Lili

Thanks so much all of you for your replies. I will be taking more things into account and working with the other leaders to see how we can go about making some slight changes. We might need to implement a more common goal, set up events that would impact everyone, or make more smaller events happen. I was also thinking of limiting recruitment to a few new members at a time so we can give them the time we need to rp them and integrate them more into the story. Again, thank you for the input. If any of you think of something else, please feel free to make a reply or send me a PM!

So, here is the situation. We have an RP FC that sometimes runs a dark on topics and is filled with characters that may not be the most social people in the world. We run the risk of losing members because of this, but at the same time we don't want to completely change our characters. Like, there is only so far they can bend, right? They are people who can accept others and do have friends, don't get me wrong, but it takes a lot of time and effort. And not many would be willing to put in that time and effort to get to know someone who curses like a sailor at you. And when they do manage to make friends, they tend to stay near their friends. What I am hoping to know is if any others who have FCs like ours have been able to find a good balancing act. Like, being able to not shut out newbies with unsociable characters, but staying true to character as well. I have tried more friendly alts. And there have been attempts to slowly shift characters to open up more. But these things can only go so far, because the former doesn't seem to help, and the latter is also a slow process. So, anyone with any ideas? ((FYI. I am only a year into RP. And I still consider myself a noob.))

Marielle sat in a plump chair in her sitting room. With crossed legs and crossed arms she bounced her foot impatiently until her lover Damien finally entered the room. She practically jumped out of the seat and moved forward as if to hug him, but stopped halfway. Feelings between betrayal and relief tore through as she stood a distance away from the obviously nervous elezen. “What have you done?” She hissed out at him. Damien clasped his hands and toed the ground. “I already explained all of this to you through the linksh-“ “It was a rhetorical question! My actual question is why you feel the need to disobey me? I am already dealing with Soren’s obstinacy, I don’t need you to start going off on your own as well.” Damien crossed to the other side of the room and sat in a chair facing away from Marielle in a fit of pique. “Last I heard I was an adult who can make his own decisions.” “You used to be an adult who can make good decisions. Now I am not so sure.” She retorted, but immediately regretted it as Damien fell into an angry silence. Marielle rubbed her eyes and sighed. She went over to the back of the Damien’s chair, leaned over and wrapped her arms around him in a loving gesture. “I am sorry my dear. I have been under a great deal of stress lately.” “Is that stress also making you kidnap people and make threats?” She leaned forward more so that her chin was in the crook of his neck. She nuzzled him and then gave him a questioning look. “Do you honestly believe that I would resort to outright kidnapping?” “You have become withdrawn lately, so I don’t know. Soren seemed pretty sure that you had.” “No I have not. Other forms of manipulation are still my crimes, but nothing as great as that. How was my brother by the way?” Damien visibly relaxed more and allowed his head to lean on hers. “Soren seems to be fine, though entirely loyal to that other man and their company.” “Well they are a couple, are they not?” “That is not what Soren said when I asked him. Though he did show man our signs, he seemed completely disgusted by the idea of them being together.” Marielle hummed happily and nuzzled him further. “Completely one-sided then. That is good to know. He would make a terrible brother-in-law.” She kissed his cheek and rose from her spot. “So you have to meet with them so you report on our meeting right? Then you should give them this.” She walked over to one of the end tables and lifted up a document. “Are you going to leave them alone? You should. I don’t think it is a good idea to put such people in distress.” Marielle handed him the document. “Read for yourself.” I, Marielle Beaumontaire of Ul’dah, will henceforth claim to forego any association with the members of Mythril Wings after the Ishgardian sponsored expedition to Azys Lla is complete. In order for this contract to be valid, a number of conditions must take place: (1) Sorenaux Beaumontaire is not allowed onto the expedition to Azys Lla. (2) Marielle Beaumontaire is allowed on the expedition in his stead, and will provide weapons from her selection of merchandise. (3) While on the expedition, Marielle Beaumontaire will not be denied from exploring Azys Lla or procuring information as along as it does not impact on the safety of the other members of the expedition. This will be left to the discretion of the Ishgardian dragoon who is tasked to oversee the expedition. If any of these conditions are not met the contract will be made void. Signed Marielle Beaumontaire of Ul’dah Owner of the company Exsantium Works Damien finished reading the document, and nodded in satisfaction. He folded it up and put it inside his jacket pocket. “I will do as you say. But what about Soren?” I have plans for that.” The corners of her mouth curled up into a mischievous smile.

Short explanation. This is for my character Marielle Beaumontaire. I have yet to do a profile on her, sorry. School. Anywho, here is a tiny bit of story to get a general feel for her. I hope it isn't too long. Also, she has a brother, Soren Shieldbreaker, who I do have a profile for just in case you get curious. With an exhausted sigh Marielle places the letter she was reading down on her desk and rubs her eyes. Learning more about the people Soren had fallen in with was causing her undue stress. She sat quietly and slowly moved her hands from her eyes; letting the silence tune her mind to a serene state. She exhaled slowly and then reached for the device Damien had made her when she was a child. It was a tiny simple thing made only for the purpose of making one constant sound. She pulled back the lever with one finger and watched as the momentum of the action caused the lever to swing back and forth, hitting a thin sliver of metal. Marielle stared deeply into the blank wall in front of her as she absorbed the clicking emanating from the device. Others had various methods of sorting through their minds. Some have a mental file system, some have mind palaces, but Marielle had a web. The sounds brought her mind out of the physical world and into her imagined one where a giant web spanned across the wall. Threads were labeled with a specific person and connected to other branching threads. Some of branching threads were people, some were things, and others merely concepts, but they all embodied the strengths and weaknesses of the particular person on the main line. Zooming out on the view of the web, clusters of these “people” threads were formed together in intricate patterns and labeled further. Marielle imagined herself as a large spider, and moved away from one such cluster labeled Garlemald, over the one labeled Ul’dah, and rested on the one labeled Mythril Wings. Working diligently, Marielle’s imagined body worked over that cluster, adding in the information she had just learned from the letter. When finished, she moved back to view her work. The bonds of the main three were as tight as ever, but the threads connecting the others were limp. This pleased her greatly; knowing that it wouldn’t take much to break them up once she took care of the main problem. One thin spiny leg twanged the thread labeled Soren, and she gave a displeased click of her fangs. He needed to be removed from them and soon. As was the case when they were young, Soren had a way with people. Because of his nature he could quickly form strong bonds with the other members of the company, thereby strengthening Mythril Wings' weakness. This could foil her plans before she could even enact them. Marielle’s strange imagined world dissipated with a brisk knock on the door behind her. She placed a hand on the device to silence the machine, and with perfect grace stood up and glided to an armchair near her desk. “Come in.” She answered to the knock. The door opened and two duskwights came in dragging a third one whimpering between them. One of the guards closed the door behind them as they brought the man to the center of the room facing Marielle. The man in the middle did not look up from his spot on the floor, nor did he struggle to get free, but continued to whimper pitifully. “Now now, there is nothing to be scared of, is there? You knew full well the consequences of your actions, so you /must/ have wanted this, correct?” She crossed her legs and then smoothed out her clothing with a quick gentle swipe of her hands. The man vigorously shook his head. “N-no ma’am. ‘Twas only gettin’ ya the i-information like ya asked. P-Please ‘ave mercy on me ma’am! ‘Twas the only way! The only way!” The man continued to shake his head. “But I made myself very clear when I hired you did I not?” “Y-yes ma’am! Ya said n-n-no illegal things. Only d-d-dip…” “Diplomacy. And why did I say that?” “So’s it won’t come back to ya, and ruin the image ya made. B-but ‘twas the only wa-“ She raised up a hand to cut the man’s speech off. “And stealing is illegal. Especially since you stole from Ishgardian officials. This is a grave offense, though undoubtedly an impressive one. And the information was very useful.” She glanced up at the guards who were still holding the cowering man. “His connection to me?” She asked. “Any traces of his connection to you have been erased Madam. He also did not get caught, so it made our job easier.” “I see that is good. Then I will be merciful.” She smiled gently at the man, and he tentatively looked up at her. “I will let you choose your punishment. Ishgardian gaol, or rehabilitation with me?” The man began to shake violently with fear, his eyes frozen to her face. He soon looked away, and then quietly squeaked out, “Ishgard.” Marielle shrugged. “Why does no one pick rehabilitation? It utterly baffles me. Oh well.” She held out her hand. “Clamps.” One of the guards let go of the man’s arm and went over to a small table on the opposite side of the room. The man on the floor still made no attempt to flee, but the color had drained out of his face. “I expect the best out of the people I hire, you know. And I expect them to understand that the law must be upheld in most cases.” The guard came back with the clamps and placed them in her still outstretched hand. “Tongue out.” The man obeyed her, but tears streamed down his face. “Come now, there is no need to cry.” She placed the tool so that they pinched the man’s tongue. One of the guards drew his dagger. “I need to make sure you can’t spill my secrets to Ishgard. And remember, you brought this on yourself. This is, afterall, justice.”

Thanks for the warm welcome and the advice you guys! I really appreciate it. I hope to see many of you in-game!

I'll make sure to not do that! And I wish I had cookies. Or cake. Or pie...

I finally have time to post on here! Anyways, I am very new to role-playing, but I've been interested in it for years, so I am finally here in FFXIV to get into it all. I'm not new to the game though, I have a level 50 on another server so I know how to play. So I hope you all will be kind and patient with me and my noob status. I am also very friendly, as is my character, so if you see me in-game just wave. If I'm not in the middle of a fate I will return the gesture.