explorezero | Applications

Entry tags:

!applications

Applications

Applications are reviewed during Wednesdays, starting at 8pm Eastern Time. This may change as the game expands.
Before the game starts, applications will be accepted on Fridays!

Updated note, on April 7th: Applicants who have applied and have been accepted will stay in the game; not to worry about that.

Before you Apply:

! We request that players be 18 and over to play within this game setting! While this is not a sex game, there may be extremely graphic images of torture and body horror within.
!Please make sure you've familiarized yourself with our RULES & FAQs. There will be a question there that is asked on our application!
! Make sure your character hasn't already been TAKEN or RESERVED by someone else.
! If you have a RESERVE for your character, please indicate as such in the subject line of your application.
! Plagiarizing any part of your application is not acceptable. Reusing portions applications from other games is okay, as long as that application was written by you. If we are presented with evidence that you have plagiarized, you will be permanently banned from applying for that character and banned from applying for any other characters during the current application cycle. Linking for history is understandable; however, for samples, personality, and other sections, if you plagiarized or lie as to who you are you will be permanently banned. First and final warning.
! You may post your application either on your character's journal and provide a link in the comments, or you may post it directly in the comments below. If you opt for the former, however, we ask that you please either disable customized comment pages, or at least ensure that your character's journal layout is reasonably legible.
! Remember that you may only apply for one character at a time. In order to apply for more characters, you need to pass activity check. That means one per twenty eight days!

We will state again for players to please contact the moderators if you are applying for a character under the age of 16. We love playing kid characters! They add a new angle, like any character in a game. However, we'd like to make sure that they're not overwhelmed by the trauma that this game may inflict.

If you'd like to speak to us about aging your character up, or power limiting, please let us know! We'd love to work with you.

We don't bite hard, we promise!

Fandom Character Applications:

Name: What's your handle? We'd like to have something to call you!
Age: Are you over 18?
Contact Information: Any means of contact that you are comfortable with sharing; this includes plurk, AIM, MSN, skype, email address, and dreamwidth accounts!
Other Characters: Just checking now many you have already!

Character Name: Names and nicknames, in Western order (first name, surname)
Canon: Where is your character from? What book or movie or series or video game or anime?
Canon Point: Where in the series are you taking them from?
Age: How old is your character?
Why do you feel this character would be appropriate for this setting? Suitability. This is more or less us making sure that you've given this consideration. There may be elements of the game that's considered triggery for some characters, if not the players. We'd like players to consider before apping in-this section can be a break or make the application, believe it or not!
What are they bringing? (limit 3) You can choose up to THREE items to bring with your character. No, you don't have to choose clothes unless they're magic infused power armour. Sadly, no pets allowed at this time. That might be changed in the future though!
Abilities/Powers: Please assume canon-blindness and explain in as much detail as possible. (We'd also love to hear any drawbacks to these powers!)
Background/History: A link to a source about the canon is fine for this.
Previous Game History: (optional) At least two paragraphs on important events for the character and how they have been shaped by the previous game. If this is not applicable, please delete this section.
Personality: A very important section! We ask that you could please write 300 words at a minimum. Consider us canon blind. We want to hear their voice, to know who they are! It's understandable if the character seems shallow, if they are a minor or a untalking video game protagonist. Take this as a challenge to expand! A little head canon never hurts anyone. If you run out of things to write, think of how they react physically to their environment and to emotional situations, how they stand, if they meet peoples eyes, the impact of their culture, if they are a listener or a speaker, etc. These can add up to make a detailed description!

Triggers What can trigger your character? Generally these can be uncomfortable topics, situations, or people. What sort of things would you like to avoid for them (or not!) and why? If they don't have any triggers, do you think they will develop in game? What kind?

1st Person Sample Entry: Min. limit 100 words and 5 sentences, meaning you should have at least 5 sentences that add up to 100 words. Must take place within Exploration Zero setting. If you can't think up anything, we have some options! You can write on their 1) reaction to waking up in the Birdcage Manor, 2) feeling ill after eating something from the forest, 3) your character has found a stack of booze; what do? You can also choose a fourth option by writing 'Mod interview!' and the moderators will give you a list of five questions for your character to answer.
3rd Person Sample Entry: A third person sample of at least two paragraphs of 350 words. Again, if you can't think up anything, we have some options for you: 1) Waking up in the Birdcage Manor, 2) Finding a room of mirrors and feeling like you're being watched, 3) Stumbling upon a grotesque mask that gives them an extremely bad feeling, 4) Being locked outside the manor without your phone device.

APPLICATION:

For Original Characters:

Name: What's your handle? We'd like to have something to call you!
Age: Are you over 18?
Contact Information: Any means of contact that you are comfortable with sharing; this includes plurk, AIM, MSN, skype, email address, and dreamwidth accounts!
Other Characters: Just checking now many you have already!

Character Name: Names and nicknames, in Western order (first name, surname)
Canon Point: Where in the series are you taking them from? If not that, what time and place (example 1950s, Ohio?)
Age: How old is your character?
Why do you feel this character would be appropriate for this setting? Suitability. This is more or less us making sure that you've given this consideration. There may be elements of the game that's considered triggery for some characters, if not the players. We'd like players to consider before apping in-this section can be a break or make the application, believe it or not!
What are they bringing? (limit 3) You can choose up to THREE items to bring with your character. No, you don't have to choose clothes unless they're magic infused power armour. Sadly, no pets allowed at this time. That might be changed in the future though!
Abilities/Powers: Please assume canon-blindness and explain in as much detail as possible. (We'd also love to hear any drawbacks to these powers!)
Background/History: Please explain their world in at least 200 words. Is it a world of science? Supernaturals? Dystopia? We'd love to hear about the world, and see how they can relate to the new world they are about to enter!
Previous Game History: (optional) At least two paragraphs on important events for the character and how they have been shaped by the previous game. If this is not applicable, please delete this section.
Personality: A very important section! We ask that you could please write 300 words at a minimum. Consider us canon blind. We want to hear their voice, to know who they are! It's understandable if the character seems shallow at first. This may have been the first time they've been outside of a story environment, or a meme. Take this as a challenge to expand! A little head canon never hurts anyone. If you run out of things to write about, how about their physical traits, verbal ticks, or reactions to certain situations? How do they stand? How do they treat people younger than them, or those in positions of authority? If that does not help, think of how they react physically to their environment and to emotional situations, how they stand, if they meet peoples eyes, the impact of their culture, if they are a listener or a speaker, etc. These can add up to make a detailed description!

Triggers What can trigger your character? Generally these can be uncomfortable topics, situations, or people. What sort of things would you like to avoid for them (or not!) and why? If they don't have any triggers, do you think they will develop in game? What kind?

1st Person Sample Entry: Min. limit 100 words and 5 sentences, meaning you should have at least 5 sentences that add up to 100 words. Must take place within Exploration Zero setting. If you can't think up anything, we have some options! You can write on their 1) reaction to waking up in the Birdcage Manor, 2) feeling ill after eating something from the forest, 3) your character has found a stack of booze; what do? You can also choose a fourth option by writing 'Mod interview!' and the moderators will give you a list of five questions for your character to answer.
3rd Person Sample Entry: A third person sample of at least two paragraphs of 350 words. Again, if you can't think up anything, we have some options for you: 1) Waking up in the Birdcage Manor, 2) Finding a room of mirrors and feeling like you're being watched, 3) Stumbling upon a grotesque mask that gives them an extremely bad feeling, 4) Being locked outside the manor without your phone device.

APPLICATION:

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Personality: One of Kangai's basic traits is that he's evasive when it comes to talking about himself. Though I like to say he "refuses" to do things, it's probably more accurate to say he "prefers not to". He knows how suspicious it is when he doesn't give his name, but he doesn't want to be recognized as the golden (or estranged, depending on who you ask) detective boy. It raises too many questions he doesn't want to answer. Once when confronted about why he left Edgewater or why he didn't go to the police about his sister, he simply answers "It's complicated." to avoid answering anything.

As the protagonist of a mystery series, he's observant. He carries around a notepad that he uses to keep track of information, and he often makes small comments to himself on the actions of the people around him, like Li Mei's way of walking, or Naoki's nervous movements. Gurski mentions that Kangai will sometimes look like he's trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle in his head -- in other words, without even trying, Kangai will try to piece together any information he gets and try to figure things out, especially relating to murders. He will ask questions, he will search for clues, he will touch dead bodies (if he has to). It's hard to tell why he tries so hard in his investigations. He's not above things like sneaking into offices or taking things to find information, so it's not like he's trying to be a justice enforcer-- in one occasion, it's even possible to make him threaten a kid into giving him information he feels is crucial to the case. However, he is very against the act of murder. When Ms. Bergstrom confesses to her crime, she offhandedly says that Sarah deserved to die-- Kangai immediately reprimands her for that statement, telling her that no matter what her reasons, no matter how justified she feels about it, the guilt of killing another person will be on her for the rest of her life. Note that he doesn't simply tell her that murder is wrong-- he reminds her of the consequences and just how serious they are with a painful expression as if begging her to understand.

Another prominent trait of Kangai's is his sarcasm. It's kind of his thing. He snarks or has some kind of comment for every situation. He does know when it is and isn't appropriate and will keep his mouth shut when necessary with a few exceptions, such as when he's half asleep and accidentally answers a semi-important phone call with a sarcastic comment. Even so, he really does use it a lot to the point that sincere replies from him can be hard to come by, depending on who you are. An exception is how Kangai is rather open with Li Mei, possibly because she has an ability that lets her know when what he says and what he feels don't match. On the other hand, he treats a suspect from the second game who he doesn't like negatively, and constantly comments on the things that character says and does to his face.

Speaking of disliking people, Kangai seems quick to do so based on first impressions (though to be fair, many of the people he meets are dislikable). He admits himself that he's bad at keeping his anger in check. However, he only times he has been violent so far is first with Ms. Bergstrom, who provokes him (and only if you choose the option to get mad at her), and with the murderer in the second game, because the situation called for it.

However, despite his sarcasm and short temper, he's actually quite emphatic. When Aki tells him that Li Mei has a hard time sorting out her emotions from everyone else's due to her kansei, he worries if she can feel his pity or if she doesn't want other people to feel that way about her and ends up trying to evoke a different emotion so she won't be burdened by whatever he's feeling, though she ends up telling him that he doesn't have to do that. He also tends to open up a little when around people he either relates to or can emphasize with. For example, after spending time with them, he feels like he can rely on the investigation team because of their similar powers and circumstances, and is starting to be okay with bringing up snippets of his past if it comes up in conversation. He's a little more vague with uninvolved people, such as when he tells Aaron (who was still in shock over finding the body) that he tried to "end it all" once, but he has to keep on living, even though he's also seen horrible things he'll never forget.

To sum it all up, Kangai is a guy that tries to stay out of the way and not get involved, but once he is, he'll do his job properly (if only to get out of the situation quicker). While he won't talk about himself without reason, he's open to having a conversation about other things as long as you don't annoy him. He's not a jerk, but he's not going to try and be your friend in the first meeting. He just seems to have a streak of bad luck (what with running into murders and situations he doesn't want to deal with), so he's a bit of a pessimist.

View on power: Kangai doesn't really think much about power, and tends to form his opinions on a case-by-case basis. Even though he was innocent, he didn't hate Gurski for detaining him when he thought Kangai was suspicious, he's just doing his job. He dislikes Liam for being the spoiled rich kid that thinks he can get away with anything, but he'd feel that way even if he wasn't rich. He doesn't think is kansei makes him any more special then the next person (if anything it's more of a curse), though another character thinks he's unworthy of such a power. That being said, power isn't something be abused. He doesn't think highly of people who take advantage of others or treat the people below them unfairly.
Death:Death is something that happens to everyone, and it can happen at any time, any moment. It sucks, and it's never going to stop sucking. After all he's seen, he's become numb to it all. Not comfortable, just used to it. In one of the bad endings (his canon is a visual novel), when he's dying, it actually takes him a moment to realize that he's genuinely scared, because he's viewing his own death like a bystander just like he did with every other death. He can barely make a personal connection to dying anymore. And because he's so wrapped up in the notion of final moments, he probably doesn't believe in anything like an afterlife.

To him, death has always been something permanent. If he saw someone come back to life, he wouldn't be sure what to think. His first thought would probably be what if his sister could come back to life too, but at the same time, if death isn't permanent, what does that mean about everything he knows about death so far?
Magic and Science: Despite having weird death emotion powers, Kangai is a realist and probably doesn't believe in magic. As for science, chances are knows a bit of it for his detective work, so it can be said that science is a way of revealing the truth or to help people, such as the case with artificial organs. At the same time however, science it not something used to play god, for lack of a better term. When hearing about how Auten experimented on pregnant women in order to create psychic powers, he felt physically sick. He feels bad that experimental animals have to die, but thanks to Li Mei, he understands that it's something that needs to happen, but that won't stop him from seizing an opportunity to save them instead. Everything in moderation.
1st Person Sample Entry: Mod interview please!
3rd Person Sample Entry: Kangai already learned the hard way that there was nothing outside the manor but trees, trees, and more trees. It's not like he was spooked by being alone in a dark forest, but those trees tried to eat him and he knows better than to try that again without a battle plan. First, a light. Kangai had a feeling that trying to fight his way through the forest was futile, and his best bet was to make sure he never got lost. Second, a way to keep track of where he was going. The problem with forests is that everything looks the same. He could take all the notes he wanted, but it wouldn't make him a map. That time, he was sure he kept going straight the whole time, but in the end he somehow circled his way back to the manor entrance. And there was no way of knowing how deep the forest was. His specialty lied with surviving on the streets, not in the wilderness.

That meant the only other thing Kangai could do is explore the manor. If he couldn't find a way out, the next best thing would be to find information. Why was he here? What about everyone else? There had to be someone in charge, but Kangai had yet to see or hear from them. And if he does end up stuck here for a while, it wouldn't hurt to know where everything was.

He opened the door on his right, and inside was mirrors, mirrors... and more mirrors. Kangai couldn't help but roll his eyes in response-- he didn't know what he was expecting, but didn't he just finish complaining about not wanting to navigate places where everything looked the same? But despite his annoyance, Kangai found himself unable to step into the room. Mirrors were plastered over every surface in the room, and some were even lying on the floor. It was different from an amusement park hall of mirrors, where the goal was to disorient your sense of direction. In this room, it was just mirrors hanging everywhere, making it look like you were staring back at yourself from every and any angle. The urge to check if any of the mirrors were two-sided started to creep into his mind, like an itch he couldn't scratch. It was a bad habit from his detective days he never felt needed fixing, but this room made him question if he should.

...Suddenly starting with a different room sounds like a good idea.

What's your answer to our secret question? Steel Blue

Please answer the following questions in-character:

1. What is your idea of a safe place, a haven?
2. What makes someone a hero?
3. Cake or pie? (Why?)
4. What's the one thing you like best about yourself?
5. How excited would you get if you met someone famous?

1. What is your idea of a safe place, a haven?
Definitely not where I'm going, if that's why you're asking.

If we're talking about a horror movie, then sure, a safe place is somewhere where the monsters or zombies can't get to you. But in reality, we can't just hide and hope that all the bad things go away. Just like those monsters, they're right outside, waiting for an opportunity to come in. Anything you've ever felt the need to run away from: people, problems, regrets... they'll find a way to catch up to you. So in the end, it's not where you are that makes you safe, but your situation.
2. What makes someone a hero?
Heroes, angels, saviors... they're all titles given when people want to put someone on a pedestal. That's all there is to it.
3. Cake or pie? (Why?)
I'd rather have neither, but pie works I guess. At least there's savory versions of those. I'm not one for sugar-loaded desserts.
4. What's the one thing you like best about yourself?
Do I have to? I have a hard enough time liking other people, let alone myself.
5. How excited would you get if you met someone famous?
Not at all? I'd head in the opposite direction. Famous people get a lot of attention, and I don't need any of that.

Welcome to the countdown.

After a snippet of song, a strange taste in the mouth, or a crawling sensation on the skin, your character will find themselves waking up on a bed with a strange device strapped on their wrist and the sun shining down on them through the curtains of a room they have never seen before. Perhaps they are surrounded by people they have never seen. The view outside the window reveals a dense forest and a view outside the room, a dilapidated hallway.

This is the Birdcage Manor. Do enjoy your stay.

Please request to join

explorationzero,

ezlogs,

ezooc, and optionally

easyspam. Also comment on the TAKEN and HOUSING page with an apartment you would like to be placed in, and then head over to the permissions page if you have a character with a permissions post or would like to fill one out!

In the meantime, join us in plurk @

ezmod and the AIM chatroom explorationzero.

Congratulations, and welcome to the game!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Applications

Kangai | Jisei | Reserved [2/2]

Mod Interview!

Re: Mod Interview!

ACCEPTED!