Sorry about disappearing, the last week was crazy. If you'll still have me I've written up a character sheet. For full disclosure the initial idea for this world came from Harry Turtledove's Atlantis Trilogy, though I took the timeline in a much different direction than those books. [hider=Harris Dione] [b]Name:[/b] Harris Dione [b]Appearance:[/b] [hider=Image][img]https://i.imgur.com/MzlzpSI.png[/img][/hider] [b]Bio:[/b] Harris was born the son of Frederick Dione, Governor of Hampton, a state on the northeast coast of the United States of Atlantis. Well liked by the people, Frederick was a populist, believing that all cultures should come together. It was through this lens that Harris was raised, always being told that all things should become one. As a child Harris would attend the Church of Unity, a vaguely Abrahamic religion that took pieces from other religions. Harris found that he could easily memorize the verses from their holy book, reciting them when he felt it was needed. The head priest at the local church suggested that Harris become a priest himself as he knew the text so well. Excited Harris told his parents about it. Frederick immediately struck the idea down, stating that Harris would follow after him and become a politician. It was with this order that Harris entered his teenage years. He became less involved with the Church of Unity and spent a lot of his time reading anything he could, especially things that went against his worldview. Harris became increasingly rebellious, hanging around with the hoodlums in his town. It was with one other boy, named Gregory, that Harris became close. Together they questioned the perspectives of their parents. It was during one such conversation that Gregory kissed Harris. Harris was immediately confused, but kissed him back. However, Gregory’s father had seen the two and began to beat Gregory. Out of respect for Governor Dione he never told him of what his son had done. A week later Gregory’s family had moved to the west coast. After that Harris became more withdrawn, burying himself in his studies. At the mandate of his father Harris began school at Essex College, the same school Frederick had attended. Harris also joined the Order of the Eagle, a private club of the elite of Atlantis. There he met Arthur, another young man forced into Essex College. Arthur was what was called a bohemian, an artistic outsider. Together he and Harris formed a niche in the Order of the Eagle, a gathering of freethinkers. They went against the prevalent idea in Atlantis of globalization. After a year in college Harris and Arthur attended the World’s Fair. It was there that Harris realized he had feelings for Arthur. Not wishing to screw up his life like he did Gregory, Harris kept his feelings to himself. When they went back to school rumours of shadow creatures began to spread. Believing it to be old wives’ tales, Harris focused on his studies. Harris would soon learn that these creatures were all too real when a walk to the pub with Arthur was interrupted by Heartless. The dark beings surrounded them, leaving no way of escape. Both Harris and Arthur were intellectuals, not fighters, so the odds seemed grim. But in a moment of just wanting to save Arthur, a blade shaped like a key materialized in Harris’s hand. Acting on instinct Harris fought back the Heartless. After the battle Arthur swore to keep Harris’s secret of the magical weapon. [b]Age:[/b] 20 [b]Skills:[/b] Harris is primarily a scholar and is quite knowledgeable on many topics. Adding to that his analytical mind makes Harris a good problem solver. Harris is also in pretty good shape as his father always stressed the benefits of an active lifestyle. Harris has no combat experience save a few scraps when he was a teenager. However he has been practising with the keyblade, finding that he has a natural aptitude for wielding it. A side effect of using the keyblade is that Harris can now use magic. While certain things like blizzard or cure spells come naturally, other uses of magic are more perplexing to Harris. To remedy this he has been trying to track down as many books on magic that he can find. [b]Personality:[/b] Harris is an inquisitive man, always asking questions, always wanting to know more. To that end he can be quite bothersome when first meeting someone, asking a lot but revealing little. To that end he can come off as stuck up or awkward, depending on the temperament of the person he is talking to. However it would be more accurate to say that this is a defence mechanism as he fears people getting close. Harris would rather not connect with someone than risk them getting hurt. But for those who do get close he is fiercely loyal and protective, willing to endanger himself for them. Goal wise Harris is all over the place. At one point he wanted to be a priest but now questions his faith. His father wants him to enter politics but he doesn’t see himself as a leader. Because of this there is a great indecision in Harris. He is frequently unsure of what to do, afraid that he may be committing to the wrong choice. This self-doubt causes him to waver in some situations. However there is an untapped strength of will in Harris, one that he isn’t consciously aware of, but can manifest when it is needed most. [b]Keyblade:[/b] [hider=Eagle’s Talon][img]https://i.imgur.com/1aKMFIo.png[/img][/hider] [/hider] [hider=Atlantis Ascendant] [b]Name:[/b] Atlantis Ascendant [b]Summary of History:[/b] Millions of years ago the super-continent Pangaea broke apart. The pieces became familiar continents, save the Americas. A massive tectonic event caused the landmass to break into two pieces, one travelling west through the Pacific, the other east through the Atlantic. About 35,000 years ago early man would travel across the Bering Sea to inhabit the westernmost landmass. However the eastern land would not see humans for many thousands of years. Around the year 1000 AD a fleet of Viking ships discovered the easternmost land, one free of humans. They would establish a small colony there that would slowly grow into a new kingdom, Buyan. Eventually the people of this land would establish their own culture, ending the violent ways of their ancestors. In the 14th century an adventurous English ship captain decided to find the hidden land of Buyan after reading of it in Viking historical records. He soon found that the stories were true, arriving on the eastern coast of the land and declaring it to be the lost land of Atlantis. Within a few years the captain and his kinsmen established a village on the eastern coast of Atlantis. Shortly after that the newcomers discovered the Kingdom of Buyan to the north, establishing diplomacy and trade. However the monarchies of Europe grew interested in this new land. King Edward of England, wishing to expand his dominion, sent a fleet to capture Atlantis and make it an English colony. The former English already residing in Atlantis decided to side with Buyan and fight off Edward’s forces. In a defining moment in Atlantean history, the forces of Atlantis and Buyan managed to drive off England’s invading forces. However they would eventually be defeated by an overwhelming amount of English reinforcements. Atlantis became a colony of England, and the Kingdom of Buyan was dismantled. For several hundred years the English gained more land on the continent, occupying most of the north. Other European powers would also seize land in Atlantis, with France and Spain controlling most of the south. The continent to the west of Atlantis was discovered by the Europeans, naming the land Terra Nova and enslaving the native population. In the 18th century Atlantis was dragged into the Great European War, with England directly facing France and Spain. The war lasted a decade and caused much upheaval in the empires of Europe. In the end England won and gained a lot of new territory. Fed up with the English and their greed, various Atlantean officers who had served in the war revolted. The people of Atlantis overwhelmingly supported this action, and with the help of the previously defeated French, the Atlantean army would push out the English occupation. Nearly bankrupt from the Great European War, England would recognize Atlantis as a sovereign nation, granting its independence. Led by forward thinkers and leaders, Atlantis adopted a new style of government called democracy, writing a Constituiton, officially becoming the United States of Atlantis. Atlantis quickly became the major power in the region, helping shape the fate of nearby Terra Nova as well. It would become one of the first nations to outlaw slavery and give women the right to vote. Atlantis would also become a major player in science and art, with many great thinkers and artists leaving Europe for the new land. Democratic ideals began to spread across the world, as did socialist ideals. In Europe several of the old powers began to stagnate, refusing to adapt to the times, sitting idly by as their empires crumbled. In Africa and Asia former colonies of the Europeans grew into modern nations, foregoing the wars that had previously consumed them. In current day the old empires of Europe are nearly dead. War between various groups has slowed down advancement in these nations to a crawl. Outside Europe technology progresses quickly. Automobiles, planes, and other wonders are becoming a part of everyday life. Atlantis recently hosted the World’s Fair, a gathering of the greatest scientists and politicians in the world. There they discussed a possible council of world leaders, one that would unite the Earth. Pushing the need for this is the growing tension between China and Japan, two nations with a long history of bloodshed. However that was nothing compared to the Heartless. First reported in Belgium, it was believed that these shadow monsters were merely folk stories told by European peasants. However they began appearing in first world countries. A great debate began over where they came from, China and Japan accusing each other. However the truth would be revealed to the leaders of the mightiest nations when another race of beings, the Moogles, appeared to them. The Moogles began arming the nations with weapons that could fight the Heartless, including magic, something thought to be a myth. However rumours are spreading of a sorcerer in Europe who has found a way to control the Heartless. [b]Important Nations (Great Powers, etc.):[/b] The United States of Atlantis, The Republic of Terra Nova, The Japanese Empire, The Chinese Republic, The Siberian Union, The African States, and United Indonesia. [b]Overall Technology Level:[/b] Roughly the technology of turn of the twentieth century. Automobiles, planes, and airships are quickly becoming commonplace. Weapons technology is a bit more dated as the world has gone awhile without a major war. Guns and artillery exist, but things like dedicated vehicles for war, like tanks, are not really a thing. [b]Map:[/b] None right now. [/hider]