This is an RP I've been working on for a long while. It's actually a "redux" of an old RP that I used to run on this site, only with a lot of stuff changed around. The older version of this RP was based on the Harry Potter universe, but this one takes place in an original universe which is somewhat inspired by HP but has its own continuity along with some darker elements.
The RP will revolve around a group of new students in the Middlemarch School of Sorcery and their trials and tribulations within the school. All of this is set against the backdrop of an approaching war that will prove devastating to the planet. The story will also go into the relationship between the wizards of the world and human beings and will of course feature plenty of fun and not so fun adventures in and out of the school grounds. The world the RP takes place in is a dark one. Demons are a big part of the RP's mythology and there will a lot of blood, betrayal, and plenty of psychological trauma to go around.
I'm really big on character development, so the RP will have a big focus on drama and character interactions. I probably won't be accepting too many characters, as I find a smaller cast to be more manageable.
Lastly, while the RP will have an overarching plot, I am very open and very encouraging to player-created sideplots as well as general world-building. Below, you'll find quite a bit of world/plot info that will give you guys a bit of insight on the world and will hopefully offer up some ideas about what characters you can create.
O V E R V I E W
Spoiler
It is the year 2022, and the human world stands at the precipice of war.
Tensions between the super powers of the east and west have been brewing for the past decade, and both sides have begun the preparations for the inevitable coming of a war unlike any other in history.
Millions will die in this conflict, and the future of the very planet lies on the brink of cataclysm.
You are a magus, gifted with supernatural abilities far beyond the ken of normal humans. As a member of the magi race, you have been raised within the Obscured World, a world of silence and secrets, of horrible monsters and demons that hunt in the shadows, of powerful forces which hold sway over the fabric of reality itself. Your world, hidden from the perception of human beings since the beginning of time, is soon to be threatened by the coming of this terrible war.
Within the hallowed halls of the Middlemarch School of Sorcery, an academy where the very best of the magi race are taught to reach the extreme of their potential, a great rift is forming between those who would choose to let the power-hungry humans kill themselves off, and those who yield allegiance to the lesser race and would choose to help them.
As both students and faculty choose their sides in the face of the incoming human war, an ancient conspiracy will soon be made manifest and shall threaten to not only consume Middlemarch, but the world itself.
T H E -- O B S C U R E D -- W O R L D
Spoiler
The Obscured World, a hidden veil imperceptible to non-magi, was created aeons ago to protect the lesser human race from the terrors that lurk beyond the fabric of the mortal world. It can best be described as a planet-wide barrier of perception which protects humanity from the fantastic and dangerous fauna that exist beyond their reality. Werewolves, vampires, dragons, sea serpents, and countless other magical creatures live and roam in the Obscured World. Most dangerous of all however, are the dark and terrifying demonic entities which, if allowed, can break through and cause irreparable ruin to the human race.
The magi, a race of humanoid magical beings, first existed as the guardians of this ethereal veil and their first duty was to safeguard the primitive human race from the terrors that lurk beyond their perception. However, the demons that exist within the Obscured World are as powerful and dangerous as the magi themselves, and the one thing that demons desire most is to break free of the veil.
For this reason, the magi and their demonic counterparts have never known peace. In the many magical academies throughout the world, students are taught to hate demons, and all are educated in the means to kill them.
As the ages passed and humanity grew in power and technology, the magi were forced to alter their purpose. Aside from protecting humanity from the monsters and demons that run rampant in the Obscured World, the magi now protect the Obscured World from humans themselves, who most fear will cause a great catastrophe should they become aware of what lies beyond the veil. To do this, many magi choose to live among humans in order to watch over them, and their exist countless magi communities hidden within human cities and towns.
For millennia, the Great Houses, the ancient bloodlines who rule over every facet of magi society, have enforced an unyielding decree which forbids any magus from revealing themselves or other magi to humanity. The First Oath, as it is known, is the most sacred of laws for the magi race, and breaking it comes with the most severe punishment imaginable-- the sealing of a magus' natural magic and the locking away of their own memories. Worst yet, those who break their First Oath are erased from the memories of every magi alive, and all traces of their existence are removed from the world.
A magi can still live among human beings, but they must keep their true nature hidden and must do everything in their power to keep it as such.
The ruling magisters of the Great Houses hold mastery over ancient and powerful magic and are hailed as the most sovereign of all magi. Due to this, the vast majority of magi live in both fear and awe of the magisters, and have lived under their rule for as long as anyone can remember.
Current Political Map: http://i.imgur.com/XpjF7.jpg
The House of Autumn
The youngest of all the ruling families, the Autumns are the first and only Great House composed of half-blood and demi magi. They first rose to prominence during the 1950s, when the Autumns battled House Cigala in a long and bloody campaign that saw the Autumns drive the European dynasty from the North American continent. House Autumn are known as isolationists, and are content to rule over their territory in North America without having the desire to expand their borders. That being said, it is common knowledge that should they be attacked, the Autumns will not stop in their retribution until their enemies lie in ruin. Members of House Autumn are known to have disdain for pure-blood wizards.
Unlike many other Great Houses, the Autumns are a comparatively small and close-knit clan of magi who rarely ever fight amongst themselves. Each member of the family is raised to put the dynasty first above all, and individual pride is stomped out at an early age. When the power of a magister is eclipsed by that of another family member, he or she is expected to step down peacefully for the good of the house. The current head of the family is Caesar Autumn, the youngest magus who has ever risen to the seat of magister.
House Autumn are said to be descended from the very first demi-magi who first manifested their powers, and since its founding, its members have possessed masterful talent in the School of Evocation. Indeed, it is said that the magisters of House Autumn are the greatest evokers of the modern age.
A year ago, this belief was put to the test during the short conflict between House Autumn and House Solomon, which saw the ruling house of the Asian continent wiped out by a rain of hellfire summoned by Ceasar and his brothers. Since the destruction of the Solomons the continent of Asia has been without a ruling house, and the Obscured World has been watching with baited breath to see which of the European dynasties will move first to claim it.
The emblem of House Autumn is an olive branch wreathed in flames.
The House of Cigala
An ancient house of diviners which first rose to prominence during the Spanish Inquisition, House Cigala were a great dynasty of pureblood magi whom have both risen and fallen in power many times throughout the ages. Once long ago, they governed nearly the entirety of the Obscured World in a vast and powerful empire for close to a century, before in-fighting between the separate branches of the house brought about a bloody civil war which ended in the collapse of the great Cigalan dynasty.
Since the fall of their once golden dynasty, countless descendents of House Cigala have claimed to see the return of their ancestor's great empire in their visions, and have fought to return the family name to its former prominence. Most in the Obscured World have laughed off the would-be campaigns of the numerous "Cigala heirs" who have risen up like weeds throughout the centuries, as time and time again, the heirs had failed miserably to establish any sort of power.
This all changed two hundred years ago, when Isabela Cigala, a young and beautiful magus who claimed to be a direct descendant of the first Cigalan emperor, rose to power in Western Europe. Isabela Cigala was a beautiful and beloved figure who's charm and influence inspired magi all over the world to devote themselves to her cause. Still, Isabela's greatest weapons were her extraordinary gift for divination magic as well as her political savy, which both led to many allegiances being formed with lesser magi houses throughout not only Europe, but in Asia and Africa as well. Before long she had founded a new House Cigala which, in the next sixty years, went on to establish a dominance in worldwide magi politics.
By 1900, Isabela Cigala and her new dynasty held power over Western Europe and the entirety of the Western Hemisphere. In the decades following Isabela's death however, her descendents, who paled in comparison to her in all aspects of leadership, lost both Western Europe and North America to the Autumn and Grey families, leaving only South America as House Cigala's sole domain.
The current magister of House Cigala is Almeida Cigala, Isabela's grandson. The sigil of the modern House Cigala is a soaring phoenix, with ashes trailing from its wings.
The House of Grey
House Grey are a young family of master Alterers, and a crucial pillar of modern magi civilization.
A line of pure-blood industrialists who have lived hidden amongst humans for centuries, House Grey act more as a worldwide humanitarian organization rather than a ruling dynasty. The members of the Grey family are inherently good-natured, and believe it their purpose to make the Obscured World a better place for all the magi who live in it. They are truly neutral, and have no interest in the battles between other Great Houses. Despite this, House Grey has a vast and powerful army of loyal sorcerers who would fight for them should the need ever arise.
Before the rise of House Grey the Obscured World was a dark and unforgiving place where only the strong survived and the weak were left to live at the mercy of the powerful. While the rich and powerful magi lived in great castles and beautiful estates, the commoners were forced to either live in human settlements and hiding their true selves, or to carve an existence deep in the wilderness, far from human eyes. The advent of House Grey changed all of that.
The members of House Grey, masters of Alteration, were the first magi to experiment working with human machines. This melding of human and magi ingenuity by House Grey brought about the modern age of the magi world, and led to the founding of magi cities and towns where magi who did not want to risk exposure to human beings could live far away from humanity in relative comfort and peace (while paying a tax, of course).
These magi settlements, which were hidden from human perception, were built by House Grey with modern ammenities like in-door heating, electricity, water recycling systems, and many other human-world comforts, all of which were enchanted by strong magic. While most magi appreciated and heralded House Grey for the construction and running of these settlements, this act also brought a wave of dissent from other pure-blood magi, who loathed the idea of their race living like human beings did. For most common magi however, the human-inspired inventions which House Grey introduced into their world were a godsend and allowed them to live relatively peaceful lives.
Owing to their long history as well-meaning industrialists and their iron-clad relationship with common magi, House Grey holds immense power over the other Great Houses, perhaps not through magical strength, but through their stranglehold on the economy of the Obscured World and of the trust that regular magi place in them. Indeed, it is believed that if House Grey should ever fall, the commoners of the Obscured World would revolt in fear of it being plunged into a primitive dark age without many of the modern standards of life that most magi enjoy today.
The current magister of House Grey is Imogene Grey, a master of not only Alteration Magic, but of Illusion as well. The sigil of House Grey is a single grey gear, unadorned and plain.
The House of Rörschaften
House Rörschaften is one of the oldest ruling dynasties of the Obscured World, a family of master conjurors ruling much of Europe from their castle deep in the German Alps. There is one peculiar trait the family possesses that separates them from the rest of the magical population: since anyone can remember, only daughters have been born to the family. There is not one living male in the world today that has Rörschaften blood.
Perhaps the most political of the Great Houses, they are notorious for stopping at nothing to achieve their goals. This belief has been a central part of the family since they first seized power of Central Europe, towards the end of the Middle Ages. It is said that to push House Drevni back to their homeland, they won the trust of many of the families beneath the Great House, before staging a massive coup known as the Miracle of Munic and forcing the Drevni family to retreat. What happened next is still the most famous example of Rörschaften ruthlessness; upon seizing the throne of Europe, they quickly banished or executed all the families (formerly of House Drevni) that aided them, reasoning that if they had changed allegiances once, they could do it again. Since that day, House Rörschaften has ruled with an iron fist – any form of dissent, no matter how small, is met with dire consequences.
This being said, there is a strict sense of loyalty within the family – to an extent. If an attack is made on one Rörschaften girl – be it physical or otherwise – the united force of the House will come crashing down on the culprit. The same can be said of the families serving beneath the House, albeit to a lesser extent.
However, the loyalty between individual members of the family is non-existent: Castle Rörschaften is a constantly shifting environment of short alliances, treachery and subterfuge, all in an attempt to reach the coveted position of Magister. The power struggle has never ceased, which makes it all the more remarkable that the House’s current magister, a leathery old woman named Ursula Rörschaften, has held the position for the last twenty years.
The House primarily maintains its power through the use of mutually beneficial alliances with powerful families throughout the Obscured World. They are merchants of information, and seem to have eyes and ears in all corners of the world. However, this does not mean that they are a family to shy away from warfare: when they heard that a subordinate family was planning to overthrow them, House Rörschaften annihilated the family without ever coming into contact with them. The most powerful members of the house summoned an army of otherworldly monsters, and set them on a path of destruction through Iceland until every last member of the disloyal family was eliminated.
With the void recently created by House Autumn in Asia, eyes are turning to House Rörschaften in expectation. None doubt the family’s desire to expand their lands, but know at the same time that they will face stiff competition from House Drevni in the process. Few doubt the families will clash in the name of conquest; whether there will be war, none can tell.
Their sigil is a golden lioness against a jade background.
The House of DrevniHouse Drevni came to power after the dissolution of House Khan, better known outside of the Obscured World as the Mongol Empire, in the early 14th century. The first Drevni magister was a man known as Baihu the Tiger, a far-eastern Magi of tremendous power, but little wealth or political influence. Baihu gained traction in Magi society by marrying into the Drevni family, Muscovite magi of royal blood, and using their wealth and his own sorcery to assume power in the vacuum left by the House Khan. They seized the entirety of Russia and most of Eastern Europe, while House Solomon then took control of the rest of Asia. Generations of selective breeding have resulted in no traces of eastern blood left in the modern Drevni, but Baihu is still honored with the House's emblem, a ferocious white tiger with gemstone eyes, claws and fangs. The other remaining far-eastern influence in the house is the strictly-enforced social hierarchy within the house's territory, with the magister and his blood relatives at the very top, then the magi nobles, the provincial lords, the magi commoners, and the "untouchables" (usually criminals and political prisoners) at the very bottom. One is born into their caste and is forbidden from marrying outside of it, but increasing one's social ranking is possible through a personal commendation of anyone of royal ranking.
To this day the House Drevni retains its predatory reputation; its magi are renouned for being fierce, cunning and cruel. The Drevni do not specialize in a particular school of magic, choosing to generalize their forces to be more adaptable, but are unique in their access to a peculiar form of Primal Magic. Whether through their bloodline or house secrets is unknown, but the signature magic of the Drevni allows them to tap into the innate magical energy of gems, crystals and other treasures of the Earth. This gives them an advantage of unpredictability, as Primal magic is much more difficult to detect by magi that are not familiar with it, and the particular workings of their gem magic are unknown to the rest of the Obscured World.
Rather than trade or politique to get its way like the other houses, House Drevni relies on the strength of its magi and its infamy to bully and threaten the other houses into cooperation. This has only worked for such a long time because the Drevni do not bluff, and the other houses know this. Like sharks, they can sense weakness almost immediately, and the moment that another house is unable to defend themselves, the Drevni prey on them. The most notorious example was the collapse of House Chevalier, in which the Drevni quickly conquered the house and seized its European territory while in the turmoil following its magister becoming cursed. This territory was not lost until centuries later with the rise of House Rörschaften in a shocking uprising known as the Miracle of Munich. This is the most major military defeat they have ever suffered, as the Drevni devote much of their resources to maintaining a strong military presence, and possess a very warlike and strategic collective attitude. Combat is not their only forte, as the Drevni are also adept in espionage and assassination when the situation calls for it. They behave as a nation at war would, during (especially) times of peace.
In recent decades, the House Drevni has gained even greater infamy from circulatiing rumors of the house's nobility delving into dangerous and forbidden demon magic. While no solid evidence of this has been found, the rumors have been enough to put the other houses on edge. The fall of House Solomon in Asia has also managed to draw attention to the Drevni, as they are very obviously mobilizing their forces to sweep in and take control of their former Asian holdings. Given their status as a "War House", and the extremely advantageous location of their territory, the Drevni will likely have little difficulty in snapping up most of East and South Asia.
R A C E S
Spoiler
Five hundred years ago, a strange phenomenon began to manifest itself within normal human beings. On a fateful day which is now celebrated in magi society as a holiday, hundreds of thousands of children all over the human world, none of them older than the age of five, began to showcase supernatural abilities. Some began to levitate objects with their minds, others set fire to their own houses, while other more powerful children were able to influence the minds of people around them. Whatever the gift, it was soon hypothesized that these abilities had somehow been passed down from the great and powerful magi race to the lesser human race.
How this phenomenon occurred is still a hotly debated topic today. Some old-fashioned magi believe that it could only have resulted from the actions of a renegade magister, while other more progressive magi believe that it was simply natural for humans to begin to be born with these abilities. Whatever the perspective, no one knows what caused human children to begin to be born with magi powers.
Since the dawn of the "demi-magi", the Great Houses began to monitor the human race more closely. Upon the first sign of a young child showing hints of magical ability, the magisters would take that boy or girl from their lot in life and bring them into the Obscured World, where he or she would be raised as a magus. Of course, that child would be expressly forbidden from making contact with their former family. This has not stopped many half-blood children from holding on to memories of their former loved ones, however.
The adoption of human children with magical powers has been going on for five hundred years, and now the 'demi-magi', as human-born children are known, make up a good fraction of the magi populace. Despite this, there is still great friction between magi with human blood and pure-blooded magi. Many pure-blood magi, descended from the ancient sorcerers who gave their lives protecting humanity from the demonic entities of the Obscure World, believe themselves to be the true magi and look down on their half-blood counterparts and openly show disdain for the lesser human race. Many half-bloods however celebrate and embrace their human roots, and as time went by and half-bloods began to permeate magi society, there has been an increase in the influence of human culture within the magi populace.
Today, countless magi teenagers dress the same as their human counterparts and listen to the same music, watch the same television shows, read the same books, and even make friends with oblivious human beings. Some magi even fall in love and marry humans, all while hiding their true nature. The prevalence of pro-human sentiment is so strong in magi culture during modern times that a few magi each year ask the magisters to strip them of their magical abilities and to be "banished" into the human world. This practice has only added to the resentment that pure magi feel toward the half-blood magi and the rest of the human race.
Pure-Blood Magus
The pure-blooded magi are the original creators of the Obscured World and have existed as the rulers of this hidden reality for as long as anyone, alive or dead, can remember.They are a race of magical beings who are typically descended from noble and wealthy families and have access to the greatest magical schools in the world. They also have the greatest knowledge of the Obscured World, and due to many of their ancestors being demon hunters, many are intensely familiar with the mystical creatures that roam the reality beyond human perception.
Most pure-blood magi keep to the ancient traditions of their race, and many hold disdain for the human race and consider them their inferiors in all aspects. Many pure-blood families live far away from human civilization in ancient castles and grand estates hidden from human eyes. Owing to this, most pure-bloods do not bother with learning how to properly interact with the human world, and thus are ill-equipped for dealing directly with the modern world of their less magically-inclinded counterparts. For example, a pure-blood magi wouldn't have the first clue as to how to drive a human car, let alone how to properly live among humans without raising suspicions.
Pure-blood magi appear almost physically identical to human beings, with but one subtle difference. Unlike humans, the pupils of pure-blood magi can range from a wide spectrum of unnatural colors-- from a pale gold to vibrant red to electric violet. Most magi can easily alter this aspect of their appearance however.
Pure-blood fashion trends don't exactly fall out of favour and thus, depending on what part of the world they are from, some pure-bloods tend to dress in clothing from bygone eras. For example, a pure-blood magus from Britain could be found wearing an elegant peacoat that wouldn't look out of place in Victorian-era London. This has a side effect of making some pure-bloods appear anachronistic to the rest of the world. Most common pure-blood magi settle for the tried-and-true billowing cloak with countless pockets however.
Demi-Magus/Half-Blood Magus
Demi and half-blood magus are cut of the same cloth, but share one vital difference.
Demi-magi are born to two human parents, but are somehow "blessed" with the magical powers of the magi race even while having no direct lineage to magi ancestors. How this is possible is still a great mystery today. When a demi-magi child's sorcery first manifests (usually at an age younger than five years old), that boy or girl is plucked from their family by a magister of the Great Houses and is taken to the Obscured World. They are then raised as magi and are taught the dangers and responsibilities that come with their power. Very rarely, some demi-magi children fail to show the first signs of their gifts before the age of five, and have their powers awaken at a much later age. These demi-magi are a very special and dangerous case, and the magisters make it a great priority to find them whenever they appear.
Half-blood magi are born from the union of a human and magi parent, and are relatively uncommon in the Obscured World. Although it is not strictly forbidden, it is generally frowned upon for magi to procreate with humans. When it does occur, that child is stripped away from their parents by the magisters and their memory of the child is locked away. The child, like all other half-magi, are then either adopted by a magi family or are taken to an orphanage, where they are then taught to control their abilities and are integrated into magi society. Most half-bloods possess a strong connection to their human roots, and many choose to live among them.
Pure-bloods, half-bloods, and demis all have the same potential. Though different magi have natural proficiency in certain schools of magic, generally, all three subraces are able to learn and master the same spells if they've the will and extreme dedication needed to become a sorcerer. Many pure-bloods do learn higher-level magic at younger ages than their counterparts, as they have access to better schools. As a result, it is believed that half-bloods and demis must work twice as hard and be twice as dedicated in order to keep on an even ground with pure-bloods.
Demi and half-blood magi, owing to their human blood, are identical to regular human beings. Unlike their pure-blood counterparts, their pupils are of the natural human spectrum. Many demis and half-bloods still hold a connection to their human roots, and thus dress in regular modern clothing.
Were-MagusWere-magi are exceedingly rare in the Obscured World, and are widely seen as cursed by the majority of the magi race. They are classified as a magus who's soul has been tainted by the "touch" of a Primal Demon-- animalistic entities which are considered some of the most dangerous demons that prowl the frontiers of the Obscured World. Primals are manifestations of nature which are sentient and possess motives of their own-- a trait not uncommon to powerful demons. It is believed that there are three such Primal Demons beyond the veil-- Asena the Wolf, Munin the Raven, and Hafgufa the Kraken. The corruption of one's soul by a Primal is forever imprinted within a magus' bloodline, and thus the curse is passed down to offspring and descendent alike.
According to which of the three Primal Demons a were-magus' soul has been corrupted by, that magus shall take on certain characteristics, some of which can be considered an advantage of sorts and others which can make it impossible for a were-magus to ever live a normal life. All three subgroups, physically, appear similar to human beings, but with subtle differences. Upon the coming of a full moon however, were-magi transform into terrifying and powerful creatures and are unable to control their emotions or their actions.
Werewolf
Werewolves, who's souls have been tainted by the demon Asena, are physically stronger than most other magi while even in their non-bestial form. Their nails tend to grow into sharp claws and they possess incredibly quick reflexes. While they are physically more powerful than other magi, their magical abilities tend to suffer as most werewolves choose to live in the frontiers of the Obscured World and don't usually attend a magical school as children. When they turn during a full-moon, werewolves undergo a harrowing and painful mutation and transform into a terrible wolf-human hybrid. This true form of a werewolf is highly resistant to magic, and most do not live to tell the tale of their encounters with this beast.
WereravenWereravens, who are even rarer and more elusive than werewolves, are magi who's souls have been cursed by the demon Munin. Wereravens are almost never seen in magi society, but due to the strikingly beautiful nature of their appearance, the few wereravens known throughout the world are treated as curious celebrities. Physically, wereravens are identical to human beings, but with one great difference-- the pair of lustrous black wings sprouting from their back. Through the use of these great and majestic wings, wereravens are the only magi who can fly without the use of magic. Upon the coming of the full-moon, wereravens transform into giant black harpy-like beasts with the ability to summon lightning from their wings.
Werekraken?
The existence of this subset of were-magi has never been proven. It is believed however that if a werekraken did exist, it would be a monstrous and horrifying magus with incredibly dangerous magical ability, as Hafgufa is oft considered the most deadly and cruel of the three Primal demons.
NOTE: I won't be accepting any werekraken characters. I'm just including it here for information's sake.
M A G I C
Spoiler
Overview
Magic is an ancient power which allows for the manipulation of natural and supernatural forces. All magi are born with the ability to use magic, though the power itself does not usually manifest itself in children until the age of five.
Magic itself does not exist within a magus' blood or soul, but is called forth by a magus from what is known as the Other Side, the endless unfathomable dimension which exists far beyond the fabric of our world, where the demonic entities which haunt the Obscured World are borne from. Whenever a magus casts a spell, he or she forms a connection with the Other Side, and calls into their own body a highly potent form of magical energy known as "mana", which is necessary to cast the spell.
Whenever a connection to the Other Side is established in order to cast magic, it puts an immense strain on that magus' body and soul-- eating away at that magus' life energy and stamina so much that casting a powerful spell can easily kill a magus if they are not careful. This makes it very difficult for inexperienced magi to cast advanced forms of magic. There have been countless young magi who have toyed with using powerful spells far above their ken, only to have had their life force drained from them completely. The mastering of this connection between a magus and the Other Side is thus one of the most important things that he or she learns during their education as sorcerers, as ignorance of this very crucial knowledge can lead to an early demise.
The amount of mana that a magus can summon from the Other Side without losing all of their life force can be increased with training and study. There exist some young magi however who seem to have a natural affinity with the Other Side, and are thus able to harness mana more easily. These magi are very rare however.
It is also imperitive for young magi to learn how to properly control their connections to the Other Side, less they risk being overtaken by demonic entities.
Catalysts
Whenever a magus forms a connection to the Other Side, the mana that is harnessed is so potent and pure that it can cause irreparable damage to that magus' body and soul. Even the mana necessary to cast a common spell is enough to cause immense harm to an experienced magus if he or she is not careful in guiding the mana into their bodies. Because of this, magi use magical catalysts (personal "totems" which have a deep spiritual connection with their magus) which can help them with the handling of the dangerous mana.
A magical catalyst is a powerful enchantment which can take many forms. It could be a staff, a wand, a pendant, a book, a toy, or even a treasured pet, and it has the power to protect a magus from the dangers that come from harnessing mana. A catalyst is often a magus' most treasured item, something which he or she has had their whole life. It is often given to young magi children by their parents, and is it typical for them to form a deep connection with their catalyst. This connection between a magus and his/her catalyst forms a special protective form of magic which allows for the catalyst to drain some of the mana harnessed from the Other Side, thus sparing its owner from having to endanger themselves too much.
There is a limit to how much mana a catalyst can carry however, and it will shatter into pieces if too much mana is harnessed, which can prove fatal to its magus.
Schools of Magic
There are six schools of known magic, each one governing over a different type of magic. Some magi are born with talent for certain classes of magic, but generally, all magi can learn spells of different classes should they have the will and determination to. In order to cast a spell, magi must first utter a phrase in the ancient language of Latin, the secret tongue of the demons of the Other Side, in order to open a rift to their realm and harness the mana needed to perform magic.
School of Abjuration : Magic which cancels or interferes with other magic. Spells of this class can create physical or magical barriers, as well as negate spells. Magi who specialize in this school are known as Abjurers.
School of Alteration : Magic which alters and distorts the properties of a being, object or energy. Magi who specialize in this school are known as Alterers.
School of Conjuring : Magic which calls forth magical creatures. Magi who specialize in this school are known as Conjurers.
School of Evocation : Magic which allows the summoning and manipulation of energy. Magi who specialize in this school are known as Evokers.
School of Divination : Magic which enables the uncovering of secrets long forgotten, to predict the future, to find hidden things, and to foil deceptive spells. Magi who specialize in this school are known as Diviners.
School of Illusion : Magic which deceives the senses or minds of others. Spells of this school cause people to see things that are not there, not see things that are there, hear phantom noises, or remember things that never happened. Magi who specialize in this school are known as Illusionists.
School of Necromancy : Magic which manipulates the power of death, unlife, and the life force. Necromancy is a controversial form of sorcery, and those who practice it require a special license to do so. Magi which specialize in this school are known as Necromancers.
School of the Unknown : Any arcane magic which is not understood by modern-day magi is classified under this class. The ancient magic used by demons as well as the primal magic of were-magi are such examples ruled under the School of the Unknown.
T H E -- M I D D L E M A R C H -- S C H O O LSpoiler
The Middlemarch School of Sorcery is a learning institution for the higher education of young magi. It's campus is located within an ancient castle sitting atop the misty Appalachian mountains, hidden somewhere deep in the wilderness of West Virginia. A large town, known colloquially as Middlemarch Town, sits in the valley beneath the castle.
Middlemarch is a secondary wizarding school, meaning that its students enroll here after graduating from their primary schools, thus students tend to be 15-16 during their first year. Middlemarch is the oldest magical school in the western hemisphere, and though thousands of magi teenagers apply for enrollment, only a fraction of that number are accepted every year.
The school is one of the most prestigious and legendary learning institutions in all the magical world, and has been at the center of several historic events throughout the ages. Many of its students have gone on to accomplish both great and terrible things which have left a mark on magi society, while its faculty are often counted among the greatest sorcerers in any given era. Lastly, Middlemarch's Head Master is thought to wield power comparable to a magister's, and is able stand against the might of the Great Houses when necessary.
Because of its standing as a pillar within magi history, Middlemarch is given a measure of autonomy in world affairs, and is often treated as its own independent "super power". Middlemarch and the Great Houses have shared a strained relationship over the ages, at one time acting as allies, while at other times clashing as enemies.
The school curriculum itself is a closely guarded secret and no one who isn't a student or member of the school's staff has ever stepped foot within it. Middlemarch alumni have never spoken of the school or what occurs within its halls, but all who can manage to make it through the school and graduate are highly respected in magi society.
The exact circumstances of Middlemarch's origins are clouded in mystery, as its true history was lost when a great fire engulfed the school some time during its early years, destroying all its records, including those pertaining to the founding of Middlemarch and thus burying many of the school's darkest secrets. It is generally believed however that Middlemarch was founded four hundred years ago by three independent magisters-- Lord H.W Wolfgramm, Lady Pietra Redgrave, and Prince Bastian Margrace. The school's three student Houses are named in honour of the three founders.
The Three Houses of MiddlemarchOwing to the relatively small number of pupils, Middlemarch only has three different student houses. Each of the three has a Head of House, a position that is usually held by members of the staff in other schools, but is held by an elected student in Middlemarch. A Head of House can be a student from any year, and can be re-elected or impeached by the members of his/her house.
M A R G R A C E
Uniform: A black cloak with silver trim.
Sigil: A silver dragon on a black field.
Margrace House was named after Prince Bastian Margrace, a master sorcerer from an ancient magi dynasty most famous for his discovery (and hunting) of rare dragons all throughout the world. He is perhaps most famous for his discovery of the Macedonian Silverwyrm, a particularly vicious species of dragon.
Members of Margrace House are exceedingly proud, impassioned, brave, and tend to possess a natural talent for magic, which has given them a reputation of not having to work as hard as others. Because of this, they are seen as lazy and somewhat arrogant by members of their rival houses. They are also viewed as reckless hero types who don't think things through, which has given individual Margrace students a certain stigma when it comes to field activities. Individual members of Margrace House are often called "Blackcloaks" or "Dragons."
R E D G R A V E
Uniform: A crimson cloak with black trim.
Sigil: A red owl on a black field.
Redgrave House was named after Lady Pietra Redgrave, a legendary astronomer most famous for her discovering of a number of different star systems previously unknown to both magi and humans.
Members of Redgrave House are known for their powerful intellects and unshakable demeanor. They are studious, cool, confidant and are famous for often being in complete control of their emotions. They are often neutral in all the school feuds fought between Margrace and Wolfgramm students. Individual members of Redgrave House are often called 'Redcloaks" or 'Owls".
W O L F G R A M MUniform: A grey cloak with white fur trim.
Sigil: A white wolf on a grey field.
Wolfgramm House is named after H.W Wolfgramm, a half-blood who was famous for becoming one of the richest magi of his time. He was perhaps better known for being outed as a werewolf, and losing his fortune in return.
Students of Wolfgramm House are hardworking and ever-ambitious. Most of the students sorted into this house are half-bloods and demis with no predisposed talent for magic, but who through hard and dedicated work, have been able to rise to a competitive level with their MArgrace and Redgrave counterparts. Wolfgramm students possess a high-cunning, and are feared for their ruthlessness in obtaining whatever it is that they want.
As their name implies, Wolfgramm pupils chiefly stick together, but won't hesitate to ostracize the weakest member of their packs. They are often called "Greycloaks", or "Wolves".
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First-year students are recruited into their houses at the beginning of the school year, after undergoing a series of tests to test their abilities. Once recruited into a house, a student remains a part of it until graduation at the end of his/her fifth year.
C H A R A C T E R -- S H E E T
SpoilerYou are 15-16 year old magi who is starting their first year at the Middlemarch School of Sorcery. Every aspect of your background is up to you, though I should point out that I will only be accepting one or two were-magi.
I'll be accepting 5-6 characters. Later on, if you're chosen, you'll be able to create secondary Non-Player Characters (teachers, other students, ect).
One aspect that is crucial to Middlemarch students is that they are exceptional in some way. As mentioned before, Middlemarch is a highly prestigious school and only accepts students of a certain high caliber. This doesn't mean that you are to create super, all-powerful characters without any flaws, as that's the last thing that I'm looking for. You must however give your character something that makes him/her somewhat exceptional, enough to be noticed by Middlemarch and offered a place in school. You must also give them some weaknesses.
Also, remember that Middlemarch is the equivalent to a real-world highschool, so your characters must've had some prior education.
The story begins on December 11th, 2022. It is a cold, wintery morning, and your character has just arrived at the train station of Middlemarch town, a magi community hidden in the misty Appalachian plains. Middlemarch School is located high above, on a castle sitting atop a mountain overlooking the town.
Recently, a major international event has occured in the human world, and many of the magi in town are worried as to how that will affect the magi world.
First/Last Name: If you are a pure-blood, you are allowed to go a bit crazy with your name. If you are a demi or a half-blood, I'd appreciate it if you picked a not-too-out-there real world name. :p)
Race: Can be either pure-blood, half-blood, demi, werewolf, or wereraven.
Gender:
Age/Birthdate: (Enter the day, month, and year.)
Birthplace: (You can come from anywhere in the world.)
Height/Weight:
Appearance: (Give an in-depth description of your character's appearance. I'd also appreciate it if you could a post a picture of what your character is supposed to look like, for quick reference.)
Magical Proficiency/Talent: (I won't be paying too much attention to this part at the moment, since the magical system is going to be created by the GM and the eventual chosen players. If you're chosen, you'll be able to go back and edit this once we figure out the magic system. In the meanwhile, I'll be paying more attention to your character's background. However, feel free to fill this out with some of the preliminary magic stuff I listed if you want.)
Catalyst: (Your character's treasured magical artifact which aids him/her in casting magic spells. Most magi use wands or staves for this, but it can be anything that can be transported around easily, even a kitten or a parakeet. See the "Catalyst" section under "Magic" for more information.)
Personality Traits: (Please go a bit in-depth. No single word replies, please.)
Background: (A short biography of your character pertaining to details about his/her time before enrolling in the school. You don't have to go too deep, as I think it'd make for better story telling if some of your character's background was revealed in-story.)
S H A D O W S - O F - M I D D L E M A R C H - C A S TThat's about it. Thanks for reading and if there are any questions or anything, please let me know!
Jeremy Lachlan (Adjectives)
Tyson Crestwell (Celowein)
Adrian Chevalier (PlayItPerfect)
Ezrayn Varromere (Rulaan)
Luka Drevni (LJCOMICS)
Tobias Ashbridge Götze (Everblight)
Andrea Gabriella de Lia (februari)
Claire Glenn (ohaidere)
Luna Braidwood (Antonkun)
Katilina Rörschaften (KrimpetyCatcher)
Caitlin Draioch (Ghostly Bagel)
O T H E R -- C H A R A C T E R S
Spoiler
Professor Ramsay
http://i.imgur.com/4B5Ow.jpg
A young professor at Middlemarch. He is a cold and insensitive pure-blood magus hailing from an old family of the British Isles.
Robbie Kettering
http://i.imgur.com/9JCpl.jpg
An old man who seems to work for the Middlemarch school as a prefect. He seems to be in his 70s, but doesn't appear to let his age hamper his duties.
Zhou Wei
http://i.imgur.com/3iITF.png
A prefect at Middlemarch. She is of Asian descent.
Rhee James
http://i.imgur.com/CjFxV.png
A red-haired girl who serves as a prefect at Etonmarch.
Abraham Spencer
http://i.imgur.com/qi1hT.jpg
A prefect at Etonmarch. He has wild curly-hair.
Amir Solomon
http://i.imgur.com/0eejU.jpg
A prefect at Middlemarch. He is a member of the deposed House Solomon, who until the last year were the rulers of the Asian continent.
Tamzin Flyte
http://i.imgur.com/qGAOkzg.jpg
A prefect at the Middlemarch School. She has long, golden hair and is considered among the most beautiful girls in school.
Edmund Grey
http://i.imgur.com/p52K1eV.jpg
A 15-year old youth borne of the Grey bloodline. Ed is a nervous young man who often has trouble socializing and interacting with others without stumbling over his words. Though a pureblooded scion of House Grey-- the rulers of much of the Obscured World-- he is missing the regal bearing of one who comes from a powerful dynasty, and acts more like a typical human teenager. Even stranger however is his lack of any special talent in magic, a fact that makes others question if he really is a scion of the great house and not an adopted orphan. The fact that he was born with ash-grey hair, the signature of the children of House Grey, has quelled these rumors somewhat. His catalyst is a small silver cog.
Nicholas Pratt
http://i.imgur.com/SK1KoRU.jpg
A world-famous half-blood athlete, Nick (as he is known to his close friends) is a tall, handsome 16-year old teenager with sharp cheekbones and piercing dark eyes. He is the captain of the Broadway Corsairs, a popular skyball team out of New York. Besides his reputation as a talented athlete, Nick is also a heralded alteration practicioner, and managed to medal at last year's Ancient Games when he dueled Ragnar Sorensen, a talented magus from Iceland, and won. His victory was somewhat tainted however, as it was discovered that Pratt was using a controversial illusion spell. The controversy surrounding his duel has only added to his stardom however, and it did not block his admission into the Middlemarch School. Nick's catalyst (quite famously) is a luxurious bracelet given to him by his father.
The Pratt family, hailing from Michigan, have long been supporters of House Autumn, and were among the first to join them in the great rebellion against House Cigala during the 1950s.
Richard Tan
A close friend to Nicholas Pratt, Richard is a sixteen-year old Filipino-American magus who once played for the Broadway Corsairs skyball team before injuring himself during his rookie season. He has since dedicated himself to furthering his magical abilities, and is now a capable evoker. He followed Nicholas to Middlemarch along with Kirk and Jason.
Kirk Williams
A sixteen-year old American magus, Kirk is a fun-loving young man who enjoys partying with human girls. He is large, powerful and athletic, as he spends most of his time in the gym. Kirk's family have acted as the Pratt's servants for close to a century, and the two clans have always been close. Owing to this, Kirk is Nicholas' most loyal friend, and would do anything his friend asks of him.
Jason Evans
A sixteen-year old abjuror from Queens, New York who possesses untold potential-- Jason (or Jace, as his friends call him) is a late blooming demi-magi who was only discovered by House Autumn a few years ago. The Autumns feared a magi that manifested his powers at such a late age would prove difficult to rear, and thus they made arrangements to send him to the magi prison in Iceland, where he would spend the rest of his days. Warren Pratt, Nicholas' father, saw potential in Jason however, and appealed to Caesar Autumn to allow him to take the boy in and to raise him himself. Since then, Jason has been an adopted son of House Pratt, and has grown to become like a brother to Nicholas, who was born an only child.
Alec Bredahl
Alec is a short, nigh obese 15-year old boy from Oslo, Norway. He spent his formative years in a magi orphanage outside of Trondheim, where he was constantly and brutally bullied by many of the boys there. It wasn't until Rhine's arrival at the orphanage when life became livable for Alec, as Rhine began defending him from those who would try to hurt him. Since then, Alec and Rhine have been like brothers. Alec is a coward, but is a savant when it comes to alteration, and has made it a hobby of studying the wild fauna of the Obscured World.
Rhine Nylund
Rhine is a tall and sharply handsome sixteen-year old magus born in Oslo, Norway to human parents. He is not overly talented in any particular kind of magic, but possesses a sharp and brilliant mind when it comes to strategy and social manipulation. When he was a boy, Rhine was taken from his parents by servants of House Rörschaften and placed into a magi orphanage, a place which he despises even now. He ran away many times, only to be found and returned to the orphanage. Rhine is a survivor above all else, and obsessively believes that everyone else in the world has ulterior motives and won't allow himself to ever be caught off-guard. Owing to this, Rhine has spent much of his life learning how to "play" people for his own ends, which admittedly, don't go very far beyond protecting himself and Alec, his closest friend.
A 19-year old girl who is one of the few students who've made it to the 5th and final year of the Middlemarch School, Celia is the youngest sister of the patriarch and magister of her family, Caesar Autumn. Although she is frighteningly powerful for a magi of her age and has managed to be elected Head of the prestigious Prefect Circle, Celia has nevertheless lived under the shadow of her older sister, Lucretia, who graduated last year from Middlemarch and is believed to be the next magister of the family.
R U L E S
- No godmodding.
- This is the Advanced section, so I think everyone will appreciate at least a passable grasp on grammar and spelling.
- If you are to be absent for a while or plan to quit the RP altogether, please tell us on the OOC so we'll be prepared.
- Read all of the posts in the IC. If you don't know what's going on because you don't read it, then that's on you.
- You must keep up with the discussion in the OOC. Try to read everything so you don't get left behind.
- Try to be sociable and post in the OOC if possible. If you're a complete ghost in the OOC and are never around for discussions, people not might not want to interact with your character.
- Be friendly and cool. Don't be a douchebag. Everyone is here to have fun.
- Please pay attention to what other people write in order to maintain continuity and flow. If there are any errors or miscommunication, we'll discuss it in the OOC and go back and edit whatever needs fixing.
- Side-stories are welcome, as long as they are discussed in the OOC first.
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