Genres and Themes: Science Fantasy, Post-Calamity, Action, Horror, Psychological, Supernatural Seventeen years ago, this world and another collided violently. Thousands of stone pillars rained down from the skies, spelling the end of an era. These "Hailstones" landed in the center of every major city in the world, settling with relative grace despite their size and fall and causing minimal destruction. At first, the world was confused and scared; unsure of the future this phenomenon would bring. Theories, rumors, and talk of conspiracy spread like wildfire as humanity sought the answers to their many questions. Mankind gazed into these otherworldly towers and asked, "What will happen next?" The answer was, "Catastrophe." Within days of the event, crime skyrocketed. Curiosity eroded into insanity. People living in hail-stricken areas became unusually violent, and many claimed to be hearing strange voices and seeing figures in the corners of their eyes. Schizophrenic symptoms exploded throughout populated areas and increased in severity. Riots broke out for no particular reason and people killed one another randomly on the streets. Numerous government entities dissipated after the officials in every capitol went mad. Eventually the world seemed to fall into a state of pure chaos. And it got worse. They became Lost. Men, women, and children decayed into little more than psychotic carnivorous beasts. The original panic and violence became something else--something primal. Black veins showed though their grayed skin and claws of bone peeked through their fingertips. They ruthlessly hunted down any who remained and picked their bones clean. The more they ate, the more twisted and deformed they became. Some grew talons and fangs, while others gained the ability to instantly morph parts of their bodies. What were once humans became demented human-hunters. Rational thought had no semblance in their minds: They only sought to devour. Before long, people recognized the source of the deranged malady as the Hailstones themselves. Somehow their very presence devolved the people around them into crazed animals: The closer they got to the pillars, the more berserk they became. Before falling completely to depravity, people escaped from metropolitan areas and cut off any exits they could on the way out. Humanity abandoned its once-great cities, leaving them to the Hail and its monsters. Time passed, people regrouped, and wounds healed--well, most of them. Few emerged from the end of the world unscathed, and nearly all carried a scar of some kind--be it mental or physical. Some, however, were affected expressly by the sickness the Hailstones brought with them. They are called the Burdened, but are known almost universally as mutants, freaks, and crazies. Those who survived sane found solace in self-reliant communities farthest from the ruins of civilization and wandered through the spaces between. Military remnants set up walled-off "Safe Zones" that required psychological profiling for entry. As society recovered, like-minded individuals grouped together and once again spoke of "ideals", "hope", and "the future". Before long, people rallied for the return of democracy and established rights, while others chose to fight against the discrimination of Burdened peoples. As time drew on, these rising groups became factions, and grew and developed tiers of membership and intent. Eventually, they claimed territory and began fighting one another on occasion. Colonization soon became militarization as each faction gained support and power. Before long, humanity found itself at an impasse in this strange new world gridlocked by convictions of the Past, the Present, and the Future. As we fight amongst ourselves, what still lurks in the ruins of the bygone civilization? If humankind can't find peace with itself, how can it quell the madness that still lingers at the brink? Greetings, and welcome to Hailstorm, a roleplay that has been in the equivalent of "development Hell" in my mind for a VERY VERY long time. In it's earliest incarnation, it was a sort of alien invasion story with a few twists. Then, it slowly evolved into something a little deeper and semi-lovecraftian. Anyway, this is the story about survivors of a cataclysmic event that sent nearly every metropolitan area on the planet into complete insanity and carnage. Since escaping from the "Hailstorm" and its madness, societies have begun to reform under their own ideologies and goals. Two factions in particular--the DERB military remnants and the Avant-Garde--are at each others' throats and a group of people partly affected by the Hail--the Unburdened--are on the rise. Meanwhile, humanity is mostly oblivious to the origins of the Hail or what is happening in the cities they've left behind. I might as well mention that this is my first time GMing an officially Advanced-level RP. I've done many "high-Casual" RPs before that have exceeded any standards the Guild has set, but I figured I would find a better playerbase here. Please refrain from making any character sheets until I've created an OOC. You can pitch me a general character idea, but I'd rather wait a bit on CSs. In the mean time, state your interest here and ask me any questions you'd like. WHAT HAPPENED TO BBCode?!