Baphomini

The Seven

Yes! I'd say the Key is perfect ^u^ and like I said, you can still utilize the idea of reading minds, just instead of being labeled directly as mind, it is achieved through creatively utilizing the more abstract reaches of an element. A similar idea to this would be using a core focus of Shape/Earth to control bones based on Shape's note of Root and abstract of Stability as well as the concept that bones are made of minerals, minerals found in the Earth, from which the life that holds these bones originates. It all comes together in a wonderful, chaotic cycle!

The Seven

@amorphical Again, if you look at the Zeroth post, you'll see that the elements have been completely reworked from that of the original post. Now being limited to fire, earth, water, and air. These four are broken down into their notes and expanded into their abstracts. Mind/abstract no longer exists as an element, and flow is not a note of any one element as all elements are capable of flow. Please look at the Zeroth post or my update on the elements to see the new elements and the new system we are working with (friendly)

The Seven

@Baphomini

Question on magic: So are the magics in the opening post tiers? Like at level one [the magics tab] carnal is level one and what is capable at this basic level, then contingent(level 2), and finally celestial?
So does this mean I need to select one at each level?

I choose the abstract mind. As a type of telepath reading peoples thoughts as to their movements. Is this the correct interpretation?

@amorphical

As you'll see in the Zeroth post, the elements have been reworked to focus on the four elements of Soul, Shape, Fluid, and Breath-- or Fire, Earth, Water, and Air for better understanding --These elements then expand into their key notes, such as Shape being composed of Dense, the very essence of the earth itself, Root, the fact that all life is tied to the earth in one way or another, and Bloom, the idea that the earth is a giver of life, a provider that allows things to take form. From there, the core element of Shape is further observed to encompass a more abstract essence. Here we look at Shape's abstracts of Strength, Stability, and Compression. Through Strength, we gain the will to not just survive but thrive. Stability gives one the ability to keep their place in life. Compression acts as a control in conjunction with the Growth offered by Fluid, keeping things simple and straightforward rather than spiraling out of comprehension.

You'll see, if you look back at my CS for Aleksei, I've altered the form just a bit. Rather than simply determining a primary and secondary magic from the original list, I chose a core focus element, and allowed for a minoring focus for the purpose of the applications I was searching for.

Alek's Core Focus

Core Focus: Soul; minoring in Shape
Applications:

Aleksei wields the elemental forces of Soul and Shape with cunning mastery, cloaking his cruelty in false generosity. With a smile, he raises walls of earth to shelter the downtrodden, only to leave them trapped and abandoned. He conjures flames to warm the cold, letting them grow until they consume all in their path. Aleksei's gifts appear kind, but breed suffering.

His power over fire and earth allows sinister creativity. With penetrating heat, Aleksei mimics the forging of diamonds, focusing scorching flames through dense minerals. Yet at any moment, he can turn this searing force upon his enemies, blinding them with blistering light. The very ground obeys Aleksei's whims, opening sinkholes and pits beneath the feet of those who displease him. Or he can compress soil and stone into nigh-impenetrable barriers, encaging any who dare defy him.

Aleksei makes the earth's bounty an instrument of manipulation, commanding vines to constrict and roots to spread at this command. His fiery power mutates the natural world, breeding new species of flora to serve his wishes. With but a thought, Aleksei can generate hybrid plants or inflict potent effects upon the environment.

In Aleksei's hands, the fundamental elements of Soul and Shape become tools of covert cruelty, masked by the guise of generosity. His imagination in combining them seems endless, as does the suffering he casually inflicts upon those foolish enough to trust his false benevolence. For behind Aleksei's kindly facade lurks only a desire for narcissistic gain, no matter the cost.

As you can see, Alek's primary focus is Soul, or Fire, but he also works with Shape, or Earth, and with this, he has developed his own means of utilizing these elements through not just their core, but the notes and abstracts as well. With the Knights being in the position they were, they will have mastered their core elements to the Celestial level. The idea with this altered system is not to pick and choose elements from different levels, but rather, to interpret the core element in a way that works for you! Breath, with its abstract of Freedom could be interpreted in a way that allows for one to "free their mind" and utilize the note of "Drift" in order to enter the minds of others on a metaphysical plane, allowing them to access the thoughts of those around them.

In conjecture, you could use the Pitch of Fluid along with Adaptivity to do the same. This is the idea behind this setup! The notion that the same non-elementally driven spell could be achieved just as likely through one core as another. Though, with your character's Key's weakness to water, and reliance on the wind, I would think Breath is a more fitting means of approaching the application than that Fluid, haha

The Seven

@Autumn Moon @CorviDoggo @Kronshi @Sanity @amorphical

A zeroth post has been created logging all the new information into a more organized and concise format. Please view at your leisure and make any adjustments to your characters that may be necessary (as I will be doing the same dfcvgbh)

The Seven

Prelude

As you stepped into the chamber, the weight of your responsibility as one of The Seven rested heavy on your shoulders. You were proud to have come this far, to have battled against the malignant force that had threatened the empire and its people for so long. This was the moment you had been waiting for, the chance to finally put an end to the death and bring tranquility to the land.

But as you looked into the eyes of the old men and women before you, you felt a sudden sense of unease. These were the same people you had once trusted, the ones who had congratulated you and taken care of you after every battle. Yet, something was different this time. They began to chant in the same colors and with the same cursed magic that you had been fighting against for years.

You tried to fight back, to resist their power, but it was too strong. You flailed and struggled until you could no longer hold on, and your world went dark.

For years, you were lost in the abyss of darkness, hoping to wake up and find it all to be a bad dream. But time passed, and you remained trapped, staring into the void.

Then, after over five decades of darkness, your eyes finally opened. But they were no longer the bright gold of your resolve. Instead, they were as dark as the abyss you had been lost in, with a swirling purple that seemed to pulse with a malicious energy. You heard a voice in your head, asking you to destroy the empire you had once sworn to protect. The voice reminded you of the backstabbing, the betrayal. Your heart filled with pure disdain. For years, that void stood by you. When no one else did. If anyone was right, it was the void. Right?

Synopsis

Seven Knights, each representing one of the Blessed Virtues of the land-- Chastity, Kindness, Patience, Hope, Faith, Fortitude, and Temperance --The knights were tricked into a slumber, told that their power was needed to seal away a dark force. By the time they realized what the Council they had long since served was doing, it was too late, as the ritual was nearly complete. But the ritual the Council used was pulled from a dark text, and with it came exactly the kind of dark force the Knights had once defended against. This dark force, named Daemonium, was sealed with each of the Knights in solitude-- "thankfully" --but in being sealed with the knights in their imprisoned slumber, It was able to infest them, drowning them in Its darkness and twisting their thoughts, making them corrupt versions of the Virtues, the very Virtues they were supposed to represent. The Council betrayed them, out of fear of their grand power. The Council told the people of the land that the Knights died honorably in their battle against the dark force and gave unto them the title of Saints. The people they had protected cast them out without a care or question. And so it was twisted in their minds over the decades stuck staring into that void with Daemonium ever-present in their solitude. What they stood for was meaningless. They were worthless, for they couldn't even protect themselves against the dark force that the Council had so foolishly used to seal them away.

In five decades' time, a figure arrives at the chamber of their resting. A Vessel meant to hold this dark force. A vessel meant to trap the dark force. Overcome it and blot it out of existence. But the Vessel fails, and with Its fall, the dark force takes control in Its stead. The Vessel had no intention of releasing the Knights when It arrived in the chamber and broke the seal, but Daemonium isn't complaining, after all...the Knights belong to It now, and with Its new, stronger form, Daemonium and the Knights at Its command, it's only a matter of time before the kingdom once protected by the Knights of Virture, falls to the saviors it cast out so long ago...

Vitanima

Vitanima is energy that courses through everything living, and every individual can access it, with proper concentration and discipline. This energy is broken down into three tiers, or schools, of focus: Cardinal, Contingent, and Celestial. All three of these schools rely on the core elements of the world: Shape, Blood, Breath, and Soul-- More often referred to as Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. These are the foundation of Life and Existence as it is known, encompassing all that which is as they are broken down to their very meaning and essence of being.

School of Cardinality

At the Cardinal level of schools, the elements are restricted to purely their base forms. One who focuses their magic through Fire would be able to not just conjure, control, and craft fire in its literal form (see "Fire Bending" or "Pyrokinesis"), but so too, they would be able to cast spells with Fire as the focusing core of the incantation. This is to say, when casting, one uses the literal embodiment of Fire as a foundation for this spell. For example, if a Fire focuser were to cast a healing spell, it would be brought from the very flame itself with themes of cauterization and sterilization. One could use a focus of Fire to mend and bind materials, or, on the contrary, they could use their fiery focus to boil and break materials down to their finer forms. For one who focuses on Fire as their center, spells are read as passionate and warm in nature. Naturally, all magic comes at a cost, though the drawback of these simpler castings is minimal. Headaches, minor fatigue, and hunger are the worst of the extent paid for Cardinal spellwork. This is the most basic level of harnessing Vitanima, accessible by all as an innate ability learned with age and practice.

School of Contingency

At the Contingent level of schools, the elements are broken down to their finer forms. One who focuses their magic through Fire opens the way to expanding their power to encompass the internal notes of the flame: Heat, Glow, and Spark are among these notes in the realm of Fire. These refined points of focus allow for sharpened, more refined spells when used as the focusing core. Heat is used for higher, more severe healing spells, while Spark is used not only to produce specialized flames, but can also be used in spells for energizing, inspiring, or even soothing. For one who focuses on the keynotes of Fire as their center, spells are read as invigorated and hot in nature. Unsurprisingly, the cost of these higher-level spells is quite great. Headaches rise to migraines, while fatigue becomes utter exhaustion, and hunger is replaced with painful nausea and other internal pains. This is a more specialized level of harnessing Vitanima, accessible to those who take strides into deeper learning, expanding their knowledge of the core elements and their inner parts. One must learn from tomes and mentors-- teachers in academies and freelance masters of the craft --to achieve this level of power when utilizing their Vitanima.

School of Celeste

At the Celestial level of schools, the elements are expanded further into their abstract forms. One who focuses their magic through Fire rises high in the overlaying planes of mortal and soul, evolving their power to reach the abstract characterization of the pyre: Passion, Ferocity, and Rebirth are among these characterizations. These abstractions of focus allow for the highest of spells when used as the focusing core. Most notably, one who focuses a healing spell through the abstract of Rebirth is believed to be capable of bringing a soul back to life, though to attempt this is said to risk the greatest of drawbacks. As is to be expected, the drawback of paramount spells like these is of the extreme. Such can include migraines so severe they bring the onset of temporary blindness or deafness, as well as instances of bleeding of the nose, ears, and eyes, and exhaustion leading to long-lasting unconsciousness, and even coma and, in some cases, even organ failure are possibilities when using these high-level spells. This is the highest level of harnessing Vitanima, achievable only by rigorous years of learning to further deepen one's understanding of the world as a whole, as well as countless hours of diligent practice, becoming one with the energy that flows throughout all of life. This school is reserved only for those in a higher power, forbidden to be learned by the common man, for it holds powers that should not be wielded lightly.

Elements

The core elements of this magical system - Soul, Shape, Blood, and Breath - each relate to one another in nuanced ways. At their most basic Cardinal level, they represent the raw materials that make up the world: Soul as Fire, Shape as Earth, Blood as Water, and Breath as Air. But looking deeper, we see each element contains, within it, Contingent notes that reveal unique qualities. Fire, for example, holds the notes of Heat, Glow, and Spark - qualities that evoke its passionate, fierce, and rebirth-oriented nature. Earth's notes of Dense, Root, and Bloom reflect its associations with strength, stability, and compression. Water's notes of Crisp, Dark, and Pitch align with its adaptivity, flexibility, and its role in birth. And Air, through its notes of Loose, Drift, and Range, connects to freedom, tranquility, and growth. Ascending to the Celestial level, the abstract meanings of each element come into sharpest relief, as Fire's ferocity contrasts Water's flexibility, while Earth's stability differs from Air's freedom. Yet there are also resonances - Dense relates to Strength, as Loose does to Freedom. These interwoven layers allow for myriad creative applications, as one moves from the raw Cardinal elements, through their Contingent notes, up to their Celestial abstractions. With each level revealing new facets, the elements become richer in meaning and more open to imaginative magic use. The system thus encourages flexibility and experimentation, with the elements' meanings multiplying as they are broken down to their philosophical cores.

Core: Soul; referred to often as "Fire"
Notes: Heat, Glow, Spark
Abstracts: Passion, Ferocity, Rebirth

Core: Shape; referred to often as "Earth"
Notes: Dense, Root, Bloom
Abstracts: Strength, Stability, Compression

Core: Blood; referred to often as "Water"
Notes: Crisp, Dark, Pitch
Abstracts: Adaptivity, Flexibility, Birth

Core: Breath; referred to often as "Air"
Notes: Loose, Drift, Range
Abstracts: Freedom, Tranquility, Growth

Keys of Virtue

The Keys of Virtue are magical weapons that the Seven Knights of the Blessed Virtues wielded in battle against the dark forces of the world, and took with them into their slumbering imprisonment in the Void. Each Key is entirely unique to the Knight, crafted by their own, or another, and blessed by the Holy Council for which they served. The Keys share one common ability, the ability to siphon out the Vitanima of anyone who dies by the Key, increasing the strength therein. It is a dangerous tool. One that should not fall into the wrong hands. And yet...with the corruption of the Knights throughout their fifty-year slumber, and now their release alongside the dark force of Daemonium after the fall of the Vessel...these once-holy and blessed weapons have been warped into tools for nothing but pain, suffering, and most of all, destruction...

CS Template

Title:(Example: Average the Great)
Full Name:
Age/DOB (before the slumber):
Height/Weight:
Sex/Gender:
Appearance/Physical Description:
Personality:

Core Focus: Core element (Breath, Shape, Blood, or Soul; can minor in a second core)
Applications: How they utilize their core element and the notes and abstracts it pertains to (see information above)
Virtue Key: Description both physical and the power it holds

The Seven

Alright, people, I'll put all this new information in a zeroth post for easier access, but this is what I've got. I tried to be as unspecific as I could to allow for people to interpret the elements in their own way so they can shape their magic by their character rather than strict rules or ideals. I also did my best to avoid specifying overlays between the elements, in favor of letting such be seen through perspective. For example: Air and water both have a characteristic of flow shared between them, but one could argue that fire, too, has that characteristic, and even earth, in the form of sand especially is able to freely flow. Finally, I tried to have contrast between the notes and abstracts of traditionally opposing elements (water ↔ fire, and earth ↔ air) while also including contrast in these between the other core elements as well (see stability vs flexibility). I was also applying a third, more complicated level of connection between the notes and abstracts, see Dense to Strength, or Loose to Freedom. The main idea behind all of this is to open up the magic system to creativity and allow users to run wild with the implications these elements can hold. From the Cardinal level of the basic core element, to the Contingent level of using those finer notes of the element, all the way up to the Celestial level of encompassing the abstract character of each element. As the element is broken down to its very meaning, it becomes more powerful and allows for more creative applications and a wider range of use.

Element: Fire; referred to often as "Soul"

• Notes: Heat, Glow, Spark
• Abstracts: Passion, Ferocity, Rebirth

Element: Earth; referred to often as "Shape"

• Notes: Dense, Root, Bloom
• Abstracts: Strength, Stability, Compression

Element: Water; referred to often as "Fluid"

• Notes: Crisp, Dark, Pitch
• Abstracts: Adaptivity, Flexibility, Birth

Element: Air; referred to often as "Breath"

• Notes: Loose, Drift, Range
• Abstracts: Freedom, Tranquility, Growth

The Seven

He just likes fire guys

---

Title: Brann The Everflame
Full Name: Brann Lohgtroen (Pronounced Brawn Low-true-in)
Age/DOB: 22 Prior To Slumber / March 15th
Height/Weight: 5'5" / 146 lbs
Sex/Gender: AMAB / Agender (Still uses he/him pronouns)

---

Appearance/Physical Description:

Faithful Priest

Personality:
Faith... What is Faith really?
The belief in others, in a higher power, humility, and trust.
You must be willing to accept that someone may be stronger than you.
You follow these bright individuals, LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME
Brann was the youngest of the Seven, and was one of the last to join them. Before his recruitment, he looked up to the others has heroes that had his utmost faith. Once he joined, he followed their every step until he followed them into a trap. But even then, he called out to his allies to have faith. Faith that this would not be the end, faith that they would escape the fate they were given

Now, with his reawakening, Brann has become deeply resentful of the people who betrayed him. Deeming the council to be blasphemers who deserve to grovel at the Seven's heels and beg for forgiveness. He is deeply critical of others, and holds them to their ideals and demands perfection of adherence to them. Those that don't are hypocrites and traitors to themselves that don't deserve to have their problems solved. He views the weak as those that need to give in more to their faiths if they want to become stronger, and the strong as prideful assholes that have no faith in others. Brann himself has lost faith in everyone but the Seven and there is no longer any winning his favor.

---

Main Magic: The Flames Of Jophiel
Secondary Magics: Inferno and Fire
Virtue Key: The Blade Of Uriel

Flaming Sword

Looking much more like a Mage's staff than a sword, this blade served Brann faithfully as his standard through which he gathered other's belief in him and his abilities. The more the people loved him and cheered for him, the stronger he would become and the hotter his flames would burn. As long as the people had faith, Brann could borrow their Vitanima to charge the staff. By doing so, his magic could be empowered into their stronger forms with significantly less risk as the burden of any drawbacks would be shared by hundreds.

However, the void has demented this power and removed its demand for consent. The more you disdain him, hate him, blasphemy against him; the more you subconsciously feed him your own might. Similarly, his enemies' pride will ultimately be there downfall, as to think you're better than him is blasphemy in and of itself. The blade now draws power from fewer targets and no longer shares the burdens of magic, but instead increases them and forces both him and the target of his Vitanima vampirism to suffer these greater effects.

With his magic, I'm wanting it to technically all be fire magic, but fire magic that he has honed to be so formidable that it has gained equivalent strength and drawbacks to Contingent Magic in the form of Inferno and Celestial Magic in the form of The Flames of Jophiel. If that's not okay, I'll make changes of course.

@Kronshi

[insert wooyeah dancing alien]

You've inspired me to rework the magic system because I really liked your view of the fire evolving with the levels of magic schools, so here you go:

At the Cardinal level of magical schools, the elements are restricted to purely their base forms. One who focuses their magic through Fire would be able to not just form, control, and manipulate fire in its literal form (see "Fire Bending" or "Pyrokinesis"), but so too, they would be able to cast spells with Fire as the focusing core of the incantation. This is to say, when casting, one uses the literal embodiment of Fire as a foundation for this spell. For example, if a Fire focuser were to cast a healing spell, it would be brought from the heat of the flame with themes of cauterization and sterilization. One could use a focus of Fire to mend and bind materials, or, on the contrary, they could use their fiery focus to boil and break materials down to their finer forms. For one who focuses on Fire as their center, spells are read as passionate and warm in nature. Naturally, all magic comes at a cost, though the drawback of these simpler castings is minimal. Headaches, fatigue, and hunger are the worst of the extent paid for Cardinal spellwork.

At the Contingent level of magic schools, the elements are broken own to their finer forms. One who focuses their magic through Fire opens way to expanding their power to encompassing the finer notes of the flame: Heat, Glow, and Spark are among these notes in the realm of Fire. These refined points of focus allow for finer, more refined spells when used as the focusing core. Heat is used for higher, more severe healing spells, while Spark is used not only to produce specialized flames, but can also be used in spells for energizing, inspiring, or even soothing. For one who focuses on the finer note of Fire as their center, spells are read as invigorated and hot in nature. Unsurprisingly, the cost of these higher level spells come quite greater. Headaches rise to migraines, while fatigue becomes utter exhaustion, and hunger is replaced with painful nausea and other internal pains.

At the Celestial level of magic schools, the elements are expanded further into their abstract forms. One who focuses their magic through Fire rises high in the overlaying planes of mortal and soul, evolving their power to reach the abstract characterization of the pyre: Passion, Ferocity, and Rebirth are among these characterizations. These abstractions of focus allow for the highest of spells when used as the focusing core. Most notably, one who focuses a healing spell through the abstract of Rebirth is believed to be capable of bringing a soul back to life, though to attempt this is said to risk the greatest of drawbacks. As is to be expected, the drawback of paramount spells like these is of the extreme. Migraines so severe they bring the onset of temporary blindness or deafness, bleeding of the nose, ears, and eyes, and exhaustion leading into long-lasting unconsciousness, and even coma and organ failure are possibilities when using these high-level spells.

I have to take care of something irl right fast, but when I'm done with that, I'll work at expanding the other three cardinal elements into their finer notes and abstracts. Thank you for the inspiration!!

The Seven

just for yk clarfication, ty to @Baphomini

Chastity <-> Lust
Kindness <-> Envy
Patience <-> Wrath
Hope <-> Deceit
Faith <-> Pride
Fortitude <-> Sloth
Temperance <-> Gluttony

@rexgn

Yah, essentially @Kronshi, the only cardinal sin missing is Greed, but one could argue that Deceit, e.i. Lying, is driven by greed as one usually lies out of self-gain! Pride as the opposite of Faith lies in the fact that the counter to Faith (being the belief in God) is Blasphemy, and when it comes to Pride and viewing oneself as higher than their faith, such is deemed an act of blasphemy

Double Thread Deletion Request

I'd like to have both of these threads deleted as I've decided to work on the story as a screenplay rather than a roleplay and would like to have the information taken off of public pages while I work on the script

roleplayerguild.com/topics/192191-abo…
roleplayerguild.com/topics/192185-a-v…

Thank you in advance!

The Seven

Oops, I found the time to write him up while in the car

Just a nice guy

Title: Alek the Tender Callous
Full Name: Aleksei Kovalyov
Age/DOB: 28 prior to Slumber / November 5th
Height/Weight: 6’2” / 174 lbs
Sex/Gender: Male / Cis Man

Appearance/Physical Description:

Aleksei's most striking feature is his wild, curly white hair that cascades in an unruly mane around his slender face. Though rare, his albinism gifts him with the ethereal appearance of a prince stepped out of a fairytale, from the snowy crown atop his head to the soft blue of his eyes. Those eyes, so pale they verge on violet when the light catches them just so, are framed by long white lashes and fine arched brows. Their cool color contrasts beautifully with the warm undertone of his skin and the rubicund flushing of his cheeks. His face is all gentle curves - a soft jaw, round cheeks, and a pert upturned nose combine to give him a sweet, almost cherubic look. This innocence is complemented by his near-constant crooked smile, charming in its lopsidedness. Though his resting expression trends toward cheer, it can morph into a dark scowl when irritation takes hold of his gentle spirit. The decades spent in slumber have made such soured moods more frequent. Still, Aleksei's handsome smile returns swiftly, lighting up his face and creasing the fine laugh lines that have accumulated at the corners of those striking eyes. His height, just above average, complements his slender build. Wiry muscles, honed from years of knightly training, ripple subtly under his fair skin. Though less bulky than some warriors, he possesses a quiet strength and graceful poise.

Personality:

Once upon a time, Aleksei was a genuinely kind and gentle man, radiating warmth and compassion to all he encountered. In his youth, he was known for his passionate friendliness, eagerly striking up conversations with strangers and acquaintances alike. Aleksei performed acts of service constantly, gladly giving his time, money, or possessions to those in need without expecting anything in return. He held a deep empathy for others, intuitively understanding people's troubles and motivations. Aleksei's generosity knew no bounds - he would forfeit all his worldly goods if it meant aiding another soul.

However, after decades trapped in an enchanted slumber, Aleksei awakened as a twisted, corrupted version of his former self. His warped psyche interprets kindness through a lens of egotism and self-interest. Now, Aleksei's so-called selfless acts serve to stroke his ego and feed his inflated sense of self-importance. He views his superficial generosity as concrete evidence of his greatness, pointing to his supposed sacrifices as justification that he deserves glory and praise. Aleksei no longer performs true acts of service, instead delegating tasks he deems beneath him to others while taking credit for their deeds. His empathy has become a tool for manipulation - he uses his intuitive understanding of others to trick and deceive them into serving his wishes. Where he once freely gave, Aleksei now makes uneven trades and deals, offering his power in exchange for people's possessions, freedom, or very lives if it suits him. This corrupted man is but a dark parody of his once kind self - he abuses the image of benevolence for personal gain, growing enraged if his "kindness" goes unacknowledged and vindictively attacking those who fail to thank him.

Core Focus: Soul; minoring in Shape
Applications:

Aleksei wields the elemental forces of Soul and Shape with cunning mastery, cloaking his cruelty in false generosity. With a smile, he raises walls of earth to shelter the downtrodden, only to leave them trapped and abandoned. He conjures flames to warm the cold, letting them grow until they consume all in their path. Aleksei's gifts appear kind, but breed suffering.

His power over fire and earth allows sinister creativity. With penetrating heat, Aleksei mimics the forging of diamonds, focusing scorching flames through dense minerals. Yet at any moment, he can turn this searing force upon his enemies, blinding them with blistering light. The very ground obeys Aleksei's whims, opening sinkholes and pits beneath the feet of those who displease him. Or he can compress soil and stone into nigh-impenetrable barriers, encaging any who dare defy him.

Aleksei makes the earth's bounty an instrument of manipulation, commanding vines to constrict and roots to spread at this command. His fiery power mutates the natural world, breeding new species of flora to serve his wishes. With but a thought, Aleksei can generate hybrid plants or inflict potent effects upon the environment.

In Aleksei's hands, the fundamental elements of Soul and Shape become tools of covert cruelty, masked by the guise of generosity. His imagination in combining them seems endless, as does the suffering he casually inflicts upon those foolish enough to trust his false benevolence. For behind Aleksei's kindly facade lurks only a desire for narcissistic gain, no matter the cost.

Virtue Key: Rinci the Merciful

This delicate key, once known to embody the Buddhist principle of mercifulness, has since been twisted to inflict harm. Originally gifted to Aleksei by Haoran as an expression of gratitude, this fuchen, or horsetail whisk, was intended to channel Aleksei's magic in a way that would not injure any living thing, magnifying his kindness in a way no ordinary weapon could.

The whisk itself was crafted from lightly hued, warm wood, etched with intricate markings depicting peace and tranquility. Its fibers were as pale as Aleksei's own snowy locks, evoking a sense of purity and light. When Aleksei first received Rinci, he wielded it gracefully, using it to channel and direct his magic like a conductor guiding an orchestra. The energies flowed from him effortlessly, calming storms and healing wounds without causing any pain.

However, with the rise of Aleksei's corruption, so too came the shift to Rinci's capacity for damage. Aleksei has since begun coating the delicate fibers in diamond dust, transforming the once harmless horsetail whisk into a brutal weapon. The diamond fragments are as fine as fiberglass, inflicting deep lacerations with the slightest touch. With each graceful flick of his wrist, Aleksei can now lay open flesh to the bone, bringing immense suffering rather than mercy.

Though originally a gift representing the ideal of harmlessness, Rinci has become a frightening physical manifestation of Aleksei's corruption, its beauty warped into something sinister and cruel. The whisk that once channeled healing now dealt devastating wounds, sparkling with diamond shards as sharp as its master's corrupted heart.