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Post by Oliver on Apr 12, 2019 9:57:36 GMT -5
This is the thread in which you should post your character introductions. I will respond with relationship questions for you to choose and answer.
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Post by lawrence on Apr 12, 2019 10:56:12 GMT -5
Lawrence Khalid.
Ex military (Army). Served during Desert Storm I and the Kosovo campaign.
Muslim American.
Current occupation - none. Family - none (dead). Home - N/A (homeless). Addicted to narcotics (barbiturates).
Story. A bright, cheerful lad from Detriot, USA. Father was an Albanian refugee (political) and his mother was an American refugee social worker. Michigan grad (engineering + ROTC). After a brilliant campaign in Iraq the PC was sent to Kosovo during the 1990s as part of Clinton's peace keeping efforts. PC was responsibly for infrastructure repairs, maintenance, etc. Then, the 'event' occurred. PC and his squad (some actual military -- but mostly non-combatants in uniform) were sent to investigate electrical grid issues deep in Sarajevo's former Arab district. (Before he left the PC had a vivid, prescient dream of a massacre and then the death of his squad) Deep within a ramshackle installation the Americans come across a hideous scene: 1000s of dead bodies (the messy, civil war) being feasted on by the Greek spirit, Keres (he finds this out, later) and the daemon's lesser minions. A hopeless small arms fight ensues --- everybody but the PC is killed. Keres 'saved' him because of his lineage --- he has the ability to see and pronounce death (although the PC swears he is the harbinger of death...the ability to proclaim death on a subject has yet to be seen...)?!
Fast forward - spiraling depression...institutionalized...dishonorable discharge...addictions...hopeless BECAUSE PC believes the more he sees the same people the more likely they are to die. His parents are dead. His childhood friends are mostly dead.
He believes he is the oracle of violent deaths...why has Keres cursed him so?
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Post by sabathius42 on Apr 12, 2019 15:26:59 GMT -5
Stephen Gilroy - Sole heir of the once great Gilroy Publishing Group.
***Snip from an online review giving the City Herald Beacon 5/5 stars*** If you have lived in this town for very long you are no doubt familiar with the City Herald Beacon. You know, that free newspaper you pick up and thumb through while you eat your Chinese take-out. On the front cover you see they have an article about the big Cage the Elephant concert this weekend. Also teased on the front cover is a riveting interview with the Mayor's former ALLEGED mistress (Ikeagate 2018!), a ranking of the best BBQ joints (I voted for Whitmans), and something about some art festival nobody cares about. Nobody really picks up a City Herald Beacon for any of those. Some out-of-towners might find them interesting, but the true connoisseur of the CHB opens it up straight to the Editor's Corner tucked away just before the classified and escort ads. What is it going to be this week? Alligator men spotted in the sewers? Aliens abducted my cat? The world almost ended yesterday but was saved by a host of angels? You can't write this stuff! ******
Stephen has made some poor decisions in his life. He should have sold the paper and walked away with a literal fortune. Unfortunately for him, he was bit by the same journalist bug that has been passed through his family for generations. When he inherited the already struggling newspaper (Once the third largest newspaper in the city, by circulation) he ignored the writing on the wall that was the coming of the internet and devoted everything he had keeping it afloat. Now, in 2019, the once great Gilroy fortune has been reduced to a free weekly rag struggling to survive, a skeleton crew manning the presses, and one man living in a trailer home under an overpass trying to educate the world to THE TRUTH while they laugh behind his back.
Stephen wakes to the sound of Mulder (his bloodhound and one true friend) barking angrily. Its the third time this week. He knows they are out there watching him, he just can't figure out who they are with and what they want. Is he getting too close to gaining an audience? Does someone finally think his column is gaining the eyes and respectability it needs to reveal THE TRUTH? Stephen grabs and racks the shotgun he keeps by the door. Kicking the flimsy door to the trailer open to the chilly night air he walks out onto his stoop.
"I know you are out there! Watching me! I'm not afraid of you Shitstains!" He punctuates his declaration with a shotgun blast into the void.
He isn't worried about the cops. They never come to this part of town. Hmm.....no cops....are they HELPING the shadowmen or do they not come here BECAUSE OF the shadowmen? Stephen goes back inside and fires up his laptop. Inspiration for next weeks column.
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Post by Oliver on Apr 12, 2019 19:59:54 GMT -5
OK. Time to figure out your connections to one another. We'll add these when Chris and Kristie finish up their characters. Lawrence: Regarding Stephen, pick one: - He taught you to control your powers, to the extent that you can control them at all.
- You are blood-kin. Decide together exactly what.
- You are romantically involved. Decide between you the exact relationship.
- You're old friends and trust each other completely.
- You used your powers on him one time. Decide if it was for selfish reasons or not and tell him if he found out about it.
- You've known each other for some time, but since your powers manifested, you keep him at a distance emotionally.
- You hope he can help you control your powers.
- He saw you use your powers for selfish or vindictive reasons. Ask him who the victim was and then tell him what you did.
Stephen: Regarding Lawrence, pick one: - He's somehow tied into it all. You've been keeping an eye on him.
- You're a close relative. Ask him to decide exactly what.
- Old friends, who originally met through a long chain of coincidences.
- You went through hell together: maybe a monster, maybe military service, maybe time in an institution. Whatever it was, it bound you together, and you have total trust in each other.
- Members of the same support group.
- Fellow freaks.
- The signs all pointed to working together. So you found him and now you work together.
- You know each other through cryptozoology and conspiracy theory websites.
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Post by Sister Kalifa on Apr 13, 2019 22:40:31 GMT -5
Sister Kalifa Birthplace: Mogadishu, Somalia Occupation: member of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa
America was still such an unwelcoming place, even after almost a year had passed since her arrival. Nothing here ever felt quite right, not even prayer. Sister Kalifa stood up abruptly, clutching her rosary, and shot a meaningful look at the crucifix hanging above the plain cot.
“Why are you so far away here? I thought God was supposed to be everywhere, all the time,” she muttered under her breath as she reached down and tossed her battered suitcase onto the cot. The rusty latch sprang open with the impact, causing the case to bounce and toss the neatly folded contents askew.
She tsk-tsked at the disorder and then glanced back up at the crucifix. She let out a deep sigh, bowed her head and genuflected with reverence. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just that...that this calling…” and she paused, lost in thought.
Almost one year ago she had been elected by her diocese to travel to America to speak on behalf of the church, the underprivileged and on behalf of Africa herself. It had seemed like such a blessed opportunity at the time. When she arrived though, she found the Americans to be friendly, but distant and the church here was so different. She didn’t feel the warmth that had drawn her to her initiate vows as a girl. And then it got so much colder...
She had only been in the states for just shy of two months when she encountered her first demon. She watched as it used a man, no - a boy, like puppet and caused him to strike a frightened girl in an alleyway. The demon hadn’t known she was there and she could sense its shock as she spoke unfamiliar words, banishing him in the Lord’s name. She wondered if the demon had been able to sense her own shock as the power of those words forced him violently out of and away from the boy. The boy and the girl had run off in different directions, leaving her alone, frightened and confused.
It was nothing new to her anymore, the pervasive darkness. It sometimes seemed as if evil lurked in every shadow, around every corner. Not the evil of men which was nothing new to her, but...things that were so much worse. Things far from heaven’s light. In the beginning, she had thought that she was called here as an advocate, as a beacon of hope for her beloved congregation, but now she wondered if this darkness was instead God’s true plan for her.
The bleakness of it made her lonely and she felt further from God’s love than she ever had in her 29 years, but there was nothing to do except tread the path that was laid before her. She could only hope that she might feel the Lord walking beside her again in time.
She tucked her 9mm behind the neatly folded dress in the suitcase, covered it with an equally-neatly folded habit and snapped the case shut with conviction. She would be travelling again tomorrow and it might come in handy. After all, the good Lord helps those who help themselves.
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Post by Oliver on Apr 14, 2019 9:40:25 GMT -5
Stu and Dan, you should choose one of your relationship prompts on Sister Kalifa, as well. When character creation is complete, everyone should have two connections to each other character: one self-chosen and one chosen by the other character. That makes a nice web of inter-connection.
Although I have posted the questions initially as spoilers, feel free to post your responses openly. Everyone should see the connections that hold you together.
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Post by Oliver on Apr 14, 2019 11:28:04 GMT -5
Sister Kalifa, you should pick some relationship ideas for Lawrence and Stephen. Choose one of the following for each: - He is a lay member of your Sect. - You fought together when the tide of monsters seemed unstoppable. Ask him how it went. - Friends, but he first met you under your cover identity, and learned about the Sect later. Ask how he feels about that. - He is your close relative or partner/spouse. Decide between you exactly what your relationship is. - Fellow ancient weapons/martial arts club members. - He's described in the prophecies, but the role he plays isn't stated. - An ex-member of the Sect but still friends. Ask him why he left or got thrown out. - You met researching mystical weirdness, and you've been occult comrades ever since.
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Post by Sister Kalifa on Apr 14, 2019 20:02:15 GMT -5
Months later and little had changed for Sister Kalifa, although everything was, at the same time, radically different. It sort of depended on how she looked at it. Now she was an initiate of Société Angéliqué and understood so much more than she had before. The knowledge helped, as did knowing she was not alone, but the homesickness was, at times, overwhelming. Not just sick for missing her beloved Somalia, but the warm and loving African Church that had been her heart’s true home.
The Society had given her context for the things she encountered and they had laid out information about secret knowledge and prophecies that explained much. Although there was plenty that the texts did not illuminate clearly, like what, exactly, she was supposed to do with Mr. Khalid. The Knights had been very specific that she was to stick with him like glue and they hinted that he was significant to one of the major prophecies - but they declined to reveal to her what that significance was. As she thought back over their past few interactions, she wasn’t even sure that he was on the right side of the equation…
She looked at her French homework and sighed. One of the true benefits of being called to America was the access to excellent education. Once initiated, the Society had given her a scholarship to attend university - a true privilege - and their only requirement of her was that she learn French amongst her studies. But she had no interest in lessons this afternoon and she thought about taking a bus ride over to see Mr. Stephen at his offices instead.
Before she had learned about the Society, they had arranged for her to meet up with him by ‘chance’ and the two had become fast friends. Mr. Stephen was delightfully straightforward and he burned with an internal fire that she found inspiring - although she found his use of foul language somewhat off-putting. After their brief encounter with the shadowmen, she had shared with him what knowledge she could and, in turn, had learned much from him as well. Although he didn’t - couldn’t - know about the Society, he recognized her as a kindred spirit and they had had many fine conversations about occult matters since then.
“Very well”, she thought. “It will be a bus ride instead of lessons, then.” She rose from her desk to head straight for the chapel. Sister Kalifa would confess to her selfishness for choosing an interesting afternoon instead of French and complete her penance and prayer before heading to the bus stop. The efficient order of this sequence of events pleased her and she was untroubled, for the moment, by thinking of what might lie ahead with Mr. Khalid.
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Post by lawrence on Apr 15, 2019 11:25:09 GMT -5
Stephen and Lawrence know each other quite well. Growing up the ____ region was no easy task for a Lawrence, a lad that looked not quite 'white'. Stephen, a few years older that Lawrence, protected the younger Lawrence. As Lawrence grew older and bigger (football) he no longer needed Stephen's aid and their friendship splintered as a result of neglect. In a way Lawrence felt quite saddened that he abandoned Stephen (that dude was always writing and reading...) for a more popular life...but it was Stephen who allowed Lawrence to crash on his sofa for a few months after Lawrence was kicked out the military's inpatient mental hospital. Stephen helped Lawrence slowly wean himself off some of the heavier drugs. After a night of the most horrible nightmares/visions, Lawrence confessed his curse to Stephen. A lo, Stephen believed him. The tightest of tightest bonds were formed --- two men who now see the truth! Now, Lawrence's shotgun stands next to Stephen's shotgun by the front door. Lawrence almost relishes the fight...as if guided by unknown forces...
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Post by lawrence on Apr 15, 2019 11:42:27 GMT -5
Days later (after Lawrence's nightmare/vision and subsequent declaration to Stephen) Lawrence decided to pop over to Stephen's newspaper office. The morning's workout and run did not shake the unease Lawrence felt from last night's forgotten nightmare. Parking the dilapidated 1984 Ford Escort (how mom loved that silly car) he crossed the intersection (watching for snipers, naturally) and half jogged into Stephen's office. Stephen, normally, alone, was not! Seated across from him was a nun(?) and the two were enjoying an enjoyable conversation. That conversation stopped when Lawrence and Sister Khalid locked eyes. "Did this lady know me...there was a hint of recognition, " Lawrence thought. But then, the horrors of horrors revealed themselves: Lawrence knew Sister Khalid from last night's dream! Etched in his brain there was the very image of Sister Khalid's battered body strewn across a large, blood stained marble alter. A large, metal cross, pushed deep into her un-breathing chest. Lawrence had(through the curse of Keres?) just witnessed/pronounced this young woman's death; and there was nothing he could do to stop her fate. Or is there?
Lawrence dragged his eyes away from Sister Khalid. Almost in tears, Lawrence mumbles something and stumbles out of the office.
A silent vow is made: Keres will not have Sister Khalid's life. Not again. The line must be drawn here. This far, no further!
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Post by sabathius42 on Apr 15, 2019 11:47:58 GMT -5
"The mere fact this man had a knife to my throat must mean i'm onto something big," Stephen turned over in his mind as he lay sprawling on the floor with this unhinged brute towering over him. Stephen was close to finishing his two week stay at the Mansfield Clinic For Peaceful Meditation. Some might have said he was forced to go there for mental problems, but he knew the real story. He was just FAKING all of those outbursts to get himself committed so that he could investigate the inner workings of the MCFPM. While on the outside they may appear to be a group of "concerned health care officials advocating for a holistic and spritual approach to mental health" it was, in truth, nothing but an NWO funded experimental lab for the study of implantation of insect spirits into human minds. He wasn't worried for his own mind, he had mastered the art of appearing to take medications long ago.
The staff rushed in and pulled Lawrence away from Stephen. He easily surrendered the knife, not really intending to do more with it than emphasize his point.
"Sarajevo was NOT a media fabrication! I know, I was there! What the fuck is a crisis actor, anyway?"
Stephen stared back at the man. He was a very good judge of who is lying to cover their tracks. Interesting. He WAS there....and it DID happen. But there was something more to this story that was left unsaid.
"OK, i'm sorry. I was being rude and disrespectful. Please, let me treat you to some Peanut M&Ms from the commissary."
Over the next few days Lawrence and Stephen became, if not friends, begrudging allies against the darkness that threatens humanity. They shared their experiences and realized they had much in common. Most importantly, at leas to Stephen, Lawrence was one of the few people in the world to utter the words "I think you may be right".
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The last thing Stephen expected when the knock on the door led to its opening was to be staring at a nun. The University has called him the previous week wanting to know if he could still use an intern at the City Herald Beacon. He had gone through a string of interns in the past. Usually an overachieving teachers pet, sometimes a bored stoner, and recently a few "newspaper is the future" hipsters who actually got their hands dirty in the presses themselves. This intern...she wasn't any of those. On that day Stephen met what could probably be described as his only human friend. For some reason, even if people found him to be entertaining, he would eventually grate on them enough that they would find reasons to always be busy elsewhere. He assumed it was because their minds were trying to protect their fragile egos from the crushing truth of the real world.
Sister Kalifa always made the paper a better organization. She kept Stephen focused on the mundane tasks he usually skipped, befriended the staff, and even doubled the advertising roster. Truth be told, Sister Kalifa ran the paper better than it had been in decades. Over time her internship ended and Stephen offered her a permanent office with pay (at least what pay he could scrape up). It was with great sadness she had to decline, already having "taken a job with a better boss, but just as bad of pay". That didn't stop her from dropping by the paper regularly to visit. In those offices she found a bit of the safety and comfort she had lost since leaving Mogadishu.
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Stephen walked into Whitmans with a huge grin on his face. Not only was he going to have lunch at his favorite restaurant, he was going to share it with Sister Kalifa. He had to admit that he couldn't remember if Sister K ate pork (you never really can follow all of those crazy religious rules), although there is always the fallback smoked turkey or chicken if you deprived yourself of the heavenly meat. Opening the door he cast his eye around searching for his friend. Spying a waving hand in the corner booth he glanced over to see her sitting there with someone at her side. Interesting. Any friend of Sister K is OK in my book he quipped. Walking up to the table he offered his hand to the stranger with a greeting.
"Nice to meet you, man. I'm Stephen, a buddy of Sister K"
"Sister tells me you are having some issues with the shadowmen. Funny you didn't mention that before." Lawrence smiled as he rose to give a hearty handshake to an old acquaintance.
"I see you two already know each other, what are chances?" commented the nun.
To all three there was no such thing as coincidence.
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Post by lawrence on Apr 15, 2019 11:52:32 GMT -5
{cross posted in character introductions and Dream Away the Times sections}
That night (after seeing Sister Khalid and Stephen together) Lawrence decides to move back into his parents' home (they died in a tragic, violent train accident(?). Lawrence wants to withdraw again from people and society. Lawrence knows that the more human contact he makes the more likely people are to meet a violent end. Keres wills it.
A few weeks go by. Stephen attempts contact but Lawrence waives him off.
Insert present day. Lawrence awakes from a terrible nightmare/vision. Dammit, as he grabs his duffle bag (weapons, supplies, amo, and flak jacket) and the Ford Escort's keys. "These are my people", Lawrence thinks. He drives back over to Stephen's office. With Stephen's investigative abilities and my, certain skill set, we can maybe (just maybe) avert this upcoming horror.
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Post by sabathius42 on Apr 15, 2019 13:05:22 GMT -5
It seems like both myself and Stu were writing conflicting backstories simultaneously. Allow me to off a minor correction to somewhat merge the two...
1. Lawrence and Stephen were friends in gradeschool. Lawrence pulled away as they started middle school cliquing and Stephen eventually forgot about him, as all his friends started pulling away at the same time. 2. Both met again as adults in the Mansfield Clinic For Peaceful Meditation, Stephen as a short term resident and Lawrence bussed in for counseling from the VA hospital he was residing in. Neither recognized the other as adults at first. Contact information was shared as they reconnected and told each other some of their personal beliefs and history since grade school. 3. When Lawrence found himself homeless he reached out to Stephen for a place to crash. Stephen doesn't mind as Lawrence comes and goes, he feels safer when someone is watching his back. Lawrence isn't a permanent resident, its just that Stephen's trailer is a good fallback when things go south. 4. Lawrence was going into Whitman's BBQ to grab lunch the day after his vision and is not only shocked to see Sister Kalifa in person, but also shocked she motioned to him to welcome him to sit with her. She seemed to know him from somewhere. 5. Stephen enters Whitman's and is surprised to see two of his closest companions having lunch together. He didn't even know they knew each other!
"Sister tells me you are having some issues with the shadowmen. Funny you didn't mention that before." Lawrence says with a wink as the two shake hands.
*****Feel free to alter as need be, I just figured I would get a canon story down before we begin play*****
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Post by lawrence on Apr 15, 2019 14:41:30 GMT -5
Dan - brilliant merging of the two story lines = cannon!
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Post by Oliver on Apr 15, 2019 15:33:26 GMT -5
Well done.
In my mind, this is going to allow you guys a lot of narrative control, so don't be afraid to step in and take things in a good direction.
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