[center][h1]Last of the Great Beasts[/h1]

This RP is now [b]accepting new characters[/b]


[img]http://www.ywt.org.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/page_image_large/sites/yorkshire.live.wt.precedenthost.co.uk/files/main-photos/LOWLAND%20BEECH%20AND%20YEW%20WOODLAND%20credit%20Marilyn%20Peddle.jpg[/img][



[h3]In Character Info:[/h3]


[hider=The story so far...]

[indent][I][i]When mankind first came to the unknown continent of Orthshiel - keels of men, women and their offspring, most fleeing from the lands to the east...driven by some unknown fear or terror at their backs - it was as if they had stepped into a fantastical reality of myth and legends. 

For how could they have known that the continent was divded among 'animal kingdoms' in much the same way as their own countries and nations, inhabited by animals that walked, talked and were formed in much the same way as themselves.

In the first few years of colonisation along the expansive coastline, settlements with palisades of wood and halls of wattle and daub constructed steadily but unceasingly for the strangers to inhabit, the men and women from the west took their first tentative steps toward the interior.

At first they viewed the creatures of the continent with awe, paying them great respect but fearing them still, some of the more superstitious foreigners declaring them to be Gods and forming cults of animism - strange societies and orders that harkoned back to a wholly more primitive age, when men dwelt in caves and worshipped crude effigies of animal-headed deities around the fire.

Yet bring so many apples to one place, and there are bound to be more than a few of the rotten variety; slowly but surely the very nature of mankind began to take over, the various strongholds expanding toward the interior, lordlings fighting both one-another as well as driving the native creatures from their homes with fire, steel and powder. Eventually they began to make slaves of those they ground into the dirt, a bovine with the intelligence and shape of a man of far more value than some simple four-legged cow, the trading and breeding of such creatures becoming commonplace as the fortlets and keeps once consigned to the coast were replaced by entire villages and settlements further away from the ocean tides.

It came to be seen that, truly, mankind would infect the continent like a plague. Some, such as the more vicious of the Big Cats and their canine cousins, attempted to fight back...and were brutalised for their termerity.

Years passed, decades, a century...a century later and enclaves of 'free beasts' existed still, hidden away in remote parts of the continent, but it was really the empathetic and hedonistic attitudes of the humans that allowed ideas such as 'freedom' and 'revolution' to take root among both the freeborn and those born into a life of captivity and servitude.

Now that ideal is spreading by word of mouth, by hand or by any means possible, and although such things begin small...well...resistance and revenge are powerful motives indeed.[/i][/I][/indent][/hider]


[h3]Summary:[/h3]

[indent] - The setting for this RP is obviously a fictional continent known as Orthshiel which, until a century ago from our current time, was thought of as a mythical place in much the same way as Atlantis...or America. It is about the size of two Britains put together, just of a broader shape, including numerous small isles off the coastlines.

- Humans with a technological level of Elizabethan England, a mix between more modern idea and medieval hangovers, have by the current day managed to colonise most of the continent, putting to the sword or enslaving any of the native creatures.

- The native creatures, for want of a better term, are 'furries'; animals with the intelligence and bodily characteristics of man I.E. Two arms and legs, two eyes, and so forth. This is fused with their own distinctive species, for example a bull is generally larger but dumber than a wolf, an avian is obviously of a lighter weight and so on.

- Think of the natives as a more humanlike representation of the animal kingdom I.E. Avians live in their own nations/tribes/countries/kingdoms, as do Bovines, Ursines and so forth. There can be interbreeding (a half-dog wolf, for example) but nothing too ridiculous. Even in an RP about talking animals.

- Once enough interest has been given, then I shall start writing more information on each 'nation' of creatures. I am however very open-minded to people creating their own, as long as they keep to 'the obvious', such as the fact that Wolves live in packs, Tigers are solitary for the most part, Bovine creatures are not known for their intelligence and so forth. If you do have an idea, please feel free to share it.

- As to the technological level of various animal cultures, well that depends on many things, and will be covered in more depth if this RP takes off.

- Our group, of roughly 5 to 8 people at most, will be starting off in a relatively small-scale scenario. I am veering toward the liberation of a slave farm/gladitorial ludus/or something else, but as usual this is subject to change. We [b]will not[/b] be going to take on an army any time soon.

- This is not Animals of Farthing Wood, nor is it Redwall, Beatrix Potter or generally anything nice and cosy. In short, this is not your father's talking animal RP! There will be death, there will be 'extreme' themes, and for this reason I am going to say that this is a [b]mature RP[/b] overall.

- Yes, you [b]can[/b] write a sheet for a sympathetic (or maybe not?) human character, but I would much prefer you didn't.

- Lastly, this is a high-casual to advanced RP, so I'd like the writing to be quality over quantity. If you do decide to write an essay or a novella for a post, make it good.

- I intend to keep this RP going, so a post every 2-3 days would be the expected posting cycle.[/indent]


[h3]Out of character info:[/h3]


[indent] Welcome, one and all,


As part of a group, you shall be forming what could be called a freedom fighting/resistance movement. Exactly how you are perceived by the others of the group will depend on any number of factors - species, armament, religion and more- but no matter what scuffles occur and what friction might develop, all of you are there willingly. That being said, I have no doubt that each and every character will have their own agenda, motives and overall goals in mind, and I would hope for nothing less.


To begin with we will have a short 'gathering of the clans' - basically getting everyone together - from there we shall go ahead with a narrative I have prepared and see where it takes us. Your character can begin more or less anywhere; if you'd like us to come and 'fetch' you from somewhere then that's cool and can be done.[/indent]

[h3]Rules[/h3]

[indent] - Sort your squabbles out in private. If you persistently disagree with another player or they're grieving you, involve me. If necessary, I will get the moderators involved.

- No godmodding (controlling someone else's character).

- Try to post [i]at least[/i] once a week, [b]let me know[/b] if you can't post soon, and please try for at least three paragraphs.

- One character per player.

- My decisions are final.[/indent]


[h3]Character Sheet[/h3]


[indent] I've decided to try something a little different with this RP, and it is thus;

Could you please write about your character in prose form, it can be as long as you like, but must include the important details – those being things such as their name, possibly their age, what they look like (clothes, weapons, etc), belief systems, where they come from (feel free to make up countries, regions and so on), and anything else you feel might be important.

You can simply write about them, include everything in a short story about them, however you see fit really.

Please PM them to me when you are done, and I look very much forward to reading them.[/indent]


[h3]If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.[/h3][/center]