M Y S T I Q U E A role-playing fantasy on-line fiction Genre: Fantasy; Sci-fi; Futuristic Created by: Melissa Koh - safyre@crosswinds.net Jennifier Ding - jennifier_chan@hotmail.com Website: http://mystique.rebelz.org Revised on: 20.02.2000 Main Storyline: 'Mystique' is a board game that doubles as a portal to a world by the same name. In order to escape from the world relatively unharmed, all the Game Players must go on individual quests and find the Game Keeper, and one of them must become the Game Player him/herself. ------ How the game is played: As stated earlier, Mystique is a board game that requires a minimum of 4 players and a maximum of 8. Players roll two dice in a circle drawn on the centre of the board so as to begin the game. In accordance to the total of the two numbers, the player is then sent to one of the twelve portals located in the world of Mystique. However, there are occasional cases where one of the dice rolls out of the circle. This die is ignored and not included in the total, which of course means that it is entirely possible to have a 'one', if somewhat rare. Also take note that the players are only transported to the world Mystique after _everyone_ has thrown the dice. Don't ask how the game knows how many players there are. It's just one of those unexplained things. Upon transportation in to Mystique, guides are assigned to each player, depending on their current location. There are only 8 guides since 4 of the locations are inhabitable even by Mystique standards. These guides will then lead the players to the Game Keeper, who will then assign each of them a task. Usually, however, it requires the theft of priceless/magical relics. Upon accomplishing their tasks, the players will return to the Game Keeper, who would then give them the secret to return home. Returning home, however, requires a sacrifice of one of the players and the Game Keeper's life. When the Game Keeper forfeits his/her life, a new Game Keeper is chosen among the players, who would then deliver his/her friends home. He/she would have to remain in Mystique until other people pick up the dice and play the game. In the event of any of the players losing his/her life during the time spent in Mystique, the remaining players will not be able to return home as a result of the game 'being broken'. The current Game Keeper will retain his/her position until another group succeeds in completing the game. ------ Rules of the game: 1.] There is a time limit to the game. Players are required to complete the game/quest within a maximum period of 6 months, equivalent to 3 hours in 'real' time. 2.] The Game Keeper may not give direct help to the Game Players. Should he/she do so, they will remain trapped in Mystique even upon the completion of the game. 3.] All of the players must be alive in order to return to the 'real' world. 4.] Game Keepers are chosen by the dice. Should any player throw a double [i.e. numbers of both dice being the same], the player is most likely to be the next Game Keeper. The higher the number, the bigger the chance. Twelve is therefore the definite choice [i.e. 2 'sixes']. 5.] Upon his/her ascension as the new Game Keeper, he/she will forfeit his/her gender and become, effectively, a neuter. The Game Keeper will also gain immortality, though eternal youth is out of the question unless he/she has an affinity with youth magic. ------ Other notes 1: Mystique is a untamed world, wild with magic, vicious elves and cannibals. As for the civilised cities, they are ruled by monarchy, sword and chivalry. The portals are scattered all around the world Mystique. Four of them are marked as highly dangerous, and because of this, there are no guides found as these places mean almost certain death. The following is a guide to the 12 portals of Mystique. Total : Location 1 : Cannibal tribes 2 : Wild forests; wild animals 3 : Outskirts of the Kingdom of Taja 4 : Vicious elves 5 : The Fountain of Memory [shrine of the Lost God of Rebirth Ashka] 6 : Shrine of the Goddess of Love & Wealth Myrian 7 : Outskirts of the Renshaw Empire 8 : Mouth of volcano [Mount Fyra] 9 : Shrine of the God of War & Discord Rylan 10: Shrine of the God of Wisdom & Sight (as in seeing the future) Tynian 11: The Village of Children (doubles as a Shrine to the Goddess of Dreams Kyrin) 12: Shrine of the Peace Goddess Syrene (also the primary goddess of worship) Unless your player is extremely gifted, lucky or resourceful, we would advise writers to avoid numbers 1, 2, 4 & 8. It's entirely possible for more than one player to end up in the same portal because of the dice combination. However, only one guide will be posted to each portal, so the players will have to share. Also, the board game Mystique is sensitive to its surroundings. The game can only be played in one location and by a minimum of 4 people. If either requirement is not fulfilled, the game would be relatively safe to play. The board game Mystique is located in Neo Eastern Atlantis, Republic of Aurora, also known as the City of Magic. This means that sorcery and the like can generate in that state without problems. Take your pick of the other states of Neo-Atlantis, with Cleo-dono in charge of the North, Jenni in charge of the West, and Hypertia Tsuyu, in charge of the East. ------ Casting: The following are cast of Mystique. 1 Game Keeper [not available] 4 - 8 Game Players 8 guides [depending on the locations of the Game Players, the number can be decreased]. Natives - no specified number. ------ Other notes 2: The Game Keeper's role is technically free-for-all. This means that no writer is allowed to create a main character known as the Game Keeper. Each writer may not create more than two Game Players or Guides, though combinations like 1 guide & 2 Game Players are welcome, or 2 Guides & 1 Game Player are acceptable. However, for best results and diversity, have a thorough combination. Besides, one too many Players will only create mass confusion in the second half of the story when they go on their quests. Really. Due to the fact that there are limited spaces among the Game Players & Guides, the creators (that's us) will have the final say as to which characters will be accepted. Writers, if they wish, may choose to affiliate their characters with another, i.e. siblings or cousins, which ever way they choose. Because of how the game goes, the Players need to be familiar with other Game Players as well. Writers will be posted a copy of the character profiles. Alternatively, visit: <-- http://mystique.rebelz.org --> for updates or notes. Due to little conflicts in the story, we would appreciate it if the writers avoid the double "sixes". Thank you. Yaoi between characters is entirely possible. But with due respect to the non-yaoi writers on the list, try not to be too explicit in your descriptions ^_^' - End of Outline - Part of White Mirage Creations - http://safyre.tsx.org Copyright (c) Melissa Koh 2000. All rights reserved.