Transitions

This is my first storybook, but it should be fun.


The story takes place in the barren remains of New York City after a devestating nuclear war. In the war over half the human population was killed, those that were left tried to survive off of whatever they could steal or kill. five years after the war survivors are still struggling to make the transition to the strange new world they find themselves in. Some have banded together to increase their survival. These bands are in constant competition for resources, and only the knowlege that if they start killing each other they will all die is keeping them from all out war. The players start out fighting each other but soon they will have to unite to face something even greater.

Four outfits have thrived in the chaos of the war.

The GoD (Gears of Death) are a very practicle people that live in the heart of the city, sleeping in the skyscrapers, and watching everything. They have a very pragmatic view of the world. They do not worship a god, but instead, the earth and death. They believe that the earth sustains them, long enough for them to die, so that they can in turn fertilize the earth. In this way the earth and death are wed. They believe that the war happened because the earth was so scared that it needed a massive replenishing. They call themselves the Gears of Death, because they believe it is their duty to replenish the earth. They are not evil, but they have a dark view of the world and are not scared to take a life. Before they put on a metal mask shaped in the likeness of a skull.

Wolf Pack are a warrior society that lives in an area of the city that was flattened by the war. They do not believe in a set religion, but most of them are christian. The original founders were members of teh U.S. Army and the original goal of the outfit was to recreate the United States. They trained all of their people how to fight and went on to carve out a spot in the city. Because their land is so much more open than the rest of the city they have a large mounted army. They recieved their name from the founder. He had a tattoo of a wolf's head on his shoulder.

The Triste are pagans who have a slightly different view on the world. They believe that the war simply gave them a chance to start over. They do not share the grim outlook of the GoD, nor the military power of Wolf Pack, instead they turn towards the arts. They are master artisans, and they have produced the fiew pieces of art since the change. They are warriors but they believe that if something is beautiful then it is functional. Upon first meeting a Triste one would think they would be pacifists, but they are not afraid to raise a rifle to defend their land.

The Seraphs are religious zaelots. They are firm christians and everything they do reflects that. All of their weapons bear crosses, or verses from the bible. In their society the Warrior Priests are the highest social class. They serve as commanders in the army, and missionaries to other outfits. To them the aftermath of the war is a test of man's spirit. They believe that in order to survive, they must keep their faith, and spread the word of god. Their religios fanatacism is not understood by many of the other survivors who believe that god abandoned them during the war.

Mercenaries are in abundance. War is the name of the game, and there is no way to do it better than to hire someone else to do it. Not all mercenaries fight, there are always groups that sell other services for lodging and food. (If you are in a mercenary band, tell me what your position in it is; if you want to join another players mercenary band then pm that person and say so).

The Gift: After the war people started to notice something different about the way they worked. Certain people had the ability to warp the world around them. The power was labeled the gift, from what, no one knows. It is almost a presence in your mind that allows you to change things. It does not understand words, so you can not say what you want, but you have to find some way to picture what you want to happen. There is a downside to being gifted. the gift slowly kills the gifted. the gift requires the energy of the gifted to work; but even if they dont use their gift it still absorbs their energy. because of their loss of energy they age faster.

RULES

- no god characters (i think everyone knows what that is, i was afraid the gift might be overpowering so added the bid about it killing you, but still it could happen)
- no killing others characters without permision
- keep it pg-13, no sex scenes, and no prostitution etc.
- technology is as it is today, no lasers or anything else, most technology does not work any more but you can find the rare computer. Gunpowder and guns are rare. Gunsmiths are very prized *hint* *hint*
- try to have a reasonable amount of characters because I want this to last if we can.
- all other normal rules


Character

*note: You may play the leader of one of the bands.

Name: first middle and last
Age: whatever you want, but people dont live to be that old
Gender: male or female
Outfit: GoD, Wolf Pack, Triste, Seraphs, or mercenary
Profesion: What do you do? if you fight, what is your role
Gift Level: 1-10 the higher the number the faster you die
Appearance: you know the drill
Personality: you know the drill
Other: you know the drill

*if there is anything else i feel like i might need to add i will update this so you might want to check back frequently*

My Character

Name: Roland Alexander McCarthy
Age: 16, but appears to be in late twenties because of his gift.
Gender: male
Outfit: GoD
Profesion: Soldier, specializes in reconasance
Gift Level: 7
Appearance: medium hight, broad shoulders. Has short black hair that always looks like he just got out of bed. His eyes are gold.
Personality: very calm and very reserved around people he doesnt know, however when around friends he opens up. He does not speak much, but when he does you should better listen. He does not brag, and so one wouldnt think him dangerous, but he is very, very good at what he does, and he has learned to use his gift to its maximum. This allows him to tear down buildings on top of his enemies or to bend his bullets around obstacles. He knows the power he has and will use it but only in dire circumstances. He is very protective of his friends.
Other: Was originaly a mercenary, but the GoD saw his potential and offered hima permanent position. He is up for love (i guess).

name- Shane Rand Jal'ani
age- 19, but strangely looks 17
gender- male
outfit- mercenary
profession- thief, stealth fighter. Prefers to avoid large battles, but when cornered he can be very dangerous.
gift level- 7

appearance- http://media.photobucket.com/image/blon ... .jpg?o=235

personality- Shane is a loner, he lives by his own code, and follows his own rules. He hasn't joined any of the major outfits, because he doesn't think they're led by someone he can respect. In reality he's never met any of them personally. Hot tempered and a quick thinker. Before the war and it's aftermath, he was a prankster with a sunny nature, now he's become a bit more reserved, although he still has a wicked sense of humor.

history- The son of a wealthy business man, he was meant to take over the family company. But his dad's strict spartan parenting style clashed with Shane's nature. So he ran away and took up with a gang of thieves. Led by the only man he ever respected, present day, everyone else in the gang is dead. And Shane himself is now a top class thief. The elite of the elite.

He has only ever used his powers once. When he was little, his favorite story was about a black griffin named Dusk. So when he got his powers, Shane used the gift to make it so that the griffin was real.

other- up for love, Dusk's picture http://media.photobucket.com/image/blac ... s.jpg?o=71

Apart from the not aging and the griffin Shane almost never uses his power.

*For some strange reason Shane doesn't age physically at all. His best guess is that since he's afraid of getting old, he uses his gift unconsciously so that he doesn't age. Thing is, he's still dying. If anyone wants to hire Shane for a job, he can usually be found in the slums. The area where most of the unattached kids live.*

Name: Duncan Armand Malone
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Outfit: Mercenary
Profession: Soldier, specialised in rifle use and close combat.
Gift Level: Ungifted
Appearance: http://hunqwert.deviantart.com/art/Fallout-40878772
Personality: He is incredibly grim, often refusing to speak to people who haven't 'proven' themselves to him. He is a pessimist, and treats every situation in terms of the worst case scenario.
Other: He's addicted to caffeine and nicotine. He knows a gunsmith who tries to keep to himself and takes jobs only from Duncan and a few others mercenaries. He carries a bolt-action rifle and a Bowie knife, but rarely uses the knife in hand to hand. Instead, he employs Systema, a Russian free-form martial art.

Name: Gabriel Kipper Lucas
Age: 13, but appears to be roughly thirty
Gender: Male
Outfit: Seraphs
Profession: Religious Figurehead
Gift Level: 8
Appearance: http://fairylale.deviantart.com/art/Was ... n-53764734
Personality: Fanatically believes in his religion, having been brought up to believe that he must do God's will, which happens to include extinguishing the non-believers. He has a need to surround himself with people, whether zealots like him or those he is trying to convert, who usually end up dead. He is a pyromaniac insofar as he believes that evil can be cleansed by fire.
Other: He carries a sword inscribed with verses from Revelations.

nice, lets see if we can get a few more people then we can start

i espected some more people but whatever. i recently found out that ill be gone all christmas break (from this saturday, to january 5 or something) and a computer will be hard to find.

If we get some more people you can go ahead and start it. if i have time ill make the first post, but if not ill just add dircetion to whatver is happening. Have fun!

Name:Christie Ann Lamprey
Age:21
Outfit:Wolf Pack
Profession:Leader of Wolf Pack
Gift Level:9
Appearance:http://www.hairstylediva.com/Young%20girl%20with%20long%20fine%20red%20hair,%20wearing%20black%20dress.jpg
Personality: Very serious, always looking about her for enemies. She is a great leader and has lead the wolf pack since she was 17. Everybody looks to her for guidance. Her gift is very strong, and she uses it to enter into the enemies mind and twist their thoughts. She is not afraid to kill, but she first needs reason before doing so. Enemies think she is not dangerous and that her band is weak because they look to a girl for guidance, but she is very very dangerous. She is great in huge battles and can also go undercover as a man, due to her massive muscles.

Other: She believes that loving ruins an army, so any couples that get together are separated instantly.

I'll join but I have to go now. I'll post y bio tomorrow!

Christie

Rain poured down as a silent figure stole across the grimy streets. Christie brushed her hair back as she passes through alleys, parking lots, and crumbling buildings, all of witch were empty. She was looking for a Mr.Shane Jal'ani because she needed a job done that she didn't feel good about doing herself.

She was going to have him destroy GoD

They were getting too powerful and they were taking all the food and water. Many people in the Wolf Pack are suffering because of GoD.

Her dark cloak billowed out behind her as she reached an old crumbling building, numbered 153. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea or not. But she had to do this to save her people. She raised a trembling hand to the door and knocked.

Name: Tobias Winchester Morrow
Age: late 40’s
Gender: male
Outfit: Triste
Profession: Gunsmith
Gift Level: Ungifted
Appearance: Tall and well muscled, with a ruddy complexion. Graying hair and a strong face, but one with well-worn wrinkles from smiling.
Personality: Tough, but merry; like most of the Triste he values art and creativity and expresses himself through it. However he does not see beauty in a pretty gun, but in one that shoots accurately and without jamming. He is one of the best (if not the best) gunsmith in the city, but is hard to secure for a deal, because he only makes a few weapons every year: though we will make them perfectly. He has a mild distaste for explosive weaponry or “spray and pray” guns, as he sees them as inelegant and thoroughly bourgeoisie.
Other: Has adopted Megan, who was the daughter of his deceased younger brother


Name: Megan Morrow
Age: 9 but appears…odd, around 12
Gender: female
Outfit: Triste (by association with Tobias)
Profesion: Child???
Gift Level: 8-9
Appearance: short blonde hair, green eyes, elongated arms and legs. She can run fast, but not for long as her lungs aren’t as developed as her legs. She wears a thick cloak to hid her disproportioned growth.
Personality: She’s terrified of her powers and the aging she’s been told goes with it, and passively exerts a lot of energy trying to stop the aging process. She’s had limited success slowing the process, but her arms and legs are far too long for her age; and her brain has been developing at an accelerated pace to keep up. She reads constantly, trying to fill a massive thirst for knowledge that has been a by product of her partial aging.
Other: she’s very powerful in the Gift, but has only learned to control passive things, like sensing danger, changing the nature of inanimate objects, and controlling her aging.

*One thing I forgot to mention, Shane looks after a bunch of orphans from the slums, kids too young to survive on their own.*

Shane-

He started up from leaning against Dusk when someone knocked at the door. Sighing Shane stood, and walked to the door. Stepping around the piles of paper scattered across the floor he went to open the door. Light footsteps ran down the stairs, and two of the kids peered around the wall.

Shane opened the door part way and blinked in surprise. The young woman had long red hair, and like his other clients she didn't want to be seen. The woman spoke first. "I'm looking for Shane Jal'ani."

"Then you found him. Come on in, we can talk in here. Brandy, Alex, go back upstairs and make sure the others don't come down while I'm with a client." He pushed the door open further and stepped aside letting her in. She scanned the cluttered entrance with the air of one looking for a way out just in case. There was a tattered old sofa in the corner, and a table he could work on, other then that every available surface was covered in paper.

He knew the moment she set eyes on Dusk. The lazy griffin was sprawled across the floor his black and gray wings half unfolded, his tail twitched slightly, pale blue eyes watching the woman. She gasped softly wonder, and a hint of fear in her voice. "How...?" She started.

Smiling Shane sat down on the sofa and watched her. A wisp of a smile on his face. "He's my partner. Dusk is a griffin." He explained, pride and affection evident in his tone. "He was born from my Gift. For me, the wall between fantasy and reality, doesn't exist. So." Shane crossed his ankles and grinned. "So what can we do for the leader of the wolf pack, Christie is it?"

Christie


Shane motioned for Christie to sit, but she refused and stood. Her eyes scanned about the room, momentarily distracted by the vast amounts of paper scattered. And then, with a brisk air, she started.

"The job that I want you to do is, I think you would agree, rather....unusual. But none the less, it needs to be done. I want you to assassinate GoD's leader."

Shane stared. For a solid minute, he just sat there, his eyes boring into Christie's. Finally, his mouth moved.

"No, this is too dangerous. I kill their leader, and they kill me and everybody who has ever come in contact with me. I will not do it."

Christie smirked. "Well, I'm sorry you think that way, but you have no option."

Suddenly, Shane's eyes began to swim and the air around him grew warm. He entered into such a peaceful bliss that he neither knew nor cared where Christie was, or who she was for that matter.

"You will go into GoD's territory and destroy their leader and all who stand in your way. You will not fail, and you will not die."

Then, everything lifted, and now, all that was left of Shane was determination to go. Go and kill.

Christie disappeared out of the apartment, her eyes lifeless.

*the gift doesn't work on Dusk since he's not really of this world.*

Shane-

Dusk lifted his head, as the light faded from Shane's eyes. Shane took a step towards the door and Dusk leaped forward batting him across the head to knock him out. Sure that he wouldn't wake for a few hours, Dusk turned and padded up the stairs, passing the children playing in the second floor. He stepped onto the balcony, now a makeshift launch pad, and lunged into the air.

His wings beat silently as he turned, circling the courtyard silently. He saw the girl, the Wolf Pack's leader. Leaving the courtyard. With a hunter's screech, he tucked his wings and went into a ground scorching dive. At the sound she looked up and dove out of the way at the last second.

Dusk banked to the right and flared his wings, flipping around in mid air. He landed, crouched silently on the ground. Wings extended half way, beak open in a silent snarl. His claws each as big as small dagger, dug small furrows in the cracked concrete. "Turn around woman. You will restore Shane's heart now. Answer me this, what gives you the right to condemn him to death? Simply because he isn't part of your group? And answer me truly, you can't lie to a griffin.

Christie

Christie stared fearlessly into the griffins cold eyes. Still drained of life from her last use of her power, she laid there, limp.

"What would you have done?" she asked. "If your family was starving, and the only way to get them fed was to sacrifice a man for their own good, what would you have done?"

The griffin stared mercilessly into her eyes, her mind, and her soul. He searched the boundaries and the extent at what this woman was capable of. The griffin leaped off her. Then, as quick as a wink, Christie was gone into the night, vanished into thin air.

The griffin screamed his rage, and flew about searching for the woman who he longed to demolish, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Shane-

Rage coursing through him, Dusk reached out with his mind, knowing the girl was still close enough to feel his minds call. "Hear me Wolf Girl. If he dies, you and yours will go with him! I swear it!" Wheeling he turned back to the building and landed on the balcony, he stalked passed the children, and told them to have dinner without Shane. Then descended the stairs and curled protectively around Shane's body, waiting patiently for him to wake.

Shane woke with a jolt. His mind had cleared somewhat from the knock on his head, but he could feel the compulsion at the back of head. Driving him forward. He sat up gingerly, smiling when he found Dusk's wing covering him. He glanced out the window and saw that the sun had set almost completely, the light rain had stopped to.

Noticing he was awake Dusk folded his wings and butted his head against Shane's chest. "She got away Shane. I have no way to track her, so we can't make her remove the compulsion. What'll we do?"

He rubbed Dusk's head affectionately, careful not to damage the feathers. "I've heard of Christie's compulsions. They drive you constantly, you can't eat, can't sleep, can't do anything until the task is complete. So it looks like we've got no choice. But I can at least minimize the damage. Damnit, I hate being trapped."

He stood and stretched, running his hands through his gold hair. Picking up his belt from beside the sofa. A sheathed short sword and a holstered gun and ammo pouch were attached to the worn leather. Talking to Dusk as he went. "It'll easy enough getting in I know the all the groups main head quarters by heart."

"And how is that Shane?"

"Silly griffin. You know what all this paper is. I must have the blueprints for half the city in this room. The question is, why assasinate just the leader? The group is stable enough that it will survive without him, one of his lieutenants will just fill the space." Thinking aloud Shane answered his own question as the pair walked upstairs. "Even so there would still be some infighting, and to quell a rebellion they would naturally focus on internal conflict. They'll lose territory."

"And the children. We can't let them get caught in the cross hairs."

"Obviously." Shane murmured softly, as the mounted the stairs. He smiled when he saw the five brats sleeping curled up together. "I'm taking care of that now." Quietly Shane stepped forward and picked Sarah up, the littlest of the group at three, she was a beautiful little girl, with white-blonde curls and bright green eyes. She mumbled in he sleep and cuddled closer to Shade as he placed her on Dusk's back.

He turned back and quickly scooped up four year old Trace. With his dark hair and eyes, and his mischievous smile, Trace was a lot like Shane before the war. After Trace was on Dusk. Shane bent down and shook awake the eldest three. Six year old Nick, and the seven year old twins, Brandy and Alex.

"Shane. What's going on?" Alex asked quietly, Brandy stood next to him and yawned, Nick nodded rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Impulsively Shane leaned forward and hugged all three of them. "Something bad is going to happen so I'm taking you to live with Uncle Tobias for a little while. Okay?"

"Does it have to do with the pretty lady who was here?" Brandy piped up.

"Sort of." Shane said gently. "I don't have to wake Trace and Sarah. So I want you three to hold onto them while we're flying okay. Now go get some stuff. The trio scattered around the second floor scooping up clothes and spare food for all them, before scrambling into place on top of Dusk.

Shane put on he goggles and climbed on he wrapped his arms around Nick, just in front Brandy held Sarah, and Alex held Trace. "Go to Tobias Dusk, it's not far and they're light so you can carry us."

He was right. The slums were closest to the Triste, since they were by and large considered the least dangerous of the major factions. Of course, that depended on who you asked. Dusk had to fly slow with so many passengers but it still only took him twenty minutes to reach the gunsmith's house. He spiraled down into the small, overgrown back yard.

Shane jumped down and helped Nick, Alex, and Brandy down. He left the still sleeping Sarah and Trace on Dusk. Shane froze when he heard a gun lock behind him and cold voice say. "Don't move."

"Tobias, is that you?" Shane whispered.

He heard the gunsmith swear behind him, before he turned around. "Dammit Shane. What are you doing here in the middle of the night? I almost shot you. And with the kids?"

"Old man. I'm in big trouble."

*There an opening for someone else.*