[OOC] Underwater Fire of their Eyes

ships gone down with the lanterns lit
^{-Sharon Olds}

We're all monsters, y'know. Maybe some more than most.

concept

---

This is an ocean journey through a world that in daylight is full of whimsical beauty, color and imagination -- but at night, the mysterious and enormous Anima rule the land and sea. One young pirate would steal a ship of his own and sail for the rumored island of the Anima's origin, gathering a crew along the way. Some say there are untold riches hidden within the old tombs and cities there; others claim there is a well of power, or a fountain of youth -- but the gleam in the pirate's sharp smile promises a fortune far greater.

inspirations taken from One Piece, Mushi-Shi, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, among others!

world

---

In daylight, the world is a strange and whimsical place full of thick bright forests and hidden doors. The deserts teem with fairies, and selkies sing across the ocean. Animals here may be of a different size and serve a different purpose to civilization: roosters saddled like horses, rabbits kept to guard the grain against mice. Curiouser still are the cities and settlements that dot the countless islands of this world.

At night the color vanishes, the laughter goes still, and the Anima rise. These are ordinary animals -- deer, fish, dogs, owls -- whose colossal size can sometimes dwarf even the highest clock-tower. Their eyes glow murkily, as if out of a tremendous depth, haunting in the dark. They are rarely hostile, but are known to be quiet, wise, and indifferent to the common problems so small below them.

Different cultures have different interpretations of the Anima, but one story remains the same: when a particularly strong-willed person dies, their spirit is simply too powerful to disappear. It takes a different form instead -- one that matches the strength of the spirit.

some pictures for flavor

by Mikael Mellbris


by Taega


by Dawid Planeta

gameplay

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The game begins with Sorn, a shark-toothed pirate about to steal a ship for himself and anyone who'll come with him to the island without a name. I'd like to run a single short adventure to introduce each individual PC, based on that PC's character sheet and/or the player's ideas for an adventure to properly introduce their character. This means that most players won't get to post for a long while, but the proper integration of each character into the story I think will be worth it.

The core of the story is therefore in the character-centric mini-adventures, and not in the main plot. We may never make it to the island-with-no-name, but there'll be plenty of mysteries along the way.

characters

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Characters may be human or of any race the player can imagine, as long as they are original. Please be mindful that any NPCs, locations, factions, world histories, kingdoms -- anything outside the character itself -- is automatically forfeit to the GM to use and manipulate as needed by the story. You control your character and your character alone, but bring on your ideas and story prompts!

the character sheet

NAME:
HAIR COLOR:
EYE COLOR:
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:
SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS:

DESCRIBE A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM.

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH?

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME?

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY?

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL?

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET?

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD?

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE?

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE?

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL?

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM?

a pirate captain

---

Sorn

NAME: Benjamin Sorn
HAIR COLOR: Gray
EYE COLOR: Green
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Sharp sharklike teeth, a dangerous grin
SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS: A riddle of small old scars from being slashed, stabbed and shot in minor scuffles and celebrations

DESCRIBE A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM.
Scruffy, unwashed, a little too sure of himself. An uncertain age, but certainly too young for his iron-gray hair. An unsettling smile. Probably a thief. Knows something but isn't telling.

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH?
Family? His mother was a strict businesswoman, his father tended the bar, his siblings drooled a lot. They might as well be dead now, if they aren't dead already -- the Waste took them even before the fire. Friends? You mean those traitors who tied him to the dock and sailed off without him? Those friends? He surrounds himself with people who have a drive, who believe in something, who want something. They're far more amusing to watch.

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME?
He was born in Stonehollow and grew up in the pub his parents owned. After the island fell to the Waste and Stonehollow burned to the ground, Sorn spent a year living in the wilderness surrounding the ruins. He was caught robbing food from a pirate ship that had anchored in the bay, but instead of killing him the pirates took him aboard. He was amusing, they said. He's lived with them ever since -- until now.

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY?
Given that he's usually on a ship, there aren't many places to go -- besides the cargo hold, where he'll happily wreak as much destruction as he can. Destruction always makes him feel better.

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL?
Sorn is afraid of dying worthless and nameless. He hasn't put it into words, even to himself -- but it shows in his reckless confidence and his need to do things that will get him seen and known. He would never admit weakness to anyone -- at least not anyone he's met so far.

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET?
His sharp teeth are only an effect of a terrible decision he made as a youth -- a regret that haunts him still.

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD?
Other people's failure.

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
Once, maybe.

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH.
The crew had only let him keep his clothes after a bloody fight. If he had any important possessions, they don't matter now.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE.
Bare feet, rough and calloused and stained dark by years of ships and weather and sicknesses.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE?
Beer, bile and body odor. The pub was far from nostalgic. He still can't stand the smell of cheap ale.

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD.
He'd often steal from the pub's patrons, sometimes at the encouragement of his less-than-stellar parents -- but one night he stole a horse, and he rode through the night and morning to the opposite end of the island, where he looked out toward another island he would later build a boat to explore. It was the first taste of independence and power he can remember.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL?
Sorn wants to be known and respected for the way he is, without having to dress properly -- and without having to leave a trail of bodies. He's not quite sure yet what reputation he'd want -- he just wants one.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM?
He's tied to a dock piling, the sun's coming up and the local guards will find him any minute. Unless he escapes first, which he fully intends to do.

rules

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There's one golden rule: Don't Surprise the GM. My PM box is open: we can work together to arrange for character secrets and hidden things, big reveals and plot twists, but I absolutely must know everything you know about your character. I promise I will never be happy with a surprise reveal -- but I can help build up to it, if I know it's coming. ;)

[Mokley]

Character sheets, questions, rants, spam -- everything can go here in the OOC, as you like. :)

[Daglobster]

Sweeeet! I'll have a character up soon.

[Loki Odinson]

New interested member. Was gonna post on interest check but saw OOC was up so here I am ^-^
On another note, the character integration sounds like One Piece, which is fun and all, so you'll hear no complaints from me lol

[Sisyphus]

Awesome. I'll get to work on my character - I'm thinking something like a Miranda raised by sea serpents.

[Nemaisare]

I've been considering my Nils character, if you remember him, Mokley. Youngster eager for adventure with some experience aboard ships already. Also, a brat. Pretty run of the mill, really.

Though also considering other thoughts. So many thoughts.... It's wondrous. I feel like we need someone to have a rooster mount who is inspired by Heihei from Moana...

[Mokley]

New interested member. Was gonna post on interest check but saw OOC was up so here I am ^-^
On another note, the character integration sounds like One Piece, which is fun and all, so you'll hear no complaints from me lol

@Loki Odinson

The character integration is definitely 100% stolen from One Piece. xD

---

I've been considering my Nils character, if you remember him, Mokley. Youngster eager for adventure with some experience aboard ships already. Also, a brat. Pretty run of the mill, really.

Though also considering other thoughts. So many thoughts.... It's wondrous. I feel like we need someone to have a rooster mount who is inspired by Heihei from Moana...

@Nemaisare

I do remember Nils! He'd be more than welcome! :D The idea of someone riding Heihei .... aboard a ship .... well it simply must be done.

[CollectorOfMyst]

Time to break out an old friend of mine...

I generally use character pictures, if that's alright?

[Mokley]

@CollectorOfMyst Character pics are awesome! I just could never find a suitable one for Sorn. x3

Can't wait to meet your cool dude! :D

[Loki Odinson]

Gonna go for a gunner/bounty hunter turn pirate, but can't decide which OC to use...

OC pics

Amos Noire


Venyamin


Junia Hale

[Rekaigan]

@Mokley

I'll get a CS up later tonight!

[Mokley]

Before anyone gets too far or too swayed one way or another: while everyone is definitely welcome to make a pirate character, all characters don't have to be pirates -- or seafaring at all for that matter. Equally good are any characters who live in any way among the islands, who might be convinced to set off on adventure. ;)

@Loki Odinson Those all look equally awesome. o.o

[Sisyphus]

Behold! A disney princess!

Slee

NAME: Slee

HAIR COLOR: Red

EYE COLOR: Blue

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:
Piercing, wild eyes, matted red hair and clothes made of palm fronds and seaweed.

PICTURE:

What she might look like, if she cleaned up a bit and put on human clothes.

SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS:
Face covered in freckles. A big, jagged scar across her back.

DESCRIBE A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM.
Slee is a strange, strange person. She has no sense of social graces and a tendency to touch, smell, and/or attempt to groom just about anyone she sees. She’s also clearly very in touch with her emotions and broadcasts everything she’s thinking or feeling constantly – if she’s angry at someone, she’ll punch them in the face, if she likes them she hugs them, if she’s sad she cries. Also, she talks to animals, and seems to think they talk to her, which is hardly normal.

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH?
The Senneli, meaning ‘children’ in their own tongue. An ancient and long-lived race of sea-serpents that raised her from infancy on her island, they are no more than fifteen in number. Slee knows each and every one of them personally by name and considers them her closest friends and family. They are a communal, family-oriented people, constantly broadcasting their thoughts and feelings to each other and speaking in a universal ‘sea-language’ that they have also taught Slee, which every animal is capable of understanding.

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME?
As far as she knows, Slee was born on her island, a lush tropical paradise where she has lived her entire life. She lives in a cove on the eastern side of the island, where her family can visit her often when they come up from the deep places where they make their homes.

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY?
When Slee’s upset with one of the Senneli, she goes to the center of the island and climbs up the mountain there, where none of them can reach her.

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL?
She’s afraid that she doesn’t really belong among the Senneli, being unlike them and unable to live underwater as they do, and that she’ll spend the rest of her life without someone else like her. She tells everyone about this, and the Senneli are doing an increasingly poor job at comforting her.

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET?
Not only does she not have any secrets, the concept of hiding things from other people confuses her.

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD?
Crabs! They tell the best jokes. Also the concept of personal space and the idea of people being unable to swim.

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
She’s never met another human being. So, no.

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH.
Her home, her family, a fist-sized pearl that her ‘mother’ brought up from the depths for her.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE.
Smooth and pale feet on black rock or white sand. The undersides, of course, are as calloused as you would expect from someone who lives on an island and doesn’t wear shoes.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE?
Seaweed, wood smoke, salt water and tropical fruit – she prepares most of her meals herself as the Senneli taught her, and she’s a strict vegetarian (side effect of being able to talk to animals).

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD.
She sits in a crib of driftwood and seaweed on the beach. Five massive, serpentine heads poke up from the water and hover above, peering down at her. The sun is setting, and slowly, her family begins to sing the soft, wordless hum of their people.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL?
To belong somewhere.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM?
Something new has happened – a wooden thing her family calls a ‘ship’ has arrived on the island, and strange things that look like her (but bigger and rougher) have gotten off of it. She’s heard them yelling at each other about ‘the cargo’ and ‘laying low’ in rough, coarse voices, and once when she snuck over to take a peek she saw them hauling something off their ship and burying it in the jungle. They’ve been there for about a week already, and it doesn’t seem like they’re leaving any time soon. Her family has forbidden her to go near, but… Slee is a curious sort by nature.

[Mokley]

@Sisyphus Woop! Our first character! :D

Slee looks pretty awesome, and definitely a unique addition to the crew. Totally approved. Feel free to copy her over to the Characters tab.

If there's anything else I should know about her, her origin, or her ability to talk to animals, totally let me know here or in PM!

[Rekaigan]

@Mokley
What's the level of tech in this world? Also magic?

[Mokley]

@Rekaigan Good question! Tech levels can be weird if you want -- in my head I'm thinking most of the time clockwork is the highest tech, but some places will have steam, railroads, early-era electricity. But if you also want to crack open a soda can, go for it.

As far as the world goes, I don't think "magic" exists much in the usual sense, but sometimes nature works in peculiar ways: floating rocks and flying islands, goopy living glowing liquid that can power lightbulbs, plants with significant alchemical effects, etc.

In general though, feel free to suggest whatever feels right for your character and where they live -- if necessary we can tweak it so it fits securely in everything else. :)

[Majoraa]

@Mokley

Did i ever tell you your avatar reminds me of the babadook?

Well it does and it's staring into my soul.

[Mokley]

@Majoras End Excellent. As a GM, I am pleased by this effect. >:3

[CollectorOfMyst]

Brass

NAME: Brass Roseblood
HAIR COLOR: Brown, which is honestly quite boring, when you think about it.
EYE COLOR: Green, though what shade, changes with the light,
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: It isn't really a 'feature', but he always has his sword with him.
SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS: None to speak of.

DESCRIBE A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM.
Brass, to those who haven't quite met him yet, could easily come off as arrogant, or a troublemaker. However, on appearances alone, he could appear to be a well-worn traveller, despite his youth, what with his leather coat and boots both being weathered by the road.

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH?
None to speak of, I'm afraid. He's been alone in the world for a long time. The only one who might be alive is his father, but Brass never knew the man, nor will he. Don't worry about it, though - he isn't lonely, not at all. There're a few innkeepers who know him by name - probably take pity on him, to be honest - and he can well afford to pay them for bed and board, maybe for a few nights at a time before he moves on. He wouldn't exactly call the people who played him in cards friends, though. Enemies, more like - he's been in enough scraps in the aftermath to know that some dice rollers don't take kindly to his 'luck'.

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME?
Brass was born inland, in a small town. He doesn't tell people where - because to him, it's a grave. He may as well have buried the whole town, as well as his mother. Now, he's mostly looking for a new home - and he's always been drawn to the sea.

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY?
Angry isn't something you'll see Brass be. He doesn't need to go anywhere. He's fine, honestly. If he feels any 'angry' coming on, he buries it, deep down, where he's determined to let it stay.

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL?
Strangely enough, for his lifestyle, his greatest fear is dying. Dying alone and forgotten. But he isn't dying today. No, siree. He's not going to tell you about this, either. It's... it's not something you can easily confess.

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET?
Other than the ones you already know? No, he doesn't have many secrets to keep. But if you trust him with one, he'll be sure to add it to the list of ones he does.

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD?
Now, that depends. What do you consider to be a loud laugh out? A joke? That'll earn you a smile or a chuckle. Losing to him in a game of cards? Perhaps a little more. You'd probably need to really amuse him to get the full-blown belly laugh you're asking for, though.

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
One, once... but other than that, no. He's had his dalliances, from time to time. Women, men, both, neither - didn't matter. None of them were serious. He might give someone a second look, but no, no long-term crushes or relationships. That doesn't mean he'll never fall prey to it, however.

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH.
He doesn't really have that many material possessions - though, of the ones he does have, a good number of them are irreplaceable. His sword, his ring, and his jacket. The ring he wears is a memento of his mother - it was her signet ring, and even if it came down to selling it or starve, he'd go without food. His sword also came from her - though, it never belonged to her. It was a gift, for his last birthday with her. He might be more willing to sell that. And as for his jacket... well, it's a good jacket! He's had it for a while, and he's probably going to have it for a good while more.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE.
Well, his feet are in his boots, for one. About knee-high, good leather, that sort of thing. A flagstone floor - standard, for this establishment, if it's not wooden boards instead. Wooden table legs, chair legs. Yep, this is an inn. And he's sitting at a table. There's some golden light coming in through a window, somewhere - so it's either dawn or dusk. Probably dusk.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE?
Good smells. Puffy rice... and mince, maybe? A stew? He can't quite tell. And... a warm, nice smell. Mother. She was a good cook. Always making good food. He helped, from time to time. It certainly made it easier on her.

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD.
A memory? Hmm... it's probably... the girl. Brass was sitting up in a tree, in the garden, when he saw her across the way. She had golden hair, and it fell down over her shoulder in a long braid. She had just picked a flower - a lily? A rose? And when she smelled its perfume... the most beautiful of smiles lit her face. It wasn't a grin or a smirk, and she didn't bare her teeth... but, it was beautiful nonetheless.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL?
Honestly... he doesn't know himself. I suppose that's what he's trying to find.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM?
The guy sitting across from him. They're playing a game of cards and dice, and both of them have placed large bets. The man across from him is a thug. Bullied his coin out of others, probably. And he's getting increasingly frustrated by his poor luck. Brass has been playing the game for what, an hour, now? The man'll probably accuse him of cheating, and normally, he might be right. Who doesn't? But this time, there's not a single card in his sleeve, nor a loaded dice. Just Lady Luck. And clearly she favours Brass in this case. Let's just hope the guy doesn't try to start anything, shall we? He might not look that pretty, but Brass would hate to ruin what little he already has.

[CollectorOfMyst]

@Rekaigan Good question! Tech levels can be weird if you want -- in my head I'm thinking most of the time clockwork is the highest tech, but some places will have steam, railroads, early-era electricity. But if you also want to crack open a soda can, go for it.

As far as the world goes, I don't think "magic" exists much in the usual sense, but sometimes nature works in peculiar ways: floating rocks and flying islands, goopy living glowing liquid that can power lightbulbs, plants with significant alchemical effects, etc.

In general though, feel free to suggest whatever feels right for your character and where they live -- if necessary we can tweak it so it fits securely in everything else. :)

@Mokley

Hmm... well, that means flintlock pistols and rifles, maybe better. You're thinking late-Georgian/Regency to early Victorian (even though I'm pretty sure that electricity was a mid-Victorian invention, not later.)

[CollectorOfMyst]

And now... for my third post in a row on this page... @Mokley

Does this fit your idea of Sorn?

Not quite indeterminate age, but since I go on Pinterest deep-dives anyway, thought I might drop it off.