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[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/2546245]interest check[/url]
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[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/2555485]characters tab for world info[/url]
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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]Character Sheet[/h2]Post your character sheet in the OOC for review and comments. Once it's approved, you'll be instructed to transfer it to the Characters section. You don't necessarily have to answer every single point, but details make GMs happy. Only one character per player, please.
[h3]Some Considerations[/h3]
[list][*]Average, powerless, blank-slate characters are highly encouraged. The underprepared character will meet with stranger situations, learn new skills and magic, and gain curious artifacts and knowledge along the way. Characters should be ripe for learning and development and growth, so that they may discover their true nature as the story goes on.
[*]Diversity! The world is at your disposal. Create a character who grew up in the desert, or the arctic, or on top of the mountains, or on the rainy plains, or at sea, or underground. Use different world cultures as a base for your tribe. Geographical location is no object.[/list]

[hider=Character Sheet][noparse][b]Name:[/b]
[b]Alias:[/b] (nicknames, monikers)
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Apparent Age:[/b]
[b]Height:[/b]
[b]Weight:[/b]
[b]Eye Color:[/b]
[b]Hair Color:[/b]
[b]Physical Identifiers:[/b] (What other characters notice when they see your character)
[b]Appearance:[/b]

[b]Equipment/Personal Possessions:[/b]
[b]Pets:[/b]

[b]Tribe/Village:[/b] (just the name goes here, description comes later)
[b]Titles/Occupation:[/b]
[b]Languages Spoken:[/b]
[b]Languages Written:[/b]

[b]Opinion of the Ruse:[/b] (worship, hatred, ambivalence, completely clueless, etc.)
[b]Opinion of Outsiders:[/b]

[b]Hopes and Dreams:[/b]
[b]Likes and Desires:[/b]
[b]Fears and Dislikes:[/b]
[b]Secrets and Regrets:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Religion:[/b]

[b]Relatives:[/b]
[b]Friends:[/b]
[b]Enemies:[/b]
[b]Defining Moments:[/b] (the highlights of your character's life)
[b]A Typical Day:[/b] (describe a typical day in the life of your character)

[b]Tribe/Village Detail:[/b] (Describe the environment and the tribe or village as a whole. Keep in mind that Nature throughout the world is hostile: earthquakes, floods, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides, illness, madness and unexplainable tragedies are common. Wild animals frequently attack humans, as do the trees. People go missing and turn up years later. The weather is rarely predictable, and death rates are generally high. Also keep in mind that variety is encouraged: make a tribe in the mountains, or a seafaring tribe, or a desert caravan, or an arctic village. Any and every part of the world is at your disposal.)

[b]Magic:[/b] (If Applicable. If the tribe embraces magic, describe the magic system and societal importance.)

If your character personally wields magic, please complete below!

[b]Focus:[/b] (What type of magic does your tribe focus on? No magic system is all-encompassing, and each should have its own single, narrow use. Any spell that falls outside the focus of the magic will require severe effort and an enormous sacrifice, if it is possible at all. Healing, weather-magic, protection, communication, summoning, etc.)

[b]Balance:[/b] (For every advantage there is an equal and opposite sacrifice: throughout the world, magic is ruled by balance. In your magic system, what is sacrificed for the sake of spells? Personal health/exhaustion, sacrificial animals, valuable offerings, contracts/promises, meditation, time, etc.)

[b]Process:[/b] (How is a spell cast, and how long does it take? Rituals, sigils, chanting, dancing, writing, spoken word, etc.)
[/noparse][/hider]
[h2]Other Articles[/h2]Some players may wish to contribute to the worldbuilding effort at large, and that is quite wonderful. Feel free to contribute animals, locations, other tribes, magic systems, maps, etc. as separate posts in the OOC forum for review and comments. Once approved, you'll be instructed to move those articles to the Characters section.