Please note this is the claim for a contest that will open in the summer of 2021, following Cruel Comfort: Mass Acres Academy hosted by BambiFoxx. Opening this claim now gives me a heads up on the number of potential travelers and lets me map out the world.
**Be mindful that there is a lot of preliminary info. It may be most helpful to have this open in two tabs, one where you can read about the extras and one where you're actually posting.**
Welcome to the world of 2425. Following a botched first-contact with an alien species known as the Ferricks several years ago, and an equally unsuccessful second and third attempt at creating an alliance Earth has for all intents and purposes become both a lab and a dumping ground for various species across at least two galaxies. The United States in particular has been the site of a failed attempt to bring about Ragnarok for reasons known only to those who attempted it, sees a new plague per week, and on all too frequent a basis someone will randomly wake up with magic that ends up doing them more harm than good. Humans are a scrappy bunch though (kind of like the cockroaches of the cosmos) so they’ve been trying to make the best of an absolutely bonkers situation. In this odd new world governed by self-declared royalty, an ever-changing moral code, and a shadowy fae fronted mafia do you have what it takes to survive long enough to find out what, if anything, awaits you in the last place in America reported to be untouched by the chaos, a place where you may finally find peace or a way off this planet for good? Do you have what it takes to brave the Journey to the end of the world?
In order to get the ball rolling I need you to claim a traveling party and select your role in the group. Traveling parties are available on a first-come, first-served basis and there’s only room for one contestant in each of the existing groups, on the other hand roles are basically your jobs and so you can select the same one as another contestant. If this is confusing please PM me.
A few things to keep in mind BEFORE you make your choice AKA Read this now.
1. I’m NOT asking you to write standard stories for this contest, instead think of your entries more like logs or diaries that center around specific incidents/interactions that happen during the round. Those of you who went on the Orion Mission are familiar with this format; those of you that didn’t can look at those entries for an idea of what I’m talking about because the contestants executed the idea far better than I can explain it.
2. You’ll be playing essentially in a vacuum. What this means is that while you may come across some of the same things as the other contestants that you won’t be interacting with them as you’ll be on your own journey.
3. The traveling party that you join will contain the primary extras that you’ll be interacting with throughout the contest so (and I cannot stress this enough) choose wisely in terms of the party you select AND the character that you choose to create. There will be additional extras that show up throughout the contest but information about them will be limited and you’ll need to make quick decisions about how to interact with them if you interact with them at all.
4. Timeliness is going to be very important in this contest. In your impressions each of you will be given a choice about how you want to proceed for that round, you’ll need to PM me what you want to do and I’ll give you some insight. So for example the initial impression may read something like "your party was the first to embark on the northwestern trail towards your first destination Old Orleans. The trip is supposed to take 3 days but on day 2 you encounter a hitchhiker on the side of the road asking for a lift to a religious site that'll veer you off course significant and delay you by 3 additional days. Do you agree to take the drifter where he wants to go or do you decide against it?". Keep in mind that these will be 5 day rounds but this is NOT the type of contest where you can play catch up so if you miss a round your party will be viewed as being “delayed” and your choices in the next round will be the same choices you had for the round you missed.
5. Romance and relationships are completely possible with all of the extras just please remember Tonk’s Lucifer rule.
6. If you have questions at any point, please just ask.
This claim is simple1. Select a traveling party The traveling parties
Remember these are on a first-come, first served basis. The first name listed belongs to the person pictured at the top of the image; this individual is the leader of the team.
The Excavators
Ronan (age 35) is headstrong, hedonistic and more than a little reckless but he refused to let his half-sister Aria (age 27) , a former solider who’s highly skilled in combat but lacks the desire to be diplomatic, take the journey alone to find their aging father and his alleged connection to the Ferricks that predates their first arrival.
* While Ronan will always be up for the more adventurous of the options presented to your group, Aria will be much more focused on the mission the pair have given themselves; siding with one will make an enemy of the other.*
The Conjurers
Dani (age 19) is sarcastic, street-smart and is one of the few humans suddenly granted magic who still has it after a year which accounts for how their vehicle can travel without anyone actually riding the bike. Her best friend Flynn (age 21) has magic of his own but even before he was given powers manipulation was an art form for him and he’s more than what meets the eye.
* While they’re not now and have never been romantically involved Flynn is highly protective of Dani; if your choices lead to her getting hurt he may turn on you.*
The Pirates - claimed by BambiFoxx
Brothers Aleric (age 31) and Caleb (age 25) are both fortune seekers who play by a rule book that they rewrite as needed. Aleric is calculating, creative, and sometimes too prideful for his own good while Caleb is a thrill seeker whose been known to cause trouble as a means of alleviating his own boredom.
*This pair travels via the subway in a vehicle known as “The Night Train” all travel with them will be done underground unless one of your choices makes the vehicle or this manner of travel unsafe in some way.*
The Hunters - claimed by Fashion-Chic
Reluctant partners Dom (age 26) and Sav (age 25) have come together out of necessity as they’re both hunting the same elusive prey: an ancient Ferrick rumored to be a time shifter (AKA a being capable of resetting things to a time before they got as bad as they are now). While Dom is a level-headed planner who’ll use his words before his weapons Sav believes it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission and isn’t above breaking rules, bones or hearts, if he thinks it’ll get him what he needs.
*Neither member of this duo should be fully trusted as they both believe that the ends justifies the means. If your choices cost them information or access there will be a price to pay.*
The Gatherers - claimed by Tricole
Childhood friends Ash (29) and Rue (28) first met in an orphanage the day after Ash’s 9th birthday and they’ve been together ever since. Ash is charming but secretive and he can lie with a straight face while Rue is resourceful and maternal.
* Both of them are okay with picking up strays...what they do with them if you choose to do so though will be something that you have to decide if you can handle.*
The Grifters
Ex-lovers Lorca (31) and Rey (30) have lived the last few years of their lives going from one con to the next. Lorca is a smooth talking playboy whose antics can border on being comedic while Rey is far more serious and the one often left to fight off whatever trouble Lorca has drawn to them.
*While this pair was together once upon a time they don’t have any desire to get back together and as such one could be convinced to ditch the other; your choices will determine if that happens but be careful because the one you end up with may not be the one you need to get you to the finish line.*
The Acolytes
Lady May (unknown age) and her servant/bodyguard Jax (unknown age) are members of a radical sect of true believers who worship the Ferricks as Gods. They are embarking upon this trip as a pilgrimage. Lady Mae is pious, soft spoken, and much of what she says is a regurgitation of a doctrine in the native tongue of the Ferricks. While Jax is publicly protective of Lady Mae and performs the outward acts of someone devout this isn’t his true nature as he’s much more boisterous and fun loving in private.
*Keep in mind that true believers are known for being vengeful and the full weight of Lady Mae’s wrath shouldn’t be underestimated in the event that your choices interfere with her journey. *
The Collectors - claimed by Zaralee
Mercucio (age 27) and Wren (age 24) met a year ago at Lunar festival under the ruins of the Brooklyn Bridge. Spirited Wren has an inexplicable connection to ghosts which makes her dismissive of the problems of others; she’s snobbish, easily angered, and will find a way to torment you if you cross her. While Mercucio is also a snob, this is a characteristic that is often overshadowed by the fact that he’s a bit of a trickster, always up for fun and the life of the party everywhere he goes.
* This pair doesn’t have a vehicle of their own; instead Wren uses “Her Finch” to acquire transport; if your choices make this more difficult than it needs to be prepare for things to become more difficult for you. *
The Runners
Escapees from a lab complex in New New Jersey Bex (age unknown) and Vix (age unknown) no very little about their lives before they were taken to the lab but both feel called to seek out what may await them out west. Bex is jumpy, talkative and easily angered, and subsequently quite violent but also quick to forgive. Vix is equally jumpy and talkative but will only engage in violence if she feels that there is no other option.
* These two will be trusting in large part because you want to go where they want to go but if your choices cause you to veer to far off course you may find yourself abandoned on the side of the road or worse. *
The Farmers - claimed by Schogettchen
Former members of the same commune Brayden (age 27) and Chase (age 24) are in search of more fertile ground while being fiercely protective of the special soil that the managed to smuggle off of the farmlands before they left. Brayden is confident, clear headed and unafraid to speak his mind even when what he says can be alienating. Chase is intelligent, inquisitive and the more romantically inclined of the two but his indecisive nature can cause more problems than it solves.
*These two are natural protectors but if your choices put them in too much danger they’ll start to view you as a liability and the results of that can be unpleasant. *
2. Select a roleThe roles
The role you select will provide you with certain advantages or disadvantages based on the situations you encounter throughout your journey and how you choose to proceed based on this may help or hinder your progress. You’ve been warned.
To help you keep in straight once the contest starts I’ll indicate in your impressions if you’ll have an advantage or disadvantage in the options.
Tinkerers
Tinkerers are inventive which makes them good problem solvers, however they don’t hold any special sway in purely social situations and aren’t useful in situations requiring more brawn then brain.
Drifters
Drifters are people without a place and their existence hinges in part on them being good problem solvers but they are often unwelcome in civilized social settings and generally don’t use physical force because getting hurt can end your life when you don’t have a family to help you heal.
Influencers
The closest thing in this world to socialites, influencers have often had sheltered beginnings so they aren’t particularly adept at problem solving but are amazing in social situations, in contrast however they are avoidant of physical confrontation.
Laborers
Good help is hard to find in this world but laborers provide it, they’re not particularly good as problem solvers and bad in social situations but they’re great in a physical situation.
3. Provide some basic character information:FC (please note this can be a female or male FC as I’m open to you using either the ‘Nista or the boyfriend)
NameAge (please create a character who is 18+)
An everyday look (Have fun with this; if you need some inspo check out go to Nine’s and search for “Raven”, “Darila” or “Quinzel” or look at pieces from Steampunk City or Halloween Land as starting points or search for things like “The 100”, “Sucker Punch”, or “The Hunger Games”)
Some basic character traits (this should be a mix of good and bad obviously and she fit with the role you selected)
**Optionally if you want to include a basic short bio about why you’re going on this journey please feel free to but this isn’t information that’s in any way required.**
For all traveling parties except for “The Pirates” and “The Collectors” include whether you want to travel northwest or southwest.This character claim will be open until Tuesday June 1st 19:30 forum time
Last edited by Dare (28/05/2021 at 21:57)
