Subterfugio Mod Journal

Setting
Premise | FAQ | Taken | Reservations | Applications

Initially, little will be known about the world the characters have been brought to. Their understanding of their new home and knowledge of the various locations will increase as characters explore and encounter new places and people. Here is what is currently known:


The Labyrinth
The game's current setting. An expansive subterranean maze comprised of an unknown series of hallways that never quite seem to lead to the same place they did the day before. The stones of the floor and walls feel cold to the touch and cannot be broken or moved. The pathways rearrange themselves when there is no one using them.

The halls are lit by torches affixed to the walls. The torches are warm to the touch, but do not burn. They instead glow from some sort of internal power, somewhat similar to a light bulb. The lights burn brightly during what would be a standard earth day's daylight hours, dimming to darkness as 'night' approaches. During these times, the torches cannot be turned back on by the characters, and they will need to figure out another source of light if they wish to venture out.

Within the Maze

The Center
A large domed clearing in the center of the labyrinth. It is attached to the storeroom and is lined with small rooms with cots that the characters can claim as their bedrooms. The Center has little by way of furniture or decorations other than structural columns, though that will likely change as characters explore and bring back things they find. The Center is the stronghold or headquarters where characters can live in safety. The creatures that lurk in the maze seem unable to come here.

When characters venture out into the labyrinth, they will find that something seems to follow them. It starts with a feeling, or a glimpse of a shape out of the corner of their eye. The farther away from the Center they go, the more overt the presence becomes, steering them back to the Center.

The Bedrooms
Small and spartan. Envision a monk's cell in a monastery. Rooms contain one or two cots, aged but clean, with rough spun blankets. Characters can choose a single room or elect to share. Rooms can be decorated with the things found from exploring. They have doors, but no locks, so be careful about leaving your valuables there unless you think you can trust your neighbors.

The Storeroom
A large room found within the Center. It contains basic staples of life. Food, water, clothing, and medicine appear in this room each day, though no one is ever seen coming or going from the room's only entrance. If the storeroom is monitored for the whole day, new supplies will not appear. The things that can be found there are not fancy, but they will keep the people living in the Center alive.

Bathrooms
Yes, there are bathrooms. The plumbing is crude, roman aqueduct-based technology, but it is better than nothing. Bathrooms can be found in the Center and randomly dispersed in the labyrinth.


The Baths
One of the first locations the characters will find outside of the Center. Since it is not connected to the Center of the Labyrinth, it can not always be found along the same pathways as it had previously. However, it is always in close proximity to the Center, so it can be found more often than not when characters go looking for it.

Similar to an old roman bathhouse, it is an indoor pool where characters can get themselves clean and relax for a while. The water is supplied by an aqueduct, and while never runs hot, the water is clean and usually is at least slightly warmer than room temperature. There are usually clean cloths folded up nearby to use as towels, though if used, they will not replenish so long as they are watched.


code bases by tricklet

Game Rules
FAQ | Mod Contact | Setting | Applications

1. Be Excellent To Each Other
Otherwise known as the 'Don't be a Jerk' policy. Treat your fellow players with courtesy and respect. Harassment will not be tolerated, and can be grounds for being banned from the game. Likewise, toxic attitudes are not permitted. Please contact a mod if you feel someone is violating this rule.

2. Remember, It's a Game
You are not your character, and your character's personality and actions are not indicators of your personality and actions. IC =/= OOC. While you are encouraged to play out the IC consequences of your actions, these should not translate to OOC interactions with other players.

3. Don't _____-Mod
Infomodding? NO
Godmodding? NO
Powermodding? NO

Don't do the things, guys. If you and your fellow players need help to determine how a fight or confrontation will end, you can roll a dice or come to a mod and ask us to RNG the results. ____-Modding falls under the 'Don't be a Jerk' rule.

4.Communicate With One Another
If you are not certain, ASK. Part of the fun of roleplay is plotting with other players.

Characters will be given a lot of freedom with what they do, but some things will always require permission/consent from another player. This includes, but is not limited to, shipping, violence, and death. You may not seriously injure or kill another character (PC or NPC) without the other player's agreement. This is closely related to the 'Don't ___-Mod' rule.

5. Get Off Mah Lawn, You Crazy Kids!
Player age requirement is 16+. This game carries a general rating of PG-13 for violence, weird hybrid creatures, sex, etc. It is based on Greek and Roman mythology.

For 18+ rated threads, please place them behind a cut with appropriate warnings. There are a few things (such as explicit content with underaged characters or graphic description of rape) that will not be permitted in Subterfugio. If you are uncertain if a subject or plotline is comm-appropriate, please reach out to a mod for clarification. Anything that falls under 18+ is also something you should communicate with the other players involved before playing out, to make sure everyone is game. If there end up being a lot of 18+ threads going on, we mods are happy to create a 'Subterfugio After Dark' 18+ comm. Just let us know.

6. Contact the Mods for Large Player Plots
We encourage players to make player plots and explore the world we have created. If your plot will include a significant portion of the players or have an impact on the plot as a whole, please contact the mods a couple of weeks in advance. We will approve or ask for revisions on plots that will have a lasting effect on the game as a whole, as well as try to ensure that plots are spread out so as not to overwhelm our player-base.

7. Participation
There will be mandatory Activity Checks on a monthly basis (with the exceptions of the first month of the game and every December). The required activity will be the following-
-10 comments
or
-1 log post

Players who have gone on hiatus at least one week before AC cutoff will be exempt from that month's AC.

If you cannot make AC for the month, you can ask for a second chance. You will be asked to provide double AC for the next month. Players will be allowed 3 (non-consecutive) second chances per year.

In addition, Suberfugio will have a mandatory HMD post 1 or 2 times per year. All players must check in during the HMD, though there is no requirement to comment on others' entries. There is a strict no bullying policy. Constructive criticism is encouraged, but harassment is not permitted.

8. Character...
Canon and OC characters are permitted. CRAU will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Applications for characters 18 or younger will feature an additional 'suitability' section.

The current player character cap is <2>. This may be increased as the game grows.

Because of the nature of the game, Greek and Roman gods will be considered unappable. Greek or Roman heroes or legendary figures will be allowed if they are from a canon (ex. Hercules could be taken from the Disney movie or the Kevin Sorbo TV series) but not from legend.

Currently, only one version of a given character will be allowed. This rule may be amended as the game grows.

Characters will certainly evolve over time in the game setting, and will come up against scenarios not addressed in their canon. Still, as much as possible, strive to remain in character with your muses. Chronic or distracting OOC behavior from a character may be grounds for a strike in the game.

9. Backdating and forward-dating
You may backtag to your heart's content. Regarding posting a log in the past or in the future, there will be a limit. Logs can be backdated up to a month, and forward-dated up to two weeks. If you have a compelling reason to post outside of these limits, please contact a mod.

10. Oh Yeah, Also, HAVE FUN
We are all here as a hobby. The main goal is to enjoy ourselves. With that in mind, welcome to Subterfugio.

code bases by tricklet

Frequently Asked Questions
Game Rules | Setting | Mod Contact | Reservations| Applications

What is the game?
Subterfugio is a survival/horror jamjar inspired by Greek and Roman mythology. Characters unexpectedly awaken in a labyrinth, and must do their best to survive and explore if they want to find their way home. They will get the feeling they are being watched as they explore, although, every once in a while, they get that same nagging sensation while in the Center.

It will be possible for characters to eventually find ways to leave the Labyrinth and explore the rest of the world. Characters will be able to shape the direction of the game and many elements about the world around them, depending on their actions and choices.

What is the rating?
Being that the game is based on mythology that contains lots of violence, rape, and godly wrath, the game carries a general PG-13 rating. Be warned that there will be mentions of these things in some scenes, though descriptions will not be explicit. Mod-run plots will be PG-13, though player plots and threads may go up to R-rating. We ask that any R-rated subject material be placed behind a cut and labeled properly.

That being said, if players would like there to be an 18+ comm for this game, please let the mods know. We can create one if one is desired.

What can I expect?
In this game, you can expect exploration and discovery of new locations and characters in the maze. There will be creatures. Some will want to eat you. Characters can choose to fight or flee. There will be lore to uncover and of course some slice of life elements.

It will also be revealed relatively early on that characters can be cursed by the gods, which can result in terrible or hilarious results for characters. More on that below.

What is the Tagging Speed?
Well, tagging speed will, of course, depend on the players in the game. However, mod intent is for this game to be relatively slow. I, the plot mod, work full time and will only be able to make mod/NPC posts on evenings and weekends. During modded events, there will be roughly one mod response per 24 hour period.

What is the posting format
Subterfugio is starting out as comm-based. A network function can be uncovered in the game, but for now, the game will be played out in logs.

Prose posts and action posts are both fine. Feel free to use whichever suits your style or the feel of the scene you are playing.

Logs should be labeled with the following information:
Who is doing the thing. (You can mention if it is open or closed here)
What is happening. Just a brief description is fine.
When approximately. Time is relative in the darkness of the labyrinth, but try your best.
Where it is occurring, if there is a specific location in the maze.
Warnings of any potentially objectionable material and/or projected rating.
Status if open or closed (if it is not mentioned above)
Notes optional, if there's anything else you want to add.

Can I run a plot?
YES. There will be some mod-run events, but as mentioned above, we mods are planning on running a slow game. We encourage players to plot and explore on their own. While we are not quite a sandbox, players can interact with the world and really make it their own.

If you would like to run a player plot that could be plot-relevant or that will involve more than a handful of players, just run it by the mod team for approval. We can include it on the monthly info posts if we have enough notice.

Time scale
Subterfugio is on a 1:1 ratio. You can backtag, back date, or forward date as your heart desires.

Questions about applying
Reservations are allowed anytime (though this may change as the game grows), and will reserve your chosen character for one week before expiring.

Applications will open on June 1st. For now, there will be no app cycle; applications will be accepted any time after June 1st. This may change as the game grows in size.

Responses to applications will not be instantaneous. Expect the turn-around time for your application to be at least 7 days.

Can I app a character who...
Is Dead?
Yes. They can be taken from the moment just before their death, or show up after. They will be healed of whatever caused their death. There is more on the 'death' mechanic below.

Is Not Human?
Yes. Some aspects of game play might be slightly different for inhuman characters, but go for it. To be considered app-able, they must be sentient, have a distinct personality, and have means of interacting with and communicating with other characters.

Robot/cyber characters can choose to be humanized or remain in their canon forms. If they require a power source to function, they will be able to find such within the game setting. Just let the mods know in your app.

Is Sick?
Yes. You can either choose to have them healed when they awaken in the game setting, or play out whatever they suffer from. If they require a certain medicine in order to live, it will be found in the storeroom along with the other supplies. Just let the mods know when you app.

Is Large?
Yes, but characters will need to be able to fit within the Labyrinth. Characters taller or wider than 10 feet will be scaled down to a more manageable size.

Logistics:

Language Barrier?
When characters awaken in the Labyrinth, they will find that their tongues and ears have been pierced with small metal studs. These will allow the character to speak and hear a common language. The studs will disappear within a week (unless a character wishes to keep them), though the magical translation effect will remain.

Any character who removes their earrings or tongue ring before the magic has had time to settle will only be able to speak/hear their native language(s) until they put the jewelry back in and allow it to do its thing.

NOTE- These items only effect oral and auditory functions. Characters will not have auto-translation of written texts. They will not be able to read the native language unless they either find a way to learn it, find an item that grants similar effects to the earrings and tongue rings, or receive a divine blessing that bestows understanding of the language.

Do Powers Get Nerfed?
Yes and No. Godlike powers will need to be toned down, and certain powers may be limited. This includes, but is not limited to:
Teleportation outside of the Labyrinth or to undiscovered locations within the Labyrinth will not be allowed.
The walls/floors/ceilings of the Labyrinth cannot be broken, even by characters with super-strength.
Mind-reading is only permitted with permission from all players involved.
Characters cannot be killed without permission from the players involved. This goes for NPCs and PCs. More on how death works below.

The basic rule to follow is 'Don' be a jerk'. That means no info-modding, power-modding, god-modding, etc. You will be allowed to keep most powers, but if they are abused, your character will find themselves cursed into not being able to use them.

Can My Character Have Their _____?
Characters will wake up in the maze with whatever they were carrying on them at the time they were taken. If your character could reasonably have been carrying X thing on their person, as long as X is not potentially game-breaking, then they can have it. Things that a person could not reasonably carry (or that will not fit in the hallways of the labyrinth), like a car, or a bed, will be left behind.

Players will be asked to list their inventory on their application. You do not have to list every article of clothing and catalog pocket lint and such, but let us know if your character is going to whip out a sword or a tablet or whatever.

If an item is very important to a character and you are not sure whether it qualifies as something they could have, please ask a mod. For example, if you were apping Mumen Rider from One Punch Man, it would be fine to ask that he come through with his Bicycle of Justice.

How About Pets?
This will depend on the pet. If the pet is a potentially appable character (sentient, with a distinct personality, and capable of communicating with other characters in a meaningful way), then it will not be allowed to come through with a character. If it is too large to fit within the maze, it will similarly be disallowed. Otherwise, if a pet would have reasonably been in very close proximity to the character when they were brought to the Labyrinth, it can appear with them.

If you have questions about whether your pet is allowed, please ask a mod. If your character will be bringing in a pet, please mention it in your application so we can approve it.

Setting:

What can be found in the maze?
Places
Some descriptions of the locations currently unlocked in the maze can be found on the Settings page.

Requests for new locations to discover can be made on the Settings page as well. It will become obvious as time passes that people used to inhabit the maze. They brought furniture and items into the rooms that can be found within the maze. Somewhere, there could be a kitchen, or a library, or a craft room. Whatever the previous inhabitants of the Labyrinth needed or wanted in their day to day lives could potentially be discovered. Some locations will be locked for certain events, but it doesn't hurt to ask if there is a room you think might be fun.

Creatures
Various creatures will be added to the Beastiary and mentioned in the monthly info post as they appear in the Labyrinth. Once a creature is in the Beastiary, you can encounter one whenever you would like. Some will be dangerous, but not all of them will be. You can request a creature to be considered for the Beastiary on that page.

When dangerous creatures enter the maze, if characters do not defeat it, they will likely find said creature in the hallways the next morning, dead. Creatures that are more benign will disappear the next day, though no body will be found. It seems the Beast that lives within the Labyrinth does not permit guests (present company excluded).

Swag
Loot, treasure, booty. Whatever you hip young kids are calling it nowadays. Characters can find random stuff in the Labyrinth as they explore. Pottery, tapestries, little statuettes. Your character can find relatively common and plot-irrelevant items to their hearts content. Decorate those rooms with them. Weigh yourself down with wheels of cheese and harvest elf-root to your heart's content. If it could be commonly found in a video game dungeon, you can probably find it here. More useful and important items may be found after player plots or mod-run events. Mods will award rare items as players discover them.

Is there day and night?
Yes, in a sense. The torches that light the Labyrinth shine brightly during the 'day', dimming as 'night' falls. During the 'night' hours, the maze is too dark to traverse, and creatures may attempt to enter the Labyrinth from the outside under the cover of darkness. Better to stay in the Center unless you have a light source, a weapon, and/or a death wish.

The hours of light and darkness basically correspond to a natural earth day and night.

Are there bathrooms?
Yes. The plumbing is nothing fancy, but there are toilets. Think the Roman aqueduct-based system. Or don't think about it too much at all. We are telling you there are bathrooms so that you don't have to think too much about them. It'll be fine.

How can I get out?
To put it in 999 terms, you have to seek a way out. Right now, there is no way out of the Labyrinth. Ways out can be discovered through events and exploration.

If you drop a character, they do not escape the maze. They become lost. It is possible to find out where they disappeared to later.

How do we discover things?
New places and items can be discovered in a couple of different ways. Some will be found during plot events. Others may be found during player plots. Still more can be opened up for players to find by making requests on the appropriate mod-journal page.

Game Mechanisms
What is the Beast?
The Beast is a mystery right now. It lives in the maze, though it seems to avoid coming into the Center. During the 'day', it keeps out of sight, though characters may feel like they are being watched as they venture out to explore. The further they go from the Center, the more the Beast will make its presence known, trying to herd them back. As darkness falls, the Beast will show itself more, though its dark fur mostly makes it difficult to make out more than a large, hulking shape.

The Beast knows the Labyrinth intimately, and is not hindered by the constantly changing hallways. It is (presumably) the one defeating the creatures that sneak in to attack the characters. The Beast's motives are currently unknown.

How does death work?
For reasons currently unknown, characters do not seem to die when they really should. If they become injured to the point of death, they will fall unconscious for a period of time, then wake up, healed. The amount of time spent unconscious can vary based on the extent of the injury and the player's preferences.

The Beast cannot be killed, no matter how powerful of an attack is used against it. It is possible to kill other NPCs. The reason why only some people in this world can die is a mystery that players can solve if they wish.

Note- You must obtain a player's (or mod's, in the case of NPCs) permission before killing a character, even though 'death' will not be permanent. This is outlined in the Game Rules

What was that about curses?
This is a game based on Greek and Roman myths and legends. Of course there are going to be gods, and of course it is going to be very easy to offend them.

If a character or group of characters does something to slight or offend a god, they may find themselves cursed. Curses can run for a duration of time, or until the god is appeased. Curses can be silly or angst-filled. An offending character might find themselves transformed into an animal, or they might find anything they eat turns into their least favorite food when it touches their lips. Want a temporary gender swap or sudden love-sickness for another character? Bam, curse.

If a curse will only affect a handful of characters, they can be run as a log. For more widespread curses, you can contact the mods for a player plot.

How 'bout them gods?
Right now, not much is known about the gods. As far as characters know, these curses just happen for no reason. As characters discover more about the world, so too will they learn more about the gods of this world.

Once a god's true name is learned, characters can call upon them to worship or to beg favors. Mods will provide more information about this mechanism when it is unlocked.

OTHER QUESTION YOU DIDN'T ANSWER
If there are other things you want to know, please comment on this post and ask them. Comments below are not screened, so you can check and see if someone else has asked the same question.

If you have a question that you would like to ask more privately, you can use the Mod Contact, which is screened, or PM the mod journal.

code bases by tricklet