Cortex Steampunk Game 1 OOC Discussion

[Chiyako]

Missy sounds fun!

I haven't fully fleshed out the mad scientist, who is probably the one I'll end up going with. But I will once it comes time for nailing down the characters in depth.

[MagnificentBastard]

12 minutes ago, WickedCadrach said:

Ok, last one to the character idea party, lol. I have a more detailed story for her, but I think keeping back a few things to come out in roleplay is fun. 

 

"Yes-sir! Genu-INE snake-oil! Secret medicine passed down by a hundred generations of savage witch-doctors and wisemen. Professor Whitty has spent years studying the science behind this medical marvel, this cure-all panacea that he learned from a Lokonchee shaman in his forbidden medicine cave where no other white man has gone before! 50 cents a bottle! A case for five dollars, and you'll never need another medicine for the rest of your very, very long life!" -Missy Fisher, age 12

Millicent 'Missy' Fisher

When Clarence Whitty—also known as 'Professor Whitty, the Scorpion Scholar and Cobra King of Houston'—found ten-year-old Missy on the side of the road, there had been a moment of mutual understanding like two coyotes scenting each other across an open field. And so even nine years after he'd wordlessly helped her aboard his rattling caravan and given her a taste of brandy to help with the pain in her blistered feet, neither had asked the other where they'd come from or where they'd originally been headed before their paths crossed. 

Over the years of traveling with the conman, Missy had found she could use her flair for the dramatic to put on convincing seances and spook shows in dark, candlelit back rooms. And while Missy didn't know real specters and magic from a bullfrog's fart, she knew she could play to what the average rancher and city clerk thought they knew about the great beyond. So as Clarence Whitty's name accumulated more and more mud, slowly Missy Fisher became the main attraction of their little one-wagon show. 

By eighteen, her relationship with Professor Whitty had become decidedly less paternal. The man had been her teacher, employer, and caregiver for eight years, and now he was her lover too. But Missy was also coming into her own, and what she learned from Clarence, she took to the other men in the towns they visited. At first, her fellow con-artist didn't seem to mind sharing a younger woman's affection, but soon he became bitter, jealous, and possessive. When he came to the caravan drunk one night, ranting about how they ought to stop all this rambling around and get married, Missy had had enough. She packed her belongings and took her spook show independent.

(appending a possible portrait for Missy Fisher)
 

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Why I do I feel young Millicent its going to be attracted to dominant, inappropriately older men as a result of her complicated upbringing?

I love it.

[WickedCadrach]

I just realized we already have a Millicent in the group

Millicent "Millie" Gearhart

and I'm bringing in Millicent "Missy" Fisher. 

@StarlitSiren, how do you feel about identity confusion shenanigans between Millie and Missy? I jumped on because I initially wanted to see if I should change my character name, but now I'm imagining the fun of having two very different Millicents in an era of letters and telegrams, with very little to verify identify. 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by WickedCadrach

[MagnificentBastard]

This is my attempt at biography for my character similar to what @WickedCadrach it really helped me solidify how I see my character, I had fudge the timeline a bit but I think it mostly works:

The Enigmatic Viscount: Edmund Blackwood's Journey to the Wild West

New York Herald, October 1880

Viscount Edmund Blackwood, is a name that needs no introduction, imbued into the collective consciousness with both intrigue and scandal, has once again captured the imagination of the public. This time, his journey takes him to the untamed wilderness of the American West, a frontier of untold mysteries and adventures. As the Viscount moves from one grand estate to another, his reputation as a womanizer and a man of enigmatic charm precedes him, leaving a trail of whispers and speculations in his wake.

The sole heir of the Blackwood is reportedly in his mid-forties, yet he remains an enigma etched against the backdrop of his family's storied legacy. Public records offer a mere glimpse into a life that has fueled whispers of agelessness amongst Britain's elite. His global wanderings have only deepened the mystique, each journey layering onto the tapestry of speculation that surrounds him.

In the bustling streets of London, it wa rumored that Edmund had been involved in a high-society affair with the infamous courtesan, Lillie Langtry. Their liaison, though brief, left a lasting impression on the actress, fueling the rumors of his sexual prowess and the intensity of his passions. This scandalous encounter was but a prelude to the many adventures that would follow, each one adding to the allure and mystery that surrounds the Viscount.

Edmund's connections to the arcane are as intriguing as they are vast. It is rumored that he is a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society dedicated to the study and practice of the occult. Additionally, whispers circulate of his ties to the Rosicrucian Order, another esoteric group that delves into the mysteries of the universe and the human soul. It all adds a layer of mystery to his already enigmatic persona, suggesting a depth of knowledge and power that few can comprehend.

Among the whispers of his past and the promises of his future, there is one name that often surfaces in connection with Edmund: Oscar Wilde. The infamous author and playwright is said to have crossed paths with the Viscount on more than one occasion, their shared interest in the darker aspects of human nature and the occult forging a bond that transcends the boundaries of society. The rumors of their encounters add a layer of intrigue to Edmund's already mysterious reputation, suggesting a world of secrets and hidden truths.

As Edmund ventured into the untamed wilderness of the West, the whispers of his past began to take on a new life. In the saloons and gambling halls of Dodge City, tales of his encounters with the notorious Belle Starr, the "Bandit Queen," circulated with a mix of awe and trepidation. Their paths had crossed in a chance meeting, a dance of seduction and danger that left both parties forever changed. Belle, with her fiery spirit and rebellious nature, was said to have been both enthralled and terrified by Edmund's dominance, a testament to the power he held over those he chose to captivate.

His constant companion is a pendant, a family heirloom passed down through generations of Blackwood heads. Bearing the crest of a stag amidst ancient oaks, it's more than mere jewelry; whispers claim it pulses with an otherworldly energy, a conduit for the family's rumored magicks. Even in the remote corners of the frontier, tales circulate about the pendant's power and its connection to Blackwood's alleged involvement in sexual magick.

The question in everyone's mind is, what draws a man of Blackwood's stature to the American West? Some say he seeks a legendary artifact, rumored to amplify the wearer's magical abilities. Others believe he is fleeing a scandal too great even for London society to bear. Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: Edmund Blackwood's arrival in the West promises to be anything but quiet, and the echoes of his presence will undoubtedly reverberate through the frontier for years to come.

[AsBloodTurnsEverCold]

Wow these are great!

[StarlitSiren]

LOVE the characters,

@WickedCadrach I am super on board with that! Where are you all finding these beautiful portraiture? 

 

[MagnificentBastard]

23 minutes ago, StarlitSiren said:

LOVE the characters,

@WickedCadrach I am super on board with that! Where are you all finding these beautiful portraiture? 

 

AI generation in my case

[StarlitSiren]

Spoiler

 

Name:              Millicent 'Millie'  Gerenhart 'Gearhart'

Age:                  22

Sexuality:        Repressed (Bisexual)

Bio:

Millicent knows machines, even if she doesn't know people. Socially awkward, tactless, kind of endearing if you can handle her latest hyper fixations, Miss 'Gearhart' comes from the fringe, grew up taking apart clockwork mechanisms and- as a woman grown- is one of the finest inventors and tinkerers outside of the Big-name professors. She's creative, quick to invent something overly complex for a simple problem, and will talk your ear off for HOURS if you don't stop her.

Millie never made it as a big name inventor despite her aptitude,  in part due to a crippling difficulty in maintaining attention on any one thing, and a fierce pride and perfectionism that often leads to either hyper fixating on one invention long past it's already been proven unworkable, or the frustrating need to turn away from something not working exactly as she envisioned. This is not to say Millicent has not managed to create wonderous things.

She is a renowned gunsmith- even if a terrible shot herself- and is skilled at clockwork machining, especially where it comes to odd knickknacks with very niche applications; such as the goggles of her own invention which she can use to analyse mineral composition by snapshotting pictures at different visual frequencies...  and then taking the time to develop them. She pioneered a glove that can fit multiple tools on as extensions to herself, be they for engineering or tinkering or... theoretically, lockpicking or punching someone out with an electric shock. Millie thinks on her feet and can throw things together quicker than expected... even if they don't always work exactly is intended.

 

History

Millie hails from 'Civilisation', the Big city, a place where industry has exploded and expanded in the last two decades, and since the discovery and applications of  <Redacted> (Our mystery element, if that's ok?). The daughter of Arthur Gerenhart, a trader with his fingers in multiple businesses, he raised Millie and her sister, Mary, to be his family heirs in lieu of the son he'd always wanted. Mary took to the high life like a Working man to a saloon, but Millie never quite fit in there. As much as she loved the technology, the conveniences and the wealth of 'modern life', all that really awaited her was a marriage at her father's suggestion, more dealing with fancy shindigs, and people.

So when the rebellious young tinkerer, enamoured by machines as she was, saw a job advert for a small town far, far on the fringe, she took it and spirited away one night. Millie left a note, and while she has corresponded with her Father and Sister since leaving them over a year ago for the Fringe, all that has amounted so far are threats to come and drag her back. Millicent, however, is confident that they would never truly do that- not because they would respect her wishes, but because of the effort and the public display.

So Millie moved into town as the little settlement's new engineer. When the train comes down from civilisation, on the one, single line, it's her job to make sure everything is working and safe. Millie 'Gearhart' (as she calls herself, seeking some distance from her actual family name) operates out of a little hovel by the train station, where she offers her services to the townsfolk in repairing, smithing, and creating all manner of queer machines. Some of them even work; but that's the nature of invention.

The spicy stuff

Speaking of inventions, Millie created a clockwork *ahem* unit to help her manage any distractions. It's not exactly quiet, but simulates a... partner.

Millie's always been very sexually repressed, and as she's gotten into her late teens and into her early twenties, she has only found herself more wound up and distractible, her gaze getting stuck on handsome boys and pretty girls. There's a secret book of blueprints in her collection with some incredibly lewd ideas, ranging from units such as her faithful gadget that could be worn by a female partner, and restraints or chokers that might administer a little buzz.

Of course, outside of testing her inventions solo, she would first need to learn to talk to other human beings like... well, an actual person.

Edited 26 minutes ago by StarlitSiren

[WritesNaughtyStories]

@StarlitSiren, check Sexy.ai or OpenArt.ai

[StarlitSiren]

6 minutes ago, MagnificentBastard said:

AI generation in my case

I've had so little luck generating my own 

[Chiyako]

Once I finish with tasks I have required for the day I will throw up a thing for my character, since it appears we have reached that point of things.

Which also gives me some more time to hammer out all the little details like shifting her from being a true Vampire into some weird not-actually-a-Vampire-but-definitely-rumored-in-places-to-be-one sort of thing.

[StarlitSiren]

Edited character above with my own image generation attempt! I actually think it looks good!

[MagnificentBastard]

7 minutes ago, StarlitSiren said:

Edited character above with my own image generation attempt! I actually think it looks good!

She is quite pretty, I can already see my character attemptimg to bed thr "Millicent" sisters.

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Millie looks great.

I give you Saha Sky Eyes:

[StarlitSiren]

LOOK AT HER