![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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! | ||||||||||
SEPTEMBER 2018
JUSTICE
RANK 1
• Coincidental Citation: A gyroshei makes off with one of your valuables, and when you report it to the Sentry group responsible for tracking those items down they hand you a citation for jaywalking on your way over here.
RANK 2
• Beach Dispute: A particularly thorny minority proposes a new ordinance to gate and privatize a section of beach adjacent to one of Aifaran's neighborhoods - one you frequent. A disproportionately large protest erupts at the beach and city hall, complete with handmade signs and petitions, making getting to that still-open beach rather impossible for the foreseeable future.
• Narrakra Investigation: If you snuck aboard the Narrakra, the Sentry is knocking on your door. They want to know where you went, what you touched, and if you took anything. Better answer their questions - if you lie and they find out about it, the consequences will be worse than a 4-hour
interrogationinterview and a slap on the wrist.RANK 3
• Increased Patrol: An area you frequent is subject to increased patrolling by the Sentry to tamp down on neighborhood crime. It helps, but it also means you have to be more careful about getting up to no good, if that's your style.
RANK 4
• There's A New Sheriff In Town: The newly-promoted chief of your district is hitting the streets to meet her constituents. A beaming Castian woman approaches you while you're out or stops by your residence to introduce herself and ask if you have any input on how the Sentry operates where you live. If you hit it off, she might even insist on sitting down with you for a longer meeting, much to the chagrin of her harried assistant. It might be a few months until that meeting actually happens.
RANK 5
• Thanks For The Help!: If you were involved in the mission to the latest shunt, the Sentry would like to express their gratitude - by taking you out for a cup of tea (or non-alcoholic beverage of your choice). You're paired up with an officer who's nice but a complete stranger. Have fun!
• On Retainer: An Arbitrator who specializes in Dreamfolk matters has offered to be on retainer for free! Consultations are on the house, too, in case your proceedings are outside her district or you need help with something. She'll ask for a small fee if you actually need her services, but it's a paltry sum compared to the legal prowess she brings to bear.
CRIME
RANK 1
• Wanna Buy Some Death Sticks?: A slick-looking Castian calls to you from the shadow of an alley, asking if you want to go on the greatest adventure of your life - totally worth the price tag. He holds out a slim metal case of black cylinders that resemble cigarettes. There is probably no ambiguity in the name tag; if the death sticks don't kill you, the Castian might try to if you refuse the offer.
• Cat Nap, Cat Burglar: You accidentally doze off on one warm afternoon. It couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes, but you find your pockets are now empty and no one nearby saw anything.
RANK 2
• Bird Brain: Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of a filched gyroshei egg. As aggravating as the birds are, they are legally protected, and possession of an egg far from it's nest is a major infraction. Oh, and the egg comes with a note: keep this warm for me. The Sentry won't accept 'it appeared on my doorstep' at face value, though the longer you wait the more trouble you might be in. If you hand it over, they'll hassle you but eventually let you leave. Whoever left the egg for you to watch may be rather upset when they come to retrieve their prize, however.
RANK 3
• Bodyguard or Backstabber: A stocky Muin who looks like his face went through a meatgrinder offers you services as a bodyguard. He's clearly tough as nails, but he'll also grow angry if you refuse and storm off with an assurance that you'll wish you'd said yes. Over the next few days, you might spy him out of the corner of your eye on several occasions - or was it just a trick of the light?
RANK 4
• Early Warning: Someone slips a note under your door, warning you to stay away from a certain shop tomorrow. Later, you learn it was the site of an armed robbery.
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!
FAITH
RANK 1
• 1-Man Band: You've been accosted by a member of a 1-man apocalyptic cult that was formed when the ripples in the barrier appeared. You can't politely get away as he thrusts leaflet after leaflet into your hand detailing just how the world will end.
RANK 2
• Faith Buddy: Unbeknownst to you, a young Ban Om acolyte has decided that you are in need of a lot of prayer, or else are piloting a peculiar type of proselytizing. They follow you around. Everywhere. For days. Smiling. They are utterly unperturbed by yelling, threats, or anything intended to shake them off. Not a single word will pass through their lips, but after a week or two they will cease to pester you with prayer.
RANK 3
• Pennies from Heaven: You did something to please a religious organization, and they've been showering you with monetary favours. Not exactly fabulous wealth, but maybe someone from the group buys you lunch or helps you out with a particularly pricey purchase to show their thanks.
• A Soupçon of Doubt: Something you said made a member of Ban Om question their own faith. For a time they were angry with you, giving you nasty looks whenever you crossed paths. Though after a week's time they leave you a note of which the gist is basically the doubt you instilled in them allowed them to think more deeply about what they believed, sought answers, and managed to strengthen their convictions. There's a pretty tortoiseshell hairpin in the envelope as a gift.
RANK 4
• Fortune Favors The Perch: A mottled-winged butterfly, long considered to represent good fortune since its wings are patterned in a very similar manner to that of a turtle shell, alights on you after taking off from one of the kedan spirit houses. As long as you don't wave it off, it will stay with you for several hours, wandering over your shoulders and arms before taking a liking to one of your ears. Ban Om witnesses to this event, particularly the kedan, will offer you trinkets instead of leaving them in the spirit house. None of it is worth anything, but there's an air about you that garners goodwill all month.
RANK 5
• Gifts from the Great Turtle: A care package of your favorite treats (some of which are from your home and can't be found in Aifaran) is left at your door without a 'from' address, and features a curiously decorated tag: a feather on one side, and a turtle on the other.
COMMERCE
RANK 1
• The Dreaming Ate My Paycheck: The Dreaming giveth, and the Dreaming taketh away, and lately it's been doing a lot of back and forth. A good chunk of change disappears from your pocket almost as soon as you drop it in there, not even giving a thief the time to have been responsible. In its place you pull out what appear to be dog biscuits.
RANK 2
• Price Droppings: A gyroshei left a parting gift in one of the open-air markets. This item you've been eyeing is now 75% off, but it's also splattered in white droppings. You're never going to see a deal like this again - is it worth having to clean off a substantial mess? You decide.
RANK 3
• Caffeine Boost: A sympathetic cafe owner notices that the unstable Dreaming has left you more tired than usual, and starts giving you free refills on all of your beverages in the hopes of perking you up a bit. Tea might not outmuscle the Dreaming, but it's a nice gesture.
• Tall Man Fan: While most of the city is on edge from the shadowy happenings of late, a few enterprising individuals are trying to make the best of it. Some of those Tall Man plushies you're being offered are absurdly cutesy - which might be an attempt to cheer people up - but the effort falls a little flat. No one's bought anything. It'll cost you ten rhinn to get one, and if you do it'll brighten the merchant's day. Then you'll have to figure out what to do with a living abomination chibi.
RANK 4
• Low-Rent Luxury: While looking for a place to stay, you're offered reduced rent while you get settled into the city and can pay off what's due by helping the renter do maintenance or run errands if you don't have a job.
RANK 5
• Fantasy Costco: In an unfamiliar area of the city you stumble into a curio shop that specializes in the weird, the wonderful, and possibly even the magical. The fantastic assortment of oddities come in every shape, size, and color, and the interior of the shop sparkles in a way that belies the dingy exterior. The curiously ageless shopkeeper is willing to offer you a lot of rhinn for an item from your homeworld - or to trade it for one of the items on display that's arguably valued much more highly. Which will you choose?
ARTS
RANK 1
• Night at the Museum: You happened to doze off in the art gallery and were mistaken for a sculpture, thus left to spend the whole night alone among the great works of the Aifaran painters. On the plus side, you have as much time to enjoy the pieces as you like without having to deal with crowds. On the downside, that painting is now talking to you.
• Murphey's Law: If you were thinking of some DIY construction or crafts, you’ve certainly had better ideas in the past. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Warped wood, dry clay, busted tools - let’s just hope you didn’t have any deadlines to meet.
RANK 2
• Driven to Madness: A gang of hoodlums have vandalized the outside of your home or workplace with graffiti of the Night Fisher, along with ominous messages written in a strange language that makes your eyes hurt the more you look at it.
RANK 3
• Dali-esquw: With the weather cooling off a bit from August, you take the opportunity to try out some new materials that need cooler air to set. Unfortunately a sudden, unexpected heatwave causes them to melt, creating a dribbling effect. Fortunately, people seem to like it better that way.
• Gallery Opening: Someone invites you to a special exhibit, but it's heavily implied that if you don't give the artist a favorable critique you'll never be welcome again.
RANK 4
• Calamitous Creativity: The ripples in the barrier sure are probably a bad thing, but also strangely beautiful - they certainly invite inspiration when you've been having a bit of a dry spell on that front.
RANK 5
• The Way To Your Heart...: A famous chef in the city contacts you one day out of the blue, and they want you to be their dedicated taste-tester for their new spring lineup of meals. Over the course of several days, you'll be plied with dish after dish of fantastic food, so you might want to loosen that belt a little. At the end of the week, they'll assure you that you've been an invaluable help, and the next time you want a privately catered meal (perhaps for you and a special someone?) to give them a call.
SCI-TECH
RANK 1
• Mission Grime: If you participated in the mission or simply came in contact with anyone who did, be prepared for a tech nightmare. The disruption in the Dreaming seems to have clung to you, causing every kind of technology to protest your existence. Your yimo won't even turn on, the Skyway has mechanical issues, consoles fritz out, and even appliances go haywire around you. All. Month.
• Jury-rigged: Some mad scientist has decided to repair an appliance in one of your preferred places of patronage or your workplace with the equivalent of a paperclip and chewing gum. It may burst into flames; spew foul-smelling liquid directly at you; or undergo a rapid unscheduled disassembly into dozens of pieces that spread across a truly ridiculous area. That is definitely a gear sticking out of the wall, so here's hoping you ducked.
RANK 2
• Tech Support's Least Favorite: Your yimo has been glitching inexplicably, but every time you take it to a professional, the glitches miraculously disappear for the duration of the visit. More than one technician hides when they see you coming.
RANK 3
• Sidewalk Safety: Some parts of the city have temporary awnings put up over sidewalks to provide some protection from the gyroshei that are harassing the city. They do a decent job of shielding you from droppings. That is, until a gyroshei tries to land on one and it collapses on you in a mass of feathers and squawking and canvas and metal.
• Barrier Watchparty: The shimmering, rippling barrier is unnerving for most people, but it has the scientists positively abuzz with excitement. Oh yes, they understand the worries, but they also want to understand what this phenomenon is. So they set up a beach party just outside the city! Come join them. It can be freaky to watch the wispy glow day or night, but there's plenty of free alcohol and snacks to go around. Careful though - you might end up between to researchers arguing to the point of fisticuffs.
RANK 4
• Coral Corale: With the sudden die-off of coral in Shuyul Bay, researchers are calling for volunteers to help scour the reefs up to a day's journey from Aifaran. It's a huge undertaking and you'll be equipped with snorkeling gear - or scuba, if you have experience. There's no pay involved (unless you make a really good impression and someone may offer you a job), but you'll be fed and transported.
RANK 5
• MacGyver Miracle: Whether you're a complete tyro or an engineering expert, you definitely only have a vague idea of this piece of tech you've been tasked with working on. Somehow, using completely improbable parts and techniques, you finish the project. The Opara Core wants you to consult with them regularly now, and someone jokingly wishes you could donate your brain to science rather than go back to your homeworld.
METAPHYSICS
RANK 1
• The Ripple Effect: Since the ripples started passing through the barrier, you've had a hard time controlling your abilities. When you try applying only a little force, things seem to blow up. When you try applying a lot, you get either literal or figurative sparks that sputter into nothing.
• North by Northwest: Magical navigation equipment has been going haywire as of late. Unfortunately this leads you to walking into a ditch when trying to find your way.
RANK 2
• The Tide Is High: The Erol'a have been complaining of the tides becoming erratic. Worse, those affected by the Dreaming Sickness have wandered onto the beaches and remained there, even as the water has come up to their shoulders. Unfortunately for you, you're one of them. Thank goodness the Erol'a have taken it upon themselves to be vigilant and rescue any dazed individuals inexplicably drawn to the shore.
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
• The Thin Red Line: You didn't notice the thin red string drawn taut across your path, but you walked through it and it snapped. You wind up having incredible luck for the rest of the day, though you're not sure how that happened.
RANK 5
• Dreamlore: You are one of the lucky few invited to the Aisling Tower to help study a recent finding - an old tome containing what could possibly some ancient lore on the Dreaming Plane. Unfortunately much of the texts are in codes.