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redstringtheories2022-10-01 01:20 pm
TDM #15
(cw: potential for severe disorientation/vertigo, claustrophobia, arachnophobia, body horror)
It happens in the blink of an eye. You may have been asleep. You may not have. You may have stepped through a door or turned a corner. You may have seen a flicker of something at the corner of your vision and turned to look. Or maybe you didn't.
It doesn't matter. What matters is that you find yourself somewhere entirely new and entirely unfamiliar. The arrival point is not always the same. (If you're lucky, it might be a canteen or an open office. If you're not, well... you aren't claustrophobic, are you? Or arachnophobic. These ducts do seem to be a bit cobwebby.) You might even arrive in a section of building that has been demolished, leaving a pit of rubble open to the sky–hope you're up on your tetanus shots! There is no one waiting for you but you don’t seem to be alone, either. Even in a janitor’s closet or the bathroom, you’ll find at least one person who seems to be just as out of place as you are. The one exception is the demolition zone off what used to be one corner of the building: it seems the security teams are keeping a particularly close eye on that area to document new arrivals and bring them in quickly.
If characters have arrived in a location devoid of NPCs, they may want to work together to figure out what is going on... or to avoid their 'kidnappers.' If you’ve arrived in the middle of the entry foyer or the gym, there may well be a few people who startle a bit at your arrival and try to approach (or discreetly leave the room... where are they going?). Will you cooperate or fight? Do you even understand what they're saying? You might need to find a translator, if you’re not immediately willing to follow a stranger.
After characters follow their new hosts (or are forcibly taken in) there will be a limited tour and the chance to settle in at the ADI-provided housing. (Do you enjoy living with strangers? Well. It's a new situation to navigate, anyway.)
(cw: Impersonation, unintentional gaslighting, potential violence)
Weird things happen in Dogtown, everyone knows it. And the weird things have been getting worse. Much worse. The rise in dangerous rather than merely uncomfortable or startling phenomena has put an end to ADI's use of Dogtown as a testing ground for new recruits. Under ADI's advisement, the City of Gloucester has officially and indefinitely closed Dogtown to the public, and work is ongoing to construct barriers around the entire park to prevent trespassing. Dogtown's borders are now patrolled by Gloucester law enforcement as well as ADI employees from the Investigations and Security divisions, who document phenomena visible from outside its borders and actively keep people out. New arrivals who volunteer for the work may still find themselves dropped off outside the borders of Dogtown in order to beef up patrols and help document paranormal activity while receiving an introduction to the kind of work ADI does. An employee will give you a GPS device where you need only press a button to alert ADI there is severe danger and someone needs to come help you right away, explicitly instruct you not to actually enter Dogtown unless it is absolutely vital to rescue a civilian, and leave you with another person at the edge of the park. Maybe they're a new arrival, as well, or a more seasoned 'veteran.' Either way, you're together for the next while and you've been asked to record any paranormal activity visible from outside the park. Those who succeed in documenting anything peculiar will receive a $100 reward to be used as they see fit.
This month, it’s quiet again. The horrors seem to be keeping behind the fences. Mostly. Except a convenience store at the corner you like seems to take a terse tone with you despite the friendly greeting just yesterday. Someone else seems to shy away from you, wary fear in their face. Perhaps you know them, maybe you don’t, but if you can press them enough they tell you it’s because of how awful you were. How you hurt them. No, they're certain it was you, down to the little tick only you do. How could you forget?
An odd conversation, surely. Except it keeps happening. A close friend giving you an odd look, a shift at the ADI completely mishandled, enough so they’re considering having you ‘take a break’ for a while. More and more, you’re told of all the cruel things you’ve done. What is this rotten new leaf you’ve turned? It surely must be you, anyone you talk to gives you intimate details of the oddly out of character behavior you’ve been exhibiting. Are you alright? Why could it be you don’t remember?
It only takes those with a sharp eye and some luck to notice: you aren’t the only you in town.
Perhaps you find them in a dark alley or the middle of a crowded street, or a coffee shop in the middle of the day. Maybe you don’t find them at all. Somewhere in town, is your double, almost exactly like you and actively trying to be you, down to the way you fiddle your fingers in passive thought, but it’s not….quite right. More importantly, there’s really only room enough for one you in town and they’ll do whatever they can to ensure everyone knows who the right one is.
(cw: unnatural sleep, altered mental states, being trapped in nightmares)
It's likely not a surprise to anyone but the freshest of newcomers when people begin falling asleep all around Gloucester. Native staff, paranoid about the return of the mysterious music that wafts from cemeteries around town, are quick to warn everyone: stay awake. You won't like the dreams that come to you.
Unfortunately, there's not much to be done about it. Last year's experimental measures to keep staff awake during a similar period were less than successful, and the program hasn't been revived. ADI's focus is on patrols and research to find and take out the avatar known as Ava the Lullaby Girl before she can trap all of ADI in a shared nightmare again...but unfortunately they've got other problems on their hands:
People have started walking to their deaths. Some walk off of roofs, some into traffic. Some even make the long trek to the beach and walk into the surf. A few run, clumsy and seemingly blind to obstacles in their path, but most of those affected simply trudge slowly into mortal danger. Not all of them are killed, of course–many are stopped by frightened friends and family, and others awaken to find themselves grievously injured but still alive.
Awaken is the key word. The glassy-eyed stare gives it away: these are sleepwalkers, unaware of the danger into which they stride with apparent purpose. All who survive, though, remember the dream that led them on their way. They remember catching sight of someone gone to the embrace of death: a lover, a parent or child, an enemy. The familiar streets of Gloucester, the familiar hallways of home, all twist in on themselves until it's impossible to find one's way back–but always there is the one lost to you ahead, just out of reach. The sleeper strides on after them, perhaps following where they are beckoned or perhaps chasing after someone who stays just out of reach. For a few, the roles reverse. A dead enemy might stalk behind you, darting out from the shadows, driving you to run and run and run.
Those in the waking world will find it nearly impossible to wake up the sleepwalkers before the dream has run its course, but their voices may be able to get through. Question and response when one person is asleep is likely to be somewhat incoherent, if they can hear you at all. Supposedly the best thing to do is to lead a sleepwalker back to bed…but bed might be nowhere nearby when the music sends you off to dreamland.
(cw: burning, death, hallucination, physical hypersensitivity, thanatophobia, unknown and debilitating illnesses)
Deathbed Bread is sweeping Gloucester as a phenomenon! Whether it's delight at the novelty or morbid curiosity, people line up around the block at Better Loaf Than Never, a hot new bakery that's only popped up in the past year. Proprietor, Bryn Fletcher, hasn't been seen out front the past week, but his staff have assured that he's hard at work making the shop's hottest (and tastiest) commodity. The bread is a small loaf that features an imprint baked into the underside that has the epitaphs of gravestones. Anyone asking will discover this is an old practice brought new life during this year's spooky season. Bakers used to steal headstones and use those as bricks in their ovens, as proper slabs cost too much.
Anyone who's able to pick up one of the Deathbed Bread loaves will discover that it's a tasty sourdough. But looking at the underside, every now and again, the epitaph on it seems to change. It's not with every loaf, and it's not all the time, but it goes from being some random person's to being… their own. Bread connoisseurs may well be aware that that's not normal behavior for a crust. Especially when it's providing death dates for you… or maybe someone you know. The changes can last for a few seconds and people might be able to occasionally see the same thing if they're quick enough to show a friend.
Unfortunately, anyone who does see their epitaph and eat the bread, may have some regrets. It starts with nightmares of a young girl, crawling from under an industrial oven. She might be familiar to some who were in Gloucester last year. After the dreams come the marks. Seven black lines on the forearm. They disappear one per day, as if counting down to something.
For some, that something might be an intense (but brief) bout of illness. Others, a searing pain that courses through you for what seems like hours, but only lasts for a few minutes. Still others might find themselves becoming hypersensitive to all stimuli to the point that any movement, sound, sight, or touch can feel excruciating. The effects vary, but they all share two traits: they're short in duration but seem long… and they make you feel like you're going to die.
For the most unfortunate? Proper death. Freak accidents that seem improbable but still technically within the realm of possibility. There are a few of these sorts of deaths that start popping up in the news for Gloucester natives. The mayor, Agnes Laguardia, puts out a joint warning with the chief of police that the holiday season is when most accidents happen during the year. People can get careless with their decorations or the like, and everyone should be vigilant to try to prevent these tragic events from happening to their neighbors.
- ARRIVAL (October 1 - 31): Two people will always arrive in the same general location together. Arrivals occur throughout the early month, not all on the same day or in the same place. Arrivals are not naturally fluent in English/other languages immediately upon arrival. Characters may attempt to evade capture, but they will eventually be snagged before they can leave the building (or the rubble that used to be part of the building). PC's already in-game are more than welcome to interact with and try to guide new PC's to get them oriented. Please refer to the Arrival page for details regarding the arrival and onboarding process, as well as information about the state of ADI Headquarters.
- KILL YOUR DOUBLE (October 5-Onward): Doubles will manifest as perfect replicas of characters, except embodying the opposite of a character’s positive traits and without any of the supernatural abilities a character might have. Their intention is to insert themselves into the life your character has here (or is trying to start here) and be as disruptive or damaging as possible. They will continue to do this forever unless they’re finally confronted and killed. If they’re successful in killing something that looks and sounds exactly like them (or helping their friends to do so), then characters will find the wounds inflicted reveal a sawdust filling beneath flesh. Undealt with doubles will remain in the setting.
- OUT OF TOUCH (October 5-15): Last year's Halloween fiasco is openly available information around ADI headquarters, with staff generally concerned about the return of mysterious music and sudden narcolepsy around town. Anyone may fall asleep and start sleepwalking; they will see someone they know who is dead (whether a loved one or an enemy) and feel an urge to either follow that person or run from them in the dream. Characters may sleepwalk, rescue each other from sleepwalking, or team up to save sleepwalking locals from themselves (players should feel free to invent and play any unnamed NPCs themselves).
- ALREADY ENDED (October 13-15): Characters are welcome to experience other effects from consumption of the Deathbed Bread. What is given in the prompt are examples. Anyone who goes in search of the proprietor, Bryn Fletcher, about the bread will find that he's inaccessible. He's not at his home in town, and seems to have locked himself into the bakery portion of the shop, only communicating with his staff via notes passed beneath the door. The bread comes out of a chute that's too small for anyone to go through. Bryn seems to have barricaded the doors and windows, and no one can get in. Trying to snake a camera through the chute to check on him has been met with just static-filled screens. Even characters attempting some sort of supernatural means of entrance or spying will find themselves stymied for the time being. More avenues for interaction will open up during the event this month.
no subject
Okay, hang on, that's not- I will not be that guy. That's not me. I was just testing your knowledge of slasher clichés. And look at that, you passed with flying colors.
[When Steve can see him again, Eddie makes a little check mark in the air. Full marks. Nice.]
Harsh. [Eddie holds a hand up to his heart- so much calmer than it was minutes ago- and does his best to look deeply, deeply wounded.] I don't believe you, though. Not for a second. Totally empty threat.
[Hands in pockets, Eddie follows Steve out of the building, with a little smile on his face that makes it look less like they're on a monster-clone killing mission and more like this is just a nice little walk. It's not until they're out wandering the streets where "Eddie" has apparently been sighted that he nods at the bat.]
You just always have that on hand? Bludgeoning-piercing combo. I can dig it.
[Eddie's knife is in his pocket, but he's hesitant to have it out until it's needed. Does his double have a knife? Fuck.]
no subject
He sarcastically mimics the check mark gesture anyway, just to be a wise guy about it. ]
Yeah, we'll see. [ Wait. They shouldn't see. It depends on him getting his ass handed to him. Whatever.
God, he really is beyond harsh reputation potential, huh. Eddie already knows the only people he actually hangs out with and he already watched him threaten office workers with a desk lamp. Steve's never gonna recover from this. Which is obviously a highly important concern right now.
It's nice to have a nice 'calm before the storm' walk, though. Like, bright side. Good time of year to be searching for dopplegangers. ]
Thanks, man. Got it, like... our second week here? Something like that. Maybe we should get you hooked up. I'm telling you, you'll sleep better knowing it's there.
[ Or Steve will feel slightly better knowing Eddie has one, but that's no matter, it's all to the same end. Official melee weapon supremacy. Not staring at the alarm clock thinking about how good it would be in a middle of the night fight against some dumb supernatural shit supremacy. ]
no subject
Uh huh.
[Eddie nods like he's considering it, and then he catches himself actually considering it. Sure, he has his switchblade, but it might be nice to have a weapon that doesn't feel like it has the potential to be lethal even by accident. Something that could protect him, without feeling bad in his hands.]
Yeah, maybe. I don't know. I'll think about it. [And then, because Eddie doesn't know how to stop pushing his luck, he crosses his arms and swings into Steve's space.]
Do I need one? Can't you just swoop in with yours?
no subject
He can find some odd job for a little scratch and pick one up. Worst case scenario, he has two bats. That's the opposite of a problem in a world full of evil doubles and weird cursed bread and stuff.
And then there is a metalhead in his personal space??? Again??? The nerve. The audacity. Etc. Jesus, what a dork. Steve huffs, giving Eddie's shoulder a little shove. ]
Yours is for the part before I swoop in. Keep up, Munson, account for travel time.
[ Men be like what if we had matching scars and also matching bats and we beat up monsters together. ]
no subject
Of course. How could I forget something so important? Forgive me, oh greatest of warriors.
[Eddie has several ideas for where they could look. Places his double has been supposedly stirring trouble, and places Eddie frequents where he guesses it could be planning to turn up.
But he and Steve have cover plenty of ground without much luck- and with plenty of suspicious glares- until Eddie feels more tired than motivated. They're wandering down an alley a few blocks from his work, when Eddie scrubs a hand down his face and groans, his entire body slumping over.]
So it's hiding from us, or it's a mass hallucination, or-
[From the far end of the alley, there's a quiet click. It wouldn't be notable if it wasn't so familiar. The sound of a switchblade, flicking open. Eddie's heart freezes, and he falls silent.]
no subject
It seems like night one of searching is gonna be a total bust for a while. Plenty of clear hints that there's definitely something shady going on, nothing against getting a better feel for where to look for actual Eddie if shit gets wild without warning, but a big lack of evil twins in the works. Quiet on that front.
In hindsight, probably should have thought to follow up quiet with "too quiet" just to be paranoid. Lesson for next time.
Debatable whether or not Steve connects the sound to switchblade. He's going purely off of the look on Eddie's face and the fact that he stopped talking. ]
Or you totally did jinx us.
[ It's whatever. Well it's not whatever. But it's very important to Steve to pretend to be cool about this. ]
no subject
He flicks open his own switchblade- the matching shing further raises Eddie's hackles- and shifts uneasily next to Steve, like he's trying to shake out all the nervous energy.]
Maybe I'm just permanently jinxed. I'd say cursed, but I don't wanna jinx it.
[Eddie's side-eyeing Steve with a strained grin, waiting for his reaction, when a flash of movement catches his eye. The creature with Eddie's face has stepped into the mouth of the alley.]
Holy shit.
[It's one thing, to theorise about and hear second-hand accounts of a doppelganger. It's another entirely to watch as he grins coldly and tilts his head, looking every bit like you and feeling entirely wrong. Eddie shudders, rocking in place and clenching his free hand into a tight fist. So, so weird.
And then it looks past them, to the other end of the alley, and does a lazy, two fingered salute. Eddie doesn't even have to look to know there's another. He looks anyway.]
No fucking way.
[Somewhere behind him, 'Eddie' laughs quietly. Eddie tugs on Steve's sleeve, again and again, until he's not sure if he's trying to get his attention or just about to shake right off the god damn planet.]
no subject
And then Eddie is trying to vibrate the molecules of their arms to turbo speed or some weird shit like that, and he turns to him with a hissed dude, seriously, you GOTTA-
And then he kinda sees the issue at hand, here. Tightens the grip he has on his bat until his knuckles go white.
That sure is a Steve Harrington, isn't it. Smug as anything, hands in his pockets. Accurate down to the last detail. God, he's looked at a fake him for four seconds and he already wants to punch him in the face. As much of an asshole as he's been in the past, it's a miracle it didn't happen more.
Two on two is less ideal than two on one. Especially when half this equation is fully not human and probably cares less about murder?
Whatever. Think later. Survive now. ]
God damn it. [ Steve really doesn't know what he expected. Of course this is happening. ] Fine. Whatever. Two birds, one stone.
[ this is fine dot jpeg going great very confident everyone is very cool here right now except the doppelgangers who are dumb and suck, etc. ]
no subject
[Eddie only sounds slightly hysterical, so he'll count that as a win. It's not like they really have the choice to run, anyway. There's a fire escape ladder a few metres from them, but it's way too high up to reach. Both exits are blocked by their slowly approaching doubles. Eddie's taps his fingers against his jeans to the pattern of a beat that Eddie recognizes as his favorite Iron Maiden tune. He feels sick.]
Steve. So. In the least nasty way possible, really, this isn't a jab-
[They keep approaching. They're taking their time, Eddie realizes, because they know there's no way out. Like it's fun for them. He's shoulder to shoulder with Steve, turning his head back occasionally to try and keep an eye on both of the creatures.]
Just, I think it's gonna be less weird for me to punch evil you in the face than punch myself in the face. Yours doesn't even really look-
[Not-actually-Eddie apparently has other plans, because he picks up speed and sprints forward the last of the distance between them and swings his blade out in a reckless, wide arc, catching Eddie entirely off guard.]
Shit!
[His arm comes up entirely on reflex, and the blade slices clean through his jacket. Eddie gasps, more out of shock than anything else, and ducks to the side, trying to find better footing. The double speaks, another perfect imitation.]
Hey, I might let you live if you run away. Standing your ground hasn't worked out for you too well, has it? Just, you know, historically.