- Posting Speed
- One post per week
- Online Availability
- 5-11 EST weekdays, anytime weekends.
- Writing Levels
- Give-No-Fucks
- Adept
- Advanced
- Douche
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Primarily Prefer Female
- Genres
- Superhero, urban fantasy, space opera, crime thriller, supernatural
On the fifteenth day of April, 2013, satellites and ships traversing throughout the Pacific saw the Harbinger of end times.
A gargantuan colossus of tendrils and feathers, black sinew mottled together like endless string. It stood within the ocean, and its entire torso poked out from the waters. It was not faceless, but it was inscrutable, its eyes peering out - aimlessly, at first, until the first ship-crew swore that it gazed at them through its peripherals. For seventy-three days, it stood vigil - and not a single ship or plane dared cross its path.
The media dubbed it as some sort of scientific anomaly. American media - tinged with Judeo-Christian rhetoric as it was - likened it to the Four Horsemen, a sign of the end. The world erupted into bedlam, as they anticipated the next move of this… foreign invader. The committees that held themselves accountable for our safety and protection, in a wistful gallows-humor sort of way, dubbed it 'JUDE'.
As it happened, the hooplah was for naught, as Jude descended into the depths, and did nothing. It was dubbed, then, as the Calamity That Wasn't. More accurately, however, it was the Calamity That Hadn't Been… Just Yet.
The first incidence of Powered Human came on the day of its submerging.
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The current year is 2017, and the world is still shaken from the Calamity That Wasn't. While the - dubbed by some as - 'Lovecraftian' giant appeared to do little in the way of world-ending, his submerging beneath the Pacific Ocean came on a fateful day. The first known case of a human exhibiting metaphysical powers. 'The Burning Man' as he was called, erupted into flames within minutes of Jude's submerging.
He did not die, as the flames in truth did not burn him, they became him just as he became the flames. The world's first pyrokinetic. On the very same day, thousands of incidents of Powered individuals became known - with many of them ending in chaos at best, tragedy at worst.
Eventually, the world realized it would just have to cope. The rising of a new sub-race of sorts, the Powereds, necessitated changes in policy, and the way the world approached matters of infrastructure, military and economy. A select few Powereds were potent enough to register as international-level military threats all on their own, while even more arose that had it in them to shift the power dynamic on a municipal to city level. Over the years, came the startling realization that, for whatever reason, power incidence was higher amongst the 'problem populous'; the socio-economically disadvantaged who had a tendency to turn to crime and violence.
This occurred on a global scale. America's own answer was to establish the PRIT - the Protective/Powered Response and Investigation Team - a unit comprised of Powereds and Normals alike, instituted to combat the dangers to come. -
About ten percent of the world population - no small figure - can be considered a Powered, humans blessed with unfathomable abilities - to bend nature, themselves, minds and other such phenomena. The comic book dreams of superhumans made reality. Although the majority of today's current Powered crop manifested the day Jude descended, Powereds manifest and/or are born to this day.
As stated in the Lore section, incidence of Powereds seem to be highest amongst the socio-economically troubled, those likely to turn to crime and violence. Despite this, however, there is no outright proven link between the manifestation of powers and one's current situation at time of manifestation. While there have been cases of those near-death manifesting powers to save themselves, there have also been cases of well-adjusted, happily married middle-aged men who on one otherwise incredibly uneventful day, suddenly manifest. Along similar lines, Powereds are not necessarily known to have abilities that correspond with their background or personality (although, of course, the numbers game means that it certainly does happen).
The nature of Powereds have changed the dynamics of the nation entirely. In particular, their rate of occurrence amongst prospective criminals have led to an era of increased criminality and violence. Criminal organizations - now typically armed with their own retinue of Powereds - hold an increased influence in society; after all, extortion is much easier done by a superhuman.
One final lore note is that an even smaller percentage of Powereds are known to experience recurring voices and visions in their head. The voices are known to vary - being voices from an individual's past, or newly conceived ones entirely - but the visions have a recurring theme: the face of Jude, flickering in and out. Those that experience these visions are termed 'Listeners', and in many cases serve as the foundation for new religious sects and cults.
OOCly, however, it should be noted that player characters should not have the following types of powers: mind-reading, mind-control, time travel, and instantaneous teleportation of self or others. -
All player characters will be part of, or at least heavily associated with, the PRIT.
The PRIT (Powered/Protective Response and Investigation Team) came about when the powers that be quickly realized that experience was all well and good, until you became horrifically outgunned by a superhuman. The PRIT was established to, first and foremost, pluck Powereds off the street, and then mold them into upstanding operatives with a singular directive: maintain order against those who would use their powers for crime. Naturally, results have been mixed.
In practice the PRIT is an esoteric, poorly organized group of Powereds and Normals who nonetheless have quite a bit of experience dealing with other Powereds. While some of their number - typically Normals taken from other areas of law enforcement and government work - are model professionals, maverick-syndrome and problems with authority run rampant throughout the rest of PRIT. With that said, they have a track record for effectiveness in light of the job's difficulties; the mavericks of the PRIT, for this reason, have grown fond of the PRIT's primary nickname - The Fuck Squad.
The PRIT is considered a federal entity, and are given a high degree of autonomy. As far as jurisdiction goes, they naturally have first crack at any matter that deals with a Powered. The player characters of the PRIT will function in the New Jersey and New York jurisdictions (which are merged jurisdictions). The PRIT has a variety of sites - abandoned warehouses, garages and the like - scattered throughout that can be used as a home-base.
It should be noted that while PRIT members are typically known to do their own thing, there is one commonly spouted mantra. When it comes to Powereds: shoot first, and shoot to kill.
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Rules
1. Iwaku rules apply, of course.
2. Not a stickler for post length, but posts should contribute in some way. Of course, this is a two-way street, and if one needs help in this regard, they need only message moi.
3. We're projected to have Blue Stars, so keep it tasteful and appropriate. The setting may be dark, but it doesn't need to be egregiously graphic.
4. Everybody posts at a different rate - try and put one in at least bi-weekly though.
5. Use common sense and courtesy in all things!
6. Communication is key! On that note, we also have a discord! Feel free to PM me for a link!
7. For now, one character per player.
Application process: Simply apply with the sheet detailed in the next tab over! Going to set a soft deadline of October 22, 2017 - with the IC expected to pop up a day or two later. Soft means it's flexible; if people need more time they only have to ask me (preferably with proof of concept) and they'll probably have it.
I think the number of people that expressed interest is fairly manageable, so I anticipate accepting most-all sheets unless there's an unexpected influx (and of course, pending necessary edits). I reserve the right to lie through my teeth though, if I'm wrong.
I'll be reading sheets as they're posted, and if any changes are necessary, they'll be communicated through PM. -
Character sheets can be coded to your heart's content. Feel free to add sections, as long as the core is there.
Name:
Age:
Sex:
Appearance: (Image, or written description, or both is fine).
Personality: (Doesn't have to be long or particularly developed, unless the character calls for it - really only required to put in things that are inferrable. Development and expansion through RP is the way to go, otherwise.)
History: (Doesn't have to be a novella either! Write what you think is pertinent, and if I think more should be touched upon, I'll request it. Stuff that should probably be included: how did they join PRIT, are they a fresh Powered recruit or someone already affiliated with law enforcement, when they manifested (if they did), other central facts.
Skills/Abilities: (You don't have be Powered, nor is there an issue if every character turns out be Powered. Mind-control, mind-reading, time travel and instant teleportation are barred powers.
We should also keep power levels in mind; at an upper-level,powers strong enough to level a block are actually perfectly acceptable, but in IC, the characters would naturally be handled more rigidly by their superiors/colleagues - and, of course, actual usage would be heavily regulated and/or have certain consequences.
Otherwise, this is also where you'd mention non-Powered talents and skills; marksmanship, interrogation, or even nice happy day things like singing and dancing. Feel free to add a new section if you want, but commonly used equipment can probably also go here). -
The story of our particular unit will begin with the case of missing girl Allison Munir, daughter of New Jersey Governor Arnold Munir, and her dog. A documented 'Listener', persons of interest in her case include the notorious Camerata Clan, as well as myriad other criminal elements; the Governor is a central figure in the current criminal war, being a target for extortion in regards to approval of certain land and property claims.
The "Bluebook"
The colloquially named 'Bluebook' is the PRIT's compendium of persons and organisations of interests, typically associated with Powered activity - although also including those part of any other assignment the PRIT is privy to.
In practice, this section will be updated with important new NPCs as they are introduced, as well as updating entries for older NPCs and organisations. The following Bluebook should be considered an Out-of-Character entity, as it will also include information revealed in-thread, but not revealed in-character, or at least, not to all characters (feel free to ask me what is reasonable to know ICly, and what is not.)
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Name: Lilian Simone
Rank*: Director
Age: Early 40s
Sex: Female
Description: Ice and steel through and through, Lilian Simone is the politically savvy Director of the PRIT, who reports directly to the Departments of both Justice and Homeland Security. Known for her ability to 'play the game', her recent endeavors include more stringent regulation of PRIT Operatives.
Name: Nathan Dyer
Rank: District Commander (New York-Jersey)
Age: 40s
Sex: Male
Description: One of the first documented Powereds, and one of the very first inductees of the PRIT. A gritty military man before his recruitment, he nonetheless opts for a free-flowing, laissez-faire style of command, setting tasks but avoiding micro-management. Well-liked, and highly effective, although considered to be a likely casualty of Lilian Simone's new initiative.
*Rank: Rank in the PRIT is mostly applicable at levels of high command. Outside of that, seniority and merit dictate the internal hierarchy.
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Name: Allison Munir
Age: 17 (dob. 10/10/2000)
Sex: Female
Pertinence: Subject was last seen sleeping - disappeared the next morning. No signs of breaking and entering, no signs of struggle. Choice pieces of clothing missing from wardrobe, as well as her dog; reason to believe left of own volition, or was perhaps persuaded to similar effect. Subject is of some political significance; daughter of Governor Arnold Munir. Ascertaining her whereabouts and safe retrieval paramount.
Other: Sleep-walker, known 'Listener'. -
Name: The Camerata
Date of Formation: ??/??/2016 (Likely Range: August-November)
Leading Member(s): Andrea Camerata, Gennaro Camerata, Gaspare Camerata, Jeremy Camerata.
The Camerata Clan likely began when the four Camerata siblings manifested - interestingly, based off the timing and location of incident reports, it is theorized that each Camerata brother gained their powers in a short window of time, if not simultaneously. Their original victims match up with our theory that they began as an offshoot of La Cosa Nostra, but later incidents firmly tie them to the massacres of the Bonanno and Lucchese families. Informants now name the Camerata clan as the core power of La Cosa Nostra.
Have absorbed the established criminal infrastructures of their predecessors, and have shown a penchant for aggressive expansion. An uptick in LCN-linked crimes are expected to continue; the Cameratas have demonstrated a preference for violence over negotiation, and are more prone to escalation. Currently embroiled in turf war against the Honglou, and are tentatively allied with the Honyubi in this regard.
Second eldest, Gennaro Camerata, is identified as the leading member. Gaspare and Jeremy are known as loyal enforcers, while Andrea's place in the power dynamic is mostly unknown.
Name: Gennaro Camerata
Age: 40 (dob. 11/24/1976)
Sex: Male
Rank: Boss (Camerata)
Pertinence: Powered. Boss of the newly created Camerata Clan, and a central figure in ongoing gang hostility. Tied to Governor Arnold Munir; attempted extortion to secure expanding properties. A figure of interest in the disappearance of Allison Munir. A figure of interest in no less than forty cases of murder and vicious assault.
From left to right, Andrea, Gennaro, Gaspare, and Jeremy.
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Name: We Chosen Few
Date of Formation: ??/??/2013
Leading Member(s): Edward Vriesen ('Superbeing'), Carl Reiner.
Neo-Nazi faction given leveraging power in the criminal world due to the manifestation of formerly-reformed Edward Vriesen's powers, which - in sadly ironic fashion - has finally cemented his original beliefs of belonging to a chosen master race. Concentrated membership has increased dramatically due to the image of 'Superbeing', and de facto leader Carl Reiner's talent for hateful, yet convincing, rhetoric. Lack organization outside of ideological bond and hero worship. Employ a haphazard business model; member-sects pursue their own forms of profit, and kick up to leaders to earn favor and influence. Common endeavors include attacks on other criminal entities.
Members of the 'Chosen Few' are known for extremism in confrontation. Hostile Powered members, in particular, should be terminated with extreme prejudice.
Name: Edward Vriesen
AKA: Superbeing
Age: 36 (dob. 09/15/1981)
Sex: Male
Rank: Leader
Pertinence: A wild-card presence in the criminal hostilities, as the Chosen Few are not directly commanded by any central figure. Regardless, his presence is symbolic for the organization. Claims to have spoken to JUDE - an untenable lead, but should be considered if he is ever apprehended.
Power: Possesses superhuman levels of strength, stamina and explosive speed.
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Name: Honyubi (Four-Fingers)
Leading Member(s): Unknown.
An American offshoot of the Yakuza, consisting primarily of Japanese members as well as a small percentage of ethnic Koreans. A direct affiliate; the main branch has been known to 'export' highly trained Powereds to assist the Honyubi in ongoing confrontation. In return, the Honyubi have been known to kidnap American Powereds and subject them to exploitation by the Yakuza. Currently allied with the Camerata Clan to combat the Honglou.
Are possessed of extreme discipline and discretion; few members have ever been positively identified, and none were considered to be in high standing. Their name derives from their practice of removing a single finger upon membership, as a mark of loyalty. -
Name: Honglou (Red Hall)
Leading Members: Ruan Xiaoyi, 'Da-Ma'
Remnants of Triad and Tong offshoots that were eventually consolidated under the leadership of the Ruan family. Not known to possess ties with China/Hong Kong-based Triad leadership, but maintain a sizable membership all the same. Are considered to be highly volatile, unprofessional, and with a penchant for needless escalation. These characteristics - as well as the Camerata Clan's tendencies towards much the same - have lead to an all-out war between the two organizations.
Leadership of the Honglou is family based. Ruan Xiaoyi is the first sibling of thirteen - all of whom have some part to play in the running of the Red Hall. Our reports indicate that Da-Ma (literally, Big Mother) is the true power, as she advises Xiaoyi in matters of critical import. Da-Ma is the aunt of the thirteen siblings. -
While the organizations listed above are considered to be the primary pertinent powers throughout New York and New Jersey, the list is not exhaustive. The Irish Mob exists, although it has been waning for quite some time - still, rumors of a new powered leader merits some vigilance.
It is common for smaller criminal entities - unbound by ethnicity or familial ties - to operate in the shadows of the Cameratas, the Honyubi, the Honglou. Those who are entirely unaffiliated should be considered the most dangerous, as their motivations are typically more intense, or perhaps even sadistic in nature.
The 'Best'book (Player/Character Index)
Group A for Apricot
1. 'Donut' Delano - SkittlesandSpike
2. Sarah Pendleton - Applo
3. Sean Tucker - Greenie
4. Tore Leanaí an cheoil - Psycho of Ireland
5. Levant Morellus - Chile
Group B for Banana
1. 'Celi' Elizondo Macias - SoleStride
2. Michael Hansen - Squee
3. Luke Estley - Starlighter
4. 'Rats' Yehudah - The Legate
Group C for Clementines
1. Alexis Acosta - Eru
2. Akira Eto - Joan
3. Yoru Kurai - firejay1
4. RIley Mahir - Shavynel
5. Artemis Smith - Kimberlyn
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