Stella Matutina:
DEMON HUNTERS
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DEMON HUNTERS
rated M. spots are currently OPEN
OOC thread / IC thread
OOC thread / IC thread
"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein."
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you."
Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil (1886)
"For as long as there has been man, there have been demons to thwart man. And for long as there have been demons, there has been man to fight demons. It is a bitter cycle, one which has challenged us to this day, to this hour, to this very second.
Many of us have asked ourselves: what exactly are demons? And what brings them to Earth? Why do they fight us? Some say they are manifestations of the human emotion. Some say they are simply the ghosts of living beings with a mad thirst for death. All that we are truly certain of is that if we refuse to fight back, it will be the end of humanity.
Yet, for each demon we exorcise, we ask ourselves: when will this vicious cycle stop? When will we get the peace that we have deserved for thousands of millennia?
Ladies and gentlemen, that peace starts with you! Every choice we make and every sacrifice we take goes towards the greater good, and that one day we may walk this Earth without worrying about what might be lurking around the corner, or that we may go to sleep without checking underneath the bed at night.
You are the path to that bright future! You are the keys to the doors of peace and light!
Welcome to Stella Matutina! Welcome... to the Order of the Morning Star!"
Many of us have asked ourselves: what exactly are demons? And what brings them to Earth? Why do they fight us? Some say they are manifestations of the human emotion. Some say they are simply the ghosts of living beings with a mad thirst for death. All that we are truly certain of is that if we refuse to fight back, it will be the end of humanity.
Yet, for each demon we exorcise, we ask ourselves: when will this vicious cycle stop? When will we get the peace that we have deserved for thousands of millennia?
Ladies and gentlemen, that peace starts with you! Every choice we make and every sacrifice we take goes towards the greater good, and that one day we may walk this Earth without worrying about what might be lurking around the corner, or that we may go to sleep without checking underneath the bed at night.
You are the path to that bright future! You are the keys to the doors of peace and light!
Welcome to Stella Matutina! Welcome... to the Order of the Morning Star!"
The hall erupted into a round of applause. This is the speech the Magus, Gabriel Aggelos, the head of Stella Matutina gives every year at the Order's opening presentation. And this year, you have the pleasure of hearing it in the flesh, as you sit in the hall of Stella Matutina, in the city of Griffin, California. You have, some way or another, been successful in joining the Order of the Morning Star and today is your very first day.
The world we know is two sides of a coin: Canaan, the human world and the one we exist in today and Gehenna, the demon world, unseen and unreachable. Underneath the naked eye, demons have plagued humanity for as long as anybody can remember, slipping through cracks between the two worlds.
But hunters who live to protect the world that we live in, use everything in their power to stop the imbalance in the world. Where there has been demons to hunt and feed on humans, there have been humans to hunt and sought out demons. This is the way the world has been for as long as time has known. Nobody is sure who threw the first punch or the cause for the ongoing, yet silent war, only that many people have died for it.
To those who are ignorant to Gehenna and do not believe in demons, they appear as either invisible or a basic form of what they are (for example, a cat sidhe or cat demon may appear as a house cat). However, those who know of and fully believe in Gehenna or have ever been struck by a demon see them for what they are: often toting a variety of features including horns, spines, strange colouring, fangs, claws or red eyes.
Only one thing has stopped humanity from completely wiping out demon-kind: The Decay. When a human kills a higher-ranking demon for the first time, they absorb its spirit. From this point forward, killing demons and being in demonic presence ignites the Decay, and the human slowly takes the form of the first demon they killed, both in mind and body. A veteran demon hunter can be easily seen by how much they look like a demon themselves.
The Decay can be slowed or reversed with time or a mixture of herbs of sorts but there is no known cure for it.
TERMINOLOGY
Spoiler:
The Decay
The incurable disease which plagues a person after they have killed their first demon. Once one has the Decay, the presence of Demons will speed the process and the person will become more like the first demon they killed, both in mind and body. It can only be slowed or reversed with time or certain remedies. Low-levelled demons, such as familiars, emit a low miasma which only slow the healing instead enforcing the Decay. The more powerful the demon, the more Decay they emit. Once the Decay has reached its limit, a person will fully transform into a demon.
One who possess the Decay is considered half demon and are able to give the Sight. The Sight is the ability to see demons, which is only given to those who have been wounded by a demon or decayed, or fully believe in them and Gehenna.
Elements
There exist five elements: ignis (fire), urere (rot), aer (air), humus (earth) and aqua (water). Each being, both human and demon, possess a natural element and although each element can be learned and harnessed through means of magic, the natural element is the strongest. One's natural element can be found through testing magic, however one who is unskilled or unable to use magic may never find their natural element.
One's natural element is also known to be genetic and it is common for the natural element of a parent to show in their children.
Ignis is control over fire and heat and represents destruction. Fire demons are chaotic and can be unpredictable and full of rage.
Urere is pestilence; disease and sickness. It is often showed in the form of spores or fungi. Rot demons can be slow or almost harmless, but when underestimated can inflict poison and sickness.
Aer is control over the wind and symbolises freedom.
Humus is the earth and soil and demons possessing it are often strong and unmoving.
Aqua is control over water and represents calmness and reliability.
Elements also have their own strengths and weaknesses against each other, and an element wheel exists to portray this: Fire beats Rot, Rot beats Air, Air beats Earth, Earth beats Water, Water beats Fire, etc.
Griffin, California
A smaller (fictional) city located a few hours north of Los Angeles on the edge of a forest beside Ascot Lake. Ignatii do live here, but those who are intune with the demons are aware that Griffin possess a higher presence of demons compared to other cities and towns.
Ignaritores/Ignatii
Those who cannot see demons and do not possess the Sight. Interchangeable when referring to innocents people who are not involved with demons in any way, even if they do possess the Sight.
The form a human or demon takes when seen by a person who does not possess the Sight is known as their Ignatii Form. One's Vera or True Form is the form a human or demon takes when seen by a person who possess the Sight.
Stella Matutina/The Order of the Morning Star
Founded in the late 1800s/early 1900s, it is a prestigious organisation with headquarters around the world. Their sole duty is to protect the world from demonic harm and to find peace between Gehenna and Canaan. They have several offices posted all around the world, however Griffin's headquarters serves as the main base of operations and is the only office that Stella Matutina teaches the art of demon hunting.
The Griffin HQ sits on a 10 hectare campus towards the edge of town, near Ascot Lake, vacating an old, Anglican old boys college originally built in the 1870s. Once the school hit bankruptcy in the 1920s, Stella Matutina moved from their old HQ, previously a church, and bought the land. It features many of the original buildings, but have outfitted them to suit their needs, including a food hall, weapon storage and underground, a prison and safekeeping of dangerous, unkillable but dormant demons.
As there are a number of wards protecting the campus, Ignatii are naturally uncurious of the area and tend to stay away. To them, it seems like a prestigious special school of sorts. The illusions is effective until an Ignatii is purposely brought inside the gates and told of its true form. This however is strictly forbidden by Stella Matutina for more annoyance and inconvenience sake than the protection of its identity to the Ignatii.
All knowledgeable demon hunters, classed or unclassed, knows of this organisation. However, it is not the most well known or the most successful: those roles lie to organisations such as the Order of the Golden Dawn or Alpha et Omega.
The leader of the order is known as the Magus, a title which currently belongs to Gabriel Aggelos.
The incurable disease which plagues a person after they have killed their first demon. Once one has the Decay, the presence of Demons will speed the process and the person will become more like the first demon they killed, both in mind and body. It can only be slowed or reversed with time or certain remedies. Low-levelled demons, such as familiars, emit a low miasma which only slow the healing instead enforcing the Decay. The more powerful the demon, the more Decay they emit. Once the Decay has reached its limit, a person will fully transform into a demon.
One who possess the Decay is considered half demon and are able to give the Sight. The Sight is the ability to see demons, which is only given to those who have been wounded by a demon or decayed, or fully believe in them and Gehenna.
Elements
There exist five elements: ignis (fire), urere (rot), aer (air), humus (earth) and aqua (water). Each being, both human and demon, possess a natural element and although each element can be learned and harnessed through means of magic, the natural element is the strongest. One's natural element can be found through testing magic, however one who is unskilled or unable to use magic may never find their natural element.
One's natural element is also known to be genetic and it is common for the natural element of a parent to show in their children.
Ignis is control over fire and heat and represents destruction. Fire demons are chaotic and can be unpredictable and full of rage.
Urere is pestilence; disease and sickness. It is often showed in the form of spores or fungi. Rot demons can be slow or almost harmless, but when underestimated can inflict poison and sickness.
Aer is control over the wind and symbolises freedom.
Humus is the earth and soil and demons possessing it are often strong and unmoving.
Aqua is control over water and represents calmness and reliability.
Elements also have their own strengths and weaknesses against each other, and an element wheel exists to portray this: Fire beats Rot, Rot beats Air, Air beats Earth, Earth beats Water, Water beats Fire, etc.
Griffin, California
A smaller (fictional) city located a few hours north of Los Angeles on the edge of a forest beside Ascot Lake. Ignatii do live here, but those who are intune with the demons are aware that Griffin possess a higher presence of demons compared to other cities and towns.
Ignaritores/Ignatii
Those who cannot see demons and do not possess the Sight. Interchangeable when referring to innocents people who are not involved with demons in any way, even if they do possess the Sight.
The form a human or demon takes when seen by a person who does not possess the Sight is known as their Ignatii Form. One's Vera or True Form is the form a human or demon takes when seen by a person who possess the Sight.
Stella Matutina/The Order of the Morning Star
Founded in the late 1800s/early 1900s, it is a prestigious organisation with headquarters around the world. Their sole duty is to protect the world from demonic harm and to find peace between Gehenna and Canaan. They have several offices posted all around the world, however Griffin's headquarters serves as the main base of operations and is the only office that Stella Matutina teaches the art of demon hunting.
The Griffin HQ sits on a 10 hectare campus towards the edge of town, near Ascot Lake, vacating an old, Anglican old boys college originally built in the 1870s. Once the school hit bankruptcy in the 1920s, Stella Matutina moved from their old HQ, previously a church, and bought the land. It features many of the original buildings, but have outfitted them to suit their needs, including a food hall, weapon storage and underground, a prison and safekeeping of dangerous, unkillable but dormant demons.
As there are a number of wards protecting the campus, Ignatii are naturally uncurious of the area and tend to stay away. To them, it seems like a prestigious special school of sorts. The illusions is effective until an Ignatii is purposely brought inside the gates and told of its true form. This however is strictly forbidden by Stella Matutina for more annoyance and inconvenience sake than the protection of its identity to the Ignatii.
All knowledgeable demon hunters, classed or unclassed, knows of this organisation. However, it is not the most well known or the most successful: those roles lie to organisations such as the Order of the Golden Dawn or Alpha et Omega.
The leader of the order is known as the Magus, a title which currently belongs to Gabriel Aggelos.
CLASSES
Spoiler:
Unclassed Fighter -- Zero / Imperitus
Melee-based Fighter -- Beater / Bellatores
Ranged-based Fighter -- Strider / Iaculatores
Demon-summoning-based Fighter -- Summoner / Convocatores
Demon-possessing-based Fighter -- Ghost / Arbitores
Medic-based Fighter -- Healer / Sanatores
Scripture-based Fighter -- Aria / Oratores
DISCLAIMER: Classes are not restricted to their recommended weaponry. If you want a Summoner who wields guns, by all means, go for it as long as you outline it in your class or miscellaneous. Just be aware they won't be as good as a Strider that wields guns.
Spoiler:
Unclassed is where a Hunter usually begins, and are often without direction, without magic and have dabbled in skills and techniques without professional teaching. They are often self taught hunters who equip a variety of weapons, though never truly master them like a classed Hunter does. They are often the subject of ridicule from classed hunters and are never taken seriously until they receive proper training. They are rugged, raw but are the most common to be brought into orders before properly trained into fully-fledged Demon Hunters. However, there are some that choose to stay as Zeroes, using their raw talent as an unpredictable advantage on the battlefield.
Also known as Loners, Nemos, Nobodies, Masks or Faceless.
Also known as Loners, Nemos, Nobodies, Masks or Faceless.
Melee-based Fighter -- Beater / Bellatores
Spoiler:
A Beater is a close-range fighter who battles with swords, axes, polearms, fists and any other form of melee weaponry. Defensively and offensively, Beaters are meant to be the strongest, capable of taking and dealing heavy blows. Esteemed Beaters are awarded with weapons of 'Arcane Steel', which have the capacity to allow the user to make contracts with high-level demons, contain them and use their abilities in battle. Beaters are the most common class for hunters as they are versatile and its techniques are easily translated to any other class and normal-day tasks.
Also known as Knights, Warriors, Soldiers, Mercenaries, Tanks, Paladins and Swordsmen.
Also known as Knights, Warriors, Soldiers, Mercenaries, Tanks, Paladins and Swordsmen.
Ranged-based Fighter -- Strider / Iaculatores
Spoiler:
A Strider is a long-range fighter who battles with snipers, bows and arrows, crossbows, firearms and any other form of ranged weaponry. Striders are trained to move fast around the battlefield and to shoot with the upmost accuracy. Striders and Beaters are often trained together in pairs as the two work together in almost every situation. Striders have also been known to co-ordinate with Healers to create deadly poisons, or use magic itself as ammunition.
Also known as Gunners, Dragoons, Archers, Assassins, Thieves, Snipers, Marksmen, Gunmen and Rangers.
Also known as Gunners, Dragoons, Archers, Assassins, Thieves, Snipers, Marksmen, Gunmen and Rangers.
Demon-summoning-based Fighter -- Summoner / Convocatores
Spoiler:
A Summoner is one who can create contracts with demons and by using a tarot card, keys, jewellery or any other magic item, drawing a magic circle or reciting a passage. By proving their contract with blood, demons can be summoned and used in battle. Summoners are not only rare as they require a natural talent and high level of spirit but are the most susceptible to decaying as they are constantly in the presence of demons. Summoners can also have familiars, which are small demons which emit low levels of decay and are kept by their sides. Summoners are also proficient in magic, and can use grimoires and staffs as well.
Also known as Tamers, Dark Mages, Contractors, Gypsies and Trainers.
Also known as Tamers, Dark Mages, Contractors, Gypsies and Trainers.
Demon-possessing-based Fighter -- Ghost / Arbitores
Spoiler:
A Ghost is one who can possess friendly or enemy demons through means of using a tarot card, keys, jewellery or any other magic item, drawing a magic circle or reciting a passage. Much like Summoners, they require a natural talent but are the most sacrificial and hardest class to master, as the decay works fastest on Ghosts on a mental state due to being inside the demon. Once a Ghost has taken control of a demon, their bodies are lifeless and defenceless and must be protected, or the Ghost could be trapped inside the demon forever if their original body is killed. It is common for Ghosts to be pushed out of a demon and back into their own bodies (or if their body is dead, into limbo) if they have a weak will or the demon they are overshadowing has a strong one. Ghosts and Summoners are often paired together as a Summoner can successfully summon a demon and the Ghost will overshadow it.
Ghosts share their alternate names with Summoners, but are also known as Spirits or Possessors.
Ghosts share their alternate names with Summoners, but are also known as Spirits or Possessors.
Medic-based Fighter -- Healer / Sanatores
Spoiler:
A Healer is a support fighter, healing, creating wards and buffs to help their fellow fighters and using magic and hexes to debuff enemies. Doctors not only have an extensive knowledge on the human body, but can recognise a certain type of wound and heal it correctly. They also have a high proficiency in magic and can wield magic based weapons such as grimoires and staffs. In some cases, a Healer with knowledge of Summoning can create a contract with a demon to assist with healing, but using so much magic over time greatly increases the decay.
Also known as Doctors, Medics, Clerics or White Mages.
Also known as Doctors, Medics, Clerics or White Mages.
Scripture-based Fighter -- Aria / Oratores
Spoiler:
An Aria is one who chants holy and biblical scriptures to defeat demons. They also have a high proficiency in magic and can wield magic based weapons such as grimoires and staffs. Their power lies within their words however, as reciting a demon's 'death verse' instantly exorcises it. As chanting a death verse takes time and draws attention to themselves, Arias are dependable on their comrades and are useless when solo in a battle. Their acute memory makes them the best scholars and sources of knowledge.
Also known as Chanters, Singers, Priests or most religious based names.
Also known as Chanters, Singers, Priests or most religious based names.
DISCLAIMER: Classes are not restricted to their recommended weaponry. If you want a Summoner who wields guns, by all means, go for it as long as you outline it in your class or miscellaneous. Just be aware they won't be as good as a Strider that wields guns.
FAQ
Spoiler:
- Is the Decay inherited?
No. However some demon hunting families may have traditions where they have new hunters kill a certain type of demon as their 'initiation', the decay cannot be passed on to children.
- Is anyone immune to the Decay?
There have been records of people unable to contract the disease, but there have not been any cases of immunity in decades.
- Is there such as thing as a demi-demon or a person born from demon and human?
No. Despite rumours and myths, a demon cannot impregnate a human and visa versa.
- Are all demons evil or harmful to humans?
Actually, no! Though the majority of demons are hostile and their natural instinct is to cause harm, not all demons follow their true nature. Some just want to be left alone, while others live alongside humans (such as familiars and some contract demons). Some demons can disguise themselves as ignatii family pets while others blend into the cityscape. For most hunters, demons are not to be attacked (either out of mercy, respect or pure laziness) unless they are a threat to humanity.
- What era is this set in?
Modern day! So cell phones exist, the internet is real etc etc. Some people might work on traditional or historic ways of exorcising demons, but the era is definitely 2015.
RULES
- Activity! It's one of the things that I ask of most. You're making a commitment, but that's not saying life doesn't come first! Just remember to post regularly and if things do come up, please tell me!
- No godmodding, powerplaying, etc.
- This RP is rated M for mature! Swearing, gore and adult themes are expected!
- There are no proper number of 'spots'. Instead, there will be sections in the roleplay where new members can appropriately join. if the roleplay has started and you'd like to join, express interest, and I'll see about slotting you in.
- It's possible to be at any skill level and join Stella Matutina but for your character to benefit the most out of joining it, they must be a beginner hunter, self taught or raised in a hunter family, have not 'professionally' hunted and only recently or have not yet chosen their class. Higher level hunters could be part of this years recruits but it would have made more sense for a higher level hunter to have been recruited earlier.
- It's also possible to have not read the terminology section and still sign up. Just be aware your character will be quite out of the know!
- As usual, feel free to ask me any questions!
SIGN-UP TEMPLATE
NAME: (include any nicknames)
DATE OF BIRTH: (dd/mm/yyyy, usually over the age of 18 but there has been cases of younger hunters)
GENDER: (go nuts)
HUNTER CLASS: (one of the seven above, or if your character hasn't decided, you can just put Zero)
AFFINITY: (natural element (see elements in the terminology) affinity. if none or unknown, just put n/a)
APPEARANCE: (either written or a decent, full body image or both. if your character has suffered decay, make sure to include both normal (ignatii) appearance and decayed (vera or true) appearance)
HISTORY: (make it as long as you desire. what i want most of of this is how your character was introduced to demon hunting and how they found their way into the order)
FIRST DEMON SLAYED: (simply describe what kind of demon. include pictures if you want. however it is possible to join the Order of the Morning Star and not have killed a demon, therefore not have suffered any Decay if you are a skilled hunter who has something else kill for you. it is common for summoners or hunters who were brought into hunting by a friend of family member to not have been inflicted)
RP SAMPLE: (please provide a sufficient sample, describing either the first time your character encountered a demon and killed it, therefore forcing the Decay on themselves, or perhaps how they found their way into the Order of the Morning Star. something that will describe their personality well)
MISCELLANEOUS: (anything extra worth mentioning)
DATE OF BIRTH: (dd/mm/yyyy, usually over the age of 18 but there has been cases of younger hunters)
GENDER: (go nuts)
HUNTER CLASS: (one of the seven above, or if your character hasn't decided, you can just put Zero)
AFFINITY: (natural element (see elements in the terminology) affinity. if none or unknown, just put n/a)
APPEARANCE: (either written or a decent, full body image or both. if your character has suffered decay, make sure to include both normal (ignatii) appearance and decayed (vera or true) appearance)
HISTORY: (make it as long as you desire. what i want most of of this is how your character was introduced to demon hunting and how they found their way into the order)
FIRST DEMON SLAYED: (simply describe what kind of demon. include pictures if you want. however it is possible to join the Order of the Morning Star and not have killed a demon, therefore not have suffered any Decay if you are a skilled hunter who has something else kill for you. it is common for summoners or hunters who were brought into hunting by a friend of family member to not have been inflicted)
RP SAMPLE: (please provide a sufficient sample, describing either the first time your character encountered a demon and killed it, therefore forcing the Decay on themselves, or perhaps how they found their way into the Order of the Morning Star. something that will describe their personality well)
MISCELLANEOUS: (anything extra worth mentioning)
ACCEPTED HUNTERS
Rose Emilia Ardent - Skymin
Taylor Jackson - SV
Adelaide Ileana Rosaria - Nakuzami
Catherine Eska Von Gosridam & Novula Krytis - 「sarcasm
Naida Tuanama - Retro Bug
Clinton & Miles Uta'i - Swolligator
Manami Yoshida - ANARCHit3cht
Rachel Renée Robinson - Data_Error
Ian Hardgrove - Reportmyname
Tyler Boone - Ozymandias
Gabriel Ferreira - The Last Sentinel
Taylor Jackson - SV
Adelaide Ileana Rosaria - Nakuzami
Catherine Eska Von Gosridam & Novula Krytis - 「sarcasm
Naida Tuanama - Retro Bug
Manami Yoshida - ANARCHit3cht
Rachel Renée Robinson - Data_Error
Ian Hardgrove - Reportmyname
Tyler Boone - Ozymandias
Gabriel Ferreira - The Last Sentinel
MISCELLANEOUS
Spoiler:
image references:
stella matutina banners made by me
Future train market by nkabuto
Demon's World by nkabuto
allison argent by Elekk Poodoo
Something That Represents Your Favorite Culture by sachiteng
special thanks to
to my pals in the skype chat for reading my crap
to decs for my giving me good latin translations and not killing me when i ruined them
thanks to ao no exorcist, strangelykatie, suzanne geary and all those monster girl blogs i follow for giving me art fuel.
to my computer for keeping the .txt file with my notes in it alive for like 2 years
stella matutina banners made by me
Future train market by nkabuto
Demon's World by nkabuto
allison argent by Elekk Poodoo
Something That Represents Your Favorite Culture by sachiteng
special thanks to
to my pals in the skype chat for reading my crap
to decs for my giving me good latin translations and not killing me when i ruined them
thanks to ao no exorcist, strangelykatie, suzanne geary and all those monster girl blogs i follow for giving me art fuel.
to my computer for keeping the .txt file with my notes in it alive for like 2 years
★ ★ ★
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