Elite roleplay: Citi Gateway

CITI GATEWAY

The Orbis station is a center of activity. Within the station a myriad of places can be found.
  • The Warrens: Where the poor plebs of the station live. It's is a breeding ground for the most unscrupulous. Keep an eye on your wallet when traversing the corridors of these areas.
  • Habitation Complex: For those workers and pilots that can afford it, this area provides closer to 1G gravity for more earth like living.
  • Commerce Divison: and Administration Where the larger corporations make their home. Station administration can be found here.
  • Industrial Complex: Where industry manufactures their various goods.
  • Entertainment: District Bars, theaters and night clubs, tattoo parlors and other establishments can be found vying for a commanders credits in exchange for a bit of fun.
  • Station Security: A high tech brig used to house law breakers until they can be tried, and or deported off station.
  • Medical Ward: Where commanders can get patched up, enhanced, or fix existing cybernetics.

General Roleplay Etiquette:

1. Control only the actions of your own character(s). (AKA: God Mode)
This doesn't matter how small the action is, even if it is as simple as scratching their nose or a direct reaction to something else that just happened. This applies to everything from casual conversation to full blown fight scenes. If you'd like someone to do something specific, PM that person, however keep in mind they are completely within their rights to say no. Especially if said action is inappropriate to their character and/or circumstance.

2. Don't brute force your way into another persons RP.
Approaching with a conversation starter is fine, or indeed some other small action. However charging in, guns blazing and disrupting the flow of another person/pair/groups conversation/arc is about as rude as doing so in real life. If something is going on that you'd like to participate in, be subtle about it. Put out a gentle hook for someone to take, but again, be aware that said hook may not be taken. If you fear it was simply unnoticed, PM the person or people it concerns. Or even leave a message in the OOC forums.

3. Good grammar and spelling is preferred.
We're not asking you to be perfect, but please at least demonstrate willingness. no1 iz gna tak u srsly usng txt spk. There's a wide variety of people here, many who speak English as a second, or even third language. There are even some with varying degrees of dyslexia and/or likely other issues that affect spelling/grammar. We accept them all here. However, people who aren't accepted, are those unwilling to accept polite correction. Remember that even a small thing like the placement of a comma, or the wrong use of there/their/they're can completely change the definition of an entire sentence.

4. Accept constructive criticism gracefully and politely.
If someone spots an issue with your writings, they may wish to help you improve that writing. They may do this through PM or even publicly air their thoughts on the OOC forum. If they have taken the time to be polite and explain what is wrong with your writing, the best way to behave is to respond in kind, using the same manner they have approached you with. It means they have taken an active interest in what you have written and wish to see more. Basically, you have a fan!

5. Don't take the actions or opinions of things done IN RP, to be directly relevant to the writers thoughts or opinions.
Basically, if some ones character calls your character a jackass, it doesn't mean the writer thinks you are a jackass. It's a ROLE they are PLAYING. Watch a movie. The argument between the characters isn't an argument between the actors involved. The same applies here.

6. It's not a popularity contest.
Your RP might be bustling with participants. You have 3 people off station in a fire fight, while another 2 are infiltrating the darkest areas of the station, meanwhile a group of 4 others are tracking your movements in an effort to stop you. Good for you, I'm sure it will be a thrilling read! But you know what? Sometimes the absolute BEST work, comes from two RP characters having a simple heart to heart. Both are valid, both are great, but NEITHER is categorically better than the other. Period.


Inara RP Etiquette:

1. Respect the setting and rules of the universe.
Inara is an Elite: Dangerous 3rd Party Tool. The RP Forums are set in the Elite: Dangerous universe. Elite: Dangerous has rules, as any fictional universe does from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, or Game of Thrones to Star Trek. If you intend to RP within the Elite: Dangerous universe you are bound by the history and rules of that universe. Simply put, this RP forum is bound by the same rules as the game, so if it can't be done in the game, it is not permitted here. This applies to things from a 50Ly Jump Range on a normal, unmodified Sidewinder, to the destruction of entire stations.

2. Respect the characters created by others.
We have a wide variety of characters already here. It's expected that some will be similar, just as it's expected that two characters will be vastly different. Opinions of each persons character will naturally be varied, but all are valid provided they follow the rules of the universe. You are allowed to interact with, or avoid interaction with, any character in the RP forums. But you have no right to belittle others for their creation. You are not an authority figure on writing, nor are you directly affected by another persons imagination. You might not like it, but you MUST respect it.

3. Be caught up on current events before joining in.
You need basic things like character descriptions in order to interact with them. You also need to know what's going on in the surrounding areas. This is simply because the people you are hoping to RP with, might be gearing up to something that you might not want to be part of. Or simply that the most recent post, out of context, could leave a different impression on the goings on than if you gather that context. We don't expect you to read every single post from the beginning of the forums, just enough to get that basic understanding.

4. Either subscribe to, or frequently check, the Roleplay: Q&A and OOC forum.
People may be discussing something relevant to you there, or even discussing you directly. Perhaps someone asked what the general consensus on the existence or non-existence of a certain object. Or we're just chatting about random gibberish. Either way, be aware of it and use it. If you're unsure about something, such as how guns would look and or behave, or even the music selection, use the OOC forum to ask. We don't have all of the answers, but the collective knowledge and logic usually allows us to overcome an issue and come to a decision on what should be allowed. Frontier Developments, and even David Braben himself, don't have the answers to every possible question that can be asked.

5. Large Scale events exploding out of nowhere are a complete no go.
We get it. Everyone wants their character to be noticed and for people to be tripping over themselves to interact with them. In some audiences, an introduction involving you blasting in for landing in a fiery wreckage of a ship, before cart wheeling out and sword fighting 35 Ninjas before whisking off with the local celebrity for a glorious night of passion, is in fact, cool. This is not one of those audiences. It is generally considered better to build your character up slowly over time. Eventually, you might even have a legitimate excuse to fight those Ninjas. Maybe even with other RP participants by your side.

6. Perfect characters are boring.
The point of a character arc, is that it is in fact, an arc shape. One who is morally unquestionable, fully kitted out and an infinite fountain of knowledge, cannot go through an arc. Give your character flaws. Be it a tendency towards befriending the wrong people, or a bad knee that frequently gives out at inopportune moments. It gives readers something to latch onto and empathise with. You can give your character exceptional capabilities at something, but it requires balance. She's a damn good pilot with no equal, but can't drive an SRV for peanuts. It can lead to some very interesting moments between characters, be it heartfelt or comedic.


Other Notes:
It should be noted that there can be exceptions to these points. For example, good grammar when a character is speaking is actually rare. Few people in real life actually speak with perfect eloquence after all. Or previously arranged actions during a fight scene, such as someone stumbling back after a punch. What's key to remember is context.

All in all, remember this is purely for fun. We have some seriously talented writers here, and others whose writing history starts and ends at high school. But many are willing to help out in whatever way they can. All it takes is that you ask nicely.

Also keep in mind that many people who RP here, also have logbook stories related to the character, or characters, they portray. If it looks like there's an "in joke" going on that you're unsure of, it's probably in those.

In fact, some users have even gone to the trouble of creating "alts" to RP with. If you read back far enough, it's usually pretty clear who has and hasn't, and which ones are the "alts". It's therefore not unheard of to see the apparent seizing of control of other characters. If you do spot one, point it out in the OOC section. If intervention is needed, it will be sorted quickly and (hopefully) politely.

Most, if not all RP participants here have Logbook stories pertaining to their character(s). These are for the reading pleasure of anyone who wishes to do so. While it can be useful to read them in order to gain a bit of backstory on a character you wish to interact with, it should not be assumed that your character shares that knowledge. Within the E:D Universe, these Logbooks either don't exist, or are private diaries kept by the characters. Either way, without explicit statements to say otherwise from the writer, your interactions should reflect that your character is in the dark about any information you, the writer/reader, have gained from reading the stories.
06 May 2017, 2:35am
"Because she was the one who managed to bring in the political and economic capital to pull off the insurrection," he said. "My father masterminded it, my brother executed it, my wife coordinated it."

He chewed on his lower lip, then added. "But she wasn't the one who thought to burn Chantilly down as a last-ditch effort. That honor belonged to my father."
06 May 2017, 2:38am
Phisto's face twisted in a dark grimace. He spoke slowly. "Who put them up to it?"
06 May 2017, 3:10am
"My father. He was a political force at the time. Wanted to break free of the Federation and turn Eravate into an independent system. Faveol family from Liaedin was sympathetic to his cause - which is why he worked so closely with Natalia to execute the plan."

He sighed heavily, lowering his head. "They provided the money to bring contractors in. They provided supplies and weapons for the rebels on Ackerman Market. But it was my father that wanted that "failsafe" in the event the insurrection failed. And it did."

Isaiah recalled to mind the proceedings from his father's trial. He'd confessed to it, all of it. "It was the price for failure. If I could not wrest control of Eravate from the Federation, I would do whatever it took to ensure the Federation would not have its crown jewel."

"Dropping a rock into the valley, destroying the city... bought the rebels time to escape. Bought him time to escape."
06 May 2017, 4:16am
Phisto shook his head, looking down at his feet.  His anger bubbled just under the surface, rising at each detail Isaiah shared.  "I'm sorry... Isaiah..." He stammered, shifting his feet and adjusting his weight.  "I don't know what to say."

They hurt Isaiah too, just like they did Nat.  They never have enough.  Never.

Phisto looked up, his eyes moist.  "You... your story.  It's hitting close to home."

In a couple ways, actually.


Last edit: 06 May 2017, 4:43am
06 May 2017, 4:46am
Isaiah's brow furrowed tightly, head canting to the side. "Aw jeez, Phisto," he said, knowing the sorrow written on his friend's face all too well. "I didn't mean to take our conversation and turn it into a heart-to-heart, you know?" 

He didn't know how to respond to the sudden display of emotion from Phisto, other than to react in a similar way. His eyes filled with tears, which he quickly wiped away. "What happened to you?"
06 May 2017, 2:13pm
Phisto breathed in deeply, once again trying to pull himself back together.  He slowly smoothed out his suit jacket, then brought his hands up to adjust his collar.  He paused, simply looking at Isaiah.  "No... it's ok."  He grinned and let out a small chuckle.  "Even cold-hearted, seasoned bastards like us need to let it out once in a while."  Phisto narrowed his gaze, mockingly scrutinizing the crowd around them.  He stuck out his tongue and scrunched his facial features.  "It's a shame we'll have to kill all these people when we're done.  Make sure to check them for recording devices, yeah?"  He laughed and relaxed.

Looking back to Isaiah, Phisto's eyes were still moist but his characteristic devilish glint had returned.  He sighed again and shook his head, looking back down at this feet.  "I'm not really sure where to start.  Mind if we have a seat?"  He pointed over to a bench facing the observation window.


Last edit: 06 May 2017, 4:53pm
06 May 2017, 2:20pm
"Yeah, sure thing," Isaiah replied, making a sweeping gesture towards the bench with his arm. He followed Phisto over, sitting down at one end and sinking into the bench, gazing out through the viewport once more.

The more he spoke with Phisto, learned about him, the more Isaiah felt secure in his decision to trust him to carry out his instructions. It would be no small task - it required more effort than perhaps many strangers would care to put forward - but he felt a sort of kinship developing with Phisto. And what he was about to do - what he had already done - meant that he needed people he could count on.

Head lolled back on his shoulders, Isaiah closed his eyes and resumed speaking. "Where to start... I guess the beginning? You said you were from a clan, right? Did you know your parents? Have any siblings?"
06 May 2017, 2:39pm
Phisto took a seat to Isaiah's right.  He brought his arms up onto the back of the bench, spreading them out wide and resting his hands on the edge.  Remembering how earlier he'd startled Isaiah with a simple shoulder pat , he took care in giving a wide berth.  Looking straight ahead, he lost his vision in the blue marble suspended before them.  "Yeah, clan's probably the best word for it.  You see, my world was one of those small, weirdo ones out on the edge of the Pegasi sector, the kind that develop their own..." he sighed, "...unique way of living."

He shifted in his seat.  "I'll try to explain the best I can.  Been looking at it from the outside for quite a while now, but even so I still have a hard time making sense of it."  He looked down at his pants.  Spotting a wayward hair from some passerby clinging to his leg, he reached forward and plucked it off him.  Tossing it to his left, his arm returned to its home on the back of the bench.

"We were called the Sobanii.  When conflicts between other clans were deemed too risky to continue we were called in by our Elders to..." he chuckled, "...settle them.  I never knew my birth parents, never had any biological siblings as far as I know, but that was a feature of our little group."  Phisto cocked his head slightly to his right, trying to gauge his friend's reaction.  "We were raised communally.  The whole clan was my family, and they mine."  He rubbed his right thumb over its index finger, his brow tightening as he considered what to say next.


Last edit: 06 May 2017, 2:48pm
06 May 2017, 2:52pm
"Ahh, the 'it-takes-a-village' approach to things," Isaiah remarked, nodding his head slowly. His mind quickly formed an image of what might have happened, where Phisto's story might lead. Pegasi sector. Were they pirates? 

"Can't help but feel this is the next natural question to ask: was the Sobanii a pirate clan?" He turned his head to Phisto, holding up a hand, palms out. "Not that I'm one to judge, mind you. Don't think there's a lot of moral wiggle room for me to make judgments or anything about anyone nowadays."
06 May 2017, 3:09pm
Phisto laughed and turned to his friend, grinning wide and happy. "Oh god, no. Not pirates at all. Best way to say it..." His eyes looked down at the area of the bench next to Isaiah, then back up. "...would probably be an exceptionally exclusive mercenary group. You literally had to be born into it, and we only had a couple contracts between the Elder clans. Might be easier to think of us as like the planet's air and space corps?" He turned his view back to the water world outside the station.

"As far as the rest of the planet goes, I couldn't really tell you. I know it was a hard world to settle. Hot, dry, with basic necessities like water a serious premium. By the time I was born, most of the basic challenges of living had been licked. In fact, we were finally opening up to the rest of the galaxy." He looked at Isaiah, smiling, "I hope this is making sense. I... don't talk to many about this stuff."
06 May 2017, 6:36pm
"Makes perfect sense," Isaiah said with a nod and a grin. "Makes me realize how different your upbringing was from mine. Air and space corps though - that's something else." He gave a slight shake of the head, his eyes wandering back out the window.

"Something tells me this isn't a story with a fairy tale ending though," he added, his tone of voice dropping. "You had to make a choice, didn't you?"
06 May 2017, 6:58pm
"Far as I see it, no choice at all."  Phisto smirked, his good spirit returning.  "And what clued you in, Mr. Detective, my sudden emotional vulnerability?" Poking his tongue between his lips, he winked at Isaiah.  It felt good to lay out a bit of his past like this.  Wandering the galaxy he always felt a separation from those around him.  Since losing Nat and the consequences thereafter, actual friendship, much less intimacy, was a rare find.

"See, that opening up to the galaxy I mentioned?  All kinds of interested parties looking to make a buck off our world.  While we didn't have much to offer, turns out we had one thing that is universally useful to all kinds of people; untapped markets."  Phisto turned back to the crowd and caught the eye of the little girl playing with her Cobra.  He smiled and winked at her.  She giggled, moving back to the older man at his hushed yet-still-overt scold.  "Of course," Phisto said, ignoring the old man,  "that brought conflict, especially considering the sudden rise in narcotics, slaves, so on and so forth."  Phisto clenched his right hand and released it just as quickly.  Dropping his voice to a slight growl, "We were a possible threat, and more importantly, an excellent chance for the Elders to show their fealty to new masters."

He looked up at the old man with a hard scowl.  The man flinched and turned away, putting his hand to the young girl's back shepherding her closer to him.  Phisto looked back up at the blue world.  "Their attack was swift and brutal."  He cocked his head to the side.  "Well planned operation, if I'm honest with myself."  A grin slowly formed on Phisto's face. "But they didn't get enough of us."
06 May 2017, 8:10pm
"Not enough gun," Isaiah said with a nod. "Masters... Kumo Crew, I suppose? Sounds like their mode of operation - they're not keen on internal threats. Saw that firsthand in Lusonda last September."

He chewed on his lower lip again, thinking of what he'd seen during his time with the Legion. Truth was, up until he'd seen the pirate war up close, he hadn't thought much of it. His Federal sensibilities said that it was a war not worth fighting - but then that changed when he was forced out of the Federation.

"Surely you struck back. Wouldn't have let anyone take a swipe at me and mine without some retaliation." Isaiah glanced to the side at Phisto, sizing him up. "And you don't seem like the kind to turn the other cheek either."
06 May 2017, 9:06pm
Phisto nodded at the mention of Kumos.  "Yeah, and we..." Phisto worried about how much he should reveal, "...got a measure of revenge, you could say."  Phisto paused for several moments, mulling over what else he might share.  Feeling guilty, he'd already gotten more than his fair share from his friend; The Eravate War, Natalia, Isaiah's father.  What had Isaiah gotten in return?  No more than a bit of a history and some vague references.  Phisto frowned and shook his head at himself.

I haven't even read his note yet.

"Isaiah... earlier, when you caught me getting all weepy?" He looked down and started tapping his feet.  "It's because you remind me of someone I lost.  His name was Nathaniel.  We called him Nat, for short.  We'd... he... was my wingmate."  He looked over to his right, his eyes pleading with Isaiah to understand the weight of his word choice.
06 May 2017, 9:25pm
Isaiah was taken aback by the admission, the frankness of it. He sat forward and shifted his posture so that he faced Phisto somewhat.

"Your wingmate - you two were close." His brow furrowed. He wasn't sure whether or not to press for details - usually people didn't take kindly to prying, and the last thing he wanted to do was potentially alienate someone he was counting on to carry out his last wishes. But at the same time, they seemed to be sharing something that few others might have even tried to understand. Based on what he knew of Phisto's past, they were more alike than he initially thought. 

He wondered what Phisto meant when he stressed the word wingmate. He imagined it had to do with a measure of trust that Phisto had invested in Nat, and vice versa. From a flyer's perspective, Isaiah knew trusting his wingman was important to his and the other person's survival - but in a family setting, that had to be far more than just a pilot's bond.

"I don't want to upset you or anything, so stop me if I do. But what happened to him?" Isaiah asked, clasping his hands together and resting his elbows on his knees.

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ROLEPLAY ONLY! Respect the universe settings!
If you are new here, please try to at least partially involve in the ongoing stories and conversations instead of establishing a completely different "arc". You can always turn it to a different story later.