Urahra

I think play retention is determined by a sense of player investment. I used to play on a server that was an absolute nightmare hellscape of toxic players, power mad staff, a greedy owner who forced Pay 2 Win mechanics and lootboxes onto RP -- just no limit to the sheer awfulness. Why did I stay? Simple. I was deeply invested in my character and her relationship to other players and the world. Player investment is built through roleplay. I think we need to institute mechanics that encourage players to interact with each other. I get so bored in the cities sometimes because everyone is either AFK, sprint-jumping, or just not engaging in roleplay. People basically won't interact with you unless they're your friend already. There's also a huge stigma against newbies in some circles. People don't want to take the time to interact with new players and build relationships with them. When you have no relationships and no engaging RP, why stay? I stayed on some absolute dumpster-fire servers because the characters and the relationships between them were so deeply compelling. I think a huge thing we need to do is find a way to encourage people to interact with others. Encourage people to RP with new players - and old players they might not know well too.

Yuliya showed up late, dashing into the throne room as fast as her stiff, hobbling legs could carry her. She took up position along the outer walls, quietly hoping that no one had noticed her hasty, ungainly entrance. But honestly, how rude! Did the Emperor really have to schedule court the same day - the same time, no less - as an important dress rehearsal? Frankly, he ought to be glad she showed up at all! Her cycloptic eye found its way to the elderly man sitting on the dais. There, upon on that small stage, sat two thrones - the left one occupied and the right noticeably empty. If the Emperor felt any grief for his departed wife, he didn't let it show. Rather, the expression on his face was one of stoic statesmanship, revealing nothing of the man's interior workings. As Yuliya studied his mien from afar, he suddenly tilted his head and looked directly at her. Yuliya felt the blood seep immediately from her face and she swiftly averted her eye. Why had he invited her here? The ISA officer at the Emperor's right hand cleared his throat and bellowed out over the members of the Court. "The Court of Augustine shall now receive Archchancellor Franz Sarkozy, Sir Basileus Baelius, and Madam Yuliya Styrne." Yuliya's feet moved automatically without her willing them. She moved less swiftly than the other two - and arrived last in front of the throne. Hundreds of eyes tracked her movements across the vast throne room. The silence rendered her shuffling footsteps and the click of her cane deafeningly loud. She stopped a few feet apart from the Archchancellor. Her thoughts whirled in a dizzying spiral. What was she doing here, next to these people? Standing in front of the Emperor, who stared fixedly at her as if she were the only person in the entire room? The ISA officer spoke again. "Sirs and Madam, kindly make yourselves known to the court." Franz Sarkozy cleared his throat. He bowed to the Emperor, the picture of grace and composure. "Archchancellor Franz Sarkozy," he said. "Chief Justice, Sir Basileios Balthazar Baelius, Your Majesty," the lawyer presented himself, bending at the waist in a crisp display of his respect. Yuliya let out a short, wheezy chuckle as the court's attention once again landed on her. "With respect to His Imperial Majesty," she ventured cautiously, taking care to focus on the Emperor's feet rather than meet his eye. "My disability prevents me from doing a proper curtsy. If he would allow for a respectful incline of the head instead?" "We shall," came the voice from the throne. Yuliya bowed her head low. "Yuliya Styrne," she said. "Not so grand as these two, Your Imperial Majesty. Merely a scribbler from a Haeseni backwater." At that, she stole a glance up toward the Emperor. Why does he keep staring at me? Yuliya was used to being in front of crowds. Even in ordinary daily life, she had become accustomed to stares. Children gawked at her as she passed by on the street. The lower orders sometimes shouted insults or made unkind commentary. Yet this pair of eyes struck her as the heaviest of them all. The Emperor rested his hands in his lap as he spoke again. "The Court of Augustine should like to offer our gracious thanks to the three who stand before us, for their service of the pen," he intoned. "Sir Basileios, for your invaluable services rendered in the renovation and reform of our codes of law, We dub thee Knight-Commander of The Most Esteemed and Most Especial Imperial Order of Merit." He paused a moment to let the words settle. "Franz Sarkozy, for your invaluable services rendered to the culture and political theory of our commonwealth - in the forms of two novels which His Imperial Majesty holds in the highest regard - we dub thee Knight of The Most Esteemed and Most Especial Imperial Order of Merit." Yuliya's eye darted back and forth along the floor as she began to process exactly what was about to happen to her. "Yuliya Styrne," he said - and her name sounded strange and foreign coming from his lips, "for the shows of the stage which have rendered the great stories of Orenian history into acts which Our subjects may see and live for themselves, We hereby dub thee Knight of The Most Esteemed and Most Especial Imperial Order of Merit." A wave of thunderous applause broke over the throne room - nearly deafening in its magnitude. Yet Yuliya hardly heard it. Is this real? Her scarred, papery hands trembled as they gripped the head of her cane. She made some truncated gesture of thanks to the man atop the throne, unsure of what else to do. As the applause died down, though, the Emperor spoke again. "There is an additional prize..." he said, and she felt him watching her. Assessing her from his elevated position. "The Petrine laurel, the highest accolade bestowed upon the artists of our commonwealth, has not been awarded for nigh three decades." At the mention of the Laurel, Yuliya's heart began to hammer even faster than it had before. "The poet and artist lends himself, just as the soldier of the sword, towards the perpetuation of our commonwealth unto eternity," the Emperor continued. "Generations hence, our descendants shall speak both of the great battles which we have fought, but also the great works which we have produced. Works which tell the stories of our fathers, or vindicate the worth of humanity." Could it be? She'd never forgotten that day in 1772, when she lost to Peridot Carrington. The Laurel had, since that day, represented an unattainable goal. The radiant crown that would don her head the day she achieved artistic immortality. "Chief among these, and highly esteemed among our subjects - which has not gone unnoticed - is a work of the stage, entitled Lorin and Augustus," the Emperor recited. At last, Yuliya looked up. At that moment, her eye met the impenetrable gaze of the Emperor's. His grey-green eyes bored deep into her own. "In the days of yore, when romance was in the lands, this estimable play of the stage tells the story of Augustus Blackmont, that fearsome warrior, and Lorin, the daughter of Kaedrin and the White Rose. We hold it chief among our hearts, and so too do our subjects." "Thus, in witness of the Court of Augustus, we grant the Petrine Laurel to this work and its progenitor, Dame Yuliya Styrne." A fresh cascade of applause poured over her. Yuliya found herself leaning heavily on her cane simply to keep from collapsing. Tears welled up in her eye, which she quickly brushed away - unwilling to show such vulnerability in front of the masses. She took a slow, dignified breath and uttered - barely audible, even to herself - "Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty." A combination of adrenaline and nerves rendered the rest of the event a blur. Yuliya blinked and suddenly found herself outside, hobbling away from the palace, with tears of silent joy on her cheeks. OOC: Added ACCURSED and MORAL CHARACTER

MORAL CHARACTER A Farce in Three Acts Published 1804 IST. SA Year 8. Penned by Bianca La Fleur. Commissioned by Aimee de Frand. This play is a work of fiction for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The opinions expressed by the characters are not necessarily the opinions of the author, nor of the commissioner. CAST Aloysius “Louie” Brook - An up-and-coming young burgher who runs a successful business in the city of Providence. He considers himself a pillar of the community. He's wildly in love with Beatrice, a beautiful shopgirl, and would do anything to marry her. Beatrice - A shopgirl who worked in a store owned by Aloysius. They fell in love and are preparing to marry, but Beatrice has a secret that might prevent their successful union. Father Monaghan - A priest of the Canon. He also serves as the Headmaster of a Canonist boarding school for troubled young women. It seems he has a history with Beatrice. Lt. Keating - An officer of the ISA, sworn to uphold the law in Providence. ACT ONE ACT TWO ACT THREE

just wanna say I love the titles of ur skin heads could u potentially work ur hair magic on ms. styrne her hamburgermeat face is fine (don't need wrinkles when ur whole face is a wrinkle) but I think her hair could use some more elegant greying and I thought anne's hair was gawjuss https://namemc.com/profile/Uraraaa.1 whatcha say, homes

SEEKING ACTORS to fill roles in the classic La Fleur play Birth of a Nun Prospective actors must be willing to commit to rehearsal at least once per Saint's Week for a period of one Saint's Month. 80 minas will be paid per role. Actors will receive payment after their opening night performance. Auditions are open to people of any race and any nationality, so long as they are legally allowed to travel in Haense. Specifically, we are interested in the following -- Actress (Female) between the ages of 20 and 45. Green eyes and black hair preferred. Haeseni preferred. If not black-haired, must be willing to dye or wear a wig. Actor (Male) between the ages of 45 and 60. Haeseni preferred. Any hair color or eye color acceptable. Actor (Male) between the ages of 60 and 120. Haeseni preferred. Any hair color or eye color acceptable. If interested in auditioning, please contact -- Yuliya Styrne At the Imperial University of Providence

Entry 130 Characters Mentioned: @AndrewTech @Demented_Delila @Wholesome_Thomas And that's the end of Volume 4! Volume 5 is going to be hosted off-site, so let me know if you want the link.

ACCURSED A Tragedy in Three Acts Published IST 1802. SA Year 6. Penned by Bianca La Fleur Play III of III in the Rosebud Trilogy Inspired by the Life and Works of St. Tobias. This play is a work of fiction meant for entertainment only. Changes have been made to the history in order to simplify the story for the stage. It is not to be treated as a historically accurate text for purposes of education. CAST Emperor Tobias “Tuvya” Carrion - The illegitimate son of Exalted Sigismund and his lover, Lorin Chivay. Rose to the position of Emperor despite having never wished for the title. Grey hair, blue eyes. Prince Yakov Carrion - Son of Tuvya and a young teenager. Twin of Aleksandr. Bright and eager to help, but woefully and fatally naïve. Older than Aleksandr by a few minutes. Black hair, blue eyes. Prince Aleksandr Carrion - Son of Tuvya and a young teenager. Twin of Yakov. The more cautious and timid of the two. Black hair, blue eyes. Duke Vasili Vanir - Patriarch of House Vanir and a close ally of House Carrion. He acts as an advisor to Tuvya and a surrogate parent to the Crow’s children. Brown hair, brown eyes. Heralds of Fear - The Undead allies of Maric Varodyr. Their goal is nothing less than the complete destruction of the Carrion Vochna. There are three of them. Hooded with faces invisible. Casting Note - due to the prevalence of magical effects in the script, it is advisable to have an accomplished illusionist on set. ACT ONE SCENE ONE SCENE TWO ACT TWO SCENE ONE SCENE TWO ACT THREE SCENE ONE SCENE TWO

Yuliya Styrne lofts a brow as she finds the gossip column on her desk at the Imperial Unviersity. "James, I'm hurt," she complains, showing the paper to her elven companion. ( @Wholesome_Thomas) "They didn't once mention the charming costumes we wore at the debutante, nor the fact that we put lilypads on everyone's heads. Who's the editor of this rag? I'm lodging a complaint."

Entry 129 -- Characters mentioned: @Etow @AndrewTech @Xarkly @Ludulo

* *(Now Urahra I changed it there's an H in it now) VOLUME 2: 2020 - Present Volume 1 here. "But Urahra, why did you need a second post?" Well, here's my logic. My characters can be pretty neatly divided into two "eras." I first joined LOTC in 2011 and played fairly consistently until 2015, when I quit. I took a five-year hiatus and rejoined in early 2020. I think it's fair to divvy up my characters based on the "era" in which they were played. Also, due to changes in the forum, I can't adequately edit the original post without breaking the formatting. So ye, here's volume 2. Major characters are characters that I've played for 6+ months. Minor characters are characters I played for under 6 months. MINOR CHARACTERS Gragmar'Buurz (Orc, Arcas, Almaris) An orcish tribal from a distant clan who somehow fell in love with an Imperial bureaucrat. Sarah Styrne-Napier (Half-Orc, Arcas, Almaris) A Half-Orc born from the unlikely love affair between an orcish tribal and an imperial bureaucrat. Her life unfortunately ended when she was murdered by orcs for being a whitewash. Anthony Bentarus (Human, Almaris) A self-hating journalist who ran the Providence Post, Oren's premiere newspaper, for a period of ten years. He retired abruptly after witnessing the aftermath of a grisly murder. Lucretia (High Elf, Almaris) A hipster high elven trumpet player. MAJOR CHARACTERS Dame Yuliya Styrne (Bianca La Fleur) Art by ZeeZacZed Race: Human (Raevir) Status: DECEASED Playtime: June 2020 – March 2021 (10 months) Map(s): Arcas, Almaris Profession: Playwright and Director. Relations: Tobias Oricksson (Father, deceased); Erina Jolun (Mother, unknown); Viktor Oricksson (Uncle, deceased); Tevye Keymore (Cousin); Edmund Styrne (Spouse, deceased); Edward Napier (Spouse); John Napier (adopted son); Sarah Napier (adopted daughter, deceased) History:

YESSSSSS the NGS museum will get all our exhibits and books back!! ALLELUIA!

Somewhere in Haense, a certain pink-haired dark elf quietly wishes that the spirit of her beloved first husband, Blessed Baldir Toov, would descend from on high and tell these people to prosecute the man who kidnapped and assaulted her already. But that's probably too much to hope.

Entry 128! Characters mentioned: @Rayna Star @AdmiralLB @Ludulo @Wholesome_Thomas @SilkieSilky