[center][i]There are almost eight billion people on this planet, but though one sky hangs over them all, the world each person lives in is not the same. Each person’s world is small, but infinitely complex. It is built up by one’s nature, upbringing, principles, beliefs, and by those who give it joy and meaning. On the other hand, so too is it built by one’s needs, fears, responsibilities, scars, mistakes, and by those who, through malice or inaction, work to tear it down. Every action sends tremors through countless worlds, some so strong that it is all many can do to merely survive. How then could anyone, alone in their own small world, understand someone else’s? See their value? Know their true face? And who would be willing to fight to keep your one world alive, except you?

But you are not alone. Never have been. Fear and pain may weigh you down, and you may suffer under the unfairness of life, but despite everything you’re still human. Even at rock bottom you can still climb back up. Within you is the power to change--to fight, maybe not for [b]the[/b] world, but for your one world.

Things cannot continue as they are. If you understand what needs to be done, then call my name.[/i]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/lMZr3by.png[/img][/center]

[h3]Foreward[/h3]

My goal is to make not just a Persona RP, but an excellent one, rallying together earnest writers to craft something special. The story’s central themes are suppression (suffering, confinement, the inability to act) versus liberation, the endowment of the freedom to enact one’s will and pursue one’s world.

To that end, everyone will play as characters whose are suffering to some degree, people whose lives are no longer their own. Not good or bad people, just people, trying (and maybe failing) to make the best of things. But things aren’t good. This could be due to poverty, illness, bad relationships, punishment, victimization, overworking, guilt, unbearable responsibility, you name it. Society has driven you into the prison of your mind, and the boiling point is not too far awy.

But there is hope. On a fateful day, the skyfall incident occurs. A handful of people find themselves thrust into the surreal, distorted world of the collective consciousness: the Metaverse. There they must confront the Shadows that are their suppressed inner selves, or perish. Those who are able to accept themselves and realize that things must change will gain a Persona--a mask with which they can face hardship and accomplish great things.

From there begins the campaign. These Soldiers of Fortune, freed from their shackles and armed with the power to change things, can then fight through the trenches of the human psyche to topple the depotism of the Warlords and restore the freedom of the masses.

This RP will take place in Barclay, Texas, in the United States. It is a sprawling metropolis near the Gulf of Mexico, a regional melting pot filled with just about everything humanity has to offer. The PCs must be 18 minimum, and will coalesce at the Barclay Waterfront University, although they can be employees or people there by chance. It is November 29th, and Thanksgiving Break just ended.

[h3]The Other Self[/h3]

[center][i]I am thou...Thou art I[/i][/center]

Personas are spiritual manifestations of one’s personality, awakened by one’s resolution in the face of hardship. Awakenings can take two forms depending on what one encounters in the Metaverse, either their own Shadow or that of a tormentor.

If driven to the edge by a sufficient catalyst, be it danger or overwhelming emotion, in the face of a tormentor, a person might become wracked by pain and hear a voice from within. It will question their intentions, testing them. If they can withstand the pain and face the truth, accepting themselves and resolving to take control of their lives, the voice will seal the contract, and their Shadow will become a Persona.

If a person encounters his or her own Shadow, it will confront them and try to assert itself, eventually vying for control. If the people cannot face and accept the ugliness within themselves, the Shadow will go berserk and transform into a monstrosity that must be defeated and accepted before it becomes a Persona.

The collective hearts of humanity, known also as the sea of souls, houses the whole of civilization’s archetypal stories. Personas take the form of people, monsters, and in general beings from mythology, folklore, tradition, legend, and famous literary works. For this RP, I have a couple notes:
[list][*]The chosen Persona should have an obvious relation to the story of your character
[*]Your Persona will also have one of the Major Arcana of the tarot deck
[*]If you choose a literary character, it should be one of both age and cultural significance
[*]Your character’s Persona can’t start out as a god/goddess
[*]Persona evolution is an option later on down the line
[*]We won’t be going into stats, but your Persona will get attributes: a Specialty, an Element (against which it’ll also have a resistance), and a Weakness to allocate as you please that will affect performance
[*]Since Personas are a mask to face hardship, Persona users will change outfit while in the Metaverse after awakening[/list]

Personas are pretty necessary for fighting Personas are incorporeal and cannot carry the user or items or be ridden on, although they can attack physically. Using them tires you out. Awakening to one will exhaust you soon after the awakening. In this setting, your Persona can speak with you to give information, support, or just companionship.

All Personas can attack with physical or gun skills proved they have the weapons to do so, although ones with a melee or ranged specialty will enjoy stronger and more special attack skills. Essentially, your choice of both Specialty and Element affect what skills and magic your Persona both starts with and can gain. Skills hurt the user when performed, and spells cost mana; if your Persona is more physical or magical, you'll have more health or magic to work with. With most spell progression, you'll learn a spell followed by its wide-area version before the next strongest spell

[hider=Skill List]
[b]Element[/b]
[list][*]Fire: Agi -> Maragi -> Agilao -> Maragion -> Agidyne -> Maragidyne -> Inferno -> Blazing Hell
[*]Ice: Bufu -> Mabufu -> Bufula -> Mabufula -> Bufudyne -> Mabufudyne -> Diamond Dust -> Ice Age
[*]Elec: Zio -> Mazio -> Zionga -> Mazionga -> Ziodyne -> Maziodyne -> Thunder Reign -> Wild Thunder
[*]Wind: Garu -> Magaru -> Garula -> Magarula -> Garudyne -> Magarudyne -> Panta Rhei -> Vacuum Wave
[*]Nuclear: Frei -> Mafrei -> Freila -> Mafreila -> Freidyne -> Mafreidyne -> Atomic Flare -> Cosmic Flare
[*]Psychokinesis: Psi -> Mapsi -> Psio -> Mapsio -> Psiodyne -> Mapsiodyne -> Psycho Force -> Psycho Blast
[*]Bless: Kouha -> Makouha -> Kouga -> Makouga -> Kougaon -> Makougaon -> Shining Arrow -> Divine Judgement
[*]Curse: Eiha -> Maeiha -> Eiga -> Maeiga -> Eigaon -> Maeigaon -> Abyssal Rend -> Demonic Decree[/list]

[b]Specialty[/b]
[list][*]Melee & Ranged: You have more health, and choose two modifers you can apply to your attack skills for added effects. Choices are Dormin (Sleep), Terror (Fear), Memory (Forget), Flash (Dizzy), Abysmal (Despair), Marin (Brainwash), Skull (Confuse), Taunt (Rage), Life (Lifedrain), Spirit (Spiritdrain), and Lucky (Critical)
[*]Magic: You have more spirit, and your spells can either inflict an ailment or deal extra damage to those inflicted by them, called a Tech. Fire inflicts Burn. Ice inflicts Freeze. Elec inflicts Shock. Wind Techs with Burn, Dizzy, and Sleep. Nuclear Techs with Burn, Shock, and Freeze. Psy Techs with Confuse, Fear, Despair, Rage, and Brainwash
[*]Support: Healing (Dia), cure (Amrita), and revival (Recarm) skills. Dia -> Amrita -> Media -> Recarm -> Diarama -> Meamrita -> Diarahan -> Samarecarm
[*]Protection: Spells of your own element heal you, gain Enduring Soul (avoid one fatal blow per fight) and defensive skills. Rakukaja (defense up) -> Fortify (increase ailment resistance) -> Wall (shield against one element) -> Dekaja (null enemy buffs) -> Marakukaja (party defense up) -> Makarakarn + Tetrakarn (spell and attack counters) [/list][/hider]

[h3]To Whom it May Concern[/h3]

So, the elephant in the room. Most Persona RPs die before anything Persona actually happens, maybe because like some of the games, they take a bit to get going. However, I’m confident that should we get enough people who actually want to write to get off the ground, that won’t happen. If people wanted to write by themselves they wouldn’t need an RP to do it; the point of a GM is to take the players on an adventure. Here’s the plan.

[hider=How this works][list][*]The general plan for posting is at least once a week. It’s not necessarily a requirement, but if you miss a couple weeks we’re probably going to be in contact. If anything happens that would stop you from posting for a time, just let me know and we’re right as rain. Communication is key
[*]If you can’t see yourself posting at least once a week (bar extenuating circumstances) for the foreseeable future (multiple years even) don’t apply. This is less of an OC show and tell and more of a commitment
[*]I’m not going to make the people who do want to play, write, and tell their stories wait on people who don’t post. When I post my weekly update, world progress [i]will[/i] happen. Time will move forward even if some characters stand still. If your character is in a dangerous situation and doesn’t act, they may take damage or otherwise suffer for it. Not much, generally, but it’s still not a good idea to leave your character hanging
[*]’He who desires but acts not breeds pestilence’ - ultimately, being in an RP means posting. Whether or not you give reassurances if your intention to post, if you can’t post with reasonable consistency, we’ll need to face reality sooner or later
[*]You have some creative freedom to make and influence the stuff around you. For instance, if you were to walk into a classroom, you could describe the students around you, their names and appearances and what they’re doing, maybe even make up some prior experiences or encounters your character remembers. You can describe portions of the world, be it a favorite coffee shop of your character’s out in the city somewhere, or an area of distortion in the Metaverse. Controlling notable enemies isn’t allowed without permission, but you can have some fun with fodder. Above all, just ask. I’m always glad to answer any questions about if or how you can do this or that
[*]If you’re going to put your character’s dialog in a color, please make it readable on the guild’s background
[*]I’m open to talking about most anything anytime. If it seems like I got something wrong or could do something better, or if it seems like I forgot something, please don’t hesitate to let me know[/list][/hider]

For the character sheet, something I think would be fun would be to keep our characters’ Personas hidden until they awaken IC. So, you’ll complete the entire sheet and PM the final version to me for approval, but when you post it in the Characters tab you’ll leave out the Metaverse section until your awakening, at which point you can edit it back in. Plan around which awakening you want as well, based on whether your character’s core conflict is more internal or external. Stuff is first come first served and will on be 'yours' when your character is accepted

Of course, you’re welcome to put your WIPs in the OOC and discuss Personas, attributes, and Arcana.

[hider=Contract]
[h3]Humanity[/h3]
[indent]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b] (18 minimum)
[b]Arcana:[/b] (Find one thematically appropriate for your character. Discuss with others to avoid overlap)
[b]Appearance:[/b] (Images in a hider alright. Accompanying text appreciated)
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Bio:[/b] (No need for every tiny detail. Include important events that made your character who he or she is now, and your character’s recent past leading up to the current (not good) situation)
[b]Scars:[/b] (A summary of the source of your characters trauma/suffering, which will be the core conflict that plays into your awakening)
[/indent]
[h3]Shadow[/h3]
(If your character’s conflict is more internal than external, their Awakening will involve facing their own Shadow, so keep this section. Otherwise, remove this section)
[indent]
[b]Appearance:[/b] (A Shadow’s appearance reflects its distortions. They clothe themselves in security and power, however that may manifest. When driven berserk by the person’s refused acceptance, Shadows transform monstrously, so include that appearance here, too)
[b]Personality:[/b] (The Shadow is the dark parts of the psyche, the thoughts and feelings that people keep hidden from everyone, even themselves. Their traits are often exaggerated)
[b]Territory:[/b] (The distortion of a powerful Shadow can warp the Metaverse in their vicinity. This domain is tailored to suit the Shadow’s aesthetic, which you can describe here)
[/indent]
[h3]Metaverse[/h3]
[indent]
[b]Persona Identity:[/b] 
[b]Persona Appearance:[/b] 
[b]Specialty:[/b] (Melee, Ranged, Magic, Support, Protection)
[b]Element:[/b] (Physical, Projectile, Fire, Ice, Elec, Wind, Nuclear, Psy, Bless, Curse)
[b]Weakness:[/b]

[b]Callsign:[/b] (The name under which your character will operate as a Soldier of Fortune)
[b]Metaverse Appearance:[/b] (The new outfit is a manifestation of your character’s will to fight, so it is essentially battle attire. Minor appearance changes can accompany the outfit if you like. No mask required, but you will get a tailor-made Dog Tag listing your callsign and Persona)
[b]Melee Weapon:[/b]
[b]Ranged Weapon:[/b]
[/indent]
[/hider]