smooth talk her way out of problems.
Name: Elliot Respion
Age: 25
Sex: Male
Description: Elliot Respion is slightly below average height (5'8" in tall shoes), with wavy brown hair, blue eyes, tanned skin and an easygoing smile. He is built like a sapling oak: he may be slender, but there is a hint of toughness and mass in that frame, and he weighs quite a lot more than he looks. By his appearance you might guess him to be one of the more laid-back, outdoorsy sort of poets, or a reasonably fit musician.
Standard issue weapon: Cylinder-Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipments: Gas-powered grappling hook, blackout bead (x5), steam orb (x3)
Bio: Elliot Respion lived for most of his live at the edge of the Kaantar Dunes, just to the north of Southplain. The war affected him just as much as other Elsaarians, but in a different way--there were few war-machines tearing up the ground in the Dunes, and those that did come that way were soon lost to the sands. Instead of bombs, there was rationing and starvation: instead of soldiers there were sad-eyed relatives, and cousins who never came home from the front, and the endless stream of government announcements that ever strove to put a good light on a horrific situation. Young Elliot soon forgot what peacetime was like. When the war began he was five: when it ended, he was a jaded fourteen who had lived most of his life under the vague and ever-present shadow of The War.
The story of how he came to be in the Elsaarian Tactical Espionage Division is a complex one that mostly took place in Elliot's own head. Suffice to say that, when the war ended, his adolescent mind forever made the connection between the men who had assassinated the Jian Tzu Emperor and the results of the war's end: his father returning home, the slow rise in the amount of food available, the relatives who smiled again.
The hardships the war imposed on the civilian population taught Elliot Respion two things. One, how to think on his feet and make the best of a bad situation, and two, that he never wanted to suffer through them again.
Always strive for perfection, but settle for excellence, as his father might say. In the service of the ETED he might have to fight and struggle and suffer, but his efforts would ensure that no others had to do so. That was good enough. And if he could do it with a smile, and manage to get a joke or two out of it, well, that was a bonus.
Age: 25
Sex: Male
Description: Elliot Respion is slightly below average height (5'8" in tall shoes), with wavy brown hair, blue eyes, tanned skin and an easygoing smile. He is built like a sapling oak: he may be slender, but there is a hint of toughness and mass in that frame, and he weighs quite a lot more than he looks. By his appearance you might guess him to be one of the more laid-back, outdoorsy sort of poets, or a reasonably fit musician.
Standard issue weapon: Cylinder-Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipments: Gas-powered grappling hook, blackout bead (x5), steam orb (x3)
Bio: Elliot Respion lived for most of his live at the edge of the Kaantar Dunes, just to the north of Southplain. The war affected him just as much as other Elsaarians, but in a different way--there were few war-machines tearing up the ground in the Dunes, and those that did come that way were soon lost to the sands. Instead of bombs, there was rationing and starvation: instead of soldiers there were sad-eyed relatives, and cousins who never came home from the front, and the endless stream of government announcements that ever strove to put a good light on a horrific situation. Young Elliot soon forgot what peacetime was like. When the war began he was five: when it ended, he was a jaded fourteen who had lived most of his life under the vague and ever-present shadow of The War.
The story of how he came to be in the Elsaarian Tactical Espionage Division is a complex one that mostly took place in Elliot's own head. Suffice to say that, when the war ended, his adolescent mind forever made the connection between the men who had assassinated the Jian Tzu Emperor and the results of the war's end: his father returning home, the slow rise in the amount of food available, the relatives who smiled again.
The hardships the war imposed on the civilian population taught Elliot Respion two things. One, how to think on his feet and make the best of a bad situation, and two, that he never wanted to suffer through them again.
Always strive for perfection, but settle for excellence, as his father might say. In the service of the ETED he might have to fight and struggle and suffer, but his efforts would ensure that no others had to do so. That was good enough. And if he could do it with a smile, and manage to get a joke or two out of it, well, that was a bonus.
Name: Dimitri Kolenkov
Age: 29
Sex: Male
Description: Dimitri is a tall and muscular man, with short black hair and dark blue eyes. His beard is kept short almost the point of stubble and he speaks with a slight Northern accent. He isn't very agile on his feet, neither is he particularly fast, but he has always maintained that his endurance training suits him more than just sprinting.
Equipment
Standard issue weapon: High velocity micro cannon
Secondary Equipments: Flash powder(x02), Stealth wire, flashlight
Bio: Dimitri was born in the farming district on the outskirts of Redborough before the war broke out. He was an only child who spent much of his time in the fields playing with his friends and getting into trouble, just like any other other 9 year old would. The world was open and full of mystery, the wind cried of freedom and life, the waters ran free and life was grand.
The darkness of the east though eventually caught up with Elsaaria and the coastline of Redborugh was soon swarming with Jian Tzu ships. Curfews were placed, air raid sirens rang out, artillery from the ships began falling from the skies. Many died during the raids and the corpses began to pile. Dimitry had never seen death and destruction before and in one day he went from knowing nothing to knowing everything. His parents, along with a few close neighbors decided to flee to the North, into the mountains. Away from the coastline raids.
Eventually they settled in Pineham and even though the city was no safer than any other, it was there that they chose to endured the war. Dimitry though could not forget what he saw and experienced, he could not unlearn what he had discovered; the nature and brutal savagery of warfare. Twenty years later, Dimitry finds himself as an ETED agent. Why he chose to serve in the military alludes even his subconscious thoughts, perhaps it was the idea that becoming a spy meant he could understand the enemy better, or perhaps it was because a spy could dictate the course of a war with ease. Whatever the reason, Dimitry knew it was his calling. If the war broke out again, he would serve to spare the others of the horrors he had witnessed as a child.
Age: 29
Sex: Male
Description: Dimitri is a tall and muscular man, with short black hair and dark blue eyes. His beard is kept short almost the point of stubble and he speaks with a slight Northern accent. He isn't very agile on his feet, neither is he particularly fast, but he has always maintained that his endurance training suits him more than just sprinting.
Equipment
Standard issue weapon: High velocity micro cannon
Secondary Equipments: Flash powder(x02), Stealth wire, flashlight
Bio: Dimitri was born in the farming district on the outskirts of Redborough before the war broke out. He was an only child who spent much of his time in the fields playing with his friends and getting into trouble, just like any other other 9 year old would. The world was open and full of mystery, the wind cried of freedom and life, the waters ran free and life was grand.
The darkness of the east though eventually caught up with Elsaaria and the coastline of Redborugh was soon swarming with Jian Tzu ships. Curfews were placed, air raid sirens rang out, artillery from the ships began falling from the skies. Many died during the raids and the corpses began to pile. Dimitry had never seen death and destruction before and in one day he went from knowing nothing to knowing everything. His parents, along with a few close neighbors decided to flee to the North, into the mountains. Away from the coastline raids.
Eventually they settled in Pineham and even though the city was no safer than any other, it was there that they chose to endured the war. Dimitry though could not forget what he saw and experienced, he could not unlearn what he had discovered; the nature and brutal savagery of warfare. Twenty years later, Dimitry finds himself as an ETED agent. Why he chose to serve in the military alludes even his subconscious thoughts, perhaps it was the idea that becoming a spy meant he could understand the enemy better, or perhaps it was because a spy could dictate the course of a war with ease. Whatever the reason, Dimitry knew it was his calling. If the war broke out again, he would serve to spare the others of the horrors he had witnessed as a child.
Name: Reese Wilson
Age: 22
Sex: Male
Description: Reese is a scrawny looking man, with a small physical stature measuring up to 5"5 and with a virtually non-existent build. This slimness gives him a agility and climbing prowess he had honed in his youth. However he can't hold out in a fight forever due to his size being a disadvantage. Wears a set of darkened goggles to hide his red eyes from view, as they have tended to freak people out in the past.
Equipment
Standard Issue Weapon: Cylinder Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipment: Poison Blade, Flash Powder and Stealth Wire
Bio: Born on the island of Runeshine, because of the rural area he was brought up in, he had only 2 friends of his own age. They were killed when Jian Tzu, ships raided the small isle on a campaign against Elsaaria. These deaths were not only contained to his friends, both of his older brothers were killed in a strike when it rained down near they're home.
Sixteen years after the original attack on his home, Reese applied for being an agent for the ETED, he'd never had an idea as to why other than to avenge his fallen friends and family and since he didn't have the size or firearms skill for being a frontline soldier, he'd decided to be a spy and try to do his part to take down the Jian Tzu empire. But overall his goal was to find out who'd call the attack on his home and make him answer for it, if he was still alive.
Age: 22
Sex: Male
Description: Reese is a scrawny looking man, with a small physical stature measuring up to 5"5 and with a virtually non-existent build. This slimness gives him a agility and climbing prowess he had honed in his youth. However he can't hold out in a fight forever due to his size being a disadvantage. Wears a set of darkened goggles to hide his red eyes from view, as they have tended to freak people out in the past.
Equipment
Standard Issue Weapon: Cylinder Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipment: Poison Blade, Flash Powder and Stealth Wire
Bio: Born on the island of Runeshine, because of the rural area he was brought up in, he had only 2 friends of his own age. They were killed when Jian Tzu, ships raided the small isle on a campaign against Elsaaria. These deaths were not only contained to his friends, both of his older brothers were killed in a strike when it rained down near they're home.
Sixteen years after the original attack on his home, Reese applied for being an agent for the ETED, he'd never had an idea as to why other than to avenge his fallen friends and family and since he didn't have the size or firearms skill for being a frontline soldier, he'd decided to be a spy and try to do his part to take down the Jian Tzu empire. But overall his goal was to find out who'd call the attack on his home and make him answer for it, if he was still alive.
Name: Tsurugi Takahashi
Age: 27
Sex: Male
Description: Tsurugi is of average height with a slightly above average build. He prefers to be agile (sneaking, running, etc.) rather than have brute strength. He has short, but not buzzed, light brown hair, and green eyes.
Equipment:
Standard issue weapon: Cylinder Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipments: Katana, Lock Pick Kit, Blackout Bead (x5).
Bio : Tsurugi was born in Hammer Gulch, along the coast of the Sea of Tears and not far from Redborough. He was seven when the war started and his father left to fight in it. As a kid Tsurugi liked to sneak through the woods with his friends, playing with wooden sticks as if they were swords. The two things became sort of like hobbies to him as he got older and he found ways to make himself better at them. He lived with his mother until he was old enough to leave and help the military any way he could. The ETED seemed like the best place to put his skills to good use.
Age: 27
Sex: Male
Description: Tsurugi is of average height with a slightly above average build. He prefers to be agile (sneaking, running, etc.) rather than have brute strength. He has short, but not buzzed, light brown hair, and green eyes.
Equipment:
Standard issue weapon: Cylinder Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipments: Katana, Lock Pick Kit, Blackout Bead (x5).
Bio : Tsurugi was born in Hammer Gulch, along the coast of the Sea of Tears and not far from Redborough. He was seven when the war started and his father left to fight in it. As a kid Tsurugi liked to sneak through the woods with his friends, playing with wooden sticks as if they were swords. The two things became sort of like hobbies to him as he got older and he found ways to make himself better at them. He lived with his mother until he was old enough to leave and help the military any way he could. The ETED seemed like the best place to put his skills to good use.
Name: Serafina Jatkovirta
Age:26
Sex: Female
Description:Very beautiful, defining facial features, sharp nose, piercing dark brown eyes. Her hair is light brown and straight as an arrow, reaching past her shoulders. She is slightly taller than most woman at 5'7. Because of her beauty she tends to stand out in a crowd, but she uses disguises to blend in with crowd often and effectively
Equipment:
Standard issue weapon:Cylinder-Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipments:Poison Blade, Stealth wire, Grappling hook.
Bio: Serafina's parents moved to TallenHill from Eastern Vincula before she was born. She was born and raised on the family farm doing things that a farm girl would normally do, helping on the farm as well as playing in the fields, climbing trees and tormenting the neighbours. Her time on the farm made her an excellent climber, made her extremely agile and also made her long for the big cities. The war never really effected Sarafina, her father was never recruited, her farm always flourished and they were just secluded enough to not be a bother to the enemy.
The war had ended and Sarafina continued living a normal life, but Sarafina always felt obliged to help her nation out, she felt she could do more in life than just live on a farm. At the age of 23 she left the farm and moved to Lyndshire, she had finally reached the big city and once there she immediately applied for the ETED.
She uses her agility, climbing ability and beauty all to her advantage as an agent, she loves what she does and will do anything to get the job done. She hopes to one day be a high ranking agent but for now is happy just being an agent at all.
Age:26
Sex: Female
Description:Very beautiful, defining facial features, sharp nose, piercing dark brown eyes. Her hair is light brown and straight as an arrow, reaching past her shoulders. She is slightly taller than most woman at 5'7. Because of her beauty she tends to stand out in a crowd, but she uses disguises to blend in with crowd often and effectively
Equipment:
Standard issue weapon:Cylinder-Fed Stub Musket
Secondary Equipments:Poison Blade, Stealth wire, Grappling hook.
Bio: Serafina's parents moved to TallenHill from Eastern Vincula before she was born. She was born and raised on the family farm doing things that a farm girl would normally do, helping on the farm as well as playing in the fields, climbing trees and tormenting the neighbours. Her time on the farm made her an excellent climber, made her extremely agile and also made her long for the big cities. The war never really effected Sarafina, her father was never recruited, her farm always flourished and they were just secluded enough to not be a bother to the enemy.
The war had ended and Sarafina continued living a normal life, but Sarafina always felt obliged to help her nation out, she felt she could do more in life than just live on a farm. At the age of 23 she left the farm and moved to Lyndshire, she had finally reached the big city and once there she immediately applied for the ETED.
She uses her agility, climbing ability and beauty all to her advantage as an agent, she loves what she does and will do anything to get the job done. She hopes to one day be a high ranking agent but for now is happy just being an agent at all.
