The circle of schemes
Whispers of an underground society of shunned and forgotten might reach the ears of the unfortunate...
THE SHUNNED ones
THE CIRCLE
The Circle of Schemes is an RP community dedicated to characters that were either shunned or live outside what society deems 'normal'. Thieves, afflicted, witches, mages of certain natures, criminals, and even mercenaries can find their home in many hideouts and havens provided by those who dwell in the shadows.
Screenshot: The Groggy Guar tavern. Need a beer? Or too drunk to make rational decisions? That might be just the right place for you!
OUR PEOPLE
WE SEEK:
Mercenaries. People who have chosen this perilous career might find their home in the scruffier parts of towns and cities in search of bounties and contracts. Many hideouts will have a bounty board where one can sign up for a job, or a bar where one can share stories, and enjoy a drink or two in the company of others with an unusual nature.
Criminals. It is these sticky, greedy hands that fuel the Night Market. We need thieves, questionable merchants, shady mages and even shadier enchanters who would be willing to peddle their wares during the Night Market. An underground auction of questionable wares, and curious goods. One can help out as auctioneers, or simply sell their wares as a hook to other characters.
Afflicted. Sometimes, fate is cruel to those who wrong a Daedric Prince - or those who simply happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, or at the wrong side of the cutlery. People with strange afflictions or suffering from the curses brought upon by Molag Bal or Hircine will find their home among our many hideouts… Provided they adhere to certain restrictions that safeguard those within the circle.
Screenshot: The Safe Haven, where we host our monthly Night Market.
"Circle of what? Never heard of it in my life. You must have the wrong person... Have you seen the new axe enchantments?"
Rivras Onavra, The ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT ENCHANTER
EMBRACE THE ADVENTURE
HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
We are offering open-to public Night Market events, where illegal, semi-legal and remotely questionable wares are sold during an auction hosted in one of our hideouts.
Maybe your character had a chance to fight during Bloodworks - an illegal fighting ring and gambling den for brave and desperate...
If you wish to get involved in our stories and bounties, you might consider applying to our community! After a short interview to see if both sides of the deal are compatible, we will invite you to the community Discord. Then, keep an eye out for the events created by our community members and see how to get yourself involved!
Screenshot: Tidewater, one of the villages used as a haven for the outcasts.
OUR EVENTS
Firstly, we want to emphasize that The Circle of Schemes is a community, made by people for people. We will provide you with a setting and many hubs to build upon your own story, make friends and establish storylines. There will be no event quotas. Everyone is encouraged to participate and contribute as they see fit! As forever-DMs, we know well that nothing kills creativity more than the constant pressure of providing regular content, which sooner or later feels like a second job.
We want The Circle of Schemes to be a stress-less, no-pressure community - but also one which encourages creativity and engagement of their people.
Secondly, that does not mean there will be no events!
There will be some fixed event times, dedicated to those willing to bond and develop connections:
- Night Market - monthly auction of illicit and enchanted wares, where you can meet and mingle with people within and outside the community
- Bloodworks - monthly illicit fighting ring where your character can test their mettle against other brave (or stupid) individuals.
- Weekly Social Sundays: We will have a fixed time, every Sunday at 8 PM BST for those willing to simply come and enjoy some social rp in one of our chosen hubs. Participation is not mandatory - join if you can, join if you want - but at least you can count on a social gathering at a fixed time :)
Additionally, you can post your own events and bounties at any time on our Discord when you feel like creating some social rp or DMing! There are no limits to one's creativity - but to give you some ideas on events that will be hosted:
Adventures: the staple of RP. The good ol' adventures. Be it going through lairs of monsters, recovering ancient artefacts or murdering a bunch of perfectly innocent bandits, there will always be opportunities for those seeking out coin in exchange for some violence. The world of Tamriel is our oyster!
Treasure hunts.... hunts? Of treasure? Is the treasure running away? Does it bleed...? Huh. What a misleading name. Anyways! You are given a map and a set of riddles. Go!
Heists. Sometimes wealth has a tendency to pile up in undeserving hands. An injustice we see fit to correct. These old, rich farts won't last long enough to enjoy their wealth anyways. Why not unburden them of that trouble?
Assassinations. Sometimes you really need to see someone gone. But you don't want to do it yourself, what with all this nasty-ass blood on your hands and all. So you hire someone else to do it. Win-win? [It's a good way to get rid of an alt/character you wish you no longer play. Additionally, creating a 'victim' for an assassination job can make a very satisfying introduction to DMing!]
Other. With such a theme, encompassing so many activities, everyone can come up with many more ideas for events. So just do it, give it a try and see how it goes!
DISCLAIMER
This is a community dedicated to players age 18+, not only due to themes of alcohol, skooma, gambling, violence, but also to ensure a certain maturity and experience amongst our RPers. Both OOC and IC.
Additionally, we only accept characters of one of the ten playable races.
We do not accept custom strains of vampirism.
Be lore abiding, not lore strict. This community abides by the lore of TES universe, meaning that concepts, custom races or classes which have no baseline in the TES universe might break the immersion of those involved in RP. Please be respectful of the boundaries of others and communicate!
If you play a character with magical expertise: it is advised to play them within the boundaries of realism and with a certain degree of consideration for your team-mates. A skilled and experienced mage would usually focus on the spells of one or two schools of magicka, which follow the logic of said schools of magicka and the boundaries of lore. Alternatively, you could have a character branch out and specialize in a smaller and select array of spells ranging from multiple schools (read four or five spells). Please do not come up with custom spells or make your character know all schools of magicka, as you only limit the opportunities of other characters to shine and show their contributions
Screenshot: J'barri watches you. You don't want to upset him.
©Zenimax and Elder Scrolls Online - screenshots provided in this carrd.
The Unyielding
Rumours both in- and outside the underground, speak of a group of mercenaries calling themselves The Unyielding. Over the last months, the group has undertaken dangerous excursions. Excursions utterly unmentioned on any bounty boards and unknown to the adventuring guilds. Little is said about the group itself, with the general public left in the dark on whether the group even has a leader . To add to the vague nature of the rumours, its members prefer to carry no colours nor uniforms to distinguish them.
As the tale goes, the only thing bringing them together is their skill in combat - and a coin, with custom engraving - which they use to obtain the elusive bounties. The unique trades and special contracts are offered only in certain taverns or hideouts, rumoured to have connections to 'underground' resources...
Click on the image to see it in full size!
Our Combat system (Optional)
To make our adventures slightly less RNG-based and give our players more flexibility in personalising their characters, we are introducing an optional, simple, stat-based system, which could give us a better representation of our characters' strong and weak points!
Under this system, you could write a character sheet for your character, placing points in below attributes:
STR (Strength): how strong your character is, how good at lifting heavy objects
DEX (Dexterity): how agile your character is, and how capable of dodging in a split-second decision
CON (Constitution): how well-built and resistant to damage they are?
INT (Intelligence) how smart they are [Usually a main stat for mages]
WIS (Wisdom) how wise they are, how much life's experience they amassed and their willpower - which affects resistance to magickal mind control and so on [It's a stat usually used by 'traditional' druidic/shamanic menders]
CHA (Charisma) how charismatic, dashing and blindingly charming your character really is [A stat useful for persuasion, negotiations or seductions of dragons]
PER (Perception): how aware of their environment your character truly is [a stat for noticing lurking enemies, spotting traps, or discovering hidden treasures]
You will be given between 75-82 points to place between these attributes. The cap has been created to give characters a relatively even playing field. To give you an example, the final result should be, as shown below:Ethresi:
STR 8
DEX 12
CON 10
INT 16
WIS 10
CHA 12
PER 9
As you see, I have used 77 points. I could have used more of them to reach the upper cap of 82 points, but since Ethresi is... well. Ethresi, I thought it fitting to place her on a lower spectrum.
TRANSLATING POINTS INTO MODIFIERS
Now, we will translate these points into actual modifiers for our rolls! With the stat system, your characters' attributes will translate into bonuses (or negatives) to your d20 roll, just like in DnD!
If you invested these amounts of points in your attributes, you get:3-4 - you get -3 to rolls
5-6 - you get -2 to rolls
7-8 you get -1 to rolls
9 – 10 – you get 0 to rolls regarding this attribute
11 – 13 – you get +1
14 - 16 – you get +2
17-18 – you get +3Taking Ethresi's character sheet into consideration, that means:
Ethresi:
STR 8 (-1)
DEX 12 (+1)
CON 10 (0)
INT 16 (+2)
WIS 10 (0)
CHA 12 (+1)
PER 9 (0)Now, we are done!
During the event, let's imagine Ethresi wishes to lift a really large, heavy builder. DM will ask me to roll STR (so, her Strength!). As a player, I will roll a d20 dice and get a roll of 6. Taking into consideration the -1 modifier my character has to the STR attribute, the final result I will have is 5. Ethresi will not lift that builder!
A BRAND NEW TRAIT SYSTEM!
But that's not all!
As you see, the system allows you a maximum modifier of +3, mostly to prevent min-maxing and allow new and old players a relatively even playing field.
However, with the introduction of the new system, we are adding a trait feature - where DMs will be able to grant their players fitting traits that reflect the unique playstyle of players and award them for engagement in their stories!
The traits should be given more as a 'flavouring' to a character rather than a way to improve their attributes.
To give you an example:Following N'gato's cruel prank, where he might have given some moon sugar to one of the people of the Circle, people in the Circle trust him less - but the local moon sugar dealers that got to get some free advertising on the strength and quality of their 'wares' appreciate man's involvement in the prank.
N'gato unlocks a trait:
'Sugar laddie': You get -2 to CHA whenever interacting with a member of a Circle. But you get +2 CHA to any interactions with a skooma dealer....will it benefit him in the long run? Possibly not... but is it not fun to find out?
THE SWEETHEARTS' MARKET
When: 28/01/2023 at 9 PM CET
Where: Blackwood, Gideon
Stroll through our market!
Step into a world of romance and whimsy at 'The Sweethearts' Market'—as we celebrate love in all its forms. Make it a day's trip to see merchants showcase their finest love-themed wares, from handmade crafts, and unique trinkets that will surely capture your heart - to bootleg love potions (experiences may vary).
OOC Notes:
- We are always looking for shopkeepers willing to showcase their wares during the event!
- Same with any kind of street performer.
- Or a pickpocket.
- Using this event as an opportunity for some more or less shady deals is also perfectly valid.
Dibella's Divine Date
After an eventful day of shopping, join us in watching or partaking in our captivating street show—the Dibella's Divine Date, where a brave soul, chosen in advance, embarks on a quest for love without the distraction of sight. Behind a tasteful divider, our blind Bachelor/Bachelorette will engage in a delightful exchange of questions and answers, ultimately selecting their preferred companion. The suspense builds, and love takes centre stage as each couple is rewarded with a delightful surprise prize, which might take them on a journey across Tamriel!
OOC Notes:
- The show is pretty much a Tamriel's edition of The Blind Date! We are looking for people willing to partake in the role of a Blind Bachelor and Bachelorette, preferably one each! Depending on the number of sign-ups, we might need RNG to decide which one of the characters will be the Bachelor/Bachelorette and which one is a date!
- Do keep in mind that the purpose of this show is good-spirited fun, not creating a hook-up for your character. Use it as an opportunity to network, have a good time and establish new contacts with your character. If you believe you will treat it too seriously, perhaps it is best if you do not sign up!
- To link to the above point, we will try matching dates to the preferences of Bachelor/Bachelorette - but these might not be perfect, considering that the pool of sign-ups will be random! As mentioned above, treat it as good-spirited fun, and perhaps an opportunity for the character to develop a quality friendship instead!
- The reward for the 'couple' will be two one-way tickets to a 'romantic' location in Tamriel: Summerset, Alik'r, Morrowind, the Gold Coast or Skyrim! The characters chosen can use it as an opportunity to have some additional RP together! There will be also small IC rewards prepared for the participants who are not chosen!
OUR BACHELORS/BACHELORETTES
1: Skeever Tail Screwdriver: your drink proves rather sour but refreshing. It has long, thin strands of grass stuck in the amber liquid which is usually referred to as 'skeever tails'. [Upon drinking it, you will find your senses going sharper... at a cost of your intelligence. Me speak good? Not really. Me see good? Actually, yes. Yes you do.]
2: Broody Mary: You receive a glass filled with... small blue jellies? They taste rather good, like a mix of blueberries and-... well. They are good. It feels like they are the only good thing in your life right now...
3: Courteous Kwama: There's a strange pink jelly floating on top of your drink. It tastes like sweet childhood memories, sunrays upon your skin and sweet and delicious treats you might or might not have stolen from the pantry. It fills your heart with ease, making you more polite towards your fellow patrons!
4: Sultry Shalk Scratchthroat: Ahhhh this drink is straightforward and strong - and hits just the right spot! You are unsure if it's alcohol or your natural charm but you find yourself more prone to sharing your newfound internal and external attractiveness with others. Look at me! Look upon me! I'm AWESOME!
5: Toxic Tideweather: You had never seen a darker substance like the one now swimming in your glass. It looks like a strange hybrid of volcanic ashes and ink. But it tastes... d e l i c i o u s! [This amazing taste will stay with you for a while. You know not -why- but you find yourself happier than before, as if this nice treat made everything simply better!]
6: Romantic Redoran: ...what an odd name. But... I guess the drink -is- red. And has some little bubbles swimming in it. It tastes almost sickly sweet - and might make you more receptive or generous with any potential flirtatious comments!
7: Vicious Valor (of Indoril): your drink tastes like a mix of wine and comberry liquor. Its fruity flavour lingers on your tongue for extende-... wouldn't you say the face of a person standing near you is very punchable?
8: Atrocious ale: you are fairly sure you had never drank something that reminds you of mammoth cheese and honey - and yet, here we are. With a drink that tastes like mammoth cheese and honey. Weaker stomachs might find themselves slightly nauseated with it... but those who can hold their liquor - even the most weirdly tasting one, will find their strength boosted for a certain degree of time.
9: Cheerful cliff racer: This sweet, soft drink is easy to drink. And makes it very easy to grin..! W-wait, what? Why can't you stop grinning? And chuckling...?!
10: Vivec-approved Coitus On The Beach: Except for an odd drink name, the drink itself is rather soft, fruity and refreshing - you are fairly sure that the fruit is not local and has been imported from a more flora-abundant area. You feel... high-spirited afterwards. And find yourself in need of poetic affirmation! [For the next few minutes, your character feels a strange need to speak in rhyme - breaking off from this habit would give them a light migraine!]
11: Almalexia's Adoring Innocence: You can barely feel alcohol in it - the taste itself appears rather bland and almost tasteless... like drinking powdered water. Hnnngh [Any indecent thought that comes into your head afterwards will award you with a splitting headache!]
12: Contrarian Kagouti: This drink appears sweet and lightly spicy. You barely feel the alcohol - that is until sudden tipsiness hits you like a rampaging kagouti! And makes you-... rebellious. [You find a sudden need to argue the points of others and always remain on the opposing side in any argument. They say the sky is blue? Ha! You will prove to them it's green!]
13: Rogue Ruffian: ...the drink is strong and hits just the right spot. You might pick one of the random effects of any other drink from the list!
14: Gullible Guar: Your drink reminds you of the good old times when life was simpler and your biggest fear was that of coming home in time before parents scold you. It gives you a similar... child-like mindset too, making it far easier for others to convince you of their lies or act supportive of their ideas.
15: Visible Vvardenfell Voidrink: it is a simple, classy drink. It makes you-... wait. You look down on yourself. And you are naked. Yes. You are pretty sure you see yourself... as... naked. Where did all of your clothes go?! [The illusion only touches the impacted person]
16: (Placeholder title) Hlaalu is Great-alu: LOOK. We don't know. Hlaalu sponsored us to make this drink. So we did it. It tastes like honey and wine and this strange comberry liquor you'd expect old posh ladies to drink when they meet for gossip and tea. [Drink makes you more generous with tips and gifts]
17: Toxic Telvanni: Drink in honour of one Telvanni magister who, when experiencing a minute delay in having his drink served, decided to set the whole counter ablaze. We had to order a new one. And it costed more than at end he paid for his drink. [You feel grumpy out of sudden, prone to irritations and annoyance]
18: Dressed-up Dres Dinner Drink: ...a bit of a long name for what seems to be just a single shot. It tastes... salty. Why does it taste salty? And why does it make you act so unnaturally posh...? Hmph. Peasants.
19: Sudden Sotha Drunk: You take a sip and you know not what hit you, what struck you - but it was a smooth criminal of a beverage! How one small thing like this can get you suddenly... so... damn drunk..? And so smart? [You feel a sudden surge of very intelligent thoughts you did not expect to come from you. But... it is very difficult to phrase them out if your tongue is tied into knots from all this drink!]
20: Shy Bride: ...you find yourself blushing like an innocent maiden before her wedding night at every accidental touch and glance of other patrons...
UPCOMING CAMPAIGN
THE WOLF AND THE HARE
When: Mid-September
Where: Foundry!Illien Hareheart, the enigmatic Breton noble, has long been a prominent figure in the treacherous realm of Hew's Bane. His lavish desert mansion stands as a testament to the wealth he has accumulated over the course of four decades, primarily through arms dealing and supporting adventuring parties. With a lifetime of forging both alliances and grudges, Illien's world is suddenly thrown into chaos when he receives an ominous letter threatening his life at the stroke of midnight on his 60th birthday.
In a desperate bid to preserve his existence, Illien takes a bold step by organizing a grand ball to celebrate his milestone and ensure his protection. Extending invitations to various groups of mercenaries, he promises a share of his vast fortune for whoever uncovers and apprehends the would-be assassin before the fateful hour arrives. As you find yourself among the select few invited to this opulent party, you must navigate the intricate web of courtly intrigue while constantly keeping an eye out for potential threats from both the hidden assassin and rival mercenaries who would gladly eliminate their competition before the final chime of the clock...Will you be able to outmanoeuvre your adversaries, unravel the mysteries that surround Illien Hareheart, and ensure your survival before the bell tolls?