Welcome to The Duality of Man, an original animanga role-play that features numerous supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, these various species have distanced themselves because of the war that occurred thousands of years ago, plaguing some with eyes that only see their dualism. While others meddle themself with their differences, two groups fight, each attempting to eliminate the other in for their definition of worldly peace. These two groups of the Terror Response Syndicate (TRS) and the Assembly of Phantoms (AP). With individuals fighting merely over their differences, it brings uncertainty to the outcome of this war.
We happily accept all role-players as long as they obey the rules and are capable of meeting our word count of 50. This does include those who are unfamiliar with this style of role-playing. The staff of The Duality of Man are willing to happily help those who are new to the role-playing world so they feel comfortable on site. Feel free to message the staff if you need help, they can be found here or in the site Discord and will gladly answer questions alongside calm concerns. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them; guests may use the support board as a suggestion area as well. Should you decide to join, may I say welcome to the site and we all hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours Truely,
The Staff
season
Summer 2024
Heat has broken through into a glorious summer. The snow has entirely dried through the spring, leaving to the brilliance of the warmer months. Terror activity has risen as people are brought out of their homes, leaving the TRS in a position of consistent work. Each are attempting to maintain victory in the endless struggle for power.
Since the wonderful members of TDOM enjoy the site enough to play around on it, this thread is to assist with the site's tidying! Functionality is important and we want to make the site functional even if its activity will be minimal at best!
@brennon / sleeveless playsuit / expensive grocers hopefully this is all good!!
Before Odessa persued her career in acting and left home, she'd never really understood how much normalcy she'd missed out on getting taught, how the bare basics such as shopping, comparing prices, sales, were something that a child probably should understand. To be fair, though, she did drop out of highschool, maybe it was something they got taught there? The girl could never be sure. What she did know is that she had to teach herself the bare basics of adult life, and that included shopping and managing finances- thankfully acting paid a pretty penny.
Though that also came with its setbacks, shopping at stores that were super busy could very easily lead to recognisiton when Odessa wanted anything but, especially when she was probably about to buy faaaaarr too much of something she probably shouldn't have too much of- that's why it was like, a blessing when her manager reccomended she try the smaller grocers, ure they were... a bit more expensive, but it'd be all worth it, right?
Hands slightly leant over the handlebars of the grocers silver trolley cart, Odessa stood to the side of a slim aisle, eyes wandering organic teablends as she attempted to rationalise buying four more packets of green tea that was.... ever so slightly overpriced. She'd already managed two cartons of milk and some flour that she was sure she could mix into something.
It took a moment or two of eyes flicking to her already five packets of branded tea to decide to buy them, just because... what if she felt like another flavour? What if something happened that meant she couldn't go back to get more tea within three weeks? Odessa didn't know what she'd do. There was a small puff of air that left her as she gently lowered her newest claim into the trolley, the girl forcing down any regret she might momentarily feel to start walking forward once more, through the slim aisles filled to the brim with premium and organic goods. Eyes absently flicked from product to product, unsure what else her apartment needed- sauce? Was she all good in that? She'd used a little last night but how long could the bottle last, and would it be better to try make her own homemade or...
No. No. That sounded exhausting, she probably had enough if she used it last night. Maybe... maybe fruit? To snack on inbetween filming? Or would people think she was 'too' healthy, she didn't want to be suddenly seen as like, a star that the health magazines want to start interviewing because they get the wrong idea, because then she'd have to lie further and she really, really didn't want to have to have another tangle of tales to add to whatever web of lies she rested in.
Muscli? Oats? Grains? The girls mind wandered, and with it so did she, feet moving in a steady pace, partially oblivious to the grocers around her. A hand at one point had left the handle of her trolley to pull through her hair, easing through the locks. She could figure this out, it wasn't that difficult a decision, right?
A small exhale followed, and she found herself in the bread and grains aisle, staring down the bakery level buns with feigned understanding. She could just snack on bread, with jams or spreads over them? And... put... sugar on them... for sweet bread? Getting crafty could be fun... right? She more she stared down the bread, the more she failed to comprehend what exactly she was trying to accomplish, she... she had bread at home already, right?
Okay. Okay, she could just... get a bar of some sort, a fruit bar, maybe, did they sell those here? It would be inconspicuous, not healthy enough to be seen as her snacking on fruit but normal enough she wouldn't be viewed as weird. She had this down perfectly. A small affirming nod was all she needed to twist her body entirely around, bringing her trolley around with her and then-
A loud sound of metal hitting metal rang out, and Odessa fought back the sudden urge to jump away from the loud sound, instead gripping the metal of her trolley tighter and raising her eyes from where she'd initially been looking, now slightly more alert than the moment before when she was in her own head- oh- uh- uhm-
She blinked, blinked again, and then quickly bowed her head, eyes only briefly taking in the person before her. "Oh. I'm... sorry about that." Eyes quickly assesed everything in her own cart, the tea still in good condition, the milk still upright, a small breath of relieved air left her and she attempted to pull the cart backwards, only to realise the... awkward semi-turned position her cart was in.
Lips pressed together tightly, and she avoided her gaze from to the person before her, more refusing to see if she had accidentally angered somebody and in for a scolding, and looked to her cart once more. Okay. Okay. She could do this, fine. "Are- should I go backwards, or, perhaps you?"
@elliana / dress / some fancy mansion sorry if its too much for an intro post!!! i hope this is all good! also yes the titles a reference to good charlotte
Having been an actress for a few years now, you’d think she should be used to the sickly smell of sweat and wine that dances through the enclosed space littered with the Lorsette rich and famous, yet it’s all Odessa could focus on. Loud voices and even louder laughter, the place was home to the oblivious, escaping from the taxing lives of being idolised and adored. You’d think a rising actress, set to star in what her darling manager believes could be the big summer blockbuster of the year, would thrive in this sort of environment-
Only she doesn’t. She isn’t sure at what point she found herself by the back of the room, close enough to the bar that nobody would think she was a wallflower, but close enough that a simple glance might register the red haired starlette as busy. An environment like this is the perfect place for uncontrolled conversation, for her to lose control of her words and let them escape freely- she feared a lie or two slipping through that somebody with enough power to their name could ruin her.
A hand pushed through Odette’s hair, scrunching through a crisp curl that hung a little too close to her eye as she took to watching the people around the room. At least she could be grateful for the soft chill of night, seeping in from the door to the backside of what must be an expensive abode, it was the one familiar thing she could try to find comfort in.
From nearby, she could hear a conversation between a director and a singer, perhaps trying to score a music deal for their latest masterpiece, she wasn’t sure, and a little ways over the gently quips of a flirty conversation mingled with must be a drunken argument between people who’d paid their way past the limit.
What a party.
She just had to be here an hour or two, then she could flee, pick up the deep red of her gown and sprawl out in her apartment, with the air conditioning on high and the judgment of stars free from her eyesight.
…Would she look weird, standing here without a drink? Ahhhugh….The girls precisely painted lips pressed together as she fought the urge to tug on her curls once more, it was a party after all, and perhaps a critic or a photographer would get a shot of the woman looking bored and nervous and begin to tell the public about her unsure and awkward image- not that a few co-stars hadn’t already leaked her film-side manner to the press. It was a quick decision, the girl moving to bring her purse towards her and taking a stride or to towards the bar, ordering herself an icy strawberry wine and taking position this time at a bar stool, far to the left. She could get away with looking away from the crowd then, her attention being on the soft pink liquid and the way it almost seems to shimmer under the harsh bar lights.
Perhaps this had been a better strategy than hiding towards the back or whatever, Odessa was sure of it now. Nobody would want to bother somebody who’s features they couldn’t even see, right? They’d see the back of her and surely not be able to tell who she was, so be uncertain of coming up to her- they totally would.
A perfect plan, she was sure. Raising her wine glass up to her lips and tilting her head back to the congregation of somebodies, she let her purple eyes glaze over them once more to further assert her inner monologue, as if she hadn’t already spent the last ten minutes trying to perfect her isolation plan. Or… was it perfect?
She quickly turned back to face the bar, away from the people, and let out a soft sigh, the glass being brought down in front of her. Stop it, Dessie. You’re here to be mentioned as a throwaway attendant in magazines, you’re here so the press can say you do famous people stuff and be seen as something other than a cold introvert. Thoughts swirled around her head, and she moved once more to sip at her cold beverage to keep her conscious afloat. Only a few hours. She could last that long keeping this up.
Born and raised in a family built on fabricating the truth, Odessa picks up a hanful of bad habits that've stayed with her up until this current moment. She's over-aware of every little thing she says and does because of her past, always wary of accidentally weaving the truth, because of this she's has a had lot trouble making friends and is also quite out of touch with the current chaos of the outside world. Most of her life she spent somewhat well off, and being a film actress further pushes that stereotype to the bridge. She longs to be able to farm a connect with people based on trust, but is just too nervous and unwilling to reach out.
Possible Plots new ideas welcome to be debated!
Odessa is a very closed off individual, however recently coworkers have been trying to get her out of her shell. She's spent a lot of time frequenting different coffee shops and cafes near set to try different types of tea- which could lead to possible interactions or peculiar meetings which bring her out of her comfort zone and having to try work through herself, while forming a relationship that she might not be too scared of. As a film actress, there could also be people who know her either from her films or from advertisements she was in advertising the TRS recruitment.
She also is almost always found in cold temperatures in unsuitable clothes, this could lead to some sort of confrontation. I'm really just spitballing here, there could also be some sort of interaction that could include the some of the more criminal underside of the city where she can come to understand the actual danger of where she's living in rather then the realitive safety she's been in.
Odessa's the daughter of two fairly well off individuals who cared more about looks and money than they did the wellbeing of Dessie, and because of this most of the time it's rare that she's not at the very least wearing foundation and eyeliner, with her hair as straight as it can physically get.Acne scars from her younger years are what's typically found beneath her makeup.
Despite this false presentation, Odessa is an average girl in most senses of the word, barely above 5'3" and of an average weight distribution, often times it can be slightly obvious she's trying to carry herself as somebody she isn't. Her hair seems to be dyed a fawn red, and Dessie wears purple contacts. her natural hair is a meek brown while her eyes are a soft amber.
More often than not, Odessa adorns herself in thin clothing, possibly due to her love of feeling the soft chill of the air on her skin. Spagetti straps or sleeveless clothing, with skirts dancing mid-thigh are her typical go-to staples, however if neccesary she'll dress more to fit in- not that she'll like it.
Breathing Underwater - Natural Swimming at High Speed (in seal form) - Intermediate Healing - Intermediate
Seal Shifting - Advanced As she's a Selkie, Odessa has the ability to shift into the form of a soft white Harp Seal. As she grew up often being taken down to the beach her parents let her have a lot of experience young getting to know this form and getting used to what it was like being in it.
Water Manipulation - Beginner Though comfortable in her seal form, Odessa rarely goes out her way to go out of her comfort zone. She adores water, but she's always been wary or not in the right headspace to properly shape, shoot or manipulate it alltogether. It's something she only knows the bare basics of, and even then it's really nothing special.
backstory
How can you tell what's really true, if you're a child of liars? Liars who would do whatever it took to stay out of trouble and mediate blame from the family. To all who were concerned, the Blanc family was the home to two fated lovers, soulmates intertwined with happy pasts and a glorious future ahead. Individuals who preached to all who'd listen about the love and prosperity a partner would give to you. Hana and Elliot Blanc were utterly perfect to the public eye, they had two beautiful daughters and the most gorgeous house one would ever see.
But they were not soulmates, they were salesman in the name of love, matchmakers who worked out of the family house in silk robes and beaded gowns, with bright eyes and such kind words. Odessa grew up watching strangers come and go from her house, hearing her parents weave half-truths and peculiar lies, though as a toddler she came to question them and their ways of peculiarity- her older sister however would quiet her, gently comb her fingers through the Selkie's hair and tell her it was what had to be done to continue living so lavishly.
Perhaps growing up in an environment so welcoming of things frowned upon rubbed off on the small girl, perhaps being told that what her parents were doing was right warped her mind. She can remember beach days where her sister would drag her along to other families to try schmooze money off of them, she can remember playing the lost child act more times than her little heart could take. She can remember being used as an example of the perfect daughter to two loving soulmates.
She can remember the distance between her parents behind closed doors, the talks of money and daily quotas. She can remember tea, gently passed over to her everytime she tried to question the strange atmosphere. A chilled cup of tea.
If she couldn't turn in work at school, she's present a lie instead, believed with minimal questioning, and her parents would heartily back it up if ever called. Her sister was much worse than her, and often if her sister felt like not attending school she'd make Odessa stay home, if only to further back up her lie.
Odessa was ten when her parents were found out about some of their lies, having hurt one too many hopeful individuals. Odessa doesn't remember what happened inbetween the move from her old house to her new one, and she's sure what she was told was a lie. Her sister told her bad people were forcing them out, her parents told her they wanted a place more comfortable and easier to maintain.
They continued their buisness under a new name. Odessa's sister kept up her lies and often to cope would spend weeks off school, shopping or hanging out in places she probably shouldn't be. Odessa would remain curled up on the couch, small and unsure, nursing her tea and watching whatever aired on television instead of studying in school to keep up her sisters lie.
Dessie was tired of it. She was so tired. But, terrified of speaking out and having her family defend themselves with more dishonest words, she kept her feelings to herself. Life continued like this for a year, at least until her sister became interested in a classmate and decided she wanted to spend more time there than not.
Odessa felt uncomfortable at school, not being incredibly close to many people and having been leagues behind on the curriculm. Fitting in was hard, and often when questioned about her long absenses she felt guilty about how easily she was able to lie about the truth. It got to the point that Odessa, as soon as she was able to, dropped out of school.
It came as a shock to her perfect sister and parents, who didn't quite understand her reasoning no matter how much Odessa told them, but after understanding they couldn't sway her she began working on files and profiling for her parents buisness.
She went through a though years almost stuck in limbo, often finding herself on the couch with files, sipping at a tea to calm herself down and watching whatever show was on TV at the time. It was during one of these moments, during a celeb interview, the idea of becoming an actress came to mind- they lie about who thy are all the time, for others entertainment! She was seventeen at the time, and, when she brought the idea up to her parents they seemed enthralled with the idea.
They were quick to use some of their saving to sign her up for acting classes and try get contacts in the industry, and soon Odessa found herself in a world oh-so familiar, but now without her sister pulling her behind had less issue with what she was being taught. Of course, the world of film is a difficult one to enter- perhaps her parents paid off somebody, Odessa isn't sure, but she found herself starting with advertisements, often advertisements warning of the terrors, trying to convince people into specific fields to better Lorsette-
And then she got her first film gig, and everything changed. Acting came easily to the Selkie, though she was uncomfortable to admit it and awkward and distant when the cameras were off with a lot of her costars, it never stopped her or from people finding her strange personality charming. Though she has a long way to go in the film industry, Odessa, known often by what she wants her fans to call her (Dessie) is willing to do whatever it takes to push her past behind her and continue forward.
misc
Odessa uses tea as a coping mechanism, whenever she feels guilty or bad about something she can be found downing up to three small cups in a row.
She adores the cold, often to the point she'll feel uncomfortable if the room or place she's in isn't heavily air conditioned.
She lives in a small flat in the suburbs, and has very minimal contact with her family outside of phone calls.
Odessa is unused to being around a lot of people, or being friendly with them. She might come off to most to start as cold as distant, however you might end up with an unlikely friend if you keep at it.
Do not use drama to get attention in the chat. Nobody appreciates it.
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A Chatango account is not required, but it is encouraged.
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Please avoid spamming the chat; accidents are understandable.
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You may use the in-character chat prior to acceptance.
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Be respectful to anybody who enters the chat, including guest, fellow members and staff.
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Guests may speak in chat at anytime to ask questions or get a taste of our community~!
resource sites
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credits
The skin is created by Wolf of Adoxography and Gangnam Style. The thread and conversation remodels are by Kagney. The Strange Reality board list, Heal My Soul info center, I Remember Now mini profile and Electric Requiem profile remodel is made by Pharoah Leap. The Who's That Member member list remodel was made by Tictactoe. The Cbox.ws Shoutbox remodel was made by Trinity Blair. All templates used for claims, information sheets, applications, etc are credited to their owners; credits for these can be found in the threads the templates are use on. Images that are used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners, however, they have been edited by Zac with a few being edited by Chibi Magician. The plot, rules and various other information pieces for The Duality of Man are written by Chibi Magician with the assistence of her co-admins, Finnegan and Dremulf, alongside other unlisted people who were kind enough to give their input. The TRS, AP and face claim were all created by Fleur for specifically the use of TDOM. All plugins used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners. The templates my members use are credited to their maker, if you find a template that belongs to you, but is uncredited, please speak to Chibi Magician or the member themself. Characters created on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners and should not be used elsewhere without the creator's permission.
Special thanks for the members of TDOM who make suggestions to help make this site better. Even though we can not accept all suggestions, we immensely appreciate it. Thus, we give credit to any additions that you thought of and were later implimented by the staff, because we are glad you give us these excellent ideas.
