forest fire
๐๐๐๐บ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐๐
the devil and i are
gonna have problems
gonna have problems
down in silver city
โ
โ
filler! ignore
filler! ignore
filler! ignore
filler! ignore
filler! ignore
lex talionis.
Matthew chapter 26, verse 15.
introduction.
CONTENT WARNING: bodily harm, gore.
Do you know the origin of this wretched cityโs name?
A small crowd is gathering on the steps of City Hall. The spectacle is drawing even the busiest people from their commutes. The space echoes with worried murmurs and the bright flashes of cellphone cameras.
Of course you donโt. You donโt strike me as much of a biblical scholarโฆ Though I suppose I donโt seem like that type either.
Suddenly, a scream breaks out, followed by a loud wail. Sirens can be heard off in the distance, and they slowly draw closer to the scene.
But I am. I can assure you that. These preachers, with that Good Book of theirs, manage to capture and hold so many devout fucking peopleโI want to be as captivating, as compelling as they are. To have such a complacent, adoring flockโฆ
Tires screech to a jarring halt. Footsteps, running footsteps from heavy boots, echo off the concrete and marble. Panicked shouting quickly displaces the murmursโpolice are doing their best to dispel the crowd, but they are met with resistance.
โฆ Anyway. Judas Iscariot, the traitor of the New Testament, sold the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to his own people. He did this knowing they would kill him. And he did it for the small sum of thirty pieces of silver.
Chaos erupts as people are forced to scatter. Stepping over the fallen, scrambling to safety as police swing billy clubs at those too stubborn and stupid to move. The white steps are left behind with smears of red, dripping slowly from something looming above.
The founders, I think, named this place Silver City to capture the spirit of industry. It was well-intended. I think itโs an inherently treacherous metal, stained with its own kind of unforgivable sin. It set an awful precedent.
The scene is nothing short of horrific. A person is impaled by the flagpole, typically bearing the proud American flag on City Hall. What remains of his cape flies tattered in the breeze, and a mask just barely obscures his eyes.
I mean, look where we are today. Look outside. Iโm quite thankful for our little Judas here, thoughโwith that one out of the way, progress is going to be much easier.
โ
Silver City is out of control.
The thought of this sprawling, cruel urban jungle ever being something remotely governable is laughable to even the cityโs oldest residents.
But it was. Once, a long time ago. First a major draw to poor migrant workers in the Northeast United States, the ancestral Silver Commonwealth slowly developed into a thriving metropolis. Soon enough, one could enjoy all the comfort and conveniences of city living with the same pure innocence that predominated the countryside.
Itโs been difficult for even historians to pinpoint what exactly changed Silver Cityโs fate. Perhaps the industry chokehold grew too tight on the populace. Perhaps the strain of inadequate, hands-off governing that left so many individuals and families destitute became just unbearable. Whatever it was, certain people saw an immense space for gain and opportunity. There was a lot of power to be seized.
The landscape transformed. Seemingly overnight, random, brutal acts of crime became the norm. Businesses and families alike were terrorized by organized criminals looking for nothing more than something to line their pockets with. This expanse of skyscrapers and alleyways turned from a refuge to a threat: city life was always rough, but now it was dangerous. Something about the perpetual rain, darkened, acidified by factory smoke and grime, the looming building shadows, the many dark hideaways, seemed to bring the worst out of people.
Desperate people. Hungry people, barely able to afford the overpriced dilapidated roof over their heads. Who could blame them?
These circumstances also, very strangely, brought the best out of a very select few Silver City residents.
Wholly unremarkable for the most part, the only thing that separated them from their fellow man was a keen sense of justice that they had no choice but to act upon. Maybe theyโre well-connected. Maybe theyโre athletes, or parents, or brilliant engineers, or just plain angryโthese few, altogether ordinary heroes risk their lives to keep the ever-encroaching crime at bay.
Hero work isn't easy and it's overtly appreciated by few. Silver City citizens and law enforcement alike are very divided on their personal opinions, but they can all begrudgingly agree on one thing: despite the collateral damage caused by most of their skirmishes, they manage to get things done. Small-time criminals now think twice about robbing an innocent passerby. The drug kingpins and arms dealers know they've got eyes on them at all times. Slowly, surely, these heroes are chipping away the bad from the monolith, hoping to one day leave nothing but goodness and safety behind.
A disturbing trend is beginning, though. The very public death of one of the city's premier, revered heroes marked the beginning of a new kind of war. Those smart enough to catch on early can only help but wonder who's beginning the hunt and if they're next.
guidelines.
00.
Thank you for your interest and your time in Lex Talionis (Latin for 'eye for an eye'). I hope I've created something that appeals to you and many others.
This is intended to be a gritty, realistic group roleplay about average citizens pushed to become heroes and vigilantes in a city that desperately needs an intervention. They are forced to forge new relationships and alliances to protect themselves from what appears to be the slaying of hero figures.
Although the plot and ideas are my own, a great deal of inspiration was drawn from Batman Begins/The Dark Knight/The Dark Knight Rises.
Thank you to those who helped me edit and refine this idea!
01.
We will be following all of RPNation's rules for content and conduct.
02.
First and foremost, this is a literate/advanced roleplay, where correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation are an expectation. Interested applicants should feel comfortable and prepared to write 400-600 word replies, at the very minimum.
(Note: this isn't a hard rule to be applied to every single situation in character, but replies where there is little dialogue/action/interactions with other characters are expected to have a higher word count.)
03.
Placement into the cast of this roleplay is application-based: it is not simply first come, first serve. I will be judging each character on their quality, depth, and originality, and their respective creators on their outside conduct and writing ability.
I will only be accepting six characters to make a complete cast of seven total: going on with the biblical themes, seven is a significant number in the Book of Revelation.
Note that there are ten possible roles to choose from (nine if you exclude the one I chose); this was meant to diversify the applications and relieve the direct competition a little.
None of the roles are gender-locked. I would prefer you to apply with characters that are young adult aged and older.
04.
Accepted members should be prepared to post in character at least once a week once this roleplay goes live: this is meant to keep up the pace and maintain the group's collective muse and interest.
Although I'll never be one to ask someone to forego real life responsibilities or restful self care to respond to fictional character scenarios, consistent activity does keep a group roleplay from dying out.
05.
I ask that all applicants be at or above the age of eighteen years old.
You may be able to tell by now that themes in this roleplay as a whole are going to be graphic, violent, and will include sensitive topics such as systemic crime, death, and individual trauma. Please be honest with yourself and with me as you consider whether or not this group is for you: I'm only doing this to protect minors.
06.
Be prepared to move to Discord. Accepted applicants will be invited to an exclusive, members-only Discord server where more plotting and planning will take place.
This is a crucial part of constructing the overall story narrative I plan to create for us. This is also, in my opinion, a fun social release.
lazarus.
This individual is hard to track and is only seen when they want to be. Their reputation is uneasy and nebulous, defined by equal parts vague fear and curiosity. They seem to have come back from the dead.
cain.
This individual is one to be cautious around. They have a menacing, somewhat loathsome reputation. They, for some reason or another, have left a long, bloody trail behind them wherever they go, without ever meaning to.
isaac.
Oh, bless their pure heart. They are rare, even among the Silver City heroes: publicly known as a dutiful, honest, and trustworthy figure by many, they are also naive and obedient to a fault.
job.
A remarkable figure that has persisted in the face of immense difficulty. Known by many as incredibly loyal and devoted to their cause, but has nonetheless been dealt a horrible hand to play in life.
magdalene.
One of the most enigmatic heroes, shrouded and protected by what people don't know about them. Their reputation is poorly defined, but they manage to command a sense of respect and authority. CLAIMED.
samson.
This individual possesses more innate power and aptitude for hero work than the rest. They are respected and admired by many, but they conceal a great weakness that could completely incapacitate them if it ever were to be exposed.
esther.
A more unique, fascinating, captivating hero figure, this individual has mastered the art of weaponizing their allure to see their ends through. They may be somewhat looked down upon by the larger hero community for this strategy.
david.
A somewhat pitiable figure, though there are many who have little sympathy for them. They once held a high position in society, commanding a great deal of respect and power, but currently are experiencing a dramatic fall from grace.
jacob.
The child of someone incredibly influential, past or present, this hero constantly shoulders the heavy burden of high expectations as a result. They say it works to motivate them, but this state could break anyone else.
paul.
A true Cinderella figure, someone who has triumphed over difficult past circumstances to find a newfound glory. They are motivated to do hero work in order to make up for a darker past. May be well-connected to criminals, past or present.
โกdesign by psilocin, coded by uxieโก
Last edited:
do you still have an open spot where my application could be considered?
