I think I am here.

Castled frowned, but otherwise didn't respond to Scarred's story about 'Willem'. The Forests often held superstitions of Shades like that, specters who could think, who could remember their past lives. None of those tales ended particularly well.

A newcomer approached, and Castled watched the Shade - Willem - try to block him from entry. It was bizarre to say the least. Shades didn't have thought, they didn't have goals, like warding people away. They were animals. If they wanted you dead, they'd kill you. Otherwise, they'd wander aimlessly among the oaks. Willem was doing neither.

He focused his attention to the newcomer. They looked young, new. Inexperienced. On the other hand, they didn't seem nearly as afraid of Willem as Castled had been. That had to count for something.

Nervous that someone might get hurt before the expedition even started, Castled tried doing the thing he'd seen Scarred do.

"Willem," he called out to the Shade. "Stop."

Hesitantly he looked to Scarred, unsure what (if any) impact it would have on the Shade. Perhaps it only listened to Scarred.

7 hours ago, The Unknown Novel said:

The smooth, slow pace of a forest born revealed the arrival of Quiet, who, contrary to his name, was quite a jovial talkative fellow. "Ho, fellows. Scarred. Newbie." He said, nodding.

Castled took the man's hand and stood up uneasily.

"Roxlynn. Right," he said, patting his pants free of dust. He'd been jumping from place to place so quickly these past few weeks, it was a wonder he hadn't lost track of names sooner. "Boschester is the fort city, yeah? Up North?"

He watched another man approach and nodded to him as well, noticing how he called the older man Scarred. A cruel twist of fate, if that was his real name.

"Castled," he said, introducing himself to the man who'd walked in. He looked around. "Well, that makes three of us, then."

Though he was back on his feet, he still eyed the Shade behind Scarred with suspicion. So far, no one seemed worried by it. It seemed dormant... and oddly still, not wandering about as Shades often did.

"Anyone care to explain what that's doin' there, though?" he said, pointing at Willem. "I got to say, it's the first time I've ever seen anyone give a Shade a name."

4 hours ago, The Unknown Novel said:

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?Why Sad?

A breeze swept through Roxlynn as Castled approached the Ox carriage. It was near the town's edge, away from the main streets and prying eyes. Tall oaks laid ominously ahead, obscuring light even in the daytime. He'd been through the Forests plenty of times, especially in the last dozen days or so, but the thought of leaving safety to venture out in Hell unnerved him even now. Still, it wasn't like he had a choice.

"This is to Boschester?" Castled asked to an older man adjusting straps. The man turned and greeted him, and Castled saw a face gnarled by a particularly vicious scar. Human, or Shade? Castled wondered, but it didn't really matter. You had to watch out for both out here.

His thoughts were interrupted by a Shade appearing in front of him, and Castled stumbled back and fell over on the dirt behind him.

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Looking forward to starting this 

Hi! What’s your favourite magic system? Can be one of Brandon’s or something outside the Cosmere.

If you could choose one Brando story to adapt to film/TV (whether Cosmere or not) which would it be? 

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Thanks  Are we starting soon or are you waiting for more potential players?

18 minutes ago, Thaidakar the Ghostblood said:

well they would more be an antagonist only to my character, possibly on others depending if my character gets others to help him.

Ah, gotcha. In that case, if he isn’t going against anyone but your own character, then it should be fine. So he’s like a special NPC?

I do have to say though, I don’t know how you plan on executing this idea, but from my experience RPing your own character’s arch nemesis sort of difficult because it almost closes you off from other interactions with others (I tried doing it once with one of my characters and the result was very… eh).

Still though, if the villain’s only really going to affect your character, unless other people ‘opt-in’ to fight them, then it should be fine. I think.

2 hours ago, Thaidakar the Ghostblood said:

is it possible for me to have a mind controlling antagonist? 

In general, no mind controlling other people’s characters without their permission. We’ve had a mind-altering Epic before as a villain, but the key thing there (and for all OP villains) is for everyone to trust that the villain is going to be used as a plot device more so than a character. Meaning, 1) they have some sort of weakness, and 2) is used to challenge the protagonists, but is built knowing in mind they will eventually be defeated by the protagonists.

If that trust is there, people are more willing to let their characters go through mental shennagins for the sake of the plot, but even then, full on ‘I control your character now’ removes them from the RP, so you’re better off with something where they still have character agency (like memory changing) and something they can (somewhat) try and resist.

I think your best bet (if you don’t want to have ask permission each time). Is some sort of powerful Soother/Rioter or an Epic with some sort of ‘aura’ of emotional influence. Of course, the exchange here is that characters can resist against them (which can make for good RP) and can take precautions (eg. Aluminium headwear). But then that goes for all powers.

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I’ll try responding to this. At this point though, would it be better to ‘revive’ this just by making a new thread altogether? New chars, plot etc. (like TKNG… did we ever do something with that?) and set it some years after whatever happened here? Could attract some new players that way.

He could feel the end coming.

Everything felt wrong, crooked. Cassie, shocked and staring at him. Evelyn, who was looking at him like he was some kind of monster. And of course James. James, who was the Knight in shining armour, the leader of leaders, the Radiant hero against Rob. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Not at all.

There is only one thing to do now, the sphere whispered to him. Make the wish.

Wish?

Rob's heart felt like a Shardblade in his chest every time it beat. James. Wish. The Nightwatcher. Couldn't she refuse a wish?

No, whispered the sphere. She cannot refuse. There are people in this room who have felt her touch. Wishes she could not refuse. Banes she had to give.

It was too much. Too much. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben. James. Cassie. Evelyn. The Sphere. Shana. Rob. Ben - and then he just -

Rob laughed.

The sound seemed unnatural coming out of him. His stoic face contorted into a smile, and he hunched over, squeezing his eyes shut. Nothing was funny, but he laughed anyway, laughed because there was nothing else to do, laughed because everything that had been suppressed for so long was finally being set free. In the silent, tense room, his giggles echoed off the walls, and when he ran out of breath he stumbled against a shelf by the wall and hung onto it for support. He felt like he was coming unraveled, like everything he had been made to be was being inversed. Remade. Unmade.

"You... you..."

The laughs morphed into sobs seamlessly. Hot tears ran down his face and dropped to the floor, and he made no effort to hold them back. He still remained facing the ground, eyes clamped shut and face turning red from exertion. His stomach hurt from the crying. While his left hand supported him against the shelf, his right still clutched the sphere. Cracks now covered the glassy surface, and his knuckles were white as he gripped it.

He thrust his head up to look at James, Cassie and Evelyn, pushing himself further into the corner of the room away from them. Anger, sadness and glee flashed across his face interchangeably, and he felt swept up in a ocean of delirium. This was it. This was it.

"If you won't fix me," he growled at James, eyes wild and manic, voice breaking. "I'll do it myself!"

He stepped forward shakily, and whether it was the emotions or the sphere or something else, but he swore he could see the Nightwatcher herself hovering above James in a pool of emerald mist, frowning at him. He stared at her and held his sphere to the side resolutely.

"Nightwatcher," he said. "I DEMAND this wish. Give me the power to kill those who prolong this war. Give me the power to be MORE, more than this weak mind. That is my wish, and I accept any Bane."

The dark sphere in his right hand shattered in his grip, bloodying his palm and sending shards of glass falling to the floor as something dark escaped. It took the shape of dark, too dark smoke as it coiled around his arm before forcing itself into the wounds the glass had made. It was excruciating, and all Rob could hear as it raided his soul and slaughtered Cup was an incessant giggling.

Welcome to the end, it whispered to him. You made the wish. Welcome to the end.

@AonEne@Wyndlerunner@WrathofaShardKitten

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Crazy long post. Soz. But it's the grand finale, so *shrug*

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Spoiler

Name: Castled

Prior Work History (Backstory): Did odd jobs. Trained under a tracker. Worked as a night watch  guard, then debt collector, then other jobs. Hops from place to place.

Notable Traits (Personality and Skills): Killed his first person two weeks ago, can’t stop thinking about it. Dislikes thinking about the future. Keeps a journal of amateur poetry. Helps him cope.

Description or Painting for Identification Purposes Only (Description of appearances or picture): Average height. Very light brown skin. Drab clothing. Square face, with longish hair.

 

On 28/3/2022 at 11:42 AM, The Sibling said:

Family: A father named Tempo

You sure there’s no relation to @FatherTiempo? He hung around these parts for a while  

2 hours ago, Thaidakar the Ghostblood said:

wait, gosh stormit it did seem too good an idea.

On the the other hand… the GB split was all smoke and mirrors while the guild was very much still one entity. Just pretending to be split. What is your awesome idea for the next era? 

1. The Way of Kings

2. Words of Radiance

3. Oathbringer

4. Rhythm of War

5. Heroes Have Heavenly Honour

TWOK WOR O ROW HHHH

I’m a bit late to the party, but I agree with everything the Mac has said.

All very good points. Consider me converted to the after-squad 

1 minute ago, AonEne said:

Heyyy Itiah! Nice to see you again, how's it going? 

Clarification, the proposed cold war/civil war would be taking place after the Forgery breaks, or before? I'm getting conflicting messages lol 

It’s going 

It would take place before the Forgery breaks. In effect everyone is trying to prevent the Forgery from breaking. So they realise “if we don’t cut down usage in 6 months (or something) the Forgery is going to break and we’re all going to die”

10 minutes ago, Ashbringer said:

…maybe that's just the plot right there.

I love it when stuff like this happens.

Maybe that’s the whole reason why it’s all cloak-and-daggers. Being upfront about cutting budgets would prompt… undesirable reactions. So different DA factions plot in the shadows, employing the help of different guilds to try and do their plans subtly, try to out-plan each other and try to intercept each other’s schemes. Proxy war. Cold War.

26 minutes ago, Ashbringer said:

Maybe something in the Alleys - the Worldspike or not - is the source of the new powers, and the different departments want to control it? Like some ReForged being that acts like the Stormfather accepting oaths or contracts or something?

I like the idea of a being (it could be a sentient version of the Alleystorm) but to be honest if it’s the catalyst I think it would be more interesting for it to be its own wildcard, rather than just handing out powers to people.

46 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

I’ll try to think of some, but initially my mind jumps to the Worldspike. Is it possible it’s properties are altered in some way in interacting with the Forgery? Perhaps becoming like some sort of Macguffin each Dep wants to use?

Just thought of an alternative to this. Let me know if this is insane.

8 minutes ago, MacThorstenson said:

I would be curious about what kind of conflicts we could engineer.

I’ll try to think of some, but initially my mind jumps to the Worldspike. Is it possible it’s properties are altered in some way in interacting with the Forgery? Perhaps becoming like some sort of Macguffin each Dep wants to use?

I think this is the first time this thread has been ‘hot’ in like, six months? Exciting stuff! New Alley-magic, a DA Cold War (maybe the department heads realise that going all-out is just going to be way more unpredictable with no clue who’d win - mutually assured destruction?), and some really cool interactions between Forgery and spirit-webs.  

Hi Thaidakar! Sounds like a super interesting idea for a book or rpg, though to be honest, I think that if physical/mental disorders aren’t RP’d with proper sensitivity to the real people who have them, it can cause issues around other RPer’s comfort. If you want to test him out in the Alleyverse, maybe an easier solution than him having both DID/chimerism is to have him Hemalurgically spiked with his brother’s soul? You still have a two-in-one person (with obvious trauma from the spiking) but don’t have to worry about heavy research and representing mental/physical disorders that people actually have. Other than that, the character looks great 

2 hours ago, AonEne said:

@Sorana @Ark1002 @I think I am here. @The Forgetful Archivist Summoning the GB council (as of last I heard) - what's going on here? 

Pretty sure it’s a reference to this. Basically TFA made him a leader of a particular ‘chapter’ section of the GBs, since Thaidakar made a GB thread without already realising we existed. Ergo, we sort of assimilated him and he’s the leader of his part. Or at least that’s what I understand, anyway.

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I’d be interested in this . Maybe everyone begins in the Hall of Legends?

19 hours ago, Silva said:

And while she hates to give evidence, especially false evidence, to those who would argue that a woman’s disposition makes her more prone to such things at such sights, she judges the situation as being one of necessity and, embodying the archetypical damsel in distress, faints.

The bouncer talking to Cole continues patrolling the tables, his sleeves rolled up to reveal pewter braces on his arms. He crosses a table and freezes when he sees Aderet crawling out from beneath another one. Instantly he’s kneeling by her side, taking in her crumpled dress, her frail voice, the way her tears muddle up her makeup slightly. He listens to her words with wide, grey eyes, his face contorting in anger.

The last thing Aderet feels as she faints is the bouncer catching her and gently laying her down, then yelling for a healer.

14 hours ago, Durrin said:

Ah Rusts,” said Cole, “Can this day get any worse?”

From Cole’s vantage point on the stage, he’s able to see everything that happens next with surprising detail.

The bouncer he was just talking to stands up from the fainted noblewoman, and with one hand — his previous regard for neatness gone — he grabs the table she was under by the rim and flips it over, his muscles beginning to expand. Glasses of half-completed drinks bounce, then shatter on the floor, and the the tablecloth flutters to the ground beside the overturned table.

There’s someone else beneath the table, someone in a shirt and dark pants right next to the same dark coat and hood the assassin wore. With a start he gets up, points something at the bouncer’s leg. There’s a glint of metal before the bouncer collapses on the floor with a crunch, screaming and clutching his knee.

The assassin points the metallic tool he holds upwards and the lightbulb above him shatters, darkening the venue slightly and sending shards of glass across the floor. The screams of the civilians start again. The bouncer claws at the floor. Blood pools from beneath his leg.

The assassin turns on the crowd, pointing the tool at them but not yet firing.

 “Get out of the way!” He yells, gesturing with his other hand for the crowd to part. People begin to rush and move, terrified.

20 hours ago, Silva said:

Her eyes briefly slide towards the far end of the tablecloth, as though the corpse may somehow be seen through the translucent fabric, then back to him. ”And an explanation of what wrong that...that man did to you to deserve that." The last part slips out almost unintentionally. 

The assassin looks up when he hears the footprints as well, then glances in the same direction Aderet’s looking. He rips off his bandanna and stuffs that in his pocket as well, revealing freckled cheeks and a nose that’s been broken before. When he speaks, his voice is clear, but distant all the same.

“Just another metalborn out of his depth. Thought he could poke the whitespine and get away with it.”

His eyes snap back Aderet, trying to read her.

“Kinda like you.”

He offers up the metallic tool, then snatches it back before she can get close. A glimpse of a logo of some sort is embossed on its surface, but he rips it away too quickly for a better look.