APHOTICA

1.03.2008

Farrago crouched, eyes squeezed shut, on the floor, expecting the worst. She swallowed expectantly, pulling-hard-on a lock of her hair. He’s going to leave, he’s going to leave, he’s going to--
"Get up off the floor," Matthias said, and Farrago opened her eyes, disbelieving. "I don't think you're crazy. And I'm damn certain I can fight off the Watchers, whatever they are."

Almost smiling, Farrago considered this. Fight them off… well, he was certainly ambitious, this one-and brave. She looked up at him. "They're already here. They're watching, they're always watching."

"If they do anything, I'll kick their asses back to England."

England? She paused, confused, nearly drifting into darkness and silence. Merlin, however, saved her, shouting in her mind, “Focus!” She focused. "No, they never do anything, they just watch..."

"Well, then, why do you fear them?"

She stared, disbelievingly. "They watch!" Duh!

"And that's all they do! They won't hurt you. They can't. And if they so much as try..."
Maybe… just maybe, he actually could keep her safe. What a funny idea, Farrago thought. Never even considered… hmm. His shiny arm was doing funny things, and Farrago blinked at it. From Matthias’ expression, this was meant to impress her, and it did look rather forbidding…. She gawked at it obediently.

"Now, let's go." Go where… oh. Oh! Farrago stood up slowly and began to follow Matthias again.

Through the corridors he led her, and they seemed to Farrago to twist and turn in insanely complicated patterns. Her mind wandered and her eyes blurred, glowing slightly. She was still rather upset with herself for being such a trivial little girl, and it was bringing her down quite a bit... but the Watchers had gone. Trying to remember when exactly their presence had faded, she blinked slowly. Everything was so blurred, like a load of old clothes and aluminum cans left out in the sun for months, looked at through dirty sunglasses… the major impressions were still vaguely there, but the colors and the details were faded, merging together and changing. A song, perhaps the soundtrack of a memory, began playing quietly in her head, and she walked gracefully, footsteps timed to the beat.

See into the dark... just follow your eyes… follow your eyes…
Hear her voice… calling my name… the sound is deep in the dark…
Hear her voice… I start to run… into the trees. Into the trees…

Farrago squinted, trying to recolor the faded outline of the memory.

The girl was never there. It’s always the same…

She shook her head. She was so close, so close… closing her eyes, she attempted furiously to smooth out the wrinkles, to remember-BAM. She walked straight into Matthias, who had stopped suddenly. She sat down hard, looking up at Matthias, head tilted. “Bam?” she whispered, but only loud enough for Merlin to hear.

“My sword’s just around that corner.” Matthias gestured. “You might wanna stay here. In case there’re guards.” Farrago nodded, and sat down against the wall, playing carefully with Merlin in her lap. Matthias looked at her for a moment, and then continued around the corner.

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In a darker world...

Welcome to Aphotica, where the light barely reaches through the atmosphere. Where creatures of all shapes and sizes lurk in the misty forests. Where small villages and metropolis cities are ruled under a cruel and mysterious dictatorship. Where technology and mysticism is forbidden and forced underground.

The people pray to the Seven moons to be delivered from oppression. They pray for their Gods to strike down the Evil King or Queen, so that they may be free.

The darklands have boundaries that have never been reached. They say, that the end of the world is a crumbling abyss, slowly sucking in the land, nearer and nearer to where civilized people reside. Many have gone to see this true; none have ever returned.

The Characters

Larkin the Shrike is a governor under command of The King. He is a power hungry and corrupted ruler, bent on taking over all the darklands, or whatever he can get his hands on. He lives a life of luxury and lust-filled hedonism, and his fire-orange eyes hold the power to hypnotize. Written by Kearby.

Tíc lost his family during a governmental execution and was taken in by the Safeguard Intelligence Network Kith, or the S.I.N.K, an elite anarchist society that dwells underground. The S.I.N.K. utilizes illegal Old World Technologies, such as computers, in their efforts to overthrow the goverment. Though Tic prefers to keep to himself, he harbors a mysterious and rare ability to heal. Written by Natalia.

Miraye is a sorceress with unstable powers. Orphaned at a young age, she was taken into the care of a demon sorcerer named Seryale. However he took advantage of her and she soon fled, loosing control of her magic from the trauma. A lone wolf, Miraye masks her insecurity through an often cold and sarcastic demeanor though she is a very caring person. Despite her young age, her powers are feared by many. Written by Sirose.

Stelon is a wayward soul who lost her memory at a young age and woke up on the shores of a beach, knowing nothing of her past. She spent most of her life wandering in loneliness, in search of a friend or companion. She befriends people easily, too easily, and has a hard time distinguishing good from evil. Written by Janine.

Seryale is a demon sorcerer who took young Miraye into his care. Eventually his sibling like affection for her transformed into romantic obsession as she grew. He is willing to help Miraye at all costs even though he has committed a serious crime against her. Though he appears to be a young man, he is actually hundreds of years old. His alliance lies with no one but himself, and his memories of the girl he loved. Written by Sirose.

Additional characters

Daniel is a servant boy within Larkin's castle who befriends Stelon. Written by Janine.

Grub, aka Lovely, is the dungeon keeper in Larkin's castle. He is an albino in charge of the interrogation and torture of prisoners. Written by Kearby.

Matthias is a time-traveling scientist with a mechanical arm. One day he opens up a portal and finds himself in the depth's of Larkin's dungeons. Written by Matt. Character no longer in play.

Ergot is a slightly mad wandering minstrel. He travels the world playing his music to whoever will listen. Written by Annie. Character no longer in play.

Farrago is the result of an experiment. She has large black bird wings and the mentality of a four year old. She is kept in Larkin's dungeons to be studied. Written by Sarah. Character no longer in play.

Imera is an elf with an alcohol habit. Elves are hunted down in Aphotica for their skins, ears and bounties. Written by Niki. Character no longer in play.

Natara is an elf that stumbles upon the Governor's Ball. Written by Dani. Character no longer in play.

The Story Thus Far

A small inner-city slave auction erupts in rebellion as insurgents emerge from the underground. Amongst the chaos, one of the younger rebels, Tic, is captured and detained for interrogation by the city governor, Larkin Shrike.

Enslaved and confused, Miraye is witness to the rebel surge. Unable to control her powers, she annihilates half the city, destroying the entire eastern half of Galesing in what is believed to be an act of terrorism.

She is arrested and brought to Larkin's prison, where she meets and befriends Tic. Together they attempt to escape, but only Miraye succeeds. She vows to return to Tic and free him.

As she travels, Miraye meets Stelon, a trustful companion, and Imera, a drunken elf on the run from poachers.

Endeared by Tic, Larkin attempts to persuade information about the S.I.N.K. out of him through pampering and charm. Unaffected, Tic refuses to betray the S.I.N.K. - until Larkin lies to him about the ill fate of Miraye. With Tic's information, Larkin plans a Governor's Ball to announce to that is he going to war with the S.I.N.K.

Through one of one his faulty time portals, "mad scientist" Matthias finds himself running through the dungeons of a medieval castle. He discovers Tic, where he tries to help but only gets himself and the boy in trouble. Thrown back into the prison, Matthias meets Farrago, a girl with birdwings, and convinces her to fly out of the castle with him.

Matthias and Farrago meet Miraye, Stelon and Imera. Though they aren't fond of each other, the five of them team up to sneak into the Governor's Ball and save Tic.

With a forlorn Tic at his side, Larkin announces his plans of war against the S.I.N.K. to his fellow governors and politicians. Stelon gets caught up in dancing, Imera drinks herself to death, Matthias drunkenly attacks Larkin, and Miraye loses all hold. The ball quickly dissolves into a bloody massacre. With her sword lodged into Larkin's chest, and Larkin's gun at her heart, Miraye is killed.

Tic takes Miraye's body and runs, disappearing into the forests. Unaware of his ability, he is guided by a mysterious force and brings Miraye back to life. The two reunite and travel in search of the S.I.N.K., to warn of oncoming war.

Larkin is still alive but badly wounded. With Tic on the run and Miraye rumored alive, he sends officers to burn and purge any villages suspected of knowing the two's whereabouts. Desperate, Larkin turns to magic and uses his priesthood to put a powerful curse on Tic and Miraye.

Left behind, Stelon is brought to prison as an accomplice to murder. Larkin takes mercy on her and easily gains her trust, turning her against Miraye.

Seryale, aware of Stelon's captivation with Larkin and her fading alliance with Miraye, follows Stelon like a ghost and tries to help her before she completely falls victim to Larkin's deception.

Taking refuge in a small far-off farming town, Tic and Miraye find work and rest at the local inn for a few days. Larkin's men appear and threaten to burn a child alive. To the sight of astonished villagers, Miraye reveals herself and attacks, slaughtering almost all of the officers, while Tic saves the child from burning to death.

Tic and Miraye are absconded from the village and head back on their journey to the S.I.N.K., whilst Larkin's curse slowly begins to boil within them...

The story continues...

APHOTICA

1.03.2008

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In a darker world...

The Characters

Additional characters

The Story Thus Far

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