'Souls RPG 2022 Yearbook
I'm standing over here, reaching for you a million miles away, come back and stay

Loners & Creatures

As the year began, the presence of loners in 'Souls was capped by the three largest conglomerations: Oglethorpe, visitors from the south who had settled with the hopes of establishing trade, Bête Noire, a family unit running a Rest Stop in the Wabanaki Coast, and The Troupe, a tightly-knit collection of performers running another tavern, La Estrella Roja.

Unfortunately, less friendly groups roamed the land - in the north, enemies of New Caledonia rallied together to bring ruin to the kingdom. This trio consisted of The Eyes of Omni, a cult responsible for the destruction of Krokar, The Tears of Nín, remnants of Old Caledonia, and The Ghosts of the North, mercenaries promised a worthwhile reward. Though ultimately defeated, these groups left lasting marks, destroying structures and claiming multiple lives during the course of the war.

The flooding which struck in spring and the sickness which followed would likewise cause problems for the loners. The Troupe saw its oldest member, Sawyer Cook, afflicted by an illness he could not shake - one which eventually claimed his life. His death would prove to be a catalyst for The Troupe to abandon their establishment, leaving it in the hands of one of their former members, Marlowe de le Poer.

It was the passage of time which ultimately undid Bête Noire, as mated pair, Nyx and Lukos Greyfire's, disappearance (and presumed deaths) led to the remains of the group to make the decision to close the Rest Stop. Uncertain of the future, these loners made the decision to join their allies, Casa di Cavalieri.

In the south, another pair of loners - Oberyn Haskel and his mate, Makwaikwe de le Poer - sought to live as traditional wolves, and soon found they were not alone in this endeavor. By midsummer, a small collective had formed, and in October, they formally founded The Court of Fangs.

Meanwhile, the fate of La Estrella Roja would find better fortune as Marlowe began to recruit other loners, beginning with a small collective of traveling companions. Calling themselves the Midnight Krewe, the band set about re-opening the entertainment parlor.

For Oglethorpe, however, the autumn brought new challenges. When earthquakes struck the area, the band was unlucky enough to be on the section of land which split from the peninsula. Set adrift, their fates - and future - yet remain unclear...

Anders Holt

(Favorite Thread)

"Stand by your morals. Do not lose sight of yourself. You're already on a good path forward, Anders. Keep going and believe in yourself and you will succeed."

Art by Raze

Achsah

Art by Dark

Ark Coara

(Favorite Thread) (Mature)

the history of light and shadow will be written in blood

Art by Despi

Calrian Amaranthe

Never know when to quit talking, so if I could talk you back to life, maybe, just tell us what to do now. How do I stop?

Art by Mel

Elkin

(Favorite Thread)

Stepping back a little ways again, Elkin wagged his tail. "Oh yeah! You do got a good stink!" he said with enthusiasm. "I like it! You must roll around in a lot of old dead fish, huh?"

Art by Despi

Eusebia

Art by Dark

Evie

(Favorite Thread)

you were never going to sway them

Art by Nat

Hans Doran

(Favorite Thread)

Hans scoffed loudly despite the wide, teeth-filled grin that spread across his lips. "<Try not to cry tonight when it's my team that causes more destruction.>"

Art Template by Despi

Harley Domatri

(Favorite Thread)

Art by ForestFamily

Ivo Doran

(Favorite Thread) (Mature)

Panting, he smirked as he took up a fighting stance. "I have to say, you Caledonians have a knack for getting in my way."

Art Template by Despi

Jethro Lykoi

(Favorite Thread)

Jethro hadn't realized how quick to anger he was when it came to his sister, but when he saw the way Marlowe had reacted — the way his own claws had come out — he was astounded by how easily it was to slip back into old ways. Violence had been part and parcel to his upbringing. Even when they were starving, he had learned how to fight.

Art by Kiri

Johnathan Winthrop

(Favorite Thread) (Mature)

"Ah felt as, since they was makin' me mighty uncomfy on th'floor with a knife at my throat that Ah should repay th'favor in kind." A hand touched to his temple, wincing for the mirth that shook him and made the ringing in his ears louder, "So Ah started moanin' like Ah was getting m'rocks off, they didn't like that one bit, lemme tell yuh, an' implin' that they two was of a swain desire, that's what got me kicked in the face."

Art by Sanba

Laird Beautrix

Art by Dark

Landon Winsor

Absence was damage of another kind. Their mother left them early on, but not a day of their childhood went by where they didn't feel the shape of her. She became a vessel for their projections of longing and guilt and grief. Griffin's abandonment was wholly different, but worse in retrospect. He left them in his own damn soul, and Landon could never forgive him for that.

Art by San

Makwaikwe de le Poer

They put their shoulders together and turned their attention to the moon. For a while, they didn't speak at all.

One of them howled, and then the other. The chorus of wolfsong carried over the trees, and further out, towards the sea and the celestial bodies overhead.

Photo by Oshrihadad14

Marlowe de le Poer

(Favorite Thread)

There were no more wars for him, but a soldier of fortune he remained all the same.

Art by San

Miriel Morgan

(Favorite Thread)

"Ach aye," she wheezed, nodding and wiping at her eyes. "Aye, laddie, tha's not a bad idea, luckless as ye say ye aare. Nebody wins when ye end oop with th' shites from eatin' bad clams, ye ken!"

Art by San

Nikamew Sycamore

(Favorite Thread)

[...] but in Nik's mind, he hadn't meant offense, so it didn't matter what she took from it.

Art by Corie

Oberyn Haskel

(Favorite Thread)

The world was changing, but was losing their primal identities something so easily sacrificed in the name of progress?

Art by Mel

Odysseus

Biggest Ham, Loner of the Year

(Favorite Thread)

"I know who I am," the mongrel said, "and the cups only run dry if you let them."

Art by San

Polliwog

(Favorite Thread)

Polliwog was accustomed to the way that others bristled and startled when he came near. It wasn't that he intentionally came at them like a hulking brute, it just wasn't an option to come at them any other way. The scars that he bore and the body shape he had just lent themselves to "this guy is probably mean."

Art by Hydra Triangle

Rex Calloway

(Favorite Thread)

"Uh, I live out here, of course I've seen it!" Rex retorted, lowering himself down to slink around in a slow circle. "You ever out an' feel like you're being watched? It's all dark an' cold, ya can't see but you just know somethin's there. You might even see a shadow move... hear something shiftin' around." He shivered, taking a deep breath. "You get used ta feelin' like that on your own... but that's when the Gloomy tricks ya. It... tricked me once. I ignored those shadows and it ended up eatin' my dad!"

Art by Hydra-Triangle

Sabriel Kali

(Favorite Thread) (Mature)

Art by Raze

Sawyer Cook

(Favorite Thread)

The days grew warm. It rained. Grass grew tall in the Waste, and flowers began to bloom all around them. Indifferent to his suffering, the world carried on.

On the last night, he went to bed listening to the quiet voices of his companions, and had one final dream. It seemed endless.

Maybe it was.

Art by Alaine

Talbot Kingsford

(Favorite Thread)

"Please consider what we have to offer," Talbot went on. "My people and I will lead those who wish to live to a better place - a safe place - where they will protected from what is to come. They need only open their eyes to the One True God, He-Who-Is-Many, and come with me. If you are not prepared to do so, two options remain: to answer to the Lady Nín's followers, who will lead you into the new age, or to fall beneath the fangs of the Ghosts."

Art by Mel

Seaborne Wyatt

Art by Dark

Waynescott Wyatt

Art by Dark

Zsorthia Mercedes

(Favorite Thread) (Mature)

Art by Westy

Characters © Their Owners / 'Souls RPG © 'Souls Assemblage / Image from Halans at Flickr