Post by Nicky on Mar 7, 2011 21:51:35 GMT -5
Our World
Our world is an ever changing one, growing quickly and expanding by the day as new lands are found, destroyed, and conquered. The majority of our world’s populace comes from its five largest nations: Yuzelle, Heron, Minwei, Cherous, and Sephoru. Yuzelle, the nation on which our academy resides, is the largest and consists of a cluster of islands that vary in size. It’s the leading nation in the fishing and logging industry. Its strongest allies are Heron and Sephoru. Across a vast stretch of sea, to Yuzelle’s east, lies Heron. The city of Sephoru used to rest on Yuzelle’s second largest island, to its north, but has since been granted independence. Cherous and Minwei share a large continent to Yuzelle’s northwest. Across the globe, other various island nations have been documented and traveled to as well.
For more on Our World, visit the Frequently Asked Questions thread.
Our Nation
Our nation is arguably the most powerful out of the five. Our abundant natural resources and our close relations with the other nations make Yuzelle strong economically and politically. Its acceptance of travelers from other lands and a variety of races makes it a cultural hub. Altogether, Yuzelle is made up of seven different islands. The largest island boasts the capital, Leuniel, to the east, the prosperous fishing village, Harpshard, to the west, and the military base, Hamston, to the south. North of Leuniel and Harpshard one will find a tiny strip of unexplored forest. At the very north of the island lies a large and vast desert. Very few venture here, much less set up residence, but along the coast dot a number of small nomad villages and communities that are constantly in motion.
The island to the north of this one is small and densely forested. On this island the largest population of Elves and the Fae reside.
The other islands are small and most of their villages go without name, though that does not lessen their importance.
Our Capital
Our capital, Leuniel, is a shining jewel. There are plenty of places where one can find work. Factories that refine our natural resources into consumer goods are found here, employees work in clean, sanitary, and comfortable conditions. The air quality remains great. Artisans come here from all over the world to sell unique and exotic goods. Performers roam the streets, dancing and singing, hoping to get their big break and to perform at our theater. Artists travel far and wide to paint our breathtaking cityscape, our beautiful parks and plant-life, our pearl-colored buildings that tower toward the clouds. Our ruler, the wise Estello Rumbartu, lives in the Capital House here with wife and two daughters. Our capital is also the only place in the world with a school targeted towards those with magical powers, the Academy for the Gifted.
Our People
No matter how great the land, our nation would be nothing without its hardworking and determined citizens. They all have their own story to tell. From the artisans to the everyday merchant, even the pirates and the crooks, they're all what makes our nation so wonderful.
The Humans – The Humans are, by far, the most abundant of all the races. They are social creatures that are weak alone but strong in numbers. They excel in crafts, from laborious work to the arts. They take great pride in whatever they choose to do and at times have unwavering determination.
The Demons – Demons gained passage into our world when humans first learned the art of summoning. Since then, they have integrated themselves with our society and flourished. Most often, they boast monstrous appearances, from scales to fur to horns to various growths and other body deformations. When a child is born from Human and Demon parents, that child will always be born with a Human appearance. If a child is born from a Demon and another race, the combination most often results in what we call a Shapeshifter. Shapeshifters can shift between their natural appearance and a Demonic form.
The Elves – Elves are a noble and intelligent race. They’ve lived most of their lives in solidity from the other races and have just recently started to intermingle with the rest of the populace. They are usually tall and pale in color. They live in wooded areas and other areas abundant in natural resources (see Powers below for more information as to why). Their ears are pointed and it has many times been question as to whether or not Elves are a sub-race of Demons, like the Fae.
The Fae – Fae are tiny, nimble, and quick. They tend to be sneaky and have great natural reflexes. Their other sensory and perceptions skills are above average as well. Most of the Fae fit the standard Humanoid mold with the occasional difference. They are a sub-race of Demon and occasionally take on Demonic features such as wings, horns, hooves, etc. Although they are citizens of Yuzelle, the Fae follow their own political system, with their Queen at the top. Below the Queen is the King, their children, the Nobles, the Knights, and the other members of the court. At the bottom is the common Fairy.
The Nomads (Human Race) – Nomads reside in the desert above Leuniel. Their bodies have been modified in such ways in order to adapt to their harsh living environment that they are almost of a different race entirely. Their eyes are always light in color. Usually they are colorblind. They have dark skin from the sun. Their hair is usually light and bleached looking. They are always slim and spindly in build. They are constantly settling in different places across the desert lands.
Other – There are plenty of other small, documented and undocumented, races throughout Yuzelle.
Magic
Not everyone can use magic. The ability to use or create magic has to be passed down from one or both parents to their child. There are many different types of magic, more types than what there are races in all of Yuzelle, our nation. Usually, however, there are certain types of magic that coincide with each race. The Humans usually specialize in sorcery or object enhancement magic. The chance that a pure Human child with the ability to use magic is born is about 25%. If both Human parents can use magic then the chance is closer to 50%.
Pure Demon children will always inherit the magic gene. It’s a fact that magic is more likely to be passed down to a child through their mother than their father. But this absoluteness only occurs when Demons mix with the human race. If the mother of a child is a Demon and the father is a Human, that child will also always inherit the magic gene. But if the child’s father is a Demon and their mother a Human, then that child will never inherit the magic gene. The most common magic that Demons use is summoning. Shapeshifters almost never inherit the magic gene, even if their mother is a Demon.
Elves and members of the Fae are, without a doubt, the most varied when it comes to what magic they can use. Often, it’s earth magic. Be it influence over rocks, earth, plants, or water. They are also great Healers, Alchemists, Enchanters, and Seers. Unlike Demons, the chance that a mixed child inherits the magic gene from an Elf or one of the Fae, be it from their mother or father, is about 10%. If both parents are of the same race and possess magic then the chance is upped to about 30%.
There are plenty of other races throughout Yuzelle, along with many different unknown types of magic. Considering the fact that our nation is one large melting pot, there are also countless interracial children. Whether or not they acquire the magic gene, sometimes, is all left up to chance.
Most magic users are taught how to master their abilities by one or both of their parents, but on the occasion that a child can not be taught by their parents that child can seek out a teacher. The Academy for the Gifted gives these students the opportunity to do just that.
The most common magic is defined below:
Sorcery: Sorcery, or witchcraft, is most often used in the form of a common word spell. These spells can be used for a number of things, from mundane tasks to powerful attacks, but first must be learned and perfected by the caster. Spells can also be called upon by the use of runes. Sorcerers can also use summoning magic, but this is very difficult and it must be done through a non living object with a rune carved into it. If a sorcerer attempts to summon something through their own body it could prove fatal.
Enhancement: Enhancement is the ability to enhance an object or individual’s natural properties such as taste, strength, speed, etc.
Summoning: Summoning is the act of calling upon a physical object or creature from another dimension. The further away the dimension is or the larger the object makes the summoning more difficult. Powerful Summoners can summon more powerful objects and creatures. Summoners, with practice, can also send objects from their own dimension to another.
Earth Magic: Earth Magic is having the ability to manipulate one or more of the earth’s natural resources. The resource has to be present for it to be manipulated, unless they are aided by a summoning object, created by a Sorcerer.
Healing: Someone with the ability to heal through contact.
Alchemy: Our world’s definition of alchemy is the ability to create potions. Potions can be used for a variety of things. Some potions are created to be digested, and to have an effect on an individual, while others are substantial on their own, such as combustible potions.
Enchanting: Enchanters have the ability to give non-living and living things magical attributes without the object itself having any magical properties. Examples would be an object being able to come to life or a person being able to fly. They aren’t really able to do that on their own; they are simply under the control of the Enchanter. If an object is enchanted strongly enough, that object's enchantment might be able to act on its own without the Enchanter having to control it. The enchantment ends, however, if the Enchanter passes away. Enchanters are also able to create charms, be them for good or bad luck.
Telepathy and Seers: Seers are people with the ability of precognition and sometimes telepathy. Precognition is the ability to see the future. Telepathy can be the ability to read ones thoughts or the ability to communicate your thoughts with another.
Other: There are plenty of other magic that doesn’t fit in with any of the categories above. Some of these magical abilities are useful while some are not.
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