Grey

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

...I should probably head to sleep.

Still need to get dat 3/5 approval for my CS.

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

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Roleplay Information
GMs: Cynder, Grey & Lucius Cypher.
Co-Mod(s): ERode & Jedly.
Level: Mid-Casual.
Status: Closed and currently not accepting.

Rules
1.) You may have as many characters as you'd like and/or can handle.
2.) If you have any questions, please leave them in the thread, PM me or visit our chat. You may also request my Steam or Skype.
3.) If I am gone for several days, any GMs or Co-Mod(s) remaining are left in charge of the thread. You do not need to wait for me.
4.) Shouldn't be too much of an issue, but there is to be absolutely no powerplaying, metagaming or godmodding allowed.
5.) Avoid speedposting. There will not be a posting order, however, I do not want two pages between the same two people.
6.) Respect Co-Mods, they have all the same powers as GMs. You may speak to me if you wish to be a Co-Mod.
7.) No smut is permitted, anything past hugs and kisses is either "fade to black" or take to PMs.
8.) You may attack another player's character, however, you cannot kill them without permission.
9.) You'll receive a warning if you start drama outside of the Roleplay: first one to start, first one out.
10.) If a troll appears, feel free to poke at it, but don't feed it. Do not be a troll yourself.
11.) Not a rule, but I'd love to see some character development, plot twists, proper grammar and so on.
12.) You may not control another person's character without their permission.
13.) Have fun and enjoy yourself!
Introduction
Glorious Musical Accompaniment as Chosen by Swag-Shield and Jed

A rift in space-time known as the Black Gale opened up, connecting the worlds of Earth and Lucis with an undisclosed (but absurdly large) amount of unexplored, monster-filled wilderness. That was twenty years ago, and while the situation in the Black Gale hasn't changed much, peace has been fostered between the two worlds. Today is January 8th. Three days ago a raven bearing a letter arrived, declaring that you had been selected to enroll one of many institutions dedicated to combat the threats posed by the labyrinths and wildlife in the Black Gale, as well as those posed by the two worlds themselves - an academy. And not just any academy, but the Academy of the Arcane Artes, one of the greatest and most renowned academies in both worlds. And you were one of the lucky elite chosen to attend this prestigious academy.

Did you accept the offer? Hell yeah you did!

And that was how you found yourself waking up bright and early (or perhaps staying up mind-bogglingly late), packing your bags, saying your good-byes to whatever friends or family you may have (or not!), and waiting outside your dark cave/quaint countryside hamlet/massive estate/cheap apartment/ludicrously expensive condo/etc for the arrival of a magical lion-eagle.

Lo and behold, there they arrived, descending from the heavens like angels from on high. Fur and feather gleamed in the light of the relevant celestial body as the majestic creature settled upon the ground. It was alone, saddle empty, waiting for its designated rider. You mount the beast, tentatively, aggressively, or otherwise - it does not matter. From there you take to the sky, heading towards the Black Gale, that giant tear in space over there, at speeds that violated every traffic law on Earth and then some.

But soon after you see it on the distant horizon: the Academy of the Arcane Artes. Or perhaps you don't, since you're clinging so damn hard to your griffin. Eventually you land, the sound of griffin's talons upon pavement. It was a miracle you didn't die or anything. That sure would've been inconvenient, huh? But that doesn't matter! You made it!

Now welcome to the Academy of the Arcane Artes, bitches students. Enjoy your stay.

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

Sure, go ahead.

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

You should shove that in the OP, Cyn

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

Character Sheet

Full Name
Huanglong Shen
Fake Name
Huanglong Fai
Gender
Male
Age
17
Year
First
Birthday
January 29, 2049
Astrological Sign
Dragon
Species
Human
Class
Geomancer
A class designating spellcasters who utilize the terrain beneath their feet in their thaumaturgy. While some Geomancers might keep to the fringe of battle, providing assistance to companions by enfeebling foes with the powers of nature or conjuring magical fields to buff allies, others transform the earth and destroy their foes using the nature they've attuned themselves to.
Weapon
Shen possesses no weapons or magical artifacts, but he does practice a five-style martial art that perfectly suits his affinity towards all five of the eastern elements, so he has that going for him at least. His skill level is roughly equivalent to someone who could make a national championship, but not win it.
World
Earth
Short Biography
The Huanglong are an ancient bloodline of magi that can trace its roots back to when the Xia Dynasty was still yet to establish itself. The family itself is incredibly traditional and isolationist, remaining static in an attempt to delay the inevitable decay of Earth's mages, and their ancestral territory, nestled atop a node of leylines deep in the mountain ranges along the Yellow River, is so spiritually potent that it could be referred to as the closest thing to Lucis on Earth.

Born possessing a downright pitiful level of magical potential by Huanglong standards, Shen was obviously a disappointment to his family, especially given he was the first-born of the Huanglong main branch. The only reason he hadn't been quietly smothered and passed off as a miscarriage was due to his affinity for the five elements, a significant change from the family's usual affinity. Needless to say, his childhood as the 'never good enough' child wasn't very fun. His training in the magical arts was minimal at best, and his martial arts training was for the sole purpose of being an effective punching bag for the future head of the Huanglong, his younger brother Fai. Although no favors or leniency would be allotted to him, so long as he didn't get in anyone's way and provided sufficient assistance around the estate, the clan elders left him to his own devices. And with the ample free time at his disposal, Shen would raid the family library or watch the news on the one channel their old TV had, forcing himself to take in as much information as he could to find ways to improve both his spellcraft and the traditions of the family. Even if the everyone thought he was a lost cause, he would show them that with nothing but sheer skill and the assimilation of outside values, he could surpass his 'perfect brother' and lead the family to a new generation of prosperity! ...Of course he'd fail to convince them to even let him try, and with each embarrassing refutation his contempt for the family and their outdated traditions grew. When he did get a chance to strut his stuff, it became nothing but a comedic spectacle for the family, an opportunity to laugh at the childishness of their failure. But that day, the raven carrying a letter accepting his brother into an academy of the outside arrived once more, like it had for the past few years. Of course, each time Shen had burned the letter out of spite, jealousy, or something else entirely. However, this time an idea struck him, and instead of burning the letter, he chose to do something else. He'd steal his brother's identity, he'd join this academy...

...and he'd show them. He'd show them all.
Personality
Shen is intensely driven to succeed by a lifetime of being 'not good enough'. He seeks validation for his achievements, to make it at least seem like he's actually worth the space he takes up. His attitude reflects this: he's a determined, almost unnaturally tenacious individual - the kind who can set a goal and painstakingly figure out how to accomplish it with whatever he's got as his disposal. Extreme, almost reckless lengths - such as, for example, identity theft - can usually be considered probable if not inevitable, but he's moral enough not to prioritize killing the villain over saving the bus full of orphans, and smart enough not to act like a suicidal fool. Socially, Shen considered reasonably polite; he certainly isn't a massive asshole by any means, but he does have his moments of astounding bluntness. He definitely could be called naive and idealistic, at any rate. While he is moderately expressive when it comes to feelings such as wonder and joy, rarely will one see a blatant, uncontrolled public display of raw emotion from him. Over the years he's become very good at bottling up his feelings - mostly negative, but some positive - and though he may cautious about opening up to people, once you get to know him well enough you'll have your hands on a decent geomantic tactician with unwavering loyalty to his allies.

On another note, due to the general old-timey-ness and isolation of the Huanglong family, Shen finds himself enamoured with a good deal of the advanced technology and quaint intricacies of modern culture that he's only seen past a TV screen.
Partner
N/A
Fear(s)/Weakness(es)/Limit(s)
Lack of Qualifications
Shen obviously didn't get into the Academy by his own merits, that's for sure. Apart from his unique form of magic, he really has nothing going for him. No big guns or mystic swords, no secret techniques or superhuman traits, just his guile and what magic he knows.

Lack of Streetsmarts
Due to living atop a mountain for 99% of his life, Shen isn't all that used to modern life, which means he can be tricked into believing something false, so long as it doesn't offend his sensibilities, contradict his (admittedly rather meager) prior knowledge, and isn't so obviously incorrect that something like looking around the immediate location would reveal the truth.

Lack of Training
The circumstances of Shen's upbringing have left his skill at magic leaning far more on the theory side than the practice side, and though his skill in martial arts is considerable by human standards, he hardly has enough skill or strength to turn the tide of battle with it.

Sense of Honor
Shen was raised in a culture that places a large value on honor. He doesn't take slights against himself very well and he'll always keep his word no matter how inconvenient it is. He also refuses to show cowardice in the face of danger and run from a fight, or speak to others about personal problems plaguing him.

Ungrounding
Mobilized magical fields and leyline interference, his two trump cards, can only be deployed within a few meters from the ground or a structure immediately connected to the ground, such as the first floor of a building.
Strange Attributes/Abilities/Traits
Huanglong Thaumaturgy - "Leyline Interference"
The unique magical art developed by the Huanlong over the span of at least five millennia: the harmonization between a mage and the natural flows of magical energy, leylines. Practitioners can accomplish feats such as the siphoning of mana from the worlds' leylines to fuel spells and rituals of immense cost. Furthermore, the intimate spiritual connection to the earth allows for innate proficiency in both working with earth-based subjects, and the deployment and destruction of magical fields - as well as the 'impossible' ability to render them mobile.

Magical Affinity - Wu Xing
A magical affinity that allows its user to excel in the use of spells based around the five eastern elements: fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. Shen's spell knowledge in this field is rather minimal, however.

Mana Capacity
The Huanglong are considered one of the Noble Houses, a set of nine mage bloodlines from Earth of the 'old as balls' variety that have withstood the degeneration and near extinction of mages throughout the ages. As such, the mana capacity of their progeny far surpasses that of normal mages. Even if Shen's capacity is considered incredibly pathetic by his family's standards, he could still be considered at least above-average by average standards.

Ingenuity
Heightened capacity for insight and quick, lateral thinking. It's the trait that makes Shen effective, as it allows him to push the properties of their limits, as well as figure how to make do in a bad situation if the former fails him. Also used to research new spells and figure out how to upgrade existing ones with surprising ease, in addition to other general uses.
Themesong
Looking for one
Other

Spell List

...Yeah, just check back in a day or some such.

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

Anyway, looks like lag's more or less completely died down. I'll get to respondin' to Ed tomorrow

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

Did not receive yet. I imagine either the Guild is slow on submitting PMs or my name was spelled incorrectly.

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

Astrological Sign

He was born so close to the gale that (as happens with wormholes) time dilation and distortion meant that it could be something else, Though if you want me to put it in I will.

Won't be necessary. Again, t'was just something I felt like pointing out.

Species

That was Kinda up for debate, I was going to wait for approval before doing that, because Clearly having the grandson of the devil himself would be rather OP. I was more thinking Fallen angel Ect.

Dunno too much about that kind of lore, you'll have to ask Cyn. For all I know, the grandson of the Devil might not even be all that OP. Nor do I know if fallen angels or even angels themselves (the Judeo-Christian variety at least.) are a thing.

EDIT: Cynder has said angels and demons are a thing, and that she might be find with a Lucifer kid depending on what brand of absurdities he can pull off (and would also require nerfing of other things like equipment depending on content).

Weapons

0) MagiTech is not the imitation of one by the other, but the seamless blending of the two, The reason Leo has access to that (As I have said) is his Uncle is an inventor ect, I should have made this clear, but his Uncle is of Earth. That would be how he has access.

1) Size limits charge, Also they have a reuse limit, keep re-using a rechargeable battery and it will eventually break down. Same with these mana crystals. Also the crystals themselves are unaligned, its the technology within the axe that changes the alignment of the magic

2) She said Rwby like gun-blade weapons, Hell in the newer episodes of Rwby (spoiler alert) There's a guy with a cyberpunk electrostatic rifle! but I'll take it down to some sort of magical rifle.

3) I said uses the same tech as, Not that it was comparable to. also its called 'last resort' for a reason. as for 'simple reload' the mana crystals are embedded inside the axe and machinery, Meaning he would have to disassemble the entire thing, In combat. to replace its crystals. Also, it is of variable power, that is only if the mana crystals are at full charge, often this is used when they are almost out, so it'll do a lot less

4) Its not technically a gun, More a catalyst, Think of it like a wand. He cannot use magic on his own, though he has untapped stores of mana, (due to him being, well a Trifling). The 'gun' allows him to catalyse that mana in to actual spells.

5) Have you ever stood up and got head rush? the gun disrupts the electronic signals in your head, and does exactly the same thing as headrush but on a much grander scale, Thus knocking you out, It's only short range, and because doesn't damage the neurons or electronic pathways you get back up in a hour or so with nothing more than a headache, and probably a bruise if you fell in something.

6) Yup. You spotted a Major weakness, if anyone gets to his cells He's fucked. congratz. And yes, I know, since I was told to keep the bio short I couldn't really go through the whole history of him living nigh on top of the gale and having immediate access to earth because of his Uncle ect. If you wish me to I can send you a PM explaining it all.

7) Ah, I always felt that Chakra/chi/Ki was a internal alignment of your own energy flow to enhance ones attacks and defence (Think Monk), Where as Mana was the reaction of the release of internal energy occurring outside the body upon contact with external energy. However if in this Mythos they are one and the same I'll take it off. 'no-sells magic' I couldnt understand

8) Again, Most of this is explained in his extended bio However if you want me to take it out because you feel it is OP that is fine, also its a prototype Leo made with his uncle and grandfather. in their own workshop

0) Doesn't change the fact that Earth tech > Magitech since it renders most of that completely redundant. Random example: you have a gun that shoots elemental ammo, Earth has futuristic anti-materiel sniper rifles. Also, it doesn't address the fact that he shouldn't have access to this sort of stuff in the first place. It'd be illegal if he did.

1) That's even worse than if they were aligned beforehand! Now you have tech that can pull off this shit! And it still doesn't address the issues presented.

2) I'm aware. Doesn't make the fact that she said so any less true.

3) Okay, that is just a horribly offensive (and not in the good way!) weapon design. What kind of manufacturer makes a gun that must be completely disassembled to reload?

4) That makes... very little sense whatsoever. If he has a magical race and untapped stores of mana, he can use it. End of story, or there's no use in giving him innate mana in the first place. I am willing to buy it as an amplifier, though, just not a catalyzer.

5) Let me get this straight. You have a ranged weapon that knocks out people for an hour, and is pretty damn near/completely impossible to dodge (depending on wave speed, assuming sound/light speeds) Read that again. That isn't even including the fact that, depending on how its waves propagate, you get knocked out too.

6) Lucis doesn't get hydrogen tech, and smuggling is illegal. See deep within the bowels of the chat, or ask Cyn.

7) It's indeed the exact same thing. 'No-sell' means counters completely or something like that.

8) *sigh* If it's important to the character, and you don't have it in the CS don't presume that the GM can read your mind. If it's important, put it in the CS. 'Short Bio'-title be damned. If it's important and needs to be hidden, you PM it to the GM. Seriously, it looks like you've already taken the time to write it out, so just include it!

...Sorry 'bout that. Just needed to get that off my chest. So yeah, just lob a copy of that extended bio in group PM between me and Cyn and yourself (and any other GMs you wish to bring in, I recommend Lucius) or drop it here.

Weaknesses

1) Well, He's not going to be throwing fireballs or lightning bolts. Or summoning the dead. He's more likely to be using basic destructive magic such as bog-standard mana blasts, nor will he be happy to drive a tank or use a super advanced sniper rifle, he'd much prefer something like a revolver or flamethrower.

2) Let me re-itterate that, Normal person, with only his basic weapon vs a dragon; Yeah, I'm running.
Leo, with only basic weapon vs a dragon; Pfft, I can take him.
Its not just recklessness, its a utter disregard for the certainty of his own life and wellbeing. He feels, he can replace any part of his body lost in combat with a magitech version. and thus has no care for his own safety. I'd say that's a pretty big weakness, as you'd expect he won't be with his armour all the time.

*sigh* You're right. That's not recklessness. That's being a massive idiot. And it doesn't mesh well at all with his established traits. You say he's some sort of genius who hates fools and stuff, but then you give him this. Also, he's supposed to be some kind of genius. He should know if tech can do so or not (it can, to an extent).

Weaknesses Pt2

Not sure how to respond other than 'I'll do that last'

Alright. I can wait.

Weirdass Traits

No, he can't understand EVERY tongue, however the most common magic ones, he can. and there isn't any really, its just a interesting tidbit, it has no actual 'power' Hence why its in the strange skills part.

I'd better not be seeing any magic copying, then. I've participated in enough RPs, power level discussions, and seen enough stupid, trite anime to know the power of theory when it comes to observing powers.

Pet

Magic ect.
kinda needed to put it in there so if they watch a battle and he comments on a spell midway through its casting its understandable as so how he can.

I barely understood a single word of that, to be honest. Are you saying that it's just a plot device to justify your character talking about peoples' spells? Because considering the rest of his skillset, you don't even need a Navi running around. Not saying you need to get rid of it, just that the function you put it there is redundant.

In conclusion:
Handgun needs rethinking, but is more or less fine barring alternate shooting. The assault axe scythe needs nerfing. The suit and crystals can get the heck out. Weaknesses need to be 'better'. The bio needs elaboration, and probably some other stuff.

Oh, and yell at Cyn about the race.

Also, sorry if I seem really pissed off - I'm not - or have offended you in anyway. And apologies for being so fucking late with this.

On a related note: I'd actually be willing to help you put together a magitech user that works in this mythos.

Academy Of The Arcane Artes

Currently studying for a test tomorrow, will get back to Ed either later or after classes.

Also: JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED.

Elder Scrolls Daggerfall: The Aureus Anchor at the maelstrom (Always accepting new members)

"Interesting," the Argonian hissed as he looked about the Bosmer's warehouse. It wasn't a lie. However his face was passive and unexpressive, though considering his race it was to be expected that he wasn't a smiley sort. Ajax-Vei was well aware of the sorts of things here. Some he'd seen on his plundering days on the high seas, like Skooma, some he'd encountered on his more research-oriented travels, like scrolls and potions.

The zoo had caught him a bit off guard, though. The sales-pitch on the other hand, did not. Merchants were merchants, after all. He noted strange sounds coming from a shady looking door, one which the Bosmer waved off as uninteresting. Curiosity piqued, and permission granted, Ajax-Vei stepped closer to the door and peaked in, a single hand on his hip, the other knocking on it.