[PF-1e] Prison Colony Krakengard - The Daylight War

[Inem]

Prison Colony Krakengard





Sometimes there is a very good reason to be afraid of the dark...

~ Synopsis ~ Game Name: Prison Colony Krakengard - The Daylight War System: Pathfinder Deadline for Application: January 29th Expected Post Rate: About 3 quality posts per week. Theme: Survival in and escape from a prison colony on floating islands Flavor: Sandbox with some plot. Night is bad. At night, the nasties come out to play, and you aren't the opponent, you're the ball and punching bag.

~ Teaser ~ "Come on!" Karim called, not daring to look over his shoulder. Every second was precious now. He could hear Yun's footsteps echoing as his friend rushed to follow. "Go go go go go!" The answer came back, and Karim could hear the panting in the other man's breath as they ran as hard as they could. He wanted to look back and see how far his friend had fallen behind. He wanted to call out again and tell him to hurry, but he didn't dare spare a breath for even that anymore. Instead, Karim glanced to the west, where the glistening red of dusk was already beginning to turn purple. 'We're not going to make it...' As the realization set in, another wave of dread rolled over him, driving his legs to move even faster. He could hear Yun falling farther behind, but he was past caring. The man might have been his best friend for the last year in the colony, but none of that mattered anymore. All that mattered now, as Karim could see the first swirls of the mist rising up from within the ground, was reaching the Old Camp before the last rays of sun vanished beyond the horizon. "KARIM!" His former friend called out for him as he could be heard stumbling. Didn't matter now, he was dead anyway. Nothing mattered now but beating the clock. And so Karim, like so many of the prisoners before him, ran for his life. And somehow, as if by a miracle, he reached the bridge over the river. If he looked up he would be able to see the gate from here, only about 300 feet away. But he didn't dare take his eyes off the ground directly in front of him for fear of tripping himself. 'Im going to make it! I'm sorry I didn't stop for you Yun, but there was nothing I could have done...' A final goodbye to the man who once saved his life. And then he stops thinking about him. He had allowed himself this brief moment of grief and guilt for his former friend before looking up to run through the gates and into the safety those thick, thousand year old stone walls would provide from the night... Only...the gate was closed. Frustrated and panicking, Karim's hands banged against the heavy metal gate standing between him and survival. "Let me in! Let me in! It's not dark yet!" Karim cried out, but he knew there was no point. He was too late, and there was no way they would risk opening the gate again this close to night. Like a mocking caricature, the painted wards on the gate and the wall, meant for his protection, flickered in the last rays of daylight. He was locked out, and there was nothing left for him to do but turn around and watch the last bit of daylight vanish behind the horizon. The mist from the earth had now risen to Karim's ankles and he could see the first dark figures materializing out over the plain before him. All along the wall the wards flared into action in glowing colors as the demons began crashing into them, looking for a gap in the net. The reds, blues, greens, yellows illuminated the night in a way that was almost beautiful. The view you had of this spectacle from behind the walls just didn't compare. Karim was still marveling at the colors when the field demon materialized right next to him. In the breath of a moment, before it was even fully solid, its long, spindly limb reached out and the claw swept at Karim's throat, slicing it open...

~ Plot Summary ~ The PCs find themselves thrown into jail into the prison colony Krakengard, an autonomous prison colony on a floating island only reachable through a magic portal. Unfortunately for them, getting in turns out to be a lot easier than getting out. To make matters a lot worse, as soon as darkness falls in this place, demons rise from the thick mist that the island seems to rest on, tearing anyone who is not safely behind wards to pieces. The PCs will have free reign to explore the island (as well as neighboring floating islands if they can figure out how to reach them) in an effort to find the means to survive or ideally escape, limited only by geography, the inner politics of the colony and the fact that they'll be dead if they get caught outside at night. Over the course of the game, the PCs have the chance to shape the face of the world they now live in. There will be sites for the PCs to explore, as well as quests to fulfill for the multitude of NPCs that call Krakengard their home. Depending on what they discover while exploring, which quests they complete (or don't complete), new quests or locations will open up and things could even change drastically in the colony. In addition, there are some events that will happen after a certain amount of time has passed in game. These events are very likely to happen no matter what the PCs do, though there are no guarantees. Since most of the time they won't know these events are coming, if the PCs do do something to delay or stop these time-triggered events, it will likely be unintentional as a result of doing something else.

~ Known History of the Colony ~ This is essentially what is known about the prison colony to the averagely educated person without any special connections to the colony or people in positions of power. On a case by case basis, ignorant people might know less, and well-connected people might know a little more...   8 years ago : A group of aventurers delving through an ancient underground dungeon discovers a magical portal. Upon stepping through, they find themselves on an huge island floating in the sky, supported by some sort of thick mist. They can barely make out what looks like the outlines of other islands in the distance. As soon as the sun sets, the mist rises and demons begin materializing everywhere. These creatures, seemingly impervious to the mighty adventurers' weapons and magic, slaughter most of the party, leaving only two survivors. The two survivors escape back through the portal and spread the story in their home kingdom. 8 years ago : In several very brief and careful expeditions, it is discovered that the floating island contains significant amounts of a magical ore that can be used to forge mighty weapons and armor. In repeated brief expeditions, ore is retrieved and parts of the island are explored. During the course of this, one expedition discovers the ruins of an ancient town, with several houses and walls decorated by strange symbols. 7 years ago : It is discovered that the symbols on the walls seem to be some sort of ward that can keep the demons out. While they appeared to be nonfunctional in most places, some buildings still survived to the point where they provided protection during the night, allowing for longer, if still insanely dangerous expeditions. 6 years ago : As the outside world's demand for ore grows and can no longer be met by volunteers/payed missions, the kingdom instates Krakengard, a prison colony/labor camp in the ruins of the ancient city. Some of the ancient wards are repainted where there is enough left to figure it out, expanding the 'safe' area. The first prisoners are thrown into the colony (mainly non-violent ones who are unlikely to cause trouble). 4 years ago : As the kingdom goes to war, the demand for ore continually grows. As such, the workforce is no longer big enough, and people get thrown into the colony for lesser and lesser crimes. This in turn makes the prisoners harder to control. In order to ensure they won't even contemplate escaping, the king orders the errection of a magical barrier around the portal that can only be lowered by the king's mages. 3.5 years ago : 13 mages are sent to colony to create said magical barrier. 3.5 years ago : Barrier goes up. Rumor among the common people in the outside world has it that something went wrong and nobody can get out any more at all. But people are definitely still getting thrown in, and ore is getting delivered out. 3 years ago : Information available to the general public is vague, but from one day to the next, the shipments of ore coming out from the colony, as well as food going into the colony, stop. Rumors sweep throughout the land that the colony has been lost to the demons. The king's court heavily denies this. 2 years ago : Not even a whole year later, to just as much confusion in the general public, the shipments of food into the colony begin again, though the farmers seeing the convoys pass by their farms claim the quality and quantity of food and alcohol has improved significantly. Not much later, shipments of ore begin coming out of the colony again. Present Day:PCs thrown into colony.

~ Inside the Colony ~ I will not give away too much about the inner workings of the colony in advance to the game, as your characters likely have no clue what is going on either, unless they were in a some sort of high ranked position prior to being thrown in. What I will do is give you some sort of impression of what sorts of things you will likely be doing once inside: Explore wilderness and ancient ruins of the civilization that built the warded town, discover and use ancient artifacts and new wards that will help you fight the demons...and maybe even find a way to escape. Figure out which of the prisoners you can trust, who is willing to cooperate for mutual benefit, and who is just waiting to stab you in the back for his or her own gain. Improve your reputation with the various factions inside the colony. Krakengard is not like a normal prison (it really is more like a colony) and you might be able to gain quite a bit of influence if you play things right. Stumble across the many secrets hidden in the world, for nothing here is as straightforward as it seems. Shape the world inside the colony with your decisions, your discoveries and how you react to major developments. Will you be the savior to all, to just a select few, or will your choices, in the end, lead to colony's destruction... Learn. If you stop and think about it, the world of Krakengard makes little sense. And yet it still functions somehow. Somehow, islands float in the sky on a thick cover of clouds, somehow demons only come out at night, somehow nothing can harm them, and yet, somehow they are incapable of getting past the ancient wards. And despite this, creatures survive in the wild, where a single night seems to spell a guaranteed death sentence for any human, elf, or similar creature. If you explore enough, you'll learn what it all means, how it all fits together. Explore and watch all the pieces fall into place to form the big picture. Most importantly: Survive. Survive the wild beasts you will stumble across in the wilderness, survive the race against the clock to be back behind wards before darkness falls, survive the intrigue and backstabbing of other prisoners and survive the great changes that will reshape the colony as things unfold.

~ The Outside World ~ I won't give much detail about the outside world, feel free to make up organizations, places and whatever else you feel is important. The only real limits are: The outside world has no magical ore, other than what comes from the colony. The outside world gets no demons. The country that holds the portal to Krakengard is ruled by a king. The country is currently at war with a strong enemy and has been for a several years now. The nature of the said enemy will be left to whatever comes up in peoples' backgrounds, though you should keep in mind that it should be compatible with what other people might come up with (i.e. if you say the kingdom is being attacked by a nation of highly intelligent sharks, then I'm probably going to have a hard time meshing that together with the elite orc troops another applicant has come up with). Basically you can be creative, but don't go toooo crazy. The kingdom is dependent on the ore in order to wage this war, and because of this and certain other...circumstances, people have been thrown into the colony for lesser and lesser crimes. Within those confines, pretty much everything is allowed, but as always, feel free to ask if you are unsure...

~ Application Info ~ I expect the following information in your application. While I suggest the format below, it is by no means compulsory and if you prefer to arrange things in another manner that is also fine. I do, however, encourage the use of fieldsets and/or spoilerbuttons to keep the application thread from becoming to cluttered. Name: Obvious I hope... Gender: No limitations Race: Any of the Pathfinder core races are fine. Most featured and some of the uncommon races are also acceptable, but please run these by me on a case by case basis Appearance: What does your character look like. Pictures can be added if you wish, but are not enough on their own and do not replace your words Personality: Give me some idea of what I can expect your character to act like. What motivates/drives him or her? Is he/she the type of person who would risk everything to escape from the colony or is he/she more likely to try and make a nice life for themselves there? Background:This is the big one. Tell me a little something about your characters life outside the colony. Most importantly, however, this needs to include what you got thrown into the prison colony for. What sort of crime was it and why did they commit it? Or were they perhaps framed for something? Keep in mind that due to the need for the ore, the crimes committed to get thrown in don't necessarily have to be horrible. I won't set a limit here for how much or how little this section should be, but use common sense. Two lines are probably not enough to convince me your character is interesting, but I don't want to be reading a huuuuuge novel for every single application either... Roleplay sample: This is to give me an idea of how you envision playing this character. Choose one event from your character's past that you feel is significant and write up a roleplay sample for me. Bonus (does not need to be filled out for app to be complete): I judge applications I get using a point system considering various factors that I deem important if I'm going to have you in my game. Independently of my judgement of the rest of your app, you can score some bonus points by providing me with a short summary (around 2-3 paragraphs) of another prisoner already in the colony. This should briefly include what he or she did on the outside, what he/she was committed for, and their personality/motivation. This prisoner might be connected to your PC in some way, or he might be totally independent of him, the choice is entirely up to you and neither will score you more or less points (though a poorly done/ridiculous connection to your PC might, on a case by case basis). Basically, you score the bonus points here if you provide me with something that I think would make an interesting NPC for the players to run into. Which also means that I reserve the right to use whatever you provide here in this game whether I accept you or not (though the bonus points you score could influence that decision, especially if it is close), and if I do, I reserve the right to modify them as much or as little as I feel necessary.

~ Character Creation Info ~ Important: I do not require a character sheet for the application, nor, as a matter of fact, will I even look at it if you make one. The information here is just to give you an idea of what you can most likely look ahead to. Point Buy: 22 Class: Pretty much anything in the paizo PRD is good. If you're worried, ask first. Starting level: 1 2 Traits, No Drawbacks In order for this game idea to work the way I envision it, the following things are banned/don't exist/don't function in this game (I do not dislike any of the things on this list in general, they just don't have a place in this particular game): Any and all firearms and thus all classes/archetypes based on firearms (We'll assume that they have simply not been developed yet in this world) The Daylight spell as well as any other abilities that specifically or effectively mimic it Teleportation spells/abilities (On a case by case basis I might be willing to allow teleportation that is so short range it is effectively limited to combat mobility) Anything that can fly more than short distances (let's say 100 ft.) right from the start, or at least very early in the game, needs to be run by me and does not stand the best chances An important note on demons in this game: In this game, demons are a plot element. First off, demons does not refer to the chaotic evil outsiders in the typical D&D sense, it is just the catch-all phrase used for the monsters that appear in the colony at night. They will look very different than typical demons and they most definitely have different abilities. Most importantly, they have ridiculous capabilities at shrugging off damage and spells, which effectively means you won't be able to hurt them to begin the game. This is not an optimization challenge for you to come up with a character that can deal 1000 damage at level one in order to hurt the demons (you'd still be swarmed by demons and killed...), it's part of the game. Basically, what it means is: Be inside after dark or you've pretty much gotten your character killed. A big part of this game will be exploration under the limit that you have to be back by dark or die, and if you do well you might uncover something that will let you change those rules. But if you can't get into the idea of a game where a lot of your opponents just outclass you by several categories, or if you don't trust me to run this sort of thing properly, then this game is not for you.

[Inem]

Reserved for answers to questions, as well as list of applicants

 

Is material from Occult Adventures allowed? - I'm going to have to say no at this point due to not being incorporated into the setting at all.
Are unchained classes allowed? - Yes, have your pick between these and the original.
Would you allow archetypes to be stacked if they don't replace the same things? - Yes.
How prevalent will magic items - like wands and weapons - be in this setting? - Less prevalent than in other games, and less likely to be exactly the items you would buy yourself.

Character	Player	Race	Class	Crime	Status
Machaíri	Thirteen	Ratfolk	Unchained Rogue - Knife Master	Murder	incomplete
Kaleb Porter	OneDarkness	Half-Elf	Unchained Rogue	heft, Breaking and Entering, and Crimes against the Crown	complete
Raphael Kaerwick	Humble Athena	Human	Bard - Arcane Duelist	?	complete
Mathis de Labois	Elfman6	Human	Paladin?	Desertion	complete
Caihrnon the Thrice-Damned Fist of Maalbahg	kedcoleman	Aasimar	Arcanist - Twilight Sage, Unlettered Arcanist	?	incomplete
Richard "Sharps" Valoren	Eachan Delras	Half-Elf	Fighter - Archer	Unlawful Entry, Arson, Assault, Conspiracy, Murder	complete
Torum Trask	Sassafrass	Half-Orc	Sin-Eater	Murder, Sedition, Assault, Vigilantism, Heresy, Disturbance of the Peace, Unlawful Sex Act	complete
Marcus Barrdyn	Nostrus	Human	Warpriest	Theft (intentionally caught)	complete
Ursho Guuant	Pendragon	Half-Orc/Orc	Brawler - Mutagenic Mauler?	Assault, Trespassing, Murder, Disturbing the Peace, Drunkenness, Rape (Accusation), Theft, Destruction of Property.	incomplete
Virgil (aka Vrrgll) Redweather	Tiax	Grippili	Ex-Paladin	(arranged)	complete
Dimitri Abandonato	PopCultureBard	Dhampir	Investigator	Extortion, Assault, Theft, Conspiracy	complete
Kenneck Keensong	suburbanplankton	Halfling	Bard	Treasonous acts against the crown	Withdrawn
Tiktak	Fon	Kobold	Investigator	Assault, Attempted Murder, Attempted Robbery	complete
Ser Adalbern of Berahthraban	aerondor	Human	Noble	Voluntary exile through use of connections	Withdrawn
Manus LochLain, of the Lain Lake	Squeak	Human	Druid - Bear Shaman	Attacking a member of the royal family, poaching.	complete
Victor Astergrad III	ManicMonky	Aasimar	Inquisitor	Conspiracy to murder	complete
Kel	GeoAvanti	Human	Commoner	?	complete
Eustacia ("Tashia") nic'Bjerthe	Sir Alex	Human	Cleric	Extortion,Blackmail	complete
Lan Bierstadt	SonOfSamWich	Human	Bloodrager	Murder	complete
Jacquelyn De'La Shadow	Kinder	Human	Rogue	Treason	complete
Roan Armaund	Shadowmaim	Human	Investigator(Spiritualist)	Trafficking of illegal goods	complete
Oberon De'Verik	RacesWild	Drow	Ranger	Arrested on account of his race	complete
Aramil Galanodel	Aden	Elf	Rogue	Beating a noble (intentional infiltration)	complete
Lumlush Lushlum	Thorsten	Goblin	Alchemist	Theft	complete
Inavira Millbridge	Tein	Halfling	Cloistered Cleric	Sedition, Arson, Theft of Government Property, Association with Heretical Entities (Unproven)	complete
Rhett GreenHammer	Nomadic druid	Dwarf	?	?	complete
Marra Silence	FoggyKnight	Halfling	Oracle	Breaking and Entering	complete
Melnac Granitson	Maghnuis	Dwarf	Sacred Fist	Asking questions	incomplete

[Thirteen]

Application Name: Machaíri Gender: Female Race: Ratfolk Class: Unchained Rogue (Knife Master) Appearance: Her body is as small and lithe as a starving human child; her fur and matted mess of brown streaked with silver, not the grand silver of her warren-mates but the silver of age come early, the shadow of a stressful life. To most eyes she is confused with a male, her tattered rags of prison clothing hiding any signs of her sex from passerby, and it is only when she opens her mouth to snarl invective at others that one learns the truth; damp rags of linen piled atop each other, stained with mud and blood, food and spit and bodily fluids, sewn together with slivers of her nails used in place of needles and cartilage taken from the bodies of those guards who have tried to rape her. Prison has not been kind to Machaíri, one can see it in her eyes and clothes and hair, and also in her scuttle - more like a cockroach than a rat, she moves in the dark, darting between shadows. Her eyes are a worn red like a dead tiger, her thoughts clouded so that no one can divine her without magic. Machaíri has teeth and claws yellow and crooked, and when one sees her it is fair to think she carries the deadliest of pestilences: her gaze does not deny this. Her ears are torn, the most visible of scars that cross her body, but it is that which she keeps hidden and for which she has killed more than once that is most prominent. This scar marks the departure of her from her warren, and from all of ratfolk - something that cannot be replaced nor healed: Machaíri has no tail. Personality: mm Background: Once, the she-rat was called Mesánychta Omorfiá, her body beautiful and standing respected within the warren. Mesánychta was the only daughter of a wealthy merchant family, but not the only child: she had two older brothers. Her place in warren society was secured from the moment of her birth, and was no different from any other family of prestige, but marriage to a man she never met was not what she wished for. Mesánychta was by no means "free-spirited" - instead, she deceived herself through fairy tale books and the epics of traveling bards. The young lady dreamed of a prince (or at least a good man) but when she met her betrothed she found him to be mean, caring nothing for her and little about their business. Their marriage was a good maneuver for her family's business, and it was not to be swayed by her feelings. They were wed, but Mesánychta still believed she could resist him; she was wrong. He took her in the night intent on raping her, and she fought viciously to rebuke him. When morning came his family found Mesánychta huddled in the room, her husband's body eviscerated. Before the end of the day Mesánychta would be stripped of her name and tossed to the King's men for a cold life, but first her family had to pacify the blood cries of his own. It was more than a scandal, it was an atrocity! For an unjustified murder such as this, Mesánychta would not just lose her name and her warren, but the very thing that separates a ratfolk from filthy humans. Stooping to their level, she would join them. Though the young lady cried and begged, it was none other than her own brother who raised the butcher's blade and removed her tail, burying it and mourning it in place of her. Mesánychta was no longer one of them: she was cast out. Prison was no mercy for the girl, and it twisted her furthermore. Nameless, she was first the object of many men. Inmates and guards alike wished to mount the exotic beast, beautiful still even in her rags, but she slew everyone that paid her a nighttime visit, until she was deemed too dangerous to be let out among the normal prisoners. Why was she not tossed through the portal earlier? They tried, but whenever one did she produced a blade to slice and shank those guards that came to her. Rumors circulated about the rat that could make a shiv of anything, and for several years she was left in solitary, until her identity, her sex, her very being, were reduced to nothing, and her fiery anger smoldered into a cold, calculating horror. When finally the guards came for her, she went quietly, and a single word was whispered as she passed, a word that lodged in her muddled mind, becoming her name, the definition of her existence. Machaíri RP Sample: mm   Name: mm Gender: mm Race: mm Appearance: mm Personality: mm Background: mm

[Sassafrass]

I totally had no idea this ad was happening. Nope. None at all completely surprised.

I'm also interested in an Occult Adventure application, despite our previous talks. May be reviving an old concept that they went back and made a class around years later.

[Thirteen]

 

Occult Adventures was added to the PRD on the 23th - how do you feel about those classes?

The PF Race Builder is also in the PRD. How do you feel about that? Finally, if Occult doesn't happen, do you have a preference for Unchained Classes or normal classes?

EDIT: How do you feel about pictures and / or music being added to the app?

2ND EDIT: While I'm at it, how about Eastern-themed classes like the Ninja?

3RD EDIT: Would you allow archetypes to be stacked if they don't replace the same things?

[Thirteen]

How prevalent will magic items - like wands and weapons - be in this setting?

EDIT:

[Nostrus]

How do the characters find themselves in the colony? Willingly or incarcerated?

[Inem]

Alright, you've got some questions, I've got some answers:

Occult adventures: I wasn't even aware of this until you asked. However, after having gone to take a look at it, I don't get the impression that it would really work here. This looks like the kind of thing that needs to be incorporated fully to work, and having some occult characters in an otherwise non-occult game seems like it wouldn't work too well. My verdict here is going to be NO. There's a slight chance that if I get around to looking at these more closely I might change my mind, but I wouldn't count on it. Now, if you want to make a wizard or something and flavor things differently to go more in this direction, then that would certainly be an option.

Race Builder: I'm going to have to go with no here as well, sorry. There are a LOT of races already in pathfinder, I'm sure you can find something that suits the concept you have in mind without having to create a new one of your own

Eastern Themed Classes: Sure, in principal. Assuming you have a good concept and can make it fit to this game (see note below)

Stacking Archetypes: If they don't replace the same thing then absolutely. On a case by case basis, I might be willing to even discuss options for stacking archetypes that have a little overlap...if you have a concept where these archetypes make sense and aren't just doing it to rack up mechanical bonuses.

Frequency of magic items: Well, the game is set in a prison colony where prisoners are thrown in to mine ore. So the amount of people in the colony who can make magic items is certainly going to be limited. So it's safe to say magic items are not going to be exceedingly frequent, and you can't just run to the store to get them. The most likely source of magic items is going to be discovered relics...but this also means items will tend to be what you find or what others have found. What others have found obviously won't necessarily be what you want, or if it is the NPC who has it might be unwilling to part with it. What you find is also not going to be as perfectly what you want as if you could just buy your things at the store, though I will obviously alter those sorts of treasure caches so they include items useful to the PCs. So the more you go exploring, the more cool stuff, but naturally, also more danger.
Then again, with the demons extremely hard to hurt, magical weapons are also less useful/necessary than in a regular game. So short answer: Likely less magic items than in a regular game, and likely less tailored to exactly the ones you want. Making a build (again, see note below) that relies on a particular magic item is probably not a good plan.

How do characters find themselves in the colony: Incarcerated is definitely the standard. However, if you've got a concept for why your character walked in willingly or let themselves willingly be captured with the plan to get thrown in. The only hard rule is that you enter at the start of the game, so you cannot have been in the colony longer than the others. Most PCs will be thrown through the magical portal as a group of prisoners. If you are going in willingly, we'll need to work something out for how you go through at (roughly) the same time.

Unchained classes: Are allowed, I have no preference if you use them or the originals.

Important note to all potential applicants: Given the very mechanic-centric questions I've gotten, I find it only fair to point this out now: Your concept should come first, the mechanics should follow. What you create for this game should be first and foremost a character, and not a build.That's not to say mechanics aren't important, but there's a reason I don't ask for character sheets at this point. I want to get a feel for who your character is, and how you will write, and less about how your character will act in combat. I (like all other DMs on this site) have put a lot of work and thought into this game, and I want it to be fun for me and the other players. So what I'm looking for are characters that I think will be fun to have in the game, or that will interact in fun ways. Now, I'm not saying it's impossible to build a fun character starting with the mechanics. But my advice would definitely be to go about things the other way around: After reading the advert and imagining the world, what sorts of guy/girl do you think would be fun to play in this world? Once that is settled, figure out the mechanics that capture that concept.
Again, everyone is free to do things their own way, this is just a disclaimer so you guys all know what I'm going to be looking for...

[Thirteen]

[Inem]

Just realized I forgot one question:

How do you feel about pictures and / or music being added to the app?:
Your words are what is going to convince me to take you or not, after all you are going to be writing in the game itself as well. A well placed picture or some mood music can certainly be used to enhance things if done correctly. I will note two things though: Neither picture nor music can ever replace your words and a poorly done picture or words will make your application worse and lose you points.

[Captain Devonin]

*Hums at the sight.* Now this is a thing I haven't seen in a long time... a new game run by Inem.

[OneDarkness]

Kaleb Porter
Half-Elf, Male, Twenties
Unchained Rogue

Charged with Theft, Breaking and Entering, and Crimes against the Crown

Appearance

There is definitely something not entirely human about Kaleb but its not easy to put a finger on it, its probably the paleness of his eyes which while blue are more icy in their appearance a color uncommon in your typical human or possibly the perfect skin which makes him appear a few years younger than his peers, it all points back to the elven blood from his half-elven mother. Wavy black hair and thick black eyebrows stand out against his eye color and lighter skin tones, a smaller narrow nose and a strong jawline which he suspects he inherited from his father, who ever that might be. Being about average height at a few inches shy of six feet with the lighter build doesn't make him appear physically intimidating, but his stance and gait suggest he is nimble enough on his feet and his reflexes seem to be quicker than most. His clothes were rather plain and not that untypical of an apprentice or journeymen of one of the trades, and if he had any weapons they were not clearly visible, there is a good chance if not for the eyes most would not give him a second glance and he would be just one of the faceless masses as they went about their business.

Personality
His dominate trait is that of being clever, not necessarily book smart by any means since he finds the idea of poring over reams of paper boring, but he doesn't miss a beat on something he hears or experiences himself and is actually rather gifted in picking up on languages or at least puzzling out the gist of what is being conveyed. He doesn't view himself as evil by any means but he is indeed a thief, he steals and pockets from those who he feels won't miss it or he has no respect for and is unlikely to have many be sympathetic with their loss, he has a soft spot for children and the elderly when he can afford to do so, he would likely go out of his way to help a woman especially if they are pretty and is a bit of a harmless flirt when around them. He tends to take a more hands on approach when dealing with something knowing that if he plays with something long enough he can work it out, but if you asked him to make a solid plan first covering contingencies he will quickly lose patience with the process. That being said he does like a challenge and he frequently sets goals or challenges himself to accomplish something as if to prove that he is good at something, for he doesn't have much else to truly show for his life to date, though his great wish is simply to get that one big score and settle down with a pretty girl and have a few kids and try and be a better parent than either of his were.

Background

 

The air didn't taste or smell right, it was stale and carried the smell of unwashed flesh from the other captives that shared the row of cells that Kaleb found himself in. Eyes closed he sat with his back against the cold rough stone that made up the walls of these cells, with only a bit of light seeping in from a lantern down the hall. Across on the other side of the cell hidden in partial shadows sat another prisoner, though his features were near impossible to make out. They both sat in silence for some time, though Kaleb had no idea how long it had been truly since the guards had pushed him through teh heavily barred cell door. After a time Kaleb leaned his head back against the wall and opened his eyes trying to focus on his cell mate to no avail. Unused to the quiet Kaleb finally cleared his throat and started to talk.

"You ever have one of those days when everything seems to be going your way only to find out it is life setting you up for an even greater fall?"

He let the question hang out there for a moment as if he thought his cell mate might respond but was rewarded only with silence, so he continued on.

"Well it all started for me three days ago waking up next to pretty lass by the name of Tinka, who worked down at the Rusty Nail. We have been companions on occasion before and she was looking to forget something she didn't want to talk about. Needless to say I was off to a good start for the day, so I kissed her upon the brow and snuck out of her room leaving her to sleep the morning away. Ran into the landlady of the Rusty Nail in the kitchen who gave me a grin with a smack on the ass, though she was always a bit feisty for an older gal."

Kaleb chuckled at the memory of that morning and couldn't help but grin and shake his head.

"The sun was already coming up when I stepped out into the back courtyard, filled with the promise of the beautiful day ahead, and I made my way quickly through the back streets heading towards the market plaza. Today was a market day, that one day a month when the tradesmen, travelling merchants and all manner of others congregated in the plaza to setup tables to sell and hawk their wares. With the crowd of hawkers came the expected crowd of buyers come to see what curiosities and goods might be of interest, people truly from all walks of life could be found jostling and bumping there way through the crowded plaza. These were the days I lived for, as I made my living being on the dodgy path of a pocketer."

Still silence from across the cell, but Kaleb took that silence as interest as nobody had told him to shut up yet.

"My mother you see was a barmaid much like Tinka, who made a few coins on the side by being pretty free with her love, and while she looked after me well enough she wasn't exactly one for the rules. She actually got me started with pocketing and some of her regulars taught me a few things as well, through to tell I loved the challenge of it all.

So plying my trade for a few hours I quickly amassed what seemed like a small fortune in a mixed pile of coin and a few choice pieces of jewelry that I managed to acquire from their otherwise occupied owners. I spent a few coins getting a meat pie from one of the good hawkers, avoiding the sketchy ones on the outskirts and it was one of the best I had had in ages. Deciding not to push my look I met up with a fence who was happy to take the jewelry off my hand for a reasonable cut, and changing some of my coins for convenience. In the end I would up with near on twenty golds in mostly gold and silvers, and if I spent it carefully would last me easily till the next market day.

The careful and cautious approach is not my way though and feeling my luck still running hot I decided that night to grace the dice tables around my end of town and see if I couldn't add to the pile. Was always good with dice, comes with having quick hands, they frequently seem to roll my way if you know what I mean. You gotta be careful though not to win too much at any one table and lose a bit here or there so people don't get suspicious but in the end I added a good another 10 golds to the pile before playing more dice would probably get me in a spot of trouble. If my story stopped here I would probably be back in Tinka's bed right now but unfortunately I pressed my luck and decided to test my hot streak on some cards at nicer place. That was my first mistake."

Kaleb paused for a moment for dramatic effect letting it sink in, while he took a deep breath before he continued on.

"The streak continued for a bit with my pile of coins slowly growing, and before long I earned myself an invite to a backroom game, and for a time my steak continued but I started to get cocky. As the night went on my pile was diminishing and I was betting riskier than I should have, not to mention missing the signs of collusion between three of the players at the table. The one in charge was nothing special to look at and could have easily been any one of the mass of shopkeeps throughout the city, something non-physical if I had to guess by his scrawniness. His partners were odder still and I suspect now that they had been selected simply for the fact that they were more noticeable than the shopkeep. One was a raven haired beauty that I would have fought for, and the other was a gnome with exaggerated features and big eyes that were hard not to stare at when you looked at him.

So I finally pull up a good hand, the first in a few, and I am betting heavily in hopes that this might be a turn around when the gnome shoved in a pile of coins that I couldn't hope to match. At that point I could have walked away with a gold and a few silvers and mourned my loss and I almost did but the shopkeep folded and offered to front me enough to meet the pot. With the hand I had I was positive I had things so I agreed and we showed up and to my surprise the gnome trounced me and laughed as he raked in the coins. With a nod from the shopkeep I knew I was in some trouble for the other players took their coins and left the room and as I went to stand I felt the big meaty hand a man who looked like he could tear me in two press me down into my seat.

The shopkeep addressed me by name, and I noticed a shift in his presence as he suddenly seemed more deadly and agile than I had given him credit for earlier that evening. He knew I didn't have the coin to repay him and wouldn't for some time, instead he offered me an out a simple task as he put it, and that's when I made my second mistake by grasping at straws and accepting his offer."

The tell tale sound of hard heeled boots echoed along the stone hallway as a guard walked by taking mental note of the inhabitants in each cell, you could hear him quietly counting as he went, it wasn't long before he had moved on sparing no more than the cursory glance in the cell.

"Bugger where do they think we are going to go? Anyway he gave me a charcoal sketch of the man and that man had a key, and that key opened a iron bound box, and I would bring him the contents of the box than all would be forgiven. It sounded simple enough and played to my skills so I counted my lucky stars that I wasn't going to be some body fished out of the bay come morning and agreed. Next morning as instructed I went to the cobbled lane of scribes and book binders and waited for the man as instructed. Sure enough within a few glasses the man the rumpled robes of a scribe that matched the description came along and I set about fulfilling my task. I watched him unnoticed as he went about buying this and that down the lane, and as he added a few sealed vials to a pouch at his side he withdrew the black metal key I sought and shifted it to a robe pocket. Which was ideal for me, so I bumped into him and pocketed the key easily while apologizing profusely for my misstep and none were the wiser. From there I followed him back to his residence and set in to wait for an opportunity to make my move while hoping the key's absence would go unnoticed.

Shortly after dusk I got my opportunity when the man left and I took the opportunity to sneak around to a back courtyard where I easily picked the lock on a door that led into a kitchen as expected. Pausing for a few moments I listen for any sounds of movement or noise that might indicate someone else in the house but it was a quiet as a tomb. On the second floor I found the man's study, which was meticulously ordered with everything neatly stacked with care and a sturdy looking lock box sitting on the corner of the desk. So silly me I walked right up to it and inserted the key. Open it up and as soon as my hand lifted the lid I felt the metal go ice cold, colder than I had ever felt in my entire life. It spread quickly through my body to the point that I couldn't even feel my limbs and I was held firmly in place. Never have I been so terrified in all my life as it was right then, but then I heard the muffled closing of a door and the slightest creak of the stairs.

Not being able to turn my head, my heart pounded in its chest like I had run for glasses, and then out of the corner of my eye I saw moment as a shadowy figure crossed in front of my vision revealing itself to be that of the shopkeep who held my debt. He looked at me, smiling a toothy smile, as he shook his head at my predicament. My brother always had a few tricks up his sleeve what with his dabbling in the arcane and is a court mage despite his rumpled appearance. Reaching into the box carefully so as not to touch the metal the man extracted a tightly would scroll imprinted with royal marks and Krakengard written across its surface. Not sure if he thought I was a dead man or he just felt like sharing what he was up to, but he cracked scroll and let out a low whistle as he read quietly to himself. My brother was commissioned by the crown to study the portal to Krakengard, figure out how it worked, it looks like he has been busy indeed and should make for some interesting reading. Now I must be off, for judging by the sound of chain I can hear faintly out the window you have tripped an alarm as well.

Tapping the scroll to his head in a sort of strange salute to me was gone. Shortly after the front door burst open and men of the guard and shopkeep's brother bounded up the stairs to the study, where the rumpled mage growled in frustration. The mage slammed the lid down and struck me with the back of his hand in anger, well deserved given the situation. With the closing of the lock box lid the freezing faded away and in short order I was manacled and dragged off to prison for what lets just say was a stern talking to in hopes of finding out what I knew. I debated for but a moment on keeping what the shopkeep had said a secret but at the same time I feared for my life so I talked, not that it did me any good. The man called me a liar and said his brother had died many years ago, which earned me a bit of a beating. You see they wanted answers from me but I really didn't have anything else to give them. So facing some pretty hefty crimes I earned myself a trip to Krakengard and a life of hard labor for my efforts. Its not a great tale by any means and makes me out to bit of a fool but a fool I am in this case."

Bonus people

 

Jimmy is a good two decades older than Kaleb and a full blooded human who lived quite happily on the dodgy side of life, a friend of his mother's occasionally he had taken a liking to Kaleb in his formative years regaling him with all sorts of stories of theft and deception as well as providing him much of his initial training in the thieving arts. Jimmy was well rounded without any real specialty though he tended to be more of a con artist than true thief, his charming smile opened more than a few doors and parted even more sheets if one were to believe all his stories, and its was suggested he parted the wrong sheets a year or so back as he hasn't been seen in some time but neither has a body been found as one might expect.

There is a good chance he faced some trumped up or very real charge and was sent through the portal himself, and knowing his charm has likely found some group or another to align himself with, if he hasn't gone and done something stupid. If he is alive and on the other side there is a good chance he remembers Kaleb fondly and would help him out if he could, but wouldn't go so far as to endanger himself in doing so, and who knows what all this time in the colony has done to him, it could have changed his out look on things a great deal.

 

Tobias is one of the shopkeep's men here in the colony, a specialist in the art of poisoning whose favourite tactic is to first use a paralytic on his target before making his presence known, and he then drips something far more lethal slowly into the unmoving victims mouth while he whispers poetry of his own crafting into their ear. Tobias places very little value in the life of others, and is content to wait for the ideal moment to strike at his prey, ideally when they least suspect him or before they even known he is after them.

Tobias would not likely know of Kaleb's arrival immediately, but could easily find out shortly after through others in the shopkeep's employ that were sent through at the same time or after Kaleb's arrival for various crimes that there is a price on Kaleb's head for ratting the man out. Whisper would likely consider him a target due to his loyalty to the shopkeep, and would seek him out when the opportunity is right. Though they have never met in person Kaleb has heard of Whisper, as have most on the street, but does not know what the man looks like.

GM Notes


Asked Questions

 

Well first off I have to say the concept of the game is very interesting as there are too few games that are dark and scary places where death is easily assured, that being said I am posting interest but I have a couple games with apps in and depending on how those apps do I may have to withdraw interest if I find myself in the envious position of getting accepted to a couple.

Just for clarification do we start off just going through the portal as the end point of our story?

Are there outside sources of information on what lies on the other side to the point where if somebody was willingly going through they might consulted such a source?

Will we arrive through the portal with equipment, i would guess not but....?

[Humble Athena]

Name: Raphael Kaerwick
Gender: Male
Race: Human

Class: Bard - Arcane Duelist
Favorite Equipment: He'll be cursing the guards for not letting him take his shiny bejeweled mithral breastplate through the portal.Light armor and rapier

Appearance: At a lean six foot three, Raphael presents the very image of an aristocrat, complete with aquiline nose. Long copper-brown hair is tied back with a wrap of leather and polished bone; sharp viridian eyes perch above angular cheekbones. His clothes were finely-made and fashionable, before he was forced to wear the same outfit for weeks- though he's been keeping fresh with surreptitious use of magic when left alone. There's nothing his magic can do about the shackles around his wrists and ankles, which weigh down his pride even more than his limbs.

Personality: Raphael works in his own best interests, but he's good at working as part of a team because often that's the best way to get something done. His pride sometimes gets the better of him, and he has a vengeful streak against those who wrong him, but in all but the most extreme situations he is capable of tempering or postponing actions that do not serve him best at the moment. He will work for the betterment of the colony, as he doesn't know how long he'll be stuck there, but he will never give up on getting home. The woman he loves is there, and hell itself can't keep him from returning to try and win her back.

 

Raphael is the seventh son of a noble household, born to a strict and emotionally distant father and a less-than-bright socialite mother. He grew up bullied by most of his elder brothers, surviving on an alliance with his next youngest brother, until the boy took to religion in a way that Raphael could only scorn. When his father died, the estates and holdings were divided up among the four eldest, while the fifth became a soldier and the sixth entered the priesthood, to the surprise of nobody. Raphael inherited nothing except a taste for the luxuries that he had grown up with. His eldest brother offered him employment in the company that had been part of his lot, but Raphael took it as an insult and angrily declined. Feeling entitled to wealth without having to endure manual labor, he began to cook up schemes to obtain funds from those who had plenty to spare. In short time, he found that fleecing the wealthy and leaving them smiling about it was something he had a knack for, and it kept him in enough wine, art, and women to satisfy his immediate desires. But satisfaction could never last.

When the war started, his soldier brother was one of the first to head to the front lines, but not until after urging the spendthrift to enlist, certain that he could earn an officership. Raphael had no intention of putting his life in danger. Fortunately, his noble status protected him from forced enlistment, and he was able to continue his lifestyle taking advantage of those who were left behind, and of the war effort itself.

The beginning of the end was the day he fell in love. Miss Cecelia Meadows was the only daughter of a wealthy merchant widower, and after a rapid courtship, she loved him as much as he loved her. Her father was a canny man, however, and would not approve of a marriage between his daughter and a whoring, fast-talking spendthrift with shady connections and no fortune of his own to support her. Though the dislike was mutual, Raphael had to admit to some of the old man's points. Swallowing his pride, he returned to his brother and talked his way back into the job he'd been offered years before. He managed the logistics for a caravan of goods, and when the time came to set out, accompanied it. All went well on the way to the destination, but on the way back they ran into a bandit ambush. Leaping from the caravan, Raphael helped drive the bandits away with a valor he'd never shown before in his pampered life.

The minor hero reached the end of the journey, and saw a cautious pride in his brother's eyes when he made his report. However, there was really only one person he sought to impress. He excused himself as quickly as he could and made his way to Cecelia's home, only to learn the horrible news- while he was away, her father had convinced her to marry another nobleman; one whose name was less grand but whose character was more dependable.

Raphael returned to his rooms in a fury that wound down into a drunken pity party, but when he recovered from the following hangover, he met with her. She swore a heartfelt promise that she still loved him, but she intended to be a good wife to the man she had married. Even as his heart hardened, he promised to remain her friend. They would meet for walks, far too infrequently in his opinion, and talk about their lives. He could see that she was not really happy, and knew that he certainly was not. But she was like a prisoner trapped in a cell. He began to plot.

The nobleman sent letters to his brother, and pulled strings to have Cecelia's husband offered an officer's appointment. While presented as a peace offering, the young man could only hope that his rival would end up dead. At the very least, when his rival went to the front lines, it left Cecelia with a lot more time to spend with him, and he no longer had to lie awake at night imagining another man's hands on her. But still, his pleas to her were deflected; her father still had too strong an influence over her. He would have to go, too.

Neglecting his new duties, Raphael instead worked tirelessly to dredge up the old man's dirt, until he had a catalogue of the man's sins- mostly unethical business practices. Where there was no proof of wrongdoing, he used his contacts to plant the seeds necessary, until one morning the guards came and took the old man away. When Cecelia was inconsolable, the nobleman was her shoulder to cry on. It didn't take long after that for her to give in to her passions. Though he could not have her as his wife, he was happy with what he could get. For a time, life was good. Like all good things, however, it was not to last.

Over time, Raphael became too casual with his secrets, and one morning after a particularly strenuous night, Cecilia woke while her lover remained in deep sleep. Gathering her scattered clothing for the skulk home, she came upon some papers that implicated Raphael in his own wrongdoings. Staring at them with distaste, she rifled through his desk until she had a collection. Even then, she was about to bury it all in the deepest draw again, until she saw the evidence of what he'd done to her father. When he woke, she was gone. Not long after, the guards came for him.

 

The guards had let it slip that she had been the one to betray him, and still the sight of her was like the first rays of dawn bringing color and warmth to the world after a cold, dark night. And if somewhere in his core she caused a burning ache, did not the sun also burn those who basked too long in its brilliance?

He rose from the rickety cot where he'd been sitting in contemplation for the past... how long had it been? Behind bars, there was little to mark the passage of time. He stood, looking through the rusted iron bars of the cell door, and took in the vision of her. The dress she wore was lavender over a white sheath, simple of cut but with flowers embroidered in blue and green flowers. It was the dress she'd worn when they met; he wondered if she'd selected it intentionally or if her heart had guided her hand. Her goldspun hair was coiffed as if on an expensive doll, and her face was powdered, but even that great artistry could not hide the puffy redness of eyes exhausted of their tears. But for which of them had she wept? She broke the silence first, one hand's long slender fingers wrapping around the bars while the other pressed against her stomach. One word- "Why?"

"I love you, Ceil." He whispered, the first words that formed in his mind. And then they began tumbling from his lips like debris over a raging waterfall. "I could have provided for you; we could have been happy together! But he bullied you into that marriage-"

"He was my father, Raphael. And they took him away to that horrid place! I'll never see him again!" He moved to put his hand over hers, but she pulled it away, pressing fingers against her eyelids. When they lowered, a smear of rust remained, but she didn't seem to notice. "I will never see my father again, because of you."

"I am so sorry. He wasn't exactly innocent, but I never thought they'd send a man his age to the mines for something so minor." He hated the old man, and would not feel a second's remorse, save for the pain it so obviously caused her. Damn the stubborn old fool for forcing him to extreme measures!

"Well, they did. And my husband? You sent him off to fight in a war you have done everything in your power to avoid fighting!"

"I only gave him an opportunity. He was the one that took it." Raphael straightened, keeping his hands loose at his sides against the urge to reach for her through the bars. "All I wanted, all I meant to do, was get them out of the way for a little while, so you could feel safe making your own decisions. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me, and I'll stop fighting for you."

She glanced at his eyes but turned away before he could read what was in them. She a drew a breath that seemed to hold all the air in the room, and he waited. When it came, it was reluctant and full of anguish. "Gods help me, I still love you."

"Then get word to my brothers." He urged, flooding with hope and half-formed plans. "I'm sure they can get me out of this."

"No, Raphael,..." She sighed, turning back. "It's too late. You have to live with the consequences of your actions, and so do I."

His heart turned to lead, aching as if squeezed by the malefic hand of some invisible entity. "Promise me, at least, that you will not forget me, for I promise that I will never stop trying to return to you!"

She smiled for the first time, but somehow that expression seemed more despondent than the sum of all her tears. "I could never forget you, Raphael. But if you are going to make promises to me even now, then promise me this. Promise me, that if my father still lives, you'll look out for him."

"Your father is as tough as a mountain goat and stubborn as a desert mule. I'm sure he's thriving. But I'm the last person he's going to want anything to do with."

"Still, that is the promise I want to hear from you."

"Then I promise." He assured her, and this time, she let his fingers meet hers.

"There is one more thing you can do for me." She murmured, after a few moments of quiet. A small envelope materialized from her pocket, and she pressed it into his hand. "Please give this to him. I didn't... I didn't have my wits about me when they took him away, and there's so much I want to tell him."

"I will." He promised again, and she pulled his hand through the bars to kiss his fingers twice.

"Thank you." She backed away from the bars. "Goodbye, my love. I shall pray the gods watch over you." And then she was gone.

He took the letter and retreated back to his cot, slipping the thick envelope under the mattress before the guard came by. The man was pleasant enough, and had allowed them a modicum of privacy, but he couldn't be sure he wouldn't confiscate the missive if he came by and saw it. He'd let her down so much already; he couldn't fail her in this. Later that night while the world slept, he'd transfer the pages to his boots and hope for the best. But he wouldn't pray. He could remember a time when he had really tried to have faith, but that time was long gone.

 

Aaron Meadows, Merchant Widower

A portly man in his late fifties with salt -and-pepper hair and a bushy beard, Aaron walks with a cane due to a bum knee from an accident in his younger years, where his leg was pinned under some fallen equipment. Despite spending the better part of forty years behind a desk, his arms have hidden muscle that would catch any assailant off guard.

Due that same youthful injury, Aaron has nursed an addiction to a certain narcotic root, and deprived of its pain-relieving qualities becomes even more irritable than usual. Despite this, the man has always been a shrewd businessman, though he has done some questionable things to build his fortune in textiles. The toes he stepped on came back to kick him when Raphael went stirring up trouble, but he stands by his actions as the best ones in a harsh world. When his wife died, he focused on his business and his daughter Cecelia. He'd planned for some time to marry her to the son of one of his associates, a fellow he found suitable not only as a husband but as a business partner and heir. Even if that were not the case, he would never have given his blessing for a wastrel like Raphael to marry his daughter.

Now that he is trapped in the colony, he has been using his mercantile expertise to help organize the distribution of goods and reduction of spoilage.

[Inem]

Good to see some early interest, keep it coming

Originally Posted by Captain Devonin

*Hums at the sight.* Now this is a thing I haven't seen in a long time... a new game run by Inem.

And I didn't even have to mention your name 3 times in the advert to summon you to this thread this time?

Originally Posted by OneDarkness

[...]but I have a couple games with apps in and depending on how those apps do I may have to withdraw interest if I find myself in the envious position of getting accepted to a couple.

Absolutely, I don't want anyone overreaching, and I won't get offended if you have to withdraw because your plate becomes to full.

Originally Posted by OneDarkness

Just for clarification do we start off just going through the portal as the end point of our story?

The game will start off with everyone being thrown through the portal together, so the very furthest your story should go is until right before that (i.e. when a group of prisoners is gathered in front of the portal). You have been rightfully or wrongfully convicted at this point, and you may or may not already know your sentence.

Originally Posted by OneDarkness

Are there outside sources of information on what lies on the otherside to the point where if somebody was willingly going through they might consulted such a source?

The king and his advisers/retainers/etc. know what is going on in the colony, or at least a lot more than is known to the general public. Theoretically they could provide information, though they'd need a good reason to do so. Given the kingdom's dependence on the ore, they likely don't want random people just strolling in. For that matter, I should point out that the portal is in a well-guarded location in the kingdom, so willingly going through would involve more than just strolling up to it and walking through the portal.

Edit:

Originally Posted by OneDarkness

Will we arrive through the portal with equipment, i would guess not but....?

Nope, most definitely no equipment. Clothes on your back, and depending how long you've been in prison, those might not be in the best shape either

[OneDarkness]

sorry and I added one more question to my post but it might have been while you were posting, am I right in assuming since we are going through as prisoners we will pretty much be equipmentless?