Welcome to The Duality of Man, an original animanga role-play that features numerous supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, these various species have distanced themselves because of the war that occurred thousands of years ago, plaguing some with eyes that only see their dualism. While others meddle themself with their differences, two groups fight, each attempting to eliminate the other in for their definition of worldly peace. These two groups of the Terror Response Syndicate (TRS) and the Assembly of Phantoms (AP). With individuals fighting merely over their differences, it brings uncertainty to the outcome of this war.
We happily accept all role-players as long as they obey the rules and are capable of meeting our word count of 50. This does include those who are unfamiliar with this style of role-playing. The staff of The Duality of Man are willing to happily help those who are new to the role-playing world so they feel comfortable on site. Feel free to message the staff if you need help, they can be found here or in the site Discord and will gladly answer questions alongside calm concerns. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them; guests may use the support board as a suggestion area as well. Should you decide to join, may I say welcome to the site and we all hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours Truely,
The Staff
season
Summer 2024
Heat has broken through into a glorious summer. The snow has entirely dried through the spring, leaving to the brilliance of the warmer months. Terror activity has risen as people are brought out of their homes, leaving the TRS in a position of consistent work. Each are attempting to maintain victory in the endless struggle for power.
Since the wonderful members of TDOM enjoy the site enough to play around on it, this thread is to assist with the site's tidying! Functionality is important and we want to make the site functional even if its activity will be minimal at best!
[attr="class","wassup1dangertxt"] I promise.[break][break]
How many times had she heard those words? Thrown out callously like cheap dime novels simply written to fill time. Xia had always known that words carried no worth. Being able to wield them was a talent that could not be matched but listening to them, trusting them, that was a fool’s game. Trusting a stranger, albeit a powerful one, was just being naïve. How many people had she led on with those very same words? Led directly to their deaths.[break][break]
What did take her by surprise was Salem’s critique of her bow. How deftly he had insulted her, how eloquently. For a moment she marveled at those words, uncaring of their context against her. The idea of a curtsy did almost send her into a laugh though.[break][break]
As if she would ever be that woman again. [break][break]
Xia’s fingers tingled with an unseen energy as Salem launched the blade, gripping onto the droplets of the nearby spring she used for dancing. She remained unflinching throughout the display, however. Impressive was not nearly the word for it. Xia’s gaze deepened, the possibilities of this unchecked talent wandering freely both delightful and disturbing.[break][break] “How lovely!” she beamed, clapping delicately, “I wonder how long have you been practicing that? And, more importantly, can your corpses do that too?”[break][break]
The energy that had surrounded her fingers dissipated. This man didn’t intend to attack her but rather converse with her. Even though this was often a period of quiet and peace in her life, Xia no longer minded the intrusion.[break][break] “Actually, what would you say to a challenge of sorts? Presuming you don’t mind getting a little wet of course,” she tapped a lacquered fingernail against her lip, “I doubt the giant will come to play without excessive provocation and I want to test those skills of yours.”
[attr="class","wassup1dangertxt"] At the mention of a blade Xia’s eyes traveled to the hip in question. Yet another wasted talent. She had to bite back a rude retort at her already being dead. Had her momentary discomfort been so readable? Clearly, she’d fallen out of step. Much to her delight the blade was drawn and Xia’s eyes hungrily examined what she could from afar. The craftsmanship was indeed extraordinary, so much so that she had to resist the urge to get closer to see more of it. [break][break]
“Xia is a terrible name. It means rosy clouds or summer depending on how it’s written but mostly people use it as a surname to celebrate our divine ancestors,” she rolled her eyes for a second, stopping entirely as he insulted her bow, “I wasn’t bowing for your pleasure so no need to work on it.”[break][break]
Really, did all men believe that these things were solely for them? Xia bristled but quickly curbed her unrealistic anger as Salem had already delved into addressing the matter at hand. For all his unpleasantness he certainly made up with his last line. A fight to test his abilities and see that sharpened sword in action? Xia smiled mischievously at him.[break][break]
“A demonstration of skill? How could I say no to that!” Xia’s mannerism had changed entirely now, the excitement of such a spectacle playing across her face before she added, “though I thought you were here to repair the house, not murder its inhabitant. Not that I care of course, it would just be counterproductive is all.”[break][break]
The petite water elemental shifted, once again crossing her arms as she waited for Salem to respond. In the back of her mind she was considering his true nature. To do things simply to be. It was far too simplistic. There was also the possibility of him being sent to murder her of course. Thankfully, this scenario fit far less than others, despite the proximity to her habitual dancing spot.
[attr="class","wassup1dangertxt"] Pleasant wasn’t the word Xia would use. When war wasn’t involved it was her firm belief that corpses belonged in the soil. Song and dance were the property of the living, though one could argue in this case they were merely the extension of this reaper. But Xia hadn’t stalked over here to debate philosophy thus these points were irrelevant. [break][break]
Much to her surprise the corpse in question became nothing more than soil and earth before her in a show of good faith. The following nightmarish workup of her soul however was still just as disturbing as it had always been. Working with the Assembly had taught Xia to be used to such unpleasantness but that didn’t mean she liked it.[break][break]
As the garnet hue of the man’s eye faded to violet, his assembled army became no more. Xia still stood with her arms crossed but her strategy for this encounter was apparently in need of revision.[break][break] “So, then you are… a carpenter?” she uncrossed her arms, “what a waste of good talent. Though I suppose having the dead to do your work for you doesn’t really require too much manual labor on your part so well done in that regard.”[break][break]
The water elemental eyed his hand, knowing full well how stupid it would be to shake it. Some magics were only transferred by contact and she didn’t feel like dealing with that sort of thing right now.[break][break]
“Xia,” was her reply and, so as not to offend she bowed lightly. It was a custom of her long-lived past that would be just as acceptable as any sort of handshake. [break][break]
Xia’s eyes drifted towards the broken landscape before them.[break][break] “Not to be the bearer of bad news but that particular giant doesn’t like interlopers on his property, not even the paid ones. If I remember correctly, the last worker they hired ended up in the hospital for nearly a year,” pale orbs glanced briefly to Salem before she continued, “though I suppose its irrelevant if you are already dead. Tell me are Reapers particularly squishy? I’ve never had the pleasure of fighting one before.”[break][break]
A little lie to brighten the conversation of course.
[attr="class","wassup1dangertxt"] “Cute,” Xia called from her private shade patch beneath a nearby tree, stretching like a cat as she walked over to the individual in question, “I had no idea corpses could be so melodic!”[break][break]
The petite woman stopped just shy of the undead army, the sound of her heels clicking stopped with the cessation of her gait. Xia’s gaze suggested she was studying the undead like one would a particularly fine painting. Placing a finger on her lip she moved closer to one but in truth had only moved closer to determine what sort of creature had crawled into the earth district. [break][break]
They certainly weren’t supposed to be here without reason. As her eyes lingered on one particularly gruesome corpse she nonchalantly pointed to its neighbor.[break][break]
“You’d need to replace that one, he has too many organs hanging out,” there was a pause as the elegant woman wrinkled her nose at the nearest one, “also my gods that one is freshly dead. The fresh ones always smell the worst in my opinion.”[break][break]
Xia crossed her arms over the silken blue of her gown but before she could muster a response an unfamiliar twinge of something caressed her heart. Was this… fear? Just as quickly as it appeared it was gone leaving her with only one conclusion.[break][break]
“What is your business here reaper?” her voice had lost its light, musical tone now leaving nothing but the scathing violence that slept beneath Xia’s tailored exterior. On most days she would ignore such an intrusion but the events of the morning had left her patience thin and being interrupted during her water dance… well that was just unacceptable. [break][break] By rotting corpses too! The nerve.
Xia is petite and lithe. Her skin appears flawless, her face with sharp, piercing features that have carried her through her life. She almost always wears her hair in two ponytails with buns at the top. Those who witness her hair outside of this role usually don't live long. She has well-kept, cropped bangs that run across her forehead. These give way to her cerulean irises which give no tell to her true, dark nature. At first glance Xia appears harmless though those that know her well can tell you otherwise. She prefers flowing clothing reminiscent of her heritage.
Due to her early life, Xia has the ability to put on a fake face for others. Usually around members of the Assembly her cold, uncaring self is displayed. She's made it a point that she'll do her job but she won't put up with anything else. Xia is neither selfish nor an elitist but she will do what is best for herself without giving any thoughts to others. She does not delight in violence unless it is against someone who has purposefully wronged her. People are a means to an end, nothing more. Any relationships Xia fosters are beneficial in nature and nobody can pierce her cold, icy heart.
For those who do not know her ties to the Assembly, Xia appears a dainty, harmless woman who requires the help of others to survive. She's carefully preened this act so that non-coworkers aren't suspicious of this true nature. As such it is easier to manipulate those around her. Being dainty and beautiful has gotten Xia far in life. It's the perfect disguise for her and she wears it well. Like most water elementals, looking into Xia's eyes makes one reminiscent of water.
abilities
Water Manipulation - adept. She can manipulate already existing water into shapes and droplets. Xia is talented in elemental water arts, mostly in a dancing display. However, a perfectly placed water sphere could just as easily kill someone as it could awe them. Xia's talents with this magic are more suited to subterfuge than fighting.
Healing - adept. Xia can heal via water. This magic emanates through her fingertips, causing them to glow with a bright blue energy. If she places her hands in water, she can use this water to heal a wound The larger the wound, the more energy required. Despite her talents, Xia is limited like most elementals in the length of time she can use this. More in depth wounds require multiple treatments.
Underwater Breathing - natural. Like all water elementals, Xia can breathe underwater.
Weaknesses: low stamina with ability use
backstory
"Stupid girl, can't you even stand up for yourself?" [ 101 BC to 119 AD ]
Xia is originally from the Han Dynasty era of ancient China. From a young age she was raised from a poor family to be the perfect wife for a prominent lord. Her mother, an ambitious woman with sights on a luxurious life as the mother of a concubine, groomed her to be beautiful and obedient. Blessed with the powers of an elemental, Xia did not disappoint. Soon she caught the eye of a prominent lord and was thereafter married. Her mother enjoyed the luxuries she had so callously sought.
For a time Xia served as the mistress to this lord and his family thereafter, both a servant to her mother's games and the will of her husbands. With each generation Xia was remarried to the hier. Being immortal, this portion of Xia's life would last for nearly a century.
"You were everyone's puppet, a silent fool always smiling." [ 220 AD to 240 AD]
With the insecurities of the Han Dynasty coming to light, the region saw a multitude of conflicts in an era that would be named the Romance of the Three kingdoms. During this time Xia's husband was the strongest power in their isolated region. Xia fell in love with a local lord by the name of Jing Fe, a young ambitious man who only wanted to do what was best for the region. Despite the ramifications of this affair, Xia pursued it.
In truth, Xia's mother had fallen out of favor with Xia's current husband. In an attempt to re-seat herself, she collaborated with Jing Fe to destroy the prominently family they had served for a century through his relationship with Xia. Jing Fe was promised Xia as his next wife and the riches that came with her inheritance from usurping the current lord. Once Xia learned the truth of this it was too late. Her old husband was murdered and she was remarried to Jing Fe. But with the truth of Jing and her mother's lies revealed, Xia grew colder as the years passed on.
"What a dark, beautiful scene that was. I still smile." [ 241 AD to ? ? ? ]
A darkened hate of this new life bloomed within Xia, forever a servant to her mother and new husband's schemes. For two decades it festered until finally, one day, something irreplaceable broke within her. A simple, ill-timed comment by her mother suggesting that she have a child paired with knowledge given by one of her handmaidens: she was to be replaced by this child. Instead of confronting her mother, Xia arranged a dinner for her whole family.
She sat among them, entertaining them one last time with her dances and water arts. Lips painted cherry red forever smiling the same innocent smile but underneath lay centuries of hate. At the last toast of the night she stood up proudly, laughing as they drank the poison like the fools they were. By the time they realized their folly it was too late. Xia had dismissed the servants some time before so news of their deaths wouldn't reach anyone for some time.
The next day the castle remained still, it's high-born inhabitants lay dead among their fatal feast. With one last triumphant look at her mother, Xia took what she needed and left this life behind.
"Never again will I be someone's pet." [ ? ? ? to 1900 ]
For centuries Xia traveled alone, entertaining the rich with her elemental arts and skills. She never stayed long in one place due for fear her reputation would grow. Those who tried to clip her wings to keep her met with grisly, untimely deaths. Sometime among her travels she met with a rich lord with connections to a group called the Assembly of Phantoms. While loath at the idea of being anyone's lackey again, Xia knew she would eventually need a place to remain. Wandering had become tougher with the modernization of China and its socialistic tendencies. With the Assembly not too interested in the means by which she achieved her work, Xia could rest easily with them.
Thus she entered into their service without a second thought.
"This life is tedious but it is my own." [ 1900 to current ]
After some time with the Assembly, Xia moved to Lorsette where she would begin her role as the head doctor. Years of experience healing wounds of clients for extra money have led to the development of her water-healing skills. Xia is logical enough to run the division without letting her personal feelings get in the way. There she mostly keeps to herself, satisfied in her current role.
misc
Likes: the ocean, shamisen, music, nature, silk fabrics, big cats, quiet contemplation, flowers, tea
Dislikes: loud noises, people, being interrupted, weakness, treating extensive injuries, public displays of affection, romance, coffee
Fears: being powerless again
Relations: father (dead), mother (dead), ex-husbands (all dead)
Do not use drama to get attention in the chat. Nobody appreciates it.
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A Chatango account is not required, but it is encouraged.
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Please avoid spamming the chat; accidents are understandable.
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You may use the in-character chat prior to acceptance.
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Be respectful to anybody who enters the chat, including guest, fellow members and staff.
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Guests may speak in chat at anytime to ask questions or get a taste of our community~!
resource sites
affiliates
credits
The skin is created by Wolf of Adoxography and Gangnam Style. The thread and conversation remodels are by Kagney. The Strange Reality board list, Heal My Soul info center, I Remember Now mini profile and Electric Requiem profile remodel is made by Pharoah Leap. The Who's That Member member list remodel was made by Tictactoe. The Cbox.ws Shoutbox remodel was made by Trinity Blair. All templates used for claims, information sheets, applications, etc are credited to their owners; credits for these can be found in the threads the templates are use on. Images that are used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners, however, they have been edited by Zac with a few being edited by Chibi Magician. The plot, rules and various other information pieces for The Duality of Man are written by Chibi Magician with the assistence of her co-admins, Finnegan and Dremulf, alongside other unlisted people who were kind enough to give their input. The TRS, AP and face claim were all created by Fleur for specifically the use of TDOM. All plugins used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners. The templates my members use are credited to their maker, if you find a template that belongs to you, but is uncredited, please speak to Chibi Magician or the member themself. Characters created on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners and should not be used elsewhere without the creator's permission.
Special thanks for the members of TDOM who make suggestions to help make this site better. Even though we can not accept all suggestions, we immensely appreciate it. Thus, we give credit to any additions that you thought of and were later implimented by the staff, because we are glad you give us these excellent ideas.
