Adventure: The Culling

[Carthrat]

Adventure: The Culling

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Earth.

A lone star amongst many. Will it fall alone?

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File #22313, Address to the Council of *classified*. Speaker: *classified*, now deceased.

Humans live on Earth. That's not saying much; humans live everywhere. In fact, we're so common, we're considered the weed of the galaxy.

But let's not talk about the rest of the universe. It's Earth we're interested in. And it's weird so many humans live there, too. Ther're more humans living on Earth than any other planet.

Let's keep in mind, folks, that civilisation on Earth has only been around for, oh, let's say at most, ten millenia? The important part, anyway. But we know for a fact humans have been around the galaxy longer than the Istar Oracles. And there's no evidence of humans ever coming to Earth. Why would they? Earth was deep within alien borders. It's not a planet that has that much of anything- oh, uranium, I suppose. But even long ago there was more efficient power supplies avaliable, and there's no evidence of mining before present time.

We've dug long and hard, people, through all sorts of libraries, databases, we've checked alomst *every damn page* on the Holonet, we've gone down to Earth and poked around ourselves- sometimes barely escaping with our lives. I should mention that now: You think the galaxy is a dangerous place? You havn't seen Earth.

All sorts of freaks live on Earth. I've seen gunslingers so accurate they can thread a bullet through the eye of a needle- at 300 feet. Don't believe in magic? Go to Earth. The Cabal of Dastran is, without a doubt, a very real and powerful force of mages, based throughout the planet. They've got their hand in everything, and anyone who finds out about them- well, let's just say I'm lucky I'm alive.

Don't believe in gods? Greater figures? I've seen priests reattach limbs with their faith. I've seen them bring back people on the brink of death with a cup of holy water. I've seen them call down heavenly fire by pointing at objects of displeasure. I hope that's some higher power looking out for them, because if that's something anyone can do...

I see you've all brought your weapons to this meeting. They'd do you no good on Earth. There's a swordsman on Earth who'd laugh at you for bothering to draw it- then he'd move so fast, you wouldn't have time to scream as his sword lashed through your body in a hundred bloody strokes- you wouldn't have time to pull that trigger.

And that's the ordinary stuff, people. People on Earth- some aren't even people anymore. They're anything they want to be. A tiger one day, a man the next. Age and body have no meaning to them.

Even technology on Earth- though generally dated and obsolete by comparision- rises occaionally far above the norm you'd expect for such a planet. They have a theory- Moore's Law, I think- that states that microprocessor speed doubles every 18 months.

*Eighteen Earth Months*. I shouldn't need to tell you how impossible that is. At least, to us.

But I should come back to our main point. Humans live on Earth. And they're not just ordinary humans, either. We're a prolific race, it's true; so you'd expect a decent number of humans to just be really good at what they do. That's nothing special.

But on Earth? Sure. There's plenty of stupid people there. They think they run the planet, you see. They don't see these people running amok. If you go to Earth, you probably won't see them, either- until you start doing stuff. On Galactic business. Then you'll find them all coming out of the woodwork in great numbers. A whole new world, hidden behind the facade of day-to-day life will emerge. Some of them will want to help you. Some to kill you. Some just want to scam you. Some might want to fuck you- you're, to them, of course, an alien.

And even these avatars of brilliance that live on earth- most of them don't have a clue they're just one star among a billion habitable planets. Who keeps up the illusion?

I'll tell you who. The Galactic Council forces the best of humanity down on that planet. People who, with a flick of their wrist and a drop of will could turn it all back in our favour. And we, my friends, must set this in motion!

We must go to Earth, and set things right for the people there! We will bring out the geniuses among the cattle, the fighters from the weak. And when they are brought to us, we will reforge this galaxy! No alien or agency will see us beaten again! We will convince them of our righteousness, and we will-

#File ends. Video of Strike Operation #22313 follows. Target: Council of *classified*. Would you like to view the censored version?

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Want to play? Then you'll need to know who you aren't, won't you?

You're an Earthling. That is to say, you live on Earth, you come from Earth, and you've lived there all your life. Aliens? Spaceships? Phaw! The only aliens are those damn immigrants who live in the apartment next to yours and *don't stop smoking crack*.

Well. You might be able to accept aliens. You ain't no normal guy- you've got weird abilities that set you apart from the norm. Whatever they might be, too- you might be a brilliant athlete, capable of running across water, surviving in artic conditions with nothing but a pair of shorts and a thermos, able to punch through a brick wall- and into the guy behind it.

Or you might be a mage- one of the last who belongs to the Cabal of Dalstran. Black Warlocks all, quite able to hurl bolts of destruction across long distances, control the pathetic minds of those around you- the world is your oyster.

Perhaps one of the few remaining Kensei left on the world. Oh, sure, they call them Kensei, but they're not restricted to Asia- a group that spanned countries while the Roman Empire was still in infancy. Brilliant swordsmen all- the best really are capable of deflecting bullets and moving faster than sound.

Whatever you are, you're not normal. But truth be told, you're not as good as these legends might indicate. Sure, swordsman you might be- heck, you might even be able to dodge bullets. But if anyone asks, that's anticipation and instinct, not just moving really fast. So you can do a few magic tricks? So? Anyone could, if they bothered to learn.

Thing is, that's not true.

And you're only just about to find that out...

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As the above paragraph implies, you're a Special Person. Don't feel limited or anything to the examples I've given; there's plenty of room for improvisation and whatnot.

Looking for about 4 people. This game is rated M for Mature: Only people who have a clue about gaming need apply.

System will either be BESMd20 or Hero Systems. I like them so much, I want to use them both, but that's not possible. I'll toss a coin or something. BESM is more likely to produce a Heroic game of Daring Do (how ironic), while Hero Systems is likely to make more realistic sense.

(A note on my philosophy: BESMd20 was built with infinity in mind and *then* applying restraints; Hero was built with reality in mind and the developers saying "How would doing *this* work in real life?" If that makes any sense...)

The game is *loosely* based on the Omake Adventure world me and Dune pissfarted around with a while back. If you actually read it, more power to you.

Because he's a *cool guy*, and he run the original game, Dune gets a reserved spot.

Looking to start mid-November, when I finish Finals.

I *will* be posting more background info later- including what system and Carthrat's Guide to Character Generation for his Fully Awesome Game which Beats You Down.

And remember: There ain't no Paradox. There's just a whole lot of really nasty people.

[Dracos]

I call spot.  I'll undoubtedly play a Kensai ("I LIEK SWORDS!" ).  I vote for Hero system as I'm not a fan of BESM in any sense and I think Hero can be used for a reasonably dramatic game if you know what you're doing (Ask Brian =P).

Dracos

[Carthrat]

But... but... BESM has cooler art! ;_;

[Dracos]

So does whitewolf.

Are you going to suggest something?

Dracos

[Carthrat]

I just want more excuses to look through the book. ;_;[/code]

[Dracos]

Okay, how about this, I'll light the front cover on fire.

Then you have the excuse to read through as fast as possible.

Dracos

[Carthrat]

How about I stab your voodoo doll? Right in the *bicep*?

[Anastasia]

Tentative in. I need to get so much shit together beforehand, though, that it's not funny.

I'll let you know a few weeks down the line, once Hop is finished and a few other things are nearing completetion.

[Dracos]

How about I stab your voodoo doll? Right in the *bicep*?

Oooh... darn wait... you don't have voodoo powers!

Dracos

[Bjorn]

I'm interested, too.  I'm going to vote for HERO system, seeing as I bought the damn book and want to make use of it. ;.;

Bjorn

[Bjorn]

Actually, a question occurs to me.  Is this going to be a forum-based game, IRC, or a combination of the above (and at what expected ratio)?

My IRC time doesn't seem very compatible with Rat's.  If IRC sessions are going to be occasional (once a week or so), then we can probably swing things, but more often than that and I should probably bow out.

[Carthrat]

A combination of the above, no doubt, as my IRC times are incompatible with *everyone* when doing them on the fly.

I won't be doing that, however, so we should be able to settle into a nice balance. I'll see how things work out.

[Dracos]

I'll note for the obvious: I'm in school.  There is 'no' time when I can do a 12 am + irc session.  Whether planned or not. =)  So if you plan to do these, you'll have to work that into consideration.

Dracos

[Carthrat]

IRC sessions are handy to have, I guess, but we can live without them, generally speaking.

[Brian]

I'd like to be in.  I've already got a kensei character concept, if that's cool.  But no worries, Drac, my concept should be odd enough not to overlap yours. ;)