Background Information

[Yurian]

Forward:


The German philosopher George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel offered this thought:

• The thesis is an intellectual proposition.
• The antithesis is simply the negation of the thesis.
• The synthesis solves the conflict between the thesis and antithesis by reconciling their common truths, and forming a new proposition.

Conflict:
It is WPPU !9#. The World has dissolved into a myriad of citadel cities: medieval-like castle-towns governed by a powerful mayor. Although each of these areas is inherently the same, the insatiable desire for power prevents these cities from recognizing a more efficient level of existence. In fact, more powerful citadels are subjugating weaker ones, increasing their areas of influence. Specially trained soldiers, titled Sables, have become a primary method of taking control: assassinating rival mayors in order to ‘cut off the head of the snake’.

Now, in Western Exverathane, Cole Black – the ruler of Alpha and Delta – has initiated a mission to conquering adjacent citadel cities in an attempt to unify the continent. His goal is to destructively create a new era, one of community and development. Despite that, Beta – governed by Edith Asher – in conjunction with Gamma – ruled by Aiko Akemi – are taking countermeasures to nullify this attempt. Sables have already been released into enemy ground, seeking out their target.

Who will overcome?

City descriptions:
Alpha (Cole Black): a modern skyscraper city characterized by blue windowed buildings and a simply organized infrastructure. Cleanliness and rules are an apparent characteristic.
Delta (Arash Alcaeus, Black’s First Subordinate): a desert oasis centered on an extensive circular lake. The brown sandy buildings are crowded and busy; loud bazaars are often rife with violence in the night. The contrast between the wealthy and poor is clearly distinguished.
Beta (Edith Asher): a brown low-saturated castle-town. Ornately gothic parapets are widely spaced, and the quiet streets are often empty of vehicles. There is little emotion, but the citizens are diligent – perhaps even brainless.
Gamma (Aiko Akemi): a red heaven spun on shimmering silk. The center is portrayed by close fitting pagodas while the wide edge is illustrated by open rice-lands. Although there is a line between the rich and the working, technology here is a powerful emphasis – perhaps a weapon. As is opium.

Sables:
An underground military squad assigned primarily to assassinating rival citadel-city mayors, they are also trained to handle espionage missions. As inferred from their labels, they are raised to handle missions in secrecy – their existence is never to be revealed to the public – and are notable for efficient tactics, combat, and endurance.

Elements:
There are five elements: Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, and Lightning. Every organism contains a mixture of these elements, but through blood specifics certain beings contains a type excess. In humans, this excess is seemingly random, and therefore allows different individuals to be more adept at summoning different types of elements.

Despite that, the usage of these elements is very limited; manifesting an element requires intense and thorough training, and usually only Sables advance to such a degree. In fact, elements are typically limited to as weapon back-ups or pre-planned engagements.

There are several foundational elemental techniques mastered by all Sables:
- Incandescence: fire based; allows the user to subtly alter the light around his body in order to blend himself more easily into surroundings.
- Celerity: wind based; allows the user to attach to gaseous matter, in effect allowing him to glide for short distances.
- Abeyance: allows the user to attach to liquid matter, in effect allowing him to run on liquid matter for short distances.
- Stasis: earth based; allows the user to attach to attach to solid matter, in effect allowing him to run on tilted (vertical, upside-down, etc.) surfaces for short distances.
- Fulguration: lightning based; allows the user to burst in faster speeds for each step.

Almost every capable Sable has created unique techniques, although the most exotic does not mean the most effective.


Map:


EDIT 012408: Wording revisions to more clearly convey ideas.