Character Sign-Up Thread

[Dirty Chai]

- Players may have up to 2 Characters, but only one may hold titles (IE, if your noble has land, your bishop cannot, etc).
- Players may have any number of auxiliaries for RP purposes, but these characters do not have money, skills, or any strong effect on anything.

Sign up your character(s) here.

[Jokern]

House of Tre Rosor

Arvid Eriksson

Age: 23

Rank: Knight

Nationality: Swedish

Biography:
Arvid is the third son of Erik Gunnarsson from the noblehouse of Tre Rosor from the Kingdom of Sweden. With his position in the inheritance line not being the greatest, he sought honor, glory and fame out in Europe at the young age of eighteen. Arvid travelled through the Holy Roman Empire, serving various local lords in their numerous military campaigns against each other, meeting up with Father Johannes in Münich and getting in serious trouble with the rulers of Vienna after an incident at a tournament, he suddenly found himself in Venice where thousands of crusaders had gathered to be shipped out to Egypt to save Chrstianity from the heathen muslims. Arvid saw his chance and joined the crusade, thinking this would be the oppurtunity he had waited for his whole life.

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Johannes

Age: 45

Rank: Priest

Nationality: Bavarian

Biography:
Johannes, often referring to himself as Father Johannes, grew up in Münich and was one of the sons of a minor lord. As tradition, one of the sons of the house became a member of the clergy, which this time fell on Johannes. He studied hard until he one day became a priest. He is a devout believer in Christ, to a fanatical point. When he met Arvid Eriksson, he believed that if he followed this man wherever the knight went, Johannes would save the world from the evil of Satan. Finding the crusade in Venice further intensified that belief.

[Dirty Chai]

The House of Alençon



Alençon is a small town between the domains Normandy and Le Mans, and as such, has gone back and forth between English and French control for the past century, as each crown recaptures the area in their never-ending wars for domination in Normandy. In the midst of this turmoil, the lowly knight Géraud and his ancestors have continued life in their homeland, supporting the town of Alençon like the other noble families of the area.

This is the origin of the once-lowly family now known as the House of Alençon.

In Anno Domini 1199, near the turn of the 1200th year since the birth of the savior of all Christians, when many of the superstitious and heretical preached the coming of the apocalypse, the newly elected Pope, Innocentius III, called a Crusade to Egypt. His Papal bull was answered at the tournament of Écry held by Count Thibaut of Champagne, where many knights swore themselves to the cause.
The elderly knight, Géraud, feeling his age but no lack of fervor, devoted his son, Philip, in his stead, later adding on his daughter, Serena, when he realized she would be best taken care of by Philip in the Crusade. Philip was then sent by Thibaut of Champagne as an envoy to Venice, where, along with many other diplomats and knights, would broker a deal with the Republic for a fleet to take them to Egypt.

However, as fate would have it and as history knows, the endeavor now known as the Fourth Crusade, synonymous with greed and blood-lust, did not go to Egypt, but to Zara and then to Thrace, where the gem of all Europe lies, where the Gate to the East is too busy looking eastwards.




Philippe d'Alençon
Philip of Alençon



Born AD 1175, 29 years old in 1204.

Being the first son of a luckily wealthy knight, Philip was sent to Paris at a young age, where he studied Arts, Law, and Theology at the Université de Paris.
Philip sped through his studies in a matter of a few years, and became renowned as a prodigy among the students.
However in 1199, near the turn of the century, Philip was sent word from Count Thibaut of Champagne, with word that Philip's father had sworn him to the crusade.
He was nearing the end of his studies, but could not ignore the summoning of the crusade, and so unwillingly left for Champagne.
He was made an envoy for the Crusade, due to his renown as a learned scholar, and sent ahead to Venice along with many other envoys, where he worked out a deal for the fleet.

While he never truly supported any of the factions among the Crusade in an open way, Philip followed the Crusader fleet to Zara and to Constantinople with quiet indifference.
At Constantinople, before things went sour, he served as an ambassador to Isaac II Angelus, and was in the embassy that demanded that Isaac appoint Alexius IV co-emperor.

Now, he is present outside the walls and shores of Constantinople, among the folds of disheartened and angered Crusaders.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The House of de Lusignan
Cypriot Branch of de Lusignan


The House of de Lusignan is one of great prestige and highborn blood in this Medieval Era and Age of Crusades. Prior to the Crusades, the de Lusignan originated from Lusignan as Lords of Château de Lusignan around the 10th Century AD. Eventually, this local nobility of Poitou was soon elevated to Counts of La Marche and, later, Angoulême. By the beginning of the 11th Century AD, the Lusignan had gained some renown from an ancestor, Hugh VI, who died in the Crusade of 1101. They also had changed hands due to French and English wars, having their overlords become Henry II (through his marriage to the Duchess of Aquitaine, Eleanor) and later, Henry's sons, Richard I 'the Lionheart' and John I Lackland.

While a section of the family remained in English-occupied territory in Southern France, it was the efforts of an ambitious member of their family who propelled them into glory in the Holy Land. Guy de Lusignan, later known as Guy I of Cyprus and Jerusalem, became King alongside his wife, after the death of Baldwin IV. He was a valiant crusader and rich nobleman by this time, having battle experience in the Holy Lands. In 1191, three years before his death, Guy had purchased Cyprus from Richard I and was crowned King of Cyprus in 1192. Thus the de Lusignan would be tied to the Kingdom of Cyprus and her Crown for generations to come

In this present era, it is Guy's older brother and successor, Amalric/Amaury I of Cyprus (II of Jerusalem) who rules the small island Kingdom in his old age as well as the weakened Kingdom of Jersualem. And it is from these two noble Kings that the Cypriot line of the de Lusignans was born and brought into existence. And it is the existence of the Fourth Crusade that draws another of their blood to religious fervor and the glory of battle.

Bohemond de Lusignan

Age: 27 (born 1177)
Rank: Nobleman/Knight

Bohemond de Lusignan is a son of a Crusading veteran, Geoffroy de Lusignan, the youngest brother of Guy I and Amaury I/II of Cyprus and Jerusalem. The young Cypriot Frank was born into an era of religious fervor and wars that were fought across his home in the Cyprus. Bohemond had been raised in the shadow of his two prestigious Uncles and their offspring, yet admired them for their careers as Kings, Crusaders and Noble Knights of Europe. His father also held such honors as Geoffroy participated in the Siege of Acre in the Third Crusade and was formerly known as the Count of Jaffa and Ascalon.

It was this admiration for his father and Uncles that set Bohemond on the path of Guy I before him; Ambition, Glory, Fame and God. Being born into such a grand family, he was sent to Naples and Rome for his proper and formal education in theology, administration and history. His father, Geoffroy, had taught him much about combat with the sword and shield. Bohemond grew up to be a smart man and strong character, a fit descendant of the de Lusignan family.

When the call of another Crusade reached the Holy Lands, Bohemond left his family and went for the Italian Peninsula once more to join in the cause. Both of his uncles and father had been in great crusades, fighting against the Saracens and winning glory through their mission in God's name. It is through this Fourth Crusade that the young Cypriot hopes to gain the same glory and fame won by his predecessors so that the name de Lusignan may continue to ring across the pages of Crusading history.

[The Stig]

Simon di Napoli

Age: 20

Rank: Noble

Nationality: Sicilian

Background: Stories like Simon's are very common among the crusaders. The 4th son of a moderately powerful landholder in the Kingdom of Sicily, there was little chance he'd ever inheirit substantial lands of his own. Faced with the prospect of taking the cloth, living in subordination to his older brothers, or seeking fame, fortune, and title in the Holy Land, Simon eagerly made his way to Venice to link up with the rest of the crusading army. Although the sack of Zara and the following campaigns in Thrace were not quite what he expected, they were nevertheless beneficial not only to Simon's purse but also to the prospects of acquiring lands of his own from the ashes of the Byzantine Empire.

[Adamat]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Cristoforo Soranzo

Age: 22
Heritage: Venetian

Bio: The Soranzo family is a moderately wealthy Venetian family with a thriving trading business. Cristoforo, second son of Antonio Soranzo and Maria Flamini, guardsman of the trading company, was instructed to take five of the best guardsmen the company had in its employ, and seek out a Crusader lord who wished to bolster his army. Once Cristoforo had arrived in Egypt, he would abandon the crusade and establish contact with local traders to benefit the Soranzo trading company. The crusading army never reached its destination.

Unsure what to do now, Cristoforo and his men decided to stick with the crusaders a little longer, at least until Constantinople would have been stormed, reap the possible profits of sacking a city, and return to a disappointed Antonio with near-empty hands. Cristoforo, however, kept to himself that he'd rather not return to Venice.

[Lord William]

Name: Henry Neville
Age: 24
Heritage: Frankish
Biography: Born with noble blood, Henry seeks out the holy lands in search of purpose and a higher meaning

[Honors Bastion]

Simon de Provence

Age: 22 (Born 1182)
Heritage: Frankish/Occitan

Bio: Simon de Provence was born as the fourth son of Count Ramon de Provence. With three living and healthy brothers ahead of him in the line of inheritance to his father’s wealth, land, and titles, Simon journeyed from home in search of wealth and glory. At first Simon sought work in the employ of a small mercenary band under the employ of the Duc d’Aquitaine. After a few years of service in the mercenary company, Simon broke off from the mercenary company and found employment under the Duc de Champagne. It was there that Simon learned of the gathering host that became the army of the Fourth Crusade. Spurred on by his desire for wealth and power and a small amount of religious piety, Simon was one of the first knights in Champagne to pledge their swords to the cause of the Fourth Crusade.

[Lord Dread]

Serena d'Alençon


Born AD 1187, 17 years old in 1204

Being the daughter of Géraud d'Alençon and the sister of Philippe, Serena lived a more pleasant life in the Champagne while her brother was away and studied in Paris.
Though she isn't as well educated like him, she has at least learnt how to write and knows how to count larger numbers. Often she talked with other girls at her age, when they accompanied the visits for her father. Most of the housework was also done by her and knew early as a member of the lower nobility, that gaining wealth is always considered with hard work.
Due to her attractive face and her thin appearence, she couldn't be married of to a man in her youth due to her flat chest, compared with other girls at her age. Also though Géraud d'Alençon was a well-known knight, the fathers of potential husbands weren't all too interested in marrying their son to the daughter of a minor knight, who spent most of his money in the education of his son. But she didn't really mind it as she wasn't interested in marriages at this time.
As most girls at her age, Serena is very pious and believes in God and his rightful reign over humanity.
Unlike Philippe she understood the god-given task of Pope Innocentious as God's demand and didn't question the decision of her father all too much. She was sad, that she would leave her home and friends behind, but followed her brother into the Holy Land.

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

Name: Gustav Horn
Age: 25
Heritage: Swedish
Biography: Gustav is the 3rd son of a noble in Sweden. With no possible prospects ahead of him he elected to join the crusade. He is not devoutly religious. He believes in God but he knows that he has to fight and will not allow mercy to interfere. He rarely shows mercy to his enemies and is deemed a merciless bastard. Some have named him villain for his exploits. All that is known is that he is a ferocious fighter and a merciless and successful commander.

[Ganbarenippon]

Father Jacopo Orsini.
Age: 29.
Heritage: Roman.

Jacopo Orsini is a scion of the famous Roman family. A nephew to the previous Pope; Celestine III and an ambitious man in his own right. Classically educated, he was earmarked for the clergy near as soon as he was born. After the death of his uncle and the ascension of his successor, the fortunes of House Orsini were at a low in the Curia and Jacopo found that the Cardinal's hat he had coveted for so long was not going to become available to him any time soon. Thus he came East hoping to take a senior position in the Crusade. A known preacher and rabble rouser he see the Chruch as a means to secure personal power and wealth and puts his skills to his own use, with the crusade now diverted to Constantinople he now sees a chance to gain a seat of power he might never have dreamed of...

[Ganbarenippon]

Roland de Provence.
Age: 19.
Heritage: Provencal/Savoyard.

Younger cousin of Simon de Provence he grew up worshipping his cousin. In many ways the two men were like brothers, Roland being an only child and Simon being the youngest. After his cousin left to serve as a mercenary Roland devoted himself to training, determined to follow him. He is the only son of a younger son, and so knows any glory he might win he shall have to do so with his own blade. Once he heard of his cousin's taking the cross he recognised the opportunity both he and his family might have to gain wealth and prestige. A doughty fighter he is largely innocent in the ways of the world and believes that battle is like the songs and glory is to be found in the clash of steel on wood. How long he is to remain an innocent is yet to be seen...

[Celsius]

Name: Roger de Rochechouart
Age: 26 (Born 1178)
Heritage: Frankish
Family: House of Rochechouart
Rank: N/A

Roger was born in Antioch to his mother, who was the daughter of a Southern French Baron, and his father, Viscount de Rochechouart whom served under King Louis VII of France. During the Crusades, Roger's grandfather had established his family in Antioch under Raynald de Chatillon. When the Crusades began to fall apart and Christian territory began to falter, Roger's father moved him and his mother out of the Holy Land and settled in Cyprus for a while before leaving the the Latin controlled areas in Asia Minor.

While cousins of Roger hold land in France, the only land Roger has ever been entitled too is now entangled by Saracens in the East. He now makes his ways through the Latin Empire, seeking what he, while he can.

[Amaz]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Name: Folquet lo Vagador (also known as Folquet de Tolosa)
Age: 37
Heritage: Occitan, based in southern France

Folquet inherited from his father what his father inherited from his: a deep love for both the epic quest and the lyric verse. A family principle acknowledged that any man can come to the cusp of glory in battle, but only his name rides the road to immortality. It is why his household possesses a written record of his family's deeds, their cançon de la familha, whose carefully structured narrative collected the famous (and notorious) labors of his entire male line. And they were deeds worthy of record, each man having fought for the French princes who were patrons of their poetry, and each one having seen battle and having emerged bloodied - dead, wounded, but never unscathed. When his father died several years ago, the large tome that held this illustrious family history passed to him.

But when word came that a rival was responsible for the deaths of his uncles, mistakenly believing the tome to be in their possession, Folquet made the decision to flee his home in Toulouse and escape alone by sea to Corsica, then around Italy where he landed eventually in Venice, and left the tome with a family friend, merchant of little renown but troubadour of exceptional talent. The flight happened over 5 years ago. Still painfully apparent that he had no deed and therefore no quest for which to earn his pages in the tome, his friend suggested he join a crusading army headed for the Middle East.

[Gandalfus]

Tancred Mortimer

Age: 40
Ethnicity: English/Norman
House: Mortimer

The second son of the marcher lord Mortimer, Tancred moved away from england at the age of twenty, fighting in the east, the Baltic, Iberia, and North Africa against pagans and Moslems alike. Fighting for the promise of riches, little were delivered to him, and thus he has become a bitter, cynical man, even if he does still possess his tactical skills. His lack of money lead him to join the crusading army that is now marching on Constantinople in hope of finally finding lands and glory.

Tancred was, in his youth, a womaniser, and has many bastard sons and daughters littering the Middle East. Tancred now desires to settle down and find some lands to call his own. And found a line of Mortimers in Greece.

[Hengest]

Athelstan Wreak
Aged 35
English knight
Veteran of the Third Crusade, guerrilla expert and longbowman



A veteran of Richard Coer de Lion's troops and the Third Crusade; Athelstan is a strong and experienced soldier. He is one of many English noble families with Anglo-Saxon stock which have been slowly undone by the Norman Yoke. Despite following the Norman conquerors into war, he has a burning hatred for the Normans and the French. As an officer having served under an Occitan-speaking king (Richard I), he is fluent in the lingua franca. Dispossessed of his lands, like many Anglo-Saxon and Danish families in the five generations since the Battle of Hastings, he was in his youth forced into so-called robber-barony to feed his people. Branded an outlaw by rival Norman knights; finally even his name was taken from him. Fleeing into exile as a libertine he joined the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart.

Guerrilla skirmishes was his native talent in England, but under campaigns of the Lionheart this has taken on broader powers of warfare allowing him to fight in any terrain or situation even with minimal forces with stealth and cunning and guile.

When Richard turned away from Cyprus and his failed wars in the Levant, his English troops were abandoned. It took several years for the men to wander through Anatolia towards the British Isles. Some men such as Athelstan, managed to catch an Armenian sail and make for Byzantium. Still the journey homewards was horrific, men died of starvation by the hundreds or were captured and enslaved by the Moslem. The experience only fed his disgust for the Norman aristocracy that had led the army to such a fate. For the lucky few, the Fourth Crusade met them as they finally reached Europe. Hungry and poor the great knights of a hundred battles were now fighting to find their daily bread. Athelstan, as one of the few remaining English -rather than Norman or French lords- vowed never to leave the rest of the men to fend for themselves, as such they became natural leaders and commanders. Athelstan was careful enough to have kept his English horse all these years, some of his armour long at war had been repaired with elements of Saracen and Armenian strips and plates. His linden-wood roundshield had continued at his side but without the native English wood and instead the boss and rim had been remounted on Syrian cedar countless times.

Athelstan dreams only of wealth and making a name for himself so that he may return to England and reclaim his birthright. His byname derives from Old English wrecca "wretch, stranger, exile," and Old English wrecan "avenge," originally "to drive, drive out, punish". His original English baronial title and family name long made irrelevant by his sorrows and hardships in far-off lands.

[Xion]

Lorenzo Orisini

Age : 25 Heritage : Italian (Specifically, Roman) A member of a lesser branch of House Orisini, Lorenzo was educated in the typical style of a Italian aristocrat focusing mostly on mercantile affairs and how to wage a shadow war against mercantile or political rivals without attracting any attention that could be unwanted, like the guards. Having been informed by his cousin of the mercantile and other chances for influence, not to mention Jacopo becoming one of, if not the most influential clergyman in the new Latin Empire, has lured Lorenzo from his small estate with a few retainers to try and take over the markets of the east.

Still a wip.

[Zeus Almighty]

Ricco da Monte, 23
Venetian

A Venetian of humble origin, he was a traveler for much of his life. His family farmers turned traders, one day while in the market he heard of the gathering for the next crusade. As he journeyed to join its ranks, he promoted the cause he moved to join, he helped locals in exchange for room and board, he even slew a wanted criminal or two. Everywhere he went his conviction and righteousness struck a cord among men. He now travels with men and boys from all over his route. Ricco may be talented with a sword, though very raw, but he is charismatic above all other things, and many are drawn to his light.

[m_1512]

Strategopoulos

Isidore Strategopoulos
Age: 35
Heritage: Greek

Former captain of the guard cavalry. Isidore was raised in Constantinople, trained by his father to some day take his place in the guards. When the Latins broke into the city, Isidore was knocked unconscious in the din of battle and stowed away by loyal soldiers, fortunately. Surviving the sack, he now wonders what the future would hold.

[Alexandrine]

Philippa de Lusignan

Age: 20 (born 1177)
Rank: Lady
Heritage: French

A proud member of de Lusignan family, Philippa relied heavily on her relatives. Unlike her brother she was not send abroad to get a good education. She was educated at home by her lady mother. Her father once held the titles of count of Jaffa and Ascalon, but relinquished those titles when he left the Holy Land. He returned to Jerusalem when his brother became king there. Thus Philipa was raised in Jerusalem.
There she bloomed into womanhood. But not everything was as she had hoped to be. She became a lady-in-waiting to the queen of Jerusalem, a position she held with great pride as it made her feel powerful and influential. Philippa had only a few admirers, for a young maiden of noble birth, she was considered not very pretty. In fact her looks are rather plain. She wasn't considered a very good match, since her father held no position of power nor did her looks her any good. She had a two proposals of marriage, but reclined both. Both were mere knights. and Philipa stated she only wanted to marry a ruler, feeling that she was entitled to that, being a member of de Lusignan family. No more offers came for her however.

Fearing she would end up an old maid, she encouraged her brother to make fame in the next crusade.