Some of my other RPs are going pretty slowly, so I'm going to try a completely different kind of RP. I will mix different methods of storytelling, but I will usually be the mover and shaker. Here's how it works: I will first need a main character. You guys can all apply your characters and recommended story for him, and I will pick the one I like best. Your character must be male, a protagonist, and must be capable of female romance (i.e., not gay or celibate). This isn't exactly a romance story, but the main character's attachment to another is integral to the plot.
After the main character has been selected, you guys will then get the opportunity to recommend plot additions and vote on the main character's next action. But here's the catch: your choice of options will be limited to what is appropriate for the character, and will change based off your previous choices. For instance, if you repeatedly try to make friends with your enemies instead of killing them, killing will eventually cease to be an option.
I will edit the entire story into comment #1, and I will try to link you to the latest edit at all times (which will also be how you know what is new and what isn't).
By the way, the title has two meanings. See if you can find them. ;)
Until/unless the character's info is voted on, his defaults are as follows:
Name: Jimm
Gender: Male (mandatory)
Knightly Appearance: normal height, normal eyes, cobalt color
Physical Appearance: light skin, short & straight brown hair, brown eyes, average build
Costume: Hunter Scale Helm, Hunter Flak Jacket
Loadout: Omega Shell, Wild Hunting Blade, Callahan, Dragon Scale Helm, Dragon Scale Mail
You are a hunter of the highest caliber. Monsters fear you, knights respect you, and girls adore you. You are the Guild Master of "Beast Hunters," a guild that is renowned for its might in Lockdown and in the Clockworks. Your girlfriend is a very powerful supermodel magician of the dark arts. She's stunningly...ditzy. Sigh. This is the life of a hero. Yep. Aren't you awesome?
In fact, you're so awesome that Feron has called for you specifically to meet with him in his top-secret situation room. You prance down there, get patted down in a humiliating fashion, and allowed in. "Good to see you again, soldier." You salute Feron, he salutes back, and you both take your seats.
"We've got a problem. The beasts of the Clockworks have had a serious buff. Wolvers have re-learned how to track while biting, Vog Cubs have reappeared, non-status Chromalisks are turning into Kleptolisks, and small dragons have made an appearance. This has got to stop, and I need you to get to the bottom of this. You up for the job, soldier?"
You salute him and say, "I sure am, Feron. You can count on me!" Feron smiled and saluted. "Thanks, Jimm. I'm glad we have you on the job." Feron shuffles some papers. "So here's what you're gonna do. You're going to take the Jade Rook gate and head down to D14. There have been reports that the beasts have made a den down there, so you can start your investigation from there." You both stand up and salute. You head down the elevator to Moorcroft and get to D14 without incident.
Suddenly, a pack of 20 Alpha Wolvers ambushes you. You throw them a biscuit, which they messily devour and fight over, and you try to escape while they're distracted. Unfortunately, you seem to have sprung a trap, and you are stunned by a haze bomb. The wolvers maul you, and the last thing you remember is a wild howl that sends the wolvers packing.
You return to consciousness with a searing pain in your legs and gut, and something moist is actively touching your forehead. You open your eyes just a little bit, and you see a hand holding a cloth to your forehead. You then open your eyes all the way to see who it is.
It's a girl! She looks strikingly plain and ordinary, considering the supermodel world you live in. Her brown hair is done up in a low ponytail with a couple bangs hanging in front, she maintains a healthy weight, and her face conveys kindness and intelligence. She wears a dusty and worn-out Magic Cloak and Hood (thrown back), and has a rope sack sitting nearby. She's got some physical flaws, but nothing a supermodel touch-up can't fix.
"I saw that! You opened your eyes! Good to know you're not dead. You were nearly a goner back there." Her voice sounds kind and mature. It's a delightfully pleasant change from that grating, high-pitched valley-girl screeching that your girlfriend is known for. You sit up and rub your eyes. "What was that haze stuff?" you ask. She laughs. "It was a Haze Bomb. You sprung my Wolver trap, you derp."
"I coulda handled them, y'know. I'm a legendary hunter of-"
"I know."
"I'm an expert at hunting-"
"Wolvers. I know that too."
"I'm- wait, how do you know all that?"
"Like you said yourself, you're 'legendary.' Have you ever heard of an unknown legend?"
"Uh, no, not really."
"Well, there you go."
"But I could still have handled them."
"Show me."
"Okay! I'll do that!"
You try to get up, then instantly regret it as your injured legs protest. You fall back to the ground. "Darn!" you exclaim in frustration. The woman crosses her arms. "I'm waiting." You sigh in frustration and sit down. "I can't do it." She uncrossed her arms and says, "Are you done feeding your ego yet?" You are about to contradict her, but you realize she's right, and you know by now that you can't pull the wool over her eyes.
You both sit in awkward silence for a moment. Darn, she really is kinda pretty. You decide to compliment her. "You know, you're not too bad-looking. Just touch up a few flaws and-"
"I was flattered right up until your next sentence. What flaws?"
"Well, your skin has a few freckles on it."
"So a 'few freckles' makes me flawed?"
"No, I didn't mean it 'that' way..."
"Then how did you mean it?"
"I was just saying that you're pretty, but could use some-"
"I know what you were saying."
"Then why-"
"You were telling me that I'd meet your expectations of feminine beauty if I put on some makeup."
"Well, I- yeah, I suppose that's about the gist of it."
"That's not flattering."
Darn! Your compliment went all wrong. You're about to apologize when she bursts out laughing.
"What's so funny?" you ask. She gives you a playful punch in the shoulder. Ow. "I was just messing with you. I was raised to be content with my appearance from a young age, so I wasn't as insulted as I was making it out to be. But vanity is a very feminine weakness, and I could do without that temptation, so don't push it, okay?" You smile sheepishly and nod. She gets up and slings her rope sack over her shoulder. "It's getting dark, and the Wolvers will be coming out in force soon. We'd better get going. Coming with?" You grimace. "Do I have a choice?" She chuckles and helps you up.
It's soon nightfall, and the Wolvers are howling by the time you reach her hideout. Wow, she has a really nice place here. She even seems to have a working terminal up and running. She must be a technician. She sets you up on a makeshift bed inside her tent and begins cooking a supper outside. You are startled by a ringing in your ears. Darn comm units. You touch it to activate it. "Who is this?"
"It's Lt. Feron, soldier."
"Oh! Uh, hi Feron! What's up?"
"That's 'Lieutenant' to you."
"Sorry, yes sir."
"Anyways, are you okay?"
"Yes sir, got a few scratches, but nothing serious."
"Good. I have an update. While you're down there, I need you to bring in a criminal."
"Criminal, sir?"
"Yes. She has brown hair, hazel eyes, normal height, and wears the Magic set. We recently found that she is responsible for Wolver buff."
"I'll see what I can do, sir."
"You're a good man. Feron out."
You process what you've just heard. Could this woman really be a criminal on the run? Well, maybe. You decide to arrest her once you're healed, but until then, you'll try to keep it all under wraps. She comes back into the tent, and you decide to make conversation to get your mind off it. "What's your name, anyways?"
"Joy."
"Why were you named that?"
"Well, as my father would say, true joy is unobtainable by an ordinary person. It has the double meaning that an ordinary person cannot have me. He thinks that only an extraordinary person should be allowed to win my hand."
"That sounds pretty lofty. He should loosen up a bit!"
"No, I agree with my father."
"Yeah, I know, righ- wait, what?"
"I agree with my father."
"But...why? You seem so very...very..."
"Ordinary?"
Drat, you just insulted her again, and now she looks like she's about to cry. So much for making conversation. What is wrong with you? You decide to change the subject. "So, what's a woman like you doing down here?" She looks like she's about to berate you, but visibly calms down. "I came here to escape the Spiral Order." This is interesting. Maybe you can get her to confess. You covertly and "absent-mindedly" brush your comm unit.
"The Spiral Order thinks I'm a criminal."
"Oh? What is it they think you did?"
"They think I'm responsible for the Wolver attacks. It's nonsense!"
"Huh, you bet! Why would they think that?"
"Well...admittedly, I was a geneticist before I ran away..."
"...so...?"
"...I was the only one researching the beasts in this area."
"That does make you sound guilty."
"Except that it doesn't explain the increase in Wolver violence. Their behaviors are, to put it simply, sick. They're practically eating each other. There's no genetic way to influence how animals think, which makes the Order's accusation against me ridiculous."
"I'll just have to take your word for it."
She looks at you curiously. "Are you...interrogating me?" You put up your hands. "No! No, I'm not interrogating you at all! What makes you think that?" She frowns. "Your excessive reaction to that question. You're a terrible liar." You turn off your comm unit, and she shakes her head in dismay. "...don't know why I trusted you..." she mutters as she walks out of the tent. You fear that she is going for a weapon, and you nervously handle your Proto Sword. She comes back in with...medical equipment!? She begins tending to your injured legs. You're now very confused by her behavior. "What are you doing?" you ask. Without looking up, she says, "What does it look like? I'm fixing your legs."
"Why?"
"So you can leave sooner."
"But then I can arrest you sooner."
"I know. I'm not stupid."
"Then...why are you still doing it?"
She buries her head in her hands for a moment. "Because...it's the right thing to do." You're kinda dumbstruck. Those aren't the words of a criminal...are they?
She whips up a healing potion (often stored in health capsules) and tenderly applies it to your leg. The bones, muscles, and skin heal up in mere moments. She steps back, and you test your legs. They're like good as new! But now you gotta do the dirty work. You find your handcuffs and approach Joy. Wordlessly, she extends her hands and bows her head. Is she crying?
But instead of cuffing her hands like she expected you to, you take her hands and hold them. "For some crazy reason, I believe you," you say. She wipes her eyes on her shoulders and looks up at you. "Really?" You nod and smile. She suddenly hugs you tightly, and once you get back into your skin, you hug her back.
It's time to get moving, and after you've helped her pack up, you hear conversational noises. You look at Joy; she seems to have heard them too. Suddenly, a Recon knight pops out of nowhere and fires a blaster at her. She narrowly misses it, and you tackle the Recon to the ground. You punch him in the face, but he just sits there smirking at you. You're gonna wipe that smile off his fa- WHOA! Where'd Feron come from?
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SOLDIER!?!" Feron shouts at you. You immediately get off the Recon and stand to attention. "This Recon was attacking an innocent woman, sir." Feron clearly isn't satisfied with that answer. "That woman is the convict I was telling you about. Are you so dim-witted that you couldn't recognize her!?" You were about to object to being called dim-witted, but you realize you have a more appropriate answer. "She is not the convict, sir. My gut intuition tells me that something else is responsible." Feron then gives you a strong punch in the chest, and you double over. He says, "What is your 'gut' telling you now, sonny? It'd better be telling you to shut up so it doesn't get punched again." You shake your head. That moron doesn't know- "It's not telling you that? Guess I'd better fix that." Feron punches you again, and you collapse to your knees and clutch your chest. You hear Joy protesting in the distance. "Let me go! I didn't do anything!" No! They've got Joy! You struggle to get to your feet, but you run into Feron again. "Going somewhere, boy?" The last thing you see for the next six hours is a gloved fist flying into your face.
You wake up where you were punched out. It is now night time. You rub your face, rinse it in a nearby creek, and decide what to do next. You still have your weapons with you; thank goodness for the binding system. Joy's stuff is still here, all packed up the way you left it. You race to Haven as fast as your legs can carry you. While you're running, you contact your guild via comm unit. "Hey guys, I need your help with something." Someone replies on the other end. It's your trusty officer, Joey. "What can I do ya fer, Jimm?" "I need you to find a young lady named 'Joy' somewhere in the Spiral prisons." "Okay...what do you want me to do when I get there?" "Make sure no one tries to hurt her." Silence. You nearly trip over a log. He finally finds his voice again. "Whatever you say, boss." "Thanks Joey!" "Uh huh..." The line closes down.
After nearly an hour of jogging, going up elevators, and solving frustrating puzzles, you finally get back to Haven. You reach the prison, but of course, it's very heavily guarded. Getting in there and getting out again is going to be very, very tough. Joey manages to spot you, and covertly darts to your side. "What's the plan?" You think for a bit. "We'll pretend to be visitors." "Then?" "We use a bunch of Haze Bombs and get the heck outta there." "Sounds like a plan."
Joey then notices something. "Dude, the guards are wearing Ironmight."
"So?"
"Our Haze Bombs won't work."
"They work on everyth- oh yeah, I see what you mean."
"Should we grab a recon module?"
"Those things are expensive. Why do guards gotta wear Ironmight?"
"Because it defends against the stuff prisoners make most, dude."
You think for a bit, then realize that you spotted a recon cloak among Joy's equipment. Luckily, you have it with you. "I know what we're gonna do! We will need a wooden dummy and a Magic cloak and hood."
Before long, the two of you have created a very convincing replica of Joy, then attached the recon cloak to it. You carry it on your back, and hope nobody bumps into your cloaked dummy. You get out your cane and pretend to have a bad back, and the two of you make your way through to Joy's cell without incident. She is sitting on a bench, reading a rather thick book. She sees you, and immediately gets up to greet you. "Jimm! I'm so happy to see you! What are you doing here?" You explain to her that you're going to bust her out. Improbably and miraculously, none of the prison guards or prisoners hear you. You covertly unlock her cell with a lockpick, put the dummy into the cell and transfer the cloak to Joy, then carry Joy on your back.
You manage to walk right out of the prison, but...well, not without incident this time. Apparently, it didn't take long for the prison guards to figure out that the thing in Joy's cell was a dummy, and put the prison into lockdown. They also deduced that you were the one who helped Joy escape, and they have plastered your name all over the media. Great, now you're a criminal. You put Joy down, and she uncloaks. She takes your hands and says earnestly, "I'm so, so sorry for getting you into this mess." Joey starts grinning uncontrollably.
You don't want her to take blame that isn't hers. "No, it's not your fault. I was the one who contacted Spiral HQ to begin with, and I was the one who decided to come rescue you. Nobody asked me to. Don't be sorry." She gives you another hug, appreciative of your reassuring words. Just then, police start pouring out of the prison. "We gotta go," you tell Joy. She nods, and the three of you secretly make your way back to the main road.
[more to come; got any suggestions for me?]
Do you...
[no options yet]