[@MooiEen][@King Cosmos][@Kazemitsu][@Silver Carrot][@Sanity43217][@Rune_Alchemist][@ERode][@Crowvette][@SilverPaw][@Olive Fontaine][@Redacted][@OwO][@Teyao][@Iten][@Atlas946]

there ain't no way all these mentions go out correctly lol I hope y'all are subbed

[h3][b]Also, results: We WILL have Magic![/b][/h3]

[h1]Character Sheet Info and Drafts[/h1][h3]Info You Might Want[/h3][hider=DEMON WAR EVENTS]
[h3]This list is not all inclusive; there were many other battles in many other places.[/h3]
[hider=SOLVAH - WAR'S START]
[list][*]In 1012 YC, this town (pop. ~3000) was attacked in broad daylight by the Demon Army. It's unknown for sure how the horde escaped being spotted until their attack; it seems likely the demons moved under night cover and gathered up in a nearby forest, camping without fire and limited noise until all of their forces were in position. Such a strategy would've been inconceivable for barbaric races, but ogres, goblins, and orcs were all present and apparently behaved with discipline. Solvah was completely destroyed; the number of claimed survivors seems to have been less than two dozen. The demons tore down what few structures were left standing and repurposed the material to build seige engines and other equipment---another activity completely out of sorts with their usual behavior.
[*]Due to its proximity to both Briterra and the Demon Lands, pre-war Solvah saw a larger-than-average number of Adventurers traveling through the area on various quests. Even simple errands like letter delivery were considered too dangerous for normal folk due to the dangers of the frontier.[/list][/hider]
[hider=FALL OF LAGENTYM]
[list][*]Six months after the invasion began, this fortress (pop. ~14,500) in Luzia's Central Valley was beseiged by a force of demons roughly 10,000 strong. Despite being one of the most well protected cities in the kingdom (historically built during the early years of the Yllustrous Founding), they were unprepared for the level of coordination shown by the Demons. Aerial assaults from Wyvern-and-Fulgalos (thunderbird) riders overcame the artillery on the walls while the Demons used seige engines to gain entry. Over the course of a week those who had not been able to evacuate---the entire garrison and at least 1,000 citizens---were killed to the last. The Demons occupied the city, even repairing some of the damage to the fortress, and used it as a forward base for their expansion. Humanity attempted a counter seige on two different occasions as the war continued, but they were never able to take the fortress back as its powerful defenses were used against them.
[*]Before the war, Lagentym was a bustling place. The Central Valley is prone to flooding from the south and mudslides from the north, and much of the landscape is thickly forested. The fortress provided a hub for protection and trade, and had an entire row in one of its residential districts designated by the city-consul as the "Refuge," for the use of those fleeing natural disasters. It had its own Adventurer's Guild and army barracks; its city watch, however, was considered by many to suffer from corruption. There was, supposedly, a rather large black market being run somewhere within the walls. The Merchant Guilds competed a great deal here, and not all of it was above board. Craftsmen also did well here, as while the Central Valley can be quite dangerous, it is also abundantly resource rich.[/list][/hider]
[hider=KALLYVA OCCUPATION]
[list][*]In the summer of 1013 YC, this city (pop. ~9,800) was occupied by the Demon General Melusine. As a result, her forces dominated the entire River Border from Briterra to Geveil and eventually reached the coastline, completely cutting off the majority of waterways in Luzia. This blow to the kingdom's logistics as well as the wedge it created between other nations who might have helped them, is thought to be one of the biggest losses during the war that ultimately might have been the downturn for humanity.
[*]Kallyva's position at the place where two large lakes drain into the Kalygoh River, leaving dense sediment behind, made it one of the most solid and defensible cities in the Border Fens region, where the ground is otherwise waterlogged. As almost half the trade from up and down the rivers and across the kingdom's borders is prepared for overland shipment here, it was a crucial lynchpoint for Luzia's economy. It was home to multiple small Adventurer's Guilds, between whom competition was fierce, and many Merchant Guilds also had branches here if not headquarters.[/list][/hider]
[hider=YLLIASTRUM LOST]
[list][*]The Royal Capital (pop. ~51,700). It was not the final stand for Humanity, falling during the winter of 1015 after a year-long stretch of constant battle. Almost literally every day, another town or village was being razed; every week another fortress fell. Some of the worst slaughter of the war, until the end itself, was seen during the three months leading up to the capital's desperate defense. The King, First Crown Prince, and both Royal Mothers all died defending the city to the last. The First Princess and her younger siblings were able to escape with the help of the Royal Guard, but even their most powerful knight, a member of the previous generation (not yours) of Kaides himself, was crippled and half the guard lost.
[*]The demons didn't just destroy the Capital, they tortured it. In a display of their cruelty that had become almost rare during their well-disciplined campaign, they captured and enslaved as many survivors and war prisoners as possible. From then on, whenever they besieged another fortress or marched out to battle on the fields, they brought victims with them. They used these poor souls in shows of torture so inhuman, the Luzians often ordered their archers to try and put the people out of their misery as soon as the saw the demons raising them up on crosses. This was the point at which humanity truly began to break, in every sense of the word.
[*]Before the war, this was...well, the Royal Capital! One of the largest, the most beautiful, the most historied, the grandest places in all the Kingdom. One can simply imagine the most grand place from their dreams, and Ylliastrum would have surpassed it. Of course, it had its dark side too...but you didn't talk much about that if you knew what was good for you.[/list][/hider]
[hider=KAIDISYUM'S LAST STAND]
[list][*]The home base of House Kaides, and the Collegem Yllustre (pop. ~12,000). Though not quite as well defended as Lagentyum or the Capital, one would have to be a complete fool to even attempt attacking it. And yet, in early 1017 YC, it fell nonetheless. Your generation, of course, was forced to shoulder the blame by the rest of the kingdom. But this, too, was not yet the final nail in humanity's coffin. And the Kaides, true to their reputation, bled the demons harder than any other battle over the entire course of the war. Demon Generals Yaku and Myrddin fell here, and they say if the Demon King had been there that the war might have even been won, for the Patriarch of Kaides surely would have killed him---it was entirely a pyrrhic victory for the dark hordes. And yet, their victory it was as humanity was forced to retreat.
[*]Only two Adventurer's Guilds have had the guts to stake their claim in Kaidisyum, but they sometimes struggle to turn a profit because House Kaides gives its up-and-comers plenty of monster slaying and dungeon delving missions. This has led to some bad feelings between the factions, but the Adventurers would never be dumb enough to openly provoke the House (unless they were bullying losers like your generation). There is also an Alchemist Guild here that, despite misgivings by some, works closely to provide medicines and other things to the House (there were some issues with the practice of Alchemy as it began developing roughly 100 years ago, and many people still deeply distrust the practice; even the Royal Capital places strict requirements and regulations on practitioners).
[*]The city has the lowest crime rate in the Kingdom, one of the largest metallurgy industries, and a booming construction sector that seems to be most active in making constant repairs to the Collegem and Kaides Estates---because even a light spar between Aura-users is apparently ridiculous. In 1007 YC, however, it is currently trending downward in its population and business for the last several years...some say that Patriarch Martenos has neglected the actual day-to-day governance of the city, and that a housing crisis has been building along with a widening wealth gap between the social classes. There are also claims that the "low crime rate" is simply because there's a lot going on that just never gets reported...[/list][/hider]
[hider=HADRUM - DEATH]
[list][*]A small port city on the western coast of Luzia (pop. ~5,600). Though it has a thriving trade center and a variety of interesting festivals and other cultural aspects it picked up from foreign sailors, the local geography is difficult. The lower section of the city is practically carved into the side of ancient limestone cliffs, and at least once every year there's a risk of high waves flooding or eroding parts of the infrastructure. Yet it was here that Humanity made its final stand.
[*]What few ships were left after the attacks by Melusine's forces had gathered, to take Luzia's remaining citizens somewhere, anywhere, else. But somehow, the Demons got wind of the escape plan. They circumvented the remnants of the human army that had gathered for one last, desperate defense, and made a bee-line for the harbor instead of trying to secure the town first. The ships were burned even though the demons took a hit to their flanks---but then, it was over. The last of mankind were rounded up and slaughtered as the monsters cackled with glee and had their fill of flesh and blood.[/list][/hider][/hider]
[hider=THE NATIONS]
[hider=KINGDOM OF LUZIA]
Covering roughly ~50,000 square miles in area, the kingdom's population is somewhere between 4 and 6 million. A little under 40% of its wilderness is uninhabited; a mountain range borders it to the north and one large section of a different range peaks at the southern end of its coastline. The sea is to its west; directly south is Geveil, and both Briterra and the Demon Lands each cover half its eastern border. The interior is largely temperate; some taiga can be found to the north, some tropics on the coast, and grasslands across much of the south-east before the south west gives way to marshy riverlands. The largest rivers are in the northeast and southwest corners, but there are many small bodies of water, brooks and streams, scattered throughout the Central Valleys---in that area in particular, the rise and fall of the land is not caused by mountainous terrain, but by ancient riverbeds and what may be prehistoric glacier tracks that are now long dry.

In terms of culture, think of it like Byzantium slowly emerging into Medieval Europe. Luzia's citizens are Humans by vast majority, though there are two Dwarven colonies beneath the southern peaks. Elves are only rarely seen, mostly along the River Borders due to the Kalygoh flowing south into their own lands.[/hider]
[hider=KINGDOM OF GEVIEL]
Larger in landmass and population, but militarily weaker, Geviel has an uneasy peace with Luzia. The countries have warred in the past, before sealing a truce with arranged marriages among both royalty and nobility on either side. Their major source of conflict now is trade, though there have been some territorial disputes over a set of islands in the western waters. Geviel has a much longer coastline on its west, a smaller gulf to its southeast, and more waterways within its borders. Its navy rules the ocean, being the one place where it has a distinct advantage over Luzia's forces. Though they are often harassed by corsair raiders, merchants enjoy lucrative businesses all over the country.

However, this has led to a trend of nouveau rich among Geviel's courts as the merchants amass more wealth than the nobles and buy their way into titles. Tensions are building between the wealthy and the poor, and their rulers are becoming more and more decadent. Another fault many Luzians find in Geviel is that it isn't so pious towards the church, which many believe has led to its degradation...in fact, some even say there are strange cults gathering power in farflung places.

Most of Geviel's military force is concentrated on the longer border it shares with the Demon Lands, just below Briterra's southernmost point. The fighting has been intensifying lately, attracting many mercenaries wishing to make their fortune, but the citizens of the interior have little idea of what goes on "out there," and have too many of their own problems to bother finding out.

Geviel has a lot of French influence in its design. Their population has a much, much higher number of Dwarves due to a large mountain range near the country's center holding an entire 13 colonies of the subterranean people. They also have more Elves, as they share a border with the elven lands, and have been staunch trade partners with them for years. Half-Elves are often seen here as well, not drawing quite so much stare or scandal as they would in Luzia.[/hider]
[hider=REPUBLIC OF BRITERRA]
This small nation nestled between Luzia and Geviel on one side, and the Demon Lands on the other, is a place born from sheer stubbornness. Those few tribes long ago who did not submit to the Yllustrian Kings fled far to the east, over the mighty rivers. In the early days when Geviel mostly consisted of city-states along the waters connected only by a loose confederation, the tribes of Briterra waged war on the most lonely of them and grew strong enough to hold their own. The Demon Lands were not quite so full of aggressive monsters as they are today at that time, so while they had to carve out a place for themselves in demon territory they were eventually able to expand. In time the Briterrans naturally fell to the course of history only a few more centuries after those they'd left behind in Luzia, but their unification came about differently. Each tribe (now fortified settlements and city-states) sent a representative to a Great Meeting, at which they negotiated for many days. The end result was a public forum established in each of the 5 largest territories, where a primitive form of democracy (really, no better than mob rule) elected two representatives. These representatives, totaling ten plus another three who were the strongest leaders among the separate tribes, then became the first Senate. They voted to select three from amongst themselves to serve as Triune Elected. 

From that point on, Briterra was ruled as a republic, though the separation of powers was very weak. Now, roughly 250 years later, the system has been refined for both better and worse. But more importantly, as of 1007 YC, Briterra has seen an extreme escalation in demon activity on their borders for the last 2 years. They are getting desperate and believe they must soon appeal to their larger brethren if they want any hope of salvation---however, it's no secret that Luzia would love to annex them and complete its thousand-year-conquest of the ancient tribes.[/hider]
[hider=YLF'ETHJYA]
This nation of the Elves is to the east of Geviel and south of the Demon Lands, separated from each by rivers and forests, respectively. The Elves have existed in a state of near constant war with demonkind, and seem to hate them as much as demons hate humans. The fighting on their border grows more intense during winter, as the great forests grow thinner and the demons try to press through the living barrier. But, because Demons have never been united, nor used advanced tactics save in the case of Devils, they have never truly fought on equal grounds with the Elves before...

The architecture and society of the Elves may seem quite archaic to people from Luzia, but it is as grand as any vision of the ancient world seen through paintings. It leaves one with a sort of renaissance feel, as if this place is the last remainder of so much that has been lost elsewhere. The elves often wear simple robes, togas, and tunics, though they often favor bright colors and glitzy jewelry.

Yet, they have precious few great libraries or universities. They have been slow to adapt to the many advancements of Humanity, for their longer age and somewhat passive personalities do not lend themselves well to industry. What knowledge they [i]have[/i] recorded, however, goes back further than any human historian could tell you---past the founding of Luzia, past even the days spoken of in ILA's holy texts.

The main problem Elves face in the current day is that of civil division---Dark Elves and Light Elves have long belonged to two different castes, despite the fact that whether an elf is born light or dark is a matter of sheer chance. It is more likely that two elf parents of the same type will produce offspring like themselves, but there is always a chance that the child may be born of the other type. No reason has ever been determined for this scientifically; the elves merely assign it to the will of their god. If elves do not wish to raise a child of a different kind than themselves, they will pass it on to another family, for elves often go quite long without engaging in reproductive activity and thus there will be a childless couple somewhere willing to take the baby. 

Traditionally, Dark Elves have always been hunters and resource-gatherers (like miners) while Light Elves have always been farmers and rulers. There are a few other roles the two take, and some even that they share like military service, but generally Dark Elves are those expected to "leave the village and return" while Light Elves are expected to "mind the home." After who knows how long, it seems that in recent decades the Dark Elves have begun to resent being the ones under the most occupational risk, as well as the fact that they have very little say in the elven system of (mostly theocratic, but monarchial) government.

The Light Elves' responses to these problems, however, have only caused greater strife. When a protest turned into a riot and was put down with martial force, the Dark Elves began to contemplate outright rebellion...[/hider]  
[hider=DEMON LANDS]
Deep, dark forests. Jungles where insects alone could strip a man down to his bones. Rocky badlands where enormous stones jut out of the earth like the fingers of a titan trying to desperately claw free of its prison. Rivers that run black; lakes where things lurk in the depths. Caves that expand miles beneath the earth, forming endless labyrinths. An enormous volcano, where they say the Demons sacrifice captured Humans and feast on Elf flesh.

Little is known about the Demon Lands, because few have ever survived any expeditions into it. It is known that there are some Demon settlements---Orcs make camps all over the place until they inevitably get destroyed by some other demons, then go make new ones. The Devils supposedly have an ancient city that could rival that of the Elves'. Some fools believe there might even be "peaceful" tribes of demons, living far enough away from Humans that they have no need to fight anymore.

It is only due to explorers on Gevelese and Elven ships that the world knows the Demon Lands even have an end---to the east, they eventually reach the sea, and in the far north the land begins to turn to solid ice where most living things cannot thrive. Were it not for this knowledge, which some don't even believe, it would be easy to think that the forces of darkness might cover all the world save the beacons of Human civilization.[/hider]
[hider=THE FAE ISLES AND THE FARLANDS]
Supposedly far across the western sea, there is a land where fairies dwell. What the fairies are, and what their world is like, no one truly knows. Myth and story abound, but the details are ever changing---are they like the elves, tall and slender, or so tiny they could stand on your fingertip? Do they have wings, or fly by aid of magic? Do they fear iron, or do they make gleaming swords for kings that catch their fancy? Do they even exist at all?

The Farlands, on the other hand, are a real place with real people---both humans and something else. Full-blooded Farlanders in the flesh are an even rarer sight in Luzia than the elves, but no one from the kingdom has ever seen this other race. The Gevelese have, and describe them as "animal people," but what that means seems to change with every telling from every sailor. Their merchant ships sail from the eastern coasts, past the ends of the Demon Lands, and have found ports of trade with other nations. Farlanders have a very distinct culture completely different from Luzia and Geviel...and yet, some have noted with disturbance that there have been sightings of Demons with weapons and clothing that seem [i]very[/i] similar to those of Farlander-make.

House Kaides and many other knights, however, have become rather curious about these elegant, single edged blades the Farlanders call "katana."[/hider][/hider]
[hider=FUTURE DISCOVERIES]
[h3]These are subject to change between now and launch of RP[/h3]
[h3]Between 1012 and 1017, some events of the past ten years became more clear to everyone...[/h3]
[list][*]After the civil war of the elves, many Dark Elves joined the Demon Army. Their knowledge seems to have contributed greatly to the Demon's coherent behaviors, but is it the only cause?
[*]Demons had some kind of involvement in the cults that developed in Geveil.
[*]The cults in Geveil greatly contributed to the building of anti-noble sentiment that cause the peasant revolts, which drew Gevelese military away from the Demon Land borders.
[*]Demon forces blindsided or countered Luzia too many times to be coincidental. A mole, or perhaps multiple traitors, were suspected...but who? Why? What could a human possibly gain by helping demons?
[*]Some of the spoils taken from demons after Luzia's more successful battles included weapons made from Obsidian, a not-often seen material in the kingdom---but some of them had been infused with Auric energy, something that should only be possible for Dwarves...
[*]New methods of both Awakening and further developing Aura were discovered, along with at least one completely new Type.[/list][/hider]
[h3]Character Sheets[/h3]
[hider=CS WITH INFO]
[center][INSERT IMAGE, USE HIDER IF BIG]
[INSERT THEME SONG URL LINK IF YOU'D LIKE][/center]
[h3][b][i]Insert Name[/i][/b][/h3][hr]
[b]Age:[/b] 2nd Life [1st Life] | [b]Height:[/b] | [b]Voice:[/b] (Tenor? Bass? Etc)[hr]
(NOTE: Characters died in setting year "1017 YC." Demon War starts in 1012. Your Second Life starts in 1007. Children of House Kaides are sent to the training academy at age 14, and regardless of whether they "graduate" are sent out by age 21. Keep this in mind when figuring out how old your character is and where they might be when the RP starts! Remove this blurb.)

[h3][i]First Life[/i][/h3]
While you create this backstory for your character, it might help to keep a few of these questions in mind. You don't have to answer every one of them, but at least two or three should really help flesh out your character![list][*]Biggest Failure: As we age it's natural to look back at things and objectively realize when WE are the ones who messed up; it's our own fault.
[*]Biggest Regret: Whether it was your fault or not, whether you realistically could've done anything differently, there's always something we wish would've turned out differently.
[*]Biggest Obstacle: There was someone or something in your way. You lived with ridicule all your life, but THIS was the person/thing you HATED the most, that made your life that much more miserable.
[*]Greatest Achievement: Even as the "Failed Generation," there had to be ONE good thing that happened to you. Maybe it was stolen away, but at least for one brief moment...You were happy.
[*]Driving Hope: There had to be a reason you didn't off yourself until the Demon King took your life. You were living for something---what was it?[/list]
NOTE: I will be taking liberties with elements listed in character backstories to develop plots! If there's an NPC, Event, etc that you aren't comfortable with me taking control of, let me know!
[hr]
[h3][i]Equipment[/i][/h3]
(You can give yourself something nice for the scenes before you die if you'd like, lol. Different materials conduct Aura/Mana to greater degrees.
Aura-user Equip: Iron Weapon > Steel > Mythril > ???
Magic-user Equip: Bone Wand/Staff/Deco > Gold Deco > Wooden Wand/Staff > ???
Remove this blurb.)
[list][*]Preferred Weapon Type/Magic Focus/Important Tool
[*]Other armor, accessories, etc to be added--you won't have it when you Regress.[/list]
[hr]
[h3][i]Abilities[/i][/h3]
You have [b]4 Experience[/b] to spend here, which would've been gained over the course of your First Life. Ranks are 3rd Rate > 2nd > 1st > Expert > Master; for Magic it's 0th - 3rd Circle.[list][*]Physical Strength: 3rd Rate (Represents pure athleticism. Speed, muscle, endurance, etc.)
[*]Aura: 3rd Rate (Represents the sheer amount of Aura you have or how efficient you've become. You can raise this even if you never Awakened it at a later age in your first life.)
[*]Magic: 0th Circle (Because Magic would be harder to learn, your Experiences won't take you as far. However, for each Circle beyond 0th, you may add 1 Spell to your Skill list that matches the Circle's power. You may customize as you like, I'll review it case-by-case.)
[*]Skills (You don't add Experience to this directly. In a Sub-List, you may add 1 "special move" per Experience, OR upgrade an existing Skill per Experience, OR add a Spell corresponding to your Magic Circle. Reviewed case-by-case)
[list][*]Skill/Spell Name (E.g, "Quick Step") - Skill/Spell Description (E.g, "Footwork that produces a sudden burst of speed, covering up to 2 meters in a second.")[list][*]Sub-Sub-List for Upgrades. E.g, "Range increased to 4 meters."[/list][/list][/list][/hider]
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[center][INSERT IMAGE, USE HIDER IF BIG]
[INSERT THEME SONG URL LINK IF YOU'D LIKE][/center]
[h3][b][i]Insert Name[/i][/b][/h3][hr]
[b]Age:[/b] 2nd Life [1st Life] | [b]Height:[/b] | [b]Voice:[/b] [hr]
[h3][i]First Life[/i][/h3]
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[hr][h3][i]Equipment[/i][/h3]
[list][*]Preferred Weapon Type/Magic Focus/Important Tool
[*]blank[/list][hr][h3][i]Abilities[/i][/h3]
You have [b]4 Experience[/b] to spend here
[list][*]Physical Strength: 3rd Rate
[*]Aura: 3rd Rate 
[*]Magic: 0th Circle 
[list][*]Skill/Spell Name - Skill/Spell Description [list][*]Sub-Sub-List for Upgrades.[/list][/list][/list][/hider]
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[INSERT THEME SONG URL LINK IF YOU'D LIKE][/center]
[h3][b][i]Insert Name[/i][/b][/h3][hr]
[b]Age:[/b] 2nd Life [1st Life] | [b]Height:[/b] | [b]Voice:[/b] [hr]
[h3][i]First Life[/i][/h3]
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[hr][h3][i]Equipment[/i][/h3]
[list][*]Preferred Weapon Type/Magic Focus/Important Tool
[*]blank[/list][hr][h3][i]Abilities[/i][/h3]
You have [b]4 Experience[/b] to spend here
[list][*]Physical Strength: 3rd Rate
[*]Aura: 3rd Rate 
[*]Magic: 0th Circle 
[list][*]Skill/Spell Name - Skill/Spell Description [list][*]Sub-Sub-List for Upgrades.[/list][/list][/list][/code][/hider]

[center][h3]Subject to change upon review, ask questions if you have them, feel free to send PMs for spoilery stuff, etc etc![/h3][/center]