[IC] Oblivion: A Story Forgotten

[Dion]

As I stood before this beast, I found myself lacking the fear that might've been instilled in me had I been.. something or someone else. Instead, the creatures arrogant assumption that I had to prove my worth to him simply sought to anger me further. Perhaps this was its intention, perhaps it was foolish, perhaps it was both. My fists clenched up and, in doing so, I discovered something had been in my hands this entire time, as if it were soldered to my very core and I only realized that it was there just now.

.. a memento of before, perhaps?

My eyes wandered around the colloseum type structure that I'd found myself in, and again I wondered, did this feel familiar? Did this feel unfamiliar? Should I feel at ease or uncomfortable? Should I feel at all? Easy questions to answer when you had the answer, but for someone like me, whoever or whatever I was, they were impossible to answer. For now. The anger swelled up in me again, the fire lurching at my throat begging to get out. Eventually, it did.

“Who are you to test my worthiness?” I yelled at the creature, my grip on the handle of my kanabo tightening. “Why don't you prove yours to me, bastard!” I turned the kanabo in my hands, effortlessly, and gripped it with two hands, the solid heavy part of the mace laying in the dust behind me. And then I rushed forward, and if my eyes could've bled fire, they would have, because the anger in me did not subside. Who was foolish enough to bother me by yelling at me, and then demand I show them my worthiness? Who dared, who?

Surely the creature would try to stop me, I knew that much. After all, I had dodged out of the way when it tried to hurt me. Whenever it would try to ram me out of the way, I would simply swing the kanabo with all my might, aiming to strike it at the perfect time when the momentum of the kanabo was at its greatest. If it did not, I would simply lunge towards the creature with great force and perform a similar strike, attempting to hit it in the side of its face.

[SilverPaw]

I pursued the bright prints, letting them guide me. As I proceeded, the voice died down, though the light ahead of me did not. Were the voice and the footsteps not one and the same, then? Were they caused by different beings? Maybe the voice was simply no longer necessary. I had done as it had asked, and heeded its call. Purpose…it seemed like these unknown things or beings had it. Why were they leading me, and where?

The only way to find out, and progress, was to follow. I ascended, then descended, I took twisting turns, and padded along lengthy paths. Darkness had concealed this environment – the outside – from me, had kept me isolated from it, had entrapped me. This landscape was indeed a vast one. Still mostly obscured, though, and utterly desolate. What would happen if I deviated from the guiding footsteps? I had the ability to do so; I could produce my own illumination. Yet, I persisted. I did not fancy being lost.

Previously, I had not wanted to be consumed by the shadows and be made a part of them. That wish was fulfilled; I did not feel in danger of being disintegrated into the night any more. But I still yearned. Whatever for? I was freed, I had potential, there was a whole wide world to explore. All that, and here I was, chasing after something – or someone. I craved to reach wherever these tracks led me. Was it gratitude that drove me, a desire to reciprocate that which had helped me? Perhaps it was simple greed, a primal hunger and thirst, a need to fill this odd emptiness within me. Did it mean that I was incomplete, lacking? I despised the idea, but it had the ring of truth to it.

It would upset me if this trail led to another barren part of the land. I would stay alone, forsaken. That left a sour taste in my mouth. I did not want to remain an outcast. Was that what I was? Or was I just lonely, afraid to be the only one existing, the last one remaining? I was only sure that I would prefer to be with others, or one other, but not in the way the abyss had attempted to force me to become one with it.

When I was led through the thorny labyrinth, I considered razing it to the ground. If it weren’t for the clear guide through it, I might have. Did that make me impatient, reckless? Or was it just a natural eagerness born out of the simple fact that I possessed the ability to incinerate such pesky obstacles? Thankfully, I did not have to ponder upon the question too deeply, because I finally arrived to my destination. The lighting trail was nearly gone, its presence barely enough for me to see the being in front of me.

It was a creature wreathed in shadows, bound and stripped of its senses as I had been. But the similarities did not end there; this being had a burning force within it. Just like I did. Was this me? A part of me? A caricature, a replica? Something for me to own, like the staff had been? Or…

Was it kin?

“Who are you,” I demanded, then immediately frowned. What a pointless action. Surely, this one could not answer, could not produce a voice until it was liberated. Besides, it was silly of me to expect another to tell me who they were when I did not even know who I was.

I approached the being, drawn to it. “I will free you, but you better not betray me,” I muttered, wondering if it could hear me at all. When I was close enough to touch it, I lay my right palm upon its chest. I narrowed my eyes, concentrating on sending a trail of energy through my arm, fingers, and into the creature in front of me. It was my hope to ignite it from within, to awaken its own power, so it could unleash itself. If it did not respond to that, however, I would set ablaze the chains surrounding it and tear off the tendrils clinging to it with my own hands.

[Celsius]

@LukasVolkov

Wraith of Dagger

Chapter 0 - False Longing

---

With a satisfying click, the dirk locked itself in place within the key hole. The gate opened with a low rumbling, and silvery light filled your vision. Before you lies an empty circular chamber, save for the ornate throne of wood and steel situated at the dead center of it. On top of it was a gigantic figure, both fearsome and noble-looking. Its' face was ever shifting, and the cape draping his form was woven not from fabric, but blades of various shape and size.

True Wraith of Daggers

"Here at last," the Wraith beckoned. Its face was still ever changing, but for a moment, you thought you saw the creature smile.
"Come closer, my child. Let me see your face."

You started to regret relinquishing the Dirk at the gate. Not that you thought it could help you fend off the creature - should it decide to turn on you, but you thought it would be better to have something, rather than nothing.

Yet you digress. No matter what your mind was thinking, your body seemed to be inclined to obey the creature before you. With reluctant steps, you inch closer to the being of blades and bones. And once you were close enough, it reached out its hands, and caressed your face gently. Though, gentle as it may be, its fingers were still made of blades, and soon blood began to trickle down your cheeks.

"Wait. Blood? Cheeks?" You thought to yourself. Then you touched your other cheeks with your own hand, and realized. There's skin on your face! It was never there before. It would seem that by meeting the creature, some part of you were restored.

Satisfied with your shock and confusion, the creature withdrew its hand from your face, and relaxed his sitting posture

"Huhuhu.. I like you," it continued jovially. "That obedience! The taste of your blood! They're both exquisite."

And with that remark, you feel a stinging pain on your left hand. A mark had etched itself upon you. And from it, skins and muscles began to form - you are being reborn. It was a painful process, to be sure. You almost fell unconscious on multiple occasions. Yet you endured.

"Perfect! A fitting vassal for my power!" the creature celebrated your rebirth. And once his clapping stopped, a question was asked..
"Now tell me, ____. Should you attain power, what are you going to do with it?"

The creature's face was never more serious as he asked the question.

OOC

You may now pick a name and appearance for your character. Describe it in relatively detailed manner if you do not wish to use an image :)
You may also pick an image for the sigil on your left hand, if you want. Otherwise I will assign one for you

[Celsius]

@PigeonOfAstora

Puppet of the Bow

Chapter 0 - Birth of a Hunter

---

The king of the forest was not sure on what to make of the Nobody's action. It was sure that the thing before it was its master - the one that will receive its blessing of power. Yet it would seem that the Nobody did not know that as of yet. Thus, the king cannot help but let out a chuckle when the Nobody waved their bow and asked to whom it belonged to.

"Yes, it is mine," the king answered. "But it is also yours."

With that said, the King descended from its place, and perched itself in front of the Nobody.

"Your call for freedom has reached me, and I am here to aid you, My Lord. I, Olas the Forest Dweller, am here to be your guide, and your strength."

The Nobody was dumbfounded. It was real! They had thought that it would be cool if they can have a monarch at their beck and call, but never in their wildest dream did they imagine this outcome. Was it really really real?

Sensing their confusion, the King chuckled yet again, and continued, "I'm sorry. It must be hard to accept this without any prior knowledge. Would you like me to make a trial of passage for you? Make it official and such?"

The Nobody realized that the King has dropped its formal speech and spoke closer to how they talk. It would appear that the King genuinely wanted to cater to their needs.

... What would you do?

[Undying Curiosity]

'Goodbye. I hope too see you soon. You must understand, I need to help him.'

My thought went out towards the glorious gates that slowly shrink in the distance. The call for my help was fading aswell, but I knew it was still out there. That person sounded so urgent, but now the sound of their cries for help were waning. But I wasn't going to stop. If I had learned anything about myself recently it was that I was very determined; I would no longer break my resolve. My legs moved in the blackness, in my minds eye I could see them moving back and forth. The fellow dweller of darkness was in my sights now. I lept from my position towards the figure, hands outstretched. My hands clasped the pilgrims wrists as I landed on my stomach. I imagined I would have looked like I'd just caught someone falling over an edge, while I myself lay atop it. Horror crept across my face when they were engulfed in the abyss, their form disappearing into obscurity. I could feel my hands slam violently into fists before me, as if the wrists of this person had turned into air.

My soundless screams raged in my mind
'NO NO NO NO! I WAS SO CLOSE!!!!'

My mind grew still for just a moment as a thought scuttled by. I turned my head towards my own gate to salvation, expression blank. It too, was fading. I couldn't make it there in time, even if I used all my energy to sprint to the gates, I know I would still fall short before they disappeared. I was doomed. I laid on my stomach in the darkness, light slowly fading before me, teasing me. I was once again reunited with the Nothing as the only thing providing any light had disappeared. It was gone, but only for a few seconds. Another light had come, not as bright as the last light, but when their was an absence of light even a small flicker would brighten the world. The light grew fast and surrounded me just as fast. Before I knew it, the darkness had all but vanished and I was left standing there in the light.

This isn't my salvation.

Rock formations all around me. A cave. The word came to me quick, I barely had to think about it. I didnt care though, at least i was rid of the darkness. The relief was shortlived when I saw the being in front of me. More darkness, this was different though. It seemed more...tangible, it was a being, like me, but different. Beyond the tangible darkness a figure stood, with the skeletal hand of darkness resting on their shoulders.

My thoughts continued.
'This isn't a trap, this is real, they are both real. They-. Its bringing the person back into the abyss. The tangible darkness is trying to take them, they who I've come to save...not in my watch.'

I raised my arms and I swung my hammer down.

[LukasVolkov]

The pain kuuuj kink was blinding. Shuddering, I collapsed to my hands and knees. Once it was done, I took a breath. The air was stale, rank almost with decay. Given the state of my... host, I understood why but the sensation was marvelous. It took me a moment but I managed to stumble to my feet. I gazed down at the symbol, a stylized crescent of black ink rested on the caramel flesh of my hand.

It was then I became a aware of the ref of my body. Flesh marred with numerous scars, the echoes of past battles though I knew them not, hair long enough to touch the small of my back and black as pitch, slim, muscled limbs. My chest was pronounced, my form... feminine my mind told me. Naked. Something told me I should feel shame at my state, Barr before this being, but I couldn’t care less.

The name he gave me, the name I somehow knew was mine from... before. It felt like an old friend. Unbidden the name flew from my lips.

“Lykantha,” I breathed.

I shook my head and focused agin on the being. To speak, perhaps once more, was an odd concept. It made me wonder if this was even my original form. Perhaps it was, but it felt... odd.

“I wish to know what the darkness was, and what comes after this. If I have to I’ll hunt the answer down.” I blinked. A hunger growled low in my taught, smooth belly. “I want to hunt.” The prospect made me salivate. “I need to hunt.”

[DELETED08740]

<<OOC: 'It' will henceforth be addressed as 'Puppet', to make the writing feel a bit more clear.>>

Puppet of the Bow
An impressed smile spread wide across the Puppet's face. It had barely become accustomed to its own existence (or perhaps re-accustomed, from the way Olas spoke), but it already had a giant owl as its summon? The Puppet felt like it been suddenly catapulted way up to a kingly status, although considering Olas and itself was present, the Puppet didn't really know what to compare to. A welcome surprise, one the Puppet would be sure not to miss. The Puppet puffed up like a baby bird proud of its first catch, although having literally done nothing but walk in the woods for a bit to earn this.

The Puppet had certainly taken a liking to this Olas. For some reason, there was a tiny corner of the Puppet's mind that expected the King to huff up in an up-nosed snobbishness, what with the horns framing the sky as if to mantle the heavens itself upon their crown. But the Puppet picked up on the shift in the King's speech mannerism as the King came down to the ground in front of it. Turns out the King was a straight fellow, huh? Maybe the Puppet lucked out by meeting someone like Olas, because it certainly wouldn't have known to react against someone much less inclined.

"Alright! I'm certainly chuffed to meet you, Olas!" The Puppet didn't (or really couldn't) hide its enthusiasm. "Trial sounds fun. I'm ready for whatever you throw at me!" The Puppet slung its bow and arrow, stretching a little to warm itself up. Let's earn its keep, yeah? As the King said, make it official and such.

[Celsius]

@Odin

Rogue Soul

Chapter 0 - Forged of Flames and Violence

---

You approached the beast before you with the assumption that it would move to intercept you. You are a seasoned fighter, you simply knew this as a fact. You were prepared.

Or so you thought.

Contrary to your predictions, the beast stood still. Your Kanabo met its target unhinged. Yet why does it matter? The beast didn't even as much as flinch over your strike.

"Ah..." You remarked as you realized the insurmountable difference of power between you, a mere shadow, and the creature that stood at the pinnacle of this plane.

"What..."

You heard it growl.

"Is it exactly that you find so weird.."

It continued. Its left biceps coiled and bulged - flame and lava can be seen erupting from its veins.

"If a Monarch wanted to test His heir's worth?!"

A thunderous punch flew towards you.

It was simple and straightforward. A straight, with no feint or tricks behind it. Were this punch thrown by anything but this monstrosity, you would easily dodge it. Yet here you are, helplessly staring at the incoming strike unaware and unprepared.

Like a ragdoll, you flew and bounced all over the arena. You felt two or three of your ribs breaking, stabbing at your lungs. Something hot and metallic rose through your throat, and wetted the inside of your mouth.

Blood. Was it yours? You thought to yourself.
And bones, too. You never had these before.

You felt your body changing. From where the beast - no, Monarch - had landed His strike, you felt surging heat and pain. Bones were forming and breaking continuously, snapping into their place bit by bit. And growing from the white branches, were strands of crimson ivy. Muscles. Then on top of it, a rubbery substance began to spread until it encompassed your entire being. Skin.

You let out a silent scream from the unbearable pain of being reborn. And as sudden as it all began, the pain subdued. You took a glance at your new appendages - all of them at an equal portion of alien and familiar. Then a name entered your mind. Your name.

"Stand! Young one," the Monarch roared. "Choose your next move carefully. There is a fine line between courage and foolishness."

OOC

You may now pick a name and appearance for your character. The usual business, please give a detailed description of your appearance if you want to opt out of using pics :)

[Celsius]

@SilverPaw

Nameless Savant

Chapter 0 - Flamma Vitae

---

As you pour your power into the trapped flame, something curious happened. You felt a resonance with it. Visions that somehow seemed familiar flooded your mind. It was pleasant at first, but the vast amount of information quickly became unbearable. Soon enough, you found yourself clutching your head desperately, as if hoping that by squeezing the path towards your brain, you could stop the memories from flooding.

Yet it was futile. Knowledge continued to assault you from all direction. You were engulfed by it, and as if reflecting the state of your mind, your own flame began to swallow your body whole. From outside and within, you suffered torture beyond belief.

"Ah.. This is.." You found yourself muttering.

My world.. Our world..!

World Lore Part 1 - The Creation

The Creation of Something

At first there was nothingness. No light, no shadow, just.. Emptiness. Void, all-consuming and all-encompassing.
Sitting on top of the blank canvas, was a solitary Being. Demiurge - the Grand Designer.

They are the Monarch of this Domain.
Nobody appointed Them for this role. Yet at the same time, nobody were against it either.
For there was nothing but Them.

Then They grew bored of the blank-ness of it all.
So They decided to make an experiment. To create something from nothing.
First They created boundaries between the nothingness and Their creation. Space.
Then They created a concept do discern between things that has happened and yet to happen. Time.

They, too, created concretes foundation for everything else that was to come.
Light, Darkness, Land, Water, Fire, Wind; They kept adding to Their new creation.

Then They fragmented parts of Their being into 72 Pillars to support it all -
To stop them from returning into nothingness;
To Anchor them into Reality

The pain subsided. The flame too, seemed to have subsided. You finally relaxed and crumpled into a kneel. Sweat covered your entire being.

"Wait, sweat?" You wondered to yourself. "Shadows do not sweat."

Then you realized that your entire being has changed -- or rather, returned to its former existence. A name lingered in your mouth. And for some inexplicable reason, you cannot help but feel like announcing it out loud!

"___! I am ___!"

Then you turned back towards the enormous congregation of flames, buried of piles of flaming, yet unburning scriptures. It was one of the 72 Pillars, you were sure.

"I am Vassa the Prophet," the Flame announced. "Are you my master?"

OOC

You may now pick a name and appearance for your character. The usual business, please give a detailed description of your appearance if you want to opt out of using pics :)

[Celsius]

@Undying Curiosity

Seeker of Light

Chapter 0 - Path of a Saint

---

You had a feeling that if you were to abandon the Gate, it would disappear from your sight forever. The thought made you hesitate for a fraction of a second. But you quickly cast away your doubt. After all, what is salvation if it comes at the price of your morality? Would salvation come to somebody without goodness in their heart?

Saying a curt goodbye to the Gate, you rushed towards the falling shadow. Seeing that it had fallen into the Abyss, you steeled your resolve once more, and dived right into the rescue.

From the corner of your eyes, you saw the Gate dispersing into a million light particle.

"Ah.." You let out a small sigh. You knew what was going to happen, but it saddens you anyway.

But what you did not see, was how the light particle flown towards you - engulfing you within its gentle light. Without you realizing, a Crest of the Keeper has appeared on the back of your right palm.

As you descended towards the endless darkness, your body changed and changed again, until it settled on an ideal form. A name too, floated into your consciousness. Your name.

OOC

As per usual, please prepare an appearance and a name for your character, but do not post it yet
I will update you and Goodmode soon. You may post a reply after that :)

[Celsius]

@goodmode

Revenant of Shield

Chapter 0 - To Whom The Bell Tolls

---

"Calm down," said the skeletal creature in front of you as it put more pressure upon your shoulder. It was slightly uncomfortable, but for some reason you knew that it was done out of concern, rather than malice.

The same, however, cannot be said for the.. thing that had just fallen from the sky, if whatever plane exist above this place could be called that. The person that descended was simultaneously similar and polar opposite of you. Where you were a mass of darkness, he had light shining from within him. Where you were standing before the Skeleton, he stood behind them. Where you had a shield - or used to, at least - he had a war hammer.

Seemingly misunderstanding the situation, this.. person.. thing quickly rushed towards your position, and swung his hammer down at the Skeleton that was holding your shoulder down.

"And it goes for your as well", the creature said in a stern tone without so much as looking back. As if reacting to their words, the assailant's hammer shattered into a million shards in a blinding spark.

"This is not the place for a talk. Come," they continued unpertubed as they took your and the mystery man's hands. And as they did so, the creature's cloak engulfed the two of you, and in a blink of an eye, you were transported into another place.

A garden of wilting roses, to be precise. It was an eerily beautiful place. The deep crimson of rose petals contrasting with the darkened stalk upon which they bloomed from; the entire 'garden' was filled with these twisted beauties. On the dead center of it all, stood a gazebo that aged like a fine wine. The woods from which they were made, were dry and cracked. Yet the beauty they convey, were almost heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Sitting inside, were two visages.

The first was the Skeletal Being that brought you here. You already know them, though their appearance had changed ever so slightly. Their bones were now covered in some soft of thin film that you somehow recognized as skin. Their features seemed to have softened a bit too. Their horns had now taken the form of white hairs, and their eyes were no longer hollow.

Silver Fox

The second one, was a stark contrast. Beautiful you thought. And how could you not? The Being was glimmering with the colours of rainbow. Their eyes golden, each as brilliant as The Sun. Flowing golden hair adorned their head. Their features, even softer and more delicate than the Skeleton's new appearance. Yet their body, while petite, exudes comparable imposing presence as the Skeleton.

Golden Fox

As you continued to stare for way too long at the duo, the Skeleton - or rather, the old gentleman - beckoned the two of you to come closer.

Wait, two? You realized that not only you, the hammer person was also there with you. And you also realized that now your appearance were also getting closer to the three of them.

A name drifted into your heart. Your name.

OOC

You may now pick a name and appearance for your character. The usual business, please give a detailed description of your appearance if you want to opt out of using pics :)

[Celsius]

@LukasVolkov

Lykantha

Chapter 1 - Oblivion

---

"The Darkness?" the Wraith replied your question with another question.

You were unsatisfied with this reaction, but for some reason you were unable to voice a protest to the creature. All you managed, were a glare. You tried your best to made it seem vicious, but probably it simply looked cute in the face of actual embodiment of terror.

"Kukuku.. Relax, Lykantha. Are you not able to take a joke?" the Wraith chuckled mockingly.

"This place is Oblivion," It continued. "A place where memories come to fade. A final resting place of the dead; a place where they finally meet their ultimate end," it blabbered with a tone far more ominous than it previously commands. "You too, are here to share their fate."

You are.. to be forgotten? But it was not supposed to be this way! Your story were not supposed to end just yet! In fact, it had yet to truly begun!

As if answering the turmoil in your head, the creature then offered you a sliver of hope.

"Though of course, exceptions can be made. A hunt. Get me something from the Void, and I shall grant you enough power to break free of this place. What do you say?"

Of course, this was a no-brainer question for you. You longed for the prospect of the hunt in the first place. Saliva began to pool inside your mouth. A subtle growl sounded from the pits of your belly.

"I want to hunt," you said. "I need to hunt!"

"Perfect!" The Wraith exclaimed. "I, Val of the Thousand Blades, shall grant you the power to overcome your Adversaries!"

OOC

Please fill in the following Character Sheet and post it in OOC section for review :)

[center]
[img]your character's portrait[/img]
[/center]
[b]Name:[/b] Lykantha, insert your preferred title here
[b]Weapon:[/b] Dagger
[b]Combat Orientation:[/b] Physical / Balanced / Magical

[b]Element:[/b]
[indent][b]Primary:[/b]
[i][color=gray]Given by GM. Your character will have significantly higher resistance to these elements, and the aptitude to learn spell/ skills of these elements[/color][/i]
[indent][b][color=darkslateblue]Darkness[/color][/b] - Having an all-consuming property, it can absorb and/or negate other's skills and defenses. Though it has many utility spells and skills, there are not many that involves direct attacking.[/indent][/indent]

[indent][b]Secondary:[/b] Physical Character picks 1 // Balanced picks 2 // Magical picks 3 - Delete the elements you do not want
[i][color=gray]Hand-picked by the players. Your character will have marginally higher resistance to these elements, and the aptitude to learn spell/ skills of these elements[/color][/i]
[indent][b][color=darkslateblue]Darkness[/color][/b] - Having an all-consuming property, it can absorb and/or negate other's skills and defenses. Though it has many utility spells and skills, there are not many that involves direct attacking.
[b][color=khaki]Light[/color][/b] - Having an all-embracing property, it specializes on wide-spread effects, be it healing or damaging. A very well-balanced element in terms of offense-defense-support spell / skill availability.
[b][color=red]Fire[/color][/b] - The embodiment of primordial power. It specializes in both destruction and self-empowerment. A highly offensive element.
[b][color=gold]Lightning[/color][/b] - A variation of Fire element. Whilst Fire element's effects are often rough and unrefined, Lightning put the full power of fire, and direct it in surgical precision. Requires affinity to Fire element.
[b][color=skyblue]Water[/color][/b] - The source of all life. It specializes in support and healing department, though some offensive spells are available.
[b][color=AFEEEE]Ice[/color][/b] - A variation of Water element. Whilst water is a rather docile element, ice is a different matter entirely. A highly offensive element with many attack and debilitating abilities. Requires affinity to Water element.
[b][color=66CDAA]Wind[/color][/b] - The ever-changing and ever-shifting element. Whilst most other elements are rather generalist, this element is specialized for characters with a focus on speed. Has many utility and attack skill and spell.
[b][color=goldenrod]Earth[/color][/b] - The ever-steady and ever-reliable element. Whilst most other elements are rather generalist, this element is specialized for characters with a focus on defense. Has many defensive, healing, and support skill and spell.[/indent][/indent]

[b]Skills:[/b]
[indent][b]Innate:[/b]
[indent][b]- Weapon Summon:[/b] The ability to materialize your weapon of choice at will
[b]- Superior Dexterity:[/b] Your character starts with increased accuracy and skill with weapon handling, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Superior Willpower:[/b] Your character starts with increased mental fortitude and resistance to magic, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Blessing of the Thousand Blades:[/b] When outside of battle, the energy your Bounded Pillar exudes will repair the damages done to your physical body. Greater wounds take longer to heal, but anything short of missing limbs and/or organs should heal given enough time.[/indent][/indent]

[indent][b]Tier 1:[/b]Physical Character picks 3 // Balanced picks 2 // Magical picks 1
[i](Hand-picked by the players. Feel free to make any skills and descriptions, the thing I put here are merely samples)[/i]
[indent][b]- Skill Name:[/b] Skill Description
[b]- Superior Strength:[/b] Your character starts with increased muscle power, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Superior Resilience:[/b] Your character starts with increased endurance and stamina, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Superior Agility:[/b] Your character starts with increased muscle power, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Superior Dexterity:[/b] Your character starts with increased flexibility and maneuverability, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Superior Intelligence:[/b] Your character starts with increased memory and cognitive ability, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Superior Willpower:[/b] Your character starts with increased mental fortitude and resistance to magic, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
[b]- Coup de Grace:[/b] Your character deals more damage the more wounded your enemy is (sample skill)
[/indent][/indent]

[Celsius]

@Ammokkx

Wanderer of the Void

Chapter 0 - Close Encounter with the Beginning

---

"You.. Are not scared of me?" The Lady asked in a hushed voice. Her pupils contracted and her gaze wandered for a bit before focusing back to you. Why was she so shocked by such a simple greeting? Did you say something wrong?

And after a short, yet not short enough awkward silence, the Lady cleared her throat and returned your greeting.

"Well, I guess it's refreshing to meet someone who does not have a meltdown over a simple 'hello'," she said while waving her hand, as if to dismiss the fact as trivial. Then, correcting her pose, she bowed and introduced herself."Lisami. That is my name."

Lisami.

Hearing that name had jogged your memory. Well, probably not yours - as you are a shadow with no memories to call its own - but rather the collective memory that's been pooling in the void. An unbearable headache assaulted you. As if possessed, your entire body convulsed wildly. You crumpled to the floor, clutching your own body in a fetal position as the wave of nostalgia and feelings overwhelm you.

World Lore Part 2 - The Three Goddesses

The Three Goddesses

The World was complete, yet cold and empty.
Over and over did Demiurge try to create something to roam his World,
but no matter how many times the Grand Designer tried, They simply could not create anything that could sate Their boredom.

Everything was predictable. Everything was mundane.
So THey created and destroyed Their creation over and over again.
Through the endless repetition, he collected ideas and inspirations.
Until one day an idea was born in Their head.

The Grand Designer collected everything that was not Them,
and mould them into three Entities,
Each separate and distinct from Them;
Each unpredictable and - therefore - exciting.

The first was Lisami, Goddess of Beginnings
The First Mother. Embodiment of Life. The Alpha.
To create life, would be Her purpose.

The second was Lemouri, Goddess of Endings
The Last Reaper. Finality Incarnate. The Omega.
To return life into nothingness, would be Her purpose.

The last was Leshura, Goddess of Balance
The Impartial Judge. Keeper of Equilibrium. The Great Equalizer.
To balance life and death, would be Her purpose.

The Three Sisters were tasked to bring colours to The World.
To create, nurture and preserve, and return the obsolete to the Void.

And thus, life began to sprout in the empty World.
They grow, die, evolve, and prosper.

And finally, The World was complete.
It was eternal, yet fleeting. It was unpredictable - and therefore - breathtakingly beautiful.

For the first time ever, Demiurge could grant Their creation a name:
Aristoúrgima - The Master Piece.

The Goddess of Creation. That was the identity of the Lady in front of you. But how? Why?

"Well?" the Goddess broke the silence that has, once again, lasted for far too long.
"Will you tell me yours?"

As if responding to the question, a name and form floated into your mind.

"Ah... My name is..." You hastily answered.

OOC

The usual business bro, pick a name and appearance for your character :)

[goodmode]

^{[ OOC: Switching to third person because it feels like the right time to do so! ]}

Fear did not come from skeletal shapes or strange gardens of the dead. Fear, for the Shield, was rooted in the unknown. The Shield did not want to be forgotten any more than they wanted to forget themselves. It was one thing to be unknown by everyone else - but to lack even their own name had shaken them to the core.

The Shield was not fazed, then, by the sudden change in scenery or the unreal appearance of the two foxes. They stepped forwards when beckoned, because at least this was something, at least this was a purpose, even if only for now...

When the Shield's name came back, it came with a bang.

Akshay Daŭra.

The haze of uncertainty lifted. So, too, did the wreath of shadows that had been roiling around Akshay's body and mind like an unwanted cloak. His stance instantly shifted from closed-in and uneasy to a steadfast, relaxed warrior's position. He knew enough now to know that was his default, and it fit him like a glove.

So too did the material of his artfully-stitched trousers, and the soft leather comfort wrap he wore on his shield arm. He had a shirt, too, but at some point he'd foregone wearing it and had instead tied it around his waist, wrinkling the sleeves irreparably - not that he minded. He was also barefoot, which was... interesting, and he made a note to remedy this later.

"Why am I here?" He spared a glance to the other strange wanderer that - he now understood - had been trying to save him from this strange skeletal being. "Why are they here? Did we not fight true enough?"

[Undying Curiosity]

The Seeker reluctantly followed the skeletal being. He who was their enemy. Their efforts to escape the darkness had been replaced with the desire to kill the darkness, this darkness took the form of some sort of astral skeletal being. Unfortunately for the seeker the being was much more powerful than they had imagined. With a quick turn of events, the seeker was lead to a grand place where the skeletal being sat with another seemingly deific being, they knew within their heart just who these two beings were. He felt as if he knew who they were but he struggled to come up with a specific name for them, he lingered in his thoughts. Releasing his focus on what was happening around him and dived into his mind. It was the first time he had a moment to think about things and for some reason his mind kept coming back to a name.

This name, 'his name, had not just appeared. It appeared moments after trying to save someone, but everything was moving so fast...nothing like his time in the abyss. In the abyss, events happened but he could never discern the order in which they happened but in this world of light things happened one at a time and then they moved on. How am I supposed to register all of this? he stood looking at the two in the gazebo. Let's go over what happened...His mind spoke clear to him while the sounds around him drowned into a muffled roar.

I was in the darkness. I tried to save someone. I am in the light. My name, I know, is Zeyruun. I attacked-.

He thought process was cut short as it wanted to linger on that last thought. He didnt want to think of anything else at the moment.

Zeyruun...

Zeyruun had a body. It had grown around him, cocooning him in its embrace. He didn't feel like he had time to dwell on his transcendence at that moment, at the time he needed to kill darkness. However, he remembers the event vividly. Bones sprouted out from his being, muscles and sinew latched onto the bones seconds later. Skin encased the new body in its entirety, a dark tan colour. His body felt tall, he felt this was especially true when standing in the beautiful garden with the other abyss dweller whom he tried saving. His body had no hair on the head, but it had hair over his chest...no, it wasn't hair and it wasn't coming from his chest. It was on his chest. A shirt, another peice of clothing hanging on his legs aswell.

It was all very weird and surreal what was happening before him. To his left Zeyruun could see the other one, the one like him, coming into a body of his own, likely he came into a name aswell. He spared a glance at him, Zeyruun felt something towards this one, understanding? Relief? Fellowship? It was hard to fully grasp how he felt but at the very least he didnt feel bad. Zeyruun felt he must have looked the same way as the being beside him when he himself came into his body, surprise and confused followed by an overwhelming sense of familiarity and comfort.

Zeyruun forced himself out of his thoughts and moved to the gazebo a step or two behind the other one. Something told Zeyruun to wait and listen, the other one seemed to speak freely and naturally, but Zeyruun didn't know what to say. He just stood there solid in posture, waiting for the two deific beings to explain things to him.

[SilverPaw]

Channeling my energy into the shadow-bound being worked; I felt an answering hum vibrate throughout my body. Memories of a story, part of my former knowledge began playing out in my head. It was thrilling at first; finally, I was recovering what should be mine. This was part of what I have forgotten, and it felt right to have it returned to me. However, I was not used to such an overwhelming assault of information, and soon I was screaming, clutching at my head, violently shuddering.

It was as if I were experiencing several vivid dreams – painful nightmares? – all at once, the only reprieve the possibility of falling unconscious. However, I did not faint; the barrage of visions did not allow me to do so and nor did I truly wish to miss this. I gritted my teeth against the pain, enduring. Even when my own flames engulfed me, from within and without, I weathered the agony.

“Oh, this…is,” I muttered. I recognized that what I had seen was my world. It was where I belonged. The pain and the flames abated, and I fell to the floor, breath laboured. The air had never tasted sweeter, though the sweat clung to me, uncomfortably sticky. Wait, sweat? I queried myself. Was I not a being of shadow, unaffected by such mundane concerns?

I looked down at myself, and saw the surprising changes. I was not made of darkness, after all. Perhaps I should have realized how odd it was to possess such a distinctly material staff while I myself was such a vague existence. Robes adorned my body, and I blinked at the curved chest and hip area. Female, I recalled. The little glimpse of flesh I saw wrapped around my palms was mocha with an undertone of gray, and somehow, I knew that so was the rest of me. I patted my face, my mouth, my sharp teeth, the short black hair upon my head, and the pair of horns curling forward from it.

“Alnaera! I am Alnaera!” I exclaimed, exhilarated. This was my name. My name. I couldn’t have suppressed the beaming smile even had I wanted to.

When I turned to the creature I had released, fires were raging, tall and wide. Within it were piles of unburning scriptures. I identified the entity in front of me as one of the Pillars. It spoke to me, introducing itself, and I nodded in response. “Yes,” I stated, unhesitatingly. I did not truly know whether I had mastery over such a being as this, but why refuse its offer? “Who are you to me, then? A servant? A follower? An assistant or an informant?” I queried it in return.

[Ammokkx]

The nobody's mystery woman seemed shocked at the greeting, even asked if they were not afraid, which... sure made them regret not hightailing it first chance they got. 'Maybe the smile didn't work,' they thought. Said thought stuck for a second. The nobody hadn't stopped to take a moment to ponder it themselves, but... they didn't even know what they looked like. If they even had a face to smile with.

What... what was the nobody?

"Well, I guess it's refreshing to meet someone who does not have a meltdown over a simple 'hello'," were the words to snap the nobody back to reality, or whatever was meant to pass for it. Seems like not bolting was the right choice after all.

'Oh yeah, smooth sailing now,' they briefly thought to themselves as they watched the lady wave her hand. Maybe not knowing the reality of your existence isn't so bad if you can hang out with a total babe like-

Lisami.

It hurt. That name hurt so much. The pain assaulted the nobody as suddenly as it was mentioned, their 'body' freezing stiff for a moment. From an outsider's perspective, nothing too gruesome was happening. However, what it felt like was different. Not only did the pain of memories flooding into the nobody's- no, their name was Cythril. The memories contained it. Cythril's mind. Lisami. Cythril. Goddess. Balance. EndingsOmegaworldVoidfoxspiritpreservethecreationof

Bones snapped into place, the back shot out three different ways, limbs were growing and coiling around themselves, hair shooting out like needles. No screaming. There wasn't a voice left to scream with as their lungs choked on themselves. Ran out of air to breathe outwards. Out of noise to make. Blood started to circulate aggressively through the veins of this newfound body, feeling the heat it lacked finally land through a burning sensation akin to fire and brimstone.

It subsided.

The result of this hellish experience was a man, lying down in the grass. He barely had the time to ponder the ticklish feelings of the moist blades rubbing against his skin. He pushed himself up, looking down at his hands. Unlike before, he could see them with clarity. Not just the hands, but the white sleeves lazily hanging down below them too. Wind brushed against his face, blowing through his hair. A few strands of blurry gray waved themselves in front of his eyes. That breeze did more than just that, though. It brushed against his ears, perched on top of the head rather than to the side. Tickled the fuzz inside. Ruffled the hairs around the back. The last thing of note was the tail swaying gently side-to-side.

That's right. This was his body.

The goddess asked for his name.

"Ah... of course, my name is Cythril, milady."

He stood there, blinking for a brief moment. Then Cythril remembered who she was. He quickly bowed down after that. "D-d'oh, err, I ah, I apologise for my rudeness, I erm, uh, your humble servant is at, d'ah, your service?"

[LukasVolkov]

It was finally time.

My mind raged against its confines to leave this cold place. My body was my own and I could feel the power coursing through me. A fragment of who I once was, was meant to be perhaps? I didn't really care about the distinction.

"Let us fight with tooth and nail then, Val." With the flick of my wrist and an expression of my newfound power I summoned my dagger to my hand. Gazing upon my sole weapon I couldn't help but wonder whose blood they would taste together. "What horrors we must face I'm ready."

[DELETED08740]

With a touch of Olas' talons, a mark wrote itself upon the shadow's forehead. A sigil of a owl diving from the skies, wings stretched in sharp, sweeping lines shone brightly as powerful funnels of wind whipped up around the Puppet. Wind, undefined, untenable yet with perfect focus carved form and definition into the shadows that the Puppet took for a body. Skin and sinew emerged from below the surface, with a pinkish tint as blood poured into the veins. Oh, and a plenty of green hair that slapped the Puppet's face as the tornado that surrounded it died down.

No, 'it' wasn't the proper pronoun was it? Not anymore, as the shadows left a parting gift of an evanescent memory, a dying scrap that the Puppet now held unto.
"Gael." She said. She repeated the foreign word, now familiar. "Gael, huh."
'Gael' furrowed her brow. "Wait, Gael?! As in gale? Gale Gael?" She looked accusingly toward Olas, trying to find someone to pin the blame for the sheer lack of originality. Then again, he didn't know her before she met him either.

Figures. Maybe her past self (if she had one), had a terrible sense of humor or had terrible luck. The common denominator being 'terrible'. But well, Gael, with all its dramatic irony, was short and simple. She bargained there was some virtue in that. "Gael it is." She said, puffing away strands of hair that still clung to her face.

Gael took note of her body, at first getting weirded out by the amount of sensations that now flowed from the more receptive skin, but merrily spinning about as her mind understood how to tune them out. She was clothed, thankfully, with a tidily sewn short tunic. It was lined with pragmatic straps of leather that gave the clothes sturdiness against duress, studded with stubby tacks that held pouches and rings for clips together. The inside was lined with furs and feathers to help keep warm (which was immediately useful against the wind she could now feel much more sharply), along with a slightly weighted hood. There were basic patterns that seemed like they were kneaded and inscribed by hand, making basic shapes of flowers and geometry. The matching set of breeches had a hole at the back to let her tail, roughly pruned, to waver behind. Whoever made it was clearly an amateur that poured in way too much effort, but Gael at least appreciated the thought. The owl sigil that was imprinted in her boots and fingerless gloves were given especially intense detail, however, with even the details of the feathers stamped out.

Her actual body was thin but toned with muscles, the kind that came not through training, but consistent habit. There were a few minor scratches here and there, perhaps from fights against struggling wildlife, but besides those, Gael's tanned skin was intact. Her hair reached the length of her tunic, or would have, if it was left to flow instead of being tied up in a pragmatic bun. Her pointy ears, attentively twitching, was sitting squarely on top of her head. And the best part - she wasn't missing any limbs! Well, she probably should have expected that, but considering how fast she cut herself with the arrow back in the void, she wasn't leaving any guesses up. Gael pulled and stretched her face, puffing up her cheeks and sticking out her tongue, testing her face's functions. She did find out that eyelids weren't supposed to be pulled out that far, though.

Gael realized the two moons that watched her from above, and beamed back at the owl king. She was pretty impartial at first, especially with her remarkably unremarkable name - but man, she did look pretty sweet with all this gear. "Well, now I certainly look the part, don't I?"

[Celsius]

Chapter 1 - Clashing Paths

Part 1A - Lykantha, the Ashen Wolf
@LukasVolkov

---

"Horrors? Oh you are wrong," Val answered to Lykantha's urging. "We are playing the part of the Horror tonight. It shall be our prey that tremble in fear. Kukukukuku.." He continued, his voice tinged with sinister elation.

A vision entered Lykantha's mind. A garden, filled with dying beauty. Two foxes and their cubs were sitting in their den. Unaware. Unguarded. Vulnerable. Her saliva began to pool yet again to the vision.

And with a silent agreement, the Ashen Wolf set foot to her destination. And behind her, Val's visage unraveled into writhing darkness before settling on the Wolf's dagger.

---

---

Part 1B - Zeyruun and Akshay
@undying curiosity@goodmode

---

"Welcome, Zeyruun and Akshay," the Silver Fox beckoned the two newly reborn mortals. Their forms were complete again at last.
"I am known as Allos the Peacemaker," he introduced himself. "And this is my colleague,"

"Flau. Avenger," the Golden Fox passed the proverbial introduction baton on. Unlike Allos, who sounded warm and welcoming, her tone was flat and cold.

And suddenly, it felt like the temperature dropped a degree or two. Ever very slightly, you felt that the delicate balance between beauty and horror in the wilting rose arbor surrounding you tilt towards the latter.

"Hrm. My apologies. She is a person of little words. Trust me when I say she bears no ill will towards you," Allos then said with a cough, as if to rectify the cooling atmosphere.
"Now, I know you have a lot to ask. So allow us to show you instead. Flau, if you will.."

With a nod, the Golden Fox rasied to her feet and waved her hand as if to flip an invisible page from an oversized book. Then, pictures and scriptures suddenly appeared before you.

World Lore Part 3 - The Age of Deicide

The Age of Deicide

Seeing the World flourishing, Demiurge saw that all is good,
and they retreated to their original domain, the Atelier,
and took the role of a mere Theatergoer.

The Three Goddess - The Beginning, The End, and The Balancer - continued to nurture the world
Ages went by. Creatures evolve, adapt, and improve
And finally, civilization were born

Learning of their full potential, the creations began to imitate their creators
They pooled their ingenuity, and made creations that they could call their own
They altered the natural courses of things, improving their life immensely
They were proud. They were content. They were happy.
They... Were drunk with the newfound power

It did not take long before the creations started asking questions
Why do they have to submit to the wills of the Goddesses?

Why should they follow the cycle of life and death,
while they managed to bend literally every other laws of the world?
Aren't they surviving on this World by their own Virtue? Their own strength?

Thus, the creations banded together and raised a rebellion against the Goddesses

Their attempt was futile and laughably one-sided
After all, they had no power to touch the Realm of God

Yet this did not stop them from trying
Try as much as they want - as much as they could - they did
And every time, more of the World's vital resources went to waste

Futile attempts over futile attempts later, the creations found themselves spreading thin
The resources, previously abundant, were running out at an alarming rate
The lives, previously flourishing, were now on the brink of being extinguished

The World was torn beyond repair
The flow of life had been disturbed and stifled, that not even Lisami - Goddess of Beginnings,
could restore Life at the pace of which Death claimed what was due to them
And thus the spiral towards Oblivion continued to gain momentum

The creations realized their mistake, and begged for forgiveness
Yet there was nothing the Goddesses could do for them
For they had thrown the World asunder beyond repair

It was then that Lemouri - Goddess of Endings - did the unthinkable
Overwhelmed by guilt over her hands on the destruction of the World, She ended her own existence
And that - was the catalyst that brought upon a new age

With the concept of "Death" disappearing from the World,
the creations managed to cling to their feeble life
Without Death, Life began to replenish itself

But this comes at a price

Angered - nay - maddened by the death of Her Sister, Lisami swore to bring down punishment over the creations
With utter disregard over Her role, She created new form of life - monstrosity beyond any nightmare - and unleashed them upon the World
These giants, with nothing but wrath over all things living in their instinct, wreaked havoc wherever they went

They would hunt the creations, smash their homes, tore their bodies, and feast upon their innards
And without Death to claim them, the creations had no place to run to
Eternal life - what the creations had yearned so over the past centuries - had became an eternal prison,
with its key lost to the annex of Oblivion

And thus began the Age of Deicide
An age where mortals had successfully slain their God
And suffered an eternity of damnation

The two mortals shuddered. Be it over the sheer horror of the visions they just saw, or the disgust of realizing that they were once a part of the creations that so shamelessly destroyed themselves and begged for forgiveness and salvation from the very Being they tried to kill, only they themselves would know.

Before they could react or comment on the vision, however, the hairs on their neck tingled with electricity. Danger is approaching, they instinctively realized. And just as their instinct guide them, the mortals each reached towards their respective Fox Guardian - Akshay to Allos; while Zeyruun, Flau.

Barely reaching their Guardians, a shield and a warhammer materialized at Akshay and Zeyruun's hands. Feeling the familiar weight of their preferred weapons, they twisted their body just in time to block the incoming death. Two obsidian daggers, their blade as dull black as their handles.

The Thousand Blades.

The two warriors stood back-to-back, and scanned their surrounding. Yet their assailant was nowhere to be seen. But just because something eludes the eyes, does not mean they do not exist. The interloper was there. They simply did not know where.

OOC

Welcome to the first PvP of the RP
This round will be Lykantha vs Akshay and Zeyruun, and to smoothen things up, I will predetermine the end of this battle.
Seeing that this is a 2 vs 1, Akshay and Zeyruun will come out on top.
Lykantha, however, is allowed to incapacitate one of her opponent before finally losing the fight.
As for the detail of how the fight will progress, and when or who of the two will fall, I leave it to you three
Take as long (or short) as you want to have fun with this particular battle, but don't drag it out for the sake of dragging out :)

P.S.
Nobody died. Yet.