[OOC] ⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

⊰ ℳ_Ⱥ_ℕ_ƪ_ℱ_ℇ_S_Ⱦ__Ⱥ_ℕ_ƪ_ℳ_Ⱥ ⊱

_{^Above is depicted the city of Ominar^}

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⊰ Pʀᴇᴍιsᴇ

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It is the year 2053 and the world is being shaken as Ominar, a coastal European city, is taken over by the prae--one of two species hailing from another realm. In the few months the city's people have shown a measure of outrage to the rule of the prae, which while legal, was established through dubious means. Additionally, with the prae's mistreatment of the licentia--the other of the two otherworldly races--humanity and those licentia willing to stand up against the prae fought back. In an effort to liberate all those who had been wrongfully incarcerated by the prae, the Resistance was formed by a group of likeminded folk and proceeded to unveil themselves to the world in spectacular fashion. Managing to infiltrate one of Ominar's three prisons, the Resistance was able to successfully free the wrongfully imprisoned therein and hide them from the prae--at least to the best of their ability. Still, for now the Resistance is but a small organization fighting against the powers that be.

Meanwhile, the local leader of the prae, an Exeo by the name of Aismael Vea Vartari plots to demonize those who would Resist them, and to use their actions as further reason that licentia everywhere should be driven out, imprisoned, or otherwise oppressed. On the other side of things, the Resistance is soon to come out of hiding once more and resume their actions against the ruling prae in hopes of ousting their control of the city. As these plans play out, the world watches, paying close attention to the trade hub that Ominar has been for a long time now, waiting to see if they ought to intervene or not.

Hopefully they decide to do so...before things spiral out of control.

⊰ Starting Off

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You are a resident of Ominar, or someone who has come from abroad recently, your interests may vary greatly. Some of you will come to join the Resistance and fight against the prae who--though misled--are not any more depraved than your every day human. You may be of the licentia, a highly individualistic species with vastly differing natures--be they magical, physical, or mental; or perhaps you are of the prae, having recently come to Medius--the home realm of man--to see what it has to offer, to learn or to fight for the sake of your species betterment; or you may be human, attempting to survive, and to thrive even alongside beings who from birth might be called your betters--ever struggling to rise above your fellows and those who might stand in the way of your ambitions or your happiness. Regardless, there is a place for you here and we are both willing and able to make you as comfortable as we can. We are here to help.

Note: We—that being the GMs [Celaira and myself(yoshua171)] are currently working on reorganizing the lore located in the first three posts of the OOC thread, as well as adding additional entries. A large body of this lore is not strictly necessary for play, but is merely information that may be useful to some players or is there so as to be more accessible. If you would like to contribute lore feel free to do so—provided you are willing to work with us to make sure it fits into the world more seamlessly and so that it may be approved and then added to its proper place in one of the lore posts.

⊰ Ⱦerminology

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Hider

Priscus: Described as a paradise by those humans who have seen it, Priscus is the Prae's realm of origin as well as the place in which the vast majority of their kind reside.

Medius: The realm of man, reminiscent of our own, though its cultures and societies differ. While the Prae and Licentia have appeared prior, their most prominent entrance into human history occurred in 1563. From then onwards the realm of Medius found itself populated by increasing numbers of all three races.

Torqueo: The realm from which the Licentia originate, Torqueo is, in its own way, bountiful--though perhaps not in the same way as its counterpart, Priscus. Instead, Torqueo is a resource-rich location full of exotic, and often dangerous, flora, fauna, and materials.

Pylae: Colloquially known as 'the Rift', Pylae is a pseudo-realm possessing inconsistent space-time, which due to the difficulty of properly exploring it, so far lacks definition . Pylae is located in all space wherein Medius, Priscus and Torqueo are not.

Anima: The common term among the three races for the soul or internal life force. The Anima comes in differing forms depending on the race, but is always the seat of consciousness. It is composed of incredibly dense, complexly attuned/programmed vis and is impossible to perfectly replicate any specific soul.

Vis: A term used to describe the energy that permeates all things. It is the most basic building block in existence, comes in various forms, and typically exists in the atmosphere of any given realm—barring Torqueo in which it exists almost solely underground. It is the energy used in magic, though this is not its sole use by any measure.

Ostium: While few understand it, the Ostium is the system by which vis is moved through the body of a living being. Additionally, the Ostium is the mechanism that allows an individual to manipulate their vis to utilize magic. Equivalently, the Ostium is the circulatory system, but for vis rather than blood.

Manifest: An ability unique to the Prae, the Manifest, or Manifested State, is the term used to refer to a Prae's ability to manifest their Anima through their unique set of markings. Every Manifest is different, having a wholly unique appearance dependent on the individual. The Manifest is an enhanced state for Prae, making their imbuing more powerful and allowing them full access to their capabilities--provided they have trained sufficiently. While all Prae--with extremely rare exceptions existing--possess a Manifest, they are not born with the innate ability to properly control it. So it is that they must train to use it properly.

**It should be noted that all prae can fly while using their Manifest.

Prisms: Crystals harvested from Priscus by the Prae for use by 'Mirage-type,' Prae. Prisms, as far as the world is aware, cannot be used by other races. These items are used by Mirage-type Prae to capture and store beings or objects of import for ease of storage or safety.

Licenti: The term used to refer to an individual Licentia, rather than their kind as a whole.

Growth Stage: Licentia in a state of physical and magical flux, their primary abilities being those of shapeshifting. Licentia in this stage have one surefire weakness: A solid Anima that resides somewhere within their body.

Trial Stage: Licentia who have, often temporarily, exited the Growth stage, entering a period of more stable existence wherein their form typically remains the same and their magical abilities expand to compensate.

Eximius: The third stage of development for Licentia in which they cease to cycle between the Growth and Trial stages and gain a stable form with stable magical abilities--these are often enhanced in comparison to other Licentia. Most Licentia deify them and so it is that they act as the leaders for their kind, when such are needed.

Mirage: A classification made by humans after continued observation of Prae. Mirage Prae are individuals who use their innate magic to manipulate/spawn elemental effects, or whom specialize in telepathic abilities and healing. While all Prae can train to become a Mirage, sometimes individuals are born with talent in the three aforementioned areas. Some rare Prae of this type are born in a more etheric or elemental state, which they cannot exit. Such individuals lack a Manifest and cannot survive without their element for long. The reason these individuals are born at all is unknown to even the Prae. It should be known that Prae do not use this term to describe themselves.

Gypsy: A classification made by humans, Gypsy-type Prae are individuals with specializations that give them enhanced psychic capabilities. More often than not, Gypsy-type Prae can both be born, but they can be trained as well. These Prae are capable of advanced telepathy and allegedly clairvoyance--which is exceedingly rare among Prae. Some Prae with such abilities are born with more intricate markings and crystals, with their Manifested state being far more unique in comparison to their peers. Occasionally, a born Gypsy is capable of using their voice alone to ensnare/hypnotize both humans and licentia. It should be known that Prae do not use this term to describe their own kind.

Guardian: A term used by humans to describe Prae who specialize in a form of imbuing which allows them to bond with the Anima of another being. This ability allows them telepathy and/or empathy with the bonded individual and they may take on pain or various levels of damage, as well as intuitively knowing where their ward is. Guardians also typically specialize in healing, allowing them to mend the wounds of both themselves and their ward, if necessary. Once bonded, a Guardian is bonded forever, even if their ward dies as their link to the Anima as it passes on remains. Unless a Prae Guardian is already close to their ward, the bond they form with them starts shallow and gradually deepens, eventually intrinsically linking the two in most ways. The Prae do use members of their kind with this skillset to watch over and protect individuals they deem important--though some bond of their own volition. Becoming bonded requires that the Prae physically split their crystal, imbuing half of it into their chosen ward--this process requires both a rather involved ritual and is typically very painful for the Prae. It should be known that Prae do not use this term to describe their own.

Warrior: A term used by humans, and some Licentia, to refer to Prae whose trained specialty allows them to better engage in combat. Warrior Prae have trained themselves to be adept at using their imbuing to enchant armor and weaponry so as to amplify their movement speed and combat efficacy. Prae do not use this human terminology to describe themselves.

Bridges: The colloquial term used to refer to the points where the three realms connect. Bridges do not form from Priscus to Torqueo and all Bridges tend to be well guarded on both ends--though those to Torqueo are less guarded on the Torqueo end. These 'Bridges,' will, typically switch locations randomly every decade or three, though the shortest period of time in recorded history was two years.

Rift Storms: Bridges can spawn anomalous time-space storms that spontaneously cause vis eruptions, and distortion of space. Typically, Rift Storms do not last more than two hours, though there are rare exceptions.

Focus: An object used, typically by human magic users, to better focus and channel one's vis. A focus is typically made from crystal, metal, or biological material such as bone, or liquids.

⊰ Ⱦhe World

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Hider

Ominar: A city recently conquered by the Prae, Ominar is a thoroughly industrialized coastal city, its surroundings largely bereft of nature's touch. While not a capital city, Ominar is a port city and thus a center of trade, making its capture by the Prae a rather important matter to the rest of the world--humanity in particular.

The Races

The Prae: Prae are lithe human-like beings with markings on their back/arms and crystals on their foreheads. Prae are capable imbuing others, themselves, and objects with their vis, by way of contact, thus facilitating telekinesis and healing abilities. The crystals on their foreheads pull in ambient energy of any sort so as to sustain them. Prae are physically weak, but their Vis is densely packed onto their body, defending them from damage to a point. Should they manifest their Vis, it tends to take the form of wings, exuding from their markings. While manifested, a Prae's 'wings' impart them with greater telekinesis, healing, and the possibility of other abilities depending on their chosen path.

The Licentia: The Licentia are a physically and magically diverse race. They are predators who consume the Anima, both internal and external to sustain themselves. Licentia possess a 'solid soul,' which takes the form of a crystalline formation within their body. While Licentia can have vital organs, all will be crippled, injured, or killed by damaging or destroying their soul core. The Licentia cycle between two stages till the end of their life, these being known as the growth and trial stages. The former is typified by fluctuating physical form and weakened magical abilities excluding shapeshifting while the latter is typified by a more permanent form, and expansive magical abilities. A Licenti who has reached this third stage is known as an Eximius.

Humankind: Humans are the race with the greatest population, shortest lifespan, and most expansive potential. While they tend to live only to 100 or so unaided, humans possess the ability to increase the strength of their Anima over time as well as the scope of their Vis. Additionally their Anima is uniquely impressionable, making them both more easily corrupted by internal magics or fooled by illusions. Yet, this acts as one of their greatest strengths, allowing them to harness the energy around them regardless of type and manipulate it in ways that only they are capable of.

Optional Reading

The Realms Expanded

_Priscus:

The realm in which the vast majority of the Prae population resides, not to mention their plane of origin, Priscus can be described as a plane suffused with a tremendous amount of ambient energies, lush with life of all kinds some humans might even call it a paradise. However, as with all things, Priscus is not quite as innocuous as it first appears. Under the surface of the alleged paradise that the Prae present to visitors is a place so rich with Vis that one might say that the realm itself is almost aware.

While its landmasses are constant over a shorter period of time, their orientation and location shift much more rapidly than the continents of Medius. Furthermore, while many creatures of Priscus have little to no need to hunt other beings due to the energy rich atmosphere, it cannot be said that they will not overzealously defend themselves from outside threats. Perhaps most frightening about the flora and fauna of Priscus is the fact that most of it is either capable of magic or magical in some way, shape, or form.

The Prae are very protective of their realm, allowing only trusted friends, or those whom the God-Queen or the Exeo approve of to enter. This in part because of their fierce instinct to defend their nigh-defenseless God-Queen, and also because should the unworthy discover the true bounty of their realm and come to covet it, it would put their kind at great risk. Yet, despite their efforts, rumors of a secret treasure have slipped into Medius. So it is that many begin to wonder what the Prae are hording to themselves. So are born the greatest adversaries that they may ever face: Greed and curiosity.

Note: Priscus has three suns and three moons.

_Medius:

A realm of slow and steady development in regards to its make-up, Medius is possessed of more vis than Torqueo, but far less than Priscus. Inhabited by all three races, though Humans are the one who truly call it home, Medius is sometimes thought of as the melting pot realm, wherein all manner of things mix. Its development, once slow, was rather suddenly sent into overdrive with the introduction to the more magically adept Licentia, and the technologically adept, Prae. As a result of their introduction, Human society first went through a period of intense conflict wherein they expanded over the surface of the world, before the introduction of greater magical and technological knowledge was truly accepted and began to rapidly speed up the development of society at large. So it is that the world reaches its current state, where rather than smog and oil spills, vis eruptions and quantum instabilities can occur, affecting large regions before they are cleaned up--if such is possible.

Humans, while they have not colonized other planets, have managed to expand into Torqueo some, with several small populations of humans having been allowed to take up permanent residence in Priscus, them and their descendants slated to never return. While humans are by and large the most plentiful race inhabiting Medius, this is not to say that there are a small amount of Licentia or Prae, the former of which account for at least 20% of the sentient population, with the latter being about 5% of the total population.

_Torqueo:

A resource rich realm inhabited by all manner of strange, and often dangerous, beings--not the least of which are the Licentia themselves. Known as the harsh homerealm of the Licentia, this realm despite some humans having come to call it home, yet remains the domain of the the latter race. While not overly tumultuous in its geography, the weather and social climate could certainly be described as such. With many of the Licentia's rulers, the Eximius, dwelling herein, it is no wonder that the place would be filled to the brim with conflict of a varied sort.

Most intriguing is the environment of Torqueo, which rather than have its atmosphere be suffused with vis, finds that the soil, flora, and fauna themselves have absorbed much of it. So it is that in some places vast deserts or craggy plains form, while in others flora and fauna alike pull the precious energy from the ground, twisting it to their own ends. In this way, the Licentia are no different, with much of their infrastructure relying on the energy of the land itself to function properly. Like Medius, Torqueo is home to a vast assortment of cultures, despite being largely populated by the same race.

With the continued mixing of races within Medius, some Eximius have begun to turn their eyes to the realm, while others turn their attention to the realms of their kind's absent leaders. Going forwards, conflict is sure to break out in one realm or another. The question is; which will be first?

_{Pylae; The Rift:}

Pylae is widely thought to be the source of all energy, and so far both scientific and magical research has made clear a correlation between vis and this strange realm between realms. The leading theory is that energy is constantly exchanged between Pylae and the three realms, likely entering via quantum methods not yet understood by scientists or mages of any race. Yet, there are those who have found ways, if dangerous, to harness its power in fits and bursts.

Perhaps the most studied correlation are the points from which an individual may travel between realms. These locations are typically surrounded by unexplainable phenomena, be they magical or otherwise. Due to it being thought, despite there being no evidence of such, to be a realm torn between realities, Pylae is often called 'the Rift.' While rare, every so often, the gateways between realms, colloquially known as 'Bridges,' shift location in a seemingly random fashion for no apparent reason.

Additionally, there are the known, but exceedingly rare occurrence, known as 'rift storms,' which may take place around these 'Bridges,' making them impassable and spawning a temporary field wherein any manner of dangerous and unpredictable phenomena take place. These storms typically involve fluctuating fields of ambient vis as well as warped space-time within their confines. Luckily, these storms do not travel far from their sources, nor do they typically last any longer than a few hours, if that. Nonetheless, they are a dangerous occurrence, if one which allows great opportunity for those few who would dare study something so dangerous and unpredictable as the Rift. However, with the efforts of these brave souls, perhaps one day the world will have no reason to fear Pylae and its mysterious nature. Perhaps one day it will not be a mystery at all.

Perhaps.

The Races Expanded

_Prae:

Appearing as lithe humanoids with markings adorning them, this proud race hails from the realm of Priscus. When in their normal guise these lithe beings are graceful, light, and acrobatic, typically giving off an aura of purity and calm, though they can control this. While incapable of any truly impressive magic whilst in this state, Prae are capable of healing minor wounds, energizing others or themselves, moving smaller objects through the manipulation of their Vis. However, perhaps their most distinguishing features in comparison to Humans or even the Licentia, are the small crystals located somewhere on their foreheads in addition to their ability to condense their internal energy and exude it into the form of wings, or otherwise formations of energy, which manifest from the markings on their back and/or arms. The crystals located on a Prae's forehead are effectively invulnerable to all physical damage and a great deal of magical damage as well. A Prae pulls in energy through these crystals, using it as sustenance, this process only works if there is energy within the surrounding area. However, almost any form of energy works, as long as it is not held within a living thing.

In addition to these crystals, as mentioned, is a Prae's ability to manifest constructs of pure energy, which are a direct extension of their being—typically in the form of wings. When manifested a Prae's magical ability is greatly amplified, making them capable of greater telekinetic feats, either to manipulate their own person, those around them, or objects, depending on the specialty of the individual. However, while the abilities of a given Prae can vary somewhat, all of them stem from their inherent power, which has come to be known as “Imbuing.” This ability must be activated by contact between the Prae and that which they wish to manipulate.

Perhaps the most notable and intriguing use of a Prae's imbuing, is that which is performed upon their death. Essentially, when a Prae is near death they will, either consciously or subconsciously choose an individual who they have made contact with in the past—typically another Prae—and upon their death the entirety of their energy will be imparted to the chosen subject or subjects. The Prae may choose as to whether their consciousness is merged with that of the subject or not. When this is done the receiving individual's Anima is permanently empowered, allowing them a greater pool of energy to draw from. This is the only natural circumstance in which a Prae's Anima may significantly grow.

The Prae are ruled by several Queens, some of which are known as the Exeo. The Exeo have been imparted with sufficient power so as to facilitate the birth of true Prae. This is notable due to the fact that the children of Prae are born without the pure Anima of their kind—though they possess their crystals and markings. As such, by imparting Prae children with a small portion of pure Anima, the Exeo, or their greater counterpart, the God-Queen, allows the child to develop into a fully mature Prae later in life, rather than simply allow the equivalent of a half-breed, which would do nothing to further increase their numbers.

As mentioned, all Exeo are dwarfed by the God-Queen, who chooses them so that they may be imparted with the necessary energy to perform their function. This reveals the importance of the God-Queen, exposing her as the most essential member of Prae society, being the only Prae capable of nigh infinitely absorbing ambient energy. This God-Queen comes to be when several hundred or a thousand Prae choose a member of their own whom they consider worthy of leading them. Once chosen, the Prae who have chosen her all simultaneously sacrifice their Anima, imparting their chosen Queen with such a tremendous amount of magical energy that her body's limits are exceeded, effectively rendering her incapable of any magic aside from giving her energy to others. The minds of the thousand Prae reach a state of cohesion with that of the God-Queen's allowing her a tremendous understanding of her kind and what is likely to be best for their continued wellbeing.

Due to her tremendous magical power and importance to their culture and social structure, not to mention her safety, the God-Queen remains in Priscus so that her tremendous soul and the vis that extends around it does not crush her subjects, and so that she remains far away from potential threats to her health.

The Prae Hierarchy

God-Queen: The pinnacle of the prae hierarchy, the God-Queen is looked at by her kind as a revered, divine mother. She is created through the sacrifice of no less than eight hundred prae and the imparting of the previous God-Queen's essence in its entirety. Ruler of her people, the God-Queen's role is threefold, as she imparts her vis to younger members of their species twice, the first time so that they develop into full blooded prae, and the second to allow them access to their Manifest. Second among her roles is that of leader, which she serves by relaying messages to her Exeo. She is administrator, mother, and divine figure all in one; serving as the latter-most of the three by being the focus of prae religious worship. Almost universally loved, the God-Queen pays for her leadership via her loss of autonomy after taking up her mantle. This is due to the fact that the volume of vis imparted to her is so great that her body loses much of its ability to physically function outside of her Grand Hall—which stabilizes her vis considerably. Beyond this she becomes largely incapable of useful magic as it takes her an incredibly long time to formulate any particular spell. The current God-Queen is Amana Van.

Proxies: A classification within prae society, the Proxies are an Order of Priest-Inquisitors who act as the spiritual and religious leaders of their people. They are the Will of the God-Queen, connected to her intrinsically by a bond forged when they were imparted with her essence earlier in life. Later on when they are imparted vis near the end of their physical adolescence, the God-Queen will inform a prae that—if they so choose—they may follow the compulsion given to them by the bond and become a Proxy or that they may rid themselves of it to serve their kind in another way. Should they take her up on this offer, they are interred into the Order of Proxies where they begin their training—which includes a 100 year period of abstinence. When fully instated they become the keepers of peace and order within the confines of prae society. They are given a status that is above all, but the God-Queen herself. In terms of strength, Proxies of the highest ranks are typically 1/4th the power of the average Exeo. However, unlike the Exeo, their intrinsic bond to the God-Queen allows them to draw on her divine vis in times of great need. A prae within this order does not leave unless they are impregnated.

Queen-Heir: Typically chosen from among the Exeo, the Queen-Heir is equal in rank to the Paladins, and is essentially the chosen inheritor of the throne upon the God-Queen's death or abdication of it. This individual, whether an Exeo or not, outranks every other non-Proxy prae making their word essentially law. Current Queen-Heir: Aismael vea-Vartari

Paladins: The Shield of the God-Queen, these prae are bonded to the God-Queen and/or her Exeo and act as their guardians. Considered the most martially adept of their kind, the Paladins are incredibly powerful, always inheriting the vis of their predecessors. Bound by a code of honor and duty, the Paladins love and revere the God-Queen above all else, with the occasional exception being The Code by which they adhere. A Paladin sent by an Exeo or the God-Queen is considered of equal rank to the one who sent them, making their actions and words guided by the one whom they serve.

Exeo: Acting as the voice and right hand of the God-Queen, the Exeo are prae who have been chosen by their people to lead in accordance with the God-Queen's wishes. They are imparted their power by the sacrifice of many lives, in addition to inheriting the vis of their predecessor. These individuals are in charge of every aspect of prae society aside from their religion and work for the betterment of the race. Beyond this, the Queen-Heir is traditionally chosen from the ranks of the Exeo. These individuals number from six to twelve at any given time, and are more often than not female. At present there are only five, due to the recent death of their sixth member.

The Council: A governmental body formed of the most influential members of the Aristocracy, as well as other choice individuals, the Council is concerned with the aspects of prae society within cities. Whereas the Exeo arrange things for the species at large, the Council is in charge of the upkeep and progress in various fields and the bastions of civilization within Priscus. Beyond this they assist the Exeo in gathering the right people for any given job and arranging other political matters should they be called upon. In this way they serve as advisers to Exeo and Fingers of the God Queen.

The Aristocracy: Composed of the most influential members of prae society beneath the Council and its better, the Aristocracy is largely composed of the prae Noble Families. Each of these families are lofted for a particular thing and they are fairly numerous. Due to their prestige in skill, these families tend to have authority of specific sections of prae society such as science, engineering, architecture, the military, and other such things.

The Military: Answering to the Exeo above all else, the prae military is just as it sounds, the body that is utilized to defend against foreign threats to prae civilization.

Specialists: Individuals of note within prae society, often including craftsman and scientists. They are exemplary and sometimes earn their way into the Council. Otherwise they are just skilled individuals who have been recognized for their talents.

The Cogs: The menial workers of prae society, they kepe everything running, but do not hold much, if anything, in the way of great importance in terms of rank within the hierarchy.

Civilians: Non-working members of prae society, often retired, too old, or too young to continue contributing in as active a way as in their youth. May include some other individuals.

_Licentia:

Beings of diverse physical appearance and magical ability, the Licentia are considered 'shapeshifters,' borne of Torqueo. However, the truth to their sometimes shifting forms is somewhat different in most cases. Rather than all Licentia being true shapeshifters, they instead remain in an impressionable state for a portion of their lengthy lives, during which they decide on their form and abilities going forwards. While a Licentia's growth period has a great amount of influence on what their abilities and appearance will be, it is their lineage that decides the pool of magical abilities they have to choose from. In this growth period a Licentia's Vis is rather small so long as their form is in flux, allowing them to manipulate their physical form to a great degree, though weakening any other magical abilities they might later develop. When a Licenti is not within a growth period, their true magical abilities manifest, and they are typically as impressive as they are diverse. Yet, while Licentia are indeed very individualistic in both culture and physical appearance, they share several notable traits, both magical and physical. The most notable of these are their 'solid souls,' in addition to their expansive Vis, and largely predatory and/or parasitic nature. Licentia reproduce parasitically, by in some form splitting their Anima once it has reached a certain density and placing it within another being—though the method can vary between subspecies.

While Licentia do technically regenerate their energy, the process is so slow that the energy generated would always be far less than that used in any notable physical activity, let alone magic. The energy is essentially only enough so as to give them just enough to survive should their Anima be depleted for whatever reason. Licentia, should they feed often enough, do not age, instead continually alternating between their growth and trial stages till they reach a certain level of self-awareness and understanding. Largely due to their longevity and parasitic reproduction, the Licentia are often demonized because of their nature, leading to many of their young being killed off, thus ensuring that their population never explodes.

While an exceptionally rare occurrence, Licentia can attain a third stage and even fourth stage of development, though the fourth's nature has long been considered a myth by both their kind and others. Nonetheless the third, and allegedly final, stage of Licentia development is characterized by the further stabilization of a Licenti's individual form and magical abilities. Only Licentia who have attained a sufficient level of personal understanding can attain this stage, which—should they reach it—affords them the title of Eximius. Aside from their form stabilizing in a more permanent manner—with few exceptions—an Eximius Licentia gains enhanced magical power as well as an effectively limitless lifespan so long as they keep themselves well fed.

Intriguingly enough, the rarity of Eximius licenti has led to the vast majority of their kind raising them to a deific status. As a result many consider Eximius to be more powerful than they truly are, resulting in them being feared and respected by both their own kind and others—if grudgingly at times. While Licentia tend not to choose defining leaders, but rather form small communities due to their individualistic nature, if there were any that they would consider their leaders, it would be those few Eximius.

_Humans:

Possessing the greatest population density of the three races, but the shortest average lifespans, humans tend to find themselves in positions of diplomacy with other races and situations of conflict among their own. They are not physically very impressive, though they tend to be hardier than the lithe Prae as well as naturally stronger. While the average human is of little consequence, all humans have within them inherent potential, which is far reaching in its scope. This on its own has allowed them to make incredible technological discoveries, as well as to learn to wield magic and of course to have expanded over the vast majority of their home realm, Medius.

While the Vis of Prae is limited to the surface of their form, and that of most Licenti is expansive in size, the human Vis is typically only a meter or two in radius, making it relatively small. However, true to their potential, this Vis can be expanded with practice and as an individual's Anima grows as, unlike Prae, humans can naturally increase their capacity magic over time and with due diligence. More interestingly, humans are capable of harnessing the energy of the world around them almost regardless of its nature. This is achieved by way of their uniquely impressionable Anima, which can easily meld with foreign energies. This ability is however a double edged sword as while it allows them to bend the world to their will, it also makes them more vulnerable to outside influence to a much greater degree than the Prae or Licentia. It is this and their short lifespans, which tend to be no longer than 100 or so years on average that act as their greatest limitations. However, with the advent of more advanced technology, and the continued development of magic, perhaps this too will fade into obscurity.

⊰ Magic

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So far as any of the races are aware, no being is capable of the manipulation of time, and while space can be manipulated to some degree, it is not something that is typically done easily by any race. However, aside from this, magic is capable of a great deal, its limits not being fully understood or known by any of the races as of yet. Still, as with most things, the more complex and more grandiose the scale or purpose of a given spell, the more difficult it is to preform.

In short, don't expect to throw a magical nuke without a whole team of several powerful magi and don't expect to actually bring back the Anima of those who have passed on entirely intact, if at all. If a simple term need be applied to describe magic, it is that the magic of Manifest Anima is of the 'High Fantasy,' sort. Just know, that the greater the power, the greater the responsibility required to wield it.

Examples of 'medium level power,' include shapeshifting into things of equivalent size, high speed movement, punching a person and breaking bones (maybe making a small mark on concrete). Perhaps you can manipulate fire hot enough to severely burn someone (2nd degree, and with continued exposure, third degree). Making golems of equivalent size and strength to what I described above or to your character's body.

⊰ Tech

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In terms of tech, the world of Manifest Anima does have things such as nanomachines, minor gravity manip tech, and what is becoming the true advent of body modification (yo cyborgs). While there are global teleportation networks, which are an incredible feat even in this day and age, people do not have personal teleportation devices or the like--in fact none such devices exist, or rather no non-prototype versions exist and trust me, I wouldn't suggest trying those prototypes...that is unless you want to end up merged with a brick wall on a quantum level.

As for weaponry things such as railguns exist, though devices such as laser rifles do not--at least not those that are fueled by entirely scientific/technological means. So don't expect light sabers or plasma weaponry for the most part. Even if they do exist, it's unlikely that most people would be allowed to carry around such dangerous devices. For further clarification, feel free to suggest your idea(s) to your local GM(s) and we'll see what we can do.

Oh yeah and magitech is a thing.

⊰ Rules

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• It should be noted that this RP will have mature themes. Fade to black will be applicable to sexual situations, but don't expect situations including drugs, gore, or some taboo subjects to garner the same treatment. This is not to say that any of the above will be done in excess, just that they may be done.
• Combat will be handled on a case-by-case basis, with the GMs proctoring in case issues or disagreements arise. Should you want to script your fight, let the GMs, and your partner(s) know. Make sure all parties are in agreement. A 'scripted fight,' is one wherein the victor is decided before hand.
• Burning house rule--if you're gone too long and holding things up, expect your character to either be moved aside quietly, or killed to further plot. To avoid the burning house rule, keep us updated, a hiatus can be arranged.
• If a problem arises for a player in regards to the GM and they feel uncomfortable bringing it up. Go to the other GM for advice. Don't worry, we're perfectly reasonable people and nine times out of ten we'll work through it with you.
• The GMs have final say on all matters--this does not mean that I cannot be swayed or convinced. Still, if something must be resolved, we will resolve it and that'll be the end of the discussion.
• Should you lack inspiration or enough material to post, tell someone. Communicate. Talk to your GMs. Worst case scenario, we'll just move your character aside till you can post again.
• While you may expand on or modify the base format of the character sheet, make sure all necessary sections are included.
• No OOC drama. Keep it to PMs, and hopefully keep it non-existent. If needed contact a GM for problem resolution.
• Posts of a paragraph or more; quality over quantity. If you're drawing a blank, don't worry so much.
• Posting expectations of once, at the very least, every two weeks barring extenuating circumstances.
• Only accepted characters go in the character tab.
• Post your Character Sheet in the OOC for review.
• Standard Guild rules apply.
• IC swearing will occur.

⊰ What to Expect

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• Interactions with at least semi-realistic cause and effect. If you kill someone, expect there to be an investigation or at least it be on the news.
• Medium scale in terms of character power, unless you've got good reasons/you prove you can be trusted with more.
• Posts of a paragraph or more; quality over quantity. If you're drawing a blank, don't worry so much.
• Posting expectations of once, at the very least, every two weeks barring extenuating circumstances.
• A GM who is willing to work with you, hear you out, but not break his back to suit your every need.
• Good communication be it player to player, GM to GM, or GM to player.
• Some measure of political intrigue.
• Multiple plotlines if possible.
• Group world building!
• Collaboration posts.
• Some Taboo Subjects.
• Some slice of life.
• Some dark themes.
• Some combat.

⊰ Character Sheet

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The way the title section appears below, the existence of hiders for organization, and the sections therein are necessary. Aside from that code your CS how you want, if you want it pretty, but aren't amazing with BBcode, feel free to come to Celaira or myself, we're code wizards I tell ya, wizards!
_{Skill may vary~}

For clarity's sake, Celaira is likely to do her code offsite, because she's a Journeyman wizard. She doesn't mind doing the same for others, in fact I'm sure she'd be thrilled if you asked her to do so. I on the other hand strictly use Guild BBcode, but I'm damned good at it--so there's that.

CS Code

[center][color=COLOR][h2]【[u][b]Name[/b][/u]】[/h2][/color]
[img]picture[/img]
【[url=link]Theme I[/url][b]/|\[/b][url=link]Theme II[/url]】
[h3][color=COLOR][i]~[/i][b]"A quote from your character."[/b][i]~[/i][/color][/h3][/center]
[hider=Necessary sections]Name
Nicknames
Gender
Sexuality
Alias
Age
Apparent Age
Race
Sub-Race/Lineage or Nationality/Specialty: Sub-race if Licentia; Lineage/Nationality if human; Specialty if Prae and if applicable.

Appearance: Description and/or additional pictures are welcome. Please give height and weight.

Personality

History

Belongings/Equipment
[hider][/hider]

Capabilities
[hider]Mental

Physical

Magical/Technological[/hider][/hider]

[yoshua171]

⊰ℒicentia Ҏossession & ℛeproduction⊱

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Unlike humans or Prae who only reproduce sexual pairings, Licentia can reproduce in several fashions which, while all similar, could be considered distinct enough to require individual explanation. These three methods are detailed below.

The first—and best documented—of these three is known simply as “Singular Soul Splitting(Sx3)” or “Parasitism,” and involves a single Licenti condensing vis into their soul core, gradually growing it over time, before splitting it in half. Once split, the secondary soul core is embedded, in some fashion, into a host body of another being. Over a period ranging from several years to several days depending on the given Licenti sub-race's average incubation period, this new soul core devours and converts the host body's vis into its own, sometimes killing them, while other times leaving them alive and merely feeding off them till fully developed. Should the soul core fully convert the host body's vis, and anima, into its own, it will overtake their body completely, turning it into a homogenous substance which can easily shift between energetic and physical states. At this point the young Licenti is considered a conscious being which has entered its firth Growth state. Conversely, should a Licenti not kill its host, the parasitic soul core will condense sufficient energy to create a body within itself, after which it will find a way to exit its host body—sometimes violently, and sometimes harmlessly—where it will then enter a short period wherein it exudes the stored vis and then enters its first Growth stage. This second method leaves the Licenti child much more vulnerable making it, all in all, less common.

Second among the known reproduction methods of Licentia is “Bonding,” which is carried out by two or more Licentia entering their Growth states willingly before temporarily merging their bodies and splitting their individual soul cores equally to form a composite core from the split off shards. These smaller shards merge within the protective embrace of their parent's Vis and upon fully bonding, the child canabalizes a portion of its parents' Vis, before the parents separate and both child and parents reform—often with the child taking on an often temporary Trial Stage form. This Trial stage form is typically similar to that of the parents'. In rare cases, this method results in the death or crippling of the parent Licentia, as the child becomes too strong and devours more than it ought to.

Last of the three is known as “Surrogate Birthing,” and is a particularly uncommon occurrence. This method of reproduction requires first that either a single Licentia possess a host and reproduce with a member of the host species opposite sex, or that two Licentia possess two hosts of opposite gender. This process of possession is functionally similar to the Prae death imbuing, but different in that the host's personality and Vis is completely overpowered by the intruding Licentia. Mechanically speaking, possession occurs when a Licenti willingly and temporarily enters its Growth state and becomes Vis, before being inhaled, ingested, and inserted into a host body. Once within the host, the Licentia's soul core takes residence near vital organs so that removal will likely cause severe damage to the body, simultaneously, the Licentia will spread its Vis throughout the body of the host, permeating them with its energy. This process overrides the individual's control of their body aside from subconscious activities such as breathing and digestion—though these may be overridden as well. Once full possession of the host is achieved, the involved Licentia will mate with another member of the host's species—whether possessed or not—and the resultant fetus will be imbued either with small shards of the Licentia's soul core, or the Licentia will split their core and impart the split off portion to the child. As a result of this the offspring, even if the Licenti departs the host body, will be impossible to abort via normal means, and will take on the traits of a Growth Stage Licentia, incubating in the mother's womb for a time, before being born. In rare cases this may result in a Licenti-human or Licenti-Prae hybrid, the second being less common than the first.

⊰Ҏrae ℛeproduction & ℭhildren⊱

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Much like that of humans, Prae reproduction occurs through sexual pairing between a male and female resulting in a child after an eight month pregnancy. However, unlike human children, Prae children are born with only a partial Anima, which while sufficient for survival and proper maturation, will not suffice to allow the Prae child the full extent of their abilities—specifically, a Prae child is not born with the capability to utilize their Manifest. Instead, Prae children must be taken either to an Exeo, or the God-Queen, with the latter being more common—though the former is gaining traction in recent years. Perhaps the strangest and most intriguing aspect of Prae children is the fact that while the genetic sequence of Prae differs significantly from that of humans, a Prae child who is not imbued with vis from the necessary parties is almost identical to a human aside from the typical Prae features. Just as notable is the fact that a child birthed from a pairing of two Prae in comparison to a child birthed between a Prae-human pairing are only different so long as the Prae-human offspring never receives energy from the God-Queen or her Exeo. The leading theory in regards to this lack of difference is that the imparted Vis of the God-Queen or her Exeo is so potent as to overwrite/rewrite the very genetic fabric of a Prae-human child so as to make them full Prae except in some rare cases.

⊰Ҏrae ℒife ℰxpectancy⊱

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An incredibly long lived race—though not outright immortal—a given Prae, when living in their home realm of Priscus, are known to live around 800 years with them being considered old by the age of 600. However, in Medius—likely due to the less dense vis in its atmosphere—Prae are known to age more quickly, with their average life expectancy being around 300 years.

⊰ℬridges & Ҏrae ℒaw⊱

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Bridges leading to Priscus are guarded heavily by the Prae on both ends—often with human assistance so that only authorized and 'worthy,' individuals may enter the realm. By and large Licentia are totally excluded from this as they have, for all intensive purposes, been outlawed from Priscus. No one seems to know exactly why. Notably, should a human manage to wander through an unguarded gate they will likely be apprehended by Prae on the Priscus end, and promptly sent back. However, should a human remain within Priscus for longer than thirty minutes, the individual while have their memories altered or wiped before they are sent back. Licentia on the other hand will have their memories wiped, or will be killed on sight depending on their relative power or danger rating according to Prae knowledge. Should a human not wish to return to Medius, they may stay in Priscus for the duration of their lives, but will be subject to all applicable Prae laws.

⊰Ʉnique ℳaterials⊱

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Dtsen: A rare substance found only in the depths of Torqueo's lower layers, this material is so difficult to obtain that it has become mere legend to most. It has the durability of diamond, the density of lead, but without the weight of either. Dtsen must be worked in very specific, very difficult ways that no normal artisan would know, let alone be capable of. Due to the difficulty in obtaining it and its relative rarity as a result, Dtsen artisans are fairly rare, nonetheless they do exist and they often double as some of the most skilled craftsman and enchanters, for the art of working Dtsen requires many disciplines. Furthermore, the material is more magically pliable and conductive than almost any other known material. Dtsen in its natural form, appears as an almost opaque silver crystalline structure, with a 'black glow' thrumming from within. The crystal structure of Dtsen is adaptive, making it form irregular shapes, something that is very uncharacteristic of crystalline materials. The material, when it is found at all, is found growing on or near the 'roots' of Torqueo's vis veins, or leylines, as some call them. The purer and more potent the vis vein, the more valuable and useful the Dtsen that can be harvested. While some licenti scholars, such as the eminent Edravhen, know how Dtsen grows and could likely advise others in creating it independent of true vis veins, they have always protected the knowledge fiercely...for reasons unknown.

Blackstone: Can absorb, repel, and insulate from vis. The material is similar in physical composition to granite, but when it is broken appears to have a structure like obsidian. As its name implies, it is black in coloration. Depending on how the material is worked it will either end up opaque or somewhat translucent. The material is often used for places of internment in Torqueo so as to starve licentia of vis, and make sure that any sustenance they gain is purely from a source of their warden's choosing. This material, though less common, does exist in Medius and can be found in trace amounts in Obsidian, as well as deep in the earth. Blackstone is resistant to non-vis forms of energy and vis-manifested elemental magics, but can be compromised by introducing it either to too much vis, or to incredible amounts of physical force.

When too much vis is channeled through it, or a consistent amount is channeled through it for an extensive amount of time, Blackstone will begin to breakdown. This is due to the fact that the material is a vis forged amalgamation of other materials. When exposed to more vis, the bonds created to meld the properties of its constituent elements begin to deteriorate, until the material is reduced to a fine powder.

Conduit Metal: An alloy composed of carbon, iron, and silver, this metal is an exceptional conductor of vis. It is used in the construction of many magical implements including Foci and most enchanted items. Due to the process requiring vis be infused as well as for the metals to be combined in very specific amounts, Conduit Metal is particularly expensive.

Verisium: Otherwise known as vis-infused platinum, this material is made by bonding vis to platinum at the molecular level, refining its properties. While normal platinum is an incredibly potent material, capable of dispersing magical force and energy across its surface or channeling it if applied directly, Verisium takes such a step further. Rather than disperse vis across its surface or merely channel it, Verisium amplifies any vis channeled through it and projects it invisibly around itself in a field. Any vis channeled through Verisium is enhanced dramatically in its potency and refined into a more focused, stable state. Due to the aforementioned traits the material is essentially toxic to licentia anatomy as it binds vis to itself, making it impossible for licentia to absorb or otherwise effect it through any 'normal' means. Like most difficult to make materials with incredibly useful properties, Verisium is incredibly expensive, moreso than either Vis Crystals or Conduit Metal on average.

Vis Crystals: A rare thing in Medius, vis crystals are generally not naturally occurring. These crystals are the result of vis being packed very tightly together until it crystalizes. The process of making them is difficult making them expensive. Vis crystals are used as “magical batteries,” to hold enchantments, raw vis, or to amplify magic making them supremely useful.

⊰ℳedius⊱

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Medius is not politically united, but is largely similar to our world. However, in Manifest Anima, the United Nations has considerably more power, as it possesses a council of elected officials who, should a world-threatening crisis loom, may take control of the countries of Medius so as to unite them against a common threat. This has only occurred twice so far in the history of Medius and is largely considered unprecedented. Aside from this, Medius is politically similar to Earth, with many of the same countries and nationalities existing—though more of them have risen to the status of first world countries than in our own world. While corruption does still very much exist in the governments of Medius, things such as power crises and global warming have been so reduced as to be largely inconsequential.

⊰цlna⊱

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Summary Description:

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The Ulna are an offshoot of the Precursor Humans, beings who inherited their forebears’ ability to manipulate their DNA with information contained within their Anima.

The Ulna are possessed of a unique coalition of Anima and Body, which contains a mechanism that allows them to change the segments of their DNA relating to their Ostium, and to implement these changes immediately – the result of which is a combination of an extreme amount of pain and an ability to essentially mimic any vis-based ability that hits them and interacts with their vis.

Though the Ulna have a great deal of control over their internal vis, and their ostium is very flexible, the genetics of the race result in their being unable to independently utilise either of these traits to perform feats of magic – so the only way for them to learn magic is to store the knowledge in their Anima and then in their DNA.

Due to the nature of their descent from the original Precursors, the Ulna lost their ability to adequately control and moderate the information that their Anima picks up, and are only able to keep instances of mimicry for so long, dependent upon their skill and age. This can be circumvented by literally ingraining the knowledge of their Anima into sections of their DNA, which permanently alter their ostium to enable the specific technique, but as a result are impossible to remove without replacing the DNA – and due to the physical nature of the change, the body of the Ulna may take on certain physiological changes due to the imperfect process of permanent retention.

The nature of this process, however, does wear down the Anima over time. Most Ulna live to approximately 400 (with rarer cases of around 500), and while there tend to be no noticeable downsides in the first 100 years, the continuous degradation begins to manifest in the form of less control over changes, and more physical changes taking place – which only continues into old age.

Over time, as changes accumulate in the DNA and the Anima wears away, the nature of the vis that influences the Ulna becomes more and more apparent – and if adequate control is not retained then the body can become overloaded with information from the Anima, and the DNA altering mechanism becomes unbound from the sections of DNA specifically responsible for the Ostium, moving to alter the rest of their physiology with whatever it is that they come into contact with. These changes are often brutal and unpredictable, resulting in them attempting to amalgamate as much DNA as possible with their own – this results in a brutal combination of various types of DNA that do not work attempting to mix, as well as degradation of the brain and the Anima – and the Ulna is like to become a veritable monstrosity.

Contributed by: @Fallenreaper Rewritten by: @Tuujaimaa

⊰ℒesser ℱacts⊱

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>The year at start of the IC is 2053.
>Curses, while rare, do exist and are typically the result of an alteration to an individual's Anima.
>Humans may invoke their magic through hand motions, incantation (or a key word), runes, or a Focus.
>Physical and Mental maturity is not at all measured by way of time for Licentia.
>Practically all Exeo are female and should an Exeo impart their Vis/Anima to a male Prae, the individual—more often than not—must impart their Vis to a female Prae upon their death. There have been three documented exceptions and only one lives today.
>Magic is sometimes taught in Private schools in Medius, but more often in college. There are colleges entirely dedicated to the teaching and study of magic. Most schools at least teach children about Vis, the Anima, and Ostium as an expansion of the Biological sciences.
>Having been known to exist dating back to prehistoric cave drawings, Bridges which link the realms are correctly thought to be the reason for many myths—especially human ones.
>A Prae of decent skill and power is capable of remaining in their manifest for roughly two hours before needing to rest provided they do not use large amounts of vis within a short period of time.
>Should a Prae utilize a significant amount of vis whilst within their Manifest, it tends to last only for twenty or so minutes.
>If a Prae wishes to remain in their Manifest for longer than 2 hours, all they need do is not expend energy. As such they will only tire as much as they would from physical exercise, based on how they use their vis appendages during.

⊰ℒicentia ℒife ℭycle⊱

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First and foremost, it should be known that Licentia life expectancy is around 200-300 years even considering their predatory nature. Their kind consider an individual who has reached 400-600 years of age to have lived a full life, though they can potentially live much much longer. Should a Licentia reach the Eximius stage their life expectancy increases drastically, generally rising into the thousand range, though an individual who is merely 1000 or so would not be considered to be particularly old for an Eximius.

Beyond these facts one should note that there is an intrinsic difference in Anima composition between a Licentia's three known stages. Typically the Anima of Growth-stage Licentia is much less dense than that of a Trial stage, while an Eximius stage Licentia has a soul core, or soul cores, that have typically in some way split around its body. Conversely their soul core is exceedingly dense thus increasing the amount of vis regenerated by the Licentia in question.

⊰ℵotable Ѻrganizations⊱

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The Draconai Intoners

T h e D r a c o n a i I n t o n e r s

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Background

The Draconai Intoners began as a small grouping of what humans would label Gypsy Prae thousands of years prior to the present day. Though they were not all related, this clan came together due to their sharing of beliefs. The general mantra was that in order to reach a state of complete euphoric peace, a separation from society was necessary before venturing out into the world and assimilating knowledge and experience. Simply put, the Intoners believed that they had to segregate themselves from their fellow Prae and wander the worlds, searching for personal understanding in order to reach a prophetic state of peace of the mind, body, and Anima. As the caravan wandered Priscus, the Intoners began developing their telepathic abilities. It started with communicating with one another through telepathy alone, but soon began to expand into something greater and much more specific. With time, the nature of the isolated clan became such that offspring were being born with the unique abilities of their ancestors and an entirely new subspecies was created.

In the years following their beginnings, the Draconai Intoners morphed into more of a reclusive sort of cult rather than a caravan of like-minded Prae. A code of laws was added to accompany the status change and rumors of their wanderings and sightings began to spread amongst all races as they expanded into Medius and even Torqueo. Their mission, still one of achieving a prophetic peace, had now also become to teach others to do the same - specifically, the Licentia. After witnessing the violence of Medius and Torqueo, the Intoners took it upon themselves to become non-combative prophets and teachers of the way of pure peace. Those who were considered the most enlightened amongst the group became leaders of the movement though they did not rule over others; they measured the enlightenment of prospective Intoners and guided the younger on the path of righteousness.

When the Prae invaded Medius and took over, the Intoners found themselves firmly against the action. Though they do not act against their own kind, they do not look favorably upon those who instigate and forcibly subjugate others. While the Licenti and humanity are indeed species who look to violence above all else, the Prae occupation was an example of the wrong way to respond. Thus, the Intoners spread themselves amongst the realms and sent a special envoy to the center of the occupation, Ominar, in order to bring their teachings and remind their brethren of how a Prae should behave and what one should strive for.

Abilities

The Intoners derived their name from the abilities they exhibit. Draconai, translated to Dragon, refers to the fact that some of their abilities correspond to the attributes of the mythical creatures spoken of in stories or legends. Intoner refers to what is probably the main ability of the species and the one they are most famous for. Draconai Intoners are born with their abilities, but still must be taught by the older members to use them effectively. Every individual possesses the exact same ability set which is another reason why the group came together easily during their beginnings. This abnormal sort of manifestation is due to the fact that, unlike other Prae, the Anima of an Intoner can not grow more dense or larger than it already is even if other Prae die and impart their energy into one. This hinders the development of new abilities and the growth of the ones they already possess though the Intoners believe this is because if their powers were to grow, they would become far too strong and inevitably begin seeing corrupt members diverge from the path and pursue their own machinations. Also due to the unique biological makeup of their Vis and stagnant Anima, Draconai Intoner abilities cannot be copied, absorbed, or replicated by any other race or species. One must simply be born into the species in order to receive their abilities.

The Voice Of The Gods

Within their beliefs, the Draconai Intoners worship the Dragons of ancient lore. They believe that the beasts should be exalted over all and used their massive presence to issue commands to others. Eventually, the Intoners developed what would become their most famous ability though it is also one they teach their young must only be used with the right discretion.

The Voice Of The Gods allows the speaker - a Draconai Intoner, specifically - to force others to follow their spoken commands. Initiated with the phrase "Heed my words", the command comes after must be followed by the targeted individual. Though this is the broad and simple explanation, the ability itself works in a more complex manner. The power stems from a combination of telepathic prowess and Vis manipulation - in short, the Voice of the Gods is very advanced and unique form of mind control. When an Intoner utters the initiation phrase, they subconsciously begin to assume temporary control of the target's mind, manipulating the target's own Vis by linking it with theirs - a process known as tainting. Once a command is issued, the link causes the "tainted" Vis within the target to infect their brain and motivate the target to freely wish to follow said command and said command alone. Due to this process however, there a certain limitations one must take into account.

First, an Intoner's command following the initiation phrase must equate to three words or less. Longer sentences and whole paragraphs can cause the linking of Vis within the target to overwhelm itself and break, loosening the temporary control of the speaker. Since the Intoners are Prae however, a manifested state will increase the strength of the link and increase the limit to six words or less due to the influx of power available in manifestation.

Second, an Intoner cannot issue a command which results in the death of a target. If such a command is issued, it could result in a breaking of the link and the target regaining full sensory control once more.

Finally, due to how the ability functions, the strongest of telepathic minds are able to somewhat fight off the urge to follow an issued command. Telepaths of an extreme skill level are able to partially block the tainting of Vis and thus severely weaken the urge that usually compels one to follow an issued command. This is usually only seen when this ability is used against other Prae, but the Intoners do not believe in using this ability against the Prae as they believe they are all brethren. This ability is strongest when used against Humans, Licentia, and Hybrids.

Drake-Scale

Though the Intoners are non-combative by nature, they developed a defensive ability that would allow them endure even in the face of malice. The Drake-Scale manifests as colored scales on the skin of an Intoner. The colors vary between Intoner, but the usage remains the same. The scales are comprised of the solidification of densely packed Vis which hardens to an extreme degree and then settles as an added invisible layer of protection over the formed scales themselves. The scales act as an armor and are able to withstand both physical and magical attacks to varying degrees.

Drake-Scale can be be activated on certain parts of the body, but can only overtake the entire body when in a manifested state. In lieu of true offensive abilities of supernatural origin, the Drake-Scale can help an Intoner survive scenarios in which they would otherwise be killed.

Trial By Fire

The Trial By Fire is a moniker for an Intoner's unique healing and purification ability. When an Intoner is mortally wounded, poisoned, or in danger of being telepathically controlled, they can use supernatural flames to cleanse themselves. The flames themselves are comprised of Vis and stem from within the stagnant Anima. The flames envelope the Intoner in a cocoon of flame and slowly "burn" away any degrading effects on the body, slowly mend the body back to full healing, "burn" the energy being used to try and telepathically take control of their minds, or cleanse corrupted Vis within their own selves. The flames cannot be used in an offensive manner whatsoever and they also cannot be used on another being lest that being be burned to death.

The Trial By Fire also acts as a sort of safety mechanism. Should a powerful telepath take control of a Draconai Intoner and force them to use the Voice of the Gods, the Trial By Fire will activate involuntarily and "burn" away the energy being used to assume control before any commands are issued. This has kept the Intoner population from being used by others to achieve chaotic or otherwise undesirable goals.

Martial Ability

The Intoner's final ability is simply their physical prowess. To make up for the lack of offensive abilities using energy sources, the Intoners train their own to be formidable physical combatants. The reason for this is that though they believe in spreading their teachings of reaching a state of pure peace, and descending from the very intelligent Prae species, they also realize that the world is full of dangers and one must also live long enough to spread the teachings. The combat of an Intoner is purely hand-to-hand and heavily discourages the use of physical weaponry of any kind. For an Intoner, combat is meant to be purely defensive and for survival rather than a show of strength or dominance over another. Their flow of combat specializes in speed, agility, and reversal techniques.

Manifestation & Conclusion

Draconai Intoners sprout the wings of a Dragon in their manifested state. This allows them the ability glide over short distances, but not outright fly. This also increases their magical affinity and strengthens their natural resistance against telepathic control. In a manifested state, Drake-Scale can overtake the entire body and allow an Intoner to endure heavy amounts of physical and magical damage. The Trial By Fire can also resurrect an Intoner that is killed in their manifested state exactly one time within the span of their life - this does not carry over to their life after resurrection.

The Draconai Intoners are a species whose sole purpose in life is to spread the teaching of peace and reaching a state of pure peace between the mind, body, and Anima. Their abilities are tailored towards protecting themselves in a harsh world where much more powerful beings could take advantage of or otherwise kill them with no cause or reason. Though they are trained in a form of martial combat, an Intoner that kills - ever - is blacklisted from the movement and hunted by their fellow Intoners until they are captured and brought back to face punishment from elders. Once their training is complete and they are dispersed to a location to begin spreading the teachings, an Intoner may partake in whatever activities they choose. In effect, they are allowed to have some sort of life of normalcy as long as their actions don't violate the ethics taught to them.

~Credit goes to @Icmasticc

TIAMAT

T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N F O R M A G I C A L A D V A N C E M E N T A N D T R A I N I N G

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T I A M A T

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Purpose & True Nature

The Mission Statement of TIAMAT is to advance, spread, and police magic across the globe in the interest of bettering the lives of all humanity. However, their true nature is something else entirely, instead tying into two ancient organizations that an outsider looking in might even call cults. These two organizations, known as the Order of Athriohm and Diffugium each exist for one reason: To contain, in the case of the Order, and to spread, in the case of Diffugium, the most intrinsic principles of magic to humanity. While TIAMAT does serve a vital function in today's society, facilitating the education of new generations of mages as well as tackling greater magical threats and advancing magical research the organization, at its core, is nothing more than a front for the aforementioned. Hopefully it doesn't collapse under the weight of its founders' history.

Background

While none know it, TIAMAT has its origins slated in a much older and more ancient organization, one that is not only hidden from the public eye, but is not even a myth, having erased itself even from the history books. This secret society, known as the Order of Athriohm, dates back to a time prior to even Sumer, the first human civilization with documented written language. This Order has always possessed one purpose, and that is to safeguard humanity's ultimate strength, something they call the Art and the leading mage scholars of our age know as Unified Magic Theory, something which they have yet to verify the existence of. Yet, to the Order this is very much a reality, and its origin is simple. As the lore goes, a man known only as Athriohm, discovered not just magic, but a magic executed through the utilization of the patterns which govern existence, patterns even more intrinsic than those found in quantum physics. However, this knowledge was not passed down, though it was written...and hidden, presumably, by Athriohm himself. Only later in the time of King Arthur did Merlin and the dread witch, Morgana le Fay discover the texts. It was then that a fracture occurred and so the Order was formed from Merlin's disciples, whereas Morgana founded an organization known as Diffugium. Since their founding these two organizations have been locked in an unseen war, one that, should either win, will shape the future of mankind for Diffugium has always wished to share the Art with man, while the Order has deemed humanity too young a species to wield such a powerful magic.

Today this war is waged in the form of TIAMAT, which was founded in 1850, as it predated the Magical Registry Act by 12 years. This organization started small, but as magic spread within the ensuing years and the world adopted laws to deal with its rise to prominence, TIAMAT too was given purpose, rising to the occasion and becoming first the leading organization in Europe for the advancement of magical theory and practice, before spreading to Asia, Australia, and finally in 1868, to the Americas. Since then TIAMAT has grown into the most influential international organization associated with the betterment and spread of magic, and yet that ancient war is still wielded within its ranks as members of the Art and of Diffugium either reveal the Art, or cover it up, continuing the deadlock that has been ongoing for centuries. Perhaps one day one side will triumph. Perhaps.

Power Structure

Lead by a joint council, TIAMAT possesses two empty positions at the top of its heirarchy, which exist only for states of emergency and are decided upon by the councils each electing one of the other council's members. Each council is made up of one-hundred members that cycle in and out of service depending on the occasion. These councilors hail from all around the world, with a focus on skill and knowledge in magic, administration, global, and local politics they are chosen from any number of countries, developing and otherwise. Often is it that these councilors are trained from a young age, though it is just as often that they are already elderly, as there is no true age requirement.

Below the joint council are the various districts, with a single district per government, which are further split into Local Offices, one per state, major city, greater area, or province. All District Chiefs take orders from the Joint Council, but also act to keep the standards for magical learning up to par in their given domain. Additionally, they watch over the legislative process to ensure that their region is policing magic as fairly as possible. These District Chiefs have a measure of political clout in their given area and are capable of vetoing or vetting laws or policies to an extent making them capable of being involved in the political processes of their given region.

Yet still below the District Chiefs are the lowest tier in the hierarchy of TIAMAT, known as Magistrates, these positions are typically held by knowledgeable mages. These Magistrates in turn lead a small army of magi and anti-mage forces that they can deploy to handle more dangerous magical disputes or to assist local law enforcement in dealing with threats arcane. Beyond this they act as the eyes, ears, and hands of their betters.

IHO

The International Hunters' Organization

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The Tale of Founding

An organization whose origins date back to the beginning of the middle ages, the International Hunters' Organization, referred to as IHO from here forwards, came to be when a band of mercenaries decided to organize themselves in 421 AD, near the beginning of the middle ages. Lead by a man named Averey Sylverward who did so in response to a surge of what was then called 'demon' activity. Capitalizing on this surge, he hired out the services of his mercenaries to anyone who required a monster slain. As time passed they gained notoriety and grew in size, eventually forgoing all involvement with the affairs of war. Over the next one hundred years the “Warding Knights,” as they came to be called, became specialized as they gained experience hunting beasts of various caliber going from what were once normal mercenaries, to dedicated and rather famous monster hunters.

They were always led by a descendant of Averey and they sought to protect whomever asked, regardless of their blood, so long as they were paid. As they began to assist more and more countries with their supernatural troubles, the Knights became rather infamous in medieval Europe until they were wide spread enough to have bases in multiple regions, as well as funding for their exploits. All in all, things were going well for the Warding Knights, that was of course until the witch hunts began, targeting even the prestigious Knights despite their fealty to the people and tendency to slay what mankind then knew as 'demons' and beasts of depravity. So it was that the fall of the Knights began, as they too turned on one another, fighting in what amounted to religious wars for the first time in hundreds of years. Brother turned on brother, sister on sister, mother on child as the great order fought on multiple sides, some taking the side of the church so as to survive, while others rejected their teachings.

By the end of the 12th century the prestige of the Knights was all but forgotten. With their numbers reduced to but a fourth of what they had been just fifty years before, most went into hiding or pledged their service to the church. Things stayed this way for over one hundred years, until a spike in supernatural occurrences again took hold of the land. 'Demons' roamed the earth almost in earnest, and the people were cowed by religious superstition and fear.

It was at this time that the last living descendant of Averey, a certain Garrick Sylvard emerged from the shadows, bringing with him those few who had sworn themselves to his family since the founding days of the Knights. Across Europe they traveled, laying waste to any nefarious beast they came upon even while the people spurned them and the church hunted them down with those that had descended from their brothers. Still, even hunted, Garrick's following grew rapidly as others came out of hiding to fight for their families and for their friends against the rising tide of 'demonkind' and their monstrous servants.

As they rose, despite the church's efforts to constantly denounce them, a new name was bestowed upon them, and so it was that the term 'Hunter' was born in its present day use. Time went on and Garrick's Hunters fought to protect their own, eventually finding solid backing in the nobility thus beginning the process of unseating the church from its position of power.

This time, the Hunters rose above their predecessors, taking boats to other countries where they would come to establish themselves as well. Then in 1436 AD at what seemed the peak of their growth when they were firmly established, two of the humanity's great mysteries were solved as the 'angels' and 'demons' of religious text revealed themselves to the world and offered—rather than a holy war—a helping hand.

Over the next couple hundred years what had been Garrick's Hunters gradually grew and was eventually officially turned into what is today known as IHO, by a man named Draestn Katela. While his family no longer runs the organization and its leadership has long since been shrouded in mystery, the International Hunters' Organization has become one of the modern pillars of civilization, protecting the citizens of Medius from the things that go bump in the night.

Let's hope they continue to do so.

The Creed

While most organizations run themselves through the laws of the countries they exist in and a set of internal rules and regulations, IHO gives the world the appearance of doing these things, while in actuality only adhering to what its members call 'the Creed.' While acting similar to a set of rules, the Creed is effectively a series of oaths and pledges that a Hunter swears to upon their entrance into the organization. The most notable aspect of this Creed is perhaps that it is not absolute, allowing a measure of wiggle room for the organization's many members.

Below is written the Creed in its original form:

“Hold fast against the raging tide,
The tide of blood shall wane in time,
When wane it does, their time will come,
Let that be the night that our vengeance is done,
Hold fast and steel your minds,
For we are the bastion against dark times,
Be it demon, beast, angel or man, let it be ours who reclaim or protect the land.
Sworn to our brothers and sisters are we,
Never back down, and never let the Enemy see the weakness of ye,
Through turmoil and the blood moon's rising,
We will stand, steadfast, bulwark to their violent writhing,

Hold fast shall I to brothers and sisters both,
For tonight I swear before Him a bloodoath,
My hand shall never strike mine kin,
My blade, or tongue, shall never turn against him,
If ever I slay my siblings grim,
Let the judgment day come upon me,

Even apart, our souls are joined,
Even apart are bodies fight as one,
We are the shadow hidden light,
We are the culling knife,
If my arms fail me and I should fall,
Let my kin yet stand tall,
Have my arms, my vis, my flesh,
And let them serve to fight again in my stead.

Yet, while I know we are strong,
Know that even we can only fight for so long.
So it is that should we fail,
That I hope others will find hope and prevail.
As without guardian our Will,
Cannot hold this Enemy,
Still I hope he sleeps,
Still we hope he remains below.
So that the land can live and never know.”

Draestn Katela

While the last stanza is seldom spoken and the entirety of the Creed remains hidden from outsiders, the whole of it boils down to a number of simple rules which are as follows.

• Do not slay other hunters, for doing so will more often than not make you become the hunted.
• Do not intentionally slay innocents uninvolved in ones contract(s).
• Do not speak of IHO's leadership or reveal its secrets.
• Avoid needless collateral in general.
• Do not hold political station.
• Remain loyal.

Prestige and A Hunter's Career

Risk, a Hunter's entire career from the moment they join the organization to the moment they retire—provided they make it that far—is defined by this concept. Great risk for great rewards. Great power and for most reasonably mature Hunters, great responsibility. After all, it is said—first and foremost—that a Hunter's duty is, after themselves, to the people. Namely to make sure they are defended against those heinous beings who prey upon them be it from the shadows or in plain sight. While some Hunters may be assassins or mercenaries, even they often hold in their hearts, the faces of those they wish to protect.

It is said that those without kin do not survive long in the business, for without things to care for and protect, one often loses the drive to protect oneself.

Entrance

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Joining the Hunter's Organization is in actuality a rather simple process with a minimal amount of paperwork. Essentially an individual locates one of their establishments—which can be found practically anywhere around the world, including even the smallest most dilapidated villages. Then it simply a questionnaire/short test, a submission of one's legal information, and then a brief 10-20 minute wait while the information is processed and looked over by operators in HQ. Once accepted, a Hunter is given either a probationary or official Hunter's License based on their skillset, background check, and any existing past exploits. Most Hunters are classified as “C class,” upon finishing what amounts to their registration.

The Hunter's License

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As mentioned above there are at least two common forms of Hunter License, known as the Probationary and Official Hunters Licenses these two differ in the following ways, which are laid out below.

Probationary Hunter's License: A license given to Hunter Entrants who have no prior exploits and a negligible amount of experience doing the sort of work that Hunters specialize in. Additionally, any minor is more likely to receive a probationary license than they are to receive an official one. If a minor is below the age of 16, but above the age of 10 they may receive a Probationary license so long as their guardian approves. This license gives a Hunter access to the same resources as an Official License would—within reason—but limits the Hunter to contracts of C class and below. A Hunter may, after two weeks, apply for an Official License, but they will only be accepted if the organizations deems their skillset, skill level, and/or accomplishments deserving of such. It should be noted that a Probationary License does not afford a Hunter the right to kill, but does protect them from most other laws.

Official Hunter's License: The form of identification given to most Hunters, this license affords Hunters nigh unrestricted access to the entire Hunter database as well as the resources and a measure of influence that the organization can bring to bear. Hunters are given this license if they have either notable experience, prior exploits, or have proven themselves that they are worthy of it through the completion of contracts or assistance in emergency situations. Additionally and unlike the Probationary Hunter's License, this license is effectively a license to kill so long as it is in the interest of completing a contract and/or within reason. Individuals below the age of 16 may not receive an Official Hunter's License and those below the legal age in their country of residence and/or origin are more likely to receive a Probationary license—though there are the occasional exceptions.

Contracts and Prestige

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In short, Hunters and the Contracts they take or ranked by a similar system, which they refer to as the Class Rating System(CRS). This system, for Contracts, gives a Hunter a basic idea of the difficulty, complexity, and necessary level of skill involved in a given job; whereas for Hunters the CRS gives a general idea of the combat proficiency, expertise, experience, and number of jobs completed as well as their notoriety in general.

*It should be noted that the higher the class of a Hunter, the more they are likely to be paid for any given contract. Meaning that a Hunter of higher rank is likely to get paid far more for the same contract than a lower ranked Hunter.

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Class	Hunter	Contract
F	N/A.	A rating only given to contracts, the 'F' designation is typically used to describe a job of minimal difficulty. Generally, contracts of this nature are exceptionally minor, including investigations of minor disturbances, or body guard duty that has the lowest chance of anything happening. Practically all F class jobs do not offer pay, and those that do offer minimal pay.
E	The lowest rating that can be assigned to a Hunter, this designation is given to those with essentially no exceptional skills or abilities. Individuals of this rating typically posses very weak, or no magic at all, with the latter being more common. Additionally, these individuals typically have no martial experience or significant skill in the use of firearms. The lowest common denominator, Hunters of this rating are not common in the least and typically include individuals of average human physicality, possessing no magic, and negligible skills of any kind.	Contracts of this rating tend to be minor low impact, low threat reconnaisance—such as scouting out a non-threatening area for a future operation. Occasionally paranoid people with far too much money will hire a hunter as a bodyguard. Such a contract—provided their paranoia is unlikely to be justified—would be a good example of your typical contract of this rating. Pay for these jobs is typically below $100-250.
D	Hunters of this designation, while typically unknown, have a measure of experience and expertise—most likely in one rather limited field. These individuals are often physically fit and/or somewhat skilled with magic. It is not uncommon to see individuals with some small measure of experience with firearms. However, it is never all of the above.	Minor Contracts that involve a small amount of expertise, typically only in one area. These contracts, if they involve any danger, are typically very easily handled even by hunters of this same designation. Possible contracts include scoping out an area with a low threat level, such as a ghetto or slum; a stake out; or dealing with a very minor creature of licentia barely capable of defending itself or equivalent to a moderately sized wild animal such as a crocodile or cougar. Most contracts of this rating stay within a $300-700 range when it comes to pay.
C	The average class rating of most Hunters in IHO and the average rating of most new entrants, this designation typically describes individuals with at least enough combat experience to hold their own against a novice mage, average martial artist, or in a gunfight involving less than 4 people. These Hunters typically either have minor magics, considerable weapons technology, or an enhanced physical form. Conversely they may dabble in all of the above, but only minorly. Those of the C class are most often the individuals being tasked with contracts, but are not individually that famous with some exceptions due to the sheer number of them.	The second most common sort rating for contracts, these often include beings with some measure of magical ability and who normal civilians or those below this rank would be incapable of dealing with. Such contracts often involve scoping out moderately dangerous locations, such as small licenti or monster nests or perhaps radioactive zones. They include semi-rare item acquisition, escort missions, and a few body guard contracts here and there for those who are themselves the targets of violence or dangerous trickery. Jobs of this rating often pay $800-1700 on average.
B	The third most common class of Hunter, those of this designation are experienced in two of the three ways of combat—Martial, Magical, and Technological—but have not mastered them fully. They are often experts in their field of choice and are sent out to deal with monster infestations, dangerous artifacts, and to Hunt down those that prey on the innocent and/or unwary. Individuals of this rating are often somewhat well known in the regions they frequent most, but are more often the sort who have names or titles that you do not remember, despite you knowing who someone is talking about.	The most common contract rating, such contracts often include the hunting of more dangerous licentia and the rare magical beast. Individuals can be expected to enter zones containing multiple lesser hostile entities, animals, or magical phenomena. They can be expected to infiltrate locations of medium security such as prisons, and they are sometimes tasked to search for certain classes of magical artifacts which are not rare, but not common either. Contracts of this class, on average, pay $3500.
A	Containing the best of the best, most Hunters do not progress past this rating, yet despite this it is the second most common class. These individuals are drastically more experienced, infamous, and powerful than those of B class. They are capable of combating multiple experienced magi, or a single grandmaster mage. They are martially adept or highly trained with firearms and/or other magical weaponry. These individuals are typically very knowledgeable and they are common knowledge in most parts of the world, you probably know their titles, if not their names. These individuals are exceptional.	Contracts of this class are difficult and exceptionally dangerous. Only individuals of a high caliber, meaning some B class Hunters, and most A class, are allowed to take them. These involve rare artifacts capable of causing severe damage to an entire region, beings capable of devastating towns or cities—if given time or left to their own devices. It even includes missions that would take a Hunter outside of Medius though these are less common. These contracts often pay above $15000+
S	Where A class Hunters are infamous in their own right, it is those of S rank and beyond that truly everyone has heard of. When their names come up people pay attention, politicians make calls, and people make their jobs as easy as possible. These are people a cut above the rest. They are those who have been recognized by those of the SS class, who themselves were chosen by IHO's mysterious and enigmatic leader. Individuals of this rating are capable of handling three or four grandmaster magi, they are people with training in all three forms of combat, and they are those with access to a greater pool of resources than every hunter beneath them. These hunters, in most cases, have worked for the organization for over 30 years and, as proof of their dedication, are awarded this rank, which affords them access to the usually restricted second and third floors of IHO Regional Headquarters. There are less than 12 individuals of this rank at this time.	While no contract designations exist beyond S class, contracts of this rank are essentially shared among the top three ranks of IHO, though some A rank individuals, or groups of A class Hunters, may be assigned contracts of this difficulty level. In essence, S class contracts involve threats that have the potential to do meaningful damage to cities or large towns or anything that goes beyond such a level. An individual who submits a S class contract may—through the inclusion of certain details—request that a Hunter of S class rating or above take the job rather than someone else. Additionally, jobs of this threat level typically pay around 1.5 million or more depending on the Hunter(s) who take it and the resulting difficulty of the assigned tasks. More often than not, S class contracts are given to IHO by large businesses, organizations, or governments—though occasionally the exorbitantly rich.
SS	Individuals capable of almost unimaginable feats, Hunters of this class are chosen by the leader of IHO himself and are very few in number. In fact, it is said that there are less than 10 at current time. The identity of these Hunters is typically unknown, though their aliases are known worldwide by practically anyone who matters—and many on the lower rungs of society as well due to the magnitude of their work. Should one of these illusive individuals be assigned to a contract, you better hope that it wasn't to deal with you.	See S Class.
SSS	Individuals who have risen through the ranks and reached the highest position in IHO's ranks, these Hunters are almost never seen active on contracts out in the world. Their aliases or names—to those few who might know them—elicit shivers and despite them not being recognized by their appearance or the like by the common folk, these are the sort of people that bedtime stories are told about—not that anyone knows those stories are about them. These individuals take their orders directly from IHO's elusive leader, and it is said that the leader of IHO is among their very small number. After all, there are only four people of this rank...or at least only four who are part of the organization.	See S Class.

Discharge, Defection and Retirement

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Due to the dangers of serving as a Hunter, any individual of any class is automatically enrolled in a retirement plan of sorts, mostly using a small measure of IHO's private funds to start an account for their members. This allows any Hunter, after serving for at least five to ten years, to live somewhat comfortable lives after their stressful time as Hunters of the organization. However, it should be noted that the higher the Hunter's class when they retire and/or the longer they remain active, the more luxurious their retirement tends to be. Additionally, Hunters may retire at any time after their first five to ten years, regardless of the laws of the country they decide to live in. Hunters are also afforded benefits for more or less the same reasons.

Beyond this there are only two other ways to leave the organization and they are known as Defection and Discharge. To be Discharged is to commit an offense to the Creed sufficient enough to revoke your license—either for a time or permanently—but not so severe as to require your incarceration. This often includes abuse of hunter privileges, resources, or rights in some way or the partial breaking of the Creed. Defection on the other hand is a far more serious offense and typically occurs when a Hunter makes the intentional decision to break the Creed, rendering them outlaws and criminals on the spot. These individuals may be hunted and captured, or outright killed with impunity. After all, one does not simply betray one's family and expect to walk away unscathed.

Beyond this it should be noted that even should a Hunter die on duty or turn against the organization, their families—should they have any—will be taken care of in their absence as IHO takes care of their own.

Purpose, Influence, and Political Standing

As may have been fairly clear, the International Hunter's Organization has a worldwide presence and is incredibly well integrated with the societies of almost every country on the planet. They are almost universally accepted as the best at what they do and that is to say protect the innocent, slay the deserving, and succeed at almost any task given to them. While the record of their individual Hunters are not flawless, theirs is and they have been monumentally useful in a number of global crises in the past not to mention having stopped their fair share from ever having happened—often without the knowledge of the public. As such, the words of higher class Hunters are more likely to be heeded than those of a politician in almost any manner. Furthermore, when IHO decides to throw its weight around, the world moves. Yet, one might be asking, how have they not become corrupted by such a level of global influence?

Well, I'd say, because when you serve everyone's interests to some degree and also protect the world from a threat long forgotten...well, it makes the minor struggles sort of...fall away, and the power worth it if only to keep everyone safe so that no one will ever have to fight what dwells under their watchful eyes again.

[yoshua171]

⊰ℒ icentia⊱

Licentia – A History

Diversity, an ideal that has defined the licentia for much of their existence as a species, it is still not one that has always existed, as the annals hidden deep in Edravhen's Archives tells of a very different origin. It tells of two races of licentia whose names have been forgotten, or erased. Now known only as the precursors by those few scholars and historians among their kind, these two species were different from their descendants, they were united. While the licentia of today and even thousands of years hence, are a group of disparate beings, forming factions that often war amongst one another, with no real stability or unification to be found throughout their species as a whole their ancestors were different. The Precursors were two species, each different from the other, but whom nonetheless acted almost as a single governing body, warring and creating conflict only for the purpose of their development, rather than out of any real joy in the act.

However, there came a time where they felt the world wearing on them and knew it was time for them to pass on the torch, or at least to try and make something...better. So began the great task, given to them by the Will, the mysterious and powerful guiding force that, even to this day, acts as the force which moves the licentia forwards—unbeknownst to them. By the power of the Will, the Precursors designed and then birthed their first true offspring, who were known as the TRISTARI. These children were magically adept, and their creators taught them the ways that they follow to this day, they taught them to adhere to and spread the Will where they could; the taught them to gather knowledge and catalogue it, and most importantly, they taught them to utilize their natural talents. So was born the magical masters among the licentia. The TRISTARI rose in prominence, bringing wealth, happiness, and great progress to their kind's civilization...but as time passed something came to the attention of the Precursors. Their bodies had begun to shrivel and weaken, and each child they birthed was weaker than the last.

Out of fear and in their wisdom and newly elevated state, the Precursors bore a new species, and named them the Nightwalkers. In them they instilled the powers of their body, and the ideology of chaos, driving them to spread the Will through it and to make certain that licentia of the future never lost sight of their physical vessels.

The species succeeded and in their success they brought great health and evolution to their kind, driving the licentia further upwards. The sciences of the physical world began to reveal themselves to their kind, and merged with the magical knowledge of the TRISTARI it allowed them, for the first time, to erect cities and nations that spanned entire levels of Torqueo. Yet, it was not to last as the nations became divided, with the ideologies of the two child species clashing, it brought their kind into a war that seemed never to end.

At first nothing seemed amiss as the Precursors watched their children with smiles, pleased that the conflict bred stronger licentia, that was...until they noticed that less of their kind were born, or survived to adulthood as the wars raged on. A noticeable strain was being put on their species and the Precursors took it upon themselves to fix it. Spurred on by this knowledge and a vision from one of their elders, telling of a threat that would wipe them out in earnest, the Precursor races looked to one another and this time, instead of each of their kind birthing a species, they merged and turned themselves from two races...into one and from this species were born the Ahldreian.

They were unlike their siblings, bearing not the intent to spread the Will, to ensure development, or to incite the gathering of knowledge and the advancement of culture. Instead, the Ahldreian harnessed the Will and the power of their tremendous minds, calling upon the very fabric of their world they emerged from the shadows, appearing exactly when and where they were needed.

In a single century, which was no time at all for their kind, the wars that had lasted for thousands of years, came to a swift and decisive end. There were no winners and no losers, there were only licentia, and they had been united under the banner of the Ahldreian and their sibling species. While the three sibling races did not like one another, it was their purpose—imparted to them by their creators—to ensure the survival and continued development of their kind, and so they did their duty.

Again licentian civilization entered a golden age, this time one far more pronounced than the last two. Cities and countries were founded, trade abounded, and while wars were fought, they were brief and decisive, driving their evolution ever forwards and stimulating their minds. This lasted for three thousand years before tragedy struck, a tragedy which the licentia of today have all but forgotten.

Millions of their kind were devoured and while the licentia tried to stop it, they could do nothing against the being that had once been kin. The ascended TRISTARI wrecked havoc among their people, devouring thousands of its own kind, the Nightwalkers, and most of all the Ahldreian before it turned its attention to other realms. Licentian society was left in shambles and a distrust had been driven into their species as a whole. A distrust of one another.

They split into smaller countries and factions, fighting over land, resources, and even simply due to differences in ideology. The three guardian species that the now largely extinct Precursors had birthed watched in abject horror, their numbers too few to do anything, as the unity their kind had once had...dissolved. Hit most hard were the Ahldreian, the very species that would best be able to avert the disaster.

Instead, unable to affect change as they typically would, the Ahldreian secluded themselves, hiding and spreading out so that what had crippled their population before could not happen again. They bid their siblings stay in contact, but withdraw from leadership and while they did not like it, they acquiesced. For millenia this has continued, though as time went on the TRISTARI, now known as the Hystal, as well as the Nightwalkers, began reintegrating themselves into Licentia society. This has continued till the present, with the Ahldreian remaining largely in seclusion, only gracing their peers in times of great crisis while they fill their ranks once more. So brings us to the current state of affairs, where Nightwalkers have not ruled a true empire for thousands of years, the TRISTARI have hidden their true name and acted only subtly, and the Ahldreian have all but obscured their true nature from the rest of their kind. It is a dire state that their kind are in indeed, and yet...few licentia know it. Change must come soon, for if it does not...surely their kind are doomed.

After all, what threatened them once still lives...and it cannot sleep forever.

Sub-species

_____________Nightwalkers_____________

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_{Art by ChrisCold}

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Physiology

One of the elder sub-species of Licentia, Nightwalkers are often beings of manipulation and deceit, tending to be tricksters of a sort. Their kind idealizing cunning and intellect, Nightwalkers are well known for their ability to enchant others with their charm, or wrap them around their metaphorical finger with their tact and wit. So focused on manipulation, cunning, and awareness are they, that these Licentia have developed a physiology to match their nature.

Notable first and foremost is their appearance, which when not shifted to their will, is that of a viscous black vis, similar in appearance to thick smoke or dark shadows; this form often broken by glowing eyes of varied coloration—though with no pupils. This amorphous form is one they have distinct control over, allowing them to shift it into a variety of shapes, alter its texture, smell, and even taste. In this it is revealed that they are adept shapeshifters, capable of taking on almost any form provided they have the necessary vis to fuel the transformation. Unlike many Licentia shapeshifters, though more similar to licentia of the growth stage in this, Nightwalkers can actually do more than take on the mere appearance of something. In fact, so adept in their transformative abilities are they that they can create entire biological systems including organs and otherwise viscera to make their forms as realistic as possible. However, while a Nightwalker can suppress its true Licentian nature and even take in the vis of other beings to mimic them, they can never entirely hide their true nature.

Notable too are the soul cores that dwell within a Nightwalker's form, as these are its only true vital points. These cores, typically numbering anywhere between three and nine, can be moved around the Nightwalker's body, and often take on the same color as the rest of them, disguising themselves with the rest of their current form so as to not be made easy targets. Nonetheless, these cores always remain solid no matter the nightwalker's form. Additionally, nightwalkers, even when in a more ethereal state, are known to be damaged by magics centering around purification and/or light. As to more physical means of damaging their ilk, there comes to mind vis-infused platinum, which can harm the beings as a normal weapon harms a human—doing damage that cannot be immediately repaired even if the Licentia takes on a new form. Beyond this, there are various sorts of magic that deal in putting vis into stasis or dispersing it. These magics, when used against a nightwalker, are quite effective, forcing them either to maintain whatever form they had taken until the restrictions are removed, or forcing them into their truest shape.

Abilities

Aside from their inherent talent for shapeshifting, nightwalkers possess several other rather notable skills, the most universal of those being their shadow magic. While there are mages of note who manipulate shadows, nightwalkers are surely the most prolific. Due to their bodies being composed in part of the very essence of shadows, these licentia have developed the ability to both possess and manipulate shadows, which has allowed them a variety of abilities. First it allows any nightwalker to make shadows a physical construct, allowing them to take hold of any nearby darkness and use it as an extension of their body or outright make it a part of them. This reveals their ability to not only attain more physical mass, but also to connect themselves through said shadows. The latter of these abilities allows them to perform what has been coined 'Shadow Walking' which is a traversal ability that allows nightwalkers to step into one shadow and emerge from another, the process originating from their their nature, their connection to shadows, and of course their senses.

This brings us to what a nightwalker's senses really are, which while it can vary somewhat as one develops, always include a shadow sense, a vis sense, as well as the five normal senses. While a nightwalker can focus on the five senses and/or their vis sense to increase the strength of them, their shadow sense is inherent and essentially allows them to detect things better in darkness or to detect darkness and shadows themselves. Over the centuries this has given nightwalkers a reputation and has led the other races to adopt a particular methodology for dealing with their kind. This methodology is more often than not summed up quite well by a world renowned hunter of old.

“If dusk has fallen, and a nightwalker comes callin', there's naught left to do, but pray.”

Prof. Hale Aldbright(1782-1864)

Culture & History

As one might think, nightwalkers are a mysterious lot shrouded in darkness and obscurity and so where they truly originated in their home plane of Torqueo is largely forgotten. However, from what human historians have gathered over the ages, and what little licentian scholars have revealed, nightwalkers developed tens of thousands of years ago, at first dwelling in the shadows, hiding themselves due to the rarity of their kind back then. Yet, in the ensuing years they rose from the darkness, bringing it with them, and swallowed whole portions of Torqueo in dark shrouds. From that time onwards, nightwalkers have taken sanctuary or emerged from these pockets of pure darkness, but they are not a united people, instead scheming against one another more often than not. As to humanity's relation to the species, well they have preyed upon mankind since time memorial, with legends of them including insidious nightmare creatures and beings dragging children off in the night, whisking them away to who knows where.

As to their culture, it tends to vary a great deal, but the majority of nightwalkers learn quickly that intelligence and wit is the only way for them to survive amongst their own, and later in the world at large. As such, their kind values these things greatly and are understandably proud of themselves for having attained such cunning. Still, while their kind are respected among licentia, the individuals are often not, as they have the nasty tendency of making far more enemies than friends with their manipulative and, sometimes cruel, ways.

They are seen as saboteurs, and architects of grand schemes. They are tacticians, if not warriors, scholars, if not explorers, but most of all...they are tricksters and this every race knows. To deal with a nightwalker, is to tempt fate.

Yet there are those records that tell a different story, a story dating back almost to the very conception of licentia as a species. These records, hidden away in secretive locations and buried deep within Edravhen's Archives paint nightwalkers not as devious beings bent upon controlling others and driving wedges in society, but tell of a species that were created to serve a distinct purpose. The stories speak of nightwalkers with reverence, not hatred; with respect, and maybe just a hint of fear, for nightwalkers were brought into this world by the Precursors. In essence, nightwalkers were brought into the world to prevent the withering of their species' bodies, with their purpose to incite conflict, be it of a physical or cerebral sort to drive their kind forever forwards. Yet, over the vast millenia that they have existed, many of their kind have forgotten the truth of their purpose, yet, so ingrained in their culture and instincts is it that they uphold it even to this day--though perhaps not to the letter.

After all, nightwalkers are an adaptive sort, refusing to be held down by any expectation or limitation placed upon them.

_____________The_Ahldreian_____________

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_{Art by petemohrbacher}

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Physiology

The most cerebral of the three sibling races of licentia, the Ahldreian possess both an intensely powerful mind as well as an intrinsic connection to the Will, a force that existence cannot go without. It is this connection that gives the Ahldreian their understanding of the world, any knowledge they should need, and of course...clairvoyance. While both the Nightwalkers and TRISTARI possess each their own powerful intuition, the Ahldreian, while youngest among the three, are capable of actually observing the flow of fate and ascertaining how to pull possibilities from the Rift and into reality. Of course, this enigmatic race possess other boons, such as their adaptable bodies, which they can tune, along with their vis, so as to channel energy in differing ways. While not so strong as their siblings in these ways, the Ahldreian are nonetheless formidable adversaries, often standing anywhere between six and ten feet, though their imposing height is not matched with much bulk.

Slender and frail looking, Ahldreian are nonetheless much more dangerous than they appear, as they possess a fine tuned understanding of the world around them which surpasses that of most. Joining their unique mind and clairvoyance are their astounding senses, which are less physical in nature than most as instead of eyes, ears, mouths, and noses, every Ahldreian merely possess a series of highly sensitive organ-like constructs within their bodies. These crystalline formations are connected directly to their soul core, which, rather fittingly, resides in their head. Essentially, these 'organs' function by way of detecting the interactions between vis of all sorts and their environment on a fundamental level. This makes them capable of all five normal senses, but ramped up hundreds of times in sensitivity and accuracy, without any avenue for normal overexposure, making it impossible to 'blind' or 'deafen' them in the traditional sense. However, this powerful sense comes at a cost and that cost is a weakness to the manipulation of vast amounts of vis within their direct vicinity causing an overpowering nausea-like sickness. Beyond this, Ahldreian are not particularly durable and as with their siblings, they are uniquely weak to vis-infused platinum.

Abilities

While Nightwalkers have their shadow magic and TRISTARI their magical mastery, the Ahldreian hold dominion over the powers of clairvoyance, illusion, and frequency-based magic. While clairvoyance and illusion are rather common, frequency-based magic is something that merits explanation. This discipline was developed to allow the Ahldreian to practice magic despite the weaknesses associated with their unique senses. By using their connection and understanding of the Will, the Ahldreian can extend both their vis beyond physical space and over vast distances allowing them to perform magic without directly disturbing their surroundings. While some magics achieve this by merely stretching the caster's energy over vast distances, the Ahldreian do so by resonating their vis with that of another location, and then connected it to their will for a time. This makes them adept at casting spells with vast scope and range, while reducing their skill for spells requiring precision. Of course, an Ahldreian can be precise, it simply takes more effort or a different methodology than a normal mage would require.

As to their talents for illusion magics, the Ahldreian can be said to be so skilled that none aside from their siblings and the most dedicated, or trusted, of scholars has any inkling of the ability. This is, in part, due to their tendency to use illusions on an incredibly minute level to suggest ideas or slightly alter the impression they give to others. It is this ability coupled with their mind and foresight that gives them the ability to unite their kind, and perhaps others as well. After all, how could we know, we're only human.

“When the world is in ruins and hope seems lost, they will come, and with the world darkened from their absence, their presence will blind and confound. Though when their work is done and our senses adjusted, we will stand in a new world...uplifted yet none-the-wiser.”

Dharvae'kari Morain(25 BC to Present)

Culture & History

Dating back to the advent of the licentian race, the Ahldreian have existed almost since the birth of their species. They possess a rich history and while they have always been fewer in numbers than their two sibling races, the Nightwalkers and TRISTARI, the Ahldreian have nonetheless taken up the position of leadership when it was needed most, with their kind having led licenti throughout the ages into periods of prosperity unseen in the current era. Nonetheless, information regarding their exact personal is something that would be highly valued, but has nonetheless been hiden by what remains of the Ahldreian race today.

Their culture on the other hand has, in part, been uncovered. First and foremost, the Ahldreian value the mind and the guiding powers of fate's numerous threads. They are beings who do not look back, but instead always plan for the future, taking in their present circumstances, and pushing themselves, and their kind, into a newer and brighter tomorrow. This is their chief purpose in the world, and it follows that they believe it a righteous and all important one. However, this sense of importance can make their kind rather overconfident, which is perhaps one of the reasons that they have shrouded themselves in myth and mystery.

Beyond this, the Ahldreian are known to be a reclusive people, keeping to themselves and protecting their own with an admirable ferocity. Similarly they do not often venture outside of those places wherein they lurk, but when they do, my do they stir up the waters.

Perhaps one day they will emerge from the shadows and reveal to the world the reason for their actions.

Perhaps.

_____________Kitsune_____________

<sub>Art work belongs to the respective artist, not myself, and I’m only using for representation

Written by: @Fallenreaper</sub>

Physiology

Breeding

Kitsune breeding methods slightly differ depending on their genders.

Males tend to seek out pregnant females either by shape shifting into their lovers, husbands or desirable male the target finds sexually attractive. Females follow a similar route by shape shifting into a suitable form to become pregnant and seducing a male into bed where she drains him of a notable amount of vis, DNA, and produces a fetus within herself.

While the infant, in either form, is developing the Kitsune splits off half their soul core and infuse it into the growing life. The core eventually infects and overcomes the fetus’ life over the next nine months, the newborn Kitsune finally formed and busting out from its mother into the world. With a human woman this process usually kills her since their system isn’t use to the shock, but a Kitsune mother will simply shudder and apply her shape shifting ability to recover from the damage. The latter will often move on with their lives, not staying to raise the helpless kit.

Pact

Kitsune has developed the ability to cheat death in a unique way: though a pact created by another being and creating a shard. This tends to be either Licenti or human (usually a mage) as Prae tend to have racial tenancies against Licentia in general, but it is possible.

When a Kitsune creates a pact, they choose a being to become a keeper of sorts for their shard and also to help supply vis into the ritual. Using the supplied Vis from the would be pact holder, they split about 1/4th of their Soul Core off. It condenses down into a shard like item and holds the genetic blueprint to reconstruct them later. The pact holder, in order to retain the current contract, must protect and keep it safe or risk breaking the link between them.

Growth/Development

Birth to Childhood

After being born, Kitsune’s development is very unusual compared to most Licentia. Instead of going to and forth from a growth to trial stage, they are set within an extended growth stage until about 2 decades of their lives. They seem to grow much like human with occasional brief burst of rapid changes that cover numerous years and vary between individual Kitsune before falling back to a steady rate. It’s very similar to humans’ growth ‘spurts’ in theory. Usually 2-3 changes are the normal while beyond 3 are exceptionally rare. Since they gain no magical strength or additions during the first 20 years of their lives, they remain solid and able to interact with the world. This also makes them more likely to be killed and consumed by other Licentia or humans (mistaking them for normal foxes- see paragraph below).

When they bust from their mothers, the infant Kitsune’s shape is that of a fox with a single tail and one magic ability. This ability is to help them survive as they are most vulnerable during this time in their lives. Within the first two years, they develop like a normal fox would physically and their growing mentality would reach that of an eight year old.

At hitting this milestone, they tend to gain their first growth ‘spurt’ causing them to take on the appearance of a humanoid fox around eight years old. They return to a steady growing rate with a few ‘spurts’ here or there depending on the Kitsune’s individual growth until they reach the adult stage at age 20.

Adulthood

After age of twenty, their growth and trial stages alters again. Instead of an extended growth period, there’s two trial stages and one prolonged growth period in the middle. Most humans believed, even to this day, that a Kitsune gains magic based on their tail number but this is incorrect thinking and knowledge. In their first trial stage (tail 1 to 3) they gain a new spell for each new tail they grow, not counting the one they originally started off with.

When they hit the fourth tail, they enter a growth stage. It’s a lot like their extended growth stage in their youth where it last up to a few centuries but without the ‘spurts’. They remain solid, their bodies able to collect Vis from their environment and building it up over time to strengthen their magic.

During this time, they gain no more magic spells, but they will still continue to grow tails. This is believed to be a biological way for them to keep track of time until their growth stage is complete. Another thing to notice is that due their bodies hoarding Vis, all their magic is slightly weaker than prior stages and while this makes them more cautious, this doesn’t make them helpless. If a Kitsune reaches the required Vis amounts before they reach the seventh tail, they will gain full potential in magical power but will not gain another ability until they reach the seventh tail.

When they hit the seventh tail, another trial stage begins repeating the process with tails seven through nine. When hitting nineth tail, the Kitsune begins to edge into the Eximius stage and undergoes one final change to their physical form: enhanced physical traits. This means their speed, strength, durability and more reaches into notable levels making them formidable close combat fighters.

They are also no longer in need of their ability to create a pact with another being, but can retain one if they desire. The main difference between this stage and the ones before it is the fact the Eximius can break it without the holder’s permission at any time and without ever harming the individual. Allowing them to recreate a new one or not.

Nature

While each Kitsune is different in personality, their up bring being a primary fact in developing various traits, there’s always an under laying instinct to create a pact. It is how they survive and outwit death which means until it is fullfilled, they will feel that nagging for it in the back of their minds. Most who completely ignore this have been killed and unable to return to a shard, their fate sealed in death.

Abilities

Shard Pact

*See Darius’ Shard ability for more details.

Tails

List of abilities and when they show up. Each tail appears within a range of ten years of the century mark, either five years before or after, depending on the Kitsune's development curve. Right after the tail’s appearance -unless it’s four to six- another magical ability will be gained and usable for the Kitsune’s lifetime.

   
• Tail 0 : Camouflage
• Tail 1 : Elemental Manipulation (pact related, fire by default)
• Tail 2 : Shape shifting
• Tail 3 : Barrier
• Tail 4-6 : Strengthen magic instead of gain new magic
• Tail 7 : Levitation/Flight
• Tail 8 : Illusions
• Tail 9 : Eximius

Culture & History

Kitsune are often considered tools by most Licentia that actually know about their true nature. They have evolved into Licentia that have adapted to depend on other Licentia in the form of a pact. Any independent culture of their own was long ago wiped out due to their ability to pact creating numerous Kitsune with various backgrounds, personalities, etc.

Dwindling Existence

In recent years, Kitsune have become more rare with the passing years. Their numbers now currently less than a hundred within Torqueo and still falling. The reason is unknown as most the surviving Kitsune are too young to realize this and any that have looked into it have simply vanished. Some believe it might be because their ability to cheat death is flawed or too old to continue the Kitsune’s existence into the future. It’s hard to tell which is true without additional information.

Nogitsune

While they look alike, it's commonly believed to be a variety of Kitsune or a completely different creature altogether. It is also called by numerous names: Void Fox, Dark Fox and much worse. So far, many Licentia believe them to be extinct and mere stories due to the lack of interaction with their kind for centuries. However there is a dark history to the reason of why…

_____________Succubi & Incubi_____________

<sub>Art work belongs to the respective artist, not myself, and I’m only using for representation

Written by: @Fallenreaper</sub>

Physiology

For those that aren’t familiar with the words Succubus and Incubus (plural forms Succubi and Incubi respectively), these licentia were often portrayed as Lilin-demons in female or male form before they officially emerged into the light. They appeared in dreams, often in the form of an attractive human in order to seduce their victims, and gradually lead to sexual relationships. This isn’t fully true as Succubi and Incubi can absorb a sizable chunk of Vis from not just humans, but other Licentia and even Prae upon contact lasting much longer than a few moments. This is usually done in a gesture ranging from a handshake to a deep kiss. However, thanks to a few mischievous Licentia it is usually assumed by most humans that they require sexual activities to fed. Upon being asked this, it might draw a few baneful looks from the more conservative Succubi or Incubi that prefer some degrees of abstinence.

Succubi and Incubi are considered the beginning stages of Sirens and Cambions, often created after either one of these have procreated. Though they aren’t technically suppose to, they are able to procreate new Succubi and Incubi when they delay their ascension into their higher forms. There are even rare cases of some Succubi and Incubi reaching the Eximius stage though once they reach such a level their ability to become Sirens or Cambions is impossible and has its own pros and cons.

Breeding

Should a Succubi and Incubi reach the stage where they can breed, they use similar methods with only a slight variation based on gender. Succubi possess a unwitting human woman casting an illusion spell, twisting her features into something attractive and considered alluring for the type of male she’s intending to attract. Casually she proceeds to lure then seduce the male into bed where she steals a heavy amount of Vis over time and becomes pregnant. Over her existence in the human host, who is completely aware, the Succubus gradually begins to imbue the fetus with small shards of their soul core. Unlike Sirens or Cambions, they can only do this once in their lifetime.

After a month, the Succubus departs the host leaving the human to bear the offspring. Naturally this has created ‘demonic’ offspring in several myths and rarer still, hybrids of their kind. Unless the trait runs in the Licentia (much like humans), most births are single but there are exceptions.

On the other side of the spectrum, an Incubus would physical shift into an appealing form where they impregnate a female of their choice, adding shards of their soul core and Vis to the mix. When the child takes hold and settled in after a month, they seem to simply vanish.

Birth to Childhood

While going through their first official growth stage within the womb, these licentia store and consume vast amounts of Vis over a nine month period. Despite what the mother tries, she can’t abort, damage or get rid of the infected fetus without causing her own death. Based on the Succubus’ and Incubus’ choice of victim, this rarely happens. Whenever it has, the child’s own Vis has created ‘miracles’ through various methods: the rope snapped, someone was summoned, etc. This prevented its demise, most the time, and allowed it to develop into the world.

Upon birth, Succubi and Incubi are coated in the Vis they collected from their mothers. This coat creates a very realistic illusion purely as a defensive mechanism to prevent the infant from being killed on sight. Over the course of the Licentia’s growth, this coat wouldn’t be required and fades gradually. To anyone trained to look past illusion magic or the mother herself, the illusion doesn’t work. Instead of a crying, healthy infant, there’s a very ‘young’ succubus or incubus infant with horns, fragile wings and a prehensile tail.

In these cases, the child was often killed out of fear ending the Succubus’ or Incubus’ lineage.

Should the child live past their mother’s attempt to discard or kill them, these licentia grow at a steady rate within the environment they are given to. Most tend to be taken in by relatives of the ‘manic’ mother or placed into the orphanage until puberty when the Vis layer completely fades to relieve their actual nature. In a few cases, the parent might seek out and snatch them away to be raised in Torqueo among their own kind.

Adulthood

On reaching puberty, they are considered adults and the collected Vis layer has completely vanished now. Succubi and Incubi are very different from each other, much like how humans vary themselves, creating no fixed appearance to represent them all ideally. However, they all do have a set collection of traits that make identifying their race easy. Most Incubi and Succubi have horn growths upon their heads (often budded from the head sides or forehead), two bat like wings sprouted from their backs, a prehensile tail extended from their tailbone and often an allure that causes them to become appealing to multiple races. Including other Licentia. Don’t mistake this for flat out perfection or being irresistible to any individual, but rather an unmistakable draw and finding something attractive about the Succubi or Incubi. *See Irresistible Charm in Abilities

The Succubi and Incubi have the ability to gain Vis though subtle and steady touch, draining Vis over time though interaction with the individuals involved in their lives. However, upon reaching adulthood the instinctive desire to become a Siren or Cambion has grown notably. So much in fact that they will seek out ways to gain additional Vis over the course of their life time and when they finally collected enough, they will enter another growth stage before becoming a Siren or Cambion.

Abilities

Irresistible Charm

While Succubi and Incubi have admirable traits naturally, they also posses a passive magic called Irresistible Charm. It combines both Vis and use of pheromones in order to create an appeal to almost any creature, ranging from an enjoyable personality to outright sexual appeal and completely dependent on the influenced party. This magical ability, while unable to affect everyone the same way, does try to aid in making the Succubi/Incubi more likable in order to obtain more Vis for its growing collection into a Siren.

However, this doesn’t prevent back lash should the Licenti become reckless or stupid. It isn’t mind control after all, but a method to create likability or attraction depending on the target.

Flight

A few things to note about Succubi and Incubi wings. Most are leathery and dragon like in appearance, giving them ability to control their movements in the middle of flight similar to how a bat might. Their range of flight, maneuverability, and more depends on the wing span and design over all. Larger wings tend to cover larger distances without continually flapping to rise higher while the smaller wings focus more on maneuverability and make navigating tight spaces easier.

Vis Drain

All Succubi and Incubi are able to gain Vis from humans, Licentia and even Prae if given the chance. They primarily do it through either touch or sexual activities, their unique biology making them nearly compatible with any sub race. However, they tend to prefer humans more because most are easily manipulated and have greater odds of not possibly being able to fight back.

It’s little surprise that the most Vis comes from more intimidate acts of lust which might explain their association and physical appeal. With touch, it varies mainly on how long the Succubi or Incubi can retain the contact with the target. However this comes with a notable and unwritten risk: Succubi and Incubi are known to become greedy and there are cases a few are known to drain more than their fair share. This is often driven by the primal need to evolve into the next stage.

Most well aged Succubi and Incubi know to avoid this… unless there’s little way to get caught or suffer back lash. They know killing the individual will result in only a fixed amount of Vis gain, instead of a steady source, and the word would spread lowering their chances to gain additional Vis from agreeable Licentia that might not kill them on sight.

Above Human Speed and Reaction Time

Succubi and Incubi aren’t known for being highly durable or offensive in a fight, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have other means to protect themselves. High speed and reaction time are a Succubi’s and Incubi’s forte as only a few Licentia are able to match and surpass it. This is because an attack is useless if it can’t hit and since the it won't take much to bring this sub race of Licentia crumbling to their knees, avoiding being damaged is rather important.

Dream Walking/Dream Manipulation

In most myths, Succubi and Incubi are known to be most dangerous in your dreams. They appear to be shapeshifters purely because they take on the appearance of what the dreamer most desires in another individual and shapes the dream into their favor. (see Lily’s CS)

Culture & History

Business like Practices

Due to a Succubi/Incubi’s need for large amounts of Vis, they often take up a trade or skill that some Licentia or Humans would find valuable. This often causes them to create a bartering system in order to obtain the required Vis levels for evolution in a shorter time than merely ‘stealing’ it from others. Many end up living in Medius, where they are often born, joining brothels or some other sexualized profession that allows them to get up close and personal with their targets. Others are more conservative and will become information brokers or wealthy individuals through subtle blackmailing means. Wherever their lives lead, one thing is certain: they will always have that need to evolve into the next stage and that’s the primary motivation.

Shapeshifting

Among humans, it’s commonly mistaken that Succubi and Incubi are able to shift and alter their shape like many other Licentia. This ability only achieved through dreams which is likely how this rumor and belief came into existence.

____________Descendants____________

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A race long since died out so many hundreds of thousands of years ago, precursor humans—as paleontologists put it—were an advanced species that only hold minor resemblance to humanity of the modern era. However, while much of the raw power and adaptability of the precursors have been lost, diluted over time through the process of natural selection, those few exist whose genes still contain a number of activated sequences from these ancient, and bizarrely advanced, ancestors of man. So it goes that you must be taught of their nature in case you one day may have the misfortune of facing against them.

Good hunting you lot, and be careful.

Physiology

With surprisingly similar physiology found among those with active precursor DNA than one might expect, descendants are almost indistinguishable from modern humans with a few notable cosmetic exceptions. The first among these are their eyes which always glow with the use of magic, with the second being their faintly pointed ears, and the third being their tendency to be attractive in one manner or another. Additionally all descendants have one unique trait which distinguishes them from modern humanity, a portion of their body is always somehow visibly magical. For some there eyes are constantly a flame, for others markings run along heir skin, glowing and pulsating with the flow of their vis, and others still may have limbs not wholly solid or connected to their form, with vis filling in the gaps. For every descendant this trait is different and from parent to child there is often little to no correlation, strangely enough.

With lineage in mind, it is notable that descendants are rare, but even should both parents be descendants, their child still only has a 30% chance of being one. This seems to be caused by a strange mixture of the parent's magical strength influencing the child, and most of the precursor genes having become naturally inactive or recessive over time. As a result, descendants are rare, making up only 0.0005% of the total human population, or in other terms, one person in every two-hundred-thousand is sure to be a descendant.

Perhaps last among the biological traits that differentiates descendants from modern humans is their longevity, as unlike modern humans, descendants can live anywhere between 850 to 1500 years. Of course, they also do not mature quite as fast, tending to reach sexual maturity at the age of 18, and to reach physical maturity at the age of 42. Beyond this point, descendants age slowly, though the rate at which they age varies somewhat depending on stress, magic use, the magical climate, and other environmental factors. Though, on average, a descendant dying of old age only lives around 700-900 years before expiring. It should be noted that descendants are more susceptible to magical, or vis-effecting illness than normal humans.

Spiritual Make-up

While descendants are not that different in appearance from modern humans, the structure of their spiritual being is something else entirely, as unlike a modern human, descendants have an impressionable anima, an internal and external ostium, and of course an aura composed of vis. Essentially, a descendant's anima has a wall that can be made permeable to vis per an individual's will, which acts much like the ostium does for modern humans, but instead is called the velo. Outside of the velo, are the vis pathways that run through the body in all living things, and at the outer edge of that is their ostium, which acts as a barrier, or gateway, to their external vis, allowing them to release and manipulate vis outside of their body.

While the velo does not seem terribly important at first, this is far from the truth as descendants require it to protect their anima from external influence. Their body being so open to vis in comparison to modern humans, in addition to their velo, allows them two notable traits. The former gives them uncanny precision in terms of their vis manipulation and makes magic far more intuitive for them as well as making all of their physical attributes—senses included—slightly amplified compared to a modern human's. Beyond this, the former trait allows them to imprint abilities they have mastered onto their anima directly, amplifying the strength of the ability, skill, or spell and expanding the scope of it as well.

A good example of this would be the traditional fireball spell. Essentially before imprinting it onto their anima by opening their velo, a descendant might be able to merely conjure a fireball of various size depending on the amount of vis utilized, but afterwards the spell becomes more efficient, requiring less energy and its trajectory can be guided. Furthermore, once an ability is imprinted onto their anima, their children will inherit it, even if there are more than one. Of course...only mastered abilities can be imprinted.

⊰ℒ ocations⊱

TBA

[Celaira]

Who Plays Who

Characters with THIS color are representative of something known as an NJC; an advanced form of NPC.

Dranai Llamant & Bree & Mairyell Kasio & Szayeis & Madison Lily Harper & Reates & Mnaecilia Rea' Elh Moncere - Played By: @yoshua171
Aeris Kasio & Sophia Taeryn & Yvette si Louviere - Played By: @Celaira
Charles Aeon & Lilith & Darius & Lily Quarin & Emmett Matthews & Olivia Matthews - Played By: @Fallenreaper
Azulia Ellison - Played By: @Luna
Masha & Emma - Played By: @May
Ceptum & Nabriales Taeryn & Fandaniel si Louviere & Truth & Ithuriel val Atiran & Aevyrion vec Lyvaeris- Played By: @Tuujaimaa
Vistaeria Rhys’alamot - Played By: @Sarcelle Renard
Corinna Mallory - Played By: @13org
Damian - Played By: @Raijinslayer
Calypso Cavasaari - Played By: @Invader Len
Sarah Reiter - Played By: @solokolos
Amon - Played By: @Eklispe
Naomi Shastey Chāyì-Popjay - Played By: @CorrosiveCherry
Vaciti vex Contiere - Played By: @Old Amsterdam
Katarina - Played By: @The 42nd Gecko

Stats
Licentia: 6
Licentia Hybrids & Symbiotes: 3
Prae: 9
Prae Hybrids: 1
Humans & Precursor Descendants: 7 & 5
Ulna: 1/3
Liches: 1
Total Active Character count: 33

[Kibaro]

More Questions:
1. for other future questions do we put them here on in the interest thread?

2. what are the chances of a human having a relationship with a Licenti, they having exchanged a member (let's say an arm) as a sign of their bond (aka they chose to do it), so in other words, the human would have a Licenti arm, and the Licenti would have a human arm
~ OR ~
if this is not possible by natural ways (more or less), from what i understood, when a Licenti reaches a certain growth, they can detach of part of themselves and give it to others via some sort of symbiosis, can a Licenti give a part of themselves and attach them to a human? as far as sharing a conscience or not, i'll let you decide that (if you allow anything i've said thus far), ofc having a Licenti arm, i'd expect to be able to manipulate it's form and create desired forms for example a shield like thingy, a blade of some description and so on
~ OR ~
if the upper options are still no possible, how about an experiment where a human was subjected to Licenti "matter", thus having the same result => human with a Licent body part (still thinking of member)

please let me know if any of these are plausible, because i'd like to give such a character a try, also let me know if i am going way to SF than you guys intended :))

3. it was mentioned that Licenti have a more or less monstrous aspect, but by what description? are they rocky/crystaline creatures? fleshy/zerg like creatures? not sure about their aspect, even if it was mentioned that they are almost all different aspect wise, but structure wise what would they be made of from a humans perspective?

i'll do my best to make the CS tomorrow, i'm from Romania, and it's midnight here so won't be on for too long :)

EDIT:
4. what is the language each species speaks, also what is the common language/intergalactic language or what have you?

[Celaira]

More Questions:
1. for other future questions do we put them here on in the interest thread?

3. it was mentioned that Licenti have a more or less monstrous aspect, but by what description? are they rocky/crystaline creatures? fleshy/zerg like creatures? not sure about their aspect, even if it was mentioned that they are almost all different aspect wise, but structure wise what would they be made of from a humans perspective?

i'll do my best to make the CS tomorrow, i'm from Romania, and it's midnight here so won't be on for too long :)

@Kibaro

I can safely answer these two questions, I think.

So, to the first, you can post them in the OOC for easy reference! It's preferred, actually. That way we don't have to go back and forth between threads a lot.

To your second question, a Licentia can vary on what it looks like. For instance, it's natural state could be entirely composed of shadows. It depends on the subspecies. We are allowing players to make their own subspeciees if they decide they want to.

[icmasticc]

Cool, I'll get working on a CS. I don't know if I'd brag on my BBcode usage, but I'll do a little something lol.

[Celaira]

@icmasticc@Kibaro Discord server is up! link! if you need help joining, let me know!

[yoshua171]

More Questions:
1. for other future questions do we put them here on in the interest thread?

2. what are the chances of a human having a relationship with a Licenti, they having exchanged a member (let's say an arm) as a sign of their bond (aka they chose to do it), so in other words, the human would have a Licenti arm, and the Licenti would have a human arm
~ OR ~
if this is not possible by natural ways (more or less), from what i understood, when a Licenti reaches a certain growth, they can detach of part of themselves and give it to others via some sort of symbiosis, can a Licenti give a part of themselves and attach them to a human? as far as sharing a conscience or not, i'll let you decide that (if you allow anything i've said thus far), ofc having a Licenti arm, i'd expect to be able to manipulate it's form and create desired forms for example a shield like thingy, a blade of some description and so on
~ OR ~
if the upper options are still no possible, how about an experiment where a human was subjected to Licenti "matter", thus having the same result => human with a Licent body part (still thinking of member)

please let me know if any of these are plausible, because i'd like to give such a character a try, also let me know if i am going way to SF than you guys intended :))

3. it was mentioned that Licenti have a more or less monstrous aspect, but by what description? are they rocky/crystaline creatures? fleshy/zerg like creatures? not sure about their aspect, even if it was mentioned that they are almost all different aspect wise, but structure wise what would they be made of from a humans perspective?

i'll do my best to make the CS tomorrow, i'm from Romania, and it's midnight here so won't be on for too long :)

EDIT:
4. what is the language each species speaks, also what is the common language/intergalactic language or what have you?

@Kibaro

1.) Future questions go in the OOC or you may send them in PM or in the Discord channel :) Discord and OOC are preferred unless it's something you'd like to keep on the low :P

2.) Human x Licenti pairings have and do occur, but they're not super common--though I wouldn't call them altogether uncommon either. somewhere between. A Licenti could give a portion of their Soul core, once it had grown to a sufficient size. However, it 's more likely that the person would wear it in a piece of jewelry or something, and that would make sure that it didn't try to infect them and parasitically feed on the human to mature. Conversely they could break off a small enough portion that integrating it with the human would allow them to overtake it and so it would merge with them. However, the result of this is a weird sort of symbiotic relationship between the integrated Licenti soul core and the Human, which could result in something similar to what you're suggesting. Mind you, it's more likely that it would drastically alter their entire body, be it magically or physically depends on the case (aka you can decide how it changed them).

3.) Licenti, as Celaira explained are varied in appearance and ability. You could have one that's effectively made of "shadows," and another who looks almost completely human, but has horns and scales, or fur all over their body. The amount of variation is so great that I'm more or less willing for people to make Licenti that look like practically anything. Not all Licenti are monstrous, but there are enough that are that people have that impression of them. Oh and as a note, there are Licenti who never lose their ability to shapeshift, it becoming one of their prominent magical traits. They're again, not common, but they do exist.

4.) Well, I'll put it this way, the languages that we have on Earth exist in Medius as human languages by and large--with the exclusion of latin, which I'm using as a sort of...greater language. It's going to have more significance than just "a language you can speak." Licentia and Prae do have their own languages, but they don't generally speak it around humans. In fact, if you hear either speaking their native tongue, you're likely overhearing it and they don't know you're listening, or you live in Priscus or Torqueo and you've become ridiculously trusted by the race who calls the realm home and so they might be willing to tell you about it or teach it to you. However, this sort of occurrence isn't just uncommon, it's pretty much unheard of. The OOC reason for this is the Prae and Licenti languages are not like any of the human languages we could use google translate for so yeah. The IC reason is that there is something unique about how both races communicate that isn't something they want to share with Humans or with others outside of their own race. For humans, latin is the same. Any mage who knows it--and many should--will likely not use it around Prae or Licentia unless they have to in combat to amplify their magic.

[Kibaro]

@yoshua171
MOAR QVESTIONZ:
1. when a Licenti gives a part of itself, does it hold ANY sort of control over that part or does it become a separate entity capable of its own individual thinking?

2. if it does hold control over the part it shared, would the human and part of licenti share a conscience? for example the human would hear a second voice (that is the Licenti) in her mind? which in other words would mean the human would understand the Licenti language but not speak it

3. i'd want to become the weird symbiotic/parasyte thing, would that give me the power over the limb to shapeshift it in whatever i'd want? shield/blade/whatever else? i'm mostly asking permission here cause that is what power i'd like to give a try :)

4. can a SINGLE licenti modify its structure at will? or once it chose a structure that;s it for the rest of their "existence"? what i mean is, can one Licenti be shadowy now, rocky later, fleshy laterer and so on?

5. what's the rezistance of Licenti physical form against gunnery weapons and magic? do they have ANY rezistance? can a Licenti material shield for example repel bullets or a certain level of magic or it doesn't work that way?

[yoshua171]

1.) No, when a Licenti separates a part of itself, with very few exceptions (so few I'm not going to explain otherwise for now) it loses control of the part it separated. If the part is large enough to create a parasitic offspring, then the host may eventually hear the Licentia, but if they do it's probably slowly killing them.

2.) Even if it did hold control, they wouldn't share a consciousness. A Licenti cannot impart knowledge of its language to another.

3.) If you wanted to become the "symbiotic," thing, you could be a Licenti in their Growth stage who has latched onto a human, and they willingly allow it. The Licenti could have telepathy and so the two would work together by communicating telepathically.

4.) A single Licenti tends to modify its structure many times in its life, and quite frequently while it is in one of its Growth Stages. The younger it is, the more the form is likely to vary during a Growth stage. So yes, it could do what you suggest.

5.) Resistance against weaponry depends on what sort of form the Licenti take. Some will be more vulnerable, others will be less.

[Kibaro]

@yoshua171
1. in a symbiotic relationship between human and licenti, could the licenti parasite part enhance the humans physical abilities to some degree e.g. faster reflexes, stronger arms/legs, kinda like a body suit but for different parts of the body at a time, not the whole body at once

2. also hopefully for the last time, a licenti cannot in any form pull energy/consume vis from the enviroment, only from living beings right?

3. as far as gods and deities go, who are they? do humans still believe in god and jessus christ? or older gods like greek/egyptian/a.s.o? what about the other races?

[yoshua171]

@yoshua171
1. in a symbiotic relationship between human and licenti, could the licenti parasite part enhance the humans physical abilities to some degree e.g. faster reflexes, stronger arms/legs, kinda like a body suit but for different parts of the body at a time, not the whole body at once

2. also hopefully for the last time, a licenti cannot in any form pull energy/consume vis from the enviroment, only from living beings right?

3. as far as gods and deities go, who are they? do humans still believe in god and jessus christ? or older gods like greek/egyptian/a.s.o? what about the other races?

@Kibaro

1.) Well Licenti, aside from their three known stages of development (Growth, Trial, and Eximius) they are very variable in terms of how their form and abilities manifest. If the Licenti is old enough it may have chosen to have a partially malleable form regardless of whether it is in its Growth or Trial stage. It may have even ended up becoming a sort of symbiote, like what you're describing. So yes, it's entirely possible that a Licenti could be worn sort of like a body suit to shift its shape to additional muscle (to amplify strength of the host), armor(in the shape of scales or stone-like formations), or into claws and spikes for weaponry. However, the Licenti would ever be in control of the host, or the host would have to have agreed to being the Licenti's host and so the two work together, sort of sharing a body.

2.) As to this. You are correct, Licentia cannot absorb vis/energy from their environment that isn't biological. Let me clarify this though. So, if a human or another Licentia uses their magic it will leave behind a sort of non-physical/ethereal imprint on the world. Some of the energy used in the spell/effect will linger in the area's air or on surfaces invisibly. Typically, Licentia can sense this invisible energy fairly well and they can absorb it. However, a Licentia can't, say, absorb electrical energy from powerlines, or fire from a furnace or combustion engine in a car. Some Licenti can however sort of merge their bodies with certain materials and absorb them--though doing so does not feed them at all. Hopefully that isn't confusing.

As an example the Eximius Licenti that I'm making, Szayeis, has a form that is in actuality composed of vis(magical energy) and viscous/thick shadows. His subspecies of Licentia are known as "Nightwalkers," and they have the ability to absorb/take control of shadows. However, when Szayeis or any other nightwalker arrests control of these shadows, it doesn't feed their Anima (it doesn't fill them up. They don't consume it as it isn't technically Vis). So yeah. Hopefully that helps clarify what I mean a bit.

[Ganryu]

I'm working on my characters. They should be up tonight.

[icmasticc]

I'm at work currently, but mine will be finished when I get off.

[yoshua171]

@Darked13 I see you lurking :P

[AdobeFlash]

I think I'll get in on this later today. Just reserving a spot

[Darked13]

@yoshua171 I've just been thinking of what kind of Licenti to make. >.< But I was wondering more about what kind of powers to give it and everything. I thought of a Licenti that had a very human-looking form with its main magic being shapeshifting among some body enhancement magic. But so far I've been wondering more about how exactly does a Licenti work and trying to understand the terms better and everything. (I'm just a bit overwhelmed with the info.)

[Jangel13]

AHH! god damn it!

Right when I finished the damn thing to. I gotta write it over again

[yoshua171]

@Jangel13 Eh? What's the matter?

[Jangel13]

I had just finished writing my CS and my internet crashed. I had such a good backstory to I was the son of two political parents who were assassinated and I went on a blood path to kill the man who killed them and afterwards I had an epiphany about what I did was wrong and learned to restrain myself. It was one of my best histories yet :'(

now I have to write down everything from the cs sheet from scratch