Candle

Old One Rising (A Lovecraftian adventure-horror RP) (Reboot)

Please do not sacrifice cats. As Lovecraft's favored animal, it will surely bring the wrath of Cthulhu down upon you.

@RBYDark

To be fair, if we weren't all at least somewhat okay with getting Cthulhu'd, we probably wouldn't be here.

Old One Rising (A Lovecraftian adventure-horror RP) (Reboot)

Fr. John Finn Callaghan

Basics

Name: Fr. Eoin Fionn O'Callaghan
Title/Nickname: Father John Finn
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Build/Physicality: 5'6"; small but wiry
Appearance:


Background

Psychological Status: Dubious; an unhappy childhood and early trauma mark him with occasional manic bouts of spiritual euphoria or agony. However, the strict psychological and spiritual conditioning of his pastoral training help guard against these dark passions of his youth.
Paranormal Quirks: In his manias, he is beset with odd apocalyptic visions. [Should this be elaborated on now or as things go along?]
Magical Potential: High; he seeks answers to the dark signs of his manias in dusty books and old artifacts, against the teachings and better judgment of the Church. While this may lead to magical aptitude in the future, it also presents the risk of official reproach and punishment by his ecclesiastical superiors.
Hometown: Cork, County Cork, Ireland
Education: Doctor of Divinity at Blackfriars, Oxford
Occupation: Roman Catholic Priest
Achievements:
Sexuality: Heterosexual, but celibate; the romantic history of his past haunts him.
Religion/Philosophy: Roman Catholic
Marital Status: Celibate on account of his priesthood.
Family Status: His mother, Martha (58), remains in Ireland. His sister, Aisling (28), has been missing for 11 years. His father and two brothers are dead.

Biography: Father "John Finn" O'Callaghan was born in 1891 in Cobh, a old coastal city in the south of Ireland, during the long period of stagnation that preceded the Anglo-Irish War. Young Eoin's father, a successful cabinetmaker, was killed during a public demonstration against English dominion over Ireland, and with his loss the family lapsed into poverty. His mother, once a charming musician and a mainstay of Irish social gossip, could not bear the burden of their newfound hardship; she retreated entirely into the quiet solace of her own mind, never again speaking a word and leaving the preservation of her family in the hands of her young sons.

Eoin's older brother, Brian, found work and pay in the iron-works of the nearby city of Cork, but in a matter of months he had fallen in with a group of Republican revolutionaries - and, eventually, the mob. Brian lost his job when the authorities discovered his connection to the mob, at which time he urged Eoin to join him in his illegal dealings. The young and timid Eoin was hesitant to abandon his mother and start a life of crime, but when his younger brother Niall fell ill, he felt he had no choice. At twelve years old, he joined the ranks of the Irish underground.

Scrawny for his age, Eoin was initially thought to be useless by Brian's criminal cohort; he served as a lookout and an informant for the mob until one fateful night when he was caught by a rival gang of young ruffians. Somehow, Eoin fought his way out of a pack of eleven or so bigger and tougher boys. The mob noticed; they began to cultivate Eoin's talents more seriously, building his strength as a fighter and sending him to collect on loans and fight in clandestine boxing matches.

By the time his sick brother, Niall, finally died of fever a year later, it was already too late for Eoin. He was too deep in the mix to escape, and he had found a way to provide for his family. However, Niall's death rang in Eoin's mind without end; he saw his brother's face in the eyes of every person he was send to rough up, every child whose parents he hurt. He even lost focus during a fight in the ring, letting his rival pugilist knock him cold. (It is at this time that Eoin experienced his first vision.) He awoke in a Church hospital, where during his convalescence he was met by an elderly priest, Father Fitzpatrick who helped him navigate his emotional turmoil at losing his father and brother, his guilt at falling in with the criminal sort, and his unmet yearning for a better life.

Even after he left the hospital, he would return to Fr. Fitzpatrick to confess his sins and ask for guidance. He resisted the priest's suggestion of priesthood for years, but he also began to find ways to extricate himself from the mob's grasp. This slow return to normalcy was brought to a crossroads in 1916, when the Easter Rising threw Ireland into a brutal war against England. Brian fought with the Republicans on account of his early affiliation with them, but Eoin saw in this conflict the final choice: join the fight and perhaps never return to the good, or renounce all evils and seek redemption. The choice became clear within a week of the Rising, when Brian was heartlessly slain by the mob for abandoning his criminal duty.

Eoin left Cork with the help of Fr. Fitzpatrick, who found him safe passage to England and enrollment in the Blackfriar's Hall of the University of Oxford. To avoid suspicion as an Irishman in England, Eoin Fionn became John Finn - and after several years of strict study and conditioning in the inner life of the Church, he became Father John Finn, Doctor of Divinity and Priest of the Dominican Order. He finished his education in 1921, but he could not return to Ireland on account of his criminal past and staying in England at the climax of the Anglo-Irish War was not an option. So, Father John Finn Callaghan was assigned to a small parish in America - Arkham, Massachusets.

Even though the Anglo-Irish War concluded a few short months after his arrival in Arkham, he found his ministry there fruitful and fulfilling. The small parish had great opportunity to do good for the poor and wayward souls who found refuge in the town of Arkham, and his proximity to Miskatonic University allows him access to excellent libraries and archives for his research into all things holy, secular, and profane. He teaches Divinity classes at Miskatonic University, and has been a priest at the local Catholic Church for nearly four years.

Miscellaneous Information

Weapons: None.
Belongings: A leather-bound Bible, a sardonyx-and-silver rosary, a silver scapular cross, a silver pocket-watch, keys to the Church, keys to the Miskatonic humanities building and library, a collection of books at home.

Old One Rising (A Lovecraftian adventure-horror RP) (Reboot)

@T Risket Three people named John might be funny.

@BurningCold

Oh, boy. I'll de-John if y'all think it's best.

Old One Rising (A Lovecraftian adventure-horror RP) (Reboot)

Be that guy! Reproach deserved and heeded.

Old One Rising (A Lovecraftian adventure-horror RP) (Reboot)

To add a little variety...

Fr. John Finn Callaghan

Basics

Name: Fr. Eoin Fionn O'Callaghan
Title/Nickname: Father John Finn
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Build/Physicality: 5'6"; small but wiry
Appearance:


Background

Psychological Status: Dubious; an unhappy childhood and early trauma mark him with occasional manic bouts of spiritual euphoria or agony. However, the strict psychological and spiritual conditioning of his pastoral training help guard against these dark passions of his youth.
Paranormal Quirks: In his manias, he is beset with odd apocalyptic visions. [Should this be elaborated on now or as things go along?]
Magical Potential: High; he seeks answers to the dark signs of his manias in dusty books and old artifacts, against the teachings and better judgment of the Church. While this may lead to magical aptitude in the future, it also presents the risk of official reproach and punishment by his ecclesiastical superiors.
Hometown: Cork, County Cork, Ireland
Education: Doctor of Divinity at Blackfriars, Oxford
Occupation: Roman Catholic Priest
Achievements:
Sexuality: Heterosexual, but celibate; the romantic history of his past haunts him.
Religion/Philosophy: Roman Catholic
Marital Status: Celibate on account of his priesthood.
Family Status: His mother, Martha (58), remains in Ireland. His sister, Aisling (28), has been missing for 11 years. His father and two brothers are dead.

Biography: Father "John Finn" O'Callaghan was born in 1891 in Cobh, a old coastal city in the south of Ireland, during the long period of stagnation that preceded the Anglo-Irish War. Young Eoin's father, a successful cabinetmaker, was killed during a public demonstration against English dominion over Ireland, and with his loss the family lapsed into poverty. His mother, once a charming musician and a mainstay of Irish social gossip, could not bear the burden of their newfound hardship; she retreated entirely into the quiet solace of her own mind, never again speaking a word and leaving the preservation of her family in the hands of her young sons.

Eoin's older brother, Brian, found work and pay in the iron-works of the nearby city of Cork, but in a matter of months he had fallen in with a group of Republican revolutionaries - and, eventually, the mob. Brian lost his job when the authorities discovered his connection to the mob, at which time he urged Eoin to join him in his illegal dealings. The young and timid Eoin was hesitant to abandon his mother and start a life of crime, but when his younger brother Niall fell ill, he felt he had no choice. At twelve years old, he joined the ranks of the Irish underground.

Scrawny for his age, Eoin was initially thought to be useless by Brian's criminal cohort; he served as a lookout and an informant for the mob until one fateful night when he was caught by a rival gang of young ruffians. Somehow, Eoin fought his way out of a pack of eleven or so bigger and tougher boys. The mob noticed; they began to cultivate Eoin's talents more seriously, building his strength as a fighter and sending him to collect on loans and fight in clandestine boxing matches.

By the time his sick brother, Niall, finally died of fever a year later, it was already too late for Eoin. He was too deep in the mix to escape, and he had found a way to provide for his family. However, Niall's death rang in Eoin's mind without end; he saw his brother's face in the eyes of every person he was send to rough up, every child whose parents he hurt. He even lost focus during a fight in the ring, letting his rival pugilist knock him cold. (It is at this time that Eoin experienced his first vision.) He awoke in a Church hospital, where during his convalescence he was met by an elderly priest, Father Fitzpatrick who helped him navigate his emotional turmoil at losing his father and brother, his guilt at falling in with the criminal sort, and his unmet yearning for a better life.

Even after he left the hospital, he would return to Fr. Fitzpatrick to confess his sins and ask for guidance. He resisted the priest's suggestion of priesthood for years, but he also began to find ways to extricate himself from the mob's grasp. This slow return to normalcy was brought to a crossroads in 1916, when the Easter Rising threw Ireland into a brutal war against England. Brian fought with the Republicans on account of his early affiliation with them, but Eoin saw in this conflict the final choice: join the fight and perhaps never return to the good, or renounce all evils and seek redemption. The choice became clear within a week of the Rising, when Brian was heartlessly slain by the mob for abandoning his criminal duty.

Eoin left Cork with the help of Fr. Fitzpatrick, who found him safe passage to England and enrollment in the Blackfriar's Hall of the University of Oxford. To avoid suspicion as an Irishman in England, Eoin Fionn became John Finn - and after several years of strict study and conditioning in the inner life of the Church, he became Father John Finn, Doctor of Divinity and Priest of the Dominican Order. He finished his education in 1921, but he could not return to Ireland on account of his criminal past and staying in England at the climax of the Anglo-Irish War was not an option. So, Father John Finn Callaghan was assigned to a small parish in America - Arkham, Massachusets.

Even though the Anglo-Irish War concluded a few short months after his arrival in Arkham, he found his ministry there fruitful and fulfilling. The small parish had great opportunity to do good for the poor and wayward souls who found refuge in the town of Arkham, and his proximity to Miskatonic University allows him access to excellent libraries and archives for his research into all things holy, secular, and profane. He teaches Divinity classes at Miskatonic University, and has been a priest at the local Catholic Church for nearly four years.

Miscellaneous Information

Weapons: None.
Belongings: A leather-bound Bible, a sardonyx-and-silver rosary, a silver scapular cross, a silver pocket-watch, keys to the Church, keys to the Miskatonic humanities building and library, a collection of books at home. [Advise which Church on the map will be this guy's home!]

Old One Rising (A Lovecraftian adventure-horror RP) (Reboot)

Interested! Still taking newcomers?

Celestial Bonds: The Fateful Few

I'm currently revoking my reservation of the shield.

@VarionusNW

In that case,yes please? :D

Either way, in.

Tabula Rasa MkI, the Quintessential Geopolitical Experiment

At this point, having put a lot of effort and hope into this, if Captios isn't going to get this rolling, I would be willing to. If we don't take off in a day or two, I'll be happy to get my own started. Any objections?

Tabula Rasa MkI, the Quintessential Geopolitical Experiment

DAWNSTAR said
I'm not actually quite sure it is needed to have the same level of technology anyway. Mind you, technological differences are often determined by many factors. Among these factors are the history of the culture in question. A culture which has a less violent history and has worked together more often will have more advanced tech. But, that doesn't mean that all cultures with less violence will have more advanced tech. There are many things that have to be considered when looking at tech levels. We will always have varied tech levels. Just because some people have a higher tech level at the beginning doesn't mean that they will have a higher tech level in the future. In fact, I would expect the cultures with low tech levels to focus mostly on gaining tech rather than fighting. As for history, just because it is 4,000 BC doesn't mean that we can't have history. Around 4,000 history is when we first saw written history. Before that, it would have been told orally. The history of our cultures are basically the legends of our people, we aren't even quite sure that the history is exact. I know that the history in my culture is quite possibly only true in the case of the names. Nobody can actually tell where history begins and the stories end. But, what you have been suggesting is that we should have the same tech level . I can't say I disagree but the tech levels will vary per culture. A war like culture would have developed defensive architecture and weaponry faster. A trade culture would have developed more in the area of trade tech and transports. Our cultures will in not always have the same tech levels as each other as we advance on with this roleplay. Truth is, I would be disappointed if we did have the same tech. It shouldn't be our world's history which effects what level our tech should be because, as Captios said, this is a blank slate. We shouldn't be trying to base our tech levels off the tech levels of our world's cultures at the same time.

Dawnstar makes some excellent points. We have definitely focused on different areas in terms of defining our cultures' abilities, which is good AND realistic. Lots of us are going the military route, which is a little worrying for our long-term prospects, but ultimately I foresee a lot of diversity as we begin growing into our civilizations. To a degree, as proto-nations our level of customization is limited at the get-go - I'm less excited by what I've already written for the Jals than by what comes after we begin. Nevertheless, I hope we see these cultures go in some interesting directions.

The concern, I suppose, is not really a matter of technology, which has been the focus of most of the debate so far, but overall progress. Societies' total population and their cultural/technological development go hand in hand; the larger they get, the more need there is for organization, and the increased need for food, shelter, and livelihoods necessitates the aggregation of populations in urban centers. Proximity breeds competition, competition breeds innovation, and so whether you have copper or bronze weapons is more indicative of how big your culture is that anything else. As long as nobody makes us laugh with an extremely precocious Iron Age culture, weapons or cities shouldn'd be concerning us - we will have ample time to build more cities by the time our cultures even encounter each other. It's population that is a concern.

For scale, the real world had a population of as little as seven million people at our starting point; assuming that human development since the Ice Age has been more or less consistent with real world populations, no one of us should have a population of more than a million. Realistically, each of us should begin with less than 100,000 to mirror the populations of pre-urbanized 4th-millennium cultures.

To use Partisan's Tao-Zheng as an example, since he provides us with some pretty accurate population counts, there are approximately 60,000 Chon-worshippers and 30,000 Shen-worshippers - 90,000 total. That puts him at the upper limits of a believable range, but it is still believable. That being said, Partisan might have to keep the challenges of a large population in mind; lots of mouths to feed, y'know.

Everyone else doesn't really provide an idea of how big their population is, and that's probably a good thing. Once the grand experiment begins, they can articulate the specifics of their populations - that's when obviously OP cultures will show their faces. Until then, any concerns about number of cities or whatnot aren't a huge bother to me. Again, it matters much more what happens after the starting whistle than before.

Just some thoughts.

Tabula Rasa MkI, the Quintessential Geopolitical Experiment

Partisan said I see. Did the europeans not have better weapons armor and tools etc than Asians?

No, Europe was barely populated in 4000 BC; Mesopotamia (Cradle West) saw the creation of pocket-sized empires with armies just big enough to ruin another city's day, but these were the best of the best. We're talking EARLY Bronze Age here. Europe's civilizations were still stuck in the Neolithic - Stonehenge, by comparison, was completed 900 years after our starting point! Asia was about on par with metalworking with Mesopotamia, but their bronzework was typically non-military. Regardless of whether or not they had bronze WEAPONS in Asia, they had the capability of making them.