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Rainjay
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The Sword Seekers
Mesym is an ancient world, long fostered by magic and the careful hands of its protectors. Nymphs and dryads protected the forests and cultivated the land, their very spirits connected to the flora and fauna that lived on Mesym's soil. The elves that lived within those deep forests and snow-capped peaks harnessed the power of their homelands and sang spells of bounty and wellness that rang throughout the world. Hearty man built mighty civilizations, forts with towering walls and castles of great architecture, and produced many forms of art to accompany their creations in the image of the beautiful world they were graced. Most importantly was the harmony and peace that all races and species lived with, man and animal and nature working in tandem for the survival of all.
But as the years passed, man grew greedy. While the dryads and nymphs lived in the trees and rivers, and the elves lived in homes erected from discarded flora and natural structures, man continued to build their villages and towns. Eventually, they evolved into cities, with trade routes carved into the tamed dirt and gardens so massive in size they had become pure farmland. Stone blocked out the view of the sky. Nature was domesticated, its creatures bred as livestock. Mesym allowed this. But man still wanted. They plundered the earth for glittering gems and stole the craftsmanship of the elves, enslaving them as artisans and servants as they expanded their empires to cover most of Mesym's surface.
But man still did not have the favor of the gods, even though they have proved their superiority to the magically-gifted elfen people. Many turned to praying, the common man's substitute for magic, and begged the gods for answers. Eventually, they answered. In order to earn their favor, the gods said, man must do their bidding.
Man was willing. For the centuries that came, the people of the world became hyper-religious. Temples sprung up over night, the work of taxed elves and their magic. Services were held daily, and attendance was mandatory in most kingdoms. Under the worship of different deities, mankind split into several countries, and viciously conquered any yet to be seized land they encountered under the desire of the gods. The ultimate demand were the sacrifices, which came slowly at first, and then en masse. This was the tipping point of the Era of Ancients.
The world only was able to give so many lives to the invisible rulers of the world before they began to rebel. Over the centuries, many people, man and elf alike, began to see a new light--people told stories of a new world, and how they collectively could make it a reality. The great goddess Nane was the epicenter of these stories, and her prophecies began the War of the Gods. Together, man and elf marched into battle to fight the all powerful beings that they had allowed to command their lives for so long. The elves, though their magic was greatly diminished over the years of distance between them and Mesym, created a circle of mages strong enough to summon the gods to the land. Then, they would attack.
Quickly, the war went south. Petty magic and foot soldiers did little but irritate the gods. It was Nane's true gift that shifted the scales. Harnessing the essence of great spirits that roamed the lands, she helped seven young women construct the most powerful weapons ever known to man. It was with those blades that they marched to war, the Silver Strigines, and began to slay the gods one by one. With the souls they collected, they forged four more blades that were used to open the Rift into which the depths of which the gods were cast as they were felled. The mysterious women won the war for the people of Mesym.
Their presence, however, soon disappeared afterwards. They became little more than legend as thousands of years passed. The world had been ravaged by the war, and civilization had to begin anew.
Modern day Mesym has become a world of mostly peace. The elves, though still a repressed people, are no longer enslaved, and have their place in society. Those who are born with the ever-rare gift of magic are trained as mages and taught to work with the earth. They take their place among nature, working with crops and tending the forests and rivers. Four new kingdoms have formed since the end of the war, each in relative harmony with the other.
That is, until villages and even mighty cities began to disappear. They were quelled by an unseen force, simply destroyed in a matter of minutes as though crushed by an invisible hand. Natural disasters of never before seen strength ravaged the land, hurricanes and tsunamis wrecking the coast and behemoth tornadoes picking even the strongest of fortresses apart stone by stone. Trade routes collapsed, merchants afraid of their luck placing them in the wrong city at the wrong time. It was in this way that over half the world's Circles were vanquished, and the balance of everything was destroyed.
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The art of the seer had long since vanished from Mesym. But you awake one night from a dream so vivid you couldn't believe it to be anything but real. In it, woman spoke to you, her voice achingly familiar and yet you could place no name. Atysus is rising, she said. The swords must reawaken.
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Welcome to Mesym! In this story, you will play one of the heroes of the world of Mesym, either as a wielder of one of eleven great swords created by the female warriors of the Silver Strigines, or as a companion tasked with accompanying the wielders and defending them along their journey. Atysus, the King of Gods, has awoken from his slumber and risen from the Rift and now intends to continue his destruction of the world, starting with the eleven chosen and their companions. The swords must be recovered from their resting places before they can be used to return Atysus to his grave, but you must hurry before he destroys the land once more.
Your character can be of elfen or human origin, and may/may not be a mage. Companions may also be of dryad/nymph origin if there is popular interest (please PM me or message me here concerning that, as I haven't written up any information on those two races).
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This section will cover both the Silver Strigines and their weapons, the Swords of Power.
The Silver Strigines
The Silver Strigines appeared from nowhere when Mesym needed help most. Seven young women were visited by Nane, goddess of prophecies and knowledge, and were brought together as a unified front. Nane helped them in forging their blades, and in acquiring the souls of those that would be enchanted into the weapons. It was ancient knowledge, long lost with the slavery of the elves, but the goddess brought it back. They used these blades to battle the gods, forcing them into dormant states of being where they could no longer influence mankind (or the elves, for that matter). Later, the seven women forged four more blades to be used in opening the Rift, an abyss into which they cast the souls of the slain gods so that they may never return to Mesym.
Their existence has nearly faded completely, their story living solely in legend and bedtime stories. It is said that the Strigines remained for some time following the war, seemingly immortal; when one woman would die, another would take up her arms and replace the fallen. They eased tensions between the races, nurtured the lands, and assisted in restoring Mesym to a fraction of it's former glory before vanishing altogether.
The Swords
The Strigines, with the help of the goddess Nane, created the eleven Swords of Power by hand in the middle of the war against the gods. Each was made of celestial silver, the strongest of all metals on Mesym and the choice for the armor and weapons of the god. Each is decorated with gemstones (their color is that of the sword's name in the list below) and is inscribed with gold lettering in ancient languages. Enchanted not only with the spirits of powerful beings but also with ancient elven magic, the blades are the strongest weapons in Mesym, not only with magical capabilities but with extreme strength and durability.
Of these blades, seven are classified as the Swords of War and four as the Swords of Ceremony. The former were designed to beat the gods into submission, while the latter were designed to open the Rift into which the gods were cast. Each one currently lies hidden and protected, and must be retrieved by their destined wielder before they can be used in battle. The following provides information on the abilities of each blade, its nature, and the spirit entombed inside.
Swords of War
The Swords of War were the blades that were created first. Made mostly from the spirits of nymphs, dryads, and men/women, their purpose is to fight the gods and protect the Swords of Ceremony. While these swords cannot be used to kill gods, they can damage gods to the point where they must enter a dormant, unconscious state while they heal. They can also be used to force gods into the Rift after it has been opened by the Swords of Ceremony. Swords of War can be used in battle by people other than Strigines, though the use of the blade's abilities are incredibly taxing on anybody other than the weapon's chosen wielder.
Taliesin - Mistkeeper - Located in the Wimela Woods - TAKEN
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Taliesin is the only god of the Ancients who has been into a Sword of War. He allowed himself to be enchanted into the metal on his own terms, in order to assist Nane's efforts. He was the god secrecy and the guardian of the Shroud, an intangible entity that is used to hide things from the view of mortals. The Shroud cloaks all of the sword's locations, but Taliesin can allow its wielder to view through the Shroud's mist, revealing hidden secrets and locations. This is pivotal to locating the resting places of the other ten swords. Incredibly friendly in character, Taliesin frequently offers advice to his wielder, and seems to buzz or hum with life.
This user can see through the Shroud, and can create their own cloak of invisibility (they cannot be seen, but can be heard/felt/smelled). Furthermore, the user can mask the senses of another (sight, scent, hearing, touch, taste) using a smaller form of the Shroud known as Mist, and can walk through the Shroud itself. Finally, they have the ability to disintegrate their body, allowing them to pass through solids; the longer the user uses this ability (the longer their body is disintegrated, separated), the more likely they are to either die, or never reintegrate.
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Namylia - Saintess - Located in the Sirione Mountains
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Namylia was a young nymph occupying the snowy regions of northern Mesym. She was a Saint in her time, offering charity to those who needed it, like a Santa Clause figure. She would provide meals, shelter, clothing, and guidance. Most nymphs avoid human and elf contact, but she assisted all who came to her. She offered herself up as a blade when the war began so that she could extend her love to the entire land. Legend says she is the abandoned daughter of the Goddess Tydea, who did not feel true love in her heart.
While wielders of this blade cannot manipulate light magic itself, they can create mirages and illusions, and have stronger skills with air and water magic, regardless of whether or not they are a mage. The user of this blade will also have the ability of purification, which involves the cleansing of curses, infections, and taints of various kinds. The impurities will leave the victim and instead enter the body of the user. Unless expelled properly, this will eventually kill the wielder. Lastly, this user will be able to project calm and soothing feelings unto others, allowing themselves to come off as peaceful or as not being a threat.
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Esdite - Fury Fighter - Located in the deserts of Arersetr - TAKEN
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Esdite was a dryad of what was formerly a forest. During the war, however, the gods destroyed her forest and nearly all of the dryads living there perished, alongside their homes. Her own home, a sturdy oak tree that stood near the center of the forest, was decimated. It was her pure rage and hatred that kept her alive after the loss of her home, and she wandered the smoking ruins of the forest-turned-desert and haunted the land until the she was approached by the Strigines and turned into a sword in exchange for the chance to seek revenge. Never has there been a spirit so filled with anger and a need for revenge.
The wielder of this sword will inherit Esdite's skill in battle; while fighting, they will become stronger, faster, and more agile, and their reflexes will increase. The blade itself grows stronger with each kill, able to hit harder, cut deeper, and will channel magic more efficiently. This user, whether or not they are a mage, will have an affinity with water and fire magic. Finally, this user can activate a temporary immunity to damage in battle. It will leave them drained of energy, but can be an effective tool when used appropriately.
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Kaphyrous - Pathfinder - Located in the Dark Feyr
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Kaphyrous is, according to legend, the Man of the River. In the beginning of time, he was cursed to ferry the souls of the dead across the Rift and to the Beyond. In his mortal life, he attempted to travel into the Beyond to retrieve the soul of his deceased wife and bring it back to her body. He succeeded, but was punished by the gods, his own soul removed from his body and chained to the ferryman's boat at the entrance to the Rift. He was slain by the Strigines to allow their usage of the Rift in trapping the gods. Knowing he was a dead man besides, Kaphyrous willingly allowed his soul to be used in the creation of a blade.
This blade's notable ability is that of finding the way; the user, while carrying the blade, will see a silver line that will lead them to their destination. These directions will be marred by the presence of the Shroud, Mist, or by malevolent spirits. This user will, over time, learn every language that has ever been on Mesym (they will begin with an innate comprehension of any language they read, and will eventually learn to read and write). Additionally, this user has great navigational skills (useful for travel over water), and will know the patterns of the stars by heart. Lastly, the wielder of this blade can see souls stuck in limbo, ghosts per say, and can interact with lost souls (further explanation will appear IC).
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Marielye - World Walker - Located in the Fellmoor Peaks - TAKEN
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Marielye was a simple dryad, but a powerful one--she was the mother of dryads of the mountains, and lived for there many centuries before her tree was chopped down and built into a castle. It is believed this castle is where her sword is hidden now. Her tree, the largest of all and the most powerful, protected an ancient grove that surrounded the healing waters of Fellmoor. Once the tree fell, the pool's magic was compromised; it only still exists today through the efforts of Marielye's kin.
The wielder of this blade will have an affinity with earth magic (even for those who are not mages), and will be able to 'speak' to flora and fauna. This wielder will often find themselves with a following of animals, sometimes even rare species of legend. They will rarely hunger (flora and fauna will guide them to food sources) or be alone in the wilds. Additionally, this user has healing powers. They can heal physical injuries, such as cuts, breaks, and wounds, as well as illness; however, this is a taxing ability, and will drain the user of their energy proportional to the injury/illness healed. Without practice, the use of this ability can kill the user.
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Pandora - Graceling - Located in Khola
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Pandora was from a line of mortal women tasked with the protection of a sealed jar. Inside the jar were spirits, malevolent and benevolent both, though she was not to open it, and nor was any human ever to open the jar. Pandora was never tempted to open the jar, and it sat in relative safety in her home; it was undisturbed until the day her eldest daughter opened the jar, her curiosity influenced by the ancient god, Micdia. The released spirits began to wreak havoc on the village in which they lived, and as it was Pandora's job to protect the jar, she took it upon herself to reclaim the spirits and stow them back into the thing. She lived for many years, adventuring and slowly placing the spirits back into the pot where they belonged, though she never finished the task before she died. In life, she was revered as a mortal goddess, her ability to seemingly control the spirits of the world amazing to primitive man.
This blade grants the user an affinity with earth magic (even if they are not a mage). This blade's primary ability is summoning, in which the user can learn to summon the spirits from Pandora's box for use in battle. Extensive summoning will drain the user of energy until they fall unconscious. The user can also only summon spirits they have encountered; they cannot summon the spirit of Envy without having encountered it. This user also will develop innate agility, speed, and flexibility. The blade itself has the ability to morph into a dagger form.
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Ysarus - Messenger - Located in Thraton
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Ysarus is the spirit of an ancient seer, a servant of Nane centuries before the war. Born without eyesight, he learned to 'see' through the use of the Goddess' gift, and became a prophet. He read the stars and moons of the universe and used them to transcribe meaning to his visions--how he could see the cosmos has never been made clear. After his death, his spirit was reincarnated, a process that repeated until Nane's request for him to occupy a sword was made. Loyal to the Goddess, he accepted. Every wielder of this blade has been a reincarnation of Ysarus.
Ysarus is Nane's messenger to the wielders, and this particular wielder will often experience their own visions, as though they too were a seer. These visions come at mostly at random, often times in the midst of battle, showing the user a brief glimpse of the future (for example, a blow that would strike them in the head, giving them the chance to duck). Over time, one can learn to induce the visions. Visions are, over time, damaging to the eyes; many of these wielders go blind with age. The user of this blade can hear thoughts and can communicate telepathically with the other Strigines (this wielder must open a mental 'channel' through which to communicate. Other Strigines cannot communicate this way with one another). Lastly, this user can hear things others cannot; spirits, the Shroud/Mist, portals into the Beyond, etc.
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Swords of Ceremony
These blades were designed as the supplement to the Swords of War; while they still have fighting capabilities, they are designed to entomb gods in the Rift. When all four blades are together, they can kill gods, but it requires the unity of the blades, their wielders, and a rather intricate process that has been largely lost to time (for now, anyways). Historically, only mages have ever wielded these swords and lived for longer than their first battle. The blades amplify one's magic and grant the ability to use primordial magics: light and dark. The powers that come with these blades are draining, and can even take away from someones life with repeated and frequent use. The users of these swords tended to die young and be replaced quickly. As such, none other than the chosen wielders of these four swords may use them, with the exception of a companion (see magic tab).
These swords are currently unavailable for player use. They are the most powerful swords in the universe, and so they'll only be given to dedicated players once the roleplay is rolling.
Elysia - Dreamwalker - Located in the Beyond (accessible through the Elysian Sea) - TAKEN
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Elysia is the ancient goddess of dreams and of the afterlife. She resided primarily in the Beyond, the resting place for the deceased and a place the living visit only in their sleep (for those who try to visit the Beyond before their time, they will begin to literally wither away). This goddess was defeated in battle by the Strigines in one of their earliest conquests; since she guarded the Beyond and subsequently the Rift, the Strigines needed her gone in order to use the Rift themselves. The Strigines turned her into their first Sword of Ceremony. She scarcely communicates with her wielder except in the dreamworld or the Beyond.
This blade grants the user the ability to dreamwalk (a process in which one can enter the dreams of others and manipulate the dream environment), a skill they can first only use while asleep but can learn to perform while conscious. This blade allows its user to sense the desires and wishes of others, and additionally allows the user to trek into the Beyond unscathed. Portals to the Beyond can be used as wormholes to travel across the world in minutes or hours as compared to weeks or months. Lastly, they can use darkness, a primordial element.
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Nyx - Reaper - Located in the Ravenwood Forest
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Nyx is the goddess of night and victory. Sister to the goddess of dreams and wife to the god of battle, she sits between both realms of power, bringing the dead to her sister's domain. She was the third Sword of Ceremony to be created, following Azrael, though has full loyalty to Nane and the Strigines (for they effectively conquered death itself in winning the battle). In Mesym, she is viewed as the grim reaper, arriving to take away the souls of the deceased to the Beyond; despite that, she rarely ever showed her form to mortals, and the only time she ever physically appeared on Mesym was the time she lost in battle to the Strigines.
This blade permits the user to see the walking dead (ghosts, lingering spirits), communicate with those who have passed (they must summon spirits to speak with), and to use darkness, a primordial element. Additionally, this wielder is stronger at night, both physically and in their magic.
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Azreal - Timestopper - Located in Brynwich
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Azrael is the god of battle and combat. He has amazing fighting capabilities, perhaps the best among the gods, although this is partly attributed to his control over time. But still lost to the Strigines and he accepted his loss gracefully and pledged his loyalty, allowing himself to be crafted into a Sword of Ceremony. He was never truly loyal to Atysus to begin with, and as such was the first god Nane intended for the Strigines to encounter in battle. He whispers words of advice to his wielder, training them in ancient techniques and styles.
This blade gives the user great fighting skill, transmuted directly from Azrael's spirit to the user's. This power is still limited by the user's physical form and ability; the user won't be able to pull off maneuvers they haven't practiced. Additionally, this user will be able to use lightness, a primordial element. Finally, the user of this blade will also have limited control over time: they can send their bodies forwards or backwards a few milliseconds (used in dodging/combat), can marginally slow/increase time (a minute can become only thirty seconds long), and with great exertion, can stop time for a period. Repeatedly sending the self back in time can eventually cause traumatic brain damage, and holding time still will cause a massive strain on the physical self. Users have been known to leave limbs behind as they travel through time, or have killed themselves by freezing time for too long.
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Talos - Faithhealer - Located in Bafeld Village
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Talos, god of reverence and faith, is perhaps the only Sword of Power that is not unerringly loyal to the Strigines. He was created by Atysus to serve as the medium between god and mortal man; the commands of the god were given to man through Talos. He grew to be a figure of obedience, as well, as he displayed the dissatisfaction of the ancients in forms of punishment. He was feared greatly by man, and was the very first god to go. He fought against being enchanted into a Sword of Ceremony; it wasn't until the other three had been created that the Strigines had the power to force Talos into one of their silver weapons. Even now, he fights to be released, truly believing in the superiority of the ancients. He, however, still has a soft spot for those of faith to the Pantheon, and will never decline help to one who needs it, a good Samaritan.
This blade allows the user to use lightness, a primordial element. The user becomes a 'faithhealer', a type of healing that involves faith: the user can repair a damaged spirit, bring people back from the precipice of death, and revive victims from a coma (while unconscious in a coma, your spirit lives in the Beyond. The longer your exposure, the more damaged your spirit becomes). This type of healing, stronger than any other form, heals by taking from the user's own spirit, which over time will become so fragmented and broken that the person will lose their sanity and will be unable to pass to the Beyond after death. Additionally, this user can see auras (a visual representation of the spirit that betrays emotion through its coloring), and can bless others, using raw magic to temporarily grant somebody strength, will, healing, etc. (like a buff).
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