This is rated M for blood and gore, heavy violence, language, nudity, sexual content, dark sexual themes, and contradiction of religious beliefs that may be considered blasphemy outside of creative context.
We have room for a few more new players :)
Sequel to the 2015 Best Overall RP and 2016 Best Fantasy RP (OOC/IC)
https://i.imgur.com/8ZILUEz.png
“I hear them in my soul, their curse is upon me.
The whispers cannot cease, Valefor rises, and the doomed lords shattered our peace.
The skies darken from the black hole, we will never be free."
Requiem 3:14-16
"There is nothing more powerful than the human spirit."
I learned this concept early when I was young, and it is true. But there is nothing more terrifying than the darkness of man's souls.
We should've saw it coming, before the First Plague even began. The warnings were there, and yet the Monarchs fell into the darkness of their hearts. They became the Firsts.
The Scourge Beasts were born from our hatred. We continue fighting them to this day, but we never realize they are nothing more than dark reflections of broken humanity.
The Templars were suppose to be our saviors, but even they succumbed to the darkness and became tyrants. The Church controls them, but corruption runs deep within divinity.
The new aeon of Daylight promises hope and peace. But I know the truth. I know that we are at the brink of annihilation.
The darkness is returning. However, I will do everything in my power to stop it... no matter the costs.
Spoiler: NOTE - PLEASE READ!
Spoiler: Returning VeteransFeel free to reread this info below to refresh your mind on the lore and rules and what not. However, its not entirely needed since you are already familiar with the story. The only thing noteworthy addition is the Assassin's Guild information under the Political Hierarchy tab.
When you post your character sheets, please make any appropriate updates like personality changes and recent events in their history. You're still required to make an IC sample, but I want you to have fun with it! A month has passed in the IC ever since the ending of the last chapter, write up whatever your character's been up to since then and we can implement that stuff into the upcoming IC!
Spoiler: New PlayersPlease be aware that both alliances will assign you to either one of three tasks.
The Divine Trinity will assign you to either help rebuild the Templar Order and remove its corruption, assist Sanctuary's law enforcement and clean up the streets from criminals, or go out to the Borderfields to assist the townspeople out there. Mathias, Ellendra, and Letharos will be your points of contracts respectively.
The Assassin's Guild will assign you to espionage missions to spy on Sanctuary's politicians/templars and possibly assassinate someone, sabotage the Pilgrimage and find a way to stop the Masked Inquisitor, or assist with people of the Borderfields and recruit more members to the Guild's cause. Cox, Raizel, and Dalton will be your respective points of contact.
Make sure to add one of these three assignments in your character's background, please!
Spoiler: History and Origins
Ancient Era: The time period before the Fall of Man. There's very few history records from the era, but the Church teaches that humanity prospered in peace at this age. We held a harmonious relationship with our Lord. Kings and queens ruled the land with benevolence until a few of them began to hear whispers of ancient darkness. Five monarchs were corrupted, and their minds twisted from their former selves. They rebelled against God and used forbidden powers to breach His inner sanctum to usurp His throne. However, they failed miserable and were cast out... only to bring doom upon the world. God punished humanity for their treacherous crimes, and turned the former Monarchs into the Firsts of the Scourge Beasts - the abominations from our nightmares.
Aeon of Chaos (Years 1-14): The First Plague began and the Firsts created armies of the Scourge Beasts; the bloodthirsty vampire, the deadly wendigo, the poisonous lamia, the savage werewolf, and the horrifying arachne. The Scourge invaded great cities and small towns alike, towns were razed and innocent lives were slaughtered. Survivors of the initial onslaught were often infected by the Scourge and soon turned into Beasts themselves. Hope was fading fast and humanity was pushed into the brink of extinction. Only one city stood before the massive armies of the Plague; and this last bastion of humankind was called Sanctuary.
Aeon of Genesis (Years 15-31): The new age began when humanity actually began to fight back. God gave us one final blessing during the darkest hours of mankind. The mighty Templars appeared, humans with extraordinary abilities, and they turned the tides of battle. Countless corpses of the Beasts were behind their wake. These Templars stood against the darkness and pushed back the malevolent forces. Finally, the monsters retreated after nearly all of them were destroyed by the might of the Templars. The remnants of the Scourge returned back to the dark world of the Plaguelands, where no human dares to travel. Peace returned and humankind celebrated their victory. However, it was short-lived. The heroes of their time - the Templars - soon tyrants that antagonized lhe lives of the innocent. Many people lived in fear under the watch of the Templars.
Aeon of Divines (Years 32-112): Finally, enough was enough. The people revolted against the Templars and instilled a new ruler. Divine King Enaris I formed the Church - an organization to control the Templars and bring back the faith in God. The Church worked towards restoring the faith of the people and rebuild their relationship with God. Their prayers were answered and Enaris I became the beacon of life. He could directly hear the Voice of God. He listened to the wise words of the Lord and listened to His wise words. Power can corrupt the greatest of men... and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Divine King chose two others to share his power, and formed the Divine Trinity. Enaris’s wife, Sophita, became the first Divine Lady. Enaris’s best friend, Albert, became The Most Noble and the trusted royal adviser. These Divines ruled firmly but were respected and loved by all. The Divines ruled with great strength for the following decades. The city of Sanctuary thrived with prosperity, and the towns within the Borderfields flourished under the command of the Trinity.
Aeon of Decay (Years 113-157): The peace was shattered when the monsters returned, and the Second Plague began. The Scourge returned with great armies and tore down the newly formed cities of the Borderfields. The Templars were ordered to combat the threat but they refused. The Templars were leashed like dogs and were treated like animals while the rest of humanity prospered. They saw no point in saving the people that caused them great pain. After suffering more casualties, the Church finally decided to reform their treatment towards the Templars and the Order itself. The Templar Order marched straight into the battlefield and combated the monster threat. The Templar warriors still suffered great losses, but they managed to prevail and defeat the Scourge once more. The Beasts retreated back into the forbidden territory of the Plaguelands, and an uneasy sense of peace was instilled amongst the people.
However, after the Plague, the wrong people managed to rise into power within the Church. The citizens were still afraid of a looming monster threat, and corrupt politicians took advantage of their fear. A new Divine King was elected, Sylas IV, and a change began that will still affect today’s world. Powerful addictive drugs were created, job labor was exploited, and poverty ran rampant within the great city of Sanctuary. The people were powerless, and those who resisted change met overwhelming challenges. They couldn’t go against the Church’s rule - the Divine’s orders, because to go against them would to go against God. Mankind can still vividly remembered the last time they rebelled against their Creator, and that lead to the creation of the Scourge Beasts.
Aeon of Inferno (Years 158-209): Many people had hoped and believed that once Sylas IV’s rule ended, prosperity would return. However, the newly elected Divines only continued their predecessor’s commands, simply stating it is God's desires - and there will be a great price if they rebel. Decades passed, and the suffering of the civilians continued. Most devoted their lives to the church and essentially sacrificed their much of their liberty - in dire hopes of even a small chance of prosperity. Those that didn’t join the Church either lived in poverty or moved out and into the Borderfields, where they were vulnerable to monster attacks. This age was filled with quiet curses and moans of pain, but even those whispers ended.
A great fire suddenly broke out through the lands, devouring the forests and towns of the Borderfields. The monsters returned once more, and this time with a vengeance. The Third Plague began, and the dark forces became a scourge to the lands. The Templars were sent to battle them, but this war was different. The Templars were losing the battle and the Scourge was pushing further and further towards the city of Sanctuary. The armies of the Scourge never seemed to end with their countless numbers, and the Templars could only do so much with a limited force.
However, a miracle happened. A prisoner of war managed to escape the monster’s clutches from the Plaguelands and revealed invaluable information to make a powerful counterattack into their forbidden territory. The prisoner of war personally lead the troops to that dark zone, and directly into the lair of the monsters. They managed to slay hundreds of Beasts, and the Scourge forces eventually fell apart.
The Templars cut down the rest of the monster army. They slain so many, that many people actually believed that the monster threat was finally vanquished once and for all. The former prisoner of war became a hero to the city of Sanctuary and was soon elected as the new Divine King. The prisoner of war took on the mantle as Divine King Mathias IX, and his reign brought stability to his city.
Aeon of Daylight (Years 210 to present time): The aeon of Daylight began. It is currently the 16th year of the Aeon of Daylight (226), and prosperity is still a long ways to go, for corruption runs deep within the political ranks. However, many people have hope that their new beloved Divine King will bring the change that they so long desired. Many people believe light has finally triumphed over the darkness, and only a bright future awaits them.
Spoiler: The Political Hierarchy
Spoiler: The Divine Trinity
Spoiler: Divine King Mathias IX
Mathias rules over Sanctuary with an iron fist and has kept its stability throughout the years. He created the Pilgrimage shortly after taking the throne. The Pilgrimage is an orchestrated movement of gathering the elderly, the sick, and those deemed "useless" in society. A Masked Inquisitor escorts these people out of Sanctuary and transfers them somewhere out in the Borderfields. Nobody knows exactly where they go, but many consider the Pilgrimage as a death sentence because these people will now be vulnerable to the claws of the monsters. However, the Pilgrimage has remained successful because it prevents overpopulation in the city, and food and other supplies continue to be plentiful and distributed fairly.
As the Divine King, Mathias personally hears the Voice of God and relays His message to the people. Overall, he has more power than both the Divine Lady and the Most Noble. However, the rest of the Divine Trinity keeps his power in check and ensures he does not abuse it. New Divine Kings are chosen when one either retires from old age, or passes away.
He is working towards rebuilding the Templar Order with a few select Templars. The Order suffered great losses after the tragic deaths of Inquisitors Caleb and Hills, and the decimation of their squadron. He intends to rebuild the hope and strength of the Order.
Spoiler: Divine Lady Camilla Ellendra
Mathias appointed a minor noble as his Divine Lady, Camilla Ellendra. As the Divine Lady, Camilla is the second-in-command over Sanctuary, and has more power than the Most Noble. Camilla is the youngest Divine Lady to grace the city of Sanctuary, and many people view the innocent young woman as a shining beacon of light within the corrupt city. However, many rumors surround her rise to power, and many of these rumors are malevolent or scandalous in nature. But nevertheless, these are only rumors and no more. However, despite Camilla's purity and innocence, a dark past constantly haunts the young woman's heart.
Camilla is personally working towards cleaning the streets of Sanctuary from the corrupt politicians and criminals running rampant. She aspires to rebuild the city to its former glory - where Divine King Enaris I personally rebuilt a harmonious relationship with God and His people.
Spoiler: The Most Noble Elijah Letharos
Mathias appointed the brilliant scientist, the Most Noble Elijah Letharos, as the royal adviser. Elijah has been the key to many victories over the monsters, because his anatomical research of the monsters has proven invaluable to the Templars. His own thirst for knowledge knows no bounds, but his ultimate goal is to bring the utmost prosperity to his beloved nation. He cares deeply about his city and the towns of the Borderfields, and is willing to do anything to ensure their prosperity.
Elijah's focus is the safety and prosperity of the Borderfields. This is a mission he feels very deeply for and expects the templars working with him to put no less than a hundred percent effort. Secretly, he is working on several experiments and recently created an "ultimate weapon.' Who or what is this "weapon" has still yet to be revealed.
Spoiler: The Archons
Spoiler: Archon Amelia Denaris
Archon Amelia Denaris is one of the two highest ranked members of the Church echelon, only right below the Divine Trinity. Archon Denaris commands the Templar Order, becoming the bridge between the military forces and the civilian world. Despite never having been a Templar, she is loyal to their cause. She plans battle strategies with the Inquisitors, and also aids them in whatever political struggles they have. However, she is no stranger to corruption. She managed her way through the ranks via the arts of seductions and false promises. Many people are thus wary of her cunning and deceitful ways.
Spoiler: Archon Balthazar Hills
Archon Balthazar Hills leads the Priest Order of the church. He oversees the civilian jobs of the city, making sure it runs smoothly. He cares little for the affairs of the Templars, seeing them nothing more as barbarians... even his own nephew, Isaac. Balthazar's political agenda is to disband the Templar Order, seeing that they are no longer valuable to the Church. The rise of King Mathias and his role in the Third Plague proves that.
Spoiler: The Templar OrderThe Templars are the warriors of the Church and defend humankind from the Scourge. They wield incredible abilities to fight back the Beasts and are highly skilled in combat. There are five different Templar classes and each with a unique set of abilities. They will be detailed further below.
To become a Templar, one must be of age (at least 18) to join the militants. New recruits go through boot-camp training at the town of Zion. After training is completed, the militants are given the choice to either select a job (bodyguard, town guardsman, city law enforcement) or attempt the strenuous and life-threatening field test to become a Templar. Nobody knows what happens to the militant during the field test, because the militants are taken to an unknown location and suffer from memory loss over the entire process. Only a third of the militants survive the test and complete it, along with gaining the abilities of a Templar warrior. Many believe that the Templars are stripped of their memories to ensure no hopeful militants will gain an advantage of knowing what kind of challenges await for them during the field test.
The Templar Order was formerly separated into six different squadrons. Each squadron is lead by an Inquisitor, and the Inquisitor's vice-commander is a Senior Templar. The sixth squadron recently fell apart due to the deaths of its respective commanders. The Templar Order has certain military customs to enforce discipline and respect, such as saluting commanding officers when reporting in to them.
Inquisitors work directly under Archon Denaris. They coordinate missions and the political process with her. The Inquisitors are known to be the strongest of the Templar warriors. They are practically walking whirlwinds in the battlefield and easily slay countless amounts of monsters. There are many ways to become an Inquisitor; either through manipulating the political system, gaining support of the entire Templar Order, or a special appointment from the higher-ups.
Unfortunately, the life of the Templar is dangerous and many rarely see the light of day after serving for about 15 years. However, despite the dangerous lifestyle, many are proud to serve and to be chosen as the Warriors of God. Across the backs of all Templar armor is their special insignia, a symbol of strength and faith.
Spoiler: The Priest OrderOrdinary citizens can become priests when they become of age (18). They will go through months of intense theology schooling before being deemed as priests. Lately, Priests are more known to have political roles than mentor roles, often using their power for manipulative means. Priests are often assigned minor duties such as caretakers for children, church maintainers, or communications. It is mandatory for them to teach sermons once a week, but they use their powers to get away with most minor crimes - bribery, stealing, assaults.
One can become minister either through eight years of experience, or gaining a considerable amount of political influence via challenging feat. Ex: If one raises a highly successful fund drive for the poor, they can become a minister. A priest can also become a minister by means of blackmail. A minister has more political influence than a priest, and are placed in leadership positions of directing priests and even small businesses. They are generally more wealthy compared to the common people, but not compared to those living in the royal sector.
Bishops are welcomed to the royal sector of the city. Money, sex, and power usually drives most bishops and their political schemes. They are masters of the political system and often able to control businesses, the local law enforcement, and have strong connections with the Assassin’s Guild and the Templar Order. They have the power to vote for a new successor for the Divine King when the time comes.
Archons are appointed by the Divine King, after receiving recommendations from both the Divine Lady and the Most Noble.
Spoiler: The Assassin's GuildThe unofficial yet integral part of the political hierarchy. The Assassin's Guild is an underground network that has many deep connections within the ranks of the Priest and Templar Orders. They personally run the drug cartel of Sanctuary and the surrounding Borderfields. They are known to pull strings with businesses and influencing members of the political hierarchy. They will even accept orders to assassinate others based upon the highest bidder.
Members of the Assassin's Guild are rarely trusted due to their deceitful ways, but they get the job done when required. You can always trust their loyalty for good business. The Assassin's Guild is ran by the mysterious High Lord - his identity and agenda is unknown to practically all. The Guild is composed of many types of criminals that that wanted to find a better way of life other than becoming servants to the corrupt system of Sanctuary. The Guild even has current and former templars secretly working for them. They can prove to be menace to the Templar Order if left unchecked.
Spoiler: The Templar ClassesCrusader
- Enhanced Strength - Crusaders have about twice the strength of a regular human, and are able to challenge brutal monsters such as the lycan
- Enhanced Smell - Crusaders are able to focus their sense of smell for purposes such as identification or scouting
- Dermal Armor - Crusaders have natural thick skin, which acts almost like a hardened shell. They will receive injuries, but they will not be debilitating as they should be. Ex: Vampire slashes a crusader’s arm, but he only receives shallow cuts.
Knight
- Rapid Regeneration - Knights are able to heal their wounds quickly. If they receive minor injuries, it takes short minutes to completely heal over. If they receive major injuries, they take longer to heal, but will eventually fully recover in a quick amount of time.
- Enhanced Sight - Knights are able to focus their vision, able to see things from afar or identify small details up close
- Hyperkinesis - Knights are able to perfectly synchronize their thoughts and actions, allowing them to possess better aim, balance, reaction speed, and other motor skills.
Chevalier
- Web Formation - Chevaliers are able to form web through spit, and are able to create traps to slow down or even capture enemies.
- Camouflage - Chevaliers can easily blend into their backgrounds, almost becoming impossible to see due to their near-invisibility. They must remain completely still in order to utilize their camouflage ability. This ability is normally useful for spying others, or as a last resort in battle to escape with one's life.
- Enhanced Stealth - Chevaliers are easily able to sneak around with silent footsteps and quiet movement.
Blackguard
- Poison Generation - A blackguard’s blood is poisonous to many living organisms and so they can use their own blood as a weapon. Oftentimes, they would prepare vials of blood before heading out on their missions and coat their weapons with the blood. Their blood is often acidic, and can easily melt through flesh. Their saliva is also poisonous, but to a lesser extent because it acts more as a numbing agent.
- Scale Armor - Blackguards can temporarily turn their skin into hardened scales, acting as a powerful armor for a short limited time. Oftentimes used as a last resort, or to escape from battle in order to find safety.
- Seismic Sense - The user is able to pick up even the vibrations through physical contact with the ground, enabling them to perceive their surroundings almost as precisely as normal sight. Users are able to sense the structure and materials of solid substances, including the presence of caves, material changes, structural weaknesses, etc.
Paladin
- Enhanced Speed - Paladins are nearly twice as fast as a normal human, and can run at incredible speed. They are capable of reacting fast as well, but not nearly as quickly compared to the knights.
- Enhanced Hearing - Paladins are able to focus their sense of hearing, able to hear from far distances or listen to quiet whispers.
- Sound Mimicry - Paladins are able to copy the voice of another living creature, whether its another human’s voice or a beast’s war cry. This can be useful to trick others or bait monsters into a trap.
Spoiler: The World of Sanctuary
This RP takes place in the continent of Enaria, named after the first and the greatest of the Divine Kings. Two-thirds of the continents is covered by the Plaguelands, where the Scourge Beasts populate the forbidden territory. Bits and pieces of the Plaguelands are mapped, but nobody dares traverse deeper into the area, in fear for their lives. The other third of the continent is the Borderfields, a barren and arid wasteland populated by about a dozen towns. Ruins also cover the area, reminders of life from the old ages, before the monsters burned these cities and towns down. At the center of the Borderfields, is the last bastion of humankind and the grand city of Sanctuary.
Spoiler: Sanctuary
The architecture of Sanctuary has the style of a dark-Victorian city. Its atmosphere is dark and morbid, especially under the darkness of the night sky. Dozens upon dozens of cathedrals populate the grand city, which gives it a religious air. However, many of these cathedrals have been left unused for many decades, perhaps even centuries.
The lower levels of the city are reserved for the slums, the people who reside here are often too poor and resort to unpleasant businesses; which often include drug dealing and prostitution. Many of the houses within the lower district are falling often, and usually uninhabitable.
The middle levels of the district are reserved for the typical civilians, oftentimes the families of merchants, priests, ministers, templars, and inquisitors. The civilian area has a very successful marketing district, where one can often shop for food, supplies, clothing, and of course alcohol within the taverns.
The higher levels of the city are reserved for the wealthy and the elite, the royal district. The royal district has the most elegant buildings, very beautiful housing and tall cathedrals. At the center of the royal district and the city of Sanctuary itself lies a castle. The castle houses the most wealthy of nobles, several dozens of servants, and the Divine Trinity. A grand ballroom lies in the first floor of the castle, but many area down below and high up in the towers are off-limits.
Spoiler: Towns of the Borderfields
Spoiler: JerichoA large town relatively close to the city of Sanctuary. It is one of the most protected and prosperous towns of the Borderfields and has a stable economy. It trades frequently with the mother city and provides essential goods such as food and clothing to Sanctuary's growing population in return for protection from the threat of monsters. It is considered essential to Sanctuary's livelihood because of its prosperous farmland. The people of Jericho are dedicated to Sanctuary and devoted to the Church
Spoiler: ZionAnother large town close to Sanctuary, but located at the opposite side of the city from Jerico - a safeguard in case either of the towns falls to the monster threat. The military town houses many young adults from Sanctuary, as they train and prepare for the induction into the Templar Order and other necessary roles. For the town's service, they receive protection and food, the latter of which is vital since the town severely lacks fertile soil to grow crops or raise livestock. The town has a relatively stable economy, and is considered essential for Sanctuary's manpower. The people of Zion are dedicated to Sanctuary and devoted to the church.
Spoiler: HirodA mild trek from Sanctuary, the small town of Hirod is close enough to maintain frequent contact but far enough to make trade and protection more difficult. The town itself has protection, but monster sightings and attacks are not uncommon. The town is situated near a mine, where the bulk of its protection is located. Hirod is the main source of ore for Sanctuary and provides the grand city ore and gemstone in return for manpower and protection.
The town grows and keeps its own produce, but meat is scarce as any bulk of livestock attracts the monsters. Thus, every few weeks upon receiving a shipment of ore, Sanctuary returns the cart and guards to the town along with a shipment of meat. Most of its people hail from Sanctuary and are thus dedicated to it and the Church, but they still have a fair amount of trouble between cave-ins and the occasional monster attack. There is discontent grumblings among the native townspeople about how the city is more concerned about protecting the mines and shipments of ore rather than about the town itself.
Due to recent events, the town is growing more dedicated to the Assassin's Guild and the members that saved its people.
Spoiler: EdenFarther still from Sanctuary; communication with the town of Eden is rare, and aid nonexistent. It is a very old town, it was originally built due to its strategic and defensible positioning on an island in the middle of a sizable lake. While the town managed to survive the Aeon of Inferno, its livelihood--the lake--did not. The water was poisoned and the fish - that the townspeople relied upon - died.
The town has since met with illness and decay, and much of its population has abandoned it, as has the mother city in all but speech. Its people are cold and hard by necessity, distrusting and bitter by nature, and care little for Sanctuary or the Church that abandoned them. They isolated themselves about twenty years ago, and there have been no reports of its inhabitants moving out. There are also rumors regarding representatives sent there from the city who have mysteriously disappeared. How exactly those remaining in a town with a poor economy survive without outside aid is unknown, but unpleasant rumors abound.
Spoiler: MalachiFar to the north from Sanctuary, the town of Malachi is situated at the coast and next to Solomon’s Sea. It is an independent town, and rarely communicates with the city of Sanctuary or other towns of the Borderfields. The town maintains its own produce, and heavily relies upon fish and crustacean captured from the ocean. The people strongly dislike the city of Sanctuary, and especially distrusts the Templars. Many years ago, the Templars were stationed at the town to protect it, but the Templars abused their power by taking advantage of the women over there. The people revolted against the Templars and killed them in their sleep.
Communication has essentially been shut down between the town and Sanctuary. Representatives from the Church are quickly turned away from the town, usually due to harsh threats to their person. Nobody has left the town either ever since the revolt. The Church has abandoned further communication, and left the town on its own. The town still stands, despite no protection from the Church, or trade market with the other towns. In fact, the town remarkably does not suffer from monster attacks. It may be due to the fact that Malachi is quite far from the border of the Plaguelands, but many are skeptical of the town's nature.
Spoiler: AbelAn old town that now lies in ruins. It was once a lively and flourishing town, and many templars were once stationed there. However, it was razed down during the horrendous event known as the Massacre of Abel, where a sizeable army of monsters ambushed the town and destroyed everything within. Due to recent events, there are rumors that the Hybrid himself caused the town's destruction.
Abel was considered the central hub of the Borderfields, where the town directed and commanded the trading system of the Borderfields. It would aid in transportation and supplies, such as transporting food and clothing from Jericho to the more distant towns such as Hirod. Once the town fell, the trading system fell apart, along with many other towns soon after. Many people believe that the ruins are haunted by the spirits of the townspeople, but there is no evidence regarding to this superstitious belief.
Spoiler: JudahA town with a small population, and it is several miles east of Jericho. It has a somewhat stable economy, but is often attacked by the monsters due to a closer proximity to the Plaguelands. Sanctuary offers little protection to the town, due to the lack of resources the town can offer. Even though the city barely offers any protection or resources, the people of Judah do not hold ill feelings towards the grand city. Instead, many people wish to move their families to Sanctuary in an attempt to get a better life, but are often unable to because they lack resources or skills.
The town has farmland and grows their own crops, but not to the extent of the prosperous Jericho. Many of the young men are guardsmen, and they train physically with aspiring hopes to move to Sanctuary and enlist as militants. The town has an elder system, where its people elect for their new leader through a democratic system. They currently have very strong leadership, as the Elder has been able to successfully trade resources with other towns, while also finding ingenious ways of protection against the monsters.
Very recently, the town's Elder passed away due to old age. His son has gained the mantle and already leads the town into prosperity, showing a bright future for the people residing there.
Spoiler: AmosEvidence of this town only exist in history books. There are reports from the Aeon of Decay that there was a town in the Black Mountains, which is far to the east and near the borders of the Plaguelands. Due to its strategic positioning, the town of Amos built a formidable fortress which withstood against the onslaught of the monsters. Apparently, a young noble lead the town during the Second Plague, but there were rumors of a coup d'etat and an attempt on his life.
There is no further information about the reasons of the coup de grace or the result of it. Afterwards, any evidence of the town has nearly vanished in the Black Mountains, with no architecture or bodies to be found. Many representatives that are sent to find the town in the Black Mountains often return empty-handed, are lost in the mountains, or suffer a monster attack due to the close proximity to the Plaguelands
Spoiler: LeviA medium-sized town relatively close proximity from Sanctuary, but farther than Zion and Jericho. The town is situated next to Lake Sophita, where legends say that the first Divine Lady blessed the waters to remain pure for all eternity. The area around the lake has very fertile grounds, and the townsfolk grow several herbs. The purified water and the herbs are transported to the city of Sanctuary, in return for protection and meat. Levi is considered indispensable to alchemists, who pay handsomely for its herbs, both common and exotic. There are many rare herbs that are grown exclusively in Levi. The town has a stable economy, it is protected and prosperous, and is also considered as an essential for Sanctuary’s livelihood.
Spoiler: The Plaguelands
The Plaguelands has an unmistakable atmosphere of death. By crossing its borders, one can instantly notice the dead grass, the dark hills and mountains, and a sickly fog. Like the Borderfields, it can be considered a large and desolate wasteland. However, long-lost cities and cathedrals do populate the Plaguelands, but are mostly in ruins. Nobody has ventured deep into the Plaguelands, due to the swarms of monsters which reside in this dark zone. The monsters are known to stay within their own respective territories, and hardly co-mingle with each other.
Spoiler: The Scourge Beasts
A monster's bite can infect a human being, which eventually turns them into another Beast within 48 hours. Symptoms of a monster's bite often include fever, hallucinations, terrible pain and swelling at the bite mark, and palish skin. Templars are somehow immune to the infection, regardless if they are bitten by a monster. This makes the Templar the ultimate weapon against the Scourge. All of the Beasts share the same vulnerabilities, silver weapons and fire.
Spoiler: Vampire
Vampires are deadly and vicious creatures, taking the appearance of a humanoid bat. Their sharp claws can easily tear apart a human being, but it often kills its prey by ripping out their throats with its mandibles and fangs. Vampires are not the strongest or fastest of the monsters, but it is still a high threat with its incredible regeneration ability. Vampires can instantly heal minor wounds, and are almost never crippled by a debilitating injury. The most effective way to kill a vampire is to decapitate the beast, or to strike its black heart.
Spoiler: Wendigo
Wendigos nearly have a skeletal form, as their grotesque bodies are decayed and decomposed. Despite their appearances, Wendigos are often more intelligent than their fellow monsters. They can trick wandering humans by using their voice mimicry from a distance, often sounding like a person that needs help. By the time the others arrive to help, it is too late and they are caught in the wendigo’s trap. These creatures are absolutely brutal in the battlefield, appearing like a blur with their incredible speed, and then striking with their powerful arms.
Spoiler: Lamia
Lamias are creatures of nightmares; their golden-yellow eyes, ghastly green skin, and sharp white fangs will put fear into any man. Poison drips from their fangs, and a bite from a lamia will numb and eventually paralyze the victim, leaving them helpless to be wholly devoured. One must be careful when fighting a lamia, because its blood is also acidic to the touch, and can melt through skin. Metal is fortunately resistant to the blood, and one can be protected by simply wearing armor. Lamia also take advantage of their seismic senses, and can always track down its prey, making it extremely difficult to escape from this monstrosity.
Spoiler: Lycan
Lycans are absolutely terrifying beasts, and their bestial roars can instill nightmares into even the bravest of men. Their physical strength matches to that of three men, and they can easily shatter bones and crush metal with a brutal swipe of its claw. They often play with their prey, often enjoying the hunt before making the finishing strike. They entirely devour human beings, leaving nothing but a couple of bones. They are difficult to injure also, due to their tough skin, but they are not impossible to kill. A silver knife to the heart, or an arrow to the brain will put any of these rabid dogs down.
Spoiler: Arachne
Arachne are the most deceptive of the monsters, since their top halves retain their humanoid appearances. However, these creatures are still far from humans, and hunt down their prey and devour them. Their bottom halves are composed of powerful spider limbs, where they can travel fast and climb up most surfaces with ease. Their mouths can open up and reveal terrifying mandibles, similar to that of a vampire. Their bodies can naturally camouflage with the background, and can entrap an unaware victim by spitting web from their mouths.
Spoiler: Rules and Expectations
- Standard RPA rules apply and please use common sense. Do not godmod, be respectful to others and listen to the GM and Co-GM (TheDoctor). Fade-to-black when necessary, and let us know if you'll be inactive for a long period of time.
- All players are required to play as a Templar either working for the Divine Trinity or the Assassin's Guild. There is no right or wrong answer, this is not simply a 'Good vs. Evil' fight. There is a lot of gray moral ground to cover and each choice has its benefits and consequences. If you have ideas for a unique character outside of an alliance (ex. check out Iago), feel free to let me know!
- Right now, each player is only allowed one main character. However, if you do desire to play as two main characters, please message me and we can talk about it. I'm usually pretty lenient when hearing out ideas, just please let me know about it first. All players are welcomed to create a couple of minor NPCs, such as priests, militants, or family members.
- This RP took a considerable amount of work to create, and to due its ambitious nature, it does demand for quality work. Two paragraphs for each IC post is the recommended minimum, I would like to encourage those that struggle with this to please challenge themselves into creating outstanding posts. This rule is not strict with dialogue exchange, but making a co-post would be incredibly useful. Minor issues with spelling and grammar are perfectly acceptable, but please don't make it unbearable.
- When you submit your character, you will be required to make an IC sample of your character. Please remember the previous rule when making this IC sample, but do not let quantity rule over quality. If your RP sample seems lack-lusting, there may be a risk that your character sheet is not accepted into the RP. Remember to stay within lore and be realistic.
- I like to finish what I start, so I request to see committed players joining this story and stay until the very end. If you lose interest for any reasons, or if you are unable to continue posting, that's perfectly fine and no hard feelings. I only ask for you to notify myself or the co-gms so that we can appropriately deal with the matter.
- Please do not derail the OOC with menial chatter, there will be some important OOC announcements in the future and I don't want people to miss them. You are welcomed to have conversations related to the RP such as coming up with ideas between characters and such, just do not treat this thread as if it is part of Downtown.
- The final rule and the most important... have fun! Seriously, let your creativity and imagination run wild! If you have any ideas to implement into the RP - feel free to pass it to me. You don't get what you don't ask for. Other than that, have a freakin' blast!
