FateWeaver

๖ۣۜSword ๖ۣۜArt ๖ۣۜOnline | The Guildmaster's Tale (OC)

Finally, been waiting for something SAO related to pop up. Count me in.

D&D(ish) Zombie Apocalypse

Before the D&D bit scares anyone else off, NO, this RP will not be using stats, dice rolls, or any other tabletop mechanics. Felt it prudent to get that out of the way first. This is something of a preliminary check, as I still have a lot of work to do on the setting and story. Nonetheless, I'd like to see who is interested in my concept before I proceed.

Anyway, my D&D group is coming to the end of their current campaign, and I'm looking for some inspiration on what sort of torture adventure to put them through next. In fact, because of this, the state of the world I intend to set this in will be reflecting the results of the original adventure. In short, you have my friends to thank for the disaster your characters may or may not survive through.

An ancient evil has been awakened, and with it a magical plague that has swept the realm of mortals. A wasting sickness beyond mundane or magical help spread through the world, taking three of every five people to an early grave. Finally, the sickness passed and the civilizations of the mortal plane thought to rebuild and begin anew. This, however, was not to be. The dead, recently killed by the sickness and long ago buried alike, have begun to rise to strike out at the living. Fighting for their very existence, the mortal races across the face of the world struggle to survive and continue on.

The island city-state of Vathyros is no different, but for one thing. With boats destroyed, teleportation rituals disrupted, and planar gates sealed, there is no way in or out. The Tower of Magi, once home to the powerful Circle, is now the throne of a Lich bent on conquering the mortal plane for his eternal master. For those trapped on the island, there is only one course; destroy the Lich and thereby escape and rescue the world at large. If he is unable to gain a foothold on Vathyros, the rest of the Material Plane might have a chance at turning the tide.

It should probably be obvious by now, but this will be pretty heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons. That does not mean you have to know anything about it, or that you character has to fit any established race or class archetypes. Consider this a play-test of the setting more than the mechanics of the new campaign. I've got a lot more information, but I don't just want to put it all here. Mostly because I prefer handwritten notes which I have no easy way to copy over, and most of it is still floating around in my head.

So, on to what I want.

Before we even get to the game itself, I'm looking for two things. The first is a co-GM. Someone to ask me questions and get these ideas out of my head and onto paper (or the Internet, as the case may be) and somebody to help me organize it all a little better. Previous experience with D&D is not a requirement, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. Secondly, and less important, I wouldn't mind having a map for this. My own artistic skills are nonexistent, and I don't quite like the idea of just stealing a map from a google search. I can provide some rough details if anyone is interested at trying their hand.

As far as the game itself goes, I'm looking for 4-6 others besides myself and any co-GM to play adventurers trying to survive on Vathyros and eventually bring down the Lich. Depending on how things go, I might allow players to take on roles on the other side of the fence as well.

Darkest Dungeons RP Interest check

I am interested in seeing where this is headed.

Scattered Shades: Arcadia Chronicles

Alexander Valerian - Diver's Paradise

---

Alex watched the events on the low stage with a grin of satisfaction spread across his face. Arms crossed over his chest, he kept his eyes on each speaker and drank in every word. He had been waiting for this. What the CMAS had in mind was going to flood his home with strangers and, if they were successful, eventually civilians. It was a threat to his way of life, one he would not abide. Thankfully, he clearly wasn't the only one thinking so. If those before him were anything to go by, he wouldn't be lacking for strong allies in this fight.

People started to head toward the southern gate to meet up, and Alex already knew he was going to follow them. Fighting the CMAS would likely end up being one of the greatest challenges of all time, and he couldn't resist the thought of that. He didn't feel alive if he didn't push himself, and he expected to be testing his limits in the time to come. Adjusting his bag so it lay more comfortably across his shoulder, he waited to start off until he would be at the back of the slightly smaller crowd heading for the gate. So many people being around was starting to wear on him. One of the charms of No-Man's-Land is that one could often run for miles without seeing another soul.

Wonder what all these people are capable of, if we can actually work together. Wonder what we'll be up against, he thought, scanning the sea of faces for anyone he was familiar with. One guy with bright red hair certainly stood out in the crowd, and something about one dark-haired man with a leather jacket kept catching his eye. At the very least, this should be fun. Can't wait to get out of here.

@tex@Hatman1801@Sessamaru@Jensoman

Scattered Shades: Arcadia Chronicles

<Snipped quote by FateWeaver>

The sealing of one's arcane network is the process of stopping its flow at the base of the brain-stem, so it would be difficult to access it with tools, but not impossible.

It would require that tools have a direct link to the brain, otherwise accessing a sealed network is impossible. Of course, finding such tools would be extremely difficult, especially since harnessing arcane energy straight from the brain can be extremely dangerous. The results could vary from amnesia, to headaches, to hearing voices, to pretty much any array of mental disorders.

@tex

Excellent! It'd be no fun if they were entirely sane anyway.

So, in that case, would a form of bonded Arcanite-laced armor linked to the brain and nervous system produce the end effect I'm looking for? It would be something they are unable to remove, basically attached to the spine and the base of the skull at the very least. CMAS agents and any handler they might have would be able to disable it and paralyze the wearer at need, and otherwise the construction of it would only allow the person to use their Arcane energy in limited ways.

Scattered Shades: Arcadia Chronicles

I've a question pertaining to the second character I was considering, for if/when we get around to that point.

It's clear that a person who is naturally unable to access their Arcane network can use specialized tools to in order to make use of it. What I'm wondering if someone who has been forcefully sealed off from their network would be able to use a similar tool (likely created by a Machinist) in order to access at least a portion of the power they once knew.

The idea I'm going for is an ex-Diver who got out of control and crossed too many lines. For his/her crimes, they were imprisoned and had their Arcane network sealed. With the advent of the Arcadian Survey initiative, they were given another chance to put their experience to work. Unable to directly use their own Arcane network, I was thinking they would use one or more foci of sorts (staff, rod, ring, gauntlet, etc) that drew from them directly but were rather limited as to the variety of magic effects each foci could produce.

Scattered Shades: Arcadia Chronicles

How do you guys feel about multiple characters? Some of the newer information has given me another idea.

Fae Courtis: The Wylde Hunt

@Prince of SeraphsHe has a humanoid form and feline form, both fully physical. In general he doesn't use his glamour overtly at all, except when pulling vanishing tricks in his feline form.

Scattered Shades: Arcadia Chronicles

Alexander

_{- - - - (Personal Details)}
First Name: Alexander
Last Name: Valerian
Age: 27
Sex: Male
Home Nation: Teknoh
Occupation: Diver

Appearance: Standing at 5'10", Alexander weighs in around 170lbs. His eyes are deep gray in color, though they grow lighter until becoming silver as his Reactive Ki ability takes effect. Brown hair falls to his shoulder blades, framing sharp features and a rough, unkempt beard. Alex's skin is lightly tanned from his time outdoors and beneath it is hard muscle. Rather than the typical bulk muscle of a body-builder, his form is more compact and wiry. He tends to favor simple clothes in earthen tones that better blend in to his surroundings.

Typical Alexander

Personality: Alexander tends to come off as brash, overconfident, and stubborn. Though he backs it all up with a high degree of skill, he tends to end up with a lot of enemies. He generally acts before he thinks, relying on instinct in most things. On top of that he's got a wicked temper and often just can't help blowing off some steam in a physical way. The only people he really has any respect for are those who could clearly best or match him, or are simply fun to argue or fight with.

All of this of course limits the group of people Alex considers 'friends.' The people he trusts are few and far between, but those few have a solid ally who eventually reveals himself to be much more personable than first impressions usually allow. Aside from these connections, his only loyalty is to himself. The opinions of others hold little sway over his thoughts.

History: Alexander grew up on the very edge of Teknoh, and still came to feel overcrowded and cooped up as the population within the nation's borders continued to increase. When he was still a youth, his family moved further outward to an independent small town outside any larger power's borders. Alex flourished with the relative freedom and open air, though was often seen as out of control. Eventually, an older man offered his parents to teach him self discipline and how to harness his apparent vitality and strength.

It was then that he learned of how the energies of his body worked in tandem with each other, and how he could put each of them to use if he only knew how. Through the teachings of Jujitsu (The "Gentle Art") and Judo (The "Gentle Way/Path") he learned better control of both his body and natural abilities. Caution and knowing when to shut his mouth came along the way, as the old man was not so gentle as his teachings implied.

Eventually, even the small town came to grow too crowded for Alexander's liking. Gathering up the few things he felt he needed, he struck out on his own. His only goodbye was to the old man who had taught him much, and it came in the form of a silent prayer over his teacher's grave. Alex has not returned to that town since then, and circumvents it when he must return to civilization for supplies or to offload something worthwhile.

_{- - - - (Power Matrix)}
Primary Focus: Ki
Magical Capabilities:

• Stoneskin - Alexander’s flesh is tougher than that of a normal human, a product of the concentration of Ki within his body. He can also focus on one portion of his anatomy at a time (head, chest, arms, core, or legs) to increase his durability even further. While it doesn’t make him anywhere near invincible, he can parry a blade or strike with minimal harm.
• Reactive Ki - The more abuse Alexander takes, physically and mentally, the more efficiently he can channel his Ki towards increasing his physical attributes. He does this instinctively, making it appear that he naturally becomes stronger and faster as he takes more hits.
• Barrier - To protect himself from magic or projectile weapons, Alexander manifests his Arcane energy into a barrier of raw force. This barrier is at maximum six feet long and high and can be of any basic shape, including concave and convex. When something strikes it, it sheds the excess energy as light and heat. Alex can only create one barrier at a time, and the center-point of it must be within two feet of him.
• Kinetomancy - Alexander harnesses his magic to create effects brought about by raw, physical force. Due to their nature, these abilities have a very limited effective range. Beyond two yards much of the force is lost, resulting in little more than a light shove for the next yard before fading completely.

Body Modifications: None
Weapons and Equipment: Alexander relies only on his body and magic for combat. Aside from that, he has a simple leather pack with a single strap that he uses to store equipment, loot, and food. He does carry a single long knife, but more as a tool than a weapon.
Specialties: Judo, Jujitsu, and other martial arts to a lesser degree. Considers himself knowledgeable as to the nature of Ki and the Arcane, as well as how they interact. Also a passable cook, tracker, and musician.

Scattered Shades: Arcadia Chronicles

<Snipped quote by FateWeaver>

Evaluation

• Stoneskin - Alexander’s flesh is tougher than that of a normal human, a product if the concentration of Ki within his flesh. He can also focus on one portion of his anatomy at a time (head, chest, arms, core, or legs) to increase his durability even further. While it doesn’t make him anywhere near invincible, he could stop a light blade or strike easily.
  This is acceptable, but be careful about just how hard you make your skin. Although Ki can change your body's structure harmlessly and fluidly, it can't change the fact that you skin is still skin.
• Reactive Ki - The more abuse Alexander takes, physically and mentally, the more efficiently he can channel his Ki towards increasing his physical attributes. He does this instinctively, making it appear that he naturally becomes stronger and faster as he takes more hits.
  This is fine, but Ki overuse can easily drain a person's energy over a long period of time. Although Ki is essentially infinite, it does have limits. Just make sure you don't go overboard with this, and it's good to go.
• Barrier - To protect himself from magic or projectile weapons, Alexander manifests his Arcane energy into a barrier of raw force. This barrier is at maximum six feet long and high and can be of any basic shape, including concave and convex. When something strikes it, it sheds the excess energy as light and heat. Alex can only create one barrier at a time, and the centerpoint of it must be within two feet of him.
  This is good, but be aware that your barriers might not be strong enough to protect you from all forms of attacks. Also, consider your specialization. Try not to spam barriers too much, at risk of using up your energy supply
• Kinetomancy - Alexander harnesses his magic to create effects brought about by raw, physical force. Due to their nature, these abilities have a very limited effective range. Beyond two yards much of the force is lost, resulting in little more than a light shove for the next yard before fading completely.
  So basically force-pushes away from his body, yea? This is good.

I'm ok with what you have so far! Looks like he's turning out pretty good. Finish it up and I'll give it a final evaluation, as will my Co-GM

@tex

Alright, here's the updated version. Let me know what you think.

Alex

_{- - - - (Personal Details)}
First Name: Alexander
Last Name: Valerian
Age: 27
Sex: Male
Home Nation: Teknoh
Occupation: Diver

Appearance: Standing at 5'10", Alexander weighs in around 170lbs. His eyes are deep gray in color, though they grow lighter until becoming silver as his Reactive Ki ability takes effect. Brown hair falls to his shoulder blades, framing sharp features and a rough, unkempt beard. Alex's skin is lightly tanned from his time outdoors and beneath it is hard muscle. Rather than the typical bulk muscle of a body-builder, his form is more compact and wiry. He tends to favor simple clothes in earthen tones that better blend in to his surroundings.

Typical Alexander

Personality: Alexander tends to come off as brash, overconfident, and stubborn. Though he backs it all up with a high degree of skill, he tends to end up with a lot of enemies. He generally acts before he thinks, relying on instinct in most things. On top of that he's got a wicked temper and often just can't help blowing off some steam in a physical way. The only people he really has any respect for are those who could clearly best or match him, or are simply fun to argue or fight with.

All of this of course limits the group of people Alex considers 'friends.' The people he trusts are few and far between, but those few have a solid ally who eventually reveals himself to be much more personable than first impressions usually allow. Aside from these connections, his only loyalty is to himself. The opinions of others hold little sway over his thoughts.

History: Alexander grew up on the very edge of Teknoh, and still came to feel overcrowded and cooped up as the population with the nation's borders continued to increase. When he was still a youth, his family moved further outward to an independent small town outside any larger power's borders. Alex flourished with the relative freedom and open air, though was often seen as out of control. Eventually, an older man offered his parents to teach him self discipline and how to harness his apparent vitality and strength.

It was then that he learned of how the energies of his body worked in tandem with each other, and how he could put each of them to use if he only knew how. Through the teachings of Jujitsu (The "Gentle Art") and Judo (The "Gentle Way/Path") he learned better control of both his body and natural abilities. Caution and knowing when to shut his mouth came along the way, as the old man was not so gentle as his teachings implied.

Eventually, even the small town came to grow too crowded for Alexander's liking. Gathering up the few things he felt he needed, he struck out on his own. His only goodbye was to the old man who had taught him much, and it came in the form of a silent prayer over his teacher's grave. Alex has not returned to that town since then, and circumvents it when he must return to civilization for supplies or to offload something worthwhile.

_{- - - - (Power Matrix)}
Primary Focus: Ki
Magical Capabilities:

• Stoneskin - Alexander’s flesh is tougher than that of a normal human, a product of the concentration of Ki within his body. He can also focus on one portion of his anatomy at a time (head, chest, arms, core, or legs) to increase his durability even further. While it doesn’t make him anywhere near invincible, he can parry a blade or strike with minimal harm.
• Reactive Ki - The more abuse Alexander takes, physically and mentally, the more efficiently he can channel his Ki towards increasing his physical attributes. He does this instinctively, making it appear that he naturally becomes stronger and faster as he takes more hits.
• Barrier - To protect himself from magic or projectile weapons, Alexander manifests his Arcane energy into a barrier of raw force. This barrier is at maximum six feet long and high and can be of any basic shape, including concave and convex. When something strikes it, it sheds the excess energy as light and heat. Alex can only create one barrier at a time, and the center-point of it must be within two feet of him.
• Kinetomancy - Alexander harnesses his magic to create effects brought about by raw, physical force. Due to their nature, these abilities have a very limited effective range. Beyond two yards much of the force is lost, resulting in little more than a light shove for the next yard before fading completely.

Body Modifications: None
Weapons and Equipment: Alexander relies only on his body and magic for combat. Aside from that, he has a simple leather pack with a single strap that he uses to store equipment, loot, and food. He does carry a single long knife, but more as a tool than a weapon.
Specialties: Judo, Jujitsu, and other martial arts to a lesser degree. Considers himself knowledgeable as to the nature of Ki and the Arcane, as well as how they interact. Also a passable cook, tracker, and musician.

I also figured I'd address your comments about his abilities a little.

Stoneskin: Most of the defensive power here is intended to defend him against the blunt impacts of parrying or knocking aside a strike, rather than directly blocking a sword someone swings at him. Think of the various Iron-whatever techniques of Chinese martial arts.

Reactive Ki: That's the main reason I mentioned efficiency rather than direct usability. He is intended to be worn out somewhat quickly overall, but be durable enough to take the hits he needs to ruin someone's day.

Barrier: By no means is this supposed to be a catch-all defense. It only really protects against physical objects and the force they carry with them. While it will stop a fireball or lightning bolt or something similar, it's only because they are coming into contact with what is essentially a solid object. It will not however stop the heat, sound, or light from either of these effects, and enough force and energy will overwhelm and shatter the barrier. When that happens it's like a flash grenade going off right in front of him.

Kinetomancy: At the longer distances yes, but closer up (mostly within his physical reach) he is able to focus it more. What starts out as a blade-sharp wedge of force that he projects as a punch would start out as enough to sever someone's limb, but quickly deteriorate into a blunt impact within about a foot. From there it would be like a solid punch for a few more feet before growing weaker, and so on and so forth.

EDIT:: It's also worth mentioning that he would be rather conservative in using both of the latter two abilities, as they would quickly become a major drain on his stamina.