Hey, everyone! I'm looking for a few people who might be interested in a fantasy/sci-fi RP idea I had.
Please read the ENTIRE plot/setting and ALL of the rules before asking to join!
PlotThe year 2016 was a year of medical leaps and bounds, new waves of discovery being brought on by the idea that humans could benefit from modified versions of animal DNA. With simple vaccines, diseases that had plagued the world for centuries were being eradicated, and with no more than a day or two of bed rest. Economies flourished as citizens who had once lived with horrible disfigurements and disabilities could now live normal lives.
But the practice came with an unforeseen consequences, ones that seemed could only come from science fiction. In future generations, one of every few thousand children born seemed to have strange features. Some had eyes that resembled cats'; others had ears like those of rabbits; some even had claws or tails. As time went on, things only worsened. Some of the children born with these genetic abnormalities were able to communicate with the species their DNA flaws seemed to originate from -- and some were able to shift between human and animal forms. On rare occasion, children that appeared "normal" formed some of these abilities as well.
The public, terrified of what was happening to their children and of what these animal children were capable of, cried for a solution. The government, with no other choice, began to seize the children who demonstrated signs of genetic abnormality. Some parents willingly flung their offspring at the government, unable to accept what they'd created. Other parents went underground in an attempt to keep their kids safe. Most were captured and sent to detention centers. It's unclear to the public what happens to those brought into these facilities. No one who has been brought in has yet left.
The year is now 2038. Where this future time had once been promising, medical and social progress has been slow. Disease became rampant after the medical catastrophes that followed the shutdown of the DNA vaccines and the public fear that came next. Many cities fell to chaos and decay as the military attempted to simultaneously gather the "infected" citizens and keep peace as rioters and dissenters fought back, as well as looters following in the wreckage. Some stability has returned, but there is still much tension. Most seem to harbor hatred for the DNA outsiders, now grown and usually called "Shifters". Some still support those who chose to hide; but those who are caught are faced with severe sentences. The military has developed technology that can detect DNA abnormalities in a person, given a healthy blood sample.
The RP will follow a small group of Shifters attempting to avoid being apprehended by the government. The life of a Shifter isn't easy; most have visible animal-like features that must be carefully hidden. Many military checkpoints exist that test for DNA abnormalities. Work and housing are illegal for Shifters to legally obtain. The current setting is in the outskirts of Chicago. Some Shifters have found refuge in abandoned buildings, others are lucky enough to find someone willing to let them stay for a while. But the military has been receiving more and more reports of Shifters living in the city, and they're cracking down on the fugitives living there.
It's up to your group to decide how they're going to continue to survive.
Rules
- No OOC drama. IC drama is encouraged.
- Romance/violence/etc are all welcome.
- Ask to join. Including myself, I'm aiming for a group of 4-5.
- No Mary Sues/Gary Lous.
- No GMing or anything similar.
- Good grammar and spelling are important. I don't mind occasional errors, it happens. But your writing shouldn't be bleeding red pen.
- No one-line posts. I'm not requiring any certain length responses, but try to be as descriptive as you can. Move the plot forward. A couple of paragraphs would be great.
- Subtly tell me your favorite fruit when asking to join.
- Try to post at least once per day. I know life gets in the way and I generally work a lot so I won't be too big of a stickler about it. But let us know if you'll be gone for more than 2-3 days.
About Shifters
- Most Shifters, but not all, have outward appearances of their animal type.
- Not all Shifters can...well, shift. Shifters is a derogatory word from the fear of those who can shift. Some only have the appearance or other abilities.
- Ask before you add any special abilities. These can include speaking to their animal type, having their senses, etc.
- Shifters only have one animal they look like/speak with/shift into/etc. (Ex: Tiger, wolf, mouse, seagull, turtle, etc)
- This doesn't include all breeds of a specific type. For example, if your character is a cat type, they can't become a tiger or a house cat or a lion all in one. Your character can only be one, and will be the same color every time. Their animal form is as unique as their human one.
- Clothes don't shift with your character. When they shift, they will drop/tear their clothes depending on their animal size. When they shift back they will be naked. Plan ahead.
- Shifters who can turn into larger, more powerful animals can have an upper hand with fighting, but those with more common animals like sparrows or small dogs can be more stealthy (though many animals are routinely tested for being Shifters as well). Again, plan ahead.
- All Shifters can be identified by their blood. No exceptions.
Character Guidlines- Name, age, etc
- Physical description, photos optional
- Animal type
- Abilities
- Gender and sex (optional)
- Sexuality (optional)
- Background (optional)
On a personal note, I'm one of those people that LOVES to stir up drama IC. Character romances? Absolutely. Pushing our characters through tragedy until they nearly break? Yep, that's me. Stirring up character jealousy? It could happen. So keep that in mind when you ask to join. :)
I think that's about it. Let me know if you have any questions. :) I'll be writing up my character sheet either tonight or tomorrow after work, and will create an OOC board if people show some interest.