[h1][b]Cursed[/b][/h1] [img]http://www.grabthegames.com/images/content/536_2.jpg[/img] Cursed is set in a massive Victorian era city called Sutton. Even as the dark buildings loom higher and the light of inventions fill the streets so too does the corruption that the city hides grow. Sutton is a city afflicted by evil at night and gifted with brilliance at dawn. Electric lamps light many of the richer parts of town while the unkempt parts are left in darkness at night and to the creatures that love such ambience. Curses come in a wide variety ranging from the disturbing of tombs to the obtaining of cursed objects to ancient blood curses like lycanthropy or vampirism as a common example. This city happens to be a culmination and gathering place for these oddities. The reason being primarily because of the College of the Otherworldly Studies where many go in hopes of finding an answer to their problems. Hidden beneath the surface of the city is a darkness that seems to feed on the troubles that are so rampant. It is in need of being stopped before it spills out into the streets above. Sutton is a large place and welcome to any kind of honest profession. Gun makers, blacksmiths, industry men, peddlers and many other trades flourish. In some of the darker areas the less than honest kind meet their success. It's a place where one can go to meet any of their desires, fame, fortune or otherwise. It's also the most dangerous urban area to be at night where thugs and lowlifes wouldn't think twice to take your life and leave you to be found in the morning. That would be a more hopeful outlook at night whereas a werewolf could eat you, a ghoul could drag you away. But enough here say. I think I've pressed my point. A professor of otherworldly studies named Avrion has discovered the seriousness of what lurks beneath the streets and is gathering courageous men and women willing to risk their lives to delve into the dark and stop it. [hider=Notes on the Cursed] Personal notes by the hand of Avrion on the conditions of the cursed; Lycanthropy: "Nasty and uncontrollable are the urges to devour once the form forces itself on the person. I'd say it's almost like an animal mind takes over and the person is hidden behind those bestial eyes. Thankfully this only happens on every full moon. Predictable and with proper restraint one can avoid unintentional manslaughter. I have even heard of those who have attained enough control over their curse to change form at will. I imagine that comes at the cost of quite a bit of self-control though. Giving in to a curse is rarely a good thing. Their physiology is interesting. Even in their human form they are capable of incredible regeneration. Silver however reduces their ability to regenerate massively. It is sickening to them. Lycanthropy is spread if a bite victim survives their encounter. There is no known cure. Vampires: "I've only ever met one vampire. I had to kill him quickly for he was methodically trying to dissect me with his claws. Very bloodthirsty. This is a curse I truly pity. If a man was good in life and becomes a vampire.. he's no longer a good man. They are overwhelmed by self-preservation, pride and evil tendencies. If a vampire were ever to work with me I would only suspect it would be out of their own personal gain. Vampires are capable of great regeneration. I have heard from eyewitnesses that they also exhibit some special powers but these are very rare cases. Vampires have no need to breath apparently which means gasses and suffocation have little to no effect. Sunlight is deadly to a vampire. Vampirism is spread if a bite victim does not die. I know of no cure." Ghouls: "Ghouls can often appear as regular people. They are however in a slow series of degeneracy. Do not mistake them for the risen dead, they are different. I only know of necromancy and alchemy that can cause this in people. Ghouls are capable of rapid regeneration as long as they are able to consume something to replace their lost matter. Think of it as the opposite of a man, a ghoul slowly decays, not heals. He must eat or he will slowly go insane from the pain of decay and die. I blame necromancy as to be so cruel as to dictate that they cannot simply eat food or the flesh of beasts, it must be human. I shudder at that thought. Ghouls have no real weakness other than decaying from starvation. Hunger will drive them mad until they eat flesh. They cannot bleed to death and the most surefire way of termination is a deadly blow to the head. They often exhibit supernatural strength and stamina. They are still not entirely known to me because they like to stay hidden but I suspect they may exhibit more abilities than just this. I know the Holy Church has a way to help them but I don't trust them." Cursed Objects: "This is my general review of cursed objects. If you ever find one, don't touch it. Hell! Don't even look at it. Their curses run so broad and can be so dangerous that it is not worth it. I've heard of a cursed frying pan melting a man's head. That isn't a very pleasant picture to think about. If a cursed object talks to you, ignore it and leave. Report it to the inquisition. I have heard of some objects having beneficial properties and even some that are blessed and not cursed but they are rare and far between and if it is a curse it will likely kill you if you try to part with it or cause some other ill. Most commonly they are deadly armaments such as swords or other weapons or household "traps" which is to say items that are simply meant to torment or kill a wielder." [/hider] [hider=Prominent Places and People in Sutton] Personal notes by the hand of Avrion on factions in Sutton. The Inquisition: "Politically this is one nasty party to cross but makes one hell of an ally. The inquisition is an office of the Holy Church of Sutton. It is formed of warrior-priests, witch-hunters and clerics. When it comes to fighting the undead there is no one better. Here is where it gets ugly. Inquisitors are all black and white. If you are cursed with something dangerous and they find out it generally means a warrant for your death. They hold a lot of leeway with the Lord's garrison which allows them to get away with it. Don't get on their bad side." Lord Ostebrat's Garrison: "Though there is more than one Lord on occasion here in Sutton, Ostebrat is the most admired by the people and has the largest force. He's in deep with the local Holy Church and likes to keep it that way. Most of his men are nothing more than ill-trained, underpaid militia but he keeps his best and brightest right next to him in case something happens. He's a good man but he's not very brave and he's not willing to send any of his men into the depths to help me." Mayor Wilcox: "A large, fat and very powerful man. I hate him and so does most of the city. It wasn't always like that though. At one point he seemed like a really decent man until he started raising taxes without explaining. How else could he get his position if he wasn't trustworthy? The Lords let the mayor handle political affairs in the city. I feel like there's something wrong with him but I don't know what. Instincts I'd say. I'll keep an eye on him and watch for anything suspicious." The Lightless District: "If there's anything shady in the city it was first here. I found the first passage to the depths here. Since then I found a few more. I have no idea how many there really are. The Lightless District is where I can find anything I can't get in the other districts. Prostitutes. Check. Experimental gear. Check. Test subjects. Check. I could go on but I won't. Don't go there at night." [/hider] Characters - Name: Gender: Age: Appearance: (Height, weight, build, hair, etc.) Equipment: (Clothes, weapons, items of importance.) History: (Doesn't need to be extensive but enough to explain their background and personality a little. You can be creative.) Curse: (Describe your curse, positives, negatives. There MUST be negatives if you are cursed. It's a curse after all. Your character doesn't need to be cursed and I will allow creativity with their curse. That's the fun part after all. Multiple curses are possible but unlikely. No more than one blood curse. If you want to keep your curse hidden then just PM me the curse.) Rules of the roleplay are the general rules abided by most casual roleplays. I would personally like at least two posts a week. If that's impossible I can understand.