/me emotes.

Emoting is the process of rping. Roleplay is a good writer's paradise. You get to hone your skills into genre, situation, gender, and a million over little details that you didn't know you needed to practice. Here is an example of one of my roleplays. It occurs in Hathian when Callie (my character) finds her long lost cousin (Sadie.)


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Callie Alderton stops at the corner and gazes over at the record store. A small frown creases the lines of her mouth as she looks down to the small snapshot in her hand. The snapshot itself is of a child, a few facts scrawled across the back. Her friend from back home was a detective - he had done all he could. Her uncles dying wish may actually be fulfilled in this moment. That is, -if- it was the same girl. She took one step into the lot tentatively, then two, and then approached the woman on the bench with a slight apprehension. Not out of fear, but rather of what was to come. "Hi.", she said quietly. "Are you Sadie?"

Sadesh Helendale looked up from her daydreaming and focused green eyes on the woman standing near her. She looked her up and down, regardling her in a cold manner. The woman had done too much in her time to just give up her name to some random chick so she lifted a brow in question and replied dryly, "Who wants to know?" She saw the photo in the woman's hand and it just served to grow the seed of aprehension she felt.

Callie Alderton followed her gaze to the picture in her hand. Her face gave an expression of remorse mingled with nervousness. "Just me." She had expected that perhaps she wasn't going to be welcomed with open arms - it was too much to hope for, especially in Hathian. "Here." She handed the woman the picture. It was of a young child that, despite the age, was undoubtedly Sadie herself. On the back was a birthday - Sadie's birthday, along with her current address and description.

Sadesh Helendale furrowed her brow and took the picture in hand, her eyes widening at the sight of something she had never seen yet, knew who it was right away. Had she not be trained to keep a level of composure when surprised, her mouth would have undoubtably hit the ground. She flicked her green gaze up to Callie for the breifest of moments before looking back down tot he faded snapshot and flipping it over. A date which meant nothing to her hovered over information that she found disturbing. The location of her and Tah's home. Her hand came to close to a fist over the picture, creasing it between her fingers and palm as she stood and hissed, "How did you get this?" Her immediate reaction was one of intense faer that she hid with her anger. Had she not killed the man all those years ago, had he lived? Was this woman somehow linked to him?

Callie Alderton saw the look on her cousin's face and could not help but feel painstakingly guilty. "Your father. About a year ago.", she said still in a low voice. "Your mom had it sitting on the mantle for ages before I made the decision to come find you." She might as well not leave anything out. She took out her pack of Malboros and looked up at Sadie. "Do you mind if I smoke?" She kept reminding herself to be extra polite - and some people didn't like cigarettes. She felt a little more at ease at the mention of her aunt who was, by nature, an incredibly soothing person.

Sadesh Helendale narrowed her eyes and shook her head. It was
obvious that the woman was fucking with her. Sadie had long ago given up the idea that she had ever had a family. If she did, they would have looked for her, they would have found her. They would have stopped him. She opened her mouth to speak and raised the hand which held the crumped picture up toward Callie, pointing her index finger at her for a moment before closing her lips again and shaking her head. The short onyx tresses of her hair flying back from her face as she started to stalk past the woman, tossing the picture at her feet as she moved toward the street.

Callie Alderton sighs as she starts to walk past her. "I'm sorry!", she blurts out. And she was - she could only imagine the thoughts running through her head. "I'm sorry.", she repeats, more quietly. Wheeling around, her hair splays out and then settles on her shoulders "I'm Callie." She was Callie, the cousin it looked like, as of right now, Sadie could never come to love. "If you need me...I...well, I'll be around for a while." The nonchalant and carefree facade that had been lifted ever so briefly now retook its place in her demeanor. "I know it must be a lot to wrap yourself around...but...", she trailed off and fisted one hand in her own hair. Turning towards the hospital she starts to walk off before looking over her shoulder. "They loved you so much. Just know that." She continued her stroll down the street.

Sadesh Helendale halted her steps at the woman's claims that her parents loved her and laughed quickly. The bitter nature of it suprised even her as she turned toe to look at the woman. Her eyes scoured the woman's retreating form before she called out, "If they loved me -so- much, they would have looked for me. Seems it was easy for you to do it. Here you are." her hand when to motion out to the picture on the ground, "That girl is dead." She kept a level gaze to the woman as she watched her, a frown tugging down at the corners of her lips.

Callie Alderton turns around again and presses on the corners of her eyes to stop any tears that may come. No need to make a fuss. "They tried. It took -me- this long to find you. And that was with help." Help from a very expensive private investigator that her uncle couldn't afford between cancer treatments. "If you want to know what happened..." What happened to her aunt, who couldn't take the pain living brought. To her uncle, who succamb to it. Her eyes took in the crumpled picture on the floor. "She may be dead. But I know the story behind the corpse." Callie was by no means a weak person. Quiet around those she didn't know, she was a strategist. And the strategy she took know was one of impassive compassion. If her cousin wanted answers, she would get them. But only when she was ready to ask.

Sadesh Helendale laughed low and smug under her breath and regarded the woman for a long time, one that would most likely make one uncomfortable before she spoke, "Doesn't matter if they tried. They failed." Everything she had ever experienced had a double edge to it. If she thought it was good, it always turned out devestating. Why would this be any different? Her only way of dealing with anything anymore was shutting down and not allowing it to sever the fragile hold she had on her sanity. Her eyes did crawl back to the picture again, half of her wanting to run back to it, uncrump it and stare at it's every nuiance, the ohter half wanting the ground to swallow it up and claim it so she could ignore it's meaning.

Callie Alderton grit her teeth at that. Such little faith in her own family, but what was to be expected with a past as dark as Sadie's? And with Hathian as your playground, its easy to see why everything would be tinted a shade of mud. "They died.", she said simply. "They died trying." She presses her lips together as if she said something incredibly vulgar, or divulged a secret to the opposing side. Despite her urge to make Sadie aware of her family, she didn't want to overwhelm her.

Sadesh Helendale shook her head and said quietly, "How do I even know who you are?" Arms came to fold under her breasts as she looked to Callie, "And why would you even give a fuck? No one around here does things without self serving motives."

Callie Alderton bit her lip before making eye contact. "My mother was your father's only sister. I'm your cousin Callie. And your dad was my favorite uncle." Shrugging her shoulders. "I have pictures, documents, all the proof you need. I came to Hathian to find you. I'm staying for reasons that are my own. Either way, it was your father's dying wish that you and your sister be found and helped. If you needed help. I give a fuck because, whether you believe me or like it, you're family. Simply seeing you're alive after what your mom and dad went through is enough motive for me."
.
Sadesh Helendale 's face crumpled for one small moment at the mention of her sister. She kept that small, lifeless form tucked back in the corner of her mind. The very mention of her was something that could bring the woman to tears. Wait...no one knew about her sister but Tah. She'd never told anyone that she even existed. It was the one thing Callie could have said to convince her that she was who she said she was. She breathed out her sister's name, "Tali..." She looked down the ground to cover the film of tears that maanged to find her eyes, "Tali is dead. She's been dead for a very long time."

Callie Alderton felt her face contort in pain. One half of her mission was destroyed - she felt every twinge of misery her uncle and aunt would have felt. "I'm sorry.", she whispered. Furrowing her eyebrows together, she sighed heavily. "Is there anything you want to know?"

Sadesh Helendale continued her stare at the ground and breathed in deep. When she finally raised her head to Callie and steadied her gaze on her she knit her brows together and spoke up in a pained voice, "How did they..." she swalloed hard before going on, "How did they die?" She coudl almost smell the sickening sweet, pervasive scent of her sister's body curled next to her. The press of her cold flesh against her. She did her best to mantain her even breath but it would be an obvious effort to anyone looking. '

Callie Alderton shut her eyes tightly for a moment. "Your mother...she..took her own life. After they couldn't find you. About a year after you disappeared." She took a deep breath and continued. "Your father was diagnosed with stage three carcinoma on his lungs. He past away a few years ago. It was his last wish for you guys to be found...I've been looking since his death."

Sadesh Helendale looked to her right and stared off into space as she let the news sink in. She had parents...dead parents. She couldn't help the flood of images that came to dance across her thoughts, the many bodies that had claim her yound flesh far before her time. The slide of the knife into her kidnappers body when she could finally gather the courage to escape. The faces of the people who's life had ended short and terrifiing at her hands. She spoke softly, "Its better this way. They wouldn't have wanted to know me." She turned a hardened gaze back to Callie and bore eyes to her, "And you don't want to know me either." If this woman was truely her cousin, she'd spare her the pain of knowing that her relative was a murderer, a drug dealer and a gang member. Her hand came to rest over the new Rejects band that graced her arm as if she could hide what she was to her cousin.

Callie Alderton for the first time, smiled. Well, it was more like a smirk. "I think I'd decide that shit for myself." She saw the simple gesture of her cousin covering her armband and it all became clear. If she was worried about how she appeared, well, that wasn't a problem. She presented her own forearm forward - it was covered in trackmarks. Leaning down, she pulled up the leg of her pants, at which a bloodied wrench hung simply. "We didn't all take the road our parents would be proud of. I think that I'm more like you than you expect." Putting her hands on her hips, she digs her toe into the asphalt. Her cocky, lazadaisical attitude pushing forth with a vengeance. "My mother wanted me to be a singer or some shit." She laughed dryly to herself. "I'm a mechanic. Your dad's was the first engine I ever repaired." Her uncle was the only one who accepted the way she was. "Your dad was the coolest guy ever. He's adore you if you slit his throat. Don't ask me why he was so nice. I certainly didn't take after him there."

Sadesh Helendale let her eyes travel over the evidence her cousin presented and lifted a brow. her gaze lending itself to Dizzy for a moment before she looked back with a smirk to equal that of Callie's. If the woman did turn out to become a fixture in Sadie's life, she'd knock out whatever shit was making her arms look like that. Drugs were a weakness in her mind. Well, aside from weed that is. Despite Callie's insistance that she and her were more alike than Sadie expected, she traveled on the side of caution. Pressing her heel toward the ground, she moved herself closer. She let out a quick burst of laughter at her not being as nice as her father was, "Yeah, I think that little trait skipped us both." she still wasn't convinced of any of this, really. She had decided to play along for the sake of finding out more.

Callie Alderton shoved her hands in her pockets and grinned. "Glad to hear it." Rocking on her heels, she looks around. "This is the last place I'd expect you to be, to be frank. My friend is a P.I. - we figured the best way to find you was through your attacker. And since we had no clue who that was...we went through all of the sex offenders in the tri-state area. When he finally found the right guy...well...there wasn't much left of him when we got there. It's by fucking chance that we came across you. My guy happens to have another client here, which is how he came across you a few months ago." She seemed proud of her own detective work, rocking back and forth on her heels.

Sadesh Helendale let out a small snort at Callie and shrugged, "Came here with my boyfriend." It still felt odd to refer to Tah as her boyfriend. It was so new that she had no catagory for what they were, the term seemed to fit for now. A small smile formed on her lips at the thought of him, one she fought back down quickly. She still wasn't resting comfortably on their relationship. She would always remember how he had crushed her heart once. A heart that still had a lage Cyn shaped hole in it. She missed her friend but was more then relieved that she didn't have to see her face when she saw her and Tah together. She shook herself from her thoughts at the mention of her kidnapper, turning her eyes to look to Callie as she nodded. The worry that the man still drew breath was quelled. She noticed her cousin puffing up like a proud kid and laughed again, "How long are you sticking around here?"

Callie Alderton (aw's irl at the cyn shaped hole comment) grins. "Least you got a boyfriend, yeah? I'm don't think I'm the commitment type." Thinking about what was next for her in Hathian, she takes a moment or two to deliberate. She had refound Zane, got a pretty good job opening...there was a lot to consider. "I'll be here indefinately until I decide to pick up my shit and move. Found an old friend, and I'm working at the garage. Just tryin' to find my place here, I guess. I'm not really content with the powerless citizen status." Canting her head, she looked at her cousin before watching the street. "How long ya' been here?"

Sadesh Helendale shrugged her shoulder and spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "I love him." It was true. Water was wet, the sky was blue and Sadie would always be in love with Tah. Eric Blackburn, the baby...nothing had been enough to shake her feelings for the man. Again, she tucked back that smile and listened to Callie go on. If the woman proved of any use, she knew some people that could take her places. She smirked at the determination she heard in Callie's voice, it echoed that of her own. Maybe they actually were family after all. Time would tell how true her words would ring. She furrowed her brow in thought as she realized the ramifications of her being here, of what her affiliations might be, if she had begun to form any of them. "So, you only know me, this friend of yours and that's it?" she questioned.

Callie Alderton shrugs and smirks to herself. "Basically, yeah. Met a few people here and there that seemed tolerable. I'm better off not knowing a shitload a' people. Less of a chance to get fucked over. Less people that see you when you're vulnerable." Stretching her arms over her head, she grins at her cousin. "Less people that piss me off and I gotta kick their asses an' shit." She was a private person, even when she was being a team player. It was in her nature not to trust unless there was some kinda foundation. She ran her tongue over her teeth and surveyed the area again. On top of being private, she was paranoid. There was no such thing as too cautious when it came to saving her own ass.

The RolePlay Experience

As I read over my own blog, toot my own horn, and all that jazz, I've realized that, although I talk about roleplay a WHOLE LOT, I've never really explained or demonstrated what roleplay IS.

Role play (RP) is simply pretending to be someone or something to simulate an experience, usually interacting with others doing the same. People RolePlay to have an experience - and experience that real life limitations will usually prevent. Gunfights, hoverships, magical powers - nothing is beyond your reach in roleplay. There's an enormous number of roleplay-themed Second Life communities based around every conceivable theme and narrative -- I'm still astounded there's a small but active one based on courtier life in Louis the XIV's Versailles -- and just as many rule sets by which they're self-governed.

Roleplay 101 -
There are a few rules when it comes to roleplay. One, you can't be afraid to lose or take a hit. It shows respect and the sign of a good roleplayer that isn't afraid to lose. Props make an outfit and sometimes a character - which also ties into my next rule: get into character. If that means spending a few linden on getting an outfit decker out prims, so be it. But that also means if you're in a Harry Potter roleplay - get into character by reading the book or watching the movie and visualizing what kind of person you would portray in that universe. Rule four: Play outside the box. If that means playing a woman as a man, or switching your race to that of an alien or a vampire, not only does it open a lot of doors, but it also pushes your limits as a writer and roleplayer. Step Five - cause a scene. You have your character and your clothes, but getting started when you don't know anyone is hard. Ask for help in character, or for a cigarette, or for direction - knowing a few good real life icebreakers really helps.

"There are vast differences between IMs, OOC, and IC. Learning the difference in these 3 types of communication and how each one is perceived by others is key to good roleplaying.

You’re minding your own business at some rp sim when you get an IM from someone admiring your outfit. You are fighting someone and after being defeated, you receive an IM telling you it was a good fight. You are about to start a scene with someone, and you get an IMtelling you what they will or will not do with you. You are roleplaying with some people when suddenly someone posts ((be right back)), another answers ((kk)) and when that person posts ((back)) everyone around posts ((wb)). All these conversations have one thing in common; they are all OOC. At any point, when you are contacted in IMs you should consider these conversations OOC. In that regard, if you IM someone, when in an RP sim, be it another character, a GM assisting you with a problem, or a vendor that sold you a item, you should make sure this is conducted OOC. Vendors and GMs especially do not have the need to deal with you IC since they are providing their services OOC.

There is a reason why this avenue is kept OOC. This is the only safe place to conduct an OOC conversation that would keep it out of the ears of others around you. Most RP sims do not like it when players are having long extended conversations of OOC matters in public chat. OOC in public chat is highlighted by surrounding the OOC text in brackets such as ((I’m still rezzing)) or [[gimme a second]]. Because everyone is IC, it become very disruptive when you pass by or are nearby OOC conversations. Be conscious of how you affect others and move your OOC conversations over to IM’s or group chat. It allows others to think clearly about what they will say and avoid issues and/or misunderstandings.

Another major thing to keep in mind is going off on or threatening another character in OOC speak or IMs. Most if not all sims will swiftly penalize you anything from a few days or weeks ban up to and including permanent expulsion from the sim. Do not unleash your anger at another player in OOC comments or IMs. If you have an issue with another player, work it out in a civil fashion or call a GM to assist. If you don’t know the rules, read them carefully before beginning to RP. Failure to be knowledgeable about the rules does not mean you will not be punished if you violate a rule." - Diary of a Roleplayer

Roleplayers are not required to check your profile for RP limits. Some will do so but most will not. It is your responsibility to inform others of your limits.
If you have informed the other players of your RP limits and they are violated, you may call a GM to assist.
If you have roleplay limits you may find yourself with little or no interaction from other players.
Some roleplayers have chosen to adapt the RP limits of those they interact with, thus if a player states no mutilation, they cannot perform it on the other player.
In some sims, a long list of RP limits will be seen by other players as a sign of a Camper.
If you have RP limits, consider joining an RP sim that better accommodates your tastes. Dark RP sims like Lost Angels and Crack Den have activities ranging from odd to extremely bizarre. Think of this as a movie; if you don’t like slasher flicks don’t watch these types of movies. You may not be actively participating in these limits but you will encounter players doing RP about it with other players.

AFK – Away From Keyboard

Avatar – also known as avi or AV for short. A computer representation of you or your alter ego within Second Life.

Camper – a player that camps out a roleplay sim with the intent to rack up points for their combat meters to level up, but refuse to RP or will go AFK or Away while accumulating points.

Corpse Camping – after defeating a player, you defeat them again as soon as they recoup some of their energy. This differs from battle where someone you defeated is revived and continues to fight. In this case a second defeat would not be classified as corpse camping.

Fade to Black – also known as FTB. Used if you don’t agree with how an RP is going. You simply announce Fade to Black and the scene ends there.

GM – Game Moderator also known as Admin to be called when violations of the rules occur, issues with the game itself, or questions and or assistance related to the RP.

GODMODDING – Playing God – for example being immune to all types of influence, injury, issues, or being almighty above everything and everyone.

HUD – Heads Up Display

IC – In Character- for example speaking as your character

LARP - Live Action Role Play

METAGAMING - Using OOC commentary or reading tags and using the information in your RP without having discovered it IC.

NOCOM – This is what you are told you are if you meter is off. When your meter is off you cannot take damage and you are in non-cobatitive mode. Generally when your meter is off, you are not allowed to RP simply because if a fight breaks out, you will not take any damage.

NPC - Also known as Non-Player Character. Commonly used to serve as assault teams or temporary characters in sim-wide role play. NPCs usually will arrive to attack everyone in the sim giving players a chance to unite with each other to defeat the threat.

OOC - Out of Character – for example making comments or asking questions that are not part of the scene or not being said as your character.

((brb)) – OOC be right back
((k)) or ((kk)) – OOC ok
((wb)) – OOC welcome back
READING TAGS – Reading an avatar’s name or description to use in the RP without having discovered it IC. Also see METAGAMING.

RPC – Role Play Coordinator. Assists with creating and moderating role play in a sim.

RP - Roleplay.

RP Limits – A list of things you will not do or participate in at a RP sim.

Safe Zone – An area in an RP sim that is free of RP or IC activity.

Skills - The powers your character has such as healing yourself or other, inflicting damage on opponents, or giving armor to others.

Titler – An object that allows a title to show above your head. Usually used for RP sims.

XP - Experience Points – Earned by time in the sim or awarded for good roleplay. As you accumulate XP you go up in levels and gain additional skills.


Ive given the basics, now its up to anyone who reads this to use this knowledge in world. Roleplaying is one of my favorite pastimes and I love doing it.

SL Photography

I think everyone’s passion in Second Life is taking pictures of your favorite moments. We can find tons of models, but we can’t find tons of PROFESSIONAL photograpers.

- Have a good sense of perspective, use and knowledge of the editing tools that professionals image editors given to us, and of course, the ability to be creative in using poses.


Studios or Spheres – Try to find those with gives you lots of varieties and resources. Use them with responsibility, to not make your picture with hundreds of useless particles, colors, fogs and backgrounds. Ah! about the backgrounds, taking a picture above a photo of the Eiffel Tower is nothing glamorous.


BE CAREFUL WITH ACESSORIES! Bracelets not attached well to your arms, or even worse – giant bracelets, blinging piercings, bad attached gadgets, flying necklaces, and other incredible funny stuff are a big danger when you are modeling! Taking a few minutes on a stand pose to attach all of them well before a photography session will make a HUGE difference.


Clothes – Attention! A quality book requires quality clothes! So, for a great professional portfolio with 2 or 3 sets, stop being a poor guy or girl and invest yourself in good simple combinations but glamorous.


Lights enviroment – The most important step for a big difference! Put your computer graphics to the highest you can, and abuse of the all illumination you got. If the environment you are in is badly lit, try use the lighting tools that the studio can give or those face lights that you can find almost everywhere.


Photo Edition – Perfect photos just turn perfect when you edit them. Using Photoshop or any other photo editor guarantees you a great final effect. The biggest difference is, you can see when someone is professional or not just seeing how they can use those image editors well.


MY FAVORITE SHOTS:

The Heart Reef

Today, I visited the Heart Reef Resort, a realistic replica of the coast of Greece. It is a beautiful build with wonderful graphics that I can really only describe in pictures. Forgive me for the lack of words, but I took plenty of snapshots to compensate.

If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.....

The newest RP sim I've decided to explore is Midian City. A dark, mysterious, and ominous place that is kind of like Hathian, with its urban grunge element; kind of like Shipyard with its futuristic feel; and kind of like a magical sim with its open mind for creatures and roleplay options.

Midian City - The Story
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21st century

Another world war come and gone.
And miraculously once again the big red button was not pushed. So the world and the life that clings ever more precariously to its surface lived to see another dawn.

Those that fought and survived the carnage of this latest high tech machine war returned home to find little had changed. And those that had no real homes dispersed like shadows into the darkness of the great sprawls of urban chaos which the world’s cities had now become cities like Midian.


Another tangled mass of past and present architectural anomalies, pushing ever upwards towards the sky, leaving its down trodden dwellers far below in the ever darkening canyons of concrete and steel. It stands alone on an offshore Island once connected by a bridge that reached across the treacherous waters of the Quinntukhat river like a great artery pumping fresh life and trade from the mainland into the cold heart of Midan.

But suddenly, 20 years back, that source of life blood had been severed.
So the Island is now once again cut off from the mainland as it had been a few centuries earlier when it was home to a leper colony. And now, as then, the world just across the water seems to have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to this city of lost souls.

You see the Government preferred not to dwell too long on the subject of Midian. It was here in 2013, in the darkest days of the war, that the “final solution tests” supposed to end the conflict, went drastically wrong, and created a radiation wasteland uninhabitable for some years after, and turned the surrounding waters into a chemical soup of decaying seafood. And this was why the bridge was closed and the city evacuated, a crude attempt to put the tragic events out of sight and hopefully out of mind.
However, after a while life did return to this blighted place. Slowly and illegally at first, a few of the less desirable elements of the surrounding states, dared the dangerous river crossing and found refuge here. Then the influx of fresh blood picked up a pace when it was realized by the criminal elements on the mainland that law and order was passing this place by.

So now far from the gaze of polite society and elected law, a new colony of sorts has arisen, except this time the lepers are of the social kind and the disease is corruption.

At first no one cared about these new city dwellers, believing that they would all be dead from radiation poisoning within a year or so, but for some reason this did not appear to be happening and as time passed and the population of the mad bad and dangerous to know began to swell, it was clear that something had to be done to at least contain the problem, if not to stop it.

So the government decided to contract out the management of the city to one of the large corporate Security companies that had begun to spring up over the past few year to compensate for the inadequacies of the understaffed and underpaid state police departments. These companies still called themselves police forces, and took upon themselves all the trappings of the state police. But they are in most cases little more than criminal cartels.

None more so than the present governing body of the island, the self styled MPD. In order to quell the flow of unsavory citizens onto the Island or at least to appear to be earning the extremely high sums of money they charged for their services , the MPD placed a heavy guard on the bridge.

But it is said that this is more a way of forcing extortionate admission fees from those wishing to escape the law of the mainland than any real attempt at blocking entry.

So Midian stands as an example of what can happen when crime, violence, perversion and corruption are mixed together and left to boil unattended in a melting pot of urban decay. The accumulated sins and excesses of men and beasts have shrouded the entire city in an unyielding night of shifting shadows and flickering lights. In this deranged little corner of the world, none hope for better, maybe just the strength to make it through the night. Here the meek inherit nothing, the poor die cold and hungry and the old and weak are prey for the strong, here the choice is simple, fight or run, hunt or be hunted.

Walk down the wrong back alley in Midian and you can find just about anything, and you probably will.


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The Factions of Midian City
Rev. May 2008
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(*Please Note: Listed below are the ONLY officially recognized factions of Midian City. And while we are open to creative new ideas, we will only be taking them from those who have first taken the time to fully immerse themselves in the city. In other words ... Don't just come into the sim and ask to create your own gang. Don't ask to create your own faction. Don't ask to run your own organization. Get to know the roleplay first. Doing otherwise will only make you look like an inept goof who has not bothered to read this notecard*)


**FACTIONS**

It is said that the Island is divided amongst the factions that rule it. More than gangs, less than brotherhoods, these factions form a delicate balance of hostile peace that keeps the city moving. Although, the direction to which it moves is anyone's guess.


((The Hounds - Faction dissolved by End of May

These boys and girls just want to have a good time, at your expense. They are the archetypal alpha male gang, who like there animal namesakes, live only for the chase. In fact, without the thrill of the pursuit, they'd have no interest in their quarry at all. If you become the object of a Hound's affection, it will step up to you and utter a single word: "Run." Every fiber of your being will be inclined to escape, but this is a mistake, because anyone who's encountered the Hounds will tell you this: they will chase, they will catch, they will play, and they will feast.))


Sarcina

Many are easily swept away by the all too feminine charms of this Pack of Females. But make no mistake - they are just as deadly as their male equivalent "The Hounds". This group is dedicated to delivering justice to the darkened souls that feast upon the innocents of the city, found operating out of the "Twilight Zone". So be aware, should you happen to stir the lust or ire of this Pack of Female Hunters you just might find yourself labeled as their prey, hunted down, captured … and subjected to their sadistic whims, at their discretion, of course.


The Shadow Stalkers

Much darker in desire and intent are this loose knit group of psychologically insane individuals who choose a very different approach to the hunt. The Stalkers do not play games with their prey like the Hounds. They wait in the shadows, and are behind every corner, under every fire escape. They are patient, they are determined, and when they spot a favored prey, they pounce, grab, and drag it into the darkness with them. What happens after that is often unspeakable, even within the city itself.


KAOS Pirates

"He left a Corsair's name to other times, linked with one virtue, and a thousand crimes." Lord Byron

KAOS Pirates are a gang that causes chaos in Midian/Apoc, sending a fisted scowl to those who seek to control them from Leviathan. Their goal is complete emancipation, anarchy till blood pours into the streets. The Pirates earned the tag KAOS due to their repeated illegal pirating of Midian City's radio airwaves. There is a dark underbelly to their purpose that even many of their own are not privy. Should this ever be discovered, most of Midian would immediately move to eradicate the Pirates. Just keep in mind, freedom is never obtained without bloodshed...and chaos, being a tool of nature, is not always particular about whose blood is spilt. You name it, if it will get a pirate what they want, never put it past them. We welcome all types of characters, be they mech, hybrid, vamp, human, what have you. If you are the sort that is offended easily by gore, violence, rape, hardcore role-play...KAOS is not the faction for you...so just a little pre-emptive warning.


The Catwalkers

A blip in the human genetic code has given birth to these half cat half human anomalies. Seldom seen on the streets, these "CATWALKERS" can be found perched high above the city on the many catwalks, upon which they are forever roaming, watching, and waiting for a chance to pounce. They love to toy with their prey. Fun loving kittens, easily amused, they just as readily squash those things that come to bore them. They are jokers and night creatures and just love to play, just like the cats they resemble.


The Nightbreed

There is also something far older that stalks the city streets. The existance of a family, who came to the island many centuries ago, is mentioned - they chose to shut themselves off from mainland society, practicing the old rites and rituals of their homelands. This gave rise to many rumors whispered behind hands, rumors about them being vampires, and warnings to better stay off the island of Midian. As time passed they were chased and hunted, though the Family never completely vanished. These are the stories of old times, and still myths and rumors twine around this Family, most of them forgotten after their mansion had been destroyed and burned down. - These days the Family has well adapted, certainly the polluted sky of Midian has contributed to shield them from sunlight, allowing them to hide their Kind within the daily routines of the city. 'The Society' is creating more and more webs to hide their true nature and grant their survival.


The Lykans, aka Skinwalkers

Some even say there are werewolves in Midian. Or at least in the surrounding desert. But these kind of rumors are easy to dismiss, arising as they do from those who are themselves little more than urban animals.
Still, every now and again the MPD will pick up some street dweller reduced to silent terror, who, when pressed for answers, describes things best left in medieval legend.
Easy to dismiss, yes, but had these strange testaments been true, then what better place could there be for creatures such as these to dwell. Here in this dark city of shadows, where the corpses of the dead have been said to out number the living. Who here would look twice at the remains of some unholy midnight feast. Keep to the light then, and leave the shadows to those things born in darkness.


Midian City Mercenaries

As in all places given over to violence as a means of settling disputes, there are those willing to sell their weapons skills to the highest bidder. The ranks of these professional soldiers of fortune had been swelled with the end of the last war as the city began to fill with those trained to kill, but whose services the government no longer wished to pay for. Such are the members of this loose knit guild of mercenaries, hit men and cold blooded killers. The guild was set up to help distribute trade and stop internal fighting between the members over contracts. It seems to have worked, the Mercs are thriving, the body count is rising.
Now including Oceanic Imports, the number one Midian City Import/Export business. ((For Information please read the notecard))


Ashagi Corporation

Widely known, Ashagi Biomedical is a multibillion dollar pharmaceutical corporation that is best known for making inexpensive and often lifesaving drugs. Truly a cutting edge technological marvel that will brighten the streets of Midian City and help its residents in the years to come. Or... won't they?


Biomechs

In times of war great advances in technology are made, such was the case during the last conflict. A soldier no longer used technology but became one with it in the form of implants and even the substitution of body parts in favor of computerized mechanical limbs. And there are those in the city that have put this tech to good use to protect and arm themselves. These biomechanoids as they are called or BIO’S for short, use all the latest scientific advances in humanoid enhancements to turn their bodies into bio mechanical half human machines. They are also dealers in the illegal trade of this ex military human hardware. It is also rumored that this group is home to many of the escaped humanoid replicants produced by the military during the war. These truly lost soulless creatures now with out the purpose for which they were created wander the streets looking for a meaning to their existence


Midian City Dolls

Acting as the eye candy of Midan’s dirty streets, the dolls are the cities beloved street trash and the excessive core of its twisted sexual entertainment. Constantly tempting and teasing, hinting at untold perverted pleasures. But beware, often the fulfillment of much darker more excessive desires follow those of simple sexual pleasure and you may find yourself in a far less desirable position.


The Yakuza

Crime runs rampant in the streets. Many are loose knit gangs, looking out for "number one". The Yakuza, though, are a close family organization. On the outside, one sees upper-class snobbery, something clearly out of place in the dark city of Midian. But look closer and gaze into their eyes, and you can see something more sinister behind the facade of silk and jewels. They are the Yakuza. The Masters of Torture, Drugs, and Crime.


Acerenza/Witchlight Inc.

There are always people watching, listening, they are among you and around you could be anyone you know, your friend, your associate, your employee, your boss... What is their pupose? It is unknown to many and will remain that way, only the true believers and followers are deemed to find out. Where do they come from? One can never tell nor would one want to for fear of disclosing their association would mean death, but some strange activitie going on near the bookshop and gunrange, are the employees of Witchlight Inc. up to something? ...perhaps an interested soul may want to investigate, but be wary of who and how you speak to people it just may change your life... But what really goes on, only time and change will tell, change is their tool as well their saviour... You don't have to seek them, they are already watching you...


Midian City's Forgotten

A varied lot of homeless teens who have forgotten their past, or their past has forgotten them, and have learned their safety in numbers. They've learned the hard way never to trust or fall for soft smiles and offerings of candy from the smiling perverts of the alleys. This streetwise gang knows better than most the quickest paths through the tangled city streets and the twisted sewers beneath. And so, they are often used as go betweens and carriers. Quick to extend a hand for an extra dollar or offer you information but be prepared to pay and hold tight to your possessions. A bump in passing, a slight of hand and suddenly your purse is a little lighter.


The Pack

The Pack is a tight-knit clan of nekos, wolves and other mutant/hybrid outcasts and renegades. Unlike the Catwalkers, they stick to the rocky and rugged terrain of the wastelands, allowing them to keep in touch with their feral natures, apart from human society, far from where most intruders would dare venture. Following their Alpha and Beta in a matriarchal structure, the Pack holds a rigid hierarchy to keep the beliefs and traditions of the family strong. They are zealots of the Old Ways, like a modern day clan of samurai following the Codes of Bushido. Be warned, the Pack tends to hunt, travel and stalk their prey in small units. So where one is, another or a group is not too far away. Messing with one could very well mean dealing with the others of the pack.


The Chimera

"Chimera Cloning Corp: Because death need not be the end ... For a price." This is the official cover for their activities, but with ranks made from escaped experiments and political activists alike their true business dealings are very different. Fighting against forced experimentation on humans, this band of runaways and outcasts work together to offer protection, shelter and medical care for mutants of all kinds, as well as fighting against lab companies to ensure there are no more victims of their twisted work.


Midian Criminals

The Midian Criminal group is what you can call a collective of scumbags. These people don’t care about you or anyone else than their own self. If you read in the paper about a 7 men robbery in a crowded shop, wearing overalls and ski masks, then don’t ask yourself who it was. Their line of work involves smuggling, stealing and sometimes backstabbing. If you’re good at that, they might ask for your help on their next hit. They are said to be hidden somewhere around the old gas station - but then: Do you really want to find out?


Midian City Police Department

In the midst of the chaos and disorder stands the Midian Police Department. A privately supported paramilitary organization, the MPD struggles to maintain a modicum of order in an otherwise out-of-control city. Unlike the low-level corruption of the former days of the MPD, there are rumors of more covert, white-collar corruption; deals with faction leaders, quiet agreements that may or may not suit the needs of the greater good. Despite the fact that the citizens of Midian City have no rights or constitution, many of the leaders of the MPD truly have the best interest of the lives of the city's inhabitants at heart...most of the time.


The Legion/UAC

The UAC Marines, commonly referred to as "The Legion" are the only military presence located within Midian City. They are tasked with protecting UAC interests and conduct intelligence gathering. The Legion is part of the UAC under the World Union, which is a privatized organization specializing in security and intelligence. The World Union took over and expanded the United Nations after the 3rd Great War. The Legion is extremely organized and strict, since it is a professional military unit. Their motives in Midian are heavily debated, and emotions run high when discussing their presence in the city. The marines show a great resentment against most civilians, especially those of who are not fully human.


Midian City Parish

For the lost and lonely of Midian City, St. Michael's Church is a beacon of hope. While many seek solace in the violence of the shadows, the clergy and congregation of Midian Parish are the city's last bastion of faith. Keeping the faith in this city is a difficult task, but those of strength and conviction aid in the fight to keep the darkness at bay. Whether it's protection you seek, absolution, or simply a kindly ear, the doors of Midian Parish are open to all.

(pictures to come later)

Harry Potter and the Pixelated Universe

My first experiences in secondlife, besides looking like a noob and one linden shopping was my visit to Hogwarts: New Beginnings or H:NB. It was located in the sim Liquid Heat and was my first roleplay experience, and by far, my favorite. The castle was amazing, by far one of the better builds I have been in. But what really was amazing was the quality of roleplay. I met some of my best SecondLife friends in this sim, and I followed them to different sims when this roleplay ended. I played a Ravenclaw named Cyn (who later transitioned to Slytherin when there was a sim switch). She was loud, abrasive, a duelist/drummer, and very gifted at DADA. I loved playing her and I miss playing her. It was my longest continuous stint in one Roleplay, so I often base my new characters in different places loosely on her. I have a whole biography typed out, which would be perfect for a later post. What really made me connect to her was the way people (or characters) connected to HER. She really seemed to be the epitome of 'likable' although I went out of my way to make her difficult and a little rough around the edges. I was upset when HNB closed, and although my transition to Hogwarts, United was a welcome one, I still miss the old sim of Liquid Heat - complete with its chugging Hogwarts Express and it's murky black lake.

The sim can be seen in one of my previous posted videos, 'HNB Trailer'

The Best Game Ever!

Yes, I am obsessed. It literally is a second world. It's a multiplayer "game" with over 16 million users. It covers all the bases: shopping, chatting, building, roleplay (for all ages), and even first person shooter. You can personalize your avatar on a million different levels, and is completely addicting.
I've roleplayed in a million different sims, taking on a million different characters to portray. It's like you write out your own story, and the drama (both IC and OOC) is completely intoxicating. A few SL videos I've been apart of.....




(the sound cut out because the song used wasnt copyrighted, but i'm the drummer XD





I now roleplay predominantly at the CrackDen (which is Hathian).
"Welcome to the city of Hathian, more commonly known as the Crack Den (CD). You will find residents from across the world, role-playing in this massive modern-day urbanscape of corruption, violence and desolation. Its city population shares a common purpose. Survival.

This sim is dedicated to mature, realistic and extremely graphic urban role-play (RP). You can participate or witness a wide variety of themes such as gang violence, drug trafficking, prostitution, police brutality, emergency rescue, medical malpractice to making ends meet by waiting tables at the local food joints. The genre of RP here can be very dark, violent, and sexually-oriented. "

Roleplay is strict....there are many rules to be obeyed. To see full information visit..
www.thecrackden.com (complete with wiki)

so that's all i have to say about the best game ever. if you get up the cajones to register, IM me @ Callie Alderton or luigites811 GossipGirl.