[color=gray] [color=EFD7AD][h2]The Witches Of Shipden Peak[/h2][/color] [hider=Shipden Peak] [img]https://i.ibb.co/VpHzK5s/Avonshire-Township.jpg[/img] [/hider] In the town of North Bennington lies a little hill. On top of that hill lies a little district, much a miniature town of its own. This little plot of land is called Shipden Peak. With a small town hall, some living quarters and more land than houses, Shipden Peak is a wonderful place to settle down. There runs a little river down into a freshwater pond. To its north lies a thick forest, often covered in mist. Shipden Peak is home to a witch coven. Although the days of witch hunts are long past us, life isn't roses. While the upcoming election is threatening the witches with a potential anti-witch politician claiming the title of president, unrest is stirring in the corners of the world. A rise in threats has been detected - unnatural beings such as undead creatures, magical beasts, and other supernatural causes pull media attention and feed directly into an anti-witch campaign. News report a rise in witch registrations (which concludes a rise in witch births), a rise in magical phenomenons and, in some parts of the US, unusual weather situations. Whether you have been a part of the Shipden Coven since birth or only joined recently, you are in fact now a witch of Shipden Peak. [url=https://discord.gg/spnWAnbp]Discord Link[/url] [hr][hr][color=EFD7AD][h2]Plot[/h2][/color]The idea is that our group of witches will be met with different challenges and opponents along the way. [color=EFD7AD][b]Act 1:[/b][/color] They first will be met with changes and difficulties they deal with from their home base, Shipden Peak. This might be political changes, magical threats, an uprise of the humans against the witches, etc. All of this brewing underneath the surface. There may be a "villain" introduced as well as a witch group defying the status quo which might lead to further unrest. [color=EFD7AD][b]Act 2:[/b][/color] A change in political power will lead to many changes and a different way of life. Witches begin to be more threatened. Here, the Shipden coven might begin to discuss sending out a Unit (a group of witches) to protect people, to battle against the rising threats, to investigate the sudden magical phenomenons, or to investigate the "villain". Alternatively, the witches might be drafted for military purposes by the US government to serve in a special unit or they might be forced to flee as witches are being made responsible for the threats and detained. Depending on Act 1, this can go many ways. [color=EFD7AD][b]Act 3:[/b][/color] Whatever path we choose to take, in Act 3 the reason for all the problems occurring will begin to surface, if it hasn't already. Connections will be made. Allies will be lost, enemies will possibly re-surface. And here latest will the Unit meet the "villain" or whatever main threat there is head-on if they haven't yet. [color=EFD7AD][b]Further On[/b][/color] This shall not be the end of the story but it is unlikely I can predict any more than this unless I set a course for a story already. I would much rather we do this together, though. [hr][hr][color=EFD7AD][h2]Expectations[/h2][/color]So what do I expect from you? And what can you expect from this RP? I am aiming for a focus on RP over combat. There will be combat and there will be some political stuff but I want the main focus to be the connection between the PCs. While the circumstance of the world and the happenings will be important, forming bonds and experimenting with RP is more important to me. There will likely not be any "stats" for our characters for this very reason and there won't any permanent character death (unless specified by the player). I am not the [i]best[/i] at world-building and building political systems, etc. But I will try. So please bear with me if it isn't entirely "realistic". I expect us to form this story together. While I will drop situations that might occur - especially in the beginning - I highly encourage you to do so, too. At the discretion of your GM. If you have a unique idea for a backstory - ask me. If you have a fun idea for a plot hook or an enemy - let us discuss it. You may do so privately or openly. Together we can build a richer and more enticing story than I could on my own. Furthermore, I am expecting this to be a moderate to slow RP. We might be fast posting in the beginning, but I know that most people always have life come in-between. As I would still like to keep this going even then, I am thinking of having a once per week or once per 2 weeks posting schedule. I wanna emphasize the writing, the connection, and especially the love to develop a story, over the hustle of cramming posts. [color=EFD7AD][h2]Rules[/h2][/color]This list might change / expand. [list][*]GM has the last word [*]Any action which has another character give involuntary information or act involuntarily MUST be discussed with the player, in case of NPCs it MUST be discussed with the GM [*]Any post must be related to events stated in prior posts, include a reaction to all PCs which are included in the scene (no one gets "ignored") and further the plot/scene. No "empty" reaction posts. Your post must add something new. [*]Any post must have some insight into your character (motivation, feelings, thoughts, struggles, whatever fits the moment) [*]No character can be a broody loner; you may have it be part of the character's traits but essentially, I need you to make a character that will want to engage with others on some level [*]Maximum of 2 characters per player, so choose wisely [*]You may make a villainous (side) character/an antagonist ONLY as a secondary character (note: villains and antagonists do not have a "right" of posting, the GM and you will decide together when it fits to have them show up/interact with PCs or NPCs; an antagonist might pop up and reappear later). Your antagonist may be human, witch or other. [/list] [color=EFD7AD][h2]Character Creation[/h2][/color] [hider=CS] [code] [center]First Name + Last Name[/center] [center][Img]pls use a real FC here[/img][/center] [hr] [center][i][color=EFD7AD]"Character quote"[/color][/i][/center] [color=gray][center]Trait 1. Trait 2. Trait 3. [/center] [hr] [color=EFD7AD][h2]Basic Information[/h2][/color] [list][*][color=EFD7AD][b]Name:[/b][/color] full name please, add nicknames if wanted [*][color=EFD7AD][b]Gender[/b][/color] gender, you may add "cis/trans" if you want to [*][color=EFD7AD][b]Age:[/b][/color] age [*][color=EFD7AD][b]Sexual Orientation:[/b][/color] how you roll? [*][color=EFD7AD][b]College Degree:[/b][/color] if any [*][color=EFD7AD][b]Languages:[/b][/color] must speak English, may speak other languages as well [*][color=EFD7AD][b]Notable Skills:[/b][/color] explain those with your history later if needed [/list] [color=EFD7AD][h2]Magical Abilities[/h2][/color] [color=EFD7AD][b]Years of Magical Education:[/b][/color] note: in the US you only start magical education earliest with 12 [color=EFD7AD][b]Schools of Magic:[/b][/color] you may choose up to 3 [color=EFD7AD][b]School of Magic[/b][/color] (put your skill level here, 10 is the highest you may choose) [list][*][color=EFD7AD]Name of the ability[/color] Describe how the ability works for your character. Additionally, you may describe how this ability looks like if higher advanced casters used it. Please add the restrictions to this ability. (e.g. "target must be in sight" or "requires concentration" or "can be undone by xy"). This does not need to be extensive. If you are unsure, we will figure it out down the line in RP. [/list] [list] [*][color=EFD7AD]Name of Ability[/color] Same as above. You may add more abilities than 2. [/list] [color=EFD7AD][b]School of Magic[/b][/color] (skill level) [list][*][color=EFD7AD]Name of ability[/color] Description. [/list] [list] [*][color=EFD7AD]Name of ability[/color] Description. [/list] [color=EFD7AD][h2]Personality[/h2][/color] [list] [*][color=EFD7AD]Trait 1[/color] You must choose at least 3 personality traits of your character you wanna share in the CS. You may choose to share more.[/list] [list] [*][color=EFD7AD]Trait 2[/color] Write a short description how this looks like for your character[/list] [list] [*][color=EFD7AD]Trait 3[/color] Write a short description how this looks like for your character[/list] [color=EFD7AD][h2]History[/h2][/color]Write at least 3 paragraphs for your character's history. This must include upbringing, where they've lived most of their lives, and what they've done so far (roughly, details not necessary). Include how/why they ended up joining Shipden Peak. [/color] [/code][/hider] Infos for creating your character: [list][*]Please make your main character between the ages of 23 and 37 [*]Make a Shipden "hero" before you make an antagonist (corruption arcs for "heroes" are possible though) [*]Fill out all required information in the given CS, you may add more any info if you like [*]You may format the CS how you like but pls keep it easy on the eyes and organized [*]You may choose any power you can think of for your school of magic - I will then judge whether it fits the world or is too OP and get back to you :)[/list] [hr][hr] [i]From here on you will find info about the world our characters live in. For the schools of magic, see "Magic System".[/i] [hr][hr][color=EFD7AD][h2]Magic vs. Normalcy[/h2][/color]Casters, magicians, sorcerers, wizards, warlocks, witches, or whatever else one might have called them throughout the times, have always existed alongside [i]humans[/i]. The history of witchcraft vs. humanity is long and dull and splattered with blood and betrayal on both sides. Humans, having feared the power of magic users, have tried their best to secure themselves through various means. War. Peace treaties. Witch burnings. And witches, sometimes out of hunger for power, sometimes out of vengeance, and other times out of desperation, have done the same to the humans as they had to them. Whoever started it is unclear. Nowadays, in the United States of America, witches and humans live side-by-side in peace. Witch huntings and burnings have long been stories of the past. As have stories of vile witches stealing children and casting curses upon entire families. However, mistrust remains. In this great nation, witches are as welcome and protected as anyone! But they must follow certain rules. The safety of the masses - witch and human alike - must be the nation's front and foremost concern. So the nation has established a rule system that all witches of the United States must follow. [color=EFD7AD][list][*]Rule No. 1: [color=gray]All US citizen witches must join a coven of their choice and register their name with the government upon turning 18 within the first 2 months of their adulthood. Prior to completing the 18th year of life, any underage witch and any witch's child must be registered in the [i]Young Witch's Coven[/i] of the United States OR be registered to another coven of their legal guardians' choice.[/color] [*]Rule No. 2: [color=gray]No witch may intentionally or out of lack of responsibility and care use any magical ability, directly or indirectly, on another US citizen, including other witches.[/color] [*]Rule No. 3: [color=gray]Any witch may be drafted for military purposes at any point to protect the United States of America from threats foreign and domestic.[/color] [*]Rule No. 4: [color=gray]Any witch must follow the enforced rules of their covens and sub-covens at all times or stand trial before the sub-coven, coven and finally the US law.[/color] [*]Rule No. 4: [color=gray]Any witch may freely choose to change their registration to another coven with a 2-year-period of membership. [/color] [*]Rule No. 5: [color=gray]Any witch must attend a witch's school for a minimum of 3 years of study between the ages 12 and 18 additionally to the regular school requirements. [s]The course of study of magical properties and abilities may not exceed a total of 10 years.[/s][/color][*]Rule No. 6: [color=gray]No witch may use any magical ability outside of their coven's seating at work, for work, for job applications, or otherwise in connection to professional employment, unless explicitly stated and granted within their contract of employment.[/color] [/list][/color] [color=EFD7AD][h2]The Covens[/h2][/color]In general, covens are a community of witches. There are multiple covens all over the US but due to the scarcity of witches (1 in 1.000.000) covens with actual witch communities are rare. Usually, a coven consists of multiple sub-covens. There may be a "CA Witches" Coven which in turn has multiple regional covens underneath its heading which it's responsible for. Those regional covens then have their own seating somewhere, this is usually a part of a small town that is only meant for witches. There you may find a witch's community including a school for witchcraft and a witch's town hall. However, a witch may also be officially registered with a regional coven but live outside the coven's seating. In this case, they would be surrounded by humans and likely have little to no personal contact with other witches due to the scarcity. Witches tend to flock to those small communities and live within their covens for various reasons. Covens are under observation and regulation by the US government. Any sub-coven must have at least 50 witches registered to it at all times to be officially recognized. Any coven must have at least 300 witches registered to it at all times to be officially recognized. If the number drops beneath the required amount at any point in time, the coven or sub-coven is granted a 30-day period to fill the missing spots. If they can't, the witches within the coven must register with a legitimate sub-coven or coven or they will be randomly placed into one by the US government. [color=EFD7AD][h2]Magic System[/h2][/color]The magic system of this world consists of 8 main schools of magic with various sub-categories. [hider=Schools of Magic] [color=EFD7AD][list][*]Abjuration [color=gray]The School of Abjuration emphasizes magic that blocks, banishes, or protects. Casters of this school may end harmful effects, protect the weak, banish evil influences or heal living creatures. Extremely proficient and skilled castes are called abjurers and might be called upon when important locations need guarding against spying and when portals to other planes of existence must be closed.[/color] [*]Conjuration [color=gray]As a conjurer, you produce objects and creatures out of thin air. You may learn the skill to teleport yourself and others.[/color] [*]Divination [color=gray]Divination magic concentrates on de-riddling the past, present and future. As a diviner, you strive to part the veil of tme and space and try to tap into moments in time with your consciousness. Areas of expertise include spells of discernment, remote viewing, supernatural knowledge, and foresight.[/color] [*]Enchantment [color=gray]This magical ability is all about entrancing and beguiling your target. You may be able to hypnotize, enthrill, control and create emotions.[/color] [*]Evocation [color=gray]This school of magic describes the control of one or more elements including water, earth, fire, air as well as light and darkness. You may as well seek control of the weather, making use of your powers to create bitter cold, intense heat, rainy clouds, stormy nights, etc.[/color] [*]Illusion [color=gray]With illusions you may dazzle the senses, befuddle the mind and play tricks on even the wisest of people. Illusion is usually a subtle form of magic but can be used for great scenes and grand entrances (or exits) just as much. This school of magic is especially versatile.[/color] [*]Necromancy [color=gray]You explore the forces of life and death, you tap into the world of spirits, ghosts and souls. A necromancer may alter and adjust the energy known as life force and contact beings on the other side of the veil. Necromancers may specialize in raising the dead, creating undead creatures or altering the life force by causing sickness, pain, and creating poison. This school of magic is generally the least popular amongst students due to the strict rules that come with this path of magic and the (sometimes severe) punishment if those rules aren't obeyed. Having control over life and death and being able to tap into the veil comes with immense responsibility - and therefore strict observation.[/color] [*]Transmutation [color=gray]This school of magic focuses on modifying energy and matter. To casters of this school, the world is barely in a fixed state. Everything is always in transmutation - figuratively, at least. You are able to transform physical matter such as objects. You may also specialize in a sub-category of this school of magic, such as Amalgamation, becoming an Animagus, or changing the state of matter.[/color] [/list][/color][/hider] [color=EFD7AD][h2]Politics[/h2][/color]Curently, the US has a female president who is pro-witches and trying to change the laws which restrict them. Her main subjects on this matter are the enforced military draft and the restriction to 10 years of proper magical education. With the latter, she succeeded right after her election - almost 8 years ago - and has since done her best to limit government supervision of covens and witch's schools. With re-election coming up, the president's most promising rival is a man who is - not surprisingly - anti-witch. He continues to spew subte hate and fear among the US citizens and speaks out for stricter observation, registration and limitations of witch's property, education and political rights. It is unsure as of now who might win this election. (A president may serve up to 4 terms, a total of 16 years.) All witches have had the right to vote since human women did, including male witches (who previously couldn't vote). [color=EFD7AD][h2]About The Witch's World[/h2][/color] [hider=Calendar] [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Wheel_of_the_Year.svg/800px-Wheel_of_the_Year.svg.png[/img] [/hider] [hider=Yule] Yule, also known as Alban Arthan, is a celebration of the re-appearance of the sun and the fertile land's rebirth. Over the centuries, it has evolved to include traditions such as bringing sprigs and wreaths of ever-greenery (such as holly, ivy, mistletoe, yew, and pine) into the home, exchanging gifts with one another (although this is not done by many witches) and using traditional divination means to get a glimpse into the near future. Most traditionally, one uses a Yule log which will get magical runes carved into it and then be tossed into the fire. The runes on the log then, upon being watched, are meant to give each person a short glimpse into their near future - usually, visions show moments within the following month and are rather minor. So this is more of a fun tradition than an actual serious way to use divination. Although it may have been that originally. [/hider] [hider=Imbolc] Imbolc traditionally marks the first stirrings of spring. It is seen as a time for purification and spring cleaning in anticipation of the year's new life. Traditionally on the day of Imbolc, witches begin their school years, use purification spells on their homes and grounds, and set out to eat healthy, nutritious meals. Often pledges and rededications for the coming year are made and witches receive their initiation into their covens, new positions (such as leadership positions) or otherwise. [/hider] [hider=Ostara] Also known as Alban Eilir, this holiday is the second of three spring celebrations (the midpoint between Imbolc and Beltane), during which light and darkness are again in balance, with light on the rise. It is a time of new beginnings and of life emerging further from the grips of winter. For this celebration, witches often generate a show of light and shadow for entertainment and provide a traditional healing soup to cleanse the body. For the soup, nine herbs must be collected from nature - including nettle, garlic, dandelion and lesser celandine. [/hider] [hider=Beltane] Beltane is a ceremony focused on the sexual attraction and energy between witches. It is an ancient ritual and celebration of the open-minded community and the physical connection of magical energies. Sexual energy has since the dawn of time been known to enhance a witch's abilities temporarily. Even though every coven and sub-coven may celebrate Beltane a little differently, it is most usual to have a big group dance, a lot of food and music, a big ceremonial fire as well as witches leaving as a pair of two or more to join together physically as the night darkens. For those not interested in Beltane, the celebration still invites them to dance and feast, but partaking is not mandatory. Under US law, Beltane is a ceremony that any witch aged 16 or above may join in. Participation under the age of 16 is prohibited by law. (Not that the government actually checks.) It is usually held during spring. [/hider] [hider=The Veil & Samhain] Witches have always had a different connection to death than humans. It is known that beyond the world of the living, there is a world of the dead. This world is shielded by a figurative wall called The Veil. Powerful Necromancers may have the ability to lift said veil to commune with the dead. Souls, spirits, and ghosts reside beyond that veil. This realm is none that the living can enter. Once a soul has passed through the veil, it is extremely difficult to retrieve it again, and witches generally do not attempt to. Samhain is an ancient witch festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker-half" of the year. It is held on 1 November but with celebrations beginning on the evening of 31 October. During this night, The Veil is perceived as thinnest. It is a ritual for witches across the world to use this night to try and commune with a dead relative or loved one. It is highly unusual that of the deceived manifest but instead visions, fractions of visions or emotions may be conveyed. Many witches use this night to ask for guidance or assurance. This is the only night of the year in which a non-necromancer may attempt to interact with The Veil or The Beyond. [/hider] [/color]