Re: Admin-y Question: Please Respond « Result #1 on Oct 20, 2007, 2:58pm »
Right: I think anyone who was really intent on protesting would have done so by now. I'll be shifting all character lists etc. onto the other forum during this week. Everything will still be here for another month or so, and if anyone has a protest the change can be reversed.
Admin-y Question: Please Respond « Result #4 on Oct 3, 2007, 5:11pm »
Okay, guys. I like to vex you, so I’m proposing another site change -- I’ve set up a new board on my RPG conglomerate called Begin Anew. It's basically an upgraded and streamlined Varun-Rudra with India. I’m willing to continue to run VR, but if you guys would like to switch over, that’d be fine, as well. All of the characters, threads, and plots currently at VR can switchover to BA without trouble, except for those involving the ocean.
Hm, nothing much has been happening. We’ve all had a busy summer. I’m free to RP at the moment, but it doesn’t seem many others are just yet. I can get you a list of RP threads and plots that you’re involved in here, if you like -- I’ve kept track of things, so it wouldn’t be tough for me.
How’s that triumphant return business going, then?
Re: .Another Day, Another Death..[open]. « Result #7 on Aug 28, 2007, 7:40pm »
> Fargone wheeled, hummed to himself, and enjoyed the feeling of wind under his feathers and sun on his back. Below him, the grass waved vast and full of life: here a family of meerkats, there a grazing antelope, far in the distance a great congregation of vultures that he promptly ignored. Nothing that struck him as worthy of a second thought. He wondered what the meerkats did, at night -- he’d heard once that they sang in underground tunnels that the beetles might find themselves inflamed with adoration for each other, but he always thought that was a bit far-fetched. > The ragged bird was mulling this over when he his weaving eyes caught sight of something: a cheetah paced through the grass, thin and ungainly. Inexplicably, it held his attention. Fargone found himself so enthralled that he did not notice when he tilted sideways; it caught him by surprise when he plunged several feet down, having flown out of his helpful updraft. Giggling at his own clumsiness, he regained control of his flight and spiraled down. Just for a closer look at this cheetah, of course. > He figured his errand might even have practical results: the creature looked so skeletal, it might keel over at any moment. Then there would be food. Fargone was a tad hungry. Starving, even. Ever since that tawdry little scene between him and that nasty flock of jeering jackals-with-wings -- ah! As if they had any right to speak. Anyway. Since then, he had found it somewhat tiresome to venture into the path of the local vultures. > Fargone nearly ran into the baobab the almost-corpse now reclined under, he was so cross over the thought of his kin. After a rather dramatic moment in which only undignified scrambling and wing-flapping allowed him to perch a safe distance above the cat, he puffed out his feathers, cocked his head, and looked down at the animal. > No, it wasn't dead yet. He wondered if it would talk with him. > "Jackals with wings!" Fargone screeched. So saying, he strutted back and forth on his branch. His head swung back and forth, his beak snapped at the air, his feathers stood out and made him appear fluffy and well-fed. He finally came to a stop, leaned far forward, gazing with wide eyes at the cheetah. “The likes of me -- noble! -- need not deal with them. Which is why I’m talking to you, don’t you see? What’s your name then, kitten? Speak up!”
« Last Edit: Aug 28, 2007, 7:41pm by EscapeeStan »
Me and my vultures... « Result #8 on Aug 26, 2007, 11:09pm »
Name: Fargone Species: African White-backed Vulture Gender: Male Age: 7 years Description: Standard Personality: Fargone's name describes his personality: the vulture has the terrible habit of zoning out, his thoughts wandering into various odd fantasy lands rather than focusing on the boring minutia of his life. He is often hazy and introverted, driving away more normal and extroverted vultures. When someone interesting does come along, however, he will occasionally snap out of his own mind to engage them in conversation. History: Fargone has never done anything so odd that he remembers doing it.
Re: ><Under Quiet Waves...>< « Result #9 on Aug 26, 2007, 6:58pm »
Kasha shouted out random instructions to her son, Gyrza, as the now-tiny pod attempted to make a small baitball. Chayn and Tekka were making progress, but Gyrza fell back, utterly confused.
"But I dunno how to do that, Mom." He gave her an 'are-you-insane' look.
"Just get in front of Chayn and Tekka, then, Gyrza! We're losing it!" Indeed, the fish were beginning to depart, and Chayn fell back as well.
"Kasha, forget this, we don't have a chance with such a lack in numbers." The fish dispersed, and Kasha sighed.
"Yeah, you're right, aren't you? Damn..." She watched the last of their failed attempt swim away, seeming oblivious to the fact that Domevlo was watching them. Tekka drifted to the surface in silence, not in the mood to join in the sorrow and depression. She regretted her little, er... 'condition' making it so that she wasn't there when the orcas attacked, but she couldn't really help that... just a minor handicap, she supposed.
Chayn watched the smaller female for a moment before turning to look at the stranger. He didn't say anything... just gave a meaningful stare. He had nothing to say, really, as he didn't know this stranger... Kasha and Gyrza, on the other hand, were still completely ignoring Domevlo.
.Another Day, Another Death..[open]. « Result #10 on Aug 19, 2007, 8:27pm »
Cat padded through the dry grass, his graceful paw-steps and the movement of his body causing rustling sounds. These would have bothered him were he hunting, but he was merely wandering around aimlessly. He rarely hunted... it was unneeded... it wasted energy, and it wasted time. He had better things to be doing. Eating and sleeping were not his priorities; they never had been. Deep brown eyes focused on the direction he was headed, not paying attention to any other living creature around him. What was left of his nutrient-deprived muscles rippled beneath speckled hide as he strode through the brush, and his white-tufted tail-tip twitched side-to-side irritably. Today had not been the best day of his life, and he hadn't really expected it to be. It seemed that, as of late, each day was progressively worse. He often considered simply doing away with himself, but he couldn't imagine how to do that, and he kept reminding himself, each time he had this thought, that committing suicide would be his finishing act, once he'd rid the world of all the idiots. He may not be strong, but he was intelligent, albeit a little insane.
He paused at an baobab tree, stretching up to his full extent and raking his claws down the rough bark. He did have to keep his weapons in top condition... He lay down and looked out at his world, not paying much mind to the majority of moving creatures. He watched a lone antelope in the distance cropping grass, having no desire to stalk and kill it. If he did, it would be a waste of energy, for he'd probably leave most of the carcass anyway. He wasn't inclined to gorge himself on food, unlike most big cats. He yawned, reclining against the tree and stretching out, making himself appear even more starved than normal. His ribs and hips were prominent, of course, and his stomach tucked up more than was normal for a cheetah. This was more pronounced when he lay down in the position he was in now, for his skin lay more tightly against his bones.
He closed his eyes and zoned out for a bit, being unbelievably bored at that moment, not expecting anyone to talk to him, for he knew no one... and gave no one any reason to speak with him.
Name: Cat Species: Cheetah [quadruped] Gender: Male Age: 2 years Social Group: None Description: He's extra-skinny, definitely underfed and underweight. Personality: Cat is delusional, maybe even a bit paranoid. He's also definitely insane, and he loathes physical contact with any member of his species... especially intimate contact. He avoids other cheetahs at all costs, unless he needs to kill him... yeah, don't piss him off or you may find yourself in a lot of pain. Because of his shunning cheetah society, he has no desire to be in a coalition with other males. History: Cat doesn't know much of his history, as he doesn't remember it. He knows that he's been made fun of most of his life, but other than that... he doesn't remember his mother or his siblings.
><Under Quiet Waves...>< « Result #12 on Aug 15, 2007, 2:25pm »
> Domevlo reflected that life could be much more interesting if he had someone to talk to him; then he could get annoyed with them, and they could fight, and then they could... oh, maybe they’d resolve their issues and get on with living, or maybe the other fellow’d swim off and get eaten by a shark. Then Domevlo could mourn. And he’d be doing something other than what he was doing at the moment, which felt a lot like nothing. Looked a lot like it, too. Granted he was also swimming, and he’d eyed a few fish some six miles back, but other than that... just him, the water, and nothing. > It was on the note of this disconsolate thought that he suddenly became aware of the distant calls of other dolphins. His tail fluke froze, and he drifted in the waves with his mouth gaped in disbelief. The chances of finding a pod just as he considered how aggravating having no-one around was...! Frankly, it was impossible. Yet here he was, drifting, listening to the echolocating of his fellow sea-mammals. The way the sound grated on his nerves and brought the memory to him of a thousand, million instances of mocking laughter; he was sharply reminded of why he traveled alone. > He floated, for a moment befuddled and lost between the pincers of his twin concerns. To confront these strangers? Or to arrive before them modestly? To turn tail and swim away? To swim in this very spot, and let the decision be theirs? The idea of giving them such prerogative spurred him into motion, and he jerked forward a few strokes. Now thoroughly aggravated, he snorted a breath at the surface and then began swimming towards the other dolphins. He’d stay silent, and let them choose the tone of their encounter -- yes! That would do! He would choose the encounter, but they could choose the tone.
A month and three days later... « Result #13 on Aug 15, 2007, 12:49pm »
Dolphins!
Name: Domevlo Species: Bottlenose Dolphin Gender: Male Age: 14 y.o. Description: Domevlo is small for a male of his age and type at eight feet long. Otherwise average. Personality: Bitter, sardonic, and quick to anger. Years of harassment in his birth pod has taught him to strike first and harder, rather than wait to be mocked. Although his small size was part of the reason for his estrangement with his original pod mates, his love of solitude and his -- now rarely displayed -- inclination towards day dreaming also contributed. While he appears to dislike company, in truth he prefers to have at least one other individual to speak with; his distrust of the intentions of others makes it hard for him to bond, however. History: Nothing striking; after years of exasperation in his home pod, he finally struck out on his own and has been living alone since.
Name: Eniola Species: Bottlenose Dolphin Gender: Female Age: 7 y.o. Description: Average. Personality: Eniola seems eternally nervous and quick to startle. Also eager to please and clingy. History: Currently traveling with Ngozi; they indicate that something happened to their former pod, but both refuse to speak of it in detail. While this isn’t particularly surprising in Ngozi’s case, Eniola’s tendency to chatter when nervous makes it seem odd for her to not speak on the subject.
Name: Ngozi Species: Bottlenose Dolphin Gender: Female Age: 18 y.o. Description: Large, robust, scarred female; otherwise average. Personality: Steady, near-silent, and stoic. The long years have instilled in her a quietness in sharp contrast with her younger companion.
Re: Were-Dog/Were-Wolf Plot « Result #14 on Jul 21, 2007, 9:02pm »
Have I mentioned how much you make me want to read your novel? It sounds so shiny. Ehem. Moving on.
I'd be interested in the young aging at the same rate as the form they're in, with first shift at puberty and subsequent human rate aging. Also gestation going at the form-appropriate rate. I think it would add an interesting dimension: conceiving in animal form increases the chance of death and shortens the childhood and lifespan of the pups, but also means they are self sufficient much sooner than human form kids. It would explain why the wolves would choose to conceive in anthro/human form despite the added bother, and why they might look down on the dogs for doing so in animal form. Also, yes, interaction between the three types would definitely be interesting.
To everything else that can be responded to with “yes”, I say yes. I'm sorry to make it so complicated, heh.
For some reason, I keep imagining the wolf society as being female dominated; maybe it's the concept of one or two females having what is, essentially, a harem of males? Heh. Might be interesting. I'd also wonder if their perception of gender roles would be different than one would expect: while females would spend young and early adulthood in the rowdy "dispersed but not really" subpack, males would either be helping raise pups in their mother's family or would have joined up with their brothers and cousins to form a new subpack.
Re: Were-Dog/Were-Wolf Plot « Result #15 on Jul 20, 2007, 3:02pm »
I've been mulling over the were-fetus thing, because it's been something I've been concerned about in writing my novel. I was playing with the idea of full moon shifts being essential for normal were-fetus development, as this would be the only time that the fetus is strong enough to withstand the change. But non-full-moon shifts would be very dangerous to the fetus. Now, obviously my book is dealing with traditional weres who are normally human and lack the luxury to stay in animal or anthro forms for prolonged periods of time unless they are quite powerful and "born alphas," the only sort that are strong enough to resist change during pregnancy anyways. So, I've always had pregnancy occur in human form. HOWEVER, for the sake of VR, what do you think of this: they have to largely stay in whatever form they concieved in, which will in turn dictate the # of offspring and what kind of environment said offspring will be birthed in. I'm thinking that conception in animal form results in a larger number of offspring, but also in the higher death rate we see in most quadrupeds. Conception in anthro form results in perhaps twins or triplets. Conception in human form results in normally one baby, occasionally twins, with perhaps a higher survival rate but also a greater risk if said child DOES grow sick and die. Pregnancy duration should probably be somewhere inbetween canine and human, so maybe something like... 4-6 months? Development should probably occur at a human or slightly faster than human rate since we're on a human aging system. Now, here's a big question: when does the first shift happen? It would be easy if they could shift from birth, but does that realy make sense. And if they can't shift from birth, what is a good starting point? Puberty/sexual maturity? This raises an interesting point, because you'd have human, anthro, and animal babies interacting together. What's more, the animal babies would become sexually mature at a theorhetically younger age, unless they mature as slowly as a human child, in which case we'd have some very toddling puppy like young at the same ages that anthros are becoming very mobile and self-sufficient. Finally, is there a difference in how the dogs and wolves opt to breed? Do the wolves breed mostly in human or anthro form because they don't need the larger # of offspring due to greater resources, and have the resources to feed the women while they are out of commission for hunts? Would the dogs then breed mostly in animal form, needing more offspring due to the higher mortality rate and need for the females to continue hunting while pregnant? Could this be a source of contention between the two groups? Hah. This is SO much more complicated than I origionally concieved. I feel like I'm writing another novel! lol
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He's extra-skinny, definitely underfed and underweight.