Shackles [OOC]

[Red Beret]

It was done with the best of intentions...

After all that had happened, it was one man, acting alone, that brought about the reform known as the Firearms Ban of 2013. Onlookers watched, frozen, as Preston Ferrell, a middle-aged accountant, shot and killed four protesters who showed up to picket the memorial service for a tragedy that had shaken the nation. Two more of the protesters were gravely injured, and one died of complications on the way to the hospital. By the time the police got to him, Ferrell had relinquished his firearm and surrendered. No assistance was offered by the crowd, to the police or the protesters, and all they offered as Ferrell was taken away was their silence.

Federal legislation hit, and it hit hard. Widespread support drowned out even those who cried out for their rights under the Second Amendment. Even the states that tried to resist soon collapsed under the will of the anti-gun lobby. Those who had once thought of themselves as protectors found themselves liable to be labeled criminals. Those who were already criminals found themselves in a brand new land of opportunity... without armed citizens to worry about, they only had the police to worry about.

The police themselves simply found themselves drowning in extra work... though for better or worse, they would soon find that they had some help...

SHACKLES




GM'd by Red Beret


APPROVED CHARACTERS

Mercedes Esperanza - icmasticc
"Rabbit" Harrington - ElRey
Kimi Jensen - DotCom
Robert Kaiser - Justric
Fred Reed - Red Beret
"Tink" Willis - Randeezy


____________________________________________

PREMISE

Welcome to the city of Freemont, basically your average American city, bustling with working men and women, a city of sights, sounds, and slightly increased police presence in response to the new legislation that's been passed. They just want to make sure that you know that you're not supposed to be packing any heat and endangering the populace. If only they knew...

You'll be playing a vigilante, one of many that the media has dubbed a member of this "Shackled Brotherhood," as if everyone were acting together, as an organized group--though this couldn't be further from the truth. No one's really sure who's on whose side, and some of the vigilantes may find that they're even hunting down each other in their effort to derive order from chaos.

In the end, the important thing is that Freemont used to be a safe place to live, but now, with the weapons ban, criminals are getting cockier, and not everyone who kept their guns had good intentions. Some of them banded together, even started "hunting" locals who were known to support the ban. All of this combined, you've felt that it's your duty to at least protect yourself... and if that means that others benefit, you're okay with that.


DA ROOLZ

I'm not a complete Nazi about these things, I'd rather my players have fun than instate (and then in turn have to enforce) a bunch of useless rules, but there are a few things that you should know before you continue.

The first bit is that these Fundamental Rules of the Guild exist, and you should follow them at all times. And because I like to have my ass covered more often than not, this particular game will also be subject to the Advanced RP Standards listed in the link here in this sentence.

Secondly, I'd like to request that you write in the third person, past tense perspective, so that everyone's on the same page and we don't have these points-of-view shifts happening all over the place and throwing immersion.

Third, I would appreciate it if you could commit to at least one post a week. I am not a completely unreasonable person, though, and if you're going to be away for awhile or something (let's face it, shit happens, right?), just let me know and I'll be more than happy to hold your place 'til you get back. If you don't give me some sort of warning, I'm going to assume that you've lost interest and move on without you. Nothing personal, just business, you know?

Last, but definitely not least, writing doesn't need to be 100% Grammar Nazi Certified and Approved, but please take the time to review your writing and your spelling. Make sure that it flows properly so that we don't have a hard time reading it. I understand that not everyone here uses English as a primary language, and that's all right. I'm a reasonable guy. If there's something about your writing that bugs me (and it's not something petty), I'll let you know privately and we can make a decision without dragging it across the thread.

Also, for those of you who like to add color to their posts, I don't mind if you do it, just please refrain from using red, blue, green, purple, or any other dark colors when you do. They're hard to see and though I could very easily highlight your text, I'd rather not have to go through the trouble.


THE SETTING

Freemont is a fictional city located somewhere in the middle of the US. It's basically your traditional city, with things such as skyscrapers, banks, fast food joints, apartments, nice neighborhoods, not-so-nice neighborhoods, schools, grocery stores, and a sprawling mix of suburbia and other bits. I'd put the weather someplace between St. Louis, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois, and we'll just assume that it's a fairly cookie-cutter kind of place, mostly because I'm too lazy to go into real detail about it.

The mayor is Jared Toley, and the city falls into the jurisdiction of two police deparments: the City of Freemont Police Department (FPD), which has jurisdiction in the entire city and the Woodrow County Sheriff's Department (WCSD), which has jurisdiction over the outlying area. The two clash at times, mostly over where the city limit ends, but they do cooperate rather well when the time calls for it. Of course, neither get along with the Marlon County Police Department (MCPD), which claims jursidiction over a small area in southeast corner of the city.

Freemont is currently plagued by several small, loosely-organized criminal gangs who are trying to take advantage of their newfound surplus of marks. In addition to these gangs, "pro-gun" rabble-rousers operate just out of sight, attempting to use violence to press their political agendas and proving just as much a danger to the people as the street gangs themselves.

Now, this isn't actually in the extremes yet, so the entire city isn't crawling with criminals operating in the open (you've always got your exceptions, of course), but it's hard to say who the average person can trust, and people have definitely become less friendly with one another. Going out at night, though still an option, is hardly one that people wish to take, and most stores close after dark despite the best efforts of the local police departments.



CHARACTER SHEET

All right, characters. I don't really like using sheets, but it's a necessary evil when you've got a group of players. I'm going to do my best to make it easy.

Start with a picture so that we can sort of get an idea of who you want us to see. Then fill out the rest:

Name: First "Nickname (if applicable)" Last
Age: How old?
Gender: Can't always tell from a picture.

Introduction:

In this field, simply introduce us to your character. Give me, say, at least three paragraphs (the minimum length of an Advanced post--you can do more if you like, but don't make it a veritable wall of text), tell us about your character, their motivations, et cetera. This will not only serve as the bulk of your character sheet, it will give me an opportunity to get a feel for your writing style as well.

And from there, we'll see how it goes.


Of course, thanks again for your interest!

[icmasticc]

Okay, quick question. Do you want that introduction written IC or just three paragraphs of describing your character's motivations and things?

[Justric]

Name: Robert Kaiser
Age: 43
Gender: Male

Rob grew up in a household filled with history. His father was a museum curator and his mother a history teacher. Growing up, he was constantly surrounded by memorabilia from the past and, unlike his sister Bethany, he threw himself into it. While other kids wasted time in the malls and arcades, he learned to restore antiques and fix any and all manner of brick-a-brac. His college years weren't much to speak of, passing with a degree in Liberal Arts that enabled him to ask if the customer wanted fries with their orders. Using family connections, he managed to get an in with the local antique crowd. He invested more of his own time and money in additional courses at a local trade-schooL, and after a few more years of learning cabinetry, welding and gun-smithing, he opened his own antique and restoration shop.

Business went moderately at well at first, picking up after an acquaintance introduced him to the concept of historical re-enactment. Rob ended up joining a variety of groups which portrayed everything from pre-Revolutionary War to World War One, and one thing he learned was the importance of firearms in the history of the United States. He was not such a devoted 'gun-lover' as to join the NRA as Rob was far more concerned with the preservation of historical pieces. Gradually he gained a reputation as both a sutler and a restorationist.

His personal life was somewhat stagnant outside the world of antiques and history, having given up on relationships after several failed relationships. As much as he still hoped he might find the right woman, he knew the chances for such were dwindling faster and faster with his age. It got lonely in the shop as he never took on any partners or apprentices. The holidays he spends with his sister and her family, spoiling his nieces and nephews with antique toys that are probably worth a small fortune. His sister and her husband at first tried to squirrel away these toys as investments for their children's futures; when Rob found out he made an impassioned argument that a toy wasn't a toy if it wasn't played with, reassuring his sister's family that he already had some money invested for their children. It's not like he had any of his own, so everything was willed to them.

When the FireArms Ban of 2013 hit, he was shocked. Most of his stock and personal firearms were not included in the ban, having been manufactured prior to 1898 and not using ammunition that was conventionally available. All the same, several pieces of historical significance were affected, such as the M1911 pistol and the M1 Garand. Many of his friends in the reenactment associations were outraged as they also belonged to the NRA. The backlash was tremendous. Such on blatant disregard for the Second Amendment that had sustained the country through its formative years could not go unanswered. So Rob did the only he could do: he began supplying a select few with revolvers and rifles that were still technically legal due to their age. Regular gunpowder was difficult to obtain, but black powder and early forms of smokeless powder could still be had legally for those who could afford it. He had enough skills to also begin casting and chambering loads for the weapons he's sold. Replica firearms that fell under the same classification as the pre-1898 originals surged in popularity, and Rob made sure those copies were legally available for any who wanted them. Through discreet channels he started to let his (completely legal) services be known.

So you want a piece of mind? You want something to defend your home and your person? Go up to 6th and Main, and ask for the Kaiser. Tell him that Teddy sent you for a Krag.

After all, better a cap and ball than a gravestone.

[icmasticc]

Nevermind, after seeing the CS above me, I figured that was the correct way of writing the introduction part. If not, then I apologize and I'll fix it haha. In any case, here is my CS.

---

M e r c e d e s E s p e r a n z a

Twenty-Nine Years Old {X} Female

Introduction:

Mercedes Esperanza was originally born in Arizona to a Brazilian mother and an American father. Her mother met her father in South America while the corporate executive was on a business trip. Quickly falling in love, Mercedes' mother traveled back to America with her father and the two were married in less than a year. Despite the whirlwind romance however, their bond seemed to be genuine. There were never any huge problems between the two and things only seemed to get better when Mercedes was born. Living in Arizona, Mercedes grew up in an average neighborhood. Even though her father was a corporate exec, he was the type to penny pinch and thus, the family lived in a modest home. Being the sociable type, Mercedes would always hang out with a close group of friends in her childhood days after school and it helped that her grades were perfect to go along with all the free time spent outside the house. Life was generally pleasant for young girl until tragedy struck in a form no one ever saw coming.

It was on Mercedes' twelfth birthday that life took a twisted turn. After the party was over, Mercedes' mother left to take some of the children home. Her father had wisely taken the day off so he was able to attend the function. However, in the silence of an empty house, Mercedes' father began to display peculiar behavior. He had always shown a general interest in his daughter, but nothing for anyone to raise an eyebrow at. This time however, he seemed to get uncomfortably close. Mercedes herself felt uneasy, but there still seemed to be nothing to worry about at that moment. Things progressed at an alarming rate though. As the young girl retired to her room for some early sleep, her father followed. He began to tuck his daughter into bed, but quickly shifted into more sinister behavior. It began with touching, then lightly stroking, and finally he went in for the crime. Having felt her own father's tongue in her mouth, Mercedes didn't know what to think or feel. She was, of course, disgusted and fearful, but she everything had happened so fast that she didn't have time to process it all in one night. Over the course of the next few months and even years, the acts became more heinous until finally, Mercedes was raped at the hands of her own flesh and blood. It wouldn't only be a one time ordeal either. As the humiliation continued, Mercedes was forced to hide the sensitive information from her mother as her father would threaten her life each and every time he was finished.

Finally, on her 18th birthday, Mercedes graduated from high school. She also decided that enough was enough. The next time her father entered to do his business before his daughter left for college, a hidden camera caught his criminal actions. Though he was caught and put away and her mother regretful for not knowing what had been happening, it wasn't enough. Mercedes' view of the world had been soured by her corporate father and his dirty mentality. In college, Mercedes joined ROTC and committed to the Army National Guard before graduating. Through ROTC, Mercedes was able to join the Guard as a Second Lieutenant immediately. After Officer Candidate School and a 6 x 8 contract term, Mercedes was honorably discharged just as she turned 28. She knew she would never be a lifer, but she needed something to regain her confidence and self-esteem after all the years her father had "ruined" her. Retiring at the rank of Captain with a Military Police MOS, the natural progression would have been for Mercedes to join the police in her native city of Arizona. However, the now older woman decided that she would begin a brand new life in city called Freemont.

Arriving in Freemont, Mercedes began a career in the private security field. She worked various corporate security and even personal security jobs consistently for about six months before the Firearms ban of 2013 became law. Even though Mercedes' job allowed her to carry a duty weapon on the clock, she was still appalled at the decision the nation had decided to take. She immediately thought back to her father and how people like him would now be able to get away with whatever they wanted and more since citizens weren't allowed to carry heat to protect themselves anymore. With these thoughts in mind, Mercedes made a decision; she would take matters into her own hands. She didn't want to quit her job, but she began secretly taking up vigilante work in her free time. Always careful about choosing her targets, Mercedes knew that she was wrong in her endeavors, but it was either this or let the criminal scum of the earth gradually take over until everyone else drowned in a sea of grime aided by the federal government. There was no way she could sleep at night and let that happen. Mercedes would do everything in her power to make sure those who crossed her paid. That was her own personal truth in this new day and age.

[Mars SnR]

I will have something posted up soon.

[icmasticc]

Okay, edited my post with my CS. Hope it's done correctly.

[Red Beret]

Just wanted to let those of you who've posted character sheets know that I've seen them, but will not actually have a chance to look over them until sometime tomorrow afternoon. Thanks!

[icmasticc]

That's cool with me for the record lol. I'm a patient person and besides that, I'm in a few other groups as well lol.

[Red Beret]

Hrm. I like both of your characters, so consider them accepted. I'll throw up my own character sheet(s) soon enough, and then we can get this party started. I'll also be throwing up descriptions of some of the more organized gangs as I create them, so you'll have a more tangible enemy soon enough. Just consider the knowledge things that your characters can learn from operating in the shadows. :P

Hopefully this'll generate more interest as we move along.

[icmasticc]

Yeah, it probably will. I liked the concept and I'm sure others will notice it after a while.