Hey there, lurker. Just kidding, I'm nosy too. You wanna know about me? Sure.
I'm a guy reaching the end of his late 20's and into the age where the human body starts to fall apart for no reason. When I was younger lad, I was a lone wolf full of angst and vitriol; now I've come to appreciate the value of company and connections. Over text my words can sometimes come off as matter-of-factly to the point of being bitingly sarcastic or even outright standoffish. This isn't usually my intent unless I'm joking. You'll know if I'm joking.
Writing has always been one of my earliest interests, and I always end up coming back to it even after lulls in motivation. Aside from that, I enjoy a lot of games, movies, D&D (my favorite class is Warlock), and tried my hand at doing voice acting for a while. I did a little C++ programming too; decided it wasn't for me. Other hobbies I'm currently looking to eventually get into are music and traditional/digital art.
About my writing style and interests:
I consider myself to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. As far as genres go, my writing mood will shift like a revolving door through classic fantasy, urban fantasy/modern, and cyberpunk (though I feel like a lot of people miss the point on what cyberpunk actually is.) Roleplay-wise, I'm not too big on romance, horror, or school settings, but I may still give them a shot if it fills a specific niche for me. On that note, a lot of roleplay ideas I have are definitely going to be "out there." As for why I'm not big on the three I just mentioned, well, I prefer romance in stories when it's only a subplot, horror is very difficult to pull off effectively, and there has yet to be a school setting story that can keep me invested. I have nothing but the utmost respect for people that can actually do literary fiction. Also, I don't generally do fandom RP's unless I feel it has a unique spin to it.
I love well-written characters and by extension character-driven stories. Worldbuilding is what I'd consider to be one of my weakest attributes in writing, but I thoroughly enjoy fleshing out characters with nuance and coming up with banter. I don't put too much importance on post length in a roleplay, as I myself prefer to keep things simple yet effective. I'd rather read a short 2-3 paragraphs that are impactful than a post that looks like a college student trying to pad out a term paper. I don't like IRL faceclaims, and won't allow them in any roleplay that I host for personal reasons. As for my ethics (not just in writing, but in general) here are some principles I try to adhere to:
-If you truly love and are serious about your craft, you have no excuse but to create a great product. -Never rest on your laurels. It's hard to get back on the wagon once you get off. -There's always going to be a bigger fish, so don't fret about "not being good enough." -Never make a promise while under a good mood.
(If your character was a movie, what would be the slogan?)
"What is this, a yearbook?" (A quote your character would say. Doesn't need to be profound.)
(Your character's appearance goes here. This includes a written description and an optional image - please do not use an IRL faceclaim)
TAYGETE CITIZENSHIP CARD
(Just kidding, you're a number after all. Your ID Serial is a letter of your choice followed by a string of 7 arbitrary numbers. For residence, pick Arche, Herse, or Chaldene as appropriate to your background. Refer to the Locations section of the Notion page for information on districts.)
ID SERIAL
BIRTH
RESIDENCE
PROFESSION
A1234567
M, Age 25 (Jan 1)
Arche
Unemployed
PERSONALITY
(You have one of these right? Then I hope you don't mind completing this captcha...
I don't expect your character to be what you put in this section down to a T. Good characters are dynamic and are more nuanced than what one person can write down about them. Important factors you might consider putting here are things and people that your character values, how they feel about most people, and what motivates them.)
BACKGROUND
(You definitely came from somewhere. Everyone has a life and history that they carry with them, and their path has brought them to the city. The Taygete Project itself is a few decades old, so it wouldn't be unreasonable if you were born here. Otherwise, you may have come from overseas after being accepted for citizenship. You'll want to include significant events in your character's life that shaped who they are now, and where they'll want to be going forward. You're given a lot of creative freedom for this one, but you can discuss with me if you need ideas.)
X-FACTOR
(There’s something about you that breaks the mold and makes you truly unique - something that gives you an edge over everyone else. This can be anything from a marketable talent to a literal superhuman ability. Note that this will be up to my deliberation and discretion for approval, so again, keep things reasonable. Though superpowers exist, I’d rather it not be the primary focus of the story.)
1. Host’s Word Is Law. As the one setting up the stage for the story, I will make the final ruling should discrepancies and disputes arise.
2. 18+ Only. Due to the nature of possible sensitive content matter, applicants must be 18 years of age or older. That being said, ERP is still strictly forbidden and such interactions will be instead left implied.
3. Be Timely. Schedules can get busy for everyone, so this isn’t a strict rule. I will at least ask that you inform me if you will not be posting for a notable period of time. I would much rather you tell me in the case that you’ve lost interest in the roleplay or no longer have time for it, than ghost or make constant excuses in an attempt to save face. I will understand and will not bear any ill will towards you for it.
4. Maintain Proper Roleplay Etiquette. It is considered to be in poor form to have your character use outside knowledge that they would otherwise have no way of knowing. Controlling or directly affecting another player’s character without their explicit consent is also disallowed.
5. The Right To Refuse. For whatever reason, be it constant misconduct, your character not fitting with the setting, or otherwise, you may be ejected from the roleplay or your application may not be accepted. In this case, I will ask that you no longer post in any of the related threads for this roleplay. Refer to Rule #1.
I've updated the OP with a character sheet if you guys wanna start brainstorming character ideas or discuss with me, and I may be bringing in a friend to fill a slot if we can get this roleplay going. I'll be working on more entries on the Notion page this weekend to further flesh out the world.
There are various rumors and reported sightings of things such as people possessing superhuman ability, and sightings of such things as ghosts, cryptids, and the like. Of course they're mostly spread as misinformation and hoaxes for people gain traction for their social presence. Mostly. There are still those curious enough to pry where they likely shouldn't, and those who may find something they'll wish they hadn't.
As for the story itself, the occult is more of an aspect and not so much a major focus. How important such things are to the characters are entirely up to the players. Some players may choose to pursue the supernatural story beats while others are welcome to follow the crime or mundane elements of the story.
The words inhabit your mind as you prepare yourself for another day of the grind, taking a deep breath before the storm. You didn’t have time for a proper breakfast this morning, except just a bagel and a cup of the many multi-billion dollar corporate brews of coffee available with just a click on your phone. It’s good enough, at least it has to be - how else are you going to get through the day? The same cup of coffee, the same time of day, the same as everyone else. It’s a Wednesday and you only need to survive the other half of the week before you get two days where you have the energy to do what you really want; at least that’s what you tell yourself in your caffeinated stupor. Never truly awake. Never truly asleep. After your shift ends it finally hits you.
“How did it get like this?”
You never aspired to be another cog in the machine, working grueling hours for stagnant paychecks while the boss of your boss spends his weekend at an exclusive country club while slamming back martinis. You tricked yourself into thinking that this was temporary, and that soon you’d set aside enough to start your life for real. Unfortunately, this is where a lifetime of going with the flow got you. You look to the other faces in the crowd as you go your everyday commute. They’re all just like you, dreaming for a change but resigned to their lot in life.
“No more.”
It’s time you got angry. You’ve always told yourself you were different and now it’s time to prove it. You had dreams and ambitions once, and someone needs to wake up the masses and make them realize the same. As of now you’re waging a war against the machine, and your weapons are art, attitude, and audience. The big suits have been sitting pretty for too long off your blood, sweat, and tears, and now it’s time to put the heat on them. There’s only two ways for you to go now, will you be the voice of a generation or fade into obscurity?
A Brief History
The Taygete Project started as a collaborative work between some of the wealthiest corporations in the world, developing a fully modernized harbor city integrated by its self-sufficient online network and governed by a board of the companies themselves. Everyone around the world is free to apply to become a resident of Taygete after extensive screening and paperwork, after which those accepted are assigned a unique ID in which they are required to have at all times for any legitimate transaction. Much importance and encouragement is placed upon participation in Taygete’s online social media and network service, with the city promoting popular residents via algorithm and moderation while silencing those that express thoughts deemed distasteful. “A city run for the people, by the people” is the motto in Taygete, followed by “and while you’re here, enjoy a nice cup of Average Joe™.”
In current times, the corporations will boast that the Taygete Project is a phenomenal success while in truth the wealthiest in the city have played the system by their own rules to remain on top. The less fortunate have been shunted aside by gentrification and impetuous policies. “The Suits,” as referred to by the lower classes have become so out of touch that they do not even have to look at the poor, and laws are but mere suggestions for those who have money. Every day is a battle to stay relevant, with people finding very quickly how hard it is to make a name for oneself when they are but a drop in the ocean. Those that believe life to be easier when complicit join the thousands of expendable applicants for the same job for a chance to earn bread crumbs, while others lash out in the form of crime and vice.
To make things stranger, word has spread throughout the city of supernatural and occult happenings. Considering how blurred the line has become between fact and rumor in the high-speed feed of information, nothing can truly be confirmed in the wave. Perhaps some are testing the waters to see what they can make stick, or perhaps they’re looking for something greater to believe in...
Your Character
Maybe you’re an aspiring influencer trying to gain a following. Maybe you’re a desk jockey working the third double-shift in a row this week. Perhaps you’re a grunt for a private military company or an associate for a family in the criminal underground. Hell, you might even be a millionaire finding out that all your assets have been frozen as a casualty of corporate warfare, and now you’ve got to climb back up to the top. One thing’s for sure, someone richer and more powerful than you is pulling the strings and it ends now. Feel free to get creative with your origin, but keep things within the realm of reason.
After you’ve decided where you come from, determine your “X-factor.” There’s something about you that breaks the mold and makes you truly unique - something that gives you an edge over everyone else. This can be anything from a marketable talent to a literal superhuman ability. Note that this will be up to my deliberation and discretion for approval, so again, keep things reasonable. Though superpowers exist, I’d rather it not be the primary focus of the story.
Chart A Course
Everyone has their own reason for coming to Taygete. Many are just looking for a new life and new opportunities, while others might be chasing after a ghost from their past. Arriving to the city was the easy part; finding a path forward is going to be a different beast. Life for the majority isn't all what people hoped it would be, with many falling to poverty while others who stay afloat in the Arche District by working uninspired dead-end jobs. These sedated souls have been conditioned to desire only comfort and live lives free of risk, but also devoid of passion and ambition - at the very least they only dream of something better.
Those that the city turned its back on will likely find themselves in the Herse District: a place of dilapidated neighborhoods, gang wars, and desperation filling the air. The wealthy yet dubiously opportunistic sometimes also find their way here, seeking to make business they'd rather keep under the radar. For the ones simply living here, every day is another fight just to see the sun tomorrow. At the end of the day, there are those in Herse who still walk the streets with a glint in their eye - they carry with them a hope that they will some day make it out of Herse alive, or that the district will some day return to its former glory.
At the top of Taygete's social hierarchy are the obscenely rich and powerful who make their homes in Chaldene. "Indulgence incarnate" would be the best way to describe their extravagant lifestyles, with many competing with their peers just to maintain their lavish condos and state-of-the-art highrises. Some even drag others down in the proverbial crab bucket out of petty spite. In no other parts of the city have narcissism and corporate postmodernism met their match.
Here's where you, the players, come in. Your characters are a citizen of Taygete living in Arche, Herse, or Chaldene depending on what you've decided for their background. If your character works an industrial job or is part of a gang, you'll likely want to pick Herse. Jobs such as retail workers, food service employees, and office cubicle workers settle mostly in Arche. If your character is a corporate leader, has a large inheritance, or is a successful entrepreneur, then they might make their home in Chaldene. Those employed as a private military mercenary can be in any district depending on their work.
No matter the case, your characters are people who have grown weary of the current lives that they live, and seek a change either for themselves or the city as a whole. How your characters will go about that change and how they interact with the city will be entirely up to all of you. This will be a roleplay that explores the importance of connections, art, and the human condition.
Rules
1. Host’s Word Is Law. As the one setting up the stage for the story, I will make the final ruling should discrepancies and disputes arise.
2. 18+ Only. Due to the nature of possible sensitive content matter, applicants must be 18 years of age or older. That being said, ERP is still strictly forbidden and such interactions will be instead left implied.
3. Be Timely. Schedules can get busy for everyone, so this isn’t a strict rule. I will at least ask that you inform me if you will not be posting for a notable period of time. I would much rather you tell me in the case that you’ve lost interest in the roleplay or no longer have time for it, than ghost or make constant excuses in an attempt to save face. I will understand and will not bear any ill will towards you for it.
4. Maintain Proper Roleplay Etiquette. It is considered to be in poor form to have your character use outside knowledge that they would otherwise have no way of knowing. Controlling or directly affecting another player’s character without their explicit consent is also disallowed.
5. The Right To Refuse. For whatever reason, be it constant misconduct, your character not fitting with the setting, or otherwise, you may be ejected from the roleplay or your application may not be accepted. In this case, I will ask that you no longer post in any of the related threads for this roleplay. Refer to Rule #1.
Hi, I'm looking for a small group of around 3-4 players with a possibility of squeezing in a fifth. Feel free to ask me any questions regarding the roleplay. If this garners enough interest I can set up a Discord server and a character sheet template. For those more curious about the roleplay, check out the Notion page I've made regarding some of the world here or by clicking the banner which I will be updating and filling in as the story progresses.
Mr. Firstname Lastname
(Because you're more than just a number.)
This Is A Tagline
(If your character was a movie, what would be the slogan?)
"What is this, a yearbook?" (A quote your character would say. Doesn't need to be profound.)
(Your character's appearance goes here. This includes a written description and an optional image - please do not use an IRL faceclaim)
TAYGETE CITIZENSHIP CARD
(Just kidding, you're a number after all. Your ID Serial is a letter of your choice followed by a string of 7 arbitrary numbers. For residence, pick Arche, Herse, or Chaldene as appropriate to your background. Refer to the Locations section of the Notion page for information on districts.)
ID SERIAL
BIRTH
RESIDENCE
PROFESSION
A1234567
M, Age 25 (Jan 1)
Arche
Unemployed
PERSONALITY
(You have one of these right? Then I hope you don't mind completing this captcha...
I don't expect your character to be what you put in this section down to a T. Good characters are dynamic and are more nuanced than what one person can write down about them. Important factors you might consider putting here are things and people that your character values, how they feel about most people, and what motivates them.)
BACKGROUND
(You definitely came from somewhere. Everyone has a life and history that they carry with them, and their path has brought them to the city. The Taygete Project itself is a few decades old, so it wouldn't be unreasonable if you were born here. Otherwise, you may have come from overseas after being accepted for citizenship. You'll want to include significant events in your character's life that shaped who they are now, and where they'll want to be going forward. You're given a lot of creative freedom for this one, but you can discuss with me if you need ideas.)
X-FACTOR
(There’s something about you that breaks the mold and makes you truly unique - something that gives you an edge over everyone else. This can be anything from a marketable talent to a literal superhuman ability. Note that this will be up to my deliberation and discretion for approval, so again, keep things reasonable. Though superpowers exist, I’d rather it not be the primary focus of the story.)
Savyna’s elbow rested firmly on the counter, with her hand supporting her chin as she pried her eyes away from her magazine for just a moment to glance out the window. “I don’t see a single cloud in the sky,” she observed, her free hand twirling a pen between her fingers. ”What makes you think it’s going to rain?” Savyna circled an item in the catalogue she had been eyeing, and flipped to another page. She gave her co-worker her attention, but her eyes couldn’t be bothered to look at him and continued to skim through the magazine without pause or care.
“I’m never wrong about this,” her co-worker responded, chewing a wad of gum and counting the bills in the register. “It’s like a premonition or something. Always happens right on cue after I have this specific recurring dream.”
”Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s one of those dreams where you’re suddenly back in high school again – and you’re running late to class. I make it in by a hair and get to my seat. Then a teacher I never had says, ‘Alright everyone, please turn in your homework.’ I then get up, and pull out a square of lasagna from my pocket and I hand it to him-“
”As one does.”
“Well y’know, it’s a dream. My brain doesn’t really question the semantics of why I’m giving this man a damn lasagna when I’m dreaming. Anyway, he then gives us a quiz where all the questions are in braille.”
”So what does this have to do with it raining?”
“I dunno, but every time I have this dream, it rains on the same day.”
”Whatever you say, Bryce. My shift’s about over, by the way.” Savyna grabbed a set of keys from a metal hook and tossed it over to her co-worker. ”Your turn to close today.” She grabbed her bag and made her way to the door, before she was stopped.
“You dropped something,” Bryce called out, pointing at an envelope on the floor. Savyna slouched over to pick it up, giving Bryce a nod of thanks. “So… what is it?” Bryce asked, ever so sensible, and ever so nosy. The enclosed letter specified that the addressee remain confidential about the contents, else face legal ramifications. Savyna was not keen on sharing too many details either way.
The letter had been on Savyna’s mind all day, with the implications causing for concern. Had she finally been discovered after all these years? She left Hong Kong to avoid the scrutiny of those that wanted to exploit her, and now she had the attention of the CIA. If they knew what she knew, then there wouldn’t be a chance that they’d let her walk. She turned to face Bryce, a tinge of nervousness in her otherwise listless voice. “I can’t really get into it too much, but it’s uh… a job offer.”
“You gonna take it?” Bryce responded, still chewing on the same piece of gum.
”I don’t know. It’s likely that they’re giving benefits and paying me more than this place.”
“Then take it.”
”At the same time, it’s just as likely that it’s dangerous work. They’re asking me to relocate.”
“So don’t take it then.”
”Well it’s complicated, alright? I kinda don’t want to, but at the same time I don’t really think I can easily turn something like this down. Probably best for me to sleep on it.”
Bryce shrugged and fetched a broom to begin sweeping the aisles. “I mean, do you really want to work in a dingy place like this forever? Some days I just wake up and feel like I’m getting crushed by the weight of all the people I could be. Instead, I’m just regular-ass Bryce workin’ the grind at this convenience store and writing online reviews on how terrible movies like ‘The Key of Blackwater’ are.”
”Hey, that’s my favorite shitty movie. Only I can talk shit about it,” Savyna refuted. ”Also, working here isn’t so bad. It’s actually kind of cozy when you aren’t dealing with shitty customers.”
“So like twenty percent of the time it’s alright here, then.”
”I mean… well… yeah.”
“I’ve probably bent your ear enough, I don’t mean to hold you up. Though if you end up not wanting that job, maybe put in a good word for me, yeah?”
”I’ll think about it,” Savyna promised. At the very least, taking the job would give her a chance to observe the ones watching her. She went out to her motorcycle parked by the back of the building and revved it up. With a heavy sigh, Savyna placed on her helmet and began riding home.
Hey there, lurker. Just kidding, I'm nosy too. You wanna know about me? Sure.
I'm a guy reaching the end of his late 20's and into the age where the human body starts to fall apart for no reason. When I was younger lad, I was a lone wolf full of angst and vitriol; now I've come to appreciate the value of company and connections. Over text my words can sometimes come off as matter-of-factly to the point of being bitingly sarcastic or even outright standoffish. This isn't usually my intent unless I'm joking. You'll know if I'm joking.
Writing has always been one of my earliest interests, and I always end up coming back to it even after lulls in motivation. Aside from that, I enjoy a lot of games, movies, D&D (my favorite class is Warlock), and tried my hand at doing voice acting for a while. I did a little C++ programming too; decided it wasn't for me. Other hobbies I'm currently looking to eventually get into are music and traditional/digital art.
[center][u]About my writing style and interests:[/u][/center]
I consider myself to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. As far as genres go, my writing mood will shift like a revolving door through classic fantasy, urban fantasy/modern, and cyberpunk (though I feel like a lot of people miss the point on what cyberpunk actually is.) Roleplay-wise, I'm not too big on romance, horror, or school settings, but I may still give them a shot if it fills a specific niche for me. On that note, a lot of roleplay ideas I have are definitely going to be "out there." As for why I'm not big on the three I just mentioned, well, I prefer romance in stories when it's only a subplot, horror is [i]very[/i] difficult to pull off effectively, and there has yet to be a school setting story that can keep me invested. I have nothing but the utmost respect for people that can actually do literary fiction. Also, I don't generally do fandom RP's unless I feel it has a unique spin to it.
I love well-written characters and by extension character-driven stories. Worldbuilding is what I'd consider to be one of my weakest attributes in writing, but I thoroughly enjoy fleshing out characters with nuance and coming up with banter. I don't put too much importance on post length in a roleplay, as I myself prefer to keep things simple yet effective. I'd rather read a short 2-3 paragraphs that are impactful than a post that looks like a college student trying to pad out a term paper. I don't like IRL faceclaims, and won't allow them in any roleplay that I host for personal reasons. As for my ethics (not just in writing, but in general) here are some principles I try to adhere to:
[center]-If you truly love and are serious about your craft, you have no excuse but to create a great product.
-Never rest on your laurels. It's hard to get back on the wagon once you get off.
-There's always going to be a bigger fish, so don't fret about "not being good enough."
-Never make a promise while under a good mood.[/center]
Hopefully that satisfies your curiosity about me.
[hr][center]Currently Hosting:[/center]
[center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/188007-the-taygete-project/ic][img]https://noiseless-hotel-b83.notion.site/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F1931b2ff-91e5-4800-813f-76b1613c00fd%2FRain2.gif?table=block&id=59bc98a4-c94c-4ec1-a9c4-b74bb6886ed5&spaceId=5751bc58-f6f8-45b5-b513-c4927cc83fae&userId=&cache=v2[/img][/url]
Status: [color=limegreen]Open[/color][/center]
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Hey there, lurker. Just kidding, I'm nosy too. You wanna know about me? Sure.<br><br>I'm a guy reaching the end of his late 20's and into the age where the human body starts to fall apart for no reason. When I was younger lad, I was a lone wolf full of angst and vitriol; now I've come to appreciate the value of company and connections. Over text my words can sometimes come off as matter-of-factly to the point of being bitingly sarcastic or even outright standoffish. This isn't usually my intent unless I'm joking. You'll know if I'm joking.<br><br>Writing has always been one of my earliest interests, and I always end up coming back to it even after lulls in motivation. Aside from that, I enjoy a lot of games, movies, D&D (my favorite class is Warlock), and tried my hand at doing voice acting for a while. I did a little C++ programming too; decided it wasn't for me. Other hobbies I'm currently looking to eventually get into are music and traditional/digital art.<br><br><div class="bb-center"><span class="bb-u">About my writing style and interests:</span></div><br>I consider myself to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. As far as genres go, my writing mood will shift like a revolving door through classic fantasy, urban fantasy/modern, and cyberpunk (though I feel like a lot of people miss the point on what cyberpunk actually is.) Roleplay-wise, I'm not too big on romance, horror, or school settings, but I may still give them a shot if it fills a specific niche for me. On that note, a lot of roleplay ideas I have are definitely going to be "out there." As for why I'm not big on the three I just mentioned, well, I prefer romance in stories when it's only a subplot, horror is <span class="bb-i">very</span> difficult to pull off effectively, and there has yet to be a school setting story that can keep me invested. I have nothing but the utmost respect for people that can actually do literary fiction. Also, I don't generally do fandom RP's unless I feel it has a unique spin to it.<br><br>I love well-written characters and by extension character-driven stories. Worldbuilding is what I'd consider to be one of my weakest attributes in writing, but I thoroughly enjoy fleshing out characters with nuance and coming up with banter. I don't put too much importance on post length in a roleplay, as I myself prefer to keep things simple yet effective. I'd rather read a short 2-3 paragraphs that are impactful than a post that looks like a college student trying to pad out a term paper. I don't like IRL faceclaims, and won't allow them in any roleplay that I host for personal reasons. As for my ethics (not just in writing, but in general) here are some principles I try to adhere to:<br><br><div class="bb-center">-If you truly love and are serious about your craft, you have no excuse but to create a great product.<br>-Never rest on your laurels. It's hard to get back on the wagon once you get off.<br>-There's always going to be a bigger fish, so don't fret about "not being good enough."<br>-Never make a promise while under a good mood.</div><br><br>Hopefully that satisfies your curiosity about me.<br><hr class="bb-hr"><div class="bb-center">Currently Hosting:</div><br><div class="bb-center"><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/188007-the-taygete-project/ic"><img src="https://noiseless-hotel-b83.notion.site/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F1931b2ff-91e5-4800-813f-76b1613c00fd%2FRain2.gif?table=block&id=59bc98a4-c94c-4ec1-a9c4-b74bb6886ed5&spaceId=5751bc58-f6f8-45b5-b513-c4927cc83fae&userId=&cache=v2" /></a><br><br>Status: <font color="limegreen">Open</font></div></div>
Hungry Vandal
