Animorphs
We can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky, and we've got to be careful. Really careful. So we don't trust anyone. Because if they find us...
Well, we just won't let them find us.
The thing you've got to know is that everyone is in really big trouble.
Yeah.
Even you.
Plot
One night, five teenagers discover that parasitic aliens, called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by taking over people's minds and bodies. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an Andalite named Elfangor, who, before dying from injuries sustained when his spaceship crashed, gives them the power to morph into any animal they have touched. Joined by Elfangor's younger sibling and unable to trust almost anyone else, they begin a violent and secretive guerrilla war against the invading Yeerks to save the Earth.
During the course of the series, the five teenagers grow from fun-loving kids into an elite team of paramilitary troops, attacking the Yeerk invasion force wherever it is discovered. Along the way, they find allies that they never expected, enemies that prove more dangerous (and, in some cases, bizarre) than the Yeerks themselves could ever be, travel to alien worlds, and confront their own inner conflicts. Month after month of pressure begins to take its toll, and the kids are irrevocably changed from the innocent suburban youths they once were.
Setting
Erie, Pennsylvania is a small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania, bordering Lake Erie to the north, and a dense forest to the east. Otherwise, the city is fairly isolated, and is usually only visited by sightseeing tourists for the lake, or people trying to get to Lancaster. In lieu of a map, I have a 3x3 grid with 9 districts in total -- I can't draw, but at least there's a setting! The districts are marked by their relation to Perry Square, the residential part of town. Other than that, it's worth noting that the time setting is vaguely 90's/2000's. Although I'll be trying to avoid using any specific year, think mid-2000's. Ipods are still pretty new, 3D Printers are still scifi, and every singer sounds like this.
Rules
• If your character can't survive the situation they're in, they won't.
• Everybody has Quasi-GM plot powers. If you want something to happen, like a car crashing or your character's family member being a controller or something, go right ahead! That being said, it helps if you ask first, just in case it conflicts with plot stuff I haven't mentioned.
• We're in this for the long run. I'm not going to have a "Don't be a dick" rule, because that's kind of pretentious of me, but try to play nice. We're all friends here.
One-Offs
Alright so, I figured I should summarize this pretty quickly. In the books, there's a lot of character-building/details that we find while the characters are alone, because of the first-person perspective they're written in. Since we can't get exposition that way, one-offs are essentially filler arcs that center around your character, in a single post, for all of your exposition/character building/deep dark secret needs! Put 'em in a hider like this.
Roles
The Leader- Whether they like it or not, this character is the type of person who people naturally gravitate to in times of crisis. Their ability to keep a clear head under pressure and naturally strong leadership abilities are their best strengths, and characters will naturally fall in behind them when the going gets rough. Taken by @WhySoSerious
The Lancer- Where the leader is calm and in control, their lancer is often rash and impulsive. They can be the leader's best friend or worst rival, but the lancer is the second-in-command, first and foremost. Though their unpredictability can sometimes make them difficult to work with, their ability to think outside of the box and their extreme loyalty make them an asset to the team. Taken by @Xeronoia
The Big Guy- While not necessarily the largest member of the team, physically, he's definitely the most aggressive. He could hold his own in a fight even before gaining the ability to morph. He's almost always in favor of doing things in the most direct, preferably physical way possible. This trait may put him at odds with the rest of the team. Taken by @Deadbeatwalking
The Smart Guy- An extremely intelligent character who prefers to think things through before jumping into them. Exact area(s) of expertise are up to the player, but this should generally be the more logical character in the group. They generally prefers peace; or at least, not getting their ass kicked unnecessarily. Snarkiness requested but not required. Taken by @UrbanEvolution
The Heart- The more emotional/artsy character, and the group's moral compass. They are the first one to speak up whenever it seems the group is going too far past that line that separates good from evil. This character has an excellent understanding of how people tick, and while they usually uses this gift for good, to help keep the group cohesive and take care of members emotionally and whatnot, they are also an excellent manipulator, and the best morpher of the group. Taken by @dead anime dad
The Alien- A young member of the same race who grants the group their morphing powers. They'll be with Elfangor as he dies, and then with the group, probably hiding on someone's property. They'll give background on the secret invaders and their motives, while being very cryptic about their own people. Characteristics include arrogance and a complete lack of knowledge regarding human culture. Taken by @tobiax
The Loner- For whatever reason, this character starts off on the fringes of the group. They keep most things to themselves, or one or two close friends. They'll probably have more solo posts than other team members. Eventually, the group will warm up to them and they'll take a more prominent place in the team, participating in votes and the like. Taken by @dead anime mom
