CCS Magazine - Volume 1, Issue 1 by Kultivate Magazine

CCS MAGAZINE VOL 1, ISSUE 1

Welcome to CCS Life, the bastard child of Windlight Magazine, hijacked by the people of CCS, Community Combat System! As the winner of one magazine edition to be promoted by Windlight Magazine, auctioned off at the Mad Pea Celebrity Auction, we've decided to take Johannes1977 up on his very generous offer of creating our own personal magazine issue. The Mad Pea Celebrity Auction raised lindens to build a school for the beautiful children of Kenya, along with the Live & Learn Project, at the end of September. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0OGLODOuh0 People come into SL for many different reasons, and I've been honored to have the opportunity to meet some of those who have the desire to make a difference in the lives of RL people. There are many paths, and this is the path that many of us have chosen. In this issue we bring your RP and combat. Dark RP, light RP, eh, maybe not so much light RP, but hopefully fun RP... and combat. People tend to make a choice as to whether they are either RP or combat specific, but it seems to those of us who've been here the longest, that a good balance of both is most ideal.

I realize this is something quite different from what many of you are used to, but I hope that you enjoy and are entertained by what we do in the realm of dark rp, with the appreciation that we may be dark, but warm and caring behind the masks we wear, and fiercely supportive of one another. Stevie Basevi Poser Publisher & Editor in Chief 4

OUR POSSE

Belial Darwinian

Seren Gibbs Poser Publisher & Editor In Chief: Stevie Basevi

All of the great people in the world of CCS

Featured Contributors:

Photography~ Special Thanks

Suzanna Soyinka

Adius Darkstone

Dahlia Poliatevska

Elphame Resident

Adius Darkstone

Redbeauty Lytton Alisaundra Andel

Ishtar Heartsdale Jolene Merlin Metropolitan Resident

Cover Photography:

Nala Mistwalker

Elphame Resident

Alisaundra Andel Gamerexpert Resident Speed Delight Ambones Matterhorn Lucille32 Resident Rosemari Macalroy

Miyabi Scorpio Martine Serpente Ascilia Enoch Stormy Wilde Diageron Resident Ashley Lundquist Taryni Resident (Smith) 6

*Special thanks to Dahlia P oliatevska for your incredible grasp of the English language and for keeping me from pulling my hair out. Stevie*

THE HISTORY OF COLA & CCS ARTICLE BY SUZANNA SOYINKA, CREATOR OF CCS

In June of 2006, I had been in Second Life almost a year, most of what I found in Second Life at the time were dance clubs, sex clubs and shopping. I had a few products I’d designed and was selling as well but I felt like Second Life could be more than a game of keeping score by your Linden Dollar balance or how much naked sexy time you were spending with other people. I had always been a role player going back as far as the late 90’s in AOL Chat Rooms, and I had an intense interest in game design since around that time as well. I’d done some work on Quake 2 Mods and Unreal Tournament Mods, as well as having done a few mods for Morrowind, so I applied a lot of the previous selfeducation to what I knew of Second Life by taking an idea I had been working on in the Unreal 3 Engine, called City of the Fall, to Second Life, and building the City of Lost Angels as a central destination for dark role play in Second Life. In September of 2006, I opened the community to the public. And within a week or so the people joining it expressed an interest in meter based regulated combat to resolve combat disputes, at the time, I had no system prepared for that, so we used a previously existing safe zone damage 14

system called RCS, which was effective for small scale engagements but given the simulator environment at the time, with the sim full almost constantly, it had its limitations, also the designer of that system was not very receptive to the idea of making improvements or special adaptations for large user communities. So by mid October of 2006, Dimentox Travanti…who at that time, was a member of the CoLA community, suggested I allow him to design a custom combat system for CoLA, and within a few weeks the first version of DCS was born, originally known as the “Dark Combat System”, Dimentox and I worked together to build the meter around the idea of role play combat with levels and minor skill increases. DCS in its original form was 100% script based and used script caching to store the user data and suffice it to say was notoriously buggy and constantly lost levels for players when they crashed or otherwise had Second Life connection issues…and in an extremely overloaded mainland sim (CoLA started out in the mainland sim of Satellite), these crashes and issues were fairly regular. I consistently maintained that database storage of data was the only way to get around these issues and Dimentox told me multiple times it was impossible even though I knew it wasn’t.

In November of 2006, Dimentox the code base in the spirit of an open decided to discontinue the usage of source development initiative we had DCS in CoLA due to a difference in given a brief run to attempt to better opinion on the movement of the CoLA the system for all our users, community to the Toxia estate which repurposed the entire code base for he and his wife had bought. So Jora their own use and renamed it to Welesa came forward with a meter another system entirely. During this code project they had been working period I ended up taking 100% on and between Jora and I, we ownership of the CCS copyright for created the first version of CCS, which the purposes of fighting an extended was the first role play combat system legal battle due to Linden Labâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal in Second Life to feature full database inability to address DMCA issues support, full character management beyond claim and counter claim. and design of stats and skills with levels. It was basically a simple In 2011, Melanie Milland got involved adaptation of the game industry with the CCS project and helped us standard RPG character/game system move the system to its eventual 1.0 used in many other games, but for the version, after many years in service first time in Second Life, a metered already, Melanie brought a lot of gaming system was applying all those advanced system development to the facets and successfully passing the meter itself and helped re-write the constantly changing data back and entire code base Jora and I had been forth between in world meters and a hacking together for almost four years primary data server that was hosted at that point. Also in 2011, the outside of Second Life. It was, in its copyright issue resolved when one of time, something of an achievement, the primary contributors to the though now, in 2015, it is quite system that was in violation, removed literally a standard of all the systems the bogus system from the grid that have been brought to Second Life entirely, reached a legal agreement since CCS was created. with me on the issue, and replaced it with a system that was 100% original Jora and I managed CCS together until code. early 2008, when real life began demanding too much of Joraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time, it Throughout the years between 2006 was around this time we experienced to 2015, CCS has managed the gaming a major copyright issue in of which a services for hundreds of Second Life person who had been given access to role play communities of all 15

SO WHAT IS CCS?

So what exactly is CCS? Good question, and for an answer, I went to Martine Serpente to see if she could explain it plainly for us, and this is what she told me: CCS is a metered gaming system. It involves both role play and a meter for solving disputes. One can also sometimes role play the fight of course, but CCS can be used to solve it under the rules at any time. Depending on the sim you might be using swords or guns generally to fight it out. Some can be heavy on either, but many prefer swords and up close and personal battles. There are those who use it like a gaming fight system, then some tend to role play far more heavily outside of the arena. Role playing is coming up with a character, as if in a play, but playing that character. You are not your character, and your character is not you of course, though both may have things in common. It is very important to recall the difference between in character and out of character. In character, you can say whatever you please, but out of character you must not insult others. It's fine to say horrible things about another character, but not another person. We differentiate this by speaking out of character in brackets (like this) or with a tool for that sort of thing. In character is generally considered everything else in chat. Those that are heavier on Role Play generally use the meter as an enhancement and not as the game itself. This is not the same as a computer RPG as they tend to play out entire stories and long term friendships and the like in text. Conflicts can also be played out via role play, but at any time one can go to the meter, which supersedes this. There are ten different races, and four different classes. Vampire, lycan, neko, demon, angel, undead, humans, cyborgs, fey, and supernatural.

Supernaturals are rather the wide variety class. As a supernatural, you might be some odd mix, humans with powers, or anything that does not fit into one of the other races. All but cyborgs have a magical class, they instead get pleasurebot. The rest get a magical class, a healer class, a tank class, and a DPS class. Experience is gained via Role Play and the time spent doing it. You must be at your keys at all times while your meter is active, but being up and active and ready to role play at all times is one way that you get experience. Another is by handing in the role plays that you actually do for more experience. There are many ways to have adventures in CCS. Your character can have smaller personal ones, ones with a clan, and even participate in ones that are stories for all on the sim. Many of these adventures can help you to come up with more of a history for your character, as you play. Many stories tend to be open ended, and many can also be player driven.

Clans are groups of players. Many have a main sim that they play in and consider home. They might even rent property there. Those groups tend to be places where your character can join and fit in. Some are by race, and some by the intent of your character, for example, there are clans for vampires, clans for lycans, and then there are organizations like the City Guard, or a healer's guild, or even a whore house or tavern. Classes on CCS in general and on all sorts of role playing subjects, including race and how to get along in and out of character are given In several sims on a regular basis. Attendance and participation are also good for experience! Well said, Martine!

MESSER COMPANY: AN INSIDE LOOK

Messer Company was born as a thought in early summer of 2009. Creators, Niemack Saarinen and Stormy Wilde, realized that nearly all of the CCS melee weapons available to players at that time were katanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and nothing more. Considering the myriad of roleplay settings and environments available to people to play in, they realized that there was an entire genre without any realistic, appropriate weapon representation - urban post-apocalyptic. With that in mind they were able to gather a team, and in July of 2009 they began designing their first creation. With the urban post-apocalyptic theme in mind, they released the Messer Co. Combat Machete later that year. The weapon was an instant hit; and even six years later it is still one of the Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best sellers. Messer Co.has always prided itself on its 100% original creations made with painstaking detail. The Company maintains strict adherence to damage enhancement guidelines instilled by CCS to provide balanced, realistic, and aesthetically accurate weapons. All of the creations from Messer Co. are 100% original sculpt (for our older products) or mesh, complete with custom textures, some of which have been hand painted. Because of Messer Co.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strive for innovation, they developed the idea of auto-gore; something never before seen in a combat weapon in Second Life. Other weapons have the ability to select a bloody texture, but with autogore turned on (It is an optional feature) the weapon becomes bloodier as it is used. Auto-gore can be turned on, off, or kept on- as well as cleaned after each use. Another innovation is the CCS Dummy. This is not something entirely new to the CCS market, but the Messer Co. CCS Dummy has something no other training dummy has. It has the ability to be worn. Because of this people can wear the dummy while another player shoots, uses melee, and even skills on the dummy- all while the dummy records the damages. Most recently Messer Co. has taken the leap into healing furniture with the Hookah Healing Rug, as well as the Healing Pillows. The creation of the Healing Pillows has inspired the Company to branch out Messer Co. with a 22

with a new section of the Company named Messer Squared. Messer Squared will consist of any Messer creations that are not CCS compatible, and may be used as a way for the Company to keep the two product lines separate. Messer Squared will consist of accessory versions of Messer weapons, clothing accessories. and men's clothing- as well as a few furniture options. Look for updated weapons from Messer Company as the months progress, the aim is to have Messer Squared open in Spring 2016. WM

There are a great many sims connected to the CCS system, where a myriad of different cultures can be found. Some of our players speak English, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Greek, you name it, and we can probably find you a place to play where you will feel comfortable. The themes are also quite diverse and range anywhere from Post Apocalyptic to Desert Fantasy, to Basic Community, and everything in between, all brought together by our enjoyment of CCS. Some are heavy on RP, where others are heavy on Combat, and most anyone will be able to find a place to fit in. Here are just a few:



Lost Angels



Sanctuary



Carthage



Midnight Dreams



Sirius - Eclipsed



Vild



Dibella



Zandvoort



Apocalypse - Twist



Twilight Zone



Alexandreia



Vamps Nest



Deling City



Salvation Isle

Of course there are many more, but for the curious, we had a chance to speak with a few of the CCS sim owners, even snapped a few pictures to show a little of the diversity in style on the lands of Role Play and combat. Some gave us their stories and spoke a bit of the lives their players enjoy in their communities. 27

+++The End of the Beginning+++ +The Story of the City of Lost Angel's+ by Suzanna Soyinka 29

The conceit of the human race has always been its most curious aspect. It was the early part of the 21st Century, a century that had been much lauded in fiction and fantasy alike to be the next great Golden Age of humanity where all the ills of the world would be erased by technology and all of mankind would finally be working together for the greater good.

always represented, standing between humanity and the forces of evil, were politicized and refocused to try to stop the changes coming to the world. Fundamentalism rose up in the world like an uncontrollable fire. Wars and rumors of wars, terrorism, biological attacks, political pogroms and propaganda became the tools of the nations of the world. The differing idealisms fighting each other for dominance in a world that had gone far beyond the control of any of them.

Writers though, are often idealists. The 21st Century came, and the technology came with it. But instead of saving the world, it was compartmentalized and corporatized, The Old United States, in its copyrighted, registered, trademarked pursuance of fundamentalist policy and patented, and turned into the world wide, eventually overextended chains of the system that bound the itself, bogged down economically whole world into dependence upon it. under the weight of multiple wars in Much of the world fell under this new Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, North technology based domination without Korea and Venezuela, it became a even a single protest, but some of super power in name only. U.S. humanity resisted, some turning to currency became worthless on the logic, others to activism, but many international market, triggering major turned to religion. economic depressions world wide. Just as the Golden Age was supposed Religion, always a major facet of to dawn, it seemed that humanity human existence, came into was truly entering the next Dark Age. prominence again in the late 20th and early 21st Century through the The people of the Old United States unconscious rebellion of mankind eventually lost faith in their towards the vastly changing world of governments ability to recover from the new age. The old establishments its entrenched warfare and economic of Western and Eastern theology, and ruin, and did the only thing that was the spiritual safe zones they had left to them to do. Anarchy and 30

rebellion broke out all over the coun- human society had thrown aside the try. Plunging an already dark period of cloak of secrecy that had hidden them the nation into even darker times. The for so long, and were now starting to federal government had no resources openly show themselves in the new to call on to stop it, having committed darkness that mankind had created. nearly all its monetary resources and ninety percent of its military forces to Years of chaos ensued, with many its operations overseas, The White pitched battles in major cities all over House put out an order to the state the country. The Battle of Seattle, the police forces to quell the rebellions, Chicago Massacres, the Battle of New but met with little success as the state York, all of them sad and dark periods level law enforcement agencies had in the history of a once great nation, even less resources available than but none of them as dark and chaotic federal agencies had and the police as the Battle for Los Angeles. on the streets knew, in the end, where their loyalties truly were and It was in Los Angeles that the first much of them sided with the rebels vampire Coven openly rose to power themselves. among the battling factions of the city. Casting aside centuries of It was during the revolution within co-existence with humanity itself, the the United States that odd reports vampires of the city came together began cropping up, people coming up under the elder leadership of Suzanna missing, bodies being found drained Soyinka, an ancient vampires. of all their blood or horribly mutilated, strange cases of what The Elder, Born originally in the 11th appeared to be spontaneous Century in Novgorod, Russia, was combustion and of people apparently turned by a vampire of ancient killed with brutal biological weapons descent that was currently ensconced that immolated and melted the flesh in the Byzantine Church as a Greek and organs from their bones. Much of Orthodox Arch Bishop, at the age of this was originally written off as 30, and lived the next two centuries factions using unknown weaponry, in Pskov as a vampires, living amongst possibly stolen from top secret the populace and widely feared by federal labs, but that was not the the superstitious as a witch or case, the monsters of myth and demoness. Until 1238, when she fled legend, that had always carefully the Mongol invasion of the Kievan survived quietly under the surface of state in the 13th Century, and 31

traveled to Rhoda, Spain, where she lived quietly among the populace for nearly 600 years until immigrating to the United States under the guise of an expatriate member of the Spanish Royal Family, just after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand that began World War I. It was never investigated if she was involved in the assassination in some way.

that they didn't exist.

In the chaotic beginnings of the 21st Century, after the final deaths of several elder vampires in the pitched fighting between the rebels and the police and the military remnants and the gangs of Los Angeles, Suzanna finally rallied the Coven together to fight as its own force in the struggle for power and control of the city. The After establishing herself in the vampires were quite simply United States, Suzanna lived primarily unstoppable. Human forces were not in New York City, living a quiet but equipped to deal with them, gangs opulent lifestyle at the top of the were simply torn to shreds and left Rockefeller Tower Center, while hanging from the ceiling in pieces in investing her rather substantial their safe houses by vampire strike wealth in the pursuits of well known forces. Police and military forces were business tycoons of the time. subverted and turned or killed, over time, the vampires began to hammer During the aftermath of WWII, something close to a brutal and iron Suzanna moved to West Coast, to the fisted order out of the chaos that had growing cultural center of Los Angeles been tearing the city apart. where she met with other vampires of the area and eventually, after a few During these fights, challenges to decades of establishing her domitheir dominance that were not nance, formed the first Coven of human in origin started becoming vampires in the city. They did very apparent. Vampires and their thralls well in the growing prominence of the alike were being occasionally found, city as their work guiding the mutilated and torn to shreds in a way creativity within the newly estabthat could only be attributed to one lished industry of entertainment in kind of being, the Lycans, the age old Hollywood did a great deal for not nemesis of the vampire in myth and only making them a lot of money, but the silver screen, were also also advanced their agenda of somewhere in the city brutally ensuring humans knew about asserting their physical strengths vampires, but continued to believe against any that got in their way. 36

Humanity lost hope entirely. After nearly three decades of war, rebellion, and now monsters among them all. They fell back into a primitive, almost tribal state amongst the buildings and cities of their dominance in the world. Gangs and syndicates formed. Crime families and mafias took what territory they could and worked to attempt to bring the humans under their own control to attempt to survive in this brutal new world. The world of man was bleak and hopeless, a shadow of its former greatness, still in possession of much of its previous technology but unable to fully reproduce any of it, mankind, through religion, once again looked to heaven for release, and learned the harsh meaning of why its said "Be careful what you wish for."

ravenously, killing humans and immortals without care or preference, and the wars began again with all the factions fighting each other and the demons on all sides. During the onslaught, a great trump was sounded, and the skies caught aflame from horizon to horizon, and down from heaven came the Angels of God, bearing the flaming swords of justice and riding velocipedes into battle...flying through the skies with holy vengeance, they fell upon the demons, fighting them in a timeless battle between good and evil on the very streets of Earth itself.

Humanity raised its hands in supplication, crying out to be saved by the angels, taken up to heaven and saved by the Rapture, but the Angels In the summer of 2032, after it just passed them by, the fight already seemed the human race was between God and Lucifer having in its darkest hour, the Armageddon absolutely nothing to do with humans of religious prophecy began. The after all. Earth itself, passing through the tail of a massive comet named Wormwood, And now we stand in the thousand was enshrouded in several months of years of war, the world is a very near total darkness and burning different place, humans and vampires hydrocarbon fire and huge cometary and lycans and demons and angels fragments cascaded through the sky, and nekos and supernatural beings all blasting the cities and the landscapes fight for the future they want to make of the world and setting the them happen, in the Pacifica territory of the afire again. In the chaos that ensued, Confederated Republic of North the first gates from Hell opened and America, completely cut off in contact the demons poured through from the Central Badlands and the 37

Atlantica Territory, in the city now known only as Lost Angel's. How the story ends, will be told by those that live in these times...in the City of Lost Angels. Copyright Ă&#x201A;ÂŠ2006, 2007 - Angels Respite DBA All Rights Reserved Worldwide: http://www.cityoflostangels.biz/wiki/forum/viewthread.php? forum_id=27&thread_id=291&rowstart=0 Lost Angels is owned by Suzanna Soyinka. WM

ARCHAIC REDEMPTION BY: JOLENE MERLIN

When one enters COLA (City of Lost Angels) there are two things to be remembered. First, COLA is the CCS "Original G." Second, factions roam the streets, wreaking havoc.

These were not your typical undead such as Vampires, no this type of Undead race was intended for Zombie roleplay! But, zombies? Seriously?

Who would want to roleplay as a This is a little something about those character who essentially, all the factions: time, does nothing other than just shambling around going, What is Archaic Redemption, exactly? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brraaaaiiiiins!â&#x20AC;?... and, nothing else? I mean, that is essentially what the Archaic Redemption is, essentially the typical and classical Zombie is, right? epitome of Undead roleplay in CCS. This was where the ingenuity of Founded in the City of Lost Angels Tempest came in. She invented a new Roleplay regions by Tempest Ella in type of Undead, creating a new lore 2009, Archaic Redemption was and backstory around it and thus gave created to fill a gap that had been it Sentience. missing in Roleplay, specifically that of the Horror and gritty Torture Porn Zombies could now think for genres. themselves, speak for themselves, and through the consumption of flesh Up until its creation, most dark and living tissue, regenerate their roleplay regions focused on the more bodies for a short period time to look common races of myth and legend as normal as anyone who wasn't such as Vampires, Demons, dead. Next, she pushed the idea of Werewolves, Angels and Nekos to this new type of Zombie on the types name a few and most of these have of characters who are looking for been romanticized and done and over ways of playing out the Psychotic, the done many times over by the Movie Crazy, the Insane... and Entertainment industry. But around 2008/2009, a new playable Think, of an old Insane Asylum... Race was added to the CCS Meter. perhaps something of a cross between Silent Hill, and some The Undead Race. madman's idea of a perfect utopian 42

society full of crazy psychotic cannibals. That was Tempest Ella's Archaic Redemption. It sadly came to a close, or at the least started on its decline in 2010; when a life changing event forced Tempest to leave Second Life behind... She named her successor, Reenie Miklos, who carried Tempest's torch for another 3 years and held Archaic Redemption together and worked hard to build it up.... until finally she to had to admit that it was time for her to move on to other things.

struggling on its last legs; Jolene decided that in order to save it and keep it going, then it was time to take Archaic Redemption in a new direction. With Reenie's urging and with a blessing sent by Tempest herself and support of all the remaining Officers, all the original lore created by Tempest was scrapped and retired; though not completely thrown out. Shelving it, so it would never be forgotten, Jolene closed that first book of Archaic Redemption's story and set about re-writing it all from the ground up. She essentially0 reinvented an entirely new Undead Faction out from the old.

So, in 2012 and departing on good terms, Reenie removed herself from the Faction's ranks and passed its mantle of Leadership to the only other logical person.

Centering it more around the core back story of City of Lost Angels itself, Jolene recognized that there is more to playing an Undead character then just a Zombie type of character. So Jolene Merlin had been a member she wrote new lore to embrace all since Tempest founded the group in types; Zombies, Ghosts, Ghouls and 2009, and along with two others, she Spirits, Spectre's, Wraiths, and was the longest remaining original Poltergeists, and just about any other Member. However, she was also the type of Undead character someone longest serving Officer of the Faction, could dream up for their roleplay. She having been promoted to the Factions also kept its door open for other highest rank by Tempest very early Players whose characters were not on, and continuing to serve Undead but still appealed to the throughout Reenie's tenure. Horror and Torture genres which she kept Archaic Redemption rooted Taking the helm of a Faction around, as it originally was. 43

She then threw in a touch of H.P. Lovecraft inspiration behind Archaic Redemption's new lore to enhance some of that Horror aspect behind it. But no, not the Lovecraft of tentacles and such, no she left those for the Demon players. Rather, she focused Archaic Redemption more around the aspect of psychological terror that runs prevalent throughout Lovecraft's tales, and took it back to its Insane Asylum roots. Also a Builder in her spare time, Jolene even took it upon herself to build Archaic Redemption a new Asylum, instead of buying a pre-built structure; to use as their home base.

Now, with City of Lost Angels celebrating its 9th Anniversary in Second Life; Archaic Redemption still remains under Jolene Merlin' leadership and continues to be one of the primary core Factions of CoLA Roleplay! Touting itself as the Faction that has a direct line of communication with the underworld Realm of the Dead (so far as CoLA Roleplay goes); Archaic Redemption now offers a list of unique services to the citizens of the City of Lost Angels; everything from sĂŠances, to necromancy services, and even some of its more macabre services that few know about. 44

For more information about Archaic Redemption, or to join in the Roleplay, simply teleport to Lost Angels, and look for their Recruitment Poster on the wall near the landing area! â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the summer of 2032, after it already seemed the human race was in its darkest hour, the Armageddon of religious prophecy began. The Earth itself, passing through the tail of a massive comet named Wormwood, was enshrouded in several months of near total darkness and burning hydrocarbon fire and huge cometary fragments cascaded through the sky, blasting the cities and the landscapes of the world and setting the them afire again. In the chaos that ensued, the first gates from Hell opened and the demons poured through ravenously, killing humans and immortals without care or preference, and the wars began again with all the factions fighting each other and the demons on all sides. ... And now we stand in the thousand years of war, the world is a very different place, humans and vampires and lycans and demons and angels and nekos and supernatural beings all fight for the future they want to make happen, in the Pacifica territory of the

Confederated Republic of North America, completely cut off in contact from the Central Badlands and the Atlantica Territory, in the city now known only as Lost Angel's.

The Brood is a legion of demons. We hire only demons, true demons. Not those impersonating demons because they think that demons are cool.

OFFICIAL BUSINESSES OF THE BROOD How the story ends, will be told by The Brood has two official businesses those that live in these times… in the in the city: City of Lost Angels.” DeSatanica: a gambling club. A club And so The Brood, the first legion of where the seven sins dominate, but demons, settled in the City of Lost also where all kinds of bets or Angels. contracts can be made. A demon contract is a truly binding contract: It HIERARCHY OF THE BROOD binds one down to their very soul… The Flaming Asshole: a spicy food The Archdemoness or Queen rules restaurant. A taste of hell, one might the Brood: Ali (Alisaundra Andel) say. wears that title. Every demon in the Brood is expected The Queen is advised by her Officers: to have a role in the Brood businesses Overfiends, and Harbringers OOC INFORMATION Daily operations are directed by the Dominus and Maleficus SL Groups There is only one group, “The Brood”. Demons that have proved their l There is no group for prospects, loyalty have the rank of Vitatus. New prospects will be observed entirely IC. demons will be accepted as There is no group for the officers of Hell spawns The Brood: either you are in, and all is shared, or you are out, and nothing is Respect is due to those that rank shared. The group is IC and used for above you. This is a faction of dereporting and information purposes mons, not a democracy. Promotions only. OOC accepted, identified as OOC are given to those who prove to be like in open chat. demons, spreading the seven sins around them. Secret language 45

There is no secret language, no communication device. The Brood just does not use those. There are more subtle ways, like for example, not talking about secrets in the presence of strangers.

healers, counselors and judges in the Earthly realm.

About XP XP will be awarded for good roleplay, but note that the quality of the roleplay will not be measured by the number of posts, the length of the posts, and the number of words. Whether you Para post or not is not important in The Brood, what counts, is the quality of the story, the quality of the plot.

Most angels fall into three types: Warriors, healers and maji - the last being those who deal with Earthly energies and magic. The leaders of these houses are the Sentinel, the Paragon and the Oracle. The Prophet also anoints a Battle master, an angel steeled by countless conflicts, who leads the training of the newer angels in this realm.

OOC questions? Contacts: Alisaundra Andel Michel Morane THE CHOIR

The newest among the Choir's ranks are the Proselytes, who were chosen to follow the True path of righteousness. Once they prove themselves worthy, they are elevated to full status.

The Choir is the angelic faction in Lost Angels. With God still missing from the Throne and the Archangels posturing for power and influence in Heaven, the various Choirs sprinkled across the Earth project the oftentimes mysterious Will of Heaven into the physical realm. The Choir's deeper agendas are oftentimes unseen and eternally focused in nature, however the angels do assume the more traditional roles of messengers,

Our ranks are filled with angels of many origins. Some were created in Heaven by the Most High Himself; others were mortal, but were anointed and transformed by holy energy at some point in their mortal lives; still others lived full mortal lives and were raised to the rank of Angel after their Earthly demise. Regardless of how we were created or chosen, we share the same ultimate goals of bringing the will of Heaven to

The Choir is led by the Prophet, who directs the overall activities of the faction.

Earth - whether the mortals, undead, Yes, we realize that this notecard is beastly beings or the fallen ones want lengthy. Yes, we realize that there are these gifts or not. a lot of rules and things to remember. Paper work is no ones fun time. What Our path is not an easy one, as we we would like you to know however, oftentimes find ourselves standing in is that each rule and guideline has opposition to a wide range of very been created for a reason - usually dark forces at large in the city. because someone, at some point in time, has attempted to use the Faith is our guide, love is our absence of one to their advantage. power ,and determination is our Thank you for understanding. defining characteristic. PART I - ARRIVAL Please direct all questions to Nala Mistwalker Upon first arriving in the city, your place is at the bottom of the ladder, Welcome to the world of Eternal whether you're newly turned, a wanNight. This is the unlife of the dering outcast, or a millennia-old Vampire. Easily the most prolific of foreign dignitary. Joining the undead, vampires are strength CoLA-The Vampire group will connect and brutality behind the guise of you with other vampires in the city, ethereal beauty. both new and old. It should be noted that being a member of this There are, however, certain group -does not- grant you any kind mannerisms and customs which are of status with either the Coven or the expected of any vampire who inhabits community. the City of Lost Angels. These customs are rigidly enforced by the Coven, the The reason for this is simple; as the ruling class of vampires within the ruling body within the city, the Coven city. The Coven oversees and does not recognize previously held monitors ALL vampiric activity within titles of authority for any new the city, whether the vampire in ques- immigrants. Arrival within city limits tion is a member or not. Be forerenders such titles useless, and warned, violation of its etiquette will attempts to establish any sort of not be overlooked and will be dealt hierarchy outside of Coven rule will with accordingly; repeat violations be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly. will result with increasing harshness. 51

Also, it does not matter who or what you were before you came to CCS. Here, the wise player will roleplay close to his or her CCS level. Start out strong, but not super strong. Powerful, but not overly so. This works best for two reasons: 1) your mouth will write fewer checks that your ass can't cash, 2) and more importantly, it will give you an amazing amount of room to grow your character here as your CCS level rises. Let it live, let it grow, let it blossom. Coming here, thinking you are 'all that, and a bag of chips' will lead to a lot of upset, and a lot of anger. And you will likely not make it here. PART II - GENERAL RULES 1. Join CoLA-The Vampire group.

2. Know the difference between pride and arrogance. There's a difference between being sure of yourself and acting like you own the city. Be assured, if you don't learn the difference, the Coven will -teach- you. You very likely will not enjoy this lesson. It doesn't matter where you come from, odds are someone's your match, and it never pays to find that out the hard way. Do not think this means you need to kowtow to every vampire you see, however. Strength and pride are natural attributes of our kind, and encouraged--perhaps even rewarded.

Remember that, no matter how , you cannot stand alone. Work with CoLA-The Vampire is the general your kindred; support them, and group for all vampires within the city. encourage them to act within the The default tag is 'LA Vampire', which guidelines of the city. Adherence to will be used to reference new players this code will grant you lasting friendthroughout the remainder of this ships and alliances; whereas a failure document. Contact a Coven Liaison to to do so will bring down only wrath. be added to this group, and wear your Feel free to report harassment to any new tag proudly when walking the members of the Coven; such blind streets of LA. foolishness will be summarily dealt with. Non-vampires who still seek acceptance within the vampiric faction 3. Avoid reckless behavior. may also apply for acceptance. Such individuals are to be seen as familiars, Remember--your actions reflect not and will bear the title 'Familiar'. only on you, but on vampires as a 52

whole within the city. You have a reputation to uphold as a member of our race. While we are known for our capacity for cruelty, we are not savage brutes. We are possessed of intellect and reason both, as well as a measure of civility, and we use such qualities to temper our more violent urges until such time as they are useful in advancing kindred causes. Engaging in cruel or insulting behavior recklessly not only does not accomplish this goal, it may actively hurt Coven causes and drive vampiric food sources away. Remember this. 4. Any and all IC or OOC notices sent out, are to be kept to yourself. They are not to be shared with anyone outside the faction or groups. This is to include, anything that is on the Coven website, from reports to the silliest of pictures posted there. To do so, will result in your immediate expulsion from the faction. No exceptions will be made for this rule-you have been warned.

power structures; and to maintain this status, it works very hard to protect its own. In return, the Coven demands absolute loyalty and obedience from its membership. Upon acceptance into the Coven, ones loyalties are ONLY to the Coven, at the cost of one's personal safety or even life, if necessary. Orders delivered from the Coven Council are to be obeyed unwaveringly; failure to do so can endanger Coven causes and the safety of Coven members. It should also be noted that such failure will CERTAINLY endanger one's own health and safety, as the Coven does not look kindly on disobedience.

The Coven philosophy is very black and white. Either you are with us, or you are against us. That is our motto, there is no neutral ground to be had. The Coven practices an applied version of Social Darwinism; it is hard on its members, and demands much of them. Those who prove able to rise PART III - THE COVEN to the challenges and responsibilities will be rewarded; those who fail will The Coven itself is a faction that be discarded. This ensures that only draws heavily on custom and order. It those most capable are entrusted provides an organizational hierarchy with the fate of the city; something by which its members may advance the Coven considers very much its the causes of vampiric superiority. Its domain. actions ensure that kindred remain at the top of the city's food chain and The Coven will tolerate mistakes from 53

its members, provided said members prove willing and able to learn from said mistakes, and provide the mistakes themselves are not exceptionally grievous. While the Coven seeks ever to maintain only the highest quality of membership, Coven Leadership understands that no one is infallible. Do not expect the Coven to baby you, however; you must stand on your own merits, and succeed on your own efforts.

own survival. Remember this, and proceed cautiously.

The primary offices of the Coven are the Blood Bank and The Inner Circle, in LA proper. There are two bases on our land, Bledmore Shores. One with a library, pool table, movie screen, to hang out in. The other, is the Coven Mansion. It holds the prison cells/ torture room, the ceremony room, a lab/medical room, Council chambers, the Liaison office and a few various Because of this approach, the Coven other rooms and offices as well. There has its own definitions of what is is also a house, in Bledmore, called lawful and moral. Do not expect the the Covey. It is designated for our Coven to adhere to petty human Aspirants (or anyone in the Coven) concepts; the failure of these who may be in need of a place until concepts as a workable model are they can get on their feet.. Please ask what led the Regent to found the a Liaison, if you are in need. There is a Coven and take the city in the first Blacksmith shop in Bledmore, for place. Human societal achievements those interested in making weapons. are not things the Coven regards with For sparring, we have an arena that any kind of reverence or awe, and floats above Bledmore shores. assuming that kindred will bow to Random 'shank days' are held to help such concepts has led many an anyone that may wish to practice individual, both vampire and mortal, fighting. to an unpleasant demise. ** By accepting an invitation to the The Coven considers itself to be much Coven you acknowledge that you like the Mafia. It is an organization of have been informed that the Coven intensely devoted individuals, all of asks its members to contribute to the whom are just as comfortable smiling collective of our SIM, Bledmore and shaking your hand as they are Shores. The Coven as a whole is breaking a bone or two to achieve responsible for 8900 Lindens a their goals. Keeping watch out both month, which goes towards the tier for and of each other thus ensuring its for the SIM. Any extra lindens that we 56

may have at the end of the month, may go towards DXP for the LA chain, a Coven led event, or SIM upgrades. A summary of expenses will be sent out to everyone at the beginning of each month, explaining what was brought in and spent for the month prior.

PART IV - JOINING THE COVEN The Coven is very exclusive in its membership. The Coven will choose only those individuals that it feels stand the best chance of advancing Coven causes, as well as uphold the Coven name in a positive light. Because of this, -one may only join the Coven if invited- there are NO exceptions.

This gives Coven members a good idea as to who you are, as well as to how you comport yourself within the city. We do not invite people we don't know. 4) Show Initiative. There is more to being a member of the Coven than following orders. The lowliest servant can do so. Do not rely solely on the direction of others; the Coven values an individual who can act with creativity and originality. Prove that you contribute to the city in a positive manner.

5) Ask to become an Aspirant.may have at the end of the month, may go towards DXP for the LA chain, a Coven "How, then," you may ask, "Does one led event, or SIM upgrades. A receive an invitation?" Pay attention. summary of expenses will be sent out to everyone at the beginning of each 1) Join CoLA-The Vampire group, month, explaining what was brought mentioned earlier. in and spent for the month prior. The Coven watches this group closely PART IV - JOINING THE COVEN for potential members. The Coven is very exclusive in its membership. The Coven will choose 2) Abide by general CoLA rules. only those individuals that it feels stand the best chance of advancing If you cannot uphold the laws of the Coven causes, as well as uphold the city, you stand no chance of Coven name in a positive light. upholding the laws of the Coven. Because of this, -one may only join the Coven if invited- there are NO 3) Interact with Coven members. exceptions.

"How, then," you may ask, "Does one is an admirable quality--just be sure receive an invitation?" Pay attention. to temper it with self-restraint. Becoming an Aspirant is not the same 1) Join CoLA-The Vampire group, as becoming a member of the Coven, mentioned earlier. but it signifies one's desire to do so. Speak with Coven Liaisons, referenced The Coven watches this group closely at the beginning of this document, if for potential members. you wish to be considered as an aspirant. Be aware, though, that 2) Abide by general CoLA rules. becoming an Aspirant does -notguarantee a Coven invite--think of it If you cannot uphold the laws of the as tryouts. city, you stand no chance of upholding the laws of the Coven. 6) Register on the website: http://ccsgametech.com/ 3) Interact with Coven members. One more way to interact with the This gives Coven members a good community. idea as to who you are, as well as to how you comport yourself within the If you have any questions about city. We do not invite people we don't joining the Coven, please direct them know. to our Coven Liaisons: 4) Show Initiative.

Tay (tay.haven)-Head Liaison Ranma Lionheart-Liaison There is more to being a member of Niki Pet (nikita.ornamental)-Liaison the Coven than following orders. The Yazz (yazz.skytower)-Liaison lowliest servant can do so. Do not rely Holly (hollysilva)-Liaison solely on the direction of others; the Wycked Frakture-Liaison Coven values an individual who can act with creativity and originality. Prove that you contribute to the city â&#x2DC;ĽSuperiority Though Blood.If you are in a positive manner. not with us you are against us.â&#x2DC;Ľ"How, then," you may ask, "Does one 5) Ask to become an Aspirant. receive an invitation?" Pay attention.

A corollary of number four. Ambition 1) Join CoLA-The Vampire group, 58

mentioned earlier.

but it signifies one's desire to do so. Speak with Coven Liaisons, referenced The Coven watches this group closely at the beginning of this document, if for potential members. you wish to be considered as an aspirant. Be aware, though, that be2) Abide by general CoLA rules. coming an Aspirant does -notguarantee a Coven invite--think of it as If you cannot uphold the laws of the tryouts. city, you stand no chance of upholding the laws of the Coven. 6) Register on the website: http://ccsgametech.com/ 3) Interact with Coven members. One more way to interact with the This gives Coven members a good community. idea as to who you are, as well as to how you comport yourself within the If you have any questions about city. We do not invite people we don't joining the Coven, please direct them know. to our Coven Liaisons:

4) Show Initiative.

THE HISTORY OF THE SYNDICATE From A Human's Perspective

A corollary of number four. Ambition is an admirable quality--just be sure Humanity, throughout history, has a to temper it with self-restraint. Bevery checkered past. Ever since coming an Aspirant is not the same as records have began and up to present becoming a member of the Coven, day, humans have accomplished many 59

a great achievement in every known field. It is also guilty of the worst atrocities, but also selfless acts of kindness and charity alike.

lycans, the undead. Demons and angels had also now claimed the Earth as their battleground to wage their timeless war.

At the beginning of the end of the world as we know it, humans were heavily reliant on the latest technology. The internet, smart phones, the entire world's economy now mostly based on digital communication rather than paper-based monies.

All the world's governments had fallen and all humans were left to fend for themselves in a world where they were now considered prey and chattel. Still, there were pockets of resistance. Ex-military and police officers would join forces with whom were previously considered the bane of humanity; organized crime families. The Mafia, the Yakuza, Triads, biker gangs including the Hells Angels and Bandidos. LA gangs of the Bloods and Crips. They had the firepower to fight back, and fight they did. All under the same banner to fight for the safety and liberty of mankind. The Syndicate was born.

However, none of this could truly help humanity reach it's true potential. The USA's military became more thinly stretched, involved in wars throughout the Middle East, and tensions with Russia and China growing ever stronger and more complex. Religious and racial tensions were becoming more commonplace in both the U.S. And across Western Europe, Having to fight this new war for as were riots and general civil unrest. survival would however, always be an uphill struggle, and millions of lives It was 2032 when things truly were lost. Some even gave up hope changed, and not for the better. The and chose to side with other races arrival of the comet Wormwood and become vampires or lycans unleashed devastation upon the themselves, rather than die or beEarth, sending meteors and come slaves. Others were turned meteorites hurtling down, destroying against their will, and had no choice entire cities within hours. Those who to embrace what they had become. survived that and the dust that was to hang in the atmosphere for decades The main thing that kept the to come, now still had even bigger Syndicate together at the darkest obstacles to deal with. Vampires, times was an entity simply known as 62

The Brain. Very little is known of the ing: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We're here, we're not going Brain, and everyone has their own anywhere, and if any of you have a take on it. Some say it's a single problem with us, you know where to person, others say it's a council of find us. We'll be waiting.â&#x20AC;? people. Some even believe it's a super -computer, hidden in a vault, which Recently, communications between was designed to help humanity if the LA Syn and The Brain have something like an apocalypse practically stopped, and because of happened. The truth is, no one knows this, the faction has become almost a for sure. All communications from The 100% independent entity of it's own. Brain came via radio transmission and As well as the obvious goal of keeping literature, advising the Syndicate to as many humans alive and safe as go underground, keeping humans possible, currently, their main efforts hidden from the predators, yet create go into farming, both agriculture, and chapters across the American waste- livestock. They have a store in the lands, and even into Mexico and new Lost Angels that used to be a Canada. That way they could recruit brewery where they trade their wares other survivors, and even to other citizens of Lost Angels. They non-humans who believed in their had previously ventured into high cause. This also helped set up trade technology and medical research in routes. Caravans would travel up, recent years, however these down, and across the continent, endeavors have mostly been dropped, keeping each chapter of the Syndicate in favor of a more simple existence of supplied with food and ammo for living, rather than just surviving. defense and hunting. So if you're human and find yourself There was one chapter of the in the city of Lost Angels, swing on Syndicate that would go against the over by the store, we'd like a chat. grain. This was the Lost Angels based We'll even consider non-humans, if Syn. They would openly live, fight, we like them. The commander is and trade amongst all the other races called Lucille, second in command is of the city. Some considered their Tay, Chuck is the security officer, and gung-ho attitude to be dangerous, but Jack is the one in charge of Trade. All it allowed them to find and recruit we expect is loyalty, willing to fight other humans much more easily. and protect your fellow Synners and It also was like sticking the middle occasionally, a bit of heavy lifting. But finger up at everyone else, as if say- the most essential quality we need, is 63

a sense of humor. Then we'll get along Rules fine. Hope to see you soon. ~ A Synner. Because of the sheer complexity and variety of Sidhe characters and lore, It wasn’t too long ago that the first of as well as the potential to have an the Exiled showed up in the City of overwhelmingly powerful character, Lost Angels. Sure it had been many The Exiled will have a few rules to enyears but when it comes to the long able conformity of in character values lived creatures of the woodlands, and aims for the faction, as well as a years are mere seconds, a blink of the more balanced character for role-play. eye. It was those first Exiled that saw If your character has any of the below, themselves as fugitives of the you are encouraged to seek a Unseelie court, rogues searching out a different faction as your abilities and/ home in a forsaken city that was or aims will not match ours in the city. littered with the very metals that The following rules apply to Exiled could kill them with one wrong slip of faction members: the foot on uneven ground. Soon those Exiled scattered, some staying, χ - No one of rank or clout from some leaving in search of who knows either the Unseelie or Seelie Court what in a far off land. But slowly oth- without permission from the faction ers started coming back. They r lead. realized that all fae, seelie and χ - No one who has based their unseelie alike were Exiled. Jehovah character on some type of god/ saw fit to cast us out of the heavens demon/deity, from mythology, like the demons when we refused to religion, etc. fight in the wars. Though it was us on χ - For each strength, there must the ground that created life. Without be a matching, equivalent scope the Sidhe there would be no lush weakness. Note: this does not include greenery, fish in the ponds, or the natural traits of the Sidhe such as darkness in the sky at night. It is all glamour. about balance. Light and Dark. You χ - Shifters may only have an cannot have one without the other. affinity for one animal (this does not And so the Exiled started a new life mean players cannot glamour or use once more in the City of Lost Angels, illusion to appear to be something coming back during a time of chaos to else, it does mean that you cannot watch, listen and decide on the next claim to have the powers or abilities course of action... of anything other than one animal) 64

χ - Elementals, same as shifters, may only have control or affinity to one element, not multiple

appearance. This can include hair, skin and clothing. This is not something magical but is an inherent trait of the fae much like breathing.

Typical traits of the Sidhe: Sex, marriage, bonds etc.: As stated Self-serving: While they may help a above the light cannot exist without person one day, they might betray the darkness. This is why there is an them the very next day. The Sidhe Unseelie King and a Seelie Queen will rarely, if ever, sacrifice themselves instead of a King and Queen for each in any way for some type of ‘greater of the courts. This is how the typical good’. There are no ‘good’ Sidhe sidhe relationship goes. A dark fae (certainly not within The Exiled), (unseelie) is more likely than not although that is not to say that they going to fall for the light fae (seelie) are evil by nature. It is more they do even if another dark fae is standing not consider themselves bound to right there that had previously held such norms as benevolence, loyalty their attention. Two dark fae or two (with the exception of the court they light fae cannot have offspring. serve), right, or wrong Nature simply would not allow it. Lies: The Sidhe do not have the ability to lie. We cannot tell an outright lie but that does not mean we cannot twist and bend words. Wordplay is a favorite among the fae folk.

Chaos: Nature itself is chaotic and as such so are the fae. However with the fae there is a structure to the chaos that some may find hard to understand.

Weakness to Iron; Metals in general may make a fae uneasy but iron is our worst enemy. It dampens magic, makes the fae uncomfortable and in some cases can kill them (NOTE: No character cannot be killed in roleplay without the consent of all players involved in the scene.)

Common Sidhe terminology:

Glamour: Unseelie and Seelie alike have the ability to glamour their

Unseelie: Unseelie are the darker fae races. They live in the night, hug the shadows and some may even haunt your dreams. The Unseelie are represented by the seasons autumn and winter. Unseelie have an affinity for all things cold and because of their seasonal affiliation unseelie do not have the ability to magically wield fire 65

(note: this does not count for ccs me- changelings survive with their new ter skills, those are still usable) human families. Some survive but barely, they end up battling illnesses Seelie: Seelie are the lighter fae their whole life before finally races. This is not to be mistaken for succumbing to death. Other everything being rainbows and changelings do adapt and survive and sunshine. The Seelie can be just as those go on to lead normal lives, they dark and deadly as the Unseelie. may or may not develop one or two Seelie represent the seasons spring gifts of the fae as they age. and Summer and because of this they cannot magically wield ice/snow The Hollow: Is the generic name (note: this does not count for ccs given to describe the realms of the meter skills, those are still usable.) Unseelie and Seelie Courts, akaâ&#x20AC;Śthe magic land of Faerie. In The Hollow, Fae-Touched: If a person is around Sidhe and faerie magic is at its fae too much they can become fae strongest. It would be a place touched and they may take on some described as lush, beautiful, full of fae abilities such as a slight ability intrigues and political scheming of with glamour. The undead and the nobility and pure blood Sidhe. unnatural cannot become faeTime in the Hollow also passes at a touched. The humans are the most different rate than in the mortal world susceptible to becoming fae-touched. of CoLA. For example, you could Wolves can become fae-touched but spend a week, a year, a hundred years it takes a wolf spending a lot of time in The Hollow, and return to CoLA to around a fae (years) for this to find hours, days or only weeks had happen because of their natural passed. All that is known is that time resistance. passes differently in the two realms. It can be a gamble for those not of fae Changeling: Contrary to popular blood or not used to traveling to and belief a changeling is not a creature from the hollow for it is not known if that can change their form at will. or when you may return. The fae are not allâ&#x20AC;Ś.well behaved. In the past they have been known to If you wish to apply for the Exiled fill creep into human homes and steal out the attached application and drop young children, leaving a changeling it in the small gargoyle located in in its place. Changelings are not easy front of the Exiled base and someone for the fae to make. Not all c will get back to you ASAP 68

| The Old CRNA | The Confederated Republic of North America was the last ditch attempt by the United States government to reign in warring groups of human survivors after the country's collapse in 2034 and the subsequent Wormwood event. To this end, its headquarters were established in Cheyenne Mountain and Dulce Base in Colorado with large forces at the Hoover Dam and the Pacifica territory. Their headquarters were particularly interested in the City of Lost Angels.

enemies of the people and vice versa, stayed with the organization for a long time. | CRNA: New Dawn |

But as time went past, things started changing. The CRNA branch in the city realized that in a place with so many races, unity and order couldn't be achieved without including everyone in the fray. Moreover, the mission of upholding defunct laws and government bindings in a new world that thrived on the 'Eat or Be Eaten' When the CRNA first arrived in CoLA, philosophy, was never going to it came as a conquering force. They succeed in the long run. With new functioned as a semi-political, realizations, came new changes. semi-military group with an intent to reunite the United States under one CRNA slowly started opening up to flag and one mission. The stumbling the other races and factions, shifting block was having to contend with from the ancient hardened stance of monsters on all sides, to whom LA enmity and distrust. They recruited was a stronghold. Moreover the non-humans too now, breaking away human survivors of LA weren't too from the slogan of just human unity keen to put their faith in an alien and drifting more towards unity of all armed group of soldiers and races as a whole. They also gave up mercenaries either. petty policing and started using their resources for protecting the city and Thus, as they established base in Cola its citizens, all of them, without and started trying to enforce old exception. government laws and rules, inevitably becoming the police force of LA, they This obviously, did not sit well with were met with violent rejection and the central command of CRNA and animosity from the entire city. This they put pressure on the LA branch, general view of CRNA agents as drying up the supply line, pressurizing 69

them to get back to the old ways. Yet CoLA had mingled too much in CRNA's blood, whatever they did from outside, the tree of change, had taken root. Eventually, the CoLA branch broke off completely from the mother organization, severing all ties and communications, deciding to keep the changes and be on their own, standing with the city instead of against it. This however meant that their resources reduced substantially, making them more dependent on the city itself for everyday needs now, rather than supply from outside.

way. We have found new family members, and lost some as well. It was no easy path, and it is because of those struggles that nowadays we can fiercely say who we are. We are the hunters, proud of our nature. We were born for it, so whether we are feral, wild, or house cats, that is what we will be frequently doing. House cats mainly hunt toys for fun, but the feral and wild often have to hunt for their food stalking their preys in the shroud of darkness.

Despite the split with their headquarters, the CRNA still has access to a lot of functional high technology, medical supplies and bio-tech, making them officially the most technologically adept group in Lost Angels. As of recently, they're trying to mingle their expertise in tech, with magic too.

We are not pets to anyone, because we are Tribe's pride and honor. We don't accept random protection but we can offer our skills, knowledges and services if fairly compensated, sometimes through contracts. We collect information and secrets....and who knows what else? We are rumored to have a long and mysterious past rooted in myths and The CRNA now acts as the shield of legends and because of it we accept CoLA, protecting the city and its every among us even hybrid, mythic and citizen from all kinds of external magical Felinae no matter the culture threats, devoid of any hidden agenda, or where they make their place in this whatever be the cost. world: we are the Tribe. 17h

17i

Banded together from single strays In the early part of the 21st century roaming the streets of this city known the world fell away to madness. Our as Lost Angels, we have come a long kind blamed one another. Within the 70

war, was a war of our people. Until the death count so high, the tribes so diluted, that our only choice was to perish from existence or unite to find the common enemy. And so as the Coven asserted it's dominance, we banded together under the one who was called Alpha and formed the Pack.

more worthy force. Who are the Lycans ?

Many of us are the wolves lurking in the streets for prey, but we are also the lion stalking his prey, the bear foraging for the winter, and the panther prowling the streets. We are predator shifters. If, however, you And fight they did. Wars were won were to keep company with Wolves, and lost. Alphas came and went. you would find an enormous sense of Slowly the pack was able to claim a family within the pack, as well as a respectable position within the City of strong individualistic urge. These Lost Angels. But in doing so, the qualities make Wolf very much like traditions, the rituals and lore were the human race. We are part of socielost, leaving open a gaping wound of ty and yet still embody our individual uncertainty and with it the age old dreams and ideas. This is what sets us existential questions: Who are we? apart. From where do we come? What is our purpose? If we do not honor the *note: You will noticed that often the past, we are destined to repeat it. But â&#x20AC;&#x153;lycanâ&#x20AC;? is referred to as wolf. This everything is made up of circles, does not exclude other predator because the world is a circle, and shifters. Because the majority of the everything tries to be round. The sky pack are wolves it was just easier to is round, the earth is round, so are denote it that way. Please feel free to the stars . The wind, in its greatest insert your particular predator animal power swirls. Even the seasons from a in that space. great circle in their changing and always come back again to where What do Lycans look like ? they were. So it is time to make another circle and for us to discover We are shifters, though not all of us our roots, and in doing so uncover shift. We can look as normal and that which was forgotten. When we human as your next door neighbor, can embrace both the past and like the wild wolf encountered in the future , only then will we move forest, or the massive beast of forward, stronger, healthier and a nightmares an movies. Or a 71

combination of the above. Appearance varies greatly, often a result of being born or bitten, tribal and personal customs. Human: This is a common form for those in the pack and might appear to be nearly indistinguishable from human. Yet their physiology is different, muscle mass and bone density more finely tuned A healthier, leaner, stronger version. But may not be as strong or blessed with as many strengths as when wolf or were, particularly with regard to senses or healing.

others. Lycan: This is the shifted stage where the individual shows signs from a combination of one or more of the other forms. i.e.: Human but wearing a tail or ears. or human and having paws. Since, Wormwood it has been more common to see folks in this stage due impart to a great security in being openly Lycan. This is often the result of the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal preference though sometimes a curse or accidental shift. It might also be a custom in certain tribes.

Wolf (Bear/Lion/Panther etc.): Four How does one become a Werewolf? pawed, the obvious connection to the animal origins of the race. Physiology Born. Although self explanatory at makes it hard to speak in the human first glance, the wolf who was born language, but not impossible. still has a story. Some are born in Depending on personal history, some human form , while others are born in this shape, may be more feral than wolf. Some grew up with the others. Based again on origin and knowledge of what they were, others tribal affiliation. had the secret hidden from them . Some shifted early , others only after Werewolf traumatic injury. (Werebear,werelion,werepanther etc.): Usually the massive and most Bitten: Generally this resulted from an frightening form. Many in this shifted injury that was sustained during a life state are more slower with reason, and death battle which nearly killed more prone to aggression and driven the newly bitten. Unlike the vampires by instinct. Again physiology makes it in the city, turning someone to make hard to speak in the human language, them a lycan because the recipient but not impossible. Depending on thinks it would be cool, is not personal history or tribal lore, some in accepted. We are a proud race and this shape, may be more feral than should be reluctant to let just anyone 74

join, particularly if they do not understand our lore. The newly bitten also generally have a very difficult time as their body prepares for the first change which often coincides with the next full moon. Cursed or magically changed: this can happen through ritual or by malicious spell. It may or may not be permanent. Undoing the wolf: A very rare occurrence except for the wolves formed through magic or curses. But it happens.

and personal history. Shifts might be voluntary, done in honor of tradition or an involuntary reaction to the lunar cycle. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~

Forewarned is forearmed. Travel in peace!

"The senses of Wolf are very keen, and the moon is its power ally. The moon is the symbol for psychic energy, or the unconscious that holds the secrets of knowledge and wisdom. Baying at the moon may be an indication of Wolf's desire to connect with new ideas which are just below the surface of consciousness. Wolf medicine empowers the teacher within us all to come forth and aid the children of Earth in understanding the Great Mystery and life." Moon effects: The effects of moon have historically noted with regard to wolves and werewolves. Hunting during the full moon was common because of the greater light given by the moon. How one reacts to it is varied again based on tribal custom 75

SANCTUARY ROLEPLAY COMMUNITY

he community is a group of dark RP and combat sims, which are part of the CCS RP and Combat system. Somewhere between Stargate, Gor and Supernatural, you'll find us, a blend of many things, most importantly great rp and an amazing collection of friends.

bargain with the Djinn, which he promptly broke. His punishment was having all that made him human, torn from him, his body forever encased in a crystal orb.

Eons ago, man’s great age of technology and science came to an abrupt end. Evil burst forth and the world was torn asunder. Strange and exotic creatures were unleashed. The world was changed and struggled to survive against the legions of undead horrors.

Come to the secret city of Sanctuary, and find what you have been searching for in the deepest recesses of the darkest parts of your soul, Where Dreams & Desires Come True, and Nightmares Are Brought to Life………

The great city of Sanctuary now resides in a hidden place, away from the world and reality. As time passed, Enter the realm via stargate. Worm- magical beings flocked to it; vampires, hole travel may leave you a little sick, werewolves, elves, but after your vision clears you find a demons, angels and many others. In very old universe. Some called it our city of Sanctuary, you will find Sodom, but now it simply goes by the great mysteries, horrors and name “Sanctuary”. pleasures, still awaiting discovery.

Sanctuary, once Sodom, a dark, Sanctuary was an enclave of safety on ancient hidden city now accessible the new chaotic “Earth”. Or was it? only by stargate awaits weary The seat of power and Sanctuary’s travelers. Be greeted by beings such only city is in fact Sodom, of the as vampires, lycans, demons and biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. Legend angels. Where Dreams & Desires speaks of these twin cities of Come True, and Nightmares Are depravity and decadence being Brought to Life…… destroyed by a vengeful god. In fact, a pact was made which allowed only one city to be destroyed and the other to be spared. The great Sultan grieved for his lands and made a 82

CCS MAGAZINE ISSUE 1, VOLUME 1