Kirisaki

Founder: Ramious, The Hunter

Capital City: Reim

Ruler(s): Saie of the Lion Tribe

The sands of Raimos are the most famous in the world, known for its hostile wildlife and ever changing environment. Although mythical and magical creatures haven't been spotted since the times of the Ancients, it is known throughout the world to be the home of impossibly large monsters. Ramious decided to settle in Sylvontis specifically for that reason, after all.

Raimos has an ever changing ruler as it is still decided through "the old ways". Within Raimos there are an incredible amount of nomadic tribes that survive in the deserts. When one feels confident enough, they may take on a trial. In ancient times there was a valley said to have been the harshest in all of Sylvontis. The only one to have an easy time crossing this valley was Ramious himself. Inside it is said to be the home of creatures of enormous size and power, small swarms of bugs with poison that could kill a fully grown ox with a single bite, etc, etc.

Whoever survives the trial of entering this valley and coming out the other side is the one who is crowned as the ruler of Raimos. This normally occurs when a ruler dies and all the tribes rush the valley at once to get a chance to sit upon the throne, but sometimes someone will make it through when a ruler is already controlling Raimos. When this happens the ruler is decided by duel.

The coast is where most of the population lives in Raimos. Their cities are always bustling with trade and activity. People in Raimos tend to be rather straight forward because of how their culture evolved over the centuries. It isn't uncommon for fights to break out in the streets over a small argument between opposing tribesmen. This has evolved into a ritual of sorts in modern Raimos society. When a member of a tribe challenges or does battle with another tribesman, they stake the name of their Tribe. The challenger loses their heritage and becomes exiled if they fail, but wins the rights to anything they were fighting for should they win.

Because of the pride of the average person from Raimos and their rich tradition in combat, they tend to have very elite soldiers and warriors.

Founder: Aelan, The Sorceror

Capital City: Aelon

Ruler(s): 

• Sol, The Lord of Summer
• Helena, The Lady of Spring
• Frey, The Lord of Winter
• Carna, The Lord of Fall

Deep in the jungle lies Aelon, the capital "city". As the country that was founded by Aelan it is no surprise that a heavy magic spell lays over this jungle. The Sorceror had literally weaved mana into the jungle itself. Even when mana left the world, the spells he cast stayed. This magic jungle is a basis for how Aelonius culture has evolved.

As a people, the Aelonians don't trust outsiders. They are very guarded to newcomers. Their cities and villages grow naturally from the jungle. Spells make trees naturally form into houses and buildings for them to travel through and live in. The delicate balance of mana from the Sorceror's ancient spells are the cause of this. Those who live here are wary because of that exact reason. Enchantment spells are powerful, but easy to unravel. Even the slightest effect on the magical pattern that Aelan created can break down the entire spell.

Because of their lifestyle, these people worship and respect nature. They understand the value of giving and receiving in return. This is what lead to their system of four rulers. Each season is treated as its own domain and has it's own needs. From this logic the idea of four separate leaders arose over time. Each leader is elected to oversee that particular season and is cycled through every 20 years with one being replaced every 5 years.

Their low population is their most glaring weakness, but since mana has returned to the world they quickly became a super power. Aelonius has always depending on the magical powers of mana and so the people have become attuned to it. When mana returned, they were the first to master it.

Founder: Branis, The Paladin

Capital City: Baelt

Ruler(s): Walter, The Grace of the World

Injustice will be met with justice is the name of the game in this society. If a thief is caught stealing, they will lose their hand. This society has harsh reactions to law breakers and is all about keeping order. Branis was the first to implement these laws to some degree, but it has quickly become much harsher ever since Walter took the throne.

The self proclaimed "Grace of the World", Walter has decided that he is the rightful heir to not only Brunta, but the entire world. As a direct descendant of Branis, he is gathering an army to lead into battle. The strongest knights in the Kingdom have sworn their loyalty to Walter and created a small band of brothers to help their king become the only ruler in the world.

The harsh treatment of citizens has created unrest within the country and it is now facing a civil war. At least it would be if the citizens had the power to fight against Walter. The strong are kept powerful and the weak are oppressed continually. This system has been keeping the country alive for generations and continues to do so now. Without the support of a noble, knight or outsider the civil war will never commence.

Walter's obsession with war and conquering other countries has led his technicians to be the first and only ones to create flying ships. Using generators that are powered by mana, a person can keep a ship flying for as long as needed provided they continually funnel mana into the ship.

Founder: Faron, The Thief

Capital City: Tharn

Ruler(s): Xavier II, Rightful King of Faros

The country of gamblers and sell swords. Faros is heavily founded on the belief that anything can be bought, sold, or stolen. One tradition that Faros has that no other country has adopted is the ability to sell yourself. It isn't slavery, it is merely selling your own self to finish a task or mission. You essentially become a tool to the owner who bought you. The most common ones are mercenaries and prostitutes, both of which are regulated by the government and perfectly legal.

The government itself is very "corrupt" in a sense. Lawlessness runs rampant because of the loose interpretation that most people take it with. Of course a thief still needs to take care not to be caught, but proof is what gets you arrested. This lawless and relaxed view on crime has actually created the best and most intelligent police system in the world. Because proof is so important, the people who look for it are extremely good at it. It is a country that caters to those who can commit crimes without being caught.

The King is a direct descendant of Faron and thus known as the Rightful King. Behind him are his family members and other supporters. The largest of these supporters is the Guild. It is known simply as that. They act as a task force to the king and are made up of five persons. Throughout history these people would regularly take on an apprentice and make them throw out their name to be completely adopted into the Guild.

Faros shares close relations with Ilian because of their loose views on society and crime. Faros is highly populated and probably the best example of modern cities. It is cheap, but tightly packed almost everywhere you go. Even the gambling houses and brothels are all controlled by the Guild, though no one wants to say so. The King and the Guild see everything that goes on within this country. 

Founder: Ilia, The Witch

Capital City: Itina

Ruler(s): The High Council

Ilian is a country entirely made of swamp. This would be detrimental to most, but to people have since adapted to it. The cities, villages and towns in Ilian are all constructed just above the water with wooden planks that are then reinforced depending on the size of buildings or the city. It was even turned into a plus as now there is a vast system of "roads" between each of the major cities.

Ilia was never one for other people. She was a witch and as such she used dark magic to perform her experiments. Others may call this blood magic. Her stronger spells required sacrifices to perform which has led the current Ilian to use sacrifices in their culture. Sacrifices are used commonly to pray for crops or safety as well as many other things. Human sacrifice still goes on, but is practiced less than times in the past. The few times it happens are normally prayers for particularly dark events to occur.

Surprisingly, the people here are very free thinking. It isn't uncommon for a couple to not get married and simply split up one day to meet a new partner. This might be because of the fact that women hold a higher place in society than men. Just as they value death, they also value life. Giving birth and having children is something that demands great respect in this country. Women who are pregnant are waited on hand and foot.

The Elders who watch over the country are very commonly the wisest people from around the country. They are appointed by the other Elders when they need a new member. Many of the Elders use certain herbs to enhance their lifestyle or alter perception. They view these intense herbal remedies as a way to notice things that normally would not be noticed.

Founder: Sathe, The Assassin

Capital City: Satei

Ruler(s): Joshua of the Desert

Sathe was an intelligent man. Being the one to kill figures of high authority gave him an interesting look on the higher workings of government. The killers always came from within. As soon as the idea of a country and followers spread, Sathe took this time to become closer to the people. So much so that he soon became known as their "father". This continues even today with the new king.

The king is chosen from among the citizens of Sahin. First certain individuals are elected by their peers and who they believe to be the best to lead the country. Once the number of candidates continues to dwindle through citizen voting, the king chooses the one most suited to take his place. He then has them abandon their family name and become a member of the royal family. Their first name stays the same, but their surname changes to a specific event, place, or trait to separate them from other kings.

This way of voting creates a feeling of unity among the citizens and high officials. Sahin doesn't have a large population, but the vast majority are willing to give their life for their "father". Since every citizen of Sahin is required 2 years of military service and training, all of them have a rather good understanding of how combat works.

If any word could describe Sahin overall it would "efficient". Nothing is wasted. Even in the desert the people live rather comfortable lives. The king always makes them stay content, even at a cost to himself.

Founder: Eadric, The Warrior

Capital City: Eadin

Ruler(s): 

• The High Council - Made up of the 3 strongest Warriors in Eadr
• The Low Council - Made up of 10 officials who overlook citizen activity​

​

Eadr is an incredibly warlike country. They are almost always at war with another country or even themselves. Their whole culture was based around Eadric's desire to be the strongest. As such the warriors and soldiers get the most perks in this society. It has been broken down into two castes. The nobles are the warriors and people trained in combat and the lower caste are the ones who produce the goods and traders.

From birth citizens of Eadr are branded with their place in society on them with a series of symbols. The lowest being a simple circle which shows you are a slave to a large sprawling tattoo that shows your achievements as a warrior. There is no easy way to climb up the caste system, but some have done so. This requires defeating multiple other warriors so that you may be recognized as one yourself. This normally is only given to gladiators who earn their freedom through fights to the death, each more perilous than the last.

The children of warriors are sent through a series of trials to prove that they too are worthy of the rank. They are trained vigorously from the age of 4. Eventually they become full fledged warriors at the ages 15-17 by completing these trials. Those who fail are considered dishonored and exiled to the lower caste or to become a gladiator and work their way back up.

Probably the largest difference in daily life in Eadr is slaves. Slaves are very common in this society. They are from conquests or if someone commits an act so heinous that only slavery could be their punishment. Being a slave is, more or less, becoming an object to other human beings. They are not treated in this society that is made up of people who only respect strength. Being a slave is considered the ultimate form of disrespect and weakness.

Founder: Seneca, The Siren

Capital City: Silen

Ruler(s): Elsa II, The Queen of Tides

This country is heavily based and focused on the water. Their military is the strongest in the world and their trade is always thriving. Known as the country of paradise because of their incredible amount of luxury resources, they also boast one of the best technology levels. They have learned over time to use series of dams and waterways to raise water levels on command. This makes them incredibly hard to attack because they have the option of flooding their lands and the enemies in them.

The Queen of Tides is a title inherited by the ruler. It would also be the King of Tides, but there has never been a male ruler in Senikai. Behind the Queen is her military general, the First Son of Senikai. As the second most powerful person in the country, they have control over the military and navy. 

Their travel network is very advanced, second only too Ilian's in convenience. Series of man-made rivers and water ways snake their way through the country and make it easy to bring goods from one place to the other.

It can also be said that all popular fashion and music stems from this country. Every activity that is a "pleasure" in life is taken incredibly seriously here. Because of their vast amount of resources and money, they can afford to focus on different things in life. This is a strength economically, but their military suffers for it. Without their control of the water ways Senikai would have the weakest military man for man. 

Founder: Pyri, The Seer

Capital City: Praen

Ruler(s): Brei, The Oracle

Pyrian is a country found on stopping conflict and foreseeing what will happen. It is also the place where the seal on the world's mana was placed. The Seer, the longest living of the Ancients, foresaw the evil that would befall the lands if magic was kept in it's hands. Her only option was to place a seal on it and hope that there would be humans responsible enough in the future to keep peace in the world.

The claim to fame of Pyrian is it's banks. They control the largest bank system in the world. It has grown to the point where other countries trust them on their neutrality and use it themselves. In a way every bank system comes back to Pyrian in some way. The harsh snowy environment of Pyrian, perhaps because of the mana stored there, makes their population very low and have little use for all of this money.

Within Pyrian there is only one "ruler", though it is less of a ruler. She is the Oracle that can foresee the future. A direct descendant of the Seer is always appointed as the Oracle. Ever since the death of Alan, the old oracle, Brei has taken over. Her bloodline allows her to see things that have not happened yet, even more so now that the seal is broken.

The ins and outs of the country are overseen by a council of teachers, professor and diplomats. The people here adapted to the changes when mana rejoined the world rather easily. Because of their proximity to the seal, a small amount of mana leaked out constantly and allowed small feats of magic to be performed. Once it came in full force, the people there already had the ability to manipulate it.

This magic form is the most common, but it doesn't make it the weakest. With the ability to reign over the basic elements of the world, it is perhaps the most flashy and, if used right, the most physically deadly. Some masters of the Elemental arts can summon up a fire storm that can possibly engulf an entire city. Because of it's versatility and flashy nature, Elementalists are normally the magic users who catch the most flak from others. The other types of magic users look down on Elementalists because the most common magic criminals use this type. Whether they really are the most violent magic users is up to debate by many. Because their magic happens to be the most flashy, it is very possible that they are simply the easiest to catch in the act.

Elemental magic is directly associated with genetics. Specifically, what ones father and mother can do, the child can also do. A father who specializes in water and a mother who specializes in fire might cause the child to have a vast control over boiling water, heat, and possibly even mist. This, along with a basic ability in both water and fire, makes passing down this form of magic very important. This is evidenced by the three families that head the Elemenalist society.

The Three Elemental Families

There are multiple families that carry on Elemental magics, but these three are the most prominent. Either because they are big players in the rebellion movement or because they work for the government. Either way, these three are commonly known as the most powerful.

The Eyre family, the only Elementalists who have direct control over plants, wood, and poison. 

The Kirsh family, the only Elementalists who have control over metal and are able to redirect the flow of some forms of energy.

The Deaux family, the only Elementalists who have control over smoke, "breath", and "aether".

Basic Elements

Each basic element responds differently to another. Light and Darkness in particular have specific properties and are only used as an addition to another basic element. There have been cases of using darkness or light as a single element, but it is extremely rare.

1. Fire

2. Water

3. Wind

4. Earth

5. Lightning

6. Darkness

7. Light

Psionics is the new power on the block. It is the modern magic that evolved as technology advanced. It is theorized that it began as an "Undefined" magic until it finally grew enough to become it's own category. This is the reason why any magic users in the "Undefined" category are considered particularly dangerous by the government. As the second most common magic in the current world, it is also the one most closely related to technology and being hidden. Most abilities from this category are, indeed, invisible. Unable to be tracked without special equipment. This upside is great, but it isn't without weaknesses.

Psionics is a magic based in the imagination. The most powerful psychics have a vivid imagination and the knowledge to back it up. The possibilities are almost endless, but the strain on the visatus is also great. It isn't uncommon for psychics who use their powers past their limits to lose them all together. The visatus will overwork itself and shut down. Then again, the limits of this power aren't truly known. Every other magic has it's limits, but this power is limited only by the imagination of the user. As long as they don't pass their threshold by using it too much, the impossible quickly becomes possible.

The Seraphs

The Seraphs are a group of police that work for the government. Each Seraph is given special privileges and makes a very high salary in return for working against the rebellion. They are specialized in hunting and exterminating other magic users. Every Seraph is a Psionic and is given the most state of the art equipment.

Basic Psi

Psi is the energy it takes for a psychic to use magic. Theoretically it is the energy that every magic user needs to perform magic, but only psychics can access enough of it to fry their own visatus. Research on the subject continues to be made and rumors that special equipment has given some psychics enough to Psi to not worry about their limit.

Overuse Stages

When a psychic begins to go over their limit, it comes in stages. Ignoring these stages will fry out their visatus.

1. First Stage - Blood Shot Eyes

2. Second Stage - Nose Bleed

3. Third Stage - Ears Bleed

4. Fourth Stage - Coughing Blood

5. Fifth Stage - Temporary Paralysis

6. Sixth Stage - Visatus Shuts Down Permanently

Creation is the third most common magic type and is thought to be closely related to Transmutation. This type of magic has to do with creating things from nothing. It is the true "casting" magic. Spells take time to perform as well as a large amount of knowledge and imagination. Theorized to be the bridge between Transmutation and Psionics. The spells take time, but because of this they are also able to do amazing things. The claim to fame for creators are their ability to "summon" creatures. Summoning isn't actually the act of taking something from another area. The user actually creates a completely new being. A user with enough knowledge can even create a pair of creatures able to reproduce.

This magic is the only magic to truly have no large downside. Monsters can be created at a moment's notice without anyone knowing who did it and it doesn't put strain on the mind. The only real problem it has is knowledge. A creator is always at risk. If an enemy knows beforehand about the creator's existence, they have no way to fight back. Spells for a creator do take time. Confidence and focus can't ever leave a creator's mind. This type of magic is the most common to produce "duds". "Duds" are simply people with a visatus that don't have the ability to use it. It may be the third most common, but in reality there aren't many successful creators.

Summoning

Summoning was partially explained, but it wasn't gone into detail. It is perhaps the most useful ability simply because of its utility. A key to a locked room, armor to deflect attacks, a gun to lay down cover fire, and of course a creature to act as a guardian or attack dog. Although summoning has it's uses, it does have some limits. Mostly on the time restraints and danger. Some summoners become too cocky and hastily create a being or armor. This can end is disaster for a number of reasons. Without proper focus, the creator risks making a non-living statue rather than a guardian, or even worse, something that doesn't see the creator as an ally. Some creators even have summoned armor that appeared on the inside. Having large shards of metal slowly form in ones own body is a horrific way to go.

Reality

Remember, creatures or items you create stay in the world. Letting loose a beast into a battle means it will stay in the world whether it loses or wins. Winning a battle might force you to walk around with a creature the size of a building. Creators are almost always the ones who cause the most collateral damage in battles. This is because they have long ago realized that keeping the beasts they summon around only leads to problems. After the big fight letting it run free to wreck havoc on its own normally ends up in the creators personal interest.

Transmutation is a very unique form of magic. It involves the manipulation of already existing materials and can effect organic material rather easily. It can change a block of stone into a fully loaded gun or a helicopter in a matter of seconds. This too is a magic that requires knowledge. A very common phrase among magic users is, "Nothing can holds a mutie." This plays to the fact that no prison can hold one when they can turn the metal into sand. Of course, there is one material that they cannot change. This material is a very, very rare metal. It is supposedly mined on another planet.

This material is strong, but still a "mutie", as some call them, can still escape. The strength of a Transmutation user is their ability to change organic material. This makes it a simple matter of the magic user to change their arm into something strong enough to break through that material. Hence, nothing can hold a mutie. All the stories of vampires, werewolves, and creatures of the night? You guessed it. They were magic users who used Transmutation to change themselves.

Organic Mutation

Transmutation is a powerful ability. The only downside is the need to be physically touching it's target. Skin contact needs to be made with the item they are about to change. It is very common for skilled muties to walk barefoot. This doubles as practice because they use magic to make sure everything they step on that is uncomfortable becomes something else upon contact.

Organic Mutation is a deadly ability because Transmutation users can change not only themselves, but others as well. Physical contact is all it takes. Quickly they can rewire the brain or even turn a heart to jelly in a matter of seconds. This does require skin to skin contact, however.

Mutants

Mutants are a group of magic users who alter their own physical appearances permanently to match their tastes. They are normally kept out of even normal magic user society. It isn't because other magic users hate them, but when that one guy with a dildo for an arm walks down the street, it makes things incredibly awkward. Fuck that guy, ruining it for all of us. Dammit, Steve.

The Dark arts, Black Magic, Necromancy. Whatever you call this form of magic, it doesn't have a nice ring to it. The so-called "evil" category. It doesn't help that the man who started all this violence between humans and magic users was a necromancer. Even other magic users don't like dealing with these shady fellows. It is the rarest legitimate category, "Undefined" being the most rare. Necromancy is indeed terrifying. Like Transmutation, Necromancy deals with the manipulation of organic tissue and bone. It's lesser cousin has nothing on Necromancy though. 

Necromancers can easily resist any organic transmutation effects put upon them by a mutie, and even turn it back on them. They don't deal with petty "changing" of existing objects. They will simply rip their enemy in half. The greatest part about necromancy is that it doesn't require physical contact. One second someone will be perfectly fine and the next will have them on the ground with their rib cage broken open from the inside. The only thing that truly stops Necromancers from killing everyone around them is their own rules.

These "rules" were imposed upon Necromancers forever. Since before any of the modern Necromancers can remember, they have not been able to just go on simple killing sprees. The theory goes that the original Necromancer had purposely "cursed" himself. At the time, of course, it was truly to be believed as a curse. In reality he had used his flesh controlling powers to alter his own visatus. Layer upon layer was overwritten until even the slightest manipulation of the visatus would fry it completely. This "curse", as it goes, does not let a Necromancer use his abilities on anyone other than those attempting to harm himself. If this code is broken the visatus goes into overdrive. It becomes uncontrollable and in a matter of minutes the Necromancer will be met with the eternal sleep.

​Immortality

It is very possible for a Necromancer to stay immortal. This is just a simple matter of manipulating one's own body on a regular basis. Age can stop effecting them and they can be frozen in time.

The Quest for a Cure

A cure to the Necromancer's "curse" has been sought after for ages. Every single Necromancer who ever came close was killed. Eventually it became known among all the Necromancers that the original one was still around. Lurking, keeping their own rules in place. Almost as if they were their own police force of the magic community.

Raising The Dead

Raising the dead is considered taboo among Necromancers. It almost always ends poorly. Bringing the dead back to life as they were when they were alive is impossible. They can reform as a lifeless husk, but nothing more can be done. Supposedly when a Transmutation magic user tinkers with an undead, they can bring the original person back. The reasons for this are unknown, but it's assumed to be part of the "curse".

This category isn't really a category at all. It is simply a place where all the magic users that don't fit in a specific category belong. The visatus is a very unique organ and can change rapidly. Some mutations cause different abilities to form that have nothing to do with the other categories. These magic users are so incredibly rare that they theorize only one hundred may exist in the world. It is a rough estimate with no basis as only one Undefined category has been found before.

The most common of the Enhanced because of it's sheer versatility. Nanobots have strengthened the Soldier to be strong in every category. The jack of all trades class of Enhanced that can be a formidable foe to almost any other Enhanced. Enough melee capabilities to fight toe to toe with a Warrior at close range, and give a General a run for their money at a distance. The reason for this is the specific zones that the nanobot have strengthened.

Specializations

The Soldier's specialties make them a formidable foe. No matter the situation, they are always ready to do battle.

• Dexterity - The nanobots have focused in the nerves, particularly in the hands of the soldier. This makes reloading and quickly defending oneself much easier for the soldier. Changing weapons and always being on the offensive from both close range and far away is a heavy strength of this added bonus.
• Flexibility - Nanobots based within the joints and ligaments themselves have caused Soldiers to perform great feats of flexibility. Mixed with the Dexterity bonus, they can become a formidable foe at melee range. Easily able to dodge attacks by a hair's breath.
• Strength - The muscles are enhanced to handles more weight and perform better overall. Even a Soldier with a small frame can  lift upwards of 300 lbs with ease. Heavy weapons are a very familiar weapon in the hands of the Soldier because of this feature. 

Since melee weapons became the new main weapons of the future, Warriors have quickly become the second most popular of the enhanced and are rising to first. These melee combatants have the means to overwhelm and cut down almost any opponent in close quarters. They favor survival and charging headfirst over everything else. In a melee battle they can take as much damage as you can dish out and while you strike so will they. The true berserker of the modern world.

Specializations

The Warrior is always ready to engage in close combat. Any opponent, no matter magic or otherwise, should tremble before them.

• Regeneration - Warriors are most famous for their insane regeneration. The nanobots in their blood at constantly flowing throughout the entire body and looking for abnormalities. They quickly will stitch up almost any wound. It's even possible to heal a heart or vital organs.
• Endurance - It's as if the Warrior never tires. Stamina and lung capacity are brought to their maximum and then some on Warrior's. This is the reason why a Warrior can continuously attack in a flurry of strikes for minutes at time. They lack the need to stop their rhythm by taking in a breath.
• Resilience - Pain is a problem in any battle. For everyone but a Warrior that is. Warrior's are special because they do feel pain. They know when they have a problem, but the bots in their brain make it tolerable. They can logically analyze any situation no matter just how much pain they are feeling.

Snipers, Archers, Explosives, and other far ranged weapons belong in the territory of Generals. These specialized warriors managed to stay in modern combat by using bows and explosives. Their main role is to finish enemies from afar with their unmatched sniping skill, but because of the P.S.U they had to adapt to the change in fighting styles. Very often they are considered the "Reapers" of the battlefield. Once your shield breaks down, so does you skull and everything it contains.

Specializations

The General is the controller of the battlefield. They hit from afar and control where everyone is. You don't wanna be in their scopes.

• Eyesight - Generals can see far. The nanobots in their eyes allow them to fully grasp any situation. Their peripheral vision is increased as a side effect of the little robots working away in their eyes. It's impossible to blind a General and they can even use their eyes as natural night vision.
• Accuracy - The ability to become one with their weapon belongs to the General and the General alone. No other Enhanced can truly comprehend just how in tune their entire body is with the gun or any weapon for that matter. Their mind is swarming with nanobots that makes their weapon literally feel as not an extension of their body, but as a part of it. Generals will never miss as long as there aren't outside factors.
• Vertical Movement - The General is someone who almost always needs to reach high places. Their jumping power is great and paired with their Accuracy it makes grasping any form of ledge easy as cake to these masters of parkour.

The utility master for the humans. No one can quite compare to this walking sonar system. Nothing escapes the gaze of the support. It is very common for them to form deadly batteries with Generals as the two complement each other well. Med-kits and weapons for crowd control are almost always in the hands of the support. They are there to show everyone the position of the enemies as well as take care of security systems with superior hacking ability.

Specializations

The Support is the scout, medic, and sometimes even heavy weapons expert all in one. Keeping their allies safe and their enemies dead is their forte.

• Hearing - Saying a Support Enhanced can hear like a bat is a true statement. They can hear way too much for their own good sometimes.  The nanites in their ears amplify every single small sound in the area.
• Touch - The sense of touch for a Support is several thousand times the normal human's sense. This, paired with their hearing, make them a walking sonar. It's impossible to escape both of these. It's so strong in fact, that they can feel each individual heartbeat through walls from practically 50 feet away.
• Clarity - The mind of a support is always processing incredibly fast. Things move in slow motion to them. Their reflexes aren't as fast as an Outrider's but their mind can process things at much faster speeds than other humans or magic-users.

The Outrider is the quick, annoying, and quite terrifying one of the categories. They can get in the face of the enemy almost instantly, and escape just as quickly. You can never know where someone will strike when they can jump between buildings with ease. An Outrider is the assassin of the Enhanced. Only mobile specialized Magic-Users can even keep up with their speed. It isn't an exaggeration to say they can outrace a cheetah with ease.

Specializations

The Outrider is the member of the unit who chases down and kills enemies that escape. It is also the one who focuses on taking out shields for it's allies.

• Reflexes - An Outrider has reflexes that are impossible to match. They can kill you before you can finish saying, "Hi". Were you expecting a sentence? No. That is just how quickly their response times are. 
• Movement Speed - The Outrider is, just like their name would suggest, someone who can outrace anyone but another Outrider. This speed is what they are most known for and it makes them perfect killers. It also is the thing that makes their leaps go just so far.
• Leg Strength - Their legs are the pride and joy to the Outrider. They can jump to impossible distances and close gaps instantly. It isn't uncommon to see and Outrider on patrol and jumping from rooftop to rooftop as if they didn't have a care in the world.

The Enhanced that are considered "Unique" are just that. The nanobots in their body have been specialized to specific areas that the other Enhanced do not have. Each of the three specialized nanobots that the Unique receive are given to experiment on the different combinations. Every category of Enhanced started as a Unique or evolved because of a Unique's contribution.

Specializations

The Unique is a blank slate to be painted by the player.

• ________ - ???
• ________ - ???
• ________ - ???

The personal shielding units are an important part of any battle. Most fights will involve one person trying to power down an enemy's shield. This is why magic users have such an overwhelming advantage. They have multiple ways to short circuit or bypass shields.

Shields come in a variety of forms. Each personalized shielding unit or P.S.U for short is designed for the user. The size of the shielding unit varies depending on where there are placed. The most common form of P.S.U is a small watch-like device around one's wrist, but plenty of people have theirs in different areas. For example, one soldier might prefer his device as an anklet because he is up to date on all the latest fashion trends while another keeps his P.S.U around his neck because he is, like, so last year.

Their original purpose is still the deflection of guns and fast moving projectiles, but since about 50 years ago anti-Magic shields have been popping up all over the world. These shields are used by specialists and are incredibly rare. The problem with these shields is their specialization. Because of the vast difference between each category of magic, each shield normally only takes care of one or two at a time. One shield might be specialized against Psionics and Necromancy because their abilities allow them to attack without being seen. These kinds of shields are based around the distortion of energy being directed by the opponent's mind. Each shield varies depending on upkeep and specialization.

Types of Specialization

These are the overall types of specialized shields.

1. Anti-Psionics - Distorts the brains wave directed at the shield-user as to stop any invisible attempts of assault. Since Psionics abilities are considered one large attack on the mind or with their brain waves at once, it is designed to take a heavy beating.

2. Anti-Necromancy - A condensed shield with multiple layers that distort brain waves. Necromancy's specialty lies within sending wave, after wave to attack the opponents flesh. Multiple layered shields help reduce the power until it is stripped completely.

3. Anti-Creation - This shield brings anti-physical combat to it's utmost. This shield can take a beating. It is strengthened as much as possible against physical attacks that would come from the beasts a creator summons.

4. Anti-Elemental - The P.S.U itself is made more resistant. Elementalists are the strongest in modern combat because of their ability to bypass the plasma shield with natural occurring elements. The shield itself is the same, but made resistant to the elements.

5. Anti-Transmutation - Since muties are so physically and close combat based, the shield hugs the body and makes direct contact with the skin much, much harder. As long as a mutie can't touch you physically, it can't actually perform their magic on you directly.

Since "Undefined" abilities don't match any of these, it is quite possible that shields won't work on them at all. The rarity of the Undefined category makes it not much of a problem regardless.

Because of the changes in defensive capabilities, the offensive weapons changed too. Now it is more common for soldiers to carry claymores than M16s. These weapons are important though. Like the shields, they too advanced. Because the plasma shields would block plasma weapons, they turned back to physical materials. These materials were still augmented with different effects as well. Some weapons would sear wounds as they cut and others would send shocks of electricity through the body. Augmentations were effective, but the most powerful augmentation was still, and forever will be, the gunblade. Now someone could get close to an enemy and fight on par, while at the same time having a reliable finisher method.

The basis of combat changed heavily and modern tactics have a special finesse to it. On the battlefield there are multiple roles that have to be filled. Specifically there are three main ways to win on a battlefield. First, there are the soldiers who run into the fight with close combat weapons or weapons unaffected by the plasma shield. These are the swordmasters, axe-wielders, and archers. Next, there are those who aim to break, diffuse, and sabotage the enemy's shields. These are the tide turners of the battlefield. Each shield taken down makes that particular soldier a sitting duck. Finally, there are the few men with long range guns. They are there to finish off the enemies who lost their shields. Of course, this is warfare strategy. Battles on a vast magnitude and plenty of men on both sides.

Modifications

Adding effects to weapons is a very popular and effective method to win a battle. Modifications aren't done just to the weapons though. A human's body is a canvas to be modified as well. Nanobots, a thing that has existed for over a century have found a new meaning on the battlefield. The government released combat nanobots to their own forces only recently. These microscopic robots flow through a soldiers blood stream and all as a super soldier serum. Eventually they make their way throughout the entire body and start interfacing with certain cells.

They become even more effective if the person has extensive cybernetic surgery performed as well. Some soldiers have invested in a surgery that attaches a machine to the back of the spine and shoulders. This machine strengthens the core of the human body and makes it possible to lift impossibly heavy objects as well as leap great distances. These two in combination create the perfect super soldier.

To make things better, magic-users can't get either. The nanobots were programmed to search through the bloodstream. If a visatus is discovered, they begin attacking the owner's cells. The other enhancement is only given out by the government. It truly is an era of technology against magic.

This magic form is the most common, but it doesn't make it the weakest. With the ability to reign over the basic elements of the world, it is perhaps the most flashy and, if used right, the most physically deadly. Some masters of the Elemental arts can summon up a fire storm that can possibly engulf an entire city. Because of it's versatility and flashy nature, Elementalists are normally the magic users who catch the most flak from others. The other types of magic users look down on Elementalists because the most common magic criminals use this type. Whether they really are the most violent magic users is up to debate by many. Because their magic happens to be the most flashy, it is very possible that they are simply the easiest to catch in the act.

Elemental magic is directly associated with genetics. Specifically, what ones father and mother can do, the child can also do. A father who specializes in water and a mother who specializes in fire might cause the child to have a vast control over boiling water, heat, and possibly even mist. This, along with a basic ability in both water and fire, makes passing down this form of magic very important. This is evidenced by the three families that head the Elemenalist society.

The Three Elemental Families

There are multiple families that carry on Elemental magics, but these three are the most prominent. Either because they are big players in the rebellion movement or because they work for the government. Either way, these three are commonly known as the most powerful.

The Eyre family, the only Elementalists who have direct control over plants, wood, and poison. 

The Kirsh family, the only Elementalists who have control over metal and are able to redirect the flow of some forms of energy.

The Deaux family, the only Elementalists who have control over smoke, "breath", and "aether".

Basic Elements

Each basic element responds differently to another. Light and Darkness in particular have specific properties and are only used as an addition to another basic element. There have been cases of using darkness or light as a single element, but it is extremely rare.

1. Fire

2. Water

3. Wind

4. Earth

5. Lightning

6. Darkness

7. Light

Psionics is the new power on the block. It is the modern magic that evolved as technology advanced. It is theorized that it began as an "Undefined" magic until it finally grew enough to become it's own category. This is the reason why any magic users in the "Undefined" category are considered particularly dangerous by the government. As the second most common magic in the current world, it is also the one most closely related to technology and being hidden. Most abilities from this category are, indeed, invisible. Unable to be tracked without special equipment. This upside is great, but it isn't without weaknesses.

Psionics is a magic based in the imagination. The most powerful psychics have a vivid imagination and the knowledge to back it up. The possibilities are almost endless, but the strain on the visatus is also great. It isn't uncommon for psychics who use their powers past their limits to lose them all together. The visatus will overwork itself and shut down. Then again, the limits of this power aren't truly known. Every other magic has it's limits, but this power is limited only by the imagination of the user. As long as they don't pass their threshold by using it too much, the impossible quickly becomes possible.

The Seraphs

The Seraphs are a group of police that work for the government. Each Seraph is given special privileges and makes a very high salary in return for working against the rebellion. They are specialized in hunting and exterminating other magic users. Every Seraph is a Psionic and is given the most state of the art equipment.

Basic Psi

Psi is the energy it takes for a psychic to use magic. Theoretically it is the energy that every magic user needs to perform magic, but only psychics can access enough of it to fry their own visatus. Research on the subject continues to be made and rumors that special equipment has given some psychics enough to Psi to not worry about their limit.

Overuse Stages

When a psychic begins to go over their limit, it comes in stages. Ignoring these stages will fry out their visatus.

1. First Stage - Blood Shot Eyes

2. Second Stage - Nose Bleed

3. Third Stage - Ears Bleed

4. Fourth Stage - Coughing Blood

5. Fifth Stage - Temporary Paralysis

6. Sixth Stage - Visatus Shuts Down Permanently

Creation is the third most common magic type and is thought to be closely related to Transmutation. This type of magic has to do with creating things from nothing. It is the true "casting" magic. Spells take time to perform as well as a large amount of knowledge and imagination. Theorized to be the bridge between Transmutation and Psionics. The spells take time, but because of this they are also able to do amazing things. The claim to fame for creators are their ability to "summon" creatures. Summoning isn't actually the act of taking something from another area. The user actually creates a completely new being. A user with enough knowledge can even create a pair of creatures able to reproduce.

This magic is the only magic to truly have no large downside. Monsters can be created at a moment's notice without anyone knowing who did it and it doesn't put strain on the mind. The only real problem it has is knowledge. A creator is always at risk. If an enemy knows beforehand about the creator's existence, they have no way to fight back. Spells for a creator do take time. Confidence and focus can't ever leave a creator's mind. This type of magic is the most common to produce "duds". "Duds" are simply people with a visatus that don't have the ability to use it. It may be the third most common, but in reality there aren't many successful creators.

Summoning

Summoning was partially explained, but it wasn't gone into detail. It is perhaps the most useful ability simply because of its utility. A key to a locked room, armor to deflect attacks, a gun to lay down cover fire, and of course a creature to act as a guardian or attack dog. Although summoning has it's uses, it does have some limits. Mostly on the time restraints and danger. Some summoners become too cocky and hastily create a being or armor. This can end is disaster for a number of reasons. Without proper focus, the creator risks making a non-living statue rather than a guardian, or even worse, something that doesn't see the creator as an ally. Some creators even have summoned armor that appeared on the inside. Having large shards of metal slowly form in ones own body is a horrific way to go.

Reality

Remember, creatures or items you create stay in the world. Letting loose a beast into a battle means it will stay in the world whether it loses or wins. Winning a battle might force you to walk around with a creature the size of a building. Creators are almost always the ones who cause the most collateral damage in battles. This is because they have long ago realized that keeping the beasts they summon around only leads to problems. After the big fight letting it run free to wreck havoc on its own normally ends up in the creators personal interest.

Transmutation is a very unique form of magic. It involves the manipulation of already existing materials and can effect organic material rather easily. It can change a block of stone into a fully loaded gun or a helicopter in a matter of seconds. This too is a magic that requires knowledge. A very common phrase among magic users is, "Nothing can holds a mutie." This plays to the fact that no prison can hold one when they can turn the metal into sand. Of course, there is one material that they cannot change. This material is a very, very rare metal. It is supposedly mined on another planet.

This material is strong, but still a "mutie", as some call them, can still escape. The strength of a Transmutation user is their ability to change organic material. This makes it a simple matter of the magic user to change their arm into something strong enough to break through that material. Hence, nothing can hold a mutie. All the stories of vampires, werewolves, and creatures of the night? You guessed it. They were magic users who used Transmutation to change themselves.

Organic Mutation

Transmutation is a powerful ability. The only downside is the need to be physically touching it's target. Skin contact needs to be made with the item they are about to change. It is very common for skilled muties to walk barefoot. This doubles as practice because they use magic to make sure everything they step on that is uncomfortable becomes something else upon contact.

Organic Mutation is a deadly ability because Transmutation users can change not only themselves, but others as well. Physical contact is all it takes. Quickly they can rewire the brain or even turn a heart to jelly in a matter of seconds. This does require skin to skin contact, however.

Mutants

Mutants are a group of magic users who alter their own physical appearances permanently to match their tastes. They are normally kept out of even normal magic user society. It isn't because other magic users hate them, but when that one guy with a dildo for an arm walks down the street, it makes things incredibly awkward. Fuck that guy, ruining it for all of us. Dammit, Steve.

The Dark arts, Black Magic, Necromancy. Whatever you call this form of magic, it doesn't have a nice ring to it. The so-called "evil" category. It doesn't help that the man who started all this violence between humans and magic users was a necromancer. Even other magic users don't like dealing with these shady fellows. It is the rarest legitimate category, "Undefined" being the most rare. Necromancy is indeed terrifying. Like Transmutation, Necromancy deals with the manipulation of organic tissue and bone. It's lesser cousin has nothing on Necromancy though. 

Necromancers can easily resist any organic transmutation effects put upon them by a mutie, and even turn it back on them. They don't deal with petty "changing" of existing objects. They will simply rip their enemy in half. The greatest part about necromancy is that it doesn't require physical contact. One second someone will be perfectly fine and the next will have them on the ground with their rib cage broken open from the inside. The only thing that truly stops Necromancers from killing everyone around them is their own rules.

These "rules" were imposed upon Necromancers forever. Since before any of the modern Necromancers can remember, they have not been able to just go on simple killing sprees. The theory goes that the original Necromancer had purposely "cursed" himself. At the time, of course, it was truly to be believed as a curse. In reality he had used his flesh controlling powers to alter his own visatus. Layer upon layer was overwritten until even the slightest manipulation of the visatus would fry it completely. This "curse", as it goes, does not let a Necromancer use his abilities on anyone other than those attempting to harm himself. If this code is broken the visatus goes into overdrive. It becomes uncontrollable and in a matter of minutes the Necromancer will be met with the eternal sleep.

​Immortality

It is very possible for a Necromancer to stay immortal. This is just a simple matter of manipulating one's own body on a regular basis. Age can stop effecting them and they can be frozen in time.

The Quest for a Cure

A cure to the Necromancer's "curse" has been sought after for ages. Every single Necromancer who ever came close was killed. Eventually it became known among all the Necromancers that the original one was still around. Lurking, keeping their own rules in place. Almost as if they were their own police force of the magic community.

Raising The Dead

Raising the dead is considered taboo among Necromancers. It almost always ends poorly. Bringing the dead back to life as they were when they were alive is impossible. They can reform as a lifeless husk, but nothing more can be done. Supposedly when a Transmutation magic user tinkers with an undead, they can bring the original person back. The reasons for this are unknown, but it's assumed to be part of the "curse".

This category isn't really a category at all. It is simply a place where all the magic users that don't fit in a specific category belong. The visatus is a very unique organ and can change rapidly. Some mutations cause different abilities to form that have nothing to do with the other categories. These magic users are so incredibly rare that they theorize only one hundred may exist in the world. It is a rough estimate with no basis as only one Undefined category has been found before.

The most common of the Enhanced because of it's sheer versatility. Nanobots have strengthened the Soldier to be strong in every category. The jack of all trades class of Enhanced that can be a formidable foe to almost any other Enhanced. Enough melee capabilities to fight toe to toe with a Warrior at close range, and give a General a run for their money at a distance. The reason for this is the specific zones that the nanobot have strengthened.

Specializations

The Soldier's specialties make them a formidable foe. No matter the situation, they are always ready to do battle.

• Dexterity - The nanobots have focused in the nerves, particularly in the hands of the soldier. This makes reloading and quickly defending oneself much easier for the soldier. Changing weapons and always being on the offensive from both close range and far away is a heavy strength of this added bonus.
• Flexibility - Nanobots based within the joints and ligaments themselves have caused Soldiers to perform great feats of flexibility. Mixed with the Dexterity bonus, they can become a formidable foe at melee range. Easily able to dodge attacks by a hair's breath.
• Strength - The muscles are enhanced to handles more weight and perform better overall. Even a Soldier with a small frame can  lift upwards of 300 lbs with ease. Heavy weapons are a very familiar weapon in the hands of the Soldier because of this feature. 

Since melee weapons became the new main weapons of the future, Warriors have quickly become the second most popular of the enhanced and are rising to first. These melee combatants have the means to overwhelm and cut down almost any opponent in close quarters. They favor survival and charging headfirst over everything else. In a melee battle they can take as much damage as you can dish out and while you strike so will they. The true berserker of the modern world.

Specializations

The Warrior is always ready to engage in close combat. Any opponent, no matter magic or otherwise, should tremble before them.

• Regeneration - Warriors are most famous for their insane regeneration. The nanobots in their blood at constantly flowing throughout the entire body and looking for abnormalities. They quickly will stitch up almost any wound. It's even possible to heal a heart or vital organs.
• Endurance - It's as if the Warrior never tires. Stamina and lung capacity are brought to their maximum and then some on Warrior's. This is the reason why a Warrior can continuously attack in a flurry of strikes for minutes at time. They lack the need to stop their rhythm by taking in a breath.
• Resilience - Pain is a problem in any battle. For everyone but a Warrior that is. Warrior's are special because they do feel pain. They know when they have a problem, but the bots in their brain make it tolerable. They can logically analyze any situation no matter just how much pain they are feeling.

Snipers, Archers, Explosives, and other far ranged weapons belong in the territory of Generals. These specialized warriors managed to stay in modern combat by using bows and explosives. Their main role is to finish enemies from afar with their unmatched sniping skill, but because of the P.S.U they had to adapt to the change in fighting styles. Very often they are considered the "Reapers" of the battlefield. Once your shield breaks down, so does you skull and everything it contains.

Specializations

The General is the controller of the battlefield. They hit from afar and control where everyone is. You don't wanna be in their scopes.

• Eyesight - Generals can see far. The nanobots in their eyes allow them to fully grasp any situation. Their peripheral vision is increased as a side effect of the little robots working away in their eyes. It's impossible to blind a General and they can even use their eyes as natural night vision.
• Accuracy - The ability to become one with their weapon belongs to the General and the General alone. No other Enhanced can truly comprehend just how in tune their entire body is with the gun or any weapon for that matter. Their mind is swarming with nanobots that makes their weapon literally feel as not an extension of their body, but as a part of it. Generals will never miss as long as there aren't outside factors.
• Vertical Movement - The General is someone who almost always needs to reach high places. Their jumping power is great and paired with their Accuracy it makes grasping any form of ledge easy as cake to these masters of parkour.

The utility master for the humans. No one can quite compare to this walking sonar system. Nothing escapes the gaze of the support. It is very common for them to form deadly batteries with Generals as the two complement each other well. Med-kits and weapons for crowd control are almost always in the hands of the support. They are there to show everyone the position of the enemies as well as take care of security systems with superior hacking ability.

Specializations

The Support is the scout, medic, and sometimes even heavy weapons expert all in one. Keeping their allies safe and their enemies dead is their forte.

• Hearing - Saying a Support Enhanced can hear like a bat is a true statement. They can hear way too much for their own good sometimes.  The nanites in their ears amplify every single small sound in the area.
• Touch - The sense of touch for a Support is several thousand times the normal human's sense. This, paired with their hearing, make them a walking sonar. It's impossible to escape both of these. It's so strong in fact, that they can feel each individual heartbeat through walls from practically 50 feet away.
• Clarity - The mind of a support is always processing incredibly fast. Things move in slow motion to them. Their reflexes aren't as fast as an Outrider's but their mind can process things at much faster speeds than other humans or magic-users.

The Outrider is the quick, annoying, and quite terrifying one of the categories. They can get in the face of the enemy almost instantly, and escape just as quickly. You can never know where someone will strike when they can jump between buildings with ease. An Outrider is the assassin of the Enhanced. Only mobile specialized Magic-Users can even keep up with their speed. It isn't an exaggeration to say they can outrace a cheetah with ease.

Specializations

The Outrider is the member of the unit who chases down and kills enemies that escape. It is also the one who focuses on taking out shields for it's allies.

• Reflexes - An Outrider has reflexes that are impossible to match. They can kill you before you can finish saying, "Hi". Were you expecting a sentence? No. That is just how quickly their response times are. 
• Movement Speed - The Outrider is, just like their name would suggest, someone who can outrace anyone but another Outrider. This speed is what they are most known for and it makes them perfect killers. It also is the thing that makes their leaps go just so far.
• Leg Strength - Their legs are the pride and joy to the Outrider. They can jump to impossible distances and close gaps instantly. It isn't uncommon to see and Outrider on patrol and jumping from rooftop to rooftop as if they didn't have a care in the world.

The Enhanced that are considered "Unique" are just that. The nanobots in their body have been specialized to specific areas that the other Enhanced do not have. Each of the three specialized nanobots that the Unique receive are given to experiment on the different combinations. Every category of Enhanced started as a Unique or evolved because of a Unique's contribution.

Specializations

The Unique is a blank slate to be painted by the player.

• ________ - ???
• ________ - ???
• ________ - ???

The personal shielding units are an important part of any battle. Most fights will involve one person trying to power down an enemy's shield. This is why magic users have such an overwhelming advantage. They have multiple ways to short circuit or bypass shields.

Shields come in a variety of forms. Each personalized shielding unit or P.S.U for short is designed for the user. The size of the shielding unit varies depending on where there are placed. The most common form of P.S.U is a small watch-like device around one's wrist, but plenty of people have theirs in different areas. For example, one soldier might prefer his device as an anklet because he is up to date on all the latest fashion trends while another keeps his P.S.U around his neck because he is, like, so last year.

Their original purpose is still the deflection of guns and fast moving projectiles, but since about 50 years ago anti-Magic shields have been popping up all over the world. These shields are used by specialists and are incredibly rare. The problem with these shields is their specialization. Because of the vast difference between each category of magic, each shield normally only takes care of one or two at a time. One shield might be specialized against Psionics and Necromancy because their abilities allow them to attack without being seen. These kinds of shields are based around the distortion of energy being directed by the opponent's mind. Each shield varies depending on upkeep and specialization.

Types of Specialization

These are the overall types of specialized shields.

1. Anti-Psionics - Distorts the brains wave directed at the shield-user as to stop any invisible attempts of assault. Since Psionics abilities are considered one large attack on the mind or with their brain waves at once, it is designed to take a heavy beating.

2. Anti-Necromancy - A condensed shield with multiple layers that distort brain waves. Necromancy's specialty lies within sending wave, after wave to attack the opponents flesh. Multiple layered shields help reduce the power until it is stripped completely.

3. Anti-Creation - This shield brings anti-physical combat to it's utmost. This shield can take a beating. It is strengthened as much as possible against physical attacks that would come from the beasts a creator summons.

4. Anti-Elemental - The P.S.U itself is made more resistant. Elementalists are the strongest in modern combat because of their ability to bypass the plasma shield with natural occurring elements. The shield itself is the same, but made resistant to the elements.

5. Anti-Transmutation - Since muties are so physically and close combat based, the shield hugs the body and makes direct contact with the skin much, much harder. As long as a mutie can't touch you physically, it can't actually perform their magic on you directly.

Since "Undefined" abilities don't match any of these, it is quite possible that shields won't work on them at all. The rarity of the Undefined category makes it not much of a problem regardless.

Because of the changes in defensive capabilities, the offensive weapons changed too. Now it is more common for soldiers to carry claymores than M16s. These weapons are important though. Like the shields, they too advanced. Because the plasma shields would block plasma weapons, they turned back to physical materials. These materials were still augmented with different effects as well. Some weapons would sear wounds as they cut and others would send shocks of electricity through the body. Augmentations were effective, but the most powerful augmentation was still, and forever will be, the gunblade. Now someone could get close to an enemy and fight on par, while at the same time having a reliable finisher method.

The basis of combat changed heavily and modern tactics have a special finesse to it. On the battlefield there are multiple roles that have to be filled. Specifically there are three main ways to win on a battlefield. First, there are the soldiers who run into the fight with close combat weapons or weapons unaffected by the plasma shield. These are the swordmasters, axe-wielders, and archers. Next, there are those who aim to break, diffuse, and sabotage the enemy's shields. These are the tide turners of the battlefield. Each shield taken down makes that particular soldier a sitting duck. Finally, there are the few men with long range guns. They are there to finish off the enemies who lost their shields. Of course, this is warfare strategy. Battles on a vast magnitude and plenty of men on both sides.

Modifications

Adding effects to weapons is a very popular and effective method to win a battle. Modifications aren't done just to the weapons though. A human's body is a canvas to be modified as well. Nanobots, a thing that has existed for over a century have found a new meaning on the battlefield. The government released combat nanobots to their own forces only recently. These microscopic robots flow through a soldiers blood stream and all as a super soldier serum. Eventually they make their way throughout the entire body and start interfacing with certain cells.

They become even more effective if the person has extensive cybernetic surgery performed as well. Some soldiers have invested in a surgery that attaches a machine to the back of the spine and shoulders. This machine strengthens the core of the human body and makes it possible to lift impossibly heavy objects as well as leap great distances. These two in combination create the perfect super soldier.

To make things better, magic-users can't get either. The nanobots were programmed to search through the bloodstream. If a visatus is discovered, they begin attacking the owner's cells. The other enhancement is only given out by the government. It truly is an era of technology against magic.