I like this angle too of someone extremely privileged being able to exist in a society that otherwise would have treated them much differently if not for this privilege they can wield. I think from this narrative perspective, it opens up developmental moments where the character may have to, perhaps, be humbled in some way. I don't know much about your character, but if he gets free passes in a totalitarian theocratic society, he might have a bloated sense of self and delusions of grandeur. Only, he is the literal embodiment of an actual Dominant, and one of the most revered in the world, which might play even more into this ego, I'm assuming, he may or may not possess. Eitherway, fascinating stuff to think about.
Ego is an apt term. I'm planning to make him very much the 'spoiled prince' archetype. Thanks for your thoughts!
We're thinking that it's a totalitarian theocracy, and wouldn't approve of any nation who didn't recognise Ultima as a figure of high reverence. Think of it, a little bit, like crusaders of old, wherein Ultima-worshipping templars maintain her balance through any means necessary, keeping her light burning by extinguishing what they percieve as darkness.... Not sure they'd wage holy war for no good reason, but if anyone had a nation that they think might have a testy history, could be interesting?
...We're going to make for interesting neighbors lmao.
I've been writing up Votara as a progressive, technological nation that has stayed fairly neutral in recent conflicts, and whos resident Regalia of Ramuh has been involved in disaster cleanup and rescue operations worldwide, to keep the description short.
I really like this nation and character concept a lot. What was your thoughts process around wanting to make Ramuh female? Was there a conceptual or thematic choice for that change?
I really like this nation and character concept a lot. What was your thoughts process around wanting to make Ramuh female? Was there a conceptual or thematic choice for that change?
I considered making the same request, but there is something kinda powerful about some dude metamorphing into a radiant goddess...
I considered making the same request, but there is something kinda powerful about some dude metamorphing into a radiant goddess...
I Couldn't agree more! I was hoping we would have characters who subvert the expectation. Like yes, a big burly man can absolutely transform into a hot bodied Goddess. It's cool lol
I really like this nation and character concept a lot. What was your thoughts process around wanting to make Ramuh female? Was there a conceptual or thematic choice for that change?
Honestly? I'm just more comfortable writing female characters as my primary character(s) for an RP (not counting NPCs etc), and I want to be careful about managing burnout so I don't crash out. Not much of a subversion, sorry
Honestly? I'm just more comfortable writing female characters as my primary character(s) for an RP (not counting NPCs etc), and I want to be careful about managing burnout so I don't crash out. Not much of a subversion, sorry
Haha that's okay. We all have our preferences for one reason or another, I tend to RP as both genders based on the narrative and what inspires me for a particular story, but I definitely gravitate toward male characters for sure. I think the last 3 RPs I was in I roleplayed as male characters lol so I feel you.
P R E S E N C EHe may no longer be a follower of Shiva but some habits remain, quietness is to be valued, hospitality is sacred and politeness is as natural as breathing. That said he tends to be overly detached, traveling has made it difficult to form long lasting connections so nowadays he does his business, and leaves as soon as it is done.
That doesn't mean he doesn't care, he wouldn't do half the things he does if that was the case, he just prefers to burn bright and quick then seek the next battlefield.
When he was much younger he used to be rash and abrasive but time and discipline have mellowed him out, nowadays he is able to control his worst impulses and think before acting, even though his internal thoughts have not changed that much. Somewhat stern and uncomplicated, he prefers to tackle problems head-on, believing that letting a problem persist leads to festering and rot.
His relationship with the cult of Iffrit is friendly, with his home it's strained and with his cult it's complicated.
As a wanderer he prefers slower methods of transport, be it carts and trucks driven by farmers, walking if it is an option if he doesn't have to spend more than two weeks in the wilderness. It doesn't originate from a loathing for modern vehicles but rather a wish to take his time and reflect, it may be slow but it is ever forward.
C H R O N I C L EBorn in a small rural town in the mountains of northern Spiera, there were a few things that were clear the moment he was born, cold was his people's way of life, a warm house wasn't to be denied to anyone and Lady Shiva was the Dominant they followed.
He never quite fitted.
Active where others were placid, loud instead of quiet, and quicker to resort towards violence -merited or not.
It was perhaps a quirk of fate, an old swordmaster arrived at their village, he was an old follower of Ifrit and this was to be his last pilgrimage. Of all the other children it was he alone who dared to approach the stranger, pestering him with question upon question, despite this the stranger took the time to answer each one with patience, perhaps recognizing something within him that mirrored his own youth. There was a faint sense of disproval from the elders of the village but that only drove him to interact further with the swordmaster until one day he finally decided to pop the question.
'Can you teach me how to use a sword?'
... Admittedly he was never the most eloquent person.
What followed were some of the hardest and most rewarding years of his life.
At first it was grueling work. As a young boy he was filled with impatience, wanting to leap straight into swordplay, to swing and slash as he had seen in stories. But the old master was unyielding, the lessons were about discipline, the control of one's body and mind. Hours were spent holding stances, practicing footwork, and learning to breathe in a way that harmonized the spirit with the movement of the blade. Even though he was quick to anger and frustration, he never quit. Each day, he returned, determined to prove himself worthy of his Master's teachings.
Slowly, the sword began to feel like an extension of his own body. He learned to harness the aggression that had once gotten him into trouble, to channel his fiery nature into something controlled, something dangerous yet disciplined. The more he learned, the more he realized how little he truly understood before. The sword was not just a tool of violence; it was a path to mastery over himself.
He even managed to convince the old Master to teach him how to use a little complementary magic, nothing like a dedicated caster could but mere tricks to serve in conjunction with his sword.
His relation with the rest of the village changed too, although most were put off by his new obsession -with some of the most conservative members even objecting to it- it proved to be an overall boon to his social standing, no longer was he the firecracker that kept causing trouble but instead a polite teenager that had found a sense of purpose.
But nothing lasts forever, sooner than he wished his Master decided it was his time to depart. As a last gesture, he gifted him a blade, a small crystal, and some parting wisdom.
"Fire doesn’t seek peace -it seeks to burn, to grow. And you, boy, you are a flame"
If only the both of them knew how true that was.
Life moved on, he kept with his training now all by himself, practicing each day in the quiet solitude of the mountains. Though the village carried on with its usual rhythm, the absence of the swordmaster left a noticeable gap in his life. He tried new things, fishing, woodworking, smithing. Nothing ever clicked the way swordsmanship did.
There was a restlessness inside him growing every day.
It came to a head one fateful winter. News reached the village that a band of raiders, notorious for pillaging small settlements around mining towns, was heading toward their remote mountain home. But these weren’t just common thieves, there were rumors that they were followers of Ifrit’s darker aspects, flame and destruction without discipline. The villagers, usually peaceful and insular, were unprepared for such a threat. As panic spread through the village, many advocated for fleeing into the deeper mountains or hiding in the caves until the raiders passed. But that wasn’t an option for him. This was the first time in his life that the sword he had spent years mastering would be put to real use, his mind burned with purpose, and the flame within him truly roared to life for the first time.
Against the wishes of the elders, he took up his sword and set out alone to face the raiders. He knew the terrain better than anyone and used that to his advantage. Perched on a narrow cliffside path, he watched the raiders approach, waiting until they were close enough. Then, with the discipline and precision his Master had drilled into him, he descended upon them. The fight was brutal. These men were not like the quiet villagers he had grown up around, they were strong, experienced fighters who lived for battle. But he was faster, more agile, and -most importantly- his flame had a purpose. Every swing of his sword was driven by years of pent-up energy and a fierce desire to protect the village he had once thought stifled him.
He cut and was cut away, fire was used as a distraction by both sides, for every enemy he felled another two took its place, a few bullets grazed him and his blood ignited like never before. It wasn't long before he lost himself to the fire of battle
[And you, boy, you are a Flame]
...and found 'SOMETHING' gazing at him.
When lucidity returned to him he stood amidst the aftermath of the battle, wisps of fire licking his wounds, for the first time in his life, the cold failing to affect him in any way. Around him, most of the raiders were either dead or unconscious, with the remaining few watching him with a mix of emotions.
It was... uncomfortable, the way they looked at him, awe, fear, and hunger in each of their gazes.
Vitality was still flowing inside him but he was tired, more tired than ever before, around him 'Flakes' were slowly descending and landing in everything, including the riders. He had some suspicions about what had transpired and the reason for the particles falling around him. With as much strength as he could, he ordered them to leave and never return.
Miraculous enough they complied, their gazes clouded.
His return to the village was met with a mix of emotions. The villagers, who had heard the commotion and seen the distant flickers of fire in the night, initially greeted him with astonishment. Some were relieved, grateful for his bravery and for warding off the raiders, while others watched him with trepidation, unsure of what had truly transpired on that battlefield. The strange sensation of fire coursing through his veins hadn’t left him, it pulsed beneath his skin like a second heartbeat. He could feel the eyes of the villagers on him, some filled with admiration, others with uncertainty. His mind flashed back to the raiders' gazes, their fervent obedience when he had ordered them to leave.
Something had changed in him.
In the days that followed, he tried to return to normal life. But nothing felt the same. The villagers treated him differently, even his closest friends seemed distant. There were hushed conversations whenever he passed, glances stolen when they thought he wasn’t looking. The fire inside him, once a source of comfort and purpose, now felt like a weight, an uncontrollable force that had burned too brightly for too long.
He couldn't stay, that much was clear, the feelings for his actions were grateful but the knowledge of what they meant was weighing down everyone. So he made his decision. He called a meeting with the elders and announced his leave.
There were attempts to stop him, but he could tell they were halfhearted.
He packed his belongings and took one last look at the village that had been his home. The snow had begun to fall again, covering the ground in a fresh blanket of white. It was beautiful and cold, a stark contrast to the fire that now roared within him. And so, with the blade his master had gifted him, a heart full of resolve, and a spirit aflame with unfulfilled potential, he stepped into the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him. The journey ahead would be long and uncertain, but he was ready to embrace it with the full force of his flame.
For the last 5 years he has been wandering, imitating his Master pilgrimage, and searching to find himself through the edge of his blade.
After all, fire seeks to grow and he is a Flame.
H O M EThe capital of Spiera is a temperate country known for its metal ores, its expensive wines, beautiful ships, and its historic temples. Much has been done to preserve the ancient parts of the city, and as seen from the drones, one is struck by the clear divide of darkness between old and new during the evenings. However, unlike the usual template mainland, the mountains tend to be very cold all year long with heavy winds due to their closeness to the sea.
Mathias's birth home is called Gazet Village, a small rural town in the mountains of northern Spiera.
The main worship is Shiva, but shrines exist to Leviathan and Garuda. The village's closest neighbor is a mining town and one of the biggest concerns for the elders of the village is the new tendency for the youngsters to migrate there in search of a better life.
The town is small, barely reaching above 100 in population it is headed by an elected council of six elders. It is identical to hundreds of small settlements found in the northern regions of Spiera and the surrounding nations.
T R I V I ALikes -Sour candies -Swordsmanship -Cold -Followers of Shiva -His cult
Neutrals -The remnants of that band of Raiders have formed a cult around him, inducting others with similar mentality into their ranks, however, the cult possesses a strange method of worship. They seek to attack him, to enter in battle, and force him to enter his Dominant form. It is only then that the surviving members are 'worthy' of absorbing the residue. -His Master was a relatively high-standing member of the cult of Ifrit, and a well-known Grandmaster swordsman.
S O C I A LHas heard about a few of the most famous ones but has never met anyone(?)
I Couldn't agree more! I was hoping we would have characters who subvert the expectation. Like yes, a big burly man can absolutely transform into a hot bodied Goddess. It's cool lol
I was wondering also @Mirandae: does entering Dominant Form alter your personality in any way? I'm thinking about in Avatar how Aang enters a sort of primal, instinctive state. Do you potentially take on characteristics more close to how the Dominant themself is perceived? Or are you just borrowing their abilities, in a sense?
@Teyao Thank you, thank you. I will look at this today.
@Tlaloc The only thing I thought of for this was that the Regalia's mind is the only thing that remains human in the Dominant Form. The Dominant can't control the Regalia's action, they can't control what is said, or anything else. However, your internal communication with the Dominant will be strong in the Dominant Form. I think I wrote somewhere in the lore that if the Regalia does too much weird shit that the Dominant doesn't like, the Dominant will eventually leave the Regalia. And, being Regalia is quite addictive, so having been abandoned is harsh.
Would you like to collaborate? It might be interesting if a nation has 2 Regalias in its clutches.
Also, I like how your Regalia is into disaster cleanup - would you like a relation/connection? One angle I ca see here is that my character is forced to work alongside yours as a form of community service, and Leviathan being all about water, it sounds like it works well hand in hand.
Would you like to collaborate? It might be interesting if a nation has 2 Regalias in its clutches.
Also, I like how your Regalia is into disaster cleanup - would you like a relation/connection? One angle I ca see here is that my character is forced to work alongside yours as a form of community service, and Leviathan being all about water, it sounds like it works well hand in hand.
So it's funny you should mention that, and I'd be happy to work with you as well, but I have also already been writing Votara as having the Regalias of Ramuh (Lighting) and Garuda (Wind) working together, with the Regalia of Garuda an NPC unless they get nabbed by a player later. I'll send you a DM and we can put our heads together on this one!
So it's funny you should mention that, and I'd be happy to work with you as well, but I have also already been writing Votara as having the Regalias of Ramuh (Lighting) and Garuda (Wind) working together, with the Regalia of Garuda an NPC unless they get nabbed by a player later. I'll send you a DM and we can put our heads together on this one!
Sounds great, looking forward to it! Though, are we permitted to do something like this, @Mirandae? I worry that having all three in one nation might run counter to something you had planned.
Though! If Votara is some sort of border / buffer standing against @Tlaloc's prosperous theocratic nation, maybe it makes sense to have them there? Perhaps my Regalia is also harvested for resources alongside being used as some sort of soldier-y person (as she is a criminal and may have less rights than your usual upstanding citizen).
Though! If Votara is some sort of border / buffer standing against @Tlaloc's prosperous theocratic nation, maybe it makes sense to have them there? Perhaps my Regalia is also harvested for resources alongside being used as some sort of soldier-y person (as she is a criminal and may have less rights than your usual upstanding citizen).
We were planning to have Cetra have an extremely well-maintained border.... rigorous seas, and a big wall along the border. Kinda can envision a North/South Korea type of divide there.
@Aeolian@vietmyke@Theyra@Silly@Tlaloc@Teyao@Sylvan@TokyoPewPew@Sanity43217@rabidbacon@AlteredTundra I think this is everyone. So, a message: I'd like for character sheet applications to be ready and submitted by this Sunday. That's your Sunday, depending on where you are in the world. Also, as you can see, there's more than 8 people applying, so I'll have to cut a few. This kind of story and genre doesn't fit well with a huge cast, unfortunately. But, we can talk as much as you want and explain why I chose one over the other, if you want. There's also the future, and people dropping off, so I'll keep everyone in mind that aren't there in the beginning.
Sounds great, looking forward to it! Though, are we permitted to do something like this, @Mirandae? I worry that having all three in one nation might run counter to something you had planned.
Though! If Votara is some sort of border / buffer standing against @Tlaloc's prosperous theocratic nation, maybe it makes sense to have them there? Perhaps my Regalia is also harvested for resources alongside being used as some sort of soldier-y person (as she is a criminal and may have less rights than your usual upstanding citizen).
Just brainstorming, very open to suggestions!
It's okay. Every nation will have 1 or more Regalia. Although, if you're working together, maybe put Garuda in Glasia? Neighbor to the east. This way, you can still mention the collaboration between Garuda/Ramuh, but still keep things open for a potential player in the future.
P R E S E N C EWise beyond her years, Liza is a polite, soft-spoken and non-confrontational individual without a speck of malice in her body. She never raises her voice or utters a curse regardless of anything and would never speak badly of anyone; not even behind their backs. Her thoughts, however, are another matter entirely. She doesn’t lie often, if ever, but her words are sometimes cryptic and give very little away for others to tell the difference and she hardly bothers to explain herself. As much as she can be peculiar, she holds herself and others to a certain standard and she makes no effort to hide her disapproval of those who fail to meet it, though it may not always be readily visible.
Despite her background, or lack thereof, Liza has little issue cooperating with people, but the opposite cannot be said to be true. Though it cannot be said that she is inefficient in her work, she offers little in the way of reprimand or assurances for those who’ve worked with her. Her overly polite yet paradoxically judgmental demeanour tends to put people off, to either no notice or care on her part. She is never antagonistic and yet most everyone who has met her would rather avoid her after the fact, seemingly against all logic. Often, she is described as less walking and more gliding, like a lizard on ice; quiet and unassuming until someone notices her. Or, to be more accurate, until she allows it.
While Liza rarely goes out of her to directly help individuals, she has no issue with providing advice or even aid if requested. She never acts without considering the results of her actions, but she accepts without fuss that she simply cannot control the future regardless of her choices. Liza often stares at nothing, as if she is aware of something no one else is; a sentiment more accurate than anyone knows. What she truly feels at any given moment remains something only she is privy to and her goals, as with her patron, are beyond your understanding.
Liza is gentle, but she is not kind.
C H R O N I C L EBefore Liza became a Regalia, she was Nobody; a mystery in a city that crushed the hopes of those who dared to dream, and broke down and rebuilt the will of all who entered, just to shatter it like glass all over again. She was different, but not in a way anyone would be proud of. On the surface, Ochiwa was a brilliantly shining city in the ever-prosperous island nation of Tenshi. All its citizens were known to be kind and well-mannered and always welcomed outsiders with open arms. That, however, had deteriorated into a lie over time. A mere façade meant to hide the chaos festering beneath, sustaining itself on the destitute citizens who toiled ceaselessly with no end in sight while the rich indulged in the luxury wrought by their sins.
Liza was neither.
She held no sympathy in her heart for the poor struggling in the disgrace of a great city, no love for the wealthy few who profited off their labour and no regret for the actions she took that changed it for the better. For, while the elites of the city took advantage of its less fortunate citizens to make themselves richer, hiding beneath their masks of false charity, their true actions did not go unnoticed for long. And they were soon to learn that disregarding the law was not without consequence, and they were going to bear the full, unrelenting weight of their folly.
As an agent of her country, Liza did things that would forever haunt the minds and hearts of most people. She was not like most people. People who knew her name were few and those who knew her face were fewer still, as was standard for those like her. Ochiwa became a different place almost overnight after they passed through, delivering their judgement and sweeping away the corrupt like a hurricane. The citizens rejoiced for their restored freedom, but they would never know who saved them.
Liza was a saviour of the city, but a hero to the people, she was not.
She was Kurai Lin. The keepers, overseers, judges, and executioners of Tenshi’s laws; guardians of the people, in a sense. They were the ones who were sent to do the jobs no one else would. That was who she was, all she was. Until it wasn’t. The day her life changed forever was the day she left the place she once called home. No longer needed, she found herself lost, adrift in the sea of life with no direction. Her life had been simple before; she never had to question her purpose or whether what she was doing was right or wrong. Without anything to tether herself, she found herself unmoored and drifting directionless. That was when Gilgamesh came to her—a beacon of stability within her turbulent storm. Liza didn’t know why she was chosen then and still doesn't. Maybe it was curiosity, or perhaps it was simply pity, but the result was clear as day. Whatever the answer may be, she was forever grateful for her Dominant’s intervention.
After Liza became a Regalia, she was a nobody, because it was all she had ever known in life. The difference was that now, she had her own purpose, as well as the means to achieve it.
H O M ETenshi is a temperate mountainous and heavily forested island nation with smatterings of volcanic activity mostly known for its mixture of ancient traditions and modern restyling, exquisite cuisine, and agriculture. Despite its modest size, Tenshi is quite technologically advanced, though its military is somewhat lacking compared to some others, aside from its powerful Navy. Though they are not the most welcoming of foreigners, they are a major supplier of produce that many mainland countries depend on. None of this is to say that the country is perfect, as it has its share of unsavoury factions, though its peacekeepers effectively enforce the law on most levels. When it comes to faith, Tenshi has a long history of worship for Gaia, though a fair few also reserve their religious fervour for Leviathan as well. The eastern and southernmost coast of the island sits on a major tectonic belt, making it prone to destructive earthquakes and tsunamis.
The people of Tenshi tend to value decency above all else, presenting a respectable attitude in all matters in which they are involved. Their language, the Japanese-adjacent Tenshin, is pleasantly smooth yet complex, with an important system of honorifics and many different dialects depending on location and education. The written form is separated into two syllabaries, partially based on an ancient language. While Tenshin is the main language used island-wide, due to the strict education standards upheld on Tenshi, a significant portion of the population is versed in at least two other languages, generally Common and/or Eshiyaos.
Though no longer an absolute monarchy, Tenshi still has a strictly defined social order. An emperor/empress is chosen and serves as head of government until either their death or abdication and the title is then passed down to the next in line. They have considerable authority on many matters in accordance with previously established constitutions, though their decisions are not necessarily final on any of those matters. The government rules based on tradition and stringent regulations and keeps watch on the corporations that operate within its borders, the most prominent of which is Monarch. The upper echelons of Tenshi possess a strong and long-held foothold in the country, but just as the laws are strictly upheld, so too are the rich and powerful to be kept in check.
At the top of the hierarchy sits the current ruler of Tenshi, Empress Kusanagi Usui, aided by her seven advisors. In more recent years, a rise in political corruption and corporate crimes has led to the creation of a unique caste of individuals carefully selected and trained to uphold the laws and virtues of Tenshi by whatever means necessary. Its existence known only to a select few, the Kurai Lin is a covert group that answers only to the Empress’s court and operates with a higher authority than typical law enforcers.
The capital city of Tenshi; Kaihito, is a sprawling metropolis combining the best of two worlds; the ultramodern technological prowess of the present day and historic shrines of the past, as well as the Imperial Palace, a leftover from a bygone era. Surrounded on three sides by luscious woodland and mountainous terrain, including the country’s highest peak, Mount Aoji, the city is a metropolitan marvel of history and technology seamlessly blended in a show of wealth and prosperity. The steady march of progress is displayed nearly everywhere in the city in the form of robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and other advanced technologies. Distribution and use of crystals are strictly, but fairly, regulated as a whole.
Outside of the cityscapes of Tenshi, the countryside is a vibrant and lush environment filled with rivers and lakes, wherein a major amount of agricultural production and trade takes place. It experiences great variance in its seasons, with bountiful springs, hot summers, pleasant autumns and heavy winters year round. Residents of the countryside tend to be less traditionally inclined, though they are still a generally pleasant crowd.
T R I V I ALikes:
Structure
Sour candy
Trust
“Dislikes”:
Disorder
People who act without thinking
Miscellaneous:
Liza is highly adept at wetwork, though she claims to find it distasteful. Whether or not that’s true is up for debate.
She is slightly short for a Tenshi native at 5’4, but her heels add three inches to her height, making her appear a bit above average. She has considered making them higher, but she wouldn’t be able to keep her balance if they were any taller.
Liza is not an orphan but she doesn't often mention her family.
She is skilled in multiple martial arts disciplines, but her lack of physical strength has limited her options to ones that don’t rely on it. She compensates for her weakness quite well.
One of her names is fake and the other is in the wrong order, though she never says which is which.
Liza has a collection made up of knives from every city she’s ever visited. Her collection is incredibly varied.
Liza wears a choker to cover the tattoo that marks her as a Kurai Lin.
<Snipped quote by rabidbacon> We were planning to have Cetra have an extremely well-maintained border.... rigorous seas, and a big wall along the border. Kinda can envision a North/South Korea type of divide there.
Whoah... ok. I now have this sudden idea where maybe... I could take a page from N. Korea defectors.
Considering having my Regalia working for your theocratic Templar force to clean up some secrets but eventually she couldn't take it anymore and she went to the other side (Votara). Was almost killed in the escape, but that's when the Dominant came to her.
Again, just spitballing here, open to ideas or reverting to others if you're not into it.
