NationStates Jolt Archive

IC Thread: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=558153
Slots filled: 4/5 1 slot remaining

I am looking for strong, dedicated rpers here. This is based in a world similar to, but not quite the same as, the book series by a similar name. I am limiting sign up to five others, so gimme some wow, eh? Basic premise follows:

The world is thinning...
Everyone knows it. You can feel it in the air. You can hear it on the wind. You can see it in the way the sun seems to set just off kilter. Not even the old timers can say why the sun seems off when it sets, they just know that it is. The Golden Age has come and gone, and now the world is thinning... Time seems to stretch and compress, days become weeks, hours become minutes. It is happening everywhere. Most people accept it. The old timers talk of the Golden Age and the wonders and marvels they beheld, but now... Derelict cities long forgotten stand on the horizon, marvelous spires reaching to the heavens and beyond, ignored and unseen by the common man. Ancient items of great power lie hidden in plain sight, carried by the hands of common thieves. Children are raped and sacrificed to imaginary deities at the word of false prophets in the hopes that their blessing will seed the dying land. Wanderers, as they are called, are seen at increasing intervals, people out of time and place, from the far future or past, simply appearing as though they had always been there, sometimes vanishing again in the same manner.

Even in Gilead, once the center of civility and honor, the ties that bind have begun to fray and snap, one by one. The King is assassinated by the court magician. The Queen is imprisoned for his murder without trial, thrown into the deepest dungeons of the castle were dwell the most vile of murderers and miscreants the once fair land has to offer. The sole remaining heir, Azrael Leon, rightful crown prince, is sent away in disgrace after failing his manhood ritual, said failure being ensured by the court magician prior to his hasty departure. Azrael took his murdered father's pistols and sword. He may have failed his trial, he may be considered an irredeemable child by law and custom, but he was a man in his heart. He may have taken the heirlooms rightfully owed him like a thief in the night, but he was Gunslinger born. He may be outcast in a world outcast from the central spire of reality, but he had justice hanging at one hip and vengeance on the other, with truth sheathed against his back. Azrael Leon was barely old enough to know a woman's touch, but he was a man possessed.


Entrants may be Wanderers or members of this world. Please make a character with depth as this role play will not be soft, gentle, or simple. Much like the author of the Dark Tower series, I have a twisted mind, and a twisted plot will ensue. So far as technology goes, this world was originally PMT but has reverted to pre MT in most cases. Think of a post-apocalyptic wild west. Wanderers can arrive with just about anything up to PMT gear and have any specific training you might want. However, be aware that anything you bring in will be used against you, as well as anything else I can think up. Also, depending on how the world and worlds shift, you may find yourself in a place where certain technologies or tech levels simply do not function. The intention is to have those accepted members to either take on his journey with him as friends who support him or join later, depending on the situation. Please do not sign up for this unless you intend to stick around to see the Dark Tower itself. If you tend to leave off a thread in the middle of a story because you get bored with it, please do not join. If you don't generally check the forums at least once every day, we can work things out but you'll likely be left behind in short order. I'm not a nazi; I'm willing to work with people, but this is a storyline I've been dying to try out since the first book came out, and I will see it to completion. Also note, some characters will be asked to sacrifice themselves during the story. Sacrifice of all kinds is part and parcel to this world and this quest in particular. If you are unwilling to give your character a brave face when Death come knocking, scythe in hand, please consider carefully before asking to join.

Please provide the following:
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Special Training/Abilities: (if applicable)
Bio:

Name: Wesley Harlow

Age: 34

Gender: Male

Special Training/Abilities: Best Shooter in the World (so far undisputed)

Bio: Wes was raised in a small town by his father, A hunter and blacksmith by trade. Wes was half indian, but his mother had long ago disappeared. As a boy, he mostly ran errands for his father, doing this, collecting that. Then, one day, his whole life was changed. Bandits raided the small town, killing anyone who got in their way. His father sent him into a small secret passage in the attic and gave him a revolver. He then told him to hide and only use the gun when he needed to. Then his father went outside, met by the bandit gang leader. The single shot rang through Wes's ears, forcing him to cup his hands over them. Wes couldn't even cry, but he vowed to kill any bad person he ever encountered. He would spend his days for the next 20 years taking potshots at a homemade dummy that he rigged to move across the range. After 15 years he could pull off a headshot from 100 yards. After 20 he could do it one-handed. He finally packed a knapsack full of whatever he would need, including a metal chestplate that his father had finished on the day of his death. Then he set out into the world, just a rebellious boy looking to pick a fight.


(OOC) I'm pretty new so tell me what you think

That is actually very good. A lot of detail in a small amount of space. Since he seems to be based in what amounts to wild west America, he will be meeting Azrael on the road. I look forward to seeing how this character will pan out.

Accepted.

Wanderer!

Name: Willamina Aurielle Freyasdottir - Mina (http://www.atddm.com/mina.jpg)
Age: looks late 20's early 30's - isn't
Gender: female
Special Training/Abilities: 'Special Forces' Operative ( ex Cadre)
Bio: Mina is an retired 'operator' turned bounty hunter. Her last hunt however saw her torn loose form her time and Reality. She's just looking for a way back home, and willing to kick whatever ass gets in her way.

Hey VV- Great to see you back!

You should remember Mina From Stranger in a Strange Land.

I'll have her without Val, and only MT/ PMT weapons.

I do indeed and it is great to have you on board! I already know she's a nicely rounded character, so I'll just give you a big Accepted stamp and we'll see where it takes us. The question is, do you want her to meet Azrael prior to his disgrace and thus become a companion early on or meet him along the road?

Name: Sojiro Takahata
Picture: Image (http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs18/i/2007/150/4/1/Samurai_by_Rusc.jpg)
Age: 32 ~ looks older
Gender: Male
Special Training/Abilities: blademaster
Bio: Sojiro comes from a small village far to the East, living in a secluded river valley where the ancient ways of his people were preserved from the influence of foreign ideas or technology. Because his father was a noble and ruled the village that Sojiro grew up in, he had a easy upbringing. And as the son of a warrior noble he was trained since he could walk to wield a sword, becoming what his people called a kensei, or sword saint. He now travels far from home by order of his father to discover the reason of why the world is changing so much, and to put a stop to it at all costs if he can.

LOL given that she's the sort that would have killed said court mage - and damned the results- we might better make it be a little later on - perhaps right after he starts on the road...because this is really going to be a strange land for her.

will be tging you with a couple of questions.

And Wesley is so going to keep getting called John Wesley Hardin (http://www.famoustexans.com/johnwesleyhardin.htm) by Mina...

Alrighty, I'll make sure and give you the scoop. The intro will be approximately five years after the incident that set his life in motion, so there's plenty of opprotunity for you to meet him prior to the actual ic thread start.

Name: Sojiro Takahata
Picture: Image (http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs18/i/2007/150/4/1/Samurai_by_Rusc.jpg)
Age: 32 ~ looks older
Gender: Male
Special Training/Abilities: blademaster
Bio: Sojiro comes from a small village far to the East, living in a secluded river valley where the ancient ways of his people were preserved from the influence of foreign ideas or technology. Because his father was a noble and ruled the village that Sojiro grew up in, he had a easy upbringing. And as the son of a warrior noble he was trained since he could walk to wield a sword, becoming what his people called a kensei, or sword saint. He now travels far from home by order of his father to discover the reason of why the world is changing so much, and to put a stop to it at all costs if he can.

Quite intriguing. I will give this the accepted stamp on the basis that, well, samurai are cool, and I'm going to assume by your choice that you can properly portray the virtues and honor associated with them. This seems like another to meet along the road. Fear not, the wait will not be long. Three of five have been pulled from the deck to journey for the Dark Tower. Two more are all that is required.

Tanara are you insinuating something...:rolleyes:

Quite intriguing. I will give this the accepted stamp on the basis that, well, samurai are cool, and I'm going to assume by your choice that you can properly portray the virtues and honor associated with them.

Of that, have no doubt.

Okay - TG is away - and that sound very cool.

And to sleep I go. Hopefully there will be a few hopefuls tomorrow when I awake so we can get this thing rolling!

Nope not insinuating a thing -John Wesley Hardin was quite a respectable gunfighter.

"Despite his killing of over thirty people, Hardin had a reputation as a gentleman among those who knew him, and he always claimed he never killed anyone who didn't need killing."

Another look at JWH (http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-JohnWesleyHardin.html)

I'm a Texan and I've always had a soft spot for the more...flavorful characters of the old west and John Wesley is one of my favorites.

OOC: bumping for more people to join what looks to be an awesome thread.

Bump for interest

I'll wait one more day to see if anyone else pops up that wants to join, then I'll create the IC thread. We can meet any others along the road.

Two spots still open, for those who wish to join.

Bumpage

also, here's the image- Image Hizzere (http://www.fantomcomics.com/DEC062284_hi_DARK_TOWER_GUNSLINGER_BORN.jpg)


No, I've never read Dark Tower but this seems eerily similar

It is intended to be similar to the Dark Tower series by Stephen King, and that picture looks like one of the illustrations for the series.

I know. It is but I didn't intend for my character to be so close to the real thing

He seems, personally, more along the lines of one of the other characters within the story, but perhaps that is just my reading of the situation. Anyways, prepare for IC thread!

LOl I havet to admit to never having read the series - though I know a little bit about it.

I get to cover my deeper ignorance by having Mina be a wanderer from 'a future that never was' in Gilead's home Reality- but since I've been reading about and playing in multiple realities most my life, it's no hardship for me, and lets me get away with all sorts of out of the box thinking that is simply 'common place' for where she comes from.

Plus her reactions to things will be just skewed enough to give lots of plot complications ( "What? She was rude to Lord high muckeyt muck so and so?" "Yes but she had no idea he was some one important"

A bit more on Mina's background. She is from a Future Tech Empire -

"She knew alot about that. She - or at least her ancestors- had been bred to be beautiful, until the Tanaran Empire had taken on and taken down the Karzad Empire and put an end to their slave breeding. Every single one of her ancesstors had been freed pleasure slaves that had managed to pass the inhumanly rigorous testing - only one in a million of the Tanaran Empire's citizens even met the basic criteria, and usually one in ten of those made it into training. They, her illustrious ancestors going back three generations, had all had long and distinguished carrers in the Cadre...she had too...untill she had gotten kicked out. And solely due to her own stubborn hold on her ethics and an immense, even unbelieveable, amount of bad luck"

Her current weapons:

from Magnum Research: 2 Desert Eagles in 50AE. ( and the first person that calls them deagles will be fish food!)

A Walther/ Manurhin PP in .32
( one of the universe's best concealed semi autos and a .32 glaser safety slug will put one down quite effectively )

Also:

Tanaaran OMEGA Military Specialties K5 PDW (http://www.atddm.com/fnhp90.jpg)
Length: 19. 1"
Height: 8.0"
Width: 2.75"
Barrel Length: 7.9"
Weight: 6.5 lbs loaded (75 rounds)
Ammo: 6.8 x 33 mm caseless ammunition*
Ammo Capacity: 75 rounds per magazine

Ammunition-feed system -the K 5 utilizes a top-situated, horizontally-oriented magazine (with 75-round capacity). The cartridges are rotated 90 degrees before being fed into the chamber and fired.

* This is the same ammunition used by the Tanaran battle rifle.

The K5 is a sling weapon, designed to be worn across the operator's back, side, or chest. The K5's ammo has only 1/2 the recoil force of 9mm NATO ammo, yet has considerably greater stopping power than the 9mm. The round can pierce car windshields and doors, and even kevlar vests and helmets up to 200 meters away, with the kevlar material having "virtually no effect" on the round. It will also pierce NATO CRISAT body armor (1.6mm titanium armor plate and 20mm of kevlar soft armor) and retains a minumum of 80 joules of energy after armor penetration. 80 joules is enough energy to incapacitate a human being.

A variety of knives and this saber / cutlass variant by the awesome Jody Samson (http://www.atddm.com/sword11a.jpg)

IC Thread: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=558153

Fascinating.

Mostly because I was asked, though...

I think I'll resist the temptation to throw out certain of my characters who are named Wesley, or are related to people named Wesley.

They just wouldn't fit in, plus that'd just get confusing...so.

I'm not intimately familiar with King's Dark Tower series (I know of them, mind, I've just never been much for King.) Shouldn't matter, though, I'd think...



Name: J. Santiago Diaz (The 'J' is for John -- but only his friends get to call him John, and his friends are all dead. He's got more name, too, but he isn't much for spreading the rest. One of 'em might start with a T. Got that from a hooker.)
Age: Who's counting?
Gender: Male.
Special Training/Abilities: Beyond the tricks? He's reputed to be a superb pistolero -- a man of his description (tall, dark, hat, went by 'Santiago') came out of nowhere to win the Intergalactic Strip Quickdraw Championship in '04, defeating the six-time defending champion 'Single Action' Annie Norbert. He's supposed to be a deft-hand with a blade -- long or short. Mentioned the tricks, yeah? There's those. That'd be under the 'Abilities' part.

Bio (Or: A collection of rumors, legends, and untruths): Santiago Diaz (That this is the same name twice is not lost -- just decent evidence that it's an alias...) is by all accounts a mystery. About the only thing that's certain is his appearance -- he's tall, over six foot, with dark hair -- black or dark brown. Complexion is 'tanned,' build is 'fit.' Hookers are remarkable resources...

Known to wear a wide-brimmed hat and leather duster over generally 'dark' clothing. Oddly, is not connected with any particular set of weapons -- a definite preference for pistols, but seems completely proficient with projectile weapons of all varieties. No trademark sword, either. Rumors of a favored knife are unconfirmed, but potentially plausible.

The story is even less certain.

Santiago is rumored to have been born the son of a warlord and the princess of his newest conquest...though he has also been said to be the child of a queen and a gravedigger, a couple of miners, and just about every concievable pairing of two humans possible. That he is human isn't even entirely certain -- though he is human enough to at the very least pass some pretty darn good genetic screens.

What he's doing around these parts is as uncertain as everything else about the man -- he's said to be a bounty hunter, a conract killer, a private investigator...he's also said to be a ruthless murderer and sociopath. Most likely, none of these things are true. Most likely, he's just a man -- if he exists at all.

Legends grow.

Men don't.

Take from that what you will.

Santiago did.

He would have to be a Wanderer, perhaps one who came in a good ways back, to let rumor and legend percolate through this world as well. I very much like the way you describe him, and he will be met along the road.

That was the intention, yes.

He's a little bit Songbird, a little bit Santiago (Reznick), a little bit Eastwood, a little bit Arizona Ranger, some de la Vega...

bleh. Listing influences takes to long.

Purely out of character, that 'T Name' is Taylor.

Take that as you will.

Beats Revenia over the head with my newest copy of Santiago -"you wretch!" there now, the book is comfortably broken in - this is the third copy I've had to buy. Loaned out the other two and never got them back, the wretches.

I am so hearing Man with No Name (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slsiOkYprDg)

though honestly I have always associated it more with Kelley's Hero's and the staredown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZmGnnoRduY)

Heheheheh. Well, those ARE the obvious references.

The less obvious ones -- that I listed...

'Arizona Ranger' is from the song 'Big Iron' by Marty Robbins. Came to mind when I was writing that 'Strip Quickdraw' bit.

"There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Texas Red had not cleared leather fore a bullet fairly ripped
And the ranger's aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip"

Of course, then I had to go and not give the man a gun, because i'm mean like that, and it works. Other influences will pop up as I write the character more -- the 'Taylor' reference is one that I won't give away because it might give the wrong sort of idea...

Now. I've gotta go see a man about a rock.

Well, the methods of entrance for you two were nice enough, however, I would have provided one myself shortly. Please do remember that the world is not necessarily one you are familiar with. Think of me as the game master, and yourself as the players. Your actions are your own, but the world is mine. That being the case, please keep your actions within the realm of the world as described by myself rather than creating for your own little piece. If this sounds bossy or uncompromising, I apologize. That is not my intention. It is simply, in my opinion, disrespectful to the game master to intrude upon what may be a carefully crafted and designed world with people and places that may not fit properly.

In short, I would request that you, in the future, refrain from acting outside of the world which has thus far been presented by myself save for those interactions which are obvious and understandable. Asking for and receiving an item, food, drink, etc, from existing characters via simple interaction = acceptable. Creating characters and initiating complex interactions with them = not quite so much unless specifically stated otherwise.

In short, I would request that you, in the future, refrain from acting outside of the world which has thus far been presented by myself save for those interactions which are obvious and understandable. Asking for and receiving an item, food, drink, etc, from existing characters via simple interaction = acceptable. Creating characters and initiating complex interactions with them = not quite so much unless specifically stated otherwise.

Would you be referring to me? :cool: I decided that since the town was there that I should spice it up with that entrance. Seeing as times are hard on everybody there will be those who are there to take advantage and gain profit. As such I thought a town controlled by a rich businessman/gunslinger type leading a group of ruffians would be a good start for our merry band of Wanderers to encounter first, giving everyone a reason to interact and kill some baddies while we're at it until you're main GM plan forms up.

I might have been overstepping more than a few bounds, but I hope it's alright.

bump.

Well, being insecure (haha) Am I doing ok so far?

Not bad - but I will say that Az didn't toss Min over his shoulder or anything like that - he was very kind ( she woudda puked all over him if he had) and did it the hard way - eh got her up the stairs and made it look like she was doing it on her own - and that takes talent.

The best and biggest piece of advise I always give for good on line gaming - read all the posts carefully - I know when I GM I dump a huge load of info out there and then grin evilly when the clues get over looked.

I once had a ship load of characters running around finding and killing the invading ninjas, they posted as killing close to 3 dozen. ... 90 beautifully done posts, some excellent fights and stalkings...

I only had 17 on board. I posted it as 'a score had been crammed in the tiny parasite attachment, and when they broke through the hull, to fresher air and room to ease their cramped muscles, three of their companions never stirred."

I put this in the middle of a moderately sized post ...

and no one but me was keeping 'score' on how many they said they found and killed...

I hated to ruin their fun, they were like a bunch of big footed lab puppies..."all over eager"

And no this didn't happen over the period of a week of posting, the posts happned over the space of roughly 30 hours ( oddly both in and out of the game )

I was nice- I retconned that some other agents as having come in with the refugees. But I laughed my ass off.

Haha now that's just cruel.

But I meant he supported her with his shoulder

Actually it was just his arm, cocked against his hip, like a gentleman escorting a lady. |> like that.

Ohh. I need to read more carefully. I wish Nobunaga'd come back cause It'd be handy to have another perspective where I am.

Second piece of advice - minor npc's - moving them, having them speak is fine ( if in character as has already been displayed )

sorry Jasmine has not displayed any thing much more than timidity/ a strong sense of self preservation, and a willingness to talk before the older bar keep does... NOT to smart mouth the local law...

but a major npc? I'd treat him just like another character - and that means what's called 'open ended actions'

explaination - you pull your gun, aim and fire...

"I cleared leather with all the speed I'd ever had, feeling good about it - no catches, no hesitation in the gun sliding smoothly out of the polished leather of the holster, my joints supple and my muscles limber. I was an expert at shooting from the hip, the barrel of the heavy revolver barely clearing the lip of the hoslter before I stroked the trigger... it would put a round just above dead center in the torso of an averagely ehighted man - and I was good enough to make minor adjustments for height with no loss of time...and the slight up angle let the large bullet tear though lungs and heart , having avoided the deflecting plate of bone that was the sternum..."

Wordy? hell yes - But done open ended - I fired and said where it Should go - not where it went - that I left up to the player who's character was one getting shot.

Simpler version. "I pulled my gun, and pulled the trigger, letting my long honed and deadly skills come into play."

But boths examples tell the other player/ gm how good you're supposed to be, so they can properly guage their reaction...

Does this open one up for dishonourable reaction from the player getting shot? yes, it does but we ARE playing on the honor system here - no other way to do it without rolling dice ( and hey I do) - sometimes my characters miss and I'll post such...but back on topic...

but in the end it simply is good manners to leave the results of your attacks open when interacting with PC's and major NPCs.

Yeah I realized my mistake shortly after I Posted it

And here's where I throw in a red herring. The GM has read the racial bio on my guys, so no surprises here save that i'll be tweaking her demeanor some. Of course she would be a Wanderer.

Name:Khiiskaa (Kh-ee-skae)
Age:75
Gender: Female
Special Training/Abilities: All citizens of the Sakkran Empire have at least rudimentary knowledge of firearms, unarmed combat and melee weaponry. Khiiskaa bears a proficiency with a sledgehammer and a modified single-shot personal cannon (http://www.5amfunnies.com/sakkra/weaponry/Rangersnipe.JPG). Being a Shaman of her people, however, she has focused more closely on healing and medicines as well as psychotropic toxins. Other areas in her field of knowledge involve communing with astral entities, OBEs, sigils, wards and glyph-craft. Other bits of knowledge include surviving in the wilderness of a variety of climates.

Bio: The village where Khiiskaa grew up as a hatchling was located in the Whispering Savannah in the Sol System. This area was low-tech by their modern standards and the people there still believed heavily in the tribal system of governance. Khiiskaa was raised by the local medicine-chief, and was geared towards becoming his successor. She would go about the bush gathering herbs, mushrooms and various animals ( and their parts ) for use in the medicine-chief's work. But she had other ideas for her future. She left the village to attend primary schools and eventually Hreer University, to graduate at the young age of 75.

Being 75 puts Khiiskaa in the area of the late teens by her people's standards. She was stationed aboard an exploration/colonization ship, journeying to the fringe planets of the Sslaa System, when something went awry with the Harmonic Drive sub-space engines on her craft. Several members, including herself, got scattered to random dimensions and locations. She found herself dropped into the midst of a desert with little to go on. Without knowledge of anything in the area, she decided to carve out a living for herself surviving off what flora and fauna could be found.

Currently she uses her shamanic skills to commune with the local spirits, trying to figure out where she is and how she could get back to familiar environs. When she comes across what seem to be denizens of this place, she covers herself in a cloak made of animal hides, hunkers down to hide her 7'3" height and speaks rough, guttural english with a Natasha Fatale accent due to her translating symbiote being long since expired.

I think we need to more clearly define some of the "powers" that exist in this world we're in. Advanced tech is a given, but I think we should also include some forms of "magic" in as well. The "thinning between worlds" is such a vast and powerful phenomena that I think magic is really one of the only real good explanations for it, aka that while it does happen naturally, it can be brought about quicker and sooner by [insert your favourite Dark Lord/Evil Sorcerer/#1 Evil Deity] than through science, etc. Also give us a bit more plot device...

see where I'm going with this?

Sorry for the brief bout of godmoding. That sucked and I promise you it won't happen again.

On a happier note, here's wes's revolver

Wes's Revolver (http://www.neaca.com/images/Ruger_200_year_45_cal_SS_Old_Model_BP_1_.JPG)

Yes, there are in fact, and always have been, some forms of magic within this world. There are healing magics, natural magics, "dark" magics, and shamanistic magics.

Healing magics are a no brainer, I'm certain, though they can also be used to harm. They focus on the body and manipulation of its natural processes. Therefore, the same spell that can be used to stop a heart attack can also be used to stop the heart entirely. Natural magics are those that are commonly associated with a mage: wind, water, fire, earth. Fireballs are, of course, the most common spell learned by even the most rudimentary of magic users. The so-called dark magics are commonly thought to be demon-granted powers. These are mental abilities used to cloud and/or control the mind of others. Sorcerers and sorceresses generally use these magics. Shamanistic magic relies upon the "spirits" found in nature, asking rather than commanding. They tend towards healing, but can also cause great devastation if they have ill intent. The power of any spell is based upon the power of the individual magic user. However, much like technology, magic does go awry in some places and times these days. It is an inexact art at the best of times. These days, a misplaced spell can be deadly.

Also, character accepted.

Also, Revenia, if you would like to continue your entrance and make your way into the town proper, please feel free to do so. The most likely entrance would be along the main street running through the center, which is lined with storefronts as you might see in any wild west town. The inn happens to be near the center of town, the stables a few buildings west across the road. The sheriff's office is on the east end of the road. Azrael and Mina entered from the west. There is a general store across from the inn, with a saloon next door. Other various shops of varying types complete the board walk.

Cool, will do. Was just waiting for the go ahead.

For my purposes, I'm assuming that Santiago went to wherever the action is happening -- if it's at the inn, then he'd be there, at the 'bar,' I'm -assuming- there's a bar. (He'd call it a hotel, though. I'm from Kansas. I've -been- to Boot Hill. Wonderful tourist trap, but no inns.)

Any suggestions as to ideal actions I could take are welcome.

That would be the inn. As for actions... Well, for now? I'd say be unobtrusive and quiet, at least until the sheriff finishes dealing with these two murderin scoundrels. At which point, the host and hostess will return from fleeing the scene via the kitchen exit behind the bar so as to not get shot. Just waiting to see what Oda and Resqwandi will do.

LOL I post slow, VV beat me too it - I wsa going to suggest - Call it a saloon to give it the proper flavor - they often had rooms for rent upstairs so they could double as an inn...but mostly those rooms rented by the hour so to speak - though technically in most saloons in the old west the entertainment was just supposed to sing and dance - vertically Not horizontally...but technically was never followed all that much, and extra money was always useful.

Which is what I want. I am an actress after all, even if they but call me a Saloon Girl, and looking at my body as I sing and dance is what provides the most entertainment for those who still remain. I'll be moving on soon though, for those who remain are getting mightly uppity and uncivil.

Yes they can look all they like, but not touch, not without my say so. And who I say so is my business and mine alone. And I carry Samuel Colts given right to make it my choice, in both forty one and forty four caliburs. I've practised enough that I'm a good shot too, so I'll kill you quick, if you give me reason.

and they call me Heartless...

Wonders if Shattered Corpse, where I posted all my historical research is still alive...

The way I figure, the inn has what amounts to a dining room on the first floor. It just happens to double as a saloon due to the fact that they serve alcohol. There is a saloon proper across the road, which is where heavy drinking is suggested to be done. Not everyone follows that particular suggest, as evidenced by the "lawmen" and Wes.

And since it's been two days with no reply from either of the two miscreants, I'm going to forge on ahead.

And since it's been two days with no reply from either of the two miscreants, I'm going to forge on ahead.

Miscreants indeed! But no worries, the situation will allow me to introduce some more facts and abilities for Sojiro. mwuahahaha.

Nobunaga, they're in seperate cells.

Now stop talking down Wes :P

In case any of you were curious, which VV was, the little chanting that my character used is actually Japanese. Of course its a rough English translation of the Japanese words, allowing you to read it in English but speak it how it sounds in Japanese. The words themselves make up a Zen/Buddhist sutra chant that many monks and zen practitioners use. I can't exactly remember where I put my book on it atm, but it has to do with calming and reaching inside yourself to find balance.

Also, the goddess/spirit that Sojiro called through his sword should be obvious just by the very name of his sword, if you caught that. Guess right and you get a cookie!

Nobunaga, they're in seperate cells.

Now stop talking down Wes :P

pfff. *shrug*

Is it Amaterasu, goddess of the sky and stars (if I remember correctly)?

Is it Amaterasu, goddess of the sky and stars (if I remember correctly)?

You get half a cookie! heh. Amaterasu is a sun goddess, the most important kami (god) in the Shinto religion.

Aw... only half? *sighs and munches on half-cookie* At least it's not cardboard.

Oda, I'm going to say a few things.

Firstly, the sheriff came back to the cells, there is no deputy. I had made an incomplete post on that part and tagged it as such. You should have checked back to see if I completed it and ensured your understanding of the story prior to posting.

Secondly, it is both impolite and down right disrespectful to put words in other players' mouths and give their characters actions that they may not otherwise take. If you discussed this with Resqwandi prior to posting, then that is acceptable.

Thirdly, you are doing the same thing Resqwandi was earlier guilty of, partially due to your lack of knowledge.

I am going to roll with it, yet again, but please do understand that there are only so many times I will do so. A short post to make conversation with another player is perfectly acceptable. Similarly, if you have a tg convo in character, you could post the tg's, so long as it is obvious which is speaking. (Send a tg, have the other player copy your original tg into their response, like an email reply, so that you have both ends of the conversation. Continue until complete.) You could also have a conversation of an IM program and post the log. That's all I can think of to say.

Please take this as constructive criticism and learn from the mistakes you make. That is the only way you learn. You will be a better player for it.

Oda,



Secondly, it is both impolite and down right disrespectful to put words in other players' mouths and give their characters actions that they may not otherwise take. If you discussed this with Resqwandi prior to posting, then that is acceptable.

Thirdly, you are doing the same thing Resqwandi was earlier guilty of, partially due to your lack of knowledge.

I am going to roll with it, yet again, but please do understand that there are only so many times I will do so. A short post to make conversation with another player is perfectly acceptable. Similarly, if you have a tg convo in character, you could post the tg's, so long as it is obvious which is speaking. (Send a tg, have the other player copy your original tg into their response, like an email reply, so that you have both ends of the conversation. Continue until complete.) You could also have a conversation of an IM program and post the log. That's all I can think of to say.

Please take this as constructive criticism and learn from the mistakes you make. That is the only way you learn. You will be a better player for it.


He didn't discuss it with me but that's okay. Wes is drunk and as such, a little angry. Besides, this may lead to an interesting animosity between the characters.

Also, forgive me for not posting much recently. I've had a lot of stuff to do, but my schedule clears up in a few days. I'll try to get a few posts in between now and then.

Well.

This is dying quickly.
what happened?

We're waiting on Oda I believe.

However his nation shows last activity as 5 days ago.

We might want to think about moving along without him?

Well I'm fine with that.

But it's still up to VV.

I've been allowing two days for responses. Since he hasn't responded, and it has been two days, I'm going to push ahead.

Correction: It has been five days, as Tanara said.

Revenia, I'll have to reply to you on Sunday or Monday. Gonna be wiped from school tomorrow and haven't been in a creative enough frame of mind to work out what Jasmine does well enough to suit. What I have posted is stuff that was already worked out, mostly. So, just so you know, after we get Jasmine and Santiago settled, we're gonna head to the next day. Finally, and get this taken care of, get out of this town, and hopefully, hopefully, the fifth player that has been waiting for two weeks while Wes and Sojiro piddled around keeping us in the podunk nothing town where nothing was supposed to happen in the first place, hopefully the fifth player has not lost interest and will be able to come into the game soon.

No worries. Went on a small vacation so interest hasn't flagged.

Alrighty, we're moving on to the next morning. I'll start it off with an IC post on Monday.

Also, unless Oda gives a good explanation as to why he has been absent so long, Sojiro's gonna swing.

Will be pushing on tomorrow if Resqwandi responds or not. Kinda wanting him here for this, but can be done without if necessary. Just kinda irking. Don't like doing things to player's chars without them here.

Sorry again. Jolt's been quite the bitch, as has my schedule. I'll see if I can get back in.

Rev, if you don't check your telegrams regularly, please do so as soon as possible; I sent you one of some importance.

Just FYI, I'm waiting for Revenia to respond to my tg before I make my next post.

okay

I'm not going to be posting today, just fyi. My li'l bro came back into town for the fourth. (He's in the Marines, just like I was =^.^=) So... I think it's understandable that I would prefer to spend time with him and my family while he's here. I may post tomorrow if I get a chance.

I hope you don't mind the pause, and happy fourth.

Excuse my impatience, but aren't we getting a little dangerous here? 4 days and counting, I mean.

There we are, posted and done. Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. My little brother, as I may have mentioned, was home on leave from the Marine Corps for the weekend, which is why I didn't post. I hope all of you had at least as special a treat.

Okie doke. Things are gonna move fast for the next few days. I'm gonna be posting once a day, so try to keep up. I'm getting us out of this podunk town, and we'll be seeing our next player hopefully before the end of the week.

Note: I may not post on Wednesday since I'll be having class all day.

I am an evil person - I tend to put theme songs to characters, and apparently VV does to. This is a collaborative list, so we're both to blame...

Azrael

Behind Blue Eyes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGHlXFdqlh8)

Santiago

Wanted Dead or Alive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScE1RTsE3LY)

Wesley Hardin

Blaze of Glory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upenR6n7xWY)

Azrael & Mina

I want to spend my lifetime loving you (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q4ruKVGfVI)

The Whole Group

Nothings going to stand in our way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvCDUTi4eNM)


I still haven’t been able to decide on Mina or Val, suggestions welcome

Though actually, though Mina doeesn't know it, this might just be her song

In the Air Tonight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gto2NZVl2Tk)... though Val does...

Also, just fyi, Tanara gets my Co-GM stamp for the duration.

...Jon Bon Jovi and John Santiago should never, ever, be associated. Ever. It's just...disturbing. And wrong. Jon Bon Jovi's hair is far, far too immaculate and constructed to be paired with something as elemental as John Santiago.

I actually wrote the character to a Muse song, though not the one you'd expect(Knights of Cydonia.)

Anyways -- Starlight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwkbxh-0k0w)

Though, by way of actual 'theme songs,' he'd be something purely instrumental...teleporting cyborg heros, or summat.

Actually I had found this,...

Santiago (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFlzIi4gJOA)

Yes that is the name of the piece by one of my absolutely favorite artists...

And corrected for correct video - and this is more like Santiago, I'd expect

That'd do. That most definitely would do. Much more appropriate than JBJ.

I would like to apologize for my recent absence, though. I got caught up in real life things for a bit there. Should be back to posting relatively regularly, now, though.

By the way Rev, what color are Santiago's eyes today?

Hello. I looked into this forum, as it said of RP. I would be willing to try my hand, so to speak. I have heard of these novels, and know the basic plot, but I do not know whether this will adversly affect me. Please tell me if I can join, and what PMT and MT are? I find acronyms... rather confusing.

P.S. (Post script)

Nearly all aspects of my personality point to fire, so I will probably reflect that into my potential character. You said magic artifacts, so would a ring that could cause spontanious and directional combution in a open area? (like a magic flamethrower I guess.) Okay, my ps is longer than my actual message, so I will be going soon, but I am online nearly everyday excluding exceptional circumstances, and not 7-30 -10:00 on mondays, as I go fencing.


Pyromaniac, signing off.

I think I'm pretty good at RPing... I check this usually more than twice a day, unless I'm at work. I've never given up on a thread yet, and at least 1000 of my posts were RP. I don't know if it's too late.... although it sounds like it is.

Name: Leuth Lander
Looks: Brown, mid length hair, with a grey streak on the left side. About 5'7", weighs about 160lbs.
Weapons: A crowbar he found.
Age: 37
Bio: He owned his own company at one point, "Lander's Craft". He made tank parts for the army, along with other vehicular parts. After the military began weakening, he was no longer needed, and he lost his job. Not long after, a band of thieves called the "Red Ones" pillaged his mansion. He was beaten badly and forced to watch as they stole his belonging, beat and raped his wife and daughter, and killed them. He was left for dead in the remains of his burning mansion, which he barely escaped by cutting off his hand which had been handcuffed to a support beam. Now, he wander the earths, searching for the "Red Ones". All he can think about is revenge. However, after living on easy street for his whole life, he had no idea on how to go about it.

Yay for daily swashing. Blood makes the grass grow green...

PR - Past tech - bronze age up to say what ...the industrial revolution ( but that includes gun powder of sorts and many want it limited to swrods, bows and such...Talk with the GM, and other players...

MT - Modern Tech - what we have today, including the state of the art that is generally only available to the militaries etc

PMT- Post Modern Tech - stuff thats still if development now but we'll have it in the next 50 years or so.

FT - Future Tech - most agree that FT begins with FTL and goes on from there

Pyro - I don't know if you sent VV a TG containing your character write up - but you'll need to post it here for others to see.

Talrania - Interesting concept, give VV a chance to look it over - I have no problems with it, save that "We will have to teach you to shoot." Val says with a sigh of not quite disgust.

Pyro: Post up a character app, and I'll see if you'll fit.

Talrania: What equipment, would he have? What are his physical abilites? He sounds like a normal human, but I've found it's better not to assume.

Name: Fang Nova

Age: 14

Gender: Male

Special Training/Abilities: A turqoise ring, found in a comet crater in a dense forest, that grants an innate ability over fire and light.

Bio: When fang was 11 his family of 4 were captured by a warlord, and chained into a basement, as a prototype for cannibilising humans as an energy source.

2 years after that incident, at 13, Fang was wandering through a forest
, where there was a path of broken trees, and scorched earth. When Fang followed the trail, he found a comet crator, where a small turqoise ring lay. He went to pick it up, but as he put it on his finger, it glowed a brilliant white, setting fire to trees around Fang, whilst welding itself to his finger. After all had been done, he found he could control fire just by thinking.

One year later, whilst walking through the wreckages of a small town, he was ambushed by a small group of theives, startled, Fang threw a fireball at one, missing and hitting the wooden structure of a wooden house. Within seconds it was alight, and most of the town with them. The entire group of bandits were immoliated in a white blaze. The fire was so brilliant, it caused major scarring to Fangs retinas, causing permanent blindness. He soon found that a loss of one sense heightend the others, and so can walk nearly as well as a normal person, but he uses sound to locate where to go, and where there are obsticals.


Is this good? I wrote what came to my mind.

Pyro: Post up a character app, and I'll see if you'll fit.

Talrania: What equipment, would he have? What are his physical abilites? He sounds like a normal human, but I've found it's better not to assume.

OOC: He doesn't have any real equipment, so far just a crowbar that one of the thugs dropped. He'd like to use it for his revenge against them somehow. I figured he'd just be wandering around. I'm not sure if I'll still have him rich, so he can buy stuff, or dirt poor, so he's on his own. Also, I though all the people in this thread were normal, no-powers humans, or am I wrong?

LOL- Tal, we may be ...human ( and that is decidedly iffy )... but Normal?

Rolls outta The Chair laughing hysterically.

None of us come even close thought the Young Gun might.

Azrael - a Gunslinger of Gilead - that takes a power in and of its ownself I do believe - though while I know of the books, like Rev says "I don't know them" - never read them.

Willamina Aurielle Freyasdottir (http://www.atddm.com/mina.jpg) might have started out life as Hono Sapiens Sapiens, but the gene mods and other assorted tinkering by the Cadre has left her decidely OTH - Other Than Human

Valkyrie - Mina's new identical non twin - she's been a Cybernetic Sentience so long she's nearly forgotten she started out in a human body - but it looks like fessing up time is coming round.

Santiago? - I have a feeling, though nothings been posted as proof - that he's a lot like Mina - started out human and got augged into something not so much any longer. Rev tends to = mysterious.

Oh... yeah, I see your point. I suppose he would be pretty weak in comparison to all of these people. I like the char though.... I don't know, maybe instead of a hand, he cut off an entire arm that was caught under the beam or something, and he replaced it with a cybernetic wonder-arm using his massive wealth, which would, I don't know, have special features, like guns? He still is rather.... naive when it comes to the real world and fighting, but does he seem fine now? And I apologize, I seems to have used OOC in an OOC forum. :$ My bad.

Each of us has our strengths and weaknesses - no one can do it alone - thats why almost every good adventure story is an ensemble cast - the lone hero just isn't viable.

And as far as super gun arms, erm, I'll wait for vv on that - this realm is screwy on things like that ( no having two me's was NOT my idea)

High tech is... well, almost totally boned in this world. Unless you want said cyber super arm either ripping itself off of your body, falling apart for no particular reason, or going haywire and activating all of its tricks at once for no real reason, then i'd say just stick with what you had in the first place. Good old homo sapiens sapiens is the safest thing to be here. Gene mods are acceptable, however they come with their own penalty, namely madness caused by the crossing. It's not necessarily permanent, but it's not a happy time. Be nice to have another reasonably normal person in the frame also.

Meh.... fine then. Should I just have him not missing his hand as well then? 'Cause it'd be awkward to have him just have stump on his wrist, and robots don't work I guess.

....So, I'm not accepted?

Hmmm, does that mean i'm out too? if not, how can a ring adversly affect me, due to the fact it has already blinded me.

Just so you know, lack of response does not necessarily mean lack of acceptance. Been very busy lately, midterms and all.

Talrania: I can't see any problems with him having both hands, though it makes things interesting if he's missing one. Your choice though.

Pyro: The ring is questionable. Firstly, why does it grant pyrokinesis? Is it magical? Technological? How is it powered? How much charge does it hold? How long does it take to recharge? Secondly, you are granting him echolocation, essentially. Those who are blinded, even at a young age, don't reach such an advanced level of sensory input normally. Yes, their other senses are heightened to compensate, but it's never quite enough to eliminate the need for sight entirely, which is what you've done. So, does he have some particular peculiarity among his genetics that allows this ability or did it just sound good? Between the ring and the Daredevil-esque echolocation, I'm willing to allow one or the other, but very iffy on both.

If you're accepted, I'll be giving you a time to enter. We've still got one player hanging on the line, and it's been a month by now, I think, and I'm now pushing towards her entry. There's been a bit of drag-assing by the current players. But, anyways, Pyro, please answer those questions and we'll see.

Sorry, I'm just an impatient person by nature. And the only reason I wouldn't have him missing a hand is that he's already at a huge disadvantage to the others it seems... maybe not if you count his wealth.... so I didn't want to handicap him further. But you're right, it would be more interesting if he was missing one.

Actually, I'm kinda busy with other threads, and to be honest, I don't think I'm very well suited for this one, so I'm getting out before I get in. I don't want to be a burden.

Okay then, he wont have echolocation, the ring is magical, it is also seven. it can shoot seven fireballs, and depeding on the power of the fireball, can take anywhere from 7 seconds to seven hours to recharge. Also as for geneticism, he has wolflike eyesight, or rather, had. Hence why it blindid him, and not the others. It grants pyro kinesis in two ways:

number 1, it ignites a flammable gas within a range of about 500 metres, give or take, and directs it, all in a nano-second.

number 2: for the fireballs of a heat of about 1000 C, it takes a fire elemental from a different plane. It can go up to a maximum heat of 70000 C, but that would require a recharge time of at least 7 years. if it is fired before the recharge time, there is a 90% chance that a lesser fireball will incinirate you, and for a elemental fire, it has a 99.999% chance of letting out a huge, powercrazed, and very angry fire-type monster. Although it will dissapait in a matter of seconds, it will kill everyone around it, including the ring bearer.


Mainly magical, or I can make it technological if you prefer. If you don't like either, I might replace it with technology that uses higgs bosons, and tachyons.

I apologize for the lateness of my reply. Midterms and projects have conspired against me, plus I'm starting work next week, so lots of paperwork to fill out and running around to gather the pertinent information. I'll try to keep up better.

Pyro: That ring seems... way overpowered. Max distance of a quarter mile? Max temp that is ten times the boiling point of water? Essentially you could flash incinerate anyone around you just because you wanted to, and that would only require about 300C if I recall correctly.

Secondly, seven is an extremely arbitrary number of charges the way you're talking about the ring working. If you can shoot seven little fireballs that recharge in seven seconds, then shoot them again, well. That's not seven charges. What determines how long a fireball takes to recharge? What formula is involved? Distance + temperature + size? Distance * temperature/2 + the square root of pi?

Thirdly, to accept something like this I would personally require very set, very definite limitations. I would accept the definition of a fireball to be a projected sphere of flame measuring about five feet in diameter burning at about 300C. I would accept a projection limit of about 100ft (approximately 30m, give or take). I would accept charge/recharge limitations totalling to seven charges per 24hr period with spent charges requiring 24 hours to recharge. I would also accept the ability to project over greater distances at a drastically reduced size and temperature, say reduced to 100C and 1ft diameter to hit 200ft.

However, we have a fourth problem, which people seem to keep ignoring, which is the fact that high tech and high magic simply do not function properly in this world. Period. No matter what it is, no matter what it does, if it isn't plain old moving gears and spring action, it has a 99% chance of fucking up royally just when you need it most. You can read over the thread to see what happened to Tanara when she tried out her high tech gadgetry. The difference would be that where her technology has been personally destructive whereas your ring malfunctioning would be very much more externally destructive, to the point that it is more trouble having it than not.

The way you have the ring laid out requires either major high magic or tech, and either way it'd be pretty well screwed. With the limitations stated by myself above, the dangers would be significantly reduced, however I'm more keen to grant you the echolocation than the ring, mainly because it poses less threat to the party and the environment in general.

Also, I would like a sample of your writing, just a little sample entrance. Suppose that your character comes into a random inn in a random town somewhere and take it from there.

Okay, il have echolocation, and here is my text


"As Pyro walked into the small, isolated town, he listened for any danger to himself. Upon hearing none, he procceded to what seemed like a large house, about 15 foot by 10 feet,a small slum. Pyro walked up to the door, and not surprisingly it was locked. Pyro however kicked the door down, as it was made of rotten wood. Seeming it suitable, he set up some rudimentry traps in place, pitfalls, spikes, and a small boulder that would crack the skulls of anything about the size of a human. Deeming this appropriate protection, Pyro slept in a small bed, in the corner of a small bedroom."

Im going to be on holiday for the next 8 days, bye.

Really really sorry for the absence. Mom sold the house and conscripted all us kids to come help move out of the old and into the new, even though half of us don't even live there any more. Well, life happens, I guess. I really do apologize.

Hey RL happens, and we just got to roll with it. Good to see you back.

Hello, back from the hungary/vienna grand prix tour. When will the actual RP start?

...it already did...lol. http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=558153

Also, indeed, good to have you back VV.

Hope I'm not too late. Anyway, here is my character concept.

Name: Aleksandr Barton
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Physical Description: Brown hair graying at temples, mustache, green eyes. Wearing military field dress with a faded greatcoat.
Special Training/Abilities: former warkaster of the Kaladrian Armed Services skilled in hand to hand combat and the use of an infantry hook (configurable spear/sword/tool)
Bio: Born in a nation where to serve the State is an obligation of all good citizens, Aleksandr served his country with distinction in 4 major conflicts. However, he began to grow disillusioned with his nation's leaders, culminating with the death of his son in the latest war. In disgust and bitterness, Warkaster Colonel Aleksandr Barton resigned from the Service. Embarrassed, the leaders of the nation arrested him, placing him on trial for dereliction of duty. Using the skills they'd taught him, Aleksandr broke free of his captors, and casted a massive protocol, intending on taking with him the people who had taken everything with him. When next he awoke, he was no longer in Kaladria, nor on his world. Wandering from place to place, he seeks peace and an end to the pain in his heart.

OCC: sorry if thats a bit long, I wasn't sure how much was too much information.

As much information as possible about the character is best. It's better to put down everything you can think of and have too much, than put down as little as possible, and leave those who need to know, namely myself, in the dark about abilities that may not function properly due to the disaster that's wracking this world.

A little more info on Aleksandr's abilities then.

His abilities are psychokinetic in nature, though the source is magic. So it's his mind and will affecting the world around him. Since this requires focus, it is mentally exhausting, and the more effort he puts into it, the more quickly it tires him. For example, using his power to make himself say, hold a man up by the neck with one arm, doesn't require as much energy as would shattering a boulder 3x his size. The former he could keep up for 1 or 2 hours at a time, the latter he could maybe do twice if he wanted to risk collapsing.

Kasting Protocols (military term for spells on his world) also carries the risk of not only mentally exhausting him, but physically harming his body if he kasts it incorrectly, or uses too much energy for the protocol. Usually, Protocols have extra spells to dampen the effects, like a safety switch. However, if he could disregard these extra spells to have a greater effect, at increased risk of injury. Also, if he tries to kast a Protocol he is unfamiliar with, like trying to heal massive second and third degree burns all over a friend's body (He's a soldier, not a doctor! ;)) it may backfire on him, and do more harm to the victim. He could possible learn, but it would take time, more without the guidance of someone skilled to teach him.

I might be getting evicted from my apartment on monday, so don't expect anything from me til at least tuesday. Will try and post tomorrow though.

That sucks. Hope things work out.

Urgh. That's terrible.

Obviously, I haven't been paying attention to this OOC thread. Perhaps I should have been...

In response to a month-old question about the color of Santiago's eye color: They're navy blue.

Yes, I'm kidding. I'll try and stick with blue, though, in the future. If I can remember.

While I'm at it, I'll note that I thought I'd already posted in the IC thread but, apparently, haven't. Let's see about that...

I think the eye color question was asked, as it happened to change from one post to the next..yep Hazel Gray to Too Blue...

Pending dual post detailing a conversation between Azrael and Wes. Please try not to move us along too quickly, you two, if you please ;P

Indeed. The time warp might cause this universe to fall apart XP

OK. Someone said something about folks dropping out. Who dropped out, who are the characters and what are these characters' situations? (Sorry, but there's just too much reading in the IC thread. Can't assimilate it all quickly enough.)

Azrael is the central character, a Gunslinger of Gilead. Mina is a wanderer dropped in from another verse. Val is her companion and identical twin. Wes is just some guy, pretty much, who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Santiago is an outlaw of mysterious origin. Their current situation is camping out on the plains as they head towards their next destination. Azrael is chasing after the man who murdered his father. Mina and Val are with him through thick and thin. Wes and Santiago are basically just tagging along for now, since they all got booted from the last town they were in.

If you'll drop in an app (found at the beginning of the OOC thread), I can take a look at what you're after playing and work with you on it so we can get you in.

Still here, btw. Heh.

OK. Situation wasn't what I thought it was. No biggie.

Name: David "Magic Hands" Bixby
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Special Training/Abilities: Slight of Hand
Bio:

Dave isn't sure where he was born. He just showed up in a basket one day at an orphanage. Always rebellious but never easy to catch, he ran away from the orphanage and joined a circus that was running through town. By age 15, he was already a master with a deck of cards, with and without magical props, and with small, concealed weapons. He could amaze and amuse you, and he could rob you blind at the poker table. Yet, it wasn't until he started working under cover for the government that he learned his true calling. Seems he could rig his magic tricks with some pyro. Favorite passtimes: exploding cigarettes, witnesses that disappear before the hired guns can make them disappear. No one knows why, but he has an odd sense of scruples. Quite capable of taking the law into his own hands, though. Guns and knives have ways of coming into his hands out of nowhere, and he knows how to use them. Also knows how to improvise a nice little fireworks show when he has to. Knows how to make things that go "pop" in the night--or in the daytime, if the desert sun gets a little too hot.

Oh. One other thing: it's not so much the MEN who call him "Magic Hands."

Very sorry for the delay. Internet at home is down. Will be posting at work. Expect no more than once a day.

Sakkra: Glad to know you're still there. Things keep popping up and crap keeps getting flung my way. Sorry you've had to wait so bloody long.

DS: Does he have actual magic powers, or is he just a really frickin good illusionist? If it's magic what kind? Magics fall into four basic categories in this world. There are healing magics, natural magics, "dark" magics, and shamanistic magics.

Healing magics are a no brainer, I'm certain, though they can also be used to harm. They focus on the body and manipulation of its natural processes. Therefore, the same spell that can be used to stop a heart attack can also be used to stop the heart entirely. Natural magics are those that are commonly associated with a mage: wind, water, fire, earth. Fireballs are, of course, the most common spell learned by even the most rudimentary of magic users. The so-called dark magics are commonly thought to be demon-granted powers. These are mental abilities used to cloud and/or control the mind of others. Sorcerers and sorceresses generally use these magics. Shamanistic magic relies upon the "spirits" found in nature, asking rather than commanding. They tend towards healing, but can also cause great devastation if they have ill intent. The power of any spell is based upon the power of the individual magic user. However, much like technology, magic does go awry in some places and times these days. It is an inexact art at the best of times. These days, a misplaced spell can be deadly.

If it's magic, it would most likely fall into the "dark" magic category, though with sufficient skill or power, it could go into natural or shamanistic. Dark powers also include things like teleportation and illusions such as invisibility. Get back to me on that when you can.

And I'm still here, just waiting to see if the rest of us were

Never saw the TV series "The Magician" starring Bill Bixby, did you?

Don't worry. Not too many people did.

He's just an unbelievably good stage/street magician, an illusionist, as you put it. (I hesitate to use the term "illusionist" to describe someone with no actual magical powers becuase, in another thread, I am writing for a character whom VV and I have discussed in some detail who is also an "illusionist," but has magical powers, and is particularly adept at casting illusion spells.)

Before you start thinking he's too wimpy for the group, just remember:

* They haven't made the pair of handcuffs that he can't get out of.

* Ditto for anything with a lock on it. He's a gifted lock picker.

* He's also a gifted pickpocket. Goes with the terratory.

* Would YOU play a hand of poker with this man?

:) :) :)

I'm not looking for uber badasses. Wimps are fine, so long as they've got heart and honor. With that said and understanding your character's abilities, plus knowing you write very well, I'd like to welcome you along the road to the tower. We'll have to discuss how to get you into the thread though.

OK. Tell me about the Bad Guys... :) :) :)

Well, that's a bit tricky and better for you to find out in character. Particularly since only me, as the gm, really knows anything about the "bad guys" other than mere supposition. The main character is really the only person after him. Others will come along the way, but this one is the biggest known so far, and he's the one Azrael is chasing.

Figured that they'd find him on the side of the road, the bad guys having waylaid him and maybe a few other folk he was with. He would be the only survivor. Evidence would show that he started a game of cards, and that the bad guys extorted some cigars turned out to be high explosive and the cards turned out to be made out of metal and were used as weapons. THAT is how he survived.

Beg
Urgent
Multiple
Pardons.

Butt
Ugly
Motherboard
Problem.

Resqwandi seems to be taking a vacation, no activity in a good while plus not responding to my tg, so pushing onwards.

Good news: my burned out motherboard (this is what I meant by "Butt Ugly Motherboard Problem") turned out to only be two burned out power supplies. Second power supply went bad on the bench, so it looked like the motherboard was bad when I plugged the second power supply into it. My opinion changed, though, when the second motherboard that I'd gotten (thank the internet for Ebay) also failed to work with those power supplies. Fortunately, I have a third ATX power supply.

Bad news: I'm fresh out of spare ATX power supplies now. (I think I can live with that for a while.) :) :) :)

I'm not looking for uber badasses. Wimps are fine, so long as they've got heart and honor. With that said and understanding your character's abilities, plus knowing you write very well, I'd like to welcome you along the road to the tower. We'll have to discuss how to get you into the thread though.

He's not a wimp, he's just not one of those macho fighting machines that end up in too may of these RP's. Too much like godmodding. Trust me, the first time a magic cigarette blows up at someone's feet, they'll know he can handle himself. It's just that his particular skillset forces him to think about things rather than just jumping in and destroying them. IMHO, this is a GOOD thing.

BTW, may I change the name of the character to Tony Dorian?

Buddies,
unfurl
more,
please.