So to summarize, we've got the following elements covered: Fire: 2 Air/Wind: 1 Ice: 1 Lightning: 1 Earth: 1 Gravity: 1 Darkness: 1 Light: 1 Aether: 1
While the following elements have yet to find a champion: Water, Wood, Metal(?)
And I thought Valentia was more in Poland or Russia. Eh, I guess the map isn't exact, and doesn't have to be; as long as the Sanctum Cities are mostly defined, the setting's fine.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality: Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background: The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
Armgaus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Grand Eisen
Grand Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Grand Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Grand Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Grand Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Grand Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.
<Snipped quote by shadowsaint007> Penny seems good! The only thing I should note is that magical weapons generally manifest as part of your transformation.
That said I think I'd be fine making an exception and letting Penny using Grand Eisen as her weapon. It'd just be that it becomes far more effective in her transformed state. Untransformed she could still use it to help her channel her magic, but she'd run out of juice pretty quickly.
I had re-read the setting and tried to edit that part out. Basically, it manifests like any other Gladius now. If I missed a part of the background and didn't edit that part out, point out where; I knew I forgot something.
Come to think of it, Hasta is literally on top of (or right next to) Paris. Sure, most of humanity's cities got wiped off the map and the Sanctum cities were built to house people, but it would be hilarious (and yet heartwarming) to see the City of Lights not only survive the apocalypse, but thrive (even if they changed the name for some reason).
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality: Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background: The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
Armgaus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Grand Eisen
Grand Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. It was designed and built by Penny once she learned of her magic potential and was awaiting her transfer to Nova Lux. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Grand Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Grand Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Grand Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Grand Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.
EDIT: changed some minor details in the backstory.
They can have moving mechanical parts, yes. Guns are fine, as are rocket hammers or stuff like that.
Nice. Looking forwards to this.
EDIT: Okay, so a few questions.
So humanity is limited to the 23 cities, no small townships or villages. Are those globally distributed, or focused in one region/continent? Can there be cultural differences between them (for instance a Middle Eastern Sanctum City would be more Arabian/Persian in style while a German one would be more Gothic) Is there some range to the society there, or are they all basically arcologies? Meaning can there be a relatively "country folk" ring around the cities, basically consisting of those who would otherwise be townsfolk and villagers? How's the class system in the Sanctum Cities?
By "restricted use", would that mean any can operate magitech, but few can actually take it apart for maintenance/repair/etc...? Will you be explaining the magic system more when the thread starts up?
Can a character still be (at least at the start) an optimistic, cheerful person?
And most importantly... will our school uniforms and magic girl outfits be the same? :P
Just a question. Would the weaponry be traditional magic girl weapons, or can it have moving mechanical parts? Mostly trying to decide whether to go for a straight traditional magic girl, a goth girl with revolvers, or a mechanically-savvy girl with a powerhammer.
The Kingdom of the Nile arises again. Home to one of the oldest and most glorious cultures in antiquity, Egypt had become vassal or home to a succession of conquerors and empires, the jewel of any emperor's crown, whether they chose to make their capital in it or not. During the Roman and Islamic periods, it was a valuable fief, one that became a major power under Saladin and later the Mamelukes as they the Crusaders and later the Mongol Horde. And yet, what is ascendant, must decline and fall. Egypt slowly dwindled in the 19th century under Napoleon's invasion, and while Mohammad Ali's glorious reign brought a resurgence of Egypt's old triumphs, it slowly dwindled under European domination and influence as regression, debt, and poverty drained the country until it became a British puppet. And yet, that was tolerable, somewhat; Egypt is, was, and will always be. It will endure the indignities, and will find its time again.
And then, its time came again. The British, exhausted to the breaking point by the long, arduous Great War, began a long, sliding decline. Unable to afford its massive empire, they withdrew out of everywhere, even out of the lucrative Indian subcontinent and the strategically priceless Suez Canal. Egypt found itself free of its shackles, burdened with both great opportunity and grievous risk. The Anglo-French Suez Company was quickly bought out from several of its bankrupt and despondent former owners, ending up as an Egyptian company, though with considerable European and American presence among its stockholders. While the Great Depression hurt Egypt just as badly as it hurt the rest of the world, it also represented a considerable opportunity. With the European powers receding from their formerly insurmountable positions of power, it is a time for the lesser nations to reach out and claim the prize.
As such, Egypt has begun to expand its power once more. Modernization and development are underway, and Egypt also engaged in a series of diplomatic maneuvers to recover its position in the Middle East, Africa, and the world. The armed forces were modernized and upgraded so that they can better protect the country in these rough times.
However, with the good comes the bad. Egypt's expanded role in the Middle East raises concerns among its neighbors, especially the nervous Levant, where Egypt seeks to once again bring it under its influence. The newly liberated colonies of Algeria and Libya seek ties with Egypt, and their own place in North Africa, even as Egyptian companies try and squeeze in to replace the displaced European corporations. The games Egypt has played in trying to regain the Hejaz as a sphere of influence got it emnbroiled in the Arabian Civil War of the 1920s, with the aftermath leaving Egyptian relations with Arabia rather chill. Internal reforms have proven difficult, and even though much of the old nobility system was dismantled in the 1940s, the old pashas have simply moved on to other fields, forming conservative political blocs trying to reduce the hold of progressive movements. Nationalist sentiment is growing, an import from the restless Levant and newly-free Algeria, something the monarchy is not pleased about. And yet, weakening the monarchy would unbalance the delicate system in place, and the ties tying Sudan to Cairo are still somewhat frail. Egypt has come a long way since 1920, but it yet has more distance to cover.
Major Exports: Cotton, Petroleum, Timber, Grain, Suez Canal Economic Status: Good Major Companies:
Suez Canal Company Ltd: Canal Management company, manages and operates the Suez Canal.
Egyptian Oil Corporation: A small but growing petroleum company that handles extraction and refinement of petroleum in Egypt, slowly expanding and trying to obtain a share in the Middle East and Libyan oil fields.
Green Nile Agricultural Ltd: An agricultural company that hands a share of Egyptian agricultural produce, such as cotton, corn, grain, timber, fruit, and so on.
Horus Transportation and Logistics: A growing company dealing in aerial transportation and logistical operations for individuals and NGOs, and occasionally chartered by the Egyptian Army and Air Force for occasional transportation and deliveries. Recently merged with the burgeoning Egyptian Airlines, and covers a large territory in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Southern Europe, as well as a good deal of Africa and as far East as India.
Rameses Real Estate: A branch of the Egyptian Oil Corporation, it is a real estate development and investment company with branches all over the Middle East, Greece, and Cyprus (also totally not funded by the mukhabarat, honest!)
Voice of Cairo: A popular radio channel, broadcasting all the lastest in news, culture, comedy, and assorted topics throughout North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
Military: Following the Great War and the withdrawal of British forces, Egypt took the chance to upgrade its military to reflect its new position as a rising power in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
3 Armored Cavalry Divisions
4 Armored Divisions
2 Desert Cavalry (horse/camel) divisions)
11 Infantry Divisions
2 Desert Pathfinder Battalions
1 Marine Battalion
4 Fighter Squadrons
2 Tactical Bomber Squadron
1 Heavy Bomber Squadron
3 Armored Cruisers
5 Light Cruisers
11 Destroyers
15 gunboats (mostly along the Nile River)
7 submarines
15 Maritime Patrol Boats
20 Maritime Patrol planes
Name: King Mohammad Ali II, 38 Occupation: Reigning Monarch Biography: Son of former King Farouq, he forced his father to abdicate in 1947 in order to enable reforms his father was loathe to pass. King Mohammad Ali II is a young, idealistic young man trying to bring his country to the new era, but finds himself juggling the various issues facing his country.
Name:Gamal Abdul-Nasser (You should know this guy :P ) Occupation: Politician, MP Biography: A former Army officer of plebian origins, Mr. Nasser got involved in politics over a matter of taxation and civil rights, and slowly rose to Parliament due to personal charisma and oratory skills. (Without the humiliation of the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, he would not be so high-placed or driven)
Name: Sa'id Abdulrahman, Sa'id Pashsa, "The Englishman" Occupation: Agent/Analyst, Mukhabarat Al-Markaziyyah Al-Misriyyah Biography: Called 'The Englishman' due to his mannerisms, education, and interest in British culture, Sa'id Pasha is nonetheless a loyal Egyptian man, seeking to defend the order of the state from enemies within and without. He is rarely seen without a cup of good tea.
Name: Hassan Al-Ibrahimi Occupation: Former Royal Egyptian Pilot and Officer, currently a pilot/'operator' for the Horus Transportation and Logistics Corporation. Description: Many would describe Captain Al-Ibrahimi as an action movie hero come to life. A good and honest man, with a distinguished career as an Egyptian fighter pilot, Hassan is the sort who cannot live without some form of adventure. After hanging up his pilot uniform rather than become just another desk jockey, he quickly found ready employment as a pilot in the Horus Corporation, and operates both as pilot and as a negotiator, something helped by his quick wit and personal charisma.
Name: Sgt. Garang Kuul, 40 Occupation: Former Army Sgt, 2nd Desert Pathfinders Battalion Description: A Dinka man who enrolled in the army, Garang managed to slide past the red tape and discrimination, becoming a decorated sergeant in the Egyptian Army. He has served his 20 years with pride, and is the proud father of 3 children; two sons and a daughter.
Member
Not a Sayan
redrootssss
