icmasticc

Kingsglaive

Sure, I'm interested. Sign me up.

@Oxenfree

Glad to have your interest, Oxenfree.

Kingsglaive

K i n g s g l a i v e

_{An Original Roleplay By}

_icmasticc

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_{This is a fantasy based on reality . . .}

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_{P r e m i s e}

Vanity was their greatest sin.

When humanity first arrived on the vibrant planet Azalea their beginnings mirrored those of the first civilized pioneers on Earth. Through unyielding perseverance and the ever-flowing passage of time, the humans managed to settle the harsh yet beautiful alien world. Passing years saw cities sprout into the sky and smaller towns and villages dot the landscape all over. The bravest of society ventured farther into the unknown lands and eventually society began to look very much like it did on the now destroyed Earth. When life settled into a familiar beat and routine, the attacks began.

All manner of alien beast and flora called Azalea home, but it was the giant beasts that proved to be hostile even when unprovoked. Seemingly offended by the presence of a new species threatening to take over, these giant entities - they were dubbed "Behemoths" by the populace - stormed into human cities and settlements all over the world and ravaged as much as they possibly could. Using a combination of their superior size and strength along with the yet fully understood force called magic, these clearly intelligent beings struck fear and awe into the hearts of all who witnessed their rampages. It was fortunate however that the attacks had not started until years after humanity was fully settled on the planet because while the greatest minds of the population put the finishing touches on secret weapons that could combat these beings, the relatively recently formed armies of multiple cities came together to fight back against their enemies. After countless skirmishes and battles strewn all over, humankind stood on the brink of extinction just as the Idol project was finished and activated.

The Idols were giant, humanoid creations fusing man-made technology and android bodies with the unlimited potential of magical energies that granted them sentience and free will. The Idols were the result of mankind's selfish desire to create beings in their own image and ancient texts unearthed during the construction of cities. Once operational, the Idols - which rivaled the size of the Behemoths - came together and fought against the Behemoths in what would come to be known as the Great War. Though long and arduous, mankind's creations were partially victorious - they could not destroy the Behemoths completely, but they were able to banish them to different parts of the planet, sealed and put into a magically induced dormancy. Celebrations were short-lived however; the Idols were privy to their own uncanny ability to wield magic to its fullest potential and quickly made the decision to rule over their creators as gods. While a part of humanity were understandably opposed, most were grateful enough that they felt no qualms about trading worship and reverence for everlasting protection. Thus, the Idols split the planet amongst themselves and ascended to the heavens in order to serve as gods who observed, but never interfered.

It was vanity that began the Idol project, but it would be vanity that ultimately resulted in future events. Vanity was their greatest sin and humanity would learn this lesson the hard way.

_{P l o t}

Ten thousand years ago, the historians say something called The Great War took place where gods created by men and angry beings known as Behemoths battled over the fate of humanity. Most do not believe in such stories. Life on Azalea drones on with regularity and, for the most part, it is a peaceful life. Governments preside over major cities and towns and villages with no desire to dabble in politics eke out a living in a way that makes sense to them. The two largest, and wealthiest, kingdoms - Algareth and Ivalice - live in an eternal rivalry always seeking to outdo the other in one area or another. As of late, relations have grown increasingly hostile and though all out war has not broken out yet, a series of seemingly unrelated incidents seesaw back and forth between the economical and political giants. Citizens are uneasy, but each nation assures their population that amicable settlements are coming.

In a bid at bringing about a peace treaty once and for all, the president of Algareth decides to meet the ruler of Ivalice in her own territory to hash out differences and come to some sort of resolution. For such a tense situation, the president of Algareth employs his Royal Guard for protection. However, in secret, he also calls forth an elite unit shrouded in mystery and legend - the Kingsglaive. The Kingsglaive are a small group of highly trained, branded warriors able to harness magical energy and whose existence is only known to the president himself. They carry out the most covert operations in times when plausible deniability is necessary, but in a manner in which their actions can never quite be confirmed.

This story begins with the Kingsglaive and chronicles the tale of the group as they navigate increasingly dangerous odds beginning with political intrigue and eventually spiraling into a plot much bigger and more comprehensive than ever imagined.

The World

_{T h e W o r l d}

The planet of Azalea is a lush, colorful, and vibrant world. The landscape is washed in what seems to be over-saturated colors spanning the entire rainbow spectrum and the palette is suitably alien when compared to a place like Earth. Mountains, hills, thick forests, and large meadows dominate the terrain with impressive variety though the lands outside of cities are also filled with the native creatures and predatory plant life Azalea is known for. On this world however, trees and plants are much larger than the average and the beasts are of a far more fantastical nature with some growing to unnatural sizes and others utilizing supernatural defense mechanisms when under threat.

The cities - better known as kingdoms - are sprawling metropolises with skyscrapers stretching to the skies and interconnected roads carrying throngs of traffic to and fro to various definitions. The different kingdoms each employ different methods of governing their respective societies. Some choose the traditional form of government with a congress and president while others stick to the tried and true monarchy of times of old with kings and queens and emperors. Each kingdom is largely independent of one another save for trade and commerce. This independence leads to vastly different standards and qualities of living from kingdom to kingdom. What each has in common however is the gods in which they serve. Though the Idols have not been seen in years - and many believe them to be a mere myth anyways - religion is strongly centered around them and each region is believed to be under the protection and service of a particular Idol. The two largest superpowers, Algareth and Ivalice, both believe they are under the protection of Bahamut and Ramuh respectively.

Technology

_{T e c h n o l o g y}

In the world of Kingsglaive, the setting is a mixture of fantasy and reality. This notion extends to the technological level of the world as well. Cars and motor vehicles still drive on paved roads adhering to lanes and traffic lights while at the same time airships employing advanced technology to stay afloat hover in the skies. Cities are split into levels though the height does not indicate socioeconomic status; Rather, the more prosperous cities have leveled tiers simply to accommodate the growing populations while less wealthy cities keep to the ground and can suffer from overcrowding. Weapons have advanced, but those advancements are only available to law enforcement personnel. Average citizens have access to what is now considered primitive weaponry such as guns using ammo with gunpowder. Advanced melee weaponry is the choice of a standard military or army due to the fact that it is easier to dispatch hostile beasts with such - and of course the average citizen has no chance against trained individuals.

Magic

_{M a g i c}

Though magic exists in the world, it is a bit of a mystery. It exists in the atmosphere of the planet and is able to be harnessed through technological means for different purposes, but it is not able to be wielded in the way a traditional mage would. The various militaries of the world condense the volatile energies into crystal form and encase them in spherical enclosures that can then be used as grenade-like weapons substituting fragments for elemental explosions. Magic can also power ranged weaponry through the use of crystallized ammunition though these crystals are in limited supply and must be made in factories much like primitive ammunition of Earth. Beyond these more grounded methods of use however lies a more fantastical option rooted in myth.

It is said that if one pledges their loyalty to a god directly, that god will then brand their new servant giving them the ability to absorb magical energies within their own body and manipulate it for their own uses. No one has ever been able to confirm this however as it not currently known how to meet a god directly. It is rumored that the Algareth president's legendary Kingsglaive is composed of branded individuals, but that cannot be confirmed either since it is not currently known if they truly exist. A branded individual can supposedly conjure up spells only referenced in ancient texts though their abilities come with a significant price. That price is not specifically explained or detailed in any known text, legend, or myth.

Combat

_{C o m b a t}

Combat in this RP works quite simply. While HP is used to indicate the vitality of the main cast, all the players are responsible for is writing the scene. Battles are heavily inspired by fantasy action so fast paced, unrealistic kinds of fighting is fine; think Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts. Players can write combat scenes as they will and I, as the GM, will use a system to determine hits and damage. Due to the nature of the roleplay, players will have the opportunity to fully control enemies at points though the GM will always control the boss type enemies.

Combat in this RP is meant to be more fun than an exercise in statistics. Though it is moderated to provide some strategy during tougher fights, I want players to be engaged and fully immersed in the scene they're writing. This system aims to reflect that.

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Welcome to my humble interest check! This roleplay, while original in its narrative, is derivative of properties and genres I'm interested in and hope you will be as well. For the RP, I'm only looking for FIVE PEOPLE besides myself. The cast will play members of the Kingsglaive as they work their way through a plot filled with intrigue, mystery, action, and character development. Said plot will also delve into dark and gritty themes at times so an element of maturity will permeate the roleplay as well. This will be a small group as I pointed out previously so it will not be first come first served, rather I will choose the cast based on the character sheet submissions and who looks to fit the cast the best while also being active. As this is just an interest check however, no commitment is required at the moment; I simply want to see who else would be interested in joining this kind of game.

This roleplay will also allow players to contribute in a significant way. The setting is an entire planet and the cast will travel extensively. I encourage players to create their own locations and cultures along with their characters. Since the purpose of RP is to write a collaborative story in the first place, I feel that creating the world together can only be a positive experience. I do have some predetermined locations and cultures in mind for the narrative obviously, but, as I said, I encourage players to be creative with their character submissions by including locations and cultures they would like featured in the game itself.

Character sheets and Rules will be covered in a potential OOC should this gain enough interest.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me and I'll do my best to answer in a satisfactory manner. For now, who would be interested in this?

The Spirits Within: Oakridge Chronicles

Posted. It's been a terrible day damnit. I'm a bit sick and it's thanks to these allergy-having bastards at work. Or at least, they claim it's allergies as they cough in my face. Damn it all ><. Hope my post was alright though, I know it was short. Sorry about that.

The Spirits Within: Oakridge Chronicles

_{T H E F I E L D S -{}- Nicholas Vanceon -{}- H a m m e r O f T h e A r m y}

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Preparation is the foundation an organized and proper military force is built upon. It precedes nearly every action taken and it dictates the curriculum and flow of training to such a degree that one could almost say an army's sole reason for being rests in the laurels of efficient preparedness. The Oakridge Academy training exercises and routines certainly hammered this point home. Operation Downfall itself lent credence to the notion and further expanded upon it by blossoming into what the top brass surely hoped to be a flawless execution of all the time spent preparing for the worst scenarios. Even the existence of Guardians was largely due to the fact that some group of like-minded individuals came together and decided that bodies harboring large concentrations of spiritual entities needed to be militarized - in order to be properly prepared for what could, and did, happen. In the end, preparation is the foundation an organized force of any kind is built upon almost exclusively.

And even with the years of preparation Oakridge instilled in him, Niko was not ready for the impact.

He had heard the pilot shout something about an incoming plasma, but thoughts of the mission to come consumed his awareness and enveloped him completely in their embrace. When the giant hunk of metal was struck with a loud boom there had not been enough time for a proper reaction. Strapped into his seat and lost to his mentality, Niko had already failed the first basic lesson of being out in the field: always be aware of your surroundings. The violent rolling seemed to last a millennium. Metal smashed against earth and even though the young Guardian could feel the heat of his restless spirits rushing to his aid, he could also feel the restraining belts against his chest barely holding him in place. When everything finally settled and the pitch dark slowly gave way to equally slowly clearing vision, Niko took a moment to accept this reality before quickly pulling his short-sword from its waist-mounted sheath and cutting himself free from his seat. Somehow, the boy had remained strapped in though his chair was now suspended from wreckage and the resulting freedom he gave himself also forced him to suffer a slight fall to the ground below.

A few heaved breaths sucked in and pushed out before suddenly aware eyes darted back forth and ultimately landed on a nice-sized hole where the hatch should have been. Niko sheathed his blade and crawled along the interior of the overturned vehicle before grabbing Monika's outstretched hand - just for a moment - and pulling himself into the light of the day outside. The first thing he felt was a multitude of smaller, isolated throbs and stings of minor pains throughout his whole body, but he was also spared of having anything broken or seriously injured. The worst pain he felt was the indention across his torso from the restraining belt he had buckled across himself during the ride - so much for fucking seat belts. He breathed deeply a few more times in an effort to get back to a more steady pace before spotting the others who were also free - Graham and Monika namely.

"I'm guessing you two are okay considering you're standing and all, " Niko said as he made his way over to the duo. "Welcome to the Dark Zone, I guess." Even if they had been attacked immediately, it had not taken long for excitement to well up once more. This was still the infamous Dark Zone and also the first real mission he was part of and the ebony-haired boy scanned his companions a bit as his mind raced with all kinds of cautionary thoughts. The heft of the blunderbuss on his back and the blade at his waist suddenly became more apparent as he settled into the sentiment that this was actually happening. Graham seemed to be fine and in good spirits, but Monika looked a bit stern than before. It was to be expected of course, but Niko still got an odd feeling when he noticed.

"So... I guess we're walking?" Niko posed to the group. It came off sounding like a joke, but he was completely serious. Preparation may have been held in the utmost importance back at the academy, but he doubted anyone had been prepared to lose the only vehicle they had in the middle of the Dark Zone.

Summary

Niko takes the ride for granted and doesn't stay acutely aware at all times resulting in him not being ready for the vehicle crash. Luckily, he was wearing his seat belt though it proved to be the thing that gave him the most painful injury. He points out that it's probably time to hoof it after taking in the situation.

{Closed}

Well, thanks for letting us know. Even if it was with an 11 day old copypaste from The Reavers.

No hard feelings, and best wishes; to everyone for that matter.

@Culluket

It's only because it was the same exact situation in that I was deciding back and forth for a week and I had much the same message. Best wishes though, you were great!

[closed]

I'm sad to see this go, but I had a wonderful time while it did last. Thanks for the efforts @Rockette!

The Spirits Within: Oakridge Chronicles

I'm aiming to have a post up Sunday evening.

{Closed}

So I've been giving some serious thought to the current state of the roleplay. I've taken the last week and contemplated and considered and have come to a conclusion. Before that, I want to say that I'm taking full responsibility for this as I should. If there's any fault to be pointed out, it's my own. You guys have been a wonderful cast and great players and I greatly appreciate the participation of each person who joined me in this short little affair, even the ones who are no longer with us. I'm sad to say however that I cannot continue this RP.

I wish every single person who joined me in this luck in their future endeavors. Thanks for everything and I hope to see you guys in the future possibly. The View is, unfortunately, officially closed.

P.S. - If anyone would like to use some of these ideas in other roleplays, I have no problem with that. We're all here to be creative together and enhance each other's literary potential. Just wanted to put that out there. Thanks again, you guys are awesome!

The Spirits Within: Oakridge Chronicles

@icmasticc
Ah. That area is very similar to Yharnam, though. The Gothic spires and whatnot. I head the game runs on Bloodborne's 'engine', so it feels a lot like it. I've pretty much been preoccupied with Bloodborne since Christmas, so I was able to get into DS3 pretty fast now. The only thing that is funky is the equipment load and the slow rolls when you carry too much.

@Prisk

This is true, it does use the same engine which is why it looks so great. To be honest, I only even got it because of the fact that they sped up the movements and combat to the speed of Bloodborne. Even though I've played the others, I never liked the slow movement. I miss the sidestep dodge versus the rolls in DS3, but that's not a huge deal. I went mercenary so I'm able to play almost exactly how I played in Bloodborne except now I get to dual wield while forgoing the shield lol. The equipment load is also a gripe for me. I don't really care for it, but I understand why it has to be there.

The Spirits Within: Oakridge Chronicles

<Snipped quote by icmasticc>

Right?! Where are you at? I've gotten to the 'Undead Settlement', the area after that dog in armor-boss. I'm guessing it's still early in the game.

@Prisk

You're farther than me for sure. I only beat the very first, what I assume to be, tutorial boss. I'm on the Highwall of Lothric or High Lothric or whatever that first place is called. I beat Bloodborne a year ago so I'm just getting my ass kicked all over again while trying to regain the reflexes I had before lol. I was never great at Souls games, but I do persevere at least. It looks pretty amazing too, at least in my opinion, but I'm more of a fan of Bloodborne's aesthetics to be honest. I'll take dark fantasy/gothic style over medieval any day.