Summer break has dawned for the you and the other kids of sleepy little Bison, Ohio. It brings with it freedom from the crushing anxiety of school, endless relaxation in the town's (only) public pool, half-off sodas at the gas station and...
Monsters.
Unseen things, lurking just in the corner of your vision. You'd swear you saw something, yet when you turned to look, nothing was truly amiss. But you knew.
You knew something was there.
The adults don't see it. Your parents look at you like you're out of your mind. So you tried to shake it off- tried to keep it to yourself.
It kept happening. In fact, the sightings were getting worse and worse. You caught sight of more than just shapes. Full limbs, sickly green skin, and those horrific, beady eyes...
You're going crazy. Hallucinating. There was no other explanation for it, right? That was what you thought, until you finally let it slip to a friend-
And they told you they were seeing the same things as you.
The Setting
Inspired by such works as Stranger Things, Stephen King's IT, and Super 8.
Welcome to Gobonauts, home of all things skin-crawlingly delightful. Though that introduction was short, and information sparse, this is entirely deliberate. For you see, Gobonauts: Invisible Invasion is a story about discovery. Leave everything you thought you knew about the world at the door, for everything passed this point will defy all of that.
You are entering the realm of the strange, with nothing to guide you along but your own wits and intuitions. Your imagination is the key to unlocking the secrets of Bison, and it is the codex from which you will find the answers to all of your questions.
You- or your character, if you prefer- are a resident of this tiny, sleepy little town in the middle of nowhere. With less than two thousand residents calling it home, it's no wonder that the kids and teenagers might get a little restless.
There's not much to do, save what you come up with yourself. Whether that's by joining a hundred other kids blowing out speakers and drinking precarious amounts of cheap beer in the Old Woods, or by skulking off to the public library to stuff your face in an original, 1948 Farmer's Almanac, everyone finds a way to survive the blistering heat and unmitigated boredom of small town life.
Things only started getting strange two or three days ago. It was different for everyone. Perhaps you were alone, wasting away in your backyard when you saw it. Or maybe you and a group of friends were just going down to the bowling alley when it first appeared. There were a hundred different encounters all in the same day, yet one thing remained the same throughout each:
They had no idea what they'd seen, and there was not a single person over seventeen present when it happened.
All over town, from the far reaches of the woodland to smack dab in Downtown, and even in the fields outside city limits, 'encounters' took place. No one has seen one full on quite yet. Whatever these things are, they're skulking, almost...deliberately.
You have a sneaking suspicion that they won't stay hidden for long.
Presented by the Sleeping Sentry Gazette,
Welcome to Bison, wayward traveler! Though we know you'd never intentionally stop in our little hamlet, we're more than happy to have you here! We're small yet homey, and we have all the essentials for your small town living needs. Listed below are our wonderful town's best attractions!
Bison Public Library: Founded nearly eighty years ago in 1939, the library is a two story brick building that's only been restored a record of three times! Though the paint's peeling in a few places, you won't find a greater source of information about Bison anywhere else- not even the internet! We boast a collection of over six THOUSAND books, most of which were donated by our ever-generous citizens. Several of Bison's clubs meet in the library, and you can find that schedule posted up on the community board!
Bison Town Hall: Our town hall is truly something to behold. The Sleeping Sentry Gazette awarded it the title of 'Fanciest Building In Town' in 1986, and it's still going strong! Boasting an entrance of gargantuan marble pillars and a door so heavy it has a two-man door-opening team, the town hall is the premier spot for prom pictures. It hosts Bison's mayoral and town council elections, as well as tri-weekly meetings to discuss the state of the community in it's fabulous meeting hall venue. A fun fact for you all: the town hall also hosts our very own local court cases! How exciting!
Gabbson Public Pool: Want to get out of the blistering heat? There's no better respite than the cool waters of Gabbson! As the only pool in town, it is THE hot spot for Bison's many youths. Twenty five meters long and over eight feet at it's deepest, there's more than enough room for the whole gang. Special features include a diving board, a water slide, and- most recently- a hot tub! The pool is located juuustt outside of Spring Park in the middle of town, so you can't miss it!
Spring Park: Speaking of Spring Park, no tour guide list is complete without it. Over a mile from end to end, Spring Park is an all-natural destination for every nature lover out there who doesn't want to leave the comforts of civilization behind. Following the jogging path, you'll be able to visit all the best spots in the park: the basketball court, the spring-fed fountain, and of course the ever popular picnic shelter.
Youngsters' Paradise: The oldest perpetually operated business in Bison, Youngsters' Paradise was once the undisputed king of teenage hangouts. It was the hippest joint in town for over forty years! Everyone knows that things can't last forever, though; kids these days care more about their smartphones than good grub. But never fear, for Bison's favorite diner continues it's vigilant watch over the people's stomachs! If you want a shake, burger or pizza, there's not a better spot for miles than the Paradise. As a reminder to all subscribers of the Gazette, you can find your 10% off coupons to the Paradise on the back of every week's issue. Don't let those go to waste!
Sheriff Joseph Beckers: The long arm of the law in Bison, Sheriff Beckers has been working his beat for thirty years. It's been said that Joseph came out of the womb with a cigar in-between his teeth and a revolver on his hip, and he hasn't lost either in all fifty-five years of living. A cranky bastard to some and a beacon of morality to others, he's the man that everyone goes to when McKelly inevitably threatens them with some form of firearm.
Deputy Mark Baker: A new addition to the team at Bison's Sheriff's Office, Baker made his mark on the town last year when he crashed Senior Prom Night chasing three kids he'd seen sharing a joint. He ended up attempting to arrest thirty eight kids, nine adults, and the school principal for 'obstruction of justice.' All charges were dropped forty five minutes after the incident, and the mayor delivered his first public apology in over a decade and a half.
Mayor Gideon Gardens: Bison's first ever elected black mayor, Gideon Gardens makes sure everyone knows it- he even made his own official plaque to celebrate the occasion. A laid back man that cares more about posing for pictures than actual municipal work, most people either love the man or hate him. Charismatic though he may be, a collection of killer knock-knock jokes doesn't fix the pothole on Seventh Street.
Principal Linda Martins: If the term 'bubbly' could ever be applied solely to one person, not a soul in Bison would hesitate to give that title to Bison High School's newest principal. A young transfer all the way from Columbus, Linda Martins strives for academic excellence. She obsesses to outdo her competitors in the neighboring towns, almost always too eager to encourage students to study, study, study! Two years ago, during national testing, Martins called a record number of kids and personally assisted them in prepping for the test. For all of her efforts, Bison has managed to rise up to become the eighteenth worst in terms of overall grading in all Ohio townships. A staggering improvement from the tenth worst spot that it once occupied!
Ol' Cameron McKelly: Not much is known about Cameron personally. He rolled into town ten years ago in a busted up pick-up truck, and hasn't said a single friendly word to anyone in Bison since. Not to say he isn't talkative, of course; McKelly has spewed enough hatred and vitriol to make a Neo-Nazi blush. He's fiercely protective of his property, often threatening violence against any who dare get too close to his barbed fence. More than fifteen different neighbors have rotated out of his block since Cameron moved in. Attempts have been made to connect the old man to numerous missing persons cases- out of an attempt to get rid of the awful old man or from genuine suspicion no one quite knows- but neither the Gazette's nastiest dirt-finders or the Sheriff have had any luck finding anything incriminating.
OOC Information
Da Rules:
Listen. I know that we're all busy people here, and that we've all got a lot to do and that this whole website's just a hobby. I fully understand when people drop out, or when they can't make time to post for whatever reason. I do all that same stuff too. However.
I've found that a lot of feet dragging and time wasting kills RPs, to put it plainly. So I'll be experimenting with a little more stringent a posting schedule than I tend to see kicked around. I'd like everyone to make time for at the very least a single post per week. It doesn't have to be long. If you shoot for two paragraphs and show me that you're putting in an effort, than that's more than enough. But I would very much like to see an RP that doesn't stutter out and die because of inactivity.
On top of that, I'd ask that your posts contain high school level spelling, grammar and structure. I don't need (or even necessarily want) essays, but there needs to be enough in your posts for other people to work off of. Like I said, two paragraphs or more is just fine.
Finally, I would ask that, above all else, you're respectful to everyone involved. It shouldn't have to be said that this is a game. It's meant to be fun! But being an asshat isn't fun; especially for everyone else. If your behavior is found to be grossly rude, then I apologize, but I don't want you here.
If you're committed to the above clauses, welcome aboard! I'm looking for as many recruits for the cause as I can get. The more the merrier. If you have any questions, fill free to ask, though I'm going to try and shy away from revealing too much about the fantasy aspects of the story. Hopefully you'll be diving in with roughly the same amount of information as your characters.
The Character Sheet:
[center] [img]Your character's picture goes here[/img] [h2]Character Name[/h2] [sub]Character Quote[/sub] [/center] [b]Full Name:[/b] First, middle, last. [b]Nickname:[/b] If applicable. [b]Age:[/b] Between twelve and seventeen is preferred, may allow under twelve if your CS is very convincing.
[b]Gender:[/b] Self explanatory. [b]Place of Birth:[/b] Were you born right here in Bison? Or did some poor soul get dragged here by the cuff of their shirt? [b]Grade:[/b]
[b]Strengths:[/b] Personal skills, physical attributes, or inherent traits. List what's important.
[b]Weaknesses:[/b] Fears, physical drawbacks, vices. A perfect character is a boring one.
[b]Belongings:[/b] Things they own that are, again, important in some way. Could be anything from a good luck charm to their new car.
[b]Relationships:[/b] Bison is a small town, and most of you almost certainly go to the same school. It wouldn't be a stretch for everyone to know each other. I encourage prospective players to reach out to one another. Rivalries, friendships, potential crushes- you can't have a good story without 'em!
[b]Fun Fact:[/b] When the teacher tells everyone to give one 'fun fact' about themselves, what fun fact does your character give?
[b]Introduction:[/b] Let us meet your character. Outline either an important event in their life or simply a day in the life that let's us get to know them. Think of it like an IC post meant to give your fellow players an idea of who this person is, what their personality is like, and what their place in Bison is. A sample post. Length should be adequate for me to get a good idea of what your usual 'level' is.
Just checking in to see if ya'll are still sticking with us and, if you are, how progress on your character sheets are going. I'm hoping to kick stuff off in the next two weeks or so, ideally, so I'll need an accurate head count.
Almost done with the introduction. So, are we gonna edit relationships after a few IC posts or does anyone's character need a friend or enemy I guess lol
@SuperboyWell, try my best. Just tell me if anything is needed to fix and I will do it immediately.
Zhang Liu
How can I help you?
Full Name: Zhang Yi Liu Nickname: The New Comer Age: 17
Gender: Male Place of Birth: New York Grade: 10
Strengths:
Fast learner: Zhang learns fast when comparing to his peers. Just set an example and the boy could easily follow by. This trait of him allows the young boy to easily grasp trivial concepts like geometry and chemistry while providing no help in literature or activities that required physical exertion.
120% effort: Zhang tries hard to complete his task and turn in his homework on due dates while still ensuring its quality is at its best during completion.
Karate: Although sound cools, Zhang only knows to do one thing in Karate, deflection. The boys could easily deflect oncoming attacks but lack any experiences in returning damage.
Swimming/Climbing: Zhang excels at both of these activities. It may have something to do with his weight though.
Weaknesses:
Near-sighted: As the name implied, Zhang is very near-sighted. Without the aid of his glasses, the boy is illiterate when trying to read any books that are placed further than 50cm from his eyes. 20 meters or more and everything seems to have its own duplication. Although he could squint to see clearer, doing so would put much strain on his eyes which will inevitably be resulted in tearings.
Temperature sensitive: The boy is extremely sensitive to temperatures differences. Although everybody else may complain about how hot it is, it is not a strange sight for Zhang to ask to increase the temperature. Staying at 30 degrees Celsius is enough for this kid to catch a cold.
Selfish: Although he may appear to be a selfless person, Zhang is actually a very selfish person. He has a strong desire of owning everything.
Malnourished: The boy’s body is underweight compared to the average Body Mass Index (BMI). This causes him many troubles in physical activities like push-ups or marathons and making him an unsuitable candidate for physical demanding activity.
Cursed Bloodline: His father has high cholesterol problems. His grandmother has Alzheimer during her 60s. His grandfather died due to pneumonia caused by Parkinson. In truth, Zhang is a loser at genetic gambling. Although there are no current problems with his physical health, Zhang possibility to have any of those three mentioned diseases is very likely.
Mental medication: Because of having these illusions of unreal voices and imageries, Zhang is required to take medications for the safety of himself and those around him. And although he may appear to be normal, Zhang does not prefer anyone to mention his current state.
Weight Illusion: Although being a boy, Zhang is currently having an illusion of losing weight to appear thinner. And you don’t need further explanation to see how he got malnourishment.
Belongings:
Glasses: Without it, Zhang is basically blind.
Relationships:
Cixin Liu: Zhang’s uncle. He works as a psychiatrist at the town. Although having a quite important job, there aren’t that many people that needed his help. So in his free time, Cixin usually prefer to read some books or practicing his arts. His mother sent Zhang to live with his uncle due to his specialty in mental problems.
Joshua Martinez: An employee at Youngster’s Paradise. He is probably one of the few that knew where Zhang usually went to. Although they didn’t talk much, Josh does possess some knowledge about his friend’s condition.
Jasmine Chang: Zhang’s mother. She is a manager at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. A hardworking and lovable person, there aren’t enough words to describe a person who raised a child by herself in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Although wanted to stay by his side during his treatments, the job that provided her livelihood and his medication won’t allow her for a soft moment. In return, she makes sure to call him every night and morning. But Zhang’s feelings toward his mother are mixed. A part of him is emotionally attached to her commitment and determination. But a part of him is fueled by rage and a sense of disgust at his mother’s girlfriend. It is not that Zhang has some prejudices toward LGBT people. It is just his heart could not accept the reality of his mother having another one. In his imagination, she was supposed to be in more pain and guilt and not taking another step.
Wang Liu: Zhang’s father. He used to own a construction company. But due to an accident, he left the mortal realm on Zhang’s birthday. For his father’s death, Zhang had always pressed himself, despite the fact that his father passing is nothing more than an accident.
Fun Fact: Zhang could complete one book, 400 pages thick, within 8 hours while still possessed some relatively good idea about what is being written. A task that few of his peers could compare.
Introduction:
Today is a sunny day. School has just been over, yet the heat was already unbearable. On the news, reporters reported multiple bushfires in California. Meteorologists warned about an imminent heat wave across the east side of the nation. Another petition of those environmentalists before the White House, asking the government to take further action in reducing the CO2 emission at the next Paris Convention. Another topic was born Reddit, asking the question of how humankind would meet its doom and probably pointing out how horrible human race is to its homeland.
But for the majority of the world, people don’t care. They already had enough trouble in their workplaces, in their houses and the expectations to care for those frivolous things. And who can blame them? Out of a thousand, eight had just passed out. Out of a thousand, nineteen cries of newborns was heard. And out of that vast place that the people there don’t know people here, a happy birthday song is sung as well as tears were shed for those buried underground or cremated.
Understatement is an overrated word. None can truly understand the real meaning of grief. But yet, here they stand, griefing about Wang’s death. The sun is bright with no hinted of clouds in the sky. The hot breeze of summer swept the family graveyard, making a few to clutch for their hats. The children, the innocent ones, laugh out as they played hide and seek, completely unnoticed of the sadness and the unspeakable weight of the coffin that is slowly descending into the brown earth. Clutching a small heap of sand in hands, the grown-up slowly approaches the pit. It was a normal pit, where the corpse and the coffin are thrown in, waiting for its inevitable decomposition in a decade or more. But to them, to the Liu’s family, it was not a normal grave. When placing in, the person will cut his or her communication with the mortal realm, devoid of all links to their loved ones. And despite the patriarch of the family said that his father would be with his grandfather and his great-grandfather, Zhang knew it was not cased. The answer did not suffice to how his mother reacts to his father’s death, despite her knowledge about the family’s custom. He could still remember his mother when she received the news of her husband’s death, the poor soul fainted. The next things that he knew were how his mother cried against another woman’s chest, practically pouring her soul out for the strange woman.
And now, after two weeks, she was still heartbroken by her husband’s death. The figure in black pained him, urging him to tell his mom that everything is going to be alright. To promise her that he will do anything to make his father proud, to live up his name. To provide her with a place to lie upon. But deep down, Zhang knew it would never be true. By her side, he saw a strange figure that he had forced to be familiarized with these few days. Her name was Talia if he was unmistaken, a Bengali by blood and a rightful citizen of United and States. Her English was extraordinary, only using of what they called “Southern England” accent. Her posture was well trained, crossed legs when seated, straightened back even when talking casually with mom, used this certain spoons/ forks/ knives for this very course. In fact, pointed out if he is wrong, but Zhang thinks it is possible that mom’s interest and practice of having three separate courses spark from this very individual. This person, this alien, is so strange to him. And mom, the person that Zhang thought he knew very well of, who is she? Is she the person that went straight from home after work? Is she the person that likes Yao Beina, or just a woman that likes this music in order to fit with her lover? And is the love she used to tell so proudly of belonging to father or this stranger?
Zhang knew how much understanding he needs to give to his mother during these crisis states. But he doesn’t know how long he could maintain to be deaf and blind. What was his mother thinking? Bring a complete stranger and having no links to the family coming here. His hand clasps against each other, feeling the shapes of bones protrude from his white gloves. Just like every other male of the family, Zhang wears a white suit today. The sunlight reflected from his suit highlighted the uncomfortable sense of feeling he is currently having. In some strange and backward logic, his father’s death felt less insignificant compared to the strange figure’s that his mother’s head is resting on.
“Zhang Yi Liu. The oldest son of the Liu’s family.”
The shout from the monk draws Zhang’ s attention back to his father. Coming out from the line, Zhang slowly approached his father’s grave. His eyes, with the aid of the thick glasses, slowly absorbing the details of the grave. There were only four significant things to be noticed from the grave. First, the black marble and the inscription on its surface. Secondly, the father’s picture and his soft smile. Thirdly, the white numbers 24.6.1978- 1.6.2017. Finally, a quote. Although there are more to say about his father grave, Zhang’s attention could be unplaced on his father’s resting place. Somehow, his mother sobbing came to a stop during his kowtowing. Quickly completing his kowtowing along with his uncles, another two head families patriarchs, Zhang back out from the queue and letting others to pay their respect. His heart weighted to how Talia clutches her hand in Jasmine's trembling hands. Her tears had come to stop somehow only trouble Zhang's mind furthermore, knowing well that it was an accomplishment from a complete stranger.
The rest of the ceremony was quick. And before he knew it, the ceremony was over. The sun was in the middle of the sky. The child waves of laughter had come to a stop. And far away, his mother was being guided to her car by Talia. His mother is more relieved now, seemingly collecting some parts of her heart after the incidents. But still, the scars run deep and hard to mend. Her husband’s death was too much for her heart to take another step. But no matter how hard he tried, Zhang could not sweep the image of Talia stopped his mother from crying. He knew understanding for his mother’s current state is required. But just how much before that stranger take her away from him?
@Darth Shadow Apologies for not getting back to you sooner, I've been mulling over your character. I really enjoy the concept you've come up with, and Zhang looks like he'll have an interesting perspective to bring to the table. My only concern being that there were a couple of grammatical errors, but that's relatively minor in the grand scheme of things.
Yes, go ahead and move him over. Zhang Lui is accepted. Welcome to the Gobonauts!
