NoriWasHere

The Return of Magic - An intro

The Return of Magic:

Act 1 - An Intro

It has been millenniums since magic graced the mortal realm with her presence. What was once a driving force behind the advancement of humanity has become a thing of myth and legends. There are no books, no information, and most importantly, no mention of the world that once was. When people think of a mage, they think of magic in a game, a cauldron, and a black cat. When people think about humanity's past, they see the achievements alone, not those who pushed them forward. This is by design. Humankind is filled with fear of those who are different, of those who could wield powers that rivaled the gods. Those without powers hunted those who had them, and before long the last mage died. The hunters thought they had killed off the last of magic, and they figured it would never return.

They were wrong.

Magic has returned to the mortal realm. Her presence is weak but present all the same. This has brought forth a new generation of witches and warlocks. Their powers are weak, their knowledge of their history is non-existent, and their options for advancing their abilities are limited. A question hangs in the air over the heads of each mage. What will they do with their newfound powers?

The answer will be revealed soon enough. Each mage has received an invitation to learn. A mysterious benefactor has offered each one the means to journey to an old mansion tucked away from civilization. It is up to them to decide what to make of this opportunity.

One already has.

A single mage inside a lonely car barrels down the road to her future. And she is having a mental breakdown.

- - - - - - - -

"In one mile, your destination will be on the left," the GPS shouted, breaking the silence that Alora had grown accustomed to. Her car screamed to a stop as she slammed her foot down on the brake. Her hands gripped the steering wheel with enough force to cause the rubber to squeak in pain. The grip would subside, return, and lose its strength rapidly. Her left hand shot off the wheel, found her right one wrapped around it, and rubbed them together. The car seemed to echo with each breath she took, with each one faster and shallower than the last. She could feel her thoughts follow the rabbit hole into her dark spaces. Was this a scheme to kill her? Would this be someone who sought to hurt her? Could it be her family plotting to permanently cut her out of their lives? Who else would get her to leave her life behind and travel across the country on a whim?

Alora pressed her back into her seat and looked up at the top of her car. After a few tense moments, her breathing started to relax, as did her hands. They flew off the wheel and onto her face, covering her eyes. She rubbed them a few times before she dragged her hands down her face as she let out a muffled "fuck".

"The card worked for a first-class ticket, a hotel, and this fancy car rental," Alora spoke as she rationalized the situation. The invitation that she had received had come with a prepaid card. It was a semi-gloss silver color, with "the benefactor" etched onto the front. It felt fancy, at least it felt fancy to Alora. "I was able to buy breakfast, a coffee, and pay for tolls." She paused as she sat thoughtless for a moment. "If this was my mind going crazy, would the card have worked? Would I be all the way across the country?" Alora pulled her eyes off the roof and looked at the map on her phone. Before continuing her train of thought, a sensation outside the vehicle drew her attention.

A single, brightly colored leaf was floating through the air. It wasn't the first to fall, but it was the first that caught Alora's attention. Alora took a deep breath and reached out to the leaf. She concentrated, closing her eyes as she did, and tried to feel it fall through the air. She could feel a slight, cool rush of air as it floated downwards. Exhaling, she opened her eyes and watched it touch down on the road's asphalt. Alora could feel the rough texture of the pavement beneath as if touching it herself. A quick smile broke and then faded from her face.

Alora knew what she felt. She could feel nature all around her, and her connection to it had only grown stronger since her powers first appeared. This was not some trick that her mind played on her, this was something she could feel, and this was something that she could do. She could not quantify what she was doing nor explain how she could do it, but it was true to her nonetheless.

Above, she could even feel the weakness between the leaves and the branches they were connected to. It would take a slight breeze to dislodge them and bring them down. Or a tug. Alora rolled down the car window and crossed her arms on the door. She pushed her head out while her attention shot skyward. She focused on the connection between the leaves and the trees and pulled. At first, the leaves did not move; they stood their ground and refused her command. Alora, unphased, raised one hand palm open and slowly began to close it to form a fist. She took a deep breath and slowly pulled her hand down. Above, the branches and leaves attached began to obey. In a quick motion, Alora ripped her hand down, and with it, the canopy gave way.

A torrent of color descended from above. While the pull motion was sudden and powerful, the fall was gentle and peaceful. Alora could feel the sensation of the descent all around her. She felt the cold and brisk air rushing alongside the leaves in front, behind, and to her side. It was intoxicating. The rough texture of the ground was the only thing to break her free from staying in that moment.

"This is real," Anora whispered. Alora pulled herself into the driver's seat and placed a hand on her shifter. In a quick motion, she was back in drive, and her foot was on the gas. As the car lurched forward, the radio began to play a fitting but an oddly specific song.

She had questions that needed answers. She eventually turned into a long, windy driveway. The driveway was lined with trees and bushes that had long since died. It took five minutes of driving before she arrived at the decrepit mansion. Her eyes darted from the ruined roof to the desecrated porch and back to a massive dead tree resting on the house's side. To Alora, this indicated that this place had not been inhabited for a long time. Alora could not help but shake that someone, or something, was watching her from the house. The more she thought, the more it felt like the house was watching her.

Against her better judgment, Alora exited her vehicle and headed toward the door. She did not know what was ahead of her or her future. She knew that she had these powers, and someone was going to explain what they were and why she had them.

----

As the rest of the new mages arrive, they will notice many of the same things Alora did. From the broken house to the tree on the side and the unnerving presence that beckons them inside. Whoever this mysterious benefactor is, he certainly has an affinity for horror. The location itself indicates this. However, what he has in store for this group is anything but known. Will this benefactor keep up his end of the bargain and offer to train these wielders of magic? Or does he have some nefarious plan in store for the party?

The party is at a crossroads, and they must choose which direction to go. Shall they travel down the road less traveled and head towards a more magical future? Or will they follow the path they have always traveled and forgo their destiny? Will they even have a choice?

The Return of Magic - An intro

@Dragonfly 9

Welcome back and you are good to post it to the CS tab :)

The Return of Magic - An intro

A quick bump here as well :)

Have a few players, wouldn't mind a few more!

The Return of Magic - An intro

RESERVED FOR SIDE CHARACTERS

RESERVED FOR DEATH:

The Return of Magic - An intro

One more bump!

We have a few more people, and I would like 1-2 more!

The Return of Magic - An intro

@Spin The Wheel

I like this CS! The only change I would like to see is removing the mentions of the hunters! As it stands, the hunters stopped the hunts over a century ago and thus they would not be active again quite yet :) Once you fix that and add in a physical description of your character you will be good to move that over to the CS tab!

@Twoface77

Approved as is! Welcome to the coven :)

@Hyyde322

I can't wait to see more of it! I like what you have thus far so I look forward to the finished concept!

If anyone uses discord here I have a server created that I use as a hub for OOC discussions. Feel free to join and it is by no means required!

discord.gg/SuP8M8nU

The Return of Magic - An intro

BUMP

The Return of Magic - An intro

Bump!

The Return of Magic - An intro

@Spin The WheelAlways :)

The Return of Magic - An intro

The Return of Magic - An intro.

Magical was once as essential to the development of mankind as fire or even the wheel. The witches and warlocks of our past worked hard to uplift their fellow humans and push them forward toward the future. However, as you know, our history books make no mention of our magically adept ancestors. No mention of the great wonders they built or the evil they defeated and banished away. This is by design. Those who could not wield the magic felt jealous, afraid even, by those who could and hunted them to extinction. It has been a thousand years since the last spell was cast, five hundred years since the last authentic trial and one hundred years since those whose bloodline was devoted to the murder of magic sheathed their blades and considered their quest completed.

Yet magic stirs once more in the realm of mortals. A new day dawns on a new generation of witches and warlocks, and only questions remain. Are they ready for the perils that await them? The monsters of the night that have been locked away seek to break the chains that bound them. Most importantly, would they be ready to stand up to the whole of humanity and face the wrath of their fear? These questions will not be answered overnight. As such, an invitation was sent to each of those that the magic returned to, inviting them to a place where they can learn to harness their powers.

They should do well to learn quickly. In the quiet corners of the internet, people have begun to report strange creatures, and people have started to disappear randomly. Could it be a coincidence, or could the return of magic be tied to something much more sinister?

** Howdy **

Hey!

Whale here looking to do this magic-themed RP again. I think the IRL medical issues that sidelined this are under control again and I look forward to advancing through the story/

The basic premise is magic was once a natural part of our world. After years of hunting witches and warlocks to extinction, magic, among other things, disappeared seemingly for good. Now that magic has returned, and with it, the monsters of old, a new era of witches and warlocks much rise to the challenge. I plan to allow players to have some liberty with the magic their character can wield, but remember that you *just* got these powers. You will not be powerful yet.

Let me know if anyone has any questions! I am aiming for 4-6 players and could be happy to start with more or less than that!

The Lore that is given

Humanity has long benefited from magic, even if it has been dormant. In the early years, those who could wield magic helped propel the human race toward the future. Those who could command the water helped spread life in the most inhospitable places, while wind mages helped humanity sail the seas.

While humanity benefited greatly, their lack of powers relative to those who wielded magic led to a collective distrust. As this distrust grew, so did fear. As the fear dwelled in the hearts of man, so too did anger. Eventually, this hostile atmosphere blew up in the year 1200 BC, and a great war was fought all across the globe. Water mages flooded fields, fire mages burned soldiers to a crisp, and force mages crushed whole armies inside their armor. Though as powerful as they were, humanity had numbers and could weather the storm and thus humanity eventually won the war.

What followed was centuries of hunts that led to the eradication of magic and all its users. This did not stop those whose purpose was to find, capture and kill warlocks and witches. If anything, these hunters grew even more wicked and cruel in their search. Many innocent lives were lost at the pyre, and many more lived in fear of these monstrous humans and their ways.

Everything wrong can eventually give way to what is good. The hunts ended nearly a hundred years ago, and those who devoted their lives to eradicating any trace of magic could leave that life behind and join the modern world.

The Lore that is Learned

The hunters were very thorough in their mission to eradicate magic and all traces of its existence. You will find it hard to learn any information about the magical world, and what you see may be impossible to decipher. Some tomes may offer insights into your magic powers and they could help turn the tide against the enemies we will face. Thus far, we have not encountered much in the way of our mystical foes. That will change. As we discover and defeat our enemies, we will learn how to best them again.

The People We Meet

Thus far the only name of mention is the mysterious benefactor. Their name, motives, and appearance are all a mystery,

Important Places

A Cabin in the Woods

The mansion where we start our journey is a run-down, old victorian style mansion. Vines snake around the outside of the estate, the wooden floor has grown weak and creaky, and the air inside feels stagnant and pungent. Nature has already begun to take back what was once hers and hers alone. The mansion bellows disturbing energy as if someone or something is always watching out from the windows. Inside, you may hear strange sounds that can not be explained.

The strangest of most is the size of the doors and passageways. The inside and outdoor frames tower above most others at fifteen feet tall. Was this a style choice, or was this place built for a massive occupant?

Magic and combat

How does magic work? Magic will work on a similar level to most skills. To master it, you must hone it through practice and experience. At the start, you can do a few things, but throughout the story, you will be able to expand.

A fire mage can conjure fire, a wind mage can push enemies away, and a water mage can change the course of a river without a single thought. To use these powers, it will be less chanting and more doing. Like running, you do not need to think about the action to act on it. Thus, your usage of magic will be something you can do without much in the way of it. As you progress through the magic, there may come a time when you have to use a spell book, a chant, or even a prepared spell to achieve a higher level.

At all times, you can run the risk of over-exerting your magic. Like running, you can hurt yourself if you try to run too fast for too long. The damage can be minor or very bad if you try to push through the pain. A fire mage could feel their temperature rising at the start, but the magic can quickly spiral out of control consuming the fire mage in a blazing inferno. A force mage could find their body breaking under the stress of their magic. This risk is true for all schools of magic.

Combat will be a simple "I take this action" on your part, followed by my response to the action. Each enemy and monstrous foe will have a weakness that the player can exploit. That said, you may not be able to brute force your way through an encounter, and brute force could spell trouble. If there are ten enemies in front of the party, and you rush in the middle of them trying to do something extraordinary, that may be problematic for your character. Don't do stupid stuff! Death is something I will reserve but potentially could bring out for PC during the story.

Rules

1. Thou shall not control another character unless permission is granted.
2. Thou shall not argue.
3. Thou shall not overlook these rules.
4 Thou shall know our enemies called you stupid.
5. Thou shall know I want to know if you agree.
6. Thou shall know I want a PM with your response.
7. Thou shall have fun.

CS

Name:
[picture]
"Character quote"

Gender:


Age:

Appearance:

What does your character look like? What do they wear? Images work in conjunction, but I ask that we do not use overly anime or cartoon-styled pictures. It is not a hard rule, so feel free to use said pictures if that is what you want for your character :)

Personality:
{Three}{charater}{traits}

Please include a concise description of who your character is.

History:
{Acomplishments}{and}{failures}{equal}{amounts}

Be as detailed as you'd like. I would include all pertinent information about what your character has done or has been through. Keep in mind these characters are from the modern world and, for the most part, will have lived a life that is not mystical. While that is quickly changing, the base point remains! Please also include what it was like for them when they got their powers and how they learned they had them!

Equipment:

Any item they carry :)

Magic:

What magic does your character have? What can they do with it currently?

I would like enough information to know what your powers are and what weaknesses you feel are appropriate. We are going to start limited with these powers and grow into them. Below, you will find an example used in my own CS.

Example: Alora's magic allows her to exert control over plant life. Thus far, she can manipulate her green friends to grow at a faster rate, sway on command, and can magically graft one plant onto another. This ability has grown stronger since she was first gifted her powers. At the start, she could only command a plant to follow her hand. As the weeks turned into a month, Alora noticed that she was becoming in tune with the plant life. While she can not see through them or hear, she can get a glimpse of what they feel around them. What scents are in the air, and what grounds have been stepped on?

These powers come with downsides, as all do. The more Alora tries to exert her control over plants, the more lost she can become in the networks of green life. There is a near-infinite number of plant life in a forest, from the pedals of grass to the massive mycelium colonies buried deep in the ground and all the pollen in the air. If she spends too long in tune with nature, her mind may as well be lost in it. As well, when she first discovered and started to use her power, she over-exerted herself. Her skin began to harden for a brief moment and appeared like bark. Alora would do well to avoid prolonged use of her powers, as one can not see the forest if one is a tree.

Invitation Letter

To whom it may concern,

Welcome to a world unlike any other. You have noticed that you have a magical gift and may be wondering how I have located you. Let's say I, too, am gifted in the mystic arts. It is important to note that you are the first generation of warlocks and witches our world has seen in thousands of years. This development is an exciting time for you, me, and humanity.

Not all will see it this way, and not all that is magical will be a friend. As magic has returned, so too have the creatures that the mages of old banished. If I can sense you, so too will the hunters. You are now in danger, and your life will be different forever.

I extend an invitation. I offer a tutor to help you in your magical journey and a safe place to conduct these affairs. Enclosed you will find the address and a prepaid card. Use this money and make your way to
666 Mystic Lane, North Reading, MA.

May your journey be safe,

~Benefactor

ooc link roleplayerguild.com/topics/189736-the…