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!
The raking sobs of a child tormented Vaughn's heart. Never had people of young ages deserved to be riffled with turmoil haunting every action. The world's cruelty unleashed on a soul brimmed with innocence. A sorrow to behold, but nonetheless an existing misfortune in the churning waves of reality. Naturally, even those coated in virtue received the edge of sorrow's cold steel sword carving into their heart. The truth pained Vaughn, however, he remained an immobile figure for the child's upset and relief.
In a comforting, circular motion, the spirit rubbed the child's back. A deep breath slithered through his lips before being slowly exhaled. He despised witnessing children forcefully be shoved into sadness because of ill-fitting situations infiltrating their world. Childhoods should be filled with lessons and happiness, not a lonesomeness spawned from a cruel and premature death. With his arms tight around the child, Vaughn provided Holly the opportunity to released the bottled up emotions stewing inside her small body.
As the sobbing concludes, the spirit's body calms from an unknown tense. Worry always consumed the parental guardian when a child displayed signs of distress. A soft thanks breezed through the child's lips, leaving a gentle smile on Vaughn's lips. Gradually his arms loosened, giving Holly the opportunity to move should she wish it.
"You're welcome dear," he answered. "I must ask though, Holly. Is it alright if you come with me? There are a lot of people worried about you, so I think it is best we go to the hospital to get you looked over. Do you feel safe coming with me for that?"
The words exuded calmness with subtle hints of reassurance sprinkled in. He wanted to help the young child, and the hospital was required as the initial stop. The RCMP could meet them there, the private investigator planning on phoning them on the drive. Fortunately, based on a quick analysis, Holly lacked any serious injuries, however, her safety needed prioritization before the police could gather their information. After days of homelessness, the young girl could hold a slew of injuries or secret illnesses invisible to his observant eyes.
The tall man made no additional movements, rather, he patiently awaited Holly's answer. They were newly acquainted with one another, therefore, Vaughn planned on being cautious with the following plans.
There was always a heartbreaking aspect to listening to a child grow sorrowful. At times, he listened to Midori being upset, and every time it broke the private investigator's heart. Despite his lack of familiarity with Holly, Vaughn discovered the familiar heartstrings being yanked. A frown traced his lips as he watched the young girl, worry conquering his heart as she watched the young, short-haired girl. Freshly tear-soaked eyes appeared on the girl's face, although, Vaughn already assumed not of her volition.
Every broken word suggested the turmoil within the abrupt loss of her parents. Those were never easy concepts to cope with, especially at an age so vulnerable and young. No child deserved to lose their parents, but unfortunately, fate could be a twisted mistress. The tang of metal colliding with the concrete sidewalk resonated through the streets as Vaughn witnessed Holly attempting to wipe away the falling tears. The frown deepened across his hidden lips the longer he observed the young girl grow upset.
The child's lips were quivering while she attempted to dry the rolling tears dripping like a leaky faucet from her eyes. Everything happened quickly as the distance was closed, Vaughn making no effort to move away, but instead to brace himself. He allowed the young girl to close in, her hands balling as she clung to his clothing as he managed to remain steady with a subtle hint of pain from his problematic leg. Quietly, he listened to her words, bringing an arm around to softly rub the child's back in comfort.
When the words finished leaving her lips, he spoke, "It will be alright. You have every right to miss them and I will not leave you here by yourself."
The words escaped his lips softly, in somewhat of a whisper filled with tones of calmness. There were occasions where Vaughn soothed a child, therefore, he held the experience to accomplish the action. He remained crouched, allowing Holly to cry as much as she required. He hoped his presence would result in safety, although, it was always difficult to confirm given the behaviours of the outskirts.
Simple actions of benevolence could speak the greatest volumes about one's attentions. The masked, private investigator wished to use these facts to a subtle, but not ill-intended advantage. Escorting the young girl to safety was crucial, therefore, he was required to build a foundation of trust. Food to a probably starving child with days of improper nutrition spoke lengths in comparison to driving up and effectively saying 'Trust me and get in the car'. While people wished for a hasty solution to the saddening case, these matters would be something Vaughn approached slowly.
He raised his niece, making him thoroughly aware that there were methods of gaining trust, but haste was not among them. Children needed to learn the significance of decisions through careful interactions, not being grabbed, thrown over one's shoulder and thrown into the backseat. These situations possessed what Vaughn would consider, a proper and peaceful method of being resolved. Circumstances handed him what he would assume was a distraught and frightened orphaned child who required somebody to gently lead her back to safety.
When the young, matted-haired girl inquired about the food, Vaughn nodded.
"Yes it is. You are probably hungry being out here all on your own, eh?" Vaughn confirmed before starting a conversation with another question.
A healthy distance was maintained between himself and the young girl. With the sorrowful circumstances of the case, he wanted to prioritize her safety both mentally and physically. Therefore, giving her space while crossing the stepping stones of trust. Else he tipped over and fall into the fast-moving waters flowing alongside him. And should that happen? He would return to square one in bringing her to safety. The thanks were greeted with a smile, narrowly visible through the over-sized one displayed on his old theatre mask.
"No thanks needed, miss," he answered.
For a moment, he debated revealing his awareness of her case but decided it was better left for after trust formed. He was unaware of her skittishness or how she may react should she discover his ties with law enforcement too quickly. Playing the safest game until more information was at his disposal was a cautious plan. He allowed the girl to finish the remainder of her sandwich, knowing it was best to get something into her. When she finished, the introductions began as the girl admitted her name was Holly and her situation.
Fortunately, factors of the case were confirmed with the dark-haired child being the daughter of two TRS officials who passed. A somewhat comforting notion since it suggested there were fewer missing faces of Lorsette's children population.
"Hmm, I see. What got you so lost, Holly?" Vaughn asked the question gently.
As he watched the young girl, she noticed the forming of tears inside her eyes. Heartstrings tugged as a frown immediately dropped onto the investigator's face. Similar to a majority of people, he did not enjoy watching children tear up from the melancholy of a bad circumstance. Gradually, he eased into a crouch, somewhat hindered by the remnants of his old injury.
"What is wrong?"
The words were spoken softly to coax a response from the young child. The RCMP hired him to assist with the case and he considered comforting the child a part of those duties. Assisting somebody consisted of more than bringing them out from the darkened, dangerous sectors of a bad neighbourhood, but also leading them along. In addition, Vaughn discovered a passion in this case birthed from the existence of his niece. Midori was considered more his daughter rather than the niece he cared for on behalf of his brother and parents.
From behind his mask, Vaughn peered through the slits, searching for the needed clues. The pressure weighed hefty upon his shoulders with every taken step. Failure to discover the child’s location could result in premature death from malicious criminals or bloodthirsty terrors. The slowness of his steps granted the spirit ample time to assess the area, hoping he could discover something to point him towards the young girl. She required rescuing, thus the private investigator was left praying his arrival would not be belated.
Yellow eyes detected the filth of the outskirts. Dirty walls, some with street art created by vandals while others received the misfortune of chipped bricks and damaged exteriors. The alleyways were littered with small puddles maintained by shaded areas. Chatter was minimal with the exceptions of a few small groups daring enough to leave the safety of their homes. As Vaughn strolled through, lunch box in hand, he found himself tense... A limited amount of time had passed since his early demise and considering the arching circumstances behind it, the spirit stayed vigilant in analyzing his surroundings.
The twisted situation kept the masked man acutely paranoid as he settled back into the regular swing of life. Besides... another abrupt swing of an executioner's weapon meant Midori would be alone in Lorsette... possibly in a similar situation as this young girl. The sheer macabre fantasy of Midori being left homeless and alone chilled the single guardian. He would not allow that to happen! The spirit walked softly, eyes searching as he rounded the corner and continued his investigation. As his eyes peered around the crumbling bricks, he noticed her leaving the safety of a nearby alleyway.
A child, dark hair matted from days spent wandering the outskirts alone. From a distant and hasty observation, Vaughn noticed the squalid condition of the girl's clothing, however, he had yet to notice the scratches. The detective stepped from his position at the corner, body language open to appear less threatening. Dancing beneath the sharp grin of his white mask was a softer grin; an instinct to manifest a friendly atmosphere.
"Afternoon, miss, would you like some lunch?" He offered.
The investigator leaned down, carefully placing the metal lunch kit onto the pavement. Perhaps a peculiar introduction, but he hoped to establish a benevolent atmosphere and get something into the young girl. It seemed unlikely the orphaned child received a proper meal since she left home... Thus, he hoped to begin their interaction on positive terms by allowing her to eat before conversing. There was a strategy to Vaughn's intentions, and it consisted of getting him on talking terms with the young girl first.
Only a few days ago had a concerning case arrived on Vaughn Mallori's doorstep. After a brief leave to readjust and recover from his untimely death, he returned to work with the frightful case. During his absence, reports of a young girl wandering the outskirts, seemingly homeless, surfaced. People claimed to be aware of her identity, but confirmation could not be gathered because nobody could catch her. Officials wished to bring the young lady somewhere safer than the crime-ridden and terror populated streets of Lorsette.
The outlying circumstances provided and the information was given prompted Vaughn to quickly accept the case. As the guardian of his young niece, Midori Mallori, the case struck a chord inside the masked man. Based on descriptions and assumed ages of the girl, she was approximately his niece's age, being perhaps a year older. Somebody needed to assist the unfortunate child to avoid the sorrowful death of somebody so young. Therefore, he prepared himself during the early hours of the morning for his expedition to search for the mysterious girl who some believed was named 'Holly'.
Throughout the morning, he made sandwiches, packing them into a small lunch kit. In addition, he had granola bars and a leftover fruit rollup he originally bought for a sweet for Midori's lunches. After having Midori's healthy lunch prepared, he ushered her to the vehicle and took his niece to school. A few moments were taken to watch the young girl enter Lorsette Elementary. He always watched, waiting for her to enter the building before heading off to accomplish tasks for his recent cases. Gradually, he pulled away from the curve, safely driving through traffic to approach the outskirts.
Slowly, the atmosphere of Lorsette changed as he escaped the hustle of the Northern area and traded it for the near-silence of the outskirts. Traffic thinned out substantially, allowing the masked man to smoothly enter the area and head to the previous location people claimed to see the young girl. As he entered the vicinity, Vaughn pulled over, parking along the curb. The private investigator's eyes skimmed the area, assuring there would be no immediate danger upon exiting his vehicle. He was capable of fighting, however, he was new to the realm of being a spirit...
Furthermore, unlike the residents of the outskirts, Vaughn was a well-dressed man. He wore a suit with a dark maroon suitcoat and black dress pants. The collar of his white dress shirt was properly folded with a bowtie wrapped around it. Atop his head was well-groomed, brushed back grey hair with a black top hat. The top hat itself matched his ensemble, having a maroon bow of a similar colour to his suit coat sewn around it. Compared to anybody else, Vaughn stuck out because of his preference for formal clothes.
From the driver's seat, Vaughn reached for the lunch kit, bringing it along as he exited his car. The lock button on the keys was promptly pressed before they were stuffed into his pocket. Given the crime-ridden nature of the outskirts, the spirit would not be taking chances. Lunch kit in hand, the masked man began walking the sidewalks, deciding it better to explore on foot. Driving through the outskirts would potentially create difficulties in finding clues to the young girl's location and finding her was a top priority.
Therefore, with a limp to his step, the masked man set out, bright yellow eyes searching through the slits of his mask. As difficult as it made things, he required it to access his physical form abilities. Either way, despite the dangers and unfamiliarity with his species, he ventured forward, determined to find the young girl.
Through rusting steel shelves, the masked man received a visual of a pair of chalk outlines. Against the pale, grey concrete, the outlines blended well, making it difficult to notice. A soft hmm drifted through Vaughn’s lips as they analyzed the positioning of the bodies. The police were forthcoming with the file information, however, an on-scene glance was immensely useful. Not only could overlooked evidence be discovered, but a proper visualization of the crime could be given.
The files were safely stored in Vaughn’s locked and specially warded office, but he remembered the blood patterns and gruesomeness stored in the crime scene photos. A macabre scene had unfolded inside the warehouse, something manifested out of sheer hatred. The large warehouse could potentially hold plenty of secrets accidentally missed by the forensics team. The murderer's identity was crucial and disregarding the bias "evidence" provided by the Graham family was needed. Perhaps a friend of Mitchell Graham could shed light without completely blaming the Selkirks?
Before further pondering could occur, a masculine voice reached the masked man's ears, echoing through the warehouse. He glanced over his shoulder, noticing a silver-haired man. The hair draped over his shoulders, proving to be rather long. Sharpened facial features covered the man's face, manifesting an intimidating air, perhaps without his intention. Calmly, Vaughn turned away from the chalk outlines, yellow eyes fixating on the stranger from beneath the gleaming, white mask.
"To investigate," Vaughn answered, eyeing the man's expressions. "I'm a private investigator hired by Mitchell Graham's family. And what about you? Are you also here to investigate?"
There were instances where the criminal side of Lorsette's outskirts would show themselves. Caution was required for these moments given how violent crimes could be. Behind him was formerly the scene of a brutal murder and Vaughn refused the chilling embrace of a second, untimely demise. Somebody needed to care for Midori, somebody needed to be affectionate towards Alain and somebody needed to search for the answers hidden beneath the depths of accusations. The masked man kept distance between himself and the silver-haired man, arms folded behind his back to maintain a calm demeanour.
If everything turned sour, there were escape strategies in place because of Vaughn's abilities. Flight was among a spirit's repertoire of powers, therefore, if required he could escape through one of broken windows. However, the spirit was hoping nothing violent would come of the interaction. There was plenty of work which needed completing and being chased away from the scene would not assist those matters.
Crime was a constant presence in Lorsette's outskirt region. From bloodthirsty Assembly members to people searching for a desperate buck, the concepts of criminal activity in the area was hardly foreign. Thus, when Vaughn received a call at his small office for assistance in a recent double homicide in the outskirts, he agreed. There were two separate families involved in the dispute, each related to one of the victims. Accusations were firing between one another, each claiming the other was involved in the death of their loved one.
The situation was volatile, possessing a dangerous personal vendetta between both families. The homicide victims in question, Mitchell Graham and Alvin Selkirk, were described as close friends throughout their childhood. Unfortunately, they had recently begun fighting, resulting in these baseless allegations born from fighting between the victims. The bodies had been discovered in an abandoned warehouse, horribly mutilated with the number of stab marks reaching well into double digits. It was a crime of passion and one likely committed by a mutual enemy of the pair.
Alas, with families determined to point fingers at one another, the murderer easily escaped suspicion. The RCMP were investigating, attempting to gather evidence on who the perpetrator was. Leads were difficult to find when hidden in the webs of accusations being wildly flung without care or forethought. Meanwhile, Vaughn was hired by one of the families, specifically the Graham family, who consistently badmouthed the Selkirks. There was a feud, and somewhere hiding in the crossfires, a murderer. A soft sigh escaped Vaughn's lips as he drove through Lorsette on the mild winter morning.
The spirit's eyes eventually locked on the looming warehouse, remnants of police tape still sticking to some of the corners. Tiresome officers had probably cleaned everything up quickly to avoid being out for the entirety of the evening. Once his black car was parked, the masked man exited from the driver's side, sunlight gleaming on his smiling mask. Upon closing the door, a single button was clicked, the machine releasing a quiet beep to confirm it was locked. The keys were shortly returned to the private investigator's pant pocket.
A gloved hand reached up, softly tugging the brim of a red top hat lower. Between the thin eye slits of the mask, Vaughn examined the exterior of the building from a distance. An abandoned warehouse? Definitely a potential dumpsite or hidden location to commit the homicides... or perhaps... a perfect location to start fighting a former friend in secret. Thoughts orbited as the man, dressed in a dark red suit, crossed the street. Constantly, his eyes analyzed the area, searching for anything which could have been overlooked during the police investigation.
The warehouse itself was a worn building. Dirt coated the exterior walls and according to crime scene photos, the interior was covered in similar filth. The ground around the warehouse was barren, being merely a dirt field now covered in snow with several stacks of rotting wood plants, old metal barrels and other supplies abandoned by the previous owners. As Vaughn approached the front door, he carefully opened it, wishing to investigate the interior before heading outside to investigate the snow which surrounded the building.
The spirit planned on doing a thorough investigation of the exterior in case items were hidden in the snow, however, he wished to start with the easier location. As he opened the door, Vaughn noticed large, metal shelves, mostly empty except for trash, old bricks and pallets of wood. Light filtered through grungy, broken windows and small holes in the wall. The location was still and silent, however, the atmosphere menacing as thoughts of the gruesome murders entered Vaughn's mind. Crimes could be committed anywhere, and a quiet, secluded and abandoned warehouse was a good scene for one.
With his mind prepared, Vaughn entered the building, hoping he would find the necessary clues to find the guilty. Whether it pleased his clients hardly mattered since somewhere out there was a vicious murderer.
Do not use drama to get attention in the chat. Nobody appreciates it.
2
No advertising, we have a perfectly fine board for that.
3
Please try and keep swearing to a minimum in the chat.
4
All chat usernames should be PG-13 and not break the ProBoards ToS or site rules.
5
A Chatango account is not required, but it is encouraged.
6
Please avoid spamming the chat; accidents are understandable.
7
You may use the in-character chat prior to acceptance.
8
Be respectful to anybody who enters the chat, including guest, fellow members and staff.
9
Guests may speak in chat at anytime to ask questions or get a taste of our community~!
resource sites
affiliates
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.
