Where All Roads Lead...

The Outline and Disclaimer

2008-01-04T03:27:52Z


If you fit the bill and can afford to pay it, fill up your tank of gas and take a drive... down to Where All Roads Lead. ~ Fast Facts: Longterm RPG for Celebrity and Original characters; started in January 2008; played primarily through LiveJournal and AIM; set loosely in Las Vegas, Nevada; slash/het/femme-slash are all welcomed.

The WARL Difference
Realism. Depth. Insight. Spontaneity. Creativity. Fun.
Add those keywords to a love for writing and a flared passion for the character(s) played, and that's the difference we aim to establish with this community.
We are a vibrant and exciting community with insanely dedicated ~~mods~~Twinkies; we're friendly, deeply involved, and always welcoming of new characters, players, and ideas. We are the canvas that seeks to connect your portraits and landscapes within the framework of a home...

Some of the progressive features at Where All Roads Lead are briefly listed on our Site Map, and, we also welcome a readership for the intricate and thoughtful storylines in our little WARL to have an audience.

RPG Disclaimer
This is a community for a role-playing game (RPG) which involves the fictional interpretations of some of the celebrities we love. We are here for the writing, the fun, the outlet of expression. In no way do we have a connection with---or any relation to---the celebrities we depict.

All members of the community, in creating their 'character-journals,' are assuming another person's identity for the sole purpose of entertainment, without intending to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud either the person whose identity the author has assumed, nor any reader of this content.

The Rule-like Information

2008-01-03T17:12:02Z

General Rules & Info.

I. The Writing
While we're not on a quest for Pulitzer Prize winners, creating personalities and an ostensible reality using words as a primary tool does require a decent level of language and imaginative skill. Where All Roads Lead was founded upon an ideal of being a setting where stories may be led to unfold, and it continues to try and uphold that vision with strong writing, in-depth characterization, and keen realism at its forefront of expectation.

Characters may speak and/or interact through LiveJournal with any writing-style they wish, but when formatting written in-game scenes, there should be some effort put into basic grammar and spelling, as well as into the detail and length of replies. It's a basic courtesy to the player you're writing with, and no one has any respect for half-assed 'three-liners.'

II. In-Game Scenes
This community is for third-person storybook RP, and inter-player scenes are most commonly written through either AIM or journal-threads.

Completed scene-logs, dialogue transcripts, solo one-shots and threading-posts may be shared in our sub-community, warl_logs, while we also make available a secondary threading-community (Roads to Threads) where InsaneJournal's 100-icon limit proved too enticing an offer to resist when it comes to spicing up threaded replies with fitting avatars.

Private or custom-locked writing-threads are also common, and there is no community-wide outline for how or where players choose to conduct their in-game scenes.

III. In-Character Interaction
This community tries to stay on the cutting-edge by providing its members with a wide variety of ways for characters to interact with each other, mingle and communicate. Behind WARL's walls, characters will have easy-access to nifty little things like cellphones and discussion forums, regularly conducted group-scenes, and more---beyond the primary form of in-character communication and storyline-development through journal commenting.

IV. The Bare Basics
A LiveJournal and AIM account is required for each character in the community, and user-names/screen-names should be relevant to your character. Alternatively, players may choose to have a single catch-all AIM s/n if they play multiple characters.
An InsaneJournal account is not compulsory, though it is recommended.

Character-journals are yours to do as you/your character pleases, but there must be an inclusion of an RPG disclaimer in the journal's profile and on the front-page of the journal itself [?].

V. Maturity, Themes & Concepts
First and foremost, maturity amongst players is a must and should be a given.

Secondly, since this is a role-playing game that involves mature themes and content... The age requirement for admission into the community is set at EIGHTEEN (18). Of course, none of us believe in ageism, and so this rule is not entirely set in stone---but please contact the Twinkies before applying if you're below the age of eighteen, so we can tell legality to fuck-off and ignore it entirely...
Please consider this a notification and warning---that 'adult concepts' such as mild to explicit sexual references and drug/alcohol/tobacco references are condoned and possibly rampant in this community.

Also, we recognize and uphold the freedom of speech and sexual liberation; and as such, storylines involving 'taboo' circumstances are allowed within reason and good taste---with certain exceptions such as necrophilia and snuff...

VI. The Twinkies
Two, and now three, members of the community have arranged themselves into comfortable patterns of maintaining and lovingly caring for WARL, as well as presiding over the srs biznez (i.e. 'serious business') elements of the community's smooth management. Traditionally, such persons are referred to as 'Moderators' or 'Mods,' but as the original template of these rules were being written way back in January of 2008, it was brought to their attention that those terms sounded "too Imperialist." Ever since that fateful four-in-the-morning, the moniker 'Twinkies' has been used instead, and individually they are referred to as 'Twinkie Uno,' 'Twinkie Dos,' and 'Twinkie Tres Awesome.' Same rose(s), but less thorny-sounding... and probably less thorny too, seeing as they would be flattered to be your new best-friends-forever and that they wish everyone nothing but peace and goodwill.

They may be contacted through AIM under the s/n ImperialTwinkie, though it might be wiser to contact them through the FAQ-post or a LJ private-message---where your questions, fresh ideas, suggestions, problems, etc. will less-likely be missed.

We promise that the Twinkies are not as anal as we might seem in this... rule-ish display of regimental bullshit. We're rebels and poets (cream-filled and ever-so-sweet on the inside) and if rules could be avoided entirely without the universe descending into a state of primordial chaos, we'd be hittin' up that route for sure. <3

Post-script: To some, the Twinkies are referred to as "Edwardos" to avoid alarm or panic. (Inside-comm-joke.. You don't have to get it yet... =D)

Characters & Characterization

I. Fundamentals
Where All Roads Lead, in its infant beginnings, was an all-male celebrity-slash role-playing game that has since developed to incorporate female roles and a non-celebrity world of original-characters due to the realism of such diversity and integration.

We allow all actors, actresses, musicians, models, and the like to be played as celebrities, their Alternate-Universe doppelgangers, or as the PB (played-by) 'faces' of entirely original characters.
Non-celebrity real-person characters are subject to approval.

Characters themselves must be above the age of sixteen (16).

II. Original Characters
Characters crafted from scratch are welcome and encouraged, and plots/settings are (or will be, accordingly) made available for non-celebrity characters to integrate comfortably into the community. We have a community-resource known as The Incognito Project that is dedicated to serving any and all of your original-character needs.

The use of PB's/'faces' for entirely original characters will be allowed upon Twinkie-approval, so please contact us before applying. Lesser-known 'faces' are preferred and the use of 'faces' of popular band-members and ensemble television casts is generally disallowed so as not to disrupt the storylines of other current/future roles.

III. Realistic Portrayals
Characters and their actions are expected to be realistic and believable, their personalities should be well thought-out and managed, and their undertakings and motivations ought to keep in line with clear models of who they are. Copycats and chameleons are frowned upon, unless it happens to be that your character's a shape-shifting poseur (insert sarcasm notice here).

IV. AU Extents & Creative Liberties
Celebrity characters are typically expected to accord themselves based on true-to-life details and facts, though real-life personal schedules, romantic relationships and familial responsibilities need not be stringently kept. Of course, creative license is well-respected and its right is retained by a role's player.

Unless a celebrity portrayal is far-fetched to the point of absurdity, the Twinkies will not entertain any complaints about how a role has been characterized.

V. Role Limits
Each player is limited to a maximum of three (3) main characters. However, exceptions will be made on this one, based on community/Twinkie-approval; if you have the time and inspiration, who are we to hold you back?

Activity & Updates

I. Character-Journals
...should be updated at least once a month with a substantial post. Entries containing solely YouTube clips, pic-spams, and brief notes/placeholders are allowed, but they do not count for meeting the monthly requirement. Generally, we feel that if you're putting a nice-sized chunk of your heart into the game, this rule is pretty much laughable...

However, with respect to realism, we recognize that not all characters may fit the general model of a compulsive blogger, and there are times when a blog-post may not necessarily correspond to the happenings or circumstances surrounding a character. Keeping this in mind, a written 'one-shot' scene for a character will also satisfy the monthly-update requirement.

Each character-journal must also be up-to-date with the 'friending' of new characters into the community to ensure that 'newbies' are given the full extend of opportunity to acquaint---as well as interact---with all existing characters through LiveJournal.

II. General Activity
WARL began with the ideal of fostering multi-character involvement and the wonderment of the added dimension that interwoven storylines have the propensity to afford. As such, in-character community interaction is taken pretty seriously at WARL---which is to say that the scope of a character's involvement should not be limited to just one other character in the game.

Involvement and interaction does not necessarily mean full scenes have to be written between characters; be active in the Discussion Forums, find a comment-buddy, a comment-enemy, a pen-pal, etc! The aim is to allow a character to function and develop in various circumstances and not have him/her be confined within the margins of a narrow storyline.

Please note that while we do welcome pre-existing storylines to find a home in our little WARL, this is not a community for private story-lines to take nest without will or intention to interact with others.

III. Hiatuses, Suspensions, & Removals
As laid-back as we generally are regarding the patrol for dead-weight, it is expected that a player's interest in the community and their characters be reflected in their regular activity.

A role is likely to be put on immediate and temporary suspension if no activity whatsoever is monitored during the span of a month---in which case the role will be placed on hold for an additional two weeks before the character is removed from the community. During this two-weeks' grace period, the suspended character-journal will need to be updated to... free itself from the shackles of impending deletion? =)

Prolonged hiatuses from game-play should be noted in advance with a post in the OoC Sub-Community, or by contacting the Twinkies (if the disappearance will last longer than two full weeks) to inform them of the anticipated MIA status.

If your character has been removed for inactivity and you would like to reinsert your dearie into the community, please return to the Application Post and perform Steps Five and Six.

Miscellaneous Fine-Print

I. God-Modding and Puppeting
...two things sent by the devil of RP him/her-self. We understand that things in a scene and storyline could run more smoothly sometimes, if you're given a little added control over certain details; but please, please, please do not make pre-calculated assumptions, and please, please, please discuss things with a writing-partner prior to enacting the devil's vengeance on an unsuspecting role-player. WARL prides herself on fostering carefully manicured characters, and a tiny, seemingly insignificant detail may mean the world to another.

II. Offspring, Pregnancy & Adoption
Incest makes some of us squick. Hell, chilluns (i.e. 'children') make some of us squick. But nothing makes us squick like MPREG. We know it's kinda' cute when it happens in The Sims 2... but men will not bear babies in this community. No exceptions whatsoever.
With that said, incest, adoption, and AU female-pregnancies are allowed.
All female-pregnancies will be seen to term (yes, that means nine real-time months of a bloated/beautiful belly =), and adoption processes must last at least two months from the time a Twinkie is given notice.

III. Resting In Peace
As morbid and tricky as this is, character-death will be allowed in the community based on Twinkie-approval. A minimum requirement is that the character has to have been vigorously active for at least six months and that the death is significant to a plot in a vital way.

IV. Takeovers
Courtesy should be practiced among players when a new character pertaining to a specific band/fandom joins, or if/when an ex-character is re-employed into action by a new player. Please try to work something out with one another with regards to how past storylines will be adapted, etc.

We completely respect the value of creative license and for each player to have full control of the character they play, their personalities, and their storylines---but, in the event that an agreement or compromise cannot be reached, a reasonable amount of weighted priority is likely to be given to pre-adopted roles and storylines that are already in progress, so as to remain loyal to the already-active members of the community.

Interested players should peruse the character bios before applying, especially if members of your character's band or fandom are already active in the community and have storylines in progress. It would be appreciated if your character's outline does not drastically clash with any currently-taken roles.

V. The OoC Divide
This really goes without saying, but please keep in mind that character-drama is to be differentiated from the sentiments of players---and vice versa. OoC-Drama is silly and a waste of time, so let's not go there. We're all here to write and have fun, and the Twinkies will do everything in their limited power to keep it that way.
The Twinkies also recommend a reliance on in-character relationships, which means to say that characters, scenes and storylines should be the main focus of any player without OoC concerns getting in the way.

In general, the community operates on a Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy with regards to all in-character issues and we strongly encourage all players to not discuss or plan storylines or plot-development in advance. Although there may be variations of rigidness to this practice, do take into account the fact that WARL was formed on the original pretext and agreement that pre-planning defeats realism and its pretty, painful, jagged little angles... and the element of surprise. Duh. =)

Please make posts regarding all Out-of-Character issues---such as notices of hiatuses, notifications of character-dropping, and other serious stuff like that---in the OoC sub-community. Pretty-please with whipped cream and mini-marshmallows on top? Playing our beloved darlings is what we're here for, not running around filling up the blanks when it comes to Twinkie duties.
The OoC sub-comm may also be used for communication when time-zone differences make AIM redundant, or for scene suggestions and post-scene discussions.

VI. Last But Not Least
No, this is not just a hobby. It's an experience.

Updated: January 5th, 2009
For any further inquiries, please see the FAQ's or contact the Twinkies here.

The Updated Character-List

2008-01-03T16:45:51Z

Please see [ this post ] for the Character-List that includes AIM screen-names.

Active Characters:

The Ladies...
Shalontae Bryant: shalontae *
Lydia DiBenedetto: inkedconfession *
Valary DiBenedetto: seizetheval *±
Tana Flowers: sugaronhislist *
Abigail Follet: abigailsgala *±
Jennifer Hurst: pradaonparade *±
Natalie Portman: alieportman
Devon Rothko-Scott: eatmyfalcon *±
Anya Marie Star: anyatothestars *
Alison Sudol: onecellseashell
Kat Von D: katvon_vegas
Alicia Way: alicia_m_way *±

The Musicians...
Billie Joe Armstrong: bjoe_27
Zachary Baker: vengeancescream
Carl Barât: hippyson
Johnny Borrell: wakewarmborrell
Chris Carrabba: dash_to_confess
Johnny Christ: shhquietjohnny
Peter Doherty: junkie_scum
Brandon Flowers: bflowupdoll
Synyster Gates: sexismusicsyn
± Derek Grant: grantmeflames
James Hart: coma_x_jhart
Frank Iero: frankenmouth
± Dave Keuning: anewdaveandage
Chris Martin: chrismartian
Mick "Deth" Morris: mickdethmorris
Ryan Ross: ryro_wewontgo
Matt Shadows: feelluckyshads
Matt Skiba: puretoburn
Spencer Smith: spinningdrums
± Mark Stoermer: markofthestoerm
Jimmy Sullivan: reverendtplague
Brendon Urie: lostboybden
Ronnie Vannucci Jr.: ron_killsyrflow
Mikey Way: mikjway
Patrick Wolf: tristantrysts

The Actors...
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: mystery_joe
± Topher Grace: tohonestgrace
Zachary Quinto: quintossential
Jonathan Rhys Meyers: its_neverenough
Ian Somerhalder: ianinshadows
Milo Ventimiglia: waitformiglia

The Other Celebrities / Pseudo-Celebrities...
*± Brian Haner, Sr.: carneymanhaner
Bam Margera: campkill_bam
± Cole Mohr: mohrcolemonths
Sean O'pry: commedesgarsean

The Original Characters...
Codeine Alison: codeinesyrup
J.D. Carson: jeremycarson
Caleb Follet: aftermymadness
Jude Hansford: judeatmidnight
Shaun Hurst: acoutureheart
Anton Kavanagh: anton_kavanagh
± Marius: revenirlamarius
Remy Martin: drawmylife
Valentine White: valentinewhite

Real-person characters, as well as female original characters, are indicated with an asterisk.
Supporting characters [ ? ] are indicated with a plus-minus sign (±).
Character profiles available [ Here ].

Taken PB's/'faces':
Bianca Balti
Kate Bosworth|Annabelle Horsey
Ryan Curry
Brody Dalle
Mael Dalla-Zuanna
Kevin Flamme
Daryl Fox-Huxley
Shaun Haugh
Jude Law
Kemp Muhl
Malcom Pate
Tasha Sinclair
Ember Suicide
Ryan Taylor
Jay Warner

Pending Applications:
-

Held Characters:
Brian Molko (For Rach.. <3)

Please comment to this post to place a character on hold.
Comments will be deleted after three days, which is when the character-hold expires. If you have yet to apply for the character within that time, you may---of course---comment again to keep the character on hold.

Last Updated: December 8th, 2008

The Wanted!

2008-01-03T16:44:23Z

Characters we'd totally drool over:

The Ladies:
Jessica Alba
Jennifer Aniston
Brandi Carlile
Cameron Diaz
Kirsten Dunst *
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Leisha Hailey (actress, and formerly of The Murmurs)
Paris Hilton
Scarlett Johansson
Angelina Jolie
Milla Jovovich
Kiera Knightley
Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley)
Lucy Liu
Chan Marshall (Cat Power)
Katherine Moennig
Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
Ellen Page
Gwyneth Paltrow *
Sara Kiersten Quin (Tegan and Sara)
Tegan Rain Quin (Tegan and Sara)
Winona Ryder
Michelle Rodriguez
Daniela Sea
Sarah Shahi
Katie Sketch (The Organ)
Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
Hilary Swank
Audrey Tautou
Dita Von Teese
Liv Tyler

The Musicians:
Quinn Allman (and the rest of The Used)
Billie Joe Armstrong (and the rest of Green Day)
Richard Ashcroft (The Verve) *
William Beckett (The Academy Is...)
Matt Bellamy (Muse)
Guy Berryman (Coldplay) *
Win Butler (and the rest of Arcade Fire)
Julian Casablancas (and the rest of The Strokes)
Chris Conley (Saves the Day)
Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
Caleb Followill (Kings of Leon)
Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
Albert Hammond, Jr. (and the rest of The Strokes)
Taylor Hanson
Davey Havok (AFI)
Darren Hayes
Jeph Howard (and the rest of The Used)
Stephan Jenkins (Third Eye Blind)
Daniel Johns (Silverchair)
Jesse Johnson (Motion City Soundtrack)
Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand)
Tim Kasher (Cursive / The Good Life)
Dave Keuning (The Killers) *
Jesse Lacey (Brand New)
Adam Levine (Maroon 5)
Russell Lissack (Bloc Party)
John Mayer
Andrew McMahon (Something Corportate / Jack's Mannequin)
Bert McCracken (and the rest of The Used)
Craig Nicholls (The Vines)
Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes / Desaparecidos)
Justin Pierre (Motion City Soundtrack)
Geoff Rickly (Thursday)
Tyson Ritter (All-American Rejects)
Gavin Rossdale (Bush)
Gabe Saporta (Midtown / Cobra Starship)
Adam Siska (The Academy Is...)
Mark Stoermer (The Killers) ±
Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty)
Justin Timberlake
Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) *
Rufus Wainwright *
Gerard Way (and the rest of My Chemical Romance)
Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy)
Kanye West
Jack White (The White Stripes)
Pharrell Williams
Robbie Williams
Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs)

The Actors:
Casey Affleck
Joe Anderson
David Arquette
Eric Bana
Jason Behr
Zach Braff
Adam Brody
Gerard Butler
Hayden Christensen
George Clooney
John Cusack
Johnny Depp
Gary Dourdan
George Eads
Brendan Fehr
Matthew Fox
James Franco
Edward Furlong
Ryan Gosling
Topher Grace ±
Jake Gyllenhaal
Michael C. Hall
Gale Harold
Randy Harrison
Ethan Hawke
Garrett Hedlund
Josh Holloway
Ashton Kutcher
Jared Leto
Tony Leung (Chiu Wai)
Eric Mabius
James Marsden
James McAvoy
Ewan McGregor *
Wentworth Miller
Cillian Murphy
Edward Norton
Clive Owen
Peter Paige
Adrian Pasdar
Ryan Phillipe
Joaquin Phoenix
Mark Ruffalo
Eric Szmanda
Gaspard Ulliel
Michael Vartan
Owen Wilson
Patrick Wilson
Elijah Wood

The Miscellaneous Others
Stuart Price
Mark Ronson

And so many more that we can't name off the top of our heads right now...

Single-asterisks (*) indicate characters who have some significant plot-involvement with currently-ongoing storylines. Plus-minus signs (±) connote a character currently involved in the game as a supporting-character, whose role would be gladly transferred to a new player.

Community members: Leave a comment to this post to add your drool-worthies to the list.

The Application Post

2008-01-03T15:43:32Z

( Original-Characters Apply Here )

Step One: Create/edit your character's Livejournal and AIM screen-name according to the rules outlined [ Here ].
Step Two: Leave a comment to this post with "Application" stated in the Subject-line.
Step Three: Please copy-and-paste the following form into the body of the comment:

OoC Info.
Contact: 
Age:
Time-Zone:
How you found us: 
In a web full of trinkets, give us a few reasons why WARL caught your interest:

OoC Randomness
Do you like The Beatles?:
What are your honest opinions about the following personalities?
1) Justin Timberlake:
2) Paris Hilton:
3) Kanye West:
Would you spell Mississippi with your rear-end and video-cam it for us if we very-nicely asked you to?
Without the help of Google or Wikipedia, do you know who Eddie Vedder and Neil Armstrong are?
What is your favorite song in the whole-wide-world?
Favorite film?
How much wood do you think a woodchuck would chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?
Do you think we're douches for making you fill-in this nonsense?

Character Info.
Name:
Date of Birth:
Height:
Livejournal:
AIM:
Famed for / How we might know him or her:
To what extent will he or she be 'AU'?:

Sexual Orientation/Preference:
Player's preference for romantic or erotic SL's:
Brief notes about your character's personality:
Brief history/background information:
Photograph: 
Writing Sample #1:
Writing Sample #2:
Your Trick Question Answer:

OoC Info.
Contact: (Name, and some form of contact, preferably through AIM or e-mail)
Age:
Time-Zone:
How you found us: (Through an RP ad-community/a friend/another player, etc.)
In a web full of trinkets, give us a few reasons why WARL caught your interest:

OoC Randomness (There are no right-answers for these.. Just humor us.. =)
Do you like The Beatles?:
What are your honest opinions about the following personalities?
1) Justin Timberlake:
2) Paris Hilton:
3) Kanye West:
Would you spell Mississippi with your rear-end and video-cam it for us if we very-nicely asked you to?
Without the help of Google or Wikipedia, do you know who Eddie Vedder and Neil Armstrong are?
What is your favorite song in the whole-wide-world?
Favorite film?
How much wood do you think a woodchuck would chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?
Do you think we're douches for making you fill-in this nonsense?

Character Info.
Name:
Date of Birth:
Height:
Livejournal:
AIM:
Famed for / How we might know him or her:
To what extent will he or she be 'AU'?: (For example, will your character be following tour-schedules, etc...?)

Sexual Orientation/Preference:
Player's preference for romantic or erotic SL's: (BoySlash/FemmeSlash/Het? This does not have to be according to your character's orientation/preference. It's about what you as a player are comfortable with writing. For example, even if your boy is bisexual, you can still say hell no to playing him in hetero-secks circumstances.)
Brief notes about your character's personality:
Brief history/background information:
Photograph: (At least 300x300 pixels, please.)

Writing Sample #1: (Please copy-and-paste one of your past RP-replies. It should be in third-person (not necessarily the character you are applying for), in storybook-format, and not a 'start'. You can see what we mean [ here ], in Examples 2, 3, 5, and 6.)
Writing Sample #2: (Please write a brand-spankin'-new 'one-shot scene' specifically with the character you are applying for. It should be in third-person storybook-format, and may---for example---be an idea for a 'start' upon entry into the community. You may refer to Examples 1, 4, 7 and 8 [ here ].)

Your Trick Question Answer: (Please read and answer this trick question carefully to assure us you've read and understood the rules. This is a test! For reals!
Question: Who are the 'Mods' of Where All Roads Lead?)

Step Four: Fill in the form and submit the comment. All applications are kept screened.
Step Five: Leave another new comment to this post with your character's name as the Subject, and your character's LiveJournal username in the body of the comment.
Step Six: Join the main community and all four sub-communities:

allroadslead_rp | Join
warl_ooc | Join
warl_etcetera | Join
warl_logs | Join
warl_licknmail | Join

Step Seven: Please check that all steps were completed (especially Steps Five and Six). And---voila!

Notification of gleeful-approvals/apologetic-declines will be made as soon as possible, usually within two to three days.