~ The Trick to Magic ~
~ The Interest Check - Status: Full ~
~ Premise ~
~ In the year 3131, the world has developed into a mechanical utopia. War, starvation, disease and anguish have been extinguished and replaced by faith placed in science. Technology developed has allowed humanity to begin to cross the galaxy and evolution has begun to provide humans with new means of surviving and embracing the advanced world they have fostered. While war has ceased to plague Earth for the past 109 years (from the year 3022 onward), humans have also begun to show signs of magical ability beginning in the year 3095. After much discussion from across the globe, the nations were successful in ensuring with these new powers, war did not follow suit.
~ Schools and research labs were constructed to allow everyone to explore their new powers. These powers however were based on the elements, giving people abilities to control or create based solely on the logic of science. These powers were constructive and never used for destructive purposes. Laws were put in place to protect people and over time people began to form their lives based on what element they could control, be it zinc, helium, and such. Said powers develop during puberty and to this date, there has been no record of someone not developing magical powers. Due to the world's drive towards a positive future, many things had to be sacrificed in order to ensure the world had enough room for its growing population.
~ Forests, deserts, jungles and other natural wonders were paved over to establish new cities and facilities for the sprawling development. The only means of generations remembering a lush world filled with flora and fauna, is through digital archives such as tv or movies. The world has turned its focus on progressing the medical field, space exploration and colonization, and other areas of progress. Most people do not find time to personally indulge in fun or entertainment. Frivolity has become lost in time as magic itself is used for learning and building. Magic is a responsibility and an honor, using one's magic in their career is a goal everyone strives for. And creating things like movies or music has become a laughable career path. The entertainment industry is pretty much dead as no one subscribes to that sort of mindlessness.
~ Enter a small group of randomly selected individuals. Prior to reaching puberty, a man who calls himself The Visionary, kidnapped a select few, bestowing upon them each a small but important shard. The shards were created in a lab by The Visionary but were given several duties to preform. The shards first and foremost prevented the person from developing a magical ability upon reaching puberty. The shard would in turn harness the pent up power stored within the person as they reach adulthood. The third function of the shard is to allow the person to have a magical ability tied to the old world's elements, natural elements that cannot be boiled down to what's on a table. These magical talents had charm and personality, they were fire, water, air, greenery, and beast summoning.
~ After turning 22 these strangers are once again kidnapped and brought together by The Visionary who tells them of how Earth used to be. How there used to be actors and musicians and performers who were idolized for their talents and how the world used to care about more than just facts and inventions. These strangers are taught how to use their very different elements that are the last remaining means to enjoy an era long forgotten. The Visionary has a plan to hack into the global news network and broadcast the group performing wondrous feats, from conjuring up fire and summoning a lion to jump through a flaming hoop, to someone juggling knives while floating upside-down in the air.
~ While this show becomes a global obsession, and while these strangers become friends while embracing their new place in life, there are forces who wish to use the rare old world magic for themselves. These special friends have spent most of their lives up to this point, judged and rejected for not having a purpose in life or a useful skill. Now they have something coveted and are bringing real joy back to the world. This fantastic magic is soon to be threatened and soon tested against the reality of progress.
~ The Old World Magic ~
~ Fire takes the form of a red shard that allows the user to conjure flames.
~ Water takes the form of a blue shard that allows the user to conjure water.
~ Air takes the form of a white shard that allows the user to generate wind.
~ Greenery takes the form of a green shard that allows the user to create vines and flowers.
~ Beast takes the form of a brown shard that allows the user to summon wild animals.
~ Rock takes the form of a black shard that allows the user to conjure chunk of rock and flurries of dirt.
~ The Circus Acts ~
~ Acts that will be performed will vary from each person. The Visionary will teach the group basic skills that they can develop further on their own. With the old world magic one can create balls of fire and water. One can create a whip out of vines, water and fire. One can fly in the air with the use of air or the projectile use of fire, vines, water or flames. One can ride or direct wild animals that are summoned. Be creative but also somewhat reasonable. While the idea of this show they put on, is meant to dazzle people, it needs to be feasible enough for the logistics of new users. Consider what talents one might find at a circus or a magic/stage show and be creative. Each character will be able to design their own act and will be able to co-create with their fellow performers for even more amazing stunts. Don't worry about this until we get into the RP though.
~ Rules ~
~ Our characters are 22, they don't have to have just turned 22 but that's their age. No real way around it. Due to that age, they should be done with college/university. Considering they have no modern magic their job and major are very limited. Life in 3131 revolves around using magic in one's career. Someone who can produce a certain metal goes into a line of work suited to that. Our characters will have to pick undesirable paths, paths most scoff at, like someone who cooks or does accounting, jobs that have robotics doing most of the work, for example.
~ I will take the role of The Visionary as well as the NPC antagonistic groups that come out of the shadows. I will also take the role of one of the special kidnapped victims turned celebrity, likely whichever old world magic trait is leftover.
~ I am looking for people who can give about 4-5 paragraphs on a regular basis, a post rich with emotion, sensory detail that also pushes the plot forward. I am also looking for people who can post about every 5-10 so I'm not looking for speed posters by any means but people who still can manage a post within a reasonable time so we're not kept waiting too long.
~ Posters who do fail to post in a timely manner should give notice in this thread or in PM. I need to know what's going on. We all have lives and other responsibilities and while this is a hobby, I expect those who sign up can be responsible and commit themselves accordingly. If a particular roleplayer does seem to continue to lag, I will write their character to the side in a narrative in the next possible post. Should someone return after an unexpected hiatus, it is up to them to write themselves back into the current situation within reason.
~ I usually run RPs in Rounds. A Round consists of one post from each roleplayer, ensuring everyone is included. A Round begins and ends with a post from me, the GM. Between each of my posts, someone can post whenever they wish, once. There is no locked order for people to post but should someone miss two Rounds in a row, I will write them out as outlined above.
~ Sometimes I dabble in graphic design, depending on the quality of images people submit with their character sheet, I may make us banners for our IC posts. They are optional but I think for a RP of this nature, having colors and images would really help. Posts that look pretty are also a little easier to read, in my mind anyway.
~ Lastly, this is about a fun energetic group of characters. They should be sociable and mature. Avoid cliches if you can, these characters are already going to be pretty special so they don't need extra fluff in their history. Sometimes having a fairly normal character goes a long way, is all I'm gonna say. Speaking of fun, we are writers should have fun. This whole story is able being spontaneous and creative so don't forget that!
~ Character Sheet ~
~ Copy and paste the above CS and post it in the OOC thread. When I approve it, you can post it in the CS tab. Keep in mind I may have to give the element to the first person who gets approved so I tried to make the CS as brief as possible. That said, don't rush through your sheet since I can't approve it until it's done anyway. Don't apply to the RP with the intention of only using one magical trait because the odds are you may not get it and I don't want stubborn folks applying anyway. We gotta be flexible and open-minded right?
~ If anyone has any questions, let me know and I'll try to answer them. This is meant to be a fun RP so let's make some magic together!
