For Millennia uncounted, Yertreis and Azazel ruled among the heavens, each balancing the powers of the other. Gifted with their Father's powers of creation, they continued his work upon the cosmos. Together, they created the Seraphim to populate the heavens and do their bidding, and the Demyans to uphold their laws and carry the responsibility of protecting the souls of their subjects. All was perfect upon Eden, the name they chose for what later became known as the heavens. However, there was one thing that from the beginning made the whole affair destined to fail. Whether because it was a flaw in the design of The Creator, or a part of His plan all the time, Yertreis and Azazel both carried the intelligence of the Creator, and most importantly of all the things he had endowed them with, free will. To this day, none know who struck first or why. Some say Yertreis and Azazel disagreed upon the matter of Man, for she wanted yet another creature of light, and Azazel wanted Man to carry evil before all else, but somehow, Man ended up being a creature of both, and thus gained a free will. Whatever the real reason, Azazel and Yertreis had a tremendous disagreement, and for hundreds of years, the heavens rang with their fury at one another. Then suddenly, without explanation, the balance that was perfect was broken, and whether Yertreis gained a moment of evil, or Azazel gained a moment of weakness was never ascertained. Azazel found himself exiled from Eden, which itself was split into three parts. Heaven, The Middle Ground, and Hell. The power of creation was torn away from Azazel, among with his godly form, and he was forced to take refuge in Hell from time immemorial. The Master Plan was no more, as far as the Created could tell and the universe was in chaos. Meanwhile, Azazel slept, weak and broken, left in the care of his three trusted Seraphim’s, made by him in his own fashion, and the Demyans who had more in common with him than her.
For a thousand years Azazel slept, and when he awoke, he was furious to see what he had been reduced to. He could no longer create with a thought, or bend by his will. But his nature was unchanged, and his power though diminished, still was a force to be reckoned with. And thus the battle of Hell against Heaven began. Azazel, the Prince of Darkness, feared by Man and Seraphim alike, and Yertreis, sole mistress of the heavens. Azazel bowed to reduce the world to ashes, and bring forth the evil of Yertreis to light, while she deemed him evil, and bowed to imprison him for eternity. And in the midst of it all, stood the many creatures of the underworld, middle world, and over world. Two sides, two causes, or so it seemed, for who can really judge the will and thoughts of the only two true Immortals?
(Link to the IC: The Fall of Azazel-IC)
Well, hello there my fellow denizens of RPG. Welcome to my newest adventure and first epic I introduce to these, the esteemed halls of Role Play Gateway. I bring to you, a vast open world in which at any given time you can join in and be a part of, whether it is in being involved in the main plot, or enjoying a leisurely evening killing villagers and burning houses (Or trying to stop someone doing so, but, meh, where is the fun in that?) I realize a lot of you are used to rather quick-paced guided role plays. This is not one of those. While there indeed will be a major plot that I will partake in, and lead any who chose, it is indeed quite optional, and you have the freedom to join and leave it as you will. The major theme of this RP is the fight between seemingly evil and good. Seemingly being the key-word, for as you embark in this venture, I will show you what happens when the lines of morality are blurred to the point of non-existence. This is not going to be a happy place, and even a happy ending will be bitter-sweet at best, because remember, killing evil and triumphing, does not change the fact you killed, and what you view as evil, views you as evil. So come, abandon all hope, and join or attempt to hinder as the very persona of the devil attempts to reduce the world to ashes. Will you burn, fight the fire, or do the burning? The choice, is yours.
Now, I will give you a highlight of the story, races, and some notes on the character development process, along with the all important rules.
Story: The story, in case you did not gather from the writing up there (Or did not bother to read, and scrolled down here to see what the heck this is all about) is about the forces of (seemingly) good and evil battling each other. The Rp I'm envisioning is going to be a grim one, where goodness is not as shiny as Man thinks, and darkness even darker. It will be a rather mature role-play, not just because it is open to all sorts of things within reason and the loose rules of RPG, but because of the very themes it will touch. It will be rife with death, treason, disappointment, evil, and the rest. It will be a sort of dark fantasy, if you need a specific genre. I myself will take the role of Azazel, while the role of Yertreis will remain mostly as a behind the scenes character unless I arbitrarily deem it otherwise. Now, I suppose I should make the rest of the information you need neat and tidy shouldn't I?
Setting: The story will take place in a period known to humanity as the Dark Ages. In other words, as far as Man goes, it's medieval. It can and will take place in three realms: Hell, Heaven, and what we know as Earth, with Earth being the primary plane, and the starting point for everyone. Anywhere you can think of to start is fine, but in the interest of simplicity, I will eventually focus the action in a very Europe-y land.
A few places of interest are:
The city of Bellanuva-The center of the known human world, where all learning and fashion springs into the four corners of what the humans consider their world. Major landmarks are: The Arcanum University, where all matters are studied. The High Plaza, a gigantic open square, and the very center of commerce in the world. Bellanuva Castle, home to the Monarchs who rule upon the city and all the lands around it. And the Dark Slums, the place where the lowest of the lowest lay, and where things not human are said to mingle in humanity’s affairs. Humans being the busy beings they are, are always building and remodeling, and changing, and doing this and that. As a result, one can find almost anything in the city of Bellanuva.
The 9th circle of Hell-The center of Hell, and home to Vlak Master of Shadows, Prime of the Demyans, the highest of all demons, who runs Hell and was created personally and solely by Azazel before his fall. Major Landmarks are: It’s hell folks, not a tourist spot. The Road of Pain connects all the circles of hell, should you somehow find yourself down there. It winds down in a spiral into the lower circles, and is heavily guarded by demons of all order. Upon the entrance to The Road of Pain sits Cerberus, a demon in the form of a three headed dog who guards entrance into hell. It is said that the Damned Ones roam around in Hell from time to time, sending messages between Azazel and his loyal servant Vlak. The Damned Ones are the three Seraphim whom Azazel made in his image, and carry powers rivaled only by The Immortals or the Holy Three. It is said that any wishing to ally with Azazel are wise to seek their approval first, as they are very adamant in insisting their Master’s time is not wasted.
New Eden- The Jewel of the Heavens, and the holiest bastion of light. Angels and all souls deemed holy live here. It is guarded by the 7th order Archangels, warrior Seraphim’s combining the goodness of Yertreis and the power of Azazel. It is ruled by the Holy Three, three Seraphim’s of unspeakable power, created by Yertreis herself to counter Azazel’s Damned Ones. In the midst of it all, Yertreis herself is said to live, but none who live, ever lived, or walk dead know for a fact, as Immortals are accountable by none. It is said that only Azazel and Yertreis know how to gain entrance to the deepest part of Eden. Major Landmarks are: The Saintly Gates, entrance into New Eden. The Tower of the Moon and Sun, home to the cradle of Magic. And the Uroboros Chamber, rumored entrance to the Other Side of New Eden, where Yertreis and Azazel first lived, and where the power of Creation first placed them.
NOTE: This are only a few places I have named for those who want a location to guide them. You are all welcomed and encouraged to invent your own settings.
Races: You have unprecedented liberty here folks. As long as you can argue it is fit for a "fantasy" you can have it. Humans, Angels, Demons, Vampires (Please, I highly value the Children of the Night, so don't butcher them. They need not be the old style though I would prefer it, but I swear, if you try to say they are sparkly, I will not only ignore you, I will also not acknowledge the fact you are a sentient being entirely), Lycans, Elves, Dwarfs, Gnomes, Ponies, I don't care. As long as you can properly role play as whatever it is you chose, I am fine with that.
Character Development: You will not need to adhere to any specific "Character Skeleton" or "Bio Sheet" or whatever. In fact, by all means, if you feel like it, jump right in and go "naked" or "sheet less". If you chose to do so however, somewhere in the first post, there needs to be a substantial description of what and who you are. Few that I have seen here can pull that off, but if you can go ahead. For those who do make a "Character Sheet" A few lines won't cover it. I will judge each character on a separate case basis, but the general rule is, none of those Mary Sue's or Anti-Mary Sue's or whatever the hell you guys like to call it. You know, the bland tasteless guys and gals. Below is a sample template for you to use should you feel the need for it. It is by no means all inclusive, and can be edited for your purposes. I recommend using it, but like I said, each character is judged by it’s own merit, and you need not use it to get accepted.
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Race:
Appearance: (All pictures must be backed with a written description, mostly for the fact that I want to see if you could do without it if you had to, rather than take the easy way out)
Usual Clothing/Armor: (At the very least, what you are starting out with)
Weapons:
Magic and/or other abilities (Including Race inherent abilities, such as a Vampire's preternatural speed or a Lycan's sense of smell)
Bio(graphy):(Who is your character? What has their life been, up to this point?)
Other:(Whatever else you might wish to add or tell me about your character)
Rules: Due to the fact that this will be a "Serious" and "Mature" role-play, I expect any who wish to participate to act accordingly in character. If you are a joker by nature, but wish to role-play a serious Dwarf, make sure he doesn't skip from place to place while humming the theme of Miley Cyrus's latest single, or whatever kids are into these days. There will not be a one-liner EVER. I simply will not tolerate them, and by joining the RP you are consenting to this. There is simply no excuse to a one-liner in here. Three paragraphs at least, and if that is all you can really manage, I fear for Humanity's power of creation, but alas, I'll take you. Also, posts should be descriptive, literate, and consist of more than just dialogue or action. No Godmodding, in any form, however mild, without the consent of the other role player. Draining the blood of NPC 48, perfectly fine. Biting into Johnny the Knight's Jugular without him having a chance to defend himself, very very bad. Cursing is allowed in character as much as you want, within reason. Last I checked, nuns don't curse much, so if you role-play one, watch the language. If on the other hand you're a sailor... And lastly, by all means, if you feel like it, have romance, but try to keep it real. Even love at first sight requires some substance. I don't really care what you do outside of these rules, as this RP will be very open. All that I ask is that you keep it realistic (Fantasy wise, if that makes sense, if not I'll let you know when you slip), and don't be afraid of the darkness. I do however, hold the power of final say in any matter regarding the rules naturally, and by joining, you consent to respect them to the best of your ability and the smallest extent of my tyranny.
Note:Yes, I have changed the rules, and yes, I have made them a bit more strict. Yes, I can do that, and yes, I have a reason for doing so. Anyone who is unsure on what I expect for the new changes to be carried out, feel free to PM me with questions, and I will explain. I also want to add that this role-play is to be focused on quality and not quantity. There is no need to post every day, but I do expect every post to be your very best.
Important NOTE: This role-play is not based on any religion, and the liberties I have taken on it's stories are my own ideas and not meant to insult anyone's belief system. If you do not like it, or can't be mature enough to realize it is not "real" then by all means, stay OUT of it.
My Characters: (Here I will post the characters who are under my control, along with any bios I attribute them. Not every character I will use will have a bio.)
Main Plot Line Characters:
Azazel
Vlak, Master of Shadows
The Holy Three: Adam, Eve, Cain
The Damned Ones: Abel, Lilith, Lucian. (Lilith is again under my control, until Lady Ethereal has the ability to return to us, or if she lets me know she can not, and I decide someone else is up to the task.)
Cerberus, Guardian of Hell
Minor/Optional Plot Line Characters:
None at this moment.
Now, here I will post Azazel’s bio, just so you know who you are dealing with.
Name: Azazel. AKA: The Prince of Darkness, The Dark One, The Devil, Lucifer, The Divine Joke, The Immortal, Corruptor of Souls. Among many others.
Gender: Male
Age: Uncountable. Born with the first sigh of Creation. It has been 1000 years since his exile from Eden.
Race: Immortal Reagent to the Creator. Sole Personification of Evil. Creator of the Seven Sins.
Appearance: Azazel’s physical form is 6’6” in height, and about 250 lbs in weight when his wings are displayed. His skin is the very definition of purest white marble, as the Creator intended. No veins or other signs of an internal working are visible. No blemishes or scars mar his ancient body, and thus give him the appearance on a man on his very prime.
His facial features are defined only as supple yet rough. A sharp yet small nose. Slightly prominent brow. Perfectly round yet sharp jaw and chin. Evenly spaced eyes. His hair is the color of Jet, a jewel he fashioned after his own hair in a moment of narcissism. It flows long and un-tamed just past his shoulder, with an eerie natural parting curtain in the front revealing his whole face at all times. His eyebrows are thick but naturally taper to fine points, giving him an everlasting expression of malice. His eye lashes are naturally curved and sharply visible in contrast to his eyes. His eyes are perfectly white without veins in them, with blood red pupils. Or rather blood is the color of his pupils, for he chose that color for the blood of men. His teeth are starkly white, and his top two fangs are razor sharp, and his inspiration in the creation of Vampires. His ears are pointed yet about the same length of the average human ear.
His hands are equally long, and his fingers somewhere perfectly between stubby and thin. His nails are about half an inch long and as sharp as a sword edge. His legs are also of equal length, and not unlike humans in shape, with the exception of an extra bone in the heel, acting as a plate to both smooth his landing from flight, and to facilitate the crushing of things from skulls to ribs. His toe nails are short and rather safer than his nails.
Azazel’s body frame is somewhat lithe, with the muscles being toned and clearly visible, yet not overly bulging. Upon his back are six pairs of wing. They are all feathered in black with crimson at their tips. The two largest ones sit in the middle of his shoulder blades and are considerably larger than that of common angels. At the tip of them is a razor sharp talon.
Usual Clothing/Armor: Azazel usually garbs himself all in black. In order to blend in with man and enjoy his sport with them more, he dresses himself in a long free flowing cloak. Underneath it, he usually chooses to wear a simple outfit of black trousers, black buckled shoes, and a black tunic top. He wears a single item of jewelry. A necklace of a platinum like metal with a small diamond like stone containing a liquid like quicksilver. None know what it is, and all those who are careless enough to ask seem to be reduced to ashes without an explanation. They say his Damned Ones who what it is, but asking them seems to go little better.
Weapons: Azazel carries a single physical weapon. A simple looking short sword fashioned with the same metal as his necklace. Upon the blade are inscribed runes fashioned with jet in a language that only Two people in the world can understand. On the sword’s guard is wrapped a lock of golden red hair. It is said that the sword was a gift from Yertreis herself to Azazel when they were still in terms, and that the hair is her own. Much like his necklace, those who ask too much of Azazel about it seldom live long.
Magic and/or other abilities: No one who roams the earth, either living or dead, seems to know the true extent of Azazel’s powers. While he can no longer create or alter reality with a thought, that does not seem to stop him from being able to render it asunder in a variety of ways just as easily. Fire seems to be a rather personal favorite, and reducing the world to ashes a motto he seems to take rather seriously.
Note: Yes, Azazel breaks all the nice laws of balance. Going after him directly is greatly discouraged. And yet, I, the person behind the character, know and revere the rules of Godmodding, and even with a “God-like” character, you might come at me with a sharpened stick, and still get a fair treatment. Just remember, it is not wise to stand in the way of an Immortal.
Well, folks, there is the role-play. Post your characters or permission to go “Sheet less” now. If you do wish to go “Sheet less” You’ll have to PM me your first IC post before actually making it public for my approval. Read all the rules, and all the bold headings or ask me for any info you do not understand, as posting here signifies your consent to all of the above, and you will be held accountable. Well, with that grim prospect out of the way, let’s get even more grim: Post and let the Darkness begin!