@Mokley

Well, I got the details down that I think are important to this specific character (thanks for the sage comment :3) Thought I'd leave it open for people to take where they want.

And that painting looks awesome and about the concept I was imagining except my own mind made it a bigger tower and someone like a shaolin monkjust because, but it doesnt have to be.

@Mokley stillllll having a bit of trouble wiht the mechanics here, imade a post in responce to you :3

---

The sky was painted in a variety of shades of lilac and purple. The lake glimmered constantly, as if it was beckoning for a lost acquaintance. Beyond the lake lay a castle, which overlooked the entire landscape. The castle was abandoned, its numerous facilities probably lined with neatly-woven cobwebs. A small light flickered from one of the many windows of the palace, while a thick and uncompromising fog obstructed the view of the castle. A hooded traveler walked the patch of land that was separated from the castle by the ever-flowing river. A tall post lantern failed to illuminate the nearby forest, which seemed to be engulfed by the unending darkness.

The traveler sat beside the post lantern, staring across the river. Behind her was an assortment of trees, all sporting barks that were colored in a shade of dark purple. Many other travelers talked about the creatures that would roam the forest at night. Few brave people ventured into the forest, only to leave a mangled corpse behind. Whenever the forest got into the way of a plotted travel path, the path would be altered immediately. Nobody would dare cross Owenshook Forest.

The traveler sat on the grass, pondering to herself. The darkness threatened to invoke fear within her. Stories of the horrid creatures that roamed the forest at night. Devious monstrosities that waited patiently to devour anybody who dared to trespass their territories. The shedding of blood and the shattering of sanities.

But she did not fear anything.

She was sick of having to feel scared. Fear was very common in where she lived, and she was tired of having to pay respect to the authorities. She wanted to be as free as a bird, flying across the boundaries that separated the nations of the world. She continued to think to herself as she sat on the grass. Her companion, a small cat, climbed up on her lap. It was not a mere cat, for she projected it onto the material plane using her very imagination. The cat had gained a conscience of its own, unraveling its own wisdom.

"Have you figured it out yet?"

"I'm used to keeping secrets. I have long figured out the true nature of my homeland, and I fear that it is beyond saving."

"Not exactly."

Just then, a shadow began to enlargen. The shadow of a slender but tall man covered the traveler in what would be fear and wariness. The mysterious figure's very presence made the air colder. However, our traveler did not feel negatively affected by the sensation. She welcomed the coldness, and she anticipated the strange man's introduction.

"Oh, hello traveler. I do not get visitors very often."

The traveler turned her head backwards to be greeted by a man wearing a robe. He wore a strangely-designed mask resembling the skull of an exotic animal. The man leaned on a staff, which had a texture that resembled the dark-hued trees that surrounded the masked stranger. A crystal was embedded onto the top of the staff, which acted as a source of light at the moment.

"Many people here fear me for my unfathomable power and skill in the dark arts. Only such a person would approach me without fear."

"I have been bathed in fear since my birth. I have grown tired of it, and so I have set out to quench my need for adventure."

"Very well. What do you come for?"

"I need a place to stay for the night. When the sun rises, I shall set out on a journey."

"That would be fine with me. There is only one thing that I must ask you. You see, I am a necromancer. I have embarked on the quest for absolute power, and I have attained it. Nowadays, nobody understands me, and nobody would want to have anything to do with me. Why do you put your trust in me, despite my mysterious figure?"

"I can see what lies in your heart. You long for company. You regret your shortcomings. One day, you will fathom to these faults in your heart, and nothing will be left of you. It would be my pleasure to accompany you in your last moments."

The necromancer nodded sadly. Soon, he would succumb to his power. Despite his knowledge in the dark arts and occult rituals, he did not know what would become of him. He had mapped out many possibilities. He might become a Reaper, devoid of any empathy, who set out to reap the souls of the fallen. He might also become a Lich, immortal and with the whole world for himself to explore, or conquer. He did not really know what he should do at his final hour. All this he thought to himself as he led the traveler to his small hut, located within the depths of the haunted forest. They soon reached the necromancer's humble domain.

"Good night."

---

A young girl woke up in her bed. She was stuck again in her own room. Her bed was neatly stationed beside her worktable, and a couple of papers where attached to a foam board hanging on the wall. Everything was in black and white, and it strained her eyes.

"Ari, it's time for breakfast!"

"I'm coming!"

---

@Mokley Oh great, there's some OneShot in it too. Who doesn't find underaged children cute?
EDIT: Tons of grammar fixes

@Crawkid Hey awesome! I don't want your ideas to get lost in the OOC though -- if you wanted to write up a bit of a legend, or a short story, or a bit more finished character sheet, and post it in the Characters tab, that would then allow other players to find and use that info in their own articles. If you've got particular questions, though, we can help brainstorm ideas for your article! Maybe what you're developing here could be a known disease or condition that involves being haunted. Since ghosts and visions in this world are known to be real, medicine and science are probably synonymous with witchcraft and folklore. I can totally imagine medical references that include remedies for hauntings, possession and curses. But just some ideas!

It looks like a few people are waiting on @Polybius article on the towers, though, haha.

@ChickenTeriyaki I'm loving the weird fantastic mysteries, haha! A continuation of the secrets of Loris City?

The one idea that sticks out to me right now is that a necromancer might become, in a way, Death itself -- which makes complete logical sense. It's definitely a concept that could be utilized elsewhere as well!

Owenshook Forest is the staple, necessary haunted forest.

(Love One Shot btw! xD)

Somewhere out in the wilderness, there exists a field of hilltops, over the largest of which floats the Halfway House Over Hoddard Hill. A small residential building - resembling a rectangular, two-story estate made of standard materials, and in rather poor condition - suspended in the air and anchored to the earth via several massive chains. How it got there is an enigma, and no one has been able to get any answers from exploring the building. There is little confusion surrounding its supposedly intended purpose, however.

The Halfway House exists to pacify, recondition, and reintroduce to society those whom the populace deem criminals, malcontents, and troublemakers. When one is tethered to the building and raised up through its dilapidated underside, they will subsequently become trapped within its confines for anywhere between three weeks to five years. Some, actually, never leave the Halfway House - presumably because they were deemed by its master to be completely unfit for everyday life.

Once an exile or other troublesome sort has completed their ‘rehabilitation’, they are gently lowered from the Halfway House and allowed to roam free once again. All who have returned who were once worthless bums and ne'er-do-wells, present themselves as upstanding, god-fearing, ready-to-contribute members of the community. Disturbingly so, in fact. These ‘half-mites’, as they are colloquially referred to as, exhibit very subservient personalities, constantly desiring to perform labor, and becoming very irritable when no task is given. They will often resort to self-harm coupled with incoherent babbling until they are given an order, or they die. For this reason, most half-mites are simply done away with, or given extremely long-term, constant jobs to perform.

A half-mite was once subjected to torture by a group of rather ruthless scholars in an effort to gleam details of the Halfway House’s interior and operations. This proved, for the most part, terribly ineffective. The half-mite in question only ever responded with the phrase, “I stay my tongue at the order of Mother Izaazs.” The entity known as Mother Izaazs has never been referred to in any other fashion, so her true nature is completely unknown. Most believe her to be a Ruse of some form, but that is uncertain, as any who break into the Halfway House are either expunged as half-mites, or never seen again.

---

No picture yet. Will doodle something later.

@Zealous Blade

I can already imagine Morgan Freeman walking out of the train and speaking in his deep, silky voice.

@SepticGentleman This is wonderful and unsettling -- a sentence far more frightening than prison. I'm imagining what sort of community would send people there, and for what range of delinquency -- and whether that community might have an alarming population of half-mites, if the halfway house is such a reliable, easy "fix" for the less desirables.

So it's not an article on the Null-Towers, (I'll get to it shortly), I'm trying to envision some mid-level baddies for this world. I briefly mention some things about the Null-Empire, hinting at some sort of retro-sci-fi technology that may have existed.

@SepticGentleman This is wonderful and unsettling -- a sentence far more frightening than prison. I'm imagining what sort of community would send people there, and for what range of delinquency -- and whether that community might have an alarming population of half-mites, if the halfway house is such a reliable, easy "fix" for the less desirables.

The villagers are threatened into regularly sending people to the Halfway House, regardless of their criminal records, by Mother Izaazs and her underlings. They have some half-mites toiling for them, but prefer to not keep so many around.

@ChickenTeriyaki Perfect. Perhaps too perfect *evil laugh.

---

It was nighttime in the secluded city of Loris. People toiled up and down the streets, each doing their daily jobs without any signs of refraining. There was the mailman, who delivered messages by day and night. Deliverymen rode the streets in their vechicles. They would not be alone, as other people of various occupations would be coming from an unusually large building located beside another street. A girl of moderate age went along with the flow, carrying a small plastic bag.

The girl went by the name Ari Chai. She was a student at the Academy, and her job had not been decided yet. While her job was not definite, she studied disciplines such as mathematics and proper speech. Her schedule consisted of her waking up early in the morning to go to the Academy, a school that accommodated all the children in her section of the city. There was only one Academy, but it had several branches. The only thing she would eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner would be sandwiches, and they all tasted the same.

She stopped in front of one of the houses. Having grabbed a key from her pocket, she opened the door. A taller woman of older age came to greet her, as the younger girl unloaded the bag on top of a broad table.

"Ari, you're finally here!"

"I went to the food drive to claim our dinner, mom."

"All right, all right. After eating dinner, you are going directly to sleep. You told me that you don't have any homework to do, right?"

"You're right. I'm feeling tired."

After taking a quick bath, Ari changed into sleeping attire and tucked herself in bed. On this side of the world, she was bounded by her repetitive schedule. However, there was a world beyond what would be known as Loris City. She knew that, and she hoped that she would soon not be the only person to ever know. As she fell asleep, her consciousness began to shift. Soon she would not be in her bed...

---

...but lying on a roll of fabric, inside a cramped room. The room was completely covered, and it did not let even the smallest ray of sunshine disturb the darkness. The surroundings of the room were ambiently lighted by a lamp, which sat on top of a wooden table. The lamp radiated on its own, as if there was an unseen source providing its power. The table was eloquently carved, unlike the large, broad table that Ari had seen in her own dwelling.

Ari stood up. Gently and carefully, she picked up the lamp and held it in her right hand. The lamp began to illuminate more of the room, revealing a well preserved collection of bizarre wonders. On a table stood a jar containing some sort of frog-like creature, floating in a liquid that was probably concocted with the sole purpose of preserving it. A book bound in leather was placed beside the jar, and behind the book, one could see a tube rack which caressed a collection of vials. Each vial contained a liquid that sported its own color; There would be a chemical that was colored red, one yellow, one blue, and much more. Soon, Ari would locate the exit: a door that was slightly taller than her. She turned the doorknob, pushed the door, and walked outside.

It was already morning. The two figures were located on the hut's porch, and the sun was rising in the background. The necromancer who had brought her here was wearing his mask. He sat on a wooden chair, one of the many pieces of wooden furniture that he kept in his warm and cozy hut. His staff leaned on his shoulder, the crystal not flickering as it used to during the night.

"So you're awake now. I was planning on cooking a meal for the two of us, but I have not found the time to as I have been absorbed in my violent thoughts and stipulations. Please forgive me, for my time has come."

"What time?"

"Ever since I have become a necromancer of unbounded talent, I have waited for the day wherein Death itself would come for me. Considering that I have proven to be one of His most valuable assets, Death itself will most likely make something out of me. Something special. Something that will transcend my own existence as of this moment."

"Condolences. I am very sorry, but I will have to leave you here. I have a journey to embark on."

"As far as I am concerned, this matter is very likely to concern your journey. Do you come seeking the Five Crystals?"

Ari was shocked. Somebody had sniffed out the purpose of her journey. However, nothing was to faze her, at the moment. Fate had provided for her, and she had accepted its gift with open arms.

"Yes."

"If that is the case, then I have a gift for you."

The necromancer held out the crystal that was once embedded onto the top of his staff. It had lost its glow. Ari held out her hands in anticipation. The necromancer dropped the crystal right into her hand. Upon reaching Ari's hand, the crystal began to glow brightly.

"Midnight's Scowl is now in your service. Be careful, it is very powerful. However, I do believe that you and the crystal will be able to make a compromise. It belongs in the hands of someone with your disposition. I have never met somebody as empathetic as you even before I started learning the dark arts."

"How did you know it was me?"

"The blue crystal you wear as a necklace is obviously one of the Crystals. Travelers always have ulterior motives, and I figured yours simply through your thoughtful gaze."

Ari smiled. Not all people who lurked in the dark were evil, after all.

"Thank you."

Ari set off. The necromancer was right, for she had her own goals.

As soon as Ari disappeared from sight, the necromancer was greeted by another visitor: a dark and slender figure. Staring into the figure's eyes would be staring into the deep dark void that mortals referred to as "Limbo". He locked eyes with the necromancer, who had taken off his mask in respect

"Your time has come, Klyn. It is your commitment to work for me"

The mysterious entity held out his hand, releasing a small ball of smoke. The small ball of smoke suddenly began to encircle the necromancer, and it transitioned into a column of smoke. The smoke then dissipated. What was left of Klyn the Necromancer would be a creature that resembled the human skeleton. He was now outfitted with a darker robe. A lantern levitated above him, and he grabbed it.

"The souls of the dead heed your name, Klyn. It is your job to lead them to the realm of the dead. Once they have arrived there, we shall judge them by their deeds, without your interference."

"My pleasure."

The newly-created Reaper walked out of the porch. It would be a long, if not endless, day for him.

---

@Mokley
I would love to embark on a collab. As the character embarks on her journey, she will need companions. Once she gets a companion, neither of the two will be considered as the "main character" because they both have their own motives.

Is anybody interested? I've been growing lonelier since the start of my vacation...

@Polybius The plot thickens! A part of me wants to connect this somehow with the Stellar Express, maybe some branching sects sprinkled throughout the continents. They'd be right at home in Loris City, too.

@ChickenTeriyaki If I understand correctly, Ari shares two bodies: one in Loris, one in the wilderness? What exactly is her motive? Would you mind explaining what's happening and why? ;)

(also, your linked picture doesn't work, all I see is a placeholder that says "no hotlinking." xD)

It is common understanding that different cultures have differing definitions of what is collectively called the "Ruse." Throughout my travels I have encountered such explanations as follows:

• They are great monsters that devour dreams in order to gain selfish power.
• They are the whispers in one's ear, the heckling voice in one's own head.
• They are visions of persons, places or events that have since gone, as mirages in the desert.
• They are formless pockets of energy, with or without sentience, which inhabit liminal spaces.
• They are flora, fauna, minerals, objects or elements which exist and behave in ways that defy natural laws.
• They are gods, demigods and deities with power and authority over nature.
• They are the spirits of the dead.
• They are comprised of a fifth natural element.
• They are a foreign corruption of Nature.
• They are inseparable from existence itself.
• They do not exist at all.

It is my privilege to present a conclusive definition which, through extensive research, encompasses every documented form of the Ruse:

The Ruse are a presence -- physical or spiritual, living or inanimate -- whose existence is defined by or depends upon thought.

But what is thought? Thought is interchangeably referred to as intention, emotion, belief, and dream. Thought is not, as commonly assumed, limited to human minds. Fauna (and even, in certain circumstances, flora) are as capable of thought and its effects, if to smaller degrees, as humanity. They simply lack the concentration that we humans take for granted.

Concentration -- whether intentional, as in a spell of witchcraft, or unintentional, as a recurring nightmare -- is the womb from which a Ruse is born.

But what, then, is the difference between a Ruse and a spell?

A Ruse, as previously defined, is a presence. Something that, for lack of a better term, exists with some level of independence. A light in the sky may be a Ruse. A voice may be a Ruse.

A spell, however, is the process of applying thought and intent to affect something else directly. The enchantment of objects is an application of spellwork. A chant to cause the clouds to gather and rain, or a sigil drawn on a door to protect a home, or a potion brewed with the intent to cure an ailment -- these are all examples of spells. A spell may -- and commonly will -- create a Ruse. A Ruse which possesses enough sentience to also possess thought may also cast spells.

Ruse and spells are undeniably intertwined, in that both are only possible through the power of thought. Thought, I am confident, is a natural element, just as important as fire, water, earth and air. It may exist independently, yet may also be utilized as a tool to change the world around us.

In the next chapter I will discuss the philosophical question of the Ruse: who is to say that everything that now exists does not depend on some cosmic sustained thought, and that all of us and all that we know are not Ruse ourselves?

---

Just to break the fourth wall a little bit, here's my interpretation of the core magic system -- which I hope will support almost any magic or religious system you guys want to come up with. :3

@Crawkid I can't quite canonize your article until it's in some kind of finished format, but as an idea it's great the way it is -- maybe will inspire a future character or article!

If you were to give the character a name and flesh her out a bit, it can totally be added officially!

Edit: I keep rethinking what to do with unfinished ideas, haha. Added a category section just for ideas! They're absolutely important and useful to the overall world.

@Mokley then it will be canonized whenever it gets canonized. I left it that open for a reason.

@Crawkid Awesome! You actually inspired me to create a new section for open ideas that are also canon. :D

All of the known gods of the world are Ruses, created from the devout worship of believers or a strong, collective emotion. Some scholars believe that even Del, commonly regarded as the creator of the world, was merely a Ruse created from the primal instinct to survive. However, there is some contention on this point. A number of scholars believe that Del is one of the true gods, a powerful entity whose power derives from some source other than belief. This is an argument that will not be addressed further here.

Despite their rivalry, the two factions of scholars agree that Del was the founder of civilization. Historical records show that many early technologies such as farming, writing, and mining were discovered and implemented at an exceptionally rapid pace, indicating the presence of outside influence. It has been estimated that these discoveries would have taken at least three thousand years to discover independently. Under Del's care, humanity grew and flourished.

As the centuries passed, the influence of Del lessened, eventually ceasing altogether. Some take this as proof that Del was a Ruse. It is indeed common for Ruses, especially ones born from strong emotions and instincts, to fade when their reason for existence disappears. Del's gifts to humanity allowed people to live without fearing for their immediate survival, thus leading to its demise. Others hold that Del's disappearance was a sign that humanity had become strong enough to fend for itself, and it had merely gone to do whatever true gods do when not taking care of a species.

Before Del left, he left a final gift. It was a gift unlike his others, for it was not a gift for the living. It was a gift for those condemned to a fate worse than death - the fate of being forgotten. It is said that those with a will or spirit strong enough can find their way to Elohim, an eternal city where the past and present meet. Because of the difficult journey, those who arrive in Elohim tend to have achieved fame or notoriety, for it is those that are well known who fear being forgotten the most.

Though those living cannot visit Elohim, few doubt its existence, due to the occasional sighting of things that should not exist - old gods from ancient texts, legendary weapons long lost, mythical heroes from fairy tales, and terrible scourges. Those who have reached Elohim may choose to brave the journey once more to visit the world, though they are unable to stay for long. Sometimes, an old god will return to take on a disciple, in hopes of spreading their belief once more. Sometimes, villains will return to spread chaos and heroes will return in times of need. Some return simply out of their desire to see the world once more. Sometimes these visits shape the course of history, but more often than not, these visitors are simply people, at least for a while.

@Mokley
Hey, that article you wrote about the Ruse that's in first person? Is that officially published? Might like my girl to have started reading it...

@snake153 This is pretty cool and epic! It reads like it's written from the POV of someone living in the world, is that right? Maybe this is an account from a certain civilization -- these theories and myths could very well have some basis in reality that might not be exactly as they're told. (though, of course, definitely believed as they're told!) Like, the mystical city probably really does exist, but not exactly in the way that it's perceived in the myths. I'd be interested to see or develop the people who worshiped Del.

Just thinking out loud! Good stuff! :3

@Crawkid Oohh, maybe this book would be able to help her figure out and put an end to her own Ruse haunting? Or has she created those Ruse herself using the information from the book, maybe with unanticipated consequences? Maybe she'd go try to find the author in hopes of getting help?