Nexus of Worlds- Darkness Rising:

The Witness Of Agony

Tell me is their still justice to be found in unjust times?
The darkness is reaching out for heaven and we suffer for it the higher it climbs.

I’m grounded a soldier without his wings unable to fight the good fight.
It's seems I was meant to watch it all unfold maybe that's why I write the way I write.

But It all falls back on me the pain and conflict from the war in the sky.
I'm just another casualty to this world it’s a travesty I can't deny.

I see the ones I know and love fall down before me like they were meant to die at my feet.
It kills me inside to no end knowing I could have been the difference because its a constant cycle always on repeat.

If only I could fight and let my sword and shield avenge the lives that have been lost.
But I can only analyze and be witness to the hellstorm. But at what cost?
-Daniel Springs
Allpoetry

The great onyx throne reflected the sharp blue-white light emanating from the tip of a bone-white staff. For a moment of indeterminable time, nothing happened as the dark of the cavernous throne room slowly revealed itself as the light forced back the gloom. Atop the gigantic throne sat a tall woman dressed in black and crimson. Her face concealed, save for her eyes, or rather the space where her eyes would be. Instead of eyes, deep ruby red lights glowed with a harsh brilliance casting a billowing light around her head. The great bone staff, the Dreaming Staff held in her right hand, pulsated once with a thrum of power felt in the body, in the soul of all who stood before her.

“My Queen . . .” a being said as it stepped forward, bowing knee before the elevated throne, the deep blue robes draped loosely, giving an ethereal feel to the being beneath it. A pale yellow light bathed the marble floor around the figure. “The Lord of Nightmares is close to obtaining his release from the oubliette. Once he is free he and his followers will once again wage war against the multiverse.”

“I am aware of that. Until that time comes to pass we shall be what we are, watchers and chroniclers of events and peoples.”

“My Queen, we must warn the younger races of the multiverse, we cannot allow them to experience the horror of the Lord of Nightmares and his legions.”

“Can we not? Since when have we become the protectors and defenders of the lesser races? When have they come to our aid in our struggles against the Forgotten? Our fights have been shroud in the shadows and dreams of others. We’ve been called angels, demons and many other things. We are simply a hazy memory, a fragment of reality that is easily tossed away as a myth.”

“My Queen, we can expand the Nexus of Worlds tournament to become more than just a way to see and understand the cultures of others. We can use it to being the horror of the Lord of Nightmares and his fearsome horde to the consciousness of others.”

The Dreaming Queen sat silently for a long time, a millennium perhaps more before she spoke again, “How would we do this? Skallagrim presides over this event for us.”

“You my Queen, you can assume the position of Games Master any time you wish. Perhaps we allow the young races the opportunity to free the Lord of Nightmares themselves?” Before the Queen could ask the counselor continued, his voice filling the vast chamber. “Each participant may have a piece of the Forever Key, each winner assumes the losers fragment. In the end the key will be complete and it is up to the winner to choose. Release the Lord of Nightmares and his legions from their prison or become the bearer of the key, keeping the multiverse safe from the destroyer of life.”

“You expect much from those who answer the call to the Nexus. You have faith in the younger races to see beyond their own fighting, to see the greater events that will transpire around them?”

“Yes my Queen. I do have faith in them. I believe the younger races, those who live in the light. Those who seek to be free, seek to understand all that remains unknown to them shall be keen enough to understand why they fight.”

Another voice spoke, a deep rumble that filled the chamber with authority immediately, without looking everyone was aware that the Cughtagh, the Walker between Worlds, Skallagrim had arrived.“There are many among the younger races that would stand firm against the Dark. Who would sacrifice themselves against the Nightmare Legions and the Forgotten.”

“Then . . .” The Gothi began to argue before the amethyst gaze of Skallagrim silenced him.

“They are individuals. Some think of themselves, think of glory only. Others would choose to make an alliance with the Lord of Nightmares, willingly sacrificing their worlds for the power the Dark promises.”

Skallagrim bowed before the Dreaming Queen, as he did she lifted a hand, summoning her champion to her. “Do you believe that? Do you believe that the winner would release my brother from his prison?”

Skallagrim chuckled; causing the Dreamers who heard to pause and turn their attention to him, a hundred billion Dreamers across the multiverse listened.

“My Queen, I cannot predict the actions of the younger races. However, it would be a worthy test, to see in which races, which individuals present the noble traits. I have watched them for millennium, but I cannot tell you anything more because these races are individuals above all.”

“Very well my Cughtagh. Let us place the fate of the multiverse in the hands of the victor then. For ill or good, we shall abide by their choice with the Forever Key.”

So it was that the Nexus of Worlds would open the vast and hoary gates that led to it, summoning forth warriors in their dreams to test their mettle and their honor.

Nexus of Worlds (NoW) Tournament Rules

1: Follow the Roleplayer's Creed.
2: There is absolutely NO time manipulation. There is LIMITED healing abilities at the judge’s discretion based on character biography and situation.
3: Any Weapon(s) must be carried into the arena. (You must be able to carry the weapon on your character.) Mechanized characters can carry their initial load out. Summoning of creatures/items is an action available from the second post on.
4: Usage of any questionable abilities or maneuvers are at the discretion of assigned judges. What the judge decides is 100% FINAL. Any dispute or argument afterward is a breaking of the rules.
5. All fighters have 48 hours after the scheduled end date of the match to complete the match. If the match is not complete by this point, the missing combatant(s) will be ejected from the tournament as forfeiture.
6. Fighters should respect one another at all times. Personal insults will not be tolerated.

Fighters have one (1) warning. A second infraction will result in ejection from the tournament. If there are further protest, you are banned from the next tournament.

Progression:

The tournament will progress in the following manner, with no exception granted without permission of the host/judges.

Bracketed Stage:

All fighters will compete in Bracketed stages. The tournament rounds are conducted in a format in which any combatant, may be paired against any other fighter in the tournament. It is a random drawing. This requires a minimum of four(4) combatants to make two brackets.

If there's a fight in the Great Hall, you MUST add that to the system as soon as you're out of your match. You must be active in the IC Great Hall as well as in the fights to lend atmosphere to the story surrounding the tournament.

Bracketed Rounds

1: Rounds are scheduled in 18 day intervals. You have 18 days to complete the fight.
2: You have 48 hours before a connection post.
3: You have 24 hours after a match to file for dispute resolution.
4: There MUST be a winner/judgment at each match. A judge will be assigned to the match.
5: Winners will advance and face the winner of the other match in their bracket.
6: If an extension is needed due to real world activities, you must inform the judge and opponent immediately.
7: If there is no activity after 72 hours the match will be awarded to last poster.



General Combat Guidelines and Absolution:

Combat is to be conducted following T1 Eden era Rules

This is a moderate powered tournament. If the submitted character does not fit into this bracket, it will be denied. If asked to remove a power set and you refuse it will be denied.

As always, fighters may agree to deviate from requirements on fight procedures set by the NoW rules, but agreements must be publicly stated by both parties before the fight begins.

Fights Will Default To These Basic Rules:

- Closed posts
Attacks must make logical sense, and must be completed in a second post after the opponent has had the opportunity to attempt an equally logical avoidance.

- Equality of posts and preparations (preps)
The attack (or defense) strength is equal to the number of posts made for that action. All individual posts are equal in strength, but posts can be stacked if you clearly state that you are preparing for an action.

A grab is counted as an attack and must take two posts; the initial grab and a successful latching onto the target. Your opponent may try to disengage if logically possible.

Exception: A grab may be countered/continued in a single post if contact is preexisting.

A lock must be preceded by a grab, and consist of one extra post.
Objects (arms, legs, weapons) can break after 2 successive and continuous targeted attacks to the same object, or 2 consecutive posts through which targeted pressure is applied (to a joint or otherwise) with a lock.

To make this clear, targeted attacks are interpreted as follows-

tr.v. tar·get·ed, tar·get·ing, tar·gets
1. To make a target of.
2. To aim at or for.
3. To establish as a target or goal.

Parry, block or otherwise redirected attacks by using your weapon is not a targeted hit by your opponent unless they specifically declare they are trying to hit your weapon/armor or body part.

Ranged attacks must take an extra post to close distance with the projectile. (Arrows, Bullets, Fireballs...) This means they do not connect in the post they are written, but you may write in a semi-closed manner to indicate the damage/effect expected.

Any other rules such as length, quality, and style will go unset, and if the fighters choose to set these - they are not binding unless both parties agree.

Absolutes:

If an opponent does not show within the first 2 days, they will be replaced if possible.

If there is a waiting list of fighters, they will be used as replacements for fighters who no show within the first 2 days of their fight.

Actions are voided if the poster cannot accurately explain them within the post.

Your writing clarity is the sole vehicle for you to control your character, and the lack of sufficient clarity in your post will result in the post being declared invalid.

If you use an ability that is beyond the scope of reality, you will be expected to provide ample information in your post on the way the ability works. Failure to explain your movements and actions will likely result in misinterpretation of your intent, you have been warned.

Obfuscation of your writing is unacceptable. If your posts cannot be understood by everyone involved it will be voided. You must write clearly.

Errata:

Firearms are ALLOWED- I reserve the right to allow/disqualify a firearm on any character. All firearms will have a 6-round magazine limit with a 10 magazine limit per firearm. Characters have a firearm limit of two long guns (rifles/shotguns/SMG), two pistols, and two heavier weapons (missile/rocket launcher, squad based machinegun, flamethrower etc.) based on design of the weapon in question. Heavy weapons are evaluated on an individual basis.

Grenades are limited to six total grenades but can be of mixed variety, i.e. two fragmentation, three white phosphorus and one smoke.

Mechanical weapons that produce ‘effects’ such as magical ‘guns’ that ‘shoot’ fireballs, acid, electricity etc. will be evaluated individually based on their described action/effect.

Roleplay Ramifications:

For the purposes of providing an in-character explanation for participants who plan to use characters who are in use elsewhere during the time of this tournament, all events taking place during the Nexus of Worlds are taking place in their own dimension.

Participants will be summoned, complete with all of their ability into this dimension at the commencement, where time will transpire as in normal time-space, but frozen to those outside of the Nexus of Worlds Dimension.

Participants may leave at any time to return to the exact moment in time where they left, but once a participant has left the NoW Dimension, they cannot return.

It is up to the participants to determine how they wish to play their character's responses in other non-Tournament roleplays to this instantaneous interruption of consciousness, as upon their return they will have experienced any number of events and will have full recollection of them. For some characters, this may be a bit disorienting, but again - this is up to the individual player.

As metaversal roleplay goes, events that transpire here in the NoW Dimension and any permanent effects are permanent when within this realm, but do not have physical ramifications outside of this world.


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CHARACTERS:

All Characters for the NoW –Rise of Darkness must fit in the following parameters for a low/mid-powered character.

Examples of low-powered: A character with a mad scientist level genius and scientific intellect. Long ranged telepathy, magical powers that do not involve a divine patron, and the ability to shoot flaming bats with magic arrows of light without the aid of that damnable fairy partner. In general, the range of ability to be expected from a Jedi Padawan of Star Wars or a Genin Ninja of Naruto—as well as the use of cybernetics, alchemy, and so on to simulate any of that.

Examples of midlevel powered: The basics of nanotechnology capable of regenerating minor wounds, or alternatively wizardry or clerical ability capable of the same. You can pilot your own short-range starfighter and have access to technology so advanced as to be almost magical in nature. The ability to fly for any reason you can think of that makes any rudimentary amount of plot logic. Your character may have the reflexes and skills of an elite Jedi Knight, the speed of Saito Hajime, and the power to take down Trinity of The Matrix with ease.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

1-Submit a character in the OOC-
2-Once accepted, place it in the character section.
3-Make an introduction post in the IC to confirm your participation in the tournament.

RANKING POINTS:
Each win is worth 100 points.
The final match is worth 200 points.

Holding

Question: will you be participating at all on this, Skall?

Cause I'm thinking of bringing in my wolf, Daniel, into this. Skallagrim's old acquaintance.

Would make things interesting.

No, I am hosting/judging this and am excuse myself from this tournament.

Aw dang. D:

Will still think about attending though.

I believe Rilla wants to limit it to the top 8-10 people in the rank standings. Depending on turnout, it may have to be a combination of ranked and applied fighters to make the desired number of fighters. Once this opens fully on the 17th, I will monitor the people submitting characters, if we need to open it I will. Rilla and I will have to discuss it at that point though since this is an shortened fighting season so he may have other ideas.

What are the rules of driving a car into and using it in the tournament?

Probably won't happen, not that it wouldn't be funny to see, but wouldn't be acceptable in a NoW tournament.

Another question: You limit ammunition to 10 6 round magazines, yet you list SMGs and squad assault weapons. Could you care to elaborate? For instance, would an M249 be acceptable? How many rounds would it be limited to?

Would a gun capable of blasts rating at 450 KJ of force be okay?

Read carefully, it says specifically all heavier weapons will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Ranged attacks must take an extra post to close distance with the projectile. (Arrows, Bullets, Fireballs...) This means they do not connect in the post they are written, but you may write in a semi-closed manner to indicate the damage/effect expected.

Doesn't that hold true for any attack, melee or ranged? Say you swing your sword or shoot a bullet and it doesn't connect in that post, but your opponent's post in response to this (if it does hit, of course)?

Dymion, you actually need to present a complete weapon system before I can evaluate it.

Dymion, you actually need to present a complete weapon system before I can evaluate it.

Will do.

In, no. If I previously grappled you, and you chose NOT to escape it, leaving me with that prior attack contact, I can just damage the joint this attack and break it next attack.

In, no. If I previously grappled you, and you chose NOT to escape it, leaving me with that prior attack contact, I can just damage the joint this attack and break it next attack.

I was questioning ranged attacks taking an extra post here unless this ties into it.
EDIT: So grapples don't need an extra post is what your saying. But normal melees would still.

Yes but you framed the question any attack. Normally all attacks take a round yes, but since we have people who are new to the arena and never been in a tourney, actually explaining it so there is no misunderstanding with ranged weapons saves me time in a judgement.

Unless you dislodge the grappler or defend against it they can simply continue their attack since there was no action regarding it.

Got it.

I must construct additional pylons...err...characters for this. Someone not afraid to get things done and has a balanced power set. And an interesting, creative personality to score on those aspects too. Hopefully I have time to start someone from scratch yet still be higher quality then my normal character a days.

Got it.

I must construct additional pylons...err...characters for this. Someone not afraid to get things done and has a balanced power set. And an interesting, creative personality to score on those aspects too. Hopefully I have time to start someone from scratch yet still be higher quality then my normal character a days.

What i was talking about. :P

In my case, though, i have quite a few ideas stashed away, and a majority of my unwritten characters fit the mid-powered niche quite nicely.