Welcome to Gaia! ::

-> 1. Story
2. Rules
3. Characters

The Story:

Sometime into the future, Earth has continuously evolved to the point of reaching near-technological perfection. Modern-day life had become increasingly simple, the average person now having to do nearly nothing for themselves.

Unfortunately, with the evolution of technology comes the evolution of weaponry. And as the human condition is, peace never lasts long.

Soon war erupted. First came the Resource Wars, which ultimately caused the downfall of the United Nations. Then plague swept through the United States, eliminating much of the populace. But that wasn't the worst of it.

In the year 2077, on October 23rd, the biggest war of all began. The war, deemed the "Great War," lasted for a little under two hours. The result was catastrophe, nuclear bombs destroying much of the world as it was known. The once-great cities of men now lied in rubble, skyscrapers nothing more than piles of ash and dust. Humanity was nearly wiped out. Luckily, the war was foreseen by key factions, so not all was lost.

The governments of the world installed strategically placed bomb shelters, named "Vaults." People who signed up for the project began living in these vaults long before the nuclear fallout. There they were provided all the accommodation's of life as they knew it, save for sunlight and the like. They shut themselves off from civilization completely, and were protected from the ensuing blast.

The vault-dwellers weren't the only ones to survive, however. Lucky survivors came from all over, trying to find ways to survive. Many formed working civilizations amongst the radiated and destroyed lands, creating settlements for survivors and their ilk to gather.

Life continued for years upon years after. Civilization relearned how to advance, old technologies being reused and improved. New dangers have evolved, along with new methods of living. Nothing much had truly changed though.

Caravans are run from town to town, bringing in trade goods and supplies as they are needed. The RP starts along the path of one of said caravans. A group of people now travel through the wastes of the earth, bringing cargo to a town off in the distance. The group is composed of many different sorts of people, from freelance mercenary guards to tradesmen to simple travelers who got lost. You are one of these people.

Unfortunately, nothing is ever safe for long, and there's always new dangers...

1. Story
2. Rules
-> 3. Characters

Basic Character Format:

Gaia Name: (Your username)
Name: (Your character's name)
Age: (Your character's age)
Equipment: (What gear your character uses for survival)
Strengths: (Strong points of your character, things he/she can do better than most)
Weaknesses: (Weak points of your character, things he/she do a bit worse than most)
Description: (The look of your character. Pics accepted, but please put them as links.)
History: (Your character's past)

Characters So Far...:

Gaia Name: The_Unknown_Usual
Name: Alaric Gust
Age: Twenty-two years old.
Equipment: Uses whatever he can find. Only things he constantly carries are his metal lighter and a deck of playing cards.
Strengths: More intelligent than many people, able to figure things out better than most without prior knowledge. Innovative and creative. Skilled people person. Able to hold his own in a situation with almost anything he is given.
Weaknesses: Isn't as good in any one area as most people. Tends to be forgetful and distracted, sometimes over-thinks or over-simplifies problems.
Description: Alaric stands taller than your average human, sporting a slim yet toned build. His skin is tanned, due to all the time he spends outdoors. His face is of an average build, with no truly distinguishable features. His eyes are ice blue in color, and are narrow and somewhat sleepy in look. The express a thousand emotions, and yet no one feeling at the same time. His hair is cut short, being of a light brown color. Sometimes it can be mistaken for blonde in direct sunlight. He normally wears simple clothing, generally consisting of jeans, a t-shirt, and his favorite leather jacket.
History: Alaric was born to a small group of people, survivors who had gathered to form a working community. He lived there for most of his life, learning how to survive. He was always fascinated by the stories of travelers and wanderers who found their way to the community. At the age of seventeen, he decided to set out on his own in order to see the rest of the world for himself. He has moved around quite a lot, and has gained many an experience, as well as a story. He continues to travel to this day, finding work where he can, only trying to survive.

Gaia Name: Hyen
Name: Alex Amanar
Age: 23
Equipment: Basic clothing with vital areas reinforced by scraps. A backpack to carry food and other supplies in. Two old battered canteens, a few basic tools, and one knife that he has had for many years.
Strengths: Overall survival abilities, is good at mending wounds and finding food and water and has extraordinary willpower.
Weaknesses: Is lacking in social skills and is almost unable to use any two handed weapons. Tends to look after himself more than the group
Description: Alex is of average height with a slim build. He has very short light brown hair and hazel eyes set in a bony face. His skin shows that he has spent long times exposed to the elements. His right arm is covered in burn scars and is generally hung in a sling.
History: Alex was born in the wastelands, away from any settlements. Around age five he and his parents found lives in a medium sized settlement. He lived there until age twelve when he an his father were forced to leave as radiation from an undetonated atomic bomb leaked into the water system, unfortunately his mother was one of those who died from the radiation. As they traveled Alex's father taught him about survival in the wastes, finding water and food, shelter and how to decide if the area was radiated, and how a strong will is one of the most useful survival skills. When Alex was twenty he and his father began working as escorts for caravans, two years later Alex's father died when a man whom they were working with was shot and tried to take down a few of the assailants with a grenade. The grenade detonated before it went more than a foot and killed three men, Alex's father included. Alex survived the blast, though his right arm was severely burned by the explosion and rendered almost useless due to multiple fractures in the bones. Alex was left in the nearest settlement where a few people took care of him. Afterwards he considered giving up on life, but at the last second thought of the insult it would be both to his saviors and his father if he gave up. Since then he has been working with caravans to make a living.

Gaia Name: TheD0cter
Name: Jason Benston
Age: 19
Equipment: A sword a man had forged for him and some old shades his dad use to wear.
Strengths: Can ran faster than most and is extremely good at climbing. Was taught by his father how to handle himself in the wilderness.
Weaknesses: Can't swim to well, at most can doggy-paddle as well as can't handle the brightness of the sun so wears shades all the time.
Description: http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa12/jadaf/?action=view¤t=PunkWarrior.jpg
History: Jason was born in a vault and raised there up until he was 19. During his time in the vault he was tutored by his mother who was a scientist and trained to wield guns and a sword by his father who was a soldier. When he was 17 a man who had been a engineer designed an extremely strong sword that was able to cut through most things in one swing.. Two weeks after turning 19 the vault doors opened for the first time and what the people found horrified them. A massive mutated creature attacked everyone and killed them all except Jason who was able to escape. Now he's wandering this post-apocalyptic world helping others when he can.

Gaia Name: Ghostest_Spell_Caster
Name: Jewlet Ivie
Age: 18
Equipment: She uses two hand guns and has a butterfly knife. A big first aid kit along with some food and water. This is all kept in a old army bag, the hand guns have holders on the upper part of her legs.
Strengths: She can plan things quite well in in her head. She's sly and finds most things that others can't do, easy.
Weaknesses: Zone's out and forgets what is round her and has no control over it. Has a bad memory when it comes to directions or just being told to remember something. She can not speak her plans very well.
Description: She stands 5 feet 5 inches and has fair skin, which she constantly puts sunscreen on because she burns not tans. Her hair is past her shoulders, black with some white hairs that grew naturally. Her eyes are a light blue-green with a bit of brown around the pupil. Her make-up is wine red for her lips, dark blue eyeshadow, and her eyeliner came out to a point about an inch from her eye. She wears a short, red skirt that just barely covered her gun's that are in there holder's on her upper legs, thats were as High as she could get them. Her legs where covered with tore up black lace hose. Her shoes wore white, dirty, metal heeled boots that went past her knees about 5 inches. Her top was red, short halter that had stains all over it. Her jacket had no sleeves, a big hood, and was buckled above her chest and then about 3 inches below it it buckled again. It was dirty but some of it's color, light purple, still shown through. She wears a sliver Ankh necklace and theres a tattoo on her left arm that is two crescent moons {one white the other black} crossing each other.
History: Jewlet grew up in a small group of people whom survived, there was only about 10. As years went by the group traveled and slowly died off. She was left alone after her grandfather was the last to die of the group. She traveled on to find another group, that she happened to find by luck, and stayed with that group. Once she turned 17 she took off trying to find something she could make better. She had not luck. She turned back after about three months after she had left. Once she got there they where gone. She tried to catch up with them but failed and found a village of survivors. She has been removed from that village since now and many others as well. Now she trying to get a job, but is finding it hard to give up her habits.

Gaia Name: Thunder-king01
Name: Dimitri Cross
Age: 25
Equipment: Assault rifle Handgun, light body armor, canteen, knife (uses too cook and fight with)
Strengths: Speed, strength, endurance, stamina, militant tactical combat.
Weaknesses: Anti-social, barely talks, most think he's a mute,but he can talk perfectly fine.
Description: Dimitri Wears a light bullet proof vest and combat pants that are patterned in urban camouflage, and black combat boots
History: A former Commando, he learnt survival skills and now applies them too keeping alive. Somtimes people looked for him too do odd jobs and he'd accept, so long as he could keep anything he found. His most calm jobs were escorting carvans and attacking caravans. He still wears his dogtags too remeber his old friend who died well they were escorting a caravan.

Gaia Name: Lahren
Name: Connor Patrick Foley.
Age: 21.
Equipment: Aside from whatever he happens to find, he carries a Beretta pistol, a flask filled with water, and an acoustic guitar.
Strengths: He excels in anything that calls for mass amounts of upper strength, and is an experienced sniper.
Weaknesses: Despite being fairly intelligent, Connor is terribly dense. As well, he is brutally honest so is not good with giving terrible but sensitive news to people.
Description: Standing at 6'7, Connor is a muscular man. He dons black tactical pants, a form-fitting black tee-shirt, and a black cotton jacket. A tattoo of a tribal sleeve covers his right arm, a moon with a howling gray wolf within it on his left bicep, and a bold 'N' is branded on his chest, just above his heart. A rugged stubble has grown on his face, a goatee having grown as well. Connor's black hair is cut very short, short bangs hanging above piercing golden eyes.

History:

Connor had a fine childhood. He did good in school, was an athlete, and joined ROTC. When he graduated, he entered the Army's infantry. Focusing on the sniper rifle in training, he quickly proved to be an exceptionally skilled marksman. When he had completed training, he was put into one of the top squads because of his skills. This was the same time he had met Nicole; a woman he fell head over heels for. She was in the same squad he was assigned to, as a demolitions expert. Love bloomed almost instantly. Connor was happy then. Very, very happy. Soon enough, they were assigned a mission on the frontline of the Resource Wars. [[I'm unsure of how far apart the Resource Wars and the Great War were, so feel free to correct my characters age.]] He had a bad feeling, a terrible feeling about the mission. And rightfully so. Everything happened so fast, Connor still has trouble with recalling the memory. Nicole was next to him in a large indention in the ground, taking cover. Despite being amidst a battle, Connor embraced her and told her that he loved her - he couldn't help himself. Just as she smiled, a grenade clanked against the side of the hole. Too caught up in his love for her, he noticed too late. But Nicole knew. Nicole kissed him one last time before pushing him out of the hole and diving on top of the explosive, shouting for everyone to take cover. An explosion rang out and blood had covered the hole, some separated limbs scattered. This didn't stop Connor from crawling into the hole, tears streaming down his face. He held was was left of his love, cradling her in his arms as he wept. He remained this way, unmoving for two days. When they carried away her remains, they took his heart and soul with it. He walked away from the battlefield, and left all of his items aside from his flask and his handgun (Though he went back to their tents to retrieve his guitar; Nicole always loved to hear him play.)

Since then, he's just traveled. Connor stole food, drank from streams, and just survived. He did not live, oh no. Merely survived. Since joining this group, he has decided to become a freelance bodyguard. Since he couldn't protect his love, he'd devote his life to protecting people.

Gaia Name: Elesariin
Name: Cara Elena James
Age: 19
Equipment: Stashed in a medium-sized tan duffle bag, Cara has stashed: a semi-automatic pistol and several clips of ammo (in a hidden pocket, so her mother won't find it), sunscreen, some emergency money, a portable water purifier, two bottled waters, and a navy blue sweater for cold desert nights.
Strengths: Once Cara decides to do something, it gets done, and it's done fast and well. She loves and excels at all things strategical, from chess to guessing the ends to movies in the first half hour. Since she's been practicing gymnastics since the age of five, she's also quite athletic, and, much to the dismay of her parents, is competent with all small caliber weapons, as well as some rifles.
Weaknesses: To be blunt, in spite of her contempt for her parents and their way of life, Cara is spoiled. Once she has decided that something is boring, or pointless, or too difficult, she won't do it, period. She doesn't take orders well, as she's prone to thinking she knows better, and gets sullen and resentful if she doesn't get her way. Also, in spite of her athletic ability, her pain tolerance is null; if she gets shot in the arm, she is going to pass out.
Description: Cara stands at a slim, sinewy 5"8, and has the pale, unblemished skin of someone who spends most of her time indoors. Her waist-length, pin-straight hair has been dyed an eye catching shade of ice blue, except for where golden blonde is beginning to gleam at the roots. Her oval face is set with delicate, classically beautiful features, though their charm is spoiled, at least in her mother's opinion, by the cynical irreverence in her blue-grey eyes. Cara personally thinks her looks are beyond boring, and sees no point in wearing makeup.

Unlike her parents, Cara did her homework, and is dressed for the desert. She is wearing loose olive-green cargo pants make out of a fabric that breathes well, black combat boots that just happen to keep out sand, a 'Welcome to the 9th Circle' T-shirt, and lots of sunscreen.
History: Cara was born into one of the unspeakably rare families that are actually thriving in the chaos. She's always had everything she ever could have wanted, and for a long, long time, it never occurred to her than anyone else could be living much differently. When she finally figured things out, she was furious. How could her parents be living like royalty when the rest of the world was suffering? She wanted nothing more than to get away from them and do some good, but had to settle for making them as miserable as she possibly could. Where had their little princess gone? Who was this sullen, blue-haired teenager they'd just caught trying to pierce her own eyebrow? It's cold comfort, really, but Cara takes what she can get.

Alex was silent as he walked, observing the surroundings and glancing occasionally at others in the caravan. More than a few of them angered him, they wasted so many things that could be useful in the wastes, bits of cloth, bits of metal, old busted canteens, he even saw two broken guns abandoned to the sand. The guns and one canteen he had recovered, if he didn't wind up using them he could at least use them in trade.

As his attention shifted back to the sands he realized that this was probably the worst escort job he'd ever received. Heat, no wind, little water, and a few exceptionally loud people who seemed to think that because they had wealth they could not be harmed. The sun seemed like it had some unspoken hatred for all of them and was slowing incinerating them all. Alex found himself somewhat jealous of the merchants protected from the sun by large shades.

Alex glanced over his shoulder, nothing but sand and a few other guards. He wiped the sweat from his eyes as he continued walking, wondering just how much longer this trip would be.

Alex glanced at the man, as much as he did not like talking it was much better than walking in silence the entire way.

"I wouldn't dream of taking your jacket from you in this cold weather, you might freeze to death."

Alex smiled slightly, it was good to have some humor occasionally, especially on trips like these. He adjusted his speed to stay alongside the man.

It seemed that the other man had the same problem he did,

"You'd be right, it's both of them. This is probably the worst area I've been in, though not the worst people I've escorted."

To Alex it seemed that the other man had been doing this for a while, same as him. He was glad that the only interesting person in the entire caravan was not a newcomer who thought he would get to just blow away some raiders and have nothing ever happen to them.

"How long have you been doing this job?"

Jason sighed taking a sip of water from his canteen and saw a little girl stumble to the ground. Picking her up he offered a small sip of water from a tin can he had in his pack. "Catch up to your parents now." ,he said as she took off after her parents. He looked around and saw two men talking about cool weather and about the merchants. Tightening his pack on his shoulders Jason trudged on trying to not think about the heat.

He saw a glint in the sand and crouched to see what it was, a metal rod about a foot long. "This might come in handy." he said as he stuffed it in his pack.

"Three years..." Alaric replied, trying to imagine how much he must know about his job. Maybe he was a rookie after all. Compared to Alex, at least. He sighed.

Alaric looked up, suddenly realizing something. It had grown much quieter. As if all of the noise from the back sections of the caravan had stopped... He rubbed his eyes before turning to look back at the rest of the group.

Unfortunately, what he saw was not pleasant in the least.

There was no one following them. The entire rear caravan had vanished. The entire middle. The front was the only section remaining.

"Hey..." Alaric said, nudging the man he had been talking to with his elbow, tightening his grip on the rifle which he carried, "You didn't hear anything odd, did you? Besides the quiet...?"

He was nervous. Out in an area like this, hope seemed slim if trouble arose... And he had a feeling it did.

Jason had seen a group of men just chase a young woman when he tripped and fell. When he looked back to see what had tripped him he noticed white sticking out of the sand. "Bones." he muttered as he picked himself up and looked for the young woman. Not finding her he just kept walking with a little bit of uneasiness about the area they were in.