Stratus: An Original Comic Dub

Stratus: An Original Comic Dub

Project Overview

Hey guys! This is a story I've been working on in my spare time for a while. Seeing so many audio dramas on CCC, I wanted to give it a shot myself. How far I will go with the project will depend on many factors, but for now, I just want to see if I can get the right actors (I didn't mean to rhyme there XD). I can voice one or two characters myself, but there are a lot of them in this story. Here's a brief background on the story's world. More detailed character descriptions will be listed on the auditions:


The Continent of Asimar is home three main groups: The Prosaic (essentially the real world today, no magic whatsoever), Umbras, and Stratus. The Prosaic is identical to our real world, having been cut off from magic long ago, the people who live there have evolved to live without it. The other two factions' members have different evolutionary traits that hard-wire them for magic use, though some are born naturally more talented than others. Umbras is composed mainly of scholars, but it has another section within it: The Veiled. The Veiled are a group of assassins and thieves who do Umbras' dirty work. Finally there's Stratus, the faction which the main characters belong to. Stratus members are groomed to be some of the most powerful mages in the world. While each faction has it's own focus, it's members often are able to use other skills as well. For instance: most members of The Veiled are exceptionally skilled with illusion magic.

Stratus is lead by a man named Sirius,  one of the most famously talented wizards in Asimar. Below him, there are three captains who each specialize in a specific type of Magic. First is Neil, the rune master of the faction. Next up is Lector, a practitioner of destruction magic (namely, electricity). Finally, there is Aria, a prodigy of Illusion magic.

The two main characters are Michael and Claire. In the beginning of the story, they have just escaped one of The Veiled's research compounds. Claire, who was a member of Stratus before she was abducted, tells Michael about it. He agrees to help her get back to them. When they do, Michael is "adopted" into the Stratus family (having nowhere to go at the time, he can't really refuse). He is given a room, and begins training under Claire's mentor, Neil. Another of Neil's pupils, Lyle, isn't so keen on Michael being a part of Stratus. When it becomes clear that the two can't train together, Lector takes Michael under his wing instead.


Alright, I know that was wordy, but I wanted to be SORT OF thorough. Basically, the first arc will revolve around Umbras' endless thirst for knowledge and power. They see the enormous potential that main characters possess, and become obsessed with capturing them somehow. Umbras begins the search for a magical artifact know as the Animus Sphere, which could allow them to amplify their magic across most of the world.


Still with me? I appreciate it. Here are the requirements for this project:

-Decent microphone quality: As long as there's no background noise, I'm not too picky. A pop filter is preferred but not necessary.

-Open schedule/Patience: I'll be working on this over the summer, balancing it with working. I probably won't need any lines until at least the middle/end of July.

-Creativity: I'm open to suggestions for the story! If you have an idea that you think would be better than what I come up with, tell me! I may not use ALL of it, but I will most likely find a way to mix our visions.

ONCE AGAIN-I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG THIS PROJECT WILL GO ON. IT DEPENDS ON A LOT OF FACTORS.


That being said, thanks for checking out the project! I look forward to hearing some great auditions from the CCC community!

Note: I will be adding more roles the further into the story I get. Most (if not all) characters will likely be narrating at some point, so you should be prepared to do so. 

ALSO I will be making much better character art, but for now I'm uploading whatever concept sketches of them I may have lying around.


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Latest Updates

  • First Round of Casting Done!

    Thank you so much to everyone who auditioned! Even if you didn't get cast, don't get discouraged! Choosing between all of you was much more difficult than I would've imagined, but I plan on adding new roles as the story progresses, so you'll get second chances! Now I guess it's up to me to finish up my final draft of episode 1's script! I'm still balancing with work and other things, but I intend to make this project more of a priority now that I have some of my cast. Thanks again! -Paxton
  • I'm back!

    Sorry, guys, I've had to take a break from this story due to being incredibly busy with work and other projects that I'm currently voicing. I plan on doing my first round of casting very soon (I may cast some tonight, actually). This will mostly include the characters that appear in episodes 1 and 2: Claire, Kyanna, Valerie, Sirius, Neil, Lyle, Aria, and Lector. I want to thank you all for your patience and your interest. If you aren't cast, don't worry! I will still be adding more characters once I get more of the story arcs written out. I've also been toying around with the idea of drawing the episodes as a comic, but that is still in the idea stage.
  • Characters

    The currently listed characters all appear in episode one. I will add more once I get the script for episodes two and three started.
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Michael
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

Michael is one of the story's main protagonists. In the beginning of the story, he knows little to nothing about magic, though he demonstrates in the first act that he has the potential to be a good wizard. Still, his low stamina pool limits him to very small bursts when using most kinds of magic. When he arrives at Stratus, Valerie immediately brings him to Lector's attention. Under Lector's guidance, Michael learns that Lightning magic doesn't have the same draining effect on him that most other kinds do.

Age: 16

Voice: I'll handle this one, I gotta have SOME fun, right?

Personality: Michael keeps his guard up around new people at first, but once he trusts them, he's fiercely loyal. He gets very attached to people he cares about, sometimes putting their problems before his own basic needs. He hates being alone, it reminds him of the isolation he felt at Umbras' lab.


I'll be leaving an audition clip on this role. It's for anyone auditioning for another Teen/Young Adult male role to reference so they don't sound too similar, this is mainly audio, after all.

  • "I'll act like I did that on purpose."

  • "Sound's like you're awake, that's good. Now, could you do me a huge favor and get off of me?"

  • "Go ahead! Try me! I've already been set on fire once today!"

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Claire
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: CaitlinDiVA

Claire is a student of Neil, Stratus' rune master. She has an exceptional memory, being able to draw dozens of different runes without reference. She is also quite skilled in swordplay, her preferred weapon is a longsword. The blade of her sword is forged from Animus-infused Steel, allowing it to conduct different forms of magic. In Claire's case, that would be fire magic. She can also use the blade as a tool for drawing runes in midair, another benefit of the special metal.

Age: 15

Voice; All I can say is; Claire is not soft-spoken

Personality: Claire is a perfectionist. She wants to be the best in everything that she does, and works hard to achieve her goals. Her self-esteem is fragile, and she'll beat herself up if she feels she has failed at something; whether it be a training exercise or an official mission. She is also impatient and impulsive at times. Still, she cares deeply for her friends in Stratus. She is there to encourage others when they are down, even if she is too.

Since Claire is one of the main characters, she will be doing quite a bit of narrating throughout the episodes.

  • (Talking to Michael at the beginning of the story) "Oh man! I don't know how you pulled that spell off, but we're really in for it now!"

  • (Drawing a rune during battle) "I can get us out of here, but I need you to keep them off of me!"

  • (Losing a duel, depressed) "I knew it... I'm not good enough..."

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Kyanna
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: spectre.

Kyanna is a member of Umbras, one of the leaders of The Veiled. She comes across the scene that Michael and Claire leave in her compound, but is not upset. In fact, she becomes fascinated with the two, and more importantly, their potential as weapons. She decides not to pursue them, letting them grow more powerful before she goes to "reclaim them".

Age: 23

Voice; Slightly snobby (don't overdo it though), medium to low pitch preferred.

Personality: Kyanna is highly curious, seeing everything as a test subject. Her main motive is to make Umbras enough of a superpower to take over the other two factions. Kyanna is arrogant, but not to an extreme degree. You can give her an accent if you want to, I'm not particularly picky. As long as she sounds proud and sophisticated, the rest is up to you!

UPDATE: I changed her to a lead role,  since she is the main antagonist in some of the story Arcs I've come up with.

  • (Seeing the destruction of the lab) "Well... it appears that out little lab rats were capable of more than we had anticipated. Interesting."

  • (Responding to a Soldier) "No. Do not pursue them. Let them run back to Stratus, let them train and become stronger. Then, we shall claim our prizes."

  • (Annoyed) "Honestly... sometimes, it is better to remain silent and let people think you are stupid... rather than opening your mouth and removing all doubt."

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Valerie
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: MeganTaylorVA

Valerie is one of Lector's students, although she has studied under Aria in the past. She is not exceptionally skilled in magic, but she makes up for this with her extensive knowledge of Alchemy and Stealth tactics. Honestly, she would make a great addition to The Veiled if it weren't for two major things:

1. Her sense of morality

2. Her obsession with things that go BOOM!

Age: 19

Voice: Loud, energetic, medium-high pitch preferred

Personality: Valerie is excitable, strong-willed, reckless, and the life of every party she is a part of. She is almost always cheerful, but has a unique gift in the art of sarcasm. She is the first to welcome (indoctrinate?) Michael as a member of Stratus, not really giving him the option of refusing her offer. She forms a sort of big-sister bond with Michael throughout the story. 

  • (As Michael tries to slip away from the celebration at Stratus) "Hey, where d'ya think you're off to?" (He responds) "No place to go, eh? Well, then it's settled!" (Michael starts to protest but is cut off) "Hey everyone! Say hello to our newest member!"

  • "OH YEAH! KA-BOOM BABY!"

  • (Annoyed) "You'd better watch you mouth, I can come up with a dozen different tasteless potions that'll have you in the bathroom for the rest of the week."

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Sirius
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: aerohed

The Leader of Stratus, Sirius is often referred to as the greatest sorcerer of his time. He is one of few living people to still be able to use Star Magic, which is what inspired his Faction's name. He is a gentle and caring man, but can no longer teach his magic due to a lack of compatible mages. His old age has caused his power to dwindle, but he can still manage himself in combat quite easily. It is debatable whether or not he is the most powerful in the faction, but his leadership skills are second to none.

Age: 65

Voice: Deep and commanding attention, but also gentle (Similar to Mufasa from The Lion King)

Personality: Sirius wants to raise a generation of mages to surpass his own abilities. His goal for these students is to form a group of powerful wizards to defend those who cannot defend themselves.

  • (When Claire returns with Michael) "Claire! We had almost lost hope! Not even our best search party could track down your location." (Claire explains what has happened) "Ah, I see. So that means... (turns to Michael) that we have you to thank for Claire's safe return."

  • "There is always room for more talented young mages here. Welcome to Stratus!"

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Neil
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Morti

Neil is Claire's teacher. He is skilled in fire magic, as well as an art known as Runesmithing: Creating magical seals and enchantments. He is also an excellent swordsman, wielding a No-Dachi (basically a big katana). His blade is made from the same material as Claire's, allowing it to conduct his fire spells to increase his striking power.

Age: 39

Voice: Not quite as low as Sirius', but he is a grown man so he should sound like it

Personality: Neil is very serious, especially when it comes to training. He doesn't like people being smart-asses or sarcastic (though this could be because he sometimes doesn't understand sarcasm). He has quite the temper, but is level headed enough to lead missions.

  • (When Claire and Michael arrive) "Claire, it's a relief to have you back home. Lyle was going insane thinking about what could've happened to you."

  • (Training with Claire) "You can't keep putting yourself down every time you make a mistake. Mistakes are meant to be learned from, and you're never going to be able to do that if you let these things get to you."

  • (Valerie makes a sarcastic comment) "Sometimes you make no sense."

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Lyle
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

Lyle is another one of Neil's students. He's more skilled than Claire, but doesn't have as much drive to become better as she does. He actually has strong feelings for Claire, which is why he isn't so eager to trust Michael in the beginning. Lyle doesn't use runes like Claire and Neil, instead focusing mainly on using his fire magic to its fullest potential. Lyle also has a basic understanding of earth spells, though he doesn't use them much, since they aren't as easy for him to control. Lyle was trained in advanced swordplay, and is on par with Neil when he is going all out (though he can't outlast Neil's Stamina).

Age: 18

Voice; Medium and strong

Personality: Lyle doesn't like trying his hardest unless he's doing it to impress Claire. Even when he is putting in effort, he tries to hide it to make him seem more impressive. He gets a little jealous when people start thanking Michael for getting Claire home safely, and isn't very happy when Michael tries to train under Neil. All in all, Lyle is just a paranoid guy with an obsessive crush.

  • (To Claire) "I... I've missed you. When I found out you'd went missing, I went crazy, it took Neil and Valerie combined to calm me down."

  • (To Neil) "I'm not sure about this new guy. I mean, what do we really know about him? All I'm sayin' is, we shouldn't be so quick to trust him."

  • (To Michael, threatening) "Let me get one thing clear. I DON'T trust you, kid. You stay away from Claire."

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Lector
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: VoiceAlex77

Lector is arguably the most powerful mage in Stratus. Though, his laziness would make it hard to see for anyone who hasn't fought him. Sirius has offered Lector a position as the leader of Stratus in the past, but he declined it. He doesn't like having authority over others, because he doesn't think he's better than anyone else. He is very close to Valerie, teasing her and always having an answer to her snark.

Age: 48

Voice: Medium, low, slightly rough. I'd REALLY like him to have a New York or Bostonian accent, but don't force one if you aren't confident.

Personality: Lector is lazy, plain and simple. He enjoys teaching others, but never too many at a time. This usually isn't a problem, since most members of Stratus aren't compatible with lightning magic. Lector used to teach wind magic, but now Valerie does it for him. He likes to joke with his students, though this has lead to some abandoning his training because they felt like they were being mocked more than they were learning. If I were to compare him to an already existing character, it would be Sans from Undertale. Lazy, laid back,  and funny, but insanely powerful.

  • (First training session with Michael) "So! Ya want to learn lightnin' magic, eh?" (Michael asks if he has a choice) "Well, it's either this or Lyle tries to use you as a trainin' dummy again."

  • "I see now, you let your adrenaline take over completely when you fight. Good tactic for stayin' alive, but not for winnin' against an opponent with more than three brain cells. Adrenaline makes you sloppy, you'll start to make mistakes you wouldn't normally make. This fightin' style is all about precision and speed, not reckless aggression. When you're up against a heavily armored opponent, blindly swinging at them isn't gonna do much."

  • (Michael asks for help) "Nah, I'm not in the mood, we'll train later. Ya can kick back and take a nap, too, if you want. It's a great spot." (Michael insists) "If you wanna train that badly, go ask Val. She could always use more practice in hand-to-hand.

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Aria
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Mharie_Singz

-Aria appears first in Episode 2, and is a regularly recurring character-

Aria is Lector's daughter, though her appearance doesn't show it. She is exceptionally good at illusion magic, though she spends much more time teaching than she does out on missions. She sometimes also teaches alchemy, but Valerie has mostly taken that position. She and Valerie are best friends, despite their polar opposite personalities. This is partially the reason that Lector and Valerie are so close.

Age: 21

Voice: Pitch doesn't really matter, somewhat soft-spoken unless she is yelling

Personality: Aria is very polite, but not afraid to assert her authority when things get out of hand (which happens a LOT). She loves teaching and children. She is the caretaker for the younger members of Stratus (generally until they become teenagers). When she get's angry, though..... I... I don't wanna go on :(

  • "You're the new member, right? Sorry I didn't introduce myself yesterday, my name is Aria. Delighted to meet you!"

  • "I know that illusion magic gets a bad name because of The Veiled, but in the right hands, it can be quite beautiful. Don't you agree?"

  • (fight breaks out) "Come on, you two can't we-" (she get's struck by a stray attack) "I said. Knock. It. OFF!" (entire room goes silent with fear)

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Seth
open
Unpaid

-This Character Appears in Episodes 3 and 4, possibly making minor appearances later on-

Seth is a Captain of Umbras, he holds the same authority as Kyanna. He wields lightning magic similar to Lector's. He and three other members of the Veiled ambush Valerie's team on their recon mission. He know Valerie well, they were friends as children.

Age: 20

Voice; Relaxed,  Medium-low pitched.

Personality: Seth isn't like other members of Umbras or The Veiled. Though he still supports them, he prefers to negotiate his way out of fights. When Valerie and her squad don't comply, however, he resorts to force.

  • "Well, now, this is quite the reunion. How have you been, Valerie?"

  • "I don't want this to get messy, so I'll make this simple. You let us take those two test subjects off your hands, and Stratus doesn't lose any more members than it has to."

  • (To Michael) "For someone with your experience, you've impressed me, kid! But my lightning's on a whole different level!"

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Alec
open
Unpaid

-Alec makes a brief appearance at the end of episode 5, and becomes a recurring antagonist shortly after-

Alec is a test subject like Michael and Claire were, only he didn't rebel like they did. Instead, he took Michael's place in what Umbras called "Project Mimic". I won't spoil his abilities now, since he doesn't make a major appearance until a later episode. He is eventually established as Michael's main rival throughout the first arc (or two).

Age: 16

Voice: Pitch should be medium (if you go too low, he won't sound like a teenager). A smooth, confident (almost cocky)  tone would suit his personality best. Also, it would be awesome if the distressed voice line was noticeably less confident,  almost desperate.

Personality: Alec is smart, resourceful, and analytic. The atrocities he witnessed during a riot in his hometown has instilled within him a fear of being powerless. When he was brought to the Umbras compound to be experimented on, he relished in the opportunity to become strong. Once he sees Michael and Claire's combined power for the first time, he is eager to challenge them to prov just how strong he is.

  • "So, that's him? That's the guy I replaced? What a joke! He can't even use a medium-level fire spell without getting winded."

  • (distressed, try and sound slightly scared) "WHAT!? You're telling me that THOSE TWO beat SETH? Either he's dumber than I thought or..." (regains his composure, realizes what this means) "...OR, these mages are my ticket to showing this world just how powerful I am."

  • "It's nice to finally meet you face to face, Mimic, where's the girl? Don't tell me, she's still recovering from that battle with Seth?"

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Adrian
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: sixfootblue

-Adrian appears in episode 5 (or 6, depending on how the scripts go), and becomes a main character throughout the rest of the series.

Adrian is the son of Landon, a wealthy Lord with a lot of influence withing the nation's governing body. Adrian has had a privileged life, but is quite humble for his status. He does not trust Michael or Claire when they first meet, but gradually he warms up to them.

Age: 16

Voice: Medium to medium-high, maybe a bit nasally (similar to Natsu from Fairy Tail or Death the Kid from Soul Eater.

Personality: As I said before, Adrian is humble considering his noble blood, he is also quite intelligent due to the expensive education he has had access to. He usually keeps himself occupied my making sure his sister, Gail, stays out of trouble. He's very protective of her, and has taken it upon himself to learn the basics of swordplay so that he can keep her and himself safe. His trust is hard to gain, but that is only because he's been betrayed in the past. After the events of the episode he appears in, he joins Stratus to further improve his combat prowess.

  • (Sigh) "Gail, honestly, you have to start being more careful."

  • (Threatening) "Let me guess, you're just some more damn mercenaries that my father hired? Well, let's get one thing straight: You even try to double cross us, and I'll slice you to pieces."

  • (Scared, acting tough) "Y-you're not gonna lay a finger on her!"

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Gail
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

-Gail will be introduced in the same episode as Adrian, and become a main character for the rest of the series-

Gail is Adrian's younger sister. Between her father and her brother, she has lived a very sheltered life. Her eyes are opened shortly after she and Adrian meet Michael and Claire, which makes her want to become a mage like them.

Age: 15

Voice: Medium to high pitched. She shouldn't sound snobby but she is pretty much this world's equivalent of a princess (almost, not quite that high ranking)

Personality: Gail is very trusting, always trying to see the good in people. Her trust does not have to be earned nearly as much as Adrian's. After the events of the episode she appears in, she decides to join Stratus as her own way of repaying Claire and Michael.

  • "Oh, are you the two father told us about? Glad to have you!" (more quietly, to the side) "It gets kind of boring traveling with just Adrian all the time. He's so serious about everything."

  • "Adrian... I think you're overreacting... again. They seem like nice people."

  • "Who are those guys? Bandits!? What are we gonna do!?"

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Landon
open
Unpaid

-Landon is  featured in Adrian and Gail's episode, and will likely make small appearances in the future-

Landon is one of the top advisers to Regulus, the Emperor of Asimar. He is very wealthy, owning what is essentially his own small kingdom. He is often busy with business, leaving his two children, Adrian and Gail, to entertain themselves.

Age: 42

Voice: Not especially low, but he should still sound like an adult)

Personality: Landon cares about his children, though he often doesn't get the time to show them just how much. When they decide that they want join Stratus, he does not approve until Adrian convinces him that they can take care of themselves.

  • "Ah, yes, you two. Claire, Sirius has told me much about you. And... you. Your name is...?" (Michael introduces himself) "Oh, apologies. I don't believe I recall having ever heard of you before."

  • "You're back! Adrian, Gail, I trust your trip went well?" (Claire explains what happened) "W-What!? Are you hurt? Whoever it was that attacked you... I'l have them-" (Michael says they were already dealt with). "Oh... I see. Well done, then, I suppose."

  • (Arguing with Adrian) "Absolutely not! I will not risk letting you two out of our walls ever again! Do you know what it would do to your mother and I if something would have happened to you?" (Defeated, convinced) "Very well, then. Son, I'm sorry that I haven't given you the credit you deserve. And Gail... you seem more passionate about this than anything you've been in a long time. You have my permission to become members of Sirius' faction. Just... make sure you take care of each other."

Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Iris
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: chippa

?????

Voice: Sly, overconfident, but switches occasionally to insane and malicious

Age: ????

  • Looks like she finally gave in! *maniacal laugh* I'm going to tear you all to pieces!

  • (Sly/Sneaky AF) Come one, you don't have to be our enemy... we have plans for you, if you just cooperate. You and I could be unstoppable.

  • Pity... I really wanted you to stay unharmed, but if you continue to push me, then I'll... what!? How are you... why can't I move? (realization) Ah, so she does still have some fight left. Very well, I guess I'm being forced to retreat for now. We'll meet again soon, Michael. (last-ditch effort to convince him) Take time to consider my offer. I've already given you the key, now it's up to you to use it, before it uses you.

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