Something for the Furrehs

[neokarl]

I just didn't have a reason to "why there are furries" and I still don't have a good reason.

Biological Warfare.

Humanity starts to focus on a bio-arms race (throw some political things in: North Korea, you could have them making an army of small purple unicorns to take over for all that the rest of world would know ) ~2013 - The Beginning of the End.
It's meant to be a 'race' focused weapon i.e. only certain 'races' get effected (read: die).

Surprise, surprise...it scares the crap out of the world!

The US, Russia and EU, not wanting to be left out, start their own programs and counter-programs (vaccine to immunise or 'fool' the weaponized virus to ignore its targets).

How could we get people to get ignored on a genetic level....add new stuff and take away the stuff that makes them the targets! Genius!

Where is the next most viable source of similar genetic material? Primates! Animals!
Hey! Why not weaponized the vaccine too?
Soldiers with wolf like sight, smell and hearing? Hell yeah!
What about stealthy feline soldiers too? Put it on the list!
Husky based arctic long range soldiers? Good idea!
Attributes from a desert fox to secure oil the future of the Middle East! Nice plan. etc.

Things start to get out of hand (as they do) and you take more and more of the 'human' genetic material and the volunteers start to lose their 'human' looks, abet gaining the immunity to all known anti-human bio-weapons. But keep their minds and feelings and everything.

Humm...these soldiers are getting good...too good...
End the program. The UN is going to crap themselves over this.

Ahh! They don't want to be 'ended'!! Oh teh noes! There are enough of them to make a viable population! D'oh!
THEY LITTER MORE THAN ONE CHILD!? FUUUUUUUUUU-

Fur Folk = Fight with tooth, claw and packs
United States Biological Task and Intelligence Force (USBTIF [USBeetif]) = Fight with airstrikes, tanks and armies
See: Vietnam War

The global guerrilla war wares down USBTIF, then the 'Axis of Evil' strikes with their own bio-weapons. 'My enemy?s enemy is my friend.'

2025 - The Fall of Humanity.

The world is brought to its knees. Populations panic. Economies crash. Civil governments struggle to cope and the weaker ones collapse. In the death throes of humanity, the United Nations takes a stand and what few working governments and multi-national corporations are left complete the 'ARK Initiative' [Working title]

The ARK's were built in event of end of humanity. Conveniently, they have mostly been sitting there unused since 2012 (mass panic as an unexpected asteroid and stuff that you can fill in )

The old story of 'the best and the brightest' of humanity are chosen and taken to geographically suitable locations, away from large population centres, in a valley surrounded by mountains, sea on one side whatever.

Thing is...it's anarchy out there. People are panicking, biological weapons are going off left, right and centre. The few that escape the cities and hear about the ARK's flee to them. Many have died in the cities. Many die on the journey but with what few people the UN can scrounge together, anyone who isn't infected or dying is a welcome person.

With the doors closed, those left behind are sick and dying. The Fur Folk, immune to all of the weapons that humanity had devised to destroy themselves, try desperately to help.

However, since most of them were just low ranking officers or lower ranks in the armed forces, none of them really know how to develop cures.

2031 - Humanity Has Fallen.

One year before there was 7 billion humans in the world.
The next there are fewer than 10 million. The last human, a young girl, dies on the 31st December 2031 in her sleep. But not before leaving one last message: 'Forgive us all for all these ills.'

2032 - Furs Have Risen.

Although most cities and towns have already started to crumble, the Furs moved to some almost as soon as humans abandon them.

The population boom starts to slow, genetics starts to kick in as the human genes override the animal genes so each pregnancy has only has around one to three offspring, like humans.

Humans are believed to be extinct. There are whispers of the ARK's but since they were hidden for years from general knowledge, no-one knows where they are. Some say that even if they did exist then with all the diseases around, at least one infected person would have entered and decimated the populations.

Humanity is quickly forgotten in many ways. As the years pass and the Furs make their own 'paw print' on Earth, humans are demoted to simple cautionary tails or warnings:
"If you don't come home by dusk, the humans will come and get you!"

"History became legend. Legend became myth."

Humans are cast in a light of trickster or evil sorcerers. Causing all the ill in the world by brewing more powerful potions but finally brewing up a potion so powerful that it consumes them but not before allowing them all one last spell. One human, a young girl, sees a pack of wolves and directs the spell towards them that bestows all of the good and kindness that all of humanity can muster and gives it too the wolves leaving a final message: 'Forgive us all for all these ills.'

The wolves pass the message and knowledge to animal species to animal species which in turn passes it on until the world is here as they know it.

No God myth. No magic legend. Only that there was once something before, it all died out and left the Furs with everything else.

Wow, just wow. With a couple of tweeks, like moving that time-line forward a couple hundred, that could be how it all began.
I am humbled in your presence.

 

[tharglet]

One thing I suggest, if you're not a techie, you may need to stay away from technical references. It's hard to think like a programmer if you're not a programmer, and it can sound wildly mad for the geeks among us, and has large potential for 4th wall breakage.

If you're on about hacking systems, it's best to stick with one system, and some plausible reason of why it would be used. If you're on about distributing information, that's usually done via tipping off a news agency or informing a reputable website/blog/group appropriate to the news in hand, to get it to travel through the blogosphere etc.

 

[Dexiro]

Perhaps there is a virus that turns people into furries/furries into people.
sorry, I'll let the sci fi part of me shut up.
I can see this turning into avatar, as well.

I've read a story about a virus outbreak that turns humans into furries, it worked really well :3

The one I read was quite dark though, like severe cases lost the ability to speak and there was discrimination and stuff. I'd like to see a much more light-hearted version.

 

[Danzaivar]

So is this set inside Eden or on the outside? Does the human guy want to get in? Is the hybrid guy stuck inside and trying to avoid being sent out?

It's a pretty interesting idea, though the 'sudden transformation' thing is kinda run of the mill for stuff involving anthropomorphic animals. Everyone else seems more interesting.

Also: Have you been playing Final Fantasy 13 recently?

 

[DasUberCow]

d-^_^-b Two thumbs up! [sub][sub]*is aware of irony*[/sub][/sub]

However, you would have to be relatively good at drawing people (humans) so that it isn't too unsettling and also be good a background set pieces to set up the whole scene.

I may refer you to Daybrakers for something similar to what you're thinking of too.

It reminded me of Daybreakers too for some reason.

I though it was a pretty decent idea, although i don't really follow many webcomics so my opinion is uninformed.

 

[neokarl]

So is this set inside Eden or on the outside? Does the human guy want to get in? Is the hybrid guy stuck inside and trying to avoid being sent out?

It's a pretty interesting idea, though the 'sudden transformation' thing is kinda run of the mill for stuff involving anthropomorphic animals. Everyone else seems more interesting.

Also: Have you been playing Final Fantasy 13 recently?

It'll probably have pionts both inside and outside of Eden (well, that name has stuck). Still not sure on what the story will follow.

And, no I've never played Final Fantasy 13.

This is becoming a slightly disturbing trend.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Then how come the word 'originality' hasn't lost all meaning? If your work of fiction has virtually the same meaning and subject matter as another, then how is it relevant? Obviously 'Odd Thomas' has something that sets it apart from say, The Sixth Sense, or else it would be meaningless.

Premises are categorical, not detail-oriented.
The best I can give you is "Share the knowledge, compete on execution."

To elaborate...
M. Night Shayamalan focused entirely on the plot twist he was building up to (and what a twist, at the time), Dean Koontz focused primarily on social commentary using it to describe the scenes in his book.
Both had an interesting, suspenseful atmosphere, of course.

While the two plots share the same premise, they are used for different purposes.
Originality isn't just used for creating a wacky new idea every time*; originality can mean putting a new spin on an old subject.

I just can't imagine this comic containing anything new or interesting. At least, based on its premise alone, and we are discussing the premise here.

Well. I certainly won't change your opinion, but might I suggest seeing where this comic goes first before passing judgment? Sometimes the style of the comic is better than the plot.
Hell, that's the only reason I put up with Star Trek in the mid-90s.

*(Aside: this is a major problem I have with new/modern Anime...some shows are trying too damn hard to be completely original, and end up being confusing or bad instead)

 

[neokarl]

Ok, so here's the thing, I'm having a bit of a creativity drought at the moment and just can't think of anything new for this idea,
well until a minute ago.

I am asking anyone out there on the Escapist (mainly the Furrehs, but it is open to everyone) to make a character for this world.
It can be human (with some sort of weird religious/sci-fi tech aspect) or animal-folk (hybrids are acceptable). Please include a bit of background for the character.

And I WILL report flamers, trolls and anyone being a dick about it. This is ment to be a community project for better-ment of furries everywhere.

Peace. Love. Furry.

 

[Snowden's Secret]

This does sound like a really interesting concept.
While I can't think of any characters at the moment, perhaps (and this is just a suggestion, nothing more) instead of having a human turned animal-folk character, perhaps instead you could have a human who, either by genetic engineering or by chance, is immune to all of the ecological damage caused by the human bio weapons (just as the animal folk are)?
As such he could have been sent out from his city by the ruling elite as some kind of solo exploratory mission (something you could back up with a story arc of some radically-aligned humans trying to expand out and retake the world for themselves, with the aid of the work of the "mad scientist" you mentioned). Just a thought.

 

[neokarl]

This does sound like a really interesting concept.
While I can't think of any characters at the moment, perhaps (and this is just a suggestion, nothing more) instead of having a human turned animal-folk character, perhaps instead you could have a human who, either by genetic engineering or by chance, is immune to all of the ecological damage caused by the human bio weapons (just as the animal folk are)?
As such he could have been sent out from his city by the ruling elite as some kind of solo exploratory mission (something you could back up with a story arc of some radically-aligned humans trying to expand out and retake the world for themselves, with the aid of the work of the "mad scientist" you mentioned). Just a thought.

Hmmm... *is inspired*

Potential story/character ideas

Ok, how does this sound.

One of the 'main' characters is the bio-engineered human suggested by Snowden's Secret. Sent out into the world to find out if it is safe for repopulation but also secretly to destroy the animal-folk, maybe some sort of cybernetic implant or something that he/she doesn?t know about. His/her story would be mostly taking place outside of Eden, with flashbacks to his/her early days in a laboratory.

Another will possibly be 'Dead Switch'. I'm thinking of redesigning him (or her?) as a private detective following a murder case leading him/her to the real history of the world, instead of the 'true' history that everyone has been lead to believe. I?d imagine having a personality kind of like Rorschach's, not sure if to make 'Dead Switch' is more or less crazy Rorschach (feel free to let me know what direction you think 'Dead Switch' should go). The story of 'Dead Switch' would be taking place within the filthy belly of Eden.

Another one or two more 'main' characters would be nice, possibly animal-folk.

Well that?s all I can think of for the moment. Remember, I'm always after feedback. Hopefully I'll post some more stuff soon.


Peace. Love. Furry.

 

[HT_Black]

Huh. Don't take it to the bank just yet, but something in my gut tells me that this setting would be better suited as a frame for a series of unrelated/tangentally related short stories instead of a single plotline.

As for characters, I got some ideas. Because why the Hell not: there's no room for them in my book.

How's about:

-A nebbish young Guy/Gal who fled from the human city after being framed for/convicted of theft. May or may not be a reperesentation of youthful Naivete and the way it is invariably detroyed as soon as you learn what a furry is[footnote] I'm mostly kidding.[/footnote].
-A middle-aged and exceedingly well-armed xenophobe who is ultimately cast in the villain role because he hates everyone outside his societal bubble. It's important to make sure he's sympathetic,though.
-Anton Chigur. No, I'm serious. His character type can lend depth to a story just by sitting there and twiddling his thumbs.
-A sympathetic but amoral everyman who's been thrust into a horrible situation through no fault of his own. See above.
-A strawman of your choice, who can be cast as the villian and unsubtly used to lambast whoever you decide you don't like. This character has long been a staple of internet culture.
-An oppresively friendly idiot with good intentions. Can be used for comedy relief or to drive a given story along with his peerless stupidity.

And last but not least, don't do it like this. That way lies shittiness.

 

[neokarl]

Huh. Don't take it to the bank just yet, but something in my gut tells me that this setting would be better suited as a frame for a series of unrelated/tangentally related short stories instead of a single plotline.

As for characters, I got some ideas. Because why the Hell not: there's no room for them in my book.

How's about:

-A nebbish young Guy/Gal who fled from the human city after being framed for/convicted of theft. May or may not be a reperesentation of youthful Naivete and the way it is invariably detroyed as soon as you learn what a furry is[footnote] I'm mostly kidding.[/footnote].
-A middle-aged and exceedingly well-armed xenophobe who is ultimately cast in the villain role because he hates everyone outside his societal bubble. It's important to make sure he's sympathetic,though.
-Anton Chigur. No, I'm serious. His character type can lend depth to a story just by sitting there and twiddling his thumbs.
-A sympathetic but amoral everyman who's been thrust into a horrible situation through no fault of his own. See above.
-A strawman of your choice, who can be cast as the villian and unsubtly used to lambast whoever you decide you don't like. This character has long been a staple of internet culture.
-An oppresively friendly idiot with good intentions. Can be used for comedy relief or to drive a given story along with his peerless stupidity.

And last but not least, don't do it like this. That way lies shittiness.

Interesting characters you've got there. The xenophobic angle has already been covered, by the Eden government no less. And I won't be focusing it on sex/yiff. I can't make any promises that it be PG rated though.
Sex might end up being a plot for one of the 'main' characters and I can't guarantee that it would a 'vanilla'[footnote]you know what I mean[/footnote] partnership either.
But it wasn't something that crossed my mind until you brought it up.

But I do have one question. Who the hell is Anton Chigur?

 

[HT_Black]

Interesting characters you've got there. The xenophobic angle has already been covered, by the Eden government no less. And I won't be focusing it on sex/yiff. I can't make any promises that it be PG rated though.
Sex might end up being a plot for one of the 'main' characters and I can't guarantee that it would a 'vanilla'[footnote]you know what I mean[/footnote] partnership either.
But it wasn't something that crossed my mind until you brought it up.

But I do have one question. Who the hell is Anton Chigur?

'Vanilla'? No, I don't know what you mean. Are you talking 'vanilla' compared to 'neopolitan' where vanilla is Variables A and A and Neopolitan is Variables A and B (and maybe C) or is this somethng I don't want to know about?

As to who Anton Chigur is...


He's the guy with the gravelly voice. That scene is pretty much everything you need to know about his character.

 

[neokarl]

Interesting characters you've got there. The xenophobic angle has already been covered, by the Eden government no less. And I won't be focusing it on sex/yiff. I can't make any promises that it be PG rated though.
Sex might end up being a plot for one of the 'main' characters and I can't guarantee that it would a 'vanilla'[footnote]you know what I mean[/footnote] partnership either.
But it wasn't something that crossed my mind until you brought it up.

But I do have one question. Who the hell is Anton Chigur?

'Vanilla'? No, I don't know what you mean. Are you talking 'vanilla' compared to 'neopolitan' where vanilla is Variables A and A and Neopolitan is Variables A and B (and maybe C) or is this somethng I don't want to know about?

As to who Anton Chigur is...


He's the guy with the gravelly voice. That scene is pretty much everything you need to know about his character.

I think you're better off not knowing and now I get it, a character that is equal parts intimadating, scary and mysterious

 

[Scarecrow]

That sounds pretty interesting. If it was a game, I would play it.