Broken Reflections - A Modern Magical Guy/Girl Game (LGBTQ+ Friendly)

[Xurtan]

BROKEN REFLECTIONS

“Just because you keep trying to do the right thing,
doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a happy ending.” – Junko Kaname

The island of Point Mauri was like a place out of time. The year was 2024 and although the world had seen wars begin and end, dictators rise and fall, as well as technological advances that shamed even the most forward thinking of authors of yesteryear, Mauri remained much as it always had. Sleepy little towns dotted the coastlines, and although there were several main cities the population of the entire island kept to a relatively steady 1.2 million. People in such locations are slow to change, and even now the newest of technologies are yet to arrive. Cellphones are not the beasts they are now, but rather the old style flip phones. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see a phone booth along the narrow paths, cheerfully claiming only a quarter a call. TVs are boxy monstrosities, and the internet still sounds rather like the trapped screams of the damned when it connects.

Yet no matter how idyllic, all communities have their secrets. Point Mauri is no different. If anything, theirs happens to be more meaningful than most. Millennia ago the world was a very different place. Unknown to most of the modern world, Magick existed--as did all manner of Magickal beings and creatures. This was simply an accepted fact, something found in the smallest of actions taken by the poorest peasant and the richest King. Tributes were offered, and Magick was respected... and feared. There were, however, those that would control it. Humans have always been capricious and greedy, and as humans demanded more--took more--Magick began to twist, and change.

It became corrupted. A foul yet beautiful thing that threatened the very planet itself. None were spared its impact. Magickal creatures began to die off, and ultimately it was decided that something had to be done. The few remaining forces of Good decided to enact a dangerous plan to Seal Magick--all Magick--away forever. It took many days, arguments, and more than a few fights before there was agreement. It meant giving up their own Magick. It meant their descendants would never know the joy that it could bring. But what choice did they have? It was either Seal the corrupted Magick, or see the very world itself change around them. 

And so a ritual took place, deep in the caverns below Mauri. Behind great gates of stone, a rift in space was created. The greatest and most powerful of mages wove their spells, creating interlocking panels of stained glass that spiraled into infinity. In this ever-shifting maze of glass, Magick itself would be Sealed. Lost. Bound. Forbidden. Never to awaken on Earth again.

But all rituals come with a cost. Though Magick was Sealed, it took the lives of those involved in the ritual. Worse, the spells keeping Magick bound would not hold forever, not without Anchors. Four families volunteered to dedicate their lines to the protection of the Seals--one for each cardinal direction. The rest of them would bury Magick, forget about it. They would tell none and teach none, and let it slip into myth and legend.

So it did. So it remained. Thousands of years later, those four families still remember their solemn oath and unknowingly pass the burden of charging the Seals to the first born in their family each generation. Though some knowledge has been lost to time, they still live upon the island and--in what has become an almost religious practice among them--dedicate themselves to shrines around the island, praying every evening... never knowing that by their very actions they expend energy to power the Seals that keep Magick locked.

But knowledge cannot stay lost forever. Perhaps someone was careless, all those years ago. Or perhaps it was through malice rather than ignorance. Whatever the reason, the secret of Magick and the Anchors has been found. Known to a precious few, a secret Organization has sprouted upon the island with plans to destroy the Seals and take Magick for themselves. Maybe they think they can cleanse the corruption, maybe they don't care. Whatever the reason, what is clear is that they have been at least partially successful.

The Northern Seal has fallen. The Anchor is missing presumed dead. And Magick has begun to awaken. As the Seals weaken, shards of stained glass are found around the island. Should one have the will to pick one up without falling to corruption, they are able to use its power. Some argue this is destiny, others coincidence. No matter the reasoning, it is evident that certain color shards are drawn to certain people. Just as evident, there are those lacking in will that stumble upon Shards. The result is a twisted bit of localized Magick, hostile to all who come near that quickly begins to turn the ground itself into stained glass, spawning creatures of shambling, glass-like horror. 

As the Organization tries to find and nullify the Anchors, Shardbearers awaken. If this is destiny, perhaps it is theirs to protect the Anchors, defeat the Organization, and either find a way to cleanse Magick of its corruption... or reinforce the Seals keeping its power in check, once more hiding it away from mortal use. 



If you're still with me after that rather verbose opening, welcome! If it wasn't clear from the opening, players will be taking on the role of Shardbearers, those Awoken few bound to a specific color of Shard--in return, they gain access to its power, enabling them to accomplish feats of wonder and intrigue. Essentially, it turns them into magical girls. Yes, there will be transformation sequences. This game is intended to be a 'serious' take on the genre, closer to Madoka Magica than say, the American Sailor Moon. Inspirations include Sailor Moon and Madoka (obviously), Star Driver, Magic: the Gathering, and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night as well as I'm sure countless others I can't think of right now. Though a more serious look at the genre I'm expecting romance, light-heartedness, moments of levity and drama, and ultimately I want people to be invested and enthused by the story and world. Below, you'll find a FAQ, a Rules section, a brief bit on what I'm expecting from players as well as more world information if you'd like it.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to PM me. Remember, a believing heart is your magic. ;)

GAME OUTLINE

Q: What section of the forums will the game be placed in?
A: The game will be placed within Non-Consensual Exotic. While I don't exactly expect anything except human on human, there's always the chance of someone going kinky with the Magick and I'd rather be safe than sorry. 

Q: Is this a system game?
A: Sort of. We'll be using a cannibalized version of the OVA system to create characters, but any dice rolling will be behind the scenes and solely to keep some randomness and spontaneity to scenes. Players will not need to be concerned with the rules at all. The full character creation will be listed within this thread. 

Q: Who is the RP open to?
A: Anyone is welcome to come in and make a character. Gay, straight, bi, male, female, gelatinous cube... Okay, maybe not the last one unless you're a gelatinous cube that wants to write a human. But the point remains.

Q: Can I get the elevator pitch?
A: Players take on the role of 'Shardbearers', essentially the equivalent to say, the Sailor Moon planets. Each Shard color is drawn to certain emotions and personality types which makes specific types of Magick easier to use. Players are forces of Good--though that doesn't mean they're nice people--who will be dealing with threats from loose Shards, the Organization, trying to protect the Anchors, and deciding what to do about Magick.

Q: What about a setting tldr?
A: The players will be high-school students on the island attending Clearview High, at least sixteen years of age in accordance with E's rules. The island itself is fictional and located 'somewhere' near Australia or thereabouts, though the world itself is Earth just slightly in the future. The island has a technology level equal to the early 00s or slightly earlier, and while not fully rural there are definitely different terrain types to take advantage of.

Q: Is it structured or sandbox?
A: The game is a semi-structured sandbox, essentially. What this means is there will be an Event thread for current plot threads, as well as additional 'side' threads for people to freely roleplay within.

Q: To what extent will players be allowed to create/use environment or setting details?
A: Though any large changes should be discussed with me, I'm fine with minor things such as 'this building or store exists', there's a phone booth here, etc. In regards to combat, I'm fine with players introducing/removing low powered enemies in their posts, describing combat, etc. For more 'elite' enemies, I'll be controlling those. In general your base bet is make 'assumptive' posts, wherein you do something without confirming the effect; describing what you intend/want to happen.   

Q: How many characters may a player have?
A: To begin with, only one. This may change later if there is interest.

Q: How much sexual activity is likely to occur or is expected, if any?
A: Though the game itself does not necessarily have a strong sexual focus, it is still E... and an anime inspired game. I wouldn't rule out non-con scenes involving the Organization, and certainly players are encouraged to form bonds between themselves.

Q: Will PvP be allowed? 
A: Though this one took some thought, ultimately I came down on the line that players should be on the same side. So in short, no, PvP is not allowed.

Q: Can I play an Anchor or member of the Organization?
A: Building on the answer to the last question, you may not play a member of the Organization (unless, perhaps, you would like to appropriate a member for a short non-con scene, subject to approval), but I will consider Anchors.

Q: Will we be using Face Claims?
A: Yes. Live Action - and yes, you may claim one.

Q: Can there be only one player of each Shard?
A: No! It might be a different game if everyone happened to end up, say, Purple, but that would still be perfectly fine.

Q: Will there be player advancement?
A: Yes. Details as they become relevant.

DM EXPECTATIONS

Q: Will there be a Co-GM?
A: At this time, no. If someone is especially enthused and wishes to volunteer, I would consider it.

Q: How will NPC's be handled?
A: Plot NPCs will be handled by myself. If you would like to appropriate one for a short scene, contact me. Equally, if they are non-plot important you may do as you wish. EG, if you wish to write a scene with your 'parents', with a 'teacher', etc.

Q: How active will the GM be?
A: I try to be fairly active and, if nothing else, am always available via PM--I strive to answer PMs within a day and will inform people if I will be away.

Q: What are the expectations for thread use?
A: Ideally, everyone will post in the Event thread. DM posts will be every 5 days, and the scene will move on with or without you. I encourage chatter in the OOC thread, as well as coming up with your own plots or scenes to run on your own or with other players in side-story threads.

Q: What are the expectations for player activity?
A: Beyond the above, I'd only ask that you don't leave people hanging. If you don't post within three 'rounds' of DM posting, I will be PMing you. Please mention in OOC if you are going to be absent.

Q: Can I contact you with questions?
A: Absolutely, please do!

Q: How will decisions be resolved?
A: The DM has final say, but I will listen to all sides if anyone has feedback or wishes to see something particular ran or included.

Q: Will this be first come, first serve?
A: No.

Q: How will you be choosing players?
A: I want consistency and enthusiasm. I will be looking at post history and getting a feel for your writing style and speed, but the most important thing is respecting both myself and the other players with the commitment you've chosen to take on. Beyond that, I'll be looking for characters that seem like they'll be fun to interact with and will push the story forward. The big thing I don't want to see is posts that are fully internal monologue within Event threads. If you wish to do so in side-threads, fine, but in an Event thread I'd like to see posts that add to the story and push the plot. Give me and the other players things to respond to! I'll be looking for such things in your history, and judging primarily based off of that. I truly am sorry if this seems harsh, but I want the best game for everyone involved, and a lot of what causes games to fail is a lack of consistency.

Q: How many players will you choose?
A: At this time, the number is unknown. If need be I'll run it myself and one other, but I could also accept up to as many that apply. It simply depends on who fits with the group.

Q: When I'm done with my character sheet, should I PM it to you or post it in the thread?
A: PM it to me, please.

RULES

I like to keep rules short and sweet. In general, don't be a dick out of character. If you have a problem or question, come to me. Beyond that...

• Do not Godmode.
  
• Give people enough to respond to in your post.
• If you have an issue with another player, come to me.
• If you have a question, come to me.
• Be respectful of everyone's time, and remember that we're all human.
• Avoid out of character drama.
• Posts should be in third person.

[Xurtan]

CHARACTER CREATION

When I said we would be using a cannibalized version of the OVA system, I meant it. This is going to be very loose, primarily based on a mere handful of options. It will be a five step process. If you'd prefer to look at the book while doing so, the parts of note are the Abilities & Weaknesses, and the Perks & Flaws. The numbers attached to them do not matter, and I will be listing all of the options here and explaining the "system" as I go. Mostly, it is diceless freeform. You begin play with 50 health and 50 willpower, which is already noted within the character sheet code. 

1) The first thing you need to consider is what color Shard you wish to be. Look at the options below, and select one. Affinity Magick isn't meant to be limiting - it's meant to get you thinking and being creative with what are relatively traditional elements. A Blue and a Red are going to have very different ways to accomplish the same result, for example. One might conjure illusions out of ice, another might create shimmering heat waves. They work similarly when it comes to the mechanics, but the flavor is vastly different.

2) The second thing you need to do is select a unique weapon.

3) After that, browse the Abilities and Weaknesses. You may select up to a max of 10 Mundane abilities, and a minimum of 5. You may spread up to 15 points between these abilities. For every point you spend, you must take an equal amount of Weaknesses. Only one Mundane ability may start at 4. Justify your choice should you take advantage of it. These should be written out in narrative form. Weaknesses can be taken up to level 3, with each successive rank becoming worse.   

4) Fourth, look at the Magickal abilities. Select up to 5. You may assign 1-3 points to each; again, take an equal number of Weaknesses. Weaknesses can be taken up to level 3, with each successive rank becoming worse. 

5) If you wish to further customize your abilities, you may look at Perks and Flaws. These adjust the base Willpower cost of your Magickal abilities - the number after a Perk or Flaw is the increased or decreased Willpower cost for taking it. A Willpower cost may never be zero.

EXAMPLE CHARACTER SHEET

Oliver King

Name: Oliver King
Player Name: Xurtan
Face Claim/Play-By: João Knorr
Alias/Nick names: Oli (Nickname), ThePissedOffChef(YouTube), 'Asshole' and derivatives of
Age: 17
Height: 5'8
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Male
Sexuality & Orientation: Gay (Closeted)
Class Affiliation: Junior
Description: On an average day he tends to be wearing torn jeans, a t-shirt of some color, and a leather jacket. He's partial to silver necklaces or rings and occasionally wears an earring.



Shard: Red
Weapon: Zweihander
Transformation: To begin his transformation Oliver tends to quip something about fire. This can be as simple as 'I'll burn you all to ash!' to a pun or idiom related to his element such as 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.' He holds his hands outward one over the other, and light flares. Fire blooms into existence in a circle around his feet, and just as his zweihander appears in his hands the fire spirals upward like a writhing pillar.

As the fire roars around him his eyes shift to the golden hue of a warm ember, and his hair lengthens several inches before changing to a fiery red. Any shirt he wears is burned away, showing off his chest. As he's typically wearing a leather jacket, this lengthens down into a full trench coat and turns a dark red. To finish off the transformation, leather gauntlets and greaves attach themselves, providing him a modicum of protection around the extremities. He tends to swing the zweihander to dispel the fire, resting with it easily across his shoulders and smirking.

Health (HP): 70
Willpower (WP): 50



Abilities - Mundane

Knowledge: Cooking (3) - Living alone, Oliver had to do something to support himself. As a result he ended up taking on jobs here and there for anyone that paid, doing pretty much anything for a buck. Though he knew this could easily draw him down a bad path, he didn't care--why would he? Luckily for him he ended up finding mostly legal work at a kitchen, and to his own shock he found himself to be rather good at it. More than that, he enjoyed it. He runs a YouTube channel called ThePissedOffChef, and he has a small fairly dedicated fanbase that he uses to support a tiny apartment. Once his channel took off he quit his other jobs, and dedicates a half-decent bit of time to the channel whenever he can. Over the last few years he's experimented with a lot of recipes and food, and while he's not exactly one of the best in the world he could probably be considered one of the best on the island--not that he knows that. Nor does he want anyone to know. It doesn't exactly fit his reputation.

Knowledge: Classic Literature (1) - When one is low on funds, it's not exactly feasible to get the latest and greatest. Sure, he might see new books and wonder, but come on. There are cheap pre-owned book stores all over the place, and classics are always especially cheap. His favorite is a battered copy of Pride & Prejudice, but he's read a little bit of everything. He's never seen with a book, though. He keeps them at home. No point in risking them, or worse risk being mocked, because then he'd have to break their faces.     

Connected (1) - Working a lot of odd end jobs means you meet a lot of people, and boy has Oliver worked at a lot of jobs. Before he settled into making YouTube videos he'd worked at a fish market, a bazaar, a private club, a down home-cooking restaurant, as well as handling some small smuggling, stocking, and other random tasks of variable legality. Oliver almost always knows a guy that knows a guy, and while he can't exactly go request a flamethrower or anything, it wouldn't be out of the realm of the reasonable for him to get reservations at a restaurant, access to a private club, a rare alcohol, or other small tidbits.

Evasive (1) - So maybe not everything Oliver has done has been, shall we say, strictly legal. Sometimes you have to run from a cop, or an angry store owner. Sometimes you have to dodge fists or bats from people when you're doing a little smuggling. Oliver might have managed to not get sucked into that life by and large, but he still acquired the skills to dodge. 

Intimidating (1) - No one is going to look out for you, you gotta manage on your own. Sometimes that makes it difficult when you're out-numbered, though. He's learned to bark worse than his bite, and the easily intimidated are quick to scatter. Oliver has avoided a few scrapes that way, and his prickly nature simply adds to it. Undoubtedly it has helped him coast through school relatively unbothered, for better or worse. He'd generally call it a worthwhile trade-off.

Iron-Willed (2) - Oliver's strong-willed; some would say stubborn. But he picks a plan and he sticks to it. He has an inner core of values that he won't give up for anyone, and he knows he'll make it through hard work and guts. He doesn't crack under pressure, either. Not when he's being chased, not when his Mom died, and sure as hell not when life throws obstacles in his way. He's going to make it, he's going to do better than either of his parents did and woe betide those who stand in his way.

Perceptive (1) - Sometimes you just get a sense about something or someone, you know? Living on the bad side of town, you learn the alleys to avoid, the people to cross the street from as you avoid their gaze. You watch out for the guys standing too near their open car doors, practically looking for a mark. Back when his Mom was alive , he could tell when a john was nervous and likely to skimp out on paying, or when someone was lying to him. He's not infallible, of course. He'll never forgive himself for not noticing his Mom's drug dealer had cut something far worse into the coke, no matter how likely he was to have noticed it.

Quick (2) - Oliver is fast, and he knows it. The few times he'd stolen food he'd taken off like a shot. Quick reflexives and long legs tend to do a lot for a guy. He could probably be on the track team if he wanted, but really, it isn't like he has the time even if he especially wanted to. He does enjoy going for a run though. Sometimes it's just nice to get out into the city and away from it all. To run until he stops thinking and it's just the wind and his breath. Or, you know, run after some brat that lifted his wallet and bash him over the head. Either/or.

Strong (1) - Odd jobs that are willing to wire a high-school student are usually off the books, or manual labor. He's done almost as much lifting as he has running, and while he wouldn't say he enjoys it in the same way he still finds time to wander to the gym occasionally to keep himself in shape. Stacking boxes or emptying trucks for a living wasn't for him, but it certainly helped build on some muscle stone. 

Tough (2) - Oliver is tough. It's that simple. He has a good pain tolerance and when he's knocked down he tends to get right up again. He'd had to, considering the life he's lead. Whether it's backtalking his Dad when he was younger or even his Mom's pimp, fighting the neighborhood gang or dealing with a drug dealer that wants their payment. He hasn't had to worry about any of that for awhile, but it's certainly stayed with him. Made him stronger, tougher. You have to do a lot to break his spirit, and just as much to break his body. Unless you can break both, he'll just shake it off.


Abilities - Magickal

Blazing Sun of Apollo [Attack (3) - Effective (+5) / Area Effect (+10) / Armor Piercing (+5) / Barrier Buster (+5) / Strike Through (+5) / Reach (+5) / Continued Effect (+10) | Open to Attack (-25) / Weapon (-5) / Ammunition (-5), Ammunition (-5)]

Oliver teleports into the sky with a burst of flame and then launches himself down like a small blazing sun with enough force to crack the ground. As he lands the air itself ignites, exploding outwards. Everything within the radius is hit by the conflagration, striking through armor, barriers, and even objects with extreme prejudice and setting the ground ablaze. Unfortunately due to the strain it puts upon him it leaves him wide open after the attack - it is, in essence, either a desperation move or a finishing attack. He can only use it three times a day, and he can't use it at all without his zweihander.   

Flurry of Blows [Attack (2) - Overwhelming (+15) | Low Penetration (-5) / Weapon (-5) / Requirement: Open Space (-5)]

When in range Oliver is able to strike out with a rapid, wickedly quick flurry of blows with his zweihander. Few that see the spectacle could have conceived someone would be able to use such an unwieldly weapon with such raw speed. It's a nearly overwhelming attack, forcing whomever he targets to focus fully on the defensive to not get sliced apart. Unfortunately due to the fact he's focusing on quick, fast strikes, the armor penetration of the overall move is low; he also can't use it at all without his zweihander, and due to the wide swings he can't use it in particularly tight quarters.

Flame-Shield [Barrier (1) - Area Effect (+10) / Effective (+5) | Backlash (-5) / Conal (-5) / Low Vision (-5)]

In times of desperation Oliver is able to slam his zweihander into the ground in front of him and conjure a shield of pure flame. It's large enough to cover himself and three people that are directly behind him, and the sheer heat of it is enough to temporarily ward off attacks. Unfortunately due to the heat and his inexperience with it, he almost inevitably takes damage himself when using it. It's also not a perfectly round shield, only protecting those directly behind him. On top of this, due to the nature of fire it's hard to see out of it to know when it's safe to move. 

Copy of Living Flame [Illusionist (1)]

Spinning his zweihander in place sends flame flickering off of it, separating into individual forms that quickly fade into identical copies of Oliver. Though inexperienced with the ability, he can use it to deadly effect. Capable of conjuring two body doubles he has a tendency to run towards an enemy with his illusions, the three of them weaving and dodging amongst each other and confusing the foe as to which is the real one. 

Flameburst [Teleport (1)]

Rushing forward, Oliver bursts into flame and is seemingly consumed by it... only to appear elsewhere, having teleported through the flame like a phoenix. His favorite strategies involve teleporting forward into melee range to make deadly use of his zweihander.


Total Number of Ability Points: 23


Weaknesses

Dependency (1): So he smokes. Big deal. Everyone has a vice, right? He's smoked for years; it helps calm his nerves and is just generally a relaxing thing to go through the motions of. He might also think it looks cool, but he's not about to admit it.

Fear (1): Spiders. Fuck em. Nope, he's definitely a fan of 'burn down the house' when it comes to the fuckers, ever since he woke up as a kid one night with one crawling on his face. He's slept under the covers ever since.

Hatred (1): Eat the rich. He hates those assholes, always looking down on him like they're better. The richer a person is the worse they are, in Oliver's experience. Sure, some of them donate to charities... but he knows they just do it for the tax write-off.

Impulsive (1): Why think when you can act? Frankly it has served him well. If he'd sat around and waited for something to happen he might be dead for all he knows. Nah, he's definitely happier flying by the seat of his pants. Sitting around and talking for days on end is for the rich people that aren't actually impacted by things.

Infamous (2): Unfortunately some of the jobs he's worked have gotten around school. People see him as something of a delinquent, and untrustworthy. He doesn't know if it was a student's brother or who it was that spilled the beans, but either way there's rumors and whispers whenever he goes by. Fuck, he was just trying to make a living. Fuck them for thinking they know him. His appearance likely doesn't help, considering the leather jacket and general deadpan 'get the fuck away' expression. Anyone that has asked about it to his face has gotten their heads bitten off.
   
Love Interest (2): Complicated and unrequited. He's closeted and he plans to stay that way. Fuck this school, fuck this island, and fuck the people that think they know him. He's never going to confess, so what does it matter?

Outcast (1): The rich assholes at Clearview High act like their rich asshole parents, who would have thought? He's something of an outcast as it is, but they make sure he knows he doesn't fit in. Whatever, the sooner he can get off this island the happier he'll be.

Overconfident (1): So he might be a bit cocky. He's earned it. He's good at what he does and he doesn't give up. It hasn't gotten him over his head yet, right?

Poor (2): So the apartment is cramped and drafty, so what? So sometimes the ceiling drips, and the heat doesn't always work. Maybe the couch is a bit lopsided and has to be propped up. He does okay. Most of his money goes to food, but little by little his YouTube channel is taking off. As soon as he makes it big he's gone.

Rude (1): People are rude to him, why should he curb his tongue just because someone shows a pleasant mask? Nah, he's going to say exactly what he thinks.

Secret (1): He's embarrassed by his ability to cook. He doesn't think he's terribly good at it and he just has no interest in opening up about something that's liable to get him mocked. As it is he tries to keep his YT channel a secret and just hopes no one runs across it until it doesn't matter.

Sensitivity (2): You grow up poor and you end up scarred by it. It's just a fact, he figures. So yeah he's a little touchy about it. His Mom did the best she could, and he won't have anyone talk down to him about it. Not without a fight.

Short-Tempered (1): He's just so angry all the time, and it's not always easy to control. Some things just set him off, and he tends to be irritable and easily annoyed. Typically it sticks to grumbling and yelling unless someone really pisses him off.

Soft Spot (2): Good food. Food has become a thing for him, and so much of it is expensive and out of his budget. Whether it's ingredients or kitchen supplies or even just a good dessert, he has a soft spot for it.   

Stubborn (2): Spending so much time alone encourages a certain mindset. When you only have yourself to put ideas forth, it lends itself to a certain stubbornness if people suddenly decide they disagree. It takes a fair bit to change his mind; the best path is probably a good old fashioned fight.

Trigger (1): Blazing Sun of Apollo requires anger to trigger. It takes a certain amount of 'Fuck you, fuck this, and fuck this patch of ground' to be able to use it, which is one reason he tends to bring it out primarily when a fight is going poorly.

Wanted (1): A local gang still has designs on him, pissed off that he didn't join them. He's not too worried about it, they're small fries. Still, they're always there... just waiting for their chance.




Family: As far as he knows his Father is in prison or dead, he doesn't really care which. His Mom died of overdose a couple of years ago, and he's been on his own since. He didn't have the best relationship with his Dad, the dude was in and out all the time and if anything showed up to get cash from his Mother and then wander off again. His relationship with his Mother was... good, but ultimately tragic. He's still kind of fucked up from it, considering he was the one that found her. He blames himself for not being able to do anything, and probably always will.

Academic-Life Questions

Describe your character's academic life; Possible things to include: are they a good student or a poor one? Do they like school? What are their best and worst subjects? Are they in any extra-curricular activities or school-sponsored clubs?: He's a pretty decent student, all told, even if he can be somewhat disruptive. The teachers both like and despair of him, though he's known to make a few laugh and he'll just sit back and grin like the cat that ate the canary each time. He doesn't mind school, really. He likes learning. He hates the other students and people that think they know him just based on rumor or how he dresses. His best subject is probably History or English, and Math is definitely his worst. He wouldn't be caught dead at some preppie after-school club, though he'd probably do well at track.

Describe your character's social and sexual life; Possible things to include: would they fit into a classic clique, such as nerds, jocks, or hipsters? What groups do they get along with the most and least? Are they dating? Are they hiding something about their gender or sexuality?: He'd consider himself an enemy of most of the cliques, especially the jocks and rich kids. He doesn't really 'fit' into any group, though he's comfortable enough dealing with the emos, goths, and occasionally the nerds in small doses. None that are particularly 'friends', really. He's also closeted, and intends to remain that way for the foreseeable future. He's single.

Describe your character's physical health and activity life; Possible things to include: does your character live with any illnesses (including eating disorders) that affects them physically or emotionally? Do they participate in the recreation on the island, or are they a recluse? Do they compete in any sports? He doesn't live with illnessess unless you count a vice for smoking. In general he's healthy, though, and stays in good shape. He likes running. He wouldn't call himself a recluse, but he's more focused on books and running and the future than he is anything right now.

Interpersonal Relationships
Please fill out at least three entries within two weeks of being in-character. These should be determined by contacting your fellow approved players and working out how your characters might know each other, given that they live on the same island and attend the same school.

Example Entry: Name - Eric - Relationship - Previous Year's Biology Lab Partner
My character was initially disappointed to be paired with Eric, since he doesn't have a reputation for being the most serious student. However they learned over the year to appreciate his humor and would classify him a friend; given that D in biology, though, they will likely try to avoid working on school projects together again.

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THE SHARD COLORS (AKA THE PIGMENTS)

There are five colors, or, if you prefer, 'Pigments'. Each has its own focus as far as personality and Magick. They tend to be drawn towards personalities similar to that focus, but wild cards certainly happen. While each has its own specialties, that doesn't mean that other types of Magick would be restricted from your use--merely more difficult to learn and perform.

The Five Pigments are as follows:

WHITE

WHITE

The basic concepts of White are as follows: peace, law, structured, selflessness, equality.

White puts value in the group, the community, and its civilization as a whole. White believes that suffering is a by-product of individuals not prioritizing the good of the group. White's ultimate goal is peace—a world where there is no unnecessary suffering, a world where life is as good as it can be for each individual, a world where everyone gets along and no one seeks to disturb the bonds of unity that White had worked so long to forge. To govern and protect its community, White makes use of and puts value in a number of broad concepts; morality (ethics, grace, truth), order (law, discipline, duty), uniformity (conformity, religion), and structure (government, planning, reason). White is a color commonly associated with good and justice, but if left unchecked or if everyone is not working toward the same unified goal, White can become authoritarian, inflexible, and capable of sacrificing a small group for the sake of a larger one. Everything necessary to preserve the laws, rules, and governance that White created.

The Affinity schools of Magick for White are Holy and Arcane.

GREEN

GREEN

The basic concepts of Green are as follows: nature, wildlife, connected, spiritual, tradition.

Green doesn't want to change the world, it wants everybody to accept the world as it is. Green is convinced that the world already got everything right. Green tries to coexist with it instead of trying to change it, regulate it, norm it, or take advantage of it. Green is the color of nature and interdependence. It believes that the natural order is a thing of beauty and has all the answers to life's problems, that obeying the natural order alone is the best way to exist and thus favors a simplistic way of living in harmony with the rest of the world. This can often lead to it being perceived as a pacifistic color, as it does not seek to make conflict with the other colors as long as they leave it alone and do not disrespect nature. However, it is fierce when it feels threatened and can be predatory and aggressive if its instincts dictate. Green believes each individual is born with all the potential they need, that it's imprinted in its genes. That everyone was born with a role and that the goal is to recognize it and then embrace it, and thus do what they were destined to do. But that role interconnects with the web of life, and thus everyone has to learn how you fit into the larger picture. We are not alone, we are a part of a complex system full of interdependency. Green truly believes that every individual has to bother to sit back and understand the bigger picture and don't get so caught up in the details of their lives.

The Affinity schools of Magick for Green are Nature and Arcane.

RED

RED

The basic concepts of Red are as follows: freedom, emotion, active, impulsive, destructive.

Above all else, Red values freedom. It wants to do what it wants, when it wants, to whom it wants, and nobody can tell it otherwise. In summary, Red thinks that all you have to do is listen to your heart and simply act accordingly, letting your emotions guide you. Red loves life much more than any other color and so it believes that all people must live to its fullest. Red believes that life is an adventure, that it would be much more fun if everyone stopped caring about rules, laws, and personal appearances and just spent their time indulging their desires through experience. Red doesn't live its life questioning choices it has made, and lives in the moment; Red is spontaneous and embraces every adventure put before it. Red is the color of immediate action and immediate gratification. If it wants something, it will act on its impulses and take it, regardless of the consequences. Red embraces relationships and knows passion and loyalty and camaraderie and lust. When Red bonds with another, it bonds strongly and fiercely. To outsiders, Red might seem a bit chaotic; that's only because others can't see what's in red's heart. Red sees order of any kind as pointlessly inhibiting, believing that only through embracing anarchy could everyone really be free to enjoy life to the fullest with no regrets.
The Affinity schools of Magick for Red are Fire and Arcane.

PURPLE

PURPLE

The basic concepts of Purple are as follows: power, self-interest, sacrifice, uninhibited, greed.

Purple is often seen as immoral, but they see it more as viewing the world with clarity. The only measure of right and wrong to Purple is whether or not it leads to success. They're open to opportunities or strategies rejected by others as taboo or forbidden, and tend to be willing to do anything to ensure their success. Although if taken to extremes, Purple's selfishness and lack of ethical restraint can result in tragedy, at its most basic level Purple is not inherently evil. It has a very cynical world view, and its core philosophy is that of self-determination and release from society-imposed limitations.

The Affinity schools of Magick for Purple are Shadow and Arcane.

BLUE

BLUE

The basic concepts of Blue are as follows: knowledge, deceit, cautious, deliberate, perfecting.

Blue is the color that wants perfection and looks on the world and sees opportunity to achieve that, figuring out what you could achieve with the right education, experience, and tools. For Blue, life is one of constant discovery as you keep seeking to better yourself. This way of living requires the right attitude. You have to be open to possibilities, but also not too hasty in action. Blue is methodical and exact and recognizes that there are many forces, even some that come from within, that lead an individual astray. It is better to think one's options out carefully and select correctly than to rush to a decision. Implicitly, in that general world view, blue believes in tabula rasa: every one of us is born a blank slate with the potential to become anything. One need only understand how, to make the change. So with this goal before it, Blue reasons that if it is to make itself better, it must become capable of everything it could be capable of, for that is to "merely add" to its own capabilities. Blue believes it can't possibly be bad to acquire the potential for any conscious action. Thus, Blue, believing it is capable of changing anything if it understands the change, and believing it is imperative that it acquire every capability it could have, concludes that it is imperative that it understand change. As such, blue is the color most interested in technology and wants the latest and greatest version of whatever it is using. Moreover, blue decides that it must understand everything; for truly, understanding can only improve one's effectiveness in any task. To gain understanding, blue must acquire knowledge. Since knowledge itself will inform every other decision, blue forms its principal goal: omniscience, the knowledge of all.

The Affinity schools of Magick for Blue are Frost and Arcane.

YOUR WEAPON

Every good Magical Girl or Guy has a unique weapon tied to them, right? Well, that's this section. Instead of providing you a list, I'd like to see what you come up with. In essence, when you bind yourself to a Shard, you are gifted a single weapon. This could include a wide array, from guns to wands to shamshir to zweihanders to stiletto and everything in between. These are not, necessarily, inherently Magickal other than the fact they take after the Shards in appearance - every weapon has the look and feel of stained glass, yet remains incredibly durable. What you do with them is up to you, but they are provided here as something you would gain from your Shard. Unlike the Pigments, your weapon is required to be unique.

Weapons can be woven into your attack style or even never used at all. Unless you tie abilities to them, they're relatively weak, more for fluff than anything. Every weapon is 'equal' at base; a sword isn't weaker than a gun, etc. If you'd like an example list for the sake of ideas, you're certainly free to pull from any culture you can think of. The point isn't that the weapon is realistic, per se, so much as that it fits your Shard and your character's 'theme' and general temperament.

Example Weapon Types:

Daggers
Clubs
Swords
Axes
Whips
Polearms
Staves
Chains
Guns

[Xurtan]

In regards to abilities, if something seems like it has a time component you can generally assume this to mean one round of posts per Level in the ability. An impairment is something like a snare, a root, or an attack slow; a character is still able to act, but is hindered. Paralyzation is an outright stun; a character is unable to act when paralyzed. The default Willpower cost of a Power is 5. This can be modified with Perks and Flaws, but may never go below 1. If you have a specific question about any of the below, please ask. 

MUNDANE ABILITIES

Important Note: These are the options from the book. I am more than happy to work with you to create something unique if you have an idea in mind. This should, however, help to give you an idea of scope.

Choose Up To 10 Of These

Agile: You are naturally adept at moving your body skillfully. Your graceful movements can impress others as well as aid in a variety of derring-do.

Art of Invisibility: You have an uncanny ability to move silently and blend into the shadows.

Beautiful: Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but you’ve managed to find your way into everyone’s eyes! Your remarkable good looks tend to draw the attention of those around you and certainly make it easier to excel in jobs that require it, convince others to do as you like, and be sufficiently distracting when you want to be.

Charismatic: You are incredibly influential. Your manner, attitude, and presence make people acknowledge you, listen to what you have to say, and most importantly, see it your way.

Combat Expert: You have trained yourself in an array of offensive tactics. With this Ability, you have the capacity to strike your opponent where it hurts, hit them hard, and look cool doing it.

Connected: You have made a variety of contacts that you can call upon for favors. Perhaps they can obtain goods normally not in your reach or get you in places you could not normally get into. At Level 1, you know a guy who knows a guy, and they might be able to get you a discount or let you into a semi-private club. At Level 2, you have a friend who you can consistently rely on. You may have a supplier who can get you rare parts for your creations, an informant who can give you news about a certain subject or organization, or a skilled craftsman who can lend his talents. At Level 3, you know a variety of people in a small circle who can help you achieve what you want or have a friend with a wide breadth of uses. Though restricted to a particular field, you may have access to all of the previous examples at once. At Level 4, you have a vast assortment of contacts who owe you favors or are otherwise willing to aid you. Though it may take time, you can always find someone to help you with what you need.

Cute!: You are every grandparent’s dream come true. In addition to being an easy target for cheek pinches, many find it hard to be angry, mean, or in any way aggressive towards you. On the flip side, you might also be hard to take seriously

Dexterous: You are incredibly adroit with your hands, making you well adapted to all matters of delicate manipulation. While this may be useful for certain illegal applications, you’ll put this skill to good use, right?

Evasive: You have learned that getting out of the way of danger is a useful skill indeed. This is useful when you wish to avert personal peril, escape restraint, outmaneuver or block punches, stabs, energy blasts, pillars of flame, massive explosions, heat-seeking missiles, or anything else intent on doing you harm.

Famous: Through valor, fortune, or just being at the right place at the right time, you’ve become easily recognizable and are thought of fondly by people you may never have met. At Level 1, a few people know your name and might give you a hearty handshake or humor small requests. At Level 2, you are recognized in your field, and those familiar with your work or history will be thrilled to meet you in person. At Level 3, you are well known in many venues and can often cash in on your fame for a favor, accommodations, or other perks. At Level 4, you are world famous with countless adoring fans. You can expect the red carpet rolled out for you wherever you go and are treated to luxuries, favors, and amenities befitting your status.

Intimidating: You know how to frighten, bully, and overpower others through sheer presence.

Intuitive: While not necessarily well learned or book smart, you are certainly clever. You figure out things easily and pick up on small nuances others might miss.

Iron-Willed: You are always reliable under pressure and true to your values and loyalties.

Knowledge: You have an interest or training in a particular area. This could range anywhere from computer programming and cooking to Japanese literature and Italian opera.

Minions: Whether by charisma, fear, or something else, you have the ability to call upon a sizable troop of allies. For each Level you have in Minions, you may summon twice that many reinforcements. Each of these allies has a Health and Endurance of 10.

Perceptive: You are in tune with the world around you and spot things that most people fail to notice.

Performer: They like you, they really like you! You are at home in front of an audience and are able to dazzle them with a diverse array of talents, from music and singing, clever tricks and slight of hand, to acting and storytelling. You are just naturally entertaining.

Pilot: You have a knack for piloting any kind of machinery, no matter how strange or complicated. If you wish to drive something simpler or only one specific vehicle, take a Knowledge of it instead. 

Position of Power: You are in a respected position that grants you power and influence. At Level 1, your power is limited and you only hold influence over a small subset of people. At Level 2, you control a small group and have minor influence over others outside of it. At Level 3, you control an important group whose influence is felt by many. At Level 4, you are in command of a major organization and have many resources at your disposal, as well as a significant amount of influence.

Quick: You are particularly fast and have quick reflexes.

Sixth Sense: You have a peculiar sense that few have, a kind of feeling that alerts you of forthcoming events and when you, or someone else, could be in danger.

Smart: You have a significant helping in the brains department.

Strong: You have significant physical power at your disposal. Whether you take this as Mundane or Magickal influences how much exactly you can lift - there is a large difference between a 'normal' strength and one enhanced by Magick.

Tough: Simply put, you’re made of tougher stuff. You gain a bonus to Health equivalent to 10 per Level in this ability.

Unique Ability: If you cannot find an Ability in the rules to cover the power you wish to have, discuss it with me. Together, we can give your character a Unique Ability that fits what you want. I will help you decide the actual rules behind your Ability, as well as the appropriate Level.

Vigorous: You have an abundance of energy and the ability to persevere against the effects of fatigue. You receive a bonus to Willpower equivalent to 10 per Level invested in this ability.

Wealthy: Your fat wallet is the envy of all that gaze upon it. At Level 1, you are mildly wealthy and can afford to be extravagant with fancy clothes and lavish dinners. At Level 2, you can afford to buy expensive items on a regular basis, including state-of-the-art electronic setups and tailored suits or designer gowns. At Level 3, you can afford expensive cars, personal servants, and other such luxuries.

MAGICKAL ABILITIES

Important Note: These are the options from the book. I am more than happy to work with you to create something unique if you have an idea in mind. This should, however, help to give you an idea of scope. 

Choose Up To 5 Of These

Armored: Your body is guarded from potential harm. The exact form this protection takes could be anything that fits with your theme.

Attack: Whether Attack represents an ancient martial arts technique, a really big sword, energy bolts, or simply your fists is completely up to you. And if you like, it can remain as simple as that. Attack is primarily what you will be applying Perks or Flaws to, if you choose to do so. 

Barrier: You have the ability to defend yourself with a barrier of some kind. This could be a magical shield, an electronic device, or anything else that can protect you from harm.

Companion: You have a loyal ally, faithful servant, or even a fuzzy friend that is always by your side. Whatever the form, this is someone you can count on. He or she has a total of Abilities and Weaknesses equivalent to your Level in Companion.

Dimensional Pocket: You have access to a curious dimension where items of any size can be placed and recalled at will. Maybe you weave mysterious magics, carry a bottomless bag, or just possess really, really deep pockets. Only items that are relatively common to you and of reasonably liftable weight can be pulled from your Dimensional Pocket. You could pull a rose to woo a potential date, a canvas and easel to paint the sunset, or maybe even a gun to defend yourself from ne’erdo-wells, but you could not retrieve one of the legendary swords of Masamune, a magic cure for any disease, or a ’57 Chevy— unless of course, you are Masamune, a master apothecary, or Strong enough to pull off such a feat.

Willpower Reserve: Through some item, you have an extra store of Willpower for your use. It could be an ancient magical amulet, an electronic power pack, or any object capable of storing energy. You get a 20-point reserve for every Level invested here.

Flight: Whether by wings, supernatural powers, or machine, you have the miraculous ability to fly. Further Levels taken increase speed and duration.

Healer: You have the remarkable skill to heal others from even the worst injuries. You might have some special power, divine influence, or just a really big box of bandages. This task takes significant concentration and generally cannot be done in combat or when your attention is otherwise diverted unless others cover you.

Heightened Sense: One of your five senses excels beyond the norm. You may have the nose of a bloodhound, eyes that can see the smallest detail near or far, or maybe just an unparalleled palate.

Illusionist: You are capable of tricking those around you into believing something exists that is not actually there. Perhaps you are a skilled magician able to pull elaborate tricks from your hat, or you can truly harness some power to cloud the minds of others with fictitious imagery.

Incorporeal: Form You can phase out of the physical world and pass through solid objects as if they were air. While you are incorporeal, no one can touch or attack you, but likewise, you cannot do the same to them. All of your belongings are assumed to become incorporeal as well.

Invisibility: Now you see you, now you don’t! You have the ability to obscure yourself and your belongings from view.   At Level 1, you are not truly invisible, just more difficult to notice, whether by a mind trick or some form of camouflage. At Level 2, you are even harder to see. Perhaps you transform into a shadow, or special gear bends the light around you. At Level 3, you can become completely invisible. However, others may still discern your presence through sound or smell, or through your interactions with the environment, like footprints in the sand.

Life Support: You can survive in an environment that is normally uninhabitable. At Level 1, you can hold your breath or withstand other hazards for an extended time. At Level 2, you can live in another environment that humans normally cannot, such as underwater or in extreme heat or cold. You are also not affected by environmental changes, like pressure, in these surroundings. At Level 3, you can live in multiple environments, even space. However, certain environments may remain harmful to you at the Game Master’s discretion.

Lucky Lady: Luck is on your side. Good things continually happen to you, and somehow even the worst of situations have a good side to them. (Your house has been blown sky high? You might just discover a natural oil well under it!) The higher your Level in Lucky, the more often it has an effect and to greater results.

Witchcraft: You have dabbled into the mysterious realm of witchcraft or some other dark energy. You can harness this power to bewitch objects and people, or in other words, cast Weaknesses equal to your Level in Witchcraft.

Minions: Whether by charisma, fear, or mind control, you have the ability to call upon a sizable troop of allies. For each Level you have in Minions, you may summon twice that many reinforcements. Each of these allies has a Health and Endurance of 10.

Passion: There is a particular thing in life that drives you, so much that you feel yourself become more competent and powerful when in its presence. This can be a specific thing (race cars, classical music) or an emotion (love, anger).

Psychic: You have the mysterious ability to enter others’ minds and read their thoughts or even change those thoughts and implant your own. How effective this is depends largely on the target's Will.

Resistance: You are especially resilient to a specific kind of power or attack, such as fire-fueled blasts, chi-powered martial arts, the curses of Witchcraft, or a strike to a specific area of your body

Shape-Shifter: You can change your appearance in various ways, whether through magic or a knack for disguise. Each Level in this Ability expands the possibilities in which you can change yourself, and each also includes the effects of every Level below it. At Level 1, you may change your clothes and hair instantaneously, regardless of how practical such a quick-change act would be. At Level 2, you may alter your age by decades, as well as make changes to eye, hair, and skin color. You might even pass for the opposite sex, though you remain looking very “girlish” for a boy or “boyish” for a girl. At Level 3, you may assume the appearance of a completely different human being or even copy that of a specific person exactly. Differences in sex or stature are no trouble for you.

Sixth Sense: You have a peculiar sense that few have, a kind of feeling that alerts you of forthcoming events and when you, or someone else, could be in danger. It may be a true paranormal sense, a voice from beyond, or just a really good gut instinct.

Spirit Medium: You have a deep knowledge of the spirit world and how to interact with it. You can talk with various spirits, as well as summon, banish, and perhaps gain favor from them—with or without extravagant ceremonies. Benign spirits may come and go without much headache, but angry, reclusive, or malevolent spirits will test your skills.

Strong: You have significant physical power at your disposal. Whether you take this as Mundane or Magickal influences how much exactly you can lift - there is a large difference between a 'normal' strength and one enhanced by Magick.

Telekinesis: You have the curious ability to move objects with your mind. You can use this power to lift items, push buttons, throw things, and more.

Teleport: Need to get somewhere? In the blink of an eye, you’re there. Of course, you may have more difficulty teleporting farther away. At Level 1 you can Teleport within sight, at Level 2 you can teleport within a block, at Level 3 you can teleport across the city. You should know where you're going so you don't end up in a wall or inside another person. That tends to get messy.

Time Freeze: Time is constant … or was until you came along. You have the ability to slow or even freeze the flow of time temporarily. This is more of a localized than world focused effect, and the higher Level you have in it the longer the effect will last. Especially strong opponents may be able to counter it.

Unique Ability: If you cannot find an Ability in the rules to cover the power you wish to have, discuss it with me. Together, we can give your character a Unique Ability that fits what you want. I will help you decide the actual rules behind your Ability, as well as the appropriate Level.

WEAKNESSES

Balance These With Your Ability Levels

Absent-Minded: You have the unfortunate tendency to forget things at inopportune times. At Level 1, tasks you are supposed to do often slip your mind, such as attending important meetings or doing your homework. At Level 2, you have trouble recalling recent conversations and events, and even when you do remember, the details often escape you. At Level 3, you have the memory of a goldfish, making the world a practical blank past 5 minutes ago. You usually don’t remember anything very long, and sometimes get lost while you are speaking or forget what you are doing while you’re doing it.

Airhead: Anybody home? The answer to this question is somewhat debatable in your case. You may not be stupid or naive but come off as both through your sheer ability at not understanding, misinterpreting, or otherwise not retaining anything you are told. At Level 1, you sometimes miss the point of a conversation if it gets too long or complicated, and subtle humor completely eludes you. At Level 2, long-winded conversations go over your head completely. You have a hard time following instructions, and only the most overt attempts at wit will successfully be conveyed to you. At Level 3, you have the attention span of a three-year-old but without the patience to sort building blocks by color. Almost nothing can be successfully discussed with you, and you totally miss the point of anything that’s not a plainly stated fact.

Amnesia: Due to a strange illness, a freak accident, or some kind of foul play, you have lost your memory. At Level 1, the onset of your illness was long ago, and you have made many new memories. However, you may still long to know your forgotten beginnings and the cause of your memory loss. At Level 2, your amnesia is fairly recent. You have had time to readjust to where you are, but much of your life is a blank slate. At Level 3, your amnesia is very recent, and you have almost no memories at all. You may be completely lost and confused by your surroundings and filled with a dire need to know who you are.

Arrogant: You are the most important person to ever live … in your mind anyway. You believe in your own superiority to a fault and may offend others with your haughtiness, not to mention find your way into rough situations. At Level 1, you think you are superior to most around you but respect a select few, and those “below” you are treated with at least mild civility. At Level 2, you are above almost everyone, and only a few are worthy “equals.” You often treat those who are unworthy with hostility or a cold, pompous attitude. At Level 3, you are the sole reason for the world to be, and you are quite annoyed by the fact that others do not see this. Your hubris knows no bounds, and you treat everyone, regardless of who they are, as if they were dirt.

Awkward Size: You are of curious stature. You are either much smaller or much larger than those around you. At Level 1, you sometimes find it hard to use items and be in places meant for the typical human being, but you can still function in society. At Level 2, you cannot use many items meant for normal-sized people. Your size also creates a great hindrance in navigating your surroundings. You might be so large that you can only fit in the very largest of buildings—if you can get in the doorway. Or you may be small enough that you have problems with things being built much taller and larger than you. Many minor obstacles can become significant challenges. At Level 3, you may be simply huge and cannot use anything meant for typical people, nor can you really function in any normal sized environment without destroying pieces of it regularly, like knocking over trees while walking through a park. On the other hand, you may be positively tiny, unable to get around this “big” world easily. Everyday items become mountains and other insurmountable feats.

Bizarre: Appearance You have an appearance that is markedly different from those around you. At Level 1, you have a few noticeable, distinguishing features that, though odd, do not cause alarm or hatred in others. You may even be able to disguise your appearance with a little effort. At Level 2, you have many traits that single you out. You might not be hideous, but your appearance may startle those unfamiliar with you or cause immediate distrust. You could never blend in as “normal.” At Level 3, you are a monster. Children get scared and run from you, and others are greatly alarmed and try to avoid your company.

Clumsy: You, put simply, are a klutz. Things tend to find their way out of your grasp, you easily lose your balance, and at best others describe your attempts at anything that requires finesse of movement as awkward. At Level 1, you may be a bit butterfingered or accident-prone, but you aren’t absolutely hopeless. You might even be able to move somewhat gracefully if you practiced enough. At Level 2, things tend to get broken in your presence, and any kind of beautiful or skilled movement is almost entirely outside of your ability. At Level 3, you may as well be a bull in a china shop with about as much grace.

Code of Conduct: You have restricted your manner and actions by a defined code. At Level 1, this code is simple, usually containing only one major facet, such as honesty, refined manners, or a sense of fair play. At Level 2, your code may have many rules, such as the edicts of a major organization, a code of chivalry, or a series of established traditions. On the other hand, your code may be simplistic but highly inhibiting. At Level 3, your code of conduct dictates every detail of your life, like belonging to an organization sworn to secrecy, a secluded temple with a strict moral code and elaborate rituals, or even the yakuza.

Compulsion: Sometimes you just can’t help yourself. You have an intense need to act a certain way or perform some task, even when doing so could prove inconvenient. At Level 1, your impulse is difficult to keep in check, but it has few real consequences if you fail to do so. You may chatter on incessantly and annoy others, have an insatiable curiosity that gets you into trouble, or just can’t resist stopping for a snack. At Level 2, your compulsion can adversely affect your life, and you can only control it with extreme difficulty. You may blurt out the truth even to your enemies or feel compelled to gamble every cent of your paycheck away. At Level 3, you cannot resist this temptation, and you probably resent anyone insinuating that you have a problem. You may be a hopeless addict, a kleptomaniac, or someone otherwise saddled with a compulsion so severe that it can seriously harm your well-being.

Coward: He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day. With just a little tweaking to “run away,” this is your mantra. You are uneasy around danger and usually the first to bolt at the sign of trouble. At Level 1, you can hold your own for a while, but as soon as the tide of any situation turns against you, you are likely to make a convenient exit. At Level 2, you are frightened by danger and try to avoid it whenever possible. You are not above hiding from time to time, and if forced to confront this danger, you will usually run away at the first opportunity. At Level 3, self-preservation is the word, and you avoid any kind of danger, no matter how slight, with all your being. If forced into a sticky situation, you will escape by any means possible. It is not beyond you to divert attention to anyone around to help your flight, even when such actions can cause them serious harm. If by some bizarre chance you stick around, you are usually too preoccupied with finding a rock to hide under to be of any use to anyone.

Crybaby: You are quite easily upset and have the annoying tendency to whine when things fail to go your way. At Level 1, while you are not much more sensitive than the average person, you do cry often enough and have a propensity to complain that may put others off. At Level 2, you cry regularly without significant cause. You want the world to be exactly how you wish and complain at length when it fails to meet those expectations. At Level 3, you sob profusely at even the slightest provocation, and you refuse to do anything that doesn’t directly fall under what you want to do. Even when it does, you’ll likely find a reason to cry about it anyway.

Dense: You are not known for your sharp wit or book smarts, and tasks requiring either are difficult for you. At Level 1, you may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but you are capable of understanding most things if you put in the effort. At Level 2, you speak simply, even the most basic calculations stress your brain cells, and any effort to absorb new knowledge or puzzle out a solution is a lengthy, arduous process. At Level 3, you barely possess human intelligence. Your language is broken, your ability to read questionable, and attempts to learn or figure out any scholastic task is beyond you.

Dependency: You have a deeply ingrained need for something, whether it is an addiction, like drinking, or something more superstitious, like the need to carry a lucky rabbit’s foot. If you are without the object of your dependency for too long—or at all, perhaps—you receive a Penalty to all actions equal to your Level in Dependency until you can once again have it. You may also become depressed or unwilling to take action when bereft of your dependency.

Dull: While we all can’t be Casanovas or charismatic speakers, your capacity to bore and disengage any audience is exemplary. At Level 1, you are not completely dreadful, but dates tend to be awkward and uneventful, and any audience may get your message but will rarely remember you for it. At Level 2, you drone on and on and people are compulsively unreceptive. Dates find excuses to leave the table, and audiences find other diversions and might miss your point. At Level 3, you are impossibly boring. Dates fake mortal injuries to escape your presence, and audiences fall asleep in droves.

Easily Distracted: During the fight of your life, if someone told you, “Hey, look that way!” you would indeed look that way. You’re not necessarily gullible, but it’s far too easy to distract you. At Level 1, sounds, bright lights, voices, and other attention-getters easily attract your notice. You may be taken by these diversions of interest but will quickly refocus on the task at hand. At Level 2, you will not only divert your attention, but you may spend significant time studying the object of distraction. At Level 3, you will immediately focus all your efforts on this distraction. Even obvious fake-outs and lies will keep you looking for a sizable chunk of time.

Emotionless: You have deadened emotions, whether by forcefully suppressing these feelings or by never having them to begin with. At Level 1, you do have feelings, but you rarely express them, and when you do, it is to a very limited extent. At Level 2, your emotions are buried so deeply that you may not recall having ever felt anything. Only the most dramatic stimuli will elicit anger, fear, sadness or any other emotion from you. At Level 3, you not only have no emotions, but you also lack a capacity to understand other human ideals, such as right and wrong, selflessness and selfishness, good and bad, or anything else beyond logical comprehension and reaction to your surroundings.

Willpower: Use One of your Abilities draws upon your inner strength. Each Level in Willpower Use causes the Ability to drain Willpower each time it is used, or if it already has a Willpower cost, the amount required is increased. One Level is a 5 point Willpower cost, two Levels is 10 points, and three Levels is 20.

Fear: You have an unnatural fear of an everyday object or situation, like spiders or heights, that limits your ability to function normally when confronted with it. At Level 1, you are uncomfortable in the presence of your fear and will try to distance yourself as soon as possible. At Level 2, you are genuinely scared and will do anything within reason to escape. At Level 3, you are so terrified by your fear that if you cannot run away immediately, you will freeze, curl up in a ball, or assume some other useless state.

Focus: One or more of your Abilities require a special item to use. This may be a focusing point for your spiritual energy, or the item may actually generate the Ability itself. While this object is usually in your possession, should it become lost, stolen, or even broken, you can no longer use the Ability until it is recovered. At Level 1, you lose a single Ability without your focus, but you can get by without it. At Level 2, you may lose multiple Abilities or lose one or two of your core strengths. Not having your focus is a major burden. With Level 3, nearly all of your Abilities are lost, or you lose powers and skills that are vital to your existence. You become a pale version of yourself.

Frail: You are more fragile than the average person. Perhaps you’ve led a pampered life, unhardened by the toil of labor, or your health may be compromised by a chronic illness. For each Level in Frail, subtract 10 from your Health.

Fussy: You are very particular about everything and are quite perturbed when things are out of place or otherwise amiss. Your need for order can annoy others who do not understand your exacting ways. At Level 1, you are very concerned for the tidiness of your own affairs but can forgive the “failings” of those you know. You may be seen as nagging but never overbearing, and you are only mildly annoyed if things do not meet your standards. At Level 2, you want everything around you to be a certain way and organized to the point of excess. There is always some matter that needs attention, and if others are unwilling to be equally fastidious, you will take it upon yourself to remedy the situation. If forced to leave things as they are, you might become uncomfortable or anxious. At Level 3, you are truly obsessive. Everything has its place, and it must be in it. If you see anything as out of order or wrong, you are drawn to fix it immediately without any thought of repercussions for your timing. Your life is dominated by trying to fix these problems while inventing more to attend to. If kept from doing so, you may become distraught and unable to function reasonably.

Greedy: You covet the good life, and no matter what you get, you always want more. At Level 1, you fancy material possessions a little more than you should, and finding any way to increase your personal wealth preoccupies your thoughts. At Level 2, you value things way too highly. Most of your time is spent attaining the latest object of your affection, and you are often blind to good sense, willingly taking unreasonable risks to pad your wallet. At Level 3, you must have everything, and someday it will all be yours. Nothing gets in your way, and the well-being of friends, or even yourself, serve as little more than speed bumps toward your goal.

Guardian: You have someone that you must protect. This could be for personal reasons (because you love your sister dearly) or a specific duty (because you are a bodyguard). At Level 1, the person you must protect is rarely in danger and certainly has no one specific to be defended from. At Level 2, the person is moderately well known and may get into trouble because of it, or they might have deep disagreements or rivalries with another party, causing possible action or violence towards them. It is also possible that they just manage to get into unfortunate situations that require your intervention. At Level 3, the person might be a major celebrity in need of constant protection, someone actively sought after by a large organization, or simply a convenient means to get to you. On the other hand, this person could be inherently self-destructive, constantly getting into highly dangerous situations that require you to rescue them.

Hatred: You have a completely irrational hate of something, and being in its presence may cause you to become angry or even invoke violence. At Level 1, you can curb your hatred. However, you will avoid the object in question, or if a person, might act cold or inhospitable. At Level 2, you can hardly keep your hatred in check. You will want to harm or dispose of the object in question, or if a person, be extremely harsh or violent towards them. At Level 3, you become engulfed in rage. You must destroy or kill the object of your hatred and will risk everything to do so. Little, if anything, will keep you from unleashing your fury.

Impaired Sense: One of your five senses fails to perform at full capacity. You may be hard of hearing, struggling to understand conversations around you, or have bad vision that makes objects difficult to make out. At Level 1, the sense is only mildly impaired, while at Level 2 you have a significant handicap. At Level 3, this sense is entirely, or at least practically, useless.

Impulsive: The old saying “Look before you leap” never really penetrated your thoughts very far. You tend to jump into situations without thinking through the possible consequences … or really thinking that much at all. At Level 1, even though you are impulsive, you can be somewhat rational, especially if others are trying to talk you out of whatever crazy stunt you are considering. At Level 2, you do not think about any course of action for long. You easily get yourself into a mess, and only the direst of situations have a remote possibility of making you think twice. At Level 3, you think it, you do it. That simple.

Ineptitude: No matter how hard you try or how much you practice, you are just really bad at a certain skill or craft.

Infamous: Your reputation precedes you … in a very bad way. People may distrust you or even hate you, regardless of whether your reputation is deserved. At Level 1, your reputation is more gossip than a true stigma, though some may steer clear of you. At Level 2, your infamy is more renowned and could cause fear, mistrust, or even disgust in those that have heard of you. However, you might be able to overcome their convictions through your actions. At Level 3, your reputation is known by nearly everyone, and they keep their distance out of fear or hatred. Although it might be possible to overcome this, most will just ignore what you do good and only remember what you have—or at least, are said to have—done.

Jittery: Although not necessarily a coward, you are easily startled or frightened by unexpected occurrences. At Level 1, sudden physical contact, sights, and sounds easily surprise you. You may flinch or make other sudden movements, but the consequences are generally more embarrassing than dangerous. At Level 2, if you don’t see or hear it coming, it is likely to startle you significantly. You may yell in fright or take a combat stance in response. At Level 3, your world is one of many dangers lurking just out of sight. When startled, you might run away screaming or blindly attack anything that frightens you.

Kind-Hearted: Kindness is a quality to aspire to, but you take what would be a pillar of virtue and drive it into the ground. At Level 1, you’ll never hold a grudge, and it’s easy to get back in your good graces. You do your best to be kind and helpful where you can, even if it proves inconvenient. At Level 2, you can’t help but be good to those around you, even if they have done you wrong. You will go out of your way and suffer hardship to do the right thing. At Level 3, your kindness knows no restraint or measure. You will forgive sworn enemies and lend a helping hand even when you are sure it will be bitten in return.

Languid: You lack the energy and pep of most other people. You tire easily and try to avoid strenuous activity. For each Level in Languid, subtract 10 from your Endurance.

Lecherous: Although most have some sort of desire for companionship, they can also keep their urges in check. Unfortunately for you, you can’t. At Level 1, you have a penchant for naughty things and will make attempts to get your hands on them, as well as sneak peeks at attractive members of your desire when the opportunity presents itself. At Level 2, you are a hopeless pervert and regularly buy various raunchy articles, take considerable risks to get revealing looks, and capitalize on any opportunity to glomp, grab, or otherwise handle desirable targets. At Level 3, your sex drive is completely out of control. You will fondle, stare at, or otherwise harass anyone regardless of the consequences. You spend most of your free time patrolling private places in hopes of getting a look-see, and you often raid them for personal items.

Limited Uses: One of your Abilities can only be used a limited number of times before ceasing to function. It could be a magical power you can call on only so often in a day, a piece of equipment with a certain number of charges, or simply a weapon with a finite number of bullets. At Level 1, you may only use this Ability around five times. At Level 2, you are limited to activating the Ability about three times. At Level 3, the Ability may only be performed once before being rendered inoperable. The Ability may be reloaded under certain circumstances but generally requires a day of rest or an otherwise significant wait to be restored.

Loner: One is the loneliest number, and you like it that way. You prefer your own company and avoid help from anyone— even when you might really need it. At Level 1, going it alone is always your first choice, but you’ll pass and repass with others and work together when it makes sense. At Level 2, you have little patience for social interaction beyond the necessities. You will work with others … but only for as briefly as possible. At Level 3, you make your own way or you don’t make it at all. You drive everyone away and refuse their company with violence.

Love Interest: Ah, the beauty of love. There is someone you hold a special place for in your heart, or vice versa. At Level 1, you have a caring, mutual relationship. Although there are no special complications, such a relationship still requires a substantial commitment. On the other hand, you may have an unwanted love interest that can’t take a hint and insists on being a constant annoyance. At Level 2, you might have a strong love for someone else, but sadly it is unrequited. You may devote much of your energy and time to this pointless chase. If this is not the case, your love life is at least somewhat complicated. At Level 3, you may have any of the above relationships, but the romance is forbidden or otherwise socially unacceptable. Your respective families may refuse to allow you to be together, or you might be of incompatible backgrounds. In any case, your relationship is complicated and difficult, if not impossible.

Love Magnet: You are one of the most romantically eligible guys or girls around. At Level 1, many are attracted to you and may hit on you from time to time, but few are interested in a serious relationship. At Level 2, you often have a number of groupies who fawn over you, as well as several other more serious (yet possibly unwanted) relationships that appear regularly. At Level 3, you are a literal Love Magnet and cannot go anywhere without being swarmed by a variety of admirers, many of whom have vowed their undying love for you. New serious love interests may pop up daily!

Mute: Whether by accident, ailment, a poor grasp of the language, or just a lack of intelligence, you have a compromised capacity to speak. At Level 1, you can convey your thoughts, but you do so with simplistic words and broken grammar. At Level 2, you are unable to speak at all but have the ability to convey what you mean through pantomime and non-lingual vocalizations. Getting people to understand you could take some work, but you usually get the job done. At Level 3, you have no concept of language at all and can only convey the most basic of messages.

Naive: Most people are well aware of the fact that the moon is made of rock, but you are among the small number of people that still believe it is made out of cheese. In other words, you are rather uneducated about the nature of the world, and you often believe things that rational people would know as false. At Level 1, you may fall for relatively small tugs on the truth and gossip, like “The Malicron Corporation plans on buying out a small business,” or “Daisuke wants to retire to the countryside.” At Level 2, you may fall for some outrageous stories and flat-out lies, like “The Malicron Corporation owns Soh-nii Records,”or “Auren adopted a puppy.” At Level 3, you are so gullible and naive that you may very well believe anything! For example, “The Malicron Corporation owns you,” or “Miho is opening her own bakery.”

Oblivious: If it were a snake, it would have bitten you. You have difficulty noticing things out of place, picking up on subtle details, or otherwise being aware of your surroundings. At Level 1, while you’re not completely checked out, things have to be fairly obvious to attract your attention. Searching for anything not left in plain sight is an arduous task, and it’s easy for small details to change without calling your attention. At Level 2, all but the most blatant elements escape your detection. Searches are an exercise in futility, and obvious changes to your surroundings, belongings, and even friends may go unnoticed. At Level 3, you are completely unaware of anything around you. Things lost stay lost, your bedroom could be completely redecorated—or ransacked—without you being the wiser, and even the most drastic of changes in your friends fail to make an impression.

Obsession: You have an intense desire to have or achieve something. Your life revolves around this obsession, and you will go out of your way to succeed in obtaining it. At Level 1, you feel the urge often, but your obsession does not monopolize your life. You may even turn down realizing the object of your obsession if much bigger things are at stake. At Level 2, the obsession is extremely important to you, and you often push aside other interests to better pursue it. You may even choose it over things that would logically be much more important. It would be a moral crisis to choose between your obsession and a friend, or maybe even your continued personal well-being. At Level 3, your obsession is your sole reason for existence. Nothing is comparable, and nothing can stand in your way. You will choose your obsession over things that are incredibly important to you, like friends and family or even your own life.

Outcast: You do not belong here, and others are eager to help you understand this. You may have been ostracized due to your actions or affiliations, or perhaps you were just born into it. Whatever the reason, there are those who would rather you be somewhere else … or not “be” at all. At Level 1, you are discriminated against by a small group, such as a club or clique of friends in high school. This group may be hostile towards you, and you cannot participate in their activities. At Level 2, you are an outsider to a substantial group, such as an organization at work or a majority of the student body. Avoiding run-ins with them is problematic for you. At Level 3, your presence is largely questioned by almost everyone around you. Discrimination, disgust, and even outright violence is a daily part of your life.

Overconfident: Although a fair helping of self-confidence can be a good thing, you went back for seconds. You have a bloated sense of what you can accomplish and your abilities in general. At Level 1, you still have a (relatively) level head, but you overstate your abilities enough to get into situations you truly are not well equipped for. You don’t like to give up, but you will eventually figure out when you are outmatched. At Level 2, only the largest obstacles are considered too big for you to take on. You often jump into situations way out of your league and find it hard to reconsider your course of action, even when it is apparent you cannot handle it. At Level 3, you think you can take on the world … with one arm tied behind your back. You will never concede that any situation is too tough for you and will be hard pressed to ever give up, whatever the circumstances may be.

Pacifist: A deep part of you does not believe in the necessity of violence, and you try to avoid it whenever possible. At Level 1, you prefer peaceful means to resolve any confrontation, but you will fight if it becomes clear that no other solution will do. At Level 2, you will never attack anyone except in self-defense, to protect someone you care about from coming to great harm, or when it is otherwise a matter of life and death. At Level 3, you will never raise a hand to anyone, no matter what happens.

Poor: Some people have all the money they could ever want, and there are others who have to fight tooth and nail to make ends meet. Unfortunately, you are of the latter. At Level 1, you live in cramped, unspectacular conditions and rarely have money to spend on anything beyond your basic needs. At Level 2, you live in a run-down shack or other dwelling barely passable as a residence. You have very little money and need to maintain multiple jobs to get by. At Level 3, you are dead broke and homeless. Even the most basic of purchases are beyond your reach. You might just be a traveler freed of the binds of material wealth and property … but more likely you are the victim of terrible circumstances.

Quirk: You have a curious habit or tic that may affect how others think about you. At Level 1, the habit is odd but probably thought of as more eccentric than offensive. You may carry around a stuffed animal wherever you go, sing and rhyme constantly, or speak in an old-fashioned language. At Level 2, your idiosyncrasy could offend some people but would be unlikely to incur strong repercussions. You might swear like a sailor, have no regard for people’s personal space, or think of personal hygiene as a suggestion instead of a necessity. At Level 3, your quirk is very offensive and might cause outright hatred in others—even violence. You may kick puppies for sport, wear accessories made from the bones of your enemies, or openly kill animals to provide you with bloody, on-the-spot meals.

Restricted Freedom: Because of your job, your birth, or some other reason, you are limited in your capacity to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. At Level 1, you are only mildly inconvenienced. You may have a job that requires you to put in for vacation time and other leaves, or you could have very protective parents that make it difficult to do things without explicit permission. At Level  2, much of your life is dictated by your circumstances. You may have a job that requires you to report in daily and get approval for future activities, or perhaps you are part of a powerful family that keeps you close by and well guarded. At Level 3, every moment of your life is carefully penciled in. Your job may have complete control over your actions, or you might be royalty, with every moment scheduled and your every move watched over by a plethora of guards.

Rival: There is someone you feel the need to best—or they feel the need to best you. More than likely, it’s both. This rivalry could encompass anything: a simple contest of skills, a competition for someone’s affections, or even deadly duels! At Level 1, your rival is less skillful than you or has a significant disadvantage. At Level 2, your competitor is just as capable as you are, or the playing field is otherwise equal. At Level 3, your rival possesses skills well beyond your own or otherwise has a significant advantage.

Room for Two: They say two’s company, but you might disagree. Due to some bizarre happening or mishap, you have another voice in your head that isn’t yours. Perhaps it is a mischievous spirit or a cybernetic implant with artificial intelligence—or maybe you’re just plain crazy. At Level 1, this voice is supportive, maybe sometimes helpful. However, you will probably be cajoled into a conversation with it, which will attract its fair share of perplexed looks. At Level 2, the voice isn’t particularly helpful but is not exactly a hindrance either. The voice may be rude and sarcastic but avoids attacking you personally … unless you really botch something up. At Level 3, the voice is harmful to your well-being, whether by being constantly abusive or coaxing you into performing wrong or evil acts. The voice may be extremely persuasive, and you might do things you will later regret.

Rude: You do not see the point in good manners or, really, being particularly well-behaved at all. At Level 1, you may come across as coarse, and often enough you are discourteous to others. At Level 2, you are seen as unmannerly to the point of being blatantly offensive. Some of your actions may be considered crude or disgusting. At Level 3, you have no sense of proper behavior whatsoever. You do whatever pleases you and say whatever you feel like, regardless of the social repercussions.

Secret: There is something about yourself that you wish to keep secret. You could be a crime fighter by night, hiding your identity in order to keep family and friends safe, or you may have a dark past that would ruin your life as you know it if revealed. At Level 1, you protect your secret, but should it be discovered, there are few serious consequences. These might involve mild embarrassment, an unwanted celebrity status, or other inconvenient social complications. At Level 2, you conceal your secret passionately. Should it be revealed, the secret would cause severe problems, such as the endangerment of yourself and others, the loss of your livelihood, or perhaps even incarceration. At Level 3, your secret must be kept at all costs. Your feeling of this may be so strong that you would choose death over its discovery. You believe that the revelation of your secret would completely destroy your life.

Sensitivity: Everyone gets at least a little annoyed when they’re teased, but you take it to an entirely new level. You have a particular sore spot, be it your hair, wealth, muscle tone, chest size, or lack of any of the above, that you are incredibly sensitive about. At Level 1, any remarks about your sensitivity will immediately upset you. It may cause you to be angry or at least curt to the offender, or instead you might become despondent and withdrawn. At Level 2, such actions greatly disturb you. You might respond with open hostility and do whatever possible to get them back, physically or otherwise. On the other hand, it might wound you deeply, making it difficult to forgive or forget. At Level 3, you will hold a grudge for this slight until the day you die, or failing that, until something monumental happens to change your mind. You will probably attempt to cause pain or hardship to this person at every available opportunity or at least actively avoid them even if it is inconvenient to do so.

Servitude: You are in the service of a person or organization. As expected, you are required to perform any tasks and take any orders placed upon you. This could be the nature of your occupation, the result of a gambling debt, or even a self-imposed service to someone you admire or care about. At Level 1, your servitude is mostly voluntary, and although you feel obligated to perform your duties, you can weasel out of them when needed. At Level 2, you are devoted to your service and do your work to the best of your ability. You may sacrifice your duties if something very important to you comes up, but you may have to face repercussions for falling out of line or feel strong pangs of guilt. At Level 3, your servitude is your life, and little, if anything, comes between you and your duties. You comply with your tasks and orders without question, and not doing so could result in terrible consequences, or you may never forgive yourself for your disobedience.

Short-Tempered: If you were dynamite, you would have a frighteningly short fuse. It doesn’t take much to get you angry, and you may lash out even when nothing has really been done to you. At Level 1, you tend to be irritable and easily annoyed. You may grumble and yell at others, but you rarely get downright angry unless you are justifiably provoked. At Level 2, you are prone to anger, and it takes little provocation to set you off. You might even resort to violence, if anyone is dumb enough to keep antagonizing you. At Level 3, you are angered by the slightest indiscretion against you even if it were an accident. You may view things that were not negative to you at all as if they were, and you react accordingly with loud outbursts and brutal attacks.

Shy: You are very uncomfortable with social situations and find it difficult to make friends or even function in public without seeking a proverbial rock to hide under. At Level 1, you are a bit reclusive, preferring the company of a select few friends. Though not exactly anti-social, you tend to be quiet around those outside of your circle. At Level 2, you have a reputation for being shy. You are probably a social misfit or a reclusive bookworm, more comfortable in your own company than that of others. You only attend parties or other social gatherings if forced and have one or two close friends at best. At Level 3, social interactions are the worst of tortures for you. You avoid contact whenever possible, just barely interacting enough to get by with your life.

Slow: Swift you are not, and your overall quickness is underwhelming. You tend to react to things well after they have happened, and the Tortoise could take naps during a race with you.

Soft Spot: There is something in this world that you cannot help but enjoy far too much. This could be anything: gardening, motorcycles, dessert, or even stuffed animals. At Level 1, you may be partial to your soft spot, but you won’t intentionally put yourself in harm’s way for it. At Level 2, you are heavily influenced by your soft spot and may be bribed into poor decisions or coaxed into dangerous situations with it. At Level 3, you cannot resist your soft spot, making it very easy to take advantage of you. You will ignore obvious dangers and put yourself at risk before allowing it to go to waste, letting it escape your possession, or jeopardizing its existence in any way.

Split Personality: They say two heads are better than one. Unfortunately for you, the old axiom fails to mention anything about two minds. Or three or four … or ten. Through illness, a traumatizing incident, or some other means, you have developed one or more distinct personalities besides your own. You may switch personalities when stressed or confronted by some other trigger. At Level 1, you have another personality, but it is not a particularly harmful one, nor is it drastically different from your own. Maybe you become a bit bolder, or your typical seriousness fades into unusual good humor. While you may do things you never would have, the repercussions are minor. At Level 2, you have another personality that is distinctly different from your own. You may take on a Don Juan disposition where you once were shy and reclusive or become cowardly when you once were brave and commanding. Others will clearly see something is amiss, but you are unlikely to do much to cause any long-lasting problems in your life. At Level 3, however, your other self is particularly dangerous, maybe even evil. You may turn on friends, become deceitful, or do other horrible things. You unfortunately have no control of this persona, so you must take the consequences in full whenever you revert to your normal self.

Stubborn: You’re not an unreasonable person—at least, not until someone disagrees with you. You hold steadfast to your ideals and take offense to anyone trying to convince you that these ideals, or your actions based on them, are wrong. At Level 1, you are not beyond the realm of reason. If someone can provide a sufficient argument, you may be willing to back down or modify your train of thought. At Level 2, you are very stubborn and will keep to your mindset unless provided with an incredibly blunt and forceful reason to change your mind. However, at Level 3, almost nothing will change your mind. If you believe something, you will likely believe it until the end of time, even if your stubbornness will cause harm to yourself and others.

Suppressed Power: One of your Abilities does not normally work at full power. To function properly, it requires a special item, emotion, or event that you usually do not have access to.

Trigger: One of your Abilities requires a special trigger to become functional. This trigger might be an emotion, a specific event, a potion, or even a can of spinach. Once this trigger has been set off, you may use your Ability until the trigger is gone or until the effect fades, whichever is most appropriate. Your Level in Trigger affects its rarity, with Level 1 being fairly accessible, Level 2 being hard to come by, and Level 3 being exceedingly rare.

Unlucky: Some people have all the luck. No really, they must have all of it, because you don’t have a lick. Whether by a family curse, karma, or just a case of bad luck, there’s something about you that causes the world’s misfortunes to gravitate in your direction. At Level 1, bad things happen often enough that you may be seen as accident-prone or unlucky, but it’s never too serious. While at Level 2, your bad luck is exceptional. You always pick the short straw, get the short end of the stick, or otherwise find yourself short-changed in any situation. At Level 3, your life is a ceaseless series of misfortunes that can jeopardize your well-being. Being a guinea pig, trap tester, human shield, or other dangerous occupation is a regular occurrence for you.

Vulnerability: Your body is especially vulnerable to some power, a specific source of harm (like electricity or magic), or attacks directed at a weak point. For every Level, you take exponentially more damage from this power.

Wanted: Wanted alive, or maybe even dead! You have acquired the ire—or at least interest—of another person or organization. They are actively pursuing you, and you are actively avoiding them. At Level 1, your hunter doesn’t intend to do you any harm, isn’t very persistent in the search, or isn’t powerful enough to carry out their threats when they find you. At Level 2, the hunter wants to give you a little payback, take something from you, or is very capable of getting what they want. At Level 3, the hunter wants you severely punished, possibly even killed, or wants to take something of incredible significance to you and will do anything to get it. Not only might they be very capable of doing so, they could have resources and powers that greatly exceed your own!

Weak: You have the muscle tone of a cabbage leaf. You find it hard to lift heavy objects, create significant force, or do anything that involves feats of strength.

Weak-Willed: You find it difficult to resist temptation or withstand pain, and you are easily influenced and commanded. At Level 1, though unreliable under fire, you can take a stand when something is vitally important to you—at least for a little while. At Level 2, you submit easily, and only dear causes will inspire you to resist. At Level 3, you are a slave to temptation and the whim of others. Any hardship will immediately break your spirit, and you’ll succumb to defeat or any demands made of you.

[Xurtan]

PERKS

Optional Magickal Power Perks

Accurate (+5): Your attack can hit opponents with greater ease than normal. This could be a homing projectile, a strike so quick dodging is difficult, or simply a blow with improved accuracy. This Perk can be taken multiple times

Area Effect (+10): Your Ability can affect multiple targets by spreading itself over a wide area. This could be a cone-shaped blast of energy, a circular explosion, or a dense array of bolts. This Perk may be taken multiple times; for each time Area Effect is added to an Ability, you may target up to three relatively close individuals, as deemed by the Game Master. Abilities with this Perk can affect both allies and enemies, so be careful when applying it!

Armor Piercing (+5): Your attack has the ability to bypass your opponent’s armor. Perhaps it is extremely sharp, hits with incredible impact, does damage through non-physical means, or has some other way of negating protection. This Perk may be taken multiple times.

Barrier Buster (+5): Your attack can overwhelm an opponent’s use of the Barrier Ability. It may pack an incredible wallop or is specifically designed to take down defensive shields.

Blinding (+20): Your attack has the ability to hinder the vision of others. It might be a dark, blinding substance over the eyes, a brilliant flash, or some trick of the mind.

Continued Effect (+10): Your Ability continues to affect its target after use. This can be represented as a burning or poisoning attack or a magical aura that continues to heal.

Defensive (+5): The best defense may be a good offense, but a defensive offense is even better. Your attack, whether it’s bashing with a huge shield, bouncing to and fro, or by some other means, improves your Defense even if it misses. This Perk may be taken multiple times.

Disarming (+10): Your attack takes the opponent off guard and activates a Weakness or Flaw, whether by literally disarming a weapon in their grasp or disarming them emotionally.

Effective (+5): Your Ability is more effective than others of the same Level. This Perk can be taken multiple times.

Fatiguing (+0): Your attack works as normal, but instead of dealing Damage to Health, it takes away directly from your opponent’s Willpower.

Impairing (+10): Your attack hits them where it hurts. Whether by making use of devastating weaponry, striking pressure points, or just whacking really hard, your attack can impair an opponent. You may also forgo doing damage at all, and guarantee an impairment.

Multiple Targets (+10): Your Ability can selectively affect multiple targets, whether by splitting apart, emitting numerous rays, or just jumping from one to another. This Perk may be taken multiple times; for each time Multiple Targets is taken, you may select up to one additional target for your Ability.

No Gesture (+5): Normally, Abilities require some sort of movement or gesture to make them work, whether it is just pointing your finger, weaving a magic spell, or actually dealing some physical blow. With this Perk, you require no movements at all to perform the Ability.

Overwhelming (+15): Your attack is actually not one strike but many in the span of a second. These attacks come so quickly that opponents have to dedicate themselves to defense to even attempt to block or dodge it.

Paralyzing (+10): You can use your Ability to stop opponents in their tracks. You could have a long, whip-like weapon that entraps their limbs, the ability to freeze them in solid blocks of ice, or some electric shock, etc.

Reach (+5): Your attack has extensive reach that makes it difficult to engage you in combat. Perhaps you wield a hefty polearm, strike with immense claws, or just have one hell of a swing

Strike Through (+5): Your Ability is unhampered by any obstacles that may come in its path. This could be due to an incorporeal nature of its effect or simply an unparalleled capacity to permeate intervening objects. As such, you may always affect a target within range, regardless of what lies between you.

Trap (+5): Your attack is such that you may spend an action to set it up ahead of time and choose a trigger for its activation, such as a target stepping in a certain place.

Unique Perk (+?): If you do not see a Perk here that reflects the one you want for your Ability, get with me. Together, we'll can create a new Perk with the appropriate Willpower cost.

Vampire (+5): Your attack is capable of replenishing your Health at the expense of your enemy’s. This Perk may be taken multiple times.

FLAWS

Optional Magickal Power Flaws

Activation (–10): Your Ability requires time to activate before each use. This could be due to cocking, reloading, aiming, recharging, or one of many other reasons.

Ammunition (–5): Your Ability may only be activated a certain number of times before it becomes useless. This could represent bullets in a gun, charges in an electric baton, or a limited grant of power from a divine entity. This Flaw may be taken multiple times; if taken once, the Ability can be used around five times. If taken twice, around three times. If taken three times, this Ability can only be used once. While the exact method of recharging this Ability is up to you, it is generally appropriate that it takes a full day or at least extensive off time. If the character can simply reload the Ability with little effort, consider another Flaw, like Activation, instead.

Assisted (–15): This Ability requires an ally’s help to function. They might launch you in the air for a devastating dive attack, or you might pool your energies together to power the Ability. The ally can't do anything else except aid you, but they may expend up to half of the Willpower cost of this ability for you if they chose. This Perk may be taken multiple times; for each time it is taken, you need an additional helping hand.

Backlash (–5): Your attack comes at the cost of your own well-being, and you may be injured through its use. This Flaw may be taken multiple times.

Break (–10): This Ability may only be used once you have exhausted either all of your Health or all of your Endurance. Perhaps you need to build up rage to unleash a fierce attack, or maybe you only feel empowered when the tide of battle has turned against you.

Buildup (–5): You cannot use your Ability right away but must wait for its power to build up. It could be an energy weapon that requires charging, a martial arts move you have to limber up for, or just a need to have dramatic timing. This Flaw may be taken multiple times.

Cancel (–0 to –20): Your Ability does not work on a certain class of targets. If this is fairly rare, such as combatants made entirely of metal, you receive –5 to the Endurance cost. If it’s incredibly common, like humans, you can get up to –20. If the Cancel is something that is ridiculously uncommon, like hippopotamuses, you get no subtraction to Willpower.

Concentration (–20): This ability takes concentration and time. You must give it your undivided attention, and if you do anything else the ability does not work and the Willpower is expended regardless.

Delayed (–5): This Ability does not take effect until just before the start of your next post. If you are otherwise impaired before this time, the ability does not work and the Willpower is lost.

Elaborate Gestures (–5): In order to use this Ability, your entire body must be free to perform some elaborate motion, dance, or ritual. You cannot be holding items, pulling things, navigating terrain, or otherwise occupying any part of your body with another task.

Feather Blow (–5): This ability cannot inflict conditions such as impairment or paralyze.

Inaccurate (–5): Your attack has a tendency to miss. You may have yet to master it, or the attack is just imprecise by nature.

Ineffective (–5): This Ability is not as effective as others of the same Level. This Flaw may be taken multiple times.

Low Penetration (–5): Your attack is unusually susceptible to armor.

No Damage (–20): Your attack is not much of an attack at all.  You may not combine this with the Ineffective Flaw.

Open to Attack (–25): After completing your Ability, you're wide open to attack. You may be exhaustively spent, have temporarily exposed a critical weak point, or otherwise thrown caution, and a proper defense, to the wind.

Recoil (–10): This Ability packs enough of a punch to knock you off your feet. When used, you are immediately paralyzed.

Requirement (–5 to –20): Your Ability may only be used if a certain condition is met. If the requirement is easily accessible (Need Lots of Room), it is worth –5 Willpower, while an extremely rare and specific requirement (Must Be the 12th Day of the 4th Month of the Ancient Galbelzan Calendar and a Full Blue Moon) can be worth up to –20. Well, okay, perhaps not that precise, but you get the idea.

Self-Only (–5): This Ability may only be used on yourself. It cannot be shared with others or otherwise targeted at other persons or objects. If an Ability is already only usable in this way, then this Flaw should not be taken.

Unique Flaw (-?): If you do not see a Flaw here that reflects the one you want for your Ability, discuss it with me. Together, we can create a new Flaw with the appropriate Willpower cost.

Unwieldy (–5): Your Ability is of a nature that makes you unsteady after its use. It might be an immense weapon, or perhaps you just become woozy from exhaustion. This Flaw may be taken multiple times

Weapon (–5): This attack is actually a weapon, be it a blade, a gun, or something in between. Should you lose it, have it taken from you, or find yourself disarmed during a battle, you may no longer use this attack.

If you have any questions regarding Perks & Flaws or Weaknesses & Abilities please get in touch with me and I will do my best to work with you. The two major things I want to comment on other than those in the preface are to keep in mind your Shard, and to keep in the mind the overall 'feel' of the game and the genre. Beyond that, any errors are mine - I edited and ported these over primarily from the OVA book, so if something is confusing that may be why.

CHARACTER SHEET

Code Select Expand

[float=right] [img height=300 padding=10]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cYFPWZSC1lDodzb_Hy7WWvLDB65vzwp4op7wamb8gtrM8CizZrXtDyDmoyW7rQ3fe2QThuqh8ZPLqKYIvSvmbXbszQP7sdKrVYnL4ABaV6pnhYqielz5S1_5GvwgxgA6nwnm5WDncZbe-2TCevUkuayW4Ts[/img]
[/float] [b]Name:[/b] [font=courier]Character's Name[/font]
[b]Player Name:[/b] [font=courier]Elliquiy Username of Character's Player[/font]
[b]Face Claim/Play-By:[/b] [font=courier]Face-Claim, No Artwork Please[/font]
[b]Alias/Nick names:[/b] [font=courier]Nicknames, Secret Identities, Etc.[/font]
[b]Age:[/b] [font=courier]Character's Age, PCs Must Be Ages 16-19[/font]
[b]Height:[/b] [font=courier]Character's Height (feet, inches)[/font]
[b]Ethnicity:[/b] [font=courier]Character's Apparent Ethnicity / Heritage[/font]
[b]Gender:[/b] [font=courier]Character's Self-Identified Gender[/font]
[b]Sexuality & Orientation:[/b] [font=courier]Character's Self-Identified Sexuality & Orientation[/font]
[b]Class Affiliation:[/b] [font=courier]Sophomore, Junior, or Senior[/font]
[b]Description:[/b] [font=courier]Describe your character's physical appearance on an average day. Note any significant differences from your face-claim, such as if your character lacks a tattoo that the claim shows.[/font]

[hr]

[b]Shard:[/b] [font=courier]White, Green, Red, Purple, or Blue; please refer to posting for important descriptions[/font]
[b]Weapon:[/b] [font=courier]Each Shardbearer's Weapon Should Be Unique To Them; please check claims to ensure that your chosen weapon is available[/font]
[b]Transformation:[/b] [font=courier]When your character readies for battle or taps into the magic of the shards, transformations magically take place. This might be a change to their hair and eye color, a costume / disguise, or effects such as a colorful glow about them. Describe your character's transformation. Though they will not have this power immediately upon the game's start, it will be available soon thereafter.[/font]
[b]Health (HP):[/b] 50
[b]Willpower (WP):[/b] 50

[hr]

[u]Abilities - Mundane[/u]
Refer to post for detailed instructions. Please list 5-10 mundane abilities that your character excels at; example abilities are provided in application instructions. Assign each a score between 1-4. Only one ability may be rated higher than a three; any ability above a three will require background justification explaining why they are among the best in the world at such a young age. Total points in Mundane abilities may not exceed 15; players may elect to spend less than 15 points and are encouraged to do so if it fits with their concept.

Example Formatting: [i]Knowledge: Cooking (2) -[/i] Sam grew up mostly on his own, his parents constantly working. As a result, he was typically left to fend for himself at night and for school lunches. He wasn't poor, his parents were just... a bit absentminded. Thankfully for him, he had the patience and interest to learn to cook. By the time he was entering high-school he might not have been a five-star chef, but he was able to follow most basic recipes, and some that were even a bit complex!

Ability Name (Level) - Description. Be sure to have a narrative for each ability, especially if you end up putting a 3 or 4 into something. These tend to fall under 'Professional' level or 'One of the best'.


[u]Abilities - Magickal[/u]
Refer to post for detailed instructions. Please list 1-5 magical abilities that your character is able to perform; example abilities are provided in application instructions. Assign each a score between 1-3; no beginning character may rise above that; advancement will be available in game at milestones. Total points may not exceed 15; players may elect to spend less than 15 points and are encouraged to do so if it fits with their concept.

Example Formatting: [i]Armored (3) - [/i] Jacob was always larger than others. He grew up fascinated with stories of Knights and heroes, and having to learn to moderate his strength at an early age left him being fairly careful of hurting other people. When he picked up his Shard, one of the abilities he realized he was able to take advantage of was practically a defining moment. White, glowing armor similar to that of a Paladin from a story is able to be summoned at will, overlaying his form and helping to protect and mitigate damage.

Ability Name (Level) - Description. Be sure to have a narrative for each ability, especially if you end up putting a 3s in Magickal abilities. These should be core to who your character is as a person, as well as fit with their theme. 


[b]Total Number of Ability Points:[/b] [font=courier]Total together the amount of ability levels you took in Mundane and Magickal. Now take an equal level of weaknesses. [/font]


[u]Weaknesses[/u]
Refer to post for detailed instructions.  For every point spent in abilities, a character must also spent a point in weaknesses; for example, a character with 15 ability points must have 15 points in weaknesses. Weakness descriptions are provided in application instructions.

Example Formatting: [i]Airhead (1) -[/i] 'Eh? I don't get it.' or 'Huh' are practically Andy's personal words to live by. He smiles awkwardly and nods along, but he doesn't really get it, he never has. He's not dumb, he just has a tendency to get distracted or forget. His friends are constantly calling him to remind him of events, and he just laughs and goes along with it. 

Weakness Name (Level) - Description. Be sure to have a narrative for each weakness. Weaknesses go up to level 3, and each level is successively worse.


[hr]

[b]Family:[/b] [font=courier]Please list any direct family members that your character has, including their age and any occupation. Please briefly describe your character's relationship with the person, such as if they are close with their brother or estranged from their mother. Please note that these characters are subject to GM use. In order to create an immersive world we ask that you allow the true nature of your character's family, their fates, or history to be potentially unknown by you and your character. This is not intended to infringe upon your creative voice; it is a way of allowing the GM to present situations with real drama and stakes for your character. If you do not consent to this, please note it here and notify the GM so that your preference can be honored and recorded.[/font]

[u][b]Academic-Life Questions[/b][/u]

[b]Describe your character's [u]academic[/u] life; Possible things to include: are they a good student or a poor one? Do they like school? What are their best and worst subjects? Are they in any extra-curricular activities or school-sponsored clubs?:[/b] [font=courier]Answer here.[/font]

[b]Describe your character's [u]social and sexual[/u] life; Possible things to include: would they fit into a classic clique, such as nerds, jocks, or hipsters? What groups do they get along with the most and least? Are they dating? Are they hiding something about their gender or sexuality?:[/b] [font=courier]Answer here.[/font]

[b]Describe your character's [u]physical health and activity[/u] life; Possible things to include: does your character live with any illnesses (including eating disorders) that affects them physically or emotionally? Do they participate in the recreation on the island, or are they a recluse? Do they compete in any sports?[/b] [font=courier]Answer here.[/font]

[u][b]Interpersonal Relationships[/b][/u]
Please fill out at least three entries within two weeks of being in-character. These should be determined by contacting your fellow approved players and working out how your characters might know each other, given that they live on the same island and attend the same school.

[font=courier]Example Entry: Name - Eric - Relationship - Previous Year's Biology Lab Partner
My character was initially disappointed to be paired with Eric, since he doesn't have a reputation for being the most serious student. However they learned over the year to appreciate his humor and would classify him a friend; given that D in biology, though, they will likely try to avoid working on school projects together again.[/font]

[spoiler=Transformation Description and/or Images][img height=300 padding=10]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cYFPWZSC1lDodzb_Hy7WWvLDB65vzwp4op7wamb8gtrM8CizZrXtDyDmoyW7rQ3fe2QThuqh8ZPLqKYIvSvmbXbszQP7sdKrVYnL4ABaV6pnhYqielz5S1_5GvwgxgA6nwnm5WDncZbe-2TCevUkuayW4Ts[/img]
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Additional Character Images][img height=300 padding=10]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cYFPWZSC1lDodzb_Hy7WWvLDB65vzwp4op7wamb8gtrM8CizZrXtDyDmoyW7rQ3fe2QThuqh8ZPLqKYIvSvmbXbszQP7sdKrVYnL4ABaV6pnhYqielz5S1_5GvwgxgA6nwnm5WDncZbe-2TCevUkuayW4Ts[/img][/spoiler]

FC & WEAPON RESERVES

Sean O'Donnell - Escrima
Ai Shinozaki - Meteor Hammer
Gabriel Marques - Bow & Arrow
Donnell Blaylock Jr. - Bladed Cestus
Tamzin Merchant - Dual Pistols
João Knorr - Zweihander
Paris Berelc - Glaive
Alyson Hannigan - Staff
Jeff Ward - Bladed Chain Whip
Dolly Castro - Tetsubo
John Economou - Kusarigama

[Amarlo]

-slides in, slightly out of breath.- FIRST

Er, I mean, I'm interested!

Edit: Also, hold Ai Shinozaki and a meteor hammer as a weapon for me, please?

[Bibliophilia]

I'm thinking of making a blue non-binary person...may I reserve bow and arrows?

Still thinking on face-claim.

Edit: And claiming Gabriel Marques.

[CyrodilicBrandy]

purplepurplepurplepurplepurplepurple

and guns

[Gannameade]

Purple please

Claws  like I asked..

or Swords

[Muse]

  Good morning awesome poeple. 

  :)  Im on my way to bed, but I bookmarked this and i want to say hi.  Amarlo, you have exquisitte taste!  :) 

  So, how about a young man from japan who likes to draw manga?  :)

[Codexa]

Awesome concept for a game!

Love the lore, and basically everything really.

:)

I will definitely keep my eye on this.

*waves to everyone*

[Xurtan]

Hey, glad to see everyone's enthusiasm. :)

Updated the FC and weapon claim for the most part. Cyrodilic, any particular type of gun? Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Revolvers? *ponder* I figure most categories are probably large enough to have some overlap as long as they're different enough, such as someone wanting a Gladius and another wanting a Scimitar.

Awesome concept for a game!

Love the lore, and basically everything really.

Awesome to hear! It has been a brainchild I've been wanting to poke at for awhile, so was glad to finally get it out. If you (or anyone) has any questions, feel free to hit me up! I have a variety of things written and unwritten if anyone needs lore information, for example.

And nice choice weapon wise, Amarlo. I have a fondness for chain weapons of all types. *grin* Definitely some interesting variety so far, which I'm thrilled to see.

[Angie]

I'm still interested but i have almost no idea what to do. That said...is anyone going healer style?

[CyrodilicBrandy]

I'm thinking double pistols! Would like to reserve Tamzin Merchant as FC, as well!

[Xurtan]

I'm still interested but i have almost no idea what to do. That said...is anyone going healer style?

Feel free to spitball ideas or ask for direction. I don't think anyone is going healer yet, or at least no one has mentioned it. I know I'll probably be focusing on front-line melee, so a healer is never a bad thing to have haha.

I'm thinking double pistols! Would like to reserve Tamzin Merchant as FC, as well!

Awesome, and updated the claims. :)

[Angie]

Alright so! I'm thinking of taking healing and also taking shapeshifting, I have a character in mind I'd like to use. Staff for a weapon, which may also be the focus for her healing. It's taking shape.

[Xurtan]

Sounds good! Can't wait to see it. :)

[CyrodilicBrandy]

Hey, just a quick question, as a Brit, I know very little about the US education system that some of the elements in the CC seem to be based on. An 18 year old would be a junior? or a senior?

[Gannameade]

18 yr  generally senior.

***************

FC -donnell blaylock jr -Since I am unknown.   O8)

[Xurtan]

Hey, just a quick question, as a Brit, I know very little about the US education system that some of the elements in the CC seem to be based on. An 18 year old would be a junior? or a senior?

18 would be a 12th Grade Senior. The equivalent to... Year 13 / Upper 6th, I think, as far as the UK is concerned?

And noted, Gannameade. Updated the list.

[Gannameade]

Sent you a PM when you have time?!?

Think I am on the right track?!?!

[Xurtan]

Sent you a PM when you have time?!?

Think I am on the right track?!?!

Yup, I get emails about all PMs I receive. :) I'll respond to it as I'm able, likely sometime tonight. From what I could tell you are on the right track, though! I rather like this 'system', it has a decent bit of customization without being too crunch heavy. For anyone that might be having difficulties I'll see about getting an example sheet up sometime within the next couple of days.   

[CyrodilicBrandy]

Character creation is always one of those things I get super anxious about like, 'is my character good enough'.  ???

[Gannameade]

Character creation is always one of those things I get super anxious about like, 'is my character good enough'.  ???

I feel you, that is why I asked first. 

Don't wanna spend a lot of time going down the wrong rabbit whole.

[Xurtan]

Character creation is always one of those things I get super anxious about like, 'is my character good enough'.  ???

I'll primarily be looking for good grasp of the English language (spelling/grammar) as well as how well the character fits its color, as well as the 'theme'. Well, that, and post consistency--but there's only so far I can tell that from someone's history, hah. We're likely all familiar with various tropes for anime, and I do invite people to take inspiration from them. I wouldn't be overly anxious, it's largely a Lego-style chargen of plugging things together, and each piece builds upon the whole to give you a good idea of what your character will look like. :)

Naturally, if you have any questions, do feel free to contact me or post here and I'll get back as I can.

I'd say one thing to keep in mind is these characters are all just normal students with normal lives before this event. Some poor, some rich, some popular, some not. It's a mixed bag with a variety of interests. So especially as far as the narrative backing of the Mundane abilities, it's important to use them to flesh out who your character is.

[CyrodilicBrandy]

I've sent mine over  :-X

[Amarlo]

Amarlo, you have exquisitte taste!  :) 

^^ Thank you! But are we talking the fc or the weapon? xD Either way, I adore both!

And nice choice weapon wise, Amarlo. I have a fondness for chain weapons of all types. *grin* Definitely some interesting variety so far, which I'm thrilled to see.

I'm glad you like it. ;D My mother is a black belt with the manrikigusari (even though they're illegal in most states these days). Originally I thought to go with those, but then I changed my mind because the meteor hammer is super freaking cool and probably easier for me to write and be badass with. It also sits really nicely directly between both my mother and my father's fighting styles. ^^;

[Gannameade]

That sounds awesome Amarlo.

[Amarlo]

While it is indeed awesome, it came with some hardships as well. Lmfao. In the end I can certainly say I'm a survivor. xD

@Xurtan - I have a few setting questions.

1. I know you've stated that the island is near Australia, but culturally how would you describe the general population?
2. How large is the Island? How big is the population? Is there a single city? A couple of cities? Is it part of a larger sovereignty?
3. Is the high school a public school? A religious institution? A military one?

[Crash]

I have been avoiding a second game but this sounds like a lot of fun.

[lux89]

While it is indeed awesome, it came with some hardships as well. Lmfao. In the end I can certainly say I'm a survivor. xD

@Xurtan - I have a few setting questions.

1. I know you've stated that the island is near Australia, but culturally how would you describe the general population?
2. How large is the Island? How big is the population? Is there a single city? A couple of cities? Is it part of a larger sovereignty?
3. Is the high school a public school? A religious institution? A military one?

I knew I read some answers somewhere! (First paragraph lel)

The year was 2024 and although the world had seen wars begin and end, dictators rise and fall, as well as technological advances that shamed even the most forward thinking of authors of yesteryear, Mauri remained much as it always had. Sleepy little towns dotted the coastlines, and although there were several main cities the population of the entire island kept to a relatively steady 1.2 million. People in such locations are slow to change, and even now the newest of technologies are yet to arrive. Cellphones are not the beasts they are now, but rather the old style flip phones. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see a phone booth along the narrow paths, cheerfully claiming only a quarter a call. TVs are boxy monstrosities, and the internet still sounds rather like the trapped screams of the damned when it connects.

As for what type of high school Clearview High is, good question. Now I wonder.

[Amarlo]

I knew I read some answers somewhere! (First paragraph lel)
As for what type of high school Clearview High is, good question. Now I wonder.

Woooow. I feel real special.

I blame Xurtan. -nods.- Because I read all that a week ago and glossed right over it when I skimmed for it.

No, really that's my fault. I need to get better at skimming. xD

[lux89]

Lol! What Pigment are you going for? I'm digging Blue!

[Amarlo]

Lol! What Pigment are you going for? I'm digging Blue!

-smirks- I'm going to pick yellow.

Jk, I only said that because Xurtan apparently hates yellow

[Xurtan]

First of all, the Example Sheet is up. If anyone has questions about it, do let me know.

Secondly, yes, the island is near Australia. There are 1.2 million people. It is reasonably large, and there are some smaller islands nearby. Think similar to Hawaii in that respect, but with fewer off-shoots. Culturally, they're behind the times. Very late 90s, early 00s tech wise. Decently spiritual, and largely similar to say, New Zealand. There is one capital city, two cities of similar size but slightly smaller, as well as various small vilages and fishing towns. Largely, the island is difficult to cross. There is a closed down mine, but little in the way of tourist attractions. It is its own sovereingty, largely because no one could be bothered with it. It lacks strategic value and has never had especially amazing exports, nor the amount of people to draw in large import.

Clearview high is public, and has a mixture of cliques and influence levels. The rich kids attend right next to the poor.

Third, hello to our newcomers - always welcome interest. If you have any questions, do let me know. 

Fourth, Yellow is an abomination of a color and Ink agrees with me. So there. :p

[Amarlo]

-Snorts.- Thank you for the extra details. I'll have to remember to make my character wear all sorts of sunshine attire just for you two. :3

[Muse]

  I've just read the expanded setting informant.  I really love it.  This is going to be great.  I'll be trying to get a character application done tonight. 

  Question, what's the primary language of this island?  :)

[Xurtan]

Question, what's the primary language of this island?  :)

For the sake of ease we'll go with English, but there are likely pockets of people that speak Maori or a handful of other languages.

[Muse]

I'll have to tweak my concept some, then.  :)  Just a minor thing, but it was a big part of hte concept when i originally made it that he was a Japanese guy and he was translating the Wheel of Time into Japaense as a manga.  :) 

[Xurtan]

I'll have to tweak my concept some, then.  :)  Just a minor thing, but it was a big part of hte concept when i originally made it that he was a Japanese guy and he was translating the Wheel of Time into Japaense as a manga.  :) 

Hah, that would definitely still work. You could be a transfer student or perhaps your parents are here for work, etc. We're certainly not the tiniest of islands, we might not have a thriving Japanese population but there's likely a handful of Japanese restaurants and general family groups. It's up to you, though. :)

[Bibliophilia]

Robin hopes there's a sushi place, given the access to fresh fish.

[Muse]

  Hee.  :)  I kind of like that modificaiton! 

  His family owns a sushi resteraunt!  :) 

[Muse]

^^ Thank you! But are we talking the fc or the weapon? xD Either way, I adore both!

*Grins* B oth, and that sounds awesome. 

I hope it's not too stereotypical to go with a katana?  :) 

I mean, from the kendo club before he moved here, Arima actually knowes how to use it. 

[Muse]

  I'm writing a character history here and I'm wondering if it's too Emo... 

[lux89]

Mine's such an emo char history too... heck, the title's "Broken Reflections" so that's to be expected ;)

[Bibliophilia]

Robin's is not too bad.  -giggles.-  He's just a little weird.

[Amarlo]

@Xurg - Do they have to wear uniforms for school? <.< -seems hopeful.-

Also, it might have been addressed already and I just happened to miss it, but will the PCs already have access to their shard? I know they don't have access to those powers yet, but I'm a little uncertain about the shard part.

[Crash]

Tempted to make a strong girl with a tetsubo or go the opposite with nerdy girl with throwing knives.

[Xurtan]

Hah, read my example sheet up next to where chargen starts. Oliver isn't sunshine and daisies either. We're more Madoka than Sailor Moon.

And no, the Shards will be picked up pretty much in the first scene but they won't have access to them just yet. Various ideas on how it'll go specifically, but that'll change depending on how many people we end up with and such.

Also just due to FC memes and how much easier it is to show fashion in a photo no, no uniforms.

Tetsubo or throwing knives are both a lot of fun. Either would likely fit well. :)

[Muse]

Xurtan, you said you wanted hte character sheet PMedto you.  is it permisable to share my character history here for people who want to see it? 

[Xurtan]

I don't have a problem with that. I mostly have people PM me sheets so they're easier to adjust and discuss anything that needs changed. If you're just wanting to show the history, feel free.

[Muse]

Would love cheers, jeers, and constructive criticisms.  Seriously, I'm half panicked that he's too emo.  :P

Arima's history

   Isashi Arima's mother Kaname gave birth to him out of wedlock, and his father soon disappeared.   Not such a common story in many parts of the world, but less so in Japan. 

   Kaname was 24 and had been working as an elementary school teacher in Tokyo.  Rather than set a bad example for the children, she was fired.  When Arima was three, Kaname left her son with relatives and left the country in search of as second chance. 

   Arima spent his childhood feeling great shame for his existence, a thigh that several of his relatives preyed upon.  He fought with all his might to be a model student, a perfect boy.  At first, he rejected anything he loved that his family condemned, but in time he came to keep these things as shameful secrets.  He read fantasy novels—Japanese, English, and Chinese.  He read all kinds of manga.  In secret sketch books he began to draw. 

   It was the drawing that truly set him free.  More than good grades and kendo championships and 'friends' he made easily but never really grew close too, he found pride in the things he drew. 

   Arima never drew himself.  He drew scenes from novels.  He drew the beautiful girls in his class.  He drew gardens and skyscrapers, still life's and superheroes.  He began a great project.  He found a deep love for Robert Jordan's wheel of Time Saga.  More than anything else, it was helping him to master English.  It was art.  It was fantasy.  It was a challenge to creativity and intellect to figure out the little mysteries the author wove through.  Arima's project was to draw a manga of the saga with a full translation.

   Arima did receive regular letters from his mother.  He had trouble answering them, with his vicious aunt hissing condemnations, but Arima slowly began to think that he was judging his mother unfairly.  He didn't know her fully story.  He was letting other people think for him. 

   When Arima was fifteen, he wrote his mother a long letter.  He said all the usual things, talking about his accomplishment sin school, his friends, his victories at the Club's latest tournament. 

   Then, without really thinking about it, he drew a rose. 

   Upon realizing what he had done, Arima swallowed hard and hid the letter away for three days.  It took all of his courage to mail it. 

   He had never in his life voluntarily let someone see what he'd drawn. 

   Arima's mother's next letter started with a paragraph thanking him for the beautiful drawing.  Then, she invited him to come to the Isle of Mauri and attend her wedding.  She had been working at a sushi restaurant in Little Tokyo for several years now—first as a waitress and then doing accounts.  Her boss Takumi—owner of the restaurant and its chief chef had proposed. 

   On Arima's sixteenth birthday, he moved to Mauri with his mother, stepfather, and stepsister, and his life was changed forever.

[Xurtan]

Seems relatively typical of the tropes used in high school dramas, really. Which isn't a bad thing. It takes a certain bit of lackness from parents to really be able to keep the magical girl/guy gig going, and no family is perfect. *shrug* I wouldn't call it too emo.

[Crash]

I am going for claim Dolly Castro.  And Green

Weapon: Tetsubo

[Aethyrium]

Face claiming John Economou. Shard of... Probably blue? Maybe purple? Red has some appeal. Might be looking at green. Which is a long way to say idk.

For the moment, I'd like to claim a Scythe Kusarigama as my weapon. Subject to change.

[lux89]

Would love cheers, jeers, and constructive criticisms.  Seriously, I'm half panicked that he's too emo.  :P

Arima's history

   Isashi Arima's mother Kaname gave birth to him out of wedlock, and his father soon disappeared.   Not such a common story in many parts of the world, but less so in Japan. 

   Kaname was 24 and had been working as an elementary school teacher in Tokyo.  Rather than set a bad example for the children, she was fired.  When Arima was three, Kaname left her son with relatives and left the country in search of as second chance. 

   Arima spent his childhood feeling great shame for his existence, a thigh that several of his relatives preyed upon.  He fought with all his might to be a model student, a perfect boy.  At first, he rejected anything he loved that his family condemned, but in time he came to keep these things as shameful secrets.  He read fantasy novels—Japanese, English, and Chinese.  He read all kinds of manga.  In secret sketch books he began to draw. 

   It was the drawing that truly set him free.  More than good grades and kendo championships and 'friends' he made easily but never really grew close too, he found pride in the things he drew. 

   Arima never drew himself.  He drew scenes from novels.  He drew the beautiful girls in his class.  He drew gardens and skyscrapers, still life's and superheroes.  He began a great project.  He found a deep love for Robert Jordan's wheel of Time Saga.  More than anything else, it was helping him to master English.  It was art.  It was fantasy.  It was a challenge to creativity and intellect to figure out the little mysteries the author wove through.  Arima's project was to draw a manga of the saga with a full translation.

   Arima did receive regular letters from his mother.  He had trouble answering them, with his vicious aunt hissing condemnations, but Arima slowly began to think that he was judging his mother unfairly.  He didn't know her fully story.  He was letting other people think for him. 

   When Arima was fifteen, he wrote his mother a long letter.  He said all the usual things, talking about his accomplishment sin school, his friends, his victories at the Club's latest tournament. 

   Then, without really thinking about it, he drew a rose. 

   Upon realizing what he had done, Arima swallowed hard and hid the letter away for three days.  It took all of his courage to mail it. 

   He had never in his life voluntarily let someone see what he'd drawn. 

   Arima's mother's next letter started with a paragraph thanking him for the beautiful drawing.  Then, she invited him to come to the Isle of Mauri and attend her wedding.  She had been working at a sushi restaurant in Little Tokyo for several years now—first as a waitress and then doing accounts.  Her boss Takumi—owner of the restaurant and its chief chef had proposed. 

   On Arima's sixteenth birthday, he moved to Mauri with his mother, stepfather, and stepsister, and his life was changed forever.

Oh my character is named Isa too!! I like Arima's bio, it's very sweet.

[Crash]

Hmmm.  Going to have either own every weakness or trim out some Abilities. 😁

[Angie]

Hmmm.  Going to have either own every weakness or trim out some Abilities. 😁

Or double up on some. I asked about it and if it looks like you could take it multiple times you can. It's rather flexible like that.

[Xurtan]

Or double up on some. I asked about it and if it looks like you could take it multiple times you can. It's rather flexible like that.

Correct, such as if you wanted to have multiple fears or multiple sensitivities. Though obviously just taking them up to +2 or +3 works as well. I did a mix for mine. *shrug* Ended up with 23 points of weaknesses which fit rather comfortable with the character, all told. I appreciate how easy it is to use weaknesses to add to a character. 

[Crash]

@Angie - True

@Xurtan - Perks and Flaws on powers should zero out right?

One more question is doubling up on mundane and magical strength redundant.  It seemed like it wasn’t with the magical ability strong but figured I should ask.

[Xurtan]

@Xurtan - Perks and Flaws on powers should zero out right?

The lowest WP cost something can go is 1 (or 5, if you're using fully base options). Every power has a base activation cost of 5. However, this doesn't mean that you can't add Perks to something and make it more expensive without lowering it. The trade off for the Perk at that point is the extra Willpower cost to activate it. Flaws then come into play if you'd like to lower that or have a specific idea for an ability to limit it or make it more narrowly focused. Make sense? It's not about zeroing out so much as being happy with how the ability works and its cost. You could absolutely have a huge ability that cost say, 40 willpower. You'd just be mostly tapped at that point, hah.

[Crash]

The lowest WP cost something can go is 1 (or 5, if you're using fully base options). Every power has a base activation cost of 5. However, this doesn't mean that you can't add Perks to something and make it more expensive without lowering it. The trade off for the Perk at that point is the extra Willpower cost to activate it. Flaws then come into play if you'd like to lower that or have a specific idea for an ability to limit it or make it more narrowly focused. Make sense? It's not about zeroing out so much as being happy with how the ability works and its cost. You could absolutely have a huge ability that cost say, 40 willpower. You'd just be mostly tapped at that point, hah.

Yep.  I really should read my OVA book. 😉

One more question is doubling up on mundane and magical strong redundant.  It seemed like it wasn’t with the description of the magical ability strong but figured I should ask.

[Muse]

Thanks Lux.  I'm really glad you like. 

Arima is going to be Red, and his weapon will be a katana.  He's mostly done, and i'm going to send a work in progress to Xurtan before i go to bed. 

which is now.

though just for a nap. 

[Gannameade]

@Angie - True

@Xurtan - Perks and Flaws on powers should zero out right?

One more question is doubling up on mundane and magical strength redundant.  It seemed like it wasn’t with the magical ability strong but figured I should ask.

LOL seems like Crash and I had the same issue with Mundane and abilities.  LOL looking forward to what you come up with.

No.  The history are not too Emo for sure.  I liked it.

[Crash]

LOL seems like Crash and I had the same issue with Mundane and abilities.  LOL looking forward to what you come up with.

No.  The history are not too Emo for sure.  I liked it.

Going the super strong route or doubling up on something else?

[Muse]

Thanks Gannameade, I feel more relaxed after hearing that from you and others.  :) 

[Xurtan]

Yep.  I really should read my OVA book. 😉

One more question is doubling up on mundane and magical strong redundant.  It seemed like it wasn’t with the description of the magical ability strong but figured I should ask.

There is definitely overlap (intentionally so) in various places. A lot of it depends on what you want to focus on and how you want to use it. Magickal strength would mostly be useful for things that are really heavy, or to use that strength as a weapon. EG throwing a car. 'Normal' strength would be for more mundane things. Calling it 'subtle' strength in comparison would not be wrong.

[Crash]

There is definitely overlap (intentionally so) in various places. A lot of it depends on what you want to focus on and how you want to use it. Magickal strength would mostly be useful for things that are really heavy, or to use that strength as a weapon. EG throwing a car. 'Normal' strength would be for more mundane things. Calling it 'subtle' strength in comparison would not be wrong.

Okay so having both is not an issue.

[Gannameade]

Going the super strong route or doubling up on something else?

The doubling up or not picking a mundane then picking the same ability.

[Gannameade]

Thanks Gannameade, I feel more relaxed after hearing that from you and others.  :)

Nah I am just regular.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone's sheet.

[Crash]

I really like how Tia is coming along. Multi-sport athlete, her mom is Maori and dad is Nicaraguan.  She is totally infatuated with a cheerleader that uses that “secret” attraction to manipulate her and her unrequited love’s boyfriend is her sports rival.  So much good stuff to mine and I haven’t even written up everything yet.

[Codexa]

Yay!!!

It's always awesome when a character just jumps out at you! :)

[CyrodilicBrandy]

I really like how Tia is coming along. Multi-sport athlete, her mom is Maori and dad is Nicaraguan.  She is totally infatuated with a cheerleader that uses that “secret” attraction to manipulate her and her unrequited love’s boyfriend is her sports rival.  So much good stuff to mine and I haven’t even written up everything yet.

I feel like Tia and Hester might have some things in common...

[Crash]

I feel like Tia and Hester might have some things in common...

Lol!  Awesome.

[Intimate Ink]

This looks great by the way.  Expect a sheet from me.   So many familiar faces, too.  Some from long ago, kind of exciting!


Iink

[Crash]

Magic girl has been sent.

[Bibliophilia]

Hey, Ink!  -grins.-

[Gannameade]

Lol - I get it waiting for how the connections pan out!!

[Crash]

Well we probably need to see who gets accepted first too. 😉

[Gannameade]

LOL yeah there is that too!!

[Intimate Ink]

Hey, Ink!  -grins.-

Hey, fancy meeting you here!  8)

[Muse]

   Hi Ink.  :)  Been a bit.

  How is everyone! 

  I'm on the last part of the sheet, and also well into the extensive proofreading. 

[lux89]

Heyy Ink!! ;D Curious to see who you make!

Muse, I'm doing well, how are you? I sent mine in. He's like Iceman and Iron Man put together. xD
His name is Isa, which in ancient Germanic means "ice, iron" so that works out.

[Crash]

Writing magick power names was fun for me.  Love Tap and Swing for the Fences were my two favorites.

[Bibliophilia]

Robin's complicated, but his powers are pretty simple.  He fires ice arrows and raises ice barriers.  -nodnod.-

I was more into all the other aspects of his personality and the powers were surprisingly easy.

Edit:  Basically Robin's Alterego

[Angie]

Faye Nguyen is coming along well. Just gotta describe all her stuff.

Now that I think about it, I'm curious if some powers will "carry over" to non-transformed form. Faye has three levels of Shapeshifting...because I *like* shapeshifting, but it's far more useful when she's not transformed!

[Xurtan]

I'm glad to see so much interest from everyone. :) I'll prooobably give people until the 26th to get sheets in, and then see about picking applicants and going from there. At this point, thinking that the initial scene is liable to be Homecoming + the week leading up to it to give people a chance to do any side-scenes/settling in they'd like to do, and then very shortly after (possibly at the end of the dance, even, regardless of whether people went or not) they'll find their Shards. *ponder*

As far as power use, initial thought was keeping them to transformed only--I'm fine being argued against on that, if people have opinions? Perhaps 'passive' effects leak over in minor form, or a small bit of elemental manipulation transfers over? Nothing large, but I'd be fine with say, little cosmetic bits such as people changing their eyes for drama, lighting a cigarette without touching it, etc. Thoughts? More, less?

While I'm soliciting opinions, are there any threads people absolutely do want? Side threads for people to do their own scenes are (IMO) a fun part of a thriving group game, but I also don't want to create say, different parts of the school, a residential thread, a beach thread, etc, if no one has interest in using them. *snicker*

[Bibliophilia]

I like the idea of elemental passives leaking over a bit.  Like, with Robin's Life Support, I could see him being less likely to get cold.  But, likewise, I like the idea of him also being more likely to suffer effects from heat.

I don't have any specific threads, personally.  I think if I get accepted, Robin can manage with some general threads.

[Amarlo]

I love the idea of minor things being able to leak through, such as lighting a cigarette without having a lighter. Little parlor tricks. However to unlock even just half their power they'd have to transform. I think that seems fair and a fun mechanic for the general game

[Crash]

I like really minor cosmetic stuff seeping through but magic should be mostly left to the transformation

[lux89]

I also like idea of cosmetic detail. If there'll be parlour tricks,
then maybe add a rly bad side effect for not transforming?
Getting a weird magickal sickness, curse, or spawning enemies?

[Crash]

A little background for Tia

Tia Hernandez



Tia grew up outside of the city, in a small home with her mother, father, grandmother and her 5 brothers.  The house is cramped and rundown and when she was little they were not sure if they would have to go a day or two without food while they were waiting for their dad’s next paycheck.  Tia’s mother is from the native Maori tribe on the island and her father is a Nicaraguan immigrant who works as a laborer.  Tia’s toys were homemade and she and her brothers spent more time outdoors than in when she was little.  They explored the nearby forest and played rugby.  Tia’s brothers did not treat her like she was fragile or in need of special treatment because she was a girl and Tia grew up just as tough and strong as her brothers because of it.

When she was in middle school her older brothers, who already worked with her Dad as laborers when not in school, started working out at the local gym and Tia would come along.  The women there were slender and skinny and no one had a body type like Tia. She tried working out with one of the trainers but it just didn't feel right, so she started working out with her brothers instead, doing the same lifting they did even if it was bulking her up.  Lifting anything less than what her brothers could was just not an option for Tia even in her early teens. Not just because she wanted to show them up but because she loved what it was doing to her body.  She still looked nothing like the other women, but she felt beautiful.  When her brothers slowed their workouts down due to work and school Tia pushed herself on.  She had finally found herself in the dedication and discipline of weightlifting.

Middle school was tough on Tia.  While she felt she was beautiful, her peers often looked at her like she was a freak.  Her clothes never fit right and were often out of style thrift store buys or homemade.  It was during this time that she full realized her sexuality.  She had always admired how pretty other girls were but had tied to pass that off as jealousy.  Her family is deeply religious and her father and brothers have occasionally cracked ignorant and homophobic jokes.  When she met Adelaide Wilson she could no longer deny that those feelings where much more than jealousy.  Even at such a young age Adelaide was a manipulative young woman who had no purposeful interaction with Tia because Tia had nothing to offer her being the poor freak girl she was.  She struggled a lot during this time and started to get into fights that culminated in one antagonist ending up with a broken rib.  Tia felt horrible.  Her lashing out had done much more serious damage than a fat lip or black eye.  Tia has taken great care ever since to control her emotions and to find non-violent solutions to hurtful situations to the point of just walking away. She doesn’t want to feel that shame and guilt again.

By the time Tia was in high school she was in better physical condition that most of the boys rugby team and dominated the girl's competition when she joined the team.  Her coach took her under her wing and taught her about nutrition, supplements and how to best maximize her training.  Sports and training turned into a full-time job.  Tia made Varsity as a Sophomore and lettered in all 5 of the sports she participated in.  Rugby was by far her favorite, but she has excelled in field hockey, cricket, swimming and track and field as well. As soon as she was old enough to work Tia nabbed a part time job at the local gym to help out her family and get the free membership that came with the job so she could access better facilities than those at the high school.

Her Junior year marked a turn in her social standing.  She was a star athlete and everyone knew her name.  She is also a genuinely sweet and kind person.  Tia had won over most of the jocks at school and found herself a part of the popular crowd. Even Adelaide Wilson had taken notice and befriended her.  Her social group quickly became complicated and messy.  Tia had not told anyone she was gay for fear it would get back to her parents.  Now she found herself getting attention from a number of her jock buddies and others who were looking to crack the popular crowd.  Through it all she was still over the moon in love with Adelaide.  Adelaide suspected this might be the case and got Tia drunk at a party their senior year where Tia let her feelings slip.  Adelaide was more than happy to use this information to her benefit, stringing Tia along in private when she wants something and taking perverse pleasure playing up her relationship with her boyfriend Forester Black in front of Tia in public.  Forester is as mean and cruel as Adelaide with none of her subtly.  He also suspects Tia has feelings for Adelaide and sees her as a threat mostly because that is how Adelaide plays it.  She drops enough hints to keep Forester wondering if the queen to his king will break up with him and destroy his with the popular kids.  Tia and Forester are in a constant competition to be “the best athlete ever at Clearview High.” It is a heated rivalry that has had some epic challenges, the more difficult and outrageous the better it seems.

As soon as she was able to work, Tia nabbed a part time job at the local gym to help out her family and get the free membership that came with the job so she could access better facilities than those at the high school.  When she is not at school, practice or home she can often be found there.

[lux89]

Heh I really dig Tia now! If we both get accepted, Isa has an older brother who's a fitness trainer at the local gym.
So this way, Tia and Isa might run into each other more. Here's some more info on Isa that I submitted:

Isa Caldwell

Some twenty years ago, the Caldwells moved to Point Mauri from the capital Canberra, Australia. His father Haran, history professor interested in Point Mauri's past, and his mother Ivy, business developer interested in Point Mauri's future, both alumni from lauded universities are distant and aloof parents with high expectations. Isa's older brothers, Ira (23), fitness trainer who acts dumb but asks the right questions, and Ian (22), indoor hockey coach who acts dumb but speaks eloquently, both car mechanics are abusive and challenging. They rival Isa but land themselves too often in danger that he has to come as their Guardian and flee when they target him. He is experienced in operating vehicles, so he can pilot almost anything he can get his hands on. Sometimes a recluse, but does take advantage of recreational activities on the island. Sometimes surfs and scuba-dives but prefers to boat. He currently is under psychological duress due to his brothers' reckless endangerment. There is another dude who dwells in his head, a voice who calls itself Asi, who sometimes possesses Isa. Isa's main self is disciplined, self-obsessive, and distracted by flaws in his current environment. Asi's self obsesses more on controlling and manipulating others. He is a senior at Clearview.

Isa Caldwell is one of the top students, easily seen as someone with something to prove. He likes what school is built for. Life is school. School is lifelong. His best subjects: STEM classes and PE. His worst subjects: Literature, Art, Band, anything that is mainly artistic expression. The subjects that he is truly interested in, such as piloting planes and boats, are not offered. He could be involved with or had run for a position in Student Council. He may be involved with sports such as indoor hockey, working on the Yearbook, or organizing school events. He could be working (possibly on an outdated computer?) on the school's website. Cannabis, however, is his vice and local people know him well for that.

Isa effortlessly (and yet doesn't) belongs to a strange medley of cliques. Too jocky to be a nerd, too nerdy to be a jock. Too stoner to be a socialite, too socialite to be a stoner. While he isn't beautiful or charismatic, he has that fuckable porn star look. He would like to date, but he is seen and treated only as a fuckboi. He is out as gay and proud.

[Crash]

Oh man that would be a lot of fun.  The tie in with Isa’s brother would be funny since he antagonizes Isa who is constantly saving his ass.  I like the dynamic of out and proud v. closeted friends.  It would offer Tia some cool character development if they are both accepted.

[Angie]

I'm thinking of writing Faye as somewhat enthusiastic about gymnastics, anyone close enough to that after school club that she might be able to build some relations? She's quite shy but she can open up when discussing her interests (because I have to get her involved somehow!)

[CyrodilicBrandy]

Hester's all about running - well, she used to be, anyway.

[Crash]

Tia isn’t in gymnastics but she does track and field and runs quite a bit.  Not sure than helps Angie but like Hester it might put Tia in the area.  I suppose this being a fairly small population for the school it should be pretty easy for people to at least know others.  I have Tia as an older (19) Senior at the school.

[Angie]

Hmm, Track and Field might actually be an in. I took pretty much all the agility based mundanes so she could be interested, Tia and Hester might be trying to encourage her to join up since she's got a natural talent.

EDIT: Xurtan, can I send you what I have and see what happens? It's just a google doc right now, I wanna toss it someone's way and see how it all comes together.

[Intimate Ink]

I'm thinking of writing Faye as somewhat enthusiastic about gymnastics, anyone close enough to that after school club that she might be able to build some relations? She's quite shy but she can open up when discussing her interests (because I have to get her involved somehow!)

Interesting enough my character concept is gymnastic- obsessed and aspiring to be an Olympian one day.  Obviously that doesn't mean he will be approved like that, or approved at all; keep me in mind when the dust settles from the 26th though, and I will do the same.

[Bibliophilia]

-amused.-  Robin is a total music nerd whose most physically strenuous activity is getting up in the morning.

[Crash]

-amused.-  Robin is a total music nerd whose most physically strenuous activity is getting up in the morning.

Lol!  That is awesome.  Opposites are fun.

[Xurtan]

Yeah we actually have a fairly wide array of interests and focuses. Definitely a very bizarre mix of characters, coming together is going to be something of a clashing culture shock experience I suspect. All the better for teen drama. *snerk*

As an aside to anyone watching the thread, still room for more applicants. :) Obviously hit me up if you have any questions, which goes for anyone. In the interim I make plans for the initial scene... ;)

[Xurtan]

EDIT: Xurtan, can I send you what I have and see what happens? It's just a google doc right now, I wanna toss it someone's way and see how it all comes together.

And I just saw this; yeah, absolutely feel free.

[CurvyKitten]

BAH I keep changing my idea on my concept which is not helping me finish this sheet.  And I have no idea what to do for powers. LOL So frustrating!!!

[Crash]

BAH I keep changing my idea on my concept which is not helping me finish this sheet.  And I have no idea what to do for powers. LOL So frustrating!!!

Hate it when that happens.  You will come up with something.

[CurvyKitten]

Hate it when that happens.  You will come up with something.

I have two concepts arguing in my head and it's not helping me at all!

[Xurtan]

That's always rough. Obviously if there's anything I can do to help answer wise, hit me up with questions.

[Amarlo]

BAH I keep changing my idea on my concept which is not helping me finish this sheet.  And I have no idea what to do for powers. LOL So frustrating!!!

I feel that so hard. I kept psyching myself out over the abilities I was creating. I kept rewriting and fine-tuning them. Turns out they were fine in the end. 3:

[CurvyKitten]

That's always rough. Obviously if there's anything I can do to help answer wise, hit me up with questions.

I may have to hit you up on help with the powers.

[Crash]

I feel that so hard. I kept psyching myself out over the abilities I was creating. I kept rewriting and fine-tuning them. Turns out they were fine in the end. 3:

Yeah thankfully Tia’s were easy enough.  I had a simple theme.

[CurvyKitten]

I feel that so hard. I kept psyching myself out over the abilities I was creating. I kept rewriting and fine-tuning them. Turns out they were fine in the end. 3:

I keep doing the same thing! But part of that is because I keep changing my mind on what I want to do.

[Xurtan]

Haha, that's at least one thing I'll give myself - I'm usually good at narrowing down a specific theme and sticking to it quickly. The few times it doesn't work and I end up waffling are just ugh. Pass. I sympathize.

[CurvyKitten]

Haha, that's at least one thing I'll give myself - I'm usually good at narrowing down a specific theme and sticking to it quickly. The few times it doesn't work and I end up waffling are just ugh. Pass. I sympathize.

I think I got one idea down pretty much, but if you utterly hate it I have a back up I can work up.

[Muse]

*Bouncs*  I want to hear about them, Curvy!

[lux89]

Heya Curvy! Nice seeing you again! I always love the characters you come up with, so I am sure whatever you choose, it'll be fun to rp with!

[CurvyKitten]

*Bouncs*  I want to hear about them, Curvy!

Heya Curvy! Nice seeing you again! I always love the characters you come up with, so I am sure whatever you choose, it'll be fun to rp with!

Aww you are all so sweet!

I thought I had a solid concept, but now after some sleep I just don't know. :P I hate when this happens. Wish I could wrangle my muse into behaving!

[Amarlo]

Maybe you can practice on Muse ;P lmfao

[Muse]

*Laughs* 

Go right ahead! :)

Or better yet, talk about your ideas with me!  Or us!

[CurvyKitten]

Cliffnotes versions ok here goes!

Well my first concept was a girl that is just a ball of anger hehe. Her father killed her little brother, her mother went crazy afterward and is in an asylum. She went to a grandmother who believed it was the mans right to punish his children. Old way of thinking that drove her to run away. She boxes, fights, curses and is incredibly protective of those she cares about. She is full of flaws but also full of promise if she could just get past all the pain. I was either going to have her wield a giant hammer or some brass knuckles or something. I have no idea what her powers would be. She is a red shard holder.

The second is a much sweeter girl, but one that has seen the wrong side of love due to her mothers way of using people. She turned to books and fairytales to escape. She is a bit naive and see's the good in people still, though it will probably bite her in the ass one day. She loves being outdoors and spent a great deal of time there when she was little. Letting her imagination help her escape. Not sure what shard was thinking green. And she wields a ring blade...I think LOL

See my problem! I may just give up, evil muses!

[Crash]

Cliffnotes versions ok here goes!

Well my first concept was a girl that is just a ball of anger hehe. Her father killed her little brother, her mother went crazy afterward and is in an asylum. She went to a grandmother who believed it was the mans right to punish his children. Old way of thinking that drove her to run away. She boxes, fights, curses and is incredibly protective of those she cares about. She is full of flaws but also full of promise if she could just get past all the pain. I was either going to have her wield a giant hammer or some brass knuckles or something. I have no idea what her powers would be. She is a red shard holder.

The second is a much sweeter girl, but one that has seen the wrong side of love due to her mothers way of using people. She turned to books and fairytales to escape. She is a bit naive and see's the good in people still, though it will probably bite her in the ass one day. She loves being outdoors and spent a great deal of time there when she was little. Letting her imagination help her escape. Not sure what shard was thinking green. And she wields a ring blade...I think LOL

See my problem! I may just give up, evil muses!

Tia would have more in common with 2 than 1.  1 has a lot of story progression but could be more “evil” than “good” and would probably depend on how many of those types of characters Xurtan is looking to include.

[CurvyKitten]

Tia would have more in common with 2 than 1.  1 has a lot of story progression but could be more “evil” than “good” and would probably depend on how many of those types of characters Xurtan is looking to include.

Yeah the first one could end up being a bit bad if the story pushed her that way. But really she just hasn't dealt with all the pain she has from what happened. So it comes out as being the rebellious angry person.

Is there a approved character thread? Maybe seeing some of the other sheets will help me come up with something that sticks. I feel like I have done something like the second one before. The first one is something from a character I never got to play. Hmm...I give up LOLZ

[Crash]

No accepted characters yet.  Xurtan will choose characters from the submitted one some time this week.

[Xurtan]

Is there a approved character thread? Maybe seeing some of the other sheets will help me come up with something that sticks. I feel like I have done something like the second one before. The first one is something from a character I never got to play. Hmm...I give up LOLZ

Aggregating sheets until Weds then making a decision. As far as the good/evil spectrum I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as the character has reason/interest in interacting. I generally expect people to be able to keep IC and OOC separate if a character happens to be an asshole, drama just adds interest to the scenes. Either could certainly work, though. I'd say build on whichever sounds more fun for you to write. Enthusiasm is the most important aspect, really. 

[Muse]

Cliffnotes versions ok here goes!

Well my first concept was a girl that is just a ball of anger hehe. Her father killed her little brother, her mother went crazy afterward and is in an asylum. She went to a grandmother who believed it was the mans right to punish his children. Old way of thinking that drove her to run away. She boxes, fights, curses and is incredibly protective of those she cares about. She is full of flaws but also full of promise if she could just get past all the pain. I was either going to have her wield a giant hammer or some brass knuckles or something. I have no idea what her powers would be. She is a red shard holder.

The second is a much sweeter girl, but one that has seen the wrong side of love due to her mothers way of using people. She turned to books and fairytales to escape. She is a bit naive and see's the good in people still, though it will probably bite her in the ass one day. She loves being outdoors and spent a great deal of time there when she was little. Letting her imagination help her escape. Not sure what shard was thinking green. And she wields a ring blade...I think LOL

See my problem! I may just give up, evil muses!

Second girl would be my first choice.  Among other reasons i haven't heard anyone speak of a green shard yet. 

Arima might bond with the first girl, though.  He'd admire her strength and want to show her that there were good people in the world.  At first she wouldn't really be able to get close to him, but at the same time he'd work with infinite patience and distant smiles to help her find real friends and honest smiles of her own.  If things went really wrong, Arima might think of himself as someone able to control her--and willing to take the lumps it would cost him to do so.  (The  kind of guy who would take a punch to the jaw just to get you in a hug, and a bunch of scratches and bites just to hold you there 'til you started to relax.)   

Arima could bond with the second girl, too.  That mix of sincerely sweet and fragile, Arima could sit with her quietly, and listen to her stories, and maybe... 

Some day... 

He'd pull out a sketch book. 

He'd hide what he was doing at first, as his pencils worked their way over the page, then...

With a deep breath to gather his courage...

he might show her the scene he'd drawn from her own story. 

[Crash]

Muse- Tia is a green shard

[Xurtan]

Shard wise, I believe we have several submissions for every Pigment except perhaps White. *think* I'd have to doublecheck. But yeah, don't let that be the determining factor unless you want it to be. :) 

[CurvyKitten]

Thank you all for the help. I'm still brainstorming. Will see what comes of it. Oh Forgot to say the first girl is a rocker chick. But you're right she may be to dark for this game.

[Bibliophilia]

I'm not sure if the first idea is 'too dark', as long as you can find a way to play that idea without her personality preventing her from interacting with the other characters in a meaningful way and also not make her history the center of her whole story arc.

A lot of times the trouble with tragic backstories in group games is that the character is so involved in that backstory that they can't (or won't) follow the story that everyone is making together.  It begins to feel as if the character's story becomes the focus and that becomes frustrating for other players who didn't sign up to play a game revolving around one of the other characters.

Edit:  Also, often characters with trust issues are played so stand-offish that it feels like pulling teeth to get them involved.  It can warp the story as well, if everyone else in the game is being forced to divert their focus into dragging one character along to be engaged in the story.  Again, it becomes all about that one character, rather than everyone getting their own space to shine and be involved in the story.

If you can do that, there's absolutely nothing wrong with making a character like that.

[Crash]

I find super shy characters have that effect on a game too. Everyone having to pull one characters along.  I suppose anything that constantly focuses the game on one player can be a problem no matter the backstory.  As Bib said.  If you feel you can do it go for it.

No guarantee any of us will get accepted so send in the one you want to play most.

[Bibliophilia]

-nodnod.-  I had to manage Robin very carefully, because he could easily turn into an anti-social character that spends all his time playing music or composing, instead of engaging with the game.  But, by judicious use of his relationship with his mother and a keen measure of self-awareness, I can play him realistically trying to temper his own instinct to withdraw.

Plus, once he gets his shard, his natural curiosity and enjoyment over developing his powers will allow him to refocus some of his attention in that direction.

Edit:  This is all should he be approved, of course.

[Xurtan]

Agreed with both of those comments. That's true whether it's in tabletop games such as D&D or slice of life or anything else, really. Asshole characters are fine, so are shy ones or standoffish, arrogant types. But it needs to be a case of this character having a reason and a want to push forward with the group without being dragged or making it a thing, essentially. Collaborative storytelling is such that it needs to be a bit about everyone, with people sharing or having moments in the spotlight but also genuinely wanting to push things forward (both side story and main story wise), even if their character is reluctant. *grin*

I find depth helps a lot with that, as even if you're grumpy and annoyed by moving forward, having something that ties you to it whether it be curiosity or a goal or whatever else at least gives you reason to be contributing.

[Angie]

I find super shy characters have that effect on a game too. Everyone having to pull one characters along.  I suppose anything that constantly focuses the game on one player can be a problem no matter the backstory.  As Bib said.  If you feel you can do it go for it.

No guarantee any of us will get accepted so send in the one you want to play most.

*Secretly hides Faye's character sheet*

That said, I do have plans for Faye to keep her from hiding away. Who knows? Maybe heroism is what she needs to get out of her shell! :D

[Crash]

*Secretly hides Faye's character sheet*

That said, I do have plans for Faye to keep her from hiding away. Who knows? Maybe heroism is what she needs to get out of her shell! :D

It is all on how people play it as Bib and Xurtan said.  So if you’re taking agency to move her forward you are good.

[Angie]

It is all on how people play it as Bib and Xurtan said.  So if you’re taking agency to move her forward you are good.

I've seen first hand how loners, shy characters, etc. can crash a real world game, I'm not about to do it here. Her being shy is also balanced by her being a compassionate soul and the fact she comes packing Healing means she just can't allow herself to sit back, I just wanted to play that cute sweet healer you can find here.

[Xurtan]

I'm kind of hilariously amused I thought of that exact comic when I was reading your sheet.

I've always ended up far more the bottom version when healing, but I am an admitted asshole. Admittedly I'm usually the one pulling more because the tank is slow, but still.

[Amarlo]

I've seen first hand how loners, shy characters, etc. can crash a real world game, I'm not about to do it here. Her being shy is also balanced by her being a compassionate soul and the fact she comes packing Healing means she just can't allow herself to sit back, I just wanted to play that cute sweet healer you can find here.

^ Xurtan healer, except less violent.

[Angie]

I'm kind of hilariously amused I thought of that exact comic when I was reading your sheet.

I've always ended up far more the bottom version when healing, but I am an admitted asshole. Admittedly I'm usually the one pulling more because the tank is slow, but still.

I have pulled a quote or two from that as a White Mage in FF14. "If you stand in the damaging puddle, I'm not healing you. Double for the tank." But yeah, the more I built Faye the more I thought of that comic because it was just starting to fit :P

[Bibliophilia]

-giggles.-  I refuse to play healer in Overwatch.  I suck at those games because I have horrible spatial awareness and reflexes, but I love my Mei.

Which totally explains Robin, except with a splash of Jaina.  Still, I'm all about them ice powers and being able to run in and spam...even though you aren't supposed to do that.  Have I mentioned I suck at those games?

TF2 Pyro and Mei ftw. 

[lux89]

XD Lulz

I SHOULD HAVE made a super shy asshole whose attacks specialize in dragging everyone down and making everything about him.
I glance! ZOOM IN at the calendar. IT'S NOT WEDNESDAY YET.

[Xurtan]

Obligatory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXKcojj7Vk4 ?


Though truthfully I always played Spy more than anything, as much as I did my time as Pyro/Medic/Engi. I was a Reaper main mostly when I played OW, but can confirm I blocked several of my friend's Rein ults as Mei, so. Job complete? Also one tragic moment I blocked a jumping Winston and he fell into the void.

And hah, healing in XIV was always a trip. Especially with randoms, where it's like whelp, guess I'm uh, solo healing this Savage fight. Thanks. Gives me an excuse to go for orange heal parses instead of damage for a change, but woof.

[Crash]

XD Lulz

I SHOULD HAVE made a super shy asshole whose attacks specialize in dragging everyone down and making everything about him.
I glance! ZOOM IN at the calendar. IT'S NOT WEDNESDAY YET.

You die first. 😁

[lux89]

You die first.

[Xurtan]

I'm sure it'd be a peaceful death, dw about it.  O:)

[Crash]

I suppose it did in my head but at the moment I am so tired I may just be typing in classic frontier jibberish.

[Xurtan]

Sudden desire to play a character that speaks in nothing but...

[Muse]

*Smirks*

When i'm part of conversations like this, i can never decide if i'm happy or very sad that i don't play MMOs! 

[Bibliophilia]

I don't play MMORPGs, personally, because I tend to lose interest really quickly.  My video game tastes run pretty narrow, unfortunately.  I really wish sometimes that I had broader tastes so that I could enjoy games with more interactivity or a more engaged community.

But, then I recall my brief experiences with LoL and reconsider...

[Xurtan]

I have... something like twelve thousand hours in League? So don't look at me, I'm an objectively terrible person. :p And hah, MMOs have their place but yeah, it's definitely a specific genre. I like the co-op/group/guild aspects, mostly.

[lux89]

I suppose it did in my head but at the moment I am so tired I may just be typing in classic frontier jibberish.

Oh I was sarcastic, it makes perfect sense to kill me off first. Was just being funny xD

I'm sure it'd be a peaceful death, dw about it.  O:)

Gaaasp, I make a salt circle around myself for protection

[Amarlo]

[Crash]

I use to play mmo’s.  They take up way too much time though so my video game consumption is virtually nothing now.  It’s all writing and ttrpg when not adulting.

[Intimate Ink]

That is some pretty aggressive talk coming from my old Dead by Daylight buddy.

[Amarlo]

That is some pretty aggressive talk coming from my old Dead by Daylight buddy.

Sssssshhhhhh. >.>

[Bibliophilia]

I love watching people play Dead by Daylight.  I would lose my mind if I played, though.  -giggle.-  I can't even survive properly in Minecraft.

[Amarlo]

I love watching people play Dead by Daylight.  I would lose my mind if I played, though.  -giggle.-  I can't even survive properly in Minecraft.

I used to stream it a lot. There were a lot of hilarious times. Such as: https://www.twitch.tv/zaluli/clip/EncouragingOriginalClipsdadDBstyle

The billy willy memes are the best. xD

[Xurtan]

I wish their balancing wasn't... *gestures* Otherwise I'd probably still play it, it's definitely a unique gameplay type. I'm curious if F13 or any of the others that tried to emulate it are any better when it comes to that sort of thing. Or I suppose I could just reinstall and only play killer. *snerk*

[Bibliophilia]

I've seen F13 and the balance issue seems even worse...plus back when I saw it there were bugs and whatnot.  Granted, that was way the fuck back then, so it might be better now.

[Intimate Ink]

F13 officially died siome time ago.   They lost their license (or never really securely had it, more accurately) so they kind of had to turn it into abandon ware.

[Bibliophilia]

Oof, that's rough.  Still, it definitely felt like a rushed game meant to ride a wave of Dead by Daylight popularity that ended up not lasting as long as they'd hoped it would.

[Xurtan]

Oh woof, the more you know. That's a meme. There's a few others out there but I don't think they particularly have much of a population, sadly.

[Intimate Ink]

I think The Hunt: Showdown is the quasi 'alternative' right now, not counting the weird but fantastic Blackout Club that doesn't do PvP.

[Xurtan]

I've glanced at H: S with some friends, it never quite hit the notes I wanted it to in order to actually put down cash. Blackout Club I'll give you, that game is amazing if definitely different. DbD is unfortunately rather unique, I think. GTFO is also really good and one I've enjoyed the bit I've played of, as far as being quasi-similar to Blackout Club.

[Amarlo]

I'm not all that interested in H:S, the Blackout Club was super fun when we played it. I really liked it and I hope they do more with it. GTFO is fantastic so far, but rough. I need to find a good squad for it. Lmfao.

[Crash]

Lol.  I am so lost. 

I am clearly the old man yelling at you wippersnappers to get off my lawn of this group.

[Amarlo]

Lol.  I am so lost. 

I am clearly the old man yelling at you wippersnappers to get off my lawn of this group.

I'm 32. Not sure if I'm *that* young

[Intimate Ink]

Age is only a state of mind in these contexts, but if it helps:

How about that Dow Industrial drop today?  Don't cash out anytime soon.

Man, I haven't felt that punished since The Shape camped me outside a locker.

[Amarlo]

Man, I haven't felt that punished since The Shape camped me outside a locker.

Scratched mirror Shape on Meat plant

[Xurtan]

Speaking of meat, friendly reminder that sheets are due by midnight on Wednesday. I'm happy to work with anyone between here and there that is stuck or wants to flesh out a concept. :) I'll be getting a discord up + the initial threads and all that jazz in the next couple of days.

[Crash]

It’s the not knowing that’s the worst part. Only one more day!

[Amarlo]

I can't wait to see who all makes the list. ;D

[Angie]

Cross dem fingers!

[Muse]

:)  *Crossed fingers*  I'm excited! 

[Crash]

Heh heh, a social media and text thread....using flip phones.  Wait a minute I’ll text Gina!  *five minutes later*. Okay sent!

[Xurtan]

Hah, there were a handful of qwerty style keyboard phones in this era, but they were certainly uncommon. Think the beginning of the Razr craze and earlier. Sidekicks existed, as did one or two Nokio brands that had full keyboards. They were understandable not mass produced, but they existed.

I'm going over last minute details then I'll announce decisions this evening when I'm back around the house rather than on mobile; expecting one more sheet in today, as well. There's been a lot of good entries and I'm thankful for everyone's patience, enthusiasm and chatter. :)

[Xurtan]

Decision time! Thank you so, so much for your interest and questions, the banter, and everything in between. There were a ton of really fantastic entries, and I tried to cut as few as possible. Overall the ones chosen I thought fit the theme and had something unique to offer the game. To those not selected, I hope to write with you in the future and wish you well. :)

In alphabetical order:

Aethyrium
Amarlo
Angie
Bibliophilia
Crash
CyrodilicBrandy
Intimate Ink
Muse
lux89

And that's it folks! Once again thank you very much. For now, please get settled in. Post your character sheets right here and then feel free to move over to the OOC Chatter Thread. Once there feel free to check in and/or join the Discord channel, bookmark the threads, etc. I'll have the first 'official' scene going in the next couple of days. In the interim, plot amongst yourselves! Figure out connections, figure out side plots you want to do. There's a wealth of possibilities.