Office of the Dean
1 Raven's Loop
Pinebox, TX
Dear Student,
Welcome, and congratulations on your acceptance as an incoming Freshman student at East Texas University. I would like to take this opportunity to direct you to information that will make your transition to ETU as smooth as possible.
First, I would like to remind you that all Freshman and Sophomores are required to live in on-campus housing. This both ensures your safety and helps you build friendships that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. Go to fightingravens.com to fill out your dorm application and submit your deposit.
Next, I would like to remind you that Freshman orientation, which we call Sweat Lodge, coincides with dorm check-in on the third weekend in August. Please plan to attend one of the sessions on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evening. At Sweat Lodge you'll learn about the importance of campus safety, our university traditions and fight song, the Raven's Honor Code, and advice from Seniors. The Saturday night Sweat Lodge ends with free pizza and a show by local rockers A Jury of Robots.
Again, let me congratulate you on your first step into a larger world. College is what you make of it, and an acceptance to ETU is a great start!
Go Ravens!
President James Nelson
Congratulations! You've been accepted into one of the colleges rated in the Top 20 Best Education Value for a public university. It services over 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students in almost 60 fields and more than 35 countries. It has a nationally ranked ROTC program and was recently awarded a grant to become a Homeland Defense Training School. It has a very active Journalism department and it's own student run television and radio stations. It also offers nearly any amenity a student could need right on campus including an on campus movie theater, bowling alley, art gallery, well-equipped gym and recreational sports center, paintball field, bookstore, convenience store, food court, emergency care, bus transit system, and more.
All of this is located right outside the quaint town of Pinebox, nestled on the remains of a once-vast, dense forest called The Big Thicket - which ranges across Texas, Louisiana, and beyond. The area boasts numerous hiking and biking trails as well as excellent fishing and water sports opportunities at nearby Lake Greystone. Despite hosting a nationally ranked university, Pinebox has managed to maintain its rural roots, something many students have said is one of the best things about ETU.
That's the basic setting for you. What you need to know is that this is based on a table top game (in fact that's where all the setting information, cover letter, and influence on the sheets is from) where all the characters will be starting out as college Freshmen attending ETU. For all intensive purposes, the town and ETU are both your average everyday - run of the mill - type places. But you'll learn quickly that's not the case. There's more to it than meets the eye, and graduating from ETU doesn't simply mean passing your exams - you have to survive. Strange things go bump in the night in the Big Thicket, and live beneath the surface at Lake Greystone; unfortunately, your biggest concern can't just be pass your classes or survive the monsters - you have to do them both.
Here is the more in depth information about the area, town, and school:
East Texas isn't the tumbleweed-strewn desert depicted in Westerns. To the contrary, it has many rivers, streams, and lakes, and is known for it's water skiing, bass fishing, and camping at several state parts, not to mention hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails through heavy forest.
The region is well known for hot, humid summers with average temperatures in the 90s. The high humidity interferes with the body's ability to cool itself through the evaporation of sweat. A measly 95°Fahrenheit with 80% humidity yields a heat index of about 113°. This makes the threat of heat stroke and dehydration a serious factor. Large-scale forays into the wild better involved lugging along copious amounts of water, which in turn greatly increases your odds of becoming fatigued or passing out.
Winters are relatively mild, with high temperatures in the 60s common through November. Cold fronts usually strike during December, January, and February, with at least a few that produce below-freezing temperatures. The area occasionally experiences an ice storm that causes downed trees and power lines. Snow is very rare.
East Texas suffers from huge thunderstorms and tornadoes. Summer months have the possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm hitting the Texas coast and moving inland. These spawn great rainstorms and lead to localized flooding, dangerous winds, lightning, and tornadoes. Typically, folks have plenty of time to prepare for hurricanes but tornadoes strike with very little warning.
All kinds of critters make East Texas their home. In reality, most wild animals do not pose a great deal of danger. Not many bears live in the area (mostly Louisiana black bears that have been re-introduced into the wild), nor panthers or wolves. The largest carnivore is the alligator, some of which grow quite large at 13 feet long and 600 pounds.
Rabies outbreaks sometimes cause wild animals to attack, and hikers always face the possibility of encountering a razorback, pack of wild dogs, or being chased by an angry 2,000 lb. bull that strayed off a local ranch.
However, most people overlook the little things. The greatest animal nuisance are fire ants, which are pervasive. If anyone stands still for very long he will very likely get bitten. Some fields are so dense with fire ants that the mounds are within two or three feet of one another. Their foragers and scouts are everywhere looking for food (or threats) and are not shy about biting or stinging. In a gunfight, staying prone could be very inconvenient in the middle of such a field! Heaven forbid someone should faint outdoors in East Texas. Fire ants quickly swarm bodies, and locals can recite tales of an elderly person passing out in a garden and later dying of complications caused by ant bites.
East Texas is the home of all kinds of snakes, venomous and non-venomous. The most common venomous snakes are water moccasins (also called cotton mouths) and copperheads. Rattlesnakes and the deadly coral snake occasionally make an appearance, but are less common in East Texas.
Venomous spiders and scorpions strike often from their hiding spots, such as in boots stored in closets. People still die from attacks by the dreaded Africanized or "killer" bees. Even the billions and billions of mosquitoes and ticks can carry potentially deadly diseases, such as the West Nile virus and Lyme disease.
As far as plants go, poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak are common. While usually not life threatening, they can become serious health nuisance.
East Texas is known for its great pine forests, although other hardwood trees are also very common. Pinebox is in the extreme north end of the last remaining North American jungle known as the Big Thicket. This woodland is so dense that locals claim if anyone loses sight of the road he will never find it again.
Pinebox is a town of 19th century East Texas charm and 21st century progress. Boasting a city population of over 19,000 and serving a student population of 13,000 more, Pinebox is one of the most important economic centers in East Texas. Located in the heart of what was once the Big Thicket of Golan County, Pinebox serves as a hub of commerce on Highway 96.
East Texas University provides many jobs and recreational facilities for Pinebox, and it owns buildings in the downtown area for ancillary office space. The Ravens have also partnered with the local school district to offer state-of-the-art recreational baseball, softball, and football fields just north of Church Street.
The area around Golan County in East Texas was first settled by various tribes of Native Americans, most numerous being the Caddoans. The Caddoans lived for several centuries in what is today known as Indian Mounds State Park, a popular tourist stop and the site of ongoing archeological studies by ETU researchers.
Unlike it's quaint appearance, Pinebox isn't just like any other town. It's plumb weird. Nobody wants to admit it, but 'unexpected' events happen too often to count. Officially, ETU's crime rate is in line with a campus its size, but left unspoken are the students who disappear without a trace. Without evidence of foul play, these disappearances are officially counted as 'withdrawals.' Some of the twitchier types around campus claim Pinebox is some sort of nexus of strangeness. They claim ghosts, demons, cultists, and monstrous creatures are drawn there.
Pinebox citizens say that's crazy talk. They're just another rural Texas town like any other. Or perhaps they just follow the old wisdom that to acknowledge darkness invites it to take notice in return.
City GovernmentPinebox is the Golan County seat, meaning that it is home to the county courthouse as well as city hall. The Pinebox Police Department's jurisdiction ends at the city limits, where it is picked up by the Golan County Sheriff's Department. Through a longstanding zoning agreement, the East Texas University campus is not within the city boundaries. Consequently, anything that can't be handled by Campus Security falls under Sheriff Butch Anderson's jurisdiction.
This Ain't The Old West: There's no question that Pinebox is a unique place. Some say it's downright dangerous. Be that as it may, it's the real world and not movie make-believe. Anyone caught flashing a gun on campus or shooting up the town is going to get arrested and face the full force of the law. People in these parts understand and even approve of self-defense, but they're also downright twitchy about students who look like they're ready to go on a killing spree. If you feel the need to arm yourself, do it inconspicuously. If you get into a fight, don't stick around when the law dogs show up. Sheriff Butch Anderson is known for keeping the peace by making examples of troublemakers.
Local Businesses
- Bonner's Bail Bonds: Because sometimes a night of innocent fun doesn't end up that way.
- Golan County Regional Hospital: Serves as an emergency center for the town and has many medical and dental offices.
- Homer's Used Books or Mary Lynn's Used Books and Emporium Both offer a variety of popular fiction and nonfiction, as well as hard-to-find special editions upon request.
- Mom's Diner: Great stick-to-your ribs home cooking in an old-fashioned diner.
- Pinebox Pawn or 4-Kit-Up Pawn: Students sometimes need cash quick, making these pawn shops good sources for second-hand equipment.
- Pinebox Fishing and Hunting: This shop offers a variety of camping, fishing, and hunting supplies, including legal weapons.
- Pizza Barn: This converted red barn is a student favorite. The pizza is fresh, the beer cold, and the mechanical bull never tires. It even offers a small dance floor and live bands every weekend.
- Sanctuary Comics and Collectibles: A small comic and game store. Owners Ron and Veronica serve snacks and drinks on Friday and Saturday evenings for the two game rooms in the back.
- Wal-Mart: Every Southern town has one. A reliable source of clothing, camping supplies, ammo, household goods, and jobs.
People of Note
- Sheriff Butch Anderson: Local sheriff with a reputation for being extra hard on the college crowd. The Sheriff's Department is in charge of county matters.
- Mayor James Flowers: Flowers is a friendly politician who owns a series of body shops and presents himself as a blue collar fellow who made good.
- Reverend Michaels: Father of the Risen Church of Pinebox. He and his followers are often found on campus and volunteering in various organizations.
- Police Chief Jacob Miner: A good chief who loves Pinebox and does all he can to make it safe. He's a pretty nice guy until he thinks you're upsetting the peace. The Police Department's jurisdiction is the town limits of Pinebox.
The original institution was founded in 1888 as East Texas Woman's College. However, by 1905, enrollment had dropped from a peak of eighteen students to only five. Fortunately, it was saved from closure by rags-to-riches oil wildcatter Howard O'Brien, whose wife was an ETWC alumnus. Mrs. O'Brien convinced her husband to donate a million dollars to her alma mater, insuring its financial security for years to come.
Of course, nobody gives away that kind of money without strings attached. Mr. O'Brien insisted that enrollment be opened to men as well as women; he also recommended the Ravens nickname in honor of Texas legend and hero, Sam Houston, who was known as the Raven by the Native Americans. That, in turn, meant a name change. The name South East Texas Institute lasted until 1987, following the embarrassing notoriety of being in a magazine list of top party schools. A new president, Paul Patterson, was hired to clean house. As part of his initiative for a clean start, he lobbied the state legislature to change the college's name to East Texas University. Since the late 1990s the university was run by President James Nelson, a somewhat absentminded, grandfatherly figure loved by the student body.
SecurityEast Texas University employs a team of security officers who patrol the campus 24/7. No fewer than three security officers patrol campus at any given time and a dispatcher answers emergency calls and directs officers as needed. While a few officers are full time employees, most shifts are filled by off duty law enforcement or trained students.
Security officers are not allowed to carry firearms, but they do carry a stun gun and handcuffs. Security officers can detain suspects until a sheriff's deputy can perform an arrest and book the suspect in the county jail.
Two campus buildings have been designated as "safe zones" - the library and the student center. Both buildings are open around the clock and students who feel unsafe are reminded of "Six-S" : Seek Shelter, Stay in Sight, and Summon Security.
Campus Buildings
- DuBose Aquatics Center: Indoor natatorium used for swim meets and an adjoining outdoor pool primarily for recreation. Very popular during the summer.
- Abrimov Sciences Buildings: Chemistry and Biology classes and labs.
- Andrew Tate Criminal Justice Center: Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Law classes as well as an actual working courtroom.
- Bob Reynolds Agricultural Studies Center: Hosts Agriculture, Animal Science, Botany, Horticulture, and Veterinary Medicine classes as well as a veterinary center, several large greenhouses, an insectary, and a field for agricultural research.
- Casey Studdard Business Arts Building: Business and Economics classes.
- Edgar Garland Student Center: This rectangular building boasts an open, interior courtyard which is home to Ravens pep rallies. The basement contains a bowling alley and pool tables. The ground floor contains meeting rooms and a food court. The building also holds a movie theater, convenience store, and college bookstore.
- Edmund Dale Memorial Building: Military Sciences and ROTC program, as well as an indoor gun range, drill field, and small outdoor paintball arena known as the War Zone.
- Hardy Travis Building: Kinesiology and Physical Education classes.
- Hearst Art and Journalism Center: Art, Journalism, Television, and Radio classes and technology labs.
- Lansdale Language Center: Named after a famous local writer, this building houses English, Computer Science, and Foreign Language classes.
- Martha Patterson Annex:Houses various special classes and exhibitions.
- Martha Patterson Language Arts Center: Liberal Arts, Speech, and Communication classrooms.
- Morris Education Center: Education, Special Education, and Theology classes, including a large lecture hall and a small chapel.
- Melinda O'Brien Physical and Life Sciences Building: Various science-related classes.
- Dr. Patrick O'Brien Administration Building: Students go here for various student services such as paying tuition, applying for a student loan, getting transcripts, and so on.
- President's Hall, the O'Brien Estate: This plantation style building is the home of ETU's presidents.
- Ravens Athletic Complex: The Ravens' baseball and softball teams play here.
- The Raven's Nest: ETU's football stadium, built in the mid 1980s. The area under the stands is enclosed and holds offices, concessions, lockers, equipment storage, physical therapy, and classrooms.
- R.E.Lee Engineering and Applied Sciences Building: Engineering classes.
- Rockefeller Psychology Center: Culture studies classes and various labs. This building is four stories tall and home of the ETU bell tower.
- The Roost (Multi Use Indoor Arena): Home of the Ravens basketball and volleyball teams.
- Sam Houston Gymnasium: This recently renovated gym offers several weight rooms, workout rooms, and more.
- Sam Rayburn Library: The ETU library contains three floors of books, classrooms, study rooms, several private collections, computer labs, and a lecture hall.
- Shickman Concert Hall: Home of the Symphony Orchestra, dance troupe, and various speaking engagements.
- William Greystone Buildings: Cultural and Social Studies classrooms.
- Zelmanek Mathematics Center: Mathematics classes.
DormitoriesGeorge Danford Dormitory: This five story dormitory is the tallest male dorm and most modern on campus. Each floor offers a commons area with televisions and small workout equipment such as stationary bikes, punching bags, and weights.
Halloway Suites: This small women's dorm resembles a vintage bed and breakfast. It was the original dorm built in the 1890s and is now a proud memorial to the earliest of the student body. It has been remodeled several times and currently contains 24 rooms, but is the most pricey dorm on campus.
Lester Hughes Dormitory: This male dormitory was built in the 1940s and the windows of each room are very small. It is a two story building accessed via a common entrance door on each floor which leads to an interior hallway.
Linda Kirchman Tower: This female dormitory is the tallest dorm on campus. It houses the campus security department on the first floor.
Manuel Travis Athletics Dormitory: This co-ed dormitory is the nicest of all of the dorms on campus. The Travis building is four floors, the first being for female athletes, the top three for male athletes. Each floor has a study room, a workout room with full equipment, and entertainment rooms with large screen televisions and stereo equipment.
Stanbury Hall: This two story tall dormitory for females offers large rooms and bathrooms, making it highly desired.
Whitehall Dormitory: This is a co-ed dormitory built in the 1930s, but has been renovated several times - unfortunately the last time was in the early 1970s. It is a three level with an outside set of stairs going from floor to floor, with concrete balconies and small wrought iron hand rails. The rooms are a little larger than the other dorms and the first floor dorms include a small kitchen. Many stories of haunting and weirdness originate from Whitehall.
Noteworthy People
- President James Nelson
- Dr. K.N. Wiegel, Chemistry Professor
- Dr. Lisa Cormis, Psychology Dept. Head
- Dr. Homer Bell, Dean of Animal Sciences
- Terry Easton, ETU Public Relations Officer
- Dr. Bethany Moore, Dean of Sciences
- Coach Preston Blakemore, Head Football Coach of the Ravens
- Dr. Thomas Shelby, Dean of Fine Arts
- Dr. James Siri, Archeology Professor
- Dr. Sindu Sureet, Biology Professor
- Coach Donald Peterson, Track and Field
- Bill Simms, ETU Athletics Director
- Sonya Alverez, Special Reserves librarian
- Matthew Cutter, English Professor
- Dr. Steven Anderson, Director of Student Affairs
- Carol Keller, Campus Life Director
- Dr. Nancy Mortvelt, Visiting Professor from University of Vienna, Physics
- Dr. Timothy Dolby, Astronomy Professor
- Dr. Hewlitt Cooper, Geology Professor
- Conner Mayes, Theater Professor
- Dr. Mark Reynolds, Geography Professor
- Dr. Rick Barton, Botany and Agricultural Science Professor
- Dr. Jose Ramirez, Organic Chemistry Professor
- Dr. Chad Dougherty, Archaeology and Ancient Cultures Professor
- Dr. Alicia Rhyvies, Library Science Professor
- Dr. Frank Mendoza, Human Biology/Pre Med Professor
- General Ed McPherson US Army Ret., ROTC Program Director
At least 3 paragraphs per post. I am looking for quality over quantity, so if you only manage one or two but they're good and drive interaction forward and/or show character development, I won't mind it.
I try not to ask for certain things about a character because I believe they come out best in actual RP. That said, if there is something stated in your sheet - that is fact and if it just randomly changes/is ignored, I will ask you to edit your post. Please note that a character evolving - like a pacifist finally giving up nonviolence - should do so in a way that shows there is character growth and potentially even some internal struggle for it.
This is a third person, past tense RP.
I am all for player suggestions and plotting. That being said, don't just add something to the RP without clearing it with me first. Anything that would impact the general setting, plot, or several characters should be cleared with me (and definitely the people involved) before it happens. General courtesy, ya know.
Planning character interactions ahead of time should be avoided. I don't mind if you guys 'what if' stuff, but I'd rather not see any elaborate plots worked out between two characters - it has a way of making things seem more scripted/stiff.
Please no more than 3 characters per person. Definitely do not put in more than you can handle. I'd rather one character that is well written than three characters that barely manage to get a min requirement and/or have no substance to their posts.
As this is advanced, all the normal advanced requirements of attempting for proper spelling and grammar are expected. Follow the other site rules, and if you want to do more than just fade to black between two characters - take it to PM.
Realism in characters is not just a request. If your character has blue hair and purple eyes - I want to know their natural hair and eye color and if it's a wig or dye and if the contacts are prescription, irritate their eyes, and/or are special order. If you think they might be tiptoeing the line of improbable/outlandish - please send me a PM with an overview of them.
Please try to post at least once every other day. I know people have lives (two jobs myself) so things come up. If you know you'll be busy for a few days and won't be able to RP, at least give us a heads up. I will message you if you disappear for more than three days without even a word in OOC - especially if you're active elsewhere - and let you know you may end up left behind, or your characters may be killed off.
Death and disfigurement is possible in this RP. Please be aware of that. I will not purposefully set up for something horrible to happen to someone, but sometimes people lose limbs and eyes or are horribly scarred when they manage to survive mortal wounds like having their guts torn out by a ravenous werewolf. (If you want something dramatic like that to happen to one of your characters, that's definitely something to ask me about rather than just doing yourself in thread.)
Feel free to pitch concepts if you're not sure if it would be okay, and definitely ask questions. If you're not sure about something, definitely ask first before going through the effort of a write up without knowing if it will pass or not.
There are quite a few restrictions I'm going to be placing on characters - for now - but it won't last for long. Your character can be any background, any origin, almost any country, major, whatever....However, they should be fresh out of high school and
normal. That means no coming in with magical powers or super great at anything right off the bat, though these things may come up.
I do understand there are geniuses and kids that are highly skilled at certain things at a young age, but there shouldn't be a bunch here so I am regulating it. If you want someone to be super great at something right off the bat, contact me first.There is one more type of character that you need to message me about before entering in the thread. Characters may be allowed to come in with a sort of psychically sensitive gift - like sensing supernatural creatures/disturbances, or even having a spirit guardian that wards off evil spirits though you cannot communicate at this time aside from simple body gestures/language, or even the potential for precognitive premonitions.
If one of those kind of things interests you, you have to contact me first and let me know what you were thinking and see if it works for the thread. People who do not contact me and make a character with some kind of ability will not be approved. There is a limited amount of characters I will accept of this nature, so do not be upset if I tell you I am not approving any more even if the characters haven't been posted yet.
The Elaborate Character SheetName: Character's full first and last name
Preferred Name/Nickname: What your character introduces him/herself as and/or goes by for the thread.
Age: Since not every college freshman is 18. Please - no younger than 17, no older than 19. Anyone wishing for an exception
must contact me.
Gender: Note that non-binary will still be housed by their physical gender. The co-ed dorms still have males housed with males and females housed with females even though both genders are housed in the same building.
Housing Preferences: What kind of person would you like to avoid being housed with? Is there a type of person you would prefer to be housed with? Do you believe you qualify for special housing; if so, why?
Major: What are you majoring in? You may be undecided, but will need to choose a major by junior year. If you are double majoring, write in both.
Minor: Only fill out if applicable. Not everyone decides to take a minor.
Extracurricular Activity: You may only pick one of the following in bold, unless you are good at multitasking (see below):
- Athletic team (you're on a sports team or the cheer-leading squad; one of your best abilities must be agility, strength, or vigor)
- Auditing a class (you go to more classes than you're scheduled for in hopes of helping your grades)
- Computer tech or librarian assistant (you end up helping out in the computer labs or library, which also gains you after-hours access to whichever you help in)
- fitness (you're more focused on staying in shape and eating right than others, which requires more than just a morning jog)
- Fraternity/Sorority (pledging and then belonging to a Fraternity or Sorority is more than just having a room in a house with Greek letters on it, you have social events you must attend or risk being kicked out, but it gains you connections with all others that are in or were in your frat or sorority)
- Gaming (gaming is more than just for fun, it's a way of life and you know more about supernatural stuff, mythology, and lore than others because of the time dedicated to video games and/or table top games)
- Part Time Job (hitting the books isn't as important as earning a bit of extra cash, so you got a job at one of the on-campus stores or in town)
- Party Animal (this goes beyond just attending the occasional party, you go to every bash you hear of and party hard - which makes you recognizable by the general student populace but takes away from your ability to hit the books since you just can't say no to a kegger)
- Performer (whether you're an actor or a musician, you are popular with people around your age for all those performances but all that time rehearsing and putting on shows takes away from academics)
- Romance (you've got a special someone in your life, just remember this does cut into your study time and you're probably going to want to spend some of your cash on them in some way)
- ROTC (you're with the Reserve Officer Training Corps, to head onto the US Army as a commissioned officer after graduation; this gives you some military insight and connections with fellow cadets)
- Student Organization (you're part of a student organization such as the debate team or band or even the student paper/radio/television/webcast, which is why you're getting better at one of your skills than you normally were because of the added use)
- Teacher's Aide/Tutor (because you're extremely good at what you're majoring in, you have offered to help out your teacher which gains you a connection with him/her and access to that building/room after hours, or you put up a sign and are helping someone get better at that particular class - either way, you're earning some extra cash with no impact on your ability to study)
- Tutoring (you're having trouble with your studies, and this requires time spent one on one with someone to catch up - but this person isn't doing it for free)
- Volunteer (you volunteer at a charity in town - whether it be the animal shelter, the hospital, hospice care, the soup kitchen, or local rec center - which gets you in good with one of the people that works for that particular place and makes it easier for you to get information from people that are part of that organization.)
What do you feel is your best natural ability? Pick one of the words in bold: Are you more
agile than anything else? Is it your
intelligence? Your inner wisdom/will power give you exceptional
spirit? Do you feel your
strength is best? Are you heartier than others, able to endure more pain and have a naturally strong immune system due to your body's
vigor?
What do you feel is your weakest natural ability? Pick one: agile, intelligence, spirit, strength, vigor.
What languages do you speak? That means English, and one additional language (unless noted elsewhere that your character is good with languages. If that is the case, you may have up to three additional languages on top of your native language.) If you're not from America and English is not your primary language, you either need to be taking the English as a Second Language class or have that as your additional language; though if you are taking English as a Second language, you will have problems communicating with the other characters *that do not share a language* and this should come up.
What do you feel your skill set is? The following are just a few things to think about: Are you great at swimming? Do you know how to do tactical maneuvers in your car? Did you take martial arts while growing up? Are you really good at finding out information; if so, researching it or talking to people to get it? Etc. You can list out skills, but making them a sentence about how good your character is at any given skill would be preferred; examples: "She can pick locks, but only just started." or "Being able to search volumes to find the right information is almost like second nature to him."
Hindrances: You must have at least three things that will cause a problem/hold you back at some point. What are some of the things that would set your character back? Too loyal and would never leave a friend to die despite being told to run away? Has a problem keeping his mouth shut, generally at the worst times? Did you get stuck with an annoying roommate that insists on joining you wherever you go? Does technology sometimes just kind of malfunction around you, like an MP3 player you've been using for a few months suddenly stop working or a memory stick wipe clean between transferring the files onto it and carrying it to the class you needed the project in? Maybe trouble follows you wherever you go - be it a bothersome cop giving you a ticket the second your parking meter runs out or a crazy ex tracking you down and insisting you take her back. Perhaps it's even a problem focusing to get your work done, or that your parents keep calling you or showing up at the worst times. Is there something you're deathly afraid of and will freeze up upon seeing it? Are you from a different country and more than just Texan customs causing you confusion? These are just a few of the things that could hold you back and cause you problems.
Helpful Edge: For every thing that is just a minor thing, you can have one really good aspect to help balance it all out. Starting out, you should have no more helpful aspects than you do hindrances, and fewer if you don't have many majorly problematic aspects. This is where you would note if your family is rich. Or maybe you're just naturally gifted at taking tests. Or if you're naturally charismatic and great with interactions regardless of who it is. Perhaps you have some background trait like that you're a gymnast/acrobat that could come in handy at some point. Perhaps your faithful and that is where your inner wisdom/will comes from and is strengthened by it. Maybe you already know someone on the staff, or might have an extracurricular activity that sets you in higher standings with a particular teacher or person of influence in the community. You could even be good at managing your time well and be able to fit more than one extracurricular activity into your schedule. Perhaps, even, you have a bit of a psychic ability; if this is the case you
must contact me for details of what is allowed in this setting at this time.
Vehicle Registration: Is it a mid-size car, an SUV, a street bike? You are free to be as specific or as vague as you please, but at least note if you have a vehicle or not. If you do not have a vehicle, you may instead have a transportation pass which will get you to town and back via a university run shuttle bus that only drops off to specific places in Pinebox.
Appearance: What does your character look like? What kind of clothing does the character wear? Use full sentences and at least a paragraph to describe your character - and try to be descriptive. If your character has hair that isn't a natural color, I want to know how what their natural color is and how they got the new color. If your character has eye color that isn't natural, tell me what their natural eye color is and note they have contacts. If you wish to include a photo reference, it
must be a real photograph and
must hidden in either a hider or a hotlink.
Interests: What interests you? What do you enjoy doing? Favorite foods, colors, etc can go here.
Disinterests: What do you avoid or avoid doing? Pet peeves can be included.
Personality: How do you act? Are there any nervous ticks/eccentricities that you have, like twirling your hair or biting your nails when thinking or do you have to touch whatever you're near? Leave out history as much as possible.
Equipment: What did you bring with you aside from clothes? A laptop - if so, how good is it? A cell phone - if so, how good is it? A musical instrument? A favorite book? Mementos from home? Really, it can be a list of anything you would have brought; those are just a few things to consider.
Brief Bit About Them: Are they excited for college? How was their home life? Sexual preference and/or sexual history could go here. Anything notable about their lives prior to entering ETU goes here. Although you can include as much or as little as you would like, this doesn't need to be - and shouldn't be - paragraphs of elaboration.
Notes: Anything about the character that doesn't fit anywhere else but you believe I need to know about the character.
Name:
Preferred Name/Nickname:
Age:
Gender:
Housing Preferences:
Major:
Minor:
Extracurricular Activity:
What do you feel is your best natural ability?
What do you feel is your weakest natural ability?
What languages do you speak?
What do you feel your skill set is?
Hindrances:
Helpful Edge:
Vehicle Registration:
Appearance:
Interests:
Disinterests:
Personality:
Equipment:
Brief Bit About Them:
Notes:
