The Synopsis
Secrets Lurk Deep in the Bayou
Deep in the Louisiana wetlands, where the streetlights fade and Spanish moss hangs like a warning, lies the town of Laveau — the last place you want to get stuck and the first place the world forgets.
Flooded by storms, abandoned by time, and ruled by shadows, Laveau endures. Its streets are cracked with history, its buildings worn with regret. The law here is nothing but a symbol — enforced by the Sheriff’s Department under the thumb of the Silent Serpents cartel, who use fear, addiction, and trafficking to keep the town under control.
Yet beneath the cartel’s grip, another force simmers — the Disciples, followers of twisted voodoo rites who believe the spirits of the swamp grant them unnatural power. Some say the loa still walk among them. Others say the Disciples make sure of it.
The centerpiece of this decaying empire is the Lady Luck, a riverboat casino steeped in decadence, narcotics, and quiet disappearances. Beyond it lies a town wrapped in hush money and hauntings — a red light district that trades warmth for silence, families that vanish overnight, and outsiders who find themselves caught in Laveau’s web.
Will you serve the cartel, disappear into the fog, or awaken something older in the waters?
This is not a town of second chances. This is a town of secrets, control, and sacrifice.
THE PRELUDE
Roleplay Guide
Getting Started
Backwaters is a slow-burn, atmospheric roleplay community grounded in themes of control, corruption, folklore, and fear. This isn’t a city that shouts — it whispers. Whether you’re a sheriff under the Serpents’ leash, a trafficked victim clawing your way free, or a bayou mystic playing with forces no one understands, your story will shape Laveau’s legacy.
Silence speaks louder here. Earn your secrets. Feed the story.
- Be Respectful: This is a mature, dark RP environment. Keep OOC courteous and collaborative.
- Guns Are Restricted: Armed status must be earned and tracked via the Story HUD.
- Vehicles Require Permits: Traffic through town is slow and rare. Respect the setting.
- Non-Human Avatars Limited: Animesh domestic pets allowed. No fantasy species or oversized creatures.
What Makes Backwaters Different
- Cartel-Controlled Law: Sheriffs don’t protect — they enforce the Serpents’ will. Characters in uniform are morally flexible at best.
- Trafficking & Conditioning Themes: Characters can be drawn into cartel operations as victims, pawns, or enforcers. Drug use, kidnapping, and psychological control are common themes.
- Voodoo & Ritualism: The Disciples offer twisted spiritual RP grounded in lore, superstition, and swamp-born ritual. Their power is cultural, not magical — but fear makes it real.
- Red Light & Casino Lore: The Lady Luck and the red light district are hotbeds of vice, secrets, and deep faction roleplay opportunities.
- Low-Profile Setting: Laveau isn’t loud like Hathian. Scenes here are more intimate, secretive, and emotionally charged.
Required Etiquette
- One Emote Per Turn: Let others respond. Avoid fast-chaining actions.
- Use Third-Person: Stick to “he,” “she,” or “they.”
- Emote with /me: Express your character’s body language, thoughts, and reactions.
- Use ((OOC)) for Clarity: Double parentheses only, and sparingly.
- Ease Into Scenes: Read the room before jumping in. Most scenes in Backwaters build slowly.
❌ Bad Example: Powergaming
/me pulls a knife and slices the sheriff's throat before he can react. He bleeds out instantly.
✅ Good Example: Fair Conflict
/me pulls a small blade from his belt, eyes narrowing. He lunges at the sheriff in desperation, aiming for his side, hoping to catch him off guard.
❌ Bad Example: First-Person Writing
/me sighs and shakes my head. I never asked for this. I just wanted peace.
✅ Good Example: Third-Person Writing
/me sighs, shaking his head. He hadn’t asked for this — just a quiet life. But Laveau doesn’t give those out for free.
