Baptism

The Origins

Made by Izonata, and partially Maztyx. Practitioners called 'Risen'. x

Concepts

Greymage: Baptism's Mark of Control imbues the Risen with a particular interest towards nuance and balance; the ability to see and perceive things for what they are, versus what they are meant to be, and the way that good intentions can both appeal to others and sour into dogmatic ideology. While this does not make the Risen an oracle of understanding or wisdom, it does aide them in better dissecting the complexities of ideologies and their draw. This trait of Baptism's Mark is meant to allow the Risen to combat those ideologies through gauging their internal logic. Rather than necessarily imbuing the Risen with empathy, 'Greymage' as a concept is one that aides in their dissolution of strong ideology altogether. As a note, not all Risen must be ideologically neutral or necessarily balanced, as this innate concept interacts with the individual's pre-existing notions and beliefs.

The Doors: As the God of Chaos, Izonata - like Saryn - has a strong understanding of the pluripotential outcomes of reality. An action always has a consequence; a death always creates a ripple through the world or through time, and a Risen is capable of perceiving these consequences far better than most. This concept plays most often with the Moondial, a simple structure crafted by a Risen's ether. The Moondial allows one to... x

Initiation

Overstepping

The drawbacks listed below do not always come in pairs, and certainly not simultaneously. Some may come and others may not.

Lesser: Nausea, fatigue, headaches, muscle spasms, dehydration

Moderate: Bleeding through the nose, eyes and ears, intense cramps, seizure-like shocks and spasms, internal bleeding, vomiting and weakness

Severe:

Abilities

Realign: Novice. Realign is most often the first ability a Risen will learn. It is the ability to transition water between its three states of matter: a solid, a liquid, and a gas. In other words, Realign allows a Risen to convert currently existing water between these states, such as converting a puddle of water into a surface of ice. In order to learn this ability, the Risen needs to understand how to affect the density or structure of the water itself, and must differentiate between each method of transition; all three methods must be learned from their two disparate states before the ability can be considered mastered. Realign serves as the basis of many other transitions and abilities within Baptism. A Risen may not move directly from solid to gas or vice-versa until they are an Expert in Baptism.

Ionize: Novice. Ionize allows the Risen to change the acidity of water by producing a higher or lower state of ion density within the substance, introducing a chemical change to the substance through their ether. This ability is largely limited by one's control and precision over Baptism, and as a result cannot significantly change something far outside of its range of acidity at an early stage. In scientific terms, Ionize can only manipulate the pH of water by around one degree at Novice, two at Apprentice, four at Journeyman, six at Expert, and eight at Master. A Celestian may change a completely basic substance to being completely acidic. The more dramatic a change in acidity, the less content of ionized solution can be produced for the Risen's ether. At higher levels, these changes do become more efficient, but a Master Risen attempting to turn pure water into a purely acidic substance - if overdone - can be detrimental to the Risen's ether. Additionally, the Risen can become susceptible to their own ionized substances, meaning generating them and spreading them around is something that must be done with caution.

Tendril: Apprentice. The Risen creates a tendril out of water, and may transition it into another state of matter through Realign. The Risen is capable of finely controlling each Tendril they create, allowing them to act as an extension of one's limbs. Tendrils can grip and pull objects, inflict blunt trauma, latch onto surfaces to control momentum and traction, and can be manipulated between states near-instantaneously by the Risen, particularly as they progress in Baptism. Typically, an Apprentice Risen may only manifest and finely control up to two Tendrils at a given time, while an Expert may manipulate up to four, and a Master six. The Tendril can extend to around ten feet at Apprentice, and up to around twenty five feet by Expert. The precision of the Tendril will decrease significantly after that point, without the Risen expending considerably more ether to finely control it at a longer distance.

Moondial: Apprentice. Scrying Pool. See the ways in which something's departing would impact/ripple the world around them. x

Ensign: Journeyman. The Ensign is a Water Elemental crafted of ether and directed by the Mark of Control, one that tends to appear as a robust humanoid entity rising over a spinning vortex of water. The Ensign typically radiates a twilight glow from its shoulders and around its face, which is largely undefined and expressionless. Ensign are useful tools for a Risen, as their water may be pulled from them and manipulated to use abilities, allowing them to act as a proxy or ranged conduit for one's spells. Additionally, they are capable of attacking enemies within ten feet of them with whips of water, which can be highly damaging due to the speed and density of their strikes. Ensigns may also be transitioned between water's three states, and can - like other abilities - have their acidity manipulated.

In addition, while an Ensign is in its state of liquid water, it has a secondary ability. The Ensign may reflect an individual within its frame, and serves as a tool of interrogation for the Risen. If the individual they are questioning lies, their reflection will begin to muddle or dissipate, depending on the severity or extent of the lie. If they tell the whole truth, their reflection will become completely clear. This ability allows the Risen to determine the relative degree to which one is speaking in honesty or fabrication, though not exactly which words or statements of theirs might be lies.

Immersion: Journeyman. Immerse another in water, determining many things about them by doing so. Waterboarding where you actually learn the truth. x

Purge: Journeyman. Imbue objects/water with burning/degenerative effects against ideological or strongly aligned enemies. x

Laceration: Expert. Sharp water. x

Cascade: Expert. Massive influx of water, fog or snow/ice. Water form is high pressure, demerges objects or organics. x

Pearl: Expert. Floating orb of water, can be freely manipulated; fortress for the Risen, who lies in center. x

Baptism: Master. Cleanse Corruption from the land. Undo/reverse magical effects. x

Rumination: Master. Blizzard, Acid Rain, or Hurricane. x

Celestian Abilities

x: x

Ascension: The Celestian

Lunar-like being. wip.