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 Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:37 pm
The Holy Kingdom of Harmonia's Special Operations Unit: Peacemakers
Committed to bringing eternal peace and harmony to the holy kingdom and the world
Prologue
You awoke this morning, stirred by the peaceful songs of birds perched on a branch near your window. The joyous singing is a testament to the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia, the zenith of knowledge, order, peace, and harmony. Sitting up from your bed you stretch languidly and smile, for you had a wonderful dream from the night before. The day has come, after all: the day of examinations for entry into the Peacemakers, Harmonia's most prestigious group of soldiers, mages, and scholars.
Near your bedside sits a tray adorned with a deep blue rose, a light breakfast consisting of a demi-loaf of bread, some butters and cheeses, and fruit, and a letter reminding you when your examination time is. You sigh, finish your breakfast, change into your Harmonian uniform (customized to your preferences, of course), and head for Crystal Valley's Peacemaker Headquarters, where examinations will take place.
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:42 pm
Character CreationThis is an easy process. Just send your character's name and two abilities to me in a PM. [b]Character Name:[/b]
[b]Rune/Ability One:[/b]
[b]Rune/Ability Two:[/b] Feel free, however, to add any background information you wish to add. I'll add it to your character's description if you do. A Note About AbilitiesIn the Suikoden world, where this RP is based from, physical and magickal abilities are granted from symbols called Runes. Runes may range from personal runes, which are abilities a character forges from training and accomplishing a specific purpose, or magickal runes, which use the powers of reality to augment specific abilities or to evoke certain natural events like the elements. Each character may choose two of either a personal/ability rune or a magickal rune. A personal rune can only do one thing, but a magickal rune has the ability of accomplishing various things. Please remember, however, not to make rune abilities too overwhelming. A Note About RaceCall me a Nazi (ironic for the people who know me) but for this story I require the player characters to be blond-haired and blue-eyed humans. It's a plot device of sorts that can be realized if the information in "Other Information" is read. Sorry if this limits some character customization, but the cultural connotation is important.
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:44 pm
Current Characters
Mauser
Played by: WiskersThCatfish
Rune/Ability One: Passive water magic resistance (all water magic, including healing magic is less effective against him). Able to stay in water for longer; senses unhindered in watery environments.
Rune/Ability Two: Turn any water spell into a harmless shower. Must be cast before the spells effect takes place.
Mauser made it in to the Peacemakers just barely; borne to a noble family, but far too reckless and adventurous to fit perfectly into the upper-crust of Harmonian culture. Most of his relatives, including his immediate family consider him an eccentric before his time. Growing up, his parents often sent him off on journeys simply to keep him away; this ended up working favourably for them in more ways then one, because at their lavish parties, they could brag to their guests about their explorer son, reading his letters out to the room. Mauser however was oblivious to this, he simply thought his family understood his passion for exploration, and so, in many ways it was also in his favour as well. Over the course of his many travels, he made only one major discovery, and that was of a special rune he located in an old abandoned house in some remote mountains; probably the last project of whoever lived their before. The rune was found to be an odd and unique strand of the common water rune. The odd shape of the rune was what made Mauser eventually dub it, quite properly as "The Umbrella Rune". After returning to his town for what he decided would be a long rest, he eventually found out his parents plot to keep him away, and applied to the Peacemakers to try and teach them that he was more worthy of them then they thought.
Mauser's Umbrella Rune
An odd b*****d child of the Water rune. It is void of usable spells, like other runes; instead it grants the grafted with a small pool of passive abilities. These abilities are as follows: Cold Feet, Warm Hands: The grafted has a small resistance to damaging water magic (the downside being that water-based healing magic is also not as effective) and has more control in watery environments (can hold breath slightly longer; senses less hindered by rainfall). Kink in the Hose: This ability can be used to interrupt a water spell as it is being cast. Any time before the spell's effect takes place, the grafted can activate this ability to turn the spell into a harmless shower (the length and scope of the shower depends on the level of spell negated).
Gaiathi
Played By: Thaliat Everwood
Rune/Ability One: Erosion-the ability to focus a condensed wind current to the point of maximum strength in order to wear away at a surface area. At Gaiathi's current level, she can only maintain this ability for short amounts of time.
Rune/Ability Two: Propel-the ability to direct strong currents of wind to force objects to move in the direction dictated by the caster. Gaiathi is rather comfortable with this ability and can use this ability without requiring much time to recover her energies.
Gaiathi is the daughter of a prominent business owner. She is well educated and has been introduced to all the best social circles. Her family is proud of their daughter as Gaiathi has proven to be quite the strategist in planning small scale financial schemes that have helped the family cartography business grow and prosper. Gaiathi is rather skilled with wind abilities as she has been training since the age of six. Still, Gaiathi is not as content with the course of her life's direction as her parents are. She feels it is too planned and perfect to draw any pleasure from it and instead longs for a less structured life that she fears she will never know.
Julius Aheirem
Played By: Xanatos Forever
Rune/Ability One: Lightning Impulse - His life on the streets of the lower class helped him hone his acrobatic abilities. He is so athletically fit he can traverse even the most obscure terrain with ease, sliding through crevices and catching fixtures without losing a step. The natural instincts and reflexes also aid him on the battlefield, enhancing his evasion against groups and single foes.
Rune/Ability Two: Way of Thunder - A martial art unique to those with an affinity to the Thunder Rune. It focuses on situational, and realistic, one on one combat. No move is wasted, and every attack is meant to inflict maximum damage. It is said no task force is complete without a Thunder Walker to deal the final blow.
Julius Aheirem (called Jules by his friends) was a wonder kid of the Second Class. Rumors were abound as to how a lowly family could acquire such a perfect child. Some whispered of adoption, or even kidnapping. The family themselves simply claimed divine blessing. Regardless, it was in the Second Class world that he grew. His purity drove the denizens of the Second Class to ridicule him, blaming him for all the higher classes placed on them. By an early age, he knew how to utilize the streets and his own physical skills to avoid many fights. As he grew older, he was noticed by those of the First Class. Rather than let him continue at Second Class schools, they took him up to the First Class academies. There he learned the opposite side of the coin he was so closely tied to, and began to walk the Way of Thunder. Even at the academies, however, life was not easy for him. The other First Class citizens believed him to be unpure, because he was raised by lower class. To prove them all wrong, he sought to join the Peacemakers, though his acceptance not have been entirely on his own merit.
Tsuki Tsuji
Played By: blue_green
Rune/Ability One: Rage - When she is feeling strong emotions she becomes physically strong as well beyond what is humanly possible.
Rune/Ability Two: Dragon's Breath - Quite literally the ability to breath fire. However, due to the heat of fire and damage it could cause to the human posessing this ability it also grants imunity to fire to prevent the user from being burned from use of this rune.
She makes for wonderful company and is such a delight to be around! Polight, thoughtful and kind hearted. Also, she's quite an actress! When there is someone in a position of power around she is a completely different person than the real her. Tsuki is quite the arse. She'll insult someone without a second thought about it, though she's never been known to lie. Her family despises her for her attitude and gladly cast her away to train as a Peacekeeper when she had wriggled her way in. She seems to care about no one but herself and sometimes mumbles about not needing her family's power and that she would become powerful on her own. She is completely two faced and has been known to resort to trickery to get what she wants, sucking up to just the right people at just the right times. Though no one would be able to say that she wasn't a hard worker and didn't deserve to get as far as she did. She truely was powerful and smart and got where she was more-so by her own accord than by using others as stepping stones.
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:46 pm
Non-Player Characters and Other InformationThe PeacemakersThe Peacemakers are Harmonia's special branch of soldiers, mages, and scholars dedicated in bringing eternal peace and harmony to all citizens of the world. Only first-class citizens of Harmonia can even qualify for the examinations, and only the top few percentile actually become members of this prestigious group. While the group has many purposes, divided into various branches, the group has two single main purpose: to end any and all disruptions of peace in the kingdom and to spread the order and harmony of Harmonia to the rest of the tumultuous world. Groups from many countries often ask the mages and scholars the Peacemakers for insight and knowledge, for a price. The fighters of the Peacemakers, however, are commanded only by the ruling bodies of the kingdom. Hikusaak, the king, would be the commanding officer. Formal uniform dress consists of dark-navy trousers or skirt, white collared top, black tie with single dark-navy vertical stripe, dark navy dress jacket, and a dark-navy beret with Harmonia's insignia embroidered on it. The formal uniform is adorned with the awards and status of one's rank. Training dress, for recruits, consist of a simple pair of battle dress: trousers, top, boots, and beret. On the field, members may wear what they wish. All officers on duty are required to wear white armbands with the Peacemaker insignia. The Holy Kingdom of HarmoniaThe Holy Kingdom is the oldest kingdom in existence, it's creation dating back to the year -2 in the Sun Calendar. Traditionally it is a theocratic government run by King Hikusaak and his clergy. Nowadays, with the King's mysterious disappearance, a collection of high clergy members run the affairs of the state. The temples of Harmonia, however, still claim that the King is still, indeed, alive. The high clergy members appoint Bishops, who run the affairs of the country. Many bishops act as governers, ruling over city areas. Others manage the economic status of the country. Still others act as the country's generals for the various battalions of troops Harmonia has prepared, thanks to conscription. Overall, they are the ministers, enforcers, and interpreters of the laws; they are also the representatives of the people when talking with the high clergy. A caste system is set up in the holy kingdom. First-class citizens are pure-born Harmonians, blond-haired and blue-eyed humans. Their families are affluent, powerful, and well known throughout the country. Second-class citizens are the members of Harmonia gained through invasion and wilful surrender to state rule. Third-class citizens were conquered by Harmonia and resisted state rule. Non-humans and half humans fall into the Third Class. Lately a group of individuals calling themselves the People's Faction have voiced their concerns about the state of Harmonia, wishing for more equality and a total abolishment of the castes. King HikusaakHe was the original founder of Harmonia, hundreds of years ago. Kept immortal and immune to natural causes of death by the Circle rune, he is the current and only king of the Holy Kingdom. However, due to his disappearance, the ruling first class has managed the affairs of the state during his absence. Many think he perished, though the temples state that he is indeed alive. The Circle RuneThe Circle rune is one of the Twenty Seven True Runes that govern the laws of the universe. Concerned with Law, Peace, and Order, this rune has given Harmonia the prosperity and power known in the history books. It is also the cause of much stagnation in many aspects of Harmonian society. The Peacemaker RuneA symbol of status and the source of extraordinary abilities, the Peacemaker Rune is awarded and attached to the right hand of first-class Harmonian citizens who pass the Peacemaker examinations. It's a child of the Circle Rune and grants the bearer these main magickal abilities:
Great Blessing: Touch a subject to fully heal their wounds.
Holy Stasis: All targets in a user-defined area are frozen in crystal.
Circle of Peace: All targets in a user-defined area are immune to negative magickal effects and all attacks. They are also unable to attack or cast negative magick.
Pinions of Light: All allies in range of spell are healed, all enemies in range are damaged.
Save for Great Blessing, members of the Peacemakers are strongly encouraged not to use the other abilities unless absolutely necessary. The powers required to maintain them are taxing. Other abilities not listed here may be available to higher-ranking officers. Crystal ValleyThe central capital of Harmonia. The city is so immense that it takes two days by horse to cross the diameter. Huge crystals, affixed with runes, power the city and keep its logistics working. Lightning runes provide electricity and light to many of the buildings while water runes provide an everlasting spring of fresh water. Nowadays, individuals traverse the city using the powers of the Blinking rune to teleport from place to place. It's the epitome of runic harmony. The main Temple, the Training Academies, and the Peacekeeper headquarters are stationed here. The Five Runic ElementsThe five runic elements and their associated function are described below:
Fire: Element well suited for clearing out masses of targets.
Thunder: Element well suited for destroying single targets.
Wind: An element concerned with negative status, some healing, and damage.
Water: Focused mainly on healing and magical team defenses.
Earth: Focused mainly on general team defenses.
Bishop Alexander HildegardBishop Hildegarde is the administrator of the soldier branch of the Peacekeepers. He is in charge of managing the various missions given by the high clergy and other members of Harmonian society. As an individual he is quite old and grayed. While he no longer participates in the actual battles of the Peacemakers, his knowledge in strategy and general martial instinct is top-notch. He firmly believes in Harmonia's greatness and takes pride in his work, for through the Peacemakers he feels the entire world can truly enjoy the supreme peace that only the holy kingdom can give. JacquelineJacqueline is a scholar of the Peacekeepers and one of the adjudicators for the examinations. She is a bit strict, and she is easy to anger, but she is competent in her duties. Her primary weapon is a weighted Mythril Baton. Embedded on her right arm is the Peacekeeper rune; an Exertion rune, which greatly augments her physical strength at the expense of her health per hit, is embedded in her weapon. Jacqueline died protecting Examination Group 4. Sierra MikainThe group remembers a talk about a certain Sierra Mikain during their history courses in school, though many believed it to just be a legend. She was a vampire who tamed her thirst of blood thanks to the help of an extraordinary rune, which governed the compassion and destruction elements of the moon. Upon her first contact with said rune, it was said that she went into a horrible killing rampage, killing and feasting off all the innocents unfortunate enough for her to get her hands on. In grief, she retreated to a secluded part of the woods, mourning and weeping to control her insatiable urge. From there a wounded knight came into her part of the forest, almost dead. Filled with compassion she shared her blood, giving the knight immortality, but turning him into a vampire. Through this act, the rune's power of compassion activated and, together, they helped each other stave off their blood cravings. Eventually, word was spread about these two and vampires from all over came to them to seek solace. As the population spread, a new village was formed, the Blue Moon Village, with Sierra Mikain as coven and caretaker of the rune. The village was secluded, though it was rumoured that the village lies north of Crystal Valley. The Sierra Mikain fought by Examination Group 4 died with Jacqueline in a blaze of divine fire.
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:48 pm
Story Progress
The Carnage of Battle
After Jacqueline's sacrifice, the group finds themselves fending for their own, now that their adjudicator and the rest of the Peacemaker force has died. While searching around the remains of the village, Tsuki spotted a boy looking pained laying in a bed. He wore the colours and the regalia of Harmonia, and he often grunted in discomfort. The same Blue Moon rune shown during the briefing of examinations was attached to his right wrist. Who could this be?
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 11:08 pm
Nota Bene
The information I've given above isn't required to play. It's merely there to give players a sense of flavour of the world. Rest assured that the knowledge above isn't required to enjoy the experience.
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 5:50 pm
(( Currently Waiting For More Characters To Join. Current Characters Please Feel Free To Post Your Characters Entering The Main Square Of The Peacemaker Headquarters ))
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 9:24 pm
(( Half Update, Half I-Might-Want-This-Post-For-Information-Later ))
(( This should be all the information I'll want to reveal at the start of the RP. You all will be joined in the beginning by Augusta Hildegarde ))
(( Edit: Sorry for being such a flip-flop, but I decided that I liked the story better without Augustana influencing you all. I want at least one more character to join us before the story starts, preferably two. But once one more character joins and you all post your appearance at headquarters we'll begin. ))
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Profitable Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 5:15 pm
"What a lovely morning this is!" Gaiathi glanced up at the morning sky as she casually made her way toward the Peacemaker Headquarters. Part of her wished she could spend her day enjoying the morning's serenity in an open meadow rather than taking the examination. She shook her head with a wistful smile. Her family had made such a grand deal about the Peacemaker examinations the night before that she thought they would be horrified to learn her heart desired to be anywhere else. Gaiathi would not elect to disappoint them, for her family had given her quite a comfortable life and there was no need for rebellious nature on her part, regardless of what her heart wished. Gaiathi knew the risks of thinking with her irrational heart. Why would she choose to caused her family such anguish over her silly whims? "'We think first with out heads.' No time for wishful thinking now. But, perhaps after the examinations there will be time to enjoy the day." Gaiathi pulled her letter out of her breast pocket and consulted the time printed neatly on the paper. "Hm. I've spent too much time dallying already. It does not make a great impression to be late to one's examination." Gaiathi quickened her pace as the Peacemakers Headquarters came into view. ((I decided to doodle her uniform...something a bit like this:  ))
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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:45 pm
Mauser tossed his head back in a violent yawn as the farmilliar figure of his fellow recruit Gaiathi entered his sight. He noticed her talking to herself, but he was far too drowsy to make out what it could be. He continued to trudge, rubbing sleep out of his eyes, now just a ways behind his classmate.
It was a ridiculous hour for something so trivial. He hoped to get an assignment as soon as he graduated.
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Profitable Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:13 am
Gaiathi turned her head slightly, hearing approaching footfalls behind her. Seeing Mauser approaching, Gaiathi gave a polite nod to her classmate.
"Best of luck to you today, Mauser. I suspect the examinations will be rather rigorous."
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 1:10 pm
(( Gaaah... I'm tired of waiting. Let's just go with it. If others join I'll make ways for them to get here. ))
"Indeed it will be." Augustana replied to Gaiathi. He smiled slightly and waved to them before traversing toward the other two. Like the others he wore the same training dress required of them for the examinations, though his beret was currently removed and tucked into his pocket. At his sides rested two sheathed daggers.
"But I don't think it will be a problem." He added as he around the Peacemaker's main square, wondering when things will begin before his attention focused on the two once more. "By the by, what examination group are you guys in? I'd like to see who we'll have to work with."
The examination group information was included in the letters found this morning, next to the times. On Gaiathi's and Mauser's letter, Examination Group Four was written.
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Profitable Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 5:29 pm
"I'll be with Group Four for my examination." Gaiathi frowned for a moment as she pondered what the examination would require of them. With all my family's hopes, I hope I'll get high marks.
Gaiathi glanced from Augustana to Mauser and back, wondering which groups they were in, unsure if she'd want to be tested against either of them but also not really wanting to have to go it alone either. She raised an eyebrow in curiosity as she regarded each of them once more. "So...what groups are the two of you in?"
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 12:56 am
Still in a sleepy haze, Mauser regarded the two, closing and opening his eyes to demonstrate how hard it was for him to focus. He reamed at his ear before opening his mouth. "I'll be in four as well..." He trailed off a little as he finished giving his itchy ear a sound thrashing.
"What do you guys think we'll have to do?"
((Shoot, I never picked a weapon for Mauser... Augustana's on daggers; what does Gaiathi use, Thal? Can I give Mauser a pistol by chance, or do you think Harmonia would be against firearms? It would be pretty rudimentary, like a blunderbuss.)
Edit: ((Discussed it with Lin a little, and he agreed that a pistol would be fine.))
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:59 pm
"Oh, it's nothing difficult for a member of Harmonia's first class." Augustana said in reply with a small chuckle.
The sound of a trumpet could be heard in the hall as a voice echoed: "Announcing Bishop Hildegarde. Candidates for the Peacemakers, please stand at attention!" In the room center a soft glow of a circle, adorned with some script indecipherable to most, appeared. From that circle came a quick flash of light. As the light cleared Bishop Hildegard, four adjudicators, and four mages appeared, arranged as follows: The bishop in the center, dressed in ceremonial battle dress, joined by the adjudicators, dressed in a more scholarly wear, and the mages stood at the outermost points of the circle, dressed in white robes with navy-blue stripes and carrying crystalline staves.
The other Peacemaker candidates began to line themselves up by their examination number. Augustana nodded to the group.
"Well... I best be off; I'm with group three. Hope for the best." He said with a smile before lining up with his group.
As the candidates lined themselves up the adjudicators walked to the front of each examination squad, the mages following suit in an odd fit of sneezing, blinking from one place to a random place, and walking to the group.
(( Xan, your letter has contained group four as well. And that, my friends, is a lame way of getting rid of an NPC. Any questions? *is lame* ))
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