PURPOSE
To preserve Origin Cave through improving its status in the eyes of Lord Dhracia. To serve Lord Dhracia's mandates, and the Creator by proxy, in the creation, training and testing of creatures to serve as chaotic monsters. In addition, they must aim to improve productivity, and the quality of these creations. Some of these creatures (never forcibly; some temporary adopts, some DM'd) will periodically be handed off to Lord Dhracia. In serving in such a manner, the Chaos Forge ensures the the Origin Cave "nest" remains productive, and is therefore left to thrive rather than massacred.
Corruption is not required, but it is encouraged.
LOCATION
The Chaos Forge operates in Draco. While the Black Spire itself confers Corruption on those near, the Forge has little reason to stay so close: instead it will mostly create and test in the Womb at the back wall. One or more guardians will generally be tasked with watching the seemingly-breathing Aperture to ensure that no enemies enter unseen.
ACTIVITIES
The Enforcer core will often be working at the creation of monstrous creatures through reproduction, training themselves and these creations to become stronger, testing these creations against weakness. The scout and spy wing of the Forge will find themselves throughout the caves, gathering information on the activities throughout and reporting back to their Overseers or Master Vargas himself.
ROLES
Led by "The Leviathan," Master Vargas; Overseer Orthoclase-Alpha, his second, will provide enforcing and organizational duties.
Spies, Messengers and Scouts keep constant watch on the state of all the caves, and are often out observing, or bringing messenges to others, depending on their assignment.
Infiltrators may join other groups and keep watch on their activities.
Assassins may be tasked with removing enemies of the Forge.
Guardians stand watch over growing
monsters children, and ensure their safety until adulthood, and
Sentries watch over the group's region of the cave and their chrysalids.
Trainers may teach the young ones how to battle, or use magic.
Other roles may come and go as the Forge's requirements dictate.
These roles may overlap, remain unfilled, or be added to depending on group members.
RANKS
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Meat - The bottom of the barrel. New members go here.
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Hound - This rank is awarded alongside the member's first successful achievement and chosen reward. The majority of the Forge at any given time should be Hounds.
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Proven - An optional rank that can be selected in lieu of a reward by those of Hound rank.
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Overseer - The highest rank, beneath Master, these Oversee particular aspects of the Forge to ensure that they're running smoothly, exhibiting their own measure of leadership and authority. There will only be one or two Overseers at any given time.
Members of each rank must answer to members of those above them. Ranks may be promoted and demoted to reward or punish certain achievements or failures.
GROUP-SPECIFIC SPELL
Chaotic Spellforge
Medium Intensity Chaos Forges a random Medium Intensity Spell from any of the elements.
This spell is not technically the Corrupted element and does not confer Corruption Points.
RECRUITMENT
Any Gembound who show interest, promise loyalty, and show potential in some needed category may be inducted into Chaos Forge, either by seeking the group out and requesting entry or by being discovered and offered a place. Loyalty is expected, and it should be expected in turn that any real attempt at conspiracy against the Master and the Forge will result in potentially-fatal consequences. While this group's atmosphere can veer strongly toward the brutal and even militaristic, it is
generally easy-going as long as members are obedient. It is not, however, generally a happy and fluffy group, but a true Forge to prove the strong and cull the weak.
Testing and Rewards
A core feature of the Chaos Forge is its archaic use of military-style address and promotion. Certain privileges are earned purely by proving productivity, skill and worth to the group as a whole. I've decided to set out to clarify these more clearly so that character progress can be charted with more confidence, and so the progression is something to look forward to instead of become potentially frustrated with. The goal of the system is to provide a tangible sense of progression and reward, and things to work toward for visible character development!
Rewards are privileges earned via progression. Chaos Forge members may choose one reward for each progression step they take.
While there is a list of privileges, characters may
also choose to request a privilege of their choice not listed here, no matter what it may be--either in advance or upon taking a progression step. Whether their "Other" choice is granted will be taken IC.
A Reward may be earned once every three cycles.*
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A Name - the character chooses a name of its choice, and will be referred to by this instead of a numerical designation
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Procreation Rights - this character can procreate, unlimited by amount or frequency,
but the spawn are expected to be a part of the Chaos Forge and to contribute as such
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Free Roaming - the character can wander the caves at will, so long as they aren't currently needed
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"Free" Children - the character can have
one litter that isn't part of the Forge. They may reproduce in any cave and raise the children how
they see fit.
Procreation rights must be earned
first.
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Promotion - the character can advance to Proven rank. This means that they will outrank other members of the Forge (bar other Proven or Overseers), who must then obey them.
There is also the potential to rise to Overseer: likely to only be given out when vacancy is available and a character has truly proven itself, but is something any character can strive towards and try to prove themselves worthy of!
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Cepheus Vacation - the character may choose to spend up to two weeks in a room of Cepheus's palace. This comes with a nice bed, housekeeping, a theatre (with seats to fit anyone), free chef-cooked meals, and more. Isra, Cepheus's guardian, is the authority there. (This can be chosen multiple times.)
Progression Steps are actions taken that define a character's skill, experience or usefulness.
Some steps are specific to the character's role in the Forge. Character designated Assassins and Scouts answer to Overseer Garnet-Delta, who will be the one to decide on their training progress and rewards, although some rewards (ex. promotion) can only be assigned by Master Vargas.
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Complete Training - the character has fully and totally completed its training, to the point of being an expert in its field and capable of training others in its knowledge.
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Trial of Hydra - this character has survived a Trial of Hydra. (Can be earned more than once.)
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Deathmatch Win - take first, second or third place in a Arena battle (Event) in Orion. (Can be earned more than once.)
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Event Participation - play an active role in any major cave-wide Event or Quest that requires interaction. Events that would count include puzzle, exploration and combat GM-events; events that pose no risk are unlikely to count. (Take these IC; if it's something your character can brag about, they can likely claim it as an achievement worthy of rewards.) Spies and scouts are likely to get rewards simply for observing these events, and reporting accurately back. (Can be earned more than once.)
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A Worthy Spawn - create a spawn that proves your breeding worth! This can be earned if the spawn is particularly impressive and worthy, or once it begins to earn Privileges of its own. (Is only earned once.)
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Assassination (Assassin-only) - Garnet-Delta may assign assassinations to specific characters as part of their progress. These are likely to be
mock-assassinations with their own rules, or real assassinations with a dangerous
Lesser Gembound as their target. (Real assassinations can be claimed more than once; the mock-assassination test can only be claimed once.)
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Enemy Capture - The capture/execution of a Greater Gembound, Cleaner or Praetor that serves Order will incur a reward. The capture, too, of a rebel (with reasonable proof) will also be rewarded. As an additional reward, the captured creature's gemstone will be awarded to their capturer to revive, keep as a trophy, destroy, etc. (Can be earned more than once.)
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Recruitment - Recruit a useful member to the Forge. The member must join for the long term, and be useful in some way to the Forge.
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Completed Assignment - Finish an assigned long-term task--ex. completing a building project, raising a brood of spawn, etcetera.
* There will likely be exceptions to this, ex. those who take steps to be recognized above and beyond the norm, ex. leading a successful cavewide event or the like.
Punishments
Punishments are an additional incentive to perform to or above expectations. (On an OOC note, all are designed to trigger additional roleplay--either through being extremely public or providing opportunity for additional advancement, self-reflection, etc.) They are relatively matched to the severity of the failure or rulebreak, and reflect the militaristic nature of the Chaos Forge.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
Assignment of additional responsibilities such as hunting or gathering food, serving as the Chaos Forge chef, babysitting, cleaning, and sentry duty. If there were toilets, you'd be scrubbing them.
Granted for: Slacking Off (failure to perform assigned tasks), Taking Unearned Benefits (using a name, travelling, reproducing, etc. without having earned them)
TEMPORARY RIGHTS REMOVAL
The (temporary) removal of a right or rights previously gained.Vacation: cancelled.
Granted for: Disobedience (refusal to obey a higher rank)
PERMANENT RIGHTS REMOVAL
The (permanent) removal of a right or rights previously gained. These can be earned back through further achievements. Get back to work.
Granted for: Taking Unearned Benefits (using a name, reproducing, etc. without having earned them)
DEMOTION
The lowering of rank by one or more levels. That means that jerk over in Accounting can boss you around again!
Granted for: Disobedience (refusal to obey a higher rank) multiple times, Defiance, Taking Unearned Benefits (using a name, travelling, reproducing, etc. without having earned them)
THE SHACKLES
Wouldn't you like to know?
Granted For: Unknown as yet... This punishment is being reserved for special occasions.
BODILY HARM
The damage of the body to mirror damage done to another. Stop hitting yourself.
Granted for: Harming another Forge member outside of designated spars.
TRIAL BY COMBAT
Prove your worth. You're facing Draconua today.
Granted for: Miserable failures in major tests, and similar repeated weaknesses.
CHRYSALIS
An exciting public spectacle in which the punished member is forcibly returned to its chrysalis, and made a violent example of! There'll probably be popcorn.
Granted for: Defiance (public or vehement disobedience, plus refusal to acknowledge authority), other (repeated) infractions
DEATH
Execution and sacrifice to the Creator. Fun for the whole crowd. Break out the black confetti.
Granted For: Rebellion, plotting to rebel.
