H E A T H E N S

Welcome to Lockheath Academy, the single most selective institution of higher education in the United States. Every year, twenty thousand applicants vie for about a hundred spots. Matriculants enroll straight out of secondary school. The collegiate-level curriculum runs for two years, and then you can transfer to whatever university you could possibly want. Every imaginable door of opportunity yawns wide open. You're set for life.

If you've made it here, you're the literal less-than-one percent. You were chosen because you're better. Better than the nineteen thousand nine hundred others you beat out. Better than the unprivileged masses crowding into their public schools with their need-based grants and work-study programs. Better than your professors and your administrators. Maybe even better than your peers.

You're the son of a Senator. You're the daughter of a tycoon. You're money as old as fuck, or you're the next big thing. Maybe, just maybe, you're a rare prodigy who won your place by merit.

For the next two years, you'll live, sleep, eat and breathe Lockheath. It's an experience unlike any other. A firm foundation in liberal arts and quantitative reasoning. Lessons in debate, logic and etiquette. Sports and athletics to keep the body as sharp as the mind. Small classes. Close quarters. A whole lot of free time. But you're never free from your peers.

You'll make friends here. And enemies. Alliances are made and broken over too many drinks at all-night ragers. Romance is fleeting and usually toxic; rivalries are forever. Ruthless cliques rule the cafeterias, quadrangles and dormitories, and those without a people are relentlessly bullied. The administration turns a blind eye to all of this.

The people you meet here? We call ourselves the Heathens. Because there's a savagery beneath all the wealth and polish. Locked in, pent up, it's a feral world of hormones, tribes, and urges. We whet ourselves on each other so when they let us out we're ready to eat the world. The relationships formed here won't just shape the rest of our lives. It'll dictate society for the next thirty years.

Because if you're here, you were born to rule to world.

---

This game is inspired by several great GMs and their games. It's designed to be tight-knit, fast-paced, and rooted in interpersonal relationships, dysfunctions and conflicts. The setting is inspired by various school/bully dramas that loom large in pop culture as well as actual real-life ultra-selective boarding schools in a similar vein. It's worth noting this is not meant to be a happy, feel-good, wholesome game. We'll deal with a lot of adult themes - bullying, toxic relationships, dramas, substances, feuds - and the ending might be bittersweet at best.

Speaking of which, the idea is to have a defined ending. I don't like it when games start strong and then sputter out. The goal is to keep things moving and to bring it to a close early enough to leave 'em wanting more. We're going to try to keep a pretty regular clock in this game, and it'll be designed as a limited run - a single academic year. If the limited run goes well and everyone wants a second season, we can think about playing out the second (and final) year of these characters' time at Lockheath. However, a lot of the dynamics might be set by the end of the run, we may also start with a completely new cast.

We'll start in the early fall and play through to the following summer, though we probably won't play every single minute of every single day. Instead, we'll skip through some critical moments and plan to move the clock every week or two.

As time advances, we'll throw characters together in ways that encourage interaction. There's a single dorm, and every character will be assigned a shared room with another character. Characters will be rotated through classes in groups of 2-4. Downtime will be open play for shenanigans, and we've got plenty of extracurricular activities planned. If you hit an interesting post count (100, 200, 1234, etc), you'll get a PM offering you some neat perk or other.

That said, this is NOT a strongly GM-driven game with a planned plot arc. We'll give you plenty of hooks and events to work with, we're looking for complex characters with a lot of play off, and we ask that you reach out to each other to establish connections and dynamics. But in the end, the story is what you make it. We provide the kindling. You bring the spark.
This message was last edited by the user at 08:25, Sun 10 Mar.

What's Going On In-Game:
We have a really great group of writers with diverse characters and interesting interactions. The game got started this past Monday w/ move-in day, and we're still on day 1 so it's still a great time to join. Settle into your dorm, meet your roommate, mingle with your peers, and start forming the relationships - good and bad - that will define your time here. In another week we'll probably advance the timeline and throw a rager.

What We Could Use:
The gender balance is pretty good. I put out a call for no-money merit admits and now we're a bit overstocked there, so New Money or Old Money is more desirable right now. We've probably got enough Outcasts too. Could use another Nerd or Jock. All that said, if you've got a really good idea, you should still float it. We're always willing to make room for great characters.

What's Going On In-Game:
First-years have mostly moved in and met one another. Tensions are already brewing. The first time jump has happened, and we're on the night of move-in with a beach bonfire bash serving as backdrop to all sorts of misbehavior. Still a good time to join as a new student - move-ins are continuing IC through the weekend, and as with most colleges, the first week or so is a time to class-shop. Settle into your dorm, meet your roommate, mingle with your peers, and start forming the relationships - good and bad - that will define your time here. In another week or so we'll advance the timeline again and go into our first classes.

What We Could Use:
We have enough Merit Admits, Outcasts and Populars for now. Everything else is welcome. If you really had your heart set on one of the currently-full backgrounds/cliques, you can still give it a go. We'll always consider good characters, and even if the answer's a no for now, we're happy to work with you on another idea and/or shelve it for later.
This message was last edited by the user at 06:45, Mon 11 Mar.

What's Going On In-Game:
The beach bonfire is winding down, and we're rolling into the second time-jump. The first classes are about to start, and students still hung over from the first weekend are making their way to their assigned rooms. Note this is the last week you'll be able to enroll on-time with the rest of your class. Henceforth, newcomers will have to join as a transfer student and/or will need to have some sort of minor backstory for why they missed the start of the school year.

What We Could Use:
We have enough Merit Admits, Outcasts and Populars for now. Gunners might be filling up too. Nerds and particularly Jocks are a little low. If you really had your heart set on one of the currently-full backgrounds/cliques, you can still give it a go. We'll always consider good characters, and even if the answer's a no for now, we're happy to work with you on another idea and/or shelve it for later.

What's Going On In-Game:
The first session of class is winding down and students are headed to lunch soon. Characters joining the game now might be getting started a little late, but not to the point that you'll need some sort of academic exception. More likely you've suffered travel woes, or perhaps spent an extra day at that music festival. Everyone knows the first week or two are for class shopping anyway.

What We Could Use:
We're actually pretty well balanced across the various backgrounds and cliques right now. Could maybe use another Jock or a couple more New Moneys, and we've still got plenty of No Moneys. We do have significantly more girls than guys though, so I'm going to encourage more male characters than female at the moment.

As usual, if you really had your heart set on one of the currently-full backgrounds/cliques, you can still give it a go. We'll always consider good characters, and even if the answer's a no for now, we're happy to work with you on another idea and/or shelve it for later.
This message was last edited by the user at 21:51, Sun 24 Mar.

What's Going On In-Game:
Lunchtime! Wander around campus, get to know one another, hook up, plot shit, start shit. Characters joining the game are a little late to the party, but not so late you need a good cover story. Maybe your private jet got grounded for maintenance and you had to fly first class, like some bougie wannabe. Maybe you just decided one more day at the alpine spa was in order.

What We Could Use:
We're pretty well balanced backgrounds/cliques-wise, but the gender ratio is a bit girl-skewed. Could use 2-3 more guys. Also maybe another Jock, a couple New Moneys. Merit Admits are probably still pretty full up. But if you really had your heart set on one of the currently-full backgrounds/cliques, you can still give it a go. We'll always consider good characters. Even if the answer's a no for now, we're happy to work with you on another idea and/or shelve it for later.

EDIT:
We're almost full! We'll be capping the cast at 20 and we are now at 19. Given the gender ratio, our last character will need to be male. If you have a great idea for a female character, don't despair - drop us a line and we'll put you in the wings. If we lose characters to attrition you'll be the first in line.
This message was last edited by the user at 19:43, Thu 04 Apr.

What's Going On In-Game:
Afternoon classes are ending in the next few days, so you'll probably be in time for the dinnertime/nighttime timeblock. Great opportunity for shenanigans. Characters joining the game at this point are a little late to the party, but not so late you need a good cover story. Maybe your private jet got grounded for maintenance and you had to fly first class, like some bougie wannabe. Maybe you just decided one more day at the alpine spa was in order.

Next time jump will probably take us to end-of-summer festivities. I'm thinking some sort of off-campus trip is in order, potentially to 2-3 different possible locations to spread our rather large cast a bit thinner.

What We Could Use:
I'm capping this game at 20 characters, and right now we have just one spot open for a male character. In terms of backgrounds, New Money is probably most preferred, but we're well-balanced enough that I'll consider other options as well. And in terms of cliques, Nerds or Gunners are probably most needed.

If you have a great idea for a female character, don't despair - drop us a line and we'll put you in the wings. If we lose someone to attrition you'll be first in line.

What's Going On In-Game:
We're in a dinner/nighttime block with plenty of subplots going on. Students are free to wander the campus and get into trouble. Or, y'know, just have a chill night.

Characters joining the game at this point are a little late to the party, but still not so late you need a good cover story. Maybe your private jet got grounded for maintenance and you had to fly first class, like some bougie wannabe. Maybe you just decided one more day at the alpine spa was in order.

Next time jump will probably take us to an end-of-summer vacation with a choice of three venues: city nightlife, beach vacation, or rainforest escape.

What We Could Use:
Right now we have just one spot open for a male character. In terms of backgrounds, New Money is probably most preferred, but we're well-balanced enough that I'll consider other options as well. And in terms of cliques, Nerds or Gunners are probably most needed.

If you have a great idea for a female character, don't despair - drop us a line and we'll consider it, or at least put you in the wings. If we lose someone to attrition you'll be first in line.

We're opening recruitment back up for 1-2 more characters. We recently crossed 3000 posts in about 3 months, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say we've got one of the best collections of writers out there. Just a fantastic, inclusive crew. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
Currently the cast is on an end-of-summer vacation, split between exploring a city, chilling in a rainforest treehouse, or cruising on a superyacht. We're likely to stay in this timeframe for another week or two.

Next time jump will probably take us back to campus.

What We Could Use:
We've capping the game at 20, so we've currently got room for 1-2 more. Ideally to keep gender balance we're looking for one male character and one female character. We're pretty well balanced, so any background or clique is welcome.

(whoops, edited instead of bumping)
This message was last edited by the user at 20:25, Tue 25 June.

After a couple people timed out, we've currently got room for 2-3 characters. We're pushing 3900 posts after about 4 months, so posting rate is pretty high, though with summer coming on and everyone busy it's maybe more like once every 1-2 days (though sometimes in much faster bursts). Awesome writers, interesting characters, not a game where everyone gets along. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
We're in between classes at the moment. Midterms are right around the corner and we'll be rolling to see how bad we all fail. After that, we'll launch extracurricular activities. Options are currently HEMA - because these heathens keep trying to shank each other and they've finally figured out a legal way to do it - puppet theater for sick kids, cirque troupe, and ski club. Newcomers can decide if you're starting the semester late (were you vacationing in Ibiza? forgot all about school starting?) or have just been quietly in the background the whole time.

What We Could Use:
We're capping the game at 20, and we're currently at 17. Ideally to keep gender balance we're looking for up to two male characters and one female character. We're pretty well balanced otherwise, so any background or clique is welcome.
This message was last edited by the user at 00:47, Fri 05 July.

We're now at 4200+ posts a little over 4 months in, so posting rate remains pretty high. Awesome writers, interesting characters, not a game where everyone gets along. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
Midterms have happened and it was a bloodbath. Turns out Lockheath's curriculum deserves its elite reputation. Students are reeling a bit after a good portion failed at least one exam, and the action is centering around the fallout right now. Next up we'll launch extracurricular activities. Players voted and decided on HEMA, puppet theater for sick kids, cirque troupe, and ski club.

If you're new to the game, you can decide if you're transferring in or if you've quietly been in the background the whole time. If it's the latter, we'll have to roll for midterms in 4 random classes so you too can experience the joy of getting a big fat F!

What We Could Use:
We're capping the game at 20, and we're currently at 19. Ideally to keep gender balance we're looking for one female character. We're pretty well balanced otherwise, so any background or clique is welcome.
This message was last edited by the user at 03:38, Sat 06 July.

4.5 months in, we're now at 4600+ posts and going strong. Awesome writers, interesting characters, organic conflict and emergent storylines. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
It's October ICly (school year running early September to early June). Extracurricular activities just began! Players voted and decided on dueling club with medieval weaponry (nonlethal!), puppet theater for sick kids, cirque troupe, and ski & polo club.

If you're new to the game, you can decide if you're transferring in or if you've quietly been in the background the whole time. If you've been in the background, we'll have you roll for four random midterms.

What We Could Use:
We're capping the game at 20, and we're currently at 19 - though it's possible a couple more slots might open up. Ideally to keep gender balance we're currently looking for one female character. We're pretty well balanced otherwise, so any background or clique is welcome.

Nearly 5 months and nearly 5000 posts in! Awesome writers, interesting characters, organic conflict and emergent storylines. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
It's October ICly (school year running early September to early June). Our first round of extracurricular activities are rolling around/wrapping up, but we'll be doing more in the future. Next up is a dinnertime scene and, uh, a date auction for the upcoming Halloween festivities. Definitely not going to cause all sorts of drama.

If you're new to the game, you can decide if you're transferring in or if you've quietly been in the background the whole time. If you've been in the background, we'll have you roll for four random midterms to represent how you've been doing academically thus far.

What We Could Use:
We're capping the game at 20, and we're currently at 19 - though it's possible another slot might open up. We're pretty well balanced, so any background, clique or gender is welcome.

5 months, ~5400 posts and counting! Awesome writers, interesting characters, organic conflict and emergent storylines. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
The date auction was utter chaotic drama, as predicted, and now it's Halloween! We're having a costume party in a penthouse in Montreal, and everyone's in costume. If you join now, you should think up a costume you want to embody, and we'll make you a temporary NPC named after your costume so you can introduce yourself in suitably mysterious fashion.

At this point in the school year, it's probably best to play a transfer student, though if you want your character to have been here all along we can discuss. If you transfer in, you should come up with a reason why your character didn't start the year with everyone else. We can help you with that too!

What We Could Use:
We cap the game at 20, and we're currently at 18-19 depending on if one of our hiatus'd players makes it back. We're pretty well balanced, so any background, clique or gender is welcome. We are a little short on your classic jock, and we could always use more nerdy types - but if you play a quiet character, you should plan on finding reasons for your character to get involved/not be a wallflower, even if ICly they'd much rather disappear into the background.
This message was last edited by the user at 05:33, Fri 02 Aug.

5.5 months in, and we've just hit 6k posts! We've got some of the best writers I've had the pleasure of writing with. OOCly everyone's super chill and mature, with fantastic ideas and chemistry. ICly, there's always something going on. Emergent storylines, organic conflict and connections, and people willing to make courageous choices for their characters. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

I'll also add this: while the majority of the game posts one average once a day (or more), I'm OK with folks being a bit slower than that. We've got a few players who're too busy to keep up that madcap posting rate, and I think they'd actually appreciate having a few likeminded folks.

What's Going On In-Game:
Halloween is winding down, and we're about to get back into classes. This time around, we're going on field trips. Pack a lunch and grab a buddy... or not!

At this point in the school year, it's probably best to play a transfer student, though if you want your character to have been here all along we can discuss. If you transfer in, you should come up with a reason why your character didn't start the year with everyone else. We can help you with that too.

What We Could Use:
We cap the game at 20, and we're currently at 18 (with a couple players on leave). We're pretty well balanced, so any background, clique or gender is welcome. Only thing we'd add is that if you choose to play a quiet, reserved or shy character, you should plan on finding reasons for your character to get involved/not be a wallflower, even if ICly they'd much rather disappear into the background.

6 months in, almost 6600 posts - we're keeping up a pretty steady rate of about 1k posts a month, give or take. We've got some of the best writers I've had the pleasure of writing with. OOCly everyone's super chill and mature, with fantastic ideas and chemistry. ICly, there's always something going on. Emergent storylines, organic conflict and connections, and people willing to make courageous choices for their characters. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

I'll also add this: while the majority of the game posts one average once a day (or more), I'm OK with folks being a bit slower than that. We've got a few players who're too busy to keep up that madcap posting rate, and I think they'd actually appreciate having a few likeminded folks.

What's Going On In-Game:
After some breakfast-hour downtime, we're off on our field trips! An amusement park, a theater show, climbing/boating in a quarry and sluicing for gems in a cavern are the offerings this time around.

At this point in the school year, it's probably best to play a transfer student, though if you want your character to have been here all along we can discuss. If you transfer in, you should come up with a reason why your character didn't start the year with everyone else. We can help you with that too.

What We Could Use:
We cap the game at 20, and we're currently at 19, though with a couple players on leave. We're pretty well balanced, so any background, clique or gender is welcome. Only thing we'd add is that if you choose to play a quiet, reserved or shy character, you should plan on finding reasons for your character to get involved/not be a wallflower, even if ICly they'd much rather disappear into the background.

This is a relatively fast-paced game with fantastic players. We're keeping up a pretty steady rate of about 1k posts a month, give or take, and we've got some of the best writers I've had the pleasure of writing with. OOCly everyone's super chill and mature, with fantastic ideas and chemistry. ICly, there's always something going on. Emergent storylines, organic conflict and connections, and people willing to make courageous choices for their characters. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
We're back from field trips and in another short downtime. Next up is another round of field trips (probably), followed by Thanksgiving holidays!

At this point in the school year, it's probably best to play a transfer student, though if you want your character to have been here all along we can discuss. If you transfer in, you should come up with a reason why your character didn't start the year with everyone else. We can help you with that too.

What We Could Use:
We cap the game at 20, and we're currently at 19, though with a few players on leave (NPC status). We're pretty well balanced, so any background, clique or gender is welcome. Only thing we'd add is that if you choose to play a quiet, reserved or shy character, you should plan on finding reasons for your character to get involved/not be a wallflower, even if ICly they'd much rather disappear into the background.

This is a relatively fast-paced game with fantastic players. We're keeping up a pretty steady rate of about 1k posts a month, give or take, and we've got some of the best writers I've had the pleasure of writing with. OOCly everyone's super chill and mature, with fantastic ideas and chemistry. ICly, there's always something going on. Emergent storylines, organic conflict and connections, and people willing to make courageous choices for their characters. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

What's Going On In-Game:
Downtime is over and we're in class again. Expect some sort of unexpected event this time around! After this timeframe, students can visit each other's homes for Thanksgiving, or stay on campus for a communal banquet.

At this point in the school year, it's probably best to play a transfer student, though if you want your character to have been here all along we can discuss. If you transfer in, you should come up with a reason why your character didn't start the year with everyone else. We can help you with that too.

What We Could Use:
We have a fair number of players on hiatus, so we're comfortably under our cap of 20 active PCs. We're pretty well balanced, and any background, clique or gender is welcome. Only thing we'd add is that if you choose to play a quiet, reserved or shy character, you should plan on finding reasons for your character to get involved/not be a wallflower, even if ICly they'd much rather disappear into the background. We'll also plan to put you on lurker status while you're applying as well so you get a sense of the pace and mood of the game.

This is a relatively fast-paced game with fantastic players. We're keeping up a pretty steady rate of about 1k posts a month, give or take, and we've got some of the best writers I've had the pleasure of writing with. OOCly everyone's super chill and mature, with fantastic ideas and chemistry. ICly, there's always something going on. Emergent storylines, organic conflict and connections, and people willing to make courageous choices for their characters. If fast-paced, high-quality freeform with a good dose of drama and misbehavior is your jam, come check us out.

This will probably be the last cast recruitment first semester!

What's Going On In-Game:
We're heading into Thanksgiving, and some Heathens are going to one another's homes for the holidays while others are staying on campus for a communal banquet. After Thanksgiving, we'll have a couple more rounds of classes before final exams. To keep things fresh, classes are now accompanied by, and sometimes interrupted by, random happenings on campus. After finals, we'll probably do something gift-exchange-y for Christmas.

At this point in the school year, it's probably best to play a transfer student, though if you want your character to have been here all along we can discuss. If you transfer in, you should come up with a reason why your character didn't start the year with everyone else. We can help you with that too.

What We Could Use:
We're pretty well balanced, and any background, clique or gender is welcome. Only thing we'd add is that if you choose to play a quiet, reserved or shy character, you should plan on finding reasons for your character to get involved/not be a wallflower, even if ICly they'd much rather disappear into the background. We'll also plan to put you on lurker status while you're applying as well so you get a sense of the pace and mood of the game.