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.

Main Street
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.

The Empty Storefront (Formerly Grace's Grotto)
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.

Redstone College
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.

The Redstone Public Library
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.

The Desert Research Facility
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.

The Cliffside Chapel
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.

Horizon Diner
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.

The Rockfields
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 Roswell incident. Sightings do continue to this day, but what area doesn’t have their fair share of UFO sightings of questionable credibility?

The Pine Forest
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.

The Outskirts
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.

Age: 22
Gender: Male
Occupation: Astronomer at the local observatory

Appearance: Standing at 5'9 and weighting at 160lbs. Micheal has brown hair and brown eyes. He has a short brown beard that he keeps short as he does not like having long or hairy beards. Micheal has an average build due to not working. He tends to wear casual clothing or wear jackets when the weather permits it.

Personality: Micheal is a curious person and loves to learn more about the subjects he is interested in. Mainly related to space and the stars. Plus, with a love of sci-fi, and he was a rather shy person in the past, but going through college helped to shake off most of his shyness. However, some shyness still lingers, and he sometimes finds it hard to talk to a person he does not know. Though a man of science, Micheal does have a spiritual side and is not against believing in things other more scientific people would consider false or made up.

Background: Micheal was born in Billings, Montana, to a pair of school teachers. Growing up, Micheal had a good childhood despite both of his parents working. The family was able to find a sense of balance in their lives, and the family would grow close.

Until when Micheal was fourteen when they got into a car accident, and only he survived. He was devastated while he was still recovering from the tragedy. He would be sent to live with his only known living relative, his grandmother in Redstone, who he had never met or heard of before. As it turns out, there was a reason for there was a very bad relationship between his father and his parents that ended with his father cutting off ties with them. Not even knowing that Micheal's grandfather had died some years before of cancer.

Now, Micheal did not know what to expect from his grandmother and was scared that she would treat him badly. But instead, she would treat him well and was understanding with him. Surprising him but was still cautious but over the years. He would understand why she was like this. For she realized too late the wrong she had done, and while she never managed to repair her relationship with his father, she would try her best to support him. A fact that helped the two connect and trust each other.

With this newfound understanding, Micheal would stay in town after graduating from the local college and end up with a job at the observatory. While he desired to leave Redstone and work at other observatories. The respect he had for his grandmother compelled him to stay for a time and help her out when needed.

It was during this time that Micheal started to visit Grace's Grotto on his days off since the place seemed to make him feel relaxed and he got hooked on the cafe's drinks. Micheal was confused when the cafe suddenly disappeared like it was never that to begin with and left him wondering what had happened. Then, the weird stuff started happening, and soon, he had his own problems.

Connections: Kelly - Grandmother and his only known family left.
Jerry - Coworker at the observatory and friend.
Liam - Good friend who has not left Redstone yet and a fellow science nerd.
Ann - Liam's girlfriend and a friend who Micheal gets along with.

Emerging Power: Solar Empowerment - Micheal, while unclear why, started feeling different when under the sun. Like it was somehow making him stronger and feel good. Because Micheal is empowered by the sun and is able to store solar energy in his body and use it to empower himself. Becoming stronger, faster, tougher, and have more stamina. However, if he uses too much solar energy or all of it, then he feels weak and needs to recharge under the sun to feel normal again. Plus, he is able to focus the solar energy into a beam but right now. Michael is just wondering why he is feeling like this and what it means.

Personal Motivations: Micheal, while showing more of a science leaning, has an interest in the supernatural and if they exist for real. Though he never thought he would ever actually discover anything until when strange things started happening around town. That and he wants to make sure that his grandmother, his only family left, is safe from what is happening. He does not want to be alone and lose more family.

Additional Notes: N/A

Personal Hex Code: FFD700-Gold