Pilatus

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

Chris MacDonald

Name: Chris MacDonald

Nickname: The Pilot or Captain Chris - He really dislikes the latter, but puts up with it.

Age: 36

Gender: Male

Occupation:

Pilot, ERA Aviation. A small family owned business specializing in tours, cargo and chartered flights for fishing and marine expeditions as well as a mail route that runs between Mexico, Belize and Islas Azules. They operate a single Cessna 206 amphibian that is based out of Isla Zafrio

Appearance:

Chris

Chris is a stout six foot and usually weighs between 175-185 lbs. He is very self critical about his physical condition as he didn’t begin exercising regularly until his early 20’s and was often self-conscious of his physique as a teenager. His clothing style is very informal/utilitarian consisting of t-shirts, shorts and other relaxed-work attire often branded with various company logos that he received for free.

Character Concept:

Chris and his family are expats that left the US in the very early 2000s not necessarily out of any sort of political motivation, but for a lucrative opportunity around Islas Azules. Though he was never one for social convention, over time he began to feel a sense of loss about the family leaving their roots in Florida for a foothold in the meteoric tourism industry along the Yucatan. He rarely voices it anymore, but some part of him still feels like a stranger in Azul which has likely amplified his natural introversion. As the islands’ only air charter service, the MacDonalds are key members of the community thanks in majority to a relationship built with Flores well before moving the business to the islands. Chris’ purest passion is flying the plane and he will still tell anyone he has an aviator’s dream job. As his father has moved mostly into retirement, Chris has taken over, but does not have the same suave charisma being more analytical and efficiency minded. He is friendly enough and well liked, but to see him out mingling during any kind of social event is a cause for surprise.

Character History:

Chris is a third generation aviator and native of the eastern Florida shore. His grandfather, Emory, was a flying-boat captain during WW2 and after the war used his skillset to specialize in aerial tourism and regional cargo throughout Florida, the Keys and into the Caribbean. He set up what would eventually become ERA Aviation, the combination of himself and his partner, Richard, a fellow pilot from the war. The business would grow as Emory brought his son, Michael, up through the ascending marketplace of private aviation charters in the southeast. The tradition was carried on through Chris and he learned to fly young, growing up with the company’s preference for Cessna aircraft. Many weekends were spent running cargo or passenger routes down to Miami and beyond rather than having much to do with the usual customs of small town life.

Growing up was a fairly standard high middle-class lifestyle for the 90s and early 00s. Chris and his younger sister both went to public school and family vacations were usually a once-a-year cruise or trip to somewhere semi-exclusive- one of which being Azul where the first talks were held with the Flores. The biggest difference locally for the MacDonald’s was the family business. Chris had no real interest in sports or innate sense of school spirit or any real dating life, just a few close friends which made it easy to replace those voids with the allure of flying. A steady hand, a course well set or a water landing deftly executed were more than enough satisfaction, though to much of the rest of his classmates and friends, this unusual income stream was more of a curiosity and the family was somewhat regarded as outliers by the long established names within the community.

Relocating to Azul was in the works for many years and something Michael would have dismissed completely while his father was still alive, knowing the patriarch would never leave the US, however time passed along with the founders. With no heirs having any interest in managing or working in a niche aviation business, Richard’s lucrative stake was sold by his family to outside investors leaving Michael as merely a voting member amongst competing interests and the bank. The time was right to make the move though it was no secret among the family that grandpoppy would be spinning in his grave at the thought. Thanks to the tenderly fostered relationship with the Flores however, Azul remained an obscure destination where the company could downsize and return to its early role as a tourism and cargo charter without the worry of competition. Michael sold his stake and kept only the Cessna 206 using the proceeds to pay for the move and set the family up free and clear on the islands as the plane’s sole owners.

Moving hardly phased Chris at first, having little attachment to his hometown and the excitement of flying in a new place providing a simple link to the rest of the world, just like in the early days of flight, was a setting he knew many pilots would never see. It was modern bush flying, but instead of mountains and trees, it was romanticized in a way with islands and sailboat masts. The sense of adventure was the same, though as years passed and routine settled with maturity of age, it was hard to deny that he was again an outsider in another place.

Chris is fairly reclusive and not overly social, though he’d still be considered a “regular” around Azul as he stops by the post office twice a week to drop off the mail run and to disperse the cargo pickups from Cancun. Other than those, he can be seen at the market or exercising in an open garage “gym” within the town center of Isla Zafrio. Most citizens have a generally positive opinion of Chris, particularly in light of the services and connections that the airplane provides. Not many people really know him outside of this role and he is almost completely defined by it within the community. He does not really delve into politics or solicit opinions without being asked. Chris has never been married and hasn’t dated in months.

Likes:

+Caffeine
+Wave Music (Witch House/Retrowave)
+Amateur Radio
+Reading
+Nighttime hours
+Cigars occasionally

Dislikes:

-Over Organization
-Large Gatherings
-The Mainland
-Sports
-Seafood (yes, really. He’s allergic)
-Social Media

Special Talent:

Chris has an exceptionally steady hand that translates well to flying, but also to other hobbies and interests. He doesn’t mind drawing, but rarely does and also has very good aim with a speargun or a firearm. Any sort of meticulous task that requires steady concentration suits him well and people tend to bring him problems that require such: small motors, radios and various electronics.

Supporting Information:

-Though it was originally pronounced E-R Aviation. The lettering on the plane has led most to pronounce it as Era and over time the name stuck. While Chris loves flying, he hates dealing with the blatantly corrupt and disorganized foreign mail authorities which routinely break, steal and search through the postage bound for Azul for which he consequently gets blamed, leading to the pejorative, “Error Aviation” that is tossed around when something is delayed or doesn't arrive in suitable condition.

-Chris and his Dad are Azul’s only HAM radio operators. They are qualified to operate a small HF station that sits on Michael’s property in the event of an emergency, but they are both known to get on the airwaves from time to time and talk to other operators around the world. Chris has no fear of heights, but can’t stand wearing a harness and climbing the tower to make a repair or perform maintenance on the antenna.

-ERA operates a single 1985 Cessna 206 amphibian. It has been strictly maintained and periodically refit to keep international certification standards and has gone through two major restorations/overhauls and upfits, one in the 90s and another in the late 00s that provided for modern avionics, a more powerful engine, short take-off and landing kit, extended baggage and several creature comfort/performance upgrades. It is very much a “working” airframe able to switch between cargo and passenger service easily and is the remaining holdover from the original business before the family moved to Azul. Chris has always flown it and regards it as “his” plane. Its high-pitched turbine is a source of annoyance for some.

-Chris’ sister, Jessica, is a nurse in Belize. She visits occasionally, but most definitely prefers the greater convenience of the city despite the crime and mostly corrupt government. She is married and has two children that adore coming to Azul. Chris or Michael will fly out to the international airport in Ladyville and pick them up for long weekends and holidays. Her parents wish she would just relocate to Azul for the safety of the grandkids, but her husband’s work keeps them on the mainland for the time being.

Aircraft - Cessna 206

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

Taryn Rogers

Name:
Taryn Rogers

Nickname:
“Teacup”, but only to those that know her very closely. It was her nickname as a child and has followed her throughout her life. She would take offense to anyone using it that she hadn’t approved.

Age:
26

Gender:
Female

Appearance:

Taryn

Taryn is 5’4” with long black hair and blue eyes. She is petite and fairly lean from being outdoors and keeping an active lifestyle and profession. She takes genuinely good care of herself, however doesn't mind indulging from time to time. Her skin is naturally on the fair side, but she tans easily and is careful not to get burned. Clothing styles are a little more towards tom-boyish, though she still tailors her looks to highlight her figure. Flip-flops, tank-tops and frayed jean shorts are the norm. Rarely wears anything formal.

Personality:
When she first arrived as a semi-resident of Islas Azules, Taryn was as brash, straightforward and demanding as ever. She remains all of those things into the present day, however a few years on the islands, learning to really live on “island time” has mellowed her to some extent. The outer circle of acquaintances she has around the area would probably consider her no different than when she first arrived, but the closer cadre of friends she keeps would say with a smirk and a shrug, “Well, she’s not as bad as she was.”

When it comes to the government and politics of the islands she keeps a fairly neutral position with neither side truly working completely in her favor. The Flores keep the majority of the tourists and prospectors at a tolerable level and thus exclude the bulk of any competition she may have from outsiders, however they hide and withhold information for their own benefit. The Cardenas, on the other hand, are more willing to be open, but will invite in the same foreigners the Flores are keeping out. Taryn has no interest in digging in the seabed for diamonds, but is most definitely keen on keeping fewer ships on the horizon.

At a personal level, Taryn has a restless soul that is rarely satisfied. She’s extremely self-critical which contributes to her seemingly random mood swings and eccentricities. Her whims don’t always lead her to success though sometimes she can really find the unpredictable to be exhilarating despite the outcome. In relationships, she has used this to guard herself and her reputation maybe too much to give anyone a legitimate chance. Instead, she is endlessly testing and putting down hurdles for her ego to judge people unworthy.

Out on the open water when she’s running downwind at full canvas and the hull is gliding over the water of the Caribbean is when the most noticeable difference in attitude arises. She never felt the same sense of self or belonging when she was a child learning how to sail. It was there to some extent, but wasn’t the same feeling as having her own boat. Oftentimes when she needs to think, she’ll turn off the autopilot and steer the boat manually. It is a complete contrast to her normal pretentiousness.

Likes:
+Sailing
+Puzzles
+Spicy Food
+Ornate Dishes
+Sunsets
+Country Music

Dislikes:
-Politics
-Inactivity
-Effeminate Men
-Authority
-Insects
-Cruise Ships

Special Talent:
Taryn has a shockingly good memory, though it is not fully photographic in that she remembers certain specific details about people, places and events rather than complete images that let her recall the rest of the memory like labeled tabs on file folders. If she couldn’t place a name or a face from her past, she might remember what a person was wearing or where she saw them and the rest will come back from there.

Biography:

The Rogers name is among the oldest within the Fort Myers seaboard commercial district dating back to the post-Civil War period and the original foundation of the city. Those early settlers, migrants and their descendants operated the first steamboats along the Caloosahatchee River and the earliest commercial fishing enterprises into the Gulf of Mexico. As the town grew so did the family and the business that eventually divided into two separate entities: one within the state, following the Okeechobee Waterway for internal commerce and one into the open waters of the Gulf and beyond. The current iteration of the Rogers family by its male survivors migrated south first to Cape Coral, but pragmatically fostered ties with the growing port of Miami and shed its commercial fishing holdings to solely focus on the growth of international container traffic into and out of Miami to South America. After several mergers, lines of credit and careful negotiations, SouthEastern Apex Lines was born. A combination of Rogers Cargo Southeastern and the Miami-based, Apex Lines South.

Growing up with this pedigree, there was never a time when Taryn was without family, friends or followers that just wanted to be associated with a dominant name among the upper echelons of the Naples area. As a young teen there was a certain power and mystique associated with being able to jet off to Miami for a long weekend while her classmates took two hours to drive I-75. This exclusivity wasn’t without challenges though. Classes were extreme in both primary and secondary and partly served as a metric for parents to determine who would be suitable to follow in the family business. Taryn was not a particularly strong academic and clearly satisfied to leave the accounting and executive acumen to her older brother, however she excelled at the more practical disciplines of physics and geometry. As with everyone in the family she learned to sail both at home and in the young yachting club offered by the school. A firm understanding of the art of sailing and the family’s legacy on the water was simply a requirement.

In her teen social circles, Taryn began to develop the brash character for which she is mostly known. At a glance she is every bit the spoiled child that many would expect, but this stems from two separate facets that she realized as a teenager: The first being the roles people fill themselves into as leaders or followers. In her group of friends, she innately recognized how the girls followed the example she set or the advice she gave even if it was to their detriment and that she had a talent for their manipulation. Skirting on the edge of plausible deniability was one of her favorite games, staying just out of reach of disciplinary action. The second and less obvious was her growing rejection of her parents’ lifestyle. Throughout high school, Taryn was becoming more and more aware of the actual dysfunctional nature of their relationship. There was no violence or substance abuse, but there was most definitely a facade that was curated for appearances. She wasn’t sure if they even loved each other, but they stayed married despite seeming to lead completely separate lives. Finding out about her mother’s nonchalant infidelity made her even more repulsed and she found herself becoming as much the opposite as she could.

Taryn continued through college at the University of Miami and was glad to be away from home even if it was only a few hours away. She could feel the rift growing between herself and her mother particularly and separation felt like the best antidote. She majored in Marine Science and Maritime Archeology and finished her professional diving certification. The choice of curriculum was supported by her father who understood long ago that she would never be satisfied working from an office for the company and he largely suppressed the quips from her mother about Taryn throwing away her education to be, “Indiana Jane” instead of a dominant member of the family business. For Taryn, the choice wasn’t wholly rejectionist, but more of a want for something different while not completely removed from the familiar. She had an interest in both history and archeology as well as the science therein, however it was the puzzle that came alongside those events that was more captivating. The ecosystem of a setting or the deliberations of high-politics from ages passed were sometimes useful context, but the personal decisions of the man, or woman, standing behind the ship’s wheel were much more enthralling.

As a graduation gift, Taryn’s father chartered a boat to give Taryn and her chosen “crew” a chance at an actual treasure hunt, though the gesture was intended more as leisurely vacation, she could choose the destination and for fun, whatever “mystery” she wanted to hunt down with her newly minted qualifications. Having vacationed in and around Islas Azules since she was a child, she was familiar with the waters not far from the commercial shipping lanes. The chosen target was to be the unfound wreckage of the pirate vessel, Dire Wolf, originally built as a Spanish Man of War and captured by the British during the islands’ turbulent colonial period; it was eventually hijacked and taken again by pirates where it was given its final naming. The reason for the sinking was unknown, but is presumed to have gone down in a storm after an alleged sacking of the town following a heated disagreement between the crew and leaders of the settlement. The loss of the ship and the circumstances surrounding it stoked the legend of La Mujer Fatal, but in terms of pure investigation, most treasure hunters and historians point out the quick changes in ownership and lack of reliable records by pirates as the real reason the location of the wreck was never found.

For Taryn, the search for the ship and the thoughtfulness of the gift of adventure was exhilarating- at first. The entire excursion seemed to be cursed from the beginning. One of her friends got sick during the initial passage and the weather was terrible. Choppy waters made their time on the boat even more unpleasant and the underwater current seemed to drag them away from any prospective dive site. Over the course of two weeks of dogged sailing in and out of Isla Zafrio, much to the amusement of the locals, she was nearly ready to quit and rethink her whole trajectory in life. It was on the last day that the weather broke and an anomaly appeared on the deep water sonar scan…

The Twilight Sonnet was the shipwreck that waited below and ultimately the discovery with which Taryn is forever credited. Further research after the dive revealed the ship arrived at Islas Azules during the colonial period of British victory over the Spanish with a load of dynamite and other equipment for mining. After unloading her cargo, the ship took on a number of exports and spoils bound for London, including a cache of unusual blue diamonds, but was subsequently lost in a squall on its way to a rendezvous in Port Royal before the Atlantic passage.

The discovery immediately changed everything in Taryn’s world and set her squarely on her path as a “full-time” treasure hunter and adventurer. She even enjoyed some time as a minor celebrity in South Florida, on the internet and among various diving exploration organizations. She took it as a sign that Islas Azules were meant to be her home in the Caribbean Sea and after using part of the spoils of the discovery to set herself up in a way that she could only have dreamed, she sailed back to the Islands like a conqueror from old being the only person, to this day, to confirm the presence of ultra-rare blue diamonds from the island mythos.

At present, Taryn has not discovered anything else of serious note over the course of her few years being a semi-resident of the islands leading many of her skeptics and naysayers to regard her as a “one-hit wonder” in the maritime archeology community pointing out the sheer luck in her defining discovery and that she didn’t even come close to finding the wreck that she had originally sought. These criticisms are normally met with an eye-roll after hearing them for so long, not to mention that no one else has had any discoveries around Azul since despite the rush of attention after her initial success. Deep down though, the words still sting to some extent because she knows until she can replicate her success, they are right. She vehemently wants to make another to prove herself and believes at least one of the island’s dominant families, likely the Flores, have been withholding information that could point her to the actual location of the Dire Wolf’s wreck. The rest of the townspeople generally regard her as something of an enigma. The image on her mainsail is meant to represent La Mujer Fatal and believers in the legend are unsure how the Mujer could have cast such favor on an outsider.

Misc/trivia

-Taryn’s home among the islands is her sailboat, the Bella Donna. A 2003 53’ Amel Super Maramu sailing ketch. It has enough room to comfortably sleep 6 people, though it is rarely full with guests. “’Donna” is able to turn salt water into fresh water, sun into energy, provide food and shelter, and is capable of traveling for months on end without visiting a dock. Taryn paid for the boat and its upfitting outright with her funds from the discovery of the Twilight Sonnett. When she’s not out, the boat can usually be found at anchor in the western waters of Isla Ramilo. It is most recognizable when it’s underway by its distinctive mainsail with mural of a woman holding a lantern.

-Taryn speaks Spanish fluently having learned it throughout her years in private school and is very accustomed to the local iteration of the dialect though she rarely speaks it and mostly uses it as a mechanism to eavesdrop on those that think she’s oblivious to what’s being said. In English, she speaks with a somewhat strong southern accent that no one in her immediate family can seem to explain the origin. She’s aware of it, but doesn’t hear it in her voice and is known to lay it on thick if she thinks it will more easily get her what she wants.

-Teacup Tours is the name of the small dba LLC business Taryn uses to recruit crew members to the ‘Donna. She mostly uses an instagram page that has garnered a sizable following and features many of the dives, exploits and discoveries that have happened around the islands and further out to sea. There is a significant screening process that comes with even being considered for a position on the crew and she tends to keep a rotation of her favorites as well as a couple regulars that help with sailing the ship on longer outings. The exclusivity of the venue is what she markets and it’s not uncommon for her to have a waiting list of experienced divers and sailors waiting to get onboard.

-Taryn is a fairly decent singer, though she’s never had any formal training. She wasn’t even aware of this talent until some of her most popular videos wound up being her sometimes off-key singing. She doesn’t mind singing into the phone camera or with small groups, but gets nervous in front of crowds unless she’s been drinking to the point that she can be talked into song. Her accent gives her a strong bias for country music and she likes a lot of the greats from the past and a few recent songs. Any prospective divers of crew on the boat get special consideration if they can play guitar or sing or both.

-South Eastern Apex Lines - SEA Lines Cargo or “SEAL” Containers are bright pastel colors with a cartoon waving seal as a mascot, They ship primarily out of Florida ports to South America along the coastal shipping lanes and through the Panama Canal. All of the ships have a naming scheme of early Hollywood actors: CS Gregory Peck or Rock Hudson are some examples and invite some flavor of exclusivity among the crews and their appearance in the ports. Currently the Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn are the two newest ships. Taryn has been known to talk to them on the radio out on the open water just for fun or to get the scoop on other traffic or weather.

Character Concept:

Taryn is a semi resident of Islas Azules in that she still keeps her US citizenship, but spends most of her time around the islands and being majority separated from her family which has been a good thing for the most part. She has a few close friends and relationships in the area and after a few years as a “local” has a good feel for island life. Most people find that she can be hard to deal with and that subtlety is not exactly one of her strongest traits. She’s aware of this to some extent and has tried to be more personable for the good of those that she allows to come sailing or diving. Personally, she’s very guarded about commitment and feels lonely when she doesn’t have her mind set to some task. For the time being, she’s set on extracting whatever information she can from whichever native family ends up becoming the dominant leadership on the islands.

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

ISLAND VIBES

current gender balance

6 male : 6 female

demographics

6 natives : 6 foreigners

Please consider these factors when planning a new character.

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

Be transported to Islas Azules (Azul), an idyllic set of islands off the Gulf of Mexico

The Flores and Cardenas families have been fighting over the precious treasures and future of Azul for centuries. The Flores family has been running things for the last few decades, but after some mysterious deaths in the family, a power vacuum has been created. Will the Flores be able to retain their power? Or will the Cardenas take control and usher in a new age?

The HOH of the Flores family has passed away in a boating accident. Since he was the mayor of Azul, a special election is called. The eldest son/daughter of the Flores and Cardenas families are expected to run for the position in a battle for the future of Azul.

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Long ago, brave sailors ventured into the blue seas and discovered something in the distance they said shined as bright as diamonds. "Azul", as the locals call it, is best known for its beautiful beaches, seafood cuisine, and warm citizens who are always eager to help one another. Tourists flock to the area to soak in the sun and saltwater. Biologists from all over the world come to study the unique flora, fauna, and topographical properties that make Azul so different. Treasure hunters adventure here in hopes of finding the precious blue diamonds said to form around the islands.

For centuries, the Flores family have been the majority leaders of Azul, keeping the abundant islands safe from foreigners who wish to exploit the lands. They are the only ones who know where the blue diamond deposits are, and have kept the mythical locations a protected secret. Recently, whispers have begun to make their way throughout the islands claiming a new potential threat to the conservation of the lands. People say the Cardenas, another old family who has occupied the islands almost as long as the Flores, are poised to make a move that could change life as Azulians know it. They claim to know where the location of the diamonds are, and want to mine them for profit, protesting that the people of Azul should stop relying on outsiders to make their money and take control of what is theirs.

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The Islands

Listed From North to South

Isla Ramilo

- Playa Diamante - Beach
- Puro Parque - Wealthy neighborhood
- School - Azul Primary School
- Cardenas Winery & Vineyard Hacienda
- Monuments
- Church

Isla Zafrio

- Bars/Clubs
- Parks
- Bookstore/Boutique
- Market
- Hotels
- Marina
- Lighthouse
- Hospital
- Town Hall
- Police + Fire Station

Isla Cuadro

- Cenote
- Caves
- Trails

Isla Estrella

- Untouched by tourists and modernity, forbidden to outsiders and considered bad luck to set foot upon. Even the natives avoid it.
- Farthest south and most distant of the island chain

Lore and Visitor Info

Town Lore

La Mujer Fatal: The Mujer Fatal “Killer Women” are siren-like creatures who dwell in the ocean and have been a local legend since the founding of Azul. They are said to protect the precious blue diamonds that form around the islands. Since humans started occupying the islands and scouring the lands for diamonds, the Mujer Fatal are blamed for harassing and even killing people who don’t respect the land and precious gems.

The Vida de Exito Ceremony: Azul Days concluding ceremony commemorating the continued success of the islands. Citizens line the sidewalks of the city with native flowers leading to the ocean, and there is a sunset ceremony at the beach where flowers are released into the water as an offering to the Mujer Fatal.

Islas Azules “Wiki” Quick Facts

Coordinates: 19°26'55.2"N 86°53'34.1"W (Isla Zafrio, approx)
Adjacent to: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Belize
Length: 6.3 mi
Width: 1.4 mi
Administration: Independent Self Governance
Municipality: Isla Zafrio (Capital)
Population: 5,642 (2019)
Currency: Mexican Peso
Languages: Spanish, English, Mayan

History

In Pre-Columbian times, the islands were considered sacred to the Mayan deities of the moon, however this is a matter of some uncertainty as information about the ancient habitation of the islands has been mostly lost to history. Records of any merit, particularly evidence of the existence of blue diamond deposits have been generally relegated to myth over time or lost completely. The remains of a temple to the goddess Ixchel can be found within the Hacienda Cardenas winery grounds, but there is speculation if the ruins may have been a shrine to another deity. Based on worn inscriptions, some have suggested another shrine may be present on Isla Estrella, but no expeditions have been allowed and the few that have been unsanctioned have not found any trace of past habitation.

The islands were also a favorite stopping place for pirates in the early period of Caribbean exploration. The shallow lagoons on the mainland side were a good place for sailors to sit out major storms, careen their hulls, trade and stage for journeys across the Gulf to bigger ports. During this time, the British and Spanish both laid claim to the islands with their fate being intertwined with the English victory in Belize and subsequently becoming an offshoot territory. It is during this time that the existence of blue diamond deposits first became known to the English however only a few small deposits were ever uncovered much to the frustration of the colonists who had written the islands off for anything more than basic agriculture and storage.

As with most colonial territories in the latter twentieth century, Britain chose to withdraw its very limited holdings still on the island and the residents voted to become a fully independent territory of Mexico principally so that the most common method of exchange, the Peso, could be adopted as the primary currency. In addition, most residents felt compelled to rejoin with the islands’ shared origins with Mexico. The referendum established the “mayor” as what could technically be considered the head of state, however most of the island’s governance continued on without much change. At present, the Flores family have been the predominant political office holders since the official British departure.

Transportation

Transportation on the islands consists mainly of small taxis, golf carts or scooters. Full size cars are considered an impractical luxury, but a few trucks and other utility service vehicles can be seen on the main island.

Boat traffic between the islands is common with a few larger ferries that also provide service to mainland Mexico. Some of the locals operate “party barges” and other day trippers for visitors, though like many small towns, things tend to quiet down in the late evening.

There is no airport and Azul offers only one aviation charter that flies to the islands and operates a small float plane that seats six people.

Tourism

Azul has a strong culinary culture with numerous small, outdoor restaurants located throughout Isla Zafrio. Seafood is prepared fresh with traditional and local recipes and there are no “chain” restaurants. Hotels fit a similar fare with the majority locally owned or are tiny branches from established names in Mexico and Belize and because of the somewhat hidden nature of the islands, prices are surprisingly affordable particularly when compared to well-known commercial resorts and villas. Playa Diamante on the northern island is the most picturesque beach, but is somewhat secluded due to the residential nature of Isla Ramilo. Most guests prefer staying around the beaches of Isla Zafrio to be near the majority of entertainment and attractions.

Dolphins are common around all the islands and considered good luck. Isla Cuadro provides the most natural experience being sparsely populated. The abundance of terrestrial and marine plants and animals, including extensive coral reefs, place the islands just within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, though it is largely considered an “honorary” membership promoted by the Flores.

Island Life

Not being nearly as commercialized as its northern neighbors, there are many homes on the main islands that have been there for generations with the majority of the more affluent on Isla Ramilo centered around the Cardenas Hacienda Winery. Housing for seasonal residents, fishermen and maritime visitors are located on the western side of Isla Zafrio and its dedicated docks for yachts, general boating and small commercial craft. In general the population of the islands noticeably declines in the winter due to slowing tourism and ferry service to the mainland diminishes principally to residents going to work or school.

For decades, shopping on the islands was limited by the Flores’ preference for seclusion leading to a tremendous amount of revenue leaving the islands for the mainland at the cost of increased privacy. However, skillful lobbying by the Cardenas and other prominent locals have relaxed the isolationist policy within the last twenty to thirty years. Rather than having residents ferry to the mainland to purchase supplies for their small shops, dedicated air and sea services were implemented to accommodate a more welcoming view of tourism. During the early 2000s, chain super-markets from Mexico and Belize were allowed to establish a presence that freed residents to spend less time and money moving goods from the mainland.

There are several parks and small stadiums throughout the islands, principally on Isla Zafrio including a full scale baseball park and organized football (soccer) venue along with makeshift dirt or sand fields which can commonly be seen played on by local children or organized teams. Technology was humble for many years with the island’s secluded nature. Only since the implementation of “careful modernization” in the early 00’s did satellite television, cell phones and other modern conveniences begin to become commonplace.

Very little violent crime has been reported on the islands over their history, lending to the relaxed nature associated with Azul. Under the Flores, the safety of both residents and tourists being unusually high comparatively. The biggest danger to the residents of the island has historically been the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes, some of which have caused extensive damage though there has not been a direct hit for many decades.

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Character Sheet & Guidelines

Character Sheet

We are looking for 4-5 other writers max. We may open it up to more over time. This is not necessarily first come, first serve. Those with well thought out characters and concepts that fit into the setting of Azul will be given priority over others that do not.

*Questions in the brackets are not required to be answered, just prompts to get you thinking

Name:
Nickname: [If any]
Age: [21+]
Gender:
Occupation:

Appearance: [Both describe with words and use some form of art reference. No IRL images please. Does your character have any defining features or physical characteristics? How do they dress and present themselves to the world?]

Character Concept: [Who is your character? Are they natives of the islands, expats, visitors? What do they think about themselves and how do they portray themselves to others? What do they do for work, and what are they passionate about in life? What are their hobbies? Any odd mannerisms, or annoying habits? What kind of future do they envision for themselves? What do they live for? Greatest strengths and weaknesses?]

Character History: [What circumstances in your character’s life have led them to this point of being in Azul? Where did they grow up, and what is their family like? What is their educational background? Did they move around a lot or have they developed roots in one spot?]

Likes:
Dislikes:

Special Talent: [What is one special thing your character is talented in. It should relate somewhat to your character concept and history.]

Supporting Information: [Please describe other assets this character owns including but not limited to dwellings, vehicles, equipment, and pets.]

Guidelines

This is a SoL-themed RP with aspects of murder mystery, political intrigue, family feuds, and last but certainly not least, romance. This is also a casual rp, but with that said, we prefer quality over quantity here. Characters should be driven by their individual concepts and plot lines. While there is an overarching story plot, it is highly encouraged that you develop your own goals for your character, and collaborate with other players to incorporate each other into your plots as you see fit. We’re looking for mature writers who are ready to develop well-rounded characters over time. Here are some other expectations to help get us all on the same page:

1. Observe standard RPing rules. No godmoding, no-metagaming, stay in character, and stay within the storyline. If you want to make any major changes to the story, ask first. Be polite to the other members.

2. Write in third person, past tense. Try to make your writing coherent and legible. There's no official word requirement, but at least a paragraph is expected per post. Each post should move your plots forward in some way.

3. You are not your character. Your character is not you. Please don't be offended because someone else's character was mean to yours. Likewise, please do not carry real-life arguments into the RPG world. This applies to RPG Guild, Discord and any other platforms that may be used.

4. Reminder: Primary character images need to be in an art-based style. No IRL images please.

5. Try not to let anyone get left behind. If you and another person have posted/collaborated back and forth several times, take a break and let the other players catch up. Of course, there may be times when only a few characters need to be involved in a particular scene; just don't get ahead of someone without giving them the chance to respond.

6. This game is rated PG-13+, so just about anything goes as far as language, violence, sex, etc. However, you will need to observe standard Guild rules should you feel that your posting is headed in this direction. Please read the Guild moderator posts concerning these topics.

7. Second characters are allowed. You have to be an active player with at least 5 IC posts. Characters should not be related and please try to avoid scenes where your PC’s are interacting with each other instead of other players.

8. In general the RP is using a permissive rule system, as long as events are not too likely to affect other players or alter the dynamics of the RP heavily. These actions do not require permission.

9. Obviously this isn’t going to cover everything, so the GM and Co-GM reserve the right to make decisions as situations arise.

Thank you for checking out our game. We hope you have fun RPing with us!

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

I am thankful every day that this isn't an adventure in Isla Nublar

@Fading Memory

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

Just to provide an update: Making some finishing touches on the OOC. Probably see it posted tomorrow evening. Discord to follow after that.

@PrinceAlexus@BigPapaBelial@Theyra@Days@Fading Memory@Sadie@AndyC

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

Gulf of Mexico... I feel bad I had to Google this to remind me what part of world it exactly extended to.

@PrinceAlexus

Just as a note for all. It wouldn't hurt to brush up on the geography and nautical terms.

Rough coordinates of where the fictitious islands would be:

19°26'55.2"N 86°53'34.1"W

OOC and discord will be out soon. Everyone will have time to make characters and do some brainstorming for the first day. No rush. We're running on island time here.

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

Looking forward to this.

Dreaming up a local islander fella. Tour guide and fishing expedition kinda guy. Jamaican descent with a love of the Azules. And Island local who knows all the good places.

Calling him Jericho Bell at the moment. I think it's gonna be good.

@BigPapaBelial

I already know what direction some of you are going with characters based on our past games. I'm headed for a pilot and a treasure hunter/adventurer. Anyone that wants to post intentions for characters before we move forward is welcome to it, just so we don't have concepts clash or overlap.

Cool name choice btw

Definitely interested in this.

@Sadie

Floridian bonus points.

Gonna let this keep simmering a little longer for now. Feel free to ask questions and share ideas. I'll be making a discord and getting a few other items ready before we move forward.

Appreciate all the responses thus far.

-P

AZUL Islands - Drama, Romance, Mystery, Slice of Life

Looking at doing a slice of life game set on a group of fictitious tropical islands in the Gulf of Mexico. We haven’t done a game in a while and some of y'all might remember our Sol City games from a few years ago. Would be doing something similar, but in a smaller and more intimate setting this time.

We have a good idea of an overarching plot involving a murder mystery and a rivalry between two families that have inhabited the islands since the Mayans so there’s almost a small town vibe to it as well that I know appeals to some. The time IC would be modern day.

All welcome of course, but the name of the game is making characters that will jibe with the others: likely native residents and expats/immigrants from other places in the Caribbean. Some that have played with us recently have expressed interest in finally doing this game and I hope we can put a good group together and have some fun.

-P

Geonet 2.0 - Battle for the Megacity

Alese Piety

Alese smirked a bit without looking up, relieved that Mingfan had decided to at least consider a different perspective. For the cost versus what the girl wanted, it would have been easier to just buy another bike, but such was the case with many customers. She often wondered how the augmentors and chrome doctors felt when the modjocks and stasisbrains came calling with similar demands, but then the thought of their gruesome work gave her a chill and she shook the thought away with a shiver.

“When we’re through you won’t even want that stuff any more.” She said confidently and snaked a cable up into an unseen port behind the bike’s impressive hybrid battery system, feeling with her fingertips as she reached through for area that would have normally taken an additional twenty to thirty minutes just to uncover. Having small arms and hands was a big advantage sometimes, particularly when those appendages helped pay the bills. “...the ‘spinny things’.” She repeated teasingly with a flare of her eyebrows at Mingfan. She drew her arm back out having collected some accumulated grime and grease on her sleeve. It wasn’t bad though, Mingfan clearly wasn’t a daily rider and Alese brushed it away to look at a small handheld displaying several of the machine’s vitals: Mileage, Net tracker, gyro health and the latest oil sample data- all pretty standard. Just out of curiosity, she looked at the log for G-Forces encountered and the readouts were equally as pedestrian, like a rocket ship that had just been pushed around the launchpad. Simple transportation, A to B. We’ll fix that. She thought with a sly grin and glanced over at her bike, waiting patiently like a loyal pet. She felt her urge to ride building again, pushing away the thoughts of Friday night.

“The lot out by the old Crashball stadium is the best place…” Alese answered with a shrug and wiped her hands as the drone finished up with the oil. She watched it closely, but it was performing exactly as intended, floating and moving on her afterthoughts. It was real progress, though she was still hesitant to arm it with anything that could be lethal. “It can be kind of a rough crowd sometimes, but if you can ride, they’ll generally leave you alone. Lot of Demonio leadheads and sleepers, but they got better things to do than shake us down.” She said, using the common slang referring to the cheap and heavy mods common among the numerous gang members and their drug-addled junkie class. “It’ll be fun and we can ride down to Jigen’s afterwards.” She gave Mingfan an appraising glance of her outfit though. “Just make sure you wear some pants… and preferably some sleeves too, get some sliders if you don’t have any.”

@Kumbaris