Manus Veneficus

[Eva]

What is magic?

Is it the power to hold the earth in your grasp? The power to influence creation? Or is it merely the force of the elements? Everyone has their own interpretation, and that is why things are the way they are.

Thousands of years ago, there was one race. They had existed for a long time, never questioning their lives or believing in anything more than survival. They merely gathered their food and protected their lands from whomever might threaten them, and occasionally there was cause for celebration.

But then something strange happened.

It was quiet, small, when it was first discovered. A few children could do odd things, change the world around them for brief seconds, with but mild changes. And soon there were more who could do these strange things. Nobody knows how it started, but they all know what ensued.

They named it 'magic'. And it was beautiful.

For a while.

The problem with new things is that one must learn how they work before they can truly be utilized. The old ones did not think of this, and that is why they deserved what came next.

When the children became adults, and a new generation of magic-users were born, the first magic-users decided to experiment. There were not many of them, but they were able to find each other, somehow. Nobody is sure how the magic-users were able to do what they did next, however.

A rift was created. And then the magic-users who created it were no more. There were witnesses, and they fled. They told of how the rift appeared, and precious seconds after that, the magic-users were gone. Where did they go? How did they disappear?

Many magic-users tried to seal the rift, and one by one they failed, disappearing as the ones before them had. Progress was made only when nine magic-users, calling themselves mages, came together to seal the rift. They succeeded, and finally there was peace.

Shortly thereafter, peace was broken. The rift had brought many questions, and no answers had been provided. People argued and fought over how magic should and would be managed, and words were said that could never be taken back. And so the old ones became disjointed, forming new tribes to practice magic as they saw fit.

Thousands of years later, and the divisions are clearer than ever. Magic has left its mark, changing the way each tribe looks and thinks. Peace is not on anyone's mind, and wars between tribes are common enough. Some tribes are on friendly terms, some have eternally bad blood, and others are simply indifferent.

And it would have remained that way forever, were it not for the complete disappearance of the Cabrole tribe. Travelling merchants from other tribes came upon their territory, and they found nothing but a strange...rift?

When the merchants told of what had happened, there was a quick decision made. The Magister Court of the Waking Keep, the highest power in the land, called for a meeting. All tribes were invited to attend, even those whom the Court had condemned. The nine Magisters themselves sent the letters to their jurisdictions, each pleading for the tribes to come.

Head Magister Oleg called the tribes that allied with the Waking Keep.
Senior Magister Wynne called the tribes of the Shivering Sea territory.
Senior Magister Banner called the tribes of the Greatlands territory.
Magister Catleia called the tribes of the Caper Islands territory.
Magister Fenarel called the tribes of the Misty Forests territory.
Magister Vivyan called the tribes of the Warring Wastes territory.
Magister Allen called the tribes of the Minster territory.
Junior Magister Meitner called the tribes of the Wet Salts territory.
And Junior Magister Rowley called the tribes of the Heark Heartland territory.

Many answered, and many more did not. Those who did seek to find out what happened to the Cabrole tribes. Some wish to right wrongs, and others merely wish to harness the power for themselves.

Your role is your own to decide.

[Eva]

The title of the RP is open to change, as I wish to give it a title that's a little less gay. Suggestions are welcome.

The premise is that YOU, the writer, will make a tribe that is based around a single type of magic, and you will roleplay the representative that this tribe has sent. The format for the tribes will be shown soon, so just base yours off of what I post.

Regarding magic! Most of this has been explained in the Cbox, so I really don't think I need to reiterate it here unless someone asks. If you are unsure about your magic type, PM me. I will be glad to explain fully.

I really hate posting explanations and rules, as you can tell, so please just PM me for info. It's much easier for me to explain things to a single person than post broad info.

Here are some RP essentials, though, that you must know.

---

The most powerful tribe is the Magistry. They are descended directly from the people who restricted their magic use, and thus they resemble the old ones the most. They have millions of people in their 'tribe', which is more of a collection of tribes than anything. There is no ruler of the Magistry, there is only the Magister Court. The Court consists of nine members, each representing one of the nine territories. There are always four men and four women, with the Head Magister being either male or female. The specifics of the Magister Court will be revealed in-story, where I can be more creative with how it's told.


About the nine territories. The continent is cut into eight large chunks, with a ninth territory consisting of the small islands that lay just to the east. Your tribe must fall into one of the territories, which one it is should be based on how you feel. Note: just because your tribe lives in a territory does not mean they follow the rules of the Magistry. Here are short descriptions:

Waking Keep- Basically a series of towns and cities. Only tribes that are allied with the Magistry and follow its laws are based in/around this territory.

Shivering Sea- The west coast of the continent, cold but not uncomfortable. Has many sandy beaches with rainy weather and crashing waves.

Greatlands- Located south of the Waking Keep. Mostly plains, they are called the Greatlands because the tribes located there 'guard' the Keep from anything that may come from the Misty Forests.

Caper Islands- The aforementioned tiny islands. They are tropical and quite warm, and due to their moderate isolation, they are considered a haven for enemies of the Magistry.

Misty Forests- A very large expanse of heavy trees that seperate Greatlands from Warring Wastes. Few tribes enter the Misty Forests due to the belief that its mists hide twisted magic.

Warring Wastes- As its name implies, there is a great deal of warring in this territory. There are almost no accurate maps of the Wastes, due to the constantly changing tribal borders. Although, the 'wastes' part is somewhat inaccurate, as the lands are quite fertile and farm-able. Which explains the warring.

Minster- Minster is a strange territory. It is well-suited for civilization, and magic has not impacted it much. It is simply...a territory. There is absolutely nothing remarkable about it. A tribe would do well here, but one gets the since of...boredom from Minster.

Wet Salts- The Wet Salts are...wet. It's almost always raining, but not in the ambient way of the Shivering Sea. Thunder and lightning, and howling winds accompany the constant rain. It is quite obvious that all of these effects are caused by magic, but nobody knows when or how this began.

Heark Heartland- Much like the Warring Wastes, this territory is excellent for farming and hosts many tribes. It is known as the 'Heartland' because, unlike the Wastes, its tribes generally do not try to cause conflict. Conflict does arise, of course, but generally it is a civil and easy area to live in- as long as you were born there. Trying to move into the Heartland is...not advised. Any tribe is considered an invader.

[Eva]

"Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvelous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror."

-Senior Magister Alfstanna of the Eighty-Ninth Magister Court.

"Of the ones who split from the First Tribe, the Elvehanan were the ones who left with the most bitterness. The old ones sought to chain magic, to make it into a pale talent that was only to be used for fun and bedazzling. Some agreed. The Elvehanan did not.
We are those who stand against the hypocrites and the liars. Those who wish to demonize magic and render it impotent. We stand alone in our struggle. We claim these forests and we will use them to protect ourselves against the true monsters.
Let all those who enter feel our wrath."

- Unknown author, writings found in Misty Forests by mages of the Magistry.



One of the first tribes to make themselves notorious, the Elvehanan, or the 'elves' as they are known, have become the most vilified of the Magistry's enemies. Isolated in the Misty Forests, the elves have shaped their home into a weapon in and of itself, a living fortress that never sleeps.

For reasons unknown, a higher percentage of mages are born to elves than any other race. Due to the higher number of mages, there is more 'competition' among them. With magic being so dangerous to use, many of these young mages do not last very long.

There are elves who venture outside of the Misty Forests. Some join other tribes, and others still have actually joined the Magistry itself. What little the Magistry knows about elven magic comes from these 'exiles'. The current Magister of the Misty Forests, Fenarel, is one of the elves himself.

In spite of their converts' assistance, however, the Magistry has yet to truly make progress in their assaults on the Misty Forest. Their only comfort lies in the knowledge that the elves cannot penetrate the Greatlands, even if they ever deigned to leave the forest to do battle.

To the shock of all, the Elvehanan were among the first to answer the call to meet. They allowed Magister Fenarel back into the forest, and accepted his request for aid, marking of the few times the elves have cooperated with their territory's Magister in thousands of years.

The Elvehanan's representative to the Meeting is Cyrell Zammborn and his apprentice, Valena Layanath. Their guard consists of only a few elven warriors.

"Tenelves left the Misty Forest that day
they went down the road and one paused to stay
so a cart ran him over and there were nine elves that day
nine elves went through the Greatlands
one looked shifty so the Barbellens cut off his hands
and there were eight elves that day
eight elves skipped into town and one had a frown
so the townspeople slit his throat and hung him upside down
and there were seven elves that day
seven elves bartered for food
one knocked over an apple
so she was whipped to death in the nude
and there were six elves that day
six elves tried to walk to the Keep
one found the hills far too steep
so he hit his head on a rock, with a wound quite deep
and there were five elves that day
five elves made it to the Keep with time to spare
one was tired and gave a noblewoman a glare
so she burned him to death with a white hot flare
and there were four elves that day
four elves met with the Magistry
and four were elves
So the Magistry made them kill themselves.

- Classic Greatlands nursery rhyme

[token]

"There lies a spot on the coasts of the Shivering Sea; a place made of myth and lore. Tales of a recluse tribe that shares no treaties, nor declarations of war with any tribe. The only known record of it's existence is the few merchants that were rejected to trade in their markets and the ships who weren't allowed to dock their wharf.
From the tales of these merchants and sea farers, the glimpses they had of this tribe's residence, all wore some token about their necks, or tattoos of strange markings on their bodies.

It is said that the people of this village resemble mercenaries who've aided other tribes in combat. They use a type of magic referred to as 'voodoo.' Hexing the opponent, impeding their movement, slowly crippling them, draining their stamina, and some rumors, their life force. There are tales of these mercenaries to use their voodoo to heal their allies and even set up wards to keep the darkness away. Other wards take on the shame of animals and are used as stationary sentries.

It is unclear to the relation between these mercenaries and the mysterious tribe that rests on the Shivering Sea. Many attempts to negotiate trade alone has failed."
- Shortest chapter in 'The Tribes of the Shivering Seas.'



"I've come to call these people 'The Shadowmoor.' I'm uncertain as to what they refer to themselves as. But I stay upon the higher ground and far from site. I've been using my telescopic device to help me spy past the city's walls.

The people don't seem hostile, and are friendly to one another, as normal day life would for other tribes. Your children learning and playing. People performing their daily jobs.

Another note, there seem to be only but a handful of anyone who appears past the age of fifty. I have no theory for this. I've also noticed, that the start of womanhood is quickly ensued by pregnancy. I've never seen them assault someone who approached their gates or wharfs. They merely tell th"
-Cartographer Elijah's final journal entry.

After the publication of his journal, this strange tribe has been referred to as the Shadowmour.


A witchdoctor in ceremonial wear.

The home of the inhabitants, and only known to it's inhabitants is "Theros." And they do not carry a specific name to their race. They only refer to themselves as 'The Hofu.' They often jest and ridicule at the name 'Shadowmour' as their people have been known to be called by the outside world.

It is unsure as to when Theros was established, but they have a long standing reputation of secrecy. The people of Theros keep to themselves, not because it's in their nature. But to strike fear with uncertainty and the unknown. They only use this tactic to ensure peace in their tribal territory, which is marked with a serious of inactive tribal wards and trinkets such as shrunken heads, hanging voodoo dolls and other symbols drawn by blood on trees. So far it's worked.

The Hofu right of passage is to set out and enlist in any tribe at war. Where they must learn to kill with out the aid of their charms, tokens, or voodoo. In the tribe, it is said, being a mother in Theros is the hardest, for when their children die in battle, they are filled with the anguish of loss, no matter the distance.

Due to the drawback of the source of their magic powers, the Hofu have learned to master their weapons skills and the use of poisons to finish off their opponents. Due to this, most lethal voodoos have been lost as they required too much life force to muster up the required magical power.

The day Senior Magister Wynne arrived to the gates of Theros, her call fell not upon deaf ears, but reluctant beings. Beings who were set in, for as far back as their archives read, a seemingly permanent golden age. Abundance of need and no war for countless years.

Upon Senior Magister Wynne's leave, the Council of Theros convened to discuss Wynne's call. Several days of intense arguing and it was decided upon, that two representatives will go. Siona Kit'la and Taltos Cua'ue. They have yet to arrive to the meet.

"The Hofu, in order to use their voodoo, charms, tokens, and wards, we sacrifice our own life force to heal our allies and to cripple or kill our enemies."
-First lesson taught to every Hofu child when they begin their magic training.

[Rose]

The D’valinn

The Dead Ones

While their ancestors had known many ways to use their magic, for the D’valinn, blood is the lone source of power. A bit of blood on the hands will work for smaller spells, but for true power they must consume it, and most favorably when its fresh. They have gained a special sight beyond the other tribes, that which allows them to see spirits, and with the raw energy and lifeforce they gain from blood, the D’valinn are able to manipulate these specters in a number of ways varying with the power of both user and spirit.

Through the years, the D’valinn’s appearance has warped to something more sinister than the other tribes. Their skin is generally a soft grey or blue hue, though there a few families with pale skin in their bloodline, thought to come from mixing with the elven tribe that shares the forest. Hair color varies from black, red, or white hues, as do their eyes, with the inclusion of yellow. Their fingers are long, turning black half way across as skin meets two-inch claws and their heads are adorned with horns that vary in number and slightly in appearance between families. And to aid the blood-drinkers in their hunt, the Dead Ones have a mouth full of slightly pointed teeth with a set of sharp incisors, making even the kindest of their people look ill-intentioned.

They say darkness has twisted our hearts and the shape of our flesh. But it is the earth who has twisted us, and it is in the visage of her beasts, for we hunt as they do. They say that it is evil that gives us strength. But it is the life we drink from our brethren that gives us the Sight to see what lies beyond our mortal bodies. And when we pass, our flesh to earth again, our brethren will in turn use us.
-King Cyradel

It is on a rocky cliff towering above the Misty Forest that you will find the Dead Ones. Their homes are built out of the rock and decorated with the bones of their past to attract the spirits they utilize, skulls hanging from beaded rope around doorways and melded hands holding crystal orbs in glass cases displayed in open windows. Their village is one of beauty and terror. Amidst the paraded remains are countless jewels found within the mountain caves. Gold-plated armor and jewelry is plentiful, diamond-tipped weapons commonplace and turquoise chest pieces a current trend amongst the wealthy.

The D’valinn are seen as a horrific and barbaric tribe by nearly anyone who comes in contact with them. It is true that long ago when their skin was paler, their horns nothing but buds and their fangs just showing that the tribe lead a gruesome slaughter against all but the elves, who, out of a bit of sense in power-clouded minds, they left alone, knowing how unwise it was to wage war against the people who manipulated the very forest you shared. It was the D’valinn’s belief that power was gained by the sheer amount of blood consumed, and that, understandably, if one were to drink vast quantities of blood, so in turn would their power rise, until they were the most powerful being. And so the King and his men set out going from tribe to tribe, kidnapping countless people and drinking every last one of them dry. It wasn’t long, however, until madness claimed them all. It started as true bloodlust and ended with the soldiers slaughtering each other, the King himself left with a deteriorated mind, babbling in the midst’s of carnage. It is the belief now that the spirits they sought to control soon controlled them. Never again would the tribe wage war with any other, and the murder of other clans became nearly unheard of. But it was too late, and the D’valinn earned the name that would forever haunt them. Known for the empty look in the eyes of the mad King and his soldiers, they became known as the Dead Ones.

It was without a word that the current King’s brother Raziel was sent out to answer the call of the Magisters. The General of his brother’s army, his guard consists of a handful of his soldiers, half of them mages and the other half their bonds- trusted sources of blood. The other representative is General Raziel‘s bond and friend, Alaric.

[Duvet de Mot]

- Xido, the center of the Sakarim tribe


"Knowledge shall prevail
Throughout every age
Changing in it's time.

Having lost your way,
Turn your eyes to peer within
And view the future."

- Masen Daemontao


Intellectual and benevolent, the Sakarim are a river people of a bizarre disposition in both nature and society. Following the Great Rift Disjunction, a group of those who felt the Rift needed to be studied and evaluated, but were denied the opportunity, ventured to the edge of the Shivering Seas, establishing a colony along the river which fed into the sea by way of the Archon Falls.

Over the past several thousand years, the forces of magic have evolved within the Sakarim, granting all but an extremely small percentage with their tribe's inherent magical strength, though not enough for them to be classified as mages. This power is known by the tribe as Zhong and is the means to defy the grip of the earth. With the use of the Zhong, a Sakari can achieve Li, or the state of becoming their own center and force of attraction within the world around them.

"...it was not the expanse of the so-called Li Ku which astounded me so, nor was it my ability to walk with my Sakari guide (for he was a mage of their highest order and had extened the "Zhong" unto me), but it was the experience of my perceptions being altered with every turn we took. Never before had I been struck with such a profound clarity of thought, and I do not believe I ever shall again. Stairs became walls, which in turn became the roof above us, but as we progressed through the halls into the next Li Ku, I found that I could no longer think in terms of clear direction; instead, all became one. That is what they call Li."

- Devish Retbruss, "Tribal Insights Through Travels"


- A typical Li Ku within a Sakarim structure

Once the Sakarim had discovered their ability to use the Zhong, they began to design their living structures for maximum efficiency, replacing simple rooms with complicated Li Ku's, large open areas surrounded by walls of rooms on all six sides. This led to the radical restructuring of Sakarim society, allowing for vast cities in very small spaces.

Although almost every member of their society has the ability to control the Zhong and achieve Li, only their mages, also known as Demimasen (the head mage, or Masen, is the leader of Xido and effectively, the entirety of the Sakarim tribe) are able to manipulate their surroundings with their abilities. Mages are identifiable at an early age, for when young, they are in touch with their Li and are easily able to move and manipulate light objects around them. Those who are identified as mages are sent to train at Xido, honing their bodies and abilities, while the majority learn of the natural world and the technology that the Sakarim have developed, most notably, forging and extremely efficient waterwheels, which all of the tribe, all the way down the river, depend upon.


- A Sakari Demimasen in training, honing his Li below the Xido

Although isolated by distance, the Sakarim are eager to share their knowledge with the other tribes, hoping to lead them into a state of societal Li, becoming one once again. They often send out expeditions into nearby territories, forming (at least) cordial relations with most of the non-reclusive tribes.

When called upon by Senior Magister Wynne, the current Masen, Masen Laovitas, was decisive in his actions, calling upon Demimasen Baeton to meet with the other tribes in his stead. Accompanied by two other powerful mages, Baeton set out with instructions to keep the rift open at all costs in order to study it, as their ancestors had attempted so long ago.

[Eva]

Name- Siona Kit'la

Age- 22

Magic- Siona's magic is referred to as 'Voodoo.' There are multiple ways to go about the use of voodoo. From verbal hexes, to the use of trinkets, dolls, and wards. Siona's prime use of Voodoo are verbal hexes and the use of wards.

Hexes:
Crippling of Opponent's physical strength.
Suffocation.
Silencing of the tongue.
Hemorrhaging of scabs and scars.
Muscle Fatigue.
Exhaustion.

One of Siona's personal favorites, was one she learned from watching a D'vallin in open combat. Their consumption of blood for power gave her the idea to hex an opponent and drain their life force to add to hers.

Wards:
Silencing ward - Applying her own blood to a ward, the ward becomes a black hole for all magic, including her own and her allies. Any magic cast within sixty feet of the ward will be nullified.

Serpent Ward - Siona can turn small pebbles into images of snakes, which will stay as sentries. Anything that does not have Hofu blood in it's veins will be targeted. From bullfrog to pterodactyl.

Sight ward - Drawing the sight ward symbol on a target will turn it into an eye that Siona can access as long as she is within range of the ward. (Up to five hundred feet) The eye appears as the symbol of the ward and not an actual eye to anyone unpracticed in the arts of voodoo.

She has a mark on her forehead that was placed by her mother. The Life Ward, it hinders the drawback to the source of Hofu power.


Appearance-


Personality- Siona is generally laid back, especially when it comes to the outside world. Having gone through the rite of passage, she feels that things are better off away from the other tribes and doesn't at all take interest in their cultures and ideals.

She is rather aggressive and up front, saying what's on her mind and lacking the ability to think before speaking. She's fiery and takes lead if there is no one in place.

Past- Siona was, and still is a successor to the Council of Theros. She was the only one of her mother's children to survive the rite of passage. And has learned to accept things as they are, and is sure to be thankful for the gift bestowed upon her. She is a hunter of the city and has passed courtship and motherhood in order to help the village in other more pressing areas.

In truth though, it's for she fears the loss of losing her children if she were to enter motherhood.

The story behind her life ward is, when she returned from her rite of passage, she had learned that she was the last of her mother's children that had survived. Her mother, already have lived 'a full life', sacrificed her remaining life force into this life ward, to ensure that Siona has the chance to do more for the tribe.

Allies- Refer to Taltos' profile.

Views- Siona is moderate towards magic. She believes magic is magic, and use it if you can. She believes also, that the flip side of choice is responsibility for said choice.

Towards tribes, she feels that each should learn to keep to themselves and be at peace with each other before they wage blind war for territories. She isn't entirely too excited to go, especially since she is the escort for her younger half brother.


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Bio for the representative:


Name- Taltos Cua'ue

Age- 19

Magic- Life Siona, Taltos is also a user of Voodoo. However, he focuses more on the use of wards, trinkets, and the support of allies in combat.

Trinkets:
Blood Amulet - Placing the blood of his fallen comrades into a vial that never fills, Taltos uses this to amplify his charms and support voodoo.

The Three Kings - During his rite of passage, Taltos had successfully killed three separate 'Kings' of newly flourishing tribes. Holding up the three shrunken heads, he mutters a hex, which in turn slowly begins to chill and instill an unwanted fear into up to three opponents. The source of the fear is unknown which, depending on the will of his targets can increase the amount of fear they feel.

Voodoo Doll - Surprisingly, the voodoo doll requires the least amount of magic to use. The only magic required, is that of which is needed to make the link from the doll to the opponent. The connection can only be made if he acquires both a hair sample, which must be placed on the head of the doll, and either a skin or blood sample that is placed on the torso of the doll. This ensures that his own DNA isn't accidentally linked to the doll. By merely bending a limb or stabbing it, the target will feel and receive the same pain and treatment as the doll.

Wards:
Endurance ward - placing his blood on an already written ward (somewhat like a rune), anyone who holds the activated ward has a higher tolerance to pain and more adrenaline can be pumped from their adrenal gland.

Healing ward - Once again, by placing blood on an already written ward, Taltos can heal wounds, mend breaks, and revitalize the tired and incapacitated.

Shadow Ward - Placing shadow wards in the same manner as the sight ward, allows Taltos to move from ward to ward in what seems like teleportation, but in truth just increased speeds through touching shadows. If there are no shadows connecting one ward to another, it nullifies the use of the ward.

Appearance-


Personality- Taltos, unlike his half sister, is very much enthusiastic with just about anything really. He loves learning about other tribes and new cultures and traditions. He is strong minded and much more tolerant than his sister. He's also quite a flirt and can be rambunctious when it comes to the downing of ale.

Past- Taltos has yet to finish his rite of passage. He had returned back Theros as the tribe he was a mercenary for had fallen and been crushed by those the tribe was at war with.

Taltos was and is considered a prodigy in the voodoo and killing department. Not many who use voodoo can support the aid of their comrades in battle as well as their own life on the magic power that is gained through the sacrifice of their own life force.

However, Taltos hasn't received the training required to turn his potential into full blown skills.

The killing department that he excels so much in, is his ability to succeed in one on one combat as well as support for comrades.

If Siona were to decline her position on the council, Taltos would succeed their father instead.

Allies- Refer to Siona's profile.

Views- Taltos is conservative about the use of magic. Not understanding that other tribes use different means to gain powers, he thinks that all tribes sacrifice life force for their magic abilities, thus he feels everyone should learn to only use it in dire situations rather than as often as seen.

Taltos is polar opposites with his half sister when it comes to views of the other tribes. He feels learning about other tribes should be something looked upon. He feels that trade and communications with other tribes will open up for better trade markets, inventions, ideas, and innovations.

He feels the Hofu should share their past and stories with those who are curious, instead of being recluse on their sea shore.

[Eva]

Name- Raziel Alin’Ra

Age- 35

Magic- Raziel was trained heavily in his magic through the course of his life and comes from a bloodline rich with power. While many of his people can only see wisps or a faint glow, his Sight is so strong that he can see the complete figure of any lesser spirits and nearly so with the more powerful ones. What is truly amazing and a power known by Raziel alone is the ability to see the spirit within someone. It leaves a faint aura around a body which the mage can see fade and depart as the person dies.
The ability to see spirits would be virtually useless without the D’valinn’s true gift. After consuming blood, the mage has the ability to control spirits. The power of the user, the power of the donor, and the power of the spirit itself all factor into the use of the spirit, as well as how much blood is use, so their magic is a varied one. A very powerful spirit can be used in necromancy and possession, while the most commonly they are used almost like a psychic power, wielding weapons by a seemingly invisible hand, moving objects, or outright attacking a physical being or object with the life-force gained through the blood the mage has consumed.
A mage is limited to how much blood they can drink, as well as the level of spirit they can control. Angering a spirit with more power than yourself is a sure way to have it turn on you, leading to possession and ultimately a violent death.

Appearance- Not shown are Raziel’s set of horns, two black, spiraled spikes curved back from his forehead over the top of his head a few inches. He’s a tall, broad man like most of the males of his species and he has long, sharpened black claws that end his fingertips. His wicked grin shows a mouthful of slightly pointed teeth, as well as the pair of sharp fangs his kind are known for. There are three parallel scars running from the top of his shoulder blade and over his chest to his midsection from an encounter with a beast of the forest. His skin is pale, unlike most of his tribe, attesting to the bit of elven blood in him, and his hair is s frosty white. His eyes are a pale gray, the color of bare stone bleached by the sun.
Like the rest of his clan, Raziel usually dresses in robe-like clothing, usually made of a light and easy to move in fabric. As a soldier and General, however, there are times when he is seen in heavy armor made of iron and adorned in obsidian and gold, with a few gems like rubies and amethyst studded throughout. He never goes anywhere without his weapon, a staff made of obsidian, gold, and diamond swirled around a sturdy base, each side tipped with pop-out blades.

Personality- Raziel didn’t become the General just for being brother to the King. Nor was the position awarded for any sort of merciless, kind behavior. Raziel is a ruthless man in battle, known for his cold determination to get his task done. He kills who he must without change to his solid expression, lips set in a firm line. He is tactful, exceedingly intelligent and graced with charming speech. His eyes are ever gazing out in quiet contemplation and he keeps largely to himself. Raziel gives little away in conversation that he doesn’t want to and is difficult to sway otherwise, but he is an open book who describes his life in blunt detail.

Past- Raziel grew up with his older brother Cyradel. Raziel found the rule of his current King to be unjust and unwise and voiced his concern to his brother. Cyradel agreed, offering that he would make a greater ruler. The brothers served as guards of the King’s court, and so they were witness to all the decisions the King made. It was during their time together that they were supposed to be protecting their King that Cyradel plotted the man’s overthrow. After a year of quiet stalking, planning, and listening, the older brother convinced Raziel to help him kill the King. The two alone fought down the other soldiers around them, holding their final battle in the war room itself. Raziel and Cyradel were being swarmed by more soldiers flooding in through the door, when Cyradel suddenly abandoned his brother to chase down the King. Raziel was badly wounded and nearly lost his life, but Cyradel returned in time with the King’s head to command the soldiers stop. Raziel never fully recovered from his brother’s decision to leave him, but he later went on to become the general of his army and captain of his guard.

Allies- Raziel travels with a handful of his soldiers, all of them clad in the dark, jeweled armor they are known for, with their infamous jewelry carved from bone and the skeletal designs on their chestplates. The second representative to travel with Raziel is his bond Alaric, a younger man with crimson hair and yellow eyes. The company travels on horseback, showing the world for the first time out of war the tall, stocky horses the D’vallin bread.

Views- The D’valinn have no views on the way others use their magic. They keep largely to themselves since the days of the blood wars, concerned with their own affairs. They care only that they be allowed to practice their magic in any way they see fit without reprimand, so long as they stick to themselves. The D’valinn have a rather careless attitude toward other tribes as well, though they see themselves as the better race. They are suspicious of the meeting the Magisters have called them to, though once again King Cyradel has surprised his brother and acted without consultation, deciding to send off Raziel as their representative, though many were better suited for the job.

[Eva]

Name- Valina Jaheirborn.

Age- 25, for elves this is comparable to a 19 year old human.

Magic- Valina utilizes the traditional magic of the elves, which involves manipulating the plants and wildlife around her via the void. By pulling from the Void of Creation, Valina can dramatically alter flora and fauna in her favor. Trees can be twisted into a defensive wall, vines can be forced to grow to great lengths and used to assault enemies. Valina knows to use 'basic' magic to augment her own tribes' brand of magic. She religiously studies whatever magic she can, with the exception of those she views as offensive.

Appearance-
Valina is a tall, statuesque girl. She stands at 5'9 in height and has a thin but solid build. Because she lives in a forest, Valina is naturally athletic; she can climb trees and outrun most hungry predators. Her light blonde, almost white, hair is tied up in the back but flows past her shoulders in casual times and completely tied back when she is practicing her magic.
Like all Elven mages, Valina is adorned with tattoos and markings which symbolize her status. Her facial markings are gold due to her status as an apprentice, a highly valued place in Elven society and one that she has earned. Valina owns many rings and necklaces, which are personal in nature and passed down from her family.
Valina's clothing consists of textured furs and fabrics that shield her from the merciless cold of the Misty Forests nighttime. Valina wears leather gloves and boots as well, and generally keeps all of her skin covered besides her face. When Valina leaves the forest, to protect Elven merchants, she takes off the many layers and generally only keeps one set of clothing.

Personality- Valina believes completely in the right of the Elves to do as they please with magic, and as such is no fan of the Magistry's laws. She knows that there are tribes with truly vile and repugnant magic, but nevertheless, Valina respects their right to use magic as they see fit. The most central aspect of Valina's personality is that she does not tolerate hypocrisy or favoritism; she is very much equal-opportunity in all things, as reflected by her willingness to study multiple brands of magic.
As a branch of her hatred of hypocrisy, Valina disagrees with open warfare between tribes, and is among the few elves that believe that the Misty Forests should be less restricted. Her family's clan has already repealed the magical 'barriers' around their territory, although that by itself will do very little in the long term.

Past- Valina is the youngest daughter of the Jaheirborn family, a bloodline of mages. Her family is highly respected, if not politically powerful, in the Elven aristocracy. Valina's older siblings were considerably less powerful than was expected of them, and most of them failed to survive to apprenticeship. Only Valina's eldest brother made it, as well as Valina herself.
After making it to Apprentice, Valina was taken under the wing of Cyrell Zammborn, and made his Apprentice. Cyrell taught Valina her respect for freedom and diversity, as well as a great deal of other things. Although it is considered highly inappropriate as well as controversial, Valina and Cyrell are romantically involved, although to what degree is unknown by all but themselves. The nature of their relationship was the deciding factor in the Elven Council's decision to send them to answer Magister Fenarel's call, as the Council believes they will be able to stick together under the stress.

Allies- Valina and Cyrell are travelling via massive boars, large tusked hogs that are slow but incredibly sturdy, and capable of travelling long distances with little sustenance. With them are a few elven hunters and one elven massive boar tamer, to keep the boars in line. The hunters are equipped with light armor, spears, and short bows, while the mages are equipped with enchanted swords.

Views- As mentioned above, Valina is considerably progressive in terms of how she views magic. She believes that tribes should not restrict themselves to only 'their' brands of magic, and works to expose her fellow elves to the many different kinds of magic that are out there.
Valina has very little respect for the Magistry, but her impressions of Magister Fenarel are slightly higher after meeting him.

[Duvet de Mot]

Name - Demimasen Baeton Qu

Age - 57

Magic - As the Training Master of the Xido, Baeton naturally gravitates towards more martial uses of the Zhong. He is adept at altering the Zhong of others, causing them lose their grip on the earth, but prefers to avoid conflict altogether by disarming his opponents or causing their weapons to turn on them by pulling their Zhong inwards.

Appearance-

Seasoned and sturdy, Baeton is a strong, powerfully built man. He stands at 5'8", but makes up for it with his combat prowess and strength. Dealing with constant changes in direction and intensities of Zhong as well as his own combat prowess have given Baeton a strong, muscular body despite his age. Baeton's hair has long since fallen out with age, giving him an even sterner appearance than his low laying brows accomplish by themselves. Etched deep into his pale olive face are wrinkles and crease from years of wearing frowns and faces for too long or too often.

Wearing nothing but the bare essentials, Baeton travels light, donned in a simple white and black tunic with a black undershirt and loose black pants. He is a firm believer in not wearing armor of any kind, not only to confuse or intimidate his opponents, but so that he might retain complete mobility with less to extend his Zhong onto. Baeton always carries a multi-purpose quarter staff with him in the event that the need for intervention arises.

Personality - Baeton is a traditionalist. He is a seasoned veteran of the politics within Sakarim society and knows far too much of the other tribes too be anything other than skeptical or discerning. Keeping up with the great inventors and thinkers of his culture is not as much of a priority of Baeton's, as is protecting his tribe and following out his orders as the Masen sees fit. He is a soldier, albeit an enlightened and centered one, who believes that peace can be forged between the tribes, but only the strength of those who fight can keep peace stable. Although he abides by the laws of the Magistry, as does the entire Sakarim tribe, he does believe that other forms of magic can be harnessed and melded to ally the tribes and bring a long lasting peace to the land; and even though he finds peace a noble goal, he is not one to shy away from combat or confrontation if the situation calls for it.

Past - Baeton's past is rather the same as any other Demimasen before him. He was born to a family of communal workers and thinkers within an unremarkable Li Ku in the village of Mogwai on the edge of the river, not a mile from the Xido. At the age of six, he showed the first signs of an advanced Li, and had small objects following behind him wherever he walked. His parents attempted to teach him some self-control, but it was to no avail. By the time he turned seven, his parents were beside themselves without a clue as to how to control their child's powers, and so were relieved and ready to send him to train at the Xido. And so, under the tutelage of Masen Lebao, Baeton quickly learned to control his abilities and train his strength of mind and body. The training was hard and arduous, each day was a struggle to keep standing, but eventually, Baeton was confirmed as a Demimasen and served as an emissary during goodwill missions throughout the tribes. Eventually, after the death of Masen Lebao, his particular talents were noticed by Masen Laovitas, who appointed him to be the next Training Master of the Xido, where he has stayed on, honing his craft and training a new generation of Demimasen.

Allies -
Demimasen Jin Levidao and Demimasen Wu Gratsai are the only accompanying party which Baeton would allow. The two young men are dressed much in the same manner as Demimasen Baeton, but are each carrying with them two swords and a long, pole spear, still relying on the weapons they were raised on instead of their bodies and minds.

Views - Personally, Baeton is fairly apathetic towards conflicts that do not affect him, as well as the laws of the Magistry. He follows along with Magistry as his people do, only to save themselves from conflict, though he does find the prospect of utilizing new forms of magic to be enticing. He remembers clearly his tribe's history and is not prepared to let the chance to study this rift to slip once again through his fingers. Baeton and his companions are willing to do whatever it takes to keep this rift open, even if that means increasing its Zhong to stop it from closing.

Baeton does not dislike Magister Wynne, and in fact it was he who guided her through the Xido to meet with Masen Laovitas. He regards her with respect, but only as far as she is another official doing her duty.

[veggiefish]

In small cove hidden away in the Wet Salts a tribe of peculiar creatures live. The Serpati are a breed that few like to encounter. Those who are courageous or unlucky enough to find themselves near Arathula, the dangerous village, should be wary of were they venture. A large castle is the center of Arathula, carved from the stone in the largest cliff is the center of town. Trespassers are often taken there for public execution.



Sometimes called the sea maidens or sirens, the Serpati live in a village that spans land and sea. They spend the majority of their life in the sea. It is not clear as to why the come ashore. It is thought they originally came ashore to bring in seafarers to kill.

They are known to beach themselves for a molting period. They shed their fish like tails and reveal human legs. During the molting period, gills, fins, and other aquatic growths only reduce in size. This period can last up to two days time. It often only takes one.

Each Serpati child is forced to go through their first molting stage once they reach maturity, which is roughly three weeks from birth. If they do not take part in this they will lose the ability to shed their tail. Serpati that choose this life course often have shorter life spans.

The Serpati are able to grow their tails back in a matter of seconds. Researches still have not been able to understand how. They simply dive into the water and resurface with their tails perfectly intact.

A few of the Serpati choose to never return to the sea after their first molting. These select few live with in the castle walls. They live in suites that have a large pool of water for sleeping.

It is said that there is an underwater village as well made of coral. The life there is said to be much busier and colorful, compared to the dull life of the castle dwellers. Many a civil war a broken out between the sea dwellers and the castle dwellers. They are often resolved with few casualties. A set of twin sisters head each village. They often resolve issues with little conflict. However, recently, a war broke out.

"I have come to notice that there are no male Serpati. The women either reproduce asexually, or there are men who never reach the surface. I have not been close enough to village to see. I have also noticed that the Serpati that are in charge are more decorated with shells and fins. They rarely come out of the water, and when they do, they continue to sport their decorations in the form of jewelry and ornately decorated clothing."- Researcher Geraldine Furlbog



Drawing of a Serpati high priestess.

The feelings of the Serpati rely completely on the sea. If the the sea is treacherous and raging, they are as well. They have become one with the sea, using it for power and water supply in their small village.

It is said that the Serpati are daughters of the god of the sea. The sea is a part of them even on land. They can control water, every single molecule. This is their magic. The best of the Serpati can drown a man by simply looking at him. They force the moisture in his body into his lungs, causing him to drown from the inside out.
they often uses this technique on trespassers or sea men.
Angry Serpati are often the cause for tsunamis and monsoons.

"The Serpati are not reserved when it comes to their magic use. Be wary when in a Serpati's company. They are treacherous and traitorous. Tell tale signs of a Serpati include the following:
Excessive Amounts of Rain
Increase in Water Level
Increase in Death Rate by Drowning
Women with Blue or Green Tinted Hair
Scales or Shells Protruding From the Face.

BEWARE!"
-Public announcement by The Magister Court

The Serpati were surprised to have been called upon in this time of need. They were known for being evil and conniving. They had always felt that this was an unfair stereotype set forth by the original Serpati, who would sing and use their beauty to lure in the ships at sea and drag them to the depths of the sea. The sea dwellers wished to send their leader. The castle dwellers wished to send theirs. A feud broke out, killing two. A truce was made and it was decided that two representatives would be sent, Aurelie, daughter of the sea dwelling queen, and Lorelai, daughter of the castle dwelling queen.