But such things cannot last.
Balance wanted to be what we had become. It was envious of its own creations, it wanted to be like them. It wanted individuality. Constrained by the pull of its own nature, however, it was forced to become two beings, rather than one. These two beings were known as Calyen and Shira, and though they conflicted with one another, each tended to the precious treasure that Balance had created as a mother tends to a child.
The split seemed harmless enough at first. Our kind had grown independent of Balance's influence, a child no longer in need of its mother's diligent tending. Finally content that their children had grown into adults, our Ladies began to withdraw some of their motherly touch. The change was reluctant, but each Sister assured the other that their little ones had made it farther than they could have guessed at the beginning of things. It would bolster our kind further, they thought, than we could have ever gone under Balance's watchful eye, and of course they would still be there when we reached for them. It was for the good of all that they withdrew.
It was devastating.
No more whispers of greatness, no more gentle reminders of the watchful presence lingering just overhead. Rumors spread, terrible rumors of a fledgling species created to fill the niche that had been promised to us. The unrest could not be quelled; even those who reached out to our Ladies and begged them for answers did not have peace. Our mothers, some said, had abandoned us, banished us to a pointless existence beneath the waves. Not once before had we thought of leaving the soothing womb into which we were born, and yet, now that our place above was threatened, it was all that many of us wanted.
Something shifted then, moved out from us in an instant, and for a split second, the world felt smaller. Whole groups of dragons who had formed together in the hopes of making their way onto land disappeared, never to be seen again. Underwater landmarks went missing, strange fish began to appear in our waters, flickering in and out of existence for only long enough that we could note them. The scale that Balance had formed by creating itself anew had been tipped, and the peaceful, singular universe we had known before was no more.
In the years that followed the accidental creation of the Multiverse, the churning oceans of Cunabula Deae produced and perfected the only creature for which Balance had left explicit plans. Dragons, as we would come to be known, held sway over the massive oceans with little to concern them. With the whisperers gone and survival on our minds, our kind would come to forget the lonely, deserted feeling, each of us reaching out to our Ladies in kind for support during this terrifying period.
They needed our comfort nearly as much as we needed theirs.
Though our efforts to rebuild kept our minds off the conflicts of days gone by, soon the old stories emerged with a brand new twist. No longer were our poor, distraught Ladies the object of our hatred and distrust. Rather, the villains of the story became the creatures they had created in those years before the Multiverse. Though we hardly knew their names, we didn't hesitate to tarnish their image. After all, what did we care about these creatures that, as it stood, we would never meet.
--Zabreathe
Welcome to Cunabula Deae, the Cradle of the Goddesses
Cunabula Deae Information Blog
The Plan
This RP is going to span over three different threads in a rather episodic structure--finish the first thread, begin the next, yadda yadda. This avoids clutter and creates clear separation between the three different spans of history. Those three threads are as follows.
The Rise - This stage in Cunabula Deae's history is devoted to the transition of dragons from sea to land, and to the subsequent war that followed. Though it will begin in the sea, the starting characters of this thread (the leaders of the migration) will quickly begin to gather their forces and claim the land above. During this period, Land and Sea dragons do not see eye to eye (for obvious reasons), and many of those who remain in the sea take personal affront to those who wish to leave. This thread will span to the end of the war.
The Fall - This thread begins several years after the war, and is devoted to the consequences of the dragons' migration. While physically they have been able to adapt, their Ladies do not believe the dragons are taking properly to the other creatures that live on land. Though the species as a whole survives, by the end of this thread very few (land) dragons will remain--at least as dragons. Many of the dragons who die due to the events of this thread will be encouraged to take up residence in a human vessel, in Cunabula Deae or in one of the other realms of the multiverse. That will be decided when we get that far (I'd like some consistency, though).
The Resurrection - The third and final thread, the Resurrection is the time period in which those dragons who were born as humans (or Sylvans, or cats or mice or--you get it) will be piecing the puzzle together to return home. The race will experience a resurgence, and as the new wave of young dragons grows older, they will begin to try to rebuild. Don't expect, however, that they will have it easy; the other races of the world have nearly forgotten their existence, and know only of the dragons of lore and of their attitude towards human and Sylvan kind--quick to anger, quick to kill. Many groups of Sylvans, and of humans especially, will fight against this resurgence.
The Information Blog
Due to a lack of editing ability after a certain period of time, as well as the changing time line, an information blog has been created for this RP. Here, characters will be posted, a summary will be kept, and as information comes up, articles will be filled out to be placed there. If you would like to contribute to this information blog in any way, please PM me and we'll get it all sorted out. Also, if you would like to request an article, drop me a line.
Though this is one of the first RPs that I've actually GMed, I have my eye on a nomination for the Epic Level Roleplay Award. What does this mean for you, the prospective player?
Signatures - As instructed in the thread that makes mention of the award, signatures should be turned off for all In Character posts, to help with the continuity and flow of the roleplay.
Word Count - To some extent, this is my own personal preference. I would like it if posts could consistently remain over 500 words, and would prefer if they were regularly much higher than that. This will not be a fast paced roleplay, before you go fretting your pretty little heads off. You will have all the time you could possibly need to write, react, and help to create this ever-churning, living world. Please take this time, and show courtesy to other players by taking things slowly. (For those of you who have a problem with this, your need to post quickly will be addressed below).
Editing/The English Language - I'd like to consider this a literate to advanced level RP, which means that prospective players should have a more than decent grasp on the English language. You will be expected to take your time writing your posts (as mentioned above), to edit very carefully, and to properly convey your character through your choice of words (especially in dialogue).
Characters - Though I don't expect newly created characters to instantly pop out well-developed, I can dream. Characters ought to be well-thought out. There will be a section later on about character creation. Please adhere to those guidelines
Character Creation
Dragons
Dragons can be very difficult to name and create, so I've taken the liberty of putting forth a guide to help you do so.
Names - A dragon's name is a very important aspect of his person. As dragons don't have surnames, many dragon names are created on the spot for the sake of individuality. These names may have some sort of meaning in regards to language, or may have no meaning at all save for the sound that the combination of letters and vowels creates (see: Cunabula Deae Information Blog--Dragon Song). I am currently playing with the parameters of this name generator (http://www.vivtek.com/fantasy_namer) in order to find what I consider the proper criteria for a dragon name. That will also be posted on the information blog.
Parameters for the name gen:
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vowels i, a, e, o, u, y
consonants c, d, h, k, l, m, n, r, s, t, v, w like a, i, e, v, s, o, u, b
accents
hard cv.v
choices b.v, v.w, w.r, m.n=n, b.m, c.k=k, c.g, c.s, s.sh, ch.sh, tt.th
syllables vcv, cvc, ccv, v, cv, vc, c
max_syllables 1
prefixes Ey, Za, Vi, El, Ka, Ru, Ha, Kha, As, Az, Te, Ta, Sa, Se, Kat, O, Ol, En, Al, V, Z, I, E, A, D, R, N, An, Ad, Sh, Sha, Crys, Ai, Ais, Kar, Wy, Wyn, Em
suffixes lin, ia, iia, ya, on, ik, n, er, ter, ael, rael, rin, rein, arn, en, ein, ion, aron, indor, alin, ai, i, a, ire, athe, imbre, val, dor, ix, yon, aea, eae, in, riel, sta, lynn, e, i, a, o, u, na, ina, ter, rys
Family Crest - The family crest is a combination of both one color and one image, generally combined to represent the origins of a family or clan. Much like surnames, family crests change with marriages and sometimes with major events. Because there are so many ways to represent an image, it is recommended that you are very specific about the depiction of your family crest, specifying how realistic and detailed the image is, and making sure these details are noted. The only two crests I will not allow are a white rose and a black serpent. Neither of these should be relevant anyway, since you are only just making your crawl from the sea.
Age/Size - Dragons, as you might have guessed, grow to enormous proportions because there is very little in place to control their aging and thus their size. Keep in mind, however, that younger dragons are very much smaller than their older counterparts (because age = size), and that most of the dragons making the migration will be fairly young. Their advantage in the war will not be size but speed and flight (as flight begins to develop).
Appearance - Both draconic and humanoid appearances should be described, and mention should be made of how often they take either one. Remember that dragons have colored scales, and be sure to describe the "helmet" (which is to say, the horns on the creature's head, if they have any) in detail. This is sort of like a lion's mane (not limited to males) as it is a symbol of strength and age.
Place of Birth - Whether a dragon was born on land or sea should be noted, as well as the sea/continent/country they were born in. Most dragons at the beginning of the Rise will be born in the sea. The only exceptions to this will be half-dragons, whose parents would have moved onto land after coupling with a Sylvan or human (more likely a Sylvan).
Personality/History - There is no set history or personality for dragons. Though many of them are ignorant and arrogant at this point, there is always the chance that you could have one of the dragons who isn't. Put thought into their personality, look at the personalities of characters that have already been posted and take them into consideration. We will be helping you along in the character acceptance process, so don't fret if you aren't sure. CD is a complex world; I won't be upset if you don't quite know what to do just by reading a quick (and over-dated) overview of the world.
Allegiance - Make sure that dragons are spread out. I would like to have both sides played out about evenly (as well as the reactions of the races already prominent on the surface).
Sylvans
Name - Sylvans, unlike dragons, have two separate names. Their true name, which is taken from combining the essence of their personality and an aspect of nature, is a name that they keep close and guarded. A Sylvan will very rarely tell anyone but his or her spouse what this name is, as it can be used in a spell to harm or enslave the name's bearer. They feel that this name is revealed to them when they reach adulthood, and in their eyes it is the name of their soul. For day to day use, however, they have more common names, given to them by their parents at birth. This name can be based on their home or some other aspect of their culture (Latin names or the dragon name guide are acceptable. Please make mention of the name's meaning among that particular Sylvan's family group, for reference purposes).
Family crest - A Sylvan's family crest consists of two different natural colors and a creature or plant found in the family's home forest (please be creative; the fauna of Cunabula Deae is bigger and currently more primitive than our own). Naturally, these creatures or plants would not have anything to do with the sea unless the sylvan was of dragon parentage.
Age/Size - Sylvan's are, as a rule, generally much taller than humans. Some of them can reach heights well over six and a half feet. Though the speed of their growth is varied, most Sylvans reach their maximum height at around two hundred years of old age. Unlike humans, Sylvans have strong, dense bones, and do not shrink with old age. However, the strain of their backs may cause them to hunch over slightly and appear shorter than their full stature.
Appearance - Sylvans have long, delicately pointed ears that curl slightly towards their tips, giving them almost a sea-shell like structure. Young Sylvans have round, childish faces, and their hair color ranges from very light blonde (nearly silver-this color is almost never seen in older Sylvans) to jet black. As they age, the lines of their faces become stricter and more defined. Their hair color darkens, and as such, the elders of the race nearly always have very deep black hair (often tinted with a natural green sheen, as their Heavenly Mother does ever so much like the color green). Among Sylvans, eye colors are often a shade of green, blue, grey, gold/amber, or black. Common skin tones consist of tans, pinks, and golds, with variations in darkness ranging from as pale and white as a sheet of paper to very very dark (think of the colors of tree bark and the wood inside). A Sylvan reaches adulthood at around their first century, and rarely appears older than a human equivalent of thirty years.
Place of birth - This fact will come into play as the story progresses. All Sylvans are born on land, as they are a land-dwelling race, depending upon the continent they are born on and the forest they are born in, the side the choose in regards to the coming war may have direct consequences on their social standing.
Personality/history - Like dragons, there is hardly a solid, distinct personality for Sylvans. The more diverse, the better. Things to keep in mind, however, include the fact that they are colder than the other races and very proud. Many of them are quick to take insult, and it is very difficult to find your way back into their good graces. Also keep in mind that the Sylvan people as a whole are very careful about the world around them, and as such word things very creatively. They find lying repulsive, but they are not above wording things a different way in order to lead you to believe something else. Many Sylvans enjoy word games and riddles. Other than that, be creative.
Note: A dragon/Sylvan hybrid will be more sociable and won't take offense quite quickly. While they may be more pleasant to be around, they are still proud and arrogant creatures, a trait seen on both sides.
Allegiance - See dragons above. It is best to have your Sylvan characters spread out in their allegiance. However, because their Heavenly Mother is not directly taking part in the war between land and sea, Sylvans may adopt a neutral standing as well.
Skeleton
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[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Family Crest (for humans and Sylvans, surname or equivalent):[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b]
[b]Place of Birth:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]History:[/b]
[b]Allegiance:[/b]
[b]Other Information (extra abilities, links with other player characters, etc.):[/b]
Sirs (and Dames) Definitely Appearing In This "Film"
The following characters come prenamed and with something like unto an idea of purpose.
Calyen and Shira - Omega_Pancake
Viriia - Omega_Pancake
Zabreathe - Omega_Pancake
Aean (reserved to be passed out at a later date)
Zefire - Damien Silverwing
The following characters are free to play and to create as you choose.
Queen of the Espaean Seas
King of the Esus Seas
Empress of the Saoris Seas
Chief of the Ethevurian Seas
High Seat of the Albuaron Seas
As more continents are added, the leaders for those seas will be open to play as well. If you wish to apply to create a continent, please give us a name and a brief description of the culture living on it.
Sub-Plots and Behind The Scenes
For those of you fast posters and people who get off on tangents, sub-plots are encouraged, as well as behind the scenes, character development sort of things, provided you follow these guidelines.
1. For sub-plots, I would like a PM or some other form of contact regarding them before they are approved. This way I know who's involved, what the outcome will be, and what effect it will have on the rest of the world.
2. For behind the scenes stuff, which I expect you'll be doing over PM or some other form of communication, I would like a daily update by PM in some other form, so that I know what has gone on previously or what has been going on while no one was watching. Some of these things may be added to the summary once they are revealed to other players.
Rules
1. First and foremost, and an obvious among RPers of the standard I'm looking for, is no god-modding. This includes, but is not limited to auto hitting, meta-gaming, and ignoring damage. If you are unsure of what any of these things are, or if you're not sure whether or not your action falls into one of these categories, drop me a PM and we'll get things cleared up. Remember! Dragons are pretty powerful characters. That doesn't give you the right to abuse that power
2. As mentioned above, I expect good grammar and a decent show of ability out of players. Take your time, make sure you edit, get that word count up (intelligently, please), and if something is pointed out to you, please fix it. We will make mention of these things as we see them in some form or fashion, be it in the OOC or by PM.
3. Please inform me if you wish to leave the role play, and if you can, stick around long enough that your character can be written out of it. This includes temporary absences (we have to explain why your character has gone quiet somehow). If you are gone for more than one week without warning, your character will be handed over to a capable player to NPC until your return. If you are gone for more than one month with no explanation or reply to PMs, your character will 1) be given over to the player who had NPCed them permanently, 2) be killed off, or 3) be made unavailable in some other fashion. Upon appropriate explanation, you may be allowed that character back. However, if they have died, you will have to create a reincarnation.
4. Do not post in the IC thread before your character is approved.
5. Character applications should be at least 300 words, preferably more, to get a proper feel for the character. Please do not use images in your application, as using images someone created in order to represent their own characters is plagiarism. If the image is yours, you may use it, but please link to it rather than posting it in the thread. This reduces clutter in the OOC.
6. Turn your signatures off in the IC thread to keep with the continuity of the story.
7. When the GMs say no, the answer shall remain no. Feel free to try to sway us with arguments, we'd love to hear your side of the story, but in the end, if no is our final verdict, don't walk away angry because we didn't agree with you. This upsets us ever so much, and makes us feel as though our authority is being undermined by your need to have things your way (in short, GM's word is law, though the law will be taken on a case by case basis). Upon reading the OOC thread all the way through, please place "Gates above!" and one trivial/humorous fact about your character at the end of your post.
8. The OOC thread is there for a reason. Please use it. It is easier for our story to come together if we've all got some idea of what's on everyone else's mind. I have seen too many threads with epic potential die out due to lack of organization. Please don't let this happen! Remember, all OOC discussions are to happen in the OOC thread! Please, no OOC comments in the IC.
9. The Cunabula Deae Information Blog is your textbook when it comes to CD, and a link will be posted as soon as it's up and ready to go. Any questions that you can't find the answer to should be directed to one of the GMs (probably me, for the first little while). These questions will go onto a list on the info blog, so that you can go back and reference the information.
10. Last but not least, don't forget to have fun! Though the plot of the RP is sort of serious, that doesn't mean a bit of humorous character interaction will get you into trouble. We like humor here, and there's humor in real life situations sometimes. Make sure to incorporate some of that.
EDIT: Oh, geez, I forgot to post the summary of the beginning of the plot, like an intelligent person.
Just a few centuries previous to the beginning of the thread, a very important group of dragons is born to a pair of nobles undersea. There are four siblings—one sister and three brothers—who will, at the start of our thread, begin gathering support and lead the rise out of the oceans. The eldest of these siblings, the female, is one of the few dragons who still listens to the now-quieted rumors that the dragons of her grandpareng's generation whispered about the creatures above. She is responsible for the resurgence of these rumors, and is using them to fuel her rise to the surface, something the dragons who have come to love the sea do not agree with.
EDIT 2: The GM is getting excited and is a ditz. Co-GMs are as follows:
Damien Silverwing
MULTI_MEDIA_MAN