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affinity ranks;
✽ AFFINITY RANKS | ||||||||||
Areas of Repute Within Aifaran are some unofficial factions that represent some of the interests or aspects of the city life. These are not ICly recognized groups (that is, there are no guilds or formal organizations representing these areas that a character can approach ICly) in that they have no defined structure, but merely areas of general repute.
Upon application acceptance, each character will receive a randomized set of starter rankings totaling 20 points altogether, which are randomly distributed throughout all the factions using RNG when a character joins the game. This point cap will prevent anyone from being able to max out too many affinity factions at one time. OOCly, each faction has ranks from 1-5 (with 1 being the lowest, 5 the highest), with each rank producing multiple different types of interaction with that group throughout the month. Players can choose to have their characters experience one or more of these instances to happen, depending on what their rank standing is with that respective group. Characters will not be required to experience all instances for all factions in a given month. This Google Spreadsheet is kept current by the mods that can be viewed by the players at any time, so players will always have access to their various Affinity standings at a glance. EXAMPLE: CRIME Rank 1 • Slippery Fingers: You are targeted for pickpocketing on the street! • Get Trashed: Your property (home, work, etc) suffers vandalism. • Shakedown: Your preferred places of patronage are harassed for protection money. Rank 2 • Supply & Demand: You sense eyes on you frequently, and when looking to purchase your usual staples, you find them either out of stock or ridiculously marked up in price. If asked, the shopkeepers will avoid answering the questions, as if they've been intimidated into silence. Rank 3 • Swag Swap: You are targeted for a mugging, but you're offered a cheap set of crystal glasses in exchange for all you lose. • Insurance: You're offered an insurance policy against theft for the month, but if you don't pay up, you may be more heavily targeted. Rank 4 • Mistaken Identity: During what looks like it will be a mugging, the perpetrator seems to recognize you and breaks off the attempt. • Guardian Criminal: Alternatively, during what looks to be a mugging, ANOTHER mugger will intervene, successfully chasing the first offender away from you. Rank 5 • Sudden Windfall: An anonymous person mails you a package containing what is definitely stolen, but likely untraceable, money and luxury items, the contents of which are now yours to do with as you please! Affinity Rank Changes Each month as part of AC, players will be required to submit their rank changes, moving 4 points total per month in any combination of their choosing. An affinity cannot be ranked at 0 or over 5, and all the Affinity ranks must collectively total 20 points - so points being added to one rank must come from subtracting from another rank, etc. Part of the AC requirement is a (VERY) brief description of the character's behaviour that led to the fluctuations in affinity. EXAMPLE AC COMMENT: Character: Bugs Bunny AC Proof 1 (required): LINK AC Proof 2 (optional): LINK Allegiance Rank Changes: +2 Sci-Tech, -2 Faith Notes: Bugs offered to teach a class on network basics to some less-than-tech-savvy elders (+2 Sci-Tech) but flipped off some Ban Om devotees when they wouldn't take a hint (-2 Faith). Affinity FAQ What happens if my character gets randomized Affinity starting ranks that don't make sense? IE; my sweet cinnamon roll gets a high Crime ranking? That's half the fun! ICly, it's explained by characters arriving that don't have any background in the city yet. Since these aren't literal, recognized factions, it's a little bendable. Maybe they're going with a gut feeling. Maybe they just don't like your character's face. Who knows! These rankings aren't static either - they go up or down with each AC, depending on what you want for your character. What if I don't want to use any of the monthly instances for my faction rankings? You don’t really have to if there isn’t anything in there you’d want to play with. Or make up something (reasonably) within the parameters that would be better suited to your character. Why do I have to move Affinities rankings around every month? As your character interacts with the peoples of Khu Ioduan, they will naturally get along with some groups and people, but not others, just as in the real world. Adjusting Affinities rankings is based on how you think your character's choices have been viewed by the various factions in the city. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' standing with the factions, so don't worry about keeping a set number; every option has new opportunities! | ||||||||||
MARCH 2018
JUSTICE
RANK 1
• It *Not* A Fair Cop: This is clearly a setup for some petty crime but the Sentry isn’t on your side and neither seems to be the judge. Two weeks community service or an evening in the clanker really doesn’t cool your heels about this injustice.
• Jaywalking: You're crossing the street one afternoon when you're fined for not doing so at a proper crosswalk - though no one else who walked next to you seems to be getting collared for it.
RANK 2
• Strawman: A member of a small but vocal minority in the legislature decides to use something about you in an argument for their proposed - and highly contentious - law. The critical thinkers see through the fallacy, but now your name is on their minds in a questionable light.
• Improper Line of Questioning: While asking if you know anything about a recent crime, a Sentry officer seems to grow more suspicious and hostile. They don't accuse you of anything, but there's a solid week where you think you're being watched.
RANK 3
• Just This Once: You got caught in the act! But maybe the Sentry on duty has bigger fish to fry or they’re feeling particularly altruistic - either way, they’ll let you off the hook just this once.
RANK 4
• Secret Agent: (if crime score is also 4+) You’re a trusted member of law enforcement playing a dangerous game. The side you’re really on is up to you, but the double agent life can’t last forever.
• Direct Line: A member of the Sentry befriends you and gives you their personal contact information. If you need any help, you can call them first and they'll take care of you.
RANK 5
• Tell Us More: The Sentry is always interested in improving their methods, whether through technology or process. They want to interview you about the situation in your world, and perhaps implement something that sounds useful, with your initial guidance of course.
CRIME
RANK 1
• You Came to the Wrong Neighborhood: Looks like you’re out of luck, or really lost - you’ve stumbled into gang territory and it’s pretty obvious. And you’re gonna have to move fast before you get made as an easy mark.
• Deal Gone Wrong: Through no fault of your own, the business you’re in - tea house, restaurant, store, whichever - was the site of a black market deal which has suddenly gone awry. There are voices raised in anger, and weapons drawn, and someone’s going to be injured...if they’re lucky.
RANK 2
• Oh God, Youths!: Aww, look at the kids! Wait. Wait, that’s not so cute...you’re swarmed by a group of street kids, and they nab about half the money you’re carrying, and/or something small of import. If you chase them down, though, prepare to look like the bad guy. They’re just kids!
RANK 3
• Swag Swap: You are targeted for a mugging, but you're offered a cheap set of crystal glasses in exchange for all you lose.
• Insurance: You're offered an insurance policy against theft for the month, but if you don't pay up, you may be more heavily targeted.
RANK 4
• Do Me a Solid: A panicked Erol’a runs by you and asks you to hold something for her before scurrying off. And not a moment too soon - just after she turns the corner, some Sentry officers come up to you and ask if you’ve seen a bright green Erol’a. If you rat her out, the loot she gave you will be impounded; if you deny seeing her, she’ll come back in a few minutes and give you a cut in thanks.
RANK 5
• Not To Be Trifled With: For reasons unknown to you, you’re the subject of zero crime this month, and toughs seem to give you a wide berth. Halfway through the month, a note appears in your mailbox: Enjoy this while it lasts. Compliments of the Vai.
FAITH
RANK 1
• I’m On A Boat!: You’re out on a little skiff in the harbor, minding your own business, when the weather suddenly sours and the sea goes storm-tossed. You’re all right, but it’s a near thing. Any followers of the Kaka’i religion will be wary of you for the rest of the month. You were very nearly food for their goddess; it’s probably bad luck to interact with you.
RANK 2
• TMI?: Uh-oh. Looks like you’ve been cornered by a gaggle of Tariken monks who want to know everything about you - and they do mean everything. They don’t believe in oversharing, so they’re going to pester you for quite a while. Possibly for days, if you try to avoid them.
RANK 3
• There’s Got To Be A Morning After: You attend a Ban Om service at the main temple in Aifaran, and decide to purchase one of the little turtle-shaped charms. Luck, money, love, all sorts of other wishes...which do you choose?
• A Matter of Relativity: You’re down near the water, watching some Castian children play in the waves, when one of them looks up sharply at you - almost through you. She smiles and brings over a seashell, pressing it into your hand. “Auntie wanted you to have this,” she says, and before you can ask what she means, she runs back to join her friends. It doesn’t seem special, but at the very least it’s pretty.
RANK 4
• Luck Be A Lady Tonight: The fortune spirits seem to be with you! You just found some rhinn in your pocket that you swear wasn’t there before, and you’re looking up. Just after that, when you walk by a spirit house, it rattles a little bit...but that’s probably nothing, right?
RANK 5
• All It Takes Is A Little Kindness: You’re having a rotten day when a Tifauti Arybar comes up to you with some kind words, buys you a meal, and gives you a small windfall. When you ask her why, she smiles and says that every act of kindness in the world is a spark of light, and it looks like you needed one. Now all that she asks is that you light another candle of kindness for someone else.
COMMERCE
RANK 1
• My Cabbages!: Earlier in the week, you tripped into someone's market stall while you were paying attention to something else. Unfortunately, no matter how you apologized, the stall owner is determined to hold a grudge, and you're not going to be welcome at this particular vendor. Or, in fact, in that entire area, until they've moved to a different location.
• Pyramids: A friendly, very cheerful Muin shows up on your doorstep. Did you know, he says, he has this great way to make money fast with very little effort! You just need to get two of your friends to buy into this program, and you should see the dividends…
It's a pyramid scheme. It's straight up a pyramid scheme.
RANK 2
• Rosemary and Thyme: A friendly acquaintance of yours among the native neighbors asked you to help them find something, but everywhere you ask, people stare at you like you're joking, or laugh politely. It's going to take some length of runaround before someone gently tells you it's an impossible item in their culture.
RANK 3
• Spare Change: Someone dropped an entire string's worth of rhinn! It's almost all cobalt pieces, too. No one immediately around seems to be missing something. You can opt to keep it, and there may later be a visit from some officers inquiring if you saw anything that day; or you can take it to the nearest Sentry station. In the latter case, expect a call some few days later with a reward-- half the string's value, plus a future favour from the Erol'a Crest who dropped it. Never know when you might need those connections.
• If You're Good to Mama...: Someone you've met a couple of times before offers to pull some strings and get you a job. It's… actually a pretty good job. There's got to be a catch.
(There's a catch. In exchange, they're going to want you to very occasionally look the other way so they can supply their contacts in the Kel'ghau. Worth it? Up to you…)
RANK 4
• You Look Just Like My Grandson: says the owner of the new clothing shop you decided to try. This seems improbable, since she is, in fact, an Arybar; it transpires that some years ago her family adopted a Dreamperson who looked very like you, but who no longer dreams in Aifaran. No matter your demurral, she'll insist on giving you the family-and-friends discount every time you come back.
RANK 5
• Presents from Home: Looks like someone thought you might be homesick. You get home to a present on your doorstep, with a note inside explaining that it was brought back from an expedition and they've heard you talking about your homeworld and they're pretty sure this is from there? The art piece inside is in a familiar-ish style, anyway, so if it's not from your world it's from somewhere close by. There's probably people who'd pay a lot for it if you don't want it...
ARTS
RANK 1
• Kicked to the Curb: You got booted from a concert for something someone else did! And that was quite a lot of money you had spent on tickets too.
RANK 2
• Art Theft: Someone hacked your XaXa account and is claiming your hard work as their own. Worse yet, they’ve spun it in a way that makes you look like the culprit. Look at that follower count just plunge.
• : You decided to help in the restoration of a piece, as it looked rather similar to some work you’ve done in the past. Unfortunately the methods needed to fix it up were actually quite alien to you and now all you have on your hands is a hot mess and angry clients.
RANK 3
• Paid in Exposure A cafe owner has approached you offering to display your work. They can’t offer you much beyond what you price your work at but it’s still some decent exposure!
• Senpai Noticed You: Holy shit, a popular artist on the XaXa has started sharing your work with their followers giving you a boost in popularity! Nice!
RANK 4
• Where Did We Go Right: The star of a rather… ill advised production just literally broke their leg and as the understudy, you’re up! Because of your unconventional performance, the play is an unexpected success and it looks like you’ll be sought after for bigger roles.
RANK 5
• Everyone’s a Critic: A notoriously harsh (yet well-respected) critic just gave your work a relatively glowing review. Not only has the value of your art been boosted exponentially, people are actually clamouring for your next showing or blowing up your XaXa account with comments.
SCI-TECH
RANK 1
• Power Outage: One of your preferred places of patronage is having power trouble - electricity may be out completely, or the power is flickering and faulty to the point where they have to close for at least a day. It happens at the next place, too, so maybe it's something about you that's messing with the power.
• Construction Zone: You take a pedestrian walkway under some scaffolding on the outside of a building, and someone drops a heavy tool on or very near you. Maybe you should avoid construction areas for a while.
RANK 2
• Cracked Screen: You fumble your yimo. It hits the ground and the screen cracks, which really shouldn't disable the entire device but it does. The technicians you ask for help are annoyed at having to deal with the repair.
RANK 3
• Test Subject: A researcher at the Ioduan Academy asks you to be a test subject as part of an experiment they're running. It includes a stipend, but the waiver you have to sign is a little concerning.
• Take My Ticket: Someone has an extra token for a trip on the Skyway, and offers it to you with a smile.
RANK 4
• Science Exhibit: There's a special scientific exhibit on the evolution of archipelago butterflies and other insects. Tickets are hard to come by, but someone's just offered you one as their guest.
RANK 5
• Junior Engineer: If you're looking for a job, you just got an offer! There's openings at the Opara Core for new engineers - don't worry if you don't have a lot of experience, they'll help train you.
METAPHYSICS
RANK 1
• Fishy Business: It was force enough to knock you off your feet and flat on your back - you don’t know what it was or where it came from but now some part of you is emanating a sickly green glow along with a smell of mold. People avoid you and your embarrassing predicament though it fortunately dissipates in a few hours.
• Now You See It...: You didn’t mean to make the piece of fruit vanish into thin air, but now you’re getting an earful from the vendor about being careful about your powers.
RANK 2
• Blown Out of Proportion: What should have been a simple bit of magic has backfired spectacularly. Enjoy the cleanup (and the sidelong glances you’ll be getting from the city’s inhabitants).
RANK 3
• Gifts of the Dream: It’s a small thing, a little windfall. Perhaps a treasure from home that’s value is entirely sentimental or you hoped to get out of doing a chore and the stars aligned in your favour.
• Friendly Foxes: Something about your abilities has attracted a small pack of wild Inan to you. The fact they feed off energy makes accomplishing any sort of magic work nigh impossible, but they’re enjoying the treat and it’s awfully cute the way the gambole around your legs.
RANK 4
• Busted Books: You’ve found a rare tome chronicling the workings of magic very similar to yours. It lays out instructions and pitfalls you can expect along the way. Unfortunately the latter half of the book has been severely damaged - but you’re still working at the basics anyway.
RANK 5
• It’s Mine, My Own: An apprentice at the Aisling Tower needs to get rid of some rather potent artifacts and they need to do it quick! You’ve been entrusted with of them if you promise to vouch for them. And it’s such a nice amulet too what with the burst in power it gives you. And stylish too! So bright, so beautiful… ah, precioussss…