The Akashic Institute, A Fantasy Role-play

Note: Follow the rules here. This role-play can contain mature content up to explicit sexual content. Do that through PMs, if you must at all. Violence will be allowed. Also this RP will go in round (person X, then Y, then Z, then X again) unless sometime is inactive for more than a week. At that point I will take charge of their character (if they are important) and put them someplace until they return (make them bedridden for a while, have to take care of something, etc. I will not kill them off.)

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The Story

It goes by many names on many different worlds. "The Mind of God" or "The Eternal Library". A record of all existences, over all time in all the universe. The Akashic Record, as it was called by its guardians, fell to Unice some 50 years ago in a meteor. Along with it fell the two guardians.

Sulfer, the guardian from the Dark God, and Roppelz, the guardian from the Light God, both swore to protect the balance of the universe and prevent the Records from falling into the wrong hands. A city, the City of Knowledge, cropped up to defend the Records after the King was informed of their importance.

The crash, however, caused magic to be unleashed upon the land of Unice. Humans, now filled with mana, did not know where to turn, as no magic had existed on Unice before the crash. Determined to right the wrong, Sulfer and Roppelz spent 50 years building the Akashic Institute.

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The city is north, the school is to the south.

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This is where you, one either plagued with the ability to use magic or interest in studying it, have come.

Rank

You are a student, either a:
• Conceptualist- A student who knows intellectually about magic, but who cannot or will not use it. You have come to study magic, and might choose a school of magic to study specifically, but will not wield its power. You may remain at the school as long as you wish and may go to town.
• Layman- You have just arrived at the school and can use magic. You don't know very much about it, (either not much in general, or only about the magic YOU wield). Beginner, may remain for three years, may not leave the campus or you will be expelled.
• Practitioner- Second year student. Still not allowed to leave the campus.
• Journeyman- Third year student, allowed to enter the City of Knowledge and perform work in the name of the school. After this year, you will be asked to go on your way and help the nation with your skills.

Magic

There are 12 schools of magic
• Fire- Simple, you can create and manipulate flames
• Water- You can create and manipulate water
• Ground- You can manipulate dirt, sand, and natural stone [See Steel for information on what you CANNOT use]
• Flora- You can manipulate plant life. This can vary from using plants to attack enemies to using their properties accurately for poisons or healing
• Psychic- Telepathy, telekinesis, mind control, "magic of the mind" is under this school
• Electric- You can use electric style magic
• Air- Allows the user to manipulate air currents, not only for attacks of blasts of air, but also to raise or lower the temperature around them
• Steel- Control altered earth [metals] such as steel or bronze
• Spectral- A spectral user might be able to talk to spirits, or see them, or even astral project
• "Fighting"- This school allows the user to "buff" their body for physical combat. Often is only usable on the wielder, though few have the ability to "buff" others
• Fauna- The ability to shape shift into animals [There is no other form of shifting in this word aka no shifting into another human form or into an inanimate object]
• Dark- Powers and pacts with demons, either using their powers as your own or having them as companions [RARE]
• Light- Powers and pacts with angels, either using their powers as your own or having them as companions [RARE]

Races

To keep it simple, all the races generally live together, though individuals might hold a dislike for one or the other:
• Humans- normal humans, equally good at everything, can have any natural skin, eye, or hair color
• Elves- only started showing up after the crash, creatures of mana they are not skilled at combat, can have any hair or eye color, natural skin tones
• Orcs- Long time rival to the humans, skilled in combat and rarely can use magic, natural hair and eye color, any skin tone
• Feyline- any person with animal-like characteristics, generally more lithe than humans and less hardy, they are usually good with magic, any natural hair, eye, or skin colors
  ((If you have any more race ideas (like histories or kinds) let me know))

The Varangians


The people known as the Varangians were first ‘born’ ten years after the Akashic Record fell upon Unice. The first hints of their ‘birth’ were those that started to appear with purple hair and eyes to match. With the madness that the Akashic had brought forth these strange nuances were looked over as nothing more than randomness. Yet some looked upon these strange children as something new, some even said touched by divinity for the color purple had always been thought of as that of royalty. As the land started to adjust to the magic now brought to it those born with purple hair were already into their teens or were young adults. And now that peace had come so would the time for deliberation and questions. Some started to look into the strange phenomena of the ones with purple hair, seeing if it was a change caused by magic.

Yet as the eyes of the curious looked upon them, so did the eyes of those that feared the magic that had been unleashed upon the world. As the whispers spread and the rumors spoke of the dangers these people presented those with the signs started to try and hide away from the eyes of those around them. Yet this was seen as proof that they couldn’t be trusted. They weren’t trusted, yet they hadn’t shown any reason not to. All it would take was one incident, one simple excuse… and it came soon enough. A small village, a young girl, and the one incident that would spark a conflict. A girl, barely the age of ten lived quietly with her family in the village. They lived the hard life of peasants as best they could, just trying to get by. Her name was Vara, and she had beautiful purple hair and big purple eyes.

It started with many of the men of the village taunting and laughing at her father for the strange daughter he had. Yet he defended her at every turn and at all costs. Slowly the taunting grew into bullying, and then soon into hate for her and her family. The climax of it all came when the men of the village showed up and demanded that the girl be banished from the village or her whole family would be forced out. When her father stood his ground and rejected them they sprang forward and attacked. When Vara saw her father being beaten by the crowd of men she couldn’t hold herself back. She gave a cry that seemed to shake the ground and when the men looked they saw glowing red eyes staring back at them.

They didn’t have a chance to try and figure out what was happening to her. She cried out in anger and charged the men, rage taking her over. The men laughed at first, until the first man she collided into found his leg ripped from its socket. It was then apparent that something was wrong with her and they left the father to attack the girl. She killed one man but couldn’t stand up to them all. She was overwhelmed and dragged out to the end of the village. As she tried to break free her father came with the rest of her family and they tried to rescue her. Yet they were held back by the rest of village and soon little Vara was hanging from a tree. Her beautiful purple hair was drenched in red , and those big eyes no longer had life.

Word quickly spread of what she had done, of what she had been capable of. The fear of those with the purple hair grew like wildfire, and it only took one man to suggest a simple solution. He called them beasts, no longer human as they had been degraded by magic into animals. He then told all that they were dangerous, they were a threat, and they should all be put to the sword. His words spread and the Red Moon Massacre was the result. Throughout the countryside anyone with purple hair and eyes was quickly put to death, countless hundreds died as the moon rose that night red as if the blood had even gotten to it.

The killings went through all rungs of society, and spread fear throughout. Hearing of this all, the son of a king looked on in horror. He looked out the window in fear, for his hair and eyes were purple as was that of the little girl he had heard of. Her story brought anger and rage into his body. It was that night that his father, the King, appeared before his son with many of his most valiant knights. The son knew what was going to happen, knew that his father had fallen to the fear of the other humans. Yes, the OTHER humans.

When the King told his son that he must be killed, the son shook his head. He renounced his father, renounced his heritage and renounced his humanity. He stood before them all and with a booming voice declared himself a Varangian. A simple name for his kind, in dedication to the little girl that had been the first to die from hate. His father was enraged, but the son wasn’t finished. He swore that he would not sit idly and let his people die. He declared that he would conquer his father’s kingdom to make his own, a kingdom for his own people. After that, the battle commenced. Enraged with fury the son let out a roar that shook the castle and charged them with eyes as red as the bloody moon in the sky.

That night, that night the Varangians had their kingdom. The son, former prince and now king proclaimed his realm safe for all Varangians. He called for all of his kind to unite under his banner and all that heard it came before him. He grew a large army, and said that any human who dared to enter with hate would be killed on the spot. The Varangian’s had their home, they had their army and finally they had their safety. The new King named his realm the Kingdom of Vara, in honor of the first victim of hate.




Varangian School of Magic

Those with Varangian blood are capable of only one kind of magic that has since been named after them. Whereas most magic is learned through study, Varangian magic is mostly instinctual. The most famous aspect of Varangian Magic is called the Red Moon Rage, where when a Varangian is pushed by anger or passion their eyes glow a bright red and their bodies because greatly enhanced. From what has been studied this rage creates great speed, strength and endurance. The older the Varangian the more powerful the Red Moon Rage becomes, showing that age seems to be the greatest aspect to all Varangian Magic.

Character Profile

An example can be seen at the bottom of the thread by looking at my characters.

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If you have any questions or concerns, please post here (or PM me).

Also, for those who do not know, I welcome additions to my world in the form of towns, factions, races, magic types, etc. Anything you come up with, you feel free to send to me and I will most likely add it if it is well thought out!

The "time frame" would be a "King Arthur" style with knights, farmers, merchants, etc but not much tech. Magic is VERY NEW to the world, so most people don't understand it well and many misconceptions abound. Some people even try to kill those with magic. The new magic and the races in fighting cause lots of trouble in the land. Bandits and marauders roam the roads, many warlords seek to take over the nation, or even just the City of Knowledge.

The first part of the role-play consists of introducing your characters to the school. There is not currently an "enemy" faction, but frankly who wouldn't want to go after the source of all the knowledge in the universe? If someone makes a really good offer for alien races or factions who are after the Records as well, I will welcome it and we can make an epic fantasy sci-fi baby together or something.

I will wait for a reply from those who showed interest and start the thread sometime after that. I will welcome latecomers.

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My Characters

Name: Doctor Sulfer
Race: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Rank: Instructor
School of Magic: Unknown, he seems able to use them all at will. It is thought that it comes from contact with the Record.
Appearance:
Personality: Sulfer is a nice fellow, but irritating at times as he doesn't seem to focus well in group situations. Even when he teaches classes, he can wander off on tangents, or even just wander out of the room. He is known as a hard teacher, as he will still expect you to know the lesson even when he doesn't teach the entire class. He is kind enough to help through tutoring, however.
History: It is said by some that Sulfer has lived a thousand lives, each with the full memory of the last. This is true, it was the will of his Dark Master. His soul was carved by the Lord himself, and sent off to be his eyes and ears. A Lord more interested in keeping balance of good and evil, Sulfer has been given leave to become his own person, as long as he guards the Record.
Skills: Sulfer is a skilled magi and martial artist.

Name: Wendolyn Lithndal
Race: Elf
Age: 50
Rank: Layman
School of Magic: Fauna
Appearance:
Personality: Wendolyn is a caring, non-violent, and intelligent person. She has never argued or yelled in her life, though she is anything but a follower. She has a strong will and her own views of right and wrong.
History: One of the first elves to appear after the crash, she doesn't remember anything before waking up naked, fully grown, in the middle of a forest. She wandered blindly, shifting forms as she saw the beasts that had them, until she was found by a small band of elves and took her elven form for the most part.

Her culture grew swiftly, helped by the humans who took it upon themselves to teach the child-race. After a while she grew to be a skilled shifter, it seemed natural for her to do so, and she would often spend her free time (she would not kill or hunt, so she was given a job to make clothing) running wildly through the forest.

When she learned of the Institute, the thought it might be a place for her to finally say peacefully. The land had many problems and she hated violence. So she came to the City of Knowledge, to enroll in the school, with secret hopes of being an instructor one day.
Skills: She can change her form into any animal, no matter how big or small, that she has seen or encountered.

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If you have any questions, please let me know, but make sure to read the entire post to make sure the answer isn't there!

I have had some interest shown, and as people will be able to join after it is created, I might start this role-play this weekend. If you are interested, please post your characters in this thread for approval and to let other RPers get an idea of who is involved.

The Varangians


The people known as the Varangians were first ‘born’ ten years after the Akashic Record fell upon Unice. The first hints of their ‘birth’ were those that started to appear with purple hair and eyes to match. With the madness that the Akashic had brought forth these strange nuances were looked over as nothing more than randomness. Yet some looked upon these strange children as something new, some even said touched by divinity for the color purple had always been thought of as that of royalty. As the land started to adjust to the magic now brought to it those born with purple hair were already into their teens or were young adults. And now that peace had come so would the time for deliberation and questions. Some started to look into the strange phenomena of the ones with purple hair, seeing if it was a change caused by magic.

Yet as the eyes of the curious looked upon them, so did the eyes of those that feared the magic that had been unleashed upon the world. As the whispers spread and the rumors spoke of the dangers these people presented those with the signs started to try and hide away from the eyes of those around them. Yet this was seen as proof that they couldn’t be trusted. They weren’t trusted, yet they hadn’t shown any reason not to. All it would take was one incident, one simple excuse… and it came soon enough. A small village, a young girl, and the one incident that would spark a conflict. A girl, barely the age of ten lived quietly with her family in the village. They lived the hard life of peasants as best they could, just trying to get by. Her name was Vara, and she had beautiful purple hair and big purple eyes.

It started with many of the men of the village taunting and laughing at her father for the strange daughter he had. Yet he defended her at every turn and at all costs. Slowly the taunting grew into bullying, and then soon into hate for her and her family. The climax of it all came when the men of the village showed up and demanded that the girl be banished from the village or her whole family would be forced out. When her father stood his ground and rejected them they sprang forward and attacked. When Vara saw her father being beaten by the crowd of men she couldn’t hold herself back. She gave a cry that seemed to shake the ground and when the men looked they saw glowing red eyes staring back at them.

They didn’t have a chance to try and figure out what was happening to her. She cried out in anger and charged the men, rage taking her over. The men laughed at first, until the first man she collided into found his leg ripped from its socket. It was then apparent that something was wrong with her and they left the father to attack the girl. She killed one man but couldn’t stand up to them all. She was overwhelmed and dragged out to the end of the village. As she tried to break free her father came with the rest of her family and they tried to rescue her. Yet they were held back by the rest of village and soon little Vara was hanging from a tree. Her beautiful purple hair was drenched in red , and those big eyes no longer had life.

Word quickly spread of what she had done, of what she had been capable of. The fear of those with the purple hair grew like wildfire, and it only took one man to suggest a simple solution. He called them beasts, no longer human as they had been degraded by magic into animals. He then told all that they were dangerous, they were a threat, and they should all be put to the sword. His words spread and the Red Moon Massacre was the result. Throughout the countryside anyone with purple hair and eyes was quickly put to death, countless hundreds died as the moon rose that night red as if the blood had even gotten to it.

The killings went through all rungs of society, and spread fear throughout. Hearing of this all, the son of a king looked on in horror. He looked out the window in fear, for his hair and eyes were purple as was that of the little girl he had heard of. Her story brought anger and rage into his body. It was that night that his father, the King, appeared before his son with many of his most valiant knights. The son knew what was going to happen, knew that his father had fallen to the fear of the other humans. Yes, the OTHER humans.

When the King told his son that he must be killed, the son shook his head. He renounced his father, renounced his heritage and renounced his humanity. He stood before them all and with a booming voice declared himself a Varangian. A simple name for his kind, in dedication to the little girl that had been the first to die from hate. His father was enraged, but the son wasn’t finished. He swore that he would not sit idly and let his people die. He declared that he would conquer his father’s kingdom to make his own, a kingdom for his own people. After that, the battle commenced. Enraged with fury the son let out a roar that shook the castle and charged them with eyes as red as the bloody moon in the sky.

That night, that night the Varangians had their kingdom. The son, former prince and now king proclaimed his realm safe for all Varangians. He called for all of his kind to unite under his banner and all that heard it came before him. He grew a large army, and said that any human who dared to enter with hate would be killed on the spot. The Varangian’s had their home, they had their army and finally they had their safety. The new King named his realm the Kingdom of Vara, in honor of the first victim of hate.




Varangian School of Magic

Those with Varangian blood are capable of only one kind of magic that has since been named after them. Whereas most magic is learned through study, Varangian magic is mostly instinctual. The most famous aspect of Varangian Magic is called the Red Moon Rage, where when a Varangian is pushed by anger or passion their eyes glow a bright red and their bodies because greatly enhanced. From what has been studied this rage creates great speed, strength and endurance. The older the Varangian the more powerful the Red Moon Rage becomes, showing that age seems to be the greatest aspect to all Varangian Magic.

Addition by A-man.

Sorry for the delay (if anyone is checking this). I am working on two other stories right now, plus summer semester just ended, so I have been busy. I am intersted in continuing this and I might pull over another RP idea from a story I am currently working on.

I think I'll get the map up for this sometime soon (playing with table/map maker lately) and then I'll see about getting this started.

Truthfully I've not seen much activity since A-man on this, but I am going to try to keep it going anyway.

Everyone should join... or I'll stab you.

Well, I'm planning to join.

Then I give you my support new one, if you need any help with anything at all just hit me up. I'm good at creating stuff. So yeah.

So this is a basic map for the parts that I made. I am offering A-man to alter it in paint and send me a copy, so I can add any ideas he has to it. Also expect the start of the rp today, either soon after the map is finished, or after work.

As promised, my additions to The Akashic Institute.

I have one more character in mind, but I need a bit of time to work out the issues.

Anyway, here we go.


Name: Roppelz Roppelz (Seriously)
Race: Unknown
Age: Very Old
Rank: Instructor
School of Magic: Seems to use them all, but specializes in Fire.
Appearance:
Personality: A wiry old fellow that seems to be well into his senility, despite this he's a genius when it comes to the magical arts or really just anything academic. Despite his incredible knowledge, he often speaks in a way that even the simplest of folks can understand and because of this, he's a wonderful teacher. He's fun loving in his own way, even if his age is catching up to him. Because of this, while he can enjoy watching others run around and play, he'd much rather sit in a chair and read a musty old tome while observing from a distance. Extroversive with a little introversion. Seems to become almost dead serious when around his partner, Sulfer, however.
History: One of many, the legendary wizard Roppelz has existed since time immemorial, though few can claim whether he is the same or another Roppelz, this wizard claims to have existed as long as the Akashic Record has. His history otherwise is shrouded in mystery.
Skills: Skilled in all magical arts and proficient in battle tactics and strategy. Not bad at knitting either.



Name: Cerise Lumiere
Race: Elf
Age: 43
Rank: Layman
School of Magic: Flora
Appearance:
Personality: A quiet but friendly elven girl. She's inherently trusting of those around her to the point of naivety. She doesn't know where to draw the line and because of this, can be easily manipulated. She came to the Akashic Institute simply because someone told her it was a good idea to hone her magical proficiency.
History: A 'young' elven florist who specializes in the control and understanding of plant-life and can use them for healing purposes as well as making deadly poisons if the occasion calls for it. She joined the Akashic Institute literally because it was suggested to her. With nothing better to do with her time, she has taken up this task to better her skills... or so it seems anyway.
Skills: Skilled Alchemist and Caretaker of plant-life.

Name: Halott Bucsu

Nickname/Alias: Red Clawed Devil

Race: Varangian

Age: 19

Rank: Test subject within the Varangian Quarter of the Town

School of Magic: Varangian

Appearance:

Height: 5’ 11”

Hair Color: Dark Purple

Eye Color: Dark Purple



Personality: Newly arrived at the Town, those who see Halott believe him to be mute and completely without any capability to show any kind of emotion. He shows no reaction to any physical pain brought to him and doesn’t seem to care if anyone says or does anything to him. All of this of course is brought on by the state that all see him in. Always chained and guarded by two Varangian Soldiers, his body is restrained physically and emotionally. Without these, he is said to be uncontrollable and completely mad.

History: Halott Bucsu, the name murmured quietly in fear within the Kingdom of Vara. Where most Varangians are looked on as equals within the Kingdom, this one is looked on as nothing more than a beast. A normal boy growing up, as normal as being a Varangian is. Both his parents were Varangian, and he was considered one of the newly pureblood of the Varangian. Like most he was expected to have a bright future, this changed when he hit puberty at the age of fourteen. It was sudden and merciless; a rampage that left his entire village killed leaving red running like rivers. By the time the authorities within the Kingdom found out about the incident he was all but gone, but the trail was easy to follow. From ravaged bodies of unlucky travelers, to the many villages he went through a bloody trail of carnage was left in his wake.

It was only when the Royal Guard got involved that he was found. What they found wasn’t a normal Varangian as they knew themselves to be. His eyes bore red at all times, and his hands were dominated by burning red claws. He wasn’t killed though, instead he was captured and ‘brought to heel’. Fear soon spread within those in power that this might be something that could happen to more Varangians. As they held him though and no others like him came to pass many wished for him to be killed and forgotten. Instead a studier of magic requested to take him to the Akashic Institute and study him there, to get a better understanding of what Varangian’s were able to do and what they were capable of becoming. The king agreed and so the one called the Red Clawed Devil was taken from the Kingdom of Vara to the town outside the Akashic Institute.

He is a test subject, to be used by Kingdom approved scientists. The first accomplishment they brought forth were the chains that bind him, taking the magic infused in the land around the Record and infusing it into the chains to ‘calm’ the boy. Now, he is nothing more than a walking thing to be used at their leisure. Locked inside the Varangian Quarter of the town rumors abound of the pained cries at night, the haunting whispers that echo through the streets of somebody that only wants to die. But there are other rumors, darker tales… of laughing… endless laughing… as if the voice was merely waiting.


Skills: From known studies the subject is resilient to pain to an unlikely level and the known aspect of Blood Moon Rage is brought to an apex level within the young man even though his age goes against all known studies. The strangest thing about the boy is his gaining of claws during his rage, though his rage hasn’t been brought forth since his arrival and ‘entombment’ in the chains.



(( Second to be coming shortly. ))

This post has been edited by A-Man on Aug 3 2012, 11:43:38 PM

Nice one A-man, I await the next, though I need to message you about one part...

Also, see the announcement. I am going to make one more character as well, I think and I'm posting with Wendolyn and perhaps the other character tonight.

Edit: Here is the new character:

Name: Bracha Novack
Race: Varangian (Shh, don't tell)
Age: 15
Rank: Conceptualist
School of Magic: Varangian
Appearance:
She dyes her hair black, as her parents taught her, and wears specially fashioned thick-rimmed glasses to draw attention away from her eyes. She keeps her hair long, so to hide her human-like ears and have people who notice her eyes perhaps think she is of elven decent. She generally wears a gray tunic with black leggings and thin leather moccasins.
Personality: Bracha is a smart girl, but she keeps to herself. Plagued with a prey-like fear of being found out, she is always terribly nervous and unwilling to get close to others. She has many nervous habits, including biting her nails and picking at wounds till they scar. When she is forced to interact with others, she is nauseatingly nice and lacks many social skills such as understanding sarcasm.
History: Bracha's father was a part of the war for the Varangians. He saw many horrors in the time he spent fighting for his people, and as he fought he began to question the reasonableness of their fight. He knew that they were mistreated and at risk for death, but he couldn't help hoping there was another way. Many rejected him, calling him a traitor to his people, so he ran off with his, still supportive, wife.
The two of them colored their hair and tried to blend in outside of their country. They were found out at times, and ran off. When their new child was born with beautiful purple hair, they had to snatch her away from the midwife before she killed her. With Bracha in tow they found a small village to settle down in, filled mostly with elves who didn't question their eye colors.
Bracha was taught meditation and ancient calming techniques that her father had learned after leaving his country. He felt that the Varangians could learn to master their rage, and that it was something that came about from lack of discipline. Bracha has never gone into Red Moon Rage in all her 15 years.
Bracha learned of her history from her father, and grew a desire to find out why her people were born. She heard of the Institute from a passing salesman and begged her parents to allow her to go. She had been taught all they knew about hiding themselves from others, and he knew she would not be deterred. She also knew that she was another mouth to feed, the oldest of three children, and that it was hard for them to care for them all.
So she set off on her own, traveling by caravan, to The City of Knowledge.
Skills: Red Moon Rage, though she has never entered that state. She also is skilled with herbs and berries, knowing combinations that attach firmly to hair and dye them various colors.