Wild Beasts of the Earth (Gothic Horror|OOC|Open)

[Dyelli Beybi]

For everyone not on the Discord, I'm going to try to kick the IC off in the next hour or so. I will, of course, still be accepting apps though, so no need to rush!

Once the IC is up, when I accept an app I'll also give you a way to write the character in as seamlessly as possible.

[Dyelli Beybi]

And... as promised the IC is up!

viewtopic.php?f=31&t=488298

It is also linked on the front page of the OOC for your convenience!

[Sudbrazil]

Character Description

Name: Johann Zacharias Uhrman
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Nationality: German Swiss
Appearance:

Personal Effects: A hickory walking stick, a silver pocket watch, a small notebook and fountain pen, a hip flask generally filled with whiskey, a tobacco pipe and box of matches, a small case containing his tools, a Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless.

---

Background:

What is your job Watchmaker
Backstory:
In the town of Geneva was a small watch store, simple in appearance yet prestigious in name, from which many watches, clocks and time-telling machines were carefully brought into the world. That same shop was also the birthplace of Johann Zacharias Uhrman, second son of a family whose fathers and forefathers had made timepieces ever since they had springed forth from the rocky slopes of the Alps. But despite the family’s great skill and reputation, despite the precision of their gears and pendulums, Zacharias was hardly satisfied with his own work. Over the weeks his clocks, like any other, always ran precious seconds late or early, and no craftsman in the land knew how to mend these tiny imprecisions.

That was, until the peculiar clockmaker came by. It was an uneventful morning when an odd old man with an odd accent came by, allegedly seeking an apprentice. He easily struck up a conversation with Zacharias and offered him his address in London as well as a simple cuckoo clock, then vanished from the town. Much to the young apprentice’s wonder the cuckoo never seemed to run early nor late. It was always punctual, more so than the English, Germans or even the denizens of Switzerland. Fascinated by this specimen who did not yield its secrets through its rather conventional mechanism, Zacharias sought to travel to London, but the boiling tensions on the world stage deprived him of the voyage. A Serb shot and Austrian noble, which prompted the Germans to punch through Belgium and declare a blockade of Britain, and the watchmaker was drafted to watch the warring armies beyond the Alps. As the war continued at a snail’s pace hardships, food shortages and a hasty marriage with a young maiden from Zurich came to pass. The world unravelled itself slowly and tediously, and he found himself impotent in his mountain barracks.

One fateful morning the cannons stopped and Zacharias was demobilised. As the carnage came to a halt, so did the cuckoo he hung over the bed. He packed his bags and moved to London, where he sought out the master clockmaker. But the address led to a burnt and charred ruin. Was it hit by a Zeppelin's firebomb? Nay, said the neighbors: the building had been engulfed in spontaneous flame, probably an accident with a gas valve, though the drunks who witnessed the first moment of combustion claimed to hear mad laughter from within.

Disappointed, Zacharias returned to his new shop, where a letter awaited him.

[Dyelli Beybi]

Character Description

Name: Johann Zacharias Uhrman
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Nationality: German Swiss
Appearance:
(Image)

Personal Effects: A hickory walking stick, a silver pocket watch, a small notebook and fountain pen, a hip flask generally filled with whiskey, a tobacco pipe and box of matches, a small case containing his tools, a Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless.

---

Background:

What is your job Watchmaker
Backstory:
In the town of Geneva was a small watch store, simple in appearance yet prestigious in name, from which many watches, clocks and time-telling machines were carefully brought into the world. That same shop was also the birthplace of Johann Zacharias Uhrman, second son of a family whose fathers and forefathers had made timepieces ever since they had springed forth from the rocky slopes of the Alps. But despite the family’s great skill and reputation, despite the precision of their gears and pendulums, Zacharias was hardly satisfied with his own work. Over the weeks his clocks, like any other, always ran precious seconds late or early, and no craftsman in the land knew how to mend these tiny imprecisions.

That was, until the peculiar clockmaker came by. It was an uneventful morning when an odd old man with an odd accent came by, allegedly seeking an apprentice. He easily struck up a conversation with Zacharias and offered him his address in London as well as a simple cuckoo clock, then vanished from the town. Much to the young apprentice’s wonder the cuckoo never seemed to run early nor late. It was always punctual, more so than the English, Germans or even the denizens of Switzerland. Fascinated by this specimen who did not yield its secrets through its rather conventional mechanism, Zacharias sought to travel to London, but the boiling tensions on the world stage deprived him of the voyage. A Serb shot and Austrian noble, which prompted the Germans to punch through Belgium and declare a blockade of Britain, and the watchmaker was drafted to watch the warring armies beyond the Alps. As the war continued at a snail’s pace hardships, food shortages and a hasty marriage with a young maiden from Zurich came to pass. The world unravelled itself slowly and tediously, and he found himself impotent in his mountain barracks.

One fateful morning the cannons stopped and Zacharias was demobilised. As the carnage came to a halt, so did the cuckoo he hung over the bed. He packed his bags and moved to London, where he sought out the master clockmaker. But the address led to a burnt and charred ruin. Was it hit by a Zeppelin's firebomb? Nay, said the neighbors: the building had been engulfed in spontaneous flame, probably an accident with a gas valve, though the drunks who witnessed the first moment of combustion claimed to hear mad laughter from within.

Disappointed, Zacharias returned to his new shop, where a letter awaited him.

Accepted. Also like the use of the Bocklin painting for the concept art!

[Illegal Planets]

Tetsuo’s entrance should be fairly awkward, and if he sidles up awkwardly behind a couple of newcomers, then all the better.

[Grand Indochina]

One question, is the Order of Saint Thomas of Canterbury the only organization in the world that has knowledge about the paranormal ?

[Bingellia]

One question, is the Order of Saint Thomas of Canterbury the only organization in the world that has knowledge about the paranormal ?

I'm going to go on out on a limb and say no. However, DB wants to maintain a monopoly on how the occult actually functions in the world, so you probably wouldn't get a character with detailed and more, importantly correct, knowledge of the occult accepted because that would make it significantly harder for them to maintain control of the narrative. Most of the cast have encountered the paranormal in intense but ultimately passing ways. They don't understand it.

[Kowloon-California]

I've completed my updated application now! Took me a little longer than expected, but if I'm approved I will look forward to posting in the IC! Quite excited about this concept!

Here is my WIP app. I'd definitely like to think about making another character in the days to come as well once I finish creating this one.

Character Description - WIP

Name: Liu Zhen (劉真); Anglicized name "Eric Liu"
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Nationality: Chinese
Appearance: Liu Zhen stands at 5'7'', somewhat above average for the typical Chinese man, but not of outstanding height. Although his physique appears to be thin like many other Asian men, his body is in fact quite well toned with lean muscle attained through years of bodyweight exercises and martial arts training.
(Image)

Personal Effects: Several suits of clothing: one western style suit and one Chinese "Zhongshan" suit, two photographs, one group photo of his master and martial arts school, and a faded one of his long lost lover. He also carries a simple long suitcase carrying a simple set of identity and travel documents, serving as his proof of service in the Chinese Labor Corps, as well as his only true memento of home, a Chinese martial arts jian sword. Though capable of real use, Liu Zhen keeps it stored away whenever possible. As a sword passed down by his father, it is a symbol of honor and virtue, and not a true weapon of war.

---

Background:

What is your job: Former police officer, martial artist, and demobilized member of the Chinese Labor Corps

Backstory:

"I was born in Suzhou, China, the beautiful "Venice" of China as it were, during the waning years of the Qing Dynasty. We were the lucky ones, not quite nobility, but wealthy enough from business, that we might as well have been. Our clan had lived in Jiangsu for nearly eight generations, and neither war nor revolution could pry us from making the best of business in times both good and bad. As a child I had bad habits and a pattern of getting into trouble, I admit it. I thought the world, as little as it was, lay at my feet, and that no street urchin could get the best of me, a real "Tiger of Jiangdong!" Sticks, stones, fists, I used them all and I was quite good. Eventually, though, things caught up to me, and when I was fourteen, I got into trouble for beating up the child of a magistrate. Oh how my poor father prostrated and kowtowed to that magistrate! In the end, I was sent away to attend an international boarding school in Shanghai to learn my manners.

Apparently, I still didn't learn my lesson well enough, and soon enough I had gotten my nose in some petty gang fights. I picked one fight too many when I finally came across the man who I would come to call Master Chen. He was just another old man, and I somehow had it in my mind that I was going to take his pipe right from under his nose for having the misfortune of walking down the wrong alley. The next thing I remember, I was lying on the floor and struggling to catch my breath! What happened after was simple, I wanted to learn more, and resolved to never again be left so incapable of fighting. So began my recruitment into the Jing Wu Athletic Association, one of the first modern martial arts institutes in the country.

Honestly, it wasn't all that long ago, but eight years ago was when I really grew up as a man. Oddly enough, the more I learned, the less I wanted to fight, and the less influence the anger I had spent pent up over the years began to dissipate. Away from my own family, I learned the real meaning of honor and virtue from another one. Of course, I'll be the first to admit that the Jing Wu Athletic Association was founded by Republican Revolutionaries, but even now I still believe that only by modernizing all aspects of our country can we be free to enjoy a new era of prosperity, and that extends to how we treat martial arts. It is way of life, but it must also be a practical way of fighting as well. The techniques which serve no value but art must be shed for that which is truly effective in a proper fight!

Haha, I must be getting a little bit ahead of myself. You wanted to know how I ended up here?"

After reaching the limits of my education, I was ready to go back home to Suzhou, or at least that's what my family wanted. In truth though, I was ready to settle in Shanghai for good. There, I had my master and my brothers, an institution that supported me through the ups and downs. There, I could see the city lights, and the new innovations that came from overseas every day. There, I had her."

Liu Zhen's voice cracked for the first time and he pressed his hands to his face for a moment, hiding his eyes before resuming.

"It's stupid, we shouldn't have met, and maybe she would've been happier for it. I hope you'll excuse me if I don't tell you our story, but it's something now that only she and I should share . . . but I did love her."

Liu Zhen clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white and squirmed in his seat further, before taking an effort to breath and relax.

"I became an officer in the Shanghai police, it was a respectable job and many of my brothers in the Wu Jing Association were in truth police officers. One of the few jobs that puts to use a man's fighting abilities I suppose. The irony is that on the first day of the job, I was given a gun and told not to be stupid - Kung Fu is Kung Fu, but sometimes a bullet can do what years of training cannot.

It was exciting, fun even, for a year as a young man, but the world is cruel. A few years ago, In 1915 I believe it was, I was tasked with assisting a detective handle a particularly sensitive corruption case. To be clear, corruption is essentially a fact of life in the Republic, but even for us there were limits as to what a person could be allowed to get away with. It was an arms smuggling case, and there were said to be some Japanese men who were selling arms to a general who was planning on overthrowing the local warlord clique that dominated the Shanghai area. We knew that the Green Gang, one of Shanghai's most powerful organized crime syndicates, had their hands in the pie, but we couldn't touch them.

Obviously, it didn't take long before we were told to get lost by the kingpin himself, Du Yuesheng. Still I wasn't afraid, it was all like noise to me, I was in love and happy. Whatever happened on a day's beat could easily be forgotten after I took off the uniform. Threats didn't scare me.

In the end, however, I had no way of comprehending what came next. What was supposed to be the happiest day of my life turned into the worst. I proposed to the woman who was to be my wife, and I had already spent months winning over her father. Everything seemed to be perfect, I don't know how . . .

Hours after she had accepted my proposal, one of my brothers from the Wu Jing Association told me that she was gone. Witnesses said that they saw her stand up from her seat on the river ferry, and jump into the Huangpu river. A clear suicide. How I ask you? I could not, would not accept that she could do that on the happiest day of my life. The only answer was murder.

The next day I walked into the club frequented by the Green Gang and killed three men. I put a bullet between the eyes of the doorman, another into the chest of one of the big boss' lackey, and one more right into the bastard Du Yuesheng's face. He had the gall to look surprised by my retribution. He even played dumb when I put my revolver into his mouth.

I had no choice but to run after that, to leave behind everything I had built under my master and my brothers. All of my honor thrown away in a bloody daze of bullets. I didn't want to live, but I wasn't ready to die. When I saw that the government was recruiting peasants to join the Chinese Labor Corps to serve in Europe, I signed up and never looked back. That was 1916.

These last two years I've been worked like a dog digging trenches, burying bodies, and unloading ammunition. We weren't formally at war with Germany, so Chinese wouldn't be fighting on the front lines, but our government was perfectly happy to sell our labor in return for winning favor from the Entente. Not that danger did not come to us all the same, many of my comrades died of disease, and German shells did not distinguish between friend or foe when were tasked with burial duty close to the front lines.

I was ready to work myself raw then, and try to build a new future after the war. That was until I started getting letters from back home. Some of my brothers had tried to calm things down so that I could one day return, but in their probes to the Green Gang, every single person they met denied that they had anything to do with my wife's death. They even got an eyewitness to write me a letter explaining the circumstances exactly as they saw it. Clear as day, no one had forced her to jump but her own volition. There were no words or any hint of fear, she took step after step and calmly allowed the embrace of death.

I am a haunted man. I killed three men. They were no paragons of virtue, but they had done nothing to deserve death. In China, we revere our martial artists greatly. The best ones are to be exemplars of martial virtue, Wu De (武德). Something like the knights of your society. In one fit of anger I threw away my honor and life, but I still didn't know why my beloved left me, why she chose to leave this world. Was there something that even I, her fiance, did not know? It is the kind of guilt that eats a man out, carves him out raw and bloody with regret. Was it my fault? These questions follow me every waking moment.

A few months ago now, I came to London looking to book passage back home to Shanghai. As the pandemic got worse, I decided to stay here at this inn for a few months (I may have worked like a peasant, but I'm no pauper!) to try and avoid the flu in the confines of a small ship. That's when I met you.

To be honest, I didn't quite believe the rumors that I've heard. That there are forces in this world beyond our understanding, and that these forces prey on the innocent of this world - but I heard you out."

Liu Zhen leaned forward in his seat with a determined look on his face.

"The love of my life did not leave this world of her own accord. I have struggled with this in my heart but now I have hope. She loved me, and I loved her. At least this much is true, and this is strength enough for me. We men who pledge our lives to learning Kung Fu do so in order to uphold peace and justice - to protect the weak. I don't know anything about supernatural evils, I've buried enough men to know that our own hearts are dark enough - but someone, something, TOOK her. If there is such an evil out there in this world, and I must believe that there was, then I pledge to fight it.

I believe you because there is no alternative, my fiance did not kill herself!"

Liu Zhen finally sunk back into his seat before speaking one final sentence, barely above a whisper.

"I've never been so sure of anything in my life before."

[Somerania]

One question, is the Order of Saint Thomas of Canterbury the only organization in the world that has knowledge about the paranormal ?

Tanjiro Kamado will join the demon Slayer corp in a few years from now

[Dyelli Beybi]

One question, is the Order of Saint Thomas of Canterbury the only organization in the world that has knowledge about the paranormal ?

I'm going to go on out on a limb and say no. However, DB wants to maintain a monopoly on how the occult actually functions in the world, so you probably wouldn't get a character with detailed and more, importantly correct, knowledge of the occult accepted because that would make it significantly harder for them to maintain control of the narrative. Most of the cast have encountered the paranormal in intense but ultimately passing ways. They don't understand it.

Exactly what Bing said.

From a totally OOC perspective, the issue with writing something like this is that for common monsters from folklore, the description of how these creatures can and should be dealt with varies extensively from culture to culture... heck, even from story to story within the same culture. For each creature that is set to appear I am looking through sources to create a 'Wild Beasts of the Earth Lore' that is a bit of a fusion of different stories and cultures and which diverges from what might have been established by famous works of fiction (such as Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' or 'The Wolf Man').

While other groups might appear as part of a story down the line, I won't accept apps from characters who are experienced with the supernatural. I've kept those characters for me as that way I can control the narrative better and prevent 'lore-clash'.

[Dyelli Beybi]

I've completed my updated application now! Took me a little longer than expected, but if I'm approved I will look forward to posting in the IC! Quite excited about this concept!

Here is my WIP app. I'd definitely like to think about making another character in the days to come as well once I finish creating this one.

Character Description - WIP

Name: Liu Zhen (劉真); Anglicized name "Eric Liu"
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Nationality: Chinese
Appearance:
(Image)

Personal Effects: Several suits of clothing: one western style suit and one Chinese "Zhongshan" suit, two photographs, one group photo of his master and martial arts school, and a faded one of his long lost lover. He also carries a simple long suitcase carrying a simple set of identity and travel documents, serving as his proof of service in the Chinese Labor Corps, as well as his only true memento of home, a Chinese martial arts jian sword. Though capable of real use, Liu Zhen keeps it stored away whenever possible. As a sword passed down by his father, it is a symbol of honor and virtue, and not a true weapon of war.

---

Background:

What is your job: Former police officer, martial artist, and demobilized member of the Chinese Labor Corps

Backstory:

*snip*

Accepted! The Labour Corps is a really nice touch. Feel free to assume that Liu joined the gathering prior to van der Valk's announcement, if you want to hop in.

[Demencia]

Also, Voxija, the point of Quinn crossdressing is that she isn't immediately obvious to everyone that sees her, so I would greatly appreciate if you don't find her out within .003 seconds of seeing the back of her head

[Reverend Norv]

Also, Voxija, the point of Quinn crossdressing is that she isn't immediately obvious to everyone that sees her, so I would greatly appreciate if you don't find her out within .003 seconds of seeing the back of her head

I feel like, of our current characters, only Viviette might possibly have an inkling - just because the Paris cabaret is the only environment in which crossdressing would be common enough for a person to get practice at spotting it. Otherwise, it was so rare at this time that most folks would simply assume that anyone in men's clothing is a man, and damn their lying eyes for saying different. We see what we expect to see, and Viviette is the only one who might reasonably expect to see a woman in men's clothes.

[Voxija]

Also, Voxija, the point of Quinn crossdressing is that she isn't immediately obvious to everyone that sees her, so I would greatly appreciate if you don't find her out within .003 seconds of seeing the back of her head

I will edit my post darn it.

[Dyelli Beybi]

Also, Voxija, the point of Quinn crossdressing is that she isn't immediately obvious to everyone that sees her, so I would greatly appreciate if you don't find her out within .003 seconds of seeing the back of her head

I feel like, of our current characters, only Viviette might possibly have an inkling - just because the Paris cabaret is the only environment in which crossdressing would be common enough for a person to get practice at spotting it. Otherwise, it was so rare at this time that most folks would simply assume that anyone in men's clothing is a man, and damn their lying eyes for saying different. We see what we expect to see, and Viviette is the only one who might reasonably expect to see a woman in men's clothes.

I'm writing the Order folk as alert to it, but only because they've spied on the people they've invited in - they know a few details they shouldn't on most of the cast. Cases of women disguising themselves as a man and entering a military outfit happened a lot more in the period (and earlier) than people would probably believe.

[Demencia]

Also, Voxija, the point of Quinn crossdressing is that she isn't immediately obvious to everyone that sees her, so I would greatly appreciate if you don't find her out within .003 seconds of seeing the back of her head

I will edit my post darn it.

ty

I'm writing the Order folk as alert to it, but only because they've spied on the people they've invited in - they know a few details they shouldn't on most of the cast. Cases of women disguising themselves as a man and entering a military outfit happened a lot more in the period (and earlier) than people would probably believe.

Alexa, order more tinfoil...

[HypErcApitAl]

Character Description

Name: Marcolle LeRose
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Nationality: French
Appearance:

Note that she'd look just like almost exactly like the picture (her hair is longer though, and she usually wears it down). She wears alot of blacks, and also vibrant and bright colors (usually greens, yellows and blues), and alot of heels or arched shoes, accentuating her feet/toes which are almost-always done or manicured.

Weirdly enough, she's also tall (around 5'4 or 5'7, though taller in footwear)

Personal Effects: Banjo, revolver, switchblade, multiple pairs of shoes, multiple hats, pants and dresses, multiple blue tops/shirts.

---

Background:

What is your job: Travelling musician/starving artist
Backstory:

Marcolle was born in Occitania, France, though wanted to pursue a career in music.

She was always one to adventure, travel and see things, and this had only added onto her artistic passions. She was a skilled musician, having mastery or basic skills in many instruments though only restricting herself to Stringed/strung music. The Guitar, Cello and Banjo were her most-favorites. She'd also enjoyed playing the Violin and Viola but hated the stereotypes that came with being a violinist, and a female violinist at that.

Due to both her knack for music, and being bored of Occitania, she ventured out over all of France and even Western Europe. She'd also dove into Linguistics, teaching herself English and Portuguese, calling the latter "the Language of Love."

Marcolle also held a love for Fashion and Shopping, adoring the French styles of dress but also the Italian.

Besides her artistry, she is Francaise, and proud of her French background. She also has some Asian pedigree, making her also Eurasian. (mainly Chinese and Indochinese)

Her travels brought her to London, England again, as she had felt something alluring or odd and attractive about the place.



---


Skill: Mostly in playing instruments, and mainly strung/stringed instruments though she is also an accomplished flutist and drummer. She has other musical skills, though she'd mainly focused on strung instruments, specifically the Banjo.

She can hold a note, though mainly kept to playing instruments.

Weaponry-choice? She usually sticks to Revolvers, of French style and decor (with monograms and whatnot on the sides of the gun) and also switchblades or blades that would be easy or easier to hide in her instrument's case or on her person; mainly having a "cloak-&-dagger" fighting-style, or a style of Stealth and not revealing herself until the right time.

Not usually being a fighter, but having to take-up Fighting since she didn't want or like to be seen/being seen as the "harmless little girl" or damsel-in-distress.

She'd went to an academy in Italy (Tuscany), being instructed about the Revolver and its etiquette, but also history and marksmanship.

She'd also take-up her stealthiness from there, but also practicing and adding onto it. She'd dabbled in knifeplay in her youth, though had a friend of hers train her in honing that skill before it fully "rusted."

[Demencia]

The average woman was about 5'0 so she'd be some sort of medical anomaly at 6'4 (hell even today she'd be ludicrously tall)

[HypErcApitAl]

The average woman was about 5'0 so she'd be some sort of medical anomaly at 6'4 (hell even today she'd be ludicrously tall)

Not sure about that, Russian women could get really tall.

[Demencia]

The average woman was about 5'0 so she'd be some sort of medical anomaly at 6'4 (hell even today she'd be ludicrously tall)

Not sure about that, Russian women could get really tall.

the average Russian woman in 2004 is only 5'4

[Lessoni]

Not sure about that, Russian women could get really tall.

Bruh isn’t she French-Asian? Where Russian factor into this?

[HypErcApitAl]

Not sure about that, Russian women could get really tall.

the average Russian woman in 2004 is only 5'4

Eh. I've seen some tall women in my time, including way taller than me.

[HypErcApitAl]

Not sure about that, Russian women could get really tall.

Bruh isn’t she French-Asian? Where Russian factor into this?

Heights. It's not impossible to be tall, just saying.

[Lessoni]

Heights. It's not impossible to be tall, just saying.

Let’s look at this from a logical standpoint. Women in 1918 averaged 5’0, probably a few inches shorter what with her being Asian. My character was originally 6’1, but this was deemed ludicrously tall for this day and age. Jesse Dredlen is a well fed rich white guy. Him being about an inch or two taller than average is probably to be expected. But how the hell is this young lady a near foot taller than average, suggesting gigantism in this day and age, while still maintaining perfect ladylike proportions?

[Lavan Tiri]

I need to break out my laptop, reading these posts on a phone is hell.