forum The Shadow Society // OxO // Closed

Started May 12, 2020 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

There are two worlds, dimensions, that exist simultaneously and on top of each other: the Corporis, the physical world, and the Spectris world, the magical world.

There are a select few humans who know of the Spectris. These humans are known as Praesidia Spectris, since they guard this knowledge from normal people. However, magic is strictly forbidden among humans, and they cherish what is known as "Pure" blood, or normal human blood without any "extra". Some crossbreeding does happen between normal humans and the Spectris world, which is full of those who are…not quite human. This crossbreeding typically doesn't lead to any magic. The Praesidia Spectris hunts down these cases, and kills them.

There are many different groups among the Praesidia, though they all answer to the head of the group. One of the most elite groups among the Praesidia is what is known as "The Shadow Society". The Shadow Society is very selective about who it lets in to it.

Only select few members of the Praesidia are allowed to use magic, and even then they must obtain permission for every spell they do. If they must use nonpermissioned magic, due to an emergency of some sort, then afterwards they must provide a full accounting, and if afterwards the magic is deemed unnecessary, then they are punished. However, these magic users must still be pure human; again, no half-breeds allowed.

The Shadow Society does not allow any magic at all, not even sanctioned users.

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The Hawthorne School for Boys is one of the most prestigious schools in the world. Located in England, it is one of the oldest schools in the country. The grounds are large and sprawling, and the house is set back. It is surrounded by woods, with a lake nearby and mountaons as its background. It is approximately twenty miles outside of London. Inside this school is a part of the Shadow Society. Not all the boys at the school are from Praesidia families, of course, but some are. Many of the teachers are members of the Shadow Society, as is the principal. This school is where many of the rich members of the Shadow Society send their sons, hoping that these sons will follow in their footsteps.

Boys are sent to the school from all over the world. Once, of course, they've passed the entrance exams, which are notoriously difficult. This has led to a school with a 100% graduation rate; students with a C are kicked out unceremoniously. The boys that remain are highly motivated, intelligent boys, with razor sharp minds and daddy's money lining their pockets. With London so close, many will spend their free weekends in the city, letting loose all sorts of pent-up energy.

The Shadow Society does other things in their spare time. They, in training to follow in their fathers' footsteps, learn to identify those of the Spectris and those who illegally use magic, and how to get rid of them. They become a tight-knit little group, and it is extraordinarily difficult to keep a secret from them.

It is possible to do, though, if you are desperate enough.

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Theodore "Theo" Holden has a secret: he isn't fully human. He uses forbidden magic.

And he is a third generation member of the Shadow Society. His father and grandfather are both pure blooded members. He, however? A half-breed. A mixed-blood mutt. His mother vanished when he was five years old, but he knows his father has no idea what his mother must have been, or he would already be dead.

Or, as has happened before to Praesidia who are half-breeds, locked into a Corporis asylum for the rest of his days.

Theo hides this secret from everyone, knowing that if he is ever found out, the price will be his life.

So what is he going to do when people start turning up dead from magic, and the Hawthorne Shadow Society is asked to track down the killer?

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So! If you've read that longass description and you're still here… congratulations! Have a bit more information:

• Corporis and Spectris exist in different planes, but occupy the same space, if that makes sense. They are not parallel worlds or somesuch thing. Think of the Mist in Percy Jackson, actually, for a good example of how it works.

• All Shadow Society is Praesidia, but not all Praesidia is Shadow Society. There are many other groups within Praesidia.

• Your character will be Praesidia and a member of the Shadow Society. He will be fully human, not a half-breed or Spectris.

• This will be a historical, supernatural romance between our characters

• World is largely inspired by supernatural stuff and dark academia, so

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Rules:

• All of andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer)'s rules apply
• This will contain dark and mature themes; please be prepared for that
• I ask that you be descriptive: four sentences at the minimum
• This role-play will contain: underage drinkinga and smoking, and period-accurate behavior, including, sadly, homophobia, racism, and sexism. If any of this triggers or upsets you, please do not join
• I will provide a template when I have accepted you
• I reserve the right to say no

Also: I made This aesthetic board for the Shadow Society; I would appreciate it if you give it a look so that you understand my general vibe for this

(alright! Your character is a new student/member of the Shadow Society, and what his exact role within the Society is is up to you)

Template: (please get rid of everything in parentheses when filling it out)

Name:
Nickname(s):
Titles:
Age: (between 17 and 19 please)
Gender and Sexuality:
Nationality:
Species: (important for my character only; yours is human)
Looks:
Clothes?:
Favorite Food and Drink:
Family:
View of Magic and the Spectris: (please keep in mind that they've been raised to hate magic and view the Spectris as inferior; they will not be very open-minded and accepting of it)
Other:

Name: Theodore James Holden
Nickname(s): Theo
Titles: will inherit the title of "Lord" from his father, barring disaster
Age: 17
Gender and Sexuality: Male, gay
Nationality: technically Scottish
Species: Half Human, Half Spectris (exact species is unknown, will come out in the RP)
Looks: Theo is rather small, at only 5'5", and has a slim, small frame. He has curly dark hair that is just a bit longer than most wear their hair, and has soft green eyes. His skin is rather pale, and dotted with freckles, especially on his nose, hands, and arms. He has scars hidden away beneath his clothing, most self inflicted either during magic, or because of other things.
Clothes?: Likes soft sweaters and looser pants. Usually wears a button up shirt with a sweater over top, though when he has to wear the school uniform, will do so begrudgingly. The school uniform is a forest green jacket and tie, with a white shirt and dark slacks
Favorite Food and Drink: Cookies are definitely a guilty pleasure. Black tea with cream and sugar is his comfort drink.
Family:

• Lord Charles Holden, father. Human. 39 years old. Hates the Spectris with a burning passion. Loved his wife. Enjoys horseback riding.
• Lilian Holden, mother. Spectris. 36 years old. Loves plants and gardening. Loved her husband. Kind-hearted.

View of Magic and the Spectris: Hoo boy. So Theo has a lot of internalized hatred towards the Spectris and magic from his father, and so he was quite upset when he found out he isn't fully human. His father has no idea that he isn't fully human. Theo struggles with this hatred daily, and has some mental issues because of this. He loves using his magic, but views it, at the same time, as something he should be ashamed of.
Other: I…have another aesthetic board for you: this

Name: Oliver Valentin Arquette
Nickname(s): Olly, Ollie
Titles: Will inherit the title of 'Duke' when his father passes away.
Age: 19
Gender and Sexuality: Male, bisexual
Nationality: Half English, Half French (on his father's side)
Species: Human
Looks: Oliver is a little taller than average, a little over 5'10, and has a lean, albeit quite muscled, athletic frame. He has wavy blond hair that sits just above his ears, and has harsh grey, almond shaped eyes. His skin is slightly tanned with no visible blemishes. He has a clear cleft in his chin, and his face is always kept clean shaven.
Clothes?: When not wearing the school uniform, he likes to wear a button up shirt with the top three buttons open, dark slim-fit slacks and braces. When out in public he will dress accordingly to represent the nobility of his father—this usually includes a blazer and a cravat, complete with a brooch of his family crest.
Favorite Food and Drink: He can't deny a cup of green tea. Anything sweet is very much a weakness for him.
Family:

• Duke Henri Arquette of Cambridge. Father, 44 years old, human. Hates the Spectris, a family man who has a big heart, overall a cheerful person.
• Duchess Maria Arquette of Cambridge. Mother, 36 years old, human. She's a little more accepting of the Spectris though she doesn't make her feelings apparent in public or in the company of her husband. She cares more for her son than she does for her husband.

View of Magic and the Spectris: Right… Oliver has been raised to hate the Spectris with everything he has, and believes that magic is more sinful than adultery. At some point in his life, he discovered that he has the ability to perform ritualistic forms of magic (something he blames his mother for), and internally hates this aspect about him. He refuses to reveal this to anyone and is secretly searching for a way to rid himself of this sin. (Is this okay?)
Other: He can appear as cold and self-obsessed, but he does actually care for those around him.

(Is he okay?)

(alrighty!)

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Theodore opened the door to the study where the Shadow Society was held every year. This wasn't his first year at the Hawthorne School for Boys, and so he knew who would be in there, unless there was anyone new.

Nikolai Ulyanov, 18 years old, Russian, fifth generation member of the Shadow Society, was sort of the unofficial leader of the boys. Tall and dark haired, he spoke with an accent that he never seemed able to get rid of. Not that he would have wanted to. Jakob Valgard, 16, Dutch, and a third generation member of the Shadow Society. William O'Connell, 17, Irish, first generation member and always very nervous about that. Amir Jacobson, 18, half Indian and half English, fourth generation member. They were who he was most familiar with, though that wasn't everyone in the Hawthorne Shadow Society.

Theo, though, was sure that he was the quietest, because he has so much to hide. He sat down in one of the chairs, letting out a quiet breath and running a hand through his curly dark hair. He had changed out of the school uniform, dressed in a soft, cream colored sweater.

Dressed in formal attire, a look that only his father appeared to appreciate, Oliver took a deep breath and slowly pushed open a door. The Shadow Society was one of his duties to both his family and society, didn't mean he enjoyed it. He was a fourth generation member so he practically knew the ins and outs by now, plus there were a few members with whom he didn't get along well with.

He strode into the room, his usual proud expression plastered to his face, and glanced at the other members who were already gathered.
Tobias Couture, 17, French. That second generation boy was the only one whom he could confidently call an ally in not only the Shadow Society and Hawthorne School, but also in general society. He was a quiet boy when around strangers, but as soon as you mention something he's into and it's getting him to shut up that's the trick. Their families had been quite close from the beginning, their father's were practically brothers, so it would only be natural to assume that the two of them treated each other as family too.

There was no avoiding the glare from that Russian as Oliver took a seat close to Tobias. The two of them butted heads from the moment they met, but at least Oliver was willing to keep it civil in the company of others—the older was obviously the more mature.

"Is this everyone?" Nikolai asked. "I did not receive word of new member, so unless anyone else did, this is it, yes?"

Theo nodded a little bit, getting out a journal. He kept notes from most meetings. "Yeah, this should be it."

"Good." Nikolai replied, looking to the door. "Then the only one we must now wait for is the headmaster?"

Jakob was the one to nod this time. "He should be here–" and then the door opened and their headmaster stepped inside.

The headmaster had also gone to this school, and was a member of the Shadow Society. He was in charge of making sure that the boys learned everything they were supposed to, and that they behaved. Mostly, he left them to their own devices though, so that was good. At least, in Theo's opinion.