Haven: A City Apart {Accepting}

[Lord Azar]

-Plot/Background-

This storyline centers around a particular city-state on a alternate, but somewhat parallel course of reality located in the area of the Northern Hemisphere that we call Europe. It consists of a vast and sprawling city, separated from its political neighbors by expansive countryside and a thick ring of forest encircling this small, but formidable country.

For, you see, in this line of cosmic existence there are more than just humans walking the Earth. Here, all the monsters and fanciful creatures of legend reside, each trying to secure his own niche in the world. For centuries, war raged between the various races and ultimately it fell to the humans, by virtue of their overwhelming population but physical and magical inferiority to the other races, to find a solution. Hundreds of years of war had solved nothing and so a diplomatic convention was arranged, whereat the leaders of each race would decide the fate of their people.

Eventually, the consensus was made that, for the safety of humankind and the mutual well-being of the other races, a large segment of land would be set aside, isolated from the human world around it, wherein the various parahuman peoples could live in harmony. This decision was made because of the relatively good relations between the non-humans, and the startling depletion of their ranks thanks to years of bloodshed. It was the best decision available and, despite the discontented grumbling of various parties, each leader came to a unanimous agreement.

This was several hundred years ago and times have changed. Despite centuries of isolatory legislation and the grudging harmony between the races, the population of this city-state, known as Haven, has swelled to the point that many daring individuals of various races have begun to forge their way out of Haven and into the world of humans. Some do well, others do not. Many parahumans remain at home in their city, continuing their existence in a society and culture that sprang from the ideologies and needs of the coexisting peoples.

~~~

You are a denizen of this country. You have entered into a time where you are free to forge your own destiny. Choose wisely, for whatever your course, there are sure to be unforeseen obstacles.

What's your story?

 

[Lord Azar]

-Races-

So, in case you haven't figured it out, you are free to be a member of just about any race (including human if you so wish). A list of possible races to choose from would include:

Werewolves
Vampires
Fae
Elves
(I will stipulate that I mean "Tolkien" Elves rather than "Santa's Helpers" Elves)
etc.

Basically, whoever and whatever you want. If you come up with an idea for a more creative species that is not typically used or heard of, please talk to me about it and we'll see if it will work. ^.^

I will stipulate that deamons and angels and the like are not accepted. Only things that could have evolved naturally.

Supplemental Information*

In order to keep a certain degree of regularity, I'd like to give a set list of guidelines for the various races.


Werewolves

1. Werewolves have two forms: wolf, and human.

2. In wolf form, werewolves are nothing more than abnormally over-sized wolves

3. Only juvenile (age 13-16) werewolves are strictly bound to change at the full moon. All werewolves feel the urge to change but after 17 years old, most are able to suppress the instinct unless under strenuous circumstances (i.e. extreme: stress, rage, or illness)

4. Werewolves are able to change at will once they become 20

5. Changing from one form to another is exceedingly painful and usually leaves the werewolf in a sour mood for a minute or two.

6. Werewolves are able to heal at twice the normal rate of a human when in human form and when they are suffering from extreme or numerous wounds, werewolves will often change into their wolf form to speed up the healing to three times the normal rate of a human.

7. Werewolf blood is toxic to vampires. Small amounts are not lethal but large amounts are.

8. Vampire venom is toxic to werewolves. The venom acts much like a very powerful acid, burning away flesh and slowing down a werewolf's natural healing abilities. Much like werewolf blood to vampires, small amounts are not lethal but large amounts are.

9. The only exception to rules 7 and 8 occur when a vampire is born of sorcery rather than having been bitten directly. Under this circumstance, werewolf blood has no effect on the vampire and likewise; the venom has no effect on the werewolf. This is an exceedingly rare occurrence though as the only vampires born of sorcery are the ancients and very few of those still exist.

10. Werewolves do have an external allergic reaction to silver in its purest form but for the most part they can come in contact with silver as long as it doesn't enter their bloodstream via an open wound or something of the like.

11. Werewolf blood is the only known antidote to vampire venom in humans but must be administered within minutes of the actual bite.

Vampires

1. Vampires are able to go out into the sunlight but this slows down their super-human powers and the light gives their eyes intense pain. For this reason many vampires stay inside during the day but when they do venture outside they were polarized sunglasses.

2. Vampires cannot feed from dead humans. Once the human dies, the blood becomes very toxic and often times lethal.

3. Vampires cannot be killed by a stake through the heart. There are only four sure-fire ways to kill a vampire: if they drink large quantities of either werewolf blood or blood collected from a dead human, if they are torn to pieces by a vampire and then burned, or if they are torn to pieces by a pack of werewolves and then burned.

4. While vampires can go near garlic they do have a strong aversion to it. The smell and or taste makes them very nauseous.

5. Excluding the rule about vampires not being able to inject the blood of a dead human without lethal consequences, there are several other rules in regards to vampiric diet. The blood of any cold-blooded animal; i.e. fish, reptiles, and insects; results in what amounts to severe food poisoning.

6. Vampires cannot fly but they can flit. Flitting amounts to running very quickly over long distances.

7. Vampires have no innate aversion to religious symbols unless created via sorcery, which as stated above, is quite rare. The average vampire is not affected and some are even quite religious.

8. Vampires are unable to enter thresholds without permission, but this permission does not always have to be spoken word. For instance a sign reading "Open: Please Enter" as most vampire friendly shops would read is a suitable invitation. However, an invitation can be revoked, i.e a shopkeeper says "Get out and don't come back!", and in that case the vampire in question would have to obtain a new invitation in spoken word to be allowed back in.

9. Vampires are not "dead", they have a transferable condition that causes their body to not produce new blood (resulting in the need to drink blood to replenish their stores), makes them sterile (making it impossible to reproduce sexually), but also amps up their natural physical abilities to far above the human standard. It does however stop their heart and body from running on the usual electrical impulses, running instead on an unknown energy that has eluded human and non-human scientists alike. This results in a lowered body temperature, which is cool to the touch.


10. Much like the urge to change with werewolves, the urge to feed among vampires is irresistible to a newly turned vampire but can be over come with time and experience. The duration of time it takes to over come this urge and how long it can be held at bay is dependent upon the individual vampire.


11. A vampire can only be created by the transference of a vampire's venom into a human's system. Vampire's have voluntary control over this venom's release, allowing them to selectively turn. Vampire venom's only known antidote is a large quantity of werewolf blood in the five to ten minutes after the venom has been injected. After that time, the change is irreversible. Vampire venom has no effect on non-humans (with the exception of werewolves). Vampires are no longer created via sorcery because that magic was destroyed many thousand years ago.

*Please note that rules are going to be added as various specifications are brought to my attention.  

[Lord Azar]

-Rules-

For all intents and purposes, let's consider me to be god. What I say goes. I am free in my omnipotence to alter the following rules at anytime and will not hesitate to unleash my almighty wrath on the persons who choose to deviate from those rules. evil

That being said, I really don't want to have to do that. wink So please use your common sense and better judgment to govern yourselves so that I don't have to get all mean and nasty.

1) Absolutely NO Godmodding. There is nothing that gets on my last nerve quite like that. Seriously, it makes you no fun to rp with and will only end badly for you. Don't do it.
2) I really shouldn't have to say this but, obey the Gaia ToS. When you made your account, to swore to obey those rules in order to make sure that Gaia is and will continue to be a fun and safe place for everyone.
3) PM all profiles to me with the subject "Haven". Yeah, I know that it's not terribly original, but at least it's not confusing.
4) This falls under rule 2, but please, no cybering. No one wants to see it. I can't control what you do outside of this thread, but I would encourage you to either not do it, or take it outside Gaia.
5) As I said before, my word is law. I retain the right to amend any rule at any time. For the sake of fairness, I will send a message to all the people who participate in this thread in that event, notifying you of the change. Don't make me have to repeat myself.
6) All posts must be written in third person point of view.
7) All non-character posts must be written in OOC format. Use: ((text)), {{text}}, or [[text]].  

[Lord Azar]

-Profiles-

Profile Skeleton:

Name:
Race:
Appearance: {a picture is preferred}
Age:
Gender:
Orientation:
History: {a brief biography}
Occupation:
Interests:
Dislikes:
Fears:
Goals:
Extra: {If there's anything else you want to add, put it here}
Author: [b]{your username goes here}[/b]

-Accepted Profiles-

-Werewolves-

Name: Tala Mingan
Race: Werewolf
Appearance:
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Orientation: Bi
History: Tala comes from noble blood, her parents being kin to The Alpha who rules over the rest of her kind. As such, Tala was brought up in a world of strict discipline and diplomacy. Tala's parents had her privately schooled by an elf, and she was rarely allowed to interact with the general public. Her only companions were her tutor and the other children of the court. When Tala came of age, she defiantly struck out on her own, openly rebelling against her suppressive family and their wishes. She broke off her arranged marriage to another noble wolf, and set out to make her own way in Haven. This deviation was eventually accepted by The Alpha and Tala was granted the ability to do as she wished.
Occupation: Tala has put her diplomatic upbringing to good use by becoming a private investigator/bounty hunter and for-hire liaison between various races or groups.
Interests: Coffee, a good case, working out, eating, reading, outsmarting her quarry
Dislikes: Wise-guys, being low on cash, not having a case, when the law gets in her way
Fears: Needles, spiders
Goals: To make a decent living, to be happy, to be able to do whatever she wants
Extra: Tala currently lives in a rented flat above a coffee shop.
Author: Lord Azar

-Vampires-

Name: Salevictor Rome
Race: Vampire
Appearance:

Age: Appears to be in mid-twenties.
Gender: Male
Orientation: Bisexual
History: Although he surely does not care for law or government, Rome surely benefits from the Haven society, even as he steals their shoes out from under them. A vagabond with no known family, he simply takes what he needs--even when that includes the lives of others.
Occupation: None
Interests: Humans, werewolves--anything but other vampires.
Dislikes: Other vampires. Sunlight.
Fears: Though he would never admit it, Rome is deathly afraid of cats. This is a phobia of his.
Goals: Take as much as possible, never be caught.
Extra: Rome enjoys a good game; being amused. He would much rather watch others than talk to them himself, however.
Author: zfatal

-Fae-

Name: Aminta Kennocha
Race: Fae
Appearance:
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Orientation: Unsure. She assumes she’s straight.
History: Aminta doesn't like causing trouble, and so she remained in the background through most of her childhood, allowing her three siblings to take the starring roles in their family life. However, by the time she was in her late teens the pull of curiosity was so strong that she left Haven to find out a little bit about the world beyond her home. She really didn't consider it running away, and was confused when her parents came after her. That little interlude left her curiosity unsatisfied, and despite her parents' best efforts to impress the danger of the outside world on her, she's beginning to consider leaving again. In the meantime, she continues to look after her siblings just as she’s always done.
Occupation: Aminta has a better head for finance than she would let on, and she’s currently managing her family’s business – which runs more to sewing and tailoring than anything else. Her hobby is sculpture, and it’s turned into a profitable sideline.
Interests: Music (turned up as loud as possible, naturally), learning about other cultures and races, her sculpting, gardening, and occasionally dancing.
Dislikes: Arguments, not having any spare time, being considered a child, being called a painter, and having trouble with the finances.
Fears: Being alone forever, drowning, and getting lost.
Goals: She wants to learn about the world outside Haven, to see her family happy, and to make a life of her own out of the family shadow.
Extra: She’s getting ready to move out of the family home.
Author: SilentShadowDreamer

-Elves-

Name: Aerido Thessliongarde
Race: Elf
Appearance:

Age: Forty-six
Gender: Male
Orientation: Heterosexual
History: Aerido is one of two children in the impressive House Thessliongarde lineage. Being the older of the two, Aerido has been established as the heir, while his sister, Feore, is free is to determine her own destiny. Dignified and established, as his position dictates, Aerido attempts to be fair in all things. His judgement is often put to test by his father.
Occupation: This elf is not permitted to work by his family. Instead, he has and still is the subject of extensive education regarding any topic under the sun.
Interests: Aerido is interested in the fine sport of archery, although he expresses a distaste in the killing of creatures for sport. He is also very concerned for the welfare of his rather more flamboyant sister--unfortunately, it seems as if his concerns were justified.
Dislikes: Although one might think differently, Aerido is not very adverse to his given position in the family hierarchy. He is not rebellious or disagreeable to his circumstances--he treats his place as a duty, and fulfills that. Aerido is not fond of humans, for he has studied much of them and finds the human history distasteful.
Fears: He fears for his sister's well-being. He is always afraid he might not meet the standard set by his family. Aerido is confident and collected, and is fairly certain that he can actively respond to any physical malady the world may throw at him. However, reading up on dangerous subjects grants no experience in the ways of survival.
Goals: Aerido seeks to find and bring his sister's murderer to justice. He is even willing to abandon his position and good standing with his family to do so.
Extra: Aerido is personally very wealthy. He is knowledgeable about a great many things. He may inadvertently come across as snobbish at times, though he tries to prevent this. Unlike his sister, he does not believe in the inherent goodness of all things.
Author: zfatal

Name: Evelyn Marie Exudes
Race: Elf
Appearance:

Age: Appears to be in her late twenties.
Gender: Female
Orientation: Straight
History: In the course of her lifetime Evelyn has learned three major things about life and the way she lives it. The first is that finding a job is not nearly as hard as it seems, just as she found her calling in the teaching of those less knowledgeable, but still able to learn. The second is that no matter how much you yell, the person you're yelling at will almost always attempt to dissuade your yelling for passion and you will end up with either a bruise or an empty wallet. The third, and final, is that those of wealth tend to spread their wealth farther when allowed. These three things have led her to one lifetime goal. Teach the Elite, so that they may pay her. She leads a comfortable life, not reliant on her pay, and dabbles in literature arts and meeting up with past students. Her favorites always seem to favor her as well.
Occupation: Private Tutor
Interests: The Education of the Elite, Books, History, Fine Cuisine, and Inventions.
Dislikes: Small Spaces, Students who refuse to Learn, Plagiarism, and Rodents.
Fears: Great Heights and the Loneliness of City Streets at Night.
Goals: To pass on her knowledge to all who will accept it.
Extra: She is not strict, but nor is she overly indulgent.
Author: The Eternaly Damned

-Other-



-Humans-

Name: Kenby Sulu
Race: Human
Appearance:
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Orientation: Straight
History: Ken’s entire life has revolved around dance for as long as he can remember – his family moved to Northern Europe when he was barely three for the sake of dance, since his mother was a professional dancer until she was in a car accident that ended her career. She immediately turned her training to use to teach her son all that she knew, and from age five he began lessons. Now, nineteen years later, he’s happy with his career and he knows he’s lucky. However, he still has his hobbies, and his childhood dreams of vampires and the fae have become a deep interest in paranormal races.
Occupation: Ken’s put his training to use, and at last he’s joined a traveling dance troupe. As the youngest member, he’s got a lot to prove.
Interests: Music, dance performances, traveling, computers, cooking and paranormal species.
Dislikes: Bad food, last-minute routine changes, divas, mockery, questioning of his sexual orientation just because he’s a dancer and people not showing up for rehearsals.
Fears: Bees, getting hurt so he can never dance again, and being fired.
Goals: Ken wants to be one of the best, and he’s willing to train until he gets what he wants. His other, more secret, goal is to find out everything he can about the paranormal races, and maybe even meet one of them one day.
Extra: N/A
Author: SilentShadowDreamer

-NPCs-

 

[Lord Azar]

-World News-

I will periodically post a new event happening either in Haven or the outside world. Sometimes this will simply be an interesting topic for water-cooler conversations. Others, events will change the course of everyone's lives. I will send out a PM letting you know that something has changed.

Stay posted! ^.^

 

[Lord Azar]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

7/12/09

This is where I will post all non story related announcements. Please glance at this post before you begin writing, just to make sure that you're up to date on everything.

That is all.

7/12/09

This thread is now accepting profiles. I will wait to open until I feel like there is a sufficient number of characters to make this worthwhile. Thank you.

That is all.

7/24/09

I now declare this thread to be open! Thank you.

That is all.