let's say that, about one out of every 10 thousand people is born 'different,' there's something off about them, maybe they don't get along with their peers, or have strange habits. Perhaps they like animals more than people, or even very specific animals, sometimes they like animals or creatures that don't exist, like elves or dragons, these people go through their whole lives keenly aware that they are different. Usually hiding their true nature, some of them may say they are the things they feel attachment to, though others would write it off as crazy.

Perhaps these people, these "Others" are right, maybe in the grand metaphysical system that holds the world together, they got their souls mismatched at birth, whether they were born with the soul of an animal like a wolf or a tiger, or they were born as something not even of this world, such as a chimera or faerie, nobody would ever know for sure though, it's not like anybody believes in metaphysics these days anyway.

on January first 2016, the world got a grim reminder that there are things science can never explain. Magic came to the Earth, or perhaps returned from some long lost slumber, nobody can really know for certain. The point is, everybody born as an Other gained the ability to shapeshift, and magic became possible for the masses, to a degree anyway. The most visible part of this was roughly 70 thousand humans waking up that day as what they had always wanted to be, most would rapidly learn they could shapeshift back, and proceed to keep it a secret. But a few would post it on some discreet corner of the internet, and at least one idiot would put it on facebook.

Governments of the world scrambled to action, seeking to claim this power for themselves, imagine a whole regiment of Dragons! or soldiers who could shapeshift into common animals and fool the enemy, if they had their way, war would never be the same. Science would dissect the shapeshifters, human rights would be revoked for them, a whole new civil rights movement would have to occur.

But it won't, because in this case, it would be the stronger party looking for civil rights, who wants to bully someone who may have untold powers beyond anybody's understanding? Shapeshifters don't need civil rights, in fact, they could oppress humanity if they want to. Not that they will, instead, with the majority seeking peace, over the next month, they would flee to the few uninhabited places in the world, forging their own society without technology, but with magic instead. Because, indeed, shapeshifters have the most natural talent for magic, even if a human practiced for a year, they would be unable to match what shapeshifters could do by instinct. The largest new society is located in South America, protected from infiltration or attack by a magical forcefield created by it's inhabitants, the date is February sixth, 2016, a week after the field was established, and a month and a few days since the world changed.

Since that day, the ones known as Others have become Shifters, those few still trying to live in human society deal with a mixture of fear and hatred, while those living outside of it have to face the troubles of forming a new society, a new country even, and face the possibility of going extinct in less than a year.

WIP

Name: Aeric Voyce
Age: 23
Sex: Male
Alternative Form: Aeric is not a shape shifter.
Human Appearance:
Alternative Appearance:

Biography & Personality:
Growing up Aeric was described as many things, delinquent, troubled, misunderstood, ignorant, and naive. His mother barely tolerated him, mostly because of the copious amounts of alcohol flowing through her veins at most given points of the day. Her solution to a happy union with his father, ended abruptly due to a freeway pileup. Though his father might have made it, if not for the leaking fuselage of a gas tanker igniting and turning a tragedy into a nightmare. While his mother fell into a life of drugs and alcohol, Aeric withdrew into himself. Abandoned in his grief he talked less, becoming quiet and observant. Everybody was talking about it, everybody was talking about him. He became a shell of loneliness. Everybody looked at him different now, treated him different. His teachers began to hate him, when called in class he wouldn't speak, he would barely do his work. He would just sit there, staring off into space. His grades fell, his attitude became negative. The driver who had killed his father had been drunk, careening into the side of the semi hauling thousands of gallons of fuel. Slowly, Aeric began to hate the world for it's cruelty and irresponsibility. It's failure to fix its own problems, it's lies and corruptions. The abuse of the powerful, the timidness of the weak. It began to make him angry.
By his senior year, Aeric was a pretty popular guy for not talking so much, for being as cold as he was to people. That may, or may not have been due to the drugs he was slinging. He didn't care about school, he cared about forgetting. Those who had judged him, treated him poorly, now came to him for their fix. And he sold it to them, so in turn he could have his, and a little extra. It wasn't so bad, he could buy nice things for himself with the money he was making. But who needed nice things if the world was just going to fall apart around him? Everyday the news covered stories of riots in foreign countries, of police brutality in the streets, law breaking politicians roaming free, a leader who cared nothing for human rights. Yes, it was the governments fault the world was falling apart, they alone have the power to fix it, but the solutions are all obscured by the flow of cash swimming before their greedy eyes. Two months before graduation, though he was barely skimming by anyways, Aeric was expelled. A guy from his class had snatched his backpack, unable to afford the fix he so desperately craved. Though it turned out poorly for him because Aeric found joy in only two things. Running and fighting. A glancing blow to the kids knee sent him sprawling, and before he had a chance to take a breath Aeric was on top of him. Paramedics rushed the kid to the hospital, as the police escorted Aeric off campus.
He spent two years in prison. The first few months were rough, but in an odd way. Aeric got his fill of fighting, though he didn't even win half of his battles. He enjoyed it. The adrenaline, the drive to succeed, the emotional release. Halfway into his first year he joined one of the more ruthless gangs, though initiation required him to best one of their members, and that took him an entire month of having his ass handed to him. They were violent, they didn't take anything from anyone, always read to thrown down wherever.
In his time there he had been "shanked" seven times, pelted with rubber grenades and bullets, and been in more fights than he could count. He also took up smoking to replace his drug habit. He had smoked before but never more than three a day. Now he was a chimney.
The next three years went by in a blur for Aeric. Missing his brothers from the inside, he aligned himself with a small time band of wannabe thugs. Their leader was a pushover, afraid of the law. Aeric made it a point to challenge his every idea and command. Eventually they threw down and Aeric bested him, warning him that if he came back Aeric would kill him. The small band of thugs was taken to a newer height. Aeric had become a vicious, strategic fighter. They went on to perform acts of vandalism, most involving fire, robbery, theft, grand theft auto, assault, and a list of other excuses to press harsher convictions on them, if they had ever been caught. They even made it onto the news a few times, but they remained anonymous thanks to the light skull masks Aeric had stolen from a local Halloween store.
Then January 1st, 2016 arrived. Aeric was 23 when it happened. Him and the boys were out harassing a young woman walking home from a bar they frequented. Running circles around her, laughing and pushing her. Scaring her. When suddenly Aeric's arm lit up with a purple light, something volatile crackled around his arm. The hairs on his body stood on end, the air felt charged with electricity, he could almost hear the hum of energy. An arc of electrical energy shot out from his body, the bolt firing off from the crook of his elbow in fact. He was caught off guard as the tingling sensation hit his body in a wave, the sudden flash of purple hued light causing him to lose focus. When it was over his followers stared at him, open mouthed. The woman and two of his own lay on the ground, their blackened clothes smoldering with heat. Aeric panicked, and the arcs flew from his body wildly. In seconds those who had become his new family for the past three years fell dead around him, one unlucky member had been standing in a puddle from the previous rain. His corpse was still twitching.
Aeric fled, he ran, fast. When he stopped he found himself somewhere familiar, his old neighborhood. The hand of fear was around his heart. He walked slowly, cautiously, afraid of everything around him. Afraid of himself. He felt like somebody was watching him, every so often a purple spark would zip around his body, as if he were a human Tesla coil, before fading back.. inside of him? He experimentally flicked his hand outwards, and a thick arc of the purple lightning sprang from his finger tips, fanning out towards nothing particular, yet attracted to the metal objects around him. A mailbox erupted into flaming shreds of paper, a light post's solar panel light exploded, taking the whole metal head of the post with it. A sewer plate to his left shook from the powerful charge he had given it, not even aware the lightning was arcing form his shoulder towards it. He was a Tesla coil.
He spent the next month in a state of confusion and fear. Though he did maintain his physique through exercise, he also practiced magic. He even used some of his old sources to commission a dark suit of leather, both to protect him, and a hood with a black mesh to hide his face. He didn't know what other kinds of... whatever he was were out there, but he wanted to be prepared. For all he knew everyone was different now, or maybe he was the only one. It was still a dangerous spot to be in as the conflict escalated rapidly.
January 28th, 2016. So much had happened in that last month. Though he didn't understand why, he had managed to obtain control of his power. He felt charged all the time, ready to explode, and when he was pissed he did. The news was filled with others like himself, he heard some of the news anchors referring to them as "The other species." He heard about a refuge in South America, overheard actually, from two people in a coffee shop. Were they different, like him? A migration of people had begun, though it was hard to tell who was different, and who was normal. As far as Aeric knew there wasn't any equipment to tell them apart, and if there was he was lucky enough to avoid it. He sold his worldly possessions an bought a one way ticket to South America. Ready for a new life, a chance to escape from the net of governmental lies and abuse cast over him. A chance to get away from his past, nobody would know him. Nobody would judge him. He would be just like them.
Perhaps he was a little disappointed when he arrived. Nobody busted from the airplane terminal in a blaze of fire, nobody sat down and became an animal, real or mythical. That's because the airport he had arrived at was a security nightmare. Everywhere there were dozens of police officers. People were chatting all around, a pair of men next to Aeric were chatting idly. When one man mentioned the refuge Aeric was about to ask him for directions, unfortunately the man next him pulled out a badge and a gun. The poor guy was hauled away, Aeric wanted to help him, but he wasn't stupid. With no money he spent days in the wilderness looking for this refuge, heading farther south, or was it north? He wasn't sure. He tried his hand at fishing and trap making, and he failed at both. At least he could light a fire with a small, controlled zap now. A month ago he would have burned the forest down, the ache in his stomach made that almost seem like a good idea, at least he would cook something, anything really.
There was a particular day when Aeric was trudging through the jungle, exhausted and hungry. His diet consisting mainly of fruit. He wondered how many days it had been, looking at himself he saw that he had become leaner, he could see the defining muscle on his body. He could almost feel it starting to wither away from his lack of food. He stopped suddenly in a small clearing, staring at a... deer? The thought puzzled him but his logical mind quickly came up with a suitable answer; perhaps the new species of humans had disturbed the balance of the ecosystem somehow? It didn't matter, he picked up a rock and hurled it at the deer. He missed. By a lot. The deer bounded across the clearing, Aeric's stomach seemed to roar in response. Before he actually knew what was happening he ran after the deer, desperate for food. The familiar hum of his power played across his ears, he felt the tingling warmth spread throughout him. He was moving faster, the purple electricity spun around his legs furiously, super charging his atoms, temporary strengthening his body at the atomic level, speeding the electrical impulses sent from his brain. He felt like a live wire as the world flashed past him. The boost wasn't insane, but it was enough for him to slam into the deer. His hunger driving his hands around the creatures neck, choking the life from it.
Aeric ate good that night. So good that he puked from over filling his stomach, only to eat again. Electric-fried deer steak wasn't half bad in his opinion. Though after discovering the new utility of his power, he felt incredibly drained. So he slept, peacefully, next to the charred, smokey remains of the deer. The next morning he awoke the deer meat he had viciously hacked off was gone. In fact, so were the remains of the deer. It didn't matter, he was sure to be able to feed himself now. Another day, and a couple of brightly colored tropical birds that tasted almost like chicken, and he finally found it. Looking down from a far off ridge Aeric could see the makings of a village, and if he focused he could see the blurred shapes of people moving about. Perhaps he wasn't at his full strength yet, but he swore he could see a shimmer in the air above. He smiled broadly to himself, starting down towards what would hopefully be his new home.

Views on the conflict:
Aeric sees the world in a dying light. There was always an inner turmoil boiling within him, though he knew he was powerless to bring about real change. He felt his country was slowly becoming authoritarian. He'd watch news clips and independent media footage depicting the members of the security infrastructure going out of their regulations and infringing upon human rights. He knew his country was being lead into ruin, and he hated standing by as the populace sat cowed into silence. Afraid.
But he didn't have to be afraid anymore. He was an Other. They couldn't infringe upon his human rights because he was not longer human. The old system was flawed, broken, giving one person too much power, allowing their leader to ignore the public and do as he pleases. Aeric feels it should all be torn down, the government dismantled. Let Anarchy bring about change, and then perhaps on an equal playing field it could be rebuilt, or maybe not. Rebuilding wasn't his concern, it was tearing down the regime. His wildest dreams came true that day, moving from small acts of outrage into a full scale conflict. Moving to where he won't be oppressed and silence. Some place where "The Man" is himself. That thought makes him smile.

Magical Capability:
--Pros--
(Not magical, but it should be noted that what Aeric lacks in magical diversity, he makes up for in physical athleticism.)

Manifestation: Aeric can create and control lightning.

Charge: Aeric is unaffected by his own powers, and can soak up extra lightning, or electricity, like a battery, but through attraction rather than physical contact.

Tesla Coil: For unknown reasons Aeric will start emitting lightning from his body in volatile, and random bursts.

Boost: Aeric's raw energy can effect the atomic-electrical pulses in his body, making him faster, stronger, or heightening his senses.

--Cons--

Fizzle: When wet Aeric's lightning cannot leave his body. The water will also become charged, making Aeric dangerous to hug.

Arc: Because of the raw force of Aeric's lightning, and the charge going through his body at all times, rainstorms are a bad time to be friends with him. The water droplets will pick up on his electricity and arc to the next, creating a deadly web of electrical current. With focus he can draw the energy back into himself, making it appear as if he had an electrical purple aura. Without focus it spreads outwards. It is also not recommended to go swimming together.

Amped Up: Aeric's body is always charged, even if minimal, and always live. Though this charge is more of a passive effect meaning his hugs will tingle, and his touch will bust a light bulb. There is no way for him to "turn off" this effect.

Fuzzle: Using his powers becomes more difficult as his exhaustion rises, no matter the extra charge stored within him.

Siphon: Aeric will drain anything of it's electrical current if he touches it, unwillingly.

Struck Twice: Aeric is more likely to be struck during a storm, causing a tidal wave of energy to flow through him. If he is amped up too much when this happens, the excess must go somewhere.

Conduit: Any act of using his power must be used through himself. He cannot smite you by summoning lightning down upon you from a storm cloud. No matter how much you deserve it.

I'll get my CS up tomorrow or Saturday, probably.

Das PLace Holder

Aeon can we get a scale (hehe) on his Dragon form?

Dude... you beat me to the punch. I had an idea almost exactly like this earlier today, but I didn't have enough thought up about it to post it... Welp, I'll gladly join, although it's late.

I'll probably have a character sheet up sometime tomorrow. Also... can someone tell me how to make those fold-able things? Like what you do with the whole "CS format", "Magic", etc..?

kapuchu said
Dude... you beat me to the punch. I had an idea almost exactly like this earlier today, but I didn't have enough thought up about it to post it... Welp, I'll gladly join, although it's late.I'll probably have a character sheet up sometime tomorrow. Also... can someone tell me how to make those fold-able things? Like what you do with the whole "CS format", "Magic", etc..?

Format is

[/hider=(name of hider)]
Content
[/hider]

the only difference is the /hider needs to be at the end of the line rather than one line down.
also do tell your original idea, I'd like to see where they meet and diverge.

Also, when using a hider, you cannot use another one inside of the hider.

GOOD
EX:

BAD
[/hider]

It won't work.

Draconilian said
Aeon can we get a scale (hehe) on his Dragon form?

Hold on let me call the discovery channel. :P

Better yet, what do you feel would be an appropriate size? as I imagine I won't be the only one.

Let's go with no more than 20 feet nose to tail

Hm. You are aware 20 feet is about the height of a giraffe right? If you are, perhaps ban dragons (for player use?) and allow drakes (smaller variation of dragon).

I love this idea! I'll get started on a CS right away!

Aeonumbra said
Hm. You are aware 20 feet is about the height of a giraffe right? If you are, perhaps ban dragons (for player use?) and allow drakes (smaller variation of dragon).

I know my measurements, and there is no definition of what a Dragon is or isn't, size or otherwise. Besides, I'm playing a Dragon so I'm not gunna ban them

think about it, if you're shapeshifting into something, mass is kind of an issue, honestly that much is stretching it, but if someone shapeshifts into something enormous, it would either be ecosystem unfriendly, or completely insane. It's really more a convenience thing though (like requesting everybody to be able to speak english...) because you wouldn't want shapeshifting limited by space would you?

Do you mind if I make a villainous mage character?

Sharnid said
Do you mind if I make a villainous mage character?

not in the slightest

Yay! I have a good idea I think!

I'll post up my character tonight!

Name: Diarmuid (deer + mid) Daegal
Age: 20
Sex: Male
Human Apperance: Here's a picture

Biography: Diarmuid has always been a little off. Not a social outsider or anything, he fit in fine, but he never felt right. He felt lost for most of his life, like he was going through the motions but never really living. He had friends, a limited number but friends nonetheless, but they grew more and more boring as the days past. His friends weren't the only thing that this boringness had effected. He and his family weren't close. Be it from the fact that they weren't interesting from the start or that their personalities just didn't quite mesh, he didn't know, but there was always a sense of awkwardness in the household. They had supported him to the fullest, but he always felt like a disappointment to them. He had failed out of college in his first year, so he broke with them to save himself from the shame.

Nothing excited him. This world was boring, he’d much rather escape into video games than do anything in the world he was born in. He didn't have a dream or goal. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't find his path. His parents wanted to be a doctor, not only for the considerable paycheck but to help people in need. It never felt right. His life had no meaning. He was blank. Or so he thought.

When magic came into the world it felt as if he had changed into a different person. It was like a dream come true. This was what he was made for! This had to be the reason he was put on Earth! So many new possibilities were to be had. He needed to figure out how to use this new ability as soon as possible. The excitement was near unbearable. Magic entering the world was much like a transfusion to Diarmuid, but instead of blood it was hope. Hope that he could find something he was good at and excel.

This hope didn’t last long, sadly. Upon attempting magic, he found that he was incredibly inept. It left him sweating and with a terrible headache, and all he had managed to do was lift a spoon off the table into his hand. The first thing to excite him in what seemed like ages turned out to be for nothing. It felt like his calling card, but in turn it just crushed his dreams.

He fell into a jealous rage at who most people called “Shifters” for their natural talent at magic. If he can’t have joy in this world, no one can. He’ll kill them all.

Personality: Envious, believes everyone else has everything and he has nothing. Lethargic, unwilling to work very hard at things he feels stupid doing. Sad,or more accurately depressed, he feels like a disappointment and is emotionally unstable. Lonely, has very limited friends, and no one he finds to be truly worth his time. He is a pitiful man. He feels as if he is a disappointment, mainly in not knowing what he,himself wants in life. He will go to great lengths to correct this.

Views on the conflict: He envies them. Wishes he could have what they have. They know what they are while he sits and wonders what he is, just like he has been his whole life.

Magical Capability: Limited, he knows some magic and is training, but it is very limited. From the first time he used magic his skills have improved 20 fold, even so, it is nothing compared to an advanced human mage or even the weakest shifter. Can manipulate force and small objects, or areas.

Name: Kristen 'Kris' Buchanan
Age: 22
Sex: F
Alternative Form:


Human Apperance:


Biography:
Her mother was Russian, her father Australian, and they met somewhere in the middle. Her father, Jaxon, was a strong man. Rich and powerful, he was much older than her mother, Alina. Jaxon was strict too, often barking orders at the small woman who loved him. And honestly, Alina did love her husband. Despite all the yelling, despite all the commands and cold shoulders, she loved him, and she would do anything for him. Jaxon loved her back, somewhere deep down inside. Something he only showed on occasion, at random, to the poor, frail woman.

Thus, Kris was born. On an average sunday, during an average summer in eastern Europe, an average baby was born. Kris was all that Alina had ever wanted and more. The baby laughed, cried, and melted the hearts of most who met her. Even Jaxton was proud of their baby girl, and would carry her around in his huge hands for all to see. Everything was bright, if only for a short while.

One day, on Kristen's 3rd birthday to be exact, she started to change. Her soft toddler skin grew coarse fur. Her small teeth grew sharp. Her body shifted. No longer a beautiful baby girl, Kris had turned into some kind of animal. Her parents, out of fear, locked her in a small room in the basement until she changed back to her normal self. She lived with them for only a few more days before her mother's heart broke and she grew ill. Her father scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the house, dropping her at a humane society near by since even he didn't know where to put her.

Kris grew up there, with people and animals alike. Her new family accepted her and knew how to care for both her forms. They even paid for her teachings and activities and, when it was time, helped her move to a new home and start her own life.

Personality:
Kristen, just liker her power, is very explosive. When she is happy, she is extremely happy, and when she is angry, she is extremely angry. Anything could set her off, be it a comment or weird look given by a stranger. She has a very short fuse and a very bad temper to match. However, with her close friends she is sarcastic and funny. She also respects strength and loyalty, always looking out for her loved ones.

Views on the conflict: Currently indifferent.

Magical Capability: Kristen can create/generate, shape and manipulate explosions, a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner. She does this by being able to generate extremely high temperatures and quick control of gases in the surrounding air, causing explosions that range from mild shock to annihilating. However, she must be careful because she is not immune to the outcome and side effects of the explosions. Kris has mastered the ability to propel herself foreward without hurting herself and (usually) those around her. This gives her much higher than average speeds. Her weakness is that she can only use her power either in short bursts, or one huge explosion but must wait for her ability to regenerate. Also she is not very physically strong.