yoshua171

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

So I notice that if someone is playing a Licentia, they are either the Eximius phase or they are a hybrid. Is it allowed to be a pure Licentia in possibly their Trial or Explorer phase? I imagine the Trial phase may be a bit much considering they are good at magic during that time, but I was just wondering. I have an idea but I'd like to play a Licentia.

@FantasyChic

Yes, you can play as a Growth or Trial stage Licentia. In fact, I just introduced a Trial stage Licentia named Drisrea. Though she's an NPC (of course she's an important one, but yeah) ^^;

It would not at all be a problem for you to play a Trial stage. I'd love to help with that ^_^

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

@FantasyChic

Don't think so. You can join the discord if you wish/at your convenience. Be easier for asking questions and the like, and if works in browser or on the desktop ^_^

So yeah, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I would like to say that the Resistance, the Prae side, and Szayeis' little group are all looking for individuals. A break down of what each of those is like is as follows:

The Resistance are a now forming group of like-minded individuals who do not agree with the prae take over of Ominar, which, while non-violent, has led to the unfair, unjustified mistreatment of any and all licentia within the city, as well as elevating prae citizens slightly above human ones. They are doing some shady things that your character may have experienced, but are not public knowledge, including, but not limited to, brainwashing people, whisking people away in the night, arresting people for what seems no reason, and a measure of other things that don't immediately come to mind.

The Prae Side, includes Hunters who have allied themselves with the prae--Hunters overall being a typically neutral party who take contracts to hunt dangerous monsters, deal with particularly stick situations, or track people down (think mercenaries)--as well as most prae in the city, and the humans who work under them. They are the status quo, law enforcement, law makers, politicians, and prae warriors/officials who are in the city. They are the direct and obvious enemy of the Resistance that is just forming.

Last, but not least, is Szayeis' Operation, which was kind of hinted at, but is only now being introduced as of a post or so ago. Szayeis is an infamous Licenti criminal who, for an unknown reason, the prae want dead or captured ASAP. He is seen as a threat to them, though no one is quite certain as to why. Regardless, his group includes a mixture of people he has hired and people he has either manipulated or have decided to join him because they know what he's really trying to do.

Anywho, I just thought I'd outline those for you, in case you wanted to be closely involved in any of them. Right now most characters are part of the Resistance in some capacity, with those that aren't generally being neutral parties (the two most recent characters are a good example of this).

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

Why hello there. We sure are, @FantasyChic. Welcome to the OOC ^_^

⊰Manifest Anima⊱ [Recruiting!]

⊰ ℳ_Ⱥ_ℕ_ƪ_ℱ_ℇ_S_Ⱦ__Ⱥ_ℕ_ƪ_ℳ_Ⱥ ⊱

_{^Above is depicted the city of Ominar^}

OOC
Casual Int Chck
Edravhen's Archive
^{(Lore Thread)}
Community Chat

Preliminary Notes

• While the RP is underway, there are only 30 posts, and we're still getting things rolling.
• Despite how it might look, things are moving along. Had to do some unexpected reshuffling.
• While there is something of a process, all players are allowed to worldbuild so long as they work alongside the GMs to do so.
• If you have questions, want to brainstorm, or want to get a feel for things, feel free to jump into the discord even if you don't join we'll be glad to have you as long as you stay!
• Level is effectively Mid-casual to anywhere in Advanced so don't fret too much!
• Enough rambling. Now, let's get to the premise!

⊰ Pʀᴇᴍιsᴇ

---

The RP will be set in the city of Ominar, a formerly human-run city, which was non-violently taken over by the Prae just a year and a half prior. Now ruled by the regal beings, the Licentia have been driven into the slums, into hiding, or even out of the city entirely. While humans have been largely left to their own devices, they are nonetheless expected to step aside for their new rulers--whether it benefits them or not. With news traveling fast in this age ruled by magic and technology, a wave of unrest has made its way through Medius. With knowledge of the Prae’s unfair treatment to the citizens of Ominar, the murmurs of war have begun. In response, or perhaps preparation for further action, the Prae have, as of 6 months ago, begun releasing propaganda regarding the Licentia, calling them parasites and murderers, whilst using one of their prominent figures, a certain eximius as their scapegoat--though with good reason.

So it is that a small band of dissenters begin to gather, not content to simply protest against the Prae’s imposed order. Many of you will be among them and by and large, you believe it’s high time you do something about the state of affairs, whether the Prae like it or not.

⊰ βasic Ⱦerminology

---

Hider

Priscus: Described as a paradise by those humans who have seen it, Priscus is the Prae's realm of origin as well as the place in which the vast majority of their kind reside.

Medius: The realm of man, reminiscent of our own, though its cultures and societies differ. While the Prae and Licentia have appeared prior, their most prominent entrance into human history occurred in 1563. From then onwards the realm of Medius found itself populated by increasing numbers of all three races.

Torqueo: The realm from which the Licentia originate, Torqueo is, in its own way, bountiful--though perhaps not in the same way as its counterpart, Priscus. Instead, Torqueo is a resource-rich location full of exotic, and often dangerous, flora, fauna, and materials.

Pylae: Colloquially known as 'the Rift', Pylae is a pseudo-realm possessing inconsistent space-time, which due to the difficulty of properly exploring it, so far lacks definition . Pylae is located in all space wherein Medius, Priscus and Torqueo are not.

Anima: The common term among the three races for the soul or internal life force. The term is also often used to refer to the pool of internal power utilized for magic.

Vis: A term used to describe both energy in general, as well as to refer to a being's external energy, sometimes called the aura by humans.

Ostium: While few but the most knowledgeable of magical researchers understand it, Ostium is the term used to describe that which connects a being's Vis and Anima. To utilize magic at all, one must learn to control the Ostium, so that the power of their Anima may be released.

River Metaphor-- If the Anima is the river source and the Vis is where river meets ocean, then the Ostium is a dam which can be opened and closed to regulate the flow of the river and the connection of the user's control to the user's external energy.

Manifest: An ability unique to the Prae, the Manifest, or Manifested State, is the term used to refer to a Prae's ability to manifest their Anima through their unique set of markings. Every Manifest is different, having a wholly unique appearance, though they are most often wing-like in appearance. The Manifest is an enhanced state for Prae, making their imbuing more powerful and allowing them full access to their capabilities--provided they have trained sufficiently. While all Prae--with extremely rare exceptions existing--possess a Manifest, they are not born with the innate ability to properly control it. So it is that they must train to use it properly.

Licenti: The term used to refer to an individual Licentia, rather than their kind as a whole.

⊰ Ⱦhe World

---

Hider

Ominar: A city recently conquered by the Prae, Ominar is a thoroughly industrialized coastal city, its surroundings largely bereft of nature's touch. While not a capital city, Ominar is a port city and thus a center of trade, making its capture by the Prae a rather important matter to the rest of the world--humanity in particular.

The Races

The Prae: Prae are lithe human-like beings with markings on their back/arms and crystals on their foreheads. Prae are capable imbuing others, themselves, and objects with their vis, by way of contact, thus facilitating telekinesis and healing abilities. The crystals on their foreheads pull in ambient energy of any sort so as to sustain them. Prae are physically weak, but their Vis is densely packed onto their body, defending them from damage to a point. Should they manifest their Vis, it tends to take the form of wings, exuding from their markings. While manifested, a Prae's 'wings' impart them with greater telekinesis, healing, and the possibility of other abilities depending on their chosen path.

The Licentia: The Licentia are a physically and magically diverse race. They are predators who consume the Anima, both internal and external to sustain themselves. Licentia possess a 'solid soul,' which takes the form of a crystalline formation within their body. While Licentia can have vital organs, all will be crippled, injured, or killed by damaging or destroying their soul core. The Licentia cycle between two stages till the end of their life, these being known as the growth and trial stages. The former is typified by fluctuating physical form and weakened magical abilities excluding shapeshifting while the latter is typified by a more permanent form, and expansive magical abilities. A Licenti who has reached this third stage is known as an Eximius.

Humankind: Humans are the race with the greatest population, shortest lifespan, and most expansive potential. While they tend to live only to 100 or so unaided, humans possess the ability to increase the strength of their Anima over time as well as the scope of their Vis. Additionally their Anima is uniquely impressionable, making them both more easily corrupted by internal magics or fooled by illusions. Yet, this acts as one of their greatest strengths, allowing them to harness the energy around them regardless of type and manipulate it in ways that only they are capable of.

Optional Reading

The Realms Expanded

_Priscus:

The realm in which the vast majority of the Prae population resides, not to mention their plane of origin, Priscus can be described as a plane suffused with a tremendous amount of ambient energies, lush with life of all kinds some humans might even call it a paradise. However, as with all things, Priscus is not quite as innocuous as it first appears. Under the surface of the alleged paradise that the Prae present to visitors is a place so rich with Vis that one might say that the realm itself is almost aware.

While its landmasses are constant over a shorter period of time, their orientation and location shift much more rapidly than the continents of Medius. Furthermore, while many creatures of Priscus have little to no need to hunt other beings due to the energy rich atmosphere, it cannot be said that they will not overzealously defend themselves from outside threats. Perhaps most frightening about the flora and fauna of Priscus is the fact that most of it is either capable of magic or magical in some way, shape, or form.

The Prae are very protective of their realm, allowing only trusted friends, or those whom the God-Queen or the Exeo approve of to enter. This in part because of their fierce instinct to defend their nigh-defenseless God-Queen, and also because should the unworthy discover the true bounty of their realm and come to covet it, it would put their kind at great risk. Yet, despite their efforts, rumors of a secret treasure have slipped into Medius. So it is that many begin to wonder what the Prae are hording to themselves. So are born the greatest adversaries that they may ever face: Greed and curiosity.

_Medius:

A realm of slow and steady development in regards to its make-up, Medius is possessed of more vis than Torqueo, but far less than Priscus. Inhabited by all three races, though Humans are the one who truly call it home, Medius is sometimes thought of as the melting pot realm, wherein all manner of things mix. Its development, once slow, was rather suddenly sent into overdrive with the introduction to the more magically adept Licentia, and the technologically adept, Prae. As a result of their introduction, Human society first went through a period of intense conflict wherein they expanded over the surface of the world, before the introduction of greater magical and technological knowledge was truly accepted and began to rapidly speed up the development of society at large. So it is that the world reaches its current state, where rather than smog and oil spills, vis eruptions and quantum instabilities can occur, affecting large regions before they are cleaned up--if such is possible.

Humans, while they have not colonized other planets, have managed to expand into Torqueo some, with several small populations of humans having been allowed to take up permanent residence in Priscus, them and their descendants slated to never return. While humans are by and large the most plentiful race inhabiting Medius, this is not to say that there are a small amount of Licentia or Prae, the latter of which account for at least 20% of the sentient population, with the former being about 5% of the total population.

_Torqueo:

A resource rich realm inhabited by all manner of strange, and often dangerous, beings--not the least of which are the Licentia themselves. Known as the harsh homerealm of the Licentia, this realm despite some humans having come to call it home, yet remains the domain of the the latter race. While not overly tumultuous in its geography, the weather and social climate could certainly be described as such. With many of the Licentia's rulers, the Eximius, dwelling herein, it is no wonder that the place would be filled to the brim with conflict of a varied sort.

Most intriguing is the environment of Torqueo, which rather than have its atmosphere be suffused with vis, finds that the soil, flora, and fauna themselves have absorbed much of it. So it is that in some places vast deserts or craggy plains form, while in others flora and fauna alike pull the precious energy from the ground, twisting it to their own ends. In this way, the Licentia are no different, with much of their infrastructure relying on the energy of the land itself to function properly. Like Medius, Torqueo is home to a vast assortment of cultures, despite being largely populated by the same race.

With the continued mixing of races within Medius, some Eximius have begun to turn their eyes to the realm, while others turn their attention to the realms of their kind's absent leaders. Going forwards, conflict is sure to break out in one realm or another. The question is; which will be first?

_{Pylae; The Rift:}

Pylae is widely thought to be the source of all energy, and so far both scientific and magical research has made clear a correlation between vis and this strange realm between realms. The leading theory is that energy is constantly exchanged between Pylae and the three realms, likely entering via quantum methods not yet understood by scientists or mages of any race. Yet, there are those who have found ways, if dangerous, to harness its power in fits and bursts.

Perhaps the most studied correlation are the points from which an individual may travel between realms. These locations are typically surrounded by unexplainable phenomena, be they magical or otherwise. Due to it being thought, despite there being no evidence of such, to be a realm torn between realities, Pylae is often called 'the Rift.' While rare, every so often, the gateways between realms, colloquially known as 'Bridges,' shift location in a seemingly random fashion for no apparent reason.

Additionally, there are the known, but exceedingly rare occurrence, known as 'rift storms,' which may take place around these 'Bridges,' making them impassable and spawning a temporary field wherein any manner of dangerous and unpredictable phenomena take place. These storms typically involve fluctuating fields of ambient vis as well as warped space-time within their confines. Luckily, these storms do not travel far from their sources, nor do they typically last any longer than a few hours, if that. Nonetheless, they are a dangerous occurrence, if one which allows great opportunity for those few who would dare study something so dangerous and unpredictable as the Rift. However, with the efforts of these brave souls, perhaps one day the world will have no reason to fear Pylae and its mysterious nature. Perhaps one day it will not be a mystery at all.

Perhaps.

The Races Expanded

_Prae:

Appearing as lithe humanoids with markings adorning them, this proud race hails from the realm of Priscus. When in their normal guise these lithe beings are graceful, light, and acrobatic, typically giving off an aura of purity and calm, though they can control this. While incapable of any truly impressive magic whilst in this state, Prae are capable of healing minor wounds, energizing others or themselves, moving smaller objects through the manipulation of their Vis. However, perhaps their most distinguishing features in comparison to Humans or even the Licentia, are the small crystals located somewhere on their foreheads in addition to their ability to condense their internal energy and exude it into the form of wings, or otherwise formations of energy, which manifest from the markings on their back and/or arms. The crystals located on a Prae's forehead are effectively invulnerable to all physical damage and a great deal of magical damage as well. A Prae pulls in energy through these crystals, using it as sustenance, this process only works if there is energy within the surrounding area. However, almost any form of energy works, as long as it is not held within a living thing.

In addition to these crystals, as mentioned, is a Prae's ability to manifest constructs of pure energy, which are a direct extension of their being—typically in the form of wings. When manifested a Prae's magical ability is greatly amplified, making them capable of greater telekinetic feats, either to manipulate their own person, those around them, or objects, depending on the specialty of the individual. However, while the abilities of a given Prae can vary somewhat, all of them stem from their inherent power, which has come to be known as “Imbuing.” This ability must be activated by contact between the Prae and that which they wish to manipulate.

Perhaps the most notable and intriguing use of a Prae's imbuing, is that which is performed upon their death. Essentially, when a Prae is near death they will, either consciously or subconsciously choose an individual who they have made contact with in the past—typically another Prae—and upon their death the entirety of their energy will be imparted to the chosen subject or subjects. The Prae may choose as to whether their consciousness is merged with that of the subject or not. When this is done the receiving individual's Anima is permanently empowered, allowing them a greater pool of energy to draw from. This is the only natural circumstance in which a Prae's Anima may significantly grow.

The Prae are ruled by several Queens, some of which are known as the Exeo. The Exeo have been imparted with sufficient power so as to facilitate the birth of true Prae. This is notable due to the fact that the children of Prae are born without the pure Anima of their kind—though they possess their crystals and markings. As such, by imparting Prae children with a small portion of pure Anima, the Exeo, or their greater counterpart, the God-Queen, allows the child to develop into a fully mature Prae later in life, rather than simply allow the equivalent of a half-breed, which would do nothing to further increase their numbers.

As mentioned, all Exeo are dwarfed by the God-Queen, who imparts them with the necessary energy to perform their function in the first place. The God-Queen is the single most important member of Prae society, being the only Prae capable of nigh infinitely absorbing ambient energy. This God-Queen comes to be when several hundred or a thousand Prae choose a member of their own whom they consider worthy of leading them. Once chosen, the Prae who have chosen her all simultaneously sacrifice their Anima, imparting their chosen Queen with such a tremendous amount of magical energy that her body's limits are exceeded, effectively rendering her incapable of any magic aside from giving her energy to others. The minds of the thousand Prae reach a state of cohesion with that of the God-Queen's allowing her a tremendous understanding of her kind and what is likely to be best for their continued wellbeing.

Due to her tremendous magical power and importance to their culture and social structure, not to mention her safety, the God-Queen remains in Priscus so that her tremendous soul and the vis that extends around it does not crush her subjects, and so that she remains far away from potential threats to her health.

_Licentia:

Beings of diverse physical appearance and magical ability, the Licentia are considered 'shapeshifters,' borne of Torqueo. However, the truth to their sometimes shifting forms is somewhat different in most cases. Rather than all Licentia being true shapeshifters, they instead remain in an impressionable state for a portion of their lengthy lives, during which they decide on their form and abilities going forwards. While a Licentia's growth period has a great amount of influence on what their abilities and appearance will be, it is their lineage that decides the pool of magical abilities they have to choose from. In this growth period a Licentia's Vis is rather small so long as their form is in flux, allowing them to manipulate their physical form to a great degree, though weakening any other magical abilities they might later develop. When a Licenti is not within a growth period, their true magical abilities manifest, and they are typically as impressive as they are diverse. Yet, while Licentia are indeed very individualistic in both culture and physical appearance, they share several notable traits, both magical and physical. The most notable of these are their 'solid souls,' in addition to their expansive Vis, and largely predatory and/or parasitic nature. Licentia reproduce parasitically, by in some form splitting their Anima once it has reached a certain density and placing it within another being—though the method can vary between subspecies.

While Licentia do technically regenerate their energy, the process is so slow that the energy generated would always be far less than that used in any notable physical activity, let alone magic. The energy is essentially only enough so as to give them just enough to survive should their Anima be depleted for whatever reason. Licentia, should they feed often enough, do not age, instead continually alternating between their growth and trial stages till they reach a certain level of self-awareness and understanding. Largely due to their longevity and parasitic reproduction, the Licentia are often demonized because of their nature, leading to many of their young being killed off, thus ensuring that their population never explodes.

While an exceptionally rare occurrence, Licentia can attain a third stage and even fourth stage of development, though the fourth's nature has long been considered a myth by both their kind and others. Nonetheless the third, and allegedly final, stage of Licentia development is characterized by the further stabilization of a Licenti's individual form and magical abilities. Only Licentia who have attained a sufficient level of personal understanding can attain this stage, which—should they reach it—affords them the title of Eximius. Aside from their form stabilizing in a more permanent manner—with few exceptions—an Eximius Licentia gains enhanced magical power as well as an effectively limitless lifespan so long as they keep themselves well fed.

Intriguingly enough, the rarity of Eximius licenti has led to the vast majority of their kind raising them to a deific status. As a result many consider Eximius to be more powerful than they truly are, resulting in them being feared and respected by both their own kind and others—if grudgingly at times. While Licentia tend not to choose defining leaders, but rather form small communities due to their individualistic nature, if there were any that they would consider their leaders, it would be those few Eximius.

_Humans:

Possessing the greatest population density of the three races, but the shortest average lifespans, humans tend to find themselves in positions of diplomacy with other races and situations of conflict among their own. They are not physically very impressive, though they tend to be hardier than the lithe Prae as well as naturally stronger. While the average human is of little consequence, all humans have within them inherent potential, which is far reaching in its scope. This on its own has allowed them to make incredible technological discoveries, as well as to learn to wield magic and of course to have expanded over the vast majority of their home realm, Medius.

While the Vis of Prae is limited to the surface of their form, and that of most Licenti is expansive in size, the human Vis is typically only a meter or two in radius, making it relatively small. However, true to their potential, this Vis can be expanded with practice and as an individual's Anima grows as, unlike Prae, humans can naturally increase their capacity magic over time and with due diligence. More interestingly, humans are capable of harnessing the energy of the world around them almost regardless of its nature. This is achieved by way of their uniquely impressionable Anima, which can easily meld with foreign energies. This ability is however a double edged sword as while it allows them to bend the world to their will, it also makes them more vulnerable to outside influence to a much greater degree than the Prae or Licentia. It is this and their short lifespans, which tend to be no longer than 100 or so years on average that act as their greatest limitations. However, with the advent of more advanced technology, and the continued development of magic, perhaps this too will fade into obscurity.

⊰ Magic

---

So far as any of the races are aware, no being is capable of the manipulation of time, and while space can be manipulated to some degree, it is not something that is typically done easily by any race. However, aside from this, magic is capable of a great deal, its limits not being fully understood or known by any of the races as of yet. Still, as with most things, the more complex and more grandiose the scale or purpose of a given spell, the more difficult it is to preform.

In short, don't expect to throw a magical nuke without a whole team of several powerful magi and don't expect to actually bring back the Anima of those who have passed on entirely intact, if at all. If a simple term need be applied to describe magic, it is that the magic of Manifest Anima is of the 'High Fantasy,' sort. Just know, that the greater the power, the greater the responsibility required to wield it.

Examples of 'medium level power,' include shapeshifting into things of equivalent size, high speed movement, punching a person and breaking bones (maybe making a small mark on concrete). Perhaps you can manipulate fire hot enough to severely burn someone (2nd degree, and with continued exposure, third degree). Making golems of equivalent size and strength to what I described above or to your character's body.

⊰ Tech

---

In terms of tech, the world of Manifest Anima does have things such as nanomachines, minor gravity manip tech, and what is becoming the true advent of body modification (yo cyborgs). While there are global teleportation networks, which are an incredible feat even in this day and age, people do not have personal teleportation devices or the like--in fact none such devices exist, or rather no non-prototype versions exist and trust me, I wouldn't suggest trying those prototypes...that is unless you want to end up merged with a brick wall on a quantum level.

As for weaponry things such as railguns exist, though devices such as laser rifles do not--at least not those that are fueled by entirely scientific/technological means. So don't expect light sabers or plasma weaponry for the most part. Even if they do exist, it's unlikely that most people would be allowed to carry around such dangerous devices. For further clarification, feel free to suggest your idea(s) to your local GM(s) and we'll see what we can do.

Oh yeah and magitech is a thing.

⊰ Rules

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• It should be noted that this RP will have mature themes. Fade to black will be applicable to sexual situations, but don't expect situations including drugs, gore, or some taboo subjects to garner the same treatment. This is not to say that any of the above will be done in excess, just that they may be done.
• Combat will be handled on a case-by-case basis, with the GMs proctoring in case issues or disagreements arise. Should you want to script your fight, let the GMs, and your partner(s) know. Make sure all parties are in agreement. A 'scripted fight,' is one wherein the victor is decided before hand.
• Burning house rule--if you're gone too long and holding things up, expect your character to either be moved aside quietly, or killed to further plot. To avoid the burning house rule, keep us updated, a hiatus can be arranged.
• If a problem arises for a player in regards to the GM and they feel uncomfortable bringing it up. Go to the other GM for advice. Don't worry, we're perfectly reasonable people and nine times out of ten we'll work through it with you.
• The GMs have final say on all matters--this does not mean that I cannot be swayed or convinced. Still, if something must be resolved, we will resolve it and that'll be the end of the discussion.
• Should you lack inspiration or enough material to post, tell someone. Communicate. Talk to your GMs. Worst case scenario, we'll just move your character aside till you can post again.
• While you may expand on or modify the base format of the character sheet, make sure all necessary sections are included.
• No OOC drama. Keep it to PMs, and hopefully keep it non-existent. If needed contact a GM for problem resolution.
• Posts of a paragraph or more; quality over quantity. If you're drawing a blank, don't worry so much.
• Posting expectations of once, at the very least, every two weeks barring extenuating circumstances.
• Only accepted characters go in the character tab.
• Post your Character Sheet in the OOC for review.
• Standard Guild rules apply.
• IC swearing will occur.

⊰ What to Expect

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• Interactions with at least semi-realistic cause and effect. If you kill someone, expect there to be an investigation or at least it be on the news.
• Medium scale in terms of character power, unless you've got good reasons/you prove you can be trusted with more.
• Posts of a paragraph or more; quality over quantity. If you're drawing a blank, don't worry so much.
• Posting expectations of once, at the very least, every two weeks barring extenuating circumstances.
• A GM who is willing to work with you, hear you out, but not break his back to suit your every need.
• Good communication be it player to player, GM to GM, or GM to player.
• Some measure of political intrigue.
• Multiple plotlines if possible.
• Group world building!
• Collaboration posts.
• Some Taboo Subjects.
• Some slice of life.
• Some dark themes.
• Some combat.

⊰Manifest Anima⊱ [Recruiting!]

⊰ ℳ_Ⱥ_ℕ_ƪ_ℱ_ℇ_S_Ⱦ__Ⱥ_ℕ_ƪ_ℳ_Ⱥ ⊱

_{^Above is depicted the city of Ominar^}

OOC
Advanced Int Chck
Edravhen's Archive
^{(Lore Thread)}
Community Chat

Preliminary Notes

• While the RP is underway, there are only 30 posts, and we're still getting things rolling.
• Despite how it might look, things are moving along. Had to do some unexpected reshuffling.
• While there is something of a process, all players are allowed to worldbuild so long as they work alongside the GMs to do so.
• If you have questions, want to brainstorm, or want to get a feel for things, feel free to jump into the discord even if you don't join we'll be glad to have you as long as you stay!
• Level is effectively Mid-casual to anywhere in Advanced so don't fret too much!
• Enough rambling. Now, let's get to the premise!

⊰ Pʀᴇᴍιsᴇ

---

The RP will be set in the city of Ominar, a formerly human-run city, which was non-violently taken over by the Prae just a year and a half prior. Now ruled by the regal beings, the Licentia have been driven into the slums, into hiding, or even out of the city entirely. While humans have been largely left to their own devices, they are nonetheless expected to step aside for their new rulers--whether it benefits them or not. With news traveling fast in this age ruled by magic and technology, a wave of unrest has made its way through Medius. With knowledge of the Prae’s unfair treatment to the citizens of Ominar, the murmurs of war have begun. In response, or perhaps preparation for further action, the Prae have, as of 6 months ago, begun releasing propaganda regarding the Licentia, calling them parasites and murderers, whilst using one of their prominent figures, a certain eximius as their scapegoat--though with good reason.

So it is that a small band of dissenters begin to gather, not content to simply protest against the Prae’s imposed order. Many of you will be among them and by and large, you believe it’s high time you do something about the state of affairs, whether the Prae like it or not.

⊰ βasic Ⱦerminology

---

Hider

Priscus: Described as a paradise by those humans who have seen it, Priscus is the Prae's realm of origin as well as the place in which the vast majority of their kind reside.

Medius: The realm of man, reminiscent of our own, though its cultures and societies differ. While the Prae and Licentia have appeared prior, their most prominent entrance into human history occurred in 1563. From then onwards the realm of Medius found itself populated by increasing numbers of all three races.

Torqueo: The realm from which the Licentia originate, Torqueo is, in its own way, bountiful--though perhaps not in the same way as its counterpart, Priscus. Instead, Torqueo is a resource-rich location full of exotic, and often dangerous, flora, fauna, and materials.

Pylae: Colloquially known as 'the Rift', Pylae is a pseudo-realm possessing inconsistent space-time, which due to the difficulty of properly exploring it, so far lacks definition . Pylae is located in all space wherein Medius, Priscus and Torqueo are not.

Anima: The common term among the three races for the soul or internal life force. The term is also often used to refer to the pool of internal power utilized for magic.

Vis: A term used to describe both energy in general, as well as to refer to a being's external energy, sometimes called the aura by humans.

Ostium: While few but the most knowledgeable of magical researchers understand it, Ostium is the term used to describe that which connects a being's Vis and Anima. To utilize magic at all, one must learn to control the Ostium, so that the power of their Anima may be released.

River Metaphor-- If the Anima is the river source and the Vis is where river meets ocean, then the Ostium is a dam which can be opened and closed to regulate the flow of the river and the connection of the user's control to the user's external energy.

Manifest: An ability unique to the Prae, the Manifest, or Manifested State, is the term used to refer to a Prae's ability to manifest their Anima through their unique set of markings. Every Manifest is different, having a wholly unique appearance, though they are most often wing-like in appearance. The Manifest is an enhanced state for Prae, making their imbuing more powerful and allowing them full access to their capabilities--provided they have trained sufficiently. While all Prae--with extremely rare exceptions existing--possess a Manifest, they are not born with the innate ability to properly control it. So it is that they must train to use it properly.

Licenti: The term used to refer to an individual Licentia, rather than their kind as a whole.

⊰ Ⱦhe World

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Hider

Ominar: A city recently conquered by the Prae, Ominar is a thoroughly industrialized coastal city, its surroundings largely bereft of nature's touch. While not a capital city, Ominar is a port city and thus a center of trade, making its capture by the Prae a rather important matter to the rest of the world--humanity in particular.

The Races

The Prae: Prae are lithe human-like beings with markings on their back/arms and crystals on their foreheads. Prae are capable imbuing others, themselves, and objects with their vis, by way of contact, thus facilitating telekinesis and healing abilities. The crystals on their foreheads pull in ambient energy of any sort so as to sustain them. Prae are physically weak, but their Vis is densely packed onto their body, defending them from damage to a point. Should they manifest their Vis, it tends to take the form of wings, exuding from their markings. While manifested, a Prae's 'wings' impart them with greater telekinesis, healing, and the possibility of other abilities depending on their chosen path.

The Licentia: The Licentia are a physically and magically diverse race. They are predators who consume the Anima, both internal and external to sustain themselves. Licentia possess a 'solid soul,' which takes the form of a crystalline formation within their body. While Licentia can have vital organs, all will be crippled, injured, or killed by damaging or destroying their soul core. The Licentia cycle between two stages till the end of their life, these being known as the growth and trial stages. The former is typified by fluctuating physical form and weakened magical abilities excluding shapeshifting while the latter is typified by a more permanent form, and expansive magical abilities. A Licenti who has reached this third stage is known as an Eximius.

Humankind: Humans are the race with the greatest population, shortest lifespan, and most expansive potential. While they tend to live only to 100 or so unaided, humans possess the ability to increase the strength of their Anima over time as well as the scope of their Vis. Additionally their Anima is uniquely impressionable, making them both more easily corrupted by internal magics or fooled by illusions. Yet, this acts as one of their greatest strengths, allowing them to harness the energy around them regardless of type and manipulate it in ways that only they are capable of.

Optional Reading

The Realms Expanded

_Priscus:

The realm in which the vast majority of the Prae population resides, not to mention their plane of origin, Priscus can be described as a plane suffused with a tremendous amount of ambient energies, lush with life of all kinds some humans might even call it a paradise. However, as with all things, Priscus is not quite as innocuous as it first appears. Under the surface of the alleged paradise that the Prae present to visitors is a place so rich with Vis that one might say that the realm itself is almost aware.

While its landmasses are constant over a shorter period of time, their orientation and location shift much more rapidly than the continents of Medius. Furthermore, while many creatures of Priscus have little to no need to hunt other beings due to the energy rich atmosphere, it cannot be said that they will not overzealously defend themselves from outside threats. Perhaps most frightening about the flora and fauna of Priscus is the fact that most of it is either capable of magic or magical in some way, shape, or form.

The Prae are very protective of their realm, allowing only trusted friends, or those whom the God-Queen or the Exeo approve of to enter. This in part because of their fierce instinct to defend their nigh-defenseless God-Queen, and also because should the unworthy discover the true bounty of their realm and come to covet it, it would put their kind at great risk. Yet, despite their efforts, rumors of a secret treasure have slipped into Medius. So it is that many begin to wonder what the Prae are hording to themselves. So are born the greatest adversaries that they may ever face: Greed and curiosity.

_Medius:

A realm of slow and steady development in regards to its make-up, Medius is possessed of more vis than Torqueo, but far less than Priscus. Inhabited by all three races, though Humans are the one who truly call it home, Medius is sometimes thought of as the melting pot realm, wherein all manner of things mix. Its development, once slow, was rather suddenly sent into overdrive with the introduction to the more magically adept Licentia, and the technologically adept, Prae. As a result of their introduction, Human society first went through a period of intense conflict wherein they expanded over the surface of the world, before the introduction of greater magical and technological knowledge was truly accepted and began to rapidly speed up the development of society at large. So it is that the world reaches its current state, where rather than smog and oil spills, vis eruptions and quantum instabilities can occur, affecting large regions before they are cleaned up--if such is possible.

Humans, while they have not colonized other planets, have managed to expand into Torqueo some, with several small populations of humans having been allowed to take up permanent residence in Priscus, them and their descendants slated to never return. While humans are by and large the most plentiful race inhabiting Medius, this is not to say that there are a small amount of Licentia or Prae, the latter of which account for at least 20% of the sentient population, with the former being about 5% of the total population.

_Torqueo:

A resource rich realm inhabited by all manner of strange, and often dangerous, beings--not the least of which are the Licentia themselves. Known as the harsh homerealm of the Licentia, this realm despite some humans having come to call it home, yet remains the domain of the the latter race. While not overly tumultuous in its geography, the weather and social climate could certainly be described as such. With many of the Licentia's rulers, the Eximius, dwelling herein, it is no wonder that the place would be filled to the brim with conflict of a varied sort.

Most intriguing is the environment of Torqueo, which rather than have its atmosphere be suffused with vis, finds that the soil, flora, and fauna themselves have absorbed much of it. So it is that in some places vast deserts or craggy plains form, while in others flora and fauna alike pull the precious energy from the ground, twisting it to their own ends. In this way, the Licentia are no different, with much of their infrastructure relying on the energy of the land itself to function properly. Like Medius, Torqueo is home to a vast assortment of cultures, despite being largely populated by the same race.

With the continued mixing of races within Medius, some Eximius have begun to turn their eyes to the realm, while others turn their attention to the realms of their kind's absent leaders. Going forwards, conflict is sure to break out in one realm or another. The question is; which will be first?

_{Pylae; The Rift:}

Pylae is widely thought to be the source of all energy, and so far both scientific and magical research has made clear a correlation between vis and this strange realm between realms. The leading theory is that energy is constantly exchanged between Pylae and the three realms, likely entering via quantum methods not yet understood by scientists or mages of any race. Yet, there are those who have found ways, if dangerous, to harness its power in fits and bursts.

Perhaps the most studied correlation are the points from which an individual may travel between realms. These locations are typically surrounded by unexplainable phenomena, be they magical or otherwise. Due to it being thought, despite there being no evidence of such, to be a realm torn between realities, Pylae is often called 'the Rift.' While rare, every so often, the gateways between realms, colloquially known as 'Bridges,' shift location in a seemingly random fashion for no apparent reason.

Additionally, there are the known, but exceedingly rare occurrence, known as 'rift storms,' which may take place around these 'Bridges,' making them impassable and spawning a temporary field wherein any manner of dangerous and unpredictable phenomena take place. These storms typically involve fluctuating fields of ambient vis as well as warped space-time within their confines. Luckily, these storms do not travel far from their sources, nor do they typically last any longer than a few hours, if that. Nonetheless, they are a dangerous occurrence, if one which allows great opportunity for those few who would dare study something so dangerous and unpredictable as the Rift. However, with the efforts of these brave souls, perhaps one day the world will have no reason to fear Pylae and its mysterious nature. Perhaps one day it will not be a mystery at all.

Perhaps.

The Races Expanded

_Prae:

Appearing as lithe humanoids with markings adorning them, this proud race hails from the realm of Priscus. When in their normal guise these lithe beings are graceful, light, and acrobatic, typically giving off an aura of purity and calm, though they can control this. While incapable of any truly impressive magic whilst in this state, Prae are capable of healing minor wounds, energizing others or themselves, moving smaller objects through the manipulation of their Vis. However, perhaps their most distinguishing features in comparison to Humans or even the Licentia, are the small crystals located somewhere on their foreheads in addition to their ability to condense their internal energy and exude it into the form of wings, or otherwise formations of energy, which manifest from the markings on their back and/or arms. The crystals located on a Prae's forehead are effectively invulnerable to all physical damage and a great deal of magical damage as well. A Prae pulls in energy through these crystals, using it as sustenance, this process only works if there is energy within the surrounding area. However, almost any form of energy works, as long as it is not held within a living thing.

In addition to these crystals, as mentioned, is a Prae's ability to manifest constructs of pure energy, which are a direct extension of their being—typically in the form of wings. When manifested a Prae's magical ability is greatly amplified, making them capable of greater telekinetic feats, either to manipulate their own person, those around them, or objects, depending on the specialty of the individual. However, while the abilities of a given Prae can vary somewhat, all of them stem from their inherent power, which has come to be known as “Imbuing.” This ability must be activated by contact between the Prae and that which they wish to manipulate.

Perhaps the most notable and intriguing use of a Prae's imbuing, is that which is performed upon their death. Essentially, when a Prae is near death they will, either consciously or subconsciously choose an individual who they have made contact with in the past—typically another Prae—and upon their death the entirety of their energy will be imparted to the chosen subject or subjects. The Prae may choose as to whether their consciousness is merged with that of the subject or not. When this is done the receiving individual's Anima is permanently empowered, allowing them a greater pool of energy to draw from. This is the only natural circumstance in which a Prae's Anima may significantly grow.

The Prae are ruled by several Queens, some of which are known as the Exeo. The Exeo have been imparted with sufficient power so as to facilitate the birth of true Prae. This is notable due to the fact that the children of Prae are born without the pure Anima of their kind—though they possess their crystals and markings. As such, by imparting Prae children with a small portion of pure Anima, the Exeo, or their greater counterpart, the God-Queen, allows the child to develop into a fully mature Prae later in life, rather than simply allow the equivalent of a half-breed, which would do nothing to further increase their numbers.

As mentioned, all Exeo are dwarfed by the God-Queen, who imparts them with the necessary energy to perform their function in the first place. The God-Queen is the single most important member of Prae society, being the only Prae capable of nigh infinitely absorbing ambient energy. This God-Queen comes to be when several hundred or a thousand Prae choose a member of their own whom they consider worthy of leading them. Once chosen, the Prae who have chosen her all simultaneously sacrifice their Anima, imparting their chosen Queen with such a tremendous amount of magical energy that her body's limits are exceeded, effectively rendering her incapable of any magic aside from giving her energy to others. The minds of the thousand Prae reach a state of cohesion with that of the God-Queen's allowing her a tremendous understanding of her kind and what is likely to be best for their continued wellbeing.

Due to her tremendous magical power and importance to their culture and social structure, not to mention her safety, the God-Queen remains in Priscus so that her tremendous soul and the vis that extends around it does not crush her subjects, and so that she remains far away from potential threats to her health.

_Licentia:

Beings of diverse physical appearance and magical ability, the Licentia are considered 'shapeshifters,' borne of Torqueo. However, the truth to their sometimes shifting forms is somewhat different in most cases. Rather than all Licentia being true shapeshifters, they instead remain in an impressionable state for a portion of their lengthy lives, during which they decide on their form and abilities going forwards. While a Licentia's growth period has a great amount of influence on what their abilities and appearance will be, it is their lineage that decides the pool of magical abilities they have to choose from. In this growth period a Licentia's Vis is rather small so long as their form is in flux, allowing them to manipulate their physical form to a great degree, though weakening any other magical abilities they might later develop. When a Licenti is not within a growth period, their true magical abilities manifest, and they are typically as impressive as they are diverse. Yet, while Licentia are indeed very individualistic in both culture and physical appearance, they share several notable traits, both magical and physical. The most notable of these are their 'solid souls,' in addition to their expansive Vis, and largely predatory and/or parasitic nature. Licentia reproduce parasitically, by in some form splitting their Anima once it has reached a certain density and placing it within another being—though the method can vary between subspecies.

While Licentia do technically regenerate their energy, the process is so slow that the energy generated would always be far less than that used in any notable physical activity, let alone magic. The energy is essentially only enough so as to give them just enough to survive should their Anima be depleted for whatever reason. Licentia, should they feed often enough, do not age, instead continually alternating between their growth and trial stages till they reach a certain level of self-awareness and understanding. Largely due to their longevity and parasitic reproduction, the Licentia are often demonized because of their nature, leading to many of their young being killed off, thus ensuring that their population never explodes.

While an exceptionally rare occurrence, Licentia can attain a third stage and even fourth stage of development, though the fourth's nature has long been considered a myth by both their kind and others. Nonetheless the third, and allegedly final, stage of Licentia development is characterized by the further stabilization of a Licenti's individual form and magical abilities. Only Licentia who have attained a sufficient level of personal understanding can attain this stage, which—should they reach it—affords them the title of Eximius. Aside from their form stabilizing in a more permanent manner—with few exceptions—an Eximius Licentia gains enhanced magical power as well as an effectively limitless lifespan so long as they keep themselves well fed.

Intriguingly enough, the rarity of Eximius licenti has led to the vast majority of their kind raising them to a deific status. As a result many consider Eximius to be more powerful than they truly are, resulting in them being feared and respected by both their own kind and others—if grudgingly at times. While Licentia tend not to choose defining leaders, but rather form small communities due to their individualistic nature, if there were any that they would consider their leaders, it would be those few Eximius.

_Humans:

Possessing the greatest population density of the three races, but the shortest average lifespans, humans tend to find themselves in positions of diplomacy with other races and situations of conflict among their own. They are not physically very impressive, though they tend to be hardier than the lithe Prae as well as naturally stronger. While the average human is of little consequence, all humans have within them inherent potential, which is far reaching in its scope. This on its own has allowed them to make incredible technological discoveries, as well as to learn to wield magic and of course to have expanded over the vast majority of their home realm, Medius.

While the Vis of Prae is limited to the surface of their form, and that of most Licenti is expansive in size, the human Vis is typically only a meter or two in radius, making it relatively small. However, true to their potential, this Vis can be expanded with practice and as an individual's Anima grows as, unlike Prae, humans can naturally increase their capacity magic over time and with due diligence. More interestingly, humans are capable of harnessing the energy of the world around them almost regardless of its nature. This is achieved by way of their uniquely impressionable Anima, which can easily meld with foreign energies. This ability is however a double edged sword as while it allows them to bend the world to their will, it also makes them more vulnerable to outside influence to a much greater degree than the Prae or Licentia. It is this and their short lifespans, which tend to be no longer than 100 or so years on average that act as their greatest limitations. However, with the advent of more advanced technology, and the continued development of magic, perhaps this too will fade into obscurity.

⊰ Magic

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So far as any of the races are aware, no being is capable of the manipulation of time, and while space can be manipulated to some degree, it is not something that is typically done easily by any race. However, aside from this, magic is capable of a great deal, its limits not being fully understood or known by any of the races as of yet. Still, as with most things, the more complex and more grandiose the scale or purpose of a given spell, the more difficult it is to preform.

In short, don't expect to throw a magical nuke without a whole team of several powerful magi and don't expect to actually bring back the Anima of those who have passed on entirely intact, if at all. If a simple term need be applied to describe magic, it is that the magic of Manifest Anima is of the 'High Fantasy,' sort. Just know, that the greater the power, the greater the responsibility required to wield it.

Examples of 'medium level power,' include shapeshifting into things of equivalent size, high speed movement, punching a person and breaking bones (maybe making a small mark on concrete). Perhaps you can manipulate fire hot enough to severely burn someone (2nd degree, and with continued exposure, third degree). Making golems of equivalent size and strength to what I described above or to your character's body.

⊰ Tech

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In terms of tech, the world of Manifest Anima does have things such as nanomachines, minor gravity manip tech, and what is becoming the true advent of body modification (yo cyborgs). While there are global teleportation networks, which are an incredible feat even in this day and age, people do not have personal teleportation devices or the like--in fact none such devices exist, or rather no non-prototype versions exist and trust me, I wouldn't suggest trying those prototypes...that is unless you want to end up merged with a brick wall on a quantum level.

As for weaponry things such as railguns exist, though devices such as laser rifles do not--at least not those that are fueled by entirely scientific/technological means. So don't expect light sabers or plasma weaponry for the most part. Even if they do exist, it's unlikely that most people would be allowed to carry around such dangerous devices. For further clarification, feel free to suggest your idea(s) to your local GM(s) and we'll see what we can do.

Oh yeah and magitech is a thing.

⊰ Rules

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• It should be noted that this RP will have mature themes. Fade to black will be applicable to sexual situations, but don't expect situations including drugs, gore, or some taboo subjects to garner the same treatment. This is not to say that any of the above will be done in excess, just that they may be done.
• Combat will be handled on a case-by-case basis, with the GMs proctoring in case issues or disagreements arise. Should you want to script your fight, let the GMs, and your partner(s) know. Make sure all parties are in agreement. A 'scripted fight,' is one wherein the victor is decided before hand.
• Burning house rule--if you're gone too long and holding things up, expect your character to either be moved aside quietly, or killed to further plot. To avoid the burning house rule, keep us updated, a hiatus can be arranged.
• If a problem arises for a player in regards to the GM and they feel uncomfortable bringing it up. Go to the other GM for advice. Don't worry, we're perfectly reasonable people and nine times out of ten we'll work through it with you.
• The GMs have final say on all matters--this does not mean that I cannot be swayed or convinced. Still, if something must be resolved, we will resolve it and that'll be the end of the discussion.
• Should you lack inspiration or enough material to post, tell someone. Communicate. Talk to your GMs. Worst case scenario, we'll just move your character aside till you can post again.
• While you may expand on or modify the base format of the character sheet, make sure all necessary sections are included.
• No OOC drama. Keep it to PMs, and hopefully keep it non-existent. If needed contact a GM for problem resolution.
• Posts of a paragraph or more; quality over quantity. If you're drawing a blank, don't worry so much.
• Posting expectations of once, at the very least, every two weeks barring extenuating circumstances.
• Only accepted characters go in the character tab.
• Post your Character Sheet in the OOC for review.
• Standard Guild rules apply.
• IC swearing will occur.

⊰ What to Expect

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• Interactions with at least semi-realistic cause and effect. If you kill someone, expect there to be an investigation or at least it be on the news.
• Medium scale in terms of character power, unless you've got good reasons/you prove you can be trusted with more.
• Posts of a paragraph or more; quality over quantity. If you're drawing a blank, don't worry so much.
• Posting expectations of once, at the very least, every two weeks barring extenuating circumstances.
• A GM who is willing to work with you, hear you out, but not break his back to suit your every need.
• Good communication be it player to player, GM to GM, or GM to player.
• Some measure of political intrigue.
• Multiple plotlines if possible.
• Group world building!
• Collaboration posts.
• Some Taboo Subjects.
• Some slice of life.
• Some dark themes.
• Some combat.

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

Đ risrea ℳ aetel. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ᴘ ᴇ ʀ ι ᴄ ᴜ ʟ ᴏ

---

The sound of doors being pushed roughly open could be heard down the hall from Maria's cell. It was an odd sound, a light clack, clack of what might have been metal or high heels on the stone floors. However it was more distinct, perhaps reminiscent of a dog's claws against tile or wood floor.

It was however, not a woman in heels or a canine creature. No, it was a licentia, and more specifically a harpy. As the guards led her down the hall, she spoke, her voice sensual as she practically hummed with amusement and what might have been pleasure, the guards coughing or telling her to be quiet every once and awhile.

“You know I didn't do anything wrong,” the feminine voice said, the guards seeming to ignore it. “We could have had so much more fun, instead of all this. Of course, perhaps you'd prefer me tied up and at your mercy, mmm?” The Harpy said, her words followed by several coughs. Maria couldn't see it, but the Harpy smiled, her neck curving down and between the shoulders of the two guards in front of her. The glanced at her, then at each other, clearly unsettled by her inhuman appearance. “No? You'd prefer something less exotic? Too bad boys. So unadventurous and boring,” she commented. One of them elbowed her in the stomach, eliciting a light grunt. It served to keep her quiet for exactly no time at all. “Well isn't that rude, though I admit I like things a bit more rough than one of your human women,” she giggled, the sound of her voice, and the footsteps of the guards drawing closer to Maria's cell.

After another moment of banter, if you could call the licentia talking at the guards banter, Maria would hear a door across from her open, a harsh shove and squeal, before the door was slammed shut again. The licentia cooed out, her neck allowing her to slip her head between the bars of the door, “Come back soon boys or I'll get lonely~”

One of them yelled “Shut up already monster!” back at her, and the result was a high pitched laugh, that led into a shriek that was more than a little harsh on the ears before the harpy pulled her head back into her little room and gazed between the bars at the room across from her.

There would be a long time of silence following the guard's exit, which was punctuated by the slam of another set of doors and then a mechanical buzzing noise as the automatic locks kicked in and the security systems reset. After a minute or so had passed, the harpy's clawed appendages came up and grasped at the barred 'window' of her cell, before she stuck her head through again and looked to see if she had any other neighbors.

She didn't.

Disappointed, the harpy glanced across from her and changed her angle to reveal what appeared to be a human female. A smile came across her lips. “What's your name, mmm? Mine's Drisrea.” She called across the hall, her words aimed at the girl. She was a curious and sociable creature, if not very respectful of people's personal space, a concept that she didn't entirely understand. Hopefully the girl wouldn't keep quiet, otherwise her time here—however brief—would be quite dull...and Drisrea hated dull.

It was why she did what she did after all. That and the freedom to harass and upset hundreds, feed at her leisure, and free hundreds of poor imprisoned fools, regardless of race.

Oh how she loved her job, not to mention the classy fellow who had given it to her. Hopefully he wouldn't be stingy this time and they'd get to meet up. After all, she was craving some attention, and it was hard for her to get others to give it to her. Perhaps the girl would at least distract her from that craving.

For a time.

---

Ｓ z a y e i s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ᴍ ᴀ s ᴛ ᴇ ʀ ᴏ ғ ᴛ ʜ ᴇ ɢ ᴀ ᴍ ᴇ

^{"Which will it be, your pride...or your life?"
Theme I ♦ Theme II}

---

Blue-green eyes stared out onto the relative darkness of the city streets as he walked from rooftop to rooftop, shifting through shadows, not missing a step in the least. Obstacles meant nothing to him as rooftop radiators and even walls phased through his incorporeal form or he stepped through a shadow to circumvent them. Of course, all that was second nature, inconsequential. His focus was somewhere else.

His focus lay on the plan. The grand scheme and all the steps involved in it. To him each footfall was another step taken in a grander scheme. Each glance a calculated look to take in information, understand his surroundings, to understand the city, to understand the lay of the land. It was all to know where he fought, so he could know among who he would dwell and how they could be pushed so the dominoes fell...one by one.

He chuckled lightly to himself as he materialized a silver lighter from the shadows of his form, giving it functionality with a bit of magic, before he extracted a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up, drawing in a deep pull of the smoke and holding it a moment before pushing it out, the feel of the smoke oddly pleasant as it rolled and sifted through his false lungs, the essence of the material moving through his body as it was absorbed into his blood and sent throughout to the rest of his organs. His smile remained as he gazed up into the night sky a moment, letting the moment take him.

For a time he let his mind drift, the world falling away, his plans escaping him, his thoughts falling to pieces as he enjoyed the heavy feeling of smoke in his body, and the lightheadedness it brought to his brain. He chuckled, the sound deep and sonorous as it escaped his lips and met the night air. It was all an illusion, a fabrication. Every part of him, the organs, the skin, the flesh, hair, eyelashes. Every cell, every blood vessel, was a construct crafted from his vis, from his anima.

It was, it existed, but it was not real none of it was vital in the same way it was for a human or a prae....

A scowl crossed his face and he turned and spat on the ground at the mere thought of the deluded creatures. “Disgusting,” he commented, looking down into an alley where a homeless man lay in his own filth and squalor. Yet, it was not the human that disgusted him, nor the filth. It wasn't even the prae as a species. It was how they behaved and what they had done. His eyes narrowed, momentarily losing their humanity as his entire body began emitting wisps of jet black smoke as if a fire burned just beneath the surface of his flesh. Then he a took a deep breath, the smoke receded, he became solid once more, and a smile spread across his face, a small glance at the moon making it widen, a hint of genuine happiness in his eyes for a moment before he resumed his stroll across the rooftops of Ominar.

The thought of his dear sister always helped in moments like these. Thoughts of her...and the delicious web of deceit, destruction, and revenge he was weaving for the prae.

Having grown tired of his cigarette, the nightwalker took it from his mouth, looking at it as he walked, his vis flowing into every molecule that made it up. He glanced at its shadow, and suddenly an idea struck him, his eyes shifting to the nearest shadow before he took a step onto it, his entire body folding and becoming incorporeal smoke, before it was gone entirely.

Moments later he emerged on the other side of the city, a cell phone in hand, the number already dialed. He took he began to move his hand from the device, but instead it duplicated, leaving one arm to hold the phone, while a new one was freed for other activities.

He thought nothing of it. It was normal, after all.

Taking the cigarette into his new hand he began weaving patterns over it with his left arm. While he did so, the phone rang, and eventually someone picked up.

“Hello? Who is thi--” the voice began, but the nightwalker had no time for pleasantries.

He interrupted him, “Light. Spider. Twenty three. Jaywalker. Support. Flame. Wraith Five,” he said, before falling silent. For a whole ten seconds there was no response, before the call abruptly ended. The nightwalker smiled slightly, waiting a whole minute, still weaving a spell into the cigarette while he did so, before his phone rang and he immediately picked up.

“What is it Szayeis? You know it's dangerous to call me.”

Laughing, his tone casual and entirely unbothered, Szayeis replied. “Of course it's dangerous, Haesari, but living is dangerous, especially when you're me.” The prae on the other end made a noise, and from it Szayeis knew he had frowned.

“Don't worry, I called for a reason. I need to know what preparations our favorite little Exeo is making for my arrival. Would you care to tell me, little one.” There was an audible swallow on the other end. Szayeis smirked.

“Of course. Um, so far she has put the hunters on high alert, as well as spread some information through the ranks of her private forces, and her agents positioned in police departments that you'll be arriving.”

Szayeis scoffed, his steps taking him closer to a certain store as he replied, “Yes, and she still breaths. All of these things are common sense for me. This is nothing new. Now, little one, please tell me what she's done that was, mmm...let's call it unexpected.” There was a moment of silence, “Well?”

“Um.... Well, earlier today she.... She asked me to contact the Broker.”

The nightwalker's eyes gleamed and a manic look entered his gaze, his lips parting slightly, widening his smile further. “Oh did she now, and what did she want him to do for her? Do tell.”

“She...she wanted him to retrieve a certain human magi. A professor at the Institute. I believe his name was Dranai Llamant.”

“Interesting.”

“He's a world class illusionist.”

“Wonderful.”

“Wh-what?”

“Well, I had wondered if this would be any fun Haesari. What with my talents and overwhelming mastery of the hearts and minds of others. Well, I thought that perhaps there would be no game. No interplay between enemy forces, no dance, but instead just a droll play by play. Monotonous, dull...boring.”

“I...I don't. You wanted this to be hard?”

Szayeis chuckled in response as he finished his spellwork, the duplicated arm dissolving into particles of wispy vis before being pulled back into him and vanishing. “No. I wanted a challenge and it seems that maybe, just maybe our little Exeo may be up for a bit of a...mmm, party~. Regardless, it doesn't concern you.”

“But what if she--....”

“She won't.”

“But...” he stammered nervously.

“She won't. Trust me. Now, little one, go home and sleep.”

“A-alright.”

“Goodbye Haesari. Shadow six,” he finished, and with that the prae went silent and then hung up. Chuckling to himself, the nightwalker turned his eyes to the street below him before briefly closing them, his awareness shifting before his perception opened up, revealing countless streets and countless buildings and people throughout the city. Ah how he loved the night.

After taking a moment to orient himself, he noted the street signs nearby, before opening his eyes and ending the vision. He didn't need those senses just yet, he had gotten what he wanted.

Glancing down the street he found a building taller than the rest and traversed the shadows to find himself atop it, where he perched, standing at the edge of the roof, looking down at a building he knew to be a quaint little shop called the Twilight Spirit. He smiled, dialed a number on his phone, and then pocketed it, waiting.

It appeared the meeting was yet to begin and so his first act could not proceed, but when things were well in motion...he would act, and the result would be...explosive.

When that time came, he would relish it, for it would mean something wonderful. It would mean the true beginning of the end for his foe. It would mean the end for the prae, but as their reign fell to shambles, he would build his upon it.

When he was done, the prae would speak his name in whispers and the world would tremble at his feet.

Worm Lite

Spoilers

Okay, So I have questions that need to be answered and in a codified fashion.

1.) At which point did Earth-Rho deviate from Earth-Aleph? I believe this was discussed previously. If I remember correctly this was with the arrival of Scion.

2.) We know that Earth-Bet was heavily laced with Shards by the warrior entity. We've been using Earth-Bet numbers to estimate the number of capes and/or potential capes for Earth-Rho. Trouble is, we never confirmed if these numbers hold true for Earth-Rho. Earth-Bet was supposed to be the Warrior entity's ideal fertile ground. That was the dimension/reality he chose to heavily seed.

3.) In this regard, are we looking to say that Earth-Rho was Earth-Bet adjacent at the time, or was it a split-off directly from the arrival point? If so did that duplicate shards, or did both points in the multi-verse get an equal measure? Or was it unequal?

4.) Earth-Aleph sustained losses of only half a billion, which was getting off light. Earth-Bet suffered much damage, though it could have been worse. Earth-Gimel also so a decent amount of heavy conflict, especially around New Brockton Bay. Earth-Bet saw the United Kingdom cratered. Other realms varied in damage by significant amounts. We've discussed that Earth-B saw a great number of casualties. We determined that there were roughly 1 billion survivors, but that was using Earth-B numbers. Are we still holding to that for Earth-Rho?

5.) Golden Morning was 8 years ago. With the end results in New York-B at the hands of Khepri, it seems there is evidence of severely deviated or damaged shards. Do we have an idea how we're plotting out those?

6.) Also, if Earth-Rho is very similar to Earth-Bet, is there any thought to this world's version of the Triumvirate, and other highly known capes?

7.) Also, was Ash City called Ash City originally, or did it get renamed in the aftermath of Golden Morning?

@Tearstone

1.) Yes, we did establish this, it was around the time Scion showed up, though I'm fairly sure we also decided that there were already significant differences in Earth Rho. my own personally planned differences include: a smaller population of people; more people who evacuated during Golden Morning, expecting worse from Scion; generally less shards initially, and probably some others.

2.) Y...yes we did. We had a whole long conversation regarding the ratio of capes to civilians in Earth Rho (the cape to civvy ratio is MUCH higher). Now the reasoning for this varies, but the stuff that we have decided for sure as part of the contributing factors are as follow:

>Lots of people ended up evacuating to Earth-Rho, as well as returning there, once Golden Morning was over. Keep in mind it's non-canon so we can basically do what we want.

>Scion DID hit Earth-Rho pretty bad, but he didn't destroy as much fundamental stuff, though he did demolish a lot of infastructure. Him hitting it hard means more people have a likelihood of triggering. Many initial triggers here were buds from other shards.

>This one is a possibility, not a certainty, but what if when Golden Morning ended, the path to X dimension where the rest of Scion was, opened into Earth Rho, showering it with his shards.

>I don't know if Worm ever defined it, but we know that the Thinker Entity landed in a certain POPULATED world. I don't think it said which one. What if it was Earth Rho, or what if we CHANGE it so that it is Earth Rho--whatever remains that is.

>The initial struggle to survive and rebuild was very dangerous and unfamiliar for the majority of those who returned to Earth Rho. As a result there were a lot of triggers that happened during that 8 year period following Golden Morning. Now with a higher cape mass, people trigger more often due to their fights and the unique problems relying on capes in society bring about.

>Miscellaneous.

Oh, as a final note the ratio for human to Parahumans is "2,500:1".

3.) Already sort of covered a possibility of why there are more shards there in #2. Any other possibilities are probably going to be linked to a mysterious Third Entity.

4.) Yes we're holding to that, because Earth Rho is populated by people from more than one alternate Earth who have all come to Earth Rho. Many people didn't go to Earth Rho since there were, what seemed to be, better places to go, or more familiar places.

5.) Not sure what you mean by plotting these out. Do you mean, "where are they coming from?" because I addressed that in #3 and another potential reason in #2. In fact, the ONLY likely reason that there are so many damaged/deviated shards is BECAUSE of Golden Morning's conclusion.

6.) Based on canon, even if there were other people who had the same names and personalities as Alexandria, Eidolon, and Legend, there remains the problem of...well, the Entities only chose SOME Earths to seed, whereas they just straight up didn't for others, or gave only a few shards to some (or prepared some worlds in case they needed them or wanted to harvest them as well). So, seeing as we didn't see Khepri control any duplicates in Golden Morning, and also to avoid confusion, they functionally don't exist in Earth Rho. What we COULD be asking ourselves is "What was the cape situation in Earth Rho BEFORE Golden Morning?" Also, I'm going to assume that either the Simurgh WAS moved to a facility in Earth Rho, or that she was not, we should decide on that. Not sure what we want in that regard.

7.) Ash City is effectively a totally new city. Meaning it was built largely from the ground up. So yes, while it may have had a few other provisional names it has functionally always been called some variation of "Ash City."

---

Hope this helps.

The Otherworld: Faerie Light™

I can tell you've put a lot of thought into the setting even if not all of it has been put up for display just yet :)

The Otherworld: Faerie Light™

Hiya Shy.

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

On the Road to Unity

Chatterbox, Headhunter, and Lovecraft.
Collab With: @Kafka Komedy and @BCTheEntity.

---

As Lovely made their way to the enterance of the Icehouse, they noticed two adults standing there. Headhunter and Chatterbox they would assume, judging by their builds. They probably ought to have dressed down too, come to think of it, but they supposed it didn't matter all that much since they weren't wearing anything armored. "Nice of you to join me, soldier." Lovely said, greeting Headhunter. As Chatterbox eyed them though, they gave a more professional response. "Ah. I see you're here too. We'd best be off, yes?"

Raymond nodded toward Love Craft with his arms folded and his face set in a relatively stern expression. 'We probably should, yes. I will say,' he added, 'I don't want to be mistaken as an unsavoury individual of any sort, considering our visible differences, so if anybody asks, you're my step-niece and step-nephew respectively.' This would be to help deal with the sort of people- blessedly rare as they were compared to even ten years ago- who disliked black people, and would surely raise a fuss if one was seen with two substantially younger individuals of much different race to himself. They'd probably be just as upset about an implied interracial marriage, but better that than accusations of sexual assault and pedophilia. That said, he began walking away from the Icehouse building, figuring that for right now, any direction was probably fairly good for attempting to find Arsenal.

Making a mock salute at Lovecraft as he said they ought to depart, he made a note of the formality behind his words in comparison to how the cape had greeted Headhunter. In fact, the action elicited a small "Heh," from him before he turned his attention to Headhunter as he spoke up. After hearing him out, he nodded, a slightly amused smile on his lips, Drake followed Raymond, assigning a pseudo-leadership role to the man even though Lovecraft had suggested the outing.

Walking more or less alongside their mercenary companion, Drake spoke up, his tone casual. "So any ideas as to how we locate this fellow?"

Quickly redirecting some of the, frankly out of place, muscle into added height to match the two adults they were tagging along with, Lovely too joined Chatterbox in walking alongside Headhunter. "Aww, so I can't call you 'daddy'? A shame. Anywho, I suppose just walking towards the inner city is our best bet. Broker didn't seem to include any possible leads but he has a fairly distinctive appearance." Lovely explained, taking the letter out of their pocket to examine it. Must have contained the new member's pay. Maybe a description of tomorrow's job, too. If so, Lovely would be sure to take a look. They actually hadn't seen what they were going to be doing tomorrow. Slipping the letter back into their chaps in favor of the photograph of their mark, Lovely handed it over to Headhunter. "You're good at tracking people right? Where would a young man like that be if he had just entered a city?"

Finding himself rather pleased by Lovecraft's words, Drake chuckled to himself, though he knew they weren't joking about calling Headhunter daddy. Still, it was pretty ludicrous. As the androgynous cape went on, Drake raised an eyebrow, letting them finish before he spoke again. "Inner city sounds as good as anywhere else. Upside, is I can always use my charms to convince people to remember if they've seen anyone of his...distinctive appearance. So there's that."

Raymond coughed somewhat uncomfortably at the word "daddy" - obviously not meant in the sense of a parent-child relationship, and with how Love Craft apparently went about in general, he could hardly tell whether the flirting was genuine or not. Even so, as he was handed the photograph, he considered the possible options. He was trained in tracking down targets, both in the field and under more urbane conditions, though not on such minimal information or within such a short timeframe.

In a pinch, the inner city seemed like a reasonable choice. 'I think I'm inclined to agree with... pardon me, I don't believe I got your name?' he murmured, turning to Chatterbox. He didn't really want to use his cape name when he was out of costume, and figured if he could get the young adult to reveal his real name, he might end up with some leverage later on. 'In any case, that'd be where a large portion of Denver's crime is committed, so I imagine he's either involved in or attempting to prevent it. Presumably the former, but you never know.'

Drake glanced towards Headhunter as he agreed and then inquired about his name. He tilted his sunglasses down, peering over them to give the man a pointed look before returning them to their former position, smiling, and ignoring him for a time. "Yes it would make sense that he would be there." He seemed to think for a moment before glancing at Headhunter, "Call me James, mmm?" He beamed at him for a moment before looking away, eyes aimed forwards.

Frankie considered "James's" statement for a moment. It was probably a fake name, all things considered. When a known assassin asked your name, it wasn't a good idea to be truthful. Still, it was something to call him out of costume, so for now, it was good enough. "Well, if we're all trading names, I'm Fran." Frankie lied, a cartoon-y grin on their face. "What's yours, soldier? I'm not the kind to kiss and tell, so you have nothing to worry about." They joked. Honestly, Headhunter's real name didn't matter to Lovely all that much, but they needed to call them something when they weren't wearing a mask. Even if they could easily change their face, they didn't want to lose their new job or place, and being associated with a well known criminal was a good way to get evicted.

The name was obviously fake. If "James" had really been caught out, he'd have given the name almost immediately, rather than taking a second to think about it. "Fran" also seemed to be lying, their name again preceded by a moment of thought. It might be an idea to figure out who they really were later on. That said, he needed to provide his own name now... fake, again, but maybe he could trick them with a more complete name. Probably not, but it was worth a shot. 'Jack Selser,' he stated, using a pseudonym that he'd abandoned some time in the past when out on prior missions, and which he ought to have dropped, but it was the first name to slide easily off his tongue. 'Glad to know we're all being honest.'

Frankie openly giggled at "Jack's" comment. "Of course, of course." They commented, strolling a bit ahead of the two men for just a moment. "Well, I doubt we can use each others hobbies against one another. Do either of you have anything particularly interesting you do?" They asked, a bit curious as to what a hired murderer and someone as egotistical as Chatterbox did in their free time. Frankie was betting on 'reading' or 'woodcarving' for Jack and some sort of public speaking for James. His power off, obviously, just to prove to himself that he was sly or something like that. "I myself enjoy sweet foods as a sort of gourmet. Though I doubt you could tell by my figure." Frankie explained, shaking their hips in a suggestive manner for emphasis.

Once again, Raymond couldn't really tell whether "Fran" was flirting as a joke, or in a serious fashion. Either way, he couldn't help but glance at their backside as they shook their hips, before forcing himself to stare straight ahead. He had standards that he held potential partners to; unfortunately, Fran was meeting all of them, at least in terms of physique. But that was neither here nor there. 'I build scopes,' he offered in response to Fran's question. 'I got good at that to help my career. And yes, they are hideously complex to work with.'

James chuckled to himself, ignoring 'Fran's' behavior for the most part. He was about as interested as Fran was in him. "I do stand-up comedy," he said simply in response to Fran's question. He glanced around, before continuing, "I tend to switch venues frequently, some with my charms, some without. I figure it's best to expand my influence while also doing what I love." He shrugged a bit, glancing at Fran before looking to 'Jack'. "Scopes, eh? Interesting choice of hobby, though I suppose it makes sense...considering." He smiled slightly, almost as if amused by some inside joke.

Frankie smiled. They were pretty close with their assumption on both of the men's hobbies. Scope building was certainly quite interesting. Standup comedy was quite obvious though, though Frankie was quite surprised that only sometimes he used his ability. Frankie figured him as a fairly all or nothing guy, but it seemed he may have been able to cut their losses.

There was a slight silence after James's comment, which no one seemed to want to fill. As talkative as two out of three of the group were, it seemed they didn't have much to talk about. Or maybe they just didn't trust eachother enough yet. They were all using fake names, after all. Something impersonal to talk about...

"Ahh, what do you suppose we call this little gang? Since James wants to make a name for himself, I assume we want something catchy. Any suggestions, gentlemen?"

'"The Gentlemen" isn't a bad start,' Raymond offered, 'if not for the lack of gentlemanly conduct and distinct presence of at least one female party. Not that the additional irony wouldn't be appreciated.' He stroked his beard for a moment, frowning as he thought of the possibilities, as well as allowing a convenient opportunity for a couple of civilians to pass by without their overhearing anything. 'The Takers, perhaps, since that seems to be what we're doing with ourselves? Undertakers, maybe, but for minimising our death tolls.'

The name of their little gang, mmm.... Drake was quiet, though he did glance at Fran, acknowledging their question, before his eyes moved back to watch their path and search for anything unusual. He gave a sidelong glance at 'Jack' as he spoke, before his eyes returned to their former position. He ran over what sorts of capes, and people, Broker had brought together.

'A quiet girl who can ignore things; A comedian with a hypnotic voice; An assassin with impossibly perfect aim; An androgynous shapeshifter scientist; and...a tinker with a sombrero.' He smirked a bit as he considered the last two, before something clicked in his mind and he spoke. "What about the Misfits?" he suggested casually before his voice rang out again, "...or perhaps Bohemian?" he offered as an alternative. While he liked 'the Gentlemen,' it was a bit too ironic for his tastes, whereas 'the Takers,' was just a bit...well, stupid, in his opinion.

Frankie listened to their allies suggestions with a sort of blank, but attentive look on their face. None of them popped. The Gentlemen was very ironic- too ironic for Lovely's taste. Takers or Undertakers were silly, Misfits generic and Bohemian pretentious. What they needed was something simple, clean, and unique. Wracking their brain for such a concept, they looked over at both James and Jack to see if they had any other ideas. But then, it hit them. "Ah, the Jacks! We do a little of everything, right? It's a nice, simple, catchy name, but not silly or unable to be taken seriously." They suggested, a glint in their eye. They were a bit proud of coming up with the idea honestly, even if there were important things to do.

"Hmm, I like that more," Drake replied, nodding his head thoughtfully, before smiling. "I think it fits best, and it's certainly catchy enough." He glanced at 'Jack,' wondering what he thought.

'That sounds like it's setting myself up for a leadership role,' Raymond noted. 'Though in fairness, it's probably better than the Takers. Now that I think about it, that seems odd at best.' He frowned again for a moment, then had an abrupt and suspicious thought, and glanced toward the two others. '...are you two trying to set me up as leader? "Leader", rather, but the person with the biggest target on them nonetheless.' There was a good reason he'd avoided notoriety to the best of his ability before the Broker approached him: well-known assassins, at least outside of the right fields, tend to die quickly. If it became known that the Headhunter was "heading" a cape organisation, two and two would be put together very quickly indeed, and his life would become far more difficult than it already was.

Drake glanced at the assassin, raising a brow, "Hardly," he said bluntly in response.

"Yes," Lovely agreed, in reply to James. "You're Headhunter on the clock, remember? Though I suppose putting a man with your attitude in charge makes the most sense. I'd be willing to take any heat for you, since that seems to be the issue. I'm more of a front-line fighter after all."

'...fair enough,' Headhunter conceded. 'It's my job to be observant, though perhaps not to the point of undue paranoia, for which I apologise.' And speaking of observation, he'd noticed that they'd gotten to the inner city reasonably quickly... and moreover, that what sounded like a very heated gun battle was taking place relatively nearby. 'Gunfire,' he stated bluntly. 'Do we think that's our guy?'

"Well if it isn't," Lovely stated with a perky expression, "Then it'll lead us to him."