I suppose it could be liberating to take a leap of faith, to shrug off the burden of proof for the promise of hope. It takes trust to turn darkness to light. And those who trust risk putting their faith in the wrong hands. For there are those who pray for you... and those who prey on you. And no matter how careful you are, sometimes you just can't tell the difference.
Welcome one and all, to Hellpact! This is a mature game with mature themes dealing with the occult, warlocks, exorcisms, demons, and everything that goes along with that. The premise is fairly simple. About 5-7 warlocks/occultists/exorcists from around the world are invited to a single location together, in Boston Massachusetts. A summons they cannot ignore, they find themselves working together, or butting heads together, in the service of a mysterious benefactor who desires to hire them in search of answers to mysterious paranormal goings on in the city... And maybe beyond. Every choice has a consequence, every action leads to both bad and good. The struggle of a warlock is one of the soul, and damnation. How much of yourself are you willing to compromise in order to get what you want?
Though they possess their own magics, a human isn't capable of much more than the paltry cantrips, the basics of divination, tracking, low grade telekinesis, and some exorcisms. Anything of a greater potence simply isn't within the realm of human magic (unless they have an especially potent Magic Focus, but more on that later). In order to achieve greater power one must make a Pact with a Demon. Once they have reached an accord, the Demon grants the human (now known as a Warlock) access to a number of abilities within their domain of power, called a Gift. But be warned, for every time you call upon your Gifts you must pay the price set forth in your Pact. Another facet of your agreement is the ability to summon the Demon to act on your behalf directly, a mighty boon indeed, for even the weakest of Demons hold significant power. Of course, asking for their direct intervention is incredibly costly...
Lexicon
Occultist: Anybody who possesses knowledge/interest in the magical arts. May or may not be a warlock, may or may not know their own form of magic.
Warlock: An occultist who has forged at least 1 Pact with a demon.
Magic Focus: An object which has been magically attuned to an occultist's soul, allowing them to better channel their spellcraft. The more personal an object is, the more potent an effect it creates. The truly depraved have been known to use family members to create the most impressive human magic possible, but this is seen as incredibly vile.
Demon: In more modern times, the word has changed meaning to refer explicitly to evil Hellspawn that lead you astray from the path of God. While these exist, this world deals primarily in the original meaning of the word, or "daemons" if you prefer. Essentially, demons as a whole are any magical or mythological beings outside of mundane human perception, which includes the modern idea of demons as well as fae, angels, spirits, and just about anything else you can think of. Demons do not exist on a human scale or morality. They instead embody specific virtues, ideas, emotions, etc. and operate in accordance to what they represent, in what many call "Blue and Orange" morality. A fire elemental does not burn out of spite, rage, or because it is evil. It burns because it has to, it has no choice in the matter, for anything that spreads fire is "good" while anything that stops fire is "bad." A spirit of love will help the hapless find love, but it will also react violently to anybody trying to split up people who are in an abusive relationship. It does not care whether or not that love is healthy, only that the love exists. It is for these reasons that Pacts between a demon and a Warlock can end very badly, because they are completely incapable of acting outside their nature, for better or for worse.
Pact: An agreement between a Warlock and a Demon. The details always vary and can be very circumstantial, but the core boils down to the demon bestowing a number of Gifts on the warlock in exchange of receiving something else in return. The Pact will usually, but not always, include a clause that allows the warlock to summon the demon, with a greater cost than normal. Should a Warlock ever fail to pay the price owed for their Gifts, or summonings, there can only be one recompense-they will lose their immortal soul.
Gift: Abilities relating to a demon's domain of power, which they provide to a warlock during a Pact. Every Gift incurs a penalty with each and every use, some sort of reparation or debt that must be paid to the demon that gave it to them. If a fire elemental bestowed the Gift of fireballs to a warlock, they may require the Warlock burn down one tree every time they cast a fireball, for example. Even Gifts that may seem to be passive or always active, such as enlightened knowledge, are inaccessible unless the Warlock actively chooses to use that knowledge and thus incur the price.
Rules
Looking for between 5-7 characters. I do not work off of first come first serve. Character submissions will be closed off 7 days after the posting of this OOC at which point in time all CSes will be judged and chosen based on merit.
GM's word is law, but sometimes the law is meant to be bent a little. I'm always open to discussion. That said, when I give the final say, it is the final say.
This is a post by post RP directed by the GM. You control your character and only your character. All other details, including NPCs, world environments, and events, are determined by me.
All characters are called to 1313 Faust Dr., Boston Massachusetts from wherever they live in the world, whether it be a simple letter in the mail, a magical rune that appeared on their wall, or what.
Characters are all occultists. Whether you want them to know any magic, or be a warlock, is up to you.
If starting as a warlock, you may begin with a Pact with up to two minor demons, or one moderate demon.
If you read this, add "I walk this path alone, who would walk with me?" in the "other" section of the CS. If you do not, it is void and will not be judged.
Characters are only human, no demons.
All normal site rules apply.
Character Name Here
Reference image here if applicable, otherwise remove this section "Character quote here"
Name: Alias: Any nicknames or aliases your character goes by Age: How old are they? Gender: Male? Female? Other? Nationality: Where in the world do they hail from? Appearance: What do they look like? If you provided a reference image, this must still be filled out.
History: A detailed look at how they became who they are now up until they received their invitation to Boston. Sin: Which is the Seven Deadly Sins do they identify with most? Virtue: Which of the Seven Heavenly Virtues do they identify with most? Personality: A general idea of who they are and how they think.
Skills: What mundane, nonmagical skills do they possess? Since magic, especially warlock magic, comes with a price, many occultists try to train themselves up in other ways so they won't have to use it. Spells: If you possess magic, what spells do you know? Up to three max, and they must be low level. Focus: If you know magic, what do you use to focus your energies? Equipment: Any other mundane equipment you have on your person at any given point in time, apart from the obvious we can always assume like wallet, keys, etc.
Other: Any other tidbits you feel are necessary to add to your CS that aren't represented elsewhere.
Pacts
Name: The name of the demon you have a Pact with. Titles: Any titles the demon goes by. Ranking: 1-5, 1 being weakest 5 being strongest. Starting out you are allowed a max of two demon pacts, the total of which may add to 3 or less. Domains: What aspects does this demon hold power over? Animals? Fire? Knowledge? Nature? Etc. Appearance: What does the demon look like? If you use an image you do not need to write out a description, but make sure to put it in a hider. Gifts: You may start with a total of 2 gifts (one from each demon or both from a single demon) and they must be presented here in a list format.
Gift Name: What is it called?
Effect: What does it do?
Cost: What must your character do to pay the demon back for using the gift? Remember that this cost must be paid every time they activate the gift, and it should pertain to the demon's domains in some way.
Summon Cost: What must you pay the demon for bringing it forth into the material world to do your bidding? Remember it should pertain to its domains and be a very high price, not something you'd want to pay out unless you had no other options.
[center][h1][b]Character Name Here[/b][/h1] Reference image here if applicable, otherwise remove this section "Character quote here"[/center] [b]Name:[/b] [b]Alias:[/b] Any nicknames or aliases your character goes by [b]Age:[/b] How old are they? [b]Gender:[/b] Male? Female? Other? [b]Nationality:[/b] Where in the world do they hail from? [b]Appearance:[/b] What do they look like? If you provided a reference image, this must still be filled out.
[b]History:[/b] A detailed look at how they became who they are now up until they received their invitation to Boston. [b]Sin:[/b] Which is the Seven Deadly Sins do they identify with most? [b]Virtue:[/b] Which of the Seven Heavenly Virtues do they identify with most? [b]Personality:[/b] A general idea of who they are and how they think.
[b]Skills:[/b] What mundane, nonmagical skills do they possess? Since magic, especially warlock magic, comes with a price, many occultists try to train themselves up in other ways so they won't have to use it. [b]Spells:[/b] If you possess magic, what spells do you know? Up to three max, and they must be low level. [b]Focus:[/b] If you know magic, what do you use to focus your energies? [b]Equipment:[/b] Any other mundane equipment you have on your person at any given point in time, apart from the obvious we can always assume like wallet, keys, etc.
[b]Other:[/b] Any other tidbits you feel are necessary to add to your CS that aren't represented elsewhere.
[h3][b]Pacts[/b][/h3]
[b]Name:[/b] The name of the demon you have a Pact with. [b]Titles:[/b] Any titles the demon goes by. [b]Ranking:[/b] 1-5, 1 being weakest 5 being strongest. Starting out you are allowed a max of two demon pacts, the total of which may add to 3 or less. [b]Domains:[/b] What aspects does this demon hold power over? Animals? Fire? Knowledge? Nature? Etc. [b]Appearance:[/b] What does the demon look like? If you use an image you do not need to write out a description, but make sure to put it in a hider. [b]Gifts:[/b] You may start with a total of 2 gifts (one from each demon or both from a single demon) and they must be presented here in a list format. [list][*][i]Gift Name:[/i] What is it called? [*][i]Effect:[/i] What does it do? [*][i]Cost:[/i] What must your character do to pay the demon back for using the gift? Remember that this cost must be paid every time they activate the gift, and it should pertain to the demon's domains in some way.[/list] [b]Summon Cost:[/b] What must you pay the demon for bringing it forth into the material world to do your bidding? Remember it should pertain to its domains and be a very high price, not something you'd want to pay out unless you had no other options.
This link will get you into the Discord server for all the players in my games. You should only see the general and shitposting channel at first. Ask a mod, or myself, to add you to the Hellpact Guest role in order to see the Hellpact channel. If and when your character is approved you will be added to the full member role.
Name: Erín Züntér Alias: Zaphala, Queen, Master, Mother Age: 24 Gender: Female Nationality:American, East Slovakian, Center Poland , The Southern Border of Germany Appearance:I looks like a person. Duh. The greatest person on Earth and beyond, of course.
Erin is a bit on the tall side for a woman, standing at 5'10", but is a figure perfect 'goth'. Her hair is long, straight, and dark as the moonless night or a deadly storm cloud, rolling to her waist. Her eyes, a light Hazel rimmed with shadows and long eyelashes, peer out with a kind of hidden light, like the light in an old cellar full of creaks and groans. Her voice floats into your ears and works lines upon your mind like Sheogorath, a ghostly laugh of music and insanity. Her body tempts you like the perfect cake or a hidden Oasis amidst the flying sand of a parched man.
She is hypnotic in movement and speech, a magician of the finest craft, a siren untethered from the sea.
She is your salvation.... ....and your death.
History: My story? Well, color me delighted. Yes, yes, I'll share my story with you.
I was born in southern Germany to boring parents in a boring town full of fucking boring people. Ma and Pa, they worked a lot. Pa forged steel, worked metals into shapes in the factory. He died quick, the blackness climbed into his lungs and filled them until they bled. He wasn't the first, and he definitely wasn't the last. Ma, though, she worked on horses. Fine work, ya? Now me, I ran wild and free, if you catch my drift. Ah, as a girl I pranced and danced and whirled and twirled. As a budding adult I whirled and twirled in other ways.
I left that boring ass town at 16, set my sights straight for bigger and better. Because the best deserved the best. I made a life hard and fast, and dear Frederic entered my life then, that same year. Ah, such wild love we shared. He was a business man, full of all I could ever want. Mhmm.
We lived in a fair house, full of life and joy. And then, then it happened.
I was with child. Ah, how I yearned for this. How I deserved this! Sweet Valeria, yes, she would be the most beautiful daughter for the most beautiful mother.
But no. No, no, no. I couldn't carry. I couldn't do it. And she was gone. It was all ruin. It was unacceptable. I deserved her.
My joy was gone, replaced by the black pit that was despair.
I would have her.
I delved into the arcane, following strings and pulling, yanking, taking it all in.
I'll find a way to bring her back to me. Because no one else is strong enough to. Certainly not Frederic.
And then that letter came, and away I go. Spirited along the path to my greatness, seeking my destiny.
Sin: Pride. "I am the most perfect person to ever grace this planet. I deserve it all, everything, the best."
Virtue: Patience "I have waited and worked for years, with years more before me, to obtain my goals. Time is just an illusion to one such as I."
Personality: Erín is a whimsical woman. She feels the world owes her everything for the greatness she brings to the table. She can be high and mighty, but deep down she's a mother without a child. She can be nurturing, caring, sweet, and loving if one can invite the feelings forth. In the end, though, she's still a calculating woman who isn't afraid to take drastic measures.
Skills:
Lock picking
Capable of basic self defense
Knows how to fire a pistol accurately
Is a formidable actress
Spells:
Desire's Call (Basic divination pointing towards her current desired objective)
Moonlight (create a small light from her focus equatable to a waxing half-crescent moonlight)
Exorcism - Basic (Is able to banish Rank 1 Demons with preparation, but has never attempted higher)
Focus: A vial filled with blood from both her and her miscarried child.
Equipment: A rather formidable looking serrated dagger, hidden in a sheath on her right thigh
Other:I walk this lonely road, the only road I have ever known...
I walk this path alone, who would walk with me?
Pacts
Name: Be'lakor
Titles: The Devourer
Ranking: 3
Domains: Chaos
Appearance:
Gifts:
Gift Name: Randomization
Effect: All objects of a small car or smaller within eyesight change positions.... Randomly.
Cost: A random memory.
Gift Name: Designation
Effect: Erín moves from one point to another she can visualize in her mind (commonly within eyesight), leaving behind an apparently dead body for several minutes.
Cost: A random amount of her ability to feel emotions.
Summon Cost: A random amount of skin. This skin can come from one area or several or even her entire body. Not that she knows until it happens.
"The world is going to shit and I'm just here trying to delay the inevitable."
Name: Ross Davis
Alias: Flapjack
Age: 33
Gender: Male.
Nationality: Scotland
Appearance: Ross is rather good looking, having a face that is easy on the eyes. Both his hair and eyes are a brown/dark brown colour. Aside from that, he's pretty average looking. Only outstanding thing about him is what he wears, he exclusively wears the same get up every day. Same coat, same shirt, same pants. Under the clothes he's got an average build, no major muscle mass or tone. He stands at a decent height of 6'1, being just tall enough to have a good view of things, but not too tall as to attract attention.
History: Ross has always been a bit of a rebel, frequently got into trouble at school and even scored some community service on a few occasions. He lived how he wanted to, and nobody could tell him otherwise. He wasn't stupid though, he got good grades without really trying all that hard, even managing to score some awards. This is what vexed his parents most, he was a smart kid, but he spent all his time doing stupid things. His shenanigans were eventually noticed by less than respectable people, mobsters called the Burning Kilt. And he got himself into some deep trouble, trouble that would end up endangering the life of his family.
It was then that Ross had to learn to get his shit together and listen for once. Because it wasn't about him anymore, there was far more at stake. The mob got him to do all kinds of things across Edinburgh, and not once did he get caught. He was ridiculously good at evading the authorities, and the mob got him to do progressively harder jobs. He couldn't do anything like rob a bank, but he could carjack very well. This is what earned him the title "Flapjack". At this point in his life he was only two years out of school being twenty years old, and he was had been the puppet of the mob for a good year, only way they kept him roped in that long was threats against his parents. Sure he could get away from the mob, but they couldn't, and the Burning Kilt wasn't going to just give up one of it's best thieves.
Then the inevitable happened. He was asked to kill somebody. At first he was going to do it, he felt that the loss of one smuck's life was worth the lives of his parents. But then it turned out that this "Smuck" was actually a cop who was getting close to ratting out the Burning Kilt. This is when his life went from bad, to well, worse. He declined the job refusing to kill a cop, the job was insane, killing anyone would have been hard enough to stomach, but killing someone who actually helps people? He couldn't do it.
It turned out they were expecting this kind of reaction, and had already gotten their hands on his parents. They were not going to give him a chance to run off with them. The eleventh of May was when he lost his parents, a date he wouldn't soon forget, for this date was also when he started practising magic. The mob ratted out Ross with the help of some crooked cops, so leaving Edinburgh was going to be next to impossible, he had to live on the edge.
Since he was stuck there with the Burning Kilts he thought he may as well take them out. But one man against an entire mob seemed impossible. Well for your average one, but Ross was a little more than average. He already had skills that made him almost impossible to catch, but chuck in some magic and years of dedication. And you have yourself a force to be reckoned with. He spent his first few street years skulking around learning the basics, learning of pacts and spells. A pact seemed like the perfect way for him to eradicate the Burning Kilts, but what kind of a cost would need to be paid to dispose of that many people? What kind of horrific power would he need to tap into? Ross shook the idea from his mind, he wouldn't use a pact for these scum, he'd do it his own way.
And he did. Over ten years Ross dismantled the entire gang, as well as some other vigilante work. Not everyone would tell you good things about Flapjack, some would call him and asshole, other a lawless murderer. But some would tell you good things, about the terrible people he's made pay for their crimes. In the end, they all tell you one thing, don't fuck with Flapjack.
It was only recently that Flapjack seemed to have vanished from the city of Edinburgh, last place the cops found him was in a pub. After escaping them in his ordinary destructive manner, only things they could find were a smashed bottle and some soiled paper scraps.
Sin: Wrath.
Virtue: Diligence.
Personality: Ross will tell you what he thinks, if it upsets you then so be it. He's not going to sugar coat something to make you feel better, at least not in most cases. He's almost guaranteed to rub people the wrong way, only exceptions are people who he's trying to help. He avoids letting people get close, but this is made easier because nobody really wants to be around him anyway. If you're looking to piss him off tough, just be a criminal, Ross' definition of criminal is wronging innocent people. You can mess with the scum of the earth all you want, if fact Ross would probably help you. But the second you lay a finger on someone who Ross can confirm as an innocent person.
Ross also dislikes pacts, but he knows that one day he's going to run into a problem where he'll have to strike a deal. He just doesn't know if he's going to be able to deal with the price.
Skills:
Marathon runner: Has impressive running speed and stamina, this skill was obtained from the many times he had to run from the authorities.
Lock picker: Can pick lock pretty well, and if the lock is being stubborn he'll probably just kick down the door.
Car jacker: Can break into and hot wire most cars.
Gun builder: Can build and deconstruct pistols and assault rifles. (M16, Glock, Ak47, Desert eagle and the Barrett 9M. These are the weapons he can make easily, other guns are harder for him but not impossible to figure out.)
Spells:
Telekinesis: Able to move objects without touching them.
Smoke screen: Able to produce streams of smoke for diversions and escapes. This could also be used to choke someone.
Object hardening: Makes objects more durable. Eg making a metal table bullet proof or making a roll of paper into a bat.
Focus: His black gloves leather gloves he used during his years as a crook/vigilante.
Equipment: Ross always has his clothes, his special gloves and some lock picks. His main weapon is a extendable metal baton, but he'll sometimes throw cards if he feels like it.
Other: "I walk this path alone, who would walk with me?"
Name: Carnation Morgan Hendricks Alias: Bloody Orphan or Skinglove to the public. Carn or Morgan to those she knows and trusts. Age: 10.5 Gender: Female Nationality: Australian Appearance: With brown hair reaching barely to her shoulders, several freckles adorning her cheeks, and a shorter and more delicate frame, Carnation stands underweight with her short height of 50 inches even (127cm). Her clothes are normally oversized and run the gamut of being darker colored. Her shoes are old, ratty, and torn, but they serve their purpose to make sure that she doesn't step on any nails or anything. The only thing of value she wears is an oversized trench coat, with the sleeves rolled up and the tail of the coat barely lifting off the ground while she walks. It carries a lot of her things, and it's just a really nice coat.
History:
Born in Sydney, Australia, to her proud parents, Carnation was set up from the start to have a future reared in a magical destiny. She had heard tales of her father's work as a warlock, and wanted to be just like her dad, if not better. She displayed a bit of magical talent at the early age of four, and she had been practicing the magic with her father through a focus that was rather mundane - an oaken wand hand-crafted by the bloke - but it was never satisfying enough for her. It wasn't until she found a special voice under her bed.
The voice spoke in a sultry, yet masculine voice. It promised her the power she wished to seek, and a way to use that power to the furthest limits. Of course, this came with it's price, and the price was obviously that of a sacrifice or two, so at first Carnation denied. The thought of her sacrificing her own mother and father as fuel for her passion was... too risky. Too terrifying. Too awful for her.
She continued practicing her magic with her father, trying to hone it to a point where she could rival his strengths in magic. When she turned eight, her abilities waned. She couldn't improve and she felt like every time she tried to win her parents affection was spent fruitless. She couldn't get better and she couldn't impress them and show them how much she wanted to learn.
Carnation returned to her bedroom, and she made a deal with the voice under her bed. She'd offer up the sacrifices of her two parents in exchange for the strongest focus she could ever obtain. Something she couldn't make on her own, and something nobody would ever want to find out.
So the deal was struck, and Carnation began to wander the streets with a new leather glove.
The girl had it rough for a while, adjusting to street life, but she made it by after her body found her situations that didn't exactly fit the bill of something... good. Many pedophiles met their end as Carnation's kill list grew and grew. It attracted the attention of a demon banker, Antonio, that eventually struck another deal with Carnation. He would keep track and tally the souls she had been accumulating over her works as a vigilante / street rat at the low cost of his own interest. It worked for Carnation, and the two had a deal struck.
Things went pretty well for Carnation for the next year after meeting Antonio, but all good things come to an end as Antonio summoned himself willingly for once.
And with him, he brought a letter addressed to Carnation. How he got it, Carnation doesn't know or care, but what she does know is that it's calling her to Boston.
Sin: Lust - She hungers for power like nobody else she has met. She doesn't care how many must die in her wake, she will find a way to get this power. Virtue: Temperance - When you grow up on the streets, you learn to make sure all your food is preserved and rationed well. Carnation knows this better than most. Personality: Let's let herself describe it.
"I am the lowest of the low as I stand before you. I look like a small child, but my hand is decorated with the skins of my biggest mistakes and my greatest assets. I eat cookies and crap the thunder that will bring you to your knees and push you to tears. I am the child you find in an alleyway crying only to see her reddened hand grip your arm and choke the life out of it, the ashes of your life blowing away in the breeze. I choose to spare you this once, peasant, as I know down the road I will be ascending to royalty as I govern you all as the Queen of Earth and the dimensions beyond. Remember this mercy."
Keep in mind, Carnation said all of this to her stuffed pig, Mister Barny.
Skills: Knife fighting and butterfly knife tricks, haggling, lying, deceiving, baking, and running. She's learned a fair bit of these after she began fighting the dangers that the streets hold. Spells: - Limited Pyromancy : You are allowed the ability to manipulate fire to your whim, however limited it is. While you receive immunity to fire as a result of having this, you cannot generate fire out of magic and you may only work with preexisting fires. You also suffer from range issues, making your range rather short as it only extends to roughly twice the size of your arm as for what you can fully inflence. - Ricochet : Your throws and tosses can ricochet so long as you desire it to. Impossible shots are now made possible as a result. (Gives an item you throw elastic properties as it collides with the first nonliving surface, allowing it to bend physics.) - Shadow Stride : Move through the shadows as if you were one with them, melting down into a black shape of your body to do so. You cannot deal any damage directly while using this, and you are restricted to moving in areas where shadows exist. Equipment: A sharpened butterfly knife, Mister Barny the stuffed pig, a series of random trading cards of different series, a business card for a demon bank, and a mobile phone.
Other: A majority of the worldly belongings that Carnation owns were looted off of the numerous thugs and pedophiles she has ended. She also enjoys sweet tea from the southern part of the United States. Don't ask her how she tried it, just know she does.
This path may be barren, but you bet your ass I'm walking it. Who's comin' with?!
Pacts
Name: Antonio Ronaldson Titles: The Bank Teller of the Seventeenth District Ranking: 2 Domains: Currency Appearance:
Gift Name: Deposits and Withdrawals Effect: A small rift opens up in front of the caster, allowing them a connection to Antonio directly. While the rift is open (for a maximum of five minutes at a single time), the caster is able to make transactions of the souls they have accumulated, just like it was a bank. Upon opening the rift, the souls of the recently deceased within a five meter radius are taken into the rift as deposits, and they can then be used as currency and exchanges for the summoning of other demons and the forming of other pacts with other demons. Cost: Instead of an immediate cost, Antonio saps the vault of its souls at a constant, but slow, rate. A soul is drained every two weeks, and it keeps both parties happy. Currently, there are around 10 souls in the vault right now in Carnation's name, and the next soul will be drained in about 5 days. Summon Cost: The vault must be emptied for the physical manifestation of Antonio to come out and play. Even then, getting him to play and do anything severe is something he doesn't even do normally. He doesn't enjoy getting involved in combat. He's a businessman, not a boxer.
@ProPro I will be glad to do a run-over of this if it is not up to snuff.
I can change her cardinal sin and virtue in case you wanted to get a 7 for 7 thing going. She can apply to a few of them with a quick change to her character.
Devyn Haverly
"We all have our inner demons. Just, uh, some more than others."
Name: Devyn Haverly Alias: Devyn Age: 29 Gender: Female Nationality: United States of America Appearance: Standing at five feet, three inches, Devyn has a fair complexion, blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a healthy, trim build, though she is not particularly athletic or strong. Jeans are a staple of her outfits, business or formal attire has never really come up in her travels. Leather jackets for colder climates, tank tops for warmer ones, and sometimes maybe the jeans are torn of cut if it's really hot or humid...but always jeans. They are comfortable and practical. What's not to like? Her hair is rarely let down and is usually tied into a bun or ponytail. She needs contacts to see well normally, (though she carries a pair of reading glasses) and has an intelligent, competent look about her.
History: Magic had always intrigued Devyn Conagher. Here was this logical world of science, of reason, of cause and effect. This rational world had more than enough things to study and learn, copious amounts, even. A bountiful ocean of knowledge. And then there was this other world. The world of magic, of demons and of supernatural entities that followed their own laws and rules, or perhaps a lack thereof. Human history has been tied with these ancient forces, the complicated politics and culture of history tinged with the touch of magic. Much like jeans, what wasn't there to like? Devyn's early life was relatively uneventful and prosperous. Growing up in a stable middle-upper class family gave her ample opportunity for her studies. Eventually she learned how to do basic magicks, like the bogstandard mild-telekinesis that is amazing for every new student, childs play for the masters. An uneventfully successful high school career lead her to college where she earned a major degree in Occultism, and minored in journalism. She also met her future husband, Reynold Haverly, a dark-haired aspiring entrepeneur. He was a bit more naturally and logistically oriented, rather than supernatural 'nonsense'. She had to teach him wrong, of course, as he did her. Two ambitious people who wanted to travel the world, together or apart. Long distance was in the contract. Eventually they got married and lived happily ever after. Well, they would have, but later on she would recieve a letter, inviting her to Boston, so it's necessary to discuss what happens next.
Being an ambitious, magic-infused journalist lead Devyn to some dangerous places. She wrote stories about outbreaks of diseases, famine, of civil war. Conflicts large and small played out around the world and young Mrs. Haverly was eager to learn. The child-like innocens=ce was lost among the foreign wars, instead replaced, or perhaps evolved into, a quest for knowledge. Why, and how, who, and when. She took pride in her work, for certain. Sometimes she felt herself better than than these 'Others', who delved into Pacts and Gifts, or guns and bullets, murdering each other over revenge and petty conflict. The dingy refugees fleeing and pleading, she sometimes took a macabre interest in their life and death struggles. Devyn often had to remind herself of her humanity and her compassion, and talking to Reynold over the phone and especially visiting him helped her maintain a humanist perspective, of the complicated underlying issues of these conflicts and her job as a journalist. Her adventures were still dangerous and she gained both experience and renown for her pieces. Though Reynold almost died of fright, looking back on it she is quite proud of the time she was shot in the side in a firefight that erupted suddenly. It certainly gave her an air of authenticity.
Sin: Pride Virtue: Charity Personality:
Charity: Devyn is a curious person, always wanting to know more about the world and who is it. She intends to do this by learning more about the world beneath, above, and around the natural world- the world of the supernatural. The paranormal intrigues her, which is why she has dedicated her life to studying it. Her degree in journalism and ambitious nature has taken her to dangerous places around the world, granting her experience in stressful situations. She can't help but feel sympathy towards those who have been born into such unfortunate postions as to feel forced into taking Pacts. Perhaps, she feels, she can make a difference by telling their stories.
It has also sometimes dehumanized her, causing her to look down on these pathetic people from a far away land who have gotten themselves into such a terrible situations. Why couldn't they just be clever, like her? They take pacts with demons and have their eyes burned out of their head, or fall in love with a goat, or end up killing their families for more blood. It's stupid. Idiotic. They don't deserve her help, but she would certainly benefit from taking some award-bait picture with some dumb kid looking into the camera like a beaten dog. There you go. Cry for the camera, kiddo.
Skills: Perceptive: Due to her photography and journalistic skills, Devyn has become quite perceptive over the years, able to notice things others might miss.
Intuitive: Being a journalist, she is able to read people quite well.
Medically trained: You never know when being able to suture a wound will come in handy.
Small Arms training: She took a class in maintaining a handgun for personal defence.
Spells:
Telekinesis: Able to manipulate small objects without physical interaction.
Ethereal Glance: With great focus, she can get a quick general sense for the environment on the other side of walls or other opaque surfaces, like the echolocation of a bat.
Nurturing Touch: While deeply concentrating, Devyn can heal minor wounds.
Focus: Her wedding ring.
Equipment:
Obviously, she carries around a wallet with around 100 dollars cash inside, just in case.
She keeps a leather jacket and bag for storage, inside can be found:
A professional camera.
A first aid kit.
A canteen.
Pepper spray.
And a small handgun, with a small magazine tucked in a different location for safety reasons.
Other: I walk this path alone, who would walk with me?
@Zoey White I’m not going for an even split, so no worries there. That said, I’ve only glanced through your CS (don’t want to spoil myself too bad until it’s judgment time) but I saw one admittedly minor issue you’ll want to address. Nationality is what country they are from. As much as I’d like it to be, my home state of Colorado isn’t its own nation, much less the city of Denver, hahaha. Colorado native for life!
"A man of God is not a man of God if he doesn’t relinquish himself fully to his faith. We live in a world of modern conveniences and distractions. These distractions deter man from his holy truth, to tempting sin.”
Unkempt platinum blond hair fell into hazel colored irises, as a light skinned man in Priest garb. It would be hard for many to see the soft, square jaw of the man, and his pensive features, with his very pointed noses as nothing more than another white man in England. However, if one looks closer he shares many features with those in the Middle East. A shared bloodline of his Norwegian and Pakistan mother, and his Pakistan father, Risteal is not the traditional tan skin many would expect from a man from Pakistan or really a child from Pakistan.
He’s rarely seen out of his priestly robes. Taking on a more traditional role of priesthood, by giving up forms of luxury goods or any sense of conveniences that would lead him to a path of hedonistic sin that so many people seem more fond of. If he’s ever seen out of his robes it’s usually black button down shirts with the dog collar priest are known to wear. Risteal takes his occupation seriously as well as his education and is expressed in his strignant dress code.
Standing at 5’8”, he is lean and thin. His accent is a traditional Standard London accent, which again washes away perhaps many of his origins, though there is a tendency for him to pronounce words in a way that would be a dead giveaway to his childhood.
The trials which God gave him as a child were brought upon war and chaos, misunderstanding, and a conflict of reasoning within individualistic parties who chose opposing sides. Images of Pakistan that come to the states or Europe are often harrowing tales of war, bombs, and death. Though there were always many cities that felt like the threat of war was elsewhere. Lahore a bustling city, with the busy sound of cars, and it’s familiarity to anyone use to a bigger city elsewhere would have never believed out there somewhere there could be a war of radicals.
His mother Saniha and his father Jasir were loving parents, with an emphasis on family. Saniha born once as a Sarah in Europe, as a reporter and journalist came to Peshawar to get the Pakistan’s point of view didn’t think she would find love in Pakistan. Saniha had always been described as closely connected to her heritage. Her mother originally from Pakistan who fell in love with a Norwegian man, kept most of their culture intact despite her children’s names. Saniha never expected the reverse would happen to her and she’d fall in love with Jasir. A man simply trying to live his life and enjoy it to the fullest. She adopted the name Saniha when they chose to stay in Pakistan, married, and settled in Lahore. Where Riaasat would be eventually born.
Life wasn’t much different from other kids in other parts of the world, despite daily routines including the Muslims traditions. Riaasat always had faith in his life, family, devotion, and guidance were all lessons he learned in the Anjum household. There were of course always some certain strifes in a child’s life that they have to learn to let go. Riaasat would be no stranger to be different, being born with blonde hair like his mothers, which made him stand out to other kids. Saniha always had ways of teaching her son on how to deal with these circumstances which would be later reinforced in his current personality.
Riaasat as a kid had learned the art of killing those with kindness. Some at school probably found this more weird than probably defeating. Though Saniha told her son to stop them from bullying you bake them bread. He didn’t quite know how bread would solve the issue, but somehow offering kids some form of food and to come over to his house for dinner worked. Most would hear this story would roll their eyes and considered this make believe fantasy.
Life changed at eleven, when he lost his parents to an attack in Lahore. Riaasat was devastated, but when there was fear for his safety, family he barely met or knew in Europe reached out to him to offer safety. Jasir left behind his sister, Riaasat’s aunt, his three brothers, his uncles, and his grandparents. A great family mourning occurred losing both wonderful people. It probably be the first, but not the last time Riaasat would feel powerful dejection.
Deliberating the best course of action, families exchange words and communication sending a twelve year old Riaasat to London, England to live with his mother’s sister Julie Fulton and her husband Samuel Fulton. Riaasat became Risteal when the parents offered to adopt her godchild. Risteal became a black sheep again at school. Now he was just the refuge kid, the terrorist kid. When the teacher outed him from Pakistan and to be nice to him because things were different here.
There were differences, but the Muslims traditions were not. Living between cultures. A turning point in his melancholy, loneliness, and sometimes emptiness came at fourteen when a kid pranked to hang out with the terrorist kid took him to a Catholic church. The architecture was beautiful, the words of the priest were elegant. He had always loved the Mosque and the Catholics churches were no different in his mind. Someone crafted the walls and forged them with love and devotion to God. To him he saw no difference in the God he had been taught as a child and the God being spoken now. It now dawned on him at that age, what was everyone fighting for? Couldn’t they see the beauty in the way everyone viewed God?
Faith took away the grief and loneliness he felt sometimes. He started to go to more events at the Catholic church in order to volunteer his time to help. He’d offer to help the Priest set up community services. He didn’t see himself as either a Muslim or a Catholic. He saw them as something that could easily be merged together. He ultimately became an altar boy and earned the heart of many in the Church as quite the devoted child.
Julie and Samuel had always been fair parents, with their own kids as well. They were not near as strict to saw you had to adhere to a certain law, but warned a young Risteal who became passionate about becoming a priest that he may have to affirm more to the Catholics that he was not just some Muslim invading their church. And they were right, there was always that sense that he had to be more devout than the other priest who had always believed in the one religion. Again his unorthodox views made him an outsider at times when he believed the Gods could exist in conjunction of each other not separate of each other.
When he went into college he spent his years studying what the priest studied. Theology, philosophy, and so and so forth. Till he earned his Masters in Theology. Not just satisfied with a degree, Risteal dived head first into deeper, older traditions of the religion. He gave up modern commodities and conveniences, made his food from scratch, refused to eat processed foods and refused to enter a grocery store. He gave up technology and all modern conveniences seeing them as something that separated true devotion to the truly distracted. Inspired by Buddhist and JeudoChristian monks of the past.
Up to current Risteal has spent his time studying, practicing his religion, and aiding his church in exorcism. Bestowing some kind of magic few priest who come in ordained carry. His mentor Edward told him he had a real talent and gift, that’s why when Edward ended up dead after committing suicide it ended up as a shock to the whole church. Edward never seemed like a man to simply spiritually throw himself away in that manner. It questioned many things they knew about a man who probably had mentor many of the priesthood here. In his pocket of his robes was a letter to 1313 Faust Drv, in Boston. It seemed a bit made up to Risteal. Though no one else in his order wanted to check up on it. It could possibly be a lead as into Edward’s irrational decision.
Virtue: Temperance - Not many could live the way Risteal lives. Many priesthoods in the modern day are up to choice. How far a priest is willing to go for his faith. Risteal is often praised by his self restraint, his ability to be disciplined and not act out or desire things in ways some would fall for. Rejecting modern conveniences and rejecting a way of life he seems as tempting and teaming with sin. Some people could not imagine their life without much of anything beside the clothes on their back, the Holy word, and trust in God’s plan.
Sin: Sloth - Historically Sloth didn’t always mean physical laziness, it could also mean spiritual laziness. Monks who neglected their duties. However, a much older form of the word came from the Greeks born from the word that means melancholy or depression. Risteal has suffered through bouts of Chronic Depression, which others in his sect have criticized him for as being neglectful to his duties. Risteal battles his mental fatigue on and off, hoping his faith can fill in the void of emptiness he often sometimes feels.
Personality:
Risteal is often described as a comforting man to many. He’s wise beyond his years some would say and his dedication and discipline to his faith inspires many. Inspirational is probably another word many would use to describe Risteal as an ideal they could look up to. A whole man at that. Risteal has always believed his faith gave back something to him that he lost. That without God’s word he would have felt empty. He places his trust in God’s path as it is all he has poured all of himself into. That doesn’t mean though that Risteal himself is the type of person to talk about God nonstop and that’s the only sole of his social interactions.
He’s a gentle and pure individual who believes in giving onto others, giving back unto the community. He spends his time outside of church volunteering for various organizations. Not because it is expected of him, but because it is something that he enjoys doing. Risteal knew anxiety and fear all too well in his childhood and devoted himself to healing the hearts of the members of his community as much as giving them the word of God. Reading them passages and giving them some sense of guidance and guide to a better path in their life. This is of course if they ask or make a request for such a thing. He wouldn’t force feed it down someone’s throat who didn’t want it.
Some would argue that Risteal has nothing, but his faith and devotion to the good of the world. Though Risteal enjoys his work, he is also knowledgeable in the occult. On the side of his priest work done in public, he is a skilled and gifted exorcist as well and spends most of his time reading old books. Being bilingual and his education in theology has allowed him the gift to read Latin. While he can read and speak Arabic.
Skills:
Multilingual - Can speak, read, write Arabic. Reads Latin and understands how to translate it. Speaks, reads, and writes English.
Oratory - He has been complimented before about his natural capability to string along words in an eloquent manner that pulls people in. It inspires others to be more faithful, it never talks anyone down and only lifts them up. Risteal has a natural gift of pulling people’s faith out, by merely the words he speaks from the ideas he has written down.
Occult Knowledge - As an Exorcist or at least one who performs Exorcism in his church and one with the magic to be able to do so, Risteal felt there was an importance to understand the occult. If he is not deep in his theological studies, he is deep in his studies with the occult.
Theological Knowledge - It is expected for a priest to spend some years in college, to gain their Masters in Divinity or Masters in Theology to understand their theology better. Just as he is knowledgeable in the occult, he is knowledgeable at least in his own religion and those like it.
Spells:
Purification - This is the spell that a Priest uses to embed ordinary water with power, turning it into holy water. Though few priest have the actual magic to do so. Purification can be used for other things as well, lifting someone’s spirits up, cleaning impurities out of food and drink, and lifting linger negative energies behind. Exorcism - With Risteal’s knowledge he uses Exorcism to cast demons out of the bodies they possess or the homes they have hidden themselves in. To successfully Exorcise a demon, one must known the demons name, what it desires, and the sin of the one possessed that called to it in the first place. Risteal can exorcise demons of Rank 1, with mild exhaustion. Though he has exorcised demons of Rank 2, they have nearly killed him in the process since he doesn’t possess that much strength to do so. Though in his church he has been the only priest known to be able to do so.
Prayer - Prayer is a powerful spell that all priest can tap into if their faith is strong. Though Prayer doesn’t necessarily create miracles out of nowhere, it is in fact more a blessing than a creator of miracles. Instead Prayer can make a priest invisible to dark forces for 30 seconds. A much more powerful Prayer is one used in conjunction of tools to consecrate holy ground and act as a ward against low ranking demons, often banishing them the moment they set foot on the blessed area. For higher rank demons a Priest may ward them away through sustaining a prayer, though the moment they lose focus, or the moment they run out of energy the dark force can quickly overwhelm them.
Focus: A rosary beaded wooden cross necklace, which was carved by himself, blessed by his mentor and cleansed with holy water.
Equipment:
Bible - the worn down book would at first be hard to tell whether it were a journal or a bible, the pages had been well looked through. Someone had read and thumb through this book so many times. Scrawled between it pages were loose pieces of paper with neatly written down notes that marked each chapter and the moral and lessons they contained. The knitted cross gave the book a more personal touch.
Vial of Holy Water - He keeps a vial of holy water with him. Which has various uses. Cleansing negative energy. Blessing items. Or acting as an ointment for minor wounds created by demons.
Picture of his parents, with a message written on the back; Never give up. Never lose faith. Stay strong. Be strong.
Other: Theme Song
"I walk this path alone, who would walk with me?"
Pacts
Titles: The Bringer of Silence
Rankings: 3
Domains: Virtue, Darkness and Light
Appearance:
Gifts: Luminous’ Firm Hand -
Zephir’s holy light illuminates that which others cannot see, making the invisible visible. Zephir has the ability to see what kind of Pacts others have made.
Cost: A portion of Risteal vision must be taken in order for Zephir to illuminate the Pacts. 20/20 vision becomes 20/30 and so and so forth.
Umbra’s Silence -
If you believed in something that once was, if you had faith and hope, then that shall dissipate. Darkness is not just a physical being it is something that can lie within the hearts and souls of men and woman as well as creatures. Zephir’s shadows can bring forth a sense of despair and hopelessness within a 15ft radius of Zephir.
Cost: A portion of Risteal’s faith must be given to Zephir. Which wrought despair and hopelessness in Risteal. He silently suffers as those he afflicts.
Summoning Cost: Hope - Every time Risteal summons Zephir it takes a little bit more hope from him. He can no longer dream of better days. He can no longer see the hope in the future. He can no longer look forward to a new day after a bad one,etc.
"Nothing gets the blood flowing like a good fight. Ya know?"
Name: Elias Sjöberg Age: 31 Gender: Male Nationality: Sweden but immigrated to America Appearance: Standing at 5'10 and weighing in around 180 pounds. Elias have a somewhat tanned complexion due to his time overseas in the military. While not to body builder standards, Elias is a frequent goer to the gym. Not one for dressing fancy, his version of dressing nice is blue jeans, a t-shirt and maybe if hes feeling lucky a beanie. The only other notable feature of him is the tattoo on his right hand
History: Elias's family immigrated to the United States when he was at a young age due to work. The most memorable thing he was taught as a child was self sacrifice and service to a greater good. His child was nothing but ordinary. A few fights here and there, graduated highschool. A few years later Elias enlisted in the Marine Corps. His main reasoning was what better to serve a greater good then to become another cog in the industry of war.
During bootcamp he was honestly pretty average nothing stood out except he got perfect score on the physical fitness test and the combat fitness test. After boot he went to the school of infantry and graduated there as a rifleman. Once at his new unit nothing really extraordinary happened, picked up rank, got pretty fight did a lot of field exercises. Then about nine months later he found out he was getting deployed overseas to help police an area that was deemed of importance. Simple mission boring nonetheless.
Once he was overseas his unit had fallen into a routine of going on patrol, searching for ied, looking for potential insurgents the works. Though his unit leadership made one fatal mistake. You see they took the same route every time on patrol and that is a big no no. Because once you get in that routine of going the same way every time the enemy notices it and they will take advantage of that. During one of the patrol they were attacked by a overwhelming forces of insurgents. His unit was caught unprepared and was slaughtered leaving Elias, the Corpsman and one other alive. During that moment Elias never felt such hatred and want for revenge against a person. During those moments Elias prayed for something to intervene.
Time seemed to stop as a being appeared before him. It offered him a pact that would allow him his revenge all it would take was for this power was a single word. With his new found power Elias was able to tear through the enemy forces, killing any who got in his way. After the fight was over, Elias felt as if a great weight had left him and as he surveyed the carnage in front of him he entered a state of shock realizing what had just happened. Before he passed out from the exertion he heard a few parting words saying that the will be in touch.
Elias awoke back at the base in the medical center. After answering a bunch of questions it was decided that he was too much of a risk to be there especially after watching his unit being slaughtered. Once back home in the states he was quietly discharged and thanked for his service. With nothing to do Elias decided to travel and see what could be seen. During this time Elias 'spoke' more with his the daemon he made a pact with. One day in his travels he came across a note addressed to him telling him to head to Boston. With nothing better to do and since he wasn't that far away he decided to head there and see why he was summoned.
Sin: Wrath. The aspects of Wrath that Elias is well acquainted with are hatred and revenge. Hatred to those who slight him and revenge for those who have caused him suffering. Virtue: Humility. Though out of all the aspects of humility; modesty, reverence, bravery. Elias is follows the aspect of bravery the most. Though he tries to be modest he is often found wanting. Personality: Elias is often a quiet person, preferring his actions to speak for him. He can be a friendly person to those that have earned his respect or he feels a certain amount of kinship to. From his time in the military he is a proud warrior, not afraid to speak his piece if he finds something he disagrees with. Elias relishes fighting, he's never one to back down from a good fight, especially if he knows blood will be shed. In combat he can easily lose himself, fighting with almost reckless passion.
Skills: Combat training- From firearms, knife fighting to unarmed combat and a medical training Inspiration- Due to the virtue he is close too. He is able to inspire others to be able to standfast and not falter in combat Strength- From his time in the gym, Elias is tends to be physically stronger than most people Gray Man- During his time wandering, he has learned how to be a unnoticeable. A quote that goes good with this is "Don't be the fly on the wall. Be the wall." Spells: Hunter- Elias's senses are heightened allowing him to notice people or things that are hidden. Awareness- awareness allows the user of the spell to react at inhuman speeds. Can cause damage to the user if overextended. Elias only uses this during combat. Equipment: Combat knife, lighter, cigarettes, phone, watch and the other everyday items.
Other: "I walk this path alone, who would walk with me?"
Pacts
Name: Khaela Mensha Khaine Titles: Bloody-Handed God Ranking: 3 Domains: War, murder and conflict Appearance:
Gifts:
Gift Name: Mark of Khaine
Effect: This gift allows the user to ignore pain and increase strength. Once activated the mark on the user drips with blood
Cost: This being the more simpler of Khaines gift the cost is a lot less. Blood must be given either from the user or from another person. The longer this gift is used the more blood it costs.
Gift Name: The Flame of Khaine
Effect: If the user has a melee weapon present said weapon is wrapped in flames is given a otherworldly sharpness to it; if no melee weapon is present the hand that has the mark becomes shrouded in flames and hardens allowing it to dish our more damage.
Cost: As with the first gift, blood must be given from the user and the weapon must end a life if it does not more blood must be given
Summon Cost: A live sacrifice is the only way to summon him. Though if the sacrifice is pathetic he will not answer the summons.
