Wanted: Nemesis

[Random_White_Guy]

Salutations and greetings from the grand beyond!

Before anyone worries of my return, I'm still heavily embroiled with RL. However I wanted to make this post after speaking with a few PCs tonight and it got me thinking about something on EFU. This forum is often utilized by people looking for allies, minions, henchmen or folks with out concepts looking for leaders.

What I'd like to pitch though is a new dynamic to this forum. I'd like to propose for lack of a better term what I'm calling Nemesis.

While I have been known for being a drama queen and cycling through characters faster than folks ending up dead on any quest where BOM would drop his infamous pillars a few things I've been thinking about time and again. Almost all of my favorite moments in EFU have come at the hands of enemies. Not just enemies though. Enemies who were my friends.

I know we should all try to pride ourselves on being an inclusive community and avoid roleplaying with the same people and finding ourselves new ways to involve people. At the same time though some of the best ways to do that are when you're not only at the top of you're game but you're having the most fun. When you know that even if you lose your actions at least raised some hell and whoever beat you is at least someone with a plan. That it's not just random circumstance you've ended up in the fugue.

Two short examples

• A fair time ago I played a PC who was a CN mystrylan priest named Ebeneezer Randolph. Among his many other foibles he was an eccentric anarchist. One day I got bored in the afternoon and decided that Mystryl was the only entity who should be able to have the color red symbolizing her holy splendor. As a result I raised a bounty on the Red Dye Barrel in the House of Governance. A few people sent me "LOL" tells, a few people laughed and balked at the sending, a few people even said it was borderline out of character and stupid.
     
     But then something amazing happened. Abala Quickfoot made a sending demanding information about me. It gave me instant validation and from it it lead to everything the likes of me hiring gangsters to raid the HOG and steal the barrel for piles of gold and alchemical supply. Stories reached me that Watchers were patrolling the HOG to preserve the barrel. Was it goofy? Sure. Was it a little out there? Definitely. Yet from this choice of two PCs we were able to cultivate action on the server and it's a hilarious story I don't think I'll forget any time soon.
  

• Another PC I made was an Elven Druid who felt Mankind has never been weaker. And in Talonite fashion all things weak must perish. As a result I spread a fair few plague infected NPCs around the In Between, the Gate, and other limited NPC areas where PCs often traveled. It was mostly just a gimmick and a fun way to pass the time-

   
   Until Vlaid's xenophobic watcher discovered I was an elf and began going ballistic. Mandating quarantine. Dispersing cures. Warning the entire populace that some sendings made by beggar children were traps (Much to my amusement some people avoided a DM quest made by a beggar sending because of this) and similar antics. He made posters, I made posters, I made threats, he rebuked and countered.
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We use this forum a lot for "Hey guys I have a great idea, here's a little story about it, here's a little blurb, here's what I'm looking for in pals and anyone seeking a concept".

What I'd love to see is people pitching the opposite.

A challenge to the entire server.

"Here's what my character is about. You looking to make a name for your PC? You want to rumble? I'm bored and looking for some fun. Bring it on".

Corrupt Watchers seeking personal organized and persistent criminal foes with a grudge for extorting a lowly 25 gold bribe that spins out of control .

A conspiracy theorist who thinks the world is out to get him seeking a megalomaniacal Agent who actually _is_ out to get him because the Agent enjoys playing with his food.

A Druid looking for a hunter to begin mass-slaughter of Rothe on an entirely new level of industrial greed so they have someone tangible to fight in Civilization vs. Nature

A Lower Gangster seeking a Rival to divide all of lower in various street fights as two gangs of two colors begin to grow and fight from a personal grudge over a spilled beer.

Basically the kind of things two OOCly coordinating PCs can pursue. It isn't about who "Wins". It isn't about the DM faction you're in or the loot or the XP.

Just two PCs starting a stink between each other which has the potential to involve a lot of other PCs and spread around EFU.

And making the most fun out of your conflict as possible.

[Random_White_Guy]

I'm personally out of action for at least a month or maybe more.

Here's a sample template though for Nemesis post off the top of my head.

Background
Rough Goals
Potential Foils


Forum Title: Tormite Cleric on the brink:- Seeking a push (Or salvation).


Background: Telhar is a Black Guild Tormite Cleric who has never been more lost. His god's silence has not broken his spirit but it has bent it, spat on it, and the misery he sees everyday in life makes his skin crawl. The desperation of adventurers selling themselves to danger for coin. The deplorable conditions of Lower Sanctuary. Worst of all though his faith in mankind is being ever tarnished- because every day he hears more tales of betrayal. Watchers who are corrupt betraying their duty. Gangs in lower leaving their brethren to die or selling them out for another piece of copper. Wildlings preying upon the innocent after appearing inquisitive or distant offers of aid on a weary road.

Rough Goals: As a faithless cleric the idea of building a church is a longshot and something unlikely. Many will know that Torm has fallen silent and any congregation would only draw malicious eyes upon them. Yet in times of crisis Torm always shines through. My intention is to use the faith of torm not as the echoing cry of stabbing into the heart of evil but a new philosophical movement. The House of Knowledge promotes all sort of scholarly pursuit so I want to make my PC pushing a dogma of loyalty. That through Loyalty bonds are forged and those bonds given time will fundamentally see life improved. Community rebuilt. Civilization brought back from the brink. Texts about it, commissioned artwork, even giving speeches and promoting Black Guild ideals of community and Sanctuary.

Potential Foils: Would the Spellguard attempt to use his love of community to manipulate him if a clever agent wished a puppet? Would the Gangs of Lower attack his small knit band with high demands of ransom or twisting him to their dark deeds? If his secret as a Tormite is discovered would some nefarious cult attempt to make him fall and become some emblem of all that is good in the world dying?

Mostly what I am hoping to find is something as petty as a more selfish Red Guild member tearing at my writings and rebuking my books with creed of greed or other pro-red guild rhetoric clamoring why I am wrong. Scholarly debates could be had in private or even in public. Potentially even fist fights or more drastic actions taken.

If a PC is motivated though and is interested in more of a full scale vendetta while my PC has tarnished faith in humanity he's not prepared to fully leap to the dark side. A committed effort and PC plotting could certainly tip the scales but I'd prefer it be a longer drawn out ordeal than "WE HAVE A CHILD, PRAISE BANE OR THE CHILD DIES". Put the effort into it and you may just find yourself driving a good man to drink more. To drink a lot. Perhaps too much. Perhaps enough to turn to drugs. Perhaps enough to turn to crime to feed his addiction. Then you win.

If you see my PC wandering about and you're up for a challenge I welcome you to take umbrage with my books. Send a letter, make a sending, some rebuking forum post

The opposite also applies: As things grow if a goodly PC is seeking a steadfast counsel or ally, feel free to intervene and try to win a tally for your cult or cause.

[Apocryphal Misconceptions]

Editing....