Mapping the Labyrinth: full up.

Helpful McHelpfulpants · 2009-04-04T19:16:22Z

THE PREMISE Six explorers are bent on fully mapping a recently discovered underground maze, the last construction of the lost civilization of Ee that remains to the world. It will, by its nature, be perilous work; the labyrinth is sprawling, complex, theoretically impossible to navigate without the help of the long-dead engineers who built it. And there may be monsters in the dark; the refugees of another era, when magic ran wild in the earth. But the six all have their reasons for risking their lives for knowledge, be it ambition or curiosity or greed; and they will stop at nothing to finish what they have begun. THE SETTING The year is approximately 1752 or so, and although this realm is not Earth it could pass for it in a bad light. It is the age of exploration; men and women, their mind afire with a inexplicable lust for new lands and new people to war with, are staking claims in considerably more than four corners of the globe, and pushing the boundaries of civilization farther and farther in every direction. Magic is still very real, albeit in a greatly subdued form; certain learned individuals can manipulate the natural world in most unnatural ways, by the use of herbs and entrails and metal instruments that do not work as they ought according to science's dictates. On a more prosaic note, civil rights and gender equality are much more prevalent, because frankly it'd be a pain in the ass to find an excuse otherwise for women to come along and we have to have some romance in between all the nasty gory bits, right? THE LABYRINTH SO FAR The explorers have only reached the gates of the labyrinth, which are iron and set in the side of what looks like a burial mound and on which are wrought many strange, fantastic scenes - images of machinery and of hellish sorcery and of divine skies in equal measure; the gates they have opened, by leverage and magic to grease the way. Beyond is a half-lit gloom, and broad, shallow steps leading down. THE CHARACTERS AND CHARACTER FORMS While I leave it to your fancy, dear player, to design your new face, there is one jobs left to be filled: the historian. Preferably a female one. The two guards, the magician, the natural philosopher, and the cartographer are already waiting to play. Try to keep the gender balance even. Unless we want to add forbidden sexual orientations to the fun! Civil rights movements are coming along, but not, you know, that far. Please fill out the following form: Name: Profession: Age: Gender: Physical description (pictures are acceptable, but I'm just as happy with text*): Personality and skills/weaknesses: Background and reasons for joining the party: Tools: *If you do decide to write it, please include a rough description of hair, eyes, face, other distinguishing features, height, build, and if you like clothing, etc. You know. The basics, but for obsessive persnickety people. I myself will be playing the cartographer. Thus: 1. Name: Mallory Broussard Profession: cartographer Age: 31 Gender: male Physical description: Middling height, wiry and slight, fair-haired. He has slightly asymmetrical dark eyes, a small scar slanting up from one eyebrow, and a crooked smile, all of which serve to lend his thin, fine-boned face a lopsided look when he's cheerful. Personality: He is narcissistic, intelligent, and charming in his way; his family is poor and genteel, which fact is reflected in his deference to his companions, although in his case that is half a deliberate act to get them to leave him alone when he's working on the map. He is a very good cartographer, a fine hand at drawing and sketching, with a good head for maths; geometry is absolutely necessary to his work, after all. He is also quite well-read and has some experience of exotic locales. That said, he's utterly miserable at self-defense and would be dead many times over were it not for the fact that the government recognized his talents when he was young and provided him with suitable, aha, back-up. He also is optimistic, despite his sardonic tendencies, and oblivious to the small evils of those around him, as well as to his own. His only vice is snuff. Background and reasons for joining the party: Since I accidentally covered most of the basic background under personality, I'll just say that he is the reason for the party's existence - as soon as he heard of the place he wanted to draw the plans for it, and everything else spiraled out from there. In one word, his interest falls under curiosity, I suppose. It's just what he does. Tools of his trade: compasses of both sorts, measuring tools, a selection of pens, drafting paper, lots of it, etc., etc. 2. Name: Elizabeth Herm Profession: Guard Age: 26 Gender: Female Physical description (pictures are acceptable, but I'm just as happy with text*): She's about 5'4 and has long firey red hair that reaches her waist. Her skin is a milky healthy white with freckles on her cheeks and deep green eyes. Her outfit is of a white blouse covered by a tan safari vest along with cream pants tucked into her safari boots at her knee. Plus a hat. Personality and skills/weaknesses: She has a challenging time not being offended by every comment a man makes. Men just in general annoy her. Elizabeth is coy, envious, and a little picky. She is skilled with fencing, although few women are, can track any kind of animal print, and is extremely good at holding her breath under water. Has a disastrous fear of heights and is terrified of dieing alone. Background and reasons for joining the party: Couldn't give up the urge for adventure. Her father was a traveler so was her mom. It's in her blood so to speak, plus the money she's being paid froma certain royal figure helps. She's only being paid to do the job cuz her father and mother are off on some other distant mission, but she doesn't mind.(Will reveal more later) Tools: *a dagger in her boot *a sword on her side *rope and a hook *her compass *and a map thats in her backpack 3. Name: Jonathon Ashford Profession: Guard/royal spy. Age: 25 Gender: Male Physical description: Jonathon is incredibly tall (6"2), usually standing tall above others. He is strong and has a medium build making him ideal for a soldier. With slightly shaggy redish brown hair, he appears almost dishevelled. He had a broad smile, but doesn't tend to show it often, and usually bears a stern expression. His features are slightly sharp, but still holds onto the naivity of a childs even though he has stopped growing. His eyes are the exact shade of that in the picture. Jonathon carries around a musket, and with him he has a dog who is incredibly loyal named Chip. Personality: Jonathon is quick at solving situations and has incredible reflexes. He is great at problem solving and heartless when making decisions. He does what is best for the group. He usually appears stern and silent, only chiding in sometimes his own oppinions. He doesn't like making eye contact, and can be incredibly awkward when caught off guard. He can seem harsh at times, but is incredibly honest. He actually tends to dwell on little matters that he did not think about before and keeps his emotions to himself. In his oppinion, his feelings and thoughts are rarely important. He is skilled at shooting and fighting which made him perfect for the job. He is brutal and strong, and if somebody tried to overcome him, it wasn't like that they would win. He was a perfectly made soldier, and his musket never leaves his side. He also carries other weapons in multiple places. Jonathon tends to hide his emotions and will persist that nobody should ever understand him. He is incredibly observant and analytical. Jonathon can hear extremely well, and has 20/20 vision. He usually is loyal to a fault, loyal to the government, loyal to his family, and loyal to anyone he has learned to trust. Chip is a King German Shepherd and follows Jonathon making sure he is kept from harm. Chip would never stray from Jonathon's side and is wary about others when ever they are near. He is not afraid to attack anyone, and will bark vigorously to ward enemies away. He is well trained, and will listen to any order that Jonathon will make. Background: Jonathon's family was charged by the royal family for treason and attempted murder against the Queen. For one night, at dinner, it was identified that there was poison in the Queen's wine and it was suspected that one of her ladies in waiting conducted this shameful act. Soon the blame was bistowed upon Jonathon's mother, and she was hanged. His father was brought to prison for allowing his wife to do such a thing. Their land was sold and there was not cent in Jonathon's name. Jonathon was only a small child when this happened, so the Queen, giving him mercy, sent him to live in the stables and from there the Barracks. Soon Jonathon grew and from forth showed promise making him the ideal soldier. He was trained physically and mentally and was also trained especially for reconassaince missions. He has gone abroad many times. The Queen, after a failed mission, sent Jonathon out from the Barracks without a home. The mission went horribly including being caught and ransomed. The royal family had to pay gruesomely. Jonathon became a free lance miltia, wandering and doing any odd jobs that would befall him. When he heard about this, he leapt on the chance. Jonathon has owned Chip since Chip was a pup and he found him in the Barracks alone one night. That was almost 2 years ago. Chip now goes where ever Jonathon goes. 4. Name: Benjamin Lawerence Profession: Natural Philosopher Age: 27 Gender: Male Physical description (pictures are acceptable, but I'm just as happy with text*): Tall and lean, brown hair cut casually. He wears a brown Jacket with a necker and all, pants like Incognito's character. He has bright blue eyes, almost icy coloured, with a bit of a stubble on his chin. His eyebrows are a little more arched, showing more of his expression, and his skin is fairly pale, almost albino like. Personality and skills/weaknesses: He is terribly quite, his eyes always staring down things as if he were pondering every little thing he sees. His blue eyes give off an almost angelic feel to his pondering, and he walks at a slow, monotonous pace, and when he smiles it turns out to be more of a timid smirk. He's quiet but when he speaks, it's normally asking a question or making some sort of theory about things. He has a very smooth voice, and it usually surprises people when they hear it. Background and reasons for joining the party: Benjamin is a scholar. He went to very high end schools, and studied as much literature as he could get his hands on at the time. His family is distant to him and his strange curiousity pushed him towards searching for new and exciting adventures. He joined the party out of pure curiosity and a willingness to learn more about the world around him. Tools: He had a bag filled with rolls of parchment and inkwells including quills and feathers that could be fashioned into more quills. He also has a small dagger he keeps on his belt for emergencies, but mostly doesn't feel a need for violence. 5. Name: Alyssia Toyer. Profession: Magician Age: 19- just out of her apprenticeship. Gender: female Physical description: small but quite wiry and strong. She's got long yellow-blonde hair which she usually wears in a crown of plaits, and green eyes. Medium pale complexion. Quite pretty, although not beautiful. Loves her clothes, and has a wide selection of leather, strong linen, worsterd and other such garments along with her. Personality: Alyssia is generally friendly, with sarcasm laced edges. She can follow orders to an extent, but when she thinks she's right, she will argue until the cows come home. She's got a sharp mind and is insistent that others accept that. Loyal to those that are loyal to her. Skills/weaknesses: Alyssia is good with magic. She especially likes to use fire and light, and water. It's useful that she can conjure water, sadly, however, not food. Her staff is a pretty good weapon too. Her stubbornness at times definitely leads her astray, and when worked up she's bound to do something rash. Like all magicians, when she's angry, her magic is unpredictable and she can hurt herself and those around her. Background and reasons for joining the party: Alyssia came from a wealthy merchant's family, the type that would be able to pay for the seven year's apprenticeship to a magician. However, when her master died shortly after she had received her hood and staff (the mark of a fully-qualified magic-doer), she was left with no job. Her family offered to support her, but she heard about the trip and decided it would be her first test as a magician without his help. Tools: Her staff is her most important weapon. Apart from that, a few pots and pans, some rope, a small shovel, and a little ceremonial silver dagger. 6. Name: Johnathan (John) Spark profession: historian gender: male Appearance: has long tied up hair and wears a purple hooded blazer with pinstriped trousers despite his protected appearance he's been through his more than fair share of troubles. personality: he's a caring guy but also daring and witty he often puts himself forward when it comes to danger being very much unscared by death. He can also be very sophisticated a skill he use when speaking to people of power Background: He has lived through many fights from the desert explorations and the first crossings of the mountains of lye *made up* he is your typical explorer and prides himself at what he dose he is well read in history and native foreign ancient writing and symbols. He wanted to come on the trip for honestly pride although it is only one of his many driving factors it also holds him back. He has met Mallory before on many occasions and considers him a friend he's also saved Mallory's arse a few times. He is happy to be on this excpodition and believes this expirence will change his life he also wishes to go on the trip because of the legends about monsters equipment: Two handguns and a machet that he uses when as he says "shit their close". He also has bocks on ancient symbols that he carries in his bag. ONE FINAL NOTE This doesn't actually have to be all super serious doom and gloom, just for your information. It could as easily turn into an exploration of candyland. Or a D&D game. Or a chick flick! Well. That might be hard. But I'm sure you all could manage it if you tried. It's up to you what this becomes, if it grows into anything.

jok101

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Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:06 am

jok101 says... · Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:06 am

John

"Hey we heard battle before we ran back to you guys" I said trying to defend my self.

"what we didn't do any battle until you got here" Ashford said.

"then what did we here" I said talking to Aliyssa. We all went quiet and listened in the distance we could here screams of pain and cannon fire.

"what the hell" Elisabeth said. As we reailsed the sound was coming from down a passageway to are right thesounds were getting closer .

"let's get back to camp now, quickly" I said before putting my weight of Elisabeth and started to quickly walk away.

"I came on this trip for exploration and adventure not monsters" Benjamin shouted like a grumpy child.

"Mate this day and age fighting and getting the crap beat out of you is Exploration and adventure so shut your mouth and help me " He nodded a little insulted and I put my arm around his shoulder he was slightly taller than Elisabeth and so my head tilted left onto her shoulder.

"you know I'm sorry about the cat" I whispered into her ear.

"it's okay you did it with the best intensions trying to save us not that we needed saving"

"Nah I think maybe I just came to save you" I said and smiled a bit but Benjamin saw something scieney and quikly let my arm drop before running over two it. He came back three second later with a black and red beatle.

"these beatles haven't been seen in over a hundred years see they were two good if you eat one it helps heal your wounds." I ate it and felt some of my bones click back into place including my jaw.

"you can walk now right" Elisabeth said.

"yeah but I'd rather lean on you" I put all my weight on Elisabeth and a evil smile krept across her face and she moved making me fall flat on my face.

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Incognito

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Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:13 pm

Incognito says... · Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:13 pm

Jonathon Ashford

He crept into their camp finding his way back to the entrance of the tunnels where he sat back down barring it. He couldn't help look over into the night sky that had progressed and he felt sure longing to be up there, flying above all else in his mother's arms, a dream he so often conducted in his mind. His mother, with beautiful elegant feathered wings sprouting from her back wearing a simple blue silk dress that clung to her frame, and him, a small child, happy in her arms. Every once and a while Jonathon throught that if human kind ever made it to the sky, he would go there, and maybe he would finally be happy.

He felt Chip cuddle up beside him, crying lightly, and automatically the wound on Chip's leg was brought to his attention.

"You got hurt pretty bad, bud." Jonathon said grimly examining the long scrape marks. "You better not end up turning into one of those things. I wouldn't know what ever to do with you." And with that he pulled a small wrap of bandage ready to apply it to his only friends leg.

Chip shifted nervously, but then stopped as someone came near. It was Benjamin, in his odd silent way. He came and gently laid his hand on the dogs forehead and instantly Chip's ears went back and drooped his head to the ground wanting Benjamin to pet him more.

Jonathon started to wrap Chip's leg but his attention was brought away. Chip liked nobody but him, and yet here he was, being civil with another, maybe even liking him.

"Chip doesn't tend to like other humans." Jonathon said simply, making sure the bandage was tight.

"Let's just say, I don't tend to like dogs." His reply was certainly bland.

The rest of the camp was back, Jonathon noticed, not really caring. He could keep an eye on all of them now.

June 8th, 9:52p.m.
First encounter with another being in the tunnels.
June 8th, 10:15p.m.
That being was dealt with.

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~Incognito

'Everyone is entitled to be stupid, some just abuse the priviledge.'

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StellaThomas

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Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:42 pm

StellaThomas says... · Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:42 pm

Alyssia-

I was annoyed and tired.

I was annoyed that they couldn't have handled the cat by themselves, and I was tired because big bursts of energy, rather than a gradual building up of light, took it out of me.

Johnathon was trying to bandage up his dog's leg, acting icily to Benjamin. This really was a friendly bunch, wasn't it?

I sighed and went to my pack, taking out my little pot of salve.

"Here," I said, tossing it to Johnathon. "Pass it to the others as well, but please use it sparingly. I only have so much."

He looked at me with a frown. "What is it?"

"It'll stop anything bad getting into your dog's leg. And mercy, on top of everything else, I don't want to carry a sick dog around."

He did not say thank you.

I returned to my notebook, looking at the drawings I had made earlier, then flicked to the beginning, to where I had first made notes on animal magic.

Elizabeth was nursing her wounds by herself, Johnathon talking to his dog, John writing something down, Benjamin reading and Mallory sketching.

I lay back.

This was going to be a long trip.

"Stella. You were in my dream the other night. And everyone called you Princess." -Lauren2010

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In_the_Moonlight

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Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:35 pm

In_the_Moonlight says... · Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:35 pm

Elizabeth Herm~

I tied a torn piece of cloth around my leg and winced, my mind was distant though. What had those screams come from? My pack was next to me and after I'd finished mending my wounds I put everything away.

Mallory was scribbling fiercely in his notebook and when I made a move toward him he swiftly turned my way, shot me a glare, covered his notes, and moved to another boulder. How kind of him...I stuck my tongue out as he walked away and heard a chuckle.

Alyssia sat watching me with little amusement,"Having fun?"She yawned. I was about to reply when John looked up from his notes and spoke before I could.

"Isn't she always."He grinned. As a reply to his comment, I flicked off my lantern and set up a small sleeping sack near the fork in the tunnel.

"I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Alyssia." She waved weerily and yawned again. John shot me a glare, but the others....I nover got to see there reply. Once my head hit the blanket I felt my eyelids snap shut and my head whirled with dreams.

If I can impact one person, just one, with my writing before I die, then I've lived a great life

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Incognito

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Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:53 pm

Incognito says... · Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:53 pm

Jonathon Ashford

"I will stand guard for the night." Jonathon said looking balefully over at Elizabeth who seemed almost sound asleep. "It appears I have no choice in the matter."

Jonathon gripped his musket closer to his side as he gazed up the staircase again, glimpsing the outside world. His lantern beside him flickered gently in the soft low carrying breeze that seemed to find itself blowing into the tunnel. Chip seemed to be falling asleep beside him, eyes drooping casually. Still in Jonathon's hand was the salve that the magician had given him to pass to the others. Truth be told he never bothered to do so, they all seemed not to care. If they wanted they would come to him and ask.

"Get some rest, bud. We don't know when we will get sleep again." He gently patted Chip, Chip's eyes closing at that last touch. Soon enough the dogs breathing slowed and he became fast asleep.

"Mallory, I have a question." Jonathon's voice came out monotonous, almost gruff. "How long is this tunnel supposed to be, and how long are we going to be here?"

Mallory turned to him, eyebrows raised, obviously amused.

"There is no correct answer to that question. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious." A little while off Jonathon heard a falcoln call. Automatically knowing what that meant, Jonathon grabbed a piece of paper that was laid beside him and a small quill, the inkpot sat beside him warily for this moment. He started to scribble the words in almost a chicken scrall across the page, knowing that the inerpretator would be able to make sense of the words.

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~Incognito

'Everyone is entitled to be stupid, some just abuse the priviledge.'

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StellaThomas

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Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:40 pm

StellaThomas says... · Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:40 pm

Alyssia-

Slowly but surely, I began to drift from this world to the one of dreams. It had been a long day. I shifted my head on my pillow. There was something nagging in my mind. As my master used to tease me, I never slept until everything was accounted for. I had reasoned that, of course not, it didn't make sense to rest when something was amiss.

I went through my possessions mentally, what was I missing, then I remembered the little ceramic pot. I sat up. Nobody had ever given it back to me.

"Guys, who has my salve?" I asked.

"Hm?" asked Elizabeth drowsily. "What salve?"

"The... never mind..." I looked around. "Where's Johnathon?"

"Guarding," she mumbled, going back to sleep.

Carefully I got up, set a very soft light in my staff and shone it around. Near the entrance was a silhouette. I frowned.

"What are you doing up there, Johnathon?" I asked.

"Just... checking," he said quickly, his face colouring. I raised my eyebrows.

"Alright. Do you have my salve? Only I like to have all my possessions accounted for..."

"Oh, sure, here," he said, seeming flustered, pressing it into my hand. His large fingers were inkstained.

"Thanks," I said, pocketing it in my apron pocket. "Are you alright?" I asked with a frown.

"Fine, fine. Aren't you going to rest?"

"I... yeah, I guess so," I said, turning and walking back to the camp, my mind whirring. Why would a guard have ink on his fingers?

However, I drifted once again, and the thought left me. When I awoke once more, I was sure it had just been my imagination.

"Stella. You were in my dream the other night. And everyone called you Princess." -Lauren2010

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jok101

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Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:02 pm

jok101 says... · Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:02 pm

I scribled notes in my notebook and drew a diagram of the monster. I also rote about the strange sounds of battle that had drwed us back. Only tommorow would tell what we would find. So I went to sleep my eyes closing the second my head hit the pillow.

Elizabeth shook me awake and I heard the sound of battle. I quickly got up expecting to see chaos I didn't.

"the sounds we heard before are getting closer Alissa says we should move quickly" Elizabeth said and I nodded quickly getting up I pulled one of my pistols out and realoaded I grabed my rucksack and my notebook.

"tent are overated" I said as we began packing the tent away but the sounds were getting closer so we just left it.

"shouldn't we go see what it is" Asbford said.

"do you remeber what happened last to we tried that approach " I said before turning and running after the now sprinting Mallory and Allyssia.

"what are you so scared of" Ashford said before turning around and seeing that face were already starting to emerge from. The darkness.

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StellaThomas

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Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:11 pm

StellaThomas says... · Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:11 pm

*Jok, can you try a little bit harder to keep your posts grammatical? Just some slip-ups and carelessness is all, if you're more careful, it'll make it easier for all of us

. BTW, I just realised that Jok is the name of the heroine's favourite goose in "The Goose Girl" (one of my favourite books)... not calling you a goose- just saying! xD*

Alyssia-

I picked up my bag and began to run. "Where are we going?" I asked Mallory ahead of me.

"Away!" he shrieked back.

"Well, are we going to remember how to get back here? We're supposed to be mapping!" I called back.

"Change of plan," he said, continuing to run.

I put my bag down. "No," I said. "If it's coming after us, we need to kill it."

Benjamin, directly behind me, stared at me, and, with a sigh said, "She's right."

Mallory looked at us as if we were mad.

"Come on, Broussard!" I said, pulling at his arm.

"I-I-"

"You don't have to fight, you nit, just... strength in numbers!"

We began running back to where the other three were standing, facing whatever it was. I lit my staff and turned to look at it.

"Stella. You were in my dream the other night. And everyone called you Princess." -Lauren2010

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