[i][color=silver][h1][center]Prologue[/center][/h1][/color][/i] [i]Loud footsteps echoed throughout the long, highly decorated hallway. They were rushed footsteps and the man running toward the twin doors cared little for the rich tapestries of long forgotten places, portraits of grumpy old men, and the myriad of artifacts carefully arranged for full display. Such privilege flaunted so carelessly might have been tempting to take, if it wasn't for the person who owned them. The man, perhaps in his late twenties, was sweating profusely and his cheeks were flushed. Upon his body was a black uniform lined with silver and had a blazing yellow symbol of the sun a top his right breast. It signified his position as a commanding officer in the Sol Protectorate, but that company was supposed to be on the front lines... Behind the doors, a small number of men stood around a table, looking over a war map. At the head of this table stood a man wearing a small crown, he too wore a simple black uniform except his symbol was an ornate owl of silver. His grave expression and cold steel eyes were worrisome. And then the doors burst open, all eyes at the table turned to the newcomer as a few cautious guards glanced wearily with their hands upon their hilts. The man's breathing was ragged and he spoke out of breath. "Mi'lords... Westgate has fallen. Commander Tyberius held out for as long as he could but the enemy is too great. I.. I am sorry." The man then collapsed before them, and a few aids rushed to his side. The crowned man sighed, bowing his head as if in defeat for a moment before looking up at the others surrounding him. They were generals and lords and he was their Emperor of a land besieged. They looked to him for guidance and authority but the war was straining the stability of the Empire and he had ignored them for far too long. He spoke, his voice commanding respect but held a hint of shame, "Give out the word then, tell them Emperor Janus calls for champions. Tell them they are to strike at the heart, the Ebony Mountain of Kazath." He sighed and gritted his teeth, "And tell them they'll be rewarded handsomely."[/i] [center]-----[/center] [center][i][b]Plot[/b] [/i]- Two years ago, in the far western reaches of the Empire, a seed sprouted in the womb of the Ebony Mountain. What came next was horrific. Great tendrils of a dark green shot up from the ground in the immediate area surrounding the mountains in pestilence and decay. From the vines, as people called them, came the Scorned. So the war began, between the peoples of the Empire and the new threat that unified them even more so, then the bonds of old. In the two short years of the war, the Empire has been steadily loosing ground as the Vines grew from the mountain. The fall of Westgate finally prompted Emperor Janus to call for outside help as his military forces were only useful as defense for the empire. Now, it's time to strike the heart of the Scorn itself, one desperate attempt to stop the Scorned from advancing any further. And you won't be doing it without help. [i][b]World Lore[/b] [/i]- The Empire of Caldania has long since stood as the pinnacle of cultural achievement and prosperity on the continent of Eon. There was no need for petty wars or rivalry between other kingdoms, because they all bent the knee centuries ago in the Age of Strife to Dramoria Caldan, first Emperor of a united Eon. He was a a scholar first and warrior second only out of necessity. However, the means of his unification have been a topic of importance as of late. He had used the fabled artifacts of Dran'Kurath, weapons of power and jewelry that bestowed great gifts, as means of pacifying the people. Those artifacts were held back by Janus himself, as they were to valuable and a symbol of power. Now, with his Empire collapsing, what little choice is there but to use them? [hider=Races] [b]Humans[/b]; Self explanatory. Dominant people of the Empire and found everywhere but primarily towards the center. (Humans are talented at many things but never the best. They are however, quite determined when in the right mindset.) [b]Elves[/b]; [i]Wood Elves[/i]- Once found in the lush forests of the North, where their people lived a top the great Evertrees. Now virtually extinct due to the Navorus Plague. However, there a rumors of a small band that travel the land, never to return to their homes for fear of the plague. Pictures indicate that they were a fair people, above average in appearances and well skilled in hunting. (Wood elves are incredibly nimble on their feet and are well accustomed to vanishing among trees. Their skill with a bow made them the best archers throughout Eon but that was before the plague. They aren't very strong compared to the other races and prefer to keep a distance from enemies. Magic isn't well documented within their race.) [i]High Elves[/i]- Found in the tropics of the South. Their rich culture traces themselves well back before the founding of the Empire. They are renown for their ship building and abilities with martial weapons. They are fairly dark in appearance, with a slight point on their ears. (They are dexterous on their feet and even quicker with a blade. However, there ore those who do wield magic in their race, but they are outcasts because the High Elves see magic as a weakness and dishonorable.) [b]Dwarves[/b]; A forgotten race. They retreated deep inside their mountains before the founding of the Empire. Some books talk of small bearded men with a knack for mining, others talk of vile creatures that inhabit the dark places of the world, always seeking a way to find and eat children. If anything is agreed upon, it is that they are gone. [b]Orcs[/b]; The orcish people are found in Eastern parts of the Empire. They are well known for their great works of art within their cities of alabaster stone. Whether it be with stone, paint or clay Orcish art has a primal beauty to it that is well admired and sought after in throughout the Empire. They use to be a brutal, warlike society but Emperor Dramoria changed their ways for the better and they are now respected throughout Imperial Society. They range in appearances and usually try to match the trends set by their nobility. (Orcs pride themselves on being strong and cunning on the battlefield and their strength is legendary. They are not very fast however and the vast majority lack magical abilities) [b]Semper Fae[/b]; The Fae are on odd race, not restrained down by normal cultural customs or the ever changing political structure of the Empire. They never truly die, but at the end of their long lives, are instead reborn in their gardens of Yold. They despise conflict and actively shy away from war. They much prefer to give then take, and wouldn't hesitate to help those in need. The Semper Fae are well known across Eon for their magnificent gardens and their ability to wield an assortment of magics. Their land and its beauty or currently under siege by the Scorned and they are loosing badly. [hider=The Rebirth of Semper Fae] The exotic looking Semper Fae have roots that go well before recorded history and perhaps even beyond the first days of man. They come in many different appearances, and can change from Rebirth to Rebirth. The most basic of the Fae take on looks that mimic plant life, and their dazzling colors are a thing of beauty. As a Fae lives, and relives again and again, they can add to their design and become ornate, with some older Fae looking like gnarled trees or flowers as radiant as the sun. One thing is known for sure, the Semper Fae defy mortal logic. Once grown from the Yold tree, the Fae nurture and tend to the offspring. Gender is fluid among them, and a new Fae can switch at each Rebirth if they choose too. The Semper Fae don't really die in the terms that other mortals use. To them, it's all about renewing themselves, much like plants do every season. Except the Fae can go for years without needing to be reborn, it's all a matter of prospective to them and a whole lot of patience. Their very life force is draws from magic and it provides them much needed energy. They don't have to eat, but sleep is a necessity and allows a little magic to seep back into them. During the time outside of the Garden Wombs, their energy will slowly dwindle away as they use it up and they will grow older in appearance. If a Semper Fae does not rebirth itself after having spent all of it's energy, it turns to dust in the wind. They can still die by normal means, but it would take a very cruel man to kill a Fae or, monsters... [/hider] (Focuses on Magic and ranged abilities, not very good with swords and other melee weapons) [/hider] [hider=Locations] [b]Dramon[/b]- Capital City of the Empire, located in the very center of Eos. Populations estimates are well over a million inhabitants. Well known for its monuments to Dramoria and architecture feats. [b]The Ebony Mountain[/b]- It's located in the Kazath mountains range in the far western fringes of the Empire. Well known for being black as night amidst its brothers of grey. Also known as the source for the corruption known as Scorn. [b]Cidanol[/b]- It's best known for being the ancestral home of the High Elves, located on the coast of the Sea of Etheriel. [b]Crepix[/b]- What use to be simple tents made from animal hides, is now a rapidly growing city of stone. The orcs have been steadily building Crepix for centuries, and its architectural beauty almost beats Dramon. [b]Yoldanland[/b]- The Fae don't really have a home city, but a land they call homage to their God. Within it lays the fabled Gardens of Yold and the secret to the Fae's immortality. It is currently under siege by the Scorned, and they are slowly turning it into a mockery of life. [b]Evermore[/b]- Once home to the Wood Elves, now only the trees remain. Quiet and uncaring. [b]Northgate[/b]- The first gate founded by Dramoria following the Age of Strife. He chose all of his gates to be built on highground and warded by powerful enchantments. The gates act as a base of operations for the Imperial army and they keep a close watch on the areas that the other races call home. Ever since the Wood Elves died out, Northgate has been understaffed, mainly to keep the areas free of bandits and occasionally watch over some towns in the area. [b]Eastgate[/b]- The second gate to be founded by Dramoria to keep a watch on the orcs who call Crepix home. [b]Southgate[/b]- The third gate to be founded by Dramoria to watch the Sea's of Etherial and the High Elves. [b]Westgate[/b]- The final gate to be founded by Dramoria to keep note of the Fae. Emperor Dramoria knew that they would never rise up against his rule, or anyone for that matter. It was also understaffed before the Scorned hit, but once the threat was known it was completely filled to capacity but now lays overrun. [/hider] [hider=Magic] Magic is a loose term used by scholars and those who practice it to give voice to their inner nature. Magical abilities come in many different assortments but you have to be born with the innate ability to practice it, otherwise you would never be able too. Once found to have the ability to practice magic, a person is whisked away for training in the Imperial Academy of Magicks or IAM. There, students are given a choice to practice their abilities for military use or for less strenuous activities. Those found to have exceptional magical abilities, are given over to the Templar Order of Arcanum and seldom seen again. It usually takes a lifetime of practice and study to be able to use magic effectively, but the option to leave IAM, is given to students after ten years of study. Most are pressured into joining the military. Types of magic vary but their are a few taboo to the Empire. One mainly being dark magic and the other less known, soul magic. [/hider] [hider=The Artifacts of Dran'Kurath] Little is known about the nature of these weapons and trinkets but one thing resides over all of the rumors. They are of power. Dramoria used them to unite the world under his banner and then fear of their capabilities kept the other races in check. After a time, as the first generation of the empire fell to dust, they were mostly forgotten. Nowadays, they sit in a vault waiting to be used. [/hider] [hider=The Scorned] Little is known about the origin of the Scorn save where it came from, The Ebony Mountain. It is like nothing the people of Eon have ever seen before, its very presence corrupts and twists life itself. From the great green tendrils came the first of the Scorned. They were vine-like in appearance, with sickly green appendages and a head that resembled something between a flower and a maw of teeth. They showed no emotion and ran down anything that wasn't one of their own, killing without remorse. Their ghastly shrieks put terror into the hearts of men. Next came the animals. All manners of creatures, once ordinary and as they should have been, now twisted by corruption. Wolves grew larger and deformed, seething tendrils of corruption from their bodies. Bears became lumbering behemoths of twisted fur and leafy hide. Their very presence was enough to make many a man falter. Ever increasing in number, the Scorned animals made a fine addition to the Scorn. [/hider] [hider=Religions] The Pantheon of The Stars is the main religion of the Empire. Worshiped by Dramoria himself, and continued on through the faithful servants of the Church for as long as anyone can remember. The Pantheon consists of many Gods and Goddesses, chief among them is The Sun God Sol, father of all creation, he gives life but also takes it away. His wife is the Moon Goddess Luna, Watcher of the Dark and all of its denizens. There are many other deities in the Pantheon and they will be explored later. [hider=The Pantheon of the Stars] Sol, the Eternal - The Father of Creation, he created everything, or so the legends go. He is the chief deity of the Pantheon and for good reason. He came into existence first, and created the planets in the sky, the twinkling stars in the deep blackness of space and life itself. He shaped mankind in his image, which is why they revere him so greatly. Sol giveth life and he can take it as well. His rays of sun give plants and mankind energy but when he is angry, his rays become spiteful. His domains are of Sunlight, Life and Power. His symbol is that of a yellow sun. Luna, the Watcher - Mother of the Darkness and wife to Sol. They are opposites in nature but compliment each other. Without one, balance would be skewed and the world would ruin or so sayeth the church. Luna presides over the night and all of its denizens who call it home. Her domains are of Moonlight, Darkness and Balance. Her symbol is that of a silver owl. Viridi, The Splendid - Where Sol created human life, Viridi kept himself busy with the plants and animals across Eon. He is the father of all beast and wild place untouched by mortal hands. His domains are of Animals, Nature and Beauty. His symbol is that of a Evergreen. Many Semper Fae worship Viridi as their own god. Alidia, the Beauty - Alidia is the fairest Goddess upon the pantheon but also known for her cruelty. She cares deeply for mortal life in all of its forms, but takes it away when its time is spent. There is a beauty to death, where many might find horror, there is only the quiet peace of drawing ones last breath. Alidia cares for those who have died but she is a sweet mistress who does not take sides. Her domains is of Death. Her symbol is of a skull, wrapped in flowers. More to come. [/hider] Though the Pantheon of The Stars is the main religion, there are those that hold onto their ancestors old ways of life, before the coming of the Empire. It is common to see other Gods worshiped but it is not against the law, only frowned upon much to the Church's dismay. [/hider] [hider=Character Sheet] Picture or Description- Name- Gender- Race- Age- Personality(optional)- Backstory- (minimum of two paragraphs, more is definitely welcome.) Magical abilities- (if any list here) Combat abilities- (if any list here) Motive- (Why would you answer the call of the Emperor? Is it for money? Fame? Glory? Or to do the right thing and help the planet survive?) [/hider] [hider=Rules] 1. Follow all rules required by the site itself 2. Your characters can be experienced as you want, or not at all. Just don't Godmod and we'll be good. 3. Power levels can also vary, some races are inherently different then others and such have different traits. They also have flaws, plus your own character will have flaws I'm sure. 4. I'd like this to be somewhat mature, and dark themes could be very present but nothing over the top. 5. Romance is encouraged but not being forced, just keep it pg-13 IC. 6. Feel free to ask me questions, I like to be a very accommodating person. 7. You may also have two characters if you desire, but no more then that. 7. Most importantly have fun! That's what this site is for right? [/hider][/center] Note- This page will constantly be updated with lore bits and other items as the RP continues.