Fantasy Paragons

[ARSENIC]

Highly interested. Eager to dive right in once this gets fully fleshed out.

 

[Enkerzed]

@Kazehana Hey, thanks for the show of interest. To answer your questions:

1. Simply put, the beastfolk are descendants of shapeshifter tribes who identified themselves by the animals whose forms they took, so they're about as diverse as the entire animal kingdom.


2. That bit about their lifespan actually applies to all types of elves, not just the drows. So all elves (except for half breeds) can basically live forever if they're never short of mana. There are indeed certain differences between subraces asides from skin colour, eg. drows have better nightvision than any other type of elf, but for the most part it's just a slight difference in average heights and physical features. Only the beastfolk have the greatest degree of differences due to their sheer diversity.


3. Water vapor is still water, it's just light enough to float in air, so a hydromancer would be able to manipulate clouds by controlling the water vapors directly and an aeromancer can do the same by manipulating the air around them. When it comes to the mana arts, it's all about application. Elemental overlap will occur and it's up to mages to take advantage of them where they can.


4. I'll answer with an example. Although pyromancers are able to control fire, they would still be able to use items that are enchanted with pyromancy as well as any other element. The reasons for using enchanted items of the same element are many: conserving mana, producing a certain type of effect that you don't know how to do, because it's quicker and more convenient to use the item than to cast magic, it's something to fall back on when you use up your mana, etc. Again, it's all about application. That said however, a mage and anyone else for that matter would actually have to know how to infuse an item with ki to use enchanted objects. Although this is very beginner level stuff, not everyone is going to know how to do it and mages usually develop their ki just to learn this basic technique. Being able to live indefinitely however, any mage would have all the time in the world to master both the mana arts and ki, they just won't ever be able to use both at the same time.


5. All crests follow the same design, so yes, they all have the same shape. They can be worn as a badge, an armband, embedded in armour or simply carried in a pocket. By default however, they are given as silver chained pendants.


If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask.

@Saccharine Cyanide Yes.


@AceOfSpades0210 To cut a long story short, real life happened. For a not-so-good long while, I didn't feel like doing much writing or anything else for that matter, but that won't be a problem anymore.

And that concludes our Q&A sessio- nah, I'm just kidding. Anyone else wanna ask anything, just fire away. Still ironing out some bits of lore, so any and all questions about the rp are very much welcome.

 

[Kazehana]

So, this definitely raises further questions.  I'm gonna let the beastfolk thing be just because you haven't written that part so it's a bit redundant to ask.  But about the ki thing.  From the explanation, it looks a bit like it's reserved for augmenting personal characteristics, mostly physical.  Is it also other various forms of magic?  I feel a lil knitpicky but at the same time, this seems like kind of a big deal to me.


I promise I'm not this obnoxious aside from my ability to harp on small details

 

[Enkerzed]

Relax, it's no trouble at all. Ki magic is indeed used for augmenting physical attributes, but there's a lot more to it than I've already written. Ki can be used to heal wounds and injuries faster (either your own or other people's) and as well as enhancing the user's own body, ki energy can be transferred to objects such as enchanted items to activate them or simple weapons to strengthen them, depending on the material they're made of. Eg. In the hands of a ki master, even a blade of grass can be used as a sword. With an actual sword, one would be able to cut down trees like grass. Ki can also be used to deliver a more powerful blow with an arrow or thrown spear, though all ki infusion requires physical contact with the object, so the same can't be done with firearms or crossbows as they rely more on mechanics than manual handling. Being able to infuse weapons with ki is particularly important for Paragons when it comes to fighting the threats beyond the wall and although ki infusion is a basic technique, it takes a lot of raw power for it to be effective, which is going to take a long time to develop. There's also the matter of focusing ki into a weapon but leaving your body unprotected, or using ki to defend yourself against an attack but leaving the weapon vulnerable to shattering. Basically, it's a matter of power allocation. Want to punch through a rock? Focus ki through fist. Want to jump off a mountain and survive the fall? Legs. Run faster? Same. Cut through steel? Weapon. Of course, some ki would have to be used for the rest of the body to prevent any muscles (or bones) from going bust in any of those examples, but where the majority goes is what determines the power of the effect you want to achieve.

There might actually be more for me to write about ki later on, but I'll get to that when it's time to tidy up and get all this lore organized. There's also a chance I might miss a few things or not take them into consideration at all until someone else brings it up, so if you have anymore questions, please don't hesitate to ask. They're as helpful to me as they are to you and if you haven't noticed already, I like harping on small details   Trust me, I don't think it's obnoxious at all.

 

[Kazehana]

So it can be used on other people? What are the limitations for that?

 

[Enkerzed]

For starters, you would be able to give others a temporary boost to their strength, but that takes away from your own power. As mentioned before, using any ki on anyone or anything requires direct physical contact so that needs to happen first before anything else. Another limitation would be the user's own level of ki power. Can't do much without at least a decade of rigorous training. Now when it comes to healing, all that happens is the body's natural recovery process being sped up using the healer's ki as an energy source, which is useful for traumatic and minor wounds, but not so much if poison or some other nasty stuff is involved. So basically, anything above cuts and broken bones is beyond a ki healer's abilities. Let's see what else... with everything already mentioned, mind control could be a possibility, but again, physical contact is required and it'd be really hard to do anyway. Master level stuff at least. Asides from all that, I suppose the only limitations left is down to level of skill, power, knowledge and resourcefulness. Like the mana arts, it's all about application. If there's anything you can do on yourself with ki, you can probably also do to others. I would add one more detail I came up with just now, ki directed externally (towards people/objects) is always weaker than if it was directed internally, which means healers would have a better time healing themselves and others, Paragons could give themselves a better power boost than others, and so on and so forth.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

This is an absolutely wonderful idea for a roleplay and I would love to be a part of it. The lore is amazing and I am sincerely waiting for more content.


I do have some questions though. What passive benefits can a mage gain from magic and what can a ki user gain from ki? Also, say I want to be an aspiring mage who wants  to use both magical arts and ki, is it possible? For example, I use wind magic to propel myself forward like a bullet and, before I hit whatever it is I aim to hit, I immediately cease magic and use ki on my fist to punch through. Would that be possible?

 

[doneanddusted]

The amount of detail in this is amazing 

 

[Enkerzed]

@CrimsonEclipse Any mage will live indefinitely so long as they have mana, but only elves will stop physically aging at a certain point. Other races will simply continue to age in appearance, albeit at a slower rate than normal (but this is just so you can have old wizardy characters if you want). That's pretty much it when it comes to passive benefits for mages. For ki users, they can train their bodies to increase their base durability, strength and senses as well as their lifespan, so even without focusing ki energy for a specific purpose, a ki user is still naturally powerful. As for using both magic and ki, that is quite possible. In fact, some of the oldest mages are also the most powerful ki masters, but that's only because they had all the time in the world to master both. For anyone less than at least two centuries old, they're more likely to be a jack-of-all, master-of-none kind of deal. Only half as strong as a specialist of either type of magic. So unless your mage is at least a veteran, their punch isn't going to have much, well, punch. For Paragons in general, going down this path is very unpopular since having more raw power is favored over having more tricks up your sleeve when it comes to fighting monsters, so a character like that would certainly be acceptable but won't be very popular among their comrades.

 

[Enkerzed]

So uh, I'm not sure how many of you are aware of this but I already made the main thread for the rp at pretty much the same time I made this thread. Just still gotta hammer out those details before we can begin. For now though, there's the OOC thread.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

@Enkerzed So if my character chooses to go down the path of being  bot  a mage and a ki user, he/she will probably be a bit discriminated against right? Might be good for a backstory though. 


So would he/she be able to have both the passive benefits of magic and ki? Also, how is the relationship between races?

 

[Enkerzed]

Discriminated among fellow Paragons at any rate. Just gotta remember, ki is also a form of magic and anyone could learn to use it, but only mages are born with the ability to control the elements with mana. As for the relationship between races, it varies. Wars have always been fought and not just between different races, but also different tribes, societies, orders, religions and other groups. Basically, it's complicated and I'll let everyone come up with their own stories about where their characters came from and what it was like there. As a Paragon however, what you were in the past doesn't matter anymore... or isn't supposed to anyway.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

How exactly can one become a Paragon anyway? Can you apply for the position or are you going to be selected through some process?

 

[Enkerzed]

Hahahaha, no, nothing like that. It's literally as simple as being picked by another Paragon. Maybe you have the right temperament or the right skills, or did a certain thing to catch a Paragon's eye. Whatever it is, that Paragon decided you ought to be one as well. Paragons usually only travel the land of Tirn in search of apprentices and when they find one (or a few), they pass on their knowledge and skills, and send the apprentice(s) to the wall for further training. It's usually the veterans who do this after retirement as a final duty to the wall, but Paragons on leave can also spend their time this way. In any case, apprentices usually spend a bit of time training before being sent to the wall and then even more time when they get there, usually under the wing of whoever brought them there in the first place or a Paragon who's on sentinel duty at the time (though the keepers themselves could take apprentices if they wanted to). The training for either a mage or a ki user is hard and rigorous, but the real test is when apprentices go on their first mission as a ranger and fight against their first monster. Even afterwards however, an apprentice has not yet graduated unless their mentor decides they have (and if their mentor dies before that can happen, they are simply assigned another). Apprentices could stay apprentices for years or decades before their mentor is confident enough that they can manage themselves. At anytime however, it could also be decided whether an apprentice will never be fit to become a Paragon and are therefore given the option of returning home or helping in a different way. This usually only ever happens when an apprentice's strength and skills stops improving or just isn't good enough, or after making too many mistakes. Whatever the reason, it's the keeper who makes the final call and should an apprentice be given a second chance, they're expected to make good on it since there won't be a third.

Keep it up with the questions guys, this is really helpful stuff!

 

[EMP]

Does the 'jack-of-all, master of none' apply to the Elements? Can a character be adept with all 4? Do the elements have a mind of their own? A consciousness perhaps, and if so, can we communicate with them.

 

[Kazehana]

Do you have a CS template?

 

[Keidivh]

Hey I gotta say this looks incredibly interesting and I'd love to join this! One question I have right now, I'm sure there'll be more, I know that Ki mainly focuses on enhancing physical capabilities, but can mana abilities enhance you as well? For example say I'm a geomancer, could I infuse my character with the strength/durability of a mountain?


also how big a roll will the other nations play? Like if war break sour between two, could Parahons interfere?


another also, could we help in creating some background for races/nations? Cause I have a couple ideas for dwarves, per your approval of course!

 

[Enkerzed]

@EMP Short answer, no. To all of your questions. Long answer, a mage can only control the element they are born with, so a pyromancer can only use fire, a hydromancer can only use water, etc. and the elements are simply that. Fire is fire, water is water, air is air, earth is earth, nothing more, nothing less. There are however creatures known as elementals that exist beyond the wall, but this term usually describes monsters that can also use mana to control the elements. Oh, that's another thing. Just like people, monsters can use mana and ki as well, so fighting monsters is always going to be an interesting experience. How about that, eh.


@Kazehana Not yet.



@Keidivh To answer your first question, no.

To answer your second question, not much to be honest. As far as the Paragons are concerned, the only policy regarding the world behind the wall is to never interfere. To them, the land of Tirn is just a recruiting ground and no matter what happens back home, protecting the wall comes first. Unless monsters have somehow made it passed and go about trampling all over the place, the Paragons don't care. Retired veterans could do something if they wanted to, but that'd be none of anyone's business on the wall. That said though, some will feel a particular way about there being trouble back home, but first they'd have to even hear about it (life on the wall is far removed from everywhere else) and second, they'd have to use the wind portal to get there and there's no way they can do that without the gatekeeper and the keepers' say so. Even if they manage to do all that though, they won't be allowed to return to the wall since the rule is ironclad. A Paragon who cares more about their home village or whatever than the security of the entire land of Tirn is simply unfit to be a Paragon any longer. Anyone breaks that rule, their connection to the wall gets cut and their crest becomes nothing more than a trinket. It's a pretty big deal.

And for your last question, most of what I write on the races and nations of Tirn will be just broad general statements about them, so it's up to you to come up with the particulars about wherever your character came from. No approval of ideas needed. That comes with writing their backstory and whether I actually approve your character. Just make sure that anything relating to the established lore is accurate and there should be no problems.
 



Now to everyone, I'm sorry for being slow with updating info on the races and such. To be honest, I don't get a lot of time in my day to do rp stuff and I've been spending most of that time answering questions, which I did ask for. Now don't get the wrong idea, all these questions are very helpful for hammering out them details and anyone who's been following will pretty much be up to speed when the rp is finally ready to go, but it is eating into work on the rp itself so ladies, gentlemen, please, one at a time.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

@Enkerzed Hey man no problem. Just take your time. The concept of the rp is so good that it'S worth the wait.


i have Nother question though. Do Paragons,or anyone else for that matter, ever explore beyond the walls? Kinda like in AoT or GoT? Also, is there any possibilities of anyone livig beyond the wall? And, lastly, just out of curiosity, does the wall even have a gate/passageway or are they just locked up inside?

 

[Dapper Bunny]

This sounds incredibly detailed and I would love to join in if there is still room for more.


I do have one question, are there other types/schools of magic than the elemental ones? Just curious. (Apart from Ki)


Apart from that, I have quite some ideas for a character to this!

 

[Yennie]

You're going pretty in depth with the lore and everything for this roleplay so it's unsurprising that it's taking time to setup


Just keep me posted when things really get rolling!

 

[Enkerzed]

@CrimsonEclipse Allow me to illustrate. You're a Paragon. You're one of the mightiest beings in all of Tirn and fighting fearsome creatures like this:

Spoiler

- is your daily grind. After a while, you fear nothing and no one, but the second you step foot outside the range of your tower's scrying pool and get nothing when you try to communicate with the folks back on the wall, you get scared. For the first time you realize that you're all alone out there and so long as you remain in the unknown reaches of dark space, your crest - badge and main tool of the trade - remains useless and there's no telling what you'll encounter. For all you know, there's a creature out there somewhere in the colossal world of Ith that can dwarf the size and power of anything you've faced before, maybe even the wall itself. Do you dare attract its attention? Do you dare risk putting the land of Tirn in such great danger? You do not, so you go back. Back within sight of your tower's scrying pool, back within range of communication, back to the distance where you can return to the wall in the mere blink of an eye by activating your crest, back to the relative safety of at least knowing where all the monstrous creatures are in the land beyond the wall. If however you are foolhardy enough to go even further beyond, then gods willing you will never be heard from again, lest you return... and something dangerous follows you back.

Would it be possible to live beyond the wall? Yes, but of course it'd be extremely dangerous. All the races of Tirn are descended from those who use to wander the world of Ith and in that time, everyone was a born ki user with natural Paragon level strength. Not out of any training or study, but merely out of necessity for simply existing and surviving such a dangerous life. Even so however, they were among the weakest races of Ith and it wasn't until the construction of the wall that any kind of safety was actually known, which brings us to the current setting of the rp. Most of the civilized races now live behind the wall, but of course there may be others dwelling in the land beyond, still living as the ancients did. The ones the Paragons would know about are either left alone or actually help out from time to time. It wouldn't be unusual for Paragons to recruit apprentices from such folk either. The ones out in dark space however, well, who knows? Maybe there's another land like Tirn somewhere in the opposite end of the world, but if there is, no one from Tirn has seen or heard of it yet. All that said, you could potentially have a character of a difference race from the ones on Tirn, but I would still have to like and approve it.




As for the wall, the answer to your question would be no. The wall is so tall and so immense, only the highest clouds can reach its peak (and don't forget, even the sky in the world of this rp is huge) and Mount Everest would only be large enough to form its base. The only way on and off the wall is through the wind portal in each tower, which are themselves great citadels (think Anor Londo if you Dark Souls). If required, one could descend from their tower to the top of the wall by escalator along with several others and their steed of choice. From there, it's at least a day's hard ride to the next tower, but from end to end, the wall could take weeks to travel, even with a flying mount. The wall itself is solid stone, with no hollow spaces except for the towers and anytime it suffers from any damage, it has to be repaired from the outside. An impossible task if not for geomancers.

@Dapper Bunny No.


@Blue Jay Will do.
 



Guys, c'mon. This is the opposite of one at a time. If you ask questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability, but just like in Skyrim, I can't ever seem to decline any. All these quests, y'know.

 

[Cybear]

I won't lie, this has definitely piqued my interest. However I'll admit that I am a bit worried for it. The concept is interesting, and so is the idea of badass beast slayers. The worry stems from the fact that these are badass beast slayers, and as such I fear that things will get too OP too quickly. Perhaps I skimmed over something, but right now the only drawback from using their magic is the inability to use Ki and Mana at the same time. Are there other drawbacks? Physical restraints? Mental restraints? I do apologize if this seems a bit blunt, though I definitely think you should incorporate some kind of system that dissuades people from attempting to be "all powerful".

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

@Enkerzed so basically there is no easy way to either leave or enter the wall? Also are there monsters inside the wall? Smaller and weaker the the ones beyond the walls, but still monsters?

 

[Enkerzed]

@Cybear Yeah, there already is such a system actually. Me. Come rp time, I'll let everyone come up with their own limitations and abilities for their characters, along with whatever general info I lay out in the lore, but the final hurdle will be my approval. If I don't like what I see, your character won't be accepted and that'll be that. For example and I'll quote myself a bit here to save some time

All the races of Tirn are descended from those who use to wander the world of Ith and in that time, everyone was a born ki user with natural Paragon level strength. Not out of any training or study, but merely out of necessity for simply existing and surviving such a dangerous life. Even so however, they were among the weakest races of Ith and it wasn't until the construction of the wall that any kind of safety was actually known, which brings us to the current setting of the rp.

Which basically means no matter how badass your Paragon is, there is most certainly a bigger fish out there that will require teamwork and strategy to overcome. Even the strongest Paragons are no more remarkable than the strongest termite to some of the creatures that exist in the world of this rp. Simply keep that in mind and I'll have no complaints. The very point of this rp is to have epic and badass characters, I welcome OP, but be sensibly so, eh. You'll take all the fun right out if you basically make your character One Punch Man.

@CrimsonEclipse Yes. There'd be things like dire wolves, griffons, dragons as big as Smaug, basically anything you would find in any standard fantasy type thing. Of course, all of them would pale compared to what you'll find beyond the wall. Krakens? More like cuttlefish. Giants? More like slightly taller dwarves (and there'll actually be more on that in the lore). You get the idea and here's the funny thing, most of them are domesticated in the land of Tirn. You want your Paragon to be a dragon rider? That's all well and good, but if your Paragon ain't as strong as the dragon, you might as well just be an annoying fly to whatever colossal creature you'll have to face.




My dudes, it's been a week and I still haven't finished writing about the orcs. Mercy please T_T