Paranormal. Research. Investigation. Eradication. Syndicate.
Welcome to the city of Baylor, named after some British lord several hundred years ago, but the city exists in a fictional eastern region of the United States along the coast. The city is rather gothic even in the day, and the people of Baylor are known to be a unique people not found anywhere else. They dress in dark colors and most of them are pale in complexion. They carry a dark humor and there are holidays and festivals that spawn from this place that aren't celebrated anywhere else. The city, likewise, is unique for unbeknownst to the Humans that reside there it was built on a Gate. This isn't just any gate. It is a gateway to Hell. The malevolent energy that exudes from the gate is the source of the crime rate in Baylor being so high, and the corruption of the entities of justice who are supposed to defend and protect. While The Syndicate doesn't entirely deal with public affairs and domestic crime, it does deal in the things the people of Baylor do not know.
The Paranormal Research Investigation and Eradication Syndicate, also known simply as The Syndicate, is an organization that deals in supernatural affairs. It attempts to teach creatures how to live among the Humans undetected and teaches them alternative ways to satisfy their hungers and needs without drawing attention to their inhumanity. Some supernatural creatures believing in The Syndicate's cause join as agents; operatives; enforcers, researchers, and perform other supportive duties. Creatures that live among the Humans are given a serial number, similar to a social security number, and their identity is placed into a database for monitoring. All creatures will be identified and they are given only one option: coexist or be eradicated. There has yet to be a creature too powerful for The Syndicate to handle.
While the activities of The Syndicate go unseen by Humans, there are Humans that work for The Syndicate with the proper clearance. There are even some Humans who display supernatural gifts. If this so far intrigues you, then please continue to read on.
_____________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
The Syndicate agents perform several duties: investigations, neutralization, liaison, and security. The Syndicate researchers will at times accompany agents on investigations to collect evidence and samples to support their research and to assist in solving conundrums. Agents use several forms of magic and supernatural might to go about their work, but like those creatures who coexist among the Humans, they too must keep the lives they live a secret. Agents come from several backgrounds. Below is a list:
- Vampire
- Werewolf
- Phantom
- Frankenstein (a reanimated corpse)
- Demons
- Angels
- Myths (this class will be heavily scrutinized)
- Medium (yes, these are psychics)
- Witch/Wizard/Warlock (whatever you want to call them)
If you want to make something not found in the list, then ask the GM first.
Some agents are selected to be liaisons for their race and will meet with covens, packs, or other creatures to share information and maintain positive relations. This was the basic run-down of the game. I will go into further detail below.
Horror. Supernatural. Mystery. Modern. Dark Fantasy. Gothic.
The above detailed description explains how this game is going to be role played. This will be a sandbox game to grant everyone freedom to move around and develop their characters and relations with others. If ever you plan to do something that you feel may need to be mentioned to the GM because it could affect the plot, then please run it by the GM first. If you have a character that plans to level an entire block, then you need to think about these things: How much attention would that draw? Would that compromise your character's relations with The Syndicate and force them to terminate you? Would having your character terminated at the beginning of the damn game be even worth it? Common sense people. Please use it. I will not be holding your hand.
Seeing as this is a dark fantasy-style game, you can expect there to be a lot of gray colors in your description. Gray as in just gray sky, lighting, nothing really warm and happy. This is supposed to be a gothic-style game and that doesn't mean I expect everyone to walk around with black nail polish, makeup, piercings, and start writing dark poetry. No; I'm talking about the actual art. The buildings are gothic style and the personalities of the people can be pretty dark. Try to think Gotham or Tim Burton-scapes.
Now, let me distinguish some things. An agent performs the duties described above. The researcher is the one who bags the evidence so if an agent comes across a crime scene, then they shouldn't touch it for they may compromise it. Instead, it is the researcher who should be the ones to erase the crime scene and return the scene to normal. So choose your jobs carefully. The researcher performs a similar job to the agent except they do not investigate, they just provide the data or relevant information to aid in the investigation. Sorry agent players, you don't get help with paperwork.
There are even more jobs players can choose for their characters: weapon developer (run ideas by GM), potion-maker (run ideas by GM), gateway specialists (grant the agents the abilities to warp from one area of the world to another), hacker (similar to a researcher, but they handle the cyber realm and all things cyber), etc. Whatever job you want to make up, run it by the GM. Whatever jobs no filled by players we will make NPCs for.
This game will be more casual than advanced because I'm not going to be too harsh on grammar as I am in another game I GM. I know that not everyone's native language is English, so as long as you all do your best, then I don't care. Please read this OP because I didn't write it for my health. I wrote it to inform you of what game you're about to join and what you need to know to successfully join it. So please read it. Having said all this, regard the CS below:
1. Activity. I cannot lead you by the hand. This game will only be as fun as you make it. Therefore, I encourage character interaction. Find partners. Work together. Be open to incorporate others. I understand that by the end of the day, the people we start with will not be the people we end with and that is okay. However, this is a sandbox game with an overarching plot that the GM will toss hints in every now and then just to get those characters investigating it. If you plan to go away for a long time, please let the GM know. I don't need to know your business. You just need to tell me, "I'm going away for X amount of days." This way it won't hold up the game. Players who don't post for more than 14 days will be dropped from the game. Players who don't post for 7 days straight will be skipped over.
2. Read the OP. It is ridiculous that I have to make this a rule but you'd be surprised how people are on a roleplaying site and do not want to read. It's like an oxymoron. Read the OP!
3. No Drama. If you don't like my judgment, I don't care. I don't wake up every morning to please every single person in existence. This is my game and I'm going to run it in a manner that I feel will help it survive. I do my best to make fair judgments, and 99.5% of my judgments are made for reasons that either: a) it is good for the game, or b) it may negatively affect the game and other players. So if I say "No" to an idea you had, come up with something else. If that idea I denied was your sole purpose, then I'm sorry, move on with your life.
4. Special Races. If you are going to come up with a creature not in the list, then run it by the GM. Understand that those creatures will fall under extremely heavy scrutiny.
5. One character Limit. I do not want writers to RP with themselves. I want them to write with others.
6. GM Characters. GM characters are GM characters and are not to be NPCed by anyone else. You will know who they are because I will either mention them in-game or have a CS for them. The Director and Assistant Director are GM positions for plot purposes.
7. Have fun. I already like how the rules list is short. I may add more as people bring things to my attention, but the shorter the list, the more that tells me that there aren't too many common problems in the RP world. Any who, try to create a character that you love because if you don't, you won't last here. If you have a character that you love, then you'll be able to go far with your imagination. So please, do your best and have fun.
Q&A
Q: How long has it been since The Syndicate's conception?
A: Since the end of World War I.
Q: What are the traits of a "phantom" or "magic user" in your universe?
A: All agents are capable of being magic users. However, only the actual magic users (mages) can use magic without need of ingredients, runes, etc. No race but the magic users will claim magic in powers. As for how YOU want to make your creature that is up to you. If you go too over-the-top, then expect me to pick it apart.
Q: How soon would you want a CS?
A: Within 7 days of submitted interest.
Q: What is the difference between a Frankenstein and a Zombie?
A: Zombies can be ghouls if you go with the classical zombie. But then ghouls can also be Thralls to a vampire lord or lady. They are mindless or enslaved. If you go with the 28 days later type, then they're just a mindless diseased corpse. The Frankenstein was meant to be a reanimated person with all of his or her conscience intact so they are undead with a conscience but they use primarily some sort of power source to keep going.
Q: If I own a NPC, do I have to make a CS for him or her?
A: No; but if you start playing him or her actively like a second character, then you will need one.
Q: My character is an agent, but I want to give him or her a fancy job title, can I?
A: No. I want all agent occupations to have the same plain, boring and generic job title: "agent." If everyone started giving their characters fancy job titles, then no one would know what they specifically do for The Syndicate. They also might be able to BS liberties that aren't even granted to them. The agents' duties are outlined in this OP.
Q: Can I play a mundane human?
A: Yes.
Questions updated on: November 30, 2016 (GMT +9)
Interested Players
FallenTrinity
jumpadraw
Dead Cruiser
GamerXZ
LancerOfBlue
Lucidnonsense
Cuccoruler
Thecrash20
dragonmancer
shagranoz
Approved Characters
Buck Baker - Frankenstein - redbaron1234
Aradia Coventry - Witch - Witch Cat
Michael Viscardi - Vampire - Queentze
Richard Arachnidae - Myth (Arachnid) - ShaggyDoo0
