Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is a weird place to put it, but it'll help me get my ideas down and also could provide some insight as to the direction of my revamps. I will, indeed, be revamping a few bloodlines in the next few weeks. First up: Vampires.

Okay, so some weird things with vampires:

They gain energy from the blood they drink. No system on how to obtain said blood. It also says a liter of blood = S ranked energy. I could carry around 5 liters of blood in my backpack and then I'd have an extra 1250 energy. It'd also be a good way to activate bloodrage without rolling a dice, and a good way to keep bloodrage going without passing out. Perhaps we actually should add something where you can carry blood with you, but not too much. A liter or two. Maybe three at higher ranks. Vampires are not that strong, and yet they have a lot of ludicrous drawbacks. I think some blood reserves going into fights would be a great way to balance them.

Their weakness to the sun is outrageous, since it divides their stats by half + stings. Also, we have no system for the time of day, so anyone could just say it's sunny and avoid vampires from ever hurting them. I think vampires should go through some form of evolution when they reach a high enough rank that voids their sun weakness. Yes, that may seem ludicrous to some, but they have other weaknesses too. I dunno. Perhaps not "voids", but makes the sun less effective.
The whole sun thing is just weird to me. I don't think vampires are strong enough at all to deserve all of these weaknesses, especially not this one. ESPECIALLY since many mages know UV-inducing magic, along with other classes/bloodlines. The weakness to light and holy combined almost outweigh the bloodline. Not to mention the constant need to drink.

Not enough skills. Bloodrage is weird; it seems like you can activate it just by looking at blood. A fair buff to vampires would be allowing Master vampires+ to forcefully activate Bloodrage without rolling a die. It's still not that good, considering if you can't utilize it within 6 posts (not hard if you get kited) you pass out. And then you're dead, pretty much.

The vampire kit just isn't useful for almost every class except like, berserker. Maybe trickster, and a few other physical-oriented ones. Mages and ranged classes are kind of really bad with vampire. I understand that bloodlines are a choice and if it doesn't synergize well, don't go with it, but vampires are very common and popular lore and should be more useful to everyone. So, I will be changing their kit to be globally useful to all classes, while still being balanced with these classes (implying that it's balanced now; it's not, it's underpowered).

Vampires are pretty much just fail Incubi/Succubi with many more weaknesses and far less substantial gain. I will definitely be buffing them in this revamp, although in unspecified ways. Could increase their stats. Could buff bloodrage and add more to their kit. Could decrease their weaknesses.

If anyone has any comments/questions/concerns, feel free.

And PLEASE NOTE, I would not apply all of these buffs at once. It'd be more like choosing one. Sun weakness void? Carry blood with you? I won't do both. If any.

Hmmm, indeed the Vampire bloodine is less appealing to look at, which could be a good thing so we wont have so many new members wanted to be one. Back than people wanted to be an over power blood sucker. - 3-

But indeed need a little tweaking to be a little more pretty.

The sunburn sounds better, weaken them depending by rank. This is my idea what kinda it should be.
Trainee/Novice- stats down by half, in 7 post catches on fire
Adapt- states down by 1/3, produce dark smoke off from body
Experts- states down by 1/4, being steamy
Master/Sage- No states down, still stings

Vampire should have some illusion in their skills. They are quite known of tricking humans mind. I don't quite know any skills that would be suitable for a vampire and fighting into our fighting system as a far fight.

I'll be posting my bloodline ideas here. Current possibilities are:

1 - Centaur (maybe)
2- Gorgon (prolly not)
3- Argus (almost definitely will do)
4- Tengu (eventually)
5- "Witch" - I'm not sure if I'll do holy witches or unholy witches. If I do dark magic users (probably not), I'll name them Shamans, maybe.

If I do holy witches, I'll probably name them the Exalted.

I'm gonna drop my bloodline WIPs here. Try not to be critical, they're all unfinished.

If you were doing a typical, boring, flat witch bloodline. It would be far more complex than just "you throw a fireball". It'd probably have to do with demon summoning, curse magic, a rendition of satanic arts.

List of things to do . . .

1. Start Nightmares

2. Finish Succubus

3. Finish Sirens

4. Maybe discuss true hybrid, unique bloodlines, and get started on one

5. Revamp Seul

6. Party hard

7. Nerf Djinn (yes it's gonna happen)

xxBack Then: Ten Years Ago

Will I be strong like great-grandfather? He asked himself, staring at the wooden coffin that they had begun to settle into the ground. The Senju was still a young child, a boy of nine, but just now he'd experienced the first death within his family. His great-grandfather, after almost a hundred years of digging and digging, had met the end of his excavation. Maybe, he theorized, all of his focus on being strong for others made him forget to be strong for himself. For so long, everyone watched him grow sickly and weak, wheezes frequenting more than words. Gags and heavy breath coming where words of endearment used to come for his children. It was a sad day to see that his struggle had ended, though a happy one to know that he was in a better place. Or at least everyone else seemed to think he'd went to a better place. The old witch said that when people died, they went to Mū, or nothingness. Even at this early age, he'd begun to notice that everyone was more aware of that reality than they assumed. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so afraid of the life after life.

"Come come, little Takahara," His grandmother pulled him away. She was always the type to revel in joy and festivity in her peers, so this dreadful funeral business was the opposite of her forte. Not to mention, things were very tense here. They'd taken the old man all the way back to Konoha, so that he could die where he was born. It was mutually agreed on; the main branch wouldn't be so unkind to their offspring. But the children seemed to be so spiteful to their mothers and fathers, as if they were to blame for their being stuck in mist, away from the ancestral homeland. The funny thing was, great-grandaddy was the reason the people split apart. Did that mean with him gone, they could come back together again? "Grandma," He pulled on her skirt. "This is really strange for a funeral, you know? Everyone's supposed to be sad, but they all look so..." Relieved. He didn't even know the word, because his whole life was spent circling around ninjutsu; power. Words that normal children of his age knew, didn't come so easy to him.

"They're just trying to hide their sadness, Hara-hara." She lied, but what could she really say? Her father wasn't a disease. The people joined his migration to mist because they believed in him. He was a great man. They just missed the rest of their people, the cousins and neighbors they never got to have. The elders, especially, had regretted leaving as young adults to join the old sage. It was a childish decision that made a permanent rift in the Senju clan. "But there is no reason to be sad. Care for him and love him like you always have. In truth, there's no difference between life and death. What changes is what you're aware of. He'll be enlightened to a million new things, and find his place in the universe. That doesn't sound so bad, right?" She smiled brightly, and took both of his hands. He looked down, and backpedaled a bit until his back met the stone bench. "I guess that doesn't sound so bad..." He admitted. It'd be nice if he could make peace with the universe. It seemed like a powerful and wise friend to have.

"Have you been liking Konohagakure so far?" She took a seat next to him, and palmed through his silky hair. He kicked his feet as he thought of an answer. He definitely liked it, just didn't know how to start vocalizing it! "Yeah! The statue faces are awesome! There are so many other Senju and they've taught me some neat tricks, too! Baku showed me how to pull stumps out of the earth, although somehow mine ended up a lot bigger than his. We even got to lie down on mine and his mom read us both a story. It was about the founding of the village, and the will of fire. The Senju are really respected here, aren't they? They're loved, unlike back in Kiri. They're like the village's family. I..." He stopped, and went quiet. The boy hadn't really decided on anything, but he'd learned and experienced so much here that he wanted to stay forever. "The Senju's relationship with Konoha is beautiful, Takahara. The hidden leaf has grown on the tree of our brethren, fallen to ground when it was ready to leave us. We helped to build this great nation, and in return, we are loved. It's love that makes the Senju so strong, so that is why we are our greatest here. My wish is that we can all return to our roots."

His grandmother, too, had regrets. She wished that she'd made the choice when she still had it to come live in Konoha forever. A Senju could never be made to belong away from their home. They all had that same longing. "You want to come live here, don't you?" She could read him only because she was in his shoes once. Takahara was much like herself when she was younger. And to her, that only made it seem like a second chance; a redemption. "I think so, but... dad and mom. And you. I know you're all really sad right now, so I don't want to disappear too." He frowned, but her gentle fingers washed away the sadness from his cheeks, and her smile brought light and reassurance into his spirit. "Don't be afraid to pursue your own path, Takahara. Your father and mother only want what's best for you. It is not in their place to demand anything more. You're your own person, and one day you'll be the finest man in the whole world. I believe that you can become a hero of peace and harmony if you are allowed to grow in Konohagakure." As if to give him a mission, she took her thumb and rubbed it against his forehead. It was her blessing to do the best that he could.

"Grandma," He called her quietly. "Yes?" The old woman asked. Takahara brought his hand into a fist, and brought it in front of his face. His teeth turned into a great grin, and he spoke to her his dream: "I'm going to become Hokage, and save the world. Then mom and dad and all of you can come back home where you belong. You've gotta keep them happy and healthy while I'm gone. Maybe get mom to have another baby so she can feel less lonely. Okay?" The old woman's whole spirit was lifted up, and she became more excited than she had in years. Takahara was the sweetest and most considerate person she knew, and it was going to be hard to let him go. But she loved him, and that love could fill the gap he'd leave behind. "Okay, Takahara! You've got a deal!"

xxWith Love: Five Years Ago

He felt so jaded. Even as he came back to his origins, he saw nothing here of excitement. There were tombstones running up to their estate, all of the lost Senju who'd been forced to fill the gap of great-grandfather. The people here were weaker and lesser in number than the Senju in Konohagakure, and yet they were to be his family. On his journey back to this place, he thought alot on what he did in that far away city. With no one to give him direction, he spent most of his time just playing with the other children and getting himself into the sort of trouble that got him sent away. What was all of that really for? He'd left a great gap between he and his family, and they'd probably never consider him the same. "Takahara!" A bizarre voice called. He didn't know it, but apparently it knew him. It was a pale, tall guy, his age. The clan symbol screamed Uchiha, and it was. Oh, Yuusuke. "Long time no see! I heard you moved to Konoha! Are you going up to your clan estate?" He was surprisingly more bubbly than usual. Takahara was usually the one screaming and nagging, with Yuusuke being the one telling him to pipe down. Maybe this was just surprisingly more cheery than the sort of interaction he'd faced at Konohagakure.

"You heard right. But yeah, I'm going home. Mom and dad really want to see me. Gotta go make sure I don't keep them waiting, right? Bye-bye." Cold. His voice was dead and completely frosted. In that one instant between the last word and the moment his lips shut, Yuusuke immediately could feel it all. Takahara wasn't the same cheery kid. Now he was a jerk. The Uchiha moved aside, and let him go on his way. Maybe Mikoto and Ping could cheer him up more than a lousy old guy friend. They'd become quite the paramours anyway, so they could at least bring him excitement in other ways. Maybe.

The teenager continued up the hill, until he came across the "Senju Estate" sign. It was ironically on the opposite side of the Uchiha, as if they were supposed to be in a war of balance; maybe the victor would be decided depending on their quantity of mahogany. Not surprisingly, at the gate, there was no one of excitement. The shinobi guarding the entrance silently let him pass, signaling the start of his brutal reunion. He continued all the way up the compound and didn't manage to see his family until he'd come into his parents room. They were arguing, with a screaming toddler pulling on his mother's dress. He made sure that neither of them noticed he'd even slipped by, because he didn't want to ruin their precious familial bonding. Part of him regretted recommending that his mother had a new child. Whoever that child was, he knew it'd be way more special to them than him. They'd probably forget that he was even here or that he ever left. From the looks of it, they already did.

The one person he wanted to see right now was his grandmother. He heard that she was the new Elder of the clan, as her husband had passed away two years before. She wrote to him often, and never before had he received such a rotten feeling as he did when he saw the words on that informer; his grandmother trying to pretend she wasn't totally broken and in grief. She once again reminded him of the life after life, but the second time he didn't believe it so well. He was already old enough and smart enough to not trust in ideas that were bred from the desire of the heart. His grandmother had many desires still there before she'd eventually pass on too, and rightfully so. She'd lived such a hard fought life, constantly struggling between reality and the mistakes of the past.

When he came across her room, he couldn't help but open the door. It was there that he first saw her face again, weak and sickly like the face of great-grandfather. If she had already come to that point, then she'd probably join them all in Mū soon. That was a shame, because then he'd really be completely alone in the world. "Takahara..." Her voice was weak, and sad. He could see that, and because of that, all of the guilt and desperation from the last few years returned freshly to his mind. The Senju saw their mutual past too, images of his grandmother pushing his swing. Words from her lips, both of wisdom and sincerity. He remembered how much he needed her, and how much he loved her. With all of these images flashing in his head, he could still manage to see her clearly. Sick, sad, dying. His heart wept for the years they could've spent together, lost. He felt like this was the last time he'd ever get to see her. "Grandma..." His voice was broken, his eyes flowing with tears. "I missed you so much. I really, really, really missed you. I'm so sorry that I left for so long." He ran over to hug her, although he made sure to be cautious, as she felt so frail. It felt like there was nothing separating him from her bones, and that was painful and tormenting to him.

"I've missed you too, Hara-Hara. But you know, I've always been thinking about you, and monitoring you. Trying to protect you. I've still gotten to watch you grow, even if from afar." She smiled, and even with her weak bones, still wrapped him in a strong and dependable embrace. It was like when he was young. "For a grandmother, the greatest joy is watching the future generation thrive. I can already see that you've still got a heart full of love. Just remember how important that is. We are all born from love, and it is love that creates new life. The Senju know this the best, and it is our main source of power, just like I told you when you were little. I love you, Takahara. That's what kept me alive through all of this..." A tear slid down her face, "Decay. I knew that when you came back, I'd have to guide you for a little while longer before I could go." She was so right there, she didn't even know. He needed guidance now more than ever. The past five years, for him, had been spent in grief. It was a life that made him wish for the life after.

But like her, his desire to reconnect with his loved ones kept him going. It was a simple principal, although hard to recognize in this sort of world. You will only ever love a few people in your life. The ones you do love, you often forget to appreciate that bond as you go through hardships and discover situations to mitigate your gratefulness. "I'll keep going on and growing strong," he told her. "So you have to make sure to do that too, okay? For years and years. For another lifetime. We all need you and love you, especially me. I don't know what I'd do if you were to leave me too..." He was so anguished, and so was she. It was hard to fight death; you could only hope to stick out for as long as possible before the shinigami's cold blade pierced through.

"Okay, Takahara," She started, just like last time. "You've got a deal." For that one second, he felt like he could redo it all again. He could do it right, with just those words.

xxShinigami: Two Years Ago

The water flowing down his body was mixed with salt and tears. His palm was pressed against the wall, and his face was looking down at the drain, sending his grief off to worlds away. He could barely breathe, the pain taking the air from his lungs. He remembered everything all over again, just like when he first saw her face. This time, though, his memories didn't come back because of a reunion, but a departure. He still couldn't believe it -- in that room, her dead body. He saw it, and everyone panicked, and he just couldn't think straight. He'd become a Chuunin just a week ago. All of the duty and excitement made him forget his self-imposed obligation; to keep his eye on his grandmother. He told himself that he'd know when her time would come, so that they could have one final talk. So that she could send him off with beautiful honeyed words and he could remember and live by them forever. But instead, just as he returned from a mission, all he saw was the cold, dead corpse of a warm, lively woman.

He was absolutely crushed. "Takahara! Please, open the door! You've been in here for like, four hours! I've gotta pee!" His mom. The last person he needed to talk to right now. He just ignored her. If he made her wait long enough, she'd just go bring her new baby to one of her friends houses and go flush her guts down their toilet. He couldn't give a damn about anything or anyone else in the world right now. Grandma... he repeated to himself. He must've chanted that title of hers a million times since she'd died. It wouldn't bring her back, but it brought back different aspects of her. If he could just reunite them all, she could live on in his memory. He could keep her alive through love, like the ancient Senju always did. It was this idea that brought about the Will of Fire, which brought honor to the ancestors. His grandmother needed so much honor with all that she'd done for their family. She'd get all of it, even if he was the only one who'd be trying to provide it. When you lost the only one thing you had, you had a choice to either move on or dedicate yourself to the cause of that one thing.

His grandmother told them all to return Senpou Mokuton. To save the family. And she told him to become the greatest man to ever live. He couldn't do that if he was just going to sit around and cry all day. Really. He'd been doing this for four hours.

He got out of the shower, wrinkled as a prune and content with wasting half of the nation's water supply on his sob fest. That probably wasn't even done with, but he could take a break for a while. He had to at least try and pretend to be strong like his great-grandfather. He recalled that being a wish from when he was very young, and although he knew he might never reach that level, he damn well had to try. He had such a short life for everything he'd been entrusted with. Four hour crying breaks could at least be done with some sit-ups and chakra training, right? "Taka," He heard a voice at the door. Yuusuke, his best friend. He'd at least wrapped a towel around his waist, so he opened up and revealed his face. Takahara wasn't as pretty as usual, but he wasn't in the business of beauty at the moment. "Hi." He didn't say anything else. The Uchiha put a hand on his shoulder, though it was a bit wet so his palm slid down and off into the air. "I heard what happened to your grandmother, Hara. Your little brother sent me here to talk to you. He's really worried about you." Little brother? Sometimes he forgot he had one.

"Don't worry, it's not bothering me as much as you guys think. I'll persevere." He lied. He always lied to try and seem stronger than he was. He moved Yuusuke aside to grab some clothes, then slipped them on with his back turned to the Uchiha. He was still fairly drenched, but at least he didn't look like he was about to engage in erotica. "You know, I don't believe that. I think that you won't persevere unless someone's there to give you courage. I'm not as dumb as you think I am, Takahara. I know your grandma meant everything to you. But she's gone now. You've gotta be str--" He stopped, and you'd be surprised as to why. He was grabbed by a giant root, and then thrown into the hamper. Takahara continued to walk down the exit hall from the bathroom, as if he didn't do anything. It was a petty reaction, but it wouldn't aggravate Yuusuke like he wanted it to. Instead, he'd stand up and keep trying. He was going to show him that he was a real friend.

"I love you like a brother, Takahara. You know that my dad died a few months ago, and since then you've been my only friend. Like you, I've been hurt, and am still hurting. But I knew that I could only get better if I trusted someone to take the load off for me. You've been a great friend, and I want to be a great friend too. We can survive in this mess if we work together." He offered his hand to him, and while he was reluctant to accept, the vision of him standing there and being rejected when all he wanted was to help... that hurt him too much. He turned back and accepted his hand, which led into a hug. Fast forward several hours, and somehow, they were on a journey back to Konohagakure.

xxPresent Day. Present Time. Narrative.

Yuusuke and Takahara said their goodbyes to Ping and Mikoto, as well as to what remained of their family. Both of them wanted to reconnect with their roots; the ancestral homes of the Uchiha and Senju. Takahara was reluctant, as he'd already been rejected by his family across the sea. Yuusuke, on the other hand, had never experienced something like this before. He was extremely excited to discover his heritage, and along the way he drifted from Takahara. They stopped talking after a while, but not because of Taka; he always tried very hard to keep together. They came with the intention of being each others leverage, but with new and exciting things, the Senju lost his relevance in the young man's life. This revelation was a heartbreak and a disappointment, and yet he had taught himself not to be saddened over this loss.

A year after they arrived, he was informed that Yuusuke was killed on a mission, as he tried to sacrifice one of his friends to awaken the mangekyou. Apparently he succeeded in killing them, but the next level of his eyes did not unlock, and so he was defenseless against the other Uchiha who had become aware of this betrayal. Takahara believed that maybe, at least as a last gesture, his spirit told him that the Senju was his best friend, not that fake. Maybe Yuusuke knew that, but he could never bring himself to hurt the guy who'd made his life worth living. The whole affair of his death made the Senju extremely conflicted, and it was apparent that he was facing a mid-life crisis. He was lost on who he was or what he wanted, and who was still there for him. With few friends and little ground, he felt like he wanted to go back home. But he could still train and grow here. Plus, he could never reveal this tragedy to the family waiting for Yuu to come back, and to Mikoto and Ping.

The more he continued on, the harder it became to handle the weight of the last year. He'd lost his two dearest people, and once again, was completely lost. It was at this strange moment of contemplation that the Elder of the Senju came to Takahara's quarters, noticing his saddened complexion and his lost grasp on life. He reminded him of the beauties of life, and how even in the darkest moment, you could still see a glimmer of light. He vowed to show the young Senju a new hope for his life, and introduced him to many friends and close cousins that could help him come back together. It took months of time to heal, but he did learn to be a part of a family again. Under an oak tree, he buried his memories of Yuusuke; some old rags he'd left with him, a poem, and a golden locket he'd given him when they first got to Konoha. He finally let that part of his life go, and his calmed mind reflected a calmed body.

He shortly after became Jounin. It was at this moment where, in the midst of his spiritual enlightenment, his growth was truly tested.

xxPresent Day. Present Time.

"And that's how, even as an outsider, I became a Jounin. Any questions?" The room was dim-lit, as the Senju here often had their homes. He was surrounded by young children, mostly boys, who admired him. "That's so cool, Takahara! You-you're so cool!" One of the more enthusiastic younger boys said that. He'd told them a lot of his mission stories, battle stories, whatnot. A lot of them were impressed and excited, envisioning their own great feats when they got to that point. "Yeah. I think it's probable that I'm just a little cool," The Senju smiled. He was very happy in the presence of these children. They were all just little Senju, one day to grow up and have a billion of their own experiences. For now, though, they needed to be protected; watched after. Some of these children had their fathers and mothers die in war and missions. While most of them had found homes and people to raise them, some were left stranded in this place. They were just like he was when he came here the first time; they had no guidance.

That was why he offered to take the ones with no place to go. Since he was a Jounin now, he already had a squad of genin he was teaching and going places with, but he felt like he could contribute more. These little guys... he didn't want them to go what he went through, being lost in the darkness. They must've already felt that way, without their father's firm words or their mother's embrace. Their sadness reflected the sadness of the whole shinobi world, a collection of broken hearts and martyrs. Takahara himself had been forced to kill for the needs of his village, and the number of people he'd put into the ground had increased as he became a Jounin. It just went to say that even when you wanted to be good in the world, humans were bound to be used for the schemes of others. He didn't want to kill people, but he did it anyway, because he loved his clan more than enough for him to forget that they have families, too.

"Try not to be too self-aggrandizing, Takahara," The elderly man started as he entered the large room. He was just trying to play around, although Taka didn't realize that and looked down in shame. "Tell them the story of our people. They haven't gotten to learn that one yet. Most parents don't want to tell their children of how things came to be, because there is always so much bloodshed to get from one place to another. But they've already came face-to-face with death, so now they're ready to learn of the real world, and how to thrive in it." He took a seat next to the young Jounin, and smiled at all the children. This man, too, loved his clan. It was for that reason that he was so hospitable to Takahara when he returned to Konoha. Any Senju, no matter their issues, would have a place to stay here. That was his mission.

"Okay, clan elder." The Senju rose his head, and crossed his arms over his chest. It was story time. "Before the villages," He started, and watched the children's eyes already turn ablaze with curiosity. That was one thing that made him love children; their enthusiasm. He laughed a little, then restarted. "Before the villages, there was an era of division. Hundreds of clans ravaged the world with war, constantly battling for dominance. They wanted to claim their territory, exalt themselves as better than everyone else, and take away the pride and dignity of their enemies. It continued like this for almost a millennial, until a very special clan rose to power amongst the rest. This clan was known as Senju, our clan. They united many lesser families and together, with the cooperation of many people, began a new era. They founded Konohagakure, signaling an era of peaceful cooperation between many clans. We as a human race began to realize that we're all just people, with our enemies also feeling pain, loss, and love. Only when we understand and empathize for each other can we find peace. Otherwise, we will drift in a state of hatred and war." After that, the elder patted his shoulder, and continued with his own story.

He relaxed his arms on his lap, and looked up at the lamp hanging from the roof. There were little bugs buzzing in and annoying him, while the children were totally distracted because of them, lifting their hands up to try and see if they could catch the little flying beasts. "Ahem," He sounded. Most of the boys fell back into line, though there was always the obligatory kid who was too curious for court etiquette. "While things have changed greatly since the founding of the villages, they are still in essence, the same. We still war and hate, except the wars are larger, between far more massive parties. Hundreds of thousands of shinobi exist in this world. When a ninja war comes, hundreds of thousands are expected to die. And yet, because of the weakness in the hearts of humans, we have no choice but to let it be. All we can do as Senju is grow in strength, so that we can protect our own village. Konoha, by extension, is our family too. We owe them our strength, just as they owe us theirs. While we may not have much in this world to make us feel like we belong, bonds like that can give us something to thrive for." He went on to explain the Senju values, though by the time he was done, a lot of the children had fallen asleep.

It was late, so he understood. He gave them his blessing for a good night, then spoke privately to Takahara in the garden. "Some of those children will look to you more than anyone else. You will be their father and every time they'll need guidance, it'll have to be you. It's a great burden to be a parent, but I know that you'll never flinch from your duty. There's also one more duty I want to entrust you with, Takahara..." This would be something much more alarming to hear. He didn't even know if he could properly say it, for risk of seeming out of the realm of possibility. Takahara was an outsider, and he wasn't famous or really that spectacular. But he knew... the elder knew somewhere that this boy... was to be Hokage. "Be the father of the village, too, with the Senju as your mistress. The Hokage's life is soon over. They've been stricken ill with a deadly poison. I've tried for many years to guide that young soul, but it looks like my guidance didn't matter at all. They lost the battle against hatred, and someone will need to take on the mantle." He looked at him earnestly, hoping that he would do this.

The young Senju was confused. He knew what he was implying, just not how it could ever live as anything more than a fantasy. The people here needed a hero from Konoha, not from Kiri. Sure, he was born here, and had spent half of his life here, and he wanted to feel like one of them. But it just... it didn't work that way. He couldn't pretend that he didn't develop in Kiri, with his family in Kiri and friends in Kiri. The people here must've hated the mist village, and he was too much a part of that place to belong. "I've seen so much in you these last two years. You've shown yourself to be the wisest, most talented Senju we've ever known. You truly mirror the old legendary heroes of our clan, and not only that, but you possess the will of fire. You know better than anyone that love and honor is what has made the Senju belong. So--" He was cut off, Takahara trying to say what he could. His eyes were looking down, his fists balled. He wished so dearly that this could be more than a fantasy, but it didn't seem like it would be possible.

"It's because of my grandma that I know all this. She left me as her legacy, so I could at least stand to remember her lessons." When he brought his hand over his chest, it was like there were two hearts beating. He couldn't even stand to be his own person, always feeling like he had to make good on his promise to her. He wanted to re-discover Senpou Mokuton, and return the other half of his clan to the place it belonged. But it was all so much to bear. "See? That's the will of fire inside of you. I know that you can feel a second heartbeat, Takahara. It's not your grandmother, but all of the Senju and Hokage who have left their wills behind. We, the living, are their legacy. And these young boys are your legacy, and the village is our combined legacy. We all want our children and grandchildren to be happy. That's a part of what brings us into harmony." He felt sort of silly for having to be taught this all over again, but there was still some doubt inside of him.

"Rest on what I've told you. We will soon have to consider candidates for Hokage, and the entire village will come together to do this. I've already informed all of our clan that you are our bulwark. You will be a legendary Hokage, and we have to let them all see that. Make yourself presentable for the long day ahead, alright? Good night. And say goodnight to your sons for me." The old man waved, then returned to his chambers. Takahara went back to the large room with all the sleeping children, and brought them little futon to rest on, to make them comfortable. He laid down in the center of them, his green eyes piercing the ceiling as he contemplated the future. Not after long, though, did he lose his ability to keep his eyes open.

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It was a harsh morning. The weather was terrible, rainy and loud, crackles of thunder scaring the little boys. He had to get ready, so he could barely give them the reassurance they needed, but he tried in-between tasks. There was a note saying to come to the meeting wearing his jounin attire -- the flak jacket and whatnot. He'd also need proof of citizenship and all of that other lovely stuff, but that was sort of average conduct when dealing with the higher-ups of the village. Still, he wasn't sure how this was going to work. If he recalled correctly, the clans had little to do with the politics of the village. He wasn't sure how exactly the Senju had the ability to even make a recommendation, but he supposed it did make sense. They still held a great deal of power in the village, with the loyalty and love of other clans, like Sarutobi and whatnot. How far did their influence go, though? He'd learn that today. Even if things didn't go the way he wanted, there was at least a lot to bring back from this experience.

After looking into the mirror, and when he finally liked what he saw, he started to leave. He said his goodbyes to all of the children, telling them to go visit the elder's wife so that she could make them her sweet bread again. They eagerly followed that advice, and so he felt safe to go. The shinobi leaped from rooftop to rooftop to arrive at the large building. Outside, the elder and a few of his clan officials were waiting for him, happy to see that he was punctual. It was a little early, so they could talk about what he'd be doing and how to impress the top brass. The whole thing was very nerve-wracking, though. He'd scarcely ever seen a Kage elected because of politics, usually they were chosen by their legendary accomplishments. However, since this Kage still died young, not much had happened since their rise. All of the jounin were fairly inexperienced, which meant that it was a battle between rookies. It was for this reason only that he could even contend.

After a lot of explanation, the time had about come for him to enter the building. The mood wasn't so surprising; this was a competition that would decide a change of pace for millions of people, and could bring endless honor to any given clan. Everyone had to at least try and contest, even if they knew they had no chance. The Senju had a damn good chance. In fact, this probably wouldn't even be a competition if it wasn't for the fact that Takahara was an outsider. That one thing made it seem impossible for him to be chosen. Even so, he had to try too, right? There were people here with lesser ability than him, and they still wanted to give whatever they could. They wanted to just try. "Elder, let's go take a seat up there." There was a giant sign saying "Senju" there, so it seemed like an appropriate place. He and the other two men, as well as the elder's daughter took their seats there. It was about time for the village elders to talk. There were two old women, and one man. They all looked extremely stern, showing that they had the will to continue on regardless of the loss they'd just faced.

"I'm sure all of you are aware of why we're here. The Hokage has died, poisoned very possibly by someone who held their trust. There is treachery within our military, and weakness in our Kage. Many of us feel that it's despicable that we should see this day come, where we've become elderly and too weak to do anything but watch as the new generation tramples on our code. All of you are nothing like the old heroes of Konohagakure. You're entitled, selfish, and severely lacking in ninjutsu capability. Now it's just a competition of who's the least entitled, selfish and lacking. So, we've come here to get a look at you. I've been told by previous Hokage that I have an eye that could spot a pin on the top of Mount Myoboku. Which of you will it be . . .?" One percent of the way in, and everyone was already scared shitless of this woman. She seemed about as merciless as death, and would probably break their spirits if they tried to overstep their ability.

She looked around for a long time, until her eye caught someone of interest. Yes, it was Takahara. "Senju. Your family has probably groveled the hardest for you to be considered, especially with your former allegiances in mind. However, I like the look of you. You look strong, dependable, tall and much like your forefathers. However, from my experience, most men like that are as dumb as a rock. Go, speak. Show me you're smart enough to deal with leading a village." She gave him no direction, and expected him to show his wits. This woman truly was a monster. "Well, elder," He started. The Senju tried to seem charismatic, so he smiled and looked directly into her eyes. "I couldn't begin to agree with you, since off in Mist most of the men are short and stubby peddlers," he laughed a little, and a few people laughed with him. The lady just rolled her eyes. "Though I'll try and vouch for myself and say that I've got a good head on my shoulders. Maybe some would disagree with me. My old academy teacher might," He chuckled again. "But those are from days past. I can truly say that I'd do anything to make peace and harmony my legacy, and I believe that I can do that best as Hokage." With how little he had to go off, he felt he did decent. The clansmen who came with him also felt the same way, and they realized that their trust in him was probably not misplaced.

The lady didn't seem too impressed, but she didn't seem disappointed, either. That was a start. "Very well. I believe in your desire to help the village. If there's one thing I've learned in my life, it's to just let you Senju naggers revel in your love and harmony without saying much of it. It's at least assuring to know that some things don't change with the rise of younger and stupider generations. However, we've yet to see if you'll bring about your harmony as our Hokage, or scrubbing murk off the boots of the Konin for the rest of your life." She grinned, and began to address other people. It was a tiring day, although it was also very interesting. She'd schooled and insulted a lot of the other Jounin, which would probably haunt them for the rest of their lives. Their family seemed so disappointed, and they were disappointed in themselves. Even when they were being peaceful, humans were always trying to one-up each other.

With the day at an end, he began to return home with the elder. He praised Takahara for his ability to remain cool and thoughtful in the face of pressure, and spoke of his wishes that the boy would truly be considered. There were others who also seemed to be very wise. There was a girl from the Nara clan, a girl from the Uchiha, a boy from the Akimichi, and a boy from some lesser-known clan. They were all his competition, but he could only hope that the better of the five came out victorious.

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It was late at night, and yet he heard a scream. It didn't sound like a scared scream, or an excited scream. It sounded like the last noise someone would make before they died. He immediately got up, and created a wood protection for all of the children. While he wasn't sure exactly what was happening, he had too much experience with human viciousness to not suspect that they were being attacked by some other clan. He heard more sounds, and smelled other things. Fire, their great weakness. The smoke it left behind. He heard more screams, as well as cries as some of the other Senju tried to run; to get away. Then he heard something extremely horrific, and he knew he only had a few moments to react to it; the sound of paper tags counting down to their explosion, and right at his door. His wood would defend the children, but it was a risk he couldn't take. He manipulated the wood upright, flinging the tags high into the air where they exploded. The explosion could also stand as a signal to his sleeping clansmen that this was going to be a battlefield soon. He pulled up wood from the ground to create a light armor for himself, then left his home to investigate. He remained extremely cautious of his surroundings.

It didn't take long before he saw the first body, one of his own friends dead on the ground. If this was any other time, he'd be shocked and despaired, but he had to make sure to protect himself and his sons. This wasn't the moment for history to repeat; he couldn't go away and cry for four hours like when his grandma died, or when Yuusuke went to his grave. He heard an enemy shinobi, dashing from behind him. He ducked under the swing of his sword, then with chakra in his blow, smashed his fist hard against his chest. The man's entire ribcage would be shattered, and he'd probably die without medical care. But fat chance was he going to give him that.

"Takahara!" He heard a voice; the elder's daughter. "Where's oji-sama? Do you know? I can't find him in his chambers, or anywhere!" This girl was a sensor, so the fact that she couldn't find him was really worrisome. However, as much as he loved and adored the old man, he couldn't be caught up with looking for him. He had to defend the clan. "I don't know. I'm going to go fight, you keep looking for him! Good luck, Mayumi!" His answers were as brief as always, but he couldn't have his time wasted right now. He slowly crept around the corner of his home, witnessing an all-out battle in the middle garden of his clan holding. The Senju here were very impressive with their Mokuton, but the sheer level of fire coming down to counter them was astonishing. He watched then, his comrades being burnt alive beneath their pillars of wood. It was horrific. "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!" Water rose from the pond, and crashed against the raging fires in the shape of a large dragon. Six kunai descended closer to him, and he responded by throwing six of his own. The genesis seal on his ear at least kept him assured that he could defy death, even if only once.

He was heavily outnumbered, though. A lot of his people had already died, thanks to the preemptive intention of this attack. These attackers definitely had a motive. They weren't wearing the garbs of any village, as if they had no affiliation. However, from his experience, Katon was most native to Konoha. They were probably either rogues or villagers of this city, and very possibly, they were a part of another clan that wanted to see the Senju dead. How could they expect themselves to be a good Hokage if they got there on the blood of their own people? If this was really the case, then it was sickening. Very quickly, he retreated to the security of the wall, removing himself from their view. He stringed through handseals, first one jutsu, then another. He dipped his head out again, and charged into the crowd. He intended to use his advantage of water against their fire, though the Senju had to remember that there were people here that he could seriously hurt or kill if he overdid it. Because of that, they were already at a natural advantage, as they obviously didn't care how many Senju they killed.

He dodged the majority of their kunai, but deflected some of the ones he didn't have the ability to evade. Then, he dipped his hands into the ground, and dozens of massive trees sprung forth. They were created as if to lock the battlefield exclusively to this one area, making sure attacks didn't fly off into the distance to kill innocents. Also, it would return the advantage to him. If they tried to ignite the trees to destroy them, not only would it take a very long time, but the smoke they'd unleash against themselves could easily make them pass out. Then, when his arm rose from the ground, it seemed genetically amplified; springing from it was a group of massive roots seeming to rival the size of bijuu's tails. He whipped at the attackers, battering them and smothering them in the technique. Some of them were stupid enough to ignite the wood jutsu before it crashed against them, burning themselves alive in the strangling roots.

Of course, like in all battles between shinobi, there was a surprise waiting. A clansmen seemed to appear out of nowhere, and blew a massive fire technique against his face. Takahara's 'dead body' seemed to look like a burnt doll of wood, which perplexed the opponent. In his moment of intrigue, a tree rose behind him and gripped his entire body. It'd be impossible to escape, as he could no longer make seals. The one hope he might've had was genjutsu, but Takahara wouldn't look into his eyes, so that wasn't an issue. "Wood clone. It's one of the betters of our Senju abilities. Impossible to tell the difference." While it may have seemed like it, he wasn't going to go into his victory speech. He was too angry and sad to imagine being cocky. "I recognize your features. You're from that random little clan at the meeting, right? Hikuno?" This verified that he was, in fact, here because he wanted to get rid of the competition. This was just... ridiculous. "Whatever happens here, it won't matter. If you kill me, your clan elder will die too. Without his influence, you'll never be Hokage. Then all of your honeyed words would be meaningless." He seemed so sure he was going to win this.

Maybe because he underestimated the tact of other people. "The problem with hostage situations is that they can easily be turned on you. Especially if you yourself become a hostage. If I kill you, the elder dies. If the elder dies, you die. You two are caught in a little dance of life and death. However, since I won this fight, I'm the one who gets to decide who lives and who dies. I don't have to kill you, or accept your demands. There are better decisions that I can make. I'll take you to the council of elders, and they'll decide your fate. If my grandfather is killed after that, then your entire clan will be accountable, as it wasn't just your own machination anymore. Then who wins the game, my friend? You, or me?" He completely covered the man in a cage of wood, binding his arms and anything else that could somehow pose a threat. He'd have to bring the man to the council right now -- there was no time to waste.

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It was late at night, but when urgency was here, even these old windbags could rise to the occasion. They sat in a line next to each other, and stared at both Takahara and his hostage. This time, rather than the old woman, the man spoke. "We have indeed received a message from one of your clansmen, telling us of this secretive assault on your holding. I don't doubt the truth in your words, Takahara. I'm far too old to be unsuspecting of treachery." He looked into the eyes of the young man in the cage, not fearing what he could do. He was defenseless in this state. "No one who would betray their own village could ever lead it. Our spirit is kept strong by loyalty and honor, not the foolish ambition of sycophants. Takahara has completely beaten you, both in battle and tact. Go rot where you belong." A couple of doton users came to escort him out, tugging the cage along with some weird earth transport. It was strange how they knew exactly when to come in.

"More importantly, my clan elder has been captured by their goons. They might kill him if we don't do something. Can you guys offer me any help?" He seemed much more relaxed than he was, and they could tell. In reality, he was so conflicted and hurt. He couldn't afford to lose another ally in this sea of bad people. "They won't, Takahara. Doing so would doom them all, and they know that. You'd be amazed to learn that some of us plotting little old people are actually quite smart. Not sure why exactly they decided to make this move in the first place, but despite our intelligence, when it seems like we can leave behind a legacy, some of us break and make rash decisions. The elders of their clan must've decided that before they died, they wanted to see their clan host a Hokage's seat. This isn't the first time it's happened, and it won't be the last." Even now, the world was still living the legacy of the clan era. The clans still warred with each other, but behind closed doors and much more rarely. Love and respect for one's family could be dangerous, too, in cases like this.

"But they've only managed to show us your strength. Takahara, we have made our decision with no trouble at all. You're a brave, powerful, honorable shinobi. You will be a great leader and asset to Konohagakure, as our Sandaime Hokage. Wear this badge with honor." His eyes were excited, his heart was beating fast. "Thank you for believing in me, Great Elders!" He bowed as pitifully as he could, and they laughed and smiled with him. It was an exciting day for a great village, a blazing beacon hidden in the leaves. Just like all of the brilliant minds in his life had fathered and mothered him, he would be the father of this village. There was a strange brightness in the night sky; the will of fire come alive.

T I E R 3

Tier 3 Gods are, at the bare minimum, comprehensible. They can enter through vessels often and communicate with humans and supernaturals. Most of them are simply ordinary angels and demons, but blessed with much more power than the rest of their kind. Tier 3 Gods are the most common, as they are near the middle level between all-powerful and fragile. While they are common, they are also highly ambitious. Many tier 3 Gods wish to gain more power and influence, and perhaps finally take that leap and become tier 2. Each of them believes they are quite special, and deserve more and more power. Each of them wishes to gain the full attention of their creator. Few ever do.

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"Even the fires of hell can't compare to what I have in store for you."
XXXELESSIA, Justice and Punishment

Destroy them all. When the humans grew unruly, and would seek to destroy themselves and others, she was the first to speak against them. It was her influence that ultimately led to the flood, where all mortal life was washed away. Elessia is one of the younger angels, created not long before Michael stopped creating period. However, her overwhelmingly radical sense of justice quickly drew the attention of other angels to her. She presented herself as an exceptionally wise and decisive member of their hierarchy, and within some time drew the support of her peers. However, she was more loyal to Michael than anyone. She would never dare try to influence his actions through anything but diplomacy, as her strict sense of justice dictates that she never strike or grow unruly. That is also her ethic with literally anyone. She will never lay the first punch, but when crossed, she won't turn the cheek. She will rip you into a scab on the earth and leave you until you rot.

That is her philosophy. Justice means everything to her, even if it is found excessive. However, she only applies her sense of justice to physical violence. Simply hurting someone's feelings, even through intense bullying, means nothing to her. What matters is the ability to control your temper and think rationally. When someone cannot do that, they must be punished, and in whichever way necessary so that they do not do it again. Excessive punishment is alright, but to a point. She would not condone killing someone simply for a slap or a punch. Otherwise, you are then the murderer who cannot control themselves, and you must be put down. She is a very difficult Goddess to appease.

Her followers are met with duty. She does not try and make bonds of friendship or trust. She does not trust anyone or grow too faithful in anyone, because all are capable of corruption. And when they do become corrupt, regardless of her prior disposition towards them, they will receive justice as well.

XXXAttracting her attention
Someone who has a strong sense of justice is rare to find. Many who believe themselves just do it simply to glorify themselves, rather than to protect others. Someone with the selfless need to protect the weak would surely stand out to her. She has actually had many champions in the past, many of them from Fraxen. An example of one was Gallagher, a Knight who had his face burned away as a child. Despite being nobility, even the most common scum and criminals had ridiculed him for his entire life. He was outcast. And yet, despite this, he understood that this cruelty was born of the injustice in the world. He sought to rid of evil, and developed the first semblance of a Paladin order. He reigned as her champion until his death, where he battled a group of vampires who had slaughtered a village all by himself, dying valiantly and forever securing a place at Her side.

XMARK 1

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"What I am, is art. It took a thousand words to craft me, from the tongue of a God."
XXXLUKHAN, Pleasure and Pain

One of the most eccentric of all Gods. Lukhan was the first Desire Demon, the father of all his kind. While desire demons tend to prey simply on pleasure, this man revels in the opposite side of the coin. If you can't tell by now, he is a complete sadist. While simple sex can entertain him greatly, he can't call it complete without suffering and humiliation. He takes on the form of a nude man, with a chained collar, spikes, thorns and a scorpion's tale. His skin is torn in some places, which causes him constant searing pain all throughout his body. There are scars all across him, each with a story and a lover attached; Lilith scraped down his arm with her nails, Azor bit a chunk off his leg. Any but the Desire Demons simply can't try to understand him, even the other demons in hell. To them, he is everything they ever dreamt; the violence inside of them, the desire, the freedom to enjoy whatever the hell they please.

His greatest pride, which was brought about by his greatest sexual venture, is the Incubus, and often the Succubus (if they align more with him). He enjoys the concept of a mortal representation of pleasure; many little demons wandering through the world, enforcing his will. Often times they murder men and women once they are done with them, and bring pain and fear into their lives. He watches eagerly, his mouth salivating with every little thing that they do. Because of this, you could consider him far more attached to the mortal world than most Gods. He, in fact, prefers the mortal world over Hell. The pain and pleasure there is real, and means something. It can produce offspring or provide disease, it is not simply a quick spin in the hay. Which means that attracting his attention isn't hard, though keeping it can be.

XXXAttracting his attention
Admittedly, many mortals catch Lukhan's eyes. It is not easy to do so, however. Simply being attractive or good in the sack isn't really what he enjoys. He likes people who are truly pioneers at their craft, whether in pleasure, pain or something more. He enjoys people who wish to completely consolidate the desire of another, as he so often does himself. However, he can quickly get bored of people. Usually, if someone shines brightly enough, he will take on a mortal vessel, stalk them and either have sex with them with their consent or without. From that point on, he tends to just forget about them. He has never really had a champion, not even his own son, Eklopyter. It is unknown what would truly set him off, and manage to lock his focus onto someone. Many who worship him spend their whole lives trying to find out.

XMARK 1

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XXXDANIEL, Creativity and Adventure

Danny is the embodiment of Michael's creative side. He was one of the first angels made by him, the artist and architect of Axiom. He drew out and shaped the mountains, the minerals, almost everything you'll find in the world. Ultimately he has the mind of a child, so he drew these out with the intention to travel the lands as if a developer playing his own game. Because of this, he is more often than not within the physical realm of Axiom, inside of some vessel. Usually it's a young boy with a heart for adventure, and when the kid grows up, he moves on to another one. He's honestly a strange angel and most of the others sort of disrespect him, but he is also a symbol of purity and happiness. He doesn't care about the war between angels or demons, or any of that. He just wants to have fun.

Interestingly, it was Daniel who created monsters, despite loving holiness and whatnot. He believes monsters have a right to live as well, because they really only want self-preservation, just like the humanoids. He also created them because they make his adventures more interesting. There has literally never been a monster alive to know that Michael is responsible for their creation.

XXXAttracting his attention
Ask a VC for this. You can actually encounter him in your travels. The first time you meet him, it will just be a single brush up, a short introduction and perhaps a small quest. You will then begin to meet him again if you are lucky, and again if you have kept his interest. With that, you will gain his favor and interest, and he may mark you.

XMARK 1

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"With your blood, I plant the seed. From it, a root will grow, and extend to my maker. Hail him now in death, and be one with him for all time after."
XXXCAYENE, Betrayal and Sacrifice

Deep in the heart of Yuran, there was an upstart family with a man, a woman, and their two children. The man was David, his wife Cayene. The two children were young and still learning, and unbelievably annoying. They would screech and wail all day, wanting more and more that their mother just couldn't give. Things were hard back where they came from, so her husband had to work all day and couldn't help her deal with the kids. She took this as neglect. In order to escape her responsibility, she found a friend in town who showed her how to ease the stress. That lady, who was mysterious and wise, appealed to Cayene's deep need of guidance. They began to take drugs together and party like animals, then eventually the lady introduced her to Vaet Nocturnum, the belief of demons. They performed a ritual, where a demon actually came from the spell circle in a physical form and contacted them. The witch was only terrified, while Cayene was filled with an intense desire and craving. She didn't even need to hear his voice in order to understand what he wanted.

That night, as her husband came home, he returned to the butchered bodies of his two children. Deeper inside, he expected for Cayene to be dead as well, but instead she was there waiting for him. She had frenzied eyes, and an axe in her hands. The man, vengeful over his children, came at her with a sword, though her physical strength had somehow become far beyond his. After his death, she ate the three hearts of the rest of her family, claiming herself to be the vessel of four souls. Then, in the name of Makath, she chopped off her own head. The demons took such an interest in her that they made her one of them, and Makath made her a symbol of devotion and sacrifice. Ever since, she has presided over the sacrificial needs of hell, distributing souls and hungrily questing for more.

XXXAttracting her attention
Like with her pantheon, she enjoys betrayal and sacrifice. One who has sacrificed enough to her, or has shown themselves to be apathetic and traitorous towards their former comrades, could surely gain her attention.

XMARK 1

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"Fight like a warrior. Die like a God. Harken the trumpet of valor, and I will harken back."
XXXSOLARIS, Pride and Valor

Though mournful of her loss, it was her duty to pick up his sword when he left. Indeed, Solaris is the sister and beloved of Zachariah, the angel who guarded war and fate. She was the one to hold his banner, the one to support him and honor his name. And when he left, she was nothing; she had never really been her own voice. It was a terrifying experience, though enlightening. Solaris is a warrior, with a warrior's heart. During her time with Zachariah, he taught her how to wield a blade and she did so with courage. She was one of the dominant forces in the arena, always triumphantly standing over her brothers and sisters. From this, she grew proud, and her pride only gave her more courage. It is obvious why she would preside over what she does. Her valor in battle is like nothing ever seen, and she fights until the end. She has won many losing battles simply because of her never-waning resolve.

When Zachariah became twisted and darkened by his time spent in hell, she grew vengeful towards the demons. Her heart hardened, and her blade grew ever more attached to her arm. Through time, her vengeful spirit towards the demons became too great; she felt that she should march into Axiom and rid of the evil, hoping to change the tide of war. Even with all of the advice against it, and whispers of punishment, she did in fact manifest. But in another way. Through her vessels, she inspired the unification of Fraxen into a great Empire that could dispose of all evil. South Fraxen, West and all through the North and East came together as one. It was then that men recognized her existence, and hailed her as a Goddess and the great spirit of pride.

XXXAttracting her attention
One with an unbreakable resolve to slay demons and act righteously would catch her eye. One with great pride and confidence, as well as the ability to decisively act and without ignorance, would further catch her attention. Great warriors and leaders have been known to champion her, and spread her message of faith and a warrior's soul. When a great leader is born, somehow, she will know, and they will always be under her vigilant gaze.

XMARK 1

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"Remain close to your friends, and vigilant of your enemies. The line is thin between them."
XXXANTONY, Love and Hate

Another eccentric, for certain. Many believe his story to be a sign of heaven's corruption, and although that is not necessarily accurate, it is a sign of impurity within angels. Like all of his kind, he initially started off with a community spirit. He loved his peers, and most of all his brother, Epsion. They trained together and learned of life together; they went all across heaven, the world of Axiom, and learned many amazing things. They drew closer, and into an unbreakable brotherly bond. However, the seed of darkness grew within Antony. As he traveled, he made friends and lovers with many humans and became attached to this lifestyle. He enjoyed getting intoxicated and bringing barmaids to his chambers, messing around with farm hands and causing a ruckus within the small towns, and eventually cities as civilization grew. However, angels were not allowed to immerse themselves in the human world for too long, lest they become corrupt. His brother was contacted by Michael one day, and he was told to stop his debauchery lest he be punished. Punishment in heaven rarely ended with death; usually it would result in physical pain or imprisonment for many years.

However, Antony was one of the most powerful angels. He was to set an example for his younger and weaker brethren, and he was threatened with death if he did not stop his madness. Ultimately, this threat came from the lips of Elessia, but spread around and around. The one to speak this warning to him was his brother, Epsion, who he loved dearly. And yet at that moment, his love went bitter; it twisted and turned black like a dead tree, and he slew his brother mercilessly. I can do whatever I please, he told himself. Unfortunately, the result of this action was a lifetime of being persecuted by his kind. Killing another angel was the ultimate offense, which could only result in one's death. But Kala took a special interest in this angel, as he was very powerful and very bitter towards his kind. He would become an invaluable pawn of hers, to help learn of her enemy and wipe them away. He became the first fallen angel, defected to hell and under the protection of the night.

He is, in fact, the God of both love and hate. While it may seem he is simply bitter and childish, he was born with a high capacity for both affection and hatred. His love can grow strong and pure, and he will defend one without much expected in return. There is only one thing he truly expects: that one always be on his side, that they never betray him no matter what he does. He expects for his allies to question nothing, or his love will turn into hatred, which can only go ill for the recipient.

XXXAttracting his attention
Antony loves the basest things a man could enjoy. Adventure, romance, fighting; things that get the blood pumping. He enjoys art and all the beauties of life. Anyone who possesses an immense attachment to their more primitive desires, while still possessing a strong grasp on civilization and artistic advancement, can surely gain his favor. He values strength as well. While no one of Axiom can rival the strength of an angel, and few can rival a demon, those who are exceptionally strong amongst the others of their kind will find themselves in his sights.

XMARK 1

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"There is a straightforward intention of this gift: that you use it to be happy, to live a happy life, and to make many more lives before you're gone."
XXXJUSTOR, the Moon, Energy, and Fertility

Unbeknownst to their followers, the story of Justor and Solonor is actually far more romantic than what is publicized. When time had just begun to pass, and the empty universe was filled with physical vessels of energy, two angels were assigned to watching over the planet, and humanity: Justor, and Solonor. They were given great power by Michael, which would shape the world around them. Like Solonor, his magic lied in the light of the moon, which washed down on all creatures when the sun fell. He took control of the tides, the menstrual cycle and all sorts of random little baubles that the moon grew influential over. However, he was alone, isolated atop a giant mass of grey waste. Every now and then other angels would come see him, but for the most part he lived in the quiet. He didn't know where his life was going to go, or whether the emptiness would ever end. He only waited, patiently. He sat still, and didn't move unless asked to. Eventually, however, the flood happened.

When the mortal life on Axiom was eradicated, he became enraged, feeling as if all of his time and effort amounted to nothing. He, one of the strongest angels, was ready to enter into Heaven and challenge Michael. However, a great light shone upon him before he left. This was the light of Solonor, his angelic brethren from across the ocean of space. She told him that she was lonely too, but they had always helped each other. They interacted with one another with their glow alone, and had become the true mother and father of the human race. They bonded over their solitude, and became resolved to protect and guide life on Axiom until time came to an end. Then, hundreds of years later, they descended upon the world. They took the vessels of two Elvish people, as they had a strong magic within them that could contain the two angelic beings. They spoke to the Elves, who were one with nature, and peaceful above all else. They helped them learn to cooperate, and joined the Dark Elves and Dawn Elves. Their mission was ultimately to bring about peace, so that the mortal world may never be washed away again.

Justor himself is a highly compassionate angel. While Solonor is more of a rational thinker, he is an emotional one. He deeply loves life on earth, especially the Elves, and has always wished to see it thrive. He is quite honestly very motherly, which is ironic for a great and powerful, "masculine" angel, but that is simply the way he has always been.

XXXAttracting his attention
Justor seeks an emissary of peace. He has had one champion many lifetimes ago, Empress Maghlya, who seeked purely to create peace and harmony within Kuladhan and her neighbors. She was also a woman of great virtue, the philosopher who truly decided the social norms of the elves. Before her, they were quite barbaric. She was also an amazing mage, mostly due to his influence inside of her. She was known to be able to erect massive barriers and cast all sorts of defensive spells.

It is said that the attention of Justor is drawn by the compassionate. It is drawn by one willing to forgive and forget even the greatest transgressions -- he wants someone who focuses on brightening the future, rather than avenging the past.

XMARK 1

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XXXSCISSIO, the Rift

It was borne from the lack of, springing from the cracks of Michael and Kala's creations. It seeps through, causing chaos but it has none. There is neither light, dark, love, hate, good, evil; this being is rumored to have never been anything at all and yet, it exists just the same.

Most find it through multidimensional travel and never know it. Sometimes it is less obvious, you lay your sword down and come back to find it in a different spot. You chalk it up as your imagination or your mental state slipping, maybe it was you all along. Sometimes it lingers, that unexplainable temptation that something is watching, waiting, staring at you from the corners of a room and when you glance its way, it is no more. Gone. Slipped back into whatever unknown it was birthed from. Some lore has explained Scissio as a gateway, the ultimate one. One that brings forth horrid beasts and tyrants, other brethren even; however, no one can validate such.

It seems the only particular interest it took was actually in one other being, a sin. Hiding at the mercury edges of her mirror, staring back at her for hours on end with no ambitions or drive, no will of its own but that of an observant voyeur. It has taken no champion, the closest would be that of Envy, who shows extraordinary skill using voids.

XXXAttracting its attention
This 'God' is extremely fickle when it comes to interests. It prefers a neutral party, one that is indifferent, aloof even. A person that the world forgets but they have every opportunity within it.
XMARK 1