[OOC] Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

[Thanqol]

"Why was the skeleton so mean?"
"He didn't have a heart."

- Dad

SLEEPSHY RISE

A game of Monsterhearts

Old thread: forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?59…

Starring
Amish Pirate as Timothy Oglevee Crompton
Anarion as Annalee Sokolov
Elanorin as Samael Hale
Raz Fox as Elodie Faucher

Sleepshy Rise is a wicked place.

It is a huge and sprawling castle manor, built by the Mad Lord Arret who was promised by an angel¹ that he would be able to cure his insomnia if he built a tower here. It seems to have worked - in that Mad Lord Arret stalks the corridors to this day with his eyes shut and a contented smile on his face even as he strangles those who cross his path. Not that you don't have warning these days: one of the 'bonding activities' that every new class is put through is collectively designing a new warning sign/graphic example of the threat posed by the sleepwalking nobleman.

I say 'class' because that is what is being inflicted upon you here - the full version of the statement is Remedial Socialization for the Incorrigibly Malicious. If you screw up - and then you continue to screw up, and you continue to do so in every combination of bold and italics that can be imagined, then you will be sent to Sleepshy Rise to be reformed. What you need to do to be sent to Sleepshy Rise varies - perhaps you were too bloodthirsty, or too evil? Perhaps you disappointed your parents? Perhaps your ungrateful underlings organised a coup and had you sent off in a box? Perhaps the cops just didn't know what to do with you? Maybe you didn't really grasp what the flyer meant by 'night school'? But now you are here it is the angel's job to straighten you out and turn you into model citizens.

(You have seen the graduating classes. All smiles and suits and maybe some fresh scars on their foreheads. The angel likes to talk about how it has never had a repeat offender.)

So there are classes. They are a simpleton's idea of friendship lessons. The concepts of 'sharing' and 'kindness' and 'not sucking the blood from innocent victims in broad daylight while making obscene gestures at law enforcement' are explained in agonizing and condescending detail. There are other classes too, explaining basic facts about the modern world like 'airplanes are not dragons and it is not ok to slay them', and 'Blending In With Kids These Days: From YOLO to Y U NO'. There are regular sporting events so that the inmates can blow off steam and they usually end with someone being mopped up off the floor while the angel gives a lecture about sportsmanship.

The only thing more infuriating than how condescending the angel can be is how wrong it can be. It's ideas about the wider world are not significantly more modern or sane than the average monster's - but you're in its house and it has its rules and nobody will help you if you break them.

Sleepshy Rise has a number of Rules, and the angel is capable of enforcing them should he discover transgressions. It is fortunate that the angel can only be in one place at a time, but it can be stealthy when it wishes.

- No kissing. No romance whatsoever. You animals cannot be trusted with basic human interactions, let alone something as important as love².
- No leaving. The angel doesn't want to have to come and get you, but it will.
- No sleeping. It disturbs His Lordship and we can't have that³.

Welcome to Sleepshy Rise. We hope your stay is... relaxing.

1: We say 'angel' because it would be very rude to suggest the far more probable alternative.
2: Outside of the How To Love Someone extra-credit course, where the angel will teach you all the fine arts of courtship and chivalry.
3: Most students still need sleep. They just need to find a place to do it where the angel won't catch them. The best spots are occupied by the scariest monsters. The least prestigious students spend their nights in terror.

[Elanorin]

Reporting for duty, bad decisions and tasty angst.

Sadly, I’ve realised I do not have a copy of dear Sam’s character sheet so I will have to wing it for a while until I can access it again.

I will post asap, but it might not be until tomorrow evening.

[Thanqol]

Can confirm Tatters is wonderful, Elodie is wonderful.

[Anarion]

Have some tasty Baba Yaga background while Annalee prowls.

[TheAmishPirate]

Ready and able to make bad decisions!

That being said, I think that now feels like a good time for nasty, accusing voices to whisper into Timmy's ear. And boy, wouldn't it be bad if the voice was his? Good think there's no possible way that can happen!

[Thanqol]

Pokes thus issued to Elanorin and Amish.

[Elanorin]

Pokes thus issued to Elanorin and Amish.

@Thanqol

Sorted. Busy weekend and storm knocked my internet for a bit. All back now.

Sam is so not going to move, unless there's like a fire or something.

[Thanqol]

Sorted. Busy weekend and storm knocked my internet for a bit. All back now.

Sam is so not going to move, unless there's like a fire or something.

@Elanorin

Ah, it's a matter of Principle now. I understand.

[TheAmishPirate]

Pokes thus issued to Elanorin and Amish.

@Thanqol

Roger roger. I have the post in mind, but Monday/Tuesday are my busy days, and these past few weeks have been rough. I should have something up tomorrow.

[Tatterdemalion]

<Snipped quote by Thanqol>

Sorted. Busy weekend and storm knocked my internet for a bit. All back now.

Sam is so not going to move, unless there's like a fire or something.

@Elanorin

That sounds like a request for a fire in Sam’s office to me~

[Tatterdemalion]

Juicy prompt, Amish! I’d appreciate a quick vision from the Abyss before RIGHTEOUS VENGEANCE FALLS UPON THAT GHOST

[TheAmishPirate]

Juicy prompt, Amish! I’d appreciate a quick vision from the Abyss before RIGHTEOUS VENGEANCE FALLS UPON THAT GHOST

@Tatterdemalion

Thank you! When I was writing that, I knew I had to put at least one thing that would classify as Instant Red Alert for Elodie.

I figured a vicious denouncement of kisses would do the trick. :P

[TheAmishPirate]

I thought about having Timmy react with a bit more dialogue here, but this really feels like the opener to a Conversation, so I figured I'd let the gut reaction play out before moving forward with more specific examples of, "what the heck, Elodie?"

Plus. Y'know. Never a bad idea to give emotional teenagers an open-ended question to try and answer. :D

[Anarion]

Plus. Y'know. Never a bad idea to give emotional teenagers an open-ended question to try and answer. :D

@TheAmishPirate

I believe what you meant to say is that this is a bad idea in 100% of situations and nobody should ever do it.

[Tatterdemalion]

Just want to confirm, Amish, me boy: if this is a Mixed Messages move, then a) you’re asserting they’re alone and Masque has already fled, and b) Timmy is trying to make the moves on Elodie. That doesn’t seem right to me, so just wanted to confirm?

[TheAmishPirate]

Just want to confirm, Amish, me boy: if this is a Mixed Messages move, then a) you’re asserting they’re alone and Masque has already fled, and b) Timmy is trying to make the moves on Elodie. That doesn’t seem right to me, so just wanted to confirm?

@Tatterdemalion

I figured that Masque was probably clearing out after being discovered; they strike me as the sort who is an absolute weasel like that. As for B, my understanding of the move was, "If you're alone with somebody, and you're attracted to them, roll to Shut Them Down in some way, it would never work between you." It's the first time I've used that side of the move, every time so far has been, "If you're alone with somebody, and you're not attracted to them, roll to Turn Them On as you try to smooth things over with them."

[Tatterdemalion]

I have suggestions.

You could just get dragged into the Sphinx scene along with Elodie for shenanigans. That’s an option.

You could Lash Out and try to hurt Elodie, throwing a wrench into their tumultuous relationship.

Or you could always try playing on Second Place and engaging on a wicked plan to humiliate Elodie in front of the whole school.

Or just hogtie her and tell her that you’re going to go ask Annalee out on a date!

[TheAmishPirate]

I have suggestions.

You could just get dragged into the Sphinx scene along with Elodie for shenanigans. That’s an option.

You could Lash Out and try to hurt Elodie, throwing a wrench into their tumultuous relationship.

Or you could always try playing on Second Place and engaging on a wicked plan to humiliate Elodie in front of the whole school.

Or just hogtie her and tell her that you’re going to go ask Annalee out on a date!

@Tatterdemalion

Now, before I pick from any one of these excellent options, I do have to remind you that because I only got a 9 on my roll, Elodie gets to inflict a Condition on Timmy in return.

[Tatterdemalion]

<Snipped quote by Tatterdemalion>

Now, before I pick from any one of these excellent options, I do have to remind you that because I only got a 9 on my roll, Elodie gets to inflict a Condition on Timmy in return.

@TheAmishPirate

Based on our conversation just now, I’m going to hang my next action and let you tweak what you will here first, and (with your permission) I’ll wait a post or two to inflict that Condition properly?

[TheAmishPirate]

<Snipped quote by TheAmishPirate>

Based on our conversation just now, I’m going to hang my next action and let you tweak what you will here first, and (with your permission) I’ll wait a post or two to inflict that Condition properly?

@Tatterdemalion

That's fine by me. I've made a few edits to make the action a bit clearer, and I've also changed my mind on the Shut Someone Down roll; Elodie is no longer Insensitive, but she's bungled her entrance so badly that she's lost a String on Timmy.