Prologue Today, the world ended. What was it that had brought Xanatos Reaver and his band of loyal warriors to the summit of this hill? Had it truly been a conflict between two former friends? A little disagreement? Had that truly pushed two warriors, once renowned and revered in Arkan, to a war which had torn the lands asunder? It seemed so long ago that human and Demi God had traversed the barrier between worlds, with the intent of bringing down a madman. A madman who he just so happened to be related to. Xanatos thought back to the other times. He was already walking on the nostalgic road, and he had no intention of turning back now. Not that he could if he wanted to. His thoughts drifted to battles and meals shared together. Words of friendship and of encouragement whispered at dark hours. Memories he now had to banish forever. He had been hesitant. Too hesitant in prior encounters. And yet, so had his foe. Xanatos and Aidan had crossed sword dozens of times since the first, and no matter who would prove to be the victor that very day, neither would deliver the final stroke. Today, that would have to change. The one who would leave this field alive would be the one who could do the impossible. “Sir.” Xanatos turned. Jayce was approaching him, striding across the ground with hands in his pockets. His 9mm hung loosely at his side, and his gaze was directed to the army assembling below them. Aidan’s forces would attack within mere minutes. “What do you need, Jayce?” Xanatos asked, noting the divisions of infantry below. What was Aidan planning? “I am most pleased to report,” Jayce began with a grimace on his face, “that our forces have fully assembled. The full might of the Order of the Hammer stands behind you, ready to crush the Sarn insurgency once and for all.” “Something troubles me,” Xanatos continued as if his son hadn’t spoken, “Aidan’s no fool, yet it seems as if he’ll charge straight up the hill to meet us. He’d be cut down before his blades could scratch one man.” “He has a plan father; you understand that better than anyone. I’ve clashed with him only once before, yet he proved to me the kind of low cunning and intelligence these humans’ posses.” Ah, that was the reminder he needed. The last push Xanatos needed to crush Aidan’s skull underneath his hammer. He’d near-enough lost his heir to that traitor. The very lineage of the Demi Gods were threatened, and if Xanatos didn’t put an end to Sarn’s armies on this day, all would be lost. “That he does Jayce,” Xanatos nodded, “but by the time the dawn rises, Sarn will be crushed and Aidan will forever be remembered as an example of what happens when you dare to oppose the Demi Gods of old.” He sensed that Jayce had departed to see to his own troops, leaving Xanatos to stare upon the virgin field one final time, soon to be sewed with entrails and limbs. He couldn’t lie. The thought of this climatic battle excited him more than it should have. *** Aidan Samarost dismounted his horse and walked up the small hill that overlooked his army. In the distance beyond, he could see the army of Xanatos Reaver and his Order of the Hammer arrayed upon the tallest hill in the region. They positioned themselves well. He couldn’t advance any further into their territory without fighting this army. Any movement around it would be doomed to fail. So they had to take this fight, despite the inferior positioning. He had to hand it to his old friend, he put him in a bad spot. Aidan was not worried however. Sarn’s soldiers were the best and Alpha Company’s flanking manoeuvre should hit around midway through the battle, meaning that they’d neatly be able to crush their force between hammer and anvil. The irony of that was not lost on him. Alpha looked down at his force and smiled. They stood there, rapt in their attention. “This men, is the deciding battle! Here and now, Xanatos has faced us with all of his forces upon that hill thinking it shall be his saviour, but he is wrong! For we are sons of Sarn! Steel are our bodies! Fire is our blood! We shall end this war here! We shall plant the bloodied flag of Sarn at the crest of that hill and watch the Demi-Gods’ reign burn! For honour, for our right to survive and for those who have died-“ Aidan’s mind went back to the times before. For just a second, before the closing lines of the speech, his face became wistful as he remembered when things were different. When he and Xan fought side by side to save the world. Those were the best of times. He almost regretted what had happened, asked himself if there truly was no other way, but stopped. He remembered how this war started. Once Xan refused his offering of peace, there was no going back. There was no room for regret now. His eyes narrowed. Alpha reached for his sword, Hope, and drew it, raising it high into the air. He channelled energy into it, the blade setting alight. “- Let the bloodstained sun of victory shine!” The surge of pride he felt as his army echoed those final words overrode any regret. Today, there would be justice. Today he would claim the revenge he had long been waiting for. He quenched Hope’s fire then sheathed it and stepped down. Sherridan was waiting for him. “Sentinel sent word. Alpha Company is en route. My Rangers are assisting the archers and crossbowmen with their ranges. Our volleys will drive them down the hill.” Sherridan reported. “Just as planned. I knew I could count on you and your men, old friend.” Aidan said. “And the new firearm corps?” “Planted within the ranks of standard infantry, just as directed. Weapons will be used once then discarded in favour of melee combat with the rest of the men. Weapons will be collected after the battle.” Sherridan answered. “It’s a shame we couldn’t figure out how Vasily’s people got those things to reload so fast in time. No matter. What we have now will suffice. Actually, what’s the ratio?” “Two standard infantry to one shock troop.” Aidan stopped and put his hand on Sherridan’s shoulder. “Truly, I cannot thank you enough. I couldn’t have done this without you, or Sentinel.” Aidan spoke. “Nor the others Aidan.” He reminded. Alpha nodded. “Of course.” He released his grasp on the Ranger’s shoulder and looked out at the battlefield. “This will be a bloody day. I have high hopes though. If we win- No. When we win here today, everything that has happened will be vindicated. Finally, she can rest in peace.” “Aye.” Sherridan agreed. They stood there for a while, watching and waiting for the armies of Sarn to finish their preparations. Just as they did, the Order of the Hammer began to mobilise and prepare their weapons. The first testing shots arced over the distance and fell short of their lines. Aidan beckoned for his horse and mounted up quickly. “Let us begin.” He said grimly, drawing Hope once more. Sherridan watched him ride for the front lines, as he always did. Once Alpha was there, the Ranger joined his men. There was a shout and they began to return fire with deadly aim, the estimations of the Rangers proving on target and effective. The final battle had begun. I 150 years later... "Sir, we're coming up on Sky Tower. Ten minutes to arriving at the drop zone." "Very good Captain, please leave me to my meditations." "Sir." The silver and blue clad soldier fled the room, and Jayce redirected his attention back through the window. The Valiant's glass windows granted a truly spectacular view of true Arkan. A desecrate wasteland. Trees torn from their roots. Lakes of bones. If the windows could be opened, he was certain ash and blood will fill his senses. "If only you could see it now dad," Jayce whispered under his breath, "you'd be so proud of those humans you love." War had not been kind to the realm. Ever since that fateful day a hundred and fifty years ago, where Xanatos Reaver had struck down Aidan Samarost and shattered the blade Hope with a great swing of his hammer, one might have expected things to come to a swift and brutal end. Instead, it only inspired others and rallied hundreds more to their cause. The Shards of Hope they'd dubbed themselves... a fitting name. A movement against the Demi Gods themselves. Aidan hadn't truly died, instead living on in the hearts of those who served him. The Order of the Hammer, still licking their wounds after the last battle, hadn't been prepared. They lost one battle. Then two. Then the defeats began outweighing the victories. Where there had been two-dozen Demi Gods serving the realm, there was now no more than six still walking among the living. Something had to change. The Shards couldn't be allowed to challenge the authority of the Demi Gods any longer. The upcoming battle was about to change that. Pushing a button on his chair, a red light blinked, informing him his voice was about to be transmitted across the vessel. "Attention, soldiers of the Order of the Hammer, this is Commander Reaver speaking." "In a few minutes, we shall be arriving at the landing site. Our mission today is to assault the stronghold Sky Tower, currently under control of the Shards of Hope. This particular location is home to a state of the art weapon: an anti-air cannon. This weapon has already been used against several of our airships, destroying much needed supplies and killing dozens of our troops." "This ends today. The Valiant will land a league or so away from Sky Tower. Our ground forces will launch an assault on the structure and engage the enemy troops. Meanwhile, I shall lead a specialist team inside the tower. We'll take control of the weapon and kill or capture any of the people inside." "All specialist forces, meet me on the bridge."
Forum Wars – Civil War It all started when two friends turned enemies. The consequences of that decision have resulted in centuries of violence and bloodshed unlike anything the realm has ever seen. -An excerpt from “The Endless War” Prelude to war: It began in a time long-since forgotten, when Xanatos Reaver was given the impossible decision of choosing between humans and Demi Gods, on a day where the world looked set to come to an end. One race had to die, so that the other could live… And so it was with a heavy heart that Xanatos scarified his own race and condemned himself to exile, shame and grief destroying him body and soul. It would not be for countless years later when Xanatos would make some sort of return, in response to a threat posed by his brother, Nighthawk. Over the decades, the duo did battle across the lands, unable to end the other’s life. Even when Xanatos called upon what few allies of his remained, he could do little more than hinder Nighthawk’s plans… And so, a new course of action was needed. Rumours and whispers reached Xanatos’ ears of staunch warriors, powerful magicians and even stranger beings. The kind Xanatos would need if he was to take the fight to Nighthawk, who was already setting events in motion to end the world. After observing their skills first hand as they dealt with a demon invasion, Xanatos recruited them into his cause. Soldiers, swordsmen and even mechanical constructs fought alongside him, unaware that they were initially no more than pawns. But Xanatos soon remembered what it was like to have friends, allies and those you trusted, and he started to see them as more than a means to the end. Battling Nighthawk’s forces, they soon found the base of his operations. Storming the facility, the heroes confronted Nighthawk on the roof of the building. Although they managed to wound him, the traitorous Demi God was able to trap Xanatos and his companions in a world known only as Subspace… There, they found the true heart of Nighthawk’s operations. Protected by an immense fortress, an army of soldiers and beings too foul to describe, it was no better than a suicide mission. And yet, despite the odds, despite the dangers, they defeated all that stood before them and confronted and defeated Nighthawk in his throne room. Though not without tremendous sacrifice. The base was sent to its demise, and the group successfully managed to escape and return home. But just when Xanatos thought their journey was at an end, there was still one more battle to fight… Alpha. Aidan Samarost. Once Xanatos’ closest friend. But as they stood upon their world once more, Aidan proclaimed Xanatos had done nothing but brought terror to their world. He blamed the Demi Gods for the plights humanity now faced, and denounced Xanatos as a coward and a liar. The two did battle, though their fight was interrupted and Aidan managed to escape… It was here the war began. As for when it shall end, no one yet knows. Introduction: Welcome to Forum Wars II! Voted Punchwood’s (May it rest in peace) craziest roleplay back in 2012, this text-based game is chocked full of action, drama, romance and predictable plot twists! But whilst that forum may be dead, Forum Wars is still around to play. Our last adventure pitted us against Nighthawk, brother to everyone’s favourite Demi God. And whilst I did make an attempt at a ‘redux’ to restart the series anew, it didn’t feel right to me. As Al215 put it best, the old story is finished. The characters from Forum Wars have told their story, and now it’s time to move on and look to the future. So I hereby present the sequel/remake/Fantastic 4 of Forum Wars. You have the right to party. Rules: 1. No overpowered characters. Each and every character must have some form of weakness. 2. No power-gaming. Essentially, this is landing automatic hits or having the ability to dodge everything thrown at you. Although Forum Wars is home to some of the greatest warriors ever, they still get their butts kicked on a daily basis. Remember, losing is fun ;) 3. No metagaming. This is knowing something you have no way of knowing, like one player whispering a secret to another with no one else around. 4. No controlling other characters without the permission of their respective players. Don’t add yourself to the backstories of other players without their permission either. 5. No drastically changing the scenario. An example of this would be summoning giant demons to destroy the planet or making a cup of coffee. We’re a tea only roleplay. 6. There are no really limits to the characters you can make, however: a. Please try to make them original and not steal everything from a show or other series. b. If creating a Demi God character, they must be a descendant of either Xanatos or Nighthawk. c. Demi Gods are restricted to The Order of Hammer only. Even if they don’t always agree with what goes on, they cannot, under any circumstances, abandon their faction. Demi Gods stick together. d. You do not have to be a Demi God to join The Order of Hammer. In fact, I would prefer it if there aren’t too many Demi Gods. 7. Please respect the roleplay owner (myself) and the roleplayer modifiers, and any changes we ask you to make. 8. You may make a maximum of two characters. a. I may also allow players to occasionally make an evil character. 9. Have fun! Storyline: The Forum Wars storyline works something like this: Beginning ---> Insert random stuff here ---> Final battle We have the beginning and we know where the story will end. However, it’s up to you guys to get us there. Every player helps influence the plot with their own decisions. Which bad guys do you go after? Who do you save from the jaws of death? Do you wear red or purple? All are important questions which could result in a happy ending, or a bad one. Know only this: each and every action has an equal and opposite reaction. You might believe to have done a good deed, only for it to come back and bite you in the rear end later. It’s like Telltale Games, except our choices matter. Backstory: Cuz who doesn’t love a good backstory? Whilst the plot will mainly be explained throughout the roleplay, I will be giving you a bit of background here. Around one hundred and fifty years after the Nighthawk incident and the duel between the Demi God Xanatos Reaver and Aidan Samarost, the world has changed. Aidan has died and Xanatos has disappeared but their legacies survive. The Shards of Hope, supporters of Aidan Samarost, have followed in his footsteps and declared war on the Demi Gods. Meanwhile the surviving Demi Gods have rallied and fight alongside humans to protect their species. This bitter war has raged on for many years and for the moment, shows no signs of stopping. Up until this point, the war had been incredibly balanced, with both sides winning and losing their fair share of battles. However, with the continual loss of Demi Gods and the flock of support to the Shards of Hope, Jaden Samarost and his forces look set to deliver a finishing blow to the Order of the Hammer… Of course, all that may change with a new threat lurking on the horizon. Factions: There are two major factions vying for power here. The Order of the Hammer and The Shards of Hope. Order of the Hammer: Led by what few Demi Gods remain, the Order of the Hammer is dedicated to the worship of these beings. Those who join the Order must swear to uphold justice and truth above all else, and to help maintain the power of the Demi Gods within the realm. The Order of the Hammer is currently led by Jayce, son of Xanatos. Although skilled for his age, he’s still considered immature by many and must find a way to prove himself if he’s to earn the respect that his father once commanded. If the Order of the Hammer truly is to survive what is to come, then its warriors must find a way to gather their forces and to shatter the Shards once and for all. Those who join the Order of the Hammer will have the chance to fight alongside the Demi Gods. Despite these powerful allies, their numbers have dwindled in comparison to The Shards of Hope. The Shards of Hope: The Shards of Hope are the increasingly popular opposition group to the Order of the Hammer. Denying the sanctity of the Demi Gods, they aim to tear down their legacy and destroy them for the sins they have committed. According to the book written by their unintentional founder Aidan Samarost, the Demi Gods once upon a time attempted to wipe out all of humanity, but were destroyed by a civil war. They wish to stop these divine beings from attempting the same again. They are led by the current Inheritor (Commander's Title) Jaden Samarost, the latest in the line of Aidan's descendants. He is considered one of the worthiest successors, upholding much of the same values as Aidan and being a more capable tactician and strategist, if a weaker fighter. Commanding the respect of The Shards of Hope, Jaden has the momentum behind him to see the war to its finish. Those who fight alongside The Shards of Hope will fight for the future of humanity and their right to survive, and for the lives that have been lost. The Shards are growing numerous and with their popularity increasing with their every success, victory seems to be drawing ever closer. Character creation: As I’ve said before, the sky is really the limit. Come up with whatever crazy, imaginative persona you can. Fantasy and sci-fi are both allowed! All we ask is that you keep your dudes reasonably powered. There will be plenty of time to learn new abilities throughout the story. Give them the chance to become battle-hardened. The Application: Name: Title: Faction (Order of The Hammer, The Shards of Hope or neither): Age: Gender: Description: Personality: Weapons: Armour: Abilities (passive and active): Strengths: Weaknesses: History: Other: My application: Name: Jayce Reaver Title: None, though his friends affectionately call him Kiddo. Faction: The Order of Hammer, Leader Age: Difficult to say. Jayce has the appearance of a 19 to 20 year-old, although he is older. It’s worth noting that he ages at a faster rate than his father. Gender: Male. Description: Jayce stands at a moderate 5’8, and possesses a much thinner build than his father. His hair is stained shadowy and his eyes flash gold. Like this. Personality: Like his father, Jayce has a great deal of trouble managing his emotions. This has only worsened due to his upbringing. Although in calm situations he has no trouble keeping his head, the effects of a prolonged battle have known to have serious effects on Jayce. Weapons: Jayce carries a scythe. Forged from Skymetal and Mindsteel, it is both light and possesses several enchantments to dish out damage. He’s also in possession of a 9mm handgun inherited from his father, which has been enchanted to fire magical bullets. Both weapons can cause a fair amount of damage on their own, but can easily be enhanced by some of Jayce’s magical abilities. Armour: Jayce isn’t one for wearing heavy armour, as it hinders his speed. He instead wears a long black coat with a few simple enchantments to resist damage. Cliché? Sure. But awesome all the same. Abilities: Passive: · Level 5 Immortality – This grants Jayce limited powers of regeneration. Scratches and bruises heal in a few minutes and broken bones in a week or two. This also extends to lost limbs, which can regenerate within a month or so. Much slower in combat. · Soul Perception –Jayce can vaguely sense nearby targets, allowing him to anticipate their moves and location. He also has a somewhat limited understanding of his target’s power. At any moment in time, Jayce can activate the power to focus on a single target, giving him a much more accurate look at their strength. · Demi God – Jayce is naturally stronger, faster and more intelligent than most humans. He’s also incredibly resistant to toxins and poisons. · Ancient Seals – Not so much as an aid, rather a hindrance. Jayce’s true powers have been sealed by Xanatos for unknown reason, making him only slightly more powerful than humans. In certain situations, Jayce can release these seals to grant him additional powers. In total, there are seven seals. Active: · Demi God Technique – Lightning Splitter – An ability inherited from his father, Jayce can summon a burst of lightning, capable of badly injuring foes. · Demi God Technique – Reaper – Jayce’s scythe is infused with magic, extending the length of the blade and charging it to deal additional damage. Can be used for several swings before disappearing. · Demi God Technique – Scatter Shot – Jayce fires his 9mm with incredible speed and precision, covering a wide arc with magical bullets. · Demi God Technique – Many-faced Illusions – Based on powers inherited from his mother, Jayce has the ability to create up to two identical clones. The ability starts by generating a cloud of smoke, which soon dissipates to reveal Jayce and the two clones. In its weakest form, these clones are nothing more than illusions. However, should Jayce decide to spend more energy, the clones are able to physically interact with the world and even use Jayce’s abilities. Despite this, they can only take one hit before being destroyed. · Demi God Technique – Arm Shield – A fairly simple spell of Jayce’s design, which allows him to summon a barrier wielded over his arm. The shield can take a few hits before breaking. Once the shield is broken, there is a cooldown before it can be used again. · Demi God Technique – Soul Blast – Final Strike - Drawing energy from the ancient gods themselves, Jayce can fire off an incredibly destructive energy beam to cause serious harm to his enemies. One use per battle. Strengths: Jayce was trained in Demi God Taijutsu by Xanatos, who was a master of the art. Although he’s yet to reach his father’s level, Jayce is still a formidable hand-to-hand opponent. Furthermore, he possesses speed and agility far beyond that of even the fastest human. Weaknesses: Although Jayce is a Demi God, he doesn’t come close to rivalling the strength his father possessed. He’s not nearly as durable, and relies heavily on his speed to help him avoid getting hit. Furthermore, Jayce also suffers from the same problem as his father: a lack of control over his emotions. Finally, Jayce’s true powers have been sealed, preventing him from using the full array of abilities and skills granted to Demi Gods. History: Like his father, Jayce tends to keep his history in the dark. What is known that he is the son of Xanatos and Sport Reaver. From a young age, Xanatos began training Jayce to prepare him for his role as the protector of the world. However, the arrival of The Endless War forced Jayce to mature quickly. From the young age of 12, he was sent on many missions to hasten the destruction of The Shards of Hope. More than once, he was placed into grave danger and suffered many a serious injury because of it. Then, at the age of 15, Jayce was left alone as Xanatos left the world to deal with a ‘much greater evil’. This placed Jayce at the head of the Order of Hammer. Despite his best efforts to lead the organization, their numbers have only dwindled, whilst those of The Shards of Hope have soared. Other: Over the course of the story, Jayce will release the seals placed upon him by his father, allowing him to access new abilities. This will only happen when other characters have gained additional powers and strengths. Jayce cannot learn new abilities on his own. Eventually, he will take his place as Xanatos’ heir and become a full Demi God. Current situation in the roleplay: Battle for Sky Tower: Sky Tower is considered to be of prime, strategic importance. This citadel houses powerful defences, capable of destroying most aircraft. It borders on the Northern Shores of Arkan, controlling the flow of air forces attempting to enter the realm. For the past few weeks, the Shards of Hope have prevented several squadrons of airships from reaching the Order of the Hammer. Jayce Reaver hopes to bring in reinforcements to his cause by taking control of Sky Tower and allowing several airships to reach his position. As of this moment, the young Demi God prepares to leave his forces against the tower, planning to sneak a team inside whilst the two armies do battle outside. Should Jayce succeed, he can remove the pressure currently placed on his armies and win some much needed support for the Order. Failure however will only bring him ever closer to defeat… For the moment, the battle swings heavily in the Order's favour. Jayce's team has successfully breached the tower and are ready to confront Carissa Samarost, the one leading the occupants at Sky Tower. Will the Order succeed? Or will they fall after coming so far?
