welcome to your new hell, Welcome to the Menagerie. Or as we like to call it, Dome Sweet Dome! We are an eight-year strong futuristic shapeshifter and sci-fi creature roleplay, dedicated to bringing you a world unlike any other; a world in which your character has become an experiment and must fight for survival in a domed city, cut off from the rest of the world. Choose to be any animal in your fight for survival in an artificial world built by the Keepers as they subject you to experiments beyond your control. Choose to wander the world inside the walls alone, as a Rogue, or find safety in numbers in one of the groups known as Rings. How will you survive?
60 - 65 ºF
blustery with scattered showers spotty sunshine
YEAR 2309
shift bans.
» Cougars (aka Puma, Mountain Lion, Panther)
» All Tiger Species
» All Lion Species
» All Wolf Species
» African Leopards
group bans.
none.
encouraged !
FEMALE CHARACTERS! create a RETRO or ANTHRO and get 250 CP + a free skill! read me for more info!
last updated: april 19th, 2016
Click on each Ring or Retro group image to view their ranks!
GROUP UPDATES
CARNARING
Jocelyn Edelwolfe is the new Alpha! Seija Mulviene is the new Beta, and Grey is the new Delta. Lead Hunter is now Boone Haywood, Head of Border Patrol is now Noelle Ndango!
FALLENRING
-
FULSIRING
Fulsi has a standing treaty with the Nakoma, granting limited access to their fresh water.
NAKOMA TRIBE
-
ANALOYA PRIDE
a while back, the Analoya suffered a suspicious poisoning of their river, luckily with few casualties; the Bellator are suspected of having taken part in it, and there are whispers that Pride leader Wanderer is talking alliance with the Nilda for access to their clean water.
BELLATOR HERD
As new leader of the Bellator, Loril has instituted some rank changes. See this thread for more information!
LAWAII FLOCK
no updates!
NILDA PACK
no updates!
CARNARING QUICK STATS
ALPHA -- Jocelyn Edelwolfe, Clouded Leopard, played by IronChild
BETA -- Seija Mulviene, Spotted Hyena, played by Seija-chan
DELTA --Grey, Mackenzie Valley Wolf, played by Kriss
_______________________________________________
But I die without you... ___________________________________________________ [/font][/size]
The shepherd moved around, nose to the ground, sniffing around the docks. There were so many scents here. He had so much to take in, so much to learn. No familiar scents here. None of those drugs that he'd been trained to search for were around here. There was a whole new range of scents--like the smell of salt water. He hadn't ever gotten that scent before. It was intriguing, very sharp and had nearly stung him it felt like when he'd first caught scent of it. Now he was just examining things, taking his time and learning where everything was. He knew now, the boundaries of where he should be and where he shouldn't. It was a whole new concept though--the idea of rings, people not just mingling all together and nothing really separating them from coming in contact with each other.
He was still a bit homesick for Dr. Jarvis, but he was growing fonder of Manic each day he spent here. He would protect the man, or god as it seemed he called himself, as he would any of his other masters. He took the initiative to learn his surroundings as any good dog would. He needed to know what things were like when they were normal so he'd know if something was out of place. He could certainly adapt to this place with ease. In his mind it was just like a new home and a new master, no different from leaving his partner's home to go and live with Dr. Jarvis. He could absolutely scent the differences in people, but not yet getting the concept of rings quite down, he didn't really understand why people smelled so different, and that it mattered. He could smell a familiar scent among people in the area and he was connecting that to this ring, was it the Carna? He wasn't sure, none of that really mattered.
Lifting his head a strange expression came on his face and in another instant, "ACHOO!" He shook his head, eyes a bit watery and he nudged the carton with his nose and got some black bits on his nose. Licking them he shook his head knowing the taste of pepper, such a terrible thing. He moved on quickly from the torn up carton to the edge of the water. It was so strange, he'd never seen anything like it. He wasn't quite sure it was water. He couldn't get down low enough to drink it--just as well for one who knows what's in it that could kill him and for two he's not fond of tart things, the salt water would leave him throwing up for days. Regardless he was curious about it all the same. It was quite odd, this dog staring into the water, almost a bit depressing when one would realize how old he was and how little he knew and understood.
Post by Adison Sotero on Aug 10, 2009 0:34:08 GMT -5
Adison ::
[/font] [/size]
Adison sighed as he wandered down the docks, his new little friend trailing behind him. He supposed that it was nice to have a friend, though it felt a little strange after his ten years of lacking one. Adison had always had to tag along with the adults, most of which really didn’t want him around in the first place. Now he had someone who actually looked interested when Adison spoke, even if he doubted that the boy could understand him, and now he was never alone. There was that problem with the kid running around naked all the time, but Adison had secured a blanket around Adolf’s waist, and could only hope that it would stay there this time.
As Adison strolled along, a particular scent reached his nose. Even from all of those yards away, he could smell another dog. It was a certain gift of his, his extreme scenting ability, and he just knew that one day it would make him the best scout the Carna had ever seen. And then it clicked! What better way to practice his scouting than to track down that unfamiliar dog. The thing smelled like the Carna, but Adison had never met him before. It was enough to send the boy running down the docks suddenly, not giving his friend any warning at all. “Hurry up, Adolf!” He called, waiting for the dog to come into view before he slowed down.
He spotted it then, up ahead, staring into the water. Part of him wanted to run up and push the thing into the bay, but Adison was able to control himself. Instead, he kicked a pebble in Ajax’s direction, a jerkish sort of way of announcing his presence. “Who are you, huh? What are you doing here?” He questioned aggressively, before shifting into his dark brown border collie form. His fur bristled slightly as he padded towards the other dog, ears pinned back against his skull in a hostile manner, tail puffed up and swishing behind him.
Adison really had no idea why his initial response to this other dog was already so hostile. He’d never met the boy! Perhaps it was just his canine instincts, urging him to be territorial, though this wasn’t really his territory. He did care about it though, perhaps a little too much. Unlike most of the other people in the Carna, this was the only home that Adison had ever known. Adi glanced behind him for a moment, to make sure that Adolf was still there if he needed him, before turning back to Ajax and letting out a growl.
Adolf trotted faithfully behind Adison, already attached to his new friend as if he were his own brother - the poor child was horribly isolated, and in his loneliness he had learned to trust anyone and everyone who he stumbled upon. And Adison - well, he was just the cherry on top! he'd come in and helped him out of his dark hidey-hole, the place that his father kept him hidden from the rest of the world. They had become fast friends, or, really, Adolf had attached himself to Adi's side like a sponge or a barnacle of sorts, perhaps even a parasite. Though he would never wish any harm on Adison.
The blond haired boy was enjoying his leisurely stroll down the docks, wide blue eyes observing everything and anything he could take in; the blackish brown waters of the bay, so extremely odd to actually see the source of the musty, salty smell. All the water he had ever seen had been clear and cleaner, not filled with oh...was that body? He leaned over the edge for a moment, blue eyes wide as a woman's hand drifted to the surface, pale and covered in slime. Adolf whined, not understanding that she was dead...he had to help her! He turned to Adison, about to squeal for help, but Adi was already running down the docks, barking some order at him much like his father.
He didn't understand the words, but he saw Adi disappearing quickly; he stood in place, fidgeting and whining, unsure; his feet worked the ground anxiously, his fingers clinging to the cloth of the blanket that Adison had affixed to his tiny waist. Pale skin showed the ribs of his bare upper torso, and if he had been any skinner and any paler you could probably see the heart that pounded in his chest as he watched his best friend run off, leaving him behind. He wasn't sure whether he was supposed to follow, or not - Adi had shouted a command at him, but he hadn't understood. He began whining, the noise slipping from his throat as earnest and realistic as dog's whine when it's nervous.
Deciding he'd rather take a punishment than be left alone, Adolf dashed after the taller, darker boy, skirting low to the ground as he could and dodging between shadows and crates, he soon came abreast Adi as he challenged the dog, shifting into the slighter border collie. Adolf whined, moving behind Adison's thrashing, bristling tail, unsure of what to do. "Adi?" he whined, nearly on the verge of tears. The other dog was black, and big, and terrifying. Unconsciously he shifted into the long, spindly legged gnu, his thick, gnarled mane wisping in the breeze as he crouched behind the slightly smaller border collie who snarled and threatened. "Adi okay? Adi safe?"
But I die without you... ___________________________________________________ [/font][/size]
Ajax was jerked back to reality from his thoughts when a pebble hit one of his paws. He looked to the source of it and saw a child accusing him. Ajax didn't appear threatened by the child, he was more confused. What was he doing there? Well he had been thinking of course. He watched as the child shifted into a border collie--a smaller dog than the full grown dutch shepherd, and Ajax wasn't quite threatened. He was ready, sure, but he had dealt with many aggressive dogs. He'd been trained not to be phased by them. He watched the dog growl and snarl to him. Territorial much? Ajax watched as another boy came into view, only a blanket around his waist. He was confused, humans never walked around like that...
Then the dog barked something else at him. Ajax moved toward the dog, tail down in a sign of submission. He wasn't about to submit to this pup, but he wasn't one to start a fight. He was just doing as taught. Considering the boy was a dog shift, Ajax didn't have to struggle with language, he could just talk as a dog would and at least the one boy would understand. "I've only been here for a couple weeks....I haven't seen you around either." He said, and went closer, sniffing at the dog. That scent....it was familiar. He circled the dog sniffing and finally came 'round front again with a quizzical look on his face.
"You smell like Manic." He said, brow furrowed. He glanced to the other boy behind the collie. He'd shifted into some four legged thing. Ajax sniffed the air toward the other and watched him curiously as well. "He doesn't smell like this place. Not completely..." He said watching the creature, but talking a way on Adi would be able to understand. He spoke dog fluently, of course, but any other language was rough for him. He could obviously understand English, very well, but he could hardly speak it. His mouth had issues forming the words. He didn't know why this boy who smelled like Manic was never around the man. It was strange, offspring never being around the parents. Nothing he'd ever seen before.
Post by Adison Sotero on Aug 10, 2009 20:34:31 GMT -5
Adison ::
[/font] [/size]
Adison felt his fur begin to lie flat again as the other dog showed no signs of aggression in return. It confused Adison to say the least, for most Carna members or other people that he encountered never turned down a fight. They would either turn and run, leading him into a chase, or they’d fight back. This strange dog did neither, and instead ignored Adison’s growling as if he hadn’t done it at all. The border collie, baffled by the other dog’s actions, merely backed down a bit, sitting back on his haunches and allowing his ears to perk up in Ajax’s direction.
Pale brown eyes followed the other dog as he circled around him sniffing, for although he had settled down a bit, he was in no way comfortable with the black dog as of yet. “Well, he replied in a snappish, stand-offish tone, muzzle pointed up in the air. “I’ve been around. I guess you just haven’t seen me.” He turned to look back at his naked little friend, finding him in his strange shift form. It was some animal Adison had never seen before, and he hadn’t yet told anyone what would know what it was about the boy. “Anyways, I was born here. I’ve just been busy with him lately,” Adison added, nodding over at the gnu, speaking as if he were some sort of pet. Though he seemed for a moment that he didn’t really care much about his little gnu companion, Adison still couldn’t stop his tail from wagging as he watched the funny little creature.
Adison paused though, his tail freezing as the new dog mentioned Manic. He let out a tiny growl again, getting up and turning to face Ajax. “And how do you know my father’s scent so well?” He questioned, muscles tensing under his long, silky – albeit dirty – fur. It took most of his effort not to go into complete attack mode again. If there was anything Adison was possessive over though, it was his home and his family, the few things he had in the world to call his own. This dog just seemed to be sticking his big, stupid muzzle into all of them!
He grinned, soft, velvet lips parting to show the blunt teeth as he was able to understand what they were saying, on terms of the Shiftertongue. Though, even through this natural knowledge of the language, he still understood only the gist of what they meant. Thus far they were talking about who was who and where they had been. Adi had been born here, too? His ears perked up and round blue eyes glittered happily at the mention of 'father'. He was beginning to miss his Dad more and more, despite Adison keeping him company. The boy could be a little mean sometimes, but Adolf didn't really notice - he could care less, as long as he had a friend to keep close.
He was easily ignored and forgotten, fading into the background, but he rather liked it that way - he didn't want to be the center of attention, but he did not want to be forgotten completely. He smiled when Adi turned around, mentioning him, all thoughts of his father banished with that silly doggy grin. "Adolf!" he squeaked happily, trotting up to Ajax cautiously, ignoring Adison's sudden swift change in emotion, his curiosity becoming unbearable. He looked down at the hound, as he was just a bit taller because of his long legs, but the dog was bigger and much more intimidating. "Who you, big dog?" He snuffed at the black animal, intrigued by it's scent. It smelled of Carna and, strangely, of some weird astringent odor that was harsh and almost chemical. "You smell..." He paused, snuffing the air and looking back to Adi, his blue brindled coat twitching as he thought on the word. "Funny."
Small horns glittered in the sun as he scented the salty air again, still amazed at this strange, outside world. Adolf, let Adison handle this. Step back, child, step back. That dog, he is much bigger and stronger than you... Adolf grunted at the soft, feminine voice that trickled in his mind, not liking it when it bossed him around. "No, no. Funny dog, is nice..." He balked, shaking his short, choppy black mane in frustration as he paced around the two, small hooves making an echoing click on the boards of the dock. He rather liked the sound, laughing excitedly, skipping around merrily in the awkward, jerky gait that Gnu's are known to have, seeming almost mechanical. "Play! Come play!" Adolf cheered, completely ignoring the tension that had once again filled into the meeting, trying to avoid confrontation whenever possible...
Call me whatever you'd like. ___________________________________________________ [/font][/size]
Ajax noticed the dog calm down a bit, Adi was becoming less aggressive. That was good. Up until he said Manic's name. The boy was his son, of course. Ajax sat as the other dog stood, seeming to be very protective over this topic. Ajax wondered though, why he never saw the boy near his father. "He is my master. It is only right to know his scent better than anything." Ajax said, his voice simple. It was the whole truth--in his work, what he knew, his master was the most important thing. Toward Manic, though, he found it hard to keep by the man's side. Perhaps his feelings still toward Kenneth was keeping him back. Everything was just so strange here.
The other boy, in his animal form was quite strange. Ajax just watched him with curiosity. "My name's Ajax, though you can really call me whatever you'd like." He had been given many names, nicknames. Been called many things by different people. His partner had referred to him as Partner or Scout, when he was a puppy he'd been Jackie for a bit, or Jax. When the boy said he smelled funny, Ajax sniffed his coat self-consciously. He smelled like himself, more like the lab than this place, still, but it was normal to him. He observed the creature with a bright eye. The clicking noise his hooves made rang through his ears and he couldn't help but smile.
"Play later? I don't think you're friend is up for it at the moment." He said and looked back to Adi curiously. "This place is so strange. Why is a child never with his father? What are these ring things? I must say I'm so confused." He watched Adi with confused eyes. He'd been around Manic more than this child had been in the past couple weeks it seemed. He'd never--in fact--seen the child before. Manic had never said anything to the fact that he even had a child.
Post by Adison Sotero on Aug 10, 2009 23:07:34 GMT -5
Adison ::
[/font] [/size]
Adison’s jaw dropped as the dog called Manic his master. No! No one could be so close to his father! It wasn’t fair! Adison’s fur began to bristle again, and his mind raced with his outrage. Manic was his father, not Ajax’s. “You’re just a little lap dog! He’s MY father! I’m his dog!” He growled, unwilling to share with some stranger who had only known his father for a couple of weeks. Adison had spent his life with Manic and the Carna, and although he didn’t get to spend much time with his father, he felt that they were closer than this other dog could ever be.
“This isn’t the time to play, Adolf!” He snapped at his cousin, unaware of how harshly he had just yelled at him. “He’s not our friend,” Adison growled, meeting the other dog’s gaze as he spoke, making it clear that he didn’t like what Ajax was trying to do, and wouldn’t be his friend until he stopped. “My name’s Adison Alexander Sotero,” He added matter-of-factly, proud of his full name. “But you can’t call me anything, lapdog, until you back off of my father!” Adison barked, ears lowering as he padded up to the larger dog, uncomfortably close to Ajax’s face.
The questions caught him off guard and a flicker of pain flashed across Adison’s face, evident even though he was in animal form. The most painful question, of course, was “Why is a child never with his father?” Adison whined slightly as he stumbled for an answer, all the while fighting the pain brought on by his constant yearning for his father’s attention and acceptance. “H-he…He’s busy! He doesn’t have time to play with me or anything…” Adison replied, even the answer leaving a painful sting in his chest. “He has Alpha stuff to do, and I have to train to become a scout,” He mumbled, his aggressive stance falling only a little bit as he tried to escape his sorrow. Adison was just a whirlwind of emotions around this dog!
“Anyways, the rings are kinda like…packs. The other two are our enemies, and my father is the greatest leader in the Menagerie,” He nodded, sure in that fact. He’d spent his whole life watching his father run the Carna Ring, and he just knew that none of the other Alphas could ever live up to him. “But he’s my father. Don’t you go stealing the attention that should be mine.”
ooc: lol, he's so ANGSTY. XD [/blockquote][/color][/blockquote]
Adolf smiled at Ajax and made a hoarse sort of squeal at his name. It was an odd name, to be sure, and he didn't really comprehend much what the dog said - other than that his name was Ajax, and he was nice! Adolf didn't understand why Adi was being so mean to the dog, even if he was a couple years older. Apparently the boy belonged her, too, because smelled like the docks and the salt water, even despite that weird, sharp smell that sort of frightened Adolf. But it made Ajax all the more mysterious, interesting and it piqued Adolf's easy curiosity. "Ajax," he cooed, a purr slipping from his throat - this child was odd, because he had adapted a series of characteristic animal sounds from various different creatures - the two most noticeable were the pleasant purr of a feline and the howling, whining and whimpering of a dog.
Ajax said something else that Adolf didn't comprehend, so he just smiled at him blankly, continuing to leap around happily, though he stopped short when Adi barked at him. Adolf stared at the border collie with eyes now filled with sadness, lower lip twitching as he held back tears...the first to smile, the first to cry. Adolf whined softly, a weird noise to come from a gnu, and ambled to stand behind Adi reluctantly, not daring to look back at Ajax. His long, rounded ears twitched up when Ajax mentioned father, and Adolf cheered a bit, as he actually got the question. "I play with my Dad all time! He takes care of me, and loves me, and he trains me, too!" Adolf pranced happily in place, thinking of his dad, Alkaos, the huge man who towered over him at 6'8 feet. Though he was often abusive toward Adolf, the boy still loved and admired his father dearly, easily brushing aside the red skin and the few bruises he had received - the beatings weren't regular or horrible, just a part of life and punishment, which is why Adolf always aimed to please. "Dad says I make him..." He paused, thinking back on his conversations with his father. "Pride." He smiled happily from behind Adison, though he was shushed into a frightened state by Adison's outburst and sudden anger. "Adi..." He whined softly, stepping back a bit as, slowly, surely, he sensed the tension once again, his easy joy going as swiftly as it had come.
Call me whatever you'd like. ___________________________________________________ [/font][/size]
Ajax furrowed his brow as Adison called himself his father's dog. "But you're his son, you're not his dog." Ajax was confused even more. Now this child was Manic's son and dog? Too much to take in. He looked to the other boy who seemed so happy and excited about the mention of father. He couldn't help but smile, but then when Adi snapped at the boy he frowned. That wasn't right at all, it was a nice thing to do. "I'm not going to back off of him, there is no reason. He is my master, and it's my job to keep him and all his family safe." Ajax said, he would have to keep this boy safe now, and little to his knowledge, Manic's family stretched far and wide over this place.
At his questions, Ajax caught a hint of sadness from the dog. He wouldn't press too much on that issue, it was clear this boy didn't see his father much, and it was clear he loved the man. Yet, even the protective nature of this boy would not deter him from his new master. Then he got a briefing of the rings. Packs? He was not in touch with his instincts, at all, he wasn't quite clear on a pack. Thinking a bit more he figured it was a bit like police departments, set up in a hierarchy, but these rings seemed to have extreme rivalries, and did not work together like police departments often do.
"I do not plan on drawing attention from you." Not that there's much to draw. He thought, but wouldn't say that--it would be a cruel thing to say. He would simply protect Manic, keep by his side as much as possible. Provide comfort to the man like any good dog would. Even being a shifter, he was more dog than anything else.
Post by Dr. Jarvis on Aug 11, 2009 22:02:13 GMT -5
Dr. Jarvis
Come with me little ones. ___________________________________________________ [/font][/size]
He rarely set foot in the Menagerie, he was hardly ever sent out to gather subjects, but when the top dog--Seraphim told you to do something, you best do it. Jarvis never failing to be in his lab coat, had brought along a multitude of weapons for his own security, though it was rarely needed--these experiments wouldn't hardly dare to mess with the Keepers. He had easily located the pair that he was supposed to collect on the computers and had found that they were with Ajax. He could only smirk. He had been watching the dog and had noticed that Ajax was still wondering where he was, looking for his master at times. This would be easy enough, the dog wouldn't do anything to harm his old master even if his friends were being taken away from him. He was used to the captures, he'd seen them happen many times. It would be normal to him. Jarvis would use that to his advantage.
As he moved across the docks, the ATV made the boards creak under the weight--he made no attempt to be stealthy. It would be quick and simple--he was an excellent shot, and wasn't about to waste any time. Stopping the ATV he got out and walked the short distance to the trio. He came upon the trio behind the two he was gathering. Ajax would be the first to see him. "Stay." Was all he said, his voice firm and commanding. He lifted the gun and shot twice, once toward the other dog and once toward the gnu. He then placed the collars around the pair and moved the dog first to the cage in the ATV and then with some effort managed to move the gnu into the other. Then he drove off as simple as that.
Ajax heard the familiar voice. Stay He didn't move. He saw the man, his old master, behind the pair. It didn't calculate what was going on, all he knew was that Jarvis was there and now Ajax's mind was racing. Was he to listen to his old master and stay there, or was he to protect the son of his new master? All the uncertainty left the dog frozen in place as Jarvis went about his duties. It wasn't until after the man was driving away that Ajax thought to chase after and save the son of Manic. He was no match to the speed of the ATV and soon collapsed from exhaustion. He would be in such trouble if Manic heard about this. After a long while of panting on the ground, Ajax stood and trotted back to the docks, tail tucked to face Manic. There was no need to prolong what punishment was to come.
