Art courtesy of @MonMarty Ability Spreadsheet Core Concept ‣ Howland von Moritz is a devout Dogmatic Unionist who specifies worship in God-Emperor Allest, God-Emperor Alexander and the Everwatcher. ‣ Howland von Moritz is a fanatic Kade loyalist and a Viridian Knight jaded by what he feels is society's abandonment of the Emperor. Spoiler: Possessions ‣ Viridian Dogtags indicating Howland's year of graduation and rank. However, he also possesses his mentor-knight, Sera Aldrich's, dogtags, and had a private smith commission unofficial tags for his would-be squire, Lauffrey; both of which Heinrich wears alongside his own tags. ‣ A blacksteel longsword granted by his uncle Leopold von Moritz. The longsword has been blessed by Taal to depict light visuals of Viridian Knights throughout history. ‣ A brown leather bag with bronze clasps that holds Howland's notes and documentation. ‣ A money pouch of 90-110 Regals. ‣ A simple, silver ring with a sunflower and dandelion printed inside, worn around his neck. Spoiler: Character Study Howland von Moritz is a Viridian Knight troubled by the former code of Charlemois who struggles to divine the true purpose of knighthood in a city he feels has left the old ways of honor and tradition behind. Howland prefers to solve problems with words than violence, and follows the virtue-ethics of the Code of Ehrenhof with some shortcomings. At a glance, Howland is stoic, distant and even crass. However, he is genuine, thoughtful and looks for the best in others–and is willing to work to bring that best out. The knight always has an eye toward fairness and even-dealing with others. Howland does not overemphasize complimentary statements and he does not lie. Howland believes strongly in accountability for himself and others, with a heavy emphasis on forgiveness, penance and rehabilitation once that accountability has been achieved. Howland is most comfortable in settings where he can grasp structure and objectives, and he resents a lack of communication, control and belonging to a station. Howland prefers to fall under the command of others, and to advise from the background. However, if the chain of command is unclear or falls apart, Howland will disregard it entirely and create his own rather than face the chaos. Howland prioritizes austerity, dignity and poise in all social settings; while he is the first to show genuine concern for commoners, he keeps them at a distance and insists on formality in almost all contexts. Howland believes Regalia is the best political entity in Aloria, and holds firm that there are no such thing as other states–merely failed imitations of the Everwatcher's vision that need to be uplifted or conquered so its people may be saved from tyranny, corruption and a lack of civilization. Howland grew up learning the old Viridian Code of Clair-vous-blanc, which shaped a worldview that resulted in suppression of emotion in favor of proffering a masculine and glorious appearance. As a consequence of trauma suffered in the course of executing his duties as a knight, Howland projects a near-tyrannical sense of overprotection of those he cares for, including commoners beneath his rule, rather than surrender control and allow others the freedom to be harmed--or worse-yet, taken from this world. Howland is a tough-love, but nonetheless loving, friend and an oppressive yet warm lover. Around friends and in private, Howland will loosen up and employ sarcasm–even if it is not funny. Politics Howland's political ideal is a Regalian Empire governed by an Emperor who compassionately wields absolute power over the nobility and common class. He prefers a competent yet politically neutered nobility that is unable to sabotage the empire through greed and immorality. While Howland insists that commoners know their place and that nobles know theirs, he sees it as his duty to help them overcome their moral problems, and encourage them. Howland prefers high taxation and high amounts of social welfare to help the common classes. Finally, Howland prefers a world without magic at all--but understands that it is not as simple as simply outlawing magic. He sympathizes to and pities Arkenborn and mages born with magic, and wants to encourage the proper education of mages toward his ideal; that magic should responsibly be used to save lives, and not for menial tasks or gratuitous showmanship. Howland used to be more active in politics, in an era where his fellow aristocrats held more considerable power over the course of the Empire. He saw it as his duty and obligation as a Viridian Knight titleholder to retain political power and wield it against those who would threaten the Emperor's power. But he allowed his politics to drive his direction more than the Code of Ehrenhof. Now that the nobility is more or less neutered, Howland reflects in contempt for his habits, cynicism, and smarmy involvement in the backdoor deals of the Empire, nonetheless maintaining his actions constituted evil necessity of the times; just as Viridian Grandmaster Jean-Bapstiste Kustenau did. Howland favors: ‣ Knights ‣ Wirtem culture ‣ Regal culture ‣ Those in authority ‣ The centralization of power ‣ Dogs ‣ Lager or dark beers ‣ Dignified interactions ‣ Nobles Howland is apathetic or conflicted about: ‣ Cultural traditions ‣ Most liquors ‣ Magic and aberrancy Howland dislikes: ‣ Blasphemers, profaners and traitors ‣ Gratuitous demonstration of skill or ability ‣ Magic ‣ Mercenaries ‣ Excessive drinking ‣ Knights and nobles who betray their image Life Story ‣ Heinrich von Moritz was born Jan. 21 281 AC to Aldobert and Fronika von Moritz. ‣ As a child, Heinrich was sent away to a foster home during a time of internal conflicts in von Moritz lands. He grew up on a hamlet at the edge of a great Opper Calem wood until he was seven, and taken to the Viridian Order for education. He began going by the childhood nickname "Howland" at around this time. ‣ Howland spent his childhood and early years learning and growing as a Viridian Knight. He was often scorned as a bastard due to not knowing his parentage. ‣ Upon graduation, Howland assisted the Viridian Order in the Short Elven War, the Anahera Occupation and the Deathling Crisis. He was not present at the Viridian Castle when it was destroyed, and instead was fighting Anahera forces elsewhere in the archipelago. ‣ Howland arrived in the Regalian Holy City in 309 A.C. at the announcement of the resurgence of the Elven Empire. Spoiler: FULL LIFE STORY ‣ Jan. 21, 279 AC: Duke Aldobert von Moritz and his future duchess, Fronika, gave birth to Heinrich von Moritz. Heinrich was sent to a foster family in the Heartland Ceardian parts of his fathers’ realm, where he adopted the name “Howland,” which he still colloquially uses today. Heinrich grew up not knowing his parentage, and other children mocked and ridiculed him as “the black crow”. ‣ 286 AC: A Wirtem paladin named Sera Aldrich escorted a seven-year-old Heinrich to the Viridian Castle for enrollment as a page, unknowingly paid for by his estranged family. ‣ 291 AC: Howland became a squire, and began prioritizing the use of a sword and shield under the supervision of Sera Aldrich. Beating peers in sparring matches became a form of leverage against ridicule, leading for him to be known by others as “The Black Crow”-- a form of ostracization towards the supposedly low-born bastard who nursed a crow familiar as a pet. ‣ 300 AC: Howland graduated from the Viridian Order. While some of his peers held out resentment toward the aloof and egotistical knight, many younger knights looked up to him--including the page named Lauffrey. ‣ 302 AC: Howland deployed in the Short Elven War alongside his mentor-knight, Sera Aldrich. He came to despise Elves for both the use of magic on the battlefield. He graduated the Viridian Order following the conflict, but remained by now-Paladin Aldrich for the following years. ‣ 303 AC: Howland joined Sera Aldrich against Anahera-led forces during the Anahera Usurpation. The 24-year-old helped rally and uplift straggling soldiers and the two knights joined with Reginald Kade V’s army in securing the archipelago. ‣ 304 AC: Howland fought in the main city against the Lo occupation, and stood by Sera Aldrich as the paladin died in the conflict. Meanwhile, the rest of the only family he knew perished in the Deathling sack of the Viridian Castle, including his prospective squire, Lauffrey. ‣ 305 AC: Howland celebrated the coronation of Emperor Cedromar Kade I, one of his greatest heroes. He took to the new Code of Ehrenhof on the surface, but very poorly understood the code due to the fact the code was implemented after he already graduated. ‣ 305 - 308 AC: Howland participated in the Dread War and fights against the Velheimer rebellion. ‣ 308 AC: Howland played a small role in defending towns and hamlets against the Clicker Crisis invaders. In-game events: ‣ Jan. 22, 309 AC: Howland arrived in the Holy City on his 25th birthday in response to the return of Talea. ‣ Feb. 7, 309 AC: Howland entered the service of Milena Cadieux. He later left, and entered a romantic relationship with her, before ultimately cutting it off. ‣ Mar. 16, 309 AC: Howland became drill sergeant of the Violet Order, attempting to instill lessons of humility, diligence and dignity. He experienced robust pushback to his authoritarian and dogmatic style. ‣ Mar. 22, 309 AC: Howland swore himself to protect Marie-Paule Delmotte after she was maimed on the battlefield. ‣ May 11, 309 AC: Howland became Lifeguard Executive under the Defense Ministry, and began instilling his dogmatic values of honor into house guards and palests alike. ‣ June 1, 309 AC: Howland inherited his sickly father’s title and estate after legitimization. ‣ June 17, 209 AC: Howland met his hero, Cedromar Kade, and discussed Viridian Knights, Knight’s Sickness and the Code of Ehrenhof. As a consequence, he began to adopt a less dogmatic view of the Code, which leads him to contend with his own shortcomings and stoicness, beginning to open up with others. ‣ July 25, 309 AC: Heinrich entered a courtship with Rowena Bancroft, seeking closer ties with House Kade. ‣ Aug. 8, 309 AC: An Arken cursed Howland with Sanguinism before God-Empress Ness appeared days later and purged his body of the curse, alongside Abelhard Petrou. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Front Gate Officer for the resistance, and grew closer to individuals like Haeddi van Hal, Carmen Vincenzo and Cadwyn Marth. Around this time, his courtship with Rowena Bancroft dissolved. ‣ Sept. 30, 309 AC: Howland led retinues of knights to cure vampires upon the reappearance of the Sakrosankt in Old Town. Howland took a more proactive role in maintaining the security of the resistance camps, in the process dissatisfying many to maintain a protected haven from Vampires and Cahal alike. ‣ Oct. 15, 309 AC: Howland fought under the command of Grand Marshal Valarosta de Azcoissia to recapture Greygate from vampires. This, in conjunction with other city-wide events, led to the end of the Lich Occupation of Regalia. ‣ Nov. 3, 309 AC: Howland filed the first of many incident reports on the conduct of House Castley in relation to the Lifeguard Office, cascading into a series of events that lead to a high trial. ‣ Dec. 16, 309 AC: After weeks of preparations, Howland, Viggo Sorenvik and Acelina Litvinova emerge victorious in a high trial against Theopold Castley while presenting very little evidence; the Castley’s contempt of the judiciary and of the peerage results in the house being found guilty of all charges, and being sent to permanent exile from the Empire. ‣ Dec. 23, 309 AC: Howland entered a formal courtship with Hera van Hal. ‣ Feb. 11, 310 AC: Howland dissolved his courtship with Haeddi van Hal. ‣ Feb. 12, 310 AC: Howland is appointed to the position of War Minister, and immediately sets to work attempting to signing feudal armies into a coalition under the government that could later be reformed into a centralized military. Prince Frederick's military reforms later propel this stonewalled effort to completion. The first part of his term in office is mired by indecision and temptation toward dishonorable acts in the name of protecting the empire. ‣ May 5, 310 AC: Rowena van Fryse and Fabienne du Poncaire publish a denunciation citing indecency between Howland and his house physician, Petra van der Kleij. Howland ultimately fails to exonerate the doctor of accusations of impropriety. ‣ June 3, 310 AC: Howland successfully court martials Yngvarr Viduggla, removing him from the position of markmarshal. ‣ June 6, 310 AC: Howland, proposes to Petra van der Kleij as a final measure to attempt to recover her dignity and honor--and his. ‣ July 6, 310 AC: Howland lovelessly marries Petra van der Kleij during a lukewarm wedding among friends. ‣ July 10, 310 AC: Howland witnesses the attempted assassination of Emperor Alexander I, who was revealed to have been replaced by a Slizzar plant. Howland nonetheless attempts to avenge the Emperor, before being beaten brutally by the Bralla-Bronn occupiers. ‣ July 10, 310 AC: On behalf of the Empire, Howland declares war upon the Bralla-Bronn High Command in response to its attempted assassination of the Regalian Emperor and occupation of the Regalian Holy City. Howland proceeds to assist in aiding resistance movements, and becomes recklessly devoted to saving as many people as possible. Throughout the invasion, Howland was shadowed by an evil clone, and was turned old for a few days, before coming out of the occupation closer to his wife than before, and perhaps a little more noble in heart. ‣ Sept. 4, 310 AC: Howland court martials Tarlok the constable. Rather than delivering more harsh punishment, he exiles the Urlan to Crookback to give him a second chance at being a civilized member of society. ‣ Sept. 18, 310 AC: Howland is honorably discharged from the position of War Minister. ‣ Oct. 5, 310 AC: Howland investigates Erwin Braunschweiger for "mistreating" the Occult of the city. ‣ Nov. 22, 310 AC: Howland begins more aggressive attempts to cull the city's populace of disloyalty to the Empire and Crown. ‣ Jan. 17, 310 AC: Howland participates in the "Night of Remembrance," beating Crookback residents on the orders of Princeroyal Frederick Kade, and confronts Senira seemingly whisking away Crookbackers who oppose the Crown. ‣ Jan. 21, 310 AC: Howland von Moritz files a report that leads to the ostracization of Archon and the firing of friend Trent Nathamlanne from the Lord Commissioner of the State Metropolitan on corruption charges. Spoiler: RELATIONSHIPS Idolized: My OC will bend-over backwards to justify their actions as absolute moral perfection, and will obey any instruction. Absolute unquestioning loyalty. ‣ Alexander Kade ‣ Dominic Kade ‣ Frederick Kade Family: Ride or die. Utter emotional vulnerability. Significant loyalty. ‣ Brunhilde von Moritz ‣ Petra von Schwarzkrau ‣ Gabrielle von Schwarzkrau Friends: Cared for. Somewhat emotional vulnerability. Loyalty and confidence in. ‣ Markus Delmotte ‣ Otto Delmotte ‣ Kristoph von Drachenburg ‣ Joanna von Duerr ‣ Wilvamair Arnyn ‣ Eleanaire of Jophael ‣ Lyonel Deceres ‣ Tuija Vikstrom Liked: Appreciated. Minimal emotional vulnerability. Supportive of, but not necessarily loyal to. ‣ Cedromar Kade ‣ Constantine Kade ‣ Madelyn de Azcoissia ‣ Dietrich von Drachenburg ‣ Merowald Risberg ‣ Amelina Peirgarten ‣ Erwin Braunschweiger ‣ Trent Nathamlanne ‣ Fabienne du Poncaire ‣ Osric Howlester ‣ Maddox Vaughn ‣ Bethan Annwyl Acquainted: Indifferent. No emotional vulnerability. Supportive of like goals. ‣ Abigail Tucker ‣ Vivienne Guentyr ‣ Gyrivenn ‣ Maiyusa ‣ Sivrid Sorenvik ‣ Viggo Sorenvik ‣ Kaya Sorenvik ‣ Tarlok ‣ Gehrman Gahan ‣ Anathema ‣ Senira ‣ Haqet ‣ Heishan ‣ Florian du Poncaire Spoiler: Howland Art. Howlart, if you will By @Carlit0o By brokemycrown By @MrsCripple By @Scribbe
So sorry for the wait! Here's my review: Proficiency I'll note here that the investment caps for the Core Group is 20, the Talent Group is 10, and the Hobby Group is 15; as such, please bring your Sword Combat down to 20 and your Frontline Command down to 10 (this should free up 3 Proficiency and 5 Talent points for you to invest as you please), as well as removing the second mention of Frontline Combat under Writing Art. Additionally, please notate which of your point investments are Talent, Hobby, and Proficiency investments! This makes it easier to total out how many points have been spent. Personality The opening question of your Question List, Happiness and Contentedness, still has its template entry, but every other entry looks fine! Please add an entry for the first prompt. This is all I have to ask of you! Please mark your edits in red and @tag me when you're done. Happy editing!
@Scribbe I've aged Howland to 28 years old, refocused him into combat that I feel is more appropriate for his activities and personality, and added some activity to his life story to add some substance. I request a quick re-review.
This is my only point of review; as a Drahl, Howland's Body Stat is capped at 30. Please amend this, then you'll be good to go!
Revamped the personality and life story, changed Ailor lineage, shifted some points around, etc. I'm seeking Lore Staff review, preferably from someone who has not previously reviewed this application.
Claimed and approved. Except, please fix your Physical Stat. Puretek does not give Physical Stat. You also no longer have Strength Training. Please tag me when you have made these changes.
Rewrote personality, tweaked proficiencies and condensed entire app. I am seeking a Lore Staff member who has not previously reviewed this application to take a look! :)
These table sheets are SO aesthetically pleasing. Looking mostly good, though I spotted one discrepancy. Howland is listed as having a Heerstepper mount, whilst only having two Charisma which is invested in the State Commander (State Leadership) and the Stupid Luck Pack. Unless I'm missing something, I'm not quite sure how you got this mount, so would probably remove it. @Tag me, and let me know what you end up changing.
Thank you : D Prior versions of this character build worked under the auspices that you automatically get a mount in progs just by having two charisma on your character sheet. Was there a change where I have to specifically invest points into the mount husbandry pack to receive a horse in progs? Thanks for the quick response.
As far as my understanding goes, I don't think it worked like that before either? But, I can see where you might've been confused given it says: "The Mount Husbandry Pack allows a Character to own a Mount. By default, this is just a regular Horse." But I believe this means if you have purchased the pack, and you have 1 Charisma, you have a horse regardless of your race/culture (unless you are a Kuat-Allar, who get the pack for free). But if you have 2 Charisma, then you get access to the racially specialized mount.
You currently have Ithanian and Calem listed as languages, though you can only have one language in addition to Common if you have no Language Packs. I'd recommend probably just stripping Ithanian out, or re-investing in the Empire Linguist Pack, which I think you had before. @Tag me when you're all set.
Oh hyello. Sorry for the wait, Halloween does as Halloween does. Horse looks good, as do the changes. Re-approved!
Updated abilities. Shouldn't have been enough to warrant re-review under the <5 ability change rule but feel free to re-review at your leisure. @ezalB
