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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! | ||||||||||
NOVEMBER 2018
JUSTICE
RANK 1
• Suspicious Goods: As part of the Sentry crackdown, a pair of officers knocks on your door and questions you about an item you purchased from a particular shop. They want to see it, and refuse to leave without having the opportunity to inspect it. If you oust them, they'll be back the next day, and the next, and so on, until they either see the item or get assigned to something more pressing.
• 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
• Protest Problems: While protests are designed to irritate the Sentry, there is some inevitable disruptions for everyday people like you. In the port or at one of your preferred places of patronage, the resistance to the Sentry means delays in service, blocked streets, and very grumpy patrols in your area.
RANK 3
• Tracks on Trespassing: The Sentry comes to cite you for trespassing in the Wiosen Botanical Gardens. Their evidence? Soil tracked from the park straight to your residence. Or rather, the residence next to you. Turns out they're after your neighbor, but the error isn't corrected for several hours.
RANK 4
• Friendly Escort: You're out on the streets late one night, and it's getting foggy. A pair of amicable Sentry members see that you're alone and offer to escort you to your destination. One of them also gives you their yimo number in case you could use a buddy in the future.
• Town Hall: With the crackdowns and the public response, a district leader of the Sentry holds a town hall meeting near your residence or hosted by one of your preferred places of patronage, joined by a few members of the city council and an Alliance legislature to discuss, well, everything. Capacity is maxed out, but you're in the door!
RANK 5
• Clean Streets: If you or one of your favored places of patronage have been subject to criminal activity recently, the Sentry is here to help. They'll increase patrols and find out who's to blame - and then get them off your back.
CRIME
RANK 1
• Snitchstaken Identity: Somebody has pegged you as a Sentry snitch on the Kel'ghau and dock worker protests. Nothing violent happens, but prepare to find fish guts outside your door and, occasionally, thrown on you in public by a kedan who shapeshifts before disappearing.
• An Adorable Distraction: While out and about in town, you find yourself suddenly surrounded by a bunch of adorable kids, all begging for money! Whether you indulge them or refuse, you'll later find that you were pickpocketed for more in the scrum.
RANK 2
• Thieves' Cache: Near an establishment you frequent, you notice a small mark on a bin. Upon inspection, the bin contains some obviously-smuggled goods that have been dumped to hide from the Sentry and return for later. Finder's keepers? But be quick with your decision - there are footsteps approaching!
RANK 3
• Going to Ground: A smuggler comes to you, apparently frantic, asking you to help them lay low for a few days. There won't be any repercussions if you don't, but if you do, they promise to give you a cut of the profits from their latest shipment in appreciation.
RANK 4
• Catching Some Contraband: Chihuelan goods have of course passed the blockade to arrive in Aifaran, and lucky you, you've found an Arybar who has some. But be careful, because if you're caught with contraband and don't have a bill of lading for it, you're in deep trouble.
RANK 5
• Crime Does Pay: Whether you've aided the protests accidentally or on purpose, someone has noticed. You're left completely alone by any criminals all month, and you occasionally hear whispers that "the Vai" has said you're not to be bothered. Curious.
FAITH
RANK 1
• I Put a Spell on You: It's just not your day - you stubbed your toe, you tripped getting onto the Skyway, and an Inan actually hissed at you. When you go through your pockets, you find a Luck charm from the Ban Om has been snuck in there...but it's been altered by some prankster to give out bad luck instead. Get rid of that thing immediately!
• Out Of The Frying Pan: After an hour and a half of interrogation by Tariken monks, you manage to slip away under the pretense of having something to do. Before you can get too far, though, you're hailed by another group. Prepare to lose another few hours to a relentless, although good-natured, interrogation.
RANK 2
• Mischievous Spirits: You swear that thing you were looking for was just here! You catch a glimpse of it while turning around, but it isn't there, and you can hear the sound of faraway laughter. This continues for a good day or two before the fortune spirits take pity on you and leave the item back where it was in the first place.
RANK 3
• Luck be a Lady Tonight: You don't necessarily feel all that lucky after being hit in the face with a fish while looking at some protests on the docks, but some followers of Tia-Cheal seem to feel differently. Prepare to be given little gifts and get followed around for a few days by people looking to have some of your luck rub off on them.
RANK 4
• The Gift Of Charity: You take pity on a beggar and give them some rhinn. A Tifauiti saw you, and they give you three times what you gave for your kindness.
RANK 5
• Turtle Power!: After a visit out to the Turtle's Head to clear your mind, you feel extremely light and buoyant, and things seem to go your way for the next three days. Proof of favor, or coincidence?
COMMERCE
RANK 1
• Crackdown Consequences: The Sentry crackdown is hitting you hard - your favorite goods are out of stock, things you might need for your own business are in short supply, and now the Sentry is looking your way. You haven't been buying things from the Kel'ghau, have you?
• Hello, Wall Street? Buy More Stocks. Now.: You decided to dip your toe into the exciting world of futures trading! It's an up-and-down game...and right now, it's down. Really down. You've currently lost six times your initial investment. Do you cut and run, or try and stick it out in case the markets go bullish again?
RANK 2
• Raid!: Uh-oh. Looks like the proprietor of the establishment you're currently in was mixed up in the Kel'ghau and has some Chihuelan contraband. When the Sentry arrive, they question everyone in the place once the owner's been taken away...and that includes you. Even worse, you're out the money you paid, because all goods suspected to be contraband have been seized.
RANK 3
• Totally Legit Goods: There's a really shifty looking stall in one of the markets; at first glance it all looks like junk, and probably stolen junk. The merchant is ragged in appearance, shifting about nervously and is initially very rude. If you stick around to talk with him, though, you'll learn he just doesn't like busy crowds, but he has to be here to sell his work. On closer inspection, the 'junk' is actually cleverly recycled materials transformed into artistic, functional tools and furnishings.
RANK 4
• Imagine What's Gonna Happen When They Try and Tax our Whiskey: When you go shopping, you find that there's a one-day tax holiday on all goods in the market! As a result, you can pick up more than you budgeted for. Time to splurge!
RANK 5
• Convenient Reroute: This time, it seems the protests are doing the opposite of getting in the way! Street traffic is routed down a block past your business, job, or preferred place of patronage, bringing a stream of new customers that are pleased to find this location. How could they have not seen it before? Lucky for you, it sounds like they'll be coming back as repeat customers.
ARTS
RANK 1
• Graffiti: One of your preferred hangouts gets tagged with an unwelcome painting
• Taken for Granite: There's a bit of an art show going on. Unfortunately one artist's statuary has been temporarily placed in front of a door you need to get to and it will be a good hour before it can be moved. Let's hope you're not in a rush.
RANK 2
• The Night Life: While it’s exciting that some old buildings around the city are getting some fancy renovations, many of the workers are, well, nocturnal. Have fun with that.
• Street Art: Timing is everything and boy were you in the wrong place at the wrong time - the Sentry is pinning some street graffiti on you and you just got a heck of a fine. On the other hand, a group of off-beat artists now find you an inspiration and buy you a few beers and try to talk shop with you. They’re friendly enough and any attempt you might make to tell them it wasn’t you is met with a ‘sure, sure, that’s what you have to say, wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more’.
RANK 3
• Absolutely Fad-ulous: Bat cats! Bat cats everywhere! Particularly spraypainted on velvet! A street artist managed to smoothtalk you into buying quite a bit of his work which, admittedly, has been selling like hotcakes. But how long will this trend last? Hopefully long enough for you to make a profit on your purchases….
• Forbidden Arts: Chihuelo is not well-known for its arts. Quite the opposite - Chihuelans tend to be very much against any form of expression that isn't propping up their nation as the best. So when someone pushes a rather… unflattering figure (clearly meant as satire) of a great Chihuelan leader into your arms as they make a run for it, you now find yourself in possession of contraband - both in Chihuelo for it's taboo nature, and in Aifaran for the ban on smuggled goods.
RANK 4
• Bloom Under Starlight: Many artists visit the botanical gardens to paint the autumn trees or the spring blooms. There is one face-painter who is particularly popular as they'll paint either a flower or a colourful tree on your cheek. The particular paint they use glows under the night sky and will bring you good fortune until you wash it off.
RANK 5
• A Novel Idea: A popular writer has become quite taken with the many adventures of the Dreamfolk. He may stop you for an afternoon at a nice restaurant to pick your brain about your life back home. Not only will you be credited in his book, but also handsomely compensated for your time.
SCI-TECH
RANK 1
• Seasonal Allergies: Out of the blue, you wake up with itchy eyes and a stuffy nose that just won't quit. Turns out you're quite allergic to one of the trees or plants in Aifaran's two strangely seasonal parks. Better stock up on antihistamines.
• Escaped Experiment: A genetic research lab has lost one of the Mungas they've bred to be less poisonous, and it bites you. It may or may not be less toxic than usual - the scientists haven't actually tested it yet.
RANK 2
• Catbat Concerns: If you adopted one of the catbat kittens at the Masquerade last month, you'll find not everyone thinks they're just cute and cuddly. Someone at your residence or a preferred place of patronage corners you and starts asking questions about vaccines and allergens and potential ecological impact and are they possibly venomous?
• Chihuelan Detector: A self-taught engineer approaches you one day with a device that looks a lot like an RF detector, asking if he can run a test on you with it. See, he's trying to detect Chihuelan smugglers at a distance, and this device could be a breakthrough for the Sentry if only they'd listen. It squeals when turned in your direction, and the individual looks at you in horror before shouting loudly at anyone who will listen that you're an invader. He causes quite a ruckus before everyone realizes you are clearly Dreamfolk, though the engineer remains unconvinced.
RANK 3
• For the Vine: Did you get a visit from the pumpkin children last month? These researchers would really love to inspect your residence, work, or preferred place of patronage from top to bottom and take samples and did you happen to keep any pieces of the gourds if they were smashed? You're in for a tedious couple of days if you agree to their investigation, but the researchers are very grateful and enthusiastic about the whole situation.
• Astronomy Hour: You're invited to an astrophysics open house at the Ioduan Academy, which includes allowing the public access to their old telescopic observatory for a night of stargazing. Unfortunately, it's quite cloudy and there's no way to see the stars themselves.
RANK 4
• Green Thumb: Your interest or presence near either Seitura Park or the Wiosen Botanical Gardens catches someone's attention. Do you like getting your hands in the soil and helping growing things? Would you like a job doing just that? You might learn some spectacular secrets if you stay long enough.
RANK 5
• Botanical Legacy: The plants at the Wiosen Botanical Gardens are carefully curated, and from time to time a new cross variety or species will appear. You happen to be nearby when the botanist is thinking of a name (they already have one named after them), and just like that you're recorded into scientific history!
METAPHYSICS
RANK 1
• Let There Be Dark: Hey, who turned out the lights? It seems everywhere you go for a couple days, darkness follows. Candle lights extinguish, bulbs shatter, even the screen on your Yimo seems unusually dim. It passes soon enough but it's certainly a nuissance.
• Sinking Sidewalks: At first you thought you just stepped in wet cement, but instead you fell through the flagstone only to emerge on top of a building halfway across town. ...And on top of that, the Sentry is fining you for trespassing.
RANK 2
• Bad Hair Day: 'Oops' is never a word you want to hear from your hairdresser, but that pretty much sums up the haircut you got. Oops. Fortunately the dreaming somehow manages to reset it to its former state. ...Which means you have to go get it cut again. Hopefully this time they get it right.
RANK 3
• You Would Not Believe Your Eyes: It's mating season for a type of insect known as a Baaga. These are rather similar to a mix between the luna moth and a firefly, and they're most frequently found on the shoreline. Mysteriously, you manage to attract quite a few of them to you, and it's considered a sign of luck. ...If you don't mind bugs that is.
• Secrets of the Arborists: Helping out around Seitura park will see one of the caretakers approaching you with a fun secret. Want to know how the trees change their colour in this tropical climate?
Daemid droppings in the fertilizer.
Of course it turns out to be nonsense as the others will tell you. ...Probably.
RANK 4
• Personal Tutor: Another Dreamperson [NPC] with a talent similar to yours offers help and advice, remembering what it was like when they were just trying to figure theirs out.
RANK 5
• Creature Comforts: The Dreaming has been kind to you this month. Magic and talents work better than usual, you find small things from home such as favourite snacks or books or a music player with all your favourite songs, maybe your favourite pillow is mysteriously on your bed, or a beloved stuffed animal - things to make the separation from home somewhat more bearable.