Riley Lawrence is The Film Buff
His aspect is Filmmaker.
Filmmaker: The Filmmaker has a comprehensive understanding of the filmmaking process. They can manipulate the ga environnt effectively, altering the ga's dynamics in subtle but impactful ways. Their abilities are a mixture of ta-Insight and ta-Rule tropes. They have higher Hustle, reflecting their ability to stay out of the way, stay alive, and remain unseen as they manipulate ta-movie elents.
Riley has a Plot Armor score of 30, ttle of 4, Moxie of 7, Hustle of 7, Savvy of 8, and Grit of 4.
Free Background Trope: "My Grandmother Had the Gift…" A background trope that gives Riley’s character so ambiguous connection to “The Gift” through his heritage.
Current Trope Limit: 9
"Trope Master" grants him the ability to perceive enemy tropes, but at the cost of sacrificing half of his Plot Armor.
As an "Oblivious Bystander," Riley remains untargeted by enemies as he convincingly acts oblivious to their presence.
“Cutaway Death” sends him Off-Screen before the mont of his character’s implied demise and allows him to exist behind the scenes Written Off if he survives the encounter.
"The Dailies” allows him to see a selection of raw footage from the day's shoot.
“Just Out of Shot” allows him to see ‘caras’ when sneaking near an enemy to avoid being seen.
“Quiet on Set” allows the user to listen to the audio of the current On-Screen scene while Off-Screen, depending on Savvy and the information's value.
“Raised by Television” buffs the user to do one big aningful action if they establish their inspiration from film and television to establish it.
"The Insert Shot" makes allies aware of an object the player chooses. The object will be shown to the audience and its use will be buffed in the Finale.
“Director’s Monitor” Grants the user Deathwatch upon their character’s death.
~
Kimberly Madison is The Eye Candy
Her aspect is Celebrity
Celebrity: The Celebrity aspect treats the player like an actor and the storylines like films they sign on to. Using ta tropes to create hype, fan favoritism, and larger than life roles, the Celebrity is the most versatile of the Eye Candy aspects. Using past roles to help their “career”, the Celebrity can specialize in virtually anything if they have long enough to build a career.
Kimberly has a Plot Armor score of 27, ttle of 5, Moxie of 10, Hustle of 5, Savvy of 1, and Grit of 6.
Current Trope Limit: 9
"Convenient Backstory" allows her to believably change her backstory to assist with the current task, buffing the relevant stat.
“Does anyone have a scrunchie?” allows her to shift Moxie's points into another stat by putting her hair up.
"The Penthouse" The character will get the nicest, safest accommodations in a multiday storyline.
“The Hall of Fa” The user gains Center of Attention and will have a heightened role in the story regardless of casting. ta story elents are more central.
"Get a Room!" boosts the odds of important discoveries when exploring with a love interest during the party.
"When in Ro" buffs her Grit until Rebirth if her performance matches the tone of the movie.
"Social Awareness" allows her to see the Moxie stat of all enemies and NPCs and intuit relationship dynamics.
"Contract Negotiations" the user will get a buff to an Improvisation after "discussing" an improvisation with Carousel.
“Breaking the Veil of Silence” the user will get warnings from knowledgeable NPCs. Outside of storylines, NPCs will warn of dangers to won and hint at storyline rewards.
~
Antoine Stone is The Athlete
No aspect has been chosen.
Antoine has a Plot Armor score of 26, ttle of 8, Moxie of 4, Hustle of 5, Savvy of 3, and Grit of 7.
Current Trope Limit: 9
"Gym Rat" buffs ttle and Hustle by revealing athletic backstory.
Brandishing a weapon is “Like a Security Blanket,” buffing his Grit and soothing his and his allies’ fear.
"Everyone Loves a Winner" the user's character will have so previous success that endears them to NPCs. Failure reverses this.
“Stronger Together” buffs ntal health and healing when the user and allies are together in a group.
"A Race Against Ti" creates a rescue with a ti clock that must be beaten.
“You were having a nightmare…” reduces traumatic mories to nothing but a lingering dream and can undo much of a storyline at a very high level.
“Knight in Shining Armor” buffs ttle and Grit when defending a romantic interest.
"The Playbook" The user will be able to see when it is their turn to act in an established plan.
“Better Make it Count” greatly buffs the last round of ammunition the player has available in a fight.
~
Dr. Andrew Hughes is The Doctor
No aspect has been chosen.
Andrew has a Plot Armor score of 28, ttle of 1, Moxie of 5, Hustle of 8, Savvy of 9, and Grit of 5.
Current Trope Limit: 9
“Step Into My Office” Sanctuary is granted while treating allies in a private scene, safeguarding all until treatnt is complete based on the user’s Savvy.
“The Oath” By referencing their personal healer’s oath, the user’s Grit is buffed while treating a wounded ally.
“Observational Analysis” Observing characters before critical scenes lets the user discern their fixed personality traits, making it easier to predict their reactions if provoked.
“Let it Out” During ntal trauma treatnt, the patient reveals deep-seated feelings, aiding in their ntal recovery but risking emotional breakdowns.
“Professional Courtesy” Characters in related professions recognize the user’s professional status, offering them helpful insights and special access.
“Absolute Focus” The user’s Hustle is enhanced when performing tasks requiring dexterity and precision, thanks to their ticulous focus.
“Critical Anatomy” Studying a creature reveals weak spots, increasing the user’s ttle when targeting these vulnerabilities.
“The Slab” Performing a post-mortem on a corpse yields increasing information over ti, with a countdown until the scene’s end.
“Study Session” If the user has the highest Savvy, they designate a “Stacks” research location where allies are safe during certain scenes and can access valuable knowledge.
~
Michael Brooks is The Soldier
No aspect has been chosen.
Michael has a Plot Armor score of 26, ttle of 8, Moxie of 2, Hustle of 6, Savvy of 3, and Grit of 7.
Current Trope Limit: 9
“Born and Raised” A background trope that makes it so he is a local to the setting and is familiar with it, granting several equipable tropes.
“Back of My Hand” Familiarity with the setting allows the user to navigate known locations easily, with a map of key areas available.
“Live off the Land” The user knows where to find food, water, and shelter in the wild and can locate ingredients for rituals or spells if appropriate.
“Knife Rush” Rushing an enemy who has a bladed weapon gives the user a brief window of invulnerability, thanks to their Hustle.
“Nighty Night” A stealthy strike on an unaware target renders them unconscious, provided their Plot Armor is weak enough and their character wouldn’t go for the kill.
“Half a World Away” Demonstrating yearning for a distant lover bolsters the user’s Grit.
“Sold a Lie” The user can detect deceptions too good to be true and sense manipulators, even if the details are unclear.
“Basic Training” The lowest of the user’s ttle, Hustle, and Grit stats receive a slight buff and the user may equip standard-issue soldier gear when relevant.
“You’re Wasting Your Bullets” Upon hitting an enemy without damaging them, the user gains insight into the enemy’s defenses.
“Conservation of Lead” Ammo automatically adjusts to match the user’s current firearm, converting based on weight.
~
Lila White is The Wallflower
No aspect has been chosen.
Lila has a Plot Armor score of 23, ttle of 1, Moxie of 3, Hustle of 10, Savvy of 4, and Grit of 5.
Current Trope Limit: 8
“Bad Luck Magnet” All rolls will fail, and the user will be targeted. Allies will have the opposite happen. (borrowed from Antoine)
“A Hopeless Plea” Begging for release forces the captor to verbally deny it; if they don’t, persuasion might succeed.
“A Scream in the Distance...” A loud scream sends the user Off-Screen, allowing an ally who hears it to appear On-Screen.
“There’s Been a Murder!” Discovering a grueso scene lets the user scream, initiating an investigative scene with applicable characters.
“Not Important Enough” Staying out of plot-critical actions keeps the user safe from intelligent enemies until the Midpoint, where they are Written-Off. Grants limited access to the script.
“Dying Last Scream” A realistic death scream sends the user Off-Screen, allowing enemies to ignore them while gaining Deathwatch and the Dead status.
“The Killer’s Wake” Playing dead during a massacre allows the user to escape safely after the scene and provides knowledge of the complete script for that scene.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“A Cry in the Dark” A cry during peril alerts nearby allies to the user’s location and status.
~
~
~
The On trigger for Stray Dawn was simply to bring the painting to southeastern Carousel.
It ant exactly that.
Because while we left in a group and walked in a group, as soon as we crossed the invisible barrier between Central Carousel and Southeastern Carousel, I found myself instantly transported into the driver’s seat of a 1981 Comstock Overlander, careening down the highway at 60 miles an hour.
The shock and surprise of it all almost sent off the road into a tree.
Luckily, I wasn’t On-Screen because I cussed from sheer surprise and slamd on the brakes, leaving my car—a very long, four-door vehicle that reminded of a Crown Victoria—spread out on the narrow road, covering both lanes.
My heart raced as I put two and two together and realized what had happened.
Then, I got distracted by sothing else.
Carousel took my hoodie again.
That was the first thing I noticed, and I didn’t quite mind. Instead of so generic jacket, it gave a classy trench coat, like so noir detective. I looked around the car and saw that a folder of papers had been scattered all over the passenger seat floor from my harsh braking.
This little jump scare had stirred up a great deal of anxiety in .
All I could do was take a deep breath and send out a silent prayer to the universe that we’d succeed on our first shot.
We had run Itch so many tis that I worried it had rewired my brain to believe that these storylines were sowhat safe. But all of my instincts told this one would be difficult. We had prepped as well as we could, but at the end of the day, werewolves were icons for a reason.
It would be a struggle.
I reached down, gathered up the scattered papers, and noticed that one of the most prominent of them was a map. Thankfully, soone had traced out my route, even marking where I was supposed to stop and where to go afterward.
They even did it in my own handwriting. How thoughtful.
We were still at the very beginning of the Party Phase, and it didn’t look like the needle on the Plot Cycle was moving at all.
I took another deep breath, letting my heart rate settle, then eased off the brake and corrected my course, heading straight down the road.
I was alone.
That ant Kimberly, Antoine, Andrew, Lila, and Michael were sowhere out there, hopefully gathering all the information we needed to understand how these werewolves worked and what we were supposed to do to survive.
All we knew for sure about the plot was that there would be a ticking clock.
With werewolves, the ticking clock usually revolved around the full moon. For so reason, that bit of information didn’t make feel any safer.
I started about 15 miles out of town, and as I looked at the map, I realized that, geographically, nothing made sense. Based on my estimation, all of the wooded areas beside the road should have been houses and buildings within Carousel proper. But we weren’t in Carousel proper; we were on a sound stage.
I hoped to figure out what was so special about this version of Stray Dawn that it needed its own dedicated sound stage. That and a million other things could be the clue we needed to survive, and it was my job to find it. It could also be useless trivia.
As I followed the map and road, I quickly realized that this miniature version of Carousel—with one post office and a few restaurants—was surrounded by forests with nas like Big Root State Park or High Mountain Reservation.
We were in the wilderness.
I shuddered to think what that might do to Antoine’s trauma, but I didn’t have ti to dwell on it. It wasn’t productive. We were in the thick of it; it was ti to stay sharp and trust my team.
The drive into town was uneventful, though I did encounter so traffic. There was a car in front of , a station wagon, though not the wood-panel model described by the On. This one had a canoe on top.
As I drove along, I noticed more cars with hints of motorsports and outdoor activities—jet skis being hauled, fishing poles packed up.
Before long, I found myself approaching a sign that read, "Welco to Carousel. Population: 1,532."
It was so small that it didn’t even use the entirety of Southeastern Carousel as a setting.
Though I had eaten before we left, I was suddenly very hungry. I realized this just as I was about to pass a diner—a classic drive-in.
When the universe speaks, I listen. Or maybe it was Carousel speaking, but either way, I pulled into the diner and found a spot.
My only complaint was that I didn’t know if I’d have to pay out of pocket or if it would be scripted and, therefore, free. I ordered a hamburger and French fries—the cheapest thing on the nu, just in case.
The food was great, but as I sat there munching on my burger, I started leafing through the pages I’d been given. This was not unusual, especially for a Savvy-heavy player.
I recalled that Camden had, on at least two occasions, received file folders twice as thick as the one on the car seat beside . These folders contained all the information my character should know going in, but it would be impractical for to learn organically in the ti Carousel wanted to.
It seed I was playing an established character, not just so rando with a goal to survive. But what did I know?
As I opened the folder, the first thing that popped out was a beautiful envelope, as classy as classy could be. It was addressed to , though it didn’t have a stamp or anything.
I set my burger down, grabbed the envelope, and opened it, watching a bunch of 80s teenagers running around the parking lot, squirting water guns at each other.
The letter was quite informative. I read it three tis over, trying to absorb as much as I could.
Witherhold Manor
Carousel, October 14, 1986
Dearest Mr. Riley Lawrence,
How does one pen a letter to Riley Lawrence—the Riley Lawrence—docuntarian of the otherworldly, chronicler of the unfathomable? I do hope this note finds you not tangled in so remote marsh or mid-interview with a spirit dium, as it seems to such circumstances would be your natural elent.
My na is Egan Kirst. Perhaps you’ve heard it tossed around corporate circles, or perhaps not, as the supernatural intrigues far more than boardrooms ever could. Recently, I happened upon your stirring piece on Appalachian black dogs and, dare I say, the incomparable footage you captured of that skunk ape down in Okeechobee. Exquisite work, truly. You capture the elusive with an artist’s eye, as though these shadows and creatures trust you in ways they trust no other. To put it plainly, I was hooked—though my tastes do run toward the macabre, as it happens.
Now, allow to propose an invitation most peculiar. I am hosting a gathering on the evening of October 31st here at Witherhold Manor in Carousel Five o’clock, an estate as steeped in mystery as it is in mildew. The manor has been left much as it was—rambling halls, crumbling walls, a touch of fogged-over history. It would be my utmost delight to welco you here as our guest of honor and, dare I say, principal storyteller. I am gathering individuals with a discerning ear for the bizarre, and none could hold a candle to your chronicles, Riley—especially on the matter of werewolves.
As I’m sure you’re aware, Witherhold carries a certain… odor of lycanthropic lore, tales murkier than the manor’s dusty halls. If you’re inclined, I would like you to share your findings, your theories, perhaps even your footage of the elusive half-n. You’ll be handsoly compensated, of course—$3,500 for the evening, with full arrangents for travel and accommodations. While humble, they co with the peculiar promise of proximity to uncharted mysteries. And I assure you, Riley, this estate has an energy that few places possess.
Do consider this, won’t you? If the prospect tempts you as much as I suspect, please send your reply with my courier. The 31st approaches and I feel the timing could not be more curious—nor the moon’s light more… telling.
Yours in restless anticipation,
Egan Kirst
CEO, KRSL Corporation
Host of Witherhold Manor
~
That was my kind of setup—a mysterious invitation to an old mansion. There was sothing about the purity of it that I liked.
What I found even more interesting was that after I read the letter, sothing appeared on the red wallpaper for . They were a collection of titles in the form of ntal VHS tapes, which I realized I could play on command, just as I could any of my past storylines.
They were my character’s docuntaries.
I zood through them, listening occasionally. If there was sothing important, I would be able to research through these, but I had to believe that a five-minute clip of a skunk ape wasn’t going to help with werewolves—especially when the skunk ape kind of just looked like a black bear.
I did get good footage of the Appalachian black dogs, though. They were definitely dogs, and the surrounding narration describing the history of black dogs in folklore was riveting. But I decided not to watch the whole thing—I got the gist of it. I was a hack docuntarian, piecing together a bunch of interviews with people who claid to see things of a supernatural nature.
Wonderful.
I tried to put myself in the mind of such a man, and it ca naturally enough. I had to rember that in this world, the supernatural was real, so I probably wasn’t a crackpot. I had to avoid whatever instinct I might have to play the character as an eccentric and instead play him as a skeptic who just happens to live in a world where everything is true.
It was truly the acting challenge of my lifeti.
The other slips of paper in the folder were newspaper copies, like the kind you would make at a public library. Apparently, my character had been doing so research into this Egan Kirst fellow.
What was it with nas that were so on the nose? First Geist, and now Kirst. Apparently, the audience didn’t need subtlety.
The articles basically painted my future dinner host as a real bastard—or at least, that was the general tone they set.
Westward Business Review
July 19, 1981
"Trouble Brewing on Solmira Coast? Speculation Mounts over Kirst’s Overseas Tactics"
Reports from Solmira Coast suggest that Egan Kirst, CEO of KRSL Corporation, may be engaging in ruthless tactics to secure local resources. Rumors imply that Kirst’s operations are displacing communities, sparking unrest in the area.
One insider claims Kirst’s focus on control and expansion leaves little room for local welfare: “He’s got no qualms about who he pushes out,” they comnted. While KRSL representatives deny any wrongdoing, sources close to Solmira say Kirst’s approach has raised eyebrows and concerns about his corporate ethics.
I read through all the articles but I didn't see anything that jumped out at as a clue. They had similar titles to the first one.
Industrial Observer
August 2, 1976
"KRSL CEO Accused of Overrunning Local Businesses in Aggressive Acquisition Spree"
…
Global Industry Digest
September 10, 1979
"KRSL Under Fire: Kirst Faces Backlash Over Environntal Neglect Allegations"
…
Market Watch Weekly
November 3, 1984
"Kirst’s KRSL Hit with Worker Protests: CEO Remains Unmoved by Demands"
…
After Itch, I really did not want to think about an evil corporation again, and I sincerely hoped that wouldn’t be featured heavily in this storyline, too.
Another article in the folder was copied from a book and featured a small blurb about the mansion I was headed toward.
An Anthology of Historic Estates and Manors
Published 1962
Witherhold Manor, Carousel
Built in the early 1800s, Witherhold Manor is one of Carousel’s oldest structures, bearing elents of both Gothic Revival and early Federalist architecture. The manor’s original owner, a minor local official whose na has since been lost, reportedly abandoned the estate after only a few years, a mystery to which no historical docuntation offers any insight. Witherhold’s worn stone facade, unlit corridors, and overt signs of neglect have beco sowhat iconic in local mory, with a prominent iron gate that remains locked to this day.
The manor’s long history is marked by an unusual resistance to renovation or modern alteration. Though attempts to restore the grounds have surfaced over the years, each effort seems to stall, as if prevented by an invisible force. Local lore attributes the manor’s eerie preservation to “unsettled energies,” “haunting howls,” and “unseen inhabitants,” though no credible evidence of paranormal activity has been recorded. Nonetheless, Witherhold Manor remains a source of fascination, enduring as both a historic landmark and an enigma to Carousel’s residents.
~
Finally, I had a flyer picked up from sowhere I didn't know about the sumr season in Carousel or at least this miniature version of Carousel.
Carousel Flyer
May 01, 1986
"Carousel Kicks Off the Season: Town and Trails Open Up for Sumr"
Carousel is officially ready to welco back locals and visitors for another exciting sumr season! With nearby state parks and nature preserves now open, outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to favorite activities like hiking, river floating, and camping…
It went on for a while, just explaining all of the fun activities that could be done in this revamped version of the horror town I knew. Strangely, as I looked around, the lighting and the tone reminded a lot of Camp Dyer.
But that was it—that was the end of the freebies. Every other clue, I would have to get on my own.
The first insight I managed to pick up was from a young blonde woman sitting in a parked convertible in a motel parking lot across the street. She was talking to a tall man dressed like he was ready to employ so guerrilla war tactics.
It was Kimberly and Antoine, and I could see on the red wallpaper that they were On-Screen. We had discussed so ideas about how we would work our characters together, and they decided to go with a classic they hadn’t used in a while—a romantic angle.
I could almost hear what they were saying right now.
“Oh my goodness, Antoine, I haven’t seen you in so long, but the feelings inside still burn hot.”
“I feel the sa way, Kimberly. If only we could get over our individual baggage and reconnect at this spooky dinner, we were both invited to. See my envelope?”
“You have an envelope? I have an envelope too, see? What a coincidence.”
“We can’t get along too well this early. Let’s leave the audience wanting more and leaving a little bit unsaid, my love.”
“Yes, my big tough hero. Please look at with your big, brooding eyes one last ti.”
Before they departed, Antoine gave Kimberly a very aningful last look before walking back to his truck and driving off down the road, followed by Kimberly, now Off-Screen.
Ahem…
Everything was going according to plan.
I put my papers back in the passenger seat. I wanted to get out and talk to so of the locals, but ti was running tight. I barely had ti to eat and read, and according to my character’s wristwatch, it was ti to head out and follow the last leg of the journey on the map to a location I could only assu was Witherhold Manor.
I had to hope that, in the sa way I was given a lot of information in both film and text format, Kimberly and Antoine had had ti to explore the town and talk to the locals. We would have to compare notes when we got there.
I put my car in reverse and tried to pull out of my parking space—the carhop never asked for money, for the record.
Sohow, and I swear this wasn’t my fault, as I started to pull out, I almost hit a group of people.
I’d say they were around my age, maybe a little younger, so a little older.
They ca out of nowhere, and I realized that it wasn’t who did it because as I was about to curse in surprise again, I noticed I was On-Screen.
My character was supposed to be running into these people. Or, almost running into them, rather.
I scanned the crowd as they looked at in disgust as if I were so sort of crazed driver who had almost killed them, even though I was fairly certain it was a scripted interaction. One of them was flipping off with both fingers.
They were dressed like hikers, taking advantage of a very warm October, one last breath of sumr. But there was sothing off. I looked them up and down, catching fleeting details that didn’t quite add up. They all had real nas—no placeholders or default NPC tags—and a little too much attitude for random extras. They seed ordinary enough at first glance, but I sensed a kind of restlessness, an alertness that didn’t match the casual camping attire.
The guy who flipped off was big, tall, and wild-looking, with a roughness that could have belonged to an outlaw or a vagrant. His na was Frank. No last na, no need for one, apparently. He held my gaze a little longer than necessary, like he was daring to try sothing.
For all intents and purposes, they looked like standard campers, but they seed to bristle with a hostility that didn’t sit right. As they made their way to the tables at the restaurant I was leaving, they kept glancing back at , muttering and glaring, their eyes tracking my every move.
I pulled out a little slower this ti, and instead of saying sothing hard-headed or brash, I just gave them a little wave as if to say sorry, though that did very little to improve their opinion of . I pulled out of the gravel parking lot and back onto the thin highway as I drove further up the mountain.
Funny enough, I realized that was the mountain. It was the sa one that KRSL Powerworks Pavilion was on, and I recognized its shape and general height.
I drove down the road, looking for any other piece of information, but I found none. Perhaps the town itself wasn’t a big part of the setting for this story.
Only ti would tell.
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