Desolation
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:37 am
Whatever gods we had, whatever love they once carried for us, are gone. For nearly a millenium, they guided our primitive, warlike race on a path of ascendance, of spiritual enlightenment. As we grew, our ways changed. Great discoveries in reason and logic allowed us to cast down our primal instincts and begin a new, golden age of advancement. No longer were we bound by the ceaseless wanderings of prey animals, for we made them our servants. We worked the land, creating legacies that would unfold forever.
Magic, as it was told, was always an integral part of our culture, our existence. It flowed around us like water, strengthening the land and giving life to all that touched it. Powerful mages learned the way of this magic and controlled it, allowing us to do amazing things. Using this, we build massive cities, towering structures, eternal engines, all to serve our advancement. Magic flowed through the heart of all these creations, giving them strength and structure.
But, not everyone believed this magic was only for benevolence. Many rose up, and began using the magic for destruction. Our great nation was split in two, between those who used it for benevolence, and those who used it for greed. A terrible war was fought over centuries, a terrible stalemate. Untold numbers of lives were lost, and a massive, crescent-shaped region was desolated. There, magic was purely concentrated for worse. Nothing can survive there, and it actively attacks anything that enters it. Few can go through and live.
So our continent was split, between the old empire and the new dominion on the other side. We had great rebuildings to go through, and the war was not yet settled. Another century of rivalries passed before our ways changed again. Magic was waning. Our giant cities were crumbling, the engines shutting off, the towers collapsing. The mages were powerless. We once again turned to reason and logic, turning our backs on the gods that guided us, and created the way of science.
As the old gods were forgotten, the new ways began to guide us. Rather than hold our buildings with magic, we used steel and brick. Over another thousand years, we accomplished great advancements. We made men of metal, incredibly strong to all but the most powerful of weapons. We made machines that flew, carrying scores of passengers through the skies. We dug massive complexes, and built great cities. Factories endlessly churned out new goods, materials, our daily needs for our new ways. By now, the gods were merely a legend, a story to be told to children at bed.
And we quickly reached for the stars themselves. Massive ships of metal were built and sent off. Great installations, using infinitely small devices to power massive mechanisms, dotted the landscape. Massive power stations dotted the land. It was an age of massive discovery.
But, once again, it couldn't last. A cult rose up. They claimed that we had turned our backs on the gods of old, and we would pay the price. Unless, of course, we embraced magic once again. We laughed at them. Surely, the gods were no match to our science. We wrote them off, until they struck back. The Dominion, on the other side of the wastelands, had been convinced of them. After working together for centuries, the entire cooperation shattered apart. In a preliminary strike, they launched endless waves of nuclear fire upon our nation, and we struck back. Those of us who could retreated to the stars, fleeing the doomed planet. Countless were left behind in the struggle for survival.
After the nuclear fire had ended, the world was shattered. Something about the war had broken something, an ancient seal perhaps. It doesn't matter. What does matter, is that the planet is falling apart. There are no ships left. We called upon the gods, realizing our mistake, at the preserved temples of old.
They did not respond. We are alone.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This, is Desolation.
You are trapped, along with many others, in the massive, futuristic, but greatly damaged city of Arkhelve. Once the capital of the Empire, it is now nearly deserted. You managed to survive the nuclear fire through cryogenic hibernation, in several armored stations around the city. Everyone else has perished or fled.
You wake up a hundred years after the war. Already, the effects are showing. Though the radiation may be gone, other things still persist. Life has been completely extinguished from the potent weapons. There are no plants, no animals, no mutants. Nothing but you, and the few vestiges of life that went into cryo with you. A few plants, maybe an animal or two. That's it.
The nuclear war has ripped massive cracks into the terrain. Arkhelve is completely cut off by bottomless chasms miles wide, and many have split the streets. They are growing, ever so slightly.
The city, though, is dangerous itself. Apart from the rubble of massive titanium buildings and the chasms, the industrial machines are deadly. Despite the years, many still function. Their damage has spilled dangers. Radioactive sludge, acidic pools, possibly even poisonous gas.
And the robotic army, whether empire or dominion, remains in the streets. From infantry to tanks to massive walkers, whether bipedal or spider-like, they are present. Many are damaged completely. Some are waiting, but for what? Some are deactivated, but some may be online. Whether they see you as a threat remains to be seen.
You have a ruined city, falling apart, and a distant goal- to escape the planet. Survival is just as important. It's your decision how to do it.
Application
Name:
Species:
Personality:
Profession:
Perks (Good things):
Flaws (Bad things, balance with Perks):
Starting Center (North, East, South, West, or Center):
Background:
I will be participating, and ruling as a GM, as necessary. I may provide events for everyone to react to, or only a group, or maybe one, from time to time. For example, if person A says they are walking to the oil refinery, I may say a massive acidic pool is between him and their goal. Or I may not, and person A dictates their actions. Other than that, this is mostly free-reign.
Rules:
-No Godmodding. You cannot control other's actions to a large extent, so try to stick to only your own when you can.
-No OPing. You may loot a laser rifle off a destroyed battle drone, but it can't blow everything up. Everything is old, it probably is busted. Be reasonable.
-No Omnipotence. Like spying on the guy halfway across the city. Please, this is a no-brainer.
-No unrealism. Try to remain within reason. Would you jump across an acid pit to get to a building, instead of going around? I wouldn't.
-You may die. That's fine. In fact, many of you probably will die. Just make a new character, and we'll say he came out of a chamber thought to be unusable or destroyed.
Starting place explanations:
North- The north cryo chamber is in the heart of a massive residential sector. The towers are massive, and the entire place was build around appeal and safety, with function a small concern. Damage is large here, but it took no direct hits, so it's mostly intact.
East- A generally commercial district, with sporadic residential and industrial areas. The cryo chamber is in the middle of a small park. This place is more damaged from wear than from war, as it wasn't an important target.
South- The cryo chamber is in the middle of a massive industrial refinery, once used for metal working. A fusion power plant powers it, and many places are still working. Unfortunately, it took extensive damage from nuclear strikes and wear, so can be quite perilous.
West- More of a governmental place, this is where all the ship docks were, as well as large commercial districts. The cryo chamber is under one such dock. It has taken large amounts of damage, both from wear and war, and can be dangerous in select areas.
Center- The heart of the city. The important government structures, as well as massive residential and commercial complexes, were located here. It has taken extreme damage, and large sections may be dangerous. The cryo chamber is under the main government office.
Now before you went into cryo, you were put into powered armor suits. They were unarmed, but nevertheless possessed multiple useful functions. The suit does not affect agility or movement, but it is currently offline. And you don't know how to work it, nor turn it back on. Think Gordan Freeman's armor suit, but without power.
Welcome to desolation and despair.
CURRENT SURVIVORS: Name, Player, Status
Ash Karjand- Fenway- ALIVE
Chris Herrig- Vinyl- ALIVE
Leais- Catsonmeth- ALIVE
Ciiyt- ACHO225- ALIVE
Kashmir Meklar- Daynel- ALIVE
Zero- Prototype- ALIVE
James Miller- DeadlyMiddie- ALIVE
Milles Hazeron- Lightspeed- ALIVE
Magic, as it was told, was always an integral part of our culture, our existence. It flowed around us like water, strengthening the land and giving life to all that touched it. Powerful mages learned the way of this magic and controlled it, allowing us to do amazing things. Using this, we build massive cities, towering structures, eternal engines, all to serve our advancement. Magic flowed through the heart of all these creations, giving them strength and structure.
But, not everyone believed this magic was only for benevolence. Many rose up, and began using the magic for destruction. Our great nation was split in two, between those who used it for benevolence, and those who used it for greed. A terrible war was fought over centuries, a terrible stalemate. Untold numbers of lives were lost, and a massive, crescent-shaped region was desolated. There, magic was purely concentrated for worse. Nothing can survive there, and it actively attacks anything that enters it. Few can go through and live.
So our continent was split, between the old empire and the new dominion on the other side. We had great rebuildings to go through, and the war was not yet settled. Another century of rivalries passed before our ways changed again. Magic was waning. Our giant cities were crumbling, the engines shutting off, the towers collapsing. The mages were powerless. We once again turned to reason and logic, turning our backs on the gods that guided us, and created the way of science.
As the old gods were forgotten, the new ways began to guide us. Rather than hold our buildings with magic, we used steel and brick. Over another thousand years, we accomplished great advancements. We made men of metal, incredibly strong to all but the most powerful of weapons. We made machines that flew, carrying scores of passengers through the skies. We dug massive complexes, and built great cities. Factories endlessly churned out new goods, materials, our daily needs for our new ways. By now, the gods were merely a legend, a story to be told to children at bed.
And we quickly reached for the stars themselves. Massive ships of metal were built and sent off. Great installations, using infinitely small devices to power massive mechanisms, dotted the landscape. Massive power stations dotted the land. It was an age of massive discovery.
But, once again, it couldn't last. A cult rose up. They claimed that we had turned our backs on the gods of old, and we would pay the price. Unless, of course, we embraced magic once again. We laughed at them. Surely, the gods were no match to our science. We wrote them off, until they struck back. The Dominion, on the other side of the wastelands, had been convinced of them. After working together for centuries, the entire cooperation shattered apart. In a preliminary strike, they launched endless waves of nuclear fire upon our nation, and we struck back. Those of us who could retreated to the stars, fleeing the doomed planet. Countless were left behind in the struggle for survival.
After the nuclear fire had ended, the world was shattered. Something about the war had broken something, an ancient seal perhaps. It doesn't matter. What does matter, is that the planet is falling apart. There are no ships left. We called upon the gods, realizing our mistake, at the preserved temples of old.
They did not respond. We are alone.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This, is Desolation.
You are trapped, along with many others, in the massive, futuristic, but greatly damaged city of Arkhelve. Once the capital of the Empire, it is now nearly deserted. You managed to survive the nuclear fire through cryogenic hibernation, in several armored stations around the city. Everyone else has perished or fled.
You wake up a hundred years after the war. Already, the effects are showing. Though the radiation may be gone, other things still persist. Life has been completely extinguished from the potent weapons. There are no plants, no animals, no mutants. Nothing but you, and the few vestiges of life that went into cryo with you. A few plants, maybe an animal or two. That's it.
The nuclear war has ripped massive cracks into the terrain. Arkhelve is completely cut off by bottomless chasms miles wide, and many have split the streets. They are growing, ever so slightly.
The city, though, is dangerous itself. Apart from the rubble of massive titanium buildings and the chasms, the industrial machines are deadly. Despite the years, many still function. Their damage has spilled dangers. Radioactive sludge, acidic pools, possibly even poisonous gas.
And the robotic army, whether empire or dominion, remains in the streets. From infantry to tanks to massive walkers, whether bipedal or spider-like, they are present. Many are damaged completely. Some are waiting, but for what? Some are deactivated, but some may be online. Whether they see you as a threat remains to be seen.
You have a ruined city, falling apart, and a distant goal- to escape the planet. Survival is just as important. It's your decision how to do it.
Application
Name:
Species:
Personality:
Profession:
Perks (Good things):
Flaws (Bad things, balance with Perks):
Starting Center (North, East, South, West, or Center):
Background:
I will be participating, and ruling as a GM, as necessary. I may provide events for everyone to react to, or only a group, or maybe one, from time to time. For example, if person A says they are walking to the oil refinery, I may say a massive acidic pool is between him and their goal. Or I may not, and person A dictates their actions. Other than that, this is mostly free-reign.
Rules:
-No Godmodding. You cannot control other's actions to a large extent, so try to stick to only your own when you can.
-No OPing. You may loot a laser rifle off a destroyed battle drone, but it can't blow everything up. Everything is old, it probably is busted. Be reasonable.
-No Omnipotence. Like spying on the guy halfway across the city. Please, this is a no-brainer.
-No unrealism. Try to remain within reason. Would you jump across an acid pit to get to a building, instead of going around? I wouldn't.
-You may die. That's fine. In fact, many of you probably will die. Just make a new character, and we'll say he came out of a chamber thought to be unusable or destroyed.
Starting place explanations:
North- The north cryo chamber is in the heart of a massive residential sector. The towers are massive, and the entire place was build around appeal and safety, with function a small concern. Damage is large here, but it took no direct hits, so it's mostly intact.
East- A generally commercial district, with sporadic residential and industrial areas. The cryo chamber is in the middle of a small park. This place is more damaged from wear than from war, as it wasn't an important target.
South- The cryo chamber is in the middle of a massive industrial refinery, once used for metal working. A fusion power plant powers it, and many places are still working. Unfortunately, it took extensive damage from nuclear strikes and wear, so can be quite perilous.
West- More of a governmental place, this is where all the ship docks were, as well as large commercial districts. The cryo chamber is under one such dock. It has taken large amounts of damage, both from wear and war, and can be dangerous in select areas.
Center- The heart of the city. The important government structures, as well as massive residential and commercial complexes, were located here. It has taken extreme damage, and large sections may be dangerous. The cryo chamber is under the main government office.
Now before you went into cryo, you were put into powered armor suits. They were unarmed, but nevertheless possessed multiple useful functions. The suit does not affect agility or movement, but it is currently offline. And you don't know how to work it, nor turn it back on. Think Gordan Freeman's armor suit, but without power.
Welcome to desolation and despair.
CURRENT SURVIVORS: Name, Player, Status
Ash Karjand- Fenway- ALIVE
Chris Herrig- Vinyl- ALIVE
Leais- Catsonmeth- ALIVE
Ciiyt- ACHO225- ALIVE
Kashmir Meklar- Daynel- ALIVE
Zero- Prototype- ALIVE
James Miller- DeadlyMiddie- ALIVE
Milles Hazeron- Lightspeed- ALIVE
