A Quick Guide On Gravens

[spqrSancus 173]

     So, whilst we all await Grim's more extensive, informative, in-depth and probably much more pretty and better overall guide, I thought I'd make a quick one, very shallow, about Gravens, what to expect from them etc.

 

     Gravens, being spirits, and semi-corporeal, cannot be harmed by things in the way a mortal can. Stabbing it's arm or leg doesn't really bring it pain, albeit it does lessen the amount of spirit energy that keeps them alive, and they often react anyway out of habit, albeit with practice, some cease to react to such blows. 

 

     Gravens can be dismembered like any other character, but as before, this does not bring pain, only lessening the amount of spirit energy that keeps it alive.

 

     Gravens can't be struck by a blow from a fist or otherwise. It'll go through them, or at most, hit any armour they might be wearing. You want to affect a Graven? You need something other than flesh.

 

     Any metal can be used to affect a Graven, as well as any other physical object that isn't flesh. Gravens bear no particular weakness to any sort of weapon or material, but blessed objects and substances, such as holy water, can cause a Graven to demanifest nearly immediately, should it pass into their bodies.

 

      All Gravens have something in common. A very dangerous ability, and the only offensive magic about them. They have the ability to cause a temporary insanity in mortals with their stare at a close range (About 10 blocks maximum), in a very short time. Grim has told me that a Graven can finish this in about 1 - 4 emotes, and any mortal being affected after 4 emotes would almost certainly fall into madness. There are, however, exceptions.

 

     Graven can manifest some slightly more powerful abilities specific to that Graven if they are actively working to go and fulfill their duties, ranging from remotely wielding their weapons from a short distance, changing the flight paths of arrows, releasing souls to torment a victim without the need of the Stare, and so on. However, in order to do such, they would have to continually fulfill their duties and sustain an absolute minimum of wounds.

 

    Graven cannot be controlled by necromancers, as sentient creatures, but they may work with them if it goes towards fulfilling their goals.

 

    Most Graven are not in fact evil, but are rather selectively hostile, harming only certain categories of people, albeit they are capable of harming others outside said category.

 

     Whilst not part of lore, myself and Grim have figured, logically, an orc in bloodlust, being driven by it's anger and, well, lust for battle and pain, MIGHT be able to ignore the writhing soul of agony within the Graven, that gives the stare it's power. In fact, this can feed the orc's bloodlust, making them even more powerful and dangerous.

 

     Gravens are all very dangerous, and very unique to one another, but most can be sorted into two categories.

 

     First is your hostile, absolutely terrifying Graven, who wants nothing more than to terrorize and harm or kill mortals. An example of this is Grim's Warden, a Graven who was the warden of a prison in life. He is a judge, and is generally hostile and terrifying to all mortals, albeit more or less cold and neutral to those he does not see as guilty. He draws on fear, and gains energy directly from terrifying the one he is judging killing the man judged as guilty (correction made by Grim, I have to interpret every once in a while).

 

     Second is your more or less friendly, not so terrifying but still strange and a bit creepy and forceful Graven - or at least as friendly as a spirit damned to a fate worse than hell. An example of this is my own Graven character, Hunter, who is a hunter of spirits and ghosts. Including Gravens. His task does not involve harming mortals, or scaring them, to much of a degree. He's able to have a decent conversation with the living, if no one attempts to provoke him, in drawing a weapon or making threats against him. In fact, he's willing to give mortals a warning and a helping hand when they aren't trying to chop off his head or shoot him with an arrow dipped in holy water. He's got a bit of a soft spot for the living, and prefers not to scare or harm them when possible. However, Gravens are easily provoked, even of this type, and as this character IS a fighting Graven, whilst not easily provoked, once he is, you want to kill him quick or start running.

 

    That's about it for what I have for you on Gravens for now, and I think this should be enough for until Grim comes out with a better, more accurate, and much nicer guide. See you all later!

 

    OOC NOTE FOR GRAVENS

 

 

    NOTE: GRAVENS SHOULD AVOID ABRESI DURING PEAK TIMES, AKA ANYTIME THERE ARE MORE THAN 85 PEOPLE ON THE SERVER. WE'RE BECOMING TOO NORMAL. NEEDS TO CHANGE. HAUNT LESS POPULATED SETTLEMENTS. VA'S ARE REQUIRED BY GRAVENS.

 

 

-Sancus, Graven hunter made Graven.

[tnoy23 202]

Out of curiosity, would a mage be able to resist a gravens magic ability since they can clear their mind or no?

[Praetor 1548]

Sunetejibar VS Graven.

Now that would be fun.

[spqrSancus 173]

A mage clearing his mind... The Graven stare manifests extremely quickly, and sort of locks people into the stare after the second emote, but yes... A powerful enough mage, with the time and ability to clear their mind might be able to counter a Graven's magic ability (You'd best check with Grim though, he's the expert). Unfortunately, Gravens can still wield weapons, and could probably thus kill a mage in the midst of attempting it. Not to mention that after the stare is manifest, well... You'd be insane for a bit. I don't think one would think of clearing their minds after going cray cray. Not until the effect begins to wear off. But yeah, I see what you mean. In theory and from what I know, you could.

[The Fact Core 511]

What happens if two Gravens are making a staring contest?

[spqrSancus 173]

Absolutely nothing. Gravens are immune to each other's cold and stare.

[Trouvo 205]

Speaking of this topic.....

 

 

Gravens commiting Villainous acts still require a VA, I spoke to a couple on the server the other night, and this is confirmation for you and for any other current gravens and any possible future gravens.   This does not mean you can not be a Graven without a VA, just does not make it so you can skip doing a VA for villainous acts.  ( The events the other night included ooc confusion, and where ok'd by the recieving party oocly, I witnessed the whole thing and let it go at that time until this could be confirmed as the actions were bordering on villainous and the only thing that got close was unprovoked attacking)

 

Other than that though, the Rp was enjoyable, not only for me but for the drawn crowd I would assume as well, WELL DONE!

[spqrSancus 173]

Kay, got it. I'll get started on it sometime soon. 2abc should do it...

 

EDIT: Going to add that into the OOC note.

[Yoff 328]

Can necromancers control Graven's with the taint or anything of the like?

[hellfiazz 878]

I imagine that Dreadknights and other undead are immune to the stare? Also, can the other undead see and hear the Gravens, or are they as oblivious as normal people?

[spqrSancus 173]

     Other undead are not affected by the Graven stare. The stare only works on mortals. No, other undead, including other Graven, cannot see another Graven until manifest. Graven can sense a fellow brother taking form nearby them, but otherwise, they all need to pay attention for signs of manifestation.

      In terms of necromancy, I doubt it, unless it were to coincide with their existing task. In which case they need to do it anyways. Check with Grim and ask him to post the answer on this thread.

 

EDIT: On thought about VA's, I think 3 at least are necessary. You would need 2c, for Graven staring, 4a for the chaos that is their greatest weapon, and 5 Insanity (Sent an msg to Trouvo checking with him. Not required)

[_Grim1_ 28]

Insanity is a very extreme VA.  I recall they didn't ever really want more than 3 people with a VA or 5, which means it is quite intense.

 

Anyhow, the information here is all accurate. Until I get around to posting my guide, this is bible for Graven everywhere.

 

A few points:

 

1. Being sentient, Graven are not susceptible to the influence of necromancers. A dead, mindless soul may be compelled. One that is angry, and after your blood, cannot. Graven may, however, work with necromancers if it is to that Graven's benefit.

 

2. Actually, Warden draws energy from killing the guilty. If y'all would just let me do my work, you'd have far fewer villains trying to kill you or steal your minas. :D

 

3. Depending on their strength--determined by whether or not they are regularly fulfilling their eternal duty--Graven may manifest other slight abilities. For example, at full strength, Warden can unleash souls to torment people, and remotely manipulate his sickle for brief periods of time.

 

A-yup.

 

- _Grim1_

[spqrSancus 173]

Insanity is a very extreme VA.  I recall they didn't ever really want more than 3 people with a VA or 5, which means it is quite intense.

 

Anyhow, the information here is all accurate. Until I get around to posting my guide, this is bible for Graven everywhere.

 

A few points:

 

1. Being sentient, Graven are not susceptible to the influence of necromancers. A dead, mindless soul may be compelled. One that is angry, and after your blood, cannot. Graven may, however, work with necromancers if it is to that Graven's benefit.

 

2. Actually, Warden draws energy from killing the guilty. If y'all would just let me do my work, you'd have far fewer villains trying to kill you or steal your minas. :D

 

3. Depending on their strength--determined by whether or not they are regularly fulfilling their eternal duty--Graven may manifest other slight abilities. For example, at full strength, Warden can unleash souls to torment people, and remotely manipulate his sickle for brief periods of time.

 

A-yup.

 

- _Grim1_

 

I got it, I'll go and add that to the guide in a moment. Also, might you check out the standardising spectral spirits lore thing that Kalenz put out, I kinda don't want us to have a particular weakness to gold but will support any decision you make. As well, I'm thinking of adding some possession and soulbonding lore based on that other session of RP the other time, but it would be an MA specific for us if we do.

[hellfiazz 878]

Our particular weakness is holy water. I don't see why we need two.

[spqrSancus 173]

In the lore, gold only affects us like it did in mortal life (meaning it can kill us, but it acts like any other metal), but Kalenz would like to standardize such. I myself am against it, but I'll support any position he may take. If I absolutely must, I'll ask to create another Graven in Hunter's stead... As that change would, quite effectively, seal him.