ReedeThe23rd

Mobile Suit Gundam: Anthem - CLOSED, due to drop outs

@mattmanganon Hey, another Zeon native! Here's hoping the GM's on board with the lad.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Starlight Crusaders

Chapter Eight

"Holly, hey Holly, do you hear me? I need your help sorting out the laundry! I can't wear my grandson's pants! I'm glad he's my size, but the style is all wrong... Oh, that's right! Holly wanted me to start calling her Seiko while we're in Japan, because her friends think her name is Holy and Seiko means 'holy child'..."

As Joseph hollered for his daughter, Jotaro was also calling out for her as he left for school.

"I'm off for class today, don't try and stop me!"

Jotaro's quiet annoyance quickly turned to concern as he also realized Holly was nowhere nearby. Usually she would be around to pester him as he left, but she was nowhere to be seen.

As Mohammad Abdul walked through the Kujo residence, he stumbled upon an odd sight, a single spoon on the floor. The spoon led Abdul to a ruined kitchen, upon the floor lay Holly, caught up in a pile of kitchenware. Abdul rushed to pick her up, immediately noticing she was burning to the touch with fever. Suspicion mounting, Abdul asked openly for an apology before tearing open the back of Holly's shirt, revealing his worst fears.

Vampiric tendrils weaved themselves through the flesh of her back, writhing and twisting as they fed off her very life force. Abdul quickly realized that while Joseph, Jotaro, and Abdul had been so preoccupied with their own safety, they had never acted to keep Holly safe from attacks by Dio. The form of flesh writhing across her was different than that of the Flesh Bud that had been embedded in Kakyoin's forehead. Rather than focusing on mind control and direct impact on the brain, these tendrils were focused on solely draining Holly of her life force while forcing themselves to become so intertwined in her body that they would be impossible to remove.

As Abdul carefully cradled her comatose body in his arms, Jotaro and Joseph arrived on the scene, looking grimly at Holly from over his shoulder. At the sight of his daughter infected with such an evil disease, Joseph fell to his knees in anguish.

"No...I've always known that this might come to pass, but Holly's spirit is so pure that I had hoped that Dio's curse on this world would pass her by...But there's no way such a pure spirit could resist what comes next!"

"Gramps, what can we do?"

"...We must find Dio. The only option left for us to break the curse is to kill Dio! But my pictures don't ever show us where he is! The backgrounds are all pitch black!"

"Yes, we can never figure out where he is with Dio always hiding in the darkness. We've used every form of tool and computer, but to no avail..."

"Wait, gramps, let me try something..."

Taking hold of the picture, Jotaro's fingers flickered with his bright Ripple energy, coursing across the surface of the picture and crackling at specific points. The Ripple energy began to burn the outline of an image into the surface of the photograph. A single fly, barely visible in black of the photo. Abdul quickly recognized it as a fly native to the Nile river, in Egypt.

"So, he's in Egypt still...When do we leave? I want to join you."

Entering the doorway stood Kakyoin, a bandage around his forehead being the only sign of the past damage suffered at the hands of Jotaro and the flesh bud.

"Three months ago I was on a trip to Egypt with my family. That's when Dio put the flesh bud in my brain. It would seem that he doesn't want to leave Egypt."

"Why would you want to come with us?"

"who can say...? I don't really want to face Dio again, but lets just say you opened my eyes."

"Fine, you can join us."

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Starlight Crusaders

Chapter Seven

As Holly Joestar-Kujo flitted about her home, upbeat pop music bounced and echoed out from and beyond the Kujo estate. In the midst of her activities, Holly was stricken with a sudden and intense feeling, that of the presence of her son. Rushing over to a photograph of her son, she picked it up and hugged it tightly in her arms.

"Oh! I just felt my son! He feels so close! What a special moment...Jotaro must be thinking about me at school."

"No, I'm not."

"Aaaah!"

Jotaro stepped into the room, much to his mother's surprise. A bloodied and barely-conscious Kakyoin was hefted over his shoulder, groaning in pain. A horrified expression grew across Holly's face as she slowly brought herself to speak.

"Don't sneak up on me like that! Why aren't you in school Jotaro? And who's that? He's covered in blood! Don't tell me that you..."

"It's none of your business. Now where's the old man? This house is too damn big... Is he in the tea room?"

"Oh yes, he's with Mr. Abdul."

As Jotaro stepped off to look for his grandfather, Holly watched him, tears trailing down her cheek as she reflected on her son. Oh Jotaro, you never talk to me about anything! I worry about you so much, but I can see right through you. I know you're really a good kid deep down.

"Hey mom!" Jotaro called back suddenly, breaking Holly from her reflection. "You aren't looking too good today. Are you okay?"

Holly's face shifted to ecstatic glee, nearly shouting her reply in excitement! "Yes son, I'm fine, thank you!"

Jotaro reached the tea room, carefully laying Kakyoin on the floor, with Joseph examining him closely, as Abdul sat off to the side.

Joseph spoke sternly as he finished looking over Kakyoin. "This is no good. It's too late, we can't save him. He'll die in a few days. You did your best, Jotaro. It's not your fault. Do you know why this young man would obey Dio, even to kill innocents? This is why."

Carefully lifting up Kakyoin's hair, Joseph revealed a sinister pustulent embedded within the youth's forehead. It pulsed and writhed with an inhuman nature, the vile, almost necrotic flesh a stark contrast from Kakyoin's skin.

Jotaro's face took on a look of heartfelt worry and concern at the sight of it. "What is that?! It looks like a spider...Or a piece of rotted flesh."

At this, Abdul spoke up, gesturing to Kakyoin. "That...meat is of Dio. A sprout of his vampiric flesh in the boy's brain. The undead cells of Dio live within him, poking the very core of his mind."

Joseph would step in with his own passionate remarks. "It stirs him, awakens a certain feeling far beyond his own control. Awe. Charisma. Appeal. The sheer emotive power that drives a man to follow someone like Hitler, put his faith in a corrupt cult, or swear loyalty to a monster like Dio. Once his control was in place, it was simple for Dio to order this boy to kill us."

"Then take it out, Gramps."

"We can't. The bud would rebel, thrash around in the brain. The pain would leave him in a state far worse before his death."

At this, Abdul spoke again, his face taking an even sterner look than it usually carried. "Let me tell you what happened to me four months ago. I was in Egypt, in Cairo, when I met that creature Dio."

---

"It was a full moon. I had come back to my fortune-telling shop in Khan Kalili, when there at the top of my steps was a man like none I'd ever seen. He had eyes so cold it felt like he was invading my heart. Golden hair rest atop his head, and skin so pale it almost seemed transparent. But most of all, he carried a dubious sensuality, the kind you wouldn't expect from a man of his stature. I had already met Mr. Joestar, so I knew at once that this was Dio, the one who had been resurrected from the Atlantic."

"He spoke to me, asking for a demonstration of my 'special ability' as he called it. Somehow, his words calmed my heart. That was what scared me the most, the dangerous sweetness of his voice. I ran for my life, and I was lucky to escape. Had Mr. Joestar not warned me about him, had I not been escaping into a maze of familiar streets, I would have been Dio's willing pawn too, just like this boy."

"And like him, Jotaro, Abdul would have died in a few years, his brain eaten by the flesh bud."

"Died? Let's not jump the gun. He's not in great shape, but he isn't dead yet! I'll pull it out with my Ripple!"

Jotaro's fingers shone with the energy of his blinding white Ripple as they carefully hovered over the flesh bud, preparing to pinch and pull it out from Kakyoin's forehead.

"Jotaro, wait!"

"Back off old man! I'll pull it out fast, with no damage to the brain. My Ripple is easy to channel solely into my fingers, so it should be taken care of with no problem!"

"But that thing is sentient, don't you see!? Even a skilled surgeon couldn't remove it! That's why part of it is outside the skin!"

As Jotaro moved to remove the flesh bud, a strand of the necrotic meat embedded itself into Jotaro's hand, slithering its way up his arm and towards his brain.

"It's gone into your arm! Let go of it, Jojo! It can infiltrate the brain of anyone who tries to remove it."

As Jotaro carefully worked to channel the necessary Ripple energy to remove the flesh bud, Kakyoin regained consciousness, watching Jotaro with confusion and concern.

"Don't move, Kakyoin! One mistake and this thing will destroy your brain."

"Let go now, Jojo! It's reached your face!"

"Hang on, Abdul. Look at Jotaro. His body is under siege from the vampiric flesh, but he's as calm as can be! He's moving more accurate than any machine! His hand isn't shaking one bit!"

With a careful flick of his wrist, and the cry of "Ripple overdrive!", Jotaro ripped the flesh bud from Kakyoin's forehead and incinerated it with his Ripple in one precise maneuver. Once the bud was removed, Kakyoin slowly sat up, rubbing at his forehead and looking to Jotaro.

"Why did you risk your own life to save me?"

"Well...I don't think I have to answer that."

Ravenloft, The Curse of Strahd Von Zarovich.

@Tsar Gatto I haven't had the time to devote myself to running a full RP, so I hope you don't mind that I never revived my own version of this. I wanna wish you the best of luck in getting this one off the ground, and I hope it won't be bothersome if I were to submit a character myself.

Man-Things! (Skaven Roleplay)

Definitely gonna keep my eyes on this one at the very least. Skaven are always a good time.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Anthem - CLOSED, due to drop outs

Dren Hepner

Name: Dren Hepner

Age: 30

Gender: Male

Social Status: Spacenoid

Appearance: Dren is a Side 3 Spacenoid by birth, and shares many of the common physiological details that an astute observer could use to identify him as such. In terms of physique, he keeps himself fit and ready as a soldier should, though a family history of space travel and colonial life means his stature is that of a more tall and thinner body accustomed to artificial gravity and weightlessness. His hair is near-black in color, kept trim and proper, and is paired with a sharp goatee extending across the center of his chin. A long scar line extends from near the top of his left ear and down to the edge of his left jawline, just before where his facial hair begins. Dren keeps proper in a well-pressed EFSF uniform, avoiding personal embellishment. The notable exception to this is a pendant often found around his neck, worn underneath his clothing, of the symbol used by the Axis-based Neo Zeon during the First Neo Zeon War

Mobile Suit: MSA-0003 Nemo
Dren Hepner pilots one of the MSA-003 Nemo suits deployed by the Earth Federation following the absorption of the AEUG during the conclusion of the Gryps War. His particular unit carries the HFW-GR·MR82-90mm GM Rifle as its standard ranged combat armament, as well as the standard beam saber pair mounted on the small of the back of the Mobile Suit, and the twin 60mm Vulcan guns mounted in the unit's head. Dren does not prefer to deploy with the shield traditionally issued with the Earth Federation's mobile suits, having grown accustomed to fighting without one.

Positive Personality traits:
Dren Hepner is fully aware of the implications and assumptions his personal history carries, and he works every day to subvert them. Doing whatever it takes to prove his loyalty and uphold his duties as a member of the Earth Federation's armed forces and the civilians they are sworn to protect. He bares no ill will towards those who are reluctant or otherwise unwilling to accept his determination to server the Federation as truthful, simply proving them wrong with his actions rather than his words.

Negative Personality traits:
Dren's defection from the Neo Zeon near the end of their involvement in the First Neo Zeon War was born of their increasing usage of tactics and strategy he found deplorable and criminal in nature. As such, Dren believes in conducting himself as an honorable and respectful member of the military, finding any actions comparable to those committed by the Neo Zeon during the war as infuriating and something that could very well lead to physical conflict between him and the perpetrator of such actions.

Short history/personality blurb:
Dren Hepner was born within the original Principality of Zeon in U.C. 0069, in the heart of the Side 3 space colonies. He doesn't recall much of life before the One Year War of U.C. 0079, but he does believe it was genuinely better for his kin. The war saw Dren's father, a man named Augin, enter the Zeon armed forces, serving in battles both in space and on Earth, before being killed in action during the Federation recapture of California Base. This lit a fire of Zeonic patriotism in the young Dren's heart that would take years to be extinguished. When the forces of Zeon finally surrendered, Dren had grown to carry a juvenile hatred of the Earth federation, and by the age of 17 had managed to reach out to the remnants that would become the Neo Zeon forces.

Being fully inducted into the Neo Zeon forces near the end of the war, Dren quickly learned that his perception of the Neo Zeon and Earth Federation was horrifically misguided. Dren's unit was one designed by the Neo Zeon to conduct illicit false flag operations, piloting mobile suits controlled by the Zeon that were intentionally designed to masquerade as Earth Federation units, mirroring the tactics that led to the creation of the GM Camouf during the One Year War. To this day the full extent of Dren Hepner's operations have never been described to anyone but the members of Earth Federation command that oversaw his defection. By the end of the war in early U.C. 0089, Dren was an active collaborator with the Earth Federation, providing them with information that would bear fruit during the conflict with the Neo Zeon forces led by Char Aznable in U.C. 0093, known as the Second Neo Zeon War. By the time of the Laplace Incident, or the Third Neo Zeon War, Dren Hepner had been fully integrated as a member of the Earth Federation's armed forces, and was ready to serve alongside other mobile suit pilots. His vigor and spirit against the Zeon during the conflicts surrounding the Laplace Incident are what led to his placement within the Anthem unit, showing dedication in helping clean up the Zeon remnants as both a personal duty and atonement.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Anthem - CLOSED, due to drop outs

@vancexentanI'm personally not a fan of the design of the Nemo III, nor does it fit the combat style I intend for Dren to focus on. Plus, the original Nemo was a mass-production suit with far more available to the EF after the war, while the Nemo III was a prototype that saw active use far less. The Nemo saw EFF service into U.C 0100, while the Nemo III was last seen in U.C. 0096. I figured having a less-common but still available suit that fit the style I want Dren to have worked better, plus I personally favor the visuals of the original Nemo design.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Anthem - CLOSED, due to drop outs

@Silverwind Blade Character for you, boss. I deviated a little bit, had some trouble confining the personality trait sections to bullet lists and getting what I thought of as important history into a shorter blurb. If there's anything you need/want clarified or changed let me know!

Dren Hepner

Name: Dren Hepner

Age: 30

Gender: Male

Appearance: Dren is a Side 3 Spacenoid by birth, and shares many of the common physiological details that an astute observer could use to identify him as such. In terms of physique, he keeps himself fit and ready as a soldier should, though a family history of space travel and colonial life means his stature is that of a more tall and thinner body accustomed to artificial gravity and weightlessness. His hair is near-black in color, kept trim and proper, and is paired with a sharp goatee extending across the center of his chin. A long scar line extends from near the top of his left ear and down to the edge of his left jawline, just before where his facial hair begins. Dren keeps proper in a well-pressed EFSF uniform, avoiding personal embellishment. The notable exception to this is a pendant often found around his neck, worn underneath his clothing, of the symbol used by the Axis-based Neo Zeon during the First Neo Zeon War

Mobile Suit: MSA-0003 Nemo
Dren Hepner pilots one of the MSA-003 Nemo suits deployed by the Earth Federation following the absorption of the AEUG during the conclusion of the Gryps War. His particular unit carries the HFW-GR·MR82-90mm GM Rifle as its standard ranged combat armament, as well as the standard beam saber pair mounted on the small of the back of the Mobile Suit, and the twin 60mm Vulcan guns mounted in the unit's head. Dren does not prefer to deploy with the shield traditionally issued with the Earth Federation's mobile suits, having grown accustomed to fighting without one.

Positive Personality traits:
Dren Hepner is fully aware of the implications and assumptions his personal history carries, and he works every day to subvert them. Doing whatever it takes to prove his loyalty and uphold his duties as a member of the Earth Federation's armed forces and the civilians they are sworn to protect. He bares no ill will towards those who are reluctant or otherwise unwilling to accept his determination to server the Federation as truthful, simply proving them wrong with his actions rather than his words.

Negative Personality traits:
Dren's defection from the Neo Zeon near the end of their involvement in the First Neo Zeon War was born of their increasing usage of tactics and strategy he found deplorable and criminal in nature. As such, Dren believes in conducting himself as an honorable and respectful member of the military, finding any actions comparable to those committed by the Neo Zeon during the war as infuriating and something that could very well lead to physical conflict between him and the perpetrator of such actions.

Short history/personality blurb:
Dren Hepner was born within the original Principality of Zeon in U.C. 0069, in the heart of the Side 3 space colonies. He doesn't recall much of life before the One Year War of U.C. 0079, but he does believe it was genuinely better for his kin. The war saw Dren's father, a man named Augin, enter the Zeon armed forces, serving in battles both in space and on Earth, before being killed in action during the Federation recapture of California Base. This lit a fire of Zeonic patriotism in the young Dren's heart that would take years to be extinguished. When the forces of Zeon finally surrendered, Dren had grown to carry a juvenile hatred of the Earth federation, and by the age of 17 had managed to reach out to the remnants that would become the Neo Zeon forces.

Being fully inducted into the Neo Zeon forces near the end of the war, Dren quickly learned that his perception of the Neo Zeon and Earth Federation was horrifically misguided. Dren's unit was one designed by the Neo Zeon to conduct illicit false flag operations, piloting mobile suits controlled by the Zeon that were intentionally designed to masquerade as Earth Federation units, mirroring the tactics that led to the creation of the GM Camouf during the One Year War. To this day the full extent of Dren Hepner's operations have never been described to anyone but the members of Earth Federation command that oversaw his defection. By the end of the war in early U.C. 0089, Dren was an active collaborator with the Earth Federation, providing them with information that would bear fruit during the conflict with the Neo Zeon forces led by Char Aznable in U.C. 0093, known as the Second Neo Zeon War. By the time of the Laplace Incident, or the Third Neo Zeon War, Dren Hepner had been fully integrated as a member of the Earth Federation's armed forces, and was ready to serve alongside other mobile suit pilots. His vigor and spirit against the Zeon during the conflicts surrounding the Laplace Incident are what led to his placement within the Anthem unit, showing dedication in helping clean up the Zeon remnants as both a personal duty and atonement.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Anthem - CLOSED, due to drop outs

@Silverwind BladeAs an avid Gundam fan as well as Macross/Robotech, Space Gundam V is easily one of the most fun bootleg shenaniganry things I've had the pleasure of seeing.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Another Universal Century

@Silverwind Blade Hopefully its not too late for one more person to shout interest.