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Might as well make this thread to keep people updated on my random appearances and disappearances. 02/27/2018: Alright my lovely peeps, this is a heads up that this week is going to be RIDICULOUS for me and my family. I am currently working on two projects that require my absolute attention. I've been a lazy fuck about them and while I'm steadily riding a 98% total grade in both classes, I could do better if I wasn't playing with my dick and being a lazy butt. A 95% on my annotated bibliography is great, but the issues my professor pointed out were issues I already knew about but I wanted to chase butterflies instead of fixing them ~ Secondly, the last month Mr. Roberto has been preparing for his very first amateur MMA fight, YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!! 8ish years in the making After so many life changes, fights falling through, and other shit, it's finally happening this Saturday. Friday are the official weigh-ins, and they're about a hourish away and after that we will probably be celebrating the first of two steps into the cage. I'm so proud and excited I could hella explode. This week I have intended reviving the Renovatio Discord and posting up the edited articles for Renovatio and the new Kalopsia. Everything is ready to go but this week has kind of caught up with me rather quickly and I will not have the time to be involved in these major changes. I haaaaaaaaaave to be diligent with my course projects and not be half assed about it. I also need to be there for Avalynn and Robert while dealing with all this. None of this is extremely detrimental to what is going on in Renovatio, I just don't want any of you all thinking I'm being lazy and pulling your dicks after so damn long. I've made promises and haven't been able to act on them in the timely manner I've wanted. My life is ridiculously busy all the damn time <_< I don't know why I give myself time restraints when I know .... anyways I will still be posting in some of threads, a few I need to get caught up on. I have time for these little side projects, they're actually what's helping my fried brain work through this random little moment of complacency I have going on. As for the articles, I will have those up and going probably in like a week or two, depends on how hard and fast I can get these projects done the right way. No I won't hand the articles over so you can see No I won't give you clues or ideas or thoughts about the changes No I won't tell you what is going to happen to Kalopsia I say no to those things because I don't want anyone getting their hopes up on one thing, when there's a chance I could edit everything again and all plans go up in smoke. I will say that the integrity to everyone's hard work done in Renovatio will be credited and acknowledged. <333 Not much of a surprise here but I'mma be slow for the next few weeks, bromatos. Pray for me ; ~ ; 1/2/2018: Merry Christmas (belated) & Happy New Years (kinda belated)!! Well, I've been busy as a mofo and I want to apologize for not staying in communication with you guys during the last 2 weeks. As always there are ways to get a hold of me if you need me to answer any and all questions concerning Kadia, Muhir, and Renovatio. @Alexei has my number and has been awesome (he's such a good work husband, js if anyone is looking for one) enough to let people know if they need me, he'll shoot me a text to let me know. Here is the basic low-down on what's going to be happening this year: I called in for a transfer today so I'm (hopefully) going to be transferred to a store that is only 10 minutes away from our house instead of 20-25 minutes away. I'll probably know in a few days if it's possible, and I'm crossing every finger and fucking toe that it'll happen. I really like my job and I'd like to keep working as long as I can - quitting is not an easy option. I'm going to be a college student soon. Going to put my big girl pants on and shoot to become a CMA, and maybe at some point a CPA. Depending on how soon I can get things done, I'll either be starting February though it's more than likely going to be in April. That's college piled on taking care of the little goop (whoisbecomingaheathenomgsomeonehelpterribletwosarereal) and taking care of the big goop (Roberto), and working a few days out of the week. WOOOO! Rob is also going to be a college student soon! He is going for nursing, and that means full time school and full time work for that bromato - I'm not envious of his choices. His poor brain is probably going to be melting out of his damn ears and I'm going to be the one holding the bucket to catch it. Roll those two things together and there's a chance I'm only going to be active a few days a week, and that's just me assuming that our workloads are going to be heavy as fuuuuu- and our time will be completely dedicated to Avalynn, work, and school. !I'M STILL GOING TO BE HERE! I'm more than likely going to have to be a little more restrictive on stuff and I'm okay with that. FOR THOSE PEEPS DOING STUFF IN RENOVATIO AND MUHIR: Keep being awesome and keep doing what you're doing. You're welcome to shape Muhir in any way you wish (within reason of course, if you're uncertain about something, don't hesitate to reach out to me). Renovatio is being pumped full of activity from you all just adding something to Reno, and I couldn't be more appreciative of that <33 I know some have asked permission to do things and I give my full consent to do what you need to to start your area/city/kingdom in Muhir and in Renovatio. I've read through all your things and so far you've all shown me you're awesome to go on your own for a bit. KETCHUP: Alright, much to my (not) surprise my work schedule for this week is not at all what it should be, so I have to work to get that fixed and I don't know what my next week schedule brings. I will be working on catching up on some things BUT KEEP SKIPPING ME NO MATTER WHAT. I will catch up more than likely by next week (110% no posting on weekends for me at all, whatsoever, never again). 2017 Shenanigans

Introduction In the ten or so years administrating Terrenus, this is my first public attempt at a cohesive, semi-organized "system" of magic. The first private attempt was in 2013, which was a lot less organized but discussion between desolate, lastlight, and Off Topic (among others) prompted me down certain paths of thought. It's pretty bare right now but I think there's enough here to work with and try out. In the future I'm hoping for something immersive and engaging to which this will be an index or an appendix. So long as it adheres to the Mild Powers ruleset, Terrenus is agnostic as far as metaphysical systems are concerned. This means that members can feel free to adopt or adapt whatever system lends itself to their creative expression. That said, the below is the official system of Terrenus magic. It is recognized as the mainstream cosmological view of the world in Terrenus. Keep in mind that like any field of study, the laws presented below are subject to improvement and modification as new information is found. Science is not math, meaning that scientific knowledge, even or especially about magic, is tentative and provisional, with nothing being final, and the accepted explanation being "the best among all available alternatives". To say this is subject to change for reasons in-character and out is an understatement. Update - a number of the laws were accepted as the universal standard by all the board leaders. Those are in green. The stuff in black applies only to Terrenus. Laws and Theorems of Magic A law is the description of an observed phenomenon. A theory is the explanation of that phenomenon. A law tells us that something is, not why it is - a theory attempts to explain it. Below are the laws of magic as they are currently understood in Terrenus. Law of Origin: All magic comes from the Spirit Realm and is regulated by various layers of genius loci. Law of Chaos: Even with proper observance of the Laws, magic is chaotic and dangerous. Spells can go awry. Spell Permanency is a new and specialized field that can only guarantee longevity to within an acceptable margin. The longer a spell goes on the higher the chance it will go awry. Law of Method: Methods for manipulation of magic so far include written words and symbols (including glyphs and runic formulas), spoken words and rhymes, color theory, music theory, hand symbols and gestures, esoteric components, and direct energy manipulation. These are all considered means by which a caster can negotiate arcane intent with a genius loci. Law of Equivalent Exchange: All magic carries comes with a cost. This is usually seen as the consumption of material spell components but can also be seen as physical damage (bruises, cuts, disfigurement, etc), intangibles (sanity, memories, emotions, and in particular secrets), accelerated aging, and in extreme cases even death. Casting magic in a group mitigates this effect. Law of Arcane Inertia: With rare exception, spells that are cast will remain cast as long as the Loci supports their existence. A fireball will burn out with lack of fuel but will not randomly disappear. A curse will remain until its neutralized (or its respective energy source runs out). Contrast against Law of Chaos. Law of Parallel Symbolism: "Like produces like" or "an effect resembles its cause". It is easier to produce a fire effect from a spell focus related to the base element (coal, a phoenix feather, etc) than an unrelated or neutral component (earth) or diametrically opposed component (water or ice). Law of Contagion: Objects in contact become entangled and the contact persists over distance but attenuates with time. This law is commonly applied in voodoo, allowing a magician to perform spells on an item and produce an effect on a person or place. Contagion is affected by tangible variables like how many people contacted the item, for how long, and whether the item is part of the target (hair, skin, blood provide a stronger link than clothing). Intangible factors like sentimental attachment and emotional trauma are also a factor. Contagion links can also be semantic or metaphorical. Theorem of Many Worlds: Both the Real World and the Spirit World are infinite in nature, and in an infinite universe all things that can be eventually come to pass. TMW theorists posit that all instances of different worlds, dimensions, realities, and planes are either spatial distortions that link disparate parts of the infinite universe, or spiritual nexus that join parts of the physical world with parts of the irrational spiritual world. General Principles and Terms Arcanosphere - Like the magnetosphere and the stratosphere, the arcanosphere is a planet-wide atmospheric phenomenon that accounts for concentrations of magical influence and force (or lack thereof), and the ease with which magical forces can be accessed, harnessed and manipulated. There is a known heavy concentration over Shawnee Glacier and a known thinning over Dead Peaks. After the events in Blairville, however, the Arcanosphere concentration has shifted. The Shawnee loci has overtaken the Wasteland loci, resulting in much of the desert being frozen, and magical availability in general has lowered everywhere except in Shawnee, where it has risen. Epicoramine - Abbreviated as EPC, epicoramine is the only known arcane neurotransmitter in existence. EPC is a monoamine transmitter with excitatory properties. It can be found in minerals and foods that have been irradiated with, or subjected to, prolonged exposure to arcane energies. The presence of this mineral transmitter in food and water has led to magic-based mutations in various species, most notably in, but not limited to, humanoids and hominids. Genius Loci - During the reign of Levas, the 'genius locus' was defined as 'the protective spirit inhabiting a plane'. The post-Zengi age, during the Oligarchic reign, sees the genius loci understood as the basic foundation from which an area's magical rules spring, thus defining the basic means of arcane operation. Genius Loci can "onion", meaning one can exist within another and alter the rules inside of a localized area. This explains why ritual magic works better in Blairville, magitech is more functional in Hell's Gate, and neither are fully functional in the Dead Peaks. The influence is uniform from core to edge rather than attenuating at the periphery. It is not uncommon to come across references to the loci in ancient texts as "the gods of magic" Spirit Realm - Terrenus cosmology posits only two planes of existence or realities. The "Real"/Material/Physical world and the Spirit/Other world. The Spirit world is one of infinite complexity and scope (in Gaianism this is thanks in large part to the augmented Wyld presence here) so it contains the various other "settings" that most people interpret as being alternate realities. For instance, those that physically visit "hell" dimension(s) are visiting pockets of the Spirit World as are those that visit various "heaven" dimensions, and so on. Tripolar Synapse Junction - The TSJ is a cluster of specialized tripolar neurons located near the base of the pons, bordering the medulla oblongata and spreading both into the midbrain and the brainstem. The TSJ is unique in that it is a source of the EPC neurotransmitter and belongs strictly to mutated species capable of innately manipulating magical energies. Species with the TSJ mutation account for less than 5% of the national population. A TSJ is not required for knowledge-based magic, which accounts for a majority of the world's magicians. Disclaimer: 'Innate' ability does not mean 'superior'. This is just my personal attempt at exploring the 'sorcerer vs wizard' angle.

"United we stand, divided we will fall." Interest check: Roll12 rules Post summary to track things To keep easy track of things, write a summary at the bottom of your post. An example would be: (*Note: Monster players, do this for each of your monsters too! Name them as well, e.g. xxx A, xxx B, so it would not be confusing.) Posting order You can post multiple times, but you can only roll dice once per round. Extra posts can be used for narrative purposes. But don't put up spitfire posts! The round ends when everyone has posted, or when reasonable time has passed. You can post before the first monster post too, but that would be a narrative post, and you will still need to post again later for your attack. IC thread: Summary of everyone's positions and statuses: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1w6oi2m7C7JDcY1iJE6R31ukrGqhX_Tsj8ZvqX46Pcao/edit?usp=sharing

In case you couldn't tell! In short, a 500 error on the host side prompted me to reboot the server. This reboot crashed the search_index table in the SQL database. Attempts to repair the table failed because we found out, later on, that the table in question was approximately 800MB in size and the tmp directory it wrote to when repairing was 1000MB. Basically it wouldn't complete. Ultimately the issue was resolved by increasing the tmp directory (not simple) and then dropping the table entirely, which is why the Search index is being rebuilt currently and any searches done on the site will be slow/incomplete until it's done. Special props to desolate for working on this issue with me despite heaps of OT at his actual job, and to Tebo for quarterbacking the resolution to the end-zone tonight. Thank the heavens, Valucre is back.

Lilith Reiter || The Unsung Horror || [BASICS] First name: Lilith Surname: Reiter Nicknames: The Unsung Horror | Commander of Death Alignment: Neutral Evil Race: Marzanna Profession: Witch | Necromancer Affiliation: The Cult of Power Hometown: A small, unknown village in the Wilds of Terrenus Gender: Female Age: 28 | 29 | 30 [PHYSICAL] Voice: Smooth with a rolling accent Eyes: Blood red Complexion: Unnaturally pale Height: 6' 0" Build: A very fit hour glass shape Hair: Milk chocolate brown; Let loose, goes down to an inch above her shoulders Scars: There is a scar line going through the crescent moon and another going down her right eye Mark: There's a mark of a crescent moon on her forehead [MENTAL] Demeanor: Cold and self serving Hopes: Hopes are for the weak and the sleeping Fears: Not likely Likes: Power and absolute obedience Dislikes: People obstructing her way [GEAR] Top: Light weight, fit to form material Bottom: Leather wrapped in runic clothes [WEAPONS] DeathBringer: When this sword delivers the finishing blow or is near when the character dies, it traps their soul in the blade. The more souls in the sword, the more powerful it becomes. At the same time, the captured souls become slaves to Lilith so that when she plants the stolen soul into a corpse, the being will rise once more but this time they'll be chained to Lilith forever. Soul is how Lilith refers to it but what is being stolen is more like life essence. Deathbringer, while shaped like a sword, can be transformed into a staff upon Lilith's command. The staff itself shifts appearance depending on its specific usage or will of Lilith. Approximate Canon Souls Absorbed (through her own kill count and that of her immediate followers. Numbers are estimates and not meant to be exact): 18,160+ 5,000 in Casper by Lilith and Ankou 250 in Dramfort by Lilith 300 in Mork'Outh village by Venus 30 in MoonShatter Town by Ankou and Zuruk 50 in Casper by the plague's initial spreading and by Lilith killing Casper law enforcement officers 30 in Random Town by Ziva 400 in the Forbidding Hills by Lilith and her Paragons 2,000 in Everrun by Lilith and Shane 10,000 in Tia by Lilith, her Zombies, and the Church of Three's trap Zengi's Right Gauntlet: Obtained in Chasing Zengi's Gauntlet - This is an S-Class Terrenus Artifact which acts as an extremely potent necromantic foci. It's use in combination with her own power has been shown to overwhelm even Terrenus Peacekeepers, especially in 1 on 1 battles. Heartbane: Obtained in To Command Despair - This is an S-Class Terrenus Artifact, a spadroon type sword, that exudes an aura of corrosive empathy. Each cut and injury by this sword causes a specific type of internal horror in its victim. Handed off to Samael in Breaking An Egg To Make An Omelette [Everrun]. [SKILLS] Necromancy: The ability for Lilith to commune and control the depths of death and life themselves. Raising of the Undead - This ability is rather cliche and self explanatory. As a necromancer Lilith can reanimate corpses. One form of reanimation is that of mindless, zombie like creatures that have feral and uncontrollable temperaments. They think nothing, feel nothing, and are nothing but the remains of the deceased wishing desperately to end their own pain but not knowing how to. So instead they attack anything in sight with the hopes of final death. Undead Servants - Like a puppet master, Lilith reanimates the dead and controls their every movement. This can be done by either shifting her senses into the Undead by giving it mental/ verbal commands. These servants can have a will of their own, to an extent allowed by Lilith. Power Sourcing - When Lilith reanimates the dead, she can also bestow upon it its full potential that it could have attained while alive. This usually means that upon being reanimated by Lilith, the undead becomes many times more powerful than it had been during its lifetime. Life Energy - Similar to what some may consider as a "soul," life energy is something innate to all living creatures. Lilith has the power to draw out the life energy of her victims and store it within DeathBringer. Later that life energy can be entered into any corpse she desires, be it beast or person. Chains of Life and Death - Anything being that is reanimated by Lilith or that has had their life energy captured by her and reentered into a corpse, is bound to Lilith. They can't disobey or lie. They can only follow. With a snap of her fingers she can release the chains, leading to the instant collapse and annihilation of the Undead. Raw Necromantic Energy - Being a powerful necromancer by nature, Lilith has the ability to utilize the most pure form of necromancy and wield it as raw energy. Although it would take a massive amount of this energy to culminate into a grand blast of sorts, it can create shields and an extremely oppressing pressure around her. Loyalty Brand - When Lilith makes a "contract" with another living being, that being is then marked with a Crescent Moon on some part of their body thus tying them to Lilith. Through the contract, the other entity will experience a massive increase in power as their potential is amplified and unlocked by Lilith's own. In return for that power increase, the other is unable to physically or otherwise harm Lilith. Although it does not guarantee complete obedience, it does form something akin to a master-follower link. Melody of Despair - The souls trapped by Lilith and those brought back to life can be forced to sing a melody, so incredibly haunting that it strikes fear and despair into the deepest parts of a man's heart. Those not strong enough will easily succumb to the sung, drowning in their own horrors. The longer one listens, the more one is affected. The effect is exponential. Lunar Empowerment: During the night, especially those of full moons, Lilith's power experiences a sudden surge. Due to her status as a Lunar Daughter, Lilith was actually born of moon rays colliding together over a large amounts of wild necromantic energies. Therefore, with half her being having been constructed by moon rays, she is able to absorb the rays with various results. Lunar Healing - The moon's rays is able to heal Lilith's physical wounds in little overall time. The more of the moon is out, the quicker and more efficiently Lilith is able to heal. Enhanced Condition - Lilith's physical abilities increase, allowing her more speed, strength, and durability. Lunar Empowerment - When under the moon Lilith's other inherent powers also increase in effectiveness, namely her ability as a necromancer. Lunar Manipulation - When the moon's rays are shining on her without obstruction, Lilith can draw on them in order launch a powerful blast of lunar energy. Such a blast would have various impact results, depending on the phase of the moon, but so long as a bit of rays are occurring it would have enough power to knock a fully armor man a couple meters back. At its strongest, ripping through the armored man like a knife in hot butter. Lunar Daughter - Being not just a daughter of the moon but also a daughter of necromancy has resulted in Lilith' being born as a Marzanna. She is a being that is bound to always linger in the limbo of life and death, always in both and never in one. She cannot die for you cannot kill something that is not alive or undead. Even if she was hacked into a million pieces, the moon's rays would eventually heal her, albeit over perhaps hundreds of years if at a natural pace. To permanently stop Lilith, one would be required to capture her indefinitely. [HISTORY] When Lilith's being was first birthed, the moon's lunar rays shun on an area radically corrupted by large amounts of powerful necromantic energies. It's rumored that this area was were Zengi was killed by Jason of Lions, thus explaining why Lilith's necromancy is so powerful. This, however, is simple speculation among the Cult of Power's Paragons. Found by an elderly woman, Lilith was brought back and raised in a backwater orphanage. Since she was young, Lilith has always struggled with normal human emotions like empathy and compassion, love and sympathy. The emotions were there, certainly, but it wasn't always obvious. At the very least they were buried under other, more violent emotions like rage and a desire to be indomitable. This, in turn, has caused Lilith to find herself in many dangerous situations that generally involved local authorities. Before Lilith turned eighteen, she had very limited access to her Lunar powers and had no a single lick of necromancy. It was hidden away, deep, deep within her. So, at most, her childhood was filled with average powers, though she honed them quite skillfully thanks to the whispers of her past lives: the previous Lunar Daughters. The moment she turned eighteen and came of age was when everything changed. The raw power within her exploded and what had been more akin to a small puddle roared into a giant oceans- perhaps something even larger. The power was overwhelming and suffocating. And suddenly the whispers of the past Lunar Daughters were no longer whispers but screams, drowning her own thoughts and twisting her mind into something darker. More sinister. Thus Lilith Reiter, the Commander of Death, was truly awakened. It wasn't long before bodies began to drop in her wake. She used those bodies to experiment with her new powers, sometimes bringing them back as full Risens. Other times mindless zombies. Her first act was to burn down the town that had raised her. No one could know about her from before the awakening. And so the little town went up in flames. Just as Lilith was about to leave the area, she ran into a powerful man who tried to recruit her for some organization called the Cabal. She fought him for the insult of believing himself superior to her. But he was someone powerful enough to give a permanent scar to her right eye- one that not even regeneration could fix, and she was inexperienced. Young. One day she would get revenge against him. After that she continued to wander around Terrenus. It took a while for her to start really grasping the full extent of her abilities. She couldn't die when stabbed, poisoned, or shot. In fact, Lilith wasn't able to find a single method of dying. Pain would still be felt, but even that was more of a tingling sensation in the damage area than true pain. Some call her a vampire. Some call her a lich. Most just call her an Undead. But the truth, is that Lilith is a Marzanna- a being that is always to linger in between the realms of life and death, always in both but never only in one. [PERSONALITY] Those in the know about powerful necromancers wandering Valucre will have probably heard of Lilith at some point. Her infamy is rather deep in certain circles. Rumors of Lilith pin her as the the Commander, the Witch-Queen, the Desolator, or the Lunar Daughter; but those that truly know of the horror that is she, they know of the infamous Lilith Reiter. Unlike most of her creed, she has little wish for a massive following or to spread her name. Lilith's only interest is in doing whatever she wants and having enough power to crush those that are in her way. This lust for power has proven to be contagious, however. And despite Lilith having no desire to have her name spread or to garner followers, her spread of power to those who seek it has down exactly that. Eventually forming the Cult of Power. When confronted with those who don't seek power or are not Paragons within her cult, Lilith kills nearly all she meets unless they show absolute obedience. Towns and villages have been reduced to rumble and corpses in her wake. Though Lilith is only 30, as a Marzanna she retains memories of all the daughters before her. In essence, making her a young woman with centuries old knowledge to further her own enormous power. Lilith does not set out to kill others. It is not her intention to murder. This would imply that there are lives important enough to warrant her attention. The squashing of a sentient life, to Lilith, is akin to stepping on an insect. Not worth her time and barely even a minor inconvenience. [FAMILY] Lilith is a Lunar Daughter. Thus, she was born of energy cast down to Valucre from the moon. She has no family or relatives. [THREADS] Chasing Zengi's Gauntlet [S-Class Artifact] - Completed (Obtained S-Class Artifact Zengi's Right Gauntlet) To Command Despair [S-Class Artifact] - Completed (Obtained S-Class Artifact Heartbane) To Grab a Ghostship - Completed (Obtained a Ghostship) A Great Plague Comes to Casper - Completed (Let loose a very fatal and contagious plague in Casper) A Levee to Stop the Flow - Ongoing (Fighting Peacekeepers over powerful relic Odin's Circlet) Steeped in Moonlight (Artifact) - Completed (Helped obtain S-Class Artifact Lunar Scythe for Ankou) Destruction des Morts - Completed (Tracking down where Zengi's Armor is, finding Zengi's chest plate, discovered new about Reno artifact Crown of Asteria) When a Cult Absorbs the Fallen - Completed (The Cult of Power absorbs an organization called the Heralds of the Fall) From Nothing We Start; To Ash We End [Everrun] - Ongoing (Lilith and co. burn down the city of Everrun in order to summon an ancient relic) Breaking An Egg To Make An Omelette [Everrun] - Completed (Lilith breaks Samael down to rebuild him into a true warrior) Mr Stark I don't feel so good [Relic Quest] - Ongoing (Lilith and multiple Cult members travel to the Bloodstone Marsh of Genesaris to get the Soul Cornerstone) kick names, take ass [Airship] - Ongoing (Lilith and Winter track down the ancient and enigmatic Genesaris Airship Clockwork Grind) The Crown of Asteria [Relic Quest] - Ongoing (Lilith and other Paragons investigating/ searching for the Renovation Artifact Crown of Asteria, Circe joins the cult) (ARTIFACT) A Master of Space and Self - Ongoing (Lilith leads Circe and Ankou on a hunt for the space stone against James and the Order of Force Majeure) dread it, run from it, destiny arrives all the same - Ongoing (Lilith and her Cult declare war on and invade the province of Nu Martyr for the Crown of Asteria) bunch of jackasses, standing in a circle [CoP Hub] - Ongoing (Hub thread)

So, I didn't just want only generic wedding photos. We took the photos ourselves (using a tripod and self-timer, lol!), and I edited them myself! Some are actual locations shot at parks, and some are studio shots. It was a lot of effort, and I'm proud of the results. It's a cosplay of our Val characters, Dawen and Dyloceus ?(they're not a couple IC though haha) I knew @sorainvoked before I joined Val, but I still want to thank the Val community for giving us a chance to play with you all!

I'm utterly delighted to announce, after a long time spent building off of words alone, Valucre has a world map. The person that made this map wanted to stay anonymous so I will respect their wishes but the gratitude I feel and hope everyone else shares is beyond words. On that note I'll also extended the deepest of thank yous to @Song Sprite for putting in a lot of initial effort in a thread full of chaos and bedlam, which is where I got a lot of the base information from. So without further ado I present to you Valucre's new map as well as a map for the Tellus Mater region specifically. A few notable changes are: Genesaris has moved from the north to the south, Tellus Mater has moved from the extreme east more to the west to be between Terr. and Gen., and the Tellus Mater territories have increased in size. These changes were made in the spirit of making a more visually balanced map and the consequent lore will be adapted to fit now that we can actually see what things look like. You can find higher resolution images in the respective lore articles. Map 2.0

NOTE: Posts on Valucre are what increase our post count. Posts and post count are how new members arriving on the site take a gauge of how active Valucre is in comparison to other sites and helps them make a choice to play here or play elsewhere. The Discord is here for your use but please make an effort to port back any meaningful conversations (networking, plot-related conversation, worldbuilding, etc) or activity to Valucre and help us keep growing. For those of you that haven't been around long enough to know, Valucre used to have a chat that we ultimately got rid of it because it was too much work to maintain, and have been without any form of a chat for many years. However in those years a lot has changed. The community that frequents Valucre, the standards in this hobby we all engage in, the OOC interactions that foster them, and the technology that supports all of this, have all changed. I think all for the better too. So with that in mind, I think another chat is a worthy experiment. I looked at a few options, including an open-source client that could be installed on the server that currently hosts the site, as well as a plugin for WordPress and a Discord server. The one that takes the least amount of time to install and maintain with the least impact on resources and offers the most functionality is a Discord server, so that's what we're offering. This might change in the future but as Discord offers the same features as the server software I scoped and requires quite a bit less work to spin up, it was an easy decision to start with Discord first. "Experiment" here means this is something we're trying out. The experiment can fail, at which point we'll revert back to the standard that has brought Valucre to the point it is now. Because it is real-time, it will have specific chat mods to allow for the chat to be moderated actively. Because the chat is peripheral to Valucre and not a part of its core offering, it will also be moderated more strictly, with mods instructed to ban first and ask questions later. For any issues the first point of contact is the chat mods, then the glomods, and then the admins, going up the chain only. Please note that in line with Discord best practices, upon entering the server users will only be able to Read messages until they are manually sorted into a Members group by a chatmod. !!ATTENTION!!: IF YOU WOULD LIKE ACCESS TO THE DISCORD SERVER YOU MUST DIRECT MESSAGE/PRIVATE MESSAGE @Acies ab Vesania @Paroxysm @Avvercus OR @Praetorian WITH YOUR VALUCRE USER NAME AND THE DISCORD SERVER NAME YOU ARE USING PRIOR TO BEING ABLE TO POST. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL PREVENT YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO POST IN CHAT!! Here is a link to the Discord: https://discord.gg/8Fcrs36 You can download the application, or access the browser version at: https://discordapp.com/ What you can do with it: Chat with community members in real time about lore, worldbuilding, or general, friendly chatter. What it'll help us accomplish: Foster a stronger and more active community and make it easier for new members to become a part of that community. What it should not be used for: A primary point of contact for administrators. The Valucre PM system and Valucre email, valucre@gmail.com, remain the preferred points of contact. !!ATTENTION!!: IF YOU WOULD LIKE ACCESS TO THE DISCORD SERVER YOU MUST DIRECT MESSAGE/PRIVATE MESSAGE @Acies ab Vesania @Paroxysm @Avvercus OR @Praetorian WITH YOUR VALUCRE USER NAME AND THE DISCORD SERVER NAME YOU ARE USING PRIOR TO BEING ABLE TO POST. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL PREVENT YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO POST IN CHAT!!

All quests are repeatable and subject to failure and success alike. You do not need to post for permission, just pick one and post! Have fun! Valinde The glorious city of Valinde was home to wealth and art unlike any other city, and it was also home to powerful magic. Tapestries of ancient historical events litter the floors of the ruined streets and roads, along with the remnants of small airships used for transportation and the carcasses of animals used for the same. Museums filled with priceless artifacts lie in ruin, but one holds more than just archeological prizes. A stopwatch that slows down time within a 10 foot radius and grants supernatural speed to the user lies in wait in this city. It is worn around the neck of a wailing banshee, whose cries invokes bad luck and death. Overcome her curse and remove the stopwatch from her neck and use it for your own devices- but be warned, the banshee’s cry is a dangerous thing to tamper with. There’s said to be more than one, but they lie scattered throughout the city’s towers. Talix-Egine A city run by gears, including a central gear that operated the entire city on a wheel of science and architecture seen nowhere else in Valucre. Home to more math and logic than magic, Talix-Engine’s near impenetrable headquarters that operated the entire city was overrun by doppelgangers and evil spirits. The city was in the end toppled. This ruin is one of the most dangerous, overrun with undead creatures that seek nothing but to destroy all that is left. Everyone who was gone here has died at the hands of violent geists. Led by a league of vampires wielding ancient, powerful swords capable of nullifying and reflecting magic spells, be the one to defeat the horde and free the city from the curse of Whispernight. Kuratel This leader in innovation left behind an airship filled with magically-enhanced rifles among a ruin of stone, steel, and dead bodies. Two dragons guard the city against intruders hoping to do good, one a Red Dragon and the other a Black Dragon. Both are lich lords and highly intelligent despite rotted brains, though they are more animalistic in nature and can barely talk. The airship was known as Heaven’s Mercy and is still operational. Warriors from afar have discussed grabbing the ship and fighting the dragons in the sky, suing the hsips; powerful firearms to kill them both, then flying away with the ship’s army-full of rifles and guns in hand. The problem is fighting their way through the horde of geists that surround the airship base itself. There are other airships – Warrior’s Soul, Paradise High, Hellion Sky, and more – yours to keep if you can down the guardian dragons and their army of undead. Port City This city is awash in water and the undead. Once it sat on the coast of Genesaris, proud and fierce and the head of seaships that ruled the oceans. Now it is submerged in evil and waste. The shield that guarded it from tsunamis is shattered, making this city a danger in nature as well as the undead that lurks here, unaffected by the natural disasters that now plague this city. One crashed seaships off Port City’s docks is rumored to harbor the treasure of a pirate captain, full of gold and jewels worth a great king’s weight… not to mention a few Exalta Prisms, paralyzing enchanted swords, and books full of black magic spells. All of this is guarded by wicked liches and hags, but a powerful enough warrior might be able to break through. Kaurilia This minor city was yet known for its love of culture and nature. Now even the roots have turned evil and the trees themselves attack visitors. A crossroads gate still lies in the center of the city where unwary travelers have wandered in and out off, most of them returning wounded and traumatized to the crossroad’s twin in Aelindra City. The gate is closed off, but that doesn’t stop many would-be heroes from entering anyway. An undead dragon roams the skies, breathing poisonous smog and blue fire. Within its belly is an Exalta Black Prism, a powerful version of the crystals that power airships and the mighty technology of Genesaris magic. The dragon is known to venture from its claimed home in Kaurilia. Find and kill it, and burn its remains so that it never rises again. Claim the crystal from its ashes, and use it for your own plans. There are also weapons said to be made of the shards of Exalta Prisms, each containing massive power. Telerian This leader in airship technology was blown out of the skies by a lich dragon. While it was killed, now many smaller dragons, wyverns, and drakes wander the skies, wreaking havoc on each other and the wasted city below. There are said to a few survivors who scratch out a living underground, refusing or unable to leave. Telerian prized its ownership of the antiquated but powerful war airship Godfury. Said to be huge in size and outfitted with warp speed and a massive armored shell, this ship is overcome with vampires. Slaying them would be difficult and highly risky, but the prize of taking the airship itself would make it worth it. Tie former airbase of airships, if you can’t get to GodFury, one of the many others are free to take too. Testerossa Named after a sea capital, this city also lies along the ocean line. Seaships line the bay in disarray and destruction, and the great buildings of the city are in equal disrepair. It is said that here also there are survivors, fighting an everyday life against the risen ghosts of pirates and dead seafaring folk no longer content to stay in their graves. Antique seaships that are also capable of sailing the skies lay adrift near the shore. One is said to evne contain the treasure horde of a slain dragon. If you get to one, matey, it’s yours to keep. Ballard Bay The Southern Swell’s capital city is no more. Once having an artifact museum that was the best to view ancient magic and forbidden areas of darker spellcasting, the entire city reeks of evil and taboo. Once this city proudly displayed army shields powerful enough to heal those closest to death. Those shields are now lost, and fiercely guarded by the presence of golem made out of blood-soaked chains. Towering twenty feet high and capable of spreading out their own bodies in wrathful ropes of whipping iron links, these golems are highly dangerous and show no remorse for their numerous victims. Avoid or destroy them if you can, and claim one of the shields. Some of them are wielded, somewhat ineffectively, by the undead. Lanternway This once beautiful city is overrun by geists who wield blades stolen from the Cavern of Blades and have figured out how to use them. The stonework of the city is still beautiful and the nature resplendent, while out of control. Some of the nature is possessed by ghosts, and work againt those who try to explore the city. Endless magical weapons lie in the destroyed Cavern of Blades, now sunk deep into the earth. Spears, swords, axes, polearms, knives and more containing great power are there for the taking, but beware – monsters of Whispernight have been drawn to the Cavern of Blades. Destroy what stands in your way, and take the weapon that calls to you most Talthanus This leader of famous hallucinogens and drugs lies, and it’s actually still populated by hippies who declare the Whispernight almost over. Talthanians were never much for treasure or the likes, but the drugs here are topnotch. The undead are at a minimal here, and some brave souls make a living killing a few, stealing some drugs, and selling them to safer cities Cobran Small and more of a shanty, at first it appears Cobran was left empty after the bulk of Whispernight haunts vanished. It is actually populated with white werewolves and a few humans who survived after the disaster. The humans who continue to live there have adopted the harsh lifestyle of fighting every day to survive, hunting and being hunted by the werewolves and natural white wolves who are just as fervent about eating anything that can be killed. Massive alpha white wolves live in the ruins of Cobran, commanding a warpack of 100 wolves each. Immune to magical weapons and spells, these alpha wolf pelts are said to grant the wearer the ability to call, tame, and communicate with any wolf, as well as the ability to shapechange into a direwolf. Vintel Vintel used to grow cocoa beans and valued nature. It is now filled with poisonous plants and the living spirits of evil trees. These distortions of the beautiful dryads are unwelcoming to any and all who are living souls. A mysterious plant grows in the center of the city, glowing with the light of a god’s blessing, or so they say. Save the life of anyone with this plant’s miraculous curative properties by picking its berries and feeding it to your friend or family member… or the enemy you want to continue to torture.

It's been almost 4 years since I signed up for this forum and honestly it's been one of the most life changing almost-4-years of my life. I know this may seem sudden, especially since my "return" a couple of months ago, but it's that time. I will still wrap up some things and be in contact with people through off-site means, but this is my goodbye. But first, some words of special thanks in the form of a very, very bad poem: Firstly, thanks to HimJL, Yhmi, and Gohrick Trisona for being my very first partners in writing, and to Totalitarian, princeben07, Black Magic, and susitsu for being in my first created thread, Silent Night, most frightening! (I told you it was bad, okay.) To Acies ab Vesania! Ever the knowledgeable, for being a voice of reason, and to supernal for showing faith in my work by helping me start a monster nation. Thanks to Arcanist for being a co-conspirator in funny times, (and we do still have many, funny times) and to Off Topic for being a tour de force, with animation and rhyme. Thanks to Malum for drinking wine out of a jug--that I don't think I'll ever forget-- as well as everyone else in those unval chats and to blood soaked earth, too for being a nerd, and having me push my brain past the absurd. Then there's Syncopy who's always been of support, and Vintage's NightWalker children of dubious rapport, like vasanti and Sorano and various other sorts who traipse through the nights with blood on their shirts. More thanks to King for being one of the best co-brains in the land, as well as Noko and with their villainous plans, and to Paroxysm for his stories about blueberry pies, and Song Sprite with hope and stars in her eyes. Thanks to the friends I've made through Nich'e who wrote its world with me: From Kiva and the Big Gay Cockatoo to The Ceron and Scaevitas, too to Devil, Helrica, Japhetic, and Shamash you've all made this journey one hell of a blast. (And Lucky, to you, I give a special thanks for inspiring a love that no other can match.) Oh Gryfyn Industries! Oh comrades in trade! Thank you for all your work this day, But Elisbeth Winkly must part ways. Keep on with the customers, don't scare them away! (And should your name be missing, do not fret. You, too, on me, have made an impact, in being here with all the rest-- this "poem" is simply far too long, I will not forget.) And here we are at the end of this a dragged far too long reminisce Like many others that have come and gone, so, too, will I but with one last song:

Fidelitas looked over at the bustle of activity with some satisfaction. Finally, the severely limited defenders in Inns'th were saved from the brink of annihilation. It had been a month since Chastity returned from Ursa Madeum, after signing the alliance with the Allied Nations of Terrenus. With it came the promise of troops and resources. Sure enough, men started arriving from Ursa Madeum under the flag of Uldwar, and another sizable force arrived from Norkotia in a separate arrangement. Dried provisions were provided by Patia to support the growing community. The megacity had also transported stone and lumber for the Order of the White Hand's upcoming venture. Additional funding from the Taen empire had allowed them to put up calls for warriors all over Terrenus who lived on risking their lives for gold. The paladin pulled on the rope securing food and building tools onto one of the wagons, ensuring that its integrity. A group of warriors had been chosen to be the first to set off towards the Furthest Point. These warriors, led by Fidelitas, would lay the foundation for the rest of the defenders to follow. A smaller force was more agile and speedier than if they brought everyone along. What the Order of the White Hand had also strategized, but had not shared with the rest, was that the smaller numbers meant that if their minds were overcome by the corruption of Yh'mi, the rest of the majority who were defending Inn'th could hunt and strike them down. No force so large had been sent in before, and the Order had to take precautions. Especially after the corruption of Remissio, who many of the paladins had looked up to as a role model. He had been turned against them with devastating effect. Fidelitas, his full armour glinting in the morning sun, strode to the front of the line. He raised his battle hammer to catch everyone's attention. "Today, we take the first step into Yh'mi. Tomorrow, we take the whole blasted land!" The rallying cry was meant to unite those who were setting off with him; thirty fighters with various backgrounds, and with four wagons in tow. The gates of Yh'mi swung open. The vast rocky plains lay in front of them, fraught with unseen dangers. Fidelitas set off in a straight-line march towards the Furthest Point, a hill easily visible in the distance, a full day's march from their location. They proceeded in a square formation, ready for threats that might strike from any direction. - [OOC: At the bottom of your post, please choose which position your character is taking within the square formation: top left, top right, bottom left or bottom right.]

Do you want to die? Do you want everyone to die? If you answered "No!", then you should probably attend a round-table to discuss surviving the inevitable apocalypse. The Terran Empire is calling on citizens and their allies who have the means and the wits to discuss solutions for problems facing the modern Terran: the Unnatural Dilemma, the Body Snatching Menace, the Genius Loco, and more. Join us at SAD today, or you'll be really sad tomorrow! If there is a tomorrow. SAD will be held at the First Temple in Ignatz. All high-ranking members of the clergy and military will be present to observe the conference. IC Link: Symposium Against Doom. Thread has started and is closed on a case-by-case basis to future attendees. Hi everyone. ? I'm looking for characters that might be able to help solve many of the crises facing Terrenus today: diplomats, scientists, engineers, wizards, soldiers, neutral foreign nationals who want to survive, etc. SAD will be a dialogue driven thread. Since dialogue should keep moving, we're going to follow brevity rules (300 word max, 3 day turnaround) and characters should have something to say about the topic on every turn. The Terrenus government will implement sweeping changes based on the points raised at the Symposium. The way I imagine it proceeding: a Terrenus official will open with the ?dire? facts of life in Terrenus, and we'll circle through the round-table to present experiences, theories, thoughts, concerns, questions and most importantly how to deal with it all. Be prepared to be famous or infamous depending on what solutions you suggest. Disclaimer: any hostile or evil creatures that come within 10 miles of Ignatz during SAD will be destroyed. Attendance List: 1. Grubbistch - Elsera Elludoria (Diplomat - Terrenus) 2. Lilium - Capria Belvardi (Diplomat - Terrenus) 3. Ataraxy - Saturn (Reporter) 4. Tenkai Matsumoto - Tenkai (Order of Force Majeure) 5. Deus ex Aizen - Raveena (Regent - Hyperion) 6. supernal - Evelyn DeLamprey (Engineer - Handymen) 7. Paroxysm - Renata (Peace Keeper - Terrenus) 8. Grimmholt - Audric (Count - Grey County)

eMotion 1 Special We had to stop ourselves at 75 and @jaistlyn deserves 500% of the credit for starting the idea and being such a driving force behind it all. To do this, we needed to build a template: @HERO@Mickey Flash@supernal@The Hummingbird@Acies ab Vesania@Jesus Negro@BackToBackBear@Armada@Rin@desolate @Paroxysm@Refrigerator@Fix@Die Shize@bigfatcat@Noko@Witch@Kiva@Ampersand@Lisinka@Csl@Sav@Song Sprite

I and @vielle go to universities on opposite ends of our country, so when I went home for the holidays we decided to take an IRL pic of ourselves and make a Christmas card for the fine people of Valucre because it seemed like a cool idea. So yes. From these two Asian college students who've been using this lovely site to keep in touch and help get through the torture suffering challenges of our first semester in higher education: Merry Christmas! ❤️ ?

Elendaron’s genius loci has perished in spiritual warfare against the rest of Tellus Mater in its bid for dominance. This catastrophic event manifests in the following ways: Aesthetic Elendaron bleeds color and slides towards grayscale Elendaron has physically fractured into the spirit world. Part of it remains visible, but more of it is being consumed by black and gray vortexes pockmarking the landscape These vortexes do not draw matter in but any matter which passes through their event horizon fails to return Environment The floating islands of Athentha are pushed into Renovatio airspace Spontaneous, intense, and long-lived natural disasters: tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes rampage the countryside Crops wither and buildings erode with no apparent cause Effects Magically induced mutations - Infants and the elderly are the most affected. Effects range from the odd and relatively benign, horns and transparent skin, to the dangerous, spontaneous combustion, uncontrollable teleportation, and an outpouring of prophets so seized with the power of their visions they go comatose Spontaneous animism - everyday objects come g to life. People are killed by hordes of scarecrows, eaten by their houses, and giant amalgamations of metal equipment roam the countryside Major Arcs Is this another world

Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec.... "Why are you doing this Hael?" "I dunno. Bad life decisions mostly. I should've gone to a trade school or something." Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec.... Fithos... Lusec.... Wecos.... Vinosec. Excitate vos e somno, liberi mei.. .. Cunae sunt non. Excitate vos e somno, liberi fatali - ... Somnus est non!! Surgite.. ... Invenite. Veni hortum veritatis Horti verna veritatis!! Ardente veritate! Urite mala mundi! Ardente veritate! Incendite tenebras mundi!! Valete liberi Diebus fatalibus --- DNDNDNDN. THE FOLLOWING REVIEW IS CANON. Ah yes. Quesadilla. I tend to buy those from the local "Mexican Restaurant" despite the owner blatantly being Italian. TUTORIAL THE FOLLOWING REVIEW IS SUPER COOL. AS SUCH, IT HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO TWO FORMATS. ONE WILL BE "IC," SWITCHING OUR PROTAGONIST FROM ROEN JAEGER THE CRYBABY DEVIL TO CORVINUS ANUS THE ELITE SWORDMAN. THE OTHER WILL BE "OOC," FOLLOWING THE GREAT AND MIGHTY HAELIKOR THE DETECTIVE IN HIS BIZARRE ADVENTURES. GIVEN THE CANONOCITY OF THIS REVIEW, WHICH IS VERY HIGH, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED BUT LIKELY NOT UNDERTAKEN. STARRING... Roen Jaeger was a devil in a foreign land, rubbing himself against vines and beating up wildlife like small birds. Something about an "O'o?" I dunno, that's stupid. Let I, Haelikor the Magnificent Spoony Bard, spin you a more succinct take of the pre-fight. So some chick got married, which happens every 5 seconds in Valucre but is still somehow a world shattering event of vital importance to the entire universe, and so people decided to be thugs and throw down. People kept using the term "O'o" which is a legendary bird you find in Pokemon that was foreshadowed in season one when Ash Autism saw it fly by and his Pokedex decided to fuck with him by lying about what it was. Some random chick named Rou decides to waste magical woowoo energy to blast the shit out of the Pokemon and kill it, because she's a member of Team Rocket. This seems petty as shit but oh well, that'll happen sometimes. But as the bride questioned why a demon devil balloon monster was frolicking around with a prostitute and woodland critters, Cornivus appeared- psychically summoned by his wife because plot convenience. Cornivus is a swordsman that is triggered as shit how this "Rou" killed his wife's birthday bird. I'd be pretty god damned mad myself if I got a legendary Pokemon and then some random harlot pooped into the area and went "Nothing personnel kid" and assassinated it. Ahw man. I'd annihilate her into oblivion. But instead for reasons unknown, Cornivus decides to divert his attention to the stoner devil rubbing up on plants instead of slicing down the thot that murdered his wife's bird. They then have a really boring talk. It's boring. And it keeps using the term "O'o." I think they like typing that. Like a fucking Japanese emoticon if you look at it right. The entire first page is worthless. It tells you nothing. Except that this "Rou" should be gutted and dumpstered somewhere. Seriously, you get the inkling all of these characters have some backstory and history with some animosity concerning wars, landmasses, relationships - but not her. She was female Shadow the Hedgehog, ran in and torpedo'd the bird before contributing nothing further of note. What have I gotten myself into...? The second page and therefore the fight is only six posts long as writing this! And yet it's lasted since January 28th and has 95 edits! THE DETECTIVE SAGA OF THE GREAT HAELIKOR Roen-01/28/2018 Chosen Ruleset, Mild Powers, Hael as judge. "Nani..?" Hael queried, spitting out his burritos and tacos. Oh boy! A fight to review! Chosen Ruleset, eh? He'd have to ... dig into that some. It sounded Chosen. And mild powers! Well gosh golly, that just sounded more moderate than High Powers now didn't it? Alexei, henceforth Alex Bubblebutt because his name is weird to type, decided "Nah kid. Hael can judge but I want a judge too. A judge that can stop Hael if he's biased." Hael spun in his computer chair ominously. A judge to judge a judge? Judging a fight that's full of judgements. Yes. This sounded excellent! It would be a judgeception. Haelikor in his infinite wisdom couldn't possibly see anything wrong with another judge; anything they disagreed with Haelikor on would be patently wrong, and so it'd be fucking hilarious! And with these two accomplished adult men having themselves a quick story based tussle, what could go wrong!? THE SHITTER CRYBABY SAGA OF "SWORDS" AND BALLOONS TUTORIAL IN HAELREVIEW, COMBAT IS SCORED POST BY POST. ESSENTIALLY, A POST CAN NET YOU: +2 - massive advantage. +1 - minor advantage. 0 - neutral or no real change. -1 - minor disadvantage. -2 - major disadvantage. THIS WILL FACTOR IN ALLLLLLL SORTS OF THINGS! AT THE END OF THE MATCH, YOUR SCORE WILL BE TALLIED, AND IF THERE IS NO DECISIVE WINNER IN CHARACTER, THESE SCORES WILL DO THE WORK FOR YOU! CAREFUL. THERE ARE FURTHER WAYS TO GET NEGATIVE SCORES, LIKE BEING CAUGHT CHEATING. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A HIGHER SCORE AND THEN LOSE ANYWAY, THAT'S FUNNY AND YOU'RE BAD. Corvinus gripped his big sword. It was bigger, heavier, and longer than other swords. I'm not even making this shit up, this is how he leads into the fight. Ranting about how he has a tight grip on his big sword. It's also silver, like most anime swordsmen and their weapons. Woah. What an honorable guy. Attacking someone while they're speaking. Truly the height of a warrior's decorum! Also, he already got 3/4ths of the way into the word "kill," I don't think taking off that extra L is gonna really help you get the massive time edge you think you're getting. This post ends with Corn Bootyhole honorably swinging his sword with reckless abandon at Roen's yapping form, intending to wreck his shit with CONVENIENTLY the perfect material to counteract Roen's (presumed) healing abilities. There's also apparently some bullshit obelisk nearby that ebbs out woowoo antimagic so that's a pretty good situation for Cornivus. Overall this post nets +1. It's an opening fight post so nothing of importance will result from this no matter how unlikely that might seem, but! He starts off establishing a variety of potentially useful resources he has available to him and takes the initiative. Well then, she's useless. Stop thinking about her, you're getting sworded. Also useless then. Sounds like Roen has a habitual tendency to involve himself with worthless women. Still not 100% sure why you two aren't postponing this to just behead Rou real quick. I bet Cornivus and Roen could become best buddies if they just sliced the shit out of her on the dime. Meat of the post is just Roen crying about how much of an underdog he totally is because he doesn't have all of his resources or woowoo magical artifacts handy. Boooohoooo! Because it turns out Roen Jaeger is not a devil human man, but some kind of dumbass alien Godzilla skeleton monster crammed inside a flesh bag. Given he's technically undead, this also makes all of the women who consort with him necrophiliacs. An unpleasant thought. "What an honorable duel, ahehehe!" Roen cackled as he basically turned into the Devil version of a Super Saiyan. Thus far, we have no idea what this thing is capable of, except it has woowoo claws, a doom tongue, and is super hard and shit. It's as bad as the Nintendo Powerglove. Cornivus, generously speaking, seems to be an animu swordsman with some woowoo relic nearby he's accidentally taking advantage of. Roen is, self-described, some kind of Lovecraftian horror capable of withstanding being in the vacuum of space. What a- what a fair and balanced duel ladies and gentlemen. Why did you agree to this Alexei. Why. I'm giving you a +2 for this post, but not because I found any technical skill at hand in your vaguely defined chitin poop plates catching Cornhole's sword mid-slash. No, I'm giving you +2 because you demonstrate succinctly how zesty hot "Mild Powers" are, and that the low and even mid sections of MP are night & day differences from the high end of MP. I am only one round into this and I am already absolutely floored how much of a shitfest this is. I'd buy it's a plot battle to help soothe how noncompetitive it is but then you guys basically ignored someone pissing on the gift of high nobility, both internally monologue she is your enemy, then went "but eh? Take care of her later, this fucker in front of me be squaring up and shit." Ah but wait! To be fair to Roen, I dunno if he's just being hyperbolic in his writing. May- maybe his character's actually reasonable for this battle. Yeah! I'll just ask him for his profile! Just like he said. "Hey. You deviline fucker. Give me your profile." Hael yelled, kicking down the doors to Red Yoozookie's Discord (TO FIND OUT WHO RED YOOZOOKIE IS, SEE THE FIRST HAELREVIEW!) - and pointing his index finger like a phallic sword at the devil. "wuh.. oh man. i would hael? but I don't even got it? my PMs are like.. disabled. and red has it. heeeh. have red send it to you." "Hnggg.... alright. Red. Red! Send me his damned profile. Wait. You store your profile in your private messages? Who the fuck does that?" Hael frowned. Red Yoozookie began crying about Windows 10 not being activated, and said she'd be home from work in 195 bajillion hours. H'wat an idiot! Hael didn't have time for that. He went to the great Googles. Googles always knew what he needed. "roen devil profile jaeger shit terrereneeusus" Perfect search terms. Quickly, Haelikor got results. Accurate results that told him just what he needed. "Bahahahahahahahahah" Hael cried with uproarious laughter. Still, sadly that wasn't the profile. That wasn't the profile at all. Haelikor was no closer to finding THE TRUTH than Red was figuring out how to make dinner. He would have to wait. Suddenly, a shadowy figure crept up to him. "sssststsstttssttsts" "Ah!" Hael started with horror, falling backwards. "got some dirt mother fucker. this is a dirty fight." "Well duh." Hael replied indignantly as he regained his posture. "Roen is playing the final boss of DOOM. Look at that bullshit." "uh... no... not roen. he is totally fair and legit i promise. the other guy. look. a photo. i think you'll be intrigued at who." The masked cloaked horror handed Hael quite the photo indeed! Hael's eyes widen. "What the fuck? Who are you!? How'd you get access to that clearly confidential conversation where Alexei said if everything was rigged, he'd lock and delete everything and then shit his pants or something?!" Hael shouted out. But they slithered sway, "SS SS SS SS". Hael kicked his chair over. "God DAMN it! This fight is DIRTY! Who knows what else I might uncover.." Just then. Haelikor's roommate opened his bedroom door. "Kelly, are you okay?" "Huh what? Oh yeah. I'm fine. I just uh... I was watching the local sports game and the team I was rooting for lost or whatever." Just then, Praetorian fired a private message at Haelikor that loaded instantly on his amazing computer, THE RED COMET. Hael and his roommate exchanged an awkward silence for a brief period of time. "... Well." Hael clapped his lips finally. "That'll happen. Sometimes. Oh shit! That looks like them in drag. Haha!" The awkward silence intensified. SHITTERS TRY TO THRUST SWORDS OR SOMETHING Yeah he did. Incidentally there was an argument on Discord about how far off Roen had removed his pants when transforming into the main antagonist of a Shin Megami Tensei game but that's neither here nor there, it was time to thrust thrust thrust thrust THRUST!! It was a pretty simple post from Alexei. "That's cool bro but I was already there. My sword was on your cock or whatever so bakoosh. Saw your hands get all woowoo kid so I dodged your arm spikes and sliced you open. ggez" Now I'm a country boy from some backwater parts of the internet regarding T1 so you guys'll have to edumacate my ol' plain self. But if you retcon details of the same action, keep taking that same action, and then use each further clarification post to add more preps to it, that's retarded right? I think it's retarded. And that's what my boy Cornellius here is was is doing? I dunno, they edited and deleted posts like 95 times. Getting more preps in the same general timespace for reasons. What even is being prepared further? God only knows. Still, a solid +1. It's basically an argument of timing which I can buy he had the jump on. "Nah kid. You can't play me like a bull, I never even used a charge- you just misread my glorious poetry of my sorrow over my O'o." A noble "NO U," Roen. Meat of the post is: -With his Lego rotating limbs, he easily reapplies one to cockblock the sword. -His other super doom claw whips out to rip Cornhaul's body apart. -He was prepping. And in spirit of how detailed these two guys were on their preps, Roen's no slouch. Oh man Roen. Pure purple prose. You seduced me with such a rich tapestry of images there. +1. It's essentially just reversing the circumstances against Corvin if you delve past the flavor text. "Nah, your attack ain't so slick, you gonna suck this dick." I'd call foul on a number of things here but the two agreed to some stupid parameters. Like Roen's mystery profile. So while I'd normally weigh this higher to a +2 given the earlier post implied a hilariously slanted match, I can't at this time give that confidence. Ah, about that. RED FIGURES OUT HOW TO OPERATE A KEYBOARD BOOGALOO "...Simply astounding Red." Haelikor muttered as he gazed over the highly efficient method of Red saving Roen's private message copies of his own character profile. However, nothing prepared Hael for what he saw next. WARNING WARNING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION To protect Roen's profile and its EXTREMELY niche weakness you could only figure out if you had the profile (bullshit), we at HaelReview can't show you it. We can however, create a vague facsimile of it! Exact in how nonexact it is. Please look forward to it! ROEN is immortal. Both kinds of immortal. His species is Edgelord. He's like Imperfect Cell in structure- a bug humanoid but with rotted Kirby flesh all over and covered in that chitin plate light armor you can get when you first start out in Morrowind if you wreck people. It has two massive doom wings that let him fly around probably I dunno. It has four long fingers + a thumb per hand, the middle fingers of which are retractable 8" long doom blades- the rest are "a fraction of this length" but Roen saw it fit not to tell me how long. Skillful. It has the head of the Cyberdemon from DOOM. It has doom fluids in its skull to prevent any actual damage and doom teeth, all the better to eat you with my deary. It has a bladed blood sucking doom tongue that's four feet long (Roen could actually outreach Corvin's sword just with his tongue if he wanted to). It has doom spikes all over its body that poop out as necessary. It has three eyes, all of which can vacuum wrap themselves like those shitty Tuna dinners you can buy at convenience stores. He has no spine. His tail, which has a doom arrow head that is functional and can rip through whatever, is a mere 16 feet long. He is over 8' tall and weighs more than E. Honda. His flesh has some kinda supernatural fear effect or some shit. Roen is capable of withstanding pretty much any temperatures and environments ever. Roen decides to compare himself to a creature that withstand 6,000x Earth's atmospheric pressure, endure 1,000 times the lethal radiation a human can, and can become immune to any form of deadly toxin- but the wording implies he is greater than this creature and Roen has decided not to even stipulate what his parameters actually are. So generally if you're on Earth and just walking around not underwater and not in particular areas, you have about 1 bar of pressure on you. Roen casually can passively withstand an undefined number higher than 6000 bars. 6000 bars is 87,022 PSI. His skin can by default handle a quantity greater than that. Now he has to really flex to get there, but still! 87,000 PSI is what they crank pressure cookers up to in order to stop the cellular activity on large blobs of crayfish. Life cannot exist there. And yet Roen can. Roen has a number of hearts, none of which serve the purpose a heart traditionally does. It is implied if you impaled all of his hearts, he'd still not be grievously wounded. Roen has a weakness I can't tell you, but good fucking luck ever getting there! If you delimb him or behead him, his limbs or head can keep on functioning just fine for hours. He can shrug off electricity. Beyond that, he can chill in a lightning storm and if electrical discharge strikes him dead on, go "eh." He can feel pain but none of the "negatives" of pain; basically "pain doesn't inhibit me mentally or otherwise, I'm just aware something hurts." He can suplex elephants to death casually in a second. He has Shenanigan Eyes in disguise, letting him see fast and see what you do before you do it because blah blah blah. He has 90 bajillion lungs which again, misnomer- don't do what lungs traditionally do but instead let him hear super good. His 16' long tail can annihilate trees. His tongue can choke a warrior out, fire blood torpedos, and a lot of other dumb shit. He has 8 billion natural weapons made of doom chitin. You can fire bullets at his wings and he'd go "not good enough, kid!" If the wings catch you, you basically lose because they can snap you in two like a Slim Jim beef jerky stick. Also, he constantly emits Devil Crying which you can't consciously hear but it makes you dizzy and shit if you're human because you're garbage. If he's closer than x yards (hint: less than 150, more than 60), you'll start vomiting and going blind. At more than 3, less than 15 yards (you guess!), he can just rupture your ear drums and annihilate your eyeballs whenever he feels like it. Casually. He's also got magical mucus semen gushing out of his body at every point. This magical ejaculate does everything; super poison, can't be healed even by magic because Roen Jaeger knows all forms of magic I promise, unstoppable bleeding, and acts like Ultimate Tier Super Glue that could halt a pickup truck with all wheel drive from departing if you smeared some onto its tires. There's more to this but I really don't want to get too deep into Roen's mysterious goo. A famous Japanese manga writer was so enamored with Roen, they even made a hit series about him as the main antagonist of this one part, FIGHTING HABIT or something. Truly a fair duel ladies and gentlemen, Supernal should sticky this fight in the Announcements forum so newcomers can see what a balanced T1 match is. I can only give Alexei this OOC advice. Run. This is a farce, you're fighting an end arc anime boss. WOW, THIS DOESN'T SOUND FAMILIAR AT ALL Corvinus tries to employ "logic" and "spacial awareness," which is unfortunate. You see, he makes the folly of thinking this is like battling a standard humanoid opponent who may have fumbled where they placed their arm in trying to block a sword strike, which makes perfect sense and would be a valid route to travel down were he fighting a standard humanoid opponent. He is unfortunately in melee range of The Ultimate (un)Lifeform with limbs that can snap around 360 degrees on all of their joints, least to say nothing of a standard make. Furthermore, and this is truly depressing because it shouldn't be a thing- because Roen has 8 bajillion lungs and none of them matter worth a fuck except for doing bad things to people, even if this attack went off without a hitch (which given the circumstances and this being T1, it won't) - it would amount to nothing. Literally nothing. Except maybe getting Corvinus perilously closer. He makes a cases in his prep section about interrupting Roen's preps which- even if he could get this off, I think would still trigger what the lungs are prepping for. Like someone inflating a balloon with literal dog shit, and then you going "ahHAH!" and popping it with a needle while your face is right next to it. +0 because this isn't changing the situation in any meaningful way. Roen is big. Roen is full of death goo. Roen has fucking Lego death limbs and two other entities that are essentially limbs which at this stage of the game can curl around and do moronic things. ...and sure enough, Roen has his Woowoo Screaming Body Annihilating Garbage Attack Deluxe. Basically, he makes a noise. It really sucks. The noise sucks so bad your eyes and eardrums start to explode. Le sigh. +1. Haelikor kicked down the door to Roen's house, interrupting the man from inhaling marijuana. "Hael? What- I thought you were judging our fight, I-" But the great and wise Haelikor threw a knife at the ground. "Allow me to cut through those words!" "....What?" "Roen, you "won" the fight but lost the war! This is it! You're guilty!" Hael proudly proclaimed, grinning arrogantly even as Alexei, Red, a dog, some homeless people, and others as well also walked on by. Roen sweated. Oh no. "Firstly, you made the thread Caesura in order to taunt Alexei. You knew he would get involved, and battle you. He represented ... others. Other people that you wanted to attack but could not do so directly. But then! You needed to pull a fast one. You'd never fought a fair duel in your life, you weren't about to start now." "You proposed the absurd Chosen ruleset... because you knew if you could trick Alexei into responding to you a few times, you could get him to agree to borderline retarded stipulations like that you wouldn't show your profile until a third party asked for it after the fight had already began. A cunning strategy. However, you needed to keep Alexei flustered.." Haelikor then procured the [EVIDENCE OF ALEXEI "CHEATING"] "So you began roleplaying as a woman named El Passionate Burrito. And El Passionate Burrito you immersed yourself into, to seduce Alexei into admitting he was going to cheat. However! Alexei is garbage at cheating, and only managed to lock the thread for a few before reopening it. H'wat an idiot!" "HAEL. What the everloving fuck are you talking about?" "But that's not all! Because then. You - wait. No that is it. Uh. Your character's broken as shit Roen. Alexei's only options are to run like a bitch, get outside help, or suddenly reveal to me he is a walking demigod capable of firing just under MP busting ki blasts." END END END Verdict: it is borderline impossible for Alexei to win this. This is through no fault of his own. What a ghey fight. Stop giving me shit fights to review! We did it everyone. We're there. The thread may still continue but honestly, it'll just be them arguing. Roen "won." There's no doubt about that unless you're a potato; his character doesn't break MP but is so god damned close that it's not just unfair to have someone adhering to MP guidelines fight him, it's boring. But his character is literally waltzing around the post-wedding of national enemies of his as a Lovecraftian horror so he's probably going to be metaphorically gunned down in the streets like the degenerate his character most certainly is. And remember. There's an O'o ... in us all. ...and someone please kill Rou, that character sucked to read!

You know what sucks more than sitting around doing nothing? Standing around doing nothing at large events! That's why, for the grand opening of Wonderland Resorts we have activities out the wazoo! What is the Wonderland Resort? Thanks for asking! The great entrepreneur and philanthropist Ross Edmund noticed that there just weren't any super hip party spots in Terrenus and decided, "Man, this is wack." So with a generous investment from a vigilante organization, some hefty tax breaks, and a massive loan, he built the ultimate great escape! Situated in a Northwestern mountain range, Wonderland Resort features several attractions for peo...vam.... creatures of all ages and size, including all year around artificial snow! Now, I'm not going to bore you with a long drawn out description of each setting. Only because I can do that in the IC thread. What I'm going to tell you about are the super awesome crazy activities! The main event will be taking place at the jointly located Contrarier Ski Lodge and Venin Tavern and Grill. It's a super sweet Murder Mystery game, check out the details below! Fastidio Water Park is a series of wave pools connected by lazy rivers and water elevators (yes that's a thing!) Here you'll be able to enjoy the Amateur Comedy show and the Dunk Tank. The Verargem Ski Slopes make up the majority of the resort and will be hosting the super scary, super intense Ski Maze Obstacle Death Race of DOOOOOM! But that's not all, if you are brave enough to venture into the Supplice Spa you can get your fortune read! By now you might have noticed something about tournaments and ETT and some other stuff, and I'm sure you are wondering what on earth that could. Well, it wouldn't be a proper event if people couldn't punch the ever living crap outta one another. So, I figured the most appropriate place to hold a T1 tournament would be Chapel Mensonge, because nothing says worship like bloody knuckles and a broken face! If you're interested in participating in one of the events, let me know! Because @Mag is running the murder mystery event, he has asked people to to PM him to sign up. In order to simplify this so that there are minimum gaps, please include me in the PM. With regards to the other events, you can list what you'd like to do in the PM or also just volunteer in the thread. Basically just get the information out there and I'll consolidate.

Hello Valucrians, it is about that time. I've been with Valucre for a little over a year now, and I have decided to try my hand at an interactive CAW submission. What I am aiming for, is to involve the community as much as I can in the form of IC interaction, to improve OOC writing and communication skills. Imagine it like this: When you sign up as a new user, you are directed to the Tavern of Legend. This is to help you adjust to the setting and community ICly and be comfortable enough with your skills--whatever level they may be--to start making friends and crank out RP and lore. I've noticed that people do seem to struggle even after the fact, or feel a need to improve but don't exactly have a designated place to go or turn to. I want the Hot Spots of Hyperion to be that next step a person can take to improve their skills and writing, but done from an IC perspective for a hands on experience. So, I'm going to break down my CAW concept, and invite users to show their interest, ask questions, leave comments or ideas. If you're not comfortable with voicing them here, don't hesitate to PM me. I wont be submitting an official finalized concept until I am satisfied that this is a legit, committed thing people are willing to work with me on, so. I appreciate any and all effort, and I hope you'll find Hyperion to be a place of interest for you. If this is TL;DR, you can skip to the section at the bottom. ---- Backstory premise: A mystical civilization was famous for its spirituality, prosperity and culture. It was gradually destroyed due to a civil war. The idea is to create a city--and eventual Kingdom and possible Empire based on the foundation of liberties (think American amendments). This is a city that doubles as a haven for those who are looking to escape oppression/slavery/abuse. They learn a trade or craft, and can contribute to the economy, take up teaching, join the military force, etc. This is aimed at creative users who can create unit value of content (marketplace), new users who aren’t confident in their RP skills or need something different and storytellers who want to create conflict for those wishing to ruin the city (because drama!) ---- Idea Hyperion is based on the notion that the remnants of the Empire Rae's family led were enslaved following a civil war that destroyed the Empire. Setting off to liberate her people and create a new world for them, she realized that there were people across Valucre who could benefit from recuperating from such a life, learn a valuable skill that gives back to the city (create content for the market), join the local militia until they are trained enough to join the Terrenus Military, or make a living responding to quests all throughout the city. The main building would be a tower that is the center of the city (The Iron Stronghold). This allows for 360 degree view in the case of an invasion. Surrounding the main building, there would be designated buildings—an area for the market and crafting items. An area for training and combat. An area for an academy (Where interactive weekly discussions will take place ICly [ I.E: Psionic abilities and how to perceive and combat them!]). A town hall (where users can contribute ideas on how to expand on the city ICly or discuss problems that arise), local taverns and restaurants (Socializing!), or religious gatherings (Gaianism and at least two others). Beyond there, a research and development facility for the artificial meridian technology (AM Tech Corp) that Raven is developing as the main export. The target audience for it is mainly politicians, regents who wish to outfit their military forces with it. Riding off the DeSeer’s businesses and investments, it would jump start the campaign to raise money for hiring and construction, allowing the city to start small and work its way up to full functioning city. The militia forces would be the surrounding, outter rim—mostly to give them room for their testing and training, and also as a defense for the city itself and to grant passage into the city for merchants and travelers. ---- Personnel The Order of Orion - There will be a separate interest check for filling these slots. The OoO serve as a royal Vanguard to the city. The Peacekeeper would hold command over these nine individuals. This will serve as the main military force of the city. It generally falls that Rae serves as Commander, the Peacekeeper as a General with nine Captains and their forces. The Ar'el - The Queensguard. Four personal bodyguards, confidants and friends to the ruler. They are aptly named for their valiance and courage in the service to their Queen. The Enforcers - exclusive to Raven. Many of the original Enforcers from Sigil City followed her to Valucre when she was promoted to their General and later Commander. Enforcers are volunteering Civilians who wished to have basic military and policing training to keep the streets safe. I would like to actively recruit a small group of PC Enforcers to handle small scale plots and conflict. Mercenary Forces - Rae has two employed to her services, though details about that will emerge later on. The AM Technologies Corp - Shared between Raven and the DeSeers since their funding gave birth to it, thus they have their rights to it. Despite entrusting Raven with all of their estates and affairs, Raven will have placed their dormant bodies in safe keeping and set aside a share for them should they resurface, out of fairness and thanks (and also in case Roan decides to come back). Taverns, bars, restaurants would all have managers to keep the place in order from rowdy customers. ---- Hotspots ( I went a little crazy here ) Study of Knowledge – A vast, public library that was supplied by the late Thomas Bravot, Master Librarian that was better known as the Count Zantara. As his Parabatai, Raven donated all of his books and findings to an expansive library where various subjects in various languages from across the Multiverse can be found. || Consider this a form of AMA, where a user ICly can RP reading a book on a certain subject, and my response being the text they read. This is still a work in progress, but the core of its purpose is to provide user information. I have also considered it being restricted to a very special book where, the user ponders their question, and the book--seemingly blank--begins to answer the questions being thought about. Again, still a work in progress. Refuge of Sigils – The designated meeting place for regents, rulers, and the public. Considered neutral territory, it is where things war and peace related can be discussed between parties. It also serves as the town hall for public meetings concerning the city. Violence is not allowed. || I'd like this to be a hot spot for anyone wishing to consider war or peace with another territory. Third Party Mediators will be on hand to help the process run smoothly and ensure that both sides are satisfied with terms before making an official agreement. If no terms can be made within a reasonable time frame, both parties will be asked to leave until they are prepared try again. Gallery of Blades – Raven has an impressive and extensive armory, many of which is on display at the Gallery of Blades museum. Here people who need inspiration can read about various weapons and armor, how they were built, what their components are, and can ask for additional information on where to find such components to create their own. || This is predominantly for character ideas, and for furthering a user's knowledge about weaponry and armor--it's important you know what your character is dealing with! This is also to inspire users to take small level quests to obtain a weapon or armor piece of their own. Atrium of Lights – A beautiful open arrangement coveted by the breath-taking string of lights that lend a magical ambiance. This is where balls, parties, and major events take place--no violence allowed unless it's an exhibition match. It can be rented out for the right price! || For social events! If you want Hyperion to host an event for you, it can be arranged. Just message me details and we can chat about it, including any sort of fighting you may have planned if its for plot purposes. Gray Dungeons – Lawbreakers get caught, and this is where they are housed. Criminals and N’er do wells will find their new home to be a little…gray. || This is strictly for IC interaction. Pavilion of Prayers – A cluster of smaller buildings and temples where people of different faith can go to worship or pray. Predominantly of Gaian faith, the Pavilion is also home to the Sacred Mind Sisterhood, who seek enlightenment through Psionics; the Society of the Illuminated Truth, a small group who take part in conspiracies and exchange theories. This group is closely monitored; The Circle of the Living Star, a growing group of people who believe that Raven is the avatar of the Matreyan sun god Arun’daeraa. || This is also geared towards story tellers and plot conspirators. Liberty Academy (sometimes referred to as Hyperion Academy) – Where students of any age are welcome to learn a new trade that allows them to sustain themselves or their family. By their graduation that are welcome to create a new business in the city, go into politics, join the militia, or contribute to the academy itself. Subjects range from learning to craft weaponry, armor, technology, merchant practices, or a specialized field for Mages, Psions and Otherworlders. || Here I'd like to focus on the weekly interactive 'class' and conversation. Here we can discuss people's ideas or takes on the subject, questions to be had on how to confront or deal with the subject. I invite topics of interest or concern to be presented at the Refuge of Sigils. Likely this will take place closer to the weekend, with a poll for the next topic in place to be voted on. After gathering four or five popular topics, it can be voted on what will be discussed the following weekend, and we will try to cycle through until topics are addressed. There will be a sign up sheet and post order for those interested in that topic to avoid having too many users participating and posting at once, though don't worry if you didn't make the sign up, you can obviously still read the topic and hopefully gain insight from it. For instance, Trist and I had a conversation about a fight against a Psion that did not end well for him. We discussed the psionic ability, and different ways it could have been handled ICly, and how to address confrontation OOCly if there's a breach of mild powers. Not only does this help your character, but it helps you as a writer be more aware of writing content, and be able to identify these nuances that could help turn the tide in your favor be it for plot or combat purposes. The fun of it is, this will all happen through IC interaction, and as a reward all participates earn post credits that they can use in the marketplace, or elsewhere. If you signed up but could not make it for the event, you will not receive post credits. The Order has a separate branch of the academy that trains students looking to hone their combat and military skills. Other subjects such as Mind, Body and Soul training is designed to curb PTSD developing in and post combat, and to create well-rounded soldiers. Job opportunities concerning city security go to military graduates and those in training first. || Think of this as specialized--if you know you want your character to go in a more military/combat route, this is the place to dip your toes in before you run off into the Valucrian world and become a dictator. ---- Opportunities The Cut and Jib Tavern – Visit to get a feel for the local life. Find companions, build relationships and set off to take the city by storm. || This is your place to get comfortable, figure out where you want to go, what you want to do. Think of it as a Tavern of Legend 3.0, but on a city scale. The Iron Stronghold – The epicenter of the city, and the main hub for quest-seekers and politicians. This also houses the Study of Knowledge. The Iron Stronghold is where people can complete “jobs” (read as quests) for items, monetary value, or components to build an item they seek. || This is the bulk of where you will find your quests. If you need guidance, you can visit the Study of Knowledge (AMA) for direction. All Active and Inactive Quests and Lore will be added here. Hyperion Market – Where crafters convene to bring their latest and greatest. There are alchemists, magi, and a house forgery where items are conceived, then brought to life. Many workers require components be gathered—some can be bought locally, others must be quested. Here the technology ranges from potions, to maps to armory, weapons to vehicles. || As an incentive to get your dream artifact, there will be "re-purposed" quests--though no two re-purposed quest will be ran alike--to acquire weapons, armor, artifacts to be made. While it's not official, YummyBiscuits and Seyge are interested in providing the weapon/armor/artifact you are questing for. Specs will be provided--including components needed to make the item and possibly a sketch of the artifact itself. Anyone else who is interested in contributing to inventions for the marketplace--be it idea, description or design are welcome to PM me to discuss further. --- Anyway, the point of this CAW is to encourage confrontation and deal with OOC insecurities about writing strengths and weaknesses by hands on IC interaction. I just wanna throw out a major thanks to @supernal for letting me pick his brain and deal with my OCD over this whole thing. Your patience is infinite. xD @Red the Ambivalent for inspiring me to take the leap and do my own thang after P.K.'s wild success. @Seyge @YummyBiscuits @Avvercus @Art in Music @Ike @TheWilySpookster @Jotnotes @Csl @bigfatcat @PandaHat @Ghastardly @Big Boss For all the support and ideas. You guys are the best. I love you dudes. @Fierach because your girlfriend is hair-brained and hellbent on success and you patiently pat my head and tell me whatever helps me sleep at night. --- Now I invite the rest of the community to give this a look over and see what you think!

It has come again. The mysterious destructive source known as the Whispernight has awakened, bringing with it death and devastation the likes of which has never been before seen. Swarming through cities and villages, its wreaks havoc on the living and the undead alike, devouring the souls and spirits of all it touches. All things wither before it, and terror grows as it spreads throughout Genesaris at a rate untold and unknown before now. This is Whispernight: Ragnarok. The cities are in the midst of mass evacuation to the safest cities in the region. The rest are being abandoned, but in the midst of this evacuation those who feed on destruction and death arise. Are you one of those who feast on evil? Are you one of those who bring the grave to the living? Are you one of those who live to see civilization fall? Do you want to be a legend of the world ending? Become it. Be it. Bring your worst. This is serious folks. We’re working to clean up Genesaris and erase the cities that no one uses. The following are the cities that are not to be touched: To destroy a city, you can be anyone. You have until the end of May to destroy the city. The rest will be destroyed by Whispernight. If you can do it in one massive post, do it. If you want to do it in the tradition 3 page, 15 posts each, do it. If you want to do it by yourself, do it. With a group? Do it. Explosions? Welcome. Plague? Go for it. Other means? Be my guest. All you’ve got to is title it [City name: Ragnarok] Thread Title. These are the cities you can kill: Valinde Talix-Engine Kuratel Port Town Kaurilia Telerian Testerossa Ballard Bay Lanternway Talthanus Cobran Vintel Post here if you want to destroy some shit, discuss, plan, or have questions. Then… go for it. Have fun.

So, this is something that drives me pretty crazy in general. This is something that occurs not only in RP forums, but in pretty much every community that exists from Gaming to Reddit to Facebook, and in fact the strange entity known as Real Life. What's frustrating is that it is something that only takes a moment to do, yet it produces a massive signal boost for everyone that is involved while prompting others who might be interested in the subject to have the chance to see it. If you think someone is cool, interesting, novel, or anything that evokes some level of emotion beyond, "Meh," respond to it. It honestly does not take much to give the creator a level of motivation to keep doing what they are doing. It could be as simple as writing, "Hey that's cool," or clicking the Like button if you honestly feel you have very little to add to the conversation [seriously though, a sentence of acknowledgement can mean a ton]. Maybe you don't have time to join the event/thread/discussion, but by providing a tangible viewer to it, you produce an environment that will attract more individuals. The absolute worst thing that you can do to anything online is to allow it to exist in silence. For Facebook/Reddit, this is absolutely the kiss of death for a discussion/event/group/page/post. This has to do with the algorithms that are used to push out content to those that may be interested in it. Facebook decides how many people see a post by interaction rate. What I'm trying to say is that the decision to not provide positive input, or encouragement leads to a stifling of activity and awareness in the sectors of your life that you care about. Even if it something that you don't particularly desire, you can provide people respect for the effort that they put in. Just close your eyes and think about how little it takes in a compliment to provide you with the motivation you need to continue doing what you love. Encouragement is free, yet it is the best investment tool. Use it.

Thickly gauzed between wake and sleep, Tia tossed in tense slumber. In the way one does the night before their death sentence, in the way an insect does on the spider's axis, it turned. Leather gloves groaned over thick hands and in bands around bridles and the horse’s quiet blow. Some smatterings of dusty shops and barns on the outskirts of Tia formed a desolate ghost town in the advent of its war. All that traveled here were scavengers and those in a hurry to get out. From afar, the village could be assumed haunted with the specters of future and present. Venture closer in the silent dusk, within a grey barn, and a specter from the past could be found. Clouds of dirt strayed from one of many paths to Tia and lurked among the bobbing cattails; among the buildings; among the Dead. Within the barn there were four carriages, black shawls concealing the eight heads of their steeds. One carriage would be a little cramped. The others, not so much. Cain was wearing a black jumper with several loops and pockets and had two backpacks strung over each shoulder, but no mask. Tossing back half of a potion and slipping its vial into a pocket, he turned to address the Dead. Had he become something less human yet, in the span of a million stolen experiences? More? Times like this, when pins and needles danced down his desensitized spine, made him wonder. He unshouldered the bags and placed them before him, appraising all the masked figures before him with a subtly pleased expression. All of the masked figures had a black circular sticker planted somewhere on their bodies which allowed telepathic communication between the circles. The doors to a carriage behind Cain swung open to reveal the barrels from nights before. “The fact that they don't know we're coming does not make you impervious. The masks are important. Concealing your identity is important. Victory, is important. Each bag has a Maleficence antidote in a syringe for each of you, one faux-ton pair and one MAL bomb. Hope you’re not scared of needles. Inject like so,” he stabbed a needle into his forearm and squeezed in the plunger with his thumb, throwing the needle aside. "We're the only ones with this antidote, so the waterborne illness won't get you. The plant's pheromone is stronger though; it will start to affect you after a few hours. Make you crazy. “Remember, plant one half of your faux-ton receiver at the shaft control center when you first arrive. Descend to the negative fifth level and find the incision vent to secure your charge to. When you receive the signal that Schrei and I have unloaded our barrels into the WAK irrigator, you get back to the elevator shaft, faux-ton yourself back up to the control center and get the hell out of there. If for some reason we fail, I will tell you, in which case we’ll make a scene at the WAK so you can still get into the shafts where security is minimal. I’ll remotely blow your charges when everyone is clear or they’ll blow themselves after a three minute timer. Make sure you beat that. Any problems are to be reported immediately, as I will you, though if we get off two of the charges we’ll still meet quota.” Members of the respective teams had been shown diagrams of the shafts they would infiltrate, so with rigorous studying their knowledge of entry and exit would be about two-thirds as thorough as a shaft employee. The features of the red-haired First Officer began to warp as he spoke via telepathic connection, gesturing in odd quiet at this and that. They never stopped warping, causing his face to become a constantly shifting anomaly. Eye color, jaw shape, nose, always different than the prior moment, turned from the line of individuals. “Schrei, you’re with me. We’ll go on ahead, the rest of you should leave in five minutes.” He paused while getting into his carriage, looking back on all of them. Though his features were in a constant state of melding into something else, one thing was uniform across all of the features. Concern. “Today is a terrible day. Be cautious.” In a black tower outside of Tia, where fateful happenings had once unseated Cain, sat a jagged throne of animal horns and hides. Upon it sat the Patriarch of Tia, Serafino Dolos. Some twenty-four feet to his left sat a giant cage embedded into the wall. Inside that, on a scraggly tweed chair, sat a perfect likeness of Cain; Nica Sero, the self-aware clone he’d once used to lord over Tia. Serafino didn’t sweat; his stomach didn’t churn; but he felt off. Aside from the dress, which could be reasonably mistaken for part of a funeral procession or just some emo, horsedrawn carriages without drivers were quite common in Tia. As a matter of fact, some high-faluters used mechanical horses powered by steam to drive their vehicles. As their two-horse carriage pulled into Tia amid the waking yawn of the kingdom, the Cain of many faces looked at a masked Schrei. “Are you ready?” he asked as the carriage rolled along with eerie smoothness down the WAK avenue. There were two other masked figures in the carriage who sat silently.

There were some things about the world of the land-dwellers that could not be explained through lessons. There was the song of the birds; There was the taste of freshly cooked meat, and the warmth that a fire provided during the cold, lonely nights; there was the scent of wild flowers, fragrant and seductive, tickling one’s nostrils ever so lightly; And there was the arrogance of the land-dwellers, who thought themselves entitled to the world around them and never took a moment to value how easy their existence was… But most of all, the King on the Waves thought as he looked up, there was the Sun. How could the sun be explained to those who had lived a lifetime without it? How could books explain the gentle, lover-like caress of sunlight, or how life for the land-dwellers was ruled by the Sun’s rise and fall? But most of all... How many generations had paid for his father’s mistake and had never known the warmth of the sun, or held their loved ones under a tree as they basked in the sweet comfort of sunlight. Without thinking, Rxychra wrapped his fingers around the delicate golden necklace he always worn around his neck and sighed as memories of his lost love flooded him. He had been alive for nearly four centuries, but there were certain memories that stood out more than others. Memories of her. He had long accepted that he had to live on for his people. Long accepted that the weight of his mantle meant that he had to put aside the grief that always darkened a part of his heart. But… It had been in one of those warm, sunny days that he had asked Myra to marry him. Not for the first time the man began to question his actions, but banished the thoughts from his mind with a steely resolve. Today was a day for celebration. After ten years of watching the land-dwellers, it was time to come home. Rxychra Alrandwe di Firdana, the King on the Waves, was finally returning to his people after a decade and he could feel the warring emotions rising in his chest as the thoughts of his subjects, friends, and family flooded his mind. Closing his eyes the man felt the salt-scented breeze as it caressed his skin, embracing him as if to welcome him home. He felt a small, muted smile play on his lips as he opened his silver eyes and gazed at the blue horizon before him. It had taken no small amount of coaxing for the merchant vessel to deviate from its’ route, but in the end Rxychra had gotten his way. The King liked to think it was his charm that had led them to change their hearts, but… But he had glimpsed himself in a mirror before. Standing at 7’0” and heavily built with muscle, Rxychra had garnered his fair share of looks in his travels. Whether it had been because of his odd, silver eyes, or the multitude of blue hues in his hair, or the countless scars on his bared chest and arms, men and women had looked at him often enough in suspicion, curiosity, and even desire. Clad in simple black pants mostly covered by the heavy mithril, steel, and electrum net that was always in his person, the man had elected to forego shoes and shirts, bearing most of his torso saved for that which was covered by the hand-wrought leather pauldron he wore over his left arm and the thick matching leather glove, while his right arm and shoulder emitted a constant seafoam green light of its’ own as the tattooed design seemed to ebb and flow with the ocean’s tides. Sitting in taverns at night, he had heard more than one hushed inquiries as to who and what the man actually was. Ironically enough, the most outlandish humor was the closest to being true: According to one drunken, filthy man, he was a traveling runaway slave who had killed his master and now sought his place in the world. Normally, Rxychra would’ve taken note of the man and imparted choice words upon him… But his story had been so near accuracy that he found himself laughing instead. There were a couple of things to be said about the soft, craven minds of the land-dwellers: As idiotic as they were, their tales were quite creative… And they made fine, fine ale. It seemed that no matter where his feet had taken him in his travels, those two statements were held as truth. He had seen much of what humanity had to offer in his travels, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. It seemed that since the demise of his empire, humanity had sunk as far as the Nymerians had. Devoid of honor, loyalty, and courage, the dregs that lived in the world above thrived on backstabbing, plotting, and deceiving one another. Cooperation was nearly inexistent as they attempted to get ahead of one another, unless it served their own purposes. Ruled by their currency, people’s days seemed to rise and fall in search of more coin… And their rulers. Their Kings. The filth that saw themselves as fit to rule over others had enraged him more than anything else. Weak, arrogant, and unable to look after themselves, they placed their needs ahead of those whom they ruled over… And after observing blood being spilled over and over again over petty squabbles, Rxychra had come to a conclusion: If humanity’s avarice was a symptom, those who ruled over the weak cattle that roamed the lands were the source of the disease. And that left Nymeria’s purpose clear. Broken out of his mental reverie by the cries of the sailors below Rxychra began the descent from his perch at the mast, attempting to find the source of the threat. He watched the sailors scramble around him, seeking their harpoons and mumbling incoherently about a beast tailing their ship. Arching an eyebrow, Rxychra wrapped his gloved fingers around the vajra that hung beneath his net and began to head toward the back of the ship, where the sailors readied themselves to fight the ‘beast’. For a moment, he felt himself slipping back into the old warrior mindset… Until he spotted the “imminent threat” that had the entire ship in such a commotion, and he found himself smiling once again as he slipped his vajra back into place. Rising from beneath the waves was a familiar fin pierced by a golden ring. Belatedly, he watched as one of the men pointed his harpoon toward the approaching figure, and he sprung forward, grabbing the sharpened tip with his gloved hand and throwing his elbow back toward the man’s face, hearing a satisfying crunch upon impact. “Cease. The shark will do you no harm, boy.” Rxychra said quietly, silver eyes challenging them to do otherwise as he moved to stand between the creature and the harpoons. Nodding toward one of the sailors that he had come to trade stories with, Rxychra reached for the bag of golden coins he had kept beneath the net and tossed it to him. “Fetch my effects. I fear we will be parting now.” Moments later the man returned with a large pack, approaching Rxychra carefully and handing them off without looking him in the eye. Snorting quietly to himself, the man placed his belongings against his back and stood atop of the edge of the ship. Nodding toward the sailors, the King on the Waves jumped into the water, satisfied by the sheer amount of gasping sounds he left in his wake as he swam toward the hulking figure they had been so alarmed about. Reaching with his right hand, the man felt the rough skin of the shark’s nose beneath his palm and touched his forehead to his affectionately. “Hello, old friend.” Rxychra said gently as he pressed his lips to the shark’s forehead, feeling the vibrations coming from his old companion Pyxiz. Through their bond, he could hear his companion’s excitement at their reunion and found himself equally pleased. After a moment, the King moved to the side as he felt the shark submerge once more and position himself beneath the king. Holding fast against the shark with his legs, and wrapping his right hand against its’ dorsal fin, Rxychra was pulled under as the shark began to dart forward… And he realized how much he had missed the ocean. He felt the air in his lungs replaced by the water, the saltiness of the ocean around him and for the first time in ten years he felt himself again. Being connected to his domain once again felt like a second breath of life. Exhaustion he had become accustomed to, years of aches and pains that had riddled him, and the disquieted palpitations of unease his heart had felt from being separated from the ocean seemed to be washed away by the currents even as his eyes readjusted themselves to the darkness beneath the waves. He was almost home… And with home there came a host of people he had not seen for nearly a decade. He was sure of what awaited him when he reached the city, because of the reaction he had received from his brother upon sending word of his return: In true Nymerian form, his family sent word of a Festival that was to take place with his arrival. Which worried him. Immensely. It had been a long time since Rxychra had seen those who he called family in either blood or at heart… And he had hoped for a more private affair, despite the traditions of his people. He had always found joy in the… Primal aspects of Nymerian parties, but after a decade above land the only balm he sought for his tired soul was the company of those who had fueled the spark in his soul that kept him walking forward. There were his siblings, with whom he had corresponded with most often. There was his son, who despite his racial differences had turned out to be more Nymerian than many people he had met. There was the albino beauty that headed the Meraki Clan, and with whom he had found he shared a bond of interest in the arts. There were his soldiers of the Land Invasion Legion… And then there was Juni. Juni, who had cared for him when he was wounded. Juni, who had stood by his side as a friend when he needed, a confidant when his burdens got too heavy to bear alone. Juni… Who had presented him to his mate. With the ghost of the crooked smile that was a constant companion to his features and a small, mischievous glint in his eyes, Rxychra gently tugged at Pyxiz’s fin, directing him to change its’ course toward away from the main citadel and toward the peripheries of the city. It had been years since he had last laid eyes in the city, but he recognized it like the back of his hand. Ten years might have been a long time while traveling amidst the land-dwellers… But for his people, ten years were almost the blink of an eye. For all the time that had passed since he was gone, it seemed that aside from a few minute differences in landscape and the ever-growing addition of more lodgings. In the back of his mind, the King noted all of that as the warring feelings of nervousness and excitement overtook him once more. The Faliga still stood where it once had been, a majestic collection of large tents that had housed the Healers away from the city’s busy throng for centuries while they trained. After training was complete, he had learned, they were free to find other lodging as they saw fit… But Juni had never left. Dedicated to her craft, and one of the youngest Nymerians to have become head Healer at that, she had always resided in the same spacious, abnormally colorful tent. Pushing himself off of Pyxiz, the king placed a hand against the animal’s head and nodded toward him. “I’ll see you at home, old friend. Go let my siblings know that their wayward king is back.” He muttered quietly as he shouldered his pack once more and began to swim toward the collection of tents. Without looking back, he felt the shark poke its’ nose against his right arm again with something of a concerned expression on its’ face. Chuckling quietly, the king turned around and touched his forehead against his old companion’s. “No, Pyxiz… I won’t be gone for long again. I promise. Go on, now.” Appeased, the shark pulled its’ head away from the King on the Waves and began to make its’ way toward the capital. For a moment, Rxychra smiled after Pyxiz and remembered a time long ago where the shark had been gifted to him by his son. Not longer than his forearm, the shark had taken to following him around no matter where he went. In many ways, Pyxiz was as much his son as Q’myha’myha… With the only difference being that he had gotten to actually raise this one. Throughout his travels and his battles, he had never been parted from the shark for so long, and his reluctance to leave was almost endearing. Watching the familiar figure fade as it approached the old alabaster Wall of the Ancients, Rxychra turned back toward the collection of tents and resumed his swimming. Landing at the edge of the precipice that house the collection of tents where the Healers resided, Rxychra began to quietly make his ways through the tents. It had been far too long since he had even written to Juni, so he was unsure of what would be waiting for him in her tent. Had she found a mate? Had she grown to resent him for being gone for so long? Lost in his thoughts, he was surprised when his feet had taken him exactly where he had meant to go. Hesitantly, the man pulled back the curtained entrance to his old friend’s abode and stepped through. It took him a moment for his eyes to adapt to the change in lighting, but it seemed like some things remained the same no matter how much time had passed. Brightly colored and spacious, Juni’s tent was a true testament to the woman’s personality: Vibrant, full of life, and extremely welcoming. He brushed his hand against the soft, crimson satin walls of the tent, decorated by neat embroideries and lined with her sparse belongings. He felt no small amount of joy in seeing the gifts he had sent her over the years displayed on the far wall from him. Quietly, he made his way toward the wall of gifts he had given her, brushing the first totem he had ever carved reverently with his fingers. He shook his head in disbelief at the fact she had kept it for so long… Hearing a rustling from his right side, Rxychra spun around in search of the intruder only to be faced by the sleeping form of his friend. He felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips as his friend twisted in her bed, turning from the wall and facing him as she slept. For a moment Rxychra was hesitant to move, afraid of waking her. So he settled for looking her over. Light skinned and boasting of delicate, well-hewn features Juni was a sight to behold even by Nymerian standards. With hair as dark as her skin was fair, the healer was commonly sought after by hopeful suitors. Built tiny and oftentimes underestimated, Rxychra had watched a fair share of people attempt to take advantage over her, only to be utterly shamed when they realized they had bitten off more than they could chew. There were not enough words to describe what she meant to him, however. She had been his rock, his healer, his friend, and for a brief period of time she had almost become the one whom he had chosen. But it had not been meant to be. For a moment, Rxychra was conflicted in between waking her up or not… But in the end, he knew how tiring her job was. He knew how much of herself she put into it every single day. With his decision made, the man shrugged off his backpack and placed it gently on the floor beside him before sitting down and sighing. It had not hit him until then, but after nearly twenty-four hours of traveling he found that weariness had finally found him. Tilting his head toward his friend’s sleeping frame, Rxychra watched her for several hours before his own eyes became progressively heavier. Dimly, he remembered with no small amount of amusement that the last time he had managed to get a good night’s sleep wasn’t much different than this. Finally losing the ability to rationalize, the King on the Waves slipped into a deep, relaxed sleep with one final thought. He was home at last.

Wow. I considered tagging people I'm roleplaying with and such, but that'd be a lot of people to tag. I'd have to find them first, and I've always been something of a laze haha. I guess, somehow, those that this message directly pertains to will come across it. And OOC thread announcements would also be too numerous. So I'll just settle for this one thread. I've done this before. A while back I said I'd be leaving due to personal problems with myself. I came back quickly enough. It's different this time. It's not about me this time. I won't get into what it's about, but I'm leaving Valucre, leaving roleplay, for something pretty big that has recently entered my life. I believe I've been trying to deny the impact of that something (I'm not being mysterious for the sake of being mysterious; I just don't want to announce what exactly has happened, though it's not negative), but for whatever reason, the reality of it lit up like a light bulb in my head tonight. I have to leave, and the chances are I won't be returning. Wow. Valucre. Ha. You're almost a living entity yourself, you. I have had just...gah, I can't put it into words. Writing here, roleplaying here, joking around here, socializing here...living here...it has been a wild ride. I created so many things here, things that carried onto Microsoft Word documents, notepad text documents, or just plain in my head, things that may never have come to light on Valucre, but that just means the effect of this place has not been limited to this place. I'd drive to work with music to set the mood for imagining this place. Hmm, this song goes well with a House Dawnwood roleplay. Hmm, I bet my character would listen to this one with her earphones. Hmm, dogs. This site has ventured beyond its borders, like a mind drifting beyond its skull. I swear, I tell you truly, I could bombard you with paragraph after paragraph of how much I have enjoyed my time here. I've always been one for places like this (though there is no place like Valucre). I'm a loner at heart. I used to be very socially awkward, so I kept myself to myself, but now, honestly, I just prefer my privacy. I'm not really the awkward me of the past so much as the me of the present who just likes the company of me. While I might go for a drink every now and then, march around work joking with people, most of the time I am most content with kicking back at home with a cup of tea and a book in my lap. Valucre has given me both. I won't forget that. There is an inherently selfish element to this message, and that is the fact that I am abandoning active roleplays that I am in. I don't do that lightly, and I can't stress that enough. It hurts. There have certainly been occasions where I'll become inactive in an active roleplay, perhaps because I didn't realize I didn't have it on follow haha, or I just struggled figuring out how best to make my post, but for the most part I like to believe that I've tried to keep coming back at you guys with post after post. For all my nagging at other people's not posting, however, that's not what has influenced my departure. It is not. I have gotten more enjoyment out of three active roleplays than thirteen inactive ones at the same time. I have also considered trying to wrap up those threads I'm currently in before I leave, but all I can say is that I am in no position to do even that. I want to. Man, I am so tempted to delete this entire post even as I type it, and I know I'll be tempted to come back to Valucre and see what's going on. What's become of my threads? Who's messaged me? What are the latest comments? Who's cooking up some new coolness in Water Cooler? What kind of mindless chatter can I drop in Mindless Chatter to satisfy my random urges to be utterly random? Who can I spar with to satisfy my need to fight? Oh man, it hurts. I'm about to face off with Praetorian, something I've always wanted to do (except offline, where he put my ketchup-on-Philly-cheesesteak to shame). I'm in a writing competition hosted by Alexander the Great, something I've never done before. I'm helping create a noble house that I utterly love love love, and have pledged my attention to it, my imagination, heart itself. Valucre itself gave me this sense of creativity, of creation, but credit goes to the members who make Valucre up, and the staff that oversee it, and the supernal who attends to it like a shepherd. I've gotten so used to this place that every now and then I'll recall how I got here, because it's kind of crazy. I didn't even want to join. When Off Topic preached how awesome Valucre is to me, I laughed him off and said something like "Valucre? Ha. Sounds like Velcro." Well, it still does sound like "Velcro", but it's every bit as awesome as it made him (not that you weren't always awesome, brah). It's every bit as awesome as I have come to see it. And now I have to leave that awesomeness behind, and it hurts. Gosh, it hurts. I'm not the kind of person who just drops out of something, especially something I said I'm committed to, especially something I enjoy. It might even frustrate you that the only explanation I can give is that I have to leave. It's not a question for me. It's an answer to a question I've already asked. I can no longer reject that answer. Valucre. Valucre. Valucre. If a new world ever takes over our current one, and I survive this one to enter that new world, I hope I'll be able to carry one word into the next: "Valucre". I would raise mountains with all sorts of wonders filling it, from forests to rivers, castles to villages. I'd name this realm Valucre. For now, I have to leave. Thank you all for writing with me. Thank you for encouraging me to write with you. Thank you for enduring my attempt at a dramatic departure haha. Most of all, though, well, thank you. Can't put it more simply than that. Dream high, and write well. Good bye!

"Cyberpunk is a Speculative Fiction genre centered around the transformative effects of advanced science, information technology, computers and networks ("cyber") coupled with a breakdown or radical change in the social order ("punk")" —TV Tropes ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A Martial Town Terrenus roleplay project Where the neon lights are as bright as the hope for the future is dim. "The key pillars of the cyberpunk genre are advanced technology, dystopian society, and trenchcoats." —Jane Douglas, Outside Xbox Profoundly Discriminating Reading Theme "I never asked for this. They say they saved me, but I'm not sure 'saved' is the right word." —Adam Jensen, Deus Ex: Human Revolution "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain." —Roy Betty, Blade Runner "Welcome to the desert of the real." —Morpheus, The Matrix Shall we plug our minds into the machine and wander this world together? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Martial Town. A city that never sleeps, and a city that never sleeps never really wakes. During the day, Martial Town looks as dry as it feels, with a sprawling mess of mismatched buildings alongside street lamps locked in a lattice, like the twisted limbs of barbed wire. Against a bustling backdrop that suffers no silence lingers a blur of smoking vehicles and pedestrians lost in a fog of drudgery as they grind themselves into the grave. Laundry is thrown over the power lines, hungry dogs bark in the alleys at the cats that stalk the rats, workers toil for the corporate crown and crawl the streets like ants without a colony. Cyber cafes pulse with energy, shopping malls thrum with activity beneath the drums of greed that beat consumer desire into their hearts, while the harlots join the denizens in the drug dens to prepare themselves for the night's lust. Shining over it all, as though laughing from a throne so impossibly far removed from the tiny clutter beneath it, the warm sun bathes the boiler as a golden liar that hoards the gold from the poor. At night, however, when the sun goes down and the moon rises to replace it, the city of Martial Town takes on a brighter light—but perhaps a far less hopeful one. The dry and drab buildings are overshadowed by the glow of a myriad of brilliant colors. Neon lights transform the city into a whole new world, illuminating the streets amid lamps suddenly alive with vigor and the need to shine. Corporate advertisements are painted with smiling faces, their voices echoing into the alleys, as though the gods of the galaxy had been erected to remind the citizens that they were not alone. It is all a lie. A marketing deception to keep those citizens under the thumb of the true rulers of the night: Dystopia and Moral Myopia. The arcades and the bars and the clubs pulsate with a million drums of music. The drug barons and the body-sellers and the body-snatchers stalk the darkness for their next victims. The criminal organizations seek to assert their organized crime on the populace, and the black market opens after the shopping malls close, selling a cybernetic limb to the worker who lost his first one in the factory, and a pair of eyes to a thief who just wanted to replace his good ones with ones that could see in the dark. The skyline of Martial Town is lined with stone structures between metallic towers that scrape the sky. These are the constructs cast off from a dying Palgard that refused to stay down, and that serve all hours as a creeping reminder of the city's dichotomy. In the day or the night, the center of Martial Town, called the Core, is its own town within the city; a military district where the music of marching boots join the chorus of piercing whistles in a symphony of security. This protection, however, comes with a price. As far as the arms of the armed can extend, the eyes of the all-seeing can see, and the biggest threat comes from the defenders themselves. Like a mini-police state, living in the Core of Martial Town means spending many moments wondering if there might be a knock on your door, and if the people who knock on your door might just inform you that they are there for your safety and the security of the city and they will now show you this personally if you will please come with them and ask no questions. The outskirts of the city, meanwhile, are like lava surrounding a volcano. Where the thumb of the military can press down and press hard, so hard that it may as well be a boot stamping on a face forever, the gangs and clans and tribes in the peripheral parts, in the slums and the neighborhoods and the forgotten gutters, are their own power and authority. In the corporate towers that loom over the city from its core, conversely, the outer rim of the crooked circle is claimed by crime like a cancer. However, the disease is slowly spreading all over the city, seeping forward like a black ooze each time the armed forces clash with the outlaw elements. In Martial Town, nowhere is really safe, and no network is really secure. The question is, then, is there a cure? Will you find out? Will you adventure through the day? Will you journey into the night? Will you pull yourself from your familiar lands and your known realities and enter the virtual space of the Cyberpunk City? Will you plug your mind into the machine and wander within this world? The choice is yours. All you have to do is make it. Like a decision between a red pill and a blue pill. All you have to do is swallow it. But you can only swallow one. As you contemplate this choice, then, heed the words of Morpheus: "You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." The choice is yours. Choose. "The future is already here—it's just not very evenly distributed." —William Gibson The Cyberpunk City is a roleplay project currently underway for Martial Town, located aside from Palgard, Southern Terrenus. This is a "roleplay project" in the sense that it is in its early development stage, with potential updates to the lore page of Martial Town itself alongside IC canon/non-canon growth and progress. To begin this cyberpunk adventure, one and all are welcome to join me in what will serve as a 'hub' setting of sorts. Shown below, but not limited to this scope, are a small handful of locales that you can, effective immediately, participate in. Set up stories and write those stories out to your heart's content. Maybe your character is a cyber ninja. Go jack their brain into a plug in the CyberFunk Cafe! Just be home in time for dinner or mama will spank you for turning your brain into jelly. Or is your character a private detective, and you're seeking some hardboiled film noir? If you heard that the MTPD was only employing its own officers, then somebody doesn't want freelancers like you investigating them! Perhaps outside of the law is a better fit for your criminal ways. Pal's Guard is something of a private retreat for scum of all kinds, and you're sure to pick up a beer and a lucrative job there, assuming that you make it out alive... Feeling jazzy-funky-dancy-wunky? Better skip the CyberFunk Cafe. You'll find all manner of wild partying in The Purple Penguin, but don't take the wrong pill or else you might see a purple that you didn't know existed, before you pass out and never wake up again. Sometimes, however, things do go wrong and a little too crazy. You might wake up from a drunken stupor to find that your hand was chopped off by a Bessho-kai corporate samurai. Have no fear! Visit a GRAFT clinic, open 24/7, and just get a new one! Then again, your character might prefer to don suit jackets over trenchcoats. A business type, eh? A corrupt corporate executive, maybe? Well, you won't find any company headquarters listed right now, but that's awesome, because you can make one and add it to the hub! YAY! You can view the hub here. IC thread(s) listed below! 1. [MTPD] Tears in the Rain Stay tuned, folks. Turn on your telescreens, flip out your AR phones, switch on your VR housewife, put your earphones on and listen to that deep AI manly voice, because sooner or later Martial Town, The Cyberpunk City, will be hosting its very first public event! The black market, every criminal's favorite trade show, every crime fighter's biggest headache. When it comes to the government and certain corporations, they might fall somewhere in between. No place in the world seems totally free from a black market's plague but, when it comes to Martial Town, illegal commodities are booming. For the right price, a customer can get the right weapon. More than that, they can get a whole new right arm without having to go through GRAFT paperwork. They can even get a new brain. Some, however, go through a whole transformation that calls into question whether they still exist as an entity of flesh and bones and, if so, one with the same soul. Cyborgs are a growing force within Martial Town, and "force" is a correct term here. Mechanical augmentations usually make you stronger, faster and tougher in a number of ways. And not everyone likes that. More to come.

Due to the complexities of my personal ambitions with this multi-phase plot, the below is a "living document", which means subject to radical change Want to rule over a piece of Terrenus? Introduce your own lore, culture, and influence to the continent as a whole? Here’s your chance! As a result of the tumult of the civil war and the far-reaching consequence of the events in Blairville, Hell's Gate, and Tia, the Terran nation is divided. The federal government's influence has radically centralized, resulting in burgeoning regions throughout the Terrenus landmass vying for permanent independence. These multiple regions will each house multiple factions in turn. Referencing the map above, only the regions which are colored in can house factions; the rest are off-limits, as are existing properties (no one can challenge for Selemath, as anr example). The previous government still maintains control over the center; the Shawnee region is inhospitable and will not support large, organized structure; Biazo, Patia and PK, and the Yh'mi regions also cannot be used to establish a faction at all within the scope of this event. The remaining 4 regions are in a state of flux with no clear leadership. Phase 2 is about players using collaborative roleplay to establish control of a faction in that region and plant the seed of their authority, which will be watered and flowered in Phase 3. When the civil war event is complete after Phase 3, these factions have the potential to become player-run enclaves. It could be a base of operations for a group(s), a seat of power for your character, etc and so on. Factions will be inside of towns, and represented as the town themselves for the purposes of organization. This is to standardized variables like landmass, population, and resources, which will have no bearing on the stories created now but will be controlled factors in the next phase. Players are free to establish the aesthetic, culture, etc of their faction without having to worry about the "math" of advantage. Think of this as running a plot to claim, or outmaneuver, or destroy a guildhall or company or official (for example) in a town, and by consequence of that, gaining control of the town yourself. FAQ Which region is the starting point?: The red region, in the far east How many factions can be made in reach region?: A maximum of four Is this first come, first serve?: No. I'll be hand picking players based off of their capacity for collaboration and general reliability. That said I'm also willing to take a chance on new members with no track record. I reserve the right not to pick any player for whatever reason How do I claim a faction?: Through collaborative roleplay. More on that in the section below. What happens after phase 2?: Phase 3, where factions can compete with one another for control of a region. The system for competition is, as yet, undecided. More detail will be provided at that point I already have a group/club/guild. Can I still claim a faction?: If you have what I'll call a "high level property", such as a board or point on the map, then you can't participate for a faction but you can help someone else do so. I want to share the wealth, so to speak. If you have a group but no high level property then you're welcome to claim a faction How much influence can I have on the lore of a faction and town?: As long as it adheres to the general lore of Terrenus or you can reasonably explain any extreme deviations, then no functional limit (except for MP, of course). Faction resources will be standardized in Phase 3 and so players are free to experiment with their town's lore, aesthetic, culture, etc, with that in mind How close can I be to an existing property?: Factions shouldn't start any closer than 50 miles to an existing property and it is recommended that they start further out Claiming a faction To start, these towns will be 25 square miles, a little bigger than Manhattan's 22. This is settled land and doesn't account for any farms or mining or whatever may be required to support the aesthetic and culture of the town Complete and canonize (summaries required, consequences and opportunities can be left out) 2+ pages of roleplay detailing the shifts in power Example plotlines can include the below, and can start anywhere in the potential timeline of the story (at the start, near the end, anywhere between). These are suggestions and players are not limited to these options - if they can think of another way, they're welcome to play that out: Criminal: Weapons, contraband, and drugs are being trafficked through town. You don't mind the criminal activity, you just want to make sure you're coming out on the rosy end of things. Find the biggest game in town and take their seat. Industrial: There has never been a major disruption that hasn't also resulted in rampant opportunity for profit. If someone has to get rich, why not you? You're neither criminal nor upstanding citizen. Just someone that sees a need around them and wants to make a market out of it. That's what the town is for. National: You remember the golden age of Terrenus, when magitech was at its best and brightest, the economy at its strongest, and the standard of living was unparalleled. You might even remember the dark, sad times before that. All the more reason to want to take Terrenus out of the muck and into the limelight again. You claim this town in the name of the nation. Registered players list now moved to factions OOC thread

Valucre was inaccesible over the weekend through no fault of our own. The host was having an issue with their storage network and our server was in the affected area. I maintained contact with the host until the issue was resolved a little earlier this morning As a note, I was updating the twitter regularly with updates, so Follow us or bookmark the page for instances like this: https://www.twitter.com/valucre

As a result of the on-going civil war in Terrenus, three major cities (designated as "starter" locations for the civil war's initial phase) are experiencing radical shifts in the social temperature of their cityscape. Although criminal activity has always been a possible venture for members, these shifts provide an unprecedented opportunity to get up to all sorts of business in these three cities in particular. So check them out, start up some new threads/ventures, and capitalize on the growing bedlam. I'm not looking to GM anything outside of what I already am, just pointing the way towards cool stuff Blairville Hell's Gate Tia

Geography Ursa Madeum is a small archipelago off the south coast of Terrenus. It’s three main islands – Corinth, Misral, and Thraece - are set in a vaguely triangular formation, with several islets located in between. Corinth, the largest island at approximately 4,000 mi­2. It is in the west and holds the capital city Andelusia. It remains the most populated island of the three, as most of the noble houses’ estates are located here. Most of the cities in the center of the island, however, are deserted. Thraece, the second-largest island at 2,200 mi2, is in the southeast. Only a few coastal towns on its eastern coastline remain inhabited, with the population barely reaching a thousand. The presence of House Senaria’s Port Kyros has helped bolster Thraece’s fading economy, though the western parts of the island remain largely unexplored. It is rumored that a city of pirates and bandits exist in the far west. Misral, northeast of Corinth, is the smallest of the three islands. The smoldering peak of the volcano, Mount Egon dominates Misral’s landscape. Despite its harsh, mountainous terrain, Misral is rich in mineral resources and is home to a healthy metalworking industry. Cityscape The once-populous kingdom has been reduced to a scattering of settlements clustered around the estates of the Noble Houses. Most of Ursa Madeum's population began migrating to the areas surrounding the nobility’s domains, seeking the stability and protection provided by swearing fealty to a Noble House. These estates are now the emerging centers of trade and commerce, especially those located along the coastlines. The areas in the middle of the islands, however, are dotted with empty villages and ghost towns. Nature is slowly reclaiming these ruins at a rapid rate, boosted by the strange life magic from Taen that now permeates Ursa Madeum. Travelling between cities is dangerous, especially since the gangs of thieves and bandits that flourished during the Tyrant King’s reign remain numerous. Climate Ursa Madeum experiences a subtropical climate due to its location near Valucre's equator. The weather is fair year-long, the temperature peaking during the new year (June). There tends to be heavier rainfall from November to April and a dry season from May to October. Or is there more to it? Since the disappearance of Queen Decamron, the already hot temperature has steadily increased to sweltering levels Notable Locations Corinth City of Andelusia – Ursa Madeum’s capital city and current seat of the Veluriyam Empire Decamron Academy – a school for children aged 13 to 19 on the outskirts of Andelusia Dermont Estate – the residence of House Dermont Dali Estate – House Dali’s estate Gold Harbor – a port town, House Karradeen’s estate Hildebrand Estate – the residence, farmlands, and woods of House Hildebrand The Free Marshes – House Mythal’s estate Thraece Pirate’s Cove – a city of bandits and pirates, center for smuggling and illegal activities in Ursa Madeum. Port Thea – House Senaria’s estate and international trade port Misral Mount Egon – a massive volcano located on the western coast of Misral Port Mars – the thriving port city that houses House Uldwar’s estate Tankred Estate – House Tankred’s homestead, castle, and observatory Government Ursa Madeum is an aristocratic monarchy under the authority of the Veluriyam Empire. As there is currently no ruling monarch or royal family, Emperor Titus Demetrius and Empress Rozharon Paralios stand in as the Royal House. Ranked directly under the royalty are the Noble Houses - a class of prominent, influential families in Ursa Madeum who hold considerable land and authority. Most of the Houses are old and deeply rooted in the kingdom's history. Many attained nobility through wealth, power, or military strength, though there have been cases where nobility is honorary and bestowed by the royalty, as is the case with House Singlance and House Senaria. There are two ranks of nobility – Major Houses and Minor Houses. Major Houses are those who have the most authority as recognized by Veluriyam. They are seen as representatives of the people, allowed a say in national matters, and are given considerable freedom in ruling their territories. Minor Noble Houses are ranked lower than the Major Houses. While still allowed to own land and authority over their estates, they are subject to direct rule from the Royal House and not allowed representation in national gatherings. The heads of Major Noble Houses hold the titles of Duke and Duchess while Minor Houses, Count and Countess. Titles vary between Houses, though, with Lord and Lady used more commonly to refer to nobility. While not nobility, there are also prominent families that hold significant social and economic power, usually in the form of land. These compose the Aristocracy, a social class directly below the Nobility. The heads of Aristocratic Families hold the title of Baron and Baroness. In some cases, a family of the Aristocracy will choose to pay homage to one of the Noble Houses, swearing loyalty to them and them alone. These are referred to as Vassals. After Queen Decamron's disappearance, many Houses turned to support the Tyrant King and the abuses under his rule in desperation to retain their status. These Houses were either exiled or executed after the Veluriyam Empire overthrew Damien. Shortly after, the Veluriyam Empire granted noble status to two foreign houses: House Singlance, and House Senaria. Ursa Madeum’s Noble Houses and their vassals are as follows: Major Noble Houses House Uldwar House Mythal House Hildebrand The Taira Clan House Suffolk House De’Laire House Sheathe House Dali House Senaria House Singlance Minor Noble Houses House Karradeen House Tankred House Kholin OPEN Aristocratic Families Dermont Family History In the days of old, Ursa Madeum flourished under the rule of Queen Analea Decamron. Ursa Madeum prided itself on its culture heritage and education exemplified in institutions such as the Andelusian Opera House and the Metropolitan Library. Despite the existence of occasional internal conflicts between the noble houses, Queen Decamron kept peace between parties. Alas, the golden age of the islands did not last. In the year 591, Queen Decamron vanished. Without a head, the royal house was thrown in turmoil, and what peace the queen had brought to the islands was quick to crumble. Too soon, the throne was seized by Damien Gillick with his army of black-armored knights. These figures wielded weapons far advanced than any the kingdom had previously seen, and it was with this force King Damien took the islands under his full control. These would eventually be known as the Black Knights The following six years were the darkest for Ursa Madeum. King Damien quickly gained the moniker of the Tyrant King, exacting heavy taxes on the people, implementing forced labor, and demanding a share of all goods be turned over to the government. The once-prosperous kingdom became destitute. Many of the noble houses sided with the King, gaining his favor, riches, and avoiding the abuses inflicted on the commoners. The few that chose to fight suffered. Many became victims of the countless public executions that the Tyrant King was so fond of. Still, the Tyrant King’s hunger for power remained unsated. Despite his iron grip on the islands, he remained paranoid that an outside nation would put a stop to his madness. A year after his coronation, a Damien sent the Black Knights to round up every non-human on the islands – elves, pereds, and shifters – and sacrificed them in a magic ritual. This created a nearly-unbreakable blood barrier that enclosed Ursa Madeum, preventing anyone from getting in or getting out. Despite various efforts from the outside world, none could enter the islands to put a stop to the Tyrant King’s madness. However, rumors tell of the Suujali, smugglers who used a rare material to help refugees escape through the blood barrier and to Terrenus mainland. But not all refugees made their way to freedom: some were sold underground slave rings as part of human trafficking operations. In the year 595, the blood barrier weakened when the pocket dimension of Taen anchored itself to Terrenus. The interdimensional nature of its portals destabilized the blood barrier, allowing a group of refugees to escape. Once Emperor Titus of Taen received word of Ursa Madeum’s situation, he led his army to the islands, found the barrier weakened, and shattered it. In 596 WTA, the Taen military entered Corinth in secret and began invading the island. After a six-month campaign, Taen broke into Andelusia, overwhelming the Black Knights, and charged for the castle. The Tyrant King learned of Taen’s presence too late; he was decapitated by a Taen general and burned to ashes. The Taen Empire took control of Ursa Madeum, immediately distributing resources to the commoners and sending an influx of citizens from Lunaris to help rehabilitate the kingdom. The land of Taen’s influence began seeping into Ursa Madeum as well. The islands’ wildlife seems to grow supernaturally fast, resulting in bountiful harvests and empty cities growing into forests. Blue worldrift portals began appearing, tearing holes into other worlds, only to vanish as soon as they arrived. The Taen military’s Argonaut 002 now also protects Ursa Madeum, keeping the peace. Recent History // Canon The events below are arranged from oldest to most recent. To see the full canonized history of Ursa Madeum, see the Ursa Madeum Timeline The Veluriyam Empire, then known as the Taen Empire, takes over Ursa Madeum Emperor Titus Demetrius hosts the first meeting of the Allied Nations of Terrenus in Ursa Madeum’s capital, Andelusia The Veluriyam Empire holds its first Reverie celebration in Andelusia Ursa Madeum is a territory of the Veluriyam Empire Taen | Port Sun *Based on original UM lore written by @broken wings *Rewritten work of @Ataraxy's revamped UM lore *Credit for writing and organizing this goes to @Csl *Edited (slightly) by Ataraxy

In the mountains directly south of Hell's Gate. Geography Topography: Mountainous, with difficult terrain with large crags and great chasms that go on for miles. Cityscape: Climate: The climate outside of the mountain is usually cold, with the occasional snowfall carpeting the mountain tops during the winter seasons. Inside, the air is at a constant cool temperature of around 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Flora and Fauna: The Special Fungai Demographics Culture: Economy: Major Companies and Institutions: Dwed's Shed of Trading: After profiting for months off of the natural resources of Tazarek, Derkalimin had a large advantage over the other trading company's that sprung up in the wake of Tazarek's minor reversal of their isolation. Through Derkalimin's aggressive and sometimes shady business deals, he has put himself on top of the rest. Dwed's Shed of Trading can be found on the first level of the city, nestled close to the city's entrance. Krazdran's Pit: On the south side of the second level of Tazarek, guards, soldiers and warriors all train in Krazdran's Pit. There are three sections of this pit, measured by the depth and amount of light. Tarazek Nar Dverga: On the third level, the people of Tarazek decided that this would be where they have their capital building. Right in the very middle of their deepest floor, stands the seat of their government. It is here in this massive, square building, that dwarves can openly discuss ideas and interact with their leadership. Tarazek Nar Dverga is a large square structure, so large, that it actually touches the ceiling, supporting it as a symbol of how the government must help support it's people. Six towers of varying height are connected to this colossal structure, each one housing Tarazek's elected representatives. There are ten floors to the Tarazek Nar Dverga, each one approximately eight feet tall, with the tenth floor used as the representatives forum for discussion on how to best guide the people. The Tazarek Taphouse: On the opposite end of the First level lies the Tazarek Taphouse, a three story building dedicated to drinking and merriment stands. It is here that people come to chat, celebrate and share news. Those of ill repute will usually offer their services in the dark corners of the Taphouse, whispering in hushed tones and conspiring to potentially break the law. The building is famous for it's ale, an interesting concoction made up of roots and herbs found around the mountain, it has been dubbed Nogaak Ale and is considered quite good to the dwarve's palate. The Clodkul: On the west side of the second level of Tarazek, there is the Clodkul, a minor prison used to house anyone that breaks the law in Tarazek. The Fungi Fraternity: A group of the most successful farmers in Tarazek, those that have distinguished themselves in their field of cultivating the cash crop known as the Moonglow Mushroom. They swap their recipes for compost, discuss the best cycles for growing and reaping the fungus. They collaborate on the best times to bring their crop to market, with the top dwarf, the one who has become most successful in their craft, being named the Top Moss. The Fraternity holds regular functions and high class parties to celebrate their success, with all of it being located in the Third Level of Tarazek. Tazarek Inventor's Guild: A guild of inventors under the employ of the government. These men and women pool their knowledge in order to help further advance Tazarek's technology. This is headed by Representative Builder and has been at the forefront of innovation for the dwarves of Tazarek, with a smaller training facility known as the Tazarek Junior Inventor's Guild to mold young minds in the way of Magi-Tech. Parks and Recreation Wizened Old Warlocks: The Wizened Old Warlocks is a trio of old wizards who enjoy passing the time playing games of Tempest with each other. The Spirit of the Mountain (Church) Landmarks and monuments The Lift: A marvel of dwarven engineering, the Lift is a large 65 foot platform, on a repetitive course of going from the first level, to the second, to the third and back to the first. (It used to go to the fourth, but has been adjusted for safety reasons.) It can support up to six thousand pounds without buckling, and has safety measures in place for if the Lift were to ever fail, allowing hidden nets made of Moonglow Mushroom thread to catch it before it can crash to the bottom. The Spirit of the Mountain: In the center of the first level, there is a white marble monument made by the fledgling religious group the Mountain Callers. They put up the marble statue of a large broken mountain as a reminder of how the progenitor of the dwarven race came to be. They say he has no name, only that he was King of the Mountain, and sprang to life as lightning carved his body from the top of a mountain. Battle of the Faith: In the courtyard near the entrance to Tarazek, there is a statue of a dwarf just about to strike at an unknown enemy. The stone dwarf is Ingmarn, a paladin of the Church of the Spirit of the Mountain, and he stands as a reminder of the terrible attack set forth upon Tarazek by an extremist force that meant to destroy everything the people love about Tarazek, including the city itself. Government Local government Republic: The dwarven people that founded Tarazek did so on the basic belief that their king had failed them. With this basis, they decided to form instead a Republic, with equal representation across all occupations. They elected seven others to represent their society and to guide them to prosperity. The commitment is so great, they must renounce their names and adopt the new ones given to them, relinquishing their title, their land, and their wealth so that they may be without prejudice or bias when leading the people. Federal government Education Formal schools only educate dwarven children until they've reached adolescence, then they are given an aptitude test, which determines what career they'll have and who they will apprentice under until they've reached the age of maturity, then they are released from their apprenticeship to either start their own business or to take over the business of their master if they choose to retire. Many decide to simply continue working under their master, but are elevated as an equal in terms of competency (not by skill). Transportation Roads and Highways: Yes Rails/Subways: No Riverways: No Cab (mounted horse, etc?): horse and wagon Private: Usually by wagon, though the more higher up citizens have their own ponies to ride around town. Notable Residents The Shrooman: A mysterious, reclusive dwarf who has mastered the mystical arts of phylokinesis, with a great focus on mushrooms. After being aprehended by the Government of Tarazek, the Shrooman has henceforth been unofficially tasked to continue his experiments on mushrooms, especially in making mushrooms that are highly explosive in nature. History Canon PastFlag: Alliances:

ACCEPT REJECT PARTICIPANTS LAURENT DUBOIS GRIGORI GAGARIN SETSUKO ERI ALETHEA GILYA

So I had a brief conversation with a friend (@DarkHorse) in kind about a certain roleplayer on the site, in which I had no idea she had written with her before, and it dawned on me just how many folks have experienced and love the hell out of @Aleksei! So I says to her, "wanna start a fan club?", and she responded that she thought it was a great idea, and that Aleksei might enjoy it. And so here it is folks! The Official Aleksei Fan Club! This thread is open to any and all players that had had the pleasure of meeting, talking to, and/or playing with Aleksei and have an undying love for her like we do. Join us in the act of recounting the wonderful times we've had with her, as well as swelling her hubris with compliments!

The group was truly diverse. There were some proper soldiers from Ursa Madeum. They were decently equipped, even if some of them were rowdy. These were the people that Fidelitas had high hopes about; something different from the gold grabbers that the White Hand had been using for a while. Those unloyal bastards had run at the first major sign of trouble. If they had stayed and helped, Diligence might still be alive now. But the Order couldn’t get rid of mercenaries just yet. This was evidenced by the jolly group behind him to his left. Women… and children, dressed inappropriately for travel. Who let them in anyway? He heard someone congratulating a “god-killer” among them. He knew that you couldn’t really judge by appearances, but this was bordering on ridiculous. They would have been warned about the dangers of Yh’mi though, so it was their choice if they didn’t heed it. He wasn’t going to mother over anyone. There were two people he recognized. Gormaric, whose role in repairing the wall was significant. There was no doubt about his fighting prowess, as he led forces to fend enemies away while the repair was ongoing. Fidelitas respected the dark knight and his willingness to continue to join them in this fight. The other was Aryssin, the healer who had helped in the aftermath of Remissio’s attack. He hadn’t interacted much with her, but her skills would be useful indeed in the coming months. He also knew there was a Knight from the formidable Force Majeure, but he couldn’t identify him or her within the group. The one that Fidelitas was truly doubtful about was the presence of the journalist. Chastity had allowed him to join them, saying that it was time for the world to see the true threat of Yh’mi. But Fidelitas never trusted the media and their selective truth. The man had better not get in their way, or he couldn’t be responsible for what happened to him. Going forward at a steady pace, the walls bordering Yh’mi gradually became a fixture in the distance. And yet nothing had happened yet. “Keep your alert up!” Fidelitas addressed everyone. “The enemy can hear us. They can come from any side!”

i. overview ii. members iii. estate iv. the hinode clan v. house kinclaith vi. house ciervo vii. house penderyn viii. vassal houses ix. the arborum x. threads

Battle of Last Chance Introducing for all of you haven’t heard of the us. Legion, aka The Legion of Doom!! So a month or so ago I dropped a thread that said “I am here to burn your world.” Now when I say something, I mean it. SO! Allow me to drop Legion’s first macro level thread. The sacking and burning of Last Chance. We here at Legion have decided for our first foray into the larger parts of the game is to be a raid. Rather than the large and intense three part invasion to take the city, which lets be honest. Sounds exhausting. We want to deliver a more intimate and character driven thread than the large scale chess and tactics game that detracts from a good story. We want to keep our focus on the characters rather than the battle itself. How will this work? The thread itself will have various objectives and storylines laid out for people to join or to simply do their own thing. All of which will be laid out in the official OOC thread when it drops this weekend. All characters are encouraged to join an objective and work together to weave a story that will not only be a great read, but will allow yourself and your opponents to have fun. While you can go off and do your own thing around the battlefield, we do recommend working with your fellow writer. Also anyone is allowed to join. You don’t need to a part of the factions who are fighting. Combat & Troop Movements So as far as macro level troop maneuvering goes, all of that will be background noise which will be decided by faction leadership. This is to provide everyone with a fluid sense of a shifting battlefield and setting from an official source rather than five different guys with thousands of troops between them all doing different things. We want to provide a very seamless and cinematic experience when it comes to the macro combat for the thread. Characters will be allowed to command two squads of NPCs each for flavor and fun. Rules 1: Wheaton’s Law aka don’t be a dick 2: Treat your opponent with respect 3: All OOC squabbles need to be settled via a pm. Don’t drag your drama to the OOC thread 4: If an agreement can not be reached then faction leadership will decide. 5: If faction leadership can’t reach an agreement then and ONLY then will site staff will be involved. These people have better things to do than deal with our disputes. 6: No writing damage, character death, or mass NPC death in your post as a fact without the express permission and consent of the other writer 7: Doing a power move that can violate the Mild Powers ceilings is fine. We all love a dramatic moment. But doing so needs to come at a cost. Losing all your strength, injury, death of comrades, etc etc. pay to play baby. 8: All are welcome to partake 9: Really, just please don’t be a dick. Details We will be dropping all the official OOC thread this weekend and possibly the actual thread as well. Faction leadership will be working together to create the best experience for everyone.

Good Evening, my fellow Valcreans, and Merry Christmas. Or Hanukkah. Perhaps even Festivis, Saturnalia, or some form of indescribable eldritch celebration of the Great Old Ones in all their sanity-breaking glory. Tonight I continue my time-honored tradition, one that has lasted since...well, last year, of talking about how much I appreciate Valucre, it's people, and the inevitable likes I'll get from mentioning as many people as possible, and harvesting their good will by exploiting mine. All jokes aside, I would like to briefly(or not so briefly) express my gratitude for this site, and the wonderful people I've met here. To say I wouldn't be writing if I hadn't found Valucre is in no way inaccurate. Before I stumbled my way over here, all I ever really wrote were essays for school. Rarely, friends of friends would convince me to RP with them, but that never lasted long. So a year and a half ago, sometime in July, I found myself growing bored. So I started skimming online, for games or sites that might allow for me to contribute to something. I didn't initially think of RP, but that's how it ended up. So I joined, I made a character, and joined some threads. A couple months later, I started writing short stories. And boy, were they horesehit. But it was a start. Flash-forward to today, I now roleplay, erratically work on my own fiction, and hope that eventually I'll be competent to be an author. That's all cause of Valucre. As great as that all is, fuck all that, it doesn't matter. None of that is why I'm as happy to have come here as I am. The fact that I've met some of the best people I know, many of whom I value more as friends than the ones I know personally, is amazing. And of course, there's the big man himself, Carlos. I don't think there's much I can say that wouldn't be retreading whatever it was I said last year, so I'll just say, you're great. It could be that I'm writing this all on a phone while I spend time with family I see once a year, but I can't think of anything else to say. Except for the obvious. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! @Mickey Flash@supernal@Jotnotes@Seyge@Ghastardly@Big Boss@Misty@Ishenaelyr, the Scaled@Deus Ex Aizen@Fierach@Eagle-77@Trexasle@Rin@bigfatcat@PandaHat@Tristwich@Fae@Csl@Robbie Rotten@Avvercus The Ghost of@B2BBearPast

Please don't?

Note: the portal can deposit you anywhere in the planet and not just nearby itself Late last year I announced Elendaron's spiritual death, or "Spirit Wars" (coined by @Mickey Flash) which is much more fun to say, and how this physically manifests: https://www.valucre.com/topic/40860-elendaron-changes-a-spiritual-death/ Elendaron has been open for play since this announcement with those canon changes in mind, but I also intended to run a series of GM'd threads in parallel. I GM'd the first one, which concluded just this week: https://www.valucre.com/topic/40970-what-do-you-know-closed/ There are more in the pipe, but with the first one completed comes with what I think is the most interesting and exciting development - a permanent gateway into the "spirit world" If you visit the world article you will now see Elendaron replaced with a portal graphic (thanks to @jaistlyn!) and Elendaron removed from the body of the article as well: https://www.valucre.com/lore.html/world/valucre-overview/ So what does this mean? My intention is to have the portal as an in-character, lore-backed plot device through which people can enter and exit the Valucre setting, so as to have whacky and zany adventures of all sorts in Alternative: https://www.valucre.com/forum/75-alternative/ I'm playing hardball with the Many Worlds Theory here and basically saying that this is a gateway into infinity, into any number of settings a user may want which Valucre doesn't support. This already exists with Alternative but now characters can travel back and forth between the worlds and have a rationale for it To enhance the play setting and give people options, I even made a thread encouraging members to create settings people can take and run with, which is a still open initiative: https://www.valucre.com/topic/41469-persistent-alternative-settings/ If leveraging one of these persistent settings it's important to note your character(s) should still conform to its limits. If you bring your divine character to Valucre they adhere to mild powers - if you bring them to a reality-based setting, then same thing But the best thing about this whole infinity concept is that you don't have to use someone else's setting and can make your own, and do whatever you want with it (adhering to the code of conduct naturally). You can even take a persistent setting and go "okay that + supernatural" and have a situation where your divine character can do divine things in Detroit, or whatever I'll be adding tags for specific settings as they develop but for now have added a "spirit world" tag to Alternative basically mean that you're taking advantage of this plot device Okay have fun discussion thread

one thousand posts! ? truly a personal benchmark! perhaps this means that I am here to stay for good. ❤️

'May the Dred Wolf take you.' Sigil An elaborate lining of a wolf with ten red eyes surrounded by a hallo of white lines and dots with a gray-blue background. The House Mythal is represented by a dark wolf created by a variety of elaborate lining which looks like branches reaching out. The symbolism represents the Mythal's outreach, their need to expand and express themselves to others. By doing so, they are spreading knowledge to those that would otherwise be deprived of it. Red eyes tell the story about the Mythal's ever persuasiveness. They've eyes everywhere, they see much and ignore very little. The House has no reason to carry elaborate colors; the black, white, blue, and red paint the picture they represent through their actions. Actions come in a variety of colors; words will always confuse description; simple representation ensures all will know who they are upon sight. Words 'May the Dred Wolf take you.' The saying was made during Alistair's earlier years of silent conquest. His ability to sway even the most stubborn mind was something to admire, and his ways only got more calculated with age. The words have a few meanings depending on the person: May you be welcome in the house of Mythal or May you be taken by the house of Mythal. Brief The House of Mythal is known for its ability to withstand turbulent change and constant political debauchery. They are outliers, preferring to use their logic and understanding on their home than half-truths and toxic political play. Often too honest for their own good, it has earned them few friends and many enemies. Such issues do not affect the family much, for they are far more concerned about the state of their home than anything else. A strong sense of self, the Mythals think of themselves before considering the thoughts of others. Hard to budge but eager to learn and teach, there has been many who've flocked to the domain of Mythal for leadership. Their self-centeredness has preserved not only their family but also those who wish to understand the elves logic. They simply wish to treat themselves with high regard that is earned and deserved, and in turn, they will share this graciousness with others - if they are not thwarted. There is no room for backstabbing in this family. They do not appreciate being treated like puppets or stopped from spreading their teachings to others. Whatever the way, they will follow the path that fixes their home for the better; even if that means bloodshed, death, and any other variation of loss. A few must die for the better to succeed; House Mythal has already lost much in the tyrannical rule of the previous King and will not waste the memory of their fallen by being stagnant. King Damien saw the House as a threat to his power and had initially stripped the entire family of their name, marking them as traitors to be killed. Soleil and Emery were his victims to the King's decree, their deaths were made a point for any who dared to go against the tyrant's rule. Alistair was not moved to bend knee, instead, he continued to fight for the people of Ursa Madeum, with his wife and children at his side. Quotes 'The world is bigger than I, even bigger than you. It laughs at all we think we know.' - Alistair to the Tyrant King before the King stripped the house of its titles. 'We stand upon the precipice of change.' - Final words of Soleil. 'I might take their lives, but I cannot take back from them what has been taken from you.' - Milorian to Marina after Soleil's death. 'Justice is a funny concept. It'll drive a man to perform noblest deeds. As well as the worst atrocities. Justice is a blade that draws blood from the innocent and wicked alike. And raised high, it can lead to a change that changes the world forever.' - Ronan to the people of Ursa Madeum in an attempt to start a revolution against their Tyrant King. 'For those who value survival, sentimentality is not an option.' - Austere to Cassia during the burial of his wife and child. 'Stand your ground; the dawn will come. The Dred Wolf sees!' - Final words of Emery. 'Anger is stronger than any pain.' - Cassia to Alistair after the loss of Soleil and Emery. Family & Titles Alistair Mythal ∾ Cassia Yarrow ┌──────┴──────┐ Ronan Mythal ∾ Terra Ames — Gawyne Mythal — Soleil Mythal ∾ Marina Haron — Austere Mythal ∾ Emery Cohen — Milorian Mythal ┌──┴──┐ ┌──┴── ┌──┴──┐ Sebastian Mythal — Whitaker Mythal Anson Mythal -- Easton Mythal Lord of House Mythal: Milorian Mythal. The head of House Mythal Milo was the primary motivator behind every action during the Tyrant King's rule; he was the loudest voice, the biggest pusher for change and stood the firmest against the face of adversity. His brother Soleil had been flogged and quartered for doing precisely what Milorian was doing; his sister-in-law Emery died protecting her young children (twin boys), unfortunately, only one child survived the attack. The Tyrant King felt threatened, seeing that the family was not going to budge and discontinue their attempts to overthrow him, he soon stripped the Mythal's of their titles. Once their name was denounced, Milorian persuaded the remainder of his family to go underground long enough to make plans to spread their word - an attempt of a revolution. Their silence bought them just enough time to gather their forces (small groups of wanna-be-revolutionists) and attack the heart of the problems within their home. Still wanted by the King, the Mythal's were seen on the streets passing out pamphlets, making significant attempts to persuade others to see the side of reason, but too often they were faced by the fearful unsure how to follow without getting killed. It's was an understandable position to have, and they did not think too harshly on the cowardly. At this point, their heads were already on the chopping block, and they weren't going to back down from a challenge. Their hard work paid off when Taen's forces came through. Milorian and his brothers were quick to assist in the siege by offering what little resources they had at the time. House Mythal is for the Taen's rule and believes the people shouldn't thwart such an opportunity. Lady of House Mythal: -- Wife of the head of House Mythal. Steward of the Free Marches: Austere Mythal. Governor of the household and estate of the Lord of House Mythal. Typically, the steward is also regent of House Mythal's lands and its seat during the absence, incapacitation or otherwise delegation of its lord. Castellan of the Free Marches: Ronan Mythal. The overseer of the Free Marches and reports directly to the Steward. Sentinel of the Crossroads: -- Captain of the guard of Crossroads, the Mythal's towers. Grand Master of the Order of the Seekers: Delaney Vulpine. Leader to the Order of the Seekers, created to protect the Free Marches and its people. Knight Commander of the Seekers: Gawyne Mythal. Second-in-command to the Order of the Seekers. Typically charged with leading militant action, such as commanding the Knights from the front, on behalf of the Grand Master, who governs the order from its headquarters at Crossroads. Location The Free Marches is the entirety of the Mythal's estate, which is located on the coast of Island Corinth, just southwest of the capital Andelusia. It is a lush area that is slowly growing back to its active roots now that the Mythal House has returned to a normal state. Boundless amounts of trade happen in the Free Marches; ships can often be seen docked on the coast, an open market's banners populate the sky, and a variety of conversations pollute the air. The House of Mythal has their hands in trades of all kind and are open to creating productive relationships with anyone wanting to sell their goods in the Free Marches. Any member of the house can be seen wandering about Eluvian and its shores, speaking with familiar and new faces to better know the people occupying their estate and to build proper relationships to continue their expansive reach. Crossroads (the Mythal home) is a large bridge that connects the small island (Eluvian) to inland. The quarters are built into the two massive towers that occupy the middle of the bridge; elaborate rooms fit for royalty and a library that can be accessed to the public make up a majority of Crossroads. There are passages that lead beneath the bridge, where there are pillows and blankets for the weary who seek shelter during their travels; often, women from the villages freckled around the Free Marches will provide food and drink here. Celebrations are often held on the bridge as it is an open resource for anyone to use. The Mythal's enjoy seeing their people enjoy the simple pleasures of life and try to promote the freedom as much as they possibly can. Milorian ensures the safety of his people and wanderers alike by keeping guards shifting around the bridge without disrupting the lives of those passing through. There are angry mountains on both ends of Crossroads, but there are countless paths and roads that will lead you to the bridge safely and without interruption. Affiliations Activity SEPTEMBER 3rd 28 AO || Tyrant King Dead. NOVEMBER MARCH 3rd 29 AO || Reclaiming rice fields and woolybug herds. APRIL 1st 29 AO || Wyne Returns 25th 29 AO || Reclaiming the Emerald Graves MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST 1st 29 AO || House Dali Pre-Nuptial Celebration (Anson Mythal x Seldi Dali) 2nd 29 AO || Confrontation & minor reconciliation (House Uldwar vs. House Mythal) 2nd 29 AO || A.N.T. 6th 29 AO || Trade claims with Stonehaven SEPTEMBER 3rd 29 AO || Engagement Agreement (Birdy Tankred x Milorian Mythal) 18th 29 AO || Free Marches Celebration 20th 29 AO || Engagement Agreement (Odelia Carthrage x Austere Mythal)

Hello, Valucre! It happened much later than I originally anticipated, but Book|Ends now has an official hub thread. It is located here. I'm far too much of a bloody hipster to write about a gala event as I once planned, and so Book|Ends is hosting a Read & Mead event. What is a Read & Mead? Well, my Val pal, it simply means that there are a lot of books to read and a lot of drink to mead. Mead to drink. What were we talking about again? This is a casual thread, meant for character interactions and networking. You can also use it as a place to snag one of the quests detailed on the Book|Ends organization page, or to suggest one of your own. Appropriate advertisements will be made for any mercantile character seeking work. Drop a comment here or send me a PM if you wish to join. Or not. Seriously, you can just hop in. Enjoy! Welcome to Book|Ends. If you have found this pamphlet and are reading it now, congratulations! You, my friend, are literate. As a literate person, perhaps you have found yourself longing to exercise that literacy. Do you ever find yourself longing for illustrious literature or lingering over illuminating lyrics? Do you ever whisper to yourself, "Wow, if only there was a place where I could conveniently purchase an out of print manuscript of Arsen De Bellfry's Sonnets of the Frost Maidens, a top novel on the Hell's Gate Best Seller list, AND a grimoire that could forever damn the souls of my enemies to an entirety of pain1!" My dear literate friend, Book|Ends is the place for you! New and exciting adventures await! As we are currently located in what remains of Ashville and surrounded by impenetrable wards, we highly recommend setting an appointment through the Book|Ends crystal communication hotline. Other acceptable methods of communication are via smoke signals, ritual sacrifice2, messenger imp3, and postcard. Employment & Partnership Opportunities Now Hiring: Essentially Everyone Entry Level Qualifications include basic arithmetic, knowledge of the alphabet, and decent hygiene No Murderous Rampagers need Apply Partnerships: Do you lead a small government, faction, or organization in desperate need of information and culture?4 Book|Ends board leaders are currently accepting new members, investors, and business partners. Our contact information is inscribed below. 1 Book|Ends and its associates are not responsible for its clients' actions regarding soul damnation, purgatories of pain, or related ritualistic behaviors. 2Small unfriendly animals only. We're not monsters. 3Must be well trained, will be eaten if not. 4Of course you do. We all have seen how you dress. Book|Ends, a purveyor of fine literature and beyond, is ready to get back into action, but it needs a little help to get back on its metaphorical feet. Employees are needed, as well as retrieval specialists. Threads through Book|Ends will run as such: Employees will be given a task to complete with each thread. The tone is casual, with a focus on character development. Retrieval specialists will be given quests to obtain a tome. Danger levels vary depending upon the item in question. I'll give you the setting, and the rest is up to you and your partners. Partnerships with factions are always welcome, and will give your organization access to Book|Ends' resources. This is here to sniff out some interest. Please feel free to ask any questions or send a PM to brainstorm. @TheWilySpookster

It had been some time since she last spoke to Wayne, and frankly she was very surprised that the short, stocky man was still in Orisia. Nevertheless, he made certain to present himself just as soon as the coronation was announced and to offer his full range of services to the Black Queen. The merit of his work did not need to be tested, nor did his loyalty -- Gabriela knew that Wayne was a simple man. He would always remain in the castle, working under whatever monarch happened to be ruling so long as the pay was generous and his creativity remained relatively unrestricted. From the beginning, he had been in charge of bringing to life her most fantastical ideas for celebrations, and while this particular occasion promised to be somewhat more somber, he was no less excited to be working with his Queen once again. “I know you said subtle -- but with a theme like Winter Wonderland -- well, there’s only so much subtlety you can expect, Darling Queen.” Gabriela stood amidst a sea of flowers. They were in every shape and size. Massive bouquets that were artfully arranged in giant crystal vases that somehow appeared to be frosted, as if a deep chill were cooling the clear waters within. All the flowers were white, and the stems and leaves and drooping vines had been somehow coated in silver. The arrangements were stunning, and there were hundreds of them. Most sat at the center of large, white-leather, banquette sofas. This was the only seating she could see, there were no solitary chairs or tables located anywhere. The rest of the vases sat on stone columns that had been artfully arranged all around the throne room in varying heights and widths. Her throne room could be described as having three parts. The main doors that lead within opened directly into the center part, and therefore main part of the throne room. A wide open rectangular space, surrounded on both sides by curving arches and thick columns that make the black throne upon a black dais the focal point for anyone entering. To either side of this main area are wings of equal dimensions, large gallery sized spaces where the sofas and the majority of the flower arrangements had been placed. The ceilings here were notably shorter than that located in the center, where the throne resides, and from them hang dozen of chandeliers, all of which have been decorated with crystal snowflakes -- all in different sizes -- that hang from silver threads. “Excuse us,” said a team of men who were carrying in huge bundles of long black sticks. “What in the world are those for…” Gabriela asked, as she watched the men file into the throne room, one after the other, until nearly twenty of them had passed. Each was hard at work wrapping a thick layer of the bound, black sticks around each of her beautiful marble columns. “We’re stringing them with pearls and lights! So it feels like we’re outside...It will look beautiful when the floor gets covered in fresh snow.” “Fresh snow?” she felt jaw begin to clench, and had to struggle to maintain her composure. “You’re going to fill my throne room with fresh snow?” “We’ve coated the floors with a sealant. There won’t be any damage, and it will give everything such an air of fanciful fancy!” Wayne replied as he clutched his clipboard to his chest, beaming brightly at the queen. “Just think of it! Snow will be falling over your guests without the discomfort of cold and without a single gray cloud to do away with the warm glow of the chandeliers! It will be absolutely stunning.” His utter excitement and commitment to the vision he had come up with was far too endearing, and so Gabriela felt her annoyance slowly melt away, leaving her with nothing more than an awful sense of impotence. Of course she should have known that this would happen. Inviting Wayne into this project all but guaranteed that her small and quiet event would end up turning into some circus of pomp and glamour. She might as well have led a parade through the burning streets of Orisia… “I have to get ready,” she said as a way to excuse herself before she saw anymore. “Oh, but please, Darling Queen, tell me you love it before you go. You’ll break my heart if you leave with such a sour look upon your face. Tell me you at least like it. Think of the children! They’ve never seen snow in the capital, and now, for one night -- they’ll get to run about it and play in it. There will be sweets and hot cocoa for them. We’re going to put up charming snowmen, all done up in soft scarves, bow ties, and top hats! You wanted a winter wonderland and I am giving it to you.” How could such a simple man do away with the heavy weight of her pride. She stood there despondent for a moment, looking at him as if she were willing and able to call him out on his emotional manipulation, but then she had a thought -- more like mental image. She saw people, she saw hundreds of them, she saw them happy as they stepped in and felt snow crunch under their feet. That was such a wonderful feeling. She thought of boys and girls gathering handfuls of snow and throwing them. The somber occasion would turn joyous, surely… And this wasn’t for her, it was never for her, she didn’t care about a crown being set on her head. This was for them. “I do like it Wayne -- as always, your creativity does not disappoint.” A boastful smile spread across the man’s face. His dark eyes were pretty jewels at the center of his pudgy features. He wasn’t a necessarily handsome man, but in that moment, he was certainly quite lovely. “Go on then, make yourself presentable, Darling Queen, and return to us quickly. The party starts in a few hours.” “I’ll make sure to make my entrance when everything is in full swing.” ~*~ There was a rather large gathering of people waiting for the gates to open. These were the commoners of Orisia, which against the disparaging odds had decided to come out to celebrate the re-coronation of the queen they had once known and loved. With Lucis’ coronation, they hadn’t been invited, and the castle gates had been kept closed since word spread that the Queen had died. Most of them, oddly enough, just wanted to see if Gabriela was really Gabriela, since most of them actually remembered her from the many events that had been opened to them in the past. They were all dressed in their best, which did not mean that it amounted to much for all, but it didn’t matter. Although the snow that was falling within the throne room was magical, and the temperature regulated, there were some aspects of the occurrence that Gabriela did not want to change. She wanted the snow to be cold, she wanted it to feel cold, to melt against human warmth. On a whim, hundreds of beautifully knitted white scarves and gloves had been produced, and were given away to each and every guest as they finally allowed into the castle. Of course there was a seperate entrance, one that simply had to show reverence for those guests of high importance -- political and such. Although they would be rubbing elbows with commonors tonight, they were still entitled to a certain type of treatment, which included access to private areas that were simply roped off to the general public. Dignitaries, politicians, affluent members of society -- they would be waited on by a private collection of serving staff, to ensure that they never went too long without a drink or hors d'oeuvres. Keeping them fat and drunk seemed to be the best policy when dealing with people that needed to be won back. The throne room began to fill with people. Most were curious about the throne itself and quickly made their way towards it, sharing stories about how the Black Queen herself had carried the massive thing into the castle when she first took the throne. It a story not many believed, being that Gabriela had since then done much and more to try and pass off as human as possible. However, since the introduction of a whole vampyre society thanks to Raphael, more and more people had witness the many astounding attributes of that strange and beautiful race of creatures. The Black Throne was surrounded by four knights, all clad in black armor. They stood each corner of the dais and made sure that no one tried to get too familiar with the structure. They would end up spending the duration of the celebration there, while the Queen sat and watched the party. For now though, they appeared a bit more lax. They even answered questions when asked by curious visitors. It wasn’t until the room was quite full that the snow began to fall. No one had really understood why they had been given scarves and mittens. But it was the delight-filled squeal of a single child that gave away the beginnings of the real celebration. For it was this one child who had been admiring a chandelier when out of nowhere they saw a white speck of dust, which came floating down -- growing and growing -- until it landed right on his nose. It was cold and crisp, but it melted away the moment he tried to touch it with his warm fingertip. “Snow! It’s snowing! It’s snowing!”

It's February folks, and that can only mean one thing! Folks out there with lives and lovers are gonna spend the next couple of weeks deciding on what fun stuff they can buy to convince their Significant Others that they are loved! Now, that may include a lot of you on here, heck, I'm sure it does in most respects, but you know who isn't getting any loving this year? That's right, those characters on your character list here on Valucre! Just look at those poor guys, gals and folks that think the binary system is for squares! All this adventuring, questing, epicing and so forth tends to be tiresome and lonely. They will likely never experience real intimacy and good old fashioned amour. And they won't, ever! Thanks to the miracle of magic-enhanced online dating! Yes, this Valentine's day season, I'm organizing a very unique event. Users will get a chance to sign one of their characters up for a totally unique, romantic blind date with another character! Ever wanted to eat dinner in Lessertown? How about watch the twinkling stars while something burns down over in Orisia? No? Well, it just might happen, so be ready! So how do you join? Easy enough, all I ask is that you express an interest in this thread, right here. Upon doing so, I'll message you, asking for you to write a cheesy letter of some kind from your character of choice's perspective explaining what they look for in a date, and so forth. Basically a Tinder profile is all we need! Then, watch, as characters get randomly paired up, and slipped into small threads to go on the date of a lifetime! Links to all those threads will be shared in here as well, allowing everyone who cares to read the threads and enjoy what you come up with! Sounds fun, doesn't it? So come on, let's make Valentine's Day, or the Valucre equivalent, worth celebrating this season!

Entries and Guidelines Welcome to this year's Spinal Chills contest! There are two BIG requirements for entry- get it in on time and find some way to make it fit the theme. If you think it evokes chills in some way, you can use it. Here's the rest: There is no specific word limit, but we ask that you shoot for around 2,000 words at maximum. If you go over by a few, no big deal. If you turn in a 2,500 word story, I'll up send it back and ask you to revise. If 10 people submit 3,000 word stories, the reading will start to get heavy. There is no word minimum- if you can put together a short Haiku (3, 5, 3 syllable poem, 4-11 words usually) that wins it all, good on you! Entries have to be original, unused work. Do not plagiarize others and don’t plagiarize yourself! The contest is one to evoke writing—so write something new. I do poke around for these out on the internets—don’t assume that you can safely delete it. You’d be surprised what lingers out there forever. Give us something fresh and spooky. What you enter is top secret. Disclose it to no one. Only two people should know whose entry is whose—you and me. That’s the other reason for the previous rule--prior posted works can be traced back to you easily, despite efforts to delete it. Entries have no specific restriction their medium so long as it involves written words. Write a poem, compose a song, churn out a story…whatever works for you. In a previous year, someone asked if they could compose music to it as well- that's fine by me, so long as you aren't singing it aloud (your voice might give you away). Only one entry per person. However, I am willing to accept "updated" versions up until the deadline, so if you spot an error later, you can resubmit it. I strongly urge people ensure that they have edited their work and made sure it looks right in the PM before shipping to me. I will not edit these and I will not fix formatting issues-it goes up as is. If it looks funny in the PM, chances are it will look funny in the public posting to follow later. Entries are due October 30th, 11:59 pacific time. There will be NO extensions. You are getting 30 days to have your stuff turned in- don't procrastinate. ;) Send your entries in to me via PM. Please put "Spinal Chills Entry" in the subject line so that I can ensure it goes into the applicable folder in my PMs (reduces the odds that I will lose it). I respond to those submissions within a few days (usually less than 24hrs) to confirm receiving the submission. Please give me 72 hours to respond to you. I will not accept entries any earlier than October the 3rd, so at least spend your weekend creating your future masterpiece. Posting and Voting All stories will be posted in a random order on Halloween day. I will not accept votes until starting 24 hours after they are posted. I ask that all would be voters PLEASE take the time to read ALL entries at least once before voting- hence the 24 hour window before voting even begins. After, you will have until 12:00pm pst Friday, the 4th to get your votes in. The results will go up early Friday afternoon, barring nothing getting screwed up. Here is the voting guidelines and requirements: One vote per person. A vote consists of three choices that you MUST rank from first choice through third choice, assuming you choose 3 stories. You must rank them, or else I assume the order you post them in is the order you intended (1st through 3rd). You can vote for less than 3. Basically, your first place vote gets three points, while your second place vote gets two points and your third place vote gets one point. This gives weighted votes, which we found resulted in better outcomes. In order to vote, you must have been registered on the site prior to October 31st. If you submitted to the contest, you do NOT get to vote (like last year). You either participate as a reader/voter, or a contributor. Pick one or the other. All votes coming from new accounts (or any other account suspected of being a duplicate) will be IP address cross checked- so don't even think about trying to cheat. Votes are submitted via PM to me. You need to put "Spinal Chills Vote" in the subject line, to ensure I catch it and move it to the designated folder in my PMs box, to ensure it is counted. I will respond to you before Friday to confirm I got the vote. Prizes! Well, we no longer have medals so I can’t give anyone a medal. We also used to give out VB but the VB has become defunct. Guess that means I need to offer up a monetary prize for all levels this year. As I did with last year, we will hold tie breakers for 1st and 3rd place. If two people tie at 2nd place, they both get 2nd place and third place is dropped. However, there will only be one first place, and we will have no more than 3 winners. 3rd place: $5 e-gift card* for Amazon.com 2nd place: $10 e-gift card* for Amazon.com 1st place: $20 e-gift card* for Amazon.com. *e-gift cards require a valid email address, so please be prepared to give us one. Let's see who has the most chilling story this year! Good luck!

I'm making that big move to North America on 17 Aug (26-hour flight, including transit! Omg ) . Before my classes start, I'll be travelling around Los Angeles and San Francisco for a bit, then taking some time to settle down in Vancouver. This means that I'll probably not be around on Val most of the time in the coming weeks until Sep 3 or 4. I'll prioritise the Black Destiny thread, Maddening Mists event and Yh'mi over other things so as not to keep large groups of people waiting! Please send me a PM if you want my attention on anything :) I will reply to my outstanding threads before I leave (Whispers Bind, Illusions of Malice, Little Lamb), and for group RPs, if it comes around to my turn when I'm AFV, please skip me! For 1x1s, unfortunately there's nothing to skip, unless you want to continue posting yourself LOL :P I've heard that the first semester of my course (Sep - Dec) will be 'super busy' according to the previous cohort, but I'm not sure how busy that actually is, so I have no plans to abandon ship on any of my RPs. Hopefully I won't have to at all!! *Takes a deep breath to mega tag* @Rin @supernal @~Harlow. @Acarteus @Jalal @Song Sprite @CodieneAngel @bigfatcat @Trexasle @Abstract @Suta @Throne @spacegy4 @Reinholdt @Aleksei @CATZ @Grizzly @Ayumi Shinozaki @Diravek @EpicRome23 @Disturbing Demon @sorainvoked @Veloci-Rapture @HELLruler @Silver Thunder @Artisan of Soul @amenities @PandaHat @Off Topic @Ataraxy

@Jotnotes @FMPuppet @Seyge @B2BBear @Mittens @Avvercus @Ghastardly @PandaHat @KittyvonCupcake @-Lilium- @Zenthaur @TheWilySpookster @Rin @Animal @paradigm @Jesus Negro @Syncopy @Reign @Red the Ambivalent @King @Song Sprite @SylverRose @supernal @The Hummingbird @Acies ab Vesania @Paroxysm @Off Topic @Azure Day @Veloci-Rapture @Underdark Rises @Iwajira @Fae @Misanthropy @Karelian Echorider Some names are of those in Tellus Mater, some are not. Some are friends, some are acquaintances, and some are new members I saw in the Tavern of Legend. I couldn't list everyone's name, so I'm sorry if you aren't added. If you don't want to join, no need to say so. Just feel free to pop in if you feel like it. Everyone is welcome to come to the Festival of Seven. Invite your Val Pals and come join the fun! The festival of Seven is an event celebrating the traditions of Lothrei, sort of like how the Highland Games celebrate Scottish traditions. It is held in Dash, the capital of Lothrei. There will be dancing, art, singing, booths selling all types of exotic wares, and carriage rides through the streets. Costumes are not unheard of, and an awesome fireworks show will signal the end of the event. This is where you can ask any questions about the thread, and make any comments. You can jump in and out of the thread at any time, and there is no posting order. I only ask that minimal damage be done (if at all) to the town. If many people join, which may not, but if they do, I ask that you tag the person you want to address in your post. And if something happens in your post where everyone needs to be notified you can please place that information here, in the OOC chat.

To begin with, this is a pilot, so what you see, even of this promo, is not an accurate representation of what future episodes will be like. OT and I have discussed where we want to take this particular podcast, and how to make it appeal to the people of Valucre, and I'm sure that our efforts to do so will show in future productions. Until then, we had a lot of fun making this first episode, which you will see an eight minute preview of. It's about H.P. Lovecraft, and starred @Off Topic, who was so kind to edit this, and played a great role in the podcast(though everything he said wasn't recorded, so he took the liberty of replacing himself with R2-D2, @Lilium, my wonderful co-host, who pretty much made this episode. Well, Off Topic technically "made" the episode, considering he cut and spliced it, and added sound effects, but she had a much stronger presence than I did. And a thank you to both of my guests, @Seyge and @Avvercus, you did a great job. The full video will likely be up sometime this week. I hope you enjoy this little snippet.