Hell's Paradise Reboot

December 21st, 2012. A day which, according to some, would herald the end of the very Earth itself, and of all those who lived upon it. However, none where truly aware of just what such a cataclysm would entail, if it were to come to pass. And, in truth, there was no need at all to worry. In the end, December 21st came and went, and the world remained as it was.

However, what if there instead was some truth to that ancient prophecy? What if, as the Maiyan's predicted, the world did, indeed, come to an end? Or rather, what if it entered a new beginning?

In a universe parallel to ours that, on the surface, is exactly the same as our own, December 21, 2012, is just seconds away from becoming a reality. And what will occur when that date is reached will prove far more eventful then what entailed on that same date in our world. For in that universe, the forces of Heaven and Hell do in fact exist. In truth, they have been warring with one another since before humanity itself came to be. However, for reasons as yet unknown, that celestial battle is soon to crack open a dimensional rift, tearing the universal fabric that separates the realm of the spiritual from the realm on humanity. It is unknown just what effects the spirit realm will have upon the earthly realm when the former bleeds into the latte, but one thing is sure; the forces of Heaven and Hell — Hell especially — have found themselves another battleground in which to stage their conflict. And just what becomes of humanity from here out will depend on how humanity itself chooses to act. Will they side with the forces of Heaven; of law and celestial order? Will they side instead with the spawn of Hell; with ultimate freedom and ultimate chaos? Or will they instead choose their own path, which could be anything imaginable? That is the choice humanity must make. Or rather, that of those who have found themselves trapped. Trapped...

...In Hell's Paradise.

Greetings, one and all. This is my fourth RP, though this particular RP, like my World of Heroes Reboot RP, has a bit of history. As you might have guessed by the title, this is a reboot of a previous RP of mine, Hell's Paradise. Ultimately, various factors came up which caused the RP to be canned, among them being that the RP grew too large and convoluted for it's own good. This retool is going to try to streamline things, while in turn being more compact, better paced, and more intense. And of course, since this is a Reboot, you don't need to have any previous experience with the first Hell's Paradise.

The initial RP is deceptively simple; for reasons not exactly clear to you at first, the Spirit Realm which makes up Heaven and Hell has cracked, opening up an inter-dimensional rift, and causing the Spirit Realm to bleed over into our realm, affecting it in a number of different ways;

1.No electricity or power sources of any kind. The strange energy pouring in from the Rift has caused all power sources in the world to completely cease to be. This means no electricity, no nuclear power, nothing. Any attempt to bring back such sources of power will meet in failure, for even if you follow the correct means to create that power source, the source just won't be. This effectively sets all of humanity back quite a ways.

2.Magic. I'll put more detail on this below, but over time, you'll slowly be able to learn from one of several 'Schools' of magic. You can select this before the RP begins, and in time, the 'School' will just 'come' to you. Again, more detail below.

3.Transformations. The reason you'll be able to use magic is because magic itself is now ingrained in every single atom and particle of your universe, including yourselves. And while this means that you can now harness magic and use it, this also means that you will soon transform into... something different. Something unique. Something no longer entirely human; a 'Transhuman', in other words. What this new form will be will depend entirely on both your subconscious, and who your character is as a person. It doesn't necessarily have to be 'demonic', but make no mistake; you aren't going to be fully 'human' anymore when all's said and done. These new forms will also give your characters character-specific abilities. These take precedence over your magic, and so, it's probably best to come up with your Transhuman abilities first, so that your chosen School can best compliment them.

Over time, various political leaders will arise, forming factions with which they intend to use to shape the direction that Paradise (the city this RP takes place in,) will proceed in. Some may be working for Heaven. Others may think they're working for Heaven, but in truth, may just be deluding themselves, blinded by their own personal beliefs. Others may choose to work for Hell, and others still desire to carve their own paths. And the same applies to you. You're free to make your own path as you see fit, and if you so wish, you can eventually form a faction of your own. And yes, multiple players can be part of the same faction. It's all up to you.

Magic: Over the course of the RP; your character can learn from one — just one — of several Schools of magic. It's just another effect the Rift has on the world; lots of strange, supernatural energy is being released into it, and eventually, you can start to use it yourself, though only after you've started to acquire your Transhuman form. And there's no need to pick and choose one before the RP begins; as the RP goes on, the Form's, as they are also called, will gradually be revealed to your character's, and you can then decide which one you want to learn. And here they are:

• Power: Power's exactly what it says on the tin. Using this Form, you can drastically increase your physical strength&power, as well as your defense. You'll basically be a tank. However, if you character's already a tank, this Form won't make them much stronger.

• Fire: Fire lets you create, well, fire. However, you can use in a great number of ways; you can even manipulate it, creating various shapes out of the fire, such as swords, whips, etc. However, if you can already use fire, it probably won't be that useful.

• Water: Let's you create water. Like fire, you can use it in many different ways, which does include freezing it. Not advised for those who can already use water, however. You can also use water from exsisitng sources, if you so wish. If you get really skilled at it, you can even control blood, thus forcing weak opponents into doing what you want them to do.

• Earth: Same deal as the previous two. Uses Earth. Plants&magma are also included, but you can't create the Earth, plants, or magma, like the previous two; you have to use it. The difference here is that, unlike the previous two, there's plenty of Earth around. Plus, if you can get particularly skilled in it, you can even manipulate metal, by sensing the many tiny particles of Earth within the metal's.

• Air: Let's you use air; you can make gusts, whirlwinds, succocate your foes with the proper training, your choice. But if you already can use air, don't bother with it.

• Electricity: Let's you use electricity. Again, if you can already use it, don't bother.

• Light: This one will let you use Light. You can always just blind your enemies with it, but you can also use it to create hard-light contructs. The more you train, the greater your constructs will become; you might even be able to shoot frickin' laser beams!

• Darkness: Let's you use darkness. It's the polar opposite of Light; like light, you can use it to create constructs, though these will be of a more shadowy, mist-like substance. You can also blind opponents with this as well, though with sheer darkness, as opposed to a blinding light.

• Psychic: With this, you'll gain both Telekinesis, as well as a limited Mind-reading abilities. You can read minds, but you can't control them, and not all minds will be as easy to read as others. As for your TK, at first, you'll only be able to move small objects, but it'll grow stronger both over time, and as your transformation grows more and more complete. Eventually, you might even be able send small buildings hurling at your foes! And I'm sure there's other uses for TK as well, if you use your imagination.

• Space: This form has a few different uses. For starters, you can teleport both yourself, others, and other objects, but you only have a limited teleportation range; 30 ft is the limit. You also have to wait a minute before another teleportation, as you can only teleport two beings or objects at a time, and if you're in the teleportation, that still includes yourself. On the other hand, with enough training, you can also open up miniature black holes to suck others into, but be warned that they might not always be easy to control, and if you don't close it real soon after opening it, it could quickly grow in size and mass, and suck more and more into it. You need to be real careful with this one. (Otherwise, you risk the wrath of the GM; that's the real danger with that ability.) Finally, you'll also be able to create controlled mini-rifts, which let you summon two otherwordly beings to fight on your behalf. Unlike the big rift, which was not created by anyone in particular, (or so it's believed...) these mini-rifts were definitely created by you, and so the beings you summon recognize you as their master. However, your power isn't unlimited, and so you can only have two out at a time. Even a mini-rift, let alone two of them, aren't easy to control, and because of that, once you bring those beings in, your rifts will close. (And if you try to use more then two at a time, you again face the real danger; the wrath of the GM.)

• Illusion: This is more of a tricky one. You can use this to not only create illusions, but you can even use it to make yourself intangible; a 'living illusion', if you will. However, if you choose this, you'll lack the raw power of the other Form's, but what you'll lack in brute strength, you'll make up for in finesse.

Character Creation: Below is the Character Outline, which you're expected to use as a template for your character creation. As a general rule, your character should start out as a regular, ordinary human, but so long as your past doesn't break into the Supernatural or Sci-fi, you can pretty much do what you want. (Within reason; one player in the previous version of the RP tried to have a character born in the 17th century, who died, and was reborn as a demon. Your character needs to be born in at least the 20th century, with no previous Supernatural connections.) And for those who want some Supernatural or Sci-fi, don't worry; your character will get plenty of that soon enough. :) (Also, you don't need to wait to put up a Character Sheet, but you do need to actually say something with it; it just sort of lets me know you're going to 'be here', as opposed to not really being all that involved in the game. Even just saying something like 'I'm interested', is enough.)

Also, if anyone has questions about the creation of your demonic/monster/spirit form, feel free to ask. I can always create a basic list of demon/monster/spirit forms for people to choose from, but you'd still be able to make your own. You can also have your personality change somewhat from human to non-human form, which does make sense; if your bodies are undergoing otherwise-impossible physical change, isn't it possible for your mind to change too? Though of course, that's up to you. Also, your new form doesn't have to be 'evil'. It could be a spirit, a fairy, a leprechaun, some mythological being, something you completely pulled out of your arse, anything; so long as it's not 'human.'

When it comes to powers, don't go too overboard. For example, a humongous devastatingly powerful beam of energy is okay. However, something like, say, time-travel, or instantaneous global-teleporation, deathrays, etc., is not. Nothing game-breaking, or too overpowered. And of couse, I'll be the judge of whatever you can come up with, though I'm always open to reason. ;)

Also, the Rift doesn't necessarily create clothing.It depends on your character's transformation, and their own subconsious. If your subconscious thinks that your transformed form needs a certain type of clothing, you'll have it. If your subconscious thinks that your transformed form shouldn't have any clothing, (such as a centaur, a beautiful nymph, a sexy succubus who, at least in the legends, relies on being naked and attracting men on a regular basis,) you might be out of luck. However, in this case, your subconscious probably thinks that, in your new form, you shouldn't need to care about clothing, and will strip away any shame or sense of modesty you may have when it comes to your body. On the other hand, if your subconscious doesn't care either way, you'll be stuck with the same clothing you had from the beginning. Even then though, you might not exactly be in the position for wearing clothing anyway.

Finally, you can have multiple characters, but only up to two. And with all that out of the way;

• Name:
• Age:
• Gender:
• Human Appearance (Prior to Beginning of RP):
• Personality:
• Background:
• Normal Talents&Abilities:
• Supernatural Appearance, and Powers:
• Miscellaneous:

Basic Roleplay Rules: This might go without saying, but outright attacking the players is a big no-no. Of course, I don't mean literally; attacking the characters in-RP is fine, but verbally doing so when OOC is not fine. It's basic civil conduct, but I'm just making sure we're all clear that on that. You get three strikes; after the third strike, unless you can make a darn good case, you're out.

Also, if haven't made a post for three days, I may contact you, in case you forgot, or if you're busy with something else. Of course, if you have a problem with that, or otherwise expect to only be able to post a certain number of times a week, please let me know. :)

...And for now, that should mostly be it. The last thing I have to say is about the start of the RP. It'll open up with the Rift cracking open, and everything going straight into chaos; your own opening posts will start a few minutes before that, then segway into the ensuing calamity, and go from there. Aside from that, feel free to PM me if you have any questions, and I hope to see you in Hell's Paradise Reboot.

Accepted Players:

• Red Savant
• Guyshane

edited 21st Oct '13 5:15:27 AM by kkhohoho

This looks very interesting, so with any luck I will have some ideas in mind by tomorrow.

Wow, that was fast!

• Name: Akiko/Autumn Mizuhashi
• Age: 24
• Gender: Female
• Human Appearance: Akiko is a fairly tall, slender young woman of Japanese descent. She has dark hair that she keeps around the middle of her back and brown eyes, which she covers with thick-lensed glasses. She tends to wear long skirts in dark colors that match her favorite navy-blue jacket, and she wears heavy leather boots to protect her feet from the cold.
  
• Personality: Akiko is quiet in public, not out of any sort of desire to be seen as polite, but because she's usually not paying attention. Whether she's focused on her work or on her next story, Akiko tends to space out - on the bus, while eating, while walking... it takes a bit of effort to get her to refocus on the present, and she tends to get annoyed with people or things that interrupt her train of thought. She doesn't often outright confront these annoyances, but will sulk until she's distracted again, and depending on whether she feels petty, may make an active effort to ignore it. On the rare occasion that something real catches her eye, she tends to focus in on it almost to the same level that she focuses on her daydreams otherwise. She can get a little snippy when stressed. Since the Rift has opened she hasn't had any time at all to focus on writing, and she's been the most alert she has been in years.
  
• Background: Akiko is half-Japanese, American on her mother's side. Born in Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu, her parents moved to San Francisco in 1995, when Akiko was seven, and from there moved to Paradise, closer to her mother's family, when she was nine; her American relatives call her Autumn. A very smart child, Akiko adapted to life in the States quickly. However, she was nonetheless often in trouble for reading in class or otherwise not paying attention, and her grades were middling at best through high school. After she graduated, she entered a two-year college and got a degree in English; that, and her own little apartment in a residential area of the city, set her back about $10,000 in loans from her parents. A job as a copy editor at Paradise's largest newspaper pays the bills, and freelance work for other organizations online helps as well, but as far as Akiko is concerned, real life is something she suffers through every day until she can get home, kick off her shoes, and dive back into the fantasy worlds of games, books and the Internet.
  
• Normal Talents & Abilities: Akiko can speak and write in both Japanese and English, with only faint traces of an accent in either language. She has more than a passing interest in Japanese history and myths, as well as in modern interpretations of the same. She fancies herself a writer, and while she's both fairly talented and prolific, most of her work (entirely published on the Internet) is fetish erotica, and her stories are popular only among a small, but dedicated following. She also played baseball when she was younger and is still fairly handy with a bat.
  
• Demonic Form, Appearance, and Powers: When the Rift opens, Akiko slowly but surely begins to transform into a crow tengu. While at first the changes are relatively easy to deal with - longer and sharper fingernails, a shift in eye color from brown to crimson, slight points to her ears - as the transformation progresses, problems begin to arise. Two large, black-feathered problems sprouting from her shoulderblades, for one.
  • Flight: Naturally, Akiko can use her wings to fly. She can't go very far, can't carry heavy things and can't control herself well, but she can get up the sides of a decently-sized building given ample run-up time and motivation.
  • Crow Form: With great effort, Akiko can transform herself into a crow. In this form, she's much better at flying and is indistinguishable from a real crow, but it has the distinct disadvantage of transforming only her body, leaving any belongings or clothing behind.
  • Ha-uchiwa: By flapping her wings, Akiko can make winds in excess of even the gusts normal flapping would cause. If used on a shoreline, this power can create unquiet seas and stormy weather.
• Miscellaneous: Despite having to take her jacket, most of her shirts and several bras to an adjustments tailor, Akiko will probably adapt very quickly to having the Rift around. The changes it causes will go a long way toward making reality less like itself and more like she'd hoped it to be.

edited 18th Oct '13 7:40:59 PM by RedSavant

• Name: Samuel "Sam" Kingsley
• Age:25
• Gender:Male
• Human Appearance (Prior to Beginning of RP): A tall, lean, good-looking guy with blonde hair and green eyes
• Personality: Supremely confident and affable. Doesn't crack under pressure. Also he tends to just do what he wants and is as such totally willing to ignore other people's desires or orders if he feels the need to.
• Background: Sam was raised in an impoverished home. He did end up doing well in school through high school but never went to college because to him swindling suckers out of their money was more appealing to him than a desk job that he was sure college was going to land him in eventually. As it is he's only in Paradise because he's laying low after his last scheme.
• Normal Talents&Abilities: As mentioned above he is quite smart. He can fast talk with skill. He doesn't really have any skill at fighting besides knowing when to sucker punch someone
• Supernatural Form, Appearance, and Powers: As time goes on Sam will take the form of a lich, a skeleton held together by magic with glowing red eyes. This is going to begin with his flesh beginning to emicate and whither.
  • Levitation: The magic holding his body together allows him to levitate a few inches off the ground.
  • Fear aura: Once his transformation is complete he will give off an aura that frightens the weak-willed or those not used to his presence.
  • Phylactery: Inside Sam's chest his heart remains, somehow converted to a gemstone mimicking its former shape. If one wants to kill Sam for good they must destroy the heart.
• Miscellaneous: While I say he wont crack under pressure, the rift opening will probably throw him for a loop. Especially the part where his flesh starts rotting away.

@Red Savant&Guyshane: Accepted.

Alrighty, let's get this over with. -Cracks knuckles-

Name: Gordon Lestrade

Age: 32

Gender: Male

Human Appearance: I want Gordon to look like this,◊ but about ten years younger (no crow's feet and a teeny bit thinner). Since he's been staying up late at work, Gordon will be in his work suit.◊

Personality: One of Gordon's greatest gifts (or curses) is his knack for being impersonal. He isn't a cruel or unfair person, but his job requires him to remain distant from individuals and consider his own benefits before others. He is a natural leader who is unafraid to get his hands dirty. Honesty is very important to Gordon, but he also realizes that the truth is a burden most people aren't ready for, so he tries to keep quiet on important matters. Gordon is very polite, but don't expect him to become your best friend; you probably wouldn't want him to, anyway.

Background: Gordon is the son of a lawyer and a cop, but he had very little interest in pursuing the law; he wanted to make his own rules rather than follow the rules of others. As the chief actuary in Paradise's leading life insurance company, Gordon almost literally has the lives of city's citizens in his hands; he decides how much money a human life is worth. He has a reputation in the company for being remarkably straightforward and apathetic; Gordon believes stepping on toes is not a problem as long as the job gets done.

When the Rift tore the sky apart, Gordon was spending a late night at work. His office is on the twenty-first floor of Belua Corporation Headquarters,◊ one of the tallest buildings in the city.

Normal Talents and Abilities: Gordon is a skilled negociator and an avid believer in Real Politik. He is talented in business and mathematics (specifically statistics), and has a bit of knowledge on literature from school. He has a selective memory and stands by it faithfully. Physically, Gordon works out at the gym three times a week for an hour, so he is fit, but not overly so. As far as he can recall, Gordon has never been in a fight, and has no idea how to defend himself. He'd rather talk things out, run, or throw somebody in front of him to take the blow. The last one explains why he doesn't have many friends.

Supernatural Form: I honestly have no idea what Gordon will end up looking like, but my inspiration for his transformation comes from this picture of Mammon, Demon of Greed, and this picture of Themis, Goddess of Justice (naturally, Gordon would be a male version of Themis). One thing I plan on adding to his appearance is a demonic claw that will become his right hand. As far as Forms go...I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Miscellanious: Gordon is relatively undisturbed by the Rift, mainly because he's convinced that nothing will happen to him. Other people will die, but that's just a statistical inevitability. Trying to help everyone will just slow him down, and then he wouldn't be able to help anybody. That's just logic.

Okay... but what about his Supernatural powers? Those go in 'Supernatural Appearance and Powers', you know....

edited 21st Oct '13 5:18:59 AM by kkhohoho

What about his Supernatural powers? I thought those fell under the "Forms" catagory.

There is no 'Form' category. When I said 'Form' in the Character Sheet, I wasn't referring to magical 'Form's' at all. I was referring to them in the physical, appearance-related sense of the term. That's why I've changed the Character Sheet now, to prevent confusion.

edited 21st Oct '13 1:32:18 PM by kkhohoho

Still accepting players, old and new...

Just an FYI: it's clear that, after a week, there isn't really much interest in Hell's Paradise at this moment. I'm willing to keep this Sign-up up for a bit longer, but if I don't get more player soon, Hell's Paradise will have to close it's door. However, I've got another, different RP in mind, (several, in fact, but I'm only doing one,) so if this doesn't pan out, I can (and likely will,) try something else. But, that's only if you guys don't Sign-up. Now, while the previous RP had it's problems, most people who participated in it still rather enjoyed it, and this retool is designed to be a better, more compact, and more intense experience. So, if you join this RP, I guarantee, you won't regret it.

Well, it's obvious that the fish aren't biting. If someone wants to join within the next several hours or so, then I'll keep the Sign-up open. If not... then, I guess I'll just have to move on to something else.

edited 27th Oct '13 1:16:22 PM by kkhohoho

I'm interested, actually. It'll take me a bit to put something together though, I wasn't ready for someone to have a 'going to be gone in an hour or so' opening up. o_o;

...I'm sorry, but while I'm happy to see you interested in joining, you'll have to explain the latter part of your sentence for me. Oh, and since you're interested, I'll keep the Sign-ups open longer.

Alright; if any Admins are reading this, I'd like you to lock up all Hell's Paradise RP and Sign-up threads please, and this includes the Retool. However, please keep the Discussion Thread open for now. There's still a few things that myself and my players in the old Hell's Paradise RP want to talk about before we finally let the RP completely go.

Also, I'm doing a new RP called 'Sunset's Mourning (Urban Fantasy/P.I RP)'. Name subject to change, though the disclaimer about the subject material will not.