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The last time people could use magic freely, humans were severely punished for it. And for good reason. Wane, the world, suffered thanks to their misuse. They abused nature, they took without giving back, they ran its resources dry and revelled in triumph as others fell. Fight for dominance, for worth - for what really? To show that they're better? Idiotic attempts, considering who truly owned mankind.
The pantheon of gods are the only ones who can say they own humans with conviction, yet they've been gracious and forgiving. But no longer. It came down like lightning, so sudden and fast, you wouldn't have realized it struck until it was too late. One day, mankind simply couldn't connect to magic. No longer could they summon things at will, make fire out of nothing or heal wounds. Suddenly living became so much harder, the very act of foraging for food becoming a herculean effort. People were dying of plagues and illnesses once easily cured, and there were no longer gifts of vision to guide their way. Slowly, the once large human population dwindled down, becoming half of its original greatness in the span of a century. They'd been abandoned. Pathetic weren't they?
This wouldn't be much of a story if mankind simply became extinct, would it? Of course not. Their savior came in the form of a man called Sana, one of the prophets of Cila. He begged, he prayed, he fasted; he did everything he could to speak with the gods of old once again. To hear his god's words as his predecessor once did. Eventually, this holy devotion bore fruit, and he appeared in his dreams and listened to his troubles. Sana wished to see magic rule the lands once again, if only enough to survive. Sana didn't wish power, he didn't wish greatness; he simply wanted his brethren to live and that cry reached Cila.
A hand touched the pink stone that adorned Sana's wrist, and it was there that Cila once again gave mankind the gift of magic. This stone eventually came to be known as Cil, after the god who granted humanity magic again, if limited by these namesake stones. Sana was favored and became Cila's champion, making him the only mortal who could wield magic without the need for these stones.
Due to his involvement with humans, Cila rose to power in the female-dominated Pantheon, which angered or distressed the rest of the ranks. The other gods picked their own champions, made humans who had no use for the Cil. These people, blessed by the gods, eventually became known as Thren.
The pantheon of gods are the only ones who can say they own humans with conviction, yet they've been gracious and forgiving. But no longer. It came down like lightning, so sudden and fast, you wouldn't have realized it struck until it was too late. One day, mankind simply couldn't connect to magic. No longer could they summon things at will, make fire out of nothing or heal wounds. Suddenly living became so much harder, the very act of foraging for food becoming a herculean effort. People were dying of plagues and illnesses once easily cured, and there were no longer gifts of vision to guide their way. Slowly, the once large human population dwindled down, becoming half of its original greatness in the span of a century. They'd been abandoned. Pathetic weren't they?
This wouldn't be much of a story if mankind simply became extinct, would it? Of course not. Their savior came in the form of a man called Sana, one of the prophets of Cila. He begged, he prayed, he fasted; he did everything he could to speak with the gods of old once again. To hear his god's words as his predecessor once did. Eventually, this holy devotion bore fruit, and he appeared in his dreams and listened to his troubles. Sana wished to see magic rule the lands once again, if only enough to survive. Sana didn't wish power, he didn't wish greatness; he simply wanted his brethren to live and that cry reached Cila.
A hand touched the pink stone that adorned Sana's wrist, and it was there that Cila once again gave mankind the gift of magic. This stone eventually came to be known as Cil, after the god who granted humanity magic again, if limited by these namesake stones. Sana was favored and became Cila's champion, making him the only mortal who could wield magic without the need for these stones.
Due to his involvement with humans, Cila rose to power in the female-dominated Pantheon, which angered or distressed the rest of the ranks. The other gods picked their own champions, made humans who had no use for the Cil. These people, blessed by the gods, eventually became known as Thren.
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Years passed peacefully, and it seemed the limit set by Cila proved effective in controlling the masses. Unfortunately, the Thren were getting out of hand. Drunk with their power, they abused. It was history repeating itself. Those champions of the gods were starting to think they were gods themselves. That they didn't need these deities who gifted them with their powers in the first place. To remind them of their place, the Pantheon cursed the Thren. Come their thirtieth year, the Thren would suddenly weaken and eventually die as the magic they used quickly caught up to their body. Around them, living things died. Leave a fresh flower on the bed with a dying Thren, and you will literally see it wilt in the span of a few seconds.
But over the course of those few years, one of the Thren had grown intelligent.. and quite frankly, sick. She'd discovered that living sacrifices, like cows, pigs, even plants, would increase her power. When her thirtieth came, she knew she was near her end. However once she'd taken her daily sacrifice pig she instantly felt better. That's when Tien discovered that taking the life force of other living beings would extend her own. Then things became a bloodbath. It started out with forgotten slaves, people on the street. But she needed more, and the need increased day by day.
Then one night, Tien's city was seen engulfed in flames.
A few days later, when Thren from the neighboring cities went to investigate and pay their respects to the fallen city, they found Tien. She was alive, surrounded by death and with the most crazed look in her eye. It was Una's champion who quickly realized that Tien was the reason for all of this, and didn't hesitate to set the Thren aflame herself. But as the wicked witch lay burning, she revealed to them what she discovered. And that was all it took to plant the seed of doubt that would grow into a flower of war.
It was then that other Thren took to trying her words, and upon discovering the truth, massacres broke out. Those who still had their head on correctly looked to the gods for answers. But even the Pantheon was in poor spirits. There was talk of removing the Thren altogether, but they knew that if they did, the balance of power would forever be in Cila's hands as long as humans used Cil. It was then that Riu suggested the Ilia War, to fix the problem with abusive Thren, and to decide who was in power in the Pantheon. To their champions, they whispered it. The secret to attaining a proper life was to kill all their fellow Thren. Many of them were sickened by the idea of betraying their brethren, but upon realizing that those with evil intentions would be the ones to win if they didn't act, participated as well.
It was a war that lasted for three years but at the end of it all, Una's champion proved victorious and once again, the world was in balance. In another twenty years, the same war would break out but eventually, Wane achieved harmony.
But over the course of those few years, one of the Thren had grown intelligent.. and quite frankly, sick. She'd discovered that living sacrifices, like cows, pigs, even plants, would increase her power. When her thirtieth came, she knew she was near her end. However once she'd taken her daily sacrifice pig she instantly felt better. That's when Tien discovered that taking the life force of other living beings would extend her own. Then things became a bloodbath. It started out with forgotten slaves, people on the street. But she needed more, and the need increased day by day.
Then one night, Tien's city was seen engulfed in flames.
A few days later, when Thren from the neighboring cities went to investigate and pay their respects to the fallen city, they found Tien. She was alive, surrounded by death and with the most crazed look in her eye. It was Una's champion who quickly realized that Tien was the reason for all of this, and didn't hesitate to set the Thren aflame herself. But as the wicked witch lay burning, she revealed to them what she discovered. And that was all it took to plant the seed of doubt that would grow into a flower of war.
It was then that other Thren took to trying her words, and upon discovering the truth, massacres broke out. Those who still had their head on correctly looked to the gods for answers. But even the Pantheon was in poor spirits. There was talk of removing the Thren altogether, but they knew that if they did, the balance of power would forever be in Cila's hands as long as humans used Cil. It was then that Riu suggested the Ilia War, to fix the problem with abusive Thren, and to decide who was in power in the Pantheon. To their champions, they whispered it. The secret to attaining a proper life was to kill all their fellow Thren. Many of them were sickened by the idea of betraying their brethren, but upon realizing that those with evil intentions would be the ones to win if they didn't act, participated as well.
It was a war that lasted for three years but at the end of it all, Una's champion proved victorious and once again, the world was in balance. In another twenty years, the same war would break out but eventually, Wane achieved harmony.
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Centuries of progress have brought mankind to where it is today. Cars zoom around paved streets, kids carry around small devices that bring up holographic monitors, all powered by Cil. The Pantheon, the Ilia War, even the Thren, have become nothing more than myths. People believed in magic, but they didn't believe in gods. Days continued, people blissfully unaware to the danger that lay just beneath the surface.
While the legends have faded from memory, the legends themselves certainly haven't. The Thren are alive and well, and the Ilia war still goes strong every twenty years, disguised as a strain of bad luck every fifth leap year. What was once great battles between cities is now primarily a mind game between teams, usually consisting of only two people. It doesn't make the game any less dangerous or exciting, especially for the participants. The stakes and prize are still the same as they were centuries ago. One might say there's even more to lose and gain as the people personally invested in the war have grown.
The system's drastically changed from before, when gods openly chose who their champion would be. The Pantheon has grown reclusive, usually only speaking to their chosen one. The previous winner, the Ilia Thren, as they're called, is granted the gift to find the next generation of Thren. They're taken from their families while young, raised and trained within the Magic Academy's walls. Everyone here knows the truth behind the legends, so there's no need to hide their real nature. In the Magic Academy, they teach Thren as well as gifted magic users. These other students still require Cil to use magic, but require much less of it, making them prime candidates for learning higher magics. It's from amongst these students they will find their Prue, their partner in the coming Ilia war.
The conditions for winning the war hasn't changed much: kill your fellow Thren. There are no real rules, except a high loss of life maybe, similar to what Tien did. Killing the Thren's Prue doesn't count as defeating them, although it will be considerably easier to do the deed once they're gone. You do gain their life force, increasing your power permanently, which is why it's to your advantage to kill as many as possible. The end goal is clear. To be the last one standing, and become the next Ilia Thren. You lose, you're dead. It's that simple.
While the legends have faded from memory, the legends themselves certainly haven't. The Thren are alive and well, and the Ilia war still goes strong every twenty years, disguised as a strain of bad luck every fifth leap year. What was once great battles between cities is now primarily a mind game between teams, usually consisting of only two people. It doesn't make the game any less dangerous or exciting, especially for the participants. The stakes and prize are still the same as they were centuries ago. One might say there's even more to lose and gain as the people personally invested in the war have grown.
The system's drastically changed from before, when gods openly chose who their champion would be. The Pantheon has grown reclusive, usually only speaking to their chosen one. The previous winner, the Ilia Thren, as they're called, is granted the gift to find the next generation of Thren. They're taken from their families while young, raised and trained within the Magic Academy's walls. Everyone here knows the truth behind the legends, so there's no need to hide their real nature. In the Magic Academy, they teach Thren as well as gifted magic users. These other students still require Cil to use magic, but require much less of it, making them prime candidates for learning higher magics. It's from amongst these students they will find their Prue, their partner in the coming Ilia war.
The conditions for winning the war hasn't changed much: kill your fellow Thren. There are no real rules, except a high loss of life maybe, similar to what Tien did. Killing the Thren's Prue doesn't count as defeating them, although it will be considerably easier to do the deed once they're gone. You do gain their life force, increasing your power permanently, which is why it's to your advantage to kill as many as possible. The end goal is clear. To be the last one standing, and become the next Ilia Thren. You lose, you're dead. It's that simple.
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What are the Prue exactly? Why would they participate in the war? To be honest, that's something you'd need to ask each individual Prue. They each have their own reasons for choosing to assist their Thren. They're what you'd call their partners in crime, although many have likened their relationship to Thren as servant to master. On their own, Prue are simply gifted magic users, able to wield magic using much less Cil than the average person. This lets them learn much higher magics for less cost. However, should they form a pact with Thren, they become Faca Thren - false Thren. As long as their partner is alive, they have no need for Cil, and their own magic abilities are increased. While in all likelihood they're no match on a pure magic level for a Thren, they will far outclass any unpartnered student of the academy.
Contracts between Thren and Prue are usually one is to one, although there have been cases where a Thren has made a contract with more than one Prue. This is very taxing on the Thren, as Prue are leeching off their partner for their own powers. Prue however, can only form a contract with a single Thren. Any attempts have usually ended in a bloody mess, and I mean that literally. They will suddenly explode, as the surge of energy from two Thren is too much for a human being.
Partnerships are formed before the war starts, to accommodate a time to train and get to know each other. This is one of the reasons for raising Thren within the academy. (The other is that past Ilia Thren, those who've won previous wars, can sponsor and support someone of their choosing.) Once Thren have chosen their Prue, they form a blood pact which can knock both participants out for a few hours after due to the surge of energy.
It's not unheard of for Prue to betray their Thren. In fact, if there isn't at least one Prue that kills their own partner, it's considered a real miracle. This is due to the fact that if the Thren die while their Prue is still alive, the latter is released from the contract and is free to resume life as normal. They're not required to fight in their stead. You don't get to keep the powers, but you no longer have to fight either.
Prue, should their Thren win the war, become Ilia Thren themselves. They no longer need to rely on their partner, and have gained all the abilities of the Thren, without the time limit. Becoming such a powerful magician will set anyone on track for the rest of the life, so rest assured you will be taken care of should your partner win.
Contracts between Thren and Prue are usually one is to one, although there have been cases where a Thren has made a contract with more than one Prue. This is very taxing on the Thren, as Prue are leeching off their partner for their own powers. Prue however, can only form a contract with a single Thren. Any attempts have usually ended in a bloody mess, and I mean that literally. They will suddenly explode, as the surge of energy from two Thren is too much for a human being.
Partnerships are formed before the war starts, to accommodate a time to train and get to know each other. This is one of the reasons for raising Thren within the academy. (The other is that past Ilia Thren, those who've won previous wars, can sponsor and support someone of their choosing.) Once Thren have chosen their Prue, they form a blood pact which can knock both participants out for a few hours after due to the surge of energy.
It's not unheard of for Prue to betray their Thren. In fact, if there isn't at least one Prue that kills their own partner, it's considered a real miracle. This is due to the fact that if the Thren die while their Prue is still alive, the latter is released from the contract and is free to resume life as normal. They're not required to fight in their stead. You don't get to keep the powers, but you no longer have to fight either.
Prue, should their Thren win the war, become Ilia Thren themselves. They no longer need to rely on their partner, and have gained all the abilities of the Thren, without the time limit. Becoming such a powerful magician will set anyone on track for the rest of the life, so rest assured you will be taken care of should your partner win.
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- maccoRULE 1 ⤠how to apply/reserve a character
Use the code found in the application/reserves thread. Take note that applications are not first come, first serve. You have a section dedicated to describing your character when reserving; use it well. This is how I'll decide who gets the spot. You'll have three days to submit a WIP, and then a week for the final profile. Keep in mind that I actually keep track of this, so don't you dare slack off on me. c: Failure to comply will result in you losing your spot. If you need more time, I can give you an extra three days. However, should you fail to submit by that time, I'll have no choice but to let you go.
maccoRULE 2 ⤠guidelines for faceclaims
Anime images, and I'm not going to demand a name if you can't present it. Even if you only have a single appropriate image of them, that's perfectly fine. Just don't give me those fucking same faceclaims over and over again (gareki, that dude from k project, those people from that shoujo anime/manga - YOU KNOW WHICH ONE I'M FUCKING TALKING ABOUT). I also request you don't give me 9841407 over filtered and sharpened gifs from tumblr or I'll probably cut your face. (: The theme is somewhat fantasy, so it's best if you can stick to images like those. Probably not the entire knight in shining armor image though. Here, have the original picture of the main banner as a reference point.
maccoRULE 3 ⤠expected activity and commitment
Don't join if you can't promise to post consistently. By consistently, I mean once a week. And like the profiles, I keep track of exact dates. Every week I have what you'd call a mod prod, calling out those who've failed to post for the week. Get listed three times in a row, and you can expect your ass booted out of the roleplay, and with little to no chance to come back. The same consequence is applied if you haven't contacted either Shu or I for two weeks even in the ooc. Take note that if you're kicked out, your character will be killed off if this happens once the war has started. I'm not re-opening your spot for someone else.
maccoRULE 4 ⤠desired literacy and quality check
I don't care if you can write fucking 1k words a post; if it's a bunch of fluff I'm not going to feel encouraged to read it. How much you write is not equal to your literacy. Being concise is one of the best skills you can have. That's not to say that 100 words a post is perfectly fine; that doesn't leave the person you're replying with much room to reply. I'm pretty lax when it comes to how good you are at English, but if you can't tell the difference between their/they're, I'd suggest you study up a bit more before applying.
maccoRULE 5 ⤠character sheet guidelines
I'd rather you didn't edit the CS to the point it's no longer recognizable from the original. Honestly speaking, that kind of shit irritates me. c: Don't change the font, move around the image alignment and follow the instructions you'll find in the reserves thread regarding filling out the profile code. There are guidelines for how large the image should be, do follow them, lest you incur my wrath. In your character's synopsis, please format it like this: Thren/Prue || Deity || Partner's Given Name