Platform City is the majestic capital of the video game universe known as Arcade. It is here where the prestigious leaders of the seven major kingdoms gather and discuss matters of The Balance. The Balance is what keeps the realms from crossing over, but it has been disturbed come late. A virus has breached The System. It is an agent so contagious; so corrupting that The Seven have come to address it as the Mugen Virus; the M-Virus; the Infinite Virus. While heroes cringe at the prospect of the virus warping the entire system, the villains grasp it lecherously. They see it as a higher evolutionary. Finally, vengeance. Taking the kingdoms of Arcade is only a matter of keeping the heroes oblivious to how the virus works and how it can be stopped. The Seven realize that they would need to summon Arcade's mightiest heroes -- old and new. If nothing is done to quarantine and delete the virus, then the realms would converge; realities would warp; and stories would be undone. The story begins here and the game has just begun.




Note: These are not the only kingdoms in which players can choose characters to play from. This is just a small list of the top gaming companies, and those selected to represent the seven major kingdoms in this game.

GM note: Players have dibs on characters regardless if they are being used as NPCs. If you see a NPC being used by the GM that you want to make your playable character, simply PM the GM.

• Rosalina - Nintendo
• Guile - Capcom
• The Prince - Ubisoft
• Artanis - Blizzard
• Alucard - Konami
• Vault Boy - Bethesda
• Headmaster Cid -Square Enix

Platform City is a crossover dimension, and the capital of the video game universe. In Tetris Castle, the rulers of the seven largest kingdoms: Nintendo, Konami, Capcom, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Blizzard; come together in a summit once a year to discuss the stability of the video game world. Unfortunately, due to an emergency, a meeting was called sooner than intended. An unknown video game virus has infiltrated the universe and has led to the corruption of several worlds. The seven rulers of the seven major kingdoms have summoned the greatest warriors to venture out to these corrupted kingdoms and purge them of the enemy virus dubbed the Mugen Virus.

Players will choose one hero from any video game franchise with the exception of certain Japanese video games. If the anime, film, literature did not originate as a video game, then players are not allowed to choose characters from such games. Other prohibited franchises are Marvel, DC, and Disney (to include Star Wars and Kingdom Hearts (due to the Disney characters being in the game)).

After players have managed to complete an entire mission with their one character, those players who have remained dedicated and who are still a part of the game will be allowed to unlock a second character option. For now, I am only permitting one character to be selected to control the character traffic and to permit players to have a better chance of acquiring their first choice.

Players are not permitted to play villains. Villains already have a place in this game. If a player goes inactive, then his or her character will be relieved and tossed back into the dibs pool. The story that that character left behind will no longer be significant for the new player that adopts that character will have free reign to play that character as though the character were anew. Reset!

Players are not permitted to bend the gender of the hero character UNLESS the gender was interchangeable in the game. For example, a player can play Link and another can play Linkle. Although they are similar in appearance, they are different characters. A second example is Commander Shepherd. In Mass Effect, the player could make Commander Shepherd either a male or a female, but there will be only one Commander Shepherd. By now, I am sure that you understand.





Physical Damage
(P)Defense
(M)(E)Defense
Magic/Energy
Dexterity

Physical Damage: This attribute determines physical damage.
(P)Defense: This attribute determines physical resistance to physical damage and critical damage as well as tenacity to certain physical afflictions such as: poison, disease, and drugs that affect the character’s mental (drug afflictions on the brain) or physical state.
(M)(E)Defense: This attribute determines magical/energy resistance to magic/energy damage and critical damage as well as tenacity to certain magical/supernatural afflictions such as: curses, illusions, psychokinetic attacks, and any magical/supernatural effect that can alter the character’s psychology or spiritual status.
Magic/Energy: This attribute determines magical/energy damage.
Dexterity: This attribute determines speed, accuracy, and evasion.
Critical Damage: For every point placed into Physical/Magic/Energy Damage and Dexterity, the percent of critical damage rises. Every 5 points in Dexterity and PM/E-Damage will grant a 5% chance increase. Remember, five points in both categories not just one or the other.

Every character who joins this game will be given 5 stat points to distribute throughout the 5 attribute categories. All sheets start with 1/1/1/1/1 so you will add five points to that. All characters start at Level One, and as they earn experience, they have the ability to level up. Each time a character levels, the player will earn 5 stat. points to arrange how they like. It does not matter who you choose to role play, with these stats, your character's strength and weaknesses will be determined by where you allocate the points. Lara Croft can be just as powerful as Asura if that character's stats are better. It does not matter who you choose to role play.

The character code that I give you to help you fill out your CS is a guide. Just follow what it says. I promise you that it is easy. Be also sure to refer to the profile sample if you need a visual.



Experience is awarded in two ways: 1) In game Only During Missions when bosses—main or minor—are defeated along with minions, and 2) by player word count. I reward literacy. The players and the GM will keep track of the experience points achieved. Every experience bar starts at 10 experience for level 1. As players level up, the experience bar will increase by 10. So for example, the experience bar of a level 2 character is 20. This means that a character must earn 20 points worth of experience in order to advance to level 3. The GM has the right to deny a character experience points. If a writer posts a post with no purpose and is believed to have contributed nothing, then a GM will deny that writer experience. This system is supposed to be rewarding. If you try to abuse it or manipulate it, you will be denied experience and then you will be asked to leave the game.

300 words = 1 experience point
500 words = 2 experience points
1,000 words = 3 experience points

The experience reward may increase as characters grow in level.

You can keep track of your acquired experience by posting the points at the end of your post (or bottom of your post), or by writing it to your character’s character profile (which the GM encourages you to do both). Players can receive experience points regardless of where the character is in the game with this system.[/font]









The way combat will work in this game is the villains will be run by either the GM or a trusted player.

Players will write their characters making what is called an attempt. You will attempt to strike the enemy, but you will not confirm it happening. You can say what could possibly be the result if your character was to succeed with the attack, but you cannot say that the attack succeeded. The GMs will determine what amount of damage your character outputs based on his or her stats, technique, and how much is received based on the secret stats and level of the enemy. Yes, if a character had an ability like "Scan" from Final Fantasy, the stats and level of the enemy would be revealed. But back to the explanation.

Here is an example of a correct combat post:

Joyce curled her fingers into a large fist and swung at Billie's jaw.

It is very important to always specify where exactly your attack is intended. The GM rewards description. If you write vague, then the GM will finish your response for you and cause the attack to hit where you probably didn't intend. So it is very important to pay attention. This battle strategy makes combat challenging, fun, and rewarding. When you get good at it, you'll probably be able to gloat about your skills to pay close attention to detail.

Here is an example of a vague combat post:

Joyce curled her fingers into a large fist and swung at Billie.

Notice how Joyce didn't state where she was swinging. Billie at this point can easily dodge her attempt because loophole-granted, he can say Joyce swung wherever.

Here is an example of a bad combat post where the writer completed the action without GM judgment:

Joyce curled her fingers into a large fist, swung at Billie's jaw and broke it. While he fell over clutching his face, she stood over him with a cocky smirk and said, "Suck it!"

I hope you now understand what is the right thing to do in a combat scenario and what is the wrong thing to do. If you ever decide to have your character spar another player's character, then by writing only attempts, you show each other courtesy. If players want to challenge a move, then they can call the GM forth to judge the disputed action. Understand that whatever the GM decides is final. Do your best to try and discuss it in PM and let the GM be the last resort.



Squads were added to the game to make it fun and competitive in good sport as well as to provide a way for the game to constantly take in new players. After the initial characters start this game off, Alpha Squad will be the initial entry squad for all new players. Alpha Squad will go on missions more suited for their level; and after those missions, depending on how the heroes perform, they can be assigned to the veteran squads.

Some writers may start their characters off as rookies to dabble in the pleasure of full-on character development and progress. This is absolutely fine. The option to leave the rookie level to ascend will always be open to you.

Delta Squad

Delta is where the elite heroes go. “Elite” is not determined by whether a character is a legendary or not or by how bad-ass they were in their game. It is determined by the hero’s performance. Initially, heroes may make it to this team because they performed well during the first mission, but the assignment is not permanent. Heroes can always be dropped to the next lowest squad if they become complacent or if other heroes surpass them. The Delta team go on missions at the highest difficulty. While being a part of this honored team is gloat-worthy, the mortality rate is higher. As a GM, my role is not to kill-off heroes but to make the mission as fiction-realistically difficult to match the level and squad your character is assigned. The rewards for completed missions are worth it, including the reward of your character having survived. Delta members will be placed into mentoring positions to help train the other squad members into potentially succeeding them. You never know what will happen in combat, and there must always be a hero ready to replace a fallen champion.

That’s the idea of Delta Squad any way. It sounds intense because that is the feeling that you're supposed to get. It is Delta!

Now if writers who manage to have their heroes make it to Delta want to make an initiation rite of passage for any new heroes who join in the future, by all means. Play around with the story to your heart’s content. As I said before, your playground. This goes for all of the squads.

Charlie Squad

This is probably one of the most competitive squads. Members of Charlie are right beneath Delta and have the potential to ascend any moment. By no means does being a member of Charlie, Bravo, or Alpha mean that the hero is inferior to Delta. While some immature Delta members may make them feel that way, everyone can be replaced. Charlie has the pleasure of being able to study the Delta members and tailor their leadership style as they deem appropriate so that when they become Delta, they won't make the same mistakes they have witnessed.

Charlie will at times be tasked alongside Delta as a support unit. When this opportunity arises, members of Charlie have the option of impressing and getting to know their future teammates. Charlies’s performance during a Delta-level operation may have some heroes qualify for Delta Squad.

Bravo Squad

Bravo Squad is for characters who aren’t interested in direct combat, although, some characters may be assigned as support personnel to other squads. This is the support squad whether it be medical or cybernetic. Bravo supports all the other squads up-close and at a distance. If heroes need to be extracted from a perilous situation, dropped off for silent infiltration, or if heroes need a system hack that is the duty of Bravo!

Alpha Squad

This is the squad for characters who have a lot to learn or who are joining the game for the first time. This is the initial entry squad. Heroes apart of this squad will have a chance to advance to other squads after completing an Alpha-level mission. Missions in Alpha tend to have a low to medium difficulty. This squad is to get those players adjusted to the game or to act as a plot point for those writers who want to develop their characters at a pace under their control.





1. Do not come to this game to argue. If you read over this recruitment thread, and saw something that you didn't like, then move on.
2. Do not abuse the system. This game is meant to be fun and to allow players freedom to play their favorite characters to their interpretation. We're all adults here (most of us) so please be mature and act like one. Do not try to cut the corners on the system laid out here.
3. Whatever the GM says goes. I try to be fair to the best of my ability. However, I do not try to please the world nor do I care to. If we discuss an issue and we can't seem to come to an agreement, then it is best that the issue is dropped.
4. If someone chose the character you wanted, then compromise. If the player does not want to give him or her up, I'm sorry. Be creative and find someone else or move on.
5. If you need help with the stat system, the GM will help you. Do not overthink it. I promise you that it isn't that difficult and once you get the hang of it, you'll think, "No sweat!"
6. Images. Be mindful of the size of your images. If it is too big for the screen, then put a hider around it or make it a url.
7. Read my Game. I did not write this for my health. I wrote this mostly for you than for me. The number one way to get on my shit list is to show me that you didn't read my game. The best way you do this is by frequently asking me questions that are answered in the damn OP. If I suspect you're not thoroughly reading this OP, then I'm going to stop caring and you're not going to be allowed in this game. Why would I allow a person whose hand I would have to hold throughout the game because they don't want to read on a freakin' text role play game on a text role play site?
8. GM questions. If you ask a question, mention me. If you're talking to me, mention me. If you want my attention mention me because that is what that button is for. If it looks like I ignored you, 99.9% of the time it is because you didn't mention me and I lost your comment or question in the OOC flood. Mention me. Mention me. Mention me. I have to repeat this because people don't do it.
9. Be open and friendly. I am very big on character interaction. It is often overlooked in games. Please collaborate with other writers in this game. This game will become way more interesting if you do.
10. Romance. I like romance. Some of us do. But if you plan on walking the borderline of the Guild rules, then take it into PMs.
10. Have fun. There is only so much I can do as a GM. I cannot make you have fun. I cannot make you enjoy the character that you created. I cannot make you seek out writers to collaborate with. All I do is guide the game and make sure everything goes forward and not backwards. You have to do the rest. So please make the most of this game.

Divine Empowerment: Billy was given his powers by being reborn again by the Great Old Ones. By saying the name “Shazam!” which is an actual acronym for the names of each of the six Great Old Ones, he is empowered by an ancient otherworldly magic. The six old ones who give Billy their power are: Summanus, Hastur, Ammutseba, Zathog, Amon-Gorloth, and Mynoghra. Through these Great Old Ones, Billy has increased intellect from

Superhuman Strength: SHAZAM can lift cars with ease, crush guns, and knock over superhuman enemies with little effort.

Superhuman Durability: Bullets have no effect on SHAZAM, knives conventional weaponry does nothing to his physical body as well. Only the most powerful superhumans can topple him as SHAZAM.

Superhuman Speed: SHAZAM can travel like lightning, flying through the air at multiple mach speeds.

Superhuman Agility & Reflexes: Self-explanatory.

Superhuman Perception: SHAZAM can hear and perceive things only magical beings can. He can also converse with those supernatural things.

Magic: He can control electricity and use various spells and enchantments. He can project magical lightning from his hands and fingers. He could not control it at first as any electrical device overloads then explodes (even car lights) when he touches them. He can control it now though. He can show those with evil in their hearts the nightmares of The Beyond. It is enough to throw a sane person into the "Mouth of Madness."

Magic Resistance: Being that his powers are primarily from magic, he is highly resistant to all forms of magic. A high form of magical power is the only type of magic that would be able to harm him.

Flight: SHAZAM can fly with no upper known limits. He can hover and soar at high speeds through an act of sheer will.

Self-Sustenance: As SHAZAM, Billy can survive without sleep, food, water or air.

Immortality: As SHAZAM, Billy is unaging.



Billy Batson: Billy is an average human with human weaknesses.

Gagging: As Billy, if he is gagged, he cannot say SHAZAM, which allows him to transform into a nearly unstoppable force.

SHAZAM: If struck by his own lightning, SHAZAM will revert back to Billy.

High Order Magic: Although SHAZAM's abilities give him a resistance to most magic, magic of a high enough order or level does have the ability to harm him at times. It would, however, take a being of great knowledge and extreme proficiency in magic and it's use to wield it in manner capable of causing harm to him.

Naivety: Billy tends to be more optimistic and gullible than other heroes. In some cases this works to his advantage, but it can also cause his peers to look down upon him. However, Billy's naivety also gives him strong moral values and helps him find the good in everybody.

Inexperience: Due to his relative lack of understanding in the usage of his abilities, SHAZAM doesn't quite understand the true extent of his mystical abilities. Failing to Grasp how to properly use his divine magic has backfired on him more than once. Such as when Billy's transformed state used to short out electrical and mechanical appliances or how to cast enchantments on multiple host avatars at once without backlash and using his magic to illicitly earn money from an ATM without being able to shut it off.



On first appearance as SHAZAM, the champion appears intimidating and a force not to be reckoned with, but his mannerisms say something entirely different. While he appears to be an adult male at the peak of masculinity, he is actually…um…a little immature? Billy Batson is still Billy Batson. As a young man entering his college and young adult years, he can appear to be a little arrogant at times and even naïve. Even with all of his power, a confrontation is the last thing he wants. He does his best to talk his way around a situation even when he gets in trouble by other heroes. Can you imagine such a man flying away/fleeing because he drank the last soda from the fridge? I can.

Billy, as SHAZAM, is one of the most deceiving heroes. He is powerful and mighty, but he is also a frat boy with little experience. He finds it a little difficult to juggle college and his job with saving the day, and so he’ll gladly pass a situation off to another hero. “What? You can’t handle him? *sigh*…I’ll fight him for ten minutes, and then I gotta go to class!”

Ever since Billy ran into the Great Old Ones, finding out if their existence has been documented throughout history has become his hobby and his major in college. He likes to discuss and study ancient civilizations and artifacts. Believing in the Great Old Ones has also made him appear mad to other humans. But that’s okay because they just haven’t seen them yet. But they will!

Enhanced Condition Adam’s physical and mental abilities are above natural members of his species, beyond what can be emulated via natural training and with little to no maintaining. This entails that he is faster, stronger, more intelligent and overall superior to fellow members of his species, without being obviously supernatural.







Symbiotic Knowles Electromagnetic Energy Transistor System – S.K.E.E.T.S.

Skeets is a droid who was originally programmed for the menial task of monitoring Adam’s vitals and psychological condition. A fatal energy blast Adam had taken to the back led to the invention of Skeets and the invention of The Terminal Dr. Knowles had built into Adam’s back. When Skeets is separated from Adam, Adam functions like a typical super soldier. When Skeets locks into Adam’s terminal, Adam’s capabilities are granted a “boost.” Adam reprogrammed Skeets to give him more of a personality. The droid is capable of stealing an astonishing amount of data, if only to fuel its own intelligence.









Separation Adam is at his weakest when separated from Skeets. He is still a formidable opponent even without Skeets but not entirely to typical superhuman proportions.

Technomancy Skeets is vulnerable to supreme forms of technomancy. He can be used against Adam, and if ever a corrupt Skeets settles into Adam’s terminal, it can push the fighter to madness.

Ego Stroking Adam’s ego can put him in a false sense of security and lower his guard. However, if an enemy utilizes this tactic too much, then Adam will learn to recognize the deception—if Skeets doesn’t tell him sooner.

Cocky Adam can sometimes bite off more than he can chew. For the sake of fame! It’s a catch-22. Sometimes it turns out well for him and sometimes it doesn’t.

Center of Attention Adam enjoys basking in fame and tons of money. This fame can make him a target to numerous villains.

Concussion Adam does have a unique healing factor, but it doesn’t make him impervious to being knocked unconscious by a well-placed and powerful blow to the face. Note: This would have to be achieved when he is separated from Skeets.

GM Note: This game was inspired by the PS4 game Nioh. You do not have to have played Nioh in order to RP in this game. This will be a small group game of dedicated and creative writers (5 players to be recruited). What I look for is for people to take the storyline and run with it, but not to create anything too over-the-top. We will build this story together. Every character will have his or her own story. I will be selective about who I accept in this game. I like to see enthusiasm, determination, creativity, and decent grammar when writers create CSes. Since writers constantly drop out of forum games due to short-attention spans mostly and every now and then IRL events, I will keep former applicants on standby for if any of the current writers drop out or go AWOL. I have a 14 day policy. If you go inactive for 14 days and do not tell me where you are, then I won’t go looking for you. I will replace you and your character. If ever you need to take a break due to IRL events, simply let me know and I’ll put you in hiatus status until you return. This game will run pretty leisurely, so if you are the “I must post every single minute, hour, day, etc.” type, then I can tell you right now that this game won’t be for you because not everyone has time for that. I explained from the get-go my basic rules and expectations. If you managed to read all of this, then write “Kodama,” when you post either interest or a CS. Oh yes, and reading comprehension and attention to detail are what I look for as well. So I’m basically writing this block to see if anyone pays attention to it because those who do have a better chance at being approved than those who don’t.

Character Classification

The classification, strength, speed, knowledge, etc. of your character will be determined by the weapons you choose for your characters. Characters get one primary weapon, one secondary weapon, and one long-range weapon. There are three special weapons characters can also choose as primary or secondary weapons (remember you can only have one primary and one secondary not two primaries and not two secondaries): ninjutsu (unarmed style), onmyo (magic), and guardian spirit (spirit). I will explain the weapons and the characteristics affected as a result.

Swords: Affect the Heart category. Heart is ki; the energy of all living things. Ki is endurance, and sword-wielders have lots of it. Sword wielders can fight for days before they grow tired.

Dual Swords: Affect the Skill category. It takes great skill to wield dual swords. A lot of dual swordsmen are ambidextrous. They have a technical mind and have a knack for handling more advanced equipment such as muskets.

Spears: Affect the Life and Resistance categories. Spear users are highly resistant to toxins and magic that would poison or paralyze them.

Axes and Hammers: Affect the Strength category. The strongest warriors are capable of effortlessly wielding the gargantuan axes and war hammers. Their strength may even destroy great boulders and stop a team of horses pulling a carriage.

Kusarigama: Affect the Dexterity category. The kusarigama is a weapon that not many can wield properly. Only the most dexterous and swift warriors know how to handle such a complex weapon.

Bows: Affect the Heart category. Like the swordsman, bowman can endure for lengthy periods. Or, at least, as long as they have arrows to shoot. Starting capacity for arrows is 10.

Guns: Affect the Skill category. It takes skill to handle muskets and flintlocks. One must know how to quickly reload the weapon. Gunpowder, if it’s not used in fireworks is not a common item any commoner would own. Most guns are used solely by the military or gangs. Starting capacity for ammo is 8.

Cannons: Affect the Stamina category. Cannon users can carry around lots of weight without feeling burdened. They are resilient warriors though not as resilient as spearmen nor as strong as axemen/hammer users. Cannons are just as heavy and so cannon users are capable of wearing heavy armors. The cannon deals the most damage out of all the ranged weaponry, but the rockets are extremely heavy and so there's only a limited supply. Starting capacity for rockets is 3.

Ninjutsu: Affect the Dexterity category. Ninjutsu users do not need weapons. Their bodies are a weapon and therefore, they specialize in deadly unarmed martial arts. They know how to sneak up on enemies and kill them swiftly as well as turn an opponent’s weapon against them. They need to be light on their feet in order to be fast, so they may not wear armors that are too burdensome.

Onmyo: Affect the Magic category. Onmyo users utilize talismans to cast buffs/debuffs/summon spirits/hexes on others. Powerful onmyo users can use their magic to take down even the mightiest of demons and warriors. However, the duration of their spells are limited and temporary. Onmyo users start with 3 spells with a quantity of 3 talismans for each (3 spells - paper talismans with magical text written on them are used to cast them).

Guardian Spirit: Affect the Spirit category. Only special warriors can see guardian spirits. In this game, every player’s character has a guardian spirit that they will create and they are capable of seeing other characters’ guardian spirits. This category is specifically for those characters who use their Guardian Spirit primarily or even secondarily as a weapon. While other characters can summon their guardian spirits once every 5 turns. The character that has the guardian spirits as a primary or secondary weapon can use their guardian spirit as a weapon limitlessly. Users of the guardian spirit have strong spiritual bonds with their guardian, stronger than the bonds other characters may have with theirs. Because of this, their guardian spirits are more powerful than others.

Guardian Spirits

Every character will have one guardian spirit. The story of how your character acquired his or her guardian spirit is up to you. What your guardian spirit looks like is up to you. You must choose one element that your guardian spirit specializes in. We’re going to be different from the game. We will use the five elements found in Japanese Buddhism: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Void (Sky/Heaven/Lightning). You will then choose/create one passive buff that a guardian spirit grants your character. Characters whose guardian spirit encompass the same element are resistant to each other as well as any other enemy in the game that uses said element. Again, this is different from the actual game. Just like character sheets, Guardian Spirits will be nerfed and rejected if the “Rule of Cool” is violated. Don’t be a noob. [Guardian Spirit Reference]

Character Sheet

You can design the layout of this character sheet however you want. But you WILL use everything written in this template.

Name: What is your character’s name. Please provide a first or last name. Your character does not have to be Japanese. This game takes place in the feudal era, around the age of gunpowder. Because we’re in a fictional Japan setting, I won’t use actual dates but just imagine the 1700s.
Titles/Honorifics: If your character has a reputation, then they may have received a title that he or she is known as throughout Japan. Such as “Kinryu of the Moon.” Just an example. Titles are not super powers. If your character is known as "The Undying" that doesn't mean they can't die. Also, chill out on listing titles. You shouldn't have more than 3.
Age: Everyone is human in this game. So this category is self-explanatory.
Origin: You can use a fictional country, and I encourage it. Who knows? We might visit it later in the game. However, if you choose to do this, be sure to explain what the country closely resembles. For example, Toadwood (France). If you do this, and your character has a French-like accent, then we know all characters who share the same accent come from that area or region. If another character has a similar accent, then you can also write that your character comes from the same region as "other character."
Profession: What is their occupation? Samurai, ninja, rifleman, soldiers, monk, sellsword, pirate, thief, blacksmith, cook, priest/priestess, etc. Many options.
Hobby: What do they like to do?

Gender: Male or Female.
Race: Human (I just filled it out for you)
Strengths: What are some strong character qualities?
Weaknesses: What are some negative/weak character qualities?

Height: Self-explanatory.
Weight: Self-explanatory.
Build: You can describe their physique here.
Hair: You can use whatever color. This is a fictional world after all.
Eyes: Whatever color. It’s a fictional world.
Skin: Again, fictional world.
Handedness: Only dual sword wielders and ninjutsu users are ambidextrous.

Scars: Describe their shape or what they may have been suspected to be caused by.
Tattoos: If they have any. Describe them and where they are located.

Basic Description: This can be an easy one-liner describing the overall description and mannerism of your character.
Visual Description: Avoid famous anime characters. Use only digital art or OC characters. There are many great artists out there.
Disabilities: They might have lost an arm, eye, have a lisp, lost some fingers. Who knows. If your character isn’t disabled in any way, then write “N/A.”

Primary Outfit: You can describe your character's clothes/gear here. If they wear light armor, medium, or heavy armor. If they wear robes or common clothes, what color are they? Reed shoes or sandals. Wear a hat; who knows. Describe it.
Secondary Outfit: It can be as simple as if they can also be seen regularly with their top off. Oh my! Or wearing shorts and not their usual pants or something. Just a secondary outfit they may be seen in.

Most Prized Possession (Material Value): Material value just means the most expensive thing on their body. Like, if it was stolen someone will get tons of money for it.
Most Prized Possession (Emotional Value): An item or even a guardian spirit—anything really—that if your character lost he or she would be distraught, angered, affected by its absence.

Likes: What does your character like? Not like hobbies but maybe food, men, women, etc.
Dislikes: Maybe they dislike oni, bad people, those who hurts others, etc.
Purpose: Why are they on their journey? What is their goal? What are they doing right now?

Sexuality: Heterosexual or LGBTQ (state specifically).
Relationship: I don’t expect people to have one immediately, but if one develops in the game, then you can fill this out. If your character is married to an NPC, then you can write “Married” and explain the Spouse. If your character is a Widow or Widower, then you can describe that. If they’re single, then they’re single.
Family: Parents, siblings, cousins, aunts/uncles; if they’re dead then make a list and mark them as deceased. If they are alive, then write where they are. Some family members of characters may be useful contacts on the journey.

Primary Weapon: [Weapon Name] – [What type of weapon] – [Describe]

Secondary Weapon: [Weapon Name] – [What type of weapon] – [Describe]

Range: [Weapon Name] – [Type of Weapon] – [Describe]

Guardian Spirit: [Name] – [Animal] – [Element] – [Describe] – [Name of Passive Buff Granted] – [Describe the Passive Buff] Some guardian spirits are capable of talking, while others are not. Some passive buffs that guardian spirits have granted in the past was for a character to understand and be able to speak any language. That was just an example of such.

Character Story: What is your character’s story? Like purpose, this is where you explain their purpose. What led them to go on this journey. How did they acquire their weapons, skills, and guardian spirit? What do they hope to accomplish?

The World

This game will take place in fictional Japan during the feudal/gunpowder age. The characters are on an island filled with magical creatures and entities from other realms. The island is also a unique deposit for the powerful crystals called “Amrita.” The island is called, Mahoushima, literally translated as “Magic Island.”

Lore

Amrita is energy crystalized into a physical form. This energy can be used for good or evil. Amrita reacts to the evil in one’s heart. If a person has too much evil in their heart, then the Amrita will transform them into a demon. Demons can also be born from scorned and wicked humans. There are lesser, greaters, and godly demons on Mahoushima. Demons were once humans but now roam the world like wild beasts, terrorizing people, consuming people, and committing diabolical deeds. The stronger demons will have their own goals that they seek to carryout, and they are usually the smartest of their normally feral and mindless counterparts. The Amrita that infects demons can be seen glowing like hot melted gold in their eyes, mouths, etc. It can appear on their skin like boils or horns protruding from their foreheads. The weakness of most horned oni are their horns. By severing the Amrita horns, they dramatically lose power. Other demons are complicated and will require hunters to figure out their weakness.

Amrita is highly sought after by emperors, kings, and anyone with a desire for great power. Fragments are bought and sold on black markets (larger crystals are hard to find) and many kingdoms will send their soldiers to secure any Amrita mines they can find. Amrita just may be why the mystical beings and creatures exist on Mahoushima.

Guardian Spirits exist as guardians. An ancient family line might have acquired one long ago and the guardian spirit could have merely been passed from one generation to the next. The guardian spirit could have been born from an impossible act, such as a warrior who managed to slice lightning. The guardian spirit's purpose is to protect the host it possesses. They offer the host power to see other guardian spirits and other abilities. They can even be used as a weapon. Overall, guardian spirits are a gift from heaven and not everyone has one.

Kodama are little green spirits that resemble children. They often get lost and only one with a guardian spirit can see them. They are one-foot tall so they are usually difficult to notice, but when you do, if you take them to a shrine, then they will bless the discoverer with some form of fortune.

Shrines are everywhere throughout Mahoushima. Shrines will usually have families of Kodama partying on them. They are very social creatures despite being unable to talk. If a traveler comes across a shrine that is missing Kodama, then they are either more than likely hiding because an oni is nearby (good warning to travelers) or they have fled their shrine out of fear. Finding lost Kodama and returning them to their homes will grant those warriors blessings.

Hot Springs are magical. They immediately heal all wounds and fatigue.They cannot however restore severed limbs or bring back the dead. There are hot spring spirits who can be found floating comfortably in the mineral pools. They maintain the hot springs for weary travelers.

Interested Players

Approved Players

1. Activity: This so far is my biggest rule because the writers on this site are notorious for just disappearing without saying anything or dropping out of games. If you don’t have time for this game or don’t plan to be active, then do not join. I do not care how much you like the idea. Do not join. I will wind up just replacing you any way. Writers have 14 days to post. If you’re not active for two straight weeks and you did not tell the GM, then the GM is going to drop you.

2. God-mode: God-moding is instant rejection. If you submit to me a god-mode character, then I will reject it on the spot and I won’t even care if you fix it. The fact you sent me a god-mode character makes you unworthy to be a part of this game. I wouldn’t be convinced that you wouldn’t god-mode during the game.

3. Believable Characters: Give me a somewhat believable character. Not my mommy died, daddy died, sister died, brother died, grandparents all died, I have no relatives whatsoever, I was born out of a box, etc. There’s nothing wrong with making an orphan. But the everyone I know is dead story is pretty overdone. The free role play section would sound more like your cup of tea.

4. Half-Ass Profile: Rejected. You see this? Rejected. I don’t care about how lazy you were or how you normally don't do well on CSes but writer better in the game. Writing is writing. If you don’t put any effort or show me that you care, rejected.

5. Drama: Even though this game is inspired and somewhat based on Nioh. It isn’t. It was tailored to fit my idea. If you want to be a whiny nerd and complain about how this game doesn’t meet your expectations, then don’t waste your time because I will not care. I’m not one of those “please the world” GMs. You are joining my game, my idea, and you have to understand that. I am under no obligation to give a damn about how you feel about how I wrote “my game.” You simply just do not have to join. So spare me the drama and just don’t join if you don’t like it. I made a Rule #6 because this has happened in a game I hosted.

6. Whining: This goes along with drama but I don’t see too many people do this because most people are grown-ups. Do not whine in my game. Do not cry about how your fellow writers are not posting to your tempo. Just do not do it. If you act like a child, then I’ll treat you like one, and if I treat you like one, then you best leave my game. This game is for mature writers.

7. Character Quantity: You can only have one main character. If you have any more, then they will be NPCs. I do not want two characters really because writers then like to RP with themselves and not others. Or the second character gets more interaction than other writers. So please just use one character. This does not include the relationship your character may have with his or her guardian spirit.

8. Total Players: I will only be accepting 5 characters not including the GM. I will want either 2 females and 4 males; 3 females and 3 males; or 2 males and 4 females. There will be some variety.

9. Guardian Spirits: If "Guardian Spirit" isn't your character's primary or secondary weapon, then you cannot use your GS limitlessly. You will instead only be able to use the Guardian Spirit every 5 turns.

10. Have Fun: I must always end the rules section with have fun because that’s really all I care about. I love it when a writer takes this basic idea/concept and makes something even greater out of it with their imagination. If you can take an idea and run with it, make an awesome character, then I’m happy. That’s what my purpose is. To help you come up with amazing stories to share together. So please have fun and be creative.

Title: Legend

Kingdom: Square Enix

Written Description: Cloud is a man with light skin and is slightly below average height, with a lean and toned build. He has spiky blond hair that in Final Fantasy VII features one particularly long spike. Cloud's hair has become one of the trademarks of his appearance, although in later appearances the spikes have been toned down. Cloud has blue eyes, which glow due to him having being exposed to Mako. Because "Mako eyes" are iconic to members of SOLDIER, Cloud is often mistaken as one. Cloud's outfit in Final Fantasy VII is the standard uniform for 1st Class SOLDIER: indigo pants with a sleeveless shirt, and a belt. Cloud wears brown boots, gauntlets with a pauldron over his left shoulder and a SOLDIER band on his left wrist. This is the uniform he wears for most of his other appearances, with slight variations. He has a silver earring in his left ear.

Personality: After restoring his true personality, Cloud shows genuine concern for the Planet's fate, a sharp contrast to his persona at the start where he claimed he did not care and only agreed to help AVALANCHE for the right price. The true Cloud is open-minded and cares about the bonds he has forged with his friends. Cloud remains steadfastly loyal and true to those he cares about and is driven to protect them, going as far as to hide his pain and emotions so he would not worry them. His selfless and kind nature lets him overcome Sephiroth time and again.

Game: Final Fantasy 7

Current Story: Cloud retired from his mercenary work and settled down with his friends in Edge City. While in Edge, he made a living as a delivery boy and protecting the city from any monstrous threat. It wasn't until he received a funeral invitation from a strange turtle in a cloud that his peaceful life of retirement changed. After attending Mario's funeral, he was approached by Capcom's hero Guile and asked to once more take up the sword for the sake of The System.

Weapon(s):





General Abilities

Bolt - Level 1 - A lightning element attack that targets a single enemy.

Special Abilities

None.

Items

None.

Strengths

Balanced – Cloud is an overall balanced character who is equally as good as a melee fighter as he is as a caster.

Master Swordsman – The weapons he wields tend to be gargantuan in size, but they aren’t to compensate for anything. Cloud is a master at the blade and has used his swordsmanship to conquer god-level beings.

SOLDIER – Cloud was bioengineered to be stronger than the average human. His strength, speed, reflexes, reaction time, and agility are inhuman. He is a tough warrior, having been able to survive being impaled by Sephiroth's blade twice and survive a critical overdose of Mako.

Cross-dresser Extraordinaire – Apparently he’s so attractive that he can play a convincing woman.

Weaknesses

No Range – Unless he’s casting magic, he lacks in the range department. He can’t unleash a relentless barrage of spells without running out of magic energy; mana.

Jack of All Trades – While he is a balanced character, he doesn’t really specialize in a single role. He is more suited to fill a hole where a certain role is missing and needed.

Haunted by Past – As much as he likes to put his past failures behind him, the mercenary still struggles with them every now and then. It’ll take time for his internal wounds to heal—if they ever will.

Achievements

None.

Fox
Bartz
Luigi
Samus
Naija
Steve
James
Slayer
Jack
Shantae
Cloud



Tag Team Battle

Randomization generated using random.com and the all-powerful decidermachine.

Team One
1. Fox
2. Luigi

VS

1. Zangief (Street Fighter)
2. The Avenger (????)

Team Two
1. Cloud
2. Naija

VS

1. Mitsurugi (Soul Calibur)
2. Lux (League of Legends)

Team Three
1. Jack
2. Samus

VS

1. Cyrax (Mortal Kombat)
2. Juno & Lupus (Jet Force Gemini)

Team Four
1. Shantae
2. Bartz

VS

1. Isaac (Golden Sun)
2. Rayman (Rayman)

Survivor
1. Steve
2. James
3. Slayer




Welcome! Welcome! Welcome, ladies and gents to anotha’ excitin’ Smash Event. We have a lot of participants this month, fightin’ fo’ the cash and fightin’ fo’ the prize! And what are the prizes this year, Money boy!

Well, Master Fox we have here quite the exquisite selection:

First, a mystical feather thought to belong to an ancient and powerful bird! Phoenix Down

Secondly, the keys to a mysterious mode of transportation.

And thirdly, a magical dragon fly from the Realm of Dragons, hm, hm, hm…Sparx the Dragonfly

Steve stroked his chin with interest, grinning with competition gleaming in his blue eyes.

“Brilliant! Well, now let us get on with it. Moving on to the rules!”



1. Cheaters. Cheaters never prosper, mates. You cheat and you will have to deal with me. You are also automatically disqualified. You will never be allowed in the Smash Arena again. Cheatin' is merely not followin' the rules. Follow the rules, mates. You can't go wrong.
2. Tag Team Matches. If you're in a Tag Team Match, then one of you is fighting at all times until that fighter tags his or her teammate's hand and swaps out or is knocked unconscious. If a fighter is knocked unconscious, then his or her partner automatically joins the fight. The battle is over when all opponents on one team are knocked out or yield.
3. Tag Team Courtesy. A successful team is a team that knows how to communicate and work together. If you feel in over your head, then you can always tag out and swap with your partner.
4. Survivor. This is one of the most challenging areas of our competition where it's every man (or woman) for him or herself. Everyone is your enemy. The last one standing is the victor.
5. Single Elimination. You lose, then you lose, mate. There are no second chances. Try again next time.
6. Cash Out. The startin' pot is 10,000 gold. As you or your team advances, people are goin' to start placin' bets. You come again next time, and you will have some Fame. Fame will increase the pot on your matches and tougher opponents will want to challenge you. We will go into Fame later when you folks actually acquire some. For now, you are a bunch of nobodies, but some of you will leave this place somebodies.
7. Battle Conduct. Rule of Cool and be sure to reference the basic combat guide on the OOC OP of the main game. If ever I need to go into further detail, then I will but so far everyone has been doing well as far as the conduct in the missions have gone.

ante Augustus Marconi was born to Augustus and Isadora. His father was head of a construction company that was responsible for the design and renovation of several buildings and residences in Gotham City—most notably banks in the Financial District and a few mansions in Gotham Heights. Augustus employed several of Gotham’s thugs, hoping that keeping them off the street would contribute to the decrease in crime. It wasn’t until he caught two of his workers having robbed one of the mansions in The Heights that his philosophy began to change. His workers had told him how well they knew the house after they had built it. Breaking into it was “a piece of cake.” Augustus, close to his workers, told them to keep a low profile until the ordeal passed on. He hadn’t really expected his workers to get away with it, but they did. Did no one care about the Gotham elite? What was a few stolen valuables from already wealthy and spoiled moneybags? The contagious greed led Augustus to accept more projects in The Heights and the Financial District just so they could exploit them later. His success kick-started his new business in the Gotham underworld. Augustus and his former construction crew started to hustle. They purchased the products of one gang and sold them to another. They even instigated gang wars in high-crime areas like Crime Alley/Park Row. Overtime, Augustus Marconi noticed that with the slow elimination of competition that the Marconi name was growing in infamy. The Marconis were a small spark, but a certain bird attempted to douse it.



The Penguin attempted to wipe out the Marconis and nearly succeeded if it wasn’t for the interference of Warren White. With the protection of The Great White Shark and his numerous connections, the Marconis became locked in debt with the crime lord for several years. During those years, Augustus fell in love with a prostitute by the name of Isadora “Bella Rosa.” It was Isadora who empowered Augustus to believe he was destined to rise above Gotham’s trash. Augustus enacted a plan that would free the Marconis from The Great White Shark and have them as an independent mob again. He started working closely with Warren’s “connections,” undertaking jobs and deals that led him to descend deeper into darkness. It wasn’t long before Warren found himself marooned in Arkham Asylum.



The Marconis went through a progressive period. The spark had become a flame just big enough to keep The Penguin at bay but small enough not to attract the interest of other gangs. The Marconis now seasoned in turf war focused on small-time deals to build morale and equipment. During this time was when Dante was born. Isadora was proud to have given her lover a handsome son. He was their only son and Isadora’s affection for him was near obsessive. She filled the boy’s mind with the same pride she had used on his father. However…she told Dante that he was destined to surpass him and take over the Marconi “empire.” The Marconis’ bloodline traced back to Gaius Octavius and he was meant to rule. The boy took his mother’s praise to heart. While his father ran the family, Dante watched and learned. He was a reader and while he was in private school, he was often the spotlight in class. He got the attention of admirers and bullies, but Dante proved to be the bigger bully. In fact he was quite…sadistic.

Throughout his time in school, Dante participated in sports and took several art classes. His father never attended any of his competitions and didn’t even learn how gifted his son was in art until Isadora started to hang his paintings throughout the house. Normally a child might have developed “daddy issues” but Dante didn’t. He was quite fine with his father’s lack of attention for he didn’t want the man he would surpass to learn how much his son had truly grown. As a late teenager, Dante’s charm attracted many a fine lady, and there was only one who he brought home to his mother. Her name was Anna “Anne-Marie” Morris. She was a beautiful redhead who planned to attend the same private university as him. Isadora was secretly jealous and in an unexpected fit, slapped Anna and banished her from their home. She then chastised Dante for desiring such a “plain” girl. She told him how he shouldn’t trust women so easily. If Anna had learned about the family business, then she would have certainly ran to the police. Despite his mother’s excuses to hide her infatuation with him, Dante was embarrassed and angry. Anna never spoke to him again since that day. The incident only fueled Dante’s desire to take over the family even more.

Dante attended a private university and found the human psychology to be the most interesting conundrum. While in pursuit of a Bachelor’s in psychology, his mother fell ill. Dante, unwilling to drop out of college to take care of her, wanted to believe his father would hire a nurse to take care of her, but his father never did. Karma appeared before Isadora that night and showed her the results of her creation. Both Augustus and Dante were too stubborn and clinging to their dreams to take her health into consideration. Isadora inevitably died. The news reached Dante, and at first, he was angry but then he realized…Anna. Dante attempted to rekindle the love he and Anna had for each other, but Anna revealed that she had a boyfriend. Dante persisted, figuring by telling her his mother was dead and that there was no one to get between them that her mind would have changed. Anna broke away from him and told her boyfriend later that night who sought Dante out. Dante avoided him and called his father’s men later who had Anna’s boyfriend mysteriously removed. Dante never returned to Anna, but relished seeing her grief at the disappearance of her lover. He went on to pursue a Master's and became a private behavioral counselor. As a counselor, Dante had a variety of clients to include GCPD personnel. He was able to win the favor of several twisted officers and officials and set up a secret business exchange with the Marconi family.



As Marconis started to get away with certain crimes (since cops started turning the other cheek), several of Augustus’s men started to see Dante as the true leader. Dante was educated unlike his father who started as a mere construction worker. The old man was worn from countless turf wars to the point his sanity was tipping. Dante tried to convince his father to retire, but his father was too stubborn. This aggravated Dante to the point he eventually took his father’s life, blaming him for his mother’s death. Without protest from the family, Dante assumed the role as the head of the Marconi family.

He underestimated the weight of the burden his father carried and how risky of a game he had played. He took the Marconis from the bottom and raised them to a place on the ladder that his father had spent years forbidding them to go. An infiltrator pretending to be one of his father’s former goons breached the Marconi mansion. The man had managed to make his way to Dante’s office and assaulted him with a suicidal detonation. The mansion was decimated. Dante had managed to shoot the bomber, but it didn’t halt the remote activation. Dante survived but not unscathed. His eyes had been severely damaged and his arms, which had been crossed protectively before his face charred in four-degree burns. The surviving Marconis managed to recover Dante, and they fled to one of his father’s safe houses where he could be treated by an unlicensed doctor. The doctor removed his damaged eyes and flesh. Dante was blind and stunned by how quickly his father’s empire had fallen. Though blind, Dante couldn’t stand for the Marconis to be done-in, in such a way. It wasn’t over!

Dante demanded his men find him some eyes. They were to go as far as Star City, looking for a man or woman who could provide him with some. A few of his men thought he was mad and left. Those loyal and having no other place to go accepted Dante’s mission and searched for months. They eventually returned with a pair of cybernetic eyes, engineered by a Dr. William Magnus. The unlicensed doctor tried to explain to Dante that he may not have been the best surgeon to implant the eyes, but Dante had been too desperate to see again to see the doctor’s reasoning. The doctor cut away Dante’s eyelids to position the eyes, and the eyes’ unique A.I. latched onto his brain. Frightened by the implants’ response, the doctor feared they might have caused brain damage and Marconi’s men threatened him that if Dante awoke any different, then it would be his life. Dante woke, and was overjoyed to be able to see again. The world was clearer than it ever had been with his human eyes.



When Dante anxiously requested a mirror and gazed on himself for the first time since the bombing, the Marconis’ skin crawled at their boss’s reaction. He laughed, killed the doctor with a scalpel through the eye, and began destroying the safehouse. Dante turned the safehouse into an inferno, and he stood outside with his men amidst a backdrop of flames, and declared that they were going back to work. Dante kept those who had remained loyal to him and sought out the deserters. The Dante the Marconis’ remembered was gone. Whatever Dante saw in the mirror had possessed him, and they were grateful to be at his mercy.



Dante was once a handsome man and the traumatic scar left by his mutilation was deep enough to alter his psychology. His cybernetic eyes protrude from his eye sockets like brass (in color) spheres with four lines dividing them perpendicularly. The lines glow a bright yellow, and at the center where they meet are red glowing pupils. His arms and the right side of his torso are covered in wavy burn scars. Because Dante is often seen wearing a suit and dark sunglasses, neither his scarred flesh nor his strange eyes are often seen. His hair is black, short and feathery, being longer on the crown and shorter on the sides. Despite his frightening appearance, he still insists on looking his best no matter the job. The boss has increased in muscle mass since his change. When he isn’t engrossed in business, he’s working out. Whereas the old Dante used to watch his men torture and execute their enemies, he partakes in it himself now, especially when a defector is involved. [Reference Former Dante: here FC: Hakan Akbulut]



Genius-Level Intellect? - Unpredictable
Dante possesses an eidetic memory, he’s knowledgeable in several academic subjects with a specialty and fondness for art and psychology, and he’s a master at manipulation.

Persuasion: More like deception and manipulation, Dante knows how to speak and act a certain way, and even say the right words to persuade those of fragile self-esteem, self-worth, or those who secretly doubt their ability to stand before him. He is a frightening man after all. He can lead others to believe one thing only to do or say the opposite. One never really knows if they have acquired his trust and those who have been persuaded often feel better when they give in. Pressure is the devil. He uses this technique to get what he wants, find out information a person might not have normally revealed to him, or even just to see a certain reaction. He can be curious at times. If the nice method to persuade someone fails, then there’s always his favorite method: violence.

Mixed Martial Arts: While not a master, Dante can hold his own if he needs to and unless a person is superhuman or wearing special armor, a punch from him could wind even the toughest of humans. Having honed his skills in turf wars, Dante has improvised his techniques using practicality based on actual experiences.

No Sympathetic Restraint: Dante lacks the “fear” that often keeps a person from using their full strength to harm someone. Therefore, his attacks are 100% violent and deadly. If ever a person comes out of a fight with him alive either they were better than him, or he allowed them to escape unscathed. His intentions aren’t always violent.

Artist: One of Dante’s hobbies is to paint. He can sketch too, but he likes painting more and he’s quite gifted at it. If he wasn’t so crazy, his art would probably sell.

Athletic: Dante used to play sports in school. His favorite was baseball, but he also played basketball for a short while.

Extraordinary Marskman: Dante isn’t a Green Arrow or a Deadshot, but with his cybernetic eyes, he can impressively/frighteningly take down targets in rapid succession (with the right weapon), targets at quite a long range, and even targets through walls! (If the weapon’s strong enough). Regularly, he’ll carry mostly pistols or revolvers. If he’s planning to execute someone, then he’ll use a rifle. Overall, he is capable of using several weapons to achieve the sadistic result he desires.

Language Fluency: Italian and English.

Logical Thinker: Dante is clever. He usually plans one step ahead before he enters any sort of situation. He can come up with a strategy on-the-spot when the odds appear to be against him.



Cyberoptics: Dante has a pair of evil eyes. Evil because of their various visual settings. He can see in pitch-black darkness with them; his eyes can adjust to glare; he can see up to 500 meters with them and similarly he can see magnifications of 50x; and he can see in the infrared spectrum. Infrared allows him to see through solid walls at potential targets. Dante can overlap modes to have glare reduction and infrared on at the same time, allowing him to see humans bathed in hot colors in dim-lighting. He, however, cannot overlap magnifications or have all modes running at once. His cybernetics allow him to see better than the average human. His reaction time and reflexes are quicker than an average human, allowing him to react swiftly in close-combat. He will bob, weave, and deflect even the most expert of punches and kicks. A hero would have to make sure not to carry-on in a predictable style for Dante may learn to quickly anticipate it. There is a downside to having special eyes and that without meclizine (medication), Dante will suffer vertigo. If he ever misses his meds, he’ll become disoriented, sick, and a horrible migraine will follow.

Hellmouth: There are many theories about Gotham City and its grim and gothic atmosphere, but only one makes the closest of sense. Those who have wondered why Gotham was always so corrupt despite the heroes constantly putting the villains away time and time again need only know that long ago Gotham was built over a hellmouth. The hellmouth creates the endless corruption and violence in Gotham. It is why the villains always escape Arkham and Blackgate. It is why forensic science is near obsolete. With as many times the villains get put away, one would think Gotham would improve its security to keep them from returning to the streets, but no. Even the enemy has numerous villainous connections. The hellmouth seems to cater to malevolence. The hellmouth senses the malevolence exuding from Dante and increases his probability in the form of luck. The chance of him getting away with his crimes is increased, but not guaranteed. The chance of him escaping prison to return to the streets is higher than most. The chances of him coming out of a firefight with light wounds is probable. As coincidence as it may seem, it is the luck granted by the hellmouth.

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• Lightning Stone Plate Armor The armor makes Balthair immune to lightning or alterations in the electromagnetic field. It is a necessary armor if any Arial is to safely use weapons forged from Lightning Stone. The armor is light and conducts electricity easily.
• Cloud Thread is a material found only in Sepherine. Threads are taken from the clouds and woven on a magic loom into clothing. Cloud Thread makes the wearer feel as light as a feather, allowing the wearer to fly and fight for lengthy periods.
• Lightning Edge is the name of Balthair's claymore. It a claymore forged from lightning stone that is capable of throwing chains of lightning with its every swing. Upon contact with a metal weapon, the user will find themselves being electrocuted on contact. On a stormy night or day, Balthair can use Lightning Edge to cast the special ability Smite. A powerful spear of lightning will drop down from the clouds on the intended targets, juicing them with so much volts of electricity they explode.
• Cloud and Squall are the twin short swords magnetically attached to Balthair's greaves. Like, Lightning Edge, the short swords can send small whips of lightning at an enemy. Balthair can join the two blades with a chain of lightning and whirl them like linked sickles.
• Rain Water a skin of rain water that Balthair carries with him. Most will see him take a few sips of water, but he rarely eats or drinks. He hardly feels the urge.

• Jetstream an attack where Balthair flies by an enemy or enemies so fast that the winds from his passing will bowl them over.
• Light Scatter with a strong flap from his wings, Balthair will release a cloud of white feathers that will suddenly flash with a blinding light to disorient and distract an enemy or enemies.
• Thunder Clap When Blathair is equipped with Cloud and Squall, he can clang the weapons together to have them produce a thunderous thoom, sending destructive decibels in a cone at multiple enemies.

There was a white light blinding your eyes. You felt cramped, hot, and uncomfortable. Why was everything so hot? You couldn’t speak, and despite the unbearable temperature, you could not sweat. Where am I!?

There was the shrill groan of what sounded like a rusted and iron gate opening. You were tossed; you tumbled; until your small form was crushed within a giant, black fist. It was dark but for the numerous glowing bodies that surrounded you. You realize then that there were more confused Souls just like you frightened and confused. They did not speak. You could only hear their frightened whimpers as you and them were carried into the sky. The fingers unfurled beneath you, revealing the gaping maw of monster. Its teeth were yellow, jagged, and misaligned. Its gums were so dark red you might have thought they were just clumps of coagulated blood. A pink and lengthy tongue unfurled from the creature’s mouth to dribble saliva down the fat swells of its chest. You saw that it had no eyes and from its pale-head protruded horns or antennae—you couldn’t tell and they might have been a combination of both. You fell.

You and a few others were fortunate enough to miss the monster’s gaping mouth and instead tumbled and bounced down its white, globular belly. One Soul who had also missed the creature’s mouth had fallen across its tongue and as it rolled near the tip, the monster’s tongue curled, rolling it up like a rug. You and the surviving others struck the basaltic floor, and above you, you could hear the grunts and crunch of the giant gobbling the Souls up. Their bodies popped and tore between its grinding teeth, spilling blood like a sanguine curtain down its quivering belly that squirted blood from its stapled seams. The monster uttered its finishing gluttonous grunts before it gulped audibly and leaned over to belch a black gas upon a few of the survivors. You watch as their bodies turn black and shrivel in the heat of the gas.

There were even fewer of you now and the monster sadistically laughed. You’re frozen—afraid to move as you wondered if you were next. The monster instead scratched at the staples across its belly before it hauled what appeared to be a massive iron mace onto its armored shoulder.

“All right,” the tongue the creature spoke was nothing you had ever heard before, and somehow you understood it. “You lucky ones are my new Spirit slaves. I got hungry and ate my old ones.”

The monster, now to be called The Horned Guard tensed a little in surprise as it uttered a, “Whoops!”

He shrugged his colossal mace from his shoulder and swung it over his head to bring it slamming down like a hammer on top of what appeared to be a large iron cage behind you. The door he had opened to draw out the handful of Spirits was slammed closed, snapping several Spirits who had tried to crawl free in two, and leaving some to writhe on the ground without arm, leg, or head. You realize that you had been in that cage once. The cage was pure white from the thousands of Souls tightly packed together in what looked like a glowing and wiggling snowball.

“Almost had some escape…that wouldn’t have been good,” the creature muttered to itself. It retracted its mace and gazed upon the Spirits that were still sitting and lying about. With an annoyed growl, the Horned Guard swung his large mace, crushing a few Spirits beneath it who had been to slow to flee. It slid the mace across the ground, leaving a red smear and crushing a few other slow Spirits in its path. With another wicked chuckle, it retracted its mace and growled, “You lazy shits! I let you out of the cage and all you want to do is lie around! Move those stones! They’re in my way!”

The Horned Guard indicated the large black blocks with sharp red and glowing thorns curving out of it. There wasn’t a single area of the block a Spirit could grasp that wouldn’t make them bleed. Afraid to be killed, a few Spirits raced over to the stones to attempt to move them. The first Spirit to the block abruptly stopped when it nearly ran into one of the thorns, but the Spirit behind it had pushed it into it, impaling its body on the stone. Other Spirits followed like lemmings accidentally bumping into each other and causing more to be impaled. The Spirits eventually figured out that the bodies impaled upon the thorns made the stone safer to move and proceeded to do so while the Horned Guard hysterically laughed.

“You stupid little shits! Ha, ha, ha!” The Horned Guard’s laughter suddenly ceased as its teeth came together in an ominous frown. One of the Spirits was sitting on the floor with its arms wrapped about its legs. Why wasn’t it obeying it!? Why wasn’t it working!? “Rah! Disobedience!”

The Horned Guard swung its mace at the Spirit, and the Spirit rolled out from beneath the weapon before it struck. The Horned Guard’s horns went stiff and upright in shock. With a frustrated growl, it began bashing its hammer on the floor, cracking the basalt and sending fragments flying into the air. Unfortunately, the Spirit didn’t make it.

“Don’t ever defy me! NONE OF YOU!” the Horned Guard screamed before he marched back over to the Spirit pin and opened the lid. He set his mace next to the iron cage and dunked both of his hands into the white batch, swirling them around and gathering fistfuls. The Spirits were like weeds gripped in its hands and the Horned Guard in its greed and gluttony began cramming them into his face, rumbling away with its grunting and munching. It had barely finished the first fistful when it crammed the second fist in, its cheeks expanding like balloons. A few Spirits were even crawling out through the holes in them. The Horned Guard swallowed and the writhing Spirits that survived the fat creature’s chewing expanded in its throat as they tried to escape. Some fell passed the ball of carnage lodged in its throat, while others clawed desperately at its slick esophagus. The Horned Guard’s horns drooped across its head as its hands reached up to grasp its throat.

You notice the Horned Guard wasn’t making its usual sound of grunting and munching. It was choking and wheezing. Turning away from the cage, the guard dropped to its knees with a loud boom! and hunched over until its stapled belly swayed upon the floor.