(Part ONE)
With LiFe Comes DeAtH
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It is a dream, a twisted desire
One born of a man who had everything
And felt he lost all that was most precious to his heart
A man lost within his sorrows
To troubled to see the suffering of those he rules
This was once our world, they spoke
One filled with vibrant color, wondrous creatures
And above all else, a joyous people
However this is but a faded memory
No longer is it the land we loved
But a prison without a lock, key, or door
Though there are hardships now
Though pain is in the hearts and souls of all
Death may have us in it's grasp
With the tiniest hope, the smallest of courage
We will push on strong and firm
And as long as that light burns within ourselves
We will never surrender ourselves to this oppression
I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt
Somewhere out in this grand, vast world of ours
There lays a Boundless Sky ...
For all those who seek it
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To sum it up, the world of Keimusho is being run by a somewhat oppressive Emperor, one who follows his actions through both anger and depression (his wife died while giving birth, and because of this, he takes out his bitter feelings on society, and places his rage and hatred towards Ishka, his son [harsh, physical abuse]). The Noble and Wealthy class may not feel most of this, but much of the Masses do, especially the Stateless People (you will learn more about the Social Classes down below). The gap between the Wealthy and the rest of society is quite big, and shortening any of that length would take many, many years before any results could be noticed.
In terms of technology, it is steam-punk inspired, so it leaves a fair amount for the imagination.. For example, there are things that are similar to airships, land vehicles, boats, etc., however think of these things on a more domestic or simpler level. Almost everything owned by anyone who is not of Noble of Divine class will be simplistic and not all that fancy. So, the Noble and Divinity (with the Divine having the best of everything) will have their hands on the more sophisticated things (including technology), while the Masses will not, and even less so for the Stateless People.
This Role-Play will be on somewhat of a large scale, in terms of the size of the land. I’m leaving a lot of space open for creativity here, in terms of the geography, the people, as well as many other aspects that you can think of. This is a world of humans, half-humans, and multi-formed beasts, which allows you to work your charcter(s) out however you may wish (for the most part). However, keep in mind this RP does have a plot and a driving force, and it'll be moving at a decent pace. Also, because of the harsh nature within the RP, odd, weird, grotesque events are acceptable.
GeNeRaL RuLeS
- No God-Modding
- No Power Playing
- No Double-Posting
- Place the word ‘mamba’ at the top of your Template
- No Spamming; Keep OOC Posts in OOC Thread as much as possible (This is OOC Thread)
- Editing Template after your first Post in the Role-Play is frowned upon (or to put it bluntly, prohibited, unless of course it has to do with your character’s personal traits, such as gender or personality, etc.)
- The mamba thing was a joke, don’t do it
- If you have any questions regarding the rules, or the Role-Play itself, be free to ask
- If you will be leaving for any amount of time, please let me know, that way people can overlook your character’s previous actions during that time, so as not to kill the Role-Play
- If you have any ideas or thoughts that you think could improve this RP, I’m open to suggestion
- I ask that you at least post two-three times a week. Don’t post once, come back the next week, and expect someone to always catch you up on things (though, being the nice guy I am, I probably would do that, but you get the point)
- This RP will be considered 14+ due to the language and slightly disturbing content that will be accepted in this RP.
- Though there will be a slightly grotesque theme to this RP (at times), keep any kind of romance/sexuality from R/X-rated material
- Keep in mind, no one will have a strength or power that surpasses even the Cherubim. Like any story, through experience and training, you will get stronger eventually. This RP is going to focus a lot on character development in many areas (such as personality, view on the world/life, knowledge, abilities, etc.), be sure to keep this in mind
- Veterans and Newbies alike are welcome to join
- This is a literate RP. I’m not exactly setting a minimum, but more than just a few sentences would be nice. Exact literacy is not a requisite, however at least make it legible enough to understand
- You may create and use more than one character, however four is the limit (this, however, is only suggested to the more experienced Role-Players, but all are welcome to it. Dedication is a must, though)
- Most of all, just be creative with your writing, thoughts, and ideas. Have fun everyone, after all, that’s what this is about =P
Geography
As stated before, there will be a fair amount of openness in terms of creativity with the world of Keimusho, however, things such as weather effecting elements (latitude, longitude, sun, winds, etc.) will be in play, so as you travel north or south from the center of the world, things will begin to get colder. The humidity and dryness of an area near the center of the world will be determined by the sun and plant life, basically anything that would normally effect climate in our world. I think you get the idea.
Actually, the planet is somewhat smaller than what our Earth would be, and also has only two continents. One rests on one (named Aranno, where we are) side of the planet, taking up about forty percent of space, while the other (Shinuda) takes up only about twenty-five percent, leaving the other thirty-five to be filled with water (though there are numerous amounts of islands, both big and small, spread across the vast ocean, and they are not included within that percentage, and neither are the lakes and rivers within the land). Here are some landmarks, however, that will be definite in this Role-Play (also keep in mind that in this Role-Play [Part ONE], we will only be on the continent of Aranno)
(The following will just be brief descriptions to give you an idea of the areas):
The Capital
The Capital of Arrano, Eutoria: (This area is what you perceive it to be, however keep in mind, and I MEAN keep in mind the differences of lifestyles and commodities between the Divine (very sophisticated and fancy everything), Noble (sophisticated things, expensive objects/materials/etc) , Common Folk (nothing special, just simplistic things (wooden houses, stone homes, caravans, etc), and Stateless People (very, very low quality lifestyles), so make sure not to make things completely unrealistic).
The City is split into four levels, The Divine Level (castle) which is elevated above the Noble level that is below, and below that is the Common Area, and the Slums. The Divine are able to go where they please, the Noble can go everywhere but the Divine area (with the exception of a few), the Common Folk can travel their area and the Slums below, where the Stateless in the City are restricted to the Slums alone. The Stateless have no rights, and will usually be killed if they were caught within their own area anyways)
The Imperial Castle, Lanark (the middle of Eutoria): This castle is made out of a seemingly white, holy substance that would always shine even in the darkest of times. However, ever since the Emperor's depression, it's luster has been dulled a great deal. There are many towers that make up the Castle, and surround it. There is a large white wall which surrounds the grounds, and it also must be said that the castle takes up quite a large area. The gates both on the walls and blocking entrance to the Castle's Interior are made of gold with a dense metal base. Silver can usually be seen on the trimmings of the Castle's architectural details.
The Slums of Eutoria: The darkest, dankest, dirtiest, absolute worst part of the city. It lies under the main level of Eutoria, under the stone roads and pathways, where all the trash is thrown. There is absolutely nothing pleasant about this place, and any of the Stateless People who did not wish to leave the safety of the City Walls continue to hide in here. There are some huts and poorly made 'houses' made for those down there, made by the people themselves, however they are nothing to be impressed with.
Outside the Capital
Outpost of the North, Meranda: An island made completely of ice sitting at the center of the world. It is fairly small, but has several mountainous icy peaks, as well as a rugged landscape. The climate is cold and harsh, and there may only be a few clans that actually live here.
Settlement of the South, Yonday: Around the same size of Meranda, however it is connected to Arrano by a land bridge on the southern most point of Keimusho. It snows heavily here, and the landscape is basically like a white desert that seems to go on as far as the eye can see. It seems to be a barren wasteland, however there could be more to this place than meets the eye...
Dead Bog: It is a misty marshland that stretches on for miles and miles. It is said that the spirits of the dead haunt this place, tormenting and ultimately causing death to all those who would risk passage through this place. It is located within the south-eastern reaches of Arrano.
Braodi Forest: This is a very dense forest far to the west of Eutoria. The sun rarely reaches the floor of the forest because of the thick, long, outreaching branches that tower above. Many of the trees stand at ridiculous heights, while some are fairly small, however the majority are quite large. The beasts are always on the prowl within this place, especially during the night.
Underground Catacombs: Very little is known about this vast, expansive tunnel network that supposedly spreads throughout the entire continent. There are very few who know about the entrances to this mysterious place, and they are kept secret from the Divinity as much as possible. The Cruor are one of the largest Tribes within the Stateless People, and supposedly they take inhabitance within the safety of the underground. Not much else is known about it, however there are rumors of some very ferocious beasts creeping beneath Keimusho's surface.
Wildlands: This is basically a desert, filled with your sand, sand storms, sand tornadoes, cacti, desert creatures, the works. This can be located a few miles southwest of Eutoria, just a bit below Keimusho's equator.
The Great Plain: This land is filled with valleys, stone pillars, canyons, rivers, as well as a few mountains here and there. It is a great grassland, and are there are very few to no trees whatsoever. This land has one of the biggest areas in the entire RP, compared to all of the other locations in Arrano, anyways.
**NOTE** You do not have to start in these areas, you can very well create your own (to a certain extent), however these areas will play a vital role in the Role-Play’s progression (though some more than others), so this is why they are listed.
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Magnus Power and Magica
There are two great forces within the world of Keimusho: Magnus Power, and Magica. Both are very important to the planet's life, as well as the warriors, scholars, and various other people who use it. Magnus Power is the life force of the world; it holds the life of Keimusho, it supplies the energy that keeps things alive. Magica is an energy which is within all of nature; trees, water, mountains, clouds, and other such things. Even without just one of these energy sources, the world would slowly decay and ultimately die off, along with everything upon it. It is uncertain as to where these energies come from, as the location of the actual supplying sources has been long forgotten. Even the Emperor does not know of the whereabouts.
Warriors and Magica users draw upon these energy sources to execute mysterious techniques and abilities. Though a great deal of Keimusho's population does not have the potential to use them for their own purposes, there are some who have discovered, whether intentionally or not, to use these powers. Though generally Magica has much greater power than Magnus energy, Magnus Power abilities are often much quicker to use (though sometimes, this is not the case for both). In most cases, those who can draw upon these energies are usually more skilled with one, however there are few who can use both efficiently, however in those circumstances, they usually won't have as much expertise as those who are skilled with but one of them.
(These Energies are tied to your Abilities attributes, so keep this in mind)
MAGNUS POWER: This usually relies on the strength and ability of a person, more so than their knowledge of how to use the techniques. Unlike Magica, which uses just Energy, Magnus Power usually requires the user to follow through with a Physical Attack/Manouver. Think of it this way: the Magnus Power fuels the fire, however the fire can't do anything if there is nothing to burn. Using such abilities usually leads to using a weapon, or your own person to execute.
Magnus Power is usually drawn from within one's own personal supply in their body, and will begin to tire if used constantly. However, there is no need to worry, because after a certain amount of time the planet's natural source of Magnus Power will regenerate your body after a certain period of time, and each and every person has a different level of regeneration speed. It is much easier and faster to use the abilities, and don't take as much energy out of a person like Magica does.
MAGICA: In contrast with Magnus Power, these abilities will rely on the users knowledge of how to cast the spells and techniques, as well as their own personal expertise of controlling Magica. To utilize such abilities, one must gather the Magica energy from within the environment, and mold it into whatever form they wish to use it.
Magica users are born with the ability to naturally create certain elements from the Magica energy. Consequently they cannot use all elements either. However, one thing they do all share in common is the ability to enhance themselves or comrades, such as defense, offense, speed, etc. These spells, however, take some time to conjure, which makes it quite frustrating during battles at times (more powerful spells will take longer than weaker ones) Though they may not have quite the brute strength that Magnus Power users have, or the speed for that matter, however they can be even deadlier if trained properly.
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The Class System
The world of Keimusho is run by a hierarchical system, which is deeply rooted within the society. Divinity rests at the top of this class system, with three other lower levels of people. The rank/order of the classes is as follows (imagine this in somewhat of a triangle diagram):
Divinity: They possess immense power and rule everything within Keimusho. They oppress those who are disobedient and resilient to their law. Often, they will have wings upon their backs, and usually those with the greater number of them, the more power they possess (the Emperor having the most, ten in total). However, they have the ability to cause them to disappear, and reappear whenever they wish. By no means are they angels, however they have been blessed with quite the destructive power, and it seems that there is no one within the lower classes can defeat them. It is somewhat uncertain as to what their true powers and capabilities are, however, what has been shown to the people below themselves is more than enough to keep the society in their place.
(These positions are open to no one. This is basically the enemy of the Role-Play, with the exception of one character that will be a big part to the RP)
--The Angelus: These Divine are the second most powerful race within Keimusho, their power riding below the Emperor’s and anyone within his lineage/bloodline. However, though they are more than just formidable warriors, there is a fairly large gap of power between the Emperor and his bloodline, and theirs. There are five of them, each with their own original personality, appearance, and abilities, though some skills they do share. They bare eight wings.
--Seraphim: These Divine Warriors have a bit more individuality within their ranks, all of them appearing to the similar, though they are allowed to express themselves a bit more. They are the third most powerful race within Keimusho and have six wings.
--Cherubim: The lowest class of Divine Warriors. They generally all look the same, as like soldiers within an army, all wearing the same uniform and baring the same demeanor. They carry four wings.
Noble Class: Basically, these are the aristocrats of Keimusho. They have great wealth, connections, and overall have a far easier life than all those below them. They will often treat the Common Folk like dirt, however there are few who may show sympathy towards them. They too, have rule over the masses, however not quite as great as the Divine have.
--Police/Guard: Those tasked with this duty are the enforcers of the major towns and cities, and can be spotted abundantly within the capital, Eutoria. They make sure to keep the law made by the Divine, and are not tolerant towards those who would chance to break those rules. Though some are a bit more lenient than others, you can expect them to all be as loyal to the Divine as the next.
--Warriors of Divinity: These are a special form of guard placed outside the Castle of Eutoria, though within the Castle grounds. They are specially hand picked by the Cherubim, those within the Noble Class that are fine warriors and have a great skill and aura about them. Though seldom do they leave the grounds of the Castle, when they do see action, they don’t hold back. Anyone who is not at least a refined warrior will not survive an encounter with these people.
Mass/Common Folk: This should be self explanatory. They are the normal, average, every-day people of Keimusho. They are not entirely ‘special’ in terms of society, however they keep the world turning, as they are the backbone of the economics, the reason why the politics are in place, and without these people, there is no one for the Divinity to rule. So, actually, they could be called the ‘actual’ backbone of society. Here are, however, various sub-classes.
--Hunters: These are Common Folk who are hired by the Noble Class, and in some cases, the Divine, to hunt down the Stateless People, and kill them, however all of the ‘jobs’ are found and taken within the Hunter’s Guild. The amount of pay is determined by the Tribe that the Stateless People belonged to (those belonging to YOU will often hold the most reward for the Hunter).
--Shop Owner: Self-explanatory. These people keep the economic, and at times social way of life moving in the world. The Divine receive a fair amount of money from these people, with taxes and payments and such.
Stateless People: These are those who are oppressed by the Divine, because of their disobedient and rebellious nature towards their rulers. They will often dwell within the slums of cities or towns. Some will create their own village/town underground, while others will make communities in hard to reach places, or at least far away from the places under the watchful eye of the Divine. There are a number of Tribes within the Stateless people, all with different characteristics. They hate the Divine for oppressing them, and have a loathing hatred for the Emporer. Here are the most wide spread, and well known Tribes.
--Wanderers: They are the least violent Tribe within the Stateless people, and will often flee should they be hunted or pursued.
--The Cursed: Though it is merely rumor, this clan is said to have made a pact with a dark beast in exchange for immense, horrifying power. However, this is merely gossip, and should not be taken wholeheartedly.
--Abbysus: This is where the rebels who are willing to fight will align with, those who really wish to make a change, though not to such an extent as the YOU. They do their best to sort things out with the Divine respectfully, but will resort to violence if necessary.
--Cruor: This tribe does not care for the Masses, Noble, or Divine, and do not generally complain about their current lifestyle. They are fairly content with how things are, however will defend themselves if are drawn into a battle. They tend to live within the Underground Catacombs that are spread and connected throughout the entire continent of Arrano.
--YOU: This is by far the most violent clan within the Stateless People, and enjoys causing disruption and pain to the Divine in any way they can, as well as those who agree with their ideals. They are basically the extremists of the Stateless People.
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NPCs
The Emperor, Shest Hulsfeel: (Look, but no touch) He was a good king until the Empress died during Ishka’s birth for which he blamed himself. Since then, he could not love Ishka and expresses his hatred for him through emotional and physical abuse. Since then, he turned his peaceful world into one of agony, hardship, and pain. He has also been sick for many years, and no one can understand why his health has been so poor.
The Emperor’s Son, Ishka Hulsfeel (Age 12): (Look, but no touch) He is the child of the deceased Empress and the Emperor who abuses him greatly, yet he does not hate him. Because the Divine grow their wings as they age, and Ishka only being twelve, has only grown two, and will remain at two as long as the Emperor continues to seal his powers away. With his powers locked down, he is no stronger than the cherubim, however, were they to be released, his strength would rival that of the Emperor’s.
Ira Falk (age 18), Owner of the Hunter’s Guild: (May be used) His parents were once of the Noble Class, however they, along with himself, did not agree with the Emperor’s harsh treatment at all, and because of this, were stripped of their Noble rights and demoted to the Common Folk. They would have been classed as Stateless, however they had done a fair bit to help the Emperor, and with this in mind, the Emperor made a deal with the parents that if their son would run the Hunter’s Guild within Eutoria, then all would be fine, however they would still be brought down to live with the Masses.
Enji Seki, Exiled Divine: (Look, but no touch) He was once of the divine and worked with Crome (one of my characters), but once the Empress died and the Emperor turned bitter, he left, but not before his Divine powers could be extracted from him. He was caught before he could escape, and made a deal with the Emperor to hunt down those that defiled his new laws, and kill them for the disobedience. He now does just that, and has been doing so for quite some time. Even with his Divine powers ripped from him, he is still quite the intimidating warrior, and can easily kill anyone who does not keep their guard up at all times. Anyone who faces him, beware.
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~~~TemplateS~~~
[Place the Class of your Characters in Bolded or Underlined Text at the top of your Template, as well as the Sub-Class (if you have one). If you have ideas for a Sub-Class I did not mention, PM me about it and I’ll think it over]
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Personality: (I hope to see many unique and original characters, and this is the place where you can describe exactly how they are)
Occupation: (In some cases, your Sub-Class is your occupation.)
Race: (Be creative here. This is a world where human beings, half-human characters, and multi-formed beasts live together, so there is quite an array of options here. Along with your race, state whether it is a human, half-human, or multi-formed beast)
Appearance:
Weapon: (if any)
Specialty: (if any) (You can have a maximum of two Specialties)
-Well Rounded: You’re not exactly an expert at anything, but you have a good knowledge of everything from hand-to-hand combat, to magic, etc.
-Combat Specialist: The Character is quite skilled with things such as weaponry of any kind, even bare handed! Watch out for these people in close brawls. They will usually not know of even the simplest Magica. (Magnus)
-Magica User: These people are highly talented in the field of Magica, able to cast spells and such things. Their power in this area can be quite immense, depending on the skill, knowledge, and experience of the person. Though some may be able to defend themselves in a duke-it-out fight, their physical and offensive weaponry abilities are rather lacking. (Magica)
-Healer: All who are trained within the medical field are very smart when it comes to the health of others, and how to figure out exactly what makes a person's mind and body work. They are very resourceful people, and can merely take things from their surroundings to make medicines to cure their comrades. There are few who know healing magica, however this is a skill that is known to very few. Most are merely medicinal/surgical/psychological doctors who do not know such advanced techniques. They have a great knowledge of the world and it's quirks, usually more so than most would know. (Magica)
-Mechanica: People with this talent work quite well with their hands. They know the workings of Keimusho technology and architecture, from wooden caravans, to buildings, and for the masters, even something as sophisticated as the Noble Classes Airships. They often use mechanical weapons, or even tools to fight. They are not the most valiant of fighters, but they can defend themselves fairly well. (Magnus)
**NOTE** If there are any Specialties that you would like that I have not mentioned, PM me about it, and I’ll think it over
Energy: (Magnus Power, Magica, or Balanced. Keep in mind, Balanced is quite useful, however will not be as powerful as one who is adapt to just one) (This will probably be linked to your Specialty, in terms of Magnus or Magica)
Abilities: (Be creative. They can be either Magica, Magnus Power, or a mix of both (but only if you have the option to do so)
Tribe: (For the Stateless People only)
Family Lineage/Bloodline: (For Noble Class only. If there is anything special about your family, please state it here.)
Element: (For those who have the ability to use Magica) (The options you have are Light, Dark, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Water, Earth, and Wind. If you have a suggestion for any other element, please let me know) (Element limit is 3)
Bio:
Extra: (Anything else that you would like to add?)
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I'd just like to point out this is something I made nearly a year ago when I was really into this (haven't really written stories or RP's in quite some time, to be honest...). I just thought I'd stick it up here for old time's sake, and if anyone's interested, they can jump in. If not, that's fine too.
But for a roleplay at that level of detail, I have to make a nice bio as well 
