[OOC] The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Posting Order:

1) Zapdos
2) Tiger
3) Dusty

Current Turn: Tiger

[Zapdos]

Edit: in the low odds that you are reading this, parts of this are out of date.

Hello there! If you’re reading this for the first time, welcome to the roleplay! I've had this idea kicking around in my head for some time now. Normally in a roleplay, each person will roleplay a character (or more) and they will interact within the GM's story. My idea here is to have all the writers take turn writing the story. Each poster will take turns writing; in the end what will result is a (hopefully) cohesive and interesting story. All of the characters, setting and plot are made by all of the writers, each one building upon the work of the people who wrote before them. Here is a short example (obviously the posts would be longer in the actual story):

Poster A:

"Frank was walking down the street on his way to work. It was his last day on the job; he was proud of his 43 years at the Wonderful Wheel Company, but he was looking forward to retirement. He arrived at the old factory, same as ever, except he was surprised to see..."

Poster B:

"that it was decorated with banners! The old factory worker saw banners, balloons and homemade posters celebrating his last day and wishing him well. A hint of a smile showed on the man's face. But the biggest surprise was when he walked into the place..."

Poster C:

"a huge array of tires spelling out "BEST WISHES FRANK" right on the factory floor! What was previously a hint evolved into a full-on grin; the man never expected his coworkers to go through all this trouble. Honestly, he thought they didn't even like him. However..."

And so on. Again, this would be longer if we were actually writing. I'm not looking for big essays here; just two or three quality paragraphs per post. If you want to write longer, cool, but don’t monopolize the story. Ideally, this will have some advantages:

-If someone loses interest or gets busy with life, the whole story won't grind to a halt.
-Multiple authors can provide multiple perspectives, making the story more interesting.

New Information:

Based on feedback from the people in the interest check and my own brainstorming, here are some guidelines/rules for the story:

-Edit: at this point, the Discord for this story is used by us so much that I'm making it a requirement to join it to be a part of this. It just makes communication much easier for everyone. Upon being accepted, I'll send you a link for it.
-The popular consensus of the IC is for a fantasy setting, so that is what it shall be. I’m not going to plan every granular detail of this world because part of the fun is building a story with all of you, but the starting point will be a typical magical fantasy setting. Humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, etc. At the same time, your posts should be consistent with the setting. For example, the next post shouldn't be a robot popping in from the future to shoot the protagonist.
-Also, your posts should be consistent with what other people have written. If it has been established that the protagonist’s best friend has been his friend for 30 years, the next post shouldn’t be that person killing the protagonist. Plot twists can be done in an interesting way, of course, just use common sense. If it’s something big, please discuss it with the group first.
-No smut, extremely graphic torture, or gore please. A common-sense PG-13 rating is what I’m going for. If people have sex or something, fade to black. I’m not looking to write an episode of Teletubbies, just use common sense.
-No politics please. This isn’t even taking place on Earth, plus politics is dreary and based on my experience nobody is going to convince anyone else of their views anyway.
-This is an original story; keep people from the real world and pre-existing IP out of this please. George Washington shouldn’t save the day by riding in on a Transformer.
-No guns. This is by popular consensus.
-Writing will take place here on RP Guild. This is also by popular consensus.
-Please use proper spelling and grammar. I’m not the grammar police, but it makes writing look so much nicer.
-I'm not looking for big essays here; just two or three quality paragraphs per post. If you want to write longer, cool, but don’t monopolize the story.
-This story will be written by and contributed to by everyone who writes. That being said, please don’t monopolize it. For example: if the story is of a brave knight slaying a dragon and Poster 1 makes a post about the knight starting his journey, the next post shouldn’t be a huge thing involving the knight slaying the dragon, marrying the Princess and becoming king of the realm. As the GM, I will probably set the direction and thus build on the structure of the story more than others, but that is from the perspective of running the game, not running the story.
-Use common sense. I can’t think of every possible scenario here. And if you’re in doubt, please ask a question about it.
-Most importantly: have fun!

Posting Order:

We will decide on posting order by discussion (either on the OOC or on a Discord server that I make). I will write the first post, but after that it’s up to you guys. After the first post, the next writer will have 48 hours to make his post. The writer after that will have 48 hours from when the previous writer posted to make their post, and so on. Of course, you can post earlier than that.

“Application”:

Since we’re not making character sheets like in most roleplays, the application will simply be a writing sample. At least 2-3 good paragraphs displaying how you write. You can take it from a roleplay you are or were in, a personal story you are writing, or whatever else you can think of that makes sense in this context. Just keep it PG-13 like this story please. I would not be surprised if you all are better writers than I am; I just want to see that you are capable of writing well enough to contribute to the story. E.g. good spelling and grammar, writing that makes sense, etc. I’m not looking to be a control freak here. If you’ve read all of this post and want to join, please write the phrase “Electric Pokemon” somewhere in your post with the writing sample. (It doesn't have to be in the writing sample though :P)

Also, I would strongly recommend reading the IC. Not only will it help you understand the characters and story, it will also be fun! Plus it will let you get familiar with our writing styles.

Final Thoughts:

I’m going to make a Discord server that we can all talk in. This will help us get to know each other better and to more effectively collaborate on making a good story. When you are accepted to the story, I will send you a link to join. If you don’t have Discord, I suggest you get it. It’s free and easy to use. Also, please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts. If something seems faulty or unreasonable, we can discuss it. I’m not looking to be a dictator here, I just want to have fun writing a story using a reasonable framework.

I look forward to writing with you. Have fun!

[role model]

Jon Byrne was a veteran big newspaper contributor. On this night, he was finishing up an editorial about weight gain in Electric Pokémon. His notes were organized and his mind was dancing to the beat of the right stuff in the right place. He had visited E.P. twice in a month after a tip from a fellow journalist sent him about how sea monsters were captured and made food and clothes. He was finishing up when he heard the noise.

Jon was in his den was he was taken aback by the shackling-sounding crash. He breathed, got up from his desk and investigated. He moved slowly in case this could be the worst thing, perhaps a thief or a fire. Then, he entered his living room and peered sadly to see his aquarium was somehow turned over and emptied out into the floor. Then, he noticed that his cat was feasting on some of the exotic fish that lived in the fish tank. He thought to himself that he should have stayed in Electric Pokémon.

[Chuuya]

Application:

This is from a Roleplay that I'm currently GMing on Discord with three close friends of mine. I have written some of the lore for it here if anyone is interested in seeing how I build worlds as well. Most of the lore unfortunately need to be updated though. Also, Electric Pokemon.

Writing Sample

Equinox Valley could not be found on any ordinary map. Google lacked images and there were no brochures at rest stops about it. Mailing addresses and telephone numbers could not be found anywhere on the internet. There were no known area or zip codes tied to such a place. Most people seemed to have never heard of the enigmatic village. All claimed ignorance or simply stared when asked. Seth Hyde knew, however, that it was real. It had to be. Why else would Zane lead him in this direction? He was malicious, sure, but he knew that he had to keep his vessel alive. Otherwise both of them would disappear into nothingness forever. What a horrifying thought―

"Last stop: Equinox Valley!" The announcement came over a loudspeaker that the raven-haired boy could hear over a bulky pair of black, plastic headphones. There were many methods that would-be travelers could take such as bus, taxi, or their own cars. Seth, however, vouched for the train alternative. It started in Boston and landed somewhere at the edge of Maine. It was quiet, mostly empty, and a place where he could easily hide. "Now pulling into Equinox Station."

Electronic billboards displayed the same information in the front of the car, but the healer was already on his feet. A laptop bag was pulled close for safekeeping and he reached for his backpack. There was also a small suitcase that he had stowed beneath the seat. For safe measures, of course. You never knew when someone would rob you in a place like this. With so little people around―

Equinox Valley was nothing short of gorgeous. It was the reason that Seth Hyde had so desperately wanted to move north. New England was beautiful even if it was West Virginia that called him for some reason. Even still, he was already leaving the station with a small swarm of faces that had also chosen the train. Some were slower while others were much quicker with leaving their seats. The raven-haired boy wasted no time in descending stone steps into the village that awaited him.

[Zapdos]

@role model@Hyde you are both accepted! I will send you both a link to the Discord server.

[Relin]

Application

sample

Ozaku staggered onto the sandy shore, his clothes torn and tattered, his body worn and weary. He had no idea how long he had been walking, but he knew that by now his mother and brother would be worried about him. No doubt Ayako had recounted the tale to Tomaru. He stared out at the watery horizon, the sky the deep purple of twilight. The sun had just about fallen, but that was at his back. Now, all he could see were the lazuli ocean waves crashing against the pale coastline; all he could hear was the gentle hiss of the water swelling and receding. He stood just at the water line, but each wave, no matter how small, dragged him closer to the ocean, even if only a millimeter at a time. It was ironic; a man who planted his feet and refused to move would inevitably be drawn into the ocean’s currents. Such was the power of the ocean, such was the power of time.

Then, with a howl that seemed to contain all the fury he had bottled away his entire life, he called out to the sea. “Eleanor! Come show yourself to me!”

There was an eerie silence as he waited for a reply; neither the swishing of the water or the swirling of the coastal winds reached his ear. Then, there was a titanic crash of water that toppled Ozaku like a piece of driftwood. The salty liquid filled his mouth, and although the force of the wave had knocked the wind out of him, he dared not breathe lest his fill his lungs with fluid and seal his demise. But, despite all of its force, there was no god in that wave. Soggy and dripping, staggering and sputtering, Ozaku rose to his feet and called out once again, “Show yourself to me or else I’ll fill your waters with a toxin the likes of which this world has never see! Hear me, or see your precious ocean wither away and die!”

The horizon began to swell, and another wave that towered above the previous one rolled towards the shore with enough force to shatter the kitsune’s insignificant frame. And yet, Ozaku stared the wave down, unflinching, free of all fear. Then, just before the mountain of water annihilated the mortal, it came to a sudden stop, a single massive eye glowing in the core of it all. This was Eleanor the Squid, a creature whose true form was as massive as the sea itself.

Electric Pokemon

[Zapdos]

@Relin good post! You are accepted. I will PM you the Discord link in a moment.

[Bria The Human]

Application

Mari

Mari

"Mari, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?" Prince Yuki got down on one knee and presented Mari with a beautiful diamond ring.

Mari clicked "A" accepting his marriage proposal. "You've made me the happiest electric pokemon alive <3." A marriage scene rolled for about 2 minutes before end credits started scrolling on the screen. Mari smiled weakly, having pulled yet another all nighter playing her newest dating sim "For the Love of a Prince."

"Finally... finally, I've got the ending that I wanted." She had already played through this game three times trying to unlock all the endings. In one ending she married the Prince's brother. In another she was discovered fooling around with the prince's servant and wound up in heartbreak. Finally she was the prince's bride though. She raised her hand up above her head in victory, tearing up a little. This was probably just due to the fact that she'd been staring at her computer screen for the past 12 hours straight. In a dark room. Alone.

Mari's stomach grumbled. She had ordered food at 10:30, so it should be arriving any second now. She checked her watch for the time. Wait... what? That couldn't be right. According to her watch it was 2:00 in the afternoon. She scratched her head in confusion. It usually never took them this long to deliver her food. Maybe they forgot her order? Mari picked up her cell phone and began dialing Happy Burger. The phone rang about 6 times before leaving an error message. Her stomach growled again.

"GrrrrrrrrUGHHH I'm HUNGRY DAMMIT!"

She checked her phone to see if they had already taken the money out of her account. Maybe she had forgotten to pay online. She opened her mobile banking app. Nope. She definitely paid. Sighing in frustration Mari slowly stood up from her blanket cocoon on the floor of her apartment. "Guess I better go find somewhere else to eat..."

Mari trudged through the cluttered mess that was her apartment until she reached her clean clothes basket. She quickly grabbed a shirt off the top that said "Straight out of dimension C-137" and some blue mom jeans. She walked towards the door grabbing her car keys and stepping into the same pair of slip on shoes she'd had for the past two years now. She cracked the door, opening it very slowly as her eyes needed time to adjust to the brightness outside. Squinting uncomfortably, she walked outside. Luckily her apartment was located on the first floor so it made getting to her car that much easier. She had a cute, yellow 2010 bug. A lot of people wondered why she didn't buy herself a sports car now that she had so much money, but honestly her old car works and that's all that counts to her. She hopped inside, starting the car and immediately reaching for the red bull she had left in her cup holder yesterday.

Or at least she thought she left it? Her hands grasped at nothing but air and she looked down to see that there was nothing in her cupholder. Not even her old drive thru napkins or straw wrappers. "Well, that's weird..." Luckily she kept an emergency stash in her back seat. She turned around, once again reaching for nothing but air. Her confusion only continued to grow as she realized that not only did she not have any Red Bull in her car, she didn't have ANYTHING in her car. All of the trash was gone from the seat floors, the seats didn't have any stains or tears on them... what exactly was going on here? Mari's stomach grumbled yet again. "I'm too hungry to think about this right now." Mari sat up, throwing her car in reverse as she prepared to exit her apartment's parking lot. That's when she noticed something even weirder. Her bug was the only car in the entire lot.

Maybe everyone was at work? No... because there should at least be a few cars from the people who work in the building. She shook her head, convincing herself that there had to be a reasonable explanation for the uber clean car and the astonishingly empty lot. She was probably just so sleep deprived that her brain was coming up with all this craziness. She laughed at how ridiculous the whole situation seemed. Who ever complained about a clean car right?

Mari pulled out of the parking lot. She's probably just been cooped up too long. Maybe a trip to the mall would help? It'd been a while since she'd talked to people who weren't characters in a game. She pulled out her phone and plugged the mall's address into her maps.

This is from one of the role play's I'm currently involved in :) Hopefully this works

[Virgil]

Roughshod Writing Example

The night was sultry.

All around her lay the volatile trappings of incarceration - rough stone walls, cold iron bars...an unapologetically crooked wooden "bed" jutting out of the back of the room, just for one. Her heart sunk down below her knees at the dwindling light of the warden's candle, leaving her alone in the company of the dark. But though moments dragged on into hours, she steeled herself against reality's mocking embrace; And though a torrent of regret and disgust clawed at her stomach, she kept herself standing firmly on both feet.

She had made this...all of this...and the burden was entirely hers to bear. If little else, she could take comfort in just that much; Beweynne lifted a dusty finger to the precipice of her temple and let it slowly drag across the edge of her brow, mopping up the singular bead that'd begun to pool. If she was to make it here, there could be no signs of doubt or weakness - not a single drop of "fear" to be displayed to the resident monsters cooped up in this prison alongside her.

A twinge of relief flashed through her heart - thankfully she would have all night to prepare herself for the morning's "introductions" out in the tower-yard.

She'd have to put on a good impression for the others; All amidst the heat and squalor of this place - Purgatory, their gracious abode. Her home now as much as it'd been theirs...at least for a little while.

(Electric Pokemon)

[Zapdos]

@Bria The Human that was a great post, I laughed a few times. Unfortunately I have to reject it. Please re-read the Application section and add what you missed. That's the only thing missing there, you're probably a better writer than I am. :)

@Virgil you are accepted! I will PM you the Discord link.

[Bria The Human]

@Bria The Human that was a great post, I laughed a few times. Unfortunately I have to reject it. Please re-read the Application section and add what you missed. That's the only thing missing there, you're probably a better writer than I am. :)

@Virgil you are accepted! I will PM you the Discord link.

@Zapdos

oops I see what I did ^^; sorry bout that adding it in now

edit: Also thank you for the compliment! :D

[Zapdos]

@Bria The Human no problem, and that edit made me laugh. Thanks for being cool about it, you are accepted. I didn't like having to reject you for a nitpicky reason but I want to make sure people read the post. I'll PM you the Discord link!

[Bria The Human]

@Bria The Human no problem, and that edit made me laugh. Thanks for being cool about it, you are accepted. I didn't like having to reject you for a nitpicky reason but I want to make sure people read the post. I'll PM you the Discord link!

@Zapdos

Totally understandable no worries! I thought it was the same thing in the interest check so I looked through it quickly the first time. Awesome thank you :)

[Zapdos]

@role model@Hyde@Bria The Human@Virgil we have a good number of people now, so I'd like to establish a post order. This doesn't mean that the RP is closed; if someone wants to join, they are welcome to apply. I just want to establish who is posting in what order. I already have the first post written (but not posted), so I'll go first. After that though, it really just comes down to preference, so feel free to discuss it here or in the Discord server. After that I can post the post order in the 1st or 0th (0nd? :P) post so it is visible.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of your posts, it should be fun!

[Chuuya]

@role model@Hyde@Bria The Human@Virgil we have a good number of people now, so I'd like to establish a post order. This doesn't mean that the RP is closed; if someone wants to join, they are welcome to apply. I just want to establish who is posting in what order. I already have the first post written (but not posted), so I'll go first. After that though, it really just comes down to preference, so feel free to discuss it here or in the Discord server. After that I can post the post order in the 1st or 0th (0nd? :P) post so it is visible.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of your posts, it should be fun!

@Zapdos

I've already mentioned this in the Discord, but I'm ambivalent to where I fall in the posting order. I'll go next if nobody wants to and I'll go later in the cycle if someone wants to post before me. Not exactly helpful, I know, but I will volunteer myself to go second(?) if nobody else is offering.

[Bria The Human]

I can be third :) If no-one has already taken it

[Relin]

I don't mind where I am in the turn order.

[Virgil]

2nd or 4th is fine by me!

[role model]

I'm cool with whatever.

[Zapdos]

I guess the order, based on preference and who posted when, will be:

1) Zapdos
2) Hyde
3) Bria the Human
4) Virgil
5) Relin
6) role model

If you want to skip your turn or need to adjust this for whatever reason, just let me know. It's not set in stone.

In any case, I made the first post! I tried leaving it open-ended so you all can build upon it. The next writer is @Hyde And as I said before, this isn't closed, so feel free to apply if you want.

[Bria The Human]

Yay! I'm excited :)