"Shared Universe Roleplay" OOC thread

[Eth]

  Sedodes's Choose-You-Own-Adventure threads have inspired me to take a slightly differant tack. 

CHARACTERS:
  You may choose a character, who must be a historical figure, character from literature or mythology, a celebrity, or a character from a movie or video-game.  The character must be signifigant enough to have generated some scholarship or a fan-base.  So, Huck Finn: Yes!  Kohr-Ah captain seen in Star Control 3: No!  Athena, Goddess of War: Yes!  Your kid brother: No! 
  Be sure to mention at what point in their careers the characters will be starting out at.  Tom Cruise circa "Risky Business" would be armed with nothing more than his underpants and his good looks, whereas Tom Cruise circa "Minority Report" would have massive reserves of cash ready at hand, and a rolodex stuffed with useful contacts.  Luke Skywalker circa the beginning of "A New Hope" would have a landspeeder and a rifle, whereas Luke Skywalker circa "Return of the Jedi" would have Jedi powers, lightsabre, etc. 
  That said, be sure to describe exactly what your character has on their person.  Assume that they are ready for a day of whatever they usually do at that point in their career.  "Rough Rider" Teddy Roosevelt would have a rifle, horse, funny hat, etc.  Abraham Lincoln at the time of his death would have a gunshot wound, etc.  I reserve the right to veto equipment which I consider to be inappropriate. 
  I reserve the right to veto characters which are too obscure, or which I cannot easily find sufficient information on.  Considering that I work in one of the largest bookstores in the world, literary and historical figures are unlikely to slip through the cracks.  Video game and movie chacters are more likely to be vetoed.  Also, the medium we're using tends to work better with literary characters. 
  Dead characters can continue into the afterlife (heaven, undeath, etc.), or you can create a new character. 

PLAY:
  Play will take place in the in character thread, titled "Shared Universe Roleplay."
  I post the situation, you respond.  I will try to post once per day, but things may go faster or slow, depending on the situation.  Each player is only allow ONE response per post of mine.  You may, of course, edit your response any time before my next post, after which you should leave your old responses alone. 
  Experience points will be awarded.  What you do with them is your own affair.  That, and they will cause your character to change, occasionally for the better. 
  Things like hit points and other RPG artifacts will be determined on a character-by-character basis.  Samus Aran from "Metroid" would get hit points.  Lenny from "Of Mice and Men..." not likely. 

WINNING:
  The player with the most total hit points (from all characters, including those who died) is the winner.  They will receive GYAP points, and digital gifts. 

WHEN DO WE START:
  We start when there are at least three (3) characters ready to rock.  On your mark... get set... 

Experience Points, Current Scores:

fluffy_banana (Thor)TOTAL: 0
fossaman (Julius Casesar) TOTAL: 0
FreakyM (Hajime Saito: 0), (Ahriman of the Thousand Sons: 100) TOTAL: 100
Rider (Duke Nukem: 100) TOTAL: 100
Sedodes (Ukyo Tachibana: 300) TOTAL: 300

[fluffy_banana]

I am Thor, god of thunder, lightning, and throwing hammers around just for fun.

[Eth]

  Good choice. 
  Equipment?  Mjolnir, the hammer.  Megingiord, the Belt of Strength.  Iarn Greiper, the gauntlets.  Clothes.  Helmet.  Does Thor wear armor?  Anything else? 

[fluffy_banana]

No, I think that's about it.

[Sedodes]

Mmmm... Ukyo Tachibana (from SNK's "Samurai Spirits" [Samurai Showdown in the U.S.])

This character was based off of a combination of Zatoichi and Sasaki Kojiro Genryu (check Wikipedia for info on both... all three, in fact).  Ukyo is undoubtedly my favorite video game character.  When in his career?  I'd say after the first game, before he has tuberculosis but after he's demonstrated immortality.  Equipment?  See any of his pistures for clothes, and the Drying Pole sword.

Likely to be veto'd, though, for obscure reasons no doubt.

Alternative choice... Spike Speigel (from the anime "Cowboy Bebop")

When in his career?  Toughie... I'd have to say after session 22 (Cowboy Funk).  Assuming it's okay with Eth, the usual compliment of an unlimited-bullet .45, cigarettes, and the Swordfish, assuming that the setting isn't on the Bebop.  Swordfish would no doubt contain further supplies such as a shotgun, hand grenades, alternative gear appropriate for possible weather changes, and other small tinkets/supplies.

Less likely, but still possibly going to be veto'd... tertiary choice...

Ghengis Kahn... height of his militiristic career.  Preferably "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" interpretation.  Equipment:  Mongol horde, horse, sharkskin armour, battle axe, mysterious and spontaneous mastery of the English language.

Finally, if all else fails...

Bill Gates.  When?  Height of net worth.  Equipment:  Bad haircut.  Glasses.  Contempt of the masses who are unappreciative of one of the most amazing software innovations in history.  Incomprehensible and obscene amounts of wealth.

[FreakyM]

Hmmh. There are several choices now.

1) Hajime Saito ,from the anime Rurouni Kenshin
(there was a IRL person whom the character is partially based on.)

Equipment: just a katana and a philosophy of life he refers to as "Aku Soku Zan", "Kill evil immediately."

When In the career? 
Well, probably just after the Kyoto events.

No reason to Veto him.. I quess.

2) The Librarian,from the Discworld books. He´s an ex-wizard turned orangutang by a freak magical accident.

Clothing: none.
Equipment: Bare hands. Known to be lethal weapons, proved throughout the books.

Hes not even stupid, hes just as intelligent as he was as a human.. Apart from certain things.
Like speaking. Mostly "Eeek-oop-oop" Etc. Also, the best way to anger him is to imply there is something abnormal with a monkey being a Librarian. Yknow, having what are technically 4 arms is quite a help in that job. At least at the Unseen University.

3) Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga, Azumanga Daioh.

Cannot really be described, RPing this character would be a blast. Most of you should know this one. If not, use google, youll find enough info easily enough.
"Knife? I thought I was holding a frying pan.."

[fluffy_banana]

Hes not even stupid, hes just as intelligent as he was as a human.. Apart from certain things.
Like speaking. Mostly "Eeek-oop-oop" Etc.

How dare you? The Librarian speaks in pure Ookish. No "eeks" or "oops" are involved.

For example, the expressions:

Ook

And:

Ook

Have entirely seperate meanings based on context, inflection, and pitch. It's an elegantly simple language.

[Eth]

  FreakyM, Hajime Saito is approved.  The anime character seems to be as historically accurate as possible, based upon the Wikipedia article. 

  Sedodipela, please elaborate a bit on Ukyo Tachibana.  Who is this love who he went to the Underworld, seeking a rare flower for?  Or did that take place after he contracted tuberculosis?  Is there anything else of interest about his personality?  He is immortal?  How immortal?  Can he be slain? 

[FreakyM]

What about Osaka? Approved or not?

[Sedodes]

Ukyo went in search of the flower after he had TB because it was the cure.  Due to his story changing slightly in every SS game, eventually the purpose of the flower search became centered around Kei Odagiri.  I feel it should be noted that he wanted to cure his TB so that he wouldn't spread it to Kei; he was a carrier but it never threatened his life.

In the "era" (and version) of his career that I picked, his motivation for fighting is that Hahomaru (the "Musashi" character in SS, Musashi and Genryu having fought a famous duel in ancient Japan) is also fighting.  Hahomaru and Ukyo show up to the same area in the end of the game, but at completely different times, therefore never dueling.

PHYISICALITY:  He's hundreds of years old (immortal as far as age and health, ) and credited as having as near technical perfection as possible with his sword due to his age and dedication to his art.  He's something of an aristocrat (but not royalty), having acquired vast wealth over his life, but doesn't really use it at all.  He's physically in his early 20's, and his immortality and wealth are no secret -- in the game he's quite the ladies' man and literally has a "fan club" of young women, though at most he seems to only acknowledge their existence and toss the occasional comment to them.  He's 5'8" tall, slightly less than average strength and slightly above average speed (as far as human standards go).  When fighting, he adopts a wide stance with his 5' long cane sword sheathed between attacks; he stands with his torso twisted away from his enemy and appears to be just slightly peeking over his shoulder (the twisting of his torso upon attacking adds extra force to slashing attacks and creates more critical, gaping wounds).  He is ambidexterous and some of his attacks require the sword to be used left handed, but he predominently fights right handed.

PERSONALITY:  He's accutely aware of his abilities as a master swordsman (and as a chick magnet), but also knows it to be only one of many important aspects of life; as such, he's neither arrogant or exceedingly humble, simply aware than he can dispatch people as easily as most could pluck a flower but not seeing himself as overtly superior than others because of this.  He's obsessive about his undertakings which include perfecting his fighting style and maintaining his appearance and etiquitte.  He's nearly emotionless in battle; mostly because the level of concentration he has on all aspects of the fight precludes any feelings.  But this is his curse -- his obsessive, perfectionist nature tends to replace any actual passion, anger, or anything else he feels toward any pursuit.  Due to his age, experience, dedication, and wealth he's extremely educated in literature, art, and science, and vastly above average human intelligence.  He also is aware of and has an encyclopedic knowledge of "magic" but doesn't use it.

Ukyo is either a tragic or gifted character depending on who you talk to.  The reason for his immortality is never explained, and in subsequent SS games much of his backstory is changed or distorted; in some versions he actually dies or is dying from his TB and his immortality and age is unrecognized.  It's interesting to note that the game specifies his ranged attacks as not being magical or mechanical in nature; they're created by his use of sword technique.


Hope that's enough info, Eth     If you want to veto him at this point I've no problem with it.

[Eth]

What about Osaka? Approved or not?

  Nope.  I just researched the first thing on your list.  It met with my approval.  If he dies, we can discuss other characters. 

  Two samurai-types, but one who lives post-Meiji Restoration.  Should make some interesting sparks.  Your choice is approved, Sedodes. 

  Give me a few hours to fine tune ideas, and I'll start the In Character thread. 

[FreakyM]

Hmmh, seeing that Sed went in a bit more deeply into his character.. maybe I should do the same. Not gonna be nearly as long, though.


He is technically working as a kind of government hitman/bodyguard/spy, but he does not hesitate to dish out his Aku Soku Zan-punishemnt to corrupt officials and so on, should he cross paths with them.

Answering a question given to him by a dying man, "How long do you think, in this new era, can you keep up with your philosophy?",
 to which he promptly answered "Until I die, of course."

Worth noting is that he is never, ever seen losing his temper, except on one occasion, and explaining that would be a spoiler. He is basically the Anti-hero of the series, a "Bad Cop"
whose methods the government has no choice but to accept.

Spoiler-protection engaged...Fighting with Kenshin, makes him recall their last battle, back during the revolution in Kyoto. Both go totally berserk, trying to kill each other.

[fossaman]

Hey Eth, in your post in the in character thread you say that there are 'potted planets' in the hallway. What exactly are potted planets?

Oh, and is it too late to join?

[Eth]

  Potted planets are celestial bodies which have had too much to drink. 

  It's never too late to join.  Who do you want to be?

[fluffy_banana]

Note: My Thor is more the Douglas Adams sort than the authentic mythological sort. But you knew that.