Shy

[quote name='Mr. Blonde']So, Shy, only the High Priests and Clerics vote? Wouldn't that kind of fix the elections considering the Sief appoints the high priests? Or is that what you were going for?[/QUOTE][size=1][strike]That's more or less what I was going for. Sief Frost has held the position for a record ten terms, so it is safe to say she is either universally beloved, or has manipulated the system in such a way that it would be impossible for her to lose power. I'm sure we'll figure out which one it is once we start the story.[/strike] [b]Edit:[/b] Indi wanted me to clarify this point a bit. Since the cardinals of the church are comprised of the 100 priests with the most seniority, the cardinals far outnumber the high priests in voting. However, since they are the [i]senior[/i] priests they are generally traditionalist in their views, and reluctant to change. This more than anything can probably be attributed to her longevity in the position. I'm sure there is some political maneuvering as well, just as with any election, though. She is very fair in the position, but probably too outspoken for her own good. I'm sure her critics wish she would devote less resources to charity and more to the expansion of the church, which has been declining in the New Globe for generations. All of the stuff about the Guard looks great. I may trim it down a bit for length, but will add it to the Anova section of the sign-up right now. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Mr. Blonde']Shy, what were you thinking in regards to a hierachy of the Church of the Phoenix? For example, after Sief what would follow down to the lowerest ranks? If you haven't put much time into it I could put something together for you or we could work on it together. Also, I could flesh out the exact role of the citadel guards, down to their assignment to every cleric of the church, how they are equipped, and their recruitment and tour of duty. If you think this is too much detail I understand. Anyway, if you want me to put something together, just give me all the info you've compiled in regards to the church and I'll work off of that. Thanks.[/QUOTE][size=1] Here is my basic idea. [list=2][*]Sief - Elected every three years by High Priests/Clerics [*]High Priests - Appointed by Sief. Many work alongside her like a presidential cabinet would. One might be appointed High Priest of Charity, while another would be High Priest of Technology. There is no set number of High Priests. [*]Cardinals - Have ranking seniority among regular priests. There are only 100 cardinals at any given time. They manage daily church affairs in their assigned area. [*]Clerics - Clerics have abandoned regular church life to pursue other interests, while still working towards the Church of the Phoenix's goals. Many take up scholarly work, others work with charities. [*]Priests - Perform religious services and ceremonies throughout the world. Training into the priesthood requires nearly ten years of education and service, and many pick up other skills and specialties during this time. [*]Devotees - Those training into the priesthood. Generally each church has a single priest, and a single devotee.[/list] We can always change this to better fit someone's character(s) though. :whoops: As for the Citadel Guard, feel free to come up with some stuff. They are a volunteer force, but for many it would be a great honor to be accepted into the elite Guard. -Shy [b]Edit:[/b] Per Sunfall.[/size]

[quote name='Nathan'][FONT="Arial"]This definitely looks promising. I'm interested in joining it. However, other than to indicate that I'd like to work with the Special Security Force's or rather create a character that is associated with that, I don't have much else to offer. I only just got through all the information in this thread. And that doesn't include the previous chapter if I were to go find it and read it. Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and start working on what I have in mind and I assume that when sign ups are finally being accepted, a new thread will go up in the Auditions part of OtakuBoards. [/FONT][/QUOTE][size=1]Sounds excellent, Nathan. And yes, we'll be posting a new sign-up thread in Auditions within the next week. I look forward to seeing what you come up with (and everyone else, for that matter!) -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Mr. Blonde']I'm in. I'd like a little more detail on the church but I'm thinking of creating a character along the lines of a bishop, but a corrupt character. He pledges his undying allegiance to Sief Davos Frost, but he is much too devious to be as loyal as he claims. He's always plotting and scheming in the shadows waiting for his chance to grab hold of the reigns of the church and turn it into his vision. I'm seeing the church as sort of the Vatican's doppleganger in a way. Since they look down on alchemy and the breaking down of precious stones they attire would probably we quite simple and plain, not lavish like the Pope for instance.[/QUOTE][size=1]Thanks for expressing your interest in the RPG Mr. Blonde. :whoops: Your character sounds fine, but keep in mind that the Church is a large organization and has all types working towards its' goals. Having a corrupt church official is perfectly in-line with what I hope to establish about the organization, but I just don't want to portray the Church of the Phoenix as one-note or EVIL. Hopefully we'll see various types of characters affiliated with the church once we have sign-ups started. I'm really eager for players to flesh out the church more than anything... Your stuff about the simple wardrobe sounds great; I would just add that Edith Grimoire will be unavailable (at least at first) to design any clothing. She will be featured within the story, and the explanation as to why she has become so reclusive will no doubt he explained as we progress. -Shy [b]Edit:[/b] Wonderful stuff Darren! I'll add that bit right now.[/size]

[size=1]I third the motion. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]I know we don't want to add [i]too[/i] much weight to this, but will there be any basic descriptions of what the Church's beliefs are? That will help me to decide whether or not my characters will be followers of the church (or at least, how orthodox they will be).[/font][/QUOTE][size=1]Yeah. From the base description they sound a little imposing, but I'll be touching on some of their general beliefs within my posts (and most likely, a Chronicle.) The Church of the Phoenix is monotheistic, and followers believe that the Phoenix Goddess guides all living beings in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. Followers are taught to live sparingly, and maintain an enormous respect for nature and public service. Since most alchemy is fueled by the combustion of precious stones and gems, which generates a large amount of pollution, followers have an unfavorable view of magitechnology. The elected head of the church, Sief Davos Frost, maintains a large fleet of 'clean' steam-powered zeppelins which the church uses as their primary form of transportation. Charities affiliated with the church work tirelessly throughout the Old Globe, and the Citadel Guard was instrumental in rescue and recovery efforts following the Czenovian Revolution. Sief Davos Frost is extremely active in international politics, and is known to regularly speak out against Czenovia and Anova in her public statements. Every three years a private election is held within the church to crown a Sief, and Frost is nearing the completion of her historic [i]tenth[/i] term. If someone is interested in creating a character affiliated with the church, whether they be a priest/priestess or just a devout follower, let me know. Nothing is set in stone, though; if someone has an idea for the organization please feel free to run it by me. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Darren']What about an academy for Anova?[/QUOTE][size=1]Yes, I encourage someone to come up with one. I believe in you, Darren. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]A couple more bits were added about Anova, most notably The Island Citadel and the Church of the Phoenix. My hope is that the church will play a large role in the story, so I would like to see at least one person sign-up as a character affiliated with the organization. Otherwise it's just going to be a lot of NPCs floating around, and that's no fun... hrm. I have mentioned before that Czenovia (and Anova) are largely Atheist, but organized religion and certain ceremonies are still practiced in both countries. It is not uncommon to see priests and priestesses officiate a wedding ceremony or a funeral, even if those directly involved were never a member of the church. Of the two, I would say that Anova is much more spiritual than Czenovia. Expect Chronicles detailing the Almagests, Anova, the Achards, the Church of the Phoenix, and more once we get the ball rolling. Also in regards to the Achard family tree: James and I have discussed it and it appears that it's going to be incredibly bare at first. There will only be a few prominent NPCs within the family, and it will be up to players to fill out the rest. So if you are interested in creating an Achard I wouldn't worry if your character will fit or not. -Shy[/size] :whoops:

[quote name='Mr. Blonde']I'm quite content, and I'm an athiest. So, I don't know who you've been talking to, but they sound like kill joys. A lot of emo highschool kids claim to be athiests to get themselves attention... they're losers.[/QUOTE][size=1]In my experience, they are. Prove me wrong, though! I'm Agnostic myself, and quite content. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]In my experience, Atheists are some of the unhappiest people I've ever met in my entire life. Having said that, this is pretty hilarious. With all of the religious undertones in advertising these days, it's refreshing to see the other side have a voice as well. Clearly they're not going to 'convert' anyone, but they definitely got their point across. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]One of my best friends is actually living in the Ukraine right now, and the news coming out of there terrifies me. This is just another example of Russia exerting its' dominance in the region once again. Ultimately it's going to come to a head somehow; either with the U.N. stepping in (unlikely) or former Soviet states rebelling in a futile effort to maintain independence. My thoughts are definitely with everyone in Europe and the Ukraine. It's a shame that something as necessary as heating could be used as a political bargaining tool against them. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='DeLarge'][SIZE=1]Would it be at all possible for someone to give me a brief summary of what happened in the previous installment? I've got a few ideas for my character and I want to make sure they're not too close to the plot of the original.[/SIZE][/QUOTE][size=1]I will include a condensed summary in a prologue post within the sign-up, but here is the gist of it... [list][*]Leonhart Almagest is kidnapped by a radical group of Czenovian revolutionaries known as the Underdogs. They were tired of the class system which had divided the nation for years, and hoped to overthrow the Dynast monarchy. [*]During an Underdog attack on Magitech's factories, Leonhart's daughter Macey Ellen had rescued Gadget, one of the company's human 'test subjects.' [*]The Dynast king passes due to ill health, passing on the monarchy to his eldest son, Primas Generous. Princess Augustine, who had been secretly conspiring with the Underdogs, is outraged and orders a full-scale invasion to the nation's capitol. [*]Other members of the Almagest clan are targeted by the Underdogs. Leonhart's niece Nellie is murdered, his son Fauntleroy is shot, and his sister Catherine is kidnapped as well. [*]Using Catherine and Leonhart's technical knowledge, the Underdogs have uncovered and reactivated an ancient doomsday cannon discovered decades ago by Leonhart and his brother Daedalus. [*]Victoria Ann Almagest, Leonhart's granddaughter, discovers the Underdogs' base of operations, and Gadget learns that his parents were behind the revolution. Princess Augustine is murdered by her twin brother August, and he is executed before her ties to the Underdogs can be revealed. [*]Leonhart's brother Daedalus assumes command of the Dynast airship fleet, and sacrifices himself in battle against the Underdogs to prevent the canon from firing upon High Czenoble. Gadget is seemingly killed in the chaos. [*]Ultimately a truce is formed among both sides, and a new constitutional monarchy is formed.[/list] I hope that helps. I'm cutting out a lot of the highlights, but this is a basic overview. Just ask if you have specific questions. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]Anova is still not a big industrial country though. I imagine that it would still import most of its Magitechnology from Czenovia. And Czenovia would probably want to encourage this, because I imagine its own domestic market is pretty saturated. Anova is principally still a service economy, with textiles (clothing, tapestries), sculpture, jewellery and other "fine arts" making up their principle goods production. This includes the mining and refinement of Anovan silver. Don't know if that will help anyone who wants more detail. Interestingly, Anovan silver has many unique and magical properties. I imagine some companies may want to try to buy some of that silver for other applications (silver-coated ammunition, or silver machine parts in weapons, perhaps?) :catgirl:[/font][/QUOTE][size=1]This all sounds good. I'll include these new details in the sign-up. If we could get a better understanding of what business the Achards are in, I would really appreciate that as well. I'm putting some details about Dawlish's new business, Icarus, with the sign-up preview as well. This business will be playing a very prominent role in the new story, as will some other organizations I've yet to post... -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Manic Webb']You'd think with a name like The Greatest Fan Film of All Time, they wouldn't be able to live up to their own hype. But they pulled it off. It was one of the few fan films I enjoyed the whole way through, and calling it "The Greatest" doesn't feel like a stretch at all.[/QUOTE][size=1]You're alive!? Anyway, I would say it's not the great fan film ever made, but it's close. Northstar and Aquaman dancing to Cher is one of the more amazing things ever. I can't believe how freakin' long this is. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='DeLarge'][SIZE=1]Firstly, would Anova be building an army (in secret, obviously), and would they have access to Magitechnology? My idea was to create a character that was head of his own personal company who specialise in the creation of Magitechnology weapons and transport for the military, but obviously I would go down a different route if Anova didn't have it's own army. I thought it would be kind of interesting to give Dawlish a rival and competitor - doing a similar thing for Anova instead of Czenovia, but a little more light-hearted than Dawlish.[/size][/quote][size=1]Anova has a standing army, but it's very small compared to that of Czenovia's. Generally speaking Czenovia has sole access to a far superior range of Magitechnology than any other nation, which is why they have been dominant in the region for so many years. More common devices (such as airships) are everywhere, but most of the medical and genetic technology simply isn't available outside of Czenovia's borders. I think Dawlish, should he decide to become an arms dealer, will find no shortage of customers around the world. The Almagest's Magitech company has been scaling back the manufacturing of weapons since the revolution, leaving a huge gap for rival businesses to try and establish themselves. More to the point, I imagine many of the alchemist scientists working for Magitech would be all too willing to find other employment if the price were right.[/size] [quote name='DeLarge][size=1']Secondly, do you have any more information or ideas about Cole Dreadnaught, who owns and maintains Villette Mines? What are his loyalties and such? Seems that such a man would be a powerful ally to have in this situation...[/SIZE][/quote][size=1]Nearly every child in Anova knows the exploits of Cole Dreadnaught. He is a soldier-of-fortune and businessman whose famous memoirs have become popular reading among Anovan youth. Although he is loyal to Anova, Cole's political leanings are neutral, and he has lived much of his life outside of Anova's borders. There is quite a bit of controversy that an Anovan is now owner of the Villette Mines, since only a generation ago the Mine War was fought between Czenovia and Anova. Partially as coincedence, and partially as political convenience, Cole is set to marry Beatriste Elyse Almagest, the daughter of Leonhart Almagest. It is hoped this marriage will be the first step towards a more unified New Globe, but whether or not that actually happens remains to be seen. Talk to me over PM or IM about any ideas for Cole. I'm more than receptive towards them. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']Anyway, Beth and I were talking about it and we simply don't see our characters up and running around on adventures since they were just starting a family in the last one. It would be completely out of character for them to leave their son with someone and go running around.[/QUOTE][size=1]Beth and I spoke about this a bit too, and we came to the same conclusion. I didn't mean to leave anyone's characters out of the RPG by making this story (I have some ideas about Alexander, actually..) but with Alecia and Alexander in particular it seems so out of place for them to go on a wild adventure across the globe. That's not to say there isn't a role for them here, and in future stories, but for the time they aren't taking center stage. As for Anova, I think a lot of the fleshing out of the world will come from the posts themselves. Sandy and I put an enormous amount of planning and thought into the original, but ultimately a lot of the stuff was never used. With Von Braun wrapping up, I hope to have sign-ups ready in the next week or so. James is putting together some graphics for me (Thank goodness!) and from there I'll be doing a very generous edit of the sign-up I had posted here. I want to make this as accessible as possible, but still live up to people's expectations. -Shy[/size]

[size=5][center]The Otaku[b]Boards[/b] Nifty Fifty[/size][i]2008 Nominations[/i][/center] [indent]Welcome to the OtakuBoards Nifty Fifty of 2008! In this thread we will continue our grand tradition of awarding various aspects and members of our totally nifty community. Those of you new to the idea may have some questions... [size=4][b]What is it again?[/b][/size] To put it simply, it’s a list of the fifty members, threads, or things that have made the OtakuBoards community great (‘nifty’) in the past year. You, the members, are going to nominate your favorites here in this thread, and the fifty best nominees will be chosen for the list. [size=4][b]So whoever gets the most nominations wins?[/b][/size] No. It’s about quality here, not votes. Make sure that your arguments are strong in your nominations, because that will be the deciding factor. To make sure that members from every clique and segment of the site is fairly represented, The Nifty Fifty Committee will be secretly assembled to compile the final list, The OtakuBoards Nifty Fifty of 2008. [size=4][b]What kinds of things should be nominated?[/b][/size] Anything, really. Members who really stood out this year, threads that had a big impact, great memories, current events that affected the boards in some way. Use your imagination, as we like a very broad spectrum of things to be present on the list. [size=4][b]How do I nominate?[/b][/size] I’m glad you asked! Here’s the simple form required for a nomination: [quote]1) What is it? 2) Why was it nifty?[/quote] That’s it! In the past we have prevented each member from nominating more than ten particular items, but this year [b]you are welcome to nominate as many items as you would like[/b]. Post your nominations right here! All nominations are due by [i]January 31st[/i]. The final list will be posted a few days after.[/indent] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[size=1]Consider my interest expressed! -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Arichan16/arthur.jpg[/img][/center] Arthur stepped through the wreckage of the explosion into the night, stumbling about as he was no longer able to watch his step. Whatever chemicals had ignited in the small blast only seemed to make his condition worse, and he was now almost totally without sight. He let out a violent cough as he continued to walk. In contrast to the controlled environment of the ship this strange planet seemed desolate and cold. Aside from automated safety warnings coming from the ship, the only other noise he could make out was a soft hum echoing from atop a nearby hill. Having nowhere else to go, Arthur decided to head towards it. In his short life, Arthur Kendi had been forced to do and say many things that went against his sense of morality. It was shortly after reuniting with his father that he had joined Terra Prime, and taken part in a series of deadly bombings against civilian targets. Still, it was his loyalty to his father and to his cause that justified these terrible acts of violence. Given what he had seen on board the Von Braun there could no longer be any doubt that NARSIA had been responsible for the Great Disaster and the outbreak of the Saratoa Strain. [i]The Saratoa Strain.[/i] Even years after contracting the virus he still couldn’t stand to think about it. Like so many other ‘dead’ diseases, the Saratoa Strain had managed to mutate and thrive throughout the third-world. Given his mother’s teaching work, and his own careless lifestyle, it was only a matter of time before he contracted it for himself. For most the Saratoa Strain was an instant death sentence, but for those with the means to afford it, the strain’s most severe symptoms could be contained with regular medicinal injections. It was his father’s connections to the black market that ensured a regular supply of the drugs, but it also made him permanently indebted to the man. Instead of death Arthur Kendi was relegated to a life of addiction to the experimental drugs which bolstered his immune system. At least, those would only work for as long as they were being used. Without them he would begin to experience painful withdrawals as a precursor to the real symptoms of the Saratoa Strain. The loss of vision, the discoloration of the skin and the headaches were just the beginning. In a few hours, maybe less if he had miscalculated, he would suffer excruciating and fatal organ failure. Still, the thought of death did not frighten Arthur, for it was this same disease which had given his life purpose. The truth would be revealed someday; ultimately Arthur Kendi and Terra Prime had accomplished their mission. Arthur’s thoughts kept drawing back to Zahir, and the question of whether or not he had survived the impact. It would be a fool’s errand to go deeper into the ship in his condition; worse yet, it was certain that any survivors would try to use Arthur and his connection to Terra Prime as a scapegoat for the impact. In another lifetime perhaps the two could have shared a more meaningful connection, but even with his treatments it was impossible for Arthur to have a physical relationship without a risk of transmitting the disease. After several minutes of climbing, Arthur finally reached the top of the hill, and the mysterious light that had drawn him. There was a soft hum and a number of colors emanating from some sort of large object… [i]a transport of some kind?[/i] “[b]Who is there?[/b]” Arthur called out. No response. He stood there is silence for a few moments as the hum grew louder. Fearful, Arthur raised his pistol and aimed it towards the lights. “[b]Who is it, dammit?![/b]” he screamed, “[b]Answer me or I swear I’ll fire at you![/b]” A cold chill ran along Arthur’s spine as he heard the sound of breathing from directly behind. He turned around to see who it was but could only make a silhouette out of the darkness. They were tall, easily matching his height but incredibly thin. Still no response. The hum grew louder and louder, and Arthur suddenly realized that a machine was not the source of the noise he was hearing, but that the figure was. Soon the sound became deafening, so much so that Arthur could no longer hear his own thoughts. “[b]Please, I don’t want to hurt anyone else..[/b]” The figure made a single motion, the raise of its' left hand. Tears streaming down his face, Arthur raised his pistol and released the trigger.

[size=1]I have an er... [i]eventful[/i] post ready to go with Von Braun, I just need to run something by James or Indi first whenever I catch either of them online. Quite eventful. -Shy [b]Edit:[/b] And posted! I need to talk to James about what comes next...[/size]

[size=1]Money is running tight for me this year, so I wasn't able to give as much as I would like. Still, my family is always way too generous. I received more stuff than I could ever possibly use and/or want. My favorite gift is SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR! This was the only thing I asked for this Christmas. I moved out of my apartment a few months ago, and I guess I forgot to pack those items with me. Last year I begged my family for pots and pans for my kitchen, and this year I wanted socks. It seems that the gifts are getting less exciting with each passing Christmas, but nine times out of ten I enjoy the practical stuff more. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']I honestly don't know if I'm interested or not. I had an insane schedule last year and in response to that, I've cut some of my schedule out for next year. So hopefully that will give me a life again so I have time for this kind of stuff. If you're waiting until after VBO is done to even do sign ups... I should know by the end of next month how my new schedule will work. If you're shooting for sooner than that, I just don't know. :/ I'm going to talk to Beth and see what she wants to do since obviously our characters would still be together and all. =P In the meantime though... it's vacation time and I'm too busy enjoying having time to think for a change. It does look like it would be fun though. So this is just to let you know I am interested.[/QUOTE][size=1]Well that's good to hear. I hope your schedule allows for you to take a larger role in the story, but if not maybe you can pop in periodically as a 'guest star.' -Shy[/size]

[size=1]You've added a lot of realy interesting details Malkav in your article. I suspect that once the RPG launches we'll include most, if not all of that information in one fo the Chronicles. Anyone who hasn't chimed in with their thoughts yet I really urge them to do so. I'm going to begin working on the sign-up, but it won't be posted until Von Braun wraps up. Before then I'll post it up here and try to get some feedback from you guys. [center][size=6][font=garamond][b]The Almagest Expedition[/b][/font][/size][/center] [size=1][indent]Welcome to the auditions of The Almagest Expedition, the next chapter in the ongoing Almagest saga originally created by Sandy and Shy. This is a story of two aristocratic families from two very different worlds: the [b]Almagests[/b] of [b]Czenovia[/b], and the [b]Achards[/b] of [b]Anova[/b]. Czenovia is a kingdom of steampower and science. Following a bloody revolution, the nation has worked tirelessly to unify its’ divided people, including the establishment of a new constitutional monarchy. Anova is a nation of culture and rich tradition. With a long-held emphasis on education and the arts, Anova has long been a pacifist democracy. However, the firepower displayed during the [b]Czenovian Revolution[/b] has alerted all nations that a new age of weaponry is fast approaching. Although they work in secrecy, the Anovan people seek to maintain independence in the wake of an international arms race. An important discovery has been made in [b]Brigit Town[/b], the Czenovian mining village which borders both nations. What has been found there will not only rekindle a longstanding rivalry between Czenovia and Anova, but launch a dangerous search for treasure that will draw the attention of pirates, world governments, and fortune hunters the world over.[/indent][/size] [right][b][font=Garamond][size=5]Sign-Ups[/size][/font][/b][/right] [i]Players who were involved in the original RPG[/i] : If wish to continue writing as their character, please fill out a sign-up for them as well. This will help get new players up-to-speed. Also players who were involved in the first RPG are welcome to take on writing as a second, new character as well if they would like. [b]Your name:[/b] It is likely that you will be either an Almagest or an Achard, so your last name should fit in with that. However, if you married into either family it is possible that you chose to keep your original last name. [b]Your age:[/b] There are no real limitations to your character’s age. Given that this will be primarily an adventure story, I wouldn’t try to create anyone older than 70 or younger than 10. [b]Your connection to the Almagest OR Achard family:[/b] The two most prominent families within the story are the Almagests of Czenovia, and the Achards of Anova. The easiest way for you to establish your place in the story is by defining your relationship to either, or both families. Your character can be a distant relative, a spouse or a fiancé of someone in the family, a close family friend, or a business associate/rival. [list][*][b]Leonhart Almagest[/b] is the patriarch of the Almagest clan. He is the current president of Magitech Industries, the largest and most powerful business in Czenovia. A veteran of the Mine War with Anova several decades ago, Leonhart’s family was terrorized in the events leading up to and following Czenovian Revolution. A complete family tree of the Almagests can be viewed [url=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/almagest-familytree.png]here[/url]. The Almagest family estate, Rosengard, is located on the outskirts of High Czenoble, and has recently played home to the poorest refugees affected by the Czenovian Revolution. As a result, the already large Almagest family has added several new faces. Although they may not be related by blood, these familial bonds run deep. [*][b]Olivier Achard[/b] is the patriarch of Anova’s infamous Achards. The Achards’ wealth is the result of several decades of ownership in Brigit Town’s mines, which were ultimately lost to Czenovia in the Mine War. In recent years the Achards have invested much of their fortune back into Anovan society as philanthropists. The family homestead is a spacious mansion, Achard Hall, which rests in downtown Le Monde. Olivier is recently widowed to his first wife, Evangeline Achard. He has a number of children, nieces and nephews, including his eldest son Vincent, who was killed during the Czenovian revolution. The Achard family tree has yet to be defined within the story, so there is plenty of room for new characters here.[/list] [b]Your portrait:[/b] The picture of your character should be a realistic drawing or painting of a human, nothing too photorealistic or cartoony. Anime or manga characters are fine just as long they don’t have super deformed features. This image will be used to create a posting avatar for your character. [b]Your occupation/location:[/b] Besides the two families, your character should also be tied to the world of the game. Here is a list of potential places where your character can work and live at. If your character works with alchemy, please specify his or her specialty, as well. Czenovia and Anova rest on the [b]Northern Continent[/b], commonly referred to as the [b]New Globe.[/b] Across the [b]Sea of Sorrows[/b] rests the [b]Western Continent[/b] (The “[b]Old Globe[/b]”) which is home to several smaller, distinct nations. [b]Czenovia[/b] is a mountainous, industrial nation with countless small villages scattered throughout. There are three major cities: [b]High Czenoble[/b], the capital, which rests on the top of Mount Grail, the factory town [b]New Czenoble[/b], which sits at the base of the mountain, and [b]Brigit Town[/b], the mining town which sits on the edge Czenovia’s border with Anova. [list][*]Magitech Corporation: a company founded by the House of Almagest. It owns several massive factories in the Czenovian industrial town of New Czenoble, which were once used to produce weaponry. Magitech has recently stopped producing weaponry, and refocused their business towards the reconstruction of Czenovia following the devastating revolution. The President of the company is Leonhart Almagest, although in recent years he has passed on some responsibilities to his eldest son, Fauntleroy Almagest. [*]Artemis Air Transports: Although branches are scattered throughout the world, Artemis Air Transports are headquartered in New Czenoble. This company is responsible for manufacturing and running airships powered by alchemical science. They are also in charge of the Old Globe’s Aerodromes (airship stations,) and have many secret expansion projects in development. Lady Morphia Markham is president of the company, having inherited it from the late Meredyne Artemis following the Battle of High Czenoble. [*]Czenoble High Academy of Sciences (CHAOS): Located in High Czenoble, CHAOS is the most prestigious school in all Czenovia. The headmaster is [i]noted historian[/i], Lector Moebius. Students of CHAOS are known to take many exciting field trips throughout their education, visiting locations such as Brigit Town and portions of the Old Globe. [*]Mirror Palace: Located in High Czenoble and home to Dynast King Primas Generous, the Mirror Palace is now the official meeting place for Czenovia’s newly formed parliament. In addition, the Dynast King has expanded his nation’s diplomacy in recent years by appointing new ambassadors to Al-Ahmar, Anova, Moresang, and other neighboring countries. [*]Eshe Rehema: The most modern medical center in the New Globe, Eshe Rehema is a teaching hospital which experiments in the medical applications of magitechnology. It is located in New Czenoble. [*]Czenovian Police: Formerly the Royal Police Guard, the Czenovian Police are the militia responsible for keeping the law and order throughout Czenovia. They guard the gates and factories and aerodromes, patrol the streets and maintain the prisons. Alexander Edward Almagest is current head of the police force, and works to ensure that all citizens of Czenovia receive equal protection under the law. [*]High Czenoble Downs: A racing track in High Czenoble, where monstrous creatures are constructed from different animal species using alchemy, and fiercely compete against each other to amuse the madded. It’s also a popular hobby of reckless young aristocrats to become Chimaera Jockeys. The latest fashion is to combine machines to the beasts with the aid of Magitechnology. The Chimaera Circuit is kept up by the cunning Thames Dreadnaught. In recent years Dreadnaught has struggled to maintain the reputation of his track after many of his jockeys staged an attack against the Royal Police Guard during the Czenovian Revolution. [*]Villette Mines: Located in Brigit Town, the Villette Mines were once subsidiary of Magitech Industries. Following the Czenovian Revolution Leonhart Almagest was forced to sell them off in order to help fund the extensive reconstruction projects of both High Czenoble and New Czenoble. Cole Dreadnaught, Anova's famed explorer and aristocrat, now maintains ownership and oversees daily operations. [/list] [b]Anova[/b] is a nation covered in grassy plains and dense forests, save for a desert on its eastern border with Czenovia. Its economy is deeply rooted in agriculture and trade with other countries. Unlike its neighbor, Anova does not have serious class distinctions, and its population has a far better living standard per capita. Anova has two major cities: the capital [b]Le Monde[/b] in the central plains, and the port town of [b]Cobalt Bay[/b] to the north west. [list][*]Icarus: Founded by Dawlish Almagest, estranged nephew to Leonhart Almagest, Icarus produces advanced weaponry and other alchemy-based technology for whoever is willing to pay for it. In order to maintain secrecy Icarus is based in a remote complex, located on the desert which partially borders Anova and Czenovia. Although Icarus is not directly affiliated with any government, Dawlish is well-connected to the Anovan government and maintains an office in Le Monde. [*]House of Grimoire: Located in the art district of Le Monde, the House of Grimoire has defined fashion in the New Globe for decades. Founded by the reclusive Edith Grimoire, the talented designer has passed on most responsibilities of running her successful business to others. Boutiques and department stores sell House of Grimoire clothing throughout the world, although only the elite can maintain that they own an 'Edith Grimoire Original." [*]The Island Citadel: Off the coast of Cobalt Bay rests an enormous fortress constructed by the Church of the Phoenix. The Citadel serves as headquarters for the large organization, as well as playing home to the leader of the church, Sief Davos Frost, and her personal army, the Citadel Guards. Although Anova and Czenovia are largely atheist, the church still wields enormous influence over its’ followers throughout the world. Given the political power of the church, the small island is considered an independent nation, and does not answer to the sovereignty of Anova. [*]The Citadel Guard: Throughout Anova and Czenovia the Citadel Guard is recognized as the legion of the Church of the Phoenix. They are hand picked by the church’s Cardinals throughout the world for their dedication to their faith, and skill in battle. The Guard is useful in many other fields, including rescue and recovery, and the personal protection of High Priests and the Sief. Service in the Citadel Guard is always until old age, death, or sickness prevents otherwise, the honor of service is too great to expect any less. [*]The Nord Centre: The Nord Centre is an enormous outdoor amphitheater which sits along the shoreline of Cobalt Bay overlooking the Sea of Sorrows. During the summer months it is home to concerts, sporting events, plays, and public speaking engagements. Outside of the amphitheater is an expansive outdoor mall, which is used year round by sailor merchants offering all types of goods and services. [*]Fort Blanc: Fort Blanc is the home of the Special Security Force (SSF), Anova's national military and policing organization. Since the Czenovian Revolution, Fort Blanc has modernized greatly, due to its purchases from Icarus. The Fort's principle responsibility today is to monitor potential overseas threats and to police the streets of Anova. [*]Cobalt Silverworks: After the Czenovian Revolution, the East-West Airship Corridor was closed and Anova regained full control of its silver deposits from foreign business interests. These mines were amalgamated into a new corporation called Cobalt Silverworks (a merger between Achard & Co., and the Anovan Silver Mining Company.) The silverworks now mines and processes silver within Anova, with much of it being sent back to Le Monde to be turned into a variety of products (mostly jewellery, machine parts and so on). These silver-based products are now exported worldwide. Some types of Anovan silver are said to contain magical properties. [*]Chimaera Junction: Czenovian Chimaera trainer Berthold Black traveled the New Globe looking for a place to establish a new Chimaera racing and training school. He created the Chimaera Junction in the south-west region of Anova. The Junction (as it's known locally) which sits among miles of rolling green hills. It has become an elite training school for Chimaera and it also runs successful Chimaera breeding and rider training programs. The Junction is now run by local Anovans, but its largest draw is the charismatic chimaera jockey Hugo Black. a descendant of Berthold who was forbidden from Czenovia following the Czenovian Revolution. [*]Lumière Academy: Located in the southwestern district of Le Monde, Lumière Academy (LA) is one of the oldest schools in the New Globe. LA was established initially as a foster home for orphans of the The Purge of 220 by Madame Angelique Laroche. However, throughout the years as she began teaching the children art and history, it slowly transformed into a prestigious academy. Because of its old roots, LA's curriculum is centralized around the arts and is often credited as "The Light of Anova," as it ushered in the massive art movement of Anova. [*]If there isn’t a type of business listed that you think should be, make one![/list] [b]Your story:[/b] Please write a short history and description of your character. The story should reflect your character’s personality, position in the family and in the case of characters outside the bloodline(s), his or her background. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]As I said in my last post I'm definitely interested in writing Dwalish again for the sequel, although the difference of three years to consider his actions of the battle and the long term implications of his life may lead to his portrayal as a dramatically changed man. I believe when the last one wrapped up and we were discussing the sequel I said Dwalish would have become an industrialist similar to his father using his inheritance, so perhaps that could play into the arms race Josh ?[/SIZE][/QUOTE][size=1]That would be an interesting take on Dawlish. I imagine that following everything that has happened Magitech would shy away from producing weaponry, but if Dawlish goes into business for himself he would see an opportunity there. Going into competition with his family's business would certainly be interesting... Speaking of such things, Jack had placed Morphia in charge of Artemis Air Transports following the death of Meredyne. I doubt she and Jack would be so eager to cash in on the global crisis; at least, I can't see them selling their airships to any military. What about Pirates? Hrm. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Indi'][FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]I'm definitely interested though since I imagine taking the time to fully plan it out and launch it would mean that would happen after VBO is finished. [/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE][size=1]Oh definitely. Should we go through with this, I doubt we would have sign-ups posted until after Von Braun has wrapped up. Just doing a quick head count... who is interested in starting up as their characters again, and who would rather take on a new role? This will give me a vague idea of what characters to build the story around. Probably all of the older characters will appear in the story in some capacity, though. If any of the older players would like, they are more than welcome to take up a second, new character in addition to their original one. Um... more musings: [list][*]Three years later sounds perfect. For those of you keeping track at home, this means Almagest 2 will be set in 712 YOD (Year of the Dynast.) [*]Victoria Ann's mother, Beatriste, has remarried, presumably to someone in the Old Globe. Maybe this can be the reason for getting the characters to leave Czenovia for a holiday, much like Leonhart's birthday was in the original. [*]Rosengard is still playing home to many whose houses were destroyed during the original RPG. This could be a good way to work Non-Almagests into the story, while still giving them a strong tie to the original family. [*]I think the 'treasure' in question should relate back to the lost civilization established in the first RPG. That cannon was merely the beginning of what they were capable of, and the great battle in High Czenoble alerted the world to this fact. Relics from the lost culture are now being hunted by pirates, politicians and priests alike. [*]Although it is a time of peace, there is clearly an arms race taking place across the Old Globe. Everyone seems to be preparing for... [i]something.[/i] [*]I doubt Alecia Ann and Alexander would let Fonty anywhere near their child. He is a terrible babysitter, after all.[/list] -Shy[/size]