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We're looking for a list of beasts, along with short descriptions, that inhabit this fantasy world. The compound is near a forest and a mountain so this could be important.

I added the information we have so far on dragon magic. We're still working on the types of dragons, here:
http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?page=5&t=1381183#35752038

How to Join

You need to fill out a basic character profile to join:


You can go ahead and post it here, because unless it looks like you haven't read a bloody word of this thread, you should be accepted into the RP. You can post your profile here before it is finished.

I will PM you privately if I have any major problems with your character or any thing radical to suggest.

You may leave your history a bit vague if you plan to RP some of it out. That's where I plan to help people the most, so that I can get you all in the same compound doing something or other when the RP starts. You must have at least one character in the compound, about to be in the compound, or working for the compound when we start so that you can find some one to RP with that isn't always me just because Im the GM.

Members:
Penden - Cedric and Isabel
Punk Fox TH - Daerin
Kai Karasurei - Katrina Preace
Roka_Shotar - Jhovam Urith
Isarde - Ross Jackson
Kax Sparkson - Abwyviel
Fenrir SongMoon- Viecada
MC43 - Tast
SgtAram - Aimus

Character lifelines:

Character Geneologies:
The Eldic's Family Tree
Cedric's Family Tree

Magic

Men
IMPORTANT: this is the most likely form of magic for men to have, but girls can have it too. If you have this type of magic your character will be younger than 23, either as a first generation or second generation. "First" generation dragons are Cedric's children. "Second" generation are his grandchildren. Cedric escaped 16 years ago after 7 years of captivity. That means that second generation character can only be 8 yrs old, tops, and first generation can be between 16-23. Magic Probability Tree.

Magic leaking into the gene pool from the west is not in the form of traditional mages, but in human beings bonded to magical creatures: dragons. First I will explain how and why they are bonded.

Many years ago, dragons were dying out. They were like the gaurdians of the earth, but as humanoid species grew and learned how to take care of their home, the earth seemed to need them less and less. Being sentient species, dragons did not want to die out and found a way to prevent or at least delay their extinction. They did two things: first, they bonded what was left of them to humans in countries where they had good relations with the ape-like creatures. They choose humans because, although not as powerful and arguably less intelligent, humans were still sentient and at least knew what magic was. This was necessary because otherwise the mental-exhange between the two bonded species would turn the lesser being into a drone. They also choose humans because humans reproduce a heck of a lot faster than dragons were at the time.

Secondly, they created or found an alternate world/dimension to live in. They wanted to live in a place where time ran comparably faster so that the life span of the humans would match up with their more mature years. Other wise dragons might be dying too soon or humans might be living much longer than they were intended to, which would be cool for us but would disturb what the dragons considered to be the natural order of things. Another world was also convenient so that the humans and dragons could live separate lives despite the fact that, on one level, they were the same person. The bond still exists between the worlds, which means that when humans reproduce so do the dragons (even if they means that they just get pregnant out of nowhere), when the dragon is hurt the human is too, and they live the same length of time.

Physically, the bond affects the humans very little on a day to day basis. Humans that do not even know about the bond may be insensitive to its affects. For instance, they may dream about lizards and not know why. Dragons are more automatically aware of their counterparts and can even lend them magical powers on a temporary basis (just as they can for non-bonded beings, but it's easier to give power to your other half).

The first thing that the bonded pair will learn to do is usually to switch places. That means that mr. joe is standing in the street, and a little magic happens, and then it's his size-of-a-house dragon instead. Meanwhile mr. joe is wondering where the street went and whether or not he should be afraid of the large lizards that surround him. During this exchange, physical mirrors become more intense (I've got a headache? Now you do too!) and the mental exchange is nearly complete. Both bonded parties may experience momentary disorientation, especially if they aren't used to it. They get a fast look at memories, both recent and distant, and whatever the other party had been thinking at the time. It's like the way you have a lot of memories about yourself stored up, but only a few will be activated at one time-- the exchange is like the immediate conscious thoughts + a random accessing of memories.

Humans may have some powers when their dragons consciously lend them, but beyond the bond they have no powers. (Unless they have inherited them from another source, which is unlikely in the general setting) It is the dragons who are the mages, whether they are a healer class or a warrior class. Dragons have had a good amount of time to repopulate and rebuild their culture and knowledge, so they have developed distinct magical classes/abilities (got any more ideas on this? cuz I don't). However, some of these may not work in the "Real" world, where the physical properties affecting time and other things are different. Simple healing spells and the like will certainly work, but it may take your dragon a little time to get used to using magic in a different universe. In the mean time, they can still stomp around and breath fire (which is a phsyical thing, not magical) and generally scare the horse s**t out of people.

Dangers with the bond: (Besides what is above mentioned) The biggest danger with the bond is the mental exchange. In the country over to the west, the dragon-bonded are also royalty and keep their magic a family secret. Over there, they have some things in place to help protect their unknowing youngsters, who they do not educate about these things until they are 21. The reason for this is because a young dragon is still a very wild creature. As bonded humans, you're lucky that you can handle a mental glimpse into the calmer mind of an adult dragon. A young, wild thing will break down a person's sanity. This is not just because of the major/minor disorientation that bonded can experience, but because the mental affects of a young dragon mind are so strong that it will affect the chemical/hormonal balance in the human brain, especially after repeated exposure. Those who switch places at a young age can experience any thing from mild and temporary insanities, like strong phobias or feelings of insecurity, to more long term problems like schizophrenic paranoia.

Plot Note: This is also why the exotic slave did not simply use his AWESOME POWERS to become not a slave. He was under 21 and really wishing he knew a damn thing about his supposed powers.



IMPORTANT: unlike the local magic, both males and females can be bonded to dragons. A bonded human + nonbonded human = 50% chance of the child being bonded regardless of gender.

Size comparisons for full grown adults:




Women
There are three types of women: those who can practice magic, those who carry the gene but cannot, and those who have no gene at all. The gene is attached to the X chromosome but will not activate with the Y (male) chromosome. Only one gene on the X chromosome is needed to activate magic: in fact, two such genes cancel each other out (or, more likely, make a different kind of magic that is unknown). This explains why a female who does not have magical ability but is carrying two of the genes is the most likely to have a child who has magical ability or at least has the gene. Breeding programs have accidentally insured that nearly every male carries the gene, but not all of them. This will become especially important if you read about the political climate.

For this section, the main point is that most women who have magical abilities will not expect to have children, while those who do not should expect at least two birthings to be assigned/suggested to them in their life time. It also means that your mother will not usually be the one teaching you about magic, because she can't. The percentage of women with two genes is much greater than those with no gene. Because these people do not understand genes properly, they treat every non-magical woman as if she could have magical children. xd That sounded funny!

Any way, the type of magic that this gene carries is empathetic. Even though it all comes down to one type of gene in the end, if this gene is activated successfully there are others that may or may not be present which help determine where exactly the woman will be strong in magic. So, even though they all have the same general type of magic, they are not all exactly the same-- some women are stronger, some are weaker.

What the hell does empathetic mean? It means that a woman can make another human being feel like they are being injured, or actually injure them from a distance. If you are going to compare it to the dragon magic, it is sort of like being bonded to every single human being on the planet, but only aware/able to affect ones in your immediate area. The example given above-- that of being able to affect another person as opposed to being able to sense them-- is the most prevalent, developed, and used form of empathetic magic, as opposed to true telepathy as in a bond. This type of magic can also be used to help, even heal other people-- but they believe that the healing and hurting abilities are completely separate when really they are not.

Magic may be generalized. That is, a woman may be able to affect any organic material (such as animals) or even be able to lift objects (like star wars!) by manipulating matter. Telekinisis is limited by the power it takes to perform. Chemical and physical operations that are easiest in real life would be easiest to make happen with magic. For instance, a feather will float in the air for a short time if it is dropped, but an elephant will not. Therefore the feather is easier to lift with magic by changing air currents. And if all you need to do is take in or let go of an electron (well, one per atom) then yes, you can change platinum into gold. rofl

Basically, I'm limiting the types of magic most people will have while trying to still give you your freedom. Ideas for your characters or for the world, even changing some of this, are welcome. 3nodding

Political Climate

The country of Feretris is a theocracy. They believe in a fertility god-goddess pair where the goddess is more powerful than the god. The goddess was able to grant her kind magic, and the jealous male god must be kept at arm's length because he is unable to accept the woman's superior powers.

There is an underground belief that women are meant to take care of the males in a more maternal sense. You catch more flies with honey and all that. But most women who believe this still keep men as slaves and believe themselves superior. They are just nicer to their slaves and usually more condesending. If the upcoming rebellion turns to women like these, they may find themselves disappointed.

Their officials are not elected by the people but appointed by decree and chosen based on material weath, magical power, and family history. Rulers of large slave compounds, where power is kept "all in the family", automatically have some political power based on the size of their property and other wealth. They are like the mayors/governers of cities.

A compound's influence in politics depends on how many women they can send to work in the capital and how much land they own. Women currently working in the capital cannot have children, so compounds outgrowing their limits send more women and have more power, but compounds must also keep enough women at home to run the place and continue the family legacy. See the map in the previous post to compare the sizes of compounds around us.

The current queen is always called Lady Feris, a derivitive of Feretris, the name of the capital and the country. In the capital, which is marked on the map, there is a governmental compound run entirely by women. It is rumored that no slaves are allowed there because there is something that magnifies or grants magic. A source. An amulet. Something.

Powerful Faction: Breeders
Breeders have two goals which they work practically and politically to obtain. The first is to increase the percentage of women who have magic and/or can pass it unto their children. Programs that work towards this goal are "generalizing" and proponents of this goal are "Generalists". The second goal is to make the most powerful (woman) mage. Programs that further this are called "maximizing" and proponents of this goal are "Maximists." Usually these goals are compatable, but they do occasionally butt heads. Maximists and Generalists both believe that they are bettering the species and their country and they both tend to disregard a woman's freedom to have children whenever and with whomever she wants. Women technically have this right (not men, of course) but find themselves following the Breeder's programs and advice any way. Breeders and supporters of this political party make up the majority of those in power, but perhaps they do not make up the majority of the population.

Minority Faction: Free Birth
These people believe in the exact opposite of the Breeders, thinking that progeny should not be planned or regulated. This party has accidentally given a few men the idea that they should be free to deny the advances of a woman, but that was hardly their intention. This was the majority faction 50yrs or so ago before reliable birth control was found/developed and the Breeders were trying to control women's sex life.

Majority Faction: Nationalists
Nationalists believe that Feretris should be completely self-sustaining, economincally and otherwise. Nationalists tend to also be Breeders and vice versa. Nationalists resent the infiltration of languages and goods from other countries (as little as it is!) and Nationalist-Breeders resent all visitors and all foriegn slaves captured to the south/south-east. Nationalists did not have to exist as a political force a hundred or so years ago because at that time Feretris had no contact with other countries. But a country to the North "discovered" them on an expedition southward and has since had limited trade in the form of books and goat meat.

Q&A





NPCs
You can PM me (School of Dedicated RPers) to have an NPC added here. NPCs can be played by any one.

Marean Eldic -- Former head mistress. Marean was the woman who owned Cedric originally, and has been working to buy many of his male children for the compound as a status symbol. She was obsessed with Cedric, finding him exotic and finally trusting him more than he was worth, so that he escaped. She started rumors that Cedric did not escape, but was bought by another compound run by a friend of hers. Marean currently still owns the compound but has handed over most of its day-to-day needs to her daughter, Isabel. Marean is about 50 years old.

Nae Eldic -- Marean's sister (Isabel's aunt). Nae is jealous of Isabel because she had envisioned her own daughter running the compound some day. But she doesn't have one. Approval from the government was never a problem; getting pregnant and not aborting the baby was. Nae went to serve her country in the capital. She has been there for over five years and has just come back.

Hafiz -- An old gardener who helped the previous slave trainer train new gardeners, and now helps Katrina do the same.

Sherel -- Cedric's wife.

Beasts of the World
So, yeah, we get it-- there are dragons. What else runs around wild?

Delere Nin-Delere
Delere are a mostly extinct canine species. These are big dogs that have a sort of hunched-over appearance from their large shoulders and rib-cage. They are not dogs/a breed in the strictest sense, the way that a wolf is not a dog. They are more intelligent than the average dog. They are more attached to their pack mentality and sometimes consider humans part of their pack. Nin-Delere are magical beasts revived from a dead Delere or from one of their ancestors. Delere bodies have magical properties that make reanimation easier because it is not necessary to revive the soul. Once the reanimations process is complete, all magical properties quickly fade away. Because of this, Nin-Delere cannot be detected by magic and appear as normal beasts until their behavoir gives them away. Dorky drawing.