Post by Rennat on Aug 12, 2014 8:09:15 GMT -5
How We Got Here
The Universe was created by the Goddess Gaia. Her children, the humans, have ruined a planet She created with the intention of resting after years of reign over the cosmos. The humans have poisoned the earth and deviated in their beliefs; Gaia gave clear instruction that no harm should come to Her world and the only case in which She would awaken meant that the earth was indeed dying, and awaken She did to needless war and turmoil. In an event known as The Fall, in the year 2045, Gaia destroyed Her children and mostly leveled the land. A mixture of remorse and curiosity caused Gaia to reconsider her decision, invoking The Rebirth. The humans were restored and given orders, via Gaia's Decree (a mental message to all) mandating they purify the earth, now known as Gaia's Wake, with the help of newfound power resulting from moral purity in their former lives (Virtues) and life-sustaining trees called Yggdrasil.
[PTabbedContent][PTab=People]
People
- It has been only a few years since the Rebirth and most humans are confused, terrified, or both.
- After The Rebirth, all humans were scattered randomly around the earth. Few have ended up paired with the people they knew, including the children that have now been made the responsibility of any adults they happened to awaken near.
- There are some, those able to adapt or opportunists, that have taken up the reins and began guiding the community. We certainly need players to portray these leaders. We also need players to portray the innocent and confused.
- Most Reborn have chosen to abandon their original names in exchange for new aliases. Going by an obviously pre-Fall name is considered abnormal and somewhat cowardly, though some humans have chosen to go by a shortened version of their name since last names matter little in a world without paperwork.
- Many Reborn remember only fragments of their former life, leading to a change in name, search for anyone who might recognize them, etc. Some people remember more than others.
- Humans, by most accounts, will act, speak, and generally have the air of an individual born before or just after the turn-of-the-century. The more fantastical aspects of Gaia's Wake will not begin to change humanity's customs, methods, etc. until they have become deeply ingrained in tradition. Religion and politics are still viable, though currently not of much importance. Without gun laws, laws against gay marriage, immigration laws, etc. many more progressive aspects of modern life will take precedence, eventually.
- People pretty much fall into three categories:
- Settlers: Those who search for communities that offer a sense of normalcy in chaotic times.
- Explorers: Those who are in search of adventure, finally allowed to live their childhood dreams of being explorers, warriors, and wayfarers of a strange new land.
- Seekers: Those not partial to having their lives uprooted, and who seek to reclaim what they once had in terms of wealth, reputation, or loved ones.
- Settlers: Those who search for communities that offer a sense of normalcy in chaotic times.
The World (History/Locations)
- Gaia has beset the Earth with beastkind, monsters that come in all shapes and sizes like that of many animals that still coexist alongside them. Beastkind are said to have unlimited variety, and cannot tread on territory of an Yggdrasil. Bark or Leaves of Yggdrasil are often hung outside of home to prevent beastkind from approaching, but small amounts do little to deter them.
- Yggdrasil sustain fruit, bodies of water, grass, and wooded areas where they are planted, and though some Yggdrasil-related materials can be changed, no material can be destroyed entirely.
- During Rebirth, the year was 2045. In terms of technology, players have nearly free reign in what characters might possess or be able to produce. Electrical grids were obviously sent down during The Fall, but many things are-solar powered at this point, and it is only a matter of time before the grid will be back up and running. Electricity has been reinstated in small, isolated communities. [CHARACTER APPLICATION PASSWORD: orangecreamsoda]
- Humans have taken to using any artifacts from before the Fall as currency. This includes jewelry, paintings, silverware, clothing, coins, dollars, books, etc. These pre-Fall artifacts are traded for services, cooked food, shelter, equipment, and even other artifacts whose value varies from person to person. Many take it to be their occupation to scavenge for specific artifacts and privately exchange them to those in power with means to a reward.
- As a result of Gaia's Decree, a mental message and guiding focus gifted to all people, every character:
- should be aware that all people cannot age, but can die as a result of normal cause (violence, sickness, etc.)
- knows about Virtues
- can only use magic with the help of Yggdrasil crystals
- realizes that his/her ultimate focus "should" be to restore and repopulate the Earth, regardless what he/she actually takes to be his/her personal goal
[/PTab][PTab=Virtues & Vices]
Virtues & Vices (List)
- All characters, regardless of wrongdoings in their past lives, have been given a clean slate in the form of their Virtue which grants them a special power called a blessing. Virtues are denoted by black tattoo-like virtue markings located on a player-chosen part of the body. Heavily sinful people are often given Virtues that they either aspired toward, held importance to them at one time, or had characteristics that matched them on an abstract level.
- Each Virtue, besides Castitas, is split up into specializations that represent a character's inclination toward a particular skill
- All characters receive a Vice in exchange for their Virtue, which inhibits them in some way and serves mostly as punishment for past transgression against the Earth, and to balance power.
- When choosing a Virtue and Vice:
- A specialization denotes only what a character excels at and does not limit them from having a degree of skill in the ability mentioned in another specialization of the same Virtue.
- Make your best attempt to have the Virtue chosen for your character relate to them on a personal level, rather than choosing based on what would be most interesting for combat.
- A specialization denotes only what a character excels at and does not limit them from having a degree of skill in the ability mentioned in another specialization of the same Virtue.