Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Ribbons
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Ribbons Friendly Fellow

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Where do your loyalties lie...?



Plot


“It is said that They brought forth the universe from only a void, breathing life into the lifeless, and spinning the threads of fate with only a wave of Their hand. The only question is... Who are They?"




Factions





ALSO: You may be a Cultist if you wish! Cultists are members of Cults, groups of Pokemon with religious beliefs and practices that differ from the majority of the Pokemon found in their area. Cultists are not a separate faction on their own, as a Pokemon from any faction can be a Cultist (though it’s most common for Rogues).


Islands







Important NPCs

This is just a little bit of info about important characters from each island that may make creating a sign-up and writing actual posts a bit easier. You can create your own NPCs, of course, but you have to message me about it first.







RP Rules



Sign-Up Rules




Players


Feulis-Dwellers:


1. Littna the Aipom (Ribbons)
2.
3.
4.


Soldiers:
5.
6.
7.
8.


Rogues:
9.
10.
11.
12.


Hidden 9 yrs ago 9 yrs ago Post by mihashi
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mihashi

Member Seen 9 yrs ago

boy o boy what a sweet-looking rp. may i partake??

Name:Kipp

Species: Swadloon

Gender: Male (He/Him)

Faction: Rogue (doesn’t believe in Arceus or Mew. He views the two deities as myths fabricated long ago by ancient civilizations, and that they have created nothing but calamity among the islands. In relation to this, he doesn’t believe in any sort of deities, but admits to being unable to explain the cause of the mysterious disaster that struck Lithulia.)

Island: Runark

Moves:

String Shot

Worry Seed

Protect

Bug Bite


Personality: When compared to the cowardly persona the typical Pokemon thinks of when prompted with the word “rogue”, it would be a general consensus that Kipp fits the bill.

Kipp doesn’t like conflict. Or arguments. Or neutral conversations. Or pleasant conversations. When it comes to outcasts, he’s as isolated as they come. With his brittle leafy blanket drawn close to his frame, Kipp alienates himself from Runark society by tucking himself away in a far-off corner of the underground. He keeps his distance even from the other rogues, residing in a cavern intentionally secluded from the already existing cave system, he attacks anyone who fails to take a hint from the wall of thick silk blocking the small tunnel’s entrance.

Not that he is particularly strong a fighter. His fighting style revolves predominately around a shaky defense. He’d rather immobilize the foe with string shot and planting a seed of doubt on them before taking any bites, if at all.

It isn’t that he dislikes the idea of company, rather, that he’s so paranoid and jittery that being around others makes him extremely uncomfortable. His low self-esteem and fear of negatively impacting anyone’s lives in any way keeps him from making any sort of acquaintances, and he completely freezes up in casual conversations. His instinctual thought pattern is set to worst-case-scenario. He considers himself a magnet for ill-fortune and that if he can imagine a terrible thing happening, it will happen. Doom and gloom is practically his middle name, and he is quick to give up on anything deemed hopeless. Which would be most things. Such thoughts make him particularly afraid just to leave his burrow for food.

Contradictory to his disdain for hurting or upsetting anyone, his worldview is bitingly cynical. He harshly judges both rogue and soldier Pokemon and hates the primary deities. It’s typical for his demeanor to be an odd mixture of extreme nervousness and passive-aggressive. Despite this, his self-loathing surpasses any hatred he feels towards any other Pokemon, inadequacy resulting in him feeling as if he is not even worthy of harming another.

His movements are typically very erratic as is his pattern of speech, on some days saying the bare minimum of words in a sentence needed to convey his message, and on others repeating the same words or phrases multiple times in a conversation. He can be difficult to understand, but his writing is very eloquent. It can at times seem easier to just give him a pen and pad of paper to communicate with than to expect him to formulate a coherent sentence.

There is a lot about the world that he doesn’t understand, and it frustrates him to the core. Aside from food and a makeshift bed, the only things to be found in Kipp’s living space are a vast quantity of stolen books and his own notes. When he isn’t out foraging or stealing, he’s immersed in historical, cultural or religious texts, scribbling notes down frantically as new tidbits of information make themselves aware. This makes his living space a very distinctive trash heap; rotten food and old silk muddled together with scraps of paper covered in Torchic-scratch font and odd drawings.

While one should make no mistake that he is extremely messy and careless, he treasures the things he loves. One of those beloved things is his family. Despite leaving them without any sort of warning and not speaking a single word to them since, once in a blue moon he will meander into town with his only intentions being to check in on his parents and siblings. The other thing Kipp adores is botany. Living on Runark his entire life, greenery is few and far between, which can prove quite distressing for a bug/grass type. The cave he lives in with its craggy walls is the polar opposite of the nature he longs for, and keeps photos and pictures of picturesque landscapes plastered onto the walls with sticky silk.

At the end of the day the thing Kipp yearns for most is a sense of belonging. In both rogue and soldier roles he feels like an outsider looking in. He wants to understand the mysteries of the universe, but more than anything he wants to find a niche in the world where he can feel like he is needed component, instead of a coward who mucks everything up.


History:

Brave, kind, devoted- that was the words his parents had used to describe them.

“You’ll be underestimated in battle once or twice, that’s a given being a bug-type, not to mention one that isn’t fully evolved,” Kipp’s dad would recite to an audience of his eleven children as they clung to his every word as if they were listening to the great Mew itself. “You could be seen as frail. The reason bug Pokemon have so many young is because they aren’t anything special, so they make up for that lack of strength with numbers.”

“That is how an inexperienced soldier will judge you. And that,” His father would pause for emphasis, raising a leafy hand as he reached his point, “will be their most critical mistake!”

His mother would nod silently from where she was sewing in agreement.

“Remember- you all have the potential to be a strong addition to any army.” He would assure them with a warm fatherly smile, “But in more ways than just brute force! Bravery, kindness, devotion: those are the traits of a strong spirit!”

Again, his mother nodded.

“That’s the foundation of Runark’s community.” He would say and nod sagely, before ending on one last statement of reassurance, “That’s what makes you kids special.”

Kipp’s father’s words echoed in his mind as they had many times in the past two days. The ship deporting him to his first attack on enemy territory had reached its destination, docking now on a remote shore at Destirae’s northern tip.

Kipp was only a rookie- though he had fought before on the defense when another army had struck first- this was his first endeavor in a foreign land. He felt the anticipation that came in the form of shaky legs and tummy butterflies as he filed into the line that had formed leading out of the ship.

He wasn’t scared. He was excited. He would be a great soldier just like his mother and father, and he wouldn’t be outdone by any one of his siblings. He would be strong.

Their first mission was an ambush on a small village with few residents. Runark cavalry overcame easily, and- at the jubilant suggestion of commander Rufus- they celebrated their victory over a bonfire roast. The party had the jolly air to it one would expect from a Runarkian gathering, until second-in-command Griff- keeping his gaze fixated on the inky sky above- nudged Rufus and said calmly, “we’re being watched, you know.”

The commander kept his tone steady as he questioned, “Destirite cavalry?”

Griff clicked his tongue, “Unlikely,” he responded, “Not enough of them, and their stealth is shaky at best. Vic would never send such inexperienced troops. I’d wager rogues, taking into consideration the area we’re in.”

“Not much of a threat then,” said Rufus, “but we can’t leave them circling our troops like vultures. Ought to send them off with a warning.”

Griff nodded in agreement as Rufus arranged a platoon of experienced soldiers, instructing an attack into the sky. Kipp observed the scene from the safety of some underbrush with fellow rookies, in awe at the panoply of ice, fire and electric attacks lighting up the darkness, revealing the figures of flying Pokemon hovering above. The figures quickly retreating at the realization that they’d been noticed, and Griff announced to the hidden troops that it was safe to come out.

Kipp and the others emerged from hiding and the night went on smoothly and uneventfully. After hours that seemed shorter than they were, Rufus ordered for all the troops to turn in. They were to move out closer to an outlaying village of Sanctum in the morning.

Kipp was young, restless for action, but knew better than to defy authoritative commands and went to his tent as told. He said goodnight to his friends and tent mates, and snuggled into the warm confinements of his sleeping bag.

Except, he wasn’t really tired. All the same he tried to get some rest, closing his eyes and counting Mareep.

It must have been around two in the morning when he halted his counting at the response of some rustling outside his tent. Distinctive rustling of footsteps moving through grass. He looked around at his sleeping tent mates. His initial thought was that someone was getting up to use the restroom, but it was soon after that he realized that the sound wasn’t that of one Pokemon’s movements. It sounded as if there were at least three entities moving around outside his tent.

If they were intruders, Kipp knew full well he would be plagued with the guilt of not speaking up if they ended up doing something sinister. Trying with all he had to make as little noise as possible, Kipp sat up and slowly unzipped the tent just enough for him to see out. He brought his face to the opening and observed what he could see.

It was three Pokemon, all right. They looked to be a Poocheyena, a Stunky, and a Purrlion. He didn’t recognize them as fellow soldiers. Moreover, the trio were carrying a sack, into which they were stuffing some of the army’s food rations! Fellow soldiers or intruders, they couldn’t go unpunished.

Kipp had a couple of options. The safest was to zip the tent back up, lay down, and pretend he saw nothing. This option was out of the question.

“Bravery, kindness, devotion!” his father’s words rang through his thoughts. He shook his head. No, that was the coward’s option.

That left alerting his fellow troops, sleeping soundly beside him, or taking matters into his own hands. Clearly he was outnumbered. Rationally, he acknowledged this. But then he considered the other option.

Type-wise, he had the advantage over two of the three. None were evolved. They couldn’t be that strong. Taking out a few thieving rogues would earn a rookie soldier some serious brownie points. He’d gain not only the approval of his superiors, but the admiration of his peers. Among the new recruits, he would surely stand out as a pupil with real potential.

Kipp was young and naïve. He was blinded by the scenario he had conjured of him being a hero, a true pride to his family, a shining pupil in the Runark community. Acting on fantasy and over-ambition, Kipp slipped out of the safety of the tent and into the warm Destirae night air.

“Keep it down,” Kipp heard one of the crooks order in a hushed tone, “you clods are making too much noise! You wantin’ to wake up the whole platoon?”

Kipp chose that moment to make his presence known, speaking up defiantly, “Too late, crooks!”

The three jolted and looked over, clearly startled at the realization that they’d been caught with their paws in the metaphorical cookie jar. Kipp smirked at the reaction, feeling especially valiant as he went on in a condescending tone, “Don’t you know better than to mess with an army of seasoned Runarkian soldiers? Honestly, I’m dying to know, what made you clowns think you stood a chance?”

The three thieves looked at each other, eyes still wide but expressions quickly turning amused. The Stunky cleared their throat before looking Kipp in the eyes, startling him with their sudden regain in composure.

“I guess you think you’re a real tough guy,” the skunk Pokemon started, “gonna be a real hero, ain’t ‘ya? Roughing up some punks for takin’ a few measly scraps from your great empire’s army rations.”

Slipping back into his plucky hero role, Kipp retorted, “It doesn’t matter how much you planned to take. I’ll make you remember not to mess with Runark. Rest assured,” his voice dropped to a darker tone, “I will be more merciful on you directionless rogues than Mew will be.”

The Stunky sighed, appearing unshaken by the promise of holy retribution, “I 'spose it ain’t your fault,” they drawled on, “you didn’t really get a choice, didja?”

Kipp blinked. “What?”

“Nah, that’s what I figured.” The rogue Pokemon went on, “We didn’t either. Right from day número uno, it’s drilled inta 'ya. 'You gotta fight for the almighty Arceus, spread the word of the creator! Show no mercy to those clinging to delusions of the old beliefs.’ that’s what they’d say.”

The Poocheyena and Purrlion looked at each other. There was something different about their gaze, no longer amused. Kipp placed it as something reminiscent of pity. He bristled. They were the ones to be pitied! They were the scourge of society, Pokemon too spineless to fight for their beliefs!

The Stunky’s voice jolted him from of his offended monologue, “Were 'ya ever asked if 'ya actually wanted to risk your life? Didja ever wonder how much your society valued your life, or if they would still care about your livelihood if you decided you didn’t wanna fight?”

Kipp said nothing, just glared at the intruders as he processed the rogue’s words. Why hadn’t he attacked? Why was he indulging in this traitor’s meaningless spiel, going on as if it knew more than him? Like he was something to feel sorry for?

“Or didja even think about whose tails 'ya gotta step on?” The Stunky rambled on, each rhetoric fueling the anger simmering inside him, “Didja wonder what it must feel like 'ta be starving, with no place 'ta turn? 'Ta be shunned? 'Ta be told your life don’t matter, all cuz 'ya care too much 'bout the lives 'a others to kill 'em?”

The straw broke and Kipp snapped. “Shut up!! Stop trying to get into my head!! Just shut up!!” Semantics were out the window and Kipp momentarily forgot where he was as he shouted at the rogues, screams piercing the night’s stillness. He just wanted to get the Stunky to stop talking.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He had idealized an outcome, and he’d blew it, a realization that made itself apparent as he noticed his peers sticking their heads out of their tents in curiosity at the commotion.

A voice bellowed from beside him, “What’s going on here?”

Kipp looked up at their commander and leader, not regarding him with even half of the pride he had envisioned.

“Thieves, it would seem.” He heard an eerily calm voice state as a Sandslash-Griff-appeared behind the intruders with his sharp claws bared.

Startled was completely skipped this time, the three rogues were the picture of petrified. Griff swiped at the three while they scuttled off in a getaway attempt, slashing their skin and retrieving the bag of stolen food. The three escaped with some painful reminders not to meddle in the affairs of the Runark cavalry.

Rufus nodded to his partner in approval, and raised his voice as he regarded the aghast onlookers, “Shows over troops, nothing to see. Get back to sleep, we need you all well rested for tomorrow!”

The soldiers all reluctantly turned back in to their tents and the crowd dwindled to just Kipp and his two superiors. They turned their attention to him and his gut dropped.

“I’ll take it you learned a thing or two from that, kid?” Kipp jumped at Rufus addressing him, “next time, just let us know. We’ll handle it.”

Kipp nodded.

“Now,” Rufus said with a lighter tone, “off to bed, private!”

The mission went as planned the next day and the army returned to Runark with victory in tow. No one spoke to Kipp the entire time. He could feel the gaze of his peers as they stared at him, whispering things like, “wasn’t that the guy talking with the thieves?” and “I wouldn’t trust him. Conversing with rogues, not alerting the commander, seems pretty sketchy don’t you think?”

The Stunky’s words stuck in his mind. He began to question his meaning, his worth, and the beliefs he was raised on. What would his family think if he rebelled? Would they still love him? Would anyone care about his life anymore?

It dawned on him in a way that he had never realized that rogues must have started out just like the rest of them. He never thought of them as equals, he never pondered their upbringing. Rogues had always just been there clinging to society’s underbelly. It was assumed they were just there, no one gave them second thoughts.

No one valued their lives.

Kipp’s family got word of the incident.

“I would’ve whooped their asses good!” One of his sisters commented.

“You should’ve just gone to Rufus, stupid.” Another sibling scolded with a look of disapproval.

His father just put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Rogues are sneaky, Kippers. You can’t let them get in your head or show mercy. Those guys are the nastiest kinds of Pokemon, there’s no limit to the stunts they’ll pull if you let your guard down!” He preached a message Kipp had heard hundreds of times, “I just worry about you out there is all.” His fathers expression showed concern, that was certain, but Kipp now questioned what for.

For the first time, he doubted his fathers wisdom.

Gingerly, he prompted, “Dad, would you still love me if I were a rogue?”

At the bold question, his fathers eyes widened and his lips pursed as he appeared to rack his mind. A few seconds of silence blanketed them. It was a light chuckle that broke it.

“Now, I don’t think that’s something I need to worry about!” His father smiled, “Mew blessed you with strength. You’re too strong to be a rogue.”

Kipp became immersed in learning about the ways of those Pokekind had swept under the rug. He visited Runark’s libraries, filled with hundreds of books on the subject, finding each to be as equally biased as the last. He even began to hang around the iniquitous Bygone Burrow, observing the behavior of his community’s outsiders when conventional methods proved fruitless.

His interest in the rogues became an increasing concern to his family and the community, especially to those who were aware of what had happened that night in Destirae. His family had always been a model household- devout Mew believers and unsuspecting- but young Kipp was gaining a deplorable reputation. He grew distant from his peers and isolated himself as the trust between them all but dissipated.

Something had to give at one point or another, and this came during an unsuspecting day of military training. A slippery Braixen was getting brave and venturing into towns and villages, stealing from local eateries and harassing citizens. A brigade was sent by Rufus off to the Bygone Burrows to search and bring justice to the wanted Pokemon.

Kipp was assigned to search an eastern wing of tunnel systems with a duo of reluctant partners, a Servine named Atlas, and a Meowth named Faust. They didn’t speak to Kipp the whole while they searched the caverns, though he often noticed them giving him a sideways glance, quickly turning their eyes away when he would turn his head to meet their gaze.

It was beginning to look like an uneventful search, until Kipp caught a whiff of something. It was a very faint smell of old meat, and the others appeared to have noticed it too, if the wrinkling of their noses were any indication.

It seemed to grow stronger as the two approached a particularly narrow tunnel on the northern wall, only about a foot and a half tall in height.

“Come on,” Kipp said as he knelt to squeeze into the tunnel, “I’ve got a gut feeling about this one.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about it…” Faust muttered, but complied and followed Kipp anyway, with Atlas in tow.

As they crawled deeper the tunnel grew wider, the stench stronger, and it began to sink in to Kipp that if they were to stumble into trouble they couldn’t get out of, it would be difficult for help to find them. He wasn’t sure if any other group had seen them enter the tunnel, and it was so narrow it would be easy to miss upon first glance.

Worries repressed, Kipp was the first to reach the end of the tunnel. What he saw as he crawled towards a circular room towards the end was a pile of food. Moldy bread, wilted vegetables, and rotten chunks of meat littered the area. The three rookies covered their noses at the strong smell, and each had a hunch as to what they’d found.

“Disgusting,” Atlas spat, “rogues are such filthy creatures…”

What Kipp heard next was a loud scream. Instinctually, he whipped his head to see what had produced the shrill noise. There-in the room he had thought they’d been alone in- was a rogue Braixen, holding Atlas up by it’s claws as they shrieked in terror.

Everything seemed to slow down for Kipp to take in: Atlas wriggling futilely in the fire Pokemon’s grip, the Braixen’s snarling muzzle, it’s yellowed teeth, it’s matted fur, the clear outline of its skeleton and skin stretched tightly across it, the feral look in it’s eyes, and the food.

The food…

The next thing Kipp knew, Atlas was struggling with the Braixen using their vine whip to try and pry the rogue off them. He heard Faust’s screaming, but he didn’t see the Meowth anywhere. Not until they emerged from the tunnel (when had Faust left? How long had he stood there?) with another group following swiftly behind them.

The other Pokemon immediately set to freeing Atlas, and attacking the Braxien. With their help, the feral Pokemon was taken down, and laid unconscious on the cold cave floor. A few Pokemon went out to inform Rufus and Griff. Atlas was propped against the cave wall, breathing heavy, when their eyes narrowed at Kipp.

“You.” they hissed.

Kipp felt light-headed, felt as if he were in a daze. The other Pokemon were all staring at him now.

“You just- You just stood there!!” Atlas accused, betrayal heavy in their voice, “He was here the whole time! He just watched me struggle for my life with that rogue!”

“Is that…” Kipp started, his throat felt dry and tongue far too heavy, “Is that what happened?”

Fury overtook Atlas’ expression, “How dare you, Kipp the conspirator really is a rat!! Don’t play dumb!!” They stood up shakily, confrontational, but still clearly weak from the struggle with the Braixen. Faust took hold of their arm and nudged them gently back down.

“Save your strength, the commanders will be here soon,” Faust flicked their eyes over to Kipp, “They’ll take care of him.”

“I know your parents well, and your siblings.” Rufus began, his claws folded across his chest. Griff stood to the left of him, unmoving, aura intimidating to the bone.

Rufus went on, “They’re fine soldiers, all of them. I know they didn’t raise you this way.”

Kipp flinched. They didn’t, he thought. They didn’t raise me this way. They raised me never to question them, never to question you, never to question all of this. He thought, but did not speak.

“I don’t believe you’re all bad, or that you intend to cause harm.”

I don’t, I don’t want to harm anyone.

“But it remains that you’re clearly enthralled with the ways of rogues.”

I don’t want to harm anyone. That’s the problem, isn’t it?

“It would be suspicious enough with your studying them, but it’s two instances now in which you have failed to report to action against criminal behavior regarding rogues,” Runark’s commander was calm but firm as he spoke, “I can’t let you remain on our cavalry any longer. We have enough evidence to believe you are a danger to other troops. Do not come back here, or we will have no choice but to use force.”

Kipp could have argued that he was no traitor. That Mew blessed him with strength. That he had the makings of a true hero.

Instead, he nodded, and left the military base forever.

Kipp chose to never see his parents again than to face them with the news that he had been banished from the army and all but accused of being a snitch. He left without telling a soul to go live in Bygone Burrow.

It is there that he resides still, in the old makeshift tunnel that the wanted Braxien he had helped catch used to reside.

Brave, Kind, Devoted- they were words that would never more be used to describe him.


Other: smoll


Writing Sample: Excerpt from a canned slash fic I wrote about a year ago. 'sall I got.
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