False Prophet

Tips for writing POC, LGBT+, and other minority characters in RP

I can't help much in the POC department. I am mixed, but I appear white and I really don't know much about my culture (rip). However, I am an mlm transguy, so I'll give my two cents there.

There are simply no trans characters that aren't comedy relief. I can name like 2, and they all look like they poorly pass despite being adults. Most trans people who are adults and a few years into their transition can pass with flying colors. It's also not like...the center of our personality? Sure, I'm trans, I might put a pride flag on my bag if I'm feeling cool, but it's not something we flaunt around (for me it's out of the fear of getting a hate crime against me lmao). The other thing is that our personality isn't 100% depressed. Yes, I have depression, my trans partner does too, but we're not happy-sucking vampires.

Also, the trope that all nonbinary characters are nonhuman or "????? gender" mysterious children. Nonbinary people are people, not aliens. Sure, it's cool if your fictional alien culture has different genders, but there are more than two genders on Earth as well...haha. Nonbinary also doesn't mean androgyny. Many enby people like being androg, but some don't. My best advice? Just talk to trans people. Making this thread was a good step in that direction.

ALSO, I have no idea if you wanted to include mental illness and neurodivergency in this thread, but I'd be happy to talk about it.

EDIT: Basically, just like any character you're writing, avoid outdated cliches lol

Malaise (A BoTW Fic)

Link has just woken up after a century's rest in the shrine of resurrection. As expected, he navigated the Great Plateau and was given the task to find Impa. However, a Yiga Clan threat is on the rise, and Kakariko Village is none the wiser. This will be updated whenever I see fit since I'm a busy guy. Just for reference, this fic will never feature 18+ content. Don't expect it. If you want more consistent updates, check the google doc. It isn't as pretty, but it is revised more often. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KVbAQYEtkjfqyEtyCPJkutuRDXyYiLgy5MFFOj1HPY0/edit?usp=sharing

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Prologue

The grass was set ablaze caused by the sparks of dying machinery. A light sprinkle of rain kept the would-be inferno at bay, and the drops pitter-pattered gently against the ground. It was as if Hylia herself was sobbing over the destruction of her kingdom. Where was their goddess now, though? Hyrule’s chosen hero knelt onto the muddy ground, using his sword for support. The one and only Sword that Seals the Darkness had become nothing more than a makeshift crutch for the hero. Both the blade and its wielder have seen better days.

Link grunted as he fought to keep steady. His clothes were singed and stained with a mixture of mud and blood. It was his blood. His body was burned from the Guardian attacks. Each movement he made caused his wounds to sting intensely. He wanted to rest, but the battle was far from over… Out of the corner of his blue eyes, the knight spotted another one of those damned machines crawling over like an oversized bug. It clawed over its fallen brethren, which were reduced by Link to a tangle of gears and mechanical limbs. It stared down at him with its single, luminous eye.

He had to get up. He had to keep standing. Seething, Link pushed himself back to his feet, stumbling- and ignoring the Princess’s pleas to retreat and save himself. He couldn’t do that. This was what he had trained for his entire life! It was his duty as her appointed knight to protect her. After all, he believed she was Hyrule’s last hope. Despite the pain shooting through his body, he knew his clash with death would end tonight. This was it. He was going to die for Hyrule.

Brushing a few locks of his now grimy, golden hair out of his eyes. Link held his ground. He panted and lifted up the legendary blade. The demonic machine ominously beeped as it focused its attack on him. Good. He could hold it off just long enough while the princess escaped. He listened to the beeps and whirrs of the enemy quicken. Within another second, it would release a harsh beam of energy and kill him. He gritted his teeth, preparing for the end.

But...it seemed the princess had other plans. She shoved her knight back, protesting his sacrifice. Link admired her courage, but he couldn’t focus on her sentiment for long. A blinding, golden light shot from her hand. He knew this was the power of the goddess. Even at death’s door, he was glad to see his companion finally accomplish her goal. She unlocked the power of the Golden Goddess. The light bathed her and the rest of the field, turning all a shimmering shade of gold. The battle was over, and Link fell back to his knees.

All of the Guardians fell limp and collapsed onto the ground, but so did he. He drew in a few shaky breaths. Link's body had gone numb from pain, but his head still spun. The knight desperately wanted to close his eyes and rest, but if he did, he wouldn’t open them ever again. The princess, though spattered with mud, looked as beautiful as ever. She lifted him, saying something he couldn’t quite understand. He weakly lifted his head and wheezed. His eyes stopped focusing, so her figure was a blur to him. Still, he tried to meet her gaze. It was a sparkling green. You can do this, he so desperately wanted to shout to her. You’re going to save Hyrule!

Link gave her, for a split second, a reassuring smile. However, the coughs that wracked his body were a grim reminder that it was his time. The princess held onto her chosen knight knowing, despite her reassuring words, he was not going to be okay. She saw him blink, draw in a small breath, and then close his eyes. Not a moment later, his muscles relaxed and he went limp. He was gone. She thought he felt heavier now.

LoZ: Age of Darkness (Closed & Moved to New Int Check)

@Dark Cloud
oh wack- good luck?

LoZ: Age of Darkness (Closed & Moved to New Int Check)

Haiko
Location: Edge of Castle Town
Mentions: @WolfredWolf
Interactions: Busy

Haiko sputtered as more water forced itself up his nose and mouth. It stung. He had slipped under the water’s surface for only a moment, and now he was drowning. The sky was dark, the water was dark- everything was dark. He felt disoriented when he resurfaced. As battered as he felt, Haiko knew he had to find a way out or he’d die here. The primal instinct to stay alive was keeping him going. The boy clung to the moat’s rocky edge like soaked clothes that clung to his body. He decided to sit there until he stopped coughing. He knew couldn’t climb like this. He needed a break

After a few moments, he’d spat out most of the water and could mostly breathe uninterrupted. Haiko started climbing up the rocky edge- and to his delight, he was actually making progress. He was going to get out of here. Then his feelings dropped- like the large chunk of rock that was supporting his weight. It fell out of the muddy bank and slashed in the water below, followed with him. Thankfully, he only slid down the side instead of falling dramatically. Asides from getting grit into his fingernails and now raw hands and knees, he was fine. He was, however, getting increasingly frustrated and discouraged. He was back at square one, in the frigid water trying not to get swept away. Exhaustion nagged at every bone in his body now.

Haiko shivered as he held onto the side. He was too tired to try again just yet...he needed to rest. Pressed against the muddy bank, he looked fragile and small. The rain made the moat swell up and caused the climb to become even more slippery. He was beginning to lose hope. Somewhere from the darkness, a hand grabbed his arm. He flinched but didn’t fight back. A stranger from the shore and grabbed him and was heaving him out of the water.

As soon as the boy realized he was being rescued, he clung to the person like a tick. What ever strength he had left was being used to hold on for dear life. The fires turned to smolders from the rain, so he had trouble making out exactly who had saved him. All he knew is that they were Hylian. The pointed ears gave it away. Haiko, also being 95% sure he was Hylian, shared the trait of pointed ears.

“Who are you?” He asked in a raspy voice.

:ὁ Animalia [OPEN!]

@Zanavyjust realized your pfp is zangoose

:ὁ Animalia [OPEN!]

I wanted to put Corrie in a class with some other PC. I missed much of my chance to make early connections, and it would make statistical sense for some of these people to have a class together (so far nobody has been in the same class as another PC). Just putting out my idea, will wait for other people to respond.

@Zanavy

fenzi majors in music, but perci and marcello are both 3d art majors for videogames and other media

:ὁ Animalia [OPEN!]

Percival
Location: Cafeteria
Mentions: @LostButterfly92 & @Argetlam350
Interactions: Busy

“She’s right,” Perci responded, “you should go to the nurse.” He started studying Marcello’s face and noticed there was still some blood on his muzzle. He had to crane his neck up to look at him properly. Gee, Marcello was really tall…

Marcello’s ears flicked in the direction of the approaching officers and he looked up at them. Perci watched them, looking a bit more apprehensive. He wondered if they were okay. He also made a mental note to never ever fuck with the hyena, who he just learned was named Zaina. She was also pretty tall- maybe not as tall as Marcello (because of his huge ears), but she was much more muscular. According to Fenzi, she was the one that knocked the raging baboon.

The jackrabbit who approached them gave them a stern talking to, but none of it was directed at Perci since he just showed up. Marcello nodded along, looking a bit awkward for being congratulated by the police. The goat noticed the glint of Marcello’s fangs since he had to keep his mouth open to breathe. It was surprising since Perci knew the majority of a maned wolf’s diet was fruit, but his teeth were still so large. It was a grim reminder to Perci that their relationship would most likely never happen.

“I have to go back to class,” Perci stated abruptly. He couldn’t reach to give Marcello a pat on the shoulder, so he opted for his forearm instead. “Take care of your nose, okay?” He then turned towards Zaina. “Uh, thanks-” Fuck, was was he thanking her for? Helping Marcello? That’d be weird, but he was thankful she stopped the fight. Perci started to feel awkward, so he walked back to Fenzi.

“I hate being a smaller animal,” The goat complained as he met up with his friend. Fenzi, who was even shorter than Perci nodded in agreement. She stood at a proud four and a half feet.

“Trust me,” she sighed, “We all do.”

“I gotta go back to history class. I left my bag in there- can I have that?” He pointed to a granola bar Fenzi hadn’t touched. The rabbit shook her head and handed it to him.

“Go wild.”

“Thanks.” Perci indeed went wild. He tore off the wrapper and shoved about half of it in his mouth. He took a few steps towards the door to leave.

“We have a meeting at The Warren after class, y’know?” Fenzi pointed out, knowing damn well her friend forgot about it.

“Shit-” Perci swore, his mouth full of granola. “I forgot… I’ll come, don’t worry.” With that, he pulled up his hoodie and opened the door. He could never get used to the sudden rush of cold air. His nose twitched.

LoZ: Age of Darkness (Closed & Moved to New Int Check)

Haiko
Location: Castle Town
Mentions: Like fucking everybody, but only in passing
Interactions: Open

Haiko had his knees drawn up to his chest. His entire body shuddered as he tried to hold in any sobs. He was terrified beyond belief, and his head pounded as his thoughts raced through it. The boy’s grip on his arms tightened as he tried to keep himself grounded. He felt so scared, but also furious. He was enraged at himself.

Look at yourself, you’re going to die here all alone without ever doing anything with your life.

Haiko continued to seethe while thinking to himself. The thing that upset him the most was that he was alone. He continued to get angry- his clothes were damp and he could feel himself violently shaking from the cold. He was going to die alone, cold, wet, and in a sewer. Haiko sniffed loudly, furrowing his brow. What a pathetic way to go out.

He felt cramped in the cobblestone alcove, it was so small he had to stay hunched over. His eyes flicked from figure to figure who passed him by. He tensed each time, waiting for one of them to notice him, but none did...yet- He only wished he had his dagger… The staff he carried on his back wasn’t nearly as intimidating, or good at inflicting damage. Regardless, he wasn’t sure what’d happen if he was confronted. Haiko thought about surrendering. He always was a coward, anyway...

A whizzing sound made him look up from his hiding spot. Lodged in one of the metal bars, barely an inch from his nose, was a shuriken. Haiko recoiled, stuffing his neck into his body like an awkward turtle. He watched in surprise as the bars that once blocked his path drooped and fell apart. Incredible! If that hit him, he was sure his flesh would’ve melted off his body. Regardless, he saw his opportunity to skedaddle, and by god was he going to take it. Not even bothering to see where the throwing came from, he slipped through the now broken bars and into the moat.

The water was cold- colder than the water in the alley. His waterlogged clothes made him feel heavy and sluggish, but he pushed onward to swim to the other side. The water was black, but it reflected the light of a few fires that danced in the town. It was like a sparkling portal into hell. The was behind him began to crumble with a sickening crash. He didn’t see what caused the explosion, but the sound made his ears ring. Chunks of rock and debris flew in all directions. Haiko plunged his head into the water as rubble rained down from above.

When he resurfaced, he watched a giant horse streak across Hyrule Field, and from behind it, a raging fire. What a terrifying sight! He clawed at the moat’s bank, trying to heave himself up. Slippery from the water, he lost his grip. Rocks tore at his fingertips and knees as he slid back down into the water. By now Haiko was exhausted from swimming, and he wasn’t sure if he had the strength to climb out. Water found its way up his nose and he began coughing. He wasn’t sure what was worse, death by drowning or burning alive.

:ὁ Animalia [OPEN!]

Percival
Location: Art History Class - Cafeteria
Mentions: @Argetlam350
Interactions: Open/Busy

Perci shoved his phone back into his hoodie pocket and began packing his things. He rushed but tried to keep quiet. He needed to come up with an excuse to leave… Fuck, he had no ideas! Well, he had one… The bathroom excuse always worked. He waved down the professor, who had just finished lecturing and was sitting at his desk.

Perci fibbed without a hitch. The professor never really cared, anyway. He was pretty sure he was too engrossed reading a tabloid while pretending to grade papers. The goat clutched his bag before deciding to leave it. Taking it might've been suspicious. Well, he thought it’d be. Perci bounded to the door, moving especially goat-like. He pulled up his hood before leaving the building. The blast of cold air made him shiver. He felt his phone buzz again as Fenzi texted him. The last text he read was “YOOOO THIS BITCH KNOCKED HIM TF OUT-”

He was scared to open that, so he rushed to the cafeteria.

In the cafeteria…

Marcello was still regaining his bearings when suddenly a tall hyena-woman socked the baboon in the face. He cringed and scrambled back as he watched the primate hit the floor. He looked at the hyena, slightly intimidated. This is the opposite of what he wanted to happen. Marcello’s gaze flicked to her outstretched hand, and then his own bloody ones. He wasn’t sure what would be more impolite, getting her hand bloody or declining the offer.

“I should probably...get some napkins-” Marcello explained, showing her his hands. He declined the offer and stood up.

Perci burst through the doors, slightly out of breath. A lop rabbit sitting nearby waved him down. She wore her ears around her neck like an elaborate scarf. This was Fenzi. Perci quickly joined her.

“Where is he?-” The goat inquired.

Fenzi nudged her head in the direction of the maned wolf. “He’s there- and he’s fine. That Yeen over there knocked the monkey out,” she explained before returning to munching on her salad that was mostly grass. Perci thanked her before he made his way towards Marcello, who had his back turned to him while grabbing some napkins. Perci paused when he neared the hyena- and then saw campus security walking into the building.

Perci opened his mouth to speak, but he took a moment before saying anything. “Marcello…?”

The maned wolf’s large ears swiveled in his direction before he looked up. He had shoved two napkins up his nose. Perci tried not to stare. Marcello had to squint since he had removed his now-damaged glasses.

The wolf wasn’t entirely sure who he was speaking to since his nose was blocked. Normally, he’d take a whiff of the air and know exactly who it was. Unfortunately, he was now sans glasses and nose. “Perci?” He guessed by hearing his voice.

“Are you okay?” Perci asked, taking a few steps closer. Between the hyena and the wolf. Perci looked dwarfed beside them. The only one shorter was Fenzi, but she was back by the table.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine-" Marcello nodded, sounding extra nasally.

:ὁ Animalia [OPEN!]

Percival
Location: Art History Class
Mentions: None
Interactions: Open

The professor droned on, and Perci continued to barely pay attention. He started doodling on his page. He was thinking of a logo for his new band. Still didn’t have a name, but he wanted something that reflected their sound. He wasn’t entirely sure what their sound was, but he played drums and did the occasional writing.

A sudden commotion from a group of students to his right snapped Perci out of thought. He looked over, ears twitching to listen to what they were saying. It took a minute of prying, but he was able to gather that a fight was starting in the cafeteria. How immature... Perci rolled his eyes and picked his pencil back- but then his phone vibrated. He got a text. In most classes, he wouldn’t check his phone, but the lock screen preview read “HEY DIPSHIT”.

Perci clicked on it, quickly entering his 4 digit passcode. The message was from the one and only Fenzi, a fuzzy American lop rabbit he knew since freshman year. They were in the band together, too. He quickly skimmed her messages. They were about the fight. Why the fuck was he messaging him about this?

Then he saw it. She sent him a video and said “Isn’t that your boyfriend?”. Perci was now curious. He made sure his phone was muted before pressing play. He saw three figures standing, the most slender of the two wedging themselves between them, arms raised to keep them apart. Perci didn’t know what they were saying since he kept the volume off. One of the figures, which he could now tell to be some sort of large ape, grabbed the middle person. Fenzi, who was taking the video, zoomed in. It was a maned wolf. The only maned wolf he’d seen in school was Marcello. Just then the ape swung at the wolf, who he assumed to be Marcello. The video ended.

Then it made sense, Fenzi was the only one he told about Marcello. Perci now felt sick to his stomach. His brow furrowed as he texted Fenzi. “Is he okay?” He then waited for a response.

Meanwhile, in the Cafeteria…

Marcello wasn’t sure what happened, but his entire muzzle stung. He was lying on the cafeteria’s cold tile floor, winded. His face was scrunched together, and he covered his nose with his hands. He could feel and taste blood. That fucking monkey just punched him on this nose! He let out a whine as he sat upright. A small crowd had now gathered around him and the assailant.

“What the hell, man?!” He barked, still seething.