Grijs — Roleplayer Guild

STILL RECRUITING (9-9-2017)

-(Grim)dark fantasy setting, high-magic (lots of magic, creatures, etc).

-Gods actually exist and actively intervene in the setting.

-Everyone is involved in a global proxy war between gods. Factions are determined by religion, which is pre-set because the religions gods are actually real and will hand out orders, perform miracles, delegate magic and otherwise act like actual figures involved in the world.

-World is a single earth-sized pangaea, logistical issues are solved by magical portal gates and air-transportation. The world is also literally flat (well, technically a convex bowl shape).

-The world has a material and a celestial plane, though the latter has never been successfully entered while still alive.

-All magic comes from gods, the vast majority of it distributed by existing gods to their servants and followers. There is some leftover magic in the material plane distributed long ago by dead gods but is a finite (and running low) supply.

-In general, technology should be 15th-16th century for all factions. Between the War of Roses and the French Wars of Religion. Guns exist.

-Most magic is gained from gods giving magic in return for the sacrifice of souls. In this setting, a soul is a non-physical element of the mind which is associated with consciousness. To sacrifice a soul, a person or animal must be killed or have their soul drained over time. People will always give (significantly) more magic in return for souls than animals will. 

CONCEPT INTRODUCTION:

The world, known as Materia is a world of divine cycles. An imperfectly designed world created by very real yet equally imperfect gods. Doomed to die. Since time immemorial, pantheons of gods have risen, ruled, and changed the world, though each as incapable of fixing the world as the last and so are then inevitably destroyed as they were replaced by new gods. Each cycle the world has decayed further… ever onwards, ever downwards… in entropy towards a final darkness.

It has been exactly 300 years since the fall of the ‘Old Pantheon’ of gods, beginning an age of global warfare and strife. This time however, the conflict has reached unprecedented levels as this time the cycle has failed, occurring in a broken half-finished state, perhaps indicating that the entropy of the world is approaching its final end. Rather than forming a new pantheon to rule over the world, the gods remain divided, no unifying force ruling the heavens. Rogue angels have assumed the role of fake gods, one of the Old Pantheons gods still somehow lives... Furthermore, rather than a new pantheon of gods, only one new god was formed. Justinian, a god that declares itself of mortal origins and which intends to end this world, replacing it with a new, perfect utopia. 

Justinian slaughtered most of the Old Pantheon in a great heavenly deicide known as the War In Heaven, but because it failed to kill all the other gods, the world has been plunged into 300 years of holy war as the remaining gods turn to their mortal instruments to destroy each other. This mortal proxy war is known as the Sacrilege War, and so 300 years ago, the three-way global war begun, the mortal races by divine providence commanded to annihilate the faithful of other gods. 

So as they fought and continue to fight, the world is drenched in magic; powers in exchange for sacrifices handed to mortals to bolster the war effort. Divine miracles are a daily affair, the existence of gods an almost universal truth - even as the gods declare each other false and themselves as the only true gods. 

This is the story of a doomed world… and the near endless numbers of mortal sacrifices that will be consumed in the name of its last ruler. Yet salvaging Materia is never out of reach for those that dare.

FACTION GAMEPLAY:

There are three supranational factions that each player-nation belongs to, these factions divided by religion - that is service to a very real god or goddess. Gods are the source of all magic in this world and regularly perform miracles. Some gods such as Justinian are so interventionist that they are essentially the religious leader of their own religion. It is expected that players will all have common histories and cultural elements due to the world's history and faction system (though the third faction, the Red Pantheon, are the most customisable - including the ability to make your own custom national deity, though in exchange are also the least united and objectively the weakest faction)

APOCALYPTIC THEMES:

The world is also filled with secrets and hidden lore that players will gradually discover over time. The world also has a number of preset methods to which an apocalyptic event may be triggered by either players or by world events. As the story goes on and the likelihood of an apocalyptic event increases, the genre of the RP will gradually shift from grimdark military high fantasy to something more along the lines of a cosmic horror story.

SETTING:

This setting is also a very deep, complex one with a great deal of world-building, particularly since Sac War has been built up in previous versions over the years, hosted by both Serpentine88 and Flagg. Of note is a detailed cosmology concerning the gods and the ‘heavenly’ cycles as well as the detailed magical system this world abides by. (This setting will be shown in the OOC in full but not here as this is just an interest check) Players are expected to take some effort to read through or at least skim through this information so they understand the kind of world they are RPing in. It is also suggested that they at least read the mythos and mechanics of the faction they join, as each god and their associated faith have unique attributes and ideals which you should consider when joining that faction. 

SPECIES:

This is still essentially a high magic setting and allows most of the traditional ‘races’, elves, dwarves, centaurs, giants, etc. It is suggested to stick to the more typical fictional species if you don’t want your species to be criticised and judged by the GM (searching for min-maxing nonsense).  Note that some species such as dragons and elves have a significant presence in the world-building lore so you need to take previous history into account when adding your own. It should also be noted that some species are banned. This includes;
-Undead (Necromancy does not function the way most fantasy settings do because no god will give the magic needed to perform necromancy. You can animate corpses in the same way you could animate a fork or chair, but you cannot return a soul to the living world after it has died. An attempt at doing so without a god will result in you being hunted down and ‘lightning’d’ by one or all gods, even if they are fighting each other).

-Angels/demons/djinns etc (You can use angel and demon looking people, particularly Justinians who may have individuals that are magically altered by their god to make them appear like angels with wings and so on. However, actual angels/demons are restricted due to cosmology issues). 

-Ectoplasmic entities (An ectoplasmic entity would require enormous amounts of magic at a constant rate to exist, which is highly impractical. Thus a whole species of them is pretty much impossible. Ectoplasmic entities as such do however technically exist though)

-Animated inanimate people (While golems and animated objects exist, they are not sentient and cannot be made sentient, as such you cannot play as elementals, golem-people and so on)

MAP OF MATERIA
 (with established nations at present)

THE FACTIONS:

 (Note: The actual OOC will have expanded info on all three factions)

Justinianism: Followers of the God Justinian (Also known as The Justinian, Justinius, Justice or a thousand other local cultural names), based in the West, where its holy city sits. Emphasis on holy paladins; witch hunters, possessed hosts acting as demi-avatars of their god (represented by individual dead historic heroes), blatant orders from their god, monolithic clerical bureaucracy and religious military orders. Rejects the material world for an ideal spiritual one and wish to remake the world with a “Great Reconvergence”, creating a perfect utopia. Infamous for totalitarianism, mass surveillance and occasionally committing genocide. The fanatically idealistic orderly faction, a great choice for eurocentric kingdoms, totalitarian empires, theocracies, revolutionaries and crusader-states. 

Yuwanism: Followers of the Goddess Yuwan, based in the East, where her holy city sits. Emphasis on magi, vague visions and dreams from their distant secretive godess, ancient schools of collected knowledge and excessive use of magic. Fights for the status quo and stability, balance between the the celestial/spiritual and material world… even if it means sacrificing millions to maintain it.  Infamous for mass slavery and mass unwilling sacrifice. The pragmatically moderate ‘powers that be’ faction, a great choice for mystical nations, isolationist hippies, elves and dwarves, vast mageocratic empires, ancient aristocratic bloodlines and traditionalist slaver states.

Red Pantheonism: Followers of the Red Gods, rogue ex-celestial servants of previous pantheons based in their own respective locations. Emphasis on witches, monsters, curses, corrupting existing institutions, selfish whimsical deities, demi-god bastards and a lot of blood sacrifice. Many care little for the spiritual world and care for personal pursuits in the material one. Infamous for corrupting civilisations and treating mortals as expendable playthings and tools, and generally advocating nihilism and social darwinism. The ultra-customisable selfish chaotic faction, a great choice for barbarians, raiders, cultists, monsters and people who refuse to join large ideological factions or want to create their own mini-god.

As can be seen, it should be said that each god/faction is not particularly likable. The gods of this universe are not pure benevolence and sunshine. The factions are grim and commit heinous crimes regularly… that said, each faction does have their positive sides. Justinian is genuinely fighting for the creation of a utopia via the Great Reconvergence, and tries to create a high standard of living for its followers. Yuwan believes in positive liberty, so while she allows her followers to enslave each other (and does manipulate her people to essentially ensure that there is enough sacrifice-to-magic so to stop Justinian), she usually likes giving her followers free will and the choice to decide how to live and make decisions rather than forcing ‘enlightenment’ on them. She also indirectly assists in improving the livelihood of her peoples’ societies and often acts as a teacher of sorts, attempting to allow her followers to reach enlightenment themselves. Red Gods are capable of personal relationships, differing from Justinian who is too impersonal and Yuwan who is too distant… and as such they can actually feel respect, friendship or even love for mortals. While each faction views the Sacrilege War as a white and black morality conflict (particularly the Justinians), the people in this conflict can be good or bad depending on what the players want to depict. (e.g: A selfish Red God may be just trying to play a game of Black & White/The Sims with its isolated elf village while a fanatically utopian Justinian could be burning babies and committing genocide because they have the witch's curse, while on the other hand another selfish Red God may be trying to turn the world into hell for the evulz while a truly messianic Justinian hero is trying to end all suffering and war and freeing his people from Yuwanist slavery).

What we are currently looking for:

--->MORE JUSTINIANS!<--- They are supposed to be the largest faction that are winning the Sacrilege War and have conquered somewhere between a third to half the whole world. 
-Justinian states in the west, central-west and north of the world, particularly waging war with Yuwanists. These could be eurocentric kingdoms, pseudo-romans(Likely themed after the existing nations of Sacrosanctia or Archonnen), budding crusader-states, theo-communist peasant revolutionaries, theocracies… etc. Of particular note is surprising lack of Germanic-themed Justinians.
-Yuwanist states in the north-east to fight the Justinians. That is to say, militarised Yuwanists that are willing to actually defend themselves. Justinian is going to order a crusade against you eventually, and probably sooner rather than later.

What we are currently not looking for:

-Neutral trader or pacifist/isolationist states in the middle of the world between the Justinians and Yuwanists. You are not going to survive.
-Yuwanists or Red Pantheonists in the far west (you will be instantly destroyed via Divine Intervention). Conversely, Justinians in the far east.
-Red Pantheonist Empires in general. If you are going for a Red Pantheon state, you’d be a fringe or backwater region in a geographic buffer position which allowed for your prolonged survival. Lest you be repeatedly invaded and annexed by neighbouring Justinians or even Yuwanists.

Location Unknown
Time Unknown

‘’We have uncovered the Lost Tribe of Privas in an isolated shelter of the Boreal Subcontinent located in America.
Based on the intel obtained from the earlier captured specimen -- they can sense hardly more than 10 of the Descendants left in this section of the Earth.’’
‘’Opportune. And what has stopped you from going in to seize them?’’
‘’Unfortunately, the generalissimo has lost contact with our hidden operative. And even if they hadn’t... Some of our foremen have returned, reporting dire complications.’’ 
‘’Yes? And what of it.’’

''...Our old enemy is at large.’’


 KAESAR


Sounds come from outside beyond the cabin door. Disrupting the slumber of this shady vigilante, causing him to arise from the dark, his mind doubtlessly adrift in acts most profane and sacrilegious. He slept on the floor of the living room, in a sleeping bag. It is morning at last.
Kaesar groans in pain due to many stiff muscles and uncomfortable positions he had to sleep in. Then he scarcely more than mutters inwardly. ‘’I’d have preferred the bed but that CUNT, that mouth breathing loser named HORUS, snatched it away.’’
But so it comes to pass that Kaesar stands up, peering at the front door. Is he going to take a shower or make any attempt at washing himself? Nah. There are enemies in his vicinity. He can sense it. He can hear the faint murmuring of evil whispers. Kaesar can only guess their nature, before Am speaks up.
GO OUT AND MEET THEM. THERE ARE THREE OF THEM OUTSIDE.
Meet them? Who? Are there new people? Is it the Greymen? This soon? No, wait.. they do not have their particular vibe to them. These are all unfamiliar Perpetuals.
Conveniently, Kaesar was already fully clothed as he went to sleep, doubtlessly reeking of sweat. He approaches the frontdoor and opens it, spotting the two new guests. A man with a beard, and a young girl of dark complexion, more so than himself.

‘’You guys have a lighter? I need to have a smoke really bad... I’m Yoa—, Kaesar, by the way.’’ He speaks, as he non-challantly approaches the two of them. 
‘’I’m just as oblivious to the situation as you two are, don’t worry.’’ Kaesar speaks calmly, with a smile. He is perhaps being a little too pushy and shameless. 
‘’Tell me; where have you left your friend? Am told me that I would find three new people here.
Am is the name of my ‘Voice’.
You’ll find the people hiding in the cabin are a decent lot. Mostly. ‘’
He looks around to confirm no one is eavesdropping on them. Spotting no one, Kaesar continues, lowering his voice. ‘’My advice is to be wary of Horus and Luci. Dangerous and shady types of people. If you'll take my word for it, anyway.’’
TYRANT, YOU DELUDE YOURSELF. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL ENEMY HERE STILL.
And it is true. Faint cries echo through the distant pines, its rather ominous origin obscured by vegetation and thick fog.

‘’Let’s get inside ASAP, yes? We can expect Dusk to return any moment now. Am is telling me it’s not safe here. Best to heed his advice.
Don’t worry about Dusk. I’ve known him for a while – he’s got experience with this.

By the way; we don’t have a Wi-Fi connection.’’ 
And the Tyrant led the two of the flock into sanctuary.

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