Aetheria: The Shadow War [Fairy Tale Crossover! ALL NEEDED! Free Cake!]

[Vergil Tanner]

The Setting:

Aetheria. A universe connected to and yet separate from our own, a land of heroes and villains, monsters and magic, adventures and princesses and knights and dragons, a land so alien to those in Our Reality and yet...oddly familiar. Like a favourite bedtime story, or a classic film, or the tales told around a flickering campfire in the depths of the woods as the moon climbs high in the sky. Stories and tales of heroism and hardship that make us dream and wonder what it would be like to live those adventures for ourselves. And yet, do we ever truly comprehend what it must be like to live within these stories? To live at the behest of another, who happens to be reading our lives as if they are something distant, devoid of any true feeling, as if we are just playthings that can be enjoyed, then set aside? Nobody truly imagines what it would be like to live inside the storybook. No, they imagine what it would be like if the storybook was real, if what was being woven on the page or displayed on the screen or wafted through the air on a storytellers voice was, in actual fact, reality. Because the sad truth is, of course, that these stories are simply that; stories. The heroes don't walk into the sunset, grow old, have children and die a peaceful death in their beds, leaving the world better than they found it. The villains don't stay dead and rotting in the ground, the kingdom doesn't continue with a wise and benevolent ruler. The story ends on that last page, is put down and placed aside...and then it is picked up again, opened to the title card and the cycle begins once more.

That is what Aetheria is. A universe where every Fable, Folkstory, Fairy Tale, Myth and Legend exist, side by side...and yet an infinite distance away from each other. Every story that has ever been told, each sequestered into their own private bubbles, their own pockets of reality where their lives run on repeat, trapped in an endless Time Loop beginning at the start of their stories, ending at the end...and then beginning all over again, doomed to constantly repeat the same precious few moments of their lives for eternity, unable to move on, to set down their burdens and relax and retire and grow old and die in peace. The ultimate cruelty, of course, is that...none of them remember it. They may experience that odd feeling of Deja Vu over their lives, as any of us may do, but so far as they are concerned...in any given loop, that is their first and last time round. Their only life, their decisions, their hopes and dreams, their loves and hates, their struggles that they fight through and conquer. And yet, we know the terrible truth, do we not? Nothing they may want matters. Their entire lives were written for them from the beginning, and once it ends, it is doomed to repeat.

Until now.



Aetheria, that universe of eternal imprisonment for all stories and fables and myths and legends, was once ruled by a pair of powerful Deities, manifestations of the elements of the stories they were given charge over. Nobody knows whether the Entities came first and created the land and its stories, or whether the land and the stories came first and the entities manifested afterwards to maintain the balance. All that is known is that these Entities - The Light and The Shadow - were each others balance. They were Preservation and Ruin, Creation and Destruction, Good and Evil, Yin and Yang, call them whatever you wished...they were each others opposites and equals, the Light representing the Heroes and the Good and the Just of these stories, and the Shadow representing the Villains and the Selfishness and Evil. They coexisted for millennia, until one day...The Light disappeared. The Shadow grew stronger with the absence of its sibling, and soon began to consume Aetheria with its corruption, decaying it with every passing breath.

It began at the exterior, eating away the edges and placing the land under shadow and darkness, but soon made its way inwards towards the center, the capital, the Throne Of The Gods that had long stood empty of its creators. But then, something...happened. The Capital sprung to life, people beginning to appear within its walls, their life and energy and joy stopping the Shadow in its tracks. Somehow, some way, the Time Loops trapping the Fables had been broken, characters from within the stories being transported within the walls of Ariathelm and away from the grasp of The Shadow. Given agency and freedom from the fates proscribed to them from On High, these Fables found themselves suddenly...free. They could remember their past lives and even their futures, were gifted knowledge of their previous existence repeating the same moments over and over again, and in so doing...gifted sentience. Free will. Determination. They found themselves suddenly able to decide what they wanted for themselves. They were free.



But why? Why were they set free? Who set them free? Who placed them in prison in the first place? Who are they, now that they can decide for themselves, and do they even want to? Do they relish this newfound freedom...or do they curse it with every breath?

Where did The Light go, and will the walls of the Capital hold forever? What will happen when The Shadow eventually penetrates the protective barrier that separates Ariathelm from the land beyond, and can anything be done to drive back the darkness and restore light to the land of Aetheria?

Only time will tell.



The Pitch:

Welcome, everybody, to the Interest Check and Recruitment for my new attempt at a Fable Crossover game that seeks to give you a platform to not only play some of those fandom Crossover scenes you've always dreamed of, but to also explore a new world and story straight from my fucked up little head. ;) I, Vergil Tanner, and PentheWonderful shall be your lovely GM's for this adventure and there are a few things that we should sort out from the get go.

1) This is loosely based on an idea I played years ago by the name of "Heart's Wish," created by Swashbuckler and Loves. This isn't a direct copy and will go in its own direction, but I figured I should give artistic credit where it was due.

2) This is a character and story driven game. Characters will begin within the city of Ariathelm, though events will soon conspire to send them into the Shadowlands looking for answers.

3) Places are limited. I'm thinking of 8 players maximum, plus myself and Pen. It will not be done (mostly) on a First Come First Served basis; if there is a surplus of interest, then Pen and I shall be selecting the applicants that we feel contribute the most to the story. If you do not get selected, please do not feel offended. It likely has nothing to do with you, personally. Except you. Yeah, you. Fuck you, Dave.



The Location:

So, a bit about the setting.

Aetheria is a vast Fable-inspired universe that previously held every story ever told within its borders, in a permanent timeloop. Stories that had several adaptations and retellings were larger, with vast "bubbles" containing smaller bubbles with each independent variation. When the bubbles "Popped," so to speak, usually only a small handful of characters from each Fairy Tale made it to Ariathelm. This is not to say that it's impossible that several characters from the same Universe "landed" together, but in terms of PC's, I would prefer as little overlap as possible. If you wish - as part of your characters backstory - to say that other characters from your story landed as NPC's, then I won't stop you. However, once again, I don't want six PC's all from The Lion King running around.



The city of Ariathelm is made up of two distinct sections. The first is the city itself; whilst not overly large - perhaps large enough to hold a population of around ten to twenty thousand, and currently supporting only 7000 assorted characters and residents - it still manages to pull off the appearance of a vast palatial citadel sitting in the center of Aetheria, the city of Ariathelm is a glimmering beacon of light in a world consumed by shadow. Vast, towering white stone walls encompass a maze of streets and and houses and shops of all shapes and sizes. Once silent and grave, it is now bustling with the activity of the characters - both important and inconsequential - gathered from the various Fables and Fairytales. Villagers, nameless merchants, peasants, animals, heroes and rogues all attempting to figure out their place in all of it. The city itself has been divided into five main sections. The northernmost section of the roughly circular city - the vast palace fortress, set upon a rising cliff face - is locked off; nobody has yet been able to scale the walls or open the gates to figure out what lies inside, but whatever it is reeks of magic to those sensitive to such things.

The other four sections are referred to as "The Quarters." Immediately inside the main gates to the South, you will find "The Market Quarter." Markets, produce, taverns and culinary establishments populate this section of the city, and is normally the first part that visitors and residents alike walk through on their way in and out of the city, and is usually where farmers and fishermen and other craftsmen who reside outside the city itself come to ply their trade and gather resources for their survival. The second Quarter, North East of the Market Quarter, is simply known as the Residential Quarter. Many in the Market Quarter live above their shops, if they have the room, but for those who don't - or those who do not own a larger store, or who simply prefer to live in more comfortable residences - have moved into these previously unoccupied homes, usually fairly large and expensive-looking residences with large gardens, plenty of space between them and the house next door, and plenty of room to make it feel like home.

In the north of the city is what is commonly referred to as "The Luxury Quarter," and is located immediately outside the inaccessible palace. This is where one can find anything from vast libraries filled with more books than can be imagined - including, distressingly, many copies of the fables own stories - to luxurious spas, theaters and even a peaceful zen-like garden. Finally, to the west is the "Artisans Quarter," where one can find true artists and crafstmen plying their trade. Whereas butchers, bakers and grocers tend to live in the Commerce Quarter, the Artisans Quarter is where you will find carpenters, blacksmiths, Jewelers and their ilk.

The second section of Ariathelm is beyond its walls, in the rolling plains beyond the city. This part of the city extends perhaps five or ten miles away from the main walls, and ends in a sudden shift to rocky, craggy ground from which sprouts a vast, all-encircling secondary wall, blocking off all access to the world beyond the confines of the city. There are towers, ladders, stairs and walkways allowing access to the top of the wall - which is actually three concentric walls, though the gates to the second layer of walls has yet to be unlocked - and a view of the twisted, corrupted "Shadowlands" beyond the safety of Ariathelm.  The sky, regardless of what it looks like elsewhere within the city complex, seems perpetually darker, more ashen, more enclosed and claustrophobic than further in, with dark twisting clouds and distant flashes of red lightning never far away. Within this "Wall" lies a variety of terrain including a small forest, a decent sized lake and rolling fields on which many Fables have settled to make their lives. Both smaller clusters of houses and hamlets and solitary, lonely houses exist, seeming to pop up wherever they are desired. The woodland is abundant with more trees than the population could ever possibly use (in no small part because it seems to replenish itself at a greatly accelerated rate), the lake is teeming with scrumptious fish and the plains themselves are almost certainly magical in their fertility, able to grow crops that would take months only weeks to bring to maturity, making farming far more sustainable than many of the displaced farmers are used to.



Currency is not a thing within Ariathelm; with no deposits of gold or silver, residents have taken to bartering for what they need with goods, services and Oaths of Assistance. A farmer going to market might well sell a brace of carrots for a new chair, or use a bag of potatoes to pay for the repairs to their wagon or tools.

Further, whilst many of the buildings looked identical upon first inspection, as soon as somebody lays claim to an unused building, that building will seem to Shift itself to resemble what the occupant desires of it. Whilst furniture must be bought and positioned manually, the external appearance and internal decor seems to match those who take up residence, with the basic tools and supplies needed already happily inside. Any furniture placed within, unless specifically made in a style specified by the occupant, will alter and change to fit the decor and the occupants preferences, though it will change back to its ordinary form upon removal. Though it must be said, that a correlation appears to occur; the quality of the final product is equal - in relative terms - to the quality of the item first placed within the building. Should you bring in a rickety chair from the street, the final transformed object will be far lower in quality than the artisan-crafted masterwork chair that you recently received in exchange for a great service of some kind.

At this moment in time, nobody is officially in charge of the city. A group of voluntary peacekeepers has formed - a militia of sorts - to enforce the universally agreed upon rules of society, and elections to appoint a mayor of sorts has been scheduled to occur in a couple of weeks time. At the start of the game, the Fables have been populating Ariathelm for the last two months, two months being the longest any Fable has spent outside the Time Loop. Every PC character has been in Ariathelm for at least one month.





I know, I know, nobody likes pesky rules. Alas, with a Group Game...it's a must.


1) All characters must be approved by both GM's.

2) We're all friends here. Keep the OOC civil. If there are any issues that cannot be resolved maturely over PM's, contact either myself or Pen to mediate the discussion.

3) If you wish to engage in PvP, then please get the prior approval of all players involved. This is not a PvP game, but I understand that sometimes scenes might spiral that way.
- 3a) No Godmodding, and no Power Playing.

4) Posts must use the provided Header (Shall be provided later, upon commencement of IC activity)
- 4a) Posts MUST be of a minimum length. This minimum length is two paragraphs of at least 8 lines each. Posts that consist of one paragraph, four lines or even only one line will not be considered acceptable.
- 4b) We know that life is busy, and we know that life sucks. But if you could try to get one post out every two weeks, that would be amazing. If you can't, just PM me and Pen to let us know, to keep us in the loop. Ta!

5) Character Bios must use the provided Template (Shall be provided below)

6) Scenes shall be organised by "Day" and you may have as many scenes as you think you can handle. EG, if we open up "Week One" for scenes, you may have as many scenes as there are slots in the week. Every Day will have the following slots:
Morning, Midday, Afternoon, Evening, Night.
No two scenes can occupy the same slot, unless there is an obvious continuation (EG, you moved from your house to the market and did so within the scene itself).

7) Characters must have spent the last month (at least) within Aetheria.

8) In terms of characters allowed, I would prefer no outright villains. Whilst evil characters are fun to play, the idea is that the Fable Characters band together to defeat The Shadow and save Aetheria. To that end, if you would like to play a Villain, I would prefer it if you played either an Anti Hero, or a villain who has decided to reform. Characters that actively try to dick the rest of the group over will not be accepted.
- 8a) Only two characters per Fable / Fairy Tale. No exceptions.
- 8b) Anthropomorphic or animal-like characters are acceptable. However, they get transformed into humans upon transportation. If you wish to play Puss In Boots, for example, he will arrive in Ariathelm as a Human. If you really want to play as the more bestial side of the character (EG, Beast from Beauty And The Beast in his more animalistic form), then we can have a discussion to see if that would work. :-)

9) What the GM's Say, goes. Period. If you raise a concern or an idea and the GM's decide not to go with it, then...sorry, but tough. We Are Your Gods Here. :P

10) Include appropriate tags. Sexy Stuff can happen anywhere, but so long as you include relevant tags so that people who do not wish to read the sexytimes do not have to. If you are having Sexytimes in the Market down a side alley, mark it as such.
- 10a) If you are in the same area as two characters that are smexytiming and wish to join the scene, get permission first.
- 10b) If you are smexytiming in public in such a way that would attract other people - EG, you've allowed your lass to be bent over the fountain and railed in the middle of the public square - you have declared the scene to be "Open," so others may join the scene without permission. You fuck in public, you pay the price. :P

11) All characters are aged 18+

12) Faceclaims must be real people and not artistic renditions.

13) Have fun!



The Characters:

So, now what you've all been waiting for! The Character Sheet.

If you wish to apply, simply fill in the sheet below and post it in the thread. Pen and I will take a look as soon as we can! As I said above, I want mostly heroes and named characters, but if you want to play a villain who wants to reform, or a sidekick who wants to step up...well, go ahead! And be creative with what your characters want; they are now given agency, so they can do whatever they desire. Does Gaston want to open up a pub? Does Pinocchio want to start his own theater company? Perhaps your character wishes to be the one who set up the volunteer Militia! Maybe your character is running for mayor? Players are encouraged to pitch new sites and new businesses and locations for other players to explore, so long as your character is the one either running it, or at least working in it (EG, you might be playing a character who works as the bartender, rather than the person who owns the pub).

Here is the Sheet, and an explanation of what we require for each category:

Code Select Expand

[float=right][img height=400 padding=3]Character Image Here. All characters must be 18+. All FC's must be 18+[/img][/float]
[b]Story Book Title/Fable:[/b] The Fable / Fairy Tale / Myth / Legend that your character is from
[b]Character Name:[/b] The characters name.
[b]Age:[/b] The characters age after leaving the fairy tale. Must be 18+
[b]Sexual Preference:[/b] Are you a carnivore, omnivore or vegetarian?

[b]Face Claim:[/b] Name of your FC, if known.
[b]Physical Description:[/b] Describe what your character looks like, physically. Include any distinctive features such as scars, and favoured fashion.

[b]Personality:[/b] What is your character like? Now that they are out of their story, what is your character like? What are their aims and objectives? How do they view their previous life, and do they wish to return?

[b]The Moment The Bubble Popped:[/b] We all know the stories, so "Background" isn't relevant here. What I want from all of you peeps is to tell me...what point of the story were they in when they got pulled out, and how did they react to suddenly having the knowledge of the whole story, from beginning to end? What was their first reaction? How did what had happened affect their mental state?

[b]Skills, Abilities and Powers:[/b] Every story is different, and every character is good at different things. What skills does your character carry over from their stories? What abilities do they possess? Do they have any unique abilities? NOTE: Magic exists in Aetheria, but not to the extent that some Fairy Tales are used to. If your character was a sorceress or something in their original story, they will carry over a fraction of their power, but not all. EG, Elsa: She will not be able to create life and cover the planet in eternal winter. She might, however, be able to create simple constructs out of snow and ice, and may be able to fire stunning blasts of cold from her hands. That would be about it.

[b]Unique Item:[/b] Every character obviously brings what they were wearing over from their old story. Each character is also given one "Unique" item or companion from their original story that holds some degree of power, some unique ability, or some emotional connection. EG, Princess Jasmine might bring Rajah. Aladdin might bring Abu. Jafar might bring his staff. Etc, etc. If you want to add a picture or two here in a spoiler, go ahead!

[b]Home / Profession:[/b] Your character has been living in Ariathelm for a month! Where do they live? What do they do to trade with other residents for the essentials? Basically, give me an overview of your characters profession, their home and their routine. If you have pictures of their home, feel free to include them here in a spoiler.

[b]Turn Ons:[/b] What gets your characters motor running?
[b]Turn Offs:[/b] What gets your characters motor running [i]away?[/i]

[b]Theme Song:[/b] Go on. You know you want to.

[b]Connections:[/b] This will be filled out later.

[center][spoiler][img]You may add more pictures here if you want[/img][/spoiler][/center]

And finally, as well as your Character Sheet, Pen and I would like you include a little...writing prompt. You wrote above where they were in their story when they got pulled out. For this writing prompt...give us 3 - 6 paragraphs (you can go over the 6 if you want) on your characters first week in Aetheria. We want you to write from their perspective how they felt, where they went, what they did. What happened to them when they first arrived? How did they take it? Let us know what kind of person this newly liberated character is like, and how they feel about their new situation.

I believe that's everything. If there are any problems, questions or concerns, feel free to Post and pose them, and we will address them as best we can!

I look forward to seeing all of you within the thread! :D





The Current Roster:

This is a list of the current approved, pending and reserved slots. If you would like to reserve a character, simply post below or PM us (at the same time) to reserve a character as you write their Bio.

Approved:

Vergil Tanner ---- Lancelot ---- "The Arthurian Cycle" ---- Pedro Saltz
PentheWonderful ---- Alice ---- "Alice In Wonderland" ---- Jourdan Miller
Mael ---- Princess Jasmine ---- "Aladdin" / "Arabian Nights" ---- Freida Pinto
Murvoen ---- The Big Bad Wolf ---- "Brothers Grimm" / "Red Riding Hood" / Etc
Levi ---- Hansel And Gretel ---- "Hansel And Gretel" / "Brothers Grimm" / Etc ---- Seth Green and Karen Gillan
Tokyorose627 ---- Koschei ---- "Koschei The Deathless" ---- Tom Felton


Pending:


Reserved:

[Vergil Tanner]

Story Book Title/Fable: The Arthurian Cycle
Character Name: Sir Lancelot Galehad. Goes by “Hector.”
Age: 35
Sexual Preference: Heterosexual

Face Claim: Pedro Soltz
Physical Description:
Sir Lancelot – or Hector, as he goes by now – stands at around 6'3 with broad shoulders and a powerful, rippling build thanks to his life of warfare and travel. He has not an ounce of fat on his body, his muscles being well toned, solid and obvious; one does not become a knight without serious training and conditioning, after all, and his well-muscled, athletic body reflects the work that he has – and continues to – put into maintaining his health and fitness. His face is ruggedly squared with a powerful jaw and a short, neatly trimmed beard that extends from either ear down to his chest and around the edges of his mouth. His hair is dark – almost jet black – and is kept at midlength, out of the way of his eyes but still long enough to hang during the rain. Whilst his face shows signs of early laughter – wrinkles around the eyes, lines near the mouth – his expression these days is somewhat stoic and some would even say grim, ghosts of an untold past haunting his rich sky-blue eyes. Whilst he does smile on occasion, oftentimes it will seem forced and not 100% genuine, though he would deny it if asked. His body is adorned with various scars and marks of his past as a warrior, though none more obvious than the scar tissue on his left side, just above his second rib. Whereas in his old life, he almost always wore his armour – a fine set of plate and chainmail, crafted by masters and gilded with the most elegant of designs – now...he mostly just wears a simple pair of britches and a tunic. His armour and sword...those, he keeps locked away. A permanent mark of his shame.


Personality:
Before the Fall of Albion, Lancelot was often brash, courageous and always ready for a fight. He was charming and flirtatious, brave and oftentimes reckless, and was always ready to demonstrate his exceptional skill at arms. He was the first to volunteer for quests, the first one into the fray and the last one out, always seeking to prove his mettle and always eager to aid his fellow knights. This soured over time, but he always strove to uphold his duty....save in one very important regard. He was never able to resist the urge to follow what his heart wanted, regardless of the consequences...and then the consequences caught up with him. Now, having been sucked out of his Story on possibly the worst day of his life, he is beaten down, reflective and disillusioned. He still attempts the charm on occasion, but he is often more satisfied with staying out of the way and dwelling on his own mistakes rather than getting involved with the world yet again. For him, life has been shorn of meaning, and he is utterly bewildered as to how to proceed. If he were any other man he would withdraw entirely within himself, but Lancelot...he is a Knight, through and through. He still feels that urge to protect the weak, he still has that ache to adventure, that need to feel the Thrill of battle coursing through him. He still feels that need to fight for Justice, but after what he's done...can he truly say he can recognise the meaning of the word anymore? To people within Ariathelm, he is the perfect gentleman; he is polite and chivalrous to everybody he meets, he is considerate, gentle and occasionally – when he allows himself to forget his self imposed penance – charming, quick with a self deprecating joke or a witty, sarcastic response. He is quick to offer aid – some habits don't die easily – and quicker still to step in should injustice occur, unable to stop himself from showing his more chivalrous, protective nature. However, where he was once reckless and brash and hotheaded, now he is more contemplative, more cautious and stoic, and far more reserved. He acted brashly and without thought too many times in his life...and he will not make those mistakes again. 


The Moment The Bubble Popped:
Honestly, he wishes he could forget that day. He wishes he could go back and stop it ever happening....Albion had fallen, Arthur was dead, the Knights of the Round Table scattered and estranged thanks to his own foolish, selfish urges and everything he'd sworn to protect lay in tatters around him. He had just bidden farewell to Guinevere, his lady and love, who had told him that she was now entering the life of a nun and that he would never again be permitted to see her face in life; more, she had turned him away, refusing to give him one final kiss goodbye, rejected his love after all those years together, and sent him on his way in shame. He had vowed to enter the priesthood himself, and had fully intended to do so, riding off to find his life of penance for his sins...and then, out of nowhere, a storm picked up. Winds howled around him, rain fell in torrents, lightning flashed in the sky. Rain drove into his eyes, blinding him with its intensity. The wind whipped him off course, and before he had a chance to right his horse, a shadow flickered out of the forest, dark and terrible with deep red eyes and savagely long claws, reaching out towards him. The sky split above him, light poured from the heavens with an intensity to make him wince. His faithful horse bucked and trembled under the assault on the senses, whinying up and throwing him to the ground. He hit his head on a rock, losing consciousness swiftly...and when he awoke, he found himself lying in a heap on cobbled ground, in the middle of a strange, unfamiliar, almost abandoned walled city, save a dozen or so equally befuddled men and women wandering around. He found a luxurious-but-bare-bones cottage outside the city, and set up residence with only the basics of survival as way of substitution for his planned life in the priesthood. He tried initially to find a way back, but with no obvious methods of return - and no real desire to put the effort into returning to a place that no longer held anything for him - he soon gave up, settling into his new personal Purgatory. And so began his life in Ariathelm.

Skills, Abilities and Powers:
Lancelot is arguably the greatest of the Knights of The Round Table, surpassed in fame only by his friend and King, Arthur. As such, Lancelot is extremely highly drilled in all forms of medieval combat, from the sword to the spear to the lance, to the bow to the fist, and is a master of all both on and off horseback. Furthermore, he is easily capable of reading and writing several common languages, and is well versed in philosophy, mathematics, history and geography (though that last one seems to not be much use in this unfamiliar land). Thanks to his adventures and pilgrimages, he is also unfazed when facing down magic and monsters, and despite his inner turmoil, is stoic and steadfast in the face of danger. He survived Morgana and Mordred. He can survive whatever this strange place has in store for him.

Unique Item:
As the second in command of the Knights of The Round Table and one of the greatest heroes of Albion, Sir Lancelot was gifted a unique magical sword by the Lady of The Lake; Arondight, The Ebony Blade, the sister sword to Excalibur, and no less impressive. It is indestructible, perfectly balanced and never loses its edge. It is capable of carving through heavy and magical armour without issue, and – with determined use – has even proven capable of cutting through magical forcefields and even stone buildings before. Alas, there is a downside. When Lancelot used Arondight to free Guinevere from her execution, he used it to cut down several of his fellow Knights. Tasting the blood of its former companions and heroes corrupted the sword, twisting its magic into something altogether far more ugly. Now, the blade thirsts for blood with a vengeance, using its magic to reach out and call to Lancelot in his weakest moments. Should he succumb and draw the blade, he knows that there is a good chance that he will lose himself to the swords bloodlust and kill those closest to him once again. As such, he keeps it under heavy lock and key within his home, never daring to approach the corner of his garden where he buried the key.

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Home / Profession:
Lancelot - “Hector” - has taken on the role of a monk, of sorts. He spends his days farming his small plot of land – the magical soil making that far more sustainable than it otherwise would be – seeing to his small collection of animals and selling his produce in the city. Since his transportation here and his decision that it must have been some kind of punishment, Lancelot has decided that in penance, he must work the land to feed the others trapped in this land and not for his own fulfilment. As such, he grows wheat, carrots, potatoes, parsnips and other root vegetables and trades what he does not intend to eat in town for fruit and bread and the like. He has a pair of cows with which he produces milk and cheese, and observes a semi-monastic lifestyle in that his diet consists of mostly bread, root vegetables, basic fruit, cheese, water and – on Sundays – a small cup of warm mulled wine, with the occasional slice of beef traded from the butcher. His daily routine ordinarily consists of waking at dawn, seeing to watering his crops outside, collecting the eggs and milk from his chickens and cows and cleaning out the stable of his loyal and faithful horse, Nightwind. After breakfast, he continues with his cheese making steps before leaving it to set and sets out for the market to sell his excess crops and cheese. On the way, he drops by the nearby farms who have a standing order for his produce, before taking his place in the Commerce Quarter. At lunch, he visits the local eatery before heading back home to till the fields, feed the animals and let Nightwind out for his daily run. He spends an hour in prayer, an hour exercising – keeping both his soul and body as fit as they can be, considering his sorry state – before he cleans out the coop and cowpens. He then eats dinner, brings Nightwind back into the stable and relaxes in front of the fire and tries not to think about his past too often. Occasionally, he might venture into the city to visit one of his few acquaintances, or to volunteer to help at the local tavern if they find themselves short handed. There are other duties, of course, but that is the general overview.

His home is a simple affair, consisting mostly of a few rooms in a simple stone farmers cottage. Whilst not poor by any means, it is definitely not the realm of a king. It is comfortable and cosy, enough for one or two people, with attached stable, pens and farms for his work. His furniture is well made and functional, but not ostentatious; he is no longer a Knight, and so should live like it. He does not deserve the finer things in life anymore anyway.

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Turn Ons: Romance, Intimacy, Domination / Submission, strong women, intelligence, compassion, confidence.
Turn Offs: Malice, sadism, gore, vore, scat, watersports, etc etc.

Theme Songs:

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqVa3IlxbOE

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QszsaM58DvQ

Connections: This will be filled out later.

More Pictures

[PentheWonderful]

Story Book Title/Fable: Alice in Wonderland
Character Name: Alice
Age: 19
Sexual Preference: Asexual

Face Claim: Jourdan Miller
Physical Description: Standing at 5'6, Alice is what you would call a classic blond beauty; blond, blue eyed, and fair skinned, blessed with delicate facial features and a slender frame. Although, living in a place like Ariathelm, that's nothing particularly extraordinary. In fact, she blends in a bit too well with the picturesque cast of characters living in the city, so much so that she looked rather average in comparison. Perhaps, slightly below average even, if those dark circles under her eyes were anything to complain about. Although, she would argue that they make her eyes pop more. Given her conservative upbringing, however, Alice prefers to dress modestly and politely - favoring cute and feminine dresses and skirts over trousers and shorts - though her active personality demands anything above or around knee-level. Most of her wardrobe consists of pleated or A-line dresses and skirts that twirls with her movements. Blue is her favorite color, and you will often find her wearing it.

Personality: Alice's relocation to Ariathelm has affected her more than she is willing to admit; with the premise of her story centering around her perception of the line between fantasy and reality, logic and nonsense, Alice is now balancing at the very edge of that line, uncertain of where she currently lies. Breaking out of her loop has unfortunately broken her sense of what is real and what is not, blurring the differences between being asleep and awake, and pushing her to question the very purpose and nature of her existence. Alice grapples with her sanity on a daily basis, and a newfound insomnia stemming from her fear of waking up to yet another reality further from her mental grasp, while the previous one fades from her memory. Alice is... Quite an odd one, to put it lightly. She has - and always will be - quite a stubborn girl who prefers doing things her own way. She absolutely despises routines and monotony, and will often go out of her way to avoid such things to a fault. Though despite her stubbornness, Alice is an intellectual who simply views things differently than other people. With high curiosity and investigative attitudes - a drive to discover and understand how things work, often questioning established norms and systems - one might even call her an eccentric genius. Might, being the keyword. More often than not, Alice is stuck in her own fantasies, and her groundbreaking ramblings are just... Rambles. Though her scholarly abilities are nothing to scoff at, Alice would not consider herself a scholar, and absolutely despises the word. It's much too dreadfully dull. Though in all seriousness,

The Moment The Bubble Popped: Alice has always possessed this... Awareness to her; the ability to notice things that characters shouldn't generally be able to notice in their stories, the curiousness of it all, which had been the entire premise of her journey through Wonderland. However, at some point in her life, it would have occurred to her once or twice that she feels as though she'd been living the same day, the same events over and over again like a twisted form of deja vu (hence, her dislike of routines). However, thinking perhaps she'd dreamed about it or imagined it once before, she'd always brushed everything off in the end. Hence, when she was broken free from the loop, she came to realize that everything she's felt and wondered had been true, and the realization had taken its toll on her, causing her to question the reality of the world she's seeing, if anything was real, or if they're all in her head, fated to vanish when she falls asleep and wakes up again. At this point, her world has essentially been turned upside down; what she'd once perceived as fantasy and insanity... It was now her reality, and she needed to live with it.

Skills, Abilities and Powers: Alice possesses the ability to warp reality within her direct proximity. However, this ability is fairly minor and does not have permanent or long lasting effects. The warp is only effective if the target is in direct contact with Alice, and once it is removed, it will revert back to its original form. Additionally, she can only warp objects into other objects that she's seen before and is familiar with, or know how they function. For instance, she may transform a branch into a key, but there's no guarantee it would open a specific door she's never seen before, because she doesn't know what the real key should look like. However, her powers also extend to gravity; allowing her to fall slower and jump higher than normal.

Unique Item: Cheshire Cat. A peculiar feline that only Alice can see and communicate with. It supposedly has the ability to teleport and turn itself invisible, and Alice claims to be able to return to Wonderland with its help.

Cheshire Cat

Home / Profession: Alice is quite a peculiar one. Despite loathing monotony and routine, she also finds herself quite drawn to the familiar, and it is for this reason that she chooses to reside in the rolling plains outside the hustle and bustle of the city, just by a river branching off the lake, just on the outside of the nearest hamlet. It is here that her lovely little cottage was erected, a humble establishment in which she found great likeness towards her home in her Fable. Thanks to her power, however, she does not particularly require food, as she can simply turn anything she pleases into any food and drink she pleases and because of this, she has not taken to any official profession. She is quite popular within the hamlet for her peculiar behavior and personality, however, and often will run some of the residents' errands for them in exchange for clothes and furniture, and has also taken to fishing - a hobby she remembered her sister absolutely despising for being unladylike - and scavenging for additional activities. Occasionally, she also assists the local farmers in their farms - including one who lives particularly far away from the hamlet - running deliveries to the markets. She does not do this often, however, as she avoids routines as much as possible, and turns up on random days to random farmers. It's important to keep things interesting, after all!

Alice's Cottage

Turn Ons: Cheek-play, ear-play, tender caresses, playful teasing, possessiveness, jealousy, romance, intimacy, alpha males, protectiveness
Turn Offs: Scat, vore, gore, mutilation, brutality, watersports

Theme Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=douOQMC9l2w

Connections: This will be filled out later.

More Pictures

[VonDoom]

A very intriguing offering!

If it's not a problem since Jasmine has already been reserved, I'd like to offer a version of the Grand Vizier /Jafar more closely inspired by the more ambivalent figure from 1001 Nights than the villainous Disney version.

Edit: If feasible, faceclaim wise I'd like to reserve Khaled Nabawy.

[Vergil Tanner]

Hmmm, well...Jaffar isn't "NOT ALLOWED" buuut I would like to say that a) we want as much diversity in source material as possible, and 2) we don't want outright villains that are gonna dick the group over. We want people who are actually gonna...help. XD

So whilst I will say go ahead, it's all good, I'll also note that if we get lots of interest, those factors will play into which characters to accept, y'know?

That being said, I've always loved Jafar, so I look forward to seeing your offering.

And yes, FC's can be claimed. :P

[VonDoom]

Hey! Thanks for the quick reply!  :-) I was planning to go for a morally grey but more benevolent than not approach.

For some context on where I'm drawing this from, the Disney version combines two characters - the sorcerer, who lusts after the lamp and betrays Aladdin and the Vizier, who is the father to the Princess '/Jasmine's intended husband. In 1001 Nights a Vizier character appears in multiple stories as well as the framing one since, named as Jafar, he's Sheherazade's father. Whilst doing some questionable things in the line of duty, he's largely a positive figure throughout the tales if you assume that the various unnamed Viziers are all based on Sheherazade's father, which I'd be doing here.

[Vergil Tanner]

Apologies for typos and whatnot, on the phone.

When I can get my Discord working again, I will chat it over with Pen to see what we reckon ^_^ don't wanna make any rulings or promises without her input, but we're definitely interested in you as a player, at the least :P

[PentheWonderful]

Hey~ Pen here!

I'm definitely intrigued by your concept, and while I agree with Vergil that we don't want too many of our cast coming from the same fable, I do believe that two per fable won't be too much of a problem. :D

So, when you're ready, go ahead and drop us an application!

[Vergil Tanner]

Seconded! And added to the rules; only two per Fable / Adaptation. :P

[Vergil Tanner]

And a new rule has been added!

- 8b) Anthropomorphic or animal-like characters are acceptable. However, they get transformed into humans upon transportation. If you wish to play Puss In Boots, for example, he will arrive in Ariathelm as a Human. If you really want to play as the more bestial side of the character (EG, Beast from Beauty And The Beast in his more animalistic form), then we can have a discussion to see if that would work. :-)

[Kuroneko]

Interested in Puss and Boots, definitely as a human character. Planing to use Rodrigo Santoro as a faceclaim.

[Vergil Tanner]

Not a problem at all! That's all been edited and reserved for you. :-) Welcome aboard :D
Any questions or issues whipping up the sheet, be sure to let us know. We're here to help! ^_^

[Mael]

Story Book Title/Fable: Aladdin
Character Name: Jasmine
Age: 25
Sexual Preference: Heterosexual 

Face Claim: Freida Pinto
Physical Description: 
Jasmine's trim figure reaches 5'5" from her toes to the top of her head. Her tanned skin speaks of an origin placed somewhere most might not be familiar with, and paired with her inky dark hair and honey colored eyes, she manages to feel exotic among the rest. Full lips often part into a wide smile, revealing straight, white teeth. Or they are set into a pursed state to express her rampant curiosity. 

In the beginning, Jasmine dressed in her traditional clothes from her Fable – the exotic colors and materials, all of her exposed skin. As time wore on, she kept a similar style, but with simpler materials that are more common to come by. She also doesn't expose so much skin, favoring a bit more modesty to avoid the wandering gazes of those around her. She maintains her ear-piercings with jewelry often hanging from each ear.

Personality: 
As a Princess, Jasmine could have been viewed as 'having it all', but really, her freedom presented her with desires of all sorts. It could have been viewed as selfish, but Jasmine didn't realize how much she lacked until she gained her true freedom. Her father, the Sultan, used to struggle with her feisty nature and independence. It used to lead to her stubborn personality shining brightest and to her getting into trouble. With her newfound freedom from her Bubble, the independence and stubbornness bled into an intense need for her curiosity to be sated. Jasmine wants to know all she can about anything that interests her now that she doesn't have limits impressed upon her. When she is not seeking knowledge, she is actively exploring the world around her. Outside of her Fable, she is not a Princess, she is simply 'Jasmine'. With this shift in her world, she has altered her appearance to avoid staring gazes. The attention garnered to a Princess – or a woman dressing as she was used to in the hot temperature of her land – was something she actively wanted to avoid. While it didn't change too much, it has caused her to become more self-aware and realize that she didn't necessarily enjoy the feeling of attention being drawn to her. Not when it wasn't something she prompted, anyway.

The Moment The Bubble Popped:
Jasmine would never look at snakes the same again. Or sand. 

She shuddered in her flimsy clothes as she stood up shakily from where she'd been shoved to the floor. The terror of what had almost taken place – her almost marriage to that monster! - had her shaking where she stood as the energy from Jafar's magic as a genie began to finally dissipate in the air. Her eyes met with Aladdin's from across the room and she only was able to take one step forward before the entire atmosphere around them shifted.   

Something... happened, after Jafar was pulled into the lamp. It was as if there was a sudden clarity in her mind and, looking around, she could see it on the others' faces, too. Even Genie looked confused as a large crack split through the air like a bolt of lightning and there was a huge, gusting sound before she felt her body being pulled away from the dark scene.... and out into something completely unfamiliar. Aladdin was not far and together, the two of them paired up to try and figure out what had happened to them. It didn't take long for them to find a plain home along the outskirts of the bustling city center, the smooth stone walls reminding Jasmine of the palace she'd grown up in. It also didn't take long for Jasmine to realize that Aladdin, with his newly found freedom, was enjoying it just as much as she was... though in a very different manner. His head turned to look towards women as they explored this place together and he started arriving back at their shared home later and later. Jasmine had never argued with such a stubborn man in all of her days, and it finally came to a head that resulted in him leaving their shared home.


Skills, Abilities and Powers: 
Jasmine has a knack for retaining knowledge and recognizing faces. Her memory is excellent and that is one of the many reasons she maintains such a drive for learning all she can. She possesses the skills to also utilize natural plants/flowers for jewelry making.

Unique Item: 
Her overprotective tiger, Rajah, ended up somehow coming with her. A constant companion, Rajah doesn't frequent most of the public places with her, despite how badly he might desire to do so. Jasmine isn't sure how the presence of such a large, wild creature would go over with the rest of the townspeople.

Rajah

Home / Profession:
Jasmine volunteers at the library in order to have free access to the materials she desires for her learning. She spends a lot of her free time there when not spent lounging with Rajah and exploring the outskirts of the city with him. Jasmine doesn't have a particular profession, but she is adept at creating jewelry from flowers and unique stones she acquires – also through bartering for shells and exotic materials. Even Rajah's fur sometimes makes an appearance, and utilizing her skills, she often attends the market in order to purchase whatever she needs. 

Jasmine still lives in the home that her and Aladdin originally inhabited. The open style but small size works well for her, the décor rather simple, but colorful. Her favorite aspect is the large yard that is fenced in with the same material the walls are made of, though the fence is short enough that she doesn't feel trapped in. It also gives Rajah plenty of space to lounge around in the privacy of their own backyard. Her home is positioned along the stream moving through the city, though close to where the stream itself exits through the wall.

Jasmine's Home

 
Turn Ons: Sense of humor, intelligence, strength, honesty, dominance, large hands, kissing... anywhere, passion
Turn Offs: Scat, vore, the gross stuff, public sex, humiliation, feeling completely powerless

Theme Song: 

Go Your Own Way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ul-cZyuYq4

Connections: This will be filled out later.

More Images

[Vergil Tanner]

Ooooh, I like her! I mean, I like Jasmine full stop, but still :P

Pending the Writing Prompt, she looks all good! Get that prompt done, and we can move her over to the Approved List. :D Welcome aboard, Mael! And...mmmm....welcome aboard Jasmine. ;) :P :P

[PentheWonderful]

I second this decision. :D

[VonDoom]

I quite like her myself! Though that brings up the question -- is it acceptable to have two characters from distinctly different versions of the same fairy tale, which presumably existed as their own realms? My take definitely isn't compatible with the Disney version -- unless we can go meta and say that all incarnations of Aladdin melted into one and that Jafar is now part of my Jafar, but not the dominant aspect?

[Vergil Tanner]

Oh, it's acceptable! The way the Lore works is that every adaptation was held within the same bubble, but still separate from each other. When the bubble "Popped," sometimes characters from different adaptations were pulled out, and some weren't. So it's entirely possible for your Jaffar to know nothing about the Disney Aladdin, and vice versa! Though if he introduces himself as "Jafar," she might assume some bad things until set straight :P

But to answer your question simply, you can have it either way. You can say he has elements of all the Jafar's rolled into one, or you can have him as strictly from 1001 Arabian Nights. Entirely up to you! Though the latter would be my personal preference. :P

[VonDoom]

Great! There remains one thing before I can get started working on an application, though -- what do you think of my idea, Mael? Since you reserved Jasmine before I made my own proposal and the characters would be closely connected thematically if not factually (so to speak!) your input on this is quite important.

[Mael]

I think that the separation is a good idea! I like the concept of them being different, yet the same? Something else she could look into and explore a bit more. And yes - if he goes by Jafar, there will definitely be trepidation, but we could work that out between them, if we need to!

[Life in Color]

CAKE YOU SAY.

(Also Von Doom made me come over here.)

ALSOIHAVEWAYTOOMANYIDEASFORTHISWHYAREYOUDOINGTHIS.

.... I'll get a sheet for something. Eventually.

Ugh.



Can you throw Nalayani from The Mahabharata and Priyanka Chopra as a faceclaim on the Reserved list?

Thanks baaaaaaaae.

<3

[Vergil Tanner]

CAKE YOU SAY.

CAKE WE DO SAY!

(Also Von Doom made me come over here.)

I would have made you come over here! The only reason I didn't was because I was worried you were already too busy xD
But I'm happy he did! I'm always more than happy to welcome you into whatever game I'm running that piques your interest. :-)

Can you throw Nalayani from The Mahabharata and Priyanka Chopra as a faceclaim on the Reserved list?

Thanks baaaaaaaae.

<3

Done and done :-)



Mael, your Writing Prompt got to us, and is excellent :-) Jasmine is approved! WOOOO!

[Mael]

Hooray!!

[PentheWonderful]

Huzzah! *throws confetti*

[Kuroneko]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to withdraw my interest because of work obligations. But, yay new book contract :-)

[PentheWonderful]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to withdraw my interest because of work obligations. But, yay new book contract :-)

Awww, we're sorry to hear that. :c
Good luck on that new contract though!