Wolf Rawrrr
Wolf-Knight
This thread will serve to properly introduce the "Link to the Past" subforum, starting from the basic idea onwards to all the details you need to know before and while you post here. Any and all questions are welcome to be posted here 
Concept
The idea is that every player character gets their own thread within this subforum, prefixed "Flashback", and named to match the character's name plus their flavor title. Within this thread, you will explore your character's history (the span of which depends on your desires) while cooperating with the Storyteller and possibly even other players.
This is a lightweight game mode in which you alone set the posting tempo - you post when you want to, as much or as little as you want to, and finally the thread need not even be completed; you can conclude it or give up at your prerogative.
Important: Before anything is started some coordinating with the Storyteller via PM is required - so if you have not already received a private message from me about this, you will soon. That is the first step on your journey.
You are the only player writing in your thread unless you are sharing history with another player's character, but the Storyteller always posts with you. You need me to reveal the world and control other aspects of the game aside from your own character, though all the details are handled through discussion via PM, allowing different players to play on different terms.
Benefits
You are not required to play the "Link to the Past". It is optional. However you are encouraged to do so. Participating holds several benefits:
Examples
Following are a few examples to roughly demonstrate how this system looks in practice. For the purposes of this tutorial, I will be using a generic Player playing a character named "Niara Shadowleaf" with the title "The Rose of Eldshaw".
Please note that in this case the Player has already discussed his wishes and goals with the Storyteller via PM, or at least roughly outlined them so the Storyteller knows where to start off.
Example #1
Thread: Niara Shadowleaf - The Rose of Eldshaw
Post #1 by Storyteller
Even in the face of all that's happened, after all these years, she still remembered the little elven girl in the old palace at Reindir. Barely twelve, with long snow-white hair and the Sun shining so bright at her from high up in the sky...
Post #2 by Player
Niara shielded her eyes from the Sun. From the balcony she had quite an amazing view of the rest of the city and the harbor beyond. But her restless gaze wouldn't let her stare at any one place for too long; not when there was a whole world to behold. The fact that Eldshaw was merely a kingdom within a kingdom on one of the world's continents somehow eluded her. She was vaguely aware of it, of course, given all her studies befitting of a princess, but how could any old books and maps overwrite the real taste of her homeland: The green meadows, the cool shade of the trees or the cold spring water? In the mind of a child? No way.
So it didn't take her long to shift her eyes once more and face the road leading out of town and across the hills in the distance. A flock of birds flew by but too far off for her to tell which kind, though she tried. Then she heard her father calling for her from behind. She turned around with the biggest smile on her face, a grin like only an innocent child could wear and get away with it.
And she was happy. If only she knew how much...
------------------------------
In this first example, the Storyteller started the thread and prepared the first scene for the Player, according to their agreement via PM. The Player then proceeds to write about stuff from his character's past related to that particular moment and place.
Example #2
Thread: Niara Shadowleaf - The Rose of Eldshaw
Post #27 by Storyteller
Finally, seeing that there is nothing he could say or do to fix this, her father got up and walked away, but not before casting one last look at his daughter - realizing how much she had grown up - but in vain. Niara wouldn't even look at him. She just stared down at her mother's name carved into the cold marble and cried in silence.
Post #28 by Player
March 3318
When it was done, Niara nearly broke down in front of her new mistress. For a moment she was confused, scared even. Did she really do this? How could she? This was so wrong... Impossible. She would have never... That elf, that person... He was her friend. She was well aware of that.
Then why... Why did I kill him?
She thought, unable to take her eyes off the dead body at her feet.
Post #29 by Storyteller
"Little late for second thoughts now, don't you think?"
the Sorceress said, guessing her thoughts. She still had that faint smile in the corner of her lips, the one that Niara still - even in the face of what this woman made her do - thought was kind of charming.
"Besides, you did what you had to do. He left you no choice, my dear."
she continued in a very soothing, comforting tone that completely enthralled Niara.
"You warned him, and in the end his hate for me burned stronger than his love for you. Do not fool yourself, Niara."
The Sorceress came closer and brushed the elf's cheek gently with her fingers.
"Only I truly love you."
------------------------------
In this second example the Player decides to finish the previous scene that the Storyteller posted about, and goes straight for another flashback. Again, this is the result of a previously made rough plan in a PM between the two of them.
Concept
The idea is that every player character gets their own thread within this subforum, prefixed "Flashback", and named to match the character's name plus their flavor title. Within this thread, you will explore your character's history (the span of which depends on your desires) while cooperating with the Storyteller and possibly even other players.
This is a lightweight game mode in which you alone set the posting tempo - you post when you want to, as much or as little as you want to, and finally the thread need not even be completed; you can conclude it or give up at your prerogative.
Important: Before anything is started some coordinating with the Storyteller via PM is required - so if you have not already received a private message from me about this, you will soon. That is the first step on your journey.
You are the only player writing in your thread unless you are sharing history with another player's character, but the Storyteller always posts with you. You need me to reveal the world and control other aspects of the game aside from your own character, though all the details are handled through discussion via PM, allowing different players to play on different terms.
Benefits
You are not required to play the "Link to the Past". It is optional. However you are encouraged to do so. Participating holds several benefits:
- Expanding your character's history
- Immersing yourself deeper into the world of Amaranth and getting in-character more easily
- Presenting an alternative way to play in times when you for some reason can't post in the main storyline
- Earning a unique Achievement upon completion that has real impact on the main storyline
Examples
Following are a few examples to roughly demonstrate how this system looks in practice. For the purposes of this tutorial, I will be using a generic Player playing a character named "Niara Shadowleaf" with the title "The Rose of Eldshaw".
Please note that in this case the Player has already discussed his wishes and goals with the Storyteller via PM, or at least roughly outlined them so the Storyteller knows where to start off.
Example #1
Thread: Niara Shadowleaf - The Rose of Eldshaw
Post #1 by Storyteller
Even in the face of all that's happened, after all these years, she still remembered the little elven girl in the old palace at Reindir. Barely twelve, with long snow-white hair and the Sun shining so bright at her from high up in the sky...
Post #2 by Player
Niara shielded her eyes from the Sun. From the balcony she had quite an amazing view of the rest of the city and the harbor beyond. But her restless gaze wouldn't let her stare at any one place for too long; not when there was a whole world to behold. The fact that Eldshaw was merely a kingdom within a kingdom on one of the world's continents somehow eluded her. She was vaguely aware of it, of course, given all her studies befitting of a princess, but how could any old books and maps overwrite the real taste of her homeland: The green meadows, the cool shade of the trees or the cold spring water? In the mind of a child? No way.
So it didn't take her long to shift her eyes once more and face the road leading out of town and across the hills in the distance. A flock of birds flew by but too far off for her to tell which kind, though she tried. Then she heard her father calling for her from behind. She turned around with the biggest smile on her face, a grin like only an innocent child could wear and get away with it.
And she was happy. If only she knew how much...
------------------------------
In this first example, the Storyteller started the thread and prepared the first scene for the Player, according to their agreement via PM. The Player then proceeds to write about stuff from his character's past related to that particular moment and place.
Example #2
Thread: Niara Shadowleaf - The Rose of Eldshaw
Post #27 by Storyteller
Finally, seeing that there is nothing he could say or do to fix this, her father got up and walked away, but not before casting one last look at his daughter - realizing how much she had grown up - but in vain. Niara wouldn't even look at him. She just stared down at her mother's name carved into the cold marble and cried in silence.
Post #28 by Player
March 3318
When it was done, Niara nearly broke down in front of her new mistress. For a moment she was confused, scared even. Did she really do this? How could she? This was so wrong... Impossible. She would have never... That elf, that person... He was her friend. She was well aware of that.
Then why... Why did I kill him?
She thought, unable to take her eyes off the dead body at her feet.
Post #29 by Storyteller
"Little late for second thoughts now, don't you think?"
the Sorceress said, guessing her thoughts. She still had that faint smile in the corner of her lips, the one that Niara still - even in the face of what this woman made her do - thought was kind of charming.
"Besides, you did what you had to do. He left you no choice, my dear."
she continued in a very soothing, comforting tone that completely enthralled Niara.
"You warned him, and in the end his hate for me burned stronger than his love for you. Do not fool yourself, Niara."
The Sorceress came closer and brushed the elf's cheek gently with her fingers.
"Only I truly love you."
------------------------------
In this second example the Player decides to finish the previous scene that the Storyteller posted about, and goes straight for another flashback. Again, this is the result of a previously made rough plan in a PM between the two of them.
Last edited by a moderator: