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thepale_rpg2021-04-18 10:13 am
FAQ.
THE GAME.
The Pale RPG is a fictional role-play game. Players will create original characters to play as their current world changes. Characters must have a PB or "played-by" (a celebrity, actor, etc - no social media personalities). Players will also help create the current world by submitting ideas for locations.
We hope the game itself will be self sufficient, with minimal interruption from mods. Players are welcome to create and play through plots with other characters as they wish.
If you happened to play on sirencoverpg back in the day, this RPG was created by one of Siren Cove's former mods. We plan to play The Pale similar to Siren Cove, where players drive the plot, are accountable for their own activity, and play according to their comfort and as time permits.
CELLS.
WHAT ARE CELLS?
Cells are almost invisible borders the earth created to protect itself. Think of a cell like a bubble or dome around a land mass. They can be various sizes, but as of the game's beginning, there are five large cells across North America and many smaller cells between them. (Of course, there are cells around the world as well!)
The land within a cell is thriving, but land outside of a cell is a harsh, dying landscape that few species can survive in. Each cell's biome depends on the area of the world. Weather is contained within cells.
THE PALE.
WHAT IS THE PALE?
The Pale is the name of one of five largest cells in North America, currently located in the northwest (think Oregon, Washington, British Columbia area). The landscape and weather in The Pale is also similar to this area. The Pale's boundaries currently encompass lakes, land, forests, and a bit of the Pacific Ocean. At the start of the game, the re-bordering has begun - the livable area of The Pale will shrink significantly, cutting off a majority of the forest and shaving away a large amount of ocean.
WHAT IS THE RE-BORDERING?
Every hundred years, like clockwork, all cells around the world shrink. Not every cell shrinks the same amount, which left the world with various size cells. This is referred to as "re-bordering." The earth dictates where humans will live and how much area they have. It is beyond anyone's control.
When a re-bordering begins, an ominous feeling is in the air. Those with knowledge of cells know the timeframe, but they will also notice a change around them as the cell comes alive to move its borders. Those who have managed to live blissfully unaware of cells will think there is simply bad weather on the horizon. But once the re-bordering begins, everyone will know. High tides, trees creaking, wind picking up as the invisible walls of the cell move its perimeter. It will become obvious to everyone, as it will sound like some sort of natural disaster. The world will rumble like an earthquake and vegetation cut out of the perimeter will wither and begin to decay at an accelerated speed. This change will get everyone's attention, no matter how far their heads are buried in the sand.
But those within the border will be safe. The earth protects everything within the cell from the elements of the outside. Those suddenly outside of the border will soon find they have a limited amount of resources, and time, to survive.
OUTSIDE.
WHAT IS LIFE OUTSIDE OF CELLS?
Bad.
The world outside of a cell is harsh. Vegetation is dying or almost completely dead. Water and food are scarce. The air is polluted to the point that breathing is difficult. Humans cannot live outside of a cell for more than a month. Humans who are experts at navigating the landscape can push the threshold, but when the 30th day nears, they need to retreat into a cell to recuperate. Many have died outside of cells, mostly due to dehydration and starvation.
Animals seem to thrive outside of cells and adapt to the changes. They can roam freely from inner and outer cells, with no side effects.
HOW DO HUMANS TRAVEL BETWEEN CELLS?
The five largest cells in North America are difficult to travel between. Thankfully there are several much smaller cells between them that travelers use as “pit stops” to their destination. While people living within the largest cells may never notice the comings and goings of travelers, small cells have become accustomed to the visitors and their needs. These small cells have transformed their economy to trade with travelers - much needed supplies (food, water, clothing, etc.) for goods from other cells. The only income they make is through travelers.
Some travelers are lucky enough to have access to transportation like bikes and other vehicles. But as access to fuel depends on the location of cells, this can be a difficult way to move long distances. A lot of travelers simply go by foot.
ROSE POINT.
WHAT IS ROSE POINT?
Rose Point is the main city in The Pale, located smack dab in the center of the cell. Though it is considered the main hub of The Pale, it is far from a metropolis. The city was founded almost 500 years ago in a previously abandoned town because of location and location alone - the closer to the center of a cell, the more time before the borders threaten the community. Since taking over the abandoned town, Rose Point has erected and repurposed buildings as needed. The original library became city hall, for example. It has a large apartment building (please don’t expect any creativity or uniqueness in layouts), a library that doubles as an educational center, a city hall, and homes of various architecture, built by current citizens' ancestors. (The layout of Rose Point is not decided and I hope can be built based off players' ideas!)
Just outside of Rose Point is the rural area. One on side, there are farms and fields, operated by Rose Point citizens. The city is self-sufficient, so farmers are instrumental to the survival of Rose Point. On the other side is the industrial area - various factories at a safe distance from Rose Point. All of the goods produced by the farms and factories are to support Rose Point.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOREST?
Beyond the rural area surrounding Rose Point is a large landscape of fields and forests. This is where shifters, who so chose, made their homes. This is also where travelers predominantly make their temporary homes and trade amongst themselves. Those who travel to and live in this area are well aware of the border of the cell. They will be the first to notice changes as the re-bordering draws near.
WHAT IS THE CURRENCY OF ROSE POINT?
The currency is trade. Money became obsolete long ago. As Rose Point is self-sufficient, basic needs are taken care of by the community itself and citizens are expected to pitch in to help one another. But that doesn’t mean class became obsolete. Families who have lived in Rose Point for generations have, of course, accumulated more things. And the more you have to trade, the richer you are.
ARE THERE JOBS IN ROSE POINT?
Yes, of course! If it is needed to keep a city running, it is up for grabs by players. These jobs are not just physical. For example, researchers and scientists are highly sought after since resources and infrastructure are limited to what is available within the cell.
SO...WHAT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY?
We’re in the dark times, friends. But more like the 90s dark times.
Because cell borders shrink, and humans can’t survive too long outside of its barriers, technology has slowly dwindled. Rose Point currently has access to landlines (cell phones aren’t even a twinkle in an eye) and researchers and scientists have access to dial-up internet. But it’s slower than dial-up and extremely limited in what it can do. The internet is reserved for use in a research facility and will become Rose Point’s only access to the outside world. Currently, Rose Point has not made contact to other cells. But with the help of travelers from the other large cells, it seems doable.
Since cells have become their own little worlds, technology will vary among cells. We detail how technology is currently in use in The Pale, but other cells could be far more advanced or behind the times. Your character’s knowledge of technology will depend on if they have traveled outside of The Pale.
SHIFTERS.
WHAT ARE SHIFTERS?
Shifters are humans who have the ability to shift into an animal. The kicker? Only one animal. They have a single human form and a single animal form.
Until now, shifters within The Pale have been unknown to humans. Because the re-bordering will remove a large chunk of their habitat, shifters will be forced to move into Rose Point.
WHAT ANIMALS ARE AVAILABLE?
Animal forms are limited to animals that are common to the northwest region of North America. Whatever animals can live in this habitat are free to exist in game.
For ease, we will group shifters in broad animal categories - for example, Character X shifts into a grizzly. They will be grouped under the general category of bears. Character Y shifts into a leopard. Will will categorize them under large cats.
We know that there are many animals available and you may want to plot a history between your shifter and another, but they are not the exact same animal. A broad category will allow shifters to have a deeper background with other shifters in the game, if players wish.
Question: Can we use animals not native to this region but can survive here?
Yes. As long as the animal you choose can survive in the northwestern region of North America, we will accept your choice.
HOW DO SHIFTERS LIVE?
Until now, shifters typically lived as mostly human or mostly animal. Your character can be a shifter and have lived as a human within Rose Point. Or your character could live in the outer edges of The Pale in their animal form.
For those that mostly stay in their animal form, shifters typically live among like-animals. For example, shifters who take a wolf form can live within a pack of other wolf-shifters.
HOW WILL RE-BORDERING AFFECT SHIFTERS?
Shifters have several edges over humans. For one, they live longer. And because of their animal counterpart, they can survive outside of cells for much longer, sometimes years at a time. But once the re-bordering begins, shifters will be physically affected at a larger scale than humans who safely live in Rose Point.
Shifters can shift at will between their human and animal form. Just before re-bordering, their abilities will glitch. As The Pale prepares its move, shifters will switch forms unconsciously, which could be a particularly sticky situation for shifters who live as humans in Rose Point.
When the re-bordering finally takes place, the edges of the cell will shrink, removing a majority of the habitat shifters currently live in. This will force shifters to flee their homes and take refuge in Rose Point, whether they like it or not. They can try to live outside the cell, but since their abilities are hampered, they will feel the effects like a human.
HUMANS.
WHAT DO HUMANS KNOW?
Humans have varying amounts of knowledge about the world that depend entirely on where they have lived and what their ancestors have passed down. They can live their entire lives within The Pale, move in at some point in their lifetimes, recently move to The Pale, or seek refuge after traveling.