The Plot

“Welcome to Clearwater State University! PRIDE AND HONOR! That’s what makes a Clearwater student different from the rest! When you become a Clearwater Wild Cat, you rise above and beyond, ascending to a new level of knowledge and opportunity. Top notch professors guide students through hands-on activities where students can gain first hand experience and choose their career path! We hope your stay here is a brilliant one! Welcome, Wild Cats! The future is yours!”

That’s what the posters said after all, and they weren’t far from the truth either. Clearwater was one of THE BEST universities in the world, ranking one of the top fifteen universities, which was strange considering that its town wasn’t exactly a city. It was a decent sized town, nestled in the mountains of the Appalachian foothills and near the massive Clearwater lake which stretches on for miles and miles through dense forests and natural wildlife. Clearwater prides itself in the best accommodations, with crisp and clean updated dorms and only the highest technology. The town itself is filled with bright minds and is always well kept, and despite being fairly busy, its a peaceful town, with little to no crime rate. There hasn’t been a missing person case in years, and theft is nearly unheard of. It was ranked one of the safest towns in the US for the past 5 years, in a row! Wow! Talk about security. Could it get any better? Well, Clearwater also has found itself to house the great Dr. Darren Martin, a mysterious yet brilliant scientist, who’s experiments has produced numbers of game changing and life saving medications to heal the sick and extend life in some cases. Even past the secure, innovative town, you come to see the real beauty of the untouched nature surrounding Clearwater. Lush, beautiful forests with gentle and delicate foliage blessed with each and every season. Fall is by far the most beautiful one, drawing tourists from around the world to take pictures as the leaves change into such vibrant colors. Winter is heavy with several feets of snow occurring at times, but it too also adds onto the terrific versatility of Clearwater’s beauty. Of course, Clearwater’s staple landmark is the Clearwater lake. The water isn’t exactly clear as one would believe due to the name, but the water sparkles like trillions of stars in the sky, and stretches on for miles at a time, surrounded by thick forests and nature. Clearwater is perfect.

Or… or it was.

The disappearances began just weeks into the new semester, maybe days, the police tried to dial it down so as not to alarm anyone, but they couldn’t hold the festering disaster down for long. At first, it was an old couple, which people thought had gone camping and just hadn’t returned yet. And then two or three college students were gone. Maybe they just returned home? But then weird things started to happen. Fall came early. Cold weather came in and the leaves started to turn months early. A strange fog rolled into Clearwater, and an eerie sense clouded the lake. Something was happening. Maybe Clearwater’s centuries long peace was coming to an end. And suddenly, the town and all its people relied on college students, who’d barely figured out what they wanted in life, even if they did.

The road ahead for them would be perilous and even lethal. Some would fall and sacrifice, others would fight and protect, some may even leave or betray. Their story is not yet written. The fate of thousands now lay on their shoulders. Can they do it? Can they save Clearwater?

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Sign-Ups: Have you submitted your application? If not, you can do so here!

Discussion: Teamwork is key to success. You can find a good study group here!

Role-Play Thread: What are you doing?

~Current Setting~

It's the first day of September. Here in the Appalachian mountains, where the weather is bipolar as crap, it's rather cool out, but just around Clearwater. It's a few days before classes start, everyone is moving into their dorms and growing accustomed, while returners come knowing what is to come, or so they think. Because of this, Clearwater is busier than usual, with more cars and more traffic. As the same year after year, Freshmen aren’t allowed to have cars yet, so they’re forced to use the public transportation provided. Most upperclassmen use it anyway to save on gas (prices are still wild). The town is filled with its usual hustle and bustle, however it won’t take long for it to calm down. Soon, the town will simmer in its activity, and the scenery will become breathtaking. A vast majority of Clearwater Wild Cats will venture to the lake and hang out before the weather becomes too cold to do so, while Dr. Martin’s name is once again plastered on the news for yet another life enhancing medicine.

But not all will go well. Just weeks into the semester, students will begin to disappear, and others will begin to notice something else. Powers, and strange ones at that. What will happen? Can they find the missing people? Can they stop the disappearances from happening? What’s hiding in the lake?

Clearwater University info pamphlet

Clearwater sits in the Appalachian mountains, home to the Clearwater lake, a historical lake that stretches on for miles surrounded by dense mountain ranges and forests. Many people go missing in the Appalachian mountains each year. Forest rangers suggest beginner hikers to not traverse the Appalachian mountains or the Clearwater area, as it is home to dangerous animals such as bears, wolves, coyotes, and multiple species of large wild cats. The weather can change in under fifteen hours from chilly to below freezing. Heavy rains can cause flash floods and earthquakes have been known to occur. The Clearwater area remains untouched other than a few cabins few and far inbetween. The access point to Clearwater lake via town is open and easier to get to, but there are multiple cliffs surrounding the lake which have been deemed unsafe and unstable. The town is cut off from other towns from the forests. In some places in the forests, help can be anywhere from thirty minutes away to days. It is suggested to always carry emergency supplies and rations even if you go to the public side of the lake, as anything could happen. Make sure not to wander too far to the lake; reports are REDACTED so you best keep watch in case REDACTED. Go Wild Cats!

“Here at Clearwater, we may have fun, but we also pride ourselves on rules and orders. All students should take a moment each week to refresh themselves with the rules, to make sure we’re all… Following Orders… Thank you for your time! Rules are listed below.”

Rules:

1. Do not spam. Each reply should be at least 10 sentences.

2. Be patient with whomever you may be interacting with.

3. No inappropriate speech or behavior

4. Please try to remain active in this RP and post often. If you are taking a break/won’t be active for a particular reason, please message me so I know.

5. Make sure to take note of who is active and who is not. In other words, let's try to make sure everyone gets to reply and we’re not halfway with the story by the time someone wakes up lol.

6. No character is invincible. Your character WILL get hurt, and some may die. They will not make every hit, and they will not avoid every hit.

7. No powers right off the bat. Our characters do not know they have them. These powers will develop later on in the story. They won’t know how to control them off the bat.

8. Please avoid your character trauma dumping. There will be moments to show your character’s backstory. Just don’t be like: “No one likes me,” out of the blue ^^

9. Hate the character, not the person. I am going to make some VERY unpleasant side characters to help develop the story. I hate them too. That’s their whole point 🙂

10. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to DM me or post to the discussion! Please do not have any back and forth chatter on the actual RP thread to avoid clutter.

11. Once the RP begins, you’re still free to make characters should we need them, but as we get further in, we’ll reduce accepting characters to keep the story flowing.

12. Have fun!

13. Wake…. Up….

~Talon~

22 + Male + Pan +Teleportation + Senior

‘Another year, another year.’ He thought to himself. ‘Last year, isn’t it?’ It felt weird that he was at the end. Five years gone in the blink of an eye, and more before those lost to the world. He’d been surprised how fast time was passing. His college years had been ripped away out from underneath him because of that bloody pandemic, yet that hadn’t slowed his curious nature down. Still, it just didn’t feel real. He’d graduate and then do what? Going home wasn’t an option, but he surely couldn’t stay here, right? Well, Clearwater felt like home now anyways. He’d spent five to six years here, surviving on his own, hadn’t he? He didn’t quite enjoy thinking about the future and what would eventually come. Maybe if he didn’t think about it, it wouldn’t happen. But the end was coming closer than he could ever imagine, and nothing would slow its venture. Maybe that just meant he had to make the most of this year, and that was something he could do.

Talon watched as the town lay in a lock of terrible, overflowing traffic as the move-in weekend approached. Parents would come and drop their kids off, helping them get into their new, cramped dorm rooms and discover who their roommates would be. Most parents anyways. Of course there were those who couldn’t attend, so their student drove themselves, or were picked up from the airport. Others simply lived in Clearwater, like Talon. Well, could he say he lived in Clearwater, or that he was just a nomad at this point? Hm, that really was a question, wasn’t it. Meh.

The young man smiled at the traffic jam and rose from the concrete bench he sat on with a massive stretch and a sigh. The sun shone brightly on his skin and the cool breeze matched the sunshine oh so perfectly. His hair ruffled just a bit, but comfortably so. Glancing around the park filled with people, he grabbed his small suitcase from beside the bench, then swung the heavy bookbag over his shoulder, nearly knocking himself down. The man steadied then sucked in a breath as he started to venture down the sidewalk in long strides.

The air smelled fresh and birds flew overhead, casting their brilliant songs onto the people below. The sidewalk was a bit busier than usual, but Talon weaved through the crowds expertly, whistling as he went on. He couldn’t help but wonder who his roommate would be this year. His old one graduated the year before. Honestly, he hoped whoever it was would be more interesting than that guy. His old roommate was such a rule follower, so much to the point Talon felt like he was back home with his parents! He guessed both were glad he was leaving. He also hoped that the new guy wouldn’t be a freshman. Talon wanted to scare them, not live with them.

Talon scampered across the crosswalk, picking up the pace as the little countdown came close to zero. As he did, a car honked its horn at him, but Talon made it to the other side before rolling his eyes at the driver. Stupid tourist! Didn’t even see the crosswalk! Already out of breath from the two second jog, the young man sighed but pushed on, pattering down the street past large brick buildings towards the main dorms. There were hundreds of dorms, but Talon loved the Cherry Dorms where he stayed, and wouldn’t be anywhere else. The dorms were named that, mostly because of the Cherry Blossom trees planted outside, looking beautiful each spring. The dorms there were fairly new as well, and the rooms were pretty large too. Again, Talon thought about the end. This could be his last year in the Cherry Dorms. He had the option to go for his masters, but Talon knew he had to think realistically. He was barely passing now, so how could he make it to his masters?

‘No point in thinking about that. Just think about today. The future isn’t here yet anyways. I’ve got time.’

It wasn't that he was terribly cold, because he really wasn't. It was more so that the traffic outside was so jam-packed, so horrible, that Kalen simply preferred to stay inside for most of the morning. Well, not that it really lasted that long considering he had to drag his bag up the stairs. Stairs of all things. Between the fact that he didn't get up early and the morning was already waning, it meant he had only an hour, hour and a half or so to rest and watch the chaos unfold. Which lead to the stair fiasco. Maybe, if he had gotten up early, he'd have the chance to use an elevator. But the elevators were in constant use with new freshmen and their families and their obscene amount of luggage. He had noted a few that had at least seven suitcases. SEVEN.

He had one large one, a backpack of toiletries and a smaller duffle bag for everything else. If he didn't have to come all the way out to stay, he probably wouldn't have even bothered. But it was too far of a drive realistically to make it every day. The cost was the determining factor.

He dragged his suitcase along, noting different dormitories. Each one named differently with students pouring in. Unsurprisingly. Kalen hadn't been to many parties his first year and with this being his last year, he had some doubts as to whether or not he'd really be out and about. But it wasn't that hard. It was just something to get certified, a degree and then get to doing something he actually liked doing.

Getting all of the juicy stories, touching none of the gross stuff and just taking pictures.

The young man paused and glanced up the long, tall building. The Cherry Dorms. In the spring of course, the trees that now sported bronze, rosy red colors would lose the red and return with a vibrant eye catching pink.

A small snort escaped from his nose as Kalen shook his head. Oh he had plenty of feelings that this was a rather sought after dorm. He just needed a place to stay, which was probably why he was there instead of others.

Still, it was another long trek up the stairs, lugging his suitcase up each of the flights of stairs. He considered it would be his 'workout' for the day. Genetics had quite a role to play in his appearance, but a lot of it as well was practice.

Keeping a steady schedule, every day. But, still, he wandered up and up and up and up and up the stairs. "Please," his voice echoed after the fourth flight, "tell me they did not stick me on the top floor. I will throw hands with someone."

Fifth flight.

Sixth flight.

"Thank the stars, it's only the second to top," Kalen's voice was dry and he shoved the door open and lugged the suitcase toward the doorway. Not that it mattered that much, he didn't have that much stuff to begin with.

A lot of it... well, his style could be considered "vintage" in a sense. He liked button down shirts, leaving the top couple unbuttoned, for style points, a bit of jeans and the white and black saddle shoes. Those were made new but they looked vintage. They were, also, surprisingly comfortable to wear as a daily shoe.

So, now he stood outside the door, shaking his head clear of his thoughts, and worked on fumbling with the key.