Stray No More
A post-apocalyptic, dystopian rp where even the strong struggle to survive. Luxury is long gone, all that is left is survival.

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Table of Contents

1 - Links | Rules
2 - Worldbuilding | World Rules | Lore
3 - The Plot | Haven's History
4 - Ranks | Character Shortlist
5 - Adult Characters
6 - Kid Characters
7 - Urchin Characters
8 - Wolf Characters
9 - Rat Characters
10 - Reserved

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Links
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Sign-Ups
Discussion
Character Masterlist

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The Rules

Every rule has a reason. Don't like the rule? PM for the explanation.

1 - No drama. Hate the character not the player.

2 - I reserve the right to bump someone from the RP if I feel as though they are ignoring the rules, godmodding, or being aggressive toward other RPers.

3 - PM questions or post in the discussion thread. Conversations and notifcations should not be conducted in the RP thread.

4 - Be semi-active. Bi-weekly (twice a week). I will on be active Sunday-Wednesday because I work 12hr shifts Thursday-Satruday and every other Wednesday. On the days I work, I will try to do a post or two between 5:00am-6:30am or most likely 8:00pm-11:00pm gametime.

5 - Be semi-lit. I'd like you to shoot for a minimum of 3-5 sentences (1 paragraph) if you can.

6 - No OP, Mary Sue, Marty Stu, etc. characters. No overly perfect, flawless characters. No overly helpless, pitiful characters. Find a balance. Pick a negative trait and stick with it. Stubborn is stubborn...but they have a weakness to butterflies. They're crippled and can't walk but they're fearless (probably 'cause they're going to die anyway, might as well speed it along). Same thing with positive traits. They're nice until you step on a flower. They're always happy until it rains. This applies to clothing too. The world has laid in ruin for a long time, clothes are moth eaten and rough. Color is faded.

7 - INTERACT with other characters. If your character is constantly shut down or constantly running away from the others, I am going to give you one warning to interact. Take some initiative! I get really tired of RPs where I try to interact with another character and they ignore me. Don't do that.

8 - Character art is allowed as long as it follows HEE rules. Probably post in the discussion thread and if you have art for your OC then I'll add it in the character masterlist.

9 - The RP is more family and friendship oriented than romantically motivated, but if romance does emerge it should stay heterosexual MxF.

10 - Please skim back over the rules to make sure you didn't miss anything. PM me with any questions or comments, or share them in the discussion thread for discussion.

Worldbuilding

The City

An unnamed city simply referred to by those who inhabit it and those who live around it as "The City." It is teaming with gangs, the surviving descendants of the souls who survived whatever initially pushed the world into a post-apocalyptic society. None of the city dwellers are particularly nice. The strong team up into gangs and bully the weak. They are fiercely territorial and often come up with twisted games to entertain themselves. The rogues that live in the city will steal from anyone - the strong, the weak, and even other rogues. They prioritize their own survival over friendships or basic empathy. Resources are rare in the city as the generations who came before already stripped it of whatever they could get. Many buildings still stand but their windows and doors have long since rusted away or been busted out. Any clothing left in old stores is moth eaten and faded, food items on shelves have long since decayed except for the rare canned item whose label is faded beyond recognition and the experation date is overs 100yrs out of date (if it can even still be read at all). Clean water is quite literally a thing of the past and most resort to gathering water from the nearest source no matter how dirty it is. The City is a brutal "dog-eat-dog" world where the weak don't survive long if at all.

The Wilds

Once upon a time, this was the subdivisions and homes of those who originally worked in the city. Over time, people left the area because their homes had limited resources and they could not sustain themselves here. Wildlife, both flora and fauna, have been overtaking the area and reclaiming the land. Homes have trees growing in them and vines growing over them. The once paved streets are broken up by large cracks and roots breaking them up. With dangerous game like moutain lions, bears, wolves, and coyotes roaming the area, not many choose to make this area home. Those that do are primarily nomadic hunters, moving with the earth rather than settling down in the city. Some are loners but a few travel in small family groups. They target the smaller game such as squirrels, rabbits, and deer though they'll go after large or dangerous game if they have the numbers and equipment for it or if it poses a threat to their safety. Unlike city-dwellers, they are not territorial and will often let others travel with them. While they will share their campsites, they will not share their food or resources and will take turns guarding it when others are present.

Haven

An old warehouse near a river taken over by a small group looking for change. The river protects them from wildlife from the suburban area and the warehouse is outside of many gang's territories. Inside, they've converted the open space into separate areas for various purposes.

In the back right corner is their makeshift infirmary and the only working shower which is primarily used in emergencies (most bathe in the river). They save the shower for those too seriously wounded to bathe efficiently in the river since the space and water are limited. The infirmary is divided into two sections, the general hospital in an old shipping container and the sick blocks in plastic utility sheds to prevent the spread of disease when it breaks out. The shipping container is lined with cots for newcomers though all the beds are rarely filled (they'd rather have too many than not enough). The sick blocks each hold two sets of bunk beds. They try to isolate the sick but will house them in the same shed if they display similar symptoms. There is an office in this corner of the building that is the infirmary's makeshift examination and operating room. There are a few old medical books here that have been collected over the years that Haven references when they run into a health problem that they aren't sure how to deal with.

In the back left corner is the supply storage and makeshift kitchen. They ripped out the useless equipment (the refridgerator, microwave, dishwasher, etc.) and brought in bricks to make a fireplace/oven. Above the oven there is a drying rack for curing meats and herbs. They've dug a deep a deep hole and run water piping through it to keep a box cool, a sort of makeshift cooler for items that will spoil quickly. While food is not restricted, they encourage residents to refrain from constantly raiding the kitchen and waiting till designated meal times to eat. This is to ensure that everyone gets something to eat at least three times a day since food sources are hard to come by. They also have a few buckets linked together with materials for filtering and purifying water. They are one of the only groups that have a source of clean water.

The front of the warehouse holds old manager offices converted into the adult's bedrooms. These rooms also hold any makeshift weapons Haven has, mostly knives, clubs, machetes, crossbows, and any other sort of weapon that can be made with limited supplies. The adults lie prepared to defend Haven with everything they've got. Some of the kids share rooms with the adults as the kids are transitioning to adult roles to become the next protectors of Haven.

Behind the main offices, in the front right side of the warehouse, there are more storage sheds that have been brought in to act as individual rooms to offer residents their own private spaces. Most of the sheds are empty but have names painted on them, the names of the children who lived in them. Some of those children have passed, some moved on when they were old enough to protect themselves, only a few have remained in Haven. The adults try to keep it as one child per unit but the rooms are equipped with bunk beds or two twin beds in the event that they need to put more than one child in a room. The rooms are equipped with either one bunk bed or two twin beds, a desk, and a wardrobe or dresser for storing personal belongings. These buildings are fortified so that if intruders do get into Haven, the children can barricade themselves in their rooms until the adults deal with the threat.

The front left side of the warehouse is an open space with tables along the walls for eating, playing games, working on projects, etc. It is a multipurpose space where most gather when the daily work is done to socialize and relax with other members of Haven.

Outside the warehouse is a large garden near the river which produces most of the food that Haven consumes. On top of the warehouse is a guard post where whoever's on duty can see a few miles out if any threats are approaching. They have a horn that they can blow to annouce danger and a bell that they ring to announce the arrival of neutral traders or allies. There is one guard on duty throughout the day and at least two at night when it's harder to see and stay awake.

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World Rules

- There is no clean water. Most drink out of rivers or streams.

- Food sources are rare. Stores have old cans but most food is meat that can be hunted. Wild game in the Wilds. Wild dogs, rats, and such in the City. Not many garden but Haven does.

- Clothing is faded and moth eaten. Dyes must be crafted if you can gather the resources.

- Technology no longer exists. It has long since deteriorated or been stripped for parts.

- Piercings are a no-no unless you're looking for infection. Alcohol is a scarcity.

- Most get drunk or high off of herbs or fermented fruits if they have the time to make it.

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Lore

WIP

The Plot

A dystopian, somewhat post-apocalyptic, society where the world has laid in ruin for so long that no one quite remembers how they got there. The fallen world is just the way life is, and it's future is grim. As former cities and homes crumble, wildlife grows more and more dominant, reclaiming the territories of their ancestors. What remains of humanity lives primarily in the shells of cities, fighting each other tooth and nail for territory. Food is scarce. You can pillage old homes and stores in the city and fight other strays for those scraps, or you can try farming outside the city and fight with wildlife. Clean and hot water are luxuries long forgotten. The weak do not survive in this world. It's just not possible. Not here. And the innocent don't stay that way for long.

But...

What if they did?

It started when a small band of teenagers came together. They helped each other survive and built a haven to better survive. Then these teenagers grew up into adults. They survived the wasteland of the world and kept their humanity, their empathy and hope. And they're guided by a dream. What if they could change the world? Or at the very least, see the first few dominoes fall toward a brighter future? They could restore light and order to a world of chaos and darkness! But where would they start?

With the weak, of course! Nothing inspires a brighter future like the innocence and hopefulness of a child. And nobody is weaker than the youth of this world. Orphaned by the darkness, most of this world's children have seen their fair share of bloodshed. They've been pushed around, are constantly starving or getting sick, getting hurt... In order to survive they either have to risk stealing from larger, stronger gangs or risk hunting in the wilds. Or...stoop to scavenging.

But what if they didn't have to?

The hopeful adults turn their safe haven into a shelter. Their plan is to rescue as many children as they can get their hands on. Bring them to Haven. Give them a roof over their head, an actual bed to sleep in, warm blankets, hot meals, clean water, and teach them how to fight and speak so that they may never fear being killed or starving to death. Protect them from dangers and provide them with the tools to succeed on their own one day. Show them how empathy can restore light to the world and how the bonds they build today will build a brighter future down the road.

Maybe these adults are too hopeful. Maybe they're just too ambitious. But maybe...just maybe, they can be the first step toward a new world.

But will they live to see it?

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Haven's History

will update as the RP progresses and events unfold

Haven started nearly ten years ago when Everine, wandering the outskirts of the City, found a drunken Demeter stumbling around without a purpose. Being the colorful personality Everine was, she couldn't leave Demeter in her depressed state. She encouraged the stranger to find a reason to live but Demeter could find none. They traveled together for a while while Demeter tried to find something to bring light back in her life. That was when the two women ran into a rat running from a gang. They protected the child from the gang since it's an unfair fight and afterwards Demeter comes up with the idea that she could adopt and protect children orphaned by this world. Everine supported this idea and the party of three began looking for a place to call home. They went through a couple home bases, either being chased from them or running into environmental issues until they settled on the warehouse where Haven exists now. They have resided here for about the past 7 years and are likely here to stay with all the effort they've put into making the warehouse home. Haven ranges from 15-30 members with some adults and kids leaving to hunt or explore and coming back every couple months to trade or rest (other members in Haven are considered NPCs and can be played by anyone).

Adults

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WIP

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Demeter
Played by Insane Sanity (374815)

Demeter is a hardworking, optimistic woman with a mysterious past full of regrets and an overall do-gooder personality. Her light, reddish brown hair is usually pulled back to keep it out of her face and her chocolate brown eyes are warm and welcoming to children she wishes to save. A motherly woman of average height and build with fair freckled skin from hours spent out working to protect her children. She loves to help others and teach kids the skills she's learned over the years with her close friend and fellow founder of Haven, Everine.