sam4books

The Clock Strikes Twelve (Horror RP)

Accepted :> You don't see many blind characters, especially ones that are schoolteachers, so I look forward to seeing how you play her! Also, the "Theme" portion refers to a theme song for your character :) Just for fun of course, you don't have to have a theme if you don't want to.

I'll be sending you your character's accommodation right before the RP starts. :)

The Clock Strikes Twelve (Horror RP)

Ah I meant theme song by theme. Sorry for the confusion DX

The Clock Strikes Twelve (Horror RP)

OOC is up: http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/7483/posts/ooc?page=1#post-134232

The Clock Strikes Twelve (Horror RP)

INTRO

“Welcome to Deer Mountain State Park!

Our humble resort area is located in rugged mountains that rise from the west bank of the Hudson River. The park features a large play field, shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing access, a swimming pool, Trailside Museums and Zoo, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails. An outdoor rink is open to ice skaters from late October through mid-March. The Dickins Memorial Tower Deer Mountain affords spectacular views of the historic mountainside, and a must visit for potential visitors. Dickins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November, weather permitting of course.

The Merry-Go-Round at Bear Mountain State Park features hand painted scenes of the park an 42 hand carved seats of native animals including black bear, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, skunk, Canada goose, fox, swan, bobcat, rabbit and more!

Our availiable Lodges include:

Deer Mountain Inn
Effortless hospitality with a spin of mountainside elegance and all the comforts of home are exactly what you will find at the Historic Deer Mountain Inn. Built in 1915, renovations (completed in early 2012) have breathed this picturesque property back to life. The Deer Mountain Inn is truly the 'feather in the cap' of the Paridise Parks. As of right now the historic Deer Mountain Inn is home to 15 guest rooms that combine the best of its rustic heritage with plush comforts in a beautiful setting.
All the Extras at Deer Mountain Inn:

• Fifteen (15) Deluxe Guestrooms and Suites


• Plush Bedding and Linens


• 32" Television with Satellite TV


• Complimentary Local Calls and Wake-up Calls


• Complimentary WiFi High-Speed Internet Access


• Complimentary Parking


• Complimentary Business Center


• Iron and Ironing Board, Hair Dryer, MP3 Alarm Clock


• Convenient to all that Deer Mountain State Park offers

Overlook Lodge
The 24 standard guestrooms of Overlook Lodge at Deer Mountain, NY, are a hiker's dream or a honeymooner's delight - featuring a rustic comfort that allows you to enjoy the countryside and truly become one with the mountain. Relax fireside in the lobby which boasts fabulous panoramic views of the Hudson River or retreat to the peace of your Overlook Lodge guestroom that has a perfect combination of calm serenity and upscale perks that include plush bedding, 32" television and kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator and wet bar with coffeemaker.
Accommodations at the Scenic Overlook Lodge:

• Accommodations with either one (1) King bed or two (2) Double beds


• Plush Bedding and Linens


• 32" Television with Satellite TV


• Workspace with Complimentary WiFi High-Speed Internet Access


• Complimentary Local Calls and Wake-up Calls


• Complimentary Parking


• Kitchenette with Microwave, Refrigerator and Coffeemaker


• Iron and Ironing Board, Hair Dryer, MP3 Alarm Clock


• Rollaway Beds Available upon Request


• Convenient to all that Deer Mountain State Park offers

Stone Cottages
Traditional Stone Cottages are perfect for anyone looking for a rustic, mountain cabin experience. Go 'off the grid' for family vacations, wedding parties, or someone just wanting the authentic state park experience. Each of our four stone cottages is complete with a cozy front porch and a common living area with wood-burning fireplace, microwave, mini-refrigerator and dry bar. The common area connects six individual guest rooms that each have a queen-size bed, private bath, and 32" television. Reserve one bedroom or the entire cottage. Each Cottage is ADA Accessible. NOTE: Leave your laptops at home - there is no WIFI access in our cottages, and there is no land-line phone service in the cottages.
Rustic Comfort in our Cottages:

• Six (6) Bedrooms per Cottage - each bedroom with One (1) Queen Bed


• Plush Bedding and Linens


• 32" Television with Satellite TV


• Wood-Burning Fireplace (seasonal) and Front Porch


• Complimentary Parking


• Iron and Ironing Board, Hair Dryer, MP3 Alarm Clock


• Convenient to all that Deer Mountain State Park offers


• NO WiFi, and NO phone service “

Police Chief Lawrence Chambers took one look at the brochure given to him by a distraught looking journalist just hours earlier. “Please sir you HAVE GOT TO SHUT DOWN THIS PARK.” the poor man had begged him, tears welling up inside his eyes. He had a look of someone who had gone through hell and back.

“I'm sorry sir I can't simply shut down or restrict access to a national park.” Especially a historic one. It would take time and effort to convince the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation that such a thing was even necessary. First of all, he's need proof of the journalist's concerns. He doubted that the OPRHP would ever believe that anything within Deer Mountain was haunted, let alone that there's an entire village hidden within its borders that has gone overlooked for decades.

'Give me a break' he had thought during the guy's testament, twirling a snowglobe idly between his fingers as the man described a tower that only appeared at the stroke of midnight.

“Sir where is exactly is this village?” the Police chief asked the journalist who had then promptly taken out a map of the park. “Right there!”



The man was pointing to a blank area underneath Pond Drive. It was a large area filled with nothing but trees, possibly around 600 acres wide. There were a frew trails that ran through that area, four to be exact, maybe more. He hadn't heard of anyone running into a ghost village while hiking. He was certain the man was full of it. The man was pointing out certain things to him, like the two hills where the two most powerful families in the area stood rule. He was also insistent on that stupid tower of his.

“Sopor's Clock. See?” the man pointed at a building that was marked out next to a railroad track.

“That's where the nightmares happen. Whenever it appears the nightmares- they come to life. It's evil!”

That was about the time Chambers ordered the man to leave, before asking for a nice cup of joe to quell his aching head. Who knew where the poor journalist was now. Probably some psychiatrist, or something. Lord knows he could use a psychiatrist.

Still, he couldn't deny he heard of people disappearing on those trails. The park had blocked public access on them tons of times in the past. Yet there was never any indication of a hidden village or clocktower. They always assumed that it was dangerous wildlife attacking hikers that weren't properly prepared or ignored safety precautions. Or some animals just managed to find their way on trails that were previously thought of as safe. Anything could happen on those trails really. The Park Rangers did whatever they could to insure the safety of hunters, hikers, and campers alike. As the saying goes, “nobody's perfect”.

But why couldn't he shake the feeling that something fishy was going on in Deer Mountain?

PREMISE

“Welcome to Deer Mountain State Park!”

Perhaps you had looked over the brochure hundreds of times before finally deciding to dial the reservation number. Perhaps you were excited, or perhaps you were nervous. Perhaps you were planning a nice camping trip with your friends, or a nice hunting trip with your son, or a nice honeymoon with your new husband. Perhaps you just wanted to escape. Perhaps you needed time to figure your life out. Perhaps you just need inspiration.

For whatever reason, you found yourself at Deer Mountain State Park. You had many expectations, many worries, many fears. You put those behind you. After all, you just want to enjoy yourself. The staff of Deer Mountain warmly welcome you, their smiles plastered on their faces. You can't tell whether they are honestly happy to see you, or were made to do this for all their customers. The front desk at the accommodation of your choice handed you your keys, and you go to your room without any difficulty.

Absolutely nothing was going to go wrong.

But while you have heard many good things about the mountain, you have also heard terrible stories about disappearances along the trails that lead off the turnpike. Hikers would just go out missing, never to be found again, with no hint as to where they were last. They had to close off such trails a number of times, writing the disappearances off as wild animal attacks. Possibly bears. It was plausible, nobody could argue that bears were becoming a huge problem in New York. Still, you couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to those stories. No matter how you may have felt about the disappearances, something inside of you actually wanted to take the trails, and find out what had truly happened.

The curiosity was too strong to resist.

CS

Name:
Age: (As long as you're not like five or a hundred years old I don't really care. Just be wary that you'll be paying for your lodgings so you have to be of the age where you can have a stable job and such)
Gender: (Male, Female, Transgender, Agender, Genderqueer?)
Sexuality: (Gay, Straight, Bisexual, Pansexual, Asexual?)
Job: (Should be a stable job, preferably your character's career)
Appearance: (A picture is fine, so long as there's a short description along with it of any special details that may not be covered by your image of choice)
Personality: (Be descriptive! I expect a lot of detail! What's your character's likes? Dislikes? Hopes and fears?)
Background: (What made your character who they are today? Anything happen in their life that they regret? Anything they want to change or wish hadn't happened? What makes it hard for them to sleep at night? What memories keep them going?)
Accommodations: This will be given to you by moi, based off of your character's job description.
Quirks: (Little abnormalities that makes your character unique. Or things that they do to keep themselves calm.)
Theme: (Theme song. For fun.)

NPC CS (Max amount of NPCs is 4)
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Relationship to Character:

THE CAST

Ghost Hunt

Completed.

"Zachariah West"

Name: Zachariah West

Gender: Male

Age: 66 years old

Appearance:


Talent(s):
Zachariah is a demonologist, as well as a practicing exorcist. His preferred style of exorcism relies on precise quotations from scripture, specifically a copy of the Geneva Bible he is always seen carrying around inside his coat pocket. He generally prefers this version due to the forcefulness of its material, adding a much needed edge in his verbal combat against spirits. A quick skim through the bible reveals that its language is of old outdated English, dating back to the 16th century. There are six languages in all that Zachariah has proficiency in (Latin, French, English of course, Hebrew, Italian and Greek). He also keeps on him copies of the Apocrypha as well as the Book of Enoch. He has attended as well as given a number of lectures concerning the names of demons and the nature of demons, often citing The Lesser Key of Solomon as his primary source of information. In the 1970s he took his exorcism course at a seminary school in the Vatican, exchanging notes with a number of acquaintances he still works with today, a number of them priests within the Roman Catholic Church. While he doesn't consider himself Catholic, he finds that he respects their methods. Sometimes he might team up with a priest, shouting the scripture while the priest beside him performs a rite. What he lacks in sophistication Zachariah makes up in force of tongue, having an extremely boastful voice that demands the utmost attention.

Background:
Zachariah was born and grew up in French Quarter of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is more than familiar with the St. Louis Cathedral, and spent his childhood being rushed on Sundays to church in a smart little suit that his mama thought made him look terribly handsome. His mama and papa were poor as dirt. Mama worked as a nanny while papa would work the night shift at banks on janitorial duty. Being in such an artistic district, Zachariah would find himself drawn to artists and musicians allike, despising his parent's deep faith for a more down to earth philosophy of "me, myself, and I". He especially clicked with the musical crowd. As a teenager, Zachariah would sneak out from school during lunch, have a couple of smokes with the guys, before tugging at a bass cello string. They had called him the life of the party then. He was also a gambling boy, eventually becoming a gambling man.

He dropped out of high school, causing his parents to become incredibly disappointed, wondering what had happened to their "little angel". Not that it mattered to Zachariah, who only wanted to spend the rest of his life making music and maybe even get a record deal. However, things looked slim for him. The civil rights movement was just starting, and many men his age had decided to boycott the shopping services off of Canal Street. He was invited to join by many of his parent's friends, but he found the movement to be pathetic and not worth the trouble. He doubted that much would change, and frankly wanted to stay as far away from his parents and their friends as possible, before they tried to match him up with a good looking girl or something even sillier like convincing him to study to become a pastor. He went to work at a grocery store as usual, ignoring his friends and their scrambles with authorities. He spent his off days practicing with the cello, determined to impress, and started saving up his money for a decent apartment. He knew he was at a disadvantage, and he knew how people looked at him. He just felt it didn't warrant any sort of trouble. He was almost like an old man; comfortable and unaffected, but young in his disregard. He had enough smarts to stay out of people's way, and he wanted to do nothing but live a comfortable life free of others breathing down his neck. Eventually he would disappear from other people's lives altogether, buying an apartment in the bad part of town, and losing to himself to his music. Around him, his friends were trying to get into college, or boycotting businesses. Some of his friends joined the Black Panther movement, while others moved north. Without a band to aid him, Zachariah had no choice but to audition solo, which he tried to do plenty of times. Yet, nobody would take him. It bittered him, how focused everyone was on this movement when all he wanted to do was play his instrument. He took to the streets, making pocket change money from his performances. Some days he made a decent amount of money, where as other days somebody was in a rotten mood and would roughen him up a bit, He continued playing regardless, even when his cello had gone totaled. He just made makeshift instruments, things that produced sound but had no value. One day during one of his performances he was arrested, presumably for "disturbing the peace".

He didn't understand it, why he was being punished for something he wanted to be no part of. In his jail he was met with the faces of peers who looked so angry it frightened him. Four months in, Zachariah had no strength to be angry, he could only think about his dreams and wept, finally finding the strength to pray for forgiveness. For what, he had no clue.

He was released on bail, by an anonymous donor. He would never know anything about the man other than the fact that he was white, and apparently rich. He had arranged for him to meet with a record dealership, intending to cash in on something young, new and hip. It was the turn of the century, and people's perspectives were beginning to change. It wasn't to say that the old ideas were dead, some ideas die hard, but nobody looked at him like he wasn't even there anymore. They looked at him, and they saw talent. It filled him with hope.

He was hitched with a group, who called themselves "The Voodoo Men". It was one of those New Age Jazz groups. Not exactly old school, but not new school either. It was something for the Bohemian crowd that still lingered from the fifties to enjoy. They lived the scene, dropping acid and taking other hallucinogenic drugs, Eventually one of them suggested they started actually practicing voodoo, to which none of them objected. It wasn't real voodoo after all, just some harmless fun. It wasn't until one of the members of the band fell incredibly ill that Zachariah began to worry. It wasn't the average sort of ill, although it began that way; with him vomiting up stomach fluids and his skin turning cold and slimy. It was during winter season, so naturally it was assumed he was running a fever. Then, he started claiming to see things, but that was written off as a more of a drug effect than anything. It wasn't until Zachariah began noticing that things like his keys were starting to turn up missing that things took a turn for the worse. They all shared a small apartment together, so naturally they slept in the same room. Zachariah awoke to the sound of nails against wood, followed by a scream that he would never forget ever in his life. He awoke seeing his friend dead, with the sick friend standing over it with a knife in hand. When asked about it in court, the lad claimed that a god had ordered him to kill, saying that the admittedly out of tune musician was holding the group back. After the murderer was jailed the group disbanded, and once again Zachariah was left out of a home. While he still worked for the company, doing random gigs with random artists, he still couldn't help but worry about his former friend turned monster. Everywhere else there had been accounts of murders influenced by hallucinogenic drugs, yet somehow this felt bigger than that. He visited his former friend regularly, and each time he seemed less and less like a friend and more like a stranger. He was even told by his jailers strange tales about how the man spoke in tongues and performed seemingly impossible physical feats. The man had become nearly superhuman.

Suspicious, Zachariah consulted the woman they had been buying their voodoo supplies from, believing that she might have some helpful information on the matter. What he heard from her terrified him, for according to her the spirit that had overtaken his friend was no god, but a dark and terrible demon that latched onto the souls of the creatively inclined. What really frightened him was the suggestion that he might be next. So, in an effort to free both himself and his friends from what he perceived to be a terrible curse, he asked the woman what he must do, only to get absolutely nothing in response. Agitated, fearful, and incredibly depressed, Zachariah scoured whatever library he could get into for information on the "unknown". As expected, nothing came up, and he was going to give up until he saw an ad for an exorcist in the local newspaper. With little to no options left, Zachariah gave the exorcist a call.

From the day he picked up the phone and made that call, to the present period, Zachariah had begun his journey into the world of demonology.

The man he called was a Lawrence Chance, his ministry being The Second Chance Ministry. It was a terrible and not so subtle gimmick, but it worked. And Lawrence had connections, oh he had so many connections. He decided to settle his business of exorcisms in New Orleans, due to him hearing that it was a cesspool for spiritual anomalies including voodoo and witchcraft. The day he received the disjointed call from young Zachariah was the day he received his first "apprentice" for lack of a better word. In spite of his comedic gimmick, Lawrence was strict, and a no-nonsense sort of guy. To him, exorcism was a serious business, as such was any business that dealt with demons. He informed Zachariah that his friend could very well be a lost cause. Frankly he sounded surprised that the man wasn't dead.

He agreed to exorcise the man free of charge, as long as Zachariah would aid him in the exorcism. Zachariah didn't ask why, only agreeing due to the fact that such an act of kindness could not be overlooked. He had his doubts, not believing fully that an exorcism would ever work. He only hoped, and even prayed that his friend would get better.His prayers felt so weird to him, especially after all that he'd done since the last time he asked a favor from his parents' god. Somehow, he felt as though he was intruding. And so, the exorcist came, and Zachariah stood beside him and watched as the man commanded a demon out from his friend's body. The experience was exhilarating. Never before had Zachariah seen so much energy, not even in his performances. Somehow it was scary, yet calming at the same time. Just seeing his friend free from the illness that ailed him put tears in his eyes. He wasn't sure what to say, his friend was free from the chains that bound him spiritually and for the first time in months they could embrace without any fear. Zachariah wasn't sure how to thank the priest, and tried offering him money, which the priest had promptly turned down. Lawrence explained that knowing that the man was safe was reward enough, and that somehow God had told him that what he had done was necessary and important. Still, Zachariah would not give up. He found out what church the man attended and started attending the church himself. At first he sat far away as to not draw attention to himself, later choosing to sit closer and closer until the exorcist had no choice but notice him. Finally Lawrence got fed up with the boy and pulled him aside, asking him just what he wanted to do in life. Zachariah explained that he wanted to save lives, just like he had done with his friend. He wanted to fight against the demons of the world.

Lawrence offered to teach him, on account that he goes back to school, and does excellent in his grades. He also demanded that Zachariah got into a good seminary school. Determined, Zachariah did as he was told, and even exceeded expectations. He got top marks in his classes, and got a scholarship to Centenary College of Louisiana for Religious studies, after submitting a paper on spiritual warfare and his experiences with it. He studied there for four years, working up a good enough academic record to place him in a seminary school where he could learn how to dispel spirits in the same way Lawrence could. During his time at the college he took an interest in occultism, and demonology, and he would ask Lawrence about it often. Lawrence often warned about such things, calling such matters "dangeous". The priest was kind but hard on the boy, knowing exactly what kind of trouble he was capable of getting into. For the last few years, he had allowed Zachariah to stay at his large home, so long as he didn't mind acting as a cleaning boy for pay. Sometimes Zachariah would invite his friend who was studying to become a psychologist over for a quick little jig, for old time's sake. It was Lawrence's idea to send Zachariah to the Vatican. He had good connections there, and knew of a man who was interested in the subject of Voodoo. Zachariah would be able to take a course on exorcism there, and could continue if he so wished. The college he attended would allow for such a feat to occur. All Zachariah had to do was work for it.

Eventually Zachariah would study for two months in the Vatican, before going returning to Louisiana to attend the Notre Dame Seminary Graduate School of Theology, earning a Masters Degree in Pastoral Studies and continuing his vocation in France. From there, he would move to Boston where he began forming connections with fellow spiritualists, as well as rebuilding former connections with the priests-in-training he had met at the Vatican. Eventually he would become a brilliant scholar on the subject of demons, having extensively studied them in college and forming an intense interest in the subject matter in particular. He had been approached by many spiritualist groups and industries, including a couple members of the Freemasonry. However, Zachariah prefers not to belong to any one group, and would rather work alone. His reasoning is simple; exorcism is a dangerous field of practice. Anything can happen.

He often comes back home every now and then; sometimes to give lectures, sometimes to visit prisoners who are in need of spiritual guidance, sometimes to give advice to teens who are at a crossroads. Zachariah simply does not wish to see anyone repeat the same mistakes he once made. He still has nightmares about the time his friend had been possessed by demons, terrible dreams where the demons would return, and this time they were after him.

Tidbits: Theme
Alternative Theme

Avatar: The Dark Soul (Open and Recruiting.

The bloodbenders docked at the island with little to no problem. Datu was intent on portraying their mannerisms as "above average". Before the gang was allowed to wander, they were coached in social decency, and warned against angering the locals. Many of the bloodbenders under Datu's watch vouched to stay behind and watch the ship, but those that went had to swear a blood oath to keep relations with the Jasmine Dragons high or at a decent level. Of course, Baqwis had no choice but to go with them, being the guest of honor and all. He lingered behind the "delegation", as Datu called them, avoiding the gazes of passerbys who may find his bandaged body upsetting to look at.

They eventually came upon an inn, who agreed to let them stay for the night as long as they paid up front. Although it appeared as though Datu had meant for them to stay longer.

The sudden hands on his shoulders gave him quite the fright. Baqwis knew he didn't do anything to warrant any hostilities. He sure hoped his companions didn't either. Datu would freak if any of them had to spend the night in a jail cell, he might even kill another member in punishment. The young man tried to cry out for his comrades but was immmediately silenced. The next thing he knew there was a voice in his ear, a whisper that pertained to the meeting with the Jasmine Dragon leader. Baqwis nodded to show the stranger he understood, trying his best not to seem too agitated.

Later he would leave the group behind to deal with the innkeeper and his steep prices. Finding the Dragon House didn't really prove difficult. If anything he had a decent sense of direction, a side effect of growing up on the streets. The Kilat garbed man surprised him, although he honestly wasn't sure what he expected. It only made sense that mercenaries trained in the art of war would join a cause that offered the chance to fight for glory. He made a mental note to inform Datu of this when he got the chance, should he ever get the chance.

He wasn't the only person there, thank goodness. He wouldn't have to be the center of attention. Baqwis sat in what appeared to be his seat in the congregation, avoiding the gazes of the two who sat nearby. He looked down at the tea placed before him nervously, trying to remember Datu's teachings. He felt thirsty, after the journey to the island, and he wasn't sure whether he was allowed to drink. In Jinin, there were no tea ceremonies, no ancient tradition to adhere to. It was every man for himself. Yet here, everything was so formal, so majestic. It was like walking inside a different universe. He wasn't quite sure how to act or what to think. He only occasionally glanced over at the other two people for some sort of hint as to what to do. He saw one of them sipping his tea, and after taking one look at the girl opted to take a sip of the tea himself, making sure that it was the exact same sort of tea as the other boy. Baqwis trusted he knew what he was doing. Immediately afterwords, however, he placed the cup back down afterwords, looking repulsed. The tea was too sweet for taste buds used to the taste of bitter fluids. In an attempt to hid his repulsion, Baqwis started chewing on the dead skin on the tips of his fingers, occasionally drawing blood.

Pokemon - Species Screwery

Sorry DX my life recently went down a road full of shit and I've spent all week basically cleaning it up.

I will try and post sometime this weekend tho

The Clock Strikes Twelve (Horror RP)

*bumps*

WTF

Whatever the heck is happening I approve

The SCP Foundation - Chapter 1: Special Personnel Requirements [HI-CAS/ADV]

SCP Foundation? Count me in :D I used to come up with tons of these things with friends.

I will see if I can cook up a character as well :>