Syben

The Dust

For those of you participating in the event at 4, you shouldn't need to collab with me. When I get a chance in the next day or two I will be posting a full disclosure on the events of the Winged Guardians in an information style layout in the OOC. I will also post it up on the first page for easy referencing, but only temporarily.

Things to expect in the first stage (Evening):
Roadblocks, Large mobilizations of Wings, Artillery Explosions, A "front line" defense a mile outside the eastern edge of the city, chaos, more explosion, looting, rioting, panic, fear, Extreme Immortal Prejudice (probably because those funny eyed demons cause this entire thing in the first place.) Patriotism, A Morgan Freeman style narration done by me, explaining the events currently partaking in the city. It may not be a long post, but it's to document the first stage of the event.

Also, like all good events, Everything your characters do, everything they say, every step they make, every breath they take, I will use this against you. Everything has a purpose now, I will be making notes and tipping the scales one of three ways based on EVERYTHING your characters do in this situation. 1: Russel City makes it through this, with enough Winged Guardians survivors to maintain control of the city, likely leading to a skirmish with Darcs' Mafia family. 2: Russel City makes it through this, without enough Winged Guardians to control the city, leaving it vulnerable to more than first meets your eyes. 3: Russel City, rest in peace.

There is, in fact, a more disastrous fourth option. An option so bad, that it would permanently make your characters lives in Dust that much harder. This however, is a secret scenario.

I am working on some supporting information right now.

Last but not least, do keep in mind that I am a loving GM. At the bottom of this post there is a clue, leading to another clue, and another. Get your detective hats on because, regardless if you are actually in the event or not, finding out the answer brings incentive in the form of:

Character "Perk"; The addition of an ability, or power, even if that means you violate the 2:1 ratio. As long as this ability follows the scheme of the powers, it can be whatever you wish. The only catch is that for the sake of balance, I cannot allow it to be OP, but it can be pretty nice. As a bonus incentive, to the winner, I will answer any singular question, no matter what it is. (Just so you are aware, I will not be cryptic about it, I will answer it straight forth and honestly, even if it involves World Lore that I do not wish you to know yet.)

So, who's in? The first person to show us the correct answer wins the incentive, the questions, and unlocks the secret of outcome #4.

First Hint

It is here where birth comes to fruition, where Idea becomes reality. I am ground zero, the beta section, the firing range, the experimental and the newly developed.

RPGC #2 -- POWER

@Ellri I understand, but to me that's like serving a half prepared meal.

RPGC #2 -- POWER

Scratch what I said earlier, I will be unable to finish my story at this time. I apologize, but thank you anyways, I enjoyed making art for this contest.

RPGC #2 -- POWER

@Dedonus Hehe thanks, I love this avatar ^_^

RPGC #2 -- POWER

Oh my good lord jesus ROMAN I LOVE YOU. IN A COMPLETELY HETEREOHOMOSEXUALRAINBOWUNICORN way, whatever strikes your fancy. I've been dealing with a lot, and I mean a shit fuck chaos storm of fuckery lately and I only have about 25% of my story done. 10 1/2, and I have tomorrow off? Time to pull a late nighter, I will be able to finish it now. Thank you.

The Dust

Thanks for the speedy replies everybody, glad to know you're still around (I assume Cops is lurking =P )

No worries, no hard feelings, no etc. etc. I just refuse to let this one die.

Also, in regards to the event at 4, the spider horde will reach the city at about 5:30 but I am going to make a post about the wings. Darcs, I know you have a full plate but I'm going to shoot you a pm, I have a few ideas I think you'd be interested in hearing.

The Dust

Now for unpleasantry.

@Darcs - It's been 18 days since you posted, which isn't that bad, also considering we talked before hand. I just want to make sure everything is going alright, you can PM me if you wish.

@Monochromatic Rainbow - You're going on 3 weeks, which is a bit of time.

@OneEyedChurro - You're going on 4 weeks,

@Callthecops - And you're going on 2 months ._.

When I initially started this experimental posting order, it was because I didn't want people to feel rushed or forced to write. But these lengths in between posts are reaching absurdity. I had somebody almost not join because they thought this was dead, or that the players have lost interest. Honestly, I'm considering changing because I think you're stretching this leniency way too far. If you're too busy, no longer have the desire, or can't rp for some reason, then say something. If you have writer's block PM me, I have sixteen million ideas I can give you.

I don't feel it would be that hard to get at the very minimum 1 post up every two weeks, and I may start implementing a time frame if things keep going this way.

The Dust

Alright so, we've another applicant who wants to join up. I wanted to get everybody's opinion on the new character. Keep in mind the new player and I haven't really discussed anything but some ideas on powers.

Rough CS

Basics

Name: Rathe Catanzano
Age: 23
Appeared Age: 23
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 139 lbs.
Eye Color: Hetero-chromatic - left green, right brown
Hair Color: blond, multi-colored from dyes
Physical Disabilities: None
Physical Identifiers: multiple piercings, monochromatic faction tattoos, and sub-dermal implants.

• Notable crimson skull tattoo on her chest. The crimson pigment itself denotes a certain level of status among The Forsaken, as the naptha-derived chemicals that give it additional brilliance beyond that achieved by the more common iron oxides are especially hard to come by. Although traditions vary and death symbology is common, some units enforce an informal code with regard to the use of exceptional pigments or design such that it signifies a certain number of kills, exceptional brutality, or some other notable combat achievement.
• Many of Rathe's tattoos have raised ridges where sub-dermal implants, mostly bone fragments and small ball bearings, have been inserted for accent. It's not an unusual feature among The Forsaken but, as it's an excruciatingly painful process, one typical of the tough and drunk.

Appearance:
While lightly built, Rathe's figure is lean and well-toned with no obvious body fat and having defined muscles of the sort one might find with a sprinter or other whose body is regularly tested. Her features are generally soft and attractive, though they often carry an expression that might be described as harsh, piercing, or menacing. When left loose, tangles of blond hair fall nearly to her waist, though they're seldom left to do so in favor of braids or, more often than not, dreadlocks that hang in thin ropes or which are bound up into loose arrangements to keep them out of the way. While her natural hair color is more of a brassy blond, it's seldom solely that color as Rathe indulges her femininity, such as it is, by soaking several of the ropes in mixtures of soot, zinc paste, and more commonly blood to dye some black, others white, and others a dark crimson. Beads, pieces of glass, and other tiny baubles are woven into her braids, though she tends to add a few dyed human teeth as well, lest men think her weak and submissive. Rathe was born a brown-eyed girl but, following recovery from the mutagenic virus, her left eye turned a mossy shade of green, as if somehow symbolic of her new found abilities.

Rathe prefers to travel light for reasons that will become clear below and that, combined with long days in the sun, has given her naturally olive complexion a substantially darker copper tone. Her dress is typically limited solely to that necessary for decent coverage, not that she cares for either (decent or coverage) but safety necessitates it, and its usually a motley assortment of snug-fitting pieces, often with all sorts of odds and ends attached. The more notable pieces are a necklace made of dyed human teeth - trophies denoting the number of human kills in which she's participated* - and a pair of "antelope" horns affixed to her goggles from a hollow abomination she single-handedly downed. To be sure, it was no antelope. As for her necklace, it's initial circumference is completed and the second has begun.

* The practice of collecting human teeth is in dispute among The Forsaken, with some viewing it as barbaric. It's common only among outlying bands who exercise their own brand of "policing" the faction borders. These groups are largely responsible for the risks associated with trading in Forsaken territory and are tolerated solely for their strength. The practice itself involves each member of a marauding Forsaken band extracting a single tooth from each human slain in battle by whatever means they see fit. These serve as trophies and are almost always worn prominently as an indication of strength.

Background

Residence: Transient, formerly Forsaken territory
Profession: Scout
Aligned Faction: The Forsaken
Relatives: Nielz Catanzano - Father

Backstory

TBD

Gear

Weapons:

• Compound bow with titanium riser and split laminated wood limbs at 55lbs. draw weight and 30" draw length. Having relatively small pulleys, the bow resembles a recurve from a distance, excepting of course the multiple strings. The limbs have been left in their natural wood color which, though being a composite of various types of scavenged wood, have a generally sandy color. The titanium riser has been blacked to prevent reflection.
• Hand-made flintlock pistol. This four-barrelled construction has a dual-trigger system whereby each trigger ignites two barrels on either side to propel poorly-aimed wads of shrapnel with devastating force over a short range. The shrapnel itself is made up of whatever Rathe can find, typically a mix of shattered glass fragments and ball bearings.
  
  pistol

  
• Kukri: A nasty-looking blade with a jagged business side and a crimson-stained leather grip.

Armor:

• TBD

Ammunition:

• Arrows: A dozen aluminum-shafted barbed arrows - unmatched set but all approximately 275 grains.
• Black powder: Not technically a weapon in and of itself, but the shrapnel propellant for her flintlock.
• Shrapnel: Roughly a fistful, or enough to refill all four chambers twice.

Backpack A:

• TBD

Miscellaneous:

• TBD

Immortalis Information

Manifested Phenomena: Photo-kinetics
Unique Abilities:

• Karma chameleon: Having the ability to manipulate the physical properties of light, Rathe can alter the reflection and scattering of light of her body and, to a lesser extent, relatively small things in immediate contact with it. The degree to which she can camouflage herself is striking and she's even capable of mimicking simple patterns, such as the color striations of a rock formation; however, her effect on objects is less impressive and largely why she prefers to travel light and dress lighter. Generally, the objects need to be against her body and Rathe works her camouflaged pattern to incorporate the object such that little manipulation of the object itself is necessary. Alternatively, she may choose to shift the object behind her or simply drop it to make it appear abandoned.
• May the force be with you: Rathe's more unique talent is that for giving mass and form to ambient light to produce small, simple objects. The degree of the effect depends greatly on the amount of ambient light, such that in a dimly lit room she might be capable of forming little more than a lock pick or small wrench, while in full mid-day sun something the size of a baseball bat would be feasible. Regardless of the lighting, the objects are simple, having no moving parts or complex construction. For instance, a club, blade, simple wrench, arrow, or simple bow would be possible but a spiked club, adjustable wrench, pliers, or bow and arrow would not. Being composed of light, the constructs are semi-translucent and give off their own glow, though the hue depends largely on the nature of the object and the amount of emotion attached to its use. For instance, utility items have little and tend toward the shorter wavelengths (e.g. indigo and blue), while weapons in a combat situation tend toward crimson or scarlet.

Strengths:

• Shhhhh: Being camouflaged means little if one tromps around like a bull in a china shop and Rathe has adapted her movements accordingly, such that she moves with a fluid grace that not only supports her visual stealth but also renders her silent as well.
• Sticky fingers: For one who's hard to see and hear, it's only natural that things might go missing from time to time. Through experience, Rathe has acquired a light touch, when needed, and has a delicate hand with locks as well, though mainly with the types of locks used for entryways. Other types, like those used for safes or lock boxes are more hit or miss.

Weaknesses:

• Can you see me now?: Camouflage is, unfortunately, one of those things where effectiveness can't be determined objectively. That is, despite her best efforts and belief that she's concealed perfectly, she only knows for certain when she's caught.
• Hot-headed: While not directly related to her talents, stealth is only useful if one remains stealthed. Rathe's temper, however, tends to get the better of her and she's known to break stealth to vent some rage on a skull or two.
• Manipulator: Rathe can only work with ambient light, so in dim conditions her physical constructs are necessarily limited.

The Dust

@OneEyedChurro Sounds good.

The Dust

Been awhile since some of you posted, how's everything going?