Ten years, did the Witch labor under the gaze of Ichor.
Answers to be given, questions asked. Sleepless nights and days of work.
At the end, when the efforts had nearly been in vain, did the body stir
Jubilation. Praise. Ichor blesses.
"Rise, the first of the undead. Rise and let us walk the night together once more."
- Bible of Ichor, Chapter 2 verse 4
Answers to be given, questions asked. Sleepless nights and days of work.
At the end, when the efforts had nearly been in vain, did the body stir
Jubilation. Praise. Ichor blesses.
"Rise, the first of the undead. Rise and let us walk the night together once more."
- Bible of Ichor, Chapter 2 verse 4
"Arise, my children. Ichor grants you succor once more. Arsie from your eternal slumber. Drink deep of my blood as you did when you were born. Fear not the sun or relics of the Gods, for they no longer hold any power. Find the tomb of the silver swords. Revive the First. Bring her before me. So as I command, you will listen."
Hello hello, welcome to the OOC.
Link to the Int Check
Firstly, some rules -
1. I have very few, and really, most are guidelines, but If nothing else, read this one. It is likely the most important rule here. In regards to combat - PvE should be simple enough. Against lesser mobs I'll likely let you go ham as you need to and feel free to describe what you do yourself. Against bigger threats though, you do not get to decide whether or not you hit an enemy - or if your attempt at something was successful or not. I do. If you're unsure, just ask. PvP may happen here, though I do not expect it to be common. In such a scenario should it happen, resolve it yourselves in an appropriate manner, or I will be forced to micromanage the combat and nobody will be happy.
2. I will be attempting to post once or twice a week for those that have posted. This is not exactly a hard and fast rule, as I won't be keeping any strict deadlines here. Only real rule I have - is post at your earliest convenience. At most I will be willing to wait a week. After that, I'll continue posting as usual whether you post or not. Go long enough, and well, I'll probably start checking for a replacement.
3. Once I make a final decision on something, that's it. I will try to be as fair in things as possible, but if you're not happy with it well...too bad, I guess. If you're unhappy enough to give me grief or constantly question my decision after then either leave yourself or I will eventually eject you from the RP and banish your character to the shadow realm.
That's it really! Anything else just ask.
Onto the fun world building bits!
A few notes about characters:
- Players will be fairly powerful to start with. They should be able to reasonably handle most non-boss level threats without too much trouble either by themselves or with a companion. Your power of course, will come from your blood and the power that Ichor grants her undead children. Your powers may be degraded after so long being well, dead, but you will surely, slowly, regain your former power.
- Magic and power for Vampires can vary greatly. Terramancy, Blood Magic, Celestial magic, summoning...there are many avenues that Ichor's blessings present themselves, and while some are common and well known, there could very well be abilities out there that are unique to an individual. As a rule, vampires are physically stronger than the average human and possesses skill with Blood Magic as a base.
Vampires:
Creatures born of the union of Ichor and the Violet Witch. No one is quite sure how or when the first was made, only that they were created from a bestial blood-sucking creature in the Ophidiel Era. Unique to most undead, they look mostly entirely human. They retain their memories, personality and general appearance save for the key fact...they are now undead. Unbound by the normal rules of the cycle of life and death, bound to the Goddess Ichor.
As the children of Ichor, vampires are given boons from her blood. Many avenues of power are open to them, possessing supernatural charm and strength with peculiar magical affinities. While they could subsist for a time on animal or other blood, they truly must feed on the blood of humans. Going too long without doing so would leave one weak and eventually starting to revert to their more bestial roots.
Creating a new Vampire is something of an honor and not easily done among them. A vampire must be willing to give their own blood to a human under Ichor's gaze in a particularly bloody, decadent ritual where the one to be turned is given new unlife as well as the subject must be willing. Whether under the influence of some charm or illusion spell or not. There may be other ways, for humans that walked particularly dark paths, but generally earning Ichors favor is not done so easily otherwise.
Of course, with such power comes some weaknesses. Silver acts as a potent poison, weakening and diluting Ichor's blood which flows through all vampires veins. Upon being afflicted with it, they will find their bodies weakening as their blood magic begins to wither in potency from the poison and the divine properties of the metal rejecting the undead from within. (effectively, it'll weaken your blood magic and physical abilities)
Holy emblems too, will weaken a vampires magical abilities creating an area where the divine influence overpowers Ichor's own. This extends to mantras and passages from other divinities holy texts as they drive out Ichor's influence. Of course Ichor's blood still remains strong. (Effectively, it'll weaken your magical abilities)
And of course, sunlight. The bane of any vampires existence. The holy light of the Gods near instantly burns Ichor's blood and kin, scorching them with an imperious gaze. While you do not have to currently worry about this...perhaps it'd be good to remember to never walk within the light as a vampire unless you want to end up burning your unlife to ash in seconds.
The Peculiar Magical Affinities:
While human mages may study stars and draw power from things around them, Vampires possess innate magical abilities stemming from Ichor herself. Much like the paladins and servants of the Gods of old once did. This is a list of most common, and not an entirely comprehensive list. A small description of how each particular magic will work. At a base level, they are stronger than humans physically, possess the ability to use Blood Magic naturally, and can see even in areas that lack light completely.
Once again, these are not the only things you'll be limited too. Feel free to get as creative as you want! These are just to give people direction and to explain a bit about some things you'll possibly be seeing in game. Do discuss with me any other magic abilities outside of these, though! I did chose these for reasons, and of course if you have questions about any of the above, do ask and I shall do my best to give examples. As well, feel free to hybridize! These are more guidelines and to give ideas.
Vampiric Thralls:
Thralls are the Elite of a vampire's servants. A mixed blessing that makes one an undead being, but not quite a vampire either. Those who become thralls undergo a ritual to become one, but are denied succor from Ichor. When such a case happens, they become a Thrall. A fully autonomous undead being completely and utterly loyal to the one who turned them. They gain enhanced strength and abilities, retain whatever abilities they had in life and also for the most part, look no different from when they were alive meaning only a fairly astute individual or fairly strong mage could even sense the change making them perfect for more undercover operations. As with turning a mortal into vampire, the target of Thralldom must in some way be willing. Either through coercion or mental domination. As undead themselves, they can't be fed from. Try not to go overboard.
Religion:
Vampiric religion is focused on the worship of Ichor and studying the relics and texts left behind by her apprentice, the Violet Witch who gave the first of the Undead sentience and life. While not all actively worship her, all vampires know for a fact she exists, and that she is very watchful of her children. Worship of her often involves bloody feasts and shows of devotion. More eccentric ones tend to do so with some risque aspects involved. Its all pleasing to Ichor, whatever it is so long as you do not break certain tenets.
Ichor herself is something of an enigma, even to the vampires. The Goddess of Crimson Blood, Undead, Vermin and things which are detested by humans. Originally she was not even a God. She was given shape and form by the cries of the forsaken undead, thrown out of the cycle of life and death in the Ophidiel Era. With the help of the Violet Witch she created the first of the Undead and would go on to create Vampires from the blood sucking monstrosities that stalked the land. Likewise, Ichor's true appearance is something unknown to most of her kin, though a painting left behind by the Violet Witch depicts her as a woman with scarlet colored hair and a few scraps of written text where the Witch reports that somehow, they also possess certain masculine qualities.
Ichors attitude towards her children and humans are mixed. There's no doubt she has no love for humanity, and solely puts her affection onto her unliving children. Still, the bible instructs a strict code of both conduct and seven tenets that vampires are supposed to follow. Human beings, while little more than perhaps pets or entertainment to most...well, vampires can not exist without them, can they? You are free to interpret them as you wish.
The first of the undead:
Your Queen. The one you will be attempting to revive. Created on the guidance of Ichor after the Violet Witch endlessly toiled away. She may not be a vampire like you, but she is the first of the Undead that all Undead swear fealty to. She bears Ichors blood, after all, and is as close as the Goddess will ever be to truly being upon this realm. Imprisoned in a tomb of Silver swords by a now dead god. Supposedly though, those paladins still protect the tomb...
The world:
At the end of the Ophidiel Era, the sun and moon would both fall. The world would be turned into a lightless wasteland with no light upon its surface. The gods have died, their power weakened to minimum. An impenetrable darkness covers the land, chased away only by the torches of the humans that remain, fearful of the dark that surrounds them and the things which lurk within.
Players will be starting in the ancient city of Alavaris, an old city that was central in the conflict in the Ophidiel Era as it is where the Violet Witch supposedly once lived and operated from and at one point was a haven for the undead and their ilk. However, it was also one of the first cities to fall when the Hundred Paladins began their crusade. Who brought you back to this city after you were slain remains a mystery, for now...but whoever they were, interred you in an underground crypt, surrounded by a bed of nightshade.
Fortunately, it is now overrun with undead. Unfortunately, they are not your friends.
Civilization:
Well, it does exist I suppose, yet can it truly be called civilization? With the collapse of the Ophidiel Era, much technology, civilization, and history was lost. Gods names, forgotten. Rites forsaken. Cities buried under piles of rubble and ruins. Humans lived in walled off villages and large cities where even there, they are not safe from the horrors that stalk the darkness. Light will not help them. Worship of their dead gods, will not help them. Perhaps they simply need to be shown a much better Goddess to worship.
Technology:
Much of the world was lost during the fall, but during the Ophidiel Era technology had advanced to the point of having something of a light steampunk flavoring. A bit like Bloodborne, if you want to imagine that. Rudimentary fire arms will be present, such as single shot pistols and you may find hints of more advanced tech later on, but generally, think rudimentary steampunk and gothic victorian as far as most things will go.
Gods, Spirits, and things other:
Gods...a thing of the past. A relic of the Ophidiel. None currently live upon this world abandoned by all divine providence. Humans, clever and strong still manage to live despite this. There may still be lesser spirits that exist, hiding far, far away from any humans or others. Indeed, things other than gods, things from beyond the Roots, from beyond the now severed branches still lurk, waiting, feeding, feasting.
~Character Sheet~
Annnnd here is the CS!
Note: I will not be accepting CS's on a first come, first serve basis. I'll be letting everyone submit a CS and choosing from the ones I like the best and think fit the overall tone I am going for. It will be in your best interests to discuss things with me if you're uncertain or want something not listed here.
I'll be accepting no more than six players.
