Endgame
Free until they cut me down.
t h e | s h a d o w | p e o p l e .
co-created with Mage_Clawhammer
For the Drifters, death is only the beginning. They don’t know how they died or why they are still on this Earth, but they’re doing the only thing they know how to do: Existing.
Living in the commune of the apartment complex Park 3025, by day the Drifters walk unbeknownst amongst us – delivering our papers, panhandling on street corners, or pouring our morning coffee. At night, they do their best to avoid us, for fear of being recognized for what they are: Shadow People.
If humanity’s rejection isn’t enough, the greater alienation is the rejection of oneself. As time wears on, the Drifters begin to lose the remaining parts of their humanity in a process known as the Fading. In order to delay this inevitable end, the Drifters band together. Because death isn’t the final end for the Drifters, for what comes after the ‘life’ of a Drifter is a far more terrifying prospect for all of them.
P R E M I S E .
This is an experienced character-driven urban fantasy story. You will be playing the role of one of the Drifters. Human by light, shadow by night, you are just trying to make do with what has been handed to you. Detailed summaries for the Drifters are written below as well as the beings known as Bedlam. The story will start off with more of a light-hearted dark-comedic atmosphere, but will transform into a suspenseful survival story. How you choose to react is up to you. Please be advised that for this rp you may be required to carry your character’s story temporarily at different points of the narrative. Individuals looking to join should feel comfortable doing so. There will be no hand-holding. Questions, input, or collaborations are, of course, welcomed.
S E T T I N G .
Modern day Seattle, Washington. Some refer to it as ‘Rain City’. The Drifters just call it home. While the Drifters are welcomed to leave Seattle’s borders at any time, something always draws them back into it. For the living, home is where the heart is. For the dead, it’s nothing more than their haunting ground.
Most drifters are squatters, claiming squatters’ rights over Park 3025, a rundown apartment complex on the outskirts of Seattle’s southwest borders. Just because they’re dead doesn’t mean that they don’t need to keep a roof over their head – unfortunately, dying doesn’t free them entirely from needing one of the basic necessities of life.
D E F I N I T I O N S .
Drifter. (noun, plural drifters)
Drifters are the dead. Except rather than going on to some lofty land in the sky, or to a fiery pit below, they have remained on earth. Neither have they become incorporeal entities rooted to the location of their demise. Though drawn, or compelled, to gather and remain in certain locations, Drifters are otherwise able to come and go as they please. Drifters have physical human forms, and are perfectly capable of interacting with the living world. By appearance, there is no way to distinguish between a drifting soul and a living human. They are utterly corporeal, complete with warm skin that can tan and burn in the sunlight. Drifters do not need to eat, however. They do not need to drink or to breathe; they have no pulse and no blood. They are incapable of sleep, and they cannot change. Attempts to alter their appearance (tattoos, piercings, haircuts, shaves, etc.), as well as any wounds inflicted to their bodies, always revert to their normal unchanged state by morning of the following day. A Drifter’s physical body is not the same as the one they had when living. The reason for this is not known, but it allows them to interact with old family or friends without causing a problem. Unfortunately, this also leads to many Drifters attempting to reintegrate themselves back into their old family units or friend groups, often with disastrous results.
Drifters often refer to themselves as Shadow People. While they appear normal in sunlight, or while exposed to an artificial light source, their appearance changes in dark or heavily shaded areas. Drifters become seamless black human shaped silhouettes, devoid of any defining features or characteristics except for a large pair of luminous eyes. In this form they can move in complete silence, and leave no tracks or impression in their wake. They gain the ability to douse natural and artificial lights, and can walk through shadows and dark spaces, essentially allowing them to teleport between sufficiently darkened areas.
When encountering a Drifter in their dark form, humans suffer an inexplicable and uncontrollable fear. Often times the trauma of the encounter is so great that the minds of the living completely block out the event, and the human continues through life completely oblivious to what they have just experienced.
Drifters cannot remember the moment, or the nature, of their deaths. Much like someone who suddenly becomes aware of being in a dream, Drifters suddenly gain awareness, and then must decide what to do from that point. They can remember their past lives, but typically only in fragments. Many Drifters have come to believe that this existence is unnatural, and that they are victims to some form of cosmological fluke. One reason for this conclusion is the sheer number of Drifters that exist. For all the people who die every day, it is believed that the barest percent of a percent return as a Drifter. They are so few and far between, in fact, that despite the compulsion to gather together in certain areas, many Drifters travel alone for years before encountering another like them. The other big reason many Drifters believe that their state is unnatural is an occurrence known as the Fading (see The Fading). Once the soul deteriorates to the point where there is essentially nothing human left, the Drifter ceases to exist, and transforms into something else.
Bedlam. (noun, plural Bedlam)
A Bedlam is born when a Drifter succumbs to the Fading and loses its humanity. Though there are minor variations between individuals, nearly all Bedlam have a tall, wraith-like, appearance. Much like a Drifter’s dark form, the Bedlam appears as a black silhouette lacking any distinctive features except for a pair of large luminous eyes. Their shape is less defined, however, as though they have been covered with a shroud. It is incredibly rare for a human to encounter a Bedlam. When they do, the sense of fear caused by the Bedlam is strong enough to send the mortal into shock. Even when hidden or unseen, the living are often uneasy in areas where a Bedlam is lurking
Bedlam move slowly and deliberately, seeming to glide low across the ground rather than walk. They can move through shadows, just as Drifters do, allowing them to ambush and pursue swift moving prey. It does not appear that they have the ability to speak, as the only sound they have been heard to make is a quiet hissing as they search for prey. Bedlam do not appear to be capable of higher thought at all, and are driven purely by the hunger for what they have lost. If a Bedlam encounters an obstacle that it cannot move or shadow walk around, it will simply remain stationary until something else catches its attention, or it ceases to exist.
The Bedlam are thought to subsist purely on Drifters. It is possible they could hunt for other entities as well, but there is so far no documentation to prove that they have a prey variety. They hunt constantly, scenting out drifting souls in order to tear away and devour what the Bedlam has already lost. A Bedlam has long spindly arms, and powerful hands, which are held close and hidden under the shroud of its body. Long and slender nails, or claws, top each of the Bedlam’s fingers. These weapons are only partly corporeal, and as they are driven into a Drifters body they simultaneously tear into the soul. The Bedlam feeds on the Drifter’s humanity, leaving behind a ragged emptiness. The victim will then quickly turn into a Bedlam themselves. Once sufficiently fed, the Bedlam reverts to their human form. They have no memory of what has happened to them, or what they have been doing. The effect rarely lasts longer than a couple of hours before the Bedlam returns to its mindless monstrous state.
In much same way that Drifters are compelled to gather together, Bedlam are attracted to the presence of other Bedlam. They have even been seen moving in groups, though there is not yet any proof to suggest that Bedlam are pack hunters. Instead, it's thought that their compulsion to come together is a residual instinct left over from their time as a Drifter.
The Bedlam are sensitive to their environment, and can be repelled or driven off by certain minerals, plants, and environmental conditions. The Bedlam will not cross natural streams of flowing water. They have an aversion to certain plants; such as sage, birch, rosemary, and angelica. Bedlam will not cross certain stones. Black tourmaline, in particular, is effective at creating barriers that a Bedlam will avoid. A polished silver mirror will paralyze a Bedlam, but will not otherwise deter or harm one. Bedlam also have an aversion to light. When caught in sunlight, or in the glow of an electric bulb, the Bedlam becomes invisible, intangible, and utterly immobilized. They remain this way until the light is turned off, or the sun sets. Firelight, for some unknown reason, does not appear to affect them at all.
Bedlam succumb to the Fading in the same way Drifters do. They continue to diminish, and sustain themselves purely by devouring the humanity of drifting souls. If a Bedlam cannot feed regularly, it eventually loses its physical form and is reduced to a harmless residual presence. Most Drifters prefer to avoid the Bedlam rather than confront them directly. If it is known that a Bedlam is stalking a particular area, then most Drifters will simply uproot themselves and move to another city or town. There are occasions, however, when moving isn't an option. In those cases, there are a few methods known for dealing with a Bedlam, though none are easy. A Bedlam is already dead, and therefore cannot be killed, but it's form can be damaged and it's spirit reduced to residual energy. One method is to trap a Bedlam, either with the use of silver mirrors, or by creating a space with herbs and stones that the Bedlam cannot cross. The Bedlam can then be left in the trap until it simply fades. The danger is that, should the trap fail or become damaged, the Bedlam will be released and can escape.
Another method is to impale the Bedlam with a shaft of birch wood. It is unknown whether this physically hurts the Bedlam, but the entity's aversion to birch will cause the Bedlam to flee the area in an attempt to escape the presence of the wood. If the birch cannot be dislodged, the Bedlam will continue to mindlessly flee until it eventually succumbs to fading. Arrows and bolts made of birch are not as effective as one might think, as they do not penetrate deep enough to keep the Bedlam from removing them. A spear, or stake, is more effective, but requires that the attacker be well within range of the Bedlam’s claws.
Lastly, it has been rumored that there is a ritual which can be performed in order to excise a Bedlam completely. It would be the most effective and guaranteed method of getting rid of the monster. Unfortunately, it would appear that the rite requires energy from three sources in order to activate. Limited source material detailing such a ritual also hints that the Bedlam appear to sense such rituals, and will avoid an area that has been prepared for one. Therefore the only way to bring the Bedlam into the area to be excised would be to lure it in. Using the right would ensure the Bedlam’s destruction, but requires four Drifters to perform: three to enact the right, and one to be bait.
The Fading. (noun, singular)
The Fading begins from the moment a Drifter first becomes aware of its existence. It is the gradual deterioration of a soul’s humanity. The first signs of fading are the sudden absence of tactile sensation. Drifters lose the ability to feel changes in temperature, and eventually the ability to feel pain. Emotions grow more and more distant, more difficult to manifest, until they disappear altogether. Fading cannot be prevented, but by finding a sense of purpose, something spurs a Drifter’s desire and willpower, it can be staved off for years. It is believed that this is why Drifters instinctively feel the need to group together, so that through the group’s support, each individual soul can last longer than it would on its own.
Others.
T.B.A.
C H A R A C T E R | S H E E T .
If you are interested in participating you will be required to submit your character sheet for approval. Please PM your CS to me. Once we have an approved cast of six (6), recruitment will be closed.
Name:
Age at Death:
Death Years: (Max 150. Based on historical records, the oldest recorded Drifter was 200 years).
Birthplace: (City, State/Province, Country)
Deathplace: (City, State/Province, Country)
Apartment Number: (Floor 1: 101-104, Floor 2: 201-204, Floor 3: 301-304, Floor 4: 401-404)
Appearance: (Pictures acceptable)
Occupation in Death: (Keep in mind, most jobs require a social security number (SSN), which in death, you aren’t exactly handed. Due to the complexity of getting a SSN, most are entrepreneurs or work under the table).
Biography: (Brief history/ character synopsis)
R U L E S .
(1) All site rules apply, make sure to follow them.
(2) Three decent paragraphs for each post is required. Each paragraph should be at least four sentences or more.
(3) Be realistic. Think rationally. Work cooperatively. Don’t jack the thread. Don’t hold the thread up. Failure to post for 2-consecutive weeks without communication will result in your character being black bagged and npc’d to be ransomed back at high cost. If you are going to absent for a little while, let us know so we can work around your inactivity in the interim.
(4) Be mindful of another’s story. There will be lots of room for little personal quests and character development along the way. Don’t jump in and make someone else’s drama about you.
(5) Don't be a jackass. We are all here to have fun. If you are dragging down the RP with negativity or personal issues, you'll be booted.
(6) Post order. I am not the biggest fan of post order because it tends to hinder progression; however, two (2) other players must post before you are allowed to post again. This is to hinder speed-posting, thread-jacking, and progressing your character's storyline beyond the timeline everyone else's. With approval, I may override this rule from time-to-time.
(7) Communicate. Communicate with one another and with the team. This is a joint effort and I want everyone to feel like they are a part of the team.
(8) Max six (6) players. First come, first served. If a player drops out, an opening may be available. If you are interested in being waitlisted please PM.
Questions | Comments | Concerns
PM Endgame
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PM Endgame
L I N K S
recruitment►
in character►
library►
cast►
discussion►
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