The Kingdom of Aauron is vast and powerful. Its borders stretch from the southern coasts of the continent to the very edge of the untamed wilds of the Everautumn in the North. Its unity and lack of opposing kingdoms has lead to an age of stability and plenty. There is but one threat to the land: the wild packs of Lycanthropes that dwell in the endless Everautumn. They raid and pillage the northernmost villages of man, slaughtering innocents any chance they get. To combat this threat, the Kingdom long ago established its elite force of rangers known as Slayers. Taken from only the most promising of volunteers, the Slayers are sent through grueling training meant to strengthen body and mind, and then grouped into tight-knit units whose teamwork in battle is the stuff of legends.
The selection process, known as the Choosing, is but one part of a great summer festival held in the capitol city of Roseview. Prospective recruits from all around the kingdom make their way to Roseview to be evaluated by a group of highly qualified Slayers. For those who end up being chosen, the festival is also their last chance to really let loose before their new, and very difficult lives begin. __________
The premise of this RP is that your characters are all potential Slayers who are attending the summer festival in Roseview. Perhaps you went there for the express purpose of becoming a Slayer, or perhaps you take the evaluation for fun, with little expectation of actually being chosen. Whatever your reasons, your lives are about to change. You will be sent to basic training, after which you will be grouped into teams under a more senior Slayer for advanced training. Once your training is complete, you will either be accepted into an established group of Slayers, or even make your own.
Magic is commonly known to exist, but is not openly practiced by many humans in the Kingdom of Aauron. Even tiny magical talent is exceedingly rare among humans of this region, and many who possess the potential never learn of it. Allegedly, the monarch of Aauron, the Rose King Baldwyn is the most powerful human mage currently alive. This is just rumor, however, as he has never displayed even slight magical prowess in public.
Slight magical talent is actually a requirement to become a Slayer. This is because at the end of their training, Slayers undergo a magical ritual that binds their minds together in a form of rudimentary telepathy. It allows them to communicate emotions and basic ideas at great ranges, though never actual words. Complete lack of magical potential makes one incompatible with this process. This same process also fortifies a Slayer's body. It increases their strength, endurance, and rate of healing to near peak human levels.
None of your characters will begin with any sort of magical prowess. Just the potential. But who knows what kinds of things will be discovered in their quest to defend their kingdom?
Called werewolves in other parts of the world, the Lycanthropes that dwell in the Everautumn Forest are humanoid beasts covered in fur and muscle. Their claws and teeth are as deadly as any blade, and their pack mentality makes them fierce and efficient hunters. Despite what some human myths would say, the official theory on Lycanthopes is that they always appear as beasts and have no "human" form. It is also believed that while clearly more intelligent than an average beast, they are still just that: beasts.
Slayers operate in tightly-knit groups each known by a unique name. Many of these groups have long, storied histories. Perhaps the most famous of them are the Outer Guard, one of the oldest and most prestigious groups who are known to have delved deeper into the Everautumn than any other humans. The groups have no set number of Slayers, and fluctuate based on the whims of each group.
A full Slayer is stronger, faster, and more agile than a normal human, and possess a form of rudimentary telepathy with other members of their order.
Slayers are not usually commemorated for their actions until the time of their death or retirement. The only exception to this is when a Slayer or group of Slayers is seen to have done such an incredibly large service to the crown that it cannot be ignored. Such Slayers are awarded the Rose Cloak, a white garb with a blood red rose on the back, and a weapon of the highest craftsmanship possible. These Slayers are considered to be part of the sacred Order of Flowers, a title that is mostly ceremonial. There are only a handful of living Slayers in this order.
