[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/US0gVIp.png[/img][/center] [color=0000FF][b]"Hey Terra, what do you think of that canister everyone's talking about?"[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"Canister?"[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"Yeah, you know: the one that crashed into the old landing pad yesterday that's been like the [i]only[/i] thing on people's minds!?"[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"Oh, [i]that[/i]. Heh. I [i]don't[/i] really think about it."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"It's like... literally the biggest news in [i]forever[/i]. You know people are saying Otherworlders sent it..."[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"Mel..."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"Terra..."[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"You know that Otherworlders aren't real. At least... not anymore."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"[i]Seriously[/i]? How can you even [i]think [/i]that? They literally built [i]everything[/i], including Unity, where we're like... [i]living [/i]right now."[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"That's why I said 'not [i]anymore[/i]', dinkus. It's not like I don't wanna dream [i]too[/i] sometimes: [i]honestly[/i]. I just... think they already would've come if they were ever [i]going [/i]to. Besides, this place isn't so bad."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"Constant threat of incineration and agonizing death aside."[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"Only if you stay in Unity, you know."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"...Yeah, I know."[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"Things go south here, I'm moving back to the skyforest."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"What if you can't?"[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"Pfft. I've been hearing that word my whole life... or ever since... you know."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"...Yeah, I know."[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"So I'll find a way, like I always do, and you should come with me."[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"Pfft. [i]I'll[/i] be up in the stars, and [i]you'll[/i] be coming with [i]me[/i]!"[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"And how can you be so sure, huh?"[/b][/color] [color=0000FF][b]"I dunno... I just [i]know[/i]."[/b][/color] [color=FF4500][b]"My little sister sure knows a [i]lot [/i]today."[/b][/color][hr][hr] [sub][color=0000FF]Three hundred years ago, the Otherworlders left. Most Venerians were smart and believed their Science. Those people left with them. Some Venerians, however, were stubborn, and believed their [i]own[/i]. Those people stayed. Today, as all Venerians know, their descendants are the only people left. The Otherwordlers disappeared and haven't been heard from in over two centuries. Some of the Otherworlders' Science was good, though. It was the thing that brought life to Venus, that created the floating cities that would one day join hands to create Unity. It has been nearly two hundred years since the Unification and one hundred since the first skyforests, born after long gestation from those floating pods of Science. The Old Books of Science are still followed by those trained in their ways, but their words are strange and arcane. Many of the tools of the Old Science that were not needed by the people were sacrificed so that Unity did not fall from the sky one hundred-thirty years ago when the Great Plunge was narrowly averted. That was when the New Books of Science were written. In those, it was decreed that measurements of Unity's altitude were to always be taken, that weight and waste were to be assiduously kept to a minimum, and that nonessential items were to be jettisoned when necessary. When the skyforests emerged, the New Books were amended and the people learned to use them for resources, as the Old Books had predicted would happen one day. When the air recyclers and the teflon balloons, products of the Old Science, began to falter, the people placed their unswerving faith in both Sciences and ventured out in their sacred teflon suits, protected from the burning rains and air without oxygen. Supplements and, in some cases, replacements were found: the plants themselves pumped out the blessed gas at an incredible rate and their fibres were found to resist the rains. So it was that the New Books brought about the fulfillment of the Old and Unity, from the brink of the Great Plunge once again, knew life. Yet, there are things that the people know they cannot replace: the core structure and the great engines built by the Old Science. Their own Science is new and not yet powerful enough. Gradually, at an almost unnoticeable rate, Unity is sinking. Most everything that [i]could [/i]be stripped from it [i]has [/i]been and, for a third time, the Great Plunge has been averted. With the stern and rational guidance of the Code of Responsible Stewardship (CORS), all conduct within the floating city is governed. Depending on one's role in society, behaviour, and knowledge of Sciences Old and - especially - New, each member of Unity is assigned to a level of privilege from Alpha to Omega. This comes with duties and responsibilities but, most importantly, with an assigned weight allowance for oneself and all personal possessions. Those among the lowest levels complain that it is too low: that they can have nothing more than the clothes on their backs and must starve themselves so as to make weight and avoid The Punishment. However, in doing so, they expose for all to see the lack of character that led to their status within Unity. Should they fail to make weight three times at the annual Festival, they will be punished, and sent to live in a forest the next time one drifts within range. There, they shall live a harsh, short, and savage existence among the ferocious flora and fauna created by the Old Science. This is what the New Science has decreed, for it is what is necessary to postpone the Great Plunge until that Science can come of age. This is what keeps Unity in Balance. Or... at least it [i]was[/i]. Thirty years ago, something strange happened: a shooting star entered the clouds of Venus. Only... it had flashing lights. It blinked and turned. Some people remember it, but most don't. The New Scientists, from their offices with their equipment, told the people what had happened: It was merely an old canister, from hundreds of years ago, that had gotten stuck in orbit during the rushed and foolish evacuation. That orbit had finally decayed and its automated systems had come online as it plunged through the atmosphere. The Otherworlders were no more. The people did not need to worry nor raise their hopes falsely and be disappointed. Then, two days ago, on August 4, 301 AE, a second strange canister arrived. Only, this one didn't plunge through the clouds to die on the hellish Surface. It landed on the Derelict Platform, at the edge of Unity itself, and [i]everybody [/i]saw it.[/color][/sub] [hr][hr][color=FF4500][h2][u]T H E R O L E P L A Y[/u]____ __ _ _ _ _ _ _[/h2] [sub][u][b]The Book shall tell us where we are and where we might go.[/b][/u] It is written that this RPG is a shadow triplet of Father Sky and The Golden World and will take place near-simultaneously and in direct continuity. Characters may not initially move between the three RPGs. However, this may be allowed later on depending on how the story progresses. [u][b]The Book declares what we shall do.[/b] [/u] It is written that Burning Heaven is a semi-hard but slightly fanciful sci-fi roleplay set on an abandoned Venus colony some three hundred years after the last significant contact with outside human civilization. It is a place of beauty, oppression, and danger. Players will have the ability to opt into a driving central mystery and conflict that will unfold and be revealed through the actions of player characters in all three RPGs. In general, I am looking for a group of four in each of the games. Depending on interest, you may or may not be able to run characters in more than one. [u][b]The Book speaks of our responsibilities.[/b][/u] It is written that, in terms of commitment, this should be considered a high casual RPG. A minimum of three paragraphs will be expected along with at least one post per week. I understand that English is not everybody's first language, but please try to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Should you be inactive without notice in the game thread and on discord for more than two weeks, your participation will be considered to have ended. I understand that life happens. No worries and no guilt. I get it. Please communicate, though. [u][b]The Book decrees what our conduct shall be.[/b][/u] It is written that one must observe all of the customary rules about metagaming, powerplaying, and conducting yourself with decency. Of course, I wouldn't expect any problems from the people of Unity, but I have to offer that disclaimer. The main rule here is just to be a good faith actor. If you're not, you will be warned. If it persists, you will be removed. Inactive player characters may be taken over by myself, by other players, or may be killed off. [u][b]The Book shall tell us how to join the people.[/b][/u] This most important question is written last of all, and it may be a little different than you're used to. For this game, it is important that you submit your Character Sheets through DM only, to myself and my Co-GMs [@Medili] and (placeholder). [b][u]Do not post them in this thread or in the OOC, when it opens, until you are approved.[/u][/b] I will announce approved CSes one week after the submission deadline, which is currently TBA. At that point, the discord will open as well. For your convenience, a raw code character sheet template can be found below.[/sub][/color] [hr][hr] [hider=Burning Heaven Character Sheet][code][center][color=F4A460][h1]_ _ _ _ __[u][color=00BFFF]C[/color]haracter [color=00BFFF]N[/color]ame[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h1] [img]Character Image[/img] [sub][h3]_ _ _ __[u]A G E[/u] | [u]G E N D E R[/u] | [u]P R I V I L E G E L E V E L[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [sub][h3]_ _ _ _ __[u]C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of your character's appearance, motivation, and personality.[/i] [sub][h3]_ _ _ _ __[u]B A C K G R O U N D[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of your character's life, experiences, and circumstances up to this point.[/i] [sub][h3]_ _ _ _ __[u]I N V E N T O R Y[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of items regularly in your character's possession or owned by them.[/i] [sub][h3]_ _ _ _ __[u]S C I E N C E B E L I E F[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of your character's science preference (Old, New, or - blasphemously - none) and reasons why.[/i] [sub][h3]_ _ _ _ __[u]S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] ❖ [i]Three[/i] ❖ ❖ [i]to four[/i] ❖ ❖ [i]of these[/i] ❖ ❖ [i]go here[/i] ❖ [sub][h3]_ _ _ _ __[u]W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] ❖ [i]Three[/i] ❖ ❖ [i]to four[/i] ❖ ❖ [i]of these[/i] ❖ ❖ [i]go here[/i] ❖ [sub][h3]_ _ _ _ __[u]C O L O U R C O D E & O T H E R[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]Your character's hex code and any other miscellaneous information. Feel free to use bullet points.[/i] ❖ [i][color=00BFFF]hex code[/color][/i] ❖[/color][/center][/code][/hider] [hr][hr][h1][color=0000FF][u]P E R I L A W A I T S[/u]__ __ _ _ _[/color][/h1]