Little Bill

<Animorphs> (High-Casual)

-Deleted-

<Animorphs>

-Deleted-

<Animorphs>

Ashley "Ash" Fitzsimmons

What's your name?

Ash Fitzsimmons. If it's like, y'know, a formal-type name, like for the draft or some shit, then Ashley Jeremiah Fitzsimmons. Yeah, I know. Real 'Boy named Sue' crap. You can see why I go by Ash. I've gotten everyone to call me that since I was like six, 'cept for Mrs. Silver, who calls me A.J. I think it's retarded. Who the fuck wants to be called letters, y'know? What son-of-a-bitch sits down like "Hey, I'm gonna name my kid Theodore-Jackoff Dumbass III, and then just call him T.J his whole life.", right? Anyway, off-topic. Name's Ash.
This isn't the draft, right?

How old are you?

I have to answer this? I'm, uh, seventeen, actually. But before you say some shit like 'Ohh, seventeen-year old sophomore, must be one dumb motherfucker', just, like, quiet for a second, okay? I get that I'm dumb, but I'm not some mouthbreather who lives in a fuckin' shed, alright? I got held back twice, but not 'cause I'm dumber than I say I am. If anyone knows how dumb I am, it's me. First time was 'cause I didn't go to school, second time was for fighting. Anyway, off-topic too. Seventeen. Sorry.

What do you look like?

What type of a dumb goddamn question is that?

Do you have any hobbies?

I have a bike I like to ride. Mostly downhill, no biggie. Cedar Hills is right by the forest, so every now and again I cruise through and shoot some squirrels and turtles and shit with my older brother's BB gun. Not that he fuckin' needs it, you know what I mean? Heh. Wait, you probably don't. Anyway, I like to read fantasy stories. Horselords of Aperoxx and Gore-Maw are my favorite, but Gore-Maw's more of a graphic novel. I like movies too, like Beastmaster, Willow, Krull, that kinda thing. Fantasy. What can I say, swords are bitchin'. Dark Crystal was a good one too, but it didn't have any swords, which was gay as fuck. I paid twelve bucks to see it. Oh, and I'm a rapper, too. Forgot to mention that.

What are some things that you especially dislike?

Teachers. Classmates. School and teachers and classmates and shit, mostly. Everybody treats me like some retard, they talk slow to me like I don't speak English. I don't understand most of what they teach either, so I mostly cheat or guess or make up excuses. I don't like school, and I been thinking of dropping out and working. I ain't have no skills, but, y'know, I still got two legs. I could shovel shit for all I care instead of dealing with everybody at school. I don't like school, not a bit. Are you writing this down to tell the teachers? If you do, tell Mrs. Silver, Mr. Beuglish, and Ms. Deihmal to eat my whole fucking dick. Coach Samson's alright though.

What are your goals for the future? Both immediate and long-term.

None. Does that sound sad? I dunno. I guess to stop smoking dope and drinking beer every other day. I just don't have many options. I can't stand school. I'm too dumb for scholarships, I'm too fuckin' poor to buy my ticket into college. I was born in a trailer, and I'mma probably die in it too. I guess the only goal I got is just, not being where I am now. That make sense? I wanna be a guy who's got like, a girl, and a dog, and a house. Maybe a kid. Dunno yet. Kids are sticky. You ever go to someone's house and they got kids? Everything is fucking sticky, and they act like it's not, and it's like, fuck you, my shoes shouldn't make a noise when I step foot in your house you sticky goddamn mother goose.

What's your home life like? Specifically, what is your relationship like with your parents?

Eh? It's actually pretty alright. I never knew my dad, Dennis, because he got killed before I was borned. My brother and I were always tight, every now and then my mom and I visit him, and sometimes we get to call him, but every other time we do he's in solitary for something or the other, and you can't place a call to the hole. My mom's pretty nice. She's a battle-axe, but she's alright. She's the toughest bitch in the park. One time, we had this neighbor for a while who got all hopped up on angel dust, and he tried breaking in. I was too little to do nothin', but she answered the door and smashed a bottle across his jaw. To this day, dude looks like a cat who got fed a firecracker, y'know? Anyway, my relationship with my mom's pretty good. She's a seamstress,
so she keeps me lookin' good even though we live in a fucking dump.

What's your favorite animal, and why?

Pork, haha. I don't like animals. They get fur everywhere, or they shit on you, or they bite you, or they just plain don't shut up. Even fish do none of that, and fish reek. Monkeys are cool, I guess, but they fling their shit. If a monkey ever flung shit at me, I would kill it and eat it, I don't care. Even if it was the first AIDS monkey, I don't give a fuck, that sumbitch is my dinner if it throws some caca at me. Actually, you know what? Naked mole rats are cool too. Think about it. Naked mole rats barely feel pain, can't get cancer, and act like bugs with a queen and soldiers and shit. They even fight snakes. They can bite through dirt and rocks and whatever too. Basically, they're, like, little shriveled up supermans. Man. Naked mole rats are the fuckin' bomb, actually, fuck monkeys. I bet if we made, like, an alligator-sized naked mole rat, it'd be like, the dominant species and shit. Like Planet of The Apes, but, with naked mole rats. Planet of The Naked-Fucking-Mole Rats. Hell yeah.

Favorite color?

Real talk, yellow. Think about it. Star Trek, boom. Command yellow. Y'know who wore yellow? The best characters, that's who. Kirk. Data. Worf. All yellowshirts. Outside of Star Trek, all the best things are yellow. Baratheon? Yellow. The sun? Yellow. Butter? Yellow. Gold? Yellow. Flowers can be yellow too. It's a happy color, too. Ain't nobody gonna wear a yellow shirt and tell you some sad fuckin' shit. When I have bad days I sometimes like to draw, like, happy stuff. Don't tell nobody that. I'll smack the soul right out of you, I swear to fucking Christ, I've knocked tougher grey-haired yuppies than you out. Anyway, yeah. Sometimes I like to draw happy stuff like sunrises or birds. What was the question again?

Do you identify with any song or piece of music?

Eminem, Metallica, and Insane Clown Posse are all my SHIT. I can't remember lyrics for the life of me.

Do you believe in aliens?

Yes. Aliens are real. Next question. Oh, we done here? That's cool too.

---

Ash's Relationships

Connor Rice
Connor? Me and Connor go way back, actually. He and his sister spent a year or so in Cedar Hills while they were movin', and so we were buddies for a while. Choir boys and sleepovers and all that shit. We don't got a lotta brothers out here in Cedar, so all the other kids called him "Uncle Ben's Rice", which was in retrospect, I guess also a dig at his name, but not me, 'cause I knew what it was like for people to give you shit for your name, believe me. Once he left, he changed though. Couldn't get him to come out and do fun shit no more, y'know? Wouldn't go fishin', riding bikes, wouldn't so much as toss a fuckin' rock at a tree. Started putting his nose to the grindstone. Became an uptight teacher's pet, for lack of a better-fuckin'-term. One time I called him out on it, and he said it's because his sister told him I act like a loser, as if she makes his fucking decisions. I almost popped him in the mouth right there. I shoulda.

We didn't talk for months after that, and when we did it was because he dumped his tray of food down my back because I was wearing my best shirt that day, so I turn around and boom, crack him one right there. Then everybody in the cafeteria freaks out, he's swinging, I'm swinging, the lunchladies break it up, it was a whole thing. We both got suspended, and had to write this gay-ass apology letter to the other and shake hands in front of the American flag. Can you believe what weird shit they make us put up with just for settling our shit like men? Anyway, that was a few years ago. Haven't really spoken to him too much since then, the apology contract said we can't so much as shoot each other a dirty look in the halls. Why you askin' about this shit anyway? You gonna tell this to him like with those teachers? If you do, tell that cocksucker I stook up for him in Cedar Hills and he stabbed me in the back, and that's a shitty fuckin' thing to do.

Noah Ward
Oh yeah, Farmer Ward. He's a bucket of fun. One time I saw someone offer him a drag of their cigarette, and he said no, but like, he said it with his hands too. I think he plays on the football team, which makes sense considering the hay bales and raw eggs he gets over at Millcreek. What's that? Not actually Millcreek. Whoulda figured, Erie county all the same. But not the City of Erie, that summbitch has a cow. Ain't no cows in the city of Erie.

Gabriela Mendez
That mulatto chick, right? Like Michael Jackson? Can you still say mulatto? Anyway, she's alright. I sit next to her in Earth Science, which sounds like it would be a cool subject, if the teacher wasn't some tight dickweed like Mr. Beuglish, but it is not, because it is taught by Mr. Beuglish. God, how I hate him. I used to draw Looney-Tunes comics where I would kill him and the punchline was that the last frame was always me banging his wife, who is a fox, and then he had me suspended for all of October for threats and I had to write some dickass apology. Can you believe that? Am I living in Communist Russia?
Anyway, getting off topic. Gabi is way better at Earth Sciences than me, which once again, is not a cool class. It's chlorophyll and rain cycles and shit. Fuck a rain cycle. Water comes from the tap now, dummy.

Gabi always gives me pencils, on account of I don't have any, and one time she let me eat the rest of her peach-ring-candy-snacks because they got all melted. I ate it sort of like you'd eat fondue or guacamole, like with a quick two finger scoop kind action, and by the end of the day my hand was covered in that shit. I patted Mr. Beuglish on the back at the end of class before he brought us to an assembly, and when he had to walk down to give the pledge he looked like a total asshat and we all laughed at him. I mean, C.J. and I definitely did, but I think Gabi thought it was funny too.

C.J. Makowski

<Animorphs>

Animorphs

We can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky, and we've got to be careful. Really careful. So we don't trust anyone. Because if they find us...

Well, we just won't let them find us.

The thing you've got to know is that everyone is in really big trouble.

Yeah.

Even you.

---

Plot

One night, five teenagers discover that parasitic aliens, called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by taking over people's minds and bodies. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an Andalite named Elfangor, who, before dying from injuries sustained when his spaceship crashed, gives them the power to morph into any animal they have touched. Joined by Elfangor's younger sibling and unable to trust almost anyone else, they begin a violent and secretive guerrilla war against the invading Yeerks to save the Earth.

During the course of the series, the five teenagers grow from fun-loving kids into an elite team of paramilitary troops, attacking the Yeerk invasion force wherever it is discovered. Along the way, they find allies that they never expected, enemies that prove more dangerous (and, in some cases, bizarre) than the Yeerks themselves could ever be, travel to alien worlds, and confront their own inner conflicts. Month after month of pressure begins to take its toll, and the kids are irrevocably changed from the innocent suburban youths they once were.

---

Setting

Erie, Pennsylvania is a small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania, bordering Lake Erie to the north, and a dense forest to the east. Otherwise, the city is fairly isolated, and is usually only visited by sightseeing tourists for the lake, or people trying to get to Lancaster. In lieu of a map, I have a 3x3 grid with 9 districts in total -- I can't draw, but at least there's a setting! The districts are marked by their relation to Perry Square, the residential part of town. Other than that, it's worth noting that the year is 1998, but I still might occasionally make references to early 2000's movies and music, because that is how I roll.

Erie, Pennsylvania

McCullough University

Northwest

The sole college in Erie, known for its marine biology program and football team. As most of the alumni are science majors, McCullough's campus, which borders Lake Erie, features a library, laboratory, several dorms, and most of the usual buildings seen in small-town campuses. Their football team was formerly called "The McCullough Head-Hunters", with a mascot resembling a chieftain of The Susquehannock people, who lived in Erie before it's colonization. However, as a result of protests citing the name's racial insensitivity, McCullough University's football team recently changed their name and mascot to "The McCullough Lake-Sharks". The football stadium has a large aquarium-like exhibit, housing a bull shark named Leroy.

Lake Erie's Museum of Natural Science (L.E.M.O.N.S)

North

Called "The Lemon" by most of the townsfolk, Lake Erie's Museum of Natural Sciences hosts a wide array of exhibits designed to teach guests of the region's natural history, back to the times of dinosaurs. The ground floor covers more recent history involving logging and oil spills in the lake, while the lowest floor, three flights of stairs down, features prehistoric fossilized plants and animals.

Presque Isle Park

Northeast

Nearly 850 acres of wilderness, interspersed with paved paths, bathrooms, and bridges across the many small creeks and valleys. It is abundant with small wildlife, including many types of birds, rabbits, raccoons, and so on. The most infamous animal is "Willy", a wolf who is occasionally spotted around the park's eastern border. Most Willy sightings are unsubstantiated claims of teenagers on dares, however, as the eastern edge of the park is nearly abandoned due to the unpaved walkways, mosquitoes, and graffiti. Many college parties take place on the eastern edge of the park as well, causing it to be littered with broken bottles and discarded rubbish.

Downtown Erie

West

The shopping hub of the city, Downtown Erie has a wide selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, movie theatres, arcades, and other small businesses. There are four chain stores, McDonald's, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and Best Buy. Other than that, it is almost entirely family owned businesses, which is seen as a highlight of the town. There are many frog statues that decorate the town, although they are largely unexplained -- Some citizens believe that they are the project of an eccentric artist, some believe that they are installed by the city. Some, like the ones installed in front of The Downtown Erie Opera House, or O'Shaughnessy's, have a clear connection to the businesses they reside by. Others, like the frogs in front of the Chase Bank and Downtown Erie Theatre, are more abstract.

Perry Square

Named for the commanding general of The Battle for Lake Erie, Perry Square is considered the heart of the town. Although mostly residential, there are still small parks, cafes, and libraries. The most notable location is Strong Vincent High, one of two high schools in town. As Strong Vincent's is a public school, it has a student body of about 1000. The school itself is fairly unexceptional outside of their track team.

Uptown Erie

East

Deceptively named, Uptown Erie is essentially the town's industrial district. Housing the entirety of Erie's warehouses, factories, and power plants, Uptown Erie is known for very little other than the smell of the paper mill. As it's on the border of the town and the forest while remaining in close proximity to the lake, the businesses that aren't based in fishing are usually centered around lumber harvesting, much to the chagrin of the largely environmentalist student body of McCullough Univeristy. Uptown Erie is the number one source of pollution in Erie, and has been the site of a yearly protest for decades.

The Erie Mall

Southwest

Although it's on the edge of town, just bordering the highway that seperates Erie from the rest of the world, it's said that The Erie Mall is "Where Erieites pass around the same hundred dollar bill aroybd". Seen as the go-to hangout for teenagers, The Erie Mall has the same stores you see in most every mall, and has no shortage of mallrats to populate them.

Southside

South

Often confused for Downtown Erie by the occasional tourist, Southside is the underbelly of the city. Considered to be "On the wrong side of the tracks", it's worth noting that there actually is a long-abandoned set of train tracks that separates Perry Square from Southside. Most of Erie's crime, poverty, and general skeeviness is found in this neighborhood. It's also home to The Stanislaus High School, a high school that allows students to gain credits for trade school. Although it has a more advanced college prep program, Strong Vincent is still regarded as the better of the two schools.

Cedar Hills

Southeast

Cedar Hills is Erie's trailer park -- Home of the city's meth labs, mayonnaise sandwiches, and petty theft. Although the sunny forest depicted on the trailer park's welcome sign gives Cedar Hills some semblance of cleanliness, the smell of cat pee and smoke is an undeniable testament to the park's character.

---

Rules

• If your character can't survive the situation they're in, they won't.

• Everybody has Quasi-GM plot powers. If you want something to happen, like a car crashing or your character's family member being a controller or something, go right ahead! That being said, it helps if you ask first, just in case it conflicts with plot stuff I haven't mentioned.

• We're in this for the long run. I'm not going to have a "Don't be a dick" rule, because that's kind of pretentious of me, but try to play nice. We're all friends here.

---

One-Offs

Alright so, I figured I should summarize this pretty quickly. In the books, there's a lot of character-building/details that we find while the characters are alone, because of the first-person perspective they're written in. Since we can't get exposition that way, one-offs are essentially filler arcs that center around your character, in a single post, for all of your exposition/character building/deep dark secret needs! Put 'em in a hider like this.

One-Off

"I used my powers to steal a car! Now I can use that car in future storylines!"

---

Roles

The Leader- Whether they like it or not, this character is the type of person who people naturally gravitate to in times of crisis. Their ability to keep a clear head under pressure and naturally strong leadership abilities are their best strengths, and characters will naturally fall in behind them when the going gets rough. Taken by @Eggs

The Lancer- Where the leader is calm and in control, their lancer is often rash and impulsive. They can be the leader's best friend or worst rival, but the lancer is the second-in-command, first and foremost. Though their unpredictability can sometimes make them difficult to work with, their ability to think outside of the box and their extreme loyalty make them an asset to the team. Taken by @Deadbeatwalking

The Big Guy- While not necessarily the largest member of the team, physically, he's definitely the most aggressive. He could hold his own in a fight even before gaining the ability to morph. He's almost always in favor of doing things in the most direct, preferably physical way possible. This trait may put him at odds with the rest of the team. Taken by @Inkarnate

The Smart Guy- An extremely intelligent character who prefers to think things through before jumping into them. Exact area(s) of expertise are up to the player, but this should generally be the more logical character in the group. They generally prefers peace; or at least, not getting their ass kicked unnecessarily. Snarkiness requested but not required. Taken by @VitaminD10000

The Heart- The more emotional/artsy character, and the group's moral compass. They are the first one to speak up whenever it seems the group is going too far past that line that separates good from evil. This character has an excellent understanding of how people tick, and while they usually uses this gift for good, to help keep the group cohesive and take care of members emotionally and whatnot, they are also an excellent manipulator. Taken by @Sloth

The Alien- A young member of the Andalites who grants the group their morphing powers. They'll be with Elfangor as he dies, and then with the group, probably hiding on someone's property. They'll give background on the secret invaders and their motives, while being very cryptic about their own people. Characteristics include arrogance and a complete lack of knowledge regarding human culture. Taken by @Raijinslayer

The Nothlit- A member of the team who unintentionally passed the two hour time limit for morphing, and is stuck in a nonhuman body forever. Plot subjects include angsting about missing their family, angsting about living outside, and angsting about not being human.

---

Sheet

In lieu of a traditional sheet, I'd like to find out about your character and writing ability through an in-character interview. Assume the questions are being asked to your character by a man in a suit, who has pulled them out of class and into an empty classroom. Relationships should be empty until people start getting accepted. Those interested in playing the Alien should PM me for a different sheet.

[center][img]immersion-3d.com/wp-content/uploads/2…
[h1][b]Firstname Lastname[/b][/h1]

[h3]What's your name?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]How old are you?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]What do you look like?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]Do you have any hobbies?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]What are some things that you especially dislike?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]What are your goals for the future? Both immediate and long-term.[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]What's your home life like? Specifically, what is your relationship like with your parents?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]What's your favorite animal, and why?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]Favorite color?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]Do you identify with any song or piece of music?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]

[h3]Do you believe in aliens?[/h3]

[i]Answer.[/i]


[h1][b]Firstnames's Relationships[/b][/h1]

[color=lightyellow][b]The Smart Guy[/b][/color]

[color=pink][b]The Chick[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue][b]The Leader[/b][/color]

[color=indianred][b]The Lancer[/b][/color]

[b][color=seagreen]The Big Guy[/color][/b]

[/center]

<Animorphs> (High-Casual)

@Avanhelsing Fair warning, I have heard with someone with tentative interest in the Big Guy, but that does not mean the role is definitely off-limits, or that some characters cannot share certain traits. Glad to see the enthusiasm!

<Animorphs> (High-Casual)

<Animorphs>

We can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky, and we've got to be careful. Really careful. So we don't trust anyone. Because if they find us...

Well, we just won't let them find us.

The thing you've got to know is that everyone is in really big trouble.

Yeah.

Even you.

---

Plot

One night, five teenagers discover that parasitic aliens, called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by taking over people's minds and bodies. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an Andalite named Elfangor, who, before dying from injuries sustained when his spaceship crashed, gives them the power to morph into any animal they have touched. Joined by Elfangor's younger sibling and unable to trust almost anyone else, they begin a violent and secretive guerrilla war against the invading Yeerks to save the Earth.

During the course of the series, the six teenagers grow from fun-loving kids into an elite team of paramilitary troops, attacking the Yeerk invasion force wherever it is discovered. Along the way, they find allies that they never expected, enemies that prove more dangerous (and, in some cases, bizarre) than the Yeerks themselves could ever be, travel to alien worlds, and confront their own inner conflicts. Month after month of pressure begins to take its toll, and the kids are irrevocably changed from the innocent suburban youths they once were.

The series heavily deconstructed the "Team of Teenagers with Attitude" concept, turning what could have been a Saturday morning cartoon into an grim portrayal of child soldiers. The six protagonists sometimes have to confront the morality of their actions and push against the lines they are not willing to cross, and sometimes end up crossing them because there is no other choice. This roleplay will be similar in this regard, the characters will grow, mature, and change based on their experiences with The Yeerk Invasion, as well as growing up and juggling the rest of their young adult lives.

---

OOC Stuff

There will be five available roles and six characters, each loosely corresponding to a role in the books. Although each character will fill out an archetypal role, they don't have to be a cliche. For example, The Nerd doesn't have to be a Marvel expert who ends his sentences with a hit from an asthma inhaler -- He may apply his concentration and strategic skills to football, and be the school team's quarterback. The roles can be more broad and overlapping than you'd expect.

Another concept I'd like to try with are One-Offs. Essentially, if you ever have a lorebuilding idea or bit of background on your character, or even want to show experiences your character has that aren't seen from the perspective of the narrative, you post them under a hider. There are a lot of solo moments in the original series (Tobias' Falcon-Angst, Marco's Mom-Subplot, Jake's PTSD, Rachel's Alligator Allergy) that flesh out the characters that we wouldn't be able to convey in the traditional group role play without slowing down the plot, so this is my solution. Tell me what you think about it, I'll add some more details later.

Going with the Five-Man-Band trope, we have six roles to fill out.

---

Roles

The Leader- Whether they like it or not, this character is the type of person who people naturally gravitate to in times of crisis. Their ability to keep a clear head under pressure and naturally strong leadership abilities are their best strengths, and characters will naturally fall in behind them when the going gets rough.
Ex: Animorph's Jake, Star Wars' Luke Skywalker, X-men's Cyclops

The Lancer- Where the leader is calm and in control, their lancer is often rash and impulsive. They can be the leader's best friend or worst rival, but the lancer is the second-in-command, first and foremost. Though their unpredictability can sometimes make them difficult to work with, their ability to think outside of the box and their extreme loyalty make them an asset to the team. If anyone makes mistakes or decisions that jeopardize the group's safety, it's probably them. (Taken by me, willing to give this up if you can write a sheet better than mine.)
Ex: Animorph's Marco, Star Wars' Han Solo, X-men's Wolverine

The Big Guy- While not necessarily the largest member of the team, physically, he's definitely the most aggressive. He could hold his own in a fight even before gaining the ability to morph. He's almost always in favor of doing things in the most direct, preferably physical way possible. This trait may put him at odds with the rest of the team.
Ex: Animorph's Rachel, Star Wars' Chewbacca, X-men's Colussus

The Smart Guy- An extremely intelligent character who prefers to think things through before jumping into them. Exact area(s) of expertise are up to the player, but this should generally be the more logical character in the group. They generally prefers peace; or at least, not getting their ass kicked unnecessarily. Snarkiness requested but not required.
Ex: Animorph's Tobias, Star Wars' R2D2/C3P0, X-men's Beast/Professor Xavier

The Chick- The more emotional/artsy character, and the group's moral compass. Not necessarily the chick. They are the first one to speak up whenever it seems the group is going too far past that line that separates good from evil. This character has an excellent understanding of how people tick, and while they usually uses this gift for good, to help keep the group cohesive and take care of members emotionally and whatnot, they are also an excellent manipulator, and the best morpher of the group.
Ex: Animorph's Cassie, Star Wars' Princess Leia, X-men's Storm/Kitty Pryde

The Alien- A young member of the same race who grants the group their morphing powers. They'll be with Elfangor as he dies, and then with the group, probably hiding on someone's property. They'll give background on the secret invaders and their motives, while being very cryptic about their own people. Characteristics include arrogance and a complete lack of knowledge regarding human culture. This is also the one role I'd prefer to be played by someone who's read the series, or is at least fairly familiar with it.
Ex: Animorph's Ax, Star Wars' Most of the cast, X-men's Are you even reading these?

---

With that, I'll get to lorebuilding later, which is mostly just terminology used in The Animorphs series, and a map for our town. Any takers?

<Animorphs>

<Animorphs>

We can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky, and we've got to be careful. Really careful. So we don't trust anyone. Because if they find us...

Well, we just won't let them find us.

The thing you've got to know is that everyone is in really big trouble.

Yeah.

Even you.

---

Plot

One night, five teenagers discover that parasitic aliens, called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by taking over people's minds and bodies. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an Andalite named Elfangor, who, before dying from injuries sustained when his spaceship crashed, gives them the power to morph into any animal they have touched. Joined by Elfangor's younger sibling and unable to trust almost anyone else, they begin a violent and secretive guerrilla war against the invading Yeerks to save the Earth.

During the course of the series, the six teenagers grow from fun-loving kids into an elite team of paramilitary troops, attacking the Yeerk invasion force wherever it is discovered. Along the way, they find allies that they never expected, enemies that prove more dangerous (and, in some cases, bizarre) than the Yeerks themselves could ever be, travel to alien worlds, and confront their own inner conflicts. Month after month of pressure begins to take its toll, and the kids are irrevocably changed from the innocent suburban youths they once were.

The series heavily deconstructed the "Team of Teenagers with Attitude" concept, turning what could have been a Saturday morning cartoon into an grim portrayal of child soldiers. The six protagonists sometimes have to confront the morality of their actions and push against the lines they are not willing to cross, and sometimes end up crossing them because there is no other choice. This roleplay will be similar in this regard, the characters will grow, mature, and change based on their experiences with The Yeerk Invasion, as well as growing up and juggling the rest of their young adult lives.

---

OOC Stuff

There will be five available roles and six characters, each loosely corresponding to a role in the books. Although each character will fill out an archetypal role, they don't have to be a cliche. For example, The Nerd doesn't have to be a Marvel expert who ends his sentences with a hit from an asthma inhaler -- He may apply his concentration and strategic skills to football, and be the school team's quarterback. The roles can be more broad and overlapping than you'd expect.

Another concept I'd like to try with are One-Offs. Essentially, if you ever have a lorebuilding idea or bit of background on your character, or even want to show experiences your character has that aren't seen from the perspective of the narrative, you post them under a hider. There are a lot of solo moments in the original series (Tobias' Falcon-Angst, Marco's Mom-Subplot, Jake's PTSD, Rachel's Alligator Allergy) that flesh out the characters that we wouldn't be able to convey in the traditional group role play without slowing down the plot, so this is my solution. Tell me what you think about it, I'll add some more details later.

Going with the Five-Man-Band trope, we have six roles to fill out.

---

Roles

The Leader- Whether they like it or not, this character is the type of person who people naturally gravitate to in times of crisis. Their ability to keep a clear head under pressure and naturally strong leadership abilities are their best strengths, and characters will naturally fall in behind them when the going gets rough.
Ex: Animorph's Jake, Star Wars' Luke Skywalker, X-men's Cyclops

The Lancer- Where the leader is calm and in control, their lancer is often rash and impulsive. They can be the leader's best friend or worst rival, but the lancer is the second-in-command, first and foremost. Though their unpredictability can sometimes make them difficult to work with, their ability to think outside of the box and their extreme loyalty make them an asset to the team. If anyone makes mistakes or decisions that jeopardize the group's safety, it's probably them. (Taken by me, willing to give this up if you can write a sheet better than mine.)
Ex: Animorph's Marco, Star Wars' Han Solo, X-men's Wolverine

The Big Guy- While not necessarily the largest member of the team, physically, he's definitely the most aggressive. He could hold his own in a fight even before gaining the ability to morph. He's almost always in favor of doing things in the most direct, preferably physical way possible. This trait may put him at odds with the rest of the team.
Ex: Animorph's Rachel, Star Wars' Chewbacca, X-men's Colussus

The Smart Guy- An extremely intelligent character who prefers to think things through before jumping into them. Exact area(s) of expertise are up to the player, but this should generally be the more logical character in the group. They generally prefers peace; or at least, not getting their ass kicked unnecessarily. Snarkiness requested but not required.
Ex: Animorph's Tobias, Star Wars' R2D2/C3P0, X-men's Beast/Professor Xavier

The Chick- The more emotional/artsy character, and the group's moral compass. Not necessarily the chick. They are the first one to speak up whenever it seems the group is going too far past that line that separates good from evil. This character has an excellent understanding of how people tick, and while they usually uses this gift for good, to help keep the group cohesive and take care of members emotionally and whatnot, they are also an excellent manipulator, and the best morpher of the group.
Ex: Animorph's Cassie, Star Wars' Princess Leia, X-men's Storm/Kitty Pryde

The Alien- A young member of the same race who grants the group their morphing powers. They'll be with Elfangor as he dies, and then with the group, probably hiding on someone's property. They'll give background on the secret invaders and their motives, while being very cryptic about their own people. Characteristics include arrogance and a complete lack of knowledge regarding human culture. This is also the one role I'd prefer to be played by someone who's read the series, or is at least fairly familiar with it.
Ex: Animorph's Ax, Star Wars' Most of the cast, X-men's Are you even reading these?

---

With that, I'll get to lorebuilding later, which is mostly just terminology used in The Animorphs series, and a map for our town. Any takers?

<Animorphs>

<Animorphs>

We can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky, and we've got to be careful. Really careful. So we don't trust anyone. Because if they find us...

Well, we just won't let them find us.

The thing you've got to know is that everyone is in really big trouble.

Yeah.

Even you.

---

Plot

One night, five teenagers discover that parasitic aliens, called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by taking over people's minds and bodies. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an Andalite named Elfangor, who, before dying from injuries sustained when his spaceship crashed, gives them the power to morph into any animal they have touched. Joined by Elfangor's younger sibling and unable to trust almost anyone else, they begin a violent and secretive guerrilla war against the invading Yeerks to save the Earth.

During the course of the series, the six teenagers grow from fun-loving kids into an elite team of paramilitary troops, attacking the Yeerk invasion force wherever it is discovered. Along the way, they find allies that they never expected, enemies that prove more dangerous (and, in some cases, bizarre) than the Yeerks themselves could ever be, travel to alien worlds, and confront their own inner conflicts. Month after month of pressure begins to take its toll, and the kids are irrevocably changed from the innocent suburban youths they once were.

The series heavily deconstructed the "Team of Teenagers with Attitude" concept, turning what could have been a Saturday morning cartoon into an grim portrayal of child soldiers. The six protagonists sometimes have to confront the morality of their actions and push against the lines they are not willing to cross, and sometimes end up crossing them because there is no other choice. This roleplay will be similar in this regard, the characters will grow, mature, and change based on their experiences with The Yeerk Invasion, as well as growing up and juggling the rest of their young adult lives.

---

OOC Stuff

There will be five available roles and six characters, each loosely corresponding to a role in the books. Although each character will fill out an archetypal role, they don't have to be a cliche. For example, The Nerd doesn't have to be a Marvel expert who ends his sentences with a hit from an asthma inhaler -- He may apply his concentration and strategic skills to football, and be the school team's quarterback. The roles can be more broad and overlapping than you'd expect.

Another concept I'd like to try with are One-Offs. Essentially, if you ever have a lorebuilding idea or bit of background on your character, or even want to show experiences your character has that aren't seen from the perspective of the narrative, you post them under a hider. There are a lot of solo moments in the original series (Tobias' Falcon-Angst, Marco's Mom-Subplot, Jake's PTSD, Rachel's Alligator Allergy) that flesh out the characters that we wouldn't be able to convey in the traditional group role play without slowing down the plot, so this is my solution. Tell me what you think about it, I'll add some more details later.

Going with the Five-Man-Band trope, we have six roles to fill out.

---

Roles

The Leader- Whether they like it or not, this character is the type of person who people naturally gravitate to in times of crisis. Their ability to keep a clear head under pressure and naturally strong leadership abilities are their best strengths, and characters will naturally fall in behind them when the going gets rough.
Ex: Animorph's Jake, Star Wars' Luke Skywalker, X-men's Cyclops

The Lancer- Where the leader is calm and in control, their lancer is often rash and impulsive. They can be the leader's best friend or worst rival, but the lancer is the second-in-command, first and foremost. Though their unpredictability can sometimes make them difficult to work with, their ability to think outside of the box and their extreme loyalty make them an asset to the team. If anyone makes mistakes or decisions that jeopardize the group's safety, it's probably them. (Taken by me, willing to give this up if you can write a sheet better than mine.)
Ex: Animorph's Marco, Star Wars' Han Solo, X-men's Wolverine

The Big Guy- While not necessarily the largest member of the team, physically, he's definitely the most aggressive. He could hold his own in a fight even before gaining the ability to morph. He's almost always in favor of doing things in the most direct, preferably physical way possible. This trait may put him at odds with the rest of the team.
Ex: Animorph's Rachel, Star Wars' Chewbacca, X-men's Colussus

The Smart Guy- An extremely intelligent character who prefers to think things through before jumping into them. Exact area(s) of expertise are up to the player, but this should generally be the more logical character in the group. They generally prefers peace; or at least, not getting their ass kicked unnecessarily. Snarkiness requested but not required.
Ex: Animorph's Tobias, Star Wars' R2D2/C3P0, X-men's Beast/Professor Xavier

The Chick- The more emotional/artsy character, and the group's moral compass. Not necessarily the chick. They are the first one to speak up whenever it seems the group is going too far past that line that separates good from evil. This character has an excellent understanding of how people tick, and while they usually uses this gift for good, to help keep the group cohesive and take care of members emotionally and whatnot, they are also an excellent manipulator, and the best morpher of the group.
Ex: Animorph's Cassie, Star Wars' Princess Leia, X-men's Storm/Kitty Pryde

The Alien- A young member of the same race who grants the group their morphing powers. They'll be with Elfangor as he dies, and then with the group, probably hiding on someone's property. They'll give background on the secret invaders and their motives, while being very cryptic about their own people. Characteristics include arrogance and a complete lack of knowledge regarding human culture. This is also the one role I'd prefer to be played by someone who's read the series, or is at least fairly familiar with it.
Ex: Animorph's Ax, Star Wars' Most of the cast, X-men's Are you even reading these?

---

With that, I'll get to lorebuilding later, which is mostly just terminology used in The Animorphs series, and a map for our town. Any takers?

Saisei: The Crimson Dawn

where da graduation @

𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄

@Inkarnate How's that finger?