Collaborative Narration

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**Shane**

(Sorry guys, it has been a crazy few days at work. Just got a big promotion, and now I have to make plans to relocate, post-haste (Is that even hyphenated?). I'm still keeping up, I'll try to pose in again tomorrow evening. 'Til then, just imagine me hanging out and looking thuggish.)

**Orkeosaurus**

You've been doing better than me!

Images flashed through my mind. Words, sentences, and thoughts swarmed through it in far greater volume. Alexander Salvik stabbed my father to death in front of me when I was twelve years old. Avenged. The Captain of the Aktarian Guard burned my village to the ground on one of their campaigns. Avenged. Joseph Thresher murdered my son and daughter when I refused entrance into the theives' guild. Avenged. Sir John Gelthalar raped and murdered my wife. Pending. Carlos Sebastian murdered my brother and father after a drunken argument. Avenged. Mary Cooper struck my wife down with disease through her witchcraft. Avenged. Father Albert strangled my son to death. Pending.

A long list of crimes, too long a list for most of it to be true, but each one carrying the same amount of weight on my psyche. While the list of names and offenses continues as mere citations, the more vivid images are of my retribution. Leading a mob to hang the old crone who lives near the edge of the woods. Shoving a nobleman off of the balcony of his mansion and letting his son worry about the body. Finding a man in a dark alley and stabbing him to death in the stomach, with a long jagged knife. Poisoning someone who seemed to have been a close friend, long ago. No guilt to accompany these actions, just the satisfaction of having completed the tasks ordained for me, not by any gods or kings, but by slow but unavoidable march of fate. I have a vision of myself reflected in a still pool; words are embedded in my skin, a list of crimes committed and sentences received. (I can read, I notice.)

I wretch, but don't vomit, and start to shiver. It doesn't seem as though anyone else is doing much better. We're in some sort of inner sanctum or something. The rocks must open some sort of door. I'm not paying much attention to where I am at the moment, or to the conflict between my travelling companions (who may be just as confused as myself?) and the scholar who must be in charge of this place.

I steal a glance at the upper half of my arm, pulling back the sleeves of the robe; I can't read what is written from here, but that something is written can clearly be seen. I really don't feel a need to know more than that, as I know with odd certainty that everything written on me is as etched into my mind as my skin.

**Manchu**

"I am Telbirren," the blue-robed man explains. "I am the keeper of Temenos's library as Arbyat was the keeper of Velnau's. As for the name of our order . . . it has none for we are simple servants of the people, the preservers of knowledge." Telbirren frowns deeply as he continues. "Except for Arbyat, who believed it his mandate that knowledge multiply under his keeping. Hence his foul experiments."

Telbirren turns to one section of the smooth, white wall and gestures casually. The material of the wall seems to liquify and pulls back. "Come," he calls "we have much to speak about."

As you file past, Telbirren touches (grabthar's) arm. "The stone is useless here in Temenos. It was not meant to be transported here along with you and your companions. It will only be useful again when back in Velnau."

The corridor you are walking through is large and open on one side to the air. There is a city below, gleaming white and blue. Beyond that there are . . . just clouds! This city is either at sitting upon plateaued peak of some enormous mountain or floating in the sky. The realization is astounding only for a moment. But powerful memories of this place now flood back for all of you.

**dogma**

The street is here! The pulsing light has dimmed, and I can see that it wasn't blue. It appeared blue because the man was wearing blue. I still can't see his face, and it seems unlikely that I'll ever be able to. But his robe is clear...his robe. There is the connection I needed. It seemed obvious, but the obvious should never be accepted outside corroboration.

Trust no one, least of all yourself.

Sage advice from an authority figure. A father? A mother? An officer? I don't know, but the words feel strong, and forceful.

But this city! It strikes me even as it feels familiar. I lived here for a time. I explored its streets; professionally. Professionally at the behest of our robed hosts, but not as some common policeman. Why did they attack me then? Did they attack me?

Then a face. My face. Disfigured by a large wound on the right side, which I am stitching up myself. The mirror is in a dirty room. A dirty room in what outwardly pretends to be a grand structure. A janitor's closet, a dead body therein. I killed him. I killed him with the high resonance vibroblade sitting on the sink in front of me. There is no guilt, only pity. I pity the man for having crossed me, and I pity him for having the poor sense to fight. Monstrous. Familiar. Beautiful.

**chaplaingrabthar**

Taking Telbirren at his word, I discard the stone.

As we walk down the corridor over the city of Temenos, I am greeted by the rushing warmth of familiarity. I lived here. I worked here. Someone here must know who I am.

I turn to the guide Telbirren "Where is this city's hospice? I must find someone who remembers my life."

I have purpose again. Soon I will know who I am. Then I must know who did this to me and why. Then that unfortunate soul will discover that there is none better at inflicting pain than a healer. I can prolong life, but they will beg me not to.

The time for peace is at an end. The time for conflict shall come soon. This I resolve.

This I resolve.

**chaplaingrabthar**

OOC: It was fun while it lasted, at least.

**Orkeosaurus**

Nooo! I spent seconds coming up with my backstory!

**Manchu**

Alright. We've had an intentionally long break from this. The storyline, such as it was (or wasn't given that it was totally made up post by post) cannot be said to have developed into anything meaningful. All of you created the beginnings of potentially fascinating characters, however. I am deeply impressed by everyone's effort--except my own, of course. But this was always meant to be an experiment.

If some of you are interested in RPing a story that I actually spend time on and try to make worthwhile, what kind of world would you like to play in? Since this is dakka, I'll assume everyone is familiar with/interested in the world of 40k. Also, is there any feedback (aside from "don't trail off") about what could make this activity more worth our time or even if it is worth it in the first place? Does it have potential or no?

**chaplaingrabthar**

I'm interested in continuing to RP. I don't mind what the genre or world is, as long as we have some clue as to the nature of it, as I like to tie my character into the setting (oaths to local gods or more appropriate slang for example)

My only complaint with what had been going before was that it was rather slow to develop but I think that was an artifact of both the story and of the general nature of play-by-forum role play.

**Manchu**

Very true. Having no clue about who you are or where you are doesn't really allow you to jump right in. I've found with IRL RPing that it can be a mistake to expect people to plunge into their characters straight away but that is exactly what everyone here seemed to do with more or less aplomb. So I think the weaknesses of the nearly non-existent story are really beside the point. Far more worrisome is the idea of what you call the "general nature of play-by-forum role play." What kind of interaction does this venue suggest or permit? Can we get a meaningful experience out of this? I'm skeptical. It seems to me that it'll end up being kind of one-sided fiction, which doesn't seem to capture the feeling of RP at all.

**Orkeosaurus**

We should go really simple.

You are thy DUNGEONMAN. You are in a DUNGEON. To your EAST is a TAVERN. To your NORTH is THE DRAGON'S LAIR.

**dogma**

My only real complaint was that a lack of knowledge regarding the basic setting made me hesitant to reference any ideas which might define the world. For example, I only brought the vibro blade in after Manchu implied via PM that he intended this fiction to be set in the Star Wars universe.

I think that, given the time delay implicit in this sort of format, it would be helpful to have at least a basic declaration of the setting; ie. 40k, Star Wars, etc. Or maybe everyone else knew except me.

**Manchu**

Let me just say that I would definitely be up for someone taking the reins on any potential story. If you have an idea of how it should work and want to forge ahead, I will certainly participate.

@dogma: We must've had a miscommunication as I didn't intend this to be set in the Star War universe. But agree with you point 100%.

**Orkeosaurus**

I think the time delay also results in more extensively thought out characters earlier in the game. Also, the lack of mechanical features to define us.

**chaplaingrabthar**

My comment on the general nature of play-b-yforum roleplaying was explicitly in reference to the time delay factor. When I RP, I tend to play guys who will not shut up (as I'm a fairly quiet guy IRL), so I want to comment on things going on, argue with other players and general by a slightly irritating guy, but the time delays and the completel lack of context to the setting hurt that, Particularly the lack of context, as the character I was developing was heavily inspired by traditional D&D clerics and I'm not sure if that works in the scenario we had.