Lavi Bookman (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
inksplashes) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crystalcastle2017-05-27 05:00 pm
inksplashes) wrote in crystalcastle2017-05-27 05:00 pm
jayes/lapis reference info!
WORLD/LAND NAME:
Sefirot/Yetzirah
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM:
Parliament with symbolic monarchy
GENERAL PLOT:
Slade and Lapis are contracted to remove or isolate a malicious spirit that's infected the queen ala clandestine meeting. They're unable to complete either rite because the spirit has split itself into multiple fragments and attempting to remove it provokes it, taking the host body (Monarch) to Unknown Location via teleportation. Slade and Lapis are then voluntold to track down the fragments of the spirit and find the missing monarch in total secrecy. As they travel, more spirits are emboldened by The Big Bad and begin infecting more and more people, so on top of trying to find each fragment that's possessing various individuals, they become increasingly faced with demons, food shortages, small scale wars, and so on. They are also pursued by the Crafter's Consortium for breaking their vows of non-allegiance and "serving the Crown". Their mission is unknown to all but a select few within the government. The authorities eventually mistakenly link the dynamic duo with the outbreak of chaos (since they keep showing up where it is) and also pursues them.
WORLD NOTES:
- Magic Steam Punk
- Crafters vs. Norms
- Crafters take an oath of neutrality when they complete their training.
- Crafters have identifying magical brands on their name for inspection, cannot be seen without a Lodestone(tm)
ELEMENTAL ARTS:
- Much like RL, there are varying schools that offer training and 'degrees' in the different crafts. Some are very general crafts, such as ice or fire, while others can be much more specialized and advanced, like lattice magic.
- Crafters in the elemental arts offer up parts of their soul, or all of it at times, to bind spirits within them. The greater the magic, the greater their sacrifice. They use the spirits as the source of their power and generally must be advanced to host more than one spirit at a time. Typically, they cannot hold more than one single powerful entity and a weaker back up, but the most renowned in the fields can hold up to two great spirits (or thereabouts ratio of power).
- Crafters are employed in practically every field, but are especially concentrated in civics. They keep the water running, the heat burning, et cetera.
- Spirits that crafters bind but do not hold within themselves are sometimes called familiars. These spirits are tethered to the crafter but can be released without damage (and can more easily break their own bonds as a result of the weakened connection). Usually, a crafter has one spirit within themselves and one familiar to serve as a replacement if they extinguish that spirit.
- Crafters are highly respected and considered the equivalent of modern day professors or doctors. Likewise, getting through training is just as rigorous, and the best schools have a militant discipline approach.
- Because most crafters are missing parts of their souls, they have a reputation for lacking empathy and/or social skills, though that largely seems to be a rumor by Norms. However, it is true that crafters are influenced by the spirits they hold within and if they begin to approach empty capacity, their more human qualities begin to disappear.
- Crafters, being in a sense already possessed, cannot remove spirits from others, but many specialties have arisen to trap or isolate a spirit in the afflicted individual. The barriers within are not foolproof--if the spirit is strong enough, it can break the partition and take over the body again. In addition to that, few individuals who are not trained from a young age can handle the process of being divided this way. Because of this, mediums are still the preferred method, though they're largely discredited by other crafters as reckless and dangerous. Some are called abominations.
- Children first show the capacity to become a crafter around five years of age. Usually, it manifests as an elemental power from a low-level familiar ("imaginary friend"). At this point they are tested by the government and sent to a school befitting their natural talent ability. Some, albeit few, can advance their rank enough to be sent to better schools to continue their training.
PARANORMAL ARTS:
- spirits don't tend to hang around on the mortal plane, usually reside in the spirit world.
- can be summoned and subjugated under the command of 'crafters', those who sacrifice part of their soul for the power a spirit brings; the larger the sacrifice of the soul, the more power they obtain.
- magic obtained from familiars used to run technology, most engineers and such are crafters in some fashion.
- since crafters are so commonplace, it's normal for people to go to school to learn how to become one. most aspire to be the most powerful crafter in the region, as that means more money and a great reputation, despite the soul loss.
- if a crafter student isn't strong enough to take their first spirit, they are required to complete further studies or are expelled from the school. most end up tearing out their souls completely instead to bring in a spirit, rather than accept the humiliation.
- attempts to remove subjugated spirits from a crafter will result in brain damage, which is always permanent even if the spirit is returned. if all spirits are removed, the crafter will die.
- some crafters, known as 'paranormal crafters' or 'mediums' instead cooperate with spirits, usually stray ones that have become lost after death on their way to the spirit plane.
- these crafters or mediums are looked upon with scorn, due to the odd nature of the magic and how they are likely to go insane, due to the combination of two or more souls within a body.
- however, some mediums have enough willpower to handle the pressure and are thus stronger than crafters by default when it comes to magical output (lapis is one of these)
- because of the strong link with spirits, crafters can only handle holy items or items used to dispel spirits (salt, holy water) with gloves. mediums are able to be fatally wounded by these items, due to the stronger bond with spirits.
- spirits with a large amount of malice and power are able to possess crafters, most spirits are usually drained of their essence and are essentially masses of power. but a spirit with enough malice can fight back and possess a crafter, turning them into a demon. normal people are at risk of possession as well, if they come in contact with a malicious spirit.
- even if a possessed individual is freed of their spirit, they will become nothing more than a violent, empty husk.
- the only people capable of removing subjugated spirits from crafters or removing spirits from those who're possessed are mediums, again due to the strong bond they have with spirits.
- there are other arts available that can suppress spirits, such as those that can trap rogue spirits or those that can create barriers of protection around settlements from rogue spirits. these are sometimes alternate routes if one cannot or does not wish to become a crafter.
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM:
GENERAL PLOT:
WORLD NOTES:
- Crafters vs. Norms
- Crafters take an oath of neutrality when they complete their training.
- Crafters have identifying magical brands on their name for inspection, cannot be seen without a Lodestone(tm)
ELEMENTAL ARTS:
- Crafters in the elemental arts offer up parts of their soul, or all of it at times, to bind spirits within them. The greater the magic, the greater their sacrifice. They use the spirits as the source of their power and generally must be advanced to host more than one spirit at a time. Typically, they cannot hold more than one single powerful entity and a weaker back up, but the most renowned in the fields can hold up to two great spirits (or thereabouts ratio of power).
- Crafters are employed in practically every field, but are especially concentrated in civics. They keep the water running, the heat burning, et cetera.
- Spirits that crafters bind but do not hold within themselves are sometimes called familiars. These spirits are tethered to the crafter but can be released without damage (and can more easily break their own bonds as a result of the weakened connection). Usually, a crafter has one spirit within themselves and one familiar to serve as a replacement if they extinguish that spirit.
- Crafters are highly respected and considered the equivalent of modern day professors or doctors. Likewise, getting through training is just as rigorous, and the best schools have a militant discipline approach.
- Because most crafters are missing parts of their souls, they have a reputation for lacking empathy and/or social skills, though that largely seems to be a rumor by Norms. However, it is true that crafters are influenced by the spirits they hold within and if they begin to approach empty capacity, their more human qualities begin to disappear.
- Crafters, being in a sense already possessed, cannot remove spirits from others, but many specialties have arisen to trap or isolate a spirit in the afflicted individual. The barriers within are not foolproof--if the spirit is strong enough, it can break the partition and take over the body again. In addition to that, few individuals who are not trained from a young age can handle the process of being divided this way. Because of this, mediums are still the preferred method, though they're largely discredited by other crafters as reckless and dangerous. Some are called abominations.
- Children first show the capacity to become a crafter around five years of age. Usually, it manifests as an elemental power from a low-level familiar ("imaginary friend"). At this point they are tested by the government and sent to a school befitting their natural talent ability. Some, albeit few, can advance their rank enough to be sent to better schools to continue their training.
PARANORMAL ARTS:
- can be summoned and subjugated under the command of 'crafters', those who sacrifice part of their soul for the power a spirit brings; the larger the sacrifice of the soul, the more power they obtain.
- magic obtained from familiars used to run technology, most engineers and such are crafters in some fashion.
- since crafters are so commonplace, it's normal for people to go to school to learn how to become one. most aspire to be the most powerful crafter in the region, as that means more money and a great reputation, despite the soul loss.
- if a crafter student isn't strong enough to take their first spirit, they are required to complete further studies or are expelled from the school. most end up tearing out their souls completely instead to bring in a spirit, rather than accept the humiliation.
- attempts to remove subjugated spirits from a crafter will result in brain damage, which is always permanent even if the spirit is returned. if all spirits are removed, the crafter will die.
- some crafters, known as 'paranormal crafters' or 'mediums' instead cooperate with spirits, usually stray ones that have become lost after death on their way to the spirit plane.
- these crafters or mediums are looked upon with scorn, due to the odd nature of the magic and how they are likely to go insane, due to the combination of two or more souls within a body.
- however, some mediums have enough willpower to handle the pressure and are thus stronger than crafters by default when it comes to magical output (lapis is one of these)
- because of the strong link with spirits, crafters can only handle holy items or items used to dispel spirits (salt, holy water) with gloves. mediums are able to be fatally wounded by these items, due to the stronger bond with spirits.
- spirits with a large amount of malice and power are able to possess crafters, most spirits are usually drained of their essence and are essentially masses of power. but a spirit with enough malice can fight back and possess a crafter, turning them into a demon. normal people are at risk of possession as well, if they come in contact with a malicious spirit.
- even if a possessed individual is freed of their spirit, they will become nothing more than a violent, empty husk.
- the only people capable of removing subjugated spirits from crafters or removing spirits from those who're possessed are mediums, again due to the strong bond they have with spirits.
- there are other arts available that can suppress spirits, such as those that can trap rogue spirits or those that can create barriers of protection around settlements from rogue spirits. these are sometimes alternate routes if one cannot or does not wish to become a crafter.
Info for Lapis!
👻 Lapis had the talent to become a Crafter, but instead found herself bonding to rogue spirits she came across - being very quiet and withdrawn as a child helped with this. Her only real friends were her elder sister and the spirits that slowly became attached to her, resulting in her becoming a medium. (Age 4)
👻 Her Grandmother was a medium as well, so once Lapis' powers come to light, her parents were quick to hand her over to her Grandmother. Lapis quickly grew to be a capable medium under her Grandmothers tutelage, though her social skills were still greatly lacking.
👻 Lapis became possessed during a task gone wrong, having decided to handle a strong, malicious spirit on her own. It's only because of her own spirits aid and her own stubborn will that she survived, becoming one of the few people to do so - she now possesses a large scar along her abdomen from the incident. (Age 19)
👻 The possession incident has resulted in her having a heightened weakness to holy items or anything that can weaken a medium, due to her death experience.
👻 Her 'medium' for summoning spirits is singing. While she sings as a hobby, her medium singing takes a static quality, making any song she sings sound haunting and chilling.
👻 At her (very overprotective) elder sisters request, she currently works as a stylist to hide what she actually is. Lapis always had a keen interest in fashion, and is actually known as being very skilled in her trade - she's had a few well-known, almost famous, clients.
👻 Completely lost contact with her family, besides her sister. Figures it's better this way, considering her fathers reputation.
👻 Some outfit refs since Lapis is big on fashion; 1 2 3 4 5 6
no subject
- Family gave up legal rights and Slade became a ward of the CC who sponsored him through school. Had to maintain top grades and an otherwise perfect disciplinary record to keep his sponsorship.
- Being the poor kid in the rich schools produced the usual social fun.
- Family maintained contact at first but eventually just faded away.
- Took his second evaluation at age 15 and transferred to an adult level academy.
- The first spirit he bound was nearly too powerful for him to control, leading him to intentionally sacrifice exactly 99% of his soul to harbor it. (Age 16)
- At 18, he graduated as a lattice crafter and was awarded a research fellowship to continue his work.
- At 19, he bound his second great spirit. At present time, both spirits are still within.
- At 20, he was made a full time researcher and given his own lab to create new magictech that could be used for possessions.
- Now at 23, he’s antisocial, pompous, used to acting rich even though he’s far from it, and only cares about his work. His name is well known in his field as a child prodigy but he has less prestige outside of his specialty, as it’s so niche.
- The crystals he wears on his face designate his rank and specialty as well as provide focal point for precision lattice work (such as creating the very, very small barriers or crystal forms found in jewelry, weapons, and so on).