The Adventures of Stone Dragon

[Coyotekid]

 

Prologue

 

Hello and welcome!  This is a thread I'll be starting regarding a little RP experiment I'm doing on Everlasting.  I actually did something similar "back in the day" on Virtue but didn't get too far with it before shutdown.  I've done this on other MMO's and have always enjoyed the development and story which comes out of it. 

 

First, I'll go over the rules I'm using and then I'll introduce you to the character.  I had an amazing first run which has prompted me to go ahead and to start this thread to share with everyone.

 

This entire project is definitely a slow burn and the character is not my main.  His progress will, understandably, be a slow, steady climb.  I'll be posting here with updates and fun stories as things go along.  My final goal is to get him, at some point, to 50.

 

 

Dah Rulez:

 

Constant RP: - I want to play this as a very immersive environment.  The game is built for players, even RP'ers, to speed through things.  Run to the next mission.  Ignore the other heroes massed around a trainer. Run to the next contact.  Go go go.  My idea is to go against all of this, to react as if everything happening in the world is actually occurring.  I'll walk from time to time when it makes sense and jog for other longer distances.  I'll only use Sprint when I need to, you know, sprint.  The character will be constantly emoting and even doing dialogue with NPC contacts and trainers.  It will be a lot of "talking to myself" but my hope is have a more immersive environment and, hopefully, let others have a feel for it as well.  IF nothing else, maybe I can entertain some folks with my chatter.  :)

 

Walk, Sprint, Run and other travel:

Again, I want everything to be roleplayed so I will have the character do a lot of walking.  When it's time to run then I will turn off walking and go with the default jog speed.  I will only use Sprint when it makes sense and for short periods until I feel the character has enough endurance for it.

 

Other travel powers will be based on what makes sense for the character and may not come along until the character has more levels under his belt.

 

Levels:

Levels are a measure of how "Heroic" the character will become. This will also effect what his outfits and costumes look like as he progresses.

 

1-10:  Still a rookie. 

10-20: More experienced but still unsteady. 

20-30: Steady and a solid hero, becoming known in the world. 

30-40:  A major player in the city. 

40 -50: High level hero.  Well known in the city and the world.

 

Missions and Contacts:

The character will NOT do the tutorial but will just land in Atlas Park and start with the initial Contact based on Origin.  From that point forward, it will have to come through RP.  (This may have to modified as levels go along.  Could be interesting.)  I'll be roleplaying phone calls to contacts, etc.

 

Influence:

Influence is basically cash for the game world.  Enhancements can be considered items or training that the character has done and Enhancements may NOT be place or changed until the character takes time in-game to do them.  No mixing or changing up enhancements mid-mission.

 

Rules of Engagement:

Unless you are playing a vigilante, one needs to remember that heroes would have to follow some rule of law when on patrol or travelling through the city.  This character is NOT a vigilante so when on the streets, the character can approach and attack any bad guy group as long as they are actively breaking the law or assaulting someone.  Coming across a back of Skulls talking to their girlfriends does not allow engagement. Now, if they see the hero and pull guns that is a different story! 

 

For missions - It's a mission and all baddies are fair game!

 

Taken Out and Hospital Visits:

This is the rough one.  I wanted to add some severity to being taken out by bad guys, either in a group mission, on a team, or running solo.  For right now, these are loose rules until I can get a better feel for what "works."  A lot will be based on the actual events that occurred that led to being "taken out."

 

• When solo and taken out/teleported to hospital - I will have to log from the character for a minimum of 15 minutes. This might actually be longer based on how severe the beating is the character took.
  
• When solo and can pop inspirations - I will pop what I can to get back on my feet and recover.  I will roleplay this accordingly and possibly get out of the mission or the situation to "clear my head."
  
• When in Group - Similar rules will apply based on if someone can get me back up through Empathy or Inspirations.
  
• If at any point I go to the Hospital then it is a minimum 15 minutes.
  

 

That's pretty much it for now.  As things come up or need to be modified, I'll adjust the rules here with edits. 

 

If you see me running around the City don't hesitate to jump into the story.  However, know that you may end up in a screenshot or two on here.  ;)

 

Character briefing and origin is up next!

 

[Coyotekid]

The Character

 

Jake Reynolds was a normal young man out of high school and looking forward to going on to Paragon City University.  Like most young men at his age, his goals were not overly high.  His main focus was getting through college, hanging with friends, continuing with his casual martial arts training and, in Jake's case, the occasional girlfriend.  His older sister, Lena, helped him to get on his feet after leaving home.  He found a small studio apartment in the Promenade in Atlas Park and had been hired for part-time shifts at the grocery store there.  It was looking to be a pretty decent summer.

 

Everything changed when, coming home from his martial arts class, he found himself in the middle of a fight between the Circle of Thorns and some Hellions.  He did what he could to help protect some fellow civilians as the battle crashed around them and then he dove for cover.  As he watched, a hero completely unknown to him came from above and proceeded to scatter the combatants with blasts of energy.  In the chaos, one of the Circle of Thorns dropped a small, antique and wooden box as he was knocked unconscious against a nearby wall.  As Jake watched, the box hit the ground and then skidded and bounced oddly over towards him, finally coming to rest in front of him.  No one seemed to notice in the confusion.  He would wonder why he did it later but Jake reached out and took the box quickly.  As soon as he saw an opening, Jake got to his feet and ran clear of the battle with the other civilians.

 

Once home in his apartment and after a shower, he opened the box.  Inside, nestled in black velvet was a necklace, a golden chain holding a basic, crude stone carving of what appeared to be a dragon.  Feeling curious, he decided to put the necklace on for fun.

 

At first, nothing happened.  It looked good on him in the mirror and he figured he might keep it or, even better, maybe find a way to sell it at Wentworth's.  Then, he felt something odd.  A tingling along his skin where the golden chain touched.  He adjusted the necklace but it continued.  Then, before he could move, the heat started.  Some kind of energy was coursing over his body and, too late,  he realized he had been messing with a magical artifact. 

 

The chain clung tight to his skin and actually seemed to press into it.  He heard the deep sound of a drum beat or a heart beat.  He could suddenly feel the deep, massive feeling of the earth below him.  As he sank to his knees the necklace began to nestle itself into his skin.  The stone dragon sank into his chest, meshing with his skin.  The energy continued and he was spinning and falling. 

 

He collapsed.

 

He awoke, a few hours later, with a headache.  Checking in his mirror he could see that the stone dragon had meshed itself into his skin and the chain had done the same around his neck.  He started to panic but was unsure who he would tell.  Everything appeared fine except for the fact he thought he could hear a deep, low heartbeat.  Otherwise, he felt good.  He felt solid and grounded and sure of himself.  Actually, he noted, it was the best he had felt in a long, long time.  His endurance was better, he found he could jog easier, jump a bit higher and the number of push-ups he could do nearly tripled.  Feeling confident and stronger, he decided to see what else might come from the necklace.

 

Over the next few days his powers began to show themselves in unusual ways.  When he was almost hit by a passing car on the way to the grocery store, he flipped the vehicle off and was surprised to see a finger of stone jut up from the ground, spiking the car's front tire.  In another episode, he awoke from a dream with his hands covered in thick, heavy stone which then, as he watched, seemed to magically dissolve. 

 

Confused and beginning to feel overwhelmed and more than a little scared, he turned to someone he knew he could trust, his sensei where he was taking his martial arts classes.  Mr. Ross was understandably upset with him for being so foolhardy but decided to help the young man.  He suggested Jake visit City Hall and speak with someone there in the FBSA.  Jake reluctantly agreed and once there was led to the offices of MAGI and to the sorceress Azuria. 

 

Azuria gladly performed a series of spells and tests to get him to demonstrate his powers. Over the course of the next few days her and other members of M.A.G.I. were able to find only a few mentions of the necklace and confirmed that it was ancient, it's origins mostly unknown.  All that could be discovered was that the wearer was known as the Stone Dragon and was rumored to be able to channel the very power of the Earth at the wearer's commands.  Azuria and other MAGI members agreed they might be able to remove the amulet from it's bonding to Jake's body but also warned of repercussions, possibly even lasting, physical damage.  They left the choice to Jake. 

 

It was at that point Jake decided to move forward, to take responsibility for his actions, to step into this new life offered to him and to join the ranks of those protecting Paragon City.  Donning a green T-shirt, some decent jeans, his cross-trainers, a small black mask and some old sparring gloves, he asked Azuria to start him on some missions immediately.  He was ready!

 

He also asked about pay because he really, really needed to pay his rent...

 

[Coyotekid]

The First Day

 

Throwing together a lame "costume" of a jeans, cross-trainers, a t-shirt, some old sparring gloves and a low quality face mask across his eyes, Jake arrived at M.A.G.I. for his first assignment.  Azuria asked him to take out a few Hellions which were on the upswing in Atlas Park and to see if he could find out what they might be working toward. 

 

Nervous at being sent out on his first solo mission he headed out.  Finding some Hellions was fairly easy and his first group were mugging an older man.  His training paid off and he had them captured in no time.  The older man was very thankful but did not ask Jake his superhero name.  He simply said, "You're the best!" and ran off. 

 

The next group went just as easily and he found himself surprised at just what he could accomplish.  With the second group he found evidence of a meeting taking place and without Azuria's approval went to the address to truly test what he was capable of doing. 

 

The mission went well.  His initial entrance and success gave him more confidence.  The Hellions turned out to be easy prey and he wondered why he had been so scared of them all this time.  Of course, he remembered, he didn't have a magical necklace engraved into his neck and chest giving him magical power of rock and stone.  But, now, he had no reason to be afraid.  He was on his way to being a hero, to really helping the city!  His enthusiasm was short lived as on his way out of the building when the Hellion ambush occurred.  A large group of Hellions had seen him go into the building and were waiting for him. Summoning large amounts of stone and rock, he was able to lock a few down and then ran for his life towards City Hall.  He did not escape without wounds however.  It was his first close call.

 

Battered and bruised he reported back to Azuria to report in.  She wasn't happy with him but healed him a bit and ordered him to speak to Ms. Liberty.  "At least you knocked the Hellions down a peg," she muttered at him.  Outside, he approached Ms. Liberty and waited in line for an opening with the crowd of heroes around her.  Another hero encased everyone in shining energy bubbles.  He jumped and was amazed.  Everyone else acted normal.  It was like that a lot around Ms. Liberty.  He found it to be a central spot for pretty much, well, anything. 

 

He thanked the anonymous person with the energy bubbles but didn't hear a response.  He was the only one who did and was otherwise ignored by everyone.  He was getting used to it.  He doubted Ms. Liberty would ignore him though.  It was his first time talking with her and he was excited.  When he had a chance, he stepped up to the platform and introduced himself to Ms. Liberty, "Hey, Hi, Ms. Liberty.  I'm, uh, Stone Dragon.  I'm supposed to check in with you?"

 

She glanced at him briefly with those piercing eyes and then offered a simple encouragement, "You're doing well, Stone Dragon," and noted his name on a data pad.  She then moved to the next hero.  He felt very odd and out of place so he quietly stepped away.

 

As he did, a woman named Tanita, in jeans, sneakers and a blouse told him, "You're welcome!" She was the one responsible for the energy bubbles.  They spoke for a few minutes, mainly about the chaos of Atlas Park.  It was a good conversation and then she headed onward to her own adventures.

 

Realizing he was tired and hungry, Jake decided he would head for a nearby food truck.  He went to check his phone when he realized he had to tell Azuria something else.  When he turned he realized he was being followed by another hero, a woman in a white environmental hazmat suit and a black helmet which covered her face.  Stunned, he greeted the woman following him.  She introduced herself as Alana and asked if he was alright.  She had noticed how he had acted at Ms. Liberty and was concerned.  A long conversation ensued and she agreed to come with him for some food.

 

Along the way a group of three Hellions were hanging on the corner.  Remembering he couldn't just attack them without reason he kept an eye on them.  Sure enough, as they drew close, one of the Hellion's pulled a pistol and the fight was on.  Alana blasted them with some red energy he could not identify and he bashed them with summoned stone from the ground beneath.  It only took a few seconds and then they were walking to the food truck again.  He chuckled to himself.  He still wasn't used to doing the hero thing.

 

Over food, she took off the helmet and the hazmat suit and he found himself stunned at her long, blonde hair and good looks.  He found out she was also involved in magic and that she was a world adventurer.  She seemed kind and intelligent and Jake confided in her about what he was doing, how he had gotten his powers.  He even showed her the odd chain still embedded into his skin around his neck.  Over cheeseburgers and other greasy food she helped him get a better handle on what he was doing.  She encouraged balance and he listened intently.  It was a good talk as they ate and watched the sunset.  It made him feel better.

 

 

Near the end of his second cheeseburger he realized how tired he was and that he was probably taking up a lot of her valuable time.  He felt like he was going to sleep for a week but knew he needed to get back up in the morning and do it all again.  This was his life now. 

 

He and Alana parted ways amicably and exchanged information.  Jake was exhausted and hoped the Hellions would leave him alone the short distance back to his apartment at the Promenade.

 

He'd tell Azuria what he needed to tell her tomorrow.

 

 

((OOC Session Notes:  Most of this run was sheer experimentation and talking to myself.  No big deal as I knew I what I getting myself into.  Everyone basically ignored me as I went about Jake's early hero life.  It wasn't until the second trip to Ms. Liberty for Level 3 that the interactions really jumped considerably.  First was with Tanita and then later, I remembered I needed to talk to Azuria and turned around as my character was walking from City Hall to find Alana following me.  That along with the resulting RP was a nice surprise!

 

((I'm still getting a feel for how I want to do these write-ups so bear with me.  I also forgot to take more screenshots as things moved along.  Something that I did not forget to do with future runs.  More to come as I let Stone Dragon get a few days ahead of the posting! ;)  ))