[h2]Important Information[/h2][hider=Where the Roleplay is Set] [b]Where the Roleplay is Set:[/b] This roleplay is set in the Equestrian settlement of Bellbrooke, located in the former British Isles in the area once known as "Wales". It is a medium sized settlement by the sea surrounded by protective stone walls manned by guards and crude automated defenses. The town is located near a large lake, a deep forest that surrounds most of the towns outer walls, a tremendous crater of unknown origin to the west, an abandoned human town built from before The Rending, a strange mansion located somewhere in the woods, and countless other places yet to be discovered. Bellbrooke is a wealthy settlement, attracting adventurers, explorers, and countless individuals due to the abundance of un-salvaged wealth and technology littering the area. Within the towns walls are homes, businesses, bazaars, inns, pubs, small factories, docks where fishing is done and ships are taken in, and even a small air field where airships come and go with varying frequency. One of the most notable things in Bellbrooke is the Reform School, built out of an old renovated castle perched atop a hill near a cliff overlooking the town and the sea. While welcoming Bellbrooke has its share of problems. There is a criminal element inside the city and Rended, along with raiders, attack the walls every now and then. Going outside the walls allows for the chance to find all kinds of things, including an early death. Rumors have recently begun spreading that a fabulous power is hidden somewhere near Bellbrooke... *Note: I was originally going to draw a very elaborate map of Bellbrooke and its surroundings. However I ended up needing surgery which I'm still recovering from. I can't sit down to use my tablet so the map will have to come another time.[/hider][h2]Setting Information[/h2][hider=The Rending] [u][b]The Rending:[/b][/u] Given basic magic spellbooks by the Equestrians in a goodwill trade, the Humans of Earth used the information they gleaned to rediscover Earthly Magic. It wasn’t long before they began to use magic to create weapons out of fear of one another. Massive rituals, constructs of destructive power, terrible artifacts, and even monster like bio-weapons capable of rending soldiers limb from limb. The build up was so fast that it spiraled violently out of control. Soon everyone had some manner of doomsday weapon or terribly powerful magic. Countries ignored their old arsenal of weapons as they came to possess the means to rain meteors down on one another. Banish entire chunks of landmass to far off dimensions of death. Crush cities flat with massive telekinetic generators. And even awaken the dead… Though with all the power there was no sense of deterrent as the diversity of the weapons and their many intricacies made it possible that they would survive, and that someone could potentially win. Then without warning everything went off at once. Millions died and the simultaneous usage of so much destructive magic unleashed an unstable ambient energy across the world. Every square inch of the world was covered affecting every living creature, down to the last women and child. At first it seemed to do nothing and then... [/hider][hider=The Rended] [u][b]The Rended:[/b][/u] Following the cataclysmic event known as “The Rending” the vast majority of human adults on Earth died of catastrophic organ failure within a week. Those who didn’t parish underwent ghastly physical and mental changes from the unstable magical energies that had been spread across the globe. Loving parents and friendly neighbors became monsters with no recollection of who they once were. Some animals and wildlife also began to change. Turning into near mythical creatures or disgusting monstrous abominations that only lived to kill The changes triggered by the Rending differed widely from creature to creature, leaving the Rended very diverse and largely unpredictable. Some would remain similar to their original form, highly disfigured and totally deranged. Others changed so drastically that telling what they were originally became immensely challenging. Others still changed greatly, but gained or retained a form of intelligence that set them above the rest. Plenty of the Rended developed strange powers and fearsome adaptations that made them difficult to combat. However the diverse the Rended may be however they are linked in their shared, almost instinctual drive to kill anything that isn’t like them. Equestrian settlements come under attack from the Rended frequently and those outside the walls of the settlements, Equestrian explorers or unreformed humans, must content with them in their travels. [/hider][hider=The Equestrian Military] [u][b]The Equestrian Military:[/b][/u] Before the contact with Earth and the occurred of The Rending, Equestria didn’t have much of a military. Their armed forces were a force of guards meant to watch the borders and keep the peace within Equestria. However seeing the destruction on Earth the Equestrians were forced to take action and organize a proper fighting force. They did so and created four separate branches with unique purposes. [b]The Grand Guard:[/b] Also referred to as the “Sol Invictus” or “Unconquered Sun” the Grand Guard’s purpose was to restore order and protect the survivors of The Rending. After Equestria began to establish walled settlements on Earth the Grand Guard was assigned to protect them from monsters, lawless raiders, and criminals in and out of the walls. The Grand Guard features a mix of old and new technologies and mentalities. Training wise the Guard still instructs those who join in the use of swords, spears, and other ‘archaic’ weapons with firearms training being largely secondary. Equipment is typically made up of a spear or shortsword, a crude Equestrian made firearm, and light plate armor with a matching helmet. The armor is a mix of old medieval design practices with modern materials, lightweight alloys, ceramics, and potent aramid fibers. Allowing the guards to weather slashes and blows just as much as they can bullets. Unlike most other fighting related groups, the Grand Guard accepts humans within its ranks. This is because the Equestrians see a difference between ‘defencive’ fighting and ‘offencive’ fighting. They fear humans becoming overly destructive if exposed to offencive fighting, but fighting to protect others in the guard will better them. [b]The Harmony Corp:[/b] A largely nonviolent humanitarian group made up of doctors, researchers, and volunteers. During the Rending they were tasked with saving the lives of the survivors and preserving their sanity during such trying times. They also researched the human technology recovered, giving the Equestrians better ways to protect themselves and others. After the establishment of the Reform Schools and settlements on Earth, the Harmony Corp took a more passive role in things. Stationed in areas of need while doing research and responding to local emergencies. Humans are welcomed to the Harmony Corp due to its largely non-combative and non-violent nature. [b]The Outriders:[/b] When the Rending occurred not all the weapons the humans made had been used or were destroyed in the ensuing destruction. Many still remained active, taking on a life of their own and beginning to travel across the blasted Earth. In order to stop these menaces before they could claim more lives a special group was formed by the Equestrians with the express purpose of hunting dangers to them and the human survivors. [i]The Outriders. [/i] Armed with the best weapons and equipment available they were sent out to eliminate monsters, malicious artifacts, out of control weapons of doom, and countless other threats following the Rending. They were an elite group with condensed numbers, carefully and specifically picked for their skills, bravery, and resolve. Thanks to their hard work many major threats were quelled and the Earth became safe enough to settle. However it was not without cost as the Outriders had suffered heavy loses and were reduced significantly in number. A decade later and the remaining Outriders, along with the few new ones accepted into the fold, are stationed in Settlements of interest or travel around searching for dangers. Nowadays they mainly take bounties on dangerous criminals and specific Rended causing trouble for settlements. Occasionally getting missions or simply hunting down forgotten weapons of doom on their own volition. Humans are largely barred from the Outriders due to the offensively focused nature of the group and their work with the more unpleasant and dangerous elements of humanity's past actions. [b]The Wonderbolt Special Forces:[/b] Originally just a prestigious airshow and emergency rescue team, the Wonderbolts were transformed into a Special Forces group following the occurrence of the Rending. Hand picked and meticulously trained Pegasi took to the air with special equipment, flying secret missions of the utmost importance. During the Rending they were sometimes called the “Shadowbolt Special Forces” due to how their missions were always cloaked in shadow. Ten years after the Rending the Wonderbolts are still operating, though do significantly more open work than before. Small teams of Wonderbolts are assigned to Settlements with lots of Rended activity and intrigue, like Bellbrooke. They are tasked with assisting the guard, rescuing individuals, and carrying out any special orders given to them by their superiors. However the Wonderbolts have been undergoing a lot of internal strife as of late. Power shifts are underway as certain actions taken during the Rending have come to light that have colored the reputations of otherwise loyal and heroic members. Only Pegasi and to a lesser extent Griffons, are admitted to the wonderbolts. All none flying races, especially humans, are barred from joining. [/hider][hider=Current Technology] [b]Current Technology:[/b] Originally Equestrians had very limited technology. Quills, thatched rooftops, carriages, medieval style architecture and weapons, and a general reliance on magic over advanced technology. Though they had things like automotives, electricity, and the like they didn’t focus too much on their development or widespread usage. However when the Rending occurred and they rushed to Earth’s aide, they began to reverse engineer some of the technology the humans had for their own purposes. Ten years later and things have changed. The Equestrians now have a greater understanding of various technologies and employ them more readily on Earth. They produce rudimentary firearms, motorized carriages similar to automobiles, alloys and potent synthetic materials, electrical power generation, readily available fluorescent lighting, and crude computer systems enhanced with magic that allows for automated defenses and even clunky robotic automatons. However for all the technical wonders they have, from airships, to robots, to firearms and medicines, they still have much to learn. Much of the technology the humans had before the Rending still surpasses that of what Equestria has now, especially the more experimental technology being worked on shortly before the end of civilization. Because of this salvaged human technology is very valuable. An old VHS player might not seem like much, but to an Equestrian buyer it is a wealth of unpatented technologies and still yet untapped technology that could make them rich. Countless shops and bazaars in settlements revolve solely around the buying, selling, and exploiting of recovered human technology as well as various treasures and valuables found alongside them. Human firearms are practically a market all to themselves. Equestrian firearms are nice, but nearly a century behind modern human weapons. Falling block rifles, tubed shotguns, and single action revolvers are mass produced and sold in shops. However things like assault rifles, grenade launchers, missile weapon systems, and compact machine guns are largely beyond what the Equestrians are knowledgeable of. Thus surviving human weapons fetch a high price, sought after by many people due to their power and efficiency, even though there are few means to readily maintain them and proper spare parts are hard to come across. [/hider][h2]Magic[/h2][hider=Types and Functions of Magic] [b][h2]On Magic[/h2][/b] [b]Equestrian Magic[/b] Magic is very prevalent in Equestria and its surrounding lands. Many of the races that dwell within Equestria have some inherent magical nature to them. Ponies specifically have a very strong innate magic and possess abilities specific to their race. Channeling magic in Equestria is done through the use of a body part as a conduit for magical energy. Earth ponies focus their magic through their hooves, Pegasi focus it through their wings, and Unicorns, Alicorns, Changelings, and other spell casting races use their horns. In order to use magic these races draw from an inner magical reservoir of sorts for the energy to fuel their spells. As long as the caster has the knowledge, focus, and technique necessary to properly cast the spell they can do so almost instantly. Lifting objects without touching them, unleashing sprays of firework-like light, and even projecting protective barriers are all possible with enough practice. As a result Equestrian magic is fast and convenient, able to achieve results almost instantly. While potent however this form of magic has its own flaws and drawbacks. The first and most obvious is that, under normal circumstances, only certain races can use Equestrian magic. Unicorns, Alicorns, and even Changelings to a degree possess the means to cast spells and perform magic. However vigilant or studious, an Earth pony or Pegasus will never be able to cast spells like a Unicorn unless very special circumstances are in place. The second issue is that Equestrian magic is fast, but this is because it draws energy directly from the caster. The inner magic of any being is limited and while it can be increased, amplified, and restored through various means it is still finite. Even a Unicorn with a vast inner magical reserve will rapidly deplete themselves if they simply spam spells with no rest or time to recover. An Equestrian magic user who pushes themselves too far or tries to cast spells while their inner magic reservoir is low can suffer injury, reduce their lifespan, or outright die depending on the circumstances. Last but not least Equestrian spell casters are totally reliant their horns (or equivalent appendage) to channel magic. If the horn of a Unicorn, Alicorn, or Changeling is damaged in anyway it can have catastrophic consequences on their ability to cast magic, crippling or outright stripping it from them. To have their horns severed is a terrible, wicked fate not spoken of even for the most heinous of criminals and deviant magic users. [i][u]A Note on Cutie Marks:[/u][/i] One of the most distinctive features of any of the pony tribes is their Cutie Mark. It is a symbol of their magic and their talent. It marks their coming of age, and getting one is a milestone in any pony’s life. They appear when a pony discovers their special talent, their passion in life, their raison d etre. Most celebrate this event with a celebration known as a Cutecinera. A common point of small talk is asking a pony what their cutie mark means and how they got it. As for their actual appearance, cutie marks range from common everyday objects to more abstract symbols. The common thread is that they mean something for the pony who bears it. Of course, a pony’s cutie mark often applies to their profession in some way.[hr] [b]Earthly Magic[/b] The magic originating on Earth differs significantly from Equestrian magic. Human beings, unlike Equestrians, have no inherent magic to them. Modern human history is utterly devoid of magic in any way, shape, or form outside of the occasional whisper of the supernatural sensationalized into garbage media. However at one time magic did exist on Earth. Early man learned how to wield magic using his eldritch understanding of the world around him. Ancient tales of magical creatures, enchanted blades, and grand spell casters were more than mere fiction, they were once the truth. As time pressed on the ways of magic were forgotten and in their place the more conventional manipulation of the world was picked up by humans. Upon their arrival however the Equestrian’s inadvertently reintroduced magic to Earth and gave the humans just enough of an inkling on the workings of magic to rediscover the old ways of their own arcane history. Human, or Earthly Magic as it's commonly referred to, relies not on the internal but the external. Earthly magic revolves around harnessing the latent magic from a source typically outside the user. Either from the environment around them, strange planes of existence, beings of greater power like demons, or other countless alternatives. Where a Unicorn can cast any spell almost immediately with concentration and knowledge of the spell in question, Earthly magic takes either time, effort, sacrifice, or some combination of the three. You can’t just brandish some phalic wand and shout the name of a spell and expect to immolate someone on the spot. Symbols and runes must be scrawled, words must be chanted, rituals must be done, and sometimes sacrifices must be made. Equestrian magic is faster in most instances and less complex by comparison. However Earthly magic is arguably more potent and flexible. Anyone from a human to an earth pony can use the magic with the right knowhow and practice. Earthly magic is also unusual from other forms as they require certain things done (chants, rituals, focus, sacrifices, est) but the exact form those necessities take can differ from individual to individual. With Unicorn spells there is typically one correct way to cast a spell. Earthly spells however can be cast a variety of different ways, allowing for many and unique styles of casting. The aspects of Earthly magic casting are: [u][b]Verbal:[/b][/u] Spoken words, often deliberate with specific timings. They can take the form of chants, shouts, whispers, songs, or virtually any other action with the mouth. [u][b]Somatic:[/b][/u] Use of the body and it’s movements. Specific gestures with the arms, symbols made with the hands, dances, or even staring at the target a certain way. [u][b]Material:[/b][/u] Physical components. Herbs, flowers, roots, a flask of distilled water, a charge of gunpowder, a mirror in a bag, and countless other oddities. [u][b]Focus:[/b][/u] A deliberate or specific item or object used to concentrate the spell around, often used as a channel for the magical energy itself. A Focus can take the form of idols, rods, circles and runes scrawled across a surface, and more. [u][b]Catalyst:[/b][/u] Something expended or sacrificed to cast or accelerate and enhance the casting of a spell. A catalyst can be physical or abstract, but it just has to be meaningful and potent in it's own right. Spilling your own blood, sacrificing a memory, destroying an irreplaceable item of sentimental value, ect. It’s possible for Earthly Magic to purely utilize one of these aspects. Pure ‘material’ magic for example would be akin to Alchemy, focusing on mixing, brewing, synthesizing, creating, and bottling all manner of useful and dangerous things. However other styles of Earthly magic use splinkings of each aspect. For example: [color=red]Rod Magic[/color] [b]-Focus and Verbal-[/b] [i]The caster carries a bag of iron rods which have the equivalent length and thickness of golf clubs. Each rod has a deliberately shaped tip to it with each individual rod being required for a specific spell. Drawing the rod the caster speaks, deliberately and passionately, gathering magical energy at the tip of the rod before swinging it at the target. [/i] Earthly magic is brave new field of study as texts on the subject are relatively scarce and there were very few Earthly spell casters before The Rending, and even fewer after it. Artifacts, relics, and enchanted objects from Earth are highly prized because they don’t tax the user thanks to drawing magic from elsewhere. They’re convenient and often very potent, making them highly sought after. [/hider][h2]Eqestrian Species[/h2] [hider=Common Pony Tribes]] [u][b]Common Pony Tribes:[/b][/u] [b]Earth Ponies:[/b] Born without wings nor a horn, these ponies still make up about one third of the population of Equestria. Having been born and raised in a world made to accommodate them and their hooves, they are quite proficient in using them and their mouths to manipulate objects. Their magic takes the form enhanced strength, endurance, and an affinity towards plants compared to other kinds of pony. While this makes them ideal farmers, many more pursue careers in everything from fashion to finance. [b]Pegasus:[/b] Using magically assisted wings, these ponies are known for their flight. Like Earth ponies, they are adept at using their hooves and mouths to manipulate objects. They too are found all over Equestria, though they are known for their cloud settlements. Pegasus magic is largely weather based. They can manipulate clouds, going as far as being able walk on them and build entire structures out of them. They are also able to disperse clouds, push them around, force them to precipitate, and other forms of weather manipulation. Entire squads of pegasi are assigned to each town, controlling the weather. [b]Unicorns:[/b] Like the unicorns of Human myth, these ponies have a single horn upon their head. They are also the most overt users of magic. Every unicorn knows how to cast a telekinesis and light spell, and likely know more spells related to their Cutie Mark. Compared to the more physical form Pegasus and Earth pony magic takes Unicorn magic is more mental, usually requiring some degree of concentration for anything beyond the most basic spells. While they theoretically have the most flexibility due to their magic, in practice most only know a few spells by heart unless their passion involves magic. [/hider][hider=Uncommon Pony Tribes] [u][b]Uncommon Pony Tribes:[/b][/u] [b]Zebras:[/b] Much like zebras from Earth, these ponies are known for their black and white stripes. A minority in Equestria, they are still considered full citizens. However this doesn't stop them from being viewed with some distrust, especially since many of the more notable members practice alchemy, which has its own reputation for being prone to unforeseen consequences [b]Thestrals:[/b] Another minority race, thestral are known for their leathery wings, fangs, ear tufts, and slitted pupils. The former two traits are what gives them the nickname "Bat Ponies". They largely share the powers of their pegasi brethren, but their enhanced night vision and echolocation makes them culturally more inclined to nocturnal lifestyles, which has also been reflected in their prevalence in Luna's Night Guards. However there is nothing physically stopping them from living a diurnal lifestyle. [b]Alicorns:[/b] Stand before an alicorn, and know you stand before royalty. Each and every one is a member of Equestria's royalty, and each is a sovereign in her own right. Alicorns are the embodiment of the three main pony tribes. They each have the horn of a unicorn, the wings of a pegasus, and the strength of an Earth pony. On top of this they are immortal and wield power over their own particular domain similar to a Greek god. [/hider][hider=Other Equestrian Races] [u][b]Other Equestrian Races:[/b][/u] [b]Changelings:[/b] For once a species that follows human myth in only the broadest of strokes. Because of their nature, little is known about their biology and society. What is known is that they can magically change their appearance, but they are vaguely insectoid in their true appearance. They have both horn and insect wings, possessing the means of flight and spell casting. Another distinctive feature is their limbs have holes in them, and a chitinous 'saddle' and belly bands. However it is how they feed that makes them so feared. In short, they are a G-rated succubus. They feed off of positive emotions directed towards them. The most common way is to kidnap and secretly replace a victim. Their Queen has shown the ability to hypnotize others, and forcefully extract love from them. It is this combination of traits that make them paranoia incarnate. [b]Diamond Dogs:[/b] Loud, stupid mutts. That is the stereotype of Diamond Dogs. Walking on their knuckles like gorillas, these creatures are known for living underground, carving tunnels out of the earth with their large, spade-like paws. As one of the few carnivorous Equestrian species, they are often viewed with suspicion and more than a little fear. This is not helped by the fact that they are known to kidnap surface dwellers to work in their mines. [b]Dragons:[/b] Exhibiting some of the most extreme variety in physical description of almost any known species, two Equestrian dragons can often appear to be completely different species. Some walk on four, others have two legs. Some have wings while others don’t. However they are all vaguely reptilian in nature, breathe fire, and show extreme resistance to heat. They can swim in lava much like other species enjoy hot tubs. They are also known for their hard claws and teeth; and for them gemstones are a delicacy. Much like their mythical counterparts, Equestrian dragons are known for their greed. While not much is known about their life cycle, it is known starting their own horde is often enough to trigger a sort of puberty for them, causing growth spurts. If they do not start a horde, or the horde is taken away from them, they can stay fairly small for decades. At least one has been raised alongside a pony family from birth and is still the size of a prepubescent human child despite being in their late 20’s. [b]Griffons:[/b] Like the human myth, these creatures are a combination of a big cat and a bird of prey. While they have a reputation for rudeness and greed, friendships between griffons and ponies are not unheard of. After recent events in their homeland of Griffonstone, more and more are traveling outside their borders to Equestria. Their forepaws are birdlike, allowing them to manipulate objects with human-like dexterity, as well as possessing flight. [b]Minotaurs:[/b] Matching yet another human myth, this species appears to be a cross between a human and a cow. They are the only Equestrian species to walk on two legs, and as such are able to use most human items with minimal fuss. The bulls are especially known for their boisterousness and strength. [/hider]