Euclid Leaf
Metamorphasis, Genesis, Metastasis
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Character Applications & Information
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The Knights of Dusk are a venerated order that has existed ever since the God of Sunlight had created and nestled the golden Flameheart into the sky centuries ago. The massive beacon, practically an artificial sun, exudes the sacred light necessary to deter the Fallen and prevent the ever-growing darkness from consuming the very last kingdom in existence. Knowing they cannot protect everyone at once, the Aspects gathered followers and helpers to their cause, enlisting their chosen into the honored knighthood and their auxiliary branches. To uphold the dying lineage of the Cardinal, this is a knight's noble purpose and fate.
There are three main chapters are as follows:
The Knights of Dusk; the namesake of the order and most numerous, the knights are valiant warriors who face the wretched Fallen that threaten the borders of the dusty castle-state Ciro. Their most precious tools are their heart and body, their most trusted weapons being simple faith and valiance. Of course their function goes beyond that. Trained in a martial form that draws from a school of Arcana, a melee 'Style' is derived. This results in fluent casting that compliments their more physical-based prowess, as apposed to their than ranged counterparts. Some examples are coating a blade in fire or erecting small earthen walls on the battlefield.
The Circle of Maegus; scholars who research Aether and had formulated the knowledge upon which the art-forms of Aether were designed themselves. Members of this field specialize in learning the inner workings of Arcana, and as a result, are able to cast more intricate spells through the use of 'Runes', ancient symbols imbued with power. Though this usually requires a lengthy set-up time, their arcana features extensive range and wide areas of effect. Their focus on learning and perfecting form has left them more frail than the others, but don't let this fool you. Sources possess strength and speed many times more potent than ordinary people due to their kindled Soul, trained or not.
The Institution of Alchemy; comprising of those who toil away with metal and crystals, repairing and mimicking the impressive technologies of the past. Their experimentation is similar to the Circle of Maegus, but Alchemists lack the affinity to Aether as the others do, using what little they have to harness their equipment. As a result, Alchemists dabble more with objects that imbued with traces of Aether, dubbed 'Catalysts', rather than the living essence itself and are often regarded as the engineers of the order. While these often yield devastating results, the power conduits need to be recharged periodically in order to be made of use.[/border]
Aether and the 'link' that the Cardinals used to possess with this living essence has declined drastically since the apocalyptic Eclipse. Once something that can be pulled from all around, can only be pulled from deep within; the Soul. Since this type of Aether is more complicated and difficult to use, and due to the 'Gift of Gods' fading away, only a 'flicker' can activate this dormant 'source'. Emotions are a central in the method of invoking such miracles, and being able to control them. Only by drawing from strong and powerful emotions can one manifest the Aether produced within one's Soul, the intention being the other half by which to control the effects. As such, a 'flicker', otherwise an event of trauma or intense emotion is needed to spark the ancient power within.
Those who are able to use such powers do so with a price.
To create the destructive spells by which to maim 'The Fallen', one must call upon intense emotions, hatred and spite being prime ingredients. A vessel of emotion and thought, the act of killing and witnessing death never leaves the Soul. First is the toll to the mind, then slowly, the body begins to change. As though reflecting their waning mentality, the negative Aether building up within begins to transform these individuals.
Blackened eyes and blood, malignant growths, and with severe cases, extreme bone structural reformation; these are all common side effects of the Demonization process. Named after the similar transformation of ghosts into evil and malicious spirits, souls who cannot pass on to the afterlife due to unresolved wishes and attachments to this world.
Soon enough, these warriors become what they strive so long to fight. This horrendous finality is what makes the populous of this world both fear and praise any such sources and their powerful gift.
To fight this world's monsters, one must make a sacrifice. Their humanity.
Several of the Cardinal races and bloodlines have been lost, either destroyed during the War of Crowns, or hunted mercilessly in the dark tide of the Eclipse. Those who survived are nowhere near being blessed. The remnants Cardinals are but a shadow of their former selves, many of which, live in harsh conditions underneath the tremendous castle-state known as Ciro. Very few can still draw power from Aether, but those who can are referred in honor to as 'Sources', and are fervently sought after to be enlisted into the Order of Dusk.
Humanity; Once a grand and powerful people, the descendants of this race have long forgotten their lineage and mantle. The glorious nation that stretched from sea to sea now lies rotting in the darkness, their prized relics and knowledge lost and forgotten. As many of the other Cardinals, the gift of gods has slowly drained from their blood, and for centuries now, have spent their lives praying for protection from the living 'Gods', hobbling in constant fear of the Fallen who hunt all life outside the walls. Though reduced to a pale vestige of their former glory, humans are a hardy race, and though often selfish, history has shown that when banded together they are capable of practically anything.
Xanara; A race that some say were once actually human, who dedicated their lives to protecting the lush groves and forest surrounding the World Tree. Their time with nature has shifted their appearance to mix with that of the wild, some bearing fangs and ears like a wolf and others scales like a lizard. While their numbers are drastically lower than that of other races, they possess naturally robust physical traits. Though prone to work on instinct rather than thought, they are renown for exotic talents and making great adventurers. In their time away from their homelands, many have devolved to appear more like their human counterparts, though many still retain their animistic characteristics.
Fae'il; No information of the race can be pulled from recent history, the mythical people having withdrew from the world many years ago. A few olden tales tell of their graceful beauty and absolute dominance over Aether, being the ones who created the enigmatic and chaotic landmass known as the Shattered Isles. Only on very rare days, and then, only for very brief moments, can their magnificent floating castle be seen hovering like a needle in the clear sky. A place untouched by darkness.
It is said that Aether existed before the Gods awoke. They used this essence to create life and the universe, and thus, it is very the force of creation itself.
The revered essence has been a major point of interest since the beginning of our prolonged history. Control over the knowledge and use of Aether has caused both the rapid rise and fall of our grand civilizations. Once an ability used by all, the current strain of Aether pales in comparison to our ancestors, both of the trait itself fading from our bloodlines, and plain ignorance, places containing such knowledge razed and forgotten through the ruthless ages.
Due to sources drawing from power harbored within their Souls, conduits of emotion, the appearance of Aether may differ from person to person. While these quirks are mostly cosmetic, there have been rare cases of augmented or changed effects. Only a few have been witnessed in the passing centuries. Basic forms of harnessed Aether generally materializes as one of the core elements. More experienced users are able to combine these elements together to create more complicated forms and uses. The Schools of Arcanus, while ancient and more proper teachings have been lost, with the divine knowledge endowed within each of the Aspects, they have been reformed and gradually updated as more is uncovered from ruins.
Ingis (fire), Ventus (air), Kori (ice), and Terra (earth), are fields of Arcana centered around direct combat, while users of Lunaris(moon) focuses on blessing(buffing) and healing. Intent plays a large role on how Aether is used, such as violent thoughts instigating destructive forces or more calm emotions forming protective barriers of wind, for example.
There were once dozens of specialized schools, advanced forms of Arcana, but many of their teachings and methods have been lost in the chaotic ages. The sole specialized school remaining is Alchemy, an alternate form of Terra, which focuses more on Metalworking and use of catalysts, artificial and natural sources of Aether.
The rarest forms of Arcana are 'Ancient Bloodlines', special abilities passed down genetically. Only those belonging to one the noble families possess such traits, considered to possess the oldest link of human ancestry.
None of your characters will possess any of these (Ancient Bloodlines), sorry! Maybe in the future?
A side note: due to their kindling of the Soul, most sources no longer bleed blood when wounded, but rather Aether itself. Naturally, they have a layer of Aether imbued in their skin that makes them more resistant to damage, think of it like a magical force-field or sorts! 'Blood' could simply be streaks of fire, as per for someone who has affinity to Ignis, but feel free to make one up!
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-Character Sheets-
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(This is just a basic skeleton to use. Feel free to make the sheet look like whatever you want! I have no real preference over the matter. Just don't make it hard to read, please! Important Note; in order to maintain the central 'Grim' theme of this RP, and my wish to make a dynamic experience, any and all decisions will have meaningful impact. Act poorly and your character will be punished in one way or another. Too many mistakes might even result in death. You have been warned.)
Name/Alias:
Age:
Race: (Human or Xanara.)
Appearance: (A short description is necessary, a picture is purely optional but is always a good addition. I prefer if you were using images that they be illustrated or drawn pictures, for the sake of theme. Anime or realistic, is fine, but NO photos of real people. Sorry!)
Personality: (Doesn't have to be long.)
Chapter: (Knight, Maegus, or Alchemist.)
Aether/Arcana: (Skip for Alchemists, unless wishing to create a character who uses Arcana Alchemy. PM for more info.)(A description of what your character Aether's appears manifested into the physical world. This could be anything from streams of pink colored fire, to hazy smoke plumes flowing from their body when blessing their bodies with extra power. Refer to the tab above called 'Schools of Aracanus' for additional information.
If anyone has any questions regarding unique ideas, run them by me and I will try to work it into the lore and setting.)
Weapons/Special items: ('Special Items' is for Alchemists, who are known to have a large array of machines they employ for battle, ranging from flame propelled armor pieces, to their infamous 'arcane weaponry', armaments capable of utilizing concentrated beams of destructive Aether. Quick and powerful, but taxing to the user.)
Backstory: (The usual.)
Miscellaneous Information: (whatever final comments you want to make about your character.)
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