Arcadia

[CENTER] [b]Aissa Safiya'a -[/b] terra [b]Ensis Veneficus -[/b] DeathKnight [b]Elda -[/b] Queen Asuka [b]Maia Runeska, Anubis Nox -[/b] Dagger IX1 [b]Kaze Hikigane -[/b] Wondershot [b]Leile De'Lanthe, Luthian Eliithe -[/b] Arcadia [b]Kage C'erouscant -[/b] Zidargh[/CENTER] [size=1]As I?m sure most of you have already concluded for yourselves, this thread is dedicated towards the discussion of various aspects of the RPG [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=31722"][b]Laeth E?Thae[/b][/url] and everything that you don?t see directly in the story itself. This thread is open to both the participants in the RPG and those who?ve managed to read their way through all the posts and are still alive to talk about it. I?d like for everyone who is remotely interested in the RPG to be able to use this thread to discuss what they like about the story, what they don?t like, who their favorite characters are, what they?re favorite scenes have been so far, and so on and so forth. Feedback is an important part of the experience because it lets all of us know what works and what doesn?t. And I think that anyone who role-plays on a regular basis can tell you that it?s nice to know what those things are. Apart from the discussion, the thread is also open to those who have thought up their own ideas about the Laeth E?Thae world and want to share a perspective that is a little different than the one the RPG presents. If you?ve conjured up random characters and creatures, written side stories, drawn pictures, or any other number of possibilities but you?ve not had the chance to share them (or include them), then this is your chance. There?s also the chance to make your mark on the Laeth world by way of music. The great and powerful Wondershot has been working on a soundtrack for Laeth E?Thae and slowly we?ve been compiling songs that we thought would work well with the story and the characters. If you know of a song that you think fits perfectly somewhere within the RPG or would like to help create some great mood music, then by all means, let us know. The bottom line is that this thread is entirely what you make of it. Just remember to follow the rules, use spoilers when necessary, and be nice, and everyone will live happily ever after. Or something like that. [b]Edit:[/b] Zidargh - shoot me now.[/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Sailorsirius, you might want to read over OB's rules and the Square's stickies before you continue. All RPGs in the Arena first start in the Adventure Inn. You use that forum to explain the premise of your RPG and recruit other players for your story. Only once you're satisfied with the sign-ups and you've accepted a number of people in do you move the RPG over here, into the square. When you do create an RPG, make sure you've thought it through. You need more than an idea to work off of. Generally, all beginning RPGs need a few solid paragraphs to describe the backstory. It's much easier for people to sign-up when they have a handle on the story and the direction it will be taking. Make sure you read both the rules and the stickies. Both go into detail about what I've just touched on and will give you a better understanding of how the Arena and the boards work. If you have any questions afterwards, don't be afraid to PM myself or terra. Thanks, and welcome to the boards. =) - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]DuoMaxwell1423, I suggest that you check out OB's rules before you proceed any further, as well as the Adventure Square stickies that are at the top of the forum. You'll find that all RPGs first start out in the Adventure Inn, a subforum of the Square. There you can recruit other members to join your story. Only after you're satisfied with the interest and you've accepted any number of players do you move the actual RPG into the Square. So that's why this thread is now closed. Again, it's important that you read both the rules and the stickies. You'll get a better understanding of what's expected in the Arena and on the boards in general (for instance, double-posting is also not allowed). Also check out some of the other RPGs in the Inn to get an idea of how things are done. If you have any questions or comments afterwards, don't be afraid to PM myself or terra for help. Thanks, and welcome to the boards. ^_~ - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Spelling is overrated anyway. >_>;; Let's pretend I didn't say that. The easiest way to get around making spelling mistakes in your posts is to first type them up in a program like Word. It'll catch most of the grammar mistakes you make. Of course, there are also plenty of online sites that can help, like Dictionary.com. If you take the time, you'll see the difference. (I should also note that one sentence posts such as your last one are generally considered spam. Next time, PM that sort of thing. ^_~) - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]All right guys, I'd like to see a little more effort put into both the story and the sign-ups. One paragraph to explain the story doesn't cut it, JoyKaiba - try to put a little more background detail in. Explain the virus, or the digital world, or something. Do the kids already begin with their digivices or will their introductory posts start with the characters receiving them? Sign-ups. Guys, your characters are what make the story, so I'd like to see you think about them a little more. Who are they, what makes them tick? The more thought you put into them, the more dynamic they and the story will become. As it is, if you're not going to finish your sign-up right away, then don't post it. Read over the stickies at the top of the forum, or check out some of the other RPGs to get a better understanding of what I mean. Hopefully you'll all take a moment to think about this and edit your posts. Thanks, Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Jynxthehero201, you might want to read over the Arena stickies and OB's rules before you get any further. All RPGs must have some sort of background. Even if this is based off of Inuyasha, you still need to provide four or five paragraphs about the story and the general direction you see it going in. Please edit your first post and put a little more effort into the story. Also note that we expect a certain level of quality in the Arena, so remember to use proper spelling and punctuation in all of your posts, and especially in your sign-ups. Characters are a driving force in the story; the more thought you put into them, the more dynamic your story will be. Details and descriptions are also nice to have, as all of these things broaden the story and make it a little more colorful. Once a number of people have posted their sign-ups here and you're satisfied with the response, you may then move into the Adventure Square to being role playing. The RPG does [i]not[/i] begin in here, so that last bit of your post is unnecessary. Again, read over both OB's rules (in the menu to the left) and the stickies at the top of the forum. All will explain in detail what it is we expect in the Arena and will give you a better understanding of how to proceed. If you still have questions afterwards, PM myself or terra to let us know. Thanks, and welcome to the boards! ^_^ -Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1]I think this is a fantastic idea. I especially love the thought of putting a lot of color and html into it - that is by far one of my favorite things about Mario and to have that captured in the RPG is too cool for words. I would like to know how you plan to do that, exactly, as it's interesting to see how different people handle HTML in general. Would each post start with a banner or include some kind of Mario-related picture, or would you simply give the members that make it some kind of HTML coding for their posts? Although I have a very limited knowledge of the Mushroom Kingdom in its entirety (at least compared to some people on the boards ^_~), and I'm not sure if I'd be able to participate or not, I'm at least behind the idea of it all the way. Consider me a fangirl. All the more reason for me to begin stalking you. >_>;[/size]

[size=1]I've always liked fantasy based stories, so those draw me in quite a bit. Especially when it has to do with elemental magic - I've kind of always preferred writing nature-based magic to straight-out fighting (mostly because I feel that I can't write it terribly well). If both are over done, as Balmon kind of stated, then it isn't nearly as fun. But I'm also partial to sci-fi, and the occassional comedy. A lot of times it'll just be that I need a break from one type, so I'll look for something completely different. When it comes to reading, however, I love it all. I'll read almost anything, actually. As far as the posts go, I like detail. I like it when the environment is thought about and made part of the story - it makes it more colorful in my mind, and much more enjoyable. It becomes more and more like reading an actual book than just an RPG, except it's been written in a few different perspectives rather than one single style. And as James mentioned, unique twists and concepts for the actual story itself are always a plus.[/size]

[quote name='terra'] I know that personally, in RPGs where I'm only a participant, I sometimes worry about putting in major plot twists because I'm afraid it will interfere with what the creator originally had planned.[/quote] [size=1]That's always bothered me, and part of it I think is because of the lack of communication between the different participants and the creator. PMs are the best way to ask about ideas and get permission for new story arcs, but it still boils down to a familiar choice - how much do you want reveal about the story already? Do you want to keep some things as a surprise and keep in mind the possibility that your plans could be slightly altered because of it, or do you want to have a much tighter control over the story by introducing each new plot? Since I've only created one RPG here so far, it's kind of been my guinea pig as far as all this is concerned. I know that I'm a control-freak, so there's no getting around that. But I think because of that, I try to back off a little too much some times so that the different participants don't feel restricted in what they can and can't post. It can be hard to balance out at times. When it gets down to it, though, I like more control because I know that there's a definite plan and the story isn't going to dwindle into nothing. You've a better chance of actually reaching the end that way, and like terra, that's always been my main goal. Yay for control-freaks. ^_~[/size]

[size=1]Outside factors play into it as well. Some times a member has no control over what happens to him in his personal life (for example, family issues, school or work related problems, or even a faulty computer) and it might cause him to take a break from the boards. He might still be interested in the RPG, but circumstances call for him to drop out. In the long run, he might even be doing the thread a favor because there's no waiting around for him to catch up or post, and the story can move forward. Of course, as everyone else has pretty much said, some times you just get bored with it. An RPG may not turn out the way you want it to, and you may not feel like it's worth the effort to stick around. A member might feel that his character is being ignored and he'll leave because of that. Arguments between different players can definitely interrupt any story, no matter how awesome it might be. Also, a person's interest can wan if he or she is constantly nagged about posting. It's all right to give somebody a friendly reminder, but to PM them about it every day is something entirely different. I don't think there's any real way to tell if a person is going to be committed or not. The best you can do is take a look at their history on the boards, in both the Arena and even in other forums. If they seem like they follow threads regularly and post on a constant basis, then you can probably count on them to continue with the story. That isn't always the case, though, and if worst comes to worst, you've simply got a non-playable character that you can either use to your advantage or kill off later. [/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Darkmark, please put a little more effort into your story here. One paragraph to explain the RPG simply does not cut it. Instead, try and write out four or five decent paragraphs about what your ideas and about the spirit battle that the RPG is centered on. The more people understand the story and the direction it will be going in, the more likely they are to sign-up for it. You might also want to think about putting a little more work into your sign-up, as well. Characters are, after all, the driving force of any RPG. The more thought you put into them, the more dynamic your RPG will be when the time comes. Be sure to read over both OB's rules thread and the stickies at the top of the forum. Both will go into greater detail about what is expected in the Adventure Inn. You might also take a look around at some other RGPs to get a handle on it exactly. If you have any questions or concerns, PM me or terra to let us know. Otherwise, make sure you edit your first post and add to the story or else this thread will be closed. Thanks, Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Sesshomuru, hold the phone, please. There's a couple things you must do in here before you continue. The first is to create a more adequate background for the RPG. Perhaps you've got all the ideas in your head, and you just need to write them down. Well, this would be the time and place to do that. All RPGs must have a few decent paragraphs relating to the story in some way or another. One simply does not cut it. Explain the Chosen a little more, describe who the Desians are, maybe write a brief history lesson... whatever you choose to do, know that you [i]must[/i] put more effort into the backstory. The thread will be closed if you don't. Second, when you post a sign-up, please remember to post the finished result, not what you've written so far in the little time you have. If it's not finished, don't post it. A lot of people on the boards still do this and we're trying to cut it down. So please, be an example and make sure that all sign-ups are actually complete before they go up. Remember to read through OB's rules, as well as the stickies at the top of this forum. A lot of changes have been made recently and it would do everyone well to catch up with them. If you have any question afterwards, feel free to PM myself or terra and we'll help clear things up. - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1]I thought I'd try my hand at this banner-making business so I played around in photoshop a bit. It's pretty simple, but then I again, I like it that way. (That, and I can't do anything else in photoshop. >_>) The text kind of bothers me... maybe I'll pick at it a little more, but in the mean time, here it is. Hopefully you like it. ^_~[/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Domon, I think you've been here long enough to know that posts like these really do not fit in the Recruitment Forum. That, and you should especially know not to double post. If you want to talk about this kind of stuff, you will keep it to PMs only, or use your myOtaku. Do [i]not[/i] use the forum for this. This thread is closed. - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Benitaro, you might want to read over OB rules, as well as the Adventure Arena stickies. There are a few things that you need to include in this RPG if you want it to go any further. Such as, a story line. You need to add a few paragraphs that explain the basics of the story and the purpose that you have in mind. As it is now, there isn't any information about the story for players to use when creating their characters. Generally, this is bad. Again, read over the rules and the stickies - they'll explain a lot of what you need to know and will make things a little easier for you on the boards. Also, take a look around the recruitment forum so you can see what other RPGs here are like. You'll have a better understanding of how things work here, and you'll know what you should and shouldn't include in your RPG. Make sure you edit this thread and make the necessary changes. If you have any questions or concerns, PM me or terra and we'll work things out. Thanks, and welcome to the boards. ^_^ - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1] Though the areas near the sea were quite open, inner C?Erree was small and almost cramped. It wasn?t, however, in any way an eye sore. Most of the buildings were older, designed in a fashion that had perhaps been popular long ago. Chipped and faded stones spoke of history, and only small, pebbled roads separated one block from the next. Archways decorated street after street, rising just above the tallest man but never above the smallest building. Creeping vines covered everything ? from walls to rooftops, windows, statues, even into the streets. They gave the otherwise cramped town a breath of fresh air. There were even a few squares within the walls of the city that sported small, secluded gardens. Crumbling fountains and statues often decorated the green spaces, but there was nothing more beautiful in them then the trees. They towered upwards, reaching above and beyond C?Erree with their leafy branches. A bard from Fenwyr who had been passing through to Feurith once wrote that those ancient trees must have only been planted by those who had designed the very city itself ? they spoke of a faded beauty, one that was sometimes forgotten but always there, longing for an escape. They were the enchantment within a city that lacked magic. When Luthian looked on one such tree, he thought of home. How long had it been since he had seen the green pastures and unblemished horizons of Caedwyn? He sighed, scratching his head. Maybe after all of this was over, he would return home for a while. [i]Maybe.[/i] They had been traveling for a little over a half an hour and, according to Shrai?i, were only another ten or so minutes from the union?s main headquarters. While Luth was having his own doubts about the place, Shrai?i seemed more and more sure with every step forward. He was beginning to think that perhaps she was a little more familiar with this port city than she had previously let on, but then again, he didn?t really know anything at all about his two traveling companions. Well, at least they?re both good-looking, he thought to himself. He glanced briefly at the tree one last time before jogging to catch up with the other two ladies, a sudden smile on his lips. ?Let?s sing a song,? he suggested from behind them. Maia glanced over her shoulder at him, raising an eyebrow. ?Are you serious?? Next to her, Shrai?i kept her eyes forward. ?Don?t encourage him. I?d like to have full use of my ears as we prepare to leave C?Erree.? ?Oh come on now, that?s not right,? the Tal?Iiren pouted, before flashing Maia a big, toothy grin. He began to whistle something light and cheery. She couldn?t place it at all, but he seemed to be enjoying himself, so she just shrugged and let it go. A few seconds later his impromtu whistling launched into a full out song and she and Shrai?i shared a glance. Perhaps what they hadn?t expected, however, was that Luth had a particularly musical voice. [i]Who?d a thought.[/i] Most of C?Erree?s inhabitants referred to the Southern Pass as exactly that ? the Southern Pass. But the city?s inhabitants that knew the little gate square a little differently referred to it as Verr C?Erree, or [i]The Back Door[/i]. The Southern Pass was the place to stop in order to pick up provisions for the journey ahead in exchange for money; Verr C?Erree was the place to stop if you wanted to acquire [i]other[/i] things by other means. There were different ranks of people in Verr C?Erree, as in every other city, and just like in every other city, they were fairly easy to tell apart. The big scary ones were probably more harm than harmless, and the little skinny ones were more minion than actual crime lord. Luthian reminded himself not to make assumptions, however. It could very easily be the death of him here. As it turned out, Shrai?i knew the area very, very well. Luth couldn?t decide if he should be impressed or concerned, but he eventually decided that neither would do. It would be better to just play it cool. They were, after all, surrounded by people who were [i]just like her[/i]. That was more than enough persuasion. Having stopped his musical performance the moment he caught sight of the ?headquarters?, Luthian made sure to keep a sharp eye on his surroundings. Noting different stands that they might want to visit later, where the bars were, which ones provided bed and bath, and so on. After a long silence, Shrai?i paused under an archway and glanced at Luth. ?Maybe you should wait here.? Indignant, tail twitching irritably, Luthian crossed his arms. ?Why?? He asked, stubborn. ?I don?t see why I should sit around out here while you go in alone.? Shrai?i looked as though she were patiently dealing with a rowdy child. ?I?m not going in alone. Maia will be accompanying me.? ?What?!? Maia just grinned and stuck her tongue out at him as Shrai?i explained, ?Luthian, I have connections here, as well as a reputation. Maia is part of the business. You?re just fresh meat. We?ll see you in a few minutes.? She paused, and then added as an afterthought, ?Don?t do anything stupid.? Luthian watched them walk into the alley and then around a corner, bristling slightly. ?Not fair,? he sulked. ?So not fair.?[/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]alekx, I'd appreciate it if you could put a little more effort into your sign-up. While most people probably know about Snow White, you still need to provide the information. Saying that her mom hates her doesn't quite cut it, and it certainly doesn't do Snow White any justice. You might want to read over OB's rules and the Adventure Arena stickies, if you haven't already. They'll provide you with more details about what we look for in the Arena and on the boards in general. Otherwise, welcome to OtakuBoards. ^_^ - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]This thread has had plenty of time to improve and yet no improvement has been made, so I'm closing it. If you have any questions about why I closed this (and you've thoroughly read both OB's rules and the Adventure Arena stickies), PM me and we'll discuss it. - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][b]Character Name(s):[/b] Aya Kunetsu [b]Anime Stereotype:[/b] Mischievous, energetic girl with strange, cat-like tendencies. [b]Age:[/b] 17 [b]Appearance:[/b] Female [b]Year:[/b] Senior [b]Appearance:[/b] See attachment [b]Alignment:[/b] Neutral [b]Extra Subjects: [/b] -Hair and Beauty -Bishieology -Transformation -Counseling [b]Accommodation:[/b] Aya lives on campus and shares a room and bath with some other random person whom she can?t ever seem to remember (or maybe just doesn?t care). The amount of time she actually spends in her room, however, is little to none. She prefers other student?s rooms to hers and is often found napping in the most bizarre places. [b]Bio:[/b] Aya started off as an orphan. An incredibly adorable, precious orphan. No one knows how or why the nine-year-old ended up on the doorstep of the neighborhood?s local foster home, but when the woman in charge found her there grinning, she immediately fell victim to her, er, charm. Little Aya was vivacious and clever, and incredibly independent for her age. Everyone instantly loved her, except for the home?s pet dog, who instantly hated her. It wasn?t long before she was adopted and swept away into the suburbs. Her new family spoiled her rotten, and her new teachers praised her, despite her mediocre grades. Students everywhere hated her, however. They could see what the adults couldn?t ? that Aya wasn?t the sweet, innocent girl they all thought she was, and that trouble seemed to follow her like the plague. What made it really disgusting, though, was that she was even better at getting herself out of trouble. In fact, she seemed to disappear from the scene of the crime entirely, and all her misdeeds wound up pinned on some other poor, unfortunate soul. A slightly oversized orange cat-like ? thing was always seen slinking around afterwards, and though it raised a lot of eyebrows, it was just too cute to merit any real suspicion. Eventually Aya was sent away to Tokyo Academy, and it was here that she instantly fit in. Although she may not have been the richest student, the most popular, or brightest in any of her subjects, most of Aya?s teachers still adored her and let her get away with murder. The few other teachers either saw her for what she was and didn?t care one way or another, or hated her with a passion. (Naturally, Janitor Takashi is one of those people.) Generally carefree and optimistic, Aya comes and goes as she pleases. Though she mostly means well, she can?t help the lure of being bad and loves to cause chaos. She wears the mask in the picture when she?s feeling particularly devious, and it?s generally a sign for others to run very quickly in the opposite direction. [b]Special Powers/Abilities:[/b] Aya can transform herself into an adorable, orange, cat-like creature and in doing so flees the scene of the crime. She?s also abnormally charming and graceful, something that probably carries over from her animal form. Not every one falls for it, however, and she considers these people a true challenge. [b]Sworn Enemy:[/b] Water (though in human form it's more of a mild dislike), and any and all dogs.[/size]

[font=Trebuchet MS][size=3][center][b]Issue #1: Mask[/b][/size][/center] ?Thank you for your interest, Ms. Jones, but I?m afraid that the intern position you applied for is unavailable at this time.? Mr. Richards, the man who had performed the interview, finished sorting various papers back into his briefcase and then smiled at her. He was known in the business world for that smile, and for his exceedingly cheerful personality. He also ran what was supposedly the most supportive firm of young, aspiring business majors in Key City. Marque Jones smiled back at him politely, hiding her surprise amazingly well, and rose from her seat. Apparently, Mr. Richards and his firm would [I]not[/I] be supporting her. ?I see.? She stepped forward and offered him her hand to shake. Mr. Richards blinked at it, as if her move was unexpected, and then stood and shook hands with her. Marque made sure her grip was firm as she continued, ?Thank [I]you[/I] for your time, Mr. Richards. Have a wonderful evening.? As she stepped out of the tall, professional building, Marque frowned and glanced up at the glass windows before starting home. She hadn?t expected to be turned down, and it stung. More than she?d care to admit. Slowly beginning her walk to the bus stop, she thought back to the interview and tried to sort out where exactly she had gone wrong. She?d worn her best skirt and jacket and ironed both until they were flatter than her landlord?s sense of humor and had left an hour early in order to make sure that she made it to the office on time. She?d answered all his questions fantastically well, she thought, and was more than qualified for the internship. And yet she was still turned down. Halfway across the street she stopped dead in her tracks as the obvious finally dawned on her. She was [I]black[/I]. The person behind her had just barely stepped to the side in order to avoid walking into her and was now giving her a verbal lashing, shouting nonsense about her apparent lack of respect or discipline. Marque blinked, clearing her thoughts for a second, and turned to look at the woman. She was older, whiter, and seemed to want to blame the younger woman for all her troubles in the world. And for a small moment, Marque had the urge to give it all right back. But she held herself in check and bit back the nasty retort she had on her tongue, and forced an apologetic smile onto her face. ?Pardon me, ma?am.? The woman stopped raging, but the patronizing look on her face hadn?t gone away. She made a sound of disgust and brushed past her without so much as another word. Marque forced herself to take a deep breath and kept walking. [I]Just ignore it,[/I] she told herself. Her mind immediately focused back on the internship that should have been hers but wasn?t through some act of injustice. But then again, maybe she should have seen it coming. After all, how many colored women had jobs in Key City, let alone the entire country, that didn?t involve cleaning for or serving whites in one way or another? [I]I shouldn?t have gotten my hopes up[/I], she berated herself, turning the corner. [I]I shouldn?t have let my guard down like that.[/I] The bus stop was abnormally crowded when Marque reached it. For a split second, she stood there and wondered what was going on before someone within the crowd pointed up and shouted, ?It?s him! It?s Silver Eagle!? The startled murmurs of the crowd turned into cheers as the aforementioned Guardian swooped in overhead. Marque watched with the rest of them as the winged man dropped down onto the sidewalk and then sprinted into the corner bank on the other side of the street. Not a minute later the distant howl of sirens could be heard approaching, and once again the noise level rose to a dull roar. Unable to think much less contribute to the many voices, Marque watched and waited; all her earlier concerns vanished instantly, as did the cares of all those around her. The police had now surrounded the area and some were pushing people away while others advanced on the bank. Gunshots were heard from inside, and the crowd collectively gasped and some even cried. It was only after the two robbers, unmasked and unarmed, were thrown through a window that silence reigned once again. The only sound was the shattering of glass and the thud the pair of bodies made when they hit the ground. The police quickly apprehended the two and were dragging them back into the cop cars when Silver Eagle appeared again. Marque listened to the loud cheers and she saw the look of adoration and of sheer joy in the people?s faces and she wondered how any one person could command such an overwhelming reaction. One man more different than anyone could possibly imagine, and yet still loved so intensely. As Silver Eagle gave the people a wave, she thought about how wonderful it would be to wear that mask. How wonderful it would be to be loved for your abilities instead of your looks. Marque sighed and watched as the Guardian flew away again before starting home and thought to herself, resigned, how great it must have been to be like that. Later that night, as Marque finished her meager dinner, she flipped the television on and halfheartedly watched Channel 2 News on KeyTV. Her mother was out, probably still at the store. The Guardians flashed on the screen briefly as the anchorman retold the events of the afternoon to the rest of the city. Her mind was only half on it though; she was still dwelling on the interview. On the fact that her color was the [I]only[/I] reason she didn?t get it. Eventually she gave up trying to eat; it all just tasted bitter to her. As she cleaned off her dish, Marque noted absently that the newscaster had moved on from the bank robbery from earlier in the day and was now talking about some scandal concerning a big producer. She recognized the picture of the blonde movie star the man was married to ? Viveca something or other. She?d actually seen some of the blonde?s movies. Turning off the television, she thought ironically, [I]I guess I?m not the only one who?s getting the short end of the deal.[/I] The more she thought about it, however, the more curious she became. She?d always assumed that flashy stars like Viveca had perfects lives. Who wouldn?t kill to be young and fit, rich and famous? What wasn?t there to love? Closing her eyes, Marque indulged herself in a game of pretend ? something she hadn?t done in years. She imagined that her skin was white and creamy-looking, instead of her dark brown, and that her hair was blonde and soft and her body was perfectly curved. She imagined she could even feel herself changing, becoming an entirely different person. But the daydream ended and Marque sighed, then headed for her bedroom. Those were childhood dreams only, no matter how strong they still felt. And then the mirror in the hallway caught her eye and Marque stopped dead in her tracks. Where she should have been standing was instead a pretty blonde with puckered lips and a silky, slinky dress. She shrieked and jumped back before shrieking again when she realized that the voice she heard most definitely was [I]not[/I] her own. Panic began to set in as Marque began touching her face and hair. None of this was familiar to her; none of it was hers. ?Oh my god,? she whispered, over and over again. ?Oh my god, oh my god, oh my ?? She stopped suddenly, her eyes that should have been brown but were instead blue now quite speculative. It was obvious that something very not-normal was happening here; the key was to figuring out what it was exactly. Marque retraced her steps in her head, thinking back to the television broadcast and the picture of Viveca she saw on it. The one that looked exactly as she did now. Was that coincidence, or maybe? something else? Marque closed her eyes and breathed slowly. She remembered her little adolescent game of pretend and decided to try it again. Only this time, she thought of herself, the way she was [I]supposed[/I] to be. She thought about her dark brown skin instead of the creamy white it appeared to be now, and she thought about her dark eyes instead of the blue ones. She thought about her smile, the one she thought was always a little too big, and suddenly she loved it more than anything. She imagined the same sensations, the same feeling of change, and when she opened her eyes, Marque was looking at herself. Relief washed through her briefly, but it was curiosity that once again took control. [I]If I can become her,[/I] she thought, [I]then why not somebody else?[/I] The next time Marque opened her eyes, she found herself staring at somebody completely different once again. Somebody that wasn?t even a [I]woman[/I]. Instead, the Guardian Silver Eagle was staring back at her from behind his mask. Blinking, she touched her face, and then her chest, where her breasts should have been. When she ventured even lower, her eyes widened in shock and she swore under her breath as she decided that she was most definitely now a man. ?I can?t.. I can?t believe this,? she muttered in what she could only assume was Silver Eagle?s voice. Suddenly all thoughts about Mr. Richards, the internship, and her unfortunate ethnicity were gone, and Marque gave her reflection a crooked, goofy smile. The sound of the front door opening and her mother?s voice carried down the hall. Marque as Silver Eagle jumped before quickly closing his eyes. Not a moment later, her mother appeared around the corner, shrugging out of her tweed coat as she eyed her one and only daughter. ?What are you doing there?? Marque glanced at her, once again sporting that goofy big grin (though now it was on an entirely different person), and looked back at her reflection with a sense of satisfaction. ?Just admiring the view.?[/font] Edit: I'm not happy with the format of the tables in these posts (I think they look fine on myHero, and you should use them when you post) so I deleted the tags from them for the time being. I hope you guys don't take it personally that I went in and fiddled around with your tags. I promise I'll go back and fix them when I have a chance to come up with something more aesthetically pleasing. -Shy

[size=1][color="#993300"]Rylacus, normally sign-ups would go in the Recruitment Forum, but because I closed that thread, I'll let this one slide. Next time, PM your sign-up to the creator and wait for him or her to PM acceptance before posting. Don't forget to read OB's rules and the two stickies at the top of the forum. - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]You guys need to read the rules if you want to continue to post on the boards. The Recruitment Forum is for recruiting sign-ups [i]only[/i]. When you feel like you've got enough characters for your story, then you open a new post in the Adventure Arena and begin role playing there. [b]You do not role play here.[/b] I've closed the thread to prevent any more posts. Kat4000, once you've read both [b]OB rules[/b] and [b]our stickies[/b] at the top of the forum, if you want to continue this RPG you will open up a new thread in the Adventure Arena. If anyone has any questions or comments, please PM myself or terra and we'll straighten things out. Thanks, Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]This thread has had one warning already and it doesn't even look like any improvement has been made. If you're going to keep this going, then you must add a backstory that's more than a few lines. Specifically, I'm looking for a few good paragraphs with solid ideas and proper spelling and punctuation. Sign-ups are also equally important. A couple lines to explain a character is ridiculous. Especially when it seems like all your effort is going into the character's appearance instead of their actual personality or history. Sound a little superficial or what? It's your character's thoughts and actions that drive the story, not his looks. So please, keep this in mind. Read over OB's rules and the stickies. I can't stress that enough. If you still have questions afterwards, then don't be afriad to PM me or terra. Hopefully this will be the last time we have to warn you guys. Next time, we'll close the thread. And though I'm not trying to scare you, also consider that banning is always an option. Thanks, Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Okay kids, here's the deal. All RPGs must first start in the Recruitment Forum - if you want to start up a new story, you post it in there, first. Only after you've got the sign-ups that you want do you move it here, into the Adventure Arena. Check out OB's rules, please, which you can find in the menu to the left. They're pretty clear on that, and on what else we expect from members here on the boards. Also be sure to read the Adventure Arena's stickies, which are at the top of the forum. Those are specific to what we expect here in the Arena. They'll help you better understand the Arena itself and how it works. You might also take a look around at the other RPGs, just to get yourself better acquainted. If you have any other questions or comments, PM myself or one of the other Arena mods and let us know. Welcome to the boards. - Arcadia[/color][/size]

[size=1][color="#993300"]Okay. InuyashaLvr, while your intentions are good, please leave this sort of thing to moderators. If in the future you find something like this, refrain from posting and instead click the little exclamation point at the top of the post to let us know. Jon, this is spam. I suggest that you read the rules, which you can find in the menu at the left. All the explanations you need should be there. If you have questions afterwards, don't post something like this. Just PM me or one of the other moderators and we'll try to help you out. - Arcadia[/color][/size]