[Other FULL] Ascent: De Draconis Bellum [M]

[Jay]

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-A Fantasy RP based on many different fantasy RPGs and JRPGs. Rated M for mature due to gore, violence and mature themes.-​

Spoiler:

~Theme of the RP~

~Rising Up - From Tales of Zestiria~

♫ Lyrics ♫

In the dark I see you with hope and despair all around
And I know that we're still fighting in this darkness
And with the fear of losing ground

Danger hides in shadows, this wilderness of lost and found
But in this closing darkness, among this terror there's a light we can see

Don't give up!
We still have a chance to make it
I feel us all rising up

Now, don't give up!
Even though the odds have left us
Feeling so small, but we can't stop now

I know there's a light, the only shining in our hearts
Standing here, in this place where freedom lives

I know there's a light, don't let it fade out, it's our heart
Let it go

We are not defeated, we're not losing, in these flames of war
We're rising up​

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Nobilis. A land so very unlike our own and yet, in many ways the same. Today I will tell you the story of this great land, today I will recite to you the legend of the war of dragons.

In a year unknown to us, the world of Nobilis was ruled by the human race as we ourselves know it to be. Groups of people with the ability to do great and ruinous things both, a species of beings outside of the natural order and capable of changing things for better or for worse. Unlike our world however, were the fantastical creatures that roamed the world alongside them. Beasts that we regard as nothing more than legend, powerful chimera, elegant pegasus, fierce griffin and monstrous demons among so many other things. Near every incredible piece of folklore and myth existed in these lands alongside the most common of insects that we see as nothing in our day and age.

Humans in our world could surely never cull these beasts, however the humans of Nobilis were gifted with incredible powers, magics and unparalleled skill with combat both ranged and melee. When one lives in a World where adaptation is necessary then one adapts. Is this not what makes us human? For many years the humans were the dominant species of the World, they built great cities and made incredible advances in the ways of medicine and technology. Things such as basic fire-arms became commonplace and the humans were set only to advance further. They became more and more industrialized... yes, in many ways they began to follow the same path that those of our world now walk so graciously.

But Nobilis is not our World, no, not at all. Unlike our reality, the nature of this great land would not be so easily dominated. In retaliation to the humans, the guardians of the mythical world rose up to put a stop to their advances.

The dragons came and upon their wings they carried the retribution that they felt the humans deserved. They destroyed their grand cities and put a stop to their advancement in technology and magic. The dragons possessed a powerful aura of dominance, their very existence in Nobilis drove the mythical creatures of the world, peaceful or no, into a combat ready state. Commanding these beasts like generals, the dragons waged war. In a fell swoop of power that not a single living being could see coming... the growth of humanity was stunted and the humans were forced back to their capital city, Regalia, in the Southern regions of the land.

Retaliation however, was inevitable.

Pooling their remaining resources, the humans of Nobilis ranked their numbers by strength and formed a great army to combat the draconic threat. Our story begins with the first battalion of the human army and their march on the ruined city of Pharus, a central location that would serve as a solid base of operations for the future in the war to come.

But the dragons had been strong enough to win every single battle thus far. Could an organised army really be enough to defeat such a threat? Dread filled the hearts of the human race as they began to lose hope. An atmosphere of pure oppression hung in the air as they marched towards what was not only a fruitless counter-attack, but also the final hope for their entire race.

They could have never expected the strength that stood alongside them, that dwelt in their very natures. When one lives in a World where adaptation is necessary then one adapts, this is what makes us human.

The tale of this world is old and long, there are many conflicting versions to be told. But I assure you that this one is the truth. As we follow the accounts of the heroes of this war... those few whom would lead humanity to whatever future they were destined to face. Mere soldiers at the beginning of this first battle, marching towards Pharus with mixed emotions as the desperate human force dreaded what they thought to be a death sentence, these heroes had no idea that they would be playing a part in humanities greatest test. The battles that would be forever remembered as "The War of The Dragon".

De Draconis Bellum.​

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NOTE: Most of the information here may not be relevant to the RP immediately. However it will help you to get a nice grip on how this World works. If you're confused about a certain aspect of the story, culture or World of the RP then turn here. If the information you want isn't here then please ask me directly here in the OOC, through a VM or through a PM.

I REPEAT. (As I know there is a LOT of information here.)

The only pieces of information that are immediately relevant to the RP are the travel guide and the class list. The rest of this information, specifically the bestiary and common lingo, is here for you to look up at your leisure when it is required or comes up in the story.

~Bestiary~
A collection of information about the fantastical creatures of Nobilis, extracted from the book "On Goblins and Griffins - Nobilis' wildlife" by Sir Darkus Reym, Former professional hunter.​

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Goblins:

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Goblins are small semi-sentient creatures in the World of Nobilis, they take the appearance of small, stunted and green humans with pointy ears, horribly ugly faces and hooked noses. They are obsessed with gold and other shiny objects and have a constant craving for wealth despite the fact they have no idea what to do with it. They seem to follow some sort of hierarchy despite being so stupid and often elect a chief or "goblin king" to rule their individual clans. Goblins communicate using basic growls along with imitated human words and are more of a nuisance than anything.

Direwolves:

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Large wolves measuring at about 1.5 times the size of an average wolf, these powerful beasts are often a stark white color with piercing red eyes, however black and grey variants have been discovered. Unless hunting, direwolves will not normally outright attack humans until they are disturbed. When fighting they are vicious pack animals that coordinate attacks to tear opponents apart, they are known to eat the meat of whatever it is they kill and if hungry they rarely tend to care what it is they are hunting and eating. They are known to be rather intelligent for what they are however and on rare occasions they have even been shown to be capable of mercy, letting weak and insignificant prey live out of something similar to pity. A pack of direwolves should not be a matter ignored, as unless dealt with quickly they may cause many human casualties.

Pegasus:

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Majestic and incredibly beautiful winged horses that come in two variants of pure white or midnight black. They were often tamed by humans and used for quick travel, however since the dragons arrival a pegasus willing to remain loyal to their human master is a rare thing built on powerful trust. Pegasus do not usually attack humans, however they are more than willing to if provoked. Very rarely a pegasus might be born with a single spiral horn protruding from its head, this horn is unbelievably valuable as it is said to be capable of curing any known disease when used in medicine. Pegasus are unfortunately very weak in build and it is not unheard of nor incredibly difficult to shoot them out of the sky with a well placed arrow or gunshot.

Chimera:

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Rare and magically adept beasts that stalk the most uninhabitable places in this World. The color of their coat changes based on the enviroment they reside in, allowing them to sneak up on unexpecting parties of prey without being noticed. A chimera is a bizarre looking creature, it's body is that of a lions, it's head is that of a goats and it's tail moves and cries all on it's own as a vicious and deadly serpent. It's claws are capable of ripping through armor, the serpents teeth are laced with an incurable venom that slowly poisons the body over days and the goats head is capable of echoing a horrible groaning noise that seems to be able to cast powerful magics. Chimera are deadly, powerful and unbelievably dangerous, there is good reason why the areas in which they are found are uninhabited by humans.

Griffin:

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Somewhat more commonplace creatures, said to be related to Chimera. Griffins are comprised of the head, wings and talons of a great eagle, while the rest of their body is that of a lion. Trading in the magical ability and poisonous tail for the ability to fly great distances at speed, Griffin are dangerous and strong creatures whom attack humans due to their confrontational nature. Professional hunters often strive to kill and mount Griffins heads as a sign of their unrivaled skill in their field. Felling a Griffin from ground level is difficult as they are much more agile in the air than pegasus, they are smart enough to dodge most arrows and bullets. But a few predicted and well placed rounds will be enough to bring the beast to the ground, it almost certainly won't kill it, but it will bring it to the ground.

Undead:

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Skeletons and corpses risen from their graves by a lich or necromancer to do the bidding of the caster in question. A mixed bag of skill depending on whom is risen where, the skill of an undead in combat relies on muscle memory and the casters intelligence. So depending on the skill of the lich or necromancer and the past life of the risen undead, ones opponent could have anything from no skill at all to the strength to face three living opponents at once. Most undead aren't very talented but it's best to never underestimate a reanimated opponent as one never knows what they may have in store. Undead, thankfully, are only capable of attacking with established weaponry and are incapable of casting magic. If not directly controlled by a caster then undead will attack all other living things on instinct.

Lich:

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A rare and powerful variation of an undead, these creatures are created when a powerful caster is somehow brought back to undeath by the latent remains of their own aura. While the process by which this happens is unknown, it is irrelevant as a Lich is too dangerous an opponent to be investigated. A lich is much more intelligent than an ordinary undead and is capable of setting its own basic strategies in combat... they often attack the living as a base instinct of all undead and are capable of preforming powerful magic as they did in life. All Lich are also automatically gifted with powerful necromancy regardless of their skill with the field in life and as a result they will often summon hoards of other lesser undead to defend themselves. Lich cannot be controlled by other casters, living or otherwise, and can only be killed with the use of fire to burn them, or by having their still intact skull caved in with a heavy blow.

Salamanders:

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Some believe these creatures to be distant relatives to dragons, however due to their relatively low threat by comparison I, in my professional opinion, would disagree. Salamanders are a species of chameleon like lizards of varying color and design whom fight using large clamping maws filled with sharpened teeth, vicious swings with large tails, or through the use of crude spears fashioned from fallen tree branches and sharpened stones. Salamanders are one of the few species intelligent and needing enough to create basic weapons to fight. Salamanders are known to have various sub-species, two of the most known salamander sub-species are the mountain dwelling variants, whom are capable of camouflaging their skin to blend in with their surroundings and the significantly more dangerous volcanic variants, which are always black in color and are said to be able to breath fire. This "fire breath" however is simply the regurgitating of large rocks eaten by the salamanders and smelted into molten liquid in the abnormally hot stomachs of this subspecies. Most all salamanders apart from the volcanic variant are fairly commonplace and unless encountered in large numbers aren't very difficult to combat.

Trolls and Cyclopse:

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Large, lumbering and incredibly stupid creatures. Trolls and Cyclopse are considered good sport in hunting, with many of their parts being valued by collectors and doctors alike. Generally these creatures are tall, pale and possessing of very little if any hair despite being humanoid in shape. Each hand and foot has only three large stumpy fingers or toes and as such these creatures are largely incapable of holding weapons. What they lack in practicality they make up for in power, however, and they are noted to be capable of thrashing sturdy walls with their fists and tusked heads. The two tusks on these species heads are hard and brittle, if broken off they can be sold for a high price... however this will also lead the beast into a rage, which can be a very dangerous experience to any aspiring hunter. The differences between cyclopse and troll are few, with the cyclopse being slightly bigger, more aggressive and possessing of only one eye as opposed to the trolls two.

Demons:

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Rare and dangerous creatures once believed to have come from Hell itself to bring havoc to the world. Demons are skinny humanoid creatures with arched backs, red scales and spines and two large black horns upon their head, they aren't much bigger than humans, reaching roughly 1.5 times the height of an average man but like humans this varies from demon to demon. Excessively violent and bloodthirsty things, demons use their long, sharp and deadly claws to cut through almost any surface. They are deadly and should be avoided if at all possible. If you are intent on fighting a demon, then do not do so alone and should you bring a large group then go into the fight prepared for and expecting casualties.

Vampires:

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Contrary to many popular beliefs, vampires are in no way human and do not have the ability to transform others into their kind through their bite. Resembling a strange mix of humans and bats, vampires appear to be nude, bald humans of no specific gender due to their complete lack of genitalia. Their arms are connected to their bodies in large webbed areas of flesh that allow flight when flapped like wings. They have no teeth in their mouths apart from two long fang like incisors, these are hollow and allow a vampire to directly feed from a victims blood stream. Vampires will drink the blood of any creature to survive but tend to prefer human blood, often going to further lengths to obtain it. Vampire are common enough and akin to vermin in some places, it's difficult for them to kill anything that's awake and their feeble bone structure makes them easily killed. No, they do not burn in sunlight, but they are still primarily nocturnal creatures.

Werewolves:

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Werewolves are vicious, half man half wolf creatures that treat humans as a primary food source. They are in no way the most dangerous creatures in Nobilis, but their persistence makes them annoying. They are difficult to kill due to their natural resistances, however it is a tried and proven fact that they are extremely weak to silver, making it believed that they are in some ways related to the ethereal creatures of the world. Like vampires, werewolves are their own species entirely and no bite or scratch from them can convert normal humans to their kind.

Arachna:

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Utterly horrifying creatures, giant spiders that dwell in the deepest parts of some of Nobilis' forests. They have a few variations, but they are so rarely encountered that no direct notification of an Arachna's type is available at present. Some are known to trap foes in webs before devouring them slowly like a normal spider would, however some others are known to carry poison fangs that can paralyze an opponent, upon which the Arachna will quickly and immediately devour them while they still draw breath. Many men say that a death from an Arachna would be one of the most terrifying. Hunters everywhere should heed these words and never tackle one of these gargantuan arachnids alone.

Sectonia:

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Colossal creatures, incredibly rare and resembling massive black preying mantis, with pairs of massive claws in place of more well known limbs. Covered in thick armor like chitin, the only way to properly damage Sectonia is to cut through the gaps in the armor located at the beasts joints and neck. Despite being so large, they are lumbering and clumsy things when faced with a skilled swordsmen and despite their imposing stature they really aren't too difficult to kill, being ridiculously stupid creatures in terms of intelligence and tactics. Only really a threat to unguarded architecture, untrained civilians, or classed individuals who really aren't paying attention.

Ghosts and Ghasts:

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There is a major difference between these two, while both are the tormented spirits of the dead only ghosts are capable of interacting directly with the physical world. While it is true that a ghast might frighten you, that is all it can do and the best option to remove it is to call an exorcist. A ghost however is more dangerous, Ghosts can turn invisible and throw objects in the physical world to attack people. The stronger the ghost the larger the objects thrown. They aren't typically too dangerous regardless. Both ghasts and ghosts can only be hurt with magic or silver forged weapons. Though the latter is typically rather rare in this day and age.

Gargantuan:

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Giant boars with massive tusks, covered in dark brown or black fur. These massive beasts despite looking imposing are usually very docile and will often flee from combat. The only exceptions are when the Gargantuan is forced into a corner, or in the case of males, when their family is threatened. Due to their weak spirited nature, Gargantuans are often hunted for the large amounts of meat they provide. Their tusks are also occasionally substituted in place of some metal in the crafting of weapons and armor due to their unusual toughness. Despite their apparent weaknesses, a Gargantuan should not be taken lightly. They are big and strong and they will kill you if you aren't expecting their retaliation.

Basilisk:

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Giant serpents that stretch the length of a small country road. They along with hydras are considered the closest relatives to dragons besides the draconic races themselves. Basilisk tend to live deep underground and are only ever attacked for sport. They are powerful and deadly monsters capable of causing minor tremors by slamming their massive tails into the underground walls of their homes. They prefer arid dessert regions and are generally known to despise moisture. Elemental mages can use this to their advantage should they specialize in water based spells. The Basilisks massive fangs contain a blinding poison that can temporarily impare the vision of the afflicted. To kill a basilisk one must strike at the soft underbelly as the upper layer of scales on the beasts topside is nigh impenetrable to normal weaponry.

Hydra's:

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Considered by many to be the closest thing to a dragon outside of the actually draconic races. Hydra's are giant four legged lizards that reach above the roofs of many houses with their many long and serpentine necks and heads. Cutting off a hydras head is a common misgiving expression for a reason, as slicing off a hydras head will only allow it to grow two more in its place. The only way to truly kill a hydra is to cut off the head containing its brain, the "prime". If one pays enough attention they may notice that the prime head will have eyes that glow unlike the rest. Cutting off this head will kill the creature instantly. However, the hydra will viciously defend the prime, as one might expect. If finding the prime is too difficult then multiple warriors can work together to narrow down the option, by cutting off a head and then quickly using fire magic to cauterize and close the wound, the hydra will be unable to regrow heads on the afflicted neck. By taking out heads one at a time in this way, then the prime can eventually be found.

Golems:

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Remnants of the golem age, golems are giant magical and technological constructs crafted from stone and or metal. Golems can take the form of whatever they are built to resemble, though the most common forms are giant, basic humanoid shapes and smaller intricate gargoyle like creatures. The best way to kill a golem is to locate the magical keystone upon its body and either destroy or remove it. However, smashing the golem into pieces will also do the trick rather handily.

Drakes:

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The smallest and most easily dealt with of the draconic races. Drakes are scaled creatures with black scales and a close similarity in appearance to the dragons, they are roughly the size of a direwolf and tend to travel alone unless ordered to do otherwise. Drakes are vicious and vastly more intelligent than most monsters, they are still incapable of speech and communicate through roars and grunts. They fight using a steaming hot breath that stuns and scalds opponents, to finish off their enemy they rend the target with sharpened claws and teeth. A skilled human might take down a drake alone, however it is inadvisable to fight these creatures at all unless completely necessary. Drakes can be killed as you might expect a creature to be killed, injury, bleeding and general attacks. They have no major resistances, but their skill in combat makes them deadly.

Wyvern:

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Wyvern are significantly larger than drake's, being roughly 1.5 times the size of griffin or chimera. In most popular depictions these are what people would consider to be "dragons". Wyvern unlike Drakes can ignite the air with their breath and "breath" fire, they are also immune to almost all kinds of damage on ninety percent of their body. It is possible to hurt them anywhere, but the damage done will be insignificant to them. Upon a Wyverns chest however, is a glowing spot that conceals its flaming heart, the source of its power. The Wyvern will mercilessly protect this spot, however if damaged here the Wyvern will sustain considerable wounds as any beast would. So far this weak spot is the only known efficient way of killing a wyvern. The amount of caution one should exert when facing a wyvern is comparable to that of a demon. Solo fighters WILL be killed and groups will most likely suffer casualties.

Dragons:

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They say that if our World ever did have a God, then it was the dragons whom killed him. Similar to their lesser descendants, the wyverns, but much much bigger, Dragons are comparable in size to large buildings or even castles depending on the dragon. Dragons are generally peaceful creatures but will effortlessly destroy entire races if they feel that they are a threat to them. Unlike other monsters, Dragons are incredibly intelligent, even surpassing humans in their knowledge and levels of sentience. Their claws can cleave through entire city districts, their flaming breath can melt entire armies, their scales are immune to all forms of attack and it is currently unknown if they can even be killed at all. They are so grand and powerful that only five or six are thought to exist in Nobilis, any more would be too much for existence itself to contain. Wise men say with fear in their hearts, that a battle with a dragon is not a battle, but an apocalypse.

NOTE: More creatures may be added to the RP as it progresses! I am open to suggestions about new creatures as well! Send me your monster idea in a PM and if it suits I will add it, if it does not then I will tell you why and thank you regardless! You do not need to join the RP to send me a suggestion, just in case you just want to help out!

~Travel Guide~
A Geographical guide to the various cities and locations of interest in Nobilis, taken from "Nobilis and You, A guide" written by Eros Typhan, master cartographer and geographer.​

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Regalia; City of Industry:

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Factory View​

The capital city of the human race and the base of all military camps, industrial development and the top of the line schools and combat training locations. Regalia is a city that is constantly producing and developing. It is at the front of all technology in Nobilis and it tirelessly works to produce new and exciting inventions. The Southern location and cold and icy climate was chosen specifically to toughen up recruits and to help to stop machines from overheating. There isn't much residential space in the city however... and many refugees can be found littering the streets nowadays. Not the best holiday destination.

Pharus; City of Beacons:

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Cityscape Beauty​

The most popular and beautiful city in the country, a sought after home and holiday location due to its fair taxes, peaceful atmosphere and feelings of security. The population is estimated to be the largest in all of Noblis and the incredible shopping scene, bountiful tourist attractions and central location make it a clear choice for the lands most popular and sought after location. If you can make it to Pharus then you can make it anywhere.

Cullis; City of Rivers:

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Exotic and Quaint​

A humble and gentle place that is really more of a town than a city. Despite the locations humble looks the area is home to many exotic monsters and animals alike, the most popular aspects of this quirky riverside delight are the flamingos often seen grazing peacefully in the water. Hunters spend a lot of time in this city due to the exotic monster population including Salamanders and Gargantuan, if you're lucky you might get to see them carry home their prize kills!

Aduna; The Walled City:

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Protected streets​

A city once famous for its crime and frequent monster attacks, Aduna has really shaped up in recent years by enlisting a number of guards and erecting large walls around the city to keep prisoners in and monsters out. The city isn't very exciting besides its history, but it has a few shops and a blooming new economy that makes the location a rather popular place to live nowadays. If you're into learning then there are also plenty of museums around detailing the locations history, however this place is still more suited to field trips than travel.

Oracion; The Hidden City:

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Criminal Oasis​

Many people wouldn't think that a city would be located in a location as dangerous as the edge of the great desert, however this is the case. A safer spot than one might think at a glance, monster attacks are fairly infrequent and when they do occur the highly trained dessert nomads whom inhabit the city fend them off without a sweat broken. The city is built around a rare desert oasis which provides the people of the city with water and food. Tourism is very poor in the area however, due to the high crime rate, unbearably hot weather and the arena. The arena is a large structure built to host fights where warriors can hone their skills against one another in established duels where anyone can bet. Warriors may be killed by other warriors in the confines of the arena with no consequence and this turns many travelers off the location. The city also allows warriors to fight captive monsters and beasts should they really want a challenge... warriors are compensated more for these battles, however anything goes and the warrior will not get to choose what monster they fight, if they end up getting killed as a result then so be it, it makes for good entertainment apparently.

Oblitus Wood; Forest of the Lost:

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Forgotten Forest​

A dense forest filled with incredible flora and fauna. The outskirts of the forest are safe enough save a few monsters, no trouble for the aspiring adventurer. But those whom venture too far don't often return and those who do are often petrified in fear with images of spider fangs and forgotten crypts where fallen soldiers walk the halls. Though it IS said that some of strongest artifacts from the golem age sleep deep in this place, but in return for ones life are such riches worth the risk? Only the strongest and bravest of folk need apply.

The Interminatas; The Great Desert:

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Wandering in Nothing​

An vast and seemingly unending desert, those whom wander it seem to wander forever as the means to travel the place safely are long since lost to time. They say that beneath the sands, in vast underground caverns, basilisks fight for territory and shake the land above with their rage. The hidden city Oracion is the only bastion of peace in this place, situated on the outskirts of the sandy expanse some few miles in, however even that place is regarded as dangerous and filled with criminals. The sands are rumored to not be entirely empty however and if one were to manage to climb over the forgotten (and sometimes risen) bones of those whom fell before them, then they may just find an abandoned fort from the golem age, lost to time after all work in the desert was abandoned for more favorable conditions.

The Aquacium; Connecting Sea:

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Hiding in the Deep?​

The Aquacium is the name given to the sea connecting the Western and Eastern islands of Nobilis. The waters are generally rather peaceful, but there are a few far between rumors about what may be a dangerous and undiscovered beast plaguing the waves. Only dragons, wyvern, drakes and griffin are capable of crossing the ocean by flight without tiring out, meaning humans (even those with pegasus) can only cross the ocean by boat. Trips promise to be relaxing... but perhaps it would be best to keep an eye out just in case, rumors aren't always false. Located in the center of the sea is the boardwalk outpost, a large trading village established on the waves with various pieces of driftwood stretching out from a central island, many ships crossing the sea stop here for resupply and so the town is well known to frequent travelers.

Sancta Sanctis; Decrepid Holy Land:

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Reborn in Darkness​

In times long gone by, the old holy order of the World was the base of a grand civilization that worshiped a powerful God in a time before this new age of humanity. It is believed that this old and forgotten mountain temple and village was an incredibly sacred place to this order and that it may have served as a home for their most sanctified holy men and saints. However it has been long since abandoned and humans have not set foot in the place for centuries. Recon teams whom have left to survey the location have confirmed that a large amount of goblins and other monsters have taken over the old buildings and now reside within. Leaving the decor to portray a disturbing mix of old and sacred reverence... and newly found disgust, destruction and immaturity.

Insul Finem; Where Gods go to Die:

Spoiler:

The Norm of Apocalypse​

An island to match the size of the capital city three times over, like a World of it's own in the far East, this islands climate and build up is so violent that it has never before been explored. Any attempts to brave the elements have been met with fierce resistance by some of Nobilis' fiercest monsters; volcanic salamanders, drakes, wyvern, demons among other things. Only one man went on a voyage to the islands edge and came back alive... and his only description upon returning was that the Insul Finem was surely the place where a God would go to throw its life away. It is imperative that I tell you here in this books final chapter, to never venture to this place, not ever. Telling you otherwise would be the equivalent of murder in my eyes.

NOTE: More locations may be added to the RP as it progresses! I am open to suggestions about new locations as well! Send me your location idea in a PM and if it suits I will add it, if it does not then I will tell you why and thank you regardless! You do not need to join the RP to send me a suggestion, just in case you just want to help out!

~Popular Lingo and List of Classes~
An introduction to the varied culture, classes and spoken lingo in Nobilis. Extracted from the short guide book "Welcome to Nobilian life." By Janem Timonty, a sociologist, psychologist and aspiring author.​

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Lingo and other Phrases:

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Nobilian: A term used to describe every living human currently residing in Nobilis. However the term is colloquially only used to describe civilians, children and other members of society whom do not hunt or fight.

Aura: The essence of all living things. Aura is the equivalent of a soul and is the prime ingredient in all forms of magic, including a Lich's self resurrection and the dominance and mind control magic used by the Dragons and Beast Masters of Nobilis. It is said that when you die, your aura is returned to the Earth, where it flows into a new living being upon their birth to serve their purposes as it once served yours.

Magic: Magic is the ability to channel ones aura so purely that it can impact the physical world. Magic requires key phrases to be said aloud and an empty hand or magical catalyst to be thrust forward to complete the cast, magic cannot be cast by a hand holding or carrying any other weapon as the weapon in question absorbs the spell and acts as a poison catalyst in the aura to magic process. Magic is divided into three main schools, elemental manipulation, necromancy and Beast Mastery. There are other lesser schools such as holy magic and dark magic, but these magics are weaker than the three major schools and are often left unused by dedicated mages in favor of more powerful options.

Class: All fighters and warriors in Nobilis are classified by their style, weapons and combat techniques. Many people teach combat in ways that cater to a certain class. The three major schools of magic, elemental manipulation, necromancy and beast mastery are also considered classes.

Classed: Those whom have taken up a combat discipline and killed another living being with that discipline are considered "classed" individuals and are generally referred to with a certain level of respect above that of the normal civilian.

Hunter: Not actually an official title or organisation, but the name given to any member of society whom hunts beasts and monsters to attain wealth, glory, fame or any other number of benefits. Also known as Slayers, Trackers and Braves.

Scrounger: A derogatory term used by some hunters and their supporters to mock individuals whom only kill animals, rather than monsters, while hunting. Also know as Small game hunters, Animal Hunters and Foragers.

"...like cutting off the Hydras head.": An expression used to express the futility of a situation by comparing it to the effectiveness of cutting off the head of a hydra, only for it to grow it back. Also used to describe someone prolonging the inevitable.

Demon Spit: More dramatic equivalent of "Damn", "Crap" or "Fuck".

Fighter: Basic, commonplace term used to describe any warrior or fighter whom does not use magic. Swordsmen, archers, gunmen, etc.

Caster: Basic, commonplace term used to describe any user of magic. Elemental mages, Necromancers and Beast Masters respectively.

Beast Cur: Derogatory term used for beast masters by many people due to their closeness to the dominance inducing power of dragons and to the monstrous beasts of the World themselves. Variations include; Dragon welp, Monster Lover and Beast Bastard for males respectively.

Risen Fodder: Derogatory term used to describe someone or something as pathetic and worthless.

Happy Endings!: Common way to say goodbye in Nobilis.

Vermin: Term to describe rats, rabbits and other small mammals. Can also be used to describe goblins and occasionally vampires.

The Golem Age: Name of a time three centuries back when humanity attempted to use magic to create robotic technological servants to do their bidding. Many humans died and the golems were all but wiped out near the end of the age when the golems gained sentience and attacked their creators. The events of this left many old cities, ruins and locations once owned by humans, uninhabited. A somewhat popular conversation topic among travelers.

The Holy Age: A time set centuries prior to the Golem age and back before the advent of the current humanity. The Holy Age refers to a time where an old and overly religious race of humans roamed the Earth. Many ruins and scriptures dot the lesser explored places in the World referencing this time and while not exactly common knowledge, any with a minor interest in history would be aware of this time periods existence.

The FOH: Standing for "The Fabric of Humanity", the FOH are the large military army recently formed and sent off to fight the looming threat of the dragons and their armies of monsters. It is comprised of many of the lands strongest fighters and casters all ranked by power, strategic ability and strength rather than position, heritage and importance. The most skilled in battle are awarded the ranks of military leaders and promotions are earned through kill count and skill. There are very few rules to the army, only that you must always follow the orders of your superiors and that you must never willingly harm another human unless forced or provoked into doing so. Only trained, classed individuals are admitted into the FOH.

The Draconics: Term coined to describe the newly risen dragons and the armies of monsters that follow them. Before the Dragons advent this term was only used to describe the collective species of drake, wyvern and dragon.

The Dragons Advent: Name given to the day wherein the dragons rose up from seemingly nowhere and brutally began to attack humanity.

Dragon Dominance: Term used to describe the natural magic present in a dragons aura that allows it to command and control all other fantastical creatures with very few exceptions.

Classes:

Spoiler:

-Melee Specialists-
All the classes listed here are masters of melee combat, basing their primary attack methods off of this up close and personal style while supporting their technique with other forms of attack or defense.​

Knight:
Knights are tough and resilient fighters whom are fond of heavy armor and are often able to take more hits than both of the other melee specialists combined. They are capable of doing enough damage to keep enemies distracted while also having enough defense to take that attention on the chin. They are skilled in the usage of shields to keep themselves and their allies protected. Some knights might opt to go for a fully defensive role, using both heavy weapons and shields to keep their party at the top of the defensive table at the sacrifice of their speed and dodging capability.

Primary Weapons Available:
Straight Swords, Hammers and Maces (Two and one Handed), Axes (Two and One handed), Spears and Lances (Two handed), Empty handed.

Secondary Weapons Available:
Shields, Empty handed.

Rogue:
An option preferred by thieves, assassins and other fighters of the night. Rogues generally use small blades like daggers and other such things to enable quick and effective damage, they are one of the few classes to efficiently dual wield weapons and can dual wield daggers better than any other humans on the battlefield. Some rogues also use shields as an added means of defense in exchange for some of their otherwise essential agility. Rogues can also take this more defensive and combat ready approach further by equipping straight swords. They tend to avoid maces and other heavy weapons completely however due to their restrictive qualities and generally slower combat style.

Primary Weapons Available:
Daggers, Fist mounted weapons, Straight Swords, Empty handed.

Secondary Weapons Available:
Shield, Daggers, Empty Handed, Fist mounted weapons.

Nomad:
Wandering mercenaries, travelers and occasionally guards to cities and their people alongside knights. Nomads are generally elegant swordsmen and women whom use their weapons in unique and interesting ways. They're one of the only two classes proficient in the use of curved blades and they are the only class able to use throwing knives and tomahawk axes as an added support from range. They are front line fighters like knights, but prefer to use their grace and finesse to dodge attacks as opposed to soaking them up like a knight would. They tend to be trained in some martial art or another, thus making them the most effective users of fist weapons and the empty hand, magic notwithstanding.

Primary Weapons Available:
Curved blades, Fist mounted Weapons, Axes (One handed), Empty handed, Straight Swords.

Secondary Weapons Available:
Daggers, Fist Mounted Weapons, Empty handed, Throwing Knives, Tomahawk axes.

-Casters-
Powerful mages whom despite being rather fragile defensively, can arguably deal the most damage out of any other class using their more advanced and powerful magic. They are generally limited in weapon choice however, and apart from a single exception or two the only weapons they are capable of using are staves or their bare hands.​

Elemental Mages:
Masters of the base elements, earth, air, wind and fire, elemental mages are capable of controlling these primal forces to attack enemies, protect themselves and their allies or to change the situation to benefit their side. Every elemental mage can only specialize in a single element however, as using more than one element has a severely negative effect on a mages health due to the amount of Aura drained. The fire element is highly offensive and used to deal mass damage to single targets. The Earth element is used to keep multiple enemies at bay with a large area of effect, however its primary focus is support as it is used to protect allies with defensive walls and structures. Water is a highly supportive magic with very few effective attacking spells, water magic is used to shield allies from attack and tend to their wounds sustained in battle. Air magic is a mixed bag, offering offensive techniques in single target attacks and offering supportive spells in its ability to push enemies back and manipulate the battlefield.

Primary Weapons Available: Empty Handed, Staves or other magical catalysts. (One choice of elemental magic, Fire, Water, Earth or Air.)

Secondary Weapons Available: None.

Necromancer:
The most difficult school of magic to learn and easily the most straining on ones mind, necromancy is a school of magic that involves reviving the dead of the world to do ones bidding. Necromancy can be used to summon dead humans in practically any area of the world as it is very unlikely for one to walk on ground where someone has not fallen to deaths icy grip. While under control of the necromancer the humans summoned will obey the necromancers every command until they are released and allowed to rest. The process of necromancy involves taking a dead body and loaning it some of the necromancers aura so that it might live again, as the aura used is that of the necromancer, the corpse or skeleton will be like an extension of the necromancers self and as such the necromancer will feel pain each time one of their minions is defeated. The more powerful the necromancer, the more dead can be summoned, the more dead summoned however the greater the strain put on the necromancer. Necromancers are also given basic training with daggers in order to defend themselves from up close attackers should there actually be an event where there are no nearby dead to rise. (Should you want further explanation on Necromancers abilities and the ways that the risen dead work in this world, then please look over the "Undead" section of the bestiary.)

Primary Weapons Available:
Daggers, Empty handed, Staves or other magical catalysts.

Secondary Weapons Available:
None.

Beast Masters:
Using similar magic to the Dragons but on a much smaller scale, Beast masters are able to use their aura to manipulate the aura of animals and lesser beasts and monsters, essentially possessing them and using them to fight in combat situations. A beast master can only possess one animal or lesser beast at a time and attempting to possess more will lead to the beast master losing control of all of its thralls. Many beast masters keep a pet with them to use in combat, some animal or other such creature. While possessing their thrall a beast masters own body will be petrified in place, unable to move or do any other actions as if they were frozen in time. As such, most beast masters choose the wise option of travelling with other classes when combat is a certainty, so as to avoid their bodies being attacked while frozen. Beast masters can only possess Goblins, Direwolves, Gargantuan and small golems (though the latter is very rare), as well as all non fantastical animals which can be possessed at will. Humans cannot be possessed at all. Beast Masters are trained in their abilities, but only people born naturally with the skill are capable of learning... as such beast masters are often ridiculed and shunned by others due to being born with abilities similar to that of the dragons. Beast Masters do not use staves to preform their magic, the primal form of this magic school does not work well with any catalysts. Once possessed a creature will stay with the beast master until released, however even when not being directly controlled said creature will tend to remain loyal to the beast master.

Primary Weapons Allowed: None. (A single creature may be possessed and kept as a pet and primary means of combat.)

Secondary Weapons: None.

-Ranged Specialists-
The classes listed here are masters of attacking from a far off range, they have no real need for magic and have very little use for it among the three of them. The classes do however have a few melee options to defend themselves when things get too up close and personal. Ranged classes are generally regarded as the hidden backbone to any attack force. Perhaps not as heroic nor noticeable as melee fighters, maybe not as flashy nor interesting as mages... but without them there would have been many more battles lost in the history of Nobilis and a good ranged specialist knows this fact all too well. In other words, ranged specialists are proud of their craft and in many ways they are some of the most deadly and effective fighters in humanities arsenal.​

Archers:
The bread and butter of ranged fighting, archers are masters of the bow and arrow, crossbows and most every weapon that can fire without gunpowder. Trained specifically to measure arc and velocity, they are the most efficient class at hitting the weak points of enemies despite doing the least damage of all the ranged classes in general. To further make up for their lacking damage all archers carry a poison kit, this allows them to poison their arrows with toxins, tranquilizers and all manner of various liquids with varying effects. For the more on the go archer, straight swords are a popular weapon of choice to allow basic melee support in tight situations. Archers whom really feel like jumping into the fray can dual wield two mini crossbows, making them the only class capable of dual wielding said weapons at all. These crossbows exchange a lot of range for even more precision and higher damage against close foes, making "run and gun" a viable option.

Primary Weapons Available: Longbows (Two Handed), Shortbows (Two handed), Crossbows (Two handed), Mini Cross-bows (One handed.)

Secondary Weapons: Daggers, Mini Cross-bows

Bonus: All archers have a kit filled with various useful poisons and other toxins, which can be coated onto their arrows.

Gunslinger:
Firearms experts with the option for deadly range or up close blasting, these fighters are trained to use all sorts of guns and other such weapons, making them the first of the only two classes present capable of doing so. Using powerful long range flintlock rifles to pick off targets from the outskirts of a battle makes them a valuable asset to a party of travelers or soldiers. The flintlock rifle is powerful and combines precision and damage with great range. The downside however comes from the fact that due to the weapons awkward form and cumbersome weight it cannot be carried alongside a secondary weapon. As an alternative however, gunslingers are trained to use flintlock pistols to great effect. Gunslingers are the only class capable of dual wielding flintlock pistols. Gunslingers also have the option of using a fist mounted weapon as a secondary option, giving them a melee option if things get too overwhelming.

Primary Weapons Available: Flintlock Rifles (Two Handed) (Removes the ability to carry a secondary weapon), Flintlock pistols (One handed).

Secondary Weapons: Flintlock pistol, Fist mounted weapons.

Scoundrels:
A fairly looked down upon class, rarely taught in the capital anymore due to its popularity with criminals, the class was originally named "Gunblade" but the name was changed to represent the image now associated with it. Scoundrels are trained to absolutely master the flintlock pistol, while balancing the weapons range and power with a decent melee option. Scoundrels use similar blade techniques to nomads. Both classes use a significant style and flourish with their blades and while nomads are much more proficient, Scoundrels are trained to be able to use curved blades in their off hand. Scoundrels are dangerous as they can move quickly through the battle field, slicing people when their guard is down with a curved blade slash before finishing them off while running away using their in and out knowledge of the flintlock pistol. The downside to this class however, is their very limited set of options. With the class being taught less and less officially as days go by, scoundrels are only really capable of using one weapon combination. This consists of a flintlock pistol in the dominant hand and a curved blade in the off hand. This limited option adds a level of predictability to the scoundrels attacks that can often leave them open if they don't improvise enough in combat.

Primary Weapons Available: Flintlock Pistols.

Secondary Weapons Available: Curved Blades.

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Ascent is an RP based around the heavy character development and player made decisions in an epic fantasy World. The RP is structured so that players can feel like there's been a significant and notable difference in the World of the RP as a result of their actions. The World in which the RP is based, Nobilis, is a World in which both fantasy creatures and humans exist. Magic is commonplace and technology is at a stage where basic flintlock fire arms and steam powered machines are slowly becoming more common.

Players will play as soldiers in the FOH, a military organisation established by humanity to combat the threat of the dragons, massive indestructible winged beasts that were once peaceful, but have recently risen up with armies and beasts to attack humanity. FOH members are ranked by their feats in the war thus far, with the most decorated heroes being the generals in command. The dragons armies, named "The Draconis" by humanity, have taken over all of Nobilis' cities apart from the human capital of Regalia. The RP will begin with the players being a part of the front line in the first counter attack against the dragons in the city of beacons, Pharus. A mission presumably doomed to fail and considered by many to be suicidal.

While the exact details of the events destined to take place will not be discussed here, after the first battle a large selection of the RPs players may be regarded as heroes and will gain control over the armies tactics and movements. From here, the RP really opens up.

The map above this indicates the currently controlled locations of the two warring factions. The FOH and the Draconis. There are also two areas currently unoccupied by either force due to their lack of strategic advantage, or insignificance to the war at present.

- FOH controlled territories are marked in blue.

- Draconis controlled territories are marked in red.

- Unoccupied or Neutral territories are marked in yellow.

Players whose characters have say in the armies tactics are able to choose what character should go where, what locations should be retaken and attacked and what areas should be defended. Players, regardless of their characters positions, may openly discuss the armies tactics and strategies in the OOC, though in the end the final decision is always left up to those whom have characters in influential positions.

If and when locations are captured from unknown forces, or from the armies of Draconis, the above map will be updated with new colors to reflect the changes. As one might expect, this will also apply to when the Draconis capture a location or should a location be abandoned by either force.

However players will have to remember that while they make plans and strategies so to do the dragons. If numbers are spread too thin, certain locations are ignored and not mentioned for too long or if the morale and co-operation of players drops too low... then the dragons will lash out with vicious counter-attacks.

Now for the consequences of that... This RP HAS a canonical failure state. As in, a failure state achieved by the players within the story itself.

If all locations on the map are captured by the Draconis then humanity will be forever lost, doomed to be picked off one by one by the dragons and the RP will have a premature ending. (Note: This only occurs if ALL locations are RED. If some locations are still unoccupied (YELLOW) then there's still a chance!)

This isn't just another fantasy RP, these elements will make it so that both OOC and IC the lovely players whom join will have to think and act accordingly to succeed. There is no presumably guaranteed happy ending here like there are in other RPs, you might lose, you might die... but if you do succeed? Make it to the end?

Then surely the victory will be all the sweeter.

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~The following SU must be filled out to completion and written to an acceptable standard before being accepted. As this is an original setting, should you have any questions in regards to the lore then please ask away in the OOC.~​

Basic Info:

Character Name: (Your characters full name. First, Middle and Surname.)

Character Age: (All characters are fully trained combatants, usually trained from young ages. Wether or not your character is a veteran of combat or not is debatable, but no character below the age of 18 will be accepted. There is no maximum age (within logical reason) however.)

Character Appearance: (Two paragraphs to describe what it is your character looks like, if an applicable picture is presented then this section can be ignored. However, images of characters must suit the setting of the RP. Which is fantasy/medieval in case you somehow still weren't sure. Anime images are highly preferred as this RP has taken major influence from JRPGs, however if you really do insist on using an alternate image then you won't be sent away for it.)

Character Gender: (What gender is your character? A male or a female?)

Hometown: (Choose from one of the five cities available, or make up your own small township somewhere in the World. If you provide a description of your new township and so long as it fits the Worlds lore then I will gladly accept it and may even add it to the list of locations. Creativity earns you bonus points with me! If you choose to create a location then a single paragraph of information will be suitable as a description, though more is welcome should you wish.)

Reason for Joining the FOH: (Why is your character in the FOH? Do they wish to fight for humanity against the dragons? Do they have family and friends that they long to protect? Do they hope to attain fame and riches?... Or were they conscripted and forced to fight against their will? Make it up! One paragraph minimum.)

Character Class: (What Class of combatant is your character? See the classes section of the Lore and Terminology segment for more information.)

Class Info:

For Elemental mages only, leave this out if you're anything else:

Spoiler:

Primary Weapon: (What is your characters primary weapon? Is it a basic stock variety or is it special? Does it have a name? Feel free to use as much or as little detail as you like. Check the class info in Lore and Terminology segment for information on what classes can use what weapons.)

Element: (As an elemental mage, which of the four elements does your character use?)

Elemental Spells: (Elemental mage characters can start off with two custom spells before the RP starts and may develop more spells as the RP goes on. Spells must relate to the casters chosen element. Try to be creative with these abilities while not making them too overpowered. If I think a spell IS too overpowered then I will request that you change or remove it. Be sure to refer to the Elemental Mage section under Classes in the Lore and Terminology segment of this post.)
- Spell 1:
- Spell 2:

For Beast Masters only, leave this out if you're anything else:

Spoiler:

Pet Beast Species: (As a beast master, what species is your beast? If your beast has any physical abnormalities, deformities, wounds or other unique features then please list them here as well. If you are unsure as to what creatures are available to you, then please refer to the Beast Master section under Classes in the Lore and Terminology segment of this post.)

Pet Beast Name: (Does your pet beast have a name? If so, what is it?)

For all other classes, leave this out if you're a beast master or Elemental Mage:

Spoiler:

Primary Weapon: (What is your characters primary weapon? Is it a basic stock variety or is it special? Does it have a name? Feel free to use as much or as little detail as you like. Check the class info in Lore and Terminology segment for information on what classes can use what weapons.)

Secondary Weapon: (What is your characters secondary weapon? Is it a basic stock variety or is it special? Does it have a name? Feel free to use as much or as little detail as you like. Check the class info in Lore and Terminology segment for information on what classes can use what weapons.)

Personal Info:

Likes: (Three or more things that your character really likes! Feel free to use as much or as little detail as you feel comfortable with.)

Dislikes: (Three or more things that your character really despises! Feel free to use as much or as little detail as you feel comfortable with.)

Personality: (The dark and brooding anti-hero? The righteous fighter for justice? The apathetic and fun loving comic relief? Who is your character? What do they act like? What's their personality like and how do they tend to behave around others? Try to be more creative then the typical archetypes listed! ^^'' 2 + Detailed paragraphs.)

History: (What was your characters life like before, during and after the Dragons Advent? Just what events lead to them now marching to Pharus on the front lines? Nobody starts an adventure without a back story so what's your characters? 3 + Detailed paragraphs.)

Quote: (A nice little message from your character. Something to give us a general feel of how they speak to others. Feel free to link to an example of your characters voice here too if you want to really impress!)

Other: (Anything else? Any pieces of special information that you feel like just don't fit in anywhere else? Feel free to include them here.)

Code: (You should know what this is if you read the rules properly!)

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~Every RP has a set of rules to follow. Don't worry these aren't too bad. Just read them carefully and follow them as they are intended to be followed. Do that and you should be fine.~​

Number One:
Follow the rest of the damn rules.

Number Two:
Respect your fellow players and never bunny or god mod another players character unless given permission to do so.

Number Three:
In the event you end up fighting another player, then do not automatically hit them. That's just rude.

Number Four:
There will be an unlimited number of sign ups to this RP. That's right, players can keep joining indefinitely so long as applicable SU's continue to be submitted. The player faction is an army, so if you join later in the RP's lifespan then just have your character join in a random large scale battle as one of the FOH's many soldiers. It's a requirement that your character be in the army anyway, as any combat ready applicants were conscripted even if they did not willingly apply, so it's as simple as that.

Number Five:
I do not expect an incredible amount of dedication as I am aware that we all have lives. However I'd like it if people tried to post at least once or twice a week. If you want to post more than that then go ahead, so long as you don't make a double post it's fine, but the minimum is one to two posts a week. If you have a valid excuse for taking a hiatus then inform me beforehand through whatever medium you are most comfortable with and it is very unlikely that I will say no. I'm not a monster, technically.

Number Six:
Attempt to post in the OOC as often as you do the IC. The code is "Nobilis". Remember that the OOC is not only your OOC, but also your war room to decide which location your characters will move to next.

Number Seven:
I like long posts, they're more fun to read. However I'm not going to increase the minimum words per post or anything like that. More a guideline than a rule, but essentially I want you all to always strive to write as much as you can whenever you feel up to it.

Number Eight:
Their are two main types of post in this RP. Location posts, which take place in a location marked on the map and Travel posts, which take place on the journeys between locations. It is important to differentiate the two so as to make it easier to understand a characters location in a World as vast as Nobilis. I ask that you follow these guidelines while posting;

- When making a location post you are limited (obviously) to what you think would fit nicely into the location. (In other words, no giant spiders attacking your currently occupied city.) If your location is a human occupied city then combat will be very rare unless I decide to stage a monster attack on the area while you are present. Outside human occupied cities however, combat is fair game and monsters could attack at any moment. Always be sure to post the name of your current location somewhere when you make a location post.

- The rules with travel posts are much different. When making a travel post you must include somewhere in your post, the location you left from as well as the destination you are travelling to. Using the map in the Goals and Gameplay section of this post, do your best to base your travel posts around the various different types of terrain that exist between your destination and your starting point, just for the sake of realism. Yes, you can be attacked by monsters at any time while travelling, in fact it's almost a certainty. When travelling from the Western Island of Nobilis to the Eastern Island, you must first travel to The Aquacium Sea, from there you may then travel to your new location on either island.

Number Nine:
No. You can't go Insul Finem. Not yet anyway.

Number Ten:
The lore in the bestiary is absolute. When fighting monsters listed there you must follow their descriptions as best you can. Obviously abnormal behavior is possible, but try not to go too far outside the realms of understanding. (No talking direwolves or flying trolls.) The second, secret half of the code is "Draconis", post this beside with the first part. If you have an idea for a new monster or a variation of an already existing monster then please, by all means, suggest it to me through a message or here in the OOC. If it suits the setting then I'll almost certainly add it in.

Number Eleven:
Your character is not invincible, nor are they all powerful. Humans have the magic and skills that they have because they need them for survival. The creatures and monsters of this World are not to be trifled with and if you are attacked by a pack of fantastical beasts while alone then it would take a miracle for you to survive, no matter how strong a fighter you are. Some monsters don't even require packs to bring that level of threat, so try to keep in mind what you're up against when posting. One of this RPs main themes is that we are all, very unfairly at times, still human.

Number Twelve:
Reservations are accepted, though they are not strictly necessary as there are always available spots. Reservations only serve to get your name up on the opening post a little earlier than usual and to inform me that you intend to send a character in soon. Reservations will last three days and if a character is not submitted by then, then your name will be removed.

Number Thirteen:
Have fun. No seriously, do. That's what roleplay is all about! I created this roleplay in the way I did because I wanted to make something that players felt like they were properly involved and invested in, something rich in established detail yet open to a lot of player input. A world that would change with their actions and die with their failures. I didn't do any of this because I wanted you to feel pressured, but because I wanted you all to have a memorable writing experience. So please, enjoy yourselves and remember to relax and have fun with things every once and a while!

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~Melee Classes~​

Knights:
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Rogues:
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Nomad:
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~Caster Classes~​

Elemental Mages:
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Necromancers:
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Beast Masters:
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~Ranged Classes~​

Archers:
- Reserved for Deceptio.
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Gunslingers:
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Scoundrels:
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"I would like to encourage users to always opt for the class with the least currently participating members for the sake of balance. However this is merely a request on my part and I won't stop you from picking any class you want unless a single class or class type starts getting way too much attention."​

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Disclaimer:

Spoiler:

This RP was created by me, however if I said that it was all from my own imagination then I would be lying. This RP has taken certain elements from and been inspired by many different RPGs, JRPGs and even a book series. So I would like to list all of those inspirations here.

-The "Tales of" Series.
-The Final Fantasy Series.
-The Souls Series.
-The Wardstone Chronicles.
-Dragons Dogma.
-Shadow of the Colossus.
-The Fire Emblem Series.

I will now also provide the anime sources (that I know) of the gifs present in this thread, should anybody be interested in such things.

Gif 1 (Flowers): Unknown.
Gif 2 (Book): Unknown.
Gif 3 (Swordsman): Berserk.
Gif 4 (Kendo Head Bonk): Fate/Stay Night.
Gif 5 (Giant Creature Attack): Akame Ga Kill.

 

[Sir Bastian]

Well, this looks -very- interesting. I had a couple of questions though, if that's alright! For elemental mages, you wrote that they'd have to have a freed-up hand or staff or the like, and that they had to recite the correct words. Are all spells vocal, and will we need to think up what the characters can shout when they cast, or can we just write it so that they 'Shout their key phrase' instead of writing it out?

As a sidenote to the first question, say I'm a water mage and I decide to create a tendril of water. Would I then be able to control it like I would a limb? Could you use one spell as something slightly different than its main intention? Or is it strictly 'This spell does this and cannot do anything else'?

Second questions is for the necromancers. Will their only form of magic be to bring back undead to life? ... Unlife? Or will they be able to have other spells as well, such as, for instance, a spell to heal whatever injuries your undead minions might've taken, perhaps something that crosses over into dark magic as a shadow bolt as to not have them be totally defenseless on their own. And how long would reviving an undead last? Forever, until it's taken down or the mage wills it? Or is there a set time that it'll last?

 

[Jay]

Well, this looks -very- interesting. I had a couple of questions though, if that's alright! For elemental mages, you wrote that they'd have to have a freed-up hand or staff or the like, and that they had to recite the correct words. Are all spells vocal, and will we need to think up what the characters can shout when they cast, or can we just write it so that they 'Shout their key phrase' instead of writing it out?

As a sidenote to the first question, say I'm a water mage and I decide to create a tendril of water. Would I then be able to control it like I would a limb? Could you use one spell as something slightly different than its main intention? Or is it strictly 'This spell does this and cannot do anything else'?

Second questions is for the necromancers. Will their only form of magic be to bring back undead to life? ... Unlife? Or will they be able to have other spells as well, such as, for instance, a spell to heal whatever injuries your undead minions might've taken, perhaps something that crosses over into dark magic as a shadow bolt as to not have them be totally defenseless on their own. And how long would reviving an undead last? Forever, until it's taken down or the mage wills it? Or is there a set time that it'll last?

Thank you for your interest in my RP! I would of course, be more than willing to answer all of your questions.

As for your first question, you may use whatever words you like when casting your spell so long as they sound somewhat mystical or magical. An easy way to achieve this effect is to use latin, though this is not a requirement at all. Each spell should have a different word or sentence associated with it, however what these words are are entirely up to you.

If one of your spells was to be a controllable water tendril then that would be fine! So long as you realize that it is just water, a tendril of water might be useful for a mage to use as a weapon, but it won't be any more useful than the common sword or crossbow. Think of attacks like these as a way to grant elemental mages capabilities more akin to other classes. However, the tendril could also be used for whatever the mage could think of using a tendril of water for.

To further elaborate, the spells function and what it can do is this; "This spell can create a controllable tendril of water." The spell cannot do any more than this, however what the mage DOES with the tendril is completely up to them. Creativity in spell use is encouraged!

In regards to necromancers, their only abilities magic wise are the restoration of the dead. However, it is encouraged that for the maintenance of these dead that necromancers work with other players. Risen are created by using the necromancers energy to fill an empty husk with life, by all means this means the creature IS technically alive while under the necromancers control and as such they can be healed by all normal forms of magic, potions, medicine, other forms of magic, etc. This is also why normal risen can be killed through normal means, swords, magic, arrows etc. as while under the influence of a necromancer they are closer to living things than conventional zombies.

Remember also that while being used by a necromancer, a risen will be able to use the skills they had in life... and they will use these skills to fight. If a necromancer summons a master swordsmen, then they have a master swordsmen on their side and not just a shambling corpse. This should help balance the otherwise lacking abilities of the necromancer class.

A risen will last until it is (re) killed or until the necromancer removes their aura from it. Using risen requires the necromancer to spread their own aura across multiple bodies, and as such managing multiple risen can tire them out quickly. Once a battle is finished, it is wise that a necromancer release their thralls as keeping them for prolonged periods of time would be bad for the necromancers health. The only risen dead that require specific methods to be dealt with are the powerful "lich" which can be read up on in the bestiary.

I hope this answers your questions! Should you wish to know anything else then please ask away.

 

[Sir Bastian]

Thanks for the answers! Since the necromancer's only ability as such as bringing the undead back, I'm afraid that I'll have to look for a different class to play, should I decide to join.

I did have a slight variant of my first question, though. What if an earth mage, say, conjures a large rock. I'd assume the mage could will the rock to fly around, generally manipulate it to move about or thrust it forwards at high speed. But would the spell be limited to that, or would they be able to, say, force the rock to explode into a barrage of smaller rocks, break the rock in two and control them individually? Or would the spell simply be 'Summon a rock projectile that is fired immediately'?

 

[Jay]

To keep this balanced, the most an Earth mage would be capable of doing is picking up a large rock and hurling it, perhaps being able to manipulate it for a few moments before eventually hurling it (rocks can be rather destructive after all, especially in a fantasy setting). It could be a different spell entirely that might allow the mage to make the rock explode, but no one spell would be capable of doing that much. Not to mention, Earth magic isn't generally considered an offensive magic type in this world, being used mostly to push foes back and build up defenses. Like water magic, Earth magic is more support based and seeing an Earth mage with that much offensive power would be quite rare and unorthodox in Nobilis. The same could apply to a mage using fire or wind magic with a primarily supportive role in mind.

This is not to say that this sort of behavior is impossible, just not generally done... as the defensive elements could never really reach the levels of offense that fully powered offensive elements could. (And vice versa of course.)

 

[The Canceler]

Gonna take my time to read through all of this information and sign up, will edit this comment with my sign up. This looks awesome.

 

[Jay]

Gonna take my time to read through all of this information and sign up, will edit this comment with my sign up. This looks awesome.

Wow someone took interest. =D I was beginning to worry that this was truly doomed to fail. Of course, take all the time you need. Remember that not all of the info present is immediately necessary when signing up!

 

[The Canceler]

Wow someone took interest. =D I was beginning to worry that this was truly doomed to fail. Of course, take all the time you need. Remember that not all of the info present is immediately necessary when signing up!

Yeah, I just have a huge thing for fantasy lore. I love to immerse myself in it.

 

[Jay]

Yeah, I just have a huge thing for fantasy lore. I love to immerse myself in it.

I know exactly what you mean. That was the inspiration behind Ascent really, I wanted to create an RP that not only had a set purpose and plot for players, but also a rich lore behind the World.

I didn't want to create another "Fantasy World C" I wanted it to be a somewhat unique location with it's own background, monster population and locations.

Though so far that strategy hasn't worked out so well in attracting people... but hopefully that will turn around soon!

 

[The Canceler]

I know exactly what you mean. That was the inspiration behind Ascent really, I wanted to create an RP that not only had a set purpose and plot for players, but also a rich lore behind the World.

I didn't want to create another "Fantasy World C" I wanted it to be a somewhat unique location with it's own background, monster population and locations.

Though so far that strategy hasn't worked out so well in attracting people... but hopefully that will turn around soon!

That may be because it's a very ambitious project, but I'm definitely interested in it. I'd love to see how this turns out. Maybe people are getting their sign ups together before posting?

 

[Jay]

That may be because it's a very ambitious project, but I'm definitely interested in it. I'd love to see how this turns out. Maybe people are getting their sign ups together before posting?

I'd love for that to be the case but... bah I'm not one to give up. This thread will remain open for SU's until a moderator forcefully closes it or until the RP starts and ends I say!

 

[The Canceler]

One question: does dual wielding take up your primary and secondary weapons, or does the dual-wielded weapon count as one slot? I was thinking of having my character wield twin scimitars, and have his secondary be throwing knives.

 

[Jay]

One question: does dual wielding take up your primary and secondary weapons, or does the dual-wielded weapon count as one slot? I was thinking of having my character wield twin scimitars, and have his secondary be throwing knives.

Dual wielding a weapon does unfortunately take up both slots yes. Dual wielding is considered a difficult and demanding discipline to learn in Nobilis, more closely mirroring the real world equivalent. It's actually quite a rare skill that's used effectively with even less frequency.

 

[The Canceler]

Dual wielding a weapon does unfortunately take up both slots yes. Dual wielding is considered a difficult and demanding discipline to learn in Nobilis, more closely mirroring the real world equivalent. It's actually quite a rare skill that's used effectively with even less frequency.

Okay. I still wanna have him dual wield, so I'll lose the knives. I'll have my SU up tomorrow.

 

[<Challenger>]

I've definitely interested. This looks pretty awesome. I'm gonna leave this here for when I'm ready to start. I have one question. Are the nomads like monks? Like, if I wished, I could fly into some crazy spin kick instead of needing a weapon?

Spoiler:

Basic Info:

Character Name: Xhan Hyuken (Pronounced Shaun Hi-Ooken)

Character Age: 25

Character Appearance:

Spoiler:

Xhan is what you would expect of a man who spent his years in a monastery: Simply clad, fit, and shaven. Xhan isn't a physically imposing fellow, standing at about 5'7, but his musculature is far more advanced than your average man's. Years of manual labor and martial arts training have left him well toned muscles and a slim body. Xhan braided his black hair into a single long braid, reaching his waist. When seen around the war camp, he is usually seen enjoying a hot cup of tea or training, and when he isn't doing either of those he is meditating. In terms of apparel, he wears not except for loose brown pants, ragged fro his days of travel, and blue wraps that fit around his wrist, calves, and feet. He carries a simple leather satchel with him at all times, typically keeping simple salves and bandages, but he also carries a sandpaper-like substance to keep his staff smooth and meditational beads to hold while he meditates.

The Picture:

Spoiler:

Character Gender: None (He's a monk.)

Hometown:
Xhan was born and raised in a monastery in the middle of the Oblitus Forest. The monastery is inhabited my monks dedicated to understanding the forest better, creating peace, and, most recently, destroying the dragons. Typically the monks are more peaceful, but with the dragon's rise to power, they've become more a militant group. Many spend their time studying dragon physiology to learn where to strike. Others have begun practicing archery. They are dedicated to stopping the arcane beasts. The monastery is run by one elder, whose orders are carried out by four masters, with adepts below them, and trainees at the bottom rung. The monastery is a rustic collection of eastern looking buildings in the center of a clearing in the Forest with a tall wooden wall around it. It is very difficult to gain the elder's permission to enter, but once you do you are treated as a guest.

Reason for Joining the FOH:
Xhan joined the FOH for one reason and one reason alone: To restore peace to the land so he can return to his monastery. Xhan wants nothing to do with the outside world, and quite frankly he would prefer to let it burn, but if he did that his monastery would surely fall to the dragonfire. Much to his dismay, he has to work with outsiders to achieve this goal. An evil, but a necessary evil, to be sure. If it means he may return to his brothers, he'll walk through the depths of Hell and back.

Character Class: Nomad officially, but he's actually a monk. Formalities and all.

Class Info:

Primary Weapon: Xhan's main weapon is his favorite quarterstaff, carved of the hardest wood found in the Oblitus Forest. He sought the wood out himself, part of his trial to become a monk adept. The quarterstaff is a simple, smooth cylindrical staff, a dark red in color, and it can block the majority of swords, and even some axes. Xhan uses it like one would think: He wacks his opponents hard, usually using twirling movements to block attacks, hard swipes to the head to incapacitate or kill, or thrusts of the blunt ends to push back.

Secondary Weapon: The only weapon Xhan needs other than his staff is his fists. Xhan is a trained martial artist, capable of bringing down foes several times larger than himself. He is a master of using precise strikes at opponents nervous systems, shutting down key body functions, and using his opponent's wait against them. He's even managed to flip a Gargantuan in a controlled environment. (The monastery training ground)

Personal Info:

Likes:
1. Mental and physical discipline: Xhan undergoes extreme exercises and meditation to make his body and mind as sharp as they are, and he values anyone who does the same.
2. Hot tea: The beverage always seems to calm him down whenever he is in a riled mood. It reminds him of home.
3. His staff: Xhan loves his staff. It is his only link to his monastery, and he believes that as long as he holds it his master's spirit will guide him through the war.

Dislikes:
1. Outsiders: Above all, Xhan holds a disdain for all of those raised outside of his monastery. It's not that he holds personal hatreds, he just doesn't trust them. He will never say it though. He's too polite.
2. Laziness: Above all, he hates laziness. He believes that is shows a weak spirit and a lack of ambition.
3. Spiders: Despite having lived in the Oblitus Forest for most of his life, he has a horrible hatred of spiders. His first reaction will be to panic and run, but if he realizes what he's doing, his next is to smash it as quickly and violently as possible.

Personality:
Xhan is a quiet, intelligent being. He has little to say to outsiders, but when he does talk, he lets it flow. His outbursts typically involve his disgust for the frivolities of society, his disdain for the idea of laziness, or anger towards whatever individual invoked his wrath. Despite his frustrating silence and his harsh judements, he is a peaceful person and disagrees with any combative people, and combat in general. If it weren't for the pressing need of the dragon's invasion, he wouldn't have learned to fight at all. His apathetic attitude towards relationships, arguments, and choices makes him a good moderator. He never makes a decision without considering every possible option available.

Xhan loves nothing more than training, drinking tea, or meditating. He is a very disciplined, brave person, who, with the exception of spiders, is fearless. If you ever begin a discussion about training with him, you'll find he's tried every exercise in the book, which stems from his intense will to learn. Xhan spent countless hours within the monastery library learning about the world's history, the properties of Oblitus plants, and the ways of world's peoples, many of which he disapproves of as savage beasts no better than the dragons. Although he is a harsh person, he is a skilled herbalist. He makes many of his own salves and poultices, all of which are effective. Xhan's many skills have given him a sense of superiority, arrogance if you will. His closed-mindedness has led him to believe that the rest of humanity is dense, incapable. But he also believes that as long as everyone bands together, they'll be able stop the dragon menace. Xhan is polite. Very superficially of course. His masters taught him that he needs to be kind to everyone, and so he pretends to care. He's very good at handling people's problems, although he hates the tedious tasks. He justifies it by calling it 'extra training.'

History: (What was your characters life like before, during and after the Dragons Advent? Just what events lead to them now marching to Pharus on the front lines? Nobody starts an adventure without a back story so what's your characters? 3 + Detailed paragraphs.)

Quotes:
- "I don't fight for your...generals. -said with venom at the word generals- I fight for my brothers. I fight for my home. I fight so people like you can continue their lives. Just never, never question my allegiance."
- "I would appreciate it if you don't touch my staff...thank you."
- "I did not survive the Year of One Thousand Trials to die at the hands of a filthy goblin!"
- "Get behind me. I believe that this fight is over."
- "Care to join me for some tea? I wouldn't disapprove of your company."

Other: Xhan has a very strong sense of smell. Very strong. He has an accent comparable to an Ethiopian's.

Code: Nobilis rules, n00bs.

 

[Jay]

Okay. I still wanna have him dual wield, so I'll lose the knives. I'll have my SU up tomorrow.

Excellent. I look forward to seeing it.

I've definitely interested. This looks pretty awesome. I'm gonna leave this here for when I'm ready to start. I have one question. Are the nomads like monks? Like, if I wished, I could fly into some crazy spin kick instead of needing a weapon?

Great to see more interest! The Nomads are more akin to travelling mercenaries with exotic tastes. Remember, your characters identity and back story can be absolutely anything. Their class is just the school of combat they chose to study.

If you want to be a badass martial arts monk nomad whom uses fist weapons or whatever then go right ahead!

 

[<Challenger>]

Excellent! I'll begin working on my SU in the meantime. And also Dragon's Dogma. Went to the Dragon before I was ready. Hours wasted on one boss battle. Never beaten. I cry.

 

[Cobalt XIV]

I'm definitely interested in this. It sounds amazing and well thought out. I'm still debating on what kind of Caster I'm going to make. I'm leaning towards a Water Mage.

In regards to the Necromancer, even if the Necromancer reanimates the corpse of a dead caster, it is still incapable of using magic? Also, are necromancers only able to reanimate dead humans, not dead beasts?

 

[The Canceler]

FINALLY FINISHED. I'll just make a new post instead of editing my first comment.

Character Name: Damian Ashtad Aruna

Character Age: 25

Character Appearance: This is the best image I can find of what I had in mind, but with longer fuller hair, and slightly shorter stature.

Character Gender: Male

Hometown: Oracion

Reason for Joining the FOH:

Damian lived a simple life in Oracion. All he knew was fighting, and he knew that he needed money to live, so he took to fighting in the arena. Damian never showed any remorse, but he certainly never fought for glory. At least, that's what he tells himself. The reason Damian was able to survive in the arena for so long is because deep down, he despises everyone and everything that steps foot into the arena. He hates the scum that parade through the arena for glory or simply for the thrill of killing. He was happy to end them and felt fulfilled doing so. This same innate sense of justice is his driving force behind wanting to fight the Draconis army. That, and the fact that he really only knows how to fight. After seeing the attack on Oracion, he knew he had to fight the Draconis and reclaim the human cities. He just didn't know why.

Character Class: Nomad

Class Info:

Primary/Secondary Weapon: Damian dual-wields twin equally-weighted scimitars. They're not special in any way, other than that they can be put together to form one handle with two blades.

Personal Info:

Likes:

• Fighting; it is pretty much the only vocation skill Damian has
• Company; Damian is never one to turn down a friendly face
• Heat; Damian loves hot, dry weather
• Engineering; modern technology fascinates Damian, and whenever he can get a chance to tinker with some machinery (which isn't often) he'll take it

Dislikes:

• Criminals; Damian is a staunch believer in making an honest living -- unfortunately, there are few honest ways to make a living in Oracion
• Cold; just as much as Damian loves hot weather, he can't stand cold weather
• Magic; Damian doesn't necessarily hate magic users, he just has an aversion to magic -- he'd rather trust his weapons

Personality:

Contrary to what one would expect, Damian is a very good-natured person. He doesn't like conflict, and generally gets along well with people. He couldn't be described as an introvert or an extrovert; he falls somewhere in the middle. He won't start a casual conversation, but he won't turn away from one either. If he doesn't have a reason to dislike someone, he won't. But be wary of giving Damian a reason to dislike you; he'll let you know. Damian can also be described as very headstrong. Once he's decided on a course of action, he will stick with it until his dying breath.This comes from his unwavering sense of right and wrong. It's kept him alive so far, so he has no reason to think that he's ever made a wrong decision.

Damian can have a bad-natured side as well. When he's angry or distraught, he's a man of few words. He'll have a tendency to make rash decisions and become pretty violent when someone questions him. Damian will have no trouble settling an argument in a fight to the death, and cares little if he ends up being the one to lose. In his mind, if he loses, then he's wrong. He can also be a bit directionless. He doesn't have much to live for or much to do with his time. If Damian doesn't have his head locked onto a task, he can frequently be seen spacing out.

History:

Damian was born in Regalia unto a factory worker father and a mother who sold produce. Needless to say, they were not very wealthy. They lived in the slums until one day, when Damian was around one year old, his father died in a factory incident. Damian's mother took what money they had and bought a boat ride to Oracion, as it was the cheapest ticket. Unfortunately, she did not know why. That changed when they arrived. Damian's mother struggled to find any work that didn't include selling her body or putting herself in harm's way. When Damian was old enough, he began working at a market stall for petty cash. That was the way they lived for about nine years. Tragedy struck again when Damian come home one day to find his mother gone. There was no note, no trace of struggle, and no apparent reason.

After about a year or so, Damian's home was evicted, so he pawned off all his belongings and began living on the streets. One day while begging, a man asked him why such a young boy was begging on the streets. Damian explained what happened to the man, who simply replied, "I'm surprised it didn't happen to you sooner." As he walked away, he dropped two small, crude daggers in front of Damian. Damian grimly understood. At first, it was petty thievery. Mostly from the arena betters who were hording their wealth or the rare noblemen who were passing through. But Damian got better. Eventually, he was performing assassinations for the local enforcement, but staunchly refused when he felt like the job wasn't "righteous." Tired of Damian's frequent insubordination, they sold him out to the arena, where he was forced to fight other warriors and whatever wild beasts was unfortunate enough to make it to Oracion.

Damian couldn't help but drop his mouth at his first pay from the arena. Of course, he was getting a small cut ("15%", but Damian doubted his employers knew such complex math), but it was much more than the bounties he was collecting. For the first time, Damian was able to walk into a store that didn't just sell bottom-of-the-barell produce. Aside from basics of living, Damian didn't really spend much at all, though. The largest payment he had ever made was for twin scimitars that came together to form on handle. Damian frequently trained with these scimitars, and became one of the few arena fighters to dual wield, which impressed the audiences even more, thus increasing Damian's pay. But extra money meant nothing to anyone once the Draconis army came marching into Oracion. Damian came running to the front line, but by the time he got there, the Draconis army was already attacking. The sight of their viciousness made Damian understand that he can't fight. It would mean death, and Damian had nothing to die for in Oracion. So, he fled, but he swore to himself that he would repay his debt to Oracion for escaping.

Quote:

"Maybe what I do isn't very nice. Maybe it's wrong. Maybe there's a better way. Maybe in another reality, I'd have been given another opportunity. But this is not that reality. And make no mistake, I do wish things were different. For now, I just carry my burdens and hope they don't weigh me down too hard."

Other:

Damian may have grown up as a street urchin, but he's not uneducated. His mother was fairly knowledgeable and taught Damian regularly. He can read, write, and do math. Most importantly, he happens to be a fairly fast learner.

Code: Nobilis Draconis

 

[Shak]

I'm definitely interested in this. There's a lot of info to read though, so I'll take my time looking through before I post my SU.
Just a thought, is it possible to be a beast tamer and another class?
I'm already getting ideas and I was thinking my character could be an archer but with a pet...
I wanna post my SU but I need some one to respond so I don't get done for double posting :(