Posts from Sylvester Archipelago

Hmm. Tell me about the social strata in Heliotrope then.

The society is structured around clans. Numerous different clans compete for dominance over each other. Within each clan, there is a hierarchy dominated by a warrior elite. It is possible to climb the social ladder from the very bottom if you have the appropriate skills and abilities and if you somehow prove yourself. There are elves who are unable to interact with the Shadow. They are at the very bottom, doing all sorts of menial labor. These individuals have almost no chance of rising up.
Something like this:
Warriors - spies/assassins - slave traders - ordinary merchants - everyone else.

The game hasn't even started, and I've already messed up by choosing the Dark Elves.

I would like to learn more about the mentality of the Letians, as well as the specifics of their culture and traditions.

For about 500 years, no one has moved from the Letian Kingdom to the countries of the confederation. The Letians who once moved from there fled their own culture and traditions, so they successfully forgot them, and their mentality became very similar to that of the Madians.

I can’t seem to write a coherent backstory; I’m completely blocked.

Write something nonsensical and say that it's a stylistic choice.

Sarael

Amidst the night sea, the burning lamps (torches?) on the deck of a lone ship were the only source of light within the impenetrable darkness. On another occasion, this might have attracted unwanted attention from other ships, hostile ones at that, but today luck was on the side of the Histheosians—or so they thought. The weather was also very favorable; the sea remained calm, and the wind guided the vessel in the direction they needed: away from the islands of Heliotria. Their hold had been replenished with new slaves, and now they were returning home.
“A good catch,” one of the Histhean warriors said contentedly, looking for his future concubine. He was the strongest on this ship, and therefore he had certain privileges. Closing the hatch behind him, the warrior went out onto the deck to breathe in the night air. No matter how skilled he was in combat, the Histhean could not resist an unexpected attack—a Heliotrian who was standing behind him effortlessly slit his throat from ear to ear without any noise, after which he threw him overboard. The remaining sailors perished in a similar manner—Sarael and several of his companions cleared the ship before dawn, after which they directed it back towards the islands.
From a young age, Sarael developed into a professional killer and worthy warrior, possessing all the necessary skills for such a career. By the age of twenty, he carried out such assignments regularly, but this differed from the others: the next day, one of the would-be female slaves came to him, wanting to thank him for saving her life, and since Sarael always enjoyed the company of beautiful women, he did not send her away. This ended with them living together for two years, after which the young assassin broke off the relationship when he found out that the girl was pregnant. Sarael never liked tying himself to people, whether through friendship, love, obligations, or anything else. He simply floated down the river called life, enjoying what it had to offer. Tired of his native islands, the assassin set out to travel the world.
Fifteen years after this, while Sarael wandered through the city-states of Halehid, the Heliotrian clashed with a wandering master of the art of death. The sorcerer unleashed his undead minions on the assassin, intending to take his life, but without success: Sarael managed to destroy them all and then kill the necromancer. On that day, the Heliotrian received a severe head injury, as a result of which his memory, reaction, and perception were greatly affected. Despite this unpleasant event, Sarael continues to travel to this day, and it is for this reason that he decided to join Lutiel Cleverface’s group.
He has a twenty-year-old daughter, Saella.

He met her several years ago when he briefly returned home. Their relationship is ambiguous.
Origin: Heliotria:+5 to dexterity; free knife throwing skill; additional skill - shadow step: the character gains the ability to hide from an enemy in the shadows of any object, as well as the ability to move over short distances using the shadow of any object.
Beliefs: Lord of Shadows: +5 to dexterity and perception; free assassin skill.
Characteristics:
Constitution: 15 (+5)
Intelligence: 10
Strength: 20 (+10)
Dexterity: 40 (+20)
Speed: 15 (+5)
Willpower: 10
Perception: 20 (+5)
Skills: one-handed weapons (VI), thief, first aid, knife throwing, shadow step.
Equipment: two short swords, dagger, throwing knives, medkit, lockpicks, etc.

Just let me know if something seems off. I'm still not sure whether I'll play as this guy or create a cute sorceress.

And in Lakelia and Seveseptim, is the same Fortress located, or what?

Is the same Fortress located on the border between Lakelia and Seveseptim, or is it something else?

That's correct, it's located on the border between these two countries.

Persuasion: The character can persuade the target to do anything (x2).

I don't quite understand how this differs from mind control. For example, can you persuade someone to go and hang themselves?

Let's say, is it possible to convince someone to go and hang themselves?))

In theory, yes, haha. But generally, it means that you can use persuasion, deception, trickery, or provocation, etc. Mind control requires mana, and I'll let you in on a secret: it won't work on some NPCs.

Biography:
***
A small village in Septimia. His home. He is about four years old. His father, recently returned from the quarry, sits in an armchair and smokes a pipe. His mother tends to his sick sister. An ordinary evening in an ordinary family. Suddenly, there's a loud knock at the door. "Probably the neighbors. What do they want at this hour?" grumbles his father. "I'll open it."
Suddenly, a heavy kick breaks down the door. Four armed men in snow-white clothes burst into the hut. And hell begins.
The newcomers drag Werner's parents away and begin searching the house. One of them enters the room where Werner and his sister are.
"Sir, there are children here," he shouts. "What should we do with them?"
"Hmm," another one enters the room, "Take the girl too, just like the others; she's too old. But as for the boy... He will forget. We'll send him to the monastery north of here. Alright, I don't think we need to stay any longer. Let's go."
"Yes, sir..."
***
The Monastery. A dim candle barely illuminates the cell. He is sixteen, devoutly praying before the icon of the Creator. Over time, the monastery has become his home. He has forgotten his past life, forgotten what happened twelve years ago... Within the walls of the monastery, he found peace, realized that his calling was to spend his life in prayer and service to God...
Suddenly, someone knocks on the door of his cell.
"Come in," Werner murmured, breaking off from his prayers.
One of those who entered was the abbot of the monastery; Werner had never seen the second person before.
"Werner, I must talk to you. This man's name is Maximilian; he is a recruiter for the Holy Inquisition."
Out of respect, Werner bowed to the recruiter.
"During your time at the monastery, you have served the Creator with incredible zeal, and I decided that out of all our novices, you are worthy of becoming one of the Inquisitors."
"Will I leave the monastery forever? But..."
"My son, this is a great honor. You cannot refuse."
"I understand. When do I leave?"
"This evening..."
***
He is twenty. He is in the residence of the Holy Inquisition, closing a book describing the life of Saint Emmerich.
"Sir, may I ask a question?" he asks his mentor.
"Ask."
"This man," Werner pointed expressively to "The Life of Saint Emmerich," "killed and tortured hundreds of people, and now he is recognized as a saint. How? How did they allow it?"
"You see, Werner, although the Creator's commandment forbids taking a life, sometimes it is necessary, and even right. Sinners and godless people are unworthy of life; they betrayed the Creator and must be punished. Do you understand?"
"I understand," replied Werner. For the first time in his life, he lied.
"If we follow this logic, then the first ones to be killed should be all members of the Inquisition, who have stained themselves with the sin of murder," thought Werner. Nevertheless, he doubted the Inquisition, but not the Creator...
***
He is twenty-four. He is at the residence of the Holy Inquisition, talking to his mentor.
"So, Werner, I think you are ready. It is time to send you into the world so that you can bring the light of the Creator to the barbarians. May He protect you during your journey through this sinful world, and keep you from temptation and vice..."
***
He is twenty-seven. He has been traveling the world for three years, preaching the truths of the Creator to people. In recent months, Werner spent some time in R'lyeh, and in these lands, the missionary had an especially difficult time. But neither wandering on steep mountain slopes, nor the incredible cold, nor a near-fatal attempt to convert mountain trolls to true faith could break his spirit. By the grace of the Creator, Werner reached the city of Sjyotoyukyr, and who knows where the path will lead the missionary next...

Nationality: Septimian
Faith: Church of the Creator
Characteristics:
Constitution: 22
Intelligence: 10
Strength: 16
Dexterity: 20
Speed: 10
Willpower: 27
Perception: 10
Skills:
Persuasion
Armor Proficiency
Scout
Luck
One-Handed Weapon II
Equipment: falchion, chainmail armor, prayer book, travel journal, writing supplies, camping gear.

Added after 1 minute
I might change the picture later and edit the bio; for now, it's like this.

Here's another question, maybe I just missed it. So, it turns out you can heal allies who are in invisibility, and that's not considered a harmful action, right?

There's another question, maybe I just didn't notice. So, it turns out you can heal allies who are in stealth, but isn't that a harmful action?

Why isn't it a harmful action? It harms your opponent...
And seriously, this is cheating, and I'll balance it out; you'll only be able to heal yourself.

Added 1 hour 28 minutes ago
Alex, I hope I understood correctly from the description that you chose this bonus?

Bonus of the Believer: each righteous deed temporarily increases a random character stat by 5 and gives a chance for a permanent bonus to life (+5) | +5 to strength; the character has a chance (willpower) to deal triple damage to followers of other religions.