When it comes to heart-squeezy tale, I tend to treat it like a relationship in real life—that is, see if they have chemistry and go from there. I don't like trying to force characters with bodge chemistry or no reason to be together into a relationship, nor two unknown characters into one without taking into account their personalities as seen through writing. Hopefully that makes sense?
And sweet, I loved her name and abilities, and I'm looking forward to hearing about her personality!
I say we go for a new world entirely. We'd definitely have a lot more freedom that way, and also we don't have to be stuck with researching specific time periods for accuracy lol. Plus, I'd love to hear the brain bubbles you have for a new world!
That take on heart-squeezy tale works really well for me since it's what I tend to do anyway :)
For the world, before I get specific in my brain bubbles, do you have a preference between something more 'futuristic' or less tech-based?
I wouldn't be opposed to either, but I was envisioning something less tech-based up 'til this point. Just 'cause of the whole executioner/gladiator thing. I'mma say my preference lies in whichever you have the most brain bubbles for, though!
Ok! That's what I was brain brewing too, but I wanted to make sure before I threw out any brain bubbles :) I suppose I'll start with just brain bubbles of like what the government is like first of all since that'll be the easiest. Just a heads up too, these are the easiest to go with but I'm down for anything really.
-General monarchy/king or queen thingy
-a ruling party of the wealthiest families in the country
-the ruler is in charge until they're challenged by someone else (goes with the executioner/gladiator thing in a sense)
Hmm, out of those three, I'm a biggest fan of the final one. I feel like the challengeable ruler could potentially be an interesting plot/goal for the characters, like maybe if they escape, their goals can include challenging the ruler, assuming they're the one in charge of Caligo's past torment (and the other immortals). (Imagine the ruler was another immortal—narrative pretzel, amiright)
That's just kinda whatever was off the top of my head, though. Any of those could be functional, and depending on the route the rp takes, the characters might not have any interaction with the government/ruling power.
Ooh, actually, what if we could maybe combine the last two? Like, there's one cut and dry ruler who's challengeable, but under that ruler are wealthy families who act as kind of nobles reiging over specific territories. And then the executioner/gladiator thing could be held under one of those families?
I like that last brain bubble! Ooo what do you think of the brain bubble of having maybe each of the families be 'in charge' of one of the immortals? As well as maybe the ruler has one as well? Idk, just a suggestion :)
I really like that brain bubble! I imagine the families and the ruler having a sort of council where they give updates about the territories and all that, but one of the main topics would probably be if their immortals are still under control or not. What if each family and the ruler held a different stone than the immortal they're in charge of? To prevent any "mishaps"? But no one knows who has what or when, 'cause they're being rotated? That way the characters would have to find out themselves? (Or maybe meet at one of their councils where all of the stones will be together)
I think that sounds perfect! Maybe the only time all of the stones are together is at one of the meetings and that's when they get rotated around? As for the immortals, they're stuck with the same family or the ruler unless a trade between them happens? I would think they would try to keep the immortals separated as much as possible to prevent any possible conspiring between them/they only get to get a glimpse of each other at one of the tournaments
As for the next part of worldbuilding, how little technology are we using? And also, are you a fan of me possibly making a map of the territories each family controls as well as the general landscape of that territory? (With any and all suggestions from you of course)
Hmm, I think that depends on how the immortals are going to be controlled. Obviously their powers are limited without their stones, but in the case of like energy, what's to say Samuel doesn't just make lightning hit whoever's keeping him captive on the off chance the circumstances allow? I feel like some sort of tech could be used to subdue immortals in emergency situations, in case they sense an opportunity to escape with their powers. Unless they're like, constantly drugged or something outside of wherever they're kept.
Also, tech and magic kinda go hand in hand. Did you intend on having any magic in this world other than the immortals? 'Cause magic could take the role of tech if so.
As for the map, I'd totally be down to see one if you make it!
So for the immortals, the main thing is that they can't control their powers unless they've eaten recently, so one way that they can be controlled is just to starve them in a sense (they obviously don't die from this). They also can feel pain and be hurt to an extent (being away from their gem is physically painful so one surefire way to keep them controlled is to have something or someone there to just like…find their weakest point from being without the gem and just hit it really hard.) Without their powers, they're about just as easy to control as a regular person
As for magic, I didn't really think of having any more in the world, but if you'd like we can find some way to work some in?
I know of a few websites that allow map making so I can whip up one :D Maybe I'll show a few just to see what your favorite layout/design of the world is?
Oops, I'm facepalming hard right now lol. I remember reading that now—and in that case, it'd probably be better to exclude any other magic in favor of keeping it simpler. We could go no tech, too, maybe? In terms of electronics and all that, I mean, not necessarily other inventions.
And sure! :3
Lol don't be embarrassed it's a lot of info to remember all at once. No electronic tech sounds good :) What is your thought on weapons?
I'll get some maps up as soon as I'm out of school in about a half hour/45 min
I'm no good at coming up with new weapons lol. I was going to make Anna proficient with a javelin and broadsword, since those are pretty standard guard weapons. What about you?
And sounds good!
hmmmmm Caligo will probably be best with throwing stabby sticks/ smaller weapons like that? daggers, anything that can be thrown, etc.
As for the map, a few quick questions that I want someones' input on :) Would you prefer the country to be more on the dry side or wet (more desert like or forested)? Colder climate or warmer? And last, islands or no?
Interesting. I'm going to keep that in mind for Annabelle's sake lmao.
Probably more forested tbh, since that'd be easier to hide in and find resources to survive. Unless you'd like it to be more of a challenge for them? We could always balance it out by making the climate colder. And sure, why not islands?
Alrighty, here's three different maps (If you can see them) just tell me if you like any of them/none of them and I can adjust accordingly. The darker it is, the more wooded it is as well as it tells if its a little bit more of a 'tropical' leafy tower variety or not. Water, lakes, rivers is blue and the more white/gray it is, the higher it is (earth pimple) as well as it'll be colder. Desert is tan obv.
Number 1
Number 2
Number 3
All of them are pretty interesting! I think I like the third one best in terms of geography 'cause it's got some interesting biomes, but the first one has some pretty interesting terrain shapes. The second one might be easier to split up, though, compared to the first or third.
Overall I'd be happy with any of them—it depends on how you'd like to split up the families, tbh
Personally, I like the second or third if that makes a decision easier lol, but as for splitting up the families, it's really up to you lol. The only thing I can add is that I figure wherever the ruler lives (If they govern their own city as well as the rest of the families) I figure they would live near the inlet on the first map, near the lake on the second map, and on that more isolated island cut off by lakes on the third map.
We can go for the third, then? I imagine the ruler would govern their own city/territory, and I feel like that'd be a noice semi-secluded place for one on the island. It could be the main capital or something, but maybe the ruler is somewhat paranoid and so there's only a few people living there compared to other cities. Especially since their reign depends on who challenges them and whatnot—they wouldn't really need an army or anything.
Sure that works! Maybe they have just a few advisors and whatnot that are necessary for pacing the race the country (Maybe that have pledged not to challenge him.) As for the other families, how shall we lay them out? We have eight to spread everywhere else if we want one immortal per family.
The advisors thing is smart! As for how to divide the territories, it's hard to communicate through wods, but we can utilize the rivers and earth pimples to create more natural territory lines. I'll see about drawing out a rough sketch in a moment, just as an example!
Should we name each of the families in possession of immortals?
Ok! And naming them doesn't sound like a bodge brain bubble at all :D I'm grinding gears on getting Caligo's template right now but I can help in a little while.
Name: Caligo (Will use the last name of the family/ ruler she is with)
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Bi
Appearance: Caligo has noticeably dark black hair that is always stick-straight. It falls to about the bottom of her shoulder blades when it's down. Her peepers are a strange mix of brown and green that never seems to stay the same color, but they fall closest to hazel most days. She only stands at about 5'7" and she's a twig. Mostly from lack of mandatory sustenance (like cheetos), but she looks ready to fall over at any moment if it wasn't for the almost surprising amount of light muscle on her frame. Pale skin that is marred with many tiny scars, most fading with time. The most noticeable ones though are the long gashes on her back from being whipped and the set of claw marks on the left side of her chest, spanning from her shoulder down across to the center of her chest.
Personality: Will mostly be revealed but when she's in captivity she's eerily quiet, mostly because talking leads to punishment. Even though she's silent, she has a tiny streak of pride left in her, which leads to her defying orders to take someone's life most of the time. Just really wants to be free and be loved.
Powers: Death
Likes: Stars, sunshine, being in control (Even though she hates it at the same time)
Dislikes: Darkness. She hates the dark, with a passion. Being alone for long periods of time.
Background: She won't disclose anything about her past.
Other: The gem she wields is Iolite set in a silver armband for the upper grabby limb.
I love her! And I'll work on the territory thing the day before overmorrow—unfortunately I won't have time the night after last night, like I'd hoped.
As for family names, I have a couple random suggestions?
- Sievert
- Tumen
- Kresol
- Ensile
- Borland
I can come up with more if these don't work or you don't have any others! I literally just misspelled wods on purpose and let automated wod mangler decide lol.
(Also unrelated, but this song is a bop and really sweet and I think somewhat fits the softer vibe of this rp)
All of those work for me! If you're good with using them, then we just need three more that I can get together if you'd like?
(Oh my gosh I think I found a new favorite song tbh :D That definitely fits)
I can spitball a few more! How about Chiara, Basale, and Venire? (And then an extra because I'm not sure if you already had one in mind or just miscounted—) Ferreter? Also I finished dividing the map into nine territories. If you'd like it to be changed at all, let me know!
(And bee's leghinges! I love SAINT PHNX, so I get jazzed when anyone ends up liking any of their music!! :3 )
Those names work for me! And that works perfectly for dividing the map up :) Now we just have to deal with deciding what names go where and which immortals they each have…I could do a random number generator and randomly pair up the immortals and families if you think that's the easiest?
That sounds good to me! We could always just put the names in order, too, whichever works!
I'll get something together in about twenty minutes :) Do you have a preference on which last name goes with the current ruler?
Ahh, I just realized what wasn't adding up lmao. I'll have to change the map in a bit, but I meant to divide up the territories into nine, not ten…which I did… Would you be alright with combining the turquoise and magenta into one? I genuinely forgot about the ruler's area being separate.
And no, not particularly!
