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Fabula Ultima: JRPG Adventures

@Raineh Daze Yeah, you're right. It was mostly to tryout how to make one in the Fabula style. It's not too difficult, so if we have a better idea of how we want the world to look like, I can slap another one together in half a lunch break, if wanted.

Fabula Ultima: JRPG Adventures

Well if you're going to open it up like this here's my votes/ideas:

1. I'd also like the Ghibli fantasy feel, especially when coupled with floating islands world. Nausicaa, Laputa, let's go!

2. You asked for it lol

3. For some reason this question evokes Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom vibes for me. I like the idea of tech level being relatively down-to-earth, but that there are these ancient magitek about.

DELTΔ HYPER (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired Anti-Gravity, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

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Kais Zenix @ASZenix:
"What an amazing first race!
9th place, and Layla at 3rd for AlSaqr in the Auckland grand prix!
Better look out @NitroNora, we’re coming for you next!
#AlSaqrRacing #DeltaHyper #FormulaAG"

---

Kais, with the competition in the mid-pack, a respectable first race putting it into 9th and into the points. How did you find the balance of aggression to make the most of the speed from your Al-Saqr ship?

“Hmm. Speed’s OK. Still breaking the ship in. So don’t worry… You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

---

(One day earlier)

Kais listened to Ava with a cold expression, but he felt she knew better than to think him calm. With her background surely she recognized the stares of his kind, eyes not knowing where to look, the clenched jaw, the hands floating near non-existent holsters, the pangs of recognition. Images of a world ablaze flickered in his mind. A world, and more. Shockwaves rumbled through the mining tunnels. Sounds of innocence. Smells of meat sloughing from a mech. And throughout it all…

"Rage and anger? I know them well. But you’re wrong about one thing: we’re not the same. I didn’t rage for some grand cause, to save the world, to feel good about my stake in it all. I did because I was fastgrown in a fucking tube, a childhood of killing uploaded straight into my brain, and was let loose in a war zone, where survival was all that existed. Rage kept me alive when nothing else did, in places where others break. To this very day…”

He paused for a second. “You say you understand, and maybe you do, and maybe I am a relic of a bygone age, but if you think for even a second that I’m just gonna wait till they put me down, you are going to be sorely mistaken. Make a better weapon out of me? They better. And stay in the light? You’re goddamn right. And I’ll make sure it’s my light they’re gonna be standing in."

And without another word, Kais turned and walked away. It didn’t matter, none of it, not anymore. The race was all that mattered now. Speed, the next turn… Survival.

---

Sunday March 5th, 2094
Auckland, New Zealand_-_Aotearoa
Race Day
1700 NZST

An AG Racer was different from a warmech in many ways. In a mechsuit, their arm is your arm, their leg is your leg. Their eyes, your eyes. It was more natural even if the tech was considered vintage now. But in a racer? Whole thing’s different. The AG racer’s cockpit was clean. Sterile, but that’s all there was to them on the inside. Where they were colorful and stylish on the outside, on the inside there wasn’t even a real control pad - just some strips and markers for neurographic projection. Even the handles, pedals and joysticks were barely functional. They had some give, but that was mostly for show. It made it easier on the pilots if they had some haptic feedback that didn’t contradict what they did through their direct brain connection, and it probably helped the pilots not accidentally snap them off in flight too. But if you were so inclined, AGR cockpits could seem little more than many millions worth of metallic coffins.

A crew member was working frantically on plugging Kais into all the systems. Kais glanced over to him, and he saw beads of sweat pearl on his forehead, his eyes flitting here and there, but never to him. Poor guy was trying to get away ASAP. Last few systems: bracing clamps, medical support, breathing, neural interfaces. And it was done. The man closed the hatch, almost hesitantly tapped on it a few times for good luck, as tradition dictates. And then Kais was alone. Alone in his dark coffin, with only the craft’s soft background hum keeping him company.

Over the radio, he heard the crew countdown with a nonchalance like they had done many times before. “Alright, Kais. Prepare for plugin, in 3… 2…”. Suddenly, the ship came alive. It always was a slightly jarring experience, having your senses suddenly become 6x larger. His body vibrated as the ship. The markers and handles now had information projected onto it - speed, gear, lap number, racer position, temperature and energy levels. The rest of his ship became fully transparent, and Kais saw the circuit spread out in in a near-360 panoramic view around him. Falkner, Westwood and Neves, their ships wobbling ever-so-slightly as they too lifted off the ground just ahead, were undoubtedly just plugged in as well. AI-curated data feeds - visual, thermals, distance and pressure measurements - all simultaneously streamed into him in different layers of his mind. The frantic bustle of mechanics made last-minute checks before running off the track. Crowds cheered - Kais turned down the volume on that. And in the distance: the five lights. Just before he placed them on the stick, he looked at his hands - not even a tremble.

5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

And off they went.

For a split second, the acceleration felt like then. The boost pushed him in his seat as kilometers raced by in seconds. Even the neurological dampeners couldn’t fully make the rearranging of his internal organs pleasant. Kais reached out with his sensors as the first positions were being traded. In front of Kais lingered Ulrich Falkner, careful and measured. Layla had already gained on Makara and was now maneuvering on Nora Kelly blazing ahead. The Zygon colors of Han’s ship crept close behind them. And Kais saw Makara would be no match. She was immaculately calculated. Infuriatingly calculated.

“Falkner. Kelly. Han. Go. Take them down.”

Kais started hugging those in front close. They had started their own maneuvers. If he could stay with them… Ramping up his own speed, he started his own moves to overtake Falkner in front. But before he knew it Ulrich was out of the race. Crashed, and crashed hard.

“That’s one down!”

---

“Talk to me, Cypher.” Team principal Omar asked their main neural engineer, as he walked up beside Nadia, pinching her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down from her nerves.

“Layla’s going like a champ. Kais, still the same problem. I can’t put my finger on it. Neural parser’s giving me strange readings now and then. I swear, that guy’s brain... I don’t know. It’s very unclear. Staticy. Sometimes I think I can make out words, but they make no sense. But most of it just sounds like… screaming?”

Later in the team cafeteria, Nadia was wondering what she’d gotten herself into this time.

---

“Passed Neves,” Kais spoke to himself. That was one Zygon down. She put up a good fight, but a fiery approach only works until someone out-guns you.

And then, there she was. Ava Villarosa. There may have been two drivers in Wipala, but Kais knew flying when he saw it. Controlled. Millimeter by millimeter he saw the distance measures creep down. She was gaining on him. Gritting his teeth, he pushed his own ship to its limits…

And then, it was all over. The checkered flag was flown. And it all died down to nothing. Cheers may have erupted, but that volume had been turned down. It didn’t matter, none of it.

---

Post Race, Auckland: Cooldown

Nora Kelly, newcomer and podium finisher. What an accomplishment. Kais noticed a pang of feeling welling up inside him. Pride, or jealousy? And next to her stood Amy Stirling, and Al-Saqr’s very own Layla. Kais mused he’d never hear the end of it… for now.

This was what being a pilot in AG was all about. Drive and, perhaps yes, even respect. Hidden in the crowd their eyes met: Layla, Ava, Ulrich, Hyeon-Ae, Nora. You’d swear you could see the slightest nod and smile on Kais’ face. He raised his index finger.

Bang.

Around The World In 80 Days - Aetherpunk AU Roadtrip (CLOSED)

@Tortoise @Hawlin @apheline RP thread start. I'll wait for new players until say next week before starting the game proper.

Game starts at 4+ players.

Around The World In 80 Days - Aetherpunk AU Roadtrip (CLOSED)

@Tortoise @Dragonfly 9 @Hawlin @apheline See the newly opened thread. Note that I've added some info, rules, and one more field in the character sheet (writing sample).

@Dragonfly 9 That's a shame, but understandable, your own wellbeing is more important. Take care, and feel free to be welcome some other day perhaps! :)

Around The World In 80 Days - Aetherpunk AU Roadtrip (CLOSED)

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---

"You're stark barking mad, sir!" "Oh please, miss, I know you read The Aetherial just as well as I do. With the latest innovations in travel, it's entirely feasible. Airships, steam trains, the occasional skimobile, submarine and aether jumper. Why, it's practically a stroll through the park. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to discourage me so you could take all the credit for yourself."

"And if I didn't know any better, I would say you were challenging me. And what, pray tell, would be the purpose of such a journey? Beyond the sheer thrill of it, of course." "To prove it can be done! To push the boundaries of human ingenuity and showcase the marvels of modern science. Imagine the headlines! Intrepid Duo Travels Around The World In 80 Days!"

"It is an absolutely ludicrous proposal, sir, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say you knew me too well." "Then we have an accord?"
"Indeed we have. Cheers, Mister Wellington. To 80 days of adventure, wonder, and discovery!" "To making history!"

"To trains that run on time!" "To meeting all manner of fascinating characters!"
"To impeccable fashion, even in the jungle!" "To never running out of tea!"
"To not encountering rogue automatons!" "To always remembering where we parked our airship!"

"To keeping our wits about us during whirlwind romances!" "Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, Miss Hawthorne..."
"Oh alright, then; to always finding our way home, no matter how far we go!"

^{Image source: Tesla City, by Eddie Mendoza on DeviantArt | Header source: Coventry Garden Regular, on 1001Fonts}

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The Game

Welcome to Around the World in 80 Days. This RPG is inspired by the video game 80 Days (which, in turn is inspired by the classic Jules Verne adventure novel from which I stole the title, cough), but with a twist, namely that it is set in an pseudo-Victorian-era Steam/Aetherpunk fantasy world, and that it will feature 2 teams competing to travel the globe... within 80 days, of course

This will be a very loosely GM-ed RPG. It will rely on the players' imagination to get themselves into interesting situations and make up just as much of the worldbuilding and story, especially as this will be very much a slice of life and character- and interactions-driven RPG.

For this reason, before applying, please consider that aside from IC writing, I will also ask that you commit some time and interest to actively discuss, plot, give suggestions and feedback, and generally chat, jabber and be merry in OOC (Discord). I understand that life can make this difficult, but I do consider this crucial to the health, success and fun of the RP!

GMing will mostly be done through setting up a region travel guide-style (defining feel, culture, landmarks, interesting events, and transportation methods), by playing the team leads (who will poll their team on important questions and give them challenges/sub-quests), and by loosely keeping track of each team's progress with a semi-random system that I won't bore you with (distance travelled, money, challenges, etc.). As I said above, there is a discord group in which we can discuss what fun and interesting things could happen. And yes, there will be a world map that will be updated as the journey progresses.

Character Sheet - COPYABLE TEMPLATE

[b]Name[/b]:
[b]Gender[/b]:
[b]Age[/b]:
[b]Team[/b]: Miss Hawthorne or Mister Wellington

[b]Appearance[/b]:
[b]Personality[/b]:
[b]Background[/b]:

[b]Personal Qualities[/b]: list 5 personal qualities, from best to worst. Can be skills, but also generic things such as ‘curious’
[b]Special[/b]: list up to 3 things that make you special in some way (could be skills, qualities, items).
[b]Goal[/b]: what is the personal reason for going on this trip? Is there something you’d like to see, gain or achieve, that you are running from?

[b]Misc[/b]: list any other things that are nice to know, but not necessarily essential. Like speech color, theme song, face/voice claim, etc.

[b]Writing sample[/b]: A short 1 or 2-paragraph sample of your writing. Make sure you read the rules section for the game (see below) first!

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The Teams

WANTED, Companions To A Lady On An Adventure!

WANTED, Fellows To Join A Dashing Explorer In A Quest!

Miss Eliza Hawthorne, botanist, sharp-witted, well-hatted, and usually perfectly composed, seeks equally fit souls as accompaniment on an expedition around the globe. Must preferably be sober, have a valid passport for Aetheric travel, and be well acquainted with using various forms of travel with grace and a positively positive attitude. We shall prove beyond a doubt, that this lady can go into the Uncharted and come out on top! Find Miss Hawthorne this Friday at The Gilded Pavilion, Londinum to take your applications into consideration. And as for you, Augustus Wellington: be prepared! Your cravat may always be infuriatingly peccable, but you’ll find that no amount of ruggedness will outmaneuver someone who is always two steps ahead. May the best team win… and I do believe we both know which one that will be!

Ladies and gentlemen of daring disposition, I am Gus Wellington, dashing archaeologist and curator of some repute. I am gathering a team of only the bravest and/or the most foolhardy to join in on a quest to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days! Fancy, eh! Encouraged to join are those that are experts in: navigation, advanced linguistics, obscure historical trivia, and the occassional cocktail mixing. Those who think being fashionably late is an acceptable travel strategy need not apply. Interviews will be conducted at the Gilded Pavilion in Londinum this Friday. And as for you, Miss Hawthorne: you may possess a certain elegance, true, but style alone will not help you dangle from an aether jumper. So if you'll indulge me one last tip: please do be careful. May the best team win… and I do believe we both know which one that will be!

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The World

In Anno 1899, Caelon, our world, stands on the cusp of a new age. Our industrious heart of Grand Albion is connected in ways our forebears could never have imagined. With steamtrains and submarines, caravans and carriages, airships and aether jumpers, no place seems too remote: from our very own capital city of Londinum; to vast and green Manoran, where the echoes of creation can still be heard in their gem-lit jungles; from the frigid snowscapes of Arinor, realm of dusk and starlight; to the Naburian expanses, land of dynasties, djinn and dragons; and from the bustling ports and eclectic societies of New Albion; to places some say are even more elusive. Connecting it all is the Aether, a realm of existence wondrous and wild, an element of nature that flows throughout the very fabric of our world. Its clever usage has become the cornerstone of our new age, in both constructive -and destructive- ways. Yet the great thinkers and tinkerers of the world brim with optimism at this turning of the millennium. For to live in the Aether Age is to live in a time of great possibility, limited only by one's imagination.

The Rules

GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT: Standard board rules apply. Don’t be a d*ck (but don't be too easily slighted either). Aim to post at least once every 1-2 weeks, and up to as many times as you want. Anything else can be discussed and determined by the group in OOC. The GM decides on matters that can’t be resolved by the group, and can always be consulted. Keep real-life politics, religion, and drama 'off the table'.

PLAYER ENGAGEMENT: To join, please commit to active participation both In-Character (IC) and Out-Of-Character (OOC). Engage in the Discord server for OOC discussions, plotting, announcements, and jabbering about. For IC, post at least once every 1-2 weeks, and be interactive with other players. If you need to take a break, that’s OK, just make sure to notify us.

CHARACTER APPLICATIONS: Though this is a very open game, in which characters can jump in and out of the action as wanted or needed, not all applications will be automatically accepted. Make sure your character fits the setting, and plays well with the others. Note that this story takes place in a fantasy world, so feel free to let your creativity go wild when it comes to your background. The only limit I want to place on characters relates to Aether: though it is a 'magical' substance, it is very much a wild force of nature, so fireball-flinging 'wizards' don't really fit the setting. Your writing style, general attitude, and activity levels from other games may influence my decision for acceptance.

PLOT CONTENT: Stay up to date on the story and lore. If you have questions, ask. Propose any potentially major ideas or side-plots in the Discord or via PM’s to ensure they align with the main plot and other characters’ stories. Though roleplay may involve mature themes, there will be no explicit 18+ roleplay. Include in your character sheet's writing sample an in-character answer to a random question, as if you are being interviewed by your chosen team lead, to prove you read the rules.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Have Fun! :)

Around The World In 80 Days - Aetherpunk AU Roadtrip (CLOSED)

@apheline Thanks for the first CS draft! I think she fits well, and I like her personal goal, sounds like something a little big roadtrip could work wonders on ;)

But! My little eye spies 'half Chinese half Italian', and I was originally planning this to be more of a (human-only, but we could discuss that) fantasy world. Heavily *inspired* by cultures and countries of our world (the story will start in the grand and glorious country of Great Albion, for example), but I did want to lean more into the unexpected and fantasy aspects. So if you could change those nationalities to their 'fantasy equivalents' that would be great. And maybe you could already start thinking about how those countries and cultures might be different from our own. Worldbuilding, high five!

@Tortoise @Dragonfly 9 @Hawlin I'll start up the discord and invite you all. I'm still writing up the text for the RP thread, including some more info on vibe/flavoring and worldbuilding, incidentally. I'll probably post that later today.

Discord link: discord.gg/6ftXJfat all aboard!

Fabula Ultima: A JTTRPG

I love the larger-than-life feel of JRPGs, but the endless grinding for levels often turns me off. So as long as it wouldn't be too grind-y, then consider me interested. :)

Around The World In 80 Days - Aetherpunk AU Roadtrip (CLOSED)

@Tortoise @apheline @Dragonfly 9 @Hawlin

This sounds so fun! I'd be interested in joining! Any ideas for what sorts of crew members these intrepid adventurers might needs on their journeys?

apheline

Not at all. That's all up to your (collective) creativity. In the end, it's all about creating a fun story together. So whether you are an escaped convict running from the law, or a wide-eyed incognito princess wanting to get in on the action: lightheartedness, drama, all are welcome, as long as it fits the theme/premise/setting in a plausible way, and you are excited to play. In fact, I'm thinking of opening it up so many players and characters can jump in and out of the story as needed or wanted, think like the Canterbury tales. The only thing I want to limit is magic: in this setting, I imagine magic/aether to be very much wild and a force of nature, about as developed as electricity was in the late 1800s, so you may play a ('realistically' limited) aether engineer, or enthusiast, sure, but a fireball slinging wizard? This is not the place for that.

I'll start up an actual RP thread + Discord in the weekend. Glad to see so many people are interested :)

DELTΔ HYPER (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired Anti-Gravity, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

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Kais Zenix @ASZenix:
"The battle is on!"
[Video clip: Kais sits forward at the pre-race party, watching his opponent make their move]
#AlSaqrRacing #DeltaHyper #FormulaAG #LetsGO

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Sounds like you have your approach down, Kais. We look forward to seeing you charging hard! How about the others on the grid? What have you got to say for the other racers you'll be going toe to toe with?

“Hmm.. There are quite a few of those, … Glance at the nametag. ”... Aurora... so let’s stick to the new ones, shall we; if I burn all bridges we’ll be talking all day and I have a busy schedule, not to mention jetlag.” Kais said as he started a count on his fingers.

“MadBea and Nora. Reckless, loud, and proud--sounds familiar. But being a loose cannon only works until someone out-guns you. They’ll learn that soon enough. Ulrich: solid defense, but you can’t be afraid to fight, eh. Also I don’t know how he does it, all that smiling. Hurts my face just to look at him sometimes. I’m scared for Paul Mulder, honestly--I’d rather see him dance with girls, than with death. And Han Hyeon-Ae? I’ve gotten more down the nose stares from her than from anyone, and we haven’t even raced each other yet. But we’ll see how she handles being taken out of her comfort zone.”

In the distance, Kais saw the team principal wince.

“So what I’m saying is I’m sure we’ll get along fine.”

---

Pre-Race Party

“You any good at social stuff?” Kais asked Nadia during a small break from signing their way through the night. These were possibly some of his most dreaded events, and he welcomed any emotional support animal he could get. And today, Nadia drew the shortest straw.

“If I was, my security clearance would’ve probably been in by now. Those background interviews were pure hell.” Nadia responded. “Shame. That impatient to get inside our brains, huh?” Kais quipped back. Nadia smiled. With a lot of antigrav ship interfacing being a direct connection between their neurons and the ship's AI, an important part of optimization was the development of ultra low-level electrical circuitry fine-tuned to not only the car, but also to the driver, their mods, and even to the peculiarities of each individual track. There were some other avenues where neural control was important, but AG Racing was one of the most dynamic ones. Defense and space agencies did research in cooperation with constructors for exactly this reason. And with that came strict security clearances, even for their electrical engineering interns eager to get into their brains.

“Wouldn’t worry about it too much, Nadia, they’ll take just about anyone these days, eh…” Layla said with a wink. Their Anti-Arabic League supersoldier turned Arabic League AG racer was living proof of that. “Did he tell you about that time in the war he pulled someone’s arm off yet?” Nadia looked aghast. Kais shrugged.

Later that night, a short video clip of a group of fans intensely staring at Kais and another celeb playing a game of holo-chess would come to circulate the internet. They shook hands, and no arms were torn off.

---

Grid Photo

There they all were, dressed to the nines, with Layla and Kais wearing Al-Saqr’s signature racing suits. Just shy of skin-tight, with its weave of dark green, silver linings and joints, and a gold falcon in flight splayed across the chest and back, one might almost mistake them for old-school superheroes, if not for the flanking names of sponsors and collaborators and the scowl with which Kais wore it. Hidden in various folds across the suit were all the bio-amps and bioplasm-pumps, the various sensor, interface and power ports, and the entire length of the neck was hugged by a bulky silver collar onto which their custom-fitted gold helmet would be fastened. But possibly the most impressive feat of engineering was that it was almost comfortable. Shifting awkwardly sandwiched in between the others, hurled at them by one of their competitors, Kais heard a compliment.

“Smile Kais,” Layla elbowed him, “MadBea thinks you’re pretty!”

“I am smiling.”