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Zeroth Post
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Zeroth


"You don't know the ze?! Lemme tell you, don't go near them. People say they're not even human, and if they are they're probably not right in the head. You gotta be in some pretty deep shit to drop your whole life-- your name, your home, your face! --just to chase horrors. What kind of person does that? No one you can trust, I say."



AMALGAM: The Last God. Amalgam wished to inhabit the world, so they shattered themselves into pieces that became all living things.

THE LIGHT OF AMALGAM: A stone that glows eternally, claimed to contain the god's final collective thought.

THE RAVEL: A cult of devout to Amalgam. The Ravel are known for ritual killings and nefarious powers. The initiated have a tattoo of an ancient tree on the inside of their forearm.

NOX: The dark shapes that are left behind when a possessed body dies. They must feed on the living to survive. Nox are born from the corrupted souls of those who die after being possessed.

HORRORS: Animals that are infected by the Nox, considered dangerous monsters that must be killed. Possessed humans are considered "hosts" but may be referred to as "Horrors" in a derogatory way.

THE ZEPHYR EXTINCT: An organization developed specifically to combat the Ravel and guard the Light of Amalgam. Initiates abandon their given names and wear masks to keep themselves from infection.


THE PLOT

The Ravel have been quiet lately. No one's gone missing in at least a month. There've been no more reports of glowing eyes or moving shadows in the dark. The sigils in the root tunnels were cleaned up and haven't come back yet. The quarter-sun festival went on without a hitch, the flowers are blooming, kids are swinging from the new branches, and that crazy hang-glider is out with his loudspeaker blasting the city with warnings of end-times. Everything's back to normal in the City of Rig.

The Archer-- who commands the Zephyr Extinct --has begun an aggressive push for new recruits. Ze operatives have dispersed to schools and prisons, farms and train yards, offering a new anonymous life to the restless and the troubled. You can turn your back on your problems, they say, and make a difference in the world. Hunt down Horrors! Rid the land of the Nox! You'll be a hero!

The Blinking Fortress has doubled its security. Anyone caught shouting about Amalgam is bound to get dragged through its gates. The Ze drones-- usually scarce --buzz like bees through the streets, scanning the trees for symbols and closed doors. The Archer has been locked in her quarters for weeks, but assures us...

Everything is fine.

THE WORLD

Rig is a city of color and sunlight and nature. Stained glass windows, stucco walls sculpted and engraved with sweeping artistry, enormous trees whose roots and branches shelter clusters of homes and catwalks. Hang-gliders, hoverbikes and drones weave overhead while children play in the spotless streets. Everything is hung with lush vines and blooming flowers; the city consistently smells like potpourri and turned soil. The sun burns bright and hot most days, and the nights are cool.


THE GAMEPLAY

This RP will be character-driven and decision-driven. Those who make no decisions, who do not act, will not have much fun here. This RP will keep moving, things will keep happening, as long as the characters make them happen.

In other words: the world will react to your character's actions, not the other way around.

At the same time, be sure not to steamroll or ignore the other players. I'm well aware that anyone could drop out at any time and leave conversations unfinished, but try not to let that possibility get in the way of interaction and communication. The relationships and teamwork among the PCs will make or break this RP. I'm counting on all of you.

THE CHARACTERS

Characters may be anyone of any background, with any reason for joining the Ze. They may have been citizens of Rig or have wandered in from the outside. Characters who work well with others are highly preferred: you will be RPing with each other as much as with me. The GM reserves the right to question or reject any application for ANY reason.

These are the restrictions:

  • They must be a new recruit. No seasoned Zephyrs. This is to ensure no one is more knowledgeable than anyone else.
  • You're free to invent what life is like in Rig and outside it, but everything is subject to GM veto. This only happens if something you created conflicts with the plot.
  • If the character came from outside, do not assume your own premade locations or cities. The farthest reaches of this world will remain entirely under GM creation and control for very good plot-related reasons. Suggestions, however, are welcome!
  • If you feel the need to be Different right out of the gate, please take a moment to consider why.
  • I know what some of you are thinking. The answer is "perhaps." PM me your ideas.


Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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Mokley aka windyfiend

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All character applications, questions, suggestions, essays, shouts, dancing, and singing should go here!
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Lucky
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I'll start working on a CS now!
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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Woohoo!! Good to see ya! :D
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Lucky
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@Mokley Mind if I shoot a few questions before I settle into a character?

1. Are characters exclusively Human?
2. Is magic part of this fantasy or only tech? If tech only, are we talking about equipment that can do some pretty crazy stuff (compared to today's standard tech)?
3. If we can't create new locations outside of Rig, to what extent can we make them "outsiders"?
4. What is the likelihood of infection or death for a typical civilian?

Whatever the answers, I'll work with!
Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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@Mokley Mind if I shoot a few questions before I settle into a character?

1. Are characters exclusively Human?
2. Is magic part of this fantasy or only tech? If tech only, are we talking about equipment that can do some pretty crazy stuff (compared to today's standard tech)?
3. If we can't create new locations outside of Rig, to what extent can we make them "outsiders"?
4. What is the likelihood of infection or death for a typical civilian?

Whatever the answers, I'll work with!


Good questions!!!

1. I'm willing to entertain non-human characters as long as there are no excessive advantages. What do you have in mind?

2. Magic exists, but it comes from outside sources and is generally only used by Zephyrs and Ravels. Since you are all new recruits, no one should know magic -- yet! Tech exists, and biotech exists, and some crazy stuff is feasible. When it comes to tech, I'd lean more toward Ghibli and Star Wars, not Blade Runner. If you're not sure, ideas are welcome.

3. You could just be vague, or propose a new idea for an outside location that would fit with the general theme. I've had a couple instances of characters with detailed backgrounds set in the player's own pre-made cities, which inhibits my ability to GM because the player knows more about the location than I do. This rule is just to avoid that situation.

4. VERY good question that I should've answered in the description but neglected! About a year ago, there were Nox hiding in every dark corner. Everyone knew someone who went mad before they collapsed and died. 1/10th of the population were host to Nox: 20 people died, while the rest were never the same. Most of the casualties were pets and livestock. The Zephyr Extinct saved a lot of lives but were overwhelmed -- but then, after about 5 months, it just stopped. No one's seen a Nox or a Horror in a long while. People are starting to finally relax and let their guard down.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Lucky
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Honestly, I didn't really have anything in mind for non-humans. Would gene modification and the like be a thing? Maybe even just cosmetically. Also I understand the bit for detailed backgrounds, but I wouldn't get too into it. Keep it very open, you know?
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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Honestly, I didn't really have anything in mind for non-humans. Would gene modification and the like be a thing? Maybe even just cosmetically. Also I understand the bit for detailed backgrounds, but I wouldn't get too into it. Keep it very open, you know?


Sure, gene modification could totally be a thing! Especially if it's tech/science combined with something organic, I'm down for it!

Any vague/open/simple backgrounds for outsider characters would work! :D
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Plank Sinatra
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Cool, a lot of the tech level questions I had got answered above. I'll get to work as soon as I can. Nothing like a global pandemic to give you the time to write.
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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Woohoo! Thanks Plank, good to see ya!! I hope this'll be a good distraction from the global nightmares right now. 💚
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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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Not to double-post, but I'm rethinking exactly what Horrors and the Nox are.

Nox can take many forms, but mostly they're flickering shadows or skittering insect-ish things on the ceiling with no definite form. They're ghosts, spirits, poltergeists. As long as they exist without a host, their energy decays rapidly. If you catch a Nox and contain it overnight, it will starve and dissipate into nothing.

The Nox, therefore, need a host. They beeline for the first warm body and possess it, and feed off that person's (or animal's) life force until there's nothing left, which sometimes takes a week or more. In the meantime, the possessed body slowly turns into a Horror.

You know those parasites that latch onto ants and control the zombie bodies? That's kind of what's happening here. The original mind takes a backseat to the Nox, who becomes the new owner of the body. What happens next really depends on the individual Nox: most of the time the person goes mad. Other times they're catching and eating rats in the sewer. Sometimes they're inexplicably bloodthirsty and dangerous.

You can tell a Horror by the gray film over their eyes; they don't really focus on anything, like there's a lost connection. If a host is possessed long enough, a dark oil starts to film their skin. Horrors that have gone untreated for weeks could end up looking like the monster from the black lagoon: a disgusting oily creature that attacks anything in sight.

Unless the ZE capture the host and safely extract the Nox, the host eventually dies. The original Nox flees to find another host, and another Nox is born out of the dead person's soul.

Even when the Nox is extracted, the host is rarely the same. There's probably a safe harbor in Rig exclusively dedicated to the care of people who were hosts, who have lost their minds or developed peculiar instabilities. The oil stains their skin a bruised color, and their eyes are permanently gray, among other less common features.

When someone mentions "hunting horrors" they usually mean possessed animals, which are considered monsters and are killed on the spot. To call a possessed human a "Horror" is considered derogatory though it is technically true.
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Lucky
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I'll read over yours and then get to work on mine!
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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Grey Omen
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Grey Omen !!!

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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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@Grey Omen I love Cedar!! I think he and Fluke might get along fantastically. (or hate each other's guts, depends on how it goes!)

Please do copy his sheet over to Characters, for he is approved! 💚
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Only time will tell...

Thanks! I'll get him over right away.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by drewccapp
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Oh! My! God! MOKLEY IS BACK! I am 1000000000% making a character for this! I have missed you SO MUCH!
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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Holy crap it's Drew! 😂 It's been an age and a half!!! Can't wait to see your character!!
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by LuckyBlackCat
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LuckyBlackCat Cats Will Rule The World

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Hey, working on a character for this! I should have the CS ready tomorrow.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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Awesome!! I can't wait to meet them!
Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by drewccapp
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This one is a different type of character than I've been playing lately. Hoping I can be consistent in how she is without letting the others leak in.



Also, yeah it has been an age and a half. If I hadn't started reading through Lantern again I wouldn't have noticed you had logged in recently. To this day, Lantern has been my favorite RP of all time while with the RPG, and a lot of that is owed to you.
Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Mokley
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It seems Listener has a bit of guilt at play! Really interesting that such a chatterbox has this codename, too. Totally approved, please copy her to Characters!

And, aaaa thank you so much! Lantern is still my favorite RP that I've run, but wouldn't have got nearly as far if you hadn't stuck with it! I can't make promises here though, I've run 20+ games on this site and a few of them never even got a page in before they died. 😂

We've got a solid mix of personalities here though! Fluke is silent and stands way too close, Cedar is quiet and stands far away, and Listener can just talk for both of them.

Edit: To everyone, I'm marking this RP as full based on those who are currently working on their CS. So if you've posted interest already, you're ok!
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