DECEMBER EVENT

[ride_technicians]

↞NAVIGATION

road trip!

The speakers in each cabin crackle to life with the rising sun, stuttering out a garbled and messy version of Reveille. It blares out at full volume, the grating croon of the bugle lasting for far too long before finally - abruptly - cutting out to silence once more.

Good morning! It's time for a trip!

Park Guests will find that two MINI Coopers are awaiting them in the parking lot, one red and one green. It'll be a cramped fit, especially given the fact that both drivers' seats are occupied by two identical Masks in formal attire, but there should be enough for three to squeeze into the backseats while one lucky individual gets to ride shotgun.

There's also an aux cord connected to some sort of smart device, and no matter what song is punched into the search bar, it somehow seems to be available to be listened to. Even if the prompt is something outlandish, and for all accounts should not exist.

Once everyone is settled in, the cars drive off into the mist. In total, the ride takes roughly two hours, and after the first hour the fog lifts and clears to reveal winding forest roads. Despite similar surroundings, the occupants of the red car cannot seem to spot the green car or its passengers, and the inverse is also true.

arrival

The red team's vehicle comes to a stop, and the occupants are greeted by the sight of a long abandoned ghost town. A wooden sign is hammered near the turn off point, and the faded black paint reads, "WELCOME TO JONGVILLE, OHIO! POPULATION: 6"

The locks on the doors click, and the doors swing open as the driver continues to patiently idle. Looks like this is your stop.

Jongville sits nestled into the protective cradle of an oak clearing, and is currently blanketed by a fresh dusting of snow. There are various buildings nestled around the central white spire of an old, delapidated church. To the north of the church sits a crumbling graveyard, and a smattering of abandoned houses lay in varrying states of decay. A few notable landmarks can be found aside from just the church itself, such as a strangely modern grocery store, a motionless windmill, an old theatre, a gelatinous river of sludge-like water that trudges slowly along to the east, and what seems to be the entrance to an abandoned mineshaft.

The grocery store comes stocked with questionably edible foods, and it seems like all six residents work within the questionably winding aisles within. None of them seem capable of speech, though they smile with too-wide grins and wave cheerfully at anyone in range.

There doesn't appear to be a set place for characters to bed down, but all of the houses seem to be unlocked, and there isn't anyone around to chastise people for squatting.

can't catch me

It's when night falls that things begin to take a turn for the strange. The wind whips through the empty streets, whispering words that are seemingly incomprehensible. Childlike giggles and the rapid thundering of many tiny feet can be heard just out of view, and the skin seems to prickle with the sense of being watched. The scent of gingerbread and peppermint lingers in the chilly winter air.

It's only on the third night that the source of the skitterings is finally revealed.

Sunset touches down on Jongville, and something massive and lengthy skitters out of the mineshaft and into the forest on way too many legs.

just want you for my own

The Blackwater Theatre comes well equipped with what seems to be an endless supply of popcorn and fountain drinks despite a blatant lack of staff, and advertisements on the outside speak of a "Holiday Movie Bash" that takes place every evening, starting at midnight and carrying on until 6AM the following day. Those who choose to attend will find themselves in an empty auditorium, and the big screen seems to be exclusively playing one music video on repeat.

you have the right to remain violent

When green team awakens - when did you fall asleep? - it's to find themselves in what appears to be within the confines of a deserted power plant. There's a throbbing headache behind the eyes, and a tugging sensation at the left wrist that demands investigation. A glance down reveals that a three foot long metalic cord has sprouted from the rim of each character's ZETA, pairing up two individuals as if they were handcuffed to each other's left wrist.

Floyd Leech and Yesod make one pairing, while Shiemi Moriyama and Mizuki make up the second.

Water drips steadily from one of the upper floors, and an investigation of the rest of the plant reveals that the below ground levels are entirely flooded. Exiting the plant itself is entirely possible through the main entryway, and there is a distinct lack of snow on the surrounding trees and foliage. Food is not readily available, and green team will need to forage and hunt for anything that may help them in the grand goal of not starving to death.

and a partridge in a pear tree

Just as with red team, night brings with it an entirely new set of trials to face. Namely: there's something in the trees.

And, by extension, the sky. Dark shapes woosh past through the air, braying and keening as heavy wings flap through the air. The creatures are larger than humanoid and seemingly quadrapedal, and the moonlight glints off of reflective eyes as they still. Watching for an opening. They seem to steer clear of the plant building itself, and never get close enough to be fully identified.

One in particular seems to stay further away than the rest of the flock, most likely due to the large red light that glimmers on its face.

home alone

A utility shed sits near the entryway, the swinging doors opening to reveal two relatively well-kept ATVs. They appear to run on electricity rather than gas, and presumably if one found a way to restore power to the plant they could be charged and would run again. Which might be a good idea, because it's starting to feel like someone - or something has joined the flock in watching. In waiting.

misc notes

★ All the usual functions of the ZETA seem to still be intact, with red teammates are able to freely contact their green friends and vice versa.

★ The power plant is roughly 15 miles away from Jongville, and may be reached by foot if desired.