icmasticc

Collusion

I've put up my completed character as a reference if anyone feels confused by the sheet. Enjoy creating!

Collusion

OOC thread is up!

@corneredbliss @BreakingMe @Celaira @yoshua171 @Snagglepuss89 @Iuniper @Sypherkhode822

Collusion

L i l l i a n E l d r i t c h

Twenty-Nine | Five-Foot-Nine | 145 lbs

Ethnicity

Polish / Lithuanian

Nationality

Polish-American

Birthplace

Though her parents hail from Poland and Lithuania--Her mother and father respectively--Lillian was born after her family emigrated to the United States, specifically Detroit, Michigan.

Former Occupation

Former Army Military Police before transferring to the city of Osiris to join the homicide branch of their police department.

Appearance

An intermingled combination of flaxen and umber strands color her waist-length hair while icy oculars and devilishly arched brows create an intimidating gaze amidst her unpredictable countenance and slender face; Lillian Eldritch is a purpose-driven soul and her physicality supports this notion. A long frame highlights her proportional contour, bodily assets developed just enough to distinguish a definitive gender, but not in such a gratuitous manner that one might mistake her for a vixen. Her limbs remain lean though distinctively shaped and sculpted from a lifetime of vigorous activity and a regular regimen ingrained into the fabric of her being. A tattoo is the final piece of her corporeal individuality though it is hidden on the whole of her back underneath the various garments she dons for the outside world. The marking depicts an angry, yellow-eyed black dragon seemingly in mid-flight, twirling around the space her back affords before appearing to head straight towards anyone looking on from behind the woman. It's wings extend from each side of her upper latissimi dorsi and curl around her shoulders. It is the sole tattoo inked on her body and its significance remains a closely guarded secret.

Varying types of attire suit the personal tastes of Lillian, but she most often chooses sheer comfort over outfits that would likely leave long-lasting impressions--these kinds of clothing are saved for special occasions of which there are few. Standard denim bottoms, t-shirts, leather jackets, and sports attire are the regularly cycled articles of choice though the one area of indulgence afforded is footwear. Lillian very rarely steps into tennis shoes or sneakers, opting for an array of fashionable boots instead. The single constant uniting all her clothing decisions is the fitting nature of everything she wears.

Personality

Lillian Eldritch, though seemingly purpose-driven, is less mysterious than she is perplexing. Her persona is a study in dichotomous character, a contrast revealing how an individual is comprised of multiple sides and traits that come together to try and form a cohesive whole--a truly unique person, some might say. Outwardly, she is callous, a darkly humorous undertow causing some to question the true feelings behind the words that slither out of her unfiltered mentality. Her dialogue can be cold and venomous, yet it is also honest and direct where others would sugarcoat or wrap their conversation in a more gentle sort of eloquence. She sees others around her, but does not consider how her ways may affect them until she is already indirectly influencing their lives. Inwardly, Lillian is a torn and slightly confused being. She balks at the anger and intensity of her own words and actions while questioning their necessity--does this need to go that far? Do I need to be the one to do it? She is not the best conversationalist, yet she seemingly seeks out social interaction in spite of her rather ill-tempered mannerisms.

Overall, Lillian is an eternal work-in-progress that outwardly indulges in unhealthy and unappealing habits, all the while trying to temper her inward torrent of traits and character flaws that bring her two halves together to create an intriguing kind of personality.

Hobbies / Interests

Lillian actually enjoys reading as one of her major interests. Considering the nature of occupations, she finds reading to be a relaxing reprieve from the mentally and physically demanding duties she is accustomed to. Though she tries to fit in time to get through her many books, reading is not the only hobby she has. Funny enough, Lillian also used to be a huge follower of several TV series. Most that know or encounter her never guess that she would have the patience to sit in front of a television, but Netflix and cable were her best friends before the incident.

Skills / Talents

Lillian is the definition of jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Joining the military taught her to handle weapons and survive when there is no other choice, but it was never having good aim or being adept at combat that helped her to excel in the field of security and law enforcement. Her one true talent was always being able to completely cut herself off from emotion, if such a thing can even be called a talent. Even in the midst of the most gruesome and depraved situations, Lillian was always the most composed one in the room and her superiors used her to the fullest for this reason. Unfortunately, it would be this very skill that would cause her to walk down the dark path she chose.

Motivation/Crime Committed

In spite of her past, Lillian was eventually arrested and charged with serial murder as well as kidnapping, torture, and multiple counts of assault and battery. She had committed these crimes over a period of years and was finally caught after the trail of evidence lead back to her and she slipped up in her latest attempt. However, the motivation for these crimes began with the Executives Consortium.

Lillian was never one for the magically inclined community. Her husband was normal and because she, herself, was normal, their daughter was born as a normal human being as well. Her time in the military had shown her just how much worse crime and war could be when it involved the use of spells. The devastation came when her husband was killed in the scene of a rare, magically-charged battle between a team of Executives and a team of slightly formidable robbers. The damage from the battle killed and injured many more than usual and though the Consortium was held responsible for the carnage even after catching the criminals, Lillian never forgave the organization. She began a practice she had secretly started with a group of like-minded individuals in the military and kidnapped newer, less experienced Executives, torturing and killing them in a misguided attempt at quelling her own grief.

Where in the military she could get away with discretely offing people with her own team, the Consortium quickly noticed the murders and sought to catch the lone woman when she least expected it. Upon her arrest, her daughter was taken and Lillian Eldritch was sentenced with the harshest punishment available due to the compounding charges of her criminal acts in the military on top of the murders in the city. Taking into considering the fact that she was current law enforcement did her no favors with the Consortium. She, along with several others, were executed for their crimes on in the fall of the present year.

History

Lillian Amaya Eldritch was born to a middle-class family on the north side of Detroit, Michigan. Originally, her parents met in Poland and emigrated to the US seeking better opportunities for a more prosperous life. Her father worked in many different occupations before finally settling on starting his own business; he began a small company that specialized in software engineering and went on to grow the company into a respectable cyber-security firm. Lillian's mother was always a stay at home type after the emigration though she proudly served in the Lithuanian Special Operations Force back in her home country and before marrying her husband. Aleksy Eldritch met Regina when she traveled to Poland on assignment and the two completely hit it off from there, staying in contact with one another until Regina's service ended and the duo could marry and head for the United States.

Once his company took off, Aleksy began putting in more man hours, trying to create the life he had always dreamed of for his family. Though Regina respected her husband's drive and determination, the loneliness that had slowly developed shifted into a sharp resentment that she held within and hid whenever he did deign to come home every once in a while. These feelings eventually led to a pattern of affairs that Lillian grew from not understanding to carrying the burden of keeping quiet. To take her mind off of the parental drama, the middle-school aged Lillian stayed out of the house and spent most of her time outside and in the city. Detroit was not usually the place to walk around and sight see, but the young girl had always been fascinated by how different people could be and the many facets of life that seemed to scream at her as he simply walked down one street after another.

When she was caught and sentenced to the family property after school, Lillian took up reading and evolving her imagination instead. It did not take long for the love of reading to replace going out and imagining how others might be in the privacy of their lives. Books allowed one to partake of any world they wished and it was this kind of wonder that clung to the girl as she continued her grade school journey. It was on her graduation to high school that her parents decided to get a divorce. Aleksy had hired a private investigator to follow and document his wife's life unbeknownst to her and once he had the evidence, he went to work to securing his assets and making sure Regina would leave the marriage with as little as possible. In the heat of hearings and court proceedings, it was decided that Lillian would remain in her father's custody and that day in court was the final time she would ever lay eyes on her mother.

When high school finally began, Lillian had shed her previous child-like wonderment and bubbly self. Her attitude became much more subdued and reserved and the teenager was content to simply engage in her studies and nothing more. In spite of her good grades, her teachers noted the attitude and multiple counselors were employed to speak with the girl. They all came to the conclusion that she had cut herself off from the emotions she harbored for the breakup of her parents and the actions of her mother in particular, but Lillian always dismissed them. Without failing her studies and participating in mischievous behavior, the only thing counselors and therapists could do was to respect her wishes and let her wallow in the despair she had created for herself. As his daughter neared her high school graduation, Aleksy tried one last attempt to reconnect and began to share stories of Regina's service to her country's military. Though she did not revert completely, Lillian did find a piece of the curiosity she once had for life and, inspired by the stories, decided to join the US Army out of high school.

Lillian's service in the military allowed her first encounters with casters and all their various spells. She had always heard and seen stories on the news about people manifesting spells, but her family had only ever used talismans to make life easier once her father's company began to make a profit. As she traveled the world on orders, she was treated to sights of people casting spells naturally and was even able to meet and work with members of the Executives Consortium on non-dangerous cases involving criminals who used magic. Contrary to her outward reactions however, Lillian began to developed a deep-seeded distrust of the magical community. Having that kind of power did not sit well with her and her subtle expression of such opinions eventually caught the ear of a like-minded group within her platoon.

The unit invited her into their circle and explained how they had been making sure the most dangerous of these casters were taken out of the picture permanently, for the safety of all. Though Lillian refuted their beliefs at first, she could not deny that the idea of a band of casters using their power for destruction was too dangerous to just leave to the hope that the Consortium would catch them all. With this small team, she began helping in their off-book kidnappings. They team would capture casters near whatever duty station they happened to assigned to at the moment and torture them before outright murdering. Lillian participated in these activities for years until she finally left the military due to meeting her husband and becoming pregnant and transferred to the city of Osiris.

There she joined the homicide department of the OPD after having her daughter and swore off the kidnappings. She served in the department for two years before tragedy struck. She was called to the scene of a battle between a team of Executives and a team of criminal casters who had tried to rob a well known private security corporation. In the heat of the battle, many had been injured and some even killed. Lillian's husband was among dead and it was because the bank he worked at happened to be near the site of the robbery. The effects of the various spells cast had decimated the building, injuring most inside, but killing the others. Wracked with anger and grief that the Consortium would be so sloppy, Lillian began her crusade once more, this time kidnapping the least experienced Executives and torturing them for information before killing them.

Unlike the military and the benefit of traveling to different duty stations though, Lillian could not avoid the sight of the Consortium for long. Once they caught evidence of their own being murdered, they launched a thorough investigation which resulted in Lillian being arrested and her daughter being forcibly taken. Lillian was sentenced to death after it was discovered that her criminal behavior stemmed as far back as her military days and her execution date was set for the fall of that year. While on death row, the former MP could only reflect on her anger and wrath towards the Consortium as well as the fact that they refused to tell her what they had done with her daughter. The day before her execution day, she was beaten by prison guards for headbutting the priest who had come to deliver last rites.

Relationships

Family

Aleksy Eldritch

- Aleksy Eldritch was born in Poland. His parents both worked with literature with his father being a novelist and his mother a historian. Aleksy himself had always been interested in technology however. Though his family did not own computers or anything beyond basic smartphones, his curiosity for how things worked flourished in all aspects of his life. After graduating high school, Aleksy went to university on a scholarship and majored in computer-engineering with a focus in Computer Science.

He is a well-read, educated man who is usually has all his emotions under control. His major flaw was always his more obsessive qualities. Once Aleksy got into something, he threw himself completely into it and this caused him to lose friends and associates over the years because he would ignore them to work on some project or another. He met his wife, Regina, when she came to Poland and he was brought in to network on her unit's server mainframe.

Regina Eldritch

- Originally born Regina Aureli, she was born to a family of military officers in Lithuania. Being born to military parents, Regina always held the burden of living up to her family's expectations and to that end, she made sure she excelled in whatever she did. Whether it was her schoolwork, cooking, exercising, or competing in sports, Regina always made sure she was at the top of her class. She had aspirations of swimming professionally before she quickly decided to follow in her family's footsteps and join the Lithuanian Armed Forces. She began in their land force before her excellence of service allowed her the opportunity to be offered membership with the Special Operations Force. She took on classified missions in this capacity until she met her husband, Aleksy Eldritch, while on assignment in Poland. She was charmed by his knowledgeable persona and his matter-of-fact mannerisms. She thought it fit well with her own standard of pursuing excellence.

Regina, in spite of her upbringing, is a boisterous sort of person. She is an opinionated, decisive kind of person and gets along well in most social circles. Her major flaw stems from her upbringing. Being raised the way she was, Regina was taught to expect certain things of people and when they don't live up to her expectations, she had a habit of quickly losing respect for that person which would result in any number of negative actions towards them. It was these qualities that resulted in the downfall of her marriage to Aleksy.

Significant Others

Adam Ryder [Husband]

- Adam Ryder was Lillian Eldritch's husband. He was a man who worked for the corporate business-to-business department of a large bank in Osiris securing contracts and international clientele for the company. He met Lillian on one of his business trips to England and the two quickly forged a bond with one another. As Adam was nearing the end of his trip, Lillian coincidentally was nearing the end of her service and as soon as it came time for reenlistment, she declined the opportunity and left with Adam back to the United States. She found out she was pregnant as soon as she got to the city of Osiris.

Adam was a businessman through and through. He was good with people and he left an impression on those who witnessed him in action as he navigated through deals and clients like they were second nature. Though he did have a hectic schedule, he always seemed to be able to make time to see Lillian and their newborn daughter as often as possible. His job allowed them to live in a more upscale district of Osiris although the family was only upper middle-class without the wildly varying economic standards of the sprawling city.

Janae Eldritch [Daughter]

- Janae Eldritch is Adam and Lillian's daughter. She was born in the first year Lillian settled in Osiris. She was taken from Lillian after her mother was arrested for multiple crimes against the Consortium and the military and moved to an undisclosed location.

Magic

Devour

- This is a spell that concentrates an aura of black, wispy energy around Lillian's forearms and hands. It allows her to absorb and dissolve the matter in solid objects, disintegrating the object entirely. If used on living creatures, it allows her to absorb their vitality, killing them after enough has been taken. This can heal her wounds if she is hurt before casting the spell. The spell will end when the object she is touching disintegrates completely or when the living creature she is touching dies. In the case of living beings however, siphoning vitality is a constant absorption of magical energy which means Lillian must often cease the spell in order to avoid poisoning or worse.

Regurgitate

- This spell allows Lillian to reflect an attack back on the attacker. Projectile based attacks are absorbed and shot back at the opponent through small bolts of magical energy though if she is close enough, Lillian can touch the offender and allow them to experience the same pain and damage she herself just took.

Other

- Lillian enjoys smoking though she was never addicted to it. It was just something she did every once in a while and she hid it from her husband.
- Though she may not look it, Lillian eats like a pig. She eats enough that some say food is her real hobby and she just reads to hide that fact.

Collusion

Character Sheet

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This is the character sheet you will use to submit your characters. You'll notice that it is a bit more involved than the usual sheets and it was done purposely. This is a character-focused roleplay and to that end, we want everyone to well and truly consider their characters and really bring some depth and potential to them. Although I denoted them as villains, they are also flawed people that still have families and interests and the like. However, I will say that they should all carry a measure of darkness within them. I won't dictate how you bring that to the table, but to help inspire you, I'll say that these are not good people--not by any stretch of the imagination. The reasons you come up with for their capture and transfer to the Consortium to receive the death penalty was fully deserved. These are the kinds of people you think you would never see in real life and only hear about on the news or some such.

With all that said, let's also try to avoid the stereotypical supervillain type. If you focus on creating a three-dimensional human being, you'll surely be successful. Here is the skeleton for you. The last thing I'll say is that I appreciate character sheet formatting. I don't usually include a coding skeleton with my sheets because I like to allow people to format the sheets as they see fit and see how much effort they put into that aspect, but I have provided a code skeleton this time just in case people would like to copy the formatting I used on my own sheet instead of doing something on their own or maybe even to save time.

Character Sheet Skeleton

Name
Age (Every character should be at least 18 years old)
Height
Weight
Ethnicity
Nationality
Birthplace (As this roleplay takes place in a fictionalized version of the real world, your character can be from a real life place or a location of your own creation as long as it fits within the universe)

Former Occupation (What did your character do in their previous lives? Or did your character work at all before they were executed?)

Appearance (Please describe your character's physical appearance in words as well as a picture. No anime pictures, however. Stick to real life or realistic art at the least)

Personality (Describe your character's personality)

Hobbies / Interests (What are some hobbies your character had in their previous life? What are their interests?)

Skills / Talents (What were some things your character is good at? Everyone is good at something. You can have multiple, but don't go too crazy)

Motivation/Crime Committed (As I said in the OP, every character has their own reasons for wanting vengeance against the Consortium beyond being executed. What are your character's reasons and what crime did they commit in order to be transferred to the Consortium for death?)

History (What was your character like before being executed? What was their life like? You can also use this section to highlight some of their flaws or broken traits.)

Relationships
-Family Relations (Everybody has a family. Give me a brief look at some key members of yours and how their relations are with your character)

-Significant Others (This is an optional section. If your character was married or had a significant other of some kind, give us a brief look at them here. If they had no one, you can state as much)

Magic (Describe the two spells your character becomes capable of producing after their resurrection. Remember that these are specific spells and not a general manipulation of any element or anything like that.)

Other (Anything else we should know about your character)

Character Sheet Code Skeleton

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[center][sup][sup][h3][i]Age | Height | Weight[/i][/h3][/sup][/sup][/center]

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[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Magic[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Other[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

Collusion

C o l l u s i o n

An Original Roleplay By

icmasticc

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" For some offenses . . . There is only retribution "

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^{Key Points:
{} Co-GM - Noxious
{} Wide Linear Narrative featuring "Pass The Baton" system
{} A mature, dark fantasy set in a modern world where the heroes have already won
{} A roleplay following a group of unabashed villains
{} Magic and all of its wonders abound
{} Character-focused with player contributed lore
{} A vengeance fueled tale that will explore the limits of morality}

" This is how the world came to an end "

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" Humans have always been a resilient kind. Even though the species is prone to war and a constant struggle for superiority, they always seem to be able to come together when the threat proves great enough. At one time, this situation came to pass. And, as is their wont to do, humanity came together to repel the threat of self-proclaimed god-beings which, in turn, brought them a unity the likes of which had not been seen before. Seemingly a gift from fate, it was the sudden appearance of magical energy that allowed the world of humans to succeed in protecting their planet and it would be that same magical energy that would spur the creation of the largest peace-keeping organization ever established. Humanity prospered and with the addition of magic, life became easier and much smoother for all. This was not a way of life that was meant to last, however.

As time passed, the conglomerate that called itself the Executives Consortium grew larger and more influential. And as time passed, those born with the innate ability to use magic became more divisive in their intentions. The Consortium established branches in every major country of the world and, alongside regular governments, they made decisions that would impact the needs of the many. One of their primary roles became to police the members of the magically inclined community, or more specifically to punish the criminals who sought to use magic in a way that harmed the safety and stability of others. Under their purview, magically inclined criminals--Casters--were subject to a range of punishments spanning from imprisonment, to exile, all the way to the death penalty--that's when it started. Everything began when they executed that group. Back then, nobody knew just how everything would change after that fateful execution day. I'd say that's when they doomed us all, even if they didn't know it yet.

This is how the world came to an end. "

Welcome to your tale of vengeance

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Hey everyone and welcome to my roleplay! I've created an array of group roleplays over the years, but this one is a culmination of all my favorite aspects. As is stated near the top, this will be a mature narrative set in the uncommonly used dark fantasy genre. What's more important is that this is a story where the protagonists are actually the villains of the plot. Now, we're not talking about mustache-twirling supervillains, but flawed characters that have decided to take their vengeance against an organization that actually saved the world from the usual grand threat years prior. In this story, you, the players, have been executed. For varying reasons that you will create, the Executives Consortium captured and sentenced you to death. However, a mysterious force resurrects this cast and sets them on a path in which chaos follows their every step.

Although the narrative is a linear one, I have implemented a system that I call Pass The Baton. After a certain point, the players will be able to actually become temporary sub-GMs and lead the group in a sub-plot of their own creation. This will not only allow the cast to add meaningful story to the world, but it will also allow everyone to get a deeper look at the characters that come to be. This is a character-focused story where three dimensional, sophisticated people are the stars of the show. While there will be action and there will be set-pieces, good storytelling featuring equally well-made characters is the focus. In addition to this, players will also be able to contribute to building the world and adding to the lore as well. I want this to be a true collaborative effort and though I've laid the groundwork for the universe, I want everyone to feel involved in making this as successful as it can be.

This will be a small group roleplay. Me and my co-GM are only looking for four to five interested parties who will be here for the long haul. It will not be first come, first serve either; we will be judging who to add to the group through the character sheet submissions so everyone has a fair chance at making it in.

For character submissions, please go ahead and submit your characters within this OOC thread. Do not post them under the Character tab until myself or my Co-GM, Noxious, has approved the sheet. Posting submissions on the thread should help everyone being able to see how their fellow potential players are faring.

Finally, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. We will try to answer all questions to the best of our ability and sometimes I honestly miss a bit of information when I'm writing up an OOC, so asking helps me to remember to add things every now and then.

Submissions will remain open until we get the number of characters we need for the group approved, but we will be looking at all submissions for a few days at least so you've got some time. Thanks for considering our roleplay and happy character creation!

Magic

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Magic

Nobody knows how magical energy began to permeate Earth's atmosphere, but historical records claim that it was discovered just before the god-beings arrived. The energy exists as a naturally occurring phenomenon in the atmosphere and is absorbed by the human body in trace amounts. At first, these trace amounts had no effect, but it was not long before humans began to produce unbelievable and impossible feats due to this energy. However, it was discovered that only some bodies could actually convert the energy into a state ready to manifest; in laymans terms, only some people could actually use magic while others were not as lucky. After the threat to the world was quelled, magic was studied in more depth and as time passed, people learned how to manifest this magic by way of spells. Spells cause specific effects and was determined to be the best way to utilize magical energy because it was also learned that this same energy is dangerous to human beings in large amounts. The body is basically being poisoned over time, but the natural absorption amount is so small that most people can live a normal, full life if they limit their magical use. The problems arose when some tried to become the wizards they had read about in their favorite novels and upon attempting to completely manipulate aspects of elements with magical energy, they developed a disease that severely shortened their lifespan or outright killed them.

Presently, it is a worldwide known fact that magically inclined humans--or Casters, as they are called--are only able to manifest two spells naturally. Any more would cause more energy to be absorbed and the threat of magical poisoning to become a reality. Coincidentally, because outright manipulation of fantastic power is extremely dangerous, there are no potential threats of sorcerers or highly proficient casters who would have used magic for something as petty as world domination. The Consortium sees this as a fine trade-off for only being able to use two spells with energy manifested from the body.

Talismans
To combat magical poisoning--and to provide normal people a way to benefit from magic--the Consortium developed means to use spells without using the human body as a medium to manifest the energy. They created and mass produced talismans that crystallized specific spells and allowed people to enjoy the ease of life that magic brought without the hidden dangers and provided they could pay for the spells they wanted. The introduction of talismans curbed the rate of magical poisoning due to absorbing too much energy and the majority of the magically inclined lived in relative peace. On the flip side of this coin, there were those who decided to use their innate magical ability and even the talismans for criminal means. All in all, the world eventually returned to a normal state of being with law-abiding citizens living alongside those who had less savory machinations and those who could not use magic naturally were still able to use the talismans alongside those who simply wished to avoid poisoning. Both communities are protected by a combination of regular law enforcement and law enforcement supplied by the Consortium to go after criminals with innate magic ability or who used talismans to aid in their crimes.

Spells
Spells are the manifestations of concentrated amounts of magical energy. They vary greatly and can literally manifest as anything the caster desires as long as they absorb enough energy. The problem lies in the fact that absorbing too much energy can bring about the disease of magical poisoning which results in a slow shutdown of organs at the least and outright death at the most. Due to this, it is a general rule amongst the caster community to avoid attempting to completely manipulate any element or force because absolute manipulation leads to outright death as proven in historical record. Instead, spells that have a specific use and effect are employed.

In addition to this method of harnessing magic, it is also generally accepted that a caster should only ever hone two spells to use consistently. Developing a wide array of different spells results in magical poisoning because the energy absorbed to use them all is too much. As such, even those in the Consortium are relegated to two major spells in the name of safety and a long life. It is also because of these reasons that guns and other standard weaponry did not fade from the world. With magic being as restrictive as it is and highly destructive talismans not existing due to the same safety concerns, standard weapons remained as prevalent as they were since before magical energy existed. It is just as likely, if not more likely, that crime would still be committed with a gun versus a constant barrage of spells. No one wants to die the painful death that magical poisoning affords.

The Executives Consortium

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The Executives Consortium

The Executives Consortium is the worldwide conglomerate that was formed after the victory against the invasion of the god-beings. For all intents and purposes, they are the actual heroes of this plot. When the invasion began, the governments of the world deadlocked themselves in pointless arguments about how to handle the threat. It would be multiple large corporations that actually came together to find a way to fight back against the inhuman assailants. They brought together a group of some of the first casters and together this group was able to push back and eventually seal the beings through unified use of their various spells. After the victory, the world's population praised the group and they decided to form a peace-keeping organization composed of casters in order to prevent something like this from ever happening again. Considering their roots in business, they named themselves the Executives Consortium.

As only 3% of the population is born with the innate ability to harness magical energy as spells, the Consortium runs a fierce marketing campaign advertising voluntary recruitment and promises those who join the potential to make much more than a living wage while also serving their fellow citizens and protecting them from the threat of those who would use magic in a less savory manner. On a larger scale, the Consortium became so large and so influential that the world's governments willingly allowed their various branches to interact with them on a variety of political subjects. This is how the role of Executives became so famous in the present times. Executives are the law enforcement agents of the Consortium that are sent after criminals who participate in crimes affiliated with magic in some way. They are instantly known by their uniforms which are comprised of black business suits, in-ear comm pieces, and professionally styled hair. Executives receive training equivalent to military standards and have jurisdiction over any and all crimes involving magic. With the Consortium having set up branches in every major country of the world, there are always Executives available to mete out punishments as the need arises.

With their reputation in such good standing, the Consortium was even given the power to prosecute the criminals they catch as they see fit. Special prisons were set up all over the world for those that are sentenced to imprisonment or exile, but the Consortium is not above the death penalty. Though the world's governments all have differing views on executing criminals, most send even their regular human prisoners to the Consortium when they wish for them to receive death as a punishment. Though not all agree with this method, it has resulted in the world becoming more peaceful than it has ever been and major wars have even been abandoned. Like the true heroes they are, the Executives Consortium have achieved the closest thing to world peace possible and, unlike the conspiracy theories would have you believe, they have not succumbed to their overwhelming influence by becoming an oppressive superpower or subjugating anyone. That is not to say that every single government and country in the world views an organization with this much power in a positive light, but they've avoided becoming the stereotypical type of conglomerate that has an ulterior motive in the shadows while they wear a false persona in the light.

The Executives Consortium truly is on the side of the world at large and their main objective these days is convincing the skeptical ones that this indeed a true statement and a true intention.

The Setting

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The Setting

I mentioned above that this takes place in the modern world. The setting for this roleplay is a more fantastical, fictionalized version of Earth. What I mean by that is although this is indeed Earth and all the present locations exist on it as they should, there are also fictional locations (which you can create) and fantastical beasts that exist on it as well. I felt like this would ground the roleplay in a semblance of realism while also providing a nice fantasy slant as well. To that end, the technology level mirrors our present reality as well. Guns and projectile weapons, like in real life, are going to be better weapon options than anything melee-oriented and even a martial arts master can be killed by a bullet or two. Cars exist and still drive on the road with four wheels and smartphones and computers are as prevalent as they ever were. This is pretty much the world of today that also adds magic and fantastical beasts into the mix.

You'll see it in the character sheets, but as a player, you will be able to create locations for this world as well and using the Pass The Baton system, we might even be able to visit that location and run through a sub-plot within it if you choose to become a temporary sub-GM and take on that mantle for a little bit. This is why I have provided no map of the world or anything because it's literally just the world we already live in. You're free to find a globe or atlas though.

Osiris

Osiris, Maryland

The city of Osiris is where the first few acts of the roleplay take place. No matter where your character ends up being from or what they did in their previous lives, this is the city they were transferred to and executed in. It is a large, sprawling metropolis that is not unlike New York or Las Vegas in the fact that it's a city that truly never sleeps. Like other major cities, Osiris is also home to a branch of the Executives Consortium alongside the usual city government. The city is known for it's night life and many recreational ventures coupled with the fact that a few of the more wealthy companies call Osiris home for their main headquarters. It is a prosperous place where one can lead comfortable life or a very tough life depending on their circumstances and choices. It is split into districts and each as distinctive as the people within them. The city is policed by the Osiris Police Department and The Executives Consortium. However, a few private military and security organizations also exist here as well.

Pass The Baton System

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Pass The Baton System

This is a system I developed in order to allow players to add meaningful story to the roleplay. As I said above, the story created for this is a linear one, but it is also one I refer to as "wide" linear. What that means is that even though the beginning and end are solidified, there can be any number of sub-plots during the course of the overarching narrative that focus on other aspects of the world. Rather than create those sub-plots myself and dictate every single story thread, I've implemented a way for the players to contribute to the plot that could result in a number of positive outcomes--character development is just one of the many good things that can come out of this system when used correctly.

The way the system works is pretty simple. After a certain point in the narrative, the world and plot opens up in a major way. At that time, I'll allow players to send myself and my co-GM a brief outline which will summarize a sub-plot idea. Once we've discussed the submission, we'll allow that player to become a temporary sub-GM and lead the entire group through the story they've created. As temporary sub-GM, this player will have complete creative control over the direction of the story they've created and as long as nothing specifically contradicts the rules of the universe--which we would determine while discussing the submission--the sub-GM is free to move their plot however they see fit. Having everyone involved in that plot allows us to bond as a group and explore the depth of our characters as they encounter new events created by your fellow cast. This is not something we will force upon the cast, rather it is an optional experience that we encourage everyone to try out.

It is important to note that submissions will not be chosen in the order they are sent to us. We will allow the sub-plot ideas in an order that flows best with the narrative, but we do not guarantee that yours will be allowed first just because it was sent first. However, as long as the sub-plot does not contradict the rules of the universe we do guarantee that we get to all the ideas submitted. This is not going to be a short roleplay so there will be plenty of time to get to all the various ideas I'm sure everyone will come up with.

At this time, the outline will not be posted because we have not reached the point in the story where it is ready to be implemented. Once we do get close to that point however, I will post the outline right here and make an announcement allowing everyone to submit the ideas they have.

Character Sheet

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Character Sheet

This is the character sheet you will use to submit your characters. You'll notice that it is a bit more involved than the usual sheets and it was done purposely. This is a character-focused roleplay and to that end, we want everyone to well and truly consider their characters and really bring some depth and potential to them. Although I denoted them as villains, they are also flawed people that still have families and interests and the like. However, I will say that they should all carry a measure of darkness within them. I won't dictate how you bring that to the table, but to help inspire you, I'll say that these are not good people--not by any stretch of the imagination. The reasons you come up with for their capture and transfer to the Consortium to receive the death penalty was fully deserved. These are the kinds of people you think you would never see in real life and only hear about on the news or some such.

With all that said, let's also try to avoid the stereotypical supervillain type. If you focus on creating a three-dimensional human being, you'll surely be successful. Here is the skeleton for you. The last thing I'll say is that I appreciate character sheet formatting. I don't usually include a coding skeleton with my sheets because I like to allow people to format the sheets as they see fit and see how much effort they put into that aspect, but I have provided a code skeleton this time just in case people would like to copy the formatting I used on my own sheet instead of doing something on their own or maybe even to save time.

Character Sheet Skeleton

Name
Age (Every character should be at least 18 years old)
Height
Weight
Ethnicity
Nationality
Birthplace (As this roleplay takes place in a fictionalized version of the real world, your character can be from a real life place or a location of your own creation as long as it fits within the universe)

Former Occupation (What did your character do in their previous lives? Or did your character work at all before they were executed?)

Appearance (Please describe your character's physical appearance in words as well as a picture. No anime pictures, however. Stick to real life or realistic art at the least)

Personality (Describe your character's personality)

Hobbies / Interests (What are some hobbies your character had in their previous life? What are their interests?)

Skills / Talents (What were some things your character is good at? Everyone is good at something. You can have multiple, but don't go too crazy)

Motivation/Crime Committed (As I said in the OP, every character has their own reasons for wanting vengeance against the Consortium beyond being executed. What are your character's reasons and what crime did they commit in order to be transferred to the Consortium for death?)

History (What was your character like before being executed? What was their life like? You can also use this section to highlight some of their flaws or broken traits.)

Relationships
-Family Relations (Everybody has a family. Give me a brief look at some key members of yours and how their relations are with your character)

-Significant Others (This is an optional section. If your character was married or had a significant other of some kind, give us a brief look at them here. If they had no one, you can state as much)

Magic (Describe the two spells your character becomes capable of producing after their resurrection. Remember that these are specific spells and not a general manipulation of any element or anything like that.)

Other (Anything else we should know about your character)

Character Sheet Code Skeleton

[center]CHARACTER IMAGE[/center]
[center][h3][i]Name[/i][/h3][/center]
[center][sup][sup][h3][i]Age | Height | Weight[/i][/h3][/sup][/sup][/center]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Ethnicity[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Nationality[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Birthplace[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Former Occupation[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Appearance[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Personality[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Hobbies / Interests[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Skills / Talents[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Motivation/Crime Committed[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]History[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Relationships[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup][indent][sup][sup][h3][i]Family[/i][/h3][/sup][/sup][/indent]

[indent][sup][sup][h3][i]Significant Others[/i][/h3][/sup][/sup][/indent]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Magic[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

[sup][sup][h3][i][u]Other[/u][/i][/h3][/sup][/sup]

Guidelines

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Guidelines

I usually try not to implement too many rules because this is the advanced section, but I do have some guidelines.

.001

This is the most important thing, to me. Once you're character is approved, we take that as a commitment to the roleplay. Communication is the most important aspect of a roleplay, so please let us know via PM or the OOC if you need to disappear or will be gone for a while. We would like players that want to see this through to the end and a communicative cast makes everything smoother and much more enjoyable.

.002

As far as posts are concerned, we value quality over quantity. We do not expect novel-length posts for everything written in the IC. However, we can't really work with one sentence posts either, but as long as you put effort into what you write, we should all get along swimmingly.

.003

The posting pace for this roleplay will be once every 7 to 10 days. This is the best speed for moving the plot at a steady rate and with the group being relatively small, it should be easy to maintain. You can post more than once within that time frame if you desire, but we do want at least one post within those parameters before plot movement. We're open to working with people on this as emergencies and general life comes up.

.004

I said this already, but I'll cement it here. This will be a dark, twisted, and mature roleplay. There will be disturbing imagery and characters can and will be pushed into the depths of the darkness. Swearing, graphic violence, and amorality will also be featured within the narrative. If you dislike these kinds of things, this is not the roleplay for you.

.005

We reserve the right to add more to this section as the need arises. Most everything else is common sense amongst the advanced section. The last guideline is really to just have fun and enjoy the roleplay. We encourage general chatter within the OOC so even if it's not about the RP itself, feel free to converse about what you want within our OOC thread.

Collusion

I don't like to commit to joining until an OOC is out and the die is cast, but I'm interested at the very least.

@Snagglepuss89

And interest is all we are asking at this point, so glad to have yours.

And to everyone else, thanks for showing interest as well! Lots of familiar faces here and I'm not mad at that at all. While I'll still be keeping an eye on this thread for interest, this is good enough for me to put up the OOC. Should be up a little later today.

Collusion

C o l l u s i o n

An Original Roleplay By

icmasticc

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" For some offenses . . . There is only retribution "

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^{Key Points:
{} Co-GM - Noxious
{} Wide Linear Narrative featuring "Pass The Baton" system
{} A mature, dark fantasy set in a modern world where the heroes have already won
{} A roleplay following a group of unabashed villains
{} Magic and all its wonders abound
{} Character-focused with player contributed lore
{} A vengeance fueled tale that will explore the limits of morality}

" This is how the world came to an end "

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" Humans have always been a resilient kind. Even though the species is prone to war and a constant struggle for superiority, they always seem to be able to come together when the threat proves great enough. At one time, this situation came to pass. And, as is their wont to do, humanity came together to repel the threat of self-proclaimed god-beings which, in turn, brought them a unity the likes of which had not been seen before. Seemingly a gift from fate, it was the sudden appearance of magical energy that allowed the world of humans to succeed in protecting their planet and it would be that same magical energy that would spur the creation of the largest peace-keeping organization ever established. Humanity prospered and with the addition of magic, life became easier and much smoother for all. This was not a way of life that was meant to last, however.

As time passed, the conglomerate that called itself the Executives Consortium grew larger and more influential. And as time passed, those born with the innate ability to use magic became more divisive in their intentions. The Consortium established branches in every major country of the world and, alongside regular governments, they made decisions that would impact the needs of the many. One of their primary roles became to police the members of the magically inclined community, or more specifically to punish the criminals who sought to use magic in a way that harmed the safety and stability of others. Under their purview, magically inclined criminals--Casters--were subject to a range of punishments spanning from imprisonment, to exile, all the way to the death penalty--that's when it started. Everything began when they executed that group. Back then, nobody knew just how everything would change after that fateful execution day. I'd say that's when they doomed us all, even if they didn't know it yet.

This is how the world came to an end. "

Welcome to your tale of vengeance

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Hey everyone and welcome to my roleplay! I've created an array of group roleplays over the years, but this one is a culmination of all my favorite aspects. As is stated near the top, this will be a mature narrative set in the uncommonly used dark fantasy genre. What's more important is that this is a story where the protagonists are actually the villains of the plot. Now, we're not talking about mustache-twirling supervillains, but flawed characters that have decided to take their vengeance against an organization that actually saved the world from the usual grand threat years prior. In this story, you, the players, have been executed. For varying reasons that you will create, the Executives Consortium captured and sentenced you to death. However, a mysterious force resurrects this cast and sets them on a path in which chaos follows their every step.

Although the narrative is a linear one, I have implemented a system that I call Pass The Baton. After a certain point, the players will be able to actually become temporary sub-GMs and lead the group in a sub-plot of their own creation. This will not only allow the cast to add meaningful story to the world, but it will also allow everyone to get a deeper look at the characters that come to be. This is a character-focused story where three dimensional, sophisticated people are the stars of the show. While there will be action and there will be set-pieces, good storytelling featuring equally well-made characters is the focus. In addition to this, players will also be able to contribute to building the world and adding to the lore as well. I want this to be a true collaborative effort and though I've laid the groundwork for the universe, I want everyone to feel involved in making this as successful as it can be.

This will be a small group roleplay. Me and my co-GM are only looking for four to five interested parties who will be here for the long haul. It will not be first come, first serve either; we will be judging who to add to the group through the character sheet submissions so everyone has a fair chance at making it in. Below is some information I have provided to help you get a sense of the world and if this should garner enough interest, there's plenty more in the OOC. As of now, this is just an interest check so no commitments are required.

@Noxious and I just want to know... Who would be interested in blazing a chaotic trail with us?

Magic

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Magic

Nobody knows how magical energy began to permeate Earth's atmosphere, but historical records claim that it was discovered just before the god-beings arrived. The energy exists as a naturally occurring phenomenon in the atmosphere and is absorbed by the human body in trace amounts. At first, these trace amounts had no effect, but it was not long before humans began to produce unbelievable and impossible feats due to this energy. However, it was discovered that only some bodies could actually convert the energy into a state ready to manifest; in laymans terms, only some people could actually use magic while others were not as lucky. After the threat to the world was quelled, magic was studied in more depth and as time passed, people learned how to manifest this magic by way of spells. Spells cause specific effects and was determined to be the best way to utilize magical energy because it was also learned that this same energy is dangerous to human beings in large amounts. The body is basically being poisoned over time, but the natural absorption amount is so small that most people can live a normal, full life if they limit their magical use. The problems arose when some tried to become the wizards they had read about in their favorite novels and upon attempting to completely manipulate aspects of elements with magical energy, they developed a disease that severely shortened their lifespan or outright killed them.

Presently, it is a worldwide known fact that magically inclined humans--or Casters, as they are called--are only able to manifest two spells naturally. Any more would cause more energy to be absorbed and the threat of magical poisoning to become a reality. Coincidentally, because outright manipulation of fantastic power is extremely dangerous, there are no potential threats of sorcerers or highly proficient casters who would have used magic for something as petty as world domination. The Consortium sees this as a fine trade-off for only being able to use two spells with energy manifested from the body.

Talismans
To combat magical poisoning--and to provide normal people a way to benefit from magic--the Consortium developed means to use spells without using the human body as a medium to manifest the energy. They created and mass produced talismans that crystallized specific spells and allowed people to enjoy the ease of life that magic brought without the hidden dangers and provided they could pay for the spells they wanted. The introduction of talismans curbed the rate of magical poisoning due to absorbing too much energy and the majority of the magically inclined lived in relative peace. On the flip side of this coin, there were those who decided to use their innate magical ability and even the talismans for criminal means. All in all, the world eventually returned to a normal state of being with law-abiding citizens living alongside those who had less savory machinations and those who could not use magic naturally were still able to use the talismans alongside those who simply wished to avoid poisoning. Both communities are protected by a combination of regular law enforcement and law enforcement supplied by the Consortium to go after criminals with innate magic ability or who used talismans to aid in their crimes.

Spells
Spells are the manifestations of concentrated amounts of magical energy. They vary greatly and can literally manifest as anything the caster desires as long as they absorb enough energy. The problem lies in the fact that absorbing too much energy can bring about the disease of magical poisoning which results in a slow shutdown of organs at the least and outright death at the most. Due to this, it is a general rule amongst the caster community to avoid attempting to completely manipulate any element or force because absolute manipulation leads to outright death as proven in historical record. Instead, spells that have a specific use and effect are employed.

In addition to this method of harnessing magic, it is also generally accepted that a caster should only ever hone two spells to use consistently. Developing a wide array of different spells results in magical poisoning because the energy absorbed to use them all is too much. As such, even those in the Consortium are relegated to two major spells in the name of safety and a long life. It is also because of these reasons that guns and other standard weaponry did not fade from the world. With magic being as restrictive as it is and highly destructive talismans not existing due to the same safety concerns, standard weapons remained as prevalent as they were since before magical energy existed. It is just as likely, if not more likely, that crime would still be committed with a gun versus a constant barrage of spells. No one wants to die the painful death that magical poisoning affords.

The Setting

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The Setting

I mentioned above that this takes place in the modern world. The setting for this roleplay is a more fantastical, fictionalized version of Earth. What I mean by that is although this is indeed Earth and all the present locations exist on it as they should, there are also fictional locations (which you can create) and fantastical beasts that exist on it as well. I felt like this would ground the roleplay in a semblance of realism while also providing a nice fantasy slant as well. To that end, the technology level mirrors our present reality as well. Guns and projectile weapons, like in real life, are going to be better weapon options than anything melee-oriented and even a martial arts master can be killed by a bullet or two. Cars exist and still drive on the road with four wheels and smartphones and computers are as prevalent as they ever were. This is pretty much the world of today that also adds magic and fantastical beasts into the mix.

You'll see it in the character sheets, but as a player, you will be able to create locations for this world as well and using the Pass The Baton system, we might even be able to visit that location and run through a sub-plot within it if you choose to become a temporary sub-GM and take on that mantle for a little bit. This is why I have provided no map of the world or anything because it's literally just the world we already live in. You're free to find a globe or atlas though.

①⑨⑥⑧

Unfortunately, after evaluating some real life projects versus my free time, I've discovered that I won't be able to dedicate the time I'd want to into this RP. I love the idea and the cast is great thus far, but I'll need to withdraw before this gets going. I hope everyone enjoys this and I'll probably read along to see how it develops. Peace out, folks.

①⑨⑥⑧

Nice, I've got some plans for Lady Shiva. Although, I was looking over the cast of characters under the tab and wow at the diversity lol. This can be super interesting depending on how everything shakes out. This ought to be a pretty intriguing comic book verse with what we got going on here. Guess now I'll just wait on that Spider-Man decision to determine if I need to try for another Marvel character or not.

①⑨⑥⑧

Withdrawn.