American Legend OOC

[Treize Khushrenada]

A land of mystery, superstition and loneliness, the United States in the year 1852 was a place of varying landscapes and viewpoints and unparalleled opportunity for discovery. While tensions brew between the states on a number of issues, most citizens find their only interest in living day to day, while others turn a prospective eye to the unknown western frontier. In a land where a servant can become an industrial king, conflicts are abundant between all classes as everyone tries to stay afloat while standing on the shoulders of those down below.

But a number of mysterious events across the nation prompt a new journey that will make legends of average men, and gods of legends. As a secret is uncovered in the Gold Rush of '49, those with certain mystical knowledge will make a mad dash for their prize when the time is ripe for their right to carve their names forever across the monuments of history and plunge headfirst into the powerful depths of an arcana that slept within the foundations of the continent since prehistoric times.

Will you become and American Legend?

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The available races for play are as follows: White (of Southern or Northern European ancestry), Black (African or Caribbean), Native Americans (Eastern or Western) and Mexican, with limited immigrants from other locations (as approved).

As magic will be a thriving but subtle force in this roleplay, there are a number of valid sources your characters can draw this power from: Christian-influences, Voodoo, Native American (animalistic, naturalistic) or carnival psychic (telepathic or telekinetic).

All players who want to take part in this game, please post a profile here and wait for it to be approved. I know it's a hassle, but for a game like this I'd like to make sure that all characters would fit well for the story.

The profile should appear in the format as followed:

Name:
Age:
Race:
Appearance:
Occupation:
History:
Magic source (if any):

Thanks, and I hope you all enjoy. Feel free to start your character from any point within the United States once you get playing. Again, realism will be striven for within this roleplay, so keep that in mind when creating your characters.

[Kouketsu]

Name: Isaac Q. Williamson
Age: 23
Race: White

Appearance: Typically spotted with a grin and a wink, the fast-living cowboy wears a nearly stock-standard traditional garb of the occupation. Pointed-toe cowboy boots equipped with spurs on the outside of each sit snug on both feet while he sports tight deerskin gloves cut off at the fingertips on both hands. A pair of the newly-introduced denim jeans picked up on a ride through Californian territory can always be seen paired with a worn and loose brown shirt. And naturally all the final elements are all present, the wide-brimmed grey-hued cowboy hat, the red bandanna about his neck, the lariat looped carefully to hang at his left hip, and finally the holstered pistol sittin' tight on his right hip beside his knife.

Occupation: Good ol' American cowboy

History: Born and raised with somethin' of a northern tongue in south Delaware, it wasn't until a New England merchant ship came back from traveling to the south and making exploration into Californian territory that Isaac had his first experience with the authentic Mexican ranch-hands, a group of three that traveled back to establish trade with the northeastern colonies. They 'emselves 'vaqueros' and still bein' a youth of some kind, Isaac quickly fell in over his head with a dream to follow that same path, to ride the equines and traverse the country with a rifle in one hand and a prod in the other, earning his daily bread the hard man's way.

In 1848, with the end of the Mexican-American war, many of the Mexican vaquero traditions became intermingled with particular American customs and Victorian-England values, all of which left a considerable impact on the young Isaac. Makin' his way by the Santa Fe Trail with the early merchants, the youngster finally found himself a home in the ranges of the ol' American southwest. Being trained by Mestizo cowboys interested in his abundance of enthusiasm and his bold and daring dreams of a kind of unique cowboy glory that would later typify the stereotypical "Wild Western Heroes" of American folklore, Isaac quickly became damn good in the ways of the southwestern ranch-hands, capable of herding and rustling cattle like no boy you ain't ever done seen.

As those in the Northeast were beginning to acquire a taste for southwestern beef, Isaac was given his first charger, a beautiful brown steed that could take the horizon like it was an ell. But now in his journeys throughout the new American frontier, Isaac has begun to come across the kinds of things he never witnessed growin' up in Delaware, the likes of indentured peoples and talk of gold, in addition to the opportunities he's only dreamt of in wanting to fulfill his fantasies of becomin' the greatest American cowhand that ever lived.

Magic source (if any): While training beneath the Mestizo cowboys in the southwest, Isaac was privy to the enchantments of the Native American peoples, gaining something of an understanding for their unique brand of mysticism and the truth behind its existence. While he might not know it yet, one particular night in which he stumbled upon a tribe-only ceremony by nightfire, a certain gift was bestowed upon him, a sense unlike any other, the ability to detect the location of a particular wealth of fortune..

[Treize Khushrenada]

Name: Marcus Cain

Age: 62 years of age

Race: White (Northern European descent)

Appearance: Standing about average height with the average build for his age, Marcus Cain is the very vision of the Southern gentleman. His white hair is kept at medium length, swept back and framing a congenial, well-sculpted face. Those smiling blue eyes look upon the tense world with seeming amusement, the smile on his lips guarded by the neatly trimmed mustache. A goatee of the same snowy hue finishes off the effect of the most congenial face.

He is always seen wearing either a white or beige suit to keep away the heat of a beating sun, and a wide-brimmed straw hat for the same effect. He is very rarely seen without his white cane, more for ornament than necessity.

Occupation: North Carolinian plantation owner

History: Having inherited the White Hall Plantation from his father at the rather late age of forty, due to the old man's timely and glorious demise in the Black Hawk War, Marcus Cain was the very definition of starting late. Bored after forty years of plantation life, he hurried off at the first rumor of a major war and found himself in charge of a cavalry troop in the Mexican-American conflict of 1845. Returning a decorated war hero, he was much dismayed to find that during his absence his wife, Charlotte Cain, had died of fever.

He took up his place once more as overseer of the plantation with the help of his son Avory, who very soon went to Washington to pursue a career in politics. Left alone with his trusted slave-attendant Cuff and the other plantation slaves, Marcus Cain has since led a seemingly quiet life, though his web of connections seem to run deep. Some say he's even well acquainted with the new President McKinley.

Magic source (if any): Now what would an old man need magic for?

[Nils]

Name: Leoben "Mac" Mackenzie
Age: 40
Race: Northern European

Appearance: Mackenzie is stocky and robust, his face perpetually ruddy. He has a shock of curly flyaway orange hair, and his thick mustache and short beard is often in the same state of disarray. His eyebrows are often knotted in concentration casting shadows over his green eyes. His attire consists of work clothes: a flannel shirt, leather vest, plain trousers, and heavy boots, although when the need presents itself, he can be seen in a fraying brown suit.

Occupation: Inventor

History: Mackenzie is an independent inventor with an increasing focus on railroad technology. Since 1850 when the U.S. government granted 2.6 million acres of federal land to build the Illinois Central Railroad from Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico, Mackenzie was head-hunted a year later by the Illinois General Assembly to oversee parts of it.

In order to accept the job, Mackenzie left his wife Abigail and two children in New York with the intention of sending for them later once he gets settled in his new location, Chicago.

During his work, he has met a variety of people ranging from fellow inventors and engineers like himself to businessmen and speculators. The atmosphere of technological progress and its undertow of speculative immorality have made him question his motivations and the General Assembly's goals. Yet, his work is potentially lucrative, with the possibility of the construction of a transcontinental railroad in the future. Although the railroad is still a fledgling business, its expansion is fast and palpable. Though the lure of the gold rush drives others, Mackenzie knows, despite his questionable sources, that the real gold lies in locomotion technology.

Magic source (if any): None.

[Ralana]

Name: Mary Ann Riley Clark is her real name. Typically the woman goes by Riley, or by her wanted name, 'Angel'.
Age: 25
Race: White

Appearance: Long curly burgundy locks of hair, piercing ocean blue eyes, toned slender frame, 5 ft 5, and she various scars on her body. The most noticeable one is across her stomach, a large gash mark made by a sharp blade. She has another gash mark on her left cheek and one on the right side of her throat. She is still fairly young and is a very attractive woman. Many can also notice just by the way she moves and speaks that she lived in more civilized places.

Occupation: Bounty Hunter for the Devil, his associates and few mortals. Part-time serial killer/assassin.

History: Mary Ann was the middle child in a group of five born to the Clark's, a family of socialites in New York. Mr. Clark is one of the heads in the 'Bank of New York' and as thus had high expectations of his children. Mary was the only child who didn't meet such ones when she ran off at the tender age of sixteen with a local stable boy. Her family has considered the girl dead ever since...

The stable boy and the girl went out west to meet up with family the boy had out in California. There the two were married, started a ranch, and had two children. For seven years life was perfect for the couple, but of course as many American dreams it all can to a tragic end.

A gang, known as 'The Death Walkers' a group of outlaws known for their mass murders, robberies, black market workings, prostitution, and all sorts of illegal things. When they came across the large, isolated ranch they left no building standing, all the animals slaughtered, and only one barely breathing. Mary was lying in the dirt soaked in blood as the images of her family, her children, and her lover being tortured and murdered before her eyes. Their screams plagued her mind as she was slowly slipping towards death. The twenty something year old should have been thankful that she would finally rest and perhaps see her family once more in heaven, but instead she was angry. Hate flowed through her veins more than the blood that was leaking out into the ground. And in her dying breaths she cursed the men who did this to her before cursing God himself...

Then she should have died, but instead she felt someone turn her head softly. And there standing before her in the nicest black suit she had ever seen. Gently lifting her head the man softly whispered in her ear promising her eternal life, vengeance, and power if she only gave him her soul. Then a paper contract was suddenly in front of her face. She couldn't read the terms, but she could see the dotted line. The next moments were a blur other than the fact she ran a bloodied hand across the line. The deal was made.

Of course that man was none other than the Devil and as Mary was healed from her physical wounds he slowly filled her in on what she had gotten herself into. She had died that night, but then reborn into one of the Devil's own servants. He uses her for whatever task he deems while at the same time letting the woman do as she pleases.

Of course because of killing and torturing people in horrible ways Riley is a wanted woman. Though she is only known by the law as 'Angel'. They don't have a concrete description of her though.

Magic source (if any): The devil himself. Her powers will be revealed during play mostly, but here is a starting list.

She can regenerate, but the greater the wound the more she has to concentrate on its healing. If its something that can cause death she can't heal herself, but the devil can bring her back. She can teleport, but only herself. Riley is stronger, and more dexterous than an average human, but not super human.

If Riley is on holy ground she will become ill, and is weaker. Of course there are more weakness', but I don't want to say them all yet.

[Treize Khushrenada]

And silly me, I forgot to put a link to the IC thread for this game, so here you go:

http://www.roleplaygateway.com/american-legend-t7004.html

[Nils]

Oops, forgot about this! I thought we were supposed to wait for you to approve our character profiles before posting. So we can post now?

[Kouketsu]

POST POST POST.

And yes, I am quite literally only making this post to once again bring this story to the top of the fantasy forum again before it gets pushed to the 5th page.