[OOC] Final Fantasy: The Dark Crystal

[Ogo]

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^{art by: TYPK}

"We were wrong all those years ago. All we sacrificed, all we suffered - all of it in vain. We were so very wrong. Watch now, heroes, as your precious crystal falls to the Darkness. And with it, so shall this world be cast from the Light. Perhaps then may our gravest mistake be corrected."

Mage-King Otreux the XXII of Sunuveur, following the assassination of King Roderick I of Thorne

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-Introduction-

-Preface | Rules | Story Synopsis-

-Locations | Races-

-Jobs-

-Magic-

-Character Creation Guidelines-

-Cast-

-Other Persons of Interest-

-Bestiary-

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Fifty years ago, the world found itself brought to the brink of ruin by an Eldian Mage-King who had been seduced by the Darkness. Wielding the incredibly destructive magicks granted to him, the Mage-King put together a powerful army of monsters and men then began enslaving or slaughtering all who would dare stand in his way. Certainly he would have succeeded, were it not for the Great Crystal having summoned its champions, the Warriors of Light, to oppose him.

The Warriors and their allies fought back against the Mage-King's army, claiming victory time and time again. They defeated his Great Generals and prevented the summoning of some unspeakable monstrosity from the Void. When they finally confronted the Mage-King himself, they mortally wounded him - though not before he had a chance to cast his potentially most devastating spell.

In a final act of bravery, one of the Warriors sacrificed himself in order to prevent the loss of countless lives. He imprisoned both the Mage-King and the spell within what should have been an impenetrable shell, though he would be trapped as well. And as heroic as it may have been, ultimately it wouldn't be enough.

The Warrior's sacrifice only managed to delay the spell, not avert it completely. The remaining Warriors learned this and had to scramble. They gathered as many as they could and fled to the mountains and high ground. And when they gathered all they could, the Warriors used the Crystal's powerful magick to lift the very land they stood on to the skies. The brutal waves summoned forth by the Mage-King hit shortly after. Within hours, the surface world was flooded beneath dark waves. Had it not been for the Warrior delaying the spell, all would have drowned.

The survivors of the flood adapted to their new lives among the clouds quite well. Since the end of all life was averted, the people were feeling pretty chummy. Peace reigned throughout the land and a technological boom occurred. The Great Crystal emitted an extreme amount of energy, and the people were able to harness and exploit it. By far, the greatest invention to come out of this time would be the mighty airship. It enabled the people to easily traverse the numerous floating islands. This meant that people could spread out once more and, by extension, grow again. Trade flourished. Culture flourished. Everything was great.

For a while.

But eventually, with the threat now far behind (or rather, below) them, old tensions began to flare up once again. War never broke out between any of the new island nations, though it did come close. Very close. A few skirmishes did manage to happen, but diplomacy ultimately succeeded, thanks in no small part to the remaining Warriors of Light. A few decided to help "guide" civilization down a peaceful path. It caused a massive fallout between members, some of whom believed that that would be overstepping their jurisdiction. They were to defend the light, not influence those in charge. Those that thought this new path wrong blended back into obscurity from whence they came, severing all ties with the other Warriors.

Gradually, the flood waters began to dissipate. With each year, more and more of the land below was revealed. Some nations even sent expeditionary forces down to scout the land. While it would take a long time for things to recover from the damage, it eventually would. Colonies were planned and eventually settled as time passed. It was much rougher on the surface, but people managed.

And so we come to the present day: to the city of Thorne, the first of the new nations to be founded and that which protects the crystal, which hosts the festival celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of both the defeat of the Mage-King and the founding of Thorne. It's truly a spectacle to see. People from all of the islands, and even a few of the surface colonies travel to Old Thorne to partake in the week-long celebration. It's a time of merriment, feasting, debauchery, and to those in power, a chance to flex their strength or accomplishments. Competitions and tournaments of all sort are held during this time.

All is well...until a familiar face crashes the party. An old friend thought long dead returns, but in place of a warm reunion, he slays the Good-King Roderick I of Thorne in cold blood and delivers a chilling warning. And as he takes his leave, his prophecy rings true: the Great Crystal darkens and the land shudders. Before it goes dark, however, the Crystal manages to send out one last cry for help.

And all across the land, heroes awaken.

[Ogo]

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Thanks for stopping on by, peeps! Ogo here, and I'll be your GM for this ride. I've been on the guild for a couple years now, and while I have served as Co-GM a few times, this will actually be my first solo project. That being said, I'm sure we'll all get along nicely.

Obviously this is a Final Fantasy RP, so if you're not familiar with the franchise, you may be a little lost. That's fine, though, as prior knowledge is not required. Anything relevant to the RP can be found in this here OOC. And while I'm doing my best to keep this nice, updated, and relevant, I'm sure I may miss something here or there. So if you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to ask! Just throw it in the OOC thread if ya like, or if it's something you'd like to discuss privately, just shoot me a PM. There are no stupid questions.

If you ARE familiar with the franchise, then enjoy this little love letter to the older installments in the series. While the plot itself is an original work (and ever changing thanks to you lot!), a number of themes and elements may draw heavy inspiration from the series.

The actual start of the roleplay will begin in hours leading up to the assassination of the king, in the city of Thorne during the extravagant festival.

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I. Follow standard roleplaying etiquette please. So no godmoding, autohitting, and do not take control of another's character. Unless you've gotten permission from all other involved parties to do so then...I dunno. Knock yourself out?

II. Have fun. It should go without saying, but we're all here because we love to write. There is no winning. There is no losing. There's not going to be some phat piece of loot waiting at the end. And you're not going to see some game over screen. So just enjoy the journey.

III. Have a little respect. For each other. For yourselves. I'm not saying you've gotta be best friends, people, but try to remain civil. If an argument happens to break out, either drop it or take it to PMs. No need to air your dirty laundry in public. If a disagreement needs to be settled regarding in-character interactions, such as during fights or about the affects of spells and whatnot, I reserve the right to make the final decision in the case that a solution cannot be reached between the involved parties.

IV. Don't drag IC conflicts to OOC or vice versa. A little bit of IC drama is great. Adds flavor to character relationships. I can dig it. What I can't dig is when a little bit of IC spice erupts into a full blown argument in OOC. We're roleplaying here! Don't take anything personally.

V. No one-liners, please. Two+ detailed paragraphs per post if possible. This is just so that the others you're interacting with can have something with which to work. Reactions and actions make the wheel turn, ya'll.

VI. Post frequency. People have lives. School, work, family, friends, so on and so forth. Try to post at least once a week. If something comes up and you can't, just let me know either via OOC or PM.

VII. Absence/Dropping. Again, life happens. Sometimes you have to be away for a while, or perhaps you've lost interest and need a break/want to drop. That's fine! It happens to all of us. No hard feelings, whatsoever. All I ask is that you let me know prior so that I know whether to wait for you or to move on. PMs will work if you don't want to drop it in OOC. If after two weeks there's been no word, I'll proceed as if you've dropped.

VIII. Regarding Romance: While this is not a romance focused thread, it may happen. That's perfectly fine, just keep things PG-13 in the thread proper. If things get steamy, either fade to black or take it to PMs. Please. Please. please. _{no goldshire.}

IX. Ask Questions! Don't assume and don't be embarrassed. If you've got a question, ask it.

X. Don't put pineapple on your pizza. It's barbaric.

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Prologue
Our heroes gather in Thorne for the week-long festival celebrating the defeat of the Mage-King, unaware of the tragedy about to occur.

[Ogo]

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The world of Gaia was once a vibrant, lush world full of life. However, due to the events of fifty years prior, much of the surface world lies underneath dark waves summoned by the malicious Mage-King. Before the waves struck, however, the Warriors of Light were able to gather most of the people of the world and, using the magic of the crystal, managed to raise large bits of the land way high into the sky. Five main "islands" were raised. While the survivors of the flood were all gathered at first on a single island, it became apparent rather quickly that there wouldn't be enough room. Thus the people spread out to the other islands, establishing settlements on each. These settlements would eventually grow into sprawling cities and become the foundation for the new nations that formed shortly after.

While these cities are alike in many ways, fifty years is a long time and new cultures have been formed. New norms are decided while taboos are played with. In most of the nations, magic is heavily regulated...but not all. Most disturbingly, the spirit of cooperation which was at an all-time-high after the flood seems to have disappeared. And the more pessimistic among the people whisper that war may be building up.

Thorne

The first of the new settlements founded, Thorne lies on the first island to be raised. It hosts the highest population of all the nations, with the largest city being Thorne City itself, named both after the nation itself, and the Warrior of Light who stayed to guide the people: Roderick Thorne. He was a prince of a small kingdom before the grand flood, and thanks to his heroism in fighting the Mage-King, the people who stayed in his settlement swore fealty to him and named him their King. While he initially bucked at the thought, the people were so insistent that he eventually caved.

Thorne City lies in the heart of Thorne and is in some regards the mid-way point between any two capitals of the islands. As Thorne is the middle island surrounded by the other islands on all sides, it has become somewhat of a trade hub. Merchants from all over set up shop in Thorne's Markets, and most airships stop to refuel in the Grand Station. Thorne City is also a popular location for various tournaments, and as such sees heavy traffic year-round.

The Crystal Palace stands overlooking a beautiful lake. The Castle itself is completely surrounded by the lake, requiring the use of the Big Bridge to get from the city proper in the south to the castle. A ways north of the Palace stands the Grand Crystal, which towers over all other things. It hovers in the middle of the lake, glowing a radiant, beautiful blue. Due to it's sheer size, one can even see the crystal from the city, most notably at the city center.

Thorne serves as home to the Holy Order of Paladins, which has its command center within the Crystal Palace.

Thorne City Map

Takhtajan

Far to the north of Thorne lies the nation of Takhtajan. It lies on the northern land and, compared to the other islands, is by far the least hospitable. It lies in the middle of a desert. It should go without saying then, that Takhtajan is by far the least populated nation of the islands. It would seem that the biggest draw to the desert city would be the sheer abundance of valuable jewels underneath the sands. For those willing to brave the harshness of the desert, the reward is riches beyond man's comprehension. The only trouble is getting it out. Takhtajan has a bit of a nasty Sand Worm problem. And with a recent infestation of Antlions, excavating the jewels and ore just keeps getting harder and harder.

Takhtajan is reknowned for its heavy use of Mystic Knights and Red Mages. The Merchant Lords of Takhtajan are constantly searching for more capable warriors to join their ranks and are willing to pay QUITE handsomely for those who can hold their own.

Dahlgren

To the south of Thorne would be the nation of Dahlgren, which holds most of the islands' population of mages. This is due in part to the expansive Dahlgren University of Magic, which hosts the largest Colleges in the lands. Dahlgren itself is ruled by a council of mages, one hundred mages chosen by their peers to represent their people until death. Unsurprisingly, Dahlgren has the most lax stance on magic. Public use of magic in even the most mundane situations is rather commonplace. This behavior is a bit too much for many people though, and as such, the mages of Dahlgren tend not to wander far from the campus.

Cronquist

(this section is scheduled for a rework soon! Thanks to Oddsbod's contribution to fleshing out what was otherwise a generic Badsville. Until we get to this, please refer to the history section of Odd's character here for a more detailed look into the redesigned nation.)

To the west of Thorne lies the nation of Cronquist. An unfortunate nation, Cronquist has been the subject of many an overwhelming monster horde. Even voidbeasts have been spotted roaming the countryside. In response to the harsh environment, the knights of the land have developed a rather dark method to deal with the nightmarish threat. It's not just the knights that are harder in Cronquist, even the citizens are colder and crueler. Such is life when everyday is a fight for survival. The nation has recently mostly isolated itself, cutting off most contact with the other nations. While it's troubling, most attempts to reach out end with diplomats being turned around at the border.

Some fear that the noble lords may be plotting to invade their neighbors, in order to escape the monster hordes. Thankfully, these claims seem to be baseless...

Calestani

In the mountain peaks between Kimura and Dahlgren, Calestani stands proud. While it is the smallest nation in terms of landmass, it holds a respectable population in its capital, which is built onto the side of a mountain, at the gates of one of the largest Deepkin strongholds. Unsurprisingly, Calestani makes a killing selling islander goods to the Deepkin and then Deepkin goods to the rest of the island. Thanks to this, Calestani is the technological capital of the islands.

Unfortunately...it's also the dragon capital of the islands. The nation is frequently under siege by the scaly foes. Enough so for the knights of the nation to dedicate themselves to studying how to best defeat them. Thus the dragoon was born. A collaboration between the Engineering Guild and the Deepkin has resulted in a new weapon thought to be revolutionary against both the dragon threat and all threats going forward. These guns allow even the smallest and weakest to hold his or her ground against a far more skilled fighter.

Kimura

Kimura to the east of Thorne lies on an island with the most fertile land. As such, Kimura is the agricultural backbone of the islands. Despite exporting to...well...everyone, Kimura is a fairly isolated nation, focusing most of its efforts inwards. A number of warlords have risen to power, warring with one another for control of the cities and the grain. Very skilled swordsmen known as Samurai make up the bulk of the warriors used in these conflicts. However, some are not above utilizing the secretive Ninja clans to gain a leg up on the enemy.

Kimura's stability is unsettling to say the least, but none of the other nations feel comfortable intervening due to their reliance on Kimura's grain exports.

Surface Colonies

A relatively new development, thanks to receding floodwaters on the surface, attempts to reclaim the old lands has begun. Brave settlers have traveled down to set up colonies with the goal of creating self-sustaining settlements. For the sake of Gaia, these will have to be successful, else the islands are going to become overpopulated very soon.

Many brave or foolish warriors travel here to tackle some of the threats uncovered by the flood disappearing. Remains of the Mage-King's army have somehow survived and causing havoc. Thankfully, without a leader, they're not coordinated to be TOO much of a threat...but they are a bit of a nuisance. And fortunately - or unfortunately depending on one's opinion on mages - the College of Blue Magic has sent quite a few of their best and brightest to study the monsters. Can't help to have a few more swords against those beasts, really.

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While there are a number of races upon the island, generally they've all been accepted as valid cultures within the eyes of the separate nations. Sure, they may have their individual cultural languages, it is expected that most everybody be familiar with the common tongue enough to speak it fluently. Jobs are not Race restrictive.

Hume

The most populous race among the islands. Generally considered the average against which other races are compared. Therefore, average in most aspects. Skin tone and hair color tends to vary across regions, but there doesn't appear to be any significant differences in physical structure or capabilities, though males tend to be physically larger than females on average. Generally stands around five-to-six feet at adulthood.

Average lifespan of about seventy years in ideal conditions. Considered to hit adulthood at about age twenty.

Eldian

Eldians were once the most populous race upon Gaia, but after the rise of the Mage-King and the Great Flood sometime after that, they fell behind the Humes in sheer numbers. Before the disasters, however, the Eldians lived in mighty cities, governed by a council of mages. Since the exodus to the islands, the majority of Eldians congregated in what is now Dahlgren. One can see the Eldian influences quite clearly, what with the magic-focused society even being ruled by a new council of mages.

Eldian are very similar in both features and physical build to Humes, although they do tend to be slightly taller and more on the slender side. Notable differences include their elongated necks, pointed ears, and long hands. Like Humes, their skin and hair color varies across regions though both tend to fair more often than not. Possesses an above average affinity for magic. Generally six-to-seven feet tall at adulthood.

Average lifespan of about one hundred fifty years, though generally considered to hit adulthood at about age twenty.

Deepkin

Short, stout, strong. The Deepkin comprise the smallest percent of the islands' population. This is due mostly to the fact that the Deepkin are primarily a subterranean race. As such, the great flooding of fifty years prior hardly affected them at all. Occasionally a Deepkin will decide to leave the strongholds to go exploring on the surface world, but it's fairly rare. Deepkin generally do not permit the other races into their strongholds.

The Deepkin tend to be much bulkier than Humes, with their facial features being wider and larger. They're a hairy people, with thick arm and leg hair. The males generally have no trouble growing facial hair. Females sometimes sport light facial hair, though surface Deepkin tend to conform to the surface ideals of beauty. Their skin tends to be some shade of green. About four-to-five feet at adulthood. Poor affinity for magic.

Average lifespan of about one hundred eighty years. Adulthood reached around age thirty.

Feykin

A catchall term to describe the hume-like sentient races of the islands that carry, to some degree, bestial features. The five main groups are the Bangaa, the Nu Mou, the Miqo'te, the Moogles, and the Viera. Of that, the largest populations would be the Bangaa and the Miqo'te, the Moogles followed by the Viera, then finally Nu Mou.

Bangaa

Reptilian features including long faces, scaly skin, and tough limbs. They have two long ears dangling from either side of their head. Their senses of smell and hearing are very keen, even by Feykin standards. Generally have a tall stature and are physically powerful, standing somewhere between six-and-seven feet. Little difference in physical appearance between male and female, usually only distinguishable by voice. Their scales tend to be cooler colors: blues, greens, purples. Rarely, a Bangaa will have red scales. These individuals tend to grow to be even larger than the norm of the species. As a whole, the Bangaa tend to be more aggressive than the other races of the islands, which causes some of the others to view them in a less-than-pleasant light.

Poor affinity for magic.

Average lifespan of around one hundred years. Adulthood reached at fifteen.

Nu Mou

The Nu Mou are very long-lived creatures, but not very fertile. Their population comprises the second lowest among the island races, only slightly beating out the Deepkin. When one factors in the Deepkin population still within the strongholds, then the Nu Mou become the rarest species by quite a bit.

They sport mainly canine features including elongated faces and tails, with fur covering their bodies. They've long, thick ears with holes near the end. As can be expected then, they've got exceptional senses of smell and hearing. Usually they stand about four-to-five feet tall, though they tend to have rather poor posture, standing hunched to some degree.

Their fur tends to be white with sandy tails, though it has become a growing trend among younger Nu Mou to dye their coats. Their skin tone varies between pale or dull. As a whole, the Nu Mou tend to have a fairly static appearance, as between adolescence and advanced age there isn't much change physically.

Very strong affinity for magic. Above-average intelligence on average (in comparison to Humes), though generally physically weaker.

Average lifespan around four hundred years if the Nu Mou elders are to be believed. Adulthood thought to be reached somewhere around forty years. Quite a few of the living Nu Mou were around during the rise of the Mage-King, with the elders remembering it quite well. Those elders tend to be suspicious around the Eldian as a result.

Miqo'te

Formerly from a series of islands upon the surface, the Miqo'te can be found in all of the major cities in respectable number. While physically they resemble Humes quite a bit, they tend to be smaller both in stature and build. They have feline features including short, pointed ears, and dexterous tails. Their senses of smell and hearing are superb, about on par with the Nu Mou. Average affinity for magic.

Their eyes are distinctly feline, vertically aligned slits with faintly colored, if at all, irises. Their fur tends to be brightly colored and they usually have warm skin tones. Their teeth are rather sharp, but their claws put those to shame. They tend to be curious and outgoing, almost to a fault.

On average, they stand about five-to-six feet, though they tend to skew to the lower end of that scale.

Average lifespan of around sixty years, with adulthood considered reached in the late teens to early twenties.

Viera

The Viera are a relatively new addition to the public scene. Before the flooding of the surface world, the Viera lived hidden away from society in forested villages. After the exodus to the islands, however, they joined the other races in building the new settlements. They tend to be rather reserved, even in the new world.

They have leporine features, similar to the Moogles, though they do tend to lean more towards Hume in terms of physical makeup. They have long, furry ears and supple limbs. Great senses. Generally have darker skin and silver hair, though many choose to dye their hair, especially among those living in urban settings. Higher female to male gender ratio. Stands somewhere around six-to-seven feet on average.

High affinity for magic.

While they are thought to be long-lived, with some claiming they can live up to three hundred years, during the exodus the elders refused to leave their ancestral homes, which meant only some of the younger ones left. As such, none of the island's Viera have died of old age yet. Adulthood is thought to be reached at about thirty.

Moogle

The Moogles, like the Viera, are newcomers to the public life. They also lived in small, hidden forest villages before the flood. Unlike the Viera, however, the Moogles thrived in their new setting. Very outgoing and generally harmless looking (let's be honest, they're downright adorable), they were accepted with open arms. In terms of population, they make up only slightly more than the Viera.

Like their tall cousins, the Moogles have lagomorphic features, with rabbit ears and fur. However, these creatures are more bestial than Hume-like, with their fur covering the entirety of their bodies. They have extended pom-poms atop their head. They also have very small wings that generally cannot be used for flight, save for abnormally small members of the race. Their hands are small, but generally very dexterous.

Their fur tends to be either off-white or black in color. Their pom-poms come in various shades as well, though they tend to be light red. It's not unheard of for Moogles to dye their pom-poms. They tend to be the smallest of the races, standing between three-and-four feet tall on average.

Average lifespan of about forty years, with adulthood reached in the mid-teens. Most use the pronoun "mog" in reference to themselves and others of their kind, and tend to end sentences in "kupo!"

[Ogo]

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What are JOBS?

Jobs, in this case, are the general archetype in which a particular character fits into with regard to combat abilities. They represent the character's combat knowledge and experience and, for the most part, will be permanent after selection. Certain Jobs will have lore ties to specific locations, creatures, spells, events what have you. While it’s not required to use these ties, they can serve as potential hooks for character interaction, character building, or just general fluff for those to whom that appeals. Ultimately, these Jobs will serve more as a base on top of which a character can be formed rather than the box a character needs to be fit into, if that makes any sense.

So without further ado, here’s the list of Jobs:

Job List

Bard

Talented performers who sing or play instruments to either boost the morale of allies or hinder foes. Not exactly the first thing to come to mind when thinking of heroes. While most Bards are simply little more than talented (or not so talented…) performers, some sing and play songs with magical roots that can cause a number of effects. These jolly folks can be found in taverns and inns all around the islands. It’s considered bad luck to not tip a performing Bard, but we’re not sure where we heard that.

Beast Master

Warriors who work and fight alongside beast companions. Not entirely common among the islands. Generally, the only ones who practice this skill are nomadic tribes who wander the Great Plains north of Takhtajan. The bonds between a beast and its master are known to be practically unbreakable. While some Beast Masters prefer the extremely close relationship gained by only working with a single beast, likely one raised from birth, others prefer to gather entire stables of beasts. A whole, one tool to do it all or having a ton of tools for different jobs situation.

Berserker

Warriors prone to lose themselves in battle, swinging wildly at friend and foe alike. The Berserker is a powerful fighter whose bloodlust in unparalleled among other warriors. What the Berserker lacks in grace, form, or technique, it makes up in raw power. The majority of the island’s Berserkers reside within the nomadic tribes north of Takhtajan. While some of their people learned to work beside beasts as Beast Masters, Berserkers learned to fight as beasts.

Black Mage

Mages specialized in Black Magic. Masters of destructive magic, Black Mages usually go on to specialize in one of six different elemental branches. Black Mages can be found in Colleges across the islands, the most notable ones are the Black Mages of Dahlgren, who are at the forefront of magical research. The biggest magical breakthrough of the last twenty years can be attributed to these guys.

Blue Mage

Mages specialized in Blue Magic. Warrior-mages that utilize techniques normally only used by monsters, Blue Mages have a wide variety of spells available to them - provided they have the guts to learn them. While the largest Blue Mage stronghold is technically based in Dahlgren, Blue Mages tend to do most of their research whilst in the field, gravitating around particularly large or powerful monster hordes. As such, most of the bigger names have set up their labs and studies within the surface colonies, though some have also set up camps within Cronquist.

Dark Knight

Knights specialized in the use of wicked powers. Most of these hail from the nation of Cronquist, which faces far more void monster attacks than any other. These knights have been tempered against the beasts of the Void, and have decided to fight fire with fire. They utilize a series of techniques collectively known as the Dark Blade. This is a hyper aggressive style which prioritizes maximizing the amount of damage and destruction the Dark Knight does to his or her foe over all else, even his or her own well-being. Some of the deeper techniques within the Dark Blade even injure the knight in order to inflict massive wounds on the enemy. The very nature of the Darkness takes its toll on these warriors, making it very easy for them to give in to their more...primal urges.

Dragoon

Knights specialized in fighting dragons. Typically uses polearms. Much like how the Dark Knight was Cronquist’s answer to the void monster attacks, Calestani has a bit of a dragon infestation. Thanks to infighting among the various dragon hordes, however, Calestani has found an unlikely ally in the form of a very discontent dragon horde. The Dragoon Order has intimate knowledge on a dragon’s strengths, weaknesses, habits, habitats, so on and so forth. As their primary foe is an airborne beast, the Dragoon has trained in vertical combat more so than any other. They utilize an old set of techniques known as "Jumps" that are designed precisely for downing drakes, dragons, wyrms, and whatnot. These techniques revolve around taking to the skies and striking foes from above with devastating impales.

Knight

Heavily armored fighters potentially proficient with a number of different martial weapons. Knights serve the nations as their military, their guards, their police, so on and so forth. Generally, Knights will be found around military encampments or fortresses, or highly populated areas. There is no set standard for knights across the nations, so their skills will likely vary. A few of the nations have specialized knight orders.

Machinist

Innovative inventors and tinkerers. Machinists earn their name from their strange mechanical inventions they always seem to be messing with. While not a hard rule, many Machinist are drawn to the guns developed by the Deepkin. As the guns do not require the Machinist to devote as much time to training, they can spend more time with their tinkering. As Machinists were the first to actively use guns, the name sort of stuck, to the point that now just about anybody using a gun is referred to as a Machinist, whether they be a part of the engineering fanatics or not. Calestani is the home to most proper Machinist, as the Engineering Guild is based there due to the close proximity to the Deepkins’ trading posts.

Monk

Unarmed fighters with fists as deadly as any blade. The Monk is a fighter who tirelessly trains his or her body to near physical perfection. Typically, they’re well-versed in at least one martial art, though many do prefer to at least be familiar with multiple styles. The most notable Monks would be those from the Hidden Monastery supposedly somewhere within the Kimura region. Lead by a former Warrior of Light, these Monks have dedicated themselves wholly to protecting the Crystal. They follow a strict moral code to only do good, but are forbidden from communicating with those outside of their order.

Mystic Knight

Knights specialized in the use of various weapon-based magical attacks. These knights weave spellcraft into their swordplay to achieve deadly results. It’s a very difficult art that these warriors practice, but those who master it become very formidable indeed. While the idea of mixing swordplay and spellcraft is not exactly a new one, the nation of Takhtajan has perfected the style and their elite Mystic Knights are proof enough of this, utilizing a powerful technique known as Spellblade. As the small nation does not have the manpower to field a standard military, each individual is expected to be able to do more. As such, the Mystic Knight is not exactly the best team player around, but is hard to match in single combat.

Ninja

Lightning-fast warriors who strike at unaware foes to quickly eliminate them. The Ninja is a rather broad term for warriors who specialize in assassination techniques. While some are capable in the use of swords, most Ninja prefer the use of throwing weapons as to more safely and silently deal with threats. The nation of Kimura has perhaps one of the most notorious Ninja groups in the land: an unnamed clan that has supposedly never failed a contract. Authorities have never captured any of the clansmen, so info on them is scarce.

Paladin

Knights specialized in the use of sacred powers. In almost direct opposition with the Dark Knight, the Paladin utilize a technique they call the Holy Blade, which focuses on protecting allies. In addition, the Holy Sword gives access to a number of low-level White Magic spells which, while useful for healing one’s self and one’s allies, can also be used in great effect against the undead. Thorne is considered the birthplace of Paladins, with the Order’s headquarters located within the Grand Castle. Most of the knights sworn to the Thorne crown have some affiliation with the Order if not being outright members. They embody the ideal knight usually: chivalrous, honorable, dutiful.

Ranger

Ranged specialists who assault their foes from afar. Typically uses bows, crossbows, throwing knives, or throwing spears just to name a few. Archers can be found practically anywhere across the islands. Traditionally come from either a hunting or military background. A competitive archery league has formed in recent years offering good prizes for good shots.

Red Mage

Versatile warriors capable of wielding both Black and White Magic while also holding their own with martial weapons. Personification of the phrase “jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none”, Red Mages have a tool for just about any situation. While they may not be as proficient as one who specializes in their craft, Red Mages find success in being completely unpredictable while searching for their foe’s weakness and exploiting it. Takhtajan utilizes the most Red Mages, not having the manpower to support large, specialized armies. The Red Mages of that nation tend to be the more magically inclined, with the better swordsmen becoming the iconic Mystic Knights. This all being said, Red Mages can be found far in wide, particularly in the smaller Magic Colleges.

Samurai

Mobile warriors with a focus on technical swordplay over raw power. These swordsmen utilize precise movements and positioning to press any tactical advantage they can. They excel in crippling enemies, particularly with their Bushido technique, which is focused on punishing foes who drop their guards. The Samurai is most attributed to the Kimura nation, where they are the warrior of choice among noble families. They follow a strict code of conduct, some even going as far as to follow their masters to death. Samurai without masters have been known to offer their services to those with the largest gil purses.

Summoner

Mages specialized in Summon Magic. Capable of summoning forth incredibly powerful entities known as Espers, summoners are viewed as the most dangerous of all the Mages just due to the nature of the Espers themselves. A strong stigma exists against them, making them very rare outside of Dhalgren. Incredible innate magical talent and strong willpower is required for potential Summoners.

Sword Saint

Knights without peer. A Sword Saint is one who claims to have mastered the various sword techniques of the land. Holy Blade. Dark Blade. Spellblade. Bushido. Only a handful of these have ever existed, so there's not much information on them.

Thief

Agile, underhanded fighters focused on winning at any cost. These rogues take what they want, when they want. There is no honor for thieves and as such, these folks are not above using dirty tactics to defeat more powerful foes, even stooping to poison if need be. Thieves can come in all shapes and sizes, but the most notorious among the island nations would have to be the Sky Pirates: rogues who target cargo airships for plunder.

Time Mage

Mages specialized in Time Magic. These mages utilize powerful spatial and gravitational manipulative magics. While potentially incredibly powerful, Time Mages must be extremely careful when using their craft, as even a slight error can be catastrophic. Dhalgren only recently opened it’s Time Magic School. The founder is an eccentric man, but his apprentices are an incredibly diligent and hardworking bunch.

Warrior

Fighters of all kinds, utilizing a number of different weapons and techniques. Warriors are pretty much just unknighted knights, using lighter armor, but capable of much more aggressive tactics. Warriors can be found anywhere people are, serving as guards, gladiators, mercenaries, and more.

White Mage

Mages specialized in White Magic. Masters of creation magic, White Mages focus on keeping their allies on their feet and fighting. To achieve this, they have a number of curative and protective spells available to them. White Mages draw much respect from the public as their craft is seen as ultimately well-meaninged compared to the other schools. While the biggest Colleges are located in Dhalgren, a large number have also taken up residence in Thorne, where they find work with the Paladin Order.

[Ogo]

---

What is MAGIC?

Magic, in this world, can be basically boiled down to the manipulation of natural energies to achieve feats far beyond that of which one should otherwise be capable. While all creatures are attuned in some way or another with the magic energy, sensitivity and compatibility can vary greatly from person to person. Therefore, it requires someone with a certain minimum compatibility with the natural energy to continue on to become a mage, or quite simply one capable of using magic. Should the minimum be met, one can train their capacity and proficiency in storing and using it, developing the skill like one would any other.

There exists many a college across the land with the sole purpose of training and educating those interested in pursuing the magical arts in the proper ways of utilizing their skills. These facilities also serve to advance magical research and to monitor and police the improper use of magic. Thanks to the events surrounding the Mage-King some fifty years prior, mages are viewed with a certain scrutiny and, in some cases, even fear. Because of this, the use of magic in public areas is generally frowned upon. The largest exception here, however, would be the nation of Dahlgren, which prides itself on being home to the largest magical college in the land. Free and open use of magic is perfectly allowed and even encouraged there. Unsurprisingly, it holds the highest magic-sensitive population among the island nations.

Magic is divided into five schools:

Black Magic

Elemental and Destructive magics. The direct opposite of White Magic, Black Magic is an offensive school focusing on utilizing elemental energies to cause heavy destruction on a wide scale. There exists six distinct specializations within this school, one for each element: Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Earth, and Water. While it’s certainly not uncommon for Black Mages to learn spells from multiple elements, at the absolute highest level, mages generally focus on one or two elements. This is purely for the sake of their research, as a breakthrough could result in the mage gaining fame, fortune, and the envy of their peers.

The use of Black Magic in conflicts between nations has been banned by the National Council due to just how destructive it can be. This being said, war has yet to break out, so it’s hard to say if this policy will be followed. Generally, it is accepted that the advancement of Black Magic is for the potential domestic uses of the craft and elimination of future monster hordes.

Blue Magic

Monster Mimicry magics. Perhaps the most unusual of the schools, but arguably the most natural, Blue Mages study the techniques and magics used by monsters and void creatures in hopes of understanding and utilizing said skills against them. It’s a difficult thing to really pass along through lectures and books, and as such, most Blue Magic research is done in the field. It’s a dangerous field to be sure, but by learning how monsters and related creatures use their magics, one learns how to better fight them in the future.

Summon Magic

Evocation magics. Practitioners of this school are referred to as Summoners. They draw the most ire out of all mages, as their magic has the greatest chance of causing massive devastation. Summon Magic involves the evocation of incredibly powerful entities known as Espers. The Summoner must utilize a massive amount of magic to materialize, maintain, and enthrall the Esper in question. Due to the nature of the school, apprentices are required to have extraordinary innate talent.

It is a very risky art to be sure, as an incredible amount of willpower is required to prevent the Esper from acting on its own. More than a few young, reckless Summoners have met their end due to attempting to summon an Esper far beyond their skill. Due to the intense magical bond that forms between both parties involved in this art, the injury of one reflects on the other, so in cases where the Summoner has lost control and has become nothing more than a vessel for the Esper, the Summoner is generally put down.

More powerful mages of the art are able to call forth more magic in the initial summoning, thus not requiring as strong of a bond to maintain their thrall and minimizing their overall risk. To learn to summon an Esper requires a contract between both parties. The Summoner College of Dahlgren is home to the largest collection of contracts, which new Summoners can sign to bond with the Esper. Otherwise, one can attempt to form a contract with a powerful enough creature in the field, though the means behind that is a closely guarded secret of the College.

Time Magic

Spatial and gravitational manipulative magics. Perhaps the smallest school and by far the most complicated and difficult for beginners, it’s also the newest school to be discovered. The art requires a very sharp mind as mistakes can be fatal. In general, Time Mages focus on manipulating local gravity to either immobilize foes or hasten allies. Intense concentration is required as magic must be used precisely in order to achieve the desired effects. There is also a branch of the school that focuses on teleportation and warping, though the dangers and sheer amount of work required to excel in that field generally turns off most potential apprentices. The name of the school seems to be a bit of a misnomer, as Time Magic doesn’t exactly manipulate time. When asked why he named it such and not something along the lines of Gravity Magic, the founder simply said “Huh. Good point.” and moved on.

White Magic

Curative and protective magics. While mostly a pacifistic school focusing on restoration and recovery, there have been a few White Mages who have been pushing the boundaries of what constitutes White Magic. There is talk that these mages have developed a means of utilizing White Magic in an offensive way, though the specifics are unknown to the general public.

The School of White Magic declares itself neutral in the affairs of countries, and will offer aid to any wounded, regardless of nationality. Because of this, it has been declared a war crime to intentionally attack a White Mage in time of war. Out of all of the schools, White Mages hold the most respect from the general public, though other mages tend to give them a hard time.

While most practitioners of magic are the classically trained mages as listed above, there are cases of others using magic in less traditional ways. Generally, these cases are specialized knights, such as the Black Magic inspired Mystic Knights of Takhtajan or the White Magic utilized by the Paladins of Thorne. And it could be argued that the songs played by some of the Bards of the land may have magical roots. And while there may be others, more often than not in these cases, magic is used to enhance the warrior’s primary skills rather than making it the focus of their abilities, and as such the magic tend to be on a weaker end than that utilized by proper mages.

Spell List:

-coming soon!-

[Ogo]

---

-All Races are open for new character creation.

-Most Job are open for new character creation. Jobs will be closed upon the third unique character accepted.
- As of 5/27/17: Machinist has now hit the third slot and will be locked for the foreseeable future.

-Lore hooks provided in race/job/location/etc. do not have to followed.

-If needed, custom locations may be created within the islands to flesh out characters. By all means, I encourage it. This is our world, so let's make it thrive.

-Try to stick with characters that are adolescent or older. Toddlers and younger are a hard no. Older children may be considered if sufficient enough reason is given.

-Characters may have any level of experience and strength. From green newbies to harden veterans, all heroes are welcome. I have faith that ya'll will be responsible here, but more powerful characters will be met with more scrutiny during the application process and during the story. Have some sense here, please. One-man armies may become the target of spontaneous Comet strikes.

-Characters may be either Warriors of Light(WoL), or non-chosen heroes (NCH). You guys have the choice as to what you want to make here. Writers may create up to two characters for now, with one of them being eligible to become a Warrior of Light. Depending on number of applicants and the number of writers that stick around, this limitation may be lifted in the future. So to recap, writer cast compositions may be one of the following:

1xWoL | 1xNCH | 1xWoL + 1xNCH | 2xNCH

-Regarding Warriors of Light: These characters will have the greatest potential to become stronger during the course of the story. In-universe lore dictates that these characters will become attuned to the Great Crystal, having some of its power bestowed upon them. They'll grow their power at an accelerated rate and slowly gain access to the experience of Warriors of Light from ages past. In return for this power, they will become thralls to the Crystal. They will be compelled to both protect and serve the Crystal whether or not they want to. Should the character be chosen, they cannot turn down the pact.

-Regarding non-chosen heroes: Just because they're not "the chosen ones" doesn't mean they won't have a place in the plot. They're just as much the protagonists as those crystal heads. While these characters may not be able to become quite as powerful, they have complete and total free-will, rather than being glorified puppets of the crystal.

-Please use the sheet below. Applications may either be PM'd to me, or posted in the OOC with an @mention for me. Applications will be considered in order in which they were received. Once an application is being reviewed, I'll contact you via PM. If I do not get in touch with you within two days, feel free to send me another message.

Skeleton

[hider=Character Name Here]
[center]
[img]<Insert character picture here. Preferably art over real picture>[/img]
[h2][sub][color=insert character color code here]"<insert character quote here>"[/color][/sub][/h2][/center]

[color=character color][b][u]Name:[/u][/b][/color] <Insert Character Name here>
[color=character color][b][u]Title:[/u][/b][/color] <Insert any titles, if any, the character has here>
[color=character color][b][u]Race:[/u][/b][/color] <Insert character race here. See list of races in OOC>
[color=character color][b][u]Job:[/u][/b][/color] <Insert character job here. Refers to combat classification, not necessarily the character's profession>
[color=character color][b][u]Age:[/u][/b][/color] <Insert character age here. See list of races for lifespans and age of adulthood>
[color=character color][b][u]Gender:[/u][/b][/color] <Insert character gender here.>
[color=character color][b][u]Warrior of Light:[/u][/b][/color] <Is this character one of the heroes chosen by the crystal? Yes or No>

[*hr]
[h2][sub][color=character color][b][u]Appearance Information[/u][/b][/color][/sub][/h2]
[color=character color][u][b]Physical Features:[/b][/u][/color]

<Physical description goes here! Use this space to describe the character's physical appearance. Height, build, skin color, hair color, eye color. Facial hair. Scars. Anything that helps paint the character's natural image, put here.>

[color=character color][u][b]Clothing/Armor/Weapons:[/b][/u][/color]

<Usual attire description goes here! What does their normal, everyday clothing look like? What do they wear into battle? Include any weapons or accessories here as well.>

[*hr]
[h2][sub][color=character color][b][u]Psychological Information[/u][/b][/color][/sub][/h2]
[color=character color][u][b]Personality Traits:[/b][/u][/color]

x | x | x | x | x
<Insert major personality traits here. At least five, please. Try to include both positive and negative aspects. A flawed character is more interesting than a perfect charrie! If you'd like to include a short description of their personality underneath, by all means, though this is not required.>

[color=character color][u][b]Likes:[/b][/u][/color]

x | x | x

<Tell us at least three things that your character likes here. Be as vague or specific as you'd like!>

[color=character color][u][b]Dislikes:[/b][/u][/color]

x | x | x

<Tell us at least three things that your character dislikes here. Be as vague or specific as you'd like!>

[*hr]
[h2][sub][color=character color][b][u]Personal History[/u][/b][/color][/sub][/h2]
[color=character color][u][b]Hometown:[/b][/u][/color]

<from which nation does this character originate? See locations section of OOC>

[color=character color][u][b]Current Residence:[/b][/u][/color]

<where does this character currently live? See locations section of OOC>

[color=character color][u][b]Occupation:[/b][/u][/color]

<what does this character do to earn a living? Not all heroes are murderhobos.>

[color=character color][u][b]Backstory:[/b][/u][/color]

<Backstory description goes here! Describe as much or as little of your character's past as you'd wish. If you'd rather keep some information held back to be revealed during the course of the story, feel free.>

[color=character color][u][b]Other:[/b][/u][/color]

<Any additional information, if any, regarding the character may go here>
[/hider]

-Remove asterisks from the [*hr] before posting.
-Be sure to remove all text within the <>
-Replace "character color" with either a color name found here or a hexcode found here.

[Ogo]

<reserved for future expansion>

[Ogo]

CALLING ALL HEROES!
@Lugia @GarlandDaHero @Rin @Utrax
@Evanist @Cuccoruler @Wadesauce @Savo
@Zero Hex @PetiteAmbivert @Laios @Demous
@RolePlayerRoxas @WXer @Ryteb Pymeroce @Ryuzaki

While I do have a little more work to do, I hereby declare this thingy open to applicants!

...also, I desperately need to get some sleep. So Imma do that. I'll talk to ya'll later~

[Demous]

Very nice job here

[Utrax]

*Signs in at the check in desk.*
I'll drop my CS later today.

[Celaira]

Daaaamn this is well put together.

[Celaira]

The previous message got double posted for some reason. Apologies.

[Ogo]

Very nice job here

@Demous

Daaaamn this is well put together.

@Celaira

Thank you! I got super self-conscious before I hit post, so this made my day ^-^

*Signs in at the check in desk.*
I'll drop my CS later today.

@Utrax

Glad to have ya aboard, but don't worry about rushing! I've got to sleep, then an eight-hourish shift at the factory, so it'll be some time before I'm back to the PC. I've got a long weekend coming up, so depending on the status of the apps, we MAY be looking at a Saturday/Sunday start. But I'm shit with deadlines, so don't hold me to that! _{or do. I ain't gonna tell you how to live your life}

[Celaira]

@Ogobrogo Are you full-up, or is there potential for me to app a White Mage Miqo'te?

[Zero Hex]

It may or may not take me a few days to get a character done, fair warning, still calling a punchman.

[Ogo]

@Ogobrogo Are you full-up, or is there potential for me to app a White Mage Miqo'te?

@Celaira

By all means, go ahead and app away!

It may or may not take me a few days to get a character done, fair warning, still calling a punchman.

@Zero Hex

Take your time, bub! Ya'll had to wait on me, so I've got no excuse to be impatient here.

[Mixtape Ghost N]

@Ogobrogo I have to say, you made a well put together OOC thread.

You have made me proud, son.

_{Just popped in to say that, as I have no interest in joining because I have zero knowledge of FF aside from Kingdom Hearts.}

[Ogo]

@Mr Allen J
Aww! Thanks Allen!
Everything I know I ripped off learned from you.

And it's all good! Dif'rent strokes for dif'rent folks.

[Mixtape Ghost N]

@Ogobrogo More people should do a table of contents anyway.

[Ogo]

@Mr Allen J I like to think so. I wouldn't want to navigate that mess up there without it.

ANYWAY! THREAD! For now, I'll be closing applicants outside of those who have already expressed interest in order to give everybody time to write up their apps. We've got quite a few here, and if everybody decides to join and are accepted, that's like seventeen and myself. If people decide to pass or just, y'know, ghost away, we'll open things back up! Thank you!