White Shark: An Original Shark Quest

[OfSpaceandTime]

You, SV, are a shark. Specifically, a carcharodon carcharias, otherwise known as the Great White Shark. The same species as the titular shark from Peter Benchley's Novel, as well as the 1975 summer blockbuster, JAWS.

You are a twenty-three foot long hunter. The Queen of the Ocean(Male white sharks don't reach this size.) And you, have gained sentience.

But, why?

[ ] Nature's Wrath: You are a literal Force of Nature. You exist because the balance has shifted, and you are the equalizer. The oceans have been polluted, and filled with two-legged invaders onboard of boats which harm the denizens of the sea. You are the sea's revenge. Starting Infamy: Zero. Infamy Gain Rate: Normal.

[ ] Freak of Nature: You were born with gigantism, explaining your massive size. This also caused your brain to be larger, thus smarter. And being so large, you require more to fuel you massive body. Starting Infamy: Zero. Infamy Gain Rate: Slightly Higher.

[ ] The Folly of Man: You are an experiment, escaped into the wild. Mankind created you, and you will be their undoing. Starting Infamy: Hunted. Infamy Gain Rate: Reduced.

[ ] Mythical: The Gods themselves created you as punishment for mankind's folly. You are their perfect creation. Bonus: This one will not take place in modern times. Starting Infamy: Feared. Infamy Gain Rate: Extreme.

[ ] Write-In: Show me what you have Sufficient Velocity, and we'll 'sea' what we can do.

If you wish to come up with an overly elaborate backstory of how you got to this size, feel free.
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Mechanics: There won't be much. Dice rolls will impact what the shark is capable of. Once you've accomplished a feat, you will not need to roll dice again to be capable of doing it. Simply using 20 sided dice. 1-10 are fails, 11-20 are passes. 1 being a critical failure, 20 being a critical success.

Edit: Mechanics may change to make the quest more difficult depending on what you ask for. If you have any ideas, I'm up for listening.

Infamy: This is how well known you are. Being a sentient shark that is capable of strategy and figuring out how things work and being capable of some of what may go down in this quest? You're going to become well known. The more infamous you are, the more likely it is to be actively hunted constantly. This can also involve us getting tagged with a tracer, unless you take the Mythical route.

Gain Rate: This is how fast you gain your fame. The actions you take will increase the rate. Being more infamous, will also increase the rate.

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Rules:

1. Every single site rule applies. As would be the normal case.
2. The morals of the shark are flexible, she can change into an anti-hero depending on choices.
3. This quest may gain the mature tag, however I do not intend to go into graphic detail whenever the shark has to eat. It's natural to the shark and a part of its life.
4. I am not making this quest to villainize sharks. They are not monsters. Anyone who starts to act like that is the case will be asked nicely to not do that.
5. Please be nice and respectful to myself, our beautiful hungry shark, and each other.
6. If I make a decision story-wise, please respect it. If my writing is poor or I make grammatical and or spelling mistakes? Feel free to correct me.
7. Omakes and fanart are not demanded, however I will be rewarding them with bonuses on rolls when you ask for them.
8. Have fun.

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This quest was inspired partially by JAWS, Moby Dick, and other various nature horror ideas. It may take much more inspiration from the 2006 video game, JAWS: Unleashed.



You may vote at your leisure.

Oh, and feel free to come up with nicknames for our shark. This is as much my story as it is your's.

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

You are the Gods' perfect revenge upon mortal-kind.

Trait Gained: Mythical Beast - You are a product of the Gods of this world. And therefore, you are their favored champion of the seas. Adds a bonus to all rolls when attacking anything that is not natural to the sea, depending on what it is you are after.

Trait Gained: Albinism - Due to your mythical nature, you have been uplifted as different than other great white sharks. You are the only albino shark. This also makes sneaking up on surface dwelling prey more difficult as you do not bear the natural camouflage that other great whites have. Bears a negative to all stealth rolls.

However, we must further disclose exactly which Gods, or create our own with our much more personalized setting.

[ ] Fantastical Setting: This is not the Earth, this setting will utilize fantasy creatures and mortals, as well as humans. The Gods can be of any pantheon.

[ ] Greek: You were the product of Zeus imploring his brother Poseidon to create the perfect oceanic predator to punish the fisherman and swimmers of Greece. Enemies would be Greek to Spartan champions, as well as other possible predators of the sea.

[ ] Norse: You are of Loki's design, a beast created to punish and chaos mayhem.

[ ] Write-in: I cannot seem to think of any other pantheons that would make sense. If you have one in mind, feel free.

And yes, for Fantastical we can either create our own pantheon or simply use one that's already established.

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

Fantastical

Trait Gained: Fury Re-InCarnate: As a creation of the Gods of the seas, your spirit is everlasting, and your soul, restless. Regardless of if your mortal form dies, you will be back. Quest Loss Condition Omitted: Death.

You are not the creation of simply one God, nor even pantheon. Mortal kind across the realm and within the seas themselves have spited the Gods, and thus, you were created.

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This is the final character gen vote, depending on the choice between these two shall gain a random ally, as well as a constant recurring enemy.

Which God was the primary factor behind your creation?

[] Poseidon - Zeus informed his brother that the people of Atlantis and their mermaid friends have turned against him and the other Gods of the sea, and thus Poseidon made council with the other deities, and thusly, you were created.

[] Calypso - (Taking some liberties and going a bit more Pirates of the Caribbean with her.) Being scorned by Odysseus due to the beckoning of Zeus, Calypso made it her mission to render the seas as unsafe as possible for all of mortal kind so that no man nor woman would ever find her in such a way again. This lead to her reaching out to other sea Gods, and creating you as well as other threats.

Edit: Somehow it slipped my mind that both Calypso and Poseidon are Greek. There will be things from other pantheons, as well as mythological and fantasy tales. There will be Elves and Dwarves and such.

You may debate and take guesses as to who grants whom, I shall not be telling you until it comes up in the quest. Regardless of the results of this vote, I shall be working on the first proper update over the next several days.


The Shark's starting goal shall be the dismantling of Atlantis.

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

The surface of the sea was calm, and beneath the gentle waves swam one of the Gods' finest creations, a twenty foot long great white shark. The shark was massive, with her steel grey snout leading towards a tall, somewhat scarred up dorsal fin. Her caudal fin swaying back and forth gently to push the creature forward.

There came a sudden commotion upon the surface, and the shark's gaze turned upwards as a bolt of lightning crackled through the sky. Unknown to the shark, the lightning bolt was unnatural due to the lack of clouds. The current around the shark began to shift, and this, she did notice. Her pace increased, but to no avail as the current turned into a whirlpool. However, the shark did not get sucked purely into the swirling water, instead, she rose out of it.

The shark began to panic as she rose from the sea and into the air, unable to breath she shook back and forth, gnashing and chomping her rows of serrated teeth at the air to bite at whatever invisible force was capable of holding her above the waves. Her efforts bore no fruit, as the lack of oxygen drove the shark even more mad and simply wore her out much more.

And with each thrash of her gigantic body, she grew more sluggish, and slow. Her mouth opening, and closing slower. The life, faded away from her eyes.

And then came a bolt of lightning which struck the corpse of the enormous shark, and the thunder boomed loudly and unnaturally around the open ocean as the whirlpool ceased, allowing the shark's body to reenter the water.

The once steel-grey coloring of the massive fish began to change to a shade much more like ice on the ocean, matching her underside. Her body began to extend, from the once twenty feet to a much larger and more intimidating twenty three feet long. Her eyes once again had life in them. Electricity crackled around the massive predator, reanimating her into the Wrath of the Gods.

Dun duh….

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Life as you had known it previously, was over. Sentience. A consciousness unknown to you previously had now become known. You, had been uplifted by the Gods themselves into a being of mythical proportions.

You flicked your caudal fin, and began to move. Your form simply gliding through the water with the most graceful of ease. Your mouth opened, to allow more water and oxygen through your gills.

Before you, came a stir of light. And a soft, comforting voice that made your violent aggression cool to a gentle soothing harmony with the sea arose.

"My daughter, you have been uplifted." The voice spoke, as the light before you faded.

Before you, floating in the water and staring you directly in the eyes appeared to be a human woman with sunset colored hair, which floated beautifully amongst the waves. She wore a white sundress, and her eyes were as well the color of the sun. And those sunshine filled eyes burned with all the fury that the sun would have.

"I, am Calypso. I am the one who is responsible for you creation, my darling." The celestial woman simply drifted to you through the water, and a soft hand was placed upon your snout, while her other hand danced smoothly and soothingly along your side.

"You have been called forth due to the folly of mortals. Foolish breeds who were, like you, created by the deities of this realm. However, they have turned their back against them, and have scorned me." That word comes to you with an intensity that fills you with malice and anger towards the surface-dwellers, and the invaders of the seas.

"We have a mission, my beautiful daughter. Assigned to us by those, Gods," She said the word as if it drove anger through her heart, though she continued, "You shall be the instrument of their, and my revenge. As well as yours, for your brothers and sisters of the sea placed under the control of the King of Atlantis and its Denizens."

A purpose, other than to swim, and eat, and make little sharks.

Calypso continues to gently caress your being, floating along beside you as you move.

"But you and I shall have more work to do other than the foolish Sea King, his children and subjects. Soon, my darling creation. We must prove to Poseidon and his…" She does not say the word aloud, but 'awful' enters and swims around in your mind, "brother, Zeus, as well as Susanoo especially, and the rest of the Rulers of the Seas that you seem to be exactly whom they wish you to be. My perfect revenge. "

The Goddess' hand left your side, and she trailed away from you. As if she was never there. Now, filled with a purpose, you swim down into the depths, on the hunt.

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And so, down into the deeper waters of the sea you swim. Down where the invaders live, towards Atlantis.

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You are the shark. You're in control. You get to say what you'll do. Depending on what it is you choose to do to simply find a mermaid or denizen of Atlantis may require a dice roll.

How do you wish to begin your search for the Kingdom of Atlantis?

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Goal Gained: Dismantle the Underwater Kingdom of Atlantis, city by City, Governor by Governor, Prince by Prince, and Bite by Bite of the King.


Stats: The stats shall be added to the character sheet once I have the chance. Hunger is how hungry the shark is. The more she has eaten, the better she will be able to perform. HP is generally how much damage the shark is capable of taking. Strength, Intelligence, and Willpower are the only stats that we shall be keeping track of and one of them is capable of modifying every single roll that this quest shall entail.

Hunger: 500/????

HP: 1,500/?????

Strength: Strength based rolls will have a +10 modifier to them in your favor. This stat can and will fluctuate depending upon your hunger, health, and the progress made through the quest. Current minimum modifier is +5. Current maximum modifier is unknown.

Intelligence: Intelligence based rolls shall have a +20 modifier to them in your favor. This stat is currently static, though it is liable to change when unlocking new traits during the duration of the quest.

Willpower: Willpower based rolls will have a +5 modifier to them in your favor. This modifier can only be increased as the quest progresses, even throughout reincarnations of the shark.


Temporary Trait Gained: Hungry - You've fed in the past days, but with your now advanced size and intelligence, you need more sustenance than usual.

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You may discuss and vote at your leisure.

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

You may now proceed to vote at your leisure.

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[]Plan Little Sharks

-[] Start swimming towards Atlantis

-[] Eat anything not shark along the way until you feel full

-[] Make sharks follow you on your trip

-[] Make little sharks

You glide through the waters, your caudal fin barely moving to project your massive frame towards your goal. As intelligent as you are, you have come to the conclusion that you, more than likely, are not capable of bringing Atlantis to its knees on your own. At least, at your current level.


And thusly, you have decided to amass an army of as many sharks that you can on your way towards Atlantis. Even if that means an army of baby sharks.


You allow yourself to enter the hunt, enhancing all of your senses to everything around you. Every little vibration and disturbance throughout the water. Every scent within miles. As a great white, your olfactory senses are some of the most powerful in the ocean. And so it comes as no surprise to you as you turn towards the scent of blood. Something has been hit, and you aim to find it.


Your tail begins to move faster as you course more strength through it causing you to accelerate through the water like the torpedo you are. Faster, and faster. The current means nothing to you as you descend through the water at an incredible speed.


And soon enough, you've found your mark. A dead tiger shark, descending upside down through the water.


You slow your pace, and begin to turn through the water, vigilant. A sound comes through the water and to your ears. Slow, and creaky. In the distance, you make out a large outline. The back of the creature bears a large dorsal fin, much too large to be that of any shark. The caudal fin of the creature is horizontal, instead of vertical. And on the body are white markings.

And the creature is swimming towards you in a hurry.


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You've stumbled across a lone orca who's just killed a tiger shark, and is now approaching you.


Discuss a course of action as to how to best deal with the over-sized dolphin.



Moratorium: 18 hours.

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A/N: We are still running with Plan Little Sharks, however we have other things we'll have to do before we can get on with amassing a shark army. Such as eating this orca.

Sub-Note: Sorry for the small update. I was a little stuck with an immediate scenario, and decided to throw a low-level boss at you guys right away. Enjoy!

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

You may now proceed to vote as the discussion has died down.

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

The vote is closed with an obvious winner.

I will ask for 2 D100 rolls, one for intelligence and one for strength. I take the first roll that I get that is designated as such by the member who makes the roll

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

Plan Gas Gas Gas

You turn, and start to swim down. Every now and then, you make sure that the orca is following you, and it is. It's keeping pace with you, although you aren't swimming to the fullest extent of your abilities. Once you're deep enough, you turn to face the orca and flick your tail as fast and as hard as you can to charge the orca.

Spoiler: Soundtrack

You manage to swim beneath the whale. You open your maw, your eyes rolling back in your head as you grab onto the whale's underside. You hit your mark hard and fast and begin to shake your head back and forth, tearing and rending the flesh off of the killer whale. The whale gets free from you, and your eyes roll back to face the front as you ingest the portion of the whale.

Now, the orca is in a panicked state. Your first bite tore from just beneath it's left fin, and the whale is bleeding heavily enough to attract other sharks from the surrounding area. The orca is seemingly crying out for help, or maybe it's in pain. You decide that a lone predator such as itself deserves a swift end.

You approach the whale at a high speed, this time aiming your bite towards the top of its head. Your eyes roll back as you open your mouth. There comes a crunch, and you feel the whale shutter and jerk, before it grows still. You let go of the head of the orca, and begin to feed on the better tasting bits.


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Unbeknownst to the shark, an Atlantean hunting party had been monitoring the situation from afar. Their intentions were to tame the orca and capture the shark, however, that had changed once the shark made a quick meal out of the large dolphin.

The leader of the hunters was an aged man, his long hair and beard sprinkled with salt and pepper. His red gills moved in and out as he breathed in through the water. Narrowed, aging eyes looking upon the sight of the feeding beast with both awe and fear. He was no baby seal when it came to traversing the oceans, and he was one of his villages most trusted hunters. But by no means was he the greatest of the Atlantean hunters, that title belonged to someone else. That did not render what he, and his seven fellow, much younger hunters, any less terrifying.

That had to be both the largest and most terrifying shark he had ever seen. In any other circumstance, the sharks were always outmatched. However, this time the current aided the shark. His eyes returned to his fellow huntsman, and their gaze to him. Their tridents and nets would mean little more than a distraction to a creature like that.

Truly, on that day, that man had gazed upon a pale shark, and Hades followed with it.

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You finished your feast, and you began to swim forward once more, propelled by your goal given by Calypso.

It would seem that among the frenzied and hungry sharks who had enjoyed what they were allowed of the now skeletal orca was another, rather sizable male great white. He bore some facial scarring, and a sizable chunk of his dorsal fin was missing. Unlike most of the other sharks, he had decided to stay along with you, swimming to your immediate left. There was something about this one that piqued your interest, as if he himself wasn't quite…. Natural*.

There were some other sharks who had decided to follow you, perhaps more out of fear or a search for an easy meal. Either way you've decided they would make for nice fodder to send out when you need.


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You have taken down the Orca is a swift fashion, and devoured a large portion of it. You have also gained some allies, including some smaller sharks.


You have also encountered the shark with Gigantism.


You now feel confident enough to make an attempt to find either a small village allied with Atlantis or one of their caravans.



Which do you prefer to go for?


[ ] Caravan.


[ ] Village.


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Hunger: +350. Total = 850/???.

HP: +500. Total= 2,000/2,000.


You may vote at your leisure.

 

[OfSpaceandTime]

It's been fun. It has. But there are other projects elsewhere that call my name and that I intend to publish in some form of media. While I enjoy working on stories for this site and just the interactivity that it presents, this is not how I get done the work I feel I was truly born to do.

This quest was nice while it lasted. It was different and unique from literally everything else on the site in it's own unique little way. But I knew it wouldn't last. I think a fair amount of you did.

My skills for writing this aren't adequate. This isn't the story I really wanna tell. I want to build my own original world with vast interesting characters with defining moments as they work their way through their own world(s) and survive, or don't. And I wish to get it out as far as possible. Nothing against Sufficient Velocity, but this just isn't the medium in which to do so.

This had been going through my mind for awhile now. I intend to stay around on the site and read quests and vote on some of them, but I myself will not be writing or making a quest entirely by myself for.... Possibly a long time.

I know this isn't what you came for. But it be like that sometimes. And I'd rather gracefully bow out to you instead of simply walking away without some form of explanation. You deserve that much at least.