Rules.

[aison]

Ω You must be eighteen or older.

Ω No godmodding or metagaming. Period. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in an instant ban.

Ω No fourthwalling.

Ω Stay IC above all else.

Ω Communicate with your threadmates. Especially if there is power usage involved.

Ω The amount of characters you can currently have is three. This is subject to change. Two can be apped within a single app cycle, except for your first application.

Ω The only powers subject to change are godpowers and reality changing abilities. There are a case by case basis and must be discussed before you start playing.

Ω All abilities used on other characters must be okayed with the other player beforehand.

Ω In that vein, mental powers, mind control, and sensing abilities must have an explanation post and the option to opt out, within reason, if the player is uncomfortable.

Ω Adult logs such as torture, death, and sex must have a warning and be behind a cut. Graphic threads of that nature must be members only.

Ω Activity checks will be in play and are mandatory. They will need examples within the last week before the check, and recommended activity is at least once a day.

About Silence Keeps

[aison]

"First thing you gotta know when arriving in Ṣiyyôn, is it ain't nothing like a sanctuary.

No matter the reason you came here, you ain't gonna be welcomed, 'specially if you're an obvious spec. Norms around here aren't too kind to guys like us--even if you came to help. If you didn't well. Maybe I'll tell you about it later. Maybe you'll learn on your own.

Three things you should probably know. This city ain't got no normal police. They were replaced by a branch of military couple months back--no one know who they answer to. They norms love 'em though--and love to point us out to them. Watch yourself. And watch the business district, too. Sure, if you can, there's cred and coin to be made there, but there's some shady dealing there, too. Guys in suits will take you away. And I got a guy who swears up and down that you can hear screams over there at night. Not that I can say. Like I'd go there. Caution's smart. Paranoia can be better. Like with those occult freaks running around. Most of 'em are crazy as hell and just as useless, but some of 'em are smarter. With the smart ones, you usually got two options if you're caught--get set up as a god to worship and stay a prisoner for the rest of your unnatural life, or get sacrificed to another god. Shit odds, right? Yeah. Keep the paranoia. It'll keep you safe.

And we're not going to talk about.... Yeah. Just. Watch yourself at night. Stay in, and stay quiet, if you can. Then you got nothing to worry about but noises and shadows.

Otherwise, there's shit to see, stuff to do. Library's always interesting, and I hear the museum's the same. If you got the contacts and can pass, the Ballroom's one of the best--for good shit and bad. Keep your eyes up and your nose down. Park's new, but nice, I guess. The clock tower's weird... But what isn't, around here. Anyway, you keep your head down, and maybe things will be cool for you. Yeah. I know. You came here for a reason, right? Looking for something, maybe. Well. People who look around find more than they should, more than they want. There's something wrong with this place, and--

Who am I kidding? You'll do what you want. Everyone always does. Just understand I haven't survived this long by being curious.

Oh, and don't bother to check your watches. Time runs different around here.

-Ricky Beth, Silence Keeps"

-----Ω-----

Silence Keeps is a dystopian city-based prose game, combining general online role-playing with aspects of LARPing, and focuses on intrigue and mysteries, as well as different concepts of reality. This isn't a friendly panfandom game. Taking a page from Terri Windling's Borderdown, Ṣiyyôn is a city filled with prejudices and complete intolerance for any that aren't complete humans. You have the military hunting you, scientists seeking to capture you, and occultists wanting to do gods know what.

Add to that, a sense of paranoia. Even among other non-humans, no one can be fully trusted. The military, especially, is known for making deals with "specs" (specials), the "norms" (normals) term for non-humans, and there's creatures and monsters that prey on very specific kinds of beings. And being around them when those monsters hunt probably isn't a very intelligent thing to do.

And no one coming in is fully human. This world changes them, gives them abilities that they wouldn't have had otherwise. If you think you're safe, you almost definitely aren't. This game is fully interactive. Aside from your starting attributes given to you with the result of your application, your character can earn abilities or curses through story progression, depending on the actions they take.

This is a completely immersible environment. Your character is part of the story, and their actions affect the encompassing storyline. This is an intrigue based game, with many things to unlock if the character is active. If you're looking for just a social environment to play in, this isn't for you.

Unlockable elements are secreted away both ICly and OOCly. Becoming close to an NPC may open up options, contacts or resources. Exploring a room closely may reveal hidden areas, and as your character becomes more ingrained into this world, more parts of the city itself open up, as well as new items and more NPCs and mysteries to find. Choices spiderweb--each decision your character makes will affect the world around them, and makes different unlockable plot and content come into play.

As for details, there's a few, most of which are spoke about in the FAQ. There's no counting time. Watches don't work, and you'll see no methods to mark time anywhere--despite the fact of the clock tower. Its faces are mirrors, oblique and shining. And most characters will receive a "watch" within their first few days. These, instead, send text messages to other characters--the signals are registered automatically once they've spoken once, though the signals are by no means unable to be tapped or untraceable. Characters would do well to be cautious.

This is a theme heavy game, though it won't smother you. Things touched on are many. Bordertown, obviously. Fantasy versus reality. Technology versus simplistic. Futuristic and medieval. Choices for the self against choices for all. Paranoia and trust, secrets and truth, reality and the concept of dreams. This game tells a story, and each story started by a character becomes part of that. This is your game; this is their story.

General Questions.

[aison]

Q: Uh. What is Silence Keeps? It was referenced in the introduction.

Silence Keeps is a pamphlet type "newspaper" that one NPC does. It gives facts and information on the city, as well as commentary on current events. ICly, they can be found in the main item shop, as well as pinned random places in the city, and OOCly will be found in silencespeaks.

Q: Watches? Texting?

A: Yep, their watches are texting communicators. It's explained in the introduction, but if you missed it, here it is. Most characters will receive a "watch" within their first few days. These, instead, send text messages to other characters--the signals are registered automatically once they've spoken once, though the signals are by no means unable to be tapped or untraceable. Characters would do well to be cautious.

Q: What's this cred and coin? We have to buy stuff?

A: If you want stuff. Nothing's free. Cred and coin are both ways to gain items and information, though some people will barter, especially for information. Coin is what it is, a large plain gold coin the size of your palm. Everywhere takes it and most people want to be paid in it. Normally, though, people are paid in cred--a disposable three-inch plastic card that can hold any amount on it. The downside of cred is it's traceable--so if you're wanted or known, it's not the thing to have.

Q: Well, what kind of stuff?

A: Items can range from weapons to mystical objects to condoms, depending on where you shop and who's selling. Weapons start off small, and can be further unlocked, and there's a few different places to gain things. As well as technology based items like guns and grenades, there's also potions and one-use spell charms to buy. And for those characters with pink hair and orange eyes, you can find hair dye and contacts if you have any wanting to go deeper into town.

Q: Okay. Zones? Districts?

A: The town's divided into three zones with separate districts, with a higher intensity for each zone. Things are more laid back in zone one, and zone three will get you killed if you simply wander into it. Each zone has separate things in it, which are detailed at the location post.

Q: Uh. Where's the more detailed descriptions of locations?

A: That's it. I believe in artistic liberty, which means you get the main points and room to work with it. If there an empty building nearby? It's up to you! Are there people walking around? Go for it! What color is the fence around the red light district? I have no idea. Probably gray.

Q: What if my character's not a human?

A: This game accepts non-human characters. We offer a shapeshifting ability at application/creation, though it will have limited uses, and may have other affects, depending on the character.

Q: What about original characters?

A: Original characters are an unlockable feature based on how long you've played the game and how active you are. More information will be added as it becomes available.

Q: What if my character's completely normal? No special powers or anything?

A: They won't be. This game's world changes those who come into contact with it; depending on how your character is, they will gain certain abilities. Depending on what those abilities are, they may not notice it at first--until they start a fire with their fingertips.

Q: What if my character died before they came here?

A: Then they wake up here. This is the only strict default for this. Otherwise, previously dead characters will have added attributes and plot, but that will be case-by-case.

Q: Character death. Can it happen?

A: It can. Your character can die by other characters, NPCs, and the range of monsters and creatures that we have. This is a permanent death--there is no random waking up in a new location with little damage and missing memories. If your character dies, they die, and you will have to reapp them if you'd like to play them again. This game is based on secrecy, with intrigue and plots that characters would have to tread with caution, and that is reflected in this.
The flip side is this: The characters, as well, can permanently kill off NPCs and certain monsters. Killing off the item shopkeeper isn't recommended (and may not be easy for that matter) but it can be done. Though that will take away the role set for that NPC unless something changes.

Q: Does my character just wake up in this city?

A: They can, though they'd miss out on plot. You have free range with this, just talk it over with us, as it might be applicable later on in game: Did they hear that something they're searching for is there? Is a precious person said to be residing there? Is there a mystery that interests them, or some fact that seems familiar to them? Feel free to communicate and brainstorm with us if you're having trouble planning.
Examples: L, from Death Note, could come here on a recent case--either of the player's design or of one already active within the city. Albedo, from Xenosaga, could come here looking for Junior, and could be played by an NPC if not already taken, or simply as someone seen in faded images in the distance. Sora, from Kingdom Hearts, could come to a different world in search of his friends, or a lead on new Heartless. Etc.

Q: I have this situation./This doesn't make sense./I'm unsure about this and how it will affect my character.

A: Talk to us. Leave a question here, PM aison, or check the mod contacts. This is an interactive game specified to each and every character, so we expect and look forward to talking with all of you before you start playing and throughout your experience here.