apokryphos-rp

[apokryphos-rp]

Thora was so focused on their pursuit that they nearly yelped when a new hero ran into view. “Ummm...” They took a moment to inspect his red uniform with yellow lightning bolts on either side of his head. A wave of relief intermingled with the adrenaline that was still pumping through their body. “Oh! You’re the Flash! Boy, am I glad to see you.” They took a moment to gather more breath. “There’s a thief, up ahead. Stole money from a 24/7 convenience store. Has a...a magical item...makes her fast.” They could no longer hold a conversation and resume the chase. 

Thora’s target was getting further and further away with the stolen cash. She glanced behind herself and saw that she now had two pursuers. She made a sharp turn to the right, down a narrow alleyway between a jewelry store and a psychic shop. Even if there was a dead end in that alley, the thief would have no problem finding other means of escape. And now she was entirely out of view.

apokryphos-rp​:

Thora, Don’t Be a Hero

@flashgotthis

This was Thora’s first time stopping a bad guy, and it wasn’t going well. And by guy, they meant woman. And by stopping, they meant…well, they were getting their ass kicked without ever having come into contact with her. The perpetrator in question had gotten hold of an anklet that granted the wearer abnormal levels of agility, flexibility, and speed, allowing her to easily escape from a twenty-four-hour drugstore in the early hours of the morning with a backpack stuffed to the seams with cash. 

The tracking charm Thora had placed on each item they made during their days as an artificer was proving its worth, but even so, they found it hard to keep up, finding themselves in constant need to teleport or fly short distances just to keep their target in sight. 

At the beginning of the chase, the woman was incredibly frightened by her magic-wielding pursuer. At this point, she recognized that said pursuer wasn’t very good at their job. She threw a cocky smile in Thora’s direction as she  vaulted herself up a fire escape and then jumped onto a parked car below as Thora closed the distance, rolling off the windshield and landing deftly on her feet to resume the chase.

 A stunt like that would have broken a few ribs on a normal human, if that person was lucky, but the burglar was aware of her new abilities. Either she was a fast learner, or she had had the anklet in her possession for a while. Thora could not remember who had originally commissioned the item–although they could always check their logs when they returned home–but they did not recognize its current owner.

Thora shot a bolt of magical energy at the ground, attempting to throw the thief off her feet, but she dodged it effortlessly with a jeering laugh. The beam hit another parked car and caused its alarm to sound. Thora winced. It was impossible to aim at an ever-moving target when they had to remain in motion themselves. They were going to lose this pursuit, and with it, the chances of retrieving the anklet.

Hearing a car alarm going off somewhere wasn’t really untypical, not in a City. But Wally thought that he heard another sound accompanied with that as he slowed down in the area. Almost like energy hitting something, a sound he knew well due to his magic using super friends.

Which is why he went in the direction of the car alarm. Not only two seconds later he found the car, blaring its alarm while he looked around and saw someone running away from the car as if they were in a strange kind of hurry. The one he usually recognized in people being chased or chasing someone. Intrigued, he speed after them and subsequently saw that the person was actually following someone else up ahead.

“So..ahh,” Wally said to the chasing person, having slowed down to their speed. “Who’s the bad guy here? Because I’m down to help.”

[apokryphos-rp]

villains are hard to play --

Please remember that just because someone is playing a villainous character doesn’t mean that they don’t love their character, or don’t have a version of it that is perhaps new to you. Respect the muns of villains as much as you would respect any other mun, and remember to work with them. 

It is very hard to play a villainous character in a world full of heroes and cinnamon rolls, and the muns who pick them up and are willing to give them a try deserve some extra support and love, because they’re going to need it. Love the villain muns, respect their autonomy as players, and don��t try to force their character to submit to your plot desires just because you’re playing a hero. Heroes might not always win, and heroes are not always more interesting, not always better characters – they’re just typically more popular because most of us want to be good, and it’s a lot easier to self-insert with a morally good character for many people.

Respect your villains. If they’re canon characters, don’t assume that they’re all the same as every other one you’ve seen. If they’re original, respect that their mun is giving you a neat new antagonist to deal with. 

Conflict is necessary, and villain muns deserve to enjoy their RP experience, too! 

[apokryphos-rp]

@bigbadkillercroc

“I am sorry for your troubles.” Thora felt a tinge of pity for the man. Given the way he acted around Thora’s expensive décor, they could have guessed that he came from far fewer means, but they did not want to make that assumption outright. The concept of poverty was foreign to them until they left their home country. There, every citizen was guaranteed a home, an education, an apprenticeship--if they so wished--and a means to live comfortably, and their culture revered these four concepts highly. 

Community gardens and farms abounded, so that everyone had access to fresh food. Thora considered it a crime that these resources were unfairly allocated in the modern world, so that some had rampant excess while others had close to nothing. At the same time, Thora’s services profited off of the very system that perpetuated this inequality, and it was something they struggled with frequently. They tried to convince themselves that it would all be worth it in the end.

“I prefer to have as few employees as my profession allows for. My line of work needs to remain a secret, if I can help it--but, you seem like the most trustworthy fellow to have walked in this place to date, so I will make an exception. If you would like, you can work off your debt in exchange for the ring. My only condition is, you will have to live here. I’m afraid that your frequent comings and goings may attract unwanted attention from...certain vigilantes.” Thora paused to take a sip of their tea. The Batman and his spandex-clad associates had been retrieving some of their handiwork off of clients in the last few weeks, prompting Thora to keep a lower profile. It had been a source of vexation, of late, although Thora was certain that they wouldn’t be able to do much about it. That is, unless they had a cohort with ample knowledge of magic and magecraft. Still, one could not be too careful.

 “The majority of your work will be carried out in the house, anyway.”

apokryphos-rp​:

@bigbadkillercroc

Thora pursed their lips. “Well, it is likely that I will have to craft a custom ring, which I will have to charge extra for materials…” Their voice trailed off as they calculated the price in their head. 

There was a part of Thora that wanted to give Croc a break on the price, given the fact that he was merely using this item to improve his quality of life, but glamour spells, which allowed for their users to change their appearance, were some of the most costly spells to perform. Their ingredients were often more rare, and therefore, more expensive. Not to mention, they had to factor in a profit margin for themselves and their sole employee, who helped to recruit new clients and keep in touch with existing ones. “My current estimation is within the realm of $600-700.” 

In truth, it was one of their cheaper commissions, but Thora decided it was best to omit that fact. “I have to review the ingredients for the enchantment, as I believe that there are some I do not currently possess. I should have a fixed price if you come back in three days’ time, and I will expect a down payment of $200 some time within the week after that for the project to commence. Is that agreeable to you?”

Waylon fidgeted, tapping his claws together, anxious as Thora did the maths in their head. Just as the suspense was about to be too much, the price was revealed- and Waylon’s heart sank.

$700. He’d brought $150, and that was the grand total of his savings. The money he got from doing odd jobs for other criminals was not a large amount, and most of it went to buying food so he didn’t have to dig through dumpsters. Hell, he’d gone hungry more days than not in his lifetime.

He stared down at his hands. Scaled, green, clawed. Maybe he’d never look like a regular person, even only as a disguise. 

“Ah… I don’t have that kinda cash.” He admitted reluctantly. “Honestly not sure if I could get that much without-” He stopped, considering how much weakness he really wanted to reveal to this stranger. “… Well, I’d have to go without food fer a while.”

He sighed, and clenched his hands into fists, then looked back to Thora. “Yer pro’lly not interested in my sob story, though. Won’t pay yer bills.” He paused, thinking. “But…. ya wouldn’t be interested in hirin’ someone like me, would ya?”

[apokryphos-rp]

Thora, Don’t Be a Hero

@flashgotthis

This was Thora’s first time stopping a bad guy, and it wasn’t going well. And by guy, they meant woman. And by stopping, they meant...well, they were getting their ass kicked without ever having come into contact with her. The perpetrator in question had gotten hold of an anklet that granted the wearer abnormal levels of agility, flexibility, and speed, allowing her to easily escape from a twenty-four-hour drugstore in the early hours of the morning with a backpack stuffed to the seams with cash. 

The tracking charm Thora had placed on each item they made during their days as an artificer was proving its worth, but even so, they found it hard to keep up, finding themselves in constant need to teleport or fly short distances just to keep their target in sight. 

At the beginning of the chase, the woman was incredibly frightened by her magic-wielding pursuer. At this point, she recognized that said pursuer wasn’t very good at their job. She threw a cocky smile in Thora’s direction as she  vaulted herself up a fire escape and then jumped onto a parked car below as Thora closed the distance, rolling off the windshield and landing deftly on her feet to resume the chase.

 A stunt like that would have broken a few ribs on a normal human, if that person was lucky, but the burglar was aware of her new abilities. Either she was a fast learner, or she had had the anklet in her possession for a while. Thora could not remember who had originally commissioned the item--although they could always check their logs when they returned home--but they did not recognize its current owner.

Thora shot a bolt of magical energy at the ground, attempting to throw the thief off her feet, but she dodged it effortlessly with a jeering laugh. The beam hit another parked car and caused its alarm to sound. Thora winced. It was impossible to aim at an ever-moving target when they had to remain in motion themselves. They were going to lose this pursuit, and with it, the chances of retrieving the anklet.

[apokryphos-rp]

@bigbadkillercroc

Thora pursed their lips. “Well, it is likely that I will have to craft a custom ring, which I will have to charge extra for materials...” Their voice trailed off as they calculated the price in their head. 

There was a part of Thora that wanted to give Croc a break on the price, given the fact that he was merely using this item to improve his quality of life, but glamour spells, which allowed for their users to change their appearance, were some of the most costly spells to perform. Their ingredients were often more rare, and therefore, more expensive. Not to mention, they had to factor in a profit margin for themselves and their sole employee, who helped to recruit new clients and keep in touch with existing ones. “My current estimation is within the realm of $600-700.” 

In truth, it was one of their cheaper commissions, but Thora decided it was best to omit that fact. “I have to review the ingredients for the enchantment, as I believe that there are some I do not currently possess. I should have a fixed price if you come back in three days’ time, and I will expect a down payment of $200 some time within the week after that for the project to commence. Is that agreeable to you?”

apokryphos-rp​:

@bigbadkillercroc

Thora was taken aback by the stark sincerity of Croc’s request. Though it had only been a few months since they’d set up shop in Gotham, they had already become used to clients asking for services that would enhance their criminal pursuits. There was no doubt in Thora’s mind that Croc’s appearance had rendered him incapable of enjoying the most basic experiences of the human condition. 

Thora was careful not to let their surprise reflect in their expression. “I could cast a spell on you to change your appearance, but I’m afraid that it would wear off in a matter of hours. I would advise that you allow me to attach the spell to an item to bind it, so that the magic will last longer and will activate whenever you need it to.” Thora paused to sip their tea. “Do you have any objects on you that I could charm, or perhaps you would like something customized to suit your tastes? Oh! I also have an array of items on the bookshelf behind me that I can charm, which will take less time than a custom piece. Feel free to browse my selection at any time.” 

Waylon considered the options that had been listed. Obviously a one-time spell wouldn’t be ideal, especially if it was going to be expensive. But he didn’t exactly have many personal items, either. So that left him with choosing something from the shelf.

“Can I take a look at the shelf? Maybe somethin’ discrete like a black ring. Though it’d have ta be a big one ta fit these hands.” He added, looking down at his hands, splaying his fingers in thought. “An’ somethin’ that I could hide easy enough if I get taken ta Arkham. Don’t want none o’ the police or the Bat knowin’ I have this.”

His requirements listed aloud, Waylon paused. Seemed like he was asking a lot. “… So, just by what I’ve said already, how much we lookin’ at fer a price?”

[apokryphos-rp]

Send a word and I will write a drabble or headcanon based on it

Sunlight

Alone

Darkness

Streets

Cupboard

Snacks

Doubt

Joy

Peace

Moment

Rain

Hum

Kitchen

Bedroom

Family

Friend

Garden

Relax

Stress

Job

Fury

Betrayed

Absence

Vices

Pets

Absolve

Stars

Scorn 

Praise

Laundry

Papers

Smoke

Wine

Couch

Kiss

Doors

Tree

Dirt

Flowers

Collect

Remove

?+ add your own.

[apokryphos-rp]

Advanced Character and Background Knowledge

Flavor text for anyone who’s interested.

Abhrothora means “gift of the sea” in their native language. The th is pronounced as a soft d.

Knosseia is a successor to the culture known to archaeologists as the Minoans of Crete, who were supposedly conquered by the Mycenaean Greeks. In truth, the “Minoans” left before the Mycenaeans arrived and formed the nation of Knosseia, named after the former capital of Knossos. In the early days, Knosseia, Atlantis, and Themyscira formed the Hellenic alliance, which allowed for commerce and travel among the three city-states. Then, when Themyscira was compromised and Atlantis sank beneath the waves, Knosseia closed its borders to all. Knosseia eventually rediscovered and revived trade with Atlantis--now subaquatic--but the Amazons of Themyscira were lost forever (in line with the post-crisis storyline).

CW: Slavery. The residents of Knosseia are vehemently against slavery. Their navy had a reputation of sieging ships containing slaves, from antiquity into the modern era. Captors on slave ships were given the choice of a safe return to their homeland, or settlement in Knosseia.

Many unique ethnicities formed in Knosseia as a result of settlers who were former slaves. Settlers that were rescued from the African slave trade congregated in a chain of settlements where their languages and cultural practices fused over time. They came to be known as the Mari, and they are master artisans. 

Basket-weaving is one of these notable arts, and Thora learned it from one of their fathers, who is Mari. Thora’s other father comes from a lineage that goes as far back as the first Knosseians.

Before Thora came to know of the outside world, racism and sexism were unknown to them, although it is worth noting that Knosseia is matriarchal. 

The Knosseian language has signifiers for gender identity, but not for sexuality. Thora does not fully understand why people of the outside world feel the need to label their sexual orientations, nor why certain sexual orientations are villified. 

Poly-spousal marriages are not uncommon in Knosseia, and inheritance is decided upon by every spouse in the relationship before the birth of their first child.

Outside of militaristic pursuits, Knosseians believe that killing is a weakness, proving that there is no other way for you to incapacitate an opponent than to stop them from moving forever. Essentially, one who kills intentionally in one-on-one combat is not taken seriously as a fighter, and they are heavily punished. For this reason, Thora has never killed anyone, although it can be argued that their release of magical weapons into Gotham City has caused a number of deaths.

[apokryphos-rp]

Character Info

Identity

Aliases: Apokryphos, Magika

Name: Abhrothora Aetnaeoni

Gender Identity: Nonbinary

Sexuality: There are no sexual orientation markers in their native culture and they continue not to care about it, but we would identify them as pansexual.

Ethnicity: Mari (an Afro-fusion ethnicity), Knosseian

Age: 29

Appearance

Height: 5′6

Skin Color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown

Hair color/style: Dark brown, curly, dreadlocked with colored bands and beads woven throughout.

Facial markings: Freckles

Scars: Right calf, right ankle

Personality/Profession

Moral Alignment: Antivillain. Abhrothora believes that, though their methods are messy, their goal is ultimately a noble one. 

Occupation: Artificer (basically a magical blacksmith), "Corrupted” magic practitioner, 

Personality: Apokryphos is a mostly nonviolent villain with a vision of the New Gotham, built in their own Utopian image, modeled after the cities of their homeland. Despite such a grand goal, they are usually mild-mannered and unassuming. Their prodigious upbringing made it hard to socialize with peers, so they tend to keep to themselves and occupy their free time with hobbies. However, they can be quite loquacious if a conversation steers toward their interests or profession.

Background: Born in the island nation of Knosseia to two Artificers, you could say that “Thora,” as they were known to family and friends, was destined to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Their parents certainly thought so, and Thora’s magical abilities were prodigious from a young age. Knosseia is a nation in isolation, for the most part. They only trade and travel to Atlantis, their “sister” nation. The many charms around the island nation make it hard for unwitting mariners to find.

On their twentieth birthday, they were permitted to travel outside of Knosseia to anywhere they pleased. When they toured the modern world, they were disheartened by all of the greed and violence they witnessed. They returned and trained under Knosseia’s official order of Artificers, learning the tools of the trade and advancing their education in mystic arts. A few years later, they left their homeland for good, returning to the world as we know it with a promise to “usher in a new age of prosperity and peace.” Their first stop: Gotham City.

Hobbies and interests: Basket-weaving, macramé, plant keeping, reading philosophy, experimenting with new spells and items

Abilities:

Shadow manipulation

Disguise themselves or turn invisible (using glamours and their mask)

Cast glyphs (like sigils, used for protection and to enter and exit their dimension)

Construct and Operate magical items 

Vast knowledge of spells and elixirs (does this count as an ability?)

[apokryphos-rp]

@bigbadkillercroc

Thora was taken aback by the stark sincerity of Croc’s request. Though it had only been a few months since they’d set up shop in Gotham, they had already become used to clients asking for services that would enhance their criminal pursuits. There was no doubt in Thora’s mind that Croc’s appearance had rendered him incapable of enjoying the most basic experiences of the human condition. 

Thora was careful not to let their surprise reflect in their expression. “I could cast a spell on you to change your appearance, but I’m afraid that it would wear off in a matter of hours. I would advise that you allow me to attach the spell to an item to bind it, so that the magic will last longer and will activate whenever you need it to.” Thora paused to sip their tea. “Do you have any objects on you that I could charm, or perhaps you would like something customized to suit your tastes? Oh! I also have an array of items on the bookshelf behind me that I can charm, which will take less time than a custom piece. Feel free to browse my selection at any time.” 

All This For A Ring (Closed RP)

@bigbadkillercroc

Thora eyed the scaled man across the table. Thora had to admit, they had never laid eyes upon someone with such a unique appearance. Though he sank into the velveteen chair that he was offered, he rose far above it. The chair would undoubtedly tip over if he tried to lean on it to support his lower back. Thora felt slightly ashamed that they could not offer a more comfortable seating arrangement; they were a host, after all, and he was their guest.

His presence would have been more intimidating if his eyes didn’t shift around the room so rapidly. The parlor’s decorations most likely frayed his nerves even more. The maroon walls displayed a variety of masks, many of which were carved into the likenesses of wild beasts and monsters of legend. Ornamental plates from their home country were mounted on top of a grand, mahogany bookshelf that held a vast collection of curios and tomes, all of which were charmed with anti-thieving wards.

And then there was Thora’s mask, which exuded a dark aura that visibly manifested as wisp-like tendrils around the edges. Suddenly remembering how off-putting this phenomenon might appear to a first-time observer, Thora willed the energy to retreat into the mask itself, so that it would not serve as a distraction.

“Please, make yourself comfortable. Help yourself to some jasmine green tea, if you like.” Thora placed a tall silver teapot on the middle of the table and passed a teacup and matching saucer in the client’s direction, pushing them partway before using magic to slide them to their intended destination. “Don’t worry, all services outside of those you request of me are complimentary. My name is pronounced Ah-pok-kree-fos, in case you were wondering. I realize that the way it is spelled on my business card is often a source of confusion.” Thora took their seat and demurely placed their hands on their lap. “May I inquire as to what order of business brings you in today? Are you looking to charm an item in your possession, or perhaps you are interested in commissioning an entirely new, personalized item of magical ability?” Thora was going to continue on about the other possibilities that their service allowed for, but they held their tongue to allow their client the space to talk about what he had in mind before they got carried away.

[apokryphos-rp]

Reblog this if you’re an LGBT+ mun.

[apokryphos-rp]

Send a 🎁 to receive a present from my muse!

[apokryphos-rp]

I'm actively looking for a Zatanna Zatara rp blog to serve as a nemesis for my dc villain original character, who is a practitioner of the darker arts. Please message me if you're interested!

[apokryphos-rp]

Myth and Magic Sentence Starters

“Heard a rumor that something lives in these woods, something… otherworldly.” 

“Are you /trying/ to get yourself killed?!”

“Your spellwork is shoddy at best.” 

“Enunciate! Don’t mumble!” 

“What sort of Craft do you do?” 

“You’re… you’re a witch.” 

“You’re going to get caught walking around like that.” 

“What a beautiful creature…” 

“Please do not drop things into my cauldron.” 

“They say that you’re a Fae.” 

“Your eyes… you’re not human, are you?” 

“What are you doing in a place like this?” 

“This isn’t your natural habitat…” 

“This is… impressive spellwork.” 

“Oh! What beautiful enchantments!” 

“Do you think you can make me one of these?” 

“I’m looking for someone whom people say can brew any cure.” 

“This place is cursed… I can feel it in my bones.” 

“Your magic is very oppressive.”

“Supposedly there’s a dragon who dwells here. Heard anything about that?” 

“Your wards and shields are pathetic.” 

“Don’t be ridiculous, they’re a fairytale.” 

“Magic doesn’t exist.” 

“It’s probably some rabid wolves or something, not some ‘mythical creature’.”

“Ghosts aren’t real, and this place isn’t haunted!” 

“Isn’t it about time you crafted your own focus? 

“I’ve never seen magic quite like this.” 

“Please take your wand away from my throat.” 

“Is this a cure, or a poison?” 

“I didn’t know this type of herb grew here.” 

“Do you think someone will be willing to sell me a crystal?” 

“What are you going to do? Read my palm? Tell me my fortune on a poker hand?”

“I haven’t seen a creature like that in years.” 

“Excuse me, but have you seen any __ around these parts?” 

“A __ you say? No, I don’t believe I have.” 

“You should check the vendor down the block if you’re looking for /that/ kind of thing.” 

“You do know that even possessing that is illegal here, yes?” 

✨+ add your own!

[apokryphos-rp]

All This For A Ring (Closed RP)

@bigbadkillercroc

Thora eyed the scaled man across the table. Thora had to admit, they had never laid eyes upon someone with such a unique appearance. Though he sank into the velveteen chair that he was offered, he rose far above it. The chair would undoubtedly tip over if he tried to lean on it to support his lower back. Thora felt slightly ashamed that they could not offer a more comfortable seating arrangement; they were a host, after all, and he was their guest.

His presence would have been more intimidating if his eyes didn’t shift around the room so rapidly. The parlor’s decorations most likely frayed his nerves even more. The maroon walls displayed a variety of masks, many of which were carved into the likenesses of wild beasts and monsters of legend. Ornamental plates from their home country were mounted on top of a grand, mahogany bookshelf that held a vast collection of curios and tomes, all of which were charmed with anti-thieving wards.

And then there was Thora’s mask, which exuded a dark aura that visibly manifested as wisp-like tendrils around the edges. Suddenly remembering how off-putting this phenomenon might appear to a first-time observer, Thora willed the energy to retreat into the mask itself, so that it would not serve as a distraction.

“Please, make yourself comfortable. Help yourself to some jasmine green tea, if you like.” Thora placed a tall silver teapot on the middle of the table and passed a teacup and matching saucer in the client’s direction, pushing them partway before using magic to slide them to their intended destination. “Don’t worry, all services outside of those you request of me are complimentary. My name is pronounced Ah-pok-kree-fos, in case you were wondering. I realize that the way it is spelled on my business card is often a source of confusion.” Thora took their seat and demurely placed their hands on their lap. “May I inquire as to what order of business brings you in today? Are you looking to charm an item in your possession, or perhaps you are interested in commissioning an entirely new, personalized item of magical ability?” Thora was going to continue on about the other possibilities that their service allowed for, but they held their tongue to allow their client the space to talk about what he had in mind before they got carried away.

[apokryphos-rp]

General RP Rules

Please use they/them pronouns when referring to my muse in the third person.

I will not tolerate racism, lgbtq+ phobia, and other real-world hate speech, both in- and out of character.

No excessive violence or gore. Though my character is a villain, they only harm others if it is absolutely necessary and it is hard to prod them to incite violence. Also, the mun doesn't like it.

Even if your muse is prone to violence and wants to use it against mine, keep in mind that they are adept at using magic to restrain/incapacitate enemies, and they will physically defend themselves if it comes to that.

No god-modding or use of other controlling behaviors.

Please don't ask me repeatedly if I'll respond to a thread. I have a life outside of rp, but I will continue the thread ASAP.

My character belongs to the DC Universe, but I am open to crossovers.

There is a point in time when my muse decides to be a superhero and adopts a different name. If you’d like to rp with my muse in their hero persona, message me directly and I will fill you in.

[apokryphos-rp]

This is Apokryphos, a nonbinary articificer from a land unknown. They are here to sell magical items that aid "clients" in their endeavors, and to network with other ne'er-do-wells.

Art credit goes to @wolfgirlj . They're a wonderful artist, please check them out!