Introduction:
First of all, I would like to apologize to the entire forum for botching my last thread. The idea was good, but I guess that was the newbie run. The great thing about me, however, is that I learn faster than lightning strikes. One mistake is all it takes to set me straight.

With that said, I'm sure most of you have heard my name. You have at least seen it posting somewhere. If you have read the old ANP thread (not the one in current use), you would have seen some of my better *ahem* roleplaying. Regardless, I invite all members of this forum, with previous roleplaying experience or without, to partake in this roleplay. No, this EVENT. An event that I will strive to make an epic of grandoise proportions.

Welcome to the world of Darkoor...

Setting:
Imagine a world, a world much more advanced then our own. Imagine vast cities that sprawl across a boundless landscape. Picture in your mind, spires that pierce the roof of the world, and satalites that orbit nearby their tops, delivering information and transporting men from peak to metalic peak. Think of a world of life, where things are peaceful. For all the vast achievments, it has failed to pollute itself with its own industry. Within your own thoughts, create a place of technology, a place that you would like to go.

Now destroy it.

Man's biggest downfall, it was said in hindsight, was that he did not reach space, he did not inhabit other worlds. More then that, but that he didn't do it more then two hundred years ago. Before the birth of 'The Emporer', the only name their current ruler is known by. He is an iron fisted tyrant, a ruler of despised qualities, and a vicious murderer. The kind of man that would rather murder an innocent child then watch gladiators in blood sport. They say he wears a mask of the blood of his victims... But thats impossible. Still, the violence that this man posseses surpasses that of any of the ancient war gods of the old shamanistic, uncivilized people from the past.

Civilization, maybe thats a topic we shouldn't discuss. There is no civilization on Darkoor (pronouced dark-[h]our), there is only the empire and the emporer. Only the knights of his court, blood thirsty animals that hardly deserve the title of something once revered as holy. A "Knight" is an abomination, an obscene horror of humanity. Some say they aren't even men, but great beasts... Again, that HAS to be impossible. Genetic engineering died out before the age of strife, before The Fall.

The police are no better. They're picked by hand when they are only children based on the greatest potential to become a vicious brute. Capture by the emporer's armed forces, from any branch, will result only in the most gruesome of pain. You would tell them anything, curse your own mother's name from the agony, and request death... All before they ask you the first question. They all take sadistic pleasure out of such things. Among them, the first choice of weapons are the ones that require the weilder to be up close and personal to his victim, and are customized to inflict a variety of pain.

And where is the government in all this? Where has the democracy and production dissapeared to? Ha, did it even exist? All that anyone can think of, day in and day out, is the endless damnation before them. The death in life that lies on the path ahead. The uselessness and the deception of it all. The only government is that which the people create within their small social clusters. The only major population centers that still exist are the capitals from before The Fall. They are spread out abroad across the land... Between the ruins of a now-dead life. The ashes of fallen towers and the scorched remains of the flourishing population.

Amidst it all, a band of ordinary, unknowing people are about to reveal the truth to themselves. And the world.

The Darkoor is come.

Information you should know:
Here is the important details about the world that any player should know before starting. Its set up more in list format then with any real orginization, so as you read through it may seem pretty random. Right now the concern is that you understand the world that I have created, and can start thinking about how your character will fit. For more on that, see the next few sections. As always, if anything seems incomprehensible, or sketchy, feel free to pm me about it. I will calrify.

The world has obviously (if you read "setting") experienced an apocalypse. Before that time, it was a post information age level of technology. When I talk about a gun in this game (since it is semi-futuristic) think current day styling. Yes there are things like 'energy weapons' but that will be covered when the time comes, and your character wont have one... Dont even get that bright idea in your head. And dont dismiss this with that, there are good reasons for everything. As a general rule, the images I try to paint to you could be comparable to real world things (a brick building wont be bubble shaped, and plates aren't in the shapes of 'X's unless they're supposed to be ).

The "government" has been broken down into two groups, which have merged slightly. The criminal aspect, and the normal aspect (the good, law abiding people). Among criminals, there is honor... Though not to those outside of the ring. The normal aspect has traced most of their lineage down to certain bloodlines, survivors of The Fall. Through those bloodlines, they have developed collective families called clans. People who cant trace their blood have become outcasts, and are called as such. Furthermore, the clans are constantly at odds with each other, and with the outcasts... None of them intermix, if at all possible. (Romeo and Juliet anyone?)

There is no magic. Drop that thought.

The land itself is torn up from the apocalypse. Giant dust storms fille vast vales where cities once stood. Barrens splash across the landscape. Mountains have been blown away into great gashes on the world, causing new ranges to appear. Climate is adverse at best, the whole world being in chaos. There are, however, still patches of green earth, far away from the ruins of cities, and those population centers still left standing.

You DO NOT want to be caught by the police. Trust me, it is a bad experience. They have prisons that spiral down into the very core of the world, hundreds of floors deep. Men who die in their cells are never removed, their remains rot away and are eaten by the flies and mice, if they dare go to the depth of the corpse. The cells on the lower levels are often full of half rotten corpses, untouched by mother nature above while they decompose in metal cells. The gaurds carry energy weapons that will burn through living tissue, leaving nothing but a scorching hole in their victims. STAY AWAY FROM THE POLICE IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG.

(For the sake of getting this post up before late tonight. I will append this list with a new post at a later time. In the same manner as I did with "Last Son of the Bladed Moon")

Rules: (Copied from "Last Son of the Bladed Moon")
Yes, its that time again, I'm going to lay down the law:

Fighting: (Copied from "Last Son of the Bladed Moon")
For standard combat, like fighting a mob of bandits, you can pretty much govern your own actions and the reactions of your enemies within reason. For other people, like bosses or somthing, I will want to decide what happens. I will tell you when I want to do this so that you all are not lost..

If you want an example of "standard" combat, take a look at the "A New Power" RP Thread... If you want to know what the more organized combat is going to be like... Its basically the same way, only instead of you simply stating what happens, you leave off before the results and allow me to tell you what happens.. For example:

I hope that clarifies it.

And now, the moment you have been waiting for: How to make a character
Right now, what I want is for people to sign up for this thread. To tell me they are interested in roleplaying. If you have a character in your head, and you just have to post him/her, go ahead. Be my guest. But it may or may not be your final version.

For I have an odd request to make of you all, though it will make sense later. You must all share a common trait. A birthmark, certain shaping of the eyes, hair color, eye color, special skill (non-magical, ie: Great marksmen), etc. Throw ideas out and I will give you my input every so often. As a group, you will have to make up your mind on what you would like to have as your 'symbol'. If you take too long, I'll intervene and make a decision for you. I don't want this to hinder the character creation process, and it can be as major or minor as you all want (depending). I do however, need it for a specific purpose... So dont argue.

So that's it... So far. You may think I have told you nothing about this world... But that's the point. If I told you everything then why post? You'll have to trust me on this one, in the past I have failed, but this is the real deal.

If I have overlooked anything, or something is unclear, please PM me immediatly.

Live life or Die! Go forth my warriors!
Shadow of the Fallen

Name: Ackon
Age: 22

Appearance: Ackon ussually prefers a variety of white utility garments, as they take on whatever dust and color of the environment he is in and provides plenty of storage without being weighted down with something like a backpack. For now he is wearing a hoodie, dark, almost brownish gray with ash and dust and cargo pants, stained to match. He has greasy black hair, allowed to sit naturally on his head with no special styling. Solemn gray-blue eyes look out, always taking in the surroundings with hidden interest. Ackon is firmly built from his life of strenuous activity. He stands 6' 2".

BREIF History: He has been alone for all his remembered life, and although he assumes at one time he had loving parents he prefers not to dwell on it. All that matters is the present, and the last seven years he had met no one worth sticking with, or that would not slow him down. In the recent past he had tried to make friends, allies, companions, whatever you want to call them, but his attempts proved unsuccessful.

Personality: He is sociable when he can be and not quick to resort to violence; but wehn he does what needs to be done is carried out with an unparralleled, and unregretted vengence.

Equipment: Ackon carries very little with him, living day to day. But his Weaponry consists of a long switchblade and semiautomatic pistol. His last weapon is a medium sized, unproffesional sniper rifle which (when he has it with him) is carried in an an inconspicous bag, held tightly to his body as not to restrict running speed. The essential spark lighter is also among his posessions. Ackon wears versatile running shoes and occasionally black gloves, trigger finger cut off.

I want to join this thread.

Common traits: ?Strong, expert marksmanship, or gray eyes?

I forgot to put this in the character creation section at the end. Sorry, I was rushed from all sides to finnish this.

You will not have magic. That was stated at one point.

Your character's position in society, previous positions, and future positions are as outcasts. Sorry, no ex cops etc.... There's something far better in store for you.

Edit: When making your characters, please do not worry about history. Think about personality, physical appearance, and things that seperate you from society as an individual. Please do not base things off any more then a basic "orphan-like" beginning. Recent events are fine. Your wife died, so your pissed... etc. But do not go into a "when jim-bob was born he..." deal. You don't know where you came from, just like all outcasts.

W00t! Wait for the editting and may a new character come forth from the abyss.

I suppose we should give some ideas on potential common traits. I suppose I'll give my two cents.

• Substance addiction (predominantly alchohal although potentially other illicit or frowned upon drugs dependent on how Shadow creates the world)
• Serious Psychological Diseases (Dyslexia, Chronic Depression, Depersonalization Disorder, A.D.D., etc.)
• Physically impaired (Varies)

Edit: Eh, yeah, well, I just prefer using some more defining features just because I find it gives some characters more unique qualities. However, if you do not like your character or find your character getting dull after awhile, it makes it very difficult to back out of (you can't exactly repair a severed arm). I was just using the above examples as food for thought for myself at least, and at least sharing them with everyone else here. Sharing is caring, they always say.

Might as well, I suppose. Expect a character here tonight.


And the Hellbird agrees on "expert marksman". It goes quite nicely with the character I have in mind.

edit: to add to that, subtle things are better than character-defining ones. Expert marksman is about as far as I'd go for significance, since something like that can be added to any character, just give them an unusual accuracy with weapons. Or something like instinctive skill with picking locks. And a skill thing gives a lot of room for roleplaying. That expert marksman could simply be someone who can pick up any gun and shoot it proficiently. Or maybe someone whose spray and pray shooting is a bit more effective than normal. Or you could make it more significant to your individual character and have them be a true expert, and making near-impossible shots.

If you're going for something non-skill related, make it a very small feature. Eye/hair color, for example. Something like that is a common feature, but doesn't affect the character at all. Any character can have gray eyes. All it does is add an occasional roleplaying reference to the character. On the other hand, using drug addiction/physical disability/etc means you're defining the character around that. And that's nearly always a bad thing.

personality is actually not such a good idea as pointed out to me, it would be best if it was something that did not actually influence our behavior or manipulation of the world around us. (e.i. strength)

for my character I am leaning towards a sharpshooter as well. his possible weapon. V

I told Vao to post that up, because while I doubted it would be approved by everyone else, it also helped you define boundries for the type of characteristic you are all looking at. You can see this in Peregrine's edit.

Further more, I agree entirely with Peregrine's idea, being an expert marks man could range from being 'lucky' to having incredible precision and aim, depending on how you wish to play you character. Its all up to you. Dont let this characteristic define your character, but make it at sophistication and some mysterious form of depth.

Originally, your characters would have all had a strange tatoo on the back of their hands. That idea is still a possibility if you would like.

This afternoon, I hope to post more on the world, as much as I can without filling in all the blanks. I KNOW this seems a bit sparse, when compared to other games that have started. The first post in this thread was big, but there was a lot of repetition. Right now, I'll stop talking about the matter before I reveal something more to you...

One last thing, be wary of my DMing style.

I remeber all too well in Best of Xeterous contest!

Anywho,I would like to join. I have a fair idea of what my character is going to be,and tattoed back of hands sounds like a good common trait,or they could have eyes that shift tint.

Information (continued):

I dont think I went into the structure of the common man's society enough last night. First of all, besides the criminal aspect, there are two sides of the fence to sit on. You are either an outcast, or a member of a clan.

Clans
The clans are large families that can trace their bloodlines back to individuals that survived the fall. Being able to do such a thing is a symbol of status in Darkoor. Clans often share most of what they have with other members in the clan. They would live together on a large estates, eat from a common storehouse, and purchase things from a pool of wealth. Each clan is self governing, with most relying on the eldest male of the family to make decisions. While clans have their own social ranking, they still do not associate with outcasts, even wealthy ones. A few lower class clans have little to no money to support themselves, but still carry a certain respect despite the fact.

Wealth is power to a clan. Almost more then that, however, is size. Some of the larger clans have an upwards of a thousand offspring. Having many children is encouraged, and often, a man will not take a wife. Instead, he, and the women, will play 'musical chairs' with their parters. It is a practice that ensures the survival and diversity of the clan, and has originated from the ideals of their forfathers.

Clans, as I have said, do not think very highly of intermixing. They abhor it. Violation of the tradition of keeping ties within the clan means certain death, the means to be determined. However, mixing with an outcast will be sure to leave you as an example to the rest of the clan... Perhaps a fate worse than death.

Outcasts
Outcasts are those who cannot trace their family ties to a survivor of The Fall. For example, an outcast may have somehow lost his memory (maybe too much drinking, maybe a good hit to the head), in which case, when prompted to state his clan, he is unable to... Henceforth, he is banished. The poor soul becomes an outcast, and his children, and his children's children, untill you end up with a 'clan' of outcasts. The same thing might happen if one relocated. They might be deemed an outcast if their clan is unknown, or if they cannot prove their tie to the clan in some way.

Another type of outcast results from the marriage of two members of a different clan. The child is protected by the council of clans (see below) as an outcast. That means that no clan can activly kill the child. But they CAN put them in a place where they will likely die. For instance, on the doorstep of The Citadel (see below). If the child does manage to survive, it grows up to become an outcast.

Outcasts dont worry about who they mix with, but they no better then to involve themselves in clan affairs. Many cannot make a living for themselves past doing odd jobs for the clans, acting as serfs. In response to this, the Clans have overshadowed the outcasts for well over a century. Thus, the peasent-nobility structure of civil organization.

---

The Council of Clans
Aha! So they do speak to each other! Yes, this Council meets every so often to decide on matters of judgment that involve more then just a single clan. It consists only of the leaders of the most powerful clans, men with great experience in matters of leadership. And while they speak, it is not always on good terms.

The heirarchy of the Council is determined by the size of the clan. The largest clans have the better spots. The head coucilman, for instance, is also the leader of the largest clan in the land of Darkoor.

---

The Citadel
The Emperor's own castle. The outer walls stretch into the upper atmosphere and encompass an area much vaster than any city still in existance today. Even greater then the city that is clustered around it. No commoner, clan or no clan, has ever seen the inside of the structure and lived to tell about it. Gaurds watch from behind cameras embedded into the outerwall itself, and hold no hesitation of annialating any intruders brave enough to step too close.

Within the walls however, is a building... The single great surviving achievment of the lost civilization that lived before the fall. It is one of the massive spires that peirced the sky back in the days of happiness... Now, instead of the good it once represented, the peak of the tower holds the Daemon's court, the emperors own throne room. It has become the epitome of evil, and all the darkness in the world today... It is The Citadel.



------------------

Character Creation Update
I have come to a decision, because an idea struck me that I thought would be good to implement. I am going to use my original idea for the simmilar trait, you will all have a tattoo on your right hand (unless your character is left handed... Then it will be on the left, of course. PM me if you just HAVE to have that lefty). The design of the tattoo will be posted shortly, as soon as I can trasfer the mental concept into a .png file.

You can, however, still have whatever special traits for your character you want. Dont worry about this whole deal that I started--I should have gone with this from step 1. Now your focus should be on fleshing out your character. Before I go into detail on what I want from you on that, I want to explain why I changed my mind.

1) It is easily recognizable. Being a good marksman, having strength that surpasses others, proficient mastery of some weapon, eye color, hair color, the list goes on... They're all things that ANYONE could have. Its not really a specific trait.

2) It was causing a lot of trouble. People were constantly looking to me to help them with their characters because they couldn't come up with anything. I wanted it to be a smooth, quick process so that we can get the characters up and get the RP going. It has turned into a hectic, painful experience with all the restrictions I have placed on you. For that also, I apologize.

3) I have my own reasons which I cannot currently tell you about. Leave it to say that its just another level of plot depth... Hope you all have your life jackets, the water is getting deep.

---

With all that said, here's the new plan. All I want from you is summerized in this form:


I have also updated a few things about characters. Some restrictions and new information, etc.:

1. No known relatives. Your character assumes that their parents died before their recollection.

2. Not exactly a restriction, but try to even out the characters. Lets not have everyone fighting with ranged weapons. Melee is still VERY prominant in this world. Ammunition is sparse, and those who use ranged weapons on a regular basis may find they are out of ammo very quickly. Also, as I said with personality, we dont want everyone to be the dark hero, the lone wanderer. We need diversity.

3. Your characters are human, and you may even be able to DIE. Thats right, I am considering a system of death, which means you should not just assume that you will always survive an encounter... Keep that in mind as you roleplay.

---

Thats all for now, more is likely on the way. Feel free, as always, to PM me with questions, or find me on AIM if you need a more immediate answer. My name on AIM is shadowotfallen, and send me a PM even if it doesn't look like I'm online, sometimes I'm just invisible.

Shadows be with you, Live life or Die!
Shadow of the Fallen

(Sorry, double post... I thought this should be segregated from the above message...)

BAHAHAHAHAHA....
Insolence... As if that even compares to this quest--this epic. I'm glad you remember that old contest thread, it marked the beginning of my assult on Xeterous. Heh, and we never did finish that... Oh well, I'm positive this will hold your interest MUCH longer then that half-assed quest ever could.

Though, I'm not sure if you really know how much my DMing style has improved over the last year or so... You will all soon discover the depth of my madness...

More to the point, welcome aboard Pyro, you make 5 people... Which is enough on my books to start the RP. In all likelyhood, I will start the thread this weekend. Till then, I would suggest you all think about your characters, try to define them as much as possible. If you wish to leave details off until you know enough of the story to make adjustments, be my guest. Just tell me you wish to wait on certain things and we'll be fine and dandy. If you dont tell me though, I wont allow you to make changes like that to your character.

Personal File # 5002-01-20

**Name: Khevbik Klavmur
**Age: 29

**Appearance:
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair color: Dirty Blonde
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 189 lb

Attire:
Black Trenchcoat
Black Boots
Black Gloves


**History:

At age 16 Khevbik began a career as an Assassin for the pure blooded Clans; pay was low for someone's death, but was more than most so it worked out finely. At 18, Khevbik noticed a orphan girl the age of 6 dressed in rags wandering the streets. Sympathetic for this girl, he took her in in his care.

Khevbik took Femma, the girl he brought in to care for, as his apprentice when she was 10. The average person might disagree with teaching a child to be a cold blooded killer, but to survive in this world, such skills are valuable. Proud of her progress and natural integrity, he always considered her as a daughter.

Through his time as an Assassin, Khevbik has done various missions for the Clans as mentioned earlier. When Clans need some dirty work, they called for infedels such as the outcasts, mainly him. He's earned the title Trenchcoat Killer, many knew when this man was on their tail, they would soon meet their end.

**Personality:

No data available.

**Other:
Equipment:
Glock36 pistol w/ silencer - Caliber: .45
Hunting Knife

Approved.

Thats about all the information I need about your characters. I already spoke to Keeper of Lives about waiting on some of his character details, so he will be able to change minor things after the first few posts or so.

I have officially started typing the first post in a word processor, and I have been saving it as I progressed. Lets get those characters out. As soon as things look good there, I will be able to post up the main RP. When that happens, everything will start to smooth out as the nature of your quest begins to take shape, and eventually you will understand my reasoning behind all this.

Till then, Live life or Die.
Shadow of the Fallen

Name:Elan
Age: 20

Appearance:
Eye Color: Green
Hair color: Brown
Height: 6'4
Weight: 190

Clothes:
Large ribbons of rags,inner layer tight outer loose to conceal daggers
Heavy Dust Cloak(poor repair)


BREIF History:Elan quickly learned that you need money,or you die as an outcast. He took up an instrument,and is now quite proffient with it. He also learned from his tutor, the sublte art of the knive,as well as the art of foot and fist. After all,a travelling ministrel gotta protect himself. Ever since the police killed his mentor,he has devoted his life to spread word of revolution among the outcasts.

Personality: Elan has a supreme sense of duty,and single mindeness to overthrow the false emperor.

Other:
Equipment
Guitar
Conceable Katars
7 Daggers concealed about his person
5 Throwing Knives

M first post in this thread now contains my character Shadow.

Pyro, MDRud, your characters have been accepted. As has Peregrine's.

That means that everyone save for Vao, and a friend of mine from Xeterous has made a character. Pyro should remember Onikirimaru, as will anyone that has roleplayed on Xeterous before.

As soon as both of those people have made their characters, I will post up the first post of the roleplay thread and this one will go into a "lock down" state. I will use it to post resources and extra information that is too big or widely relevant to simply put up in the main thread. I am thinking of adding links to sounds, if I can get them to work, as well as images. The further I can immerse you in this world, the further immersed you will be.

Also, once the thread begins, I am going to disallow new members to join until a certain point in the RP is met. After that, new players will begin to join 'conditionally'... You will understand those conditions once you reach that point. For now, suffice it to say that this thread will be inseperable, in some ways, to the active RP thread.

We're almost there...

Name: Shrogen
Age: 24
Occupation: Street Pizza (bum)
Background: tba, most likely with RPing

Appearance: Green eyes, Dirty Blond hair, 5'6''
Normal, but slightly ragged shirt/jeans, old Army overcoat dating nearly as far back as pre-Cataclysm.


Sorry that I am not putting anything than this, but I am on the run, hopeful I can elaborate better in the future. Being a bum does not mean I am the guy drunk on cheap liquor, but it has happened in the past, poverty has been caused by tough times, not behavior or bad habits.

While I would have expected more from Shrogen, he was on the run like he says. Approved, but you'd better have more detail and time put into your character than that in the future. It would be a good idea to edit/repost it later. Peregrine, you have been accepted, because I know what your character is like, but I still need a sheet for you as a refrance to everyone else.

I am still waiting on Vao and Oni to post up their sheets. The first post of the new thread is almost done and I will be working on it today until it is finnished. When all sheets are in, or when my metal cutoff point comes along, I will post the new thread and this one will go into the "lockdown" mode that I talked about before.

Steel yourselves. The beginning of all ends is upon us.

Name: Yish Kuppor
Age: 23


Apperance: Tall and Strong, Yish looks like a warrior. His clothes are old and dirty but are a dark green cloak with tan pants, you know, hunter's attire.

History: No idea, He woke up at the age of about 16 has been trying to surive. Yish also found a sword with a werid engraving on it, shortly after he remembers his life. In all his employments that require him to kill and even when hunting, he kills with the sword.

Personality: Yish found a sword shortly after he remembers his life. He also has a short temper and doesn't work well with others. He is know to most outcasts as the Unforgiver.


Equipment:

Yish's Sword
Change of clothes
6'' Knife
Scabard for Sword

(I hope that satisfies you Sotf)

Grr... Even after talking this over with him on the phone, even after he read the thread, he does not listen.

Disapproved.

However, because theForgottenSoul is a personal RL friend of mine, I will allow him to make the changes to his character when he gets home tonight. I was the one that rushed him, and he had to leave... AND this is his first time roleplaying, so I can cut him a little slack. I will speak to him when first opportunity arises, and then his character will be modified.

He will not have ancient armor.
He will NOT have a "family sword" or, like everyone else, any recollection of family.
HE WILL NOT HAVE ANY CLAN TIES WHATSOEVER. HE SHOULD ALREADY KNOW THIS.

He will definitly have clothes that are more beat up then he makes them sound... Its almost as though he thinks of this as the everyday 'standard' RP. If you know me, really know me, then you know about Thrin. And, if you know about Thrin, then you know that, when I roleplay, it is anything BUT the ordinary. Apparently, he's overlooked that. And I'll give him another shot.

But he has stepped on a nerve, violating not only a single rule that I specifically mentioned to him, but MULTIPLE rules!

*fumes*

Hope this works, Shadow. And the days of the old Xeterous were grand.

Name: Aleck Allegehri
Age: 20

Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Shaggy black/dark brown
Height: 6'
Weight: 180 lb.

Attire:
*Grey or dull colored duster (trench coat)
*Grey or dull colored leather chestplate
*Grey or dull colored shirt and baggy raggedy pants
*Grey or dull colored leather gloves
*A golden necklace with a cross on it
*A black hilted katana strapped to his faded leather belt inside of his coat
*A tattoo of an eye on the back of his right hand with a pentagram as the pupil.

Brief History: Aleck was born as an outcast to a family who was never there. He doesn't remember his own history simply because he lives life by the day, and his wife says he probably just repressed his history--which is probable. Aleck got married at an early age, 17, to Casey H. and they are still striving to survive in the harsh world. Aleck currently works aiding a local blacksmith in the inlands. He refuses to go into the city and so he lives at the edge of the city amidst a ring of scrapyards, junkyards, empty mines, etc. His sword is his first creation and always has it with him. He believes that one day his sword will save his family from the Emperor one day. His marriage is rocky, but filled with love. He strives to provide for his wife that he degrades himself into searching for scraps to use in his own blacksmithing projects. He believes the Emperer is why he has no family and no life other then hunting for scraps.

Personality: He has a sense of honor like no other. His honor is embodied in his wife Casey and he lives for her. If anything should happen to her, there would be hell to pay. He is quite and solemn, but has a great respect for any like himself (the outcasts). He is usually very stable emotionally, but there are times when he erupts in rage--usually when something happens to his wife. His current goals are trying to somehow find the miracle cure to his life of scrap-hunting and apprenticeship.

Skills: Aleck is an apprentice blacksmith, so he knows metal. He knows the perfect type, temperature of the heat, and how to make just about anything. He also knows how to use most of the objects he makes, and he takes pride in his mediocre swordsmanship skills, seeing as he taught himself all of the skills.

Approved.

Only one problem, the defining feature (the tattoo that I will be giving you) is on your right hand (assuming you are right handed). Also, as far as markings go, you might want to reserve your right arm for something later. Anywhere else is fine.

I pray this is competent.

Name: Vao
Age: 17
Height: 5'1 (Malnutrition has stunted any severe vertical growth)
Weight: 98 lb
Hair Color: Dirty Blonde
Eye Color: Hazel
Garments: Dirty Cargo Pants and a plain, grey shirt.
Recent History: At the age of eleven, Vao was mysteriously attacked by several members of a clan and had amnesia. No amount of speculation can reveal why it occured, and Vao began to stop contemplating it after several monthes, slowly adapting himself into his new life.

Beginning by scavenging food for himself, Vao quickly realized the value of the rare jobs that the clans allow the outcasts to do, and would gladly participate in them, regardless of the reward or danger brought upon him. This often made him into a form of suicidal front-line soldier for the clans, often summoning him when they needed a human shield. He usually seems to arrogantly retain this role in most combat situations. However, many think he sometimes takes part in a far more sinister role, although after seeing his ignorant smile, one can't help but brush away the thought.

Personality: Vao appears, at best, completely arrogant and devoid of any new ideas. He has taken a carefree lifestyle, glady accepting the violence and horrors the world now possesses, and sometimes he even participates in it just for some odd gratification. While he never appears sadistic or evil in any way, some think of it more than feasible that he is more empathetic and evil then he lets others on to.

Completly competant. Accepted with no issues. Working on the first post currently.

Approx. 98% completion. Be ready for my final posting in this thread with the notes on the thread, and then have at it.

oh, sorry Shadow, I thought you wanted us to create our own defining feature. I added it to comply with the storyline and doesn't really have anything to do with the character. So you can ignore it if you want to add your own tattoo.

IT IS DONE.

Darkoor is set to begin once this post goes up. I will simply click the "New Post" button, and then copy-paste. Within moments, you will be reading the behemoth of a post... It is indescribable, just how awsome this thing is. A worthy beginning to a worthy thread.

Please review the following:

1) My suggestion is not to look at your scrollbar, simply to read, line by line, or paragraph by paragraph, this post. Just to leave yourself hanging as to when it will end, as to what kind of position I will leave you in. Weather you do or not, I believe this is one of my posts that you will not forget easily. Thrin cutting his arm with an Imperial hunting knife just doesn't come close.

2) As soon as the thread goes up, thats it, character creation is done. No one will join this thread for a while, likely a minimum of a month. It'll be a long wait, and the characters that are created later, if any, will not be the same as the ones created now.

3) Heh, if you want to PM it to me, post it here, or post it OOC in the actual thread, just tell me what you think of that post. Your first thought... And your last. Thats my pleasure in this, your reactions to what I write. Give me my well deserved reward for this, reading it will surely be yours.

4) You might want to turn off music for this, try to have as little outside influence as possible. Let the post consume you.



Above all else, LIVE LIFE OR DIE.

THE BATTLE FOR DARKOOR IS BEGUN.

Name: Yish Kuppor
Age: 23


Apperance: Tall and Strong, Yish looks like a warrior. His clothes are old and dirty but are a dark green cloak with tan pants, you know, hunter's attire.

History: No idea, He woke up at the age of about 16 has been trying to surive. Yish has a sword with a werid engraving on it, that he as had as far back as he remebers. In all his employments that require him to kill and even when hunting, he kills with the sword.

Personality: Yish has a short temper and doesn't work well with others. He is know to most outcasts as the Unforgiver.


Equipment:

Yish's Sword
Change of clothes
6'' Knife
Scabard for Sword

(I hope that satisfies you Sotf)

Excellent, glad you decided to listen the second time around.

Approved, at long last.

I have a post in the works that describes a lot of the technology that your characters would know about... What would have been common to them. As well as, things that are above them. Things they would have never heard about, or never seen, or seen occasionally but never learned how to work. I will post on what your understanding should be, and what sort of mentality your character *should* idealy have, but that doesn't mean you *have* to conform. Infact, it's more interesting when you rebel.

In the end, it should give you a better idea of what your character knows and understands about the technology in the world. There will be more to come after that.

And, as a special "treat", here's the concept I had of the tattoo.

Holy crap it's Pacman! But seriously,it looks pretty neat. Well,im off
*fades into shadows*.

Here's the layout image I promised. Not exactly Picasso, but I think it makes the point.



*Hint: You dont know what the question mark is yet!*
Obviously.

I realise that my last post was sparse with points to work off. This has been pointed out by a friend and is currently something I'm working on. I've DMed consistantly outside of forums, where questions can be asked liberally and I'm used to having my world probed by the players... Discovered through questioning. On the forums, I have concluded, its a little different. I am still trying to adjust to that, please give me a little time while I work out the kinks.

Thanks, remember that I am ALWAYS availible, through one means or another, to answer questions. If not on AIM, you can PM me through the forums.

Shadow

is there dark spots in the hall way
and why is it circular?

Right now, in the dome (which is why its circular), the light provided is from a high overhead source. Its more like stars in the sky that cast a dim aura of light instead of an actuall lighting source. They were dimmed so that it would be easier to see you if you came into view of the spot lights. Also, the men in the control room, the bunker that is placed where the giant '?' is, have evacuated. Everyone is ducking for any sort of cover that exists in the bare room (namely, the bodies of their fallen comrads) and are being killed where they stand. The doors have been opened in an attempt to get away from the madness, but Ariana is blocking off the escape routes.

Its basically all dark, considering its night time out, and the compound is not lit on the outside. Everything is indoors. The spotlights have been shut down, so you can ignore them now.

OOO.... The technology post!

Actually, its an FAQ on what your character should or might know about technology. It also takes a few highlights from the futuristic technology that has been developed, and explains it a bit. On top of that, it tells about what your character SHOULD NOT know.

However, it is imperative that you understand this FAQ will only give you guidlines. Look around you, the advancements that we have today are impossible to be listed all together. Much less is it plausable for me to write out the entire listing of technology that is availible to you, that has been created in our real world, but isn't availible to you, and what has been created that surpasses real world level of technology. The list would be endless.

Thus, we have frequently asked questions, and, as always, live support from me. If you ever have questions, don't know about something, want to post but need more information, etc.... ASK ME! Thats what I'm here for!

I find it surprising that people will only post two paragraphs, not ask me about details, and then complain to me that there was not enough information to post on. I don't naturally see that unless I'm sitting in your shoes as a player, I need you to tell me when it happens. This hasn't happened with this group yet, but there have been smaller things that have come up. Talk to me, we'll work out all the details.


Now the real information you want:

Q: What would you find lying around in a typical outcast's home?
A: Furniture would include a beat-up old couch, perhaps some shelfing, maybe an old plastic hamper (remember, anything from the present would be "old" to these people). A bed of some sort, either a mat or cot/hammock, or something simmilar. There could possibly be a small table or worn rug, coatrack, etc. But not much else would be present. (milk cartons don't count as furniture). Think about going to a cheap hotel, and then removing half the furniture. Now add a little bit of dust and drab, bash random objects with a large rubber mallet, add half a dozen rats and you're good to go.

Somewhere in the room, or maybe on the owner of the room (and it would likely be a single room, very rarely two) would be a weapon of some sort. Be it a deadly *gasp* butter knife, dagger, knife, sword, axe, broomstick, chain, rubber mallet (the stuff did have to get beat up somehow ), or even a gun. Also, trash would be apparent, it really doesn't have a place to go, garbage trucks come once a month by the Emperor's workstaff and collect the cans from the street, but other than that, it just sits and accumulates. Old pizza boxes (yes, they do have pizza, and they can make bikes to deliver it on) might lie in stacks or strewn along the floor. Cigarette cartons, molding milk jugs, rat fodder, and other junk might lie among the owner's personall possesions.

What about appliances? Well, a small fridge might hold a few things, not much though. Rotting chicken, some fresher milk, water maybe. Most things would have to be cooked that day. Electric ovens are availible, but dont think the kind of stuff like that which you have in your own home in real life. Everything would be likely rusted to hell and dirty, hardly working. Microwaves and toster ovens would be more common. And since were keeping with the slums image, lets make them broken microwaves and toster ovens (*grabs rubber mallet*).

Clothes? You might have a set or two. Maybe three if your character has a steady source of income. Most dont. The economy is basically reduced to the barter system. Clans might pay their workers with basic living necessities, toilet paper and the like, or small services. The suits that the players currently have is basically "ub4r 1007", it wont be every day, if ever again, that you see them.

Q: What about weapons? What is availible to the common man?
A: Assuming that by "common man" you mean to say outcast, not much. If you can find it, and its pointy/dangerous, you just found yourself a new weapon. Often the weapons double over as eating untensils (in the cases of small knives, which are the most common type of weapon). Swords, axes, chains, and other melee weapons are more common then the rifles that people want to have. Even hand guns are hard to come by. Each is ancient technology (at least 300 years old), and has likely been handed down in ones family. There are men, like Oni's character, that have learned how to shape and fashion metal into works such as pyro's character's main weapon, the katar. Other people (theForgottenSoul) have procured rarer, perhaps "pre-fall" weapons, which have somewhat finer workmanship, though over the years (over 200 at this point, at minimum) these weapons would have decayed and would be dull, rusted, and very worn.

Again, if you have a gun, you are lucky. If you know how to use it, you have a distinct advantage over other outcasts in respect to survival on the streets. But ammunition is harder to come by than it may seem. You have to fashion your bullets yourself, which means finding the materials, and the tools, to create such things. Perhaps your services to a clan have been rewarded this way. Regardless, you are now away from such materials, and such tools, and unless you can make bullets appear at random while walking, you will eventually run out. There may even be times when they are taken from you, and not given back. You will have to make due.

Most of the weapons in circulation were, at one time, tools. Pitchforks are more common in farming towns, which produce just enough to scrape along and have enough left over to send to the cities. Travel is difficult, there are no good roads still in use. Most of the vehicles that the emperor uses hover, and therefor are not limited by the terrain. The common man has to do what he can.

Q: THEY HOVER?! Can I have a hover craft?
A: I just said that, and no. In fact, you dont have any vehicles. Peregrine is an exception, and I hope he has a good reason for it, cause he hasn't told me why yet. Thats a work in progress.

What will your characters know about hover vehicles? The emperor has them. Thats it, you dont know how to operate it, and if you were set in the seat of a car, you couldn't drive it. A bike maybe, you could ride a bike. Other things are a bit more complex. You might have trouble with unicycles, but tricycles should be ok. You dont have ATVs, though the level of technology is there.

Q: Ok, lets change the subject a bit, are there nanobots?
A: Its plausable. You dont have them.

Q: Can I have them?
A: No.

Q: How bout now?
A: No.

Q: So does the existance of nanobots mean that.... (fill in the blank)?
A: No. It doesn't mean anything else, it means there may be nanobots. No more, no less.

Q: But! I want my suit to be equiped with nano bots that heal all my wounds and keep me alive!
A: I dont care, no nanobots for you.

Q: Ok, ok. What about giant robots?
A: OOoooo.... We all love giant robots! (Who could resist?) But no. Why? Because I have no need of them, the world really doesn't have need of them. You dont have need of them.

Q: Fine, but would they be a feasable endevour?
A: Pre-fall, yes. It would have been very possible. Gundam wing could have existed in this world, if the politics were a little different. Things took a different path, however, as you will learn later.

Q: And just how much are you holding back for later?
A: A lot.

Q: So what kind of futuristic technology does my character have access to?
A: Nothing.

How do the crystals that Ariana gave us work? Nanobots?
Plausable, but no. You will find out soon. VERY soon.



I believe thats all I have in me to produce at the moment. Specific questions can always be directed to me, and if you have a question that you would like to see answered in this FAQ, PM me. I'll be sure to add it into the next edition.

Those are alwase the best parts of FAQ's.