The Illumination

A world where videos of the supernatural go viral every day.

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Posted by Unifel, 1 week ago. Permalink

Drug-Induced murder suicide in Marriott Executive Apartments

The community in Johannesburg is in shock today after the warlord Bosco was murdered by one of his own men in a downtown shootout inside his own suite. It seems his supply was broken into, and the only surviving member had some sort of anxious mental break - continuously double checking everything and talking about some sort of moth-man. On that same theme, the one who did all this actually jumped out a window after they had fatally injured most of their comrades, perhaps believing himself to be a moth-man as well!

One of the hotel staff was fatally injured in the shootout as well, but no one is certain the details of the altercation, as it seems an EMP of some sort might have gone off in the area and shorted out some of the security systems.

For the safety of everyone around you, please - use carefully, if you're going to.

Posted by MesmerMara, 3 weeks, 4 days ago. Permalink

Museum of Occult History Temporarily Closing

There has been a robbery in the Museum and Master Enzo Agosti has closed the museum doors while an investigation occurs. He has yet to give any word or information about the situation, but with time the culprit will be brought to justice.

 

There is also a new position opening for security! Applications are currently being accepted.

Latest Journals

3 weeks, 2 days ago: Edward "Eddie Odin" Bouvier wrote a Contract Journal for The Sound of Silence

Dove

Humans are such horrible, terrible, pitiful, broken animals. 

We are so vulnerable - weak, thin, easily broken. It is not hard to kill us - we don’t have claws or tough hides, we don’t have quills or protective layers of fur and hair. Our bones are easy enough to break that we don’t even need tools to do it, if you know the right trick. We are cursed - it is no surprise we were cast out of Eden, no surprise that the Creator turned His back on His hideous creation. 

But that is not the most damning of our flaws.

It is strange to watch a sleeper - the only time anybody is honest is when they are asleep, and then that is a stolen honesty. It feels a violation: who am I to rob them of that privacy, to steal a glance at their soul when they have no opportunity to hide it where it is safe? It is damnable, to play voyeur; it is no coincidence that the forbidden fruit is synonymous with the naked form.

And yet, I watch.

There is a peacefulness to them, when they sleep - the manic energy, the artistic brilliance that makes their pale skin glow is gone now, replaced by a gentle stillness so… uncharacteristic. The rise and fall of their chest mirrors the delicate slope of their nose, their jaw, replacing the edge they hold in their cheekbones. There is more muscle than before - I can trace the lines under their skin, and I understand now where the painter finds the beauty of a curve. They are so still - almost deathlike, in sleep. I’m sure they would appreciate the comparison, even though I find it frightens me now in ways I do not understand.

And yet, they are not dead. 

They are so very alive.

Their breath comes hot against my hand when I hold their face, and their little snores break the silence of the silk upon the bed. They are vital and pulsing and alive, and I cannot help but to throw myself into the jaws of perdition for but a taste of their warmth. It is selfish, what I do; childish and weak, but I am as helpless to resist as a moth fed to a flame. What else could I do but to steal their warmth? To press my body against theirs and let their gentle heat ebb into mine and banish the memory of how they were before? Banish the memory of the cold if I had been a day, an hour, a minute later? 

I am so grateful that I did not let Blanche go cold.

I do not know what Eddie would be without their warmth.

 3 weeks, 2 days ago: Ware wrote a Downtime Journal for The Sound of Silence

I'd almost forgotten.

It had been so long since I'd gone out and done a job, I... I'd almost forgotten the rush. How when I go back to whatever problem I was tackling beforehand it starts to solve itself in my head. I'd been working on holographic projection and on arcane perception filters, tackling both separately to see which would yield a solution that would allow me to wear the suit most of the time without fearing someone thinking I'm in a special operations team...

I returned from that last job and it all started clicking. The tiny holographic projectors, working the same way a rainbow does - just small reflections in the air adding up to the image I need. And the way they're wired, creating small sigils out of silicone, fiberglass, and metals. It's beautiful how it all fits together. Now I have both of the solutions I was working on - the hologram to cover most people and cameras, the perception filter for anyone that tries to look a little too close. Perfection.

 3 weeks, 4 days ago: Edward "Eddie Odin" Bouvier wrote a Downtime Journal for An Out of Body Experience

Connections

It's a start - it's a fucking hell of a start, but it is a start.

Blanche got themselves into serious trouble with the Silver Cross - thank fuck we saved that pilot, Elijah, and that he got me there in time. I got to witness something truly horrifying - a parasite that made me trust easy. It was horrible - a violation of the worst kind, but it got me what I wanted: Blanche safe, and opened a door for me to form a lasting relationship with the Cross. Funny how the world works, that the truest and most faithful Catholic I have ever met now tends the wounds of a servant of the Adversary. They confirmed the boba monster isn't growing as well, which is always nice.

I also met with Trinity - I... misread her, but we're still collaborators, at least for now. I thought she was an idealist, like me - that her need to kill the false kings and lying prophets burning the world for cash was to save humanity from their jaws, but she's more short sighted than that: she wants revenge. I suppose that's understandable; I forget the privilege of others, sometimes. I forget they cannot understand the way I understand, cannot accept the brutal necessity of what must be done; cannot accept that in order for a new world to be born, the old one must burn before Apocalypse that the reckoning may come to pass and Eden be restored. She provided a safehouse and she provided contacts, and the trade was a favor - that I use my Gift in her service. She didn't even need me to seal the bargain with an oath, which was a surprising relief.

It is a start. I am meeting others - perhaps not always like minded, but at least aligned. Blanche. Trinity. Are they friends? Perhaps - Blanche certainly more than Trinity, but I hope that I can call Trinity friend too, someday.

It is comforting that though my role is to walk the path of Darkness, to console the Devil in His necessary torment, that I too am not denied the comfort of companions.

It is comforting to have friends.
3 weeks, 4 days ago: Blanche Bennett wrote a Downtime Journal for An Out of Body Experience

It Wasn't Werewolves

So uh. I decided recently that I needed to pay a debt to that werewolf hospital and called up Maria (I almost forgot about the name thing) and asked what could be done for repayment. She mentioned it could be paid normally (I did forget about my small fortune) or by doing a little job for her. I decided that a job would be best, because someone of my skillset obviously wouldn't have a difficult time in this at all. It was just patching someone up, how hard could it be? 

Well let me tell you I was fuckin surprised to see the fancy submarine lookin door upon arrival to the room and handed a rifle and told good luck before entering. No information besides finding their surgeon and getting them out. Oh and a containment breach. I guess that was pretty important (note to self: be like Eddie, harass them more). I went in alright and found my new buddy, who nicknamed herself Petunia (will be relevant later). She was hiding in a room absolutely terrified, but I helped her calm down cause I'm so great with kids. The other rooms in the hallway appeared to be empty, and luckily for me the surgeon was right where a surgeon should be- hanging out in the operating room! They looked pretty fucked up and their arm was full of teeth, but I patched them up real quick and we got back to the door. I decided we needed to all get out together and that's when Maria informed me we were not dealing with werewolves and then cut out, so I figured handling things would be best if we had code names. The doctor took Nightingale, the girl chose Petunia, and I picked Rose (because they are very pretty and covered in thorns- like I'm covered in needles!)

I managed to rig some sort of drill to open the door, but my friends didn't like the noise so I moved them into the other room and we hung out for a while (drawing of course- such great artists). Eddie eventually showed up after I sent them so many pictures (or maybe she missed me? <3) and was acting a little funny at first but I trust her! She took the doctor out of the room and went on a mini adventure so I hung out with Petunia until she returned. 

Then we figured out the whole mind control parasite thing, had a good laugh and I took Eddie out for dinner. 

 2 months, 1 week ago: Edward "Eddie Odin" Bouvier wrote a Downtime Journal for Lost and Found

Blanche Might Be My Favorite Person

I am extremely lucky that I know Blanche.

It was pretty opportune, all things considered - Cinder needed my help with something but wouldn't tell me what until I got up there. Turns out she wanted me to take out the head of some gang which has her under their thumb; I'd have done it, but she wasn't willing to talk price, so it wound up being a moot point.

What was not a moot point was who just happened to be staying with Cinder at the time: Blanche.

Blanche is... extremely, extremely capable.

Being down an eye is not ideal, but it is a lesson, and it's something I can compensate for.

Being down a hand? Being down a hand is a problem - one, it turns out, Blanche can fix.

We went on... I think it was a date? I'm not sure - but it ended with a dead neonazi, a new hand, and the best night I've had in recent memory, and all I had to pay for it was the promise of my spare time. Blanche has some sort of obsession with me, it seems - they're willing to help me at next to no cost. More than willing - eager.

Blanche might be my favorite person now.

 2 months, 1 week ago: Trinity wrote a Downtime Journal for Crois deora

The dead don't always move on.

Something Jayce said had been sticking to me. I realized that when the dead in an area speak to me, I could... maybe speak back. Turns out, I can converse with them, if I focus on a specific one, and have it set up correctly. It's a pretty gruesome sight, though, which others can see as well. It's like instead of my other ability which allows just me to see the truth of the situation, this shows everyone around me a lie about the situation. Whoever I'm speaking to, as they were right before whatever killed them. And then they slowly get killed again while talking. It's... It's harrowing, to say the least. I need to be careful who I do it around.

The good news is, a lot of the time I can help them move forward. Take a note for their living loved ones, that kind of thing. Sometimes it's a little harder, however.

 2 months, 3 weeks ago: Jayce Morin wrote a Downtime Journal for Mad Moxie's Matchbox

Assassins Work on Moose Too

Evelyn self driving - works good. She has antlers now?

NOTE: DON'T GET PULLED OVER WITH THIS - COPS NOT CONVINCED. LUCKY I KNEW THE GUY.

Can turn into Evie's journal; I thought I'd never see her writing again. It's nice. Need to get new kit. Destinations:

- Silver City NM - visit Leana. Figure out a guitar situation and grab a damascus knife-blade. Also get better armor.

       - In between: military surplus stores. Loads of them down here, maybe Nevada? Need better armor. Maybe a helmet. Something with a face shield.

- Spokane: moose hunt with Trinity.

- Crater Lake: Oregon is REAL pretty this time of year, and the chub infestation should be ok now. Would love to go fishing there - maybe burn some for Evie.

- San Francisco: meet with this Za'id person. Note to self: Leave the guns in Evelyn!!!! Dumbass!!! Don't need to get arrested again.

Showed Trinity around Spokane - surprisingly ok with outdoorsy stuff! Gave her some tips on tracking, foraging, orienteering and all, and she showed me a HELL of a way to shoot. We actually managed to take a moose - a bull moose! Kept the pelt, used the spare knife-blade to make Trinity a hunting knife from the antlers as thanks for the trip. I know she normally would get paid for this thing, but I don't have that kinda cash and felt bad paying just in cured meats and bush dinners. Need to go visit Jason's family to get the pelt processed, should be cured OK with the brains for now though.

 

Change of plans: chatted with Za'id on the phone, she let me know she can't talk to dead people yet. Gotta come up with a way to pay her when she learns... she's into occult stuff and spells and things... could I hunt a chupacabra? Maybe she'd like a chupacabra corpse?

 2 months, 3 weeks ago: Sasaki "Izzy" Izumi wrote a Downtime Journal for This Cheese is Perfectly Legal

New Ties

I was really bummed about Ricky- he was kinda cute and goofy, but I don't appreciate two-faced jerks who almost get me killed. I guess it worked out in the end though. My aquarium date went well with the 5 boys the Donna so kindly let me borrow! (Donni, Sal, Vic, Cesare, and Vinny) Wonderful lads all of them. We took so many cute pictures and I shared them with the Donna (she's gonna frame the funny one of the boys with the sharks) and they hung out a little longer after so I could demonstrate rope tying! I got all dressed up for my tutorial too, I think they were really excited to learn and caught on quick! It was a really fun night and I'm looking forward to working with them again. 

Latest Completed Contracts

11 Contracts have been run in this Playgroup

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Illuminated Earth

Illuminated Earth is a twisted reflection of the modern world where the advent of smartphones and the internet confirmed the existence of the supernatural instead of disproving it. Here, witch hunts have merit. Billionaires and Senators employ paranormal advisors and bodyguards, and everyone knows. Charlatans become pop culture icons, and each revelation inspires a new cult. The world is changing. The secret societies that pull humanity's strings scramble to adapt.

Now's a good time to move up.

House Rules

Contractors from The Illumination Are portable, and may play in Contracts in other Playgroups.
The Illumination grants 6 Experience points to GMs who achieve the Golden Ratio.
  • Citizenship: Active Players are expected to GM Contracts from time to time. If you have played as a Contractor in your most recent six Contracts, you are barred from playing in The Illumination again until you GM.
  • Supernatural Powers: All non-mastery, non-concealed Powers must be obviously supernatural when activated or grant a mutation that marks the wielder as supernatural or bizarre if discovered.

Full Setting Description

They named that time The Illumination, and it was by the flash of a camera phone.

 

The year was 2004. Until that point the Earth was as we had always known her. We filled her cruel vastness with legends, superstitions, and rumors. Warlocks, monsters, and gods lurked on the edge of the collective consciousness, always a possibility but never more. We lacked evidence. That evidence came as humanity filled its pockets with technology equipped to capture and transmit.

 

An iPhone found on High School senior Nate Klienman’s mangled corpse held a video of his girlfriend’s bone-snapping transformation into a monstrous wolf creature. A Brazilian widow documented a series of conversations with the misty figure of her late husband. A Chinese fishing boat caught a mermaid in a net and put it on display in the Beijing aquarium.

 

Each week brought a new revelation that we were not alone. Superstitions reversed their slow death overnight. Salem held their first witch trial in a century. The jury rendered a verdict of “guilty on all charges” and sentenced Maxibelle Horux to death. A week after her lethal injection, half the jury died from a tainted batch of flu vaccine. A fearful, populist movement arose to rid humanity of the creatures lurking in its ranks. Suspects are forcibly subjected to bizarre tests of their humanity, and the results are often open to interpretation. A mob’s justice is swift.

 

Yet the paranormal is not merely relegated to a persecuted class. Where some see monsters, some see sentience, and others see opportunity. If a vampire can sustain themselves on cloned blood and work the graveyard shift, why not legalize and tax? Politicians and Aristocrats employ odd-looking individuals as "advisors" or "protection." Entertainment magazines publish revelations every week about which celebrities shed their human skins at home. Charlatans of all stripes, from palmistry mediums to televangelists, have flourished despite the risks. The treatment of the paranormal varies from place to place, person to person.

 

Long have cabals, cults, and secret societies thrived in the shadows. Their roots run deeply through humanity’s oldest systems of power. Machinations are challenged, and sleeping dangers awaken. The world is changing, forcing long-dormant powers into desperate action. And it is in the midst of this great period of change that The Powers That Be have once again turned their attention to the blue marble. For the first time in two hundred years, Harbingers approach worthy individuals with an offer they won't refuse.

The Games have returned, and a new generation of Contractors are being forged.

World Events

Posted by Unifel, 1 week ago. Permalink

Drug-Induced murder suicide in Marriott Executive Apartments

The community in Johannesburg is in shock today after the warlord Bosco was murdered by one of his own men in a downtown shootout inside his own suite. It seems his supply was broken into, and the only surviving member had some sort of anxious mental break - continuously double checking everything and talking about some sort of moth-man. On that same theme, the one who did all this actually jumped out a window after they had fatally injured most of their comrades, perhaps believing himself to be a moth-man as well!

One of the hotel staff was fatally injured in the shootout as well, but no one is certain the details of the altercation, as it seems an EMP of some sort might have gone off in the area and shorted out some of the security systems.

For the safety of everyone around you, please - use carefully, if you're going to.

Posted by MesmerMara, 3 weeks, 4 days ago. Permalink

Museum of Occult History Temporarily Closing

There has been a robbery in the Museum and Master Enzo Agosti has closed the museum doors while an investigation occurs. He has yet to give any word or information about the situation, but with time the culprit will be brought to justice.

 

There is also a new position opening for security! Applications are currently being accepted.

Edward "Eddie Odin" Bouvier made a Move (MesmerMara GMed) 3 weeks, 4 days ago. View Move

Fixer-Upper House Sold

House and Lot combo listing in Forestville, CA finally finds a buyer. This small cabin built in 1945 comes with 2 lots for a total of 7.2k square feet of space, perfect for a tranquil family get-away! The cabin itself is surrounded by beautiful mountain laurels and Douglas firs with a natural water source nearby, away from any flood zones. Both the house and lot offer plenty of privacy in the wonderful canyon with the surrounding redwoods, as well as being 10 miles from the city. This property is full of potential and we hope the new owner is just as excited as we are to create something beautiful!

Blanche Bennett made a Move (Unifel GMed) 3 weeks, 4 days ago. View Move

Military Training Exercise in Salem, Oregon.

If you saw a military convoy going through town last night, don't worry - there were some training exercises that resulted in some injuries, so the convoy was transporting the injured men to a nearby urgent care facility known as the Silver Cross. While some might say that the Catholic institution shouldn't aid military men, their spokeswoman, Maria, stated that the lord's plan for her involves helping any who come to her door, no matter their occupation, predilections, or situation. She pointed this publication towards Jude 1:22–23.

“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” 

Cinder Alynth made a Move (Unifel GMed) 3 weeks, 5 days ago. View Move

New Orleans family goes missing!

It has now been a full month since the death of Herbert Gillian and the subsequent disappearance of Bethany Gillian - and Herbert's corpse! Her family has stated that she is pregnant and they are worried not just for her health but also the health of her unborn child. Unfortunately, the only news since the initial event is Bethany's two brothers - who were leading the search parties - also disappearing. Their mother is beside herself with worry, and offering a reward of ten thousand dollars for any information that helps to find them again. If you have any information at all, please call [number] and let her know!

Posted by Contracted_Pyre, 2 months, 1 week ago. Permalink

A Yelp Page closes

And a new business opens

Cinder Alynth made a Move (Unifel GMed) 2 months, 3 weeks ago. View Move

Posted by MesmerMara, 2 months, 3 weeks ago. Permalink

Mad Moxie Matchbox Tournament Closed

Hey fuckers and truckers! Thank you all for your undying support, what a match we had today! Moxie is currently out of commission (our new players really packed a punch!) and the tournament will be out until further notice, please do not stay past visiting hours or you will be trapped in the pocket dimension with Jeffery. 

Thank you.

Edward "Eddie Odin" Bouvier made a Move (Unifel GMed) 3 months, 4 weeks ago. View Move

Mercenary Group Saves Kubota Gardens

A Breaking News Segment interrupts the weather forecast: A woman is seen in the Kubota Gardens wearing a windbreaker and holding a microphone: "If you've been keeping an eye on the news, you'll know that lycanthrope attacks have been being reported around the area of the Kubota Gardens! We have good news for those affected and living in the area today, however. Last night a group of heavily armed and armored men and women stormed the area with silver laced weapons and took down all the currently known shapeshifters that were active! We tried to get ahold of their leader but they declined to comment." Here, she smiles at the camera. "However, I met with one of their lower ranked members at a bar! Their identity will be kept anonymous for their protection, but they told me they were a group working for a healthcare organization calling itself the Silver Cross. Their closest clinic is a state away in Oregon, but it seems their mission is to help these creatures, not just put them down! We'll have to see how well that goes for them. Keep an eye on KOMO 4 TV and we'll keep you updated with the latest developments. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming!"

Cinder Alynth made a Move (Unifel GMed) 6 months, 1 week ago. View Move

Bellingham Bar Brawl

Last night at the Thai'd Hands, a tattoo artist just off her shift started a fight with someone for wearing red laces on their boots. Instead of jumping in to assist the poor defendant, the bartender started cheering her on as her friend joined in. The cops were called when someone walking by outside the bar heard the commotion, but it took them a while to arrive - when they finally did, the perpetrators had cleared out of the area and the poor man was tending to a broken nose outside, having been kicked out as if he had been the instigator!

View all World Events