CO-GM JOB DESCRIPTION
Since there seems to be some confusion over what exactly the work division is I will take this opportunity to explain this.
First of all, let's get to the obvious. The GM; Nemopedia-- Me! As a traditional GM I will be responsible for maintaining the roleplay and making sure that it doesn't die out. However, next to that I'm also responsible for building and expanding Golden City. Most of the questions regarding Golden City should thus be directed to me, as the location is all within my mind translated into words. I will usually act as the final word within Golden City.
Second we get to the CO-GM's. darkflames13 and FieryCold are my CO-GM's. They are also tasked with the traditional GM role. They will keep an eye out for me on Golden City as I continue to build. They are also the people that will be the first to read any of the new information I put out as they are also tasked with the proofreading. This doesn't necessarily mean that they know how to answer all of the questions, however. If I haven't written something they won't know about it, obviously. They are the second-in-command in Golden City and hold a lot of executive powers within the roleplay. I value their advice and opinions highly and trust them completely so be sure to treat them accordingly!
Lastly, I will introduce a new role that hasn't appeared yet: the Moderator. I might open the position in the future, but for now it shall stay empty and dusted. The Moderator is a helper and won't hold the same executive powers as the CO-GM's hold. The Moderator helps out with reviewing the characters, discussing plot ideas, and brainstorming for events. What I expect from a Moderator—should I look for them in the future—is someone with a sharp eye and a critical mind so that my poor overworked CO-GM's can let go of some steam when another sea of characters apply.
NON PLAYABLE CHARACTERS
I have received quite a few questions about NPC's all in different forms and nuances. So, here I try to address them all at once.
When introducing an NPC that isn't going to have a regular appearance or much of a role there will be no need to list them down in your Citizen's File.
If you have NPC's that may make a regular appearance, or are of some sort of minor importance, it would be prefered if you listed them down in your Citizen's File so that everyone can follow who and what you are talking about.
If you wish to use NPC's in order to reflect different point of views, or they are going to play a bigger and more important role than a minor character; I would say that they have reached the point in which they should be allowed their own spot.
THE TATTLER'S BOX
For justice to be enacted most efficiently, a network needs to be built. Sometimes this network falls short as people are afraid to speak up, or they are too deeply involved in the crime themselves. To combat that hole of information, The Tattler's Box are installed around notable buildings. Intricately designed and gold in colour, these boxes are located around the walls of the Nest or near postal offices in the city. That way, the 'tattler' can use the excuse of posting mail to bring away their 'message'. It is within these boxes that citizens can leave their little pieces of hints and evidence anonymously and where it is stored until a member of the Inquisition opens it. A Tattler's Box is always secured, impossible to be opened by anyone but an Inquisition member and designed to wail loudly once an attempt is made to forcefully open it. For that reason, the Tattler's Box is also called the Mandrake's cradle, as its cry is so painful to hear and impossible to ignore. One can expect themselves to be surrounded by Cloaks within moments after the attempt.
MEDICINE ADDICTION
The Medicine is commonly used in small doses to treat motion sickness in The Sky. Because of the ever swaying floors there, the substance is laced within the air so that the inhabitants don't have to worry about popping pills regularly. However, for those who grew up within The Sky and larger bodied adults, the amount in the air sometimes proves itself to be too low. They need an extra prescription from their doctors, though always in small numbers once more as The Medicine can be quite addictive.
Too little of The Medicine makes it ineffective. Users can experience motion sickness because of the swaying horizon in The Sky. Nausea follows along with other common symptoms of Motion Sickness. However, overdose can be quite as harmful, which unfortunately happens often between the experimenting youths and the addicted.
The Medicine can also be used as a (party) drug as it will give the user a boost in confidence and a feeling of euphoria in the right doses. Though, no doctor is willing to tell what the exact dosage of substance that would be as it comes dangerously close to overdosing. It is usually a symptom that lets the user know that the body can't take much more anymore. During an overdose, the body goes into arrest. Body temperature drops rapidly and the heartbeat goes up. The overdosed victim will grow limp and unresponsive if the body doesn't manage to hurl the substance out soon enough. Emptying the stomach through medical attention, or by making the overdosed vomit is the best direct solution.
Luckily overdosing on The Medicine isn't very likely as many stop once that peak of euphoria is reached. However, as mentioned before the substance can be addictive.
It first starts with dependency. The user has a need for The Medicine in order to function properly. Without the medicine the first mild symptoms show which are vertigo and migraine-like headaches. In the strictest sense of the word one could label all Floaters as beginning addicts; as they need The Medicine in order to live properly on the floating grounds. The biggest difference between a true addict and the Floater is, however that the first category will experience the same symptoms without The Medicine even when on The Land, while Floaters will experience no problems or differences.
Those who abuse The Medicine consistently and take it in on a higher dose than prescribed will find themselves with heightened health risks over time. An irregular heartbeat is one such example, which brings them at risk for cardiac arrest or a stroke. Organs such as the kidneys, liver and the stomach get affected in the long term as well. Medicine abusers have reported to experience heartburns, or a failing kidney, or a dysfunctioning liver that refuses to break down the toxins in their body. There are a plethora of other issues depending on the person, but these are the most common.
As the dependency grows out of hands, the withdrawal symptoms start to worsen. The addict needs more dosage in order to gain the same results. Their behaviour becomes erratic and they are in a constant state of alertness. Slowly, this will chip at their mental health and quality of sleep. The addict becomes increasingly more distrustful and paranoid while claiming to see flashes and shadows surrounding them. At worst, the addict will be unable to sleep for longer than a few hours a day, their mind constantly commanding them to be awake to look out for whatever danger there is. In the end they inevitably have to overdose themselves in order to calm down.
Treatment is possible, however. When in the early stages of dependency simply switching out the substance for a placebo, or another substance can help. Some old lady tales also suggest that binding the addicted to their bed helps cleansing their body, or by drinking activated carbonated coal water, but these are rumours and non medically proven.
It is the heavily addicted that are the hardest to treat, as their mental state is usually so far gone as well in which it is impossible to reason. Without the proper medical attention of the doctor and a slow build off from The Medicine, the addicted aren't usually expected to stay calm, obedient, or silent. With the plethora of symptoms that will show itself and their own uncontrollable behaviour, it will be sooner rather than later before the addict will break themselves out to do all they can for their 'needed' dose.
The information of the Tattler's Box and Medicine Addiction will be added to the rest of the information threads! The Tattler's Box to 'Locations' and Medicine Addiction to 'Criminality'.
Did my CO-GM's or I forget to address any of the questions? Please repost them! We may have forgotten about it, or overlooked them. It sometimes takes us a while to respond to questions because of discussions we have, or content that needs to be written.