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Welcome.

The ghosts, the shades, the wraiths, the phantoms. They are lost beneath the shield of the city of Providence. Time alone will tell whether any will find redemption and freedom. Can they find guides in the night? Beacons of light to follow and pursue? Is hope to be had?

Perhaps if they were to find themselves gifted with a helping hand from above, they could reach peace... The Dead Rain Detective Agency secretly seeks to end the misery of at least the newest of the wraiths, for it is feared that the oldest are beyond reach. Each search for a new Guiding Light is long and difficult and there are countless wraiths wandering in the cruel city, lost and alone. Come to us--perhaps you are the hope quested for.

Will you meet the searching eyes and clear away the path?





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<center>staff:</center>
Proprietor: brokenraven: Locates the prospective Guiding Lights and takes care of the day to day affairs of the Dead Rain Detective Agency. ((Runs the shop and the RP. Her word is law, especially in conjunction with Jan's.))

Chief Investigator: Jan the Verse: Finds appropriate Links and works with D.R.D.A.'s Primary Contact (anonymous to protect their identity) of the ghost world to find new wraiths in need of a hand. ((lineartist (hates lineart. HAT ES lineart), colorist. Her word is less of law, as raven's really the one who knows what she's doing.))

Wanton Most Wanted: The Wind: We're pretty sure he's aware of the D.R.D.A.--he hasn't done anything about the fact that we're on his territory, so we assume everything's... generally peachy. ((NPC and joint account for the shop.))

Alias King: The Violinist: He thinks we don't know who he really is. Like he could ever get away with lying :rolleyes: A frequenter and some times contact of the D.R.D.A., he often drops by to check on the status of Guiding Lights and their wraiths. Strangely enough, it seems he really does have the new wraiths' best interests at heart... ((NPC [The Storm] and double joint account (double-jointed? I dunno, maybe) for shop/Guild.))

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5.21.05 - Flatsale came and went. Wow, thanks everyone!
5.20.05- Flatsale tomorrow. At 10HST. Twinset Raffle Here
5.5.2005- There will be a Flatsale soon, the last one with the prices set at 5k. They will go up after that. We will also be raffling off two wraiths together as a sort-of 'twin' set at the same time, just to make sure anyone who misses the flatsale still has a chance to get a wraith.

Jan Says: Also, please visit User Image . It's an interest thread of two fellow finalists in the Aduthule writing contest--they've got beautiful, unique, expression-full lineart that I absolutely adore and an idea that I'm deeply *cough* "interest"ed in. Go clicky! Now! Now, I say!

5.3.2005- The Custom Flatsale Wraiths have changed into Shades.
4.26.2005- RPing is now open to the public at large. Details can be found in the RP post. The Guild can be found here.

Old News
4.3.2005 - Custom flatsale over! Wow....
4.3.2005- yay, open? Custom flatsale~! Two Categories: The Blossom-- The Rose, The Rhodora, The Thorn, The Sage. The Noble-- The Blade, The Gauntlet, The Violent, The Wound.

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The year is 1992. The United Strongholds of America stand alone as beacons of democracy and peace, the rest of the world having long since fractured into a multitude of city-states. France in particular has become a no-go zone, as the Revolution rages on in a seemingly unbroken razing of city upon city.

But our story does not begin with these misfortunes, rather with another.

No one knows when the wraiths arose, not even they themselves. All that is known is that they are the dead (strictly metaphorically speaking, so some argue) and that the humans must not be allowed to know of their existence. And so they are alone, haunted by themselves and each other, searching for an end to the misery that accompanied their 'death's. In their exile from society, they find comfort in their elaborate heirarchies and brief interactions with each other--for it is only with each other that they can find temporary peace, remaining too long in the presence of mortals brings only frustration as it is rare that a human will even see a wraith in the first place.

They are dead to the world. Dead to the world far more than dead in spirit, that is. They can be wounded, as the unfortunate have discovered. And yet, no matter how grevious the wound or excruciating the pain, they do not die. How is it that the wraiths remain? More importantly, why have they been cursed so?

It is known that wraiths only arise by the will of another wraith. If a shade visits a human in their final hour (and wraiths instinctively know when any human is about to reach their end, however unexpected this end might be) and impresses their will upon them they might well turn the unfortunate mortal into a fellow wraith, though it is a cruel thing to do. Many wraiths are sorely tempted to do so, however, as it is apparent that through the 'ghosting' of a mortal, one can gain Resistance.

The mystery of Resistance is the greatest and most worrisome mystery of all for wraiths. They do not know how to measure it, they do not know what it is, only that it grants them special Talents beyond those gifted at the initial turn from human to wraith and that it is rumored that especially high Resistance leads to fading... a most desired fate for those especially tormented by the anonymity and wistful nature of their existence. A wraith is always conscious of her 'level' of Resistance, and most are instinctually aware that the method with which to build up Resistance is through acting according to their strengths, to create if inspired to create, to give when asked to give, to argue when ideals are challenged. It is an interesting anamoly to recognize that such activities are not nearly exclusively positive in nature. That which the wraith creates need not benefit anyone, not even themselves. If it is a challenge they wish to inspire, so be it. If it is Hell they want to give, that may come as well. Arguments are not always verbal debates.

Resistance can be stolen or bequeathed from or to other wraiths through a special and intimate connection known as the Bond, though it is considered a crime to steal Resistance through this connection (as the Bond need not be established by consent) and often punished by a vigilante wraith or even one of the four Ghost Kings. It is also unwise to let go of one's own Resistance to another too many times, as this always without exception leads the unfortunate bequeather (or victim, should Resistance be stolen) onto the terrifying path of the Poltergeist.

Poltergeists are mindless, violent wraiths who went too long without trying to build up their Resistance or having had it stolen from them by other wraiths (or even Hunters) one too many times. They possess no soul, an oxymoron in the fact that they are still wraiths. There is no way to control them and no way to destroy them save the Hunters' cantrips--though it is rumored that the occasional Poltergeist has simply... disappeared...

Hunters are always on the peripheral vision of wraith society. They seek out shades to steal their Resistance through specialized spells known as cantrips. For what purpose is yet another mystery, but they are a constant danger as they are well able to defend themselves from whatever attack a wraith might launch upon them in self-defense and have developed terrifying methods of wounding and stealing from their designated prey.

Within wraith society itself, there are the Four Kings--they rule in Providence, a central Stronghold of the United Strongholds of America. They are renowned through the Americas and even in Europe as fearsome, old and powerful wraiths. Sometimes even, they are designated proof that wraiths don't necessarily fade with passing time. They are known as The Sun, The Storm, The Wind and The Mountain, and they are nigh on the Powers That Be in Providence's walls.

All wraiths are gifted with a Title upon their first entrance into wraith society. Those names connected to nature often demand more respect, as can be noted from the titles of the Ghost Kings (it is rumored, however, that The Mountain was known as The Manic a long time ago). These Titles range far in meaning and category but are always a single word, followed by the particle "The". A Title often gives fellow wraiths certain insight to a wraith's personality or at least the mask which they proclaim as their personality. On the other hand, it is striking to note the accuracy with which all wraiths are Titled. Never has there been a wraith whose title does not resonate deep within their selves (on however unexpected a level).


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<center>The Birth of the D.R.D.A.</center>

They said the night was dark and stormy. Whether this was truth, Jan really couldn't tell--it didn't really matter either, as the all encompassing glass dome above wouldn't let any tendrils of the violent nuclear storm into Providence anyway. That nature itself was at such unease only served to set her teeth on edge, especially considering the territory she'd found herself in. How had she managed to stray so close to Down Town? It was too late to hope for any trams still running back up to Old Town suburbia, where she had grown up and resided all her life. This would be her first night so far from the comfort of well-spread houses, melding like butter to the leafy lawns and pink flamingos...

She'd have to find some place to sleep. Shelter wasn't a worry, not with the possibility of rain rather of an... impossibility, really. Stalking the streets and hoping she looked as if she had a purpose, hands thrust deep into her pockets, Jan spied a shabby, inn-like front of a building and made a beeline for it. There was enough money in her wallet to pay for a bed for at least a night in an old-fashioned bit of the stronghold like this.

The door was darkened and wood, stained by age and inexplicably, what seemed to have been rainwater. How odd... How could rain have fallen beneath the dome? It was impossible, simply not... possible at all. Not bothering to knock, Jan swung the old door open with some effort and peered into the gloom that met her. There was a light... coming from beneath a door... at the back of the musty, cobwebbed room. Maybe this wasn't an inn, after all. What if she'd barged into a home? Or worse, a--... a... hm... "Hello?" she called out tentatively, hand still on the old, tarnished doorknob.

"Yeah, what?" came the irritated, distinctly male voice, seeping out from beneath the door with the light. The sound of footsteps and the creak of more wood sent a shiver down Jan's spine as she released the doorknob with a jump and nearly leapt out of the building altogether. The door on the far side of the room opened, letting in a flood of lamplight to illuminate the orange haired man in the doorway, staring at Jan with a somewhat annoyed expression. "You want something?" he snapped, sizing her up like he might a wild animal.

"Ah... yeah--sorry, thought you were an inn or something--I'll head out, mmkay?" the words tumbled out of her mouth, rushing up and down and over each other with little concern for coherence.

Before she could step back out of the building, however, she noticed the incredulous expression on his face. Ever the tactless big-mouth, she decided to inquire, "What's with the gaping maw, dearie? Trying to catch a few flies?"

"You can see me?" he asked, ignoring the question.

Jan decided leaving the building was probably the best idea she'd had all day. "Uh huh, right, honey. How 'bout I see you later, hm?"

He interrupted her comment, "No--wait, stay. Please--we need to talk," with a flick of his wrist, the door closed behind her and she heard a distinct click of the lock. More than a bit frightened, her hand grasped behind her for the cool metal as she kept her eyes on the staring man cautiously.

"What do you mean, 'talk'?" she muttered, concentrating far more on trying to shake the doorknob into obeying her fingers' commands of "open" then whatever it was he wanted to discuss.

"Wraiths," he responded immediately, "You can see me. That's got to mean something. What's your name, kid?"

"Jan," she said automatically, mentally kicking herself.

The repentance for response must have been obvious because he laughed, if nervously. "Jan, huh?... Jan..." his gaze turned to the floor, as if he were reminiscing on some long forgotten history lesson or a favorite line from a movie. "You need a place to stay the night? Come on in, I don't bite."

Against all instincts of self-preservation, Jan followed.

"You know anything about wraiths?" the man asked, leading the way to the room from which the light emitted.

"As in what, spectres? Poltergeists?" she noticed, shrewdly, that he winced at the latter.

"Not quite, lady... Why don't you spend the night?"

Strangely compelled to listen to his words... and felt her inclinations to leave melt away. Something about this place... about this guy--the aura around him, the fact that her eyes kept dodging away from him as if he were really nothing to be concerned over... "All right..." she agreed tentatively. "Let's talk."


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Jan
There's something he's not telling me. Whether that's really a bad thing, I'm not entirely sure... But he sure is in need of help and I think I might be able to pitch in. He'll stay on, of course--but there are too many wraiths who don't like him and mistrust him already, there's no need to make things worse for the poor guy.

Turns out I share a name with his disappeared... ah... former... current... um... the wraith who turned him. She was called "Jan" too--Jan, The Verse, actually. Must have been kind of a shock to have me waltz in with the same name--not that there's any providence (excuse the pun) to do with this.

Anyway, we're going to set up the Agency like he never could. Kind of poetic name it's got, "Dead Rain Detective Agency" and all. My only hope is that we can actually do something about this whole wraith mess. I've got no idea how I managed to avoid it for so long, or why I believe it without question. Not a problem for now, though. Just have to get started on this--figure out a better method of finding these "Guiding Lights", or we're never going to help all these wraiths. Maybe eventually we'll get so good at finding people connected to wraiths we'll be able to stop wraiths being made altogether...

But that's really only a fantasy.

Guess I'll round up some more help, too. Raven's good at management, I'll see if... if I can convince her I'm not still crazy.



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-.simple facts.-

In the interest of being coherent and running a good RP (for those who choose the option), here are background facts on wraiths and the world to better your understanding of the world you are about to immerse yourself in:


-Wraiths have titles, ex: The Storm, The Wind, The Wolf, The Wire, The Manic, The Marquis, The Moment, The Banshee

-Wraiths possess Talents like walking through non-man-made objects or causing things to rust. Each wraith has an aptitude for two from the list. They may develop special, unique Talents as they develop Resistance.

-Wraiths are dead. Their physical bodies have been left behind. For some reason, their spiritual bodies are possessed of certain physical characteristics, no one is quite sure why--though there are several theories that have to do with Resistance.

-Hunters are f*cking scary. Wraiths do not mess with them and do their utmost to avoid them.

-Poltergeists are also f*cking scary. Though they tend to attack humans more often than they do wraiths, as they are as unlikely to notice wraiths in the first place as humans.

-A wraith can be seen by a human if they make a tremendous effort to be noticed (such as shouting or outrageous actions) or possess certain Talents. The more Resistance a wraith possesses, the more likely that they can be perceived by mortals.

-The Ghost Kings do not often directly interfere in the affairs of other wraiths (the exception being The Sun, who sometimes holds Trials or Courts [think medieval for the latter]).

-Resistance can be built up by indulging in one's innermost drives and desires--not to the point of sin and causing harm to others, necessarily, but obeying those inward inspirations and pursuing them to the very last. This isn't to say you don't get the occasional (or frequent) wraiths who do indeed indulge their most sadis tic, cruel urges and end up stock-piling Resistance up the wazoo.

-4/19/05-- We seem to be running into a couple of problems with the basic facts here. Most (well, all) of these stem from a lack of coherence in the story in the shop. Here's the basic gist of it: Wraiths aren't actually dead. All wraiths are attracted to humans who are within their last forty-eight hours of life (not necessarily attracted like magnets, simply innately aware that these individuals aren't going to make it two more days among the living). The only way wraiths are created is through the 'ghosting', which involves a wraith turning a human who is near death (the forty-eight hour magnet-thing) into a wraith. These humans don't die, not physically. They become unnoticed by human society, they fade from existance. They don't need sleep or nourishment, though they can become tired and they most certainly feel pain. Any wounds, no matter how fatal, will heal over the same amount of time it would take the wound to heal on a mortal body (paper cuts don't take too long, holes through the head, while they won't kill wraiths, will take a very long time to fix themselves). Because wraiths are no longer recognized by humans as living (or even present most of the time) they are generally assumed dead. Some humans will even create stories in their minds about how loved-ones died rather than simply ceased to be around. Just one final reiteration: WRAITHS ARE NOT PHYSICALLY DEAD. Oh, and no one knows this IC. Just FYI.

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The road to RPing is actually a series of crossroads. The first is whether or not you're going to RP at all. The second is whether you'd prefer your Guiding Light to be an active force in the RP or whether you'd rather play the wraith who is only vaguely aware that they are being helped along by some alternate force. They might not be aware at all. It's suggested that if you take the role of the Guiding Light over the wraith that you keep a journal. Also, please don't play exclusively as the Guiding Light character--it'll make it terrifically difficult for your wraith to enter society RP-wise.

Here's a brief summary of society as it stands in Providence:

The Four Ghost Kings influence their power in four different sections of the stronghold of Providence. These are not the only sections of Providence that are inhabited by wraiths, only the most frequented. Keep in mind that this picture is actually wrong for the year 1992--the year when the chronicle of the Dead Rain Detective Agency begins--the only difference is that the dome above is whole and unbroken, the glass is not cracked and the stronghold resembles a perfect (albeit giant) light bulb. The profiles of the Ghost Kings as well as descriptions of their 'kingdoms' can be found below.


The Sun:
*insert image*
Name: Daniel Lawrence
Description: A striking, impeccably dressed Caucasian man, usually wearing sunglasses. The Sun represents physical power and literally shines with presence. One of the Talents he has developed allows him to remain in a constant state of virtual humanity, should he choose it. No one knows whether or not he suffers for it when he 'turns it off'--if he ever does. He is charismatic but arrogant, though usually forgiving of younger wraiths and shades. Claiming for himself the highest position amongst the Kings, he allows the rumor that he controls the other three�s actions to flourish. He has an extensive network of wraiths and informants and is very well informed of most supernatural actions within the city--to the point where he has been able to organize a fighting front to track down and hopefully begin to thin out the ranks of the Hunters within Providence. His position in wraith society is very much that of the Executive Businessman crossed with Mob Boss.

Kingdom: The Sun takes Uptown, the executive sector surrounding the filth of Down Town and below the residential heights carefully guarded by Hunters. (The lower sides of the over-large lightbulb that is Providence.) This is the haven of the upper class during the day and as such most corporate businesses find their homes here, while the factories sit in the depths of Down Town.



The Storm:

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Name: Roman Cavalier
Description: An effeminate (don't tell him I said that, I beg of you), short (again, lips sealed) young looking male who seems to have abandoned his fashion sense somewhere in the early 19th century (oh man, he is going to kill me crying ). The Storm seeks inspiration and growth beyond the static state of wraiths and is known for long bouts of ignoring the world, locking himself in the back of his opera house and playing the violin for days on end. He has a tenuous notion of tact and is often quite intimidating to shades by the mere eeriness of his presence and intense nature of his every movement. At best he ignores the other Ghost Kings and at worst he openly despises them. His goals, the pursuit of which provide his strength, are to discover the perfect, never-ending song and to provide a means for other wraiths to seek out their own fortes. To this end, he runs an opera house for a rich mortal family and recruits shades and young wraiths to help run it or even perform--for strangely enough, wraith performers are easily perceived by the human populace.

Kingdom: The Euphoric Centre. You see that floating blue thing? Yup, that's it. Supported by technology that in all theory shouldn't exist, it provides a world of no-questions-asked hedonism for the people of Providence. This is the place for all forms of entertainment, no matter your economic circumstance--the streets are never empty. An interesting thing to note is that the Euphoric Centre was designed with Venice and New York of old in mind--thus there are the colors, the plazas and the canals accompanied by the towering sky scrapers converted into dens of entertainment.


The Wind:

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Name: ??
Description: Almost as effeminate as The Storm (eek, I've really got it in for myself, ne?) and almost as short (erk) The Wind is a terrifying thing to behold--mostly because those who interact with him don't often survive with their Resistance (alternately, sanity) intact. Hostile and ic to younger wraiths, The Wind is as often and well avoided as a Hunter. The Wind is not actively aggressive towards other wraiths, but the extent of his Talents as well as what exactly they are is unknown. A brave few seek out The Wind, for he is said to be a creature of vast intellect (if little emotional attachment to other wraiths or humans) and it is rumored he knows of the extent of all secrets pertaining to Fading and Poltergeists... If such a rumor were indeed true, The Wind could possibly be the greatest of all wraiths and yet (still) undeniably the most dangerous.

Kingdom: The entirety of the slums, factory district and residential areas of Down Town. See that black pit at the bottom of the lightbulb? Yup. The kingdom is just as dark and scary as it's ruler. Stay out of there unless you're a wraith at least. Unfortunately, the D.R.D.A. is located on the fringes of Down Town, so being there every once in a while is kind of an inevitability for all our wraiths and Guiding Lights.


The Mountain:

*insert badly drawn image*
Name: ??
Description: No one... really knows what this guy looks like... if it weren't for the other Kings' grave acknowledgement of his existence, most wraiths would assume he was just a rumor. Of all accounts, the majority claim he's a red head. The length and height (and occasionally gender) from these reports vary quite often. If the other Ghost Kings know the facts concerning The Mountain, they're not sharing. What he's up to (if he really does exist and isn't some conspiracy between the... *ahem* Three Ghost Kings) is unknown. A recluse of the first degree.

Kingdom: Now if we knew that, we might be able to find him, hm?



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<center>-.RP logistics.-</center>

First, of course, come rules. Then the Resistance (thus growth) system. These are separated from the profiles of the Ghost Kings because they deal with the OOC part of RP.



<center>Rules:</center>

Keep in mind all the rules from the shop, we realize that some just don't apply to RP but remember to be polite (OOC at least--no excessive swearing or vio lence or se x, though. It's all PG-13 here.) No 1337. Shounen/Shoujo-ai is still given the 'all clear' signal.

Play fair, no God-modding. Your wraiths, as might be made clear by the certs or descriptions of stages, are anything but powerful. Remember that, please. Your wraith is not a superhero (though admittedly there are probably going to be a couple vigilantes eventually).

Make OOC clear. Double parentheses work wonderfully (like this: ((et voila)) see?)

Don't kill anyone. This should be pretty obvious, seeing as wraiths can't die, but I thought I might as well say it stare ...

Please RP at least once every two weeks doing any less will make us suspicious that you have abandoned interest in your wraith--and a wraith without a Guiding Light is lost. We need to know if you're going to be gone/have actually lost interest so that your wraith may be properly taken care of.

Love everybody. Play nice. This seems to be the theme of most of the rules, but we thought it might be appropriate~ Your wraith doesn't have to get along with everyone and might even go out of their way to get on people's nerves, but make sure we can tell the difference between your character's actions and your own.



.___>>If you aren't a GL....

The RP is now open to people who do not own wraiths.

Raven and I realize that the shop's popularity extends a tad further than we expected and since it's not really possible for most people to get a custom on whim, we've decided to open the guild RP to our lurkers and other frequenters. There are a couple requirements of course:

1.) You must demonstrate a genuine interest in eventually having a wraith or at least participating in the RP fairly frequently. The one fear we have is that we might get a few 'one-shots'--people who hop around the RP for only a day and then leave us hanging. This is a long-term project, got it? We'd really like to limit the RP to anyone interested in becoming (or already) a regular. Good ways to convince us (Raven and Jan) that you're interested include: Asking to be on the Mailing List, posting in the shop, telling us you're interested...

2.) Submit a profile that is compatible with the Angry Soul/D.R.D.A. world. This involves reading parts of the front page as well as the first two posts in each sticky of the guild. The restrictions and the form for the profile can be found in the quote below.

3.) All RP rules apply to you too. ESPECIALLY to you, actually.

4.) We don't bite (erm... Jan doesn't bite? Raven bites if you're being particularly boorish, but she'll usually use her Stylus of Doom instead, it's more sanitary), don't be afraid of submitting a profile! The reason we're doing this is to (hopefully) get more people involved in order to create a more in depth world and have established Guiding Light characters that maybe already have connections to other characters.


And now for a couple restrictions on pre-Guiding Light or outright NON-Guiding Light characters:

Restrictions
1.) You may not be aware of wraiths. You may become aware of wraiths through other characters or the DRDA during RP, but you may not know of them before you begin.

2.) You may request to have an NPC who is somehow connected to the Alternative Reality (a.k.a: wraith society >_> wink to be related to your character, but this must be discussed with and approved by BOTH Raven and Jan. We would much prefer it if you create connections with pre-existing wraiths or Guiding Lights instead, though we must approve these connections as well.

3.) You may be from another country or stronghold. (Ask/PM Jan for details if you want to be new to Providence, she'll happily give you a brief run-down of the world outside Providence and the United Strongholds of America.)

4.) You may have a position of relative power (government agent--again, ask Jan for details--, aristocrat of Up Town, up and coming criminal, star at a theatre in the Euphoric Centre, etc.) but any positions must be approved by both Raven and Jan.


Profile
Your SN:
Character's Name:
Age:
Profession: (Teacher, student, lawyer, please elaborate)
Residence: (Up Town, Old Town Suburbia, where do you live and why?)
Description: (The least important part of the profile, though we'd like to have it just for reference. Feel free to give it to us in stat or paragraph form.)
Brief History: (Less than two pages, I beg of you! gonk )
Why you want to join the RP: (No need for novels. A simple "Because it looks cool." probably won't do it unless you've already talked to us for a while, though razz )




<center>Resistance</center>

You will earn points according to how much your wraith pursues their urges. We won't confine you to one or two desires on a cert as that's just binding, but we will expect you to send a list of any length to Jan, raven or The Wind. We'll use this list to determine to what degree your wraith is submitting to/triumphing over/indulging in/ignoring-for-fear-of-losing-their-better-selves their desires. We will award Resistance (passive, active, positive and directed) to your wraith on a secret file and when you have reached the appropriate level, your wraith will reach the next level. These goals are not impossible to reach, though some are farther away than others (it is harder to become Acknowledged from a wraith than it is to become a wraith from a shade). Eventually we may make this 'secret file' public, to smooth out the system or questions. For now we'd rather keep it a secret and let you be just as surprised as your wraith when they come into their power wink

The Bond: Oh no you don't. You had better not at least. Wraiths develop this ability once they reach a certain stage. When this stage is and whether it has anything to do with stages or level of Resistance or type of Resistance a certain wraith builds up, we won't say. Suffice to say that we'll PM those Guiding Lights of wraiths who develop the ability to create the Bond--keep in mind that the intention of the Bond seems to be to create a spiritual connection between wraiths, through which some wraiths have claimed to reach a euphoric understanding of each other. It is not intended to steal Resistance, but can be manipulated to do so anyway. It's still a crime. Remember that. Above all else, stealing Resistance is a sin.

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The stages of connection between a Guiding Light and a wraith and the subsequent growth of Resistance in a wraith differ somewhat from the progression of ghosts in Angry Soul. Thus, we shall do our best to clarify here.

Link
An object in relation to the wraith's Title, chosen in hopes that it will provide a spiritual bond between the Guiding Light and the wraith as at this new stage of the wraith's existence, the familiar is always judged to be the safest. The Link will help to establish a sort of 'calling card' for the wraith or as a beacon of hope that they might still be recognized by the mortal world.


--Insert Image here--

((OOC: In this stage, the Link between the Guiding Light and the wraith is pre-established by the DRDA, unless in the case of full customs.))


Shade
The wraith has recognized itself for what and who they now are. They recognize that they are not fully dead and can never reach that state--the closest to mind peace they can have is the existence of a Poltergeist, and most wraiths agree that this is not a preferable state. They are generally looked down upon by their fellow wraiths and most strive to establish some means of gaining Resistance. Many shades find themselves attracted to The Sun's offer of power or The Storm's direction of inspiration.


Male Sample (The Storm)

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Female Sample (The Banshee)

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((OOC: If not bought in a flatsale, you may choose between three different styles of hair and clothing for both male and female as well as the colors, though they will not be apparent in the shade's grayscale stage. In a full custom, the shade and wraith stages will be unique drawings not used in any other template.))


Wraith
The general term for wraiths as well as the third stage is the usual final point of progression for wraiths. They have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with and are recognized by the whole of wraith society. Whether or not they are aware of their Guiding Light, it is at this point that the wraith no longer needs to rely on their human counterpart's faith in their existence.


Male Sample (The Storm)

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Female Sample (The Banshee)

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((OOC: The corresponding second stage of the shade form is used for the wraith--fully colored and somewhat more confident. For those who bought their wraith in flatsale, this is the first time they will learn the colors of their wraith. As previously stated, in a full custom the shade and wraith stages will be unique drawings not used in any other template.))


ATTENTION: From this point on, a wraith may take two paths--if the wraith is an RP wraith, the next stage will be determined by their character and personality. If they are not an RP wraith, the next stage will be determined randomly.


Ascendant
This wraith has developed a more passive, positive Resistance than it's counterpart the Acknowledged. Their true desire is to be free of the cycle of wraith existence and to reach salvation--be it divine or otherwise, they don?t care--all they know is that the wraith world is damned and that they wish to be free of it. While certainly compassionate, Ascendants are also centered on their own salvation rather than that of others.


--insert image here--

((OOC: No wraith has yet reached this stage, though the picture will be a completely unique image never used before and not to be used again for any other wraith.))


Acknowledged
The state which the agents of the Four Ghost Kings, such as The Banshee, have reached. They developed active Resistance and exercise it regularly upon the world around them. The mysteries of this powerful state are unknown to younger wraiths, though avidly pursued by the ambitious and compassionate alike. The Acknowledged are united by no common principle--some, like The Banshee, strive to prove themselves far better than mankind and other wraiths while others seek only eternal creativity and perhaps a helping hand for those below themselves.


Male Sample (The Storm)

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Female Sample (The Banshee)

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((OOC: Keep in mind that non-RP wraiths will rarely reach either stage, and if they do it will only be after a great deal of time.))


Avatar
The state which the Four Ghost Kings themselves have reached. This state of Poltergeist-level power can only be reached after having been Acknowledged, the Ascendant can not become Avatars. Only the oldest, most dedicated and driven ghosts reach this stage of power, at which point they become forces of nature equal in influence to the most furious Poltergeist, the key difference being that Avatars can direct their power while Poltergeists, as detailed below, are far from conscious. The powers of Avatars are not a thing readily discussed by even the most curious of wraiths, for they are deep, moving Talents (or something else?) that can change things not meant to be changed...


Male Sample (The Storm)
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((OOC: Non-RP wraiths will never, we repeat, never reach this stage. However, all RP-wraiths who become Acknowledged have the potential to become Avatars, as by reaching the state of Acknowledged they have already proven themselves to be driven by their own powerful will.))


Fading?...
The fate desired by the Ascendants, what it really involves is unknown.


Poltergeists
A feared fate. Mindless, violent wraiths who can be neither controlled nor influenced by other wraiths or even hunters. They are linked not to a Guiding Light but to a specific place and it is well known that all Poltergeists were once members of wraith society. Any wraith who refuses to continue their existence and drift aimlessly without even an attempt at continuing on is in grave danger of losing their mind. The picture below is the only photo any DRDA agent has ever been able to obtain of a Poltergeist. The agent who took the photo has not spoken on the encounter and only dropped the photograph on Jan's desk one morning with a letter claiming emotional distress and a desire to take a couple weeks of leave. They were granted immediately.


--Insert image here--

((OOC: If you neglect your RP wraith or your non-RP wraith is left out of your sig or is not actively displayed on a pet-page, this is the fate that awaits them. We really don't want this to happen, please let us know if you're no longer interested in your wraith, we'd really druther find some way to help them.))

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Talents
There are eight basic Talents of which most wraiths begin with. The average wraith begins with two Talents, though there are rumors of wraiths having more or less than this number--this is only a rumor, of course. The eight basic Talents and short descriptions following can be found below.

Natural Translucency
The ability to pass through objects that have not been made nor altered by mankind as if they were not there at all. (Ex: Walk through cave walls, sink into the earth and rise again later.) Wraiths with this power maintain an insubstantial state while they pass through objects. For whatever reason, this power does not affect weapons.

Artificial Translucency
Much like it's companion power Natural Translucency. The ability to pass through objects that have been made or altered by mankind as if they were not there at all (Ex: Walk through concrete or steel walls, sink into linoleum as long as there is a concrete construction beneath and rise again later.) Wraiths with this power maintain an insubstantial state while they pass through objects. For whatever reason, this power does not affect weapons.

Illusory Humanity
For a short period or time, a wraith possessing this power may pass as a normal human and be noticed just as easily as any other living, breathing individual. The penalty to remaining 'human' for a great amount of time with this power is that the wraith reverts back to a severely weakened, shade-like state for double the period of time spent as a virtual human.

Will o' the Wisp
This Talent allows the wraith to create visual illusions. seeping down a wall, a rose lying on a bed, a bone or eyes beneath said bed... All illusions wrought with this power are small in state, though not necessarily in believability. It is this Talent from which stories of wraith-like apparitions and bl oody messages on walls derive. A wraith may conjure such illusions five times in twenty-four hours. This amount does not 'stack' (if a wraith uses it once in a day, they cannot therefore use it nine times the next day) but merely refreshes.

Ventriloquist
This Talent allows wraiths to create audio illusions. A voice whispering, always behind no matter where you turn, wind howling with a house, a door slamming, footsteps... All illusions with this power are small in state, though not necessarily in believability. It is this Talent from which stories of haunting crying and deathly screams derive. A wraith may conjure such illusions five times in twenty-four hours. This amount does not 'stack' (if a wraith uses it once in a day, they cannot therefore use it nine times the next day) but merely refreshes.

Instant Time
Slightly more rare than the others, this Talent allows a wraith possessing it to age material objects (never living creatures). For example, they can cause a gun to rust or a room to grow cobwebs. They can, like the Will o' the Wisp and Ventriloquist Talents, only do this a few times a day--the limit for Instant Time is three. This Talent, as Will o' the Wisp and Ventriloquist, does not stack.

Mask Revelation
Although many people develop an ability to 'read' the emotions of other individuals, wraiths with this Talent can pick up the emotional states of individuals they aren't even interacting with. As long as the wraith can see the target, they can read the subtle interweave of emotions playing through them. There is a penalty to using this Talent more than five times a day: the wraith begins to take on the personality traits and quirks of the read individual and retains them for a progressively longer length of time and progressively more intense state of being for as many times over five the wraith uses this power in a day. Again, the Talent does not stack.

Flicker
The most aggressive Talent next to Instant Time, wraiths may turn off/on electrical devices, or ignite/extinguish fuel powered lights/devices with only the power of their will. They may not affect complicated machines such as computers or cars. The limit of their sphere of influence is telephones and cell phones. Kitchen appliances, candles and lanterns are all at their mercy, as are most displays of electric lights. Even Christmas lights are at these wraiths' mercy. The devices are not damaged, merely turned off as if they'd never been turned on (or vice versa). This Talent may only be used five times a day and again, does not stack.


AND...


Consuming the Breath
Caveat: An extremely rare, extremely aggressive Talent, possessed by very few wraiths. It is not a unique Talent, and thus cannot be developed after the shade stage. Very few wraiths possess it and it is generally reviled by most of wraith society as a dirty, low power that, if possessed, should not be used at all.

Consuming the Breath allows a wraith to steal Resistance from humans. That this was even possible was unknown until the first reports of this Talent came to light. The implication of this Talent, that humans have Resistance, is a puzzling thought. Why don't Hunters steal Resistance from humans then? Is it because it is inhumane to take it from a living being? Or perhaps it is because to take Resistance from a human is too conspicuous... The mortal victim of this power is listless and dull for a period of weeks equal to the amount of Resistance stolen from them. If over four levels of Resistance are stolen from the victim, they fall into a grave, inexplicable wasting sickness that cannot be traced to the supernatural except by those rare few who recognize it as the result of Consuming the Breath. This Talent may be used once a day. A further word of warning, however: it is known that The Wind keeps tabs on hospitals and clinics for evidence of humans showing signs of either the listlessness or wasting sickness attributed to victims of this Talent. What The Wind's intentions are towards discovering the identity of those Wraiths posssessing the Talent is unknown, but as it is The Wind we're talking about, it's generally assumed it can't be good, whatever it is.

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Wraiths operate their society under a system of Titles. Titles of great forces of nature usually delineate a certain amount of influence or power attributed to such wraiths who are defined under them. Titles which 'preside' over a category of other Titles are always given more respect or attention than the Titles within the category. For example, The Blossom presides over The Rose, The Rhodora, The Thorn and The Sage. While this does not grant The Blossom any sort of dictatorship over the other wraiths under his/her category, it does signify a possibility of greater strength or potential within The Blossom to be a powerful wraith (Resistance-wise at least... These presiding Titles do nothing to determine the intelligence, social or physical force of other wraiths.)

Current List of Titles (also included, Wraiths and Titles from Angry Soul) (Alphabetical):
The Banshee (NPC)
The Blade
The Blossom
The Guest (Future NPC)
The Gauntlet
The Marquis (Future NPC)
The Moment (Character)
The Mountain (NPC)
The Noble
The Rat (NPC)
The Raven (Future NPC)
The Rhodora
The Rose
The Sage
The Storm (NPC)
The Thorn
The Violent
The Wind (NPC)
The Wire (Character)
The Wolf (Future NPC)
The Wound
The Worthy (Character)

NOTE: This does not comprise the whole of wraith society, of course--only those that the Dead Rain Detective Agency is currently concerned with.

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Because there's been a lot of confusion about it, I'm going to put up an example of a good Guiding Light Backstory:

whitekitsune for The Rhodora
Not RPing as myself and slightly altering a story I love so much. Eja's guiding light was his school teacher, Darian Kells, who Eja was somewhat hopelessly in love with. But Darian was a good teacher, but Eja was selfish and tended to get his way. The result was a horrible mess, Darian in jail for a while and Eja getting sick from the stress of the trauma, dying and hating himself. But on his passing, he was visited by a wraith and Eja was turned, mainly because he was worried Darian would blame himself for Eja's death, even though they hadn't talked in a long while and Eja was terrified Darian would hate him. But as a wraith, Eja went and resolved the issue with Darian and is now hanging to the warm memories he shared with his teacher but can't bring himself to ever see his beloved again, mainly because he'd be tempted to bring Darian over and change him.

Darian managed to somehow get a job as a teacher again, now 29. He lives near Down Town mainly because he wanted to help those children who might not ever have the means of getting higher education or care from anyone. He's currently got an adopted daughter and a fiancee, taking Eja's last message (whether it be a dream or not) as an "I love you, I loved you, I'm sorry, please live and don't forget me"


A GLB should include whether or not you are RPing as yourself or an OC (if you're even RPing at all), whether or not the GL and the wraith had any connections in mortal life (if they had any at all) and what the GL's general background is. We'll discover the wraith's identity more fully through RP, so you don't have to write a novel for us about them razz Remember folks, quality, not quantity.

Now, onto the materialistic stuff!



Flatsale:

Wraiths are pre-made in all ways (excepting name and backstory (needs approval)) including color, hair/outfit and gender, though they start out on the link and what exactly their colors are or what their Talents might be is not yet known. --5k--

((We reserve the right to change the price in the future.))

Order Form
Title: (already determined, which do you want?)
Name:
Guiding Light Backstory: (Subject to approval, unlikely to be entirely rejected--details might need to be smoothed out but that's likely it. Include whether or not you will be RPing.)




Custom Flatsale:

Only the Title and link are pre-determined. Eventual colors, outfit and hair, gender, name, backstory and Talents are all up to the owner. --7k--

Order Form
Title: (already determined, which do you want?)
Name:
Gender:
Skin: (Normal only, please, Cyan is not an option)
Hair: (1, 2, 3?)
Hair Color:
Eye Color:
Outfit: (1, 2, 3?)
Shirt: (Details as well, over shirt, under shirt, jacket/vest? Trimmings?)
Pants: (Details as before)
Shoes: (Ditto)
Accessory: (Describe in detail--send picture if you want it really accurate.)
Talents: (Choose two)
Guiding Light Backstory: (Subject to approval, unlikely to be entirely rejected--details might need to be smoothed out but that's likely it. Include whether or not you will be RPing.)




Custom Auction:

Same as Custom Flatsale, though is given a certain amount of 'special' status for the all-encompassing nature of their Title. Often has a lot to 'live' up to. Custom Auctions also get the option of a signature piece of jewelry or (or as well as, depending on how high the bidding goes) a different accessory--bag, weapon, anything. We will not be giving the wraiths machine guns, of course. Please keep in mind that the setting is fairly modern, even if they're 'living' inside a stronghold shaped like a giant lightbulb o_O (see here and second panel here) (remember, as stated before, there is a flaw in these renderings of the stronghold of Providence--the dome is still whole as of the beginning of the D.R.D.A. [1992]) --Bidding starts at 8k--

Order Form
Title: (which did you bid on? Not that difficult)
Name:
Gender:
Skin: (Normal only, please, Cyan is not an option)
Hair: (1, 2, 3?)
Hair Color:
Eye Color:
Outfit: (1, 2, 3?)
Shirt: (Details as well, over shirt, under shirt, jacket/vest? Trimmings?)
Pants: (Details as before)
Shoes: (Ditto)
Accessory: (Describe in detail--add accessories as they become appropriate according to the amount paid in the auction. Send picture if you want it really accurate.)
Talents: (Choose two)
Guiding Light Backstory: (Subject to approval, unlikely to be entirely rejected--details might need to be smoothed out but that's likely it. Include whether or not you will be RPing.)




Full Custom:

Dunno when these will first start getting out, if ever--this will involve the Guiding Light getting to choose everything, including the infamous Title. No order form or guessed price yet, not until we're better established--will consider a full custom right now in exchange for an AFK for Jan or a Nitemare Scarf for raven or something. (Yeah, it's that unlikely right now razz )



Raffle:

Will be run eventually, I'm sure >_>




And now to solve all this Hair and Outfit numbering nonsense (the following are previews, subject to change every once in a while. Also, the hair and outfit picked for Shade form carry over to Wraith, though they are somewhat fancier and more colorful *cough* in Wraith.):

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The following is a comprehensive list of all those Guiding Lights found by the D.R.D.A. and the wraith to whom they have been linked. Eventually you'll be able to click on the name of the Wraith and be taken to their journal. Eventually.

(Name/Title/stage/Guiding Light/Owner)
Eden/The Rose/Link/Nokomis Midnight/Nokomis Midnight
Elijah "Eja" Moore/The Rhodora/Link/Darian Kells/whitekitsune
Atan/The Thorn/Link/Meave Hardgeboren/meave
Haruki Shino/The Sage/Link/Amarante + "Mother/Mau
Armand/The Blade/Link/Duo Maxwell/Duo Maxewell
Elarien/The Gauntlet/Link/Drea/hellzmessiah
Saerath/The Violent/Link/Jack Sabre/Zeejay
Ania/The Wound/Link/Kipestshin/Kipestshin
Amarante/The Blossom/Link/Kozue/Mau
Lucien/The Noble/Link/Terran Estepp

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The Lock and The Key Raffle Here
Second Flatsale

Greetings, would be Guiding Lights! The Primary Contact and Jan have once more amassed a group of young wraiths in need of help and raven, with her trademark managerial skill, has already found appropriate Links.


The Quick

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A watch without hands, time that defies measurement. Still ticking away but no way to tell exactly when it started or when it's going to stop--if it ever will. Wound up tight but certainly not about to explode.

To be quick is to be more than punctual, it is to be faster than expectations warrant and reflexive to the point of surprise. Quickness is associated with more than mere agility, it is the ability to react before anything or anyone else to that which is not usually expected. The Quick is a fast learner, characterized by suddenness in thought and/or deed, sometimes without full rhyme or reason to these actions.

((OOC Note: We couldn't decide what gender we wanted The Quick to be, so the owner gets to pay 1k extra and choose--with but one sentence of warning: No Hair 1/Outfit 1 if it's a girl.))

--SOLD to Kazzmonkey--

The Clear

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A perfect sphere of crystal, small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand. It never seems to get dirty, no matter how many oily human hands it passes through. Smooth and new to the touch, there is nothing careworn about its surface, nothing old. Somehow sharp in its roundness.

Clarity is indicative of purity. To be clear is not to be transparent, however, windows are transparent--water is clear. The word rings off the tongue and through the ears as sweetly as its meaning: simplicity and truth, nothing to sully or detract from that which is. However, this means that something clear can never be something else. It is impossible to be perfectly clear and simultaneously experienced. This isn't to say clarity means innocence, merely that something perfectly true can't become other without ceasing to be itself.

((OOC Note: Male, Hair 1, Outfit 1))

--SOLD to Arashi Cloud--


The Second

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A duelist's pistol, reflective of the position of second in a duel of old. Ready at hand but not necessarily expected to be at the front lines. Streamlined, crafted, deadly and last to be picked for the kickball team.

In the romantic days of duels, a man's second was his greatest ally. Only the most trusted and loyal of friends could ever take up the role, for a second is required to step into a fight not his own in merely the name of friendship. This drastic display of honor of one's friend was not usually displayed, however, and a second's true role was often to attempt to negotiate a more peaceful alternative to a duel with the other second. There are two other things to remember about a second, first that it is the smallest measurement of time on a watch and second, that it is never first.

((OOC Note: Male, Hair 1, Outfit 2))

--SOLD to baby_gwing--


The Charm

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Links of metal formed into a familiar bracelet, but the charms have melted--molded?--away into shapeless, undefined lumps of cold metal. Where is the *cough* "charm" to the jewelry now, without its delicate shapes?

Charms were and are medallions of enchantment versus wickedness, tangible protection from evil. They are also spells themselves, not to mention those lovely little things you stick on for pendants or bracelets. Then there is charm of the smile and the laugh. The common connection between these things: entrancement. The Charm is deviously engaging and set on being the center of attention.

((OOC Note: Female, Hair 1, Outfit 2))

--SOLD to Pata Lover--

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raven's posting these up. Have fun. We now have the Auction Pick-Up too~

<center>Amarante - The Blossom - Mau</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
[img]http://tinyurl.com/6s4l4[/img]


<center>Lucien - The Noble - Jadaria</center>
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[img]http://tinyurl.com/6ef9j[/img]


<center>Elijah "Eja" Moore - The Rhodora - whitekitsune</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
[IMG]http://tinyurl.com/5wv65[/IMG]


<center>Atan - The Thorn - meave</center>
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[IMG]http://tinyurl.com/423t9[/IMG]


<center>Eden - The Rose - Nokomis Midnight</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
[IMG]http://tinyurl.com/3o5ql[/IMG]


<center>Haruki Shino - The Sage - Mau</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
[img]http://tinyurl.com/4txht[/img]


<center>Armand - The Blade - Duo Maxewell</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
[img]http://tinyurl.com/6ftp4[/img]


<center>Saerath - The Violent - Zeejay</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
[img]http://tinyurl.com/4mku3[/img]


<center>Elarien - The Gauntlet - hellzmessiah</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
[img]http://tinyurl.com/42zup[/img]


<center>Ania - The Wound - Kipestshin</center>
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[img]http://tinyurl.com/6l4pn[/img]

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RP Journals are (c) the glorious Anya, creator of Fa'e.

Renault made our pretty, pretty banners, tags and break image. He's got a shop, go visit it.

If you wish to join the mailing list, friend "ravenseer" and you'll get a PM any time anything extraordinary happens.

There is nothing more.

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Whee! In case you haven't picked it up already: Go here, to Jan's comic--Angry Soul!

Here we shall put up links to our lovely affiliates as well as brief descriptions of their services. Banners to our own shop (and Angry Soul ninja [Gawd, does she ever get tired of advertising that thing? gonk ) go here as well--please PM us if you're going to put us in your shop, we'd love to link you back!

At the current moment, we... er... have no banners >_> Renault the glorious made all our banners and tags for us. Praise his name.

On the other hand, we do have an Angry Soul banner, however odd it might be:

User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

[url=http://angrysoul.keenspace.com][img]http://tinyurl.com/5rfp3[/img][/url]


<center>~ heart ~</center>

Our Affiliates!

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