ERode

From Oubliette to Oublioth [R.I.P]

>The strange heap that had been laying off to the side in the church began to stir.

That's you, Asu.

Lostman Graffiti [Urban Fantasy]

@Ambra@Opposition@Exit@OwO
Alright, I'm awake now, so I'll pose some general questions to begin with, to perhaps facilitate discussion.

How old do you prefer your characters to be? I don't mind some degree of variety, but I generally find that if people are in the same age bracket (12-15, 15-18, 18-25), you can pretty easily just shove them in the same class or club or part-time workplace. Of course, the older they are, the more options they have in terms of profession as well. Can't exactly have 15 y/os be office working colleagues n all.

How many of you wanna go right out of the gate having already encountered Lostman and/or having been involved in some incident before? To clarify, any power granted to you will either change yourself (suddenly becoming incredibly eye-catching and attractive even though you look like a trash gremlin) or change the world (setting things on fire via an exertion of your will), and there are equivalent and opposing repercussions for doing so (you lose memories of your real friends, your body temperature drops).

What do you most enjoy in RPs? Winning in brutal combat? Piecing together mysteries? etc. Try to pick one, ye?

Lostman Graffiti [Urban Fantasy]

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Schoolgirls disappear and adults don’t bat an eye.
The pruner stalks skylines, leaving prophets blind.
Spiders smile and simper, paradise seasoned with lies.
Two men twist hearts to their own ends, their paths entwined.
Bleak graylight fills the night with sighs.
Pale sunlight sears the shadows from the day.
And somewhere, nowhere, the Lostman watches, waits.
For shooting stars, fallen astray.
For human desires, burning away.
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The metropolis of Tenoroshi exists under a veneer of calm, a monochrome cityscape in a constant state of rebirth. Monorails curve eloquently around towers dressed in scaffolding, while convenience stores sprout like weeds every three blocks. School-bound children share the same streets as wage slaves and punk rockers, a human melting pot created by a too-small world, while warehouses and amusement parks stand empty, unmade, relics of child-like dreams hollowed out by pragmatic necessity. No one forgets though. The smokestacks of the crematorium inhales and exhales day in and day out. A holy man stands watch over the graveyard, ringing a bell to help the dead pass on. Streetside memorials emerge as splashes of color upon the pavement, whether it be for those lost by accident, lost by malice, or simply lost. Grayscale is the world of eight hundred thousand people, no matter how bright the neon lights of the red-light district, how vibrant the beats of the downtown core.

This indifference and numbness though, is what keeps this microcosm of a world functioning.

Beneath the grayscale veneer of Tenoroshi is a world that no ordinary person would want to comprehend. Grisly murders go uninvestigated and unreported, dying with the memories of the victims. Buildings vanish overnight, leaving nothing but empty, overgrown lots. The mayor of the town never appears in person, but continues to win elections, over and over again. Rumors and superstitions cross the airwaves constantly, as television hosts invite psychologists and hacks to make sense of the incomprehensible. But no consensus is ever reached, and the legends only grow. Of the Widow, the ruin of all betrayers and deceivers. Of the Firefly, bearing a burning hand, a burning heart. Of Snip-Snip, the giant extending from long-cast shadows. Of Harmoney, the bond-maker and the bond-breaker. All things that no ordinary person would want to comprehend, all things that no ordinary person would want to face, to explore.

But for those that do delve beneath the grayscale veneer of the apathetic metropolis, they would undoubtedly be lead to a certain tale. The story of the Lostman, the miracle-granter who lights the way for the lacking. Never for any price, never for any design. The most famous enigma of all, the most obscure of them all, the most desired of all.

They are there, on the underside of Tenoroshi

The root of every incident.

The beholder of all.

The asker of one.

What would you change? The world or yourself?

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Lostman Graffiti is an urban fantasy RP where you play youths living in the coastal metropolis of Tenoroshi who either have ties to or willingly investigate the mysterious happenings of the city you're in. Some of you will possess powers, granted to you by the enigmatic Lostman, but the usage of these powers come at a cost. Others of you will be normal, but possess the skill, grit, and luck necessary to remain human in unnatural circumstances. This is primarily a character-driven RP with an overarching plot that's marked by the occurrence of "incidents"; thus, I suggest creating characters who have a predilection for getting into trouble or are just generally proactive.

The RP itself is going to be vaguely gray. My ideal is for a RP where players can do happy, stupid things in their spare time, but also confront sad and terrifying things when shit goes down. If the players aren't massively evil people, that'd be cool too...but I'm willing to make exceptions if those exceptions are interesting.

I'm looking for 4 to 6 players who are able to post on a weekly basis without nagging from myself. Honestly, I get attached to player characters and future arcs enough that I probably don't actually have the willpower to yeet people out of the RP for being slow and not posting, so just don't be that guy and spare me the PTSD.

If questions, drop them. If character concepts, drop them. Once I get a decent number, I'll probably set up a proper discussion, so we can all have a session zero and consolidate RP expectations.

And finally, Lostman Graffiti was inspired by shenanigans such as Boogiepop, Wixoss, Yozakura Quartet, Durarara, and Wozwald.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

@Crusader Lord
What's so Prehistoric about her? All I see is a girl in a swimsuit. Anyways, could you clarify what you mean by fossilizing targets? Can Alexis turn humans into rocks?

Not having a description of your Killing Blow is bad mojo. Lacking in Fighting Style too.

Anyways, I don't have any problems with it. As usual though, I find it sorta funny that Patrons with ridiculous mythos and powers, as well as shit tons of magical coins, will still just deny that coinage from their paragons and champions, preventing any ridiculous powering up.

And hey, Plat, even if Deni won't fight the big boi with Amaryllis, they should still hang out some time, as skilled sword users. ;3

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Okay, but only one of the Twins can go. So if they're attached to the hips, it's gonna be awk.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Amaryllis is going to fight the Artemis Knight. If you wanna duo queue, @ me here. Otherwise, she's fine with solo too.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Deathmatch is taken by Trixy; the rest are still open for now. I've put the list on the zeroth post of the OOC for easy access. :dab:

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Bounty List

Explanation
This is mainly here to give newer players a chance to make money and thus be able to afford all the weird goodies in Brittany's Shop because otherwise, it'll take a hot decade for y'all to get to the same wealth level as some of our old-timers. This also serves as a way for magical girls to maybe get connections with others.

Of note, however, is that the Bounty List will only be active during timeskipped periods, and any bounty-hunting collabs that are not completed at the end of this timeskip will be put on ice until the next timeskip. I don't exactly want random monster-hunting quests to disrupt the main plot and all. To keep things from being two convoluted, only two magical girls can go after a single bounty together. No large ass groups. Also don't do that thing where you just have two of your own characters go after the same job so you can earn double money. Only one of Allies and Twinned Souls can participate.

Once you kill the monster, you get Coinage. The more powerful the enemy, the greater the rewards, but rewards earned per timeskip period caps out to the equivalent of 1 Gold OR 8 Silver OR 20 Bronze, essentially enough to earn a single stat boost.

Also, it's definitely possible to get messed up during these missions and subsequently fail. If you wanna get paid, you'll have to be willing to bleed.

The Marks
Goblins in the Sewers

There are goblins in the sewers. Dunno how many there are, of course, and there may be more than one nest, but still, they're just goblins. Kill them all while avoiding damage to the sewers themselves, and you'll net yourself a cool 10 Bronze OR 2 Silver. Repeatable.

Challenge Rating: B
Notes: Lights are good, but night vision is better.

Weretiger Traffickers

Buncha Weretigers have been using Penrose as a rendezvous point for trafficking humans into the Overcity. End their meager existence and rescue the humans, and if both objectives are completed, you'll net yourself a cool 15 Bronze OR 3 Silver.

Challenge Rating: A
Notes: Weretigers can Overcity Shift. Can you?

Horror Poop

The detritus of a Horror has ended up in the swimming pool, and now it's a hellscape of unmentionable flesh. Venture into the swimming pool dungeon, find the core of the fiend, and destroy it, before it infests its surroundings further. You get 15 Bronze OR 3 Silver. You won't be compensated for emotional trauma.

Challenge Rating: A
Notes: Tentacles are a magical girl's worst enemy. Be careful.

Routine Deathmatch

The Contender's at it again. Punt his toned ass back into the Netherworld before he causes too much trouble to anyone who doesn't want a deathmatch. Earn 18 Bronze or 4 Silver for completing this job. There may be a chance that he tips you extra Coinage if you face him solo without weapons and magic.

Challenge Rating: A
Notes: He casts Gun if two people come at him at once.

Artemis Knight

Some fellow with a scythe's going around turning magical girls into popsicles. Good idea to stop him before more popsicles are made, because they don't sell well when it's cold outside. Vanquish him for a cool 6 Silver or 1 Gold.

Challenge Rating: S
Notes: Dress warmly.

From Oubliette to Oublioth [R.I.P]

Invisibility literally be trivializing this event lmao.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Amaryllis and Mariette

^{Moonlight Rendezvous and the Exchange of Cake}

Winter nights were colder than summer nights, but Amaryllis was out and about regardless, white breath escaping her mouth as she dashed underneath the starry sky. A meal, a break, and a conversation was what she needed to get herself back on track, and with school stalled until construction repairs were completed, she certainly had time now. Time to catch up to everything she missed, and time to kill all that had spawned in her absence.

But first, she had other things to do.

Landing atop a water tower with a click of her heels, the Knight of Rose sheathed her Sword and summoned her Backpack, catching it as it popped into existence in front of her. She unzipped the bag, pulled out a small, white box, and took a breath. How was she going to word this again…

“Sage of the Mirrored World,” she spoke, cold moonlight reflecting off silver ornaments, “I beseech thine presence. If dost hearst mine call, arrive, ‘fore errant eyes gaze upon this tryst.”

Well, probably should have called Mariette instead, really.

The first thing to meet Amaryllis was silence. The silence of the night as silent as it could begin an almost abandoned town, for just long enough that one could perhaps assume her words had reached no soul…

‘Knight of the Rose. You seek me?’ Mariette asked, her voice being heard before the hole in reality actually opened, allowing the girl in a dark dress, white eyepatch and clutching a stuffed bunny to tread out in front of Amaryllis. Appears she'd been heard, after all.

Amaryllis was glad she waited, and the relief almost showed on her face as Mariette popped into existence before her. Portals really were great, huh? The Knight of Rose moved her hand away from the sidepocket of her Backpack, where her smartphone was, and then offered the white box to Mariette.

“Indeed I do, Lady Mariette,” she spoke. “I’ve called you, bearing gifts in recompense for your assistance with that lich early this day. T’was unfortunate that the Ascendancy arrived so soon after our vanquishing of the monster, but it’ll certainly be unbecoming of me to isolate you from post-battle celebrations for a mere interruption.”

Amaryllis blinked, realizing that, even for herself, this was way too long-winded.

“Basically, what I’m saying is thanks, and what I’m giving you is actual, edible thanks.”

‘Edible?’ Mariette asked, looking a little confused by the word. Rearranging so one of her arms held Bunny, Mariette curiously reached forward to pick up the white box and then placed it on top of a small portal she formed in mid-air. If Amaryllis looked straight down, the other end of the small portal was on the surface they stood on, creating an impromptu table. Being very interested in what it contained, Mariette wasted no time carefully opening the box, leaning a bit forward to look on closely.

The contents of the box turned out to be a bunch of cobbled together slices of cake gathered in the same box, ranging from light fruity stuff to dark chocolate cheesecakes, and-

Mariette closed the lid. She was… feeling strangely excited about this. How would they taste? How sweet would they be? … She couldn’t let the others find out about this. … Maybe Eli. Eli could have a slice.

‘… I gratefully accept,’ Mariette said after a pause, looking back to Amaryllis, holding back her slight giddiness and maybe coming across somewhat awkwardly because of it.

Amaryllis smiled. Even in the darkness, she could see a glint in Mariette’s singular eye. It really was a good idea to bust her ass off to another town with a bakery that was actually open for business, huh? Though she hadn’t been the one to select cake slices, in the end it worked out. “I pray you enjoy this small tribute,” the Knight of Rose replied. “Now, I’ve…”

She stopped mid-sentence, blinking. Wait a second, wasn’t this like...super standard scumbag manipulation techs?

“...got a request for you, but it like, totally has nothing to do with that gift I just gifted you with, so if you don’t want to do it, that’s totally fine,” Amaryllis babbled. “Basically, like, you can surveil the entirety of Penrose, right? Could I ask you to look for someone for me, Mariette? Sorry if I’ve been asking a lot outta you recently…”

Mariette stood up straight again, looking at Amaryllis as she gently sank the white box into a portal to an unknown place _{(her hammerspace handbag)}. Better not have the temptation too close while talking requests. … Mariette tilted her head a bit. Was Amaryllis sure that box of treats wasn’t intended to butter her up before coming to requesting?

‘“The entirety of Penrose” is an exaggeration, as much as I’d like to I don’t know what happens every moment everywhere, but wide-spread surveilling is indeed one of my abilities. Who would I look for, and why are you looking for this individual?’ Mariette asked, staying formal.

Amaryllis took a moment to gather herself, but after a breath, she too was in her formal, Knight of Rose mode. “The one that I seek is Sammy, Elucidator of the Amplified Scope. Within the dream realm of Dan, her presence was missed, and outside in the realm of Penrose too, she has yet to emerge. Her companion, the Feline Mafioso, seeks your aid in discovering her whereabouts or, if foul play manifests in the most dreadful manner, her burial grounds.” A pause. Rusted petals were spontaneously beginning to bloom around her again. She touched one, watching it disintegrate upon contact.

“I too, would like your help in this endeavor, Mariette, as do the rest of the Penrose Outer Alliance, which sought me as a middleman for such a contract.”

‘Ah. The detective…’ Mariette commented, considering for a bit. ‘Looking for someone that has vanished from the streets is different from simply keeping watch on the members of society that are currently moving about. It will require… actual detective work,’ Mariette said, thinking on the matter.

‘Hm. Very well. I’ll surveill Penrose for her, as part of my regular surveillance. I’ll do that simply because it’s a request from you. To actually go out of my way to seek her out, however… What would the Outer Alliance offer me?’ Mariette asked.

“Thank you kindly,” Amaryllis said, with a small bow and flourish. “As for the offerings of the Outer Alliance, I must confess that I’m not wholly certain, as they’ve requested me to engage with you to simply test whether there was any hope of a partnership to begin with.” The Knight of Rose paused briefly, the gears in her head turning. “That being said, if it pleases you, I could certainly accompany you on investigations that would require you to be on the streets and even fund it. Perhaps when it is necessary to venture into places such as amusement parks, arcades, and cafes?”

‘…’ Mariette had to pause there for a bit, staring silently at Amaryllis. Was she just asking to hang out, or…? … Mariette filled the empty space with something she was wondering. ‘Given that they’re coming to me, that would mean they’ve already exhausted their own resources, correct? They are the ones who should have contacts that knew where Sammy would be found and who saw her last. They should already have done some manner of asking around, I presume. The first step would be learning what they’ve found so far, and after that I can focus my somewhat more powerful surveillance magic for them. Right?’

“Though I’m uncertain about the extent of their own information network, seeing how they’re small enough that I didn’t even know they existed until today, I presume that would be the case, yes.” Amaryllis pulled her phone out of her backpack, flipping through her contacts until she found Nuncio’s entry. She showed the details to Mariette afterwards, saying, “Best to get in touch with this gentleman here; he’s the one that tasked me to...task you with this...task.”

Mariette accepted the numbers, pulling the phone she’d obtained to write it down on, and nodded to Amaryllis. ‘Very well. I’ll contact Nuncio, and I’ll also notify you if I’d like to head somewhere potentially dangerous to investigate. That should do, should it not?’ Mariette asked.

“Indeed it shall,” Amaryllis replied with a bow of her head. “And I do hope you enjoy the sweets. Tell me your thoughts on them though; I mostly just took wild guesses at your tastes, Mariette.”

‘I certainly will. I’d have had to make wild guesses of my own, when it comes to my taste in desserts…’ Mariette replied, nodding a bit. Okay, so she’d been tasked with finding this detective girl… … …

‘… Who is Sammy to you?’ Mariette asked, simply for curiosity’s sake.

“A...friend, I suppose.” Amaryllis looked off to the side, her eyes narrowing slightly. “They all seem to die or disappear recently, so I do what I can for them while there’s still a chance.”

Mariette gazed at Amaryllis, contemplating the words for a bit. She knew of at least one of those the knight spoke of. Regardless… she took a moment to envision that perhaps it was similar to if Eli had vanished from Mariette’s side, after the pain of having lost Deni. Perhaps. Viewing it like that…

‘Alright. I will do what I can, and notify you when I’ve made progress,’ Mariette told, an additional tone of decisiveness in her voice.

“Thanks. I’ll be off then.”

And with that, the Knight of Rose stepped off the tower, back into the darkness.

Mariette watched her jump off, and…

Well, now she’d promised that. Sort of. Now, guess she’d better produce some form of results. It was unfortunate she couldn’t just Absolute Direction to Sammy’s current location… or?

…

Yeah, figured as much.