[OOC] Spider-Verse: Dark Destiny

[King Kindred]

Welcome to the Spider-Verse, if you're here you're from a world without a Spider-Totem, or at least you were. All that changed when a certain Spider God needed help to save the Multiverse and the Web of Life and Destiny from a seemingly unstoppable force hellbent on the suffering of others. That's where you come in. The past five years of your world's reality have been rewritten to assemble a force capable of putting an end to this path of destruction. You've been selected for your character, potential, skills, and abilities to become a team of Spider-Totems to defend the multiverse and save other Totems. Are you up to the task? What kind of Spider are you? Will you rise, fall, or go down a dark path? Accept a Destiny made for you or create your own? It's all on you to decide, but first there's worlds out there that need saving.

---

Premise: The multiverse is in danger! Huge shocker, right? No, Shocker is not going around the multiverse killing Spider-People. But there is someone going around the multiverse taking out Spider Totems. Why? You'll have to find out on your journey.

Who are you and how will you be of any help?

You're from a universe that doesn't have a Peter Parker. In fact this was a universe originally without a Spider totem. Now? It has a bit more than it needs. The Spider God Anansi changed the history and trajectory of this universe, creating a whole new branched timeline after dropping his spiders at different points in the past 5 years.

What does that mean for you and your character? You get new powers, new memories, but wait there's more! As good as it feels to be a web-slinging, wall-crawling superhero or villain, it's a double-edged sword where misery follows you and darkens your path. So while you may have had a happy go lucky, stress-free life before becoming a Spider changed that with seemingly unavoidable loss.

There's a lot more details that'll be revealed later and throughout the roleplay, but this is the gist. And while this universe originally never had a Spider-Man it was still a world full of heroes, villains, powers, advanced tech, and magic. So while you may not have been a Spider in a past life your character could have been a hero or villain of their own making, but their entire lives were changed once Anansi altered history and in some ways their motivations.

This also means you may have powers and tech outside the normal Spider-powers as long as it's within reason.

---

All right, let’s take it from the top, one more time…

What’s your name?
(Obvious.)

How old are you?

What do you look like?
(Description is preferable, picture is acceptable. Both is even better. Costumes if you have them)

What's your story? What was it like before and after becoming a Spider-Totem?
(Lay your backstories on me, guys. Good, bad, Uncle Ben moments, etc. Your character will have been bitten at any point within the past 5 years after a young Spider-Duo appeared on the scene. Also note that 5 years of your life has essentially been rewritten to add pain and misery where there wasn't any after being bitten. You don't have to disclose your original history now. Just keep that in mind for later.)

Powers and Tech
(Let's see what kind of Spider you are. What sets you apart from your fellow heroes?)

Do you believe in aliens?
(Also self-explanatory)

What are your goals for the future?
(These can be your goals as a newly-minted superhero, or mundane goals like going to college and paying the bills. Hey, Spider-Manning doesn’t pay the bills; everyone’s gotta have an ambition, right?)

You lived in New York for a while now, right? What do you think of the city?

How much technology do you use on a daily basis?

What do you like?
(Hobbies, talents, interests, things you like and are good at.)

What do you dislike?
(Fears, food you hate, things you consider not-good or bad.)

Do you think true evil exists?
(Heavy question, eh? Just answer honestly. No pressure.)

What’s your favorite color?
(Self-explanatory; also a place to put your text color if you have one.)

Favorite song?
(What song defines your character?)

Anything else to add?
(Miscellaneous. Anything that wasn’t covered upstairs, or anything you think is worth mentioning.)

What are your thoughts on these people?
(Relations. List each character by name, in their respective color, and your character’s current thoughts on them. Most characters should be aware of each other at least a little. To what extent is up to you.)

coded sheet

[center][color=red][h2]All right, let’s take it from the top, one more time…[/h2][/color]

[color=FFFFFF][b]What’s your name?[/b]
(Obvious.)

[b]How old are you?[/b]

[b]What do you look like?[/b]
(Description is preferable, picture is acceptable. Both is even better. Costumes if you have them)

[b]What's your story? What was it like before and after becoming a Spider-Totem?[/b]
(Lay your backstories on me, guys. Good, bad, Uncle Ben moments, etc. Your character will have been bitten at any point within the past 5 years after a young Spider-Duo appeared on the scene. Also note that 5 years of your life has essentially been rewritten to add pain and misery where there wasn't any after being bitten. You don't have to disclose your original history now. Just keep that in mind for later.)

[b]Powers and Tech[/b]
(Let's see what kind of Spider you are. What sets you apart from your fellow heroes?)

[b]Do you believe in aliens?[/b]
(Also self-explanatory)

[b]What are your goals for the future?[/b]
(These can be your goals as a newly-minted superhero, or mundane goals like going to college and paying the bills. Hey, Spider-Manning doesn’t pay the bills; everyone’s gotta have an ambition, right?)

[b]You lived in New York for a while now, right? What do you think of the city?[/b]

[b]How much technology do you use on a daily basis?[/b]

[b]What do you like?[/b]
(Hobbies, talents, interests, things you like and are good at.)

[b]What do you dislike?[/b]
(Fears, food you hate, things you consider not-good or bad.)

[b]Do you think true evil exists?[/b]
(Heavy question, eh? Just answer honestly. No pressure.)

[b]What’s your favorite color?[/b]
(Self-explanatory; also a place to put your text color if you have one.)

[b]Favorite song?[/b]
(What song defines your character?)

[b]Anything else to add?[/b]
(Miscellaneous. Anything that wasn’t covered upstairs, or anything you think is worth mentioning.)

[b]What are your thoughts on these people?[/b]
(Relations. List each character by name, in their respective color, and your character’s [u][i]current[/i][/u] thoughts on them. Most characters should be aware of each other at least a little. To what extent is up to you.)
[/color][/center]

Here's the CS everyone! Courtesy of @EnterTheHero

---

And that's about it for now. I'm looking forward to roleplaying with you all!

[King Kindred]

[King Kindred]

I'll be starting the IC on Monday to give people more time to get their characters in. I know there's a still a few more wanting to join or have already posted in the interest check.

[Crimson Flame]

I’m looking forward to it.

I’ve been excited to play this version of Danny for a while. >:3

[King Kindred]

Same. I've been really looking forward to playing an experienced Caty. Also, do you guys want a discord?

[GubGar]

I'm also excited! I'm looking forward to seeing how Oliver, a pretty isolated spider-person, ends up interacting with everyone else.

As for a potential discord, I could take it or leave it either way. It'd probably be convenient to talk there, but is by no means something I feel we need.

[King Kindred]

I'm also excited! I'm looking forward to seeing how Oliver, a pretty isolated spider-person, ends up interacting with everyone else.

As for a potential discord, I could take it or leave it either way. It'd probably be convenient to talk there, but is by no means something I feel we need.

@GubGar

Same. It's going to be interesting to see the different dynamics as they all end up gathering and working together.

And I feel the same, but wanted to see what the consensus before we started.

[Crimson Flame]

I like using Discord personally.

[Polaris North]

I'm looking forward to how many Sam can convince to kill their adversaries to lessen the load

Also on the topic of discord, I'm good either or. I'm more active on discord, if I'm being honest.

[Duthguy]

Like most people here said I'm fine with getting a discord and fine with not getting one

[GubGar]

Seems like over all the court rules in favor of it.

[King Kindred]

I'll get one up this weekend.

[King Kindred]

Hey, everyone! I'm sorry, today and this weekend unexpectedly got busy. But I'm free tomorrow so we'll get started then.

[GubGar]

Hey, everyone! I'm sorry, today and this weekend unexpectedly got busy. But I'm free tomorrow so we'll get started then.

@King Kindred

No sweat, this time of year tends to bring unexpected busy spikes

[King Kindred]

<Snipped quote by King Kindred>

No sweat, this time of year tends to bring unexpected busy spikes

@GubGar

Thank you for understanding.

Here's the discord link so you all can pop-in. I'm about to get started on the IC post.

discord.com/invite/VXn2JPEE

[King Kindred]

And it begins! With a giant Spider-Monkey attacking New York. Cancel your Christmas Eve plans because Anansi has an adventure for you.

[GubGar]

Of all the fearsome things that we could have encountered, the Spy Kids 2 spider monkey is perhaps the most horrifying possibility. And I never even considered it.

[King Kindred]

Of all the fearsome things that we could have encountered, the Spy Kids 2 spider monkey is perhaps the most horrifying possibility. And I never even considered it.

@GubGar

Expect the unexpected on this wild ride of fun. I considered a regular giant spider, but a giant spider monkey was so much better.

[King Kindred]

Sorry for the delay on Otto's entrance. I believe we're still waiting for a few more.

[DClassified]

After the long wait, here it is. It may need some edits, but I could be in the cut editing forever, so I’mma just put it up.

Spider-Fu

All right, let’s take it from the top, one more time…

What’s your name?

Zheng Alexander or 'Xander'
_{Lang Zhu | The Tarantula
'Alexander The Great'}

How old are you?

21

What do you look like?

Appearance

5'10"
Muscular Mesomorphic Build
Mid-length Tapered Brown Hair
Vitiligo
Scarred Torso; Tattooed on his Back.

Ximu

What's your story? What was it like before and after becoming a Spider-Totem?

I was told that I was born of a one-night stand when my mother was a teenager and that she died giving birth to me. I have never found out who my father was and at this point, I don’t care to look. I apparently had no other family…So, for my early years, I lived between different foster families…They said behind closed doors that I was too destructive…There seemed like there was no where I fit in. That is, until Frank found me.

Frank Zheng knew my mother when she was a pupil of his and when he learned who I was, he adopted me. He ran a martial arts school and I started training there under him when I was nine. Initially, he didn’t want to train me, but even as young as I was, he said I was determined. The teddy bear from my last foster family had seen better days.

Frank—my dad, had helped refine a lot of my rougher edges. I was doing better in school and, since I had a way to focus my aggression, I got into less fights; I even made a few good friends. We had one of the top martial arts schools in chinatown.

Things seemed to be really turning around for my life. Then, I was hit with yet another change.

Five years ago, I was finishing up packing equipment away in the basement, and a strange looking spider fell from the ceiling and bit my neck. I managed to swat it away and although it hurt at the moment, I didn’t think much of it initially.

The next morning, though, I felt like I was on fire. A lot of hair had fallen out on my pillows. Panicking, I tried to get up out of bed to rush to the bathroom, my blanket was stuck. Trying to pull it off, shooting pain went through my wrist and hands as spikes ripped through my skin and tore through the blanket when I tried ripping it off. All the commotion made my dad come and check things out…

Instead of freaking out and rushing me to the hospital, he just cleaned me up. When we learned that I could sort of control the spikes that came out of me, Dad got in contact with some elderly looking man in a wheelchair. The old man, named Xaiver, explained that I wasn’t the only teen that went through changes like this. At his school, they taught those changing teens how to control those powers that they had. So, even though it sucked to transfer schools, Dad and I agreed that it would be safer.

I eventually even learned that two of my friends also had the same thing happen to them. That they were those new Spider-Twin superheroes. They even inspired me to take on the idea of using my powers and skill to become a superhero too, “The Tarantula”, Protector of Chinatown.

Though…those better times didn’t last.

One night several months later, I was training late in our dojo, since we had a huge martial arts tournament coming up. Apparently, an uncle was even coming all the way from China to watch. As I was leaving, some men were talking to my dad. It seemed odd that they were there so late. Even stranger was an outfit one of the men was wearing, a stupidly expensive white and black suit. Too expensive for a casual visit. Dad explained that “M” was just an old friend who was partially in charge of organizing the tournament. He told me not to wait up for him and that he’d be home soon.

I should have noticed the bags under his eyes that day were different. I should have stayed with him. I should have asked why those men were there so late I should have asked him to just drive me home. I should have…

Anyway, I had made it down the block when I realized I forgot my school ID. By the time I made it back, the man with the white suit was gone and my dad was laying on the mats, fatally wounded. I…The last thing that he told me was…That things were going to be alright. That even without him there, not to become a slave to my nature.

I swore I would find out who did this to him…and I would find justice for him.

At some point after the police arrived, I passed out.

When I woke up, I was back home. Having no idea what was going on, I rushed out to the living room and met my uncle, Shang Chi. He explained that he wished to be here sooner, but regardless, now he’d be here to look after and to protect me. I learned a lot of things that day.

What I learned was that my dad had his own rougher edges. A really bad gambling addiction that led him to owing money to the Inner Demons. A criminal organization that was run by the man I saw that night, “M” or “Mister Negative”. That our life was only peaceful until he was no longer able to pay his debts. Now that I had seen Mister Negative in the flesh, I was no longer safe alone. Father knew this, so he asked Uncle to look after me.

However, Uncle Shang couldn’t interfere directly, the family comprised the organization known as the Five Weapons Society. Despite being a direct descendent, my father dissociated himself from them. An attack now from Shang as Supreme Commander against Mr. Negative and the Inner Demons could start a war.

In my anger, I was determined that I would find this Mr. Negative on my own and deal with him. Uncle Shang told me that I wasn’t ready to face a threat like that. That fighting him wasn’t fighting one man, but fighting an army. An army that could go after anyone or anything I knew and cared about. That if I ran with my heart instead of waiting with my mind, I’d lose everything.

In my pain I lashed out at him and, to much of my ignorance, he taught me why he is known as The Master of Kung Fu. He said that the training I received was impressive, but unfinished. My powers made me strong, but unrefined. Still, he said he understood that trying to stop me would be pointless, but he made a counteroffer. Instead of me running into trouble, he would train me to prepare for the challenges that laid ahead. Cleverly worded, I agreed.

In the year that followed, between training, work, and the superhero business, my social life seemed to vanish. I’d been breaking down Mister Negative’s campaign slowly. Even with my spider-friends, I had grown somewhat distant. I had gotten a job at a restaurant close to the apartment where I lived named the Lucky Star. That was also around the time I met a girl named Valerie, and she was a regular there.

It was random but we formed a sort of connection. Her tips turned into Banter. Banter became conversations. Before I knew it, by the time I had graduated high school, we were dating. She was my light in the dark. We went places, did…things… It was the happiest I had been since I had lost my father.

Which was why that couldn’t last either…

…

What happened was enough that I had put down the mask for over a year now.

I still work at the Lucky Star. I still live in the apartment that I grew up in, although the price of rent has gone up since then. My quest of vengeance against Mr. Negative continues, I am getting closer. Uncle Shang told me that he has no more to teach me in terms of combat, though he doesn’t think I am ready to confront him yet.

I still have to conquer the darkness in me first, being careful not to become ‘a slave to my nature’…

Powers
Enhanced Strength
Enhanced Senses
Enhanced Agility/Speed
Spider-Sense
Wall-Crawling
Regenerative Healing/Durability

The Spines: I have also developed a mutation that allows me to grow spines and spikes from my body. The spines grow from my hair, and I can throw them at targets. They can contain a chemical that can disrupt movement and cause disorienting numbness when hit with enough of them. They’re capable of penetrating most forms of clothing, even some types of armor, depending on how hard I throw. The spikes on the other hand, grow from my bones, and are as strong as I am. Their sharpness depends on if I remember to do so beforehand. If they break, I have to start all over.

The problem with both of these things is that overusing them can lower my calcium levels, which I have to maintain through milk and pills. My healing keeps me from getting cramps so easily, as well as from bleeding out, but shooting the spines too much will also drain my stamina. It was also noted during my time in Xaiver’s school, my powers can be somewhat unstable. They are tied to my emotions, so I can grow spikes or shoot spines involuntarily if I am not careful.
_{Besides…I don’t need to add dry patches to my already patchy skin tone…}

Skills
Expert Martial Artist - Being trained by both my father, then later by the legendary Shang-Chi, Martial Arts has become my top skillset. Although I have black-belts a couple forms of wushu, muay thai and boran, Uncle Shang has taught me something different. He has helped me to develop my own martial art, which we have called “蜘蛛之路” or the “Way of the Spider”. It is a form that mixes different martial arts techniques designed to compliment my spider abilities. I am always learning, so it is constantly evolving.

Parkour - Unlike the other spiders, and ironically leaning more into my ‘Tarantula’ name, I don’t actually swing in webs. Instead, I use my agility and speed to traverse through the city. Having lived here all my life, it became easy to pick up how to time jumps, what routes to take, and how to maneuver through obstacles while moving at high speeds.

Do you believe in aliens?

In the world we live in…anything seems possible to exist in some form.

What are your goals for the future?

After my business with Mr. Negative is handled…? I’m not so sure…I do wish to reopen our dojo one day…So that kids like me have a place to take out their frustrations productively, and at the same time, learn to be better people. Otherwise…perhaps I could go back to school to finish getting my history degree.

You lived in New York for a while now, right? What do you think of the city?

I have lived in Chinatown my entire life and I generally like most parts of the city, but some areas I tend to avoid.

How much technology do you use on a daily basis?

My phone, laptop, most of the daily things. I prefer to do most things with my hands.

What do you like?

Martial Arts
History; Specifically the battles and old timey warfare.)
Honorable Combat
Cats; I have one, his name on paper is Máoqiú, but it just means “Fluffball.”

Music (Particularly the tones of guitar)

What do you dislike?
Injustice, whatever form it takes.
Gangs, Guns, Drugs, Politics…
Jello (Is it a liquid? A Solid? I can’t eat whatever this weird middle thing is.)
Neat-freaks. (It doesn’t have to be perfect, leave it where it is.)

Among other things…

Do you think true evil exists?

Yeah, yang to balance yin. For all the good in the world, there is always evil to match.

What’s your favorite color?
“Red.”

Favorite song?



Anything else to add?

I was a big fan of various mythologies as a kid, mostly Chinese, Greek, Thai, Egyptian, and Japanese. I’m also bilingual, namely Chinese and English. I can also understand some other languages, although I cannot speak them; Spanish for example.

What are your thoughts on these people?

Shang-Chi - My legal uncle and mentor. Although there have been times where we have clashed, he has never mistreated me nor looked down on me because of our circumstances. Despite not being blood, he is one of the few that has treated me like family, and honestly, I owe him my life.

Caty Davis - Cat is likely the closest thing I have to a best friend. She trained in my father’s Dojo as well, and we've been sparring partners multiple times throughout highschool. We've had similar triumphs and sorrows, which brought us closer I suppose. She is stronger than she gives herself credit, she's earned my trust and respect.

Danny Davis - Caty’s twin. Initially, it was simple, if Cat was my friend, and she loved Danny, I would care for him too. When we were teens, there were a couple of times I got into fights with his bullies. Which, I’m sure some ‘assumptions’ were made about our friendship, but it’s whatever. I learned after hanging with him a bit, he’s got a good heart and a big one, which a lot of people don’t have. Honestly, Dan being able to keep that stupid smile on his face when things went wrong was what inspired me to be a hero. When he went rogue, though, things changed. I don’t hate him after learning what was going on, but that doesn’t change what he’s done.

The Other Spiders - Can’t say that I’ve met them. New York is a lot bigger than it looks on a map. I guess if they’re just trying to be heroes like Spider-Man and Spider-Woman, they probably aren’t so bad.