[OOC] Secrets of Arrow Oak

[QuinnWolfe]

In the small town of Arrow Oak, strange things are known to happen to the townsfolk’s children. Some are “blessed” or gifted with inhuman abilities or powers, other parents swear their child was swapped at birth and a “demon” left in their place, and some children just simply go “missing” altogether. Little do the humans know this is because of a fae portal right out in the woods that surrounds their town.

Our characters will be a group of friends who go on a camping trip together out in those very woods as a way to reconnect and stumble across this fae portal. Characters can be one of the blessed, a changeling, half fae, or just a regular human. My character’s name is Eris Cloverton, a 24 year old veterinarian assistant who is one of the blessed whose gift is that she can talk with animals. She has a sibling, who I will either write in as a NPC/side character but is also available to be played by someone else.

Character roles I've thought about that are up for grabs
-Eris’s sibling
-Eris’s best friend

All other roles are pretty much unlimited, they could be old friends, new friends, or plus ones of friends, they could be other family members, neighbors, coworkers, etc
EDIT 11/21/2021- Now that the roleplay has begun, new roles will be more limited. Any new characters from this point on, until further notice, should be fully fae or the missing humans (those who went missing or were swapped out by changelings).

Edit 11/24/21- Additonal lore about the Fae & Missing Humans

Fae and Missing Humans

The Fae are magical beings that used to roam the earth freely many thousands of years ago until humans evolved and rose to be a significant power in the world. Now they live just outside of that world in The Glimmer, a magical world that exists beyond the span of human perception and is anchored to earth through portals. They must remain anchored because it is the earth that fuels their magic. The Fae themselves are mysterious and mischievous by nature and have quite a diverse society. Fae are naturally gifted with magic from birth, that when properly harnessed and encouraged can become quite powerful and that is basically always the case for fae who grow up around their own kind. Their society is governed by an all powerful council, each of the 12 members representing a different district and each district having its own portals to both Earth and to the central, 13th district where the council gathers for meetings. For a very long time after they had moved to the Glimmer, the rule when it came to humans was absolutely no interaction must be had. While that was the rule of the council and most were happy to comply, there were others who were not. There were those who sought vengeance or to get even with humans, and they developed shadow groups who started the practice of Changelings. Some would just outright steal human children. As human society expanded, and the available land on earth to roam without human interference was reduced, these shadow groups gained numbers and popularity. The council knew they had to intervene and find a solution that would please all of their people, and so they adopted the practices with more regulation and allowed for some human interaction on the condition their society be kept secret through magic. The stolen human children up until then were often just killed by their kidnappers but the council sought more humane treatment for them, coming up with a program where fae families could raise the human child and when the human was old enough and capable would be more of an indentured servant in terms of their status in society. It was mostly up to each family’s discretion so long as the child wasn’t physically harmed. Gifting humans with magic was initially started by human sympathizers and adopted as a practice to help keep their society a secret. Some of these human sympathizers would go on to even have children with humans, their half fae children being a subject of heavy debate among the fae and for the most part widely looked down upon.

Character Sheet
Appearance:
Name:
Age:
Fae properties: (if any- this would be where you describe any powers/gifts they have if they have any, if they are a changeling or half fae, or you can put none/does not apply if you're character is just an average human)
Personality:
Bio:

[duskshine749]

Hey, so I saw the Int Check for this RP and thought it looked cool. It seems like there's room since you said you were looking for 2-6. Just curious, how powerful should gifts be? I saw Eris can speak to animals, should they all be that minor? And what exactly can half-fae and changellings do? I only ask so many questions because I care <3

[QuinnWolfe]

Hey, so I saw the Int Check for this RP and thought it looked cool. It seems like there's room since you said you were looking for 2-6. Just curious, how powerful should gifts be? I saw Eris can speak to animals, should they all be that minor? And what exactly can half-fae and changellings do? I only ask so many questions because I care <3

@duskshine749

I appreciate the questions! & there's plenty of room :)
Gifts don't have to be as minor as my own character but they also shouldn't be like.. God level either, if that makes sense. Half-fae and changelings generally would have a wider range of abilities & will get different reactions from the fae given that they themselves are fae/part fae. I imagine they would probably have a natural affinity for fae languages & the ability to learn new magic beyond what they are born with (as opposed to humans who must be gifted it). Not so much pertaining to powers, but changelings are more likely to be outcasts and have more of a subconcious awareness of what they are. Like they wouldn't know they are a changeling but they would just know they are different for some reason.

[Stuzzie]

Hey, so I saw the Int Check for this RP and thought it looked cool. It seems like there's room since you said you were looking for 2-6. Just curious, how powerful should gifts be? I saw Eris can speak to animals, should they all be that minor? And what exactly can half-fae and changellings do? I only ask so many questions because I care <3

@duskshine749

Also wondering what exactly is the difference between a half-faes and changelings? ^_^
Is a changeling a Fae or human who was "gifted" with fae powers, who was swapped at birth, when someone found out the respective baby was different that normal/mundane babies?

[duskshine749]

<Snipped quote by duskshine749>

I appreciate the questions! & there's plenty of room :)
Gifts don't have to be as minor as my own character but they also shouldn't be like.. God level either, if that makes sense. Half-fae and changelings generally would have a wider range of abilities & will get different reactions from the fae given that they themselves are fae/part fae. I imagine they would probably have a natural affinity for fae languages & the ability to learn new magic beyond what they are born with (as opposed to humans who must be gifted it). Not so much pertaining to powers, but changelings are more likely to be outcasts and have more of a subconcious awareness of what they are. Like they wouldn't know they are a changeling but they would just know they are different for some reason.

@QuinnWolfe

awesome, I wasn't going to do anything insane. I'm thinking of a human with "the gift of flame" basically a firebender, but obviously at the start it'll just be minor stuff. I could even be the sibling/best friend if no one else has claimed those yet

[QuinnWolfe]

<Snipped quote by duskshine749>

Also wondering what exactly is the difference between a half-faes and changelings? ^_^
Is a changeling a Fae or human who was "gifted" with fae powers, who was swapped at birth, when someone found out the respective baby was different that normal/mundane babies?

@Stuzzie

Sure thing :) I realize now I should've added in more lore about the fae and their various offspring.
Changelings are fully fae. They would be swapped with the human baby sometime after birth, usually the fae would try and make this as soon as possible as the more delay, the more chance for the humans to notice something's wrong. Half fae, are half human half fae and like changelings would live their lives believing they are gifted humans since Fae do not stick around in their half human children's lives, and use magic to keep their true selves hidden from the human parent. Whereas changelings are looked down upon and treated as black sheep, half fae would be cherished by their families and would be the "favorite" child. Half fae might find themselves more limited by their human genetics, such as being unable to fly, needing a sleep schedule like that of a human's or being more vulnerable in ways that humans are such as being injured by falls, etc. With a fae mentor they could possibly learn the magic that full fae have naturally though that allows for most of those things to not be issues, but they would not start out like this. And their magic would be slower to develop, maybe showing up when they are a couple years old, allowing it to be easier to learn to control. Changelings have all the magic there from the start as babies but none of the guidance on how to use it, which is part of what makes them seem so chaotic to humans. Half fae also look human, whereas many changelings have what humans would regard as unnaturally colored eyes, hair, skin, etc (pink, purple, blue, etc) and may have more elvish looking ears, sharper teeth and nails. Half fae at most might have odd colored eyes or hair. The biggest difference between the two is how they will be regarded by human society and fae society, honestly. Since how they are viewed by the fae is sort of the flip of how humans view them. Half fae are seen as scandalous, and by some, diluting the fae bloodlines where as changelings are an attempt to further fae existence beyond the realm of the fae.

Not all of the lore is set in stone, and exceptions can be made, but this is kind of what I had in mind, hope this clears that up.

@duskshine749 Neither has been claimed, so you're welcome to either role :)

[duskshine749]

Awesome, I think I'd like the role of best friend. Also I'll probably be waiting until you post Eris to post my sheet, I like seeing the GMs character before doing mine

[QuinnWolfe]

Awesome, I think I'd like the role of best friend. Also I'll probably be waiting until you post Eris to post my sheet, I like seeing the GMs character before doing mine

@duskshine749

I just got it up! :) I made a small change in that Eris is Half fae, not a blessed human (just mentioning in case you were still considering being the sibling, sibling can still be anything though they don't both have to be half fae)

[Wolvena]

Just so I know I'm on the right track. How much would the blessed differ from the Changelings and Half Fae when it comes to magic and abilities?

[QuinnWolfe]

Just so I know I'm on the right track. How much would the blessed differ from the Changelings and Half Fae when it comes to magic and abilities?

@Wolvena

The blessed are more limited in that that they may only have one type of power or magic. They can become more skilled in that power, but they cannot learn new ones. So like, someone blessed with water magic might start with the ability to make clouds and progress to making waves, but they cannot learn fire magic or other types of magic. Someone blessed with advanced hearing might go on to also have echolocation or be able to mimic noises really well but cannot cast illusions or heal etc. Half fae and changelings may have a greater range of abilities, though half fae don't generally start with all their powers.

[Wolvena]

That clears things up and makes it easier to decide what my character will be. Thank you.

[duskshine749]

I am going to take the role of best friend, should we use real people for pictures or are drawings okay? The picture on your sheet is broken so I can't follow your example @QuinnWolfe

[QuinnWolfe]

@duskshine749 oh shoot, it shows up for me so I'm gonna have to figure out what's wrong with it. But yes, a drawing is perfectly okay

[Stuzzie]

<Snipped quote by Stuzzie>

Sure thing :) I realize now I should've added in more lore about the fae and their various offspring.
Changelings are fully fae. They would be swapped with the human baby sometime after birth, usually the fae would try and make this as soon as possible as the more delay, the more chance for the humans to notice something's wrong. Half fae, are half human half fae and like changelings would live their lives believing they are gifted humans since Fae do not stick around in their half human children's lives, and use magic to keep their true selves hidden from the human parent. Whereas changelings are looked down upon and treated as black sheep, half fae would be cherished by their families and would be the "favorite" child. Half fae might find themselves more limited by their human genetics, such as being unable to fly, needing a sleep schedule like that of a human's or being more vulnerable in ways that humans are such as being injured by falls, etc. With a fae mentor they could possibly learn the magic that full fae have naturally though that allows for most of those things to not be issues, but they would not start out like this. And their magic would be slower to develop, maybe showing up when they are a couple years old, allowing it to be easier to learn to control. Changelings have all the magic there from the start as babies but none of the guidance on how to use it, which is part of what makes them seem so chaotic to humans. Half fae also look human, whereas many changelings have what humans would regard as unnaturally colored eyes, hair, skin, etc (pink, purple, blue, etc) and may have more elvish looking ears, sharper teeth and nails. Half fae at most might have odd colored eyes or hair. The biggest difference between the two is how they will be regarded by human society and fae society, honestly. Since how they are viewed by the fae is sort of the flip of how humans view them. Half fae are seen as scandalous, and by some, diluting the fae bloodlines where as changelings are an attempt to further fae existence beyond the realm of the fae.

Not all of the lore is set in stone, and exceptions can be made, but this is kind of what I had in mind, hope this clears that up.

@duskshine749 Neither has been claimed, so you're welcome to either role :)

@QuinnWolfe

Thank you! Definitely sums it up. :-)

[Stuzzie]

This is my contribution:

Ella Rodericks

Appearance:
Name: Ella Rodericks (this is her human family name).

Age: 22 years old.

Fae properties: Ella is aware that she can influence the skies to become clear when it's clouded. She is not yet aware this is one of her capacities with the elements (wind, fire, water etc.). Next to this she is unaware that she is a changeling, also she is oblivious to the fact that anything 'magical' that had happened in her life was thanks to her own doing.

Personality: She is cunning and ambitious, if she desires something she has a high will to get it. She adores natures; it's trees, animals and elementals (mythological creatures connected to the elements), mostly she enjoys Wind (for some reason ;-)).

Bio: After her birth Ella was switched with a human baby. Her biological parents were not aware of this, the trade was made by Faes who desire more control in the world by the Faes. It would take a few weeks for her parents to find out that "their" daughter was not truly theirs, but actually a human baby.
Ella on the other had never found out she was a Fae. Ofcourse she knew she was different than most, if not all, other children of her age. She was born bald, however she would have alot of red hair within a few days after birth. This is uncommon to most human babies. Ella's ears were also an eye-catcher, they grew from a little pointy to very pointy, also an uncommon trait among human babies.
The older Ella's body became, she would notice that her body stopped growing and she would keep a childish appearance. All of this made her the black sheep of the family and also made sure that teenage boys would not be interested in her as a girlfriend. If only she knew she was a changeling, then she could change her appearance..
Now Ella has been around for 22 years and she fills her days with writing columns for the local newspaper, enjoying nature and watching the skies.

How is this?

[QuinnWolfe]

@Stuzzie It looks good to me! Go ahead and post it in the characters section if you are done with it :D

[Stuzzie]

Thank you, I will do it now! :-D

When can we start posting IC? ^_^

[Wolvena]

I should have my CS up soon. Just have the backstory left to do.

[duskshine749]

I was so excited to join and it's been so long since I joined a new RP I kinda forgot you should post a CS in the OOC for approval first. Oops, sorry about that @QuinnWolfe, didn't mean to overstep myself there

[Wolvena]

Hope she's alright. If I need to change anything don't hesitate to say so.

Marabella Wulf

Appearance:

Name: Marabella Wulf
Nickname: Mara, Bella, Wolfy (because of her love of wolves)
Age: 24
Fae properties: Half Fae, she has the gift of animal companionship

Personality: She is one of those that tends to wear her emotions on her sleeve. She is loyal to a fault to those she calls friends. Can be quite playful at times and is a big daydreamer. She is very adventurous and is almost always looking for a new adventure. Generous and kind to all those she meets. She is also one that’s not easily angered.
Bio: Marabella had a pretty wonderful childhood, she had two loving parents who did just about anything for her, a roof over her head, food in her belly, and a wolfdog named Killian for a best friend. She was about a year old when her gift came to reveal itself. It all started with her and Killian getting extremely close, then him becoming severely protective of her when it came to anyone but her parents getting close to her. As she got older, the bond between them grew and they became inseparable and always watched out for each other. It also became clear she had formed bonds with other animals, most of them being canines that would follow her home much to her parents' dislike and feared it a bit. Though Killian never allowed any to enter the house. Even Marabella had them stay outside, but they would linger around the house and come and go as they pleased. When she was ten years old, she lost her parents in a mysterious way. Not really ever figuring out what truly happened.
She ended up going and living with her Aunt and Uncle who didn’t live that far away, took her and Killian in with open arms and no questions, and raised her as their own. She was happy that she had a family to go to, but the loss of her parents took a toll on her and she ended up closing in on herself. She almost stopped talking to her Aunt and Uncle, but hardly talked to any other person. She mostly kept to herself and pretty much only kept the company of the animals she befriended, only having a few people as friends. Going through school proved to be a bit difficult for her. She ended up having to register Killian as an emotional support animal so she could keep him with her at all times. She was considered strange and a bit of an outcast since she hardly ever spoke to anyone other than those she trusted enough to become her friends. As time went on, she slowly came out of her shell and started to talk more until she was almost a completely different person, all thanks to her friends and Killian. Now out of school and an adult, she has found herself a job working at an animal rehabilitation center.