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raisetheearth (IC) | raisetheearthooc (OOC) | cracktheearth (memes)Pages
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Echoes | Echo Requests | | Echo Incursions | Hiatus/Drop
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Echo Incursions
What are Echo Incursions?
Echo Incursions are a new type of phenomenon that occur in the game that differ from other echo-triggering events that occur in this game andsavetheearth. The main distinction is that, as opposed to individuals that are reincarnated as Numbered, or such events as entire locations appearing in physical form upon the Earth, Echo Incursions are not technically (or always) permanent and appear in a state of how they existed in their original canon. In short, anything that appears as a result of an echo incursion is NOT changing to fit this world, but are rather events, objects, and even living beings that are being recreated as they originally existed.
Where do they come from?
That, for now, is a mystery, but we can tell you that there is an intelligence behind them. The purpose and reason for why they exist will be revealed in time.
What kind of Echo Incursions can we expect to occur?
Echo Incursions will take many forms. They can be large scale or they can be smaller, more focused affairs; in short, the sky's the limit. What's more, they can be based on any canon whatsoever, whether they exist in the game or not. In short, Echo Incursions can take the form of just about anything.
And that's where you, the players, come in. We'd like to accept suggestions for Echo Incursions, which you can submit below. This will give is a pool of Echo Incursions to work from, while also giving us an idea of what kind of events you would all like to see. We cannot promise that every suggestion will be used, but we can promise that they will be considered!
Finally, as always, Echo Incursions will coincide with opportunities for your characters to gain echoes, along with other aspects of the game as well.
Echo Incursions are a new type of phenomenon that occur in the game that differ from other echo-triggering events that occur in this game and
savetheearth. The main distinction is that, as opposed to individuals that are reincarnated as Numbered, or such events as entire locations appearing in physical form upon the Earth, Echo Incursions are not technically (or always) permanent and appear in a state of how they existed in their original canon. In short, anything that appears as a result of an echo incursion is NOT changing to fit this world, but are rather events, objects, and even living beings that are being recreated as they originally existed.Where do they come from?
That, for now, is a mystery, but we can tell you that there is an intelligence behind them. The purpose and reason for why they exist will be revealed in time.
What kind of Echo Incursions can we expect to occur?
Echo Incursions will take many forms. They can be large scale or they can be smaller, more focused affairs; in short, the sky's the limit. What's more, they can be based on any canon whatsoever, whether they exist in the game or not. In short, Echo Incursions can take the form of just about anything.
And that's where you, the players, come in. We'd like to accept suggestions for Echo Incursions, which you can submit below. This will give is a pool of Echo Incursions to work from, while also giving us an idea of what kind of events you would all like to see. We cannot promise that every suggestion will be used, but we can promise that they will be considered!
Finally, as always, Echo Incursions will coincide with opportunities for your characters to gain echoes, along with other aspects of the game as well.
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Applications
This is the page for applying to play a character in Raise the Earth! Before you fill out the application, make sure you’re familiar with the rules, and that the character you’re applying for is not taken and not reserved by someone else (and maybe reserve them yourself!). If you’re already in the game and one of your characters has an activity strike, you can’t apply for another - pass activity with the ones you have first!
You can read through the application here; the textarea below contains an exact copy, including directions, of this one. There are a few special kinds of applications, also; if you’re looking for those, skip past this and look there first!
When you post an application, your title line should contain your preincarnation’s name, their canon, and whether or not you reserved that character. That gives you a subject that looks more or less like:
Character Name | Canon | Reserved/Not Reserved/Reclaim
NEW CHARACTER APPLICATION
OOC Information
Player: Your handle! If you already play here, make sure it's the same one we already have.
Contact: Some way we can get in touch with you. A journal, an IM account, Plurk, whatever.
Age: You need to be at least 15 to play in Raise the Earth.
Current characters: Are you playing any other characters here right now? Include applications you're putting in at the same time.
IC Information
Name: Preincarnation and reincarnation, if they're not the same - identify which one's which. If those words don't mean anything to you, see the FAQ before you go much further!
Canon: If there's more than one version, specify that too - manga, anime, comic, TV, movie, whatever applies.
Preincarnation Information
Appearance: Tell us what the character looked like in canon. A picture is great; if you can't find one, describe them. Notable markings, coloration, things they wear often, that kind of thing.
History: Talk about your character's canon and their role in it! The more you have to say, the easier it is for us to approve Echoes based on it. Remember that Raise the Earth doesn't have canon points; your get your character's whole life to work with, so make it count! In most cases, we're just looking for how the character lived their life in their world - this doesn't need to include events that have nothing to do with them. For original characters, you'll want to talk about the rest of the world somewhat, as it establishes what's going on around the character, too. If you have headcanon you'd like to use, that's okay, but mark it somehow - we recommend bolding or italicizing it.
You are welcome to write as much as you like here; if you prefer to link to a wiki of some kind that has more information, that's allowed. However, if you use a link, you still need to write something about your character's place in their canon. Unsupported links will not be accepted!
Personality: What was the canon version of your character like? Be as detailed as you can; this is important! This needs to be written out by you - no links. If you're using headcanon, mark it, just like above. This is one of the most important parts of the application, so don't skimp here!
Abilities: What powers and skills did your character's canon version have? Tell us as much as you can, but don't go overboard; we're looking for enough to give us an idea what to expect, not a primer on how the whole canon's abilities work. If this section gets unwieldy, you're welcome to summarize here and link to a wiki, or if you've got a more detailed list somewhere already, you can link to that. You might want to touch on the ways your character uses their abilities, too, instead of just what they do.
Reincarnation Information
Age: Starting age. Please remember that one year has passed since the invasion! That means, ICly, the game starts on July 25th, 2016.
Species: Usually human; you don’t need to include this if that’s the case. Characters can start as other animal races that occur on Earth; their first Echo needs to return sentience.
Appearance: Any differences between your character’s canon appearance and how they look now?
Starting Location: Many of the old Echo barriers, which were Numbered hotspots, are still functional; Locke City is badly damaged, and Las Vegas is a wasteland. Characters aren’t restricted to specific places, though - they can go anywhere. This is mostly for us to figure out what areas are most busy. Need ideas? Check the locations page.
History: What kind of life has your reincarnated character lived? You don’t need to go into a lot of detail, but talk about how they grew up, their major successes and failures, the things that shaped them… you’re looking to provide a bio about how your character became who they are as the game opens. Please remember that the world of Raise the Earth, while similar to our Earth, has experienced a few major changes that might affect the last little bit of time, specifically about eighteen months leading up to Raise the Earth opening. You can find more information in the FAQ.
Personality: How is your reincarnated character different from their preincarnation? Your character can different as much or as little as you want, but there need to be at least some differences. Our advice is to pick three or four key things to change, and shape the rest from there. Consider the effect that each change will have; if you’re not sure how something will work, bring your ideas together and test them against other characters first - there’s always an open test drive meme to use for that. If things aren’t clicking, look at your changes and try swapping things around.
Starting Echoes: You get a package of starting Echoes to help give your character a little more feel from their original self. When you start play, your character may have up to six Echoes, at most two of which may be Tier 2 Echoes. You need at least one. All of these are plot Echoes, but if you’d like, you’re welcome to make any or all of them recurrence Echoes if you have ideas in mind. Otherwise, these follow the normal Echo rules - they have limits, and if they’re recurrences, what they give back has to match the trigger event. Tier 2 Echoes can handle more at once, usually returning two separate things, but the two things returned need to be related to each other somehow. You can find all the Echo rules, including what counts and what the tiers mean, on the Echo page. Need help? Have questions? We’re happy to help with your Echo needs!
Goals for RtE: What kinds of things are you looking to do in the game? Where do you see your character fitting in? Is there anything we can do to help you reach your goals? While Raise the Earth has an overarching plot, it’s a heavily player-driven game, so it helps us to know the kinds of things our players want to do. We have ways to see to it that certain things find their way into the plot, and we’re not above helping make sure things happen. Please be honest! This can be as vague or specific as you want; it can involve playing with certain Echoes or abilities, making certain CR happen, doing specific things, or maybe something we haven’t even considered. If you don’t have any particular plans, that’s fine, too. Just keep us posted! We want to make sure you’re getting everything you want out of the game, so having a roadmap of what players and characters want helps us guide events. This section doesn’t affect how we judge your application.
Samples
Third-Person Sample
This should be an introspective sample that shows us your character’s thought process, either in conversation with another character, or alone; normally, it’ll look like a log in the game would. It should be at least 100 words, and it needs to be written in prose, not in brackets. This should show us some of the things you talked about in your personality section! If we’re having a hard time seeing the character shines through, or there are factual or logic errors compared with what you told us in the rest of the application, we’ll ask for revisions. You can use a thread from the test drive meme to replace this sample; we’re looking for either a well-written prose prompt, or several prose tags from your character.
First-Person Sample
This should be a sample of the character interacting with others. We’re looking for how the character expresses themselves, so it’ll probably look like a network post. This one needs to be dialogue heavy, which means bracket-style rather than prose. We’re still looking against your personality, but this is more for us to find your character’s voice. If the post doesn’t sound like the sense we’re getting from personality and history, or there are factual or logic errors compared with what you told us in the rest of the application, we’ll ask for revisions. You can use a thread from the test drive meme to replace this sample; it needs to have at least five comments from your character.
Additional Information
Anything else you want to ask us? Other notes that didn’t fit well in the application that we should know? Include other information here that might pertain to your application. If there’s nothing else to add, you can delete this section.
LEGACY CHARACTERS
We’re glad to have you back! Some things have changed since Save the Earth; a year’s passed, and the invasion left some dangerous consequences to deal with. If you’re not already familiar with what’s going on, you might want to hit up the FAQ before you app back in.
You'll need to submit a full application for your existing character; you're welcome to re-use your old one, but please shuffle things to make them fit into the new application format. You'll also need to edit your character's reincarnated history and personality to cover what they went through in Save the Earth, and to cover the time between the end of the invasion and now. Returning characters get up to two more Echoes of your choice; as before, you can use plot triggers to claim them, or recurrences if you've got a handy trigger. We'll accept Echoes from the test drive meme, too. In the application, link to your character's info post, then also add the additional Echoes you're requesting. When you're accepted, add them to your info post as normal.
COMBO PITCH AND APP
You can play more than one character in a slot, if they’re characters that make sense to leave together, via a combo application! Use this for things like twins that are never apart, two characters sharing the same body, and so on. Before you can submit the application, we’re going to want to hear a pitch of why you’re going this route; that’s why there are two forms below. Submit the first in a comment, and if it’s approved, comment to our approval with your normal application, covering all characters involved. Combo apps take up one character slot, no matter how many characters the app covers.
OOC Information
Player: Your handle! If you already play here, make sure it's the same one we already have.
Contact: Some way we can get in touch with you. A journal, an IM account, Plurk, whatever.
Age: You need to be at least 15 to play in Raise the Earth.
Current characters: Are you playing any other characters here right now? Include applications you're putting in at the same time.
IC Information
Names: Preincarnation only, for combo pitches; include all characters that will be covered under this application. If that word doesn't mean anything to you, see the FAQ before you go much further!
Canon: If there's more than one version, specify that too - manga, anime, comic, TV, movie, whatever applies.
Combo Reasoning: Why are you applying for these characters together? What makes them suitable for a combo application, rather than multiple people that each play one of them? Explain your logic. If this isn’t convincing, we’ll ask you to just pick one character. Be honest, but be creative!
GUEST STAR APPS
Normally, this would be where we have information on applying for a temporary character, who starts with extra Echoes, but doesn’t stick around for a long time - it’s a good mechanic for things like short-term villains or mentor-types, or really anyone that you want to throw at the setting for a while, but you don’t think you could maintain for a long time (either because the Numbered would hunt them down, or you just aren’t confident in the character’s longevity). Because the game isn’t open yet, Guest Star applications are closed. Consider apping a character with intent to keep them around, or checking back a little later, once the world is stable.
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Reserves
This is the page for reserving a character you would like to apply for! Fill out the form below, comment to this post with it, and we’ll hold the character slot for you for up to two weeks. During this time, we will not accept other applications for that character. If your application is not accepted, or you don’t submit anything by the time the reserve window is up, your reserve will be automatically retracted. You can reserve again after waiting two weeks, to give other people time to put an application in. Please check our taken characters, submitted reclaims, and submitted applications before you reserve!
Characters currently reserved:
Fill out this form and paste it into a comment to submit a reserve. Please leave the textarea tag at the top where it is - it’s there for a reason!
Raise the Earth is closed.
Characters currently reserved:
Fill out this form and paste it into a comment to submit a reserve. Please leave the textarea tag at the top where it is - it’s there for a reason!
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Taken Characters
This is the list of characters we have in the game, sorted by canon. Once you're approved, you can comment with your character journal here, and we'll add you to the list.
Please reply with this code for each new character you've got in the game:
Please reply with this code for each new character you've got in the game:
BLEACH
Toushirou Hitsugaya | Toushirou Hitsugaya |icy_heavens | Info Post | Misty
CUTE HIGH EARTH DEFENSE CLUB LOVE
Yumoto Hakone | Blaise Pyre |
DANNY PHANTOM
Danny Fenton | Dima Korolyov |
DEATH NOTE
L Lawliet | Lazarus "L" Lawliet |
Mihael "Mello" Keehl | Micah Kelly |
Misa Amane | Misa Amane |
Nate "Near" River | Nathan Brooks |
DEVIL MAY CRY
Dante | Anthony Sparado |
DIGIMON
Masaru Daimon | Mamoru Daigo |
FATE/SERIES
Saber (Arthur Pendragon) | Arthur York |
GENERATOR REX
Caesar Salazar | Cesar Sanches-Ortiz |
GUNDAM BUILD FIGHTERS
Aila Jyrkiäinen | Amy Dylandy |
HAIBANE RENMEI
Rakka | Rakka Yoshitoshi |
HOMESTUCK
Bro Strider | Richard Brooke Stroud |
KILL BILL
Beatrix Kiddo | Arlene Machiavelli |
KILL LA KILL
Ryuko Matoi | Raye Satterfield |
Satsuki Kiryuin | Saretha Kaiser |
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Nux | Luca Dantonio |
MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH
Umi Ryuuzaki | Marina Santana |
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE 2002
Skeletor | Anton Keldek |
MOGEKO CASTLE
Moge-Ko | Mina Weaver |
PERSONA 3
Pharos/Ryoji Mochizuki | Phillip Santorini |
PRETTY CURE
Dark Precure | Jasmine Tsukuyomi |
Eas | Alexandra Ryker |
Kirara Amanogawa | Kirara Hoshimoto |
Rikka Hishikawa | Winter Tsukuyomi |
Yuri Tsukikage | Lily Tsukuyomi |
Mana Aida | Molly Anderson |
SHAMAN KING
Johann Faust VIII | Johann Faust |
THE FLASH (CW)
Harrison Wells | Edwin Weller |
Martin Stein | Martin Stein |
Ronnie Raymond | Ronnie Stein |
Barry Allen | Jason East |
THE LAST STORY
Yurick | Jacob Howland |
TOUHOU PROJECT
Flandre Scarlet | Danièle Delacroix |
Remilia Scarlet | Emilia Stacojiu |
Sakuya Izayoi | Celine Blanchefleur |
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Mod Contact
Need to get a hold of the moderator team? We’ll be happy to talk to you; you can also leave us private messages here. Comments to this post are screened, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Please note that those listed under "Helpers" are free only to assist in the area they're listed as aiding with.
Ken
Applications, Echoes
mugennoken
MaxSalsa
Lists, applications, Echoes
MaxSalsa
Helpers:
Razor (razorsaw) razorsaw - NPC helper
Please note that those listed under "Helpers" are free only to assist in the area they're listed as aiding with.
Ken
Applications, Echoes
MaxSalsa
Lists, applications, Echoes
Helpers:
razorsaw) Entry tags:
Info Post and HMD
Welcome to Raise the Earth! If you've reached this page, you are probably new to the game, and we have asked you to create your info post! It's not really complicated, for as much as we talk about it; it's just a handy clearinghouse for everything we (or other players) might need to know about your character, and so we require all characters to have one in their journal. We also require a how's my driving post, commonly shortened to an HMD. We'll talk about both of those things separately.
Your character's info post tells us quite a bit about who we're dealing with at a glance. It calls out specific appearance notes, and lists Echoes, among other things, so even for someone jumping in fresh, it's easy to get into the swing of things. Get in the habit of keeping your info post up to date - it helps people play against your character!
Your info post must include your character's name, their age, their occupation (or what they claim it to be, or what you assert it is), their general appearance, and the location(s) one could expect to find them most of the time. It also needs to include a list of their Echoes, either in the post, in a comment under it, or linked somewhere else, like a Google document. There should be links to the character's application and HMD, too. It's suggested, but not required, that your info post be stickied at the top of the character's journal so it's easy to find. You are welcome (and encouraged) to include more information than what we require. Suggestions include more specific frequent haunts, family relations, and anything a character is likely to be able to figure out without having met your character before.
Here's a stock form you're welcome to use:
Have an NPC with a separate journal (such as a doppelganger, or a detached character that isn't Numbered)? Include an info post on their journal. For best results, consider including a note of the base character the NPC is attached to, with a link to that character's journal.
A how's my driving post (HMD) is a place for others to leave constructive feedback on how you're playing your character. Because of the nature of Raise the Earth, in which the character you are playing will inherently take a long time to feel like the character you applied for (if they do at all), we believe a venue for hearing advice is a good thing. This does not mean that anyone is allowed to use your HMD as a place to be abusive. If you find you're getting hateful comments that aren't really helpful, feel free to come to us - that's not what we're asking you to accept.
You must have an HMD, and it must be able to accept comments, but we place no other restrictions on how you choose to implement it. It doesn't have to be in the character's journal, so long as a link on your character's info post points to it, and you may allow or disallow anonymous comments as you choose. Comments may be screened or unscreened. Basically, it has to be there, but that's all we're checking for.
Info Post
Your character's info post tells us quite a bit about who we're dealing with at a glance. It calls out specific appearance notes, and lists Echoes, among other things, so even for someone jumping in fresh, it's easy to get into the swing of things. Get in the habit of keeping your info post up to date - it helps people play against your character!
Your info post must include your character's name, their age, their occupation (or what they claim it to be, or what you assert it is), their general appearance, and the location(s) one could expect to find them most of the time. It also needs to include a list of their Echoes, either in the post, in a comment under it, or linked somewhere else, like a Google document. There should be links to the character's application and HMD, too. It's suggested, but not required, that your info post be stickied at the top of the character's journal so it's easy to find. You are welcome (and encouraged) to include more information than what we require. Suggestions include more specific frequent haunts, family relations, and anything a character is likely to be able to figure out without having met your character before.
Here's a stock form you're welcome to use:
Have an NPC with a separate journal (such as a doppelganger, or a detached character that isn't Numbered)? Include an info post on their journal. For best results, consider including a note of the base character the NPC is attached to, with a link to that character's journal.
HMD
A how's my driving post (HMD) is a place for others to leave constructive feedback on how you're playing your character. Because of the nature of Raise the Earth, in which the character you are playing will inherently take a long time to feel like the character you applied for (if they do at all), we believe a venue for hearing advice is a good thing. This does not mean that anyone is allowed to use your HMD as a place to be abusive. If you find you're getting hateful comments that aren't really helpful, feel free to come to us - that's not what we're asking you to accept.
You must have an HMD, and it must be able to accept comments, but we place no other restrictions on how you choose to implement it. It doesn't have to be in the character's journal, so long as a link on your character's info post points to it, and you may allow or disallow anonymous comments as you choose. Comments may be screened or unscreened. Basically, it has to be there, but that's all we're checking for.
Entry tags:
Hiatus/Drop
Hiatus
Can't keep up with the game for a bit? Need to take a step back from your characters? Have an emergency come up? You can take a hiatus to signal you're not going to be playing for a bit. While you're on hiatus, you don't have to meet activity requirements, and you're not expected to get back to plot things going on. You can only stay on hiatus for a limited amount of time, so don't overuse this, or you might find yourself in a hard place.
At any time, you may place any or all of your characters on hiatus by commenting to this post. If you have a definitive date you're going to be back, give it then; if your hiatus will be forward-dated (it hasn't started yet), give us that too. You can't backdate a hiatus; if it's the 8th and you mean to be on hiatus from the 4th to the 18th, we can't make the hiatus stick for the whole two weeks. If you were on hiatus for at least seven days during an activity period, you are exempt from the activity check; if you're back by the time the check goes up, please post to the check, but instead of providing comments, you can just note that you were on hiatus. If you're still gone when the activity check goes up, we'll check for people on hiatus and note them - if you don't get a chance to reply, you'll be okay.
A hiatus cannot protect you from two consecutive activity checks! If something comes up and you need to hiatus out of a check for a second month, please get a hold of us, and we'll see if something can be done about it. As a general rule, though, you will need to make activity the month after a hiatus, or risk Bad Stuff happening.
Fill out this form to take a hiatus:
Drop
Not interested in continuing to play a character, or Raise the Earth in general? We'll be sorry to see you go! There's just a little bit of paperwork we'd like to ask you to fill out for us.
To drop a character, you'll fill out a short form and comment to this post with it. Mostly, this is so we can make sure we sweep you from all the lists and make sure nothing we had planned for the near future tries to affect a character that's no longer in the game. However, there is one important consideration: what happens to your character.
You can either choose to have them lose their Echoes and continue their life as a normal person, or you can figure out a more permanent way for them to exit the plot. If you are planning to pick this character back up, choose the first option. Otherwise, you have the option to have your character meet a tragic fate. If you have such a scenario in mind, let us know in your drop comment, and we'll note it; if it has an effect on the game plot, we'll kick it into motion. If you don't have any ideas, but you would rather your character not be running around the game world, let us know; the plot can always use recognizable names to run into trouble.
If you drop a character that has a strike, and less than two weeks of the month have gone by, that character's strike expires at the end of the month - you can reapply for that or any other character at that time. Starting on the 15th and through to the end of the month, dropped characters lose their strike at the end of the following month.
Fill out this form to drop a character:
Can't keep up with the game for a bit? Need to take a step back from your characters? Have an emergency come up? You can take a hiatus to signal you're not going to be playing for a bit. While you're on hiatus, you don't have to meet activity requirements, and you're not expected to get back to plot things going on. You can only stay on hiatus for a limited amount of time, so don't overuse this, or you might find yourself in a hard place.
At any time, you may place any or all of your characters on hiatus by commenting to this post. If you have a definitive date you're going to be back, give it then; if your hiatus will be forward-dated (it hasn't started yet), give us that too. You can't backdate a hiatus; if it's the 8th and you mean to be on hiatus from the 4th to the 18th, we can't make the hiatus stick for the whole two weeks. If you were on hiatus for at least seven days during an activity period, you are exempt from the activity check; if you're back by the time the check goes up, please post to the check, but instead of providing comments, you can just note that you were on hiatus. If you're still gone when the activity check goes up, we'll check for people on hiatus and note them - if you don't get a chance to reply, you'll be okay.
A hiatus cannot protect you from two consecutive activity checks! If something comes up and you need to hiatus out of a check for a second month, please get a hold of us, and we'll see if something can be done about it. As a general rule, though, you will need to make activity the month after a hiatus, or risk Bad Stuff happening.
Fill out this form to take a hiatus:
Drop
Not interested in continuing to play a character, or Raise the Earth in general? We'll be sorry to see you go! There's just a little bit of paperwork we'd like to ask you to fill out for us.
To drop a character, you'll fill out a short form and comment to this post with it. Mostly, this is so we can make sure we sweep you from all the lists and make sure nothing we had planned for the near future tries to affect a character that's no longer in the game. However, there is one important consideration: what happens to your character.
You can either choose to have them lose their Echoes and continue their life as a normal person, or you can figure out a more permanent way for them to exit the plot. If you are planning to pick this character back up, choose the first option. Otherwise, you have the option to have your character meet a tragic fate. If you have such a scenario in mind, let us know in your drop comment, and we'll note it; if it has an effect on the game plot, we'll kick it into motion. If you don't have any ideas, but you would rather your character not be running around the game world, let us know; the plot can always use recognizable names to run into trouble.
If you drop a character that has a strike, and less than two weeks of the month have gone by, that character's strike expires at the end of the month - you can reapply for that or any other character at that time. Starting on the 15th and through to the end of the month, dropped characters lose their strike at the end of the following month.
Fill out this form to drop a character:
Entry tags:
Game Locations
Note - This is a work in progress, meant to bring characters up to speed on new elements of the setting. As such, we've prioritized new areas, and details on existing ones are coming soon.
All the world is now a stage!
Unlike in Save the Earth, where areas where Numbered could exist were limited to existing echo boundaries, Numbered can appear all over the world. They no longer lose their powers when leaving "zones", because the influence of the Earth's energy now extends around the entire planet. That being said, with greater freedom for the Numbered comes greater scrutiny, with a good number of people being wary, a great many being prejudiced and distrusftul, and all of them being at risk of whatever new dangers headed the world's way.
That being said, there is still some focus on specific locations. This includes places that both have a real world counterpart and those that are original to the game, and players can feel free to add personal locations such as businesses and whatnot. The original locations are left geographically indistinct for this purpose, and you can also contribute and add to the real world locations within reason. However, in the case of some locations, a quick communication with the mods to ensure details line up might be required.
Connecting Between Locations
Each major location is linked by teleporters, much like Project Jump in Save the Earth. The primary means of doing so has been engineered by Benjamin Factor, genius and CEO of Factor Industries, and is much more advanced than the means utilized by Project Jump. Whereas Project Jump connected to points of the Earth known as "echo zones", Factor's technology is limited only by where he can place a teleporter, with each one being able to send and receive travelers. However, this technology can only be utilized by the Numbered, as it ties in with the unique energies of the Earth. Naturally, the fact that Factor helps the Numbered travel all over the world would make some people unhappy, he keeps this fact secret, and the Numbered are asked to do so as well.
Other means of traveling are provided by Thunder Corp, and they are more illicit. Spoken of only in certain circles, these teleporters use technology directly analogous to Project Jump, and rely on marks scoured into respective locations. The existence of this network requires no technology, and the hub for it is located in Infinita City. For more information, please see the section on Infinita City below.
For those who live in an area that does not play host to a teleporter, Factor Industries has made efforts to accommodate them too. One merely has to provide proof of their Numbered status to Factor Industries representatives (always on call, though it may take a few days to verify your request) and they will be provided quick and inexpensive transport to a teleporter location. Numbered may also use this service to visit their friends, as well, though this takes a fair bit amount more time. Finally, this information is kept secret, and your character would only learn about the teleporters and the transportation accommodations If you have any questions, please approach the mods.
No matter how you choose to get around, using a teleporter for the first time can be used to trigger one echo. This has been reset for legacy characters as well!
Major Locations:
NEW ZEALAND, OCEANIA, AND PACIFIC ISLANDS
In general, New Zealand is one of the safer and more welcoming places for Numbered to be, and even though they're regarded as foreigners, they're likely to be eventually adopted and even protected as citizens if they're not complete buffoons. This means having some respect for the local culture and being good neighbors (which, as in many parts of the world, means keeping good fences.)
Other locations of note include Christmas Island, Australia, and the Galapagos Islands. Both of these locations were sites of the invasion but were defended by their local guardian beasts. As such, the opinion of Numbered in these specific locations is largely positive. Notably, the waters surrounding the Galapagos contain the remains of the orbital elevator, which fell into the sea soon after being transported there under mysterious circumstances.
For any further information on both areas, you can refer to their original posts at our predecessor,savetheearth; here for Christmas Island, and here for the Galapagos Islands. Naturally, Factor Industries has teleporter access for both locations, while Thundercorp has placed two nondescript symbols for each locale in out of the way locations, which are the two alchemical symbols for purification respectively.
Shepherd's Haven
Shepherd’s Haven is a residential village northeast of Christchurch on South Island, New Zealand. It’s owned and operated by Numbered, and for now, only Numbered occupy it. New arrivals will receive supplies and a place to stay, either alone or with roommates in a series of small but comfortably outfitted houses, and there’s room for expansion as the village’s population grows. It has been given a degree of financial support from Factor Industries, allowing the community to grow quickly.
At the time of the game’s opening, Shepherd’s Haven is somewhat self-sufficient; residents will be able to grow their own food and will work to maintain balance and order in their small and insular community, and of course they’ll have access to the skills and resources of friends who are willing to contribute them.
The teleporter for Shepherd's Haven is located in the town square, while Thunder Corp has managed to apply the symbol of an alchemical cube outside of a small pub in Woodend.
Major/Neighboring Locations:
Woodend: Located about 10 miles southwest of Shepherd’s Haven, Woodend is a small town that’s the Numbered’s nearest option for supplies and civilization. With a population of less than 3,000 and just one school, the attitude toward Numbered here is curious and wary rather than outright hostile (an attitude prevalent throughout New Zealand in general). That being said, if you’re trying to get a job here in town, you might have some difficulty as they will prioritize hiring local Kiwis, but a fair number of short-staffed places will happily hire Numbered, and kids can enroll in Woodend’s full primary school at any point in the semester with minimal questions asked. The downside is that everyone pretty much knows each other here, and gossip has a tendency to run rampant. Every now and then, rambunctious teenagers will dare each other to get close to Shepherd’s Haven, but the worst they’ve done by game’s opening is throw a few rocks at the gate and sped off squealing. Supply runs to Wooodend are common and sometimes necessary for certain essentials.
Christchurch: If you can't find it in Shepherd's Haven, you’ll probably have to travel even further south to Christchurch. Christchurch has diverse dining and shopping options, secondary and college education, and better hospital and other health care options. When getting a job, put your best face forward and remember that those who meet you will likely form their judgments of other Numbered based on your interactions, as you're probably the first they've met.
North America
North America was the continent that suffered the most damage from the invasion, with a majority of the western half of the United States, as well as parts of Nothwestern Mexico and Southwestern Canada, being destroyed by the alien forces. With the United States struggling to rebuild, it is here that the Numbered face their greatest battle regarding the court of public opinion. Though their safety is not typically in danger, the Numbered receive a great deal of criticism from the media as well as distrust from the populace, particularly from those who escaped the devastation in the West. The one exception remains Gateway City, due to the influence of industrialist Benjamin Factor and his company.
Gateway City
Gateway City is a city located on the boarder of what was once Kansas and Missouri, in the Midwestern region of the United States. Though a major city well before the invasion, in the past year, Gateway's importance has swelled in terms of national and international relevance. With much of the western half of the country devastated by the invasion, Gateway has become crucial for the launching of aid and relief to the territories ravaged by the brief but terrible war. It has also attracted international attention, and become the site of delegation for a multi-nation coalition dedicated to the rebuilding of the war-ravaged west. Finally, it has become the new home of the United States' entertainment industry (which has fallen behind globally, with many studios also establishing studios in Europe and Asia), and hosts the headquarters of Factor Industries, an organization that has become allied to the Numbered and has led the way in reverse engineering technology recovered from the invasion.
Of all the cities in the United States, Gateway City is perhaps one of the most welcoming and encouraging to the Numbered outside of Shepherd's Haven. This is partly due to the influence and work of Benjamin Factor, who has publicly voiced his support for the Numbered. As can be expected of any major metropolitan area, Gateway City plays host to an airport, local sports teams, and whatever else you might expect from such a location. The city's second teleporter location is an alleyway, marked with the symbol of a snake eating its own tail.
Notable Locations:
Factor Industries Plaza - Located in the heart of Gateway City, this is the global headquarters of Factor Industries, a titan of industry and leading competitor with Thunder Corp. The plaza includes Truman Tower, which is where most day-to-day business takes place, a number of buildings for the study and implementation of advanced technologies, and the Awakening Center, a community center which includes a gym, multiple entertainment centers, a shopping center, and which plays host to the local teleporter relay that allows for easy transport for the Numbered.
Fort Grant - A military base located outside the city, Fort Grant is a staging area for relief efforts to the western half of the United States. Delegates, representatives, humanitarian workers, and soldiers alike live, meet, and work here.
Locke City
Locke City is located in the Eastern United States and was once the epicenter of Numbered activity. As such, over the course of several years, it played host to a series of disasters and tragedies that culminated in the invasion, where much of the city was left destroyed. Though the Numbered ultimately protected it, Locke lay mostly in ruins.
However, like the metaphorical phoenix, Locke has emerged, reborn, from the ashes, thanks to the investment of Thunder Corp. Though much of the city's woes could be tracked back to them somehow, they were ultimately able to evade punishment and see to the revival of Locke. As such, the city has returned to most of its former glory in a shockingly short amount of time. However, the city has changed in multiple ways, and it is here that the Numbered face the most scorn. Beneath the city, a mysterious entity sleeps, serving as its new protector in the wake of "Wise Snake's" destruction.
Thankfully, Factor Industries has managed to place a teleporter here, in a small community center in the city's business district. The Thunder Corp teleporter symbol is located behind a warehouse in what is now known as the "Phoenix District" of the city, though anyone using it will find themselves quickly escorted off the premises by Thunder Corp security unless special arrangements have been made. The mark is the alchemical symbol for reduction.
Notable Locations:
Business District - Just as before, the city's business district is the heart of the city's commerce, with the massive Tuning Towers still standing tall in the heart of it. Thunder Corp has invested a great deal of money in both rebuilding this part of the city and courting businesspeople back to the city, and they make sure that everyone knows it with billboards and signs advertising Thunder Corp and their affiliates.
Phoenix District - The symbol of Locke City's rebirth. Once a section of the city full of abandoned buildings and homeless, it was one of the first areas revitalized by Thunder Corp, with its unofficial, ostentatious-sounding name reflecting their vision for a "new Locke City". The Phoenix District houses both Thunder Corp facilities and new residential homes for those who lost theirs in the invasion. The New Locke City Memorial Park is built in the hart of it, serving to honor those who lost their lives and commemorate the (oddly fast) amount of progress Locke has accomplished in only a year's time.
Other Locations: Locke's harbors are still open, and Locke City University and its other learning institutions reopened their doors half a year after the invasion. However, Fort Turner, the historic military base dating back to the original war, is but a memory, and has been replaced with a museum focusing on Locke itself, including its "rise from the ashes". Naturally, a great deal of it is dedicated to Thunder Corp as well.
New Los Angeles
New Los Angeles is a young city on the American west coast, built from the ruins of old Los Angeles. It's also the primary seat of government for the western territories of the United States, who were devastated in the invasion, which caused most state governments to collapse. As such, New Los Angeles struggles with a great deal and with many tasks that are beyond their means. Every day, more and more refugees come to the city, who are forced to remain in the city's camps and shelters. Survival is key in New Los Angeles, and many of its people have to cooperate with one another to survive. Power is held by the specially appointed governor, Alicia Barrow, and the United States army general, Terrence Miller.
As you might expect, New Los Angeles does not play host to many businesses. Many relief organizations have built shelters, but they are filled to capacity, and many of the city's refugees have to live in tents in the city's specially designated camps. As far as employment, the main source of jobs is in the relief centers and among the numerous construction projects going on throughout the city. Despite a military presence in the city, there exists much potential for violence, and most of the population resent the Numbered. Its second teleporter is on the back of a relief center built by Thunder Corp, marked with the alchemical symbol for Sublimation. Vermini, and their larger counterparts, Vermaxi also roam the streets, coming out particularly at night, and the city has multiple criminal gangs as well.
Notable Locations:
Factor Industries Relief Center: One of the largest and most successful relief centers in New Los Angeles. This is where the New Los Angeles teleporter is located, and is of course, kept secret from the populace using the highest level of security Factor Industries can provide. Numbered can still use it freely, however.
New Los Angeles Government Building: Its direct and to-the-point name a testament to the difficulties faced in New Los Angeles, the Government Building is, well, the location for the government of New Los Angeles and the entire western territories. Both the governor, Alica Barrow, and all officials there are stretched beyond their means, and spend a majority of their time butting heads with the local military presence.
Refugee Camps: Where the majority of New Los Angeles's people live, the refugee camp's people include both those who originally lived in Los Angeles and those who sought refuge in the scouring of the western half of the United States. Food and other resources are at a premium here, and while most have formed small communities that stress cooperation, a few include those who flaunt their strength in order to hold influence here. The one constant is that most refugees do not care for the Numbered.
Western Territories
In the invasion one year prior to the start of the game, most of the Western half of the United States was devastated, leading to the collapse of most state governments. In the destruction, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and a third of Texas were affected, and among them, only Texas retained enough overall stability to remain functional. At this point in time, most of the area remains devastated and lawless, with many people fleeing both West and East.
However, just as many have been left stranded, and the region has been designated a humanitarian crisis by the United Nations. In the year since the invasion, the situation has only worsened, with "overall stability" only being attained in the areas around what was once california and on the borders of the Midwestern states. As such, no one has a clear idea of what's going on there, and reports of strange phenomea, lawlessness, and other mysteries are in abundance. A strange energy field, believed to be lingering effects from alien technology, makes it impossible for satellites to get a clear view of the region. Furthermore, while some of the devastation crossed over into Mexico and Canada, it was done to a much lesser extent, and areas of these countries bordering the Western Territories are kept highly secure.
No teleporters lead to general areas inside the western territories. Though much of this place is being kept vague for plot reasons, if you have an idea regarding this part of the world, please, feel free to speak with the mods and we'd be happy to work out something utilizing it!
Las Vegas and the Lonely Mountain
This was the epicenter of the invasion that tore apart the western half of the United States. As such, all that remains of Las Vegas is a large, open scar where a city once stood. What doesn't lie in ruins has been converted into a military base, as it was the first location secured by the United States government other than what is New Los Angeles. The "Lonely Mountain" is also similarly kept watch over, with no one having entered its depths since the invasion. It is here that the new guardian, an enormous dragon, rests in the event this part of the world needs protecting again.
No teleporters reach Las Vegas, and it is extremely difficult to journey there on land. If you have other means of reaching there, you will find yourself having to deal with the local military presence.
Infinita City
Infinita City is built up on the ruins of what was once Denver financed and named after the global conglomerate of the same name. Both the company and the city is run by CEO and billionaire Anton Keldek. Infinita was one of the first sites to begin functioning again followed by the devastation caused by the invasion, lighting up the Nevada desert within less than six months of the war. As such, it has attracted many refugees seeking shelter and safety from the lawless wastelands that cover most of the United States now.
Though the title of "city" might still seem a little out of reach, with most of the refugee population still relegated to camps, shanty towns and communal shelters, round the clock construction efforts have the city building up fast with more buildings coming online and more refugees becoming true "citizens" of the city. The area is highly militarized and constantly patrolled by members of Serpos, Keldek's private military company, on the ground and by aerial drones from the skies. Curfews are in effect and refugees and citizens alike are expected to abide by the rules and cooperate with the Serpos soldiers. Criminal activity is not tolerated and perpetrators will quickly find themselves imprisoned and locked away to await being "handed over for trial once the government is reestablished" and the indefinite nature of this incarceration is made well known. Nonetheless, those who know where to look can find a thriving drug trade operating in the more run-down refugee areas.
Rights and privileges are doled out based on one's productivity and contribution to the city. Refugees receive the minimum of these, with rudimentary camps and shanty towns and heavily rationed supplies. Those who choose to work toward construction and maintenance of the cities are granted much better living conditions for them and their families, such as a place in the larger community shelters with electricity and running water. Those who sign up with Serpos are given the best treatment regular humans can hope to receive, with private residences for them and their families and a much more accommodating food ration. Numbered are given the best treatment of all. A Numbered (or Numbered doppelganger for that matter) who joins Keldek's ranks will be granted spacious living quarters with no limit to rations and the resources of the city at their beck and call.
Travel to and from the city is highly restricted, particularly to Numbered who are not part of Keldek's forces. Any Numbered entering the city will be required to report and register with the Serpos guards, whereupon they will have a constant escort during their stay in the city. Accommodations are welcoming and pleasant but Numbered movements are constantly recorded and restricted throughout the city. Any refusal to cooperate will be met by immediate ejection from Infinita's borders. Most PCs will likely deal with Keldek's right hand, Evelyn Strauss.
Relations with the neighboring areas are likely tense and strained to a point. Keldek keeps up a facade of cooperation and helpfulness and offers a degree of aid but it's relatively small. He refuses to divulge or share how he is able to power the city, or produce the amount of food needed to keep its populace fed. Complicating matters is the fact that Serpos is well-staffed and equipped, enough that challenging them directly in military conflict is a daunting matter. In the post-invasion world of North America, Infinita City is a force that has rapidly grown in power and influence and continues to do so every day.
Thunder Corp, after making a secret agreement with Keldek, used the city as a hub for their clandestine teleporter network. The center of the city has an an area marked with the various symbols Thunder Corp has placed around the world, and all one has to do is stand on one of those symbols and will themselves to be taken to that location. Unregistered individuals using it who do not meet the criteria above will be considered in violation of Infinita's laws.
Notable Locations
Sector 1: Infinita Headquarters - The simply named hub of the city's operations, and the residence of Anton Keldek, his inner circle and any Numbered who sign up. At a glance, this area resembles a military complex, a cluter of small two-to-three story buildings. Despite its appearances, however, this area is easily the most developed part of the city. Most buildings here are actually residences for the higher ranking members of the city and are as comfortable and luxurious as resources and time will allow. The Headquarters is highly secure with anybody entering required to have their ID checked at various guard houses.
At the center of this area is a large construction project. Crews work endlessly building a sprawling tower that will one day take its place as the city's main seat of power. This, however, is largely a cover. Directly beneath Headquarters is a sprawling preexisting facility of subterranean labs. Something is at work deep under the city, but exactly what it is remains a mystery.
Sector 2: Citizens Residence - The next most advanced portion of the city is the portion set aside for "citizens", people who have either joined Serpos or otherwise reached high enough rank in construction and maintence crews to warrant it. A relatively nice area to live, this one is made up of decently-sized apartment complexes built to accomodate small families. Security is laxer here but most refugees are refused access unless on sanctioned business or work.
Sector 3: Camps - Located on the fringes of the city, this area comprises multiple types of dwellings. Anybody unwilling or unable to work toward the city is relegated to tent cities or shanty towns. Workers, as well as their families, will find themselves "moved up" to large communal dwellings that at least have power and running water. Serpos troops are a constant presence here, keeping order and stability among the refugees. Conditions are harsh here but most still find them favorable to trying to survive out in the wilderness. Anybody who wishes to leave is free to do so but they do so alone without any support or escort across the wasteland, and are allowed to take only what they can carry themselves.
Sector 4: CLASSIFIED - Outside the city altogether, Sector 4 is a large complex covered by a huge white dome and surrounded and cordoned off by fences and guard posts. The "official" story is that Sector 4 houses hazardous materials left over from the invasion but what's being done with it or the exact nature of it is a closely guarded secret. Nobody is granted access to Sector 4 without explicit clearance by Anton Keldek himself. There are no exceptions.
Europe
Europe was another part of the world that was defended by the guardian beasts slumbering within the earth, with London, England, the "Neuschwanstein area" of Germany, Bavaria, and Austria, and Lapland, Finland all playing host to the beasts that protected the planet. In general, most European countries have a positive or neutral opinion of the Numbered, though it does vary from country to country and nothing is universal. In the areas where the animals appeared, the beasts themselves have become something of cultural symbols, with the so-called "Silent Swan" being particularly popular. Additionally, the mysterious Wolpertinger, strange hybrid creatures, have been appearing in greater frequency across the continent after first appearing in Neuschwanstein.
Thunder Corp's teleporter symbols for London, the Neuschwanstein area, and Lapland are the alchemical symbols for vitriol, cinnabar, and alum respectively, and can be found behind nondescript buildings. Likewise, Factor Industries has recognized the importance of these locations to the Numbered, and established teleporters in all three locations. For more information on all three areas, please visit here, here, and here.
Other parts of the world
Other notable locations include Tokyo, Japan, and Sanatarem, Para in Brazil. Both locations were sites of the invasion, but were, again, relatively protected, and able to recover from the invasion more easily. As such, the Numbered receive a degree of acknowledgement or appreciation there. Factor Industries has built facilities for teleporters in both locations, and Thunder Corp has placed the symbol for algamation in Tokyo and decomposition in Sanatarem for their own purposes.
As for the rest of the world, the fallout of the invasion was not as heavy, save for minor damage caused by the appearance of the monstrous serpent that appeared in the sky. Thus, most have little difference from their real world counterparts in terms of history and culture, and as always, the opinion of the Numbered varies worldwide, with people's feelings ranging from distrust, fear, appreciation, and even reverence towards them. Things will undoubtedly change as events play out and new potentials are explored.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or wonder anything else about parts of the world as they relate to the game that are not laid out here, feel free to ask us!
Help us build our world!
We allow players to submit minor locations (places of business, various sites, all within reason). Below, you will find various sub-threads where you can do so, along with some locations of our own that we've created. Use this form and reply to each of them! That being said, you must be a member of the game to do so!
All the world is now a stage!
Unlike in Save the Earth, where areas where Numbered could exist were limited to existing echo boundaries, Numbered can appear all over the world. They no longer lose their powers when leaving "zones", because the influence of the Earth's energy now extends around the entire planet. That being said, with greater freedom for the Numbered comes greater scrutiny, with a good number of people being wary, a great many being prejudiced and distrusftul, and all of them being at risk of whatever new dangers headed the world's way.
That being said, there is still some focus on specific locations. This includes places that both have a real world counterpart and those that are original to the game, and players can feel free to add personal locations such as businesses and whatnot. The original locations are left geographically indistinct for this purpose, and you can also contribute and add to the real world locations within reason. However, in the case of some locations, a quick communication with the mods to ensure details line up might be required.
Connecting Between Locations
Each major location is linked by teleporters, much like Project Jump in Save the Earth. The primary means of doing so has been engineered by Benjamin Factor, genius and CEO of Factor Industries, and is much more advanced than the means utilized by Project Jump. Whereas Project Jump connected to points of the Earth known as "echo zones", Factor's technology is limited only by where he can place a teleporter, with each one being able to send and receive travelers. However, this technology can only be utilized by the Numbered, as it ties in with the unique energies of the Earth. Naturally, the fact that Factor helps the Numbered travel all over the world would make some people unhappy, he keeps this fact secret, and the Numbered are asked to do so as well.
Other means of traveling are provided by Thunder Corp, and they are more illicit. Spoken of only in certain circles, these teleporters use technology directly analogous to Project Jump, and rely on marks scoured into respective locations. The existence of this network requires no technology, and the hub for it is located in Infinita City. For more information, please see the section on Infinita City below.
For those who live in an area that does not play host to a teleporter, Factor Industries has made efforts to accommodate them too. One merely has to provide proof of their Numbered status to Factor Industries representatives (always on call, though it may take a few days to verify your request) and they will be provided quick and inexpensive transport to a teleporter location. Numbered may also use this service to visit their friends, as well, though this takes a fair bit amount more time. Finally, this information is kept secret, and your character would only learn about the teleporters and the transportation accommodations If you have any questions, please approach the mods.
No matter how you choose to get around, using a teleporter for the first time can be used to trigger one echo. This has been reset for legacy characters as well!
Major Locations:
NEW ZEALAND, OCEANIA, AND PACIFIC ISLANDS
In general, New Zealand is one of the safer and more welcoming places for Numbered to be, and even though they're regarded as foreigners, they're likely to be eventually adopted and even protected as citizens if they're not complete buffoons. This means having some respect for the local culture and being good neighbors (which, as in many parts of the world, means keeping good fences.)
Other locations of note include Christmas Island, Australia, and the Galapagos Islands. Both of these locations were sites of the invasion but were defended by their local guardian beasts. As such, the opinion of Numbered in these specific locations is largely positive. Notably, the waters surrounding the Galapagos contain the remains of the orbital elevator, which fell into the sea soon after being transported there under mysterious circumstances.
For any further information on both areas, you can refer to their original posts at our predecessor,
savetheearth; here for Christmas Island, and here for the Galapagos Islands. Naturally, Factor Industries has teleporter access for both locations, while Thundercorp has placed two nondescript symbols for each locale in out of the way locations, which are the two alchemical symbols for purification respectively.Shepherd's Haven
Shepherd’s Haven is a residential village northeast of Christchurch on South Island, New Zealand. It’s owned and operated by Numbered, and for now, only Numbered occupy it. New arrivals will receive supplies and a place to stay, either alone or with roommates in a series of small but comfortably outfitted houses, and there’s room for expansion as the village’s population grows. It has been given a degree of financial support from Factor Industries, allowing the community to grow quickly.
At the time of the game’s opening, Shepherd’s Haven is somewhat self-sufficient; residents will be able to grow their own food and will work to maintain balance and order in their small and insular community, and of course they’ll have access to the skills and resources of friends who are willing to contribute them.
The teleporter for Shepherd's Haven is located in the town square, while Thunder Corp has managed to apply the symbol of an alchemical cube outside of a small pub in Woodend.
Major/Neighboring Locations:
Woodend: Located about 10 miles southwest of Shepherd’s Haven, Woodend is a small town that’s the Numbered’s nearest option for supplies and civilization. With a population of less than 3,000 and just one school, the attitude toward Numbered here is curious and wary rather than outright hostile (an attitude prevalent throughout New Zealand in general). That being said, if you’re trying to get a job here in town, you might have some difficulty as they will prioritize hiring local Kiwis, but a fair number of short-staffed places will happily hire Numbered, and kids can enroll in Woodend’s full primary school at any point in the semester with minimal questions asked. The downside is that everyone pretty much knows each other here, and gossip has a tendency to run rampant. Every now and then, rambunctious teenagers will dare each other to get close to Shepherd’s Haven, but the worst they’ve done by game’s opening is throw a few rocks at the gate and sped off squealing. Supply runs to Wooodend are common and sometimes necessary for certain essentials.
Christchurch: If you can't find it in Shepherd's Haven, you’ll probably have to travel even further south to Christchurch. Christchurch has diverse dining and shopping options, secondary and college education, and better hospital and other health care options. When getting a job, put your best face forward and remember that those who meet you will likely form their judgments of other Numbered based on your interactions, as you're probably the first they've met.
North America
North America was the continent that suffered the most damage from the invasion, with a majority of the western half of the United States, as well as parts of Nothwestern Mexico and Southwestern Canada, being destroyed by the alien forces. With the United States struggling to rebuild, it is here that the Numbered face their greatest battle regarding the court of public opinion. Though their safety is not typically in danger, the Numbered receive a great deal of criticism from the media as well as distrust from the populace, particularly from those who escaped the devastation in the West. The one exception remains Gateway City, due to the influence of industrialist Benjamin Factor and his company.
Gateway City
Gateway City is a city located on the boarder of what was once Kansas and Missouri, in the Midwestern region of the United States. Though a major city well before the invasion, in the past year, Gateway's importance has swelled in terms of national and international relevance. With much of the western half of the country devastated by the invasion, Gateway has become crucial for the launching of aid and relief to the territories ravaged by the brief but terrible war. It has also attracted international attention, and become the site of delegation for a multi-nation coalition dedicated to the rebuilding of the war-ravaged west. Finally, it has become the new home of the United States' entertainment industry (which has fallen behind globally, with many studios also establishing studios in Europe and Asia), and hosts the headquarters of Factor Industries, an organization that has become allied to the Numbered and has led the way in reverse engineering technology recovered from the invasion.
Of all the cities in the United States, Gateway City is perhaps one of the most welcoming and encouraging to the Numbered outside of Shepherd's Haven. This is partly due to the influence and work of Benjamin Factor, who has publicly voiced his support for the Numbered. As can be expected of any major metropolitan area, Gateway City plays host to an airport, local sports teams, and whatever else you might expect from such a location. The city's second teleporter location is an alleyway, marked with the symbol of a snake eating its own tail.
Notable Locations:
Factor Industries Plaza - Located in the heart of Gateway City, this is the global headquarters of Factor Industries, a titan of industry and leading competitor with Thunder Corp. The plaza includes Truman Tower, which is where most day-to-day business takes place, a number of buildings for the study and implementation of advanced technologies, and the Awakening Center, a community center which includes a gym, multiple entertainment centers, a shopping center, and which plays host to the local teleporter relay that allows for easy transport for the Numbered.
Fort Grant - A military base located outside the city, Fort Grant is a staging area for relief efforts to the western half of the United States. Delegates, representatives, humanitarian workers, and soldiers alike live, meet, and work here.
Locke City
Locke City is located in the Eastern United States and was once the epicenter of Numbered activity. As such, over the course of several years, it played host to a series of disasters and tragedies that culminated in the invasion, where much of the city was left destroyed. Though the Numbered ultimately protected it, Locke lay mostly in ruins.
However, like the metaphorical phoenix, Locke has emerged, reborn, from the ashes, thanks to the investment of Thunder Corp. Though much of the city's woes could be tracked back to them somehow, they were ultimately able to evade punishment and see to the revival of Locke. As such, the city has returned to most of its former glory in a shockingly short amount of time. However, the city has changed in multiple ways, and it is here that the Numbered face the most scorn. Beneath the city, a mysterious entity sleeps, serving as its new protector in the wake of "Wise Snake's" destruction.
Thankfully, Factor Industries has managed to place a teleporter here, in a small community center in the city's business district. The Thunder Corp teleporter symbol is located behind a warehouse in what is now known as the "Phoenix District" of the city, though anyone using it will find themselves quickly escorted off the premises by Thunder Corp security unless special arrangements have been made. The mark is the alchemical symbol for reduction.
Notable Locations:
Business District - Just as before, the city's business district is the heart of the city's commerce, with the massive Tuning Towers still standing tall in the heart of it. Thunder Corp has invested a great deal of money in both rebuilding this part of the city and courting businesspeople back to the city, and they make sure that everyone knows it with billboards and signs advertising Thunder Corp and their affiliates.
Phoenix District - The symbol of Locke City's rebirth. Once a section of the city full of abandoned buildings and homeless, it was one of the first areas revitalized by Thunder Corp, with its unofficial, ostentatious-sounding name reflecting their vision for a "new Locke City". The Phoenix District houses both Thunder Corp facilities and new residential homes for those who lost theirs in the invasion. The New Locke City Memorial Park is built in the hart of it, serving to honor those who lost their lives and commemorate the (oddly fast) amount of progress Locke has accomplished in only a year's time.
Other Locations: Locke's harbors are still open, and Locke City University and its other learning institutions reopened their doors half a year after the invasion. However, Fort Turner, the historic military base dating back to the original war, is but a memory, and has been replaced with a museum focusing on Locke itself, including its "rise from the ashes". Naturally, a great deal of it is dedicated to Thunder Corp as well.
New Los Angeles
New Los Angeles is a young city on the American west coast, built from the ruins of old Los Angeles. It's also the primary seat of government for the western territories of the United States, who were devastated in the invasion, which caused most state governments to collapse. As such, New Los Angeles struggles with a great deal and with many tasks that are beyond their means. Every day, more and more refugees come to the city, who are forced to remain in the city's camps and shelters. Survival is key in New Los Angeles, and many of its people have to cooperate with one another to survive. Power is held by the specially appointed governor, Alicia Barrow, and the United States army general, Terrence Miller.
As you might expect, New Los Angeles does not play host to many businesses. Many relief organizations have built shelters, but they are filled to capacity, and many of the city's refugees have to live in tents in the city's specially designated camps. As far as employment, the main source of jobs is in the relief centers and among the numerous construction projects going on throughout the city. Despite a military presence in the city, there exists much potential for violence, and most of the population resent the Numbered. Its second teleporter is on the back of a relief center built by Thunder Corp, marked with the alchemical symbol for Sublimation. Vermini, and their larger counterparts, Vermaxi also roam the streets, coming out particularly at night, and the city has multiple criminal gangs as well.
Notable Locations:
Factor Industries Relief Center: One of the largest and most successful relief centers in New Los Angeles. This is where the New Los Angeles teleporter is located, and is of course, kept secret from the populace using the highest level of security Factor Industries can provide. Numbered can still use it freely, however.
New Los Angeles Government Building: Its direct and to-the-point name a testament to the difficulties faced in New Los Angeles, the Government Building is, well, the location for the government of New Los Angeles and the entire western territories. Both the governor, Alica Barrow, and all officials there are stretched beyond their means, and spend a majority of their time butting heads with the local military presence.
Refugee Camps: Where the majority of New Los Angeles's people live, the refugee camp's people include both those who originally lived in Los Angeles and those who sought refuge in the scouring of the western half of the United States. Food and other resources are at a premium here, and while most have formed small communities that stress cooperation, a few include those who flaunt their strength in order to hold influence here. The one constant is that most refugees do not care for the Numbered.
Western Territories
In the invasion one year prior to the start of the game, most of the Western half of the United States was devastated, leading to the collapse of most state governments. In the destruction, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and a third of Texas were affected, and among them, only Texas retained enough overall stability to remain functional. At this point in time, most of the area remains devastated and lawless, with many people fleeing both West and East.
However, just as many have been left stranded, and the region has been designated a humanitarian crisis by the United Nations. In the year since the invasion, the situation has only worsened, with "overall stability" only being attained in the areas around what was once california and on the borders of the Midwestern states. As such, no one has a clear idea of what's going on there, and reports of strange phenomea, lawlessness, and other mysteries are in abundance. A strange energy field, believed to be lingering effects from alien technology, makes it impossible for satellites to get a clear view of the region. Furthermore, while some of the devastation crossed over into Mexico and Canada, it was done to a much lesser extent, and areas of these countries bordering the Western Territories are kept highly secure.
No teleporters lead to general areas inside the western territories. Though much of this place is being kept vague for plot reasons, if you have an idea regarding this part of the world, please, feel free to speak with the mods and we'd be happy to work out something utilizing it!
Las Vegas and the Lonely Mountain
This was the epicenter of the invasion that tore apart the western half of the United States. As such, all that remains of Las Vegas is a large, open scar where a city once stood. What doesn't lie in ruins has been converted into a military base, as it was the first location secured by the United States government other than what is New Los Angeles. The "Lonely Mountain" is also similarly kept watch over, with no one having entered its depths since the invasion. It is here that the new guardian, an enormous dragon, rests in the event this part of the world needs protecting again.
No teleporters reach Las Vegas, and it is extremely difficult to journey there on land. If you have other means of reaching there, you will find yourself having to deal with the local military presence.
Infinita City
Infinita City is built up on the ruins of what was once Denver financed and named after the global conglomerate of the same name. Both the company and the city is run by CEO and billionaire Anton Keldek. Infinita was one of the first sites to begin functioning again followed by the devastation caused by the invasion, lighting up the Nevada desert within less than six months of the war. As such, it has attracted many refugees seeking shelter and safety from the lawless wastelands that cover most of the United States now.
Though the title of "city" might still seem a little out of reach, with most of the refugee population still relegated to camps, shanty towns and communal shelters, round the clock construction efforts have the city building up fast with more buildings coming online and more refugees becoming true "citizens" of the city. The area is highly militarized and constantly patrolled by members of Serpos, Keldek's private military company, on the ground and by aerial drones from the skies. Curfews are in effect and refugees and citizens alike are expected to abide by the rules and cooperate with the Serpos soldiers. Criminal activity is not tolerated and perpetrators will quickly find themselves imprisoned and locked away to await being "handed over for trial once the government is reestablished" and the indefinite nature of this incarceration is made well known. Nonetheless, those who know where to look can find a thriving drug trade operating in the more run-down refugee areas.
Rights and privileges are doled out based on one's productivity and contribution to the city. Refugees receive the minimum of these, with rudimentary camps and shanty towns and heavily rationed supplies. Those who choose to work toward construction and maintenance of the cities are granted much better living conditions for them and their families, such as a place in the larger community shelters with electricity and running water. Those who sign up with Serpos are given the best treatment regular humans can hope to receive, with private residences for them and their families and a much more accommodating food ration. Numbered are given the best treatment of all. A Numbered (or Numbered doppelganger for that matter) who joins Keldek's ranks will be granted spacious living quarters with no limit to rations and the resources of the city at their beck and call.
Travel to and from the city is highly restricted, particularly to Numbered who are not part of Keldek's forces. Any Numbered entering the city will be required to report and register with the Serpos guards, whereupon they will have a constant escort during their stay in the city. Accommodations are welcoming and pleasant but Numbered movements are constantly recorded and restricted throughout the city. Any refusal to cooperate will be met by immediate ejection from Infinita's borders. Most PCs will likely deal with Keldek's right hand, Evelyn Strauss.
Relations with the neighboring areas are likely tense and strained to a point. Keldek keeps up a facade of cooperation and helpfulness and offers a degree of aid but it's relatively small. He refuses to divulge or share how he is able to power the city, or produce the amount of food needed to keep its populace fed. Complicating matters is the fact that Serpos is well-staffed and equipped, enough that challenging them directly in military conflict is a daunting matter. In the post-invasion world of North America, Infinita City is a force that has rapidly grown in power and influence and continues to do so every day.
Thunder Corp, after making a secret agreement with Keldek, used the city as a hub for their clandestine teleporter network. The center of the city has an an area marked with the various symbols Thunder Corp has placed around the world, and all one has to do is stand on one of those symbols and will themselves to be taken to that location. Unregistered individuals using it who do not meet the criteria above will be considered in violation of Infinita's laws.
Notable Locations
Sector 1: Infinita Headquarters - The simply named hub of the city's operations, and the residence of Anton Keldek, his inner circle and any Numbered who sign up. At a glance, this area resembles a military complex, a cluter of small two-to-three story buildings. Despite its appearances, however, this area is easily the most developed part of the city. Most buildings here are actually residences for the higher ranking members of the city and are as comfortable and luxurious as resources and time will allow. The Headquarters is highly secure with anybody entering required to have their ID checked at various guard houses.
At the center of this area is a large construction project. Crews work endlessly building a sprawling tower that will one day take its place as the city's main seat of power. This, however, is largely a cover. Directly beneath Headquarters is a sprawling preexisting facility of subterranean labs. Something is at work deep under the city, but exactly what it is remains a mystery.
Sector 2: Citizens Residence - The next most advanced portion of the city is the portion set aside for "citizens", people who have either joined Serpos or otherwise reached high enough rank in construction and maintence crews to warrant it. A relatively nice area to live, this one is made up of decently-sized apartment complexes built to accomodate small families. Security is laxer here but most refugees are refused access unless on sanctioned business or work.
Sector 3: Camps - Located on the fringes of the city, this area comprises multiple types of dwellings. Anybody unwilling or unable to work toward the city is relegated to tent cities or shanty towns. Workers, as well as their families, will find themselves "moved up" to large communal dwellings that at least have power and running water. Serpos troops are a constant presence here, keeping order and stability among the refugees. Conditions are harsh here but most still find them favorable to trying to survive out in the wilderness. Anybody who wishes to leave is free to do so but they do so alone without any support or escort across the wasteland, and are allowed to take only what they can carry themselves.
Sector 4: CLASSIFIED - Outside the city altogether, Sector 4 is a large complex covered by a huge white dome and surrounded and cordoned off by fences and guard posts. The "official" story is that Sector 4 houses hazardous materials left over from the invasion but what's being done with it or the exact nature of it is a closely guarded secret. Nobody is granted access to Sector 4 without explicit clearance by Anton Keldek himself. There are no exceptions.
Europe
Europe was another part of the world that was defended by the guardian beasts slumbering within the earth, with London, England, the "Neuschwanstein area" of Germany, Bavaria, and Austria, and Lapland, Finland all playing host to the beasts that protected the planet. In general, most European countries have a positive or neutral opinion of the Numbered, though it does vary from country to country and nothing is universal. In the areas where the animals appeared, the beasts themselves have become something of cultural symbols, with the so-called "Silent Swan" being particularly popular. Additionally, the mysterious Wolpertinger, strange hybrid creatures, have been appearing in greater frequency across the continent after first appearing in Neuschwanstein.
Thunder Corp's teleporter symbols for London, the Neuschwanstein area, and Lapland are the alchemical symbols for vitriol, cinnabar, and alum respectively, and can be found behind nondescript buildings. Likewise, Factor Industries has recognized the importance of these locations to the Numbered, and established teleporters in all three locations. For more information on all three areas, please visit here, here, and here.
Other parts of the world
Other notable locations include Tokyo, Japan, and Sanatarem, Para in Brazil. Both locations were sites of the invasion, but were, again, relatively protected, and able to recover from the invasion more easily. As such, the Numbered receive a degree of acknowledgement or appreciation there. Factor Industries has built facilities for teleporters in both locations, and Thunder Corp has placed the symbol for algamation in Tokyo and decomposition in Sanatarem for their own purposes.
As for the rest of the world, the fallout of the invasion was not as heavy, save for minor damage caused by the appearance of the monstrous serpent that appeared in the sky. Thus, most have little difference from their real world counterparts in terms of history and culture, and as always, the opinion of the Numbered varies worldwide, with people's feelings ranging from distrust, fear, appreciation, and even reverence towards them. Things will undoubtedly change as events play out and new potentials are explored.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or wonder anything else about parts of the world as they relate to the game that are not laid out here, feel free to ask us!
Help us build our world!
We allow players to submit minor locations (places of business, various sites, all within reason). Below, you will find various sub-threads where you can do so, along with some locations of our own that we've created. Use this form and reply to each of them! That being said, you must be a member of the game to do so!
Entry tags:
Returning Character Applications
We’re glad to have you back! Some things have changed since Save the Earth; a year’s passed, and the invasion left some dangerous consequences to deal with. If you’re not already familiar with what’s going on, you might want to hit up the FAQ before you app back in.
Your application is shorter, since we’ve already made you do the hard work the first time around. Fill out this form and comment here with it using the journal you used in Save the Earth; we’ll look it over and see about getting you into the game. Please make sure your info post is up to date with your character’s entire set of Echoes! If you’re changing journals, post with your original journal, and then reply to the acceptance comment with the new one; your info post needs to be in the old journal for acceptance, but you can move to the new one once you’re in.
You can only use this application through one month after the game opens! After that, you’ll re-apply like you were in Raise the Earth before, but you’re submitting a full application - and that means personality and history need to sync up with what you’re playing again.
UPDATED: If you are bringing back a character's doppelganger, please reply to your reclaim with another copy of the IC section of the form for them, including the things that are different for them! Doppelgangers need their own journals for Raise the Earth - reply with that journal, please! Numbered and doppelganger claims will be reviewed and judged separately, but if the original character's reclaim isn't approved, the doppelganger won't be playable until it is. Doppelgangers don't consume a character slot - they share with the original character.
Fill out this application and comment to this post. Please put your character's preincarnation's name and canon in the title!
OOC Information
Player: (Your handle! If it's changed since Save the Earth ended, let us know what you went by then.)
Contact: (Some way we can get in touch with you. A journal, an IM account, Plurk, whatever.)
Current characters: (Are you playing any other characters here right now? Include applications you're putting in at the same time, and reclaims you have in the works.)
IC Information
Name: (Preincarnation and reincarnation, if they're not the same - identify which one's which.)
Canon:
Info Post: (Link your info post from Save the Earth here. If your Echoes are somewhere else, make sure there’s a link in your info post to them!)
Application: (Link your original application, if it’s not in your info post.)
Post-StE Activities: (What has your character been up to since the invasion ended? Characters that were present for the invasion can pick up from there and fill the year since the game ended; if your character wasn’t there for the invasion, pick up from where your character was in the game last.)
Starting Location: (Where is your character based? Locke is dangerous these days, and Vegas is a pile of ruins and volcanic ash. Don’t forget that the Echo barriers are down, so characters can go anywhere in Earth’s orbit! Need ideas? Check the setting page and see what we’ve got.)
Additional Echoes: (You get some more Echoes over the one-year gap between games! You can have up to two additional Echoes by the time Raise the Earth starts; if you’ve got ideas for recurrences, use them for that, but otherwise, they’re plot Echoes with unspecified triggers. Don’t submit them as normal - just put them here in your application, and once we accept you, add them to your info post. If you received Echoes inbetweentheearth, just link them and that'll count.)
Goals for RtE: (Your character’s come a long way since the first pink lights, three years ago. What are their plans here? What are your plans? What kinds of things are you looking to do this time around? Where do you see your character fitting in? Is there anything we can do to help you reach your goals? Like the last game, Raise the Earth has a plot but is heavily player-driven. The things characters do (and want to do) influence the direction of the game! Tell us what’s on your roadmap, and we’ll see what we can do. If you don’t have any specific plans, that’s fine too. This section doesn’t affect how we judge your application.)
Additional Information: (Anything else we need to know? Are there significant changes since the StE finale that we might have missed? Include other information or questions here that might pertain to your application. If there’s nothing else, delete this section.)
Reclaims are OPEN, but don't post them here!
Starting July 8th, please submit reclaims on the applications post!
Your application is shorter, since we’ve already made you do the hard work the first time around. Fill out this form and comment here with it using the journal you used in Save the Earth; we’ll look it over and see about getting you into the game. Please make sure your info post is up to date with your character’s entire set of Echoes! If you’re changing journals, post with your original journal, and then reply to the acceptance comment with the new one; your info post needs to be in the old journal for acceptance, but you can move to the new one once you’re in.
You can only use this application through one month after the game opens! After that, you’ll re-apply like you were in Raise the Earth before, but you’re submitting a full application - and that means personality and history need to sync up with what you’re playing again.
UPDATED: If you are bringing back a character's doppelganger, please reply to your reclaim with another copy of the IC section of the form for them, including the things that are different for them! Doppelgangers need their own journals for Raise the Earth - reply with that journal, please! Numbered and doppelganger claims will be reviewed and judged separately, but if the original character's reclaim isn't approved, the doppelganger won't be playable until it is. Doppelgangers don't consume a character slot - they share with the original character.
Fill out this application and comment to this post. Please put your character's preincarnation's name and canon in the title!
OOC Information
Player: (Your handle! If it's changed since Save the Earth ended, let us know what you went by then.)
Contact: (Some way we can get in touch with you. A journal, an IM account, Plurk, whatever.)
Current characters: (Are you playing any other characters here right now? Include applications you're putting in at the same time, and reclaims you have in the works.)
IC Information
Name: (Preincarnation and reincarnation, if they're not the same - identify which one's which.)
Canon:
Info Post: (Link your info post from Save the Earth here. If your Echoes are somewhere else, make sure there’s a link in your info post to them!)
Application: (Link your original application, if it’s not in your info post.)
Post-StE Activities: (What has your character been up to since the invasion ended? Characters that were present for the invasion can pick up from there and fill the year since the game ended; if your character wasn’t there for the invasion, pick up from where your character was in the game last.)
Starting Location: (Where is your character based? Locke is dangerous these days, and Vegas is a pile of ruins and volcanic ash. Don’t forget that the Echo barriers are down, so characters can go anywhere in Earth’s orbit! Need ideas? Check the setting page and see what we’ve got.)
Additional Echoes: (You get some more Echoes over the one-year gap between games! You can have up to two additional Echoes by the time Raise the Earth starts; if you’ve got ideas for recurrences, use them for that, but otherwise, they’re plot Echoes with unspecified triggers. Don’t submit them as normal - just put them here in your application, and once we accept you, add them to your info post. If you received Echoes in
betweentheearth, just link them and that'll count.)Goals for RtE: (Your character’s come a long way since the first pink lights, three years ago. What are their plans here? What are your plans? What kinds of things are you looking to do this time around? Where do you see your character fitting in? Is there anything we can do to help you reach your goals? Like the last game, Raise the Earth has a plot but is heavily player-driven. The things characters do (and want to do) influence the direction of the game! Tell us what’s on your roadmap, and we’ll see what we can do. If you don’t have any specific plans, that’s fine too. This section doesn’t affect how we judge your application.)
Additional Information: (Anything else we need to know? Are there significant changes since the StE finale that we might have missed? Include other information or questions here that might pertain to your application. If there’s nothing else, delete this section.)
Starting July 8th, please submit reclaims on the applications post!
Entry tags:
Rules
Stay in character!
One of the guiding tenets of roleplay is that you’re playing a specific character! Keep everything you do in line with how the character you’re playing would react to events. Because reincarnation is a core mechanic, it can get a little weird at times, but try to follow some kind of sensible progression from the character you applied for to the person they are at any given time. We understand that character development happens, but if the character players are interacting with isn’t the one that was applied for, expect to hear from us at some point.
Respect other players!
Everyone’s here to play in the same world and have a good time. While it’s likely that disagreements will come up, please keep your interactions with other players civil, and always remember that just because a character is mean to yours, it doesn’t mean that the player is being mean to you. Aside from basic respect for players, this includes things like respecting other players’ limits and preferences, and marking questionable content. If you’re having a problem with another player, and you’re having trouble working it out, let us know - we can step in, or help mediate.
Ask permission before dictating others’ actions!
Before you determine how another character reacts to something yours is doing, you’ll want to ask that character’s player if that’s okay. In general, you’ll want to leave actions open-ended so other characters have a variety of ways to respond; it’s not okay to just assume something happens, like an attack connecting, or a particular piece of information being found out. Don’t make decisions about other characters without asking first.
OOC knowledge is not necessarily IC knowledge!
When something like a plot post gives you information about what’s to come, or when a character does something off the network, that information isn’t known to characters - it has to be discovered and shared first. Until a character has that information, they can’t act on it. If you happen to know where a character lives because there was a post on it, your character can’t just show up there - they need to find that information for themselves first.
IC actions have IC consequences!
Characters’ actions affect the game world, and when the game world changes, sometimes the game will find its way back to the person that caused it. When something happens as a result of a character doing something, it’s not a slight against the character - it’s a reaction to what happened. Never assume that a deed, good or bad, will go unpunished… but also keep in mind that the reprisal will generally match the deed. A murder, for example, will not escape the notice of some party that will seek justice, but that wouldn’t result in a town being wiped off the map, either.
Work with plot in mind!
Occasionally, the plot will have stipulations on how the game works - things that can’t be divulged, places that need to remain safe. While most things are fair game, critical directives need to be satisfied. Don’t add more work for everyone! We’ll let you know if something like this comes up.
Maintain information and communications pages!
Every character needs an info page and an HMD. The info page template will be provided for you; it gives basic information about the character, and also gives a place for Echoes to be listed for easy reference. You don’t need to have Echoes in the character’s info post directly, but if they’re somewhere else, there needs to be a link in the info post to them. Characters also require some kind of constructive criticism mechanism, such as an HMD post; we don’t have any particular requirements on where it is or how comments are displayed. It just needs to exist, to be linked on the character’s info post, and to have comments turned on. These pages should be kept up to date as needed.
Keep up with the game!
There is a minimum activity requirement to stay in Save the Earth! Each character needs a total of ten comments or more across at least two threads with different characters. At most one of those threads can be somewhere other than the game community (such as in a character’s journal). Posts in the meme community never count toward activity, unless otherwise stated. You’ll check in during the first week of each month with all of your characters, using activity generated from the month prior. A character’s first month is free - no activity is required. During activity checks, we’ll also ask for links to the character’s info post and HMD; keep these up to date! If a character can’t make activity, they can take a strike instead; they need to clear AC the next month, or they’ll be removed. Characters that have no response to the check at all, not even to request a strike, will also be removed. If something comes up, contact us!
One of the guiding tenets of roleplay is that you’re playing a specific character! Keep everything you do in line with how the character you’re playing would react to events. Because reincarnation is a core mechanic, it can get a little weird at times, but try to follow some kind of sensible progression from the character you applied for to the person they are at any given time. We understand that character development happens, but if the character players are interacting with isn’t the one that was applied for, expect to hear from us at some point.
Respect other players!
Everyone’s here to play in the same world and have a good time. While it’s likely that disagreements will come up, please keep your interactions with other players civil, and always remember that just because a character is mean to yours, it doesn’t mean that the player is being mean to you. Aside from basic respect for players, this includes things like respecting other players’ limits and preferences, and marking questionable content. If you’re having a problem with another player, and you’re having trouble working it out, let us know - we can step in, or help mediate.
Ask permission before dictating others’ actions!
Before you determine how another character reacts to something yours is doing, you’ll want to ask that character’s player if that’s okay. In general, you’ll want to leave actions open-ended so other characters have a variety of ways to respond; it’s not okay to just assume something happens, like an attack connecting, or a particular piece of information being found out. Don’t make decisions about other characters without asking first.
OOC knowledge is not necessarily IC knowledge!
When something like a plot post gives you information about what’s to come, or when a character does something off the network, that information isn’t known to characters - it has to be discovered and shared first. Until a character has that information, they can’t act on it. If you happen to know where a character lives because there was a post on it, your character can’t just show up there - they need to find that information for themselves first.
IC actions have IC consequences!
Characters’ actions affect the game world, and when the game world changes, sometimes the game will find its way back to the person that caused it. When something happens as a result of a character doing something, it’s not a slight against the character - it’s a reaction to what happened. Never assume that a deed, good or bad, will go unpunished… but also keep in mind that the reprisal will generally match the deed. A murder, for example, will not escape the notice of some party that will seek justice, but that wouldn’t result in a town being wiped off the map, either.
Work with plot in mind!
Occasionally, the plot will have stipulations on how the game works - things that can’t be divulged, places that need to remain safe. While most things are fair game, critical directives need to be satisfied. Don’t add more work for everyone! We’ll let you know if something like this comes up.
Maintain information and communications pages!
Every character needs an info page and an HMD. The info page template will be provided for you; it gives basic information about the character, and also gives a place for Echoes to be listed for easy reference. You don’t need to have Echoes in the character’s info post directly, but if they’re somewhere else, there needs to be a link in the info post to them. Characters also require some kind of constructive criticism mechanism, such as an HMD post; we don’t have any particular requirements on where it is or how comments are displayed. It just needs to exist, to be linked on the character’s info post, and to have comments turned on. These pages should be kept up to date as needed.
Keep up with the game!
There is a minimum activity requirement to stay in Save the Earth! Each character needs a total of ten comments or more across at least two threads with different characters. At most one of those threads can be somewhere other than the game community (such as in a character’s journal). Posts in the meme community never count toward activity, unless otherwise stated. You’ll check in during the first week of each month with all of your characters, using activity generated from the month prior. A character’s first month is free - no activity is required. During activity checks, we’ll also ask for links to the character’s info post and HMD; keep these up to date! If a character can’t make activity, they can take a strike instead; they need to clear AC the next month, or they’ll be removed. Characters that have no response to the check at all, not even to request a strike, will also be removed. If something comes up, contact us!
Entry tags:
FAQ
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About the Game
Applications and Characters
Echoes and Powers
Playing the Game
Activity, Hiatus, Drops, and Re-Apps
Returning Players
Asking Questions
ABOUT THE GAME
Wait, is this a sequel? What do I need to know from Save the Earth?
More or less. Save the Earth finished its run in May 2015 both out of game and in-world, and Raise the Earth picks up the plot from there, one year later. At the end of Save the Earth, an alien invasion culminated in a final encounter with the being responsible for the end of untold worlds, and the Numbered convinced him to halt his attack and leave Earth alone. The world was not left undamaged; between a massive serpent in orbit striking the planet while defending it, and the invaders leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, a great many lives were lost, and portions of the world - especially the western United States - were rendered uninhabitable. A side effect of this is that public opinion swung massively against the Numbered. Characters, previously restricted to specific places in the world, found they could leave the barriers and travel wherever they chose, and many left their old homes when they realized their status as Numbered made their social pariahs.
The Numbered are public knowledge; some personalities are well-known through various social and mass media, while some keep their involvement a secret, or simply haven't had a chance to become as well-known. Known Numbered are generally treated less than hospitably (though this varies from location to location); in many places, the public blames them for the devastation the Enemy inflicted upon the planet.
What are Echoes?
Echoes are a mechanic that help link the soul of a character's preincarnation to the form they've taken in this life. When a reincarnate experiences something that mirrors an event their preincarnation experienced, sometimes something will shake loose, and the reincarnate finds themselves with a momentary feeling of emptiness, and of something passing through, along with a memory or a power or a thing they didn’t have before - this is a recurrence Echo. You can put in for these more or less whenever you want, so long as you can argue the thing you’re recurring. Recurrence Echoes can return to the character a memory, item, or power related to the recurrence in question: a memory of a time this happened to the preincarnate, a tool the prior self used to perform an action, a power that saved that past self from harm just in the nick of time. More powerful - or more precise - recurrences can give stronger Echoes; more on Tiers in a second.
Sometimes, the plot itself will give an Echo; certain things are linked to the Earth’s power, or to the microbes that started to appear shortly after the invasion. As an example, an outbreak generally gives Echoes to characters nearby. When opportunities for plot Echoes come up, you’ll know via a plot post, which will advise you what gives such Echoes, and when and where your character needs to be for one.
Echoes can vary in power; we express these out of character via Echo Tiers. Tier 1 Echoes are common and can return a somewhat short memory, a decently-strong power, or a moderately powerful item. Tier 2 Echoes can return something larger, or return two things linked to each other; things like a robot, a powerful magic ability, a long conversation between people, and the like would be Tier 2 Echoes. Alternately, a Tier 2 Echo can just return two Tier 1 Echoes, so long as they’re linked to each other. There may be even stronger Echoes in the future, but for now, these are the Tiers available. Occasionally, the plot will give an Echo that is automatically Tier 2; aside from such Echoes, you are allowed only one Tier 2 Echo per month per character.
Characters that trigger Echoes, or that will do so soon, can request them via the Echo request page in the mod journal. Fill out the short form, letting us know what’s being regained and why, and we’ll either approve the Echoes you requested, or let you know why we didn’t (and usually let you revise the request and put it in again). Sometimes an Echo is too strong, either for its Tier or (rarely) for the game, and we’ll advise you if we need something changed or clarified. Once your Echoes are approved, add them to your character’s info post, and then go ahead and get them back!
Occasionally, you’ll see characters talking about "pulses"; in Save the Earth, the characters never got the word "Echo" to refer to this phenomenon, and they agreed on "pulses" mostly through having already adopted the word. At some point, a character started to call these regains "Echoes", and so the two are used interchangeably.
What is the Network?
The Network is a function of the souls characters are reincarnated from; it allows the characters to communicate with each other through a special, extraordinary means. The Network is accessible to all Numbered, and is not accessible to anyone without numbers, except in special cases. When a character joins Raise the Earth, they are assigned a set of numbers that they will be unable to forget; this is their Network number. When that number is typed into a phone or computer, written on paper, etched into the ground, drawn on glass, or put onto a surface or item in more or less any other way, that surface or object becomes a connection to the Network, which supports text, voice, and video posts. When the number is erased, the connection closes.
The Network has two operation modes: public posts and locked posts. All posts are retained forever; locked posts are only visible to the people that are party to the conversation. When a character gets on the Network and starts to post something, it’s tagged with their number, but no other identifying information; if you know a character’s number, you can readily identify things they’re involved in. A post can be made private by starting with a character’s own number, then adding another character’s number after it. Private posts can be made to only one other person; there’s no way to add more than one other person to the same conversation, nor can a post be filtered so a specific character can’t see it. It’s possible to switch back and forth from a public conversation with a given character to a private one; simply add or erase that character’s number in conversation.
The Network is versatile and can adapt to the way it’s being used; phones will make voice or video calls to the Network as needed, paper will magically write on itself or have video images in the middle; web browsers can manifest a page not unlike the IC community to scroll through. When a character’s number is removed from the thing they were using to operate it, all traces of the Network are erased from the method used. Computers don’t remember the webpage, phones don’t log the call, paper erases itself, and so on. As another benefit, non-Numbered characters can’t perceive the Network; they’ll see a character engaging in a mundane version of whatever they’re doing, without actually getting any information. Doodling, surfing the web, talking on the phone, whatever looks normal. It’s also impossible to record things done on the Network; copying and pasting text doesn’t work, nor does photography or video. Such methods only record the dummy action, not the Network itself.
The Network wasn’t wiped between games - all network posts in
savetheearth are still present, though for some reason, they’re locked to comment, even from Numbered that had access when the posts originally went up.APPLICATIONS AND CHARACTERS
What kinds of characters can I apply for?
Because of the way Raise the Earth works, you need to apply for a character with a strong, clearly defined history. To this end, you can either apply for a canon character, or an original character. Canon characters need to come from established series, though not necessarily finished ones, and need to have either the canon itself or available information in English. If there are multiple official versions of a canon - say, a Marvel canon, where you could app from the main comics, or the movies, or an alternate comic universe - you must choose one and stick to that one. Personality and history can reference the others if they don’t contradict the primary one you choose, but your Echoes must come from the selected variant.
You cannot apply for other kinds of characters. Specifically, you cannot apply for player-created AUs (including fanfiction), canon original characters (such as a random student at Hogwarts that is never named in the books), or game-import versions of characters. There can only be one of the same character in the game at the same time, even if the versions are different. You also can’t apply for real people as their real selves, though fictional versions are okay; you can’t play Abraham Lincoln, but you can apply for the version of him from Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Wait, what's a preincarnation? This looks like two applications...
There’s more about this on the premise page, but in short, the character you control in Raise the Earth is the reincarnation of some other person, on some other world - the character they’re reincarnated from. We call this their "preincarnation" to avoid confusion. The preincarnation is the one you’d play in any other game; it’s the canon version. The reincarnation is what makes Raise the Earth special; your character’s world has ended, and their soul inhabits the body of the reincarnation you’re playing. Even without Echoes, that soul has some effect on the body it’s in; little things, like personality quirks or idle habits, might manifest in the reincarnation. But when Echoes enter the picture, everything changes, as the soul inside gives little bits of its power, or memories it once had, back to the body it’s inhabiting. Over the course of the game, your reincarnation will regain memories, powers, and items the original character once possessed. The reincarnation remains their own separate person, but through Echoes and the soul inside them, they’re linked to someone else.
You’re applying for the preincarnation because that soul is inhabiting your character, and will have an influence on them; we’re making sure you’re familiar with what that influence will do. You’re applying for the reincarnation because that’s the character you’re actually playing. Because the reincarnate inherits things like personality traits from their preincarnation, it’s important to be familiar with both, and that’s why you’re applying for both of them.
Is there anything I can’t give my character’s reincarnation?
The biggest consideration is that this is normal, modern-day Earth, if a year after a catastrophic alien attack. Characters can’t magically have superweapons, control half the world’s total capital, have the physical strength to fracture the Earth barehanded... those are all things that would need to be Echoed back to a reincarnate. Your character needs to be more or less normal before all that. That doesn’t mean characters like tinkerers, entrepreneurs, hackers, gymnasts, and any of a number of characters with borderline-crazy occupations wouldn’t fit - they’re just limited to things a normal person could do, even if they’re on the very top end of the scale. A character can be rich, but not rich enough to buy the presidency of a country. A character can have amazing inventions, but they need to be achievable with mundane science. A character can climb a building, so long as they’re flexible and strong enough to do that under their own power, and/or have the equipment for the job. Once they’re getting Echoes, the sky’s the limit. But before then, reality places unfortunate constraints on what characters can achieve.
My character's canon doesn't have an official translation...
Not a problem! So long as there’s a reasonably complete translation into English, or significant resources we (and you, and other players) can dig through as needed, it should be fine. Things like terms and official names aren’t terribly important, and given the nature of the game, might not ever come up anyway. If we need something clarified, and we can’t find it ourselves, be prepared to clarify for us.
My character died! Where’s the resurrection spot?
When a character dies, unless another reincarnate has a way to raise them, that’s it - they’re gone. If a character has an ability that requires them to die first, or can come back from the dead somehow (or anything along those lines), it only activates when they actually die, so you might need to find a way to get them killed. Please note that there remain some parties that react poorly to overt displays of Numbered abilities, and coming back from death is one of the ones that attracts attention very quickly. Be careful who sees your character get back up.
Someone else played my character before! Can I still apply for them?
Yes! However, you’re not playing the same reincarnate - your character is reincarnated from the same original person, but some unimportant thing about the canon or character is different; maybe someone wore a different shirt one day, or something similarly mundane. Such a character doesn’t get any of the Echoes or other things any other characters reincarnated from the same origin had; they’re starting from scratch.
Someone else has reserved my character! Do you accept challenge applications?
We don’t, sorry. Please wait until that reservation has expired; you can apply then.
My character's reincarnation isn't human! Is that okay?
Yes, with a couple notes. Non-human characters reincarnate into the closest-available Earth equivalent, if their base race doesn't exist; unicorns become horses, catfolk become actual cats, and so on. Such a character's first Echo must return sentience, but there are no other restrictions on non-human characters. At any time, Echoes can work on restoring their normal form.
Can I play a character from (show/book/game) that just came out?
Sure! Please be mindful of spoilers; if your character has Echoed back something that is important to canon, you might put that information behind a cut and warn for it. Because of the nature of the game, characters might not get back plot-sensitive information right away, so there’s less of a problem than in other games.
My character’s canon isn’t done yet! Can I play from it?
Yes, but it might not be as much fun as you’re hoping for. One of the big components of the game is getting Echoes from your character's past self, which requires you to have things in your character's past to Echo back in the first place. If there’s nothing there, you might have problems. There’s precedent for playing such a character, but keep the downside in mind.
Can I play two (or more) characters that act like one single person?
Absolutely! We have a mechanic set aside just for this: you’re going to be writing a combo application. Combo applications let you apply for more than one character that could reasonably be treated as one. Twins or a couple that are never seen apart qualify; symbiotes with a personality each qualify; two full personalities that share a body qualify. The more characters there are, the harder a combo app is to justify, but there are situations where it’d work.
Before you can write a combo app, you need to pitch it to us; there’s a form on the applications page that needs to be filled out first, and then once we approve the combo app, you can submit the application as displayed - it’s a little bit different. If we don’t approve your combo pitch, you can’t apply for the character combination, but you’re welcome to apply for one member of the combo you were looking to play. Some, but not all, situations suitable for a combo app are also suitable for multiple players, so consider your decision carefully before you submit a pitch.
How many characters can I play?
The maximum number of character slots you are allowed is five. This might actually be more than five characters because of the combo app system.
ECHOES AND POWERS
Do I have to have something to keep track of my Echoes?
Yes. When you’re approved, we’ll ask you to create an info post in your character’s journal. At minimum, it should contain the reincarnated character’s name, age, appearance, and a brief description of their occupation; the character they’re reincarnated from; and links to their application and HMD. It also either needs to contain their Echoes in some manner - comments to the post, a list in the post, or whatever else works best - or a link to their Echoes if you’ve got them somewhere else, like a Google Docs document. We’ve got a template you’re welcome to use if you like, but if you want to draw up your own, feel free. It just needs to contain the required items listed above.
My character has a castmate in the game! Can they bounce Echoes off each other?
Absolutely. If they both have different pieces of the puzzle, they can compare notes and see what they shake loose. There are a couple of restrictions, though - characters generally can’t stack powers this way, just memories, and there’s a limit to how much power the Earth can return to a character at once. There’s no hard limit, especially if all the Echoes are little things, but a character can only get so many Echoes in a short time, and especially in a single conversation. When you request Echoes, we’ll let you know if you have too many in too short a time (or if you’re getting close) - there’s no hard and fast number for this, but there’s only a certain amount that the character’s preincarnation can give at a time before the flow dries up for a bit.
You also need to wait until we approve an Echo before you can actually use it - no talking about powers or memories your character doesn’t have yet. To help combat that time lag, you can request a block of Echoes all at once that you think will come up in a conversation. Just let us know what’s going on, and then request all your Echoes at once, noting the triggers that’ll make them kick in. You can only request five Echoes in a single comment, though you’re allowed more than one comment if you need it, and it’ll take us a little time to sort through them all. But you’ll get a response back on which ones are okay and which need tweaking (or won’t work at all). Once you have that approval, go nuts! If you request an Echo and don’t end up triggering it after all, comment to our approval and we’ll rescind them until you need them again. If you request an Echo but trigger it a different way than how you requested, you need to have it approved a second time - the different circumstances might change what we’re okay with.
Are there any powers my character can’t have?
Just a few. Time travel powers can’t be regained in any way. Teleportation powers are okay, but they can’t send characters to places outside Earth’s gravitational pull - Echoes don’t work outside that range, so your character won’t be able to come back. Spaceships and the like are similarly allowed, but not terribly useful, since characters won’t get very far. And any power that fundamentally changes the way the game works for everyone else is out, mostly for other players’ comfort and sanity (and ours!).
That doesn’t mean any other powers can be recovered and used with reckless abandon; anything that infringes on other characters’ abilities or free will probably needs a permission post in the character’s journal, or you to ask permission when you want to use it. If something looks strange, we might ask how you’re planning to use it in-game, and what restrictions there are on it, if any. And always remember that character actions have in-game consequences!
Can my character get powers from another character's canon? Is there a limit to the powers my character can have?
Yes! If there’s a way for a character to Echo something back that can share powers with others, that function still works. Examples might include production of magical artifacts, abilities that grant new powers to things they’re used on, transformations into other kinds of beings, and the like. The biggest restriction, of course, is that the other player is okay with what’s going to happen to their character. Please remember, though, that this shouldn’t be abused. It’s fine for a character to gain powers that can give them relevance to a plot, or that advance them in a meaningful way. But the Earth doesn’t see a need to create a one-man army with a vast range of powers and unmatched personal ability. We reserve the right to request a cross-canon power upgrade not happen, or to take it away if it proves to have a severe effect. This also applies to canon powers that might normally have been given to a different character.
Start by asking this question: why am I giving this to my character? If your answer is "because it’s a new way for them to be badass" or "because canon didn’t give it to them", seriously consider whether or not going forward with the new power is a good idea.
My character gets a power in canon, but something takes it away from them! Can they keep it here?
Sure! So long as the character doesn’t Echo back something that removes that power, and there’s no built-in restriction that would take it away (say, it only works a certain number of times, and then doesn’t function again), they can keep it.
When my character Echoes back something big or important, does it come back fully functional?
Typically, no. Big or complicated things, like special forms or giant robots, don’t come fully-equipped. It may take several Echoes to restore their power. So a character that transforms might get the new form, but not any of the special attacks it had. Or a character with a mecha might get it back, but not its special fuel source, or its weapons. Future Echoes can affect the object or form that’s been Echoed back as if they were an extension of the character. Things like new powers or equipment for such things don’t necessarily need to be big Echoes again - a lower-tier Echo can return a weapon or system to a robot, or a single power to a special form.
My character has a special form that prevents them from being identified as their civilian self! That still functions, right?
It will... but it needs to be Echoed back, first. It won’t come with the form. Of course, if you’re okay with your character being identified, that’s an Echo you need not apply to that property.
In my character’s canon, more than one person shares an item or pet. Who can Echo it back?
That depends on whose item it actually is. If a specific person owns it and it spends most of its time with that person, then that character is the one that can Echo it back. If the item is shared by multiple people and frequently changes hands, anyone that regularly handles it can Echo it back. Echoes can’t create more than one of the same thing if they didn’t exist before; if someone else has already Echoed back the thing your character wants, those characters will need to share it. If it was Echoed back by a character that’s since been dropped and didn’t disappear with them, contact either the player of the current owner, or us; something can probably be arranged.
PLAYING THE GAME
What will I be doing most of the time?
Raise the Earth is a game with a heavy overarching plot, but one that is also heavily player-driven. Much like an average tabletop role-playing game, while the mods have a roadmap for how the game will run, player actions will dictate how things unfold. What this means is that characters have a lot of freedom to do the kinds of things they want, and even small things can affect the story. There’s room for adventure, in exploring the areas damaged by the invasion and seeing the world; there’s space for battle, fighting against animals, possibly other characters, and threats the plot provides; and there’s plenty of space for light slice-of-life moments. The Network isn’t restricted to serious use only, in any way. Ask questions, make plans, form bonds, do research, and generally mingle with people - it’s a great way to get to know your fellow Numbered, and sometimes, even things like this can affect the game on the whole.
That said, while plot is ever-present and will often wait for players to engage it, reincarnates are still normal people that need to make a living. They may have jobs, go to school or university, travel from place to place, or even roam aimlessly. They might want company, to talk to people, to share what’s on their mind. There’s more to life, even after the invasion, than just conflict and hardship. Characters will have plenty of free time to live their lives how they see fit.
Player-driven? How’s that work?
Large portions of the plot are directly affected by player actions. People, places, and things may be important, and while sometimes that information will be somehow handed to the reincarnates, often it’ll take research, or interaction, or exploration. Searching a cave might yield clues to the greater picture. Talking to an NPC might make them more sympathetic toward the Numbered in the future. The random gem that fell from the sky might have some important purpose. Plot threads exist to be explored, and that’s perhaps even more true in Raise the Earth than other games, because if a plot thread is left unexplored, it may drop itself, or find another way to advance the plot that the characters might not have intended. And yet, sometimes the characters may decide that a given opportunity isn’t worth exploring, and that’s fair, too. But don’t be surprised when the thing all the reincarnates ignored suddenly comes back to bite them.
What about player plots?
Oh, we love those! If you have something relatively small, go ahead and run it whenever you want - we’ll try not to get in your way, although if we had something pretty big planned already, we’ll try to let you know so you can prepare yourself. Sometimes mod plots don’t interact well with player plots.
Have something larger in mind? Shout at us, and we’ll see if we can figure out a place to work you in, or maybe some way we can help things go smoothly. Or perhaps more chaotically, if that’s the feel you’re looking for.
My character is good-aligned! What kinds of things do you have for them to do?
Much like Save the Earth before it, this game is going to be a great place for heroic-types to shine, as they help to rebuild the world. There will be monsters to vanquish, cities to reestablish, diplomacy to be conducted, minor aid to be given… there’s a lot of work to be done, and a wide variety of ways to go about it. Lights that shine brightly in the darkness attract all kinds, both the good… and the not so good. Together, the Numbered can rise up against the challenges of the world and make it a better place for everyone.
My character is significantly less well-intentioned than that! What kinds of things do you have for them to do?
Part of the environment Raise the Earth will open into is that the world at large, in a real way, blames the Numbered for what’s happened to their planet. None of this would have happened if not for the pink lights, and the aliens, and the crazy powers. And when a person feels like the world is out to get him... sometimes, they want to return the favor. In the post-invasion world, there’s room for new powers to rise, and given the benefits of being Numbered, even relatively minor powers will attract notice quickly. The nations of the world will be slow to go to battle after many have just suffered such catastrophic damage, which will raise tensions, but also give time for the void to be filled.
Of course, there are also trinkets to be stolen, people to be scammed, and even other Numbered to accost. Find a path to power, and seize what the Earth has given so graciously.
ACTIVITY, HIATUS, DROPS, AND RE-APPS
What’s the activity requirement?
It’s pretty simple! You need ten comments split between at least two threads in a month. You can use threads from prior months, so long as there are comments from this month in the thread that count. You can use at most one thread from a place other than the game community; this usually means an inbox post in a character’s journal. Unless specifically stated otherwise, meme threads can’t be used for activity checks.
I need to take a break. Can I go on hiatus?
You can take a hiatus with one or more characters whenever you need to; please comment to the hiatus post with a character journal, or ask someone else to leave a comment for you if something happens and you can’t get to it. A hiatus of at least seven days in the same month is enough to excuse an activity check. But be mindful - we do watch how hiatuses are used on activity checks, and a hiatus can’t excuse you from two checks in a row. If you were on hiatus for a given month and can’t provide activity the month after, you have to take a strike (see below). By default, characters on hiatus act like dropped characters; they don’t remember anything about the network or abnormal things they did while Numbered, and their Echoes disappear. Alternately, you can provide information on what the character’s doing while you’re gone.
I can’t make activity this month!
Calm down, you’re not in too much trouble. If you can’t make activity, you can take a strike instead. While a character has a strike, they’re on the bubble - failing activity again drops them from the game automatically. You need to provide normal activity the month after you receive the strike to stay in the game, but once that time goes by, the strike clears. If a character is dropped by the activity check and had a strike, the strike needs to clear before that character can be applied for by that player again - that happens automatically a month after they were dropped by activity.
I know I took a strike this month, but I want to play a new character!
As long as you have a strike, you can’t apply for new characters, or for any of your own characters that you want to re-apply for. Clear activity with the character(s) that has a strike to clear them, then submit your application.
What happens to a dropped character?
No matter the reason, when a character is dropped, that character loses their Echoes and becomes mundane again. They can’t access the network, and they have no memories of the weird things that happened while they were Numbered, like battles and network conversations. All of their Echoed items and powers disappear; large Echoes that can’t readily disappear stay around, but aren’t connected to a character anymore. If the same player picks up that character again, everything comes rushing back. If a different player picks up the character, creating a new reincarnate, big things will link to that version when they would Echo such things back, and everything else starts from scratch.
I want to drop my character and I won’t be coming back to them. Is there a more permanent way to leave?
If you would rather your character not be part of the setting anymore, the easiest way is for them to be killed; dead Numbered leave their Echoes behind, but there’s no revival mechanic. A dead character is gone for good, barring the intervention of other characters. If you have an idea for how to handle it, let us know, or feel free to run such a plot yourself. If you don’t have any ideas but don’t want your character to stick around, feel free to ask us; the plot always has room for a missing person, or a mysterious murder.
I want my character back! How do I re-apply?
Great! So long as nobody else has picked up your character in your absence, and you’re not still waiting out an activity strike, we’ll be glad to have you back. Your old application can be used again; if your character’s changed notably since then, please add to (or update) the relevant sections to bring them up to speed. If someone else is playing the same preincarnation, or you had your character killed when you left, you’re out of luck. Sorry!
Do I get any more Echoes when I re-apply?
Characters that aren’t Numbered when plot would give them an Echo don’t get any they were gone for. If your character is coming back at a time when an event would give them an Echo, they can get that Echo as they re-apply.
RETURNING PLAYERS
What's changed (other than plot) from Save the Earth?
A fair bit, but we think you'll get the hang of things pretty quickly. Some of the highlights:
- Characters aren't restricted to the Echo barriers anymore! You can go more or less wherever you want, and there's no risk of losing Echoes for traveling. That means characters can originate anywhere, and there’s a lot more room to roam.
- You can request a list of Echoes for a conversation or event in advance, even if you don't end up using all of them! This helps you keep things flowing; you don't have to wait for us to clear your Echoes before you keep letting things happen organically, and we know in advance what you're going for so we don't have to keep tabs on two-month-old threads quite so often.
- Activity requirements are smaller! You only need two or more threads totaling at least ten comments each month.
- Strikes clear faster! They only last one month before they fall off, so taking a strike doesn’t hurt as much. But, you can’t submit applications while you have one.
Should I think of this as Season 3 of Save the Earth, or as something new entirely?
The state of the world has changed a lot since the first game; while it’s still the same setting and the same principle, Raise the Earth is going to feel a little different. Rather than another season, it might be better to think about this game as a sequel with a new director. The cast is the same, and there are a lot of words that sound familiar, but things are different under the hood.
Do I need to re-write my application?
Not entirely. For prior Numbered, we've got a different application. You'll link to your old application, and then there are a few new things we'll ask you to fill out. If you didn't have an HMD in your journal, you'll need one now, and you'll need to have your info post up to date with all the Echoes they had when Save the Earth ended. The re-application rules apply; if your character is substantially different from what’s in your application, it should be updated with information on how they are now.
What happened to the network?
All old posts are still there! They can be reviewed by characters, or linked in newer posts. But they’re closed to comment by the time Raise the Earth starts for whatever reason, even to the character that originally posted them. (This means nothing done in the old game community will ever count toward AC for this game!)
Do I get any more Echoes?
Yes! Each returning character gets up to two more Echoes; they’re plot Echoes unless you have ideas to make them recurrences. Don’t submit them on the Echoes page - just put them in your application, and add them to your info post once they’re cleared.
I did stuff in the between-games musebox and I got Echoes! What do I do with those?
Those count toward your returning Echoes; please add them to your info post. If you got more than two, you won’t get any more when you apply in. Please mention Echoes received there in your application!
I already burned all my plot Echoes for easy stuff like vermini and doppelgangers in the first game! Am I still getting plot Echoes for things?
We’ll have more things to give you Echoes for, don’t worry. But it’ll probably help that we’re resetting all of those triggers; for example, vermini will give a new plot Echo the first time a character meets one in Raise the Earth, even if they got an Echo from one in Save the Earth already. If a plot trigger can only be met by certain reincarnates, or has a trigger limit, we’ll let you know on the plot post we announce it on. But in general, expect to have a fair number of early Echo opportunities, just as in Save the Earth.
My character lived in Locke City or Las Vegas before. Can they stay there? Where can they go?
Characters can stay in Locke City, but it's not a good idea - it's badly damaged from the invasion, and it's also well-known as the former Numbered hotspot, so it's a popular place to go looking for trouble among those that have a bone to pick. Las Vegas was razed to the ground, so your character will need to find somewhere else to be if that was their home before. As the game opens, the Numbered refuge Shepherd’s Haven is operational and always an option to Numbered characters; it’s intended as a base location where characters can readily gather and be reasonably safe against threats from without.
That said, the whole world is open now, since the Echo barriers are down - characters need not stay together, although plotting becomes much simpler if there are groups in various places. The old teleporter that was in Willow Ridge was destroyed, but has been replaced with new ways of getting around. Please see the Locations page for more details!
My character had a doppelganger that survived the invasion! Can they still come back?
Absolutely! When Silent Swan returned to sleep, the doppelgangers weren't affected - they can still roam the earth, and no longer have a compulsion to return to the castle. Doppelgangers are treated as NPCs; they share a character slot with the Numbered they're created from. They can be reclaimed anytime; you need only fill out the reclaim form with their information, replacing the preincarnation with the "original's" name. Doppelgangers need their own journals for Raise the Earth - they can't share with the base Numbered anymore.
ASKING QUESTIONS
I don’t want to air my question in public. Can I ask it somewhere else?
We have a mod contact page for that; comments are screened. Please also direct questions or concerns about other players there, rather than the FAQ.
You have a Plurk account, right? Can I ask questions there?
You can (
You didn’t answer my question!
Comment to this post and we’ll see what we can do. Please be aware answers may take a little time; sometimes we need to reach a consensus on how to handle something before we can get back to you. If it’s been a few days and we haven’t gotten back to you (or your question is time-sensitive), feel free to comment again, or poke us on the contact page or one of our Plurk accounts.
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Premise
A year ago, the Numbered saved the Earth. When threatened, the embodiment of the Earth itself awakened the powers of their previous lives, and together, they staved off an invasion that would have wiped out all life on the planet. Thanks to them, and the power of the Earth's guardians, the nations of the world have a chance to rebuild. Once confined to echo boundaries, the Numbered can now exist all over the world, with more and more awakening as time goes on.
But the story is not yet over.
Some members of the public, unknowing of the true role the Numbered played in determining Earth's fate, have turned their opinion against the Numbered, while others have come to look upon them with awe. Threats both old and new aim to take advantage of the vulnerable state society is in. And what's more, a new lifeform has appeared on the Earth in the form of unidentified microbes; their origins unknown, only that they come from "beyond". These threats await both old and new Numbered alike. And in the end, humanity's fate will be either to rise... or fall.
Raise the Earth is a panfandom AU game set in modern-day Earth, in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Characters are reincarnated from the souls of people from worlds long gone, and gain powers, items, and memories from their "preincarnations". The game has a strong mod-run plot, with lots of space for player plots. RtE tends toward frequent action and opportunity for characters to investigate the world around them, but also leaves room for slice of life elements. Reserves open July 1st, and applications open July 8th; once they’re live, they’re kept open all the time. The game opens on July 25th!
But the story is not yet over.
Some members of the public, unknowing of the true role the Numbered played in determining Earth's fate, have turned their opinion against the Numbered, while others have come to look upon them with awe. Threats both old and new aim to take advantage of the vulnerable state society is in. And what's more, a new lifeform has appeared on the Earth in the form of unidentified microbes; their origins unknown, only that they come from "beyond". These threats await both old and new Numbered alike. And in the end, humanity's fate will be either to rise... or fall.
Raise the Earth is a panfandom AU game set in modern-day Earth, in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Characters are reincarnated from the souls of people from worlds long gone, and gain powers, items, and memories from their "preincarnations". The game has a strong mod-run plot, with lots of space for player plots. RtE tends toward frequent action and opportunity for characters to investigate the world around them, but also leaves room for slice of life elements. Reserves open July 1st, and applications open July 8th; once they’re live, they’re kept open all the time. The game opens on July 25th!
Entry tags:
Echo Requests
This is the page for requesting new Echoes for characters! Fill out the form below and comment to this post with it. You only need to fill out the player and character data once, but the rest should be filled out for each Echo you request. We’ll get back to you soon - please don’t invoke requested Echoes in gameplay until they’re approved!
Please remember that characters can only receive one Tier 2 Echo each calendar month; mark them on your info post so we can tell what’s going on. There's no limit on Tier 1 Echoes, so go wild! If you need to double check Echo rules and information, please review the Echo page first!
Please remember that characters can only receive one Tier 2 Echo each calendar month; mark them on your info post so we can tell what’s going on. There's no limit on Tier 1 Echoes, so go wild! If you need to double check Echo rules and information, please review the Echo page first!
Entry tags:
Echoes
Quite possibly the largest and most important mechanic in Raise the Earth, Echoes are the way characters regain abilities, items, and memories from their past selves. There are some limitations to how Echoes work, and some game information that might be handy to have, so this page will be all about Echoes and how they work. If you are requesting Echoes for a character, you’re in the wrong place - look here instead.
There are two main ways characters gain Echoes: recurrence and plot. The former is easier to explain, and always available: something happens to a character that calls back to their past life. It can be as mundane or as complicated as the situation warrants: seeing a particular sword the character’s past self was familiar with, or happening to be shot in exactly the right place, or even getting in a particular argument. These Echoes will always return something related to the trigger: the sword might return its brother blade, being shot might return some kind of regeneration ability, the argument might make a character spontaneously respond with a line from their past life.
The more complex and specific the recurrence is, the stronger the Echo. Echoes currently come in two tiers. Tier 1 Echoes turn loose a single memory, item, or power, and there’s a certain limit on how much can be returned. A short conversation, a signature phrase, a mundane object (or a magical one stripped of its power), an artifact unknown by anyone in the present age, a minor defiance of physics or reality. Tier 2 Echoes have more power, and can return something bigger, or can return two things. A passionate speech, many voices raised together, a significant object, a notable amount of power. If a Tier 1 Echo isn’t big enough to give something back, a Tier 2 might be enough. A given character can only have one Tier 2 Echo per month, unless a free Tier 2 Echo is given by the plot.
Plot Echoes are given by things with connections to the Earth Entity that gives characters their power. Many of these are beings or circumstances that are direct manifestations of the Earth’s collective will: the doppelgangers of Numbered created by Silent Swan, the mysterious wolpertinger, vermini and their larger cousins, and so on. But there may be other, less-obvious conditions that also grant Echoes. As a general rule, you'll be kept aware of what Echo opportunities will be available through plot posts at regular intervals. We'll let you know what chances and events are coming up, what kinds of characters will be affected, and what the rewards are.
Echoes are meant to give a character a connection to their past self, which means they can't give information about reincarnates themselves - a character won't just see the reincarnation of their original's best friend and immediately know who they are. But clues, like names and appearances, can help with that part. Items and powers can also go a long way. This can even allow characters that knew each other in their past lives to trigger Echoes repeatedly as they exchange knowledge.
Echoes a character already has can't trigger new Echoes by themselves. A character looking at his Echoed sword won't suddenly know its name out of nowhere - that has to come from some other place. Fur exception to this rule is if another character is familiar with an item someone else has, they can get Echoes to recognize it. However, in general, a given thing can only trigger a single Echo.
Certain Echoes are too large for this system to truly apply. One is special forms a character can take (or things that work similarly, like giant mecha) that might have multiple effects or sets of equipment. As a general rule, a Tier 2 Echo is needed for something complex like that, and only the base set of powers is returned. Special properties of the form, or things like spells and weapons, need to come in future Echoes, though the order is up to you, so long as all prerequisites are met for everything given.
And some specific Echoes are even larger. This category is reserved for huge, setting-establishing things that may not even necessarily belong to a single character. The first game included things like an Orbital Elevator (Mobile Suit Gundam 00) and the Heart Tree (Heartcatch Precure), massive objects that are important to how the setting works, and may have powers or additional useful items inside of their own (the Orbital Elevator, for example, had working mobile suits stationed). These items will need to be run past us before you even put in for them; they might need a particularly powerful plot Echo, or an annoyingly specific recurrence. However, we can help provide ways to make sure you get where you’re trying to go, so if you’ve got an idea, let us know!
Some Echoes can create secondary characters; examples are familiars in magical canons, or beloved pets. These characters will always start mundane, if they have special powers at all, and will recover additional powers by sharing their owner’s Echoes - that is, if the reincarnate would gain Echoes, they can shunt those Echoes over to give their secondary character an Echo instead. The reincarnate will still feel the sensation of an Echo, though. Note that characters made in this way are reincarnates in their own right; they need Echoes to get back the memories and powers of their old forms, and will only start with whatever memories (and properties) their mundane form had before it became special. Secondary characters with sentience can access the network; they share the Number of their owner. If a secondary character gains a fair amount of personality from Echoes and starts to take on a life of their own, we might ask you to submit a retroactive combo app, or consider splitting the second character off for someone else to play. Please detail pets and other secondary characters in your character’s info post!
Comments are disabled on this post - if you have questions, ask on the FAQ so we can make sure everyone sees them.
There are two main ways characters gain Echoes: recurrence and plot. The former is easier to explain, and always available: something happens to a character that calls back to their past life. It can be as mundane or as complicated as the situation warrants: seeing a particular sword the character’s past self was familiar with, or happening to be shot in exactly the right place, or even getting in a particular argument. These Echoes will always return something related to the trigger: the sword might return its brother blade, being shot might return some kind of regeneration ability, the argument might make a character spontaneously respond with a line from their past life.
The more complex and specific the recurrence is, the stronger the Echo. Echoes currently come in two tiers. Tier 1 Echoes turn loose a single memory, item, or power, and there’s a certain limit on how much can be returned. A short conversation, a signature phrase, a mundane object (or a magical one stripped of its power), an artifact unknown by anyone in the present age, a minor defiance of physics or reality. Tier 2 Echoes have more power, and can return something bigger, or can return two things. A passionate speech, many voices raised together, a significant object, a notable amount of power. If a Tier 1 Echo isn’t big enough to give something back, a Tier 2 might be enough. A given character can only have one Tier 2 Echo per month, unless a free Tier 2 Echo is given by the plot.
Plot Echoes are given by things with connections to the Earth Entity that gives characters their power. Many of these are beings or circumstances that are direct manifestations of the Earth’s collective will: the doppelgangers of Numbered created by Silent Swan, the mysterious wolpertinger, vermini and their larger cousins, and so on. But there may be other, less-obvious conditions that also grant Echoes. As a general rule, you'll be kept aware of what Echo opportunities will be available through plot posts at regular intervals. We'll let you know what chances and events are coming up, what kinds of characters will be affected, and what the rewards are.
Echoes are meant to give a character a connection to their past self, which means they can't give information about reincarnates themselves - a character won't just see the reincarnation of their original's best friend and immediately know who they are. But clues, like names and appearances, can help with that part. Items and powers can also go a long way. This can even allow characters that knew each other in their past lives to trigger Echoes repeatedly as they exchange knowledge.
Echoes a character already has can't trigger new Echoes by themselves. A character looking at his Echoed sword won't suddenly know its name out of nowhere - that has to come from some other place. Fur exception to this rule is if another character is familiar with an item someone else has, they can get Echoes to recognize it. However, in general, a given thing can only trigger a single Echo.
Certain Echoes are too large for this system to truly apply. One is special forms a character can take (or things that work similarly, like giant mecha) that might have multiple effects or sets of equipment. As a general rule, a Tier 2 Echo is needed for something complex like that, and only the base set of powers is returned. Special properties of the form, or things like spells and weapons, need to come in future Echoes, though the order is up to you, so long as all prerequisites are met for everything given.
And some specific Echoes are even larger. This category is reserved for huge, setting-establishing things that may not even necessarily belong to a single character. The first game included things like an Orbital Elevator (Mobile Suit Gundam 00) and the Heart Tree (Heartcatch Precure), massive objects that are important to how the setting works, and may have powers or additional useful items inside of their own (the Orbital Elevator, for example, had working mobile suits stationed). These items will need to be run past us before you even put in for them; they might need a particularly powerful plot Echo, or an annoyingly specific recurrence. However, we can help provide ways to make sure you get where you’re trying to go, so if you’ve got an idea, let us know!
Some Echoes can create secondary characters; examples are familiars in magical canons, or beloved pets. These characters will always start mundane, if they have special powers at all, and will recover additional powers by sharing their owner’s Echoes - that is, if the reincarnate would gain Echoes, they can shunt those Echoes over to give their secondary character an Echo instead. The reincarnate will still feel the sensation of an Echo, though. Note that characters made in this way are reincarnates in their own right; they need Echoes to get back the memories and powers of their old forms, and will only start with whatever memories (and properties) their mundane form had before it became special. Secondary characters with sentience can access the network; they share the Number of their owner. If a secondary character gains a fair amount of personality from Echoes and starts to take on a life of their own, we might ask you to submit a retroactive combo app, or consider splitting the second character off for someone else to play. Please detail pets and other secondary characters in your character’s info post!
Comments are disabled on this post - if you have questions, ask on the FAQ so we can make sure everyone sees them.