THE SPRITES AND THEIR CHILDREN There are ten sentient creatures in Ziacgam (excluding Humans). Each kind has a Sprite watching over them. They, in turn, protect the territory the Sprite is bound by Divine Decree to guard (sometimes the territory is in relation to an element; those with no element have a place to watch over). They've been around for a LONG time, and like any group of people (or beings, in their case), they've had their good and bad moments -- the stories of these are what the people of Ziacgam call their legends. Sprites reveal themselves only when they wish to, and only those of immense magical power or strength of spirit can see them without trying. [b]JAMARA, THE FAIR MAIDEN - SPRITE OF WATER[/b] Jamara is serene and fair. She dresses in white, has deep blue eyes, and long, silky white hair. Her Children are the Unicorns. She loves waterfalls; the more gentle the fall of water is, the purer it looks, the more it shines, the more likely she is to be there. Her favored gem is the sapphire. [b]MATIDELL - SPRITE OF THE FORESTS[/b] Matidell is quite calm, but she has a more magisterial look to her. Her eyes are deep green, her hair is chestnut brown, and she dresses in the palest of green. Her Children are the Defos. She dwells in deep forests. Her favored gem is the emerald. [b]DARIVAS - SPRITE OF FIRE[/b] Despite the fact that his element is associated with passion, Darivas is... rather cold. Really. His hair is set in wavy spikes (yes, this is possible -- he's a Sprite) and is fire-orange in color, his eyes are golden-yellow, his skin is slightly tanned, and he dresses in... well orange, red, and gold. His Children are the Phoenixes. He dwells in the fiery mountains and the deep lava pools. His favored gem is the ruby. [b]MEGASA - SPRITE OF THE PLAINS[/b] Megasa is likely the most cheerful of the Sprites. She has pink eyes, light blonde hair, and wears pastel colors (mostly pink). Her Children are the Vrim. She can most likely be found in the mini-caves formed by boulders in the plains. Her favored gem is the alexandrite. [b]BINAM - SPRITE OF THE MOUNTAINS[/b] Binam sort of like your stereotypical tomboy. She guards the mountains, but mostly to keep the criminals and the sloth from finding the great treasures hidden in them. She is proud and seems very likely to punch or curse someone out (which she doesn't do -- she will yell at, say, thieves, of course). Her hair is a brownish gold, her eyes are a dark sort of red, her skin is rather tanned, and she dresses in dark reds and purples with gold accents. Her Children are the Dragons. She dwells, obviously enough, in the mountains. Her favored gem is the garnet. [b]GAV'ES - SPRITE OF EARTH[/b] Gav'es is grumpy. He's all about not being lazy. To him, most Humans (and most of the Sprites) are too lazy for their own good (though in the case of the Sprites it's more like they don't appear dedicated enough). He is quite strong and rough, has dark brown hair, mud-brown eyes, and skin the color of red-brown earth. He dresses in earth colors. His Children are the Graus. He dwells in caves, whether in mountains or underground. His favored gem is the tiger's eye. [b]INDINAV - SPRITE OF AIR/WIND[/b] Indinav is princess-like and rather bossy; she almost always gets her way. She has short, whispy white hair, silver eyes, and pale skin. She dresses in white and has several scarf-like sashes and the like, all semi-transparent and glittery. Her Children are the Whitewings. She can be found in the eyries of the highest mountains. Her favored gem is the diamond. [b]AMI'ENA - SPRITE OF THE CLOUDS[/b] If Indinav is "rather" bossy, then Ami'ena is just bossy. She acts stuck up and is very judgmental. She will likely hold a grudge. She's not so bad once you get past that seemingly mean exterior, and as a Patron her passion is almost unequalled. She has gray-violet hair and gray eyes. She dresses in silver, gray-violet, and gray. Her Children are the Pairai. She dwells in the clouds, preferring the dark rainclouds to the white ones of good weather. Sometimes she can be found in lakes or rivers because they reflect the clouds above. Her favored gem is the amethyst. [b]FADOS - SPRITE OF THE DESERTS[/b] Fados is playful and, well, spritely. He is known to like stirring up a bit of fun (mostly at the expense of someone else), but it's all in good... fun (word ^^; heh), and nobody holds it against him. He has sandy blonde hair and amber eyes. He dresses in browns, golds, and cream shades. His Children are the Jinni. His favored gem is the topaz. [b]ETMOS - SPRITE OF SNOW[/b] Etmos is very, VERY quiet and reserved. You are very unlikely to hear him speak. He appears emotionless, but inside he is very calm, caring, and wonderful. He has snow-white hair and ice blue eyes. He dresses in ice blue, white, and silver. His Children are the Puffec. His favored gem is the aquamarine. *another post; same thread* Ziacgam's Ten Sentient Creatures
[b]Unicorns:[/b] Exactly what you've seen and heard of them, with a few teensy exceptions. (1) They're not all sweetness and love -- one must EARN a Unicorn's trust. Once you do, you are guaranteed a protector and a friend for life. (2) Unicorns have cloven hoves (like cows), unlike horses. (3) Technically, their tails are supposed to be like lions', but I like the swishy, equine ones better. ^_^; Taking artistic license here, don'tcha know. ^_~ (4) According to legend, Unicorns are pure white. The most common deviation that still remains canon-ish is silver. However, I will allow colored unicorns, as long as you don't make their colors hideously bright. Other than that, other Unicorn lore remains the same. (If any deviations should come to my attention during the game, this post will be ammended to reflect those changes.) [b]Defos:[/b] Defos are best defined as wolves crossed with panthers. A wolf's bushy tail, mane-thing, and snout; a panther's whiskers and agility. They come in their natural colors. They are fierce and possessive. They guard the deep, dark forests from the destructive designs of mankind. [b]Phoenixes:[/b] Same as you've seen and heard of them. They represent the cycle of life: birth, maturation, death, and rebirth. They are mysterious and nurturing creatures. [b]Vrim:[/b] You know those butterflies in the cartoons? The ones that have those big black eyes and almost humanoid bodies? Well, the Vrim are very much like that. They're also bigger than the average butterfly. (The largest monarch butterfly size is the smallest for a Vrim.) They are shy and girly and are seen amongst the butterflies in the plains. They may seem weak and fragile, but they pack quite a punch. [b]Dragons:[/b] Like Dragons. Go figure. ^_^ I'll allow them to be of different colors as long as you don't pick hideous ones. (No bright yellows or oranges -- or ANYTHING, at that.) Dragons often appear haughty, but this is mostly because they are independent. They are fiercely protective of any creature they wish to protect. [b]Graus:[/b] They're blind, rough-skinned, and very strong. Short and stubby, they live in underground caves and are the sources of earthquakes. Why do they shake the land? So that Humans'll wake up and not be lazy! They navigate using sounds. You are more likely to get lost than they are. [b]Whitewings:[/b] Tall, thin, graceful, winged, and white. The Whitewings are the postmen and women of Ziacgam. Mail is delivered within the day unless there is a VERY good reason. They are so swift that all that can be seen of them is a rush of white. Specifically, their skin is very, very pale, their hair is white and shiny, their eyes are silver, and they dress in white. They are very civil creatures. [b]Pairai:[/b] Little puffs of white fluffiness with two black eyes. This is a Pairai's true form. Once a Pairai has selected a Human partner (which s/he is under no obligation to do), a diamond appears where its forehead would be. Pairai are, in fact, shapeshifters. They are also immortal, but not invulnerable. If a Pairai is "killed" (more like mortally wounded or something that would actually kill the race/creature/whatever's shape s/he is in) when in a certain form, s/he can no longer return to that form. [b]Jinni:[/b] Jinni are genies. That simple. 'Cept they're cooler, aren't bound to a master unless a person saves him/her, and they like wreaking havoc. >D Of course, it's all just fun for them. They tend to be acrobatic. They are always tanned. They like teasing. Even though they seem irresponsible, the fact is that if they are bound to you in some way, they are VERY loyal and VERY protective. [b]Puffec:[/b] Ah, the snow creatures. Puffec are of the more rarely seen creatures. Their skin has an icy feel to it, and though it resembles hard crystal, it is really leathery. Their coloring is pure, often glittering white. They are normally cool to the touch. A Puffec's smallest height is a little more than that of the largest Vrim. Puffec can glide due to the thin flap of skin attached to their arms and legs. They resemble bats crossed with squirrels. CHARACTER SHEETS Characters will be accepted to this RPG on the basis of applications, which means that just because you put up a profile does NOT mean you'll be accepted. One character per person. (There is only one exception to this, but even if you could figure it out, I wouldn't allow it because someone else already got it.) Good use of the English language will weigh rather heavily on whether or not your app will be accepted. I also HIGHLY emphasize creativity -- if your character is good enough I am more than willing to ignore punctuation errors... IF they are few. Apps will be reviewed by DS and I. Good luck~! ^_~ [b]Name:[/b] (last name not necessary, but it'd be nice) [b]Age:[/b] (no younger than 12, no older than 22) [b]Race, Class, Weapon:[/b] * (special requirements; see below) [b]Patron Sprite and Child:[/b] ** (select three; see below) [b]Apperance:[/b] (any colors go) [b]Alignment:[/b] *** (see below) [b]Temperament:[/b] (personality; be creative! be an opportunist if you want to be! ;P) [b]Background:[/b] (be brief (but not choked up ^_~) and creative) [i]*[/i] [race] Given race is Human, so you don't have to write what race your character is. However, in some special cases, there may be Half-Humans. (If you've read the lore part of the Spries thread, you'll know what I'm talking about.) It is preferred that your character be human -- we MAY have NO MORE than FOUR Half-Humans. This will be for DS and me to decide. [class] No more than four characters can have a class. Two or three may be a class-in-training. They are your basic Dungeons and Dragons classes: Wizard, Sorceror, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Paladin, Monk, Barbarian, Bard, Rogue, and Ranger. If you don't know what these are, just ask. [weapon] Anyone can have a weapon, but I would prefer it if only six or seven characters did. Characters with classes MUST select a weapon (the only exception is Monk). [i]**[/i] Select three: first/preferred, second, and third choice. I will assign to you the one who most suits your character. As for Child, that will go with Sprite. Do not fill out a space for Child. [i]***[/i] The D&D alignments, EXCLUDING ALL EVIL ONES. Choose one of these: Lawful Good, Chaotic Good, Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, and Neutral. These are great for defining your character. If you don't know what they are, ask and the answers shall be given. (Ask Angel of Light if you want the best possible answers -- she has a D&D Player's Handbook. ^_~) LORE (PART OF SPRITES THREAD) I won't go into the actual legends (they are a LOT and they are LONG), but I'll give you a general overview of their contents. Of the Sprites, it is said that Fados and Indinav were once or are in like/love. The same is said of Darivas and Binam. It is hinted that Etmos and Jamara (or Megasa, depending on who you ask) might like each other. All ten sentient creatures are referred to simply as Children of Sprites. Of these, the humanoid ones might have been or might be in romantic relationships with Humans. From these unions come Half-Humans. They may be Human/Whitewing, Human/Jinni, and Human/Pairai. If Human/Pairai, the Pairai was in a humanoid form (almost always Human), but as the Pairai is NOT Human, the resulting child is a Half-Human. Throughout Ziacgam's history, there have been myths and legends of heroes. A hero was almost always assisted by the Sprites, and always blessed by the Mother and the Father. Heroes usually changed their names, taking one syllable of their name and repeating it. For example, the heroes of fifty years ago were known as Riri, Xexe, and Popo; their names were Camiri, Xeha'u, and Hopone. The Seer who predicted the rise of the ten new heroes never said they would do this. RELIGION, CULTURE, AND THE LAND ITSELF (in the story thread DS put up) Religion The Father and the Mother are Ziacgam's deities (some believe them to be one sole deity, but still refer to them as two -- people just have faith and usually don't think about this sort of thing). Things in the physical world are reflections of those in the spiritual, therefore it is also believed that whenever an evil arises it is either because there is a war raging in the Unseen Realms, or that the sins of the people have brought calamity upon them. Culture There are several things that, as players, you must keep in mind. The people of Ziacgam, as well as every other person in the realm, are very much aware of the existence of the Terra plane. Since Terrans are ignorant to everything but themselves and their realm, it is common to hear someone call another person a "Terran" as a form of insult. This isn't to say that Terrans are hated and looked down upon -- it's just so rare for a Terran to be encountered ANYWHERE in this plane that they've grown used to saying this. There IS electricity, but it is NOT used like it is on Earth. Magic is preferred over electricity anyway. There is electrical offensive magic, which is to say lightning spells. Nobles and high mages make up the ruling class. At the palace are, most notably, the Royal Family and the Archmage Landscape Ziacgam is a beautiful fantasy realm with deep forests, beautiful planes, large lakes, deserts, snowy lands in the north, tall and rocky mountains, extensive valleys, clear skies and the four seasons (all extraordinarily gorgeous), caves and treasure, towns and ports, and a wealth of magic and diversity. The colors are bright wherever the sun shines. However, now that there are dark clouds, the sun is rarely seen and the beauty of the continent is hidden, to be seen only by those who truly wish to see it. RULES 1. Keep your grammar and spelling in check. Typos happen, I know, I get them too, but we can all work them out together. Reread your post after it's up and edit it yourself if there's a need. Typo-correcting is... tedious. x_o 2. DO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE STORY UNLESS YOU HAVE THE EXPRESS AUTHORIZATION OF EITHER DS OR MYSELF. ...had to put that in caps. Don't want it ignored. ^_^; 3. Character rivalries are accepted and encouraged (though most certainly NOT in excess -- be realistic here). However, if you start fighting with another character in an OOC thread... well, poor you is all I can say. 4. Offline events should NOT affect your character's mood. At all. If your best friend stole your girl/boyfriend and your character is in the middle of nowhere, don't have them gripe about it. That's what online journals are for. ^^;; (I should know, I have four. >D) 5. If you'll be away for some reason, try to let DS and/or me know in advance. We can move your character along without making him/her suddenly proclaim he/she is the sun of the Queen or something. 6. If you're gone without telling us for a week, you will be PMed. If we get no response within another week, we'll start suspecting some offline troubles. Try to find a way to let us know what's going on -- we're not here to make your life hel -- err, heck. ^^; This is about fun, yo. If you're gone for too long we might just move your character along or leave him/her somewhere by sending him/her on an errand until you get back. 7. Fight with the GMs about something and you're in SO much trouble. And so's your character, 'cuz we're the GMs and we can, like, make his/her life pretty bad... 8. Rules 3, 4, and 7 are to be known as Netiquette. Clear? Cool, yo! ^_^ 9. Please, please, please don't drown the thread in posts. Really. If you really want to, wait until more goes on that you can react to happens and then post. If something doesn't happen... then you can post. ^^; Y'know? I don't think it'd be good if after a few hours off M2A you come back and see five pages of RPG... in pointless posts. x_o; Keep that in mind... 10. Any questions? Just ask us! We don't bite. We may hiss a little, but no biting. ^_~ Should any new rules come up, this post will be changed to reflect those changes.
