The last time you lived through the second decade of a century it was the best and the worst of times simultaneously, and you've been around for long enough to actually recognize the pattern when you see one.
So far you have enjoyed seeing civilizations grow to golden ages & fall to their demise, only, this time the change is inevitable and the clock seems to be ticking - are you also going to be brought down with it?

The safest bet would be to say time will tell, but the goal is to survive long enough to do that.

What's your problem? It might be the fact the human race is in a perpetual state of war against each other destroying the planet permanently. It could be the fact your kin is having a hard time adjusting, slowly getting picked off, one after another. Or the simple fact you are hiding while you could easily be at the top of this food chain. Perhaps, a little bit of all.

Be what may, these rumours you have been hearing for the last year, two, or more have been proven right. The Synod is gathering after a long time and you want to be there to hear it yourself - what are you going to do about it.

Good evening ladies, my name is Sanja, altho we could have skipped the intro. Welcome to the casting round, or creature claim of "Once We Were Gods". I'm aiming to host a dark supernatural fantasy, with bits of romance, a dash of politics and hopefully something fun. At the very beginning, I want to say this will be a one-season thing, but if things are fun, this is a universe I would love to explore additionally.

The Premise
You'll enter this as a creature of mythology, lore or legends, perhaps a goddess, perhaps a spirit - not always good or kind in nature, but how you play your role in this universe is entirely up to you - but right now, you live in this day & age, trying to make your way around it.

Depending on your creature choice, you might fit into the category of someone who has inhabited this one shapeshifting body for ages, or you could be reborn in a new body every time you have finished inhabiting the previous one (most don't go through the whole newborn process, instead opting for inhabiting a body they like, kind of like finding an unwilling & unaware host).

Other ageless creatures see you as you are in your pure form, but the humans see you as another regular human being. The same goes for many sacred places of your kind - humans might see them as abandoned, think them cursed, avoid them in general.

Read this before we dive further...

No, I am not following all the rules and guidelines of the lore, mythology and legends. It means sometimes the version of your creature in this universe will not match the version you've read about, heard about or seen in media - it gives me a little bit of control and, in most cases, it will not be up to negotiation.

You will be given agency and you will be given choices - which means I'll need the result to those choices by the deadline (round closing).

And it brings me to the following rule, please keep up. Being a day or two late, then catching up is okay, but everything after that I will count as your character simply not being part of the events.

Trigger warning: your creature of choice is not always nice in nature, or to be super blunt, your diet might consist of delish people. Go figure. In some cases, there will not be another option, so check with me if you feel uncomfortable playing that role. Not that you'll have to write graphic scenes, but...

...it kinda goes with that whole keeping in character. So, no - your bloodthirsty Mrs Manhuntress will not be on a strict diet of sunshine and rainbows because it will not be in her nature to be.

I am super open to conversation, to plotting, to hearing ideas - so this is your invite to do just that. Come & chat, see what we can do.

And now, to the claim & the round. The claim is, as per usual, following that famous first come, first served (post, please).

I'll close the claim this Sunday, late in the evening.

Last edited by Zaralee (18/12/2021 at 07:50)

CASTING: CREATURE CLAIM

Required
Name (might be related to your original, does not have to be)
FC (try to keep in mind the whole origin, if you can)
Age (totally optional, but for those keen on creating timelines, have fun)
Creature/species (pick one from the claim list, it will influence quite some things in the contest - also, you will get additional information after casting)
Current place of residence
Traits & Personality (check if there is something given by the claim, otherwise you can go wild)
Motivation and/or goal (will be provided after your claim choice, you get some choices to make)
Outfit (optional AF, but if you wish to do something, I'd love to see some real forms here)
Story (optional) Arrival at the Synod.
Takes place in Belgium, early January, you will arrive by train (for the sake of this story, let's go with you being the only ageless on this particular train) and get picked up by a town car (human driver). You'll drive for a while when a ruin will appear in the distance in the forest - and once you step through a barrier, you'll see your destination. The door will open, and you are greeted by a familiar face. You get to pick which one of the three:
a) Diana
b) Cedric
c) Nicolo
The choice is up to you, and finish the story with them welcoming you to Synod.

...just for visual reference

(Their species is intentionally omitted.)

Note: once selected, there will be more provided information.
Also note, some listed things are assumptions

creatures

Skinwalker
Age: up to 1000
Origin: human, Native American
Note: should be relentless, cruel
Once a human, a skinwalker is a creature born out of black magic, blood and destined to roam the planet. While the stories might not be all true, one thing is certain: you are the thing that lurks in the night in the forest.

Wendigo
Age: up to 1000
Origin: folklore, First Nations
Note: should have a hunter-like mind.
Demonic presence inhabiting the lore of the First Nations, a wendigo is a creature that would keep both children and grown men from wandering into woods alone. Maneater, hunter, predator - and hardly ever stoppable. 

Hectate
Born: around 1000 BCE
Origin: goddess, ancient Greek
Goddess of witchcraft is one of the most worshipped creations, with a cult following and while the mention of her name meant sure death at some points in history, to this day remains a name often spoken - not in fear, but respect.

Morana
Born: sometime in the 6th century
Origin: goddess, Slavic
Pagan Slavic goddess of winter, Morana was to them related to death and rebirth that happens at the end and beginning of the winter. Neither good nor bad, she was a staple presence worshipped at solstice and given a sacrifice with the first snow.

Strigoi
Born: anytime after the 1300s
Origin: humans, old Romania
Strigoi are troubled spirits said to have arisen from the grave after their untimely death. Something one might call a vampire. While you might not sparkle in the light, nor sleep in a coffin, you are certainly thirsty for blood and have to at least apply a very strong SPF.

Walrider
Name: up to you
Born: between 1000's and the 1300s
Origin: demon, German
The closest thing to nightmares personified, walrider was often considered a typically male demon that would torture people in their nightmares. Feeding off fear and energy, walriders induce nightmares easily, playing with the greatest fears of their victims, sometimes going a bit too far in their effort to feed on their victims.

Muse claimed
Born: as early as 700 BEC
Origin: goddess, ancient Greek
Note: should have an insatiable love for the art of all kinds
The legendary Muses were always considered a blessing, altho the reality might put them on the side of a curse. These creatures, not only a few selected as stories led you to believe, induce pleasure, madness, and eventually death - but what they offer is eternal life through the unlimited artistic potential they bring out in their victims.

Yacuruna
Born: sometime in the 13th century
Origin: spirit, indigenous Amazonian mythology (Peru)
Note: nature-loving, more on the introverted side
The mythical water spirit is similar to the ruling sign: the ever-changing water. Neither good nor bad, Yacuruna has always been tied to the deep Amazonian forests, cohabiting with wild beasts near rivers. Supposedly dwelling in their underwater cities, Yacurunas do like company but are bigger fans of free-living rather than firm structures.

Djinn (jinn)
Born: any time between 1000 BC and 1300s
Origin: spirit, Arabic countries
Malevolent spirit in Arabic mythology, the djinn has had many shapes and forms in literature - from evil to vengeful, to helping and kind. One thing every story agrees on is that the djinn can cast illusions, feeding on energy - good or bad, up to you.

Banshee
Born: sometime in or after the 11th century
Origin: spirit, Irish folklore
A creature of legends, this fearsome spirit is known for the blood-chilling death scream, feeding on grief, fear and energy in general, a banshee is normally related to the Irish countryside, death and funerals.

Succubus
Born: as far back as 600 BEC, or anytime before the 9th century
Origin: demon, Abrahamic folklore
A female devil entity deeply rooted in folklore, a succubus is traditionally here to seduce men and steal their energy using sex. While reality might be slightly different, a succubus is still an alluring creature, a beautiful seductress and her demonic side is easily ignored.

Iktomi
Age: up to 1000
Origin: spirit, Native American
Note: trickster personality
This well-known trickster spirit is often depicted as a form of a spider - neither good nor bad, but with a tendency for mischief. In every legend, it’s often described as someone you should approach very carefully if you even decide to do so.

Lamashtu claimed
Born: between 2000 and 1000 BCE
Origin: demigoddess, Mesopotamian folklore
Daughter to sky god Anu, Lamashtu is a demigoddess prone to vengeance, slaughter, inducing nightmares and more - altho often forgotten, she was also associated with beasts of air and land, as well as wild animals.

Neith
Born: c. 3100–2686 BC
Origin: diety, early Egyptian
Note: strategic mind
Old diety with duality in nature: patron of the people, and goddess of war. Huntress, matriarchal figure, leader - the legends tend to fall contradictory, which comes with the territory with someone this old.

Lwa claimed
Born: any time from 2000 BC to the 15th century
Origin: spirit, African folklore, Haitian Voodoo
The messenger spirit who is able to tap into the realm beyond this one, Lwa is one of the creatures in whose existence people still believe in some parts of the world, but ironically still very mysterious. 

The Kuri
Born: between 9th and 15th century
Origin: spirit, English mythology 
Perhaps the closest thing to what humans describe as ghosts, but coming from a very different background. Often considered evil, but one might call their thirst for psychological torture and draining energy pure survival.

Whaitiri
Born: sometime in the early to mid-1300s
Origin: goddess, Maori
Goddess of thunder, a fearsome figure, often cannibalistic, lover of height and ritualistic sacrifices, often described as far more dangerous and sadistic than her cruel husband.

Chantico
Born: late 12th, early 13th century
Origin: goddess, Aztec folklore
Aztec goddess of fire and family. Often mentioned in a context of justice, loyalty and warmth, she can also show a harsher side, fearless side, and even be merciless if the justice asks for it.

Dola
Born: sometime in the 6th century
Origin: spirit, Slavic
Slavic spirit of fortune and good luck, Dola has always been celebrated - even now, at times - because she was believed to bring good fortune, symbolise motherhood, feminine energy and motherhood.

Draco claimed
Born: anytime between 5th and 15th century
Origin: human, Germanic origin
The elusive creature might not have been found at any point during all of these years since it looks nothing like the descriptions and paintings. In reality, dragons are former humans who dabbled too far into black magic.

Kumiho claimed
Age: at least 1000
Origin: spirit, Korea
Often described as a fox, this trickster spirit owes longevity to its accumulation of energy and occasional feasting on human flesh. Kumiho often has a very ambiguous moral compass, and while they are not always bad, they are most often treated as bad.

Dragon claimed
Born: between 1st and 13th century
Origin: spirit, Korean mythology
Whereas most dragons in European mythology are normally connected to fire and destruction, dragons in Korean mythology are primarily benevolent beings related to water often considered bringers of rain and water - and are not of human descent.

Enenra claimed
Born: between 14th and 17th century
Origin: spirit, Japanese
Enenras are mostly considered to be demons or divine beings of darkness and smoke. Often related to fire, they are actually related to smoke and darkness, secretive and elusive creatures normally benevolent in nature.

Last edited by Zaralee (18/12/2021 at 08:17)

Form

Name: Kordelia Glaser

FC: Johanna Herrstedt

Age: 624 (born 1397 in Aachen)

Creature/species: Draco

Current place of residence: Innsbruck, Austria

Traits & Personality:

Kordelia is charming... someone who knows what she wants in life and she is confident and determined enough to do everything to get it. From a young age, she had always shown the determination to complete her goals. Once she had a goal, she wouldn't let anything stop her from achieving it… nothing would get in her way. Uses her charms, smiles, and compliments like a weapon... she can be manipulative and knows how to persuade people to make them work in her favor. Secretive about herself and a Liar by nature after being alive for over 600 years... she learned how to read people and tell them exactly what they want to hear. Always has been selfish and doesn't share... she is someone who takes but never gives back. Passionate about things that she loves, which are money and power. Kordelia likes to be in control over everything, likes having the last word in every argument, and admitting that she did something wrong never happens. Not a team player and will try to avoid working with others at all costs unless it is absolutely necessary... she won't bother hiding her disdain about this situation. She is impulsive... definitely an act quickly and think later person which had gotten her into trouble a few times. Vain and proud not only about herself but also about everything she had achieved in her life. She is observant taking her time to gather valuable information before approaching someone she deems important… or worth her time. Kordelia is flirty, interested in both men and women and despite being married twice she prefers flings without any kind of attachment. Grows bored easily and often feels restless if she is staying longer in the same place... she had seen many places during her life and yet there are a few she will often return to. Uncompassionate, unrepentant, and she isn't someone to look back on her decisions as she believes what is done is done.

Motivation and/or goal: You would like to keep things as they are: human life holds no particular interest, you are not worried about them, and you believe even if they vanish, your kind (ageless) will persevere

Greeted by: Cedric

Draco Form / Normal Style
Cred to Google

Last edited by schoggettchen (20/12/2021 at 09:48)

»Credit to Schoggettchen«

The Queen of Voodoo

»Name« Myrlande “Mire” Bouchard
»FC« Nyla Lueeth
»Age« 767 (Born in 1254)

»Creature/species« Lwa

»Current place of residence« Sangre Grande, Trinidad

»Traits & Personality«
Charming, Polite, Cheerful, Easy going, Smooth talker, Opportunist, Mischievous sense of humor
Manipulative, Deceptive, Good liar, Remorseless, Sadistic, Lazy, Doesn’t tolerate any disrespect.

One voodoo spirit out of thousands, worshipped by many. Mire can’t help but be grateful for those that worship the ground she walks on. Mire is charming and polite to whomever she meets; for the humans that seek her, she will use her silver tongue; constantly receiving what she wants to gain. In return, she doesn’t mind using her abilities to help, sai person.

Mire was born to be mischievous, deceptive, maybe now and then even sadistic, especially when disrespected or grumpy. She can’t tolerate one thing at all; being disrespected in any way or form. It makes her blood boil, and she will be ready for vengeance.

A smooth talker, a spirit not against lying if it pushes someone or makes things go exactly how she wants. She loves acting... throughout the years, she perfected the art, and lying became second nature; she isn’t against playing dirty either.

One day in Mire’s life and you will start to feel as easy-going and cheerful. Mire does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. She is too lazy to take the difficult road. Unless she gains something from it, of course.
She doesn’t mind company or being by herself. She can side with whoever is likely to win the war just because it’s easier. She doesn’t do remorse as it is a waste of valuable time.

All in all, Mire minds her own business and goes with the flow.

»Motivation and/or goal« 
You are devoted to the humans, yet see their mistakes and greed, knowing they can no longer run this show, so you are in favor of going “public” without seeking dominance from your followers.

»Greeted by« Diana

»Mire as spirit/ Normal style«


Snippet will be posted when contest starts

Last edited by NinaJones (20/12/2021 at 10:20)

Form

Name: Minha
FC: Rina Sawayama
Age: Time is just a constuct, and modern day humans are so anal about it (she might have no clue herself)
Creature/species: Kumiho
Current place of residence: Calls Gotjawal Forest on Jeju Island home, as she sort of claimed it as her own years back. But her dualistic nature also claim love for urbanity has her frequently globetrot between the metropolises of the world.
Traits: Fun-loving, Free-spirited, Agile, Curious, Sly, Liar, Two-faced, Moody, Unpredictable, Heartless, Slippery, Childish, Craven
A tiny bit of history and personality: Minha is the name she has borne for the last two hundred years, a distinct before and after, but her history is oh so much longer than that. Going through numerous names and favouring various faces. She finds serenity in the lushness of the forest and energy in the bustling life of the crowd. But as placidly mind-numbing city presence can be as equally invigorating is nature's violence. Why have either/or when you can have it all.

Her moods tend to bend with the twitch of her tails, sometimes all in one direction, sometimes in different directions all at once. While she’s not the one to stand up to fight face to face, should you get on her bad side, she’ll come for you when your back’s turned.

A regular feeding schedule keeps her steadier, and while she generally doesn’t snack in-between, it happens. Should too much time pass she grows more and more volatile as the craving feed comes upon her. Her love/hate relationship towards humans has dictated her actions towards them through the past and into the present. But the fact that they are her happy meals on legs, she needs them to keep around.

Motivation and/or goal: Seeks to remain hidden, but gain more control over humanity by infiltrating with the most powerful humans
Greeted by: Nicolo

Done (this time it's final, I think)

Last edited by tricole (20/12/2021 at 00:34)

MOOD
"Dark Side" by Bishop Briggs

“Aʟʟ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴛʀᴜᴇʟʏ ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ sᴛᴀʀᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴄᴇ”
― Eʀɴᴇsᴛ Hᴇᴍɪɴɢᴡᴀʏ

Form - DONE

Name: Dvina of Akkad; Dvina Abna-Anno minn Akkad

Face claim: Beatriz Mariano

Age: 3,241; born June 15, 1221 BCE

Creature/Species: Lamashtu

Origin: demigoddess, Mesopotamian folklore
Daughter to sky god Anu, Lamashtu is a demigoddess prone to vengeance, slaughter, inducing nightmares, and more - altho often forgotten, she was also associated with beasts of air and land, as well as wild animals.

Current place of residence: Dubai, UAE

Traits & Personality: Vengeful, Savage, Arrogant, Immoral, Rebellious, Wise, Captivating, Independent, Strong-willed

Once upon a time... and all that nonsense, Dvina enjoyed the adoration of followers until all things turned sour, including her attitude towards this world of lesser beings. She harbors no love for humans nor her naivety that once held sway over her judgment where they were concerned.

She is strong-willed and intelligent as most deities are, and equally as prideful. Her wrath holds no bounds when she allows herself to care enough to unleash it. She is never one to back down from a fight but after thousands of years on this earth... living... hiding in plain sight so to speak... she's become more than pessimistic and deeply apathetic. The Queen of the cold shoulder, if crossing her does not immediately lead to an outright slaughter, trust that the betrayer is dead to her nonetheless.

She is not without her charms, how could she not be after millennia on this earth? Despite washing her hands of humans in general she still must eat after all... and it's far easier to coerce and manipulate to make the most use of such easy prey. She is also quite vain and haughty... still having a need to shine. Status-conscious, she has a love of expensive things... clothes, jewelry... her homes. She scorns all that is ordinary and is not made for any subordinate role. She's a bad loser... failure made her resentful and bitter.   

Dvina is usually in a hurry, can be irritable, and usually lacks a high level of tolerance for the mundane. Her need for both admiration and privacy can be at odds with each other. She finds moments to appreciate solitude, peace, and quiet. Either way, she is extremely picky to the point of exclusivity, selecting only the best for herself, which includes the food she opts to ingest. To the humans she allows in her space she is particularly mysterious and quite out of reach. To her, they are nothing but sustenance... marinating until their usefulness is depleted.

It is only the beasts of the earth that still enjoy her affection and protection. Her compassion for them goes beyond the human realm.

(Sorry this is more or less done. There may be some changes or additions before the contest actually starts.

Motivation and/or goal:
Dvina thinks they've lived in secrecy for far too long, and it is definitely time to come back to light and reinstate themselves as the apex predators they are.

Greeter Choice: Diana

Story; Arrival at the Synod - TBD (Sorry will get this to you before the contest actually starts!!

Takes place in Belgium, early January, you will arrive by train (for the sake of this story, let's go with you being the only ageless on this particular train) and get picked up by a town car (human driver). You'll drive for a while when a ruin will appear in the distance in the forest - and once you step through a barrier, you'll see your destination. The door will open, and you are greeted by a familiar face. You get to pick which one of the three:
a) Diana
b) Cedric
c) Nicolo
The choice is up to you, and finish the story with them welcoming you to Synod.

DONE (except snippet)

Last edited by BambiFoxx (20/12/2021 at 16:07)

Interested to see where this goes...

Name Damia Montero

FC Chloe Bailey

Age Not disclosed

Creature/species Muse

Current place of residence Brooklyn, NY

Traits & Personality Damia is Eclectic, experimental, temperamental, and hedonistic alternating (as needed) between being the life of the party to a wallflower based not on her whims but rather dictated by what she intuitively knows is best for whoever she is inspiring in the moment. While she loves the outcome of the process, there is also an undercurrent of envy because while muses can inspire and feed off of the output, they themselves cannot actually create.

Motivation and/or goal Wants more admiration, the reputation muses have is good and it makes no sense to remain hidden anymore.

Greeter Choice Cedric

DONE

Last edited by Dare (19/12/2021 at 15:20)

≈

Form

Name: Aylin
FC: Kim So Hyun
Age: Born in the last year of the 13th century - current age; 721 years
Species: Korean Dragon

Current place of residence: A sleepy sea-side town somewhere in South Korea

Traits & Personality: Soft-spoken | Calm | Patient | Curious | Kind

Aylin rarely gets angry due to her chill nature, and because she tends to be soft-spoken, she's often treated as though she were spineless. She understands the natures of both humans and creatures and approaches each with care to not cause disruptions. She doesn't enjoy violent confrontations and would rather be a pacifier until proven ineffective. Aylin despises being bored and takes it upon herself to search for curious and fun moments in her surroundings. She enjoys being in the company of bright, clever people, finding them to be greatly amusing and interesting. Aylin likes well-rounded people, and avoids those with an extreme negative nature. She hides her emotions very well, and always has a smile ready. Though she is slow to anger, it is in everyone's best interest to not piss her off.

Motivation and/or Goals: Understands the danger humans are to the planet, but she doesn't believe they should meddle openly, instead opting out for operating from the shadows by infiltrators who will control the most powerful humans.

Physical Appearance
- In her most comfortable state, she takes the form between human and elf-like, choosing to wear traditional attire, and keeping her hair long. Her hair is a light ash-blonde and her eyes silvery-blue.

- In her human state; her hair is slightly shorter and more modern, the colour a light brown. Her eyes are dark brown.

Picked up by: Cedric

OUTFIT
(Couldn't really incorporate dragons, though I'd tried.... but here's how I imagine she chooses to appear away from humans and in the presence of other creatures)

Story - TBA

Story (optional) Arrival at the Synod.
Takes place in Belgium, early January, you will arrive by train (for the sake of this story, let's go with you being the only ageless on this particular train) and get picked up by a town car (human driver). You'll drive for a while when a ruin will appear in the distance in the forest - and once you step through a barrier, you'll see your destination. The door will open, and you are greeted by a familiar face.

≈

ROUND STATUS: In PROGRESS

Last edited by MistyMisty (19/12/2021 at 20:21)

Name: Kiyo. In modern times she goes by Alix Matsuno
FC: Sayo Yoshida
Age: Unsure. What is age to a spirit?
Creature/species: Enenra
Current place of residence: Shiiba, Miyazaki

Traits & Personality: Charismatic, mischievous, prudent, quick-witted,  strategic // Detached, languid, unpredictable, reclusive, wary

For most, Alix Matsuno is a sweet, well-mannered young lady on the outskirts of town. Her manners are impeccable, her care for the elderly something most grandparents want out of their grandchildren, and when she speaks, she holds the room effortlessly. The question most ask, however, is why Alix is content to stay in Shiiba, whereas the other young folk had already moved out to Miyazaki, Tokyo, and other big cities.

But for Kiyo, Alix Matsuno is just another name she’s taken on for herself through the centuries. As an Enenra, her preference is to remain quiet, hidden, seen only when people focus on her - much like the smoke she turns into when she wills herself to. Her centuries of life have refined her manners, but also given her a roguish streak. She has perfected the art of suggesting mischief over a hot cup of tea, barely concealing her smile - or a long, well-considered strategy. She consumes information and retains them quickly, swiftly, and is content to hoard it, apply it when the fancy takes her.

Still, she has her flipsides. Her preference for quiet and ease has led her to become a recluse, watching everything with wary eyes. There is no “urgency” in her, as she is content to whisper and wind much like her true form, and no one is quite able to tell what is on her mind - or when fancy will take her. Her long years of living and observing humanity - and her constant visitations to other realms - has also left her wary of good intentions and people, trusting very few in her circle.

Motivation and/or goal: Believes humans are ruining the planet, but believe that the ageless are powerful enough to run everything from the shadows

Story coming... eventually. Maybe.

Last edited by Jadis (20/12/2021 at 17:32)

Hi everyone! Happy to see you join

The casting is now closed - banners will arrive by the end of the day

Banners, y'all

alphabetically, apparently

Aylin

Dvina

Damia

Kordelia

Kiyo

Minho

Mire

Last edited by Zaralee (20/12/2021 at 16:01)