Updated December 5, 2001

News Files Index

People should read all of these, but anyone apping a FC /MUST/ read the news Canon files, hence, why they are separate from the rest of the Policy files.

Theme.......................Files that explain the world

Characters...............Files detailing character types

Policies.........................The Policies of the MUX

Canon..............Policies on handling Canon and Cutoff

Tinyplot..........................Files on the Tinyplots

Differences...........Differences Between Shows and Game

Disclaimer..................................Hail to Joss

Thanks........................Thanks to Those Who Helped

News Theme

World of Demons.....................History of the World

Powers that Be..................The Good Guys From Above

Wolf, Ram and Hart...........The Q&A on the Evil Trinity

The Last Century...............The Prophesized End (Now)

Soul............................The Importance of a Soul

Dimensions..........................Earth, Pylea and...?

Hellmouth................Source of Sunnydale's Weirdness

Magick.....................Pawn's Original Magick System

World of Demons

The history of the world is defined by a series of events; the outcome of which lead to the modern age. History began millions of years ago, long before humans, as we know them. The world was ruled by demons. They were creatures of vast size and power that walked the land supreme beings. Nothing could stop them and nothing could keep them from hoarding over the lands as they saw fit. The more powerful and stronger survived by their strength and power, the smaller survived by their cunning and their intelligence and ability to work together in a single unit. This is known to the modern naive world as the time of the dinosaurs. To those who know better, it is the Age of Demons.

This age would not last forever. As most ages do, it came to a quick and swift end, though it may not seem that way to those not involved. The world broke apart. Dimensional boundaries shifted like landmasses. A majority of the larger demons found themselves inhabiting new, strange worlds. Smaller ones did as well.The ridges in the dimensional boundaries brought through just as much as they allowed escape. Different kinds of creatures began to make appearances. More intelligent, more compact, more able to adapt to the changing world around them. And then, slowly, a new race began to grow on the lands. The demons conflicted immediately with the strange compact bi-peds. They did not destroy the entire race though. Many managed to hide and survive that way. Others survived only because something brought about the arrival of a new player in the game. The Slayer.

The exact origins of the Slayer are unknown to most. She appeared some time in the pre-dawn of civilization; a hunter to fight the demons that had infested the Earth. Whenever the Slayer fell, a new one would rise up and take on the powers of the old and do what the one previously had done. The line of the Slayer continued until the present day.

She is the check and balance against the world of the demons and keeps them from fully taking the world as we know it today. They have even managed minor victories that have insured the survival of the human race and limited the powers of the darker aspects of the Earth.

Powers That Be

To understand the Powers That Be is beyond mortal men and women. In fact, most demons probably would not even understand the Powers to their full capacity. In simple terms, they are higher beings, existing beyond this plane. They have one major purpose. They guide and move the powers of good in all dimensions. They are mainly concerned over this one, due to it's status as the anchor and the 'home dimension.' If Earth falls, then all dimensions fall. And that does not mean they just fall under evil influence. It will mean they are permanently destroyed. This is not common knowledge to anyone, or else demons likely wouldn't try so hard to destroy earth. They don't quite understand the consequences of their actions. But that is what the Powers strive for, preservation of this and every dimension imaginable.

Wolf, Ram and Hart

Though this is not the pure form of evil, this is the name that they will go by on this MUX. Their name is taken obviously from the law firm that they sanction, but also from the books in Pylea that had the sigils of a Wolf, a Ram and a Hart on the covers. Their influence stretches beyond this dimension and in fact owns a majority of the possible worlds out there. Their main focus is on this one. It is the anchor of the world. They are not trying to destroy it actively. They are merely trying to go on and continue with their work. Good has never been able to completely win a victory against them and will likely not. Not a substantial victory at least. Both sides are locked in a deadly battle that will have no end resolution except ultimate destruction of both. Neither side wants that, so neither side is really trying to win.

Soul

What exactly is the soul and what makes it so important in the world of humans and demons? The following is an examination of theories based on past episodes of Buffy and Angel. Future episodes may contradict what is here and if it is important it will be corrected, as long as it doesn't heavily affect the RP of current characters in a way they disapprove of.

The soul has been shown as the ability to feel guilt over past deeds committed intentionally. In the case of vampirism it also makes the person revert to their base personality. If they were romantics deep down and internally, this will not change that. They will still have the ability to feel these emotions, though they won't be able to express them normally. Most soulless affections revolve around emotions such as lust and desire, jealousy and pain, obsession or sometimes admiration and respect. Not to say soulless love isn't love, but it certainly wouldn't be a normal relationship by any means.

Evidence towards this affection was seen in Surprise when the Judge threatened to "burn the humanity" out of Spike and Drusilla for "sharing affection and jealousy". Also, Spike has shown on more than one occasion that his obsession with the Slayer has developed into much more, not to mention his affection towards Joyce and Dawn.

Also, in Angel, the vampire lovers James and Elizabeth were a lot like Spike and Drusilla. The love was strong with each other, but that didn't make them any less vicious. Elizabeth even seemed to take perverse pleasure in having a boyfriend choose his life or the life of his girlfriend. Likely this was her way of proving that human love could never be immortal.

Not all vampires are capable of soulless love. Darla and Angelus are a strong example. They shared a lust and pain relationship, but they would betray and abandon each other at the drop of a hat. One theory deals with purity of bloodlines. Taking the Master's line into consideration; he sired Darla, she sired Angelus, he sired Drusilla, and she sired Spike. None of the four show the raw strength of the Master, though they do equal each other a lot more closely (Drusilla having a distinct advantage due to her other abilities). But comparing personalities and humanity, the line between Angelus and Spike is very, very wide. Angelus killed for the sheer pleasure of it. He never hated his victims; he drew it out as long as possible. Spike fought for the fight and tended to get it over with quickly. The end is more or less the same (though Angelus drove people crazy very often long before he killed him, if he ever gave them that mercy), but the differences are there.

On the general level, the soul acts as the human conscience. Without one, someone has no guilt over things that they did in the past or will do in the future. They can still feel guilt, just not over things that they intentionally caused or plan to cause (i.e. Spike showed guilt and remorse over the events of The Gift, but they were not something that he intentionally caused). The lack of this guilt leaves a person with a rush and a strong sense of freedom and to a point at times a God Complex.

Lacking a soul doesn't make a person evil automatically though, but it does take away the leading factor that keeps people good. By comparison people with souls can be just as evil as those without. They have the guilt, they just choose to ignore it or become numb to it. (Examples: Wolfram and Hart lawyers generally still retain their souls, they just do not view their actions as guilt worthy a majority of the time, though as Lindsey has shown, that guilt sometimes becomes too much. - Also, when Buffy was getting soul-sucked in Living Conditions, she didn't become evil, she just lost her restraint to act.)

Dimensions

Besides the dimension of earth, there are countless possible worlds out there. Some of these have been seen on the show (even if not with the cutoff). The Wish-universe, Pylea, Jonathon-Superstar-universe, the world-without-shrimp, hell-dimensions, ect. There are an infinite amount of possible worlds. Some are demon ruled, others are just variations of our world. There's one theory that for every choice a person might make, there is a separate world created to take on each of the different options that the person could have made.

There are places on the earth where the barriers between the dimensions are thin. These places are called Hellmouths (See Hellmouth news file). Now, to correct a common misperception, not all the other dimensions are bad. There are good ones, they are just less prominent than the bad. There are so many ways that things can go wrong and very few where things go right. Just like evil appears to be of abundance on this plane of existence, they are of the abundance on the entire scope of the dimensions.

There is one more thing that must be covered. This dimension is the anchor. It is the original and the real dimension. All the others are mirrors or offshoots of this dimension; even the very dimension that the Powers that Be reside in. The evidence in the series to support this comes from the fact that this is the dimension with all of the barriers that can combine the others, and in Angel (Season 2, episode Reprise) the 'Senior Partners' referred to our world as the 'Home Office'. Which implies that it is the original. We are taking that literally on this MUX.

Hellmouth

Not unique to Sunnydale, a Hellmouth is a place where the boundaries between the dimensions are thin. The energy from other dimensions saturates the area, making it a hotspot for demonic and magical activity. Demons and vampires tend to flock in hoards to the area, sometimes unknowing of why they are drawn. The actual areas where the connections between the dimensions are closest can be opened and bring about the end of the world.

The Hellmouth has multiple effects on the normal world. For one, it increases the likelihood of people trying things generally believed impossible (building robots, creating zombies, becoming invisible, ect). It also advances the magical abilities of people who were born near it. Psychics and natural witches are more common. Also, religious pursuits tend to be heightened (presence of more churches than normal. better attendance, ect).

Magick

All characters that intend to have any form of magickal rank need to be familiar with the following news files. Applying for a magick character means you conform to the system that has been designed specifically for this MUX. Any questions should be directed at Hart.

Power Chart..................................Power Ranks

Specialties. ............................Areas of Magick

Ritual Magick.....................Explanation of Rituals

Disciplines....................Styles of Learning Magick

Natural Magicks....................Magick Without Spells

Spell Costs.....................................The Cost

Examples...................Spell Examples From the Shows

Power Chart

0 - Zilch. Regular Joe.

1 - 1 element*, 0 primaries, 1 secondary, (minimum)

2 - 1 element*, 0 primaries, 2 secondaries, (minimum)

3 - 2 elements*, 1 primary, 2 secondaries (minimum)

4 - 2 elements*, 2 primaries, 3 secondaries (minimum)

5 - 3 elements*, 3 primaries, 4 secondaries (minimum)

6 - 3 elements*, 4 primaries, 5 secondaries (minimum)

7 - 4 elements, 5 primaries, 6 secondaries (minimum)

8 - 4 elements, 6 primaries, 7 secondaries (minimum)

* - People trained in the Druid discipline automatically start out with all 4 elements.

FC Comparisons - According to this list, Willow is a 8, Amy's a 7, Tara and Ethan would be 6s, Giles would be a rusty 5, Jonathon, Wesley and Anya would be 4s, and Jenny would have been a 2. Almost no NFC characters will be approved to start with higher than a 4.

Elemental ranking means that the character has experience over the element. Even a level 1 can still summon all the elements; it will just be extremely limited. Elements are used primarily for areas of magick (the primary and secondaries) and rarely are used separately, even when someone is proficient. Once you've chosen your rank, pick the elements you wish to be good in. Make sure the one you aren't isn't too heavily connected with one of your specialties. Once someone reaches a 7, they can continue to learn, but very likely the number who reach level 7 will be capped at about two on the MUX at a time. So 1 more character will be allowed to reach 7 to compare with Willow.

Specialties are listed and described in news magick specialties

News Magick Specialties

Below is a list of the many different types of Specialties allowed. If you wish to add one for your character, include it and a description of the area in the app and it will be considered. For the list without details, go to news magick specialist.

Chants/Phrases/Invocation

The basis of modern magicks. Almost every spell requires at least a secondary in this, due to the use of Latin and other languages in spells. Specializing in this gains you stronger power in such spells that require the uttering of a phrase, or the invocation of a Goddess, or a complicated chant. Finding a word in another language that is connected with the spell you want to use would be a good idea, but if you can't find one, just make up a word and say it's an ancient lost demon language or something.

Potions/Herbs/Candles/Incants

Potions are your traditional magickal elixirs and ethers that do various things. Generally they take a great deal of preparation. Magickal powders are also included in this. Sometimes (especially the powder version) requires an invocation or incantation to activate. Includes the use of incants and candles.

Amulets/Gemstones/Talismans/Sands

This is the creation and use or activation of amulets, gemstones and magickal talismans. This also includes ritual magick props. Different gemstones, metals, fabrics, herbs, runes, ect cause different effects. Research would be a good idea, and check out our webpage for details on some stuff that you can go off of (mainly gemstones and runes).

Runes/Written Languages

Translation magicks mainly, witches who wish to specialize in keeping records and adjusting spells to fit the modern craft generally know this. It can also be used to invoke Norse Runes and other written symbols on the body or instruments. Runes are a great assist in creating Talismans and Amulets, and blood runes on the body tend to be required for darker ritual magicks. Check out the webpage for some details on runes and their meanings.

Perception/Glamour

At the early levels (secondary) this is basically minor illusion, usually touching one or two senses maximum. The more advanced, the better one can fool the senses. This can be used to make someone think they see someone who isn't there. It can be used to make a person appear as someone else, or even just wearing different clothing than they actually are. For secondaries, it tends to require some form of primary for a major manipulation of the senses. (Example: Tara's Demon Masking Potion/Incantation combination would be a secondary Perception spell.)

Levitation/Telekinesis

This is a form of natural magick. Anyone with this as a specialty can manage it without the use of other areas of magic to operate it. The difference between secondary and primary is mainly determining the amount one can levitate or move at once. Those with secondaries will need an assistant to help with the spell (another witch) to move things heavier than a two hundred pounds.

Technomagicks

A new form of magick, just recently introduced into the world of witches and other magick users. Not generally considered a area of use by traditional witches and warlocks. Basically it allows the controlling and manipulation of technology on a magickal level. Can be as simple as increasing processor speed to wiping a hard drive with a simple touch. Would also include any form of electrical/data transfer device (example: Willow's phone activation spell.) Again, those without a primary in it will need to mix their spell with something they do have a primary in.

Warding/Sealing

Wards tend to be power consuming, due to their effect area and the time they can remain active (anywhere from a few hours to months, depending on the level of the ward), hence, even if someone specializes in it, they need to attach the spell to something else they have a primary in (such as attaching the spell to an amulet or using a chant or a rune). This includes sealing powers (requires an item usually if you want it to last) and creating force fields.

Mental/Empathy/Channeling

This type of magick manipulates the mind and emotions of people and animals. It can be used to communicate with animals, and form telepathic bonds with people. It also can be used to wipe memories and do love spells. The higher the power of the spell, the more likely it is needed as a primary, or needs a back-up casting device for the spell. (As in, Willow can telepathically speak to people without trouble, but the memory eraser required a herb and a phrase). This also includes channeling spirits and other people through your mind and body.

Fortune Telling

This is one of the natural forms of magick. If you don't have potential in this area, you can't force yourself to learn it and have much effect. Tara is probably the only person who has even any potential in this on the main FC cast (her ability to recognize Possession). Fortune Telling includes reading energies of people, using Tarot and Palms as a way of delving into the possible paths the person may take. Generally, these forms of reading are vague and sketchy, due to the fact that a lot of the times paths are not fully written and may cross with other dimensions. This cannot be taken as a primary.

Conjuring

The ability to make something out of nothing is the basis of conjuring. Creating light, fire, gusts of wind, guiding balls of Aradia, ect. This is considered a Advanced level spell and requires a lot of know-how to do and a lot of magickal potential to handle. The bigger a thing you conjure, the more it will take out of the caster. Even simple conjuring spells require usage of another specialization, generally magickal phrases in traditional magick.

Physical/Healing

Healing is the ability to heal or restore a body. Also includes the ability to drain a body of life energy. It's a double-edged sword and completely depends on what the person is wishing to do. Often combined with amulets or potions, rarely combined with phrases (but it happens). Note, this power is extremely limited in what it can do. Natural things tend to be nearly impossible, but inflicted wounds and contracted illnesses are within the realm of this power. Also can be used to increase physical power and speed.

Transformation/Transmogrification

Changing one thing into another thing. This generally is a higher-level type of magick, and normally /not/ going to be a specialty until the person already has at least three others. When it's a secondary, the person needs to cast the spell in conjunction with a primary. (Say they have a primary in Chants, they need to say a chant in order to change -- much like Amy's rat spell.)

Transportation/Dimensional Portals

Teleportation and opening of portals, whether on the physical plane of this Earth, or opening a portal to another dimension, is the basis of this specialty. This is an extremely difficult thing for even highly trained magick users and will drain energy quickly when used. Humans cannot normally handle spells of this magnitude. This is generally reserved for demon spell casters. Or at the very least requires double-combination and multiple casters (a circle of 2 or more witches).

Time

Like the previous one, this one is extremely difficult to do, and will be extremely limited. Most time spells that humans can manage are small time-bubbles for storage (store a book outside of time to protect it). Stopping or reversing time in an area larger than a square foot is nearly impossible for a human witch to handle, and even a circle of twelve would likely kill themselves trying. Demons would be a tad better at it, but still, most likely they would kill themselves. Besides the minor uses of this specialization, do not expect it to be allowed use. This specialty is /extremely/ restricted. No one will get a primary in it. And likely no one will be allowed a secondary either.

news magick speclist

Beginning

1 - Chants/Phrases/Invocation

Basic

2 - Potions/Herbs/Candles/Incents

3 - Amulets/Gemstones/Sands/Talismans

4 - Runes/Written Languages

5 - Perception/Glamour

6 - Levitation/Telekinesis

Intermediate

7 - Technomagick

8 - Warding/Sealing

9 - Mental/Empathy/Channeling

10 - Fortune Telling

Advanced

11 - Conjuring

12 - Physical/Healing

13 - Transformation/Transmogrification

Uber-Specialties

14 - Transportation/Dimensional Portals

15 - Time

Ritual Magick

Even those with limited power in the mystical arts can manage to do a vast number of spells. These spells are mainly ritual in nature, and will require extensive study and specific instruments. The major difference between ritual and actual magick is the fact that real magick users can compromise. They don't need all the exact ingredients required for a spell unless it's incredibly volatile (such as say... resurrection spells, dimensional travel, time spells, ect). Ritual magick requires that people do everything exactly as listed in the book. Generally it takes a lot more time, and if they are interrupted the effects will not be quite as they should have been. For ritual spells, you should clear anything major with the staff, especially if it's Major TP-ish. Also, if your character has no experience in the ritual arts, be aware the chances of failure even if they do everything perfect are a lot higher, and so are the chances of injury or death for the person using the spell.

Disciplines

Below are a list of the following allowed disciplines of learning that are available on the MUX at the moment. Each Magick User needs to pick which one they learned. If none fit your character idea, you are free to contact Hart and give a description of what you wish and she will try to accommodate by adding another to this list.

Witchcraft..................Modern and Traditional Craft

Blood Mages....................The Darkest Practitioners

Druids...................Halfway between Blood and Witch

Romany.........................Gypsies and their Magicks

Technopagans....................Magicks Using Technology

Clerics.................Magick Users Under the 'One God'

Others.......................Unique or Minor Disciplines

Switching..........................Switching Disciplines

Witchcraft

Modern witchcraft involves the structured use of magick to manipulate and control the environment around them for the use of good. There are bad witches and warlocks, but the practice itself is not evil. The misuse of it can be tough.

Most witchcraft focuses around one specialty, invocation, chanting, and magical phrases. Anyone who is going to be a traditional witch needs to learn that specialty first. Potions, herbs, candles, incents, amulets, gemstones, sands, talismans and runes are also very important to traditional witchcraft. There are other ways of learning magick, but this one tends to be the highest known.

Witches and Warlocks are allowed every specialty listed (except Time, obviously). And they can get as high as 8.

Blood Mages

Instead of focusing around Invocation, Blood Mages center primarily around the use of blood sacrifice in spells. Any spell they use requires some blood spilt previously. Major spells require sacrifice of an animal or a person before the spell. These are considered the darkest of practitioners, and most Witches will have nothing to do with them. Also, Blood Mages are the only ones who can do some spells, the darkest of magicks. People who dabble in the darkest magicks tend to be dabbling in blood magick.

Blood Mages can learn every specialty except Technomagick (and Time, obviously), but require ritual sacrifice for each of their spells. This includes minor spells. Usually it can just be pricking their finger.

Druids

A mix between witches and blood mages, these old practitioners walk with nature, yet take life for a majority of their major spells. Unlike Blood Mages, they can still do minor spells without the assistance of sacrifice, and unlike witches, they are actually more in tune with certain areas of nature, especially weather and the raw elements.

They can learn every specialty except Technomagick (and Time, again), though they also tend to not learn Dimensional Portals, wishing to keep their studies of magick centered on this reality and earth. Druids are only allowed to reach level 6 power-wise. The advantage of Druids is the fact that even at level one they have all 4 of the elements.

Romany

The lost magicks of the Gypsies are starting to resurface recently, but due to the fact that much of the original power is lost, they are often considered one of the weakest of the available disciplines. But they are also the most subtle. Unlike Witches and Blood Mages and Druids, they are not required to have any specialty the Beginning or the Basic specialties to do their basic spells. They are best with manipulating Perception and with subtle Mental spells, and they are extremely good at Fortune Telling. More complicated spells do require ritual, but the stuff they do from day-to-day do not.

Allowed specialties include: Chants/Phrases/Invocation, Potions/Herbs/Candles/Incants, Amulets/Gemstones/Sands/Talismans, Runes/Written Languages, Perception/Glamour, Levitation/Telekinesis, Warding/Sealing, Mental/Empathy/Channeling, Fortune Telling and Physical/Healing. They are only allowed to reach a level 4 power-wise.

Technopagans

The most specialized of any of the groups, these pagans study primarily technomagicks and learn very little else. What they do learn is to assist their technomagicks. This group is obviously the most modern of any of the others, and also the youngest. They work mainly with computers, electrical technology,

Available specialties: Chants/Phrases/Invocation, Runes/Written Languages, Perception/Glamour, Technomagick (duh), Warding/Sealing, and Mental/Empathy/Channeling. Maximum allowed level is 4; a majority will end at 3.

Clerics

Though not all will be known as Clerics, this faction is put together by the fact that they are all holy magick users of the old world and the new. These people tend to be monks, or priests or nuns or some other form of holy man or woman (tend to be men though). They use the magicks in respect to their Gods and hence, do not consider their use unholy. The Christian based Clerics tend to believe other uses of magick are unholy, but the Asians and the Middle Eastern and Africans tend to be more lenient. Though likely they would never touch other forms of magick. All their magicks require prayer and use of their religious symbols. Also, almost every ritual spell originates from a Clerical practice.

They are allowed to possess all of the available specialties (except Time), and also tend to be one of the more disciplined of the disciplines. They can reach level 8 and beyond more easily than even witches, due to the fact that many of them begin to learn magicks before they learn to walk.

Others

Those who choose to pursue magick in a fashion other than the above are considered to have a rare or unique form. Almost every single demon race has their own unique way of doing magick, and some other magickal folk do as well. Unique magicks tend to be focused on one area (example, Transformation, Mental, or perhaps even Warding). Either they are focused around a higher specialty, or they are focused around a Basic one. If they focus around a Basic one -- let's say, gemstones -- they need to use or be in possession of gemstones that fit the spell they are working. People who choose Other for their powers need to explain them more fully than those who choose a discipline with a defined foundation.

Natural Magicks

Natural Magicks are those magicks that do not require actual spells. Namely, Fortune Telling, Levitation/Telekinesis, Mental/Empathy/Channeling are among those, but some of the other 'areas of magick' also have natural forms. Apping someone with natural magicks is allowed, but they are only allowed one area to be natural in (see below). These people are considered 'psychics' and likely will not realize what they are doing at first, since it will come completely on instinct without training. Natural Mages can become witches (and generally become much better ones)

The other areas that have natural manifestations are Perception/Glamour, Warding/Sealing and Physical/Healing. Perception/Glamour applies mainly to natural illusions, and the creation of them. Someone who is a natural in this would be able to adjust the way other people see him or her subconsciously. The Warding/Sealing side deals with the natural ability to protect oneself against other magicks (including their own) and outside forces. Healing is basically the ability of healing hands and increasing the ability of others to heal, as well as oneself. This is usually discovered if someone close to the person is dying and then they suddenly get better after spending a little time with the healer.

The Cost

Here is a Cost Chart for examples of spells and the cost on the user. People need to use their own discretion in deciding where the spell they're using would fall and to what extent it would take it's toll. Sometimes the person isn't affected at all. Other times more than they should have been. If a spell fails majorly, the effects usually aren't that bad. People who are not well trained need to go a few levels up for the amount of the cost. This list is for people who are Average (4s) at spells. Those who are higher will have smaller and quicker dissolving effects.

Low level spell -

Examples: Simple glamour, lifting a pencil, single effect amulet.

Costs: None.

1st Medium level spell -

Examples: Increasing processor speed of a computer, small invisibility spell, and single-use warning wards.

Costs: Fatigue. Wears off after half an hour.

2nd Medium level spell -

Examples: Minor conjuring, minor healing, activation of electrical systems, complicated illusion, small 'Keep Out' or 'Stay' ward, short-term memory spell.

Costs: Fatigue. Three or four hours. Headache. 10 minutes.

3rd Medium level spell -

Examples: Lifting a small person, Sealing a minor spirit, love spell, large invisibility spell, medium level conjuring, small dimensional portals.

Costs: Fatigue. Day or two. Headaches. Day or two. Temporary nosebleed.

1st Advanced level spell -

Examples: Minor Transformation/Transmogrification spells, Dimensional portals, teleportation, Solid Wardings, sealing magick, and major healing.

Costs: Fatigue. Week long. Headaches. Days. Random bleeding. Possible Minor Mental Damage. Possible death.

2nd Advanced level spell -

Examples: Major Transformation/Transmogrification spells, high-level conjuring, creation of unique artifact.

Costs: Fatigue. Weeks. Pain. Week. Possible Mental Damage/Tainting. Possible death.

3rd Advanced level spell -

Examples: Resurrection spells, temporal magicks.

Costs: Fatigue. Draining. Pain. Possible Tainting. Likely death.

Definition of Burn Out: Over use of magick causes the user to have a burn out. The amount they use determines the amount of time they are left without their powers. This is different from fatigue, because unlike that, it isn't physical. It stunts the ability to do further spells for a time. Does not tend to matter what level the witch is, though there are mystical ways to get around it. Doing so, unfortunately, risks harsher cost penalties than usual.

News Magick Examples

News Characters

Major Features..................Opening Title Characters

Minor Features.....................Reoccurring Characters

Non-Features...........................The Original Guys

Character Types......................General Definitions

Applications................Read if you Want a Character

News Major Features

Before you consider apping a Major Feature, you need to take your online times into mind. If you do not think you can keep with the 15-day idle period, then do not apply the character til you are sure you can manage it. Also, you need to take one other thing into consideration. What you do with the character will carry over to the next player if you drop it or are forced to resign. By applying the character you need to take that into consideration. The next player will take off where you left it (within reason). This includes if the character got married, pregnant, turned to the dark side, got vamped, joined law school, ect. This is to keep coherence in the storyline and to avoid paradoxes. All major changes to FCs will be made available to the staff and are available to potential appers upon request.

Now that you've read the above, we can get into what exactly a Major FC is. A Major FC is someone who's in the opening credits of the series at the cutoff. (Buffy, Xander, Anya, Dawn, Spike and Willow for Buffy; Angel, Cordelia and Wesley for Angel.) These characters have the strictest idle allowances, due to the fact that they are the backbone of the entire MUX. They also will tend to be the center of most of the major TPs and scenes. Players are only allowed 1 major FC.

To see which FCs are still available, check out the +fc/buffy and +fc/Angel files.

News Minor Features

Unlike Major FCs, these are allowed to start with a clean slate instead of carrying over RP from the previous players. It is allowed, if the player who drops gives permission upon departure from the game, but it is not required. Some changes will have to be kept though, if they affect Major FCs (interactions, marriages, ect). If Wesley (hypothetical situation that'll likely never happen) got married to Kate, whoever reapps Kate would have to stick with it. She could have amnesia and remember /nothing/ of the marriage and they could get a divorce, but it has to be kept as past. (Note, the amnesia thing will only be allowed a couple times.)

Minor FCs are characters who have been on the show, but were not on the opening credits when the cutoff was made. Notice, dead FCs are not allowed to be applied. Only Darla will be resurrected via Wolfram and Hart (Though Holtz will also be allowed, since he was preserved in time, not dead).

To see which FCs are still available, check out the +fc/buffy and +fc/Angel files.

News Non-Features

These are the completely original characters made using the theme set up. These belong to their respective creators and are their property. Copying someone else's original is strictly prohibited. Don't do it. Also, these characters can not be reapplied by someone else later, hence, it will be looked down upon if an original establishes a permanent relationship (i.e. marriage) with a Major FC since if they leave, they will have to be killed off, or divorce in the background or something.

Now, these characters must fit with the theme outline, and the character type files will go into everything they need to know. People can app demons or humans, and humans have three different 'types' they can be. Powered, Knowledgeable and Normals. Powered are like witches and tainted humans, knowledgeable are those that know about the demonic world, but are just normal humans, and normals are those that don't know anything. Applied normals will likely not stay normal very long on this MUX.

News Character Types

Demons...........................The Things that go Bump

Humans........................Those People Sorta Like Us

Warriors....................Weapons in the Final Century

Messengers....................The Powers' Voice on Earth

Restricted.........................Hard to Get Character

Banned............................Unavailable Characters

News Character Demons

Half-Breeds........................Human-Demon Offspring

Vampires....................The Lowest of the Half-breeds

Canon..................Types of Demons Seen on the Shows

Created.......................Types Created for this MUX

News Demon Half-Breeds

There are three kinds of Half-Breeds. Passive and Dominant are the first two. When an offspring of a demon and a human is born looking like a human, they are passive. If they take on the traits of the demon immediately, they are dominant. Passive half-breeds can go their entire lives without taking on the traits of their other parent. Some live completely normal lives as a human. Others develop the demon side upon puberty or another developmental stage (such as adulthood). These people tend to gain the ability to revert to the demon form (such as Doyle) where they have all the abilities of their demon race. They have none of these abilities in their human form.

Half-breeds generally retain their human souls. Some races conflict and destroy the soul at birth for dominants or upon manifestation for passives.

The last one is a half-breed who starts out completely human, but becomes tainted to the effect where they are taken over by a demon. Vampires are the most common example of this, though they are in no way the only.

News Demon Vampires

News Demon Canon

News Demon Created

News Character Humans

Powered Humans................Born or Gifted with Powers

Knowledgeable Humans.................Those that are Aware

Normal Humans.............................Average People

News Powered Humans

Slayers................................The Chosen One(s)

Witches.............................Trained Magick Users

Psychics............................Natural Magick Users

Tainted...............................Tainted with Demon

News Human Slayers

News Human Witches

News Human Psychics

News Human Tainted

News Knowledgeable Humans

Watchers...........................Those British Voyeurs

SHS '99......................Sunnydale High Class of '99

Ex-Initiative........................Former Solider Boys

Wolfram and Hart........................The Evil Lawyers

Ex-Demons...........................Demons Turned Mortal

Survivors................................Demon Attachees

News Human Watchers

News Human SHS 99

News Human Ex-Initiative

News Human Wolfram and Hart

News Human Ex-Demons

News Humans Survivors

News Warriors

News Messengers

News Restricted

These characters are allowed, but we will restrict the number to a large amount. We will post when the number has been reached and a category is closed. Check the Character Board to see if it's still open before you app.

1) Abnormal Vampires - Vampires with extensive Wicca power or gypsy or psychic abilities. Ritual based powers are allowed without restriction -- anyone can use ritual magick with the right instruments -- but we don't want vampires who can challenge Willow or even Tara raw magick-wise.

2) Watchers - Seeing as a majority of Watchers live in England and the game takes place in LA and Sunnydale, we want to limit the amount of Watchers so that they do not lose their mystery and solitude.

3) Ex-Initiative - A few will be allowed, but we reserve the right to cap off the solider boys and lab coats. Most of them cleared out of Sunnydale (or died) after the Adam incident. And most would have stayed with the government. A few likely stayed to observe Buffy and the Scoobs since the Primeval episode hinted that they would keep an eye on the citizens involved.

4) Ex-Demons - These are allowed, but we're going to try to keep it limited.

5) Messengers - The Powers That Be will have a couple Messengers on Earth, but again, we want to keep it limited. This is an extremely large responsibility and these people will be plot devises a lot of the time.

6) OC Human Dimension Jumpers - Humans from alternate dimensions will be allowed, but they will be extremely limited. Demons have a much better chance of jumping dimensions and will therefore be more likely allowed, so if you have to have an alternate dimension character, it will more likely pass as a demon. (Especially since most demons originally come from other dimensions.)

News Banned

The following types of characters are currently banned. Do not try to apply them, because no matter how good the app, they will be scrapped. If you wish to argue a ban, send an @mail to the character Wiz (Hart) and argue your point on why you think the character type should be opened in a restricted fashion. Supply a good argument and you may be allowed to app, but the staff reserves the right to continue to say no on any of the following.

1) NFC Slayers - Any kind of reborn or immortal Slayer. Includes Slayers that were vamped. Only two Slayers allowed on this game. Buffy's death did not trigger a third. An original Slayer will only be allowed if Faith is apped and killed off through a TP. Incarnations of former Slayers may be allowed for brief TPs (aka. Ghosts, Spirit Guides, ect) but they will be opened for TPs only. If you want to play one, submit a TP idea and if approved, you can app the temp character.

2) Gods - Mythological based or otherwise. You can app a demon-type based around a mythological deity, as long as the power level is kept at a reasonable level.

3) Vampires with a Soul - Angel's going to be it. As Spike has proven (and the Judge before him with his humanity burning power) that vampires do not need a soul to have humanity.

4) Original vampires turned by FC vampires in the past (including -- but not limited to -- Spike, Angel, Dru, Darla, The Master, Harmony, and pretty much any vampire that was in the series). Only allowed to happen through RP.

5) Anything resembling World of Darkness vampires, werewolves, mages, and others too closely. There are thousands of MUXs for them. Keep them there. Go to a WoD game if you want that.

6) FC Dimension Jumpers - We do not want alternate Willows or Spikes showing up on the grid. If they /do/ show up again, they will be played by whoever normally plays the character and they will be temporary TP incarnations.

7) Dead FCs - We will be allowing Darla to be resurrected as per Wolfram and Hart, and yes, Buffy was brought back too, but any other characters will stay dead. (Looks like Angel's blonde chickies are the only Phoenixs here c.c;)

News Applications

Outlines..............................Detail-less Outlines

FC.......................................Detailed FC App

NFC.................................Detailed The NFC App

Temp..............................Detailed Temp Char App

News App Outlines

News App FC

News App NFC

News App Temp

News Policies

Idle........................................Idle length?

Alts...............................How Many Are Allowed?

TS........................Scenes in Need of the S rating

Lemming.................Gonna Follow You Everywhere! o/~

Harassment...................Flaming of Players or Staff

Combat..............................*bam* *kick* *slash*

Consent......................Can I Kick You Thru a Wall?

Death.................................Wanna Kill Xander?

Dropping................Wanna Drop Your FC or Over Idle?

Discipline....................Punishments for Violations

Idle

This isn't just not logging on, this is sitting in a room by yourself idling. For Originals we will understand this sometimes, but if you play a Major FC, expect to get questioned if you're constantly sitting alone in your room.

Major FCs (Title Cast Members) - 15 days idle time, unless taking a known vacation for reasonable RL reasons.

Minor FCs (Other Characters) - 30 days idle time, unless taking a known vacation for reasonable RL reasons.

OFCs (Originals) - 60 day idle period.

Alts

People are allowed to have up to four alts, max, but they need to keep each and every alt up to the idle period.

1 Major FC per player.

2 FCs per player, period. (one in each city) - May be allowed to have 3 if one is an extremely minor (1 episode) character.

2 alts per city (1 FC, 1 Original).

TS

TS is allowed, but keep it in private, please. And while it can be worked into RP (as in, the characters on the show do tend to know who's sleeping with who), take in mind ages of players when you start talking about it. And keep in mind some things about the character if an FC is involved. Angel especially. It is showed that he is allowed to 'have sex' as long as it doesn't mean anything, but if he 'makes love' he loses his soul. No happy TS for Angel's character without the consequences.

Lemming

Everyone has seen them, and almost everyone has been one at one time or another. Due to the storytelling and character interaction focus on this game, we request that everyone be aware of exactly what a lemming is and deploy measures to avoid showing the symptoms.

A "Lemming" is a player who enters a currently occupied room of the grid where a scene might be taking place without paging the involved parties. These people tend to enter the scene immediately without seeing what's going on, and quite often learn that their presence is disruptive to the flow and coherence of the scene, and to the annoyance of the participating players.

This is a discipline-worthy offense if it becomes a habit for the player.

Harassment

Combat

Big part of Buffy is combat. It's a second place to teen/young adult angst!

Consent

Death

Wanna kill off your FC? You /need/ to run it by the staff and explain the reason behind it. Major FCs will likely not be allowed to die unless it's in an amazing 'season finale'ish TP. Killing of Original characters is allowed as you see fit. Have fun. Cannon fodder is always good.

Dropping

Dropping an FC due to lack of interest or idle time requires you to tell the Wizards a few things. The Wizards should already document all major changes with the character thru approval if you’re a Major Feature, so this isn't a problem. What we do ask is that you supply us with a brief outline detailing some things that you would like to see carried over by the next player. If you don't have anything specified, then do not bother. What this is for is so new players can properly take on aspects of your past RP and integrate it into their own. Character interaction, ect. Again, it is up to you. Also, if you're dropping a Minor you are given the option of opening them to further app as is (within reason). If you really do not want your RP to carry over, please say so, or else we will assume permission is given. In such a case of no carry-over, the next apper will decide how to handle it.

Discipline

This is the method of discipline that will be used on this MUX. If you don't want this to happen to you, read the news files and avoid the punishments. That simple.

1) First major offense, @mail/email warning, online appeal allowed.

2) Second major offense, 2nd warning, @newpassworded for three days if not an idling offense. Email appeal allowed.

3) Third major offense, public posting of reported offenses and resignation of Major FC. Minor FCs and Originals will be @newpassworded for a week, email appeal allowed.

4) Fourth major offense, public reposting of reported offenses and resignation of all characters. Possible siteban if Harrassment. Appeals allowed after two weeks (so all involved are cooled down).

News Canon

Cutoff.........................The Cutoff for both shows

Character Interaction.................Handling other FCs

Relationships.....................Handling relationships

Cutoff

The cutoffs for the shows are a tad different, unfortunately.

The Cutoff for Buffy is early Season Six, right after Afterlife. Buffy did die, and she did come back, just the same way she did in the show. From there, the path of the game will take it's own direction.

The LA crew is being snipped off in the middle of the 1st season; a little bit after Doyle's death. Meaning Cordelia has the visions, and Angel still knows little about Wolfram & Hart. Gunn hasn't joined the groups yet, and Fred is still in Pylea. The Host has not been introduced, and Lindsey still has both non-evil hands. Darla has not been resurrected and Faith is still at large.

Character Interaction

While, we're not dictating that it has to remain this way forever, in the beginning you should take in mind pasts between FCs when you start to play with each other. A lot of these characters have pre-set past interactions and in some cases, there's a lot of badness between people. You are free to alter that via RP, but please allow it to be gradual. People do not generally change their opinions of others over-night. We wish to preserve the feeling of the shows in the RP and character interaction is a major part of it. As per example, Spike and Angel will likely not get along in the first few scenes they do together, and if they do later, it will need to be developed via RP.

Relationships

Okay, this is probably a controversial subject. Ships in fandoms are a big deal. Some people (as we all have seen) can be overly obsessive over certain relationships. And there are as many relationships in fandom as there are stars in the sky. A particular example is the Buffy/Angel relationship obsession. If the characters are not together on this MUX, do NOT bash the players. Ever. You can express your feelings about the relationship, but in the end it is up to them to decide whom their character will end up with.

Now, one last note; breaking off a canonly active relationship (Tara/Willow, Xander/Anya mainly) when one of the characters is currently player-less requires approval of staff. If an RP developed relationship finds itself missing a player for their SO, they may choose to move on. That is fine. But in order to preserve the show to an extent, we don't just want Xander to break up with Anya because she doesn't have a player and he wants to get it on with Willow, who's free because Tara doesn't have a player. If both players of these couples agree to split, and it's RPed, that's perfectly fine. You're free to do that. This will only be a deal for the first couple months. If one of the characters is playerless after a while, and the other wants to move on, approval is likely to be given.

News Tiny-plot

There are 4 different types of tiny-plots that can be run on Pawns.

Minor TP.................Monster of the Week / Short Term

Major TP...........Big Bad / Long Term / Major FC Changes

Special TP......Involving DIRECT Contact w/ the PTB or SP

Cross-Over TP...................TPs involving both cities

TP App............................The Application for TPs

Minor TP

Example: Di'grasha the goat-headed demon decides to go on a killing spree in the Bronze. Hero type saves the day. Yay.

Who Can Run: Anyone. Find someone to emit the baddie and have fun. Emit him yourself and let someone else be the hero. Whichever you want. Demon temps are freely allowed for emit by anyone as long as they are not used beyond the single scene or two (these guys should have a high death rate). Long term (Month +) count as an app required temp, and generally would be a Major TP.

Approval: If it's contained, no approval required. If an area on the grid gets destroyed (i.e. The Bronze) or a city wide area is temporarily affected (i.e. Band Candy, Hush, or Once More, With Feeling) it requires staff okay, and the okay of the owner of the building on the grid, if it has one (i.e. if someone ICly owns the Espresso Pump).

Major TP

Examples:

1) New Big Bad Vamp, Oren, plans to do a ritual that will bring about the end of the world (again). It will take months of build up and gathering of the proper items. Good guys must stop him.

2) Xander gets vamped; Giles dies; or Gunn becomes a Wolfram & Hart hired thug.

Who Can Run: Temp Characters of this type require an app, and should generally be the one to run the TP. If it's an FC change, then the FC involved should run it.

Approval: Oh yes. Big Bad TPs need staff approval because they may conflict with current meta-plot plans in the works. Also, Major FC changes (death, status - good, bad) require approval since if you leave the character, someone else will have to bide by your changes to them. Please look at news Canon as well.

Special TPs

Examples:

1) Angel goes to the Oracles for help in fighting some new baddy that has appeared in LA.

2) Willow uses magick to open a direct conduit to the Powers for assistance in saying a friend.

3) The Junior Partners and Wolfram & Hart set up a meeting with the Senior Partners.

4) TPs that revolve around a written foretelling about Angel or Buffy or Faith or another Warrior for Good or Evil.

Who Can Run: Staff ran only. Anyone can app an idea, but only the staff is allowed to emit the actual response from the Powers or the Senior Partners. Generally, the Senior Partners will remain 'Off Stage' and the Powers tend to be silent unless approached or they send a messenger (Such as Whistler). Staff run the prophecy TPs too, or at least to the extent where they dictate what the prophecy /is/ exactly. If the characters fulfill it and to what extent will depend on the RP of the characters involved.

Approval: Considering it is Staff Ran only, yes. Requires approval. Big yes.

Cross-Over TP

TP App

Differences

Disclaimer

This MUX is an original tangent of the TV Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, shown on WB, UPN and FX (in syndication). Since 1997, Joss Whedon has allowed us to view his vision though over one hundred episodes of both series. We have all the respect in the world for the creators and writers of the series, as well as the actors that bring the characters to life. Our attempt at a MUX is a pale imitation of their masterpieces but we hope it is enough of one that it will be enjoyed by all who play on it.

The World and the Feature Characters are property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and FOX. No infringement or disrespect is intended by this method of entertainment.

Original characters, details of the theme, the magick system, the descriptions on the grid and the FC apps themselves belong to their creators and should not be reproduced without permission.

Hart, Head Wiz of Pawns of the Powers MUX

Thanks

Wizards -

Hart - Head Wiz, Theme Wiz, TP Wiz, Character Wiz, Building Wiz, App Wiz.

Wolf - Site Wiz

Ram - Code Wiz

Staff -

Spiritus (Spirit) - Open (Character Staff, App Staff)

Animus (Heart) - Build/Desc Staff, Player Relations

Sophus (Mind) - Open (Theme Staff, App Staff)

Manus (Hand) - Open (TP Staff)