World: The Lesser Keys: One Star In Sight

Thy feet in mire, thine head in murk,
O man, how piteous thy plight,
The doubts that daunt, the ills that irk,
Thou hast nor wit nor will to fight —
How hope in heart, or worth in work?
No star in sight!"
- Aleister Crowley, "One Star In Sight"


I admit this might be a bit unorthodox here, but let me know if I need to change anything and I will.

World Name: Earth (Possible Future/Alternate History)


Original Character's Name(s): Rider Waite



Solar View: Same as Earth



Similarities/Differences to Earth:

The technology is more advanced, yet based on our own. Fossil Fuels are rarely used, replaced by solar, wind, geothermal, and hydrogen fuel cell technology, which uses algae to produce hydrogen which is then used for energy. Urban Sprawl is a big problem, as is overpopulation. The planet itself is having trouble sustaining the population. Famine, plague, and violence are common. Most people keep small personal gardens wherever they can fit one to supplement their diet. Face masks are common to prevent the spread of diseases, many of which are resistant to antibiotics.

The global telecommunications network is based on Augmented Reality. Information displayed within the user's natural field of vision, through skin induction or direct neural interface. For example, imagine if the computer you're using right now had no screen. Instead it displayed this webpage as a window that looked like it was real. You reach out with your own hand and "touch" it to scroll or highlight text.

Finally, magic exists, and behaves the way it is described in many historical occult texts.

Background/Species Overview:

In antiquity there was a man who deciphered the heavens, mastered the elements, and could bend the Divine itself to his will. The Greeks knew him as Hermes, and the Egyptians called him Thoth. Those who walk in his path call him Hermes Trismegistus. "Thrice Great Hermes" gave humanity the gifts of Astrology, Alchemy, and Theurgy, and these gifts have acted as the tools with which humanity has achieved its greatness. From the invention of the printing press, to the moon landing, it was Hermes Trismegistus' wisdom in some form or another that helped us get there. Men have followed Hermes Trismegistus' path. Some became legends themselves. Solomon, Archimedes, and Merlin to name just a few.

The Rosicrucians, thousands of Hermetic Orders and Masonic Brotherhoods have kept some piece of this knowledge alive. Each carries with them a piece of Truth, and each Truth a Key. Thousands upon thousands of them, but each of them dwarfed by the Key that can only be held by Thrice Great Hermes himself. The rest of us must search for these Truths, and use these Lesser Keys to unlock doors hiding the unfathomable things that will propel us to Greatness.

Now it's 2029, and there's been an increase in paranormal activity.

Additional Information: The star Alcyone has recently disappeared from the night sky.

Thanks!

There are three kinds of magic. Astrology, Alchemy, and Theurgy.

Astrology is divination through the position of the stars and knowing someone's time of birth. Certain star patterns and the rising of the sun, moon, and planets influence actions on earth, and anyone adept at astrology can decipher their meaning. In game, this is a bit difficult to handle, but done right I think it can be a great way to move the plot forward.

Alchemy is transmuting and controlling properties of matter. It's essentially "Potions" if this were a Harry Potter game, but it doesn't have to be just that, either. There were several schools of thought in Alchemy. One, the Panacea Way, dealt with creating perfect medicines. The Magnum Opus was concerned with turning matter into its purest form, hence the "lead into gold" metaphor often quoted. Alchemy is essentially a way of using potions, salves, and such, to change physical matter. As far as the game is conerned, it's pretty open.

Theurgy is ritual magic based on summoning spirits to perform some task for you. You prepare the "perfumes" (usually things like crow's blood, cinnamon oil, bog myrtle, eye of newt, etc.), inscribe the insignia of the spirit on your altar (sometimes even casting a coin of their seal in a corresponding metal), and then saying the incantation to summon the spirit. Once it's summoned, you can bargain with the spirit to get it to do what you want. Sometimes the spirit can ask for things, other times it will be eager to help. The stronger the spirit is, the more you have to give, but the more it can do with you. I'd also like to keep this open.

I'd like to keep the setting as authentic to Hermetic magic as possibe, but I'm not expecting anyone to go read Ars Goetia to be 100% true to it. Take liberties, have fun, do what the plot demands.

As far as an increase in paranormal activity, magic is starting to become "mainstream". It seems like everyone knows someone who can do it now. It's almost to the point where you can be out in the open about your practices without anyone thinking you're strange. Before, if you told people you could turn lead into gold, you'd be laughed at. Now, people will at least entertain the idea that it's possible.

Very interesting...I really don't know too much about this, but the concept sound very interesting.

I think this is really cool. Sounds like something most people would believe to take place in the future... or perhaps what others might fear. It's defiantly something interesting though. I would love to hear more about it in due time. Assuming it's not finished that is :D