@Drakey I think DM said fire as a natural phenomenon isn't...really a thing anymore. Can't make flames even with fire magic -- and there isn't any.
I understand that, but Omestrians have a shadow of the Fire God's ether, as such, it should theoretically be possible to create true fire ether from that.
I realize that Fire isn't a thing currently, but that doesn't mean that a certain heretical priest can't revive it.
@DrakeyNicely done! I like the idea that Rodion's inventions were what caused Stina to almost die. Adds a cool wrinkle into their relationship. :p
As for the research into fire, I'm going to allow it but, it has to be a kind of pipe dream for Rodion, a sort of impossible vanity project that he himself knows to have very little chances in actually succeeding. It'd also have to be kept a close secret, and he wouldn't be able to tell anyone about it, as the concept of fire itself is openly heretical to the Church (remember, it is the element of the Great Enemy who sundered their god). Maybe he studies it as a silent "fuck you" to the church?
When it comes to demonic ether fueling his creations, sure, this can be a thing, but as I mentioned before, this practice has had very little research and experimentation done on it for it to go off without a hitch. He'd have to spend some time working with it first, and it wouldn't be a success the first time he attempts it.
@DrakeyNicely done! I like the idea that Rodion's inventions were what caused Stina to almost die. Adds a cool wrinkle into their relationship. :p
As for the research into fire, I'm going to allow it but, it has to be a kind of pipe dream for Rodion, a sort of impossible vanity project that he himself knows to have very little chances in actually succeeding. It'd also have to be kept a close secret, and he wouldn't be able to tell anyone about it, as the concept of fire itself is openly heretical to the Church (remember, it is the element of the Great Enemy who sundered their god). Maybe he studies it as a silent "fuck you" to the church?
When it comes to demonic ether fueling his creations, sure, this can be a thing, but as I mentioned before, this practice has had very little research and experimentation done on it for it to go off without a hitch. He'd have to spend some time working with it first, and it wouldn't be a success the first time he attempts it.
YAY!! I like the fuck you approach to the fire (it was meant to be either an extremely late thing in the RP or non-existent at all)
As for the demon stuff, makes sense. I was thinking of it being a project that he can work on throughout the RP as in a way to make his own combat prowess bigger.
Also, Can ether be transferred back into someone? This seems like something that hasn't been explored and I would like Rodion, being the heretical asswhole that he is, to explore it.
@DrakeyHm, this is actually a good chance to discuss how ether is used to fuel magic.
I know that in order to cast magic, inquisitors need further quantities of ether to supplement their own (except for the aegis, which must use an inquisitor's own ether to work). I pictured this as like, inquisitors having a sort of holy catalyst, like some device or totem that is unique to them, and this device is what allows them to channel their own mythical energies into to allow the use of spells. The device itself runs on ether however, and so it needs to be refilled and thus can't be used indefinitely. This would require inquisitors to carry around spare ether vials with them (or maybe they can be something else and not vials-- cartridges? charges? I'm not sure what to call them!)
Anyone have any ideas concerning this?
As for ether transfusions, I don't know why this wouldn't work. It'd pretty much be like a blood transfusion right? Maybe the ether has to be compatible, like there could be different ether types (beyond Omestrian/Not Omestrian)? This also wouldn't be seen as heretical, but just as an ordinary medical procedure.
@DrakeyHm, this is actually a good chance to discuss how ether is used to fuel magic.
I know that in order to cast magic, inquisitors need further quantities of ether to supplement their own (except for the aegis, which must use an inquisitor's own ether to work). I pictured this as like, inquisitors having a sort of holy catalyst, like some device or totem that is unique to them, and this device is what allows them to channel their own mythical energies into to allow the use of spells. The device itself runs on ether however, and so it needs to be refilled and thus can't be used indefinitely. This would require inquisitors to carry around spare ether vials with them (or maybe they can be something else and not vials-- cartridges? charges? I'm not sure what to call them!)
Anyone have any ideas concerning this?
As for ether transfusions, I don't know why this wouldn't work. It'd pretty much be like a blood transfusion right? Maybe the ether has to be compatible, like there could be different ether types (beyond Omestrian/Not Omestrian)? This also wouldn't be seen as heretical, but just as an ordinary medical procedure.
As for the transfusions...I'm talking heretical -> like shoving demon ether into a slave. Or creating an artificial ether out of omestrian/demon ether that is stronger than a normal human's ether and shoving it in. Or taking Ziotea's ether out, mixing it with demon ether, making it stronger and shoving it back in. That kind of heretical.
So ether doesn't circulate between a person and external magics...ok. (ideas and machinations begin to form)
As for storage, I think it would depend on their catalyst. For a gun: it would be called a magazine. For the Madrys, I prefer to use vials.
How would you feel if Ziotea and Rodion are something of a dysfunctional couple that don't relize that they are a couple even though everyone else does?
@DrakeyThe results of such an experiment seems like the kind of thing that would best be answered in the RP itself.
I will say that if such an experiment were to occur between Rodion and Ziotea, they'd have to keep it secret from the Church and would require medical personnel, since extracting someone's ether is akin to putting them in a coma and that person would require medical attention immediately after the ether was removed.
Also, I feel like an inquisitor's own ether should be treated like a very pure and treasured source of power within themselves. Like, it's what makes them more uniquely powerful, what's kept them alive for the twelve years of training. Some particularly devout people even consider it a blessing, and so giving it up like how a slave does should be considered as a bit of a taboo. I don't know what kind of character Ziotea is, but yeah, unless their relationship is weirdly kinky and she views Rodion as her "better" or "master" or something, then I don't think it'd make sense for a powerful ordained Inquisitor to give their ether up like that.
I could be wrong on this, but yeah, those are my thoughts.
@DrakeyThe results of such an experiment seems like the kind of thing that would best be answered in the RP itself.
I will say that if such an experiment were to occur between Rodion and Ziotea, they'd have to keep it secret from the Church and would require medical personnel, since extracting someone's ether is akin to putting them in a coma and that person would require medical attention immediately after the ether was removed.
Also, I feel like an inquisitor's own ether should be treated like a very pure and treasured source of power within themselves. Like, it's what makes them more uniquely powerful, what's kept them alive for the twelve years of training. Some particularly devout people even consider it a blessing, and so giving it up like how a slave does should be considered as a bit of a taboo. I don't know what kind of character Ziotea is, but yeah, unless their relationship is weirdly kinky and she views Rodion as her "better" or "master" or something, then I don't think it'd make sense for a powerful ordained Inquisitor to give their ether up like that.
I could be wrong on this, but yeah, those are my thoughts.
Makes sense, however, I see their relationship as being one of equals. And as for their entire history they have always been next to each other, I think Ziotea would trust Rodion to do this, especially since she seems like someone who would seek more power.
Anyways, all of my questions (currently) are for IC development. As such, I don't have any problems with what you've said so far.
@Drakey They're definitely not a couple, what are you talking about? That's ridiculous!
...In short, I love it~ ^.^ Yes please, can we do this?!
Please don't go shovingdemon ether into Ziotea. You don't want the monster that will result. But I could see maybe trying to use demon ether to synthesise stronger ether. He might even be able to get away with experimenting on shoving demon ether into slaves (or omestrian ether to make them all produce the strong stuff) without making Ziotea disown him, but she would definitely tell him -- and probably just him -- that she finds it distasteful. I imagine it's not only painful -- more so than having ether drained in the first place -- but also tends to result in frothing insanity, highly violent slaves that have to be restrained OE even killed, and perhaps corrupting the ether produced so it can't nbe used. Maybe it also has a high death/failure rate, and failures can be...ah, explosive? It might even produce rabid mutants!
@Drakey I mean, they can certainly try if she's cool with it. Whether it's successful or not, is up in the air. It wouldn't be an automatic win, and could possibly go wrong, since Rodion is a mechanist, and not a doctor or someone who has studied human ether transfusions.
@Drakey They're definitely not a couple, what are you talking about? That's ridiculous!
...In short, I love it~ ^.^ Yes please, can we do this?!
Please don't go shovingdemon ether into Ziotea. You don't want the monster that will result. But I could see maybe trying to use demon ether to synthesise stronger ether. He might even be able to get away with experimenting on shoving demon ether into slaves (or omestrian ether to make them all produce the strong stuff) without making Ziotea disown him, but she would definitely tell him -- and probably just him -- that she finds it distasteful. I imagine it's not only painful -- more so than having ether drained in the first place -- but also tends to result in frothing insanity, highly violent slaves that have to be restrained OE even killed, and perhaps corrupting the ether produced so it can't nbe used. Maybe it also has a high death/failure rate, and failures can be...ah, explosive? It might even produce rabid mutants!
Yes, thank you for the ideas.
As for messing with the slaves, Rodion is going to have a hard time doing this because Ziotea is part Omestrian, however, he is very skilled at shoving his emotions into a box. And yes, the failure rate (at least in the beginning) would be high. Also, I was thinking of using demons themselves in the beginning trials, then moving onto human subjects, and finally onto Ziotea (if she so wishes)
The only reason he would do this is because Rodion finds purpose/functionality to be beautiful. As such, beauty for the sake of beauty is not beautiful. However, the Steam Arcs are beautiful in his eyes. And an inquisitor should be strong, as such, the stronger the inquisitor the more functional and purposeful they are. As such, Ziotea (whom he unconsciously finds to be an exceptional beauty) would become even more attractive in his eyes if he made her ether stronger.
Just an idea, it does not need to come to fruition.
I was wondering if it would be possible if Madrys eventually had a form that raised Rodion's physical abilities to be equal to those of his fellow inquisitors (or perhaps even higher at a later date)
Her form would look like this and act as armor for Rodion:
What do you think, I'm currently working on the mechanics behind such a thing. It'll probably have something to do with her ether covering his own as a sort of internal armor as her form covers his as a sort of external armor.
@Drakey I am indeed, but I'm at work and have to keep switching from computer to kindle and back -- and it's hard to type on the kindle. ^.^;; I've got the start of it, which I suppose I could post. Picture's still at home on the desktop, though.
Height/Weight: (You have got to be kidding me. I'll work on this...*sigh*) 4'9? (I have an irl person I am going to ask for numbers, since she's the size I want Ziotea to be ^.^;; )
Race: Omestri-Lanostran halfbreed.
Appearance: With bright red hair, eyes closer to gold than to brown, and a very distinctive etheric signature, there's mistaking Ziotea for anything but Omestri, and a strong one. She keeps her bright hair short, never past shoulder length, and often ties it back somehow. She has a round face and heavy brows often draw together in a frown. Her skin tans easily where it is frequently exposed to the sun, namely her face and arms. The rest is fair though marked with various scars she's picked up over the years. Of particular note are the marks of whippings on her back, a set of ragged parallel lines from deep slashes gouged across one hip, and the puckered dent where she had a chunk ripped out of the opposite shoulder at one point.
She's a tiny little thing, very short and deceptively thin, but she is muscle and sinew without an ounce of extra fat. This makes her rather bony, and combined with her narrow hips and a general lack of bust she could be mistaken for a boy with a particularly pretty face from a distance. She's learned how to pick clothing that flatters what little figure she has in order to compensate, but even that can only do so much. The armor she wears is heavier than that of many Inquisitors, and she favors sturdy gauntlets with vambraces, greaves that protect the front of her knees, and a full brigadine and tassets in addition to her breastplate. She carries a round curved and spiked shield with a diameter about the same as the length of her arm and a winged spear, as well as a small quiver of darts.
Personality: A description of your character's personality-- their strengths, flaws, religious views, ect.
Background: Ziotea was born to Adrestia, a Lanostran priestess with a gift for preserving life as well as taking it, captured in an early raid on the nation before the war officially began and forced to serve as a Varyan slave. Her father was a pureblooded Omestrian, one of the many ether slaves the woman was forced to look after. With the help of the members of the Lady's Anger, Adrestia feigned a stillbirth and had the girl smuggled out. Unfortunately there are so many ways for a revolutionary to die, and those that had care of Ziotea met with one such, leaving her with only vague memories of kind people that looked after her before her days on the street, as well as a lasting disgust with the ways of the world. ,Fortunately for her, they'd kept her hair dyed black, and by the time it had grown enough to be an issue she'd added a coating of grime and learned to keep her hood up at all times.
The life of a young child on the street is a hard one, but the urchins have a rough camaraderie and even a tiny girl like Ziotea could learn enough to scrabble out a meagre living. Things changed dramatically when she dove headlong into a nook she thought would be secure, a determined guard on her tail. Instead of safety she found another child, who made enough noise when she slammed into him that they both had to flee. By way of apology she split the loaf of bread she'd stolen with him once they escape. It wasn't long before Ziotea and Rodion were inseparable, and towards the end of their time on the streets they pulled off a number of dramatic thefts. The boy might not have been particularly skilled, but he was fast and did well with machinery -- and it was far easier to get away if there was a huge ruckus in the opposite direction. Ziotea's ether had an affinity for heat and explosions, and she was able to pull off some truly spectacular distractions.
They couldn't escape capture indefinitely, of course.
I figure Rodion was grabbed first, and that he insisted she be allowed to come with -- otherwise she'd have ended up an ether slave?
Hey, she is perfect!!!!! She is tiny and Rodion is the second tallest at this point XD. Anyways, I love your character and can't wait for her to be finished. The whole couple thing is going to be an awesome dynamic.
Yay for the first official (though not really) couple in the group!
@DrakeyHonestly, I think him having mechanical beasts ( that become stronger themselves) at his disposal and being a genius is enough as far as strengths go. I feel like it's more interesting if he has some weaknesses, and his comparative lack of physical ability compared to everyone else is what evens the playing field. Him eventually conquering that so that he has *no* weaknesses at all is a bit much. So sorry, this one gets a no.
Understandable, I just want to point out that Madrys is not able to just 'shift' between her form. Her core needs to be moved from one body to the other before that can happen. Shifting will be a later development that Rodion will eventually make.
Other than that, I'm currently working on something of an espionage form....
