### Setting Welcome to Verloren, a fantasy world with vast forests, bustling cities, rural townships, imposing castles, forgotten ruins, looming mountain ranges, and dangerous seas populated by many nations, races, and ethnicities. This is a time of relative peace. While some spy networks and assassins may be consorting in the shadows, there is no open warfare between recognized nations. Citizens and merchants are free to travel across borders as long as they adhere to generally reasonable regulations. A magic based on patterns has brought the world to the cusp of an industrial age as a few rudimentary machines powered by totemic energies have been invented recently. ###Magic System Over the last few centuries, scholars, wisemen, and tinkerers all over the world have discovered certain patterns can create energetic reactions. They call these patterns totems. Certain rudimentary totems are merely two dimensional patterns that can be created with simple lines in dirt or paint on a wall. Other totems are three dimensional shapes, perhaps knots of copper wire in intricate weaves, or glass blown into a complex spiral with a very precise volume. Generally, the more complex the pattern or rarer the material, the more powerful the effect, though this is not always true. While some cultures reserve their totems for political, religious, or military use, other cultures share their knowledge with the populace. Several ancient Caiteran Empire trade routes have been reconstructed and reopened allowing cultural dissemination to increase within your lifetime. The magical effects of totems are not usually spectacular or grandiose; often they are practical. Some totems may produce a soft light. Others may ward away mosquitoes. Perhaps the most widely used totemic arrangement in southern Verloren is an intricate hatchwork that produces heat several hundred degrees just above it. Those that have learned this totem most often use it to heat their home or start fires. Some cultures view totems as some sort of anchor or umbilical line connecting the physical world to gods or spirits, and that using the totems is perhaps a form of prayer. Others see it as disrespectful or a display of blasphemous arrogance towards the gods, like a child yanking at the hem of its parent demanding attention. Others view it as an extension of the natural world without any being or consciousness behind it, and that it is to be viewed in the way a lightning rod attracts lightning, the way water and sunlight give life to plants, the way iron rusts when exposed to water and air. Still others suppose that there is no real difference between the different schools of thought. ###You You are a member of the White Guard, a reputable mercenary company led by Captain Jaon Valhoa. Two years ago, the White Guard was commissioned to aid in the defense of the city of Belencrest from an encroaching tribe of greyskin barbarians. After ten months of defending supply routes, ambushes, border skirmishes, and a foiled assassination attempt, the barbarians withdrew without ever engaging on the field in open combat. The magistrate of Belencrest was impressed with the White Guard's results and has extended the contract to remain in the city as an auxiliary to the city guard. Three weeks ago, a shipping vessel that had been traveling down the Elkin river has stopped in Belencrest. Its cargo and crew have been organizing an expedition to travel the rest of its journey towards the coastal city of Paolou by land. The caravan leader, Gaivus Hemming, has requested the use of a small contingent of the White Guard to escort his troupe the rest of the way. Captain Valhoa has hand-selected two dozen of his company for the task. You are among that group. Gather your things. You leave at first light. ###Playable Races Fantasy humanoid races. I will allow original races, just try to keep it grounded in a grittier fantasy setting. Nothing immortal. Nothing that doesn't have a body. Nothing extra-dimensional. Nothing undead. No vampires, sentient golems, demons, angels, elemental spirits... That said, if you tweak an archetype enough so that it fits into this world, I'll consider it. For example: werewolf is a no, but potentially I could be talked into a wolfman. Anyone on board?

Sounds cool; color me interested!

Really disappointed by no extra-dimensional as it means I can not use an ifrit character, but whatever. Interested. Like that the peoples' relationship with magic is complicated.

This sounds interesting, and I love the Magic System! Count me in.

Colour me interested! I hope a rabbit-man will be okay, heh.

Awesome: [OOC is now open for business!](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75496/posts/ooc)

I'm interested. I won't be able to post anything concrete til later tomorrow, but expect it soon none the less.