HERE WE GO...
Here it is, your intro to this weekend's upcoming plot: HORROR PLOT!
On Thursday night, students will go to sleep as usual. However, sometime in the wee hours of the night/early morning, a number of them will fall into a much deeper sleep, and "awaken" in shared dreams - or really, nightmares.
Though they won’t know it at first, there is real danger posed in these nightmares - any injuries sustained in the dream will appear on one’s body when (IF!) they wake up, and if you die in the dream, your sleeping body will also perish. Students who fall into these dreams cannot be woken up by normal means - no amount of shaking, cold water to the face, or Inception-style ‘kicks’ will bring them out of it - they can only awaken when whatever (or whoever, as the case may be) is controlling these dreams is overcome.
Characters will be trapped within their dreams and won’t be able to contact people in other dreams or back home. However, because these dreams are a shared reality, they will all still have their phones and will be able to make network posts, phone calls, and texts only to other characters in their group. In reality, those texts and network posts aren't actually real -- they only exist within the minds of the people sharing that dream world. This means that they won't show up on the network or phones of anyone else.
Fortunately, Marine (our resident dream expert) and Caleb (our resident channeler who has been training with Marine on Team Magpie lately) will be able to enter and exit the dreams at will in order to pass along information and give updates. They will face all of the same dangers as people in the dream, however -- dream injuries = real life injuries, and dream death = real life death.
Throughout the weekend we will post updates for upcoming plot. This post contains the plot updates for Day 1, which is Friday -- we wanted to give as much advance notice for people to log as possible. Because we're working with limited time, these updates will have a lot of detail for you to play off of, but you’re more than welcome to do other things, too!
When we post the daily plot we will encourage you to discuss what happens in the comments underneath. And when it comes to actually playing them out, feel free to write full-out logs and/or mini-logs. As mentioned, characters will also have phone access for contacting other members of their own group via text, network, or calling. We wanted to post the Friday plots now, so that if you wish to get started on logs or minilogs for Friday, you may!
Students who aren’t assigned to a small group will have more limited plot opportunities -- though they’re not having the full dream-experience, there will be quite a lot to do and worry about on campus. Because of this, they will have their own plot update included in the daily updates!
And now... the reveal of the groups!
If there is anyone who signed up for the plot that we left off for some reason, PLEASE let us know ASAP.
NON-SMALL GROUPS
Characters: Everyone NOT in a small group.
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) It doesn't take long for people to realize that something is wrong -- that many students cannot be woken up. Some IVI staff members are also asleep, but the waking members of staff lets everyone know that they believe George Cooper, the Vol in captivity, is to blame. They let everyone know that Cooper killed his guards during the night and has put everyone within the containment facility to sleep. Apparently George's powers were much, much more powerful than he was letting on to IVF officials. What they have deduced, however, is that his power allows him the ability to pull people into dreams and nightmares of his own creation, where he can injure or kill them. He is basically the Vol version of Freddy Krueger. However, IVI officials had considered George contained under sedation and isolation -- it turns out, he was just taking his time before revealing the true extent of his powers.
Obviously, there is some panic and chaos on campus, but staff requests that students remain calm and help move the sleeping students to an impromptu hospital that has been set up in one of the empty warehouses. The sleeping Vols are placed in beds and hooked up to IVs to keep them hydrated, where they will be closely monitored. Students are allowed to visit at any time, if they wish. Caleb and Marine (with Stephen's help to get to sleep) will also be working to bring information to and from the dream worlds, and will be able to update people as they go. On Friday, they will visit the following dreams, in this order:
MARINE: 1st - COLLEGE PARTY 2nd - CABIN IN THE WOODS 3rd - ABANDONED FAIRGROUNDS 4th - ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
CALEB: 1st - MOUNTAIN LODGE 2nd - EGYPTIAN TOMB 3rd - LOST IN SPACE 4th - SEASIDE VILLAGE
The final group is not found. Those students remain unaccounted for at the end of day one. Meanwhile, around campus the students continue to see waking visions of ghosts, creepy things, and strange shadows. On top of that, because of the high security involved in this situation, there is no internet or phone access during this plot. Communication with the outside world is effectively shut down. Students are assured that staff is doing all that they can to end the situation, but that no one can get near to Cooper without being put instantly to sleep. For now, they are told, the best thing that anyone can do is refrain from panicking.
All classes and training sessions are cancelled on Friday.
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) The group find themselves deep in the woods, in front of a dilapidated-looking cabin. The group understand in that dream-like way that they had come for a weekend getaway, though slowly the dream-haze begins to fade and they realize that they had just gone to sleep at IVI, and poof. There are two cars parked that they evidently arrived in, but a quick inspection reveals that one of them has broken down.
The group is confused and disoriented, but SAM suggests one group take the working car to get answers and/or help while the others set up temporary camp in the cabin. SAM takes ETHAN, KITOKO and KIERAN in the car, leaving the others to explore. Inside the cabin they find a living room with a rustic kitchen, plus three bedrooms. Two bedrooms have bunk beds and one a master bed. There is no electricity, but there are several gas lanterns and a gas stove, plus a functioning fireplace. Several taxidermied animal heads line the walls. They find food in the trunk of the car, as well as plenty of beer and booze.
Around the cabin is thick forest in every direction. It is evidently mid-Autumn from the foliage. JIMMY and QAMAR find a small lake nearby, with a basic dock. TANJA finds iPod speakers in the car, and puts on music to combat the eerie silence. CLARA works on starting a fire. BRAD tries talking to the trees, who are strangely silent.
Meanwhile the car envoy come across a river canyon a short way out, but the bridge that once crossed it has been washed away by high waters. There is debate on what to do, but eventually they turn back to rejoin the others just as night falls. The group congregate in the cabin to discuss what to do. BRAD silences everyone when he finally hears the trees outside talking - whispering in chorus to geeeet ooooout. There is a bump from outside and the group freaks out. When they open the door a bolt of lightning reveals a silhouette - who turns out to be MARINE.
MARINE informs the group that they are all trapped in a group lucid dream, as are many other students at IVI. She warns that injuries received in the dream will also manifest in real life. Before leaving she tells the group to sit tight and be safe while staff works on the problem. The group divvy up sleeping arrangements and hunker down, but the trees keep whispering to BRAD all through the night...
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) Everyone in this group awakens alone in a bedroom that is not their own. The room is small and quaint, with antique furniture and a pastoral feel. Nothing can be seen through the thick grey mist outside the windows, but the sea can be heard. The group realizes that they’re all in rooms in an old house, and congregate in a living room downstairs. It’s hard to tell where (or when) they are, but the design seems vaguely English and there are no modern electronics, though their phones work. The whole place has a damp, mildew-y feel to it.
The group is interrupted by an old woman, who brings them tea and scones. She has a thick, rural British accent and a toadish way about her, but makes it clear that they are guests at her bed and breakfast in the seaside village of Dunsmuire. Despite having a B&B, the woman is rude and insulting, and makes it perfectly clear that the group is not welcome and that the citizens don’t much care for outsiders. Unfortunately the roads are closed due to the heavy storm due to break any moment, so they’re stuck there. At one point JESPER tries to touch some trinket and she slaps his hand, giving him an unsettling postcognitive flashback.
The group set out to explore the village, which is largely shrouded in a foreboding mist. Any locals they encounter immediately stop and glare at them as they pass. The split into groups to cover ground, with MIKAEL and CHELSEA going to the port, MASON, JESPER and ERROL going to the library, and YAEL, SAVANNAH and GEORGE going to the pub.
THE PORT: Several rickety fishing boats line the town’s docks, rocking in the choppy waves. A few soggy-looking fishermen watch the pair skeptically, but nobody will answer any questions. The area reeks, but oddly not of fish. Each ship seems to be loaded with fresh catch under tarps, but when MIKAEL pulls one back to see what kind of seafood the village trades in, he’s shocked to find a pile of slaughtered dogs and cats instead. One of the seemingly inert fishermen suddenly leaps to cover it, hissing at the pair and scaring them off.
THE LIBRARY: The library is a small, crooked building with no apparent staff. The books are disorganized in stacks and largely mildew-damaged, from many leaks in the roof. Closer inspection shows very few of them are even in English, with most in some unrecognizable alphabet and full of horrific images of ritual sacrifices and demonic creatures. JESPER tries touching a few books, but each one gives him horrible, nonsensical visions, and he is visibly shaken after the effort.
THE PUB: The group who enter the pub find several locals there. Upon entering their ‘landlady’ is animatedly talking to a small, elderly group in one corner, and they overhear a reference to a ‘true sight’. Everyone goes silent as soon as they arrive, and the only food they’re rudely served are questionable-looking stews full of fish eyeballs and octopus tentacles. A wrinkled, one-eyed man seems very interested in Savannah, and after making some inappropriate comments, YAEL intercedes. Despite being an old man he is surprisingly strong, and she resorts to using her powers. However the man simply laughs as she sets off his pain receptors, even though it is obviously working. The entire pub joins in the shrill, manic laughter, and the group retreats to join the others back at their B&B.
Together again at the B&B they share their unsettling information. As they’re trying to make sense of it CALEB appears, to inform them they are trapped in a lucid dream of presently unknown origins, as are several other students. He explains that injuries in the dream will manifest in real life, and warns the group to stay safe while they work on waking them up in real life. The group decide to spend the night in their lodging, but with a watch rotation just to be safe.
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) The group find themselves in a subterranean tone, evidently carved out of sandstone. Glimpses of faded hieroglyphs on the walls indicate they are possibly in Egypt. Lit torches adorn the walls, though only in their immediate area, as the tunnel stretches before and behind them into darkness. In addition to the group of vols, there is a man who appears to be their local guide who refers to himself as Yusef. He seems a very sneaky and unreliable sort, and his English is atrocious - he does not understand most of their questions, but manages to make it clear that they had entered the Tomb of Kharis, seeking the treasures rumoured to be found within. He also makes it clear that there are supposed to be many traps, but only the map he holds outlines them, and that only he can read its language. He also explains that the Tomb is sealed behind them, and the only exit is through Kharis’ burial chamber.
Yusef urges the group on, and there is little choice but to follow. Several fork and turns prove that the tomb is both enormous and labyrinthine, and without the map it could be impossible to navigate. At one point Yusuf points the way and ALYOSHA leads, only for the ground to drop out beneath him. Only the quick reaction and stretchy arm of LIAM prevent him from falling to certain spiky death. Yusuf grovels for forgiveness and insists he misread the map, but all can tell he is hoping to thin the group to prevent the profits from being shared.
The group come across a large chamber, and decide to rest. There are several crumbling statues of Egyptian deities, and numerous passages spreading off in different directions. They try to discuss their situation - as well as the possible threat of Yusuf - but the guide is everpresent and watchful. In the dim light a form begins to appear, and there is a rush of panic. The vols then recognize the figure as CALEB, but Yusuf shrieks, believing the visitor to be an apparition. He flees down a tunnel, taking the map with him.
CALEB explains that they are trapped in a shared lucid dream, as are several other students at IVI. He warns them that injuries in the dream manifest in real life, and warns them to be as careful as possible while they try to sort things out in the waking world. As he disappears and the group discusses staying in the chamber till they’re rescued, EDEN finds an enormous, hairy spider crawling on her shoulder. In her panic she causes a small earthquake, and the cavern begins to collapse. The vols run for cover, becoming separated in the chaos.
THE MOUNTAIN LODGE
Mod: Sarah Characters: Jonas, Omar, Rose, Claudia, Vic, Aisha, Lena, Oliver
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) Each character in this group 'wakes up' in a hotel bedroom of their own -- it may take some time before they realize that they are not where they are supposed to be; some of them may even go so far as to go brush their teeth and start getting ready for the day before they realize that a hotel room is not where they went to sleep. A look out the window shows a scene very different from the Australian Outback -- it's a mountain wilderness, with no sigh of other buildings or people. The day is bright and sunny, although the temperature outside is frigid and there are dark stormclouds on the edge of the horizon.
Students in this group eventually leave their rooms to investigate, which somewhat conveniently leads everyone to meet in an empty dining room. They discuss the situation and, after some discussion, decide to go explore the surroundings.
The first group (CLAUDIA, VIC, and ROSE) takes the elevator to the top floor of the hotel -- the 13th, of course. The lights here are incredibly dim, and everyone can tell that something is decidedly creepy going on here, giving goosebumps to even the bravest of the bunch. They're about to head back downstairs when a door at the end of the hallway swings open. A dim light filters out into the hallway, and a soft noise can be heard -- the sound of a child crying. When they go to investigate, they realize that the noise is coming from the bathroom. A little boy is standing in front of a bathtub. When they call to him, he turns around -- there are tears of blood coming down his face.
"You need to leave," he says, sobbing blood onto his t-shirt. "You have to go!"
He then pushes by them, darting out the door and running into the hallway. The group follows, but he is gone.
The second group (JONAS, AISHA, and OLIVER) decides to investigate outside -- they find that the temperature is freezing, and they don't have jackets. They find a large woodpile and can see a shed in the distance, but it is deemed much to far away to be worth the frigid walk. When they turn to look back at the (massive) lodge, they realize that a man is watching them from the window of the hotel foyer. When they get back inside, there is no one there.
The last group (OMAR and LENA) goes into the kitchens, where they find cupboards full of food, along with a pantry that looks as if it is stocked to maintain a long winter of solitude. CALEB appears, and gives the two of them a run-down of the situation, including the very real danger that they are in here. They are advised to find the others and keep their guard up.
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) This group finds themselves in an abandoned, overgrown parking lot outside a grocery store in what appears to be an empty city. It’s very hot outside, humid, sticky - the weather is almost oppressively so. It appears that there isn’t anyone else around, so the group starts exploring (either as individuals, small groups, or one large group). From their spot they see the following:
- the grocery store which has been gone through but still has a few crates of water, some canned food (mostly spam), and lots of oreos - a Wal-Mart supercenter whose doors seem to be blockaded, and they can’t find a way to enter - two restaurants, both of which have lots and lots of spoiled food, and a few non-perishable items - two apartment buildings across the way which, when explored, it is discovered that all the first-floor apartments have been broken into and are devoid of any useful items - three different newspaper stands, one for USA Today (the newspapers are dated June 29, 2016), one for the Austin-American Statesman, (the newspapers are dated July 2, 2016), and one that was formerly the New York Times but istead has a hand-written and photocopied ‘zine, with the dated from the week of July 17-23.
After exploring, the group comes back together in the parking lot, to compare notes and discuss what they’ve found. They start to read the first newspaper - the USA Today, which talks about a disease that broke out in New York City that is affecting a large portion of the population. While they’re reading it they see their first signs of life since they’ve been in the city - a person wandering aimlessly in their general direction. The person appears to be drunk, as they’re stumbling around and not responding to the group calling out to them. As the person get closer they identify it as a man, probably in his 20s, with torn and bloodied clothes. He continues to close in on them, but doesn’t respond to any of their calls or comments and when he’s within about 10 yards, MIYU notices that he actually only has one arm. It is LILJA who first mentions the possibility that he’s a zombie. At this point the group springs into action, attacking and eventually killing the person with a large knife that ANA conjures with her powers. The only way he is eventually killed is by beheading him.
Shaken, the sun is starting to set and the group decides to retreat into the grocery store. In the grocery store they find a supply closet that is completely empty, but more secure. Settling in there, they continue reading the newspapers. The Austin-American Statesman talks about failed quarantine procedures in New York City, over the Mississippi River, and the first appearance of the disease in Texas, just north of Dallas. And the 'zine is the first place they officially see the phrase "Zombie Apocalypse" and has information about local safehouses and parts of town to avoid. In Austin (where it’s assumed they are) it appears there is one very dangerous gang of survivors that are not only ruthless when it comes to taking out the zombies, but also when they are dealing with other survivors.
As night settles, outside things become louder, with zombie groans, glass shattering, things clanging together and, at one point, the shrieks and screams of non-zombified humans. At the very end of the day, MARINE shows up and gives everyone the lowdown about what's going on -- and about what an injury in the dream will mean for them when they wake up.
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) This group finds themselves on a spaceship deep in space. They don’t seem to be moving, and both red emergency lights and a tone are blinking constantly. The air in the spaceship is very cold, and they are wearing jumpsuits that are comfortable, though not particularly stylish. There aren’t many colors in the spaceship - most things are grey and the lights are dim because of the red blinking.
The group decides to explore (either as individuals, small groups, or one large group) and find the following:
There are no other people around, though there are signs that there were at one point. There is also one bulkhead door that can’t be opened.
After a few hours of exploring, the ship is hailed by another ship. Images show up on all the computer screens and the ship identifies itself as a hazmat crew, responsible for containing the ship, which has been quarantined because of an alien infestation. Their orders are to destroy the ship immediately, but are hesitant to do so now, because they believed the ship was empty, and are too far out in deep space to contact their superiors for additional orders. ENVER convinces them to just leave the ship alone, and with some good arguments, the crew agrees. They do, however, shoot on the ship to destroy their faster-than-light engines.
Once the hazmat crew leaves the students break up into three teams: KRISTIJAN, CATALINA, and ENVER go to the bridge to figure out how to run the ship, ELSA, IMMY, and ALEJANDRO explore the ship a little more, and HAILEY and BEA go into the sleeping quarters to rest up in order to take the third shift.
The group on the bridge are able to figure out the basics and find out the ship recycles water and will never run out, and, if well maintained, the hydroponics bay will keep them fed for years, if necessary. The exploring group finds three phasers and, after a few false starts, are FINALLY able to get the locked bulkhead open which leads to an entirely new section of the ship, but before they’re able to explore the new section hear yells from the people who went to the sleeping quarters, who after napping/resting/pacing nervously/whatever they chose to do can’t figure out how to open their bedroom doors. They go to the sleeping quarters and, with some effort, are finally able to get them out.
CALEB appears to give them an update - 75 students are asleep and can’t be woken up, it seems to be a group lucid dream, injuries sustained in the dream will transfer to real life when you wake up, so try not to get hurt.
Late on the first day, everyone regroups on the bridge. Shortly after getting there, unknown lifeform alerts pop up on the screens of the bridge, and then disappears as quickly as it showed up, before everyone can see it.
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) This group finds themselves in a relatively happy situation. It’s a carnival, and the fairgrounds are bustling with people. It’s early fall somewhere - there’s a bit of a nip in the air, but nothing too bad, and the smell of cinnamon and cider is in the air. Pumpkins and scarecrows dot the fairgrounds and it’s right around dusk.
Many of the usual suspects are at the fairgrounds - a ferris wheel, a tunnel of luv, a carousel, a hall of mirrors, a large circus tent, a drop tower, some bumper cars, a pirate ship, and a scattering of kiddie rides, among others.
There is absolutely nothing scary, intimidating, or otherwise weird about the carnival - it seems perfectly normal! So the group, more than likely just assuming their dreaming, decides to go have fun!
The night goes on and a full moon comes out. Any student who tries one of the games finds it really easy to win, and in their pockets they find tickets that allows them to buy all sorts of carnival food, so they can eat to their heart’s content.
After a little bit of having fun, it ends up that KODY and REMY are on the ferris wheel, CARTER, DAMIEN, and CARMELA are in the house of mirrors, and RASHIDA, GISELE, and CALLUM are on the carousel. Suddenly, all the power goes out, and all the people aside from the students disappear. The full moon helps with the people outside being able to see, but it’s still pretty dark, with very long shadows, and a generally creepy atmosphere. With effort, the people in the house of mirrors find their way out and meet up with the carousel people, but they can’t find Kody and Remy. Suddenly they hear yelling - the people on the ferris wheel are stuck at the top, with no power and no lights. The ones on the ground scramble around, trying to figure out how to get them down, and then all of a sudden, the ferris wheel comes to life, but now slowly and creaking loudly whereas before it was running smoothly with no problems. Very slowly it brings the group down to the ground, and then stops again. In their haste to get off the ferris wheel, KODY trips and scrapes his knee on the pavement.
Once the students have regrouped they look around, trying to figure out what’s going on. Just then MARINE appears, filling them in on the situation - 75 students asleep and can’t be woken up, they’re lucid dreaming together, injuries in the dream will result in injuries in the real world so... don’t get hurt. (Yes, this even applies to scraped knees.)
It’s been a long day, and for the most part the group has worn itself out playing at the fairgrounds for hours, so many of them are tired, and they discuss where to bunker down for the night, because maybe things will make more sense in the morning when the sun is out. After some discussion they decide on the Tunnel of Luv, since it’s indoors and not nearly as exposed.
The group goes there and settles in, though throughout the night occasionally an individual hears some rustling or noise that no one else can. It sounds almost like people shuffling or a rat running nearby, but only one person at a time can ever hear it.
INSANE ASYLUM
Mod: Sarah Characters: Hunter, Nawal, Audra, Moira, Edwin, Solomon, Hugo, Anthony
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) Each member of this group wakes up in a very small bed with white sheets, alone in a small, plain room with a very small window with bars on the outside. The view is obscured by a thick fog. They feel groggy and drugged, as if under the influence of heavy sedatives. A nurse enters each student's room to clear a tray, which the students each notice for the first time, there is an empty dixie cup there -- they realize that they must have taken some pills shortly before the nurse entered, although they can't exactly remember doing so. The nurse tells them that it is time for group therapy, and leads each character to a bare room with concrete, pale green walls. A circle of nine chairs has been set up in the center of the room. The entire group comes in, there is recognition as they see each other for the first time. Each person is dressed in a plain white hospital jumpsuit, and they all take seats in their chairs.
They are left alone for a while, where they begin to question their location and talk about what must have happened -- why they are no longer at IVI, where the others are, etc. Finally they are joined by a doctor who explains to them that this is part of their daily therapy. He explains patiently that they have all been at the asylum for months -- that everyone in the group has had some kind of traumatic experience in their past, and they are all dealing with that trauma by imagining a shared, delusional world of super powers.
It is at this time that everyone in the group realizes that they have no powers. They are all just ordinary people, there is no such thing as Vols. IVI never existed except in their own minds. He pulls out a small television, where he shows them dated footage of themselves in the asylum, skipping back days and months.
This is very obviously disturbing news, and if anyone turns violent, they will be restrained by nurses and brought back to their rooms, where food will be brought to them later in the day. The rest of the group is then allowed to go to the dining hall, where they can sit and talk and eat. The dining hall is filled with other residents of the asylum, most of them very far gone into the depths of insanity. While eating and talking, several of them are interrupted by a screaming woman who comes running at them with a rusty fork. She flings herself at them, managing to stick SOLOMON in the thigh with the fork before she is pulled off. ANTHONY tries to heal him, but of course is not able to do so. The medical staff applies a bandage and everyone is taken back to their rooms.
During the night, the fluorescent lights flicker back on and off from time to time, and the sound of screaming can be heard, seemingly coming from another floor. This group gets no visit from Caleb or Marine. There is no way for anyone to know that this is a dream -- in fact, it all feels very, very real.
DAY 1 (FRIDAY) Everyone's partying! No one thinks that anything is particularly strange about being here -- just like in any dream, it seems perfectly normal to be at a party, drinking beer and having fun. They are in an enormous house (a mansion, really) and it is filled with kids their own age, everyone drinking from red cups. They see each other, meet up, and just get to hang out and party for a while. RICHIE, MIKE, and JORDANA all meet up at the beer pong table, where they play for a while. DAISY, SETH, CONNER and SANTIAGO all end up on the dance floor, where they dance with strangers, meet some friendly drunk people, and generally have a good time -- although they may bump into each other and talk a little bit.
LO is out in the backyard having a smoke when she runs into ODEN. They're exchanging pleasantries when MARINE shows up and explains to them that they're in a dream. She also tells them the full run-down of what's happening, that the dream is created by George Cooper and that they are likely in serious danger. She urges them to find the other members of the group and let them know. She can't stay for long, and soon enough she leaves to go find another group.
LO and/or ODEN let people know what MARINE said via their phones -- and while the group discusses where to meet up in the house (and figure out who all is actually there) JORDANA is grabbed by a figure in a dark mask. He overpowers her and pulls her out the front door. He drags her toward a tree, where a noose is hanging -- clearly designated for her. Jordana screams and fights; other members of the group come running. They reach the lawn as Jordana manages to get free -- she runs toward them and the shadowy figure runs, disappearing into the treeline of a forest that sits next to the house.
Rather than risk investigating, they head back inside to the party, notably shaken. They find two unoccupied rooms, each with one bed. They can all decide whether or not to stick together, as well as who is sleeping in each room -- or they can also go re-join the party, which is raging on into the continuous night.