Okay this is just some basic stuff, foundational level, just so we have a relatively consistent playing field and point of reference here. Still keeping things very loose and open to interpretation and permutation. In general I want us to DIY a cosmology more than anything else. This will probably be updated more with time, so check back here if you need an answer to a question.
At the center of the Wheel of Creation burns the Eternal Flame, which was never ignited, and was always ignited. The Flame is everything that is, everything that can be, and everything that never was, or never will be. Like any fire, the Eternal Flame casts off smoke, light, shadows, embers. The Eternal Flame is the essence of reality and unreality, and the Flame's issue forms the basis of what is "real." The Flame Eternal has a dual existence, as it is truly two flames in one. It is simultaneously the Cold, White Flame, and the Hot, Black Flame, which dance together in eternal harmonic balance.
Like shadows dancing on walls, a multitude of worlds radiate from the Flame, spanning around it like a great wheel. Worlds can take any number of shapes, as they are infinite in number and variation. Some worlds encompass vast universes of incalculable size, while others might be small enough to fit into the palm a hand. Some worlds fold in on themselves, creating sub-dimensions, or mirror worlds within itself. Regardless of their myriad differences, all worlds are bound within the Wheel of Creation, and by their nature are unable to leave the Wheel, or intersect with other worlds. Worlds may be born, or may die, but escaping the boundaries of a world and entering a higher planes of existence is a virtual impossibility.
Like shadows dancing on walls, a multitude of worlds radiate from the Flame, spanning around it like a great wheel. Worlds can take any number of shapes, as they are infinite in number and variation. Some worlds encompass vast universes of incalculable size, while others might be small enough to fit into the palm a hand. Some worlds fold in on themselves, creating sub-dimensions, or mirror worlds within itself. Regardless of their myriad differences, all worlds are bound within the Wheel of Creation, and by their nature are unable to leave the Wheel, or intersect with other worlds. Worlds may be born, or may die, but escaping the boundaries of a world and entering a higher planes of existence is a virtual impossibility.
Populating many worlds are Inheritors, the masterworks of the Gods. Souls imbued with the Eternal Flame, every Inheritor possesses the divine gift of will, which allows them to not only survive in their worlds, but shape and master them. Two orders of Inheritors are generally considered to exist: Sustainers, and Perceivers.
Sustainers are born with souls forged of the Cool, White Flame. Pliant and stable in soul, they were created to by the servants of the Gods, and each has a destiny written into the essence of their people. Dwarves to tend the forges, Elves to defend the forests, Angels to uphold the divine law. Across all of Creation, if there is a task to be done, there is surely a race of Sustainers created to fulfill it. Well-crafted by the Gods, Sustainers are born with bright, unwavering souls, and great talent for their intended purpose. Sustainers cannot die of old age, though they may be slain or die of sickness, and often dedicate their long lives to the perfection of their duty. However, Sustainers are by their very nature creatures of habit, and can fall into obsession and stagnation. Even the most iconoclast Sustainer would have to suppress their innermost drives if they were to reject their purpose; while rare, this is not unheard of.
Perceivers are born with souls forged of the Warm, Black Flame. Sputtering embers of the Eternal Flame, Perceivers are born without purpose, have no intended destiny, and have lives shaped by happenstance rather than guided by the hands of the Gods. Unlike the Sustainers, Perceivers are mortal, and the flame of their soul will inevitably gutter out and die. While most Perceivers' lives are short, the urgency of their lives and the free reign they hold over their destiny drives them to power and achievement outside the grasp of most stolid Sustainers. Some Perceivers, such as Humans, bend their wills to extending their lives through magic or science, while others covet the immortal power of the Gods for their own.
Sustainers are born with souls forged of the Cool, White Flame. Pliant and stable in soul, they were created to by the servants of the Gods, and each has a destiny written into the essence of their people. Dwarves to tend the forges, Elves to defend the forests, Angels to uphold the divine law. Across all of Creation, if there is a task to be done, there is surely a race of Sustainers created to fulfill it. Well-crafted by the Gods, Sustainers are born with bright, unwavering souls, and great talent for their intended purpose. Sustainers cannot die of old age, though they may be slain or die of sickness, and often dedicate their long lives to the perfection of their duty. However, Sustainers are by their very nature creatures of habit, and can fall into obsession and stagnation. Even the most iconoclast Sustainer would have to suppress their innermost drives if they were to reject their purpose; while rare, this is not unheard of.
Perceivers are born with souls forged of the Warm, Black Flame. Sputtering embers of the Eternal Flame, Perceivers are born without purpose, have no intended destiny, and have lives shaped by happenstance rather than guided by the hands of the Gods. Unlike the Sustainers, Perceivers are mortal, and the flame of their soul will inevitably gutter out and die. While most Perceivers' lives are short, the urgency of their lives and the free reign they hold over their destiny drives them to power and achievement outside the grasp of most stolid Sustainers. Some Perceivers, such as Humans, bend their wills to extending their lives through magic or science, while others covet the immortal power of the Gods for their own.
Every Inheritor bears within themselves an individual link to the Eternal Flame in the form of their own soul, be it White or Black. While these pale in comparison to the Immortal Flames of the Gods, they are no less true links to the root of all Creation. Some even say that that any separation between individual souls and the oversoul of the Eternal Flame is an illusion, and they are all the same. The manifestation of Eternal Flame's power is known by many names across many worlds; atum, ki, chakra, mana, orgon, and so on.
Regardless of interpretation, the soul's flame is a source of great power if harnessed correctly. Some study the flow of the flame through the body; the channels and meridians of the soul, and how they may be blocked to kill or weaken a foe, or aligned to unlock hidden potential. These techniques are key to many martial arts throughout Creation, as well as other, more esoteric applications. Particularly skilled or powerful individuals can manifest their burning soul externally, often through a burning corona that halos their head like a crown, or by cloaking their body entirely in divine fire.
Magic, (often called The Art) is the practice of lying to reality, and reality changing to suit the lie. Masters of the Art are known as Sorcerers. Consummate liars, Sorcerers know that "reality" is an illusion cast by the Eternal Flame, and can use the flames within themselves to change Creation to better suit their desires. While Inheritors across many worlds interact with the Art in shallow, crude displays of chanting, fetishes, and sacrifices, true mastery is rare. Like lying to the face of God, true magic requires power, secret knowledge, and force of will. Those most desperate for strength might glean knowledge or bargain for power with dark, chaotic whisperers at the edges of Creation.
The form and practice of magic varies unimaginably across the myriad Worlds in creation, though its truest expressions can be grouped into generalized categories of Arts.
The Red Arts, most common among Sorcerers, are also known as the Arts of Dominion, and express mastery over Creation. Through these Arts, a Sorcerer can manipulate physical reality about them. Red Sorcerers refine their will into a cutting edge, and carve the universe into the shape they desire. Apples turn to oranges, lead turns to gold, air turns to flame, and a semblance of life can be imbued into the lifeless. The Red Arts cannot create nor destroy; only transform what already exists.
Far rarer are the White Arts, which express mastery over the self. White Sorcerers can manipulate any aspect of their own being, including not only physical transformations of their own body, but alterations to their perceptions, or manipulating their relationship to space-time. White Sorcerers are barely heard-of among Inheritors, but those few that can attain mastery of these Arts are prodigious, comparable to Gods in power. More dangerous still are those who combine Red and White techniques to achieve transcendent mastery over physical reality, and deliver divine punishment to their enemies.
Rarest of all are the Black Arts, believed to have died out completely among both Gods and Inheritors. The simplest and most awesome of the Arts, they have a single purpose: to create something out of nothing. Apocrypha claims that the Black Arts could stoke the Eternal Flame and bring new life into existence. The act of pure creation, requiring neither existing matter nor the self, has no known living practitioners; a Black Sorcerer in this age would be a terrible thing to behold.
Regardless of interpretation, the soul's flame is a source of great power if harnessed correctly. Some study the flow of the flame through the body; the channels and meridians of the soul, and how they may be blocked to kill or weaken a foe, or aligned to unlock hidden potential. These techniques are key to many martial arts throughout Creation, as well as other, more esoteric applications. Particularly skilled or powerful individuals can manifest their burning soul externally, often through a burning corona that halos their head like a crown, or by cloaking their body entirely in divine fire.
Magic, (often called The Art) is the practice of lying to reality, and reality changing to suit the lie. Masters of the Art are known as Sorcerers. Consummate liars, Sorcerers know that "reality" is an illusion cast by the Eternal Flame, and can use the flames within themselves to change Creation to better suit their desires. While Inheritors across many worlds interact with the Art in shallow, crude displays of chanting, fetishes, and sacrifices, true mastery is rare. Like lying to the face of God, true magic requires power, secret knowledge, and force of will. Those most desperate for strength might glean knowledge or bargain for power with dark, chaotic whisperers at the edges of Creation.
The form and practice of magic varies unimaginably across the myriad Worlds in creation, though its truest expressions can be grouped into generalized categories of Arts.
The Red Arts, most common among Sorcerers, are also known as the Arts of Dominion, and express mastery over Creation. Through these Arts, a Sorcerer can manipulate physical reality about them. Red Sorcerers refine their will into a cutting edge, and carve the universe into the shape they desire. Apples turn to oranges, lead turns to gold, air turns to flame, and a semblance of life can be imbued into the lifeless. The Red Arts cannot create nor destroy; only transform what already exists.
Far rarer are the White Arts, which express mastery over the self. White Sorcerers can manipulate any aspect of their own being, including not only physical transformations of their own body, but alterations to their perceptions, or manipulating their relationship to space-time. White Sorcerers are barely heard-of among Inheritors, but those few that can attain mastery of these Arts are prodigious, comparable to Gods in power. More dangerous still are those who combine Red and White techniques to achieve transcendent mastery over physical reality, and deliver divine punishment to their enemies.
Rarest of all are the Black Arts, believed to have died out completely among both Gods and Inheritors. The simplest and most awesome of the Arts, they have a single purpose: to create something out of nothing. Apocrypha claims that the Black Arts could stoke the Eternal Flame and bring new life into existence. The act of pure creation, requiring neither existing matter nor the self, has no known living practitioners; a Black Sorcerer in this age would be a terrible thing to behold.
Short and simple here.
Respect your fellow players, both IC and OOC.
Understand that the GM's word is final, though I'm willing to compromise where I can.
Communicate and cooperate with everyone in the RP to the best of your ability.
Be creative, and make an effort at crafting a quality story.
Maintain a standard of posting frequency, or let us know if you're having difficulty keeping up or if issues arise.
Feel free to ask questions, share ideas or voice your concerns.
Have fun!
Respect your fellow players, both IC and OOC.
Understand that the GM's word is final, though I'm willing to compromise where I can.
Communicate and cooperate with everyone in the RP to the best of your ability.
Be creative, and make an effort at crafting a quality story.
Maintain a standard of posting frequency, or let us know if you're having difficulty keeping up or if issues arise.
Feel free to ask questions, share ideas or voice your concerns.
Have fun!
Name: How does Creation reckon you, Inheritor?
Titles: Crowns, Sobriquets, Epithets, Noms de Guerre... What names are you called in legend?
Age: What time has passed since your birth on your world?
World: Tell of the universe that bore you. Stick to the most relevant details that had the most influence on your character. If your character has left the world drastically changed (not unlikely), describe their influence as well.
Race: Describe the general qualities of the race of Inheritors from which you descend. Are they immortal but servile Sustainers, or the short-lived, bright-burning Perceivers? Any significant differences between your character and their overall race (the form it takes on their world) should be noted here.
Form: Describe the physical form of the Inheritor, or link an image if you desire.
Legend: Save the flowery details for song, give me the short summary of your origins, your ascent, your ultimate triumph. Just give me the book report summary, the most influential details and events, and save their motivations and true ascension for now.
Will: Tell me what drives you to Reach Heaven Through Violence. Where do your passions, drives, and ideals stem from? Is it pain in your past, hope for the future, fear, glory, hatred, love?
Mastery: What personal mastery have you achieved that allows you to exert your will on the universe? Are you a feared and terrible Sorcerer? a venerated master of forbidden martial arts? Describe the breadth and depth of your mastery.
Ascent: The most difficult step is the first one. How did you cross the threshold and escape your world? What ultimate precipice of strength was reached? What confluence of powers ejected you? Did you achieve transcendent mastery and perceive the Lie? Was the Shape of the Universe shown to you by the warm flesh of a dead god? The possibilities are endless. At the start of the RP, this will be the most recent thing to have happened to you.
Ephemera: The weapons, tools, and companions of legends are often legendary in their own right. What relics do you take with you in your ascension, and whom have you left behind on the world you escaped?
Theme: Pick a theme song, a battle song, a motif, all of the above, whatever. Try and be creative. You know you want to.
Name: Mekhari Seht
Titles: Ophidias, The Black Dragon, Sorcerer of the Apocalypse
Age: When he ascended, Seht had lived for two-thousand of Remet's twin-sunned years.
World: Remet was a bleak and barren world, mostly given up to desert and roaming bands of mindless undead. Life was short and painful, as its human populace spent countless generations enslaved by cruel, cthonic invaders. Even the world's name means "sorrow." The Remeti toiled to build necropoli deifying their inhuman masters, and carried on as a broken people until Seht summoned Apophis and Remet was destroyed.
Race: The Remeti, meaning "sorrowful ones," were a black-souled race of humans, typically dark-haired and bronze-skinned. At some distant point in their past, they had bargained with infernal forces that lived beneath their world, whom they summoned as servants and menial laborers. It was not long before the relationship was reversed, and the Remeti were instead the servants of dark powers. While most lived as chattel slaves, the remnants of their royal families of wizard-kings were permitted to retain some of their power, and served as slave-keepers for their infernal masters. These noble houses, one of which being the House of Seht, learned secrets of forbidden magic from their masters, and often conspired against each other for power and prestige. After millennia of magical study, Seht has learned enough wards and enchantments that his body is suffused with magical energy, and he ages at an infinitesimally slow rate.
Form: Given his mastery of illusion and transformation magic, Seht can easily manipulate his appearance to suit his whims. However, for the purpose of representing himself, he most commonly assumes the guise of a flamboyant, jester-like Sorcerer.
Legend: Mekhari was born to one of the noble mage-houses of the dying world Remet. While fancying themselves royalty, they were little more than tools and glorified pets to the dark beings that ruled their worlds. Mekhari saw this plainly from a young age, though he played the games of deceit and murder among his kin none the less. He killed two of his brothers with poison before reaching the age of thirteen. All the while, he hungered for secret knowledge that might earn him freedom.
In time, he was able to manipulate his fellows as well as his dark lords enough to grant him a position of favor, and for his service the demon kings plied him with many terrible secrets of arcane power. In time he was able to partly overthrow the rulers of his world, carving out a small fiefdom of his own slaves and summoned servants, but suffered under constant threat of reprisal and destruction.
Will: Seht scorns his early life as a slave, and is desperate above all else to never live under the heel of another being ever again. Given his harsh upbringing, he views power as the only route to true emancipation, as well as to avoid the possibility of ever being enslaved again by anything. To that end, he has only one true goal: omnipotence.
Mastery: Seht is a sorcerer of terrible malefic power, possessing knowledge of magic and spellcraft gleaned from the demonic residents of Remet's nether realms, its fallen civilizations, and faint echoes of outer realms. He has achieved near-immortality through enchantment and transmutation, and has used his extended lifespan to master hundreds of magical disciplines and lores.
Ascent: Seht studied the ruins of Remet's lost civilization, and learned of an ultimate chaotic power, locked outside of their world, which would be sufficient to erase all of Remet's dark masters. Through laborious effort, and tremendous sacrifice, Seht was able to invoke Apophis, the Serpent of the Apocalypse, luring it from Remet's dark underworld. The unnatural invocation of the herald of Remet's apocalypse combined with Seht's arrogant attempts to control the demon sent rent the world asunder, reality tearing apart at its seams. While the world was destroyed, the focal point of Seht's spell fused him with the Apocalypse Dragon, imbuing him with its undiluted essence, and ejecting him into the Void.
Ephemera: The most powerful magical tool at Seht's disposal is his Leviathan Staff, a locus of magic power that can act as a reservoir of atum, a ritual focus, and a magnifier of his spells. Additionally, he carries a deck of cards, a powerful demon or monster bound within each, enslaved to Seht's will. If he desires to reconstruct them following Remet's destruction, Seht possessed a variety of alchemically-grown minions and servants, as well as many artifacts and vast accumulated magic lore in his lair, known as the Tomb of Chaos.
Theme: Whatever
3x Laugh
1x Thank
