[center][h1]The Neighborhood Watch[/h1][/center][center][i]Currently accepting new players (pre-launch)[/i][/center]
[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/d08mVXCK/shadows.png[/img][/center]

It started with the whispers.

Not those carried by wind through the ponderosa pines, but the hushed conversations in Horizon Diner, between classes at Redstone College, and across checkout counters on Main Street. Whispers about Grace and her vanishing café.

[i]"Grace's Grotto just disappeared overnight."[/i]
[i]"All my photos of the place are gone from my phone."[/i]
[i]"I called the leasing office, and they said that storefront has been vacant for years."[/i]

For most Redstone residents, the disappearance of the café became just another quirky local mystery, fodder for speculation over drinks at the bar before fading into memory. But for a select few—those who had felt something change within them after drinking Grace's peculiar brews—forgetting wasn't an option.

It was a flyer, posted in three places across town, at Redstone College, Horizon Diner, and the library, that brought them together. "RE: GRACE'S GROTTO - INFORMATION WANTED," the flyer read, with a time and place for a meeting. A chance to talk about Grace. And everything… else that’s been happening.

It wasn’t just Grace’s coffee making people feel different. The whole town felt… off. Various people seemed to be experiencing various things. Redstone was somewhat famous for its mystical atmosphere, but it was usually painted in a whimsical light. But now? Things were feeling… perhaps not malevolent or sinister… [i]yet[/i]. But uneasy, anxious. Like there was more yet to come.

The town of Redstone may be a small town, but people are busy, occupied with their own lives to live and jobs to work. But there are some who wish to investigate this shift in the atmosphere around town and get to the bottom of it all. Because this is more than just crystals, tarot cards, and UFO sightings in the desert. This was something bigger.[hr][center][h2]Introduction[/h2][/center]
Welcome to The Neighborhood Watch, a supernatural mystery roleplay set in the small desert town of Redstone. This roleplay blends slice-of-life elements with supernatural investigation and light horror as ordinary townspeople discover they've developed extraordinary abilities.

In this story, your characters will be everyday residents of Redstone who all share one thing in common—they were patrons of Grace's Grotto, a cozy café that appeared suddenly, vanished just as mysteriously, and left no trace of its existence except in the memories of those who visited it. After drinking Grace's distinctive coffee, these individuals have begun manifesting unique supernatural abilities that reflect aspects of their personality, background, or emotional state.

As strange phenomena begin occurring throughout town—shadows moving independently, whispers echoing down empty streets, townspeople reporting impossible sightings—your characters will form an impromptu investigation group to uncover what's happening to Redstone and to themselves.

Please use this first OOC post as a resource to help you get grounded on lore/background, general information, and current events of the RP as things progress.

[hider=Rules and Guidelines][h3]Rules & Guidelines[/h3]
[list][*] Respect your fellow players.
[*] Be transparent and communicate.
[*] While this is a casual RP (mostly because it can be hard to write long posts mid-dialogue, right?!), I do expect thought and effort on everyone's part.
[*] When writing, try not to control or otherwise cause things to happen to other players without giving them a chance to react. However, I as GM, reserve the right to do so for the purpose of story progression like important events/encounters. This may also include controlling your character if you're part of a group scene and absent for an extended time. If you post something having your character do something that's unreasonable (e.g., taking care of a threat effortlessly), I may request you to do a rework. This is all for the sake of consistency, and I will not abuse this privilege.
[*] Feel free to collaborate with your fellow players or come to me with ideas, either public or via PM. 
[*] In-character conflict is good, but please try to manage out-of-character conflict.
[*] Please don't post characters into the Characters tab without my permission.
[*] You may update your character sheet as the RP progresses if it helps you with organization.
[*] Try to post at least once a week and notify us if you won't be able to post for a period longer than this.
[/list][/hider]
[hider=Character Sheet Template]
[code][center][h2][b](full name)[/b][/h2][/center]
[center][img](url to a picture of your character - optional but highly encouraged)[/img][/center]

[b]Age:[/b] (18 to mid 20s - this was agreed upon earlier)
[b]Gender:[/b]  
[b]Occupation:[/b] (student, mechanic, exiled royalty, etc.) 

[b]Appearance:[/b] (can be redundant with photo but try to include things obviously from the imagery, such as height, tattoos, etc.)

[b]Personality:[/b] (how does your character behave? what are their strengths and flaws?)  

[b]Background:[/b] (how did the past lead to your character today?)

[b]Connections:[/b] (family, friends, rivals, or any notable ties to the town or other characters. collaboration with other interested parties is encouraged)

[b]Emerging Power:[/b] (what supernatural ability has started manifesting in your character? it should be subtle at first with growth potential and tied to their personality, background, or emotions. be creative but balanced!)

[b]Personal Motivations:[/b] (why does your character join the Neighborhood Watch? what drives them to investigate the town’s mysteries?)  

[b]Additional Notes:[/b]  

[b]Personal Hex Code:[/b] (#XXXXXX - optionally theme your character and dialogue with this color)[/code]
[/hider]
[hider=Event Log][h3]Current General Time: Mid-August[/h3]
[h3]Event log and timeline[/h3]
[list][*] ~Beginning of the summer: Grace's Grotto opens. But no one is [i]really[/i] sure when.
[*] ~Beginning of August: Grace's Grotto closes. But again, no one is quite sure when exactly.
[*] Today: First meeting of the to-be Neighborhood Watch. The meeting was planned by Cian and will take place at 7:00 in the public library (see first IC post). 
[/list][/hider]
[hider=Setting Information][center][h3][b]Welcome to Redstone[/b][/h3][/center]
[center][img]https://www.loveyourrv.com/wp-content/gallery/sedona/arizona-143-800x511.jpg[/img][/center]
Nestled in the vast, arid landscape of the Western desert, Redstone is the kind of town that seems frozen in time, with its sunbaked buildings that look plucked right off Route 66. The town itself is cradled at the base of an endless expanse of stark, red, rocky cliffs (giving the town its name) and towering ponderosa pine forests that cast long shadows as the sun sets.

For most, Redstone is just another speck on the map of northern Arizona, a stop between bigger, more important places. For reference, the nearest town is a two-hour car drive away, most of which covers pancake-flat desert with nothing but rocks and cacti. But for those who live in Redstone, it's home: a town with its own quiet charms, its own unspoken rules, and lately... its own growing sense of unease.
 
One thing that Redstone is vaguely known for is its mystical atmosphere. More than a few psychics have set up shop downtown. A small chapel is built into the red cliffs overlooking town. Perhaps this mysticism is a byproduct of the supernatural folklore associated with the American desert, or maybe there's something else that gives the unassuming town a sense of something extraordinary. Locals talk about the "Redstone Resonance": a feeling that visitors sometimes get, like the very ground beneath their feet is humming with something ancient and unknowable.
[h3]Key Locations[/h3]
[b]Main Street[/b]
Every American small town has a Main Street, and Redstone is no different. A long, straight, two-lane road denotes the center of the downtown area, flanked by municipal buildings, crystal and souvenir shops, psychics, a gas station, a diner, and a few bars. After sundown, the street is lit up with colorful, old-fashioned neon lights, but late at night, the cast shadows seem to become more noticeable than the lights themselves. Lately, those who walk Main Street after midnight report hearing whispers from the alleyways, voices that don't seem to belong to anyone.

[b]The Empty Storefront (Formerly Grace's Grotto)[/b]
Nestled between "Rock & Crystal Co." and "Redstone Hardware" sits an empty storefront with a "For Lease" sign that looks like it's been there for decades. Yet just weeks ago, this was Grace's Grotto, a warm, inviting café that seemed to appear overnight and vanished just as suddenly. Those who remember it recall mismatched furniture, the scent of cardamom and cinnamon, and Grace herself, an aged woman with kind eyes and silver hair who seemed to know exactly what each customer needed before they ordered. Now, peering through the dusty windows reveals only bare walls and an empty counter, as if the café never existed at all.
 
[b]Redstone College[/b]
The local four-year college, Redstone College provides higher education, mostly to Redstone residents who never left town. The campus itself is small—just a few buildings, some labs in need of upgrades, and an underfunded library—but it serves as a hub of life for younger residents. It also has an observatory which benefits from Redstone's dry and clear climate, allowing spectacular viewings of astronomical events.

[b]The Redstone Public Library[/b]
A surprisingly well-maintained building of red brick and copper fixtures that have long since turned green. The library houses an extensive collection of local history, including legends and folklore about the area and journals from early settlers. The local history section mentions strange occurrences dating back to the town's founding, though most dismiss these as tall tales.

[b]The Desert Research Facility[/b]
About fifteen miles outside of town sits a liminal, government-owned compound of low, gray buildings surrounded by chain-link fence and security cameras. Official statements claim it’s a facility used for defense technology development and testing as well as a geological survey site. Local rumors suggest otherwise, everything from military experiments to extraterrestrials. Most Redstone residents know someone who works there, as it does control a large portion of the local economy, but nobody seems to talk much about what exactly they do.

[b]The Cliffside Chapel[/b]
Carved directly into the red rock face overlooking the town, this small, non-denominational chapel dates back to the early 1900s. Its stained glass window catches the desert sun in spectacular ways, sending prismatic patterns dancing across the stone floor. The chapel is open to all faiths but is known for its unusually acoustical properties. Sounds made within seem to resonate differently than they should, sometimes lingering long after they should have faded. This phenomenon may have been part of the source of the “Redstone Resonance” that attracts some visitors.

[b]Horizon Diner[/b]
A classic American diner with chrome fixtures and red vinyl booths, Horizon has been serving the best pancakes and worst coffee in Redstone for over seventy years. It's where the town gathers for gossip and where truckers stop on their way through.

[b]The Rockfields[/b]
The “Rockfields” is the term used by Redstone locals to refer to the wilderness to the north of town comprised primarily of a variety of rock formations. The area is classified as a state park and generally traversable by foot and with vehicles capable of four-wheel drive. The Rockfields offer opportunities to find deep ravines, promontories with sweeping, panoramic views, and a general sense of detachment from civilization. Historically, the Rockfields were a location of UFO sightings during the 40s and 50s after the famous [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_incident]Roswell incident[/url]. Sightings do continue to this day, but what area doesn’t have their fair share of UFO sightings of questionable credibility?

[b]The Pine Forest[/b]
While technically a part of the Rockfields state park, the area south of town is a stark contrast to the relative barrenness of the Rockfields proper. Looming ponderosa pines dominate a rather flat landscape, appearing much more green and alive than one might expect from a desert area. The pine forest is especially popular for camping and other outdoor activities in a less harsh environment.

[b]The Outskirts[/b]
The residential areas of Redstone fan out from Main Street in concentric circles, gradually giving way to scattered ranches and homesteads. The further from town center you get, the more isolated the properties become, sitting on large plots of land separated by stretches of desert.[/hider]
As things progress, I may add more tabs with helpful information depending on what happens and what y'all could benefit from!