@Courtaud: See Vita's example form above. @Big McLargehuge: Hey, by all means, if you're taking another crack at things then just go for it.
Anyways, I'll leave things out for a few more days and see how interest pans out before committing to an OoC. Gives people time to think on ideas at the very least.
The sound of pen hitting table was a sound that Sandra Morrison had grown far too accustomed to over the last year. Day after day, the young woman had spent nearly every waking hour poring over paperwork. Physical documentation, digital spreadsheets, and anything in between—every piece to be checked over and signed off on, in her name. If she had been born half a decade earlier, she could have brushed this off as the result of sleepless nights working on college papers...
And, in all honesty, she wished it was only that much.
Deciding to take a break from whatever was troubling her at the moment, Sandra decided to peer out through the window of her office, the midday sun shining through, and stared at the world below.
The walled city of Tokyo, sectioned off from the rest of the land by wall after wall—and her destination for the day. With the development of the Chi-Mechframes complete, the personnel she had picked up to begin with could finally begin training.
With the world overtaken by the Warped, something like this was the least she could try doing to help right the world. Part of a government agency she was not, but maybe that was for the best.
The Warped
The Warped had first appeared roughly five years ago; experts have since managed to pinpoint the epicenter of the incident to █████████, Greece, though none have been brave (or stupid) enough to travel to the now-infested lands to confirm such hypotheses. Their explosive propagation throughout the country soon bled into other nations, and try as they might to stem the flow, the Warped seemed unrelenting in their efforts to overtake humanity.
What is most notable about the Warped (other than their uncanny imperviousness to most modern military arms) is their method of reproduction. A small parasite, now colloquially known as 'Echidna', first enters the mouth of a human before subsequently burrowing into the back of its throat. From there, it connects to its now-host's brain and spinal cord before forcing the body to mutate into the monsters we see now. The forms that the Warped take seem to, at least in some part, align with animals, monsters from mythology, and other such mythical beings, though certain regions of the world seem more predisposed to to bringing forth Warped more familiar in form to those of a land's native fauna and folklore. There are no concrete theories yet, however, so it remains to be seen as to why the Warped appear as they do.
With that said, the Warped are still almost impossible to decipher as of yet, both in terms of physiology and behavior. Their bodies, for example, are several times larger and heavier than the humans that were used as hosts, and despite the military's best efforts, many of the larger and more dangerous variants seem to be incredibly resistant to damage from most modern weaponry—including nuclear armaments. Not only that, but they also seem to showcase many abilities in line with the forms of the creatures that they take, even going so far as to create trails of flame or freeze locales near-instantaneously. With that said, they do not seem to actively target flora or fauna for the most part, and instead seem to roam about certain regions or stay put altogether and only grow aggressive in the presence of humans, who they will often attack indiscriminately (or even go so far as to release Echidna in an attempt to spread further), which has left most humans reliant on living within enclosed settlements for safety. There are occasional attacks, of course, but it seems that the more aggressive creatures seem to not actively target larger settlements. Whether this is a trend that will hold remains to be seen.
I hope that these preliminary observations regarding the Warped will provide a general understanding to the populace of how they function, and that we may begin to take back our world.
The Journal of Dr. ████████ December 8, 20██
Cores and Chi-Mechframes
After three years of chaos and with humanity's backs against the wall, a coalition of scientists and engineers the world over gathered at once in Japan—the country furthest away from Ground Zero of the Warped—and began to work fervently in a concerted attempt to understand their enemy. Taking the corpses gathered of all manner of the dead, these scientists began to dissect these creatures and found one major thing in common with all of them—the presence of pulsating crystallized matter within their bodies. Their locations seemed inconsistent—some, the heart; others, the brain—but all seemed to have one. Tests were conducted upon these objects, and the results were often inconclusive.
Until eventually, one curious team of engineers was given the okay to experiment with one—with proper supervision, of course. The results of that week of experimentation was what is now known as the first Chi-Mechframe prototype—a biomechanical suit that seems to take on the powers of the Warped whose Core it holds. Preliminary tests showed that the concept had promise. Most notable, of course, was that these suits seemed to both ignore the inbuilt resistances of the Warped that held fast against bullets and flames, and that they seemed to be just as resilient as the creatures they were made to fight at times.
But such benefits were not without downsides. Most humans, even highly-trained soldiers, were incapable of utilizing the Chi-Mechframes, almost as if the suit itself was rejecting them. However, there was one among the initial testers who that restriction that did not seem to apply—a young soldier who had initially been wounded in the chest during a fight against the Warped two years prior, during which an Echidna had managed to enter his body through said wound. Though he had been quarantined and kept around as a test subject, the young man had since recovered and, having shown no immediate adverse side effects, was allowed to remain alive (though under constant supervision). To him, the suit seemed to move about nearly weightlessly, acting as an extension of his body (or so he described it). Combat trials began soon thereafter, and the results gave those in charge more than enough reason to invest into their further development.
Of course, the problems inherent in making more like the soldier—now known as the first Frame Pilot—and the dangers inherent in having people be willingly infected by Echidna were too high to allow for by most every nation. But those that did exist were highly sought after, by nation and otherwise.
In their current iterations, Chi-Mechframes are generally modeled after the Warped that they came from to some extent, in order to better make use of their capabilities. Due to how difficult high-quality Cores are to come by (as they only can be obtained from dangerous Warped who require heavy military investments to obtain), these pieces of equipment are often both custom-made and rather absurdly expensive. However, one minor upside to doing so is that even if rendered useless, Cores can be repurposed as an alternate power source and thus sold or used for whatever other purpose.
A World Ruined
The years following the outbreak of Warped were filled with chaos. The first was marred by politics and fear. In many nations the world over, martial law and lockdowns were put into place in attempts to restrain the populace, but when the Warped showed up all the same, all hell broke loose. The second brought with it a destruction of the norm; though many larger cities were able to clamp down on the situation and begin concentrated efforts to protect the people within, smaller ones soon saw mass exodus towards places they now saw as 'safe', often bringing with them the very same parasite that they sought to flee from.
Though there was untold loss of life, the third year brought with it some small relief. The worst, it seemed, had passed, and though many were left displaced, the initial wave that had wiped out or transformed so much of the population did not end humanity as many predicted it might have. Sequestered away within these spheres of civilization, those that remained continued to rebuild. Luckily, the arrival of the Warped did not bring with it the complete destruction of telecommunications, which meant that as a whole, humanity was fragmented but not broken. Thus began the efforts to reorganize, scattered as they were; with no nation left unscathed by the Warped, though, for the next few years their efforts would be placed firmly towards themselves and none other.
With whispers of the Chi-Mechframe's development upon the wind, however, the people were given a glimmer of hope—a possibility of the return to the days since gone. To what end that hope may bring remains to be seen, however...
Word from the GM
Hello! Yes, it is me, the GM, here to speak about the RP a bit. Fundamentally, this idea draws a lot from not just tokusatsu and mecha girl series (e.g. Rangers, Kamen Rider, Symphogear, Strike Witches, and so on and so forth), but also from series like Resident Evil, Fallout, and even Monster Hunter to some extent. Ideally, I'd like the cast to fit that sort of demographic (so characters anywhere from 16-25) in turn.
I'll also state here that my co-GM for this project will be @VitaVitaAR; if you have any questions about the setting or world or whatever else, please feel free to ask.
Here's a form for everyone who is interested. With that said, this RP will be first come first served, but under the caveat that I will likely be approving characters based on how well they would mesh with the group as a whole.
This is, in essence, a reboot of an old RP I ran a while ago. I got inspired to try again recently, and hopefully with the lessons I've taken away from the last run this one should go better... Provided there's enough people on board for it.
[list][*][u]Name[/u]: [*][u]Age[/u]: Again, anywhere from 16-25, please. [*][u]Gender[/u]: [*][u]Appearance[/u]: [*][u]Personality[/u]: [*][u]History[/u]: [*][u]Skills[/u]: This refers to what the CHARACTER can do, not their equipment. [*][u]Chi-Mechframe[/u]: [list][*][u]Appearance[/u]: [*][u]Abilities[/u]: This refers to what the Mechframe can do. For starting equipment, please refrain from going too overboard with those capabilities.[/list] [*][u]Other:[/u]:[/list]
Once Elastasia had affirmed that she was interested in purchasing the kitten from him, the shopkeeper smiled and nodded his head. Two sales like this on probably what was one of the most unfortunate days of his career at least made up for some of his losses, and there was no reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Of course!" he said, returning her declaration with a smile—and to the maid's requests with a nod in turn. "A cage, collar, food, and instructions, as well as the animals themselves..."
"I would rather a more unassuming birdcage, if possible. Comfortable enough for the bird, but nothing too grandiose," Reginald added, eyeing Mella for a moment before handing off a few more coins. "Further payment, then, for the cage and some birdseed."
With those coins in hand, the older man bowed and headed to the back of the shop. A short wait later, though, and he returned; this time, with an assistant carrying whatever goods he could not. After having his assistant hand a bag of birdseed and a cage (which looked to be in fine condition despite the chaos) over to the maid, the shopkeeper beckoned the group over to a nearby table. Upon that, he laid out a few documents and a pen.
"These are for the madam over here," he began, gesturing towards Elastasia. "A rare specimen like the Aomi requires that we must confirm your purchase with a contract. Of course, we could also form a magic contract between you and your new pet, if you wish..."
With that, Reginald turned towards Mella and, after opening the cage, attempted to get the bird to enter.
Needless to say, it rejected his attempts to do so by flitting around before once again landing atop his maid's head.
"...Well. I suppose that this is your problem now," he remarked, staring at the bird. "How should we go about this problem, then...?"
The shopkeeper paused for a moment as he considered the maid's question.
"Well, I suppose that the first course of action would be to purchase a cage of sorts for it to live in... But you might not need one, given how comfortable it send to be on your head," he remarked, a slight smirk crossing his face for a moment. "Jokes aside, I've been feeding that one seeds and fruits. It seems to like most anything in that vein—but not bugs. As for the actual care..."
Before he could ramble further on about the subject, though, Elastasia chimed in with a question of her own about the cat in her hands—a question he was more than willing to oblige.
"Ah, of course. That's an Aomi—a cat we had imported from the far east, and a rare one at that. They're fairly well known for their use of magic in hunting in the wild in the region they come from, though finding one is an adventure in and of itself. As for why it jumped at you... I've heard tales of them being called 'magic eaters', but to be honest, your guess would be as good as mine. If they're hard to find, though, maybe they're juat smart enough to not get caught to begin with?"
At this, the cat seemed to turn it's head back towards Elastasia before letting out a half-yawn, half-meow. It didn't seem to mind being held up for diaplay as it was, at least, but being as calm as it was despite the situation... That much certainly set it apart from it's peers, at the very least.
@Rune_Alchemist@Raineh Daze "Dense? Rude? That's rather insulting, you know," Christopher responded in turn, his brow furrowed as he shook his head. "If that much is 'rude', I fear what 'polite' should be in your eyes."
At that, though, the prince simply sighed and shook his head.
"As for catching up... I am sure Miss Meridan has better things to do than speak with me, and forcing her to speak with me when she does not seem to wish to seems rather ill-intentioned at best."
If the others wished to leave now, though, Christopher seemed to have no intention of stopping them. It already seemed like Lilian was slowly inching away, trying her hardest to not up and die of what embarrassment she was already being overwhelmed by.
With Mella's (begrudging) acceptance of his decision and Elastasia's continued presence, Reginald gave Terys a nod and a farewell before the latter left them behind. It didn't seem as if his focus slipping had caught anyone else's attention—likely for the best, in his eyes—and so he could simply play that off as if it had never occurred.
"Well, I suppose the first order of business is the animals, then," Reginald said, picking up a more chitinous, mantis-like creature and nodding to the others. The creature seemed to stir slightly in his arms, but no more than that for the moment.
The walk to the shop in question was fairly swift, and despite the shopkeepers hustling to and fro ferrying what beasts remained after their charge was stopped, there didn't seem to be any real change in the flow of people through the streets. The shop where everyone seemed to be funneling towards, however, had certainly seen better days. One of the door was left lying on the ground (though moved off to the side to prevent anyone from stepping on it as they helped move goods back in), and a few windows had been shattered by the creatures who could jump with enough force and weight to use that as an alternate means of escape.
Inside, an older man was directing people to and fro, his face somewhat haggard as he kept an eye on everyone as they returned each creature to it's place. When his gaze finally drifted over to the three standing by, however, the man swiftly made his way over and bowed.
"My apologies for making you wait. Sir Afah, Lady Aquilanne, I humbly thank you for your assistance in resolving what has just transpired," he said, head low as he continued. "Unfortunately, I have no way of repaying such grace, and your presence besides, but..."
"Do not concern yourself over compensation on my behalf; it was Lady Aquilanne who was mostly responsible for stopping the runaway creatures. I was simply an accessory in comparison. Rather, I had come to purchase one of those same runaways—that bird perched atop my maid's head—as well as return this creature to you."
With that, Reginald gestured slightly to the buglike creature in his arms with his head, to which the shopkeeper rose back up before nodding in turn.
"Of course! Your patronage is certainly appreciated!" he exclaimed, subtly gesturing towards one of his assistants to take the beast in question off of Reginald's hands before turning to look at what bird it was that he was so interested in.
"...Twenty silver should suffice," he finally said, to which the black-haired boy promptly handed over the requested coinage and nodded. "Once again, your patronage is very greatly appreciated."
At this point, with matters of money settled, the shopkeeper promptly turned towards Elastasia and bowed once more.
"Then, if there is anything I can do for you for your assistance, then please let me know."
@Raineh Daze@Rune_Alchemist "Miss Merielle, then. It is a pleasure to be properly acquainted with you now, then," spoke the prince as he gave another light bow in return. Flustered though the girl seemed, Christopher seemed fairly nonplussed by her reaction, and it was only when Serrica stepped in to speak her piece that Christopher reacted in turn.
"Ah... Hm. I suppose that would make sense," he concluded, seeing the logic in Serrica's analogy, "though I should certainly hope that I am no 'ravenous hound' in the eyes of my peers. Such a reputation is one I would prefer to avoid."
But when Serrica continued to speak as she did, Christopher's comparatively soft expression swiftly began to harden.
"...Is it not proper to introduce oneself in the company of guests?" he responded with a frown. "Miss Meridan has been a great friend to me for the longest of time, and the three of us are acquainted with one another by this point. To acknowledge a new face is only right, is it not?"
There was a brief pause before Christopher sighed and shook his head before finally turning back towards the still-blushing Lilian.
"And besides, I am by no means blind. If she is currently occupied by other thoughts, then I do not intend to bring her into the spotlight. As for your intentions with her... Placing personal matters aside, I wish only the best for her, both as my confidant and as a dear friend. Take that as you will."
Lilian, of course, had by this point been reduced to a blushing mess at Christopher's indirect (and accidental) attack upon her psyche—not that he was addressing that at the moment, of course.
An odd expression crossed Reginald's face upon hearing Elastasia's remark—one that could probably have been described as a mix of surprise, confusion, and vague recognition of the word that she spoke. A salamander was a salamander, after all—and confusing it's name for something like "Wooper" was so uncannily odd that it couldn't have been an honest mistake. Not unless there was another creature with a similar name, at least.
To this, the black-haired student seemed to stand in silence for a few moments, his brow furrowed as he tried to figure out if there were any other animals that could possibly have a similar enough physiology and name to result in such an honest mistake. But when none came to mind, Reginald's mind instead drifted back to his 'old' native language—Japanese—and a certain multimedia franchise that had become popular the world over.
There was a theoretical now, a 'what-if' beginning to take root in the back of his mind—that maybe the mistake was one borne from a Freudian slip from someone who had found themselves in similar circumstances to his own. It was hard to make any definitive claims at the moment, though the idea did cross his mind to ask, if not subtly, what Elastasia had meant by that...
But ultimately, it seemed wiser to wait and see if there were any other hints he could attempt to glean before trying to ask proper. Of course, the time he had spent thinking about those matters had just as well been spent half-staring at the upperclassman in question, for better or worse—and, somewhat unfortunately, only barely acknowledging Terys' words of thanks with a slight nod.
Mella's talk of cooking the bird that had taken to her was ultimately what pulled his attention back to more "present" matter, and her apparent dislike of the avian was... Honestly quite amusing to him, in a bit of a twisted way. It wasn't like the bird was doing any explicit harm, at least, and despite her less-than-subtle threats it seemed satisfied perched upon her head.
"Mmm... I think that if it's rare and seems to be taken with you, it might do some good to actually research what breed it is. I doubt it'd return to whatever shopkeeper it came from at this point, and honestly it might be less trouble paying for the creature than attempting to wrangle it away from you..."
And given how confident both Elastasia and his maid had been about how it was able to injure him, maybe that would be for the best.
By this point, another shopkeeper—one of a far sturdier make—finally came around and took the large canine off of his hands, though certainly more literally than figuratively as the gruff man hefted the massive dog under his arm and walked off.
"Well, matters of cleaning up this chaos aside, I've nothing better to do at the moment. Given how I intend to at least look into that new friend of course, the least I could do is follow along until you are finished—or we could simply make our way there now, given how you seem to have a different creature entirely in your grasp."
@Raineh Daze@Rune_Alchemist "I am aware that you claimed to help another student earlier, and I do not deny that fact. What I am asking, quite honestly, is why the young woman at your side is with you. Though I suppose that she seems to be a bit more rattled by my presence than I would like..."
There was a pause as a bit of a shadow crossed Lilian's face after she spoke her piece to Serrica, and the words "reputation" and "bad" could scarcely be heard by Anne as the blonde girl whispered to herself barely loud enough for another to hear—before the topic of the Prince came up once more.
To this (far more forward) declaration, however, Lilian's face seemed to color itself ever so slightly red, and her fleeting moment of pause seemed to be replaced in an instant by indignation and embarrassment. That seemed to only be further exacerbated by Anne's response, loud as it was—the young woman's face seemed to dye itself a deep shade of red now—so much so that denying her feelings would have been all but impossible now.
"E-enough about the Crown Prince!" she exclaimed, a slight tremor in her voice. "I'm—"
"...Hm? I thought I heard a shout over here..."
And, almost as if on cue, the Crown Prince turned a nearby corner and walked towards the three girls, a light smile on his face.
"Miss Haldblum. Miss Meridan. I hope the day finds you well," Christopher said as he turned towards the two before the latter promptly turned away and covered her face in embarrassment. Seeing Lilian acting as she was, though, Christopher's gaze inevitably tuned back towards Anne, whose presence here seemed to be a bit more surprising to him.
"...Hm? I didn't expect to see you so soon again, Miss... I apologize, but I never actually got your name—nor you mine, I believe—when we last met. Christopher Alvonshire, the first son of King Asher Alvonshire. I presume your friend is well, then, if you are exploring the school grounds now?"
And since we're open, I may as well offer up a Discord link to those present. Your choice whether or not to join, but it is probably faster to contact me here if you need me.
With clear blue skies as far as the eye could see, the people on board The Stalwart were free to marvel at both the skies above and the land below. The airship, modest though it was, soared swiftly through the skies as though it was water. To many, such a marvel would have been unthinkable a few decades ago, but the dedication of inventors, it seemed, was not to be underestimated. Flight was no longer the domain of birds and dragons—now, too, could one fly without magic, and the revolution that such technology had brought forth was unparalleled.
But musings about the possibility of man mattered little to those on board—after all, they were but passengers on something that had since become rather "normal" (though not commonplace quite yet) en route to the kingdom of Merridan. The Stalwart was, in the end, a vessel meant to move people rather than goods—a bit of a rarity in and of itself—but so long as the people on board paid their fare, no issues would arise.
At least, so everyone believed.
The sudden turbulence that shook the vessel on such a clear day was immediate cause for alarm, and more than a few people began to mill about in panic, seeking answers from the staff on hand—staff who also had no response to their questions beyond the requisite placations required of them.
Then came more. Then an explosion from the back of the airship—and another. Slowly, the entire vessel leaned forward, barely held aloft by what remained of it's engine, before that too began to sputter and fail.
There was a deafening silence before those on board realized what it was that had happened—and what was going to happen. As the ground grew closer and the burning airship began to spiral towards the ground, a deafening silence seemed to take those on board, until——————
Elyreia
The continent of Elyreia is rather expansive and plays host to a wide range of biomes; the sunscorched Pella Desert, the treacherous Heavensfall Mountains, the ever-flooded Thousand Rivers, and the windswept Sakaran Plains are but a few features that mark the landscape, and in these lands have people lived and thrived. The millennia of history that has destroyed and reshaped the continent has since been tamed by the hands of people—though much still remains untouched, and elsewhere simply unreclaimed.
(For the sake of this RP, this section will be updated as more nations become relevant to the narrative.)
Merridan
The nation of Merridan, situated within the center of the eastern half of Elyreia, is now mostly known for it's presence as a major trade hub across the continent. As the home of the Tessen Airship Company, a majority of goods—and people—pass through on their way to another part of the continent.
Agadia
A maritime nation nestled between the Thousand Rivers and the eastern seas of Lemeire, Agadia has a history marked not only by naval travel, but also sea monster slaying—so much so that there is an entire industry of hunters that travel out to sea to hunt the beasts (or die trying). The lucrativity of hunting such creatures and returning with the spoils of battle has led to it becoming a land known for both the brave and foolhardy alike, though where that line may be drawn seems to depend on the person.
Weien
The lands of Weien reach from the southern edge of the Heavensfall Mountains to the center of the Sakaran Plains, but Weien itself is more of a coalition of city-states than an actual nation. Each region is led by it's own leader, and decisions regarding the region as a whole are made by a council formed by such. Of course, such a choice in governance is not without conflict, but the system has worked well enough for them thus far.
Thryn
Claiming a vast section of the Heavensfall Mountains and the nearby Falefen Forests of the north, Thryn is fairly cloistered as far as the nations of Elyreia go. Seldom do it's residents travel abroad, after all, and visitors are rarely received within the capital, be they foreign dignitaries or otherwise. Trade only occurs within the outskirts of the nation closest to it's neighbors, and their low supply often makes many commodities from within desired by the rich and elite.
Diomenne
The inhospitable Pella Desert was not always such, and the remnants of the nation that once ruled over those lands eventually reformed into the country of Diomenne. Proud fighters and golden-eyed travelers, the residents of Diomenne are just as apt to search the sands for remnants of their lost legacy as they are to travel abroad and make names for themselves in other lands. "Mercenaries" or "treasure hunters", some might call them, but the people of Diomenne care not. Despite their disparate goals, the hearts of the people are often aligned, and their sense of camraderie in spite of their presumed goals makes them a sort of oddity to less-traveled folk.
Magic
For the most part, "magic" is the result of converting mana (be it mana in the atmosphere or mana within the body) into a different form. The form that this mana can take hinges upon a variety of factors—the form that the caster shapes it into, the method by which it is shaped, and even the inherent nature of the caster can all play a factor in what the results of that magic are. The categories of magic are few and far between; things from strengthening magic to reinforce the body, to elemental magic that harnesses the forces of nature, to even magic of a more abstract nature that seems to warp the rules of the world itself are all within the realm of possibility. However, magic is by no means boundless; even placing aside the restraints of the mana within a system, not everyone will be able to cast the same types of magic, if at all. By nature, people have a magical "affinity" that is, initially, defined at birth. Said nature is not absolute, and with sufficient time and effort replicating magic from other fields is possible, but it has since become common sense to learn what one excels at (assuming that they can find it). Over time, however, it is possible for an affinity to shift or change. The circumstances behind such phenomena are yet unknown, however, but with documented cases throughout history, it becomes a matter of "if" it happens rather than "when" to most people—for better or worse.
The People of Elyreia
Though there are a variety of inhabitants within the lands of Elyreia—both sapient and not—there are three main races that have since spread across the continent and made it their own.
Humans
The most populous of the three races, humans are a mainstay regardless of where in Elyreia one may travel to. Their appearances may vary based on the region to which one travels, but fundamentally they do not stand out in a crowd, so to speak. With that said, they do have an uncanny ability to learn a variety of skills so long as they put their minds to it—or, at the very least, to a greater extent than the other two races usually would were they to put in the same amount of effort.
Kinjo
The kinjo are somewhat foxlike in nature—though more literally than figuratively. Their vulpine ears and tails set them apart from the other two races—traits which give them more sensitive hearing and a higher capacity for magic—but beyond those, they appear rather similar to humans in terms of appearance. They tend to be more lithe than their human counterparts, but their frames generally lead to them being slightly frailer as well.
Nehen
Compared to the humans and kinjo, the nehen are rather diverse (and occasionally more imposing) in nature. The exact origins of the Nehen are somewhat nebulous—their features imply a long-lost relationship with the great dragons, but some claim that a demonic contract is to blame for the bodies they hold, and other still claim some conspiracy as the cause. Regardless of what the truth may be, though, the varied nature of the Nehen causes them to stand out, and not only because of the draconic scales that often line their limbs. What causes the Nehen to stand out more than anything, though, are the variety in which those same lizardlike-features arise within them. Though all of them have horns, tails and scales, the colors and shapes in which they manifest often differs. Beyond those traits, though, the Nehen appear rather similar to humans, if not tending slightly towards the taller end of the height spectrum.
I suppose the best way to describe the RP would be "a JRPG-esque fantasy RP inspired by a variety of games and sources". A lot of information about the world will be revealed as the players explore (or as requested), and ultimately the events that occur should be in service of that. Hopefully.
Given the style of RP that I intend this to be, though, I will likely be a bit pickier with forms than usual, and at the very least the start of this story may have a slightly smaller cast than the final size I would intend it to be... And so in other words, if you don't make the first cut, there's always a possibility to join in the future. With that said, I will be trying to pick characters based on personality dynamics if there are too many people for the opening of the RP, but that's under the assumption that we have enough people applying to warrant that. As always, though I reserve the right to deny characters out of hand—though I will always attempt to at least explain my reasons for doing so if that ever happens.
As always, feel free to ask or DM me if you have any specific questions/concerns/ideas.
With clear blue skies as far as the eye could see, the people on board The Stalwart were free to marvel at both the skies above and the land below. The airship, modest though it was, soared swiftly through the skies as though it was water. To many, such a marvel would have been unthinkable a few decades ago, but the dedication of inventors, it seemed, was not to be underestimated. Flight was no longer the domain of birds and dragons—now, too, could one fly without magic, and the revolution that such technology had brought forth was unparalleled.
But musings about the possibility of man mattered little to those on board—after all, they were but passengers on something that had since become rather "normal" (though not commonplace quite yet) en route to the kingdom of Merridan. The Stalwart was, in the end, a vessel meant to move people rather than goods—a bit of a rarity in and of itself—but so long as the people on board paid their fare, no issues would arise.
At least, so everyone believed.
The sudden turbulence that shook the vessel on such a clear day was immediate cause for alarm, and more than a few people began to mill about in panic, seeking answers from the staff on hand—staff who also had no response to their questions beyond the requisite placations required of them.
Then came more. Then an explosion from the back of the airship—and another. Slowly, the entire vessel leaned forward, barely held aloft by what remained of it's engine, before that too began to sputter and fail.
There was a deafening silence before those on board realized what it was that had happened—and what was going to happen. As the ground grew closer and the burning airship began to spiral towards the ground, a deafening silence seemed to take those on board, until——————
Elyreia
The continent of Elyreia is rather expansive and plays host to a wide range of biomes; the sunscorched Pella Desert, the treacherous Heavensfall Mountains, the ever-flooded Thousand Rivers, and the windswept Sakaran Plains are but a few features that mark the landscape, and in these lands have people lived and thrived. The millennia of history that has destroyed and reshaped the continent has since been tamed by the hands of people—though much still remains untouched, and elsewhere simply unreclaimed.
(For the sake of this RP, this section will be updated as more nations become relevant to the narrative.)
Merridan
The nation of Merridan, situated within the center of the eastern half of Elyreia, is now mostly known for it's presence as a major trade hub across the continent. As the home of the Tessen Airship Company, a majority of goods—and people—pass through on their way to another part of the continent.
Agadia
A maritime nation nestled between the Thousand Rivers and the eastern seas of Lemeire, Agadia has a history marked not only by naval travel, but also sea monster slaying—so much so that there is an entire industry of hunters that travel out to sea to hunt the beasts (or die trying). The lucrativity of hunting such creatures and returning with the spoils of battle has led to it becoming a land known for both the brave and foolhardy alike, though where that line may be drawn seems to depend on the person.
Weien
The lands of Weien reach from the southern edge of the Heavensfall Mountains to the center of the Sakaran Plains, but Weien itself is more of a coalition of city-states than an actual nation. Each region is led by it's own leader, and decisions regarding the region as a whole are made by a council formed by such. Of course, such a choice in governance is not without conflict, but the system has worked well enough for them thus far.
Thryn
Claiming a vast section of the Heavensfall Mountains and the nearby Falefen Forests of the north, Thryn is fairly cloistered as far as the nations of Elyreia go. Seldom do it's residents travel abroad, after all, and visitors are rarely received within the capital, be they foreign dignitaries or otherwise. Trade only occurs within the outskirts of the nation closest to it's neighbors, and their low supply often makes many commodities from within desired by the rich and elite.
Diomenne
The inhospitable Pella Desert was not always such, and the remnants of the nation that once ruled over those lands eventually reformed into the country of Diomenne. Proud fighters and golden-eyed travelers, the residents of Diomenne are just as apt to search the sands for remnants of their lost legacy as they are to travel abroad and make names for themselves in other lands. "Mercenaries" or "treasure hunters", some might call them, but the people of Diomenne care not. Despite their disparate goals, the hearts of the people are often aligned, and their sense of camraderie in spite of their presumed goals makes them a sort of oddity to less-traveled folk.
Magic
For the most part, "magic" is the result of converting mana (be it mana in the atmosphere or mana within the body) into a different form. The form that this mana can take hinges upon a variety of factors—the form that the caster shapes it into, the method by which it is shaped, and even the inherent nature of the caster can all play a factor in what the results of that magic are. The categories of magic are few and far between; things from strengthening magic to reinforce the body, to elemental magic that harnesses the forces of nature, to even magic of a more abstract nature that seems to warp the rules of the world itself are all within the realm of possibility. However, magic is by no means boundless; even placing aside the restraints of the mana within a system, not everyone will be able to cast the same types of magic, if at all. By nature, people have a magical "affinity" that is, initially, defined at birth. Said nature is not absolute, and with sufficient time and effort replicating magic from other fields is possible, but it has since become common sense to learn what one excels at (assuming that they can find it). Over time, however, it is possible for an affinity to shift or change. The circumstances behind such phenomena are yet unknown, however, but with documented cases throughout history, it becomes a matter of "if" it happens rather than "when" to most people—for better or worse.
The People of Elyreia
Though there are a variety of inhabitants within the lands of Elyreia—both sapient and not—there are three main races that have since spread across the continent and made it their own.
Humans
The most populous of the three races, humans are a mainstay regardless of where in Elyreia one may travel to. Their appearances may vary based on the region to which one travels, but fundamentally they do not stand out in a crowd, so to speak. With that said, they do have an uncanny ability to learn a variety of skills so long as they put their minds to it—or, at the very least, to a greater extent than the other two races usually would were they to put in the same amount of effort.
Kinjo
The kinjo are somewhat foxlike in nature—though more literally than figuratively. Their vulpine ears and tails set them apart from the other two races—traits which give them more sensitive hearing and a higher capacity for magic—but beyond those, they appear rather similar to humans in terms of appearance. They tend to be more lithe than their human counterparts, but their frames generally lead to them being slightly frailer as well.
Nehen
Compared to the humans and kinjo, the nehen are rather diverse (and occasionally more imposing) in nature. The exact origins of the Nehen are somewhat nebulous—their features imply a long-lost relationship with the great dragons, but some claim that a demonic contract is to blame for the bodies they hold, and other still claim some conspiracy as the cause. Regardless of what the truth may be, though, the varied nature of the Nehen causes them to stand out, and not only because of the draconic scales that often line their limbs. What causes the Nehen to stand out more than anything, though, are the variety in which those same lizardlike-features arise within them. Though all of them have horns, tails and scales, the colors and shapes in which they manifest often differs. Beyond those traits, though, the Nehen appear rather similar to humans, if not tending slightly towards the taller end of the height spectrum.
I suppose the best way to describe the RP would be "a JRPG-esque fantasy RP inspired by a variety of games and sources". A lot of information about the world will be revealed as the players explore (or as requested), and ultimately the events that occur should be in service of that. Hopefully.
Given the style of RP that I intend this to be, though, I will likely be a bit pickier with forms than usual, and at the very least the start of this story may have a slightly smaller cast than the final size I would intend it to be... And so in other words, if you don't make the first cut, there's always a possibility to join in the future. With that said, I will be trying to pick characters based on personality dynamics if there are too many people for the opening of the RP, but that's under the assumption that we have enough people applying to warrant that. As always, though I reserve the right to deny characters out of hand—though I will always attempt to at least explain my reasons for doing so if that ever happens.
As always, I'm posting this as an interest check to gauge interest first and foremost, but here's a form in case people want to get started. As always, feel free to ask about questions or concerns if you're interested in joining.
Curious though he was about whatever had sparked this incident in the first place, Reginald reminded himself that, at the end of the day, there were other matters to worry about over investigating the circumstances that had kept everyone here to begin with. With that being said, though, it wasn't as if he could tell as if these events were predetermined or not to begin with. He had little memory of any events like this while proceeding through the game, but at this point, chasing after a dangling thread on his first day here in hopes that it would lead to other issues seemed a bit...
Frivolous? Yes, frivolous was the word. He needed information first and foremost, not instinctual hunches.
"...Well, there were surely other witnesses. Hopefully those with more authority will find the ones responsible," he said, shrugging his shoulders as he glanced towards his maid. Being the person she usually was, of course, his servant requested recompense—one that he was less willing to give due to the bird that seemed to be gravitating towards her, granted, but what she had done otherwise at least warranted some minor bonus.
"If you wish to bill me, I will, of course, review the costs," he remarked back, watching as Mella attempted to get the bird off of her head. A small smirk crossed his face as he watched the bird flit about, dodging the maid's hands as it flew into the air for a moment... Before promptly returning to sit atop her head.
"Would you prefer I purchased that bird for you? Or, rather, maybe I should do so regardless..." he joked before taking a step to the side as a few more shopkeepers—and, now, some more willing volunteers—began to carry the rattled animals back to whence they came.
Walking back towards Elastasia and Terys, though, the black-haired student noted that the latter was still wrestling with a rather large puppy, which seemed to have taken to him as much as the bird had to his maid. Whether or not he wanted to be pinned to the ground and licked over and over was not necessarily his jurisdiction, of course, but given that it seemed to have been going on for long enough for the boy to try (and fail) to push him off...
Well, it only seemed right to step in and assist.
With a sigh, Reginald leaned over and wrapped both of his arms around the dog before prying it away from Terys, the beast notably heavier than it seemed to be at first glance.
"I am... Surprised they could keep this thing to begin with," he said, some strain evident on his face as the dog shook about in his arms. "Rather friendly, it seems—for better or worse."
@Raineh Daze@Rune_Alchemist The older man stared at Cervantes for a moment before shaking his head and sighing.
"Jacob Verdan. As for recovering what was lost, well..."
There was a moment as he trailed off before glancing at the people bringing the animals back over to the shop.
"...I suppose that can wait until after I've taken inventory. There are a fair number of creatures I need to make sure are all right... Assuming that they've been captured," he remarked, shoulders slumped as he moved to take a snakelike creature off of a young man's hands. "If there is anything missing, though... Well, depending on what it is, I might have to take you up on your offer."
By now, more of those animals were starting to be brought back in, whether in makeshift containers or in the hands of someone... Or, in some cases, hanging off of a limb with their mouths firmly latched on. It was a comical sight, to be sure, but the sheer quantity of the animals in question made this a far less entertaining matter for the man who had to worry about them to begin with.
@AThousandCurses Lilian seemed to physically recoil as Serrica stepped forward and said her piece, though she made an honest attempt at trying to mask her displeasure with the noblewoman's words and actions in the process. The young woman seemed to be suppressing the urge to simply respond to the provocations of the greedy woman in front of her, but it was difficult for her to not try and create space between herself and Serrica as the latter moved closer to her.
"My feeling towards Chr-the Crown Prince have nothing to do with this matter. Regardless, I would sooner bite my own tongue off than deal with you alone for a night," the young woman responded, a frown on her face as she let out a brief sigh before turning towards the stammering young lady caught up in this mess. There was a pause, of course, as she listened to the nervous attempt at an introduction before sighing.
"No need to feel so alarmed, Miss Marielle," Lilian said, a businesslike smile crossing her face as if her prior reaction towards Serrica did not exist moments prior. "Though our stations may differ, we are all students here. Though..."
There was a pause as the blonde-haired girl threw a passing glance towards Serrica before continuing.
"...I worry some people here may treat this school as a hunting ground of sorts rather than a place of learning. In any case, I suppose I should ask what you were doing here, given that there isn't exactly much to do within the building at the moment—especially not at this time of day."
Member
Izurich
Raineh Daze
The Otter
Urizen
Zapdos
DracoLunaris
Enzayne
FunnierPrez
Lildear18