[Paper Snow]
MNU spreads lies
NOTE: This is a non-Pokémon RPG. It's my first, actually, and takes place in the world of the interactive, online game Ragnarok Online ©, which is developed by the Korean-based company Gravity Corp. On that note, it is also based on private, user-ran servers, rather than the official iRO/kRO/jRO/ect ones. I do not support playing on private servers, but since this is based off a fanfiction-in-the-making where the story does take place in a private server, I have no control over this aspect.
Also, take note that while I will try to explain things the best I can, if you know absolutely nothing about Ragnarok Online, then this RPG isn't for you. It requires at least a bit of knowledge about the game and its mechanics, as such things like the complex class/job structures are just too lengthy and difficult to describe (I thank the stars that this isn't based in RO2).
All content in this topic is based off of the original novel-in-development, Holding Onto Her, which is copyrighted [HERE] as a concept.
This material has been approved by the author, and has been protected under the same copyright as a concept.
~~~~~~~~
We were untouched and dreaming+
No one had ever expected anything like that to happen. No, something like that shouldn't have ever happened. Those monsters, led by the Lord of Death himself, shouldn't have ever descended upon that tranquil guild castle in Geffen that day, to plow through the Guardians with ease, massacre the members without mercy, and shatter the Emperium as if it were made of delicate china pottery.
Midgar was shocked when this news finally hit the wind; that all five of Geffen's guild castles had fallen, outside of the War of Emperium, and to an MvP and it's small army of vicious, undead minions. What in Hel's name was the Lord of Death doing so far from Nifflheim?! The world was hit with shock again soon later when Payon's five castles fell in a similar fashion, but this time to the Dark Lord. For the love of Freya, what was going on?!
Town after town, guild after guild, castle after castle, fell to this unholy crusade. The few men and women who had managed to survive the slaughters fled to Prontera and Yuno, taking guarded shelter in the Sanctuary and Sage's Castle, respectively. But it wasn't long before the even the magic-imbued capitol of the Schwaltzvalt Republic fell to the MvPs. The Sages and Professors of the only non-guild castle fought a valiant, if drawn-out battle, but in the end, even the great Professor Roselani of Ice was driven out of the Sage’s Castle and forced to find refuge in Prontera.
Quickly, the capitol of the kingdom of Rune-Midgard became one of the last strongholds against the monstrous onslaught. Only the powerful had survived the various attacks of the past weeks and now Transcendants of all classes and guilds stalked the streets of the once serene city, beyond worry and wondering what could be done. Could they somehow persevere against the frightening armies of the two most powerful MvP monsters in Midgar? Or would they all perish like Thief Bugs who had stolen from an angry Lord Knight?
Morale of the human race was at an all-time low and hope was a word no one dared to speak, as if it were a vile oath or curse. The guilds (or rather, the survivors of them), were disheartened by their bloody defeats and most had already resigned to the doomed fate that seemed to be on the horizon. But one guild, untouched almost, still retained faith.
Epitaph was a meager, relatively unknown guild, all of its twenty-something members connected to one another in some way; they were a group of friends of acquaintances, if you would. Lead by a charismatic Professor by the name of Kaecyus, they alone had still dared to hold their heads high in light of this catastrophe. Though they hadn't lost a castle, and only a single member had passed on (but due to old age, rather than a raid or ambush), they were still hit by the violent take-overs the other guilds had experienced. No one was quite sure why.
But it was Professor Kaecyus that finally rallied the group of Transcendants, and the odd Second Class job, into a unified, fighting spirit. Would they go quietly into the night and be Goats to the slaughter to these fiends? Or would they, the humans of Midgar, the ones blessed by the Gods, stand up and lay everything they had on the line for a chance to gain the peaceful lives they once lived? By the end of his emotional speech in the center of Prontera, every guild left had pledged their support. They all would fight to regain their cities and their castles and their ways of life, or by Thor's Hammer, they would die trying!
~~~~~~~~
In case you didn't get it+
~~~~~~~~
A poisonous discovery covered in honey+
(You don't have to read this, but it gives major foreshadowing of the plot if you can figure it out.)
~~~~~~~~
The rules+
1. First and foremost, be literate. Or at least semi-literate. I really don't think I have to include this, but better safe than sorry, ja?
2. Cussing is allowed, which is why I have rated this RPG PG-13. I myself have a tendancy to cuss. A lot. And so do my characters. So yeah. Be warned. EXPECT STRONG LANGUAGE.
3. Snobbish characters are fine. But snobbish players are not. So please be courtious to your fellow players, even if your character isn't to theirs.
5. You can have as many characters as you want, just so long as you can keep them all active and posting.
6. If you and another player get into an arguement or a lengthy discussion, please move it to PMs. Life would be made a lot easier that way.
7. Don't spam. Please.
8. If one of your characters and someone else's character start to get intimate and you wish to continue that line of RPing, then please take it somewhere private, like IMs. On here, leave most everything else to the imagination.
9. All SPPF rules apply, including the RPG forum's rules as well (no godmodding, no Mary-Sues, ect).
10. No bunnying unless you have permission from me and all the players of the characters involved.
~~~~~~~~
The form+
Username: (Your forum name so we know who plays who).
Character Name: (Doesn't have to have a last name.)
Nickname/s: (If any.)
Gender:
Age: (20+. If you would like to join a younger character, then please PM me.)
Hometown: (If you'd like to make up your own city for this, please ask me either here or in PMs.)
Pet: (If any. Include name, monster species, and if it has it's equipable item, if any. Only one pet per character. Creators/Biochemists with Homunculi, please also include them here, too. Falcons for the Snipers are NOT included here. They are not pets.)
Class/Job: (Mainly Transcendant classes. If you would like to join a character with an earlier job, please PM me. Also, in this RPG, Biochemists are called "Creators" and Scholars are called "Professors". I use kRO terms. But Stalkers are "Stalkers". Not "Chasers".)
Weapon/s of Choice: (Please include if any cards are slotted into the weapon/s and said card'/s' effects. Only Assassin Crosses can use two weapons at a time and only if they AREN'T using a katar.)
Attacks: (You can use either official iRO names or kRO names. But please provide the equivilant name if you use the latter. Example: "Spider Web (iRO: Fiber Lock)". Also, you have around 120 skill points to burn, if you want to get technical, rather than the usual 70.)
Physical Appearence: (The clothes of the various classes/jobs can deviate from the official, in-game 'uniforms' in any way you like. But please keep it something reminiscent of the said official 'uniforms'. Also include any head equips and any other equips you'd like to make mention of.)
Personality: (I beg of you to avoid the stereotypes of each class, such as the 'dark, mysterious, just needs love' Assassin Cross.)
History: (Avoid the clichés here, too, please.)
Feel free to add anything else that you'd like to include to the form.
~~~~~~~~
The ones blessed by the Gods+
(If you don't know RO, here are the classes/jobs you could be. Only one per character.)
[For more information on the classes, including concept art, skills, and stats, then please visit iRO's job page, and scroll down to "Transcendant Classes". Also all text below is © 2005-2006 by Gravity Corp and Lee Myoungjin.]
~~~~~~~~
Things to know+
(Terms, processes, ect, if you're new to RO.)
Refining: Blacksmiths and Mastersmiths can refine most items and weapons, which makes them stronger and less likely to break. To signify that an item is refined, as well as it's refine rate, you put "+<refine rate>" before the name of the item. Example: "+3 Brooch". +10 is the maximum refine rate, but beware! The higher you try to refine the item, the more likely it is to break in the process. The highest you can go without a threat of breakage is +4. +5 only has a 50% chance to succeed, +6 a 25% chance, +7 a 15% chance, +8 a 10% chance, and +10 a 5% chance.
Levels: In RO, each character as two levels: a base level, which dictates stats such as Strength and Luck and job level, which dictates skill points, which you invest into skills in order to learn them and make them stronger. They levels are almost always written together and in the form of "<BL>/<JL>", such as "130/67".
Slotted Items: While most items are "unslotted", sometimes some items come "slotted", or with the ability to be integrated with Cards that monsters sometimes drop. Most of the time, and item only has one slot, meaning it can only be integrated with a single card. But the more slots, the more cards (two slots = two cards, ect). The maximum number of slots is three, and items with this many slots are very rare.
Cards: Almost every monster drops a card pertaining to their species; Porings will drop Poring Cards and Pests will drop Pest Cards. Each card gives the item in which it's slotted into an effect of some sort, be it blessing the item with an elemental property, allowing the user use of a certain move, or adding to stats. Also, when you sot a card into an item, the item will take on a new name depending on the card. Example: if you were to put a Vitata Card (gives player use of level three Heal) into a Rosary, you'd get a Healing Rosary. Or if you were to put an Obsidian Card (for every 18 points in Dexterity you have, you'll gain an additional point in Vitality) into a Glitter Jacket, you'd get a Glittering Jacket of Vital Switching. For a list of cards, their effects, and the names they give items, please go here.
MvP: Acronym for "Monster versus Player", or "Most Valuable Player" (as the player who did the most damage [or Most Valuable Player] would get the best reward), but has since evolved into a slang term for an ultimate boss monster (there are boss monsters and there are ultimate boss monsters, which control the boss monsters). Currently, the strongest MvP in the game is Thanatos, but other noteable MvPs include Lord of Death, Dark Lord, and Amon Ra.
Unfortunately, that's all I can think of. So if you still have questions about what something means, or what something is, or something like that, feel free to PM me and ask! :]
~~~~~~~~
Technical things+
(For those of you who DO know RO and want the stats and stuff.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Characters+
Username: [Paper Snow]
Character Name: Seraphina Praon
Nickname/s: Sera, Phin (pronounced "feen").
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Hometown: Greenwood Lake (the satellite city of Payon)
Pet: None.
Falcon's Name: Lisou ('lie-sue')
Class/Job: Sniper
Weapon/s of Choice: +4 Rudra Bow
Attacks:
Physical Appearance: Tall at around 5'6" and quite lanky with long, toned arms, Seraphina was certainly grown into her Sniper class over the years. Though small-busted and with a pear-shaped body, she isn't exactly as pretty as her Gypsy class counterpart. Her hair is a light sea green in color and reaches about the middle of her back, though she almost always keeps it in a tight ponytail so it doesn't get in the way of her shooting. The large, white, floppy ears of a Bunny Band protrude from the top of her head and a band of dark cloth tied at the back of her head (Dark Blinker) obscures her sight. She swears to Frigg that this helps improve her other senses, but no one's really sure.
Her clothes are, for the most part, that of the standard Sniper uniform given out by the Archers' Guild in Payon, but dark aqua-green replaces any brown and the orange is slightly green-tinged. Her shorts are also held up by a ragged, black leather Belt of Doubled Power (Owl Baron Card), which also sports and chipped and scratched Brooch of Godly Wrath (Owl Duke Card).
Personality: Calm and cheery, Seraphina is in possession of a large amount of patience. She can tolerate many things others probably wouldn't and is slow to anger because she just doesn't see the point in letting the actions and words of others get under her skin. She is quite sarcastic, though, and no one is really spared from her sharp tongue. When it comes to sniping, though, she becomes serious and silent, taking to observing rather than talking.
The sudden monster attacks and take-overs of the various cities, towns, and guild castles of Midgar has left her questioning the Gods, though. How could Odin and Frigg allow something like this to happen? Despite all the bloodshed and loss, she still tries to keep her head and hope up, if not for herself, then for those around her.
History: Born and raised in Greenwood Lake, Seraphina never had a second thought about joining the Archers' Guild and becoming a Hunter like her father; Her mother's dancing just didn't capture her interest in the same way the thrill of snaring Lunatics and hunting Bigfeet did (that, and she was quite a tomboy). Growing up, she also had one of the most accurate shots with a bow and arrow in the village.
Upon becoming an Archer, not much else took place in her rather uneventful life. She grew up, she became a Hunter. But at the age of twenty-one, she met an unfortunate end at the hands of Doppelganger while exploring through a dungeon in Geffen. Her Oridecon Arrows were just no match for the incredibly fast, Shadow-elemented demon. But as she lay dying, a sweet voice spoke to her; "Are you ready?" It was a Valkyrie, a Virgin of Battle, a servant of Odin. "Yes, I am ready."
Next thing Seraphina knew, she was back at Greenwood Lake, a simple Novice once again and unable to recall any of the skills she had learned so long ago and spent so many years honing. For the next two years, she trained all over again, quickly rising from Novice High to Archer High to Hunter High. Finally, that same voice who had spoken to her years ago spoke once again; "Are you ready?" "Yes, I am ready." And at twenty-three, she Transcended the normal, mortal limits of skill and ability to become a Sniper, one blessed by the Gods.
A year later when the monster attacks and take-overs began, she and her father proudly answered the call-to-arms put forth by the Archers' Guild, but like everyone else had been, were caught off-guard when the monsters, led by the Dark Lord, began to attack Payon and seize hold of the five guild castles that were located there. Through skill, fright, and sheer luck, she was part of the lucky handful that managed to survive those bloody fights and flee to Prontera, where she now stays, pledging herself, and what's left of the Archers' Guild, to the rebellion.
~~~~~~~~
Username: Clockworkz
Character Name: Ryker Yaiden
Nickname/s: "Hides-his-Heart"
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Hometown: Rachel
Pet: Zealotus (Species: Zealotus >_> She has no name; she's basically his slave)
Class/Job: Assassin Cross
Weapon/s of Choice: +7 Triple Critical Jur [3]
Attacks: Sonic Blow 10, Hiding 10, Cloaking 5, Grimtooth 5, Sonic Acceleration, Venom Splasher 5
Physical Appearence: Ryker stands about six feet tall, and weighs no more than 160 lbs. His arms and chest are wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, as i shis mouth and nose. His face is covered by a Mask that resembles that of a Bloody Murderer's. Tattered, deep blue robes wave behind him, and his long, black hair is tied back in a ponytaill most of the time. His boots come up to his knees, and have many different straps and areas to conceal items.
Personality: He's a sarcastic man, with a pessimistic outlook on life. He prefers to be called by his nickname, since his real name has no meaning for him anymore. Whenever he gets in a party, he tends to take on the leader role, but doesn't speak. He's a supposed mute ever since his history.
History: Ryker was once an assassin for hire, under the rule of King Tristian the third. He loved his job, and it payed well to boot. Eventually, his killings encompassed his life so much, that it bacame an obesession, and he loved seeing other people's blood get spilled, as he slowly turned more sadistic. Eventually, on one assassination, Ryker was ordered to kill and elderly couple in thier sleep. After the malicious deed was done, it was later discovered that this couple was Ryker's parents. He completely broke down mentally, and left the orders of the king. He donned a mask, for he was ashamed to show his face, and never spoke again. He now travels as a nomad across the world.
~~~~~~~~
RESERVED+
- Kairi
- Kaecyus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope this does well. . __. It's really limiting and seems kinda daunting and overwhelming if you don't know RO to begin with, but I tried my best to explain the big, bad technicalities of the game, as suggested. Please no flaming if you're against private servers, too. That sort of self-righteousness makes me sad.
Also, if this is breaking any rules (I read every sticky several times out of paranoia to prevent that), please have mercy on me. D:
Also, take note that while I will try to explain things the best I can, if you know absolutely nothing about Ragnarok Online, then this RPG isn't for you. It requires at least a bit of knowledge about the game and its mechanics, as such things like the complex class/job structures are just too lengthy and difficult to describe (I thank the stars that this isn't based in RO2).
All content in this topic is based off of the original novel-in-development, Holding Onto Her, which is copyrighted [HERE] as a concept.
This material has been approved by the author, and has been protected under the same copyright as a concept.
[ Holding Onto Her ]
When there is nothing left to burn, you must set yourself on fire.
PG-13 for strong language, possible sexual references, and fantasy violence.
When there is nothing left to burn, you must set yourself on fire.
PG-13 for strong language, possible sexual references, and fantasy violence.
~~~~~~~~
We were untouched and dreaming+
No one had ever expected anything like that to happen. No, something like that shouldn't have ever happened. Those monsters, led by the Lord of Death himself, shouldn't have ever descended upon that tranquil guild castle in Geffen that day, to plow through the Guardians with ease, massacre the members without mercy, and shatter the Emperium as if it were made of delicate china pottery.
Midgar was shocked when this news finally hit the wind; that all five of Geffen's guild castles had fallen, outside of the War of Emperium, and to an MvP and it's small army of vicious, undead minions. What in Hel's name was the Lord of Death doing so far from Nifflheim?! The world was hit with shock again soon later when Payon's five castles fell in a similar fashion, but this time to the Dark Lord. For the love of Freya, what was going on?!
Town after town, guild after guild, castle after castle, fell to this unholy crusade. The few men and women who had managed to survive the slaughters fled to Prontera and Yuno, taking guarded shelter in the Sanctuary and Sage's Castle, respectively. But it wasn't long before the even the magic-imbued capitol of the Schwaltzvalt Republic fell to the MvPs. The Sages and Professors of the only non-guild castle fought a valiant, if drawn-out battle, but in the end, even the great Professor Roselani of Ice was driven out of the Sage’s Castle and forced to find refuge in Prontera.
Quickly, the capitol of the kingdom of Rune-Midgard became one of the last strongholds against the monstrous onslaught. Only the powerful had survived the various attacks of the past weeks and now Transcendants of all classes and guilds stalked the streets of the once serene city, beyond worry and wondering what could be done. Could they somehow persevere against the frightening armies of the two most powerful MvP monsters in Midgar? Or would they all perish like Thief Bugs who had stolen from an angry Lord Knight?
Morale of the human race was at an all-time low and hope was a word no one dared to speak, as if it were a vile oath or curse. The guilds (or rather, the survivors of them), were disheartened by their bloody defeats and most had already resigned to the doomed fate that seemed to be on the horizon. But one guild, untouched almost, still retained faith.
Epitaph was a meager, relatively unknown guild, all of its twenty-something members connected to one another in some way; they were a group of friends of acquaintances, if you would. Lead by a charismatic Professor by the name of Kaecyus, they alone had still dared to hold their heads high in light of this catastrophe. Though they hadn't lost a castle, and only a single member had passed on (but due to old age, rather than a raid or ambush), they were still hit by the violent take-overs the other guilds had experienced. No one was quite sure why.
But it was Professor Kaecyus that finally rallied the group of Transcendants, and the odd Second Class job, into a unified, fighting spirit. Would they go quietly into the night and be Goats to the slaughter to these fiends? Or would they, the humans of Midgar, the ones blessed by the Gods, stand up and lay everything they had on the line for a chance to gain the peaceful lives they once lived? By the end of his emotional speech in the center of Prontera, every guild left had pledged their support. They all would fight to regain their cities and their castles and their ways of life, or by Thor's Hammer, they would die trying!
~~~~~~~~
In case you didn't get it+
- The Lord of Death and the Dark Lord have started taking over guild castles and rather violently, too.
- Geffen, Yuno, Payon, Lighthalzen, Izlude, and basically every other major city, or city with guild castles, with the exception of Prontera, has fallen and been taken by the MvPs.
- No one knows why LoD and DL are doing this and if you haven't managed to figure it out, I'll give you a hint: it has something to do with the Noghalt Fields (obviously).
- Mainly only Transcendant classes are left, but there's still the odd Knight/Alchemist/Blacksmith/ect running about (even some Acolytes in the Prontera Sanctuary).
- Almost everyone who knows what's good for them has gathered in Prontera and Epitaph's guild leader is the one in charge of the rebellion. Yes, he does have underlying reasons for doing so.
- The attitude is somewhat a cross between as if this were a real world (life, death, ect), and the attitude of the players from 'The World' in the .HACK series (stats, levels, respawn, ect).
- Will the humans survive, or be wiped out?!
~~~~~~~~
A poisonous discovery covered in honey+
(You don't have to read this, but it gives major foreshadowing of the plot if you can figure it out.)
The world of Midgar was a peaceful one. New lands were constantly being discovered, cities such as Prontera and Al de Baran were ever-expanding, and new creatures were emerging from the unknown right and left. No one paid much attention when explorers from the kingdom of Rune-Midgart discovered a massive patch of semi-arid lands lying just north-east of Yuno, the capitol city of the Schwaltzvalt Republic. Eventually, these lands became to be known as the Noghalt Fields, due to a miscommunication between the explorers and the court of King Tristam III.
Originally, the explorers had first discovered an enormous lake much to the east of the rest of these lands, a lake so beautiful with clear, deep, pristine waters, and surrounded by lush flora and fauna, that it’s said to have inspired hundreds of Bard songs. Even the small island in the very center of the lake had a quaint feel to it, though the large, earthen rocks that covered it seemed to be arranged in a specific way, as if hiding something...
But the explorers' stay there was a short one, as strange, draconic creatures, red in tooth and claw, quickly drove them away in fear of their lives. Rumor has it that these beasts had been summoned by the Demon King Morroc to aid in his fight against the magic-possessing knight Thanatos hundreds of years ago. Other say that they are the pets of the Gods, set in place to guard nature. One of the explorers even claimed to have seen a mammoth, fearsome dragon the color of blood, with claws like daggers, eyes like fire, and a crest of jade and amethyst upon his brow almost like a crown.
They called this one, this dragon king, 'Nidhogg', after the dragon that chews away at the roots of the Tree of Life. As such, they named the area around that beautiful lake 'Nidhogg's Field', but as the word was relayed to King Tristam III back in Prontera, the name became twisted into 'Noghalt Fields' and came to mean that whole section of land, rather than just the lake that would later been named 'Abyss' after it's seemingly endless depth of water.
Undeterred by their failure to explore Nidhogg's Field more than they would've liked, the explorers continued northwestward in something reminiscent of an upwards, diagonal line. Over the next few months, they came across nothing as interesting as their initial discovery. Just more fields that bordered on 'dry wasteland' status and inhabited by only the hardiest of monsters; Goats, Geographers, Demon Fungi, and Plants of various colors mostly.
But the farther north in which they traveled, strange balls of light began to appear. They moved almost purposefully, as if they possessed a consciousness, and seemed to be electrified. The explorers noted that sightings of these unexplainable creatures became more frequent the more north they traveled and that they became colored, as well! By the time the group (now severely downsized due to unfortunate accidents and illnesses) stumbled upon an awe-inspiring, sky-scraping tower cut off from the rest of the world by a moat ten miles wide and three miles deep, five colors of these strange energies had been documented: Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Red.
And just like with the dragons in Nidhogg's Field, which were concentrated around the Abyss Lake, these balls of plasma seemed to be concentrated around the massive tower the explorers had chanced upon. For what reason, they did not know. And unfortunately, they never found out. Depleted of supplies and personnel, the team had to turn back at this point and retreat back to Yuno.
The news the explorers had brought back with them spread faster than a wild fire started by a careless Mage's Fire Bolt. The world became abuzz with rumors and whispers; a lake guarded by dragons? Nidhogg was their king? Balls of lightning that moved of their own, unknown will? What else was that Schwaltzvalt Republic hiding?! But none were more interested in these new discoveries than the Rekenber Corporation.
Though they shunned the Abyss Lake and its "overgrown Alligators", they took a keen interest in the tower that had been uncovered in the very last leg of the exploration. As such, the decided to investigate and it wasn't long before it was revealed that the tall structure was actually the Tower of Thanatos, but that's about all the Corporation managed to learn. The commonly accepted theory is that the Tower was built to honor Thanatos, the legendary, magic-wielding Knight who fought against Morroc, the King of Demons, for ten days and ten nights before finally managing to seal him away somewhere deep within the harsh Sograt Desert near the bottom of Midgar.
Regardless of such a lack of information, the Rekenber Corporation eventually bought the crumbling Tower of Thanatos from the Schwaltzvalt Republic for a dizzying twenty million zeny and set in motion plans to restore it. Workers managed to complete the first three floors before reports of assaults from angelic- and demonic-like beasts began to pour into the Corporation's headquarters.
According to the few witnesses that remained, these fiends had begun to appear after a bolt of lightning, bright enough to be seen all the way in Einbroch, hit the very top of the Tower. No one really knows what happened after that, but many claim that the beasts that appeared afterwards are the reason more than half of the construction crew had been lost.
When these numerous reports finally surfaced to the public, the Rekenber Corporation halted the restoration and put out a request for only the strongest warriors of Midgar, the ones blessed by Odin and the rest of the Gods, to help solve this devastating mystery. Many Lord Knights, Paladins, and High Priests answered the call to arms, as did many of the other Transcendent classes.
No one has ever come back from beyond the third floor.
Originally, the explorers had first discovered an enormous lake much to the east of the rest of these lands, a lake so beautiful with clear, deep, pristine waters, and surrounded by lush flora and fauna, that it’s said to have inspired hundreds of Bard songs. Even the small island in the very center of the lake had a quaint feel to it, though the large, earthen rocks that covered it seemed to be arranged in a specific way, as if hiding something...
But the explorers' stay there was a short one, as strange, draconic creatures, red in tooth and claw, quickly drove them away in fear of their lives. Rumor has it that these beasts had been summoned by the Demon King Morroc to aid in his fight against the magic-possessing knight Thanatos hundreds of years ago. Other say that they are the pets of the Gods, set in place to guard nature. One of the explorers even claimed to have seen a mammoth, fearsome dragon the color of blood, with claws like daggers, eyes like fire, and a crest of jade and amethyst upon his brow almost like a crown.
They called this one, this dragon king, 'Nidhogg', after the dragon that chews away at the roots of the Tree of Life. As such, they named the area around that beautiful lake 'Nidhogg's Field', but as the word was relayed to King Tristam III back in Prontera, the name became twisted into 'Noghalt Fields' and came to mean that whole section of land, rather than just the lake that would later been named 'Abyss' after it's seemingly endless depth of water.
Undeterred by their failure to explore Nidhogg's Field more than they would've liked, the explorers continued northwestward in something reminiscent of an upwards, diagonal line. Over the next few months, they came across nothing as interesting as their initial discovery. Just more fields that bordered on 'dry wasteland' status and inhabited by only the hardiest of monsters; Goats, Geographers, Demon Fungi, and Plants of various colors mostly.
But the farther north in which they traveled, strange balls of light began to appear. They moved almost purposefully, as if they possessed a consciousness, and seemed to be electrified. The explorers noted that sightings of these unexplainable creatures became more frequent the more north they traveled and that they became colored, as well! By the time the group (now severely downsized due to unfortunate accidents and illnesses) stumbled upon an awe-inspiring, sky-scraping tower cut off from the rest of the world by a moat ten miles wide and three miles deep, five colors of these strange energies had been documented: Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Red.
And just like with the dragons in Nidhogg's Field, which were concentrated around the Abyss Lake, these balls of plasma seemed to be concentrated around the massive tower the explorers had chanced upon. For what reason, they did not know. And unfortunately, they never found out. Depleted of supplies and personnel, the team had to turn back at this point and retreat back to Yuno.
The news the explorers had brought back with them spread faster than a wild fire started by a careless Mage's Fire Bolt. The world became abuzz with rumors and whispers; a lake guarded by dragons? Nidhogg was their king? Balls of lightning that moved of their own, unknown will? What else was that Schwaltzvalt Republic hiding?! But none were more interested in these new discoveries than the Rekenber Corporation.
Though they shunned the Abyss Lake and its "overgrown Alligators", they took a keen interest in the tower that had been uncovered in the very last leg of the exploration. As such, the decided to investigate and it wasn't long before it was revealed that the tall structure was actually the Tower of Thanatos, but that's about all the Corporation managed to learn. The commonly accepted theory is that the Tower was built to honor Thanatos, the legendary, magic-wielding Knight who fought against Morroc, the King of Demons, for ten days and ten nights before finally managing to seal him away somewhere deep within the harsh Sograt Desert near the bottom of Midgar.
Regardless of such a lack of information, the Rekenber Corporation eventually bought the crumbling Tower of Thanatos from the Schwaltzvalt Republic for a dizzying twenty million zeny and set in motion plans to restore it. Workers managed to complete the first three floors before reports of assaults from angelic- and demonic-like beasts began to pour into the Corporation's headquarters.
According to the few witnesses that remained, these fiends had begun to appear after a bolt of lightning, bright enough to be seen all the way in Einbroch, hit the very top of the Tower. No one really knows what happened after that, but many claim that the beasts that appeared afterwards are the reason more than half of the construction crew had been lost.
When these numerous reports finally surfaced to the public, the Rekenber Corporation halted the restoration and put out a request for only the strongest warriors of Midgar, the ones blessed by Odin and the rest of the Gods, to help solve this devastating mystery. Many Lord Knights, Paladins, and High Priests answered the call to arms, as did many of the other Transcendent classes.
No one has ever come back from beyond the third floor.
~~~~~~~~
The rules+
1. First and foremost, be literate. Or at least semi-literate. I really don't think I have to include this, but better safe than sorry, ja?
2. Cussing is allowed, which is why I have rated this RPG PG-13. I myself have a tendancy to cuss. A lot. And so do my characters. So yeah. Be warned. EXPECT STRONG LANGUAGE.
3. Snobbish characters are fine. But snobbish players are not. So please be courtious to your fellow players, even if your character isn't to theirs.
5. You can have as many characters as you want, just so long as you can keep them all active and posting.
6. If you and another player get into an arguement or a lengthy discussion, please move it to PMs. Life would be made a lot easier that way.
7. Don't spam. Please.
8. If one of your characters and someone else's character start to get intimate and you wish to continue that line of RPing, then please take it somewhere private, like IMs. On here, leave most everything else to the imagination.
9. All SPPF rules apply, including the RPG forum's rules as well (no godmodding, no Mary-Sues, ect).
10. No bunnying unless you have permission from me and all the players of the characters involved.
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The form+
Username: (Your forum name so we know who plays who).
Character Name: (Doesn't have to have a last name.)
Nickname/s: (If any.)
Gender:
Age: (20+. If you would like to join a younger character, then please PM me.)
Hometown: (If you'd like to make up your own city for this, please ask me either here or in PMs.)
Pet: (If any. Include name, monster species, and if it has it's equipable item, if any. Only one pet per character. Creators/Biochemists with Homunculi, please also include them here, too. Falcons for the Snipers are NOT included here. They are not pets.)
Class/Job: (Mainly Transcendant classes. If you would like to join a character with an earlier job, please PM me. Also, in this RPG, Biochemists are called "Creators" and Scholars are called "Professors". I use kRO terms. But Stalkers are "Stalkers". Not "Chasers".)
Weapon/s of Choice: (Please include if any cards are slotted into the weapon/s and said card'/s' effects. Only Assassin Crosses can use two weapons at a time and only if they AREN'T using a katar.)
Attacks: (You can use either official iRO names or kRO names. But please provide the equivilant name if you use the latter. Example: "Spider Web (iRO: Fiber Lock)". Also, you have around 120 skill points to burn, if you want to get technical, rather than the usual 70.)
Physical Appearence: (The clothes of the various classes/jobs can deviate from the official, in-game 'uniforms' in any way you like. But please keep it something reminiscent of the said official 'uniforms'. Also include any head equips and any other equips you'd like to make mention of.)
Personality: (I beg of you to avoid the stereotypes of each class, such as the 'dark, mysterious, just needs love' Assassin Cross.)
History: (Avoid the clichés here, too, please.)
Feel free to add anything else that you'd like to include to the form.
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The ones blessed by the Gods+
(If you don't know RO, here are the classes/jobs you could be. Only one per character.)
[For more information on the classes, including concept art, skills, and stats, then please visit iRO's job page, and scroll down to "Transcendant Classes". Also all text below is © 2005-2006 by Gravity Corp and Lee Myoungjin.]
FROM THE SWORDSMAN CLASS-
Lord Knight {Transcendant of Knights}: The most powerful knights. They possess formidable attack strength and can demolish an enemy's defense with a single stroke. Uses swords (one handed and two handed) and spears as main weapons.
Paladin (Transcendant of Crusaders}: In devoutly following the path of righteousness, Crusaders can surpass their limits, becoming holy Paladins that specialize in providing support to their comrades. Uses swords (one handed and two handed) and spears as main weapons, as well as shields if they're heavy enough.
FROM THE MAGE CLASS-
High Wizard {Transcendant of Wizards}: The immeasurable power of the elements is fully realized in the spells cast by the High Wizard. Only a fool would dare challenge the awesome might of a High Wizard's advanced elemental skills head on. Uses wands and staffs as main weapons.
Professor [iRO: Scholar] {Transcendant of Sages}: With an even greater body of knowledge at his command than the Sage, the Professor has access to new, creative applications for mystical skills to support his allies and to frustrate his enemies. Although the Professor does not boast the sheer power of the Lord Knight or High Wizard, the inventive use of his methods are his keys to victory. Uses books as main weapons.
FROM THE ARCHER CLASS-
Sniper {Transcendant of Hunters}: One shot, one kill! There is no better explanation than this to describe the Sniper class! The Sniper specializes in assassinating enemies from a distance. Uses bows as main weapon.
Minstrel [aka Clown // MALE ONLY] {Transcendent of Bards}: If you've ever witnessed a miracle while listening to a song, you can bet that it's the work of a Minstrel. No matter how desperate the situation may seem, his songs will inspire you to achieve a miraculous victory. Uses various instruments as main weapons.
Gypsy [FEMALE ONLY] {Transcendent of Dancers}: Everybody loves her dancing...even her enemies. They will die blissfully, their hearts stolen by a Gypsy's alluring dance. Uses whips as main weapon.
FROM THE MERCHANT CLASS-
Mastersmith [FKA Whitesmith] {Transcendent of Blacksmiths}: When the Blacksmith transcends the limitations of working with Steel, the realization that any material existing in the world can be used to create valuable items naturally follows. It is this level of artistry in creating weapons that defines the Mastersmith. The Mastersmith also specializes in manipulating fire and using Mace and Ax weapons in battle. Uses hammers and axes as main weapons.
Creator [iRO: Biochemist] {Transcendent of Alchemists}: With knowledge comes understanding, and with understanding comes mastery. The Creator's knowledge of science has reached the saturation point, leading to a mastery over the laws of nature. Uses axes as main weapon.
FROM THE THIEF CLASS-
Assassin Cross {Transcendent of the Assassin}: The Assassin Cross utilizes stealth and confusion in order to land the perfect killing blow. With greater lethal arts and mastery of poison than the original Assassin, the Assassin Cross has a wider variety of brutal methods to overcome enemies. All without leaving the shadows. Uses a variety of daggers as one-handed weapons and katars as two-handed main weapons.
Stalker [aka Chaser] {Transcendent of Rogues}: Those targeted by a Stalker had best give up all hope of escape. Those that wish to capture a Stalker should simply accept defeat. Undetectable and uncapturable, Stalkers specialize in spying, harassing, chasing and shaking off enemies. Uses daggers and knives as main weapons.
FROM THE ACOLYTE CLASS-
High Priest {Transcendent of Priests}: The High Priest is the epitome of spiritual calm. A bulwark in the storm of chaos, he is more than capable of protecting his comrades when faced with even the most ferocious enemy. Uses staffs and books as main weapons.
Champion {Transcendent of Monks}: Through intense dedication and rigorous training, the Monk can finally tap into the total strength of his entire being as a Champion of faith, using his furious punches to do the Gods' work. Uses anything that goes on the fist as main weapon (brass knuckles, dusters, ect)
**Gunslingers, Ninja, Taekwon Do Kids, Taekwon Do Masters, Soul Linkers, and Star Gladiators/Star Knights will not be used, simply because they do not have Transcendent classes.**
Lord Knight {Transcendant of Knights}: The most powerful knights. They possess formidable attack strength and can demolish an enemy's defense with a single stroke. Uses swords (one handed and two handed) and spears as main weapons.
Paladin (Transcendant of Crusaders}: In devoutly following the path of righteousness, Crusaders can surpass their limits, becoming holy Paladins that specialize in providing support to their comrades. Uses swords (one handed and two handed) and spears as main weapons, as well as shields if they're heavy enough.
FROM THE MAGE CLASS-
High Wizard {Transcendant of Wizards}: The immeasurable power of the elements is fully realized in the spells cast by the High Wizard. Only a fool would dare challenge the awesome might of a High Wizard's advanced elemental skills head on. Uses wands and staffs as main weapons.
Professor [iRO: Scholar] {Transcendant of Sages}: With an even greater body of knowledge at his command than the Sage, the Professor has access to new, creative applications for mystical skills to support his allies and to frustrate his enemies. Although the Professor does not boast the sheer power of the Lord Knight or High Wizard, the inventive use of his methods are his keys to victory. Uses books as main weapons.
FROM THE ARCHER CLASS-
Sniper {Transcendant of Hunters}: One shot, one kill! There is no better explanation than this to describe the Sniper class! The Sniper specializes in assassinating enemies from a distance. Uses bows as main weapon.
Minstrel [aka Clown // MALE ONLY] {Transcendent of Bards}: If you've ever witnessed a miracle while listening to a song, you can bet that it's the work of a Minstrel. No matter how desperate the situation may seem, his songs will inspire you to achieve a miraculous victory. Uses various instruments as main weapons.
Gypsy [FEMALE ONLY] {Transcendent of Dancers}: Everybody loves her dancing...even her enemies. They will die blissfully, their hearts stolen by a Gypsy's alluring dance. Uses whips as main weapon.
FROM THE MERCHANT CLASS-
Mastersmith [FKA Whitesmith] {Transcendent of Blacksmiths}: When the Blacksmith transcends the limitations of working with Steel, the realization that any material existing in the world can be used to create valuable items naturally follows. It is this level of artistry in creating weapons that defines the Mastersmith. The Mastersmith also specializes in manipulating fire and using Mace and Ax weapons in battle. Uses hammers and axes as main weapons.
Creator [iRO: Biochemist] {Transcendent of Alchemists}: With knowledge comes understanding, and with understanding comes mastery. The Creator's knowledge of science has reached the saturation point, leading to a mastery over the laws of nature. Uses axes as main weapon.
FROM THE THIEF CLASS-
Assassin Cross {Transcendent of the Assassin}: The Assassin Cross utilizes stealth and confusion in order to land the perfect killing blow. With greater lethal arts and mastery of poison than the original Assassin, the Assassin Cross has a wider variety of brutal methods to overcome enemies. All without leaving the shadows. Uses a variety of daggers as one-handed weapons and katars as two-handed main weapons.
Stalker [aka Chaser] {Transcendent of Rogues}: Those targeted by a Stalker had best give up all hope of escape. Those that wish to capture a Stalker should simply accept defeat. Undetectable and uncapturable, Stalkers specialize in spying, harassing, chasing and shaking off enemies. Uses daggers and knives as main weapons.
FROM THE ACOLYTE CLASS-
High Priest {Transcendent of Priests}: The High Priest is the epitome of spiritual calm. A bulwark in the storm of chaos, he is more than capable of protecting his comrades when faced with even the most ferocious enemy. Uses staffs and books as main weapons.
Champion {Transcendent of Monks}: Through intense dedication and rigorous training, the Monk can finally tap into the total strength of his entire being as a Champion of faith, using his furious punches to do the Gods' work. Uses anything that goes on the fist as main weapon (brass knuckles, dusters, ect)
**Gunslingers, Ninja, Taekwon Do Kids, Taekwon Do Masters, Soul Linkers, and Star Gladiators/Star Knights will not be used, simply because they do not have Transcendent classes.**
~~~~~~~~
Things to know+
(Terms, processes, ect, if you're new to RO.)
Refining: Blacksmiths and Mastersmiths can refine most items and weapons, which makes them stronger and less likely to break. To signify that an item is refined, as well as it's refine rate, you put "+<refine rate>" before the name of the item. Example: "+3 Brooch". +10 is the maximum refine rate, but beware! The higher you try to refine the item, the more likely it is to break in the process. The highest you can go without a threat of breakage is +4. +5 only has a 50% chance to succeed, +6 a 25% chance, +7 a 15% chance, +8 a 10% chance, and +10 a 5% chance.
Levels: In RO, each character as two levels: a base level, which dictates stats such as Strength and Luck and job level, which dictates skill points, which you invest into skills in order to learn them and make them stronger. They levels are almost always written together and in the form of "<BL>/<JL>", such as "130/67".
Slotted Items: While most items are "unslotted", sometimes some items come "slotted", or with the ability to be integrated with Cards that monsters sometimes drop. Most of the time, and item only has one slot, meaning it can only be integrated with a single card. But the more slots, the more cards (two slots = two cards, ect). The maximum number of slots is three, and items with this many slots are very rare.
Cards: Almost every monster drops a card pertaining to their species; Porings will drop Poring Cards and Pests will drop Pest Cards. Each card gives the item in which it's slotted into an effect of some sort, be it blessing the item with an elemental property, allowing the user use of a certain move, or adding to stats. Also, when you sot a card into an item, the item will take on a new name depending on the card. Example: if you were to put a Vitata Card (gives player use of level three Heal) into a Rosary, you'd get a Healing Rosary. Or if you were to put an Obsidian Card (for every 18 points in Dexterity you have, you'll gain an additional point in Vitality) into a Glitter Jacket, you'd get a Glittering Jacket of Vital Switching. For a list of cards, their effects, and the names they give items, please go here.
MvP: Acronym for "Monster versus Player", or "Most Valuable Player" (as the player who did the most damage [or Most Valuable Player] would get the best reward), but has since evolved into a slang term for an ultimate boss monster (there are boss monsters and there are ultimate boss monsters, which control the boss monsters). Currently, the strongest MvP in the game is Thanatos, but other noteable MvPs include Lord of Death, Dark Lord, and Amon Ra.
Unfortunately, that's all I can think of. So if you still have questions about what something means, or what something is, or something like that, feel free to PM me and ask! :]
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Technical things+
(For those of you who DO know RO and want the stats and stuff.)
- Instead of 90/70 as the maximum levels for Transcendants, it's now 255/120. Have fun.
- Stats are capped at 150, instead of 99.
- 195 Attack Speed IS possible, but really only Snipers and Assassin Crosses achieve it.
- No, the refine rates are still capped at +10.
- If it's not slotted in the official game, it's still not slotted here.
- If it IS slotted, it still has the same amount of slots.
- Rates are much, much higher. About 500/500/300. MvP cards are still uncommon to rare, though, especially Garm, Tao Gunka, Dracula, Amon Ra, Pharaoh, Lord of Death, Dark Lord, and Golden Thief Bug.
- Many monsters aside from Q-Pets can be captured with the help of the Professor's Abracadabra (iRO: Hocus Pocus) skill. They spam the skill until they get an attack called "????", which then turns into one of several specialized attacks: Monocell (turns the target into a Poring, but if captured, reverts back to original monster), Death (instantly kills target), Fortune (gains zeny from target based off target's level), and Capture Monster (brings up the Success/Failure wheel as if capturing a pet. If Successful, well, new pet).
- Yes, we have wings. They are status symbols, mostly (they do give small stat bonuses), so only the super rich/popular characters have them.
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Characters+
Username: [Paper Snow]
Character Name: Seraphina Praon
Nickname/s: Sera, Phin (pronounced "feen").
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Hometown: Greenwood Lake (the satellite city of Payon)
Pet: None.
Falcon's Name: Lisou ('lie-sue')
Class/Job: Sniper
Weapon/s of Choice: +4 Rudra Bow
Attacks:
- Sharp Shooting, L.5 [iRO: Focused Arrow Strike]
- Double Strafing, L.10 (fires two arrows at once)
- Arrow Shower, L.10
- Blitz Beat L.5 (her falcon will strike the target once)
- Falcon Assault L.5 (her falcon will strike the target numerous times)
- Arrow Crafting, L.1 (makes arrows out of the items on hand)
- Heal, L.3
- Remove Trap, L.1
- Ankle Snare, L.5 (sets a trap that will immobilize the target for a set amount of time)
Physical Appearance: Tall at around 5'6" and quite lanky with long, toned arms, Seraphina was certainly grown into her Sniper class over the years. Though small-busted and with a pear-shaped body, she isn't exactly as pretty as her Gypsy class counterpart. Her hair is a light sea green in color and reaches about the middle of her back, though she almost always keeps it in a tight ponytail so it doesn't get in the way of her shooting. The large, white, floppy ears of a Bunny Band protrude from the top of her head and a band of dark cloth tied at the back of her head (Dark Blinker) obscures her sight. She swears to Frigg that this helps improve her other senses, but no one's really sure.
Her clothes are, for the most part, that of the standard Sniper uniform given out by the Archers' Guild in Payon, but dark aqua-green replaces any brown and the orange is slightly green-tinged. Her shorts are also held up by a ragged, black leather Belt of Doubled Power (Owl Baron Card), which also sports and chipped and scratched Brooch of Godly Wrath (Owl Duke Card).
Personality: Calm and cheery, Seraphina is in possession of a large amount of patience. She can tolerate many things others probably wouldn't and is slow to anger because she just doesn't see the point in letting the actions and words of others get under her skin. She is quite sarcastic, though, and no one is really spared from her sharp tongue. When it comes to sniping, though, she becomes serious and silent, taking to observing rather than talking.
The sudden monster attacks and take-overs of the various cities, towns, and guild castles of Midgar has left her questioning the Gods, though. How could Odin and Frigg allow something like this to happen? Despite all the bloodshed and loss, she still tries to keep her head and hope up, if not for herself, then for those around her.
History: Born and raised in Greenwood Lake, Seraphina never had a second thought about joining the Archers' Guild and becoming a Hunter like her father; Her mother's dancing just didn't capture her interest in the same way the thrill of snaring Lunatics and hunting Bigfeet did (that, and she was quite a tomboy). Growing up, she also had one of the most accurate shots with a bow and arrow in the village.
Upon becoming an Archer, not much else took place in her rather uneventful life. She grew up, she became a Hunter. But at the age of twenty-one, she met an unfortunate end at the hands of Doppelganger while exploring through a dungeon in Geffen. Her Oridecon Arrows were just no match for the incredibly fast, Shadow-elemented demon. But as she lay dying, a sweet voice spoke to her; "Are you ready?" It was a Valkyrie, a Virgin of Battle, a servant of Odin. "Yes, I am ready."
Next thing Seraphina knew, she was back at Greenwood Lake, a simple Novice once again and unable to recall any of the skills she had learned so long ago and spent so many years honing. For the next two years, she trained all over again, quickly rising from Novice High to Archer High to Hunter High. Finally, that same voice who had spoken to her years ago spoke once again; "Are you ready?" "Yes, I am ready." And at twenty-three, she Transcended the normal, mortal limits of skill and ability to become a Sniper, one blessed by the Gods.
A year later when the monster attacks and take-overs began, she and her father proudly answered the call-to-arms put forth by the Archers' Guild, but like everyone else had been, were caught off-guard when the monsters, led by the Dark Lord, began to attack Payon and seize hold of the five guild castles that were located there. Through skill, fright, and sheer luck, she was part of the lucky handful that managed to survive those bloody fights and flee to Prontera, where she now stays, pledging herself, and what's left of the Archers' Guild, to the rebellion.
~~~~~~~~
Username: Clockworkz
Character Name: Ryker Yaiden
Nickname/s: "Hides-his-Heart"
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Hometown: Rachel
Pet: Zealotus (Species: Zealotus >_> She has no name; she's basically his slave)
Class/Job: Assassin Cross
Weapon/s of Choice: +7 Triple Critical Jur [3]
Attacks: Sonic Blow 10, Hiding 10, Cloaking 5, Grimtooth 5, Sonic Acceleration, Venom Splasher 5
Physical Appearence: Ryker stands about six feet tall, and weighs no more than 160 lbs. His arms and chest are wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, as i shis mouth and nose. His face is covered by a Mask that resembles that of a Bloody Murderer's. Tattered, deep blue robes wave behind him, and his long, black hair is tied back in a ponytaill most of the time. His boots come up to his knees, and have many different straps and areas to conceal items.
Personality: He's a sarcastic man, with a pessimistic outlook on life. He prefers to be called by his nickname, since his real name has no meaning for him anymore. Whenever he gets in a party, he tends to take on the leader role, but doesn't speak. He's a supposed mute ever since his history.
History: Ryker was once an assassin for hire, under the rule of King Tristian the third. He loved his job, and it payed well to boot. Eventually, his killings encompassed his life so much, that it bacame an obesession, and he loved seeing other people's blood get spilled, as he slowly turned more sadistic. Eventually, on one assassination, Ryker was ordered to kill and elderly couple in thier sleep. After the malicious deed was done, it was later discovered that this couple was Ryker's parents. He completely broke down mentally, and left the orders of the king. He donned a mask, for he was ashamed to show his face, and never spoke again. He now travels as a nomad across the world.
~~~~~~~~
RESERVED+
- Kairi
- Kaecyus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope this does well. . __. It's really limiting and seems kinda daunting and overwhelming if you don't know RO to begin with, but I tried my best to explain the big, bad technicalities of the game, as suggested. Please no flaming if you're against private servers, too. That sort of self-righteousness makes me sad.
Also, if this is breaking any rules (I read every sticky several times out of paranoia to prevent that), please have mercy on me. D:
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