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An ability that allows the user to enter a state of supreme speed and agility, if only for twenty seconds or so. The ability also lends the user immediate, though temporary, knowledge of whatever weapon or tool they’re holding, making for a very lethal opponent when faced in battle. However, with the lethality of the ability, it comes at a brutal and dangerous cost: Stamina and energy use of the user is nearly quadrupled, leading to much faster exhaustion and near-unavoidable downtime. For example, if the user works up a light sweat with Gladiator active, then they’ll be soaked with sweat when it wears off. If they find themselves trembling at the joints with the ability active, they’ll find their lunch coming up when it wears off. And if they throw out their lunch with the ability, the chance they’ll enter an exhaustion-caused coma arises; in games such as these, where power is dangerous to both oneself and one's enemies, a coma induced by exhaustion can be lethal. Also dangerous, though, is knowledge. The ability can, if used with the same weapon or tool enough, leave permanent knowledge of the uses of the item in the user's mind, a sort of delayed emergency learning for tense situations. Though, the ability cannot be used consecutively, making these bursts of power and learning few, and far between.

Nobody remembers when precisely when the world became sea. Those that did are long since ashes and dust in the plains of the ocean. To find an island in this vast expanse is rare. To find one large enough to live on, even more so. Due to this, the centuries have taken their toll. Ships, the most vital part of this world, are the life of the millions upon this planet of water. Those born as sailors remain as sailors. Those born on the sparse lands become sailors. Every man, woman, elder and child will become or served as a sailor aboard a ship. This is the way it has been, since centuries before. This is the way it will be, for centuries after.

Of course, every world with a people has conflict...

All those who are able are welcome to serve on a ship. Often times, many ships will host gatherings to trade sailors to their preferred ship, to greet one another under the ease of a full armistice. The ironclads and the woodworks both settle until the sun sets, when all depart and all are once again anxious to spot a flag over the horizon.

This conflict isn't a new one.
Not to this world, at least.
A conflict between belief and science.

Between majiks and technology.

"Ironclad" is the name given to a ship made of metal dug up from the bed of the sea. Ironclads are powerful, run by the law of the waves on board. Sailors aboard these ships are often raised by a military standard, kept under strict regulation. To attempt mutiny is to flirt with death, as captains aboard these ships rule with fists of steel. These ships are armor and firepower, technological and complex. Upon the foremost part of the hull, an Ironclad bears a masthead, one that might look like anything. To live aboard one is to live in tandem with your role; for you are not merely a pawn on the greater board of the ship, your role is as vital to the ship's running as breath is to your own life. To live on an Ironclad is to live for your uniform; by you uniform; because of your uniform.

"Woodwork" is the name given to a ship of majik. These ships are ancient and impressive, made with vast sails and glorious hulls. They bear awe-inspiring mastheads depicting great birds; gorgeous eagles of the old days, wise hawks of the forgotten land, and steadfast albatrosses of the modern seas. In their eyes, gems always sit, for this is the soul of the ship. The ship itself is only a mere vessel; a storage for the power of the majik in the so-called Bird's Eyes. Woodworks are often manned by smaller crews, each individual free to appear how they like. Captains aboard these ships are those who listen to their crew, who take the advice and suggestions for real consideration. To attempt mutiny is only to break the heart of a captain and of a ship, for it is the ship which chooses the captain. Each crew member aboard a Woodwork lives by the code of the ship; where one is needed, one shall be. Each member knows the ship inside and out, knows their duties the same. To live a life aboard these ships is to live one of a vague simplicity, though complex in skill. To live on a Woodwork is to live for your crew and your ship; by your crew and your ship; because of your crew and your ship.


These two classes of ship have long competed to find who is most mighty. Where one clan rises in the technologies of destruction, the other rivals it with the majika and mystics of repairs and glorious attacks.

Though, there still stands a global code.

``To Crossbreed a Ship of one Sort to that of the Other is to Birth an Abomination...``

Very rarely, a ship is both; both Ironclad and Woodwork, both Majika and Technology. These ships are forbidden, a volatile sort of taboo of which is scoured and purged from the seas. However, they never fall without a vicious, brutal fight. These destructive vessels are armed like no other, bearing weapons barely even considered by other ships due to their size, their tendency to cause self-inflicted damage... Or their sheer destructiveness.

As of late, a new ship has risen to break through the waves and codes.

It calls itself the Leviathan, said to be a mythological beast which sinks even the greatest ships before vanishing without a trace. The few survivors of this ship claim it's a brutal destruction; the ship is said to bear an enormous harpoon, used to spear ships and drag them towards their doom; for upon its hull, they say it bears weapons which tear into wood and metal alike, without as much as a dent or a scrape returned to it. It bears a masthead, one carved of metal to appear like a great water dragon. Down the flanks of it, it's painted to appear as though it has scales. In the eyes of the masthead, the forbidden majik sits; one gem of orange, another of yellow, colors unnatural and foul.

One report claimed that it was damaged; but that it was never repaired. A second report from the same wreck said that the crew seemed almost to bear the damage like a banner of war - a trophy, the pride of the ship.

The rivalry of Ironclads and Woodworks is always abandoned during the hunt for a hybrid ship... For the most part.


Your ship is one which suspects the Leviathan is in the area; and you've been told to keep your eyes sharp, for it's time to bring down a beast.

Woodwork - A majika-based wooden ship.
Ironclad - A technology-based metal ship.
Hybrid - A forbidden half-majik and half-technological ship.
Call-in - A unique code used strictly by Ironclads. Each ship has a code.
Forewarn - In Ironclads, this is the two to four letters before the name of the ship. These mean different things, ranging from S., Scout, to W.A.D.V., Warfare And Destruction Vessel. A Forewarn typically tells other Ironclads the extent of the armament, armor, and crew of another ship.
Carty - A moving wooden crate used to carry cannonballs around on Woodworks.
Breaker - A nickname for a ship which rams into other ships to cause damage.
Bed-Seeker - A sinking or severely damaged ship, called this because it "seeks" the seabed.
Laywater - Waters in an area atfer a ship sinks, usually ridden with bodies.
Breakwater - Shallow, rocky waters that can break through a ship's hull.
Spyglass - A telescope.
Seascope - A specialized spyglass used to estimate distance across the surface of the water.
Hellfire - A broadside from a Woodwork ship which uses majik.

Captain - The top Commander of a ship. Captains arm themselves with whatever they like.
First Officer - The Second in Command to the Captain; on Ironworks, the F.O. patrols around the ship and maintains order while the Captain operates the vessel. On Woodworks, the F.O. calls out the Captain's orders to the rest of the ship, and stands beside the Captain. The F.O. is armed with a powerful firearm or crossbow, and occasionally a blade of their choosing.
Second Officer - The next rank beneath First Officer. Different sized ships have different amounts of Second Officers. Smaller ships can have anywhere from 4 to 10, larger ships can have upwards of 30. The S.O. is expected to move among other crew members and maintain operation of the ship; essentially, they operate as a foreman. The S.O. are armed with a dagger, a small sword, and usually a flintlock-style pistol of some kind.
Spotter - Skilled sharpshooters and climbers, Spotters work in the highest points of the Woodworks. Often times there are multiple, using a spyglass or spotting scope to pick out hazards in the water, other ships, Breakers, or shipwrecks. Usually, they're armed with a long range firearm, specialized crossbow, or a dart pipe.
Repairman - An individual skilled in repairs and strictly confined to Woodworks.
Mechanic - An individual skilled in repairs and strictly confined to Ironclads.
Boarder - A Woodwork crew member who specializes in leaping aboard other ships.
Brawler - A crew member of either type of ship who specializes in fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

Please note, not all fields are required... Just use common sense.

i) At All Times, Maintain Respect And Courteousness To All Other Roleplayers
ii) When You Have An Issue With Any Individual, Bring It To The Host, Gilded_Empress.
iii) Please Control Only Your Own Characters Unless Given Explicit Permission To Control Another Individual's Character Or A Non-Roleplayer Character ("NPC").
iv) This Roleplay Will Include Violence, Mild Gore, And Death; If Any Of These Are Upsetting, Please Reconsider Your Decision To Sign Up. In Addition, Please Mark Any Gruesome Posts With A Forewarning At The Top Of The Page.
v) Profanity Is Allowed In Restraint; Please Do Not Get Punished For Excessive Vulgarity Due To A Post You make.
vi) Please Restrict Romantic Themes Heavily; That Is Not The Point Of The Roleplay, Life On A Ship Is More Siblinghood Than Lovers.
vii) This Is A Semi-Lit/Lit Roleplay, If You Believe You Cannot Make Large Enough Posts Each Time, Please Reconsider Your Application.
viii) I Have The Authority To Deny Any Individual From Entering This Roleplay; Attempting To Reverse My Decision To Do So May Result In A Blacklist From Any Further Roleplays.
ix) No Character Is Immortal; You May Cull You Character If You Decide To Do So, But You May Be Barred From Re-Joining The Rest Of The Roleplay If You Do.
x) You Are Not Limited On The Amount Of Characters You Have; Just Be Cautious, As Each Character Will Require Some Amount Of Depth And Detail Individually. If You Fear You Might Not Be Able To Keep Up With Each Character, Be Wary Of Your Count.
xi) There Is No Such Thing As A Perfect Sailor; This Is A World Without Land, Consequences Will Come With That...
xii) Activity Is Allowed To Be Staggered; This Will Not Be A Vigorous Roleplay Due To The Outside Life Of The Host And Other Roleplayers.