PREMISE
In the sleepy, fictional, oceanside town of Redwater, Maine, the lives of its residents are about to change forever. Nothing exciting happens in this town. People greet each other at the grocery store and wave when they pick up mail from their mailboxes. The summertime if full of beachy activities near the shore and the wintertime is quiet, as soon as the prickly air of autumn starts to creep into town. Their biggest news story this year involved a heroic kitten rescue from a burning building (and they threw a parade in the Ned Nealson's honor.) All of that changed when the stabbed body of a local resident washed up on the shores of the town just a few weeks ago. The police had no suspects, but their unsub turned into a serial killer when another stabbed body was found just days later. Police were ill equipped to handle the situation and their one detective is stumped. With a killer at large, the town has been on edge. Will this person kill again? And when will the next victim fall? No one knows who the killer is - -it could be anyone. It could even be you.
GAMEPLAY
In this game, no one is safe!
Terror Tale is meant to be very similar to the party game Werewolf, however you don't need to know anything about that game in order to play in this gpsl! In Terror Tale, characters can opt in to be randomly selected as a killer in the game. Each week, one character is chosen at random for the killer to secretly and covertly kill off -- and the writer of this victim gets to decide how their character will go out. (We encourage you having fun and plotting or scening this with the killer! But the rest of the game will not know what took place.)
At the end of the week, the victim's body is found and their murder is revealed in a news article in the Redwater Rogue Post -- a newspaper cultivated by the town's most suspicious and outspoken residents. Within this article, there will be clues as to who the killer is, so each character has the chance to figure out who the culprit is before another murder takes place.
Each character in the game is given five "keywords" upon acceptance. These words will help other characters decipher the clues of who the killer is. For example, maybe Bill Jacobson is assigned the words "blue, lake, lilac, cotton, steel". And the news article says the killer "tracked water through the crime scene". Then this could be pointing to Bill as the killer (his keyword, "lake"). However, things are not always as they seem, as some of the townspeople may have similar words as clues!
All characters in this game are potential victims and could be killed off by the killer! This is what makes this game super fun and full of surprises and twists! However, if you want your character to stay in the game permanently, you can grant them immunity -- but no one in the gpsl can know this, either IC or OOC. Don't worry, dead characters still get to have fun! They are given special clues by the mods and their "ghosts" get to send hints to selected townspeople about the identity of the killer!
If the killer is guessed, the townspeople get one week of sanity, free of the fear of the murderous monster who turned their town upside down. But that's assuming the killer acted alone and did not have an accomplice waiting in the wings for their chance to shine...
SEASONS
The plot of this game follows a "season". Each season lasts from the moment a killer is chosen to the moment that killer (or killers) is revealed in game. Each season will reveal a different killing type or a different motivation or theme for the killings.
SEASON 1: SERIAL (Currently in play. Killer: Unknown)
A serial killer is on the loose in the town. Their motivation seems to be to target townspeople at random, but is there a pattern to the killings? This killer seems intent on striking fear in every single resident.
SEASON 2: DOUBLES (Begin date: TBD)
The FBI left town and the townspeople went back to their sleepy, quiet lives. But that's because they assumed there was only one killer on their hands. It's time for the killer's accomplice to reign, and they're out for revenge.
In the sleepy, fictional, oceanside town of Redwater, Maine, the lives of its residents are about to change forever. Nothing exciting happens in this town. People greet each other at the grocery store and wave when they pick up mail from their mailboxes. The summertime if full of beachy activities near the shore and the wintertime is quiet, as soon as the prickly air of autumn starts to creep into town. Their biggest news story this year involved a heroic kitten rescue from a burning building (and they threw a parade in the Ned Nealson's honor.) All of that changed when the stabbed body of a local resident washed up on the shores of the town just a few weeks ago. The police had no suspects, but their unsub turned into a serial killer when another stabbed body was found just days later. Police were ill equipped to handle the situation and their one detective is stumped. With a killer at large, the town has been on edge. Will this person kill again? And when will the next victim fall? No one knows who the killer is - -it could be anyone. It could even be you.
GAMEPLAY
In this game, no one is safe!
Terror Tale is meant to be very similar to the party game Werewolf, however you don't need to know anything about that game in order to play in this gpsl! In Terror Tale, characters can opt in to be randomly selected as a killer in the game. Each week, one character is chosen at random for the killer to secretly and covertly kill off -- and the writer of this victim gets to decide how their character will go out. (We encourage you having fun and plotting or scening this with the killer! But the rest of the game will not know what took place.)
At the end of the week, the victim's body is found and their murder is revealed in a news article in the Redwater Rogue Post -- a newspaper cultivated by the town's most suspicious and outspoken residents. Within this article, there will be clues as to who the killer is, so each character has the chance to figure out who the culprit is before another murder takes place.
Each character in the game is given five "keywords" upon acceptance. These words will help other characters decipher the clues of who the killer is. For example, maybe Bill Jacobson is assigned the words "blue, lake, lilac, cotton, steel". And the news article says the killer "tracked water through the crime scene". Then this could be pointing to Bill as the killer (his keyword, "lake"). However, things are not always as they seem, as some of the townspeople may have similar words as clues!
All characters in this game are potential victims and could be killed off by the killer! This is what makes this game super fun and full of surprises and twists! However, if you want your character to stay in the game permanently, you can grant them immunity -- but no one in the gpsl can know this, either IC or OOC. Don't worry, dead characters still get to have fun! They are given special clues by the mods and their "ghosts" get to send hints to selected townspeople about the identity of the killer!
If the killer is guessed, the townspeople get one week of sanity, free of the fear of the murderous monster who turned their town upside down. But that's assuming the killer acted alone and did not have an accomplice waiting in the wings for their chance to shine...
SEASONS
The plot of this game follows a "season". Each season lasts from the moment a killer is chosen to the moment that killer (or killers) is revealed in game. Each season will reveal a different killing type or a different motivation or theme for the killings.
SEASON 1: SERIAL (Currently in play. Killer: Unknown)
A serial killer is on the loose in the town. Their motivation seems to be to target townspeople at random, but is there a pattern to the killings? This killer seems intent on striking fear in every single resident.
SEASON 2: DOUBLES (Begin date: TBD)
The FBI left town and the townspeople went back to their sleepy, quiet lives. But that's because they assumed there was only one killer on their hands. It's time for the killer's accomplice to reign, and they're out for revenge.
GAME EVENTS
AUGUST 5
A body washed up on the shore of Redwater, stabbed 18 times. Police are stumped and have no leads in the case.
AUGUST 8
Another body is found, this time in the nearby woods adjacent to the beach. The FBI is alerted that there is a possible serial killer on the loose in Redwater. A newspaper article is released in the Redwater Rogue Post, a publication run unofficially by an anonymous critic of the town. This article speculates that police aren't
AUGUST 5
A body washed up on the shore of Redwater, stabbed 18 times. Police are stumped and have no leads in the case.
AUGUST 8
Another body is found, this time in the nearby woods adjacent to the beach. The FBI is alerted that there is a possible serial killer on the loose in Redwater. A newspaper article is released in the Redwater Rogue Post, a publication run unofficially by an anonymous critic of the town. This article speculates that police aren't
RULES & GUIDELINES
APPLYING
ACTIVITY
Members are required to post two interactive posts per activity cycle. Activity runs from the 1st of the month to the 31st (or last day) of the month. Examples of activity posts:
Each week there is a killing and a community wide post revealing the news. Members are able to post a screened comment guessing the identity of the killer. Characters are highly encouraged to interact with this post but it does not count as activity.
Characters that do not appear active for extended periods of time may be killed off. You have been warned. (Insert evil laugh here.)
Characters that are marked as the killer still require activity each cycle. Characters that are killed are not required activity but their PB will become NPC, and they can still participate! (See sections below.)
KILLERS
So you've been chosen as the killer of this season? Congratulations! Here are some important things to note:
VICTIMS
Well, you're dead. That sucks! But not really. There are still fun things you can do, if you want:
TOWNSPEOPLE
The FBI and the police force aren't really getting anywhere with this investigation so, you now have an important job on your hands.
APPLYING
- In this game, characters are probably going to die. Because of this, we're not making you write an extensive bio in order to play. Just a few basic facts and notable information about your character will do. We do not require examples.
- Journal uns should be OOC only. They do not necessarily have to relate to your character.
- This game has mature themes so we require all characters and pbs to be 18+.
- We require you to have at least two basic connections with other members. This will make things very interesting when killings begin! It can be something simple like family ties or "friends from school".
- When you apply, you'll specify whether or not you want to opt out your character for being randomly chosen as a killer or randomly chosen to be killed. We highly encourage you not to opt out, though! There are fun things for these characters to do (see sections below).
- You can play multiple characters in this game. There is no cap. Just please be very mindful of not blurring or crossing ic/ooc lines.
- Because characters are killed off in this game, journal UNs can be reused. You would need a brand new pb and facts, and to reapply.
ACTIVITY
Members are required to post two interactive posts per activity cycle. Activity runs from the 1st of the month to the 31st (or last day) of the month. Examples of activity posts:
- Free for alls / questions
- Social media posts
- Hosting events that are open to all
- Plotting posts that are open to all
- Etc! Have fun!
Each week there is a killing and a community wide post revealing the news. Members are able to post a screened comment guessing the identity of the killer. Characters are highly encouraged to interact with this post but it does not count as activity.
Characters that do not appear active for extended periods of time may be killed off. You have been warned. (Insert evil laugh here.)
Characters that are marked as the killer still require activity each cycle. Characters that are killed are not required activity but their PB will become NPC, and they can still participate! (See sections below.)
KILLERS
So you've been chosen as the killer of this season? Congratulations! Here are some important things to note:
- Don't tell anyone you are the killer -- IC or OOC. (Unless you really, REALLY trust that person...)
- Killings only happen once a week unless under special circumstances deemed by the mods. (For example: if another character gets too close to your killer. Maybe they took it upon themselves to investigate you? If they're asking too many questions, you may get the opportunity to kill them before they get too close!)
- If you have a request for which character is killed each week, let us know, otherwise that character is chosen by random.
- If your identity is found out by any townspeople: Your killing spree ends, your character is captured, and a new season begins! So....be sneaky!!!
- If you last four weeks without any townspeople guessing your identity, then your killer "goes free". The character leaves the game for at least two weeks but can return to town after that.
- In some circumstances you may have an accomplice.
- Have fun with this! Do creepy things! Set up interesting storylines with your potential victims. Maybe your killer makes a connection with someone and tries to recruit them. Maybe your killer has family and they reveal their secret to them? It's ultimately up to you, just know that each move you make could get you closer to becoming caught!
- If you've played a killer, then you are exempt from activity requirements for one season after your killing spree ends. You cannot play killers in consecutive seasons.
VICTIMS
Well, you're dead. That sucks! But not really. There are still fun things you can do, if you want:
- You know the identity of the killer now, but ....you're dead! So you're not allowed to tell any members, IC or OOC. (Don't spoil the fun!)
- Your character's "ghost" can give clues to a character of your choosing once a week.
- Clues can ONLY be commented in a screened comment, in image or gif form! No text or text on images. You also cannot comment a picture of an exact keyword. (For instance, if the killer's keyword is "lake", you cannot comment a picture of a lake, but you can comment a picture of blue water, or a picture of a boat, etc...
- Clues should be approved by mods before you post them, please. (We're going to approve them, we just like to be in the know.)
- You don't have to participate as ghost if you don't want to.
TOWNSPEOPLE
The FBI and the police force aren't really getting anywhere with this investigation so, you now have an important job on your hands.
- You can survive a killing! If your character is chosen to be killed off, you can survive by knowing/guessing the killer's identity or one of the killer's keywords. You'll live, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're not going to get hurt. Your character might be captured for awhile (and released later) or put into a coma (to wake up later), etc to keep the killer's identity from being revealed prematurely and to keep the season going.
- Each week you have the opportunity to guess the killer's identity in a screened post. You can only guess ONCE per week, so make it count!
- Feel free to work with other townspeople -- some people may have clues that work best together with your clues.
- If your character accidentally gets a little too close to the killer, then you might get killed off as a special circumstance. Oops.
- If your character survives a season, they can stay in the game for the next season and they can be granted immunity for that season as well! Or they can leave town and get the hell out of dodge. It's ultimately up to you, there are a few possibilities here, so ask if you have any ideas or questions.
- You don't have to participate as ghost if you don't want to.