Rio Barcemora

Mobile Navigation | Discord Things aren’t always as they seem in the bustling city of Rio Barcemora. With a civil war that threatened to tear the entirety of Avintiva apart only two years past, and the sudden influx of technology changing every aspect of life for its citizens, the delicate balance of treaties, deals, secrets, and power lies in the balance.

[etherealacademia]

small antique photo store in niagara on the lake

[lulilak]

i’ll watch them unravel you

credit : @nonalimmen

[freddieardley]

The broken shore interrupted photographed by Freddie Ardley

[lulilak]

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy

[lulilak]

what’s the cure for eternity...?

[shalomamme]

st stephen’s cathedral in vienna

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: UTP

Gender: UTP

Fealty: The Southern Kingdoms

Occupation: Traveling bard/Assassin

FC Suggestions: Tom Burke, Maisie Williams, Clemence Posey, Francois Arnaud

“When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”

While you may look human you are anything but. You are Fae, and as such you are loyal to your kingdom above all else. The humans wish to wield magic like a weapon, to bend it to their will and dominate it the way they have the earth and the seas, but they are dabbling in things that go far beyond petty squabbles for power or land. 

You’ve been sent to The City of Dreams as a spy and have gotten a position in The Basstel’s chorus in order to fulfill your objectives. Your directions have made it clear that you’ll find an ally in the leader of the rebellion, but you care not for their fight to install another inefficient monarch on the throne. You’re far more interested in the apparent silence from the Unseeing gods, and, if the opportunity presents itself, completing your real task of assassinating the mad Prince Dussier, stopping the inevitable war before it can truly begin.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Rebel Leader- It’s almost sweet, how much they care for their banished prince, or it would be if it wasn’t causing them to view the Orolésian dynasty through rose colored glass. They’re a capable leader, a passionate speaker, and they would do well to come back with you to The Southern Kingdoms once Rio Barcemora tears itself apart. 

The Paladin- You’ve been smuggling information and war plans back to The South for quite some time now. You had figured the rat to be a tailor, maybe, or a servant, but never a Paladin. You’re not sure how much you can trust him now that you’re in the same place. You know his secret, but he knows yours as well. 

The Fairy- They know you. They really know you. Your essence calls to them and theirs to you, the link that all fae have with each other through The Tear connects you. You can feel where they are at times, even while waking,  and it’s often that you’ll find yourself unintentionally diving into their dreams. 

  The Bard IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 30-40

Gender: UTP

Fealty: The House of Orolés

Occupation: Former commander of the prince’s Calvary. Current leader of the rebel forces.

FC Suggestions: Aaron Tveit, Gemma Chan, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Clara Paget

“A tardy vengeance shares the tyrant's guilt.”

There was a time when you believed The Church was just, Rio Barecemora was fair, and the gods smiled upon Avintiva, but you believe these things no longer. The war was fought, the people suffered, the family you swore fealty to was slaughtered like animals and a false prophet now sits upon the throne. 

Now, separated from your love, you’ve vowed not only to reclaim his throne, but to make those who dare stand against the house of Orolés pay for their sins. The rebellion grows in the outer settlements across the realm and you’ve come back to Rio Barcemora for the first time since your stunning defeat in the Battle of the Petty Lords nearly two years ago to gather information on the false prince’s war plans. 

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Banished- You grew up close to the royal family, being of nobility yourself. You found love in the true prince, and while his duties led him away from you it was obvious to all that you two shared more than just a bed. You stayed by his side as the commander of the prince’s Calvary during the civil war, but once it was clear that the tribunal had abandoned the Orolés’, you took it upon yourself to send the prince and his sister to the southern kingdoms in an attempt to halt the wholesale slaughter of the ancient house. 

The Clockmaster- You can do nothing but grit your teeth when you see them falling asleep during meetings. You depend on them far more than they depend on you, after all. You’ve got your suspicions that they’re playing you all and every time you step into the clocktower you hold your breath for just a moment. So far nothing you feared has come to pass. You still think their obsession with consumption is a bit odd, and you’re certainly not risking good men on a mission doomed to fail to save people who are probably already dead, but you won’t let them know that.

The Paladin- They wear the colors of the flags you’ve dedicated your life to seeing burned. Their hands wrap around the hilt of a sword wielded against everything you love. Where once the gleam of their armor may have meant hope, now you pray it melts around them. But you’ve seen the looped scrawl of their penmanship on letters feeding you information, little tell-tale signs they can’t hide even when they’re trying their best. Of all of your sources, they might be the most useful. Hate is a complicated thing, you find.

The Rebel IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 30-35

Gender: male/nonbinary 

Fealty: House of Dussier

Occupation: Ruler of Avintiva 

FC Suggestions: Sam Claflin, Douglas Booth, Jesse Lee Soffer, Regé-Jean Page 

  “You may my glories and my state depose but not my griefs; still am I king of those.”

Without you, Avintiva would have already been on the road to ruin. The pirates that ride the southern tide had hounded Rio Barcemora for decades and the members of house Orolés were either too incompetent, or too timid to do what needed to be done. Since the war, and since the integration of fae technology and magic, the pirates have all but been eliminated. Once again Avintiva has taken its rightful place as the powerhouse of the midlands, home of the Old Gods, and seat of the most powerful house in the realm. 

You brought the city into a golden age, you brought industry to the people, you calmed the seas, you, and you alone, have what it takes to rule in this new age. The time of the Unseeing Gods and their church has ended. You alone will wake the Old Gods, and with their power you will ascend to divinity. The only thing that stands in your way is the Fae Kingdoms of the South. 

 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Fairy-  If it weren't for the ancient blood covenants made between the living gods and the fae herself, you would have had her killed long ago. Her work collecting and studying arcane artifacts has put her in direct odds with you multiple times now, and you can tell that she knows more about what you’ve discovered than she lets on. 

The Speaker- While completely delusional, the man is a valuable asset to you. Half insane and slipping further and further into consumption with every visit he makes deeper into The Tear, you’ve come to realize that he serves your purposes well. 

The Duke of the Willows- There’s something wrong with your dear friend, that much you can tell. You had thought that paving the way for him to take up his Duchy would give him a sense of safety and stability, especially with the whispers around court that spoke of him being sent to tend to the military camps in the northern wastes. You simply could not stand for that, and if a few of his house needed to die for him to be safe and by your side, well, that was a sacrifice you were more than happy to make. Even so, when you see him staring blankly into nothing during court, you can't help but wonder where the bright, mischievous boy you once knew went.

The Prince IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 35-45

Gender: Male

Fealty: The House of Orolés. The Unseeing Gods.

Occupation: Former Prince of Avintiva. Current factory worker.

FC Suggestions: Harry Lloyd, Henry Cavill, Eddie Redmayne, Charlie Cox, Mark Stanley

“Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.”  

You may not have been the most tactically minded man, nor the best at diplomatic affairs, but you loved your country and its people. You still do, more than you can express, which is exactly why you couldn’t just abandon your beloved city. 

Retreating during the war had been one thing, a necessity to ensure that at least one member of the house would survive, but it’s been two years now and the talk of returning has dwindled to nothing in the south. This is one thing you cannot stand for. You will retake your throne, with or without anyone else's help. You’re not as helpless as people assume you to be and through your wit you’ve gained passage on a ship back to Rio Barcemora, as well as a factory job for once you get there. You know there are still loyalists in the city, that the embers of rebellion haven’t died out just yet. Soon you’ll reveal yourself, but first you need allies. A paladin is expecting you and has offered you as much protection as he can grant while he’s stationed within the city walls. 

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Rebel Leader- You love them, truly. You have since you met as children. They protected you and if they hadn't been below your station according to The Church, you would have easily taken your vows as soon as you came of age. But that was never to be. When your father died you begged The Rebel to run away with you. You pleaded with them to allow you to abdicate the throne to your sister, but they told you they could never abandon their city, and furthermore, they could never abandon the gods. 

The Paladin- You know the Paladin is a loyalist, and you know he would be killed if that information were to come to light. You’ve been attempting to make contact, even going as far as to dabble in dealings with beings that inhabit The Tear to send him messages, but so far you’ve gotten no sign that he’s aware of your presence within the city.

The Spare- You love your sister, you do, but she’s always been strange. You can remember hearing your parents speak of her deteriorating mind when you were a child, and your own memories of her staring blankly out the window of the East Tower for hours as an adult. You had begun to believe she was being overtaken with possession the last time you saw her, but that was years ago.

The Banished IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 27 (ageless)

Gender: physically female, metaphysically nonbinary

Fealty: no one

Occupation: N/A

FC: Summer Bishil

“Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.”

You have wandered the lands of this place in so many forms now that they’ve all begun to bleed into each other. You’ve come to find you enjoy the madness and chaos that comes with an identity built upon a river of memory. You are beyond recorded time, more primal than the very dirt beneath your feet. Where there have been men, there have been desires, and where there have been desires, there you have been too. Some call you a demon, the Priest certainly thinks as much, but you like to think of yourself as no more demonic than those who give you life. For, do we not all desire? Is the desire for peace truly a sin? The desire for joy, a crime? 

Humans are much too simple to understand such things, usually. All but one. Clint understands you deeply, and you, in turn, understand him the same. In fact you understand his soul much more intimately than even he realizes. 

But there is a time and place, and for now it is no one's desire for such things to come to light.

 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Cowboy- It may be because his soul and yours are made, literally, of the same thing. It shows, sometimes, that his soul is that of something great and ancient, at least, when you drag it out of him. You would never leave his side, for by his side is the only place you desire to be. 

The Priest- He knows what you are, though he will not put voice to it. He visits you in The Tear while he sleeps sometimes, and while the first attempt had been him trying to exorcise you from the body he believed you had possessed, he has now come to hold a sort of begrudging respect for your “self-control,” as he so kindly puts it. You know he’s in over his head, both with the boys in his care and the demons of his own that he hides. 

The Duke of the Willows- The man has a new connection to The Tear, and maybe that’s why you were the first to find him in his dreamscape. He’s scared, you can feel his fear, and his desire for safety and stability keeps pulling you toward him. You’ve seen the ravens surrounding him, and you know he doesn’t have much time.

The Spirit IS CURRENTLY CLOSED

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 40+

Gender: Male

Fealty: The Church

Occupation: High Priest

FC Suggestions: Pedro Pascal, Oscar Issac, Mahershal Ali, Eric Bana. must be POC. (Preferably latinx.)

“Now, the day of the LORD is coming–cruel, and full of wrath and fierce anger…”

You have never known anything other than the City of Dreams, and more than that, you have never known anything other than the walls of The Basstel, the largest cathedral in all of Avintiva. You were born with your mark, a harsh rune on your cheek that called you to service to the gods. 

You have never known something to be as true as the scripture, not in all your years. The magic that flows through you allows you to commune with the gods in your own way, and your connection to The Tear is stronger than most within the church, aside from the Tribunal themselves. It’s because of this connection that you know The Prince’s plan to invade the southern kingdom will lead to destruction the likes of which Avintiva has never seen. The realm will be destroyed, and it seems as though you’re the only one who can see it. A cruel twist of irony for a blind man.

 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Cowboy-  You sensed the Dawneaters surround him and that girl, that thing. You had thought it too late for them both and then, in a moment, you felt power the likes of which you doubt you’ll ever feel again. Like one of the gods themselves had exposed themselves to the world. You fell into the Tear and there you saw the outline of the boy’s spirit. You’re not exactly sure what he is, and you can tell he has no idea what he is either, so you’ve taken it upon yourself to find out. He’s not exactly Cavalier material. He’s a little too rough around the edges to fit into the marble halls of The Basstel, but he’s too much of an unknown to be left unattended. 

The Fairy- You’ve known her for a long time, most of your life, actually. You spent most of your youth reading what you could before the consumption took your sight and anytime the church needed an arcane expert, there she was. You’ve become close throughout the years and you’ve sent for her specifically to see if she can help you get to the bottom of your cowboy-shaped powder keg.

The Mermaid- You’ve been told your entire life that the fae were born of something older and greater than humans, and that as such they were not in possession of that which they craved most: a soul. Somehow, though, when you speak to this girl you hear not a siren's song luring men to their doom, but a girl, young at heart if not in body, who yearned to be a part of something greater than herself. That, you could identify with. You’ve only spoken a few times, during chance run-ins in the Lower South Splitem, but if anyone has a soul worthy of being saved, it’s certainly her. 

The Priest  IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 25-35

Gender: male

Fealty: The Church. The house of Orolés.

Occupation: Personal guard to The Priest

FC Suggestions: Tom Austen, Michiel Husiman, Joel Kinnaman, Gaspard Ulliel 

  “It is my duty, and mine alone, to save the earth. If it is not saved, then I alone am to blame.”

The first thing anyone tells you when they meet you is that you look just like your father, and that much is true. With your stark white hair and steely eyes, you can see why people would have a hard time distinguishing between the two of you. But where he’s cold steel you’ve always been red-hot iron. Being the sole son of the Head of the Tribunal guard, you’ve always been expected to meet high expectations. You’ve taken your vows seriously as a Cavalier and taken your duty to guard The Priest to heart, but you can’t help that when you’re alone, your faith wavers. 

More than that, you believed in the Orolés. You’ve been feeding information to the Rebels in exchange for confirmation that the surviving twins are safe, and you’re not sure how much longer you can continue to betray the nation before you’re caught. 

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Priest- You’ve been assigned as his personal guard, and as such you’re technically not supposed to question his decisions. The truth is you’ve found yourself in The Lower South Splitem more often in the last few weeks than you ever had in your life growing up in the city. You’re not sure what he’s doing there, but sometimes you get the feeling that you both have a personal investment in keeping tabs on the house of Dussier.

The Cowboy-  You simply can’t stand the man, if he could even be called that. He’s uncivilized and easily distracted and so obsessed with that girl that you’re sure he’ll be horribly maimed in his Cavalier initiation, which would be best for the realm in general, in your opinion. Still, your first meeting had left you with the rusted barrel of a revolver pressed between your eyes and the image of the sloppy, demure cowboy with unnaturally glowing eyes burned into your memory.

The Speaker- Before you were The Priest’s guard you were The Speaker’s, though he was but a member of the lower clergy then. His sudden rise to such a position of power was surprising to most of those within the Cavaliers, but your job was never to question The Church. You heard enough of his mad rantings during your time together that you try and keep a wide berth between you two. But with how close he’s become with The Prince, you’ve become increasingly suspicious of his intentions.

The Paladin IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: physically 20-30. Actually 500+

Gender: female

Fealty: The Old Gods. The Southern Fae Kingdoms.

Occupation: Arcane scholar

FC Suggestions: Zendaya, Ana de Armas, Karen Gillan, Lana Condor.

“I am free and that is why I am lost”

You’ve been studying the arcane since you were young, not that you can remember your creation. You, like all other Fae, arose fully formed from the depths of the land, imbued with magic that flows through you just as blood rushes through the veins of the humans that surround you in Rio Barcemora. Usually you only spared a thought to the trade city if you were called by the Orolés in an advisory capacity but now that the Orolés are gone, and with the eruption of magical technology, you’ve made a home in the city of dreams. 

You’ve been studying the phenomena of consumption closely, and your work has put you at odds with the new ruling house, not that it matters much. Your status as a diplomat would make it an act of war to try and harm you, and if that wasn’t enough of a deterrent, the magic you wield acts as a better sword than shield. Mostly you’re concerned with the seeming lack of communion between the tribunal, the counsel, and the Unseeing Gods. 

It’s never a good sign when living gods go quiet and you’re sure the Dussier’s have something to do with the strange turn of events. 

 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Speaker- Seeing as you’re technically still beholden to answer any questions The Church may have about the arcane, you do have to interact with the man, but that doesn't mean you enjoy it. Between his rambling and his deep paranoia, you usually end up with a pit in your stomach anytime you further his knowledge. The last time you were called to his wing of The Basteel you noticed he was in possession of runes in the old tongue. You’re not sure where he could have possibly gotten them, and the fact he’s been asking more and more questions about the nature of the Fae doesn’t bode well for Rio Barcemora.

The Bard- You have no clue what the kings in the south are thinking, sending someone like The Bard to Rio, especially with the city as on edge as it is. You had thought the end of the civil war would have caused the southern kingdoms to further isolate themselves, but The Bard’s presence suggests differently. You’ve had a few run-ins with the assassin before but you’ve luckily never been their intended target. 

The Priest- It’s a rule of thumb to never trust anyone in Rio Barcemora, but you do trust one. The Priest is a good man at the end of the day, noble and strong in spirit. You can tell he truly believes in the things he preaches and you’ve grown a deep respect for him. In fact, he’s the only one you’ve trusted enough to tell of your concerns with The Speaker.

The Fairy IS CURRENTLY OPEN  

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 30+

Gender: Male

Fealty: The Church. The House of Dussier

Occupation: N/A

FC Suggestions: Andrew Scott, Ewan McGregor, Edward Norton, Christian Bale

“The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.”

Outside of the sacred tribunal and their precious counsel you are the head of The Church, even if those around you refuse to treat you with the reverence you should conjure. As Speaker ,you are the one to act as the gods’ tongue but the gods have been silent, locked away in the northern hills, and you have nothing but rising tithe requirements to show for it. You have been ostracized from your brothers and sisters in the clergy. The isolation is maddening and you’ve come to accept there is a conspiracy against you within the wicked walls of The Basteel. Sins has seeped into the hearts of men, into the hearts of the very gods themselves. 

The church has been corrupted, you can see that now. The Prince has shown you the truth and you will follow him into the new age of man.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Prince- The Prince has offered you refuge within his home in exchange for your personal counsel. He trusts you and sees that you have seen the truths hidden within the sacred texts. He’s a man of deep faith and you want to help him in any way you can.

The Cowboy- There’s something strange about the boy, but you haven’t been able to quite put your finger on what it is. You’ve seen visions of a figure that fits his shape in your time exploring The Tear, but speaking to him has only served to fill you with a vague sense of pity and an earnest disgust. You’ve never been able to stand those from the outskirts and he’s a perfect example of why. 

The Paladin- You spent so much time around the man in white gold armor, at times it felt like you were simply alone. Sometimes you would force him to look over your writings, simply for the acknowledgement your work meant something to anyone at all. You haven’t seen him much since your ascension to your current position, but you find yourself looking for him about the city regardless. 

The Speaker IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 25+

Gender: Male

Fealty: The House of Dussier

Occupation: Duke of the Willowlands. Royal advisor to the Prince. 

FC Suggestions: Reeve Carney, David Corenswet, Jack Lowden, Tolga Saritas, Calum Turner

“Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting that would not let me sleep.”

There was a time when you would have seen the prince as more your brother than those men who shared your blood, but that was long ago. He took you under his wing when you were just a boy and you spent more time in the Central district than you ever did in the Willowlands. It was maybe because of this that you felt so unprepared when you got the news on The Prince’s new telegram that your family had been all but slaughtered. A Dawneater attack, they said. They had torn through the ranches on the outskirts of your family’s lands with such ferocity there had been no chance to send word to the house estate. You wondered if that was the truth of the matter, as you fell to your knees upon the ashen ruins of your childhood home.

You’re the Duke of the Willowlands now, a title you didn’t think you would see until you were older and wiser. Your fear of ruling led you to seek out the mysterious woman you had heard of dwelling in the Lower South Splitem, and though she gave you the knowledge you sought, you weren’t aware what the cost would be. You’ve been getting visions, and the mark that sometimes glows in the cradle of your palm has marked you for death. The ravens tell you that you will fight in their war, and now you’re terrified they’re right.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Prince- He trusts you more than most of the members of his own house but since your visits to The Lower South Splitem, you’re not sure you’re the best person to be his most trusted advisor. You’ve barely managed to stop your own lands from falling into chaos, and while The Prince seems content to brush off the domestic unrest bubbling just under the surface, you can see it’s just a matter of time before the city begins to tear itself apart. You’re not sure if you want to be present when it does.

The Spare- You loved her, once upon a time. She was quiet and demure and if it was not for the civil war, you two would have one day wed and tied together your houses. You’ve led the prince to believe she was killed, and you were the one to do it, but you couldn’t bring yourself to do much more than toss some coins her way and turn so she could run. You’re not sure if she’s alive or not, but you think of her often. 

The Lady of Many Faces- She offered you clarity and you were too naïve to realize everything in this city came with a price. Now she too has clarity, a clear look into your mind, your heart, and your soul. It’s all hers now, or so she says. You sometimes see ravens pecking at your window now, and you know that she’s watching.

The Duke of the Willows IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[rio-barcemorahq]

Age: 25+

Gender: Any

Fealty: The Rebellion

Occupation: Royal watchmaker, caretaker of the clocktower and inventor.

FC Suggestions: Jannis Niewohner, Dilraba Dilmurat, Ben Hardy, Garrett Hedlund, Samantha Barks, Riz Ahmed

“No Gods, No Masters.”

This city is a city of dirt, built upon sand and ash and the brittle bones of those more noble than the noblemen living on their graves. You accepted that a long time ago, along with the fact that people? They were bad, rotten to the core. No gods, no masters. That’s your motto and you intend to stick by it. You know a war is brewing, and being a part of the Orolésian rebellion is an easy way for you to keep in the know. You never particularly liked any of the high houses, if you’re being honest, nor any of their members, and so you really couldn’t care less if the rebellion succeeds. You’re here for one reason and one reason only: to free those The Church keeps in bondage. 

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Rebel- You can tell they don’t really trust you, but they would be an idiot to trust anyone in this city, so you’ve taken comfort in the fact it’s not a complete imbecile who’s leading the rebellion. You feed them information and new technology you’ve been developing, as well as provide them with a place to meet within the grand clocktower. In return you get, well, money, first and foremost, but also able bodies who are willing to do things that are less-than legal to save those The Church keeps imprisoned. Or at least, you will have able bodies to do that once you pinpoint where the poor fools are being held.

The Fairy- Being one of the few mortals within the city who have both figured out how to work with arcane artifacts and not involve yourself with the dealings within The Tear has led you to form a rather close friendship with the fae, which isn’t something you would have said a few years prior. Since meeting her you’ve become fascinated with how the fae use magic without corruption, and while the official stance of both The Church and most arcane scholars is they simply have an innate resistance to consumption, you’re not so convinced. 

The Speaker- You’ve been commissioned to make him a new timepiece, which is rather normal given your line of work. Usually you would take his specifications and have a courier deliver the final product, but he’s requested you go to his wing of The Basteel. Something about it all feels very, very wrong but you have no real option but to comply. 

The Clockmaster IS CURRENTLY CLOSED