It all began so very young,
Those memories that we have hung
Within our mind from wall to wall;
The ambience of the monsters ball.

We lurk, so very commonplace
A lie hiding in every face
And through our sins we will stand tall
Unflinching hosts of the monsters ball.

A grin for every scream of pain
Perversion your true price of fame.
Their sobs are trailing down the hall;
Music from the monsters ball.

Sometimes, I truly wondered now
Why, when, where, and how
You smile easily through it all;
Always at home in the monsters ball.

The others are all tortured souls
Disease eroding at their whole,
Their lives are moving at a crawl;
Servants in the monsters ball.


Our crimes are many, numerous;
A bullet for the best of us
Is well deserved straight through our skulls.
An end to every monsters ball.

And if you think our mind can mend,
Know that really, in the end
The hellish cycle never stalls
An all eternal
Monsters ball.

You sit quietly on the corner of 15th and Breach Street, feasting your eyes on the comings and goings of The Commune just before dawn. It’s a quaint, deceptive sight that almost fools you into thinking that all inside you is calm, peaceful, and normal.

The loaded shotgun sitting on the table next to you in a worn violin case speaks otherwise.

Perrine’s is possibly the best crêpe shop on this side of The Commune’s private paradise. The food is hardly your main reason for visiting; you’ve spent many an evening on this lonely street corner, quietly listening to dull roar of massive propellers deep into the night, convinced that every once in a while, you can hear the hellish noise of the ravaged landscape far below.

Gunshots are a common noise in your mind, borne from years fighting for survival on the surface. Your brother rescued you from all that ages ago, but somehow it keeps coming back to haunt you.

Haunt? The wrong word, likely.

It wasn’t always terrible…When the war began, you’d expected that life would be little more than a frantic race from one shattered pile of rubble to the next, eking out a pitiful existence from the broken land. The truth was a bit of a shock when you finally realized it.

Adventure.

Your life in the Hellscape had been a series of constant frantic encounters blending seamlessly into a story worthy of legend. Perhaps it was your companions, your own resourcefulness, or even a unique combination of the two, but no matter where you strayed, life was something you lived to its wild fullest.

The sound of bullets; It haunts you because you miss it sometimes, imagining that your back in the blackened streets of London running from the burning remains of a successfully demolished Syndicate barracks with a shit-eating grin stretched wide across your sweat soaked face. Grinning as you tie a makeshift blindfold fashioned from a torn bit of dress around your face for one of your crew’s more…Unusual drinking games. Up here, alcohol and merriment come in short supply; a by-product of the commune’s fierce disciplinary policies.

You understand, and even admire the efficiency given by the rules so rigidly enforced here, but the blaring noise of a loudspeaker announcing a curfew you’ll likely never honor only serves to remind you of those moments spent deep beneath the earth, huddled drunk with friends you’d fight the entire world to protect.

Fight the world…most certainly not empty words, in your case. It’s a part of the reason why you’ve never been outright forced to conform to the ‘guidelines’ held by The Commune; you’re something of a legend. You are the sole reason for Skyfleet’s successful annexation of the shattered continent, and thus the reason Skyfleet’s floating cities remain safe, secure, and airborne.

You hold the secret to a power that broke the world, and saved mankind.

So yes. You are now a hero.

Whoop de fucking doo. It’s boring as hell.
Boring as heaven actually; Skyfleet’s cities are pristine in their beauty and splendour, a true paradise for those weary of the ravages of a war-torn earth. You understand why your mother, brother, and sister find this place such a godsend. Frankly, you can hardly understand why you don’t find it more enthralling. Shouldn’t you be more grateful for such a haven of peace and harmony after facing such a rampantly dangerous life on the surface?

You should. You really should. But you can’t help but miss the coppery bitterness of blood on your lip after a particularly nasty gunfight, or the wild abandon of losing yourself in a night of senseless debauchery.

None of that up here; you’re a hero now, and the role model to the rather impressionable remains of a shattered world. You can’t afford to break away from perfection in pursuit of the life you once led.

Not here.

That’s why you’re going back to the Hellscape. The Commune’s been good to you, no mistake, but it’s time you got off this massive hunk of metal and back into that wild world you thrived in.

A lone figure strides down the empty street towards you, cello case held awkwardly in both hands. You smile. Marco had always seemed far too small for the somewhat extravagant weapons he enjoyed most, but none could deny that he used them well.

You wonder for a moment if perhaps the whole ‘guns in instrument cases’ bit is a tad bit too cliché for your comfort. No matter; you make your best ‘music’ on the battlefield. The somewhat strange weapons casing makes sense in that regard.

A hand raised casually to your lips paints them cherry red. Taking a moment to adjust your dress so as not to give poor Marco a heart attack, you brush a stray lock of curly brown hair from your face and grin with the same ferocious joy you remember feeling back in hell itself.

Life has been confined to the strictly straight and narrow for far too long now; it’s time to take a detour.

Rules

1) Each round, every player picks one action and sends the narrator a private message with one of the following actions: shoot the air, shoot yourself, or shoot another player.

Shoot the air: This has no effect on you, anyone else, or anything, really.
Shoot yourself: If you shoot yourself and no one else tries to shoot you, you die. If you shoot yourself AND at least one other player tries to shoot you too, you remain alive and all your assailants die instead.
Shoot someone: You must specify which player you wish to shoot. When you shoot that player, they die. If your victim has shot him/herself that round, you die instead.

2) At the end of each round, the narrator writes a story detailing the gruesome deaths (or survivals) of each player. The survivors are put together in a new standoff and the next round ensues. This continues until there is only one player left, who is declared the winner.
2b) If all players die simultaneously in one round, that round is repeated.
2c) If no players die in one round, that round is repeated.

3) If you wish to, you can publicly declare/bluff/lie about your actions anywhere you wish. You can also make and break deals with other people.

4) One round lasts 48 hours. With each update, there will be a new deadline for your submission.
4b) Players who don't submit an action by the deadline are treated as if they shot the air.
4c) If a player is inactive for two rounds in a row, s/he automatically dies.

5) The winner gets to be the narrator of the next game. If the winner does not want to be the narrator, then s/he can give the job to someone else, or ask me to pick the new narrator.

6) Don't take things too seriously! It's all just a game! (Theon Greyjoy, Game of Thrones)

7) The first post will be frequently updated for information on the current game. If you have a question, it can probably be answered here. Post here or PM me if you have any questions.

8) The Overlady (that's me, Carraka,) reserves the right to alter/add to the rules and resolve any disputes that arise when queer stuff occurs.

Convoluted Rules
These are added when queer stuff occurs, and hopefully will never need to be put in use a second time.

Background Information:
This role play is based in Nazi Germany in the time leading up to WW2. It's also based on the true story of what happened, but only loosely because I can't remember all the precise historical facts. (If you'd like it to be more historically accurate, PM me with what you'd like it to be changed to and I'll try and help!) All children over the age of 9 are practically required to join the Hitler Youth. It's a bit like the Brownies/Scouts - but much more army-orientated. They have 'excursions' to the country - spending three days in a military-style camp with long hikes and weapons training for the older ones. They are also not allowed to wear their own clothes - they have to wear uniforms - and are only allowed to listen to classical German music. There were some children who didn't want to join and rebelled. Instead of going to the HY meetings, they met up in old barns, street corners, anywhere they could find. They deliberately wore their own clothes, some girls even wore clothes from America (which meant trousers!). They listened to forbidden jazz music and often danced things like the lindy-hop. Some gangs went looking for HY members and beat them up, but most rebelled by writing their own songs and what I've just described. These groups, although separate groups, often used the same symbol - the edelweiss flower. This gained them the name 'Edelweiss Pirates'. A few years into the movement (where I intend to start this role-play), police officers began to arrest EP members if they found them. Death penalties were occasionally carried out.
Characters:
Your character can be from either the HY or the EP. Children did sometimes switch from one to the other, so you can change sides later on if you like. Younger brothers and sisters did join the EP as well, so your character can be under 9, but you will need a close family link with another character. I'm going to set a limit on the age - 21 - because I don't think adults would really do things like that. Here's a guide for a Character Profile.
Name:I'm not really bothered whether you have a German-sounding name or not, call yourself what you like! (Within reason, obviously.)
Age: As I said, you can be under 9, but not over 21.
Side: Are you with the HY or the EP?
Gender:
Physical Description:
Character:
Other: This is where you can say if there is anything special about your character. Can they play an instrument (guitars are much appreciated!), dance, write lyrics or anything else that comes to mind.

Name: Anne-Marie Klein, but everyone calls her Annem.
Age: 13 going on 14
Side: Edelweiss Pirates.
Gender: Female
Physical Description: Average height and build. Dark brown hair that she wears in a single plait down her back. She isn't very striking in appearance, but the few American clothes that she has really suit her.
Character: Can seem a little sullen at first, but once you get to know her she is passionate about the things that she loves and is very protective of her friends. She doesn't have many, but really values the ones that she has.
Other: Plays the guitar and sings, although she isn't very good at writing songs herself. Adores jazz and likes to watch others dance, althoug claims to have two left feet herself. Objects to violence, but on occasion will use mild violence herself in order to protect herself & those around her. Was in the Hitler Youth for six months when she was 9, but hasn't been to a meeting since because she hated every minute of it.

Annem also has a brother - he's up for grabs if anybody wants him!
Name: Hanz Klein
Age: 7
Side: Edelweiss Pirates.
Gender: Male
Physical Description: Short in height, but is beginning to grow. Has dark brown hair like his sister, but (obviously!) wears it short. He wears plain shorts and top, usually with bits of mud or food stuck on, depending on whether he's been outside or in.
Character: Very trusting of people. Most favourite thing in the world is his sister, after that he likes to play outside.
Other: Likes to sing with his sister, although he isn't very good. He enjoys being part of the EP because everyone treats his kindly and someone normally plays with him whenever they meet up. He doesn't want to join the HY when he turns 9, but is scared that he will be made to.

Chapter-1

Those thirsty raindrops trolled on my back. Chirping, i turned around. There was a thunderous scream - I screamed. Where i was? It was a dead end of some deadly vale. Horrified, i slumped backwards and hit the ground hard. Something went straight into me. "aah" I squalled heavily and clutched the grass beneath . I could feel something had started flowing inside my body .There was such a deathly pain beneath my leg....beneath my right leg. I could see nothing, it was dark all around, I couldn't turn, couldn’t move. i was incapacitated .

The night grew darker and darker. i tried to roll my body down the other side. But, as i slid there was a hollowing burning pain in my leg. It felt as if some force had grabbed me there - i was stuck . i was screaming, yelling, crying or whatever i could do to get myself out of there.- but i couldn't . soon enough, my voice started cracking too. My weak shrills were only audible few seconds later and after that my throat completely went off.

Looking as its haze, breathing from the night sky - which a moment ago twinkled in my glum eyes, now looked more like my grave's cover. Completely foiled, My eyes went for The Moon - the only light left in my life. But, that too not for long . When i got its notice, it wasn't in its usual delight. it was twitching in pain. it appeared as if some devastating forces were about o steal it , as if it was reducing its size....No! Wait....it was made to reduce its size...No! it was being sucked up, swallowed up- just like me . The night in heaven tried to have its feast and so in earth, was happening with me . There was some bluish beams and bam!- it was gone. The night ate the moon.

I couldn't trust my senses lest i was insane! it was not possible . Whatsoever, i had to trust them - it happened in front of my own eyes . The truth i reckon was about to end. it was indeed end of everything . The Sun, The Stars, The days, The nights, The Earth, The Moon, ....and Me. The earth was dead. I applied some science at least to believe in what all my mind blabbered ! - "loss of Moon is Increase in gravitation, bullshit. We all gonna die being stuck up at places and water drinking us", there had to be then no limits to my pessimism . "Our Earth is dead" i grieved a sigh and lay dormant .

Bearing those pernicious trickles of rain, I loathed myself . "How could you? You Ediot ! ...you should have stayed up at the hotel with your family and enjoyed the rain rather than coming here and enjoying your death, alone" ,I cursed my every single cell .Tears emerged from my heart, my brown eyes cradling them- burned to death. Everything blurred cause the tears were just filling, not falling. Everything was strange. Everything reminded of only one thing - DEATH. their were my screeching silent yells . That pain was unbearable, irresistible. Thunder thudded the atmosphere with ever increasing dissonances. Suddenly, there was a screaking spark and desperate downpour - all in a crack of five beautiful seconds .

i was somewhere- somewhere in some Hotel ...Gah! it was my hotel's corridor - on my doormat, outside the my room 202, oblivious. busy with considering me a poop. and above all, i wasn't wet at all . "where had gone the thunder, where were my screams , that valley ?..Was it a dream?" i said to my ears as I tried balancing my feet on ground. "ouch!" I screamed, there was still pain beneath my right leg. " I can't be" I mumbled to myself , confused till now. Everything seemed to be in place, except me. People were moving, dancing, having fun all around, in that corridor .Even the moon, it was there. That was the most alluring sight. i heaved a sigh of relief. These were enough signs showing me that its all fine . I must talk about it with Dave and Mom - i considered.
"Dave ...Mom" I called, she said they were in 201. I rushed, I was never so excited about telling parents anything than today ! I ran to hit open the door, but it was already open. the door sided backward and I fell hard inside. "uhh.." I grunted. “Doing fishy stuff they must lock their door" i coughed a bit to grasp some attention from those lovers. as soon as they took my notice, popped out of the bed. It was damn embarrassing! I chuckled and chortled while turning around and shut their door tight. Anyways, this Dave and Mom thing drifted me away from that daydreamed nightmare - at least for some time. i went back to 201