Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Astarael42
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Astarael42

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Looking for 1-2 committed players to join us as we delve into the paranormal, mysteries, and secrets of Prague.

Dracula, Frankenstein, Edgar Allen Poe. Nothing is so great as the classics, and this story is about a traditional Gothic horror. Dark thrilling mystery, the macabre, a secret society, Nobility, the demimonde, psychic talents, and common place skills. It will all come to play in this story.

Our story begins in the 1800's in the old and complex city of Prague. The dual monarchy is established but the war has yet to begin. The christian church is establishing a strong foothold in the area, and consigning the old pagan ways to secrecy and fading them from the public eye. Yet despite all this push for Christianity, paranormal abilities are all the rage. You can find a séance any day of the week, a hypnotist on every street, and half-a-dozen mediums in any particular crowd of people. Society adores these paranormal practitioners; a party isn't a party if it doesn't have a séance or a display of mind reading. Mediums and Mind-Readers are all frauds, tricksters. As are the bulk of the mesmerists, crystal workers, and spiritualists. Con artists using a paranormal front as a con. But occasionally there are a few that have a genuine psychic talent using their skills in such a manner to con and deceive as well. Or blackmail. Or worse.

Science is also on the rise, but it is not truly trendy, or understood yet. Chemists, astronomers, and anatomists are rare but growing in popularity. Most are considered eccentric, a polite word for weird, but this is a time of change and science is beginning to come into its own.

The city is old, and full of history as well as progress. By the river dwell the lower classes, and the rogues of the thriving underworld of the city. As one moves from the river, up the hill, the classes change, shifting to the tradesmen, and finally the nobility. Vivid and lively the city has all the richness and vices of any great city along side the parties, the society, and the growth of a rapidly approaching the industrial age. Electricity has just come to the city, unreliable but fashionable. More industrial inventions will not be far behind. The class structure defines almost everything. Nobility generally care only about their own; others are beneath their notice. Even tradesmen are considered low, despite the fact the nobility rely on their trade. Only the most exclusive businesses, those that are considered fashionable and “in” are considered of any import to the high nobility. But those of lower social standing often cross paths with one another in course of day to day life.

In the thickest forests on the edge of the city dwells House Ianus. A vast manor that is the secret home for the Ianus Congreatio. In the Ware family for many generations most folk assume it is nothing more than a huge manor belonging to old nobility but in fact it it is much more. Ancestral home for the Master of the Society he has turned the manor into a welcome abode for all of the society's members.

The underground is where the true treasure of the manor lies. Laced with complex corridors and rooms there are vault after vault of strange artifacts, libraries. Laboratories, and work spaces. It is here the society works to study, record, and catalog all things psychic. They debunk that which is fraudulent and study and analyze the genuine. In fact fraudulent claims of psychic practitioners is the one thing the Society despises above all; as do many of the individual members. As the presence of psychical practitioners is on the rise so too are strange mysteries, frauds, and criminals using psychic powers. Normal law enforcement can't begin to understand these threats and so the Society has taken on the job.

If interested you need to know this RP is not fast paced. I'm not even sure it can be considered slow paced. We are dedicated to the adventure and willing to wait, accept life happens, and never pressure folk to write a post. This means we are often a month between posts and it's not unheard of to go much longer. We have a discord room for communication to keep up whether its just to check if we are still interested and playing or ask questions or just say hi or just to check that things in the real world are going ok. It's not required that you join but its a great way to keep in touch. We are looking for 1-2 more players willing to stick with the story for the long haul, even if things go quiet for lengths of time. If you need regular constant posting and faced paced action this will probably not suit you.
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Humble1
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I am intrigued. Alas, I am not as familiar with Prague as I'd like to be. Is there anything I could read to prep myself?
Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Astarael42
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Nothing in particular but a map of Prague around 1890 would tell you most of everything you need to know to participate and glance at the myths & legends (things like the golem of Prague) of the area might also prove interesting but ultimately neither would be necessary and while traditional myths and gothic horror stories may unfold it won't be in the traditional manner. Knowledge of the history is not needed but an understanding of the attitudes of the times, towards science, and religon, and the paranormal, will be helpful. In short a penny dreadful of the victorian era would probably be as useful as anything giving a feel for the times (and probably more entertaining too).

Characters possess a genuine psychic Talent of some kind, my character for example has an innate knack for strategy, seeing patterns, and planning. Another has the ability of Psychometry. And the third active character has the ability of astral projection.

Please don't hesitate to ask any other questions you may have.
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