PrincessMuk
Ace Legend <3
*I HAVE CHANGED THIS POST TO SOME VERY BASIC BBCODE SO IT DOES NOT BREAK WHEN THE SITE UPDATES. WE ARE STILL OPEN!*
THE SELECTION ROLEPLAY
Introduction:
Hello everyone, and welcome to the opportunity of a lifetime!
For generations, Illéa has carried on the tradition of the Selection -- the fun, exciting, and rather provocative competition to win the future King of Illéa's heart. Thirty-five girls are selected from all over the country to come and live in the palace, all pitted against one another to gain the affections of our dear prince. Yet, bonds are made every time, and out of the ordeal comes heartwarming stories that will be told for years to come.
For the upcoming Selection, the King has decided that his son may have contestants of either gender competing to win his heart. So, if you're a sixteen to twenty year old guy or gal who's been yearning after our dear prince for years, come and apply for the Selection! Who knows who will win his heart?
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If that wasn't clear enough for you, here's the gist: this roleplay will feature a very large, long term group, all playing as girls and guys (and the Prince!) in the Selection. The palace's residents, and playable characters, also include the rest of the Royal Family, Maids or Valets for each of the Selected, Guards, and Reporters/Photographers who will interview them from time to time to get the inside scoop on what's going on during the Selection. Rebels (disguised, of course) may also be played, though if there aren't many of them to plot, there may be little to come of it...
In this roleplay, most everyone will have more than one character due to the competitive nature of the story (i.e. if someone only plays a Selected and they get eliminated, then they'd still have characters to play as). While the Selected are probably going to be the most sought after characters, every character is important to the story. Maids and Valets can spread gossip, discover (and possibly give away) secrets, fall in love, form bonds with their Selected (or be mistreated); while Reporters will do everything they can to get their scoop (including creating the drama needed for it) and have a dramatic world of their own; Guards must protect the castle from the terrorist rebels, but can also have their own stories and even fall in love themselves. In the Selection, anything could happen...
This is not first come, first serve. Your character(s) must be approved before you can join in with them. You are able to make placeholders for roles and genders but if there's only one spot left and someone posts a fully completed character sheet that's approved, you're out of luck. Secondly, within the lore of the world the gender binary is very much a thing (since they're now barely just accepting non-hetero relationships), but if you want to make a non-binary or gender-nonconforming character, go right ahead! Just explain if you'd like them to have a maid or valet and you may choose which clothes they wear at any time (dresses or suits, mostly).
Background knowledge of The Selection Series by Kiera Cass will be useful for the roleplay, but not at all required. For those who are interested but have no idea what's going on outside of what was already explained, make sure to read the plot section as it will be incredibly useful to you.
I'd also like to mention that if enough people are interested, we could continue to reboot this, with the winners of the selection becoming the King and Queen/Prince Consort (played by those who originally played them) and their son/daughter (playing a bit fast and loose with the lore here, haha) can have their own Selection. So, long term could optionally become very long term.
The Plot:
During the third world war, Gregory Illéa honored his nation when he led the fight against Russia. The United States, now with a weak reputation at best, was renamed as Illéa, and now, over two hundred years later, is a country not so like the others. The Schreave Royal Family continues to lead Illéa through every issue it make come across, and is incredibly loved by most of the citizens. However, while the country may seem well-functioning and pristine to some outsiders, many can see lingering problems inside.
Rebel groups attack, going against the Caste System and legitimacy of the King and Queen. Citizens of lower castes suffer and struggle to make ends meet while the Royal Family lives lavishly and seemingly without issue. Still, many citizens are happy, and none would dare go against their country. Besides, most of the country's problems are surely the fault of the Rebels...
With the treaty with the Northern Rebels a constant guessing game, bloodthirsty Southern Rebels ready to attack at any moment, and a war overseas with New Asia, peace is something the country cannot remember. Still, things are relatively good for many of the citizens (at least, in their minds), and with the upcoming Selection, the coming year is sure to bring happiness to all.
The Selection:
The Selection is a time of joy to most, a chance to fall in love with the next Queen (or Prince Consort, as is possible this time) of Illéa as they watch thirty-five people compete for the chance to marry the Crown Prince. Anyone, from any caste and any area of the country, could be chosen, and only the Prince can decide who has his heart. It's proof that anything is possible, and it's a wonderful time for the citizens to watch the Prince choose his future spouse. Of course, the Prince doesn't have to choose a spouse from the Selected... but never has it happened otherwise. Besides, it's very unlikely the Prince would ever fall for someone else -- the children of the Royal Family rarely go out and any other royal children are too far to visit often.
The Selection can last anywhere from a few days to a few years. The Selected will follow the rules prescribed to them, live in the palace, and those not chosen by the Prince will become Threes. The Selected will be interviewed together in The Illéa Capitol Report every Friday (RP time), where they will answer questions about palace life and their relationships with each other and, most importantly, with the Prince. The final ten Selected are called the Elite and are required to prepare for the possibility of being a monarch. The Convicting is held, where the Selected must punish a criminal to prove their allegiance to the crown. The final two are involved in the Engagement Ceremony, where the prince announces which person he is going to marry (if he chooses one of them) -- all the former Selected, as well as the Royal Family, high-up palace staff, and Reporters attend the ceremony.
"The Elite are required to learn about the particular inner workings of the life and obligations she would have as a princess, in preparation for the winner of the Selection. They have to host many official guests and visitors and be warm and welcoming. Each one of the Elite will present (on TV/the Illéa Capitol Report) a philanthropy project that the new princess will run after the Selection. Another of their duties is the Convicting. In this event, the Elite must publicly and in front of the royal family condemn some criminals to jail, instead of whipping. Meanwhile, the prince must meet the family of the Elite." -The Selection Wiki
The Caste System:
Illéa functions through a ridgid class system, consisting of eight castes. One's caste determines their role in society, the careers they can pursue, where they live, how much money they make, who they can marry... It controls every aspect of the citizens' lives. One is born into their caste and cannot rise to a higher caste besides through marriage in most cases. However, it is unfortunately easy to go down a caste under the right circumstances. People are referred to by their castes (e.g. "she's a Three") and often judged by them, for better or for worse.
Caste One: The first caste is reserved only for royalty and religious figures. The first caste is currently only occupied by the Schreave Royal Family and their relatives.
Caste Two: The second caste is occupied by celebrities. Actors/actresses, models, famous musicians, famous athletes, politicians, members of the military, firefighters, policemen, and guards are all considered Twos. This is the highest caste for normal citizens.
Caste Three: People with great minds make up the third caste. Philosophers, scientists, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, engineers, inventors, architects, teachers, therapists, psychologists, film directors, writers, music producers, lawyers, and the former Selected girls (unless they were a Two before the Selection) are all part of this caste.
Caste Four: This caste is populated by businesspeople such as farmers, jewelers, construction managers, head chefs, insurance brokers, business/property owners, and real estate agents. Similar to Twos, hardworking Fours can lead very wealthy lives if successful.
Caste Five: The artists and performers of Illéa make up the fifth caste. Stage actors, dancers, freelance singers, classical musicians, circus performers, photographers, and painters are all essential to the caste system, though they aren't widely appreciated besides during the holiday season. Most fives live puny lives when compared to the higher castes, though some can rise to fame and become Twos if lucky.
Caste Six: Sixes lead fairly modest lives that are often romanticized by the higher castes for their "traditional" lifestyles, making up the essential workforce of store clerks, secretaries, seamstresses, cobblers, drivers, cooks, waiters/waitresses, and countless other everyday jobs. Sixes regularly perform the hard work that higher-ups don't want to do, and their roles are essential to society.
Caste Seven: The seventh caste is the manual labor workforce, made up of gardeners, farm hands, trash collectors, construction workers, ditch diggers, movers, and other work that requires one to get their hands dirty. Rarely has a Selected been from this caste, as they do not present themselves as nicely as the others, which is looked down upon by the somewhat superficial selection process.
Caste Eight: The eighth caste is the lowest of the low, ignored by society and left to beg on the streets. Eights are addicts, runaways, mentally/physically ill people, the homeless, traitors to the crown, illegitimates, and anyone else that is considered worthless by society. An eight has never been Selected before, and it is highly unlikely they ever will.
The Rebels:
Rebels are a constant problem for the Royal Family -- their attacks can sometimes be lethal, and they threaten the stability of the country and monarchy. Attacks on the palace are not uncommon, but are never taken lightly. The Rebels are divided into two groups -- the Northern Rebels and the Southern Rebels.
Northern Rebels, stationed a bit north of Angeles, attack far more frequently but are less likely to break into the palace and rarely do much damage. Their intentions are unclear to most, but what they really want is to dissolve the caste system and monarchy. They use the North Star as a symbol to recognize one another, and also use the number 21.
Southern Rebels, on the other hand, only attack about once or twice a year, but are much more lethal. They want to kill the Royal Family, take over Illéa, and leave all of the people in the lower castes in the same place they are now, although they make promises to change the lives of all citizens. Southern Rebel attacks, without exception, end with casualties.
Requirements:
Your character sheet must include the following: Name, Age, Caste, Birthdate (exclude the year), Gender + Pronouns, Sexuality, Faceclaim (realistic only!), Occupation, Personality, Biography, and Relations. Keep in mind that the Elite will have the Prince meet their families -- so be prepared to write as those characters!
Main Roles:
The Crown Prince (Closed)
The Crown Prince of Illéa is the firstborn of the family (unless the true firstborn died, ran away, or was banished) and is usually nineteen, though some wait a bit longer to start up the Selection process. He's been preparing his entire life to rule, but knows little about the reality of the country. Like most people living in high-class society, the toils of the poor and unwanted are either well-hidden or ignored. The Prince is expected to choose a wife out of the Selected, though this time around, he could choose a husband, too, as he requested to his father.
The Selected (12/17 Female Slots Open, 13/17 Male Slots Open, Any Non-Binary Slots Open)
The Selected, only ever girls until this Selection, are between the ages of sixteen and twenty, and can come from any caste (though, the system is rigged to favor those of higher castes, and an Eight has never been selected). Some enter the Selection for fame, some to rise castes, some because their friends wanted them to, and some because they truly want to find love with the Prince. In any case, they're in for the competition of a lifetime. EDIT: I wanted to have around the same number of male and female, but I unfortunately did not remember to account for character outside the gender binary! So, you are welcome to create a character outside of that. So, if a character is created who is not male of female, I will simply take away a slot from one of the genders and give it to them. (So far, one has been taken from the female.)
Maids (16/18 Slots Open)
Each Selected girl is assigned a maid, aged fourteen or older, to help her adjust to palace life, get dressed, keep her room and clothes clean, draw baths, bring her snacks... pretty much anything she needs. True friendships can blossom between the Selected girls and their maids... unless they abuse them. To be a maid for one of the Selected is considered an honor, and most maids would do anything for that opportunity. Maids are Sixes, though romances with the Guards could possibly lead to an elevation in caste.
Valets (16/17 Slots Open)
Valets are a new role, created for the sole purpose of this Selection due to the Prince wanting men to be able to enter the Selection as well. Valets perform the same role as maids, doing everything their Selected man needs. Due to the newness of the position, it is thought very highly of, though some old-fashioned palace staff view them as taking part in the Prince's "stupid phase" and secretly want them to ruin the chances of all the men in the competition. Valets, like maids, are Sixes.
Minor Roles:
The King (Closed)
The King has agreed to let his son choose both women and men for his Selection. Whether this is out of kindness, from a political standpoint to try and accept those who differ from heteronormativity, or to appease his son so he'll choose a woman anyway is unknown to the public. Rebel attacks and the ever-present discomfort of the lower castes are constant stressors on the monarch, though he's done a fairly good job in his time keeping the country stable.
The Queen (Open)
Having once been a Selected herself, the Queen will often bond with the Selected and even have a secret one she's rooting for, though usually not until the Elite to avoid disappointment. With men being allowed in the competition this time around, the Queen may not have as close a bond with her son's future spouse if they end up not being a woman... Whether she will make an effort to connect with all the contestants or just to the ladies is unknown.
Guards (13/15 Slots Open)
Guards protect the palace from any threat, from a suspicious maid to a rebel attack. Because of their dangerous duties to the crown, they are Twos and therefore are mainly made up of men from lower classes wanting to get better lives for themselves and their loved ones (though, their families do not rise up with them unless they are their children or spouse.) Many guards are bachelors, though many others have girlfriends and wives waiting for them at home (and, in the new political climate with the Prince himself showing attraction towards men and women, some have boyfriends and husbands waiting, too).
Reporters/Photographers (7/10 Slots Open)
Reporters write articles for The Daily Illéa, getting the latest gossip on the Selected and their relationships with the Prince. Reporters receive weekly assignments and are tasked to finish their articles by Friday (in RP time) to be published before The Illéa Capitol Report. They have the drive to get the best story they can, and some will do anything it takes, even if it isn't quite ethical, to do it. They can also spread rumors and gossip whenever they want, which can be based on speculation, facts, or nothing at all.
Optional Roles:
The Princes' Siblings (2/3 Slots Available)
Growing up royal but not having to prepare to rule has got to be one of the best ways to live. The stress is kept to a minimum and though proper behavior is expected, there's no worrying about running a country or hosting a Selection. Their brother's Selection is sure to be good entertainment for them, though they may also grow attached to certain Selected, who may very well end up their sibling-in-law.
Rebels (1/3 Slots Available)
Any Rebels undercover in the palace would likely be Northern, as the Southern Rebels are more violent and fear-based than anything else. They could be disguised as anyone outside of the Royal Family -- from a Palace Guard to one of the Selected. The motives of a Rebel could be anything, from trying to uncover lost secrets hidden in the palace, to trying to convince the Prince of their cause. In any case, a Rebel in the palace will mean trouble...
Rules of the Roleplay:
1. Obviously, follow the rules of the site. Anything that would be above a PG-13 rating must be described as either fade to black or time skipped. And be respectful to each other! This should be a friendly environment ^^
2. Due to the enormous size of this group, it's important that everyone is on the same page. To avoid confusion, time will be kept by which events happen (so, if it's in between lunch and dinner, don't say something is happening after dinner). People will be given time to finish up scenes before events start but it's unfair if everyone is waiting on one person to reply to something for too long. I will keep up with all the posts and announce these events before they happen to give everyone time to wrap things up. This goes for the day ending, as well, though of course things can happen late into the night.
3. You must be able to reply at least once a week! If you will not be able to reply for longer than that, tell me or it will be assumed that you're not able to be a part of the RP anymore. It's understandable that things come up, people have lives, sometimes things get really busy for a while, but you have to communicate about it! Don't ghost someone or leave us all hanging. (This goes especially for whoever plays the Prince -- you can't leave! We need you to finish this!)
4. Understand that this is a long term roleplay. We intend to keep this going until the Prince chooses his spouse, and we may possibly reboot it after that for the next generation's Selection. If you think you won't be able to stay in this for a long time, or that you'll get disinterested later on and leave, please reconsider joining at all. We all want to have fun together and see this through until the end! If something comes up and you really just can't anymore, don't just ghost everyone -- talk to us! (Again, if you're the Prince, you have to be 100% sure you're going to stay in this the entire time! We need the Prince to have a roleplay!)
5. Be able to give anywhere from 3-8 paragraphs a reply -- NO ONE LINERS! You have to give people something to work with. Shorter replies from time to time are okay (match the person you're interacting with) but your average should not be below 3 paragraphs. Also, make sure you're writing in third person and past tense!
6. THIS RULE HAS BEEN MODIFIED! You can create as many characters as you can handle, just make sure you're not biting off more than you can chew. All of your characters can be Selecteds, but it's suggested that you create at least one other character since it's possible all of your Selecteds will be eliminated. We are aiming for having 35 Selected with 18 girls and 17 boys, but depending on interest we may start when we reach 20 total Selected (i.e. 10 girls, 10 boys). Those playing members of the Royal Family can only have one Selected character, and whoever is playing the Prince cannot play any of the Selected (for obvious reasons), but they can still play maids, valets, reporters, guards, rebels...
7. Don't have your characters do things or know information that's unrealistic for them to do/know. For example, if one of the Selected is having a secret romance with one of the Guards, don't have your Reporter character immediately come upon them even though they were in a completely different area of the palace and catch them right away. Let people have their fun with these types of subplots and let them go on for a while. Of course, if they're out in the open making out and your character was already on their way there, that's a different story. Though, even then, give them a chance to opt out of being discovered (e.g. end your reply with opening the door to the room they're in). If you aren't sure if it's appropriate for your character to do something, ask the other people involved.
8. Don't pressure the person who plays the Prince to choose your character as his spouse! The Prince as a character should decide, and though it will be difficult for the person playing him to eliminate people (especially as we get further in), that's the reality of the competition. If your character doesn't become Queen/Prince Consort, don't take it personally. This is all for fun -- it's okay to be disappointed but don't take it out on anyone involved.
Rules for the Selected:
Rule One: The contestant cannot leave the palace on her own accord. She can only be dismissed by the Prince himself.
Rule Two: There is no timeline for the Selection — it can last from days to years.
Rule Three: The contestant cannot arrange her times with the Prince. If in a large social setting, this rule does not apply.
Rule Four: The contestant cannot fight or sabotage other participants. If the contestant is found laying her hands on another contestant, causing her stress, stealing from her, or doing anything that might diminish her personal relationship with the Prince, the Prince will decide whether to dismiss her or not.
Rule Five: The contestant can only have a romantic relationship with the Prince. If the contestant is caught in a relationship with someone else, it is considered treason and punishable by death.
Rule Six: If the contestant is found breaking any of Illéa's written laws, her punishment will be tied to that offense.
Rule Seven: The contestant cannot eat food or wear any clothes not provided to her by the palace.
Rule Eight: The contestant must be courteous to photographers, and allow them to see her lifestyle with the Prince.
Rule Nine: For each week the contestant stays at the palace, her family will be compensated.
Rule Ten: If the contestant is no longer in the Selection, she will have an aide to help her adjust to her new life after the Selection. Her aide will help the contestant find new housing and employment.
Rule Eleven: If the contestant makes it to the top ten, she is considered an Elite, and will be required to learn about particular inner workings of the life and obligations she would have as a princess. Until then, the contestant is not permitted to seek out such information.
Rule Twelve: The contestant's caste number is automatically raised to a Three, unless she was already a Three prior to being Selected. Her family's caste remains the same. If the contestant was already a Two prior to the Selection, her and her family's status will remain the same.
Rule Thirteen: If the contestant wins the Selection, she and her family will become Ones and members of the Royal Family. The contestant will also marry the Prince and become the Crowned Princess of Illéa, taking on all the rights and responsibilities of the title.
Rule Fourteen: The contestant must be a virgin.
Rule Fifteen: If the Prince invites the contestant to do something with him, it is advised she does not refuse—regardless if it's dinner, outings, kissing, or even more than kissing.
These rules are often broken. However, if anyone in the Royal Family (or a snitch) finds out, the Selected will be punished. If you're gonna break the law, make sure to stay out of sight!
Post your characters in the Character Thread. The OOC Chat can be found here, and a page is here for quick reminders of lore, rules, characters, and locations of the palace.
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