Everybody should read my reply to Arcanaut.

[@SirBeowulf] A Musical Based Illusionist? Sounds great.

[@Arcanaut]
[b]Ability Based Answer[/b]: While I do allow character with the same powers to exist, it should be noted due to the "uniqueness" factor that I have a character currently involved with spacial distortion, perhaps you do not mind, or perhaps you have a differing unique idea or take on the matter. Unless you meant cosmic space, which is also a yes. Within the lore of my world I could find a proper place to add this, as I feel it's bound to come up anyways; there are two types of Immortals and their powers. Manipulators, and Manifestors, obviously these are very clear cut guidelines, but for the sake of explanation. Manipulators control what is already present, and Manifestors create what is needed. Manipulators can sustain their power use longer than Manifestors, but are not necessarily more power. The ratio of power/constraint is a personalized definition based one what a person wants to do, how they want to do it, and all those other little tidbits.

I take in many more factors than you may consider. How this power can affect the world. Exactly what could be achieved with this power? This is also why I use "abilities" to layout the finer points of the power, like my character Alexandria's dispersion, this is a unique ability. So even with duplicate power copies, there is a chance for uniqueness, straying from the point though. I leave it up to the player to adequately perform their character to their vision, and will step in if I feel any boundaries are crossed, but for the most part everyone I have played with so fair has done this very well with the exclusion of one person. I don't normally just accept character sheets, I go over them with you to give an idea of how this character is going to exist in my world; but with all rights to follow your vision and desire of how you want to play them.

There is not a power I'm truly against letting a character have, I can put constraints on everything. Light, Cosmic Energy, Perception ( I have a character utilizing this) Spacial Distortion (Also a character for this) Sound waves / Sonic Resonance (Also a character, not sure if she is returning yet though) etc. If you want something, I would be glad to go over it with you. I'm here to give you a reality check, because most people immediately jump on board with what's cool, so it is my duty to make you understand how things are likely to play out. I'd much rather feel like I stepped on someone's toes with their idea, than have a character that is baseless and meaningless other than "that's cool".

[b]Faction Based Answers[/b] All of those things. I did draw some inspiration from Caesar's legion, but I also felt the world needed a good ol' faction of banditry and savagery. They are unified under a King, but really other than the soulless everybody does as they please in a technically lawless world, where they follow their own twisted sense of morality, which draws heavily on trial by combat and strength being true power. The cities and towns are technically organized in a disfunction chaotic way, that seems to function. I know, I'm cryptic, bear with me. They are like raiders forming a raider civilization, but who are too lazy to layout a proper construct of government. They are like tribesmen, raiders, legionnaires, and all of those fun bandit savage stereotypes living under one banner, it's like factions within the faction. Which is actually something I have been toying with the idea of writing out.

I don't set incredibly specific guidelines for factions, other than the Edenites are completely off limits to players. Motum Diversum is kind of that mixed trade empire, Aqueous is kind of asian, The Gaen are brainy, The Forsaken are brutish and savage, yet some are honorable, and the Seditio have yet to arise (The faction that my character Alexandria is currently attempting to establish.) I say trying because I never really set anything in stone, I prefer a world that reacts to what players do rather than players reacting to what the world does. But at the same time, vice versa, there is a balance I suppose. 

For the wolf metaphor, yes, absolutely. Strength is power and if the leader was so easily defeated then the victor is obviously the strongest and toughest and the most fit to lead. However, The Forsaken do not deal in dirty handed tricks or deceit, they are abrasive and very confrontational. To issue a challenge is the same is dueling for honor, may the victor take the spoils.

[@Ink Blood] Just so you know, he doesn't HAVE to feel pain from bone manipulation, but whatever angle you want to play you are more than welcome to. Just for perspective, my character would fall to the ground and spasm if her lightning affected her the way the bone manipulation idea would. But I tend to draw a lot of grungy, drug addicted characters into this (gives a heavy fallout vibe, which is great because that was my base inspiration. I did draw some elements from Metro 2033 as well, these are in the credits.). So yes, cursing, savagery, drugs, taboo, all the dark and lovely things-- All of the things. You may have a morphine addicted bone manipulating character. Fair warning, your character will be unable to manipulation the bones of other beings of creatures, unless they are previously deceased. Also, fair warning, your character will have to be a mix of manifestation and manipulation, if he/she were to manipulate their own skeletal construction it is likely to end up badly with lots of damage over things they have no control over, like ruptured blood vessels, etc. But, manifestation say, a bone-sword is not a constant use, it is a one time deal, so there's not much constraint when battling manipulators unless the character is constantly manifestation bone weapons,armor,projectiles, whatever.