Progressive Arcanum

[TheHangedMan]

Shifter_Master said
@Hanged: I'm still ironing out the idea so these questions are quite welcome, I find it easier to figure them out when I'm trying to answer someone.

1: This is the part I'm getting most stuck on as I'm not quite sure what I could do, a few ideas were a better knack for Mana manipulation (Unlikely as that sounds kinda over powered) Slightly higher then normal reserves in the basic energies, or stronger ability to sense magical energies around him. Ideas or input would be appreciated on this as I'm not quite sure what boundaries are in place at the moment as I don't want to get attached to an idea that is past them

.2: The reason he is driven is multi-fold, part of it is coming from a lower class family and wanting to prove, both to him self and to others that he is worth something, another part is the feeling that he needs to excel over his peers so that he can in turn use these abilities to try and either provide for his family or raise himself to the point where he will never have to worry about being reduced to poverty again, not sure which yet as haven't decided if he will be antagonistic or not. Yet another part is just natural drive and stubbornness but, the last part is a mental image I had that crystallized the character for me. In a vivid dream, or some of the like, he got a sense of what it would be like to have the world in his hands as if it were putty allowing him to change and play with at his whim, of what it would be like to be a God. Shortly after this experience his magical talents were discovered and to him it seemed like a sign of what he could do, if not what he should do.

3: A Jack-of-all-trades in the sense that he tries not to focus on any one school of magic as they all likely have a part of the puzzle, so he will have to master all of them to an extent to learn even where to begin to start learning about the secret that is behind being able to preform even the tiniest portion of Akasha-Deviancy. Go to all the classes, learn all that he can, practice till he can barely stand or barely think and hardly breath and if he is lucky, maybe, just maybe, he will hit upon the first step needed to get to the starting line to start learning that which has eluded all others I know I've picked the hardest thing for someone to go in to as you even stated it is a theoretical magic, so if all the masters that have come to pass can't conceive of a way to practice it, a student who is just started his learning is going to have a snowball's chance, but he will either learn how or die trying for if he is to back down or change his goal all he would have done is prove everyone right in that he is nothing, that he is worthless and to him that is no different then death for it took every thing he had to get here, But that makes playing him all the better

1. Mana manipulation, sadly, is an instant no-no. Obvious reasons aside, I have plans for that particular bombshell. Slightly higher than normal reserves is fairly a normal talent so it's fine, and the ability to sense the magic around him will prove essential if that's what you're going to choose. Either way is good.

2. Oh I like this . . .

3. I like this even better . . .

Hmm . . . Overall, I actually kinda like it. A character design like this has potential. Especially as an anti-hero type of character.

[Shifter_Master]

Sweet, I'll keep mulling it over, maybe type out a rough draft to see where else he needs work. I'll go with the senses option as well, as it sounds like it would be the best bet to help notice the, what I'm assuming are, the nearly impossible to perceivable changes that are inherent in Akasha-Deviancy. as well as the anti-hero route. I was fifty-fifty on it, but you have a good point and I noted he is sorta set up better as that kinda person with his refusal to back down from his choice, which appears mostly self serving at the moment. I think I'm even more exited now

[Imperfectionist]

Being an Akashic-Deviant would, in my humble opinion, likely require the intervention of some great Divine spirit, the imparting of knowledge from the dawn of existence... Sounds like a job for an Ouramancer! At the very least, ancestors and gods can be consulted on such things.

It seems all of our characters might fit together, or at least that the Outsorceror and Shifter's determined inferiority-complex guy would both have reason to seek out and make use of my Ouramancer's talents! Maybe they've all met and become acquainted before the story begins, each of them with their own goals and long-term issues that play off the others. :) Things are turning out nicely.

[Shifter_Master]

I can see my guy hounding you down just to try and get an understanding of Ouramancey as since he has no talent for it he will have to make do by watching other practice the craft and note down what he can. Maybe try and beat his head against that wall as well, ya know, for practice. I for one am always okay with pre-established rapport makes life a bit easier in experience.

[Imperfectionist]

Well, one of the main purposes of the craft is to act as a conduit between spirits and mortals, so even if he cannot perform the magic himself, there is nothing stopping him (or others) from seeking out the knowledge of great and terrible beings...

[TheHangedMan]

Alright. I've made the character template, the locations, and a whole ton of other stuff. Here's the current RP thing. Tell me if there's anything I should probably change/add:

Premise

In a Continent called Feledia, on a country known as Lismos, despite looking much like our Middle-Ages, the country of Lisomos is plenty more prosperous than our own counterpart at that time. This is due to the discovery and constant research of Magic. While the study of science has not been stunted (thus leading to several discoveries such as gunpowder and steel) Magic has had a 5000 year head start, meaning that in the society of Lismos and other neighboring countries, Magic is more useful and thus more important than science.

In response to the need of society for magic, plenty of countries have established many Academy's in an effort to increase the population of competent Magic-users, known at large as 'Magestrava' or 'Magestravi' in plural. It is estimated that only 1/5 of the population can use magic, and of that 1/5, only half of that become competent Magestrava.

The quality and curriculum of each Academy vary, but the particular focus this time is Aledine Public Academy.

It is well known in Lismos as being a both a school of ill-repute, and one of the only Academies that teaches regular people alongside the Magestrava. They do not study magic of course, but instead focus their time on general studies such as politics and economics.

Rules

1. This is my RP. I'll try to be flexible, but if I say yes or no, consider it final.


2. Do NOT control or kill other peoples characters without permission.


3. If you are unsure about something ask first before doing anything. If it's related to the RP and no-one can give you a straight answer, PM me.


4. If you are going to be gone more then a day let me or the person you are RP'ing with know. If you don't, you might lose your RP.


5. If you have an idea let me know. I am always open to suggestions.


6. Discussions are welcome. Fighting is not.


7. Don't panic if a lot of posts appeared while you were away. Just go with the flow, and in any case, I'll try and make sure no major events will happen until everyone is ready.


8. Be sure to quote whoever you are talking to, otherwise things might get messy for everyone.


9. Accept whatever punishment I give you for breaking these rules, or else you'll be permanently banned from here.

Tips & Extra Information

There will be a large amount of NPC's. Most of of them will generally be controlled by me to test or aggravate your character. Don't worry, I will not go to far and it's all for the sake of character development.

Take it easy with the number of characters you make. There's only so much I can watch over. 1 or 2 is ideal, 3 is acceptable, 4 is pushing it, and 5 will get you flat out refusal.

Try to RP with as many people as possible, instead of latching on to 1 or 3 persons.

Follow the magic system in place. I'll tell you if the magic you want is doable.

Teamwork and socializing is important

* * *

Magic - Maians

There are four basic units or energies of magic. Each energy has a specific use, and spontaneous use of it without purpose is known as magic. Magistraava are humans that can access and mold these energies for a specific use. This is commonly known as spellwork or spellcasting.
The four units of energy are collectively known as the Maian. They are:

Xi - Physical energy that boosts the power of the body or powers raw spells that interact with the physical world. It is generated from the heart and overuse of it could cause heart-attacks or fulbody paralysis

Sakra - Energy for the mind that is needed for things like clairvoyance, mindreading and telepathy. It's source is from the brain, and overuse of this Maian can cause insanity or blindness.

Karma - Nature energy that is required to cast elemental spells. Overuse can cause liquification, spontaneous combustion, petrification, dehydration and others.

Mana - Known also as Supremes Maians or the supreme energy, Mana has no other use asides destroying the other three energies and recycling them into new forms. No living creature can use Mana without side-effects, as it destroys all the energy in your body. The source of Mana is said to come from the stars, but no-one is quite sure of it.

Magic - Branches

Alchemy - The simplest and most straightforward branch of magic. It's focus is on give-and-take relationships between materials and their effects. Students of this branch create potions or enchanted items, usually en-mass. Advanced studies of Alchemy work with living objects, and intertwines commonly with Necromancy.

Outsorcery - Study of magical energies and how they are used to affect the physical (hence, outside) world. Elemental manipulation, barrier creation and healing magic fall under this branch of magic, as does Teleportation and bodily augmentation, such as Reinforcement.

Insorcery - Study of magical energies and how they affect the mind (hence, Inside). Mind-reading, Clairvoyance, Farsight, Hypnosis, and other related magics fall under this branch of magic. Insorcery also teaches different ways to counteract and create barriers versus forces against the mind.

Necromancy - a fairly difficult and advanced branch of magic. Necromancy focuses on the study of magical energies and non-living and living organic beings. Not illegal, but novices are discouraged from practicing it because of the many ways your spells can go wrong.

Automancy - Study of how magic is used to manipulate non-organic structures. Students of this branch are usually expert magic puppeteers, or fortress or castle builders. A popular branch of magic because of its low-difficulty.

Pythomancy - Study of magical beasts. Actually not a branch that uses magic, but is still classified as one, nonetheless. Normal students are welcome to take it (provided they are ready for the risks)

Ouramancy - Study of Supreme Magical Beings (commonly known as Divine Spirits or Gods) and Lesser Magical Beings (commonly known as Cursing Spirits and Devils). Note that this is a rarely studied branch because it takes talents to interact with either Being.

Akasha-Deviancy - Study of the Universe and how to manipulate it. The highest-class of magic. A theoretical branch only.

Magic - Sepcarim

Sepcarim - these are special cases in which a person can manipulate only one of the Maian, so while they technically aren't Magestrava, they aren't exactly normal either. Sepcarim consists of around 2% of the population, so as you can tell, are rare:

Monks' - people who can only manipulate Xi. They are generally recognized by there robust physicality and great strength, Monks typically make excellent bodyguards or watchmen.

Shamans' - people who can only manipulate Karma. While their ability to manipulate the elements is fearsome it is severely limited. It cannot cause destruction on the same level as normal Magestravi - this is because nature abhors destruction. Also, rather than bending the energy to your will to get a desired outcome, it is more like Shamans borrow power from nature, and it is at their discretion whether or not to give you that power.

Sykers' - are people who can only use Sakra. They are adept at many things involving the mind. They can see across countries, predict the future, predict who is predicting the future, read minds, cause mass-hypnosis, and even alter memories en-mass. A downside, however, is that Sykers generally tend to be frail of health, as their body is trying to compensate for their abilities.

* * *

Aledine Academy - School System

Aledine runs on a merit system. Each student recieves a stipend that they can use to spend anything on. His/her stipend increases depending on how well they do. Of course, while living and food expenses are covered by the Academy, they only do this at a bare minimum.

If you do poorly at your studies, expect to be living in a bedless room while eating plain food. If you do well, suffice it to say you can live like a king.

Aledine Academy - Locations

Elemental Towers - one for each of the main elements (fire, water, wind, earth, metal), each tower is built in with a small library and a place for you to research on a specific element

Central Tower - a faculty room, of sorts, where all the documents of the professors and teachers are kept. Also where the Headmaster stays during school hours.

Male & Female Dormitories - living quarters for students. The genders are separated to prevent any unwanted . . . accidents.

Lecture Halls - a series of classrooms for theoretical and studies. All written exams and classes are taken here.

Practical Grounds - open spaces that are meant for students to freely practice magic. There is always a guard on station to prevent unesseccary fights, and a nurse on stand-by in case of accidents.

Observatory - a buidling ment to assist in studying the stars.

Hall of Healers - self-explanatory

Grand Hall - the Hall were the most important meetings are held, such as the Ball or General Assemblies.

Dueling Courts - self-explanatory. Duels cannot be fatal, and a teacher is needed to access the Courts.

School Market - a market funded by sponsors of the school. You can purchase anything here, from books to clothes.

Sundown Forest - a natural forest that the Academy was built next to. It's possible to gather materials here, however take note that wild animals also live here. The forest is always in the direction of the setting sun.

Rainbow Lake - a lake next to the forest that was named after the large amount of Rainbow Trout that breed there.

Aledine Academy - Extra Subjects

Music

Poetry

Art - Sculpture

Art - Painting/Sketching

Theater

Gralimidine

A city 6 kilometers east from the Academy. This is were the Academy gets most of it's supplies for the school. It has a population of 10,000+ and it's main trade is dye's and fabric.

Services:

Blacksmiths

Various Inns

Tailors

Libraries

Public Bathhouses (with hot springs)

Markets

* * *

Events

None as of current

Character Template

Name:
Gender:
Age(11-19 for students, 22 - above for teachers):
Appearance (Pictures are accepted in place of description):
Personality:
Studying (What magic branch(es) is s/he studying?):
Interests:
Dislikes:
Biography:

Accepted Characters

[Shifter_Master]

I'll start filling out my Sheet asap only question i have is what kind of age group are we looking at?

[XNoBrainX]

TheHangedMan said
Monks can only use Xi, you know? So he won't be able to cast spells . . .

I know he wouldn't be able to cast spells. I meant like, does he just follow the normal human classes or is there a specific monk class or something?

[TheHangedMan]

Shifter_Master said
I'll start filling out my Sheet asap only question i have is what kind of age group are we looking at?

Wait, lemme edit that. Also, wait until I've got the actual forum up. Don't post it here :)

[Imperfectionist]

Mm, I have a question. How close is the Academy to the nearest city? Is there even any city nearby?

[TheHangedMan]

XNoBrainX said
I know he wouldn't be able to cast spells. I meant like, does he just follow the normal human classes or is there a specific monk class or something?

Aah, okay. It's a mix.

[TheHangedMan]

Imperfectionist said
Mm, I have a question. How close is the Academy to the nearest city? Is there even any city nearby?

There is a city nearby, about, say, six kilometers away. I didn't think to add it as it was more of an accessory if anything. Should I?

[Imperfectionist]

Well, I'm planning on having regular outings, so a few basic details would be nice... As a corollary, how much time would an older student be forced to spend in the Academy? Is there a point where research becomes self-directed, or does every student have a grueling, regimented schedule up until graduation?

[TheHangedMan]

Imperfectionist said
Well, I'm planning on having regular outings, so a few basic details would be nice... As a corollary, how much time would an older student be forced to spend in the Academy? Is there a point where research becomes self-directed, or does every student have a grueling, regimented schedule up until graduation?

Alright, I'll add a bit about the city, but no specifics.
Once a student hits seventeen (age of maturity) then they are free to leave the school or continue on to higher levels. Kind of like college. At this point, there schedules is mostly made by themselves.

[Imperfectionist]

Fantastic, thank you. I'll flesh out the city a bit myself, when I get to that point.

[Shifter_Master]

Wasn't planning on posting here just chomping at the bit at the moment

[Imperfectionist]

Ah, I have another question. You haven't mentioned intelligent humanoids other than humans themselves, so... no non-human races?

[Leotamer]

I am not going to work on the CS until the OOC is up because knowing me I would lose my CS otherwise, but the idea is of my character is a Syker who was orphaned really early in live, like at the age of 10, I am not quite sure why in my head but it is just from some mundane reason like disease. (You can tell me if I need to change anything with how I represent Fay, I don't mind, this is probably going to be changed around a lit bit anyways.) At this point, he only his intent magic which was pretty much uncontrollable clairvoyance, his mind would just show him things to help keep him alive, and basically a Fay took a liking to him and decided that having a Syker could help her in the long run, and so she tried to meet with the boy indirectly trying to allow him to find her, so every day while he was in the forest collecting things for some copper (or whatever currency we are using) and/or food she would watch him, until a few days past and his primitive magic sense detected her. My character would still believe meeting her was pure chance. So she took the orphan in and basically raised him as her own, all the while completely indoctrinating him. She, being a magic being, taught him some magic, however when he came to age, she realized what use is a mage with out formal training and so she sent him off to school. (Basically, how I see Fay is not just completely random creatures but very manipulative creatures who like humans, but as a human would love a dog kind of sense.) And basically part of this character is that he will not only not believe you if you said he was basically brain-washed (even though he really is) he will say you are flat out lying and are evil, and gods forbid you say anything bad about the Fay around him.

[TheHangedMan]

Imperfectionist said
Ah, I have another question. You haven't mentioned intelligent humanoids other than humans themselves, so... no non-human races?

They'll be mentioned in passing. I have something in mind for humanoids, but generally, yeah, all humans :)

[TheHangedMan]

Leotamer said
I am not going to work on the CS until the OOC is up because knowing me I would lose my CS otherwise, but the idea is of my character is a Syker who was orphaned really early in live, like at the age of 10, I am not quite sure why in my head but it is just from some mundane reason like disease. (You can tell me if I need to change anything with how I represent Fay, I don't mind, this is probably going to be changed around a lit bit anyways.) At this point, he only his intent magic which was pretty much uncontrollable clairvoyance, his mind would just show him things to help keep him alive, and basically a Fay took a liking to him and decided that having a Syker could help her in the long run, and so she tried to meet with the boy indirectly trying to allow him to find her, so every day while he was in the forest collecting things for some copper (or whatever currency we are using) and/or food she would watch him, until a few days past and his primitive magic sense detected her. My character would still believe meeting her was pure chance. So she took the orphan in and basically raised him as her own, all the while completely indoctrinating him. She, being a magic being, taught him some magic, however when he came to age, she realized what use is a mage with out formal training and so she sent him off to school. (Basically, how I see Fay is not just completely random creatures but very manipulative creatures who like humans, but as a human would love a dog kind of sense.) And basically part of this character is that he will not only not believe you if you said he was basically brain-washed (even though he really is) he will say you are flat out lying and are evil, and gods forbid you say anything bad about the Fay around him.

Hmm . . . not quite what I had in mind with the Fay. Their quite good natured and generally don't manipulate humans. If this is how you're planning their relationship to be, then might I suggest that rather than the Fay saw some use in him, make the Fay childish in nature, and decided to 'play-momma' so to speak.

They separated when she tried to teach him magic, because the Fay realized that it was impossible for him to learn the magic of her race, so, adhering to her 'mommy' role, she sent him off to school, quite unaware that to your character, the 'game' of 'mommy' was not a game to him.

Does that sound fine?