Mankind can keep alive thanks to its brilliance
In keeping its humanity repressed
And for once you must try not to shirk the facts
Mankind is kept alive by bestial acts
- Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill - What Keeps Mankind Alive from the Threepenny Opera
You turn on the wireless in time for the news at 1900 hours. The sound of the pips have become a source of unease, whereas before their constance was reassuring.
"The American Dutch Territories have denied involvement in both the Kingdom of Italy and Northern Italy, claiming that an alleged spy captured on the 12th of September was a United States plant. The Imperial Wireless Service has reached out to the United States foreign office for comment, but have received none as of yet.
Meanwhile in Ukraine, Wendish troops continue their invasion of a once-proud nation cut up by ruthless warlords and opportunists. Brave British soldiers fight a bitter and dogged war, making full use of magic in combat now that the Pan-European Necromancy Treaty has been fully repealed. His Royal Highness, King Edmund II --"
You switch it off, the bakelite almost snapping under the force of your disgust.
Dieselverse is a dieselpunk-themed roleplay server set in an alternate universe to our own. Magic and nonhumans exist in this world, and world history is different in many other aspects. Europe is in a warlords-type period during the Roaring 20s, leaving plenty of room for potential drama, adventure, and intrigue. Travelling can be dangerous, and complicated alliances mean armies can be sent far from home to fight warlords and burgeoning nations.
Magic is powered with either the flesh of sapient creatures or with petroleum, despite the environmental concerns both these methods entail. Technology is advanced for the time period, meaning that travellers can journey in huge zeppelins, and that hovercraft are decked out for border skirmishes. They stink with the whale oil that powers them, and gigantic stalker drones have the dessicated bodies of the dead pinned inside to keep them going.
× There is not a fixed plot, but rather a thread system where users can start in an area and with a story idea they think would be interesting.
× Users can submit their own locations, species, and creatures. Demons and lycanthropes are as welcome as elves and revenants. Original Species are more than welcome, though a description is preferred.
× The worldbuilding is left semi-open to foster creativity, and users can collaboratively add to what is already on offer.
× Threads can be based around socialisation and community-building, or around mystery, conflict, or drama.
× The server is 18+ for comfort reasons, please respect this! Smut RP is not allowed, though other NSFW themes are acceptable.
× The preferred writing style is lazy lit - lit, 2+ para. You're free to write as much as you like, but I'd prefer a few paragraphs at the very least.
I would also like to add that as it's an alternate universe to our own, that themes such as misogyny, racism, etc. are not welcome in the roleplay. I don't want to handwave the impact these had IRL, but I also don't want to restrict people looking for roleplay and a place where they can have their characters fit into any walk of life. For example, you're more than welcome to have openly trans characters, black characters in leadership positions over white characters, and female characters working any job you'd like them to. I expect users to be mature about this, and to consider the feelings of others in the server. If you're ever unsure, you can always ask me or another mod about whether something would be acceptable or not.
ANYWAY, I hope you guys feel enticed and choose to look around! Feel free to just poke your head in and later leave if it isn't your style. I will also be looking for mods at some point. 👀
Once you join, post an intro, and you'll be given the member role and the ability to see the roleplay sections. Please be patient! The majority of our members are in the GMT timezone, as well as myself and the other mod. I won't be around during the wee hours in my time, but I'll be more than happy to talk and to give the member role when I am awake.