The sweet scent would fill the lungs of both people who found sanctuary underneath the cherry blossom trees. They would steal glances at one another as everything else around them would slow down and eventually fade away. Their hearts would begin to beat more loudly, much like the taiko drums they heard at the festival, hours ago. In the year 2016, in Kyoto, Japan, two lost souls find themselves swept into another world, so terribly different than their own. This new world is filled with magic and fantasy and these two strangers must form a bond and work together if they wish to save both the world they already love, and the new one they've become rather fond of.

A story of danger and mystical fantasy await both people as they try to find a way to balance one world with the others. While one world suffers, the other prospers. And when their own world might fall into destruction which cannot be undone, it falls upon the two to come together and find a way to balance the lives they've established in both worlds. In their original world, they try to juggle jobs and real life responsibilities but in the other world, they train and traverse a great expansive region, trying to find answers to the problems that threaten both sides of the same coin. Is it possible to give both worlds happiness or must one suffer while the other prevails? Can history be changed? Can the future be changed? Two people swept away, underneath the cherry blossom trees, are determined to find out.



You must be capable of posting 4-5 paragraphs.

You must be capable of playing both genders and juggling side plots and characters.

You must be capable of one post a week.

You must be capable of communicating and plotting alongside me.



I envision this as a slice of life adventure with magic and real life stresses, along with all sorts of quests. You could say I'm inspired by Fushigi Yuugi, Five Centimeters Per Second, Kare Kano and The Slayers but it's all light inspiration so you don't have to know what I'm talking about to roleplay. I'm sort of thinking of playing the female (mostly because I've seen a lot of bad portrayals of females lately) but I don't have a qualm if I'm the male but...I'm not looking to be the male because it's hard for you. I honestly have no reservations playing both genders and enjoy doing so, but I'm not here to appease someone's comfort zone. This is an equal partnership and to make a story work, I need both of us working hard to have a fun adventure. Also, I have a life, I prefer fandom stuff, but it's that time of year, you know? I want something cute and fun and innocent and amazing. You should be able to find a high quality anime picture fairly easily, I use pixiv, I'm looking for color and cuteness here. Our characters should be in their early to mid 20s since playing teens is a bit tough considering I'm not one anymore.

Anyway, I hope someone sees this and understands the tone I am going for and that there will be a balance of travel, working, training with magic, etc. I want us both to create a new world together and to have a delightful time doing it. Don't PM me though, I'm horrible with PMs. I only use them for smut related endeavors and tend to forget them otherwise. So post here and we can talk and get things moving, maybe share music and pictures and ideas.

Sounds great. I'm interested. Can you give more detail on the fantasy world?

Hello!

I'd definitely be interested in this, as it reminded me a little of both Tales of Symphonia and the Persona series (both games that I love to bits). I'd be happy to spin a male character with this and plot with you about what may happen and about the initial setting. Would you like to hear my ideas here or in another thread or PM?

Sounds great. I'm interested. Can you give more detail on the fantasy world?

Well the only thing I've really set in stone is that the fantasy world and the modern world are linked by cherry trees and that they're what transport someone back and forth. In terms of how or why the worlds are connected, is to be decided with my partner since I don't think it's fair to get too ahead of myself.

Hello!

I'd definitely be interested in this, as it reminded me a little of both Tales of Symphonia and the Persona series (both games that I love to bits). I'd be happy to spin a male character with this and plot with you about what may happen and about the initial setting. Would you like to hear my ideas here or in another thread or PM?

Hi there.

There is some similarity between Tales of Symphonia, I agree! I don't mind discussing here if you'd like to. I'm working on an essay today and tomorrow I have class all day but talking in a thread at least allows me to see when someone posted so I can hop on real quick when possible.

I'd be interested as well, if you haven't already filled the position. It being springtime, I've been in the mood for something adventurous. =3

As far as the world-building goes, how much of that have you done so far? (If any) I'm intensely curious about the setting.

I'd be interested as well, if you haven't already filled the position. It being springtime, I've been in the mood for something adventurous. =3

As far as the world-building goes, how much of that have you done so far? (If any) I'm intensely curious about the setting.

Hello.

I haven't yet found anyone so it's still open.

I'd say the world isn't very fleshed out, mostly just the bare bones concept since I'd like to create a world with whoever I partner up with since I'm sure everyone has different ideas and preferences.

Awesome!

I've got some online classes to deal with tonight, so I wouldn't really be available 'til almost midnight. However, tomorrow evening is free and clear. Would it possible to discuss some of those nascent ideas you've got then? Brainstorming is usually half the fun of an RP.

I'm working on an essay myself, about a page left to go, so waiting to brainstorm is fine with me. I had all online classes last quarter so I know how much they can sneak up on someone. I should be free part of tomorrow if that's better for you, or Tue is my day off between classes. It may be best to plot here just to be safe when we're able?

Yes. I'd agree. just jotting down ideas when we have time would be much more effective. Between three classes and a full-time work schedule, i doubt we'd be able to match off days, anyway. xD

I'm a bit envious of your job but a full time class load and work will surely keep you busy. Hopefully you do have enough downtime to stay sane!

I somehow still manage to find time to GM a pathfinder game once per week, volunteer, and read my newsites, novels, and manga on a regular basis, so it's not that bad.

I'm free most of tomorrow. So I should be able to contribute then.

I'm online now (well, yes, we see that) but only for about an hour until I have to log off and commute back home. So, hello!

Well.... Since I doubt we're going to be able to meet at a convenient time when both of us are online, I have series of questions I'll just leave here for the brainstorming effort:



(I really could go on, but I've run out of time. >.<' TTYL ;3)

Alright, brainstorming time!

- I would say I envision one world to be our modern day Earth, as if our characters were living among us with the same political/technological/biological strife. And the other world would be a more vast, not as overly populated fantasy realm with more diverse environments/habitats, maybe a different weather/seasonal pattern?

- In terms of how the worlds connect, I hadn't thought of a reincarnation path. It's possible we could use something like doppelgangers? Or some traits or affinities of main characters are mirrored through those belonging to both worlds? I think if we did want to explore a route of people dying, sort of showing up as another version in the other world, they might have to be supporting cast. At first I just thought a whirlwind of blossoms would be the sort of teleportation link between the worlds. If you're into that, we could consider the idea that the weather or maybe the weather that symbolizes rebirth or awakening could be the link between the worlds.

I do see the fantasy world more on the verge of an apocalypse. As you mentioned, I do see the scale/duality of both worlds. While one (the modern world) is doing well with so many advances, the opposite world would be struggling to just farm and make ends meet. I would say the magic itself would be tied to one world, but if it bleeds into the modern world once things shift, that would be pretty interesting. What if the magic itself was causing the strife in the fantasy world? Maybe it bleeds one world dry and hinders progress, by starting wars, damaging soil, causing disease, etc. Maybe the modern world found a way to filter the magic and force the majority of it to localize and stay within the fantasy world?

- You bring up a good point as to how the native characters handle the transition from one world to the other.

Since we are using magic (whether or not it's a positive or negative entity...) we could use it as a trope and say it allows someone to easily acclimate themselves in terms of language and maybe outward attire? If we did want to go a step further and ass classes like elves or ones we make up, we could, that would be an interesting dynamic. But it could also add complications where they're not needed.

I do think the changes should be minor in terms of aesthetic but if they took on a more different identity, it would be interesting to see how two people from the same world might change once in the other, and if they'd even be aware of who their friend looks like now (say if separated).

- In terms of the idea of the ultimate goal and who is working for and against it, I do think it would be easier to first know the true evil or at least, the truth behind the world's connection. Who knows about it in each world? How long have the cycles of prosperity/struggle been happening? Say for example, we do use magic as a negative and evil thing (sort of like a tangible infection) then I would suppose the fantasy world would have a great desire to open whatever gate/border/door between the worlds that is keeping the magic from spreading evenly between both worlds. But do we want the modern world to be outright evil or aware of their deceit?

It also depends on our cast, I do think the more varied the goals and awareness, the more compelling the dynamics and conflicts will be.

Maybe there's some kind of hidden agenda in the fantasy world where someone is aware of why there's so much despair and have something to gain from keeping the world stuck in such a state? Is there some secret society or group that is already aware of the balance between two worlds and has yet been able to find a way to restore things to a more fair situation? Do both worlds have such an organization where they cross paths with the heroes who are out of the loop? Would there be double agents if we went in such a route?

- Now in terms of bringing forth elements of cuteness and wonder, I would say the characters themselves would be the best means to deliver a light, charming aspect to something that is so layered and serious. The need to explore and to solve many people's issues (in both worlds) while reassuring the public that things are changing for the better of both worlds, are things I see happening. There's also the idea of traveling to dynamic places with lots of richness and color. Even if one world is bleak, there may still be places that have been able to stave off such depression. Or in the modern world, there could be hidden places that are rich in magic and fantasy that go otherwise unseen by most.

Or we could also flip things inside out and have the modern world be suffocated by 'magic' where the fantasy realm is bountiful?

- And the protagonists themselves...let's see. I did see them as ordinary but you are right in them probably needing to be special in some way. There is the cliche 'Chosen' route where they end up needing to die/kill someone they've grown fond of in the end? Or we could go the route of a prophecy claiming certain people from opposing worlds would save both of them and restore order? Or we could have some kind of bloodline tied to it where one protagonist is related to a future antagonist and ends up having to rally some resistance against their friend?

Again, the dynamic and tones will depend on our characters and what sort of personalities and goals they have.

So now I might like to pose some questions to you since I feel like I'm not contributing enough so here it goes!

- How are you with visual aids? I have a stockpile of anime scenery and location pictures which I do think could enhance the story as we move along. I also find them pretty inspiring.

- Now cast sizes! I see us using 2-3 characters each, but we'd be focused on our main character. I do see side characters coming and going and we'd be able to share them as needed. Since this is such an ambitious idea, I don't want either of us to end up feeling burnt out or tired or bored or overwhelmed or anything like that. So I'd like us to be encouraged to swap out NPCs for main roles every now and then to shake things up. Maybe a priest who's often been in the background now wants to see more of the world and help the cause and maybe an antagonist's best friend is injured and needs to recover so that's how one of us could swap a major role. What do you think?

- That sort of leads me into my next point. If we do want to take on more roles, I would insist our posts not get too out of hand. I've had this happen with great stories in the past that then fizzled out because both me and my partner felt too daunted at times. So I would be okay with giving a main character 2-3 paragraphs while lending any of the other 1-2 sides with just 1-2 paragraphs. As much I like writing a lot, it can be a little tiring. Now I can certainly give 4-5 paragraphs per role and while it is fun, it's not something I necessarily want to do if there's already so much going on, you?

- Lastly (for now, I need to go write an outline for my next essay), I think it would be fun to have the story take place between both worlds so the 'two world' thing isn't just some plot device. I want us to care about both worlds and people in both worlds. Whenever I start one of these, we never get to the point where our characters go back to where they came from, even for just a few days. I'd really like to juggle lives in both worlds because how often is someone going to vanish for a week or two without having said something? If two people do vanish from our world, I would expect there to be some reaction or consequence. I just don't want characters to find a new world and forget the life they still have in the other world, you know?

Time for some good ole wall-posting!

Here we go:

- More vast, hunh? You could say the fantasy planet is roughly earth-like, but simply larger?
As for a different seasonal pattern, with me being very familiar with geophysics and meteorology, it'd be a lot easier to simply say the seasons are influenced by magic and completely abandon any kind of scientific explanation. Cuts down on headaches.

That being said, perhaps the seasons change more rapidly where magic pools together or areas through which is courses more strongly. Or maybe the weather is simply more turbulent? Or the season is attuned to the nature of the magic present?

- Well... What if our "heroes" exist outside the reincarnation cycle and--tying in to an idea later--can freely pass between our world and the fantasy world? That would be easy and fits nicely.

Also, what if the whirlwind of blossoms could just in fact be a torrent of magical energies swirling around our heroes. The scene simply gives the illusion of cherry blossoms. Perhaps due to fortuitous circumstances, our heroes actually experienced it while being in a grove of sakura trees?

I really want to push further this idea of weather being linked symbolically to magical events, at the very least in the fantasy world. Perhaps storms in our world are where magic leaks in from the fantasy world, and their path follows something like ley lines in the fantasy world world? Perhaps there's some subtle overlapping.

- While I do enjoy a certain amount of complexity, overcoming the hurdles of adjusting to a new body, new languages, and new cultures can be very daunting to roleplay through, so I'd agree on some sort of way to magically acclimate to the surroundings.
As an idea, it could just be part of the transition process for special humans like our heroes.
Perhaps, there are rules to the transition, such that the person must assume a form native to that world, or at the very least compatible with it. Moreover, basic knowledge (like "common sense") and native languages automatically translate through. Then the only roleplay difficulty would be dealing with the cognitive dissonance of having memories and maybe a body you didn't have before.
Our heroes may have the latent ability to change their appearance and form when they transition. It could be limited, so changing the form of one's original body is impossible.

- Continuing from an earlier concept: So... what if by magical happenstance, our heroes are swept away to this other fantasy world. And what makes them special is their ability to transition between the two without dying first.
However, what if they aren't the only ones who can do it? Perhaps they are swept up into a much grander scheme of secret societies or rival organizations of people like them? These groups would be something like secret agents with opposing agendas, but both working towards some flavor of "THE GREATER GOOD".

As a separate idea, what if technology and magic are competing forces? As the advancement of one continues, the other wanes. So in our world, technology prevails, and in the fantasy world magic prevails. Extending the idea further. If for example technology would begin to advance in both worlds, a backlash or surge of magic would hit both worlds as each distinct reality tries to reconcile the two forces into equilibrium. In that sense, the balance is very precarious and difficult to maintain.
This could tie into a more generalized singularity event, where civilization expands so quickly that the powers of industry outpaces the imagination and control of humans (or other dominating species). What if this trend is occurring in both worlds? The technologically-driven singularity being approached in our world, and a magically-driven singularity event on the horizon in the fantasy world?

You could divide up factions of the aforementioned secret agents according to what beliefs they hold?
Would their be singularity seekers? People who wish to see the pinnacle of civilization in both worlds at the risk of destroying them both?
Perhaps their are passionate zealots vying for an absolute balance, so magic and technology exists evenly across both worlds?
Is their even a correct way to the maintain the balance? What sort of alternative options might their be?

- Visual aids? Madame, I am bonified visual thinker, so please, dump as many images as you like. ;D

- As for the cast, we could just tackle the story from multiple angles using different groups of characters? Each group would have their own agenda and feelings. That way different facets of the story could be viewed through the lenses of a diverse cast.
Then you could just focus on the plot track that seems the most fun to work with at the time. If we get stuck on one, we can hop to another and try to unclog the story (if necessary) from a different angle.

- Post length I don't expect to be much of a problem for me. I'm happy with the "Less is More" style. Compactifying content can be difficult at times, but its pretty fun for me. Anything to reduce headaches down the road, I'm fine with.

- Hmm... I like the narrative your pushing with trying to juggle two lives in two different worlds. However, I'm not concerned that such a story would be too daunting to write for, but rather it would be too daunting for our heroes to realistically handle. I suspect that after a series of adventures and hardships, they'd have to make a choice to prioritize their life in one over the other. They can't be in two places at once with the ideas we've come up with so far. If that's the kind of consequences you're seeking, I suppose it fits. Though, bitter resignation to one's fate isn't really my cup of tea.

On the other hand, you could portray this rather simply with homesickness in increasing severity over time, even to the point that it becomes psychologically traumatizing.

To take it a step further, what if because of our heroes newfound status as "horizon walkers" (or something like that) puts them and the people they love in danger? What if they cant return to their old lives normally without putting their loved ones in great peril? Is it the rival organizations that drives them into a corner, or maybe their own powers?

Using the weather ideas again, maybe our heroes can only transition under certain conditions. Not quite something so difficult as "the stars must align in X fashion in the night sky during Y season", but you get the idea. Some routine cosmic or magical weather phenomena has to occur for travel to be possible.

It does look like we're locked in as partners with this, if you'd like me to create an OOC for us, I'm happy to do so. And sorry about the delay, when I got on yesterday, I didn't have the strength or fortitude to sit down and write a wall of text. Eheheh but here ya go!

- I would say earth-like but cities and towns wouldn't be as close together, so the same size but the distribution of population to be different and more sparse. I do think seasons moving more quickly would be a good change, something unexpected.

- And the "heroes" being outside of any reincarnation cycle, is probably best. And to have the blossoms contain magic is a good idea, I like that. And the idea of weather being tied to magic is one I'm fine with rolling with. I like the idea of our weather, having a tie to the weather or magic in the fantasy world. I do think at this point, we may need to name the fantasy world just to make talking about it, less wordy. I'd propose something like "Thera" or "Rathe" since they're different anagrams of the word 'earth'



- Yeah, I don't think either one of us want to deal with too much complex reasoning behind the transition from one world so just saying that it takes care of clothes, any translation need, etc is perfectly fine with me. I would rather us focus on exploration than trying to muddle through new cultures, when we can explore them without it being clunky or awkward with say, a wardrobe change when it's something we already covered when they we swept away. So I think we're on the same page there.

- THE GREATER GOOD.



- I do like magic and technology contrasting each other and even competing. I think considering them to be opposing factors is a good angle and something I'm going for. We clearly know there's a delicate balance between both magic and technology and what each does to the land in question. You know each has positive/negative reaction. So the singularity you proposed, you're just thinking of a catastrophic event as opposed to say AI gaining some kind of sentient control right? I think with both 'energies' (if you will) being contained to a single world instead of being distributed evenly in two worlds, would end up building and ultimately bringing some serious consequences.

- Some images:



- You know it might be fun to sort of shift focus like the way books do with chapters. Maybe there's three major groups. The heroes, the good faction and the bad guys? We could maybe alternate between the three (or two, depending on what we decide). Maybe we'd be able to keep things moving so that when different sides to connect, we're able to have a bigger impact in terms of development. I feel like with this, we can just keep the bad guys on the back burner.

- I may just end up getting carried away with a post but since this is pretty complicated (more than I was intending to bite off but that's fine because doing extensive fantasy RPs, isn't something I've done in ages and they can very rewarding) I'd hate for us to just get bogged down in something and have our posts be something we struggle with. So I guess it depends on our focus but I see this as something needing a lot of detail and that we don't need to push every post to the limit since we can keep revealing information as we go. I had a bad habit of trying to shove all the technical stuff into one post and it ended up being like 10-12 paragraphs and while it was fun, it became a little tiring after a while you know?

- My intention was to sort of ensure both worlds don't get forgotten. I know the fantasy world is going to hold some precedent but I would hate for our characters to just stop trying to back to the earth they know and love. As you brought up, there's going to homesickness and if their lives are on the line, they're surely going to want to return home every now and then and I'd like to be able to balance that struggle of two worlds. I don't want our modern day earth to be tossed aside, I think it should have some use in the story/plot and the characters.

Go ahead and create an OoC thread, we can compile the info from there.
And don't worry about delays or feeling lazy. I have those days too, so don't sweat it.

- Instead of the seasons moving more quickly, I think it'd be more interesting to just have them be very erratic and strange. You could even have magic-infused storms like.... Rusting snow, razor sleet, skin-flaying sandstorms, healing fog, or hallucination-inducing rain. You could have dust devils in an arid plateau that last for centuries because their stabilized by a nearby wellspring of magic (or something). Magic = endless possibilities.

While I think its an overly simple way of doing it (more accurately, my inner storyboard artist is loathe to accept it), we'll tentatively codename the fantasy world "Rathe" or something--your choice. I'd prefer to keep this creative momentum going than for me to start nitpicking names, so I'm discarding my apprehension for now. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up liking it later!

- As for weather, I completely agree with your assessment. While it may be nice to get the technical stuff out of the way first, its likely better to leave a good majority of it open to interpretation. Just like in real life, there often isn't one true answer. Unless you want to wax philosophical for awhile, it's probably best just to do a rough outline of known traits and leave the rest to roleplaying or future discussions. Otherwise there won't be much of a mystery left to explore!

- So we've settled for automatic translation of bodies, common knowledge, and basic language then. Cool. That makes thing mega-convenient.

- Since D&D has a fairly elegant way of explaining these sorts of shenanigans, I'll offer the following for further discussion:
Coterminality
Both worlds exist within the same space and only a thin existential boundary sits between them. In some places this boundary is thin and weak, enough that the reality from one world bleeds over into the other, creating a "coterminus" point of contact between them. These windows or gates to another world can be permanent or temporary, or have specific conditions for passing through them; some may only allow travel in one destination, so you could from Earth to Rathe, but not return.

In context, it would simply mean that our heroes and others like them, have the ability to travel across this boundary because of their special trait. There may also be a prerequisite that the boundary must have been weak in the first place, so the real ability being put to use is one where our heroes can tear holes in the thinner spots. Then conflicting realities on either side correct the anomaly and patch the holes, like a wall or veil that can self-repair.

Thus, getting swept away by cherry blossoms is really an instance of our heroes being in the right place at the right time when Rathe(?) bleeds over into Earth. They fall through to the other side because the rule dictating they must die first doesn't apply.
A cosmic accident you might say, but one that enlightens our heroes to how much grander (and ostensibly stranger) their worlds really are.

The world our heroes occupy will correct/rewrite their existence (so body, clothes, knowledge, language, etc) enough to fit the reality of that world.

And that's all the technical bits you'd have to cover without getting into technobabble and hair-splitting.

- As for the singularity event, the consequence of reaching it in either world could be very catastrophic. But it's only dangerous because the rapid advancements in magic and technology outpace a human's understanding of what's going on. So humans (or some fantasy species) may rise to the challenge while others are consumed by the inexorable tides of change. It's very Darwinian.

The question becomes "will civilization, as our heroes know it, survive the transition"? Probably not, but answering this question, and a lot of the moral baggage that comes with it, will probably be the driving force behind characters' actions and agendas.

So... things like:
Is allowing the singularity to happen worth the risk is poses to both worlds?
Would it be better to undermine it until <insert dominant race> can more easily handle the transition? If so, when is the right time?
How would it be possible to even assess the risk or, for that matter, develop any kind of expectations of the resulting environment?
How different will the Earth and Rathe(?) be?
Do I want this to happen?
Will I forestall or hasten its arrival?

The difference in beliefs and the ambiguity of the outcome would cause the enlightened souls who realize what's happening to separate into different cults of belief. Some these groups may be at odds. So instead of good and evil, its more shades of grey. How the agents of these groups conduct their activities casts them in a more righteous or malevolent light.
Do the ends justify the means? Who is goal is more noble or more right, when no one knows what the inevitable outcome? The bickering is over speculation of a perceived threat. But is that the right way to think about it? May their is no "right" answer.

So for example, maybe an agent does endanger our heroes loved ones because, to the agent, his/her own loved ones would be at risk, if s/he didn't. Maybe the agent is a fanatic knuckle-dragger incapable of thinking for himself. That makes the agent more pitiable than irredeemable, doesn't it? What if all options suck, but one of them must still be chosen?

Clearly distinguishing good and evil can make things easy, but doing so often denies the rich and intriguing human aspect its due time in the spotlight. There will always be extremists, but I'd be hard-pressed to say these groups, despite their alien beliefs, wouldn't have at least a few down-to-earth(/down-to-rathe?) average joes along for the ride.

- I like your factions idea. Though in following my earlier premise, you could also categorize them as heroes, singularity supporters, and singularity opposition. Or... to give them a little more flare "Awakened", "Singularity Seekers", and "Samsaran Collective"... I guess... *shrugs*

- We're definitely in agreement there. Once we determine the basics, we're ready for play. Everything else is left a mystery on purpose, so there's a story to unravel along the way.

- I don't expect Earth to be forgotten so easily. When you experience something new for the first time, isn't it typical to compare it a previous experience? That's usually how people develop an understanding of feelings, events, etc. right? Well... If our characters only real memories are those of earth, even with newly granted knowledge of magical beings and forces via translation, the comparison will still be to previous experience had on earth.
So I'd expect memories of earth and their lives their to constantly be hanging in their minds throughout the whole adventure. How can one forget their past so effortlessly?

So made an OoC here. I figured you were busy with essays, and I had some free time. It just kinda happened.
Good luck with your classes btw~

@BurningDaisies Thanks! I just finished my second essay yesterday so I could have Sunday to myself. I already have to plan for two 8 page essays since they're both due at the same time, lest I end up going crazy...ahem. I'll go to the OOC now, thanks again for making it.