Are you interested in joining BLBR? Our current planned opening is the 8th of November, and the form will remain open for two weeks time. Here's everything you need to know to get started!

Applications are now open, apply here!

The world is changing. Kits are born still, elders are fading, and colds are claiming the lives of healthy cats. Prey grows more and more scarce, all of your neighbors have the flu, and it grows harder to lift yourself from the nest with each passing day. How many more losses will it take for you to seek safer grounds or, at least, answers?

This final arc of BLBR focuses specifically on magic draining from the world. Once, magic permeated the world like an invisible ocean, providing for healthy plants, animals, and stable conditions. Now, that well is all but depleted, with the last pocket remaining on Court lands and in the souls of the individuals across the world. 

The Bright Realms, a surreal and horrible world the Court can access through a strange little well on their land, is alive and hungry. It drains the world of magic. Magic can be defined as many things, but ultimately the 'spark of life' or 'soul' is made entirely of magic. With each slow drip being taken from the world, more will die. Eventually, nothing will remain. 

With that dire premise in mind, here's some backstory suggestions for incoming characters: 

For Those That Follow: You've lost too much. A healthy litter gone, a mate lost, too many goodbyes given to good friends and enemies alike. Your life has been uprooted, and now... so will you be. You've heard there's a place where this isn't happening, where there might be a chance for you to start over, help, or simply live in the name of those you lost. 

Plant People: You ran into the weirdest, ugliest persian cat-- covered head to toe in tiny traffic cone decorations. They spoke like a storybook (albeit, a very *loud* storybook) and told you of a place that will need paws to fight "the righteous fight" against "a very large vampire" to "save the world"? Well, might as well check it out. [Followed by the realization 'holy shit this is real']

Approaching the Shimmer: Nightmares have plagued you for months, flashing horrible imagery of death and plagues every time your eyes shut. Eventually, one location began reappearing in these visions-- the site of the Green Cave. Peaceful, calm, a break in all the chaos. You don't know what this all means, but... when you come closer, the nightmares ease some. Maybe you were drawn here for a reason. 

What Do You Know?: You've heard of the Court. They're a nice bunch, occasionally tending to some city groups like yours and making sure you're well cared for. Recently, though, you've heard of them bringing in cats to stay with them. If they're bunkering down, then maybe you should head over and lend some paws. They've looked after you, time for you to look after them. [Allows you to establish context with Court Ambassadors when entering the server!]

The Alien: You know all about this magic stuff. You've lived in the Bright Realms for a while, perhaps born there or perhaps lost. Maybe you're something of a strange one yourself, coming from the tutelage or perhaps family lineage of some god who disappeared mysteriously a few years back. You want answers, or at least closure. In your search, you come across a group of cats working on saving the outside world... some of them seem to be magic wielders. They may be able to help, and you may be able to help them in turn. [This backstory allows for skill in magic! Just describe the type generally your character would be experienced with.]

Cells Divide: You've been suffering for months trying to scrape together a life that will stay put. You're ready to give up, starving and wasting away from illness after illness... but a group of individuals have come to the area. They're from the Court, and if what they say is true... you'll have no choice but to come with them. [Will be roleplayed out as event-- the Court will be leaving their lands briefly to see what the world is like and gather individuals. New characters can be intro'd on this journey!]

Were You Me?: While passing through Court territory, your character ran into a massive white lion. You spoke with him a spell, listening to his strange slow voice drone about the end of days. At the end of it, he offered you a paw. There was such a strange, sharp pain when you took it… but you left otherwise unharmed. Months later, you come to hear that other cats marked by him become something horrible in time. You come to the Court for answers… and find all you can do is wait and prepare for your new life. They tell you that once corrupted, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to leave Court Lands. Better make yourself comfortable. [Your character comes with a seed of corruption present, and will corrupt in time... this means you may not want to get too attached to their design or name, haha!]

If you're interested in playing a cat already tethered to the Court, consider taking a look at our adopts. For kit adopts, feel free to give more of an idea of your vision for the character and go looser on the backstory. If you choose to apply with an adopt you may also submit a secondary application with a backup character just in case, but this is personal choice. 

What should new players know?

This is general information that new players should know heading into BLBR!

• Please make characters that are at least three moons old! There is, as of now, no upward age limit. Though, keep it fairly reasonable unless your cat was tossed into the Bright Realms for a while.

• I encourage you to bring a character who has a high threshold for strangeness or otherwise has a good motivation to be at the Court-- that way they won't scatter into the hills at the sign of risk. See the above prompts for good reasons! Still, the Green Cave itself where the Court lives is a safe place, and they won't often have to worry about anything dangerous finding them there. The rest of the territory is less guaranteed...

• BLBR focuses specifically on the Court and will remain as such throughout the roleplay. There are no other playable groups, though there are NPC ones that serve roles in the story. If your character exits the Court, generally they either become an NPC or exit the roleplay save for special cases. Staff is most interested in exploring interpersonal relationships and this budding new society, which is why this choice was made!

• We often look for characters who have themes built into their story. This can be a visual theme, such as doves or a certain kind of flower, or an emotional throughline like loss, forgiveness, etc. This isn't required, but is helpful to us when handling plot hooks for you.

Why should i join an established rp for its final arc?

We understand it may intimidating to consider joining a roleplay that's both long running and planned to end. Firstly, our final arc will take at least a year or potentially more-- so there should be plenty of time to get involved! We feel no rush in closing things up, so BLBR will not end until we are able to give all characters and storylines a satisfying conclusion. We would love to have some fresh faces around, especially because of the interesting position they'll be in when they arrive and are faced with all these grave events. Before each opening, we make an effort to remind current players to be inclusive and provide context to in-jokes and past happenings. Though we can't close every gap, we are here to help with any issues that arise and are happy to work with you individually on personalized plots, storylines, and trying to thread your character in with current situations. We will be here for whatever you may need, and we hope to leave you with a sense of excitement and fulfillment after all is said and done. 

FAQ: 

If you have other questions, please direct them to the Tumblr blog!

Can my character be supernatural in some way?

This depends. Rule out super powered cats and all out monsters, but we're at a point where characters can be a liiittle strange. This is very much a case by case basis. If you're uncertain, you can ask or message koby#1728 to further discuss it. Otherwise, feel free to submit a character and just include notes about being willing to edit or nix certain parts if they end up being too far. We won't deny a good application because of things being a little too far out, we'll just speak to you about it. One of the backstory prompts does also include the ability to be a magic user, if you'd like!

Can my character be a non-cat?

No, unless they're an adopt that's not quite cat!

Can my character come in with items or accessories?

Sure, especially if you've got a reason why they have them or how they got them. I would include this in the appearance description section on our application form, that's usually where I check when adding accessories to character sheets.

Would my character have heard of the Court?

If your character lives around Austin they definitely would have heard of the Court. They'd be known as that very odd society of cats that took down the nasty city rogue group. They would know that the Court lives outside of town in some haunted forest... and probably some other taller tales about what goes down in there, feel free to make up some rumors. By now, word has probably spread to lots of parts of Texas, not just Austin. 

What do I need to do to join?

You will fill out the Google Form application that will release on November 8th! It'll be open for at least a week and then we'll choose and make sheets for new players.

What will be on the form? 

Basics about you as a player, basics about your character. Personality description, history, appearance. We also ask for your character's ability to craft objects or make art, and what you feel has shaped them the most in their lives. There's a short ability quiz portion as well.

How many players are you taking?

10-15 is the number we're eyeballing, but we could potentially take up to 25 if we're washed with good apps.

Are there any adopts?

Yep! Check them out here! For kit adopts, feel free to give more of an idea of your vision for the character and go looser on the backstory. If you choose to apply with an adopt you may also submit a secondary application with a backup character just in case, but this is personal choice.