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Jan. 26th, 2025 05:26 pm
BGM ~ Overture
Dragon Quest Valor
Ten years ago, the world of Valonius was thrown into chaos with the advent of Dark Lord Velga. Under the power of a dark curse, monsters everywhere were bound to her power, acting as an army led by her four dark generals. None could stand up to her wrath... until the rise of the Hero.
Elika was a humble farm girl, but when the monsters came, she took up a sword and fought to protect the weak. Swiftly, her power grew, and four mighty warriors became her stalwart companions. Elika became the symbol of hope itself as she crossed the world, facing Velga's dark generals in life or death battles. With the Shield of Light she protected her friends from danger, and with the Sword of Light she cut down the forces of evil. One by one, the dark generals were slain, but one by one, her allies fell as well, until Elika and Velga had their final duel atop Death Isle for the fate of the world.
Nobody knows exactly what happened in that fateful battle, but the aftermath is known. Velga's dark castle now lays in ruins, but she and Elika were never seen again, with the only memento remaining from the battle being Elika's sword and shield. With the defeat of the Dark Lord, peace returned to Valonius, monsters once again free to mostly leave humans alone, the occasional skirmish or random encounter aside.
Ten years have passed since the fall of Dark Lord Velga. While no new evil master has announced their presence, the curse of darkness has returned to Valonius. Monsters are losing their minds, turning to brutally attack humanity at every turn. Who is behind this new invasion? Will a new hero rise to stand against them?
So Yeah
It's a Valor campaign. Standard rules, 1-20, five PCs. I'm not ready to pick a party yet, but I will at some point.
More Details
- The full world map isn't ready to be revealed, but the majority of Valonius is dominated by two large continents - Helenia in the west, and Yamatonia in the east. Death Isle is in the sea between the two, surrounded by ship-crushing reefs. The campaign will probably start in Helenia.
- Monsters are everywhere in Valonius, but they aren't usually as hostile as they are now. Monsters don't get along with humans well, so they mostly keep away from human settlements, only occasionally attacking towns or isolated travelers. Monsters also differ from humans in that they lack our aversion to death - for most monsters, being defeated and spared is considered a greater insult than being killed.
- The Curse of Darkness is an innate power of the Dark Lord, which covered the world when she arose. The curse covered the entire world, and turned nearly all monsters into her unwavering servants. However, some random monsters were spared by chance, and areas of powerful magical significance shielded any monsters there from her control. The new curse seems to operate on the same rules.
- Dragons, the strongest race of monsters, are immune to the Curse of Darkness, but many of them served Velga willingly, because one of her generals was a powerful Elder Dragon.
- Velga was not the first Dark Lord to attack Valonius. It seems that something like this happens every century or two. They have varying degrees of success, some even establishing dominion over the world briefly, but all of them have met their demise at the hands of human heroes.
- Elika's coming was not prophesized, nor was she of any great lineage. What made her the Hero, the source of her incredible power, is a mystery. Perhaps it was a natural consequence of her powerful, pure heart. The world is looking for a new Hero, but the truth is that nobody knows exactly what that means.
- The majority of Valonius adheres to the same religion, a Christianity-like order following an unnamed Goddess. Odds of it being a secret evil doom religion are surprisingly low.
- Elika had four party members, Velga had four dark generals. All eight of them are probably dead, and I'm declining to describe them, because those are some rich plot hooks.
Interested?
Yeah you are. Hit me with this in a comment:
1. Name or handle
2. One or more character ideas
3. Tell me about one of Elika's party members or one of Velga's dark generals
Flameseeker: The Clan
Oct. 24th, 2021 12:34 pmThe Flameseeker Clan
A major clan in the lands near the imperial capital within the Spirit Realm. They are a clan united by shared ideals, which are as follows:
In order to master the art of cultivation, you must know yourself. However, who you are is not a constant. Like a flame, your identity shifts between shapes over time, but always burns fiercely. Master yourself, but retain the flexibility to embrace your new self as you change. Uphold ideals of courage, determination, and acceptance.
While the Clan does not exclusively use fire techniques, they do tend to incorporate at least some form of fire qi into their styles. The clan numbers about 3,000 members.
Yanjing
Cities in the Spirit Realm are quite different from those in the Mortal Realm. There are far fewer cultivators than mortal humans, but with the abilities afforded by master cultivators, it's easy to build and maintain a glamorous city even with a small population. The Flame Capital, Yanjing, is a small but beautiful city of shining crimson spires that the Flameseeker Clan calls home. Its citizens want for little, since every one of its inhabitants is at least a low-level cultivator.
Gardening
Gardening is an important ritual among Flameseekers. Every member of the clan is given a personal garden to maintain as they advance through the ranks. Plants are quite vulnerable to fire, so keeping a healthy garden is a show of self-restraint, control of power, and appreciation for the fragility and value of life. The plants grown there can be used for food, elixir ingredients, or strictly aesthetic value at your own discretion.
The Ranks
It is a universal truth among cultivator clans that there are seven ranks between mortal and immortal. As you cultivate qi and become stronger, your dantian will grow until it's swollen with power. Finally, once you cross the threshold, it will overflow with qi, then constrict and reinforce itself. Each time it does, your body and spirit will grow dramatically stronger.
Every sect has their own names for the seven ranks, but among Flameseekers, your progression is:
Forms of Address
A straightforward rule is this: Using people's names is familiar, using people's titles is formal. It is impolite to be familiar with people above your rank. The bigger the gap, the more important it is to express your respect.
That being said, the Flameseeker clan is a bit more lax than most. Gao Yan, the clan leader, insists that peoplel address her however they want, but there's still something to be said for maintaining formality, especially between disciple and master and when representatives of other clans are present.
Here's some terms and rules:
A major clan in the lands near the imperial capital within the Spirit Realm. They are a clan united by shared ideals, which are as follows:
In order to master the art of cultivation, you must know yourself. However, who you are is not a constant. Like a flame, your identity shifts between shapes over time, but always burns fiercely. Master yourself, but retain the flexibility to embrace your new self as you change. Uphold ideals of courage, determination, and acceptance.
While the Clan does not exclusively use fire techniques, they do tend to incorporate at least some form of fire qi into their styles. The clan numbers about 3,000 members.
Yanjing
Cities in the Spirit Realm are quite different from those in the Mortal Realm. There are far fewer cultivators than mortal humans, but with the abilities afforded by master cultivators, it's easy to build and maintain a glamorous city even with a small population. The Flame Capital, Yanjing, is a small but beautiful city of shining crimson spires that the Flameseeker Clan calls home. Its citizens want for little, since every one of its inhabitants is at least a low-level cultivator.
Gardening
Gardening is an important ritual among Flameseekers. Every member of the clan is given a personal garden to maintain as they advance through the ranks. Plants are quite vulnerable to fire, so keeping a healthy garden is a show of self-restraint, control of power, and appreciation for the fragility and value of life. The plants grown there can be used for food, elixir ingredients, or strictly aesthetic value at your own discretion.
The Ranks
It is a universal truth among cultivator clans that there are seven ranks between mortal and immortal. As you cultivate qi and become stronger, your dantian will grow until it's swollen with power. Finally, once you cross the threshold, it will overflow with qi, then constrict and reinforce itself. Each time it does, your body and spirit will grow dramatically stronger.
Every sect has their own names for the seven ranks, but among Flameseekers, your progression is:
- Cinder
- Spark
- Candle
- Torch
- Lantern
- Pyre
- Solar
Forms of Address
A straightforward rule is this: Using people's names is familiar, using people's titles is formal. It is impolite to be familiar with people above your rank. The bigger the gap, the more important it is to express your respect.
That being said, the Flameseeker clan is a bit more lax than most. Gao Yan, the clan leader, insists that peoplel address her however they want, but there's still something to be said for maintaining formality, especially between disciple and master and when representatives of other clans are present.
Here's some terms and rules:
- Esteemed - A useful word to put in front of any title to boost it a little. Esteemed Brother, Esteemed Master, et cetera. Never required, but never unwelcome.
- First among Flames - the title for the clan leader, Gao Yan. Under other leaders, this was a necessary form of address, but Gao Yan insists she's fine with whatever. Most people still do use it.
- Elder - a term of respect for those who have been with the clan for a long time, usually those who have stepped down from active cultivation in their old age. A must for addressing Feng Ji.
- Brother/Sister/Sibling - used for those equal to you or one rank higher. Has a lot of flexibility - make it Esteemed Brother for a bit more respect, use it as a prefix to a name for something a little more familiar.
- Master - To be used with the person who is teaching you the ways of the clan. Either your initial instructor or someone who has taken you in as a disciple.
- This One - a very formal way to refer to yourself. Best used when FAR out of your depth.
- Actual Names - reserved for people you know well. Also enemies, since you don't have any obligation to be respectful to them.
Meteor - Dramatis Personae
Jun. 24th, 2020 03:48 pmThese are but some of the people and organizations you may encounter during your mission.
The Emperor and his descendants. The pinnacle of the Empire, commanding absolute authority in all things. Their word is law, and none can defy them.
Emperor Zahari Va-Xolani: The face of the Empire, a dictator who rules with an iron fist and demands that the imperial army continue to conquer new lands. He will settle for nothing less than world domination.
Princess Aria Va-Xolani: First in line for the throne. Beautiful and talented, she is known primarily for her brilliance in personal combat. After running out of ways to distinguish herself in combat in the Capital, she left to pursue greater foes at the fringes of the Empire. She has never known defeat.
Prince Fabian Va-Xolani: Second in line for the throne. With the broad assumption that Princess Aria will be the next Emperor, he instead dedicates most of his time and energy to enjoying himself. An infamous playboy and portrait of opulence, he cares about nothing but his own hedonistic pleasure.
Nine High Nobles who act as representatives of the nine greater territories that make up the Empire. Some of them are the descendants of former rulers of those territories before they were assimilated by the Empire, but others are Acherysian nobility who were placed to govern those territories in the name of the Emperor. These nine spend much of their time abroad, only occasionally returning to the Capital to discuss important business. They answer only to the royal family, otherwise possessing absolute executive power over their territories.
King Ragna Vo-Hrodulf: A merciless tyrant who oversees one of the Empire's largest territories. His thirst for torment and brutality is spoken of in hushed whispers.
Queen Helena Vo-Siegert: The youngest and most recent addition to the Council. Her home nation was conquered by the Empire just last year, and her parents were killed during the invasion, leaving her as the next in line for the crown. In reality, she has very little power, and even fewer allies within the capital.
A group of ten of the strongest, most dedicated warriors of the Empire. Each one is assigned one of the Council of Kings to protect, with the tenth acting as a commander to the other nine. Each one possesses a unique Anima Driver, and each has proved their strength against countless foes.
Reza At-Cizmadia: Leader of the Crown Guard. They are one of the strongest, most deadly Anima Driver users in the world, seeking nothing less than absolute perfection in all martial disciplines. In addition to commanding the Crown Guard, they also act as the Emperor's personal bodyguard and leader of the Royal Guard who oversee the imperial palace.
An extremely wealthy and influential corporation stationed in the Acropolis. They alone know the closely-guarded secrets of how to create Anima and Anima Drivers. It is said that they have hands in nearly every business in the Capital.
Nethrus El-Solyom: President and CEO of Animus Industries. The richest man in the Empire, he plays his cards close to his chest; very little is known about his personal life.
The primary law enforcement organization in the Lower City. However, their massive and deep-running corruption is an open secret. Officers of the LCEG are swayed by bribes and politics, and the organization is well known to be cooperating with a long list of criminal organizations. Crimes committed against commoners are of so little significance that there is almost nothing in the way of actual protections afforded to them by the law.
Arcangelo En-Rhyderch: Guild Master. A careless and brutal leader, known less for maintaining order and more for lining his own pockets and killing commoners at the slightest provocation. A name that inspires terror in the common folk.
A crime syndicate that has a great deal of power in the Lower City. Their specialty is human trafficking; if someone disappears, they've probably been taken by the VLU, and you'd best not go looking for them. The LECG turns a blind eye to their crimes.
Cassiel Grieve: The boss of the VLU. Despite being a commoner, he has enough power among commoners to live like a noble. Anyone who displeases him meets a swift and brutal end.
A secret organization within the shadows of the Lower City. They use stolen technology to strike at the Empire before vanishing into the night. There is nothing these terrorists won't do to bring the Capital to its knees.
Elethia Ol-Matevos: The enigmatic leader of Meteor. Her past is unknown, but her hatred for the Empire is without equal. Every authority within the Capital is hunting her, and the one that brings her in - alive or dead - will be rewarded handsomely.
The Royal Family
The Emperor and his descendants. The pinnacle of the Empire, commanding absolute authority in all things. Their word is law, and none can defy them.
The Council of Kings
Nine High Nobles who act as representatives of the nine greater territories that make up the Empire. Some of them are the descendants of former rulers of those territories before they were assimilated by the Empire, but others are Acherysian nobility who were placed to govern those territories in the name of the Emperor. These nine spend much of their time abroad, only occasionally returning to the Capital to discuss important business. They answer only to the royal family, otherwise possessing absolute executive power over their territories.
The Crown Guard
A group of ten of the strongest, most dedicated warriors of the Empire. Each one is assigned one of the Council of Kings to protect, with the tenth acting as a commander to the other nine. Each one possesses a unique Anima Driver, and each has proved their strength against countless foes.
Animus Industries
An extremely wealthy and influential corporation stationed in the Acropolis. They alone know the closely-guarded secrets of how to create Anima and Anima Drivers. It is said that they have hands in nearly every business in the Capital.
Lower City Enforcement Guild
The primary law enforcement organization in the Lower City. However, their massive and deep-running corruption is an open secret. Officers of the LCEG are swayed by bribes and politics, and the organization is well known to be cooperating with a long list of criminal organizations. Crimes committed against commoners are of so little significance that there is almost nothing in the way of actual protections afforded to them by the law.
The Volunteer Labor Union
A crime syndicate that has a great deal of power in the Lower City. Their specialty is human trafficking; if someone disappears, they've probably been taken by the VLU, and you'd best not go looking for them. The LECG turns a blind eye to their crimes.
Meteor
A secret organization within the shadows of the Lower City. They use stolen technology to strike at the Empire before vanishing into the night. There is nothing these terrorists won't do to bring the Capital to its knees.
Meteor - World Info
Jun. 24th, 2020 03:48 pmValantis
A world much like Earth in its climate. It is populated by humans and many of the plants and animals we know, but also dangerous monsters. Humans managed to thrive by working together to take down powerful enemies, and are now the dominant species on Valantis. Over half of the world's population is a part of...
The Crythanian Empire
Also known merely as "The Empire." The Crythanian Empire has stood for over a thousand years, a ruthless imperial dictatorship where the word of the Emperor is law. They are the only nation on Valantis to possess the secret of creating Anima and Anima Drivers, leading them in recent years to a long campaign of consecutive victories against their enemies (which consist of most of the rest of the world). Beyond the Empire's borders is a mosaic of smaller nations and kingdoms, squabbling with each other but still trying to present a united front against the unstoppable advance of the imperial army.
The Empire is a diverse place, consisting of many of what were once disparate kingdoms, now united under one banner. That diversity is seen nowhere more than in...
Acherys
Also known merely as "The Capital." Acherys is the largest, most powerful city in the world, and home to the imperial royal family and seat of power within the Empire. The majority of the city is a dense urban sprawl known as the Lower City, home to those of lower status. Population is dense, crime rates are high, resources are slim. The government turns a blind eye to these lower citizens and their plights, and they live in miserable conditions.
Standing above the Lower City is the heart of Acherys, the Acropolis. This shining city-within-a-city is a utopia for the nobility that calls it home. Lower citizens are barred from entering the Acropolis, and those who live there have their every need provided for. Lower citizens must obey any orders given to them by nobles, and crimes committed by nobles against lower citizens are all but ignored. At the heart of the Acropolis is the imperial palace, home to the royal family that rules the Empire.
Technology
Valantis boasts a mishmash of advanced and lesser technology. Guns exist, but swords and other melee weapons still see common use. Television exists, but with only a handful of stations closely controlled by the government. People travel by train, with only the richest of the rich owning personal vehicles. Computers exist, and are in some ways quite advanced, but displays are all retro wireframes and chunky pixels, and the internet is unheard of. It's a gritty fantasy cyberpunk world, where individuals can hold immense military might and the industrial revolution has brought with it great innovations and great evil.
In the most advanced parts of the empire, most notably the Acropolis, Anima are used to produce clean energy and miracles that the Lower City can scarcely imagine.
The Aristocracy
Life in the Empire, especially in the Capital, is defined by your social standing. There are clearly-delineated levels of society, with very little social mobility. Your social status is so important that it's a part of your name.
Monsters
Valantis is a dangerous place. Since the dawn of civilization and continuing into the modern day there have been records of monsters, appearing in the dark corners of every nation to slaughter mankind. They are powerful and dangerous, and the task of exterminating them as they appear is left to professional monster hunters and the imperial army.
Monsters come in an endless variety of shapes and sizes, boasting all kinds of strange powers. However, they can be broadly divided into two categories: Red monsters, and white monsters. Red monsters are about twice as common, and do nothing save for seeking out and killing as many humans as possible. White monsters are a stranger variety - they ignore humans, instead seeking out and killing red monsters. If not killed, both types of monsters will eventually vanish as mysteriously as they appear. Neither type can be reasoned with or communicated with; they carry out their violent natures like machines.
A world much like Earth in its climate. It is populated by humans and many of the plants and animals we know, but also dangerous monsters. Humans managed to thrive by working together to take down powerful enemies, and are now the dominant species on Valantis. Over half of the world's population is a part of...
The Crythanian Empire
Also known merely as "The Empire." The Crythanian Empire has stood for over a thousand years, a ruthless imperial dictatorship where the word of the Emperor is law. They are the only nation on Valantis to possess the secret of creating Anima and Anima Drivers, leading them in recent years to a long campaign of consecutive victories against their enemies (which consist of most of the rest of the world). Beyond the Empire's borders is a mosaic of smaller nations and kingdoms, squabbling with each other but still trying to present a united front against the unstoppable advance of the imperial army.
The Empire is a diverse place, consisting of many of what were once disparate kingdoms, now united under one banner. That diversity is seen nowhere more than in...
Acherys
Also known merely as "The Capital." Acherys is the largest, most powerful city in the world, and home to the imperial royal family and seat of power within the Empire. The majority of the city is a dense urban sprawl known as the Lower City, home to those of lower status. Population is dense, crime rates are high, resources are slim. The government turns a blind eye to these lower citizens and their plights, and they live in miserable conditions.
Standing above the Lower City is the heart of Acherys, the Acropolis. This shining city-within-a-city is a utopia for the nobility that calls it home. Lower citizens are barred from entering the Acropolis, and those who live there have their every need provided for. Lower citizens must obey any orders given to them by nobles, and crimes committed by nobles against lower citizens are all but ignored. At the heart of the Acropolis is the imperial palace, home to the royal family that rules the Empire.
Technology
Valantis boasts a mishmash of advanced and lesser technology. Guns exist, but swords and other melee weapons still see common use. Television exists, but with only a handful of stations closely controlled by the government. People travel by train, with only the richest of the rich owning personal vehicles. Computers exist, and are in some ways quite advanced, but displays are all retro wireframes and chunky pixels, and the internet is unheard of. It's a gritty fantasy cyberpunk world, where individuals can hold immense military might and the industrial revolution has brought with it great innovations and great evil.
In the most advanced parts of the empire, most notably the Acropolis, Anima are used to produce clean energy and miracles that the Lower City can scarcely imagine.
The Aristocracy
Life in the Empire, especially in the Capital, is defined by your social standing. There are clearly-delineated levels of society, with very little social mobility. Your social status is so important that it's a part of your name.
- Commoner: Also known in the Capital as "lower citizens". Those who live below, who have few rights and no power. This is the vast majority of the population.
- Exiled: Those who were once nobility, but had their status revoked. Their standing is equivalent to commoners, but their surname is prefixed with "Ol-" to indicate their disgrace.
- Uplifted: Those who were fortunate enough to reach the Acropolis through the Uplift Project. They are infinitely higher than commoners, but still among the lowest of nobles. Their surname is prefixed with "Ji-".
- Distinguished: Those who were elevated to nobility through great feats or contributions to the Empire. This is often applied to military families, and their surnames are prefixed with "At-".
- Noble: Members of elite families recognized by the Empire, those with wide influence and vast wealth. Noble families are denoted with surnames prefixed with "En-".
- High Noble: Noble families that stand high above others. Many of these families have their origins in the roots of the Empire itself, and their heads are some of the most powerful people on the planet. Their surnames are prefixed with "El-".
- Royal: The Emperor and his immediate family, the supreme rulers of the empire. Their names are prefixed with "Va-".
Monsters
Valantis is a dangerous place. Since the dawn of civilization and continuing into the modern day there have been records of monsters, appearing in the dark corners of every nation to slaughter mankind. They are powerful and dangerous, and the task of exterminating them as they appear is left to professional monster hunters and the imperial army.
Monsters come in an endless variety of shapes and sizes, boasting all kinds of strange powers. However, they can be broadly divided into two categories: Red monsters, and white monsters. Red monsters are about twice as common, and do nothing save for seeking out and killing as many humans as possible. White monsters are a stranger variety - they ignore humans, instead seeking out and killing red monsters. If not killed, both types of monsters will eventually vanish as mysteriously as they appear. Neither type can be reasoned with or communicated with; they carry out their violent natures like machines.
ACSavior - Activity Checks Made Easy
Nov. 15th, 2019 08:45 amWhat is ACSavior?
ACSavior is a Windows application that automatically scans RP communities to do the heavy lifting for Activity Checks. You enter the community names, and ACSavior will generate a report of every character who made comments or posts during that time period, along with their total comment counts and links to all of their threads.
What can ACSavior do?
- Set the end date and length of the AC period to scan for.
- Provide a report that can be imported as a Dreamwidth post.
- Remember settings between uses.
- Scan through posts for threads regardless of thread length or multiple pages of comments.
- Convert posts into a specified number of comments for AC counting purposes.
- Exclude threads with less than a given number of comments from the poster.
- Identify backtagged threads up to two weeks before the start of the AC Period.
- Include IC Inboxes and other off-comm posts, as long as links to them are provided.
What can't ACSavior do?
- Access communities marked as 18+ Only.
- Access private posts.
- Process activity from comms that aren't marked as Roleplaying Journals.
- Process activity from off-comm posts on journals that aren't marked as Roleplaying Journals.
- Determine whether or not accounts pass or fail your RP's activity requirements (it just gets the info for you to make the judgment call yourself).
- Process activity that's more than 90 days old.
Is this going to cause privacy issues?
Everything that ACSavior does, a human could do by clicking on posts on the community by hand - in fact, that's effectively what the app is doing. It can't log in, so it doesn't have access to anything that would require logging into a specific account to access. It can't find any activity from journals off of the community being scanned. It won't process any information on communities that aren't marked as Roleplaying Accounts, so it can't be used to scan non-RP accounts, and any game that doesn't want to allow ACSavior needs only to turn that flag off. Anything older than 90 days won't appear in scans. My intent is only to make DWRP easier for players and mods, and I've taken all steps I can think of to prevent abuse.
I ran the application past Dreamwidth staff, and they gave me the go-ahead to continue developing it.
How do I use it?
Extract the app to your computer, and run ACSavior.exe. In the "Sources" field, enter either comm names or links to the communities, one on each line. If you want to include IC Inboxes or other off-comm posts, enter a link to each post on a separate line. Once all your sources are added, click the Process Activity button, and wait for the scan to complete. When it does, an HTML report will be created and automatically opened.
If you want to post the report on Dreamwidth, scroll to the bottom of the report, and copy the contents of the code textarea there. Disable auto-formatting and paste it into a Dreamwidth post.
Why can't this be used for 18+ RPs?
ACSavior does not have the ability to log in to Dreamwidth. So, it can't reach anything locked behind being logged in as a player or mod account.
Will there be a Mac version of ACSavior?
Unfortunately, my native language is C#, and I made this in Windows Forms, so it's Windows only. I may later investigate how to make a Mac version, but I can't make any guarantees that it will happen.
Can I use ACSavior for games on InsaneJournal?
At present, no. However, I do plan to investigate the viability of supporting IJ games in the future.
How do I mark an account as a Roleplay Account?
Under Account Settings, Display -> "Roleplaying Accuont?".
ACSavior crashed!
I'm sorry to hear that! Contact me at
Change Log
v0.8 (11/15/17) - Initial Release.
v0.8.1 (11/17/17)
- Changed UI for specifying the AC period.
- Multi-comments by one journal only count as one comment.
- No longer abandons check when encountering multiple consecutive posts with no activity.
- More robust error handling.
v0.8.2 (11/23/17)
- Added contact link.
- Slightly more robust logging.
v0.8.3 (11/25/17)
- Verbose logging now displays stack traces.
- Reports failure more cleanly if loading the profile page fails.
v0.8.4 (11/28/17)
- Backtag distance can be set under advance settings.
- Can now ignore threads under a certain length.
- Minor bugfixes.
v0.8.5 (12/3/17)
- Added Player AC options.
v0.8.6 (12/13/17)
- Huge posts now counted as just one post.
- Can now specify time zone, and it defaults to your local time.
Touhou Valor - Setting
May. 25th, 2017 03:50 pmGensokyo
While Gensokyo has existed for over a thousand years, it was only cut off from the rest of Earth a couple centuries prior. This event was the work of the Great Youkai Sages, who foresaw the extinction of youkai at the hands of an increasingly skeptical humanity. Gensokyo was sealed away from the outside world in order to create a paradise wherein youkai could exist without fear of vanishing into obscurity.
The Human Village
With only one major settlement for humans in Gensokyo, there's no need for it to have any other name. Nearly all of the human population lives in one large, peaceful village right at Gensokyo's center. Although they are surrounded on all sides by powerful youkai, there is seldom more than minor trouble in the village itself, for the humans are an important part of Gensokyo's balance. If anyone tried to destroy the village, they would swiftly be punished by the other youkai.
Agatsuma Shrine
Resting comfortably on the edge of the human village is Gensokyo's largest shinto shrine. Historically a symbol of the gods granting protection to humanity, it's unclear what purpose it serves in the modern day. If any gods reside within it, they don't make themselves known to the public, and these days, protecting humanity from youkai largely falls in other hands.
The current maintainer of the shrine is the shrine maiden Tamayori Satomi. Ostensibly, youkai extermination falls under her duties, but she's young and inexperienced, her powers are still weak, and she doesn't seem to have the emotional disposition for violence. So, she relies on others to resolve incidents.
Ugekkan
The human village's chief source of books. Ugekkan is a bookstore owned and operated by a young man named Shuusei Hanawa. Shuusei is blind, but manages Ugekkan's collection with help of some strange supernatural ability he possesses. He's at least civil to everyone who comes into his store as long as they don't cause trouble, he firmly considers youkai to be enemies of humanity (even if he's too smart to say that to their faces).
Ugekkan stocks a wide variety of books, from ancient Japanese texts to Gensokyo original manuscripts to youkai writings. Even the occasional book from the outside world sometimes ends up on its shelves. Shuusei will sometimes allow people he likes to borrow books as if he were running a library, but to strangers and youkai he demands full price.
The Great Youkai Sages
Of all the youkai in Gensokyo, three stand above all. These three were responsible for Gensokyo's creation, and watch over it to this day. However, some suspect that each has a different vision for what Gensokyo should look like.
Their identities are as follows:
Forest of Spirits
A dense, vibrant wood near the human village. Children are cautioned never to go here, for it is filled with dangerous creatures. To those with a bit of power, though, the concerns are largely unfounded, as those creatures are almost all fairies - sometimes dangerous to ordinary humans, but resting comfortably at the bottom of the youkai totem pole.
Valley of Four Winds
Named for the near-constant windstorms that rage all around it, this valley is home to the tengu. Of course, humans seldom have any business there, but this much is said: If you must go to the Valley of Four Winds, be prepared to fight. The tengu enjoy nothing more, after all.
The Kappa Village
On the far shore of an expansive lake a long ways from the human village, a cluster of strange buildings can be seen. The kappa overwhelmingly prefer to keep to their own territory, so nobody really knows what goes on there. Humans who wander too close are swiftly intercepted by kappa guards, and politely but firmly deposited well away from the lake.
While Gensokyo has existed for over a thousand years, it was only cut off from the rest of Earth a couple centuries prior. This event was the work of the Great Youkai Sages, who foresaw the extinction of youkai at the hands of an increasingly skeptical humanity. Gensokyo was sealed away from the outside world in order to create a paradise wherein youkai could exist without fear of vanishing into obscurity.
The Human Village
With only one major settlement for humans in Gensokyo, there's no need for it to have any other name. Nearly all of the human population lives in one large, peaceful village right at Gensokyo's center. Although they are surrounded on all sides by powerful youkai, there is seldom more than minor trouble in the village itself, for the humans are an important part of Gensokyo's balance. If anyone tried to destroy the village, they would swiftly be punished by the other youkai.
Agatsuma Shrine
Resting comfortably on the edge of the human village is Gensokyo's largest shinto shrine. Historically a symbol of the gods granting protection to humanity, it's unclear what purpose it serves in the modern day. If any gods reside within it, they don't make themselves known to the public, and these days, protecting humanity from youkai largely falls in other hands.
The current maintainer of the shrine is the shrine maiden Tamayori Satomi. Ostensibly, youkai extermination falls under her duties, but she's young and inexperienced, her powers are still weak, and she doesn't seem to have the emotional disposition for violence. So, she relies on others to resolve incidents.
Ugekkan
The human village's chief source of books. Ugekkan is a bookstore owned and operated by a young man named Shuusei Hanawa. Shuusei is blind, but manages Ugekkan's collection with help of some strange supernatural ability he possesses. He's at least civil to everyone who comes into his store as long as they don't cause trouble, he firmly considers youkai to be enemies of humanity (even if he's too smart to say that to their faces).
Ugekkan stocks a wide variety of books, from ancient Japanese texts to Gensokyo original manuscripts to youkai writings. Even the occasional book from the outside world sometimes ends up on its shelves. Shuusei will sometimes allow people he likes to borrow books as if he were running a library, but to strangers and youkai he demands full price.
The Great Youkai Sages
Of all the youkai in Gensokyo, three stand above all. These three were responsible for Gensokyo's creation, and watch over it to this day. However, some suspect that each has a different vision for what Gensokyo should look like.
Their identities are as follows:
- Misato Sekimizu, Gensokyo's Prophet. A satori whose third eye sees not people's hearts, but instead looks into the world of the future. She foresaw the end of the world of youkai, and the necessity for Gensokyo to be sealed away. She's the most visible of the Sages, occasionally visiting the human village, but she never explains her reasoning for anything until it's too late. Treat with respect, but also caution.
- Kiyo Goukou, Gensokyo's Gatekeeper. A dragon of incredible power, who created the barrier sealing Gensokyo away from the outside world. She hasn't been seen in years.
- Abe no Izumi, Gensokyo's Overseer. Of all the Sages, she is the most enigmatic. She is a kitsune, and has even met with many humans, but none can ever recall anything other than her name and species - not even what she spoke to them about. Her motives, abilities, and appearance are all unknown.
Forest of Spirits
A dense, vibrant wood near the human village. Children are cautioned never to go here, for it is filled with dangerous creatures. To those with a bit of power, though, the concerns are largely unfounded, as those creatures are almost all fairies - sometimes dangerous to ordinary humans, but resting comfortably at the bottom of the youkai totem pole.
Valley of Four Winds
Named for the near-constant windstorms that rage all around it, this valley is home to the tengu. Of course, humans seldom have any business there, but this much is said: If you must go to the Valley of Four Winds, be prepared to fight. The tengu enjoy nothing more, after all.
The Kappa Village
On the far shore of an expansive lake a long ways from the human village, a cluster of strange buildings can be seen. The kappa overwhelmingly prefer to keep to their own territory, so nobody really knows what goes on there. Humans who wander too close are swiftly intercepted by kappa guards, and politely but firmly deposited well away from the lake.
Naruto Valor setting info
Dec. 20th, 2016 01:45 pmThe Land of Valor
One of the greatest nations in the world, many times larger than any of its neighbors. Under the leadership of the previous Daimyo, several nations were united into the single banner of the Land of Valor, and as a result, there are six hidden ninja villages there instead of the usual one: Lotus, Shell, Ash, Salt, Sun, and Lightning.
Uesugi Shingen
The current Daimyo of the Land of Valor. Inheriting the title from his late father, Uesugi is a cautious leader and unparalelled master of Kenjutsu. Having inherited six disparate ninja villages, he's reluctant to trust them as allies, but employs ninjas as assets out of necessity.
Hidden Lotus Village
The home village of our protagonists. Lotus is, at present, the most prosperous of the six villages of the Land of Valor, but also the one that Daimyo Shingen is the most suspicious of. Many people in the village begin training at an early age, usually being accepted as Genin somewhere around ages 12 to 15. The leader of Hidden Lotus Village is the Hasukage, Azai Mitsuhide.
The Four Dragons
A moniker given to the four strongest ninja in Hidden Lotus Village. The list changes over time, but when a major crisis befalls the village, the Dragons are expected to gather and put a stop to it with their overwhelming power. The current era's Four Dragons are Azai Mitsuhide, Imoni Keiji, Okayu Magoroku, and Kaitaba.
Azai Mitsuhide
The Ninth Hasukage of Lotus Village, and one of the Four Dragons. In his prime, Azai was one of the greatest ninjas in history, but he's very old now, and has gone more than a bit senile. Despite his incredible skill with Genjutsu, there's a lot of debate as to whether or not he still deserves his spot among the Four Dragons.
Imoni Keiji
The Hasukage's chief bodyguard, and one of the Four Dragons. Imoni is broadly accepted as the strongest Taijutsu specialist in Hidden Lotus Village, and possibly in all of the Land of Valor. She's usually drunk, but this has never once stopped her from doing her job.
Okayu Magoroku
Head of the esteemed Magoroku Clan, and one of the Four Dragons. The clan has produced countless powerful ninja in the past, but there exists a certain degree of tension between them and the rest of the village, who they've been known to look down on. Okayu became one of the Four Dragons after her husband died, and is broadly accepted as having surpassed him in the realm of Ninjutsu.
Kaitaba
The Ninja Reaper of Lotus Village, and one of the Four Dragons. In the past, Kaitaba was the most ruthless and cruel Anbu black ops agent, performing countless assassinations and reveling in the bloody chaos of battle. It's unknown what he does with himself now, or why such a terrifying monster is counted as an ally by the Hasukage.
Taki Murai
Former head of the formerly-esteemed Murai Clan. Taki stood as one of the Four Dragons, but brought dishonor upon both himself and his clan ten years ago when he betrayed the village, and killed Rakkyo Magoroku. The reason for his betrayal is not widely known, but for his crimes, he was executed, and replaced with Kaitaba. The Murai Clan has since fallen into shame and contempt, leaving his daughter Hohko to put the pieces back together.
Rakkyo Magoroku
Husband to Okayu Magoroku, and former head of the Magoroku Clan. After he was killed by Taki, his wife took his place among the Four Dragons.
One of the greatest nations in the world, many times larger than any of its neighbors. Under the leadership of the previous Daimyo, several nations were united into the single banner of the Land of Valor, and as a result, there are six hidden ninja villages there instead of the usual one: Lotus, Shell, Ash, Salt, Sun, and Lightning.
Uesugi Shingen
The current Daimyo of the Land of Valor. Inheriting the title from his late father, Uesugi is a cautious leader and unparalelled master of Kenjutsu. Having inherited six disparate ninja villages, he's reluctant to trust them as allies, but employs ninjas as assets out of necessity.
Hidden Lotus Village
The home village of our protagonists. Lotus is, at present, the most prosperous of the six villages of the Land of Valor, but also the one that Daimyo Shingen is the most suspicious of. Many people in the village begin training at an early age, usually being accepted as Genin somewhere around ages 12 to 15. The leader of Hidden Lotus Village is the Hasukage, Azai Mitsuhide.
The Four Dragons
A moniker given to the four strongest ninja in Hidden Lotus Village. The list changes over time, but when a major crisis befalls the village, the Dragons are expected to gather and put a stop to it with their overwhelming power. The current era's Four Dragons are Azai Mitsuhide, Imoni Keiji, Okayu Magoroku, and Kaitaba.
Azai Mitsuhide
The Ninth Hasukage of Lotus Village, and one of the Four Dragons. In his prime, Azai was one of the greatest ninjas in history, but he's very old now, and has gone more than a bit senile. Despite his incredible skill with Genjutsu, there's a lot of debate as to whether or not he still deserves his spot among the Four Dragons.
Imoni Keiji
The Hasukage's chief bodyguard, and one of the Four Dragons. Imoni is broadly accepted as the strongest Taijutsu specialist in Hidden Lotus Village, and possibly in all of the Land of Valor. She's usually drunk, but this has never once stopped her from doing her job.
Okayu Magoroku
Head of the esteemed Magoroku Clan, and one of the Four Dragons. The clan has produced countless powerful ninja in the past, but there exists a certain degree of tension between them and the rest of the village, who they've been known to look down on. Okayu became one of the Four Dragons after her husband died, and is broadly accepted as having surpassed him in the realm of Ninjutsu.
Kaitaba
The Ninja Reaper of Lotus Village, and one of the Four Dragons. In the past, Kaitaba was the most ruthless and cruel Anbu black ops agent, performing countless assassinations and reveling in the bloody chaos of battle. It's unknown what he does with himself now, or why such a terrifying monster is counted as an ally by the Hasukage.
Taki Murai
Former head of the formerly-esteemed Murai Clan. Taki stood as one of the Four Dragons, but brought dishonor upon both himself and his clan ten years ago when he betrayed the village, and killed Rakkyo Magoroku. The reason for his betrayal is not widely known, but for his crimes, he was executed, and replaced with Kaitaba. The Murai Clan has since fallen into shame and contempt, leaving his daughter Hohko to put the pieces back together.
Rakkyo Magoroku
Husband to Okayu Magoroku, and former head of the Magoroku Clan. After he was killed by Taki, his wife took his place among the Four Dragons.
Bleach Valor - Setting Primer
Nov. 7th, 2016 09:51 amThe Soul
The essence of all life is the soul. Every living thing has one, and they are virtually impossible to destroy - even after death, the soul persists. To your typical human, souls and all related to them are invisible, but a rare few have the ability to see past the physical world and percieve the true nature of reality.
In life, your soul resides within your body - the two are tied together by a spiritual bond called the Chain of Fate. If your Chain of Fate is severed, that means that your soul is no longer connected to your body. In other words, you have died. The unattached soul of the dead is what some would call a ghost; more properly, the term for such a spirit is a Plus.
When a Plus is formed, they must be carried on to the afterlife as soon as possible. This is the chief occupation of the Einherjar, powerful warrior-spirits who reside in Valhalla but return to Earth to tend to the dead. When an Einherjar encounters a Plus, they perform a simple ritual called Soul Burial, which allows them to move on to a peaceful rest in the afterlife.
If a Plus lingers too long, problems begin to form. Sometimes a Plus is too attached to a place or a person, causing their Chain of Fate to get anchored to the object of their lingering regrets, becoming a Bounded Spirit. If they simply aren't picked up by any Einherjar, their severed Chain of Fate will begin to eat itself, growing shorter and shorter. If either condition is allowed to go on for too long, the benevolent Plus will become distorted as its heart is destroyed, growing in twisted malice and instinct and also in power. Thus, a Hollow is born.
Hollows
A Hollow is, effectively, a monster. Huge beasts recognizeable by their skull-like masked faces, they can't be seen by ordinary humans. Their primary food is the soul, and they commonly devour the Pluses that Einherjar fail to bring to Valhalla. Sometimes, they'll even feed on the souls of living humans. Whatever motivations and morals a Hollow had in life, or even as a Plus, are gone, replaced only with regret, despair, hatred, and an insatiable hunger.
Your typical hollow is a semi-mindless brute, like a wild animal, but this is not always the case. The more a hollow eats, the more powerful it becomes, as many souls are absorbed into a single Hollow soul. Stronger hollows also have more intelligence, eventually being capable of becoming cruel masterminds preying upon humanity from the shadows. The longer a Hollow is left unchecked, the more dangerous it becomes. The greatest of Hollows, massive creatures composed of hundreds of Hollow souls mashed together as they devour one another, are given the name Menos.
The one weakness shared by all Hollows is the mask. Within each Hollow is what was once a human soul - the white mask covering its face is formed from their lost heart. If the mask can be broken, the original consciousness of the person within the Hollow can sometimes be at least briefly restored. If the mask is completely destroyed, the Hollow is destroyed as well.
When not hunting, Hollows hide from Einherjar by retreating to Hueco Mundo, world of Hollows. This strange and evil world is overflowing with powerful, cruel Hollows; any humans who set foot there for even a minute would surely die.
Einherjar
Those who die with courage and valor have a different sort of afterlife waiting for them. The Valkyries find and select these people to become the Einherjar, guardians of Valhalla. Einherjar have powers far beyond regular souls, and use them for the good of the world.
While an Einherjar's chief duty is the Soul Burial, they have a second crucial task - fighting Hollows. The spiritual weapons wielded by Einherjar are the best weapons in a fight against Hollows, which are virtually impervious to mortal weapons. However, the killing blow of an Einherjar does not destroy a Hollow. Instead, it purifies it, absolving the soul within of all the sins it committed as a Hollow. With this, the Plus it once was can move on to the next world in peace.
Einherjar gather in the great halls of Valhalla, where immensely powerful rulers command them in endless battles. The details of what goes on in Valhalla are not known to those of this realm.
Verndari
When a soul becomes an Einherjar, they will find their chief weapon already in hand. The Verndari is a weapon, unique in shape and nature to each Einherjar, born from the depths of your soul. Every Einherjar carries a Verndari, and a Verndari is the most effective weapon for cutting down Hollows. Despite being a part of its wielder, every Verndari is a living, thinking entity with its own heart - if only the Einherjar is able to hear its words.
Verndari can take many shapes, but the most common are an axe, a sword, or a spear. More esoteric weapons are rare sights, but do exist as well. Sometimes a Verndari will take the form of two paired objects - a weapon and a shield, or more rarely two weapons, one for each hand. However simple these forms may be, they are only the sealed forms of the Verndari - their true form is often much stranger.
Every Verndari has a unique name. In order to wield its true power, you must learn that name. By speaking a command word and your Verndari's name (Howl, Zabimaru! Ripple, Geimur Skera! etc), you can unleash its true form, transforming the weapon into something stranger, more unique, and far more powerful. These true forms can be any manner imaginable of bizarre weapon, and may even have supernatural powers beyond simple brute force, such as commanding the elements of attacking with raw spiritual power. While sealed, the Verndari gradually amasses power, and that power is all released at once when its true form is unsealed, so most Verndari are kept sealed most of the time, and only released when needed. The exception to this is a rare class of Verndari called Constant Release Verndari, which only have one form, and cannot be sealed. (Mechanical note - if not known from level 1, the best time to learn your Verndari's name and true form is when you get your first Ultimate at level 5.)
As your soul grows, so does your Verndari become more powerful. It cannot be discarded or replaced, as it is a part of you. If it is broken, it will recover in time. Generally, a larger Verndari is indicative of greater raw power, but this stops being true after a certain level of mastery.
Magic
There are two kinds of magic used by Einherjar - Galdrastafur and Runo. Few learn both, some learn neither.
Galdrastafur is the art of inscribing spiritual power into drawn runes. If the rune is drawn correctly, and given sufficient power, it will evoke a spell to shape reality. Galdrastafur spells are seldom destructive, instead offering protection or binding your enemies. Because drawing these runes takes time, many tricks are used to produce Galdrastafur quickly, such as drawing out the runes in advance, then only infusing them with power when needed. (Mechanical note: Most Galdrastafure techniques should have at least one level of Ammunition Limit.)
Runo is a different class of spells, invoked via vocal incantation instead of by written rune. These spells are more closely tied to the soul, and are more raw and wild than Galdrastafur. Runo spells tend towards pure power, raining down destruction and commanding elemental wrath to strike down anything in your path. However, the vocal component make them challenging to use quickly in the midst of battle. (Mechanical note: Most Runo techniques should have at least one level of Initiative Limit.)
Hollows may have their own strange magic, but it is not well understood.
Spiritual Power
All of the great powers wielded by creatures beyond humans wield the power of the soul itself as energy. This is broadly referred to as Spiritial Power, and is usually drawn from your own soul's strength. The greater the soul, the greater the Spiritual Power.
This energy can be used in countless ways, and dictates all combat between Einherjar or Hollows. When you cut with a sword, your Verndari is simply focusing your spirit to a killing edge, and using it to pierce the spiritual energy radiated unconsciously by your enemy's body. When you use magic, you are using runes or command words to channel your spiritual power into a more structured form to shape reality. When a Hollow unleashes a deadly energy attack, it's unleashing the power radiating from its twisted soul.
Spiritual power can be sensed by those with senses trained for it. With skill and practice, this can be used to sense a specific person's soul from a distance, or sense how powerful an opponent's soul is. A common technique for tracking via spirit energy is Spirit Ribbons - each soul in the area is visualized as a white ribbon rising from the ground around you, and by identifying the ribbon corresponding to your target, you can sense where they are. An Einherjar's spirit ribbon instead appears as red.
When being faced by truly overwhelming souls, no special skills are required to sense them. Great souls, when their power is unleashed, exert a spiritual pressure on the world around them so great that any spiritually sensitive soul can feel it. In extreme cases, this pressure may be enough to force a weaker soul to their knees, or even crush them against the ground.
In Valhalla, the land of the dead, spiritual power is of even greater import than it is on Earth. The very land itself is comprised of spiritual particles instead of physical molecules. Your powers would be greater there - but so would those of your opponents.
Further Strange Things
There are more ways of dealing with Hollows than by an Einherjar's blade. There may be someone right here in Arendal practicing an ancient art that most Einherjar would consider a heresy that brings defeated Hollows far too close to the user's own soul.
The 'true form' revealed by an Einherjar speaking their Verndari's name may not be its true form at all. Perhaps the Verndari can, under extreme circumstances, continue to evolve into something even greater.
Of course, an Einherjar is an Einherjar, and a Hollow is a Hollow. There couldn't possibly be any way that the two existences could bleed into one another... right?
Considering how many Hollows are there, and how many even stranger powers have awakened there, maybe Arendal isn't just unlucky. Maybe there's something fundamental and strange about the area that draws the uncanny towards it...
The essence of all life is the soul. Every living thing has one, and they are virtually impossible to destroy - even after death, the soul persists. To your typical human, souls and all related to them are invisible, but a rare few have the ability to see past the physical world and percieve the true nature of reality.
In life, your soul resides within your body - the two are tied together by a spiritual bond called the Chain of Fate. If your Chain of Fate is severed, that means that your soul is no longer connected to your body. In other words, you have died. The unattached soul of the dead is what some would call a ghost; more properly, the term for such a spirit is a Plus.
When a Plus is formed, they must be carried on to the afterlife as soon as possible. This is the chief occupation of the Einherjar, powerful warrior-spirits who reside in Valhalla but return to Earth to tend to the dead. When an Einherjar encounters a Plus, they perform a simple ritual called Soul Burial, which allows them to move on to a peaceful rest in the afterlife.
If a Plus lingers too long, problems begin to form. Sometimes a Plus is too attached to a place or a person, causing their Chain of Fate to get anchored to the object of their lingering regrets, becoming a Bounded Spirit. If they simply aren't picked up by any Einherjar, their severed Chain of Fate will begin to eat itself, growing shorter and shorter. If either condition is allowed to go on for too long, the benevolent Plus will become distorted as its heart is destroyed, growing in twisted malice and instinct and also in power. Thus, a Hollow is born.
Hollows
A Hollow is, effectively, a monster. Huge beasts recognizeable by their skull-like masked faces, they can't be seen by ordinary humans. Their primary food is the soul, and they commonly devour the Pluses that Einherjar fail to bring to Valhalla. Sometimes, they'll even feed on the souls of living humans. Whatever motivations and morals a Hollow had in life, or even as a Plus, are gone, replaced only with regret, despair, hatred, and an insatiable hunger.
Your typical hollow is a semi-mindless brute, like a wild animal, but this is not always the case. The more a hollow eats, the more powerful it becomes, as many souls are absorbed into a single Hollow soul. Stronger hollows also have more intelligence, eventually being capable of becoming cruel masterminds preying upon humanity from the shadows. The longer a Hollow is left unchecked, the more dangerous it becomes. The greatest of Hollows, massive creatures composed of hundreds of Hollow souls mashed together as they devour one another, are given the name Menos.
The one weakness shared by all Hollows is the mask. Within each Hollow is what was once a human soul - the white mask covering its face is formed from their lost heart. If the mask can be broken, the original consciousness of the person within the Hollow can sometimes be at least briefly restored. If the mask is completely destroyed, the Hollow is destroyed as well.
When not hunting, Hollows hide from Einherjar by retreating to Hueco Mundo, world of Hollows. This strange and evil world is overflowing with powerful, cruel Hollows; any humans who set foot there for even a minute would surely die.
Einherjar
Those who die with courage and valor have a different sort of afterlife waiting for them. The Valkyries find and select these people to become the Einherjar, guardians of Valhalla. Einherjar have powers far beyond regular souls, and use them for the good of the world.
While an Einherjar's chief duty is the Soul Burial, they have a second crucial task - fighting Hollows. The spiritual weapons wielded by Einherjar are the best weapons in a fight against Hollows, which are virtually impervious to mortal weapons. However, the killing blow of an Einherjar does not destroy a Hollow. Instead, it purifies it, absolving the soul within of all the sins it committed as a Hollow. With this, the Plus it once was can move on to the next world in peace.
Einherjar gather in the great halls of Valhalla, where immensely powerful rulers command them in endless battles. The details of what goes on in Valhalla are not known to those of this realm.
Verndari
When a soul becomes an Einherjar, they will find their chief weapon already in hand. The Verndari is a weapon, unique in shape and nature to each Einherjar, born from the depths of your soul. Every Einherjar carries a Verndari, and a Verndari is the most effective weapon for cutting down Hollows. Despite being a part of its wielder, every Verndari is a living, thinking entity with its own heart - if only the Einherjar is able to hear its words.
Verndari can take many shapes, but the most common are an axe, a sword, or a spear. More esoteric weapons are rare sights, but do exist as well. Sometimes a Verndari will take the form of two paired objects - a weapon and a shield, or more rarely two weapons, one for each hand. However simple these forms may be, they are only the sealed forms of the Verndari - their true form is often much stranger.
Every Verndari has a unique name. In order to wield its true power, you must learn that name. By speaking a command word and your Verndari's name (Howl, Zabimaru! Ripple, Geimur Skera! etc), you can unleash its true form, transforming the weapon into something stranger, more unique, and far more powerful. These true forms can be any manner imaginable of bizarre weapon, and may even have supernatural powers beyond simple brute force, such as commanding the elements of attacking with raw spiritual power. While sealed, the Verndari gradually amasses power, and that power is all released at once when its true form is unsealed, so most Verndari are kept sealed most of the time, and only released when needed. The exception to this is a rare class of Verndari called Constant Release Verndari, which only have one form, and cannot be sealed. (Mechanical note - if not known from level 1, the best time to learn your Verndari's name and true form is when you get your first Ultimate at level 5.)
As your soul grows, so does your Verndari become more powerful. It cannot be discarded or replaced, as it is a part of you. If it is broken, it will recover in time. Generally, a larger Verndari is indicative of greater raw power, but this stops being true after a certain level of mastery.
Magic
There are two kinds of magic used by Einherjar - Galdrastafur and Runo. Few learn both, some learn neither.
Galdrastafur is the art of inscribing spiritual power into drawn runes. If the rune is drawn correctly, and given sufficient power, it will evoke a spell to shape reality. Galdrastafur spells are seldom destructive, instead offering protection or binding your enemies. Because drawing these runes takes time, many tricks are used to produce Galdrastafur quickly, such as drawing out the runes in advance, then only infusing them with power when needed. (Mechanical note: Most Galdrastafure techniques should have at least one level of Ammunition Limit.)
Runo is a different class of spells, invoked via vocal incantation instead of by written rune. These spells are more closely tied to the soul, and are more raw and wild than Galdrastafur. Runo spells tend towards pure power, raining down destruction and commanding elemental wrath to strike down anything in your path. However, the vocal component make them challenging to use quickly in the midst of battle. (Mechanical note: Most Runo techniques should have at least one level of Initiative Limit.)
Hollows may have their own strange magic, but it is not well understood.
Spiritual Power
All of the great powers wielded by creatures beyond humans wield the power of the soul itself as energy. This is broadly referred to as Spiritial Power, and is usually drawn from your own soul's strength. The greater the soul, the greater the Spiritual Power.
This energy can be used in countless ways, and dictates all combat between Einherjar or Hollows. When you cut with a sword, your Verndari is simply focusing your spirit to a killing edge, and using it to pierce the spiritual energy radiated unconsciously by your enemy's body. When you use magic, you are using runes or command words to channel your spiritual power into a more structured form to shape reality. When a Hollow unleashes a deadly energy attack, it's unleashing the power radiating from its twisted soul.
Spiritual power can be sensed by those with senses trained for it. With skill and practice, this can be used to sense a specific person's soul from a distance, or sense how powerful an opponent's soul is. A common technique for tracking via spirit energy is Spirit Ribbons - each soul in the area is visualized as a white ribbon rising from the ground around you, and by identifying the ribbon corresponding to your target, you can sense where they are. An Einherjar's spirit ribbon instead appears as red.
When being faced by truly overwhelming souls, no special skills are required to sense them. Great souls, when their power is unleashed, exert a spiritual pressure on the world around them so great that any spiritually sensitive soul can feel it. In extreme cases, this pressure may be enough to force a weaker soul to their knees, or even crush them against the ground.
In Valhalla, the land of the dead, spiritual power is of even greater import than it is on Earth. The very land itself is comprised of spiritual particles instead of physical molecules. Your powers would be greater there - but so would those of your opponents.
Further Strange Things
There are more ways of dealing with Hollows than by an Einherjar's blade. There may be someone right here in Arendal practicing an ancient art that most Einherjar would consider a heresy that brings defeated Hollows far too close to the user's own soul.
The 'true form' revealed by an Einherjar speaking their Verndari's name may not be its true form at all. Perhaps the Verndari can, under extreme circumstances, continue to evolve into something even greater.
Of course, an Einherjar is an Einherjar, and a Hollow is a Hollow. There couldn't possibly be any way that the two existences could bleed into one another... right?
Considering how many Hollows are there, and how many even stranger powers have awakened there, maybe Arendal isn't just unlucky. Maybe there's something fundamental and strange about the area that draws the uncanny towards it...
Minus World Codex: Important People
Sep. 19th, 2016 10:44 amNazar Orlov
Prime Minsiter of Nistona - considering the size of the world he resides over, he functions as much like a mayor as like a country leader. He's been in power for 3 years, and has been generally doing a passable job. He's given more funding to the Guardian Association than his predecessor did, so things are looking better than they used to for the GA.
Faraji Jakande
President of the Guardian Association. She's been retired as a Guardian for thirty years, but during her prime, she was known as Aurora Neon, leader of the now-legendary Team Aurora. President Jakande is fiercely protective of the Guardians and their well-being, but she also knows what kind of risks and sacrifices they must make to keep Nistona safe, having fought in the Minus World for a record-breaking seventeen years herself. Today, she barely has enough power to transform more than a couple times a year, and has little reason to, but despite her weakened powers, she has enough skill and experience to keep up with most accomplished Guardians in their prime.
Alexander Hightower
Headmaster of Pearl Academy. He's been running the academy for going on 45 years, and in his old age his competency has occasionally been called into question, but when a school with dozens of super-powered teenagers in it still hasn't burned down after four decades of his leadership, he must be doing something right.
Scarlet Blaze
Leader of Team Scarlet, a recently-formed Guardian team that eschews the usual color coordination traditions and is composed entirely of reds. Last month, there was an incident where a Commander class monster incapacitated her teammates before breaking into Nistona, and she was able to follow it and take it down solo, and she's been riding the wave of fame and popularity ever since. Her talent, personality, and ego are all equally immense. She registered anonymously, and her civilian identity is unknown.
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Prime Minsiter of Nistona - considering the size of the world he resides over, he functions as much like a mayor as like a country leader. He's been in power for 3 years, and has been generally doing a passable job. He's given more funding to the Guardian Association than his predecessor did, so things are looking better than they used to for the GA.
Faraji Jakande
President of the Guardian Association. She's been retired as a Guardian for thirty years, but during her prime, she was known as Aurora Neon, leader of the now-legendary Team Aurora. President Jakande is fiercely protective of the Guardians and their well-being, but she also knows what kind of risks and sacrifices they must make to keep Nistona safe, having fought in the Minus World for a record-breaking seventeen years herself. Today, she barely has enough power to transform more than a couple times a year, and has little reason to, but despite her weakened powers, she has enough skill and experience to keep up with most accomplished Guardians in their prime.
Alexander Hightower
Headmaster of Pearl Academy. He's been running the academy for going on 45 years, and in his old age his competency has occasionally been called into question, but when a school with dozens of super-powered teenagers in it still hasn't burned down after four decades of his leadership, he must be doing something right.
Scarlet Blaze
Leader of Team Scarlet, a recently-formed Guardian team that eschews the usual color coordination traditions and is composed entirely of reds. Last month, there was an incident where a Commander class monster incapacitated her teammates before breaking into Nistona, and she was able to follow it and take it down solo, and she's been riding the wave of fame and popularity ever since. Her talent, personality, and ego are all equally immense. She registered anonymously, and her civilian identity is unknown.
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