1) Solo prelude would be fun but no obligation if you're loaded up. :D 2) Just one, Elena will be causing enough trouble. 3) Elena's brother and mother. Feel free to change them around at will, I'm reworking this character pretty heavily anyway. Peter (Brother): About nineteen years old, tall, skinny, geeky. In community college, wants to be an engineer, but he feels obligated to go for accounting and take over the family store instead. Self-sacrificing and overly responsible, tolerates his sister but feels a lot less close to her than she does to him, due to significant age difference. Mother: Middle-aged, faint Ukrainian accent; harried and worn out. She cares, and she tries, but she's raising two kids - one of whom is now missing - while running an antiques store, and she's scrambling to stay above water. Finances haven't been good since Elena's dad died, eight years back. She misses more than she wants to, and relies on her kids to be sensible and mature. 4) All of the above; just fuck me up. I don't want to break Elena in ways that will make her more boring as a character - shut down and shut in - which means that she'll probably need some hope spots in the midst of all the horror. Otherwise, I'm up for plumbing the dark depths of the universe. :D 5) F a m i l y. Elena is worryingly obsessive, and has been ignoring all her social links and hobbies since her brother disappeared, in favor of trying to find him. Before that... She wasn't terribly close to her peers; she's always known that her family is fragile and fractured, and that's driven her to stick close to them. She considers her brother her best friend, and has always tried to hang around with his friends; a seven-year age difference means that that desire is really not reciprocated. She's spent a lot of time helping out at home and around the shop, because her brother and mother are always busy with the million minutia of keeping a shop and home running, and that means she's always been a pretty isolated kid. Her mom just doesn't have the time or money to sign her up for soccer or theater. She had some halfway-decent friends at school, up until this year; they now consider her weird, and have largely drifted away from her. She used to be a star student, spent a lot of time in the library, and participated in the school plays. Her grades have dropped dramatically in the last few months, and she's trying to dodge her mother's and teachers' concern. A guidance counselor will probably be getting involved soon; her teacher and the guidance counselor don't get along terrifically well, and since her issues are obvious - a missing brother - the teacher has been trying to handle this in-house. 6) She will find her brother. And she will find who took him, and she will make them pay. Outside of that creepy obsession... She's always been very family-focused. She was a star student because she found it interesting, but also because it gave her family one less thing to worry about. She helps around the house because it helps them. And she tried to find out how her brother was getting hurt, because he's her family, and no one is allowed to hurt her family. Her filial concern is turning into dangerous obsession now. 7) Being useless. Being too small, too young, too weak to do anything. Finding out that she really is incapable of helping or handling the situation. She will fight until she bleeds, until she breaks, to avoid facing her own powerlessness. She also has a burgeoning fear of shadowy men in the dark, of blood running down the floor, of the sharp glint of streetlights on steel. Her obsession breeds nightmares, and she hasn't slept well in a while. 8) Go for it, no worries. o/ Elena is not a super subtle character, and I think her likely direction is usually obvious. (Her likely direction being "straight toward the nearest monster.") 9) Should we be building character sheets here? Because I can do that!
If you'd like to hammer out sheet details here, over skype, etc. Everything works. I'm currently rubbing my hands and trying to put together a suitable Hunter cell for Elena to run along with for awhile. Definitely think I may adapt one of my other folks for her lead-in. Big friendly smile, not so friendly lead pipe.
I kind of can't wait for Corrie to meet Elena, actually. Because Sunshine's right there as a perpetual reminder, on the one hand, that kids die like anyone else... but, on the other hand, that playing things safe doesn't make you safe. (Plus of course on the other side of things SHE'S POSSESSED KILL IT WITH FIRE... WAIT NO NOT FIRE lol)
1 Prelude : Not sure if solo or not since ive never done one before. I suggest talk over it a bit first then decide 2 : I have two characters, twins. 3 : The only really specific person associated with the twins that I've mentioned would be their Highschool friend who is mute. His name is Judath (Judy for short), genderfluid, speaks with ASL and texting, allergic to strawberries. Pale skin, short fluffy blonde hair, dark chocolate brown eyes. - I don't see Judy coming into play though... I guess we'll see. Other than that, the 'hippie buddah bamboo crystal' shop that I have Mischa working at is 99% based off a shop at the mall in the town I live in. 4: I'm just here for the free t-shirt at the end. (j/k) Really though, I dunno, I know I wanted to play a WoD game again, and it's been awhile, and while thinking of who to bring in Mischa popped up and so she's the one who gets ported over, so I guess I'll be filed under "Explore". 5: Social links : Judy - high school bestie Places : Mischa's POE - crystal bamboo shop Kainze's POE - library hobbies : Mischa's into wicca/magic/witchcraft/occult stuff, bright colourful punk style, and vulture culture. Works at the Magic Shop because of course it's the best place to be. Kainze's into magic through his sister. Has a tarot deck, dowsing crystal, very into vulture culture. Also a fucking troll, hell he's a blind kid working in a library who does magic that would normally require one to physically SEE their tools. They kind of Drive each other forward, through magic and life and such. 6: I REALLY REALLY dislike plot rails... unless they're done tactfully...
so I've been reading along with the RP threads without having read any of the planning, and having only a passing familiarity with WoD, and I just had a great moment of OH SHIT IS KATTERS SET IN PROMETHEAN?? so we'll see. don't tell me :P
*giggles* it's ok. No one knows what I've got planned for Katters, not even Melkiah! :Dc feel free to comment and say stuff, it's delightful. I can make a popcorn thread, if anyone following along wants to talk about the game?
I like the idea of a popcorn thread. This one's been used for interest-gauging and then planning, so that's kind of what it's For now, and I think it would be useful to have a place specifically to flail~
Yeah, I would like it too! I feel a bit weird crashing this thread for the reason @OnnaStik described.
Ahahaha. Yes, please tell us of your feels. E: I am plotting TERRIBLE PLOTS and "elena no" gives me life. Popcorn thread sounds like fun.
Copypasta of Elena's grandparents' place of origin, birthdate and astrology, for the lolz. Spoiler [9:18:23 AM] kanjoku: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliske Okay, yeah, gonna vote that Elena's family is originally from here. [9:18:55 AM] kanjoku: In the 19th century this small city was known for its weavers and its textile industry. In 1890, 80% of the population was Jewish. In the later half of the 19th century, and in the beginning of the 20th century, there was known a klezmer band of Makonowiecki family. Khabne lost all its major architecture during the Soviet Union - the castle of Radziwiłł, Orthodox churches, and the Catholic Church. In 1938, Khabne received official city status. After the Chernobyl disaster, Khabne's population started to fall off. In 1999, the remaining population was evacuated. [9:19:22 AM] kanjoku: because just... slow destruction of a home they hoped to someday return to. seems thematic. [9:35:22 AM] kanjoku: http://jewua.org/khabno/ And her family probably left for the US in the late 1930s? Which would mean... Eh, grandparents aged 10ish in 1940, have Elena's mom no later than 1970, Elena born 2004? -cocks head- That... checks out, give or take, huh? And it would make sense if her grandparents were relatively old when they had Elena's mom, because they're both dead now. [9:35:24 AM] kanjoku: chinhands [9:36:40 AM] kanjoku: (Khabno/Kahanovychi/Polesskoe/Poliske being a town in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone that's now abandoned, of course.) [9:36:56 AM] kanjoku: Ahem. Sorry. Spergsperg. [9:38:59 AM] Zin Karyuu: That's cool! [9:39:27 AM] kanjoku: :D! [9:39:33 AM] kanjoku: I enjoy torturing my babies. >>;;; [9:41:00 AM] kanjoku: ... I wonder if there were any interesting astrological events in 2004. [9:48:21 AM] Onna Stik: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/celestial-highlights-for2004/ A transit of Venus, apparently? [9:49:36 AM] kanjoku: chinhands! [9:50:12 AM] Onna Stik: And occultations of Jupiter and Venus. [9:50:41 AM] kanjoku: ... is it bad of me to go for the lunar eclipse because the moon was passing through the Umbra [9:50:44 AM] kanjoku: like how do i not [9:50:55 AM] Onna Stik: do eeeet [9:51:19 AM] kanjoku: (That means "shadow", and in reality it just means "the earth was casting a shadow on the moon", e.g., what an eclipse is. But in W:tF lore, the Umbra is the "Shadow" where spirits live.) [9:52:18 AM] kanjoku: I am a bad person. [9:52:48 AM] Onna Stik: Using the October one, it also makes her... /googles... [9:52:54 AM] Onna Stik: ...a Scorpio? [9:52:55 AM] Zin Karyuu: Haha [9:53:06 AM] kanjoku: And apparently in the October one, the moon was passing through Aries. [9:53:12 AM] Zin Karyuu: Hehe [9:53:39 AM] Onna Stik: (Now I wanna do fiddly things with Corrie's birth date but I don't know all this stuff @_@) [9:54:22 AM] kanjoku: So if we fudge it and say that the transit of the sun governs her human life, and the transit of the moon governs her werewolf/spirit-related life - which I think makes sense, huh? [9:54:30 AM] kanjoku: Human: [9:54:31 AM] kanjoku: Strengths: Resourceful, brave, passionate, stubborn, a true friend [9:54:31 AM] kanjoku: Weaknesses: Distrusting, jealous, secretive, violent Scorpio likes: Truth, facts, being right, longtime friends, teasing, a grand passion Scorpio dislikes: Dishonesty, revealing secrets, passive people [9:54:38 AM] kanjoku: Woof: [9:54:39 AM] kanjoku: Strengths: Courageous, determined, confident, enthusiastic, optimistic, honest, passionate Weaknesses: Impatient, moody, short-tempered, impulsive, aggressive Aries likes: Comfortable clothes, taking on leadership roles, physical challenges, individual sports Aries dislikes: Inactivity, delays, work that does not use one's talents [9:54:47 AM] kanjoku: Like... okay, yeah, that sums Elena up pretty well. [9:54:52 AM] Zin Karyuu: Yup... [9:55:09 AM] kanjoku: ... I kinda wanna do a full astrological thing now. >>; Not because I believe in astrology but having systems and patterns just makes everything so tidy in fiction. [9:55:53 AM] kanjoku: Okay, so @Zin, canonical Elena birth is now around 8pm on October 27, 2004.[*] [9:55:58 AM] Zin Karyuu: :D [9:56:38 AM] Zin Karyuu: I did that for a few of mine [9:56:39 AM] kanjoku: -chucks this at planning thread- [9:56:44 AM] kanjoku: I approve. :D [9:57:08 AM] Zin Karyuu: Though that's with their original time-line of... 2011 being game time? [9:57:25 AM] kanjoku: Ah, it can float. >>;; However is easiest! [9:57:34 AM] Zin Karyuu: Yup :p [9:57:40 AM] kanjoku: Timelines are jerks. [10:28:01 AM] kanjoku: (as... a sidenote, normally the cutoff for colorado schools is that you must be 5 on or before October 1 of the year you start school, but per Denver Board of Education policy, children with exceptional academic need (e.g., really advanced kids) whose birthdays are between October 2 and December 31 can be admitted if given an assessment.) [10:28:59 AM] kanjoku: (so elena probably falls into that if she's in 7th grade at age 12, and won't be 13 until October. Which means she is small for her age, and especially small for her class because she's probably the youngest kid there.) * Corrected for UTC->Denver time.
[7/24/16, 9:10:22 PM] kanjoku: (... I wonder what Elena is gonna smell like. -chinhands-) [7/24/16, 9:10:40 PM] M: wet dog [7/24/16, 9:10:45 PM] kanjoku: pffahaha PROBABLY [7/24/16, 9:15:04 PM] kanjoku: (tbh I'm voting for moonflower and polished steel. but idk if that's in our hands. XD) [7/24/16, 9:16:21 PM] kanjoku: (morning glory family, not datura. >>;) [7/24/16, 9:17:38 PM] kanjoku: (although as a sidenote zin CAN WE DO SOMETHING WITH DATURA/MORNING GLORY AND WEREWOLVES BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE SIGNIFICANT THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE RECREATIONAL DELIRIANTS NAMED "MOONFLOWER" RIGHT) [7/24/16, 9:17:50 PM] Nick: wow [7/24/16, 9:17:58 PM] kanjoku: >>; sorry [7/24/16, 9:18:18 PM] kanjoku: Uh, are you familiar with datura? [7/24/16, 9:18:34 PM] Nick: nope, you just seemed very excited [7/24/16, 9:18:37 PM] kanjoku: coughs [7/24/16, 9:18:48 PM] Nick: and i wanted to acknowledge what you were saying [7/24/16, 9:18:56 PM] kanjoku: Should... should I explain? [7/24/16, 9:18:58 PM] Nick: but without actual knowledge, there wasn't much i could say [7/24/16, 9:19:01 PM] Nick: yes! [7/24/16, 9:19:02 PM] kanjoku: Is all good. :D [7/24/16, 9:19:04 PM] kanjoku: Okay! [7/24/16, 9:19:16 PM] kanjoku: Okay, so I'm mostly going off "moonflower" - both families are primarily white, roundish flowers that bloom at night, so the name totally makes sense. [7/24/16, 9:19:25 PM] Nick: yes [7/24/16, 9:19:32 PM] kanjoku: https://www.google.com/search?q=ipo...Oxo3OAhWBRiYKHSGIBD4QiR4IhwE&biw=1153&bih=705 <3 [7/24/16, 9:19:48 PM] kanjoku: Datura in particular has a storied history; one of its main common names is "Jimson weed". [7/24/16, 9:20:09 PM] kanjoku: This is a corruption of "Jamestown weed", because it was found at Jamestown. And colonists ate it like "ok w/e salad I guess??" [7/24/16, 9:20:29 PM] M: That was probably a bad idea [7/24/16, 9:20:30 PM] Nick: is it poisonous [7/24/16, 9:20:35 PM] kanjoku: YUP. [7/24/16, 9:20:49 PM] M: IIRR it gets you high and Not in a Good Way [7/24/16, 9:20:55 PM] kanjoku: They apparently spent several days having a VERY hallucinatory time. [7/24/16, 9:21:33 PM] kanjoku: Yeah. Deliriants are... like hallucinogens, but while hallucinogens just make you see weird shit, deliriants make you see freaky shit and also get very sick. They're poisons by another name. But people take them recreationally because they're crazy people. [7/24/16, 9:21:43 PM] kanjoku: Datura is related to both tomatoes and belladonna, for what that's worth. [7/24/16, 9:21:54 PM] kanjoku: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Datura_FR_2012.jpg Pretty as hell, too. [7/24/16, 9:22:02 PM] Nick: damn [7/24/16, 9:22:28 PM] kanjoku: So uh, yeah. That's a fun one. [7/24/16, 9:23:24 PM] kanjoku: Morning glory flowers are actually taken similarly - they're actually a precursor to LSD. [7/24/16, 9:23:41 PM] Nick: huh [7/24/16, 9:24:42 PM] kanjoku: So... in WoD terms, that seems interesting and plot-relevant, particularly because werewolves and seeing werewolves is strongly associated with madness. [7/24/16, 9:25:24 PM] kanjoku: The James-Town Weed (which resembles the Thorny Apple of Peru, and I take to be the plant so call'd) is supposed to be one of the greatest coolers in the world. This being an early plant, was gather'd very young for a boil'd salad, by some of the soldiers sent thither to quell the rebellion of Bacon (1676); and some of them ate plentifully of it, the effect of which was a very pleasant comedy, for they turned natural fools upon it for several days: one would blow up a feather in the air; another would dart straws at it with much fury; and another, stark naked, was sitting up in a corner like a monkey, grinning and making mows [grimaces] at them; a fourth would fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces with a countenance more antic than any in a Dutch droll. In this frantic condition they were confined, lest they should, in their folly, destroy themselves — though it was observed that all their actions were full of innocence and good nature. Indeed, they were not very cleanly; for they would have wallowed in their own excrements, if they had not been prevented. A thousand such simple tricks they played, and after eleven days returned themselves again, not remembering anything that had passed. – The History and Present State of Virginia, 1705[38] [7/24/16, 9:25:27 PM] kanjoku: -applauds colonists- [7/24/16, 9:26:00 PM] kanjoku: But like... in WoD terms, that actually kinda sounds like either spirit possession, or humans trying to become werewolves and having it go very badly. [7/24/16, 9:26:10 PM] kanjoku: -coughs- [7/24/16, 9:26:13 PM] kanjoku: Sorry, I'm a nerd. [7/24/16, 9:26:20 PM] Nick: weird [7/24/16, 9:26:22 PM] Nick: huh [7/24/16, 9:26:49 PM] Nick: don't worry about it, people sperging at me is one of my favorite things [7/24/16, 9:26:58 PM] kanjoku: oh, good. [7/24/16, 9:27:03 PM] kanjoku: -bounces!- [7/24/16, 9:27:26 PM] Nick: : D [7/24/16, 9:27:29 PM] Nick: Nick bounces also [7/24/16, 9:27:44 PM] M: Learning things is good [7/24/16, 9:27:48 PM] Zin Karyuu: Oooh. Pop that in planning? [7/24/16, 9:27:55 PM] Zin Karyuu: So i have easier reference?
Shamanism and werewolves have a LONG history together that probably inspired the splat in wod in the first place. I say this because a book I read on the subject points out how SIMILAR shamanistic trances are to certain drug and madness symptoms and that several cultures would forbid a new shaman from practicing for a while, to make sure that they were legitimate and not just bonkers. I think the idea of certain drugs opening up peoples perceptions to twilight is not only possible... but was done in one instance of wod.
curious question: what is this world of darkness thing? ....and if I want to read along, where do I start
