AsBloodTurnsEverCold

Alright so! Choices are hard to make I decided to connect Kirsa to The Labratory (If thats alright @Chiyako) and defined it as Kirsa helping manipulate supply (make sure Alicia can has access to what she needs, make sure its affordable) in return for special concoctions every so often. I could change it to something else though if you'd prefer.

Hrrrm decisions decisions

I think that makes good sense. I do imagine even falling under the sway of The Other Theory even a bit would stick with someone. He's just gonna be a little sad when he realizes what it was if it was a particular night that can be recalled....and that'll be great.

Definitely leaning on the weird part of weird west lol I didn't even think about Sinners. I was actually thinking Led Belly and Bronze Buckaroo. I could lean on that a little. I've been trying to mix the singing cowboy and lovecraftian inspirations but Kojo to me has kind of "And-" energy like if this group had a theme-song with a roll call he'd be at the end with the "And Kojo!" which is fine I tend to make characters like that starting out.

Not selfish at all! Everyone has ideas they feel strongly about and those sorts of ideas just make the best foundations even if they don't seem like they'll work...initially. Usually part of the fun. I like the sort of Rag-tag nature of the group. People from varied, disparate walks of life ending up in a some town. People who probably would never meet but somehow become a unit and have plenty to teach each-other. It didn't seem to me like Saha wouldn't fit in this group of outsiders from what I knew so far but I guess the town setting does kinda close the walls in a little and I'm sorry if I made that worse. I was reading that solo venture so I could learn more about this And my character was likely going to lean a bit on fascinated by Saha to learn more. Was looking forward to writing with you. @MagnificentBastard Funny you say that because of the two male characters in this group I actually figured Kojo would kinda be the outsider of them lol.

small bit of change to the location after a bit of research: Thane-Cash Rebirth Hall - A newly built and, frankly, misplaced music hall meant to bring in new blood to a growing town. It is a medium-sized music hall, funded by an Antebellum South family looking to "clean" its reputation after the outlawing of slavery, a hopeful proprietor named Clayton Cash, and a secretive third party. It mimics the Boston Music Hall in Massachusetts in its structure and as such it has two balcony floors with a central stage. It is, however, designed to be more 'homely' and 'welcoming' and as such is built primarily out of old (polished) wood and decorated in pictures of the humble history of its benefactors and the nation. It is fairly opulent inside with clean polished floors, carpeted floors, and ivory lining. It is also meant to be a decently convertible space able to hold concerts, stage performances, dinners, and potentially more. There are also private rooms and a few off-beaten hallways giving the wealthy and...less open plenty of privacy which makes it a popular spot for business.

@MagnificentBastard Kojo would be fine playing at the establishment though there is his particular ability and rumors to contend with a job is a job. And as for their potential friendship I think that'd work for me too, friendly and professional. They both enjoy some level of fame, and connection with mutual benefits (having a renown player around is good, and Kojo having another place to play is also good) so yeah that'd work.

A train station? Curious about the fort tho

@IsabellaRose Yeah I figured, though I don't know how old the town is I figured it'd be right to set it there.

I added: Absolon Grand Hall - A grand and golden French-style concert hall, although a copy of a greater concert hall in France. A favorite of Kojo's, and a place where more than a few secrets are exchanged and maintained.

Alright I was a bit confused for a moment cause I already stepped the ability up but yeah forgot the rating (I had simply copy and pasted) so that should be fixed now. Also got rid of the resource.

For sure interested in seeing how that shapes up now that you mention it

That is fair, I mostly spitballed mine on assumption that they were initial and however Pathways worked they'd go from there lol I was gonna need to rewrite them to be more declarative anyhow.

Isabella said we probably wanna wait to write those so they can form more naturally on page 5. Gets kinda lost in all the posts. Basically we're not there yet.

@WritesNaughtyStories I actually buy the Kingdom Death miniatures on their own but I also buy, paint, and kitbash Gunpla so that was just another fun thing to do for me. The game seems fun but the cost is hard to justify especially since all my friends are elsewhere but yeah off topic don't wanna clog things up while we all get this going. -------- I went ahead and wiped all the relationship stuff on my end as well except for the NPC so we could see how that develops at the proper pace. The smaller actionable statements is better for the cleanness of the map too.

I don't use epic myself so it being on Steam was helpful especially since I am in that group where all my friends who play board games live in different states. Its at least pretty cheap at 23 bucks normally or 33 for that and Immortality which I do need to pick up when I can and maybe convince them to add it to game nights. We just play random games. Still hoping for an online version of Kingdom Death that isn't 400 dollars Or a Steam version of Aeon's End (Edit: I'm stupid Aeon's End is also on steam)

@IsabellaRose Well the eyes are just meant to be a visual marking of his reading of the Other Theory, basically a sign of the influence settling into him though to anyone it would just be that he has weird eyes unless they know what they're looking for. But the idea was that while he can resist using The Other Theory doing so adds stress or something until he does so to alleviate the noise in his head or potentially just takes control itself if it became too much. It'd basically be driving himself insane to resist it for too long. Another limit to that ability basically. I was only thinking of tying it to the eyes because of space. @MagnificentBastard Exactly and he's constantly hurt its that superhero comics have a different scale than well...normal humans do but that's the medium. Its something you can play with but he's never really been invulnerable or in need of humanization. He's really no more invulnerable than your standard action hero realistically but at a higher scale which is fit with the story they're trying to tell. I try to counter that perception when I can but I never do try to convince people they'd be Superman fans otherwise lol Any character for that matter I had a friend ask me to sell them on Doctor Strange but all I did was hand them my Doctor Strange comics and tell them to read and see what they thought. They came back a week later and asked me for all his appearances. Horse lead water ya know the saying.

@WritesNaughtyStories Oh no I never try to sell a character to people that actually tends to backfire even when they don't hate a character. There are just certain misrepresentations that float around that has that nerd imp materialize on my shoulder. I don't even deny he's a pretty goofy character...superhero comics are a deeply goofy form of entertainment honestly which is part of why I love them same with Tokusatsu. I have a particular dislike for the word "Invulnerable" and funny enough? Its not really a word DC has ever used for Superman except to quickly dispel that perception or during old radio shows. Durable? Absolutely. Demands of the medium of course but Invulnerable or invincible? That's something pop-culture decided was an association. The comics themselves actually spotlight endurance rather his hardiness but yeah I try to avoid getting into it outside comic chats. But I never try to sell characters...only premises. Speaking of! A version of Dune: Imperium is on steam which is useful if all your boardgame playing friends live in different states for those interesting. @IsabellaRose Well there was an aspect of the character that isn't quite touched upon in the ability section or two And that is his Eyes and the effect of the music on him while he resists. I was going to essentially mix the two and make give him a sensory aspect to his eyes, but tie that to the fact that resisting The Other Theory harms him. Basically that he's marked with a rather obvious sign of meddling with The Other World and that its not entirely positive. I didn't know where to put that though.

We're talking about a game so I'm going to resist the temptation to nerd out and counter any of those statements about Superman. Do we do anything with the Signature Assets? Do you prefer if its an item or could it be a space for an aspect of the character that didn't fit in the powers or distinction?

I don't disagree with the sex stuff at all though that is part of the fun of writing on a site like this it would derail things too much and inevitably leave people out. I like the idea of writing in a separate thread, but what I also do on other sites with a single rp thread is write it in Spoilers as a "flashback" section or depending on coordination between partners just like 2 - 4 long replies something fun to read, short and quick but shows off the writing chops anyway (which can also be done in spoilers) but I otherwise agree in not bringing things to a halt so characters can do the nasty with single threads while the characters move around it...though sometimes its funny to write especially if they're loud.

@IsabellaRose Oh yeah these are much better than what I had going. I admittedly just copied and changed a few words cause I wasn't entirely sure how to make it work within the limits or how verbose I was allowed to be with them. I was gonna ask as work has been its own can of worms but these are great!

Hopefully I've done this right. I've added NPC Kirsa Autenrieth a hard-nosed German aristocrat from an old and very very entrenched house, current operator of the Autenreith Talent Agency, and...cultist. She bought and holds Kojo's contract years ago after an incident at one of his concerts and helped control the rumors around it. She ensures he still has shows to play while vehemently refusing to release him out of "a great respect" effectively making sure he is stuck under her employ no matter what he does. She happily plays the part of a dutiful and well connected sponsor while furthering the cults own ends for The Other Theory. Kinda spitballing on the relationship stuff but if anyone wants something different you just let me know! I'll have to finish the rest once I actually get to work.

Kojo - Carlo Amankona Origin: Prodigy Youth: Apprentice Focus: Reputation Road: Skyward Life-Changing Event: The Prophecy Priority: Performance Modus Operandi: The Arcane Hand Motivation: The Innocent Identity: The Champion Values d8 Honor ("Promises are the only chains you put on yourself. They are not to be broken.") d12 Glory ("This tale will become an eternally resounding ballad.") d6 Passion ("Life, like any performance, is meant to be enjoyed to its fullest.") d8 Justice ("Even evil may receive a Requiem. Ready for yours?") d4 Power ("I live every day with this horrid aria. You are nothing compared. Listen.") d6 Truth ("You don't need to hear Truth's melody. You dance to its tune anyway.") Relationships d8 Alicia Von Vulf ("I must learn her story.") d6 Millicent Gearheart ("I respect her craftsmanship and dedication,") d6 Millicent Fisher ("I can't help but wonder what else she's about.") d6 Edmond Blackwood ("I can work with him just fine.") d6 Joshua Thane ("I utterly despise him.") Heir-apparent to the Thane family, a former soldier, current (corrupt) Lawman. He puts on the facade of a kind man but he is, in truth, as cruel as he could be. He, as part of a formerly slave-owning family, was raised to see others as lesser and fought to uphold that and managed to avoid punishment because his families status. He became a lawman after the war in order to continue his violent interests and has a habit for being overzealous in his duties or demanding more than a little gratuity especially from the women he helps. There's rumor he's in good with plenty of criminals and shady folks not above doing dirty to deal with his problems. He's not someone you want to run into. Kojo sure doesn't. d12 Kirsa Autenrieth ("I cannot escape her".) A hard-nosed and cunning German aristocrat from an old and and very entrenched house, current operator of the Autenreith Talent Agency, and...secretly high-ranking member of an ancient cult. She's an active woman, elegant in her dealings but preferring an active and personal approach. She's more than willing to play with rules of society and has a tendency to twist anyone and anything to her favor. She bought and holds Kojo's contract years ago after an incident at one of his concerts and has acted as his aid since then. She ensures he still has shows to play while vehemently refusing to release him out of "a great respect" effectively making sure he is stuck under her employ no matter what he does. She happily plays the part of a dutiful, well connected, and well meaning sponsor while furthering the cults own ends. Distinctions/Traits d10 Virtuoso: Music is more than skill to you, it is breath, fire, and soul. Your hands move with instinctive grace over strings, keys, or pipes; your voice resonates with power that can hush a crowd or stir them to tears. Whether in a saloon, a cathedral, or around a campfire, your performance holds people spellbound. Even without supernatural influence, you know how to make your music heard. [d4] Earn a Plot Point when your music draws you unwanted attention (hecklers, rivals, over-eager fans). [d8] Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a performance-related roll (whether calming a tense room, impressing an audience, or competing with another performer). d4 Gunfighter: You’re quick and deadly with pistols, rifles, or shotguns. Roll when shooting or intimidating with firearms. d4: Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to run out of ammunition. Abilities/Powers d12 The Other Theory: When you play, your music doesn’t just move hearts, it opens minds. You open yourself up to The Theory and perform with an uncanny and unearthly immensity. Notes spill from your instrument or voice like a bridge to the Other World, luring listeners into a state of suggestible reverie. Sometimes it’s a captivating distraction; other times it stirs deep emotion in the listener... calm, rage, longing, even lust. With focus, you can even plant a subtle idea, a whisper woven into melody that lingers long after the last chord fades. Effect: Influence Descriptors: musical, emotional, resonance, otherworldly, hypnotic Limits: Performance (requires an instrument (Voice included) and the act of preforming), Feedback (prolonged use inflicts Exhausted or Insecure Stress as the resonance feeds back into you), The Noise (Hitch: The Noise becomes overwhelming at times shutting down The Other Theory, "Make Beautiful Music" to quiet and regain ability to play.), Skill (A bad performance won't properly translate the Noise's intentions). Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to... [d4] Captivate an entire audience, distracting them from events around them. (Musical Distraction) [d8] Inflict a d8 Emotional Complication (Calm, Rage, Longing, Ecstasy, Despair) on all who can hear your music. (Resonant Performance) [d12] Inflict d8 Stress as the emotional tone of your performance lingers beyond the scene, influencing those affected for the rest of the day (Angry - crowds riot, Aroused - friends become lovers, Insecure - soldiers lose heart, Afraid - people cower in their homes). (Lingering Echo) Plant a fleeting idea or impulse within one listener’s mind. It feels like their own thought, fading after a few hours unless reinforced. (Subtle Suggestion) Add your current Aroused or Exhausted Stress die to a roll OR Step Up your Effect Die. After, step that Stress up by one as the resonance tears through you. d4 The Other Body: Connection with the Antediluvian changes people in mind, body, and spirit. The mind expands, the spirit extends, and the body...shifts whether you like it or not. It is a blurring of the line between human and something less...or something more. The Noise chooses its instrument and that instrument must often shape itself to fit the whims of the primordial song. The flesh becomes malleable, pliant, barely able to contain the aria. It is a tool, unbound to simple mortal shape in order to fulfill the needs of The Instrument. A curse, and a blessing. Freed from the shackles of simple mortal silhouette. Roll the Ability’s die when you use the aspects of your form to your advantage. Effect: Enhancement Descriptors: Flesh Molding. Limits: The Noise (Hitch: The Noise becomes overwhelming, "Make Beautiful Music" to regain control.), concentration, calories. Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to… [d4] Duplicate a body part somewhere on your body (Unbound Kanon) Shift the appearance of a body part (Freed tempo di mezzo). Shift the function of a body part (Unbound Cambiare). Shapeshift the entire body temporarily (Horrid variazioni). Heal an Injured Stress (Primordial a battuta). Signature Assets - Resources 2d12 Thane-Cash Rebirth Hall (Public Opinion, Secrecy) - A newly built and, frankly, misplaced music hall meant to bring in new blood to a growing town. It is a medium-sized music hall, funded by an Antebellum South family looking to "clean" its reputation after the outlawing of slavery, a hopeful proprietor named Clayton Cash, Edmund Black, and a secretive fourth party. It mimics the Boston Music Hall in Massachusetts in its structure and as such it has two balcony floors with a central stage. It is, however, designed to be more 'homely' and 'welcoming' and as such is built primarily out of old (polished) wood and decorated in pictures of the humble history of its benefactors and the nation. It is fairly opulent inside with clean polished floors, carpeted floors, and ivory lining. It is also meant to be a decently convertible space able to hold concerts, stage performances, dinners, and potentially more. There are also private rooms and a few off-beaten hallways giving the wealthy and...less open plenty of privacy which makes it a popular spot for business. 2d6 Clayton Cash (Wealth, Influence} - Family Man. Righteous Man. Pervert. A....bit of an oaf but with a generally good heart. Clayton is a buoyant man who used to own a mining company but after the mine collapsed he bounced around from idea to idea accruing a string of businesses that have been...obviously destined to fail in the long run. Moved into town with his family in order to bring a little Cash Flow to the place starting up various branches of his business and going into a new venture with The Thane Family, A fella named Edmund Black, and a fourth party whose name he isn't allowed to speak. No skin off his back though, he's always in business and looking for more ways to grow his wealth and diversify his businesses. He's not one to hide the wealth he does have and despite his oafish nature he's in good with a lot of people either through favors or genuine work. A fool he might be but Cash is no Charlatan. He's just a hopeful sort, and he's banking a lot on the growth of the town. 2d4 "The Blue Hour Lady" (Lore, Witchcraft) - She's no spirit, but seeing her in person is a rare enough event that people often think she's a ghost. She only really appears when the sun dips beneath the horizon, for the short time the sky takes on its blue hue and by the time the sun fully sets or rises she's back into the strange house where she resides answering no summons, and making not a peep. It is as though she was never there. Her real name is unknown. Her history is a twisted series of whispers and assumptions. Her beauty may catch the eye but she only seems to be noticed when she desires it. She's a definite mystery, but on the occasions when people speak to the lady she's an elegant and welcoming conversationalist although...something about her is unnerving at the same time. Her knowledge is great especially in matters of myth and story, and beyond those...she knows a great deal about The Beyond. A good payment and she'll even put that knowledge to work for someone else but the payments aren't your simple affair. Money means nothing to her. Gold is worthless metal. Your assets will one day be nothing but dust. The favors she calls for are heavy, dark, and uncomfortable and it is said those who use her services are changed, and god shuts his eyes to them. Calling for the aid of the beyond must always come with a heavy price. Its only fair. Kojo has sought her aid several times, but she only had him play for her although...he can never remember what happened after. 2d4 The Golden Seven Church (Religion, Influence) - Unassuming. Small. It is simple wood and lacking in flair. It is a collection of polished pews, and small artifacts that tell of a proud legacy of faith. Its old, cracked bell rings twice to beckon believers and its doors remain open for those in need. The only notable thing is the cross on the wall...made of the same material that has caused a town to boom. The Seven Names Church is so often found where it is needed. It welcomes in the needy of all sorts. It greets with open arms the weary gunfighter, and the bandit. It does not turn away the whore, the hunter, or the thief. It welcomes in all...so long as they are willing to listen and accept grace. They will even advocate for those in need. They only ask that you listen and the doors to the sanctuary and kept wide open. Of course there are those outside of the church who will tell you...its a ploy. Kindness is weaponized in those walls and wielded to get whatever they need. The Seven Names Church only opens its doors to assets, and people its priests and sisters believe they can tame. The simple box that is the church is a place where people are broken...sometimes you can hear the screams. The substances they proclaim as part of their faith is used to break down the strongest of people and turn them into obedient sorts. They're not so humble, their riches are just hidden....only for the deserving. You can see the glint sometimes. This church popping up means that they've laid eyes on profit And anyone who would stand in their way will be tamed, or dealt with.

Fairly cliff notes version of the character I am going with right now cause a lot of details about them could change while we set things up: I've decided to do it as a journal entry because I felt it kinda of fit with the inspirations which includes y'all. Obviously my ability to write in the style of the time is very limited please don't hurt me I'm just having a little fun and getting a feel for the mood. Hope the details are clear. From the Journal of Kojo Amankona PhD also known as Carlo Amankona PhD. July 1876 (4 years ago) "Thirty years ago I was granted two names. The first of my names was given by more poor mother, Kojo. Born on Monday. The second by the 'kindly'' head of house who held us property....Arnold Thane. He named me Carlo, after Carlo Zucchi his favorite composer. I still hold two names. It has been 22 years since Mr. Thane's son, Donald, after stumbling upon the rare celebration we were allowed and took me as his assistant. It has been 18 years since he convinced Kindly Arnold Thane to grant me manumission and to his aid in attending the college in Berlin. I still hold history. It has not taken it from me yet. Those accursed notes, that thrice damned "Other Theory" I stumbled upon while helping clean the house of Professor Babel who took his life...all because of that.... and begun this twisted journey of mine. It has been 16 years since. I was a fool then as I am now. I should have burned that accursed "music" theory when I encountered it but that sweet sound...it called to me. I listened. I learned. How could I not? A strange thing in a language of which no one knew! The notes in languages from all about this globe, and in languages long gone? An eager fool I was. It was not worth it. It was not worth it to let it change my eyes. I did not heed the warnings I found in all the sites and places. I ignored the warnings. The fame and fortune. The respect beyond this body of mine. It was not worth the constant sound I hear in my head...or so I tell myself to keep it abated. God help me my heart is torn in twain over it but all I've done since I learned it. All I've seen? I know it was by my hands. The music. They sometimes tell me of their strange dreams. They tell me that as they heard me they were not themselves. The violence. The debauchery. The melancholy. It does that to them...or I do. I do not know. I suppose I'm no better in truth which is why it takes control so easily, or I give it form in the music so simply. I debate if I could stop playing while I travel. For every man I am made to kill I wonder if I should simply let it do to me what it did to Professor Babel but...music is my life. It has been my life. I am a Musician by blood, the name I was given even in its cruel circumstance was an omen. A good omen. I am an Archaeologist by trade. I earned that. I did master the guitar, the piano, the flute, and the violin. It did not give me that. I am the one who learned to use his voice. I have played for noble men and women although...I suppose I am the one who has played in those bars too and the one who had enjoyed the company I have willingly. I am the one who traveled the world. Greedy and Selfish perhaps but I know that it is all mine. This accursed theory will not take it from me. I can't say I ever imagined myself a gunman, or imagined I'd travel among the cattle herders but its must be done. I will take my life back no matter what it takes. I still have history. It has not taken it from me yet. I just have to make that thought louder than the music. I will write this again as I have since this began. I will. ....I must play. I can hear it again."

Wow these are great!