ZincAboutIt

Hello! The new character sheet format will help us gauge a bit more about your character (also it’s now required ). The template is in the Era 6 Characters OP. I like the idea of this character! Excited to see them in the new sheet format. You are still encouraged to ask questions about them in this thread so this is a great place to be!

Laurelai and Whisper look perfect, Approved!

I suppose not! It’s pretty rubbish art lol but hey whatever XD

Just popping in to remind people that the Era will end on October 31! We’ve got about half a month left to wrap up any plots you want to! Happy writing!

Lita watched Laurelai speak with the - quite literally three-tailed - fox, tin on high to try and detect any kind of illusion or trick that might be present. She was no Seeker, but a mundane illusion - the throwing of a voice, the use of advanced technology - was often more effective in a city where everyone presumed magic was involved in any strange happenings. But Lita was also likely more accustomed to seeing strange, otherwise-impossible creatures than the average citizen of the Alleycity. This was far from the oddest thing to wander out of R&D, let alone some of the abominations that lurked in the older, deeper Alleys. "'Her companion' knows it well, indeed," Lita said, keeping her voice steady and cool as she always did when speaking with a colleague. She pushed down her irritation and favored a more respectful tone, not wishing to provoke this thing to hostility, though couldn't entirely keep a bit of acid from her words. "Though seeing that you already broke into our quarters and trespassed upon our sleep, you might consider using our names. Surely you know them already." Lita slid her Alleycant pen out of a dress pocket and motioned at Laurelai, hoping the woman had enough forethought to bring one with her as well. Trust was at a premium in these Alleys, and Lita intended to take the fox creature's advice and trust it only as far as she could see it - without tin. Which was not very far at all. Lita's pen danced over and between her fingers, sending a quick message to Laurelai. This place it wishes to take us - if there is even a chance it could be the pool from our collective memory, we should follow it. If it's actually real, even if it has no other properties, we will have our suspicions confirmed. That we are in one another's memories, and that those memories are also real. The prospect brought with it a whole host of other, new questions that Lita shoved aside for the moment. Now was not the time to wax philosophical or ethical or any other emotion. Now was the time for answers, answers to secrets that had been shadowing her for weeks. Lita looked back to the fox with keen, cold green eyes. "Lead on, please." Then she took out her bayonet and held it close - not as a threat, but as a precaution. Knowledge was power, after all, but so was sharpened metal in the chest. A Dark Alley denizen knew it was always best to prepare both. @kenod @Voidus

Bennington felt something akin to relief as Nox stepped away from the Chapel and the girl who acted as the mouthpiece for its waters. This was possibly the most dangerous place for him to linger; the temptation would only increase the longer they stayed. He spared a single glance for Whisper, considering visiting her when the Forgery broke and she recalled her reverence of him. Variety in one's diet was important, after all. But that was a thought for another time. For now, he swam ahead of Nox, towards the route back into the Alleys. Anywhere else but here. They had much to do, and Bennington still had plenty to drink, plenty more cracks to widen in Nox's mind. It was a service, really. Not that he needed such platitudes. But it was polite to give something back in kind; Vivica would have approved. @Voidus

"I brought something special today, Vivica. I trust you can keep a secret?" The Professor's green eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned at her, reaching into his bag and pulling out a small, white box. Vivica felt herself lean forward, biting her lower lip in anticipation, tapping her toes eagerly against the white tile floor of her hospital room. "Of course I can keep a secret, Professor," she giggled, chewing her lip a bit too hard and tasting a drop of blood on her tongue. That only served to make her more excited as she watched him slowly open the lid of the white box to reveal two perfectly frosted cupcakes. "Ta-da!" The Professor said, sweeping his opposite hand before the box with a flourish. Vivica gasped in delight, laughing and clapping her hands at the sight. "Oh Professor, they're wonderful!" Professor Esserethel smiled even wider, her joy seeming only to amplify his own. "Of course they are - I couldn't let today go by without bringing something extra special, Vivica." Vivica cocked her head, trying to remember what day it was. "Today is... special? Is it a full moon? A bank holiday? Oooh - did someone important die today a long time ago, people do love to commemorate those days." The Professor's brows knit together slightly in a frown. Vivica stifled the impulse to reach out and smooth away that crease in his forehead, feeling anxiety pool in her belly; nothing should cause him distress, least of all her. "Today is your birthday, Vivica," he said gently, then smiled again. Softer this time. One of his special smiles - warm, patient. So very patient. The sort of smile that stayed with Vivica for days, even days alone. Even days when she had been unpleasant and needed to be strapped into her bed. Vivica felt some of that warmth carry through the air and brush her cheeks, warming them too. "Oh." Was all she said. Her birthday. "I already received my extra pudding for today." "Was it the chocolate kind? The sort you like?" The Professor inquired. Vivica shook her head. The Professor frowned again, muttering under his breath. "...have to talk to the staff here, food preferences ought to be accounted for, especially on such a landmark day..." "It's alright," Vivica said, smiling again. "It was nice of them to give me anything extra at all. It's just my birthday." "And why wouldn't that be important?" Vivica cocked her head, sighing a little. "Because it isn't real, Nox. I'm not real." The Professor paused in the middle of lifting one perfect, beautiful cupcake out of the box and onto a plate. Vivica could just see beneath the cloud of white frosting to the cake below. Red velvet. She smiled again, joy filling up her face enough that it threatened to leak out of the corners of her eyes. "This is real. You are real, Vivica. This world would be far poorer if you were not. I know I would be." Vivica felt some of that joy streak down her cheek to wet her hair; she wiped it away quickly, not wishing to make him frown again. Not him. Not her Professor. He smiled his warm, special smile and set the plated cupcake before her as though it were the most important duty of his life. "Happy birthday, Vivica." And though she knew better, that day at least, Vivica felt real. - - - - Vivica clung to the memory - a false memory. Or was it really false, if it had happened - even in a lie? The way she had grown to care for Nox during this time - to love him - that was real. It was perhaps the realest thing left of her, holding onto the thread connecting them with desiccated fingers. So many holes now, so, so very many. So much that had been torn away, a vicious price exacted in revenge for her refusal to disappear. Vivica was inconvenient even in death. But someone had to look out for Nox until he had everything returned to him. Everything of importance. And when he'd found all that, perhaps he could come searching for her. If there was anything left to find. The idea terrified her. Not death - she was already dead, after all. But the possibility of disappointing him, of depriving him of something he might want, was unthinkable. She felt horribly presumptive imagining that she might be important to him. But just in case - just in case... It was best to stay. To wait. To hold on just a bit longer for a chance at being real again for him.

Lita looked into Laurelai’s face and felt, for a moment, that swelling sense of familiarity, of deep fondness and a loyalty she could not justify. Something whispered to her that this was right, that walking into danger with Laurelai was the most reasonable thing she could do in such a case, that the woman would do all in her power to protect Lita, and Lita would do the same for her. Of course. Who would not sacrifice safety and comfort for a friend? But, Laurelai was not her friend. She wasn’t. They had not known one another for even a month, and though Lita had certainly gained some deeper, more personal knowledge of the woman recently, that hardly qualified to the level of friendship. And if it did, Lita had far more friends scattered around the city than she previously believed. Perhaps it was simply their similarity, the joy of finding a kindred spirit, that brought on such fancies. Yes, surely that was all this was. Mutual appreciation of one another’s qualities. Lita looked over Laurelai once more when the blonde mentioned her attire - certainly much to appreciate. Lita matched Laurelai’s smile, taking the offered arm with an amused tilt of the head. “We shall. Such civility… I may just have to give you a reward for being so very accommodating, Laurelai. You think on what you may want, while we walk, won’t you?” Then the two walked into the Alley, and like a soft wind, vanished into the dark. @Voidus @kenod

Submitting Vivica and Lita for Era 6. I've classed Lita as an OP character now. Lita Attar Vivica Roth Edit: @18th Shard, your characters are all approved for next Era! Look great, excellent use of the new format!

“Mmm,” Lita hummed in irritated confirmation as Laurelai slid beside her and peered at the map. It did appear that today would be ‘one of those days,’ though if she was being honest she’d been having ‘one of those’ weeks. In fact, how long had it been since she’d felt truly relaxed? Even below the simmering glory of some of her dreams, there lurked an unease that gnawed at her. Something was very wrong, and it was getting worse. ”This map indicates points of Alleytravel,” Lita explained, pointing out the odd breaks in the map design. “Only someone with extensive knowledge of the Alleys could have made this - incredibly extensive because here,” she indicated the end of the map, “is a place I have never been, or even heard of, though the location makes sense to exist. Or I suppose as much sense as the Alleys ever make.” Lita chewed her lip, wondering who could be behind this, while at the same time feeling that old familiar excitement build at the thought of a new secret. That was the bait. Laurelai was right, there should be no reason she was chasing some absurd fox totem through the city with so little promised at the end. Possibly chasing it to her own doom. But the secret was the bait. The possibility dangled before her like a lure to a fish. Surely there was a hook in there made just for her throat. But when had that ever stopped her? Never, something whispered in her mind, a voice that was almost her own. Lita looked at the nearby alleyway and then back to Laurelai. ”If you wish, you may retire from this fox hunt,” Lita said. “I won’t lie that I could very well lead us both to our death following this lead - which I intend to do. Follow it, that is, not die. But then most people who die foolishly don’t actually intend to. So, you have my permission to go home. You will not be penalized or receive any sort of demotion for doing so. However…” She trailed off, meeting the blonde woman’s eyes. “I would, as always, appreciate your fine company. These things are usually more interesting with someone along. And I’ve a feeling you’re just as hungry to know what’s at the end of this map as I am. So. Do I continue alone? Or with my most promising acolyte?” @Voidus

Bennington floated near the man who was returning to being a god. He was no longer the Professor, but he was not yet himself, not in full. Bennington decided to go with the reliable name that both versions of Vivica had given him: Nox. Night. Darkness. A fitting title. Bennington floated beside Nox as he inquired about Vivica’s spirit. He had felt her, moving through the odd simulacrum of the Cognitive Realm that the Strsnger had wrought. Bennington did not like the feel of that place, and he hesitated to look into it. It was not the sort of place to linger , which made Vivica’s presence there a point of concern. But for now, Nox did not appear to be worried. He took them to that place of water and knowledge. The Chapel of Rain. That was its name. Bennington felt the water whisper it to him as he gazed into the cool blue stream that poured down onto the head of its single occupant. Bennington recognized her from the true world - this little mortal worshipped him there. Bennington had never much understood worship, unless it also involved the consumption of said worshipper’s sanity. As Nox spoke to the girl, Bennington continued to gaze at the water, which was not really water. It was…everything. It was the manifestation of the greed of thousands growing over millennia. The hunger, the thirst for knowledge, and the terrible price enacted for achieving it. Bennington did not care for this place, and the waters held no draw for him. But for a creature such as Nox, this was a place both wondrous and perilous. He would have to watch closely, to prevent his own plans from being derailed by a different kind of hunger. Bennington swam a long loop and then flared his tentacles, flushing a deep indigo to indicate danger. As if Nox did not already know. But it was always wise to be thorough. @Voidus

Bennington floated just behind the Professor's head as he contemplated the Alley before him. That last drink had really done something - something quite spectacular. And the Professor had, as well. He was beginning to remember himself, remember the fact that he was much more than a mild, enthusiastic scholar. Bennington turned a lazy, sated circle and contemplated his next drink. Probably not for a bit. At least... what. A day? Maybe? Now that he'd really started, it would be difficult to stop. Or it would be easy, but he did not particularly wish to stop. He could tell that the Professor did not wish to stop, either. He had not wished to stop in the cafe, not with all that glorious red. Red, red, red - the loveliest color. That was what Vivica always said. Vivica. Bennington turned another loop, this one more contemplative. He did not care for her, the way mortals cared for things. The way even this god cared for things, however warped that care may have become over millions of years. But Vivica had belonged to Bennington, and had been taken away. Partly of her own accord, but mostly at the hands of another. Another who continued to blind the Professor's eyes, even as he wiped away the paint of falsehood. And that theft was unforgivable. It was enough to provoke even an endless, ageless thing as himself to action, to a sort of rage that had no name. A wrath that had no definition. It was Nothing, but a hungry Nothing. Bennington swam before the Professor's eyes, urging him forward. It was time he washed off some more of that paint. He was looking for water, after all. A water that terrified him. A water that lured him. Bennington was curious about both. But more than that, Bennington was starting to get hungry again. Like usual. Like always. - - - - - - - - - - Vivica stood near the mouth of an Alley and watched the darkness loop and deepen within Professor Lucien Esserethel. Something had happened when he did it - when he remembered. Remembered how to perfectly place a pin of brass through a living heart. It had been such a beautiful thing to watch, even from the Cognitive Realm, where she could not easily see the red. If she tried very hard, Vivica could remember red. Her own, and that of others. So, so many others, other guests, in the other life. The darkness was tangling with the light inside of him, deep black coils spiraling over and through the white-gold wire. Some bit of it had begun to darken itself, and Vivica watched it happen with a joy unlike anything she had ever known before in her life. In either life. There was nothing more wondrous than this, than watching someone so perfect remember that perfection, bit by bit. Piece by piece. She would have wept, if she had tears. Instead, the wind obligingly tore away a bit of her cheek and neck. It seemed appropriate - the price to witness such a miracle unfold before her unworthy eyes. The Professor moved through the city quickly, as though he had somewhere precise in mind. Vivica followed behind him, watching in awe as the Light Lines began to behave very strangely at his passing. The lightning, which only ever ran in one direction - toward the Worldspike - now changed. Or perhaps, his steps made their own lightning. And this radiated out. Out into the city, out into the world, meeting with its rival lightning deep within the ground in a resounding crack that felt like reality itself beginning to break. It was beautiful, and perfect, like everything about him. The Professor. Nox. A name he had allowed her to give him. Such a privilege, one Vivica did not deserve, and would never deserve, but one she cherished. Vivica would have followed him forever, if she could. But she could not. She could see the mouth of the Alley, but it did not reach her. Something about this realm, perhaps something about her specifically, repelled the Alleys. This rejection hurt more than Vivica had expected, though even that pain was... distant. She did not feel much of anything, anymore. Perhaps it was because she was running out of her to feel. There was a great deal missing now. But she remembered him, still. And really, what more did she need to remember? What need had she of her own life, such a plain and lonely thing, in comparison to the dark and lovely creature before her? He was going to enter the Alley - it was important to him. And that meant it was important to Vivica, though it wrenched something deep within what was left of her to see him go. To give him up again, so soon after finding him. She stepped closer, closer than she'd ever dared when she was alive. Closer than she'd been allowed in the Cognitive Ward, though oh, how she had wished to. What if she never saw him again, after this? What if the wind simply blew her away before he returned? Vivica was being greedy, she was being presumptive and rude. But something possessed her, just for a moment, to be selfish. So she stepped forward and placed one spectral hand on Nox's shoulder. Just for a moment - a moment she did not feel. But perhaps, she could pretend to feel it. Pretend that it was enough. Maybe it would have to be. Then, because she could do nothing else, Vivica sat at the mouth of the Alley and waited for her god to return. @Voidus

"Mm, not too often, though it does have a certain charm about -" Lita broke off answering Laurelai's question at the sound of approaching footsteps. Davitt, with their drinks? No, the step was too light, too unhurried, and Laurelai had made no look of anticipation that would herald approaching food and drink. She instinctively tensed, ready to reach into her bag for the slender bayonet, when a nondescript woman brushed past their table. Lita was confused for a moment, not expecting such a bland person to approach them, until something small fell out of her sleeve onto the tabletop. Another envelope, that rusting three-tailed fox pressed into the sealing wax like a taunt. Got you now. Lita reached out to snag that same sleeve just as someone behind the bar dropped a glass and Lita felt herself wince at the too-loud sound, missing the moment. Idiot, Lita cursed herself, motioning to Laurelai to get up and follow, throwing far too many chrysts down onto the table with half a snarl at the idea of missing a perfectly nice whiskey-coffee. The woman was just disappearing out of the door when Lita rose, trusting Laurelai to keep close or get left behind. She would prefer not to do this alone, but she'd be damned if someone dragged her around the city playing games with her any longer than needed. Once outside, Lita looked around, flaring tin in a vain attempt to catch whoever had dropped the note. She was unsurprised to find herself alone - if this person had walked through the Alleys to deliver the first note, surely they'd have ducked into another and vanished sure as anything. Employing a few more choice swearwords under her breath, Lita put her back to a nearby wall and slid open the second letter, waiting for Laurelai to emerge and wishing even more deeply for that whiskey and coffee. @Voidus

Lita nodded graciously towards Laurelai and smiled, entering through the tavern door and scanning the main room for a suitable table. The Goldfox was a respectable place, cozy, the sort of place that immediately sprung to mind when one thought "tavern." It wasn't her favorite spot in the city, but it did carry a sort of storybook nostalgia that fostered contentment. And they did do a truly lovely breakfast. She chose a table near to the bar, where it would be easy to overhear conversation without being easily overheard themselves, and flagged down the tavern keeper. A short dip into a coppermind gained her the man's name. "Davitt, good morning. One whiskey-coffee and an egg on toast please. And whatever my companion wishes, as well." Lita nodded to Laurelai and lapsed into the half-observant mode she had learned over the years, keeping one ear on the surrounding low buzz of talk and another on her immediate company, tin at a comfortable burn. @Voidus

Would be hard to start now, as introducing yourself just as the era is over can be tricky. Not impossible though. I would recommend that you wait til next month. If you want, you’re welcome to hop over to our Discord server where we are also planning next Era and where you are welcome to do more dialogue RP to find your character’s voice!

That’s your choice if you want! Community in-jokes are always lots of fun and I have plenty of my own, though I generally don’t include them in canon RP. But again, this is your business. I would only caution against accidentally writing yourself into a corner by making your character too lighthearted and then having a harder time transitioning them into a more serious arc if you want to later. It’s definitely possible, of course, and I did something similar with one of my own characters. But this is a good place to explore more serious tone and intense topics so I always encourage people to leave room for that amidst the levity (as well as encouraging super serious times to do the inverse and leave room for fun!).

Great, thank you. I think this character looks fine. The preoccupation with aggressive vs. loyal camels does not make sense to me narratively, but if you keep that element to specific guild or group threads and don’t go around creating hordes of angry camels that disrupt other scenes, then that is hardly my business and you should RP the heck out of it if you want. This world has certainly seen more absurd things.

Hi @NerdyAarakocra, your updated character sheet looks good, but I do have some questions regarding access to soul stamps. Could you perhaps list the stamps she has access to? It will be easier to understand her capabilities that way. Many thanks!

Lita waited until Laurelai had followed her out into the Alley beyond her office before locking the door, slipping the key into a pocket and double-checking the small bag she had grabbed from beside her desk. She drew one finger along the cool metal of her bayonet - it felt right to carry it, despite the fact that she barely knew what she'd do with it if the occasion arose. Lita gave a small shrug and let the thought slip from her mind, turning back to Laurelai with a light smile. "I'm glad you appreciate my unorthodox management style, Laurelai. I of course had my suspicions... but it is always good to have confirmation of a thing, is it not? And besides, you took the time to dress so nicely this morning. It would be a shame to keep you all cooped up in an office with only an audience of one." She turned and began walking without waiting for a reply, taking another long breath of smoke and letting it curl languidly out of her mouth as she prepared to Alleytravel. "Follow closely now, please. You've shown remarkable talent in picking up Alleytravel but it is still very easy to get lost. And I'd hate for you to trail all that lovely Elendel silk in caustic molasses or sentient mud, or whatever else those clever, mad fellows in R&D are making these days." @Voidus

Despite her foundational reliance on her scholarship I would actually not consider it a major merit myself, I would consider it normal. Unless she were truly a famous level of scholar perhaps like Jasnah, who could use her status to wield extra influential power or something with that kind of reputation. If it helps I actually have Lita’s Twinborn capabilities also listed as normal merits, despite the fact that her abilities as a Tineye especially are the core element of her character. So it doesn’t need to be that a major merit is the foundation of a character. Just their largest character advantage in relation to the world or to others around them. Also, since she’s been approved she would obviously be approved again. So no worries there. But this may give you some reassurance on the character sheet formation.

Bennington hovered around the Professor's head as he entered the cafe. The building was appointed in the sort of warm, slightly-plush interior that mortals seemed to find relaxing. There were a few patrons still here at the late hour, but mostly the Professor was alone. Alone with his bag of materials. And his knife. Good. Vivica did not usually come to places like this, but the spirit was right. The moment felt right. Bennington took a cautious taste of the ever-growing madness within the Professor. The mortal veneer was growing thin indeed, and just below it was that roiling, ever-twisting lake of endless darkness. The Void. It colored every drink these days, deepening the flavor to something heady and strong. Bennington felt himself growing fat upon it, that well that could never run dry. And now flavored with the sweetness of madness - his specialty. Bennington was hungry. He was always hungry, but he felt it more keenly now, now that he had been so cautious for so many days. The Forgery felt flimsier now, as though a key strut in the foundation had cracked and was nearly ready to break. He could afford to be generous with himself, now. He could allow himself to give in to the temptation. After all, the Professor was going to get a drink. Why not get a drink himself? With a twisting that shook some plane of existence far off beyond the uncaring stars, Bennington grabbed ahold of the violet thread that bound himself to Lucien Esserethel and pulled. Hard. @Voidus

This is, I believe, the success of the DA more even than potential plot-affecting power based on character strength. The guild has enough subdivisions that it can accommodate many diverse members who then all play off one another. Proposing a new branch of an existing guild could actually be far more narratively successful for one’s character than simply making a new hyper-specific guild.

Also worth noting that even if you join an already-established Guild, you can always volunteer to lead a thread or side plot around a topic, mission or other quest!

Hail and welcome, traveler! It's lovely to have you around these parts. We are just about to start a new Era at the end of this month, so this is a lovely time to join up. Unfortunately, we would prefer if you reworked your character into the new character sheet format. We will all be doing so and encouraging even established characters to reformat (though not re-approve - fear not established members!) their sheets to conform to the new style. If you're having any trouble or questions please do ask us, either here or in the Character Discussion thread, which is built exactly for character questions. Guild creation can be done via PMs to members or, also quite easily, right here! If you want to pitch your Guild idea, simply use the categories on the Guild Sheet to let everyone know what you're thinking, and if anyone is interested they will let you know! We may actually create a new Guild thread, though I am not positive about that, and it would probably be a next-Era thing anyway. So for now, here would be the best place to crowd-source your new members. It's wonderful to get some new enthusiasm about the place after a slow season. We are so glad you're here!

Lita frowned, then shook her head. "No one else received one - at least as far as I know. Which is rather far, especially here." She watched Laurelai scan the room nervously, coming to the same troubling conclusion Lita had herself considered before the blonde arrived for the day. "As far as someone overhearing us in here, it is unlikely that I would not notice. With, of course, one notable exception that has already proven to be... exploitable. It is possible that one of the Strangers was in here, listening. And their ability to deliver mail unseen is quite legendary. However, they rarely extend themselves outside of the Alleys, and your residence is a reasonable distance away. It is a possibility I will inquire about with R&D. But till I hear back from them, I would still consider this place one of the safest to discuss our current business." Lita tapped one finger on her desk, staring pensively at the deep mahogany grain for a moment and considering the possibility that her own office - the inner sanctum of her temple of secrets - was vulnerable. Green eyes narrowed, and she drew open a drawer to her right without looking at it and removed a silver case and lighter. She snapped open the case and withdrew a cigarette, placing it between her teeth and lighting the end. It was a rare day that she chose to smoke inside her office, but the lingering feeling of her nightmare, compounded with the idea that someone could be in here right now listening to them, walking into her room to place cryptic notes while she slept - it was too much. She placed the case and lighter back into their drawer and drew in a breath of smoke, savoring the tin-magnified sensation as she stored enough heat to avoid obvious pain in her throat. She let the smoke out in one long sigh, finally looking up and registering Laurelai's final sentence. "The Goldfox Tavern?" Lita raised an eyebrow, then looked at the clock. It was barely past nine in the morning. "A lovely place to begin our search. At the worst, we can listen for any city gossip we might have missed. And I suppose if we drink enough, we could see three tails on the fox." She stood, smiling a smile she only half felt. But it seemed right to do something, to get out of this office and back out into the field for a day. "They do a lovely egg on toast, as I recall. And a lovely whiskey-coffee as well. Come along then, Laurelai. Enlightenment awaits." @Voidus