NOTE: This is a casual RP so fear not; just because the history section is a long read does not mean that your posts will be expected to have a strenuous minimum length.
NOTE 2: It is not entirely necessary to read the History so if you're not willing to, skip to the next section. It is advisable to go through it, however, as you'll become more familiar with the world.
The History
After a prolonged silence, a groan emerged from the emaciated man’s bleeding mouth. A fit of violent coughing overtook his body as he spat out yet another tooth onto the ground, feebly struggling against the chains which had bound his arms.
“You always were a glutton for punishment.” said his torturer, a behemoth of a man with a large, white beard.
“And you for power!” he shot back resiliently.
“For order, Prometheus. It was we who inherited the Earth, not the humans. They were never meant to be our equals.” said the torturer, stroking his beard as he surveyed Prometheus’ battered and bruised body.
“Spare me your twisted reasoning. To hear you disguise your lust for control as serving the greater good causes me more anguish than your physical torture ever could.” retorted Prometheus as he fell to his left knee, his breathing becoming harsher.
“Perhaps you have suffered enough for one day, but I can’t let it end here. Your fate rests with me, Prometheus,” taunted the torturer, a sadistic smile contorting his lips. “And I have so much more punishment to dole out.”
“How can the others stand for this? How can they let you do this to me?” demanded Prometheus. “They were dying, I couldn’t sit by idly when I knew the answer to their problems was fire!”
“You ruined years of careful planning. Mankind did not develop the way we would have liked.”
“They aren’t your toys, Zeus.” whispered Prometheus, his voice becoming louder with every word.
“They might not be, but you are. The night is far from over, Prometheus, and you have so many bones left for me to break.” said Zeus, walking towards Prometheus as he fell to both knees.
“I regret nothing!” screamed Prometheus as Zeus came closer and closer. “I embrace my part in the revolution! They will rise, and when they do, they will slit your throats and watch you die! Mark my words, Zeus, they will kill all of you!”
“How can you exile us after everything we’ve done for the empire?” demanded Jupiter furiously.
The emperor sighed and slumped back into his throne, one hand dangling from the armrest whilst the other covered his face. The meeting that was being conducted in his hall had gotten off to a terrible start and the looming prospect of it ending in an even worse manner was weighing his mind down with fear.
“I have no other choice!” he replied wearily.
“Is this what we have been relegated to, Constantine? It was we who kept your Empire stable. We are viewed as the Empire’s pantheon, you cannot remove us like this!” argued Jupiter, glancing back at his companions’ forlorn and hopeless faces.
“The era of the Pantheon is over, Jupiter.” sighed Constantine. “Christianity has replaced it. You had a place in the prior religion, but not this one. The people will hunt you down and we will have a war on our hands. I think it’s best we avoid that.”
Jupiter mulled over the words of the Emperor before turning to face his companions once again. When they nodded solemnly, he grudgingly continued the conversation.
“Then what do you ask of us, Constantine? To abandon our homes?” questioned Jupiter, his voice shaking.
“You must leave this land and settle somewhere else, or stay on the promise that you will blend into society. If you are caught using any of your unnatural abilities, you will be executed.” said Constantine gravely.
“You expect us to give up who we are?” snarled Jupiter, completely aghast at this betrayal.
“Stay or leave; the choice is yours.”
His heart beat powerfully against his chest and his breath felt hollow as a bead of sweat ran down his temple. He wiped it off in a flustered manner and removed his glasses, cleaning them with the hem of his buttoned shirt for what felt like the hundredth time.
“Mr. Taylor. Please present your closing argument.” came the voice of the overseer.
He jumped up at the sound of his name and looked around, taking a moment to compose himself and stop his hands from shaking.
“F-friends,” he began, his gaze swivelling over the huge oval shaped hall and at the hundreds of stony-faced committee members watching him in silence. “We are going down a dangerous path here. I understand, and have always understood, the importance of being incognito. Hiding our nature from society has helped many of us to lead simple and joyful lives. I understand that unveiling ourselves now will present many complications, I really do, but is it not worth it? Our purpose has always been to protect humanity! I ask you, how are we protecting them by upholding this secrecy?”
Taylor stopped for a few seconds, as if expecting someone to answer him. Once he was sure his audience had truly contemplated his speech so far, he continued.
“Millions and millions will die if we do not intervene now and prevent this from escalating. We stayed quiet when Franz Ferdinand was assassinated but we should have made our move then. With that being said, it is not too late for us to atone for this mistake, my friends. There is still time for us to fulfil our duty.” said Taylor, feeling more courageous with every word.
His confidence was being inspired by his passion to save the lives of innocents and he knew that his emotions were an indicator of the Wanderers’ true nature as a society of guardians.
“Today, Germany declared war on France and Russia.” he announced solemnly. “This is our last chance to prevent the world from facing complete and utter devastation. This is a global conflict and I assure you, it will consume the planet. Are we truly willing to have the blood of millions of men, women and children on our hands, just so we can continue to hide? My time is up, I know, but that’s okay because I trust in you. I don’t need to distinguish between good and evil because in your hearts and in your minds, you have already made the right choice.”
Taylor sat down and rested his against the soft, velvety cushioning of his seat. The silence of the audience was deafening. He knew that the severity of the occasion did not warrant any form of applause, but he was surprised at his speech’s inability to elicit even a ripple of murmuring from the audience.
For what felt like an eternity, the ballot box was passed around the hall and the votes were compiled. The panel opened the box and counted through the votes numerous times to ensure the utmost accuracy before revealing its contents. The overseer, a tall and foreboding-looking man, announced the result.
“Mr. Taylor, I thank you for your time and dedication in representing your case. I am sure that every individual in this audience paid great heed to both your argument and the argument presented by Mr. Sonenclar, advocating the need to retain our secrecy.” said the overseer, his eyes sweeping across the audience.
Taylor nodded at the overseer, hardly daring to breathe as he awaited the result.
“I am afraid you were unsuccessful, Mr. Taylor. We will not be intervening in this war.”
“This is insane.” whispered the blonde female reporter; the colour had drained from her face and she was holding her hand over her mouth in shock.
“What?” replied her male co-host bemusedly. “This came far too late, if you ask me!”
“Alright guys, we’re on in 5, get ready!” informed the camera man. “5… 4… 3… 2… 1… and we’re live!”
The blonde reporter turned to face the camera and flashed a pearly white smile which threatened to falter as the concern in her eyes became clearer.
“Good morning America, this is Karen Vale live from the VOP studios with my co-host, Michael Swann.” said Vale in a falsely cheery choice.
“And we’re here with some breaking news, folks. The 2018 NATSEC Act was signed into law by the president today!” announced Swann triumphantly. “This marks a great leap forward in terms of our country’s security by restricting unnaturals to one child per married couple. Unnaturals must go through a variety of applications and, if the potential parents are deemed low-risk, they will be allowed to have a child.”
“In a poll conducted by VOP, it was found that 95% of citizens deemed the NATSEC Act as necessary, whilst a mere 5% viewed it as unnecessary.” said Vale, unable to look into the camera as she spoke.
“You can count me as part of that 95%, Vicky!” said Michael jovially. “This is great news and I know that a lot of people, myself included, will be sleeping a lot easier tonight knowing that the future of our great country is not at risk.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more, Michael.” lied Vale, feeling as though the words she was speaking were being uttered by another mouth. “It’s important for the unnatural population to be closely monitored and now our government can ensure that they don’t pose a threat to our national security. To get a closer look at the reaction of the unnatural community, we sent Linda Zhang to the world famous Prometheus Academy in Ceteris to get a word with the headmaster and founder of the Equality Initiative, Professor Alvarez.”
As soon as the cameraman gave the signal that recording inside the studio had stopped, Vale let out a deep sigh and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.
“Vicky, Michael, I’m standing outside the gates of the Academy right now.” announced Linda loudly, microphone in hand as the fierce winds sweeping through the Academy whipped her scarf around her neck. “Alvarez has declined to be interviewed, but he did release a public statement earlier condemning the NATSEC Act and referring to it as ‘an extreme infringement upon the rights of Wanderers’ and ‘a horrifying way of honouring the many sacrifices our community has made for humanity, especially the losses suffered during World War 2’.”
“Thank you for that, Linda.” said Vale, who had managed to recompose herself during the short break.
“He should consider himself lucky, I’m surprised that Academy hasn’t been closed by now!” exclaimed Michael, a pronounced sneer on his lips. “As for World War 2… well, they might have helped, but where were they the first time?”
A cacophony of concerned voices had erupted inside the Black Mage Guild’s main hall. The administration of the Academy had set up an emergency meeting related to the announcement of the NATSEC Act’s passing into law and all students were required to be in attendance. The deafening din was immediately silenced as soon as the Headmaster entered the hall. The students watched him, transfixed, as his long and sweeping strides eventually led him to the front of the hall. Alvarez cleared his throat before addressing the students.
“By now, you must all be aware of the NATSEC Act’s passing.” said Alvarez, a hint of defeat in his voice. “It is another strike against our rights and another stain on human-wanderer relations. However, though we are all feeling some degree of righteous anger, a feeling of being betrayed by those whom we have always wanted to co-exist with peacefully, we must not abandon our methods now. It is in the face of adversity where we will be tested, and I can think of no bigger adversity than this. We must remain non-violent and retain our pacifist approach at all times. It is the only way humanity will trust a community of beings who are more powerful than them in every way.”
Alvarez paused for a moment, attempting to scrutinise the general emotion of the students; they were listening raptly which meant that they still trusted him. Spurred by this, he continued.
“You may be tempted to sympathise with those among us who advocate resorting to violence, but be warned: they will lead our kind down a dark and dangerous path. We must not allow the NATSEC Act to change who we are and the ideals we hold dear. We must remain diligent and diplomatic, or we will destroy what little trust we have created with the human community. The days where violence was the answer are long gone; we live in an informed age where those who are willing to learn can be taught. We will show humans that we are not to be feared, that we can be trusted and that we can live side by side peacefully.”
Alvarez paused once more to take in the general mood of the students. It seemed that the fear and anger that were being expressed prior had been replaced with hope, albeit a cautious form of it.
“We have a responsibility to guide our actions in a way where no innocents are ever hurt. I can tell you, with the utmost sincerity, that abandoning peaceful methods will lead to countless innocent lives being lost. You must remember that each and every one of you is an ambassador to our kind. Your actions will affect the way that the rest of us are perceived by society. Do not be brash, or you risk making things worse. We will gain our freedom but it will not be through the spilling of blood. Our freedom will be gained through peace, for that is the only freedom worth having.”
The Current World and Setting
This RP takes place in the city of Ceteris, a bustling megacity that is a re-imagined version of Chicago in this alternate-reality vision of America. You are a Wanderer; a race which is identical to human beings but has had an even longer presence on Earth. You possess extraordinary power and have the ability to change the world for the better or for the worse. Your actions will have consequences and will lead to friendships and rivalries. The path you take will be forged by your own choices.
The Prometheus Academy, an institution designed specifically for helping Wanderers to hone their powers, houses most of the students in the city. However, some students have homes in Ceteris’ neighbourhoods and are permitted to stay there if they desire.
You do not have to RP as a student in the Academy if you wish it. If, for whatever reason, you would like to RP as a human, you may do so. If you would like to RP as a Wanderer who does not study at the Academy, you may do so. If your character lives in Ceteris, he may even be a part of the Guardians. If you'd like to join up with the Guardians, please message D.Disciple as he's in charge of that faction.
The Academy itself is split into several different areas. Each guild has its own building with its own classrooms, dormitories and assembly halls. Students are encouraged to interact with their fellow Academy goers from other Guilds and it is for this reason that a different Guild hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
The Academy is open to those aged 14-22. Although there are no students younger than 14 within the Academy, there are several students older than 22 who have applied for specialised courses or teaching positions within the Academy.
Although students living within the Academy are permitted to visit Ceteris, they must return before 9pm and must ensure that they remain on their best behaviour. There will be serious consequences for any student caught disturbing the peace. The administration urges its students to part amicably from establishments in which Wanderers are not allowed to enter. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the Academy.
Students are generally advised to avoid the slums which have been a hotbed for violence despite the efforts of a local vigilante group known as the ‘Guardians’. Upon realising that the government had effectively abandoned the area, the Guardians stepped up to enforce their own version of the law. Due to rising frustrations, the general consensus on how to deal with their oppression has led to the group's ideology becoming fractured. There are several Guardians who advocate peaceful measures like the Academy does, but just as many are leaning towards violence in an attempt for their voices to be heard.
There are currently two factions within Ceteris. It is not mandatory to join either; you can retain a neutral position if you wish. Both factions, the Academy and the Guardians, strive for equality but believe in different methods to attain it. Whether these organisations become allies or enemies will be up to each RP'er in this story. Your actions will affect this dynamic world.
Powers
There are four types of powers which Wanderers possess. Each class is unique and has its own advantages and disadvantages. Every Wanderer has a primary power and a secondary power. You will always be more advanced in the use of your primary power. Specialising in a certain power gives you more benefits than a non-specialist (those who have it as their secondary power). The powers are:
1. Psionics
The branch of Psionics includes two powers. Primary Psions are able to specialise in both
Telepathy (the ability to read minds, communicate via mind link and induce hallucinations) and Telekinesis (the ability to create an invisible force which can be used to push, pull, lift, slam or create basic weapons with). Secondary Psions can choose to wield Telekinesis OR Telepathy. Secondary Telepaths cannot induce hallucinations in the minds of opponents and Secondary Telekinetics have weaker manipulation powers than Primaries. They are also unable to create telekinetic weapons.
Telekinetic weapons are limited to basic melee weapons; no guns! Telekinetic weaponry manifests in a translucent shade of your choice. It is NOT invisible.
Telekinesis can also be used to fly at high speeds and Primary Telekinetics can fly with a much higher level of precision and speed than Secondary Telekinetics.
2. Black Magic
Primary Black Mages can control two elements whereas Secondary Black Mages can only control one element. Elements which can be manipulated are: Fire, Wind, Water, Ice, Electricity and Earth.
Primary Black Mages also have the option to utilise Dark magic as one of the two elements that they can control. Dark magic is the most powerful element but will deplete stamina a lot quicker than using any other element.
3. Summoning
There are some Wanderers who are able to make contact with different dimensions across the multiverse. They are able to call forth creatures from foreign realms who will then aid them in battle.
There are two different classes of Summons. The more powerful summons are known as Grand Summons and can be up to 25 feet tall. The less powerful (and more common) summons are referred to as Normal Summons and can be up to 6ft tall. Primary Summoners can have one Grand Summon and three types of Normal Summons. Think of them as footsoldiers! If you have a Water type, Fire type and Electricity type, you can summon any combination you wish e.g. 2 Water summons and 2 Fire summons
Summoning a Grand is a much more physically exhausting task than summoning a Normal. This will lead to many scenarios in which a Summoner must decide what tactical trade off to make. Grand Summons are extremely powerful but leave the Summoner so tired that they can only defend themselves. Normal Summons can be brought forth with much less exhaustion and a Summoner will actually be able to fight alongside his/her footsoldiers. They are much weaker than Grand Summons but allow for a more flexible strategy to be used. This is because four of them can be on the field at any one time and types can be mixed to capitalise on an opponent’s weakness. Utilising Normal Summons also allows the Summoner to retain a lot of their stamina and this will help to make it much harder for the opponent to achieve a knockout. If a Summoner is KO’d, all of their Summons will immediately be banished as the mind link has been lost.
Secondary Summoners do not have the ability to summon Grands and can only have two types of Normals. The maximum amount of Normals they can have on the field at any one point is three.
Summons must remain close to the summoner at all times. If a summoner abandons their summon or moves too far away from it, the connection will be lost and the summon will return to where it came from.
4. White Magic
Primary White Mages can heal grievous injuries, use strong barriers to protect themselves, banish summons and teleport short distances (twice during a fight). It is important to remember that White Magic is a benign power and lacks any offensive capabilities: be wise when choosing your secondary power.
Banishing summons is not instantaneous and can take up to two minutes when seeking to banish a Grand. It is extremely energy-consuming when compared to banishing Normal summons which is a lot less difficult. Most Summoners who face Primary White Mages do not summon their Grand unless they are sure that the Grand will finish the fight before it is banished.
Secondary White Mages cannot teleport, create White Magic barriers or banish Grand summons. They are able to heal moderate injuries and can also banish up to 2 Normal Summons.
Rules:
1. Profiles will have to be approved by me before you can RP. I’ll be online often so don’t worry about having to wait!
2. Don’t godmod or metagame
3. Stick to the rules of the universe; don’t do things that don’t fit (such as having your character be able to control time)
4. Keep communication with other RP’ers open so that you know what you’re doing in terms of the post order, general direction etc.
5. Be polite and respectful towards your fellow RP’ers during OOC interactions.
6. If you have a problem with anything related to the RP, don’t hesitate to PM me.
7. You are allowed up to two characters. If you really want a third character, PM me and I’ll see what I can do.
8. Have fun!
One final word: Please do not focus too much on your powers. The combination of powers will add several strategies and fluidity to battle, but this is a mature RP and therefore the most important thing is character development and interaction. This is not an RP where we encourage mindless fighting every other post, but one in which we encourage building rivalries and friendships with other characters and lending the world the impact of your presence.
PROFILES
Here is a template you can use:
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Appearance
Head:
Torso:
Arms:
Legs: .
Personality: .
History:
Powers:
Guild: Psion/Black Mage/White Mage/Summoner
Theme: [OPTIONAL]
List of Characters
(threedawg)
(threedawg)
[centre]
(threedawg)
(threedawg)
NOTE 2: It is not entirely necessary to read the History so if you're not willing to, skip to the next section. It is advisable to go through it, however, as you'll become more familiar with the world.
After a prolonged silence, a groan emerged from the emaciated man’s bleeding mouth. A fit of violent coughing overtook his body as he spat out yet another tooth onto the ground, feebly struggling against the chains which had bound his arms.
“You always were a glutton for punishment.” said his torturer, a behemoth of a man with a large, white beard.
“And you for power!” he shot back resiliently.
“For order, Prometheus. It was we who inherited the Earth, not the humans. They were never meant to be our equals.” said the torturer, stroking his beard as he surveyed Prometheus’ battered and bruised body.
“Spare me your twisted reasoning. To hear you disguise your lust for control as serving the greater good causes me more anguish than your physical torture ever could.” retorted Prometheus as he fell to his left knee, his breathing becoming harsher.
“Perhaps you have suffered enough for one day, but I can’t let it end here. Your fate rests with me, Prometheus,” taunted the torturer, a sadistic smile contorting his lips. “And I have so much more punishment to dole out.”
“How can the others stand for this? How can they let you do this to me?” demanded Prometheus. “They were dying, I couldn’t sit by idly when I knew the answer to their problems was fire!”
“You ruined years of careful planning. Mankind did not develop the way we would have liked.”
“They aren’t your toys, Zeus.” whispered Prometheus, his voice becoming louder with every word.
“They might not be, but you are. The night is far from over, Prometheus, and you have so many bones left for me to break.” said Zeus, walking towards Prometheus as he fell to both knees.
“I regret nothing!” screamed Prometheus as Zeus came closer and closer. “I embrace my part in the revolution! They will rise, and when they do, they will slit your throats and watch you die! Mark my words, Zeus, they will kill all of you!”
The emperor sighed and slumped back into his throne, one hand dangling from the armrest whilst the other covered his face. The meeting that was being conducted in his hall had gotten off to a terrible start and the looming prospect of it ending in an even worse manner was weighing his mind down with fear.
“I have no other choice!” he replied wearily.
“Is this what we have been relegated to, Constantine? It was we who kept your Empire stable. We are viewed as the Empire’s pantheon, you cannot remove us like this!” argued Jupiter, glancing back at his companions’ forlorn and hopeless faces.
“The era of the Pantheon is over, Jupiter.” sighed Constantine. “Christianity has replaced it. You had a place in the prior religion, but not this one. The people will hunt you down and we will have a war on our hands. I think it’s best we avoid that.”
Jupiter mulled over the words of the Emperor before turning to face his companions once again. When they nodded solemnly, he grudgingly continued the conversation.
“Then what do you ask of us, Constantine? To abandon our homes?” questioned Jupiter, his voice shaking.
“You must leave this land and settle somewhere else, or stay on the promise that you will blend into society. If you are caught using any of your unnatural abilities, you will be executed.” said Constantine gravely.
“You expect us to give up who we are?” snarled Jupiter, completely aghast at this betrayal.
“Stay or leave; the choice is yours.”
“Mr. Taylor. Please present your closing argument.” came the voice of the overseer.
He jumped up at the sound of his name and looked around, taking a moment to compose himself and stop his hands from shaking.
“F-friends,” he began, his gaze swivelling over the huge oval shaped hall and at the hundreds of stony-faced committee members watching him in silence. “We are going down a dangerous path here. I understand, and have always understood, the importance of being incognito. Hiding our nature from society has helped many of us to lead simple and joyful lives. I understand that unveiling ourselves now will present many complications, I really do, but is it not worth it? Our purpose has always been to protect humanity! I ask you, how are we protecting them by upholding this secrecy?”
Taylor stopped for a few seconds, as if expecting someone to answer him. Once he was sure his audience had truly contemplated his speech so far, he continued.
“Millions and millions will die if we do not intervene now and prevent this from escalating. We stayed quiet when Franz Ferdinand was assassinated but we should have made our move then. With that being said, it is not too late for us to atone for this mistake, my friends. There is still time for us to fulfil our duty.” said Taylor, feeling more courageous with every word.
His confidence was being inspired by his passion to save the lives of innocents and he knew that his emotions were an indicator of the Wanderers’ true nature as a society of guardians.
“Today, Germany declared war on France and Russia.” he announced solemnly. “This is our last chance to prevent the world from facing complete and utter devastation. This is a global conflict and I assure you, it will consume the planet. Are we truly willing to have the blood of millions of men, women and children on our hands, just so we can continue to hide? My time is up, I know, but that’s okay because I trust in you. I don’t need to distinguish between good and evil because in your hearts and in your minds, you have already made the right choice.”
Taylor sat down and rested his against the soft, velvety cushioning of his seat. The silence of the audience was deafening. He knew that the severity of the occasion did not warrant any form of applause, but he was surprised at his speech’s inability to elicit even a ripple of murmuring from the audience.
For what felt like an eternity, the ballot box was passed around the hall and the votes were compiled. The panel opened the box and counted through the votes numerous times to ensure the utmost accuracy before revealing its contents. The overseer, a tall and foreboding-looking man, announced the result.
“Mr. Taylor, I thank you for your time and dedication in representing your case. I am sure that every individual in this audience paid great heed to both your argument and the argument presented by Mr. Sonenclar, advocating the need to retain our secrecy.” said the overseer, his eyes sweeping across the audience.
Taylor nodded at the overseer, hardly daring to breathe as he awaited the result.
“I am afraid you were unsuccessful, Mr. Taylor. We will not be intervening in this war.”
“What?” replied her male co-host bemusedly. “This came far too late, if you ask me!”
“Alright guys, we’re on in 5, get ready!” informed the camera man. “5… 4… 3… 2… 1… and we’re live!”
The blonde reporter turned to face the camera and flashed a pearly white smile which threatened to falter as the concern in her eyes became clearer.
“Good morning America, this is Karen Vale live from the VOP studios with my co-host, Michael Swann.” said Vale in a falsely cheery choice.
“And we’re here with some breaking news, folks. The 2018 NATSEC Act was signed into law by the president today!” announced Swann triumphantly. “This marks a great leap forward in terms of our country’s security by restricting unnaturals to one child per married couple. Unnaturals must go through a variety of applications and, if the potential parents are deemed low-risk, they will be allowed to have a child.”
“In a poll conducted by VOP, it was found that 95% of citizens deemed the NATSEC Act as necessary, whilst a mere 5% viewed it as unnecessary.” said Vale, unable to look into the camera as she spoke.
“You can count me as part of that 95%, Vicky!” said Michael jovially. “This is great news and I know that a lot of people, myself included, will be sleeping a lot easier tonight knowing that the future of our great country is not at risk.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more, Michael.” lied Vale, feeling as though the words she was speaking were being uttered by another mouth. “It’s important for the unnatural population to be closely monitored and now our government can ensure that they don’t pose a threat to our national security. To get a closer look at the reaction of the unnatural community, we sent Linda Zhang to the world famous Prometheus Academy in Ceteris to get a word with the headmaster and founder of the Equality Initiative, Professor Alvarez.”
As soon as the cameraman gave the signal that recording inside the studio had stopped, Vale let out a deep sigh and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.
“Vicky, Michael, I’m standing outside the gates of the Academy right now.” announced Linda loudly, microphone in hand as the fierce winds sweeping through the Academy whipped her scarf around her neck. “Alvarez has declined to be interviewed, but he did release a public statement earlier condemning the NATSEC Act and referring to it as ‘an extreme infringement upon the rights of Wanderers’ and ‘a horrifying way of honouring the many sacrifices our community has made for humanity, especially the losses suffered during World War 2’.”
“Thank you for that, Linda.” said Vale, who had managed to recompose herself during the short break.
“He should consider himself lucky, I’m surprised that Academy hasn’t been closed by now!” exclaimed Michael, a pronounced sneer on his lips. “As for World War 2… well, they might have helped, but where were they the first time?”
“By now, you must all be aware of the NATSEC Act’s passing.” said Alvarez, a hint of defeat in his voice. “It is another strike against our rights and another stain on human-wanderer relations. However, though we are all feeling some degree of righteous anger, a feeling of being betrayed by those whom we have always wanted to co-exist with peacefully, we must not abandon our methods now. It is in the face of adversity where we will be tested, and I can think of no bigger adversity than this. We must remain non-violent and retain our pacifist approach at all times. It is the only way humanity will trust a community of beings who are more powerful than them in every way.”
Alvarez paused for a moment, attempting to scrutinise the general emotion of the students; they were listening raptly which meant that they still trusted him. Spurred by this, he continued.
“You may be tempted to sympathise with those among us who advocate resorting to violence, but be warned: they will lead our kind down a dark and dangerous path. We must not allow the NATSEC Act to change who we are and the ideals we hold dear. We must remain diligent and diplomatic, or we will destroy what little trust we have created with the human community. The days where violence was the answer are long gone; we live in an informed age where those who are willing to learn can be taught. We will show humans that we are not to be feared, that we can be trusted and that we can live side by side peacefully.”
Alvarez paused once more to take in the general mood of the students. It seemed that the fear and anger that were being expressed prior had been replaced with hope, albeit a cautious form of it.
“We have a responsibility to guide our actions in a way where no innocents are ever hurt. I can tell you, with the utmost sincerity, that abandoning peaceful methods will lead to countless innocent lives being lost. You must remember that each and every one of you is an ambassador to our kind. Your actions will affect the way that the rest of us are perceived by society. Do not be brash, or you risk making things worse. We will gain our freedom but it will not be through the spilling of blood. Our freedom will be gained through peace, for that is the only freedom worth having.”
This RP takes place in the city of Ceteris, a bustling megacity that is a re-imagined version of Chicago in this alternate-reality vision of America. You are a Wanderer; a race which is identical to human beings but has had an even longer presence on Earth. You possess extraordinary power and have the ability to change the world for the better or for the worse. Your actions will have consequences and will lead to friendships and rivalries. The path you take will be forged by your own choices.
The Prometheus Academy, an institution designed specifically for helping Wanderers to hone their powers, houses most of the students in the city. However, some students have homes in Ceteris’ neighbourhoods and are permitted to stay there if they desire.
You do not have to RP as a student in the Academy if you wish it. If, for whatever reason, you would like to RP as a human, you may do so. If you would like to RP as a Wanderer who does not study at the Academy, you may do so. If your character lives in Ceteris, he may even be a part of the Guardians. If you'd like to join up with the Guardians, please message D.Disciple as he's in charge of that faction.
The Academy itself is split into several different areas. Each guild has its own building with its own classrooms, dormitories and assembly halls. Students are encouraged to interact with their fellow Academy goers from other Guilds and it is for this reason that a different Guild hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
The Academy is open to those aged 14-22. Although there are no students younger than 14 within the Academy, there are several students older than 22 who have applied for specialised courses or teaching positions within the Academy.
Although students living within the Academy are permitted to visit Ceteris, they must return before 9pm and must ensure that they remain on their best behaviour. There will be serious consequences for any student caught disturbing the peace. The administration urges its students to part amicably from establishments in which Wanderers are not allowed to enter. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the Academy.
Students are generally advised to avoid the slums which have been a hotbed for violence despite the efforts of a local vigilante group known as the ‘Guardians’. Upon realising that the government had effectively abandoned the area, the Guardians stepped up to enforce their own version of the law. Due to rising frustrations, the general consensus on how to deal with their oppression has led to the group's ideology becoming fractured. There are several Guardians who advocate peaceful measures like the Academy does, but just as many are leaning towards violence in an attempt for their voices to be heard.
There are currently two factions within Ceteris. It is not mandatory to join either; you can retain a neutral position if you wish. Both factions, the Academy and the Guardians, strive for equality but believe in different methods to attain it. Whether these organisations become allies or enemies will be up to each RP'er in this story. Your actions will affect this dynamic world.
There are four types of powers which Wanderers possess. Each class is unique and has its own advantages and disadvantages. Every Wanderer has a primary power and a secondary power. You will always be more advanced in the use of your primary power. Specialising in a certain power gives you more benefits than a non-specialist (those who have it as their secondary power). The powers are:
1. Psionics
The branch of Psionics includes two powers. Primary Psions are able to specialise in both
Telepathy (the ability to read minds, communicate via mind link and induce hallucinations) and Telekinesis (the ability to create an invisible force which can be used to push, pull, lift, slam or create basic weapons with). Secondary Psions can choose to wield Telekinesis OR Telepathy. Secondary Telepaths cannot induce hallucinations in the minds of opponents and Secondary Telekinetics have weaker manipulation powers than Primaries. They are also unable to create telekinetic weapons.
Telekinetic weapons are limited to basic melee weapons; no guns! Telekinetic weaponry manifests in a translucent shade of your choice. It is NOT invisible.
Telekinesis can also be used to fly at high speeds and Primary Telekinetics can fly with a much higher level of precision and speed than Secondary Telekinetics.
2. Black Magic
Primary Black Mages can control two elements whereas Secondary Black Mages can only control one element. Elements which can be manipulated are: Fire, Wind, Water, Ice, Electricity and Earth.
Primary Black Mages also have the option to utilise Dark magic as one of the two elements that they can control. Dark magic is the most powerful element but will deplete stamina a lot quicker than using any other element.
3. Summoning
There are some Wanderers who are able to make contact with different dimensions across the multiverse. They are able to call forth creatures from foreign realms who will then aid them in battle.
There are two different classes of Summons. The more powerful summons are known as Grand Summons and can be up to 25 feet tall. The less powerful (and more common) summons are referred to as Normal Summons and can be up to 6ft tall. Primary Summoners can have one Grand Summon and three types of Normal Summons. Think of them as footsoldiers! If you have a Water type, Fire type and Electricity type, you can summon any combination you wish e.g. 2 Water summons and 2 Fire summons
Summoning a Grand is a much more physically exhausting task than summoning a Normal. This will lead to many scenarios in which a Summoner must decide what tactical trade off to make. Grand Summons are extremely powerful but leave the Summoner so tired that they can only defend themselves. Normal Summons can be brought forth with much less exhaustion and a Summoner will actually be able to fight alongside his/her footsoldiers. They are much weaker than Grand Summons but allow for a more flexible strategy to be used. This is because four of them can be on the field at any one time and types can be mixed to capitalise on an opponent’s weakness. Utilising Normal Summons also allows the Summoner to retain a lot of their stamina and this will help to make it much harder for the opponent to achieve a knockout. If a Summoner is KO’d, all of their Summons will immediately be banished as the mind link has been lost.
Secondary Summoners do not have the ability to summon Grands and can only have two types of Normals. The maximum amount of Normals they can have on the field at any one point is three.
Summons must remain close to the summoner at all times. If a summoner abandons their summon or moves too far away from it, the connection will be lost and the summon will return to where it came from.
4. White Magic
Primary White Mages can heal grievous injuries, use strong barriers to protect themselves, banish summons and teleport short distances (twice during a fight). It is important to remember that White Magic is a benign power and lacks any offensive capabilities: be wise when choosing your secondary power.
Banishing summons is not instantaneous and can take up to two minutes when seeking to banish a Grand. It is extremely energy-consuming when compared to banishing Normal summons which is a lot less difficult. Most Summoners who face Primary White Mages do not summon their Grand unless they are sure that the Grand will finish the fight before it is banished.
Secondary White Mages cannot teleport, create White Magic barriers or banish Grand summons. They are able to heal moderate injuries and can also banish up to 2 Normal Summons.
1. Profiles will have to be approved by me before you can RP. I’ll be online often so don’t worry about having to wait!
2. Don’t godmod or metagame
3. Stick to the rules of the universe; don’t do things that don’t fit (such as having your character be able to control time)
4. Keep communication with other RP’ers open so that you know what you’re doing in terms of the post order, general direction etc.
5. Be polite and respectful towards your fellow RP’ers during OOC interactions.
6. If you have a problem with anything related to the RP, don’t hesitate to PM me.
7. You are allowed up to two characters. If you really want a third character, PM me and I’ll see what I can do.
8. Have fun!
One final word: Please do not focus too much on your powers. The combination of powers will add several strategies and fluidity to battle, but this is a mature RP and therefore the most important thing is character development and interaction. This is not an RP where we encourage mindless fighting every other post, but one in which we encourage building rivalries and friendships with other characters and lending the world the impact of your presence.
Here is a template you can use:
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Appearance
Head:
Torso:
Arms:
Legs: .
Personality: .
History:
Powers:
Guild: Psion/Black Mage/White Mage/Summoner
Theme: [OPTIONAL]
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