blue UP
[they/them]
You step into a building, and a cold chill runs up and down your spine like fingers made of ice. The energy of this place churns your stomach, and the back of your eyes tingle. You know something bad happened here. Everyone has this sort of sixth sense, knowing when things are off, and yours is sounding the alarm. You swallow it down, tell yourself to stop being silly, and then move on. Yet, as a human, you don’t see what is truly happening in that room. A monstrosity formed of corpses in various stages of death watches you walk by. You feel its nails through your hair and its awful breath on the back of your neck. So, you walk faster. Unfortunately, this monster consumes the entire hallway, and every step you take is only a slight shift in movement for it. You reach the door on the other side of the room and exhale as you hear voices you recognize on the other side. You grip the handle when a fast and visceral pain lances through your stomach, and you look down to be greeted by your entrails floating there. But your vision goes blurry, and for a second, you look up at your own body—headless.
Your friends open the door, swearing they heard something. All they see is the empty hallway. They had been waiting for someone—maybe. Actually, everyone was here. They don’t know why they thought you were coming because they don’t even know who you are. In an instant, you are not only food but a withering figment in people's memories.
What you don’t—well didn’t—know is that there’s another world, two actually, layered on top of your own. The umbra, where the demon that devoured you came from, and the lumen, filled with starving angels. They congregate in places of extreme negativity and positivity, respectively, and feed on the humans who are foolish enough to walk into their domain. Thousands of people go missing a year, but they are soon forgotten. There’s nothing that humans can do to protect themselves from this invisible threat. Fortunately, humans share this planet with the divine, humans with the ability to see and interact with demons and angels—and, more importantly, hunt them. They are called exorcists, and they sacrifice everything to cull this constant threat.
The year is 2025, and our story starts at an academy, in the massive metropolis of Gran Vesta, that trains the future generations of exorcists. Twenty years ago, a class from this academy saved the world. Today, they train new and upcoming students. This is how things are: an unbroken cycle of destroying one’s youth to create a weapon that can fend off demons and angels. And you are a new student at this academy, and your final exam is staying alive.
Your friends open the door, swearing they heard something. All they see is the empty hallway. They had been waiting for someone—maybe. Actually, everyone was here. They don’t know why they thought you were coming because they don’t even know who you are. In an instant, you are not only food but a withering figment in people's memories.
What you don’t—well didn’t—know is that there’s another world, two actually, layered on top of your own. The umbra, where the demon that devoured you came from, and the lumen, filled with starving angels. They congregate in places of extreme negativity and positivity, respectively, and feed on the humans who are foolish enough to walk into their domain. Thousands of people go missing a year, but they are soon forgotten. There’s nothing that humans can do to protect themselves from this invisible threat. Fortunately, humans share this planet with the divine, humans with the ability to see and interact with demons and angels—and, more importantly, hunt them. They are called exorcists, and they sacrifice everything to cull this constant threat.
The year is 2025, and our story starts at an academy, in the massive metropolis of Gran Vesta, that trains the future generations of exorcists. Twenty years ago, a class from this academy saved the world. Today, they train new and upcoming students. This is how things are: an unbroken cycle of destroying one’s youth to create a weapon that can fend off demons and angels. And you are a new student at this academy, and your final exam is staying alive.
- .01
- The Discovery of the Lumen & Umbra
- The Divine Pantheon
- The Towers & Ten Families
- The Heretical Order of Cain
- The Saints of Tower 9
- The Cicada Prophecy
In the beginning, humans didn't know that the Lumen and Umbra existed alongside them, interwoven in the spaces they didn't see. Like a blanket, whole, but whose threads were so massive that the gaps between them were monstrously large. The Umbra and Lumen were no Hell or Heaven, respectively, but instead places that excess negative or positive energies humans made fed into. This energy is from your soul feeding either side when it leaves your body. During a time in human history when death was overwhelming, and the despair was infinite, the Umbra overfilled and spilled out into the world. The blanket started to unravel at a brisk pace.
There were no creatures within the Lumen or the Umbra, but the energy was powerful enough to infest recently deceased and change them into beings that would be henceforth called demons and angels. And to remain on this plane, they had to continue to feed on their respective energies. Demons had it easiest as all they had to do was kill or dwell in places of constant death. Angels had to use far more subtle tactics. And because of this, humans started to die at catastrophic rates.- During these dark ages, there started a phenomenon where humans not only saw the demons and angels, but they also could touch them. There were not many of these humans, but they had been created by being around demons and angels for long periods. Their souls had absorbed the excess energy, and instead of feeding it back into the Umbra or Lumen, it transformed the soul into a weapon. But not a typical weapon, an aspect depicting the burden their soul carried. From there, they could manipulate that aspect to kill demons and angels. These people were called "divine" by those around them who hired them to take care of this curse they couldn't define. The name stuck, as did the job.
Over time, the divine formed a system, dubbed the Pantheon, to allow them to exist and function in plain sight. This style of rule spread worldwide, and while some of the members rebelled, there were so few that they eventually folded in. Yet, for all their organization and preparation, the flood of demons and angels was not abating; if anything, it was getting closer and closer to an apocalyptic event. - The oracles surmised that all life would end at the half-year mark. So, the smartest among the Pantheon, a man by the of Goldan, drew together the plans for the towers. Ten massive structures formed from an even amount of umbra and lumen energy, along with a sealing technique that was lost after Goldan's death. They could provide a barrier, called the Miasma, that made it much harder for the energies of the Umbra and Lumen to pass, bringing it down to a manageable amount. Yet, there was concern that the power of these towers might fade from years of use. So, Goldan stated that ten of the strongest divine families tie their bloodlines to these towers to cycle the power with every new generation, ensuring that it would never deplete.
These families formed the ruling body of the Pantheon, dubbed simply the Ten Families. The families would stay close to a tower for the rest of their lives. If someone in their bloodline left, they were severed from the tower and deemed a heretic. The strongest family member would be the figurehead in the Ten Families while bonding to the tower. When they passed the next strongest, not the next in line, would take their place and continue the cycle. - So what of those who rebelled not only against this ruling style but the entire concept of the pantheon? They were deemed "heretics" by the theurgy and hunted down. Had they been left to their peace, they might not have turned on the pantheon. But, alas, they became one of their strongest enemies. They called themselves "The Order of Cain" from the Biblical tale. They stated that how was Cain to know he had committed the sin of murder when murder wasn't even a concept yet? So, how were they supposed to know that leaving the pantheon would result in their death, as no one had ever tried to do it?
So, with the pantheon at their throats, they leaned into traditions that were once banned. They also created an art of fighting that was structured around using their aspects to kill the divine. As a jab at the pantheon, they called these members "Heretics." These Heretics went toe-to-toe with the pantheon's theurgists and exorcists and seemed always to win. That was until they faced the pantheon's greatest exorcist, Sephtis. He was able to slay any and every Heretic that came for the Pantheon until they retreated. It is believed that only women and children from the Order of Cain persisted after that, and they, too, fell from importance. To this day, Sephtis is honored in exorcist academies worldwide by depicting his weapon, a falcata, painted red to symbolize the blood of the Heretics, hanging over their doorways. - Twenty years ago, in Gran Vesta, the only city with three towers nearby, an army of demons nearly destroyed the Ninth Tower. They had first secretly killed off the family, the Lavoies, that were bound to the tower. The Oracles had failed to predict this tragedy. So, the theurgists scrambled into action but were wiped out without much fanfare, and then exorcists were called in. However, a powerful lumen user, believed to be a Heretic, had put a massive barrier over the city, not allowing outside forces to help. It was up to the paltry force in Gran Vesta to save the tower from destruction. This tragedy was called "The Night of a 1000 Demons."
Among them were the grade 1 exorcists from the Bellum Academy. Of all the exorcists called into the fight, they were the only ones to survive. They held off the demon army long enough for Dr. Ares Fel to devise a plan to return power to the tower. For that achievement, they were viewed as some of the strongest exorcists that the pantheon had ever produced. They only suffered one fatality, the strongest exorcist in their ranks: Aden Kardos.
- In light of what happened twenty years ago, the oracles have been more and more diligent in their readings. And they found something of a repeating theme among their divinations. Here's what they have cobbled together:
"In months after the cicadas stopped their grand feast upon the divine, their humming would still be felt. The bones of all would rattle in their overwhelming symphony, and while it would ache and nauseate, it was a blessing they continued to hum. When silence was left in the wake of everything, would Gabriel rise from his slumber, lifting up and up into the sky, calling for the end of times. And from his horn would fall the bodies of Judas. One would perish on their throne of lies, and the other would kneel in front of that which was stolen from the kingdom of Heaven. In the dark days to follow, the divine must decide to take a bite from the Tree of Knowledge and be forever damned or save their souls and damn the world. Then and only then will the cicadas sing again, their stomachs full of flesh and their wings filled with hymns."
- vis (wees) is Latin for strength; force; power. Here, it is the catch-all for the power used by both the divine and the demons/angels. Replace it with "energy," and you have a good idea as to its use in the world.This power is individual for every divine. Does it mean that every divine has an awakened aspect? No. Some don't have enough vis to awaken them, or the user doesn't want to. Only the divine wanting to become exorcists force their aspect to come out. Considering what energy, or vis as it is called, brought their aspect into awakening, it means what sort of aspect they will have.
The aspect is a single word that defines the divine at the moment it is awakened. From there, it's up to the divine to manifest the aspect and control it. The stronger a divine's vis, the stronger the manifestation. Yet, one can overmanifest, creating something that kills them. So, the trick is to balance vis use with how one wishes to define that aspect. Most divine summon power from the umbra, as it is the most plentiful and easier to manifest.
Most divines try to move their powers towards the metaphysical as they find it easier to curtail their use in many different ways. But that doesn't mean they always have the wherewithal to do that. Awakening one's aspect can happen one of two ways: by other divine funneling their vision into you, allowing you to awaken it on your terms, or when an event (usually traumatic) forces it out of you, bringing all your vision to the front. See, you wield your vis through emotion. So, going through something that brings many emotions forward would be enough to tip it over. Unfortunately, these users don't have the luxury of trying to define their aspect. They get what they get.
And what of angelic contracts? Vis made from the umbra is straightforward—it's pushing something out into the world with the intended effect of harm. Vis made from the lumen is much harder to grasp and far more abstract. In the rare occurrence that someone is in the presence of an overwhelmingly positive influence, their aspect will awaken in a way that makes it impossible for a divine to comprehend. That's when angelic contracts are called upon.
There are a handful of angels in the world that don't feed upon hurting others to stay on this plane. And while there are demons like that as well, finding one is impossible. So, this angel will take one's aspect and decipher it in a way for the divine to use it. But they do not do that for free. They always ask for a favor. Usually, a favor is for the flesh or a portion of their vis. They rarely ask for "subservience" or "family members." No, they want an obvious favor so everyone knows that that divine belongs to them. This may sound like an aspect made from Lumen is worse in every way, but the angel will give a vague idea as to what their aspect is and allow the divine to decide on the one word. It doesn't even have to reflect them. They have the power to choose, and as such, they can wield it a lot more easily. So, while an umbra aspect may be "brilliance", a lumen aspect could be "inferno" "sword" "bones", etc. Which makes lumen aspects and the divine that use them a lot more potent and deadlyThis is Regis, one of the more common angels that form pacts. He has a collection of eyes.
Traditions are useful as all aspects can only be activated via "triggers," and an exorcist might not have the materials or time to activate them. We'll discuss them in the Character Creation part.Unlike aspects, traditions are taught, and they remain fundamentally the same no matter which theurgist uses them. That being said, there are many different traditions and variations based on the family of the divine that created them. Usually, all divine know a tradition or two. And an exorcist would be a fool not to use a tradition for their gain, as they can supplement any aspect and improve upon it. These traditions use your vis in a regimented way to create the same result no matter the environment. Below, we'll go through the types of traditions and their styles. Usually, families mix and match these to create something unique for them, but understanding the basics will help you understand the entire thing.
- Each weapon is unique to an exorcist and considered mandatory equipment. A weapon not only augments their vis, but also gives them something to use in case their vis is insufficient or runs out.
For those born into the pantheon, weapons are either passed down the family line or gifted from another family. Those born outside the pantheon, called independents, are given weapons from the Theurgy. These possess a Latin name explaining their nature and have been used by previous exorcists—those who have passed in the line of duty. Attunement to these weapons is harder than those who were given their weapons since birth, but all of them can be empowered by vis. Not every weapon can be. They have to have been touched by the Umbra or Lumen to allow them to channel that power into them. So as such, no one can forge their own weapon. They have to find something and make it their own. Certain aspects may help facilitate this attunement more or make it harder—it's truly up to the whim of fate.
If the exorcist loses or breaks their weapon, they will have to attune to another one to wield it in the same way they did their previous one. Otherwise, it becomes an unintuitive piece of metal or wood they're throwing around. Weapons from living exorcists, exiled or retired, are considered insanely powerful treasures that the pantheon hordes. Only people in positions of honor are allowed to wield such weapons, and they're the only ones that can. As wielding a weapon imbued with someone else's vis is akin to grabbing a hold of a rusty piece of barbed wire. But being able to attune to it allows someone to not only manipulate their own vis but that person's as well.
- Despite its grand name, Gran Vesta is a modern city comparable to that of New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Paris. It's a feat of architectural marvel, but it isn't overly special. The most amazing thing about it is the three towers in a triangular formation around the city. At one point, they looked almost natural, but they've since been claimed and sewn into modern architecture.
This world is only mildly more futuristic. For the most part it's settled in our current technological age. But it does have some really high rises and a few mega structures that allow for a larger population to be housed without worry for infrastructure.This city sits off the east coast of the United States, on a massive island connected to the US by bridge, ferry, and underwater tram system. While it shares US citizenship, it doesn't require visas from other places to live there. It's made to be a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and lifestyles, the like of which the world has experienced as of yet. It's not a technological marvel, Tokyo outclassing it in that regard, but it doesn't work its best to include the natural world in its design. To normal humans, it's a small piece of paradise, not unlike a coastal getaway. To the divine population, it is a much-contested battleground. Because you see, the Lumen and the Umbra have two powerful points of contact here: the High Rise District and the Underground, respectively.
- Gran Vesta has the largest accumulation of families of any place in the world. Usually, they only have one city to spread their territory out in, allowing for them to have a wide berth of control. Here, the three have to share one island, which has led to some tensions.
Each of the three takes care of their respective tower but also handles necessary pantheon business in Gran Vesta. They maintain the barriers, tend to the miasma, clean up the effects of demon and angel attacks, and run the school. A declaration from one of the heads of the families is akin to a law being made, and a declaration from all three will be obeyed if one wishes to continue to operate in Gran Vesta... or life, for that matter.
The Lavoies: Head: Ninon Lavoie This family was nearly wiped out in the "Night of a 1000 Demons." The only two members left alive were Ninon (age 4) and her younger sister (age 2). A French-American family with strong ties back to their homeland. Their traditions usually focus on dealing as much damage in as little time as possible. They excel in illusions, teleportation, and activating intense and intricate vis systems to do their dirty work. If you fall into their territory, they will find you faster than you realize you've entered their area. They are strong patrons of the arts and have a monopoly on museums and galleries.
The Ghanem: Head: Fakira Ghanem An Arabic-American family who have carved out their place on Gran Vesta. During the Night of a 1000 Demons, they lost their figurehead from a well-timed raid of the Industrial District. The wife of the late figurehead stepped up, amid a lot of controversy. Their traditions usually focus on barriers, sealing, and purification, the latter of which is a tradition that belongs to them and them alone. They are probably the most hospitable of the three families in Gran Vesta but do not take that to mean you can take advantage of them. They have a heavy hand in the production aspects of Gran Vesta and are the wealthiest of the three families.
Muto Clan: Head: Muto Hiroaki A Japanese-American family that prides secrecy above all else. Their family was nearly wiped out from the Japanese internment camps post-WWII. And while the other two families have also had their tragedies, they have been more recent. So, the Muto Clan has insulated themselves in their own dealings and rarely interact with the Pantheon. Their traditions are about winning a war of attrition and never letting the opposing force get the upper hand, so they use conjuration, transmutation, and disabling. Finding a member of the Muto family is considered impossible. They will find you when they want to. Unlike the other two families, they only deal in businesses that involve the divine. - This academy trains exorcists and is one of many across the world. It, in no way, replaces the academics for its students. So, many start it at about 17 and 18 (though there have been cases of 16 and 19 as well), using it as a supplement for the last couple of years of high school. Despite being called an "academy," there's technically no curriculum. It's all about creating a "safe" environment for up-and-coming exorcists. They go on missions, taking out demons and angels with supervision. And those that "supervise" them are a rotating cast of experienced exorcists. Yet, they're only there to ensure things don't get out of hand and not to handle the exorcism themselves. They also espouse the occasional bouts of wisdom if they want to. But one of the darker aspects of their job is taking care of exorcists who are overwhelmed with vis and retrieving weapons and traditions from dead students' bodies.
The academy is a repurposed monastery, so it's filled with beautiful stained glass rooms and corridors. The main cathedral is the only one that looks like anything academic, with chairs and desks. There is a chalkboard, and it's apparent it has been used. But sitting where the lecturn once was, is a massive mirror covered with a large velvet sheet. The students are told to refrain from touching it except when explicitly told. From there, the main building has a kitchen, rec room, bathrooms, and shower. Walkways through the property lead to the students' dorm rooms. They trace a loose and wide circle around the training ground in the middle of the monastery.
In the rectory is a workshop for fashioning traditions, replacing broken and damaged weapons, and a small area to test all of them out. Surrounding the monastery are small gardens, meditation spots, and hiking spots. Probably the darkest spot in the monastery is the graveyard that holds the bodies of students who did not live long enough to graduate from the academy.
There are barriers throughout the grounds made to keep out demons, angels, and humans. It sits in the middle of Gran Vesta on the top of a rocky hill and is buried in the twisting paths that circle in on themselves for what feels like an eternity.
- Check this guide out if you have any questions when working through your CS.
PHOTOS:- Stick to the anime/manga vibe.
- Please avoid using popular anime characters.
- I know that it is hard to find character pictures that really encompass the correct age of the character, so if they look a little older or younger than 16-19, that's fine. The only thing I will not accept are characters that look substantially younger. If you grace my RP with loli or shota pictures, you will be removed IMMEDIATELY. It's easy to find pictures that don't give the ick. If you're having trouble finding something... ask me. I have a lot saved.
- For the sake of our sanity, we're going to say that the world is full of people with strange eye and hair colors. So, if your character has blue hair and purple eyes, they won't look like an out-of-place protag-kun. It's common in this world. What's not common are supernatural additions. Which I will allow if your aspect details it. But you have to keep them on the DL. No inhuman-looking character, thanks.
AGE: 16-19, and the current year is 2025
FAMILY: You can be from one of the Three Families, but only as a cousin or distant relative and not in the main line. You can be from a minor family that serves one of the three families or a minor family that has some history but isn't intertwined in the business of the Three Families. Or you can be an independent who gained their aspect without being in the world of the Pantheon.
As much as the powers that it provides, they don't have to be a 1:1 of the concept specifically, but they need to reflect it. If you're on the fence if something will work, feel free to ask. I'm sure it'll be fine. Just avoid anything blatantly OP. Think about Shonen manga/anime; so much of that shit comes out of left field. Think like that.ASPECT: Make sure to read the bit about aspects in the "Powers" section. It will help in conceptualizing the idea. The big difference between Umbra and Lumen-based aspects are the angelic contracts and the idea of "choosing." Yes, technically, we are choosing our aspect, but in the world, Umbra aspects are built around the impulse of the time. Lumen ones are built around an indescribable feeling. So, when they get sorted out by Angel, they allow someone more freedom but at a cost. So, please think about this when choosing what style of aspect your character has. Don't make it too specific and tailored if it's umbra-based, and make sure the angelic pact takes something OBVIOUS from the character.
TRIGGER: Basically, your character has to do something to cause your aspect to manifest. This is to keep it from seeming to much like "magic" or "super powers" or "the force." This thing can't be simple like "giving a thumbs up." It has to be an interaction with something in the world. For instance, "flicking a lighter", "breaking a mirror", "eating a leaf", "applying lipstick", "possibly eating that lipstick", "plucking out your eyelashes", "biting your tongue so hard it bleeds enough for you to spit blood", etc. You get the idea. Something weird and innocuous. This is why exorcists built up their techniques and weapons, because they may not be able to do that on the fly.
POINT DISTRIBUTION: - Level: 3-6. YOU CHOOSE THE LEVEL. Where do you think your character is?
- You start with 1 aspect point initially, and get one extra aspect power every three levels. (Level 3=1 Aspect Power, Level 6=2 Aspect Powers, Level 9=3 Aspect Powers) Whether you get one or two aspect powers, they each start with one point. You cannot be level 6 and have two points in one.
- Then, divide your empty boxes by 2, rounding up. That's how many points you spend on traditions and weapon training. You get 1 free tradition with 1 point and your weapon free with 1 point as well. Everything else costs 1 point, and you CAN stack
- This shows that while your aspect may not be as strong, you've worked much harder in other areas. This is not a game where pure power wins.
- If you do level-up techniques and weapon training, use [ ˣ ] to denote where the level-up came into use. This is to make sure you're not underpowering or overpowering yourself. If you find yourself using "and" and not using the [ ˣ ], you may be overpowering.
TRADITIONS: Please use the list of styles and powers to mix and match into traditions, and keep the accessibility and strength of the styles in mind. If you're from a family, your first tradition will be family-based. Its name should reflect the family it has come from. The Lavoies or their minor families should be French. The Ghanem or their minor families should be Arabic. The Muto or their minor families should be Japanese. Or if you're from an unrelated minor family, make sure to have it reflect that culture as well. After that, your traditions can be named whatever. If you're independent, this does not apply to you.
WEAPON: Please name your weapon and find a cool picture. Or if you can't find a cool picture, describe them. I will give you a hint: typing "magical INSERT STYLE WEAPON HERE" into Pinterest usually gives you something cool to use. The name can be anything, whether it is a family weapon or one you acquired from your family's ties before attending Bellum Academy. If your character is independent, and their family doesn't have vis-infused weapons, they are gifted one by the pantheon. These weapons have a Latin-based name. - The rules for alumni are very similar to those of the student. I will address the things that are different, though. If you don't see a section for the Alumni that's in the Student, assume it is the same.
PHOTOS:- Stick to the anime/manga vibe.
- Please avoid using popular anime characters.
- I know that it is hard to find character pictures that really encompass the correct age of the character, so if they look a little older or younger than 36-40, that's fine. The only thing I will not accept are characters that look substantially younger. Yes, this is the same for alumni. If that picture is obviously a teen, that's a no from me, dog. If you're having trouble finding something... ask me. I have a lot saved. Bonus points: You do have a picture from when they graduated. Please don't use it for anything, YET, but keep it on the back burner.
- For the sake of our sanity, we're going to say that the world is full of people with strange eye and hair colors. So, if your character has blue hair and purple eyes, they won't look like an out-of-place protag-kun. It's common in this world. What's not common are supernatural additions. Which I will allow if your aspect details it. But you have to keep them on the DL. No inhuman-looking character, thanks.
AGE: 36-40, they graduated in 2005, and the current year is 2025
POINT DISTRIBUTION: - Level: 8-10.
- You start with 1 aspect point initially and get one extra aspect power every three levels. (Level 3=1, Level 6=2, Level 9=3) Each aspect power gets one point in it free. This time, though, you can spend 3 extra points between them to show growth; 5 points if you are Level 10.
- Then you take your empty boxes and multiply them by 4. That's how many tradition and weapon points you get. Like with the students, you always get one free weapon point and one free tradition point if you are levels 8 and 9.
- But if you are Level 10, you get no weapon or tradition points, so you NA those two out. This shows that you are purely an aspect user. These are very rare as they're not really viable for survival in the exorcism world. But the Saints of Tower 9 aren't a common bunch.
- If you do level-up techniques and weapon training, use [ ˣ ] to denote where the level-up came into use. This is to make sure you're not underpowering or overpowering yourself. If you find yourself using "and" and not using the [ ˣ ], you may be overpowering.
GRADUATION EVALUATION: Your character got a free pass for being a Saint of Tower 9, but they had 3-4 years before that to really prove what they were like as an exorcist. This is so you can get an idea about the character's past. Once the RP is closed and ready to go, we'll discuss everyone's actions during the Night of 1000 Demons and what they learned that no one else really knows. So, don't include that for now. Think about everything else they've done.
RELATIONSHIPS: This character is old enough, I'd hope, to have formed relationships outside of immediate family and school friends. Feel free to include a husband/wife/spouse, kids, ex, boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other, in-laws, employers, etc. You can make these characters NPCs, but if you want to leave it open to say that maybe you married a fellow classmate or a fellow classmate is your ex, then put OPEN. This will allow people to build relationships with their alumni into yours. Or, one of the new students can be your kid. You cannot play the parent to your student, but that's all I'll not allow. Besides incest. PLEASE DON'T. And don't get upset if no one bites; we all have different ideas for our characters. Maybe someone can make an NPC for you to play opposite that character. - Yes, your character may die. They may run out of health (see "How to Play" to fully understand that), or they may go out narratively in a big bang. Don't be afraid to kill your character off. The rate of exorcists' death is high for a reason. This may happen to your student or your alumni (though I would ask that you avoid killing both of them off simultaneously.) The world is fraught with danger, and not everyone makes it out unscathed.
STUDENT: Obviously, you'll be entering in a new student. All the same rules apply to them, with the exception of their power levels. You'll get to transfer all your points over to the new character. And if you don't want the same layout as before, you can perform a point exchange to change them up. This is the ONLY time I will allow this. So these values only apply to this:
- Your Aspect Points, whether you spent them on the level or the individual power, are 1:1. So if you want a character that is less powerful or more powerful in their aspect, you can move the level bar up and down however you want. Levels 3-6 are free, but you have to spend points to make it any higher. And the initial aspect powers still get 1 free point. So, yes, you can be a Level 3 and max out an aspect power if you have the points. I don't care.
- Your Tradition and Weapon Points are similar. You calculate them as you would in the beginning and have a free point in 1 tradition and 1 point in the weapon. Then, you can add your extra points as you see fit. The previous Tradition points don't have to go into Tradition; they can also go into Weapon. They are a 1:1 value. But, if you want, you can spend 3 Tradition/Weapon Points for 1 Aspect Point.
ALUMNI: This is where it gets a bit more tricky. The Saints of Tower 9 were a finite number of people. You can't make a new Saint. That said, you can make an Alumni from a different graduating class. Just make sure the age reflects that. They can be before or after when the Saints graduate. Or, they are an outside exorcist that the Bellum Academy hired to teach, or they can be a theurgist filling in as a substitute. Theurgists are less powerful than Exorcists, as they represent the more bureaucratic nature of the pantheon. They may have more power in the ruling structure, but they have less power in fights.
- If you decide to play another Alumni or exorcist, use the initial setup to create a new one. Since your Saint character didn't get any upgrades, this one won't either, so it's very straightforward.
- THEURGIST: They usually have an unactivated aspect level of 1 and 2. They do have vis, as that makes them divine, and so they can use traditions without any issues. So, we're going to make some changes to the character sheet. Change the "ASPECT" to "CONTROL", and then list what they have control over in the bureaucratic nature of the Theurgy. Think of it as any other office job, but with the added specialization of vis and a small military. Remove "TRIGGER," and then choose their level in the management chain. You will do the same to the empty boxes, making them into traditions. The marked boxes will be treated like the aspect ones; every 3 gets you a new bureaucratic power. You can't be Level 10, but have fun with anything else. Everything else is the same, but for "Graduation Evaluation," take out "Graduation" and treat it like a work eval.
FATE POINTEveryone has a limit of 5 FATE SLOTS, and they cannot be reduced or added onto during the RP. That being said, the number of FATE points you have, and the LOST FATE you have will vary. You spend FATE points to win battles or come out on top of situations, making them LOST FATE. You can only spend what FATE you have in FATE SLOTS, with one MAJOR exception, which we'll get to later. When confronted with a scene with many enemies, everyone can throw their FATE in to win a fight. Different enemies have different amounts of FATE that it takes to beat them. This allows you to spend fate, and then narratively write out how the fight goes out without my input. I'll set up the enemies, and you can write about how the fight goes. The only exceptions are enemies with human intelligence. We'll have some back and forth, but I'll honor your spending fate. You can also use it in situations that are perilous and otherwise would be inescapable without expending power/prowess. I'll prompt you guys for this as well, and you can spend your FATE and write how your character saves the day.
LOST FATE
How do you gain FATE? You lose. Your characters aren't the shonen main characters; they'll have situations that they're ill-prepared for. So, if you're running low on FATE, and you worry about not having enough for the episode's boss, you can choose to lose a few smaller fights to gain back tokens. No matter how much FATE an enemy costs to defeat, gaining back FATE is always ONE point per LOSS.
You can also use your FATE points to "level up" your character's powers. This is the trading rate for them: - 3 FATE points to level up a Weapon/Tradition and add something extra you can do with it.
- 4 points to add a new tradition, which automatically gives you one point in that tradition.
- 5 points for 1 Health.
- You cannot gain Aspect Points from this. They will instead be rewarded in a different way to show narrative growth.
So, how does using them in battle level out? At the beginning of a scene with bad guys, I'll explain how many there are and what power level they are. I'll give a few examples below, and for the most part, the RP will follow this except for bosses and special characters.Don't worry; you won't take any health damage from losing a battle against enemies with 2 tokens or less.The characters in that scene will lay out how many tokens they want to spend on which bad guy and if they want to lose and have someone come from behind them and clean up. Then, you guys describe how the scene goes with your corresponding monster. There may also be other things happening simultaneously that you are better outfitted for than the monsters. You can win/lose with that as well. You can also combine with other players to achieve the amount of tokens. Say an enemy costs 3 FATE; you can have three characters donate 1 and then collaborate. Or one donate 2, and the other one donate 1 and write a collaboration that way.
I ask that you put the fate count somewhere in your post. Here's some coding for both the graphics or if you want to use simple symbols:
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LARGER ICONS
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Code:[img]https://i.imgur.com/FlQ0soZ.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/veDVBmb.png[/img]
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SMALLER ICONS
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Code:[img]https://i.imgur.com/HgJ0VTF.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/qiIgJBa.png[/img]
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SIMPLE SYMBOLS
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● ●Code:[size=6][color=#e8682c]●[/color][/size] [size=6][color=#121c57]●[/color][/size]
HEALTHDeath can happen in a few different ways. It can happen in an unfortunate situation where you are not prepared or in a valiant one where you sacrifice everything to win. It helps you tell a story by giving you a finite resource and the wherewithal to use it. Mostly, it's to create consequences for blowing through your FATE or steamrolling ahead to something far more dangerous than you can't handle alone.
HEALTH DAMAGE
Everyone gets 3 health points; these cannot be added to or reduced in any way. Each point equals a different level of damage. - 1 DAMAGE = Superficial Wound: This does require time to heal, but you can keep moving with it. It doesn't leave a mark afterward.
- 2 DAMAGE = Serious Wound: Something that you have to receive immediate medical care for, and will be evident for the rest of your life. (i.e., missing limbs/fingers, eyes, a nasty scar messing up your face/body)
- 3 DAMAGE = Fatal Wound: you are dying from this. You may have time to say your goodbyes, but your character is gone.
How do you gain health back? I covered this partially in FATE, but basically, you have to spend 5 FATE points OR, if you don't have those points, an episode recovering. With Superficial Wounds, you can keep going without the rest or point expenditure, but you will need to do that to eventually get the point back. With Serious Wounds, you HAVE to spend the points, or the next episode WILL be a rest episode. This is why you have two characters.
If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I'll warn you before you get into these situations at the beginning of the RP, but as we play, it'll be up to you to gauge that. Much like the FATE tokens, I ask you to keep track of these as well and put them on your post.
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LARGER ICONS
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Code:[img]https://i.imgur.com/CwCicLt.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/irpRLPa.png[/img]
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SMALLER ICONS
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Code:[img]https://i.imgur.com/2hDcxPP.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/0lhVfK5.png[/img]
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SIMPLE SYMBOLS
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● ●Code:[size=6][color=#1282f4]●[/color][/size] [size=6][color=#b71f25]●[/color][/size]
- This is the basic structure of the RP. I'm a visual medium sort of person, so this helps me out. But I'll still go over it to clarify. Basically, it's to keep the structure of the RP regimented so you know what is to be expected next. This is to allow you to plot as much as you want ahead.
Yes, I realize that shonen arcs are usually not 4 episodes, but an episode is also 30 minutes. Posts will, unfortunately, take more than 30 minutes. Each episode has a beginning, middle, boss, and a breather for the characters to discuss what has happened. And at the 3rd episode, the end will be capped off by an Arc Boss who will be important to the overall story/character story. After that, there will be a downtime where you can do whatever you want with your characters.
Each episode will involve a different layout of characters; the first episode will include the students and one alumnus. The alumni are to act like "teachers" or "chaperones." This will rotate between everyone. Your student character will be absent during this. Don't worry; they're doing stuff in the background. The next episode is all students and usually a continuing/escalation of what happened the previous episode. In the last episode, you can use whatever character you choose, as the episodes have escalated to something involving a mix. The last episode is however many scenes you want in your downtime to do whatever you want. I may change the structure for a few arcs, but that's the basic gist. Now, let me break down each scene.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FOURTH EPISODE? The reason I put Individual on it is while everything is done with a group and in a group in the previous episodes, this is you picking your student or alumni and doing whatever the fuck you want to do for a few scenes. I say one or the other, not to burn you guys out. Now, you can use both of them, but I expect the same amount of output. You don't have to do both, but you HAVE to do one. If you want to do some character collabs with me in this episode, I'd be down. That said, I don't think I'd be available for anyone. So, do shonen filler shit like having a beach party or a ski trip. AT THE END OF THE ARC EVERYONE GETS AN ASPECT POINT.
RULE 1.
Follow the RPN rules.
RULE 2. This RP will involve some mature subject matter, and while I can't confirm everyone's ages, I ask that you be 18+ to join this game. That being said, the game will not be breaking any of RPN's rules. There will be nothing of a sexual nature in the game, but there will be gore and discussion of trauma and mental health. Nothing of the former will be classified as extreme, but if you don't like reading about blood and viscera, this might not be the RP for you. As this is a horror shonen, first and foremost. If you can handle everything in JJK, Chainsaw Man, and Hell's Paradise, you're good here.
RULE 3. This RP will use a Discord server for plotting, chatting, notices, and mechanics. The same rules as above apply there. Please join and participate. I will put forth things to keep people engaged, but I ask that you check in regularly. This is especially required when spending and using FATE, as it will be applied here.
RULE 4. Please put your character sheets in the OOC for approval. While you don't have to submit them simultaneously, I will not judge them until you post your student and alumni sheet. If approved, I'll ask you to put them in the Character Thread.
RULE 5. In regards to AI art: I'm fine with you using it with the heavy caveat that you couldn't find anything that would work for your idea. I understand that a lot of traditional art, especially in the style and theme of this RP, doesn't include POCs, different body types, different gender expressions, or physical handicaps. So, I'm open to using AI if it allows you to make a character that you feel comfortable RPing. I've used a mixture of it and traditional art for this RP. But I have no intention of monetizing it or using it to diminish an artist's exposure. This RP is just for fun.
RULE 6. I ask that if you use div coding, that you make an effort to make it readable. No tiny tiny fonts or hard-to-read colors on top of pictures. I already fried my eyes by playing too many video games; I don't need to fry them anymore.
RULE 7. This is a collaborative RP, first and foremost. There is no MC in this shonen world, and so I ask that you come into the RP with that mindset. Everyone will be given a chance to shine, but you are not the best there ever was. This is why I hashed together the FATE system. That being said, let me know if you need help with collaborating and being a part of the group, I'll more than happy help in this regard. And it should go without saying, no lone wolf characters, istfg.
RULE 8. Every scene will be open for 2 weeks. After that, the next scene will happen. If you don't post in that time, your character automatically loses whatever situation they were in and is removed from the episode. If I don't hear from you and you don't post for an entire episode, your characters will be killed off, and you'll be put on probation. After that, if I don't hear from you in another month, you will be removed. Now, if you aren't able to post and let me know, you and your character will just be put on hiatus. We all need to go on vacations or have some mental health downtime. The max this hiatus can go is an entire Arc. After that, you'll be removed from the RP, but you can ask to join back in without any hard feelings.
RULE 9. Don't be a dick and have fun.
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ANGELS
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ANGELIC PACTS
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ASPECT
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DEMONS
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DIVINE
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EXORCISTS
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LUMEN
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MIASMA
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ORACLES
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PANTHEON
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THEURGISTS
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TOWERS
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UMBRA
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VIS
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