Setting
This will be a humans only roleplay with two forms of magic and four roles to choose from for your character (more below). The name of the world itself is Ith and the story will be focusing on the Belisian nation's perspective with the Vaimese Empire as the antagonistic force. While the Empire is ruled as a magocracy where authority resides with the most powerful mages, Belisio is ruled as a typical monarchy so while non-mages aren't treated as second class citizens as they would be in Vaim, there is still a social hierarchy in place.
The technology of the setting is quite advanced (think Final Fantasy 7, 13 and 15 in particular) with holdovers from medieval times in the form of weapons, armor, certain traditions and fashion, especially in regards to the ruling elite who may be garbed in extravagant robes and dresses whereas other people are more modern in appearance the further down the social ladder they are. Overall, the setting of the roleplay will have a fusion of medieval fantasy, modern and sci-fi elements, though leaning more towards sci-fi due to the level of technology.
Further on weapons and armor, basically the idea is that whatever worked back then works just as well now in the hands of a ki master or mage with technology supplementing their magic rather than replacing it. Though with certain equipment, a mage could do what a ki master can and vice versa, though with certain limitations such as number of uses, lack of versatility, etc.
For example, with something called a 'nerve suit', a bodysuit made of artificial muscle fibres, a mage could increase their strength and resilience to ki master levels, though it only lasts so long and can't be regenerated like flesh if it sustains damage in battle. Similarly, a ki master could use something like a gravity gun from Half Life to mirror a mage's telekinetic powers, though it might only be effective at short range.
Though humans are the only race your character can be, there are also other creatures such as dragons, griffins, phoenixes and rocs. If you want, you can have one of these creatures as a companion or steed for your character, though they're all of animal intelligence and should be treated as such.
Magic
KiThe power of the individual soul inherent within all living beings. While all souls come from the world spirit, Gaia, they detach as soon as they are born into our bodies and exist as individual entities, accumulating all the experiences and sensations of life before returning to Gaia upon death. However, through rigorous training and discipline, it becomes possible to tap into the power of one's soul and gain the ability to control their ki, allowing individuals to transcend their physical limits and master their bodies as mages master the elements. To step between raindrops, outrun the wind, crush steel into dust or withstand any amount of blunt force impact, such are the feats available to ki masters as well as enhanced regeneration, using ki to reinforce the properties of weapons and armour, or the very air itself to deliver attacks from a distance. It is for these reasons that ki is also known as the 'warrior's magic'.
ManaThe power of the world spirit, of Gaia herself. While all living beings are born with souls, only mages are able to access the power of mana as their souls fail to detach at birth, forming a permanent connection with the world spirit. This often proves too much power for their infant bodies to handle, resulting in their souls being consumed and returning to Gaia much sooner rather than later. The most common cause for stillbirths. If however balance can be achieved between the mage's own individual soul and their connection with Gaia, then it becomes possible to command the elements, although it denies them from ever fulfilling the potential of their physical bodies as ki masters are able to do. In ancient times the elements were thought to consist of earth, water, wind and fire, but in our current understanding, it is more akin to solids, fluids, gases and plasma. Regardless, all mages are capable of manipulating the four states of matter by forming their own miniature versions of the Aether in a process known as 'casting', which appears to non-mages as a slight distortion in the air between the mage and whatever they are controlling with their power. To mages however, they can see their powers at work as strings of light like the aurora of the Aether in the furthest reaches of the sky. Strings that can be used to manipulate objects or the surrounding environment in various ways.
Roles
KnightsIndividually the most powerful warriors of any given nation, knights stand at the height of prestige among the ranks of their armies and are commanded only by their rulers or generals of the highest authority. Their martial prowess honed to perfection through rigorous training and the most grueling of trials, these are the certified masters of ki, the power of the soul inherent to all living beings. The knights of Belisio are given special names and crests upon attaining their rank to reflect their particular nature, traditionally a combination of colour and type of animal such as 'Black Wolf' or 'Scarlet Hawk', though some may be named in other ways should nothing else be fitting. In any case, whatever or whoever they were before becoming a knight is no longer relevant for to be a knight is to be the sword and shield of the nation. None but kings and emperors may look down upon them and they are given the best equipment their nation can provide. With state-of-the-art weapons and armour, and the skill and strength to make the most out of them, they charge into battle ready to meet any challenge head on whether by blade or bullet.
StridersEssentially equal to knights in terms of combat ability and martial prowess, but unbound to any lord or master, or any oath and cause save for their own choosing. These free roaming spirits follow their own way on the path to mastering ki and the martial arts, and the greatest of them all are known as 'Martial Saints'. Though there are those who earn the moniker of 'Demon' should they follow a darker path, to seek strength for its own sake and slay any who stand in their way on their path to power. Regardless of their deeds and inclinations, the tales of wandering striders are often the stuff of legends. Their fame and infamy reach far and wide, and many notable characters have made their mark on history to be remembered for hundreds of years. Their stories are their own, as are their motivations and when the knights are too busy fighting in wars to protect the weak, it is often striders who appear to save the day or become the cause of terror in the first place. Though striders tend to have inferior equipment to knights, they make up for it with unconventional combat styles and abilities that certainly wouldn't be taught in any knight academy.
BattlemagesBattlemages use a mix of offensive and defensive skills to lay waste to their foes and survive in the heat of combat. They focus on quick and precise techniques that can be used on the fly such as throwing foes off their feet with bursts of telekinetic force, throwing up protective barriers to block incoming fire or incinerating holes into the hulls of enemy warships. Essentially, battlemages specialize in combat and will stand on the front lines just as well as any knight or strider.
CastersCasters are best utilized as support from the rear, using their powers for large scale feats such as summoning storms or using nearby debris as artillery against the enemy forces, sowing chaos among their ranks. Most Vaimese warships will have casters of their own to counter or enact such strategies, making them priority targets to be taken out, though the same can also be said for any mage on either side. The Sorcerer King was himself a caster and the most powerful one to have ever existed, capable of pulling down the four moons to destroy the world.
History
A hundred years before the cataclysm, the Vaimese Empire was the most powerful and largest nation in the world. For many centuries since its founding, it was ruled as a magocracy with all non-mages living as second class citizens while power resided in the most formidable mages of their time. Its last ruler, Agememnar the Sorcerer King, was one such mage who in typical Vaimese fashion had challenged his predecessor for the throne, won and claimed leadership of the Empire.
The territories of Vaim were already vast enough without the Empire collapsing under its own weight, but as soon as Agememnar took the throne, he immediately pushed for expansion and went as far as attempting to dominate the entire world. Naturally this led to resistance as all the free nations of the world united as one to fight back with the nation of Belisio leading the charge. While Agememnar himself was the most powerful mage in existence, he could not be everywhere at once and wherever he'd go to address one area of conflict, he'd lose ground in another.
After many years of brutal fighting, sheer attrition took its toll and the Empire would lose more and more territory until all that was left was Vaim itself. It was at this point when Agememnar, seeing that the end was near, decided that if he couldn't have the world then no one would and so he used his immense power to pull the four moons down from the sky. Thus the cataclysm came to be and the Empire of Vaim was no more... until now.
Army of Belisio
There are three main branches of the Belisian army. Their ranking structures and insignias are as follows (from lowest to highest)...
Knights: Marked by shield shaped insignias.
> Squire ~ Blank white shield.
> Knight ~ Crest unique to the wearer and designed to reflect their knightly name.
> Senior Knight ~ The same as the knight's but with the addition of a sword pointing down at the centre and placed behind the shield
> Knight Captain ~ A pair of crossed swords instead.
> Knight Commander ~ Three swords, a combination of the Senior Knight's single sword at the centre and Knight Captain's crossed swords.
Mages: Marked by a coloured stripe upon their sleeve or the colour of their ceremonial robes.
> Initiate ~ White.
> Novice ~ Grey.
> Apprentice ~ Green.
> Adept ~ Brown.
> Master ~ Black.
> Archmage ~ Blue.
Soldiers: Marked by a variety of symbols, all gold in colour.
> Private ~ Single chevron.
> Corporal ~ Two chevrons.
> Sergeant ~ Three chevrons.
> Lieutenant ~ Single vertical bar.
> Captain ~ Two vertical bars.
> Major ~ Oak leaf.
> Colonel ~ Eagle.
> General ~ A blazing sun.
The World of Ith
In the world's shattered state, there are three distinct levels: the void sky, middle sky and deep sky.
The void sky is the highest layer of the world where the air is too thin to breathe and as close to space as one can get without leaving the Aether, the force holding the remnants of the world together. Land is sparse in this layer and only dragons live here where they go to hibernate in a stasis-like state to rest, though maintenance crews live here too in purpose-built satellite stations to maintain the world's aetherlink (this world's version of the internet).
The middle sky is as the name suggests the middle layer of the world which is most hospitable to life and contains the most landmass from floating motes of dust to entire continents. Most of everyday life occurs within this layer with mist tankers harvesting clouds for water, nations engaging in trade and commerce, and piracy running rife outside or within their borders. In the lawless regions of the sky (of which there are many), life is harsh, brutal and in some cases entirely primitive, but with the return of the Vaimese Empire, it seems that civilization is no safer. However the war turns out will decide the fate of all middle sky inhabitants.
The deep sky is the layer closest to the core of the world around which all land and life orbits. This layer is marked by hot temperatures that only get hotter and more inhospitable the further one descends towards the core, yet it is also where most of the world's most valuable metals and minerals can be found. Mining expeditions are constantly fraught with peril here as a single mistake can lead to death, but many are willing to risk life and limb for the chance to strike it rich. Fortune favors the bold after all.
The main deity of the world is Gaia, otherwise known as Allmother, the Goddess, the World Spirit or Terra (as the Vaimese call her). Widely regarded as the source of all life and the Aether itself, holding the remnants of the world together so that her children might live. All livings souls come from Gaia and return to her upon death where they may be reborn or live as a part of the world forever. Some say that the world was destroyed not because of the Sorcerer King pulling the four moons down from the sky, but because too many souls returned to Gaia at once and their cries had split the earth apart.
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