[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/01GJ49z.png[/img][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/HMzBp4F.png[/img][/center] The Supernatural Concealment and Investigation Operations Network. Better known as S.C.I.O.N. Once, in times gone by, known as The Order of the Scion of the Azure Moon. But that's a bit of a mouthful and hard to shout when some lycan is trying to crush your trachea in a big meaty fist. So, SCION it is. [img]http://i.imgur.com/vQNnuorl.jpg[/img] Assuming you're a human, you will probably never have heard of it. You will most likely live out your entire life never openly encountering any trace of SCION, or its staff. And if you don't, you can probably consider yourself lucky; because if you have, you're either a very exceptional individual... or something statistically far more powerful is trying to murder you. Possibly both. SCION is a collaborative effort between a small section of humanity, and some of the major families of the sapient cryptid species, to both research supernatural species, and the enforce a...healthy distance between humanity, and the monsters out there in the world. It exists to keep things secret, and to keep both sides of the coin safe from destroying each other. (Previous instances where humans and cryptids have mixed in recent times has made things...tense at best. Think Witch Trials. Think, vampires buried alive with rocks stuffed into their mouths, think whole camps of human soldiers found mysteriously torn apart out in remote nordic woodland...that kind of stuff. ) [img]http://i.imgur.com/8JFp6zll.png[/img] It's the only place you're likely to find humans working alongside werewolves, vampires, the spirits of the dead. Brings a whole new meaning to the idea of workplace diversity, right? Once upon a time, SCION worked for world governments, under their funding and protection. Branches all over the place. Then, came a sudden declaration to cut the funding, burn the records, and shut everything down. No more SCION anywhere. Gone. Finished. Obviously someone, someone very powerful wanted there to be no-one checking up on supernatural activity. So, for 50 years, no SCION. Not a peep. Well, not that most people were aware of. Other things rush in to fill the power vacuum. Vampire clans. Wolf packs. And far darker things. Stories of a major demon on US soil filter through the rumour mill, though nothing is confirmed. Order remains... but that order is maintained through a large number of humans who see things they should not going 'missing' forever. SCION became nearly a myth. The odd shadow in the night. Rumours that they still operated somewhere, on a low level. Then, about 10 years back, operatives began to appear, to contact the old families and clans. SCION would live again. A benefactor had left them enough funding to begin again from the ground up, this time as an independent entity, outside of government control. They could work once more...but this time they were in a far more precarious position. Relying on the whimsical and tumultuous nature of the powers in the supernatural work for support. Cut to the present, and SCION has climbed its way back into prominence in the supernatural community. They investigate, they research, they spy...and they bust heads..if need be. They carefully select members from all walks of life and (nearly) all species. Some are important for their skills and aptitude, some for their political position in the supernatural world...and some are simply people who can disappear and not be missed at all. All kinda have been given a new life within the SCION base. So, the question is, are you ready to sign up? [hr] [img]http://i.imgur.com/nQiKEsC.png[/img] [h2]SCION Teams [/h2] [i]There are plenty of types within SCION, all play a big role, and not all get along too well. The main operatives within the central wings are divided into teams. Each team has trained together for some time and the members know each other well. A Team Leader is assigned to keep everyone in line and to report back to the Officers, the three senior SCION staff who then report back to The Head, SCION's oft-heard, but never seen benefactor. The Teams often have a degree of rivalry, some playful...sometimes a little less playful, but they are often required to work together cohesively. Any drama (and there's often plenty of drama) must be put aside when out in the field, because if you can't trust someone to watch your back in that dog eat dog world, you're as good as dead.[/i] [hider= SCION Field Teams] [img]http://i.imgur.com/QhiBx4O.jpg[/img] [b]Wolf Moon[/b] - General Field Team - Historically Mostly Werewolf Members - Team Leader:[i] Post Currently Unoccupied, currently receiving orders from Thunder Moon team leader.[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/46C0ajU.jpg[/img] [b]Thunder Moon[/b] - General Field Team - Mixed Species - Team Leader: TBC [img]http://i.imgur.com/sYJG69m.jpg[/img] [b]Hunter's Moon[/b] - Espionage and Intel Team - Mixed Species - Team Leader: TBC [img]http://i.imgur.com/qRJcTXW.jpg[/img] [b]Blood Moon[/b] - General Field Team - Historically Mostly Vampire Members - Team Leader: TBC [/hider] [hider= SCION Research Teams] [b]Wyrm Moon[/b] - Cryptobiology Research - Team Head : [b]Dr Oren D Kovalenko[/b] [img]http://i.imgur.com/7aeDZ5i.jpg[/img] [b]Harvest Moon[/b] - Historical and Archival Research - Team Head: [img]http://i.imgur.com/We5Acix.jpg[/img] [b]Blue Moon[/b] - Magical Research - Team Head: [/hider] [hr] [h2]Species of the Supernatural World[/h2] There are many creatures that inhabit the world, without their presence being realised by humanity. Within SCION, this subset of species are collectively referred to as 'cryptids' in order to save time. Other cryptids do, almost certainly, exist out there in the world ([i]ie if you've got some other ideas, feel free to let your friendly GM know[/i]) but some of the most prominent are detailed as follows: [hider=Vampires] The children of the night. The nosferatu. The things of horror stories and teen romance novels the world over...but the truth of a vampires is both scary, and a bit sad. Vampires were once humans, humans who had the venom of another vampire injected directly into their jugular vein so as to have it reach their heart almost immediately..and cause it to stop. It would remain stopped for about six hours as every cell in the host's body was infected with the curse, only to have it restart again slower and colder. A vampire has a very low body temperature, and a naturally slow pulse. They have astonishing dark vision and very fast reflexes. Much like snakes, they are able to sense body heat through adapted cells beneath their skin, and additionally like snakes, they are able to snap out a set of very long, hollow canines from their upper jaw. These often snap out when a vampire is angry or threatened, as well as about to strike. They are incredibly effective predators. Like mantids their appearance draws their prey, humans. Humans see them as uncommonly, if rather savagely beautiful, and tend to be drawn to them. This suits a vampire well. They must drink blood every few days in order to maintain good health. Without it they will begin to sicken and decay. Their cells will degenerate until they resemble a walking corpse and until their minds degenerate into animalistic madness. Vampires were supposedly created at some point in pre-history, when a human sold their soul to a demon in exchange for eternal life. The demon granted them their wish, the progenitor would never age, nor sicken, nor decay, but it was a half-life. They would forever be cold, forever cursed to shun the light, and would never bear living children, only able to create more through mixing their tainted blood with that of humanity to create more of them. That was The Mother, the first vampire. That's if you believe the legend, but that is what has been passed through the oral tradition of their kind for centuries. Vampires are defined by the following characteristics: [list] [*]Low body temperature and slow pulse. [*]Slow metabolic processes and efficient energy usage, allowing their kind to exist on the comparatively nutrient-poor foodstuff that is blood. [*]Extremely good dark vision. [*]Extendable hollow canine teeth driven by strong muscles in the upper jaw. Venom sacs existing next to salivary glands. [*]Anti-coagulant in saliva. [*]Longer, more tightly-coiled digestive system. [*]Cartilage rather than bone making up the sternum, creating a weak point in around the centre of the vampire's chest. (Hence the folklore belief that a vampire might be killed by a 'stake to the heart'. [*]Increased strength and physical ability, particularly related to having a very fast running speed, and an especially strong grip, for chasing and holding prey. [*]Appears generally attractive to humans. [*]Extreme sensitivity to UV radiation. Whilst vampires will not burst into flames in sunlight, their cells are very easily damaged by UV radiation. Their sensitive eyes can easily receive retinal damage, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause painful necrosis of skin tissue. [*]Requires blood every few days in order to retain optimum health. Without it the vampiric cellular structure starts to break down, their cells will start to die and the vampire will begin to appear to 'decay', the subsequent brain damage causing the individual to behave in a progressively more aggressive and animalistic manner. Due to the vampire's enhanced healing factor this damage is reversible up to a certain point, before vampire can be considered too far gone, though there are reports of some older vampires being brought back after centuries of burial. [/list][/hider] [hider=Werewolves] Hungry like the wolf. The werewolf is another of the supernatural creatures that has permeated popular culture. Like vampires, some werewolves were once ordinary humans, turned by the bite of one of the lycan kind. However, unlike vampires, a werewolf may have children, and as a result, the majority of werewolves around in the modern era were born never having known humanity. Born wolves tend to be stronger than those turned, and those from certain lines stronger still than that. This tends to make born-wolves a little...hung up on it. A werewolf, most of the time, resembles a person. A born-wolf tends to be on the tall side, with an athletic build and something a little..scruffy about them. Males of the species tend to build muscle mass quite easily. All werewolves have a fast metabolism, a high body temperature, and a rapid pulse. They tend to display quite impressive strength even in human form, and this is greatly increased when they transform. Transformation is a major part of a werewolf's life. By default, upon every full moon, as the last rays of sun disappear they will be hit by agonizing, blinding pain. Bones will snap and reform, organs will fail and warp. The werewolf will suffer a heart attack, multiple fractures, massive internal trauma and their skin will tear itself apart. By the end, they will be a new creature, a horrifying meld of human and beast with a wolf-like head and a hunched body, covered in thick fur. Transformed, partly due to the beast instincts, and partly due to the immense trauma of transformation, werewolves become animalistic and vicious. They will attack most living things and act like a wild creature, causing destruction and chaos around them. That is unless they are properly trained. Born werewolves will be put through rigorous training by their own pack. First of all mental preparation in order to maintain their goals in wolf form, and to not harm those on their own side. The second set of training they got through it using a focus to bring on the change outside the full moon. These 'forced' transformations can give them a needed edge in a fight, but are also very hard on a werewolf's body. To force a change whilst injured or unwell can easily kill the individual. Along with born-wolves come the unfortunate products of werewolves without restraint, turned-wolves, humans who were bitten by a werewolf and survived this encounter. These are often considered a great concern for retaining supernatural secrecy, as many won't even be aware of their condition until they reach a full moon, and uncontrolled they an wreak terrible chaos. A turned werewolf has been a cause for more than a few SCION dispatches over the years. [/hider] [hider= Sorcerers] Another who has known what it is to be human, most as they were often born of humans. A sorcerer is a mortal who has magic running through their veins. They are able to channel into the fundamental forces of nature and wreck things with it. This tends to be a problem to an inexperienced caster, though. For many it may begin to trigger accidentally, fires starting, objects flinging themselves into walls, strange presences within the home. That sort of thing. Uncontrolled, the powers can be very dangerous, growing unchecked and unfocused they often end up lashing out at random, killing the caster or people around them. A sorcerer can however, train and learn to manipulate their abilities to call upon the elements. Through this they can become very powerful, despite being physically unremarkable and as mortal as any regular man. [/hider] [hider= Fallen] An enigmatic form of cryptid, most Fallen with Scion were picked up directly from where they appeared. That is, Fallen appear to literally...fall. When you see footage of meteorites crashing to earth wreathed in flame. Not all of them are meteorites. Investigators will sometimes find, rather than shattered space rock in th e crater, a humanoid figure, smoking and blackened with burns, bones shattered and body twisted up like you might expect something that'd just rocketed out of the sky in a trail of flame to end up looking like. It's pretty nasty...but is made quite a bit more nasty by the fact that they're nearly always alive after landing. Most Fallen recovered by SCION have been comatose since their recovery, and offer little other than research material into the phenomenon. Those that have awoken, whilst more immediately useful, suffer from acute amnesia, and have no memory of their lives before they fell. Most however have appeared easy enough to deal with, and have often taken up posts within the organisation. All Fallen are very heavily scarred, and tend to not be too pleasant to look at, but often have quite gentle dispositions. Their touch has the odd ability of being able to relieve the pain and infer a sense of serenity upon those they make contact with, and as a result many have had success training as medics within the organisation. [/hider] [hider=Wendigo] Wendigo, known in other cultures as an Ithaqua, Jikininki, Rakshasha, one of the Wild Hunt, Draugr, or a host of other names, is a spirit of the savagery of nature that may come to inhabit a human. These are primordial spirits borne of the earth, and exist less as a full intelligence and more of an animal drive. To hunt and feed the earth with the blood of the prey. A Wendigo may be 'contracted' in some ways, but in some cases it may be invited in with certain rituals. This is because becoming host to a Wendigo does not, at least, if properly managed, overtake the consciousness of the person carrying it, and does confer certain benefits. The host is stronger, faster, will heal more quickly, and has highly acute sense like a predatory creature. In addition they will be brought into the flow of nature itself. Plants will begin to grow wherever they stay for long, animals that might be fierce and dangerous to others will become submissive and calm, and the host can sense the intruders in any woods where they dwell. However. The wendigo must be sated by hunting. The host must spill the blood of a creature frequently as an offering to the earth, or they will begin to change. The symptoms resemble the development of rabies, then, addition their whole body begins to change and become something bestial and horrific. By the time they've reached this they will remain a bloodthirsty monster until the creature is vanquished, and that can only be completed by using weapons made from the naturally occurring plants of the area it inhabits. When the beast is defeated the circle s completed and a bloodied battered human body will take its place. [/hider] [hr] [h2] Character Sheet [/h2] [hider=Character Sheet Template][noparse] [img] (Image, if you have one, goes here.) Full Name: Nicknames/Aliases: Age: Gender: Species: SCION Team/Rank: (If applicable) [hr] Description: [indent](Even if you have a picture some writing is nice to cover anything it doesn't catch, any distinguishing features, etc.)[/indent] Personality: [indent] [/indent] [hr] [b]Skills:[/b] [indent] (Supernatural or practical abilities that are applicable.) [/indent] [b]Weaknesses:[/b] [indent] [hr] [b]Brief History:[/b] Any notable events in their background that might have shaped them. If you don't want to reveal too much, that's fine.) [/noparse] [/hider] [hr] [i]Hi folks! I'm Vit, your GM for the evening (and hopefully longer?). Welcome to SCION OOC, make yourself at home, have fun, and respect the house rules. [list] [*] Please submit characters on the OOC thread for review before putting them on up in the characters tab. Place aren't really limited or anything but I like to check everything makes sense first. [*] Be polite in the OOC thread. Leave the bickering to the characters, lord knows they need the space. [*] Take as many characters as you can handle, but only if you're comfortable with juggling them. [*] You're welcome to put your character up for one of the team leader roles, but do be aware that they'll be reviewed for realism in the sense that they're supposedly an individual who has proven themselves an able leader. ie, a team member character could realistically get away with being a it of a slacker, a team member character, much less so. [*] If you have any other species ideas, you're welcome to suggest, though it does depend to some degree on the species' capacity to blend in in the 'normal' world. Dragons might exist out there somewhere, but you're not likely to see one strolling down a street waving to onlookers. [*] I'm relatively new to this site specifically, so, I'm not really hip with the fancy coding, so, if you want to pretty-up your sheet more than my mediocre attempt, add more pictures, do something fancy, then be my guest, so long as it retains the categories listed.[/list] I think that's about all I need to cover for now. If you're interested in hopping on this, do speak up! [/i]