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Case 1: The Fatal Frame; A man died alone at his farm in the middle of the night, not one trace of his killer to be seen...
Topic Started: Jun 6 2017, 08:01 PM (179 Views)
Impromptu
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The group had gathered in a vast expanse of grassy hills that stretched far into the gray horizon... A light rain dampened their hair, and made the wind cold.

In one direction lay Verlorene, the tragic phantom of a town; nine years before this day, Verlorene lost its beloved Derek Fangleine- all that remained of its dream for a brighter future following soon after. Thick gray morning mist hung over it like a veil and created the illusion of a fading town as one walked farther and farther away.


In the other direction, four figures stood defiantly against the wind. They were proud men of varying stature who, in spite of the moment's grave nature, still found it in themselves to smile and give each other teasing nudges while they tried to count heads; the Tetra Brothers, they called themselves-- the 'bosses', even more jokingly.

After having his count interrupted enough times to provoke a light shove in the general direction of his friends, Barry Thornton, a bright-eyed young inventor, grinned at the turnout.

"Well, ain't that better than anythin' I hoped 'fer! I'm happy to see y'all!" He beamed, crossing his arms. "'Specially after that scary speech about life 'an death you should'a heard from Allistor last night. If'n ya didn't, all y'all need to know is that there are no guarantees that you'll come home alive from this trip!"

"'Course, that's par 'fer the course on any adventure-- yer Tetra Brothers have been on dozens! We'll do everythin' in our power to keep y'all safe, ya hear?"

Barry cast glances to both sides: to his right stood Landon, a towering, bespectacled detective who possessed a bulk (and warm jacket) that Barry envied; and Landon's apprentice, Fortino- a dark-haired young man in a black trenchcoat, his expression controlled and stern. To the inventor's left stood Allistor, who somehow managed to be even taller than Landon -- while many scars were visible on his face and bare arms, he had an infectious grin and bright eyes that seemed to glow like pearls against his dark skin. The medic flashed his friend a signature, radiant smile, to which he nodded.

"Alright... I hope everyone's checked their bags a third or fourth time- it's time 'fer us to git goin'. Y'all ready? I don't wanna keep my boy Derek waitin' no more."



Barry squeezed the artifact in his palm: a black steel locket with etched lines spiraling towards a glowing circular piece in the center. Inside it was a picture of Derek, his wife, Sapphira, and their child- an almost tangible sense of sorrow emanated from it, a powerful nostalgia that longed for the past.

A powerful electric blue light shone through the openings in his fist, almost as if it were struggling to escape...

The other bosses stood close at his side, almost obscuring his entire figure from view despite standing in the middle of the group. Only his glowing hand was visible as he thrust it overhead, towards the clouds.

This color would return to the sky, one day. The bright blue of possibility... As he took a deep breath, someone gripped his empty hand-- he squeezed back.



A pillar of light burst between the Chronos Core and the heavens, and surrounded the group in white.


The Memories of Monroe: Fathers of the Eternal Radiance
Case 1: The Fatal Frame

Edited by Impromptu, Jun 8 2017, 11:59 PM.
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"Damn it... y'know, Landon, I was really hopin' this'd take us far back enough to save him..."

"Don't worry about it for now, chief." The broad-shouldered, bespectacled man at Barry's side smirked as he addressed him, and sighed.

They walked together in front of the group, leading them through the town; the place hardly looked any different than it did nine years in the future, and that time only seemed to preserve the mood... With a new cigarette in hand, Landon observed the town's solemn procession: looked like the news had been out for a while. Derek Fangleine was dead.

They group had woken up not longer than ten minutes ago, in the same hills beyond town they had departed from-- it was a dry, sunny morning, and yet the same gloom seemed to haunt Verlorene all the same. The townspeople and blue-uniformed guards posted around every corner alike cast suspicious glances on them- a new group of satchel-toting travelers was certainly not a welcome sight during this moment in time.

"Let's get to the bottom of things, first... Understand what happened. Then we'll find the right Nostalgia Core to take us back and fix this mess..." The detective smiled. "One thing at a time, right?"

"...Right, 'course. Let's head on in, then."



Day 1, Phase 1 | Location: Fangleine's Farm, Barn Exterior

December 24, 1891. 7:00 AM

As the group approached the Verlorene Farm -- a serene location about thirty minutes away from town -- they were surprised to see a group of policemen already heading out. In front of the policemen walked a stern looking man, his gaze growing colder as it met the strangers ahead of him.

"Who are you?!" He barked, his voice cutting through the air. "You are not allowed here!"

There was a moment of tension before something in the man's figure vaguely softened - he made eye contact with the two men leading the group, who returned it in kind and approached, the three meeting midway between their groups.


"Good morning, Inspector Wolfe-- it's been a while." Landon nodded as he gave the man's hand a firm shake-- Wolfe pat his arm before turning to meet Barry, dismissing his group of policemen afterwards. The dark-uniformed men continued silently past the group, Wolfe not taking his eyes off of them until they passed the farm's entry arch far away. He relaxed, somewhat.

"Oh, far from a good morning, but... likewise, Inspector," He nodded towards Landon, then Barry. "Mr. Thornton. What are you doing here? I, pray you weren't hoping to visit Derek today..."

Barry gave the inspector's hand a firm pat on the side as they shook; his honest sympathy seemed to further soften the tense air, letting the group relax a little. "Naw, we... we heard. I'm real sorry, Inspector. I thought I'd surprise 'im and the missus with some helpers this Christmas, but it looks like we came too late... What happened?"



"I... don't know."

Wolfe almost growled at the word; if he had calmed down any after meeting Barry and Landon, he rapidly returned to his earlier, vehement state-- his hands trembled, and his gaze grew cold once more.

"He was found at his desk this morning by his wife." Wolfe shook his head, scowling. "...she came to the farm this morning with her apprentice, hoping to wake him up- both of them came running back in a panic not an hour after leaving..."

"I'm at a loss... If the Lieutenant told me the truth, not one person left town between the last time Derek was seen and this morning. And there's nothing here for miles around except for damned Frenchmen, all "present and accounted for"... the way things look, we would have nothing to conclude except that he had committed suicide."

"...yet... he would never have done that. I refuse to believe that. Cassius tried his hardest to convince me, but Derek had a beautiful wife and child... between every last person in this town, he was the only one who truly knew how to smile..." Wolfe frowned, defiant. "...Inspector. I understand you no longer have any reason to be here--"

"--Inspector Wolfe," Landon interrupted, spotting the hesitance in the inspector's eyes before he had a chance to finish; he knew. "Mr. Fangleine is my brother. If there's any reason for me to be here, it's to find the truth of what happened... and to make sure his family is safe. We'll all be glad to help."

Wolfe fell silent - then, not letting the softness in his expression remain for too long, he turned towards the group and nodded for them to follow him to the barn. Behind the group, Allistor and Fortino waved for everyone to turn in the right direction, making brief eye contact with the other bosses in front-- they... were really here.

With the power of the Chronos Core, a strange and nostalgic energy from that photo took them here, back at the moment in time where the Hopelessness that forever haunted Verlorene began...



To travel back in time, an object that longs for the past must be found and set in the Chronos Core -- it had been sent to Barry in a dusty package, along with a will penned by Derek. Supposedly, it could relive the moment that brought an object's spirit to life.

...Yet nine years in the future, there wasn't a thing in the blasted town that could take them anywhere else but here-- as if this moment in time marked its final breath. Allistor felt it-- sensed it: a pungent smoke that burned and infected everything it touched, leaving no memory untainted by sorrow... He felt it blossoming in the heart of the town.

They would find out what happened. Then, perhaps something along the way could take them back to a happy moment before the final blow to Verlorene was struck -- a moment that could have brought a hopeless town to life.



Day 1 has begun.
Edited by Impromptu, Jun 8 2017, 11:59 PM.
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