In the park, in the pond, underneath the murky water, lies a gate. It is old and rusted, the words Carpe Diem are printed across its metal spikes. Gold and silver koi swim around you, glittering creatures glistening through the dark. The gates creak open, and you are swooped in like a vacuum. Time seems to speed past you as you decend through the dark underwater tunnel. Then, all goes black, you wake up on a beach. A crow is sitting beside you. It's staring at you curiously. You scare it off, and it retreats into the woods that surround you. Scared and confused, you stand up but feel naseous. Where are you? You look to your left. There is a pier. An old carnival sits upon its rotting wood. You can see even from your distance that it is abandoned.

"There they are!"

You hear a voice behind you. You spin around, and come face to face with a gang of goons, four of them. They're dressed casually, but wear yellow vests and dark sunglasses. They have guns fastened to their belts, and things that look like tasers as well.

"The mayor would like to see you," one of them says, and reaches for their gun. They point it towards you. "You will come quietly."

After he pulls the trigger all goes dark. You fall fast asleep.

You awake in Pond Gates.

Pond Gates is not a place for the faint hearted. Even the air is cruel and smoggy. The resident mad scientist that lives up on the hill is always creating new "experiments," monstrosities that escape at an alarming rate. The highest form of live entertainment is the Big Top circus, that rests on the outskirts of town, right beside a tumbling building that the performers call home. Giant spiders the size of large dogs scurry through its falling walls, only to be taken down by the pistol of the ringleader. Electronics are a rarity, the sale and production are monopolized by money loving Anthony Dowd. But, don't worry, his daughter might give you a discount. The streets are lined with pubs, and there aren't many fine goods. Business in drug dealing is booming, the mayor's goons have more important things to take care of. Night comes quickly, and everyone bars their doors to keep safe. Blood thirsty things haunt the streets when the lights go out. The woods are sweet and bright, a breath of fresh air where flowers bloom freely, but beware the witches.

Everyone is out for their best interest. Everyone just wants to survive. And here you find yourself, alone and clueless. Do you have what it takes to survive Pond Gates? Or will you find your way out? If there is one...


The Mayor: At the age of twenty-two, flowery and jubilant, the residents of Pond Gates often question the mayor's sexuality. That, however, is no question in his mind. He is absolutely infatuated with resident beauty Christina Dowd... if only she'd return his feelings. Like the diva he is, the mayor often hosts parties at his large victorian style home, featuring some of the strangest entertainment one could behold in Pond Gates. Everyone usually attends, although he doesn't have many friends. And why should he? It is because of him that most of them were dragged down to Pond Gates in the first place. How, they do not know... Some suspect they were drugged, others believe they were hypnotized and wisked away to the world of smog and violence. They are near sure, however, that he, his goons, and the scientist are the only ones who know how to get back to the surface world.

Anthony Dowd (Harta): Anthony Dowd woke up in Pond Gates five years ago with his daughter Christina Dowd. Because he was a successful businessman, the mayor encouraged Anthony to start Dowd Industries, where electronics are produced and sold, in order to raise the moral of the citizens and to provide jobs. The pay was good, and Dowd soon became the second richest man in Pond Gates. Though his products are sold at a ridiculous price, business is still good since Dowd Industries is the only place to (legally) purchase electronics. ((Edit: Has a younger daughter as well, who is a new arrival to Pond Gates. Daughter will be played by me.))

Christina Dowd: Bold, brave, and fierce, Christina Dowd is the eighteen year old daughter of Anthony Dowd. Behind her father's back she smuggles away electronics made by Dowd Industries and sells them at more reasonable prices to the citizens of Pond Gates. She's cunning and skilled at bargaining, getting her money's worth. She could, after all, get arrested for her treachery. Though, the mayor might not be able to stand seeing his "darling" behind bars, she wouldn't might standing behind bars to avoid seeing the mayor. ((Edit: Has a younger sister as well, who is a new arrival to Pond Gates. Sister will be played by me.))

The Ringleader: He's a tenant, he's a ringleader, he's a lion tamer, he's a marksman, and he sure is good-looking. Meet the young and handsome ringleader of Big Top Circus. One of the friendliest people you'll meet in Pond Gates (excluding the Strongman, he's just a darn softy), the ringleader is a knight in shining armor to many. New arrivals to Pond Gates can often find rooms to board at the Big Top's housing complex, free of charge. A giant Wolf Spider invades your room? No problem, he'll be in there at your first yelp and take it down with a blow from his father's silver pistol. Need someone to talk too... well he might be a little busy saving the day, but just go into his office where you'll find his talking pet fish, Hobble. You'll have a jolly good chat, guarantee.

The Carnies: (One Claimable Spot) They might be creepy, but you get used to the abnormal when you live in Pond Gates. The carnies consist of the Strongman, who can lift seven times his own body weight, Rubberband, a woman who can bend her body in a rather... bendy (groteque) fashion and is a high flying, tightrope walking daredevil, and Lizard Face, half-man/half-lizard firebreather and sword swallower. Don't be scared of them, they're actually quite nice, and would be happy to welcome you into their home at the Big Top.

The Mad Scientist (Harta): The mad scientist himself is shrouded in mystery. They say he's the one who invented the drug used to wisk people away to Pond Gates. They even say he's the one who invented the portal between the two worlds. No one really knows, because he usually remains in his house on the top of the hill. What they do know is that he lets his creations run amuk through the town, leaving devastation in their wake. Why isn't he arrested then? Well, because he's just too important to the mayor's business. Seriously, without him, where would be Pond Gates?

The Witches:(Two Claimable Spots) The woods are bright and filled with the scent of sweet honey and nectar. It's a place where the residents of the town dream of venturing into, but fear what lies behind its false exterior. The woods aren't nearly as beautiful as they appear. It is a spell, casted upon it by the three sisters who inhabit the forest. The witches (-1). They lure young maidens into the lush wonderland, eat out their hearts and soak in their blood to remain youthful. So, experience your few moments of bliss... if you dare.

The Ox: The most humanoid monster that roams the streets at night. Residents believe he used to be assistant to the scientist, until something went horribly wrong. He now has a head twice its regular size, with a bone plate across his forehead, open red welts, glowing eyes, elongated dagger-like canines, and bulging arms that could rip you to shreds. He has a nose ring that stretches across his nostrils like an ox, and is always seen carrying a loaded shotgun.

The Goons:(Three Claimable Spots) There isn't much to say about the goons. There are four of them, three men (-1) and one woman. They are henchmen to the mayor. They're the ones who frequently travel to the surface world and bring back unsuspecting victims and patrol the beach for arrivals that might have washed ashore.

• New arrivals to Pond Gates have nothing but the clothes on their backs. No weapons, nothing linking you to the surface world.
• Most everything in Pond Gates is homemade. The only large manufacturing plant is Dowd Industries.
• There is a lot of empty housing in Pond Gates. But, first you should find a cheap place to board, then quickly find a job or make use of your crafts.
• Pond Gates has no certain age or origin.
• The mayor is chosen through inheritance, not election.
• While the monsters that the scientist creates are fierce, there are a lot of natural predators to look out for. Wolf Spiders, for one, are native to Pond Gates and are the size of a large dog.
• Darkness in Pond Gates sets in at around seven. Most everyone makes sure they are off the streets by then and safe inside their houses.
• There are many pubs around Pond Gates, and a lot of residents generally belong to a rough crowd. There is no drinking age. And anyone can purchase firearms and weapons.
• No one really knows how they wound up in Pond Gates. They do sometimes remember their life before arriving in Pond Gates, but memory loss it common.
• There are some surface world animals in Pond Gates as well. Wild fowl, wild horses, boars, and serpents inhabit the woods outside of Pond Gates. They're good for hunting, and the horses for transportation, but many are afraid to venture into the forest to find them.
• People in Pond Gates grow their own food, though the soil is not the best for gardening. One could purchase genetically altered vegetables and fruits from the scientist... but then again you might develop strange sideaffects.
• The most common mode of transportation around Pond Gates is by foot. Few own horses and the mayor travels by rickshaw.
• In Pond Gates there is only Pond Gates. You can only travel so far into the woods and mountains before you're right back where you started.
• No one in Pond Gates lives there by choice. Everyone was either kidnapped and taken there or born in Pond Gates.
• Citizens drink well water or purchase it from the store.
• Regular US currency is used in Pond Gates (most of which is stolen by the "goons" [henchmen as they like to call themselves]). The most common form of currency is one dollar bills, then quarters, dimes, five dollar bills, tens, then twenties. The amount of money circulating through Pond Gates is based on population. The average family doesn't make much, but prices are relatively cheap. To give you an idea, a loaf of bread is seventy-five cents, an egg is a quarter, vegetables are usually a dollar a pound, and a whole baked chicken is three dollars. Cheap clothing is around 3 dollars a garment. Expensive clothing can range between 10-50 dollars. Weapons are usually pricier, cheap ones are around 5-10 dollars, the most expensive ones can range from 50-200 dollars. Small livestock is about 50 dollars per purchase. A horse (if you're lucky enough to even get to buy one) is around 500 dollars. Most citizens make around fifteen dollars a week, the lucky ones maybe get twenty, and a majority of that is spent on necessities. Citizens, however, don't have to pay taxes (whoopdy-doo!).
• If you are a new arrival, the mayor will send his goons to find you. They will take you to City Hall where the mayor will tell you briefly about where you are and about the laws of Pond Gates. After that you're own your own. Best of luck.

Name:
Age: 16-30 (Unless NPC)
Gender:
I've been a Pond Gates resident for: (How many years have you lived in Pond Gates?)
Profession: (How do you make a living?)

Personality:
Skills:

Before the Gates: (What is your history before you arrived in Pond Gates?)
After the Gates: (What have you been doing since arrival in Pond Gates?)

Weapons/Equipment:
Appearance: (Picture is mandatory. Anime. Please include a thumbnail as well)