Tempest:The Shade War-Interest Check and World Building

This is closed to new people who have not shown interest before at the moment Finallized Character List: [1]

Contrary to popular belief, the world did not end December 2012. It was impossible for the world to end, for the Earth’s existence was an endless cycle, forever balanced by the concepts of Yin and Yang. But one day, long after 2012 was forgotten, this balance was broken. No one knows exactly how this happened, for many records of that time were lost in the chaos as the Earth was literally torn asunder. Volcanoes erupted and quakes shook as the tectonic plates shifted much faster than normal, forming and breaking continents under people’s feet. Major cities were destroyed and countries were wiped out of existence. Many people died in the initial breakdown, and the ones who were left struggled to stay alive.

After what could have been many years of constant change, the land finally settled down into two main continents, a few islands surrounding and in between them. Magic released by the broken balance had warped this new land, subtly changing the creatures and humans into something greater. People started to rebuild their societies, the cultures of old blending together to create new ones with new names. Eventually, order was established by two dominating societies. On the larger, eastern continent, a powerful group of people conquered large amounts of the available land and formed an empire based heavily on a mix French and German cultures: The Solar Empire. Afraid of being conquered by the new empire, the people of the smaller, western continent banded together to form a group of democratic states with a government based upon American and the United Kingdom's cultures: The Lunar Republic. The two ruling powers had a sort of tension between them, but there was never an outright conflict before.

A little less than a thousand years after the original apocalypse, the President of the Lunar Republic and the Emperor of the Solar Empire finally grew tired of the other’s encroaching on their claimed lands and went to war. The war stretched on to twenty years, extending even into present day.

The emperor’s son has grown tired of the constant fighting and the resulting destruction, and seeks a possible solution to the Shade War. Realizing his father would not approve of his plans, Imperial Prince Sol decided to secretly gather a group of mercinaries and explorers willing to help him accomplish the now dangerous task of travelling across the continents.

Here's a rough map that I plan on adding to as we go along: [2]◊

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So yeah, this is your basic fantasy RP, with different species and races serving as classes. Each class has it's own strengths and weaknesses, along with certain magic affinities they have access to. Keep in mind that the technology level of this RP is barely Victorian, with a fair amount of steampunk thrown in. The most advanced transportation devices are the train and the steamboat, and they're technically still prototypes.

I still haven't worked out all the intricate details about all the world's cultures and exactly how combat works, but I was hoping to get those ironed out here. I'd like to get the religeous system finalized here too.

Classes:

Humans- The most balanced class with decent strength, defense, speed, and magical prowess. They are capable of possessing any of the six magic elements, but can usually only use one. Exceptions are known as Wizards, who can use all six elements( Can't be played as unless I find a way to balance it. They may appear as NP Cs though). Can be found all over both continents, and all islands.

Golems-The Tank class with high strength and defense, but low speed and magical prowess. They are creatures made of minerals soaked with magic from the environment that came to life in a humanoid form, like large moving statues that can be from six to ten feet tall. Man-made Golems exist, but they are difficult to produce and are pretty much slaves to their masters with no free will. Their only weak spot is their core, held in the chest area and protected by very thick "skin". A golem can only use Earth magic. Can be naturally found in mountaneous regions and any place with lots of ground and minerals.

Pyros/Kitsune-The Glass cannon class with high speed and magical prowess, but low strength and defense. They are highly intelligent fox creatures split into sub-species: Pyros and Kitsune. Both can take human forms if they choose to do so, but retain their eye and hair color. Pyros look very much like regular foxes, coming in multiple fur colors, but they possess the ability to produce and control flames. They can even burst into flames as a defense mechanism. Obviously, they use only fire magic. Kitsune are well…kitsune. They can have multiple tails and are often pure white in fur color. They specialize in Balance magic, often using it to create illusions and shape shift into creatures and objects. Large Populations of Pyro have settled in the desert region of the Solar Empire, and Kitsune often gather near the Empire's west coast and western islands.

Mountain Reithes- The lightning bruiser class with high strength and speed, but low defense and decent magical prowess. A race of satyr-like people that settle in the mountains, the top half human and the bottom half ram. After sixteen years, they stop physically aging, but mentally continue to develope. The only things that continue to grow are their curled ram horns. The bigger the horns, the older the Mountain Reithe. They are used to thin air and can move quickly on rough terrain. Mountain Reithes live on muntains at high altitude.

Seachildren- The fragile speedster/lightning bruiser class. They are the latter when fighting in the water. High attack and decent speed, high magic and low defense. There are two subclasses: Porpoises and Sharks. Porpoises are half dolphin or whale/half man, while Sharks are …half shark. Their names are often puns on what breed of dolphin or shark they look like, and they ar physically built like mermaids except they retain their doral finn. Sharks can breathe underwater, but Porpoises can hold their breath for long periods of time. They are extremely good swimmers and can use magic to gain legs and walk on shore, but they can dry out if out of water for too long (about 12 hours at a time). They can also use magic to turn completely into a dolphin or shark, with their strange rune tattoos on their skin to tell them apart from real ones. They use primarily water and electric magic. Seachildren live on every coast and oceanic body of water, usually in small pods.

Gale Hounds-Playable Gale Hounds are actually humas that have been cursed to take the form of a beast, a trait that passes down in their blood now. Another lightning bruiser class. They are high in strength, decent in magic and speed, and low in defense. Gale Hounds in their beast forms look like a cross between a bear and a wolf, having large muscles and the ability to coordinate attacks with others to take down large opponents. They howl at the same frequency as quckly blowing wind, making it hard to tell the two sounds apart. Only another gale hound can tell the difference. They take human form when the sun is up and forcefully shift when the moon rises, but they keep their I.Q. level. They heal at a slightly faster rate than humans and other species, except for Golems. Both forms have heightened senses. Their element is Air. Natural Gale Hounds live in the forests of the Lunar Republic, but cursed ones can live anywhere.

Ninjas/Assassins- Jack of all trades class. Humans of a certain culture who have studied the body and the soul to become a little more than human. They can sense magic in the air, have heightened sight and hearing, and are known for their stealth techniques in battle. They wield traditional ninja weapons and tools like makibishi spikes, poison, and smoke bombs. They are very hard to hit when there’s lots of cover around.(like a thick forest or tall grass). They can also have all six magic types, calling it Ninpo (ninja magic). They have hidden villages on remote islands, the largest ones on the west coast of the Solar Empire.

Crusaders- The Wall Class. Highly religious priests and priestesses willing to enter the battlefield to protect people. They are gifted by whatever particular God they worship with higher defense and magic, but low attack and kind of low speed. The magic they use is very defensive as well, buffing other allies’ defense and countering attacks. They can use grabs and throws for physical self defense. Capable of using all six elements, but is best with more traditionally defensive magics. Can be from anywhere.

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Elements of Magic: Each magic has a subcategory that can be specialized in, but they can both be mastered with enough time.

Fire- Temperature control and Projectiles

• Temp Control: Controls the heat of matter you are in contact with. Melting solids and evaporating liquids. Adept users can cause spontaneous combustions and localized explosions at a long distance.
• Projectiles: Summoning, controlling and launching fire in multiple forms. Can create streams, fireballs, and other shapes. Power and temperature of attacks increase with training.

Electric- Shocking and Piercing

• Shocking: Can control bursts and streams of lightning to shock opponents and charge electric objects. This eventually can go long distance.
• Construct: Can infuse electric into objects and body parts to gain the piercing power of lightning. Eventually you can drill through solid stone with a spear or a fist. Can also be used to create objects out of lightning, acting as physical constructs.

Wind- Push/Pull and Slicing

• Push/Pull: Controls wind that can…push and pull things, creating air barriers and vaccums. Later on, you can knock over trees and suck up enemies with whirlwinds.
• Slicing: Sharpens and directs the wind, creating invisible daggers and blades of air to launch. It can be sharpened to even cut through stone and create tornados that slash the opponent to pieces.

Water- Shape manipulation and Tension/summoning

• Shape manipulation: Control and change the shape and flow of water, forming whips and tidal waves from standing liquids. The stronger the skill, the more water can be controlled at once.
• Tension/summoning: Can increase or decrease water tension, making even raindrops and mist deadly weapons. Water can also be pulled out of the air or ground if the environment supports it.

Earth- Minerals and Metals/gems

• Minerals: Can control and shape any form of pure dirt, from desert sand to solid stone. It can be used for attacks, defense, or even to just make platforms. The heavier the dirt, the more magic it takes to move it.
• Metals/gems: The same as above, except with metal and valuable ores. You can even track down metals in the earth by sensing it. Controlling metals is useful while fighting in areas with no regular earth, like in a fortress or on the water. Same weight rules apply.

Balance- (Only two subcategories can be mastered for this one, so choose two that you like the most.) Time-space, Psychic, Alchemy, and Healing

• Time-Space: The ability to bend the fabric of reality to a degree. Can be used to move from one point to another instantaneously by altering space(teleportation). Can also be used to change one’s shape and mass (transforming). Can open other dimensions to store and remove things from (summoning).
• Psychic: Altering another’s state of mind to believe something that isn’t real (illusions). Using mental concentration to move things in the physical world (telekinesis). Planting suggestions in other’s heads for them to follow (hypnotism). Focusing and honing in on someone’s specific thoughts (mind-reading)
• Alchemy: Using a complicated system of symbols called seals used to “direct” Balance magic, alchemy can change the molecular structure of objects. This can range from creating potions from plants, changing lead to gold, and even for something as simple as locking a door. Seals can be written or carved with anything on any surface, but blood conducts magic the best. Already prepared paper seals can be carried around and attached to things for a more convenient method of alchemy.
• Healing: Magic is pushed into injured or ill living things to cure or mend them. This can purge sickness, poison, burns and if strong enough, curses. It also heals cuts, scrapes, internal bleeding, torn muscle, and broken bones (they still need to be set first.) This requires physical or very close contact.

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I am also willing to discuss tweaking classes and elements to work better in the RP if you think something won't work right when executed. This is my first RP, so suggestions for improvements are welcome.

edited 24th May '13 2:43:46 PM by ScorpioRat

Color me interested.

Probably interested. Also, Lunar Republic and Solar Empire? For pony!

That was a hilarious coincidence, considering the most sacred animal of the main religion is a Pegasus. I swear, I didn't do that on purpose!

Looks pretty neat.

"The literal meaning of life is whatever you're doing that prevents you from killing yourself." Albert Camus

I think I'll join this.

When the night arrives, I'll be there, waiting to strike.

You know I'm already going to say I'm joining.

"I am nature's weapon. You are unfit to carry on your species, and I shall ensure that you do not do so!" - Charles Darwin, XCOM Sniper

Anyone have any questions and concerns so far about the elements, classes, or different cultures?

No questions from my end.

When the night arrives, I'll be there, waiting to strike.

So I guess I'll post my tentative sign up sheet and answer questions as they come.

• Name(try and make the name make sense based on the nationality you pick):

• Species/Class:

• Gender:

• Age:

• Nationality(pick a country to descend from, this can affect your appearance if you want to):

• Appearance and clothing (including all starting armor and shields):

• Starting Weapons (Describe it in words or use a picture):

• Other Equipment (not necessarily combat oriented):

• Element Affinity:

• Starting Sub Element Category:

• Personality:

• Continent (Lunar or Solar side? You can even pick the middle islands or offshore in the ocean)and Hometown (ask me if you want me to make a town that's not on the map, and I'll make an appropriate one):

• Backstory (talk about family and friends, and your character’s motivations):

edited 21st May '13 11:47:45 AM by ScorpioRat

Consider me interested. I love RP's like this.

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

I should come out and say this, if I get way more than like six people signed up, I'm probably going to split the group somehow to make it easier for me to keep track of.

Will you be making a seperate sign up thread or will we use this thread for signups?

"I am nature's weapon. You are unfit to carry on your species, and I shall ensure that you do not do so!" - Charles Darwin, XCOM Sniper

Hm...I'll probably keep this one for working out the kinks in the system, and then create a new one when enough people are interested for final sign ups and just link to this. All ideas can be discussed here before sheets are finalized, so the sign up doesn't get cluttered.

edited 21st May '13 12:05:05 PM by ScorpioRat

I'm definitely interested.

Your Honor...

What does the pantheon look like?

Oh also interested.

"Evii is right though" -Saturn "I didn't know you were a bitch Evii." -Lior Val

For some reason this reminds me of the book Worldshaker....I'm making an application also.

You said that if you get more than 6 people you may make them groups? What if the groups were against eachother in some sort of way or they were working together but for different factions?(so the couldn't talk to eachother much)

Basically, I was going to split the group and then have them pursue the same goal from different places, eventually meeting up. Whether the groups fight or not is up to you guys and your characters.

And here's the religion and panthenon(I really should think of a name for this...):

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Religious belief tends to wax and wane based on the area, but most people at least have a good background in their religion, unless your character just chooses not to for some reason.

I based this religion heavily on Taoism and astrology, just so you know where this is coming from. The main religious book that holds all the written legends and information on the Gods is called the Celestial Guide.

The top God is generally known as All. It is also occasionally referred to by other names such as Taijitu, Full, Order, and Balance. All is beieved to have rebalanced the Earth long ago, bringing peace to the people after casting down and sealing away Nothing, the accused unbalancer of the Earth. In the scripture, it takes the form of a black and white Pegasus, and it's symbol is the sun and moon together. All is most strongly believed in by people of the Middle islands, the ones in between the two continents.

The Anti-God is generally known as Nothing, but is also called Wuji, Empty, Chaos, and Mayhem. Wuji is All's dark counterpart, the being that wishes the Earth to fall to disorder again by upsurping All's power. It's been rumored to have been sealed away for the last 1,000 years, slumbering deep withing the core of the Earth. In scripture, Nothing's form is changable to match a person's fears and thoughts, but it's true form is a black griffon with white eyes and no pupils. It's symbol is an empty circle. No person publicly worships Nothing, for it is considered the devil.

There are two lesser gods that fall under All's command, (All does not directly interfere with the Earth unless it is dire) Yin and Yang. Each holds half of All's power to help protect their continent. They also have multiple names, but they pretty much embody the principals of Yin and Yang from Taoism. Yin is a black tiger that the Lunar Republic often worships second to All. Yang is a white dragon that the Solar Empire worships second to All. There are many temples dedicated to them in their respective continents.

And then there are the twelve Zodiac Guards, based off the Western Zodiac. Each member of the guard has corresponds to a Sun Sign, and if a person is born under a certain one, they treat that member as a patron god. This section of the religion is more common in the middle islands, and is sometimes used for divination and horoscopes.

edited 21st May '13 2:15:31 PM by ScorpioRat

Nothing kind of reminds me of The Dark One.

...Does it have Forsaken-equivalents in service to it?

edited 21st May '13 2:19:09 PM by NickTheSwing

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

Nothing (I'm going to start italicizing the name to stop confusing it with the word ) is capable of infecting and bending people to it's will with its magic, but it has no minions that willingly serve it without some brainwashing involved. It's kinda hard to get henchmen when you're sealed away.

To not get the two words messed up, how about calling Nobody, Nohbdy?

It's supposed to be Nothing, as in the opposite of All. Nobody sounds kinda informal for the devil's equivalent. It has multiple names anyway, so you don't even have to call it that.

And since it's steampunk-ish I'm guessing nothing to amazingly mystical would be happening outside of Nothing and All(plus his subordinates)?

Not exactly. Magic is very deeply infused into life now, and technology is still reliant upon it. The unsettled areas outside of the towns are infused with magic, with its influence being stronger in some areas than others. These areas are often considered sacred and temples are sometimes built upon them.

Another one interested here.

Can I ask for a bit more information about the two countries and their governments?

"Words, they're all we have to go on." Guildenstern, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead