[hider=Blackwood] [color=c1cdcd][indent][right][sub]GM: [@Bartimaeus] Co-GM: N/A Co-GM: N/A [/sub][/right][/indent][/color] [center][url=https://www.1001fonts.com/yellowtail-font.html][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjU0LjM2MmM2OS5RbXhoWTJ0M2IyOWtJRlZ1YVhabGNuTnBkSGtnU1c1MFpYSnVZWFJwYjI1aGJBLCwuMA,,/yellowtail.regular.webp[/img][/url][color=362c68][b]__________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/color] [color=362c68][b]__________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/color] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/d90e57ab-caf7-461f-85f6-d91c5a634120.jpg[/img][color=362c68][b]__________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/color] [color=362c68][b]__________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/color] [/center] [indent][indent][indent] [indent][indent][color=c1cdcd] Blackwood University International, Japan Branch [i]Dear Sir/Madam,[/i] [indent][i]We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to attend the great university of this letter's name. You have been chosen amongst thousands of other candidates with consideration to your particular academic aptitudes. This is a most prestigious and limited summons, and we hope you will consider what opportunities such an offer could bring your future. Upon accepting this offer, you will find instructions on your next course of action entailed within the envelope you've already received. We have faith that you will make the right decision. Best regards,[/i] Director of Studies Yua Inoue [/indent] [/color][/indent][/indent] [/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][color=362c68][b]____________________________________________________________________________________[/b] [b]____________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/color][/center] [indent][color=c1cdcd][h3][u]In-Character Intro[/u][/h3] [indent]Blackwood University is a most prestigious school. Founded almost 250 years ago, Blackwood has a relatively short but rich history - one of turmoil, but stout resilience. This resilience can be attributed to, in large part, by the Blackwood family itself. Sitting upon 500-odd acres of forested land within the Fukui prefecture, the academy enjoys a healthy swathe upon which its many faculties sit. With academic resources and utilities that trump many of the other colleges one might find in Japan, it brings one question to light - what is so special about Blackwood? The true answer, when brought down to brass tacks, is that there's nothing truly special about Blackwood. The real gift comes from the attendants - all of whom are [i]mages[/i]. Yes, that's right, [i]mages[/i]. And the only reason you now know this is because [i]you are one[/i]. Maybe you've heard whispers of such beings that've been passed down - maybe not. Not too long ago, mages held a portion of the limelight within the mundane world. Not that that matters now. All that you need to really care about is that you belong at Blackwood. A place where it's safe for your kind - a place where you will be accepted for who you are. As for what being a mage makes you - it doesn't make you anything. Unless you harness it - which is what we're here to help you with. Surely you have a lot of questions, and they will be answered - in time. Blackwood will make sure of that. [/indent] [h3][u]Out-Of-Character Info[/u][/h3] [indent]Hello! And welcome to my interest check! I've got quite a many ideas and thoughts behind this project, so I'm hoping for forgiveness in terms of how well I end up organizing this. Regardless, I wanted to check if there'd be any interest in such an rp idea, so here we are. I'll start off by saying I'd like to hold this rp to a High-Casual standard of sorts. If I don't know you, I may check your post history to see if I think you'd fit well into the cast of players, which should number around five. Don't sweat it though, it's not the end of the world if one is not chosen to participate - it's just part of the process. Additionally, I don't expect a ton of posts a week or 5+ paragraphs per post, as I know inspiration can run dry and other factors are at play - I'd like to keep things reasonable. I'm also probably going to enforce a deadline of one week between each post, collectively. Which sounds reasonable to me. Well, without further ado, here are some world details and a CS skeleton: [hider=Keynotes/Vocab][list][*][b]Mages[/b] - Mages are, in truth, those of us who, at the mercy of fortune, were gifted the ability to articulate a special 'ethereal muscle' of sorts that exists in every living creature. Not only were we gifted this, but we are also, in more recent times, the recipients of another boon of chance - artifacts - which enable us to be more than just [i]enabled[/i]. Normally, a mage can articulate their aptitude [i]very[/i] well with training, but other schools can only be called upon for weaker spells. If one is blessed with an artifact, however, they can acquire respectable strength in multiple schools - but their aptitude will [i]always[/i] be the easiest and have the highest ceiling for growth. [*][b]Manaesculus[/b] - A more archaic term for the ethereal-muscle-like phenomena which is, in more modern times, referred to as "Mana". Like mundane muscles, which can work in several different ways including flexing, contracting, extending, etc., Mana has many different working functions - each different form of articulation evoking a different school of magic. Just like muscles, each of these areas can be strengthened independently, but one's aptitude will [i]always[/i] remain the most solid and easily influenced school. However, there is an extra layer of depth to this system - artifacts. [*][b]Artifacts[/b] - Artifacts are a result of The New Sculptors' never-ending craftmanship. The beings create until their realm overflows with their creations, and then these artifacts spill out and seek a mage. Most mages, about eighty percent or so, receive an artifact by the age of 18 - which usually comes to them in their dreams, until they consciously summon it. Artifacts enhance a mage's measly articulation over non-aptitude schools. Normally, a mage has a ceiling for growth of [i]one-hundred percent[/i] for their aptitude, and [i]twenty percent[/i] for non-aptitudes -- but artifacts enhance the lower of these figures to about [i]fifty percent[/i], allowing the mage to acquire a respectable degree of control over every school, should they study and strengthen themselves enough. Artifacts are completely indestructible. [*][b]Magic Practice[/b] - The practice of magic is often a complex process. Despite the highly individualized nature behind each casting of a spell however, many mages have, over hundreds of years, documented their successes and failures in the study - allowing novice learners to follow in their footsteps as a prerequisite to their own paths. [center][i]"You have to make the spell your own. Pour your will into it. Not only that, but you also have to think logically. What is the purpose? From what are you taking, and where is it going? Where will the energies go if something goes wrong? You must know what you want and how you want it. Not only that, but you must study the energies and logistical processes required for the spell. Casting a spell - creating a spell - is the ultimate mixture of heart and mind." - Dean Michael Blackwood on Spellcraft. [/i][/center] Aside from the theory of casting and creating spells, there is also a physical element. Verbal and somatic aids are one of the first and most useful things taught about magic. By speaking pre-crafted words in the required language and making the correct bodily gestures, one can provide themselves focus-aids, and reduce the energy required for a spell. Most mages use these even late into their years - but foregoing them, even if doing so requires resolute focus, can reduce spellcasting delay and serve the caster in other ways, at the cost of tiring their Mana faster. [*][b]The Sculptor[/b] - A once-mage of fantastical power, the Sculptor fled from the world we know to what we can only assume was a realm he created with his immense gifts. After a time away from us, the machinations of his powers soon came to light as supernatural creatures, which did not previously exist, began to find their way to our world. These beings were not exactly what one would expect - following mythology and folklore mostly, but deviating in a way that one can only assume is The Sculptor's personal favor. Fortunately for us all, The Sculptor crafted only benevolent and neutral beings. Once he began to age, however, he created beings to continue his craft in his absence. Woefully, one of these New Sculptors was flawed, and began introducing the malevolent beings of lore. [*][b]Homunculus[/b] - The Homunculi are supernatural creatures that form the basis of almost every supernatural, human-like being we know. Lycanthropes, Fae, and many more creatures stem from the Homunculus who, as far as we know, are identical to Humans in all but origin. It is surmised that Homunculi were created by the Sculptor so that he could have a more mundane and malleable being to create from - but these suspicions are unconfirmed. [*]... [/list][/hider] [hider=Types of Magic] [u]Elementalists[/u] [list][*]Pyromancy - Creation and manipulation of flames, heat, and electricity. [*]Aquamancy - Creation and manipulation of fluids - most strongly pure water. [*]Geomancy - Manipulation of the natural elements of the earth; stones, metals, plants, etc. [/list] [u]Conjuration[/u] [list][*]Summoning - Creation of supernatural replicas of creatures. [*]Calling - Calling objects or creatures of other realms or places to one's own. [*]Healing - Physical restorations. [/list] [u]Enchantment[/u] [list][*]Illusion - School with many varying uses, mostly notably deception. [*]Divination - Surveying the past present and future, and uncovering of the unknown. [*]True Enchantment - Magical enchantments that often require other schools to function well, but can be greatly powerful. [/list] [u]Transmutation[/u] [list][*]Creation - Construction and combination of various energies and materials to create many varying effects. [*]Metamorphosis - Changing objects or creatures into other objects or creatures, or a combination thereof. [/list] [u]Unlisted[/u] [list][*]Necromancy - Manipulation of the dead or undead, or of darker arts. [*]Chronomancy - Manipulation of time. [*]Other [/list] [center][hider=Aptitudes by year (3k students)][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/6a053cf4-eca0-4518-9209-6cf536b9965d.png[/img][/hider][/center] [/hider] [hider=PC Races]While there are [i]many[/i] supernatural races, mages come from an admittedly short list of them - though there are known exceptions. [hider=Humans]Humans aren't exactly supernatural, but they're very much here. Most students, and mages for that matter, are Human. [/hider] [hider=Hybrids]Hybrids are a combination of Human (Homunculi) and one of an infinite number of other supernatural or mundane beings. They are very similar to humans, but possess small features - some more dangerous than others - that betray their true nature. They generally have very good senses, as well as features specific to the creature they stem from - whether that be a simple mole or a cat, or something more dangerous like a Gorgon or a Demon. A Hybrid's true nature can, like almost all other supernatural creatures, lie dormant in a family's bloodline for a long time. [/hider] [hider=Vampires]Vampires of our world are a bit simpler than folklore might make one think. Indistinguishable from Humans, one would never know a Vampire was one until they displayed their supernatural abilities. Alongside enhanced hearing, pointy canines, and their odd ability to walk across water or up vertical walls, Vampires' physical strength and agility both rise equitably with the strength of their Mana. Additionally, Vampires are, from the distance of a few feet, capable of temporarily stealing the strength of another person's Mana. Vampires are unaffected by silver or holy symbols, but are greatly weakened, both physically and magically, by Vervain. [/hider] [hider=Ghouls]Ghouls are similar to Vampires in both mythos and life in our world. They grow physically stronger and more agile in relation to their Mana, and can steal Mana strength from others. Unlike Vampires however, Ghouls possess a craving for such energy, and can even devour spells themselves, should their Mana be strong enough. They hold no known outstanding weaknesses. [/hider] [hider=Therianthropes]The Therianthropes of our world, like Vampires, are a tad different from the fairy tales. Although built in their image, [i]our[/i] Therianthropes aren't quite as nuanced. Alongside enhanced senses and nightvision, Therianthropes posses the ability to transform into a mundane form of whatever creature their Therianthropic nature stems from - and though they can also change into a beast-human hybrid, Blackwood employs a mandatory charm that all Therianthropes wear to prevent this, as such a transformation is very rarely controllable. Additionally, Therianthropes find that the strength of their Mana enhances their bodily abilities as well. Therianthropes are unaffected by the moon or silver objects. They are, however, greatly weakened by Wolfsbane, both physically and magically. [/hider] [hider=Fae]Faeries were one of the first beings created by The Sculptor. Like in their mythos, the fae are incapable of breaking promises - at least literally. They are also sensitive to magic, being able to track it through an extra sense of sorts. Additionally, Faeries are capable of effortless flight - gaining greater speeds proportionately to the strength of their Mana. Although indistinguishable from Humans, aside from their pointed ears, Faeries are usually more petite. [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Teaching Staff] [hider=Mika Izanaki, Math / Magical Arts I] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/f8314e41-4f05-4974-bd40-b19810ca2260.jpg[/img] -Mika Inazaki -32 -Human -Sarcastic, Confident, Rusty -Illusion Aptitude One of Blackwood's two Magical Arts teachers. She attended Blackwood herself in her younger years, and then joined the mundane world to teach mathematics. Just this year, she reached out to Blackwood for a chance at a spot on the teacher's board - which was readily accepted. [/hider] [hider=Heron Walker, Psychology / Magical Arts II] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/69f23c50-0938-403a-b31f-1bc05413dac1.jpg[/img] -Heron Walker -32 -Human -Intelligent, Literal, Isolating -Summoning Aptitude Heron was employed by the school a couple years ago, and has proven himself to be a respectable mage and teacher, achieving overall rather good grades for his students, despite the vast knowledge the syllabus has him teach. [/hider] [hider=Helen Rabidas, Science / Herbology-Alchemy] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0a755af0-ff85-4b1f-a2d1-ba8ffcc41493.jpg[/img] -Helen Rabidas -45 -Fae -Calm, Sincere, Fun-loving -Geomancy Aptitude Having taught at Blackwood for many years, Helen still seems as bright and as loving as she was on her first day. She has a true, hard to miss passion for her work and seems as though she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. [/hider] [hider=Daniel Ellis, Foreign Language / Cryptozoology] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e7092884-3a0a-4e48-9459-2d8839a30e9d.jpg[/img] -Daniel Ellis -56 -Human -Stern, Focused, Stoic -Calling Aptitude Daniel is a very stern teacher, leaving little room for failure and taking a more hammer-to-nail approach to his studies than his peers. This, naturally, makes him overall less-liked than the rest of the staff - but you can't exactly argue with results. Which he very much gets. [/hider] [hider=Abel Williams, History / Magic History] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/f262e1f8-adb5-48e5-849c-916ab7263612.jpg[/img] -Abel Williams -60 -Vampire -Open, Fun-loving, Helpful -Divination Aptitude Abel has taught longer at Blackwood than any other professor on the board, and has been with the school almost as long as Michael Blackwood has been Dean. He is so well-liked, in fact, that he receives regular visits from now-graduated students who used to attend. [/hider] [hider=Dean Michael Blackwood] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/9de71bbf-3753-4a48-9b7c-855fd98af90f.jpg[/img] -Michael Blackwood -61 -Human -Good-spirited, Wise, Motivating -Illusion Aptitude -Michael has been Dean of Blackwood University for 30-odd years, the prestigious school being passed down to him by his father. He has taken great measures during his leadership of the school to keep it safe, especially in recent times when outer forces grow more.. unpredictable. He is well-liked among the staff and student body alike. [/hider] [/hider] Details to be filled as I recall them. [hider=OC Name | Blackwood University International] [center][url=https://www.1001fonts.com/][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjcyLmIzMmEyYS5UbUZ0WlEuMA/belgan-aesthetic.regular.webp[/img][/url][/center] [center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/934980353700003843/938460578450645052/PFL_CS_Img_Slot.png[/img] (Photos or photorealistic images preferred)[/center] [hr][table][row][/row][row][cell] [hider=Base Details] [sup][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/4ec805b1-0c30-4424-8038-5c0499b31564.png[/img] ► [b][u]Race[/u][/b] -- ► [b][u]Age[/u][/b] 18-22 ► [b][u]Height[/u][/b] -- ► [b][u]Weight[/u][/b] -- [/sup][/hider] [/cell][cell][h2][color=b12b2f][u]Appearance[/u][/color][/h2][indent]Describe the average appearance of your character as desired. Words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words.[/indent][/cell][/row] [/table][hr][hr][h2][color=b12b2f][u]Personality[/u][/color][/h2][indent]Two paragraphs minimum preferred.[/indent] [h2][color=b12b2f][u]Short Bio[/u][/color][/h2][indent]One paragraph minimum.[/indent] [hr][hr][h2][color=b12b2f][u]Magic[/u][/color][/h2][indent][h3]Aptitude[/h3][/indent][indent][indent][b]Aptitude[/b][/indent][/indent] [indent][h3]Bonded Artifact[/h3][/indent][indent][indent][b]Artifact Name ▸ Name[/b][/indent][Most artifacts have names - whether they are decided by their wielder or offered by the artifact itself, should it be sentient. The name usually denotes some portion of what the artifact does. Reasoning for its name is welcome. [u]Delete this[/u].] [indent][b]Artifact Nature ▸ Tool/Tome[/b][/indent][Whether the artifact is a tool or a tome. Describe what form it takes(no guns) - and feel free to link an image to its name.[u]Delete this[/u].] [indent][b]Artifact Boons[/b][/indent][Usually specific to tool-type artifacts, boons are any effects the artifact lends to its owner. Tomes can lend [i]one[/i] Boon in the form of an additional aptitude, though most do not. Boons can only be used while the artifact is wielded, in most circumstances. [/indent] [/hider] [/indent][/color][/indent] [hider=Combat Dummy | Blackwood University International] [center][url=https://www.1001fonts.com/][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjcyLjAwMDAwMC5RMjl0WW1GMElFUjFiVzE1LjA/belgan-aesthetic.regular.webp[/img][/url][/center] [center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/9de71bbf-3753-4a48-9b7c-855fd98af90f.jpg[/img][/center] [hr][table][row][/row][row][cell] [hider=Base Details] [sup][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/4ec805b1-0c30-4424-8038-5c0499b31564.png[/img] ► [b][u]Race[/u][/b] -- ► [b][u]Age[/u][/b] -- ► [b][u]Height[/u][/b] 6'0" ► [b][u]Weight[/u][/b] 190lbs. [/sup][/hider] [/cell][cell][h2][color=black][u]Appearance[/u][/color][/h2][indent]The Combat Dummy employed at Blackwoods University. Appears physically identical to Dean Michael Blackwood himself. [/indent][/cell][/row] [/table][hr][hr][h2][color=black][u]Personality[/u][/color][/h2][indent]N/A.[/indent] [h2][color=black][u]Short Bio[/u][/color][/h2][indent]N/A.[/indent] [hr][hr][h2][color=black][u]Magic[/u][/color][/h2][indent][h3]Aptitude[/h3][/indent][indent][indent][b]None.[/b][/indent][/indent] [indent][h3]Bonded Artifact[/h3][/indent] [indent][indent][b]Artifact Name ▸ Forsaken Steel[/b][/indent]Forsaken Steel's name was given to it by the staff of Blackwood - this specific name chosen due to the artifact's odd ability to be used by anyone or anything that picks it up. [indent][b]Artifact Nature ▸ Tool[/b][/indent]Forsaken Steel takes the form of a mundane-looking Arming Sword measuring about 34 inches in length. [indent][b]Artifact Boons[/b][/indent][list][*]Forsaken Steel grants its wielder the mechanical skills of a master swordsman, and the ability to reduce or stretch these skills by twisting its hilt. [*]The blade allows its wielder the ability to gauge an opponent supernaturally - recognizing their combat and magical prowess, as well as their true race and aptitude. This also extends to the opponent's artifact. [*]Forsaken Steel is capable of reflecting most projectile spells, should its wielder's Mana be strong enough. [/list] [/indent] [/hider] [/hider]