[hr] [center][h1][color=1e90ff]In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure[/color][/h1] [/center] [img]https://img00.deviantart.net/86b4/i/2014/333/2/4/fantasy_ocean_landscape_by_jjpeabody-d882n8b.jpg[/img] [hr] [center][youtube]https://youtu.be/QRT59tch5YY[/youtube][/center] [center] [i]A long, long time ago, mankind lived on the land. Mankind built great cities which climbed to the heavens. Mankind was beholden to the earth and sky, but they could not control the mother sea. Man grew greedy and coveted more and more until he was finally punished for his greed. The mother sea took the land and sky from man and brought all life back to her bosom. The technology and power mankind held before were lost, but mankind survived. People were forced to live in harmony with the mother ocean, and while many built villages on the small islands remaining, some took out and built great floating cities. The Imperial City of Galma is one such place. In 1652 AF, Crown Emperor Gaius Starwind set the world ablaze with adventure, promising untold imperial riches to those who could find the lost city of Gaea, the old capital city of mankind, long lost and buried under mother ocean’s waves. [/i] [/center] [indent] Hello! Welcome to the Re:Build of [b]In Search of Gaea![/b] This rp is based on many fantasy stories and games that deal with a more beautiful post-apocalypse: the water world theme! Of course, we won't have any Kevin Costner walking around with gills or any Dennis Hoppers with eyepatches in this RP. I mean...maybe. But this is more inspired by JRPGs and anime than by famous Hollywood flops. Influences include: Chrono Cross, YS Series, Suikoden IV (the one with boats); Xenoblade and even Final Fantasy X (you know the one with the huge influence on water stuffs).[/indent] [hider=World Info] [u]The World[/u] This is the world of Aruth, a world almost entirely submerged in an endless ocean, named by the people “The Mother Ocean” for all life came from her and all life shall eventually return to her. People live in either small villages, large man-made floating cities, or constantly traveling in their ships across the endless Mother Ocean. One major difference of the Mother Ocean is of her “Water Boundaries” which divide much of the world. Different sections of the Mother Ocean are blocked off by giant waterfalls and are impossible unless the proper routes are followed or if you find an Aether Canal, which can raise or lower your ship into the new waters. Flora and fauna have changed with the world as well. Floating forests, new creatures, and giant beasts all roam this changed world alongside humanity. While “countries” are few and far between due to the lack of enough land to connect people together, several governing bodies are recognized throughout the world. These bodies are separated by the Water Boundaries that divide the Mother Ocean into seven “Seas”. [u]The South Sea[/u] [img]https://wallpaperaccess.com/full/3577975.jpg[/img] A large archipelago of small islands in the southern seas of the Mother Ocean. This tropical area is home to many small villages, farms, and small barge colonies. The Free Islands are in the most shallow part of the Mother Ocean, and the safest waters in the Mother Ocean. Each island village is run by a chief, and all the chiefs on the South Islands meet at the Chief-Moot every full moon to discuss politics in the islands. [u]The Imperial Sea[/u] [img]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/4/45/Altissia-Artwork-FFXV.png/revision/latest?cb=20160518190016[/img] The most populated seas, commanded by the Crown Emperor Gaius Starwind, these seas are a huge military might in the Mother Ocean. The capital city is Galma, an incredible man-made floating city that is said to be built upon a great ancient city. The empire is constantly warring with the other seas, always vying for more power. [u]The Frozen Sea[/u] [img]http://2damnfunny.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Awesome-Glacier-Cathedral-Sculpture.png[/img] The frozen northlands, these seas are home to a giant glacial continent where many people live. These waters are known for their extreme dangers, both from beasts and the climate, and many well-respected Divers have hailed from the Frozen Capital of Windkeep. [u]The Dragon Sea[/u] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/bf/e2/6fbfe24fae0fdcabbab64f7a369a4bc0.jpg[/img] A dangerous sea of storms and monsters to the far east, those who hail from the small islands of the Dragon Sea are well-known artisans, warriors, and merchants. The capital city is Xian, home of an imperial dynasty amid a thin archipelago of islands. [u]The Sea of Stars[/u] [img]https://img00.deviantart.net/a43c/i/2008/282/7/b/nautilus_by_marcsimonetti.jpg[/img] The westernmost sea, this sea is home to ancient floating shell colonies where people float on the backs of giant ancient creatures. Legends state that it is from these cephalopods that mankind learned how to wield the magic of the aether. The city of Aurorus lies on the shell of an ancient sea creature and is the location of the Aetherium, the greatest academy for Aether magic in the Mother Ocean. [u]The Lost Sea[/u] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a7/44/df/a744df5f52555a6e6885e8ed50426582.jpg[/img] The tallest sea in the Mother Ocean and one covered in thick, deadly fog. Many adventurers do not return from the lost sea, though old divers tell of ancient treasures and rich cities that lie hidden under its deadly waters. There are no known settlements, though some tell stories of pirate bases hidden in the dangerous mists. [u]The Sea of Ancients[/u] [img]http://coolvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/new-atlantis.jpg[/img] The second highest sea and one home to researchers of ancient Machina, the Sea of Ancients is a dangerous but lucrative place and the home of the Diver’s Guild, the foremost adventurer’s guild in the Mother Ocean. [u]Aether[/u] In the time after the Mother Ocean took back the world, people learned a new power connected to this changing world: Aether. Those who wield aether are either tied to the Sun, using magic based on the ocean winds, or to the Moon, using the magic of the seas themselves. Aether is also used in forging Aetheric Weapons, which have elemental properties and are useful for fighting some of the deadlier monsters of the deep. Many ships have an Aether Engine, which is all but required in the deepest waters to keep moving in places with no wind but also to protect the ship from giant beasts. Aether magic is based on the two elements of wind and water, but these have sub-variations as well (i.e. ice and lightning). Using Aether can be a valuable tool. For example, Moon Aethers can use water to heal wounds, wind aether users can use the winds to cleave through enemies. But these powers are limited, due to the human body being a fragile thing. Aether is limited, and the more a person uses their power, the weaker they grow. Use it too much, and you could become comatose. [u]Divers[/u] Divers are the adventurers of the world. Divers travel in parties via ships, helping others, searching for treasure, and the greatest Divers search for the lost city of Gaea, the ancient capital. The Diver’s Guild is in the city of Forres, in the Sea of Ancients, though smaller Diver’s Guilds are found throughout the seven seas. The Guild Master of the Divers is a famous adventurer known as Jerrah Shieldshell, a powerful warrior and wielder of Aether. True Divers take on any task, whether it is to investigate an anomaly in the seas, take down a great leviathan, or to simply help deliver cargo. Divers carry various sets of gear, but all carry a rebreather to allow them to spend long stretches of time underwater, and usually some kind of weapon. [u]Ships[/u] Ship vary in different makes from wooden sailing ships to ironclads, but all good Diver ships have an aether engine. An aether engine varies in size, but they all help protect the ships from the dangerous leviathans lurking in the Mother Sea. Some engines can hide a ship, while others can protect a ship. All aether engines use refined aetherite, the same material in creating aether weapons. [/hider] [b][u]Rules and Overview[/u][/b] I'm looking for a smaller cast for this roleplay, aiming for around 4 to 5 characters that we can keep in a tight group for this adventure. While having tons of characters exploring the world can be fun, I'd like to keep the story going with these characters set towards an end goal. For your character, you begin as a member of a Diver Crew, working on the [url=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51KDX6jzPxL._AC_SY1000_.jpg]Sharkfin[/url] under the command of captain [url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDfJl3zXkAQYyzJ.jpg]Himund Gale.[/url] A mission exploring newly discovered ruins near the South Seas suddenly ends in disaster, and you and your surviving crew are suddenly thrust into an adventure to uncover the real truth behind the ancient civilization and the source of all the Leviathans. As for rules, as always all guild rules apply. But I do have my own specific rules that I care about: -Please keep the power levels relatively low/medium. While this is a heavily anime-inspired rp, I would like there to be a gradual growth in power instead of beginning the story blasting monsters away with laser spears. I'm a firm believer in strong characterization and character growth, and I would really like it if we could all grow as the story goes on instead of having an anime strength-measuring contest. -Please put some effort in your posts. This is high-casual, and while a paragraph post is [i]fine[/i] I know that introducing characters, exploring their inner thoughts or simple action moments can give more insight to your character and make the fellow writers and anyone reading the RP care about them more. -Post-time. I'll be upfront: I'm a high school teacher and my weekdays are usually packed. But I do try to devote some time to each weak to RP. As long as everyone is posting within a week, or giving the other writers a heads up on an absence, I'll be happy. This is always subject to change with time and effort. -Respect. I don't like drama. I don't like arguments. I deal with brattiness and high school drama in my actual job, so I have zero-time for it in my real life. -Preference is given to writers I know and trust, but I am open for new faces as long as you can follow the rules and be a positive part of the writing group. I'm too old and crusty to try and be nice anymore. Finally, the CS: [hider=CS] [center][b][h1][i][b]N[/b] a m e[/i][/h1][/b][color=gray][b]“Character Quote”[/b][/color] [hider=image][img] IMAGE [/img][/hider][/center] [b][u]Name[/u][/b] [b][u]Age[/u][/b] [u][b]Gender[/b][/u] [b][u]Home Sea[/u][/b] [u][b]Aether Sign[/b][/u] [u][b]Aether Abilities[/b][/u] If any [b][u]Personality[/u][/b] [b][u]History[/u][/b] [b][u]Gear[/u][/b] [/hider]