The Skies of Elysia: Airships, Aliens, and Adventure [STEAMPUNK, SCI-FI, HIGH FANTASY}

[ShwiggityShwah]

@Kuroyomihime Thank you

Understood. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Also hoping to have OOC and info up this weekend.

[Lmpkio]

@ShwiggityShwah Regarding the whole pantheon situation, is it still possible for those who want to take the mantle of a certain mythology to mold it into whatever vision a player wants? Like I want to make some changes regarding the Norse Mythos to fit my character. What do you say?

[ShwiggityShwah]

@Lmpkio

Sure. Your people have a very close connection with their patron gods and the gods themselves are molded by their worshippers. Perhaps they take the form of the Norse gods and their purviews are things like war, raiding, ships, thunder, wind, the underworld etc.

[Lmpkio]

@ShwiggityShwah Yeah Ive been thinking on the existence of all the nine realms (Asgard, Midgard - which is this world of Elysia -, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Jotunheim, etc). Odin, Surtr, Loki, Hel, Tyr, Jörmungandr, these guys will exist with many having human-like forms.

Just to give you a hint on what Im working on, its going to be a valkyrie, and there's a Valkyrie army in each realm lead by a certain Valkyrie commander, which wields a certain element based on their realm they control. Some are there to protect their leader (Asgard, Muspelheim, etc), while some are there to keep the realm under Asgard's control (Jotunheim in particular).

My playable valkyrie is going to be the one resonating in Asgard.

What do you say about this?

[Uncle Spanky]

Coming up with a character for this rp is gonna be fun

[ShwiggityShwah]

@Lmpkio

I'll need to see it. What I suspect is she is a valkyrie champion, exalted are rare enough that a civilization would barely have more than 100. Instead your army is bolstered by actual spirits and blessed by gods.

Spirits are minor gods. Fyi. Tab coming

[Lmpkio]

@Lmpkio

I'll need to see it. What I suspect is she is a valkyrie champion, exalted are rare enough that a civilization would barely have more than 100. Instead your army is bolstered by actual spirits and blessed by gods.

Spirits are minor gods. Fyi. Tab coming

@ShwiggityShwah

I'll write the profile in my image and let you see it and make suggestions in what fits your view.

But basically yes, she's an elite champion along with the other 8 for their respected realms, all appointed by Odin himself to be spread one per realm.

[ShwiggityShwah]

Gods, Demons, and Other Threats

"Giants rarely care for the ants under their feet."
Gods and Spirits

Everything in Elysia has its own spirit. Everything. Whether it be the Greatest Dreadnaught to the lowliest spec of sand. The term god and spirit are used interchangeably by the uneducated. Even concepts have gods that claim them. Anything you can think of, there is a spirit for it. Sometimes, multiple spirits. They are immortal and composed entirely as patterns of essence, making all of them inherently magical. All of them have powers that are related to the purview. A god of pain can cause agony with a flick of its bloody wrist. The god of a ship, can be bargained with to help the crew in their journey.

Most of the time a spirit is dormant, coaxed to life only by prayer, sacrifice, magic, or its own duties and ambitions. Most mortals at least mouth a prayer to a deity as part of their occupation, but there are entire cultures formed around being ruled by or worshipping a god or gods, sometimes out of love or fear. They can be powerful allies, or dangerous foes. Some do not need worship at all, as it is their nature to prey on mortals. Indeed gods do not have the same fears or requirements as mortals do, and each are subject to their natures, purview, and the belief of those that pray to them.

Only experts can tell the difference, but spirits exist in a hierarchy called a pantheon, with spirits answering to or working for a more powerful god. There are three types of spirits that the educated know about, but sometimes its difficult to determine by sight alone. Not only can spirits be intangible at will, but they commonly change forms. The beautiful innocent maiden one moment reveals her divine nature and becomes a multi headed hydra. Their forms vary as wildly as the mortals they lord over.

Gods Gods can lay claim over a planet, a moon, a satalite city, a nation, or even a small empire. They are what mortals pray to when they ask for generic common things like good fortune, safe journey, or love. Their prayers whisper in the ears of they massively powerful beings, and they gain motes of essence from it, all the better to power their awesome effects. To ignore or anger a god is quite unwise, even for the Exalted.

Angels They act as agents for the Gods, or are given minor functions. Commonly Angels are city mothers and fathers, or the god of powerful vessels or the Avatar of legions. They all have names, and commonly have magical artifacts to better protect themselves and serve their functions.

Spirits Are varied and numerous, some of them mindless or having no names of their own. They are the most likely spirit a mortal will interact with if they ever do, and a lot of common occupations have minor rituals to propigate these spirits. They are the workforce that keeps the fabric of creation running smoothly.

Sample Angel:

(TSRodriguez)

Joul'Shani, Goddess of Leaves and Transitions, is a wood spirit located on the Garden World of Isleen. She claims all the trees and plants of Isleen as her domain and is commonly busied with the intricate process of changing seasons. She is prayed to for good harvest, short winters, and long springs. Especially devoted worshipers may be taken as lovers as she can change her form. She births demi-god beasts and monsters that sometimes wreck havoc on Isleen's farming villages.

Sample Spirit:

(josearias)

Copper Spiders are a type of machine spirit employed by spirits of technology, discovery, knowledge, and greed to salvage and scrap ruins and crashes. While they ignore mortals while they work, shearing sheets of metal for eventual retrieval, they will attack any that takes their claim with lasers of burning essence. They can be summoned and employed by mortal sorcerers to seek out useful scrap, which these industrious spirits have a nose for.

"There be monsters... Anywhere... Watching... Waiting..."
Demons

Nothing brings empires and races together quite like the rumor of a demon and demons are why every empire that wishes to exist through its infancy must find a way to protect itself. Demons are from beyond the Veil, the borders of Elysia. An impenetrable wall of rolling void and chaos. While it is known that there is no escaping Elysia, and a terrible death for all that tries. The prison is no infallible from the outside coming in. Things emerge, appearing anywhere within creation. These are called Demons. They are unnatural, unholy, they shouldn't exist. They bring with them magics and technology that are vile and profane. These are the only beings that have no Essence within them but in their wickedness, they've found out ways to gather and pervert it to their own wicked ends. They come in many forms, from undead monstrosities, machines of terrible manufacture, and monsters with forms that defy biology. There are currently no known demon worlds, but such a den of wickedness would surely cause Elysia to quake into action to purge the unclean with demon and witch hunts in the surrounding worlds for decades to come. Still, the demon is insidious and can strike from anywhere at any time.

Demons with their lack of internal essence can be detected and harmed via 'holy' or strictly divine effects. Additionally particularly strong rituals and spells can inflict effects upon them, as the power of belief and essence force themselves upon their unholy forms. Likewise, they are impossible to predict as even time and destiny spells cannot see the influence a demon would cause. They also bring weapons and powers to bare that sometimes defy understanding, even to demon experts.

Sample Demon:

(Chase Stone)

Lashstalkers are solitary hunters and ambush predators. They seem to have an instinctual sense of targeting those individuals that would cause the most chaos in a particular group, prioritizing healers and leaders. They know guerilla tactics, set traps, and will injure over kill, knowing it would slow a group down. They are also completely silent, save for the sound of leather rubbing against the ground as they move from space to space. Their size would suggest they'd be unable to fit into some places, but yet, cobbards, under beds, closets, even containers can hold a 10 foot tall monsters, bursting forth to lash with whip like fingers, twisting and breaking their victims.

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"Come to my bed said the spider to the fly."
Devils

(Yang Mansik)

Beautiful and Terrible. Parents in the center of Elysia will tell their children to behave or they'll call the Devils on them. As one nears the Veil of Elysia, one keeps their weapons, prays a little harder, double checks to lock their doors, and keeps an eye on that scanner a little more closely, lest the devils get them. Devils are of Elysia and like spirits are composed of Essence, but are invariably hostile to mortals. Devils are beings of chaos, beguilement, corruption, and dreams, each unpredictable, alien, without cause or reason. They can appear as beautiful as the most seductive dream, approaching in robes of gossamer wearing the face of a victim's first love but so lovely they make the eyes bleed. They can also appear as impossible shapes, riding beasts from a child's nightmare, an amalgamation of monsters that would be impossible to exist if reality had any say in the matter. A horde of Devils and their spawn have been known to slaughter one planet, change the colors of another with their chaotic touch, and ignore another, merely because their whims and desires change with but the slightest flicker of inspiration. Their powers cause madness, twist reality, and enwrap those in layers of lies and illusion. Devils most commonly ride into Elysia on raids, stealing mortals and slaughtering with glee. Those they take are ravished of all ambition, willpower, and purpose. These Dream Eaten are perfect slaves, as they will not even eat or drink without being told to do so. Unscrupulous merchants have found ways to trade with these beings, receiving Chaos Artifacts that defy logic, creatures that never even existed, and the Dream Eaten. Often the Devils Price is a fresh new herd of frightened mortals for them to torment and eat.

Like demons, holy magic seems to effect these creatures quite well, and there are rituals and items that can ward them off. Pure Cold Iron effects them as if the metal was red hot to the touch, and can be used as a strong deterrant. Additionally, a Devil is bound by his word, and deals can be struck with them as it has a strange permanent effect on his patterns. Be warned though, these creatures are ageless, and their snake tongues and twisted minds can turn negotiations into a battle of wits even an Exalted would have trouble with. They love to twist deals into their favor, receiving the dealer's life, age, dreams, desires, or sanity as payment.

Sample Devil:

The Piper is a terror on the quiet villages, lonely alleys, and old residential sections of space stations throughout Elysia. Anywhere that children are raised in peace with loving parents who want to protect them from the evils of creation may become targeted by a Piper. The music these devils utter is sweet, melodical, and hypnotic. Children will follow the song which cannot be heard by those past a certain age. The children will disappear while the adults sleep. In the coming days, those that look for them will hear the children, laughing, dancing, playing, but will never actually see or touch them. The laughing will end only when the children are found, their entrails and bodies strung up on trees or in some unused room in some hideous parody of an artist's gallery. As a final insult and stab to the psyche, parents looking at their child's remains will find the display breath-takingly beautiful, even as they wail at their loss.

[FallenTrinity]

@ShwiggityShwah

Alot of time and effort has been put into this so when I begin making my character I will do the same. I will also over time try to create the family name, crest, history and traditions within the family as well as famous members. I do need to know if there has been any major wars or skirmishes that would have happened in the world. If not any racial tensions that would warrant a "war". Please lemme know the next time you're on

[ShwiggityShwah]

@FallenTrinity

Here's all the major conflicts in recent history. Roughly 30 years. Theres been hundreds of smaller ones over resources, ideology, racism, etc

• The 19th War in Heaven on record. Two star gods went into conflict which pitted their worshippers against eachother.
• The Maw, a hostile xenos scourge in Elysia launches a Butchery Crusade within Lunar Confederation territory.
• Most Damaging Demon Incursion on human record. The monster known as Oblivion invades Elysia. Multiple empires ally to defeat Oblivion. Pushes Fae Rin, a supremely advanced race to brink of extinction and wipes out nearly a dozen other races.
• Tiger Dominion launches aggressive campaign to conquer territory lost during the Oblivion Attack

You are welcome to PM for more details.

[nohbdies]

@shwiggityshwah

how are demons created? are they fallen angels, born from malicious intent, etc?

also, how often are worlds created/destroyed in Elysia? There's seems to be a lot of skirmishes but do worlds ever end or do the gods step in before that can happen?

[Lmpkio]

And here's my character - a Valkyrie no less. I'll include a list of the rest of the Valkyrie Champions later.

Sigrún

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Name:

Sigrún / "Sigri" / "Scarlett" (Human Name)

Name:

"Valkyrie Of Light"

Age:

600+ Years; Looks 27

Gender:

Female

Race:

(Enhanced) Human

Occupation:

Valkyrie Champion of Asgard / Odin's Valkyrie Guard

Appearance:

Sigrún is a tall female Valkyrie, standing at 6'1" and weighs in at roughly 69 Kg (152 lbs) without her armor. While she looks considerably delicate, with her slim figure, pale yet fair skin, luscious blonde hair and icy-blue eyes, she wields impressive strength and power that makes her a vicious warrior on the battlefield. In her gold and cobalt armor, Sigrún presents herself as a rather large stature that makes her a rather imposing figure in battle.

Training List:

• Incredible Swordsmanship & Lance-Work
• Intense Athleticism
• Divine Knowledge
• Acknowledged Leadership
• Impressive Cook

Powers:

Sigrún has been enhanced by Odin to become, what he's calls, a Valkyrie, blessing the young woman with an assortment of powers that grant her a number of special abilities:

Valkyrie Physique: As a valkyrie, Sigrún has enhanced strength that makes her a force to be reckoned with, durability that makes her capable of surviving hits that would kill most mortals, and most notably the fact that she can fly. Indeed, every valkyrie can reveal two great pairs of wings that allow them to fly at up to Mach 1 speeds or more, depending on the circumstance and/or the user.

Light Magic: Every Valkyrie Champion is given an elemental ability, in which they specialize in and are to wield responsibly. In Sigrún's case, she is bestowed the power of Asgard's light, claiming her as the Valkyrie of light. She can channel this power into her weapons, most notably to her lance as she can launch beams of light per every swing and jab, as well as supercharge her shield to make it nearly impervious to dark magic for short time. Of course, she can also utilize this energy through her hands as well as her entire body herself, as her melee punches and kicks can also be infused with it, however this magic is rendered unstable in such a form.

Equipment:

• Vadgelmir: Sigrún's lance of light is enveloped in a seal of golden light, making it capable of discharging blasts of pure energy per swing and jab. It is said to be incorruptible by darkness and can determine a liar simply by touching the person in question with the tip.
• Sverorden: Literally meaning “Sword of Order”, Sigrún's sword is notably used as a secondary weapon to when her lance becomes unusable or in close combat where lances would be unfit. Was created by Brokk and Sindri and presented to the Valkyrie via Odin himself.
• Svalinn: Like all Valkyries, Sigrún wields a shield into battle for protection against incoming projectile weaponry.
• Dagger: A short dagger to be used to cut plant-based material or carve out a monster. Can also be used as a weapon of last-resort.
• Idunn apple: An enhanced golden apple provided by the goddess Iðunn (who is associated with apples and youth). By simply taking a bite out of one, one's regenerative abilities will increase significantly during battle and if eaten regularly is said to make the consumer eternally youthful. Every Valkyrie is required to take one, and only one, per battle or mission, as stated by Iðunn herself. This is simply to keep the natural growth of these apples in stable supply.

Airship:

N/A

Motivation:

Sigrún own purpose is to serve the "All Father" Odin and his interests for all the nine realms, especially Elysia as a whole. Whilst adhering to Odin's requests towards the realms beyond, she must also do everything she can to protect Asgard from invading forces and keep the peace from within. She is to keep order around her wherever she goes.

Personality:

Sigrún is a seasoned valkyrie who carries a great burden on her shoulders. As one of the nine valkyrie champions, specifically for Asgard in her case, she directly serves under "All Father" Odin with up most respect and dedication to his every word. She embodies the very ideals of a valkyrie warrior, a stern, valiant, and noble warrior who fights with honor and for the peace of her world wherever she is needed. While she definitely tries to keep this persona open at all times, considering her role as the leader of Odin's personal valkyrie legion, Sigrún often considers herself as the quintessential example of how a Valkyrie should act and behave. She'll be the first to oppose those who defy the "All Father" on her supervision and often bosses around both her forces and the other 8 Valkyrie Champions. In many cases, she claims her voice is akin to Odin's, although she retains her respect towards other Aesir god-figures, including Thor, his sons' Mangi and Modi, Baldur, and others.

Despite her arrogant nature towards her valkyrie kin and those who appose her, Sigrún does legitimately care for those around her, although it truly varies from person to person. She will do her best to save the innocent lying in the path of danger, but there are circumstances where she places her own missions above those she is required to protect. While she strives to improve upon this notion, her arrogance continues planting her just behind her mental potential. This she never admits to Odin, as she always keeps a straight face and hiding her true emotions away from him, fearing her reputation will be sunken if she did.

Flaws:

• Technotard: Sigrún knows little to nothing about technology outside of her own culture - she wouldn't be able to utilize anything more advanced than a flip-phone properly.
• Hard-Headed: Sigrún is known for being a rather hard-headed general which, while it has its perks, can make her initially unyielding to most alternative plans. If her vision of victory is misaligned with reality, it can certainly cost her in an embarrassing defeat.
• Arrogant: Leading Odin's personal valkyrie legion, Sigrún considers herself as the most important and ideal example of a valkyrie. She keeps her faults away from her job and dares not mention them to Odin himself.
• Humorless: Sigrún usually doesn't crack a joke around others. Even when she attempts to make one, it usually comes out as rather bland and humorless.

Bio:

In the Elysian Pantheon, out of all the different Gods it's the Norse that are the most militaristic. After all, they originated from a land far north in the remote frozen wilderness of Norway, or what the Norse Gods call the territory/realm of Midgard. Their leader is the mighty "All-Father" Odin, an old god who's incredibly wise and always grasping for knowledge wherever he can. While he is incredibly wise, he supports a vast military of cunning gods, goddesses, and strong mortal warriors, one that is said to rival the Greeks and Romans. In fact, he was able to bear some of the strongest, which include Baldur, Víðarr, Váli, Tyr, and the most famous being Thor, along with several others. Thus not only is Odin the God of Wisdom, but also of War and Death, one that nearly everyone respected and feared.

Amongst his most powerful units in his disposal, outside of his own sons, he created the valkyries. They were formidable female warriors, who wielded impressive power and were able to fly via riding pegasi, with only a select few having wings strapped onto their backs. Those who had wings were known as Valkyrie Champions, the most elite in their class. Odin created the champions by watching the best female fighters fight on the battlefield. To those he sees as worthy, he gives them the chance, or in some cases forces them, the chance to join his ranks as elite warriors. In an attempt to assure their loyalty, Odin makes sure in wiping their memories clean of their old life, perhaps only living a sliver as an act of mercy. Many believe this is a rather cruel act, but Odin, being rather paranoid, assured the Pantheon that it was the only way to be sure they were loyal. He has nine of these Champions, each given a legion of pegasus knights and are stationed in one of the nine realms to protect or enforce (depending on the environment). He also gives them each a unique element to wield, depending on the realm they are stationed in.

Out of all the nine Valkyrie Champions, Sigrún, the Valkyrie of Light, is considered to be the most important, as she protects the realm of Asgard. In addition, her legion is stationed directly under Odin himself, making her feel even more as if she's Odin's private and most important guards. While little of her history is known prior to become a Valkyrie, its been said that she was a courageous and fearsome warrior for a well-known kingdom. Rumors speculate that she had been in love with Helgi, son of Sigmund, despite the fact that she was to marry the son of king Granmar of Södermanland. In protest against the marriage, Sigrún sought out Helgi and they gathered an army and laid waste to nearly everyone in Granmar's kingdom. After they got married, Sigrún son Dagr, the only family member who survived the battle, wanted to avenge his father's death by killing Helgi. He sacrificed his soul to Odin who, in return wanted the woman as a Valkyrie warrior alive, gave him a spear in which to kill the hero. Horrified, Sigrún cursed Dag, forcing him to flee into the woods and have him live on carrion. Helgi was buried later that night, in which Odin arrived shortly after to collect Sigrún and turned her into the Valkyrie Champion of Asgard and erasing the memories of her past. Many consider this tale/myth as a cruel work of Odin himself, but alas its only a tale and Odin refuses to reveal any of the past history regarding any valkyrie, good or bad.

No one may never know if this tale is really truthful or not...

Other Valkyrie Champions:

Olrun - "Valkyrie Of Wind" - Alfheim
Kara - "Valkyrie Of Metal" - Svartalfheim
Eir - "Valkyrie Of Earth" - Midgard
Gunnr - "Valkyrie Of ???" - Jotunheim
Geirdriful - "Valkyrie Of Water" - Vanaheim
Hildr - "Valkyrie Of Ice" - Niflheim
Gordul - "Valkyrie Of Fire" - Muspelheim
Rota - "Valkyrie Of Darkness" - Helheim

Theme:

[ArmorPlated]

Interesting, but what happens to those who have zero faith or trust in the divine?

[Lmpkio]

Interesting, but what happens to those who have zero faith or trust in the divine?

@ArmorPlated

I need more context to answer your question. By "Those" do you mean the Valkyries or people in general?

[ArmorPlated]

@LmpkioMy question was directed at @ShwiggityShwah, concerning people that don't submit to the rule of these apathetic and malicious "gods".

edit: also, hello again.

[Lmpkio]

@LmpkioMy question was directed at @ShwiggityShwah, concerning people that don't submit to the rule of these apathetic and malicious "gods".

edit: also, hello again.

@ArmorPlated

Ah my apologizes. I didn't know.

Also hi - I think I've seen you around here and there.

[Anders]

@ArmorPlated

My character is a godless wretch who practices borderline necromancy.

[ArmorPlated]

<Snipped quote by ArmorPlated>

Ah my apologizes. I didn't know.

Also hi - I think I've seen you around here and there.

@Lmpkio

No worries, and we spoke back on that failed omniverse check.

@ArmorPlated

My character is a godless wretch who practices borderline necromancy.

@Anders

Nothing has been said concerning how they'll be treated by gods and their followers, which is what I'm interested in. If they shun gods and their ilk, are they hunted? If non-believers formed a nation, what would happen to it?

[Lmpkio]

<Snipped quote by Lmpkio>

No worries, and we spoke back on that failed omniverse check.

@ArmorPlated

Ah right... that mess. Lets not speak of it if you don't mind. First impressions aside, that was something personal. That is all you need to know.

[Lmpkio]

Edit: (Listed all the other Valkyries in Sigrun's profile - they will be NPCs)