Of Artefacts and Antiquities WB Thread

[Nea Videssos]

There's the Merlin Stone at Avebury, so actually, yes. Also Merlin's Stone in Wales, too.

Maybe not the ones in Orkney or the Hebrides, but whatever. There are probably some connections with the Irish (Suibhne mac Colmain) and Scottish (Lailoken) versions of Merlin and assorted sacred sites, trees/forests, etc.

I didn't know that. Thank you.

You're welcome. I always find it interesting looking up assorted myths and legends myself, so there's something in it for me, too. I've already been to Avebury, Stone Henge, Brodgar and Stenness before, so I know a bit about them. Another interesting thing is how the henge at Stenness is very possibly the oldest henge in Britain. A lot of folklore about them was recorded in the 18th and 19th centuries, too, though said legends only seem to go back to Norse pagan times (though those legends in turn probably mixed Celtic or even pre-Celtic beliefs/folklore too).

[Shadowwell]

In the OOC's info dump post the last spoiler has some reference links i added, concerning creatures, powers and mythological objects and weapons.

Should i add the spoiler here as well.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Major Magical Family App:
Family Name:
Arashihana
Family Logo/Sigil:

Country of Origin:
Japan
Family Head:
Arashihana Ai (Age 12), but run by Arashihana Mao and Arashihana Ichiro
Notable Members:
Arashihana Kouki - Father of Ichiro, Kimiko, Michiko and Ai. (Recently Deceased)
Arashihana Mao - Wife of Kouki (Age 40)
Arashihana Ichiro - Eldest child of Kouki and Mao (Age 23)
Arashihana Kimiko (on left) - Child of Kouki and Mao, twin sister of Michiko (Age 19)
Arashihana Michiko (on right) - Child of Kouki and Mao, twin sister of Kimiko (Age 19)
Arashihana Ai - Youngest child of Kouki and Mao, current head (only because of her magic ability)
Family Bloodline:
Elemental/Sacred, descendant from a Kirin.
Family Magic:
Electricity Manipulation and Literary Manipulation
Family History:
The Arashihana are an old family and formerly powerful family. They claim to have been around since magic was first in the world. Most of their history has been forgotten, and what is known is kept well guarded. They claim to have been great mages who followed the emperors of Japan, and often offered council. But when magic disappeared they seemed to disappear from the record. But with the recent return of magic, the Arashihana have returned. They only care for one thing really, knowledge. This thirst for knowledge hs driven them since the dawn of time. They have amassed one of the largest private libraries ever to exist, which happens to contain a few books tied with magic, which they either obtained through the time that magic was not around, or they have obtained through certain deals they have made with the Museum. They have recently been kicked from the Council, due to many rumours that they were against and disobeying certain Mandates, while also throwing one of the Council's unofficial rule (Kill the victims of hostile monsters) to the wind. The rumours swirled and with additional pressure from other families, the Arashihana were forced to step down. A few weeks ago, tragity struck. They don't know what attacked them or why, but it ended with a large number of the families forces dead, including the former head Arashihana Kouki.
Notable Magics:

• True Flight
• Kirin Physiology

[Nuridia]

Arashihana. Storm flower, creative meaning Faal.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Arashihana. Storm flower, creative meaning Faal.

Thank you

[Faal Lot Himdah]

WB Artifact App:
Artifact Name:
The Voynich Manuscript
Appearance:

The Voynich Manuscript is made of six distinct sections. Section one contains detailed drawings of around 113 plants and flowers which no one can identify, and because of this is referred to as the Botanical section. Section two contains lots of circular and concentric diagrams, and some signs of the zodiac, making it known as the Astrological section. The third section is known as the Biological section. Section four contains foldouts that appear to be circular diagrams of some cosmic nature making it known as the Cosmological section. The fifth section contains over 100 drawings of herbs, roots, powders, tinctures, and potions of undecipherable contents or use making it known as the Pharmaceutical section. The final section contains 23 solid pages of text only, in short paragraphs, each marked with a star, making it known as the Star section.

Type:
Aretifact
Mass produced?:
No
Effect:
The Voynich Manuscript serves as a guide to Alchemy, stellar magic, and to another realm known as the Alchemist's Paradise. It can grant the knowledge of it's pages to anyone who can use magic but only if ones mind is strong enough to accept it's knowledge. Basically the book can choose who it wants to be able to read it, and if you try and read it without it's acceptance it can drive you into madness.
Artifact history:
The books early history is some what of a mystery. The manuscript is pressumed to be European and was created between 1404 and 1438. It's first confirmed owner was Georg Baresch, an alchemist from Prague. He had no idea what the book was about and could not decipher it. So, he asked Athanasius Kircher, a Jesuit scholar. It was unknown if he got a response. Upon Georg Baresch's death, the book was passed on to Jan Marek Marci, who then sent the book to Athanasius Kircher after a few years. Kircher found a letter in the book that was written on August 19, 1665 or 1666 claimed that the book once was owned by Emperor Rudolf II, and that the emperor bought it from John Dee. It was given to Jacobus Horcicky de Tepenecz as payment for a debt that Rudolf owed. After that point, there were no records of the book for the next 200 years. The book was transfered to the personal library of Petrus Beckx in order to prevent its confiscation by Victor Emmanuel II. Around 1912 it was sold to Wilfrid Voynich who then spent the next seven years trying to decipher it. Upon his death it was passed to his widow, Ethel Voynich, who then when she died passed it to Anne Nill. Nill sold the book to Hans P. Kraus in 1961. When Kraus was unable to find a buyer, he donated it to Yale University where it was catalouged as MS 408. With the reawakening of magic, the Voynich Manuscript found its way into the hands of the Arashihana Family.
Country/Mythology of origin:
Unknown
Enhance-able:
No
Clues:
None

[True Refuge]

Major Magical Family App:
Family Name: Ernst
Family Logo/Sigil:

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Family Head:Ruby Ernst, older sister of Quartz Ernst. This particular old hag is as ruthless as tyrants of olden Europe. For thirty years, Ruby has held the Ernsts together in a period when magic was at its weakest through a degree of emotional detachment that rivalled that of the vampires of old. Although she may look physically weak and wrinkled, many have died at either her hand or a scythe blade, and often her victims are members of other, less cooperative families. Previous leader: Topaz, father of Quartz and Ruby,
Notable Members:

• Ruby (67 y/o)
• Quartz (62 y/o)
• Amber (22 y/o): An excellent combat Mage trained in the arts of Wall-Walking (the ability to walk on walls, ceilings, all silently), swordsmanship and Lock Meddling (the ability to unlock doors, safes and their ilk with only a flick of the hand. Amber is one of the most in-demand hitwomen in the world, renowned for stealth and the cleanliness of her kills. Even during the Stagnation, the simplicity of her abilities allowed her to continue in almost the same manner as an assassin from medieval times. Amber is the crown jewel of the Rippers, a prodigy even, that hunts for rouge Supernaturals almost daily. Her favoured weapon is, as pictured, a katana, a gift from Quartz himself when she was just a young girl.
• Jasper "Matthew Estrange"(41 y/o): The CEO of the Estrange Group, a corporation owned by the Ernst family. He rarely involves himself with the magical affairs of his relatives, preferring to occupy himself with the concerns of business. Regardless, he is still a formidable opponent, certainly capable of using the trappings of the mortal world such as lawsuits, corporate espionage and plain blackmail to gain the edge over his opponents.

Family Bloodline: The Ernst bloodline could be considered, and usually is by ignorant laymen, to be of a Legacy type due to its overall focus on physical and energy-related enhancements and its own conceitedness, but upon further examination by a trained mind, it defies any sort of concrete categorisation due to absence of ancestry related or specific abilities that are granted upon Ernst family members, along with the heavy-handed guarding of the family's past.
Family Magic: The most wondrous feature of the Ernsts and also the one they are most proud of, is that members are not restricted to any particular discipline or form of magic. This freedom increased more and more as different Supernaturals added their genetic material, but as they did, the benefits for specific magics faded. An Ernst that follows a magic path must do so without any support from their ancestry.
Family History: Formed through a marriage between two minor magical families, the Ernst family always aimed to discard the limitations of specific bloodlines from its formation in the tenth centruy. The two original Ernsts, Crystal and Gemstone, while originally being indifferent, became disheartened in their frantic exploratory youth by their loved ones' need to focus entirely on a tiny collection of magics, and broke away to provide themselves with a way to be free of such boundaries. They began the construction of an underground Sanctuary deep in the countryside of Britain where their studies could be done uninterrupted.

They worked their entire lives to dilute their magic and expand, but only their children found themselves able to do more than their parents. Even then, the young Ernsts found themselves strong only in their parents bloodline magic, and pathetically weak in the other abilities that they attempted to explore. Regardless, the family grew over time, expanding. Each generation was impressed with the ideals of pure magic-science created by Crystal and Gemstone. The family above all else, ruthlessness over emotion. After just a century, the family had split into several dozen Mages, whose power was widening with every Supernatural's genetic material and becoming more freed with each non-magical marriage. Different sections of the family began to divert in their studies along the lines of the founders' two children.

The Rippers, who had been named derisively by those from outside the family, were to focus on the many combat magics at their disposal. The second branch were called the Adepts. They were those that descended into the exceptionally wide ocean of rune and sigil-related disciplines and then split into magic-science, runesmithing and runic combat. Traditionally, the Adepts held the position of the head of the family, as they were the descendants of the original eldest.

It was as soon as they emerged into the magical world a century after their formation that they became known for their brutality in managing the non-magical realm, and their cold-blooded precision in picking Supernatural mates for each generation to increase their abilities. Politicking was a huge part of their weaponry, and in only a short time they had amassed respectable influence with some of the European powers, and took sides in times of war. A regiment of peasants were gifted to them by the French King Phillip IV in the late thirteenth century in return for their long-running assistance English. A similar present was given by the English King Edward I, as the Ernsts had actually been fighting on both sides.

The two groups of poor countrymen and women began to be conditioned a year later, coinciding with the Ernsts creation of a magical metal dubbed Woven Razor that when turned into a weapon could cut through bone like paper. The peasants that were elderly either had the memories of the family's British Sanctuary erased or were killed. They then began to condition the youngest, brainwashing them to remove disobedience and turn them into perfect soldiers. The result, after many years of constant personality erasure and combat training was the Cleavers, non-magical humans clad in grey uniforms and visors and wielding scythes made of Woven Razor. The success of the first batch was unexpectedly promising. Cleavers would unflinchingly follow orders even if it led them to their death, and as the years passed, they replaced the security details of the Ernsts' Sanctuary and the Rippers on the medieval battlefields.

Their influence over the world grew and grew, often conflicting with the interests of other major families. When the Industrial Revolution rolled around and the Stagnation was taking its full effect, the Ernsts took full advantage of the emerging capitalism of Europe, enriching themselves through well-placed investments in Thomas Edison and other inventors. After the American War of Independence, the family also expanded into the North American continent to lay their claws over the growing country. A select few Rippers became well-known in the business circles of Europe. About this time, the bloodline realised the independence that they had from the prison of ordinary ancestries, and the head of the family declared them a force of 'logical good'. Their central goal was to keep the world in its fragile equilibrium, and prevent it from becoming either an anarchy or a utopia.

During Prohibition in the US, the Ernsts supported the gangland warfare of the time, both through manpower, guns and financing, and also manipulated the government through both lobbying and magical means to act in whatever the head of the family dictated as "their interests".

Oil on canvas painting of Gypsum Ernst after a Chicago gunfight between Al Capone's forces and a rival gang.

Today, the Ernsts' Sanctuary has grown to a sprawling underground fortress, and their talons are laid into the affairs of the world. A corporation started in 1939 eventually became the Estrange Group, and its subsidiaries include the pharmaceutical, defence contracting and various mining industries. Every day since the formation of the Magical Council, the Ernst family has been scrambling out of the whole it essentially dug itself into to land a councillor's position, although such efforts have been unsuccessful.


Notable Magics: Dimensional Shunting: Due to its inherently risky nature, interdimensional travel is only utilised by the most zealous of explorers. Quartz is a fine example of this art in the Ernst family, although he has twisted the travel method so much you could barely call it by its name.

Elemental Magic: The Ernsts view control of the elements as unnecessarily restrictive where the large 'tree of magic' could supply a growing Mage with whatever magic they desire.

Necromancy and other 'flashy' magical arts are heavily discouraged due to their obviousness compared to disciplines that are more easily concealed.

---

WB Artifact App:
Artifact Name: The Sceptre of the Ancients
Appearance:

Type: Artefact
Effect: When the user thinks 'Fire', the Sceptre fires a burst of black lightning that turns whatever it hits into dust. This lightning could, at the time of the Sceptre's creation pre-Stagnation, bypass most forms of magical shielding. In fact, all but the most powerful of protection charms fell to its attacks, as did the personal shields of weaker Mages. The blast is usually used to disintegrate people and enemies' cover.
Artifact history: The newly founded Ernst family was, as many were, looking for a way to announce their presence in the magical world so that they might amass influence and clout. While the majority of the bloodline tried the traditional politicking, a runesmith called Emerald took a different path. She formed a partnership with a Dimensional Shunter, Creyfron Signate, and they began to explore other realities for some sort of powerful magic to add to the Ernsts' arsenal.

They found it in a present day version of Earth, strangely without magic, in a heavily fortified research building where energy was emitted in droves. Emerald slaughtered the guards that confronted them, but countermeasures began to sap her power, and she looked for the first magical item she could find. A black crystal sat upon a pedestal in a locked room that they stumbled into. The power that held was plainly obvious and tangible, enough to make Creyfron greedy. He struck Emerald down and reached for the crystal. When he touched it, he fell into dust in front of her eyes as the trapping spell faded with his death. She used magic and the last dregs of her former partner's magic to shunt back to the Ernsts' Sanctuary with the crystal in a shielded cloth bag.

Over decades, the entire runesmith side of the Ernsts became entirely occupied with turning the crystal into a weapon that could be used only by the head of the family. A golden Sceptre was built and the crystal was carefully laid onto it. The Sceptre was made to channel the wild, unpredictable energies of the crystal into something controllable, and it succeeded. However, tests discovered that the weapon was too powerful to be flaunted by anyone with the most basic runic skills, and so the restrictions were made tighter. The Sceptre would bind to one person and one person only, and the only way to change that binding was through the death of the wielder.

During the Stagnation, the Sceptre became an ordinary tool, with the weaknesses and pathetically small effects of any ordinary magical item today. It was locked away as its effectiveness faded, only being brought out when the head of the family died to pass it on to the new bearer.

Over the last thirty years, the Sceptre has laid in Quartz's care while its wielder is Ruby. Quartz has added his own enhancements and magic to the weapon, and the resurgence of the magical arts have once again made it a frighteningly destructive weapon. It has of yet not been tested in today's different environment.
Country/Mythology of origin: Black Crystal: The Multiverse
Channelling Sceptre: Britain
Enhance-able: Not applicable, or perhaps entirely applicable depending on the way you look at it. As an example, while Quartz’s Cane could be easily used by someone else via simple(ish) runic editing, the Sceptre’s bounding to its user is completely impenetrable and unchangeable, making it useless in the hands of others.
Clues: The crystal's lightning produces a specific type of anomalous radiation on use, sometimes described as Nowak radiation by certain underground government I̜̞̜͇͖͟n̺̘i̙̘̝̹͎̲̘t̨͉͜i̲̱̰̱̟̣͟͝ͅa̭̘̕ṯ̷͈̼͜i̴̢̢̠̲v̴̼͓̞̪͜͢e̡̬͉̞̯̱̞͎ͅs͙͙̱͕̖̪̼̣͘͜͟. Said radiation is not harmful to humans in small amounts, and not directly harmful in large amounts, but is detectable with specialised equipment.

[Shadowwell]

There may be a few people with the Council who will looked disdainfully upon the Ernst famil;y due to the bloodline impurities (As they would see it)

[True Refuge]

There may be a few people with the Council who will looked disdainfully upon the Ernst famil;y due to the bloodline impurities (As they would see it)

Of course. On that note, the Ernsts might counter that view by thinking everyone else whose bloodlines are pure are single-minded.

[Shadowwell]

There may be a few people with the Council who will looked disdainfully upon the Ernst famil;y due to the bloodline impurities (As they would see it)

Of course. On that note, the Ernsts might counter that view by thinking everyone else whose bloodlines are pure are single-minded.

Well most bloodlines arent pure, exactly but the ancestor is still recognozable.

[True Refuge]

Of course. On that note, the Ernsts might counter that view by thinking everyone else whose bloodlines are pure are single-minded.

Well most bloodlines arent pure, exactly but the ancestor is still recognozable.

The Ernsts would define single-minded as focusing on (or for the most pure, limiting to) one type of magic, to be less vague.

[Aidannadia]

Major Magical Family App:
Family Name: Sylvestris Family
Family Logo/Sigil: http://www.tattootemptation.com/wp-cont ... 24x768.jpg
Country of Origin: Greece, though the family is large and very diluted. There are many branches in other countries that are even unaware of the Secret that no longer wield magic. When Flick Sylvestris took power, most of his immediate family moved to London- He was studying there at the time.
Family Head: Flick Sylvestris- 83, Did not inherit the family's magical traits, despite the fact that he was among a magical generation. Not respected by other family heads. Laid back personality.
Notable Members:
Famous/Historical Persons the family lays claim to: Howard Hill, Robin Hood, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Kirsten Flagstad, D. B. Cooper,
Among Magical Circles:
-The Anemoi or Venti(Winds of ancient Greece and Rome. Most have disappeared over the years),
-Boomer Sylvestris(Notable manipulator of storms and avid sound amplifier. Partially deaf. Grandson to Flick Sylvestris. Very jealous and cruel to the 'weak' family head. Currently in Greece as of the Reawakening. Cousin to Echo)
-Echo "Hush" Sylvestris(Aerokinetic. Only known sound manipulator among the family to be able completely nullify sound. Partially blind. Very keen sense of hearing- Daredevil level- Adept archer and singer. Granddaughter to Flick Sylvestris. Cousin to Boomer. Currently in London with main family branch.)
Family Bloodline: Elemental- The Sylvestris family at one time freely interbred with Sylphs in the mountains of Greece- with a little bit of Seasonal/Conceptual mixed in.
Family Magic:
-Aerokinesis- Skips a generation unless direct descendant of a Sylph. Manipulation of the wind.
-Archery- This is a general skill most branches of the family pass along to their children. The control of the wind allows for pinpoint accuracy, and the lifetime of practice/competition doesn't hurt.
Enhanced Senses- With manipulation of the air, there comes a better sense of hearing and smell.
Family History: At one time, the Sylvetris were famous among the international magical community as great explorers and de facto 'mailpersons' from cultures all across the earth. In there time, the Sylvestris was respected as one of the most prominent magical families, but as magical began to disappear, so did the Sylphs that were so connected to the family. Over time, their power, magic, and reputation have waned until the Sylvestris is by most accounts a dying bloodline, but with the stirrings of magic once more coming to life, there are talks among family members of restoring what once was.
Notable Magics: These each only have one or two real users among the history of the family
-Storm Manipulation- Ability to conjure unnatural or out of place weather events.
-Sound Amplication/Absorption/Manipulation- Varying degrees of control related to Sound carried by wind.
-Air Transmutation- Self only, never achieved with another object. No one has ever returned from this state. Only the oldest magical family members have achieved this. They have seemingly disappeared into the wind to never return.
-Aeroportation- Travel along winds. May carry things along with them. Must follow air currents.
-Cryokinesis- Some have speculated that sightings of 'Jack Frost' have been meddlesome Sylvestris boys and girls over the years who mischievously pranked unsuspecting humans. Others speculate that Frost, as a minor Aspect, may have bred with the bloodline long ago, allowing for the occasionally descendant to have manipulation over Cold in general, and Ice specifically.

[Vidhelm]

Accidentally posted this in the OOC at first

Edit: Changed from an Austrian theme to a Spanish one as there are already several German families.

Minor Magical Family App:
Family Name: House Santiago
Family Logo/Sigil: http://m.imgur.com/O5fEV0b
Country of Origin: Spain is the country of Origin, but the families great worldly wealth and small population makes them essentially nomadic.
Family Head: ( http://m.imgur.com/VMJRi7W )Camilo Santiago - at 56 years of age, Camilo is a powerful sorcerer and competent businessman. However, his main strength lies not in his arcane might, but rather in his worldly influences. Through an impossibly long and complex line of deceit, sabotage, and blackmail, Camilo has acquired an incredible amount of wealth for his family. This allows them to move around freely and protect their interests without the overt use of magic. It also helps them to maintain an amount of respect and influence among the more powerful magical families despite their smaller size.
Notable Members:
Santiago agents tend to stick to a distinct uniform when working in the non-magical world. An example can be found here
( http://i.imgur.com/1tYsad1.png )
Arturo Santiago (28 y/o) - One of the more physically powerful members, Arturo acts as the main enforcer of the family. Ensuring that any who cross the family meet an untimely and often 'self inflicted' demise.
Enzo Santiago (28 y/o) - Arturo's twin brother and close friend. Enzo also acts as the de facto assassin of the family. Compared to his brother, Enzo is less physically powerful, but exhibits considerable Pyrokinetic abilities. This is an invaluable tool when the circumstances call for someone's home to experience a sudden and unfortunate fire, often with its owners still inside.
Gil Santiago (43 y/o) - a shrewd businessman and skilled tactician, Gil acts as an advisor to Casimir and often helps him decide the best course of action for the family.
Cristian Santiago (32 y/o) - Cristian distinguished himself as a prodigy among his kin from a young age. Able to crudely wield Black Fire from the age of 4, a skill which usually only manifests in those over 45. Cristian refined and perfected his art, quickly becoming the most powerful sorcerer of his family. His palms are forever charred, forcing him to wear fingerless gloves to deflect suspicion.
The Baron (sort of) - one of the original, and the last surviving of the vampires who forged a pact with the Santiago. He can be considered as one of the patriarchs of the Family, but is hunted mercilessly by his own descendants. Sometime before 1910, The Baron had come to reside in an an ancient castle overlooking a quaint village.

Family Bloodline: Legacy Bloodline (Minor Elemental Powers through inter marriage)
Family Magic: Absorbtion by touch, enhanced strength and speed. Minor Vampiric traits still can be found in the family, due to their ancient relationship with the dark creatures.
Family History: The Casimiro and Santiago families had feuded over the lands of Spain for generations until finally through a number of pacts and inter marriages with a powerful German vampire coven, the Santiago emerged victorious and assimilated the Casimiro family. The Santiagos were blessed with great strength and speed by their vampiric allies through a series of intermarriages, but both parties sought to betray the other and seize power for themselves regardless of any supposed loyalty. After breeding the Casimiro's powerful so called 'Black Pyromancy' into their own bloodline, the Santiago struck the first blow against their former allies. After a great and terrible war the Family forced the coven to pull back, but at a steep cost. To this day, the Santiago prefer to maintain a small and elite population, believing that power lies in unity and mobility.

The Santiago naturally exhibit the power to absorb life and magical forces through physical contact, this power would prove to be their salvation. As magic continued to fade from the world the few surviving Santiago were forced to absorb the latent magic of others on a regular basis in order to maintain their previous power. Now the family has moved their remaining resources into London, in hopes of finding fresh prey and new opportunities. The family is loosely related to the Magical Council, though they are aloof and mostly act independently from the council's notorious red tape.
Notable Magics: Pyrokinesis can be found in the most powerful members of the family, though this form of Pyrokenisis is fueled by negative emotions and produces a distinct Black flame.
Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUhVCoTsBaM

[Shadowwell]

ANNOUNCEMENT

Would any of those that helped with this rp mind if I take it to another site for refinement and the like?

[Kinky Bastards]

ANNOUNCEMENT

Would any of those that helped with this rp mind if I take it to another site for refinement and the like?

I wouldn't mind.

[True Refuge]

ANNOUNCEMENT

Would any of those that helped with this rp mind if I take it to another site for refinement and the like?

I wouldn't mind.

As ambiguous as the announcement is, I wouldn't mind either.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

ANNOUNCEMENT

Would any of those that helped with this rp mind if I take it to another site for refinement and the like?

It's your shit. You decide what to do with it.

[Aghrabia]

ANNOUNCEMENT

Would any of those that helped with this rp mind if I take it to another site for refinement and the like?

Coming in very late, but sure- if you like.