[center][h1][color=8493ca]Void Lurkers[/color][/h1][/center][hr]
[i]Dear sir or madam,

You are reading this letter because officials have received word that you have made a link with your affinity. We request that you visit your local military office within 30 days of receiving this letter. If you do not follow through with this visit, officials will be sent to your place of residence in order to provide follow-up questioning.

We thank you for your volunteered participation,
Chief of Recruiting, Zaros Barclay[/i]

The letter, while brief, feels oddly compelling. You drop your plans and urge yourself to a military office and sign up for a 12 year contract. Immediately, you are sent off to military training and realize you had no control over yourself while signing your contract. The letter had been enchanted by a magical being to assume control over your mind and force you into this contract. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get out of Espara's military. The only two ways to get out are either through fulfilling your contract, or death. Some do indeed choose death, while others accept their fate and carry out their contract.

Your squadmates were affected by the same enchantment. There is nothing you can do now, so you choose to continue your training, which includes Affinity Link training/strengthening, sparring, practice missions, and physical conditioning, among other things. Once out of training, you are sent to your station among the 1st Infantry Company. You are given various missions, including but not limited to: reconnaissance, border patrol, and something known simply as extermination.

[center][h2][color=8493ca]Espara[/color][/h2][/center][hr]
The country of Espara was once uninhabitable. Zero natural resources, harsh, desolate conditions made it not much more than a simple wasteland. It is the northernmost country on it's landmass. Around 200 years ago, a group of master magicians combined their powers to completely transform the land. The once uninhabitable wasteland became a gorgeous, lush landscape. Dense forests and crystal clear rivers flowed with pure magic. Even the animals themselves were affected by the sudden surge of magic. A not insignificant portion of people migrated to Espara in search of a better life, with the promise of magic and mystery awaiting them.

Espara's overabundance of magic meant that they focused less on technological advancements and moreso on magical. They continue to learn how to tap into the wealth of magic, and use it beyond those who are Linked. Basic guns such as muskets have been developed, though things such as electricity are only available to those with an Affinity for it. Even those that have had access to it all their lives still don't understand it enough to use it in a way that would result in electricity as we know it today.

For a long time, Espara prospered greatly. They developed great trading relations with nearby countries, created a mighty military, and had everything one could possibly ask for. Wealth, food, work. In many ways, it was "The Promised Land" that so many people search for and never find. The people, in their time of prosperity and glory must be watchful, because the brighter a light is, the darker the shadows it casts.

[center][h2][color=8493ca]Military[/color][/h2][/center][hr]
Espara's military is quite basic. In order to serve in the military, one must be linked with their Affinity. In fact, there appears to be no citizens outside of the military that possess an Affinity Link.

Once an individual's Affinity Link has been identified, they are then sent to their specific training. The majority of individuals are sent to join the infantry, of which there are five different companies.  You will be serving in the 1st Infantry Company, which is structured as follows:

[list]
[*] Company leader: General Vivian Romero
[*] 4 platoons
[*] Each platoon contains 8 squads
[*] 32 squads
[*] Each squad contains x individuals (Still to be determined, see CS for details)
[*] For a total of 32x units
[/list]

The 1st Infantry Company was, as the name implies, the first company specifically designated as an infantry company. As the country rapidly grew, the military saw a need to add more infantry units, and instead of expanding the 1st Infantry Company, they chose instead to simply create new companies. Infantry soldiers are trained in hand-to-hand, ranged, and Affinity combat, reconnaissance, as well as other various tasks, with the utmost goal of protecting their citizens, be it from other countries or some sort of magical threat.

[center][h2][color=8493ca]Deep Magic[/color][/h2][/center][hr]
There is a source of magic that runs through the planet (and space), simply known as the Deep Magic. It is what connects individuals to their Affinity, as well as gives life to many different things within the planet. For a long time, it was impossible to tangibly witness the Deep Magic. That was, until the master magicians that gave live to the country of Espara cast their great spell. When they cast this spell, they had unintentionally created a sort of "rift" in the Deep Magic. This rift lies within the heart of Espara's Great Forest.

With Espara being a relatively young country, previously completely uninhabitable, the rift has so far gone undiscovered. Who knows what lies on the other side of the rift, lurking in the shadows?

[center][h2][color=8493ca]Affinity Link[/color][/h2][/center][hr]
A person's Affinity Link is, at it's core, a connection to the Deep Magic that runs through the veins of the planet. In it's essence, it is one's magical "fingerprint". No two Links are quite the same. It is quite rare to see someone truly connected to the Deep Magic, though there are some individuals out there that can, on occasion, connect to the magic. 

There are some ways to differentiate between someone that is truly linked with the Deep Magic and someone that can have the occasional magical "blip": Those with an Affinity Link will often have it manifest itself as a magical rune somewhere located on their body. They are also able to call upon the Deep Magic at will, something only roughly ten percent of the population is capable of. One's Affinity Link is not necessarily genetic, though the Deep Magic does tend to choose individuals who are more closely connected to magic, which tends to mean those born of Linked parents. 

[center][h2][color=8493ca]Rules[/color][/h2][/center][hr]
[list]
[*] RPG rules apply
[*] Keep around PG-13. If you really want to go further than that, take it to PMs. 
[*] Stay respectful in OOC. If you have a problem, try to settle it yourselves, or bring it to me. We're all adults (Or should at least act like it).
[*] I don't care if you write a paragraph or a novel when posting. All I care about is that you give others something to work with. Quality vs. Quantity, yada-yada. Just no one-liners.
[*] Please try to be active at least once a week, though I understand when people are busy. If you cannot post for an extended period of time, please let me/us know.
[*] Post your finished CS in the OOC [i][b]BEFORE[/b][/i] posting it in the Characters tab please.
[*] If you have any questions regarding the RP, IC or OOC, please let me know.
[*] I may or may not add more to the rules. I'd like to think that we can all use some common sense when it comes to behaving.
[/list]

[center][h2][color=8493ca]Characters[/color][/h2][/center][hr]
This is where I'll list all accepted characters (Name only, details will be in CS in Character Tab like normal), and the user that created them. Once we form the squad(s), I'll also break them up into their respective squad(s).
[center][h2][color=8493ca]Character Sheet & Other[/color][/h2][/center][hr]
Below is the Character Sheet I'd like you to use. Feel free to reformat it however you like. Add color, fonts, reposition info, whatever you want. As long as you keep all the information I listed and it still makes sense, go nuts. There are also a couple questions at the end that I'd like you to answer when you submit your character, so I can get a better idea of what everyone wants.
[hider=CS/Questionnaire]
[code]
[center]
[hider=Character Name]
[b]Name:[/b]

[b]Sex:[/b]

[b]Age:[/b] (I'd prefer 17-24ish. Earliest you can join the military will be 16, so no one younger than that)

[b]Appearance:[/b] (Image + Description or just a Description. Please no anime. Drawn or real face-claims are fine)

[b]Personality:[/b] (Be brief. Characters change. Lists of 3-7 traits are fine, or a couple short paragraphs, whatever you prefer)

[b]Background:[/b] (I don't require a novel here. Feel free to be as thorough or brief as you wish. Just don't leave it completely blank. If you'd rather develop your character's background through the IC, I'm more than ok with that NOTE: If you had parents with an Affinity Link that were born in Espara, they had to have served in the military)

[b]Affinity Link:[/b] (Be creative. If you choose to go basic i.e. super strength, add some kind of spice to it)

[b]Other:[/b] (Anything else I haven't added to this basic CS)

[/hider]
[/center]
[hider=]Questionnaire: 
Do you want to start in training, or post-training?

Do you want several, smaller squads, or 1-2 larger squads?
[/hider]
[/code]
[/hider][hr]
If you notice anything weird in the OOC (Spelling, grammar, something that is repeated, etc.) please let me know and I'll fix it ASAP! Also join the discord, if you are interested! https://discord.gg/jbvNrjk