[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/73nq99F.gif[/img] [hr][hr] [b][h3][color=black]Pl[color=red]o[/color]t[/color][/h3][/b][/center] [color=lightblue]Yes, this Literate Role Play is mainly based on the books 'Shiver', 'Linger', and 'Forever', by Maggie Stiefvater. At one point, when first introduced to the series, I was obsessed! I read the first book three times and the middle and last ones twice. I'm really hoping someone other than myself on this site has read the series.[/color] [b][h3][center][color=black]The C[color=red]o[/color]ld[/color][/center][/h3][/b] [color=lightblue]Changes us. Makes us.. something we never once imagined we could become. Not our "normal" selves. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, gnarly even, but it's true. It takes away our skin, replacing it with a ruff, warm and bristly fur. During that time we stay with our pack, our only family, and friends in the woods beyond any form of civilization. We wander into their yards every so often for their trash, barbecue, and unfortunately in [i]rare[/i] cases, their pets. There's no way to avoid or to hide from it. We have to shift...more or less, transform in the freezing cold, our muscles tensing and fighting the change, bones cracking and renewing themselves to create our new forms. We become.. [i]wolf[/i].[/color] [b][h3][center][color=black]The Warmth[/color][/center][/h3][/b] [color=lightblue]The time we are who we were born to be. We stay together, usually.. unless one of us doesn’t change on the normal schedule. We live among the normal ones - humans.. in our safe home, waiting in agonizing fear for the cold to turn us back into the things we dread most. We have to live with it, though. Dodging those rare, 'normal' ones who recognize us from our previous life in the woods, trees, and cold. We stay secretive, venturing out for food, and very seldom, our favorite places. In the warmth, we become what we once were.. [i]human[/i].[/color] [b][h3][center][color=black]The Shiver[/color][/center][/h3][/b] [color=lightblue]We stay together, biting and changing few. Some come to us, out of instinct, who are like us. Our families have rejected us, keeping us away from them. We all fled somewhere safe. With our new family, the pack. Our old life is gone, our new one replacing it all too quickly for comfort. We can’t help killing the ones not like us occasionally, we don’t like being hunted for sport or going hungry. But sometimes.. we ruin lives. We hate it, but we do. We bite the ones, not like us, making them.. [i]us[/i].[/color] [center][b][h3][color=black]Basic [color=red]O[/color]utline[/color][/h3][/b][/center] [color=lightblue]You were born into this life a human, but somewhere along the line of your life, you were bitten and changed into something much more. [i]A werewolf[/i], to be exact. Of course, you wouldn't have known what you were until someone who [i]knew[/i] told you. In the beginning, you'd experience flu-like symptoms. Secondly, you'd start changing back and forth from your human body to your wolf body... no matter what the temperature be. It would stop after a few days, but by the time it does, you think you've all but lost your mind. [i]How can you turn into a wolf? How can you turn into anything at all? What was going on??[/i] It all comes to a head when Dak and James arrive to explain your new life. Basically ~ When the human-based pack begins to thin out, new 'recruits' are scouted. It takes weeks to find the right candidates. James does the turning, while Dak (being only human), is James' 'handler' for all intents and purposes. James forces himself into the cold to change, bites the targeted victim and then Dak catches him and brings him back to his warmer state. They wait until the spastic changes are over before swooping in to 'save the day'. Although some might disagree that they've been 'saved' when they find out that turning back to your human form only lasts so many years before you stop turning back. Each passing year, your time as a human becomes shorter and shorter, and your winters become longer. Eventually, you no longer turn back into [i]you[/i], and you permanently stay [i]wolf[/i]. When the temperature hits 50 degrees or lower, that's when we can no longer keep a grip on our furless selves. Anything warmer than that keeps us human and transforms us back from our wolf forms. Most people don't take too kindly to this new life they've been given. Some have even thought the notion was crazy and tried to out the people responsible... actions had to be taken [s]if you catch my drift[/s]. Those who have accepted it for what it is have returned back with Dak and James to the pack home where they got to meet their (human-based) pack leader, Davina. You pretty much have free reign, as long as you don't go into town alone... or anywhere, really. Not unless it's on the property close to the house. Going anywhere else requires you to take a 'buddy' with you... just in case of an emergency. When you're a wolf, your hair color doesn’t matter. Your eyes and personality, however, are passed from your human form to your wolf form. No, when in wolf form you [b]cannot[/b] talk to each other, but you [i]can[/i] send each other mental images of whats going on around you, and you can sense each other’s feelings. Also, even in your human forms, you have amazing senses. Hearing, sight, smell, touch... it's all enhanced. For example, you can tell the type (if you know anything about cars lol) and speed of a car on a distant highway from your enhanced hearing. Any questions? Don't be afraid to ask. The only [i][s]dumb[/s][/i] question is the question not asked.[/color] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/saplNnY.gif[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [center][b][h3][color=black]The W[color=red]o[/color]lves[/color][/h3][/b][/center] [color=lightblue]The wolves who can no longer take their birth-given forms are out there wandering the woods in the back 40 of the property. Those of us who can still change back into our human skins look after them in the warmer months of the year, and when winter comes, we rejoin them in the cold. We're no different from them, then. We're family. Some of the wolves out there might even be our relatives before us who were turned. The wolves are 9 strong, not including the rest of us still out here in the human world. The Alpha pair are [url=https://i.imgur.com/TTjrXMG.jpg]Bodhi[/url] and [url=https://i.imgur.com/HtHn5PZ.jpg]Allie[/url]. Following as Betas would be [url=https://i.imgur.com/xN0KQCM.jpg]Jackson[/url] and [url=https://i.imgur.com/IH6Bgi0.jpg]Mali[/url]. Gammas are [url=https://i.imgur.com/c3oJSK9.jpg]Davina[/url] and [url=https://i.imgur.com/YVDWwfl.jpg]Taite[/url], although they are not a mated pair. Subordinates are [url=http://cdn.isciencetimes.com/data/images/full/2013/04/17/3806-ice-age-wolf-skull-game-of-thrones-dire-wolves.jpg]James[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/eTKRO88.png]Bryn[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/WjpkCFm.jpg]Bailey[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/K6rMTzZ.jpg]Rhydian[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/synwhH8.jpg]Zane[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/MJ8po97.jpg]Jana[/url] and a few others that go unnamed. This '[i]new generation[/i]' of wolves never got to meet them as humans, and in wolf form, names don't really matter. Everyone only knows Zane as, well, "[i]Zane[/i]" because of James. It's a long story, so let's just leave it at 'he gave him the nickname', shall we? Bodhie and Allie are both very approachable wolves with peaceful demeanors. Mali tends to keep at a distance and is very aggressive to both humans and wolves alike (anyone ranked lower than her), while Jackson will only approach a human if the alphas do first. Davina, well she's still human... but in her wolf form, she tends to stray from humans. Taite follows Davina around, wishing that they could be a true pairing, but Davina won't have it. James and Bryn are both still human, and when in their wolf forms, they try to be around humans as much as possible. They go into people's backyards, pursue people when they see them on a trek through the woods, etc. Rhydian is an in-between kind of wolf. It depends on his mood, but when he's feeling friendly, he's a big ol' goofball. Fits with his look, too. He's got a missing ear and a sort of hang-tooth on one side. His ear was shot off, and his jaw is messed up from getting kicked by an elk. Jana is a sweet girl, as well, but she rarely will come out of the wood to greet humans. She's shy. The youngest wolf in the pack. As a human, she was turned at just 9 years old. Zane, well.. if you got a look at him, you'd probably want to stay away from him. Just looks alone would keep you away, but he's attacked humans before, as well. Unprovoked. For all intents and purposes, he is basically the pack's Omega. He's very thin, his fur is patchy and blood-stained... the way he behaves, you'd think he was sick. [sub]Mentally.[/sub][/color] [center][u]In human form, we have our own pack hierarchy that is separate from when in wolf form, although they are still respected for the majority.[/u] { P.S. The wolves have a house (pretty much just a large cabin home) that they all stay in, at least most of them do. Some may not like being in an overcrowded home with the rest of their packmates. If they so choose to live under the Alpha/Gamma's roof, they can/do. If not, they aren't allowed to house themselves too far from the pack Alpha/Gamma, or too close to town. Just as a precaution. They also have a beat-up trailer home where they're allowed to go when they are ready for a change. It's right on the edge of the woods, so it's easy to access once they've turned. Outside the trailer home in the backyard is a shed where extra clothes and other necessities are stored for the time when they come back from their winter fun.)[/center] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/pMvagqG.gif[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [center][b][h3][color=black]Mercy Falls[/color][/h3][/b][/center] [hider=Maps] [img]http://elyoutfittingcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/driving-directions-map-ely-minnesota.jpg[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/vLk6WIH.jpg[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/62EiKYJ.png[/img] [/hider] [hider=In Town] [img]http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/ows_137790525174658.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider=Partial View of Lake Shagawa] [img]http://www.elyoutfitters.com/images/resortoverview-sm.jpg[/img] [/hider] [center][b][h3][color=black]The W[color=red]o[/color]lves Den[/color][/h3][/b][/center] [hider=Human Pack Living Quarters] Log Cabin off the Shores of Shagawa Lake (Grant-McMahan Blvd. (Hwy 88)) [img]https://ap.rdcpix.com/2096100166/816cbd9fd7ca00b40074e4b95d3dadaal-m0xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg[/img] Horse Stables [img]https://activerain-store.s3.amazonaws.com/image_store/uploads/9/5/8/9/2/ar126148090529859.jpg[/img] Farmhouse & Toolshed [img]https://www.lancasterbarns.com/acatalog/high-wall-shed-399.gif[/img] [img]http://www.equitrekking.com/images/uploads/ireland_galway_farmhouse_horse.jpg[/img] Back 40 of the Ranch (where most of the horses like to stay) [img]https://www.visitstaugustine.com/sites/default/files/todo/img/haven_horse_ranch_horses_5x3.jpg[/img] A Few Horses that Stay in the Stables (the Buckskin being Davina's) [img]http://img12.deviantart.net/b28f/i/2008/202/5/5/buckskin_horse_4_by_arkoiscute.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider=The Real Wolves' Den] [img]http://wingedwolfpack.webs.com/natural-park-gradistea-muncelului-cioclovina.jpg[/img] [hider=Territory Map] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Sd0DphW.jpg[/img] [/hider] [/hider] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/2ETKbPP.gif[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [b][center][h3][color=black]Rules[/color][/h3][/center][/b] [b]Respect The GM & Co-GMs:[/b] [color=lightblue]Sure, sometimes we make weird calls or say something that's not quite PC. Realize that the admins have a hard job, the job of telling you that you are wrong and you need to change something. We don't like doing it but we have to sometimes. That also means that when things come too heavily into question, you need to let us deal with it. You can make our jobs easier by reading these rules and adhering to them. We promise you'll like us a lot more if you do. We also encourage and welcome discussion on why an admin made a certain call. If you talk to us like people and not like we're your most hated enemy then there's a rather good chance you'll change our minds on some things...[/color] [b]*The Wolves of Mercy Falls Co-GM:[/b] [color=lightblue]TBA[/color] [b]Same Forum, Same Rules:[/b] [color=lightblue]You are in a sub-sector of the [b]RolePlayerGuild[/b] forums. The Forum Rules and CoC are the over-arching rules. Know them, love them, abide by them.[/color] [b]No dirty/sexual content:[/b] [color=lightblue]Absolutely no sexual content allowed. Romantic situations are always welcome in your story-telling, however, they will remain completely innocent. Anything more touchy-feely than a kiss will be given an [i]Inappropriate Content Warning[/i]. Take it to PMs if you'd like to continue in detail, otherwise, just write [b]fades to black[/b].[/color] [b]Respect Your Fellow RPer:[/b] [color=lightblue]This involves basic netiquette. * Don't yell at someone (USING ALL CAPS LIKE THIS IS YELLING EVEN IF YOU DON'T MEAN IT TO BE). Use exclamation points, [b]bold[/b], [i]italics,[/i] whatever you want to make your point but don't yell in all CAPS. It's just simply rude. * Realize we have people who identify with different religions, maybe a lack of religion, sexual orientations, locations, races, ages, and whatnot. We don't expect you to be perfect but we do expect you to show a little maturity. * If they do something in the RP that you think is wrong or illegitimate, ask them why they did it and if they'd change it. Discuss in the OOC or Private Message what the problem is. If a resolution can't be gotten to, ask me or the CO-GM to step in and we'll help you fix the problem. (It's usually good practice to STOP the RP if this happens, that way you don't have to go back and say "Ignore these posts" or go back and edit them.) * Don't be childish. If myself or the CO-GM asks you to fix a mistake, change something that isn't right or whatnot, just do it, please. Don't make a fuss about it.[/color] [b]No "Bunny-moving":[/b] [color=lightblue]This means taking over another player’s character. Usually, this kind of thing happens innocently enough but ends in major fights over what actually is happening. [b]"*Vrynn attacks Corey with a vicious slash to his face and Corey drops to his knees in pain*"[/b] This is bunny-moding. Instead of allowing Corey to react to the attack, Vrynn assumed she hit him and told him how he was going to react. This is not acceptable RP. Never assume you know what the other character will do. (Sometimes, someone gives you explicit permission to run their character while away. This is the [b]only[/b] time bunny-moding is acceptable.)[/color] [b]No God-moding:[/b] [color=lightblue]This one should be pretty easy. God-moding is when a character is able to do whatever they want, whenever they want with little or no consequences. People cannot dodge bullets. This is not allowed. This is also important for character creation as there are certain limits within this RP that must be adhered to, despite the fact this is a fantasy fiction RP with werewolves in it.. still, no god-moding.[/color] [b]No OOC in RPs:[/b] [color=lightblue]The RPs we have going on have their own [b]OOC[/b] (Out Of Character) thread that corresponds. If you have random chatter to contribute that doesn't involve the RP, take it to these threads where you can spew randomness, embed videos, and generally be dorky to your heart's content. Having unrelated chatter in the middle of the RP threads is distracting to all the players, including you. When you need to say something out of character in the middle of an RP, such as to ask a question about a character's action, always use the OOC thread.[/color] [b]No Double Posting:[/b] [color=lightblue]Basically, this means to let the other characters/players have a chance to react to you before you try continuing what is going on or just walk away from the conversation altogether. If you have two or more characters that you're RPing with but forgot to post as one, there is an [[b]Edit[/b]] button on the bottom of your post. [i]Use it.[/i] Don't double post. If more than 2 days have passed and nobody has responded to you, or if you know [i]factually[/i] that your RP buddy is gone for a long while, then it is okay to post again.[/color] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Cfq8otM.gif[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [center][i]All RPers, new and old, have room to improve our story-telling and interaction abilities so here are some tips to keep in mind to help everyone improve...[/i] [h3][b][color=black]R[color=red]o[/color]leplaying Tips[/color][/b][/h3][/center] [b]Clarity:[/b] [color=lightblue]Be clear about what is happening in your posts and try to make sure the other RPers understand. They will be acting on what they think you meant. Other RPers will post responding to the new posts and a long line of actions can form alarmingly fast. Confusion can cause massive problems if not cleared up quickly and can cause a lot of disruption to the RP as the line of actions may be undermined. Try to minimize confusion as it breaks the flow of the RP by being very precise with actions and their intended effect. (Remember, it's bunny-moding to force it to affect the other character, best to tell them what you want to happen and let them react accordingly.)[/color] [b]Collaborative Story:[/b] [color=lightblue]Remember that everyone else has an equal part in the RP's story. Give them time to do the things they want, don't change the story radically without asking others (Especially if you've made a large post. Changing it then having people go back to re-read it can be bothersome) and always leave room for their stories.[/color] [b]Consistency:[/b] [color=lightblue]Have your character act in ways that are typical of them. It sounds like common sense but it's often overlooked. While RPing an inconsistent character you're not really RPing just one character, but many. In short, it can lead to confusion. It can be helpful to write down the major personality quirks your character has and refer to that from time to time to remind yourself how your character should react in certain situations.[/color] [b]Drama:[/b] [color=lightblue]The point of every story is the emotion it makes the reader feel and every RP is basically a story. The general tips of good RPing are the same as good writing. One that stands out above all else is: try to have a good taste of drama in your character and their actions. How to include drama? A heated argument between two characters is dramatic. A character hanging on for dear life as other characters struggle to save them. In other words, any situation that the reader genuinely believes your character might die is dramatic. Any deep emotional interaction between characters is dramatic. Don't be afraid of "non-action" because those are the times when you get to reveal your cool or misguided past and either gain sympathy, empathy or maybe even jealousy or hatred from the other characters.[/color] [b]Respect the other characters:[/b] [color=lightblue]Respect the other characters and what they can do and what they have been through. Remember that no character is the 'main character' and that each character is probably something its player is attached to.[/color] [b]Be aware of your IRL situation:[/b] [color=lightblue]Keep in mind what your work schedule, sleep schedule and time zone is compared to other RPers. If you find that you're having to force yourself or someone else to stay up too late or you want to RP with someone who is never on at the same time as you, consider changing your strategy. Sometimes you just have to accept that you can't RP with certain people due to these very real time restrictions. This also goes for double-posting. Give the other players time to respond and never expect someone to respond to you quickly. Give it up to a day just in case someone was called away for a chore or a phone call before you post again.[/color] [b]When in doubt; Rewind!:[/b] [color=lightblue]If the situation is too muddy and everyone is fighting over what should have happened, that couldn't be right, how dare you etc... then just throw up a vote. If 75% of the players in an event agree that rewinding to an earlier point and replaying the situation is for the best, then please do. We want to have fun, not create problems.[/color]