Character Guide v3.0

[Ves]

Here comes version 3 of the Vescrutia character template. It is our most complete one to date and should encompass much of the breadth of character creation for the foreseeable future. Read on and start creating!

Name: Chosen or given name

Order: The form of life your character takes on Vescrutia

Note: Our story takes place on Vescrutia, where anything is possible and everything is permitted. While it is possible to have parents that are from different orders, the child will always be one of its parents Orders. They just take on and evolve a set of traits from both parents. Have fun with it!

Human

Humans are a widespread order of sentient life on Vescrutia. Humans have made their mark on Vescrutia by their innate ability and inclination to weaponize anything and everything. Tools, knowledge, Naten, all bend to the will of human ingenuity. Because of this, they are regarded as violent and cruel creatures, however, humans can also express some of the deepest empathy for others. Paradoxical in nature, humans strive to find purpose in this world and are infamous for not letting anyone or anything stand in the way of their ambition.

Elv

Elvs are creatures on Vescrutia that have evolved to have intellect on par with humans. Elvs are humanlike in some of their features, but retain a strong resemblance to their bestial ancestry. Elvs come in myriad forms from birds to bears to blue whales and share in rich cultures with deep histories.

Fae

Fae are a form of life born from esoteric means. It is a wide sweeping term that encompasses any means of life brought about by mystic means and of its own will. Fae range from forces of nature to ideas and concepts given physical form.

Undead

Any creature that has died and is reanimated with consciousness is undead. Undead vary in shape and size, corporeal or physical, but are understood as a form of life, no matter how twisted. Because of the nature of life and its relationship to the Mother, Undead lose their Anthems upon reanimation, no matter where they come from in the living realm.

Pillars:

Pillars are the backbone of your character and how they interact with the world around them. Who they were influences who they are and who they want to be, and pillars are the markers and milestones on that journey. The world's greatest swordsman has to come from somewhere and want for something, right? How does a thief get into the life of crime? Highlight those moments and motivations here. They ideally can be summed up into one sentence, then add context or flavor text.

Central: Your character’s core identity

Your Central Pillar is who you are at your core, the most important part of your being on Vescrutia at this moment. Are you following the trail of a shady organization, detective? Or are you searching for the cure to Sierra Sickness to save your family, doctor?

Contrast: Trouble you can’t seem to escape

This is the issue plaguing your life, that thing that really pushes you forward to make changes in your life. Contrast Pillars are as small as falling asleep at inappropriate times or as serious as making an enemy of the Kosin River Emperor, who knows what the worst problem is in your life, but it helps if we know a little more about you.

Crossing: How do you know another character on Vescrutia

Vescrutia is all about connections, past present, and future. There's a very good chance that you know someone else on Vescrutia and you can show that love <, hate, or otherwise> here.

Active: What the group is up to this session, this mission, this start

Everyone is somewhere doing something at some point in time. What are you doing as the Alliance's story unfolds?

Unique Marks: Identifying characteristics

This is anything important to visualizing your character and their story. Tell us how you look, and show off!

Bio: Your character’s origin story

Your character’s origin story is the culmination of all the pillars that make up the previous section. It expresses the notion of who they are and why they are here. Sure, all the bells and whistles of powers, abilities, and magics that come next are exciting, but none of it is important without your character’s backstory to support it. Long or short, this is who you are and can grow as your character goes on more adventures and discovers more about the world of Vescrutia.

Anthem: Your unique ability, shared by lineage

The birthright of every Vescrutian that is born Naten is part of a lifelong connection stemming from the first to become Naten Aware, the Makaians. Legend has it, through their existence and evolution, Naten Awareness was granted to the rest of Vescrutia through their Anthem.

Naten Awareness has evolved through the ages into different specialized abilities, honed by the local ecosystem. While everyone can have some aptitude for learning to bend the elements to their will, certain skills are unique to particular bloodlines and are what sets your bloodline apart from each other. Even how you as an individual use your bloodline ability, demonstrated by the Arbiters you develop and utilize, but the harmonic theme, the Anthem, stays the same.

Stellar: A constellation that reflects the star an individual is born under.

Stellars represent the infinite depth and expression of the primordial elements that move the world around us. There are millions of configurations in our global sky that civilizations have used for ages to help explain the relationship between Naten’s effect on the world and people’s ability to harness it. There are countless stellars in the sky above Vescrutia each with its own energy and significance, but it is understood that there are a number of grander configurations that encompass unique elements accessible to most of Vescrutia at large.

Faction: Any organization that your character belongs to

Factions are beholden to schools of thought that bind its members to one another. Families, friends, strangers sharing worldviews, any group sharing a similar line of thinking can be considered a faction and every Faction has a qualifying characteristic to gain designation, but the numbers are as numerous as stars in the sky. The ways that they can change the expression of Naten are just as numerous.

Arbiters: Houses where you can learn and utilize skills

Arbiters are the expressions of Naten on Vescrutia, the spark of creation in all Naten aware entities, their dormant muscle by which they manifest their will. Arbiters can be trained, honed, or Awakened through rigorous work, diligent study, or an existential need. They can exist as unique individual abilities, or as powers unique to a particular group.

Arbiters are separated houses that are determined by your Anthem, Stellar, or Faction. The Houses are as innumerable as the stars in the sky since Naten is an evolving, changing force on Vescrutia.