Frequently Asked Questions

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🜙	What kinds of characters can/can't I app to this game?
	⤛	Breath of Usir allows a wide variety of characters and character types. Most characters are capable of being AUed into the setting where reasonable with a few restrictions. Characters must be AUed to fit the setting as one of the available races in the setting. Rare and extinct races are off limits. We recommend picking a race that suits your character's background and abilities as close as possible. Acceptable characters include: ⤛ Canon characters from any canon who have enough story to show a distinct personality and at least 3 key events in canon that help define that personality. ⤛ Original characters, including those designed specifically for this game world, tabletops, or MMOs. ⤛ Humanoid characters 1-3 meters tall (3ft to 10ft) ⤛ Non-humanoid characters or characters less than 1m tall/greater than 3m tall that have been altered to an appropriate size and humanoid race. Unacceptable characters include: ⤛ CR AUs or any Non-Canon AUs that are not relevant to the game world. ⤛ Canon characters from any canon who do not have enough story to show a distinct personality or who lack at least 3 key events in canon that help define that personality. ⤛ Characters that are, or can become, dragons. These characters are still appable but must have their dragon-related aspects removed to fit into the game world. ⤛ Characters that do not have at least an adolescant mentality. ⤛ Characters that do not have an intelligence level equivalent to the in-game races. This includes object permanence, problem-solving, communication ability of some form, the ability to learn, and at least an awareness of morality even if they themselves have no discernable morality. ⤛ Ghosts, Ghouls, Specters, Zombies, Vampires and other undead races cannot be apped as they are. Your character must be AUed to fit a living race in order to be awakened. ⤛ Were-cursed characters. Your character must be AUed to fit another race (Shiftling or Beastfolk for example). You will have the opportunity to have them re-acquire the curse in game.
🜙	How do I build an AU for my character?
	⤛	After reading through the World & History and Races & Cultures pages you should have a decent idea of the game world, its people, and the pre-war history. The mod team has constructed a Alternate Universe Guide to help you build your character's AU. You are free to choose any of the available races for your character's au (Common, Disparate, Uncommon). The mod team might ask you to explain the reasons for your choice but ultimately we are just looking to ensure your character's AU still makes sense with their personality. You are not required to have all the details or a full history worked out for your character when you apply. We want to leave players with the freedom and flexibility to add things to their character's history both as they learn more about the world and as new players enter the game. We only ask that you make sure your character's personality is still IC and makes sense with their new history. When building an AU for your character we recommend at the very least determining how they died during the war and re-writing three-five key events in their canon history to fit the game world. It helps to choose your character's race and pre-war kingdom before re-writing their backstory as the different races and kingdoms have their own cultures and histories and this can help you establish their motivations and background.
🜙	What if my character wouldn't align themselves with a kingdom?
	⤛	A character does not have to have supported the kingdom they are aligned with. If your character hated all three kingdoms and didn't support any of them, pick the kingdom they least hated. If they supported multiple kingdoms or didn't want to take sides, choose based on the kingdom's attribute (Reason, Yearning, Devotion) or colors (Gray & Blue, Green & Gold, Red & Black) for Thalassa, Atrómitos, & Krimnos respectively. Your character's alignment has less to do with who they supported in the past and more to do with future events in-game. The mod team will not question your kingdom choice for your character. This choice is wholly yours. Your character will become aware of their alignment by the color of the tunic they are wearing when they awaken. Characters are more than welcome to express displeasure or confusion about having been re-dressed in the colors of a kingdom they did not intend to be part of.
🜙	How do I choose a race? Do I have to choose the race that best fits my character's history?
	⤛	Choosing a race for your character is a big decision because it can not be changed later unless you drop the character and re-app them. Different races have different unique qualities, expectations, and cultures in the game world. Read through the races and cultures page and see what fits your character and interests best, and determine which of that race's racial traits is most appealing to you or fitting for your character. We recommend trying to pick a race that suits your character and that you will not have difficulty playing, but it can also be fun to pick something that is unexpected for your character. If there is a race that looks interesting or that you would be interested in exploring with your character but which doesn't necessarily fit their background, see what you can play with to make that race make sense with your character without altering their canon personality.
🜙	How & when did my character die? Does my character know what happened? Do the NPCs?
	⤛	Your character died during the last great war, 100 years ago. How they died is up to you as a player but they must have been killed during the war. They may have been a soldier, a prisoner, a civilian casualty, a thief looting the bodies of the dead, or any other background that suits their character and history so long as they died on or near the battlefields. Your character will have no awareness of how much time has passed since their death, but they will be aware that they should be dead. They will remember dying, even if the death came quickly, and be disoriented and confused to find themselves alive once more. They may also be hesitant to tell strangers what happened as the undead races were seen as horrific monsters that need to be exterminated by most of the population while they were alive. It is the story of their death that is more concerning than their actual awakening. Characters do not awaken as undead beings but come back as if they had never died in the first place. It would be wiser to claim they had been cursed into a 100-year sleep or gotten lost in the wilds. With 100 years gone, they can try to invent new identities for themselves if they so choose Most of the people who were living when they died are no longer alive or are an extra hundred years older now. Eventually rumors will start to get around and the NPCs will become aware that people are coming back from the dead. This will play a role in the future of the game.
🜙	What are animas? Where do they come from?
	⤛	An animas is a piece of your character's soul/essence brought to life. They can not talk and do not have any inherent abilities beyond their bond with their person. An animas is born approximately 24 hours after a character is awakened. Over the course of the game a character's choices and deaths will alter their animas in both appearance and ability.
🜙	How do I choose an animas?
	⤛	The animas is created from your character's blood and life essence. It is a piece of who they are at their core. When looking for an animas, try to pick something that you feel suits your character. Their animas will be with them through the entirety of the game and while the animas does not have to be physically with them at all times, it will be a permanent part of their time in the game. Be sure to pick an animas you feel you can incorporate into your character's time in the game and their development, something you are comfortable writing about. Animas change over time due to your character's choices and deaths. Pick a creature that has room for physical and magical growth and changes. It is important to remember that the animas may undergo very unpleasant changes as well. Avoid unrealistic animas choices. Don't pick an animal that can not move around easily in the game world, such as an aquatic-dependent creature that is not well suited to surviving on land. Consider how your character will interact with their animas and what size or type of animal would be suited to those interactions. If you need more help you can always ask the mod team to give you suggestions or check out this list of creatures and personality traits that might help spark some ideas. Your animas will be around for a long time so pick something that is interesting and appealing to you as a player.
🜙	Can my character harm/kill their animas?
	⤛	They can, but there is a very strong compulsion not to. Even the gruffest and most morally corrupt or emotionally detached characters are connected to their animas' emotional and physical health. A character would have to forcefully overcome their connection to their animas in order to willfully kill or injure them. It is a physical piece of them, just separate from their body. We ask players not to kill their character's animas without cause, just as we prefer you not kill your character without cause. There are lasting consequences to death and while the character's animas will return after a week, doing so drains some of the essence from the character's soul vial just as the character's own death would. In summary: Yes, but we do not recommend it.
🜙	Does my character know what their animas is? Do the NPCs know what animas are?
	⤛	As soon as an animas is born, the character that created it is aware that they can sense the physical presence and emotions of the newly created creature. To both the knowledge of the awakened characters and the NPCs, the creation of an animas involves a powerful magic spell that very few have ever managed to successfully perform. Those who have created animas tend to keep such a success secret as the animas shares its life essence with the one who created it. This means that its death kills a piece of the person it came from. Characters can use what they know of the lore and stories about animas to infer that somehow they have created one. They can also be aware that the circumstances are not at all what they might have learned or heard is required to create an animas. Characters can also assume this is a lesser spell and that their animas is simply an empathic familiar created through an unusual accident. Unless characters divulge how they came to acquire their animas, NPCs will not assume that is what the creatures are. Many people in this world have animal familiars or companions and it is not unusual to see a member of any race walking with an animal at their side or on their shoulder. Suspicious activity, such as an animas reacting with pain when a character is injured, could give away what the creature is to any NPCs nearby. Additionally, animas that resemble rare creatures could become a target for black market poachers. Most characters will have the knowledge of why it would be a bad idea to mention that they suspect their creature is an animas but they are more than welcome to discuss it. Most NPCs who are not interested in harming or in some negative way effecting the character will not use the knowledge that the creature is an animas to do anything to the character. Any NPC with a grudge or a desire to harm, distract or otherwise negatively effect a character could use this knowledge against them.
🜙	Could my character have met or spoken with the dragons before their death?
	⤛	Yes. The dragons were reverred like deities by many during the time your character was alive. It is up to you as a player how your character viewed the dragons but they were a major part of every day life in the kingdoms. While most people respected and revered them, there were also those who feared, hated, or distrusted them. The dragons spoke either directly or through their dragonborn and enjoyed communicating with their people. For all their flaws each dragon genuinely loved its kingdom. Protecting and aiding the kingdom and its people was their main driving force. While your character would not have been on personal friendly terms with the dragons, it is entirely possible your character could have spoken to or with them on one or more occasions.
🜙	Does my character have to have a profession? Can they have multiple professions or change their profession?
	⤛	Characters are not required to have a profession and may have as many or as few professions as a player would like them to. They can change professions at any time but will probably need some time to pick up new crafts if they do. NPCs may express doubts about their skill levels.
🜙	What are the racial traits for?
	⤛	There are 13 racial traits in the game. Each one provides a character with an advantage over other characters based on a particular category of magic or skill when it comes to plots and the monthly AC rewards. The traits are split between the different races and each race has multiple traits to choose from. Your character's trait gives them an advantage over other characters. In addition to plot-related advantages, there are items and skills acquired through AC rewards that correspond in some way to character's traits. Trait-based rewards skip time constraints or necessary buildups that would cause an item or skill to have to be unlocked the following month after receiving them and allow related abilities to be learned at a faster rate. The categories covered by these traits and the traits associated with them are as follows: 🜙 Alchemist: Easily acquires & uses alchemy-based items & skills. 🜙 Beast Tamer: Easily acquires & uses fauna-controlling items & skills. 🜙 Cultivator: Easily acquires & uses flora-controlling items & skills. 🜙 Feral Fury: Easily acquires & uses feral & berserker-based items & skills. 🜙 Fortune's Favor: Easily acquires & uses fortune or luck-based items & skills. 🜙 Inventor: Easily acquires & uses mechanical & engineering items & skills. 🜙 Magi: Easily acquires & uses arcane-based items & skills. 🜙 Mountain Blood: Character has a resistance to poison & blood cursed items & skills, and can use these items on themselves without consequence. 🜙 Mountain Might: Easily acquires & uses srength & stamina-based items and skills. 🜙 Shapeshifter: Easily acquires & uses shapeshifting/illusion-based items & skills. 🜙 Silver-Tongue: Easily acquires & uses charm and deception-based items & skills. 🜙 Venomous: Easily acquires & uses poison & curse-based items & skills. 🜙 Wildlander: Easily acquires & uses wild (elemental) items & skills.
🜙	What are the courier devices and how are they used?
	⤛	Information about The Courier can be found here.
🜙	Does my character have to keep their soul vial on them at all times? Can they customize it?
	⤛	Characters are not required to keep the vial on them at all times but leaving it behind will be distracting. A character is always aware of the distance they are from their remaining essence and feel a pull that grows stronger the further they get from it. The dragon glass the vials are made from is unbreakable. The vials can not be destroyed and the contents can not be removed through any means. The condition of the vials occasionally may change causing the characters whose essence they contain to feel hot or cold, become ill, regain old injuries, or other effects. Despite this, other characters are incapable of altering the vials themselves. Characters may conceal or alter their vials by crafting or buying holders or casings for the vials if they wish and can store them, wear them, give them to other characters, or put them on their animas. Wherever the vial is, the character will always be aware of its presence just as they are aware of the presence of their animas. What they choose to do with the vial is up to them but they will never truly be rid of it or their connection to it until the essence within it is fully drained.
🜙	What is the IC:OOC time setting? How does time pass on this world?
	⤛	Time passes on this world the same as it does on Earth. The day ratio is 1:1 for the passage of time in game with relation to our own time passage. Days are shorter in winter and longer in summer. The seasons change with those of the calendar year and there are six of them. They are known as Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Winter, Thaw, & Spring. Each season lasts for two months. Information on the dates for these seasons can be found on the Calendar. For the sake of player ease the months hold the same names in this world as our own, though our holidays do not exist in this world.
🜙	What is the world called? What is the continent called?
	⤛	The continent the three kingdoms reside on is called Idan. The people of Idan do not yet have a name for their world. It is simply the world
🜙	Is there a moon? Stars? What does the sky look like?
	⤛	The moon is similar in appearance to our own but around twice the size of Earth's moon in the sky. They group their stars into constellations like we do our own, but theirs are based on ancient dieties that were once living creatures. Additionally, once a year another larger planet shares this world's orbit for a week. Through December and January the planet known as Anasta's Shadow can be seen in the sky above Idan. During the Long Night, Anasta's Shadow eclipses the sun and plunges the world into a frigid darkness during which deadly temperature drops, ancient beings, and horrifying creatures create new hazards for the survival of the living.
🜙	What is the currency?
	⤛	All three kingdoms share a currency of gold and silver coins. They are simply called coins or tender. The kingdoms also opperate on a trade system so those without coin to pay their way can try to barter or trade goods & services. A silver is enough to buy food or drink and roughly 100 silver coins are worth 1 gold coin. A handful of silver can usually buy a night at an inn. A few gold coins can buy weapons, armor, guides, or even bribe a guard. A purse of coins is a term used for 50 of any coin. Half silver and half gold coins are occasionally used as well. A secondary currency used by hunters, orcs, and black market traders is made up of items called beast tokens. Beast tokens are teeth, claws, horns, or small bones of magical and dangerous creatures with symbols carved on them. The rarer the beast, the more worthy the token. Dragon bone shards with carvings on them are also used as referrals, given from members of the black market to people they decide are worth the risk. These can be used to prove to the more secretive and dangerous illegal traders that a person is worth their time and the risk of discussing services with them.
🜙	What Gods/Deities/Religions are there here?
	⤛	Across the three kingdoms there is no one religion that unites the races. Although many worshipped the three dragon brothers as deities, the temples and monasteries were a place to worship the older deities and long dead ancestors. Over time the deities of each of the races merged into two separate sets of gods and goddesses. The decision of who to worship was often circumstantial more than it was founded in a single devout belief. Some individuals preferred to put their faith in only a few or even a single deity, but most worshiped those with the most significant impact in their lives. There are 13 widely recognized ancestral deities. The ancestral deities were based around the stories of ancient historical figureheads of a single race but the racial divide for worshipping to the ancestors has almost completely vanished in modern times. It is a commonly held belief that the ancestors accomplished so much in their lifetimes that their spirits remained behind to guide future generations. There are also 13 major constellation deities. The constellation deities are based on the images seen in the stars above Idan. Each one represents a different set of values and disciplines based on the stories built around them and are believed to have once been living creatures of Idan. These are commonly shared deities across all races and have existed longer than sung history. Beyond these 26 deities, there are numerous minor deities unique to different families, races, or cultures. It is common practice to pray to family ancestors and fallen leaders. People would travel to the temples of their respective kingdoms and leave offerings in exchange for blessings from the deities they put their faith in. Shared beliefs of Idan vary between races but hold consistent themes. All races believe that death is followed by an afterlife. Although the terms and conditions differ on how and why, it is commonly accepted that there are three different realms to the afterlife. The first realm is the astral realm. Those with great deeds, accomplishments, or lives by each cultures' definition are granted access to the realm of the stars. Their spirits join those of all the others who have fallen before them as stars in the sky and they are granted a new life. The core wild magics of the world are believed to originate from the aether magic in the astral realm. The second realm is the shadow realm. This realm is similar to purgatory. The spirits of the fallen, aimless, directionless, and those with uncertain fates are trapped in the realm of shadows: a world connected to and identical to this one in every way except that everything is cast in shadow. It is a colorless, lifeless world where the spirits of the dead wander, forever lost and largely alone. Necromancers and undead creatures exist between the realm of the living and the shadow realm and can touch both realms. The third realm is called many things by different people: hell, the darkness, the abyss, the void, the pit. It is known as the outer realm and it is a place worse than the lonely, hopelessness of the shadow realm. Those cast into the outer realm have no hope of returning to the land of the living or joining the stars. They are banished to an existence of torment, torture, pain, and agony where they will never know rest. The living wild magics of the world are believed to originate from the void magic in the outer realm. You can find a list of the 26 commonly shared deities and their domains here.
🜙	What kind of magic exists in this world?
	⤛	There are several different forms or classifications of magic in this world: 🜙 Alchemy: Transferrence or exchange magic. Alchemy is a practice of magic that changes one thing into something else, usually permanently. Alchemy works on the magic of transference and is often restrained by the principle of equivalent exchange. It is viewed as more technical magic due to the need to use symbols or objects to assist in the conversion of energy and matter from one state to a different state. In the past, it was viewed by some as teetering dangerously on the edge of dark magic, but because it does not actually make use of darker magical sources it is viewed as a more acceptable alternative. 🜙 Arcane: Energy manipulation and transformation magic. Arcane magic covers a wide umbrella of magical abilities and is considered to be the counterpart to wild magic. Users of arcane magic manipulate magical energy directly. Arcane magic requires careful execution to avoid disastrous miscalculations, especially when used in transformations, teleportation, and shape-shifting. Abilities and spells covering a wide variety of practices, such as transformation, illusion, charm, teleportation, telepathy, and shape-shifting fall into this category. Unlike alchemy, there is little to no transference/exchange involved in arcane magic. Magical energy is manipulated and temporarily altered but everything is retained and the effects can usually be reversed. Often arcane magic involves spells or rituals and requires a constant use or source of magic to maintain. 🜙 Feral: Modification or enhancement magic Feral magic taps into the primal instincts and animalistic energy of all living things. Users of feral magic tap into their primal roots to enhance their abilities or senses, alter their physical form (such as the addition of gills, claws, fangs, or other enhancements that do not fully alter their physical form), or enter into a berserk-like state that temporarily boosts various aspects of their physical form. Feral magic is very physical and primal. It is much more instinctive than other forms of magic, often used in moments of heightened stress or aggression. 🜙 Fortune: Predictive and luck-based magic. Fortune magic taps into the fates, relying on foresight and a connection to the inner workings of the world of Idan. Tapping into Idan's magical core, users of fortune magic tune into the pulse of the land and those who live on it. The insight gained by accessing fortune magic can allow its users to glimpse the past, predict possible actions or routes the future could hold, gain insight into the actions of the land or others, avoid inbound dangers, or influence outcomes of chance. Users of this magic sometimes face skepticism and suspicion due to the inability of most to witness the magic in use or instantly verify its legitimacy. 🜙 Wild: Elemental and wild magic Wild magic comes from the land of Idan itself. All organic matter in Idan contains at traces of wild magic. Wild magic makes up the outer core of Idan. Accessing and using this magic can give users control over the elements. Most elemental magic falls into the categories of fire, water, air, and earth, or some combination of them. The elements of Idan are categorized into four families. ⤛ Core: Fire, Earth, Air, Water, & Energy. ⤛ Disparate: Magma, Smoke, Lightning, Ice, & Mineral. ⤛ Living: Weather, Beast, Plant, & Blood. ⤛ Adopted: Light, Shadow, Void, & Aether. There is some disagreement as to whether energy and the adopted elements fall into elemental or arcane magic. Despite its inclusion, blood magic is often viewed as dark or forbidden magic, though it can be used in positive ways, such as in healing and the removal of curses or poisons. 🜙 Forbidden: Forbidden or dark magic. The use of forbidden magic is outlawed in the cities and viewed with extreme suspicion and fear by the people of Idan. Forbidden magic is loosely seen as any magic that gives people power over life, death, or the direct creation, delaying, or ending of either. This encompasses curses, blood magic, necromancy, mind control, magic crafted exclusively for the purpose of killing or controlling another person, and the use of creation magic for the purpose of the direct creation of living sentient beings. However, as an official term dark magic is any magic that gains its power from tapping into either the shadow realm or the outer realm because the use of this magic leaves behind a unique and traceable signal and often has ill effects on the users of it. There is a lot of wiggle room in the magic of Idan. Most forms of magic have overlap with one another and in many cases, the classifications are societal constructs more than actual division. Even forbidden magic has a lot of gray areas where people can argue against the forbidden nature of their magic (excluding necromancy which is forbidden in all forms societally). All magic in Idan comes from the same general place, the essence of all life energy, and then changes from there based on origin and use. Characters can have access to any kind of magic regardless of their background or racial traits. Racial traits are an ooc game construct that are meant to represent an innate, natural talent that makes it easier for a person to learn certain kinds of magic abilities or use certain items that most closely correspond to their trait.
🜙	How far apart are the cities? How long would it take to travel from one city to another?
	⤛	The distance from Krimnos to Didymos or from the Free City to Didymos is approximately 120miles or 193km. The distance from Krimnos to the Free City is approximately 180miles or 290km. It would take a crow approximately 6 hours to fly between Didymos and either of the other cities and 9 hours to fly between Krimnos and the Free City. This is assuming crows travel 20miles/32km an hour On horseback depending on the stamina and speed of the horse and how hard the rider rode it, it would take 2-4 days to get from Didymos to either city and 3-6 days to get from Krimnos to the Free City. This is assuming the horse travels 30-60miles/50-100km a day. Assuming a person walks 20-30miles/32-48km in a day it would take 4-6 days to travel between Didymos and either city by walking. It will take slightly longer if traveling up the cliffs to Krimnos. It is possible to make the trip in 2-3 days on foot but it would be a strenuous journey. It would take 6-9 days to travel between Krimnos and the Free City on foot, It is possible to make the trip in 3-4 and a half days on foot but it would be a strenuous journey By airship the trip takes 4-6 hours depending on weather and wind to go from/to Didymos to either city and 6-9 hours to travel between Krimnos and the Free City.
🜙	What would happen if a shiftling or dhampir were exposed? What kind of prejudice would they face?
	⤛	Exposure of a dhampir or shiftling's identity in pre-war times led to them being ostracized. Dhampir were feared and viewed as just barely above undead. Their existence made people uncomfortable and fearful and they would have been avoided and would find difficulty getting work outside of illegal trades or acquiring positions/status in the cities. Shiftlings with were-like forms suffered a similar fate while shiftlings with different forms (animal or a second person form) were viewed as untrustworthy and were shunned as likely spies or traitors though less overtly ostracized. Parents would keep their children far from either, they would be kept far from political or high-standing roles, and they would all have a hard time getting anyone to trust them or feel safe around them as a general rule. Dhampir and were-form shiftlings were at risk of being hunted or killed by beast hunters, fearful citizens, or people with rough/unpleasant histories involving vampirs or were-curses and would not experience the same protections or sympathies generally afforded to other people. In modern times the fear and distrust is still there but acceptance has shakily begun to take root. A dhampir not acting on their nature and a shiftling with no history of betrayal or violence would be treated with caution but not the overt fear or disgust they may have been treated with in the past. It is also far less acceptable for people to kill or hurt them based on their heritage alone as education on how they come to be born is slowly broadened in the cities. That being said there are still plenty who will be uneasy around them and may act violently against them. They are more widely accepted but still distrusted..
🜙	How widespread is literacy in both the time our characters are coming from, and modern times? Are there schools?
	⤛	Literacy is common but not required in Idan. It is generally taught by mentors or parents at a young age. The three major cities each have schools but schools are uncommon outside of them and are not seen as a requirement for children. While anyone can attend school, in the times pre-war it was more common for humans, elves, halflings, dwarves, and beastfolk to attend schools. It was uncommon for the other races to be seen attending these schools but there were no restrictions against it. Centaurs took pride in literacy but generally were taught by their relatives. It was most common for Centaurs or Elves to be the teachers in these schools. Schools were largely seen as a necessity by families who anticipated their children would enter an academic, political, or specialized profession (Knights, Guards, Sailors, Priests). About 50% of the overall population of the kingdoms was illiterate in pre-war times. Additionally, orphans who were sent to temples were often expected to learn to read and write in depth. Post-war/present times literacy has increased to around 70% and schools have become much more commonplace as a way to keep children occupied and out of danger during the day. .
🜙	Are there non-dead spirits in the world?
	⤛	There are sprites of all types which are beings made of magic that can take many noncorporeal forms. Most sprites can use magic and some may enter other items or things and animate or control them through the magic that is their essence. They can be found inhabiting objects, creatures, or the land, or they can be free-floating. There are also spirits in the shadow realm of all living things, including plants and animals. More powerful spirits reside in the outer and astral realms but are also far less readily capable of entering into this realm.
🜙	How's the culture in regards to racism and sexism?
	⤛	In general, there is no kingdom-wide skin-tone racism or sexism, though there is discrimination and stereotyping among the races toward other races (orcs, elves, etc). This is true across Idan as a whole but may not hold true on individual levels. Species-based racism occurs in both the past and present. In modern times it has declined some but is still present.
🜙	How do the traits for half-humans work? Is the other half required to be a race that has that trait?
	⤛	All half-human traits are available to any half-human regardless of parentage.
🜙	Can characters become pregnant? What if a character was pregnant before they died?
	⤛	This world is a dangerous one and your character will be dying again in the future. If your character has a child they will not have their own soul vial or animas. If they die, their death will be permanent. Due to the sensitive subject matter, anyone who wishes to play out pregnanacy or having a child in game will need to have an opt-out post on their journal in case other players in the game want to avoid interacting with the topics related to pregnancy/young npc children. The character's death during the war will have no effect on the child if they were pregnant before their death.
🜙	Will regaining canon memories factor into this game?
	⤛	No. This game is a native au and assumes your character has always lived in this world. There are no canon memories for them to regain.
🜙	What do you mean by adolescent mental age?
	⤛	We consider adolescent mentality to encompass the following requirements: An intelligence level that includes object permanence, problem-solving, communication ability of some form, the ability to learn, and at least an awareness of morality even if they themselves have no discernable morality. Adolescent mentality is all of these things and a basic understanding of how to survive in the world. We want them to be capable of independent survival so they are not reliant on other characters to be aware they need to eat or get out of weather that will kill them, for instance. They are not required to be completely independent in the game but they need to know how to take care of themselves.
🜙	Can characters use more than one type of magic? Are they limited to the magic from their racial trait?
	⤛	Every type of magic can be used by any character. Characters are not restricted to one type of magic and do not have to specialize in any one type. The racial traits help boost magic gained later through rewards and add a little flavor to the characters, but traits are not a sole definition for them. Racial traits signify a character has a natural talent related to that type of magic. How much the character may have used or practiced magic based around their trait can vary.
🜙	How compulsive is shifting for shiftlings? When does a shiftling start shifting?
	⤛	Shiftlings can begin shifting from the time they are born and as children often do not realize how much control they have over their ability to shift. Different shiftlings can grow up with different triggers and some gain control of their abilities faster than others. As children they might shift while playing, when frightened, angry, when they want to get away, or when they are happy. Emotions are usually one of the early triggers for a shift in forms. Between 6-14 they develop better control and more of an understanding of the risks and rewards available to them when/if they shift. Not all shiftlings have full control over when and why they shift but most of them do by the time they reach teen years. Shiftlings do not have to shift forms. They can do so as frequently or infrequently as they wish.
🜙	Can non-shiftlings acquire/use shapeshifting magic? Are there limitations on this?
	⤛	Yes, this is an ability non-shiftlings can acquire. Shape-shifting is usually a branch of arcane magic (a temporary transformation of one thing to something else) or alchemy (a more permanent transformation of one thing to something else). For non-shiftlings changing form is still magic that can be accomplished, and shiftlings can also learn to use this same magic to grant themselves other forms. Alchemy would not generally be used by shapeshifters to change their own form because transforming a living thing into something else using Alchemy is a very dangerous and potentially deadly feat of magic. If anything goes wrong during the transformation they could become permanently trapped in their new form or disfigured. Arcane magic is a less stable shift but much safer for someone to use and learn. While shapeshifting is a difficult magical skill to learn and perfect it is something that can be learned and can allow the user to either fully transform themselves temporarily or use illusions/glamors to make it seem as if they have changed while remaining the same. The latter is safer and simpler while the former is complicated and requires constant, careful use of magic to maintain. For shiftlings, shifting between their two forms is simple and intuitive. It is something that can be done at any time and maintained for any amount of time. Magic-based shapeshifting requires research and practice with the chosen form(s) to be able to maintain them. Shape-shifting with arcane magic requires constant use of magic. It is something that is possible for a skilled or determined magic user, but it will be draining to maintain for long periods of time. If they lose consciousness or become too exhausted to maintain the magic required they will generally revert back to their original form.
🜙	What are the airships? How big are they?
	⤛	There are currently four official airships in Idan. They make one round trip a day from their home city to another city. They are each roughly the size of a sloop. There are three decks to an airship: the open surface deck, the hold where cargo and passengers can ride protected from the open air, and the underdeck where the steam engines and most of the crew work to keep the airship properly balanced for flight. The airship is steered from a part of the surface deck called the control deck where the captain and the rest of the crew maintain the airship's course and instruct the rest of the crew. The airships make one flight twice a day. The first flight from their home dock to their destination in the morning after sunrise and the second flight back to their home dock in the evening so they reach their destination before sunset. The airships do not travel at night due to the threat of nocturnal aerial predators and low visibility. Anyone can take a trip on an airship for a purse of silver coins, or try their luck and stow away. Mounts can get a lift as well, but they require an additional fare. The four airships are: 🜙 The Skywhale. Its home port is the Free City and it carries passengers to and from Didymos on a 4-hour flight. 🜙 The Horizon. Its home port is Didymos and it carries passengers to and from Krimnos on a 4-hour flight. 🜙 The Valiant. Its home port is Krimnos and it carries passengers to and from the Free City on a 6-hour flight. 🜙 The Zenith. Its home port is Krimnos and it carries passengers to and from Preciposte on a 2-hour flight.
🜙	Did the airships exist pre-war.
	⤛	They did not. Airships are a new invention of the modern times and did not exist pre-war or during the war. They were invented in the last 30 years and the current ships have only been regularly flying for the last 20 years
🜙	Is there a branch that healing magic would typically fall under?
	⤛	There are many different categories healing magic can fall under depending on how the magic works! If the magic requires transferring health or injuries from one thing to another it would be considered alchemy. This can include turning plants or other material into healing items when the items themselves wouldn't heal someone on their own. Feral magic can increase a person's own natural healing abilities as an increased healing factor, poison immunity, or other similar boosts. Wild magic can draw on the forces of the elements to heal. Light magic in the literal sense, when it comes to manipulating or controlling light, would be a wild magic as that would be elemental. The closest to holy magic is Arcane magic which can alter/change something from nothing. Healing, creating sourceless light, and removing curses are all possible uses of arcane magic. Forbidden/Dark and Fortune magic can reverse the damage done to someone by tapping into fate or the shadow realm but these would be more extreme uses of magic.
🜙	Can characters be from a noble bloodline? Can a character be related to the royal bloodlines of the kingdoms?
	⤛	Characters may share distant relations to the NPC Rulers of the past/present provided: They are not close friends/acquaintances with the NPCs and they are not currently in direct line for a throne. They are welcome to believe they are entitled to a throne but most NPCs will not believe them without proof and it would be unwise for them to mention that they have been dead for 100 years if they are trying to gain NPC favor.
🜙	Can my character harm/kill the named NPCs (MPCs/Mod-Played Characters)?
	⤛	Yes. Even the current leaders of the three cities are not immune to death. Obviously such things would need to be plotted out with the mod team, and there may well be in character ramifications for characters who take such actions, but this game world is shaped and driven by the choices our players make, and if there is reasonable rationale behind such an attempt we are willing to facilitate it.
🜙	Is there a stigma against bastard children?
	⤛	Among different races and societies in Idan, especially those of noble bloodlines, bastard children would definitely be viewed unfavorably.
🜙	How does housing work exactly? Are rooms assigned randomly to characters when they arrive? Are they allowed to pick rooming with someone they're familiar with after they've been assigned if both parties are willing?
	⤛	Characters are randomly assigned a room at an inn when they arrive depending on the current tdm arrival location for the month. After a player enters the game they can change their character's room or their housing location at any point through a form on the housing page.
🜙	Is there a Knight profession?
	⤛	Characters can have been knights in their history/background for any of the three kingdoms. For the purpose of the game setting: after characters have awakened they will have to claim or reclaim that title through activity rewards as only trusted warriors are knighted. It is something players can easily accomplish through in game interaction with the plot and setting.
🜙	Is there something analogous to exorcism or spiritual purification in this world and, if so, what kind of magic would that fall under?
	⤛	Yes. Either of these magics could fall under the branches of arcane or wild magic. The line between them is blurred when it comes to light or 'holy' magic.
🜙	How do professions work?
	⤛	Multiple professions may be listed for each character so long as they are professions the character would advertise being willing to provide services for somewhere in Idan. ICly if a player has their character listed on the Professions page it is assumed they have advertized their professions through billboards, shops, markets, word of mouth, fliers, or over the courier.
🜙	If we would like specific details or plot relevant information for an event or something our character is doings should we contact the mods for specifics on the impact/rewards/consequences of their actions and further details?
	⤛	There will always be a Questions comment on the monthly plotting post which is the best place to ask the mod team for further information with regards to impact or consequences/rewards of a character's actions if a player wants more information for their threads. This allows other players to easily access the information as well. For non-event related or more private questions/threads, players are always welcome to PM the mod team. If the information acquired is something useful for other players the mod team will usually add the general information to the FAQ or the Questions comment on the plotting post themselves so other players can access this information.
🜙	What kinds of musical instruments exist in Idan?
	⤛	Any non-electronic instrument can be found in Idan.
🜙	Do prosthetics exist in Idan? What about glasses? Sunglasses?
	⤛	In the modern age of technology, prosthetics that are a blend of magic and technology are available. They allow more mobility and functionality than the more traditional prosthetics available before the war (largely wooden and lacking in much functionality). Glasses exist in Idan for the visually impaired. We see no reason a character could not have glasses of darker shades made for them by a talented glassworker, whether the lenses adjust for vision or not.
🜙	Can a character use another character's courier or does it prevent something like that?
	⤛	They can if the other character allows them to. The courier responds to the will/wishes of the character it is tied to, so if they were to ask someone else to hold it for them or show them how to use it/use it for them they could do that. A character can also falsely sign a thought message with another character's name or a false name.
🜙	Do characters automatically know what the courier is or how to use it?
	⤛	Characters may need to ask around to learn how to use it or examine it to discern its uses.
🜙	If a character were to send a thought message to everyone, how would the replies work? Would it also be sent to everyone if the message is unnamed?
	⤛	It depends on what the character needs/wants from the message. If they want to respond to the sender alone, the message will go to the sender regardless of the character's lack of knowledge of who they are, as if it were a carrier pigeon returning to where it came from. If they are uncertain or have other wishes for their message it will be sent to all. Either can be accomplished and it is up to your preference as a player where your character's messages are directed.
🜙	Question.
	⤛	Answer.

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Comments

[glanzenschwert]

Can a character be both a user of physical weaponry and magic if they spent enough time/trained hard enough?

Would hard light weapon projection/something like knight enchanter sword summoning be available in this setting?

[usirmods]

Everyone in Idan has the capacity to use magic. Physical weapons/skills and magic are separate disciplines and dual viability in these is common across the land.

This type of ability would fall into Arcane magic.

[forswore]

Likely a far too specific question, but dying at sea or on large bodies of water during the war is perfectly plausible, yes? Since the awakening does not actually take place where they remember dying (if I'm reading this correctly).

[usirmods]

It is very important that characters die on the battlefields. How they died is up to you as a player, but they must have died on one of the battlefields.

This is relevant to their awakening and the plot of the game and is unfortunately not one of the more open areas of story-building for the game.

[atouts]

More questions about magic, but since you mentioned that everyone in Idan has the capacity to use magic, can some magic be assumed as something they can do already (if it lines up with canon or for some other reason)? Or are they regaining everything from square one upon rebirth?

[usirmods]

Of course. Skills and abilities a character had in canon can be redefined to suit the setting during the application process. Further magic will also be readily accessible as the game progresses. They will have access to all their skills and abilities from the moment they are awakened.

[racter]

A few quick questions!

1) What branch of magic would golems and other magical constructs all under?

2) What sort of prosthetics are available in Idan?

[usirmods]

1. Alchemy for Golems, Alchemy or Arcane for other magical constructs.

2. In the modern age of technology, prosthetics that are a blend of magic and technology are available. They allow more mobility and functionality than the more traditional prosthetics available before the war (largely wooden and lacking in much functionality).

[burntbridges]

skids in here

So here's a sensitive issue: in her "canon" form, Letha died while pregnant and usually when I bring her into games she's resurrected and remains pregnant, although her daughter is born with a magical curse as a result.

Since it's an AU I could absolutely remove her pregnancy from the equation, but I'm wondering if it would be alright for her to remain pregnant. Which would mean she would have died on the battlefield while pregnant, and I guess that also means asking what would/could happen to her baby as a result of being exposed to all of that?

[usirmods]

If playing her having a child and raising them in the game is something you think you are willing to have as an aspect of her life going forward we will not forbid it. However, we do want to bring attention to a few points:

This world is a dangerous one and as mentioned elsewhere, your character will be dying again in the future.

Your character's child will not have their own soul vial or animas. If they die, their death will be permanent.

Due to the sensitive subject matter, we will ask that you have an opt-out post on your journal in case other players in the game want to avoid interacting with the topics related to her pregnancy/child.

The child will not be born with a curse unless the curse occurred before Letha's death. Her resurrection will not curse the child.

If you have further questions, we are happy to answer them.

[shivvymetimbers]

Hello! I just have a question in regards to the type of characters allowed in your game. Are Canon OCs allowed here? I know I written Bastien here to be loosely tied to the Pirates of the Caribbean universe but he holds no ties to the main characters and his story diverges quite a bit.

[usirmods]

We do!

Because this is a native AU game and all characters come from Idan with their own Idan backstories, each character will only have backstory ties with players who agree to work their character's histories together. As a result, we see no problems/issues arising from canon ocs that might from other settings.

If you do app a Canon OC to the game the mod team will treat their application like an Original Character application and will list them as such on the taken page.

[turntablism]

Hey, mods! I have a silly character-specific question to ask. The character I'm considering apping has the weird quirk of never parting with his sunglasses, as it has both sentimental value to him and is a representation of his upbringing and of the way he interacts with the people around him (emotionally closed off, putting on a fake cool front). Since it's such a major part of his character, I would very much like to carry them over into his AU background somehow, but I understand that shades are kind of an anachronism here - would there happen to be any equivalent to them in this setting that I could use to serve a similar purpose?

Thanks in advance!

[usirmods]

Glasses exist in Idan for the visually impaired. We see no reason a character could not have glasses of darker shades made for them by a talented glassworker, whether the lenses adjust for vision or not.

If you wish for an alternative, however, we would suggest a mask or bandana/blindfold either enchanted for one-way visibility or with thin black or enchanted fabric where the eyes are to allow the character to see through them but not be seen.

[chasingstag]

how extreme can shape-shifting magics be when the wielder uses them on a living creature—particularly a humanoid creature? would a mage who is not a shiftling be able to turn into an animal and back, for example, or be able to create the illusion of doing so?

obviously this is out of curiosity of the potential for replicating animagus abilities within the realm of usir, but since that treads so close to the natural abilities of a shiftling, i assume there are major limits at the very least on this. could the ability be acquired? or is shapeshifting magic more along the lines of changing facial features or turning porcupines into pincushions or that sort of thing?

This is a long one.

[usirmods]

Yes, this is an ability non-shiftlings can acquire.

Shape-shifting is usually a branch of arcane magic (a temporary transformation of one thing to something else) or alchemy (a more permanent transformation of one thing to something else).

For non-shiftlings changing form is still magic that can be accomplished, and shiftlings can also learn to use this same magic to grant themselves other forms.

Alchemy would not generally be used by shapeshifters to change their own form because transforming a living thing into something else using Alchemy is a very dangerous and potentially deadly feat of magic. If anything goes wrong during the transformation they could become permanently trapped in their new form or disfigured.

Arcane magic is a less stable shift but much safer for someone to use and learn. While shapeshifting is a difficult magical skill to learn and perfect it is something that can be learned and can allow the user to either fully transform themselves temporarily or use illusions/glamors to make it seem as if they have changed while remaining the same. The latter is safer and simpler while the former is complicated and requires a constant, careful use of magic to maintain.

For shiftlings, shifting between their two forms is simple and intuitive. It is something that can be done at any time and maintained for any amount of time.

Magic-based shapeshifting requires research and practice with the chosen form(s) to be able to maintain them. Shape-shifting wth arcane magic requires a constant use of magic. It is something that is possible for a skilled or determined magic user, but it will be draining to maintain for long periods of time. If they lose consciousness or become too exhausted to maintain the magic required they will generally revert back to their original form.

[dorzalta]

Hey mods! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE IF YOU CELEBRATE!! I have a couple of questions that have popped up while brainstorming/writing my AU part of the app.

1) Are there slavers/is there slave trade either in certain cities or all throughout the world? (EDIT TO ADD: what forms of slavery, if any, might be found in this world?)

2) Are there activist groups? Dany would totally be a dragon rights person. Aaand if there's no slave trade for her to try and disrupt, she would likely be a big talker about accepting the different "minority" races. Could she have gathered a following for either of these roles, if applicable?

3) Are there mobsters/a criminal underworld at all in the cities.

4) Do people ever use "drinking dragon's blood" as a sort of insult if someone's gone cuckoo for cocoa puffs?

5) Is there a way for Dany to use fire magic or do some crazy stuff to make herself "Unburnt?" That was a running theme in the show and I'd like to try and get that going here too, but it's totally okay if that's not realistic. Likewise, if you want it to come at a high price, name it. I'm totally here for that and maybe this is how she loses Rhaego or something!

(Omg I just totally thought of a reason why she loses her baby thanks you guys. I'm a terrible person I'm going to hell.)

6) Were there ever instances where women could seduce men who drank dragon blood? And would there be a way for this to be passed down in a child? One route I was thinking was a very small and diluted part could be in some bloodlines. OR, if that's making Targs and other bloodlines too special, maybe it's more just a rumor that could float around and that certain houses/families/etc encourage. Would that be alright as an alternative if the former is not?

I'M SURE I WILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS but that's all I got so far right now! Seriously, please consider Daenerys Targaryen for Dragon Rights President.

[usirmods]

1.) There are servants, indentured workers, and indentured apprentices, all of which are just polite political alternatives to slavery that were deemed ethical by the three kingdoms. They are often a result of debt or a way to put orphans to use that can be passed off as being for their benefit whether that was true or not. Outside of the kingdoms, it was common for Orcs and violent open landers to enslave people they bested in war or saw as too weak to contribute to their war and strength based societies.

2.) There are many activists for a multitude of causes, everything from anti-dragon activists to magical creature rights activists. Many of these groups are small but there were a considerable number of dragon supporters, people who wanted to see the dragons sent back to the mountains, and people who wanted to assassinate the dragons. During and after the war there was a sharp increase in people who felt strongly negative about the dragons and wanted them dead or gone, along with the dragonborn who shared their blood and were seen as 'puppets' of the dragons.

3.) Yes. There are black markets and a multitude of shady organizations such as assassin guilds, black market traders, rare creature poachers, thief circles, and others.

4.) Prior to the war, being dragonborn was both feared and revered in the kingdoms. It was seen as a symbol of status and akin to royalty to most, and to others seen as a slippery slope to power madness, so it is entirely feasible that was a phrase used, increasing in popularity and use during and after the war and very common in modern times.

5.) Absolutely. How she acquired this magic can be up to you, but often it is acquired in a 'baptism by magical fire', a living fire that once conjured is difficult to extinguish or control and could easily have caused destruction and harm to anyone around where it was conjured.

6.) Dragonborn often had half-dragon children. They were usually conceived prior to dragonborns fully transforming to their new scaled forms. However, it was not impossible for them to have children after the fact, just unlikely. Half-dragons were considered to be incredibly lucky but they rarely lasted in the cities. They had a habit of going feral and running off into the wilderness as soon as they could walk on their own, driven mad by the powerful magic in their veins. Those who did not flee into the wilderness to form feral half-dragon tribes typically became powerful mages or warriors that were highly respected if feared for the potential of going feral.

Diluting the blood further from half-dragons would have resulted in children with no dragon appearances. It is very possible a character could have had half-dragons or dragonborn relatives anywhere in their family tree so long as the characters themselves are not dragonborn or half-dragons.


Also: Merry Christmas Eve

[firebrands]

Hi, mods!

I am playing an OC who, during the course of her story, became corrupted by the blood of a "goddess" (who actually wasn't really a deity but, rather, a mortal who became shackled to the world and took on its decay). In waking, she basically finds herself cursed, and during the story has to live with horrible nightmares (dreams of what were/could be) that make no sense, coughing up blood/ichor, and feeling empathetic pains from the world that is dying and from people in pain.

As I want to AU her, I wanted to see if you had ideas about how that could translate better. I've talked to a current player here who gave the idea that she could have been cursed in battle (possibly with dragon blood? but wasn't sure) and then died. I wasn't sure what the effects of corruption/curse would look like in-game as I kind of want to largely leave it up to you/events/effects of things going forward and roll with it! Just wanted to get some ideas or some guidance on how all of that would work. Thanks!

[usirmods]

Hello!

It would certainly be possible for her to have been cursed by slaying a dragonborn, being splashed with dragon's blood, or by slaying a unicorn if any of the higher officials of one of the armies had managed to tame one as a mount. Unicorns are rare but their blood is potently magical and a disguised unicorn as a steed would not be out of the question as many horses had head armor with fake unicorn horns.

Dragon's blood is the most potent magic known in Idan. Their blood draws out the old magic locked within the lands and is unpredictable, often causing drastic changes and certainly capable of cursing a character. To be splashed with it she would have to have either killed a lesser dragon or been splashed with the blood of one of the trio of dragon brothers during the war itself. Either would have caused temporary or permanent markings on her skin, similar to a burn scar and would have unpredictable effects on her. This would not make her a dragonborn but could cause a variety of potential side effects including lowered emotional control, wild swings of emotions, occasional loss of magical control, nightmares, spikes of unpredicted and uncontrolled magical use, or a lust for power or things.

Dragonborn blood is diluted dragon's blood, and the dilution causes the effects to be less potent but more twisted. It could easily cause curses as well, especially those with side effects that appear like an illness. The latter is known as Dragon Sickness and best categorized by physical, magical, and emotional 'rawness' leaving those affected more vulnerable to shifts in their magic, their emotions, or their health.

Unicorn blood causes a different kind of curse strongly tied to empathy and nature, known as Hunter's Remorse. It forces the afflicted to feel empathy, especially towards the suffering of the world and animals living on it. It's a defensive mechanism of the scarce unicorn population designed to cripple the drive of poachers, hunters, and predators.

Of the three we do feel Dragon's blood would be the closest, as many revered the three kingdom dragon brothers as deities due to their size and power. This would allow you to keep the symptoms (nightmares, blood sickness, empathy for the world and others through old magic) while also keeping the general story elements of being corrupted by a supposed diety

A fourth option for you would be to make her a follower of Anasta. A powerful temple priest or Anasta-worshipping witch could easily fool others into believing she was either an emissary or vessel of Anasta, the genderless butterfly diety of death, the afterlife, shadows, and resurrection. If that person were to be a vampir, their blood would be thoroughly cursed and should she be coaxed or tricked into drinking their blood they could pass on the side effects of their curse to her. A half-elf's body would not be prepared to handle the curse the way that a dhampir's is born to and the side effects of sharing the curse, voluntarily or by force, would leave her with similar symptoms to those you mention above. She would also have nightmarishly vivid and confusing dreams of the vampir's memories distorted through second-hand experience. She would not have the bloodlust or experience the benefits of drinking the blood of others, but she would have a very sensitive awareness of what is running through their veins and her own blood as it rejected the vampir's blood intermixing with it, would cause highs and lows of feeling stronger and more powerful followed by a withdrawal of feeling feeble. The blood would simultaneously be killing her and keeping her alive in a cycle as her body struggles to adjust to something it can't actually homogenize with.

Any of these are valid options and we will happily work more with you on any of them.

[fuga]

Hi guys! I just wanted to check in about the use of blood magic ingame.

It's Lauralae's thing as described in her app, but I just wanted clarification on the uses it might have. As it's forbidden magic it's linked to necromancy, decay, etc, but how would that be used practically? Could blood magic be used to harm/weaken other people, or as a power source? (e.g. drawing blood in order to make wild magic stronger/more powerful). As it gives power over life as well as death can it be used for healing purposes as well?

I just wanted to see what the scope and limitations of self-taught and very intense/personally used blood magic would be, especially being used by a dhampir.

Thank you!

[usirmods]

Yes, blood magic works both ways. It can be used to take energy and to give it.

Blood magic is seen as dark magic due to the use of it in necromancy, its association with sacrificial rituals and with controlling others. In spite of the many negative and dark connections, blood magic can be used for many other things.

Vampirs and Dhampirs can use the blood of other creatures and people to increase their own magical and physical strength and heal themselves. Likewise they can use their own blood to heal others.

In all cases blood magic can be used to transfer magical energy from one creature to another, meaning it can take away or give in either case.

As a dhampir, blood magic would come more naturally to her. It is in her blood.

[badassassin]

Pedantic question, but: can a character's animas be an extinct animal? Such as a dinosaur or a thylacine.

[usirmods]

Yes! In fact, we have thylacine's on our animas suggestions spreadsheet. As long as the animal has no magical abilities and could feasibly have lived on this world it is possible, which means any earth animal, many mythical/fantasy creatures, and in rare circumstances non-earth creatures from various media.

More outlandish animals will simply be viewed with more attention and possible suspicion from NPCs than the more common animals.

[tempestes]

What's the stance on how long to app characters from new canon? This character has been in books for years, but some further information on her background in particular has been explained in recent canon. There's are also some key events from recent canon I may or may not tie into the AU. Thank you!

[usirmods]

Two weeks is the time required for a new canon to be released to the general public before the character is appable.

If the character's canon has been released but is ongoing, any reference to events released under that two week period or not yet officially released that are used to help build/inform the character's au history should be marked with spoiler notices on info pages or when referenced in threads.

[aceso]

Would it be possible for Christine to live in a giant, hollowed out tree like this? I wanted to check and see if it'd be something possible in this world, either as is, or in a "bigger on the inside" sort of way. If so, is this something she could purchase with gold? I realize this is a big place, so I would wait a little longer for her to acquire it because right now she has "enough gold to purchase a small house" and I think this goes beyond the definition of small.

[usirmods]

Yes, it would be possible! She can both live in a tree house similar to this and potentially acquire one set up by an arcane specialist that is bigger within than without, within reason. The larger the internal space differs from the external space, the more complicated the magic needed to create it. So, for instance, she would not be able to live inside a person-sized tree, but a larger tree would be very feasible. A fair number of such 'bigger on the inside' homes and buildings would exist in Idan.

A home within a tree would be rarer within the major cities themselves but more common on the outskirts of the cities or near/in the forests. Most would have formerly been lived in by halflings, tieflings, woodland elves, or satyrs looking to bring a more natural/wild feel into their lives. If the building is outside the major cities it would be less expensive due to current fears regarding the increased creature and open lander attacks, while ones within the major cities will be more expensive the larger the building is both internally and externally.

Assuming she has been working and/or spent any time combing the shore during Tidal Troubles/after Memento Mori she should be able to acquire a decent sum of gold. We will leave how long it takes her to save up for such a purchase to your judgment.

[forcevisions]

When recapping may I reuse my previous application?

May my character retain their memories from before? How should I handle their ic absence?

[usirmods]

Any player who re-apps to the game may use their previous application provided their character is still available and may explain their ic absence as an extended death, retaining memories, unless that player decides to change any aspect of their character's previous au.

If the au has changed the application must reflect that and the character will be treated as an entirely different character.

[likethelight]

A few preliminary questions so I know better ones to ask!

1) Priests in the game setting. Is it acceptable for there to be battle-priests and clerics? Would they have been heavily involved in the fighting in the war not just for healing? Also, even if a priest is associated with a temple, would they be able to get away with being somewhat rogue from it in terms of wandering the countryside to shirk their duties and drink wine and flirt with women pursue their calling? (Asking not for my character, but reflecting his mentor in canon.) I know exorcism and spiritual purification is mentioned as something possible with arcane and wild magic, but can you give some examples of how prevalent that is/what sort of occupation one might be able to find around that and putting the (un)dead to rest? tl;dr, I play an exorcist where "exorcism" is all Vatican-conscripted orphans (BASICALLY) fighting with holy weapons that put tormented souls to rest upon destroying the creature they've become, and one of his defining mantras is "if we're destroyers and not saviors, then I want to be a destroyer who can save". And is intensely uncomfortable with people seeing him as a priest, despite being mentored and raised by (a bad) one and having a holy weapon.

EDIT: related, as I get better ideas, how feasible would it be to have had a mercenary who was an ex-priest.

2) While I have ideas for how to mirror my character's canon curse in a dark arts/necromancy ritual backfiring, I'm trying to come up with how to mirror his left arm/status as a living weapon as it's a hugely defining character trait, and an un-alterable part of his appearance. He was born with a parasitic holy weapon as his left arm, which left him disfigured as it's more demonic in appearance in its inactive form. He learned over time to invoke it, first as a claw, then later able to pull his entire arm off to form a giant exorcising sword that can't harm humans, as well as manifest body armor from it in the form of a living/angelic-appearing feathery cloak. (I have more information on my canon info page, under Abilities/Innocence.) It's semi-sentient as well when invoked and tied to his life force.

Is there anything in game lore I can run with for this, especially since its normal appearance is blood red and plated, and could be argued as almost being draconic in appearance? Either for something he was born with, or got at a very young age, especially as another "curse" if I go with his trying to bring his adoptive father back through a dark pact/necromancy of some sort that results in his left eye being cursed. But since Allen is about duality and his eye is a curse (dark) but his arm is a holy weapon (light), I would like to try and keep the duality or at least some distinction. And if it helps, I was considering heavily dhampir for his race (as he is the unwilling host to a darker, powerful entity awakening in him prone to raging/lashing out that has nothing to do with anything else I've mentioned. These shounen series, man.)

edit: 3!!!) can I run with traveling circuses/performers being a thing.

[usirmods]

1. Yes, it is very acceptable for there to be battle priests, clerics, paladins in the name of certain gods, and even demon/shadow/outer realm creature hunters.

Most temples have priests to assist temple patrons and raise/train future priests, temple guards, temple escort guardians to help people get to and from temples not located within the safety of the cities, traveling priests to spread the word and wisdom of their gods, recruiters who seek out troubled families or orphans and other potential candidates, and emmissaries who speak on behalf of the temple within the separate cities and the smaller towns and villages. It would not be unlikely or impossible that a temple could have priests who are also this world's version of exorcists and only return to their temples when summoned or in need of blessings/advice/supplies.

The shadow realm is so closely tied to the world of Idan (essentially parallel to it, or layered beneath it, allowing for relative ease of the darker creatures and tormented spirits that are trapped there to escape back into this realm. Because of this, it would be common enough that such creatures, spirits, and weak points between realms would need to be removed from this realm, returned or sent off to another realm, or repaired.

It is possible for mercenaries to have come from any walk of life and priests might leave their temples for a number of reasons. On occasion priests become disillusioned or dissatisfied with their temple, either the rules or guiding principles of it stop aligning with theirs, they begin to feel the temple is not strict or devout enough, begin to feel it is too strict or devout, or simply find themselves no longer having faith in either the temple or its associated god(s).

2.) After reading over your question and his canon information we believe he could easily have been cursed for touching/reaching into/attempting to connect to the shadow realm. This could result in his cursed eye and would allow him to view shadow creatures or possessed entities that have come over from the shadow realm and into the realm of the living.

The weapon he was born with, while it can not be draconic in nature, could easily have draconic similarities in appearance and be mistaken for him having half-dragon or dragonborn heritage as a child though as he grew older the lack of a full transformation would lead many to believe he had been cursed by the dragons, rather than a part of their chosen bloodlines. This would still have NPCs of both the past and to a greater degree the modern era uneasy around him due to the similarities and implications. In the past NPCs would be disdainful and distrustful due to believing he had angered the dragon guardians. In the present it would frighten NPCs of the very anti-dragon societies that have formed in the wake of the great dragon war.

For what it really is, we would suggest that if you wish to be in keeping with the holy aspect of it you consider having it be a blessing bestowed upon him at birth or at a young age by the Golden Dragon God, Atromo. Atromo is the god of strength, destruction, chaos, and war, so the arm being draconic in appearance, sentient with a mind of its own, and a weapon would all suit the origin and use of it.

3.) Of course! Traveling circuses, performers, markets, and other traveling troops are all present in Idan.

We welcome your further questions about any of these answers or any future questions you may have.

[drizzle]

Hey there mods! Just wanted to say I had a lot of fun reading the extensive lore and worldbuilding, taking notes of everything, and rereading everything for the second and third time to make absolute certain I understood everything while rereading my notes again. It shows how much dedication and love you have for this game, so I am super interested in apping this month! But before I do, I have a couple of questions along with ideas I have for my AU, but I wanted to run it by you guys first!

1 - I have interest in getting Nike to join the tieflings more than the satyrs, as I believe the satyrs are more centered around musical instruments vs being vocalist and there are a few societal details that go against major moral/societal importances to Nike’s character, and so my question is: do the tieflings have any musical talents? From what I read in the tieflings and satyrs description, it seems like both races can be found in the cliff sides and at the edges of the woodlands together while the tieflings have an appreciation for music, is it possible for the tieflings to have developed talent for music due to the satyr’s influence? If nothing else, I would love to incorporate the idea of Nike’s musical talent, which is both a talent and part of her abilities and was inherited due to her family’s legacy as well, to be included in her AU as a tiefling. Which I will get into more detail about in my next question.

2 - Nike’s abilities are centered around music -- singing, to be more precise -- with the power to do the following: 1) control the weather (rain, lightning, fog, and wind), 2) it is tied to the power of purification (in which the song has the power to connect with the world’s atmosphere to influence the emotions of those listening, kinda how the Satyr’s instruments could influence emotions of their audience, but in her family’s case it is to release the burdens of their listeners to feel better/worse afterwards -- it all depends on the character’s demeanor and acceptance of themselves), 3) there is a slight hypnosis undertone to the songs in which it further influence her audience to pay close attention to her while recognizing her song has power (of course if the NPC/PC have strong wills and/or are well-verse against hypnosis they could shake it off), and 4) as seen in this page, her powers are centered in connecting with not only living people but spirits of nature and even the dead (as seen in these pages 1, 2 and 3). With all of this in mind, I am assuming Nike and her family’s powers will be stemmed in not just the elemental and wild magic branch but a little of dark/shadow magic (in the gray area, at least), how likely is it for the tiefling to get involved with these portion of magic? Can religion (like believing in the constellation Anasta) could encourage it further? I already know the tieflings have a natural affinity for harnessing the elements through magic so I was wondering if maybe some of them would secretly (and willingly) dabble with it? Nike’s family is very spiritual and firm believers of spirits in her original canon. Welcoming spirits with open arms by helping/purifying their souls or just letting them be if they are harmless (as evident in Nike allowing the spirit of a supporting character’s dead sister to remain by his side until she’s satisfied).

I have more questions but these are the ones I am most concentrated on and could brain into writing. I hope they make sense.... 💦

[usirmods]

1. While the satyrs are known for their musical talents, all races have the potential for musical talent and it is not a stretch to think that tieflings who lived near them would especially join in on their love of music and pick it up for themselves. This is certainly something you could keep in her au as being passed down through her family as well.

2. After the races began mingling more and the cities and kingdoms were created there was a lot of mixing of magical practices and knowledge, resulting in the wide variety of magical studies that now exist. Any race has the potential to learn, harness, and use any form of magic, some races merely have a long history and thus greater knowledge/affinity for specific types of magic.

All the races have at one time or another had members tempted by dark/shadow magic, though what you describe also fits into arcane magic and wouldn't directly be shadow or dark magic unless she used it more directly to control the people she mesmerized with her music, toeing the line between charming them and manipulation.

Faith in the deities has a strong effect on all the people of Idan, and can alter their viewpoints of the world and how they approach it, as well as influence their choices of magic and studies.

Her family's view toward spirits and wanderers from the shadow realm would have been viewed negatively by many in Idan, but would not have ostracized them unless there was suspicion they dabbled in necromancy. This aspect would also strongly resemble arcane magic and the four adopted elements and would lead some to assume her family worked as shadow hunters, a form of exorcists, if they wanted to try to put a name to them.

All the types of magic you mentioned are certainly believable as magic the tieflings would be involved with in the time she would come from, where the study and use of magic had become much more strongly mixed and explored thanks to the larger sense of connectivity and community between the various races.

[lord_wizard]

Hello mods! A few questions for you:

1) I see that "wizard" is listed as a profession, which is perfect, but is there any particular definition of what that means?

2) Being an academic profession, would being a wizard (or any similar profession) confer any additional social status or level of respect?

3) Did wizards or other magic users work closely with any of the rulers of the cities? Would there be a particular position for that sort of thing a la a court wizard, or could it have been any advisory position? In this character's canon he was part of a ruling court of wizards that advised the king and helped protect the city, so I was wondering if there was (or could be) anything similar in any of the kingdoms. Would it be different for each kingdom?

4) On a related note, does the culture of magic differ from kingdom to kingdom? I see necromancy and blood magic is forbidden, which is great, but do some places prohibit (or look down on) other types and/or specialize in others? The school of magic to which this character belonged doubled so far down on condemning necromancy that they outlawed even any possible aspect of it (like healing) or any magic that even directly effected a person.

5) Also, were they magical protections or wards that any city used during the war? It's key to his history that there be a protection that he could have played a part in breaking or severely weakening as part of a plot by someone from another kingdom.

That's it for now I am so sorry
Edit: I lied...

6) Is there any existing prejudice regarding sexual orientation?

(okay now I'm done)

[usirmods]

1/2. A wizard is any individual who is assumed to have had academy teachings or thorough study in a specific area or areas of magic use and provides the use or knowledge of magic they have gained to others as a profession. It is a highly respected position and many wizards are sought out as mentors, teachers, or specialists.

3. Yes! Wizards were often sought after to be part of the advisor courts of the city rulers. This would most often be referred to as ___ Specialist or Wizard of ____ followed by the added title of to the royal court. The blank would usually be their particular chosen specialization. This would be most common in Thalassa or Krimnos, while Atrómitos more often employed battle mages or more hands-on offensive specialists.

4. In some places and schools, aspects of arcane magic such as charms, elemental shadow magic, and magic that directly affects or hinders a person's control over themselves is not taught and may be forbidden. Additionally, many of those who lived in villages outside of the major cities were openly distrustful and suspicious of alchemy, most arcane magic, and shapeshifting.

5. There were wards placed by both the dragons and the higher class mages and wizards on all three cities, usually for the protection against creature or open lander attacks but also against opposing forces during the Last Great War.

6. sexual orientation prejudices may exist in Idan but they are on a personal basis more than kingdom or city-wide. There were no specific stigmas around sexual orientations as a whole but several races, especially those of some of the former open-landers (Orcs, Goblins, Gremlins) and the more traditional (elves and dwarves in the past, not very common in modern times) had varying levels of social faux pas/discomfort/outright disgust toward same-sex sexual orientation.

As a whole Idan is very accepting but individual occurrences of discrimination may still exist. Discrimination over opposite-sex couples of differing races is more wide-spread.

[fuga]

HI GUYS I just wanted to check in about something re: another character.

You've mentioned above that it was possible for someone to be a kind of war Cleric for a specific God. I have a few follow up questions!

1. Would it therefore be possible for there to be Paladins for these specific Gods?
2. Would magical powers be granted in return for the faith Paladins give in the same way that it might happen in D&D/Pathfinder?

I'm planning an AU of my fifth edition Paladin and just trying to figure out a way to work her tabletop powers over in a proper way! Thank you c:

[usirmods]

1. Absolutely!
2. Yes, usually something that would align well with the particular deity the paladin is serving. If you need any help coming up with possibilities for this let us know.

[obsidien]

Hello! I just have a few questions about dragons and demons! I have a lot of ideas to go on right now, which is why I have a bunch of questions. I like to keep my avenues open and decide on which backstory I'd like to play with when I finally do app here.

The character I'm considering is Sidurgu from Final Fantasy XIV, and he part of a draconic race called Au Ra. His race does in fact have myths that say they were descended from a pair of dragon gods (directly birthed or something similar, unlike dragonborn-- drinking dragon's blood makes the drinker a lesser dragon until they grow old enough to become a true dragon), though no one has ICly done any research to either confirm or refute this, and the devs tend to shrug whenever asked about the origins of the various races.

However, because dragons, dragonborn and half-dragons cant be apped, one idea I have in mind is making him of demonic descent, from a clan of humans, half-humans or another race (like horned lizard beastfolk?) who believe they're dragon descendants. Another idea I have is making him part of a clan of dragon-worshipping tieflings or beastfolk that have been physically changed somehow or blessed by the golden dragon god, and Sid's ancestors mistook it for being part-dragon.

1. Were demons present somewhere in the game's background, and did they affect people around? Can they breed with the current races/is it possible for them to have done so?

2. I have read some questions related to the questions I have, and according to your responses to Allen's player, the dragon gods can give blessings-- can demons/shadows/others do the same?

3. Can such blessings/curses-- based on or no matter who the maker of such-- be passed down through generations?

[usirmods]

Hello! We just wanted to let you know we have seen your question and the mod team will be answering it within the next 24 hours! Our apologies for the slight delay.

[aceso]

Christine had this wild idea while talking to Alucard in Einjar and he suggested she bring it up to the inventors of Krimnos, so I'm checking to see what they'd say to her.

The idea is basically Fantasy Google. What if you opened a magical book when you had a question that was most likely answered in a book somewhere in the world? The book could give you a list of sources and you could tap the name with your fingertip to then read that source inside the magic book. Christine's thought was if this was doable, it would have already been made, but Alucard encouraged her to at least bring it up, and she can't think of a reason not to so... are there proper channels to submit ideas to an inventors' guild or something, or does she just go find an inventor person and be like "So here's my idea."? Also can she patent it and get paid? Like she'd probably do research first to see how ideas are shared and if she has a right to her ideas if someone else invents it.

[usirmods]

Several of Krimnos' more intrepid inventors are thrilled by the concept if she mentioned it to any of the city's tinkerers. They bring her to Tinkertown to the large domed building known as the Academy of Inspiration. Here they discuss her idea with her and how it might be accomplished.

After a while of discussing the prospect with her, she is informed that it will be a massive endeavor because they need to physically encounter the books to enter them into the Source Book. They excitedly decide to start with the Academy's library, however.

One of the elder inventors and a professor at the academy gives her a box containing two small metal devices that look like wasps. If she opens the box within any other library in Idan or any building with books the wasps will go and collect the information from hundreds of books within the library before returning to the box. Then she just needs to bring them back to Tinkertown so the inventors can add those books, scrolls, and tomes to the Source Book once they have crafted it. Larger libraries might require a few trips but the little metal wasp golems are smart enough not to collect from the same books twice and will only gather information from new books.

Each time she returns to Tinkertown with the wasps they will pay her in gold and gems for the information she has gathered. They do warn her to never open the box outside as the golems will become overwhelmed by the massive area needed to be covered and disappear, likely to never return from their endless search for outdoor books.

It will take some time but they will be hard at work making source books for each of the major libraries in the three cities, which will update whenever they update the Tinkertown source book. They also give her the option to name the book if she wishes.

[exaomori]

howdy mods

I had a question about the wildlands! Shura would have been brought up at the edge of the claimed lands, and since things are warming up, she's planning on revisiting her childhood home. I just wanted to first confirm whether or not it would have reverted to wildlands, and if so, if there would be any specific changes she would find, or is it mostly like everything's warped like some weird version rose rosette disease?

[usirmods]

The area she revisits will likely still be there but it will be overgrown and may now be home to savage, wild plants and creatures, with structures covered in wild plants that are crumbling beneath their weight and constriction.

[carbonatedscientist]

Hello! I'm looking to app with this guy here, but I'm kind of stumped as to how to adapt his powers. For the short version, he's got a belt that lets him transform into an armored form through using combinations of extremely toyetic bottles inserted into the belt.

...and I am kind of stumped as to how the best way to adapt this would be. Would some kind of alchemy involving routing energies through a variety of small glass bottles mounted to a belt for a temporary armored transformation be doable? Canon leans pretty heavily into this being scientifically possible shhh it's fine totally normal physics shhh, but from what I'm reading here, its functions might better scan to something arcane. Help?

[usirmods]

Alchemists specialize in transference and changing one thing into another. It is a much riskier version of arcane magic, but also much more stable. It would certainly be possible for him to use alchemy, and absolutely possible to do so in the way you mean, especially if those bottles contained 'essence' or basically an artificial potion version of whatever he wants to transform into. In that regard, he would basically be transferring the energy and essence from the bottle into himself to cause the change, and then ending it by reversing the process. The danger in that would come from the potential to become trapped, temporarily or permanently in a form due to the destruction of its vial/bottle or corruption of the energies involved.

If that sounds workable/fun to work with, we say go for it! We do recommend picking Alchemist as a racial trait if you are interested in him being able to acquire additional future 'forms'/bottles in game and be able to use them immediately.

This would be shape-shifting, just in a more artificial form.

[forswore]

A question about revising/retconning character backstory to be more world-compliant! After some time playing in the game I feel like the Outsider’s role in Daud’s history should have a stronger tie to in-game mythos, partly to ground him in the world better.

To that end:

1. Would such a revision be allowed? It hasn’t come up referenced in game at all, so it wouldn’t contradict any existing information.
2. In his original canon, the Outsider a god-like entity that was made the personification of the Void through a forbidden ritual, capable of granting supernatural gifts to chosen individuals. Daud is one of those chosen to be ‘’marked’ and it instills in him/reinforces the belief that he’s meant to do great things, has the power to shape the world, etc. Obviously, since in Idan everyone can gain magical knowledge, I’m trying to think through how that could be translated into a similar dynamic, and would appreciate any mod thoughts! In Dishonored, the Outsider is particularly associated with whales/Void/shadow, and I’m trying to think if it could make sense that he might have been a corrupted spirit specifically associated with one of the gods? Or is there a god that Daud could have been tricked by himself?

[usirmods]

1. Yes, you are more than welcome to do that. We encourage players to feel free to adjust or add to character histories as they get to know the setting more.
2. This sounds like a very fun element to work with. There are many options and we would be happy to help you with any of them and even help add some elements in the future of the game to work with it.

The most obvious start would be the deities. There are a couple that could suit your needs here.

The first is Aphedi the jeweled serpent. She is a goddess of manipulation and deception and would even potentially be interested into tricking others into believing she was Thlipa or associated with Thlipa the fin whale. As a serpent the oceans and the earth are both her domain and she thrives on chaos and darkness. She is always looking for new vessels/acolytes/individuals to sway toward the chaotic and dark ends of the spectrum in search of both creating more chaos and darkness, and in increasing her own power through the faith of her followers, knowing or otherwise. Aphedi is happy to pretend to be all sorts of things to get her way and has a fondness for rituals and untoward individuals or desires.

Beyond her there is:
The Darkener, who in Daud's time would not have been well known by its current title, but has always been a presence, stalking the darkness of the other realms, and whose purpose seems to be to drag the living to the darkness of the shadow realm and trap them there, corrupting spirits and entities into shadowy creatures to further its goals. The Darkener would be a manipulative and malevolent force bent on corruption that would have no issues offering 'gifts' from the shadow realm to those it recruits.
Grhalix the Gremlin Rogue whose domains are shadows, trickery, and deception. His history is strongly tied to the sea as a Gremlin.
Shadow Realm Spirits and Other Realm Demons: Both of these exist in Idan at varying strengths and goals, and one could easily be tailor crafted to suit the Outsider and Daud's storyline/past. This would also be a good way to work rituals into it.
Aegas the crowned cat, but he is more of a trickster than a dark manipulating spirit.

[lightduties]

Hello!

1) Would MMO OCs fall under the "Original Characters" umbrella? I don't intend to app the player character (Warrior of Light), just a random dude from the setting AUed into Usir's setting, if that makes any difference.
2) Can magic types be combined? e.g. an Arcane construct be combined with Wild magic so it has elemental magic abilities?
3) Under the Adopted branch of Wild magic I notice it includes "Aether". What is Aether in this particular setting?

[usirmods]

1. MMO characters, D&D characters, Pathfinder characters, and characters created for various video games would all be considered Original Characters for the purposes of this game. Because this is a native AU game and all characters come from Idan with their own Idan backstories, each character will only have backstory ties with players who agree to work their character's histories together. Their original canons do not matter much in this regard because they will have alternate backstories for the game regardless of their original created intent. We welcome them all.

2. Yes, and they often are. Merging different types of magic is how alchemy was created in Idan and the people in Idan are always experimenting with new ways to use magic.

3. Aether and Void magic with respect to Idan are ancient forms of magic predominately used by the deities. In Idan's cultural views, aether would be the magic that comes from the Astral realm/stars, while void would be the magic from the Outer realm/abyss. They are the two types of ancient/divine magic in Idan and are the oldest sources of magic in the realm of the living. They are the original two types of magic from which all other magic eventually came from.

They are not well understood, volatile, and very difficult to wield or control. Both Void and Aether magic rely on the user having a level of faith in the deities as well as the deities having a level of faith in the user.

A few examples of aether magic include: Astral projecting, astral manipulation, deity/spirit-specific/given magic, elemental attunement, telekinesis, shapeshifting, and telepathy. Aether is believed to be the origin of arcane magic and the core wild magics.

A few examples of void magic include: Void projecting, abyssal manipulation, deity/demon-specific/given magic, demonic attunement, materialization, transformation, and mind control. Void is believed to be the origin of alchemy and the living wild magics.

The merging of Aether and Void magic is believed to have created feral and fortune magic, as well as healing magic, necromancy, and the disparate wild magics.

Light and shadow magic are 'tamed' or watered down versions of aether and void magic.