Welcome to The Dreaming [closed to ZeeBat, planning]

[Chaotic Cam]

Alright, so so far we have like a steampunk kind of a setting laid out, with powers but not necessarily superheroes. The families with the best powers ended up in, well, power. There are mega corps and both of our characters are in debt to them, and as such 'hired' as unwilling mercenaries to steal a device of unknown magical origin (to them, we know it's a Portal Creator).

My character is more of the the brains whereas you are the brawn. Your powers so far are control and manipulation of electricity, as well as general super-soldier like powers of strength, etc. My character has telekinesis and can make people do things just by asking, or make them see things in their minds. She has minor control of outward telekinesis like throwing things around, but overall she is inexperienced in battle.

Once we get to the portal, we somehow accidentally trigger it and get sucked into a portal. We can either have a little side plot where we land somewhere else first - doesn't even have to last that long - or we can be transported straight to The Dreaming (which is what it's called apparently, the realm).

From there, so far we have a standard quest with obstacles in mind as they try to reach Lord Morpheus' castle in the distance to gets some answers.

[ZeeBat]

Yeah, that sounds good so far. Though I do think we need to hash out a rough plot, or at least a clear enemy. Our longest running rps were the ones where we had a clear antagonist from the start. Also I kinda wanna read and maybe revisit those ideas someday as I've grown as a writer.

Even though reading my old stuff makes me cringe I love reading your parts. ^^

[Chaotic Cam]

Just gonna stick this here:
https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/
That way we can create our own world, we don't have to necessarily stick to whatever canon is. I know we want there to be a field they have to pass through where the air can sense their very fears and come at them with it.

And yes, I agree. And same, haha. And aww, thank you. <3 You weren't that bad.

So, plot. How much time do we want to spend in the real world away from The Dreaming? I feel like we need to set up backstories and world building, then meet, then plan the heist or something - I'm thinking a classic dinner party undercover scenario, just because I really want to do that, lol.

[ZeeBat]

That bad. :3 Damming praise lmao.

That does sound good and I do actually wanna do some setup with the megacorps and such. If you haven't noticed I have a thing for characters with a lot of power that are chained by forces beyond their control. ^^;

What are we thinking for antagonists anyway?

[Chaotic Cam]

I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way, lol. <3

Lmao you have a point. And yes, I'd like to play in the 'real world' sandbox for a little bit before entering The Dreaming.

So let's flesh this out some more. Magic was discovered to the point where technology sort of became stagnant and stopped developing. Around what era should that technology have stopped? And how will these Mega-Corporations work. What are their businesses? How did they get into that business and power?

As for antagonists, well the main one's will be the people we have to steal the device from. Another thing, are we grabbing schematics, stealing a map to something, or just outright stealing the device - how big is it? I really do want to incorporate that undercover dinner party steal the thing cliché somehow lol.

Basically I don't see one main antagonist right now, just several different bosses down the line. Unless we tie up everything in a coincidental little bow and it turns out the person who hired us to steal the device wanted to get to The Dreaming themselves. They have some nefarious plot about it or something. Like they want something from Morpheus.

[ZeeBat]

No worries it was just poking fun at myself a bit there. xD I was an edgy little shit back then.

So as to when magic was discovered, hmm. Well given that you want a steampunk aesthetic I'd say late-victorian to early-renaissance period?

As for what I imagine megacorps for all major industries including some new ones like alchemy and PMCs (private military companies). Also maybe artificial powers can be given or enhanced? We could have some real shady shit going on in the background with that.

Also maybe some lingering aristocrasy? Old money and new money conflict.

For the device to get set off by accident I imagine that there should at least be a prototype built if its gonna get set off by accident. No idea how big it should be though, but I like the idea of undercover dinner party as well!

Yeah I think we need pick more into this once we have more of the setting nailed down.

[Chaotic Cam]

lol ^^

That's what I was thinking. So we're thinking the phone has been invented at least?

I like that idea. Dark Arts Markets, alchemy (youth, money), and I like the idea of artificial powers being enhanced or stuff like that. Maybe when it comes to powers it's kind of like a mutant X Gene. We all have them but it's latent for some people. For those people the 'product' could unlock those powers for maybe 30 min at a time, and that's very addictive. Or even stuff where there's a drug that can take away powers and give them to someone else, yeah.
So that can be the real business, but what about the front business for the public? Maybe one of ours could be Pharmaceutical because we all know they're evil?
And yes I like the idea of a lingering aristocracy and old money and all of that stuff.

Hmm, so who are our characters. What families did they come from, and why are they bound to these other Families all of a sudden? Also how related are they to the people in power? Because if they have powers themselves they probably come from a known family - kinda like purebloods in a way.

Okay that works. Is it electronic though? If there's a prototype that is. Cause we're going to the point where we're only up to the telephone in advancement, right? Or is it purely magical? Some weird looking device? Or maybe a book? Was it made by humans, sorcerers, or something Big and Unknown?

[ZeeBat]

We can certainly have that, maybe even magic-powered handheld smartphone-type things? It'll be kind of anachronistic but we can mix and match what we want really.

Hell yeah all those ideas are awesome. Well idea of megacorps is that they're so powerful that the governments cant really operate against them. They can wear a fig leaf of a polite mask if they want but they have no need of it really.


The Corporations (Megacorporations or MegaCorps) are giant, transnational companies that dominate the world. They can range from simple media corporations to worldwide security firms, the only thing you have to remember is that they will kill anyone that stands in their way. The corps in this world are often seen as sovereign nations themselves and use their power to change the world around them.

And that is a thing to think over. Will they have normal power or 'artificial' power? Does power sometimes appear among the normals? Like muggleborn? Do power awakening drugs have side effects?

Not sure, not sure. We should tie it to at least the first antagonist somehow however I think.

[Chaotic Cam]

Yeah something like that maybe. Only for the very rich though. Maybe it's more like a holograph spell, or like runes/bio-hacking? Oooh, I like that - instead of visible electronic bio-hacks, instead you can have runes carved on you that give you certain abilities? So like a certain rune carved on the thumb could give you the power of a videophone when you put your fingers in an L shape?

And ^^ And yeah I'd imagine it's basically Big Families that are in charge, and I bet they'd have family members littered into politics as well controlling things. Plus money controls everything. I'm thinking we're talking Baron-Like families here? The ones with powers. We should have a history there. How long have powers been a thing and these families been in power?

I think the Big Families will all have regular powers, and yeah I think muggle-borns are a thing that could happen. We should have lore around that too. I mean the Families wouldn't want anyone else to have powers but them, so, and they might be scared about how this is happening and want to stop it, so like kidnapping and experiments and shit maybe?

As for power awakening drugs, I'm guessing they're super addictive like any other hard street drug. And they only last for around 30 min so that's another reason to go back and back for more. And there's also the nasty side effects that come with addiction. I'm thinking - if you don't mind - my family, the Durne family, will have that as their secret side hustle while as a front they're a pharmaceutical company - among other things.

Yeah good idea. Ugh... I have a good idea, but it would spoil The Sandman for you so I can't say it yet. >.< Hmm.

Well, what else for now?

[ZeeBat]

Oh that would be very cool. Tattooed runes could have a ton of uses and purposes. Maybe how many you can have depends on their quality and the low-quality stuff fades fast and does little?

Yeah that does sound good. Could also have some megacorps (new money?) operate as boards and that would put them in conflict with the robber baron and mafia-type families? Depends on how long everything has been in power but I think we should have them be entrenched and quite established.

Maybe styles of power run in bloodlines? Like they all have a 'theme'. I can totally see them kidnapping muggleborns to experiment on and maybe they even extract their powers somehow. Could have a lot of stuff around that, very shady. Should squibs be a thing?

Yeah that sounds good. We could also have very high quality power enhancing stuff, the real VIP drugs. I'm thinking for my character that they were a street urchin that awakened some minor power before being 'bought' by a corp for experiments and such.

Telll meeee. :3

Hmm...now onto planning the first antagonist and our characters?

[Chaotic Cam]

Ooh, tattooed vs. carved, yes that's better. And yes that would make sense too. Also it's very expensive. But yeah, if it's cheaper the quality is worse, mmhm.

Yeah that can work, definitely. Basically there's a lot of corporate espionage and stuff. You can establish that more if you'd like. I'm thinking Harry Potter-styled pure-blood and old-money kind of a thing, with their own seat on the metaphorical Wizengamot?

So yeah, I like the idea of the styles of power running in bloodlines. So the Durne Family will all have some sort of psychic power. And yes. ^^ As for squibs yes I'd imagine so, but I think by now they've either found a cure or those family members are basically just disowned and exiled.

And ooh, okay, so you're not a major family relative then, yours is basically a Muggle-born? How did the cat thing happen, was that the experiments or the drug unlocking the latent power?

and no it's spoiler go watch The Sandman :P it's a long end-game kind of revelation anyways.

yess, sounds good. been kinda writing a bit of a bio already. my character is going to come from one of the big families.
How many should there be in power btw? Less than 10? 15?

[ZeeBat]

Yeah that makes sense and some tension with the new money power blocks on that same level? Maybe some foreign powers are trying to move in and establish a foothold?

How big should the scope be? City, country, continent, global? That would determine how many families and powerblocks would make sense.

And aye, mine would basically be a muggleborn. I think the cat features should be from an experiment, perhaps as a prototype for body modification magitech? Could be a corporation that has a flesh-shaping division.

Idea, how about mine has an enhanced body naturally and the electricity is because of drugs? I imagine that two very different power expressions would be either rare or unnatural if they generally run in bloodlines.

:3

Nice!

[Chaotic Cam]

That could work, yeah. So the new money is what's holding the stuff our families want?


And hmm, I'm thinking region. So large cities. So maybe a singular Baron Family is in charge of each one then. Ooh, maybe I'm a political prisoner as well? Some other country with their own Powered Families kidnapped me, and now I'm in debt to them because my family was. So maybe we're on the other side of the border from where we both are from? Let's think two countries side by side to make it easy. Maybe there's like 12 Power families and 12 regions in our land, which we can call Oridian ( name subject to be changed) and that's where we are originally from. But for one reason or the other, we both ended up on the other side of the border in the land of Wales (name to be changed) where they have their own leadership and maybe 9 families and provinces but they're larger in mass. So some political overseas stuff happened between the Durne family and some other foreign Wales company, and eventually I was abducted and brought overseas to Wales. They'll want me to use my powers to infiltrate my homeland again and get the device that they want on that side of the border. And who better to do it then a family member of a Durne?

And I like that. Maybe you ended up on the other side of the border because they were rounding up muggle-borns, and you just got trafficked there? Unless you want the other side of the border - Wales - to be where you are originally from.
And yeah, maybe the drug that unlocked your powers permanently was a one-off thing that happened after a voluntary experiment. Kinda like the super-serum - it hasn't been able to be replicated. Or, well, maybe secretly it could - but the corporation's don't want that technology out otherwise everyone would have permanent powers. You were taken for this reason and then unethically tortured and experimented on. Then we end up paired up for this mission.

[ZeeBat]

Those do sound like great ideas. Would also explain how and why our two characters would be in the same team and roughly the same situation despite their very different social strata.

I like the idea that the serum being a one-off thing, though how about it not being willing? I like the idea of him being from Wales* as that would make more sense. I doubt they would put two kidnapped assets in the same team for a mission.

I do want the serum to have downsides and as for why its a one off? Hmm... maybe it was made with something experimental? Maybe something from the Dreaming?

[Chaotic Cam]

Okay that would be awesome. Yeah I also like the idea of them being from two completely different continents because he'd have absolutely no idea who a Durne is and why it's important she is one.

And yeah that definitely works! Do they have leverage over you, were you tortured into submission, or just what prevents you from escaping when you go off on a mission with me?
And ooh, I like the idea of it having downsides, and that it was made from something from The Dreaming - maybe it's slowly killing you, but since it was made in The Dreaming, we'll be able to find a cure there that you had no idea existed?

[Chaotic Cam]

https://i.imgur.com/8ggaWbe.gif

♦ CIRCE DURNE ♦

Age: 23
Relation to Head of House: Nephew's Daughter aka Great-Niece
Powers: Telekinesis. Can make someone see things in their heads, or distort their reality. Can tell someone to do anything and they'd do it. Can telepathically move objects the size of a car or smaller, however, she is not trained in battle.
Appearance: 5'6, Rich chocolate brown eyes that turn lilac when she uses her gift. Full lips. Long wavy chestnut hair that trails down her entire back in a single braid. Thin build with curves. Tends to dress in men's clothing. Particularly likes brown leathers. Think Assassin's Creed Syndicate.

Family: The Head of House Durne is Orion Durne (82) - the Eldest child of Horace and Lilac Durne
His youngest brother Orlando Durne married Romilda Gaunt
They had a son named Charles Durne
Charles Durne married Isabella DeSantos and had Circe Durne
She has one brother who is 28. He lives with his newly married wife, Galadriel, in the City of Order in the Government District, as the live-in family representative for House Durne. His name is Septimius Durne.
Oridian Durne has 3 sisters and 2 brothers.

The Durne Family rules over the City of Enlightenment - the 5th and Free City of Oridian Twelve.

Circe isn't particularly important in the family or close to Orion, but she is a Durne and a powerful telekinetic at that. Her father Charles is on alright terms with his Uncle Orion, however, they are not particularly close. She is invited to all family dinners and events, however.
The Durne Family have long been wielders of Psychic Abilities. They control the City of Enlightenment as well as all "Pharmaceuticals" for the country. They've long dabbled in Dark Arts and making others do what they want them to - whether they like it or not. Their abilities at 'persuasion' made them very rich and very powerful.

Personality:

By-the-Book Rule-Loving personality. I think she sticks to the rules so strictly because she's afraid of her powers tempting her away from the Right since they're so addictive and prone to being used for evil things. If she doesn't step a toe out of line then she doesn't have to be tempted. Because if she is she doesn't think she likes who she'll turn out to be. She has a lot of pent-up rage because of this, and she doesn't understand where it all comes from.

She's stubborn and doesn't give up without a fight. Also has a scholarly mind, and wants to know how things work and the mechanics of everything. She will want to be the best. She is also a perfectionist and beats herself up when she doesn't master or get the hang of something quickly. She puts way too much pressure on herself and has a serious case of OCD. She usually does master things pretty quickly though as she's a literal genius. I think down the road she'll get a bit cocky too, so the characters will have that in common.

She'll also have a cool exterior and a lot of walls. She'll pretend she's unafraid - and succeed - but inside she's petrified. She talks big, but when we first meet her it's all that - talk. She tries to project the kind of person she wishes she was to the world, but that's not who she is. It will be even harder to show off this false bravado though if her voice is stolen from her because she'll have no words to defend herself.

Small Traits:

She swears a lot because of how she was raised, and the gender-norms wanted her to be a lady - fuck that.

When Circe Durne was born in 1850 the gender-roles and the progression of feminism looked a lot like the real world in the late eighties early nineties. In the present day it's more 2010's progressive. The Country of Oridian is a very Patriarchal society and only recently was it considered societally okay for a woman to pursue a career outside of being a mother and a wife. Circe is one of the first generation of career-driven women. (As a note, I feel like gender-roles in Asharia are a lot different when it comes to women, and she’ll find a culture shock.)

Bad traits:

Can be prideful.
Can be self-righteous.
Can be arrogant to the point of undermining her enemies.
She is an elitist.
Has a hero-complex and thinks that anyone who isn't powered needs her help, and they're lucky to get it when she deems them worthy.

CIRCE DURNE - A CHARACTER STUDY LINK (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mgauuVBOk6wa9ObXx5vFec0a2HRexSLX86kl2Ff16I8/edit)



Plot Stuff:

Circe is not only telekinetic, but her day job is actually as a chemist. She works for her family's company - Durne Pharmaceuticals - and helps develop new 'drugs' with a mixture of magic and chemistry. DP (Durne Pharmaceuticals) was working alongside a foreign company and lab in the Border-Land of Asharia* on a new drug that could unlock the potential to (insert thing here) however, there were laws against working with foreign companies and the Durne family would be in trouble with the Main Government if their association was found out. So when the drug was done being created, DP cut all ties with the small under-funded family company in Asharia* and stole the creation as their own, and was first to put it out on market in their country. Afraid of being called out as a copycat or a thief, the small company never put its version to market. Their losses were tremendous, and the person in charge of the project swore revenge.

Enter Circe Durne. The chemist turned political prisoner when she is kidnapped during a trip close to the border. She is close to Orion, and she can be the perfect pawn in their game to get something even better than the drug that was stolen from them. A weapon that could open a doorway to another world.

Family Backstory:

Circe knows her family's power is extremely addictive and corruptive. As such, let's just say there are a lot of assholes in the family, and not everyone is a very good person. Her father is very controlling. In a literal way. He literally controls his wife a lot to be who he wants her to be. So pretty fucked up. He never uses the power on his children though. I feel like maybe they should all have immunity from one another. At least if you're blood-related. The mother married in and was normal. Anyways, the mother is completely conscious and aware of things and mainly strives to just keep him happy so he doesn't do it in the first place. Because of this her mother projected her issues onto Circe and was controlling in her own non-magical way. This is why Circe has perfectionist issues as well as others TBD.

Circe was a witness to domestic violence and messed up family dynamics. Ultimately she wanted to be as different from her family as possible so as soon as she was able to she got emancipated and went off to the City of Wisdom to learn all she could to become a chemist. While she was qualified for the job as a chemist at Durne Pharmaceuticals, the real reason she was mainly offered it was because she's a Durne. She's always been afraid people will think her position is a result of nepotism, so this just sets off her OCPD, even more, to be perfect and prove her worth to everybody. Being as different from her family as possible as well, that involves a very self-regulated pacifist regime. I imagine she's vacationed to the City of Souls several times for spiritual journeys and guidance on how to control her emotions and Buddhism stuff. You know what I think she buys into all that stuff, even the shammy bits. It can get slightly abnormal for example she's superstitious and believes in demons (to be fair, a lot of people do, but it's a select group).

Important Misc. things or notes about character:

Will be tortured by the same Corporation that experimented and molded Kine (the Yukon Corporation). I think she'll probably develop some pretty quick PTSD that has lasting effects from this as well. Nightmares, triggers, etc. Maybe that's also an unspoken thing they can share. I think when she gets free she'll be angry and blame you for her torture because you're so nonchalant about everything and don't seem to mind working for the people who tortured her. Then for some more unsavory feelings, I think maybe she'll feel jealous that he doesn't seem to care about things. That he can use his powers to do wrong things and not feel guilty about it. That he can take what he wants, even if he's leashed. She'll feel jealous because that dark part of her wants to experience that too. Breaking the rules, and giving into her Desire to use her powers for whatever the hell she wants. If it's cool with you, I feel like this experience and journey through The Dreaming will unlock different things in both of them they never knew. Hers isn't good. Hers is a journey into the darker bits of herself. If we write farther than that, which I hope we do, we can do a journey of healing for her later.


>CLICK FOR DURNE GENEOLOGY< (https://www.familyecho.com/?p=NP7PG&c=b9r02buyu5&f=110971678669126452)

[Chaotic Cam]

So this is what I have so far, kinda went on a creative spree. I'll be making edits along as I go. PLEASE let me know if there's any additions I should make, or if you have any other lore or ideas to go with each city, as I'd love your input. <3 I'm also making a map as I write things down.
--------------------------------

The Oridian Twelve

All LORE has been moved to a google doc.

[ZeeBat]

On the character sheet:
-The power seems like two powers telepathy and telekinesis. The emphasis is obviously on telekinesis so that's pretty awesome as I imagine that can change between the branches of the same family.
-What I get of her place in the family is someone on the edge but still within the favored circle of the head, is that right? So useful but not something worth starting a small war for.
-So the main focus of the family would be drugs, aye? Likely they would have strong ties with those that provide herbs and reagents. Also, I imagine a healthy black market to acquire test subjects for said drugs. Probable ties and blackmail to a lot of high society.
-I'd like more explanation on the plot if you can or if there's anything I can help with. ^^
-The names are fine with and sure you can have free reign on all that stuff. D I'm kinda terrible at names and such anyway. ^^
-Does she have any rune enhancements? Any friends or ties she could call in?
-yeah we do need to work out how we're gonna tie things in.

[ZeeBat]

On the cities, I'm honestly kinda awed at how much you developed. :D

I do notice that the entire system is very much covered with a 'benevolent' veil over the rest of it and very sectioned. It's fascinating. It does give me some ideas of how I will flesh out my side. I'm thinking more free market and heavy industry. Way more open corruption and the megacorps don't even bother to pretend at benevolence. Money and power are kings compared to the lives of the common people which can go pretty cheaply.

Back on the twelve, the way the power balances of the families can interplay will be interesting. It seems there is a national religion and government over the city-states? Sort of many small kingdoms all united under a council.

[Chaotic Cam]

- That's fair. Either way, both are Psychic abilities, and that is main core power. So anything really to do with the power of the mind. There could have been a few seers in their line as well for example. The most common are telepathy and telekinesis though. And then some may just have a stronger magic for a certain sub-genre and go with that.
This makes me curious though what would happen if someone from the Durne Family and the Achlys Family had a child together. That kid would be both very mentally and spiritually powerful, if they get a mix of powers and not just one or the other that is. We should actually discuss how that works.
- Yeah, basically.
- Yup, that's their main thing. The other big Corps are the Bio-Runes which the Umber Family controls, and then the Alchemy Industry which the Oridian's control. Then there's the basic necessity corporations that make the world go round, and anything else you want to add or think of.
However, when it comes to Circe, I wonder if she is in the know of what her drugs are being used for, versus willful ignorance. Still trying to decide what kind of a person she'll be. I kind of want to see your character bio first so I can create a character that will complement yours.
- And yeah, plot, definitely next on the list! Because after creating all these cities and snippets of lore I kinda really want to explore this world and have adventures, and not have the main focus on The Dreaming. Like 'The Dreaming' could be a Part Two of a book format or something like that. Several individualized stories that are connected. I think first off we need to finish establishing the world, and then I think we should just dive in and write about our characters and how we got to the place we are. I'm thinking we start off the RP meeting each other for the first time and getting to know each other and writing out the backstories and world.
- And thanks ^^
- Does Circe have any rune enhancements? Probably. I'll probably make them up along the way. She's a chemist and used to staying up for long nights, so I like the idea of common runes like Energy and stuff like that, but they'd have side-effects like coffee if used improperly. The really expensive runes can help you stay up for up to 5 days though. Small stuff like that. Like I mentioned, she's not a warrior, and definitely didn't expect to end up where she is. ^^ As for friends and stuff - can you explain more?
- And I think what I mentioned could work maybe? Maybe the Durne Intelligence was off about the Asharia Lab and it had ties to one of the Big Families, something they didn't realize before going into business with them? I'm thinking the small lab was run by a head scientist and a team of maybe fifteen people, so very small. But Durne decided to work with them because of the Head Scientist who technically came up with the idea. Durne was providing financing so they were unaware that the Head Scientist had any wealthy family. When Durne cut ties and stole everything from the small independent lab the Head Scientist - let's call him Aramusha - went independent and decided to kidnap Circe on a whim of revenge, as perhaps he was in the area? I made the Borderlands right by The City of Fortune and that's basically Vacation-Destination which is why she'll be there, but there are also boat docks as well. He sees her use her powers, and that's how he knows she's a Durne. He has henchmen or slaves or whatever that kidnap her and take her back to Asharia. He doesn't exactly have a plan at first, but eventually he decides to contact one of his 'Family' members - he's a distant cousin with a different name through marriage, but still related to one of the Big Ones. The only reason they take the call is because he explains he has a political hostage from one of the Twelve Families of Oridian.
Now, the people who took you - maybe they have their own beef with the Durne's as well, or maybe it's just the fact that she's a family member of a High Political being who can get herself into places others couldn't. Maybe the portal they're looking for isn't even the property of a Durne, but someone with the power of a Durne/political ties and access could get to more easily then a regular thief. So she's convenient, but not necessary to their plan exactly. If she dies so be it. You are their shiny new toy and you're paired with me as oversight and muscle perhaps?



On the cities, I'm honestly kinda awed at how much you developed. :D

I do notice that the entire system is very much covered with a 'benevolent' veil over the rest of it and very sectioned. It's fascinating. It does give me some ideas of how I will flesh out my side. I'm thinking more free market and heavy industry. Way more open corruption and the megacorps don't even bother to pretend at benevolence. Money and power are kings compared to the lives of the common people which can go pretty cheaply.

Back on the twelve, the way the power balances of the families can interplay will be interesting. It seems there is a national religion and government over the city-states? Sort of many small kingdoms all united under a council.

Aw, thank you. <3
And yes, exactly, that's what I was going for. Also if you have any ideas to build upon them just let me know, I'd love to hear them!
And ooh, I can't wait to read about it!

Yes I'm interested in the lore behind all of that too. I mentioned that the Oridian Family also hold all True Knowledge, as they have been in power since the very beginning, and I'm sure they've hoarded many secrets over time. I imagine the Time Keepers to be very mysterious and keep to themselves. They're a myth in modern day, really, but we do know of their existence because the Head of House Oridian says they're real (aka they make the history what they want it, because they're the only one's old enough to remember). But I imagine they haven't left their mysterious portal in centuries and the common-folk that live today just have so many stories and folklore surrounding the City of Time and it's never-ending swamp and Door. It basically just sits there, as the Time Keepers do not visit any cities (that we know of) or hold a seat on the Government Board. Everyone just sort of leaves them alone.

As for national religion, yes there is. I can get into that more later when it becomes important. And yes, small Kingdoms under a Council, exactly.

[ZeeBat]

Want to work more on the power drugs? Since your character is an expert on that stuff it will actually make another interesting tie between them.

[Chaotic Cam]

You mean on my characters specialty as a chemist? That will definitely be interesting. I doubt it should work like this, but it would be funny if she could just keep random pills in her pocket and pop them when she needs certain powers. Feels too comical though.

Oooh, but I see what you're talking about. Yes, there could be a tie there. Like imagine some of the stuff Circe created was used on your character. When I'm done reading your bio we can branch of from there and decide what is connected or not.

I'm thinking maybe one of the main serums or drugs or whatever that was created was a super-strength one. Pretty basic, would get a lot of buyers. Basically anyone who has Magic in their genes can take one and have super-strength, as apparently it's an innate ability available to all the Powered. You just have to take it in order to activate it. And since the power technically already belongs to you, it can have longer lasting effects.
So that's one of them. I will think more on it and edit this post as I go just like you're doing with your bio, lmao. ;p

[ZeeBat]

Lmao but yes I meant more like the second part and maybe working on what our bootleg super soldier serum will be like along with its downsides. Also I don't doubt that the corp my character is held by also uses drugs to control its subjects.

Likely also used runes. Ever play Dragon Age 2?

[Chaotic Cam]

Nope, sorry. I get the concept of runes and the power to control others though. I'm thinking your Corp is a lot like a Hydra and Bucky kind of scenario?

Also I was trying to decide if I wanted Circe to have a brother or sister, and I've decided. She'll have a brother, and he lives with his new wife in the City of Order in the Government District as the family representative for House Durne. So that could pop up with plot since he's in the heart of the government city. I will think of a small bio there too. He's perhaps only a few years older. Maybe my age, 28.

[ZeeBat]

Yep a lot like that actually along with taking inspiration from some other stuff that I don't think you've watched.

Nice I was actually wondering if I should give mine any siblings but I'm not sure.

[Chaotic Cam]

Awesome can't wait to delve into that. :D Once I know more how your character is being controlled as well as what was done to him, then I can expand more and think of what kind of drugs were created for those situations. ^^

Hmm, maybe. They should probably serve a purpose though.

[Chaotic Cam]

https://i.ibb.co/QdFFkYT/cooltext418544707246108.png

https://i.imgur.com/fpRsgAw.gif

I will work to make this map look better at another time. That's it's own project.
The above is a Map of the Continent of Oridian.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO CIRCE'S BIO (https://role-player.net/forum/showthread.php?t=97464&page=2&p=3114143&viewfull=1#post3114143) l CLICK HERE TO GO TO KINE'S BIO (https://role-player.net/forum/showthread.php?t=97464&page=3&p=3114176&viewfull=1#post3114176)

[ZeeBat]

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e1/a2/5e/e1a25e1c382e1cc74361595100966aad.jpg
Kine

Age: 24?
Designation: Experiment: D-R34P3R
Powers: Superhuman agility, superhuman stamina superhuman durability, superhuman reflexes, superhuman strength, and senses beyond human. Secondary ability; generation and control of electricity to a mild degree.
Appearance: 5'6, lithe developed body with pale skin and covered in light scars. Sea green eyes that can dilate into cat-like slits in bright light. Messy ash-grey chin-length hair with two cat ears sprouting out of it. His serial project number is branded onto his left shoulder blade along with several runes that have been branded all over his body with ink mixed with daemonite ore. He usually wears durable clothing, favoring black cut-resistant turtle necks and grey cargo pants along with sturdy boots. He prefers to cover the sturdy metal collar around his neck.

Family: Unknown father, mother was a woman named Yagura that sold him off in exchange for some amount*. Maybe I should add siblings?

Plot Stuff:

Kine was sold to [Megacorp] at a young age by his mother after he manifested power despite being a common-born gutter child in the lower levels of the Brass City after being spotted by some of the patrolling enforcers.

He was destined to be just another nameless test subject among many when a new experimental drug they tried on him for little more than a cruel laugh had a very unexpected reaction. It [rushed his weak power beyond anything that should have been possible, on par with even the pureblooded lines, and awoke an entirely separate power. Not something that should have been possible.

When the same drug failed to produce the same results from any other test subject Kine found himself changed from fleshmodding fodder to a valuable project for [Megacorp]. What followed were years and years of painful experiments of all types along with training to hone his abilities into the valuable asset his owners could make use of.

Kine is an expert combatant but the rest of his knowledge is barely passable at best. He has several cat-like traits thanks to fleshmodding experiments done and despite all his power is very dependent on the drugs given to him thanks to the initial drug along with a cocktail of others.




Alright, a preliminary version of the bio sheet.

[Chaotic Cam]

Looks awesome! So what's the explanation for the cat-like appearance? Was it an accidental result of a drug gone wrong? Maybe they were trying to unlock genes that had to do with animal-specific abilities, and actually manifesting the physical features was an unexpected side-effect?

Also by the time Circe meets Kine, how is he being controlled? You don't have to go into detail, you can do that in your post. But like what's stopping him from just taking off after he leaves the Continent with Circe?

[ZeeBat]

I will have to edit more info in just didn't want to keep you waiting too long hehe. ^^;

For the cat bits, well it was flesh shaping experiments. I imagine the megacorp also has a side business in beauty treatments for those that can afford it and a darker business in making the powerful's 'servants' look however they want them to look, including more exotic appearances.

By the time they meet he's controlled with a mix of drugs, (the negative effects of his stuff make it so he needs them or his body starts to break down), and runes which I imagine can do more than enhance but also control. Kinda like the imperious curse combined with the dark mark and Loki's staff from the Avengers movie. Also conditioning.

[Chaotic Cam]

OK no worries. ^^ I'll probably add or change stuff to my bio down the line too, that's what the quick links are for. ^^ Speaking of I'll add yours to that so you can click on it when you need to edit.

Oh so they did experiments then that weren't weapon-molding specific? OK what was the reasoning behind that? Pure sadism and what-the-hell-ism? So did all these experiments have a purpose in the end, to like create a Super Soldier - or was he just a random Guinea pig?

Okay that makes sense. So how much of his mind is his own? How much of his personality, if he has one beyond a robot, basically. Kind of like a Winter Soldier mind-set? Although you said he was sold at a young age, how young are we talking? Like, toddler, or maybe a ten year old? Or thirteen? Depending on the maturity level the source of trauma and conditioning could change.

[ZeeBat]

Nice! ^^

In my head, those experiments happened before the bootleg super soldier serum. When he was just another disposable test subject and they needed to test out some new body modifications. So he basically went from guinea pig to super soldier project. Mostly by dumb luck. But yes there was a lot of sadism involved. I imagine the bootleg serum had been shown to have very nasty effects on all previous subjects.

He was sold around 4-6 years old and he does have his own personality. They didn't have to suppress much of anything really so there was no need for a Winter Soldier robot personality. Think more hmm...a panther that knows its owned. He's never really had a life outside of this and he's always been treated as a project at worst and a valuable pet at best.

[Chaotic Cam]

Okay that makes sense.

And gotcha, I see where you're coming from. Are there any cracks in his feelings or loyalty towards his Masters? Any chance of redemption into a better being, or a better and more self-aware and well-rounded person? Like, will he have a reason to morph into anything but what he was molded into?
Well, yes, that's the purpose of the journey into The Dreaming, to discover oneself outside of the expectations of their societal norms and reality. Sorry, was berating myself there for a second. ^^; He'll have to come to terms with his own self actuality eventually in The Dreaming when it looks like they'll never return to their realm. So learning to be human. And Circe will help him with that.

Also does he have any confidence or is he self-assured about his abilities? You mention the word Panther, so that makes me think he is. Or is he more robotic? Does he have a moral compass no matter how small? Basically does he have any self-worth?

[ZeeBat]

Aye there are cracks to be exploited!

He doesn't like looking at his collar or the various marks on his body which is why he wears long sleeves and turtlenecks. Kine is also someone that wants adventure and excitement deep down. So I think that when they break from their realm and Circe is there to help him he can really blossom into full personhood.

He has confidence in what he can do and his abilities aye. If he's challenged in his field he's likely to be amused and if he has a weaker foe he would tend to play around with them.

I think he'd have a small moral compass, he wouldn't like to see children suffer but he's also learned sadism from his captors. Mostly as a coping method, I imagine.

[Chaotic Cam]

I love that. What kind of deep traits do you think you'll find out about himself? Will he have a sense of humor? Or such a lack of humor that when he's trying to be funny it's totally deadpan?

To help me out with creating MY character, what kind of a personality in Circe would help him come out of his shell the most? What kind of traits would he react to positively? What kind of traits would he react to negatively? I want to make sure our characters will mesh well.

OK. So not just confident but cocky, got it. What other kind of traits or quirks does he already have? Positive or negative.

And OK I can see that. So he'd be willing to torture another human being then maybe? To project the pain and because he's under orders?
So he takes pleasure from the kill? Does he also take pleasure from torture? I'd imagine there's a line between the two. He can dole out the torture but not appreciate or like it. As for killing, he could not like it - it's only a necessity. Or he can not like it, but enjoy the kill of certain worthy foes. Or enjoy all kills, save maybe children.

[ZeeBat]

Alright lets see. ^^

-To be honest I'm not sure about his sense of humor yet. Maybe it would lean a bit on darker side at first?

-Hmm. well for Circe if I remember right for her you want her journey to be from naive to hardened right? I imagine he'd do well against a personally that can match wills against him. He'd love someone he could have as an equal and a rival of sorts. Though he'd likely chaff against someone that treats him like an object or someone with a weak personality.

-Aye, he has a bit of arrogance in him though he'll back down and submit to those that control him. As for traits I imagine he would actually put in as little effort and energy into things as he can when not on duty. Both because his body can be frail in health and because he only really gets animated when he's interested. I do imagine that he greatly enjoys fighting.

-Yep, torture would be quite alright with him. He's capable of taking pleasure in it, not from the act itself but in watching how his 'victims' react to it. Physical or emotional torture. As for killing its more of a chore for him and a sign that his fun has to end.

-the greatest moment of pleasure for him to fight to edge of death against a worthy foe.

-But yeah he wouldn't torture children and only kill if forced. Even then he'd try to be as merciful as he could.

[Chaotic Cam]

- What's an example maybe? Humor can say a lot about who a person is.

- OK immediately I think we're going to hate each other at first then. She is none of those things he describes. She is by the book, strict, and doesn't mess around. She has a lot of pent up rage (if I end up trailing off it's because I'm just letting the muse out, also that sound pretentious). So him not really show much emotion will get on her nerves I think, as she thinks he's dismissing her or doesn't care about certain things. Perhaps she'll demonize him, projecting her own emotional issues, until eventually he snaps and there's a confrontation scene with a Big Talk that clears the air. I'm thinking that Big Talk will happen shortly before they get accidently caught in the portal and whisked away?

I'm afraid of portraying all these negative emotions in a women though. I think it's just ingrained misogyny cause I associate these traits as bad things with women. Being snappy as a women is seen worse than being snappy as a man for example, so it makes me cringe... anyways trailing off there, didn't mean to get all whatevercal.

Um, where was I... OK so back to being all the things she isn't. When they first meet she absolutely cannot match his physical wills (though maybe as a bonding thing he can train her) but I don't see why that might bother him unless she was clumsy, but she isn't, so? She absolutely needs him there as the muscle, but she isn't an idiot who's going to get caught and have to fight her way through everything verses espionage. But yeah, I like the idea of the personality thing being a negative, but maybe the physical strength thing being a hidden positive. He ends up training her and she's a great student and they bond that way? And we have that cliché training montage where she learns he isn't a monster, at least not to her, and then they fall in love... jk, jk, not looking to go down that route lmao. But anyways what do you think of all of that?

- Lmao so he's lazy unless he has to do something? Or 'disinterested'.
Also regarding his body being frail and stuff. Does he need a regular supply of drugs to keep his powers? For example when they're in The Dreaming he'll be going through withdrawal, but what kind of symptoms would that be besides physical ones? Would there be power loss? Or do runes make up for all of this? I'm guessing he'll be very weak at some point. Circe will have to step up.

- Hmm, okay. I'm trying to find some redemptive qualities here. Wanna help me out? We do want him to become a slightly better person by the end. Or ooh, maybe it takes magic to awaken the humanity in him? There's was a scene in The Sandman... gah, please go watch thatttt - basically Dream messes with a bunch of people's heads and makes them feel guilt for all of the horrible things they've done. So maybe he can do something like that to your character? Oh gosh that would be awesome. And he is a psychopath.
OR maybe he's not a psychopath maybe it's more like some really intense messed-up projection shit where maybe he dehumanizes his victims? Or imagines his torture victims as other people he hates or even himself? I mean we do want him to become a better person, at least a little bit. So psychopath or mental health issues? I mean they're both mental health but you get what I mean.

- Nice
- See that is a strange contradiction there. Try to be merciful with a kill, yet enjoys torturing a person. What's the reasoning and motivation between that do you think? I mean fully-developed people are full of contradictions. Oh you meant merciful with children specifically. See it's almost three am.

[ZeeBat]

-Hmm, let's see. "You know when I tell people they're being charged an arm and a leg they're always so surprised later that I meant that literally."

-Less focus on the physical and more on the personality front. So I do imagine that they'll butt heads quite a bit in the beginning but I can see him beginning to accept her or at least respect her grudgingly if she shows she has a strong will. Kind of like how you're not supposed to show fear in front of a dog or run.

-For Circe how is she dealing with her kidnapping? I do find it likely that she'll likely project her issues.

-Aye calling him lazy is a good description. Pretty much protecting himself underneath a layer of apathy.

-The way I imagine it is that he needs a regular supply of drugs to keep him stable. Kind of like his powers are an aggressive disease/parasite and the drugs keep it in check. So yeah I imagine his condition will deteriorate sometime during their journey and Circe would have to step up.

-A good chance for them to bond? Kine stripped of what he has along with his pride and forced to rely on someone so totally.

-Yes, he does have abandonment issues. One of his earliest memories is his mother literally selling him in exchange for money or drugs.

-For Circe how would she react to violence and killing? How sheltered was she before being kidnapped?

-Yeah the torture is less psychopath and more fucked up projection. Kine knows how he broke underneath what he suffered so he has a very tangled knot of stuff. One part is wanting some control, another part is some loathing for those that didn't suffer, and a big part is fear. He needs to see that breaking as he did isn't his fault, that everyone would become like him, and that there was no other way.

--Someone not breaking or worse understanding him would likely shatter a lot of him. He really hates himself and what he is deep down but he refuses to acknowledge it.

-I do imagine he has his honor though. Hmm, what other good traits should I give him?

-How does Circe deal with being away from her city?

[Chaotic Cam]

- OK she can appreciate that kind of humor.

- OK so this is what I have of her personality so far:


By-the-Book Rule-Loving personality. I think she sticks to the rules so strictly because she's afraid of her powers tempting her away from the Right, since they're so addictive and prone to being used for evil things. If she doesn't step a toe out of line then she doesn't have to be tempted. Because if she is she doesn't think she likes who she'll turn out to be. She has a lot of pent up rage because of this, and she doesn't understand where it all comes from.

So also stubborn, then? Doesn't give up without a fight? Also has a scholar mind, and wants to know how things work and the mechanics of everything. She will want to be the best. She is also a perfectionist, and beats herself up when she doesn't master or get the hang of something quickly. She puts way too much pressure on herself, and this may or may not lead to a cutting problem. I dunno. What do you think on that last bit? A character trait or unnecessary? I don't want to write anything disrespectful. I'll also need to figure out her family dynamics if I do that though. Hmm, either way a perfectionist for sure. She usually does master things pretty quickly though as she's a literal genius. I think down the road she'll get a bit cocky too, so they have that in common.
And yeah she'll also have a cool-exterior and a lot of walls. She'll pretend she's unafraid - and succeed - but inside she's petrified. She talks big, but when we first meet her it's all that - talk. She tries to project the kind of person she wishes she was to the world, but that's not who she really is.

- I think the kidnapping will be an interesting issue because in order for it to work, they'll need to take away her voice, which is her power. So not only will she be thrust in a scary new situation, but she'll have no way to scream or communicate with anyone. I think they'll take sadistic pleasure in that. So basically she'll be very isolated. I think she will likely also be tortured and they'll try to break her to do their will. Eventually they get bored and never really break her, but they threaten her brother and the death of the rest of her family if she doesn't do what they say. They have several to pick from, one by one. I think she'll probably develop some pretty quick PTSD that has lasting effects from this as well. Nightmares, triggers, etc. Maybe that's also an unspoken thing they can share. I think when she gets free she'll be angry and blame you for her torture because you're so nonchalant about everything any don't seem to mind working for the people who tortured her. Then for some more unsavory feelings, I think maybe she'll feel jealousy that he doesn't seem to care about things. That he can use his powers to do wrong things and not feel guilty about it. That he can take what he wants, even if he's leashed. She'll feel jealous because that dark part of her wants to experience that too. Breaking the rules, and giving into her Desire to use her powers for whatever the hell she wants. If it's cool with you, I feel like this experience and journey through The Dreaming will unlock different things in both of them they never knew. Hers isn't good. Hers is a journey into the darker bits of herself. If we write farther than that, which I hope we do, we can do a journey of healing for her later.

- So if it affects his powers how might that work? I mean we can discuss it when we get there. But is it just unreliable, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't? Does the electricity fizzle out? Do you shed fur? (Kidding on that last bit.) And yes, a good time to bond. It's also a chance to use all that training he taught her. I imagine proud teacher and pupil Moments, but then they brush it off seconds later because we can't have that just yet.

- Yeah that pretty much sucks.

- Very sheltered before. I need to make up some stuff about her immediate home life Mom/Dad/Brother. Already finished the brother, but hmm. The thing is, she knows their families power is extremely addictive and corruptive. As such, let's just say there's a lot of assholes in the family, and not everyone is a very good person. Let's say either her mother or father is very controlling. In a literal way. Let's say it's her father, the blood Durne of the family. He literally controls his wife a lot to be who he wants her to be. So pretty fucked up. He never uses the power on his children though. I feel like maybe they should all have an immunity from one another? At least if you're blood-related. Anyways, the mothers completely aware of things, and mainly strives to just keep him happy so he doesn't do it in the first place. Because of this her mother projected her own issues onto Circe, and was controlling in her own non-magical way. This is why Circe has perfectionist issues as well as others TBD.

So you know what? I take back the sheltered thing. Circe was a witness to domestic violence and messed up family dynamics. Ultimately she wanted to be as different as her family as possible so as soon as she was able to she got emancipated and went of to the City of Wisdom to learn all she could to become a chemist. While she was qualified for the job as a chemist at Durne Pharmaceuticals, the real reason she was mainly offered it was because she's a Durne. She's always been afraid people will think her position is a result of nepotism, so this just sets of her OCPD even more to be perfect and prove her worth to everybody. Regarding being as different as her family as possible as well, that involves a very self-regulated pacifist regime. I imagine she's vacationed to the City of Souls several times for spiritual journeys and guidance on how to control her emotions and Buddhism stuff. You know what I think she really buys into all that stuff, even the shammy bits. It can get slightly abnormal for example she's superstitious and believes in demons (to be fair, a lot of people do, but it's a select group).

But this will change as she comes to learn more about herself, and not for the better. Once she breaks that dam and uses her powers for selfish things... it's all downhill from there.

- Aw, okay. Yes, use that pain while writing.

- Yes, I love it.

- Honor, always good. How far does that extend? Does he care about a fair fight? Or is it more of a keeping his word kind of thing?
and hmm. maybe he's a really good poet? or singer? kidding, lol. though hey, who knows maybe he can sing.
um. if you can manage it we can lean into the dark humor. if it's not organic though we don't have to. also he can be a good teacher and enjoy teaching. maybe he enjoys it because it's something he's good at that he can provide, and it's not hurting anyone in the process. in fact, it could even be considered as doing something good? I think that mentor/teacher thing is the main bond that will open our characters up to each other.

- As for being away from her city, she's actually not that upset. She's rattled from being kidnapped and she's in a new strange place, but once she's free she gets her bearings rather quickly and actually is rather intrigued and fascinated by being on this new continent. They don't get to spend a lot of time there before going back to her homeland though.

[Chaotic Cam]

also when you have time check out and read the full Lore page as I'm constantly adding to it. Got up to explaining about the Muggle-Borns and how that works. I'm calling them Suddenly Powered right now, but you might be using this term a lot so please feel free to pick out something that sounds cooler.

Alright, night! ^^ Hopefully I can sleep lol.

[ZeeBat]

Well, let's see if I can catch up with everything. xD

-So for their personalities when they meet how will their circumstances be? They come from vastly different places and I don't see their captors putting them on their own. They'd likely have a handler I think?

-So she has a fear of being mute or unable to communicate then? Also, how would they threaten her family? They seem highly placed and in a different country/region?

-I would like her to have a journey to pick herself up after, given that otherwise, it would leave both characters in an odd spot with the ties between them.

-For Kine, the symptoms are more like that scene from Disney Hercules when he gives up his divine power minus the withered old look.

-Huh damn. So she's gonna have a lot of family issues then. Why does she love them so much that threatening them is what keeps her in line?

-Also would she use her powers on Kine?

-For Kine, deals with both. He values a fair fight and if he gives his worth he'll go beyond any reasonable measure to keep it. Anyone interfering in what he considers a duel is pretty dead and he's willing to injure himself to even the odds if something happened to his opponent because a third party interfered.

-as discussed he enjoys caring for plants and finds peace in it.

-Also I picture him as being very frugal as beyond a few things I don't see Kine caring a lot about material wealth.

-I do think both of them teaching each other things would make a nice bond between the two.

-For the name of the muggle-borns how about 'Imps'? Like imposters and like the lowest tier of demons?

[Chaotic Cam]

- I thought your Kine was loyal enough that he was the handler. Her handler that is. But I could work with there being a third person. They might just get in the way though, and one of us would have to play them. I kind of don't want there to be a handler? Unless you think Kine's already a flight risk. We just need to figure out how to get rid of the Handler and how soon. Covert operations are hard enough with two people let alone three. Oh, maybe he's the guy with the earpiece giving them orders and he just watches them with like a surveillance spell? So they're being watched all the time. Or almost all the time. So even if Circe tries to get to know who Kine is and asks questions, he won't respond because he knows he's being watched. It's not until they enter The Dreaming that they're free from oversight. Would that work?

- Yes one of her biggest fears is not being in control, and losing her powers. Though I don't know if there's a fear about not being able to communicate versus the loss of power, as it's a scary situation in general and she has no control over anything now. She can't even speak up to defend herself. As for the family, I'm working on this huge family tree. The main thing though is that her brother Septimius and his wife live in the Government Quarters of the City of Order, as they're living there as the Durne representative. I imagine that there are spies everywhere in the heart of the government, and I wouldn't be surprised if that included foreign ones. I'm sure the Bad Guys have some pawns in the City of Order, but maybe not to the extent they could pull off an assassination attempt. However, Circe's naivety and fear factor into this. She has no idea who they are or how powerful they are. For all, she knows they can go through with every threat.

- Yeah, definitely. Maybe it can be Kine's turn to help her heal. And it would be interesting because at that point I feel like he'll be a different person too. I think maybe Old-Him would have been okay with who Circe has become, but not new-him. Now he's just sad or whatever at what she's become.... but that's way down the line.

- And okay sounds cool. ^^ So a general sluggishness as well.

- Oh yeah so many issues. I'll be explaining everything in the story too.
She loves her brother though. Although he was always pampered and she was jealous he was still a kind brother and cared about her. She also loves her mother still but those feelings are hella complicated. Like, she understands where her mother's anger comes from and why she does what she does. She's literally controlled and abused by her Father, who pretends around everyone that they're all a happy family and she's his adoring wife, versus what they all know is the truth. And there's nothing Circe was able to do about it all her life and she witnessed almost everything her mother went through though. So she pities her and loves her in her own way. Her father could die for all she cares though.

- I imagine down the line for some reason or another, sure, I don't see why not. She's toeing a line in life right now with her powers though. Right now she Hasn't Crossed that Line. She refuses to use her powers for selfish personal gain. She wouldn't make Kine do anything he didn't want to with her powers. Down the line though once she's more battled-hardened, who knows?

- okay interesting. so if their opponent lost their sword, for example, he'd drop his too? I like this redemptive quality. I don't imagine his Handlers do though. What are their reactions to this kind of behavior?

- I am Groot

- And that would make sense given his upbringing and conditioning. Hopefully, Circe can help him learn to care about some things though, and have wants and desires like a fully-feeling human, lol.

- I do like that. It literally demonizes them by putting them in that category with real demons or mythical demons. I'll go through and edit that name later.

Alright what else should we start on before we just start writing?

[ZeeBat]

-He's not a flight risk but she is and given her abilities it would be a risk with just them two. What would stop her from just momentarily controlling him and getting away after all? I do like your idea of a remote operator though!

-Oh yeah I can see that. Realistically they don't really have the resources to kill them but how would she know?

-Did she mix a lot with the darker side of her own family business?

-Yeah that will be interesting to see later on. ^^

-That will be an interesting family dynamic there.

-Aye and that makes a lot of sense. Again I think the Bad Guys would consider that possibility which is why they might have a remote overseer.

-Aye pretty much. But yeah his handlers don't like it at all, I imagine he gets punished whenever that happens for 'correction'.

-Not sure what else do we need?

[Chaotic Cam]

- Oh yeah good point, lmao. They'll need to find extra ways to control her. Maybe it has to do with runes. Perhaps they also have runes they can tattoo on themselves to help resist mind control? If she tried super hard to use her power on a person, I think the rune would eventually wear down by the blasts of commands. However, it takes a few tries, so she'd have to repeat her Commands several times anyways and that buys a person time, as it won't work right away.
And yeah, we can have a Handler though. I can play him or you can if you want. But we'll figure out how that works.

- Exactly yup.

- Not knowingly. She's fully aware of the rumors that the Underground Drugs also come from Durne Pharmaceuticals, but she is willfully ignorant to the point of blindness. All she wants is to focus on science and chemistry, and she sticks to her lane where she makes things that will be beneficial to others and help them. If they're used in ways that weren't intended or chemically manipulated, she is unaware of it or chooses to be unaware. She doesn't want anything to do with it. Also, I'm going to have her mother be addicted to the 30 min Power Pills, you can find out more in her bio in the genealogy link. Isabella Durne. Circe is unaware of this but knows she's an alcoholic. No one else knows that we know of. Or maybe a political rival of Charles is the one that got his wife addicted? There could be something there... not important though.

- Alright that works out. I'll play a handler then. I think he'll be rather hands-off though because while Circe can kind of get a whiff of the power dynamics, she isn't fully aware right away what kind of a relationship the Big Corp (what are we calling the baddies that are like HYDRA again?) and Kine have. All she knows is that he's working for them and seems to be some sort of super-soldier experiment and that he seems to enjoy what he's doing. So I don't think the Big Corp (you know what I'm just gonna call it that for now) wants her to fear Kine any less or feel sympathy for him by treating Kine too harshly in front of her. So very hands-off except during certain situations.

Alright, well let's start off with how we want to start off our original posts. I think I'll do a little bit of lore history, but I think I'm going to focus on Circe and how she came to be where she is and what she went through in flashback mode.

We want to start off our posts with them meeting for the first time, right? So that will happen at the very end of my post, it'll be the present day in the year 1850 and I'll be entering a secure room to meet you for the first time.

So I have a lot of lore and stuff written down already. I could do narrative, but I think I'll also do a lot of verbal explanations. Sort of Circe explaining to Kine all about the history of her country while they're on the road in The Dreaming, as he knows nothing or nearly nothing about Oridian. You can do the same kind of lore explanation by explaining about what your country is like and any other kind of info. Backpacking, sharing stories, and fighting for their lives.

[ZeeBat]

Aye all of that makes sense!

Also for the corporation name, how about Forneus Corporation?

[Chaotic Cam]

Sure that works! Forneus is something I can hopefully remember to type out correctly, lmao. And does it mean anything, or?

So that's what I'll do with my first post. What about you? How detailed do you want to get into your past? Show/verses Tell? Do you feel like you need to go over anything anymore for your character? Or are you inspired enough to make a first post already too?

[ZeeBat]

Forneus is a Great Marquis of Hell, and has twenty-nine legions of demons under his rule. He teaches Rhetoric and languages, gives men a good name, and makes them be loved by their friends and foes. He is depicted as a great sea monster. His name seems to come from Latin "fornus", "furnus": "oven". from Wikipedia.

And I'll leave the show versus tell to your best judgment. ^^;

I do feel I can write my post now with some good music though like always starting posts are the hardest for me. ^^;

I feel like I'll flesh out Kine more as the story goes on.

[Chaotic Cam]

Huh sounds cool. ^^ I like it.

And haha, well it's your writing.

And awesome! Alright, should I make my first post then? I'll do my best to complete it soon but it may take a few hours, I'm pretty tired.



Actually, I'll just get started on writing my post and multi-task. While I do that we can also flesh out the plot more.

How much of a foothold do foreign Asharia spies have in Oridian? How would all of this espionage stuff work?
Also, I'm thinking that the portal device they need to steal isn't kept by a Durne, but someone from the Family Oridian, which is the oldest. Circe's Great-Aunt Fae married into the Oridian family, so they do run into each other at events and have familial ties.

And yes, I hear you. ^^

[ZeeBat]

Take your time on the post. ^^ No work tomorrow cause of Labor Day.

To be honest I don't have a concrete idea on the spy stuff yet. Hmm, shouldn't be a big foothold because I imagine most do their best to keep that kind of infiltration out though obviously some always get through.

The Ordian are the most powerful family and the oldest of them all right? Makes sense they would have something like that, even if its still being developed. they'd likely be the only ones with enough exotic materials to actually make it. A very hard target to get to.

[Chaotic Cam]

Oh right, good point, forgot about Labor Day.
Might not post until tomorrow then as I'm pretty tired. ^^

Let's still plan stuff however.

Yeah I hear you. Also I think the farther away from The Border the less foothold they'd have. I'm thinking maybe one of the Big Nine Asharia families could have the power of Teleportation? That would be great for oversees espionage. Espionage in general. Maybe Forneus ties into this Family some how? This Family controls Forneus.

That's also how the Head Scientist Harushu who kidnapped Circe and worked with DP knew to get into contact with Forneus, because he's cousins with one of the prominent members of his House.

As for why one of the family members with teleporting powers doesn't just pop into a room and steal the device themselves, I imagine there are limitations. A certain amount of distant you can travel each time, and that you'll have to have seen the place - or at least have a pretty damn good description - or teleportation can go wrong and you can get stuck/fused inside walls or objects. This can result in death and/or amputation.

- Yes, they are. They're in charge of the 11th City, the City of Wishes, and have powers of alchemy. Their family Head of House is the oldest known living person in all of Oridian. They're the Family that are basically like a bunch of heirs and heiress and celebrities of the world. The Hollywood of the country. There's it's glamour's bits, and then there's the unsavory bits. For example theirs is one of the three cities that still allows slavery.

I think the Trinket Family might have them beat in the exotic materials department, as they rule over the City of Dust with all the mining going on there. However, due to the long-life of the Oridian Head of House, their family is the one with all the True History and Knowledge of the People. Most of what the people know is truth, but they also make up the history simply because they're the only one's old enough to remember it. I think I'm gonna up the Head of House Oridian's age to 301 also. The longest-known living Oridian was 312 I think, and they died 50 years ago.

[ZeeBat]

-Aye that sounds good. ^^

-Actually I think I want Forneus to be a sort of third party new money company? or something hmmm.

-I do think a family focused on Espionage would be a great idea, sort of a subtle power thing.

-But yeah teleportation should be pretty risky and with consequences if it goes wrong. Maybe it also has a build up of a cast time?

-That is true, but they might also safeguard whatever fragments the Endless might have left behind?

[Chaotic Cam]

Okay how would that work? Cause I'm already confused with all the threads that need to connect, lmao.
I want to make the teleportation family a thing down the line, but if you're not interested that can be something down the road.
However I do want to control the Head of the House. So, let's say Natalia Fenrir is the Head of House Fenrir and leader of the 9th City? So that can be the beginning of our Asharia Lore. I wanna play her eventually as she'll be a true cut-throat leader, and it will be interesting to see for Circe as gender-roles are rather different in Oridian.

So alright, let's see.
Forneus Cooperation is controlled by ? but they have ties to both Durne Pharmaceuticals because of the drugs they use for experiments.
Harushu Naima was the Head Scientist working on Project Bluethorne alongside scientists from Durne Pharmaceuticals. Naima was a small independently owned lab run solely by Harushu and his ten employees. The only reason why Durne Pharma was working with such a seemingly insignificant scientist is because Harushu came up with Project Bluethorne. However the only place he could find funding and people to believe in his research was when a Durne family member visited his City in Asharia. This Durne family member had heard rumors of what Harushu was planning, and while others thought he was crazy, this Durne believed in him.

Harushu lives in the First City of Asharia, which is the one closest to Oridian's border. This is where I imagine our setting will take place as well, so we should probably start with the Lore for this City first.

In the end though, we know Durne Pharmaceuticals stole the work and cut all ties with a vengeful Harushu.
With the loss of his funding he could no longer maintain his lab, and he had to let go the 10 scientist that were working with him (three which have mysteriously died by the time we catch up with present day).
Just a singular man, Harushu gets drunk and does idiotic stuff. He boards a boat to Oridian and The City of Fortune, as he's got it in his head that he's somehow going to walk all the way to the City of Enlightenment and give Orion Durne a smack down. Again, very drunk, but it gets him to The City of Fortune where, lo and behold, Circe Dune happens to be visiting at the time.
This is when he has the 'brilliant' idea to kidnap her, as he sees her using her trade-mark Durne powers out in the open. He owns two slaves and they were the muscle that captured her.
Now back in Asharia and sober, he has no idea what to do.
After some thinking he comes up with a half-assed plan that basically involves calling one of his cousins, who's wife happens to be sisters with someone we'll call Jolene Fenrir. He figures he has a political tool and he can use Circe to give him power and get-in with the Fenrir Family.
However, let's say he's making all these calls and giving out all this information too freely. He's not in espionage, and he's not the brightest cookie when it comes to keeping secrets. He never gets one-on-one in touch with any actually member of House Fenrir, but he does end up getting his door smashed in by the Forneus Corporation?

So somehow those calls connected the name Fenrir with the Forneus Corporation, and someone sent Forneus there, but at the time being it's still unclear who's actually in charge.

Does that work maybe?

If so, what is the point of Forneus? Just experimentation? I'm guessing they're also mercenary-for-hire though.
Do they have a bigger goal and a master plan with a master leader behind it? Or like you say, just new-money and all business?
If it's just new-money and all business, I'm thinking the Head Big Bad might be Natalia Fenrir for down the line? That's at least how everything is connected in relation to Circe.

Or like, let's say Forneus is just the middle-man for the Big Bad? However, Forneus can have it's own history that you make up of course, and it's own ties to certain things like Durne Pharma for example and experiments. The person in charge of Forneus could be a bad guy in their own right. Like the boss before the boss.

Does all of that makes sense? My brain is starting to die a little, lmao.

- And yes to the built up cast time. For example, looking at the map of Oridian:
Let's say the farthest someone can teleport at one time is like the distance from Sacramento California to Phoenix, Arizona? I'm really no good with measurements I had to look at a map, so whatever amount of distance that is. That's the farthest in one go though, and also not recommended as yes, there would be burnout that could last up to a few days. So basically in order to use their powers to get to The City of Order, it would have been a very long, arduous, and not at all easy task. They'd also have to have a scout that went out on foot first in order to capture and show them a magical Hologram visualization of the Teleportation Points, so they can know where to go.
So it would have taken several years for this plan to happen and to get people from Asharia stationed in different sections of Oridian. I imagine it's a long-plan that still has many years ahead of it.

- I like that, the idea of safeguarding fragments of Stuff from The Endless. Not even the oldest Oridian knows the true story of The Endless, as that was lost to all living knowledge, but they are aware they are artifacts of what is assumed to be gods and the first sorcerer's. So yes, because of this reason, this is why they'll end up having the portal.

[ZeeBat]

-We're gonna need a relationship web between all the factions at some point. This is a lot of tangles. ^^;

-I want Forneus to have a PMC division, a science division, and a division about selling slaves. So they would be a third party to a lot of things I think. I also want this region to have less of the Family thing and more focus on the Corps. So a lot less hierchal and way more free market extreme capitalism if that makes sense?

-So Forneus is kind of like evil Stark Industries, for a comparison.

-What else do we need? I'm kind of stalling out on big world stuff.

[Chaotic Cam]

- Well I've already got a Durne Genealogy started and basically a Lore Book, as well as the beginnings of other family trees for the Oridian Twelve - so why not add one more thing to the pile? Lmao.

- PMC? So contracting? And what kind of contracting, is that just the mercenary work or? And OK that works and sounds good, makes a lot of sense when they also have ties in the Slave Trade.

And no my brain can't compute that right now, sorry. But I kinda hear what you're saying? As in, the 9 Families of Asharia are powerful, but they don't control everything and have to do more with government maybe, since there's only 9 of them? Some of the families could have ties to the Big Corps, but it wasn't just about having the right last name. So many of the people in power could not have powers? Although in the end nepotism does win out over the years.
Explain the free market to me like I was ten with smaller words. ^^
Also I should start putting the spreadsheet out for the Asharia Lore.

- OK, I hear you. So is there an evil 'Tony Stark' to go with all of that? Basically a genius billionaire who decided to do all of this? I'm guessing he'd be considered the head Bad Guy for Forneus.

Well explain the market to me and how all that stuff works. The only thing I want rooted in the foundation of Asharia is that there are 9 Powered Families and they hold high status almost like royalty. What their duties are, no idea though. That part of the political spectrum would more be something for you to work out I think, how the government works and all that is.

[ZeeBat]

-I'm still really impressed by all the stuff you have lined up on the info sheets.

-PMC is Private Military Company, so not just mercs but also heavy operations. Like if you need a small very well-equipped army, that is a deniable asset. I'm basically modeling them after ShinRa from Final Fantasy 7, but I don't think you know what that is.

-kinda like the families are there, but they're not openly ruling. Officially they don't rule, everything is kind of merit and money based. In reality, all the powerful boards, CEO's, and councils are families under a fig leaf.

-free market is basically the economy without any of the safeties and laws that normally protect people. No minimum wage, mandated benefits, no protection against monopolies, undercutting, price fixing, etc.

[Chaotic Cam]

- Thank you! Have you checked them all out, genealogy included (there's bios for some of the characters) or are you waiting for me to explain stuff through the writing? ^^

- Yeah I have no clue what that is, sorry. ^^; So this could include military intelligence as well as physical soldiers? How small is a small army? And so they'll give all this muscle and small armies to people for a price, then? To just anyone who has the money? Or who are their customers? Do they have a brick and mortar company that's seen by the public eye? Or are they very hush hush?

- Sorry, families under a fig leaf? I don't get that expression. So basically kind of like the British Royal Family? I don't know everything about their system, but I do know family members reside in a part of the country or something? That's how you get like Duke of Wessex or whatever. And they have their own duties and everything to the country. But the real person in charge of the country is the Prime Minister, right? So basically replace the Minister with MegaCorps?

- And gotcha. Okay I kinda get where you're coming from. You can explain it more in narrative later as we write.


What else? Also I'm uninspired rn. /: