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The Extras
Taxon is a full city, despite having a relatively limited number of genuine inhabitants (actual characters). The rest of Taxon is filled with backdrop characters known as the Extras.
For the most part, Extras look human, but because they, like the rest of the city, have been drawn from the cumulative media of planet Earth, you can see the occasional LoTR background elf #391, or an Ewok, or a wrinkle-headed Klingon. Additionally, Extras can appear to be from many different time periods and ethnicities-- a random sampling of the human population, going from Cro-Magnon man to whatever people might look like in the year 2525.
Extras will not, as a rule, answer 'big questions' about Taxon-- they cannot tell characters why they are here or what the aliens want. Extras don't know such things. They are the bus drivers and tram operators and taxi drivers of Taxon, the street sweepers and coffee shop baristas, the paper boys and factory workers and dockhands.
Most Extras have fairly simple, consistent personalities. They will respond to courtesy with courtesy, threats or violence with fear or anger of their own. You can hold a conversation with an Extra, but don't expect anything too deep-- the weather is the most common conversational topic for them, or what they do for a 'living' in Taxon.
However, the longer you talk to a specific Extra, the more resources the aliens allocate to fleshing out that member of the supporting cast. This results in Named Extras/NPCs, who have a set physical appearance, can be found in (usually) a set location in the city, and have distinct personalities. Some of these have been created by the moderators, but any player can create an NPC, and, indeed, doing so can be a way to get rewards for your character in game.
Once you have submitted an Extra and had him, her, or it approved, that Extra is fair game to be used by others in the city, even killed, although killing off a named NPC should be done as part of a plot and should be run by the moderators first.
If you want to submit an Extra to be part of the city's NPC cast, fill out the code below and post it as a comment!
For the most part, Extras look human, but because they, like the rest of the city, have been drawn from the cumulative media of planet Earth, you can see the occasional LoTR background elf #391, or an Ewok, or a wrinkle-headed Klingon. Additionally, Extras can appear to be from many different time periods and ethnicities-- a random sampling of the human population, going from Cro-Magnon man to whatever people might look like in the year 2525.
Extras will not, as a rule, answer 'big questions' about Taxon-- they cannot tell characters why they are here or what the aliens want. Extras don't know such things. They are the bus drivers and tram operators and taxi drivers of Taxon, the street sweepers and coffee shop baristas, the paper boys and factory workers and dockhands.
Most Extras have fairly simple, consistent personalities. They will respond to courtesy with courtesy, threats or violence with fear or anger of their own. You can hold a conversation with an Extra, but don't expect anything too deep-- the weather is the most common conversational topic for them, or what they do for a 'living' in Taxon.
However, the longer you talk to a specific Extra, the more resources the aliens allocate to fleshing out that member of the supporting cast. This results in Named Extras/NPCs, who have a set physical appearance, can be found in (usually) a set location in the city, and have distinct personalities. Some of these have been created by the moderators, but any player can create an NPC, and, indeed, doing so can be a way to get rewards for your character in game.
Once you have submitted an Extra and had him, her, or it approved, that Extra is fair game to be used by others in the city, even killed, although killing off a named NPC should be done as part of a plot and should be run by the moderators first.
If you want to submit an Extra to be part of the city's NPC cast, fill out the code below and post it as a comment!
Mr. White
Role of the Extra: Mr. White sells books (specifically, novels-- Taxon's library carries only non-fiction, so if you want Pride & Prejudice or Moby Dick, he's your man), journals, stationery, writing implements... and, incongruously, tablet accessories such as plug-and-play speakers, wireless mice, and replacement styluses. Styli? He also answers questions about the technology of the tablets for characters for whom they may not be a familiar feature.
Location: Mr. White can be found in the Bazaar.
Physical appearance:
An older man with stark white hair and a vaguely Victorian wardrobe and appearance. Any resemblance to a Mr. Ollivander is surely entirely in your head
Personality: Mr. White is brusque, crisp, but informative. He is fairly patient with characters from 'past' eras, and will explain the features and use of the tablet to whatever extent is needed.
The Sheriff
Role of the Extra: Taxon law enforcement.... kinda.
Location: The Sheriff may be found throughout the city, as needed.
Physical appearance:
Personality: The Sheriff is a down-home, friendly, apple pie individual. Along with
BarneyHis Assistant, he keeps the law in Taxon... kind of. Primarily, his concern is shoplifting within Taxon, and keeping the peace. Repeated incidents of shoplifting will result in a cumulative effect of Extra shopkeepers becoming more wary of you, and of the Sheriff starting to turn up when you enter shops. He will chase thieves, although many Taxon characters will probably be able to elude him... at least at first.The Sheriff will also interfere in some incidents of violence against Extras, although not all. If you have a question about whether or not your character's actions would attract Sheriff attention, ask a moderator.
Not so much an NPC in the traditional sense, but she's part of a trend. :3
Role of the Extra: Pet rabbit. Belongs to Horst Cabal.
Location: Liesl lives in a cage in the Cabals' home.
Physical appearance:
Personality: Liesl is a wild brown rabbit Horst plucked out of the woods on his third day in Taxon. He's kept her ever since, and spends several hours a day with her, attempting to see if non-captives in Taxon can bond with captives and learn and adapt over time. She's his first experiment of this sort, but he's also quite attached. Liesl is calm and quiet on her own, but still learning to adjust to human beings.
Re: Not so much an NPC in the traditional sense, but she's part of a trend. :3
Your not-really-an-npc is approved. Liesl will, uh, behave like a rabbit, with whatever rabbity personality traits you choose to endow her with. Oddly, she disdains carrots. Celery, on the other hand, is a YESPLZ.
no subject
Role of the Extra: Dr. Proctor is the general practitioner for the non-Extra citizens of Taxon. That said, there are no specialists, and so he is also the cardiologist of Taxon, the chiropractor of Taxon, the proctologist of Taxon....in other words, if your character shows up with a long term medical problem, he's the guy to see. Sadly, he has absolutely no knowledge of emergency medicine, and is just as useless as any other Extra would be if confronted with a broken leg or a case of sniffles.
Location: Dr. Proctor's office is just off the Bazaar. Conveniently, a pharmacy is right next door.
Physical appearance: A middle aged white guy with graying hair, a lab coat and a stethoscope.
Personality: Warm and friendly, in a professional way. He becomes gently chiding if someone hasn't been taking care of their health as well as they ought to have been.
Because Hamsters enjoy bad comedy routines as much as anyone else, he is reliably twenty minutes late to every appointment.