(Sign-Up: http://legendsofequestria.com/forum/index.php?topic=9410.msg728036#msg728036)
(OOC: http://legendsofequestria.com/forum/index.php?topic=9411.msg728157#msg728157)
Equestria, an unknown year.
It happened so...suddenly.
It was as if the gods of the world, of the delicate balance that kept the land spinning through the cosmos, had simply...
...left.
Celestia...
Luna...
Clockwork...
Queb...
Discord...
Even the Elements of Harmony, so eternal in the hearts of all, and their bearers...
Vanished without a trace.
Without their guidance the world quickly fell into a somewhat organised disarray in the absence of the Disorganised Draconnequis.
The sun and moon hang in a perpetual eclipse of the sky, the world turned grey in eternal twilight with neither of the Celestial Sisters to lower their charges.
The land is cold and dusty, the water is muddy, plants dying out, rain comes but once a month without the tender touch of the Life Lord.
Even time seems slower without the preciseness of the Clockwork King, his vast factories silent, his soldiers still, an eerie silence echoes outwards all across the world.
The magical field unique to Equestria and beyond is failing, rendering magical abilities a risk for those that still have them.
Yet, as it is expected, Ponykind clings on with scant few others, griffon and zebra tribes, a dragon or two are spotted occasionally by wandering herds, hoping to find a place of rest so they may sleep without fear of attack in the night.
Not from Timberwolves, or Sea Serpents that climbed out of whatever is left of their life-giving lakes, but each other.
In a world with limited food and water, where riches are worthless and the rags on your back are all that stands between life and hypothermia, bitterness and prejudice thrives.
Your first night's sleep in four days may be your last, your allies may be eyeing that flask of water you stole a few days back, not everyone is how they seem and yet they may be your only means of survival.
There is no magical reset button, there is no beacon to bring the deities back, no ancient cities of prophecies of chosen ones, no amount of magical prowess, sonic rainbooms or applebucking will change your fate or the fate of the world.
You must tell the kindest lies and the most hurtful truths.
You are judged by character, not accomplishment.
You will always be alone, no matter how many your herd numbers.
To win, you must outlast everything and everypony using whatever means you can.
To win, you must survive.
---
Rules of the Game
- There must only be one being per player, races will be listed alongside benefits and deficits in the Sign-Up section. Upon being accepted into the game, you will receive a PM detailing your secondary mission in this game. Unlike the Primary objective, which is to survive, the Secondary is occasionally optional and sometimes persistent.
- If a character is deemed too overpowered, I will enforce deficits upon that character, which are mandatory and must be complied with. Judge of Character will take place in Sign-Up and will feature the deficit of need be. Contests of any ruling are welcome in OOC.
- A day in game time is equal to 4 GM posts, which will announce Dawn, Noon, Dusk and Midnight in that order. These will come whenever I deem it so, unless a time-skip is required (All players must request a skip for one to be made, please do this in the OOC), and will usually come with new information about your current location(s). GM posts used when entering a new area will be marked with a MINOR and do not contribute to the passing of time, or they might, you never know.
- This will be a 98% non-combat Roleplay, meaning that players are expected not to go looking for a fight, even if it may be beneficial at times. Remember, your 'allies' may not require a hard-headed buffoon that does not contribute at least a little to the group. If this is so, I suggest changing your attitude...or watching your back at night.
- Unlike RP's where characters can go for weeks without food, water or sleep, this one will aim to be different. At every GM post the characters will receive a deduction from how full, awake, healthy and hydrated they are. Some races will feel the passing of time a lot less than others, but these will come with their own downsides that may leave you unpopular with your group. It is advisable you do not let any level reach 0%, for you will eventually lose the game. Unlike most games, you will receive a second chance in the form of The Traveller should you fall, though this is a one-time-only, so don't push your luck.
- 'Death' is handled cleanly, if you do not heed the Traveller's warning and reach 0% for another term you simply drop. Proceed directly to Sign-Up and delete your original sign up, then create another character with a brand new mission/problem. Your 'allies' are free to squabble over who gets to loot the body, and no knowledge is to be carried over from your first life to your second one.
- If the GM does not describe it, it is not there. The only way around this is if you can see things that others cannot, in which a description may be provided. If you do begin seeing what nobody else can, you may just be crazy from that water a while back.
- Both speaking and doing at the same time requires two sentences minimum, and though staying silent to think is accepted, standing still and talking is hardly descriptive. Are you kicking dust as you talk, sitting/lying down to rest, poking the fire? Get in your character's horseshoes.
- The usual, no real-world politics, religion, bullying of characters outside of RP (or inside, if you have no reason to), graphic scenes of violence, substance abuse and other inappropriate material that is not found in these forums. You all should know the drill, or read the forum rules on the main page to familiarize/remind yourselves. Closest we'll get to violence is broken bones, cuts and bruising, as well as some infections if you're not careful around some environments. Cuddles and kisses are also fine, as well as pony swears.
- Have fun. Yes, the tone of the game is serious and the goal is very serious, but fortune favours those who can make a friend in this land, and fate may be kind to those who can find laughter in dark times. I am not going to force anyone anywhere if I can help it, you guys go where you want, I'll provide the scenery, benefits and problems that come with that choice. I'll admit that sounds kind of lazy on my part, but what do you want me to do? Give you guys a countdown clock to who knows what and leave you to figure it out? Don't be silly, hahaha-haha...haaa... *kicks bomb under desk*
FAQ:
- Hold on Clockwork, you said the Sun and Moon hang in the sky at all times in a solar eclipse, how can there be times of day if this is the case?
The planet is not under anyone's governing , or at least none of the deities that left, and thus continues to spin. The slightly unnerving nature of the 'daytime' will come when the sun will remain in the exact same place for all players, no matter where they are. Spooky.
- How many days per month are we talking here, saying there is only so much one can do in a day?
20 days counts as a month in this roleplay, not as arduous as 30 but not as easy as 10, I do want my players to survive long enough to see the rain. Days will be numbered accordingly for reference. There are 10 months to a year for those who want to aim high.
- Tell us about the rain and when it occurs.
One word: Clouds. As a month goes by, clouds will begin to form in the sky from what water is left in the daytime. The start of every month is the wettest, due to rainfall happening the night before, while the day before rainfall is the driest because all the moisture is in the air. So that would make the driest day the 19th, Rain Day the 20th and the wettest day the 1st of the next month. Rain is more beneficial to the player when taken directly from the air, being better at quenching thirst and being healthier than water from the ground. Some species can, however, drink dirty water from the ground without side effects, but for most it will lead to large penalties to health levels.
- Anything we should look out for/be wary of?
Those figures in black cloaks might seem great at first, but be careful around them if you begin indulging
The night brings out the best and worst in beings as time goes on, be on your guard.
You might find some documentation of what happened to the deities in select places, but not every premonition may be correct.
Those that are still aren't as still as you'd think...
Post Merge
DAWN
FIRST DAY
FIRST MONTH
---
Rainfall had been plentiful, at least a lot better than last month where it had simply dissolved into nothingness upon contact with the ground, now large puddles of browning slop could be found across the land, accompanied by meagre growth of grass and weeds. Nothing flavoursome, but it would save a starving pony's life should they happen across some. Some hooftracks were clearly visible now, amongst them spots where ponies may have sat to savor the life prolonging water before catching up to their groups. At least, those that had a herd to keep them safe when the night came...
---
Eagle Eye was one such pony who did not have a herd for reasons she sought to keep to only herself, finding a cave on the wettest night and sleeping until morn with only her robe for warmth besides the tiny fire she had built from what dry twigs she could find in the torrential downpour. She needn't have feared for ursas or other cave dwellers, most were gone now, lost to the mists of time with only their dried bones as evidence of their being. Everything is exactly as she left it the night before, including her thirst. Though dirty water was a one way ticket to sickness unless one had a hardy stomach, it would be all she had, unless there was a puddle of clean water outside. The dripping water on the cave entrance rouses her from her sleep, signalling that she has survived but a little longer in this hellscape.
---
The night had been peaceful, again. It had made White Shimmer's herdmates restless and drunk with sleeplessness after staying up all night to keep constant watch for attackers, something that would cause no end of headaches once the white pony shook off the sleep. He had been kicked awake non-too lightly and told to lead his herd of three to the nearest encampment, just on the other side of a chasm they had camped near to. It was small enough to leap if a run up was taken, it was the depth that unnerved most, going down seemingly into Tartarus itself. The pegasus of the group, boastful Star Bits incessantly chattered about nothing in particular as his herd mates cast unrecieved glares in his direction. The talking was interrupted by Featherblade, a stocky griffon, turning his attention to Shimmer
Hey, what's y' crystal ball say 'bout 'ow long it'll take t' get t' the next camp?
[[Current Form: Normal Pony]]
"Featherblade, how often do i need to tell
you that? This "crystal ball" can't tell my anything, its
just improving my magic... But if you ask already,
i think we may need one or maybe two days... depends
on how past we can cross this creepy chasm..."
White Shimmers answers, while getting up and looking
around. "I might just need to become a pegasus..."
((Please give me a random result for the try to change his form... ))
The crystal ball shudders in White Shimmer's hoof, a brilliant white light cascades from it's curve and White feels his form begin to slowly change. It hurts a little without the dampening effect of the magical field Equestria once had, especially when your body rearranges a few bones in order to compensate, but as the light fades it comes as a relief that the spell didn't backfire. Your herdmates, however, do not look too pleased with the fruits of White's labour.
Real cute... White hears Star Bits scoff, a Canterlot upbringing does that to you Now do that again, but this time make it so you're actually useful and not attempting to blow us to smithereens with magic!
No wings, but he did grow a unicorn horn instead.
Eagle Eye stood up and looked at the entrance of the cave she had spent her night in. "I survived the night but if I want to live I really should find some water soon" She thought and walked to the entrance to look out and see if there was anything.
The outside world was a little too bright at this moment, even with the sun caught in a total eclipse. A few seconds spent blinking adjusted Eagle's eyes. It appears she had set up camp in an ideal spot, the water that trickled through the rocks remained somewhat pure enough to drink as it pooled in a puddle near the entrance. Outside, there was not much to view, same somewhat greyed land she had travelled on for so long, except now there was something new in the distance. The rain of last night had mostly obscured her vision to a few meters in front of her, now she could see for miles. It looked like buildings, pony made structures that marked a place once, or probably still, inhabited. The trek to them looked far, not just a simple canter away.
Eagle Eye walked closer the puddle of water to drink and fill her flask with water from it. "Those structures can be useful in some ways. I should go and check if they are." She thought while filling her flask with water.
[[Current Form: Unicorn]]
"If you dont want me to blow you up, then
stand back..."White Shimmer says, then he
looks at his new form. "So... a horn? Not excatly
what i wanted, but better than nothing. So, if
youre ready, i would like to go."
He looks at himself a last time and starts to
go into the planned direction.
Approaching the fissure in the grey land gives White a clearer view of his surroundings. Where he currently stands is on an outcrop with the deep canyon before him. To his left the canyon widens out, but comes equipped with a rope bridge that swings delicately in the dry wind, to his right the canyon seems to get smaller, the two pieces of land almost fusing together. As White steps, however, the ground crumbles a little beneath his hoof.
Sandstone, great. Not only is th' land dryer th'n Canterlot humour, it's also a buckin' deathtrap... he hears Featherblade say in a disgruntled tone ...rain prob'ly made it even worse.
Eagle Eye walked back inside to pick the rest of her stuff and to clear her campsite. "It's not safe to leave signs of being somewhere. There might be hostile creatures nearby that would really like to feast on me. And other ponies might be even more dangerous." She thought.
White Shimmer thinks over it, then he starts
to go to the point where the canyon seems
to get smaller. "I think we should jump over here.
That Ropebridge doesnt seem very safe...You two
got wings after all, and i think i got enough sleep to
do that jump."
Bristle had made camp in a hollowed out tree husk, and was scouting out the area, hoping to get better acquainted with whatever was nearby. He was poking his antler's tips, testing how sharp they were, and noted that they were rather dull. He made a mental note to find a way to sharpen them later.
After clearing her campsite Eagle Eye started to walk towards the structures she saw earlier. "I should be avare of any hostile creatures that might live there. It's not nice to get ambushed... Also, if there is not anyone living there I should look for anything useful." She thought.