The Great Ascent - Signups and OOC

[Ghid]

The end of the World War did not establish peace.

Conflicts between the United States and Great Britain in the years following resulted in severe misunderstandings and miscommunications, leading to the partial enactment of War Plan Red - namely, the invasion and conquering of Canada. Very few lives were lost, but there was no going back.

The Russian communist revolution ended in the October Revolution, with the weakened Russian army driving the revolutionaries up through the Chukotka region and across into Alaska, which was never sold to the United States.

The remaining revolutionary forces quickly allied with the displaced Canadian government and began forming a counter-movement to destroy the invading United States forces, as Britain refused to respond to the invasion of Canada and denounced the revolutionaries in the hopes of restoring diplomatic relations.

As the combined Red army marched south toward the Canada/US border, they took control of every telegraph station they came across to keep their advance silent. The last major obstacle between them and the United States border is a small depot town, situated on the border of Alberta and British Columbia, which unbeknownst to them guards the world’s most powerful radio array…

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Welcome to the Great Depression.

It’s sometime in the early 1930s, and things in most of the U.S. aren’t going too well. But you don’t know that; you’re surviving and even thriving a little in the cold north, somewhere on the border of Alberta and British Columbia. Beneath you is more valuable ore than you could possibly imagine, and above you is snow. As well as all around you. Lots of snow.

You’re one of several people who either live in town, work the mines to the north, or happen to be passing through. Americans, Canadians, even a few Russians are available, and since America is the great melting pot, you’ve got a lot of options to choose from.

Your goal, which will become apparent shortly after the RP has begun, is to make the great ascent from the depot town all the way up the treacherous mountain, reach the peak where the radio array is stationed, and send the signal before the red army catches up with you. To do this, you will ride the diesel-electric passenger train Rocky Mountaineer, built specifically to travel along the treacherous and slow railway between Great Falls, Montana and the border of Alaska.

For those of the historical persuasion, yes, this is an alternate history rp, and I will therefore allow the fudging of historical achievements a little, as long as you can give me a good reason to do so.

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And here’s the signup:

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Weapon/Tools:
Personality/Bio:

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You’ll see a few GM characters posted here alongside the player ones, so hopefully it’ll give you some idea of what I’m looking for. But don’t wait for me! If you’ve got any questions at all regarding the RP feel free to ask away.

In the meantime, here’s a reminder of the usual rules.

I’m the GM: that means if I say a certain thing, that’s the way it’s going to be. I’ll try not to be too obtuse with my rulings, but I have say over what does and doesn’t fly here.

Don’t do bad stuff: Abide by the TTV rules and keep things civil. I’m here to help work out any disagreements between players or any other complications you may have along the way. And keep my RPing guide in mind, because as we all know, I am very smart.

Write stuff: In RPs in the past, people would often post like this:

“Hi.”
John G. Ascentson sat down.

This is very sad and a great way to waste the Boards’ memory. Try to be at minimum a little verbose with each post; any post that’s as skimpy and wilted as this one will get flagged as spam. Don’t worry, I’m not going to be cutting hairs over this, I’ll know when you put effort in.

Have fun: Oh yeah also do let me know if I forget something really obvious or whatever

Approved characters

@TheCobaltCorsair

Oswald Monroe

@BynariDistress

Silas Erickson

@MakutaOisli

Korismasta ‘Kori’

@ProfSrlojohn

Michael Grenda

@Spawner

Benedict “Krieg” Strauss

@ajtazt

Ronan Glöckner

GM characters

@Ghid

Elijah Wembley

@Ghid

Sosruko Lomidze

@Ghid

Nauja (Granny Nauja)

@Ghid

Tagwanibisan “Tags” Dumont

@Ghid

Tessouat “Tesso” Eland

@Ghid

Gerhard Mulder

@Ghid

Samlet “Smoky” Wilbur (Sam)

And a map of the train:

Map of the train (for when I actually make a map of the train)

Why are you looking there’s nothing here yet

[Sonus]

I roll to seduce Prime Minister Richard Bedford Bennet.

[Ghid]

This isn’t DnD you two-eyed anthropological personage

[Sonus]

My apologies, you’re right. I take out a knife and tell Richard Bedford Bennet to give me his ID and his eternal love.

[Minethuselah]

the two reds I fear the most - Communism and Canadians

what an unholy combination

[BynariDistress]

@Ghid

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Weapon/Tools:
Personality/Bio:

@Ghid - My proposed Character sheet.

Nikola Tesla Character Sheet

Name: Nikola Tesla
Age: 76 (born July 10, 1856, but physically appears and functions as a 40-year-old due to experimental electrical treatments)
Gender: Male
Appearance:
Nikola Tesla is a tall, lean figure at 6’2”, with the vigor and posture of a man in his prime, a startling contrast to his chronological age of 76. His dark hair, lightly streaked with silver, is swept back, framing a sharp, angular face with piercing blue-gray eyes that gleam with restless intellect. His skin is remarkably smooth, a side effect of his experimental electrical treatments, though faint scars from high-voltage burns mark his hands and forearms. He dresses in a tailored, if slightly worn, black suit with a high-collared ■■■■■ and a thin, dark tie, layered with a heavy wool coat to withstand the snowy Alberta-British Columbia border. Tesla moves with a confident, almost electric energy, his gestures precise yet animated, as if charged by the currents he manipulates. A faint hum of static occasionally crackles around him, hinting at the experimental forces he’s harnessed.

Weapon/Tools:

• M1911 Pistol: A .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, acquired during his work with the U.S. military in this alternate timeline. Tesla keeps it for self-defense, relying on precision over brute force, though he prefers his inventions to firearms.
• Tool Kit: A compact, leather-bound kit with precision screwdrivers, pliers, a small wrench, insulated wire, a voltmeter, and other tools for electrical and mechanical work. Tesla uses it to maintain his devices or improvise solutions in the field.
• Tesla Grenade (Prototype): An experimental electromagnetic pulse device of Tesla’s design, a palm-sized metal sphere etched with copper coils. When triggered, it emits a localized burst of electromagnetic energy, disabling electrical systems (like telegraphs or radios) within a 10-meter radius or delivering a devastating non-lethal shock to nearby enemies, that has been known to render test subjects unconscious. Unreliable, with a 25% chance of failure or short-circuiting, Tesla carries only two due to their complex construction.

Personality/Bio:
Nikola Tesla is a visionary genius, equal parts brilliant and eccentric, driven by an unshakable belief in science’s potential to reshape the world. In this alternate timeline, Tesla discovered a revolutionary application of high-frequency electrical currents in the early 1900s, which he used to slow his aging process, preserving his physical vitality at the level of a 40-year-old. By subjecting himself to controlled electrical fields, he claims to have “recalibrated the body’s cellular rhythms,” though the process is imperfect, leaving him with occasional tremors and a lingering sensitivity to bright light. This discovery, kept secret to avoid exploitation, has allowed him to remain active in scientific and military endeavors, leading to his recruitment by the U.S. military during the tensions of War Plan Red.

Tesla was tasked by the U.S. government with creating a super weapon capable of turning the tide of the current conflict and securing America’s dominance in future wars. Codenamed “Project Thunder Ball,” this weapon, based on Tesla’s theories of directed energy and electromagnetic resonance. Nikola arrived in Alberta two years ago, in hopes of studying the array as a possible platform to launch the still in development weapon.

In the depot town, Tesla is a mysterious figure, working in a makeshift workshop at the town’s edge, using scavenged mine materials to refine his devices. He joins the group’s mission to ascend the mountain reluctantly, driven by the need to protect the radio array, which he hints holds secrets beyond communication. His youthful vigor makes him physically capable, but his arrogance and occasional lapses into scientific obsession can strain group dynamics. Tesla’s knowledge of electricity and problem-solving skills are critical, but his experimental treatments make him wary of overexertion, as their long-term effects remain untested.

[Ghid]

Did bro just sign up with Nikola “Self-Driving Car” Tesla

@BynariDistress

Nikola Tesla

I hate to say this after you’ve put so much effort into it, but not approved. Things get messy when people start roleplaying as actual historical figures and I’d like to stay out of that territory if at all possible.

Also,

@BynariDistress

a lingering sensitivity to bright light.

He’d be blind half the time because this is Canada everything is 90% bright white snow

[BynariDistress]

Okay, so if I change his name, keep the premise and give him sun glasses so he isn’t snow blind … would that work?

[Ghid]

I’d prefer it be a new character that possibly reuses some of the ideas presented here than America’s Choice Nick Teslington. I’m also not sure about approving a character with tools for his inventions that only has one invention and can only use it twice for the whole rp.

There’s also not a whole lot of reason that the US would send someone as capable as fictional Telsa to the powder-keg Canadian wilderness where tensions are high and the military can’t monitor his actions. Ideally, any characters who are in the depot town have a Canada-related or resource-related reason for being there.

[BynariDistress]

Fair enough. I’ll get to work on a new character.

[Ghid]

And here’s a couple GM characters in the interim. Expect more soon

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Name: Elijah Wembley
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Appearance: Elijah is 6’2", dark-skinned, imposing, and well-built. His calloused skin has both the look and feel of stone, and his thick black beard and moustache are eternally tangled together. The remnants of hair occasionally creep atop his bald head, but he keeps it as shaved as he can.
Bundled up in two layers of heavy fabric and wool, Elijah will never be seen wearing only one layer. His stiff coat, trapper hat, and fur boots are a rusty brown, and his leather gloves and work pants are brown of a much deeper shade. The light cream colored wool peeks out from under the edges of his jacket.
Weapon/Tools: Elijah wields a large carving knife hidden inside his boot, with the handle protruding. He also carries a sawed-off shotgun inside his coat and a handful of extra shells in his pockets. At his hip is a .45 revolver with an ivory handle, and unlike the shotgun Elijah is a gifted shot with it.
Personality/Bio: Elijah Wembley was born into slavery. Despite the end of the civil war, there were some slave owners who did not comply with federal law, and Elijah was one of the last who had to endure subjugation. Freed before he was two years old, Elijah spent the rest of his life moving as far north as he could possibly go.

With no active interest in moving to Canada, Elijah drifted from place to place, constantly seeking companionship and being rejected at every turn. He made a name for himself as exceptionally hard-working, brave, and competent, but terrible with anything that had a kick to it, whether it was swinging a sledgehammer or firing a shotgun. Eventually he was drafted to fight in the War To End All Wars, but his incompetence with the average service arms made him uniquely unqualified to serve.

Finally settling down in Montana, he disapproved of the invasion of Canada but happily moved north into the snowy oil and mineral-rich rocky mountains despite how much he detested the cold. It was a chance to get further away from old flames, the life he left, and everything that had held him back, but the fighting he spent his whole life avoiding found its way to him in the end.

Bitter, cold, and almost always unpleasant, Elijah would much rather be called Sir or Mister Wembley Sir. He has no difficulty holding conversation, although his manner of enjoying others’ company looks an awful lot like immense weariness. never shying away from hard work, he’s competent with his fists and especially with his handgun. He’s also a surprisingly good cook, and quite likes being left alone in a kitchen to work his magic. But especially the alone part.

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Name: Sosruko Lomidze
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Appearance: Standing at 5’9", Sosruko’s skin is very pale and has an olive-colored wash, giving him a somewhat sickly appearance. His small curly moustache and thin goatee fit the emaciated appearance of his face, and he hides his widow’s peak and ponytail under a dark ushanka. His large fur coat is a velvety reddish-brown and at least two sized too big for him, while his pants are properly sized and still eternally baggy. His shoes are worn thin and absolutely not suited for snow, which he still uses for snow traversal as they are his only pair.
Weapon/Tools: Sosruko is a diligent shot with his bolt-action five-shot Mosin–Nagant rifle, which he carries slung across his shoulder by a strap. His accuracy is good enough to make him a mandatory part of any hunting expedition, and he has three separate carving knives inside his coat to clean game with.
Personality/Bio: Sosruko was born somewhere in the Caucasus. Much of his past is unknown, except he eventually found his way through Alaska and ended up in Canada before it fell to the United States. His allegiances in the post-war north are unknown, but his shifty mannerisms and unpleasant personality gave him a reputation as slimy and conniving without him having to do anything to justify the label.

Sosruko’s accent is noticeably slavic despite his attempts to smooth it, but he swears up and down it’s either Georgian or Ukranian depending on the time of day. His reputation is not totally unearned, as he occasionally swipes things of little value from others and often argues against having to do anything resembling work or responsibility. Living in a shack on the edge of town, he has a collection of odds and ends he ‘picks up’ from others set up like a shrine inside.

[TheCobaltCorsair]

Name: Oswald Monroe
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Appearance: Oswald is 5’10", with pale skin, steel blue eyes, brown hair, (graying around the ears and with receding hairline), muttoncops and a mustache, with a slightly heavier-than-average build (probably more or less 200 lbs.).

He usually wares light gray pinstripe slacks and a matching vest, black dress shoes, a plain white shirt, maroon tie, a charcoal gray wool overcoat, and a matching trilby.

Weapon/Tools: His Winchester Model 1895 hunting rifle (with which he has a very competent aim), a small notebook, and a pen.

Personality/Bio: Oswald is patriotic journalist with a ready wit and a somewhat sardonic sense of humor. Originally from the state of Minnesota, he moved out to Cañada Canada for a job opportunity with a local newspaper known as The Caribou Courier. The decision wasn’t particularly difficult since he never married (probably the sardonic wit), so he could afford to relocate at the drop of a hat. Along with his career in journalism, Oswald is also an avid hunter, usually joining his coworkers the local newspaper for excursions.

Currently, he’s one of the leading reporters with The Caribou Courier, and little does he know, he will have quite a story when all is said and done provided he can keep himself from getting shot.

I leave the name of the newspaper up to you, since I didn’t want to overstep anything.

EDIT: Caribou Courier it is. Boom, worldbuilding, free of charge.

[Ghid]

@TheCobaltCorsair

muttoncops mustache

I assume this means mutton chops and mustache

@TheCobaltCorsair

pinstrip

I assume this means pinstripe

@TheCobaltCorsair

I leave the name of the newspaper up to you, since I didn’t want to overstep anything.

I move three spaces to Nuh Uh and give you the Come Up With It Yourself Because I’m Lazy card

Just keep in mind that it’s Canadian, eh? and will probably be like printed in maple syrup or something idk

@TheCobaltCorsair

Oswald Monroe

Get that name of the paper up and Oswald is approved.

[TheCobaltCorsair]

@Ghid

I assume this means mutton chops and mustache

Yes, I really need to remeber to fix things when I go back and edit stuff before actually posting something…

@Ghid

I assume this means pinstripe

Case in point.

I will come up with a newspaper name whenever a good name comes to mind.

[BynariDistress]

Name: Silas Erickson

Age: 30

Gender: Male

Appearance:

Silas Erickson is a towering figure at 6’4” and 225 lbs, built like a linebacker with broad shoulders and a solid, muscular frame honed from years of manual labor and wartime engineering. His dark brown hair is cropped short and practical, often hidden under a wool flat cap, and his brown eyes are sharp and observant, carrying a hint of war-weariness. His face is rugged, with a strong jawline shadowed by a few days’ stubble, and faint scars from shrapnel mar his left cheek and forearms. He dresses in sturdy work clothes suited to the harsh northern cold: heavy wool trousers, a flannel ■■■■■ under a leather jacket, and insulated boots caked with mine dust and snow. A canvas tool belt hangs from his waist, and he carries himself with the confident stride of a man who’s seen combat but prefers to solve problems with his hands rather than fists.

Weapon/Tools:

• M1911 Pistol: A .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a holdover from his service during the Great War. Silas keeps it holstered at his side for personal protection in the lawless border regions, skilled in its use from military training but reluctant to draw it unless necessary.

• Sawed-Off Winchester Model 1897 (12 Gauge): A pump-action shotgun, reliable and versatile for close-quarters defense or hunting in the wilderness. Silas carries it slung over his shoulder, loaded with buckshot for threats in the snowy terrain, and it’s his go-to for dealing with wildlife or potential Red Army scouts.

• Swiss Army Knife: A compact multi-tool with blades, screwdrivers, pliers, and other utilities, essential for quick fixes and everyday survival.

• Electrician’s Tool Kit: A worn leather satchel containing period-appropriate tools for a journeyman electrician in the early 1930s, including insulated pliers, wire strippers, a set of screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips, though Phillips were emerging), a hand-crank voltmeter for testing circuits, rubber-insulated gloves, a coil of copper wire, electrical tape (early rubber-based), a small hacksaw, and a lineman’s knife for stripping insulation. These tools allow him to handle wiring repairs, circuit troubleshooting, and basic mechanical work on the fly.

Personality/Bio:

Silas Erickson is a pragmatic, resourceful man with a quiet intensity and a dry sense of humor that surfaces in tense moments. He’s level-headed under pressure, drawing from his engineering background to approach problems analytically, but the horrors of the Great War have left him with a cynical edge and a distrust of authority. Loyal to his comrades and quick to lend a hand, Silas values self-reliance and has little patience for bureaucracy or needless risk-taking. He’s not one for grand speeches, preferring actions over words, but his wartime experiences make him a natural leader in crises.

Born in Minnesota to Scandinavian immigrant parents, Silas trained as a mechanical engineer before enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Great War, where he specialized in maintaining field equipment and improvising repairs under fire. After the armistice, he transitioned to electrical work, becoming a journeyman electrician as the field boomed with post-war infrastructure projects. In this alternate timeline, the invasion of Canada under War Plan Red drew him north two years ago when the U.S. government contracted skilled workers to fortify border installations. Silas was hired to upgrade and maintain the electrical systems in the depot town’s mines and the nearby railway lines, including covert work on powering a remote radio outpost (the array’s existence is rumored among workers like him, though he doesn’t know its full significance). The valuable ore beneath the town provides steady employment, but with the Red Army’s advance cutting off supply lines, he’s stuck in the area, using his skills to keep the town’s generators and telegraph stations running amid blackouts and sabotage. Rumors of the advancing forces have him on edge, and he’s open to joining any group heading up the mountain if it means securing a way out or disrupting the enemy—especially since his engineering know-how could prove vital for operating or repairing the train or the array.

[Ghid]

Sat on this one for a while as it felt like there was something I was missing, but it all looks good

@BynariDistress

Silas Erickson

Silas is approved.

[wild_toa]

after all this time, its real

Im interested, but may not be able to partake for time reasons

[Ghid]

its aight g just get tbos up and we gucci

[Spawner]

Is there any information on what the mines are, well, mining? My assumption is coal and/or precious metals, but I don’t know if you have a specific idea in mind.

[Ghid]

Welcome back king

The largest and most available resource in the rocky mountain range, in both the US and Canada, is oil. Like, a lot of it. There’s so much oil there that if either nation started seriously drawing it up, it could turn the entire continent into the next Saudi Arabia. But, just like in the modern day, people at that point in time weren’t too oil-crazy in the cold, preferring to drill in places like the greater California region (includes Nevada and Arizona).

Even today, the northern rocky mountains are barely capitalized on, meaning there’s a tremendous amount of coal there, but also gold, silver, quartz crystal, rose quartz, chalcedony quartz, gypsum, bentonite clay, perlite, pumice, amethyst, sapphire, zircon, and even diamond. And there’s also Wyoming Jade, a nephrite jade exclusive to the Wyoming stretch of the rocky mountains.

But yeah probably just coal And gold, since there’s so much of the stuff there it’d be really hard to mine coal and not run into at least some of it along the way. However, if you had a particular character in mind hunting for something peculiar, I’m open to shifting things around a little.