Roseburg, Maryland. Coastal industrial city with towering office buildings and large urban districts.
Just another routine Monday at the start of summer. Sunny clear sky, light breeze. Nothing out of the ordinary until 3:00 PM. Everything seems to stop. You suddenly find yourself transformed, and with powers too! You don’t know why you have them, but that’s the least of your worries now. Everything around you has stopped. The people, the animals, the clouds in the sky. They’ve all stopped moving. The sun is there but you don’t feel the warmth of its rays, nor does the wind stir. It's as if it's all fake.
But something else does move. Someone, another figure, in a brilliant outfit perhaps like yours. They’ve moved out of sight too quickly, not aware of your presence. Something’s going on.
Welcome to Arcane Dreams! A story of magical transformations and fights with monsters and other magical people to save the world! Or destroy it, do what you want I guess. As a sorcerer, you possess the ability to transform into a magical form and use magic, however you aren't able to do this under normal circumstances. Something around earth seems to nullify and stifle magic, however once removed from that environment (Via these special events alluded in the prelude) you are free to use your powers without restriction!
What is magic? Well, that has a very long and complicated answer! The short of it is that magic comes from one's soul. Every living thing possesses a soul (Yes, even single-celled life forms and plants, however the anatomy of souls varies between different life forms. Colony-based organisms like algae or certain plants and fungi tend to unify one soul for example.) And by extension, everything that has a soul produces magic, or mana (measure of one's magical energy.) However, most living things have a very small source of mana, meaning that they are incapable of using it.
Sorcerers are the exception to this rule, they have been chosen by the dream demon, and had their souls unlocked to allow the their magic to manifest. For sorcerers, as their magic comes from their very soul, their magic is unique to them. Or rather, their soul. So, you can think of magic as the manifestations of ones dreams, desires, ambitions, personas, and ideals. Sorcerers are not chosen by coincidence either, the dream demon targets those with 'potential'. Regarding the soul, those with strong aforementioned traits of desires, ambitions, etc harbor the best potential for magical growth. there isn't any correlation with motive, people with evil desires are just as likely to be chosen as those with good or more neutral ones. In general, those that are more then willing to use magic end up being chosen by the dream demon.
Now, not much is known about this demon, or demons in general really. In fact, no one knows if it's really a demon at all. Maybe it’s a Magical Beast, or an alien, who knows. But most sightings and rumors depict this creature as a quadrupedal beast of a smokey, inky form, two horns, and glowing eyes. Although it mostly appears in that form, its noted that the size is inconsistent from that of a dog to larger than an elephant, and even its shape seems to change by some accounts. To something like a horned, shadowy human, or some other creature.
In every account, the dream demon first appears while one is experiencing sleep paralysis. Its shape and sometimes form accommodates the state of the location when needed. Even if you’ve slept on your stomach and facing the floor, your body would move on its own so you’d see the creature. It doesn’t approach you, it only watches you. They say that if it transforms into a new shape after being observed, it is reflecting your ‘soul.’ If it doesn’t do this, then it means you were not chosen. After experiencing sleep paralysis, you’ll never see it again unless it does reflect your soul.
If it does, then you will see glimpses of the beast from the corner of your eye once each day for three days in a row. And when you sleep after the third encounter, you will have a dream. This dream has no consistency with other accounts, only that it in some way enraptures your own desires, dreams, and wishes. When you wake up, you will have a sense of fulfillment and bliss for the rest of the day. Though you wouldn’t know it at the time, this is when you had become a sorcerer.
What of those that weren't chosen? Well, there are some that may have either some potential, or at least would be more then willing to use magic based on their situation, but have been overlooked by the dream demon or never had the potential it was looking for. In which case, or if the Dream Demon doesn't get to them in time, they may be sought out by a Magical Beast! Magical Beasts will offer a familiar contract in exchange for the sorcerer deal. Unlike the chosen, contracted sorcerers can summon their magical beast too! This is to counterbalance the fact that contracted sorcerers have lower innate potential then chosen. Additionally, the theme of contracted sorcerers revolve more around the magical beast they make a contract with, since its less of awakening one's potential and more of being given power. The exact theme can have minor influences based on the sorcerer, but generally speaking a sorcerer that is contracted to something like a phoenix will have their powers reflect that.
There are a few other entities besides magical beasts that can offer contracts to make sorcerers, but that's classified information!
Then there are the Inheritors. The Inheritors are those that well, inherit the power of another sorcerer by a willing process. (There is an unwilling process involving stealing one's power, but that is classified information for now :D). Its generally rare, but in instances such as when a sorcerer is on their death bed, or in any other case, wanting to 'pass down the torch', they can give someone else their power if they aren't already a sorcerer. Doing so does unlock their soul, but in general they inherit the theme and abilities of whoever gave them the power in the first place (Though like in the case of contracted sorcerers, the abilities and general appearance vary on individuals on a case by case basis, based on the minor influence of the receiver's soul. So its never 100% exactly the same as the original.)
Most if not all magical beasts require that the souls of the sorcerer becomes their next meal once the sorcerer dies. Some beasts may also provide additional clauses but this varies.
Witches: Classified.
Symbiote Sorcerers: Classified.
Magisters: Classified.
Artifacts: Classified
All sorcerers can see souls! Wow crazy right? You can even interact with them to an extent, however please do not attempt to eat souls! Its bad if you do!
Since sorcerers can't use their powers normally, non-contracted sorcerers often don't realize they are a sorcerer to begin with, contracted sorcerers may have been told such, but they'll have no experience until an EVENT happens.
Still, after becoming sorcerer, some noticeable, positive changes will occur. The changes vary based on the individual, someone might find themselves a bit more lucky then before if they were having an unfortunate streak, someone who isn't happy with their looks will wake up more beautiful, a love one with a fatal illness might be cured. In general, the changes that occur are self-thought problems that their magic will try to fix. Keep in mind, that this will not perfect every 'flaw' they see themselves with, in fact only a few if not just one flaw will change in this manner. Additionally, the magic can't force other people's thoughts and free will to grant the desire of the sorcerer, nor can their magic do something drastic like becoming immortal. Contract Sorcerers may have also been bargained additional deals like this as part of their deal, though in reality most sorcerers experience these positive changes whether or not they made a contract. These wishes are only granted when someone first becomes a sorcerer.
NOTE: If you don't wanna play a sorcerer and just wanna do slice and life, you can put N/A for non-sorcerers. Keep in mind you won't be able to interact with combat events if you aren't playing a sorcerer.
Since sorcery can be thought of as magic of one’s soul, and subsequently one’s desires and personality, it stands to reason that their ability can be altered by thought and emotion. Fear, for example, might weaken one’s magic, or cause it to explode with power depending upon how they interpret that emotion. This is also true for other emotions like love, anger, hate, anxiety, serenity, sadness, etc. Additionally, the more confident one is in themselves, the stronger they tend to be, and conversely, the weaker they see themselves, the weaker their magic will come out. This doesn’t necessarily mean that their magic is limitless, but the efficiency of how they bring it out is affected by the behaviors of personality and confidence. This can be, conversely, a dangerous mindset. While being overconfident in yourself certainly makes your magic stronger, it becomes almost impossible to recognize one’s limit within regards of their magic, and thus end up in worse situations due to it. Conversely, under-confident individuals can never succeed with their mindset.
Mana Burning: Magic is also limited by mana, which can be thought of ‘magical stamina’. Depending upon one’s soul potency and power determines the rate of capacity and regeneration of mana. If a sorcerer tires completely of this energy source, then they will temporarily lose their magic for up to a week.
Despite this, it is technically still possible to use magic, albeit with extreme consequences. Mana burning effectively burns one’s own soul to produce more mana. To even start mana burning is an incredibly strainful process, as one will have to continue to try and transform again repeatedly against pain and emptiness each time, until the soul eventually gives and allows itself to burn. Mana burning will drastically push someone past their limits, but will rapidly burn away both their body and soul in the process. It's incredibly hard to stop mana burning just as it is to start it, even if one manages to stop themselves from burning completely, the act will cause permanent damage to their soul. Failure to stop it, of course, will also inevitably cause themselves to burn into nothingness within a few minutes, leaving only the empty husk of an inert soul behind.
Mana scars: Mana scars appear as permanent scars, often tinted by the color of one’s magic along the body. In addition to the scar. Its the result of surviving a mana burn. Mana scars represent scars on the soul, and thus will never truly heal even by magical means (Unless they can somehow repair the soul.) For every mana scar one has, serves as a reduction of one’s magical abilities. (Thinking of it as burning a part of the soul that produces magic.) They’d never be able to attain the same efficiency, worse cases have completely lost the ability to use magic due to the damaged soul.
Magic, incidentally, is also quite addicting. In part because experiencing magic itself seems to trigger some sense of satisfaction, but also because of the subconscious appeal of following their dreams.
However, Sorcerers can’t use magic any time they want, or at least, something is preventing them from doing that. There’s some oppressive force in the air that seems to drain away any sensation of magic the moment they try to call upon it. The only time this restriction seems to be gone is under special events, where time seems to stand still outside of them and others that use magic.
This has led many sorcerers to go rogue in order to find a way to fix this problem. Either by trying to find a way to simulate these events themselves, or by destroying the source of this oppression to begin with.
Lets break down the sorcerer abilities now!
So in short, the player-available sorcerers are Chosen, Contracted, and Inheritors! (Witches and other faction-based sorcerer characters are classified, since they will be more relevant in the later story, but if you are curious on any for character creation I can give you more details.) In general, most players should be chosen, a few contracted. Inheritors are okay, but for plot reasons there aren't any established sorcerers at the starting IC location, so you'd have to come another city, pm me for details if you wanna go that route.
Chosen Sorcerers tend to be the strongest of normal sorcerers since they are picked precisely for having the personalities that would end up using magic of their own will anyway, and by extension having the strongest potential.
Theme: Sorcerer's powerset revolves around a 'theme' of their soul. This means sorcerers can have a vary wide range of abilities based around some kind of concept or theme. For example a rose themed sorcerer will likely have many abilities relating to rose petals, growing thorns and ivy-plants, aroma-based spells, etc. The abilities themselves can vary widely based upon interpretation and creativity of the user. It isn't exactly limitless, but abilities depend to revolve around the ideals of the caster. Someone who is more selfless with a desire to help and defend others will have abilities that match that, be it creating defensive wards, buffs, healing, etc. Not every ability is directed in this manner as they can have offensive abilities too, but a majority of their spells will revolve around their own interpretation of their desires. Most sorcerers have an extent
Sorcerer Form: All sorcerers can't use their inherit magic without first transforming into their magical form. The magical form primarily alters the outfit of whatever the sorcerer is currently wearing into an ideal form. What that means for each sorcerer varies: A suit of armor, a fancy tailcoat, an elaborate dress. It can vary wildly, but all sorcerer forms tend to be on the flashier side with elaborate details and colors that match their theme.
Catalyst: A catalyst is a unique magical item to a sorcerer. The catalyst doesn't necessarily have to relate to the theme of the user, but it still does relate to their inner self and desires as with the rest of their abilities. Catalysts can vary in function and form. Examples include a flying broom, a crystal ball, a magic set of cards, a sword, a gun, a shield, a voodoo doll, A giant pair of scissors, etc etc. In addition to whatever properties they may have, sorcerers often have spells that require or are enhanced by their catalyst. Spells that require a catalyst are referred to as 'incantations', and they also require some words or chanting to cast too. Spells that don't require a catalyst are referred to as invocations.
Familiars: Contracted familiars do not have a catalyst, instead they can summon their familiar to their side. An important detail to note however, is that the form the magical beast takes is fueled by the sorcerer's magic, rather then the beast's own form. This means that while destroying the familiar won't kill the magical beasts, its power, ability, and the extent to how close the form takes to the original (usually this means smaller or incomplete form.) are based entirely with how strong the sorcerer is. Like catalyst spells, Summoning a familiar also requires an incantation.
Binded Summons: Classified ability; not relevant for start of rp, but tl:dr if you are looking to play more as a pokemon trainer/summoner deal pm me.
CONSTRUCTS(Optional, applies only via certain invocations.) Magical items or creatures created by one’s own magic. The ability of one’s invocation may allow them to conjure thematic entities and objects of this manner. Such as a magic sword, a magic swarm of beetles, a bird magic bird, etc. Unlike binded summons or familiars, these are not independent entities. They are created solely by one’s magic and can better be thought as an extension of one’s own soul, they cease to exist once they are dismissed, though it is more like they return to the part of your soul they were borrowed from.
SOUL PROJECTION (MUST BE UNLOCKED): Soul projection is a talent that represents a major arc of one’s own ability to use magic. To master soul projection, one must already be so attuned with their magic and inner self. Soul projection allows the user to create a temporary space around themselves, trapping whoever is within range of the technique within the user’s own domain.’ The domain can be thought as the space around a soul, or the home of one’s soul.. Within it, a spatial dimension exclusive to the personal soul. The space is represented as its own terrain, or lack there of, depending upon the theme of the sorcerer or power. While under the effects of a soul projection, various status effects are applied autonomously in the background for both positive and negative effects. The exact properties of each projection varies, but in general it gives the owner a major ‘home’ advantage. In addition to status effects, the user has complete awareness of this inner space. Powerful soul projections can even actively alter the projection’s terrain and elements within it for various attacks, or make themselves harder to hit conversely by merging with the terrain in some cases.
Soul projections can clash with other soul projections. Either creating two perpetual worlds that border each other, or having a projectil swallow the other depending upon the strength of it. Some domains in the event of a weaker vs stronger domain can still put up resistance to their effective field to help hinder the other user’s benefits.
SOUL HARMONY (TEAMWORK):
Soul Harmony is a special technique that combines the powers of two sorcerers in one attack. This feat can be difficult to achieve as its primary requirement is a near-synergistic connection with a companion. The better they work as a team, the different soul harmony techniques may have. In addition to combining their two powers, the combination also factors in the emotional connection between the two sorcerers. Friendship, lovers, rivalries and even hatred can fuel these kinds of attacks and that emotion can sometimes reflect the nature of the attack.
SOUL FUSION TECHNIQUES (WITCHES ONLY):
(Format however you like, but this is the basic info.)
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Background:
Personality:
Sorcerer Type:
Sorcery
Theme:
Sorcerer Form:
Catalyst:
Familiar:
Invocations (You can either list specific moves or detail the extent of their abilities.)
Incantations (These are specific moves, be sure to have some kinda incantation with them.)
