The Encroaching Madness - alt historical Earth, Recruitment

[TheGrandAdmiral]

“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt,
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills,
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

Ever since the dawn of time the appearance of a comet was considered an ill omen. The sudden appearance of the bright ball of rock and ice, followed by the luminous and ethereal trail caused a primordial sense of dread in the hearts and minds of most regular people. To the enlightened persons of this new, twentieth century, these were mere superstitions, a remnant of a period of humanity's development, when the world was a scary and unknowable place. A place filled with monsters and magic. So these scientists simply dismissed them…

But they were wrong…

It is the year of our Lord 1930 and the world is standing at the precipice of the greatest storm of madness and bloodshed that humanity had ever imagined possible...

There were those who stepped forward to oppose the darkness, but they knew their numbers would not be enough. And so they quietly began to seek out those few whose talents and skills could be used to defend the world against what was coming.

About the Game:

The game is set in an alternative Earth, where magical and mythical creatures and persons, along with monsters exist, albeit their numbers have been dwindling throughout the centuries. There are secret societies who direct historical events and figures to cause great upheavals that fuel certain rituals to bring the dark forces to strength. WW1 was one such event.

Here fictional characters like Van Helsing, Victor Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, etc. exist along with historical figures (like Tolkien, Tesla, etc.) and are part of a network of people (think of it like the League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen, the BPRD and SHIELD) who hunt monsters, look for ancient artifacts that need protection from the dark forces.

The game will be episodic with each episode having its own theme, meaning for example there will be an Indiana Jones (who also exists in the universe) themed episode, a Holmes/Poirot themed episode, a spy thriller and so on.

If you like to play a magical creature you should note certain restrictions like having to conceal your true nature as in that enlightened age most people no longer believe in them. Angels, Demons and Spirits are off limits as they provide unfair advantage in my opinion.

CS Format

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[float=left][img height=300 padding=5] Insert Character Pic Link Here[/img][/float][b]Name:[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Nationality (Race if a Magical Creature):[/b]

[b]Sexual Preferences:[/b]

[b]Physical description (picture if applicable):[/b]

[b]Height:[/b]
[b]    Weight:[/b]
[b]    Skin color:[/b]
[b]    Hair color:[/b]
[b]    Eye color:[/b]

[b]Personality:[/b]

[b]    Quirks:[/b]
[b]    Likes/dislikes:[/b]
[b]    Strengths/weaknesses:[/b]

[b]Weapons:[/b]
[b]Short Bio:[/b]



[Outcast]

This looks intriguing....

Would the game take place here on the forums, or on some other venue?

Would the same characters participate in each episode, or be replaced as the theme changes?

Are all humans entirely mundane, or can some manipulate magic?

[TheGrandAdmiral]

I prefer here on the forums.

Best to keep the characters for each episode, though the players are welcome to make different characters if they feel like it. Though the episodes will be connected, the episodic nature is to be able to include different themes and ideas and not to cram everything at the same time. So there will be an overarching plot that connects them all.

Magicians/wizards, werewolves, vampires are allowed, just need to first agree upon the power levels in order to be fair towards the other players.

[Outcast]

Thank you. 

I'm certainly interested to see what might develop here.

[TheGrandAdmiral]

Oh, sorry forgot to mention that it is freeform as I have no experience with system games

[Foxy DeVille]

Hmmm... I'm kinda interested. Maybe as a variation of the Bride of Frankenstein if that would work.

[TheGrandAdmiral]

Yes, that works, since Frankenstein exists and his "monster".

[himawari]

Must they be know characters? Or can they be like original characters also?

[TheGrandAdmiral]

I prefer original, I just left an opening for those players who prefer established characters and/or historical figures.

[himawari]

I have a witch in mind 

[TheGrandAdmiral]

Added a CS format :)

So please post the CS here for approval!

[Outcast]

Are PCs intended to start as members of the 'network of people who hunt monsters', or is recruitment in-play the intent?

[himawari]

Name: Katherine Seraphine Randall
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Nationality (Race if a Magical Creature): British (Witch)

Sexual Preferences: Hetrosexual (Bi-curious)

Physical description
Height: 1.65m
Weight: 50kg
Skin color: Fair
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Honey brown.

Personality: A simple, shy and quiet girl who prefers to keep to herself. She is clever and witty as well. A kind and gentle lady who occasionally lacks self-confidence to speak up and share her thoughts. A bookworm as well, she normally has her head buried in books. She is slow to warm up to people.

Quirks: Obsessive bookworm.
Likes: Pumpkin pies. Christmas. Snow. Autumn and winter. Being indoors on rainy days. A good book. Tea. Evenings and night time.
Dislikes: Bugs and insects. Proud people. Noisy people. Mornings. Hot days.
Strengths: Knowledgeable. An avid speed reader. Has photographic memory when it comes to words. A pretty powerful witch.
Weakness: Lack of self-confidence. Too smart for her own good. Not street smart (tad bit too naïve/innocent).

Weapons: Her hands. Her wand.

Short Bio: Her father is a well known wizard, Christopher Randall. Her mother too was a witch but just not well known (enough). Her father disappeared all of a sudden leaving her mother and her. They lived in the United Kingdom previously but because of this weird incident, they moved to the United States where her mother was from. Together with her mother, Katherine lived with her grandparents in the suburbs. Just as her powers started to show themselves, her mother had to hide her away from her grandparents (non-magical). There were no schools and it was through the books her mother read, showed and taught her how to use her magic. She did not make any magical friends. She had normal non-magical friends.

As her powers grew, her mother knew her daughter needed to attend a magical boarding school to learn more control of her powers. Katherine was a bit skeptical at first. She found comfort in the books that she reads. She would be found in the school's library reading during her free periods instead of whisking around in brooms or gossiping with the other students. Many found her weird but to some she was intriguing. She only had a small circle of friends. These friends helped her through the seven years until she was a full fledged witch.

She has just completed her studies and now she was out in the world, alone. Moved out of her grandparent's home, ready for anything that comes in her way. She is also set on searching and finding her father.

Faceclaim: Danielle Campbell

[TheGrandAdmiral]

It can work either way. I was thinking of having a Nick Fury type of character who recruits them all.

EDIT: himawari, your character is approved

[himawari]

It can work either way. I was thinking of having a Nick Fury type of character who recruits them all.

EDIT: himawari, your character is approved

"JOIN US MOTHERF*KER!" he yells throughout the universe.

Yayyyyy!

[Outcast]

I hope that this is remotely acceptable...

Name: Oksana Kelvin
Gender: Female
Age: 30 (born 1902)
Nationality (Race if a Magical Creature):  British (Ukrainian); Human (wholly mundane, so far as she knows)

Sexual Preferences: Female-oriented (slightly bi-inclined)

Physical description (picture if applicable): Slender and athletic, Oksana tends to move with the quiet, controlled grace one might see in a trained dancer. Dark of hair and fair of skin, her blue-eyed gaze often seems overly intense. When free to do so, she tends to dress in the kind of practical attire that might be associated with youthful adventurers. Flying or riding coats, breeches, and boots are common sights in areas that will tolerate such things... as are sidearms and even a sword, when circumstances permit.

Face Claim: Emily Blunt

Height: 5'8" (1.73m)
Weight: ~120lb (~55kg)
Skin color: Fair
Hair color: Dark brown (often dyed)
Eye color: Blue

Personality: Cultured, intellectual, curious... and very well-balanced, in that she has a whole stack of chips on both shoulders. 

Quirks: Almost always wears a symbol of her homeland (most often a tryszub pendant in gold).  Usually seen with reading material and / or a weapon to hand.  Often changes her hair colour.
Likes: Books and opportunities to learn.  Feeling at peace, especially amidst unspoiled nature.  Being out in the field, chasing a promising lead.  Managing to teach someone something useful.  Making a difference for the better.
Dislikes: Loathes bullies (especially those who have formed organisations to extend their reach and influence), and people who meddle with dark powers without regard to the consequences for others.  Tends to react undiplomatically to exponents of any form of extreme politics, from Soviet fellow-travellers to Fascist supporters.  Having to face up to her reduced circumstances.
Strengths: Multilingual (English, French, Latin, Russian, some Ancient Greek, a smattering of Spanish and German, as well as a Ukrainian dialect).  Gifted researcher.  Crack shot.  Good with a blade.  Competent horse-rider, survivalist, first-aider, and huntress.  Impassioned debater.  Knowledgeable regarding academically-recorded theories of ritual and folkloric magic - salt warding-circles, hands of glory, runes, and the like - but with no discernible capacity to create active magical effects herself.
Weaknesses: Impecunious gentry: Oksana struggles to have enough money to live in a style remotely close to the one she wants; this can lead to rather unwise decisions regarding work and finances.  Political diatribes (both delivering and listening to them).  A real sucker for a pretty face and a sob story.  Deep-rooted fear of once again finding herself unable to protect either friends or family from what threatens them.  Fears that her 'arcane wards' and other techniques are nothing more than a charade.

Weapons:  Owned: good revolver; hold-out derringer; top-end hunting rifle; hunting knives; a couple of (blunt) practice swords; a well-maintained (and sharp) light cavalry sabre that she can try to explain away as a family heirloom rescued from the fall of her homeland.  When out and about in civilised environs, her sole 'weapon' will tend to be an umbrella - with everything else locked securely away in her lodgings.  Also has a wide array of lore on techiques to use against supernatural threats: though she's uncertain whether any of it actually works, when in the field she'll often carry a satchel containing everything from ash and salt to an obsidian mirror.

Short Bio: British-Ukrainian fugitive from the Soviet Union, whose perilous past and unconventional interests have left her better-suited than most to the role of adventuress-at-large.

A longer background

On her mother's side, Oksana's family tree is filled with military officers in service to the Tsar - some of them very senior indeed.  On her father's side, it's an array of merchant-adventurers and naval officers.  Her parents met in the great port of Odessa on the Black Sea, where Mr Martin Kelvin had been tasked with exploring commerical opportunities... but found himself distracted by a rather lovely local by the name of Olena.  Rather to his surprise he was successful in wooing her, with the couple settling in Odessa to start a family.

Their eldest daughter, Oksana, grew up bilingual, but was always more attracted to the genteel glamour of aristocratic army officers than the money-chasing world of merchants.  In time, she came to particularly hero-worship her mother's uncle-by-marriage, General Alexei Brusilov - the architect of Russia's last real success in the Great War.  His triumphs turned her into an ardent reader of military history (and a sticker of pins in maps, to mark the movement of armies).

The Russian Empire's two revolutions in 1917 provided her first real experience of politics, with upheavals in Odessa resulting in her family fleeing to relatives' estates in the countryside.  Before the end of the year, the Tsar's empire was in collapse and their inland haven abruptly came under threat.  Indeed, for the next three years Oksana's homeland became ever more turbulent, and she became first a fugitive and then a fighter once she could no longer out-run the war.  Youthful hunting parties had given her the rudiments of field-craft and the use of firearms, and she turned out to have a genuine aptitude for sharp-shooting in combat.  More rudimentary focuses on foraging, digging shelters, and avoiding frostbite became grimly important in their own right.

She also discovered that she had a gift for dredging up the vital details of old stories and childhood tales - details which seemed suddenly relevant, as things seemed to emerge from the shadows to exploit the many-sided civil war and rumours of the use and pursuit of black magic swirled around the assorted combatants.  Oksana soon learned that being able to put a name to what might be out there, and then adding some counter-measures against it, served to provide tangible reassurance to whoever might be sharing her current shelter or camp.

Alongside those arcane studies she learned the rudiments of field medicine, field-repairs to equipment, and new forms of combat.  Her political views also developed: she became a firm believer in the importance of civilised stability, best exemplified by a solid constitutional monarchy - as seen in Britain, and as she thought was being aimed at by one of the assorted factions fighting in Ukraine.  She fought with words and bullets against Communists, Anarchists, invading Poles, and bandits... but when the 'White' armies in the region finally collapsed she was among those evacuated by the remants of the Tsar's navy in November 1920.

With her father's investments in ruins, and Europe struggling to recover either politically or economically, the next few years were more than a little tough... but Oksana and her surviving family made it to the comparative safety of Britain, and there she tried to find some way to make a living in a half-familiar culture.  From failed governess to struggling journalist to maitresse of a ladies' fencing salle, she pursued what opportunities she could - gradually moving more and more into depending upon short-term contracts and one-off arrangements to lecture at universities and clubs around the British Isles (and occasionally farther afield).  The spate of emigres and refugees had helped to create a minor fashion for the literature and history of the fallen empire, and Oksana could combine her refined education with detailed knowledge of radical politics (and its perils).  But as time has passed - especially once the Great Depression hit - she has taken ever more radical steps to make ends meet.  Now, she has a minor reputation as an adventuress, willing to go on artefact-chases into the wilderness in pursuit of others' dreams.  For good and ill, this has brought her to the attention of some rather more experienced (and knowledgeable) participants in the field.

From time to time she has been able to pursue topics of genuine interest to herself, not the least of which is the occult - most especially how to identify and then ward against assorted shadowy perils.  A great deal of what information she has acquired seems far too specific to be true or useful (e.g. that a Serbian vampire - should such a thing exist, and unlike any other kind of undead blood-sucker - must be dealt with by severing its toes with a shovel), but she continues to build up her reserve of information in the hope that one day she will be able to use some portion of it to make a real difference.

OOC, I'd be quite happy for Oksana's occult research to be useful, utterly ineffectual, or a mix of the two when it comes to dealing with genuinely supernatural things - whatever best suits the story.  =)

[Foxy DeVille]

Okke doke, let's see how she works for ya...

Name: Lady Elsa Frankenstein
Gender: Female
Age: Brought to life 22 years ago claims to be 39
Nationality (Race if a Magical Creature): German (Undead)

Sexual Preferences: Pansexual

Physical description (picture if applicable): An icy amazon who towers even higher due to her fondness for heels, Elsa has something of an artificial look about her especially her disproportionate bust. A preference for black latex clothing makes her even more eye-catching. Underneath her unusual attire are a variety of piercings and tattoos. Elsa's demeanor is aloof and aristocratic.

Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight: 145.5 lbs (66 kg)
Skin color: Pale
Hair color: Platinum blonde
Eye color: Hazel

Personality: Elsa lives solely in the physical world and for the pleasures it has. As her very existence tears away the veil of death, leaving her with little regard for either heaven or hell. Elsa is a decadent hedonist, unrestrained by morality. She also vain and arrogant, considering herself a true work of art. But she is not without a code of ethics as Elsa finds the suppression of beauty, pleasure, and creativity to be crimes against nature. The world was meant to be enjoyed and no one should be denied that.

Quirks: Elsa has a fascination with the bodies of others that can be rather off-putting, she peppers her speech with German words and phrases, and pretty much her entire lifestyle is appalling to polite society.
Likes/dislikes: A hedonist of the highest caliber, Elsa feasts on the pleasures of the flesh and revels in Berlin's dark underground. Somewhat more time is her fondness for her homeland's art, literature, and music. Elsa herself plays violin. Much like her "father" Elsa is quite inquisitive and keeps abreast of the latest in science. She is filled with disdain for anything that tries to deny pleasure, leaving her with a rather poor view on institutions like the church.
Strengths/weaknesses: Elsa was made to be physically perfect and she is, all her attributes are at the peak of human capacity. Her endurance exceeds even that as she rarely tires, exists quite comfortably in nearly all earthly environments, and has an extremely high threshold of pain which is quite useful in her social life. She is a quickly learner and is well-versed in many subjects, particular science, medicine, and she even has a good knowledge about alchemy. Elsa's native tongue is German, she is also fluent in English and French. Her impressive body gains vitality from electricity, allowing her to heal quickly and gain strength. In fact if she is isn't exposed to it regularly Elsa physically weakens.

Weapons: For serious matters Elsa carries a Luger. She also has several "toys" from her social life that can be useful elsewhere.
Short Bio: Lady Elsa is the second creation of the brilliant Victor Frankenstein, intended to be the mate of his first. But conflict broke out shortly after her awakening and she was presumed to have been killed. This was a ruse by Frankenstein to spirit her off to where she could nurtured in peace. Elsa learned the ways of society quickly and was able to acclimate to the outside world. Thanks to being the "adopted ward" of the good Baron she was accepted into the German aristocracy. This led to discovering the decadent underbelly of Berlin, a scene where Elsa came into her own. Her talent with the violin led her all over Europe where she discovered the beauty and pleasures of other locales. Throughout this time she has maintained a good relationship with Victor Frankenstein, who has found it useful to call on his "daughter" in certain situations.

[TheGrandAdmiral]

Both are approved! I hope to launch the game during the weekend or early next week. The game will remain open for other players!

Also am now tempted to have Katherine visit Elsa in Germany 

[keyotess]

I have an idea for a character, but is probably better as an NPC than a player character.

An elven druid/wizard that comes out of hiding to help the Society in hunting the monsters. Information about monsters is the main thing she would bring to the team,  ala Hellboy: Abe Sapien type character.

[himawari]

Both are approved! I hope to launch the game during the weekend or early next week. The game will remain open for other players!

Also am now tempted to have Katherine visit Elsa in Germany 

Elsa would scare Katherine off into the hidden realms :’D

[Miroque]

System game, of freeform (yack) ?

[TheGrandAdmiral]

I have an idea for a character, but is probably better as an NPC than a player character.

An elven druid/wizard that comes out of hiding to help the Society in hunting the monsters. Information about monsters is the main thing she would bring to the team,  ala Hellboy: Abe Sapien type character.

Feel free to make the character, I think I can incorporate her :)

Miroque: Freeform, I have no experience with system.

[keyotess]

Feel free to make the character, I think I can incorporate her :)

Okay, thanks :)  I will get on that.

[TheGrandAdmiral]

Looking forward to the CS!

[keyotess]

Name: Andune of Telpine
Gender: female
Age: ~1500, looks 22
Nationality (Race if a Magical Creature): Elven

Sexual Preferences: lesbian

Physical description (picture if applicable):
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 100 lbs
Skin color: lightly tanned
Hair color: pure white
Eye color: black  (in real form she has no sclera)

She is a slim young woman, a bit on the short side with soulful deep black eyes that speak of ages and an ethereal beauty.  She moves with an ethereal grace and is usually wearing comfortable clothing and has a book with her.  Or this is the illusion that people see, in reality she is an elf with pointy ears and eyes that just have the pupil and cornea with a more oval shape to them and white tattoo strips on her chin and above her eyes.

     
    What she really looks like                           What she looks like under illusion


Personality:
By elven standards Andune is a very impatient individual, rushing in to solve problems before they have been fully discussed and all the various solutions weighed.  She is considered impulsive and will let her intuition guide her actions. 
Humans on the other hand will find her calm and patient, one who takes their time and considers her options before choosing an action. 
She finds humans very curious and inventive, but strange.  She has become enamored in cosplay.

Quirks: Timelessness:  she has a hard time keeping track of time, one hour, one day are all the same to her
Likes: Harmony, studying, being one with nature, walking in the moonlight, respect
Dislikes: discrimination, anger, abusive behavior, eating of meat, crowds
Strengths: Wielder of Nature magic and Illusion, Experience, expert with bow and swords, Tracking and Stealth, Knows a lot about the places where the supernatural have been hiding and the nature of supernatural beings. Her senses are on par with a cats, Elves are naturally vegetarian
Weaknesses: isn't human, Meat is a poison to her, uncomfortable with and doesn't understand modern technology, out of place in human society. elves are not as physically strong as humans

Weapons: Finely crafted bow with leaf designs as well as a rapier which seems more silver than steel but as hard as steel and beautifully crafted.  Will carry and use a firearm, but doesn't like the noise

Short Bio:
Andune has been alive for over 400 years, living in the places the elves have hidden.  Most of her life was devoted to studying, but occasionally the monsters would try to escape the domains they were exiled to centuries past and she would help hunt escapees down and chase them back to their domains.  With the arrival of Haley's Comet, the monsters have become restless and more and more have been escaping into the mortal realm, something they had not dared to before.  The humans were slowly fighting back, but they had no clue what they were fighting, she volunteered for the dangerous task of helping the humans in their battles against the monsters.  If the monsters took over the mortal plane, they would be able to directly attack the elves homes, so it was in the elves best interest to help the humans in their fight.  One of reasons Andune was chosen was because she was an impatient individual, by elf standards and she would be best at acting in human time frames.

She entered the mortal realm and started tracking the monsters, something she knew well with the hope she would find humans also fighting the monsters so she could start helping them directly with her knowledge. She joined the Society in the 9th century.