The Light of Shadows - A Vampire Roleplay (Out of Character Thread) Those who have roleplayed before, please know there are players who are new to written roleplay. Please be kind and welcoming to them. Notices: 8/28/2024 - Rule added below in bold, please read! 8/25/24 - Arizona, USA information: https://az.gov/ and https://www.phoenix.gov/ - Browse at your own leisure and feel free to ask questions. I have been there before and I am sure others have as well. Images for reference: https://www.phoenix.gov/pio/99 8/25/24 - The Opening Post has been submitted. Please place character descriptions below and you will be brought gradually into the story. Roleplay Plot It is the year 2010, the world of vampires is changing as humans expand their territory on earth. As a result, vampire society is fracturing into pieces. More and more vampires are choosing to live among those they feed upon. Some hope to understand humans and wish to rid themselves of the need for blood. Others are fleeing the strict rule of the Vampire Elders who have shaped vampire society for centuries. However, there is a sense of security for many vampires in tradition. The rituals, the evening parties, and knowing one’s place in a society of outcasts. The vampires who still see good in the society created by the Elders feel it is best to remain in the shadows. How could humans accept or even understand those who hunt them? Vampirekind has survived for centuries in hiding and humans should be put back in their place. However, time never stands still, and the shadows are disappearing. Now, vampirekind must make a choice: remain hidden or step into the light of the new world. Roleplay Settings: The Human World: Vampires live on the outskirts of human society, but tend to gather near large cities. Not only to observe, but to have a decent supply of food. The Vampire World: It is not within the human world, but is in another dimension entirely. One of rolling hills, cobblestone streets, and castles of stone. Many vampires find the old cities of Europe and Asia comforting and familiar. Travel between both realms is easy as any door can become a portal with the whispering of magic words. Any questions? Ask below! General Roleplay Rules (please read!): Follow all rules of Writingforums.org Please keep this roleplay PG-13/UK 12A. You can swear, but keep it meaningful. Please be aware that gore is okay, but don’t be excessive. Steamy scenes should happen behind closed doors- characters deserve privacy after all. Be polite to your fellow roleplayers. If there is an issue, please contact the GM and mods if needed. Please use your best casual grammar and spelling. Doesn’t have to be a work of art, but should be checked over before posting. Please don’t control other player character’s actions or dialogue without asking the other person. Please don’t God-Mod, which means don’t make your character all-powerful, knowing, and invincible. If you need further clarification, please message the GM. Please remember that written roleplay works best when the other players can easily build on your posts. That means, no 1-line posts, and try to keep the ball rolling. For those who know theatre and improv acting, “yes, and?” applies here. No real-world politics. I know this roleplay may have a few parallels, but let’s remember that in fiction, coincidences happen. However, deliberately putting in real-world politics to argue, etc. is not polite. Please take arguments to the Debate Room. If you participate in this roleplay, please check back every few days so no one is left hanging on a plot-thread. You don’t have to live here, but please check in. If you are missing for 30 days (your last post will be the start date) you will be politely asked to send your character to a quaint sea-side cottage to live out the rest of their days in peace. So, please be semi-active. Please keep Out of Character discussion to a minimum in the main roleplay. A little is all right, but like footnotes, should not be a block of text. All vampire and human characters must be 18 human years or older, physically, and mentally. The GM can add or change rules as needed as long as additions/changes follow the rules of writingforums.org. Congratulations, you made it through the rules. Thanks for reading. Vampire Lore: Sunlight burns the skin – sorry no sparkles. Also, moonlight is not sunlight, for the sake of this game. Also, be creative! Vampires need to drink human blood – from a bag, can, or neck. Put that recyclable straw to use. Your own character can have 1 unique power that is lore-friendly, player-friendly, and approved by the Game Master. Depending on the situation, there may be duplicate unique powers allowed. Rules on Vampire Powers: Telepathy will not be available. I understand that a lot of vampires have this, but it would be a hassle to have in the story. So, sorry. Shapeshifting – You can have this, but please follow the rules of the forum. No erotica, etc. Anything else please ask for GM approval. Character Creation Please fill out a Character Sheet posted below and submit it to the Out of Character Thread. The GM will review it and approve the character. Name: Sex: Age in human years: Personal vampire Power: A brief description of appearance: (no pictures, please.) A short character bio/backstory: Other notes:
Gravy - Character Submission Name: Variel Sex: Female Age in human years: 25 (almost 99 as a vampire.) She's preparing for the big 100. Personal vampire Power: Telekinesis. She can move objects without touching them. She has managed to move 10-15 US pounds at once. But doesn't think she can lift more than that, but is curious to its limits. A brief description of appearance: (no pictures, please.) Has dark brown curling hair and put it up in 1940's styles. Because she enjoyed that era due to the sudden liberation of women. She has brown eyes, brown skin, and is about 5 feet and 5 inches. As a vampire, she's a bit on the slender-side, but has some curves. A short character bio/backstory: Variel grew up in the Florida country side at the turn of the American Century. She joined the prohibition effort as it was a feminist cause. She was reluctant to marry her now deceased husband that she does not discuss. Variel was turned into a vampire shortly before prohibition and spent time turning speakeasies into the police. However, looking back, she wonders if she did the right thing. Or if she is the same as all those desperate drinkers when she longs for blood. Other notes: Variel wants to live side-by-side with humans, because the society feels comfortable, but she is unsure if it is possible. (Now, it's your turn. Please post your character below!)
Okay, I'll play to help get this show on the road (Don't worry within the confines of the game i will defer to Gravy as game master, i won't use my admin fu unless she requests me to do so) Name: Elias Hitch Sex: Male Age in human years: 28, has been a vampire since 1871 Personal vampire Power: Shapeshifter, can turn into a giant black moose, however since this is of limited use in the human realm since the forests were cleared he is practicing turning into other things, not always with complete success A brief description of appearance: (no pictures, please.) A tall thin man with wild curly black hair who favors dark grey or black suits with a white shirt and a bolo tie set with a lump of amber. When he shape shifts on turning back into human form he will wake up naked and disorientated. A short character bio/backstory: British originally Elias traveled to the American frontier to farm with his wife and child. After they both died of fever and his farm was taken by a store owner to whom he owed money, Elias started working as a gambler and gunhand. He was turned in 1871 by a chorus girl he'd been consorting with called Scarlet, to save his life, after he was fatally shot by Wild Bill Hickock, in Deadwood, in the Dakota territory. He keeps it quiet but it was Elias rather than Jack McCall who shot Wild Bill from behind as he played poker in 1876. Other notes: Life has never given Elias any reason to love the human kind and he thus views them only with contempt as a source of food and entertainment for his bloody urges.
@big soft moose - Thank you so much for joining this Roleplay. I hope we get 1 more person so I can write that opening post. (And thanks for your respect, I am honored.) I really like Elias. He sounds like a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what his powers can do. He would fit up North just fine as a moose. XD Also, wanted to know that if this RP takes off, could other people begin posting their own?
Yep thats the general idea... if that happens i'll make you a minimod so you can look after the section (If i can work out how)
I'm excited to give it a try. Thanks @Gravy for the opportunity. Name: Molly MacLeod Sex: Female Age in human years: 29 (+ 245 vampire years) Personal vampire Power: Healing wounds by a laying on of hands. She acquired these magic powers when she was turned. Closing up a small cut is not overly taxing, but she's also healed gunshots, and that takes a lot out of her, leaving her vulnerable. A brief description of appearance: (no pictures, please.) She looks how she did when she was turned. She hasn’t aged, because she is a regular drinker of blood. Medium height, dark hair and eyes, a crooked smile, and she never lost the weight she put on during her stint as a pastry chef. A short character bio/backstory: Molly was born in 1750 in the Mohawk Valley, in present-day New York State. Her family were Loyalists and, in 1779, during the War of Independence, became refugees, making their way over the river to Niagara. The first winter was hard and many died. Molly went to live with a man named Cornelius and he offered her immortality. In their desperate straits, she let him turn her. She’s been travelling since, making money with her healing powers, and also at a succession of different careers. Other notes: She’s developed a lot of skills over the years, and has always been fiercely independent. The most important thing to her is survival.
@Louanne Learning and @big soft moose - Thank you both! I am so happy you're both joining. I wanted to let you know that I will make the first post on Sunday the 25th as I am starting a new job tomorrow and need to use today to get ready. So, on Sunday, I will make the opening post. Also, I figure with all our backstories, beginning in the US would be an easy start. Any preference to where? Also, Louanne, Molly sounds like a fun character as well. I can't wait to interact with her.
Me too! This is my first ever role play, and I am excited to learn as I go! Although, I did Google "How to do a role play" ! Congratulations! Hope all goes well. I'll leave that up to you.
First time trying this and it's always good having fun. Thank you for the reason to. Name: Caster Sex: Male Age in human years: 43(+190 vampire years) Personal vampire Power: Sensory deception – able to mask his detection, even against those of his own kind. A brief description of appearance: (no pictures, please.) Squat in stature, shoulder length dark hair hangs like Venetian blinds over his eyes. He speaks with a slow rolling rumble in dialect that is difficult to place. A short character bio/backstory: Caster’s servitude began when birthed into the dirt of a slaver’s brood pen. He grew up knowing nothing of humanity. To him, his was chattel, a satisfying snack for any passing by. Four decades later he rose high enough in their slave's hierarchy to be eligible for a Blood Oath. With new powers, Caster's door opened up for him. The decision to transfer him the human world as the attaché to their diplomat was reached. Other notes: Caster opposes the old ways of the Elder Council.
Oops, I forgot to reply to this. I like this power, but I am a little confused how it works. Would you care to elaborate? Does she heal psychological pain?
Does this mean we cannot write a scene showing interaction between characters without running it by the other character creators first?
Yes and no? In the opening post, I had MY character call yours. So, you can have Molly pick up the phone and begin a conversation. Honestly, this is a lot like Improv Writing? Add 'yes and?' So for example: Details about Molly. Then pick up phone, "Hello ___. How are you? I was just doing X + Z. Have you figured out Y?" Then you wait for a response. And the key here is asking open-ended questions so that the other person can elaborate as much as possible. Then serve it back to you. So, for the sake of the phone call, you could mention what's going on with the birthday, what you are doing, etc. Before my character responds. ___ Does this help? Please let me know, I want to teach as well as possible. And yes, it essentially makes it so that writers have to collab with one another for various scenes and outcomes. This can be done in the OOC thread.
@Sledge I am really happy you posted in the main roleplay, however, I am going to have to put on my mini-mod hat here. *grabs gold tophat* I know you are new this roleplaying thing and a lot of us here are as well. So, I am going to be as gentle as possible (I hope) in explaining some edits that need to be made. I like Caster and he's already an intriguing character. However, the rules for this roleplay state one cannot to take control of a another person's character (Variel) without permission. I realized upon reading that I may have not be as clear on how this differs from a collective story. Which is what I sense you were going for in your post when you brought in Variel. It makes sense that we would all share characters in a collective story, but for roleplay, you really only control yours. So, having Caster pull up to Variel's house to check in is great. However, my character hasn't left her house yet, so it's best to wait for my conversation with Molly to end before they meet. In written roleplay, you really only control your character, like a choose your own adventure or in more simple terms, like D&D, but writing. When playing tabletop, you only can do actions for your character. Sure, you can heal others, but it's not possible to use your 'action' to move other party members. I am going to re-post your introduction and Caster is free to wait outside Variel's house to talk to her. Hell, he could move to linger at her front door so she must talk to him. I know Louanne also was wondering about the whole 'not using other people's characters' rule and I hope this explanation helps. I know that we are all learning and the form of writing takes time to grasp. I even move other characters sometimes, too and I have been doing this for years. So, no worries and I am so glad to teach and roleplay with all of you.
Hi, I've had a chance to think about it, and you're right, the power isn't good as it is written. Can I change it? I'd like to make her a healer in this way - by laying on of hands, she can heal wounds.
Of course you can change it. I like the healing powers- it's rare to see it in vampire stories. What about using her own blood to heal others? Like it has magical properties?
That works just fine. I like it and it is more player-story friendly. Remember to discuss in the OOC thread with the person needing healing first. If you both agree that your character can heal, then you are allowed to do so. I am excited to see how this power can be used.
This is why you need minimod powers so you can edit posts by other people... i'll see if i can figure out how to do it. Meanwhile would you like me to use my maximum moose mod power to cleanup the thread ?
Thank you. I hope I am doing well so far and would be thrilled to have edit powers. And I PM'd Sledge an original copy of his original post, so I am gonna call the Moosebusters to come tidy up the thread. Thanks so much.
who you goin' call? Moosebusters. We aint afraid of no post (all sorted... i'll do my post later, i've been at work all day dealing with all manner of shit both literal and metaphorical)
LOL. You need to put that in your signature. (Thank you and no worries. You have 30 days to post. I hope life becomes less shit-filled.)
