Dunwater (Extreme Freeform Horror Sandbox) [Interest Check)

[Totoro]

Dunwater

"Curiosity killed the cat..."

Dunwater is a small, isolated town on the banks of the Duwamish river in Washington. While it is considered by many to be nondescript it has long been surrounded by rumours and tales of dark and unnerving mysteries. With so little proof but so many claims it is hard not to feel intrigued and push to investigate matters. Many, many people have disappeared attempting to get to the bottom of what it is that's behind Dunwater's reputation.

The game will be a freeform sandbox, with a few GM events to help pull everyone together, with the main focus being the attempted survival of the main characters. Player characters will be one of four types. Victims, who may be killed off at a moments notice by monsters. Main characters whose death requires approval of everyone involved, but may be injured. Keepers, who guard knowledge of the dark town's nature from the general population and outsiders alike, and even sometimes attempt to lead others to their demise. And finally monsters who intend to harm or kill the innocent at any opportunity.

Please post in this thread or PM me if you're interested in the game. Feel free to give concepts but overall just looking to see if the interest's here.



Rules:

• No out of character drama.
• Be respectful of other players, including being aware this game is LGBT friendly.
• Main Character/Keeper/Monster character limit is 3. Victims have no limit, within reason.
• Make sure any graphic or dark posts include relevant content warnings.
• Respect other players offs.
• Follow Elliquiy Rules.
• Main character and keeper deaths must have all players involved's approval.
• This game falls into extreme and will allow for some smut but do not create monsters purely designed for smut or expect a smut-focused game. The emphasis is on horror.

F.A.Q

How many characters can I have? A maximum of three heroes/keepers/monsters and a maximum of two of any one category. E.G 2 heroes 1 keeper, 2 monsters 1 hero etc. And an 'unlimited' quantity of victims so long as you don't literally submit dozens in a row. Due to the nature of the game replacing characters should be very easy, so heroes/keepers can be retired to victim status or monsters can be defeated.

How dark/scary/gory will this game be? In short about as dark as you like within rules, depending on what limitations you select for your character. It's certainly not for the faint hearted overall though.

What kind of settings were the inspiration? Silent Hill, American Horror Story, IT, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Thing and many others.

Game Overview

Dunwater is a loosely player against player survival horror game in an original setting heavily inspired by games like Silent Hill and TV series like American Horror Story. The town itself is inhabited by a mixture of sadly unaware small town folk and a dark, twisted cult dedicated to the preservation of their monstrous masters through a ritual every decade. The conflict between those struggling to survive this hellish place and the monsters trying to slaughter them will be the primary focus. While some smut will be allowed this is not a monster x victim non-con playground, and monsters are expected to attempt to kill their victims or at least harm them physically or mentally. Most smut will likely be the desperate victims trying to distract themselves from the nightmare around them, although we all know what happens to the first couple to sleep together in a horror movie.

The true secret of Dunwater is a dark ritual which summons a thick white fog and awakens the many dormant monsters. The Keepers carry out this ritual with a blood sacrifice each decade. It is now the beginning of 2018 and time for the newest ritual. Ten years have been spent driving up tourism and interest in the 'mysterious fog of Dunwater' that occurred ten years ago in order to attract the curious. The fog has just descended and while is is present none who enter Dunwater may leave in any way. Attempts to leave will result in being lost, turned around and confused on the winding forest roads until you end up driving back into Dunwater itself in just a few moments. The fog is slightly thinner in the daytime and it can be safe to go outside, but during night all must board themselves away and hide. Much of the population are blissfully unaware of the nightmare, the fog having taken all memories of the experience away with it after it lifted.

The primary goals of each group will be outlined below, with the ability for either the Main characters, Keepers of Monsters to win. The victims, sadly, definitely cannot win. It will be vital that players play their character with only that character's knowledge and do not abuse their OOC knowledge of who is a main character, victim, knowing or even a monster in a clever guise. Any suspicion raised should be explainable by IC events your PC witnessed. In general combat will be freeform and can occur between any of the groups not just humans against monsters. Your characters are not superhuman in any way and if badly wounded death is likely. All monster attacks need discussion/approval, do not thrust yourself on players without a little planning or conversation first.

The Characters

The Heroes

These characters are the protagonists of the story line. Likely to be the 'Final girl' types by the end who make it through many hopeless situations while the victims fall around them. They will inevitably experience psychological trauma as well as some level of physical harm, although the severity of both will be up to the player nobody's getting out unscathed. Characters can be anyone who's a long time resident of Dunwater or a newcomer either visiting, passing through or investigating. I encourage that all players have a main character so that they can help drive the story forward and evade the monsters. Think of characters like Sidney from Scream, Ripley from the Alien films or Laurie Strode from Halloween.

The Victims

No horror film is complete without the unfortunate victims. These characters may have limits as to how graphically they can be harmed or killed, but all will be considered 'vulnerable' at all times and can be killed by other characters including monsters. They will feature either clumsiness, poor decision making or just a decent dosage of bad luck. They'll feature as side characters during group scenes and then later the victims while the heroes escape. Their character sheets maybe briefer and more simplified. A particularly lucky victim who you grow attached to may be allowed to become a Hero if you have the space for another.

The Keepers

A dark and evil cult the Keepers have existed for centuries in Dunwater. They are highly organised and ruthless, meticulously careful and precise in all that they do. They are not haphazard or insane killers but a dedicated group who aim to keep the monsters of Dunwater sated rather than free to grow hungry and escape into the wider world. They consider themselves a necessary brand of evil, although many of their members take a sick pleasure in their evil deeds. The current Keepers have been spreading Dunwater's image as a 'haunted' town and attracted the curious, but thoroughly hiding the reality. They have recently performed a horrific blood sacrifice in order to let the monsters free for the year of 2018. Despite their freeing of the monsters they are not protected or immune to their attentions. The monsters can, and will, attack Keepers if given the opportunity depending on how aggressive the monster in question happens to be. Some can be reasoned with but they are rare exceptions. Their primary advantage is that they know about the presence of the monsters and are prepared to try and survive. The Keepers should generally be hidden among the heroes and victims.

The Monsters

Perhaps the true main characters even more so than the heroes the monsters they are trying to avoid are an opportunity for some varied and versatile creative writing and freedom. In general almost anything goes within the rules of E. Monsters are encouraged as player characters so long as the balance is kept reasonable and an excessive influx of characters may lead to only recruiting heroes/victims for a while. Only two of your three player characters may be monsters. Monsters will have a rating similar to other characters, although it's more for what they are likely to or willing to inflict than what they are likely to experience. The main criteria for a monster is that they are scary. This is an extreme horror game and there are no sexy monsters here. Perhaps a vampire or succubus has a hauntingly beautiful guise, but once the gloves are off they should be horrifying to behold and aiming to inflict a great deal of harm on their victims. Try to be creative, but I am willing to accept some fairly generic or stereotypical monsters as the classics are all plenty of fun.

Rating

All characters will have a segment on their CS for a 'rating'. This is the level of graphic content the character is comfortable experiencing, witnessing or inflicting. There is a minimum level for all characters due to the nature of the game. If you are uncomfortable with blood, bruising, fear or pain this is unlikely to be the game for you unfortunately there is a floor for how graphic the game can be. Do not, for any reason, attempt to force content on a player more extreme than their character signed up for. Similarly make certain all posts are tagged with appropriate warnings and that any particularly graphic images are tagged. But similarly this game is not for the faint of heart and all characters should be prepared for misfortune and misery. There are three tiers of graphic content listed below. Please not that if a character belongs 90% in one tier then put them there and add a footnote, such as a victim who can only receive mild injuries but can still be killed off eventually.

Mild: In general injuries that hurt and cause distress but would likely not require a rush to the ER.

• Minor cuts, scratches or shallow wounds that only lightly bleed
• Mild blunt force trauma such as punches or kicks
• Mild burns

Moderate: In general the level of injury that requires quick medical attention or inevitable long term harm.

• Deep wounds that cause heavy bleeding/scarring
• Moderate burns on large areas of the body
• Moderate blunt force trauma that can leave long lasting or permanent imprints, or broken bones
• Mild physical or psychological torture including prolonged, forced pain over a longer period

Extreme: The level of injury that will almost inevitably lead to death. As long as it fits E's rules, it can go here.

• Graphic Death
• Mutilation
• Cannibalism
• Extreme or very prolonged torture of the body or mind
• Extreme bodily harm such as severe internal injuries harm to organs or near-lethal levels of blood loss

Character sheets (Heroes, Victims, Keepers and Monsters)

Hero, Victim or Keeper

Code Select Expand

[float=left][img height=300 padding=5]http://via.placeholder.com/300[/img][/float]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age[/b]: (18+)
[b]Occupation[/b]: What do they do, or did they do, before the fog fell. Even Keepers have ordinary jobs to help blend in.

[b]Physical Description[/b]: A brief description. Can include typical attire or style.

[b]Personality[/b]: How do they act and react to situations. What are they brave in the face of, or afraid of. If a Keeper do they do it with a sense of righteousness or out of evil joy.

[b]History:[/b] How has their life been, and how have they ended up in Dunwater? Are they a resident or out of towner. If a Keeper how did they come to know of the cult and be accepted.

[b]Skills, Advantages and Equipment:[/b] What is this person good at? Anything they have a natural talent for or have trained in for a long time. Doesn't have to be obviously helpful to survival. Can include weapons. Should have two or more an an equal amount of flaws.

[b]Flaws:[/b] What is this person bad at? Any glaring personality faults or areas they're particularly inept in. Should have two or more an an equal amount of skills.

[b]Rating:[/b] Mild/Moderate/Extreme
[b]Death:[/b] Can this character be killed without prior discussion? If victim the answer's always yes. If yes what level of death mild/moderate/extreme.
[b]Vetoes[/b]: Anything not covered by the rating system that you cannot handle your character suffering, witnessing or experiencing. Please make sure to warn others particularly if you select 'Extreme' but have some things you hate.


Monster

Code Select Expand

[float=left][img height=300 padding=5]http://via.placeholder.com/300[/img][/float]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age[/b]: (18+)

[b]Physical Description[/b]: A brief description of the monster's appearance, including any common disguises it may use.

[b]Legend:[/b] Rather than a personality or history each monster will simply have a legend. What are they, what do they do, where do they make their lair.

[b]Strengths:[/b] What is this monster capable of doing? Please avoid anything excessively godlike, but monsters are able to be very powerful compared to ordinary humans. Anything an ordinary human being cannot do can go here. Should have two or more and an equal number of weaknesses.

[b]Weaknesses:[/b] All monsters have a weakness or vulnerability of some description, what is this one's? Should have two or more and an equal number of strengths.

[b]Rating:[/b] Mild/Moderate/Extreme
[b]Death:[/b] Can this character be killed without prior discussion? If victim the answer's always yes. If yes what level of death mild/moderate/extreme.
[b]Vetoes;[/b] Anything not covered by the rating system that you cannot handle your character suffering, witnessing or experiencing. Please make sure to warn others particularly if you select 'Extreme' but have some things you hate.

Example/GM NPC's

Here I'll be placing an example monster character sheet and likely one of each other group too. I'll likely GM half a dozen or so monsters just to make sure the world is populated and give 'killable' monsters, so that heroes can defeat monsters without monster players losing their character too early.

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Example Monsters

Name: The Black Knight
Age: Roughly 700 years

Physical Description: The Black Knight is a towering animated suit of armour. It is roughly 7 feet tall and completely clad in pitch black plate armour. It always wields a very large sword forged of the same dark metal as the rest of the armour. The armour itself is never blemished.

Legend: The Black Knight was an esteemed knight in life, but a social outcast. Legendary for his skill with a blade he was well known to be a possessive and manic person who drove any would be friends away with his frequent bouts of jealous rage. It was only after his marriage that his madness was truly revealed. When his wife exchanged rings with Sir Perceval during a misunderstanding the Black Knight took her to the forest and tied her to a tree before Perceval found them.

As a man of honour Perceval dueled the Black Knight and rescued the trapped woman, but in the duel Perceval mistakenly killed the Black Knight. He was pardoned officially and lived out the remainder of his life, but when Perceval passed too the duo were committed to legend. The Black Knight's rage had been so great that he clung on to life as a vengeful spirit, seeking out the cowardly or the adulterous and putting them to justice by his blade. Perceval on the other hand was assigned as the protector of his victims who could step in to the shoes of any who tried to stand up to the Black Knight and allow them to win a duel with him.

Legend has it the Black Knight appears to adulterous women and kidnaps them, dragging them to the nearest woodland and chaining them up before leaving to slay the man they cheated with. Once they are dead he returns and shows the woman the body, before slaying her too. Over the years his purpose has diluted, and he has become a spirit that punishes tricksters, liars and cowards in all forms. No matter their crimes his signature is always a forceful kidnapping and chaining up in the woods before execution. The only way to stop the Knight is to face him honorably, but to do so with any weapon but a sword is a doomed endeavour as Perceval cannot help. 

Strengths:

Master Swordsman: The Black Knight is an unholy swordmaster with centuries of practice. The only knight who has ever bested him was Sir Perceval. He wields his sword with perfect precision and supernatural swiftness, his slowness leaving immediately when he draws his blade. No human can best him in melee combat, and most would be cleaved in two with a single strike.

The Black Armour: The Black Knight's namesake is his suit of pitch black plate armour. It is almost indestructible and impenetrable. It is particularly resilient to handheld weaponry such as small arms fire, knives, hammers or anything similar.

Supernatural Being: The Black Knight is a supernatural spirit inhabiting a suit of armour. He cannot be reasoned with or threatened and will never accept any bargain. He is tireless and requires no sustenance at all. The Black Knight may move instantly in the night, so long as nobody can see him he can teleport himself.

Vengeful Spirit: The Black Knight can sense his targets. The cowardly, dishonorable or adulterous primarily. He has no interest in harming the bold or chivalrous and will completely ignore them or disarm them if they attempt to fight him. He can detect the presence of his targets through walls or in any hiding spot, and sense them perfectly in the darkness.

Weaknesses:

The Spirit of Sir Perceval: Any who dare to face the Black Knight in single combat armed with a sword will be possessed by the spirit of Sir Perceval. No matter their strength or skill with a sword they will inevitably best the Black Knight and banish him. They do not need to be aware of Perceval's spirit but must face the Black Knight with the intention of dueling honourably as Perceval will not enter the body of a coward or trickster.

Knightly Code: The Black Knight will not kill those who are unarmed so long as they are also honourable. If you are unarmed but dishounorable he will take you for execution. He can sense if you have a blade, gun or other weapon and if he cannot see any he will leave you be. However your weapon does not need to be drawn for him to attack.

Loud: As a 7 foot tall animated suit of incredibly heavy armour the Black Knight is very loud and very obvious when he's moving. However when standing perfectly still he can easily conceal himself as a statue.

Slow: The spirit that animates the Black Knight is many centuries old and has begun to fade. It focuses primarily on fighting, and so his ordinary movement is relatively slow and steady not able to move at much past a fast march. He does have long strides and is tireless, but running is an easy option.

Rating: Extreme
Death: Can be killed, Extreme
Vetoes: The Black Knight has no physical form and cannot be the victim of gory injuries as there is no flesh, bones or blood to strike.

[Totoro]

The Setting

Dunwater Town

Dunwater is a peaceful town on the banks of Green River, Washington. The population is just over 6,000 people. It is quiet and very remote, with access being a frustrating maze of small lanes in the surrounding woodlands. The primary industry of the town is now logging, as the mine has had to be closed down and hasn't operated for several years. There is minimal agriculture due to the dense woodland and powerful river. In the warmer months of the year there is a brief fishing trade.

Although the town initially appears mostly nondescript nothing could be further than the truth. The town is surrounded by an assortment of rumours. It is widely renowned as haunted, and a center of various other evils. Everything from the town being an Indian burial ground to a portal to hell has been suggested. Claims of murderers, kidnappers, monsters, ghosts or aliens are rife around the small town although those who investigate often seem to be rapidly silenced.

Built at the side of the powerful Duwamish river the town hasn't expanded for many years. The town is primarily constructed on the West side of the river, although there is a small foot bridge and a few houses and old buildings across the water. On particularly rainy days, or in the winter, the river itself can become very strong flowing with a variety of rapids and rough rocks it is impossible to swim across safely. The weather is often a light drizzle or heavy mist brought down from the neighbouring mountain. Even throughout the summer months the heavy woodland tends to trap in cold air and damp. Now a heavy fog has descended and the streets are cold and grey all day and night.

The current date is January 1st, 2018. Dunwater has extremely backwards internet for the year 2018. It runs slow and frequently cuts out. Similarly the phone lines and power can easily cut off at any moment and the local companies don't seem to care to approve things, with any who kick up too much fuss quickly leaving town permanently. The town can run a small area locally for a long time, being equipped with a slaughterhouse, well and power generator. However in winter months it can become dangerously cold without power.

Anyone who can make a fairly simple town map of some description please feel free to contact me, it would be greatly appreciated.

Districts:

Central Dunwater

Central Dunwater is very much the town's primary population center. Aside from Old Dunwater itself the houses make up some of the oldest buildings in the town. The centrally located Police station is very practical, allowing them to keep a watchful eye on the people although the town is mostly crime free. The Library is naturally located close to the school, which has been kept just by most of the housing. The students are typically well behaved and cause no trouble, and it allows for students to easily walk to school. The Resting Monk hotel, built to contain most visiting tourists, is nearby to the police station and the high street. The high street itself is primarily packed with local vendors and salesmen, lacking many out of towners or chain businesses.

The East Side

The East Side of Dunwater is a reasonably recent construction. It is mostly disused in winter months but becomes highly busy during any fishing season. The only popular building on the East of the river is tackle shop. Aside from that it is nothing more than a few small shacks and huts, and several large freezer buildings. The bridge to cross to the East Side can often become unstable and dangerous during stormy weather or when the river runs too strong, leading to people having to camp out in the huts and shacks for a while until crossing is safe.

Old Dunwater

Old Dunwater contains two of the oldest and, and three of the most famed, buildings in the town. Mikhailov Manor is a large estate considerably out of place with the rustic simplicity of the town. Fortunately the owner's kindness and philanthropy have led them to be popular with the locals. The currently disused Asylum is an attraction and curiosity for many idle minds who seek a little thrill in the quiet town. And the old church, still attended regularly by the religious towns folk. Of course containing its own fair share of rumours, these are always fought against by the kind hearted priests. Old Dunwater is often considered the core of the town's dark mystery, along with the mine and the forest. Many of the older houses have collapsed or been damaged, and so the streets are particularly quiet and empty at most times.

The Forest

The forest surrounds Dunwater on all sides, save for the river. Although even across that the East side quickly gives way to dense woodland. The old mine has mostly been boarded up but most years a small handful of people will be declared tragically missing after forcing their way in out of some morbid curiosity. However despite everything the woodlands do contain the largest remaining industry of Dunwater. After the mine was forced to stop operating logging became the best hope of the town people. A huge portion of the able bodied men in the town work cutting trees, although they never seem to make anything like the dent they should have in the woods. Many claim the rapidly growing trees are a gift from God, but others feel they are disturbing some part of nature and feel wary of the trees.

Dunwater Outskirts

Dunwater's outskirts are relatively contained and close-knit, as the town itself is hemmed in by such dense woodland it is impossible to have a thinly spread town. The amusement park and mall are both located nearby to the only road in, as far from the town center as possible. The mall was abandoned some time ago, as it turned out that the locals preferred their small town stores to the bigger chains available there. The Hospital was constructed a little before the Asylum, as part of a joint effort to care for the towns folk's mental and physical health. It was kept at the edge of the forest towards the mine, so as to more easily and conveniently treat any injured miners.

[Foxy DeVille]

Definitely interested in this. Got ideas for a Keeper and a victim, willing to be Extreme.

[Totoro]

Definitely interested in this. Got ideas for a Keeper and a victim, willing to be Extreme.

Glad to have your interest. What kind of ideas?

[Foxy DeVille]

Keeper idea... an eccentric former actress with a strong noir vibe. The town just thinks she's a Hollywood weirdo but she really is involved in dark and deadly affairs.

Victim idea... Local deputy, single mom going through a tough divorce but still takes her job seriously.

[Totoro]

Keeper idea... an eccentric former actress with a strong noir vibe. The town just thinks she's a Hollywood weirdo but she really is involved in dark and deadly affairs.

Victim idea... Local deputy, single mom going through a tough divorce but still takes her job seriously.

Love them both.

She could have been formerly involved in some cultist type things in Hollywood and then retired here and recruited.

Victim sounds like someone I'd feel really bad for in the situation.

[wigglebiscuit]

Interested in perhaps playing a monster. (Sending you a PM, Sun)

[Totoro]

Interested in perhaps playing a monster. (Sending you a PM, Sun)

Feel free, always excited to see ideas.

[tormentedmale]

I'm interested in this as a female victim, extreme category. Am thinking her parents own / run a local business (maybe the Resting Monk Hotel?). She's left town to study at college but came home for the Christmas break.

[wigglebiscuit]

I am considering taking the role of a couple of monsters, a lamia and an arachnid. Think less sexy monstergirl, more I'm-going-to-eat-your-face monster type. Their habits would definitely fall into the 'extreme' category.

At this point I don't think I would develop a hero or victim role, but I am open to collaboration if someone wants to have a close-encounter with a dangerous creature.

[Totoro]

I'm interested in this as a female victim, extreme category. Am thinking her parents own / run a local business (maybe the Resting Monk Hotel?). She's left town to study at college but came home for the Christmas break.

Sounds good to me. There's plenty of assorted businesses but the Hotel's owners aren't anything planned by me.

I am considering taking the role of a couple of monsters, a lamia and an arachnid. Think less sexy monstergirl, more I'm-going-to-eat-your-face monster type. Their habits would definitely fall into the 'extreme' category.

At this point I don't think I would develop a hero or victim role, but I am open to collaboration if someone wants to have a close-encounter with a dangerous creature.

Just the kind of monster I'm looking for.



At this point it's looking like we need some heroes!

[Foxy DeVille]

Love them both.

She could have been formerly involved in some cultist type things in Hollywood and then retired here and recruited.

Victim sounds like someone I'd feel really bad for in the situation.

Hee hee... exactly what I was thinking with the actress. I'll start working on 'em.

[Totoro]

Hee hee... exactly what I was thinking with the actress. I'll start working on 'em.

Awesome.



If anyone who's not playing monsters would really like to see a particular monster in the game then PM me about it with a concept and/or artwork and I can probably make it happen if it fits the theme of the game.

[wigglebiscuit]

So I'm going to open with a lamia monster who masquerades as a local socialite. If anyone has any appropriately scary lamia pics, please share!

[Totoro]

I'm very grateful to everyone who put forward their interest on this occasion but overall it looks like there's not enough to run this game at this time. Shelving the idea for now but may re-attempt to start it at another date. For now I'll be locking this thread and closing the check.

Thank you again for your interest.