Paradox: Sign-Up

[Astral Harmony]

I'm interested in this and I have a character already planned. I just need the time to type up a character sheet.

[Arcanum]

Ninja stealth sign-up post is a go! Yep without word or warning here's a fully completed character sheet. I just know you're gonna have questions/concerns, but once the idea popped into my head I couldn't help myself.

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Name: Eric Stenson
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Physical Description: Eric used to look great. Key words: used to. He was tall, handsome, and always wearing a nice looking suit. He had perfectly trimmed brown hair and a cleanly shaved face complementing his shining blue eyes. But now his suit is tattered and dirty, his hair desperately in need of a cut and his stubble crying out to be shaved. Even his once-bright eyes seem dull and lifeless now.

Bio/Background/Etc: Eric was well on his way to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He had his own business set up in New York that he spent ten years building up. He had all the right contacts in all the right places. Eric was smart, clever, funny, the whole package. He was living his dream. And yet that all changed when he came to Hampington to negotiate a merger. The merger itself was a success, and afterward Eric and his new business partners went out on the town to celebrate.

The next morning Eric awoke in a club, surrounded by skeletons and half-eaten bodies. There were no pools of blood, just dark stains on the floor as if something had drank it up as well. And on top of everything Eric's mind had snapped. He could remember who he was, and why he was here. But he also heard voices whispering in his mind. They told him who were the former owners of each and every skeleton there. Two were his new business partners, one belonged to one of the dancers, and the other was the bouncer. The half-eaten corpses were either dancers or patrons. The worst part was that he knew the voices were telling the truth.

He was also racked by the hunger, with a part of him wanting to feed on the remaining corpses. Another part of him tried to cling to sanity. The police would find out what happened soon; some people had escaped. Eric didn't have an alibi and he knew deep down that somehow he was responsible. So he ran. He was in a strange city, half insane, on the run from the police, and suddenly aware that he didn't have his wallet.

That was a week ago, and he's been living on the streets ever since, barely surviving, barely coping with the hunger. With every passing day the hunger grew worse and the voices grew louder. Only a week and he's already an empty shell of his former self.

Monster Name: Swarm
Appearance: Swarm is actually a hive mind of thousands of small, black, insect-like creatures. An individual Swarm looks like a teardrop-shaped scale with eight needle-like legs, a small mouth on the rounded end filled with razor sharp teeth, four minuscule black eyes above the mouth, and is no bigger than the nail on a man's little finger. There is also a central "brain bug" which is a larger version of a regular Swarm (about the size of two thumbs side-by side)

The thousands of Swarms can interlock with each other in a variety of ways, effectively allowing it to change shape. The only similarity between each shape is the black color, and that it is completely featureless save for a diamond shaped scale pattern, which is a result of how the Swarms interlock with each other.

Abilities/Powers:
Living Armor: The way the Swarms interlink on the surface creates a layer of living scale armor, making him more resistant to 'unwanted' separations.
A Thousand Pieces, A Thousand Shapes: Swarm can assume the shape of almost anything it can think of, from creatures to inanimate objects.

Extra Notes:
- The thousands of Swarms are connected by a hive mind, which is controlled by the central brain bug. Killing the brain means the death of the hive.

- Due to it being composed of thousands of small creatures, Swarm is extremely difficult to wound or kill. If an arm is blown off then the surviving Swarms will rejoin the main body and re-form the arm. This would technically result in transformations healing Eric of any severe body wounds (such as an amputated arm or leg).

- While able to willingly separate into pieces, forceful separation would cause extreme pain, and kill several Swarms in the progress (since they are being torn from each other). They would still be able to re-form any lost limbs but it would be like a brand new arm and Swarm would be rather clumsy controlling it at first (on top of the pain and dead Swarms). Controlled separation would take some time for all of the Swarms to disconnect from each other, so he wouldn't be able to just split in half to dodge an attack (unless it is a slow attack or he has time to prepare the split before the attack hits).

[batgirl]

Are we being left open to any monster or just the horrendous ones? Are we allowed vampires or more humanoid looking monsters or are we really just left to demons and gross tentacle hentai monsters?

[Overcast]

Originally Posted by batgirl

Are we being left open to any monster or just the horrendous ones? Are we allowed vampires or more humanoid looking monsters or are we really just left to demons and gross tentacle hentai monsters?

Who told you my idea, that was supposed to be top secret!

In the meantime, characterville.

Name: Earnest Goodhouse
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Physical Description: Tall lanky and thin is the easy way of describing Earnest. He stands at about 6'4" and at 150lbs is skinny as a rail, the years after college have groomed him into the habit of wearing suits due to the constant interviews and internships he has subjected himself to trying to get a good job. Dark brown hair, usually combed back in a professional manner adorns his head, and his light green eyes seem to pierce people he looks upon. He is attractive, but you'd have to be into his type.
Bio/Background/Etc: Earnest early in his life had wanted to be a writer, and spent much of his youth trying to put together the story that might have gotten him famous if he chased his dreams. But as he grew older his parents began to badger, old loves began to prod, teachers began to bother and all poked holes in his old dreams until he was indoctrinated to the truth that money ruled everything around him and nothing else was important. He suffered through six years of college in marketing and psychology for a future cool hunting and selling on a large scale. But after college life has not been kind to him, the bad economy combined with the competitive market has made job searching one hell he can't seem to escape from, and he has poured nearly all he has trying to get something. But even when he's loved people usually have to tell him no since they can't afford to hire him. It was the situation he was in when it first happened, sitting in some office trying to complete an easy test marketing to children as a part of his internship, to be honest this might have been the one that would have gotten everything he needed in life, aside from happiness. Unfortunately all that came was tragedy.

Monster Name: Teeth
Appearance: The creature looks like a terrifying mutation of the poor man's normal body. His head and arms and legs have been replaced by five large tentacles with a multitude of smaller tentacles erupting from his sides. On his back though is the most notable change, a massive grinning maw filled with misshapen teeth, the inside a dark and twisted hole.

Also for the sake of not being terrible he loses his junk, it does not become another tentacle.
Abilities/Powers:
~The Maw: While many transformations hunger, Teeth lives on the idea of devouring and the inside of its mouth is an insatiable hole, though as a paradox it does drip saliva. As such it can eat anything that enters it, and as a bonus nothing that enters it can actually harm the rest of the body. Once you enter the maw, there is no turning back.
~Boneless: The change into Teeth removes every bone that once inhabited Earnest to be lost, as such Teeth cannot have any broken bones...though if he suffers one pre-transformation it will still be there afterwards. It is also gives it incredible flexibility and balance, and it can squeeze into places that it's size would usually restrict if it were boned.

[SinrXIII]

Placeholder while I mull over the possibilities at my fingertips.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Wow, this is a lot of interest already. Calling it now, Toasty has a migraine over the popularity when he next logs on!

[Inbred Chocobo]

I'm going to make a character type that I normally don't play, because I am curious what is going to happen with it.

Name: Sarah Viticus
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Physical Description: Serra stands a tall 5'2', and weighs no more than 100 pounds. She is skinny as a rail, and built like a stick. Her hair is a natural light brown with it down to her shoulders. Her choice in clothing tends to be tighter T-shirts (with her favorite bands on them most of the time) and in summer shorts, in winter pants. She is a bit athletic, and eats a ton of food for her size, but otherwise is pretty normal. The only thing that may be odd is that she keeps a cellphone on her that takes an amazing quality picture.
Bio/Background/Etc: Sarah was always the artistic type. She loved doodling as a kid, drawing all kinds of pictures, but what always captured her was painting elaborate scenery, giant clock towers, vast valleys and rolling hills. Sadly, her art skills never kept up with her ability, but her desire to stay in the field has lead her to the art of photography. She is in Hampington right now in a local college working on a degree for photography, and works part-time taking wedding pictures in the city.

Monster Name: Judgement
Appearance:

Well... the armor probably isn't there but you get the gist of what she turns into. She grows over a foot in height, her hair becomes an angry red that flares like fire. Great Phoenix wings spread from her back. I would say her clothing she is wearing tears to a point she looks savage (but for purposes of this rp they still remain to cover the naughty bits). She gains the ability to fly and great strength and rage to smite whoever she is after.
Abilities/Powers: Flight, and superior strength.

[Steel Shadow]

We inflict pain because we love!

Name: Charlie Heat

Age: 23

Gender: Male

Physical Description: A skinny chap of average height, Charlie isn't exactly eye catching, but he's not bad to look at either. He takes decent care of his short brown hair, and his thin frame glasses frame his green eyes nicely. Generally he wears casual, comfortable clothing like jeans and T-shirts.

Bio/Background/Etc: A drifter, currently moving from job to job looking for a calling, Charlie has somehow managed to cut a living for himself in the city over the past few years despite never staying with any job for longer than a few months. His history is rather unremarkable, an only child of two parents living on the other side of the country. He ended up in Hampington while travelling with a friend, and while said friend has since departed, Chalie's stuck around.
Whilst he's a determined and sharp thinking man when he's in the mood, said mood rarely takes him, and he tends to live day to day in a vague state of annoyance and irritability, though he's friendly and much less sharp tongued to people he likes.

Monster Name: Amorphica

Appearance: From a distance, it merely seems to be a tall, heavily built human. It has a head, arms, legs, the works. Well, aside from being a light greenish blue. And naked.
Actually, aside from the base form, Amorphica is entirely featureless. Smooth, even! It has no eyes nor ears, no hair on it's head, nor elsewhere. It's feet and hands have no digits, though it's hands do have a large, sharp looking claw emerging from where you'd expect the tips of the fingers to be. It stands at 7'5 feet tall, and while it wouldn't exactly register as 'fat' if it were human, it is substantially wider than Charlie, proportionally.
Despite it's apparent handicap in every possible way, Amorphica is still capable of all normal senses like sight and smell.

Abilities/Powers:
Absorption: Amorphica's hunger has no bounds. It will consume anything that crosses it's path, living or inanimate, and it will do so with any part of it's body. The floor will be absorbed under foot even as it walks. Those that survive it's touch will compare it to being splashed with Acid, and surviving is no small feet, given it's trying to absorb you through it's hands. The stronger the material is, the harder it is to absorb it. A steel door would take hours to eat through, for instance. Once something is absorbed it is broken down and used to repair any damage the monster has sustained, or merely stored away for later.

Stretching: Amorphica's body is more flexible and less solid than most living things. It wouldn't be wrong to call it a congealed slime creature. As such, it's capable of minor shape shifting, stretching and extending any part of it's body up to 10 times it's original length. Obviously, this makes whatever limb is stretched thinner and more vulnerable to attack.

[Toastburner B]

Originally Posted by Teal Mage

Hey Toast, I've actually stumbled across an idea for a concept (I assume a Plant Paradox is fine?), but I'm having some trouble figuring out what to do with the initial Abilities and Powers. When that happens, I usually just default to what's thematically appropriate. So, got any advice as to what our first two tricks should be geared toward? Like, should they focus more on combat, hunting, surviving, or be based on skills our characters have as humans?

I know there's no strict requirement to create powers to fulfill a specific purpose, but I would like a little direction. What's your preference?

Well, much like the previous Paradox RP, you probably won’t be doing much hunting (unless you want to...but as always, beware the consequences), and most combat skills would be applicable to hunting, anyways. Also, everyone starts with sense supernatural, so it’s not like you have to worry about having a way to find monsters.

Oh, and this is also a Placeholder. I expect to be able to make a bio sometime this week - Saturday at the absolute latest, but tomorrow evening's possible too. Sorta hoping that what I've thought up is intriguing is enough to let the possibility of a slightly late sign-up slide.

Don’t worry about time. I’m not in a big hurry to get this started (it gives me more time to iron out the plot [yes I know it’s been three years since the last one so shut up], so take your time). Even if we start before you are ready, I’ll do my usual thing and keep places open for people with placeholders.

Originally Posted by Girasol of Chaos

I'm extremely interested, but am concerned if I will have the time. I'll put this post in as a placeholder if that's alright, hit the monster-making machine tomorrow.

Even if I don't participate it'll be a fun task.

Edit: definitely participating, I'm going over which of my ideas would be best.

Welcome to party.

Originally Posted by Hawk

Man I loved this RP back in the day. Would I be ok to bring back Ifrit for this? Obviously it would be a different version of the guy, seeing as it's a different universe than before, but the insane firey berserker was fun to play.

Heck, man, it can be the same guy if you want. But sure, reviving Ifrit is fine. I was tempted to bring back Griz, but Wirehair got stuck in my head for some reason.

Originally Posted by Steel Shadow

What the hell, I'll take a stab at it! Limits are there for pushing past, right? Place holder up while I think of a character.

DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, SEE THE INVIS-...you get the idea.

Originally Posted by Riin Whitewind

I, too, would like to express interest.

I've an idea rattling around for a monster, I'll sleep on it and see if anything comes of it!

Sleeping while think about monsters…great. I’m already going the source of nightmares and that’s even before you people have to read a lot of my writing!

Originally Posted by lazy man

It's a Toasty RP! Now I have to join in!

...er, once I have some free time to make a character. Still kinda figuring out my schedule now that I'm back in classes.

Oh come on! I did some of my best work while slacking off in school!

…Seriously though, glad to have you aboard, lazy.

Originally Posted by Overcast

Should have a character up by today's end. Planning something with tentacles.

I tried thinking up a witty comment for this, but maybe I should just let it go.

Originally Posted by Wizardcat

Placeholder. Got the idea, am not in a typing mood.

All we need now is a DJ and we have ourselves a PLACEHOLDER PARTY!

Originally Posted by Aerozord

I asked this in the last thread but to double check, can our feeding be horrible but more esoteric, like can I be an edritch horror that feeds on sanity or something?

While I’m not necessarily against it, I’m not sure I’m necessarily for it, either. I mean straight up hunger is a simple matter (eat X amount, stop being hungry), not to mention it’s easier to say what is a lot of regular food and what isn’t. Sanity is a little more…intangible. How does something “eat” sanity? How much sanity do you have to eat to become satisfied? How much sanity does any given person have?

Honestly, I would rather you have a more “mundane” hunger, but if you can give me a compelling reason (and method) of living off of sanity, I’ll consider it.

Originally Posted by Armored Bishoujo

I'm interested in this and I have a character already planned. I just need the time to type up a character sheet.

Always pleased to have you on board, AB.

Originally Posted by batgirl

Are we being left open to any monster or just the horrendous ones? Are we allowed vampires or more humanoid looking monsters or are we really just left to demons and gross tentacle hentai monsters?

That’s…an interesting question. Can’t really give any reason why you couldn’t be a more human like monster, but really, for the sake of being fair to everyone else, the transformation should still be painful.

Originally Posted by Inbred Chocobo

I'm going to make a character type that I normally don't play, because I am curious what is going to happen with it.

HOLY CRAP SOMEONE ACTUALLY MADE A CHARACTER!

Don’t really see anything wrong with it (since I just gave Batgirl permission to make human-like monster, I guess that applies to everyone else). Just remember she doesn’t start off all righteous fury…just rather hungry.

Overcast (again):

I don’t see anything wrong with it, other than the Maw ability has the possibility of being overpowered. I’ll let it go for now (my character nazi technique is a bit rusty), but please try to keep the bottomless pit act to a minimum, eh?

Originally Posted by SinrXIII

Placeholder while I mull over the possibilities at my fingertips.

That's funny…I keep my ideas in my head, not my fingertips.

Originally Posted by Hawk

Wow, this is a lot of interest already. Calling it now, Toasty has a migraine over the popularity when he next logs on!

I just don’t see why you people keep putting up with me.

Steel Shadow (again)

Honestly, this is the first thing I thought of. Except your walking instead of sliding and gliding I guess.

But hey, we had a slime monster last time, why not this time? If you can live with this character after being granted that theme song, sure.



I'm sure I missed something or someone somewhere, so if someone would be kind enough to point it out to me, I'd be much obliged.

[Overcast]

I don't figure it is overpowered, it is kinda like the opposite of a glowing weak point, it is a large unweak-point. But it is only on one side of him, all his tentacles are still very hurtable, and the opposite side of the Maw and everything surrounding it is also mortal. Just inside the mouth is invincible, and since he lacks super turning power it will just serve as an excuse why every situation when Teeth takes control only leaves behind blood and no bodies.

It is also the central idea of the character, every power increase will have to do with mouths rather than tentacles. Because mouths where they don't belong are weird.