Aberrant RPG - The Element of Interest... [With adult content]

[Fortune's Son]

Hey there.

There's a fairly large picture loading at the moment. Be patient and listen to me ramble for a bit and it just may be worth your while.

I hope anyway.

What makes a character really interesting to you? After gaming on and off for a few years, it suddenly struck me that the characters that hooked my interest were the ones that that had something extra going for them. Not a hidden power, artifact of the elder beings or the ones that were secretly the offspring of a ruling god - though I've run a couple of those as well. Rather, the ones that had lives involving something besides... They had lives.

Yeah, I've run the grim avenger dealing two fisted justice accentuated by the thunder clap of his 45's. Or the shining hero cleaving through the air with one leg tucked neatly under his tush on his way to battle for truth, justice and the American way. Not to mention the reluctant hero forged in a terrible personal tragedy who, with even greater reluctance, goes forth to insure no has to know the despair he's known.

They were fun at the time but thinking back I'd have to honestly admit I don't remember most of their names. They were the powerful, the driven, the living legends of the game they were born in and yet they were also emminently forgetable.

The characters I remember most over the years were far less powerful but they had stories that actually meant something to me. They had lives and loves. Ambitions, though not always good or nice. Desires. Their lives were messy rather than clean. Sometimes, often, they got themselves into incredible problems but they weren't defined by how many orcs they butchered or the fact that they successfully snuck into somebodies basement to knife the resident overly large lizard and steal his trash. They were defined instead by the reason they were on the glory road rather than the road itself.

Which also annoyed a few ST's and GM's along the way mind you. The last thing they wanted to hear after spending a week building the ultimately magnificiently deadly dungeon was me muttering that it made no sense. The really good ones figured out quickly that collecting magic weapons, powers or retainers meant nothing in the grand scheme and gave me what I was looking for. A place in the world. Reasons to go adventuring. Reasons to defy the masquarade. A need to dare against the garou or to match wits against Professor Moriarty. I remember the names of those ST's as well because their's were the games that defined the RP experience for me.

Recently I've had more than a couple of people read Jack Chance's posts, as well as the vignettes collectively called The Narrow Way, and ask the same question;

"What does Chance see in Graveyard Jill?"

On the surface it's a very reasonable question as their lives are so very different. She a Terat Harvester and he a paid Elite. He's well liked by anyone that hasn't found themselves going against him in a debate while she is the quintessential alien even among a group that values the monsterous. Why would a dazzling urbane nova associate with a ghoulish creature like Graveyard Jill. It's a very reasonable question.

It's also the wrong question.

The only thing that really differentiates Chance from a thousand other novas is a singular willingness to look beneath the surface. In seeing with better eyes that the ones nature gave him. Their relationship is not one based on blindness or pity, quite the contrary. In Jilly our man of fortune sees life and everything that makes life worth living. If the ticket has a price... Well, name something worth while that doesn't. No doubt about it; his life would be easier on his own and traveling the club circuit. He could be one of the best paid Elites in the world and even Totentanz would only be a question of probababilities and odds. Of course that life wouldn't be worth living to him. No, the real question is what does Jilly see in Jack.

This train of thought got me to thinking that perhaps I should take a shot at showing people what Jilly looks like. This was constructed and colored completely on computer since I lack any ability with a pencil and does a fair job of representing. I hope you enjoy it.

Oh, and the symbols are Chinese. It means demon, restless soul and ghost. It also means spirit. Seemed appropriate somehow. I gotta learn to work in smaller resolutions though. Even after resizing the picture it's still big!

[Seven]

Luv the pic Jack! Jilly has always had a strange allure when reading her, both otherworldy and completely down to earth. Have a visual refrence only enhances her appeal as a character.

Now, stop knocking your own damn artisitic skills! I would Love to be able to get my computer to spit out such wonderful creations. Alas I have neither the talent nor the patience for such undertakings.

[Sakurako Hino]

An image of beauty befitting the name... Graveyard Jill...

Good work.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

What they said. Really good. I sense some talent.

[Fortune's Son]

Thank you all very much for the kind words and wonderful praise. It makes it all worthwhile.

[Bastian]

Better looking than I would have thought, but aren't we all?

" ... singular willingness to look beneath the surface." (?)

Considering the number of introspective people here, that sounds a bit ... odd.

By the way, it is great art work.

James here; aka Jager, Preston, and now, Bastian. I have been more facinated with Jill's self-destructive desires and moral pursuits. I like looking into the why of things.

Yeah, I was the guy in 'Tomb of Horrors' that said, "Why are we here to disturb an ancient lich who just might be dead and who isn't bothering anybody?"

I am also the guy who asks his players why they are adventures in AD&D. After all, there are many sane things they could be doing, so why go out on a regular basis and risk your life? I find it makes for much better games.

Mr. Chance, I would be interested in writing Bastian in to Jill's background. Is it a possibility?

[Fortune's Son]

Thank you very much for the compliment on the artwork.

On your observation I would comment that if asked Chance would honestly say there's nothing special about him - a sentiment quite different from most of the introspectives. That changes when Jilly is around as he becomes... Something else. Also there's a relatively small number of novas in attendance here, maybe a hundred counting back from a year ago, and the statement is made in the context of there being somewhere between 6,000 - 12,000 novas in the world.

Jilly is beautiful. Although her appearance changes rapidly if she doesn't meet her daily RDA for meat. Just ask Chance's doorman...

[Fortune's Son]

Sorry James, I missed your question on the first run through. Is it a possibility? Sure, though I'll have to ask Mr. Chance and it may take a little effort to save me the trouble of rewriting parts of The Narrow Way.

What did you have in mind?

[Sakurako Hino]

Hey, how much would it take for you to do a pic of Endeavor?

[Kirby1024]

Very nice pic, Jack.

What makes characters interesting for me? I s'pose the big thing for me is "enlightened gimmick". Apart from a realistic character, I like a character with a defining trait. Something that lets that character stand out above all else, and more importantly gives you something to work with in interaction.

Apart from playing the character, I never lose sight of the fact that I'm playing with other players. When I'm in a troupe, I find that my characters tend to move towards those characters that are well-defined, and more importantly, have outside links.

Basically, I find most interesting those characters that I can work with. A beautifully made-up character's not going to hold my attention if it has nothing to do with me...

[Fortune's Son]

Quote:

Sakurako 'Endeavor' Hino asked:
Hey, how much would it take for you to do a pic of Endeavor?

I don't do this for money but if you're serious... I have three projects I need to finish first, including a story submission to ÆON for their contest, so it would be a month or two before I get to it. Other than that I'd need a fair description of Sakura and the freedom to do it my own way. At my level of talent it's either done in the manner the inspiration comes or it turns out like crap.

If you wanted it done in a specific style or scene I would recommend asking a more talented artist like Apep's player. Give me an idea of what you're looking for though.

[Matt]

If anyone would be interested, Matador and I have been discussing ways for him to do commissions from this site. If nothing else, I'd like to get an idea of how many people would be interested in such a thing, whether it be Jack, Apep or Matador doing the artwork.

[Vile Bill]

Gimme a figure and I'll tell you if'n I'm interested. I might possibly be.

[Sakurako Hino]

Let me do some hardcore thinking on it. Brian just grinned and said he'd help me out. Although I've been curious in a REALISTIC drawing of Endeavor, I easily excuse an Anime/Manga style drawing. Not to mention I'm busy with "Day of the Dead" with Teknokat. Never thought a collaborative would be such HARD work! But, I like how it's working out!

Hey, it's me. I sort of like the illustrations they have of Nippontai in the PG and the main book.

I'll consider offers, but take note: I'm broke. I have to focus money on worthwhile things like food and a roof over my head.

[Fortune's Son]

Quote:

Originally posted by Sakurako 'Endeavor' Hino:
Never thought a collaborative would be such HARD work! But, I like how it's working out!

Now you know why we don't post more fiction here. It's hard work!

[Sakurako Hino]

And now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

[Fortune's Son]

Wait until you try it with several different authors, each with at least one character and some with multiples, and more want in on the story.

Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh!

Some really good stuff gets written though.

[Sakurako Hino]

Whoa. You must be referring to "On Wizard's Watch". I plan on reading that. Although "Day of the Dead" isn't as epic, it's still a good action movie style fiction. I REALLY like working with Teknokat. TK's a good partner. (Yeah, I know TK's Kirby and whatnot.)

I'm really glad I joined up with you guys.

What'cha guys think about "Day of the Dead" anyways?

[Vile Bill]

I haven't really read much of it yet. I've been waiting for you guys to get a bunch down so I can read enough at a time to really get into it. I've found that reading something, fiction at least, post by post that is coming on slowly can get frustrating. So, I'm exhibiting a little patience so that the payoff is better.

[Sakurako Hino]

*grins*

That's cool. But don't hold your breath, it'll probably take about a couple more weeks, or four to six posts for the both of us to finish I think. I'm having a good time, and don't really want to end it yet. Although a recent flood of PMs to TK over the last post might make things shorter. ( Sorry TK. ) Hopefully I'm holding up my end of the bargain. I think I've done well to keep things "In Thread" on the story. Teknokat has done an AWESOME job as well. TK plays off of me as much as I do Teknokat.

It's hard work, but it's fun. Sort of like painting or drawing. My recent post I feel really moved the story foreward, although I think I should have broke it into two posts. It was LONG.

[Kirby1024]

I wouldn't worry about it Endeavor. For an Administrator I get surprisingly few PMs. Also, long? Pah! You should read the last third or so of OWW. Those posts got long!

BTW, thanks for the compliment. I try, ya know? You're doing sensationally well for a first-time collaborator. To be honest, I can't wait to see how the thing turns out...

[Sakurako Hino]

Hey, the fun's just startin' everybody.

And everyone, a moment of silence for Vile Bill. Valhalla won't know what hit it.

[Sakurako Hino]

Kirby: Thanks. I do my best! I think Endeavor and Teknokat can be a good team.

[Cin]

Hey Jack. How's this for Jilly?

Happy Holidays!