{ ABOUT DEUS EX MACHINA } - GENERAL INFORMATION

[Zoobey]

THE SETTING

A strange low fog covers the remote ocean, warding it from most visitors. In the center of the fog, hidden away from time and history lies an island.

The island itself isn't very remarkable. Other than self sustaining, the only notable thing punctuating the place is a dormant volcano, and a pure white building that looks more like a temple than anything else glistening off the refracted sunlight. A giant courtyard spans for a good 100 meters each side, closed off by solid white walls, similar to a school campus perhaps? Large buildings and smaller walkways run off from all sides of the courtyard, there seems to be a training facility in the further back.

Though the sun burns intensely in the sky, though the island was most likely meant to be tropical at one point in time, a strange miasma covers the entire area. The buildings look bleak at best, muffled, the grass more lukewarm mint than green. The entire island is not only surrounded but protected by the fog around it, the climate is colder, everything more bleak and distant than forgiving.

And yet there are signs of life on this island, clear, evident signs of life. Something, or several somethings live here, and they might not be EXACTLY what should be expected...  

[Zoobey]

Welcome to Deus Ex Machina

Or Deus Ex for short, this school currently boasts a small population of under 200, from trainees to full fledged Hunters, and others. While there are others in the world assigned to long missions, the trainees spend most of their time when they are not in small missions back on campus, learning extra courses and their own training material. All the classrooms have old fashioned architecture, some giving a nod to the more classical eras, and no shortage of traditional sculptures and paintings along its larger hallways. Having been an established facility for centuries, the school is littered with what might have been considered "priceless" antiques, even its desks and chairs could be at least two hundred years old.

While technology is not unheard of especially among the new arrivals, it simply fails to work properly on the island due to fog and its proximity to the largest Halloween portal (the Bermuda Triangle). Instead, Hunters carry around a cell phone to communicate with each other. TVs, the internet, any thing of that sort simply has never been implemented, radio and satellites would only attract unwanted attention of careless humans towards the island.

The dorm rooms are simple single bedrooms with enough for a bed and a small desk, and a choice of simple furnishing, whatever could be found on the island or handed down from the last room's resident. Washrooms are public by floor, though dorms are co-gendered and do not depend on any sort of status other than convenience of being there.

The Main HQ: Is where trainees go to learn classes, pick up assignments, and talk to their group heads. They must also go here to get permission approval to move anywhere beyond the island vicinity.

The Infirmary: Is a small place to simply get patched up, after trainees return from a mission.

The Training Ground: Where trainees can practice sparring with each other, or take lessons on how to handle their attacks and weapons better. There is a small corridor that leads from the training grounds to The Cove...  

[Zoobey]

Methodology and Beliefs

Origin:

Said to have been first formed "When Mankind was at the pinnacle of its senses, in tune against ghastly beasts of deviation", this organization has continued to devote themselves since then to fighting for their cause.

Their original cause:

Unseen by the regular human eye, impure creatures not of this world have multiplied. They are phantasms, creations of pure nightmare and darkness, their very existence threatens mankind, plagues them with death, hunts and eliminates them like prey. It is the purpose of the Hunters to cleanse this world from the Fear that festers within it, and protect those against the hidden darkness that humans now refuse to believe in. It is their goal to continue hunting these monstrosities and clean their world once and for all. Till then, they will not rest.

They will not rest in the light and the legacy that their ancestors gave them, to continue to push onwards, embrace that Fear and conquer it.

IN TIH POV: Basically Hunters exist to 'destroy Halloween and everything it represents'. They believe that Halloween creatures mean only harm to humans, and that they are foul beings created from nightmares.

Report No.523, Year 15, day 2

We have also discovered that these creatures of darkness have strange, unusual powers. If we truly harness them and learn how they work, instead of taking the tainted gifts given unto us for granted, perhaps we can use these to our advantage and not only destroy them, but further empower our cause. A disease can be ridden, but it would be much more effective to study the disease so it never happens again. We have lost too many of our kind in our fight to them, because we have not understood why or how.

 

[Zoobey]

Their powers and weapons:

All Hunters' powers are drawn from their weapons. Though they do have innate abilities that act very similar to a Halloween first year's Fear, it is difficult to draw for extended periods of time.

All trainees are created not born into this role. Around the world lie recruiters waiting for those people, the one in a thousand who can sense something different about the human world around them, the ones who can sense Fear. Some of these still lie in the human world, never realizing their own potential. Their innate abilities clearly mark them as something else a human that has honed their senses to the darkness around them. A Hunter, of sorts.

The weapons:

All trainees AND higher ranked members of this faction have unique specialized weapons. They humm and buzz with a strange sort of energy. Bonded weapons apparently talk telepathically with their owners, though not with anyone or anything else.

The weapons initiation ceremony is an important coming of age tradition for all initiates. Trainees must go to the Dark Cove and find a weapon that both suits their abilities and their personality. Each weapon has a unique name. To lean more about how this works, please check out the weapons information thread.

Afterward, weapons can be summoned and unsummoned at will. They all glow with a strange, unnatural power, and can be charged with the very same essence that they once used to avoid: the darkness, the Fear. It is said that the creatures of darkness can only be defeated with a similar darkness. Though these weapons have been specially tailored, they hum and move as if a separate entity of their own.

Attacking with weapons:

Weapons are not "charged" until they draw out the Fear in their opponent. To recharge these weapons, new fear must be absorbed into the weapons. This can only be done by draining a creature of darkness of their Fear, the more drained, the closer to its full potential the weapon will be. With no fear, the weapon acts as a simple weapon would, using a "charged" weapon will quickly deplete its reserves in a matter of seconds.

exclaim Once again, the exact weapons detail information can be read here exclaim  

[Zoobey]

Divisions, Trainees, the Council:



Divisions

- Moon & Sun - Does the 'hands on' operations, more tied to execution of missions, attacking, assaulting, defense, repair, and guarding work. Moon is related more to repair/rescue and defense while sun is related more to offense.
- Death - The "intelligence" operation, in charge of gathering information and maintaining the network of Hunters. They gather the information prior to a mission.
- Life - Related to "research", including research specifically OF Halloween, its specimens, and ultimately Fear and the abilities of Fear and Hunters.
- Mist - The group that does not have one specified role but fills in for everyone. A jack of all trades master of none group, they are usually asked to take missions from all four categories, but as a result do not get "specialized field" missions.


Trainees

- Trainees are all candidates that have gone through the same candidate training: only the toughest and strongest survive, the rest... well... it is unfortunate but it happens. Some are hand chosen from their own settings because of their abilities, Though most were scouted out to be invited to the island for the tough "candidate training".

- Trainees are given one purpose only, to train, learn what Fear is, grow stronger, to defeat Fear itself. They must rid the world of evils, protect themselves and those too weak to defend.

- Trainees will receive missions from their assigned mentors, as well as council members. Though it is possible for a trainee to have more than one mission, they can only have one mentor at a time. In the case that trainee's mentor goes missing or dies on the job, the student will be reassigned to a new mentor.

The Council and their goals:

- Council members only teach trainees the basics: to understand themselves, their enemy, and Fear.
- They will send all trainees (beginning students) out on their first mission(s): Investigate Amityville and Halloween. Most of the time this will be done as a small group "field trip of sorts" where they briefly pose as visiting students from another school. Ask questions. Your mentor will tell YOU when they think it's time to take off the training wheels.

Uniforms:

- All trainees are required to wear their white uniforms and scarves while on campus. Their weapons must be put away except while engaged in battle.

Trainee policies:


- Trainees will still be asked to occasionally attend "classes" in Amityville. Due to the larger Amity population, the goal is to always "learn but do not make a mess". Trainees who make a mess of things are rarely heard from again.

- In addition trainees are never allowed to let "Fear" into their hearts. They can pretend to be friendly with Amityville TiH students, but must never accept or acknowledge them for things other than taints. Doing so will eliminate the trainee permanently. Certain council members also "hide" in Amity to keep vigilant watch on the trainees.

Campus life:

- Trainees only linger in the homegrounds/dorms to rest, eat, and study. They are encouraged to grow familiar with the island, and are sometimes allowed to participate in weapon captures, but this is usually left to those who have advanced past the rank of trainee. Trainees are encouraged to get to know their fellow comrades and teammates.

- Electronics need to be converted to runic power in order to last long on the island. Life hunter NPCs may be bribed for this service, some examples of the costs are:

Runic ipod average charge: $500USD
Runic laptop average charge: $2000 USD
Toothbrush: $100 USD

These are the default prices, if you RP with a gm'd Life NPC there is a chance you can get them modified for less or even free. They may charge more though depending on their personal opinion of you or your reputation. If you're an a*****e to most people (but especially Lifers) please double the default prices because CONSEQUENCES.

Player Life techs may do runic modifications if they meet the following reqs: are a full life hunter, at least a runic journeyman or higher, and has actively trained in the runic section of Life. Those who don't meet the requirements can still TRY to modify things, they just don't work correctly and are occasionally dangerous.
 

[Zoobey]

Battling the intruders on the island:

It is not uncommon for TiH students to find their way "out" of Halloween back onto the Island. Of course, Hunters are expected to always be on alert and take out such intruders. Keep in mind like Amity student's "Fear", a student has one "charged attack" which they can only use once per turn. Please be sure in your character's dorm room/ application form to specify what your Hunter's charge attack does (ie: shoots laser beams, etc etc), it is similar to how a reaper's Fear would work.

Battling VS HALLOWEEN STUDENTS:
exclaim PLEASE SEE THE BATTLE GUIDE HERE

Sparring:
exclaim PLEASE SEE THE BATTLE GUIDE HERE

Transportation:

- Hunters can be transported to Halloween, but are not allowed to fight there without strict upper member permission. Instead, they go to Halloween to "spy" and understand for themselves the enemy.