Letter Bee

Alternate Fallout: New Vegas, Points of Divergence

@SilverFallen, yes, it's still open; we actually need more people to join, actually.

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

@Bishop, Empire got stomped three years after the Battle of Endor in the New Canon. All hail the New Republic!

Well, until they let their rotating capital get destroyed by a new superweapon, but details, details.

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

Latest Revision; posted on this page for convinience:

Alexander Sky

Alexander Sky

Age

18

Gender

Male.

Race

Human

Magic

N/A

Divine Protection

Blessing of Investigation - Alexander's eyes can see, and see all magical illusions, effects, blessings, curses and even alterations, as well as detect that something supernatural is being cast. Note however that this is its own drawback, as Alexander registers magic as differently colored lights, meaning that too many of such would blind him. Thus, in areas with dense magic, he has to put on a blindfold to preserve his eyesight.

Personality

Alexander is reckless, but committed, and also a person who has only recently managed to rein in their emotions. Although not naturally kinder than the average person, Alexander is someone who wants to be more than he already is, and is willing to do what it takes to get it. At the same time, however, he can be a show-off, impatient, and as mentioned, reckless, as well as secretly afraid that he might let himself down, which would equate to letting others down.

"I'm not as kind as I want to be - in fact, I'm pretty nasty. But I want to change all that, and I will."

Background

One of Alexander's first memories was watching Detective Conan/Case Closed, due his babysitter leaving the TV on. The fact that he was somehow able to comprehend the plots of each episode was also the time when it became clear that he was different from others, different not just in his intelligence, but in his realization that when he wanted something, he should try to get it, either by asking nicely, or by giving something in return, like good grades at school or extra obedience to one's parents. Even as he got older and other shows and stories about detectives stopped being appealing to him, Detective Conan, and later, books such as Artemis Fowl (which he began to take an interest in when he was getting older), remained an inspiration to his life.

In school, Alexander was known as a mystery-solver, able to get answers to minor schoolroom capers such as missing lunch boxes, vandalism, and minor embezzlement by student council members (which aren't as powerful as they were in Japan). In short, he got a nice reputation, a reputation that got him favors, good graces by the safety patrol, praise, and eventually, girls and boys.

Then, he found the occult, and although he didn't believe the 'malarkey', he was distracted enough by studying it that his life took a downturn as his investigation skills, though still formidable by schoolyard standards, began to stagnate, and while he can deduce and find solutions to minor crimes, stuff such as murder and such were now outside of the young man's deductive skills. Alexander knew this, and kept out of speculating on larger cases, even when he got to University early, at the age of 15.

He also felt a draw to learn martial arts, namely Filipino Eskrima/Kali, which he chose because it combined blades, sticks, and even unarmed combat in a lethal combination. Alexander had also begun keeping a Kindle filled with books from the Encyclopedia Britannica and various other reference books. All the while, his investigative skills were being exercised again, as he found himself looking at cases where occult and 'magical' symbolism were used in murders and other cases. It seemed that he was not fully ready for crimes based on 'rational' or 'self-interested' causes, but when the perpetrators were using 'magical thinking', he was competent enough to deduce killers and motives at the same time as the Police did.

One day, Alexander was invited to a conference revolving around cult killings (Aum Shinrikyo et al) in Japan. Getting his parents' blessing, and using what money he saved up from part-time jobs, the boy boarded a plane headed for the archipelago - which ended up crashing into the sea in a freak accident.

Get up... he would say to himself, This isn't the end... And Alexander's eyes would shine with power, as he woke up in another world, in the nation of Lugnica.

When he had finally made certain that he wasn't dreaming, Alexander found himself feeling like a small kid in a candy store with unlimited money. Magic was real in this world! He had managed to keep his Kindle on him! Also, he had magic as well!

However, this enjoyment faded once he realized that he wanted to get back home, that he wanted to see his parents again, that he still had a life on Earth. Not merely that, but did the same thing happen to other people? If it had, should he find them and do one of those epic quests to get back home, if they want to, of course? And more to the point, who was building pathways between worlds? Any entity powerful and, he speculated, amoral enough to do that would be a potential threat to Earth, and his family on it. That cannot be allowed, so he had to investigate.

And, as it turned out, there were other people like him, so at least he had a lead...

Likes

-Men
-Women
-Sweets
-Eskrima

Dislikes

-Himself at times.
-Fearing things.

Theme

youtube.com/watch?v=SsZ1UkTugeM

Myst Neumann

Myst Neumann

Age

74

Gender

Male.

Race

Human

Magic

Water Magic.

Divine Protection

N/A.

Personality

Myst is a person whose motives had decayed from 'bring order to the world to end suffering' to 'dominate all life and force it into a shape of one's own design'. This isn't helped by years of learning and experimentation, where he had acquired a lack of shame and discust over unetheical methods of research. A tyrannical man who yet believes that he is the best course for the world - nay, all worlds, Myst is someone who is obsessive, megalomaniacal, and claims to be above base desires even while surrendering to the latter. However, he is well aware of his relative lack of power and resources, and so is willing to work with and manipulate others, although he would consider himself above the people he works with...

Background

Myst was born in Lugnica's capital, to a family of magi and nobles of some renown. Talented, but not a prodigy at Water Magic, Myst had an inquisitive mind, and, when looking around at the suffering of others, would often wonder: Why is the world built that some must be hurt without deserving it? This would later become: How can the world be fixed so that people won't be hurt? And so he threw himself into his studies, studies of politics and magic, as well as making contacts with the local acdemia. And for a while, everything was good...but also fragile.

For one day, he made a chance remark criticizing the kingdom's treatment of Elves (this was before the civil war and the decleration of equality for all races), which reached the ears of those jealous of him and who wanted to take him down a peg. His chance remark was spun into 'evidence' of treasonous sentiment, and he found himself losing friends, allies, and contacts, leaving him with only the resources he already had, and an estate owned by his ancestors in the far frontiers of the Kingdom, which, he, disheartened, withdrew to with his materials for study. There, he began delving into the other side of Water Magic, the side that twisted life and healing into blood and mutation.

This experimentation also twisted him, causing his views and motives to begin their decay. Where once he wanted to create a better world, now he wanted to create a world that was only his'. Contacting the few people who remained his friends and allies, Myst rebuilt his web of contacts, but in a much darker form, looking for people who shared his madness, his obsessions, and other desires people might consider 'evil'. No more codes of ethics, no more morals, no more inhibitions. There was to be only one guiding principle; control of all life, so that everything can be in its proper place.

And, as he prepared to make his move, Myst began hearing rumors, rumors of people from another world entirely, rumors of people with dubious origins but powerful skills, skills such as the previously rare Divine Protections. And an obsession rose within him, an obsession to control first Lugnica, then the rest of his world, by controlling these 'newcomers'. But he was going to need help, he was going to need those who would aid him.

Likes

-Men
-Women
-The feeling of dominance and control.

Dislikes

-Not being in control of a situation.
-Being outsmarted.

@liferusher, @Lucius Cypher @ADamnFiddle

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

@Letter Bee

I wouldn't say that. Divine Blessings certainly does give people an edge, but by no means does it make you unstoppable. Even some Divine Blessings won't save you from things that they're meant to help you with. Malakaus has innate magic resistance, but was nearly killed by magic fire anyways. It was mostly thanks to having good armor that he was able to not die immediately from it. Conversely, Atisha has no Divine Blessing but she's a fairly skilled user of her magic, and has so far done fairly well for herself.

Not having a Divine Blessing doesn't put you at a disadvantage. Divine Blessings themselves are more like another tool for the players to use, and overtly relying on them will result in a bad time when they inevitably won't save you from what you're facing. That being said, I would be hesitant to accept someone with both high magic skills and a divine blessing, unless the blessing itself grants the high magical skill like Vesta. Honestly, I'm half tempted to simply not allow anyone with a Divine Blessing considering that we have at least 14 characters with Divine Blessings, with Famish Pants in particular having both his characters with more than one blessing. For god-given abilities, they're ridiculously common, even considering how many players we currently have active.

So Tl:dr no, not having a Blessing won't put you at a disadvantage. You won't have their advantage, but that doesn't make you any weaker then the others.

Now as for your characters.

For Alexander, his backstory is mostly alright, but one thing that really sticks out to me is the fact that he would bother to learn how to make gunpowder. Admittedly if I ever bothered to actually care about chemistry, making explosions would probably be something I'd be interested in doing too. But if you intend to try to revolutionize technology in the RP by introducing firearms and explosives, know that it's not going to be as easy as "stuff black powder into an urn and give it a fuse". I want to know honestly what you intend to use that knowledge for, since otherwise it seems rather pointless to include it unless you hope to make use of it.

As for his Eyes I will limit it to his eyes not being affected by Return By Death. Keep that in mind if he ends up getting his head smashed, because while he might come back alive eventually, his eyes might not. Additionally I want to know some clarification: Does his eyes allow him to see the passive effect of magic? For example, would he be able to tell that Malakaus has the Blessing of Arcane Interference even though it is a passive effect? In addition, where exactly has he been for a year to study in Lugnica? Not everyone has been as fortunate as Surubu and gets to start out in a fancy mansion. Not to mention that learning about magic isn't something one can just do from watchings mages, not anymore than learning how to program a computer by watching technicians working. Certainly not all within a year, where Alexander has somehow also made time to feed and house himself, earn a name with mercenaries, and presumably working mercenary jobs.

Myst for the most part is fine, hearing talk of strangers from Earth probably isn't as unusual as it ought to be considering how many earthlings we do have here. Though you should know that there is current something in the works about putting more details about your character's own magic in the CS so people are not creating spells to conveniently solve whatever issue arises. It's mostly in the talks because before we actually enforce it I have to do the same to my own mage, Atisha, but rest assure that I plan to push for this. Keep that in mind for Myst as well.

@Lucius Cypher

Stuff about Divine Blessings: Thanks!

About Alexander: Ah, I was going to replace the 'Gunpowder' part with having a 'Kindle with copies of the Encyclopedia Britannica and other reference books', and yes, I wanted to revolutionize technology in the RP, although to be fair, you're right in that going Connecticut Yankee isn't as easy as Mark Twain makes it sound.

As for his eyes, thanks for allowing them, and as for the passive effects of magic, he can see those as a glow, sometimes with different colors, but he won't know what those mean, aka he can see something, but not necessarily understand what he sees. Note that if you're reading Alexander's latest CS, he doesn't really have Yin Magic; that was Plan B for if the Divine Blessing is completely rejected.

Anyway, for Myst, I will be waiting for you to make a Magic System, then.

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

@Letter Bee
Also maybe cause half the canon characters have divine protections

@Lunarlors34

Yeah, I noticed that.

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

@liferusher, And...@FamishedPants clarified; apparently, the 'enthrallment' part of his Blessing only works on NPCs/People with weak wills, meaning my concerns are moot.

I'll happily pick another Divine Blessing, or high-level Yin Magic. But if the latter, I have a concern:

I know that Divine Blessings are laughably common, but I think part of that is because PCs without them are at a disadvantage, especially when so many have blessings already. Is this true?

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

@Letter Bee i think fiddle his review was pretty spot on. I only had to add that if he dies his eyes wont be healed by return by death XD if you hadnt noticed of course. Hmm I really dont think the eyes will work, they are like eyes of god that can see anything. It would give you ahuge advantage if you can see what magic and divine blessings a person could have. It would be royal guard level so to say

@liferusher

Okay, I see your points; I was assuming that Heinrich's Blessing of Beauty prevented anyone from attacking him; on a second reading, it says nothing of the sort. Even so, I want a Divine Blessing that can pierce through the Blessing of Beauty or magical/divine effects that can deceive the mind, because magic that alters perceptions is the greatest enemy of the investigator.

So, I have an alternative idea:

Blessing of Clear Mind - Alexander can resist all attempts to magically deceive his senses or alter his perceptions; illusions fail, glamours fall flat, and even other divine blessings can be resisted if they are based on changing one's way of sensing the world. However, this power does not protect against mundane disguises, or the effects of alcohol, drugs, and poisons.

------

If this isn't allowed, would Earth, Wind, or Yin Magic be able to see through a Divine Blessing?

@FamishedPants

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

@liferusher, thanks!

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

@liferusher, I liked the idea of Grimgar, but I found it unwatchable after a few episodes.

Anyway, sorry to ask, but commentary on my revised CSes?

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

Revised CSes.

Alexander Sky

Alexander Sky

Age

18

Gender

Male.

Race

Human

Magic

N/A

Divine Protection

Blessing of Investigation - Alexander's eyes can see, and see through all magical illusions, effects, blessings, curses and even alterations, as well as detect that something supernatural is being cast. The drawback to this, however, is that Alexander's eyes cannot be healed by magic, or can they be strengthened, weakened, or otherwise influenced by supernatural powers (this is partly negated by the body regenerating after death, though). The rest of his body, however, can be attacked just as fine...

Personality

Alexander is reckless, but committed, and also a person who has only recently managed to rein in their emotions. Although not naturally kinder than the average person, Alexander is someone who wants to be more than he already is, and is willing to do what it takes to get it. At the same time, however, he can be a show-off, impatient, and as mentioned, reckless, as well as secretly afraid that he might let himself down, which would equate to letting others down.

"I'm not as kind as I want to be - in fact, I'm pretty nasty. But I want to change all that, and I will."

Background

One of Alexander's first memories was watching Detective Conan/Case Closed, due his babysitter leaving the TV on. The fact that he was somehow able to comprehend the plots of each episode was also the time when it became clear that he was different from others, different not just in his intelligence, but in his realization that when he wanted something, he should try to get it, either by asking nicely, or by giving something in return, like good grades at school or extra obedience to one's parents. Even as he got older and other shows and stories about detectives stopped being appealing to him, Detective Conan, and later, books such as Artemis Fowl (which he began to take an interest in when he was getting older), remained an inspiration to his life.

In school, Alexander was known as a mystery-solver, able to get answers to minor schoolroom capers such as missing lunch boxes, vandalism, and minor embezzlement by student council members (which aren't as powerful as they were in Japan). In short, he got a nice reputation, a reputation that got him favors, good graces by the safety patrol, praise, and eventually, girls and boys.

Then, he found the occult, and although he didn't believe the 'malarkey', he was distracted enough by studying it that his life took a downturn as his investigation skills, though still formidable by schoolyard standards, began to stagnate, and while he can deduce and find solutions to minor crimes, stuff such as murder and such were now outside of the young man's deductive skills. Alexander knew this, and kept out of speculating on larger cases, even when he got to University early, at the age of 15.

He also felt a draw to learn martial arts, namely Filipino Eskrima/Kali, which he chose because it combined blades, sticks, and even unarmed combat in a lethal combination. Although not a chemist, Alexander had begun keeping a Kindle filled with books from the Encyclopedia Britannica and various other reference books. All the while, his investigative skills were being exercised again, as he found himself looking at cases where occult and 'magical' symbolism were used in murders and other cases. It seemed that he was not fully ready for crimes based on 'rational' or 'self-interested' causes, but when the perpetrators were using 'magical thinking', he was competent enough to deduce killers and motives at the same time as the Police did.

One day, Alexander was invited to a conference revolving around cult killings (Aum Shinrikyo et al) in Japan. Getting his parents' blessing, and using what money he saved up from part-time jobs, the boy boarded a plane headed for the archipelago - which ended up crashing into the sea in a freak accident.

Get up... he would say to himself, This isn't the end... And Alexander's eyes would shine with power, as he woke up in another world, in the nation of Lugnica.

When he had finally made certain that he wasn't dreaming, Alexander found himself feeling like a small kid in a candy store with unlimited money. Magic was real in this world! He had managed to keep his Kindle on him! Also, he had magic as well!

However, this enjoyment faded once he realized that he wanted to get back home, that he wanted to see his parents again, that he still had a life on Earth. Not merely that, but did the same thing happen to other people? If it had, should he find them and do one of those epic quests to get back home, if they want to, of course? And more to the point, who was building pathways between worlds? Any entity powerful and, he speculated, amoral enough to do that would be a potential threat to Earth, and his family on it. That cannot be allowed, so he had to investigate.

And, as it turned out, there were other people like him, so at least he had a lead...

Likes

-Men
-Women
-Sweets
-Eskrima

Dislikes

-Himself at times.
-Fearing things.

Theme

youtube.com/watch?v=SsZ1UkTugeM

Myst Neumann

Myst Neumann

Age

74

Gender

Male.

Race

Human

Magic

Water Magic.

Divine Protection

N/A.

Personality

Myst is a person whose motives had decayed from 'bring order to the world to end suffering' to 'dominate all life and force it into a shape of one's own design'. This isn't helped by years of learning and experimentation, where he had acquired a lack of shame and discust over unetheical methods of research. A tyrannical man who yet believes that he is the best course for the world - nay, all worlds, Myst is someone who is obsessive, megalomaniacal, and claims to be above base desires even while surrendering to the latter. However, he is well aware of his relative lack of power and resources, and so is willing to work with and manipulate others, although he would consider himself above the people he works with...

Background

Myst was born in Lugnica's capital, to a family of magi and nobles of some renown. Talented, but not a prodigy at Water Magic, Myst had an inquisitive mind, and, when looking around at the suffering of others, would often wonder: Why is the world built that some must be hurt without deserving it? This would later become: How can the world be fixed so that people won't be hurt? And so he threw himself into his studies, studies of politics and magic, as well as making contacts with the local acdemia. And for a while, everything was good...but also fragile.

For one day, he made a chance remark criticizing the kingdom's treatment of Elves (this was before the civil war and the decleration of equality for all races), which reached the ears of those jealous of him and who wanted to take him down a peg. His chance remark was spun into 'evidence' of treasonous sentiment, and he found himself losing friends, allies, and contacts, leaving him with only the resources he already had, and an estate owned by his ancestors in the far frontiers of the Kingdom, which, he, disheartened, withdrew to with his materials for study. There, he began delving into the other side of Water Magic, the side that twisted life and healing into blood and mutation.

This experimentation also twisted him, causing his views and motives to begin their decay. Where once he wanted to create a better world, now he wanted to create a world that was only his'. Contacting the few people who remained his friends and allies, Myst rebuilt his web of contacts, but in a much darker form, looking for people who shared his madness, his obsessions, and other desires people might consider 'evil'. No more codes of ethics, no more morals, no more inhibitions. There was to be only one guiding principle; control of all life, so that everything can be in its proper place.

And, as he prepared to make his move, Myst began hearing rumors, rumors of people from another world entirely, rumors of people with dubious origins but powerful skills, skills such as the previously rare Divine Protections. And an obsession rose within him, an obsession to control first Lugnica, then the rest of his world, by controlling these 'newcomers'. But he was going to need help, he was going to need those who would aid him.

Likes

-Men
-Women
-The feeling of dominance and control.

Dislikes

-Not being in control of a situation.
-Being outsmarted.

@liferusher, @Lucius Cypher @ADamnFiddle