Character: the Praetor

[vagabond]

Prologue

The Praetoriani, or the Praetorian Guard comprised a special force of bodyguards used widely by Kings and Emperors. The members of the Praetorian Guard were among the most skilled and celebrated warriors in ancient history.

Unfortunately, the royals became mistrusting of the guards. They began to fear that the guards were too powerful after kings started to use them for assassinations and raids. They began to fear the guards would try to seek retaliation for the dishonorable missions they were given.

So the royals tried to kill them off. They sent them on impossible missions, and set them up for failure at all turns, but the Praetoriani did not die. When the royals were unsuccessful, the orthodox church excommunicated them and disbanded them from the kingdoms as a last-ditch effort to be rid of the problem they created...

Today

After their betrayal centuries ago, the Praetorian Guard became dormant, a whisper of the past and nothing more. But recently there has been an awakening amongst their members. A new Praetor has risen and seeks to reunite them and set right what was done to them so long ago.

Known only as the Praetor, he seeks to rebuild the guard and reclaim their rightful place in the world through strength, wisdom, and honor. But to do this, he must first realize those traits in himself...

The Praetor

An old man, by the world's standards, the Praetor is probably in his late 50s. He dresses humbly, and usually for ease during traveling. He is always seen with his walking stick in hand and his sword on his hip. He owns only one hat and jacket, they are both something a poor Roman might have worn hundreds of hears ago, and they are both tattered and worn with age.

He has trained his entire life to be fit of body and mind. Driven my his knowledge of the past and a desire to set it right, he trained under many arts.

To some he may be considered a master of battle. He has skillful knowledge of unarmed combat, as well as many weapons from the simple, yet effective swords of the east, to the complex and deadly fire arms of the west; though he prefers to use a simple katana when he must.

However, there is more to him than mere physical might; he is a scholar of ancient lore as well. He speaks fluent Latin, the language spoken by his forefathers, and he has working knowledge of the mysterious and powerful magics once used to rule continents.

His magics are vast and efficient. He's learned to manipulate the energy that flows through everything in order to achieve whatever his goal would be. Through the words that he speaks and certain signs he may enact his will over the physical world and bend reality to suit his needs. This is a tiring strain on his body and mind, but through meticulous training he has gained the ability to sustain his fatigue over long periods of casting; this means he can cast for a long time, but afterwards he will feel the effects.

He is driven by a desire to see the Praetorian Guard return to honor, and there's not much he does that doesn't forward that goal. He is human, so he has his own personal quirks, but if you try and stop his mission, you will surely find yourself in a bad situation...

The Challenge

He decided to face the Challenge as both a test and a necessity. The Praetor realized Vffekt would be a difficult obstacle once his guards were again assembled. He thought about joining forces and acting as his body guards, but it is doubtful that a being such as Vffekt would need his services.

Should he fail the challenge and be destroyed, then he is not fit to lead the Preatoriani. If he should survive, he will prove to himself that he is ready and his guard will once again stand watch over the world; anything more than that is simply an added bonus...

[Vffekt]

Alright, it seems pretty much everything is here. Except, is he only capable of physical combat? If more, please, give a brief overview of some of his other primary abilities. Also, would he have a purpose of defeating Vffekt's battalions, or Vffekt himself? Perhaps to gain Vffekt's knowledge, or some power to further his goals, or even to simply put a stop to the seemingly horrible violence his armies are causing?


Edit: It's be fine to be purely melee, I'd just like to know if there's any more to him.

[vagabond]

I edited my profile.

I added a little bit more about who the Praetorian Guard is, why the Praetor accepted the challenge, and to answer your question: he uses magic *nods*

However, there is more to him than mere physical might; he is a scholar of ancient lore as well. He speaks fluent Latin, the language spoken by his forefathers, and he has working knowledge of the mysterious and powerful magics once used to rule continents.

[Vffekt]

A little more specific. Just Arcanery in general, basic spells of every element? Also, his motivation!

[vagabond]

I edited to make his magic a little more in depth. As for his motivation, he is motivated by a desire to see the praetoriani rise again. He accepted the challenge to prove to himself that he's ready, and to scope out Vffekt in case he has to face him again some day.

[Vffekt]

Sounds alright then, you may start a thread called "Challenge: Character Name" whenever you're ready. You can either request that I make the introduction, or as I prefer, you create a situation your character would be in, either casually or in persuit of those that speak of Vffekt.

[vagabond]

*nods* thank you, but that brings me a few more questions.

Should this begin -at- the challenge, or do you like to play events leading up to that?

Also, is there any more information about V himself, or his challenges that my character may know? I ask because the Praetor wouldn't do into this blind, he would research his opponents. He would look at people who tried and failed, and figure out where they may have gone wrong and such.

[Vffekt]

Sounds alright. "The Goal" Section tells you about Vffekt, and as for the Challenge itself... Vffekt basically randomly goes at any person whom would want to participate, or are at least worthy of the oppurtunity. It usually begins with Vffekt/Vicious arriving on the head of one of Seven Inferno Drakes. The smallest one is your first challenge.

If you want events to lead up to it, start with them, even if I shouldn't start my Challenge in the next post, and I'll help guide your character in the right direction.

Exactly how I do each Challenge is always unique, but it may be wise to go have a glance at Orias' Challenge so far.

[vagabond]

*nods* I see that much, but I suppose my question is more what he's been doing since his return? Did he set up base somewhere, does he attack people/villages randomly? and how does he usually approach his challengers?

Oh, another question before I forget, can there be an OOC thread for people to talk to each other about everyone's progress, where the games are going, and to give feedback and ideas? Or should all that go in the Character Progress thread?

[Vffekt]

Well, he himself has no base, but he has several extremely vast armies stationed all over the world currently, each branching out in smaller armies to destroy only the leadership of kingdoms, and not to conquer them.

He himself also doesn't attack villages at all, and only his forces attack the capitals of kingdoms, single assassin Demons, specifically the Ninjitsu-Style Wind Demons, to the less savory regents of smaller kingdoms.

Vffekt gathers the forces, gives them purpose, and directs it through his Brigadier Generals, but he's seeking those worthy of him individually, and challenging them rather than randomly attacking them.

[vagabond]

Holy response, bat man oo that was quick... Did you see my edit?

*nods* very interesting. it sounds like the Praetoriani could make good money already... if they could stand up to his armies at all that is >>

[Vffekt]

His armies are extremely powerful, and each General is an absolute monster of powers, though most are Demons that resemble humans so much as to seem weak among demons.

As for your Prologue, I love it. And also, I like how he's centered around it but it avoids him. Maybe if he did something worth Vffekt's attention, or indicated in a way that Demons would find out about, that Praetoriani still exist, Vffekt would show personal interest and finally make an appearance.

[vagabond]

*nods* Thank you. I have a personal affinity to characters who watch and calculate. My girl friend hates it ><

Oh, are we (players) allowed to post comments in other player's profiles?

[Vffekt]

I love calculators and thinkers, they're always the ones that win in the end.


Also, yes, comment on any you like, except Challenges themselves.