Gift of the Gods OOC

[Ruu]

The various nations of the Lyrian continent have always been a very religious people. They maintained that the gods were always at work in the lives of even the most ordinary of citizens. Peace treaties were established and wars declared according to the beliefs of the people and the values of their established gods. At the present, there are six major deities celebrated and venerated. Three are more aligned with lawful and peaceful principles, and they are known collectively as the Pax Trinity. The other three deities, known as the Kaos Triune, espouse a more anarchistic approach to their ways of life. Naturally, the nations who venerated the Pax Trinity joined together while those who worshiped the Kaos Triune formed a loose alliance.

For years war raged on the continent until a shaky treaty was formed. No country would be able to attack another without fear of reprisal from all nations involved in the treaty. Sadly, this agreement was not to last. As mankind grew and flourished, they discovered Leylines, ancient sites of great power. Astrologers and seekers of knowledge eventually determined that these Leylines held a secret that would be terrible in the wrong hands. If the natural energy of each of the Leylines were unlocked, the location of the greatest Leyline of all would be revealed…The Leylines became jealously guarded, for fear that other nations would obtain their secrets. Soon, wars became the norm rather than the exception once again…

During this period of conflict, the Kaos Triune decided to bestow their powers on three human individuals, and through them they hoped to take the Leylines themselves, for the Leylines held a deep magic that extended further than the influence of the gods. The Pax Trinity would not tolerate this act of open defiance, and they gifted their own abilities to three humans they had specially chosen. Now, a race to unlock the secrets of the Leylines in the midst of a war-torn continent is on…Which side will you choose?

Pax Trinity (Gods/goddesses with strikethroughs in their name have their human avatar reserved)

Alucio, God of Light, Peace, and Hope: Alucio is the younger brother of Delphine and Tynan. Many years ago, he was much more powerful than in his present state. For years, he, Delphine, and Tynan were very close siblings. During this time, their father, the King of the gods, decided to bestow one of them with the distinction of becoming the next heir. Delphine wanted nothing to do with it, because she wished to remain as close to the growing things of the world as possible, and she would not lose her status as goddess of Living things even to become Queen. Alucio also did not wish to become King, and that left Tynan. Their father, however, would not consider Tynan as King. He said that the young god's heart was imbalanced, and only one with a balanced heart could ever become the ruler of the pantheon. The King of the gods therefore bestowed the title on Alucio, much to the young god's surprise. In his rage, Tynan hid from the other gods and fled to the bowels of the Earth. There he devised a weapon, cunning and cruel, fashioned from ancient dragon bones and infused with dark rituals. With this weapon he struck down his brother Alucio, and though the god of Light was not killed, his power was greatly diminished.

For 100 years Delphine tended to her dear brother, shocked at Tynan's callous betrayal. Finally, Alucio's immortal manifestation was healed, though his soul is still deeply wounded. That is why there are scars on the sun and why the devotees of Alucio still mourn on the darkest day of the year, the day when Alucio was said to have been struck down.

Alucio is prayed to for the end of war, for the healthy growth of crops, and for happiness in both this life and the one to come. He is the patron of priests, children, and the grieving. His symbol is the sun with three pairs of wings rising behind it.

Nova, Goddess of Mental Energy, Truth, and Balance: Nova is the sister of Levina and Xolotl. Nova was always the odd one of the bunch and would often be reflecting and meditating while her two older siblings were letting out their excess energy through rather destructive acts.

It came to pass that Xolotl and Levina decided to play a trick on Nova. They rearranged the stars in the Milky Way, which caused a terrible and cataclysmic shift in alignment. This alerted Nova, as it interfered with her sense of order and she traveled to the Galaxy to heal its hurts. There they caught her in a black hole where she was trapped for many years before Alucio and Delphine rescued her. Any bonds she might have had with Xolotl and Levina are long gone after their terrible "trick." Though she allies herself with Delphine and Alucio, she is still seen as a neutral force. Her main allegiance is to a balance between light and darkness.

She is prayed to for mental peace, emotional stability, and unbiased judgement. She is the patron of diplomats, judges, and leaders. Her symbol is a balanced scale.

Delphine, Goddess of the Earth, Life, and Growth: Delphine, the middle sibling to Alucio and Tynan, was always tied more to the Earth than anything else. In the early days of the world, she often would forsake her immaterial and immortal body to wander through the forests and lakes of the earth, disguised as a wood nymph. She was said to have been a woman of great beauty, decorated with the rarest of flowers and adorned with butterflies. When man began its expansion and started to burn the forests she called home, she woefully retreated back to the heavens, trying to curb the destruction as much as she could. She had little interest in the politics involved in choosing a successor, and she retreated to Earth once again when her father began speaking of an heir.

With Tynan's betrayal, however, she felt a great pain in her heart and hastened to Alucio's side, horrified and stricken at what their brother had done. For 100 long years she tended to Alucio, gifting him with the greatest healing abilities she could muster. Through her perseverance and dedication, she was able to save her brother from an eternity of suffering. She harbors a deep grudge against Tynan for his treachery.

She is prayed to for abundant crops, rain, and the blessings of the Earth. She is the patroness of farmers, herbalists, and doctors. Her symbol is a tree with five stars above it.

Kaos Triune: (Gods/goddesses with strikethroughs in their name have their human avatar reserved)

Tynan, God of Darkness, War, and Despair: Tynan, eldest brother to Alucio and Delphine, was originally their constant protector. Any of the other gods who dared to insult them would answer to his dark powers. He was constantly looking for fights, and creating excuses to make them. He was a patron of war and would even appear on Earth to champion his favorites, even when this was expressly forbidden. He was described in ages past as a dark man clad in blood red armor with the eyes of a hawk and the dark artes of a sorcerer. When his father snubbed him and chose Alucio as the heir, something inside Tynan snapped. He retreated to the bowels of the Earth and fashioned a weapon of terrible malice that could inflict pain even on a god. After striking down his brother, he began a reign of terror.

For 100 years the sun did not shine and the world was covered in darkness, death, and war. Only when Alucio was finally restored by Delphine did light shine once again. Tynan was weakened enough so that he was banished from the uppermost circles of heaven, though he still holds considerable sway on Earth.

He is prayed to during war and during funerals, for it is said he guides the wicked to their eternal place of rest in the underworld. He is the patron of soldiers, strategists, and druids. His sign is a war helmet and sword.

Levina, Goddess of Lightning, Lies, and Instability: Levina, eldest sister to Xolotl and Nova, was always full of energy. It wasn't that she was completely evil, but she enjoyed the rush that dangerous acts brought with them, never noticing who was hurt in the process. She also had a honeyed tongue and could lie her way into, or out of, any situation. She was a constant annoyance to the youngest of the three, Nova, especially considering she was the oldest and Nova expected her to act as such. To her credit, if someone brought to her attention that she had hurt them, she would be truly and sorry and seek to repair the damages. But she was such an unpredictable goddess that most were afraid to approach her on the subject.

She eventually earned Nova's eternal wrath by going along with her brother and trapping Nova in a dark hole. To her credit, she did try to help her sister once Xolotl was gone, but didn't have enough power. She sent a message to Alucio and Delphine, who were finally able to rescue Nova. For all that, Nova would never forgive her and will not no matter how Levina tries to heal the rift between them.

Levina is prayed to for safety during storms, ironic as that sounds, and during revolutions. She is the patroness of revolutionists, innovators, and scientists. Her symbol is a single bolt of lightning.

Xolotl, God of Fire, Death, and Decay: Xolotl is the youngest sibling to Levina and Nova, but the most cunning. For years he pretended to follow the rules, and at times was more manipulative than Levina. Unlike Levina, he enjoys the pain and destruction he causes and wouldn't bat an eye if someone told him about it. When Alucio was struck down, his true colors were revealed and fire ran rampant on the Earth. Xolotl even visited Earth a few times to create the greatest conflagrations known to man, and the most devastating volcano strikes. He masterminded the effort to entrap Nova, a sister whom he despised, because she was the embodiment of Order while he was the incarnation of destruction. He also intensely dislikes Delphine and would often torment her by wiping out entire forests.

He is prayed to for curses against enemies, for the destruction of other nations, and for physical strength. He is the patron of blacksmiths, necromancers, and monks. His symbol is of a single flame.

The Leylines

Six Leylines have been confirmed, though a seventh is rumored. It is said if that one finds the innermost sanctums of the Leylines, they will be granted a secret word that will give them great powers. If all six words are discovered, the way to the seventh Leyline will be unlocked. No mortal has ever unlocked the secrets of even one of the Leylines...The words change with each individual who enters the sanctum, so no one has the same word and they cannot be stolen.

Ragnoke Mountain: Ragnoke Mountain is located in the Northern country of Soldr. It is an active volcano and its powers generate great heat and energy for the mechanically minded Soldrs to operate from. They guard the mountain jealously. There is a vast labyrinth of underground caves said to hold its secret source of power but none have lived who have entered there. Soldr worships the god Xolotl and is Kaos aligned.

Hesperia's Spring: This Spring is located in the Southern country of Ellyia. It is a spring that is said to have the ability to heal any wounds. Its secrets lie inside of a temple that houses the spring, a temple filled with traps and pitfalls. Ellyia worships the goddess Delphine and is aligned with the Pax Trinity.

Thoctar Caverns: The Thoctar Caverns are a hallowed site for Necromancers and their main source of power, located in the Western country of Zarda. Great beasts known as Thoctars haunt the Caverns and are quite willing to devour careless travelers. No one other than Necromancers have entered the Caverns and lived to tell the tale. Zarda worships the god Tynan and is Kaos aligned.

Tower to the Sun: The Tower to the Sun is an old and mysterious tower that acts as a beacon, for it shines with a great light that illuminates nearly the entire Eastern country of Arraydon. Its light intensifies when an enemy is near and because it shines in the night, no force can ever sneak over its borders without detection. It is said its secret lies on the top of the tower...Arraydon worships the god Alucio and is aligned with the Pax Trinity.

The Pristine Lake: The Pristine Lake is a lake of water that never runs dry and is completely pure and immaculate, free from all taint. It is located on the Northeast island of Warros. It has the ability to neutralize poisons and toxins. The people of Warros never want for water and are always willing to share with the less fortunate. The secret of the lake lays in ruins at its bottom, ruins that never have been explored for fear of tainting the purified water. Warros worships the goddess Nova and is aligned with the Pax Trinity, though they are often seen as neutral.

Dartmuth Desert: The Dartmuth Desert spans nearly the entire length of the Southeast island of Acadia. It has strange weather patterns that dramatically increase the power of weather mages. An observatory is set up there that acts as a weather station for the entire continent. At the heart of the seemingly endless desert is said to be its secret. Acadia worships the goddess Levina and is Kaos aligned, though many see them as neutral.

Character Creation


Characters

Unknown: Tynan's Host

Lucius: Alucio's Host

Arianna: Nova's Host

Ashni: Levina's Host

Ertai: Xolotl's Host

[Sólrökr]

Name: Not applicable
Age: Twenty-nine
Gender: Male
Appearance: Emaciated, caked with dirt, sweat, blood – shame incarnate. Even he does not know the true color of his own hair.
Patron Deity: Tynan
Powers: Bringer of darkness, war and despair.
History: He is of the untouchable class. For them to speak is to have their tongue cut from their jaw. For them to live is to live in, contempted, servitude. Even among his own people, he is as if a leper; given no name, no job but to be the scape-goat of all the evils put upon them, and of their own.

His hatred, boiling sadism, and unbroken mind called out to Tynan. Tynan's choice is well made, but the chaos that lurks within this creature's soul grow ever turbulent.

I'll give him a name and a proper description in my first post.

[Ruu]

~Looks great Solrokr! I'll have my character up soon and put Levina's and Nova's humans up as NPCs.

EDIT: They are now finished. The NPCs can be used by anyone.

Name: Lucius Idrion (Ruu)
Age: 14
Gender: Male
Country of Birth: Arraydon
Appearance: Lucius has sienna colored hair streaked with blond that falls almost to his shoulders. His eyes are the color of emeralds. He is slight and slender, looking much younger than even his tender years. He is usually clothed in white and gold, the colors of the nobility of Arraydon.
Patron Deity: Alucio
Powers: Can produce light in even the darkest places, inspire hope in others, and is a master of protective magic. He can also grow wings from his back, allowing him to fly.
Weapons: Wields nothing but a staff.
Short bio: Born of the royal Idrion family of Arraydon, Lucius is the youngest of the three royal children. Arraydon's leaders aren't King and Queen in title, rather, they are known as the Sacred Ministers of Alucio. It was only natural that one of their children should have been chosen by Alucio, and as the youngest, Alucio chose Lucius. Lucius has been mostly secluded from the world, but now with his journey to find the Leylines, he must learn rather quickly.

Name: Arianna (NPC)
Age: 65
Gender: Female
Country of Birth: Warros
Appearance: A woman with long silvery hair to her waist, Arianna's smooth features cause her to look much younger than she really is. Her eyes are milky white and look like pearls. She is usually clothed in a dress of what looks like glittering scales. When she returns to her true form, she has a ruby red tail.
Patron Deity: Nova
Powers: Arianna's powers all revolve around her mind. She has many psychic abilities. The calmer she is, the stronger she becomes.
Weapons: None but her mind.
Short bio: Chosen by the goddess Nova for her unbreakable will and her eternal calm, Arianna is a mermaid from the island of Warros. She has the ability to change forms quickly, but staying too long from water can cause her to dry up easily. She was renowned among the merfolk as a wise woman before she was chosen by Nova. Now her powers have increased tenfold and she seeks to restore balance through the power of the Leylines.

Name: Ashni (NPC)
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Country of Birth: Acadia
Appearance: Ashni has wild, unkempt raven colored hair. Her eyes are a brown with touches of a red fire when she is angry. She is clothed in the light garments of the desert people.
Patron Deity: Levina
Powers: Terribly unpredictable powers over the winds and the weather. Some powers over the seas as well. She also is a very smooth talker and can use her powers to deceive many.
Weapons: She wields a spear infused with the lightning element.
Short bio: A warrior woman from the desert, she destroyed her village through her unpredictable powers at a young age. Somewhat traumatized, she sought to atone for her sins by going through a lengthy ritual, only to destroy another village. She never forgave herself, but her penchant for destruction caused Levina to choose her as a host.

[Sólrökr]

So, what's the plan?

[Ruu]

Well, I was kinds waiting for Nomad to get his character in. If it isn't in within the week, I can get the opening post up.

[Sólrökr]

Spoiler:

I got antsy. I took some liberties. If anything is contrary to your specific vision, let me know.

[Ruu]

Wow! That is honestly a wonderful, wonderful piece of writing! I love it! It's not contrary to my vision at all! It was a treat to read!

I'm going to get my post up soon, most likely tonight. Or you can start with this post. It doesn't matter to me. Even if we start now, if Nomad comes back he definitely should still be able to jump in.

[Guest]

Name: Ertai
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Country of Birth: Soldr
Appearance: Lurid green eyes, red from the strain of intense stares fixate on you from eye sockets seemingly scooped out of the pale marble of Ertai's otherwise blank face. Wispy blonde hair hangs from his crown, growing thick and wild in all directions. His body, much like his mind, is torn and emaciated from the ravages of insanity and a diet of scavenged animal corpses and grasses. His skeletal frame seems barely able to support the frenzied pace at which he moves. There is never a time when he is truly still, his hands are always moving, manipulating, clenching and unclenching at unseen objects while his mouth moves wordlessly and his body lurches back and forth. He clothes himself in filthy rags, never wearing true clothing unless forced by another.

Patron Deity: Xolotl

Powers: Necromancy and to a lesser extent a flame spell that withers away whatever it burns, causing devastation to plants and making wounds difficult to heal.

Weapons: Resurrected corpses and his flame spell.

Short bio: Ertai has been insane since he was an adolescent, and as such was cast out of his village at the age of fourteen when it was decided that it was better he die in the wilds than become a danger to society as a whole. He chanced upon a necromancer hermit living in a secluded cave and from him learned his art. The necromancer died five years later and Ertai promptly resurrected him, took control of his standing force of undead, and led his army to slaughter his birth village, to a man. Xolotl saw his madness and penchant for unrepentant murder and made him his champion, increasing his necromantic abilities and teaching him his devastating flame spell.

[Ruu]

~I changed the link to match with your post. Everything should be set.

[Sólrökr]

Going to be out of town until Wednesday. I'll try and get a post up between now and Sunday, when I leave.

[Ruu]

~Alrighties, that sounds good! I hope Elric posts sometime soon, and that we can get the characters closer to each other so they can interact.

[Sólrökr]

I didn't die! I'll try and get a post up tonight/tomorrow. Been busy since the trip.

[Ruu]

~Alrighties! It's no problem at all! There haven't been new posts, and I'm not sure if Elric is still interested or not.

[Sólrökr]

Sorry for the ridiculous wait. Posted. Next post I plan to give him a name and a make-over to fit his new persona. He'll also begin to exercise his powers freely.

[Ruu]

~No problem, I'm just glad you're still here. I'll have a post up soon.

[Ruu]

~Post is up, sorry for the wait. I had a pretty busy weekend.

[Sólrökr]

No prob. Faster than I was.

So what's the battle plan? Just keep running between the two of us?

[Ruu]

Yea, as long as you're willing we can keep going. I haven't heard from Elric or Nomad in a long time.

[Sólrökr]

I've been out sick, sorry Ruu. Gonna get something up after I get some food in my belly.

[Ruu]

~Okies, no problem! I just hope you're feeling better!

[Sólrökr]

A little on the small side, but I feel it got the job done appropriately.

[Ruu]

It's fine, no worries. Mine was shorter as well, but it's up now!

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