Editing Magical Realm Cyoa/Diaspora/Secrets/Afterlife (section)

== '''The Guardians''' ==

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule.  In this case, a particular set of Classes, which can only be gained through the most difficult quests or else granted to singularly unique beings (such as Realm Wizards).  The following classes exist which allow one to partially or fully bypass the 'Respawn' afterlife mechanic:

'''Class:''' Portal Guardian

'''Requirements:''' Intelligence 100, Wisdom 100, Level 50, Quest - Life's Little Secret

'''Description:''' The Portal Guardians are a class of creature who protect both the Gateways between the realms of Diaspora and the Secret of life in Diaspora.  These mysterious guards are amongst the most powerful and skilled beings of the realms.  While not actively hostile to everyone, the Portal Guardians are very particular about who they allow to access their chosen Portals.

'''Abilities:'''
* '''Eternal Guardian (Passive)''' - Unlike most other classes, the Passive abilities of this class are active even when the class is not active.  Class granted Skills are still only available when the class is the primary class, or if the skill is taken as a personal skill.
* '''Eased Passage (Passive)''' - When slain, rebirth occurs immediately in a random realm, close to a portal.  The reborn soul is reduced by a single level, with one point removed from every attribute (minimum 1) and all skills still present but reduced in strength by one level (minimum 1).  Memory of all past lives are maintained.
* '''Skill: Portal Awareness (Active)''' 5MP/Minute +Requires Concentration - The Portal Guardian may use a scrying spell to know everything that occurs within 100 meters of their portal.  They may use this ability even when they are on a different plane of existence from their chosen portal.  Additional levels allows this skill to extend further, sense things hidden by magic or technology, and use this ability without concentration.  Awareness always centers on the Portal Guardian's chosen poral.

'''Class:''' Guardian Monitor

'''Requirements:''' Intelligence 150, Wisdom 150, Level 100, Class: Portal Guardian, Quest - More to Life

'''Description:''' The Guardian Monitors (GMs) are the secret masters and rulers of Diaspora.  Their powers are unsurpassed by any native to the realm.  These mysterious beings ensure that no threat to the realms as a whole may actively exist within Diaspora.  They also work to maintain the Dungeons, unintelligent monster populations and other aspects of the realm which ensure that the people of Diaspora remain strong.  Their powers are not absolute, but in their home Realms the GMs cannot be easily matched.

'''Abilities:'''
* '''Eternal Guardian (Passive)''' - Unlike most other classes, the Passive abilities of this class are active even when the class is not active.  Class granted Skills are still only available when the class is the primary class, or if the skill is taken as a personal skill.
* '''Rapid Passage (Passive)''' - This ability is similar to and overrides 'Eased Passage'.  When slain, the Guardian Monitor is reborn in a place of their choosing.  All levels, attributes and skill levels remain the same, but any experience points gained towards the next level are reduced to 0.
* '''Skill: Self Awareness (Active)''' 5MP/Minute - The Guardian Monitor becomes aware of their personal environment and surroundings in a way few others can match.  For a 100 meter per level radius, they gain absolute awareness of all magic and technology, all biological, energy-based and inorganic life forms, and any attempts to deceive these senses.  This perception may not grant the ability to understand everything that is sensed, but long experience and vast reserves of intellect and wisdom prevent any chance of surprise.
* '''Skill: Realm Awareness (Active)''' 15MP/Minute +Requires Concentration - The Guardian Monitor may use a scrying spell to know everything that occurs within 100 meters of any point of their choosing, based either on a location they have previously observed or an individual they have met.  They may use this ability even when they are on a different plane of existence from their target.  Additional levels increases range and allows this skill to mimic the absolute awareness of the Self Awareness skill.

'''Class:''' Realm Guardian

'''Requirements:''' Realm Wizard, Quest - The Secret Oath

'''Description:''' The Realm Guardian class is given only to Realm Wizards who choose to become assimilated to the realm's nature, and then take a secret oath, of their own free will and with full intent of carrying it out.  The wording of the oath is specific and cannot be simply guessed, but requires the oathtaker to protect Diaspora as a whole.  Breaking the oath removes access to this class, and has other detrimental side effects.

'''Abilities:'''
* '''Eternal Guardian (Passive)''' - Unlike most other classes, the Passive abilities of this class are active even when the class is not active.  Class granted Skills are still only available when the class is the primary class, or if the skill is taken as a personal skill.
* '''Perfect Passage (Passive)''' - As Rapid Passage, except there are no losses to level, attributes or skills.
* '''Eternal Memory (Passive)''' - There is no limit to the number of skills or spells a Realm Guardian my learn.
* '''Skill: Perfected Observe (Active)''' - As the standard observe skill, except it allows the user to see the contents of inventories and skill lists by default rather than at max level.
* '''Skill: Blue Mage (Active)''' 50MP/Minute - This spell allows the user to copy and acquire any spell or skill used against them in conflict (including physical, magical, social and mental combat).  Cannot copy passive abilities or racial qualities, but can copy abilities which do not directly affect the user (such as regenerative magics used by the opponent on themselves).  Skills or spells copied in this manner are gained at level one, and remain copied as long as the Blue Mage spell is actively in use without taking up one of the user's permanent slots.  The user may choose to make a copied ability one of their permanent abilities at any time while the Blue Mage spell is active, but once the spell has ended.


This leads to the last category of intelligent life in the Realms - the Portal Guardians.  While technically just Monsters in the eyes of the Diasporan people, the Portal Guardians are the beings most aware and knowledgeable about the reincarnation cycle.  To an individual, they are unwilling to share this revelation with others, seeing it as robbing their spiritual descendants of their innocence.  Also, freely sharing this knowledge is a violation of the oat needed to become a portal guardian.  

The reason that they guard their portals is generally specific to the individual - perhaps they think that limiting travel between the realms will make it more difficult to piece together the many puzzles of the reincarnation cycle, or they are inherently anti-social, or they just think it's fun.  Regardless of their reasons, they are not shy about killing those who attempt to force access to the portals they guard - such people may be their spiritual descendants, but they'll be reborn, so no real harm in killing them a bit.  The Guardian classes also tend to be incessant gossips, using the portals themselves as communication devices to speak with other portal guardians, or talking by other mystical means.