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[indent][color=gray][i]Three hundred years ago,[/i] your grandmother said, [i]the last kings and castles fell to the Ruse.

Nobody paid mind to them at first. They were strange, and hollow, and not quite right. They came in every shape and size -- a Ruse could be tiny as a firefly or big as a mountain -- but you could always tell them by the empty of their eyes. They were harmless, funny, creepy things that should have been left to themselves.

And then the kingdoms collapsed. Kings went mad, crops failed, floods washed away whole towns, and the emperor vanished. Wars wiped out what was left. You'll hear people tell you that the Ruse are not to blame, that people are just corrupt and destructive on their own, and that's why we live now the way we do. Those people have never seen them. I pray you never will.[/i][/color][/indent]
[h2]Premise[/h2]Your character has grown up in a world dominated by nature, where the only memories of countries or kingdoms are in the ruins of crumbling castles and overgrown palaces; the last of civilization fell in the Dark Ages. Only a few very small, very fortified towns survive; the rest of humanity lives a nomadic life following game, herding livestock or trading with passing tribes.

Death and natural disasters are common: landslides, sinkholes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, strange illnesses and stranger madness are daily struggles. The weather can be freakish, and the woods have a tendency to keep whoever walks into them. According to the writings of the old kingdoms, things weren't always this way. But it's all your character has ever known.

Different tribes may have different names and origins for the Ruse, but everyone knows of them. Many tribes worship them or try to appease them with offerings or rituals. Many others believe the Ruse died long ago, and their absence is what caused nature and civilization to fall to chaos. Some scoff and say the Ruse never existed at all, that life has always been this way and the old kings were fools.[h2]Gameplay[/h2]The characters are the story. The GM is merely the conductor, present only to hold the elements together. Anything you do could easily change the course of the entire story.

Character sheets in this particular RP will be more involved and restricted than is usual. I'm essentially looking for stereotypically average characters: blank slates that have plenty of room to grow, develop, and find their true calling. I'm looking for strong personalities, most of all.

To compensate, a certain level of worldbuilding is encouraged. Given the restrictions of the premise above, you'll be free to describe your character's tribe (or town) in as much or as little detail as you like, and in any setting you choose -- from rocky plains to deserts to deep forests. Make a seafaring tribe, or a mountain tribe. Collaborate with other players if you like. Describe the natural surroundings to be as calm or as chaotic as you want. With your combined ideas, a world will take shape.

Your characters will be brought out of their tribes and gathered together quickly in the first post. I haven't quite decided yet how that will happen, but this is Fantasy so trust that it will.

I only ask that there be no "lone wolf" characters: in this particular setting, I don't care how badass you are, you won't survive a year alone. Unless you were raised by walruses.
[h2]Idea Stages[/h2]This is just an interest check at this point. No character sheet yet, but I feel it'll be a long-ish template that involves keepsakes and totem animals.

Also, since this is the Advanced forum I feel I have to remind everyone not to take yourself or me or this too seriously. I have whimsical tendencies, so be forewarned ye who love grimdark angst, you will be assaulted by puppies.