Birds of a Feather
PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:10 am
Hullo everyone. This is going to be a fairly simple RP, because I know from experience that overly complex RPs tend to be cumbersome and ultimately fail.
There will be some story and plot advancement to this RP but mostly it will be a place where you can chill out and have fun.
Let's go.
Summary:
We are part of colony of birds that lives in a big oak tree in a park in the middle of a nondescript town/city. The colony isn't just a normal bird colony; it's made up of a motley collection of all types of birds. Any bird is welcome, but the colony is most especially a safe haven and a family for those birds who have been abandoned and/or have no other home.
Locations:
There are a few notable locations in this RP. Others will be discovered or made up as the game progresses.
The Park - The park where the colony lives. It is pretty big (at least by bird standards). The park is completely surrounded by a high metal fence, except at its north, south, east and west exits, which are blocked at night by a gate. At the north gate is a tall archway with a spire on top.
Havenbow - The great oak tree where the colony lives. It resides in the center of The Park. A large section of the inside of the tree is hollow out, creating a big cave-like room. Despite this, the tree is still alive, and except in winter it is always thick with foliage.
The Roost - Though the tree is called Havenbow, the hollowed-out cave inside the tree is referred to as the Roost. There is a knothole high in Havenbow's branches that serves as the main door leading into the Roost. There is also a rear passage which leads out from the tree underground between its roots. This is almost exclusively used for emergencies.
Most of the Roost is made up of the one large room inside the tree, but there are some passages that lead to separate rooms. There are crisscrossing root-like "beams" that stretch across the Roost near the top. This is where most of the birds sleep. The floor of the Roost is covered in straw, grass, and other such things (bird droppings too, I bet.)
The Spire - The spire on top of the arch at the north gate of the Park is simply referred to as the Spire. It is a favorite hangout spot for many of the birds, and also doubles as a lookout post, since it is up higher than anything else in the park and gives a nice view of everything in the park.
Other details worth knowing (Will probably be added to in the future):
The young birds are forbidden from travelling beyond the Park's boundaries (the fence). They are also forbidden to get to close to a human, and extra forbidden to touch a human or take food from one.
Many of the bolder younglings disobey though. A favorite game for them is to dare each other to see who will fly the furthest past the fence, or who has the guts to get closest to a human.
Though a lot of the birds in the colony are young, there are a fair number of adult birds, and a few Elders, who act as leaders to the colony as well as mentors to the young ones.
The birds of Havenbow are reasonably safe from predators inside the park, since they are in the middle of a town, and wild animals are almost noexistent. Still, there are cats and other animals that would love to get a piece of them, so they still have to be wary.
Notable characters:
Info will come soon...
[color="Red"][SIZE="4"]Rules (please read)[/SIZE]
Nothing scary, but there's a few basic rules to this RP.
*You character(s) must first be accepted before you can start posting.
*1 or 2 characters max. Depending on how many people join, you may be able to make a third if you so desire.
*Have fun, but treat the RP seriously and don't be a total goober.
*No cussing or questionable terms.
*All posts must be written in third person perspective. It should read like a book.
Example:
Sally walked outside and smiled up at the sky. "Wow, it's a beautiful day!" she exclaimed.
Do NOT write something like:
Sally: *walks outside and looks up at the sky* Wow, it's a beautiful day!
*Absolutely NO Godmoding. I frown severely on Godmoding. If you don't know what it is, Godmoding is one of several things:
1) Taking control of someone else's character without their permission, or forcing someone's character to do or say something that they wouldn't ordinally do.
2) Radically altering the plot sequence by making something totally absurd happen. If in doubt, just use your common sense and be rational.
3) Having your character do something practically impossible or know something that he/she couldn't possibly know, like reading another characters thoughts or always knowing when danger is nearby.
Examples of Godmoding:
1) Sally was watering her flowers when she spotted her neighbor Fred (who for the sake of this example is person B's character) setting up a tire swing for his son. "Good morning!" Sally called to Fred, who looked up from his task and smiled at her. "Good morning yourself Sally."
Although that may be what Fred would actually have said in that situation, it may not be what person B has in mind, so it's best to leave that part out.
2) Sally was driving down the road on her way to the corner store to buy some bread when she noticed a shadow come across the sun. She leaned over the steering wheel and cried out in alarm. An airplane was streaking low across the sky, flames spewing from both of its engines. It was going to crash and it was headed straight for town!
Exciting as this is, it totally ruins whatever the GM may have had in mind for what happens next in this story. If you ask have the GM's permission for altering the story, then that's okay and you can feel free to do so.
3) Person A's post:
Sally stared through the window at the stranger, smitten by his handsome face and tan skin. She watched him cross the street and enter the drug store. She wanted to meet him.
Person B's post:
Jackson was halfway through the drug store's doors when he paused, sensing someone's eyes on his back. He turned and met the gaze of a pretty woman with blonde hair. She was across the street, watching him from the window of Hannah's Hair and Nails. He could tell that she was smitten with him, and that she wanted to meet him.
It's highly improbable that Jackson could have known that she was watching him, known that she was smitten with him, AND known that she wanted to meet him. Hopefully you have a good idea of what I mean, and will stay away from doing this.
I apologize for that lengthy description of Godmoding, but I just want to be sure that it is clear to everyone. [/color]
Character Sheet.
Use this, or something similar to it to make your character(s):
Name:
Gender:
Age: (A human year is VERY roughly about 5 bird years, so a 3-year old bird would be around 15ish... an adolescent. Use this chart if you need a little help:
1-4 years = young bird
4-8 years = young adult bird
8-11 years = mature adult bird
12+ years = elder bird)
Type of bird: (NOTE: although I said that it can be pretty much any type of bird, be reasonable. I am more thinking along the lines of small types of bird, so no eagles, albatrosses, etc.)
Physical description/characteristics:
History:
Personality:
That's it for now, because I have to run to work. I'll add some more details soon. Hope to see you join!
There will be some story and plot advancement to this RP but mostly it will be a place where you can chill out and have fun.
Let's go.
Summary:
We are part of colony of birds that lives in a big oak tree in a park in the middle of a nondescript town/city. The colony isn't just a normal bird colony; it's made up of a motley collection of all types of birds. Any bird is welcome, but the colony is most especially a safe haven and a family for those birds who have been abandoned and/or have no other home.
Locations:
There are a few notable locations in this RP. Others will be discovered or made up as the game progresses.
The Park - The park where the colony lives. It is pretty big (at least by bird standards). The park is completely surrounded by a high metal fence, except at its north, south, east and west exits, which are blocked at night by a gate. At the north gate is a tall archway with a spire on top.
Havenbow - The great oak tree where the colony lives. It resides in the center of The Park. A large section of the inside of the tree is hollow out, creating a big cave-like room. Despite this, the tree is still alive, and except in winter it is always thick with foliage.
The Roost - Though the tree is called Havenbow, the hollowed-out cave inside the tree is referred to as the Roost. There is a knothole high in Havenbow's branches that serves as the main door leading into the Roost. There is also a rear passage which leads out from the tree underground between its roots. This is almost exclusively used for emergencies.
Most of the Roost is made up of the one large room inside the tree, but there are some passages that lead to separate rooms. There are crisscrossing root-like "beams" that stretch across the Roost near the top. This is where most of the birds sleep. The floor of the Roost is covered in straw, grass, and other such things (bird droppings too, I bet.)
The Spire - The spire on top of the arch at the north gate of the Park is simply referred to as the Spire. It is a favorite hangout spot for many of the birds, and also doubles as a lookout post, since it is up higher than anything else in the park and gives a nice view of everything in the park.
Other details worth knowing (Will probably be added to in the future):
The young birds are forbidden from travelling beyond the Park's boundaries (the fence). They are also forbidden to get to close to a human, and extra forbidden to touch a human or take food from one.
Many of the bolder younglings disobey though. A favorite game for them is to dare each other to see who will fly the furthest past the fence, or who has the guts to get closest to a human.
Though a lot of the birds in the colony are young, there are a fair number of adult birds, and a few Elders, who act as leaders to the colony as well as mentors to the young ones.
The birds of Havenbow are reasonably safe from predators inside the park, since they are in the middle of a town, and wild animals are almost noexistent. Still, there are cats and other animals that would love to get a piece of them, so they still have to be wary.
Notable characters:
Info will come soon...
[color="Red"][SIZE="4"]Rules (please read)[/SIZE]
Nothing scary, but there's a few basic rules to this RP.
*You character(s) must first be accepted before you can start posting.
*1 or 2 characters max. Depending on how many people join, you may be able to make a third if you so desire.
*Have fun, but treat the RP seriously and don't be a total goober.
*No cussing or questionable terms.
*All posts must be written in third person perspective. It should read like a book.
Example:
Sally walked outside and smiled up at the sky. "Wow, it's a beautiful day!" she exclaimed.
Do NOT write something like:
Sally: *walks outside and looks up at the sky* Wow, it's a beautiful day!
*Absolutely NO Godmoding. I frown severely on Godmoding. If you don't know what it is, Godmoding is one of several things:
1) Taking control of someone else's character without their permission, or forcing someone's character to do or say something that they wouldn't ordinally do.
2) Radically altering the plot sequence by making something totally absurd happen. If in doubt, just use your common sense and be rational.
3) Having your character do something practically impossible or know something that he/she couldn't possibly know, like reading another characters thoughts or always knowing when danger is nearby.
Examples of Godmoding:
1) Sally was watering her flowers when she spotted her neighbor Fred (who for the sake of this example is person B's character) setting up a tire swing for his son. "Good morning!" Sally called to Fred, who looked up from his task and smiled at her. "Good morning yourself Sally."
Although that may be what Fred would actually have said in that situation, it may not be what person B has in mind, so it's best to leave that part out.
2) Sally was driving down the road on her way to the corner store to buy some bread when she noticed a shadow come across the sun. She leaned over the steering wheel and cried out in alarm. An airplane was streaking low across the sky, flames spewing from both of its engines. It was going to crash and it was headed straight for town!
Exciting as this is, it totally ruins whatever the GM may have had in mind for what happens next in this story. If you ask have the GM's permission for altering the story, then that's okay and you can feel free to do so.
3) Person A's post:
Sally stared through the window at the stranger, smitten by his handsome face and tan skin. She watched him cross the street and enter the drug store. She wanted to meet him.
Person B's post:
Jackson was halfway through the drug store's doors when he paused, sensing someone's eyes on his back. He turned and met the gaze of a pretty woman with blonde hair. She was across the street, watching him from the window of Hannah's Hair and Nails. He could tell that she was smitten with him, and that she wanted to meet him.
It's highly improbable that Jackson could have known that she was watching him, known that she was smitten with him, AND known that she wanted to meet him. Hopefully you have a good idea of what I mean, and will stay away from doing this.
I apologize for that lengthy description of Godmoding, but I just want to be sure that it is clear to everyone. [/color]
Character Sheet.
Use this, or something similar to it to make your character(s):
Name:
Gender:
Age: (A human year is VERY roughly about 5 bird years, so a 3-year old bird would be around 15ish... an adolescent. Use this chart if you need a little help:
1-4 years = young bird
4-8 years = young adult bird
8-11 years = mature adult bird
12+ years = elder bird)
Type of bird: (NOTE: although I said that it can be pretty much any type of bird, be reasonable. I am more thinking along the lines of small types of bird, so no eagles, albatrosses, etc.)
Physical description/characteristics:
History:
Personality:
That's it for now, because I have to run to work. I'll add some more details soon. Hope to see you join!
