Rika — Roleplayer Guild

Marked Academy


Synopsis

In the whole wide world, there are only twelve human beings that are Marked -- having a Zodiac sign appear on their skin, and, depending on what sign appears, possessing extraordinary abilities. The mark generally appears on a human when they turn sixteen, but there are rare cases when it will appear on a child as young as seven, if they are in a dangerous situation and seek aid or, in a very rare case, feel an intensely deep love for someone. 

There is no scientific explanation for the phenomena. In history, many saw the Marked people as threats, and immediately executed them when they discovered what they were. In other parts of the world, they were feared and worshiped for their divine gifts, and some even rose to be great Kings. In the late 20th century, a Marked man named Afanas Mikhailov worked alongside scientists and military men to truly determine the structure of their genetic makeup, and techniques in training them to use their abilities wisely, or hopefully not at all. The goal was to adjust the Marked to blend in to society, so that they would not be persecuted or, in the worst case, a threat to their country and perhaps the whole world. 

After years of extensive research, Mikhailov, backed by probable theories, concluded that the best possible option for peace and control would be to create a large, isolated institute to place the Marked children inside for schooling, training, observation, and unity. Before his death, Mikhailov also planned to allow access to the Marked Academy to the world's finest and brightest students in hopes of incorporating "real world" elements to the Marked students to adjust to. 

Mikhailov died in the early 1990s within a time span of the other eleven Marked beings' death, leaving the Academy to his son, Kazimir Mikhailov, who awaited the disclosing of the new generation of Marked, all the while granting access to upstanding students. As the first Marked child was admitted to the Academy, the remaining were quick to follow.


For those who are unaware, Zodiac Signs, or also called Astrological Signs, generally are said to represent a person's personality and many other information. Depending on where the Earth was when you were born determines which sign you possess. For example, if you were born on September 30th, your sign would be Libra because you were born between September 22nd and October 23rd. Each sign also represents one of the four elements: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Depending on the sign they possess, a Marked One can control one of four of these elements and, with practice, can wreak chaos or force order.

Children under this sign, at the lowest level, can manipulate small streams of water(for example, similar to a water fountain). As they progress their abilities, they can move larger bodies of water. At the highest level of their ability, they can shift oceans to make tsunamis, cause rainstorms, and freeze water.

PiscesDates: February 19th-March 20th
Ruling Planet: Neptune
Symbol: ♓ "Fish"; the mark appears somewhere on the foot
Positive Traits: Compassionate, Adaptable, Accepting, Devoted, Imaginative
Negative Traits: Oversensitive, Indecisive, Self-pitying, Lazy, Escapist


CancerDates: June 21st-July 22nd
Ruling Planet: Moon
Symbol: ♋ "The Crab"; the mark appears somewhere on the chest
Positive Traits: Loyal, Dependable, Caring, Adaptable, Responsive
Negative Traits: Moody, Clingy, Self-pitying, Oversensitive, Self-absorbed


ScorpioDates: October 23rd-November 21st
Ruling Planet: Mars
Symbol: ♏ "The Scorpion"; the mark appears on the inner thigh
Positive Traits: Loyal, Passionate, Resourceful, Observant, Dynamic
Negative Traits: Jealous, Obsessive, Suspicious, Manipulative, Unyielding


Fire Sign children can, at first, merely make the fire on a candle light or flicker. As they progress further, they can make whole fireplaces dance and frenzy, and even make paper burn faster. At the height of their abilities, they can create fires as large as 1/3 of the Earth, scorch objects with their touch, and, at the highest point, make volcanoes erupt.


AriesDates: March 21st-April 19th
Ruling Planet: Mars
Symbol: ♈ "The Ram"; the mark appears behind the ear
Positive Traits: Independent, Generous, Optimistic, Enthusiastic, Courageous
Negative Traits: Moody, Short-tempered, Self-involved, Impulsive, Impatient


LeoDates: July 23rd-August 22nd
Ruling Planet: The Sun
Symbol: ♌ "The Lion"; the mark will be between the shoulder blades
Positive Traits: Confident, Ambitious, Generous, Loyal, Encouraging
Negative Traits: Pretentious, Domineering, Melodramatic, Stubborn, Vain


SagittariusDates: November 23rd-December 22nd
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Symbol: ♐ "The Archer"; the mark appears somewhere on the inner thigh
Positive Traits: Optimistic, Independent, Honest, Logical, Dynamic
Negative Traits: Tactless, Dogmatic, Impatient, Irresponsible, Argumentative


Air Signs can blow soft gusts of wind in the beginning, enough to blow out a candle or two. As they grow, they can make gusts of wind large enough to blow a whole room of heavy objects back. At the highest level, they can create massive tornadoes, and/or blow whole buildings down. Their wind is strong enough to cut a person to pieces.


GeminiDates: May 21st-June 20th
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Symbol: ♊ "The Twins"; the mark appears on the arm
Positive Traits: Energetic, Clever, Imaginative, Witty, Adaptable
Negative Traits: Superficial, Impulsive, Restless, Devious, Indecisive


LibraDates: September 23rd-October 22nd
Ruling Planet: Venus
Symbol: ♎ "The Scales"; the mark will appear on the lower back
Positive Traits: Diplomatic, Graceful, Peaceful, Idealistic, Hospitable
Negative Traits:  Superficial, Vain, Indecisive, Co-dependent, Unreliable


AquariusDates: January 20th-February 18th
Ruling Planet: Uranus
Symbol: ♒ "The Water-Bearer"; the mark will be on the ankle
Positive Traits: Witty, Clever, Humanitarian, Inventive, Original
Negative Traits: Stubborn, Unemotional, Sarcastic, Rebellious, Aloof


At the beginning, Earth Signs can manage to move a few rocks, or form small structures with the Earth's clay. As they progress further, they can make the ground tremble, build larger structures, and at the highest point, Earth signs can create massive earthquakes. It is also possible for them to bend steel.

TaurusDates: April 20th-May 20th
Ruling Planet: Venus
Symbol: ♉ "The Bull"; the mark will be on the throat or neck
Positive Traits: Dependable, Persistent, Loyal, Generous, Patient
Negative Traits: Stubborn, Lazy, Possessive, Materialistic, Self-indulging


VirgoDates: August 23rd-September 22nd
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Symbol: ♍ "The Maiden"; the mark will be somewhere on the stomach
Positive Traits: Analytical, Observant, Helpful, Reliable, Precise
Negative Traits: Skeptical, Fussy, Cold, Interfering, Inflexible


CapricornDates: December 22nd-January 19th
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Symbol: ♑ "The Sea-Goat"; the mark will be on the knee
Positive Traits: Responsible, Patient, Ambitious, Resourceful, Loyal
Negative Traits: Dictatorial, Inhibited, Conceited, Distrusting, Unimaginative


This is merely information to partly base off what your character will be like, depending on what sign they have. You don't have to follow every last detail down to a tee; I'm all for creative freedom! However, I want a Marked character to be born on the day of what signs they possess, bear the mark on the specified body part above, and possess at least two each of the positive/negative traits.


The Academy is one large building in itself, but on its right and left sides stand two of the four dormitories: Terra, which houses the Earth Signs, Ignis, which houses the Fire Signs, Aqua for the Water Signs, and Aeris for the Air Signs. The Terra and Ignis buildings are at the left of the Academy, while Aeris and Aqua buildings stand on the right. 

The grades are divided into years. 1st Years are 14-15 years old, 2nd Years are 15-16 years old, 3rd Years are 16-17 years old, and 4th Years are 17-18 years old. 

For each room, there are two roommates, and often times a Marked student will room with a normal student. Marked students have the same basic classes as normal students such as Math, English, Science, History, and Literature courses. However, the classes that differ from normal students are those that train the Marked equally in body and mind to control their abilities, as well as the occasional scientific experiment. Everything they do is documented in case the need to take other approaches arises in later years with the next generation of Marked. 

In the exclusively "Marked" classes, they stay in groups of three according to their sign to ensure that no one gets left behind when working on projects. Other times, when testing the effects of their abilities in different environments, professors may pair up any students they like. For example, a fire and water sign may be paired up, or an earth, air, and fire sign could be grouped together for quite awhile. It all depends on the study, and what the professor hopes to gain -- in a completely constructive and healthy way, of course. 

To throw in "real world" elements once again, Marked are also welcome to participate in extracurricular activities alongside the normal students. The Academy prohibits competition with other Academies or schools, but allows sports within their boundaries. It is also active in Fine Arts and Academics, and holds a wide range of courses in each field of study. 

With all these privileges, there are also rules for the Marked students.
Using abilities outside of classes is strictly forbidden. If no damage is done when using abilities, students will be given warnings the first time, and a detentions after the first. If a Marked harms a normal student or staff for whatever reason, they will immediately be sent to a highly guarded institution, and stripped of their human rights. In other words, an untouchable prisoner.
Marked students may not leave the Academy grounds for any reason, unless escorted by the staff and/or granted special permission.
In normal classes, Marked students are not to discuss their abilities.
Marked students are not to reveal what they study in exclusively Marked classes to Unmarked students.
Marked students can be allowed visitors, but only during scheduled visiting days. They are also allowed mail or packaged goods from family members, but it must be inspected by the staff. If deemed potentially dangerous, it will be disposed of.
Romantic relations are frowned upon by the staff, so don't get caught so no PDA.


For whatever reason, your talents were recognized by Marked Academy, and you were selected to attend. An entrance to Marked Academy is a golden pass for scholarships, which means easy access to colleges in the future, and potential world fame. You could be a famous athlete, or a musical composer, or a profound mathematician, or anything else. The point is, you're the best and brightest, and, until you turn 18, you have a permanent spot in the Academy. 

You were also selected to be fit enough to mingle, and potentially room, with one or many of the Marked children. You may see them as a threat. You may find them fascinating. You may not care altogether, but being beside them is nonetheless inevitable. Whether you wish to befriend them or not is completely up to you. Something that is also inevitable is that you have something in common with them. 

Whatever your roommate excels in, you excel in as well. Say that among the Marked is the artistic Gemini -- if you are recognized for your artistic talents as well, you will be roomed with the Gemini. The same applies to everyone else. Most of it is random selection after that, though, if you end up being placed in the circle of candidates for roommates. There could be many artists in the Academy -- the point is, out of all of them, you were chosen to room with Gemini in the Aeris house. The rest of the Unmarked students are picked randomly to be in whichever house.

Apart from rooming with the Marked, you share common core classes with them, and an extracurricular activity with your roommate. Befriending them would seem to be the best, but it also could make friction if either of you are competitive. 

Just liked the Marked, you are given a list of rules as well.

No confrontations with other students.
Always be punctual for classes.
Do not ask Marked students about what they do in Marked classes.
Leaving the Academy grounds is only allowed during holiday visits, a school trip, or a family emergency. Any other reason will go unheard.
Handle free time responsibly.


Students who do not follow these rules will be given detention, or, in the most extreme cases, will be expelled from the school.


1. I want a high-casual writing style most of the time from my players, but I understand that we get writer's block once in awhile, or when certain posts are difficult to reply to. I would prefer at least normally three paragraphs a post(formatted in any bout of quantities you wish), but if that isn't possible for a certain period of time, I can settle for two(and probably one). Just don't make short posts a habit please. 
2. No perfect characters. But I'm sure you all already knew that.
3. If you want to drop the roleplay, just say so. I'll be sad that you're departing, but I understand that real life is way more important than some silly roleplay! :) 
4. This is a very important rule. Read. Everyone's. IC. Posts. Everyone is important, and nobody will go unheard! Even if someone's post has nothing to do with your character, I expect you to keep up with the whole story. 
5. Cursing is fine. I don't give a shit.  
6. Get your character involved. If your character is quiet, that's just fine, but don't make them sit in the corner the whole roleplay thinking entirely about something else. That won't help the RP go anywhere at all!
7. Romance is absolutely fine, dandy, and adorable! But this is a group roleplay -- not a 1x1 -- so make friends before you make a boyfriend. xp
8. It's okay to be delayed in posts. Life gets busy. There will be times where I won't be able to post immediately, and that's okay. Be patient.


Below are slots listing the Zodiac signs under their elemental houses. After and only after I have most of the Zodiac student slots reserved, the OOC made, and Zodiac characters established, do I want the Unmarked students to be tossed in the brew. This is because the Marked students share a common talent with their Unmarked roommate, and I don't want a bunch of Unmarked roommates with completely different talents than the Marked students. For now, I will be focusing on the Marked students.


Aqua House

Pisces - Reserved by Riptide
Cancer - Reserved by Ghost Butt
Scorpio - Reserved by Ellact2000

Ignis House

Aries - Reserved by GrafRoy Zeppeli
Leo - Reserved by Rika
Sagittarius - Reserved by Ainmire

Aeris House

Gemini - Reserved by rechonq
Libra - Reserved by smallmoon 
Aquarius - Reserved by Yvain

Terra House

Taurus - Open
Virgo - Reserved by Teaistasty
Capricorn - Reserved by smarty0114


There are three Marked spots left! First come, first serve, but if nobody comes to fill the slots, the members we have now may fill them if they wish to play multiple characters. c:
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