Shy

[quote name='DeathKnight][color=crimson']Will this effect eventually spread to all of the team due to them being there or will it be limited to the people who were involved in mission #108?[/color][/quote] [size=1]I imagine it will spread out to the whole group slowly, but it's up to the individual player to decide if and how it will effect them. -Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Sandy]I just can't help wondering what is going on, though... Are the invited players going on a suicide mission, where only few of them will return? And who exactly are the invited players, couldn't there be like a list or something somewhere? The opening of the Body Bags cleared up the Gold Team's previous mission's purpose a bit, but it still feels a little odd that despite Melinoë's unforeseen behaviour and uncontrollable powers, the Arbiter still didn't give any thought to her... It was also left open whether the character Joseph actually died during the Gold Team's mission because his player (Break, was it?) didn't post at all. You didn't say anything about that, Shy. I know this is a bit selfish to be asking about these rather secondary things that happened in the Gold Team's mission, but I'm concerned because there has been no discussion one way nor the other... :/ I just need to know if they have any effect on the main storyline? But to my knowledge I'll continue in the game after these Body Bags, and for that, I'm happy. ;D[/QUOTE] [size=1]1) It's not neccessarily a suicide mission, but it's going to end up with a much higher body count than any of the player would like. The players participating are listed on the first page of this thread. Some players (such as Break) do not appear to be participating in the RPG, but their character is still present and very much alive... for now. 2) It's been established that something is very much wrong with the Gold Team members. This idea is to be expanded upon in players posts as Unhate, Joseph and Melinoe participate in this mission. Read the PM you have been sent, and you'll have an idea that these characters' [spoiler]worst nightmares are starting to manifest.[/spoiler] 3) Plot threads from all of the missions, and even posts in The Arbiter will start to present themselves in Body Bags. I expect the players to bring these into the thread. More details will be divulged to the participating players via PM as Body Bags progresses. (Of course, receiving a PM during Body Bags is never a good thing, but that's beside the point.) Details as to [i]how[/i] we decided who lives and who dies will be posted eventually, but at least not until we've had our first casualty or two. -Shy[/size]

[img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/bodybags2.jpg[/img] [font=trebuchet MS]This mission thread is created exclusively for [i]invited[/i] members to post in. Players have been notified about posting rules via PM. Please direct any questions you have in regards to the event to [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109]The Legionnaires Underground[/url] thread.[/font] [font=trebuchet ms][size=4][b]Mission #111: Return[/b][/size] ?I?m concerned about them, Kaida,? The Arbiter said in a low voice. ?The Gold Team?s behavior has been anything but predictable since returning from Africa, and it seems to only be getting worse.? ?You mean this mysterious illness that has been affecting them?? ?It could be mere coincedence, the old man finally starting to show his age... part of me suspected that he was going to outlive even you...? ?I pity the person who outlives me.? ?...But I believe it?s Augur who needs our full attention. His visions have become much more erratic, seeing the past and present as well as the future. If only we could find a common thread among them...? ?You know what they all share, Arbiter,? Kaida said with a small sigh, ?Each and every one of these visions involve death.? ?I need to ask a favor of you. I?m convinced there is a connection between the Gold Team?s trip to Africa and these most recent difficulties. I need you to--? ?A team has already been assembled, boss. I?m visiting because I want your approval.? There was a moment of silence, and The Arbiter nodded his head. ?Fine. You?re better suited for this investigation than Unhate may be, anyway.? ?I?m bringing him along, and the others.? ?You?re putting them at risk, you?ve already seen what is happening to Pygmalion and Augur.? ?There?s strength in numbers, and I need someone to lead us around that temple.? ?You?re right. Bring whoever you see fit..? Kaida bowed and began to walk away. ?But bring Liquid along as well,? The Arbiter announced, stopping Kaida right in her tracks. ?What? She?s a liability; you know she abandoned the group during our last mission.? ?She has to learn how to work with a team sometime. And as Augur?s visions become more severe I fear that the danger might as well.? ?The girl is on a suicide mission.? ?Then look out for her, and everyone else for that matter. It?s your duty to lead the team, to ensure their safety and the success of the mission at whatever cost. If that?s an issue, I?ll lead this mission myself.? ?I?ll take her along, but I?ll take no responsibility if she gets herself killed.? ?If the visions are any indication, she won?t be the only one.?[/font]

[QUOTE=Wraith][size=1]Yes! Blue Team are done. Nice ending, Ozy! Does that mean everyone who needs to be is finished now? [/size][/QUOTE] [size=1]Correct. In less than 48 hours Body Bags will begin. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Good idea. As long as this isn't the case in the Arena I don't see a problem with it. Having a feature like this would have killed most of my favorite RPGs ages ago... -Shy[/size]

[size=1]I think it goes without saying that this thread is going to be closely watched. Let?s be mature about it, shall we? A few weeks ago a close friend and I were having an extremely candid conversation. They have been in a happy, commited relationship for years, but revealed to me that they were far from satisfied with their sex life. This news surprised me; not because of her honesty, but because I am also suffering through similar problems in my own relationship. This has prompted me to do a great deal of thinking about the subject, and everyone I turn to tells me the same thing: If I want to enjoy sex, I need to be single again. Another (otherwise sensible) friend has even gone as far as breaking up with their beau because of this. Sex is important to me, but it?s certainly not the dealmaker/dealbreaker. I?d be happy in a relationship with a monk if I loved them half as much as I loved my boyfriend. But the thing is I?m not dating a monk, and I?m becoming less and less interested in the act itself as time goes by. The chemistry was once there, and we're closer than ever.. but the passion is lacking. The predictability of it all bores me to tears. If you are in (or ever have been) a committed sexual relationship, how do you and your significant other handle the decline in sexual interest? Is there even a decline in sexual interest at all? Be as candid as you want. I?m interested to see everyone?s different opinions and feelings on the subject. Perhaps the people I know in my daily life are just perverts. Perhaps not. Share your experience here... -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Baron Samedi][size=1]I'm just wondering what kind of time-frame we're looking at for all the current missions finishing off? It has been three months [to the day'] since this thread was opened after all :)[/size][/quote] [size=1]I'm hoping to have them finished off in the next week or so. Silver Team will not be participating in Body Bags due to the slow nature of posting going on in that thread. I'd rather feature them in the next round than slow down the event even more. Blue Team has one more post, and the Green Team is just wrapping things up now. It will be interesting to see how both of those stories are concluded. As for [b]Hero Patrol[/b], nobody has guessed what it is yet. I assure everyone that it's something just as ambitious as The Legionnaires itself. Keep posting in [b]Arbiter[/b]! There's some fantastic work in there so far, and I look forward to seeing more of it. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Mr. Maul][font=Garamond][color=seagreen]Typos, most likely.[/color'][/font][/quote] [size=1]I second that. Typos in headlines or titles, especially. I remember one RPG which was titled "Angles and Devils" or something ridiculous like that. The typo was so annoying to me that I made a banner about it, featuring images of devils and several different types of angles: obstude, acute and right. Oh, those were the days. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]As always, beautiful work, Solo. I can't say enough nice things about the work you have done here. This is probably the closest we'll ever get to a definitive OtakuBoards history, heh. But yes, please write more good sir, that would be splendid. I think that you should write a chapter about me, and my amazingly vague position of Event Master. If only you kids [i]really[/i] knew what I did on the boards all day long... *cue evil laugh* -Shy[/size]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms][b]Name:[/b] Hard Man [center][img]http://otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=20560&stc=1[/img][img]http://otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=20561&stc=1[/img][/center] [b]Game:[/b] Megaman 3 [b]Genre:[/b] Platform/Action [b]Personality:[/b] Of all of Dr. Wiley's evil creations, Hard Man is probably the most sympathetic. He tends to be very friendly and caring, in spite of the fact that he was created to destroy Megaman, and take over the world. However, he is not the most intelligent 'bot around, and his naivity tends to be taken advantage of by other people, machines, and the occasional villain. [b]Talents:[/b] Hard Man have hard robot skin and helmet! He also lift heavy things, much more than normal robot could do. Hard Man use hard knuckles to smash! Hard Man also type 45 words per minute, and have good people skills. [b]Motive:[/b] Hard Man win prize money, and destroy puny Megaman once and for all! [center][url=http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-22134/nmm/3hard.mid][b]Hard Man's Theme[/b][/url][/center][/font][/color] [size=1]Note: I am terribly busy these days, and probably won't be able to post as frequently as other members do. Hopefully this will not keep me from being admitted, but if it is, I totally understand. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Build a giant money bin, and swim around in it, Yup. I'd pay off my credit card bills. my car and my family's house first. Beyond that, I'm still left with a good half... hm... money... One thing I'd love to do is get into self-publishing, and create a magazine, or something nifty like that. I feel like publications as a whole still have a lot of potential in them, the problem is the format and the content. More importantly, I feel like there aren't enough avenues for up-and-coming writers to get their worked published, so maybe I could do something about that, Traveling is a must. An 'OtakuBoards World Tour' is definitely not out of the question, especially since so many OB-ers live in exciting locales. Of course, I could probably start by visiting Shinmaru, who goes to school like five feet from my house... go figure. Having a large amount of cash would help me live out my goals of living out of California, and eventually, out of the country. Beyond those, I'd try to make the money last as long as I could. I realize that a million dollars is an ungodly amount of money, but it's not exactly the type of thing a 20 year old can retire with. If anything, this would help me in helping myself, and my loved ones, live comfortably. I'd still be working a few days a week, and I'd still be as cheap as I ever was. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]This thread is being locked. Please keep in mind that all threads in Adventure Square and Adventure Inn require a proper thread rating. More information about thread ratings can be read about in our foum rules. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Yes, I'm sorry, but this thread is being closed due to its poor (if nonexistent) quality. I'm sorry you are going through a difficult time, but the best way to make friends in this community is to reguargly post something intelligent, or clever, or well-thought out. Quality attracts an audience here, I suppose, so it's kind of neat that the smart kids can benefit for once. Also, please review the forum rules before posting again. This is your first warning. Topic locked. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://img156.exs.cx/img156/1613/shyotaku9jp.jpg[/img][/center] [size=1]Personally, this one is my favorite intro image... and I made it... go figure. -Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Sage]Am I the only one confused about what is going on in this game? So, the [color=gold]Gold Team[/color] and the [COLOR=Red]Red Team[/COLOR] have both concluded their first missions, right? And the [COLOR=Blue]Blue Team[/COLOR] is about to. [COLOR=silver]Silver Team[/COLOR] has progressed rather slowly despite the fact it has only three members, while [COLOR=Green]Green Team[/COLOR] - the newest team - has the most posts, but hasn't finished their mission yet, am I wrong?[/quote] [size=1]No. You're right.[/size] [quote]And apparently there're individual missions going on at [B]the Arbiter[/B], and Retribution either gave up the game or was kicked out...[/quote] [size=1]Yes, inidividual posts in Arbiter may be labeled as "Missions" so the other plays know that they have a significant contribution to the story. For anyone who hasn't read Baron's post, I suggest they do. Tetros is one of several very important characters in the game. Retribution is still in the game, but his character is in a state of flux right now, based on his actions in the Red Team Mission Thread. It's all part of the story, my boy.[/size] [quote]The Body Bags are coming soon as well, or are they?[/quote] [size=1]Once Blue, Green, Red and Gold have finished their mission threads we will continue with Body Bags. I'm sorry for the delay, but I've been waiting for each mission thread to complete. Silver Team will not be participating in this round of Body Bags, due to the very slow pace that mission thread is heading in.[/size] [quote]And what on earth is "Hero Patrol"?! (Check the first post of this thread if you haven't see the title before.)[/quote] [size=1]Good eye, Sage. Hero Patrol is something new entirely. Look forward to it after Body Bags. It's a story thread, of sorts, but probably not the kind you were expecting. Hero Patrol will require an entirely seperate sign-up thread.[/size] [quote]Anything else people like me should be aware of?[/quote] [size=1]No. But be aware that Body Bags is done more by committee than member voting. Players will have a significant impact on who lives and who dies, but the final verdict is left with several players in particular. Thanks to everyone for sticking with this. I assure you that the next round of mission threads will have a much faster pace, and Body Bags will weed out a lot of the troubles we've been having with posting on a regular basis. -Shy[/size]

[font=trebuchet ms][size=4][center]Mission #105: Aftermath[/center][/size] Two massive hanger doors opened slowly as a small aircraft flew inside. The Legionnaires? fleet or planes were traveling throughout the globe, and the Red Team?s personal transport almost seemed lonely on the runway. Awaiting the group was The Arbiter, watching silently from a distance as the bickering passengers exited. Dust, Group Leader and part-time cowboy, tipped his hat to The Arbiter as he approached. Trailing slowly behind him was the apathetic Saturn, ironically the most powerful empath on the planet, Vernacular, master linguist, and a young girl, a new face in the crowd. The Arbiter recognized her from the mission briefing -- Speedy, the latest recruit to the organization. Though he was pleased that the child had been recovered safely, there was much regarding the Red Team?s previous mission that needed to be discussed. ?Are we the first ones back?? Vernacular asked, noticing the empty hangar. ?Should? should we be concerned, worried, nervous?? The Arbiter?s expression remained stern. He stepped closer to Vernacular, answering her question in his typical formal manner. ?A situation arose that required immediate attention. Kaida led the remaining reserve members to deal with it, and have yet to return.? ?I hope-- I [I]know[/I] wherever they are they?re okay,? she muttered to herself. Saturn rolled her eyes and lit her cigarette. The Arbiter glared. ?You are perfectly aware that much of the jet fuel in his hanger is flammable, Saturn. Unless you suddenly gained the power to coat yourself in asbestos, I suggest you put away that cigarette for the time being.? Saturn sighed, and leaned in closer to the Arbiter, running her finger up and down his chest. ?Lighten up,? she said with an unenthusiastic sigh. ?Unlike little Lolita over there, I?m an adult. I can take care of myself.? Saturn pressed the butt of the cigarette against her palm, extinguishing it in a most masochistic way. The Arbiter?s eyes let out a faint glow. ??and you also know that your powers have no effect on me.? ?Hmm. You?d be surprised how persuasive I can be without my powers, Arbiter,? she leaned in to whisper in his ear. ??but don?t flatter yourself. This girl?s taken.? ?I know what you?re trying to do. Lightening my mood will have no effect on my opinion of what happened in Korea. You should know that we have lost the ability to continue operations in much of Southern Asia as a result. Was it necessary to kill so many minors for Speedy?? [I]?I knew that little bitch was bad for business.?[/I] ?Perhaps she?s not the only one, Saturn.? ?It was just another fire you needed to be put out, boss,? Dust placed his right hand near his holster, and stared into the glowing eyes of The Arbiter. ?You?re going to attack her for completing the mission that [I]you[/I] sent us on? Nobody talks to a lady like that in my presence, no sir. Arbiter, I think it?s high time you learned some manners--? ?We shouldn?t be speaking like this in front of Speedy. She?s only a child, a little girl,? Vernacular grabbed the newest member of The Legionnaires by the hand, and began to drag her away. ?That won?t be necessary, Vernacular. I will deal with Dust in private.? A cloud of dark energy poured out from The Arbiter?s cloak, and shrouded Dust. Within an instant both had disappeared, transported to some unknown destination. Vernacular began to walk Speedy out to the private rooms. ?Come on Speedy, don?t worry about the boys. Those two seem to butt heads more often than not. I?ll show you to your new home, and maybe in the morning we can go to the coast and get you something without so much? blood on it. Ugh.? Saturn continued to stare into the space that The Arbiter and Dust had once occupied. ?You coming with us, Saturn?? Vernacular asked. ?I think not,? Saturn paused, lighting another cigarette, ?Did you hear what Dust just said a moment ago?? ?Yeah, and we all know what happens when people talk, or say things like that to The Arbiter.? ?No not that,? Saturn said with a smirk, ?He called me a ?lady.?? The Arbiter and Dust both reappeared thousand of miles away, somewhere deep in the American Mid-West. Both had visited this place many times before; it was Dust?s home, and the place where he had been recruited into The Legionnaires. ?I never get tired of that trick, you know,? Dust said with a grin, ?You?ll have to explain to me one of these days how your molecular teleportation actually works.? ??Secrets lost to the ages, I am afraid. I have been doing this for a very long time, both of us have. It almost seems as if we have lost sight of our true mission.? ?You lost sight of the mission the day you started wearing that mask.? The two began walking towards a small, abandoned house in the distance. It was late in the afternoon. The sun was setting, and they were the only two lone figures on the horizon. ?Never doubt my judgment, Dust. Your wisdom, leadership and skills are what made you such an obvious selection to be a Group Leader. On this latest mission, it has been proven that you are reckless. The Children?s Army were a very dangerous opponent for any group. It seemed impossible, but in spite of your actions everyone had managed to survive.? ?I?m not willing to risk that again, Dust. Don?t expect us a briefing for your next mission. The Legionnaires will contact you when and if your services become necessary again.? Dust seem unphased by this announcement. ??I?. I?m sorry, Dust.? And with that, the Dark Defender was gone.[/font] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Neuvoxraiha][COLOR=DarkOrchid]Out of curiosity, how long do you think a post should be? To be an acceptable length for the Mission threads? I'm rather inquisitive, as sometimes, in the Red Mission thread, they're either too short or just not with enough depth. Second, would it be better to incorporate everyone and keep them in character, or should one's post have just one or two people interacting?[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]1) I don't really have a set post length in mind. Really, some members can get their points across in a few paragraphs, while other may require something much longer. I trust the judgement of the players involved. 2) Once again it's up to the individual player. I'd like to see some insight into all of these character and the group dynamics at work here, so I urge players to have their characters interact as much as possible. There has been some fantastic work so far. Write whatever feels right, really. I'd like to urge everyone to keep posting in Arbiter, and the artwork thread. There has been some great work in there so far, and what happens in Arbiter will have a profound effect on the story. -Shy[/size]

[size=1][b]Name:[/b] Vending Unit 68-BSL2 (Disguised as "Walter Piedmont") [b]Age:[/b] 3 (disguised as a 23 year-old male) [b]Job:[/b] Vending Machine ("Confectionary Salesperson") [b]Appearance:[/b] [center][img]http://otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=20374[/img][/center] Vending Unit 68-BSL2 wears clothing typically associated with "preppy" youth. Dress shirts unbuttoned to the third button, cargo pants and a pookah shell necklace. His wardrobe changes constantly to fit the occasion and the latest fashion trends, and is assumed to have been stolen from a very fat man living somewhere in the continental United States. [b]Why are you here?:[/b] Due to a flaw my the design proccesses, all 68-BSL2 Vending Units were given advanced artificial intelligence. This gave the simple vending machines sentience and human emotions, which made for some very bizarre situations. Many 68-BSL2 Vending Units would suffer from post-partum depression after dispensing the sweet candy treats that they were filled with, while others became jealous of the more popular vending machines and sabotaged them. This became a problem for the manufacturers, and they were forced to issue a full recall of every 68-BSL2 Vending Unit in the United States. However I managed to escape the recall and continued to reside in the hallways of my home at the Golden Hills Senior Center. The months passed, and I grew tired of my existance. [i]There must be something more to life than giving candy bars and granola to the elderly[/i], I thought, and over time I became jealous of them. I felt used by the senior citizens, and all I ever received as thanks from their kind was a large amount of coins. I needed someone with similar interests. I needed true love. One day I made a decision to change my destiny, and sign-up for speed dating. I hope to find a suitable human counterpart who can care for me, and love me for more than my highly delicious candy center. However, I realize that society is reluctant to accept human-vending unit relations, and I have created a clever disguise for myself. With the help of speed dating, "Walter Piedmont" will find true love, and I will eventually reveal my secret to whoever that true love may be. If they truly love me, my hard metal exterior will not change their feelings. My biggest fear is that my secret identity as a vending unit will be revealed, or that someone will unplug the outrageously long extension cord trailing from my backside. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]I agree with Des. My rating system is perfect, and everyone else just needs to figure out how to rate their threads accurately. Also, I'm very handsome. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]The issue here is that the forum's basic rules were written years ago (and more than likely, lifted from the forum rules of another site.) In all of those years the boards, the membership and the rules have changed considerably. These rules get edited, re-written and added to fit the needs of the forum, and over time the coherency of those rules tends to fall apart. There are several passages that are no longer neccessary, and I imagine there are many rules that could stand to be updated or revised. For example, The Arena Sticky (which I had a strong hand in writing, along with those thread ratings everyone keeps complaining about) contain information about spars. There was once a brief period where these types of threads were very popular, and as such strict guidelines were created to regulate them. These days, however, there are [i]no[/i] sparring threads in The Arena, and it's entirely possible that there may never be any ever again. Should we remove this section of the rules entirely? It's definitely worth considering, but at the same time it's a question of who these rules are affecting by remaining in place, and how it could affect the boards by removing or revising them (it would shorten the length of that darn sticky, for one.) Introduction and Goodbye threads are frowned upon on the boards, and it was decided long ago that they have no place here. While not specifically stated in the rules, it is implied that members create quality threads, and you'll find that the members who create Introductions threads and the ones who don't bother to read the forum rules are one in the same. Play It! and Anime Lounge rules are included in the OB General Rules because they are relavant to discussion, which is the main purpose of this site. The Art Forum and The Arena have their rules listed seperately because they are seperate entities, and those forums are not discussion-based. The Art Forum is based on member submissions and critiques, while The Arena is mainly a home for collaborative storytelling and member submissions of their original works. There are no 'Ordinary Members' here on the boards, especially not in the Suggestions and Feedback forum. Everyone's opinion here are equal, regardless of whether or not they have a position on staff or not. Some members may be more experienced, and as such have more informed opinions, but anything any member would like to contribute to these discussions is welcome. This includes you too, Sage. It would be wise to know that many, [i]many[/i] staff members over the years have contributed to the forum rules. It's not a single project by James, or any other member for that matter. I'll look over the forum rules, and see if I can't come up with something a little more concise and relavant in the near future. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Sage]Oh, and a question: [B']is the Body Bag -thread(or threads) a poll, or do we have a panel of judges or something?[/B][/quote] [size=1]That's a good question, and I don't plan on answering it. Be patient, and you'll see what 'Body Bags' is all about. [b]Baron:[/b] You are correct, I just don't know how to count. Just the same, there are special plans for [i]all[/i] the characters who have yet to be featured in the event. -Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=AJeh][size=1]Oh okay. I was thinking it could've been secret because of the fact that the posting order was PMed to us and not shown 'publicly' in our Team threads.. maybe for some sort of what's-next suspense :animesigh Anyway, what I wanted to ask: If you're posting last, do you get to close the story off how you wish or do we leave a gap for a Arbiter closing afterwards or what? [/size] :animeknow[/QUOTE] [size=1]I just like to send members PMs because they're more inclined to read the posting order that way. I'm not saying people don't check the Underground thread, but I'd rather use this method. It's just personal preference, no big deal. If you are the last to post on your mission you will be closing off the chapter. Not me, not your Group Leader, you. Any loose threads from various missions may find themselves getting resolved in [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49208][b]The Legionnaires: Arbiter[/b][/url], which I just posted. Hopefully members use this as an opportunity to explore their characters in some more detail, and keep busy between mission assignments. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/arbiter.jpg[/img][/center] Welcome to [b]The Legionnaires: Arbiter[/b]! This is an all-purpose thread that will provide supplementary stories, poetry and artwork for The Legionnaires universe created by the players. All players involved in this event are welcome to post here, explore the backstories of their character, and flesh out the universe as a whole. Please post your side discussions, questions, or comments related to this thread in [b][url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109&page=1&pp=15]The Legionnaires Underground[/url][/b]. ([i]Note:[/i] The 'blanket rating' for this thread is [PG-LV] although if one wishes to post more adult content in here that is fine. Please include a specific rating to your post if it goes beyond the [PG-LV] rating.)[center][size=5][b]:::Index:::[/b][/size][/center] #1: [i]Monday Morning[/i] - Shy #2: [i]Peeks at a Life Through Poetry[/i] - Ajeh #3: [i]A Conversation Between Echo and Vernacular[/i] - Sage Kaley #4: [i]Fear Me a River[/i] - Sage #5: [i]It's Just a Classic[/i] - Retribution #6: [i]If Only She Knew...[/i] - Sakura #7: [i]A Day, Night and Day[/i] - Nuevoxraiha #8: [i]I Will Never Love Again (Part 1)[/i] - SolarPrincess #9: [i]Shift (Part 1)[/i] - Takuya #10: [i]"I am not going to battle to win."[/i] - Dagger #11: [i]Mission #110: Tetros[/i] - Baron Samedi #12: [i]Mission #105: Aftermath[/i] - Shy #13: [i]Shift (Part 2)[/i] - Takuya #14: [i]A little bit more than arthritis[/i] - Circéus #15: [i]A Question of Morals [M-LV][/i] - Domon #16: [i]Harmless Incident[/i] - Raiyuu #17: [i]"Blessed are they..."[/i] - Gavin #18: [i]Estate[/i] - DeadSeraphim #19: [i]Boatman of Acheron[/i] - Sandy #20: [i]Homecoming[/i] - Retribution #21: [i]Deadline[/i] - Shy #22: [i]Descent into Grey[/i] - Nuevoxraiha[font=trebuchet ms][center][size=4][b]"Monday Morning"[/b][/size][/center] It was Monday morning, 7am to be exact, and Jack Barnes was enjoying the last moments with his wife before he left for his job. Jack sliced into his eggs, humming to himself as he stuffed forkful after forkful of them into his mouth. His wife, Maria, was talking to him about how crowded in the grocery store was these days, or about the cute new beagle the Johnson family got next door; it didn?t actually matter if he listened or even knew what she was telling him about. Jack knew that his wide would go on with her little story regardless. ??and you know Gladys always seemed to get into the most [I]interesting[/I] situations,? Maria said as she swept up the random crumbs that had fallen onto their green tile floor. ?Just the other day she was at the Greenfield Observatory during that big fight with The Legionnaires?.? Jack?s eyes lit up. He put his fork onto the plate gently, focusing his attention on what his wife said for the first time that morning. ??It was just one of the smaller names, though, ?Impasse? or something. You know, the [I]flaming one[/I]. Anyway, traffic had come to a complete stop on both sides of the highway as the poor thing was getting torn apart by some kind of beast. Lucky the rest of The Legionnaires had shown up, or else who knows what would have happened?? Maria looked at Jack, his eyes focused intently on her own. ?How many innocents were hurt?? He asked. ?Innocents? I don?t know, Jack. The news stations never give out those kinds of numbers,? she paused for a moment. ?But they did say it would have been a lot worse if The Legionnaires weren?t there.? ?You know what I told you,? Jack sighed. ?Oh. I?m so terribly sorry, your majesty,? she said. Maria ran her fingers through her long, dark hair. ?I forgot that you?re the only one in [I]the world[/I] who hates The Legionnaires.? Finished with his meal, Jack pushed his plate of eggs forward, ?I don?t hate them. I just don?t think it?s a great idea to put such unwavering faith in a group of individuals like that. They?re nothing more than a bunch of reckless mercenaries.? ?That?s the same song you?ve been singing for three years, Jack. Don?t go blaming your problems on those heroes up there,. All they?ve done is protect you, protect all of us since before we were in diapers. Would you rather it was you going out there, risking your life against freaks like Countdown?? Jack stood up and removed the napkin placed under his collar, revealing a neatly pressed, dark blue uniform. ?Officer Barnes,? read the white letters stitched over his shirt pocket. ?You know I don?t want to see you hurt, Jack,? Maria whispered to herself. She placed her hand softly on Jack?s shoulder, ?Why can?t you be grateful that they?re here for us? The worst you deal with is purse snatchers and parking tickets; without them, who knows if you?d even be here to have this conversation.? Jack took her hand with his own, and pulled it away from his shoulder. ?I don?t have time for this,? he said with a sigh. ?I need to find my badge.? The doorbell rang. Maria went to the hallway to answer it while Jack put on his coat. Several moments passed, and Mrs. Barnes could be heard talking to an unfamiliar voice, seemingly nervous. She sounded nervous, and Jack reluctantly left the kitchen to check on his wife. In the entryway of his small downtown apartment stood Maria, speaking to a dark male figure in a full, flowing cape. He stood over six feet tall, easily overshadowing the two residents; the man had a slight, athletic frame and a black metallic costume to cover his body. The few highlights of color were on his chest - a logo of some sort - the letter ?A,? in crimson red, and a set of faint, glowing eyes. While they had never met before, Jack knew the stranger well. He was The Arbiter, the only founding member of The Legionnaires still associated with the group, and widely regarded as one of the greatest heroes the world has ever seen. The Arbiter was a god among men; but why he had come to the Barnes residence remained a mystery. ?Once again, I apologize for startling you,? The Arbiter said coldly. ?If there were another alternative, I would have used it, but I must see your husband, Jack Barnes.? ?H-h-he?s right in?the kitchen,? Maria replied, pointing her hand towards the back of the apartment. ?I?m right here, Maria,? Jack said as he stepped closer to the door. The man began to tremble slightly, embracing his wife from behind. The Arbiter stared at Jack for a moment, filling the room with an uncomfortable silence. ?Mr. Barnes, you must come with me. The world?s safety may depend on information only you can provide.? Maria turned to face her husband, startled. ?What is he talking about?? Her questions were only met with more silence, as Jack himself had no idea what the visitor was talking about. ?I don?t understand,? Jack said. ?What do you need from me?? ?As I stated, I need information only you may be able to provide. You will join me at Legionnaires Headquarters where the questioning may begin.? Before Jack could respond, The Arbiter?s eyes began to glow a fiery red. The entire room filled with darkness, somehow muffling the sound of Maria?s scream. He felt the floor beneath him disappear, only to return a moment later. The darkness began to fade out; revealing that Jack and The Arbiter were no longer in his apartment. Instead the two were in another room entirely; some sort of control room, with numerous television screens displaying news feeds from around the world. Along the walls stood enormous supercomputers, with other strange pieces of technology littered about the grounds. Jack had been transported to The Legionnaires Headquarters, a mobile ocean base on the opposite end of the Earth. The Arbiter turned towards his attention towards the video screens as Jack collapsed to the floor. ?Nausea is a side effect of my molecular teleportation abilities. You may need several moments to recover.? ?What did you do to my wife?? Jack asked, tears streaming down his face as the room around him appeared to be spinning wildly. ?I swear to God, if you hurt her--? ?Your wife is resting comfortably at your home, Mr. Barnes. The sooner we finish your questioning, the sooner you will be returned to her.? Aside from the two of them, the room was empty. Jack tried to regain his footing, wondering where the rest of The Legionnaires were. Unknown to him, during his fall Jack?s badge had come loose from his pocket, falling onto the ground. With such a large organization, it was odd that the headquarters were so quiet. The Arbiter motioned for Jack to follow him, and they headed down a small hallway of doors. Between each doorway was a portrait of a different member of The Legionnaires. Many he recognized, many he did not. Below each portrait was a small plaque, indicating their names, and the time they served. It appeared that these portraits were of former members. ?It is believed that I wear this? costume to intimidate,? The Arbiter said. His cape was still flowing, as if a phantom wind were blowing through the hallway. ?This uniform, these colors, are symbolic of the blood shed during our missions. It reminds me every day that there is a real sense of danger in our line of work?? He stopped for a moment, turning towards the nearest door. The door slid openly automatically, surprising Jack. ??and with such a line of work, it?s important to stay one step ahead of our? enemies,? the glow of The Arbiter?s eyes disappeared for just a moment as he looked towards Jack. ?Please, Mr. Barnes, enter the room so that we may begin.? The room itself almost appeared to be a museum of sorts. Various artifacts from The Legionnaires? missions were hung from the walls, while certain pieces were trapped behind thick glass containers. In the center of the room was a small table, with several folders and photographs resting on top. The Arbiter and Jack approached the table. The dark figure pointed at the photographs, showing black and white images of some sort of large crater. ?What are you showing me? What are these?? ?These were photographs commissioned by your father at the impact site in Klamath, Wyoming.? ?Impact site? You mean the meteorite impact in the 1960?s?? ?As you were aware, Michael Barnes was an officer for the United State government. While the devastation of Klamath was publicly attributed to a meteorite impact, we have reason to believe something much more sinister was at work.? ?And what is that?? ?I am unable to share my theories at this time. But I can say is that these photographs were numbered, one through two hundred and ninety. Over seventy-five photographs are missing, as well as large portions of the report filed by your father.? ?My parents died when I was young, he never mentioned any of this to me?? The Arbiter lowered his head, thinking for a moment. ?You know nothing, do you? Your father, his crew, and their immediate families were all killed by whatever was recovered from that site. Powerful radiation formed deadly tumors on their bodies; it was so strong that it affected those they came into regular contact with. Your mother died as well, although her symptoms were less severe, and as such she suffered for many more years as a result. By the time the authorities had realized the danger, it was too late. The most they could do was quarantine those who were immediately affected, and classify the information.? ?But I-I-I? Jack struggled to form a sentence, overcome by this revelation. ?You were away, at a prestigious military school during these few years. It appears that your family?s desire to keep you at a distance has saved your life.? The Arbiter raised his hands, and darkness soon enveloped Jack, lifting him off of the ground. ?You have given little assistance to my mission, Mr. Barnes. Do not share any of the information I have shared with you on this day; the price of revealing the truth may be too great for you and your loved ones.? Quickly, the darkness disappeared, and Jack along with it. There was silence for a moment, and then a sultry, feminine voice could be heard coming from The Arbiter?s earpiece. [I]?Arbiter, are you there? Was the Barnes kid of any use??[/I] ?Your ?source? was a failure. It will be necessary to trail him and his wife for the next few weeks, make sure that nothing about our encounter is leaked to the authorities. If it becomes necessary, you have my authorization to exterminate them.? [I]?And what of the others??[/I] ?The surveillance devices have already been wiped clean. All of the agents are on assignment currently; there will be no record of this ever happening. I?ll contact you with further instructions if it becomes necessary.? [I]?Yes, sir. I?m fully committed to the mission, for the country.?[/I] ?Not for the country, for the world. Together we will make history.?[/font] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[quote name='Neuvoxraiha][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkOrchid]I am curious though about the thread ratings. I noticed that the Red Team had a very low rating, while another Team had M-SVL. I'm mildly disturbed by that, seeing as how the Red Team is the one currently killing small children. Anyway, I'm just curious why they're so different, and what purpose could be served by having them as such.[/COLOR'][/FONT][/quote] [size=1]Having different thread ratings for different Mission Threads simply makes sense to me. A lot of members are pushing towards writing adult content, but I feel like one doesn't have to include a lot of sex or violence to neccessarily make it 'adult.' This should prove to be an interesting challenge for members, and I hope it doesn't turn out to be very controversial. As for the dead children, it appears that my mission briefing was misunderstood. Um... yeah... I may need to increase the rating on that particular thread. [b]Ajeh:[/b] The posting order is no secret; why anyone who isn't in the thread would want to know the posting order is beyond me. -Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Sage]Hey, [B]there's a whole new thread in the Event![/B] An unannounced surprise, Shy? Well, I'm glad you gave most of the players left outside the first four threads a chance to participate now. ;) Hmm, to my calculations (which are almost always incorrect) there are only [B]three players[/B] besides Shy who aren't signed up for a mission now. I'm feeling quite giddy about the future in this event. I mean imagine, after the first missions are over, characters are getting killed! Or am I mistaken, will the "killings" occur during the missions? Take that as a question, Shy! ;)[/QUOTE] [size=1]This is correct, there are three players (not including myself) who are not included in a specific mission. Am I being cruel? Not really, I just have something special in mind for these three characters in particular. There was (and still may be) plans to add additional groups into the RPG. Currently that number is set at five, although things are likely to change in any number of ways as the game progresses. Some players may be killed in the actual Mission Threads, others may be killed in The Legionnaires: Arbiter, and there might still be a third option available. That's really as cryptic as I'd like to be for now. Happy posting. -Shy[/size]