Loksfjoer

RP time! - RPC#1

The thread with the entries is here

RP Time! - RPC#1 entries/voting

-
Banners created by Celxstiial

Welcome to the Voting and Feedback round for RPC#1!

This is a new contest, so I want to try a new voting system as well. There will be a point system for this one, but it may be tweaked for later versions.

The prompt that led to the entries can be found in this thread.

Voting and Feedback guidelines

• Please take your time to read through all the entries before voting for your favourite entry. The reasons you base your vote on are up to you, as long the vote isn’t based on whether or not you like the author.
  It would be nice if you could share why you voted for a specific work.
• Giving feedback is optional but highly encouraged. When giving feedback you should be respectful and constructive. It’s good to point out any flaws or the things you feel could be improved or why you didn't like something, but don’t be mean.
  Make sure to point out what you liked or what appreciated in the entry too.
• Contestants may (and are encouraged to) vote and/or give feedback for the other entries but shouldn’t vote for their own entry. If contestants wish to withhold a vote and only give feedback, that is good too.
• The entries are anonymous unless the RPer asked for having their name added. That being said, RPers may claim their entry at any time during or after the voting period.
• You can vote for entries and post your feedback in this thread, but if you rather have your vote and/or feedback be anonymous you can PM it to @Calle.
• The voting period deadline is May 2nd, 9:00 CET, which is 7:00 server time (both times are in a.m.).

The Point System:

• Every entry starts with a number of points based on incorporating the elements I listed, 1 point for each.
• Voters can vote for their favourite piece, which will be worth 2 points.
• Voters can vote for a runner-up, but this is completely optional. You don't have to choose a runner-up if you don't have one. A runner-up will receive 1 point.
• The contest host won't award points for quality at the start, as that is still determined by a people's vote, but in case of a tie the contest host will also vote.

---

The Entries

The Mysterious Mayor

Where… am I? Keiko wondered as her eyes scanned her surroundings. A tall young woman of refined bearing, garbed in an elegant kimono and holding a large umbrella in the traditional Japanese style, Keiko was the very image of a proper Japanese lady. Or, rather, she would have been, if not for the cold intensity of her gaze, along with the incongruous pair of sizable horns protruding from her forehead.

Although Keiko had no memory of how she had come to stand within them, her surroundings seemed pleasant enough- a small path in the midst of a verdant wood. The vibrant green leaves of the myriad bushes and trees sparkled like dozens of shimmering stars as shafts of warm sunlight struck the many water droplets that covered them. These constellations were joined, Keiko soon realized, by those gracing the puddles on the muddy path before her, creating quite the dazzling display.

A pity I missed the rain…

Yes, she had always loved the rain, so soothing, so refreshing… A simple thing that, nonetheless, managed to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit in ways that nothing else seemed able to match. It was a cherished blessing indeed, Keiko reflected, especially in the midst of her arduous training to forge herself into an instrument worthy of her lady.

Her lady. She was obviously the reason Keiko now found herself in these mysterious surroundings. Of that, the horned young woman was certain. Either her lady had brought her here because there was a worthy opponent in this place for her to meet in honorable combat, or some foe of her liege had sought to imprison her here in a pathetic attempt at revenge. Regardless of the reason, the path before her was clear, in more ways than one. Whatever challenge lay before her, she would defeat it, as she always had. Thus, Keiko began to make her way down the forest passage, her pace calm and unhurried.

Eventually, the forest opened to reveal a small village, surrounded by fields. The settlement was a modest collection of simple structures, with white-plastered walls and straw rooftops, set along a few cobblestone streets. As she drew nearer, Keiko took note of the various inhabitants she could see. One elderly man was tending to the roses in his garden, while a considerably younger man was pushing a heavily laden cart towards what appeared to be a bakery. However, she could see no children present, or animals of any kind, and while the village seemed to have a fair number of shops, an inn did not seem to be among them.

Just as well. I do not plan on remaining here long.

Retracting her horns so as not to alarm the villagers, Keiko continued on until she had reached the well at the center of the village square. Two middle-aged women were standing by it, deep in conversation. Like the others she had seen, they were dressed in the simple clothes of peasants and seemed to be rather fearfully whispering back and forth about the village’s new mayor.

“Please pardon my intrusion,” Keiko announced with a small bow. “I do not mean to eavesdrop, but I could not help but notice that something has caused you no small amount of distress.”

“Oh, dear! You poor thing!” One of the women gasped, only just now noticing the new arrival. “I was just telling Gertrude how awful it was that we were trapped here, and now yet another innocent soul has been cursed to share our horrible fate!”

“Your fate?” Keiko inquired. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you see, dear, it’s just like Abby and I were discussing,” the other woman replied in a hushed tone. “It’s all because of the new mayor.”

“Yes, he lives in that mansion just outside the village,” Abby added, hesitantly pointing a trembling finger in the direction of said structure.

Casting her sharp-eyed gaze in the direction indicated, Keiko saw that it was quite the palatial edifice, one of an opulence and architectural complexity far surpassing that displayed by the humble structures of the village.

“Ever since he killed the old mayor, he’s trapped us here in the village!” Gertrude explained.

“How?”

“W-We don’t really know…” Abby conceded. “It’s just that, whenever anyone ventures too far down the path, they end up right back here, at the well.”

“I see…” Keiko murmured. “So this man is some form of sorcerer….”

“Oh, no! He’s no man!” Gertrude corrected, her eyes filled with fear. “He’s a horrible monster!”

“An abomination!” Abby added, looking and sounding equally terrified.

“A monster?” Keiko repeated. “Do you mean, like this?” she inquired, allowing her horns to reemerge and extend to their full, impressive length.

“Oh, heavens no!” Gertrude replied, while attempting to stifle a small giggle.

“Why, those are absolutely lovely, dear,” Abby added with a patronizing smile, as if talking to a confused child. “Certainly nothing like that nightmarish creature…”

Keiko raised an eyebrow, a major expression of shock for such a stoic young lady.

If my true appearance is perfectly normal to them, then what form of being awaits me in that mansion?

“I see,” Keiko replied curtly. “Thank you for your time,” she told the two women with another bow, before setting off towards the Mansion’s imposing steel gates.

“W-Wait!” Both women cried out.

“Y-You can’t go in there!” Abby insisted.

“The gates are barred, and even if you could get inside, the mayor will surely kill you!” Gertrude added.

“Y-Yes!” Abby agreed. “The old mayor was a master swordsman, and he fell after only one strike!”

“Perhaps,” Keiko replied, sounding utterly unperturbed as she conjured an ornate katana and employed its glowing blade to slice through the gates in one smooth motion. “Yet, there is only one way to know for certain.”

Leaving the two women at the shattered gates, Keiko strode up to the mansion’s doors, which spread themselves wide before her, and stepped into the darkness beyond…

Misfits there, Oafs here

Whereever I was it wasn't the usual suburban plains and roving hills of Illinois. No Misfits that failed feigning agility for dexterity but got rejected from their own stand-to, and no scum that tried the heretic way, too, but were considered ruffian enough to appeal being gay, merry, or lousy.

I kept from intermediating with the Ladies by the Well, I just didn't like the random unperturbed satiableness of them by happenstance, as I knew well enough that Women would prefer to not become Oafs, for whatever Maiden class they earned. So I jogged towards the Man pushing the cart, waved my hand with my arm over my stature enjoying the location much better than a mere Tourist - serendipity always made any location my turf moments after like I was a B-Class Stud. He couldn't see it and with that estimation I strove with a stride of prominence in the jive towards the man, when he did acknowledge me I competently asked "It's quite bright, almost like Noon has come or passed, say Fellow I sense no longing humidty, is there a Sea Coast about here?"

The Man was a gaw with me. My facial recovery was a reflex by now... but I farted. So I forgot about adheration, and mistook the appraisal to a jolly good Fellow myself, heeving into an astounding laughter, I couldn't recognise if I was affable or better because I had layed a hand on their shoulder, nearly unstabling the Man. "Now it's hot as you thought!" said the Man.

I almost buckled backwards, that retort was too well placated. I could feel my face begin to redden, though. So I managed a stand-still. The chuckles echoeing inside my lungs made me see stars for fleeting moments, there. Casually the Man said "The Caspain Sea is East of here, Buddy, you're in Georgia."

Training the village

Not remembering where you were wasn’t normal, but it was for P.T.. It was an unfortunate side effect for those that inhaled behemoth incense. One minute you were an unstoppable warrior, then you woke up without knowing where you were or how you got there. She accepted it.

P.T. only wished she had been dressed better. Her white bodysuit showed every speck of mud on her person. Her bandages held the cold dirt against her skin. Her incense burner – which looked like a chain gun strapped to her back – struck every tree she walked by.

Despite her strange appearance, the locals were unfazed by her. P.T. reasoned that they must had seen many odd foreigners. She had to be in an inter-dimensional space frequented by travelers like herself. This narrowed down the places P.T. could be from an uncountable infinite number to a countably infinite one. To get more answers – and to alleviate her munchies – she approached the young man headed to the bakery.

“Broooooo!” P.T. delivered her ice breaker before running up beside the man. Her incense burner slapped into the side of the cart, rocking it off its wheels.

“Gah!” He immediately lowered the cart to prevent it from falling over. “Watch where you’re pointing that thing!”

He could speak her language. He didn't seem to know what the incense burner was, but that was understandable given its shape. “I’m lost, maaaaaaan. Wanna, tell me, where I, aaaaaaaaam?”

With a huff, the man straightened his posture. “Didn’t you bring a map?”

“Naw. No map, my guy. But, you’re way, cuter than, a map.” P.T. gave the man a shark's grin.

“Was that flirting? I’ll tell you I’m happily-”

P.T. tugged at one of the bags in an attempt to open it. With a pop, it covered her face and hands in powder.

“W-what are you doing with the flour!?”

“I was, wondering, what that, white stuff was.”

The young man groaned. “Could you please bother someone else?”

“Hey, we cool, we cool.” P.T. scooched the man over and grabbed the cart’s handles. “Let me, help you out.”

“I don’t-”

P.T. had little difficulty lifting the cart back up. She was banged up, but there was enough behemoth incense flowing through her veins to do a little physical labor. “Where do you, want it, brooooooooo?”

The young man sighed in defeat. “Just, cart it out back. My brothers will unload it.” He walked after her. “And my name is Kent!”

---

Once the cart was unloaded, P.T was treated to one of the biggest buns she ever saw. It barely fit in her hand, but she had little difficulty enjoying it.

“This bread.” She managed between bites. “Is the, best, bread, ever.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Kent pointed at her flour-bleached face. “You uh, want a napkin?”

“Naw.” She grinned. “I need, a shower, anyway.”

“Right.” After watching her take another bite, Kent closed his eyes. “Look, it’s not that we don’t like outsiders, they just cause us a lot of trouble.”

“Mam miffiming.” P.T. said with a mouth full of bread.

“Every time an outsider comes through here, the mayor sends out his troops.” Kent shrugged. “They interrogate everyone about what they ate, why they were there, the works. They’ll also collect anything an outsider leaves behind.” He pinched his fingers together. “I’ve seen troops with tweezers trying to collect fallen hair. Nobody messes with them. It’s a good way to get hurt.”

P.T. raised an eyebrow. “Do you, know why, my guy?”

“If I had to guess, his interest in outsiders is related to how he’s become so wealthy.”

She swallowed. “And he, stays, in power?”

Kent huffed. “The elders tell me they use to vote for mayors, but I’ve never seen an election in my entire life. I don’t even know his name. He’s always just been 'the mayor'.”

P.T. hesitated. “Where does, he live?”

“Just outside the village. The giant mansion with a wrought iron fence is his.” Kent shook his head. “The gate’s under lock and key, and well guarded. You aren’t seeing him unless he wants to see you.”

That might be the case under most circumstances. However…

The incense burner started to make a whirring sound. The belt feed started to move, and the Incense burner dispensed a red cloud. With a deep inhale, P.T. drew it all into her lungs and held it there. Her blood vessels stood out. Dark rivers of blood ran under her skin. Her heart throbbed in her ears. Her bodysuit stretched as her muscles expanded. Once her transformation was complete, she exhaled.

“Bet.”

“Uh, wow.” Kent looked P.T. up and down. “I’ve seen some interesting outsiders, but nothing like that.”

“Yee.”

“Yee?” Kent broke eye contact with P.T. to examine her muscles.

“Do you, wanna, hit, my guy?”

Kent blinked. “Excuse me?”

P.T. presented him with a bong linked directly to her incense burner. “Wanna, get, swole?”

“Oh I couldn’t possibly-” He cleared his throat. “I mean, is it safe?”

P.T. tipped her head side to side. “Not in, large hits.”

“In that case, I will have a small hit.” P.T. held the apparatus up to his lips. He only got half way through inhaling when he pulled back and started coughing. He waved the red smoke away from his face. “That was a lot less pleasant than-” Kent stopped when he noticed his arm was noticeably more toned than it should have been.

“Wanna see, the mayor, with me?”

Kent looked at P.T. and smiled. “Can the rest of the village join us?”

She smiled. They didn't call her P.T. for nothing.

RP time! - RPC#1

In total, I received 3 entries. I will set up a thread either tonight or tomorrow morning. Thank you for participating.

RP time! - RPC#1

Thank you for your entries. We are now at 3.
The deadline is in 1 day and a little over 12 hours.

RP time! - RPC#1

3 days and approximately 18 hours left before the deadline.

RP time! - RPC#1

The first entry has been submitted!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

When Lilliana asked if anyone could see the dead spirits around them, Fenna stared at her. Dead spirits? As in ghost? She shuddered. However, the feeling of uneasiness quickly dropped when she said there were direwolves coming in from the south.
The plan to destroy the bridge was a good one, but it didn't seem to stop the wolves at all.

One of the two big ones - the one with the rattlesnake tale - jumped as the bridge fell apart, landing next to Adam. The other one... made platforms to stand on? The falcon flew up when the first direwolf landed and Fenna clutched her spear. It was only a metre long, which meant she'd have to get closer to the wolf than she'd liked, but she wouldn't let it stop her. As the second wolf landed next to Adam, she readied the spear and just before charging towards the wolf she noticed her spear got longer, doubling in size. She repositioned herself and thrust the tip forward to attack the Alpha Female.

The falcon dove down to attack the first of the smaller wolves that closed in on the group with her talons.

Nobody Will Believe It [SporkoBug and Calle]

Two nurses came to take Ray away, and the guards would follow. Vivian watched them leave, her red lips pulled in a pleased smile. She'd visit Ray after she was settled in, there were a few things she'd have to do before that.
"This way," the nurse on her right said. "We're going to a good place. You'll get better soon now. It will all be better from here on." She continued with similar sentiments as they walked to an elevator. Once inside, she pushed on the lower button that would bring them to the basement and the lift doors slowly closed.

Benjamin watched the butterfly on his arm. It was obviously not a real butterfly, but he had never seen anything like it. Where had it come from? And why was it here? He was so obsessed with it that he didn't notice Marc observing him from a distance.

A Trainers Ambition [SporkoBug and Calle]

"Nope, all good!" Netherlu said. "You two have more then enough to anyway, I wouldn't even ask you if I had something. I can find other humans if I need one to go on a quest for me." He chuckled to himself. "Quest giver, I kinda like that idea." He turned to Nygari. "What do you think about this: I hide a trinket, tell a human I lost it, and they can feel good about themselves for returning it! I have some trinkets in my nest I could use."

As Netherlu was explaining his newly hatched idea to Nygari, Michael turned to the young Pokémon. "Hello again," he greeted him, bending down to scratch him on the head. "I hope this party isn't too boring for you. Your father seems to be himself again, I'm sure that is a relief for you."

Andy reached out to take it, but didn't do so yet. "Are you sure about it? And if so, can you tell me what Michael is supposed to do with it?"
To say he was grateful she was willing to offer something she wasn't supposed to was an understatement.

Harcu turned his gaze to Eros and nodded. "I haven't heard the details, I hadn't even seen the little one before today. I'd love to question father about him but I haven't found a good opportunity yet." He frowned. "I haven't seen him pay particular attention to his offspring either, nor can I foresee what his role in everything will be. Time will tell, I suppose."

The new Mew slept, but Kim didn't want to leave. It could wake up. "Hello," she greeted Belle with a soft voice.
Jirachi floated away saying he would get a treat for Kim for all her hard work.
"A lot have come to have a quick look, and everyone seems okay with me being with the newly hatched Mew," she said. "I'm not sure why, I'm just a regular Furret after all, but I am glad."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

With her fellow ranger taking the high ground, or trees in this case, Fenna stayed on the ground and scouted ahead. The falcon stayed close to her, which proved to be a good thing as during one of her scouts a wolf crept up and if it hadn't been for the falcon who bravely dove down, she wouldn't have been able to end it with her spear.

Overall the journey to the Mazy Hillocks went well and around noon they reached it. Fenna ate some of her rations as she gazed over the natural beauty of the area ahead, but it looked daunting and uninviting at the same time. It was a great sight for sure, but to cross it? If she had a choice she'd rather not, but Adam had made it clear that this was the road they had to take when others asked about it.

Her eyes moved over the vast area of that consisted mostly of rocks and ravines. She was fairly sure she saw something that looked like a cave somewhere in the east, but the path leading there seemed difficult, and Adam had confidence he could use his magic to help them across the obstacles in the west. Who knew what lurked inside the caverns here? She turned her attention west. From this place it indeed seemed the most sensible path.

Hiking through the Hillocks was no easy feat, and Fenna stayed a lot closer to the group this time, but still checked the path ahead occasionally. This terrain wasn't suitable for tracking, but she did find territory markings and even some animal fecal matter. This area was inhabited by animals, and they were undoubtedly better equipped at moving around than they were. She relayed the information, but luckily they didn't come across anything that wanted to kill them.

Instead they reached a dead end.

Thankfully Adam had a plan and she watched in awe as he grew trees from the ground to form a bridge. "Good job," she complimented him. She crossed the bridge with Adam, taking a nervous first step on the wood just after Adam did, and carefully making her way across. Her muscles were tense and she clutched her spear. She wasn't afraid of heights, not really, but this was one of the scariest things she had done ever since she had woken up in that stone coffin. The falcon flew across, turned back, dove under Fenna the newly created bridge and flew to the other side again, landing on a rock. She was preening her feather when Fenna joined her.
"Show-off," she muttered to the falcon, but smiled as she did.

As Adam had to keep an eye on the bridge, Fenna turned her back to the contraption to inspect the immediate surroundings. She looked for any signs of wolves or other predators and climbed up a rock to get a better overview of the nearby area. When she heard a commotion behind her she quickly turned around. Zell lost his balance! Fenna was about to run back on the bridge, but Mackenzie helped him back on his feet. A sigh of relief followed, that looked like a close call. After that, she didn't want to scout ahead until everyone was safely on this.

She flashed a smile when Mackenzie offered to scout and nodded, wishing the girl good luck. She noticed her falcon was still on the rock and when she glanced into the sky she realized why. Vultures. That was to be expected, a dangerous area like this would be home to scavengers. Luckily vultures were opportunist and they wouldn't pose a threat unless they were really hungry. She went back to her falcon and offered her arm, an invitation the bird of prey accepted.

When everyone had made it across and Mackenzie joined them again, she listened to her report. Recently deceased things? Not a good sign.
Mackenzie had taken the right path. Fenna glanced at the vultures in the sky, they circled a different area. "I bet we'll find something dead in that direction as well," she said, gesturing to the birds.