realitymods | The Hosts

★ The Hosts

The people who maintain the Machine and this experiment are all mod characters. Some are helpful, some are misguided, some are cruel, and some are dancing to a higher power's tune. While they can change and may appear with varying frequency, there are some constant influences.

★ The Shop

The shop is a quaint wooden cottage that happens to be perhaps a bit futuristic on the inside. It's run by Jhil and Roen and the double jokers on the gaudy sign make it hard to miss. They're all too happy to sell characters the things they need - even information - for the right price. Can they afford their prices? That depends on what they have to lose. On the plus side, their employer wants them to hire new employees. As long as those employees don't try to get into the back room, behind the purple curtain... Oh, and don't even try to attack them. The door has a trigger to detect harmful intent, and you really don't want it to go off.

Though NPCs can see the shop, whenever they try the door, it is locked. They may, if they are lucky, catch a fleeting image of them in the window, but they won't be allowed in. Regardless of what they try to use - magic, technology, or explosions - they will not be able to get into the shop. The door will open only when player characters are alone (or alone with other player characters).

★ Main Hosts

Wolf ☆ Unlike Derogative, Wolfgang Albrecht is actually a completely normal human. Well, mostly. Hailing from a world where dimensional paradoxes are common, he searches for a way to save his home before it succumbs to instability and is swallowed forever. Though he dresses and sounds like he's from Britain, he'll be the first to tell you that he has no idea what Britain is.

Clumsy, well-meaning and earnest, he's a departure from the old manipulators of the Plane and he's in a class of his own. Like you, he's desperate for answers and unutterably alone. Wolf might be the only friend you have.

Recently he's acquired something of a following, and is one of two powers vying for control of the Machine.

Jhil ☆ Somewhat mysterious to lay eyes on, she's a woman with long red hair and two distinctive black horns curling back around her ears. She dresses in dark armor made of leather and mail even though she spends all her time working in the shop. She has a sharp tongue and is somewhat cranky, but if you want information, she's got it.

Roen ☆ A short man with chin-length black hair and two small black horns that curve forward slightly. He dresses in gray cloth armor embroidered with gold thread in various patterns. Unlike his cousin Jhil, he's generally very hospitable, if not a bit nervous.

Da Tian ☆ Wolf's former doctor and friend turned traitor. He is tall and striking, hawkish features and black hair braided down his back, as well as yellow eyes. He raised the 'angels' and released them on people just to see what would happen.

Shaman ☆ A little girl who works on the Machine. She dresses like a butterfly cocoon and talks in riddles, much like Meredith before her. It's rumored that she is actually upwards of a thousand years old.

★ Former Hosts

These people no longer can be contacted, but their info is here for reference.

Raymond ☆ Raymond Keys works for a man named Jed, and that's all he has to offer on that situation. He looks stunningly average, brown hair, brown eyes, average height, dressed in greys and like he can't decide between business or casual. His stature and appearance always seem like he's just barely tolerating being there.

And when he says you make him sick, he means it. He comes from a long line of people with the ability to sense the inhuman, but no one has ever had it as strong as him. He has no problems treating you with utter contempt and disgust, but will at least play at being nice to get his job done.

Jacob ☆ Jacob Kross seems to be a normal sort of guy; a bit of a jock who is into cars. Short blond hair and an average height, frequently dressed in jeans and t-shirts. He has a friendly demeanor seems to mean well- just don't mention keys around him.

Oh, did he mention it yet? He's looking for a key. A specific key. It's very important. If you happen to find it, please, he needs it.

Rita ☆ Rita Blake is clearly more refined than her boyfriend. Black business suits and classy, serious glasses are her attire of choice, and her long black hair practically blends in with them. She's a bit odd though, in her way. She always seems familiar to men- she always reminds them of someone they've met before.... Maybe in a dream?

'Grey'/Charlie ☆ Dead. As it turned out, he was host to something quite terrible. Who knew?

Derogative ☆ Derogative is an insufferably cheery, usually asleep, new addition. When dealing with most humanoid beings, he tends to take on a human form; a man in his early forties with short, messy brown hair, bright green eyes, and usually dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket. Though when in the shop, he tends to prefer his natural form: a giant canine-like animal with a golden ankh on his chest.

Most of the time he does odd jobs for whoever needs him for anything, he takes his role as Guardian seriously, but it would be best for everyone if he just remains as doofy and scatterbrained as he allows himself to seem.

The Twins ☆ The Twins are comprised of a girl and a boy - Lapis and Lazuli respectively - who look shockingly young and like perfect, pale porcelain dolls. Everything about them is sheet white and neat, wearing old-fashioned clothes, cropped hair and generally seeming quite delicate if not rather unsettling.

Don't be fooled. The Twins are sly, amoral business types. Everything has a price and nothing is sacred. They appear to have ties to everything corrupt - the mafia, crooked cops, etc - as well as everything good - heroes, orphanages, whatever - and keep their cards close. People tend to end up in debt to them but if you have what they want, they might just be your best friends.

Also, they have a creepy tendency to talk in unison, as if they share a mind. The only way to tell them apart is Lapis's slightly higher voice and the fact that they each wear a braid but on different sides of their heads. (Lapis wears hers on the right, Lazuli's on the left). If you listen closely when they move, the sound of gears can be heard.

Roe ☆ Not much is known about this woman. She fixed the Machine after it crashed from misuse, then disappeared. She seems to be irritable, because she very much is. Recently she has appeared again in glee at character suffering and annoyance that they were getting a vacation. She's a bundle of joy.

Meredith ☆ Meredith Sault represents what she simply refers to as 'the Order.' It has a real name, but she doesn't think that you need to hear it. There's something distinctly eerie in her mannerisms, from the distant voice to the fluidity of her movements. Her robes hide her eyes in shadow, but her lips, often curled in amusement, are always visible.

Meredith is not your friend, but she is not your enemy, either. She will not be bought, coerced, convinced, or made to care, for she values little and considers everything to be transient. She will not attempt to trick you, but she often speaks vaguely - or else callously offers shattering information, a small smile the only hint at her reason for doing so.

Laith ☆ Dead. Laith Kolter seemed like the usual harmless research slave right up until she showed her true cards as a master manipulator. Notable for controlling a long-term peaceful Plane resident into slaughtering half a dozen people and hampering the investigation. Ruthless, unfeeling, and willing to put her own life on the line for the sake of making a new world, Laith took the secrets of the Machine to her grave.

★ Contact A Host

In this post, you can ICly contact a mod character. You should leave a comment of whatever your character is doing to get attention - going into the shop and so on - as you would with normal tagging. If you have a preference for what character you get, give their name in the subject line. For the purposes of this post, the characters that can be contacted at any point are Wolfgang and Jhil.

However, if you do not specify which character you want, you may receive messages from others involved in the workings of the Machine.

[her expression is severe] Yeah, they have done. Because either it's a very long September, or it's more than that, these days.

So where do they go when "it" finds them?

I am afraid I can't tell you. I could, but I can't. That isn't how it works. That isn't how this works at all, Trish, you should know that. You're clever.

[His solid brown eyes give her a once over.]

But you certainly aren't special. Oh, what a problem.

And you're complicit in a long series of crimes, but somehow I get the impression that doesn't bother you. Would that take all the fun out of it? I thought good stories always dropped hints. Have I had mine yet?

[she meets his gaze head-on] And why is that a problem?

Oh, Trish, I'm hurt that you think of me so badly. All I wanted was time. [He sighs, for the first time taking his eyes off of her, seeing as they close when he does it.] I'm not a heartless man. Oh, believe me, I was devastated when Charlie disappeared. And the man with the serpent, it was truly heart-wrenching. I enjoyed them both. But regardless of my sorrow, which I expect won't be believed, there are hints. There are answers. There are answers every where you look, Trish. Questions too.

[He smiles at her again, re-affixing his stare.]

Charlie only ever found the lair when he was with Sammy or the man with the snake.

[this is Menzies, clearly believing his sincerity. can you tell from her skeptical sneer? she raises an eyebrow, remembering his earlier comment] Yeah? And what'd you sell to get it?

[but she smiles back at that] Oh, now that's interesting. And are there many "special" people around here? You, I suppose. Ray, maybe? Jed?

I sold myself, of course. To the very man you just mentioned. Jed offered me time and I leapt at the chance. Of course, my time is spent here. Always. But time is time, isn't it?

[After that, coming round to answer who is special, he stops and laughs.]

Me? Special! Hah. No. I'm afraid not. Raymond... maybe, but he and I, we don't quite see eye to eye. He avoids me, I avoid him, both of us continue our business as usual. [He folds his hands.] But I know someone special when I get a good look at them.

So you work for Jed, too. [somehow that's not surprising. she leaves his comment about time alone because obviously it meant that much to him; there's not exactly a point in arguing]

All right, then. How about this--seen anyone lately? Are there many "special" people around here?

No, how about this. You round up your little cabal and you send them my way. I only get to see people when they come into the shop, and I so rarely get visitors. I tried so hard to be friendly. I really did.

[she can't decide if she misstepped by making him mad, but she's found out something, at least. she'll just have to tread carefully from here on. and it seems Satoshi may have had the right idea to begin with...] All right, calm down. I'll get your visitors, just like you want. I'll even tell 'em all about your great stories so they know what to expect. [she smiles sweetly]

Mind answering one more question? See, I've got this dilemma. Jed sent me a letter, and I want to write him back. Any idea how I could reach him?

[He smiles.] Sorry, I didn't meant to sound angry. I get so lonely sometimes. All I have is that gigantic dog for company and I usually shoo him out.

[He leans back and runs a hand through his hair.]

I'm afraid you don't contact Jed. Jed contacts you. But he always knows what you want. He always knows what you need. And he knows what you're doing. If he thinks you need contact, he'll send you a note. You'll be reading a book you got from the library and on the next page, a letter for you. You'll go through your files at work and find a note. You'll find one on your bed when it wasn't there seconds ago.

Time isn't cheap, huh? Next time we'll have to sit down over a nice cup of tea! [and it's anybody's guess whether she means that seriously or not]

[she purses her lips, still smiling. that's rather predictable, somehow. she wonders if she'll get anything in response to this little chat. if not, maybe she should call Ray again] Well, isn't that nice of him? Right, thanks for your help, Grey. [she straightens, ready to leave, but then she hesitates] Anything else you want me to pass on to the others I'm sending your way?

[Just staring at her.]

Just that I'll be here, Trish. I'll always be here. Come visit me again sometime soon.

Oh, I will do.

[and before she leaves, she risks another question because she's realised, if she's going to send the kids his way, there's one more thing she really should find out] Just out of curiosity, if someone "special" comes to visit, what happens?

Nothing. They'll be as safe as they could be within a shop; but I'll make sure to tell them not to knock over any displays or shelves. It'd be a shame to lose another because they caused the shelf of blades to fall on them.

[she smiles, but there's nothing sincere about it. she is relieved, but she's realising more and more what a pleasant bloke Grey is] I'm sure they'll appreciate the gesture.

Anyway, I'd better get back to investigating. Job to do and all. [she waves with one hand as she turns to walk out] See you, Grey.

The Hosts

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject