[M] The Tide of Thorns (OOC)

[TheDoctor]

Rated M for potential blood, gore, sexual themes, language, and drug use

IC Here

Beneath the earth there exist the Shards—tiny red energy-filled crystals that, while raw, can be deadly when exposed to without proper safety protection due to radiation. When humanity gained the ability to process and use them however, they became extraordinarily useful, powering countless civilizations and accelerating their rate of development. Shards became used to run engines, motors, and, of course, weapons.

Although they were used in many projectile and energy weapons, their real use came when used upon humans. By melting hundreds of Shards together and diluting the product with a heavy mixture of nickel and iron, it can become stable and inserted into the human body. This Splinter—needle-shaped and about the size of a standard pen—hovers four inches above the user’s left shoulder-blade and inserts itself entirely into the skin and flesh when triggered. This needle stops inches away from the user’s heart, but manages to establish a connection with the body’s various systems. The energy within the Splinter enhances particular aspects or talents of the user, providing a significant increase in productivity in that talent. Occasionally, a Splinter may provide a previously unknown or undiscovered skill or power. When not in use, the Splinter withdraws itself and hovers in its previous perch.

Then there is the Thorn, a red crystal sliver almost a foot in length consisting entirely of Shards fused together. This phenomenon has not been replicated by humankind simply because it is too unstable to create and far too deadly to insert into the human body. There are few times, however, when a Thorn develops for a human, an instance that has no rhythm or pattern. Instead of becoming entirely enveloped in the user’s flesh, the Thorn can only be submerged halfway, exposing the other half out of the user’s back. The Thorn touches the user’s heart physically, providing a much more strong and direct connection. This power far surpasses that which a Splinter can provide, accelerating the user’s talent or trait tenfold. When the Thorn perches itself above the user’s shoulder-blade, much like a Splinter would, it can hide itself within a separate pocket universe, revealing itself only immediately before lodging itself within the user and touching his or her heart.

The Empire of Varenn, under 53rd Empress Andrimet Varenn, controls one of the largest provinces in the world, Crucia. This is due to its harnessing of the power of the Shards, using manufactured Splinters to establish an army of super-soldiers. Crucia is divided into eight separate states, each of them ruled by one of Empress Andrimet’s children. The state of Gaios, which harbors many of the Empire’s Shard mines, is ruled by Princess Iria, Andrimet’s daughter, in the city of Ailith. Her hand is stronger than tempered steel, a rule that has lead to a both disciplined and abused people. Many of the population lost its will, deciding instead to find satisfaction in Princess Iria’s demands. However, a fraction of these people formed a fragile rebellion, titled the “Fractures of Justice.” But they are weak and losing the will to fight, and Princess Iria’s forces are rising in power...

More and more Thorns are beginning to appear with no clues as to why. The tide of the Shards grows ever stronger. A fragile air wanders over Crucia. Certain doom will soon fall upon the land.

Spoiler: Important Information on the Setting 

This RP takes place upon an alternate Earth with the natural environment more or less the same. Technology here has exceeded in some places and suffered in others. For example, rifles exist, some rapid-fire weapons exist (although no handheld ones do), large handguns exist, etc. Energy weapons exist, firing red bursts of Shard energy. Automated turrets exist. Moderate hover technology (ten feet off of the ground max, nothing higher) has been developed for transportation purposes. The Internet doesn't exist, but some large and clunky computational machines (computers) and networks exist. Instead of electricity, everything is powered by Shards. Many engines are replaced with cores of Shard instead, which can provide the same function without requiring fuel input.

The land that this takes place in is called Crucia, a country controlled by the Empire of Varenn. This Empire is ruled currently by 53rd Empress Andrimet Varenn. She has eight daughters called Princesses that rule over eight states of Crucia. The other states are not important (although may be mentioned). The one that this RP takes place in is called Gaios, and it is ruled by Princess Iria Varenn. She is known to rule with both harshness and wisdom, although many find her regime to be oppressive. However, many have submit to her rule and given up.

There is a small yet prominent rebellion force called the Fractures of Justice. They are viewed as terrorists by a large portion of the population, which is only partially untrue. The other much smaller portion of the population sees them as heroes and saviors. They conduct frequent raids on towns, villages, and supply lines to capture supplies and Splinters belonging to the Empire regardless of how they affect the people depending upon them. This group is lead by Keerin Celidor.

Spoiler: Rules (Please read carefully) 

1) Obey all RPA rules, which is a given

2) I, TheDoctor, am GM of this roleplay, so what I say goes. RedKayne and RisingPhoenix are the co-GMs. Listen to them too

3) Please use 3rd person POV in the IC

4) No godmodding or playing another person's character without their permission

5) If you want intimate romance, fade to black. If you wish to continue the scene in detail, then PM the other player and do it there, but please do not post it. We don't want to break any rules

6) If you will be going inactive, please let us know so that we can keep you in the game! If you suddenly vanish, I may have to dispose of your character (temporarily or permanently) to continue with the plot

7) Throughout this game, you will encounter other players' characters and NPCs. You might be doing a character vs character deal, but this is not a PvP roleplay. This is for the plot and for the characters, not necessarily the fights! The co-GMs and I have the right to alter the outcome of the fight for the benefit of the group as a whole

8) At least two literate paragraphs per post. This isn't too much to ask for, even when you have a writer's block. But remember, the more you write, the more that other players have to write off!

9) If you've got any ideas for the RP, feel free to post it in the OOC or send me a PM if you want a big reveal. Really, I'm open to ideas for your characters!

10) Have a blast. This should go without saying!

Spoiler: Important NPCs (Will be updated as the story progresses) 

Iria Varenn (More information coming)

Ardimet Varenn (More information coming)

Keerin Celidor (More information coming)

Spoiler: Character Skeleton 

Name:

Age:

Gender:

Appearance: (Picture, drawing or anime, with moderate description)

Personality: (At least a paragraph)

Shard Implant: (Thorn, Splinter, or N/A. If using Thorn or Splinter, explain what is enhanced)

Skills:

Weapon: (If applicable. If not, put N/A)

Allegiance: (Empire of Varenn, Fracture of Justice, or Neutral)

Bio: (Two or three paragraphs minimum)

My Characters:

Spoiler: Miraa Crite played by TheDoctor 

Name: Miraa Crite

Age: 19

Gender: Female

Appearance:

Spoiler: Miraa Appearance 

Miraa stands roughly at 5’7” and has a strong yet quite womanly physique. She covers this with a white button-down shirt, a collared zip-up navy jacket, a black scarf, black tight pants, and boots. Her eyes glimmer with a clear shade of emerald, and her hair, which descends past her jawline and has long bangs that sometimes cover up her left eye, is midnight black.

Personality: Miraa is a roguish woman, pursuing her own ambitions rather than that of the greater good for others. She is quite cocky and headstrong, believing that her own talents can surpass others in almost every way. This causes her to frequently loudmouth and taunt others. The exception to this is when she is taunted in return, to which she will usually respond with violence. Her fuse is short, and she is very much hot-headed.

Shard Implant: Thorn- Provides toughness and strength. Allows her to take many more blows than usual and deliver more powerful hits

Skills: Hand-to-hand combat, pickpocketing, very physically fit

Weapon: N/A

Allegiance: Neutral, but leans more towards the Fractures

Bio: Nobody taught Miraa how to properly behave while she grew up as an orphan in the city of Ailith. The caretakers of the orphanage were simply running the business for the benefits that the Empire provided, so the children of the orphanage ran rampant. Miraa eventually ran away at age eleven and joined a band of thieves who taught her the many things she didn’t learn from the orphanage, from reading and writing for forgery purposes to proper technique for rooftop running to—her personal favorite—fighting.

One night, however, on a major raid while Miraa was fifteen, the band of thieves used her as bait without her awareness, and before she knew it she was cornered by a pair of guards. They came very near to sexually assaulting her before a young man leaped in and helped her escape—a man with a Splinter.

Miraa came to know the Splintered man as Darmid. He took her under his wing after she initially resisted (before realizing that she had no home and this man meant her no harm) and let her stay with a group of misfits he lived with just outside of the city of Ailith. After an initial hostility, she fit in surprisingly well after a time and established a close connection to Darmid. He taught her how to protect herself against attackers and various other skills in miscellaneous combat. After a year, Miraa found herself falling in love with her mentor.

At the age of seventeen, Miraa willingly lost her virginity to Darmid. Their love seemed almost surreal to her, and she was happy with her choice. This was the first person who she had ever loved in her life, so it seemed only right in her eyes. One day, however, Darmid revealed that the band of misfits who they lived with were members of the Fractures of Justice…and he was a member as well. This was quite upsetting to Miraa, who had been lied to about the whole situation from the start. However, she eventually found it in her heart to forgive him.

Unfortunately, she never had the chance to tell him.

Darmid was captured when him and a group of Fractures attempted to hijack a Thorn being transported into Gaios, and the next day held his public execution. An execution that Miraa witnessed. She instantly fled from the Fractures of Justice back into the city of Ailith. She harbors a hatred of the Fractures for including Darmid in the first place, but she holds an even stronger hatred in her heart of Princess Iria and the Empire of Varenn.

Now she is nineteen and without a Splinter or (for now) Thorn to protect herself. Although she has moved on, she still has not forgiven those who have wronged her.

Spoiler: Eris Yvette played by TheDoctor 

Name: Eris Yvette

Age: 21

Gender: Male

Appearance:

Spoiler: Eris Appearance 

Eris has a tall, muscled and slender physique, standing at about six feet tall. His blonde hair is a bit on the longer side while still not descending past his ears, and his eyes are a golden-brown. He wears what is shown in the picture: a long black coat with gold trimming and the sleeves rolled up, black pants with a similar golden trimming, and black fingerless gloves and boots. He also has a long two-handed double edged sword with a Sharded pommel in a sheath upon his back. It is his uniform as Princess Iria’s Sword.

Personality: Eris is a solid man who has confidence in his abilities and loyalty and nothing more. This is not to be mistaken for arrogance or cockiness but simply a faith in himself and his senses. He is loyal to Princess Iria and none other, and he is willing to even break protocol if it means serving the Princess further. He is disciplined and follows the laws that he knows best, that is, the word of Princess Iria. However, he is known to crack a joke or two, despite his rather serious demeanor.

Shard Implant: Splinter of higher Shard concentration- Provides acceleration of swordsmanship. Enhances his senses and reactions, providing quicker and more accurate attacks and evades.

Skills: Swordplay

Weapon: Two-handed double edged sword powered by a cluster of Shards at the pommel. The energy from the Shards enhances the blade’s competence, making it stronger than standard metals and allowing it to cut through almost all materials

Allegiance: Empire of Varenn, directly to Princess Iria

Bio: As a child, Eris was raised to become a man of the Empire. He lived in the province of Gaios with his family upon a farm nearby a popular town just short of a city. His family was sustained by the town, growing various crops like corn and wheat and selling it at the local markets. Many considered the Yvette style of living to be old-fashioned and out of place, but the plot of land they held still provided crop every year, and so they continued without any heed to the technology available to them.

One day while Eris was fourteen and his family was selling their goods in the town, it was attacked by the Fractures of Justice in a raid for supplies against the Empire. His entire family was killed in the attack when a building collapsed upon them, an accident that Eris took personally as an act of active murder by the Fractures. He attacked one of the men in a blind rage, and the panicked man shot him in the stomach.

Fortunately, a patrol of soldiers of the Empire were near the town, and they flooded in just in time. Princess Iria, nineteen at the time, had been on patrol with them, an act that she insisted upon doing until she came of age. She ran in front of Eris before the Fracture could shoot him again, taking a bullet to the side of her thigh. Thankfully injury was not deep due to her armor, and she killed the man before he could cause further damage. When the Fractures were thrown back, Princess Iria personally saw to Eris's extraction and first aid from the site.

Eris was taken back to Ailith at the command of Princess Iria. When he finally recovered, he found himself consumed by the desire for vengeance against the Fractures for his family. The Princess, however, consulted him thoroughly, calming him down after many days and leading him back to sanity. Shortly afterwards, Eris found himself impossibly indebted to her and offered to be her Sword—to guard her and carry out any commands she saw fit for him. Princess Iria, although flattered, declined initially due to Eris's lack of physical ability or experience with any sort of combat.

Driven by willpower and his love for the Princess, Eris trained nonstop both physically and in the art of swordplay for three years. He chose the sword because he was raised with the bare essentials, for shooting a weapon did not feel natural to him. He concluded that the sword, primitive and simple, was the most effective and practical weapon he could possibly find. Finally, at the age of seventeen, he requested to be Princess Iria's Sword once again. The Princess, twenty-two at the time, accepted and bestowed Eris with his sword powered by Shards. She also offered him the opportunity of a Splinter, one with a much higher concentration of Shards rather than metal. She believed that his willpower could handle the increased ratio of Shards, for it would certainly prove its worth if he had the ability to wield it.

Eris embraced the Splinter, and it became one with his nervous and muscle systems. He continues to serve as Princess Iria's Sword and occasional advisor to date.

Accepted Characters:

Divus played by Locke

Rubitas "Rube" Barrinov played by Greased Smitening

Mathias Stryker played by RedKayne

Ambassador Roland Crowley played by RedKayne

Sapphire Tempus Qurau played by ElizabethStark

Dy'mond Littyara played by RisingPhoenix

Jacob Dean Qurau played by ElizabethStark

Kenzie Talavira played by Maya

Cyra Lautrec played by Fleija_Croze

Thomas Tourn played by Den of Ravens

Dead Characters:

Jalex Thaan (DECEASED) played by Gannicus

[Locke]

Im in. Will get an OC up as soon as I can find the time

[TheDoctor]

Wonderful! Can't wait to see your CS

[Anastasia]

So you obviously know what I'm going to post right? Right. <3

Hello there! It looks like you're off to a fantastic start. Here are some helpful links to get you started!

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As always if you have any questions, feel free to let us know!

[TheDoctor]

Thank you Nastiaaaaaaa >_>

[Sickly]

I suspect you read a lot of Tower of God?

[TheDoctor]

...this is possible...

Yea, I'm a huge fan. Kind of a mix of Tower of God, Kill La Kill, and a lil influence from Jak 2

[DukeWolfRein]

I'm in, if you'll have me.

[TheDoctor]

Absolutely, post a character

[RisingPhoenix]

Im in of course lol should be an interesting game lol