[OOC] The Whispering Badlands

[Deserted]

Btw. it appears that the img-tag in your CS is malfunctioning.

It appears that way, doesn't it? But I will have you know I don't have a picture to display yet. Gotcha there. ;)

[Deserted]

So, I'm figuring that for the next two characters we should do like that round robin storytelling people do around a camp fire.

Person 1: Once upon a time there was a Navigator who delved into the Whispering Badlands. He was tall and... *ding*

Person 2: He had a head like a duck

Person 1: Be serious, this is a serious roleplaying game with a serious character in it.

Person 2: Hey, I can make this character however I want *Ding*

Person 2: Dangit!

Person 3: He was skilled with swordfighting...

And so on.

What do you guys think? (This is just me being a dope, in case you can't tell.)

[MacabreFox]

@beyond visions I sent you my PM regarding my CS.

As for everyone else, I'm eager to see what you all think of my character, if they are approved. (;

[Deserted]

@MacabreFoxIs it a duplicate of another character out there only the "evil twin?" Because that would be totally lame.

[MacabreFox]

@MacabreFoxIs it a duplicate of another character out there only the "evil twin?" Because that would be totally lame.

@Deserted

Nah.

Ladies, and gentlemen, I give you, Grace O'Faolain!

[Deserted]

Gasp! It's incredible! It's awe-inspiring! It's... not showing up.

[MacabreFox]

Gasp! It's incredible! It's awe-inspiring! It's... not showing up.

@Deserted

Are you sure mate? Cuz I'm reading it just fine.

[Deserted]

@macabrefoxIt didn't have one of those update or new post icons. We're good.

[Deserted]

So that's all of the characters. That means it's story time!

Story... story... story...

@MacabreFox@beyond visions@Fetzen@dreamingflowersCome on everybody, let's get the chant rolling

Story... Story... Story...

[beyond visions]

@Deserted
Actually, there is one last character coming, and after that I will release the character relationship sheets, since we will beginning a week after the exploration started. Thus the characters should know each other to a certain degree.
Once those are in and finished, we start.

[Deserted]

Is the last character a player or an NPC?

Never mind, I keep seeing the ooc before the rest of the postings.

[dreamingflowers]

Oh I love Grace! , an amazing and well put together character. Also very glad I'm not the only female in this story :)

[Deserted]

So, since we are jumping in the middle, I think it important to point out how Rook recruits.

The Recruitment

Rather than tracking down any individual (save for Emmet, who just got a "Get your stuff, we're heading to the Badlands.") he allowed the individual to come to him. It came a buzz of rumors and hearsay and exposure that Rook was the fast-track to solve problems, get glory, or feed the family... for those who don't mind the threat of getting killed in the process. It was like one of those peer-pressure challenges that people find themselves talking about even though they have no interest in the subject. To a number of people, they swear that a level of destiny was pushing them together. His nephew could vouch, however, that it was nothing of the sort. How exactly it worked remained befuddling. But what was certain was that it was all under the control of Rook, and rarely did he walk away without acquiring the talent (if not specific individual) that he had written in a list earlier.

The recruitment was odd as well. Whereas nobles would enter with fanfare and have a line of potential candidates clear down the street that they slowly eliminated one by one (or on occasion large populations without consideration.) His was hardly even an interview. When someone entered, after expressing their interest, they would often try to sell themselves, plead, persuade, or rationalize. Their attempt was usually interrupted by Rook, who would explain. "I only need three questions answered...
First, it is very perilous to go on this journey. Your own exaggeration of skill, or lack of commitment could get us all killed. Even if you are loyal and accurate, we may all still die. Are you aware of this?

Secondly, is there anything I need to know about that could endanger the team?"

After asking these two and receiving a satisfactory answer he would start working out the meeting places and needed equipment. If asked what the third question was, he would look as if it were obvious. "Third question speaks for itself. Are you ready?"

From the front, this was sheer insanity. Rook could wind up with any crazy fool tagging along. However, from the inner workings of his nephew was able to observe that Rook was anything but disinterested in his team. Hours, days, and sometimes months of research had been poured into finding people just the right fit. Even before they knew that they were wanting to go with him, he often had a name, reputation, witnesses, and references who told him what he wanted to know without realizing that they had been interviewed or that he had been "asking questions about so-and-so." So natural were the conversations, that at first Emmet thought it was casual conversation to kill time. It was nothing of the sort.

Upon clarification in a written document. It made it very clear more for the relatives and friends of the expedition that each member was doing this of their own free will and because they thought it was a good idea. There was always an equal share of treasures and glory, it was divided up in equal portions. 1 share per member, no favorites. The only restriction was if a member willfully chose to jeopardize the mission, or depart from the leadership (Which by definition was NOT deemed to be Rook, but established him as default should other leadership not arise.) Even then someone could return (assuming the task had not been completed) with the exception of if they did not resolve their error or it had resulted in the death of one or more of the team. This was considered a willful withdraw from the contract, and the lot in question would be divided into additional shares among the loyal members, or had there been loss of life, distributed to the next of kin to compensate for the loss. If anybody died without fault of any person in the team, then their share would be distributed to the next-of-kin even if a single member returned.

These were written on parchment 4 copies for each member (including Rook, just like he were on equal footing with the rest.) One batch was wrapped in oiled cloth, and sealed in the local church. One copy became public record, just in case someone deserted and returned to town. These also came with a sketch of the member. The other two copies were given to the team-members, one to be held on their person, the other to be held by their next-of-kin.

[MacabreFox]

So, since we are jumping in the middle, I think it important to point out how Rook recruits.

The Recruitment

Rather than tracking down any individual (save for Emmet, who just got a "Get your stuff, we're heading to the Badlands.") he allowed the individual to come to him. It came a buzz of rumors and hearsay and exposure that Rook was the fast-track to solve problems, get glory, or feed the family... for those who don't mind the threat of getting killed in the process. It was like one of those peer-pressure challenges that people find themselves talking about even though they have no interest in the subject. To a number of people, they swear that a level of destiny was pushing them together. His nephew could vouch, however, that it was nothing of the sort. How exactly it worked remained befuddling. But what was certain was that it was all under the control of Rook, and rarely did he walk away without acquiring the talent (if not specific individual) that he had written in a list earlier.

The recruitment was odd as well. Whereas nobles would enter with fanfare and have a line of potential candidates clear down the street that they slowly eliminated one by one (or on occasion large populations without consideration.) His was hardly even an interview. When someone entered, after expressing their interest, they would often try to sell themselves, plead, persuade, or rationalize. Their attempt was usually interrupted by Rook, who would explain. "I only need three questions answered...
First, it is very perilous to go on this journey. Your own exaggeration of skill, or lack of commitment could get us all killed. Even if you are loyal and accurate, we may all still die. Are you aware of this?

Secondly, is there anything I need to know about that could endanger the team?"

After asking these two and receiving a satisfactory answer he would start working out the meeting places and needed equipment. If asked what the third question was, he would look as if it were obvious. "Third question speaks for itself. Are you ready?"

From the front, this was sheer insanity. Rook could wind up with any crazy fool tagging along. However, from the inner workings of his nephew was able to observe that Rook was anything but disinterested in his team. Hours, days, and sometimes months of research had been poured into finding people just the right fit. Even before they knew that they were wanting to go with him, he often had a name, reputation, witnesses, and references who told him what he wanted to know without realizing that they had been interviewed or that he had been "asking questions about so-and-so." So natural were the conversations, that at first Emmet thought it was casual conversation to kill time. It was nothing of the sort.

Upon clarification in a written document. It made it very clear more for the relatives and friends of the expedition that each member was doing this of their own free will and because they thought it was a good idea. There was always an equal share of treasures and glory, it was divided up in equal portions. 1 share per member, no favorites. The only restriction was if a member willfully chose to jeopardize the mission, or depart from the leadership (Which by definition was NOT deemed to be Rook, but established him as default should other leadership not arise.) Even then someone could return (assuming the task had not been completed) with the exception of if they did not resolve their error or it had resulted in the death of one or more of the team. This was considered a willful withdraw from the contract, and the lot in question would be divided into additional shares among the loyal members, or had there been loss of life, distributed to the next of kin to compensate for the loss. If anybody died without fault of any person in the team, then their share would be distributed to the next-of-kin even if a single member returned.

These were written on parchment 4 copies for each member (including Rook, just like he were on equal footing with the rest.) One batch was wrapped in oiled cloth, and sealed in the local church. One copy became public record, just in case someone deserted and returned to town. These also came with a sketch of the member. The other two copies were given to the team-members, one to be held on their person, the other to be held by their next-of-kin.

@Deserted

So speaking of the recruitment...

Where exactly did we gather? Just for reference that is. Some little dusty town on the fringe of the badlands, or is there a city of larger proportions perhaps farther away?

Oh I love Grace! , an amazing and well put together character. Also very glad I'm not the only female in this story :)

@dreamingflowers

Thank you (:! I think Floure and Grace will get along just fine, she may even be protective over her like a little sister, so long as she doesn't try to manipulate her.

[Deserted]

Where exactly did we gather? Just for reference that is. Some little dusty town on the fringe of the badlands, or is there a city of larger proportions perhaps farther away?

I would say it depends on your character. If you want them a real bad-ass, then he would have probably tracked you down and set up his rumor mill to draw you in. If your character is a nobody, he probably didn't really have to look very far. (You could have a chance encounter just about anywhere, and we could just say that it was en-rout to pick up one of our more glorious members.) Likewise, if nobody particularly wants to be famous or adept, we can have it be a short search and just have them lurking at the edge of the badlands.

[The New Yorker]

Well, there's that. Howdy, all, you can call me TNY if you'd like. It's a pleasure to finally introduce myself. I've been stalking around here for the last 24 hours

[beyond visions]

@Deserted@MacabreFox@dreamingflowers@The New Yorker@Fetzen

The character relationship sheet is out. Try having it finished as soon as possible because once all them are in we can then begin with my first post. I most likely have already clarified this, but we will begin a week after the arrival into the Whispering Badlands. Because of this, the characters should know each other to a certain extent through either friendships, rivalries, romantic interests, or somewhere in between. Once you have finished your character relationships, post it in the character slot below where I put Emmett’s, you don't need approval for that.

[MacabreFox]

@Deserted@MacabreFox@dreamingflowers@The New Yorker@Fetzen

The character relationship sheet is out. Try having it finished as soon as possible because once all them are in we can then begin with my first post. I most likely have already clarified this, but we will begin a week after the arrival into the Whispering Badlands. Because of this, the characters should know each other to a certain extent through either friendships, rivalries, romantic interests, or somewhere in between. Once you have finished your character relationships, post it in the character slot below where I put Emmett’s, you don't need approval for that.

@beyond visions

I'm finishing up some house cleaning atm, but I'll definitely have it finished today, that's a guarantee.

@dreamingflowers

Just a curious question, how does Floure perform her fortune-tellings? With a tarot deck? Rune-reading? Geomancy? Pendulums?

[beyond visions]

@MacabreFox Hats off to you on the character relationship sheet, I almost nearly choked because I was laughing as I read Grace's feelings for Emmett while also eating.
Now, I just can't wait to start

[MacabreFox]

@MacabreFox Hats off to you on the character relationship sheet, I almost nearly choked because I was laughing as I read Grace's feelings for Emmett while also eating.
Now, I just can't wait to start

@beyond visions

Why thank you! Just imagine a really pissed of irish woman, and that's pretty much Grace. I'm excited to start as well, and read what everyone elses character relationships are! I have to say, I've encountered Opinions of characters before, but not relationships written out like this. It certainly adds more depth to our character development too.