Tyler

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY) - Super-School Interest Check

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Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

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Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

[Characters]

"To whom it may concern,

My name is Alan Portwood. For the better part of the last thirty years, I have governed over the Portwood Institute for Talented Youths; a one-of-a-kind academy that offers free, specialised education to gifted individuals across the globe. Recently, it has come to our attention that you qualify for the opportunity to enrol with us.

Enrolling is easy: simply fill in the form overleaf (or, if you are under 18, have your parents do it) and return it to us in the envelope provided by no later than June 1st 2015. The term will begin shortly after, and all transport will be arranged and taken care of by us. We appreciate how hard it is growing up with a gift like yours, and we want to make your journey with us begin as smoothly as possible.

We will send an information pack upon receiving your application, letting you know all about the curriculum, living arrangements and facilities available here at the institute. You are fortunate in that we are re-opening this year after a complete refurbishment, offering state-of-the-art care for all of our students, regardless of their talents.

I look forward to starting this new age of education with you.

Best regards,

A. Portwood
Founder & Headmaster, PITY"

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[PITY Application Form]

[u][b]PITY - Application for Academic Year 2015/2016[/b][/u]

[b]Student Name:[/b] 
[INDENT][/INDENT]
[b]Gender:[/b] 
[INDENT][/INDENT]
[b]Nationality:[/b]
[INDENT][/INDENT]
[b]Age:[/b] 
[INDENT][/INDENT]
[b]D.O.B.:[/b]
[INDENT][/INDENT]

[b][u]Appearance[/u][/b]
[Please attach a photographic image of yourself for our records]

[b]Hair Color:[/b]
[INDENT][/INDENT] 
[b]Eye Color:[/b]
[INDENT][/INDENT] 
[b]Ethnicity:[/b]
[INDENT][/INDENT] 
[b]Height:[/b] 
[INDENT][/INDENT]
[b]Weight:[/b] 
[INDENT][/INDENT]

[b][u]Powers & Abilities[/u][/b]

[b]Power Name:[/b]
[INDENT][/INDENT] 
[b]Power Description:[/b]
[INDENT]Describe briefly (one sentence) what your power is.[/INDENT] 
[b]Abilities:[/b]
[INDENT]In detail; what does your gift allow you to do?[/INDENT] 
[b]Drawbacks & Weaknesses:[/b]
[INDENT]In detail; what are the limitations and weaknesses of your power?[/INDENT]  

[b][u]About You[/u][/b] 

[b]Family:[/b]
[INDENT][/INDENT]
[b]Personal Statement:[/b]
[INDENT]In detail, tell us about yourself. What do you do for fun? What do you identify with? What defines you? What have you experienced? Let us get to know you before you start your studies.[/INDENT]

[HIDER=Sample post][/HIDER]

Application notes

As you will notice, we've put a little twist on the traditional application format. You will be applying 'in character', as your character responds to his or her letter inviting them to study at PITY. As a result, the personal statement should be written in first person. Use the personal statement field to give us any little bits of information you wish; if your character is never seen without a hat, mention it.

[NOTE: Whilst you are writing in 'first person', this is also supposed to be a formal application to a school. Please keep 'characterisations' to a minimal where they are not required; answers such as "5ft" and "African-American" will suffice. Please be especially careful to go into detail in the 'powers' section, too. As a rule of thumb, the content of the sheet should be prioritised at all times over putting your characters 'stamp' on it. Your writing can be more characterised in the Personal Statement and Sample post fields.]

The purpose of this exercise is to learn the act of 'showing' and not 'telling'. If your character is a shy type, you need to show that by telling us things like their hobby, dress sense etc - rather than just writing "Character is shy" under a 'Personality' field (which you will notice is absent.)

You will also notice that you are required to submit a sample post along with your application. This should be two or three paragraphs and should give us a glimpse into the life of your character before the events of the RP. Have they suffered discrimination? Are they rich and spoilt? Remember to SHOW and not TELL. Please remember to include this within the hider at the bottom of the sheet.

We look forward to reading through your applications and hope you enjoy this fun approach to character submission.

---

Accepted Characters

@Tyler as Mason Crawford
@Shard as Casper Vaile
@Liriia as Phoebe Rios
@He Who Walks Behind as Cordelia Holmes
@Vesuvius00 as Erica Lankford
@World Traveler as Devin Coal

Inactive Characters

Yanna Torres
@DrugMother as Geneviève Simmone
@TheWizardLizard as Greg Jackson
@LokiLeo789 as Kane McCoy
@BR8K as Abbey Chessar
@Conor as Mako Reed
@SepticGentleman as Zachariah Bale
@Prints Avoid as Celso Olivero

Deceased Characters

None... yet.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

[The Institute]

[Basic information]

The institute is situated in a remote area of upstate New York, atop a large hill. It is surrounded by fields and woodlands on either side. On campus there is a large garden surrounded by woodland to explore. Within the woods an old dilapidated building that used to be the staff's living quarters before they were moved over the main building. There is a stream that runs through the woods to a clearing, in which a small lake with a waterfall can be found.

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[The Campus]

The campus may look beautiful and be situated amongst stunning scenery, but beyond the thick woodland lies a tall, electrified perimeter fence. Signs urge students not to touch or tamper with the fence, as it is their for their safety. The campus is also guarded 24/7 by an armed security team (brandished with PEACE logos), whose duty it is to keep antagonistic forces out of the premises; and stop unruly students from wandering off-campus without a permit.

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[Facilities]

The institute has a vast array of state-of-the-art facilities following its recent renovation, from luxurious living arrangements to high-tech laboratories and a specialised power training room; the facilities here would be the envy of any academic institution.

Images

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[The Rules]

• Students must not leave the campus without a permit.
• Students must be in their dorms by 10pm.
• Students must not bring any illegal substances onto the campus.
• There is to be no underage drinking or smoking on campus.
• Students must show respect to their teachers and peers.
• Students must respect school property.
• Students will dress appropriately when in lesson.
• Students will use appropriate language when in lesson.
• Theft or damage of personal belonging will warrant a police investigation.
• Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated from any students.

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[The Staff]

The Staff

Headmaster

Teaching Staff

Non-Teaching Staff

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

[The Setting]

[Basic information]

Country: Upstate New York, USA
Time: Summer 2015
Government: PEACE Party
President: Nathaniel Goode

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[Recent history]

Rumours of fantastically gifted people being born had been circulating for years, but mutants first made themselves officially known in the early 80s. Sick of hiding and being shunned from their communities, the Mutants Against Prejudice organisation was formed. MAP took their case to the White House, where they explained the importance of education on both sides; the public must be taught that mutants are not a threat, and mutants themselves must be taught to control their abilities in order to avoid accidents.

Faced with little option, considering what these people were capable of, the Protection of Mutants through Education bill was passed. Part of this involved setting up a school specifically for young mutants, where they would be taught to control their powers and blend into normal life. Alan Portwood, a member of MAP with a wealth of teaching experience, was elected to run the school, which became known as the Government Academy for Mutant Education; GAME.

However, not all went to plan. Whilst Portwood and his school were a huge success, little was done to convince the public that mutants were not a threat, and there was still a lot of global hostility towards the gifted. But Portwood's teachings encouraged mutants to persevere; one day, he said, humans would recognise them as equals.

By 2006, it seemed that day would never come. Disillusioned and enraged, a group of mutants graduating the school, now with expert control over their abilities, took a stand and attacked the White House. Each of the group was swiftly terminated by armed forces before they could cause any harm to the president, but the damage was done elsewhere: now, the world feared mutants more than ever. The PME act was overturned and GAME was closed, seemingly for good. Mutants were back where they started; shunned by their communities and forced into hiding.

But now, it's 2015. The new, liberal 'PEACE' government has reinstated the Protection of Mutants act, and after years of closure the GAME academy is now re-opening its doors; with a complete refurbishment and a new name in honour of its founder, the Portwood Institute for Talented Youths. Everything seems to be heading in the right direction for mutantkind again... Or is it?

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[What is a mutant?]

'Mutant' is the commonly accepted name for humans who have developed non-human talents through genetic mutation. There is no specific 'mutant gene' that is passed down through generations, it is a rare mutation that occurs randomly and, despite being public knowledge for over thirty years, very little is known about it. Mutants are always human-looking to a degree, but some may have physical mutations to accompany their intrinsic abilities. This can range from an abnormal hair or eye colour to more dramatic traits such as scaled skin or height abnormalities, for example. Note that most mutants do not have these traits and, when not using their powers, can easily pass as regular humans.

Abilities tend to materialise during the later teen years, often around the age of 16. Some theories suggest that abilities simply do not manifest until this age, whilst others claim that youngsters are born with the mutated gene and that it simply lies dormant until it is triggered by puberty. Regardless, this is around the time that most individuals display their abilities and, if they are unfortunate enough to inherit physical disfigurations, these tend to develop at this point, too. (In the same way that no mutant is born able to conjure flames, no mutant is born with physical distinction. Everything manifests in puberty.)

From the '90s to the '00s, mutant equality seemed to be on the rise, but that fateful day in 2006 set the cause back by decades. Since then, even with the PEACE government's Equality For All campaign, the general attitude towards mutants is still one based in fear. As such, most mutants choose to keep their genetic identity a secret and live normal lives, but without proper training abilities can be difficult to control. Abilities are easily triggered by emotions and one wrong move can out a mutant in an instant. Mutants with physical mutations have even more difficulty concealing themselves and tend to go into hiding altogether.

Mutant homelessness is not as big an issue as one might expect. Most parents love their mutant children enough to know that they would never intentionally harm them. It is normal for families to go to great lengths to conceal the fact their child is a mutant, in order to save them from prejudice. Naturally, there are instances where families are less supporting and young mutants find themselves disowned. This is especially an issue for physically mutated individuals, whom most people find harder to accept.

Thus far there have been no successful experiments to replicate the mutation, and thus there are no examples of artificial mutants created through scientific means.

---

[Organisations of interest]

_{(Left-to-right: PITY, PEACE, MAP & HAM)}

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

PITY was founded by mutant and MAP member Alan Portwood towards the end of the 80s. A government-funded venture then-known as GAME, the aim of the school was always to provide mutant youth with an education that would allow them to blend seamlessly into society; and it worked. That didn't stop the government pulling the plug on the project in 2006, when a group of students from the institute attacked the White House in a display of political protest. The building sat in neglect for the better part of a decade until 2015, when it was re-opened as PITY with a complete refurbishment; once again able to provide state-of-the-art specialist education to mutant youths.

People for Equal Aid of Citizens Everywhere (PEACE)

PEACE is a political party founded towards the end of the '00s, based on the principles of equality for all. It was formed by party-leader Nathaniel Goode who, following their victory in the 2012 election, is now the President of the United States. PEACE are a well-loved government, who have not only brought about general equality but also have managed the nation's finances and global relationships far better than any party of immediate memory. Even mutant-kind appreciate their efforts; whilst PEACE may not shout from the rooftops about the work they do for mutant equality, they have made more progress than any other organisation before them.

Mutants Against Prejudice (MAP)

MAP was formed in the 80s by a group of successful and wealthy mutants, some of whom were in the public eye. Its purpose was to confirm the rumours and announce to the world that mutantkind did exist, but that they were ordinary, positive members of society. MAP did wonders for mutant rights in its time, and it was them who pushed for the first passing of the Protection of Mutants through Education act. They were also heavily involved in maintaining the Governmental Academy for Mutant Education (now PITY), with headmaster Alan Portwood being among their founding members. Concerned with running the institute, MAP faded from the public eye, and following the school's closure in 2006 they made little additional impact. Regardless, MAP are still the organisation that is most frequently interviewed for matters of mutant affairs in the media.

Humans Against Mutants (HAM)

HAM's roots can be traced back to a family in southern Texas, who upon the reveal of mutants to the world took it upon themselves to track down and execute any mutants they could find. They were considered extremists akin to the Westboro Baptist Church for some time, but following the events of September 1st 2006, the group gained a lot of traction and a lot of followers on the back of the fear felt by the public. Benefiting now from various wealthy sponsors, the group works to denounce "mutant scum" and encourages communities to hand over known mutants "For The Greater Good", their slogan. The group is considered illegal by law, and works in secrecy.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

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A roleplay by Tyler & Shard. We are currently not accepting applications.

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[Setting the scene]

After a mutant uprising in 2006, what little development that had been made towards Mutant-Human relations was all but forgotten, and the world feared mutants once more. With its funding cut, the Government Academy for Mutant Education was forced to close its doors. But by the time the 2012 elections came around, all that seemed about to change.

The People for Equal Aid of Citizens Everywhere (PEACE) had been causing quite a storm in the political landscape for several years, and it showed in the results. Miraculously, PEACE won the election and their leader, Nathaniel Goode, promised to use his presidency to bring about equality for all: be they rich, poor, black, white, straight, gay, mutant or otherwise. And he made good on his promise. Goode and his government worked tirelessly to lessen the divide between different facets of society. Sure, there will always be racists, homophobes and bigots in the world... But under PEACE governing, America (and, in its tracks, most of the Western world) has made huge progress towards their Equality For All pledge.

Alas, it seems that much of the remaining tension in the world is directed towards mutants. Perhaps in response to this, most of PEACE's work for mutantkind has been somewhat discreet. The Protection of Mutants through Education act was reinstated, but under the greater umbrella of the Equality For All amendment, and as such largely went unnoticed. And indeed, the neglected GAME campus was given a complete refurbishment and re-opened to the public... Under the guise of the Portwood Institute for Talented Youths, a school which never seemed to publicly address the fact that it was tailored specifically for the development of young mutants.

But, whilst PEACE seem reluctant to take ownership of the work they are doing for mutantkind, most mutants are just thankful it's being done at all. They are legally protected and have a state-of-the-art school for their youth opening its doors this summer.

You are among the first generation of students to grace PITY's halls in almost a decade... And like any new school, you can bet there are going to be teething problems in abundance.

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[Key information]

RP Level: High-Casual
Genre: Modern fantasy, superpower, school, slice of life, character-driven
GMs: @Tyler, @Shard
Players: 14
Join status: CLOSED

Hello, and welcome to the Out of Character thread for PITY. I'm Tyler and I'll be your tour guide & reigning GM. PITY started off as an idea I had back on the Oldguild, where it went by exactly the same name. It's really a roleplay born from disillusionment: both with real-world politics and with the quality of superschool roleplays that were available at the time. I wanted to create something that reflected those ideas, and the Portwood Institute for Talented Youths was born.

Read more

It took off, though it is safe to say it rode firmly on the coattails of the infinitely more successful 'Gifted Learning Institute' of Oldguild member TopHat. It died after a few weeks, due to a combination of ill-timing (beginning the roleplay at the start of exam season) and a cast that was decidedly... mixed. I took a long break from roleplaying after that and recently returned to the Guild this year. After miraculously finding all the old resources for the roleplay on my harddrive, thinking them lost, I pitched the original idea to Shard and we began to work on it and adapt it for a modern climate. After all, I first conceived PITY when I was 16. There were definitely creases that needed to be ironed out.

Shard and I are really determined to give our all to this roleplay and to get it the traction we feel it deserves. We are making a conscious effort not to repeat the mistakes I made last time, and so we have timed the beginning of the roleplay to coincide with Summer break and will be scrutinising character sheets to make sure we get a good, solid cast of unique and interesting characters.

We welcome all roleplayers who share our sensibilities for high-quality content that has depth and originality.

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[Rules & Notes]

1. In-Character Rules & Notes

[1.01] No godmodding, metagaming, powerplaying, autohitting, etc.

[1.02] Swearing, alcohol, drugs and sex are fully permitted in the RP.

[1.03] The roleplay will be fast-paced. You are encouraged to post at least 2-3 times a week.
[1.03.5] Roleplayers who fail to post for one whole week without notice will become Inactive.

[1.04] The roleplay is high-casual. All posts should contain good spelling, grammar and detail.

[1.05] We value creativity and experimentation. Treat the roleplay as an opportunity to exploit this.

2. Out-of-Character Rules & Notes

[2.01] The GMs have the final say.
[2.01.5] We encourage roleplayers to have an opinion and to argue their case, with respect to rule [2.01].

[2.02] The majority of OOC discussion should relate to the roleplay.
[2.02.5] Roleplayers are encouraged to join the PITY groupchat on Skype or casual chatter.

[2.03] No offensive language will be tolerated. Non-abusive swearing is fine.

[2.04] Debate and disagreements are fine in the OOC; personal disputes are not and should take place elsewhere.

[2.05] In general: treat other roleplayers with kindness (or at the very least, common courtesy).

3. Application Rules & Notes

[3.01] All characters should be aged between 16 and 19.

[3.02] Characters of any race, gender, nationality, sexuality & background are welcome. Please write respectfully and avoid gimmicks.

[3.03] Imperfect characters are encouraged. Please write respectfully regarding background, mental health etc.

[3.04] Roleplayers may play a maximum of two characters at any given time.

[3.05] We value creativity and experimentation. Please treat your application as an opportunity to exploit this.

[3.06] Please post all applications in the main OOC thread.
[3.06.5] Do not under any circumstances post characters to the 'Characters' thread until they have been approved.

[3.07] Include the word 'storm' in your sample post, to let us know you've read the rules.

[3.08] All sheets must use the format provided. Please remove any instructive text and replace it with your own content. See my own character sheet for reference.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY) - Super-School Interest Check

@Tyler

My idea was that they can make objects do anything that a normal person would be able to do with them. There are no special properties of any kind given to objects simply because they are affected by the power. For sake of example a torch could be commanded to light itself on fire but wouldn't be able to unless an ordinary person would be able to see or sense fire or another method of setting itself on fire and the torch is able to reach the fire. Another thing I've thought of that would fit into this example would be that if an object is split into multiple parts each part will attempt to complete the order if able. However, each part counts as a different object for the "number" of objects being controlled. This also applies regardless of the size of the pieces. Going back to the torch example, if they told the torch to float across a room, set itself on fire and then return on the return trip each flake of ash from the torch would count as a separate object. This means that as the torch returned to the character it would start to slow down, then eventually start to fall although when it hit the ground it would continue to roll (Each piece of ash is effected by the same amount of force as the entire torch is, meaning that the flakes would still be floating toward the character). Eventually there would be enough ash that the power would fade. This would also effect any other objects that were being controlled at the same time.

By this principal fluids or items that are partially fluid (such as a melting steel bar) would be unable to be controlled for any period of time (I'm also going to count clothes and other fabrics to a lesser extent in this too or else it would be far too OP to simply tell someone's clothes to crush them).

Also, inanimate objects are dumb and a stickler for definitions. If a chair is supposed to "not let anyone sit on it" then someone could still use it as a footrest or lie on it. Before there are any arguments about the interpretation of orders, I think it would be best that the reasonable interpretation (as determined by the DMs) which is least beneficial to the character with the power should be used.

The rule about contact is also strict, they are not able to simply unlock doors by touching the knob as they are not actually touching the components of the lock. They are able however to force the knob to turn and maybe break the knob or lock. Similarly turning a gun into a floating sentry would require two different orders, one to make the casing of the gun hover and point at people, another to make the trigger pull itself.

This power lacks a single definitive weakness but I think the limitations I've outlined above are reasonable and allow for a multitude of different ways to overcome "dominated" objects.

@Mortalbean

Thanks for this in-depth explanation.

For me, it's fine. Unlocking locked doors was one of my other worries (lots of secrets in this RP...) and you addressed that in your answer. I can't speak on behalf of Shard, but I like it. I didn't realise that objects were going to be 'animated' by the power at first. (I thought you would simply be able to say "Nobody can shoot this gun but me", and the trigger simply would not budge for anyone else. Things to that effect.) and I would be lying if I said I didn't find that idea more interesting. But this version of 'animating things to follow orders' is still a good one to me.

No need to be pushy but I would love a character sheet so I could start filling it out!

Plus just found the most perfect image.

@DrugMother

The OOC is coming sooner than you expect...

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY) - Super-School Interest Check

Next power idea, imparting "will" into inanimate objects. For example, they could tell a door to only open for them or a knife to attack anyone but them. The power would be limited to only objects that they were in physical contact with when they imparted their will and it would diminish with time, distance, complexity of commands and number of objects commanded. (Going back to the door example, if they walked away from the door it would become easier to force open until after a certain distance it would simply stop resisting at all.)

@Mortalbean

I like the sound of this power as it stands, it has an interesting mechanic going on that is really appealing. It's a very 'non-direct' power and it will be interesting to see how your character uses it. Would his 'will' be able to reach beyond what an item would normally be capable of doing? My only worry is that it might develop into something where he can will a doorway to lead elsewhere, or he can will something to set itself on fire... You get the picture. I don't think this is the route you were suggesting anyway, but I wanted to double-check.

Would the power have any weaknesses?

Alright I think I have thought through what sort of power I am looking to use in this role play. It requires a bit of explaining at first; however, bare with me and see it through.

Short Version - Umbrakinesis

Long Version - My character will have the ability to manipulate a small amount of darkness. Specifically the darkness that causes him to be blind. At first it was believed that Devin (my characters name most likely) was simply born blind, but during a few dangerous moments Devin suddenly began to see and a unknown 'dark energy' sprung from his body and saved him. The way I see this being used is that at will *After much practice* Devin can focus on the dark energy covering his eyes and use them either to shoot concussive blasts of dark matter or transmit the energy into a physical object like a weapon. For short periods of time he can even 'infect' his darn energy on others making them blind. Important to note that this power does not give him the ability to teleport or control shadows.

If this is acceptable I would like to know as soon as possible so I can continue to build around this power. If not happy to stick around and figure something else out.

@World Traveler

Umbrakinesis has always been a difficult one for me. I always find it difficult to believe that shadow could be used as a physical energy, considering shadow is just an area that is dark as a result of obstructed light. I know it's ludicrous to imply that logic should be applied to fictional superpowers, but the option of being able to teleport through shadows (for instance) always seemed more plausible to me than using it as a weapon. But that is treading dangerously close to my own character's abilities, haha.

It's not something I am explicitly against, and I won't be able to discuss it with Shard until tomorrow as he has gone to bed. My advice would be not to lose hope for this power (Shard may convince me against my doubts), but also to start thinking about alternative abilities as a contingency.

I will note that I applaud your effort to move away from the typical 'Raven/Kyd Wykyd' inspired umbrakinesis and adopt a more experimental approach towards the power. I just don't think I "get" it at the minute! Will get back to you tomorrow.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY) - Super-School Interest Check

I think I have my powerset more or less figured out.

Pariah -

My character will basically have a specific set of psychic powers that he's more or less totally incapable of controlling or even 'turning off'. These are:
Anyone who looks at his face immediately gets a splitting, pounding headache that intensifies the longer it's held. This can be fatal, but generally the person will pass out before that (consciousness starts to dip at the three minute mark).

Within around four feet of him, he projects an aura that basically makes anyone in it feel debilitated, fatigued, and nauseous, again getting worse the longer they stay near him.

His brain is constantly sending out signals to nearby animals (and, very very rarely, particularly weak-minded people) that he is something unspeakably wrong and absolutely, positively must be destroyed. Some of the braver animals may attack him - others will just run away.

He has a limited form of telepathy that only applies to things that hurt people around him, either emotionally or physically. The range of this tends to fluctuate uncontrollably, from just within a few meters to a whole building. He also has a sense of what will make them feel better - words he can say to help people form in his brain without him really understanding them.

I know it's sort of angsty, but I thought it might be interesting to throw in a character with the sort of 'gift' that is less 'potentially awesome superpower', and more 'potentially useful debilitating condition'.

Thoughts are great!

@TheWizardLizard

It may be angsty, but Shard and I really like this power. It is unusual, which is really what we want to see. We want to see people experimenting and trying out creative ideas. This power has a lot of potential to effect your character's emotions and especially his interactions with others, which will be interesting to see.

A few points:

• We feel that the power should be activated through eye-contact, rather than looking at his face. This means it can disrupt his every day interactions without completely hindering him socially. It also just makes more 'sense' to us for it to be activated through his eyes rather than an area of his skin.
• His nausea-inducing aura should be subtle in general circumstances. Again, remembering that this RP will focus on interactions between students, this is about finding a balance between 'having an effect on social interactions' and 'completely alienating him' - no one is going to talk to him for long periods of time if they feel violently ill. (And if they did they would be ignoring the power you gave him, which is not what either of us want!) So we feel that it should be subtle and passive, not overly noticeable most of the time. And then when his emotions are stirred (negative emotions like sadness, pain, anger), that is when the aura becomes more saturated and has a greater effect.
• The 'signals' that convince beings he needs to be destroyed could cause some issues, and ultimately we think it is best not added as a power. We do however like the idea of animals reacting in these ways to him, so feel free for him to unsettle any animals he comes across. We feel that is adequately explained away by his aura, which would likely have a greater effect on animals due to their limited mental capacity in comparison with humans.

Let us know what you think about these suggestions. Again; we really like this power, we just don't want it to negatively impact your ability to really get stuck into the roleplay!

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I have a desire for a gorgon like character. I have fleshed out a character design and the powers will be something like this;


I have weaknesses fleshed out too.

Powers

Gene is a copy cat Gorgon. Her power’s are very alike to those of the mythological serpentine beast.

Her main power is prehensile trichokinesis; Otherwise known as “hair manipulation”. The difference between most with this power and Gene, is that her ‘hair’ is composed of snakes. The venom that each snake contains is not lethal, but the polar opposite. The “venom” is an extremely powerful healing substance that can cure aliments ranging from physical wounds to tumours.

Gene’s yellow pythons are incredibly resilient and are not severed easily.

Gene also manifests many of the physiological adaptations of a snake. This includes a flexibility that is parallel to professional contortionists. This is complimented by her collapsable spine and ribcage. While her eyesight is certainly lacking, her body is incredibly sensitive to vibrations and can detect movement through vibration in the air and ground.

I was wondering if I could potentially add minor pyrokensis to her power list, considering Gorgons often had this ability. If not, then that's completely okay!

@DrugMother

This is another interesting power unlike the usual things that crop up in this style of roleplay; and it makes Shard and I very optimistic. Please keep inventive powers like this coming! They are so refreshing.

We think you have the power pretty much down, you've thought about what it allows her to do and how it will negatively affect her, too. We like that you gave the venom healing qualities too, that's a definite step away from how most people might interpret a snake-based character. Our only questions are relating to the snake-hairs:

• Are they sentient on their own - i.e. do they move around etc without her influence? Or does she have complete control over them, and without her influence they are inanimate?
• Is she able to cause them to grow and shrink, move them around, etc? We assume so but just wanted to check.

Also, we understand why you'd like to add pyrokinesis (relating to the mythical creature), but we feel the 'snake theme' is much more coherent and that fire powers would detract from that. We would prefer she didn't have pyrokinesis. Overall, another great power!

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I'm interested.

I know it's not very original, but I've been wanting to play a ghost in an RP for a while now, so could my character have ghost-like powers?

@Bonjour xx

Can you define 'ghost-like powers'? That could mean a wealth of things. However, if you're including intangibility etc, that may tread a little too thinly along the same powerset my own character will be exploring and you might want to consider a more experimental approach to paranormal-inspired powers to keep things varied.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY) - Super-School Interest Check

Shard and I are currently working on the OOC. It should be up soon. Please continue to show interest and ask questions in the meantime. We won't be reserving places or anything like that; applications will be open to everyone. We will review each application individually and provide feedback etc.