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  #1  
Old Sep 20th, 2024, 02:53 PM
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The Fallen

Game SystemCypher
ThemeHigh Roleplay, Divine Discovery, Modern


FlavourRoleplay heavy, character deveoplment, humorous, adventurous, Modern


Game
Theme
Mythic Fantasy, Divine Struggles, Redemption and Destruction


Flavour
Dark Epic Fantasy Setting, Fallen Heroes, and Twisted Gods


Game Style
New players are welcome! This is a story-focused game that encourages players to immerse themselves in the world and contribute to a collaborative narrative. Expect a pace of 1-2 GM posts per week, allowing everyone the opportunity to craft quality character arcs and interactions.

The Broken Pantheon
Once, the gods strode amongst mortals, guiding and protecting them through the trials of life. Over time, however, these divine entities faded into myth—lost legends whispered about in hushed tones. But the truth is far darker: a cataclysmic event known as the Rupture shattered the sacred ties between the divine and the mortal realms.

The Fallen—the remnants of divinity that once bestowed grace upon their subjects—now wander the earth as mortals, often unaware of their true heritage and purpose. As dark forces stir and ancient horrors once held at bay by the gods begin to re-emerge, demons and giants from shadowy realms threaten the very existence of civilization.

Those few who still remember the Old Gods yearn for their protection and guidance, heralding a resurgence of faith among the frightened populace. Amidst the chaos, whispers of long-forgotten powers ripple through the lands, calling forth the once-mighty gods—now mere echoes of their former selves—as they grapple with an overwhelming tide of despair.

In this perilous environment, the descendants of the Fallen—demigods and mortal champions alike—must navigate a world rife with ruin, confrontation, and the remnants of forgotten legacies.

Your Quest
Venture forth to uncover the lost divine relics of the old gods. Traverse the treacherous landscapes of shattered realms, where echoes of ancient power brew among the ruins. Unite against the formidable foes that threaten to consume the world in darkness. Will you strive to restore balance to the realms, or will you succumb to the chaos, embracing the shadows and falling further into the abyss?

Character Types
right-aligned image

In The Fallen, your character type will influence your role in the world and your relationship with others. Each type serves as a scaffold for the kind of god you may ultimately become:

Champion:

Purpose: Embody strength and valor, defending the weak and upholding justice.
Awakening Potential: Awaken to the memory of your former role as a god of War, Conflict, or Justice.

Shaper:

Purpose: Possess the power to create and transform, shaping reality to forge new possibilities.
Awakening Potential: Remember your divine creativity and craftsmanship, wielding powers of creation in your journey.

Destroyer:

Purpose: Channel chaos and retribution, striking down those who threaten the innocent.
Awakening Potential: Recall your past as a god of Vengeance, Hunting, or Destruction, using raw power to assert your dominance.

Savior:

Purpose: Guided by compassion and healing, working tirelessly to mend the broken and restore hope.
Awakening Potential: Connect with memories of being a god of Healing, Redemption, or Wisdom, empowering others along your path.
The Setting
The Fallen Lands
The world is a grim tapestry of shattered kingdoms, once vibrant with the favor of the gods. Ancient temples stand in ruin, cities lie abandoned, and vengeful spirits haunt the remnants of civilization. The horrors that the gods once protected against are regaining their strength, lurking in the shadows, ready to strike.

The Rupture
The Rupture was triggered by betrayal among the divine; one among them set a chain of events into motion that unleashed chaos upon the realms. Now, amidst the ashes of their celestial war, the Fallen grasp at the remnants of their former power while the mortal realm grapples with the awakening of dark forces.

Your Character
Name: Your character's name.
Type: Choose your character type (Champion, Shaper, Destroyer, or Savior).
Descriptor: Choose from Cypher or God of the Fall sourcebooks

 


Focus Choose from Cypher or God of the Fall sourcebooks

 

Description: Provide an image or description of your character's appearance, signature style, and demeanor.
Age: Character's age.
Background: Brief history leading to this moment—what was their life like before the Rupture?

Motivations: What drives your character? Are they seeking vengeance, redemption, or a desire to reunite the pantheon?
.
Connection to the Fallen: Describe their relationship with the fallen gods and how it influences their journey.
Writing Sample
Your character encounters a manifestation of a fallen god—an echo of their former self. Write a few paragraphs about the interaction, showcasing your character's thoughts, purpose, and emotional turmoil as they confront this divine remnant.

Deadline for Applications: 10/4


ApplicationsJoin us in The Fallen, where the divine crumbles, and only the bold may rise from the ashes! Unleash your potential and embrace the challenge of reclaiming your destiny!

NamePlayerDescriptor Type Focus
RagnvaldrVatheBrash Champion Sees Beyond


Last edited by Avner; Sep 23rd, 2024 at 12:55 AM.
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  #2  
Old Sep 21st, 2024, 04:58 PM
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I've never played Cypher, but it looks pretty easy to understand for beginners.

I'm interested in playing a ___ champion who sees beyond. But, how much should our characters know about divine ascendacy and the current order of the world? And do we know about the end goal or is it meant to be more of a happenstantial conclusion to our basic motivations?
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Old Sep 21st, 2024, 11:31 PM
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They wouldn't know what god they or domain they are associated with as that would come out during roleplay. The extent at which they know of the fall of the gods would depend on their background, but they would not be aware of the end goal at the beginning. They would be trying to find their part in the world that they are seeing tearing itself apart.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2024, 07:25 AM
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Application
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Ragnvaldr

Descriptor Type Focus
Brash Champion Sees Beyond


Description: Ragnvaldr is a sternly-built man with white hair and a thick jaw. He isn't handsome in a civilized sense, but he has a proud and defiant attitude that forces people to look his way.

Age: 32

Background: A swordsmith and warrior from the boreal forests. Ragnvaldr has lived as a member of the three tribes all his life, trading between nomadic and settled living when it suited him.

Notably, Ragnvaldr is not a blacksmith, he is a swordsmith. And to the three tribes, who demand usefulness, this defiance about his craft has made him many enemies.

Motivations: Above all things, Ragnvaldr is a man of order. He wants to shape the world around him to his sensibilities, with every person and thing in their rightful place. While he can be persuaded to ignore his divine order, it will aggravate him, like a scholar who must kowtow to an idiot.

His most firm order is to give power to those who could be strong. He thinks mankind needs powerful leaders if the world is to be right.

Connection to the Fallen: Ragnvaldr is not a godly man, primarily because they can do nothing for him and he is not meek enough to need divine guidance.

While this is his viewpoint, in truth, Ragnvaldr has been blessed with divine sight. He can see beyond the veil of the material world, to the strings of souls and creation. He sees all the colors that exist, and spirits and auras radiate across everything in his vision. If he is not close to the gods, then no man is.


Writing SampleWIP

Last edited by Vathe; Sep 22nd, 2024 at 07:40 AM.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2024, 03:00 PM
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I'm working over a concept in my head, but things aren't quite coming together. Are there any descriptors in Gods of the Fall that would be good for adding some actual crafting skills onto a Shaper?
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Old Sep 22nd, 2024, 04:59 PM
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Intelligent would give you a knowledge skill. It's the only descriptor I found that does. Otherwise, anything that would give you a knowledge skill can be used for an area of crafting.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2024, 12:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaigen View Post
I'm working over a concept in my head, but things aren't quite coming together. Are there any descriptors in Gods of the Fall that would be good for adding some actual crafting skills onto a Shaper?
Remember it doesn't have to fit perfectly and we can always tweek some of the verbiage to make it fit better if needed. Intelligent is a good recommendation, but here are two more that also might work, depending on what you are going for with the character idea. I suspect you can really get into the Shaper with your Foci more than your descriptor with the descriptor helping to describe what kind of Shaper you are... are you more like Hephaestus or Ra? Are you like Thor or Zeus? They are similarly tied to a Shaper type roll for Fire or Storm but all very different.

Beyond the descriptors below you could be Brash, Vengeful, Perceptive, Honrable, Calm, or even appealing. You don't need to go all in on one ability but can craft your character from molding descriptors and foci together to support your concept of your Type.

Check out the list here.

 


 

Last edited by Avner; Sep 23rd, 2024 at 12:57 AM.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2024, 11:30 AM
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I am somewhat familiar with Cypher but not with this setting. It sounds really interesting. I may need a little assistance with details on my Type if selected as I do not have the relevant source material. Here is my character concept:

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Name: Mouse
Descriptor/Type/Focus: A Stealthy Destroyer who Walks With The Night
Description: Mouse has always been small for his age, and even now stands barely 5 foot tall. He is lean and wiry, and due to childhood injuries and illness he may seem to move somewhat awkward or unsteady. The left side of his face and neck is still scored by marks from some unknown pox. He hides all this beneath a billowing dark cloak, mask and pulled down hood. The disease also left his voice somewhat raspy, so he tends to speak little and not above a whisper. All of this will often come across as timidness and lends itself to his nickname.
Age: 23 (looks much younger)

Background: If Mouse ever had another name, he doesn’t remember it. He really doesn’t remember much from his early years – just brief flashes of a kindly face or gentle hands now and then. His first real memories are of life on the street. His small size meant he was constantly being victimized by the bigger street kids. They would beat him for what meager scraps he stole or begged, so Mouse learned early how to run and how to hide. He found he had something of a gift for hiding – the shadows seemed to call to him, even reaching out to help conceal him. They didn’t always manage to save him, but often enough that he survived. Over time, the shadows even seemed to whisper to him, urging him to defend others like himself or get revenge on those who had wronged an innocent. He didn’t seek out such things, but it was like he kept stumbling into such situations – perhaps led or pulled to the area by their shared suffering. In the light he may have seemed timid, but in the dark with a knife in hand it is another story all together.

Motivations: Mouse has come to hate injustice – particularly those who pick on the weak or the innocent. He recognizes this as more than just an individual problem, but systemic of their society. For the longest time he felt powerless to do much about it, but under the cover of darkness he has started to try and make a difference – to teach those who abuse power that there are consequences.

Connection to the Fallen: Mouse couldn’t care less about the gods. What did they ever do for him, or others like him? It took money, power or influence to get noticed – even by the gods - none of which they would ever have. If the little people wanted justice, then it would be up to the little people to take it.

Writing Sample: He was finally loosing it, he had to be. Shadows didn’t move on their own, not even for him. And yet this one was. Mouse watched as it travelled down the street, seemingly growing and shrinking in response to lanterns and torches – almost as if there was someone walking down the street casting it. But there was no one. Mouse knew this because it was a misty night, and despite the shadow’s steady progress the mist didn’t stir one bit. There were no splashes or ripples in puddles it passed. There was no sound. In fact, the night had gone surprisingly still.

Slipping silently through the shadows himself, Mouse followed the rouge shadow as it turned into an alley. The end of the alley was partially blocked by a ramshackle hovel one of the locals had thrown up against another building. It belonged to an herbalist known to Mouse by reputation only. He sold a few common medicinal herbs, but his real trade was in illegal substances. Mouse didn’t partake, though he could sympathize with those who did. Sometimes it was the only escape one could find.

A sudden chill shot up Mouse’s spine as the shadow ghosted right up to the hovel and then through it – almost as if the hovel hadn’t existed when the shadow had been cast. Hurrying around the building mouse quickly discovered he had lost sight of it. It had vanished into greater darkness.

Wrapping his cloak more tightly about him, Mouse went back to scrounging for his next meal. Whatever he had encountered was far beyond him, but worrying about it would not put food in his mouth or coin in his purse. As much as he resolved to put the incident behind him though, he couldn’t quite shake the image of the strangely independent shadow gliding along the street.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2024, 12:34 PM
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To be clear, I do own a copy of the Cypher System Rulebook, I just wasn't sure if "knowledge skills" would cover crafting, since I'm used to system considering those distinct categories (and with skills in particular, Cypher is very "whatever the group thinks works"). I also wasn't sure if the descriptor "Mechanical" would fit well with this setting.

I'm drawing inspiration from a god from the game Wildermyth, "Daylig Dayn," also known as the Stoneshearing God, who separates "is" from "is-not." Tentatively, I'm thinking of an Intelligent Shaper who Dances with Dark Matter. I'll work up a full application in the next few days.
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Old Sep 24th, 2024, 07:34 PM
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Okay, I'm working on the background portion, and I'm getting myself confused about whether the Rupture was a very recent event or one more distant in the past. If our character is in their 20's or 30's, is it something they would theoretically have lived through, or is it history from before they were born?

My impression is that we were divinities, so before it we were kicking around as gods, but would we have false/fuzzy memories of a life before the Rupture, or is this more of a situation where we've been reincarnated and had full mortal lives up until this point?
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Old Sep 24th, 2024, 11:50 PM
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For all you know you are mortals. You Rupture happened long ago to the point that most people do not believe the gods were ever real and think of them as myths much like we think of ancient mythology today.
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Old Sep 25th, 2024, 06:41 AM
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Hmmm, I have been watching this one.

So, you have a champion, a shaper and a destroyer.

Would you like a saviour? I can work on one, looking at the Beneficent descriptor. I'd like a healing focus and am going through that (rather long!) list now.

Is that cool? Are you going with a party of four for this game?

If so, I will seek some inspiration to flesh out my character...
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Old Sep 25th, 2024, 07:42 AM
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Man, now I wanna throw my hat in the ring. How many players are you looking for? I see that you've already had interest in all the roles, does party composition matter much to you?
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Old Sep 26th, 2024, 11:17 AM
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application, complete barring feedback
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Created with SaintSam's Dark Fantasy Character Creator on Picrew
Name: Wyrhta
An Intelligent Shaper who Dances with Dark Matter

Appearance: Ragged blue-black hair, chopped short with a knife whenever it gets too long. Wears a shawl that covers the shoulders and upper arms and chest over a tunic.

Age: 26

Background: Wyrhta has always had a sharp memory, an eye for shapes, and an intuition for the potential that resides in the otherwise unremarkable. Wood and stone whisper secrets to them, and they are known for producing good work to suit a variety of needs. If those needs are not what the commissioner required, there will doubtless be someone willing to take it off their hands.

Wyrhta's magical talents first manifested in the form of objects that displeased them exploding dramatically, which provided a natural impetus to learning how to control and develop them. For one, there's no call for destroying things left and right simply because they do not suit their sensibilities. For another, breaking objects at a distance has many uses.

Motivations: The world has been broken. However one feels about that, it is irrevocable fact. What interests Wyrhta is the shapes hidden in the pieces left behind, and the opportunity to carve something new and nourishing from the rubble.

Connection to the Fallen: Wyrhta had been on their way to the quarry to inspect materials when the earth had opened up beneath them and swallowed them whole. Miraculously, they were not seriously injured, but they were trapped in a cave under a narrow circle of light from the hole above them. Their priority should have been finding a way out, but a large boulder just at the edge of the light spoke to them.

Reaching for their tools, Wyrhta began to carve. Slowly, slowly, a round, brooding figure emerged. Blank eyes, the vague suggestion of a beak, small hands grasping a stone cut like a gem. Dust and sweat caked Wyrhta unnoticed, the stone body taking shape in front of them more real than their own.

When Wyrhta finally sat back, finished, the darkness around them no longer seemed empty. It vibrated with intangible substance.

Blessings of Daylig Dayn excerpted from the Wildermyth event "Heart of Stone," written by Jeremy Bernstein & Douglas Austin."Where there is shape, a blade has been. / Hallowed are the hands that out of the makeless solid, trim space for existence."

The words might have come from the crowded darkness or Wyrhta's throat. Ribbons of nothingness uncoiled and gather around them, lifting them up out of the hole and back to the surface. It was night, and when Wyrhta looked up, the space between the stars had texture like hewn stone.
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Old Sep 26th, 2024, 03:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirviantis View Post
Man, now I wanna throw my hat in the ring. How many players are you looking for? I see that you've already had interest in all the roles, does party composition matter much to you?
Heya Sirv! *waves*

I'm in plenty of games so am happy to step back if you want to try for the Saviour.

Mitsy
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