[✓] [CA Race Lore] Zar'akal - Armed & Dangerous

[Pallodium 3775]

PREFACE

Spoiler

 

 

This was supposed to come out a long time ago LOL but i got caught up in finals and tests and had to delay it until i was done with them.

 

 

A rehash of the last attempt, following the changes suggested by ST whilst also cutting a combative spell and replacing it with a noncombative, flavour-driven roleplay ritual. Hey there, to summarize the changes beyond the suggestions, we wanted to go for a more coven-based take with this, having an additional ritual to permit this further coven/cabal-based roleplay which a leadership endgame CA like Zar’akal should be capable of doing, hence the additional ‘Greater Court’ rite we’ve added- beyond that, everything here has been fixed to fit with the compile suggestions. 

 

In the event of this piece passing, the ritual of Razi Ra’akal within the Naztherak lorepiece should be removed, given that a completely reworked version of that exists within this lorewrite.

- pallo, weasel, and co.

 

【 A R M E D   &   D A N G E R O U S 】

 

War-chants ring out in the infernal tongue; as the seams of the High Hells tremor, nausea floods what scarce infernal things gather about the blooddrenched battlefields, consecrated within an inverted citadel- a cobbled-together aberration of masonry of some Hazmic architecture fused with that of a druidic battlement- both equally as corrupted and ransacked into a pastiche of a fortress. It stands inverted, propped upon a ceiling- gravity weighing down on all within, almost threatening to stretch their forms apart until they ripped in twain- yet they remained fixated on their task on hand, a foul rite that seemed to unfold in the silenced chambers.

 

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

The sky is choked with ash and green,

A poison mist, a sickly sheen.

The Serpent stirs beneath the world,

His coils, a nightmare, dark unfurled.

He demands a feast to sleep again,

A harvest of the sons of men.

And so we stand, a trembling throng,

To end the day and end the song.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

 

Foundlings lay cloistered around an elevated monarch of the infernal craft. Ichor spilt in ritual chiding, as sacrosanct daggers were passed around from one peon to another. A glint of steel. A flash of light. Blood spilt blood, and chaos ensued. The bodies of the many crumple to the floor as if rubbish compacted for the heap, squelching viscera onto the stone that hangs above the inverted room. Their vessels writhe in pain as the weight of their own travesty shackles them, as they crunch to meagre carcasses one after another. And one by one, the cadavers seethed in plumes of reddened smog. The flesh lapsed upon their surface erodes. And there, amongst them all, stood a great, burning eye. It watched and it knew. It seized and it saw. It bared the soul and it howled, as feelings flooded into all.

[ᴛʜɪꜱ ʟᴏʀᴇᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅɢᴀᴍᴇ [ᴄᴀ] ᴏꜰ ɴᴀᴢᴛʜᴇʀᴀᴋ.]

 

A death to triumph them all. A soul twisted, marred- it may escape the fetters the pentacle has marred upon their flesh, as shackle and brand meld unto prison and viscera. Ascendance is a faux name for this action- for this is no true leap unto the above. This is the means to escape the inevitable, the creation of life from the draining nature of death. Paligenosis.

 

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

Vultures are holy creatures.

Tending the dead.

Bowing low. Bared head.

Whispers to cold flesh,

“Your old name is not your king

I rename you 'Everything'.”

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

 

An infernal prince is ever-approaching their apotheosis, from the day the encroaching brand sets within their flesh and maleus scorches their soul. One who has reached the pinnacle of infernal wickery mortalkind bears but a sole means forth- the rapturement of their mortal ichor and ivory into that infernal. The greatest blasphemy- to eviscerate what remains of their soul, and from the ashes shed their mortality in whole.

 

Through surrendering what remains of their self to the High Hells of Moz’strimoza, their flesh is irreversibly marred and warped to reflect their soul-shredded apparatus- they become a Twisted King, an Inferi in its own right, and yet with bare fragments of that warlock which preceded them. They are often distinguished above other Inferi- greater beings, their hell-ridden flesh and soul furiously riddled with that which they are not- an apotheosis of flesh, yet not of soul.

 

Individuals who ascend into being Zar'akal are permanently rendered this way, with fundamentally no means to undo the transformation- they are eternally raptured into this sickening, twisted nature. Nothing can revert a Zar'akal into a mortal or even into any other [CA] whatsoever- it is an 'incurable' state of being. In the event that an individual gets a blacklist from Zar'akal, they are indefinitely shelved within Moz'Strimoza until their blacklist ends- or if it is a permanent blacklist, are irrevocably stuck within its confines.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

Spoiler

♚ Zar’akal requires a T5 Naztherak to have dedicated [4] magic slots to Naztherak to undergo Paligenosis, consuming no further slots.

♚ Zar’akal requires an active [CA] to play, which is gained via undergoing the creation ritual.

♚ Zar’akal are incompatible with all other [CAs].

♚ Zar’akal can solely learn the magics of Blood Magic and Bonded Seers of Vaasek, and compatible Blood Marriage marriage pages unless specified otherwise.

♚ Zar’akal can solely learn feats which are knowledge-based. 

 

 

The process towards Paligenosis is not one of simple sacrifice and determination- it is the making of an emperor from a prince, the crowning of a visceral monarch. Inauguration is a twisted ritual, one requiring a Zar’akal’s own dominion to proceed- or done through the sacrifice of a greatest kin in ritual slaughter.

 

The ritual of Inauguration may be undergone through two paths- one of Crowning, and one of Fratricide. Through the former, [1] Zar’akal must lead the rite- assisted by [2] T5 Naztherak- yet through the latter, more foul method, [5] T5 Naztherak must lead the ritual in tandem, in which one of them is willingly and brutally torn apart by the wrath of the High Hells- and their soul and flesh irrevocably exhumed into Moz’strimoza as penance for the creation.

 

The grounds of inauguration are often decorated and inscribed with means respective to the patron of the ascendee, fashioned with animal sacrifice and foul litanies of inscriptions to invoke their blessing. No matter the means of the crowning, the ritual occurs much the same- each participating individual must pitch forth [50] counts of Maleus within the ascendee’s flesh as they are sunk within a pit of sickly gore, brutally weaving it within their flesh- overcome by a slough of the crimson ichor and viscera as their flesh bubbles and seethes into the foul sanctum.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

Spoiler

♚ Inauguration is the creation method for Zar’akal, which bears two differing methods- crowning from another Zar’akal and fratricide of their kin. The knowledge of this ritual is inherent to all whom either bear a Naztherak TA or are a Zar’akal- one can only lead this ritual if they are one of the above.

♚ A Zar’akal can only lead the Inauguration of another Zar’akal [1] time per OOC month, and a Zar’akal cannot lead this until they have been one for [3] OOC months. To lead Inauguration is innate knowledge.

♚ One can only become a Zar’akal if they are T5 in the magic and have dedicated all [4] slots to it.

♚ Through crowning, [1] Zar’akal can ascend another through the assistance of [2] T5 Naztherak, each of those participating expending [50] counts of maleus. Through fratricide, [5] T5 Naztherak can collectively ascend another, each of those participating expending [50] counts of maleus- whilst one of them has to willingly offer up their soul and flesh as liaison to the infernal, irrevocably PKing them. Evolved Zar'ei may not partake in this ritual of transcendence- they are beings of lesser infernal nature with not nearly the prowess needed to assist in such an elevated rite.

♚ The creation of a Zar’akal does not require one’s RP consent, yet OOC consent is required.

♚ Upon completion, the newly-inaugurated Zar’akal is soft-shelved until their [CA] is accepted.

♚ Should this ritual go unfinished or interrupted post-maleus infusion, the subject falls into a state of great sickness, leaving them weakened and frail for [1] OOC week, where they cannot cast any infernal abilities nor undergo the ritual until said time has elapsed. 

 

 

Zar’akal are no longer Descendants. They are no longer mortal, they are no longer true flesh and blood. They are no longer bound by the constraints of their descendant-flesh; they are indistinguishable from other Inferi, their Naztherak mutations heightened and their image hideously warped. This new flesh of theirs is impervious to the effects of malflame.

 

Their physical appearance reflects the truly monstrous nature of their being sufficiently- harrowed remnants of souls encapsulated in infernal organs and rakir. Mutated even more grotesquely than that of a Naztherak, they resemble large abominable beasts the likes are heard of only in nightmarish mythos. They can take a vast range of stature and appearances, from one to another. Some emerge as horned humanoids, while others are born as monstrous amalgams of their former selves in respect to the patron who has chosen them. Kings claimed by Kiiztria, for example, may emerge as serpentine hybrids, while Kings claimed by Kholidav may appear a hideous, rotting winged creature. To some degree, their shape should be vaguely in attribution to their patron- and they are never capable of mimicking another playable creature within their form.

 

They can emerge taller or shorter after their transformation, reaching a maximum of [8] feet and a minimum of [4] feet. Zar’akal possess a deeper pool of [80] maleus and lose the physical weakness obtained from the connection as a Naztherak, matching peak human strength and agility of their prior mortal race.. As well, the Zar’akal is capable of casting without a grimoire should they choose, wherein the emote of grabbing one is substituted for a different optional tell, such as a glow in the chest, roaring gouts of malflame embers, wisps of smoke, etc. Their blood is entirely replaced with genus-infused rakir, bearing a heightened [20] counts a week and able to expend [10] a day.

 

As a soul sacrificed for the sakes of the infernal, Zar’akal are utterly immune to the effects of all malflame- a blessing doled down to them as a convolution of their nature. A zar’akal finds no benefit from consuming nor applying alchemical compounds to their flesh, be it fluid potions, gaseous substrates, or grafted clay; however, potions whose effects are physical and non-internally affecting (blasting potion, tanglefoot, etc.) and those whose effects are intrusive to the flesh (flame oil, frost oil) still affect them.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

Spoiler

♚ Zar'akal are sterile and unable to FTB or engage in romance RP, similarly to other Inferi.

♚ A Zar’akal bears [80] counts of maleus and [5] genus daily, and [20] counts of rakir weekly.

♚ Zar’akal are entirely immune to malflame’s soul-affecting burns, be that their own or another’s. Condensed and hardened forms of malflame still impact them, yet do not impart any burns.
♚ Any damage done to the Zar’akal, including severed appendages or limbs, will regenerate upon revival. Players can opt to transfer some damage over in the form of lasting scars if they so desire. Horns, although exceptionally strong, can be broken and will regrow over time.

♚ The twisted king’s appearance is vastly freeform- whilst always demonic, it can vary vastly from one to another. Their natural infernal state cannot be attractive in any capacity- The Zar'akal, to some capacity, must appear demonic. Simply putting on horns, claws, and fangs to an otherwise average-appearing character will not suffice. They must look unsettling, scary, demonic, monstrous, etc in some form. These forms must always draw upon some aspect of their Zar'rokul whom they pacted to- be it metaphorically in their presentation or quite literally.

♚ Zar’akal are unaffected by alchemy that requires consumption/absorption into the body to work, both internally and externally- their form rejects it.

♚ By way of their demonic frame and figure, Zar’akal regain the strength they pacted away, albiet capped at peak human strength.

♚ Zar’akal cannot be bound by Naztherak whatsoever.

♚ A twisted king’s composure cannot imitate any other approved [CA], meaning they cannot have appearances similar to Nephilim and Tree Lords, but still can have a loosely-draconic or petrified-like (but not wood-esque) appearance so that it is clear they are not one of those [CAs].

♚ Zar’akal do not need sleep, but must eat, drink and breathe. If a Zar’akal is forced to subsist upon plant-based foods, they cannot maintain their peak physical strength. Their appearance can deteriorate to connote this.

♚ When not using their Facade, a Zar’akal is considered a ‘revealed dark creature.’ Holy magics are effective against the Zar’akal, causing a burning sensation upon mere contact and additional pain and burns when struck with spells.

♚ A Zar’akal can be harvested for [5] units of rakir upon death in a freeform fashion, as per the Infernal Compendium lore. One could quickly draw it from them with a needle or attempt to squeeze it out of a severed limb, for example.

♚ As mentioned above, the “grimoire emote” can be substituted for a different connection action, though it can also be broken in the same way a Naztherak’s would be, emoted in audible distance to those it pertains to.

♚ Any limbs beyond two arms and two legs are oft crippled and harder to control by the inferi. Strength is still split equally among the limbs, yet two of those limbs cannot combatively wield any weapons or items and can merely do pushing/slapping blows, and can merely don light armor on these extra appendages. Non-combatively, these can still be used freely to any extent.

♚ Natural ‘armor’ cannot be more resilient than ceramic and although may protect from bladed weapons, will still be harmed by polehammers and other blunt weaponry, or penetrated by crossbow bolts etc. This natural armor/carapace cannot be over joints, or otherwise over places were you could normally not have regular armor. If external armor is worn, the natural armor erodes into the flesh and vanishes, returning only after the Zar'akal has rested for [12] OOC hours.

♚ Swords and axes will chip off pieces of this armor, without getting into the flesh beneath. Contrarily, hammers, maces, high-density volatite, resonatium, and so on will shatter the armor around the strike and render it useless for protection from future blows, whilst also only bruising the flesh beneath.

♚ Weapon-like limbs, teeth, claws etc. are on par with bone. They cannot penetrate anything stronger than light armor.

♚ A Zar’akal cannot remain functional without a head or heart. The heart will always be located on the left side of the torso, while the head above the shoulders.

 

 

The foul emperors of the hellish regimes are not immune to all that purges the world; they too, have crippling banes doled within the litany of boons that scourge and harrow upon their forms, some more severe than others. The many cruel benedictions their paligenosis bears permit them to be gruesome foes in their grand purges, yet those well-prepared or bearing forbidden arts can end a Zar’akal’s rancor before it truly begins.

 

Aᴜʀᴜᴍ / Hᴏʟʏ Mᴀɢɪᴄꜱ: No matter the means to the end, a Zar’akal is an inferi, albeit a greater one. The scornful wounds Aurum (and Argentum) inflicts and the divine magicks of the holy arts afflict them as if a Revealed Dark Creature, and armaments of such hit it as if they were made from steel- eliciting no additional physical harm to the Zar'akal, but causing severe pain to it.

 

Tʜᴀɴʜɪᴄ Sᴛᴇᴇʟ: Wounds inflicted by thanhic steel char away at a Zar’akal’s maleus and inhibit their casting- what remnants which taint their blood slowly burned away through their maleus and rakir, albeit wounding it massly. Cuts inflicted by thanhium or thanhic crystals within the bloodstream will prevent a Zar’akal from casting until the end of the combative encounter post-exposure, and burns away [5] counts of maleus per hit.

 

Tʜᴇ Hᴇᴀᴅ / Tʜᴇ Hᴇᴀʀᴛ: Although a Zar’akal proves stubborn in the face of death, their bodies’ composure relies on the constant flow of genus and rakir throughout their body and to their skull; the complete beheading of a King or stabbing of the heart, regardless of material makeup, will result in their immediate death- the most simple means of death. If their head is in any way severely damaged (e.g. if it is crushed, slashed open, incinerated to ash) by anything that would kill a mortal, it similarly will perish.

 

Fʟᴇꜱʜ ᴀɴᴅ Bᴏɴᴇ: The constitution of a Zar’akal is innately, still made of flesh and bone. They are capable of being wounded as any unaltered “normal” descendant would be. Although incapable of killing a Zar’akal, anything capable of damaging a mortal descendant is capable of damaging and inhibiting a Zar’akal as well; their ability to sense and move is still anchored on the health of their respective sensory organs and nerve endings, as well as their muscles, tendons, ligaments and the bones they cling to. A twisted king whose bicep is split open will lose the same capacity for movement in that limb as a descendant in the same situation; a twisted king whose eyes are gouged will similarly be blinded until their eyes regenerate and so on. 

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

Spoiler

♚ Aurum, Argentum, and Holy Magics affect a Zar’akal as if they were a revealed Dark Creature, functioning like normal.

♚ Cuts made with thanhic steel, or Thanhium otherwise within the bloodstream, locks the Zar’akal out of all casting, up to and including shifting in and out of their Facade. Every hit destroys [5] counts of maleus per cut within the flesh.

♚ A Zar’akal cannot be physically “headless” or “heartless.” They will always possess both reflective of basic descendent anatomy, in that the head is at the top between the shoulders and the heart is at the front left side of the torso. Their Inferis form cannot appear vague or interpretive enough in order to increase the difficulty with which they’re slain. They can be slain with any material or metal.

♚ A Zar’akal’s internal composure still has organs, flesh, blood, and bones- they can be harmed by anything that could harm a normal descendant, incapacitating them in the same way; however, so long as they bear both their heart and their head, they are still capable of thought. Zar’akal cannot ‘bleed out’ like mortal beings would. Their control over their limbs and senses are reliant upon their physical form, yet can toggle off feeling if they so wish. If their form takes damage which would prevent a mortal from doing similar movements or see/feel through sensory organs, a twisted king too will be unable to move or sense through those points.

 

 

With their last vestiges of mortal mundanity cast away, a Zar’akal is consumed almost entirely by their Malice. Their newfound form brings with it the catalyst to their mental undoing, wherein the will to walk this accursed path has trumped their humanity. They are selfish to a fault, shedding the moral laws of man that hindered their goals. The primary malice is further emphasized, dominating the Zar’akal’s fractured mind, as well as their secondary malice to a lesser degree. The Twisted King may find they hear their Zar’rokul more readily now, or are merely broken and delirious enough to believe they do. Sleep is no longer a necessity for it, now capable of keeping awake for as long as they please without tiring or succumbing to side effects or fatigue, but they can certainly pretend to rest should it wish to put on a farce of humanity. The whispers and nightmares bestowed upon them by their patron do not fade, but instead, such a wretched thing might find comfort in them.

 

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

 

A Zar’akal’s mentality is as complex as it is nuanced, and understood by few. While they are capable of putting on a front of goodwill and mercy, even the vested Naztherak themselves may struggle to discern the true, hidden motives of the King in times of wroth or apparent forgiveness. The faults and flaws that once lead him down this accursed path in the first place magnify to their absolute apex, swallowing him whole. Vices such as arrogance, jealousy, cruelty, vindictiveness, manipulation, etc. no longer simply linger in their mind in tandem with their once-virtues, but instead rise to the surface, unbridled, unchecked, and untempered. 

 

Among their circle, there are those who he regards with varying attitudes, individuals that play different roles within their sullen life. They are monsters with little regard for their once-kin, who they now see as souls to devour or playthings to manipulate- as greater ones, at that, they too view the lesser Inferi of Zarei, Zevn, and Zekul as naught but pawns and playthings for their cause. While the sentimental bonds they once shared with friends, family, and allies may become corrupted  and regarded as mere tools,  there are those capable of evoking varying attitudes from the Twisted King. They may expend protection and assistance to those in need, but it’s a far cry from true affection or loyalty. Instead, it’s a calculative move designed to ensure his own advancement and agenda, where conventions such as loyalty and trust are mere tools to be wielded and betrayal a threat to be guarded.

 

Some of his allies, perhaps out of denial for his macabre metamorphosis or foolish bravery, might refuse to keel over in the face of his wrath and accept the domination he seeks to employ over others, inspiring little more than wrath, for their insolence is a stain on his pride. There are those whose existence may invoke indifference, for their memory might grip the frayed edges of their mind, but are ultimately inconsequential to their desires, and those who are lucky even capable of inspiring a semblance of camaraderie from the King, should they find their intellect and prowess to rival its own. 

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

Spoiler

♚ Zar’akal are selfish beings. They have lost all sense of humanity whatsoever, and serve solely for their own sakes and power- driven by their own goals above all else. This extends to their view upon lesser inferi and Naztherak, viewing them as little but tools and pawns.

♚ All memories, skills, knowledge, etc all remain intact at the player's discretion from the being they were before they became a Zar’akal.

♚ The implication of emotions and mental dispositions such as moral dilemma, uncertainty, etc, are restricted to only their Facade form, and not their innate form- even when within a Facade, this twisted disposition is still prevalent.

♚ This is not a total erasure of the effects of one’s malices or striith influence, and should be treated no differently than when one was a mortal T5 Naztherak.

♚ A Zar’akal can utilize Prince’s Presence to a more freeform and twisting ends, though still should never utilize it for sheer showcases of immense power.

 

 

Living vessels of rakir, maleus, and genus melded into one from the remnants of their predecessor, a Zar’akal’s powers are greater than that of the mundane infernals, and too beyond that of the prince it once was- an emperor befitting of a regime must bear force and trickery accustomed to such, and thus it shall be. These abilities are inherent to all twisted kings, and can solely be utilized by their ilk, with each spell requiring instead the full emote count as listed.

 

[OOC NOTE]: Within the following two portions, there are abilities and rituals which may require OOC consent as an optional choice to undergo certain things– however, there is another way to gain consent for these without going about OOC mechanics. Individuals who willingly accept a Boon from a Zar’akal IRPly consent to all OOC-consent mechanics within this lorepiece so long as that Boon is still branded upon their body; as per Naztherak lore, they may merely scratch it out to remove that Boon, and hence also remove the OOC consent they can default to.

 

REBIRTH - [Noncombative]

The ascension to Zar’akal breaks the shackles binding a False Prince to the standard cycles of life and death. Now bound to the pentacle and their whims, a Zar’akal’s soul will be banished to Moz Strimoza upon the demise of their physical form. In these hellish planes the wretched soul thrives, mending itself of wounds sustained.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

Depending on the manner of death, a Zar’akal  is slowly refabricated within the material plane, reformed within the following timeframes:

     ≣ Lesser Death: The Zar’akal will regenerate in [3] OOC days.
        လ Deaths via most forms and means will incur this.
    ≣ Moderate Death: The Zar’akal will regenerate in [5] OOC days.
        လ Deaths via aurum, holy magic or thanhium will incur this..

     ≣ Cannibalism: The Zar’akal will not regenerate innately.

         လ Deaths via Zar’akal cannibalism will incur this.

 

If a Zar’akal is consumed—alive or dead—by another Zar’akal within the same RP encounter, they can only be resurrected through the Rite of Revival, R̸̤̻̼̄a̴̤̯̔̒͛z̷̪̚i̵̩̠̓͜͠ ̶̢̗͇̋̇̉R̴͚̈́a̵̱̞̋’̶̜̞̅͠ä̵͙́̈́k̴̠̆̈́ͅa̴̧̹̓͜ľ̶̠. The devouring must occur during the same event the death takes place. Despite their regenerative essence, death remains a significant consequence; upon dying, their soul is cast into Moz’Strimoza upon death- a plane of eternal bloodlust, carnage, and torment to all that is infernal, something nigh-all strive to avoid to all ends. On the material plane, these emperors retain vivid and powerful memories and phantom pains of their time in such a domain.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Precisely [3] emotes after a Zar’akal perishes, it’s body unravels in a burst of hued maleus that flows from it’s corpse as it dissipates. If a Zar’akal is successfully cannibalized during this time, it must be marked on their CA denoting when and by who, including the character name and IGN. It is the responsibility of the cannibalizing player to update the ST of such.

♚ Although they are immortal, the Zar’akal must still roleplay their crippling fear of death. They can make bluffs alluding to their immortality as a means of intimidation or fearmongering, but they can never truly rid themselves of this chronic dread. 

♚ Zar’akal cannot recall the details of their death including those who aided in their death, the location of such, etc, nor can they infer such based on the amount of time they were in limbo for. The memory will have been overshadowed by the torturous time they spent in the High Hells, where their sense of time is warped and distorted. Purely for the sake of flavor RP, the Zar’akal can acknowledge their own death by virtue of being an immortal creature, but this cannot be used to uncover other details of their death.

♚ Revival should not be used as a means to continuously harass players with poor villainy. This is considered an abuse of the CA and is grounds for a blacklist.

♚ PvP death, as well as RP ‘executions’ emoted out following PvP follow these death mechanics fully.

 

FACADE - [Noncombative]

Through the meddling and twisting of their inner maleus, rakir, and the searing of their devouring litany into a foul pact, a means to lull descendants into false feelings of safety; the Zar’akal can temporarily take mortal shape by siphoning soul essence untainted by maleus. This form is not permanent, however. A reminder that true humanity is no longer theirs, nor will it ever be.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

A Zar’akal, after use of Devour if they are so willing, can spend an additional [1] emote to rip forth further untainted anima, as maleus spills around them. This occurs in a [2] meter radius around the Zar’akal, the aesthetics left to the player so long as clear tells are conveyed; such as tendrils of malflame wrapping around a target, or a shimmering pentacle beneath as the twisted king conducts a sickly ritual. Once complete, the victim is left in a lethargic state for [1] OOC hour, too weak for combat but able to attempt escape and recover their energy. A side effect of intermingling with the corruption of a Zar’akal leaves the victim’s complexion withered and wrinkled, as if they had suddenly aged decades (or centuries, for elves). This can be remedied with sprog’s elixir, though it slowly reverts back within [1] OOC week.

 

A Zar’akal experiences the adverse. Over the course of [2] emotes, they revert into a seemingly more mortal form for [7] OOC days, unless forcefully broken- their chosen appearance cannot be altered unless they siphon the anima from another. In this faux disguise, they must don at least [3] of the mutations which Cursed Children bear, stated below- as too, do they bear the pacting mutations they once bore as a mortal. This disguise is broken over the course of exposure to dragonsflame, malflame, or any deep wound- applying any of these for at least [2] emotes upon them will rip and shred this faux disguise away.

 

     ⛧ forked tongues

     ⛧ slitted, goatlike, small, large, or entirely absent pupils 

     ⛧ coloured or translucent eyeballs

     ⛧ serpentine tails 

     ⛧ scaly, snake-like skin which sheds periodically

     ⛧ translucent, yet still unnaturally-coloured, skin

     ⛧ hair and nails which bleed when cut, alopecia, a lack nails of nails or nails which grow black and pointed

     ⛧ webbed digits

     ⛧ horns of keratin protruding from the head. It is possible for them to connect in the middle, resembling a halo

     ⛧ keratin spikes which jut from the collarbones, shoulders, elbows or knees (or all of the above)

     ⛧ feathers jutting from anywhere on the body

     ⛧ goat, bat, snake, crow, or feline-like facial structures and nasal shapes

     ⛧ cloven hooves of keratin in place of feet

     ⛧ pointed, fang-like canines

 

It is not unusual for a Zar’akal  to behave differently in this form, for donning the flesh of the past can be conflicting for some. For example, a Zar’akal might become overwhelmed with despair over failures of their time as a mortal, disgusted by those they once considered friends, doubt the truth of their reality, or even have their mind shatter completely. When within this form, a twisted king will seek to avoid being within the proximity of holy spells while disguised. This is defined as a range of [20] meters with line of sight. This aversion can come as vehement disgust, profound fear, or whatever else might reason him to slip away from the company holy casting. Should they linger for more than [4] emotes, they will be seized by gradually increasing migraines, cold-sweats, and other forms of unwellness until they abandon the scene.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Facade costs no units of maleus.

♚ Facade requires [1] additional emote post-Devour to utilize.

♚ When an appearance is decided, it cannot be changed unless another descendant is exhausted; Facade’s disguise cannot be stacked upon other methods of disguise, such as Seer’s and Voidal Illusion’s respective spells.

♚ One cannot take any appearance younger than eighteen.

♚ The appearance of other CAs cannot be taken; the facade can only resemble the core four descendants.

♚ After a victim is drained in this way, they cannot be drained again for Facade for [4] OOC weeks. 

♚ After [1] OOC week, the victim’s complexion recovers naturally, appearing as they once had. This can be quickened with sprog’s elixir.

♚ Zar’akal, even when within a facade, still retain their Striith mutations- on top of this, they gain at least [3] mutations from the above list, their form still warped akin to a cursed child. If they already were a devil in their original form, they instead gain [6] mutations from above.

♚ Zar’akal can never appear as another player’s character without true OOC consent (which is actual OOC consent, and cannot be overriden via the Boons clause stated in this piece) upon sapping said individual.

♚ The application of dragonsflame or foreign malflame to their flesh for [2] emote or bone-deep wounds from any source for a similar length instantly shatters the Facade in a freeform sense. Furthermore, if the Zar'akal were to use either any Naztherak Abilities or Innate Zar'akal Abilities, the disguise would instantly shatter.

♚ The aversion instinct a Zar'akal experiences is not magically forced, only instinctual. However, this cannot simply be ignored. This additionally only applies to line of sight encounters in which a holy mage is actively casting, meaning that a Zar'akal cannot detect the presence of one through a wall, in a crowd, etc. 

 

POSSESSION - [3 Emotes] [Noncombative] - [15 Maleus]

A devious, deceptive method of demonic possession rumored in tales of yore, a Zar’akal can will their presence into another vessel, effectively seizing control of them not unlike a marionette, one they can wield and mock to their fickle purposes- yet at the caveat of leaving their mortal vessel prone to harm.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

A Zar’akal can possess a target within [20] meters over [3] emotes to perform and costs [15] maleus. One for the concentration of maleus within the air, one for concentration, and one for a verbal Ilzakarn incantation (freeform), with line-of-sight. Upon success, the target remains mentally aware but loses control of their body, retaining only as much autonomy as the Zar’akal allows. Both parties share a mind and can communicate telepathically via /msg or #w. The Zar’akal can move beyond the initial range post-possession. If leaving the general proximity (which is defined as the same room/corridor, or [20] meters) of their physical body, they must place an interaction sign. This ability lasts for [2] OOC hours, where at that point the victim can roleplay forcibly casting out the Zar’akal in whatever fashion they please, lest the Zar’akal leaves earlier of their own volition. The Zar’akal can additionally possess their own striith, requiring the same standard [3] emotes and [15] maleus to perform. This ability lasts for [4] OOC hours before the striith ejects the Zar’akal. When using Possession on another player, a Zar'akal can only remain within [80] meters of where they begun the possesssion- leaving this range would cause the connection to the target's soul to snap, rendering them freed from the possession. A possessed individual cannot be made to drop their gears, items, weapons, money, or so on.

 

The possessed body shares all physical pain with the Zar’akal. Injury from Holy Magic, Aurum (or Argentum), Dragonsflame, or Thanhium for [2] emotes or longer will forcibly expel the Zar’akal, regardless of combative context. Some Zar’akal can voluntarily leave a host to avoid pain; others require more effort. Upon possession, the Zar’akal’s true body becomes unconscious and inert, with foggy white eyes. It remains vulnerable and can be killed; death follows standard mechanics. While this ability does not require RP consent, OOC consent is required.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Possession costs [15] units of maleus to cast, and lasts for [2] OOC hours upon the target, or [4] OOC hours upon the striith.

♚ Possession takes [3] emotes to cast,

♚ Possession requires OOC consent, yet even with OOC consent, can never be used in combat.

♚ Possession can only target [1] character at a time.

♚ If combat begins while the Zar’akal possesses their target, they will forcibly flee, for even in a host, a twisted king seeks to elude death at all costs. 

♚ In the rare instance a vessel is slain while the Zar’akal is possessing it, such as if an attack is instantaneous or unprecedented, standard death mechanics are still applicable. For example, if the vessel is shot through the head from behind before the Zar’akal can escape, this constitutes death to the Zar’akal and they will be forced to resurrect according to the Revival ability.

♚ The telepathy experienced when using possession is not mind reading. What a character is unwilling to convey cannot be discovered with this ability. 

♚ Should a Zar’akal possess a character with magic, magical or alchemical-based afflictions, or other unnatural abilities, active abilities cannot be used. For example, a Zar’akal who possesses a water evocationist cannot control them to the extent of casting spells through them, lest they willingly consent IRPly to assist. Things such as potions or enchantments that do not require magical connection can be utilized.

♚ A Zar’akal cannot override the physical state of the target. For example, an enfeebled voidal mage does not gain the Zar’akal’s raw strength upon being possessed. 

♚ This ability only works on individuals with greater souls unaffected by Moz’Strimoza, with exception to the striith, meaning that Inferi (zar’ei, beasts, or imps), Naztherak, and Cursed Children can not be possessed.

♚ This ability cannot be used for lewd purposes whatsoever and doing such is grounds for a total MA/CA blacklist.

♚ This cannot force a character to commit suicide or otherwise deliberately harm themselves, nor can this be used to force a character to drop their belongings for the purpose of theft.

♚ As to better compliment the subtle nature of this ability, Possession does not cause a Zar’akal’s true form to be revealed if they are within a facade.

 

DEVOUR - [3 Emotes] [Combative]

Similarly to the lesser inferi of the High Hells, a Zar’akal may clasp upon an individual’s flesh and exhume fragments of their soul from it– expunging and harvesting it to garner and replenish their stocks of maleus, or to harrow and corrupt the lesser brethren of the draconic.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

Over [3] emotes, a Zar’akal can clasp exposed mortal flesh and violently extract and consume fragments of the victim’s soul, inflicting searing malflame burns and extreme pain; the act leaves behind a lasting scar and induces nightmares and a sickly malaise for [1] OOC week as the soul regenerates. This process grants the Zar’akal [15] maleus and can be performed [2] times per combat encounter, with soul fragments being instantly expiated and offered to the High Hells. Against draconic entities, this corrupts [4] counts of dragonsflame nigh-instantly even through armor, though no maleus is gained. When used on another Naztherak or Inferi, the devourment suppresses their infernal capabilities, lowering their casting and ritual tier by [2] levels for [5] OOC days. A twisted king’s prowess in devouring the souls of others is not limited solely to combat, however- by harvesting and festering on the essence, outside of a combative encounter they can utilize Devour to mend and seal all open wounds upon them rather than purposing the maleus to augment their reserves.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Devour costs no units of maleus, and regenerates [15] counts of maleus upon successfully consuming it.

♚ Devour takes [3] emotes to cast, one of clasping the exposed flesh or cloth-covered skin of a Greater Soul-bearing being whom is not tainted by Moz’strimoza, one of drawing the soul out, and one of consuming the fragment of it.

♚ Devour can only be performed [2] times per combative encounter.

♚ Flesh tainted by Devour gains a malflame burned mark, similar to infernal Soul-Sapping. The malaise inflicted by this is by no means combative and does not inhibit one's ability to fight back.

♚ If used against a Nephilim, Devour corrupts [4] units of dragonsflame even through armor, yet the Zar’akal cannot regenerate maleus.

♚ If used against a Naztherak or Inferi, Devour lowers the maximum tier of Naztherak spell they can cast or ritual they can partake in by [2] tiers for [5] OOC days. This 'de-tiering of casting level' effect does not stack.

♚ If used noncombatively, Devour can seal and mend all ilks of wounds upon the Zar’akal, from flesh to bone, yet the Zar’akal cannot regenerate maleus.

 

CRUNCH - [2 Emotes] [Combative] - [10 Maleus]

Anima and its portents have been seen time and time again to be capable of augmenting the physical– from the baleful apparitions of yore to the nephilim’s limb-augmenting incantations, such a capacity has been seen time and time again. Maleus is warped, twisted, yet in the end still is a substance of anima– and thus, a Zar’akal may utilize it to enhance their crushing bite or puncturing clasp.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

The strength of an emperor is heightened from the whelplings they once were as princes, and yet it is still not enough to suppress a regime’s tribulations. Through the cruel incantation Z̸̯̿͐͝͝e̶̙̗͋̈́n̷͚̥̂̀̏͝ķ̸̞̉ụ̴͇̉l̷͔̯͓͎̀̈́́̒z̵͚͐̐e̶͙͓̙̿ͅť̷̪͇̾́, through [2] emotes of congealing [10] counts of maleus in ritual expenditure, they can briefly augment a fragment of their form- either their maw, or their claws- to crushing force.

 

⏣⃘⏣ Jaws: When augmented, the Zar’akal’s jaw strength is increased to immense force during this emote, capable of crunching through platemail and into flesh, or crunching through bone if flesh is unarmoured.

⏣⃘⏣ Claws: When augmented, the Zar’akal’s grip strength is increased to that of an olog during this emote, yet incapable of heightening punching/blocking strength whatsoever.

 

When their claws are augmented- their palm’s physique morphs to be too bulky to easily clasp objects- making them incapable of directly holding upon objects when invoking this ability.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Crunch costs [10] units of maleus. The incantation is ‘Zenkulzet’; it can only be used [2] timers per combative encounter.

♚ Crunch takes [2] emotes to cast, one of congealing the maleus around their mouth or choosing a hand, and one of actually crunching into the target. This ability cannot be held inactive to delay the second emote. In other words, the crunching motion and augmented strength must be done on the second emote.

♚ The strength of the jaws, if enhanced, is increased to be enough to crunch through bone and flesh over Lightly Armored flesh, whilst being only barely enough to puncture Medium and Heavy Armor.

♚ The strength of the claws, if enhanced, is increased to be that of an olog’s grip strength for that emote, though cannot increase punching/blocking strength whatsoever. Its piercing force is increased to be enough to crunch through bone and flesh over Lightly Armored flesh, whilst being only barely enough to puncture Medium and Heavy Armor.

 

ANTECHAMBER - [3 Emotes] [Noncombative]

The hellish gate which most princes can procure is limited, undiscerning- moreso a tear within the world to leap from coast to coast than a true infernal rip, those limitations are superceded by a twisted king’s writ. They may wring forth a fragment of the high hells to manifest within the mortal world- using it as a showcase of the sickening depths of the beyond.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

An Antechamber is a created space where the hells ripple and bleed into the mortal world, a tear which can span up to [20] meters in radius. The aesthetics can vastly vary, depending on what ilk of the hells are bleeding into the planes of Aos and Eos- from a magmatic hellscape, a twisted and decrepit ‘forest’ of gatrovs, or a desolate wasteland of frost and sleet. No matter what, the Antechamber cannot be used combatively- if the Zar’akal either leaves the Antechamber or combat begins, it instantly dissipates.

 

This miniscule rift to Moz’strimoza can be used for a variety of differing means- the most simple of it being an alternative aesthetic to Hell’s Gate, in which the antechamber itself is used to traverse the world as a Soulstone re-skin. However, it can be used for further reasons- it can be used to ‘seal’ or ‘rescind’ demons or the twisted king himself as a flavor method of shelving them, used with OOC consent as a way to PK non-infernals by shredding their soul into the High Hells, or used within roleplay as an aesthetic, or within events, used to commune with other beings.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Antechamber is a noncombative spell created through the expulsion and consecration of one’s maleus; if it is active when combat begins, its effects instantly cease.

♚ Antechamber creates a zone which can span up to [20] meters in radius around the Zar’akal, in which the High Hells temporarily bleed into the world around the Zar’akal. These are not permanent, and instantly cease when the Zar’akal wills it or they step out of it.

♚ The purposes of this are mostly freeform, for flavour roleplay- it can be utilized as a soulstone aesthetic similar to Hell’s Gate, whilst it can also be used to soft-shelve infernal characters (Zevn, Zevn’kiel, Zar’ei, Zentherak [With ET Management approval], & Zar’akal) or with OOC permission, be a way for non-infernals to PK their character by shredding their soul within Moz’Strimoza.

♚ Entities whom are soft-shelved- given that they are all infernal beings- may reconstitute themselves back on the material plane oncemore by engorging on their own maleus, similarly to how they would naturally revive themselves- similarly, Zentherak or Zar'akal can merely utilize their own rifts to return from the depths of Moz'Strimoza.

 

APOPTOSIS - [2 Emotes] [Noncombative]

Through the utilization of their sickly forces, a Zar’akal can warp and blend their inner composition and bodily structure with the countless bounds of maleus and rakir that constitutes their tattered vessel- emanating a wash of hues which warps and meddles with those who benefit from a deific patron.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

Once afflicted, all effects last for a minimum [3] emotes, though can be extended at the target’s discretion, as per the list below:

 

≣ Templars: The raw antithesis to the Aengul Malchaediel, the Templar is wracked by an unprecedented swell of brief anxiety and terror in the face of combat- a surge which quickly boils into wrathful fury. What they would have once faced with valor and honor becomes a surmountable obstacle  that  warps their lens of bravery, and rather turns the Templar to an exalted anger- one that drives them to throttle through all as a tempest of wrath. Whilst they do feel this fury, they are by no means forced to attack anyone or anything.

≣ Druids: Through such a flashing blast, a druidic thing’s senses are briefly warped into the hideous amalgam that is Moz’strimoza. While it does not affect the Druid's ability to connect or cast, the melody of the balance morphs into the wicked, churning sounds of the High Hells, including but not limited to: the bloody carnage of warring inferi, howling hellhounds, churning brimstone plates and crackling, ignited trees. The sacrilegious sounds of Moz’strimoza would primarily counter the flora and fauna of the mortal plane, a mockery to the very idea of bountiful nature. 

≣ Shamans: A shaman’s senses are martyred, in that brief instant- their mind becomes disputed with memories that fade briefly, as their thoughts of their patron spirit are slowly overcome by a fog-like blur which blends into their perception of their patron- as if it had become somewhat demonic, if only briefly in their memories of such.

≣ Nephilim: Those of the draconic ancestry, bound-children of the Daemon Azdromoth find their inner flame feeling adrift- as if it was being distanced from them, a sickeningly hollow feeling, almost making their scales feel chilled and their souls feel empty, as if they had been struck by some kind of loss- as if their dear father had almost forsaken them.

≣ Palmreaders: The mountain is undoubtedly bizarre, esoteric- and yet, in the end it is a deific link- one which can be tampered with. Albeit to some twisting means, Palmreaders of the Mountain’s archaic patron find their senses reeling, as if Aevos itself is flickering in and out of reality, replaced by visages of some ethereal storm which washes over their sight. 

≣ Seers: The meddling servants of the Daemon Vaasek are bizzare in motive and origin- their innate binding to the daemon's paranoia is not easily as meddled with compared to other individuals of holy or divine root. Rather, they will feel their paranoia swell, being unable to know the true root of their magics.

≣ Mystics: Conjoined individuals will feel as if the external souls within their body will quell and swathe, feeling as if their binding link to their own ghost's stocks of ectoplasm and liturgies have been almost 'hazed' over by some sickening nausea.

 

Apoptosis emits in a radial pulse around the Zar’akal, stretching [8] meters in radius- afflicting all deific users within, as per the chart above- new deific magics will be amended into the above list, if they are created.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Those under the effects of Apoptosis can only be users of magics listed above, and if so they last for a minimum of [3] emotes, but can last as long as the target so wishes- the radial pulse affects deific users within [8] meters of the twisted king.

♚ Apoptosis can be cast in combat, yet the effects of Apoptosis are up the target’s discretion; it bears no combative benefit whatsoever to the Zar’akal, and can not alter combat.

♚ Apoptosis which alters perspective does not physically change it- for example, a druid does not actually, tangibly hear Moz’strimoza, only a mockery of it. While the melody of nature is wracked by such hellish sounds, their visual perception of it remains unaltered, with the exception of Palmreaders- whom see a harmless, unobtrusive storm-like filter cast over the world.

♚ The above chart will be amended and shifted as magics join/leave the overall lore of [The Lord of the Craft].

 

 

With their body, soul, and mind all tampered and twisted into a form  of utter desolation and mania, what remains is chaos; chaos that can be mantled. Through the concentration of foul incantation and twisted writ, rituals can be harnessed- bringing out their true nature unto the world, or unto each other.

 

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

It is only after that we understand what has come before, then we understand nothing.

Thus we shall define the soul as follows: that which precedes everything.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

 

RAZI RA’AKAL - [3 Emotes] - [100 Maleus]

Razi Ra’akal is a hefty ritual that calls upon the servants of Moz’strimoza, to aid in bringing back a twisted king to the mortal plane. Unlike the passive ability of Rebirth, the Twisted Kings, who are now too foul and distorted for the touch of healers and too spiteful to seek help from the Wilven Monks, must instead rely on the sickly rites of their coven to aid in bringing them back.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

The original craft, perfected to be undergone through the rites of twin Zar’akal reviving a fallen brethren, has slowly shifted over time- permitting one such Zar’akal to be replaced by a cloistered convent of false princes to aid the ritual. The ritual must be led by [1] Zar’akal- who can either be assisted by either [1] other Zar’akal or [3] Naztherak to perform the wretched act of revival. The resurrectors gather around a small body of water (either a pond of water or blood, so long as it is liquid) and bring forth a vile sacrifice of [40] counts of rakir. By further infesting the pond of water with [100] counts of maleus, the rakir can be plumed within, as the water turns to a blackish red, and muck bubbles from within it. Through the vexatious canticle of Ilzakarn, the veil between the High Hells and the mortal realms are briefly thinned- permitting them to return their fallen brethren over the course of [6] emotes. When the chant is complete the fallen Zar’akal shall be reborn, tattered soul and sickly maleus consuming and rising from the remnants of the corpse, forcefully transmuting it to their own, yet at the cost of their own strength.

 

When reborn through Razi Ra’akal, one is able to return to the mortal plane despite having been eaten by another Zar’akal, but they will find their soul weakened and frail during this recuperation period until the soul has replenished itself upon the mortal plane. This process to reacquaint the soul with the body takes [3] OOC days. If one undergoes Razi Ra’akal to resurrect from a Cannibalism-induced death, they cannot undergo its process again for [1] OOC month.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Razi Ra’akal requires at least [1] Zar’akal to lead it, which must be assisted by either [1] further Zar’akal or [3] Naztherak, with a summation of [100] maleus used in at least [6] well-written emotes.

♚ A sacrifice of a colossal [40] counts of rakir must be sacrificed as the fuel'' for the Zar’akal to resurrect within the ritual.

♚ Upon resurrection, a Zar’akal cannot utilize their innate or Naztherak abilities for [3] OOC days.

♚ Players can only be the target of Razi Ra’akal once a month. For example, if one is revived by this ritual by then is cannibalized a week later, they cannot be revived until [1] OOC month has passed from the date of the original rite. 

♚ A Zar’akal who has been revived using this rite should have such logged on their CA, denoting all participants and the date of resurrection.

 

ILDRITH'AKAL - [3 Emotes] - [30 Maleus] - [5 Rakir] 

The creation of a formal court is a powerful thing. A Zar’akal can utilize themselves as proxy to the High Hells, bringing other Naztherak and Zar’akal within their court through a freeform rite, permitting those within it to perform small rites of their own and corrupt structures of deific nature.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

All Zar’akal have an expanded Greater Court that is bound to themselves– they can bring other Naztherak and even Zar’akal within this Greater Court, binding all together within it This court, including themselves, may only consist of up to [5] individuals; they may add and remove individuals via performing the rite over [3] emotes before a cistern, beseeching within [30] counts of maleus and [5] of rakir. Upon partaking in the rite of Ildrith’akal, a Zar’akal may add a willing Naztherak to their Greater Court, or they may bring another Zar’akal within it. Individuals may be removed from the court via the same ritual, severing them from the Greater Court. The individuals within these courts share the following benefits:

 

» Bᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴ Uɴɪꜱᴏɴ: All Inferi (Zevn, Zekul, & Zar’ei) bound to any member of the greater court can be commanded by any other member within said court as if they were the Naztherak who bound the individual. Banishment functions as if all Naztherak within said Greater Court are the binder of said demon.

» Sᴀᴄʀᴀᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ ɪɴ Uɴɪꜱᴏɴ: The unison of [3] court members permits them to perform one of [3] unique micro-rituals, which are as follows. Each of these costs [10] Maleus from each individual and [5] Rakir to perform, and one may only partake [1] of these Sacraments per OOC week. 

❖ Oꜰ Sᴡᴀʀᴍɪɴɢ: Brings forth a small horde of [5] Zevn who cluster around a Cistern aesthetically; these may not bring any combative effect nor advantages without ET consent within events, yet rather linger around the Cistern. If the Cistern is broken, they scatter and do not return.

❖ Oꜰ Sᴄᴏᴜʀɢɪɴɢ: Curse a small patch of land with a radius of up to [15] meters in diameter around a Cistern aesthetically; these patches of land bear similar cosmetic effects to land cursed by Ra’ilkgarokk. If the Cistern is broken, this effect fades and reverts from the land about it.

❖ Oꜰ Fᴇꜱᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ: Create a Festering Cistern; this must be a build of dimensions [3x3x3] meters in size, and reeks of visceral ichor. This cistern is capable of holding up to [20] counts of Rakir as following a normal Cistern’s mechanics, yet is as fragile as a normal Cistern.

» Cᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ɪɴ Uɴɪꜱᴏɴ: The unison of [2] Zar’akal within a court or [1] Zar’akal and [2] Naztherak permits them to corrupt structures of deific nature, overriding their innate prowess and rather making them warped as per the infernal whims mandate. This costs [25] Maleus from each individual and [7] Rakir to perform, and has unique elements as per each lore as follows:

❖ Nephilim Drakeshrines: Nephilim drakeshrines are fully corrupted, and instead bear an additional bane– whilst this corrupt drakeshrine is impurified that Nephilim may not create another drakeshrine– they must purify the now-corrupt drakeshrine, or they must destroy it and have another made.

❖ Templar Bonfires: The effects of the templar flame are warped and twisted, rather overriding it and turning it into a Naztherak’s Brazier- yet rather one with [4x] the radius of the Bonfire; this may be destroyed mundanely, or re-made into a proper Bonfire by a group of Templars.

❖ Templar Flamewells: The potent nature of these objects make them hard to corrupt fully- rather, their effects are warped and suppressed. Flamewells whom undergo this ritual are overtaken by the warped hue of the Zar’akal’s malflame, and are incapable of performing any rituals of it or gaining any benefits from it for [7] OOC days.

❖ Shamanism Totems: Shamanic Shrines whom undergo this ritual are scorched by embers wreathed in the warped hue of the Zar’akal’s malflame, the searing brands upon it preventing Shamans from performing any rituals of it or gaining any benefits from it for [7] OOC days, after which the brands dissipate and the Corruption is unravelled.

❖ Druidism Soul Trees: Soul Trees which are corrupted afflict the mentality of the Treelord it is bound to– they gain the foul mentality of a Zar’ei layered atop their normal mentality, growing more vile, harrowed, and erratic until said tree is cleansed by Blight Healing. If the Tree Lord so wishes, they may attempt to create a [MArt] of this fully infernalizing their form, turning into a Gatrov’kiel Inferi if said [MArt] passes.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Ildrith’akal requires at least [1] Zar’akal to lead it, which may connect/disconnect [1] further Zar’akal or Naztherak, with a summation of [30] maleus and [5] rakir used in at least [3] well-written emotes, to a maximum of a Greater Court consisting of [5] individuals, including the founding Zar’akal; members of the court are listed upon the leading Zar’akal’s [CA].

♚ Ildrith’akal does not require IRP consent to perform to add a Individual, but does require True OOC Consent (which is actual OOC consent, and cannot be overriden via the Boons clause stated in this piece). An individual must be wholly willingly or totally restrained in order to join a court; the Zar'akal may use any method of their choosing, including intimidating/coercion/bargaining to gain members of their Court, though True OOC Consent is always required.

♚ The process of adding or removing an individual from a Zar'akal’s Ildrith’akal is freeform, so long as it includes tells pertiant to Moz Strimoza and/or the Zar'akals particular themes. Examples may include blood pacts, handshakes, sipping a glass of Maleus, branding, etc. The process leaves no physical mark or indication otherwise of who is a member of the Zar'akals court, and attempting to do such is considered Metagaming.

♚ Only Naztherak & Zar'akal may be inducted as members of a Zar'akal’s Ildrith’akal, though any bound Inferi under these member’s Court are subject to Bound In Unison & its redlines. A Zar'akal always knows when it is in the presence of members of its Court, including while in Possession or a Facade - This does not apply to members of the Court.

♚ All [CA] Inferi bound under Naztherak within Ildrith’akal will find the all members of the Court, including the Zar'akal, to be able to issue orders as if the Inferi was bound to them. Effectively, an Inferi cannot disobey or attempt to kill any members of the Court. If there are contradicting commands, the order of priority is as follows: Firstly, the original individual who bound them has the highest priority. After that, it is the command of the Zar'akal who created the Ildrith'akal's greater court. After that, and ultimately, it is whichever command was given to it first which holds precedence.

♚ A [CA] Inferi bound under a Zar’akal within Ildrith’akal cannot be subjected to Banishment unless all those partaking in the Banishment are Naztherak or Zar'akal within the same court as the Inferi.

♚ All members of a Zar'akal’s Ildrith’akal should be denoted on the Zar'akals [CA], alongside those who partake in a Sacrament In Unison with the date & type of the Sacrament.

♚ It is the responsibility of those involved in a Corruption In Unison to document the RP, make SREQs, leave basic signage & notify ST of the Corruption. It is the responsibility of Players to RP the Corrupted Structure properly; ignoring it or otherwise attempting to OOCly circumvent its effects is considered Powergaming.
♚ To force an individual out of a Greater Court requires no OOC consent; this may only be performed by the Zar'akal who leads the court. The target must either be wholly willing to leave or be fully restrained, after which the Zar'akal may revoke their tethering to the Greater Court in a free form manner over [3] emotes.

 

 

KRIMTH'VUTHIRTH - [3 Emotes] - [30 Maleus] - [5 Rakir] 

A wicked practice the Zar’akal have uncovered and learned to harness for themselves, a far more macabre and personal method of cursing. To a Zar'akal who has mastered such an art gifted from the Lords, even the renowned Cursed Idol is mere child’s play.  The Zar’akal can craft an occult doll representative of their target, which can act as a conduit to be leveraged or weaponized against its victim.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

Krimth’vuthirth is the art of forming Cursed Totems– objects bound to an individual, and suffice as a cruel binding between the target and the doll; once bound, the Totem induces progressive mental and emotional distress in the target over [1] OOC week, adjustable at the target's discretion. During the first [3] OOC days, symptoms include insomnia, paranoia, and anxiety, often accompanied by unsettling visions of eyes or figures at the edges of perception resembling infernal hellhounds or figures. By [4] OOC days, these intensify into apathy, distrust, moral confusion, existential dread, and heightened susceptibility to manipulation and persuasion. When within [24] meters, the Zar’akal can manipulate the target's physical state using one of the following methods, each building up over the course of [3] emotes, and lasting at least [4] emotes at their most severe with a cooldown of [12] OOC hours.

 

ஃ Exposing to Flame/Heat/Malflame: Triggers intense heat flashes, sweating, dehydration, and panic, evoking a fight-or-flight response.

ஃ Stabbing/Slashing the Totem: Causes phantom pain resembling cuts or gashes on the victim's body.

ஃ Submerging in Liquid: Induces feelings of suffocation, rapid heart rate, and severe claustrophobia, even in open spaces.

ஃ Puncturing with Needles: Creates numbness or paralysis in a specific limb or area. Paralysis is limited to one appendage and cannot target vital functions, like breathing.

ஃ Squeezing the Totem: Induces a feeling of dizziness and weakness, similarly to the feeling induced by postural hypotension induced by movements whilst bearing a low blood pressure.

 

To create a Totem, a Zar’akal must craft a doll, figurine, or model resembling basic descendant anatomy over [3] emotes- head, torso, two arms, and two legs—sized between [6] and [18] inches in height. If the target is missing limbs (arms, hands, feet, or eyes), the doll must match their anatomy, or the rite will falter in forming a bond between the two. Whilst mundane methods can be used, a Zar’akal can also employ magical means through flavor and aesthetics or repurpose existing dolls- the doll’s appearance oft reflecting the target, such as using string for hair or beads for eyes, for aesthetic purposes.

 

To tether the Totem to its target, the Zar’akal must collect a portion of the target’s hair, flesh, blood, or similar body-composing material. The Totem and materials are then submerged in a vat holding [5] units of rakir and infused with [30] units of maleus. Upon OOC consent, the ritual succeeds, branding the target's first name onto the Totem. Without consent, the cistern explodes in a [5] meter radius, causing minor injuries to the twisted king- and sending the target a scorching vision of the High Hells. 

 

A totem is recognized by its unnatural resistance and fortitude, requiring [4] uninterrupted emotes to destroy. It can be torn apart, burned, crushed, etc. Mundane damage dealt to any Totem will seal back up- permitting the Zar’akal or its wielder to continue to meddle with their victim, though the mental and spiritual binds of the Totem are feeble when matched with the holy and divine- the application of aurum or holy magic to tear it apart or purge it will exhume the occult bond it bears, eviscerating it instantly- likewise, the purging flames of nephilim and the soul-untangling invocations of mystics will not only cull this bond, but also will impede the Zar’akal’s own occult capacity- preventing them from creating Totems for [7] OOC days.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Krimth’vuthirth requires [1] Zar’akal, with a cost of [30] maleus paired with [5] counts of rakir used in at least [3] well-written emotes.

♚ OOC Consent from the target is required in order to bind a totem. The player is to be given the opportunity to read the mechanics and effects of this spell beforehand.

♚ Cursed Totems require an [ST] signature to be created. Screenshots of its creation, the target’s given consent, and the successful collection of hair/flesh/blood, are to be included; a totem is to be given the [Significant Magical Item] tag in order to prevent soulbinding. These items must be destroyed via /use during the creation process.
♚ Third parties cannot be used for the creation of the totem. The collection of hair/flesh/blood must be done solely by the Zar’akal attempting the rite. 

♚ The item description of a totem should state the RP name and IGN of its target, an example being “This totem is bound to Sand (SquakHawk).” This means that a totem can only target that given player in any encounter, CRP or Non-CRP.

♚ Roleplay should be done through proper, direct interaction with the target. This means that one cannot imply roleplay details. An example of this non-acceptable RP would be emoting picking strands of hair from one’s pillow after breaking into their home, or collecting their spilt blood after they leave the scene of a battle if it was not specifically emoted.

♚ Physical effects can only occur within a range of [24] blocks, requiring line of sight. Moving out of range or losing line of sight for any duration cancels all ongoing effects.
♚ A totem cannot be made during combat, requiring uninterrupted emotes and a concentrated environment.

♚ The target maintains agency over themselves when under the influence of a totem. They can experience things such as paranoia for example, but cannot be forced into specific lines of action (such as betrayal, attacking their own allies, etc).

♚ A totem is useless when not in the hands of the Zar’akal who created it, meaning someone else cannot steal one from him and proceed to weaponize its effects.

♚ Physical effects cannot be stacked. One of each can only be used per [12] OOC hours. One cannot repeatedly slash a totem, for example, to increase the amount of pain a victim is in.

♚ A totem references the soul blueprint of its target for creation. If a limb, such as prosthetics or magical augmentations, does not possess anima/maleus, then it does not need to be included in the totem’s creation.

 

RA’ILKGAROKK - [5 Emotes] - [50 Maleus] - [10 Rakir]

The means to an end, all kings must have a domain- even one as equally as twisted as themselves. The Ra’Ilkgarokk is a powerful ritual that turns a lush environment into one that imitates the realm of Moz’strimoza, so that the semblance of disorder and chaos can flourish instead of the cyclic churning of natural order.

 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

Spoiler

The ritual requires the Zar’akal to draw a pentagram in the center of their chosen land, and willing [10] units of their rakir onto it. This should occur over the course of [5] emotes, whilst they channel in at least [50] counts maleus within the grounds; the player can have the creative liberty to add whatever other aesthetic flare to the process in order to describe the full corruption of the land. The rite requires [3] other Naztherak or evolved Zar’ei to assist the Zar’akal, each expending [1] count of rakir each in the creation of the tainted grounds. 

 

The landscape transforms into a desolate, barren wasteland with harsh and unforgiving terrain. Now littered with lava pools, dead-bushes replace the colorful lively flowers, jagged rocks with sorrowful faces, trees made of flesh and licked by malflame scatter throughout the terrain. Additionally, the sky would remain in perpetual darkness within this afflicted region, with only lightning strikes illuminating its landscape. The air grows thick with smoke and the smell of sulfur lingers, burdening any non-Inferi with a slight tightness in their chest. Those of deific nature whom stand within this suffer from all effects of Apoptosis, noncombative in nature, whilst within. Despair is all a descendant would feel when stepping into the area- whist those with deific connections would feel as if their divine links were slipping away from them. The area becomes the Zar’akal’s own malefic and sinister canvas, allowing the region to appear however they so desire.

 

This region cannot span more than [75x75] meters unless approval is given by the ST or RO. Otherwise if created as a lair, the land can be as large as the lair if the Zar‘akal wishes to ritualistically forge it around, though it can be smaller if one wishes. Within this sanctum, Infernal Blood Magic rites & rituals are given an automatic [+2] modifier if cast within, whilst the inherent twisting of genus and rakir garner other Blood Magic rites a [+1] modifier.
 

Regardless of however many warlocks a twisted king can beckon to aide their rites, they eventually will find they hit a limit in scale- and yet, with external force that goes beyond a mere game of rank and file, they may stretch such a corruption over an even more foul and twisted domain. In order to do so, this must require either a [MArt] of some form, or an ET-driven narrative pertaining to the environmental corruption. Even when the latter method is pursued, such roleplay is expected to be of high quality and to be collaborative within all involved playerbases- it should not be something brief and hasty, and should indicate long-term effort and a degree of dedication; like all uses of Ra'ilkgarokk, the extent of the extra reach proffered by this method is still subject to [ST] approval and discrection, and [ST] should always be consulted regarding any attempts of this in advance.

 

Upon performing this rite, the sickening forces of the High Hells are tethered briefly via a 'stake'- A totem of flesh, rot bones, and warping maleus; this build MUST be a [3x3x5] zone within the center of the domain. The purging of a Ra’Ilkgarokk must be done by means of deific intervention at the hands of their practitioners; The cleansing of Blight Healing, Purgation of Shamanism, or Purity’s Sanction of Clerics, focused upon the Stake at the center. When successfully cleansed, the infernal blighting upon the land will recede back unto the stake, before the stake itself is unraveled and once more returned to the High Hells.

 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

♚ Ra’Ilkgarokk requires at least [1] Zar’akal and [50] counts of maleus and [10] counts of rakir, with at least [5] well-written emotes from all participants. They must be assisted by at least [3] Naztherak to each dedicate [1] count of rakir.

♚ Ra'ilkgarokk may only be led by a Zar'akal [1] time per [2] OOC weeks. Furthermore, for every additional Naztherak beyond the minimum (not Evolved Zar'ei) who participates in the rite the range inreases by [5] meters, and every additional Zar'akal increasing it by [10] meters, to a maximum of [100x100].

♚ The stake must bear an [ST] sign, and be exposed to the surface- it can only be hidden between either [1] mechanical door OR a redstone door without a key. If the Ra’Ilkgarokk is within a lair, the stake may be placed indoors or underground. A region flag is required to approve the effects of this rite around the warped area.

♚ Due to the potential size and scale of changes this ritual necessitates to terrain, it cannot be guaranteed ST builders will be able to perform the terrain changes. Thus, players involved in the ritual are highly encouraged to have their own envisioned terrain alternations ready to be put it in place themselves, or an ST builder prepared and willing to do the changes already.

♚ Players cannot create Ilkgarokk upon land without RO consent. If wished to be performed on a Capital or a Vassal tile, it requires PRO consent instead.

♚ If it is cultivated underground, the land above will reflect this and become hellish.

♚ Players cannot use pools of lava, mouths etc. to attack other characters etc. without express [ST Management] permission in eventlines or MArts.

♚ The Ilkgarokk cannot be commanded or manipulated, even if it is flesh and sinew with faces etc. It is functionally still terrain, unless express management approval is given. All individuals of deific magics suffer from the noncombative effects of Apoptosis when within, as following the regulations within the respective spell.♚ Imps and beasts can be described in region text, signs etc. to make the corruption more flavourful, but cannot be used to remotely attack players without express [ST Management] permission.

♚ By the same token, players cannot presume the plot is perfectly safe to traverse simply because there is no mechanical/player representation of Inferi, or other dangers. Characters would still reasonably have reservations about tromping through a hellscape.

♚ The Cleaning of a Ra’Ilkgarokk must be done through deific cleansing, with the center of the ritual being the stake. The ritual should scale based on the size of the area of the blight as listed on the [ST] sign on the stake, for rituals with such scaling (i.e Blight Healing Cleansing).

♚ For cleansing rituals without scaling based on size of the area, for ever [5] meters beyond the base [75x75] size, an additional [T5] deific mage is required to aid in the cleansing ritual.

♚ An [ST] sign or region flag is required to approve the effects of this rite.

 

 

Hi gang pallo here to yap about the purpose again. This is the prior write but corrected- and we hope it is enough. Zar’akal needs proper lore at this point, there are a multitude of us who currently play the CA which exists in the faux limbo of being quasi denied, and numerous more who want to play but are unhappy with its current role– we hope this is the one that passes. Ty for reading the piece :)

- pallo

 

The Shadowbox - Pallodium, MysticalWeasel, Meowmaxer, Unwillingly, Witchring

Old Naztherak Lore - [REDACTED]

 

Consultation - The Naztherak Community and Others

 

[_Leyd 1010]

*lights 20 Newport 100 menthols and smokes them.*

[PrimnyaQuorum 3999]

this looks awesome but nothing ever passes

 

+1

[Phantuhm 193]

Reading this while listening to king von made it 10x better, amazing work.

+1

[Rig 17579]

Adding an additional Lunarite weakness seems really strange. Especially given how fragile Lunarite is with comparison to other materials. Is there a reason this choice was made? I'm more so confused at the inception of this particular weakness than anything else. I'm not opposed to a CA having more weaknesses. 

[Pallodium 3775]

2 minutes ago, rigorous said:

Adding an additional Lunarite weakness seems really strange. Especially given how fragile Lunarite is with comparison to other materials. Is there a reason this choice was made? I'm more so confused at the inception of this particular weakness than anything else. I'm not opposed to a CA having more weaknesses. 

 

Lunarite was an additional weakness that LT suggested we add upon Zar'akal throughout prior compiles, which slowly changed from a "scared of being near Lunarite" to "Lunarite is a material weakness" over a good while; the core idea behind it iirc was to simply have a unique weakness assigned to it which other CAs don't bear, though if its something which the modern Zar'akal community wouldn't like to see I'm open to removing it as a weakness.

[Rig 17579]

2 hours ago, Pallodium said:

 

Lunarite was an additional weakness that LT suggested we add upon Zar'akal throughout prior compiles, which slowly changed from a "scared of being near Lunarite" to "Lunarite is a material weakness" over a good while; the core idea behind it iirc was to simply have a unique weakness assigned to it which other CAs don't bear, though if its something which the modern Zar'akal community wouldn't like to see I'm open to removing it as a weakness.

 

The issue we're seeing is the power-scaling. I like how you did the Faux form write-in because it solves the issue that non-MART Akal have pertaining to going in public and being able to be partially disguised. 

Lunarite being a "physical" weakness seems less sensible, I think having it cause discomfort, or be able to be used for wards that dissuade a Zar'akal makes more sense. But I also think we'd need to find a lore verifiable method to justify why the material would do those things. For instance, maybe Lunarite within a certain radius can blind a Zar'akal since their eyes cannot perceive the moon. Maybe Zar'akal can't hunt at night because of this without having their eyes covered, because the moonlight is a natural inconvenience for them.

There's a lot of ways to expand the lore further to add in flavor. Additionally, I believe that since Zar'akal are the deepest manifestations of a Naztherak's Malices pushed to the forefront of their consciousness, the write should be less about stripping their humanity, and more about exacerbating all the worst possible qualities a person has. I hope that makes sense!

[_DreamEater_ 184]

Based, hopefully this motivates some demons to show some face

+1

[Rig 17579]

I discussed things further with Pallodium and this write serves as a great way of revitalizing the CA. As long as guardrails are made to limit the amount of Zar'akal created, and the Lunarite weakness is made to be less of a "physical" weakness and has a bit more nuance to it (such as trapping Zar'akal with Lunarite to force a deal, moonlight shining off Lunarite at night blinding a Zar'akal during a hunt, etc), then I am absolutely fine with that integration as well. 

Additionally, we discussed how the Mentality section will need to be revised to incorporate the Malices more. This piece serves as a great marriage between Seer + Akal + Infernal BM, and will allow players to have great freedom to tell villainous stories on the server. Provided that it is made relatively exclusive to high-profile Naztherak players who act in good faith, this piece articulates Naztherak lore very well, and clearly was the subject of tedious rewriting and revision over the course of many months.

Huge +1

[Werew0lf 24179]

30 minutes ago, Pallodium said:

 

Lunarite was an additional weakness that LT suggested we add upon Zar'akal throughout prior compiles, which slowly changed from a "scared of being near Lunarite" to "Lunarite is a material weakness" over a good while; the core idea behind it iirc was to simply have a unique weakness assigned to it which other CAs don't bear, though if its something which the modern Zar'akal community wouldn't like to see I'm open to removing it as a weakness.

 

Lunarite is the core weakness to werewolves rn. 

[wowj 9747]

12 minutes ago, Werew0lf said:

 

Lunarite is the core weakness to werewolves rn. 

it should be azhl!

[Pallodium 3775]

14 minutes ago, Werew0lf said:

 

Lunarite is the core weakness to werewolves rn. 

[Unwillingly 18096]

[TofuGomi 362]

+1 forever

[Morigung-oog 5697]

Nothing ever passes...

 

but this deserves to. +1

 

Do mystics next.