Diverged Solstice

### What is Diverged Solstice?

The world of Diverged Solstice is controlled by two entities known as the Goddess of Radiance and Goddess of Affliction. Upon their thrones that overlook the activities of the real world and fantasy world, are the Guardians of Unaligned Authority. While such entities carry such power and authority, they do not control what goes on in the reality and fantasy realms. They are merely just observers. They only take action if needed, or there is something off in the scale of balance.

The people of the Diverged Solstice world are divided into different entities:

1. **Humans** - Just regular humans in the reality realm of everyday life. They possess no special ability of sorts as they are just any other human living on this mundane, ordinary planet.
2. **Ethereals** - They possess the power of a Soul Gem (A.K.A. Gem of Divination). They exist in the reality realm alongside humans. While possessing such abilities, they still go on about their daily lives normally like any other.
3. **Mirages** - These are the fantasy counterparts of Ethereals. They belong in the fantasy realm. Due to the Gem of Divination’s properties, Ethereals chosen to wield such powers will have a counterpart formed in the fantasy realm. Though, sometimes the fantasy counterparts may or may not do exactly what Ethereals do in the real world…

### What Place & Time Does This Universe Take Place?

The universe currently takes place mainly in the USA in the year 2200.

### What is the Main Objective of the Story?

What is the main objective, you ask? This world is about to face an event like no other. And that will require the entire world to play this so-called “game” of the Gods. Due to an unexpected corruption of one of the Goddesses, the high order that rooted this world will now come to end.

> *The beginning...of an end.*
>
>

Participants in this RP will be expected to know:

* Ethereals will be battling for god-like positions in a universe that is shaped by the two Goddesses.
* Ethereals will fight an opposing force, known as “Dream Eaters”. Alongside that, they fight their mirrored selves from the fantasy realm, and uncover the mysteries of an unknown reality of the fantasy world.
* Ethereals will also encounter Guardians of Unaligned Authority to get answers on how to reach the Goddesses.
* In the end, the story will be shaped by the characters that participate in this “game” and ascend to godhood by making decisions and changing the fate of many others of that of the entire universe of Diverged Solstice.
* Perma-death exists in this universe.

### What Types of Characters are Allowed in the Story? Requirements?

I want people to have creative freedom as much as they want. Though, questions can be clarified to me within DMs and such. I’m not too harsh on the race part, you have to at least make it count and fit within the universe as such. The only requirements I need from people are that of the following:

* Each and every participant MUST have at least 1 MAIN character for the roleplay to play as.
* Your MAIN character is REQUIRED to have a REALITY version of themselves and a FANTASY COUNTERPART version of them.
* Sub/side characters are acceptable if you are using them in a way to develop key relationships or need them as backup in some way throughout the story.
* If your MAIN character plans to fall or die in the main story, you are allowed to change one of your side/sub characters to a MAIN character to take over.
* You can reference your characters from existing characters in other franchises as long as they AREN’T EXACTLY A CARBON COPY/DOPPELGANGER of them.

## Activity

### How Active are we Supposed to be in the RP?

Since the roleplay is divided into Text and VRChat, we’ll be mostly sticking to Text RP until then. This is only due to the amount of participants we have and such–we can’t exactly form a full party to participate in VR because we lack the amount of members. So most of the time, I’ll be pinging the RP Ping (Text) role. You are to report to the designated forum and out-of-character forum to discuss things.

### How Many Active Players do we Need for a VRChat Session?

At least 10 people, CONSISTENTLY and active on days when we have VR sessions. If the activity is inconsistent, we will revert back to text again. It’s understandable if users are having difficulty due to times when at work, busy spending time with their significant other, or wanting to participate in another RP.

### How Strict is the Activity?

It’s not super strict. But I really want to continue on pushing this project forward no matter what. I waited since 2020 to do this, and finding people who are willing to dedicate their time and patience into this RP is hard.

In any case, if you aren’t going to participate for who knows how long, then I suggest taking on the Spectator role instead. If you’re not going to invest time into actually contributing to the RP, then that’s the proper position to be in. If you’re willing to take on the challenge and adventure in our journey together, then be prepared!

Always communicate if you’re not going to be present or are going to be occupied with something.

### Voice Chat Activity?

You may see that we have a VC for RP. But these are made for VRChat so we can communicate. Especially if we’re in big maps and can’t find each other, we can always call each other in VC if we need each other.

## Plot of Diverged Solstice

Project Diverged Solstice is a project conducted by the two goddesses of this particular universe. It originally was called “Project United Solstice”, but due to the complicated circumstances and different views on things that are taking place, this project divides both goddesses. The two parties decided to go their separate ways until the time has come for their place to be taken or inherited. The timeline is considered ‘broken’ (when really, Radiance is cursed) in their eyes and want to end it somehow by giving their positions away to only two winners of the said ‘game project’ they host.

Due to the Goddess of Radiance being inflicted with the curse, she was not able to be at peace with herself. She is unable to sacrifice the Goddess of Affliction to cure herself. Which is why she offered a silly project to keep her (Affliction) ‘entertained’. The Soul Gem system was invented by the Goddess of Affliction, and so the Goddess of Radiance took this idea into mind without second thought and implemented it in Diverged Solstice.

Diverged Solstice is the primary (parent) universe. It can be identified to maintain a system of the Tree of Reveries (Yggdrasil Tree / Irminsul concept). It houses sub (children) universes that stretch out to different worlds that were created by winners of the Arc of The End after taking over the positions of Affliction and Radiance in the primary universe. One of the known sub-universes that came after Diverged Solstice is Project YUI *(Your Universe Internally)*.

### What is Stopping the Project From Progressing?

One of the Goddesses is inflicted with a curse that she cannot undo herself. It is required of that of a human with supernatural/elemental abilities and a strong desire for their Goddess and nothing else. She has a way to destroy the curse, but that is the cost of the Goddess of Affliction’s life.

Affliction and Radiance had history with each other in which Affliction was the last sole survivor in her timeline. The entirety of humanity was almost extinct. Upon trying to reach the other side of planet Earth (that was claimed safe and humans can retreat there), they got into an accident in which the ship crashed into an iceberg. Affliction was lucky to have survived the fall and was on a land full of ice and snow. Affliction was already sick as is, and all of the people that took care and fled with her are dead.

Radiance has broken the Rule of the Gods and decided to save Affliction. Please keep in mind that Radiance once went by the name of Eleanora, and Affliction went by Deirdre (we’ll use their human names for this one). Eleanora saved Deirdre from her now empty timeline of nothingness. At the time Deirdre was saved, she was left in a coma for 10 real-world years. Only to awaken with no memories or whatsoever. She was in the Sacred Territory of Aeterna where the Goddess of Radiance resides with her Observers and the Thrones of Eternity. The moment that Deirdre awakened was the time the curse was inflicted upon Eleanora.

Eleanora has spoken to the upper God of this whole creation of this universe and stated that if she doesn’t get rid of the curse in time, she will be corrupt and go into a frenzy, causing her to repeat the same disaster that happened in Deirdre’s timeline. Eleanora wasn’t aware of this until the upper God told her. She was given the choice to ‘play the game’ or ‘kill Deirdre’.

Eleanora decided to ‘play the game’ instead of sacrificing Deirdre for the curse. She said she’ll endure it no matter what, until the new inheritors come and save them.

### What is the 'Game'?

The ‘game’ is Project Diverged Solstice itself that is hosted by the two Goddesses. They are only responsible now for observing and nothing else. Their focus is to observe the real world and watch individuals become a part of their respective side. The project is initiated when the Awakening of Aria has started. The main quest for the ‘game’ is to ascend to the Throne of Gods. This will require individuals to kill, specifically ‘Dream Eaters’. To become stronger over time. Users are to conquer every state that houses large boss(es) of Dream Eaters. Upon destroying all the monsters that roam around the states, the next stage of the project will initiate Arc of Elimination & Fusion. In which the Boundary of (M)Alice *(Gates to Fantasy)* begins to open and fuse with the real world.

*Individuals from the Fantasy* will emerge and attack the real world just like Dream Eaters. They pretty much have a similar situation that the reality realm is going through, so their primary objective is the same as yours. But this time, they are killing humanity to consume their souls and desires to get stronger. Then their main objective after they killed enough is to kill your reality self.

If the process of the Arc of Elimination & Fusion has been completed, individuals will traverse back and forth between Reality and Fantasy to find the Guardians of Unaligned Authority. This is called the **Arc of Trials**. These Guardians are the keys to find in order to unlock the Gates of Aeterna to meet Affliction and Radiance. Obtaining the Guardians is basically going through the Trials of Heaven and Hell due to Sins and Virtues. All decisions made will be up to the party on what to do in order to obtain said keys from the Guardians.

## What Themes are Present in the Roleplay?

1. **Curse and Redemption**: Radiance is cursed, and only humans with supernatural abilities and unwavering loyalty can break it. However, doing so comes at the cost of Affliction's life.
2. **A Tale of Two Goddesses**: Affliction and Radiance have a history, with Radiance saving Affliction from a desolate timeline. This act led to Radiance's curse. Now, they must work together or face catastrophic consequences.
3. **The Game**: Project Diverged Solstice is the central stage, where participants aim to ascend to the Throne of Gods. To do this, they must combat Dream Eaters, traverse the Arc of Elimination & Fusion, and find Guardians of Unaligned Authority.
4. **Ultimate Objective**: The ultimate goal is for two participants to either save or kill Affliction and Radiance. Their choices will shape the world or create entirely new sub-universes.

## What to Keep in Mind When Creating a Character?

* **The Chosen Ones/Project Participants**: Basically, we need all we can for the main party and such, there is no limit. It all depends on how the actions of each character executes their roles into the story. In the end, there will only be 2 participants who survive this so-called "game". A mix of heroes, anti-heroes, antagonists, etc...just to add more depth and conflict into the story.
* **Fantasy Realm Individuals**: These are characters who emerge from the Fantasy realm during the Arc of Elimination & Fusion, they're basically your MIRRORED self. They have motives similar to the project participants but come from a different reality. These characters can be allies or antagonists, depending on negotiations and agreements. So, it's required that each individual have a fantasy version of themselves if they have a Soul Gem intact with them.
* **Guardians of Unaligned Authority**: We need people to also fill in the roles of some of the Guardians who hold the keys to unlocking the Gates of Aeterna. They are tied to themes of sins and virtues, representing moral challenges for the project participants. Obtaining these keys is a crucial part of the story's progression in order to meet up with the Goddesses.
* **Supporting Characters**: Various NPCs, mentors, allies, and adversaries who add depth to the world and assist or hinder the main characters on their journeys and such.

## TL;DR

* Project is conducted by two Goddesses (Affliction & Radiance)
* A ‘game’ is initiated for users to battle for their position as “Gods”
* Users kill Dream Eaters to gain more power to get stronger
* Users enter the Fusion Arc to fight their mirrored selves by either eliminating, fusing, or affirming.
* Users enter the Trials Arc to find the Guardians of Unaligned Authority that holds the keys to opening the Gates of Aeterna.
* 2 surviving users are only allowed to obtain the seats of Radiance and Affliction to create a new world, destroy, or start over.
* The end goal of the ‘game’ is to SAVE or KILL the Goddesses of Affliction and/or Radiance
* Diverged Solstice is the primary universe. Other sub-universes are created after Radiance and Affliction have come to peace.

## List of References from Different Media/Games

* NieR & Drakengard Series
* Fire Emblem Series
* God Eater Series
* CODE VEIN
* Genshin Impact
* Honkai Impact 3rd
* Tokyo Mirage Sessions
* Punishing: Gray Raven
* Wuthering Waves
* Arcaea
* SINoALICE
* Sword Art Online Series
* BLAZBLUE
* Alice in Borderland
* Puella Magi Madoka Magica