Riven Wight

Just a Harmless Game?

@Eklispe
*High-five.* I know that feeling. Though the oldest for me hasn't quite reached three months yet. Out of curiosity, since our characters are the same age--Esmay's a year behind in school because of when she turned 18--want to say that our characters know each other from school? Maybe they met during track on their... sophomore/junior year or something?

@Iceprincessforlife
Oh, good. :-) Glad you like the idea of just dragging them along!
Also, do you have any ideas or preference for how Esmay and Sydney know each other? If you don't, what about having them grow up in the same neighborhood?

To both you guys:
I'm just weird this way. I like details and knowing how people/characters are connected. *Nods.*

Just a Harmless Game?

@Iceprincessforlife
I know you're giving them time. And you stated a warning.

And yeah, I understand that and wanting to make it fast paced, but in the end in this case, there wouldn't really be anyone left to lose interest. I don't know about Eklispe, but I would be okay (if you are, of course) with waiting longer than a week to find out if the others still want to do this, but need a bit more time, or want to drop out.

If anything, what about like sidelining the characters in question instead, having them drag along until either the players have time, drop out, or just don't respond for FOREVER? Or, maybe take advantage of the lull and have our three currently active characters interact. There hasn't really been much of that yet besides a quick sentence here and there.

Hope I'm not coming off as being rude or anything! I'm not trying to be. Just sharing my thoughts and opinions. :-)

Just a Harmless Game?

@Iceprincessforlife
If I may... have you tried PMing them already? Like I've said, I think it really is a busy time of year for a lot of people with school, work, family, holidays, etc., and I've noticed in most of the RPs I'm in that posting has slowed, and not for a lack of interest as far as I am aware. Just everyone getting busy, including the GMs.

Sorry, I know it's frustrating when people don't post for a long while, but I also know that things can get extremely hectic in the real world and prevent people from getting on for a while or writing up longer posts. Sometimes, too, I know that I, at least, forget to PM/post about any extended absences, especially when something sudden pops up. If the characters of busy players get killed off every time they don't get a few days to post, then sooner or later there will likely be no more players/characters. I don't know if you've already tried contacting them, or what situation you might be in with the remaining players, but, for the sake of example, by cutting down those who have not posted since your long post--but might still be interested, just busy--you would be down to only two other players.

Do you happen to have six fingers on your left hand?

To answer your question... *Takes a moment to count fingers.* Sorry, I have seven, not six, fingers on my left hand.
Also, hello back!

The Collector (2) [Closed]

Faira slowly relaxed her sword-wielding arm as the teddy bear spoke. She cast a suspicious glance between the two denizens of the house who apparently knew this new arrival. He seemed harmless and cute enough, especially in comparison to the horrors the mansion had thrown at her and her companions so far. And if he really was trapped, another alley in this asylum, no matter how small and ragged, should be welcomed.
“Mr. T.” She took a deep breath to try calming her nerves. She glanced between the bear and the stuffed animal still clutched in Alexandra’s arms, her brows furrowing. “How do you two know--”
“This Collector character must like crowds.”
The light, airy voice drew Faira’s attention back to the top of the stairs.
Soren leaned his elbow against the mystery boy, Nikolai at his side. His suit jacket draped over his back, leaving him in an off-white cotton undershirt. His first two fingers kept the jacket in place by the collar over his shoulder, while Nikolai’s hands rested in the pockets of his dark jeans. Both looked the group below them over, curiosity shining in Soren’s duo-colored eyes.
They could be residents of the house, Nikolai thought to Soren, his even expression and mental tone unreadable as his brother straightened.
Soren looked to Nikolai with a shrug. “The bear likes them. And who doesn’t trust a talking stuffed animal?”
Soren sauntered down the stairs. Nikolai followed in Soren’s shadow, his eyes still grazing over the others below them and taking in the layout of the entrance hall.
Faira took a cautious step away from the stairs, then looked down to Mr. T. “Are they with you?” she asked quietly.
“Something tells me there’ll be time for introductions later,” Soren addressed the group as he neared the end of the staircase. “Right now, I swear I heard someone mention a kitchen and food. Don’t know about any of you, but I could eat a horse.” He whinnied in emphasis, the sound flawlessly horse-like as it echoed around the room.

Just a Harmless Game?

Happy Friday, everyone!

The Collector (2) [Closed]

Names: Soren and Nikolai Joringale

Age: They appear as 19-year-old human boys, maybe a bit younger, but are actually 234 and a half.

Gender: Male

Species: Fae twins. A lesser form of Tricksters.

Appearance:

Though they can change their appearance using their powers, they prefer to remain their normal selves when not up to their usual tricks. Though it’s nearly impossible to tell them apart by their faces alone and they tend to dress the same, often in casual business attire, the two are usually easily identified by the different highlights in their otherwise jet black hair. While Soren has purplish highlights, Nikolai, who is the younger of the two, has blue. They both have heterochromatic eyes, one teal and the other magenta in mirror images of each other. Note: just minus the eye patch in the picture.

Personality: Though nearly polar opposites, the two even each other out, creating a balance between them. Should they be separated for too long, their personalities spiral out of control, turning them both outwardly and inwardly destructive.
The Not-So-Polar-Opposite: Together, they are playful and, like most tricksters, have a love for toying with mortals and immortals alike and seeing justice served to the pompous and arrogant. They enjoy teasing and playing off each other, and act somewhere between brothers and best friends.
Soren: He is adventurous on the verge of reckless, overly enthusiastic, impulsive, and likes to talk. A LOT. His emotions can change on a dime, making him borderline bipolar. In a way, Soren has taken a leader position, always spying out their next target and finding their newest adventure. He is protective of his brother, but refuses to say it aloud. Since the presence of his brother keeps him from crossing the line and brings about a sense of level-headedness, when separated from Nikolai for too long, he becomes outright malicious, and his mental state becomes unstable and unpredictable, making him a danger to both himself and anyone who gets too close.
Nikolai: He is extremely wary, but always seems calm, even though his mind works constantly, playing out scenarios of every possible outcome in his and his twin’s current situation, and is always planning ahead in case their plans go awry. Nikolai is the quiet one, speaking aloud only when necessary and frequently utilizing the mental connection between him and Soren. Since Soren’s presence brings courage and enjoyment that keeps fear at bay, if Nikolai is separated from his twin for too long, anxiety and panic become his masters, making him dangerously irrational as he tries to escape his surroundings and own mind as it continues to play out the worst possibilities, driving him to a howling insanity that is downright terrifying.

Fears: Soren: Though not a full-blown fear, he loathes dogs, and actively avoids them. His shared fear with Nikolai is also more severe than his twin’s. Nikolai: Being caged, especially without Soren within sight, and has a more conscious fear of iron. Shared: Being separated from one another for that dangerous amount of time. The mere thought of entering their crazed states sends a chill down their spines.

Ability: Physical Law Immunity/Manipulation: Basically, the laws of physics and science don’t apply to them. They can pretty much create their own reality, bending it in ways most deem illogical. This ability allows them to accomplish many otherwise impossible feats, such as turning one thing into something else entirely or completely change the universal laws. For example, making a cat bark, fire freeze, turn bricks into rubber, shoes into springs… all with little more than a thought. Limitations and Exceptions: While simple and quick small stuff doesn’t bother them too much, the longer they maintain their manipulation or the more absurd the impossibility, the shorter time they can hold it without depleting their abilities and energy and needing rest… or food. They are stronger when together, and weaker apart until their madness sets in. They are also only capable of manipulating things within their line of sight, can’t create things out of thin air or complete alternate realities, and cannot manipulate the physiology of anyone besides themselves and a select few weak-minded and –willed humans. They are also incapable of changing the reality of iron. Lastly, much to their chagrin, their abilities seem to drain them faster within the Collector’s dastardly brilliant mansion, and the structure itself imposes its own limitations of what they can do to it.
Fae Abilities: Because they are still of the faerie people, they have a couple of the usual abilities of the common Fae. This includes the simple detection of the presence of magic to an extent, the ability to see through the glamours of lesser faeries, and sensing their own ilk. However, they also have the usual weaknesses: They can be contained and/or easily killed by devices made of iron, and its close proximity saps both their powers and strength. Iron, in a greater concentration, can also burn them, but these two can force any scars it would normally leave to heal. As well, if they strike a deal with someone, they absolutely must hold to their end of the bargain, no matter what.
Twin Psychic Connection: Soren and Nikolai can communicate with each other telepathically. They also have a sense about each other, and know when the other is hurt or distressed. Though their telepathy powers weaken with distance, they can still sense the other’s well-being.

Short History: When they were first born, they were quite the spectacle; after all, twins are a rarity in the faerie realm. Growing up, the two were inseparable, and often caused havoc through both their and the human realm. Through the years, they made a reputation for themselves among the Fae and supernatural world as they struck out at society’s most renowned members, dropping them, if you will, down the rabbit hole and back again.
It wasn’t until 1807 that they discovered what happened when separated for more than a couple hours at a time. Long story short, the two got cocky and were captured and separated. Soren escaped and found Nikolai in a state worse than his. Together again, their mental states mostly returned to normal. Once the shock finally wore off for Nikolai about a week of complete silence later, Nikolai claimed he remembered little of his actions after his own insanity kicked in, only how it made him feel.
After that, they were ever vigilant and both rarely, if ever, let the other out of their sight. But they refused to let that stop their fun for the next couple hundred years. Only recently did someone manage to capture them once more, rendering them unconscious only to awaken, thankfully together, in a dank room with a stuffed, living bear and man dressed in a white robe who reeked of magic artifacts.

Other: Gravity sometimes unintentionally doesn’t apply to them, usually in small, isolated occasions. It just kind of happens every now and again. Or, rather, doesn’t happen. They have a thing teetering on obsession for sweets… and food in general, but mostly sugary goodies. Bending reality makes a man hungry.

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

Before Victoria could bring up the memory of her classes, the reverent quiet of the library called for her attention.
From what she could tell, they came through a back entrance, the carpet of the hall turning into well-worn wood paneling. A large, wooden bookcase stood in front of them, the spines of old and new books alike staring at them in greeting. Two armchairs identical to the ones they had seen the girl in the hall on sat to the right of the door, their indented cushions empty. A table rested between them, a couple books sitting messily atop it.
Victoria pulled her arm from Alex’s as she glanced up at the fluorescent lighting above them. She wandered toward where many of the shelves created an aisle, relishing the familiar, welcoming smell of ink, glue, and paper both aged and young that hung heavily on the air.
About ten rows of shelves up, she could see multiple desks placed together in a circle to create the circulation desk in the center of the library. A boy who looked like an upperclassman sat in a chair near the center of the cluttered desks. He spun around a couple times in his chair, before rolling it over to one of two computers.
Careful to not look at the student librarian long enough for her ability to kick in, Victoria looked back to Alex and smiled. Two signs in the shape of an arrow hanging beside the door caught her attention. One reading “Study Rooms” pointed to the left, and the other pointed to the right with the words “Front Desk.”
“How many books do you think there are?” Victoria asked, her voice instinctively hushed to keep from disturbing the magic of the books. “Have you read them all, yet?” she finished with a grin.

Just a Harmless Game?

Esmay inhaled through her nose and raised her sword as Alex’s actions revealed the lupine face of the figure. Much like the game master they had encountered upon their arrival, only all in one piece as far as she could tell, a white, human-like wolf stood in front of them. She addressed their questions, introducing herself.
“Yang… Don’t suppose there’s a Yin we need to watch out for, is there?” The wolf seemed nice enough… at least, she had not tried to attack them. Yet.
“Hey, wait a minute!” Esmay lowered her sword and made to follow after Yang when she turned to leave. “Who’s Jigsaw? The guy--or whatever--who greeted us?”
Esmay gave a growling sigh when the wolf disappeared into the shadows. “Fine. Thanks, anyway.”
“Well, that was a little weird,” Sydney observed as Esmay returned to the clearing.
Esmay shrugged as she continued toward the chest. “And everything else that’s happened so far falls under your definition of ‘normal?’” She bent over and dug around in the chest. “Besides. It was helpful.”
She laughed triumphantly when she found a sturdy belt and sword frog. She quickly attached her sword’s sheath to the belt and looped it around her waist as she followed the others back to the path. Taking her place near the lead with Sydney, Esmay pulled her sword out, did a quick lunge, then sheathed it a few times, trying to get accustomed to the weight.
Bit heavier than fencing rapiers, she thought as she sheathed her sword again for the fifth time after just as many lunges and parries.
When they came to a desert, Esmay groaned. “Great. Sand.”
As soon she stepped from the shade of the forest, the light intensified, bringing with it a summer’s heat.
Esmay quickly lost track of how long they had walked for, the grains of stone shifting beneath her feet making more work of every step. With a silent thanks to the hair tie keeping her hair in a high ponytail, she wiped at the beads of sweat glistening on her forehead from the heat of the sun.
She stopped and staggered back as the sand began to shift beneath and around the group. She drew her sword, her fatigue all but forgotten as creatures emerged from the desert ground. As they shook the sand from them and porcupine needles sprouted from their backs, Esmay couldn’t help but marvel at the almost beauty of the odd creatures. Familiar and even on the verge of cute, with their mouse-like faces, and yet so different from anything she had ever seen. But the look in the creature’s eyes and snarls on their faces diminished her wonder.
“Guess it’s time for a fight.”
“Oh, really?” Esmay bit, before the first of the monsters charged.
The screams of her friends--both in fear and pain--merged with the snarls and screeches of the Quinox. She fought alongside the others, looking for any kind of weak point or tender spot the monsters might have as she dodged and fended them off with a few well-placed blows.
Seeing one of the creatures charging toward Sarah, Esmay lunged into it with a guttural cry, her sword swiping against its hind leg. As her sword met its mark, the sand shifted beneath her, and she shouted as she slipped
The creature screeched and spun around, murder in its large, black eyes.
Esmay scrambled to get to her feet, using the sword to help her up, as the beast changed its course to her. She moved to jump out of the way, but the sand shifted once again, and she fell back to the ground.
Her eyes wide and heart pounding in her throat, she raised the sword over her as the monster lunged, its claws stretched for her and teeth bared.
She let out a scream and closed her eyes as she thrust her sword up.
She felt the blade pierce the beast’s body as it fell on her, a fiery pain running through her shoulder as its claws dug into her skin.
It gave an earsplitting screech as the weapon went through its soft underbelly, the sound defining and echoing in her ears long after it stopped, the creature’s limp body pinning her to the soft sand. After a couple minutes of digging her way out from beneath the heavy monster, she finally managed to free herself of its weight, pulling her sword with her. The beast’s blood stained her shirt and ran down the sword, bits of sand clinging to the sticky red substance.
When I get back, Esmay thought as she shakily got to her feet, stumbling a couple steps as her mind still tried to register what, exactly, just happened, I’m starting fencing lessons again. Trying to shake off the pain running through her left shoulder, she held her sword up and hurried around the carcass.
Her eyes widened as looked up in time to see Simon rescue Sydney.
“Simon!” She screeched, running toward him and Sydney, but it was too late. She tried to look away, but the image of the Quinox’s quills and the blood that now stained the sand seared into her mind. She felt like throwing up.
A snarl from one of the beasts reminded her that now was not the time. Unless, of course, she wished to join Simon. She aided everyone else in eliminating the remaining monsters, trying to banish the image of her friend’s murder and ignore the fallen bodies of her other comrads.
When all the monsters were either dead or had fled, Esmay slowly walked to the others, the tip of her bloodied sword dragging against the sand. Red soaked into the tears of her shirt around her shoulder, and sand caked her hair, which had mostly fallen out of place.
Sticking the sword into the sand until she decided to wipe the blade off, she reached out to the nearest shoulder to steady herself as Sydney spoke.
“Maybe…” Esmay began slowly once Sydney had finished speaking, her voice quiet and mouth dry. She tried to swallow, but there was nothing there to choke down. “Maybe it’s like being K/Od.” Even as the words left her mouth, she doubted them. “Maybe there’s a way to revive them or something. Like Phoenix Down, or whatever.”
She patted the person beside her on the shoulder in a gesture of thanks for letting her lean on them, grabbed her sword, then sunk to the hot sand beside Sydney, unsure how to comfort the sobbing girl.
They can’t all actually be dead, she tried to convince herself, but a single quick glance around at the lifeless bodies of their friends and the blood soaking into the hungry sand told her otherwise.
Esmay took a deep, shaky breath. "But either way, we need to keep going. Or at least get out of this wretched desert."

Just a Harmless Game?

@Iceprincessforlife
Perfect. Thank you!