This RPG is based partially off of Chobits and partially off of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, with a little bit of my sci-fi inventiveness thrown in.
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"There's one, sir!" the first scientist announced.
"I got a lock. Screen dating estimates the year 2004, almost a hundred years." The second scientist fiddled with the screen.
The scientist captain held the reins of the Box. "Three...two...one...capture!" With a sickening schlorp the Box closed around the freshly captured soul. "Now to bring this one to the lab to help identify it." The captain left with the box while the two other scientists put away the equipment and shut down the Soul-Capturer for the day.
-~-~-~-~-
The year is 2102. For the past 40 years, technology has allowed the viewing of the souls of the dead. These souls, which are permanently on a separate plane (called the "Spiritual Plane" by most everyone), wander aimlessly, almost completely ignorant of the physical world (the "Physical Plane"). Within the past 5 years, new advances allowed scientists to "capture" these souls in special boxes.
Of course, it's only been in the past few months that anyone has figured out how to do anything with these souls. New humanoid androids have been developed, with a special "brain" that allows the soul to anchor to the Physical Plane once again.
See, scientists have known for over 50 years that the brain is an inter-planar organ, allowing the souls from the Spiritual Plane to function in the Physical Plane. Finally, they have developed a mechanical brain that mimics the human brain. The mechanical brain controls all functions the same way a human brain does, with a section for consciousness, which is where the soul is inserted.
These androids are almost splitting images of humans. However, they have two distinct physical differences. One, their eyes are pupil-less, an impossibility for humans to duplicate. Two, around their neck like a collar is a small band of colored skin that identifies the android and where it was brought to life.
However, not all is happy in the world. While in the past month, the Android Revival Revolution (ARR) has brought the ratio of Androids to humans up to about 1:1000 (closer to 1:100 in the big cities), not everyone accepts the androids into society. The androids have become the next generation of newly freed blacks or native Americans. Also, gangs have come about, intent on stealing the blueprints for the eight Soul-Capturers that are only in 8 major cities throughout the world.
Can peace ever come to the world? Or will the world end in war, and if so, who will win, if anyone does?
-~-~-~-~-
Four types of characters are needed in this RPG: Androids, Scientists, Gang Members, other humans.
Descriptions
Androids:
The Androids that the souls are being inserted into are 100% inorganically fabricated. All Androids look and feel exactly like humans (anatomically correct, but no reproductive organs), except for two appearance differences: all androids have no pupils, and all androids have a ring of colored skin around their neck. The eyes may be any color except black, white, or any color that is close to that. The colored skin ring indicates where the Android was manufactured and contains information on who it is. (See Soul-Capturers, below)
Androids need no external energy source, and will not die as long as their head remains intact (and Android heads are extremely hard to break).
Souls:
Souls are the essence of people, where their personality comes from and so on. Through the Soul-Viewers, people see souls as translucent white clouds (imagine DBZ souls, if you've seen them, but partially see-through). They all permanently lie in the Spiritual Plane, but connect to the Physical Plane through the human brain, and now through the Android brain. Bodiless souls tend to stay towards areas of large human population.
Soul-Capturers:
These huge machines are set in 8 major cities, and each city has its own manufacturing color (see Major Cities, below). Soul-Capturers are made up of 3 parts: a giant Soul-Viewer (see Soul-Viewers, below), A Soul-Screener, and "The Box." The Soul-Screener is like carbon dating for souls; it identifies how long ago the body of the soul died. "The Box" is the capture and transport device. It is also inter-planar, keeping souls locked inside and preventing them from wandering.
Soul-Viewers:
Originally giant screens, then simple goggles, these devices allow humans on the Physical Plane to see the Spiritual Plane and any souls wandering there. As part of the Soul-Capturers, they are giant screens again so that all people working on capturing a soul may see it.
Major Cities:
These are the 8 major cities that have Soul-Capturers in them. The color next to them is the color of the band that goes around the neck of Androids manufactured there.
New York, New York, USA ~ White
Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Black
Tokyo, Japan ~ Red
Beijing, China ~ Orange
Sydney, Australia ~ Yellow
Rome, Italy ~ Green
Paris, France ~ Blue
London, England ~ Violet
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You may sign-up for up to 4 characters, but only if you can seriously play all of them constantly and in a satisfactory manner. No limits on groups yet, but if everyone starts signing up as Androids, I'll have to stop allowing them. Same goes for Scientists and Gang Members. No limit on other humans.
Also, this RPG may turn towards the mature side (since A. the androids are anatomically correct and B. there will be fighting). Don't sign up if you can't handle the possibility of sexual innuendos/comments or large fight scenes.
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Android Sign-up Form
Originally (Who were you before you died?)
Name: (You can play someone famous, if you'd like, but in that case make it someone historical, not fictional)
Gender: (I'd prefer M or F, PM me if you really want to be something else)
Age at death: (...)
Date of death: (be as specific as possible, nothing before 1100 AD, though)
Reason of death: (why the heck did you die?)
Currently (When souls are revived, they get to choose everything new)
Name: (if you change it)
Gender: (again, if you change it; only M or F this time)
Age of Appearance: (What age you look)
Eye color: (anything besides white, black, or really close to those colors)
Manufactured at {neckband color}: (which of the 8 cities and which color band you have)
Remaining appearance: (Describe the rest of your body)
Residence: (Somewhere near, if not in, a major city)
Personality: (generalize, please)
Relationships: (whatever fits here)
Other: (whatever doesn't fit anywhere else)
-~--~~--~-
Human Sign-up Form
Name: (...)
Gender: (again, I'd prefer M or F, but PM me if you really want to be something else)
Age: (suggested age range: 10-100; life expectancy has been extended, almost everyone gets to be over 100)
Appearance: (be specific please; include clothes)
Group: (Scientists, Gangs, None)
Androids?: (are you accepting of Androids?)
Residence: (Preferably somewhere near, if not in, a major city, but not necessary)
Personality: (generalize, please)
Relationships: (whatever fits here)
Other: (whatever doesn't fit anywhere else)
Android Sign-up Form
Originally
Name: Mike Rampart
Gender: Male
Age at death: 18
Date of death: March 14, 2004 (yes, the one from the story above)
Reason of death: Was beaten up to more than just a bloody pulp by a bunch of guys when they overheard him carelessly comment on how he wondered what it felt like to be a girl. Dang anti-feminist bas- *ahem*
Currently
Name: Elizabeth "Betsy" Trampar
Gender: Female
Age of Appearance: 18
Eye color: Maroon
Manufactured at {neckband color}: Tokyo {Red}
Remaining Appearance: about 5'10", slightly pale skin, blond hair just below the shoulder-blades, is 32C *ahem*; is fond of skirts because she thinks they're flowing and non-restricting, wears baby-doll shirts and T-shirts almost all the time; prefers dark colors, but not anywhere near black.
Residence: Currently Tokyo, soon going to be New York
Personality: Happy at the second chance for life, and hopes to live a lot longer this time; friendly, doesn't like fighting or arguing; watches what she says more carefully this time around.
Relationships: Nobody yet.
Other: Chose to be female because the thought of being one was the last thing on his mind before he died, and therefore was the first thing on his mind when he was captured.
I will be taking a scientist later on, after a couple more people have signed up.