NationStates Jolt Archive

EDIT: IC thread located here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10952401#post10952401)

This RP would follow Destiny Deflected (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=473573), one year later. I intend for this to be open to all levels of technology, including past and fantasy, provided that the characters involved are able to deal with witnessing future-techy things.

Synopsis:

It is summer in Krioval, and the year is 2004. Trees are in full leaf, the fields are heavy with grains and vegetables, and tourists flock to the nation's white sandy beaches in droves. A particularly stormy year is behind the population, and an atmosphere of heady optimism permeates the air.

Of especial note is the Guild of Paladins, which has grown to nearly five times its size in less than a year. Rumors continue to circulate, however, that the newly installed Chief Paladin, Serph, is in league with malefic forces. Some point to the seemingly miraculous last-second construction of the Guild headquarters as evidence. Others insist that the deaths of both Sylvan Kriov and Erik Dekker, bestowing enormous power onto the young Serph, implicate him in their deaths. With the former Chief Paladin languishing in a Kriovalian hospital, conservative holdouts in the Guild fear that the Andros tribe, the keystone of the anti-Serph tribal coalition, will be up for grabs.

Enter the two heirs. David Andros, the brother of Micah, who holds the reins of the Andros tribe, is thought to be a shoo-in for the position. As leader of the conservative Security party, and most notable senator to publicly oppose Serph's plans to expand the Paladins' Guild further, his ascension would cement the balance in both the Senate and between the Great Tribes. The black sheep of the family, however, may have precedent on his side. Valkai Andros, serving as Serph's second-in-command as Guild Director, and the son of David, may invoke traditional tribal laws of succession, which stipulate that leadership is to pass to the next generation whenever possible. As Micah has no children, and the feud between David and Valkai grows in intensity, the likelihood for a showdown increases with every labored breath that Micah draws.

To complicate matters, Senate elections are scheduled for the first Sunday in August. Persistent gossip has spread that Valak City, now dominated by the Guild, has become a hotbed for deviant behavior, including sexual perversions, demonic consultations, and even ritualistic cannibalism. At the same time, crime in Valak is the lowest among any of the cities of Krioval, and its economy is growing at nearly double the pace of the rest of the nation, leading many to question the motives behind the rumormongers.

As tensions have begun to rise behind the scenes, the Tribes have convened to discuss the matter of the Andros succession while the moderate Free Krioval party, led by Kara Tyvok, attempts to defuse a rancorous political free-for-all ahead of general elections. Meanwhile in Valak, Serph sees signs of dissention even among his more highly placed directors. But at what price can the Guild be held together? What would be the consequence of the Guild's division?

Finally, as interested parties work to resolve matters without disturbing public confidence, a man is found brutally murdered in the predominantly Christian city of Bralos. Is this merely an isolated incident, or have forces building for years finally begun their inexorable motion?

"Secret" Details:

Serph and twelve others were infused with energy following the blast beneath Tarusen Temple a year and a half earlier. As a result, they can adopt the shape of "avatars" that confer certain abilities, such as incredible strength and speed. Some of the more powerful ones allow data to be manipulated directly, though only for a short time. At the time of this RP, Serph and his research director (Kenji Miyamoto) have determined methods to infuse others with these avatars after rigorous training. There are approximately fifty "avatar-bound" paladins in Valak. They sustain their strength by draining "life force" from others, which often results in the death and disintegration of their victims.

Serph is romantically involved with Valkai. And Shinji. I'll avoid graphic depictions, but it's important to the storyline.

Hiroshi may end up with either Ayumi or Angeline. It remains to be seen whether Kiros or Kenji ever develop a romantic interest.

Characters:

I'd like to RP the paladins directly. That would leave Kriovalian senators fairly open for RP purposes. Some Great Tribes are sufficiently malleable to be RP'd without a huge background in Krioval's political system. Interested foreigners are also welcome, as are foreign governments (to a degree - I'd like to avoid war, at least early on).

Constructive suggestions are also welcome.

Valkai, three years before the Conception... or just a coincidence of name? *rasies an eyebrow, and grins wickedly*

Ah. Very good. Remember, however, there were two Valkais - one was Valkai Andros, who was dead in the Conception world. He is alive in this one, however (so too would be the *other* Valkai, safely in Tanara - the timeline is incredibly elastic), and his age is what it should have been.

That was *fast* too! :D

EDIT: I may bring Ose back as well, though I'm undecided. Demons are *fun* to play with.

Care to have an independant ( as independantly wealthy, doing it for his own curiosity ) investigator of unusual occurances looking into the odd disappearances...

and I started typing this before I just scrolled down asn saw your latest post... LOL.. running into Ose would be fun...

Daveed Ariel Roth (http://www.atddm.com/daveed.jpg) started off a simple physician and ex special forces sniper, then he had a few too many run ins with demons and odd things ( all in various NS RP's ) and now spends his leisure time looking into such...and the disappearances and surrounding rumors would catch his atention.

They sustain their strength by draining "life force" from others, which often results in the death and disintegration of their victims.

and he's no longer strictly human himself.

Daveed, Faro and Tannis (http://www.atddm.com/dar.htm) the three who would make up the investigative team. Faro he rescued in an NS Rp and the same thing with Tannis, so both have a NS history.

Hope they are acceptable to you.

I am sure that they will do fine - I'll take a look at your thread in the meantime.

EDIT: I get an error when I click your link.

So I see - my comp died an ugly death earlier and it may well NOT have uploaded that to my site. Right now we are rebuilding and it will hopefully be done tonight and if so the first thing I will do is up load that web page (grrrrr and now this makes me think all the six or so hours of work I did earlier may not have actually been done - oh joy, joy, oh frabjous day....NOT )

Don't worry. I'm probably going to start this a few days off anyway (but no later than Saturday). Seeing as how the backstory's pretty much done, it's just a matter of seeing whether more people want to take part before I get it going.

Best of luck with the computer, BTW.

Capers around madly, it's fixed, it's fixed, and only some of my work was lost.

The link works now. (HUGE Grin)

Wow. That's quite a good deal of character development. I figure I'll just develop mine as I go along. Of course, the avatars are the more interesting aspects of this, so I should probably discuss them now.

Serph/Asura

For all intents and purposes, Serph and the Asura are the same in appearance. More astute observers might notice a flicker of red in the otherwise placid silver eyes of the Chief Paladin that signify his having partaken of "life force", however. Serph is the third-strongest paladin in terms both of physicality (the Andros brothers ahead of him) and mysticality (Ayumi and Shinji rate stronger). He appears to be weaker than he is, though a well-placed kick can still send him flying, but his resistance to psionic and mystical assaults is almost total. He has deadly precision with a handgun or handheld plasma pistol. Asura is further resistant to cold but vulnerable to fire/heat.

Special abilities:

Insatiable - Can devour at will and without limit. Does not require victim to be incapacitated, though success is not guaranteed against targets at full strength.

Soul Divide - Can split energy consumed with allies.

Power Charge - Expends energy to improve attack abilities (including devouring).

Seraphic Radiance - Expends enormous energy to repel/banish all undead and enemy demons (can be resisted), heal allies and void all negative status on allies. Human enemies are unaffected.

Valarok - Multi-target attack that has a high chance to deal a critical blow. Improved by Power Charge.

Valkai/Ongyoki

Valkai Andros is a large and imposing man, and quite close to the Chief Paladin. He serves as Guild Director, or second-in-command, in Valak. Ongyoki appears either as an equally large and imposing black demon with red eyes, or can appear...differently. Despite Valkai's tendency toward directness, his demon form specializes in misdirection (and smackdown).

Special Abilities:

Replicate - Can make false copies of Ongyoki. These false copies deal damage as normal unless the target can resist the mirage. Replicates are dispelled on being struck by a wounding hit.

Invisibility - Exactly what it implies. Can only be applied to Ongyoki (any of them, however...)

Kiros Valiyos - Raises allies' combat abilities to maximum. Diminishes enemies' combat abilities to minimum (can be dispelled, or resisted by very strong target).

Silent Howl - Temporarily seals all psionic and mystical abilities in a given area (includes Valkai/Ongyoki).

(more to come as creativity and time are more abundant)

Well the back stories got developed in the various rp's - not always to their liking, or intent.

Your Paladins look quite impressive, and dangerous. Definitely not people I'd like to meet in a back alley unless I knew they were allies...

Well the back stories got developed in the various rp's - not always to their liking, or intent.

Your Paladins look quite impressive, and dangerous. Definitely not people I'd like to meet in a back alley unless I knew they were allies...

Does that mean that you'd be interested in joining in?



Some more paladins:

Kiros/Narukami

Kiros is a paladin well-suited to his avatar - the very embodiment of a short attention span. Narukami is an electricity avatar, and its specialties involve the manipulation of lightning and, to a degree, time. Narukami voids all electricity attacks, but is vulnerable to certain biological agents and psychic effects.

Special abilities:

Hammer of Raijin - The big electrocution/stun attack. Can also panic enemies.

Acceleration - Narukami moves at nearly twice its normal speed, at the expense of its endurance.

Evasion - Allies are somewhat more difficult to hit when this is active.

Flight - Narukami is one of the few avatars capable of independent flight (passive ability - in Narukami form only).

Shinji/Hyoukai

Hyoukai is the embodiment of the icy sea, and is more a mystic-based avatar than those of the other male paladins. Shinji cannot drown or be frozen, but is more vulnerable to fire and heat attacks than most.

Special Abilities:

Cocytus - The big ice/freezing attack. Subsequent attacks on frozen victims will do incredible damage, or even shatter the target. Freezing also cancels innate resistance to many damaging attacks.

Fog of War - Reduces accuracy of distance-based attacks.

Purification - Clears most negative effects from an ally and increases resistance (voids weaknesses) to similar effects for a short time.

Meditation - Restores a modest amount of energy and health (Hyoukai only)

Kenji/Byakko

Literal-minded Kenji is granted the white tiger as his avatar, and with it the powers of the winds. Byakko is blessed with speed, though not to the degree that Narukami benefits, and his attacks are based on modulating the air around him. Electricity, however, can disrupt these preparations - Byakko is especially sensitive to static discharge.

Special Abilities:

Kamikaze - Does vast mystical damage to a selected group. Renders Kenji in human form and unconscious.

Healing Wind - Restores the health of those nearby.

Shockwave - The basic wind/force attack (multi-target)

Scientific Method - Kenji remembers the strengths and weaknesses of all opponents he has ever fought, and can extrapolate likely strengths and weaknesses of new opponents based on this information.

(totally OOC: I guess listing weird "special abilities" is my form of describing every ship in a fleet for MT RP - the circle is complete...or something.)

IC thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10952401#post10952401) now posted.

Made my first IC post.

I know Tanara as we RP in RL.

I wouldn't mind joining if this character is acceptable to you.

Kaminari (http://www.faefolk.info/nari.htm)

I can see her traveling to Krioval to try and meet the Paladins and their avatars.

I like your character. Keep in mind that avatar-bound paladins are rare, and even if their status is known, few people understand the true meaning of "avatar-bound" - they're likely to dismiss it as religious terminology.

OOC: I'd like to get involved in this, but will need to read a bit before I can either pick a character from my roster that will fit the part, or make one from scratch. If any of the opposing sides are gathering forces for some sort of showdown (Even if it's not in this RP), that would make things easier, if they hired a battalion or so of my troops. It would provide a viable entry point and place me close to the action.

That, or I can use the rather lame-ass ploy of having my main character on vacation in Krioval when all this is going on, and somehow get caught up in the thick of things.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Until then, I'll get back to reading.

Given some of the devils in play here, facing the devil I know may not be much better than facing the devil I don't know. ;)

But seriously...

Garu

Background

Garu is a tough young Patryn of the Dragyn clan. She grew up in a small village where she was educated in the traditions of her clan (including the arts of reading, writing, fighting, deception, magic, etc) and shortly before she reached adulthood her family moved to the city of Abri, Patrynia. City life is hard in Abri, and most Patryns there die young, before their 16th nameday. Garu is currently approaching her 27th nameday, a testament to her ability to survive among the strong young male Patryns in the city who are the majority of its denizens.

Physical

Garu is a petit but well-muscled woman, with well-muscled legs and buttocks, strong arms, a hard abdomen and firm breasts of average size. Her hair is wavy and dark and always tied back in a braid. Her eyes are an ice blue. Her entire body is covered in an unusual array of rune tattoos given her by her parents. For this reason and the possibility of others reading the runes that give her the magical abilities that (along with her physical abilities) have kept her alive so far, she swathes herself in clothing. Whatever is available will do, but it is always something that is enough to cover her body, including her hands and face, preferably durable and in colors that do not draw attention.

Magical Abilities

Garu is of the Dragyn clan, which means she has an innate ability to transform into a large a powerful dragon form. This dragon form is a last resort, for a variety of reasons. It is highly recommended that anyone valuing their lives leave the area immediately if she begins a transformation. (Note: It is rumored in Abri that she is inhabited by a powerful demon, though this could be an explanation for defeat put about by the few sore losers she has left alive.) Her normal abilities include the basic Patryn/Sartan hybrid rune-magic that is common in Patrynia (Google "Death Gate Cycle" for more info) and she is skilled in the use of the rune-carved knives hidden on her person and the staff she carries openly (and which she can draw on to strengthen her innate magic). She is only an adequate healer and necromancer, though most in her clan are highly skilled in those areas.

Does that sound good, Raijin? Any info you want added? Clarifications?

Mercenary Soldiers:

You're welcome to post anything that fits with the overall character of the RP (thanks, by the way, for the interest). I'm not sure that the type of battle that's likely in this RP would involve hiring outside forces, but I may be able to work something in on that front later. Feel free to participate when you'd like - I'm fairly fluid when it comes to RP style.

Patrynia:

Garu sounds like a good character. Most definitely approved. :D

To nobody in particular:

My home computer died (the CPU, this time) late Monday. That's a big part of why I haven't been posting on schedule. I'll try to get something IC up before the day is over. Thanks for the patience.

~ He Who Fights

Sorry to hear that your comp died, I can certainly sympathise. May the thousand little gods of the computer be with you and look favorabley upon you.

Thanks for allowing me to play, and in response to this:

Keep in mind that avatar-bound paladins are rare, and even if their status is known, few people understand the true meaning of "avatar-bound" - they're likely to dismiss it as religious terminology.

I do have to say:

LOl she's a kitsune, and if I went with the full original specs of a Kitsune she'd be exactly what your avatars and those bound to them sound like...But I'm playing her as much more limited that a full on Japanese Kitsune.

take a look at Foxtrot's Kitsune Lore (http://www.comnet.ca/~foxtrot/kitsune/kitsune1.htm) for an extremely scholarly look at Kitsune.

I think she might sense them useing their powers if she were close by and especially when they were 'feeding' ( but ewww how...tasteless?)

Patrynia:

Garu sounds like a good character. Most definitely approved. :D


Thanks. :)

I can come up with good things now and again... ;)

I already have an idea for an interesting entrance to the RP...hehe. :cool:

I'll try to post it sometime tonight or tomorrow night.

After several hours I finally got around to doing an IC post (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10985950&postcount=11)....

I hope it's to your liking. And let me know if there's any particular place in the city you think it would be fun to have her end up. I left her location open-ended because first, I wasn't sure where to put her, and second because I would like your input in choosing an interesting place for her to start her adventure and get some action going.

Sorry again for being away for so long. There was a death in the family last week, so I had to attend to some of the details involved. I'm hoping that all the difficulties in my continuing this thread are over now.

My deepest condolences Krioval.

Sorry to hear that, Raijin. Best wishes to you and your family.

Edit: Oh. Almost forgot. I'm having Garu's ship "land" (technically land is not really what it does) in a storage facility beneath the Guild headquarters, if that's alright with you. Let me know and I'll do the next IC post.

Apologies for the delay, and many thanks for the condolences. I should have a computer this coming weekend, so that three-day lapses will decrease significantly in likelihood. I'm moving from one apartment to another this Friday, and next week, our workplace moving process begins. After that, it's looking good until the first week of July (assuming that this is still going on that long).

Thanks for the patience.

I'm wondering a bit as to what Garu is planning on doing - I need to know how to respond. Thanks.

I'm wondering a bit as to what Garu is planning on doing - I need to know how to respond. Thanks.

Sure. Right now she's trying to figure out exactly where she is and make her way back to where she was. She's not really planning anything because her arrival was an accident. She will react to whomever or whatever she encounters with survival and finding her way home in mind.

I'm being a bit slow, but I should be completely caught up on this within the next day or so.

That post was indeed meant for you. Thanks. :)

I'm heading out on the 4th of July to Boston for a bit of a vacation. I'll be back on the evening of the 9th. While I'll try to post to the thread during that time, I can't guarantee I'll be able to.

For those celebrating the 4th, have a fun (and safe) holiday!