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Time is as much a curse as it is a blessing. With time, the old tomes of the past are eroded and destroyed, but in so doing, make way for new scriptures and tenets. Which is inherently better--the old or the new--is subject only to those who live to witness both. A legion's foundation may shift considerably, and it may tremble and fall, or find itself on more stable ground.
The Symphony has changed.
To my legion, I bring considerable worldly experience, derived only by nearly a millennium of loss, hardship, and pure and simple survival; And though I knew Calix Starbrook for only a short time, his words carried an unconventional wisdom about them that evidenced not his boisterous youthfulness, but his ability to learn from those who were many times my elders. As a citizen of Pandaemonium, and a cultural catalyst within Asmodae, Lord Calix Starbrook was my undisputed superior, and to allow time to wash his words away would be incomparably irresponsible. I am thus obligated to preserve his words. Below, you will read of the Symphony's purpose, as it has been since its foundation, and how it shall be until time deems the legion no more.
Blood for Blood,
Isceroth Atrios
Brigade General
Symphony of Storms
Vanahal; for centuries this district has stood as a symbol of pride and glory, a home granted by the Shedim Lords to Daeva of disctintion. Don't allow yourself to be fooled by appearances; few of those living in Vanahal now have truly earned the right. Many of the ancestors recognized for their great contributions to Asmodae have long since passed, and their only legacies are the self-entitled, over-privileged so-called "nobles" who wouldn't so much as lift a sword for fear of scuffing their claws on the handle. Let it be known that true nobility and prestige belongs to those who continue to work towards the great achievements of their ancestors! The true leaders of Asmodae are those who willfully place themselves on the front lines and lead the charge.
Thirty years ago my father, true Vanahal stock, united the strong-minded aristocracy. Thirty years ago he opened his home in Vanahal to those common Daeva who would take up arms and prove themselves noble by their own skill with aether or blade. Today I carry on his legacy, and I seek out the most worthy of Daeva to fill Vanahal's halls with strength, courage, and the resolve to lead our people. Earn the finery and privelege by your own deeds and take up a name to be known by; breed your children under the tutelage of our united knowledge and secure the future for Asmodae. Uphold the true purpose of Vanahal, and herald the end of the Tower of Light with a Symphony of Storms.
~Lord Calix Starbrook
[b]General Information
* Website: http://www.symphonyofstorms.com
* Primary Time Zone: Eastern
* Server: Lumiel
* Gameplay Styles: RP, PvP, Raiding, Crafting
* Roleplay: Medium-Heavy
* Legion Chat: Designated IC and OOC Channels
* Recruitment Status: Open; Activity Prioritized
* Level Requirement: 10+
* Age Requirement: 18+ (Some Exceptions)
About Symphony of Storms
Symphony of Storms is an Asmodian roleplaying legion originally founded by many of the core members of the World of Warcraft roleplaying guild, "The Dominion." Modern day, the legion has evolved and grown from the trappings of another game to become a highly immersive Aion-exclusive legion. We champion the ability to offer to our membership an engaging and productive roleplaying environment while also pursuing success in both Player versus Player and Player versus Environment content. With the release of Aion, the legion has grown into a strong pillar of the Asmodian roleplaying community, hosting a large roster of roleplayers from varying backgrounds and varying playstyles. Recruitment is always open as we work to expand our community and presence.
We are looking for members with a strong interest in both roleplaying and active game content. We hold firm to the belief that the most immersive and rewarding experience is one that incorporates all elements of a game, and to that end we avoid engaging in the reclusive, purely-social roleplay that often stereotypes the activity. We also maintain an out-of-character legion chat in order to promote social bonding, and while we understand that many roleplayers seek a fully in-character environment, we believe that the growth of our underlying friendships and loyalties take precedence over the integrity of our characters.
Moving forward, Symphony of Storms will continue to represent itself widely in Aion's roleplaying community as a legion that provides opportunities and assistance not only for our legion-mates, but for all community-minded players. We encourage anyone who would like to be part of us, both veteran roleplayers and newcomers alike, to apply. We are more than willing to help everyone get in touch with Aion lore and get the hang of roleplaying for the first time!
An Introduction to Symphony Lore
Symphony of Storms was founded three decades prior to the day of Aion at launch. As a result of their experiences in the war with Elysea, Orexis Starbrook and his comrades-in-arms Samuel Arke and Alammarr Elennar felt it necessary to establish a legion that would unite the Asmodian aristocracy, preserving the purity of Asmodian blood, and educating its lineage in the arts, culture, and war methodologies of their civilization. Though only a select few of the aristocracy were willing to participate in this new movement, the legion's supporters made efforts to expand the aristocracy to common families by encouraging them to take up their forgotten family names, or in some cases create new ones. They chose the name 'Symphony of Storms' as a representation of their strength in battle without sacrificing their refined, high-society status and interests.
As new bloodlines were permitted to join the legion, Symphony of Storms witnessed a healthy growth as more and more Daeva began to awaken. Though the legion is still in its infancy, already some families have produced offspring, introducing a new generation to the legion. Though not all offspring have ascended to Daeva and the integrity of some bloodlines remains in question, there had been enough incidents of ascension to provide proof to the Elder Council that once governed the legion that their efforts were not wasted. Among these new Daeva was Calix Starbrook, son of the Brigade General and heir to his position. Calix ascended at age twenty, three years before the launch of Aion.
To the dismay of the legion, Lord Orexis disappeared during an assault on the Abyss, only two years and three months before the game's release, leaving his son ill-prepared to take on the duty of leading the legion into the future. The law of the legion is irrefutable, though. The eldest surviving member of the Starbrook bloodline must become Brigade General. For three months prior to launch, Calix had struggled with the sudden responsibilities and living up to the expectations of his father, and only with the wisdom of the Elder Council was he able to lead the Symphony of Storms into the future.
Little more than a month after launch... In a mysterious turn of events, still being heavily investigated to this day, the Lord Calix Starbrook and his Elder Council vanished. With them, they did not take the legion, as one, and only one, officer remained behind. That man's name was Gabrielis So'Rune. He made quick work of constructing his cabinet, among which there was only truly one elder, thusly it was called the "Elder Council" no more. A short time later, he fled in to self-exile, for reasons unknown. This left the burden of the legion upon the eldest member of the legion, Isceroth Atrios. The all too frequent transference of leadership shook the region to its core, but with the help of Shadow Executor Grael Tyridian, the legion was able to manage.
Once more it stands on solid ground, and looks to carry on the tenets upon which the legion was founded; To represent Asmodae, as nobles, who have truly earned their prestige. To fight for the good of Asmodae, and its culture. And most importantly... To work together as a solid force, trusting in one another, for their continued survival.
New bloodlines continue to present themselves to the new leadership of the legion in a bid to preserve their lineage for eternity. Commoners swear their service and take up noble names and titles. Now is the time to tell your story. Now, the Symphony of Storms moves into the future...
How to Apply
Application to Symphony of Storms follows a five-step process to ensure that applicants are not only the best possible fit for us, but that we are the best possible fit for them, while also providing each individual applicant a clear in-character background and introduction to the legion.
* Step One: Read Through Available Legion Resources
* Step Two: Fill Out Your Application
* Step Three: IC and OOC Interviews
* Step Four: Probationary Interaction
* Step Five: Induction Ceremony
It is important that all potential applicants read through our New Applicant's Guide before submitting their application, both to gain a full understanding of what is involved as well as to understand the level of detail we expect of certain answers to application questions. Our standards for recruitment are very high, and the full recruitment process does take at very least two days to complete. We are seeking only the most committed members who recognize the unique opportunities Symphony of Storms offers above other legions.
F.A.Q.
What is 'Roleplaying'?
Roleplaying, at least as our legion defines it, is the activity of taking on the perceived role that your character plays in Atreia, the world of Aion, and acting that part throughout various gameplay activities. This includes but is not limited to nor required of: Leveling, Questing, Crafting, Exploring, Raiding, PvP, and Socialization. Consider the upbringing, experiences, beliefs, and attitudes your character may have and bring them to life through the diverse activities offered by Aion, and you're well on your way!
Does your status as a roleplaying legion mean you don't participate in other gameplay?
Of course not! The only differences between us and any other end-game legion is that we try to connect our activities to our roleplay whenever feasible, and we recruit our members with roleplaying in mind first and foremost, with their PvE/PvP interests having only a small impact on their acceptance. Often the defeat of a monster or capture of a keep can be much more epic when you submerge yourself in the lore surrounding it, and create fantastical stakes for victory. Symphony of Storms has every intention of being a major competitor in both PvP and raiding.
What if I just want to roleplay, and play the rest of the game casually?
We appreciate that a great deal of players prefer to play on a casual schedule or have other obligations that prevent them from dedicating the necessary hours to be largely competitive in high-end gameplay. Such players are welcomed to our legion with open arms and will not be pressured to participate in any activities, however should they express a desire to do so they will be expected to meet the standards of gear / spec / knowledge that we hold for our more serious end-game members. Those with an interest in competitive high-end gameplay make a significant dedication of their time, and our more casual members are asked to respect this.
(Side Note: In the event of gear, the legion will actively make efforts to gear up all members who show a degree of self-motivation in order to give everyone ample opportunities. Still, our primary end-game members will always hold priority.)
Am I required to roleplay all day, every day?
As a Medium-Heavy roleplaying legion, we consider roleplaying our primary agenda and focus, but we do not require it of our members at all times. We will provide both out of character and in-character channels, and we fully understand and anticipate people to set aside their roleplay when grouping, raiding, or playing with non-roleplayers. We do ask that our legion members try and maintain their characters while in a public social setting, and we encourage everyone to consider themselves "in-character" regardless of being engaged in OOC chatter or not, but it is not a strict requirement.
Yikes, you guys have a lot of members! I'm not really comfortable with large legions, should I still apply?
We are a large legion that believes in being self-sufficient and having wide levels of activity throughout the day. We also believe in close bonds between members and everyone being familiar with one another. In order to achieve this, our recruitment process is carefully spread out in order to admit only the most comfortable applicants. If you can open up and get to know everyone, you should be welcomed with open arms. If you're shy and reclusive and don't make the effort to get to know us, you'll likely feel overwhelmed and out of place. Either way, you should come to an understanding of how comfortable you are while undergoing the recruitment process.
Are only "Noble" or "Aristocratic" characters allowed to join?
Symphony of Storms welcomes roleplayers from all of Asmodian society. Those who roleplay as commoners are just as welcome as those roleplaying nobility, though their circumstances for joining and the interactions they have with the 'blue bloods' will of course be different. Some possibilities are characters who are seeking to be adopted into the nobility, desire sponsorship for their own life goals, or just want to be of service to the legion. There are countless creative options beyond an aristocratic character, and we are hoping to have a diverse community of nobles, commoners, crafters, and soldiers.
I'm a roleplayer. I'd like to join, but only in an OOC capacity. Is that acceptable?
We are currently not accepting applications from people who would like to join only in an OOC capacity. That being said, we will give consideration to applicants who may choose not to be "on the book" members, but exercise a great deal of interaction and interest with the legion (ICly) enough to be comparable with our other regularly active members.
I'm a non-roleplayer. If I join your server, are you going to start harassing me?
Symphony of Storms believes that all types of gamers are important to the structure of MMORPGs, and holds no grudges against those who do not wish to engage in our playstyle, or feel uncomfortable with it. We only ask that you grant us the same respect and allow us to carry out our business in peace.
"I put on my robe and wizard hat..." -- Does your legion participate in/support ERP?
Not at all. Symphony of Storms does not condone ERP/Erotic Roleplay/Cybersex. Our legion practices its roleplay as a means of making the world more immersive and telling a story to those around us, not as a tool to have artificial sexual encounters in a fantasy setting. We have a strict "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding ERP as outlined in our Legion Charter, and do not believe that needless and blatant eroticism is a necessary tool for immersive roleplay and storytelling.
Does your legion admit non-roleplayers?
Unfortunately our doors are not open to non-roleplayers at this time. The roleplaying community in Aion has proven to be large and active enough that our legion has the necessary numbers to be self-sufficient in end-game activities while also remaining true to our roleplaying functions. Considerations may be made in the future, but at present we require all applicants to have a desire to roleplay and a developed character to apply with.
I'm very interested in taking on an officership, do you have positions available?
As of now all officers are players who have been with our community for an extended period of time and have shown exceptional skill in the functions expected of them by the leadership. While we are always keeping an eye out for new officers, we do not reveal the requirements to become one, as we judge each potential officer individually by their natural play habits.
And so...
Symphony of Storms is driven by the passion and vision of our membership. The philosophies of the legion have been molded by survival through the subscription loss since launch, and the friendships we've created are lasting. New members will be welcomed with open arms, and everyone is encouraged to read the information available on our website.
Any questions? Feel free to PM me!
