NationStates Jolt Archive

but it's not all a party. Not in Houston, Texas of 2010.

IC thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=470812) Please post your character hear first before jumping into the IC thread, and keep OOC matters in this thread. Please read any notes posted here in blue as they are from the GM and take a look though the links and character profiles. It all helps keep the game going smoothly. Thanks and I hope you all will enjoy this as much as I am sure I will

For you see there are more of 'us' than most believe...Heck most don't even believe we exist.

Who are we? we're the Strange Folk, the Night Life... Human mutants, Were-creatures, Vampires, Fae from all parts of the world, and even some stranger ( I generally won't say it in "public", but I'd swear we have a few that aren't from our solar system...)

Now how do I know about things that the Mundanes ( normal humans ) don't even generally believe exist? I am a mutant, like my mother was ( yeah kinda a mutant version of Bewitched going on - and that happens more often than one might think, but it does get frowned upon by the PTB of the Night Life )

Oh an occassional "Wall of Weird" story makes it to reputable media, but mostly our stories haunt the supermarket rags- and that how we want it.

The first rule of the Night Life..."Don't Make a mess, Don't get Caught and Don't tell the Mundanes!

So care to come take a stroll on the Wild side?

This is the OOC and sign up for my latest Rp. Yeah I know I've been gone a few months and I do apologise for that, but ending up in the hospital kinda puts a crimp on one's on line life. But I'm back now.

This game is set on Earth, in Houston Texas, in the year 2010. Technology has developed apace, but nothing too 'out there'. You can be a Mutant, Were-creature, Vampire, Fae- folk or Mundane- minimum age around 20- you want to be out on your own, you don't have to be from Houston, you can be visiting, just moved, attending college etc...but this is about the Night Life - yes things happen doing the day but it's at night that the real action takes place

From street racing to bootlegging, parties, and rumbles, organized crime and the most disorganized of such. Wheeling and dealing, trying to live in a world where the Mundanes don't want to see, much less understand.

But the real danger is that some DO know- and in the Night Life stories circulate about government agencies and monster hunters - and alot of them are true.

So come join the Night Life- post your character here- I'm going to aks that vampires, rare and generally solitary creatures that most are, be kept to a minimum.

Yay!

Here's my character

Name: Ryan Hammond
Age: Appears to be early 30's
Species: Vampire
Height: 6'0
Weight: 215lbs, athletic but not muscular
Hair: Brown and Short, often worn spikey
Eyes: Blue

While appearing to be only in his early thirties, Hammond is actually 314 years young, being sired in the later years of the 18th Century. He has never fully intigrated himself into Vampire culture with clans, covens, or other undead politics, and instead prefers to live among the mundane night life, feeding only when nessacery, acting as a rouge hunter for the clans whenever needed. He is one of the firmest believers of keeping not only the undead, but the Strange Folk as a whole, under wraps. Not a normally violent man, he has a strong competative streak in him, and more often than not, it has gotten him in trouble. He is seen not as an outcast among the clans, but more of tool that can be used when needed, and left alone when not. He his familar with weapons in general, in his pre life he was an officer of the law. Now he sits on the other side of the fence, an accomplished street racer and general trouble maker. He has, on occasion, rented out his skill as a driver to some of the more accomplished and well off Strange Folk.

He is known somewhat on the club and party scene, however when he doesn't show up, its not an announced or troubled fact. He isn't really a fighter, but knows his way around a street fight, and can take care of himself. He doesn't live extravagantly, but well enough to support any habbits. Originally from Florida, he moved to Los Angeles in the mid 70s to follow a mundane love, which was cut short in a mugging homocide. His revenge on the mundane crook had made tabloids world wide with the ferocity and violence to which the mugger had suffered before dying, including all but being drained of every ounce of blood. Ryan then began moving about the United States before settling in Houston. He speaks French and German as fluently as English, but again, he keeps his tallents well hidden to appear human. His aloof and stand offish front is to keep humans from becoming to freindly and raising suspicion. His one goal in the city is to stay under wraps, and make sure others that need to do so as well.

He is an accomplished cleaner for the Conclave and Covens, and often works at making sure other Vampires in the city stay in the shaddows. He is not particularly freindly with the hierchy of the Conclaves, but the pay he makes in cleaning up Messes, as is the code for a breach of the Night Lifers' conduct of staying hidden, is enough to make him keep in touch with the Conclave.

Looks great Imitora.

As always this is a heavy duty Character RP, I really hope to gather a core of commited players who are willing to put a couple of paragraphs in each post - I really, really loathe one line entries- that is NOT gameing!

Dr. Sian Rhys Picture (http://www.atddm.com/sianrhys.jpg)
Species: Human Mutant
Martial Status: Widow
Gender: Female
Age: looks to be only in her early 30's
Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 145, slender in excellent physical shape but not bulkily muscled
Hair: Ebony wavey tumbling to the bottom of her rib cage
Eyes: Hazel Green
Parents: Stringfellow and Dancia Rhys- PSH ( pure Strain Human) and Human Mutant respectively- both deceased.

Born in Houston, October 31, 1970. Her mother died in 2005, and her father died in 2008. Married her childhood sweetheart, John Brightwater, when she was twenty one, but was a widowed within two years. She is a ‘gifted’ student, an excellent physician specializing in Trauma medicine and surgery. Sian became the Senior Attending, then the Senior Specialist in 1999 for the Bethesda Medical's Trauma Center. Reruited to be the Senior Consulting at the new International Trauma Institute at the Texas Medical Center she moved back to Houston in 2004. However, Sian resigned a month after her fathers death. Useing her considerable inheritance Sian has taken herself fully in to the Night Life, setting up the only full scale hospital the Night Life along the Texas Gulf Coast. She lives in the family home in the Bunker Hill Village area, with an aging cat, a kitten and Paragon's Vice, a registered Shilo Shepard. Does a little gardening, and likes to cook. Hobbies: Dance (ballet, and beladi), hunting ( both with bow and rifle ), photography, Kenjitsu, and Tai Chi. Collects: books, kimonos, rifles and katanas.

Do not threaten this woman, she is not easily amused and has little tolerance for ‘shit’. Like the best trauma surgeons she is arrogant, and very, very sure of her self.

Doesn’t: sew – just on people (sadistic little smile), suffer fools, eat snails or most fish.

Mutancy/Powers: Psionic

Awesome, I am definatly joining.

Character: Jessica Pickett (http://horrorbrain.ign.com/images/gallery/518.jpg)
Species: Weretiger
Gender:Female
Age: Early 30s look, real age about 60
Height: 5'11
Weight: 138
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black


Bio:

Jessica was born in 1951 in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Her father was in the military while her mother tended to the household. Her father was kill in the 1967 Tet Offensive when his patrol was ambushed by Viet Cong when she was sixteen. In 1981, as she moved to Washington DC and worked as an intern to a Congressman. One night on the town, she got too drunk and was bitten by an unknown person.

The next month she transformed and quickly figured out there was something wrong when she awoke in an alleyway, naked with blood on her lips and body. Barely making it back home, she cleaned up, quit her job, sold much of her property, and began to head out west and ended up in Huston after years of being on the road.

Jessica does attend a lot of clubs and tries her best to remain as normal as possible, though does indulge a bit in the power she has.

Welcome to the game GS! I'll leave it to you, as the first weretiger to set the standards of the big striped cats!

I should have the opening of the IC thread up tomorrow.

NOTE:
Things have gotten a lot more lawless in the world - the Republicans got wiped in the last election and the current US president is very wimpy on crime, and so it's rather a field day for the lawless.

Cops are under staffed, underarmed, underfunded, over worked and generally very willing to turn a blind eye to non violent crime and traffic violations ( they also can no longer 'go in hot pursuit' ) - bribery & graft is becoming very common place...

Great to be Rping with you again Tanara. I'll cook up something about weretigers.

Name: Rivan Lupus Otaku
Species: Were-wolf(birthed, not infected)
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Height: 5'7"
Build: Lean, exceptional muscle tone with out being bulked(gymnast's build)
Hair: Short black hair with a white front fringe.
Eyes: Canine Yellow
Parents: Yoshi and Sarah Otaku, both Were-wolves(living)

Rivan was born to the Alphas of one of the most prominent Packs in Colorado. Owing to an unfortunate, and quite rare, anomally he was to quickly become shunned. This anomally was the dual shading of his hair and pelt. Even with the protective and nurturing instincts of his parents. Quickly becoming disallusioned at continually being the outsider regardless of activities, Rivan left Colorado and headed down into the wilds(so to speak) of Texas. After drifting for a couple years, surviving off the land, he arrived in the environs of Huston and decided to remain there for a time.

ooc: Hi Tanara, remember me?

Sure do Theao, and welcome to the game!

I should have the opening post of the IC thread later today.

Houston is a city that is NOT at all like those of the eastern seaboard- New York, Baltimore, etc-

Houston SPRAWLS - the 'city center', the concrete canyons, the concrete jungle- the whole of Down Town is only about a sqare mile on a side.

This is a good picture of most all of Downtown Houston (http://www.atddm.com/h1a.jpg)

and Houston 2010 Game FAQ (http://www.atddm.com/Houston.doc)

Do you have space for this relatively normal person?

Name: Lillian Havertree.
Species: Human
Age: 62. But looks anything up to 90.
Height: 5'4"
Build: Rigidly upright, skinny, aged; one of those dried-leather little old ladies who survive disasters.
Hair: White, long, wispy
Eyes: Hazel
Parents: George Havertree (1912 - 1972) and Irma Beth Mills (1914 - 1996).

Lillian led an uneventful life as a secretary until her boss shot himself hours before he was to be indicted. Lillian was discovered sitting on the floor, cradling what was left of the head in her lap. Retired early on a disability pension. She will not go out during the day as she is afraid of meeting her building manager, who once spoke to her about her cat.

She has established a regular night-time round, begging scraps from eateries of all kinds (or just raiding their bins) and feeding stray cats at set spots Downtown. (This way she, and they, are safe from City authorities who work during the day.) As she travels her round she calls in at some ordinary and some extraordinary places in the night-time city.

'Rescue Lil' is tolerated by all the Downtown denizens, to whom her skinny figure in her worn "office lady" outfit is a sight so familiar that she is largely unnoticed. Some who do notice, however, have discovered that her 'rescues' are not confined to cats. One or two of these see her as a fairy godmother, others think she is a witch, a writer is sure she is an angel, a New Age-y shopowner believes she is the Goddess Bast and a couple of Fae suspect she may very well be one of the mortals' Guardians.

Nonetheless, her only esoteric power that has been reliably witnessed is this: she really can herd cats.

(OOC: is it to late to join? This looks really interesting!
Here's my char:)
Name: Dilana Monceed
Gender: Female
Species: Human/lioness
Parents: Father; Mindour Mother; Mindranneb
Age: 25
HT: 5:10 FT
WT: 130 LBS
Eyes: One brown the other blue
Hair: ebony

Bio:
At the age of 16, Dilana had a huge fight with her parents and she ran away into the forests of Tarayshia. While there, she had disturbed a lioness and her three cubs and was rightfully bitten by the mother. Although she lost a lot of blood, Dilana survived her attack however now has a lot of characteristics of the big cats. Her sence of smell is magnificent, her sight is very keen, she can now tread softly upon the ground, she is stronger than she should be and the list goes on. After her attack, she had tried to make up with her parents however they wanted nothing to do with there daughter because of the fight. After getting permently kicked out of her house, Dilana wondered through many towns, always searching for a place to belong. She has just arrived in Houston, hoping to start her life from scratch.

Ardchoille you are very welcome to join- and the ability to herd cats in something special ( I've done 30 years in cat rescue and I WANT that ability ).

Lillian is would certainly know about the Night Life, she is the sort of Mundane that they would tolerate knowing about them, and probably many times she has helped Night Lifers ( possibly unaware ).

Tarayshia Your character sounds very interesting and is certainly welcome in the game. You've probably learned the various symbols and signs that will lead a newly arrived Night Lifer to safe houses and where to meet up with others of us.

NOTE TO ALL:

Just remember the Day Side, the Mundanes, don't want to know about the Strange Folk - they see a 'big as a pony' Were-Wolf and it's just a large ugly dog, a Vampire attack is a 'crazed druggie'...

and what Mundanes don't understand they fear; and they out number us too boot. And worse there are groups that DO believe and they hunt us.

The IC thread is up and running so feel free to introduce yourselves and your current circumstances.

It's Valentines Day morning, Sunday, very cold, but not too dampish.

and some of the many reasons to visit Houston...

The world famous Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo which lasts over a month ( Feb 27 thru April 3 )will be starting in less than two weeks and even now contestants and ranchers are arriving. Some stock breeders are international, bringing in the pride of their efforts by chartered planes or freighters from Australia, France, Belgium and England to name a few.

The Houston Marathon, with runners from over 45 countries, and 19,000 entries was three weeks ago, Jan 24th.

The Lone Star Grand Prix will be held the April 10th, and Grand Prix of Houston will be held May 1st.

... probably many times she has helped Night Lifers ( possibly unaware ).

At first, perhaps, but by now Lillian's fully aware. I'm not sure yet whether she's on the way to becoming a Gatekeeper (concept pinched from Andre Norton's Witch World) or whether she's an eyes-and-ears for the city's Guardians (concept pinched from Mercedes Lackey; for a free download of one of her novels featuring them and lots of Fae, click here (http://www.baen.com/library/) and choose Beyond World's End). Or maybe she's an occasional incarnation of the Goddess Bast (http://wuzzle.org/cave/catlore1.html) (concept pinched from Egypt). I'll see what develops, just giving a heads-up that Lillian is Not What She Seems.

Of course, any reader of fantasy, and particularly of Diana Wynne-Jones's A Tough Guide to Fantasy, knows you should always be nice to old ladies.

LOL I love Mercedes Lackey's Urban Elves, ( Elvin street racers!) but have you seen Laurell Hamilton's new series, the Merry Gentry books...wow! and yummmmm.

Just an fyi the coffee shop is named Cabrettas.

I've repsonded to every one's opening posts.

Note-

The Night Life Hospital, is like all things of the Night Life disguised. The building in on south side I-10West just out of of downtown and the property backs up to White Oak Bayou. The bayou is a park with jogging trails and beautiful landscaping in that area, and is very muched used by the Night Life as their own 'highway' as it were. Also the new Light Rail and Metro ( the bus line ) have stops within less than a hundred feet, with an over walk to take p[edestrians over the busy Interstate.

The 'front' of the hospital is a Minor Medical Emergency Center that treats Mundanes on a sliding fee scehdule and takes in the Night Life through the 'back door'. The MME facility only takes up about a fourth of the two storey building. The hospital is very complete and well stocked. Its the only such facility the Night Life of Houston and the surrounding areas have. Sian founded the hospital useing the wealth of the Rhys family which she inherited when her father died.

The Hospital chages only what the patient can afford, and will never turn away any Night Lifer. It is also Neutral Ground, and all the Strange Folk know this.

Most of the Strange Folk don't have the interest and rock solid discipline to become a physician. The schooling is too long - a average of 8 years and the internship with its 80 hours work weeks is generally too much for them.

Sian is one of only four physicians, a dozen nurses and five Paramedics in Houston. This is about average for the large cities of America and Europe.

Tanara, got any pics for Oni or Tengu? Googleing turns up many different results.

Oni and Tengu

Both races are mostly humanish looking - but Greater Oni (http://www.atddm.com/goni.jpg)can change shape into something very dangerous and far other than human looking-Think of them as overly tall lanky ( stringy muslced though they are very stong ) Japanese, with slightly too long arms, legs and fingers. Natural hair color for the males is black, rusty red or muddy brown. Females can be very comely but have very unnatural hair and eye colors

Oni are more bulky and their brushy hair often hides small off white boney horns. Their eyes are often red, and the undertone on the skin is very ruddy. On some of them the skin is very leathery. They can leap great distances and are very good at moving like tarzan through the trees.

Tengu are slimmer, and the undertone on their skin is decidedly green. Their noses are long an beaky, often what is thought of as 'witchy noses' and the males have prominent adams apples. Fingernails are often clawlike. Some can manifest bird type wings and fly.

Note-Here are three maps of Houston, neither show all of the Greater Houston metropolitan area,

The first link is to an interactive expandable map-
Place the cross hairs on the area you are interested in and click to expand, can get very detailed[/i]

Interactive Houston map (http://www.bayoupreservation.org/website/wshed/viewer.htm)

Here is one showing close up of downtown ish, the red dot on I-10 to the west is the Hospital. The red dot in the northernmost area is the Coffee shop and the one slighty lower and to the left is Bayou Place/ Cains The red dot far right lower center is Ricks. - yes I added in Cains, thats why the color change

As noted above (http://www.atddm.com/h2a.jpg)

This larger scale map (http://www.atddm.com/h0a.jpg) labels the hospital, down town, and A1 - which is the Museum District, the Houston Zoo, Rice University and the Texas Medical Center...

I'd like to put this post up as a space saver; I'm very interested in this RP and would like to be a part of it. This is my first go with RPing so I apologize in advance if I do turn out to be absolutely miserable. But, we all must start somewhere. I will put up information on my character tommorow, because I have to go to work.

No problem DLP, we are all beginners at some point. Fell free to tg me with any questions you have. I don't mind helping a newbie get started.

Think of it as writing a cooperative story. I really appreciate players who can get into their characters, and are willing to take the time to give description, background and insight into the workings of their character.

I've been a table top /pnp rper and gm for nearly 30years, and an online gamer/ gmer and rp forum moderator for about six. ( and the two are so different, but so alike! )

This seems to be more earth-fantasy leaning than sci-fi, but I'll enter a character anyway. If he doesn't have a place in this setting, feel free to tell me so and I'll withdraw him.

All stats are in the format of Natural Form/Human Form

Name: Renik Vaash/Arthur Corsic
Sex: Male/Male
Age: 1,135 Galactic Years, Appears about 28
Height: 7’6”/6’4”
Appearance: Tall (obviously), Green-tinged skin, brown hair, glowing green eyes, ears come to slight point/Tall, brown hair, green eyes, tan white skin (Italian-looking)
Classification: Genecybernetic Construct
Background: During the last Guanyan Civil War, the Loyalist faction used their knowledge of genetics and body chemistry to produce several genetically and cybernetically enhanced warriors. Many of the tests failed, but eventually a team of seven such warriors was created. One of the two members of the team who survived the war, Arthur was the Intrusions expert of the team. After the war, which the Loyalists lost, he chose to flee rather than surrender and has been wandering throughout the galaxy ever since.
Powers: As Arthur is not a mutant or werebeing precisely, his “powers” fall more closely under the heading of skills and enhancements, and will be so categorized here.
Skills:

Camouflage- Despite his size, Arthur is a master of stealth, able to move silently and unseen in almost any situation. The bodysuit he wears contains optical diffusers, which make him almost invisible to any sentient eye. Only the slightest blur betrays him, and even that only when he moves. The suit also masks his body heat, preventing detection by infrared vision or heat scanners.

Unarmed Combat- Trained by the greatest masters of his time, Arthur has since progressed to an unheard of mastery of Guan Kren, the peculiar unarmed combat style of the Guanyan people. His physical conditioning makes him lightnicg quick and surprisingly strong considering his lithe frame.

Firearm Mastery- As an intrusions expert, Arthur prefers concealed weapons and sniper rifles to automatic weapons or high explosive armaments, though he is trained with most standard demolitions. He has remarkable accuracy with any pistol or throwing weapon, such as a knife. He is also a proficient sniper.

Analysis and Systems Expertise- Arthur is able to work with most computer systems with a high degree of proficiency, and break into any familiar systems with ease.

Enhancements:

Musculature and bone solidification- Arthur’s muscles and bones are genetically coded to be denser than usual, yet lighter than those of regular Guanyans, giving him a great deal more speed and strength than would normally be possible with his frame and virtually unbreakable bones that are denser than many metallic alloys. His enhanced muscles also allow him to run faster and jump higher and farther than normal.

Optical Augmentation and Targeting System (OATS)- Cybernetic eye implants give Arthur several optical abilities, including zooming his normal vision, the ability to see in both infrared and ultraviolet, and night vision just as good as his usual vision. He also has a weapons targeting package connected to this implant, allowing him to designate and track enemies or allies and perform basic scans, such as bioscans or composition analysis.

Auditory and Transmission Enhancement System (ATES)- Similar to OATS but in his ears rather than his eyes, the ATES gives Arthur enhanced hearing and the ability to pick up most forms of transmitted communication.

Rapid Cellular Regeneration- When injured, Arthur heals more rapidly than normal. Minor cuts and bruises heal within half an hour, and even wounds that would be mortal on another Guanyan can heal completely given a few days uninterrupted rest. This enhancement also neutralizes poisons that enter his body, excepting the most powerful and fastest acting neurotoxins.


Weaknesses: Though his combat suit and reinforced epidermal layer (hard skin) offer some protection from bladed or other melee weapons, Arthur is far from immortal. If not given a chance to regenerate (eg decapitated, shot through a vital organ) he will die.

Guanyu- feel free to join- like I said earlier some of the population of the Night Life is strange even for them, and most likely didn't originate in Sol system.

Note:

The Night Life is very accepting of new members, as long as they are willing to follow what rules there are.

and there are plenty of things to give a fair amount of excitement out there-

Rogue Were's and Vamps are no easy picking to bring down.

The various covert agencies are higher tech than even most paranoids believe and they can be very...insistant about wanting new subjescts for their studies.

The Vamps and the Were's are nearly always just short of open were wolves.

The are Mundane criminals, terrorists, and others that can give the worst of the Night Life a run for their money in the eivl department...

Thing are a lot less quiet than they appear on the surface.

Sorry it took so long to get my second post up, turns out an article I wrote for the school's political paper might get published in something bigger. Also, its kinda hard to post when stuff is going on in the day time, being a Vamp and all, but I don't mind, it'll actually be good and close to my real schedule, lol. Also, if anyone wants to have a street racing or bootleggin type character with an awesome set of wheels, or hell, just wants a Night Lifer with a car to show off in, hit me up!

LOL thats for sure- Imitora is our car fanatic and really knows his stuff. And congrats on getting published!

Me, I know cats, horses, guns, unarmed violence, things that go boom, swords, and other ...interesting... things

GS is our horror and zombie movie expert

Please try and keep ooc stuff out of the IC thread, many thanks! and it is all looking great so far!

"Thank you for the tea," Dilana said as Sian placed the cup in front of her and Dilana picked it up and took a sip. Placing it upon the table she turned towards Sian, "I am from the nation of Tarayshia; however I have traveled through out many nations."
She glanced over at Sian as she got the bowl out of the fridge as well as the strawberries, "May I help you slice those?"
She inquired, standing and walking over towards the other woman.
"This is a nice home," Dilana commented, "What sorts of things do you do in your life?"
Dilana smiled, her voice light in making conversation;

LOL Tarayshia- I think you put your last post in the wrong thread - might want to c&p it over to the IC thread

OOC: I was replying to your post.I somehow posted that message like 3 times.

Tanara, I just TGd you but I've been having trouble with my longer TGs and it may not have got through. If it hasn't, could you let me know and I'll post it here? Thanks.

Guanyu, if nobody's got to you before NightLife's evening, my nutty little old lady can pick you up by nattering on about cats. (Possible locations: the park, the coffee-shop, any alleyway behind a food shop.) Then she can 'introduce' you to someone, since I'm taking it as read that the regulars know her.

Could it be that your guy has some genetics project in mind, and is hoping that the various events in Houston will lure superior physical examples of various species on which to build? Like, the elite runners from the Marathon, the superb horses and riders from the Rodeo and the drivers/cars from the Grand Prix (because, being what he is, he can recognise the cars as something more than just machines?) Just a thought.

Got the Tg- and one back to ya!

I've set things in motion for every one to meet up 'tonight'- at Cains

Notes: In the far western section of downtown Houston, there is a massive entertainment complex. It is huge, and parts of it were once the Houston collesium, big enough to hold full sized three ringed circuses.

It's now called Bayou Place and covers litterally over four blocks in east west length and a full block north south. It is six stories high, and has a four lane street running through it, Bagby St. There is in-building underground garage parking, and both a people-mover slide walk down in the tunnels of Houston, and it's own Metro stop at street level.

East of Bagby stree section, houses the Angelica Theater, a ten screen venue that has 2 IMAX threaters, and specialized in 'art films'. Then there are countless very upscale boutiques and such restraunts as Hard Rock Café, Mingalone Italian Restaurant, Sake Lounge, Bar Houston and Slick Willie’s Pool Hall. Those take up the ground level and next level of the building-
The Armand, a hotel as lavish as any to be found in Vegas takes, completes the eastern end of the complex.

The Overview Casino spans Bagby Street and 'marries' the two halves together. It is renown for the transparent ceiling on it's top most floor, with a retractable storm shield.

The west end is taken up by Cains.

Cains : Neutral ground, severely enforced.

The primary entrance is at ground level with glass elevators and sweeping stairs of glass with embedded neon lights taking one up to the main bar, or down to the foyer that inter connects with Houston's tunnels system *see below

The main floor ( actually the thrid floor )has a ceiling that is over 30 feet high and pierced by numerous skylights of assorted shapes. There are 2 levels of balconies running around three sides lined with booths and conversational seating zones. The master bar is over one hundred feet in length and there are several secondary bars. The main dance floor is nearly a hundred thirty feet long by a hundred feet wide.

The two "lower" levels ( first floor and second floor ) are generally reserved for private parties and are more intimate. Entry to these levels is from the main bar, rather than from the ground floor primary entrance.

There is a below ground level that is private for Night Life only and primarily combat, training and sparing arenas and associated necessities. There is also an armory, weapons smith and pistol range. There is secret access to the Houston tunnel system, and out to Buffalo Bayou, which the west most end of the building backs up to. That entrance is used primarily by Weres arriving in their animal form, or the Night Life who prefer the most private of entrances.

As has been mentioned Cains is a mixed club but the Mundanes who come are those of such subcultures who's 'wild, drug fueled ravings won't be taken seriously -

and Cain employees 'specialists' who ensure than any 'respectable' Mundanes that happen to stumble in will remember just a "fun, if excentric time, but not something to come back to.". And if mental manipulation doesn't work, well times are violent and people do get mugged, car jacked etc even in 'nice, safe' downtown Houston. But the Master of the City really doesn't like resorting to such crudities.

Yes, Cain is a Vampire, perhaps the oldest in North America, and he brooks no discent in the city he rules.

Notes on Vampires:

Long ago the Great Conclave set limits on the number of Vampires to Mundanes. In cities it is a maximum of 100 per 500,000 adult Mundanes. Of course the local Conclaves could set lower limits.

In the greater Houston Metropolitan Area, with a population of over four million residents and over four million tourists a year Cain has degreed that he will let that maximum stand but any siring has to be pre approved by himself. Few get into see him.

Currently only three hundred Vampires reside in the area, and about half are over three hundred years old and rather non sociable. The others are mostly under a hundred years of age and make Cains their primary gathering spot.

*Houston's Downtown tunnel system - it's probably unique in the US. Houston gets hot, and the air-conditioned tunnel system allows people to get nearly anywhere in the down town area without having to go out side - the tunnels house restraunts, boutiques, copy and computer services, a health clinic, a 24 Hour Fitness gym, fast food, a book celler ( in the truest sense), florists, a dentist and an optometrist, several beauty salons and open on to many below ground but open-to-the-sky patios and mini parks ( yes you can look down on them from street level ).

GS is our horror and zombie movie expert



Thanks Tanara :)

i posted to say your 'as noted above' map doesn't work. At least for me.

Most welcome GS, and thanks for the heads up about the map-



It's now fixed and addded Cains to the map.

Yes folks our first adventure is a small run in with the very nasty little monster called an Animalistic Vampire.

What is generally known about these to the Night Life:

Faster than a 'normal' Vamp, and even stronger. While not really intellegent, they possess a deadly cunning.

Unlike a 'normal' vamp they are driven to kill, and usually are messier about it than can be believed.

They can not be reasoned with and when one of them is deliberately or inadvertantly created the ONLY way to deal with it is to destroy it utterly. And that is NOT easy.

Most Conclaves when faced with one bring in one of the rare Hunting Teams, which usually consist of several Vamps and Were's ( a rare enough combination ) and high tech and massive fire power ( again not the norm for Vamps )- there are only four Hunting Teams world wide.

You see most older vamps- say five hundred and older, don't ever get comfortable around tech toys and such. Most despise computers and cell phones, prefering what they knew when they were alive.

Some however embrace technology - and those are gaining the upper hands in the halls of power.

High tech hunting....sounds like a perfect job for my character.

If there's still space...
Oh, and consider this from Newbish Delight (account being re-activated). Let me know if you would prefer a Goblin to come along instead of Rid o’ the Gate.


Name (Real): Thaothi Dwin'ghymn
Name (Commonly Known): Ridothi, Spear of the Gate, Gatekeeper, Rid o' the Gate (most common)
Age: Unknown, appears late twenties.
Species: Aelf of the Hidden Paths.
Height: Appears 6'1"
Build: Slender, athletic
Hair: Long, silver-blond, bound with silver clasps to fall down his back.
Eyes: Silver

Rid o' the Gate, as he is commonly known by the Otherfolk, is older than many, and more knowledgeable than most. He has been present amongst the Otherfolk for more than most can remember, and tends to regard most as at least equals whether they would normally be placed above or below him.

Few things are known of Rid o’ the Gate, although he is a common sight in many of the Nightlife’s habitual lurking-places, and is known by the vast majority of them although his purpose is unknown to all but a few. He is obviously old – unconsciously making references to the Middle Ages, although it is possible that he was born well before those – but does not hold himself aloof from others, or consider himself superior to most. Some he will hold himself above – mostly those that he thinks are intentionally “lowering” themselves through various unpleasant means – but generally he treats those he meets as equals…whether they consider themselves greater or lesser than the Gatekeeper.

Those of the Elfin persuasion would know of what he calls his “Little Tasks”, and the greatly important of others – such as the Vampire Cain, for example – would also know through hearsay, or an Aelfen ambassador. These “Little Tasks” are the re-enforcement of the Ya’Odar – or Bridge of Worlds – where the Bridge grows weak in the world in which Houston, Texas, is. His Task is important, but largely insignificant at the same time – any of the Elfin should be able to the cross the Bridge at will, if they are in the right places at the right times, but there are other things across the Ya’Odar that are less willing to mix with humans, and it is for this purpose (and preventing Humanity from crossing the Bridge) that Rid o’ the Gate continues his work.

Between his Little Tasks, Rid o’ the Gate of the Ya’Odar spends his time amongst the Night Life of cities – at present, he lives in Houston, awaiting the weakening of a nearby Passage to Underhill – another name for the Ya’Ordar, known also as the Gate.

Be welcome here Rid! ( and glad to see ya back ND, as I do remember you)
And I can tell you what brought him to Houston, I bet...Back in Feb of 1836 General Houston's rag tag army waited near Houston ( then known as Allens Landing ) at a ferry landing one day to be name San Jacinto, where the pivotal and winning battle of Texas Independance was fought. One of their prized possessions were a pair of massive bronze cannons know as the Twin Sisters. The cannon played an important part in that battle.

Legend states that they were burried on the banks of Buffalo Bayou in 1865 by confederate soldiers to keep them out of Union hands. They have never been found, but thats because they fell though a gate and the Fae who found them refuse to return them from Underhill.

Yep the Gate to Underhill is currently in a little considered alcove ( most Mundanes think it is a janitors nook) off of the Houston tunnels, with in a few dozen yards of the concealed tunnel entrance to Cains.

If you have any dificulties with this supposition, please let me know and I'll gladly change it.

It's good to be back Tanara - work has been a wee bit of a pain, plus family trouble, motherboard blowing up again and such....but back now!

I like that idea - Cannons stolen by the Aelf o' the Ya'Odar for the amusement of the Fae...

I'll post reasonably soon - either tonight or tomorrow, I expect.

I apologize for the lateness in my posting of this information.

Name: Hilard Jaerin
Sex: Male
Age: 37
Species: Human
Height: 6'7"
Hair color: very dark brown, almost black, with chunks missing from scars
Eye Color: Hazel
Build: Very strong, athletic body. Resembles a natural body builder.

Backround information: Hilard was born into a poor family in Houston. His father left the family when he was only nine years old. His three younger siblings, two brothers and a sister, Jacob, Mark, and Ivory respectfully, were left almost totally in his care as his mother was a druggie and an alcoholic. She spent most of her time at the closest bar to their current box-for-a-home or in some dark alley with her "friends."

When Hilard was fourteen, he and his siblings were out begging for food as usual, when a man dressed in black and wearing a mask came up to them, and shot all four of them. Jacob, Mark, and Ivory were killed instantly while Hilard survived the brutal and random assult. He had been shot in the chest and doctors were not sure as to how he managed to live as the bullet had penetrated his left arm, gone through his chest puncturing both of his lungs, and back out his right arm.

There was a search for Hilard's mother but she was never found. It was assumed that she did not want to have to deal with the grief of leaving her children alone to be shot and killed.

When Hilard was released from the hospital into foster care, he ran away from his new home. He threw himself at his new goal in life; find the man that had ruined his life and stripped away what little friendship he had left. For the next twenty three years, he trained himself. He made makeshift pull up bars in alleys, used sticks as swords and learned to fight with them. He even mugged a man and stole a pistol he was carrying to learn to use firearms.

During all of this, he searched for the perpetrator of his misery. After only two years of asking people for tips, breaking into police headquarters for files on the case, he found the man. He located him in a bar that was known to a very small group of people. He had entered that bar, found the man, and discovered something he never thought was possible. He wasn't a man. He was a...creature. He still wasn't sure what he was, but he killed...it. It had been a hairy creature, like a huge dog. He had heard stories for most of his childhood about strange creatures and shadows seen in the night. Perhaps this had been one of them.

After a fight with the creature in which Hilard had almost died, he dedicated himself to finding more things like that beast and ridding the world of their presence.

After twenty three years, he has become a trained warrior against these beasts. In his quest for vengence, he has only learned two things about these beings. They are hard to find, almost impossible. They are incredibly adapt at keeping themselves unknown. And secondly, their name. Nightlifers.

OOC: (I think that is what it is called, ooc, right?) I hope this character is able to fit in with this story. If he is not, I can change his backround if you like. Hopefully, he'll work out.

... at present, he lives in Houston, awaiting the weakening of a nearby Passage to Underhill – another name for the Ya’Ordar, known also as the Gate.

Okay, I'll back off Gatekeeper as a possible career path for little old lady Lillian. (Consider smilie inserted if I didn't dislike smilies so much.)

Days Long Past- that is an excellent write up, but I had thought to have all the Monster Hunters under gm control - mainly because not many seemed interested in playing one-
but if you feel you can bring him in and integrate him into the storyline feel free to try.

Major WarningNormally in online games there is the unwritten rule that you can't kill a character with out the players permission. HOWEVER in this instance I as GM reserve the right to kill a character for terminal stupidity.- IE some actions can simply NOT be worked around, no matter how much we try to find some sort of reason other than godmodding.

(You take a .308 round to the head, and you are a Mundane- you are dead. If you are a Vampire and get staked through the heart you are paralysed- completely until the stake is removed - and if it is not removed and you are placed in the sun, or consigned to the flames - you are dead. Were creature takes a .308 of silver to the head - you are dead)

I have to run will post more later.

Egads...this seems so interesting, and I'd love to join. Alas, I must prioritize myself in RL. School must come first, and it currently is rarely giving me free time.

Perhaps I'll jump in the next one eh?

Days Long Past- that is an excellent write up, but I had thought to have all the Monster Hunters under gm control - mainly because not many seemed interested in playing one-
but if you feel you can bring him in and integrate him into the storyline feel free to try.

Major WarningNormally in online games there is the unwritten rule that you can't kill a character with out the players permission. HOWEVER in this instance I as GM reserve the right to kill a character for terminal stupidity.- IE some actions can simply NOT be worked around, no matter how much we try to find some sort of reason other than godmodding.

(You take a .308 round to the head, and you are a Mundane- you are dead. If you are a Vampire and get staked through the heart you are paralysed- completely until the stake is removed - and if it is not removed and you are placed in the sun, or consigned to the flames - you are dead. Were creature takes a .308 of silver to the head - you are dead)

I have to run will post more later.


Glad that first post was acceptable. I'll get my first post into the IC (it's IC right? I'm still learning terminology) thread asap.

hmmm, this should be interesting with these new rules. My paranoia over the general safety of my chars should serve me well :P

Dunno why you worry TGS. It's not like Assington or I are around in this one...

Hmm...good point. Well, you didn't hurt me in any of my TSE rps/stories nor in AV4. Well, Ass did hurt me in AV4.

So, I guess I am safer in this. Unless I piss off someone up high and knowing me, I probably will :P

Regarding the vamp being staked...In one game of Masqurade a character I was playing got staked, and I was offered one move before I died. I said I was gonna try to remoive teh stake. I was given some massively huge difficulty level and didn't manage to do it, but still (insert smily here). However, I got revenge later on that night when I pounded his POS Eclipse into the ground in a run form a 40mph roll...

I'll yank out the stake if needed and I am around. Then again, first time I could beat up a vamp :P

When I say terminal stupidity I mean such as this example-

a future tech game, a person, wearing normal clothes fired a weapon of enought penetrating ability and pierced the containment field of a plasma weapon - yes the stuff of the sun in a containment bottle, worn as a backpack ( think like the ultimate flame thrower ) - the shooter shoot from behind at a distance of 30 feet way, the player stateing flat out that their shot hit and breached the contaiment field....

Every person in the game was consulted by the gm - and all were experienced players in the genre and with the weapons being used. the technical consensus: that since the contaiment field was a full reserves, it was plasma, and he was only 30 Feet away ( and the technical specs spoke of fireballs some 30 Yards in diameter...)

Decission: there was nothing to do but declare that the shooter and his victim went up in not even smoke, but utter annihilation.

The player killed his own character via terminal stupidity....

thats what I can't excuse.

but I think all of us here will play much smarter than that.

Ardchoille - Lillian can still be a Gate Keeper, there are far more Gates than just the one to Underhill. ( evil grin ) but as you choose.

Talrachia, you are always welcome in any of my games, but I understand about not having enough time.

The time jump post has been made, please deal with any thing that happened between the last 'time' of your post and 'now ( see time stamp on post ) as a flash back

So one and all, the Night Life has started. Park your rides in the safe (live security guard present ) underground parking in the east half of Bayou Place and take the tunnel ( warm, dry, and only about half a block ) to the elevators in the foyer, you will take them to the main entrance on ground floor, pay your cover charge ( or present invitations ) and go on up to the main floor.

Here is the best down town map (http://www.atddm.com/hmap.jpg) I could find. ( yes I have a lot of empty space on my site. )

Cains is the hippest of the hip, the coolest of the ultra cool, as high tech as you can imagine, and the club wear- hey it's 10 years in the future from now, and Texas unbent enough to legalise gambling and otb, the bible belt in Texas is really mostly dead, and besides Houston is an international city. So Anything ( and darn near nothing ) in the way of clothes go. From current to anything your imagination can come up with and then some.

Imitora has given us what the band will sound like and when they are not one stage it will be techno / trance/ very driving make you dance rythmn stuff. Main floor- Losts of ultra violet light, lots of neon lighting, dry ice smoke swirling, and people are not shy about asking you to dance, get drunk, get laid, get stoned ( but pot only ) Cain keeps all other drugs out of his place, dealers have a way of vanishing as does any one who makes too much trouble.

The 'lower two floors- ground floor and second floor- accessable only from the Main floor by you guys are more intimate, quieter, smaller dance floors, lots of shadowed booths of making deals or necking in, most of any older vampires that show up will most likely be found on ground floor, and any older Were's on the second floor.

Yes the fighting level is open- Hayabusa, Sian, Ryan, and Rid know about this level. Jessica, Arthur, Dilana, Riven, Hilard, and Lillian do not.( too new in town, or not a known Night Lifer , or a part of that 'crowd')

Hi Tan,
Here's the two characters that I discussed with you.

Michael Benjamin Gassington
Species: Human
Martial Status: Widower
Gender: Male
Age: Early 30's but looks to be around late 30's or early 40's
Ht: 6'9"
Wt: 375, very little fat and heavily muscled.
Hair: Ebony and straight, shot with a few strands of silver (which gives him no end of irritation) to the nape of the neck.
Eyes: Dark blue
Parents: Benjamin and January (Jan) Gassington - PSH ( pure Strain Human) - both deceased.

Born in 1977 in Philadelphia, Michael joined the service in 1995. He was quickly transferred to a special operations team and finally left in 2005 after a particularly difficult mission that left him physically and mentally scarred. Upon returning home he found his parents and only sibling, Angela, torn apart and the house a mess of blood and entrails. At that time he sworn to kill whoever was responsible.
Later that same year he was contacted by a woman known as Lauralin Silverlief, owner of the worldwide protection orginization (among other subsidiery companies) Defender's Incorporated. She would assist in his search for his family's killers if he worked for her. It was during the next five years that he learned a great deal of mutants and undead. His most recent revelationg being that the Lady, herself, is a powerful vampiress of indeterminate age. The blow was rather gentle, however, due to the fact that she had proven again and again that her goal is protect those who cannot protect themselves and to seek those who kill others without remorse.
Michael is well trained in hand to hand and small arms. He's an expert in intelligence gathering and is fairly well versed in spotting those who are not human, due to his recent employ.
Current assignment: Locate one Durham Red, mutant. Bring her in if at all possible. She is NOT to be harmed as the Lady would like to have her join Defenders Inc.

Durham Red
Species: Human Mutant
Martial Status: Single
Gender: Female
Age: looks to be only in her mid 20's
Ht: 5'6"
Wt: 150, slender in excellent physical shape but not bulkily muscled
Hair: Red with black streaked bangs down both sides and black tips.
Eyes: Greyish blue
Parents: Unknown
Born in the outskirts of London sometime in the 1960's she had been abandoned at a young age. She grew up on the streets, roaming from place to place until she was captured in the late 70's in Warsaw. She became part of a government agency that hunted down mutants and after a rather short time came to become known as the Scarlett Huntress. She tends to be either feared or hated by most mutants for her skill and for turning her back on her own kind. Now, however, due to a recent government project, she had been 'surplused' and slated for 'retirement'. The new Iconoclast hunters were humans who had been biologically and cybernetically enhanced. Tattoo's of wards cover thier skin to protect them against the undead and their physical power, reflexes and senses have been heightened to be a match for most mutants. Even Red can only handle one or two at a time in an enclosed space, though with room to move she's more than a match for a full squad.
Any mention of her 'turning her back on her own kind' tends to send her into a rage. She, like any other mutant, had never been accepted by mundanes, or simply humans as they were called in the special projects group. But she had also been shunned and reviled by other mutants because of her particular mutation. Durham Red was a mutant with vampiric tendencies.
Red is strong, stronger than any normal human and a match for most 'night creatures'. She's also blindingly fast, though not quite as fast as a 'real vampire'. She can heal rather quickly and recover from a wound as long as it doesn't outright kill her, and as long as she can get a supply of blood to bolster her while her body heals itself. Her senses are as sharp as any animals, able to smell up to great distances, see clearly in the dark and hear the slightest noises. The only thing that really bothers her is bright light, because of her sensitive eyes, though she can move about during the day with sunglasses. Her sense of taste and touch is also highly acute.
Red's biggest problem is that she doesn't tend to think before she acts. Though, typically, she can fight her way out of a situation she gets herself into, she does tend to get in over her head from time to time due to this lack of foresight. The other problem is her temperment. She's typically refered to, though not to her face or within range of hearing, as 'The Bitch with and Attitude'.
Currently Red is simply trying to survive. Hated or feared by mutants, humans and non-humans (those categorized by the government as vampires, werewolves etc.) and hunted by the government agencies for whom she had worked, she seeks only to stay alive now in a world completely hostile to her.

As I am new to writing and this community, I have a question. Do the rest of you have things that help with "writers block?" I find myself totally unable to think of a first post in the IC thread. Tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. And what was that "error with the database" problem for the past two days?

Jolt occasionally(rarely) goes down when they do have to do work, or just get overloaded.
Your character is a Were hunter?
You could have him searching out a contact to get information on where there are Weres to hunt.
Basically looking for another 'borderline' human, who would have knowladge of both 'mundane and nightlife' societies.

Whenever I have writers block, I just put on some music or something, and try to get into my characters head of what he/she would be thinking while it plays, and just be like...well, if my character wasn't doing anything, just chilling or what not, what would they be thinking. That, or try to find a way to intagrate yourself into one of the existing pre mix plot lines.

CW, it is called a widower.

Writers block, music works. For me playing a game for a bit also works. Like Imitora and Theo said, try to find someone border line or have your char accidently overhear a convo.

Thank you GS. I appreciate that. I'll edit my post.

Every one please read this before you make any more posts!

Please read my prior posts talking about the time jump, and also notes here about where you are are ( locations wise )

Okay folks, I have it set up in my latest post for Ryan ( Imitora ) and Arthur ( Guanyu ) to meet and interact courtesy of Hayabusa.

Jessica ( GS), Rid (Athyrn ) Durham Red ( Central Worlds ) it would be very easy for you att to meet in the club, especially as Rid and Jessica have already met slightly.

Michael (Central Worlds ) I don't know if you are ahead or behind - your post mentioned 6 am, if you will notice my post just before yous contained a time jump - it is not roughly 8 to 10 pm Valentines Day night. ( You would not have been able to gain entrance to the Wild Bend Enclave- the security guard at the gate would have called Sian's house, spoken with the the house keeper, Nancia, and turned you away as Ms. Rhys wasn't seeing any one.

Lillian ( Ardchoille ) you would certainly know about Cains, and you could easily follow your little lost elfling as he staggers his way there.


Hilard ( Days Long Past ) Cains could easily be on your "radar" as a place of exceeding strangeness.

So every one if I haven't yet hooked you up with some one find a reason to make your way to Cains.

Would I still be in the woods, or would you prefere for Rivan to end up at Cains as well?
Will be posting him going to the Cains, with Wind-At-My-Back, if you don't mind.

No, Michael is neither ahead, nor behind. His day started at 6am but as I said in my post he had driven for a long time. Basically it took this long, till about 8 or 9 pm to arrive in this area, so he's right on cue, no worries. As for getting him to Cain's ....
I'll think of something.

Okay, Michael is at Cain's.

Thanks for the writers block ideas.

I'll put up a post with Hilard making his way to Cains soon as I have time. College is a remarkably time consuming thing. *shakes fist at music profesor*

There are many at Cains who wear cloaks, more of them down on the Vampire level, most on the main level left them at the check room.

And my apologies CW, I assumed that Michael was in Houston when he got the call, and o' course that made an ass out of me.

Okay folks, I haven't been in a club or a bar for longer than many of you have been alive -So feel free to describe - remember it's 4 years in the future, technology has kept its frentic pace. I'll follow ya'lls cues on such

Daddy's Grl - and in hand laquered Candy Apple red with white leather interior. (http://www.atddm.com/siantvr.jpg)- Sian's fun 'drive', inherited from her father, a 2005 TVR Sagaris - named for the lightweight battle axe used by the Scythians and feared for it's ability to penetrate armor.

here's a link to a good write up on the Sagaris (http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/tvr-sagaris.htm) and what it can do

I think everyone who can should download the Top Gear review of the Sagaris..."And like all TVRs, its smells of glue and bits of the body are falling apart"-Jeremy Clarkson. Good choice on the car Tan...not that I had anything to do to influence you or anything...lol

Oh, I need to add that I'll be heading out of town for buisness training this weekend, so I won't be posting again till Sunday, possibly monday. Tanara has control of Ryan, I think she'll know how to play him along. I'll try to get a post up today before I leave. I'll see if I can get a club description up, clubs like this used to be my hang out after racing back in highschool, and I might actually eb going to one again Saturday night.

In all honesty, I'm in a similar boat to Tanara, so umm, any descriptors would be helpful.

I'll be back to post more later, both in and out of character, but now I have a last minute job interview...oh please what ever listening ears there are let this work out. They are desperate, it's a job I can do in my sleep and it's most likely relaxed attire ( what I'm most comfortable in! )

Crosses his fingers and toes for you....

Thanks, For the good wishes CW, I should know if I have the job sometime Monday.

Here is what Sian is wearing tonight,but in deepest crimson silk (http://www.atddm.com/dcsn1.jpg)

Well I"ll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you, though I'll be walking a little funny at work tomorrow.

Tanara, I'm not sure if you're waiting on me in the 'Busa/Ryan/Arthur storyline, but I'll post whenever Ryan comes out.

Since Ryans player is gone till Sunday night, I have his permission to run him however you are very welcome Guanyu to make a post while Busa is jabbering away. Other wise I'll make a post for Ryan in the morning.

Hope you get that Job Tanara, sounds like it would be perfect for you.

Best of luck

...still waiting on Ryan.

OOps, my apologies Guanyu! one Ryan post coming up!

I'm not going to be able to post for a day or so. I have to wipe my harddrive and reinstall all of my files and such. Somehow I got the "Qoolaid" virus...It seems to have messed up my HD big time. Be back soon hopefully.

*Shudder* Sorry to hear that DLP, I had to do that last year due to a different virus. It's a major annoyance I know. Hope every thing goes well!

Just to let every one know- My apologies for not posting yesterday, and further apologies I won't be able to post more than this today. Please go on and interact-

Red, Michael, Rid, Jessica, Ryan, Hilard, and Arthur are all up on the main floor ( Unless Arthur you want to go with 'Busa as he does a quick preliminary check in)

Sian, Dilana, Rivan and Heyoka are all down currently on the Arena level.

Have fun and meet one another.

LOl so some of you are heading to IAH ( sadly nowdays know as Bush Intercontinental ) - it's a straight shot north up the oldest of the toll roads in Houston ( Hardy Toll Road ) and you don't go through a toll booth until it ends, rather much after the exit for the airport. So yeah you can make it there in about 30 minutes that time of night.

And gee Jessica moves fast doesn't she!

Well, Michael isn't complaining.

grin

Well, it looks like I didn't get the job.

Oh well, life goes on.

And Michael ( Central Worlds ) - take your Boss to the hotel - The Armand - that Cain owns ( the one that is the top 4 floors of the east half of Bayou Place ) It has rooms designed specifically for vampires )

and it's basically where the action later tonight is going to take place. So it puts you and Jessica back into the fray...

No worries Tan, I'll get you in on some...deals...I'm trying to get set up. All you'll need is a fast car, lol. [/hijack]

So I, not feeling all to hot, am not planing on going ot my pass fail class, so I'll be here for another hour or so if anyone wants to get any stories started up.

Sweet. GS and I were talking on messenger on how to get them back in. We figured we could come back after Red. We can still work that she recognizes the picture Laura will show Michael soon. But thanks, it'll be easier to get them in at least, with Red still a bit up in the air right now.

I'm sorry to hear about the job :( *Hugs* I'll hire you, you won't even have to get out of bed. *wink*

Sorry about the job Tan. Hope you find another one

I'll find one soon enough.

Now Lauralin will know that she needs to meet with Cain ( asap ), Master of the City - her arrival without prior agreement and such could be seen as a declaration of war just fyi.

Decleration of war?! Holy shit.

Now Lauralin will know that she needs to meet with Cain ( asap ), Master of the City - her arrival without prior agreement and such could be seen as a declaration of war just fyi.

Okay, would she know where and how to contact him?

Oh, and yes, GS, because she's entering the domain of another vampire. She would have actually made arrangements ahead of time, but since she's coming in unexpectedly as character then I'll just make like she was busy and didn't have the time and therefore would contact him upon arrival.

Ah, interesting. Makes some logical sense I guess.

Believe me Cain will know she's coming before they are back on the Hardy Toll Rd heading south back into downtown. There will be rooms waiting for her at The Armand, along with an escort to take her to Cain. Some one with her power level is going to have gotten noticed and Cain has many eyes and ears.

The escort will be male, vampire ( less than 200 years of age though ) and a mage - describe him however you like, but he's just a fairly disposable character at this point. He will be polite, attentive and totally loyal to Cain.

Two high level Vampires meeting with minimal preperations is nothing to be...easy about. A dangerous proposition it is.

Cain's age is uncertain- he's probably close to 2000 yrs old, one of the oldest in North America, and is a very dangerous Vampire. Not just becuase of his vampiric abilities, but becuase he is one of the few Vamps in that age group that has kept abreasdt of modern technology - and uses it!

His security systems are state of the art, and backed by state of the art magic as well. His 'people' are loyal, well rewarded ( and well punished if deserved ), intelligent and motivated.

His power extends out side of the 'limits' of most Masters of the City- the other MoC's in Texas are no match for him and tend to bow to his wishes rather than fight him.

And circumstances just conspired to ruin Sian's night out. That makes for a very unhappy Sian....

I see...and how does he feel about weres?

He personally has no problem with were, at least with those who don't try and start problems with him...the vampires he rules are far less tollerant than he.

Note:

but as is true in most places the Were's of Houston and the Vampires of Houston are very close to war. It is predominantly he werewolves and the Vampires, but the non wolf were's chime in on the side of the wolves as might be expected.

It is mainly because the were and the vamps are the top two predator species of the Night Life, and usually the two most powerful species in the Night Life period. The Sidhe, some of the quasi demon species, and individual mutants might equal, even perhaps surpass them, but none of those types are any where near as numerous as Vamps and Weres- and while they might well be fearsome warriors they are not pure out and out predators like Were's and Vamps.
Both were's and vamps have the drive/need to be 'king of the hill' others generally don't. ( depending on personal bias of course )

Some cities are regular battle brounds- New York, Miami, London, Moscow, Hong Kong...

Houston is fortunate in that over a century ago, back before the Civil War the Night Life residing here signed a Compact that holds to this very day. ( The Rhys family and their kin have held land and power in the area since Houston was no more than the Allen brothers ferrry landing at a wide spot on the bayou. And it was they who brokered the Compact ) { Yes Sian's father took his wifes name, this is standard for any one marrying into the family }

And just to up date every one- Imitora- Ryan made an error as to where Sian and Ryan were - they are not on the main floor of the club, but down in the fighting arena level.
Heyoka is dancing with some one he didn't introduce to Rivan - Heck I don't think he knows her name LOL!
Dilana and Red are on the main floor
Jessica, Michael and Lauralin are inbound from IAH.

I do not know the dispossition of other players as several have not posted in several days - to whit-
Rid -last posted as entering the club
Arthur Corsic- last posted as entering the club with 'Busa
Lillian- last posted as being in her apartment
Hilard- last posted as being on the main floor of the club

I'm sorry, Tanara, I'll send you a TG full of grovelling excuses. But first I'll go away and get Lillian into the action.

BTW, it occurs to me that the wounding of a harmless old mundane who's been helpful to individual Night Lifers (ie, Lillian) might bring on a crisis later.

And since she is a mundane, she might end up in a mundane hospital, rather than the NightLife one -- with some very strange wounds.

But later, later; I'll knuckle down to getting her into the now, first.

Lillian, PLEASE no grovelling!! not necessary at all - things happen.

and I should have done this sooner!

A vertical view of the layout of Bayou Place, The Armand, Overlook Casino, and of course Cains (http://www.atddm.com/avlc)

sorry for any confusion my written descriptions may have engendered.

Okay, I'll have to wait till GS comes on and change some of our posts concerning Jessica, Lauralin and Michael. Sorry Shal

No Problem CW.

Okay folks it's the current "lets all get involved in the Mess" part of this chapter.

However no one is required to get involved.
There is plenty of interaction occuring, now with the added fun of panicked, stampeeding , or fighting with one another Mundanes ( however if you chose to get involved with what the Mundanes are doing - please remember that they are very breakable...)

If you have any ideas and suggestions for further chapters please feel free to tg me or post them here. I always welcome input!

This is your story as much as it is mine.

I'll be posting in about an hour or so, I have this crap ass assesment day shit I gotta do, then I can post. Tan, as per the tgram, no worries about T-porting Ryan. I was listening to Mudvayne earlier, and got a great idea for a post!

*Grin* I know about being busy - I'm still waiting to find out when I have to head out in to the 'wild' of the fringes, and I want to give it a little longer any way so as every one has a chance to grab their tg's


I am going to be actively counting certain people out of the game unless I hear from them, or they post in the next 24 hours.

Rid, Hilard, and Arthur, this means you!

I know Rl can get very busy, and it's chaos is a given thing but none have bothered to post or TG me in well over ten days.

Bah...I wish my last post had gotten in before Tanaras...damn me and my inability to type a long ass post fast...

And speaking of other ideas...hows abouts a hunting team going after the vamps, or skirmishes breaking out over territory, lycan v. vamp stuff? Same with the mutants.

Jump when you're ready Tan...Jessica can be swept up accidentally

I absolutely refuse to make any comments about the juxtaposition of sex and violence....some one might get the idea that we were a Pride of Neitzscheans..and before you dear readers take up arms...I am refering to Homo sapiens invictus, and such museings as these On Sex and Violence (http://www.keithhamiltoncobb.com/ancestors/framesetblack.htm)

Thanks for getting Lillian et al tidied away, Tanara. They'll be quivering in her apartment for a bit while I play with a catly sub-plot.

Doesn't Ryan have power over the Gates? At the moment, my thought is to get Cyrian matched up with the riderless Steed and send the pair back to heal UnderHill [/subplot]. It would fit into the story (and help keep Lillian a lower-case character) if they had to approach Ryan so he could point them towards the exits.

On the other hand, the red-shirt Cyrian could be an excuse to involve the High Court, if you like. I imagine that would factor in some irritation on Ryan's part, since he's so clearly independent. Imitora, you want?

(I was figuring that for our purposes Cyrian could be a son of a foster-sister or some such of Oberon. Not that the Sidhe would feel any gratitude over his rescue, but they might think it prudent to send an ambassador to find out what was causing the disturbance. Or try 'ordering' Ryan to sort it all out, quick smart, which might provide a motive for some angry impulse?)

^6I think you are thinking of Rid - but he hasn't posted in the game for over 10 days and hasn't replied to my telegram.

So I am writing himout of the game.

Ryans just a vampire, but any one ordering him to do anything is kinda a dangerous idea.

Sorry about leaving Lillians shopping cart behind, we'll have to get it back to her...and that opens up possiblities.

What is a butterfly lady?
The concept just seems wierd personally. It brings up a very odd mental picture.

Yeha, your thinking of Rid. Ryan has plenty of powers, but none that would help an elf escape or get back to UnderHill. He's just a vamp, and ordering him to sort out the mess would be like GW ordering Chirac to send troops to Iraq, lol. Would make for an interesting character development, an elf having to work with a vamp, lol. The elf would be high and mighty, and Ryan would be trying to figure out the bennefit of feeding from him. Also, I'm working on a post now, try to humor things up a touch, but even with his speeded up healing, Ryan is gonna be down with a bit, having his leg torn open and all. Also, that oni would probably freak Ryan's shit, even though he's seen Busa in his true form before. And whats wrong with Nietszche? "Aww women, they make the highs higher and the lows so much more frequent."

Also, Shal, you gonna be on MSN soon? I want to send you something before I'm to far gone to day *wink*. I've alredy started, after my midterm, lol. And if any of ya'll wanna talk to me IRT, just tgram me and I'll send ya my AIM and MSNM screen names.

Fairy Ladies, Butterfly Ladies are a kind of social club that has sprung up on university campuses starting in 2008. They are all vegan, practise recycling, very green politics, probably belong to PETA, and wear ( when ever they can) catsuits/body stockings with fairy or butterfly wings attached. I think I posted a link to a couple of examples of what they looked like earlier in the thread.

Consider them harmless, fluff headed, very earnest and easily broken. Doers of social conscience good deeds, and trying to 'aide Gaia, mother earth' all they can...

If ic ould see less than two computer screens rtight now, i would mek a post.

Ah, okay, not Ryan. I should have realised, really. Elves wouldn't have cats. Pity, though; high-and-mighties swanning around would complicate matters even further.

Hmmm. Could also take Lillian's role a little further and have her become a Guardian of the Gates as a result of something that happens in the story ... (musing). I've been trying to keep her just peripherally involved with any major characters because there's likely to be the occasional two-day gap between posts for me (apart from the recent hiatus, I mean. That was something else entirely.).

Since he's already here, I could do a bit of Lillian reacting to Cyrian in her apartment in a way that would establish him as a touch-me-not, disdainful type, Tanara?

Then you could give him a bigger role than red-shirt if you liked -- High Court tells him to work with others, play nice and sort things out before he's allowed back, as proof that he's got himself straightened out? On the other hand, you've already got more than a few, er, balls in the air, if you'll forgive the phrase, in terms of characters to keep going. Wotcha wanna do?

LOL Imi, a little more Irish than usual are you? Get some sleep and come back when the hangovers done.

Ardchoille - Why I do believe that elves would indeed have cats- their temperaments match so well...

I'd say d o what you think Lillian would for right now. I can keep a lot of balls in the air, Cyrian as a major stroke is no problem- and definitely at the moment snotty - don't ja just love 'defensive attitudes'?

Spoilers for V for Vendetta below- don't look if you don't want even the slightest info on the movie!
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Heads up every one- if you want so see how a vampire would move in a fight ( and see it so that it wouldn't be just a blurr for our poor human eyes ) -

Go see V for Vendetta. The last fight is a perfect example.

In real time it takes a skilled person about 4-8 seconds to change a clip/ dump and replace a speed loader ( whats used by revolver fanciers for a quick reload for a revolver ).

In that time - maybe a second or two more - so lets say 10 seconds, V has mowed down roughly eight opponents - and not they are NOT just a few feet from him! - His strikes are powerful as well.

Tis movie is excellent and I highly recommend it.

I was trying to send this telegram out to every one but I can't seem to get into my dossier...

Hi to every one playing in Night Life. I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have.

It's now almost time to move on to the next chapter.

I hope that every one will continue to play their original characters, or bring in a new one if they chose.

Also please, please , please always feel free to suggest story lines, idea and what not my TG box, and the OOC thread is ALWAYS open.!

And no I do not know what the new chapter of Night Life will be about yet.

Hi Tanara and everyone..
I haven't been around lately; been busy looking for a job and such. I just want to say that I really like this rp..and the responses to it are awesome!

Okay the next chapter in Night Life is up.

Any one who was in Chapter 1 is absolutely welcome back, and new comers if you'd like to join just post your character here, or TG me!

This one has the potential to be very exciting - one working title wa...naw, I'm going to save that twist for when it happens...but I've given you plenty of others in the opening posts.

Feel free to shake, rattle, and roll!

Damn, I wish I had seen this thread sooner.

Bringing this to the fore to let every one know that the spin off from the Night Life series is about to open - will probably start this coming weekend -

Shadow War is about defending the Night Life from the depredations of the Iconclasts and their allies - not just in Houston ( which has so far been immune from attacks by that organization ) but across the globe.

It will be high powered, fast paced, action oriented, and hopefully a kick ass read!

Also I wanted to let every one involved in Night Life that they are welcome at
Nomad's Road (http://www.appnr.info/forums) a small, relatively new off site forum. There is a thread up in the forum titled Games People Play with a synopsis. Feel free to visit, and join, chat about your character, ask questions, comment about plot lines, sub plots etc.

Whenever that thread gets up, will you post the link here? That would be cool..hopefully my character can find a spot.

P.S. You have such creative ideas, awesome job!