[center][h1]Open for Business[/h1][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3315792]Aspharia: Legends [Cas][Adv][/url][/center]
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/ocOG9A3.jpg?1[/img][/center][center][color=lightskyblue][h2][b]By Aeonumbra[/b][/h2][/color][/center]

[h3]Step One: Introduction[/h3]
All are welcome. Casual, and Advanced. If you prefer "Advanced Only" or "Casual Only" then do not apply. I will have no rift between my players because some of them feel they are better than others. This is not what it's about. This is about writing, having fun, and enfolding a story that each of us will take a part in. That being said I do want to see effort, a couple of paragraphs minimum. Quality over Quantity, though that's not to say Quantity can't be Quality. If you can't read an "eye sore wall of text" then you should also leave. Sometimes I write, and continue writing, because I like to. Sometimes the monotony of everyday life and conversation makes it's way into my writing. This isn't a Michael Bay movie full of explosions. Bruce Willis doesn't punch a guy in the face every ten minutes. Character's have lives, interactions, memories, dreams, etc. It may not be interesting to you. But it's always interesting to me.

For all intents and purposes this is and Advanced Roleplay, whereas I will allow Casual Players. We all started somewhere.

[h3]Step Two: Lore[/h3]
*Note: Grab a drink now.
[hider=Speculations on the Sate of Affairs]

[indent]Imagine a land, much like any other. Divisions of religion, politics, and social etiquette; which bring about unavoidable wars of ideals. Where the soldiers die in foreign lands, or defending their own. Where disease plagues those who are unfortunate, and liars as doctors make a living selling fake tonics and cures that do more harm than good, provided they do any good at all. Not unlike manner other lands, yet, it had been this way for a long time. A king passed down through generations from a royal family, their position solidified as long as their legacy lasts, surrounded by silver tongued snakes who wrestle each other for favor and power. Even those of a more magical nature were subject to everything a normal man is, love, desire, greed, wrath.[/indent]

[indent]Unfortunately, this world, is not that world. No, this world is plagued by something much worse. Over 5,000 years ago, a great war was waged, but not between the common man. When a purple hued fire spread across the sky, so did a horde of the same color stampeded across the ground. It's unknown how, or why, they came to this land. Magic, perhaps, or a punishment from the gods. The creatures of the void shook every man to the core of his soul, filled with such a terror that entire battalions of men would not sleep. These creatures have no specific characteristic other than they are usually black and purple colored, as most things subject to void energies are. Wave after wave of these creatures spilled across the land, heading east and devouring everything in their path. The entirety of the land's collective empire's armies rallied forth, making a valiant stand in front of the widest bulk of the horde. The proper way to describe this was not a battle, but a massacre. Hundreds of thousands of men were engulfed in such a way that the horde didn't even pause in it's war path.[/indent] 

[indent]Entire cities, fortified from edge to center, fell within a day. Winged beasts tearing men from walls, snatching children from the street. Larger, giant voildings crashing through stone walls as if they were make of wood. Even the forces of magic were powerless to stop them. Every man, woman, and child were slaughtered, every beast that crossed paths with the voidlings were eradicated. The areas following the wake of the horde were barren, nothing but dirt and ash, trees remained as dry, broken stumps. Nothing survived in the blighted lands, at the time, there was nothing to stop the violet horde, or the blight. Any areas the creatures missed, quickly turned to corruption and a blight would begin, poisoning all of the plant life, in turn killing the herbivores that fed from them, and the carnivores from them. It seemed the horde unstoppable. But it wasn't.[/indent]

[indent]The remaining masters of magic debated their ideals on how to stop the blight, how to combat the voidlings. Each made a point, and each point was argued, and each argument was picked apart, and even those pieces were discussed. Even when the creatures were on the very doorstep to the great tower, it's guards slaughtered like helpless children, they erected a great barrier to hide beneath, as they discussed and hypothesized. It was one revered woman who came up with the most favorable idea, Arch Magus Nylphi. She proposed something akin to earth magic, but on a much grander scale, with the aid of alchemy and enchantment. After much discussion, and only when the barrier began to wane, and those who maintained it in shifts began to tire, was it accepted. A potion was brewed, enchanted and distilled into an elixir. The collective knowledge of Master Magi in a single vial.[/indent]

[indent]The empty vial shattered soundlessly against the floor, drowned out by the collect hum of the collected magi channeling their powers into Nylphi. Nylphi gasped as she fell against the magic battering its way into her body, the ancient ritual too powerful for a single being, The magic threatening to tear her apart. A bright light shot from her lips, her body arching into the air as pain tore through her. She blinked and her eyes became two luminescent beams of energy. More of the beams erupted from her body, sporadically. As her mortal body burned into nothing, a single spell fell across the land. Nylphi screamed as the luminescent energy destroyed her, until only the glowing form of her soul was left, and that too began to fade away. Dark clouds swirled above the tower, and just before Nylphi became nothing, when she was but a withering specter, the magic erupted from her. The Magi were helpless as it enveloped them, instantly turning them into ash. The power shattered the tower, and shot out in a massive shock wave, spreading out across the land. Tearing it apart, reforming it. Bathing it in rampant magic and chaos.[/indent]

[indent]This event has been named The Shattering. Less than a year since seeing the voildings and humankind's desperation drove them to shatter their own lands. Each empire, every kingdom was broken a part. Islands of varying sized drifted away from their mother landmass, some broke apart and sank into the water. The earth trembled as the magic destroyed fault lines, volcanoes erupted spilling ash and molten rock into the air, and then fell in on themselves. Entire forests formed and then burned away beneath waves of fire. Magical ley lines shattered as the fabric between dimensions became strained. The chaotic upheaval destroyed all that humankind knew, but it worked. Many areas of refuge remained for the surviving races, if just barely.  separated by vast bodies of water. The once solid stretch of land now fragmented into continents and smaller islands. [/indent]

[indent]Now, we come to the Isle of Aspharia. A continent large enough to support the rise of four separate kingdoms. For almost 5,000 years they prospered. So long so that the voidlings faded into myth and legend. Becoming stories used to scare children. Fading into history as the kingdoms dealt with each other, and those from across the waters. Until the creatures became mere rumor upon the people's lips. Yet, a vigil stands ever watchful. A small beacon in the north, set upon the precipice of a wall of mountains. High peaks that separate the common lands of man and beast, from the barren, ashy wastes of the blight. The only remnant of Nylphi's magic, The Seal. The only thing holding back the tide of shadow from once against besieging all of mankind.[/indent][/hider]
[hider=The Theory of the Nylphites]
[indent]It was said during the darkest period of man's legacy, the years following The Shattering, that there were... perhaps a select few chosen by Arch Magus Nylphi after her ascension. Chosen not because of their skill, morals, heritage, or fortune, but for reasons unbeknownst to we, the more common folk. Divines work in mysterious ways, and the Gods even more so than that. It'd be impossible to try to foresee their plans or ideals, for even the world's greatest diviners can only glimpse at but the tiniest fragments of our fate. These Nylphites are beings of incredible power, and yet, this is not limited to those who can wield the source, or harness essence. No, it goes beyond those fortunate enough to feel the vibrations of that which makes up the human soul, far beyond the frail lines that hold our dimension together, beyond the rawest lines of the universe.

When the world became rife with famine, disease, and darkness. Even as the world shattered and the hole between realities was sealed, effectively stemming the unstoppable flow of void beasts that poured across ours lands, many problems and challenges remained. Who would defeat the monsters already devouring our lands? Who would band the people together and turn them from base desires into a higher purpose, one of rebuilding and reforming civilization and all of its wonders? Perhaps Nlyphi foresaw these problems, in the last second of her life, perhaps that moment was an eternity of thought. It is rumored that rather fade out completely, she split apart her own soul and scattered it, though there is naught a single source to back up this theory. Did she dust herself across the patterns of time, to surface when she deemed it most necessary? Or, instead are the fragments joined with our very souls, to be passed down through the ages, to fade in and out of the world's view? Forever to be but rumor and speculation?

Nylphites, should we ever be graced with their presence, are beings to be both revered, and feared. There is no divine hand to guide such a person bestowed with the gift of Nylphi, each path is to whom walks it and heavenly intervention has always remained subtle. Yet, how do you face a man that can swing a blade with the force enough to crack the earth until fire spews from its bowels? Who can stop a man that can bring columns of wind so fierce as to tear the very armor from your body? Some, rumored to be more subtle in their ways. Stories and legends of people who could divine the future, see entire chapters of a person's life; Of druids and forest kin who could reach into the mind and bodies of a man, and stitch him together from the inside out without ever moving their hands. Such tales a purely fantastical at best. There are no known recordings of such a person, but it does breed a certain train of thought. A collection of thoughts that only lead to what if, and could it be possible?

It is said that these persons, perfectly hidden among us, can reach such a state as to channel the very essence of Nylphi herself, harnessing the power of the hundred mages that lost their lives to save ours all those years ago. Glowing with a divine light, completely enshrouded in a cloak made of the very illumination given from the sun. Soaked in a smokey mire of blackness, resembling the very void itself. Or the graceful light of the moon, glowing softly. The reflection of their soul, as it's told around many nomadic campfires. I've encountered many folk tales and legends, yet they all seem to agree on one point: May the Mother help us if we can not control them.[/indent]
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[hider=Brief Overview of Technological-Magic Advancements]
[hider=Note] For all other technologies, assume standard fantasy tech levels, IE; Wind- and watermills, catapults, tumbler locks, swords and arrows, battering rams, torches and animal-fat candles, or the rarer oil lanterns, iron and steel smithing, etc. There is a system of dry plumbing, basically holes, or "poop chutes" that lead to said holes, in the ground that lead to a sewer. [/hider]
[list]
[*][b][color=ed1c24]Runic Shackles:[/color][/b] A specially designed and inscribed pair of shackles that negate any, and all magic. This includes other materials or objects affected by magic touching the shackle. It absorbs magic and, provided too much, will grow hotter as magic is fed into it, yet it will never melt or break under the duress of magic.
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[*][b][color=39b54a]Mage Lights:[/color][/b]Little orbs of light contained inside a latern-esque glass device, mountable on walls or held from the hand. It's basically an effective, low-energy enchanted lantern. The orbs can be set to different colors, and any common citizen could activate them once the mage light is created. Most use a runic symbol, enchanted and engrave on the lantern, that siphons the required energy from whomever touches it. It takes little energy and a commoner could light a hundred of them before feeling the strain. The longer the rune is held, the brighter it glows. There is typically a null rune on the opposite sight that dims, or turns off, the mage light.[/list] 
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[h3]Step Three: Expectations[/h3]
Non-linear creativity to the maximum capacity to which I can reasonably allow it. You will not be turned away simple because I do not "like" something, or prefer it. You can create your own race, gods, hamlets (that could grow into a nation), assume kingship through plots and lies as a noble, etc. Quite literally be whatever you want. The things you cannot be are: Anything that starts with "Omni". Now, this does not mean you cannot be a god. Woah now, calm down, take a breath. You could possibly say, be a god stripped of powers and is now a mortal, fragmented in memory, and weak in flesh. Shall you ever return to godhood? Who knows. (In that event that character will likely be required to be retired, unfortunately the game must remain balanced.)

You will however be turned away if I deem your skill lower than acceptable. I'm expecting somewhere around psuedo-quasi "High casual" to "Low Advanced". If you feel closer to the "Free" section, you may need a little more practice to be tolerable. I know that's contradictory and sounds asshole-ish, but that it how it is, even I have my limits for I am but merely a man. Though, out of ten applicants I only ever have one or two at most who just refuse to cooperate, don't put in effort, etc.

If for some reason you have an idea that is a bit too powerful, or doesn't quite fit in the scheme of things (as unlikely as that latter scenario is), I will always attempt to work something out with you first. If you want to apply, but feel nervous, anxious, or anything else then please, PM me. I assure you that you will do just fine here. Everybody had to improve at some point, even authors started at a few paragraphs. There are a lot of tips and tricks that I was taught, and I can pass those along to you as well if you wish it, all you have to do it ask. Keep in mind I make no boasts to be the best, or even good. I just write, and other people like it, or they don't. I've had people tell me I don't write enough, or there's not enough detail, or not enough development. I've had others tell me I write too much. You can't please everybody, but we can all be civil.

[h3]Step Four: Rules[/h3] 
 [hider=Roleplay Rules]
[list]
[*][b]Respect your GM:[/b] I will do my best to respect you, your feelings, and your opinions as long as you respect me, and the fact that this is [u]my[/u] world. I do highly value opinions and ideas, and love when players help me expand, but this is not grounds to endlessly argue you point or go off on a tiff and try to get your way. I accept critique and input as long as it is done with relative courtesy. Also note, I reserve the right to change my mind.
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[*][b]Big Events:[/b] I know I said do whatever you want, whenever you want but please keep in mind that I have my own plots, and other people will have their own plots too. If you are starting a big event, let me know. I will inform you if it is going to clash with something I, or somebody else has planned. This is only for events that follow the same principle, or basically the same thing, events that aren't so alike create interesting tension, and are permissible. I'm just trying to prevent "Oh, well I did this first." This is also to prevent conflicts with unrevealed lore.
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[*][b]Consistency and Realism:[/b] I try to incorporate a measure of depth and realism in a world filled with terrible creatures, magic, and the like. Please try to maintain a level of realism, though if for the purpose of comic relief, certain things can be overlooked. Situations I do not like are characters magically stumbling upon what they need. Please try to make it believable. Nobody left their wagon full of magically enchanted swords of different elemental affinities lying in the road while a horde of angry sprites just happens to be chasing you.
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[*][b]ESRB Couldn't Rate Me:[/b][color=red] [TRIGGER WARNING][/color] I am prone to using some gore, heavy violence, trauma, taboo, drugs, alcohol, language, offensive everything, and other mature themes. I do not shy away from a character's "Assets" and will vaguely describe them, in a non-adult-oriented way. (IE: "Curvy Breasts" "Plump Rump" "Nice Ass") Additionally, the world is not a nice place, no matter how much you want it to be. Children are not exempt from the horrors of the world, and while I will try not to be heavy on the gore, violence, and other such dark things, there will be [i]some[/i] details and other dark, horrible implications. I will likely write something that offends you. If something I write offends you, I honestly, Truly, WHOLEHEARTEDLY, do not care. Just because I write it, does not mean it reflects my values or beliefs. If it is a legitimate concern, then I do, in fact, care and you are more than welcome to bring it to my attention and I will do my best to resolve it.
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[*][b]Post Order:[/b] This roleplay does not use the Turn-by-Turn system. Here, we go Day-By-Day (or Morning-to-Morning). Users are allowed to post as much as they like, or as much as needed. At the end of the posting cycle, once everyone has concluded for the night, or a plot has reached the next morning (6 a.m) STOP. The next day does not begin until I say so. I still expect posts at least once every two weeks at a bare minimum. Extensions are permissible, but "Life" is not always an excuse, I have a busy life too. If you hold us up for too long and prevent us from advancing days, I will leave you behind. Lastly, please make us aware when your posting cycle is concluded, though I will typically ask. When it comes to Time Skips, I will try to give as much advancement as I can on the desire to do so. However, a large majority of us must agree to it, and be ready. If It's a 8/10 vote then the other people have to be flexible and roll with it. 
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[*][b]Standard Rules:[/b] The common sense rules, No God-modding, No Power Plays, No Mary Sues, etc. Fade-to-black for extreme scenes including sex, extreme violence, and most dark taboo things that are not appropriate for the general public.
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[*][b]Site Rules:[/b] This roleplay and all of its participants also adhere to The [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/531-fundamental-rules-of-the-guild/ooc#post-3607]Fundamental Rules of The Guild[/url] and [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/77197-moderation-policy-in-the-rp-sections/ooc#post-2433645]Moderation Policy in the RP Sections.[/url]
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[*][b]Consent:[/b] By applying to this roleplay, players agree that they have stated, or are assumed to be 18+ years of age.
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[*][b]Roleplay and GM Autonomy:[/b] This is derived from the "GM AUTONOMY" section of "Moderation in the Roleplay Sections"; If there is a problem, work it out. If somebody accidentally or for any reason breaks my rules, or the forum rules do not immediately rush to the mods. Try to resolve it, notify the person in question. [b]DO NOT[/b], I repeat, [b]DO NOT[/b] waste our staff's time, [b]ESPECIALLY[/b] over petty squabbles. I am here to deal with every little violation and nitpick you may have. If it is something that I cannot resolve, then I will take appropriate action. Ignoring this rule and rushing immediately to the Moderation Staff will [b]Get You Removed[/b] from this roleplay. There are exceptions to this to which the moderators should be notified, such as continual harassment, griefing, explicit images purposefully done, and pretty much anything that happens over PM. Things such as disagreements, "He said she said" type ordeals should be discussed and put to bed. We are [b]GODDAMN ADULTS[/b] and I expect you to act like it.
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[h3]Step Five: Characters[/h3]
Play as many as you can handle. If you begin to lag behind I may recommend you focus on one character more. Play whatever you want. Create the necessary lore and information to back your character. I will add it to my database. I love player created lore. You can typically have any power or skill that you'd like to play, excluding anything that involves the terms "Omni", "Absolute", or falls into relation to Godliness. For Power ideas out the [url=http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/Superpower_Wiki]Super Power Wiki[/url]. It has every conceivable super power and ability you could think of. If you want something that seems to powerful, link me the resources and we'll figure something out.

Fighters and the non-magically inclined: Will not be at a disadvantage. Runes, inscriptions, enchantments: There are many ways to protect oneself. Magicians: Every action has a reaction. To do an act of good means to give birth to a deed of evil elsewhere. Casting magic must cost you something. The easiest of these solutions is life force, mana, chi, etc. Whatever you want to call it. I expect you to define limitations and play your magically inclined characters realistically. This doesn't mean cripple them however, our characters are meant to be better than average, yet not the strong. There will be situations where you must use other tactics than brute force. Typically I will bring these situations to you, but as I said, each character should be stronger than guardsman bob, unless weakened for a specific purpose. 

Each player should have at least one Nylphite character, though this is not a requirement. A Nylphite fighting another Nylphite has less effect magically, than say a normal man. A fireball may blow a normal man's arm off. A Nylphite can take a fireball to the face and smile as their teeth are cleaned. Lets say Magic is about 25-50% Effective against a Nylphite, depending on the skill of the attacking user. There will be specific plots and situations for Nylphite characters that I have designed.

Additionally, characters will have four sections defining offensive skills, defensive skills, and utility skills, and weaknesses. A weakness is something like Fire versus Water, being blind in one eye, leg injuries, phobias, alcoholism. Keep in mind I will be "grading" your abilities verse you weakness, by assigning them scores. Alcohol addiction is a minor weakness, A leg injury is a moderate weakness (depending on the level of injury), and a direct elemental counter is a major weakness. The scales must be in a 2/1 balance. For every two powers, or special skills, there must be a weakness. Two Major powers, and a single minor weakness, is an unbalance. I will work with you on this. Also, at the top of each character sheet above the portrait there will be an "O" "D" and "S" followed by a number. This is the offense/defense/skill score.

You will assign these numbers out of a total of 10 points. The first two are self explanatory. Skill means anything that doesn't fall into the first two, the speed at which you can cast your specific kind of magic (seals, spoken spells, channeling, whatever), multi spell casting. Sword techniques, double-knocking arrows, etc. These numbers are really for me, but can be referenced when fighting each other, though numbers alone should not determine the outcome of a battle. If unable to decide a victor before hand, use a dice room (where you can both see what's rolled.) Once submitted, those numbers will be final. They will increase for whatever reasons, and are more associated with the "Soul State", a metamorphosis talked about in the theory of Nylphites above. This state must be triggered and cannot be entered willingly (at first). The numbers determine the abilities you have in this state as well. Which we'll talk about.

A high offense soul state will be more focused on attacking, with little skill the attacks will be basic and brute. High skill and low offense means the hits aren't as big, or hard, but have more finesse. Think of the first example as a boulder of smooshing, and the second as a dozen well placed arrows. Each has their own uses. Together we will determine your character's Soul State powers.

[h3]Step Six: Misc[/h3]

I am a little handy with photo manipulation and can edit reference images pretty close to desire. If it's something I can't do I will try anyways, I like a challenge. The map I did for this took me 15 hours. Things I can do pretty well: Change eye color, modify hair color, add scars, make an eye blind, add freckles, change eye type, and other small details.

Oh, speaking of maps.
[hider=Map of Aspharia]
*Note: Yes, I used a few Skyrim symbols. It was less of laziness and more of a throwback.
[hider=Geo Map]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/rbNe0FM.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Territory Map]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/2DQCU1h.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Clean Map]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/2rB0SGN.jpg[/img]
[/hider][/hider]

And here: You can see what I've got cooking. [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/86503-construction-site/ooc#post-3309122]Construction Site[/url]

Questions?