“Apocalypse has come and gone. We're just grubbing in the ashes” ~Samuel Delany
The Beginning of the End
Talk of “life as we know it” coming to a halt. We’ve heard it all of our lives, through generations far before our own. At the first sign of hardship, one can always find those who claim judgement day has come forth. Like the boy who cried wolf, we merely brush it off, time and time again. What happens when the shouts quit becoming lies? When we can’t brush off the rumors any longer or deny the facts?
It didn’t come like the stories Hollywood always painted; it didn't slap us in the face. To those on the outside, common civilians, it was nothing more than another odd virus, making itself known where it was not wanted. We were as oblivious as if it were just another strain of the H1N1, or perhaps the Covid-19, coming to claim immune systems with its advanced infection. The virus acted like other flus; it was airborne (seemingly passed through droplets), and you either caught it or not, unless the bodily fluids came into direct contact, therefore obviously catching it. There seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary with the symptoms: there was nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, a sore throat, and watery eyes. Hundreds flocked to the hospital in search for a cure, but when doctors examined the patients, they learned the virus had adapted, evolved. By molding it’s RNA to that of its host cell, there was nothing to be done, attacking the immune system, making the body all the more susceptible to its needs. Essentially, it could not be cured.
When it first happened, everything and everyone was surrounded with chaos. No one knew what was going on, they only saw people leaving the hospitals covered in blood, biting someone, and then moving onto another target. Of course onlookers chose not to stay around to find out what exactly was happening, figuring it was a crazy outbreak and that they needed to get home, lock all of the doors, and wait it out until the CDC came. They wouldn’t get infected. They were somehow above all of the madness and could simply ignore it until another handled the dirty business. An excellent plan right?
This wasn't something the CDC had any prior knowledge with though. The virus, while not killing its host, rather took over completely, swiping clean any emotions or compassion they once had and making them, for a better word, a zombie, without the part of being dead and rigor mortis setting in. To those not in this stage yet, but were still infected, a simple bite took 30 seconds to 3 minutes for this zombie-like state to set in. To those not infected, a bite could take anywhere from hours to days. Seeing as these hosts aren't official zombies, they still have basic needs, such as eating. While the main goal of the virus is to simply bite and move on, if it senses its host is wearing down, the virus will have the host eat parts of it victims, making the transition for that victim happen much quicker. They will likely scavenge on real food as well, in order to obtain the appropriate nutrients, though the action itself will be much like a starved animal. Where this extra subsistence comes from is irrelevant.
These Hosts are not completely idiotic though. As stated before, the virus adapts, learns, and evolves. Instead of shuffling after victims, they travel in nomadic packs. If a victim is traveling in a two-way ally and a group of Hosts will break off into two, one half staying and charging the host, the other going around and blocking the escape route for the victim. Instead of clawing at glass to break in, they will find pipes, large rocks, and other things to break the glass. However, they do have their faults. The Hosts have bad hearing, therefore they go after anything they see that moves. Of course once the Hosts sees that it isn't prey it will stop in its course of action, but if someone throws a can in its line of sight or, say, has a laser pointer, it will temporarily confuse and distract the Host long enough for the prey to have a chance to escape.
As you probably guessed, the town was put on lockdown and quarantined. Instead of trying to fight the Hosts and save the few non-infected civilians, military placed themselves around the town so no one, or nothing, could escape, leaving the few "alive' civilians to defend themselves. Of course there are those few soldiers who felt sorry for the civilians and disobeyed orders, going to help them. Many stayed by their posts, waiting it out unit they were given orders to go in and kill anything that moved before blocking off the city completely. The other half began working on the Barrier, a large, steel fence with a concrete bottom and barbwire at the top, surrounding the entire city, a feeble hope of containing the virus. When the Barrier was complete word finally came through that major cities throughout the world were having large breakouts; hope for containment was shattered. Thus the military called off their efforts.
The Ashes left Behind:
The walls meant to contain inevitably became a fortress overtime as the remaining humans fought back and reclaimed the area for a illusion of a sanctuary. Only stories past down through generations remain. Raised in the shadow of the wall, leaving the sanctity of the hold is forbidden for those under the age of 21. Nonetheless, many find themselves sneaking out for various reasons: food, to seek those who are lost, or simply for the adrenaline rush. Rules are often forgotten in the sting of a hungered stomach, and the meager rations provided by the small city council is not enough. No longer under the protection of governmental forces, the wall, homes, and way of life was left to be up-kept by the remaining survivors. Electricity is not readily available during the day, though their are exceptions. During some nights, rolling blackouts will occur if suspicious activity seems to be occurring on the other side of the wall. Not all seeking entrance are so kind. The wall itself is weaker in some places, though those running the small town would like its citizens to believe it is impenetrable. For this reason, groups of the infected sometimes find their way inside. One must always be on their guard as not to fall victim. "Safety" is a facade.
Welcome to Paradise Falls
The Council The Council consists of the leader of each of the main roles: Military, Wakers, Keepers, Reapers, and a member voted by the entirety of the population. There are five members in total to prevent deadlocks during voting on policies or for the expansion/well being of the city. Any curfews, shortages, or management of resources is first passed through the Council. They potentially have access to all the information in each division. These members may respect each other outwardly but every closet has its share of skeletons.
Local Militia The local militia consist of ex-military members who abandoned their posts during the fallout. They then proceeded to help establish a militia and train the decedents of the leaders of it today. The militia has the benefit of authority. They are permitted to carry forbidden weapons and have access to every location within the Core. This role tends to attract two types of people: those dedicated to the patriotism, balance, and well being of all or those who lead by power and know this is survival of the fittest.
Wakers The Wakers are the workman class who maintain the water filtration factory. They also maintain the irrigation system for the Fields. They receive the benefits of not being limited by water shortages. They also maintain the food supply and frequently reap the higher quality produce. Their position in power over a major resource proves with a weightier respect for opinions on policies by the council.
Keepers The Keepers are the humble worker’s class who maintain the day-to-day activities of the city. They maintain the library, plaza grounds, and provide education to the upcoming generations. The benefit to this class is knowledge. The Keepers have more accessibility to the council headquarters and several members have accessibility to documents/books that otherwise are only known to the council. They have the benefit of being a needle in a needle stack. Many government and facial informants come from this class.
Reapers The Reapers are the officially recognized group of scouts who adventure new areas and go for supply runs while mapping out safe routes and notating any areas nomadic zombies are found. Anyone in this group must be at least 21 years of age, no exceptions are made. They are safer than the group below and meticulously plan between raids. The cargo is obtained by honor code and anything of meaningful value is to be shared between the group (such as ammo, medications, supplies); nevertheless, any weapons or sentimental items found along the way belong to the person who found them. Smuggling restricted goods (explosives, military equipment, medications for purpose of inebriation) is handled within the ranks but will be disposed of. Though Reapers are suspicious of conspiracy within the local government they tend to stick to their own and not outwardly show resistance.
Rogues The Rouges are is another group of scouts, on the Council’s radar but members maintain anonymity. This results from them being willing to trade or be paid for raids specifically to dangerous areas or for items including those of restricted goods. The leader of the Rouges mutually respects that of the Reapers, but their values differ. Rouges believe spoils go to the person who finds them or is strong enough to take them. This results in minor spats between members. Severe injury of a member is forbidden, and expulsion or repercussions will occur if caught. They age limit is reduced 16 permitted you aren't a dumb-ass. Members do not care for the Council or government and focus on the results of the faction.
When outside of the city walls it is always possible to run into stray humans or zombies. It is best to remember who you want to trust. There are no laws beyond the walls.
After the fallout and initial pushback of the city outwards, an electricity system needed to be established to maintain society. Many of the previous newbuild suburban development areas have been stripped of the solar panels that were once upon the rooftops. The functional panels are now located along the rooftops of the inner-city extending outwards, stopping at the edge of the Core. Electricity is more available in the Core during the day. Beyond this area electricity is only available at night with rolling blackouts depending on the reserves from the day or if nomadic swarms of Zombies come through. Weather does not affect production much; however, in the winter snow or leaves must be removed which falls under the Keepers. These areas are heavily guarded by the local militia; getting caught climbing solar panel rooftops or attempting to cause harm to them in any way is punishable by expulsion.
The original cities water filtration plant is still running, via the grid, and is up-kept by the Wakers. The original city was a groundwater city with available underground river systems. Nonetheless, due to the fear of limited resources water is also filtered from the Core to the Lanes. The remainder of the water is redirected to the Northern Fields where food is grown. Water use is determined by the seasons and rainwater is often stored for later use at the fields. If there is a drought the water pressure and availability is limited by hours announced via local radio/posted locally by the Council. Recreational use of water is not permitted; however, it is permitted for use on rooftop crops/food production for personal use.
Central Plaza The center-most location within the walls; the heart of the city. This area is where most of the homes are located. The city council building stands at the exact center and is where important matters are discussed by the Council, the local government. Due to being a populace main center and prime area of militant prevalence (due to locations of the panels, city library, and the church) it is also kept clean and well maintained by the Keepers.
City Library A large building with a collection of fiction and nonfiction books. Initially given little value, the information contained within proved invaluable during the early years. The nonfiction section of the library remains staffed, to protect the information within and keep track of the books that people take home, ensuring they are returned. The fiction sections are still well populated but there is no enforcement to return books checked out from that location. Classes are held within the old study hall areas. Though small, they have been growing since stability has become a comfort in Paradise Falls.
Church While there were once numerous churches of various denominations within the city in the past, once the walls went up and the population centralized the oldest cathedral northeast saw particular use. Now most Christians, as well as a few scattered religions, use the church as their place of worship, which rotates throughout the week. The other churches have largely fallen to ruin, as most fell in the outskirts, though several remain standing. The city ultimately decided to continue to use this one due to its safety in the Core.
The Lanes is the immediate area outside of the central plaza. This area is less frequented by military forces and is a frequent place of socialization. Factions typically relieve stress at Deadman’s Respite, the local bar where alcohol ranges from cheap brew to whatever has been scavenged from the outer raids. Information can be always be accessed for the right price. There is also Rotten Goods, a pawnshop of sorts run by the local gunsmith along with his trained mechanics, a family shop, where if it can’t be fixed it can surely be upcycled. More common ammo can be manufactured and returned casing for ammo such as 9mm will result in a discount. Scattered food stands and miscellaneous shops extend outward along the lanes. The factions that go beyond the walls find their headquarters in this area. They prefer it to the Core as militia has less meaning here and an honor code serves higher importance.
The further from the center of the city and the closer to the walls you go, the more dilapidated and damaged the infrastructure becomes. Most buildings near the walls are completely collapsed and after years of living in the city there are no further goods to be found in these areas. These were the primary sites of military intervention years ago. Nobody makes their homes out here, but youths often explore out of boredom. Occasionally, people attempt to find weaknesses in the walls to explore. This is seen as taboo and dangerous though due to increased risk of zombies penetrating the civilization within.
Rules: As the GM I expect you to respect both myself and any others who join this rp. No characters will be god-modded without permission. Any character can injure another HOWEVER the death of a character is based on the person who created it or determined by the gm. Be mindful this is an apocalyptic RP and your actions have consequences. Dismissive behavior to a dangerous situation could lead to your character being bitten, injured, or killed. If someone quits replying or is busy for several days then their character can be modded in the sake of keeping someone else from being stuck. All else is fair in love and war.
Name of Character
Nickname
Photo of Character with Brief Description underneath
Be as PTSD as you want. Those without trauma are weird.
|Society Role/Faction|
Brief Description of your place here. No lolligaggin
Inventory
Keep in mind you are not a body builder, armory, and you only have two hands. This is not some magical bag of everything and realistically you cannot carry an abundance of weapons or ammo. You will likely need rations, misc items (such as a flashlight, or items that can be used for decoys), and I would also recommend considering a non ammo weapon to carry as well. Bullets are limited supply. Consider if you have an ultra rare gun finding ammo will be harder.
Item A
Item B
Item C
Other:
Anything else important you want to add.
[center][i][h2][color=008000]Name of Character[/color][/h2][/i][/center] [center][b][color=008000]Nickname[/color][/b][/center] [center]Photo of Character with Brief Description underneath[/center] [center][i][h3][color=008000]|Age|Gender|[/color][/h3][/i][/center] [center][i][h2][color=008000]Personality[/color][/h2][/i][/center] [center][i][b][color=39b54a]|Positive Quality|[/color] [color=ed1c24]|Negative Quality|[/color] [color=39b54a]|Positive Quality|[/color] [color=ed1c24]|Negative Quality|[/color] [color=39b54a]|Positive Quality|[/color] [color=ed1c24]|Negative Quality|[/color][/b][/i][/center] [center]Description of Characters Basic Personality[/center] [center][i][h3][color=008000]|Motivations|[/color][/h3][/i][/center] [b][list] [*] Item A [*] Item B [*] Item C [/list][/b] [center][i][h2][color=008000]History[/color][/h2][/i][/center] [center]Be as PTSD as you want. Those without trauma are weird.[/center] [center][i][h3][color=008000]|Society Role/Faction|[/color][/h3][/i][/center] [center]Brief Description of your place here. No lolligaggin[/center] [center][i][h2][color=008000]Inventory[/color][/h2][/i][/center] [center]Keep in mind you are not a body builder, armory, and you only have two hands. This is not some magical bag of everything and realistically you cannot carry an abundance of weapons or ammo. You will likely need rations, misc items (such as a flashlight, or items that can be used for decoys), and I would also recommend considering a non ammo weapon to carry as well. Bullets are limited supply. Consider if you have an ultra rare gun finding ammo will be harder.[/center] [b][list] [*] Item A [*] Item B [*] Item C [/list][/b] [center][i][h2][color=008000]Other:[/color][/h2][/i][/center] [center]Anything else important you want to add.[/center]
@Izurich 90 percent of what we do is written. Where as some people are sticklers of anime vs real pictures I don't care. Whatever you want. All I care about is a well written sheet, a motivated character, and all of us having some fun!
People getting too caught up in everything else is what kills a Rp in my opinion.
@Izurich 90 percent of what we do is written. Where as some people are sticklers of anime vs real pictures I don't care. Whatever you want. All I care about is a well written sheet, a motivated character, and all of us having some fun!
People getting too caught up in everything else is what kills a Rp in my opinion.
You are right, yes, that's the logical way to go about it. I agree on all of your points, no arguments there.
Unfortunately, I'm among those "some people". :( And specifically, my reason for not preferring pictures of real life people have roots in one of my life principles, in which will be inconsiderate of me to elaborate here since it's deeply personal and emotional, thus will take lots of words to explain adequately.
Nevertheless, good luck with the RP, Howl and everyone! As I can see clear effort being put into this, the synopsis, background lore, and relevant worldbuilding details all packaged in easy-to-read sections. Very nice.
@Izurich Well no matter what your reason is I thank you for giving my rp a chance and for finding it fun to read all the same! I understand people come from all perspectives and though I may have a different perspective I respect your desire to stick to your principles. I hope whatever rp you partake in next is fun and long lived :)
Jack is an eccentric outcast who spends his time either studying alone or wandering the outskirts. He often speaks in a skittish and brazen manner particularly when it comes to things he considers 'within his expertise'. Although he will often stick to his own company or those who he considers close. He has a tendency to guard his ideas and thought processes close to himself. Jack will particularly avoid mentioning his goals around militia and similar enforcement. He has a continuing fear that any move he makes will result in negative repercussions for him somewhere down the line.
Jack is incredibly inquisitive and is dead set on perfecting his line of study. During his time in the library, he will read for hours on end. While he is out in the outskirts, he will be practising on the sparsely leftover electronics there. In a particular attic of a building there, he keeps his electrical equipment which he tests on at night.
[more TBD]
|Motivations|
Jack desires above all to find a method of bringing more power to Paradise Falls. He is willing to go beyond the walls to achieve this. Quite simply he will risk almost anything, except getting caught by militia.
He wants to prove himself and show that he was right all along. To do this, he must not show any of this to the government or militia. Doing so, at least in his mind, would result in him being kicked out of town before he can truly succeed.
He wants acceptance from his peers. Which due to his own mentality, he is convinced he must complete the first two beforehand.
History
Jack was raised in a stable and loving household. Both of his parents were Keepers and he particularly took to his father who was an electrical engineer. While this still remains largely the same, Jack is now increasingly distant from his parents due to events that happened 7 years ago.
When Jack was 12, his father took his into his work at the Grid. Seeing his son's passion for his line of work, Jack's father thought it would be a great idea to show him around the work site. Unfortunately, Jack's curiosity ruined it all. In his excitement 12-year-old Jack began climbing the solar panels and was caught by the militia. They couldn't force expulsion on to a 12-year-old especially when his father had an important part in maintaining the Grid. So instead, they banned him from ever coming close to the Grid. Failure to keep a distance would result in immediate expulsion. Jack looked to his father to defend him, only to receive no such defence.
Whether someone could view this as right or wrong, Jack in his developing mind saw it all as wrong. The power-hungry militia banned him because they were scared of improvement, his father was a coward who would just bow to their whims, and even the solar panels he looked at while up there were suboptimally assembled. While doubts of these thoughts would run through his mind occasionally, he has kept these ideas up until the present day.
Now he does most of his research in secret and only presents enough of it to scrape by in his position as a Keeper. While he is not a part of the Rogues properly, he exchanges free services for the ability to join their expeditions past the wall. Jack does not participate in the looting portion of it and is mainly interested in surveying the landscape for nearby power stations. But he is known to rip electronics out of the occasional car or other vehicles. He will also assess electrical loot pulled in from the Rogues. He will often try to trade for key tech, but freely assess the value of other pieces so the Rogues can sell them for a good market value.
|Society Role/Faction|
Jack is a Keeper by official trade, his speciality is electronics. He assists in helping others study in the profession. But his primary role is maintaining and developing electrical equipment around Paradise Falls, provided he maintains distance from the Grid.
Jack is not an official member of the Rogues, but he hangs out with them and commonly trades and exchanges services with them.
Inventory
Keep in mind you are not a body builder, armory, and you only have two hands. This is not some magical bag of everything and realistically you cannot carry an abundance of weapons or ammo. You will likely need rations, misc items (such as a flashlight, or items that can be used for decoys), and I would also recommend considering a non ammo weapon to carry as well. Bullets are limited supply. Consider if you have an ultra rare gun finding ammo will be harder.
A mask with night vision googles. He wishes to keep the mask on during expeditions.
A backpack full of electrical equipment. It contains practically every small tool he needs for on the go operations.
A small amount of bolas and knives wrapped around his belt.
Heavy work in progress. Still need a proper face claim. Might make a supporting Rogue character if that's allowed.
I was hoping people would expand on all different types of factions, so that's perfect.
Unrelated I know J8cob is working on a character sheet but he has the manflu now. So take however long you need. I'll post a review whenever I'm updated that it's finished.
Aiden is a bit of an odd person and he's well aware of it. He's a bit twitchy and known to fly off the handle if someone gets under his skin, even in a teasing manner. He'll never get overly violent when this happens, but he's not above throwing punches if he thinks someone really deserves it. He's fairly blunt and doesn't care to beat around the bush when it comes to speaking his mind, whether it be about another person or a plan that has been made. He wants his opinions to be heard and will stand firm on what they are even if they may be incorrect. He tries to check himself as much as he can when it comes to this, but he finds it difficult to do so since he never got to speak his mind around his father without some sort of reprimand.
Despite this he is fiercely loyal and overprotective of the people that take the time to get past the odd quirks of his personality and he is willing to do most anything for those few people. He seeks out the approval of those above him, but he doesn't really know how to go about that properly other than fighting well and making himself useful.
He pays careful attention to people and situations, he's known to find someplace up high to perch and watch the goings on of the city, or the other Rogues, and his proclivity for collecting shiny items on raids gave him the nickname Crow by the other members of the faction. He's rather insightful and highly observant which makes him a useful strategist for raids and missions beyond the walls. He can pick out a dangerous location just by looking at a map or determine if two people will end up in a fight over loot before it even happens. Despite this natural skill he isn't super inclined to use it unless directly asked. He thinks it's a bit too much work to have to plan to that degree of detail when he just knows.
While some of the people in the Rogues see him as lazy and uncouth he has proven himself a valuable asset time and time again which has given him a bit of a pass with the folks in charge. He'll put in the work to keep himself in their good graces and the work he does do is lucrative for both the Rogues and the city. The drive to succeed and move up in the world is there, he just chooses not to use it unless prompted.
|Motivations|
Exploration: There's things beyond the walls and he knows it. He wants to see what they are and know how far away from the city he could really get.
Find purpose: Sure exploring outside the walls and having a roof over his head fulfills the basic wants of his life but he always feels that there's something lacking.
Prove himself: His father always had high expectations of him and even though his ambitions are somewhat lacking he still feels like he needs to prove himself to his father, even though he's dead.
History
Aiden didn't necessarily have a difficult childhood growing up, he grew up in The Core with his mother being a trusted Keeper and his father a well known Reaper. Both his parents cared for him a great deal, and he had the time of day to run free in the streets and do as he liked for the most part with no expectation; beyond the occasional class at the Library that was required by his mother of course. Unfortunately, she wasn't in the picture for more than 6 years of his life as she died of, not the zombie virus but, pneumonia. Some called that a mercy but Aiden only knew that his mother was gone and not coming back. He understood what death was, everyone in the city does, but that didn't make it any easier to handle and his father was of little help when it came to processing.
With the loss of his mother, his father went from caring to near a dictator and put all of his expectations on Aiden. Being a well known Reaper before his death, someone that was reliable, trust-worthy, and would do whatever it took to get the job done right, he was expected to follow that same path. Join the Reapers as well or the local militia, something that had an important role in society so he could brag about his son following in his footsteps or whatever else the man wanted. He started training Aiden how to use a gun, fight with knives and other blades, as well as basic medical skills that he could find useful. For a while Aiden enjoyed the training but as time went on his father got more and more fanatical and rough with him to the point of broken bones in some instances. Though when told "It's for your own good" it's hard to believe it's anything else at that age or that a parent has anything less than good intentions.
When he was 14 his father left on a mission outside the walls, just a standard supply run to get whatever they could from nearby locations, but either them, or the previous team, had missed a roving group of zombies and they ran right into them. The fight was quick and bloody but not quick enough to avoid his father getting bitten. The man decided to hide the wound, though he knew what it meant, and return to the city. Aiden questioned his father when he started to get sick, but got nothing more than a curt dismissal and order to keep quiet about it. When his father turned several days later he was the only one in the house and used the training he'd learned to kill the only remaining family he had before fleeing to the neighbors house and collapsing from shock covered in blood.
Once he came to he knew there was no way he could afford to live in his house and the neighbors couldn't afford to house another child. With nowhere else to go he spent the next couple years wandering the Lanes and The Outskirts doing whatever he needed to in order to survive. He mostly avoided people and stole what he couldn't get any other way. It was honestly a miracle he never got caught by the militia, but he managed it by keeping to the shadows and knowing the streets like the back of his hand. He spent that time not speaking and trying to process the loss of the only life he knew. It wasn't easy and the solitude did give him a few odd habits that he still hasn't shaken.
Once he hit the age of 16 he decided to join up with the Rogues with the intention of stepping into the role of a Reaper like his father when he hit the age of 21, but when that birthday came he decided he liked where he was too much to just up and leave. The Rogues gave him the freedom he wanted, but he still felt like he was honoring his father's wishes. Even with the way he was treated he didn't know anything else and the thought at least gave him something to focus on.
|Society Role/Faction|
Aidan has been a member of the Rogues since he was old enough to join. Despite being there for years he never wanted to take on a leadership role beyond what was expected of him. He likes being able to go outside the city walls and doesn't want to get saddled with bureaucracy or decision-making. He'll work with other people in the faction to make plans or help scout when asked, but most of the time he prefers to keep to himself.
The people within the faction know him well and know his skills when it comes to going out on raids, paid or no, he's just interested in exploring outside the walls. Offer him a job and he'll be on his feet in a heartbeat ready to go. Despite his quirks he's a reliable member to have watching your back, provided you don't find anything shiny, in that case all bets are off.
Inventory
Machete and knives: One of the few items that he took from the house, his father's machete that is well sharpened and kept in a leather sheath on his back. The knives belong to the same set and slot into places on the sheath that can be used for throwing or stabbing.
His mother's necklace and his father's ring. A simple leather cord with an arrow pendant hanging off of it. He keeps his father's ring on the same cord.
A small backpack that he can use to store food, a small first aid-kit, and any other minor items he might need without hindering his movement.
Other:
While Aiden is proficient in close quarters combat he is much happier fighting from a distance or just sneaking past any threats without engaging. If asks he says it's to avoid wasting time and resources, but in reality the act of killing a Host with a blade reminds him too much of killing his father.
Might add some additional stuff but overall it is finished
A tall, wide young man with a body built by labor. A strong, muscular body but not particularly lean, he clearly was well-fed in his upbringing. His hands are rough from using tools most his life but he has no noticeable scars. Though usually dressed in long-sleeves and jeans his arms and legs, when seen, are thick with hair.
Most would say that Nick is a good guy but perhaps a bit foolish. In a world where most people want comfort and safety above all else, Nick is one of the few that has both but is willing to give them up. He has a strong desire to explore the world outside the walls, though this isn't only to satisfy himself. He also believes that he could better serve the city and its people this way, protecting others who also venture out to scavenge. And he's not one to listen to naysayers that tell him otherwise. While it isn't quite a savior complex he certainly does like to think of himself as a protective big brother to his comrades, even though he hasn't done much protecting just yet. Being a Reaper is a very dangerous job that many never come back from, but Nick will make sure that everyone will make it home from now on.
|Motivations|
The dull life of a farmer simply isn't satisfying, so Nick desires to live a life of more variety that only being a Reaper could provide. Providing for the city while also giving himself adventures.
To protect the city and its people from the menaces beyond the walls. He will save every life he can.
Proving his parents wrong; proving that he can survive on his own merit and that he can serve Paradise Falls better his way rather than his parents' way.
History
Many people in Lanes and the Core think that growing up in the Northern Fields is an easy life. After all, Wakers effectively get unlimited access to clean water and farmers get access to premium crops. What they don't often think about is that the labor involved isn't exactly easy. Of course when it's your life you get used to it, just as Nicholas did. His parents were Wakers and he was raised to follow their footsteps exactly, growing produce for Paradise Falls year-round. The privileges it afforded were nice and life was overall pretty comfortable, but for young Nick that wasn't enough.
He simply wasn't content with spending his days playing in the dirt. And as he grew older he became more and more restless. What little free time he had he would visit the Core to try and read new books at the library. While the worlds of fantasy and mystery in the fiction section would be very entertaining he would ultimately have to spend the majority of his days in rigorous tedium in the fields. It was an unsatisfactory method of escape. When Nick had suggested to his parents that he should try joining the Reapers, to get a broader experience of life and to see outside the walls, he was given the most heated lecture he had ever received. He was the only son of the Hughes family, if he left the farm it would cause problems not just for his parents but ultimately it would affect the yield for the whole Fields. He was forbidden from leaving.
Not one to take "no" for an answer, Nick continued his visits to the library. Only now he began to frequent the nonfiction section, to learn what he could about the rest of the world. It was during one of these trips that Nick stumbled upon one of the leaders of the Reapers by pure happenstance. He explained his situation and garnered some sympathy, but he was told that ultimately it would be his choice what to do with his life. After Nick went home that night he put some thought into what he should do. Stay on the farm or follow his own dreams? It was funny in a way, living the very same trope he saw in so many stories in the library. In the end he made his choice.
Nick told his parents that he was joining the Reapers, much to their chagrin. The conversation was very loud and one-sided but Nick would not be swayed. After all, he could be replaced on the farm by taking in a new Waker to pick up his labor. There really wasn't any reasons left for him to stay beyond his safety, but Nick told them with a smile "don't worry about me, I'll be the one keeping us all safe." With that he packed up what few things he had and moved out. He found a new place to stay in the Lanes, somewhat near the Reapers' headquarters. It was a small apartment with communal bathrooms and heavy utility restrictions, completely unlike his home, but it was a necessary change. Within a few days he had joined the Reapers, and now Nick has been spending his time preparing for his first real excursion beyond the walls. He thinks he is ready, but only time will tell if he is brave or if he is a fool.
|Society Role/Faction|
Though raised as a Waker tending to the fields, Nick has recently joined the Reapers to begin venturing past the walls. His inexperience in his new role shows but he has been more than willing to learn the tricks of the trade. Should he wind up not cut out for the job he can always fall back on his lifelong skills as a farmer.
Inventory
Sig-Sauer P226, chambered in 9mm, that was given to Nick by the Reapers for defending himself outside the walls. He's had some practice with it. While he has a decent amount of ammunition he only has one magazine.
A wooden baseball bat, once used for play now intended for combat. Nick is much more familiar with this weapon and believes it will be quite effective in his hands thanks to his strength.
A raggedy backpack that was also given to Nick by the Reapers. Capable of holding a decent amount of stuff, but not all that much. It looks like it used to be orange before fading with time.
An aluminum canteen to be filled with water. Coming from a Waker family and living by the fields, Nick is used to having fresh, clean water and prefers to keep some with him when out and about.
Last but not least, Nick regularly keeps a rusted Swiss Army Knife on his person. It's seen decades of use but it hasn't fallen apart yet.
Jack is an eccentric outcast who spends his time either studying alone or wandering the outskirts. He often speaks in a skittish and brazen manner particularly when it comes to things he considers 'within his expertise'. Although he will often stick to his own company or those who he considers close, he has a tendency to guard his ideas and thought processes close to himself. Jack will particularly avoid mentioning his goals around militia and similar enforcement. He has a continuing fear that any move he makes will result in negative repercussions for him somewhere down the line.
Jack is incredibly inquisitive and is dead set on perfecting his line of study. During his time in the library, he will read for hours on end. While he is out in the outskirts, he will be practicing on the sparsely leftover electronics there. In a particular attic of a building there, he keeps his electrical equipment which he tests on at night. (An attic neet instead of a basement neet....sexy uwu. However, since most of the electrical equipment has been stripped is this like remains of things like microwaves, or an accumulation of rarer equipment from beyond the walls combined with it.)
[more TBD] Is this to be determined now or as the rp continues, just want to clarify if you're still working on it).
|Motivations|
Jack desires above all to find a method of bringing more power to Paradise Falls. He is willing to go beyond the walls to achieve this. Quite simply he will risk almost anything, except getting caught by militia.
He wants to prove himself and show that he was right all along. To do this, he must not show any of this to the government or militia. Doing so, at least in his mind, would result in him being kicked out of town before he can truly succeed.
He wants acceptance from his peers. Which due to his own mentality, he is convinced he must complete the first two beforehand.
History
Jack was raised in a stable and loving household. Both of his parents were Keepers and he particularly took to his father who was an electrical engineer. While this still remains largely the same, Jack is now increasingly distant from his parents due to events that happened 7 years ago.
When Jack was 12, his father took his into his work at the Grid. Seeing his son's passion for his line of work, Jack's father thought it would be a great idea to show him around the work site. Unfortunately, Jack's curiosity ruined it all. In his excitement 12-year-old Jack began climbing the solar panels and was caught by the militia. (You had one job, dont scale the grid lol) They couldn't force expulsion on to a 12-year-old especially when his father had an important part in maintaining the Grid. So instead, they banned him from ever coming close to the Grid. Failure to keep a distance would result in immediate expulsion. Jack looked to his father to defend him, only to receive no such defense.
Whether someone could view this as right or wrong, Jack in his developing mind saw it all as wrong. The power-hungry militia banned him because they were scared of improvement, his father was a coward who would just bow to their whims, and even the solar panels he looked at while up there were sub-optimally assembled. While doubts of these thoughts would run through his mind occasionally, he has kept these ideas up until the present day.
Now he does most of his research in secret and only presents enough of it to scrape by in his position as a Keeper. While he is not a part of the Rogues properly, he exchanges free services for the ability to join their expeditions past the wall. Jack does not participate in the looting portion of it and is mainly interested in surveying the landscape for nearby power stations. But he is known to rip electronics out of the occasional car or other vehicles. He will also assess electrical loot pulled in from the Rogues. He will often try to trade for key tech, but freely assess the value of other pieces so the Rogues can sell them for a good market value.
|Society Role/Faction|
Jack is a Keeper by official trade, his specialty is electronics. He assists in helping others study in the profession. But his primary role is maintaining and developing electrical equipment around Paradise Falls, provided he maintains distance from the Grid.(So we've leveled up from forks in outlets, nice.)
Jack is not an official member of the Rogues, but he hangs out with them and commonly trades and exchanges services with them.
Inventory
Keep in mind you are not a body builder, armory, and you only have two hands. This is not some magical bag of everything and realistically you cannot carry an abundance of weapons or ammo. You will likely need rations, misc items (such as a flashlight, or items that can be used for decoys), and I would also recommend considering a non ammo weapon to carry as well. Bullets are limited supply. Consider if you have an ultra rare gun finding ammo will be harder.Remove previous prior to completion
A mask with night vision googles. He wishes to keep the mask on during expeditions. Since masks are powered by batteries I am assuming he has some rechargeable ones he keeps onhand
A backpack full of electrical equipment. It contains practically every small tool he needs for on the go operations.
A small amount of bolas and knives wrapped around his belt.
Other:
Anything else important you want to add.
I fixed a couple of grammatical errors. Overall, I really like where this character is headed. Just clarify if you're putting more in personality and the few spots I pointed out. Also he can be a keeper and a rogue since many of the rogue characters are unknown or have an alias. Thank you^_^
|Observant| |Hot-headed| |Resilient| |Materialistic| |Confident|We have a lot of confident characters. What could go wrong muhaha. |Stubborn|
Aiden is a bit of an odd person and he's well aware of it. He's a bit twitchy and known to fly off the handle if someone gets under his skin, even in a teasing manner. This kids a school shooterHe'll never get overly violent shit nevermindwhen this happens, but he's not above throwing punches if he thinks someone really deserves it. He's fairly blunt and doesn't care to beat around the bush when it comes to speaking his mind, whether it be about another person or a plan that has been made. He and Dee will get along fine.He wants his opinions to be heard and will stand firm on what they are even if they may be incorrect. He tries to check himself as much as he can when it comes to this, but he finds it difficult to do so since he never got to speak his mind around his father without some sort of reprimand.
Despite this he is fiercely loyal and overprotective of the people that take the time to get past the odd quirks of his personality and he is willing to do most anything for those few people. He seeks out the approval of those above him, but he doesn't really know how to go about that properly other than fighting well and making himself useful.
He pays careful attention to people and situations, he's known to find someplace up high to perch and watch the goings on of the city, or the other Rogues, and his proclivity for collecting shiny items on raids gave him the nickname Crow by the other members of the faction. He's rather insightful and highly observant which makes him a useful strategist for raids and missions beyond the walls. He can pick out a dangerous location just by looking at a map or determine if two people will end up in a fight over loot before it even happens. Im getting Thats So Raven Vietnam flashbacks.Despite this natural skill he isn't super inclined to use it unless directly asked. He thinks it's a bit too much work to have to plan to that degree of detail when he just knows.
While some of the people in the Rogues see him as lazy and uncouth he has proven himself a valuable asset time and time again which has given him a bit of a pass with the folks in charge. Thats what you think (;. He'll put in the work to keep himself in their good graces and the work he does do is lucrative for both the Rogues and the city. The drive to succeed and move up in the world is there, he just chooses not to use it unless prompted.
|Motivations|
Exploration: There's things beyond the walls and he knows it. He wants to see what they are and know how far away from the city he could really get.
Find purpose: Sure exploring outside the walls and having a roof over his head fulfills the basic wants of his life but he always feels that there's something lacking.
Prove himself: His father always had high expectations of him and even though his ambitions are somewhat lacking he still feels like he needs to prove himself to his father, even though he's dead. Can someone say daddy issues?
History
Aiden didn't necessarily have a difficult childhood growing up, he grew up in The Core with his mother being a trusted Keeper and his father a well known Reaper. Both his parents cared for him a great deal, and he had the time of day to run free in the streets and do as he liked for the most part with no expectation; beyond the occasional class at the Library that was required by his mother of course. Unfortunately, she wasn't in the picture for more than 6 years of his life as she died of, not the zombie virus but, pneumonia Rip.. Some called that a mercy but Aiden only knew that his mother was gone and not coming back. He understood what death was, everyone in the city does, but that didn't make it any easier to handle and his father was of little help when it came to processing.
With the loss of his mother, his father went from caring to near a dictator and put all of his expectations on Aiden. Being a well known Reaper before his death, someone that was reliable, trust-worthy, and would do whatever it took to get the job done right, he was expected to follow that same path. Join the Reapers as well or the local militia, something that had an important role in society so he could brag about his son following in his footsteps or whatever else the man wanted. He started training Aiden how to use a gun, fight with knives and other blades Just parent things~, as well as basic medical skills But he couldnt figure out his wife had pna? Oofthat he could find useful. For a while Aiden enjoyed the training but as time went on his father got more and more fanatical and rough with him to the point of broken bones in some instancesWhich bones and does this still affect him?. Though when told "It's for your own good" it's hard to believe it's anything else at that age or that a parent has anything less than good intentions.
When he was 14 his father left on a mission outside the walls, just a standard supply run to get whatever they could from nearby locations, but either them, or the previous team, had missed a roving group of zombies and they ran right into them. The fight was quick and bloody but not quick enough to avoid his father getting bitten. The man decided to hide the wound, though he knew what it meant, and return to the city. Aiden questioned his father when he started to get sick, but got nothing more than a curt dismissal and order to keep quiet about it. When his father turned several days later he was the only one in the house and used the training he'd learned to kill the only remaining family he had before fleeing to the neighbors house and collapsing from shock covered in blood.
Once he came to he knew there was no way he could afford to live in his house and the neighbors couldn't afford to house another child. With nowhere else to go he spent the next couple years wandering the Lanes and The Outskirts doing whatever he needed to in order to survive. He mostly avoided people and stole what he couldn't get any other way. It was honestly a miracle he never got caught by the militia, but he managed it by keeping to the shadows and knowing the streets like the back of his hand. He spent that time not speaking and trying to process the loss of the only life he knew. It wasn't easy and the solitude did give him a few odd habits that he still hasn't shaken.
Once he hit the age of 16 he decided to join up with the Rogues with the intention of stepping into the role of a Reaper like his father when he hit the age of 21, but when that birthday came he decided he liked where he was too much to just up and leave. The Rogues gave him the freedom he wanted, but he still felt like he was honoring his father's wishes. Even with the way he was treated he didn't know anything else and the thought at least gave him something to focus on.
|Society Role/Faction|
Aidan has been a member of the Rogues since he was old enough to join. Despite being there for years he never wanted to take on a leadership role beyond what was expected of him. He likes being able to go outside the city walls and doesn't want to get saddled with bureaucracy or decision-makingRun from responsibilities my man.. He'll work with other people in the faction to make plans or help scout when asked, but most of the time he prefers to keep to himself.
The people within the faction know him well and know his skills when it comes to going out on raids, paid or no, he's just interested in exploring outside the walls. Offer him a job and he'll be on his feet in a heartbeat ready to go. Despite his quirks he's a reliable member to have watching your back, provided you don't find anything shiny, in that case all bets are off.
Inventory
Machete and knives: One of the few items that he took from the house, his father's machete that is well sharpened and kept in a leather sheath on his back. The knives belong to the same set and slot into places on the sheath that can be used for throwing or stabbing.
His mother's necklace and his father's ring. A simple leather cord with an arrow pendant hanging off of it. He keeps his father's ring on the same cord.Hopefully he cleaned off the blood first.
A small backpack that he can use to store food, a small first aid-kit, and any other minor items he might need without hindering his movement.
Other:
While Aiden is proficient in close quarters combat he is much happier fighting from a distance or just sneaking past any threats without engaging. If asks he says it's to avoid wasting time and resources, but in reality the act of killing a Host with a blade reminds him too much of killing his father.
Smart tbh
Might add some additional stuff but overall it is finished
Alrighty, I reviewed it and you are good to add it to the character sheet when you're ready. I can definitely see his confidence and addiction to shiny things getting him in trouble later. But that's perfect.
My review in red I am also overall finished, or so.
Nicholas Hughes
Nick
A tall, wide young man with a body built by labor. A strong, muscular body but not particularly lean, he clearly was well-fed in his upbringing. His hands are rough from using tools most his life but he has no noticeable scars. Though usually dressed in long-sleeves and jeans his arms and legs, when seen, are thick with hair.Sasquatch confirmed.
|25|Male|
Personality
|Confident|(arent we all) |Naive| |Focused| |Narrow-Sighted| |Protective| |Impulsive|
Most would say that Nick is a good guy but perhaps a bit foolish. In a world where most people want comfort and safety above all else, Nick is one of the few that has both but is willing to give them up. He has a strong desire to explore the world outside the walls, though this isn't only to satisfy himself. He also believes that he could better serve the city and its people this way, protecting others who also venture out to scavenge. And he's not one to listen to naysayers that tell him otherwise. While it isn't quite a savior complex he certainly does like to think of himself as a protective big brother to his comradesCommunism?, even though he hasn't done much protecting just yet. Being a Reaper is a very dangerous job that many never come back from, but Nick will make sure that everyone will make it home from now on.Thats what you think.
|Motivations|
The dull life of a farmer simply isn't satisfying, so Nick desires to live a life of more variety that only being a Reaper could provide. Providing for the city while also giving himself adventures.
To protect the city and its people from the menaces beyond the walls. He will save every life he can.
Proving his parents wrong; proving that he can survive on his own merit and that he can serve Paradise Falls better his way rather than his parents' way.
History
Many people in Lanes and the Core think that growing up in the Northern Fields is an easy life. After all, Wakers effectively get unlimited access to clean water and farmers get access to premium crops.This nibba eating beans. What they don't often think about is that the labor involved isn't exactly easy. Of course when it's your life you get used to it, just as Nicholas did. His parents were Wakers and he was raised to follow their footsteps exactly, growing produce for Paradise Falls year-round. The privileges it afforded were nice and life was overall pretty comfortable, but for young Nick that wasn't enough.
He simply wasn't content with spending his days playing in the dirt. And as he grew older he became more and more restless. What little free time he had he would visit the Core to try and read new books at the library. While the worlds of fantasy and mystery in the fiction section would be very entertaining he would ultimately have to spend the majority of his days in rigorous tedium in the fields.Liar you were reading 50 shades of gray It was an unsatisfactory method of escape. When Nick had suggested to his parents that he should try joining the Reapers, to get a broader experience of life and to see outside the walls, he was given the most heated lecture he had ever received. He was the only son of the Hughes family, if he left the farm it would cause problems not just for his parents but ultimately it would affect the yield for the whole Fields. He was forbidden from leaving.
Not one to take "no" for an answerYIKES, Nick continued his visits to the library. Only now he began to frequent the nonfiction section, to learn what he could about the rest of the world. It was during one of these trips that Nick stumbled upon one of the leaders of the Reapers by pure happenstance. He explained his situation and garnered some sympathy, but he was told that ultimately it would be his choice what to do with his life. After Nick went home that night he put some thought into what he should do. Stay on the farm or follow his own dreams? It was funny in a way, living the very same trope he saw in so many stories in the library. In the end he made his choice.
Nick told his parents that he was joining the Reapers, much to their chagrin. The conversation was very loud and one-sided but Nick would not be swayed. After all, he could be replaced on the farm by taking in a new Waker to pick up his labor. There really wasn't any reasons left for him to stay beyond his safety, but Nick told them with a smile "don't worry about me, I'll be the one keeping us all safe." With that he packed up what few things he had and moved out. He found a new place to stay in the Lanes, somewhat near the Reapers' headquarters. It was a small apartment with communal bathrooms and heavy utility restrictions, completely unlike his home, but it was a necessary change. Within a few days he had joined the Reapers, and now Nick has been spending his time preparing for his first real excursion beyond the walls. He thinks he is ready, but only time will tell if he is brave or if he is a fool.
|Society Role/Faction|
Though raised as a Waker tending to the fields, Nick has recently joined the ReapersRIP Beans to begin venturing past the walls. His inexperience in his new role shows but he has been more than willing to learn the tricks of the trade. Should he wind up not cut out for the job he can always fall back on his lifelong skills as a farmer.
Inventory
Sig-Sauer P226, chambered in 9mm, that was given to Nick by the Reapers for defending himself outside the walls. He's had some practice with it. While he has a decent amount of ammunition he only has one magazine.always leave one bullet just in case.
A wooden baseball bat, once used for play now intended for combat. Nick is much more familiar with this weapon and believes it will be quite effective in his hands thanks to his strength. Wood can break easy, maybe consider metal?
A raggedy backpack that was also given to Nick by the Reapers. Capable of holding a decent amount of stuff, but not all that much. It looks like it used to be orange before fading with time.
An aluminum canteen to be filled with water. Coming from a Waker family and living by the fields, Nick is used to having fresh, clean water Prissand prefers to keep some with him when out and about.
Last but not least, Nick regularly keeps a rusted Swiss Army Knife on his person. It's seen decades of use but it hasn't fallen apart yet.
Other:
N/A
Overall a really good sheet. I like the strong morals and am glad you ventured out with a Reaper. I look forward to working with him. You can move him to the character sheet after you've read my review.
-Sorry about the grammar, it was made quickly. Although, the majority of them are just differences between regular English and American English.
-The attic equipment is a mix of whatever he can find. There's a reasonably impressive collection now
-Took away the TBD for personality, I feel like you get the rest of his personality in the backstory section anyway. Plus I'm someone who likes to develop personality during writing
-I am going to still say he isn't part of the Rogues. Despite being basically a Rogue, it speaks to his paranoia that he never officially becomes a part of them
Jack is an eccentric outcast who spends his time either studying alone or wandering the outskirts. He often speaks in a skittish and brazen manner particularly when it comes to things he considers 'within his expertise'. Although he will often stick to his own company or those who he considers close, he has a tendency to guard his ideas and thought processes close to himself. Jack will particularly avoid mentioning his goals around militia and similar enforcement. He has a continuing fear that any move he makes will result in negative repercussions for him somewhere down the line.
Jack is incredibly inquisitive and is dead set on perfecting his line of study. During his time in the library, he will read for hours on end. While he is out in the outskirts, he will be practicing on the sparsely leftover electronics there. In a particular attic of a building there, he keeps his electrical equipment which he tests on at night.
|Motivations|
Jack desires above all to find a method of bringing more power to Paradise Falls. He is willing to go beyond the walls to achieve this. Quite simply he will risk almost anything, except getting caught by militia.
He wants to prove himself and show that he was right all along. To do this, he must not show any of this to the government or militia. Doing so, at least in his mind, would result in him being kicked out of town before he can truly succeed.
He wants acceptance from his peers. Which due to his own mentality, he is convinced he must complete the first two beforehand.
History
Jack was raised in a stable and loving household. Both of his parents were Keepers and he particularly took to his father who was an electrical engineer. While this still remains largely the same, Jack is now increasingly distant from his parents due to events that happened 7 years ago.
When Jack was 12, his father took his into his work at the Grid. Seeing his son's passion for his line of work, Jack's father thought it would be a great idea to show him around the work site. Unfortunately, Jack's curiosity ruined it all. In his excitement 12-year-old Jack began climbing the solar panels and was caught by the militia. They couldn't force expulsion on to a 12-year-old especially when his father had an important part in maintaining the Grid. So instead, they banned him from ever coming close to the Grid. Failure to keep a distance would result in immediate expulsion. Jack looked to his father to defend him, only to receive no such defense.
Whether someone could view this as right or wrong, Jack in his developing mind saw it all as wrong. The power-hungry militia banned him because they were scared of improvement, his father was a coward who would just bow to their whims, and even the solar panels he looked at while up there were sub-optimally assembled. While doubts of these thoughts would run through his mind occasionally, he has kept these ideas up until the present day.
Now he does most of his research in secret and only presents enough of it to scrape by in his position as a Keeper. While he is not a part of the Rogues properly, he exchanges free services for the ability to join their expeditions past the wall. Jack does not participate in the looting portion of it and is mainly interested in surveying the landscape for nearby power stations. But he is known to rip electronics out of the occasional car or other vehicles. He will also assess electrical loot pulled in from the Rogues. He will often try to trade for key tech, but freely assess the value of other pieces so the Rogues can sell them for a good market value.
|Society Role/Faction|
Jack is a Keeper by official trade, his specialty is electronics. He assists in helping others study in the profession. But his primary role is maintaining and developing electrical equipment around Paradise Falls, provided he maintains distance from the Grid.
Jack is not an official member of the Rogues, but he hangs out with them and commonly trades and exchanges services with them.
Inventory
A mask with night vision googles. He wishes to keep the mask on during expeditions. Rechargeable batteries for it are kept in his backpack.
A backpack full of electrical equipment. It contains practically every small tool he needs for on the go operations.
A small amount of bolas and knives wrapped around his belt.
@Th3King0fChaos No. I was thinking its been about 100 years or so. So it's possible that an adult now had a grandparent who's parents told them stories. No one living though.
@Jumbus You can move him over to the character sheet ^-^ and no worries on the grammar. I was raised in Louisiana before moving to Texas and that state is not known for its English lol. I just noticed while I was reading. I promise I'm not a grammar Nazi or a stickler on it. I just need to be able to read it.
