The Illumination

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

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Latest World Events

Phylum Moridoc made a Move (Joblerone GMed) 2 weeks, 1 day ago. View Move

GenWyld investors in new talks

Some noise has been rustled up at the top of the GenWyld food chain! The board of directors, headed this year by returning CEO D. Arwen, is even more cloistered than usual this quarter, and rumor has it that they're gearing up for a new set of investors! According to an inside source, the board hopes to court the ever-notorious Drache Cular, the head of the multimillion Sure-Byte Investments, and is looking for outside talent to finally do the trick in attracting an offer. What they hope to develop with the money is anybody's guess at this point, but given their recent launch of fully genome customizable tails, we know it'll be a riot to remember!

Phylum Moridoc made a Move (Joblerone GMed) 3 weeks, 4 days ago. View Move

Felix Thoros finally discovered!

After being missing for the last three months, Felix Thoros has been discovered in his home late Saturday evening. His family are overjoyed to discover he was no worse for wear in the interim - apparently suffering from a head injury, amnesia had left him in the care of a kindly stranger, though he was unable to describe whom when questioned. Said his mother, "I knew he wasn't dead, I just knew!"

Felix, when questioned about this new lease on life, confessed he was "just glad to finally be home, with people I finally recognize." He states that while putting his life (and memory) back together will be difficult, "at least I'm alive to do it." We're wishing him well in his full recovery, and to whoever's been caring for him these past few months, we appreciate you!

Latest Journals

3 weeks, 1 day ago: Mathias Galligan wrote a Downtime Journal for Who Done It?

My sister is a saint

I had to call Sloane and tell her I was stuck at work, and that I would need more help with Saoirse upon returning. 

This, obviously, did not work. Spilled the beans and told her I was in the hospital, and she passed the phone to my mother who got to practice her fluent Italian by ripping me a new one over the line. It was honestly kind of refreshing to hear her yell again. Was worried the age would dull her down. 

Thankfully I got to go home recently, recovery didn't take as long as I thought it would, but no complaints there. Saoirse followed in her grandmother's footsteps and threw a full fit as soon as I walked through the door, and we hugged and cried. I cried for the first time in a long time. I think it was good for both of us.

Gonna take her out for ice cream in a bit, dedicating the whole week to spending time with her. I need to be less of a hero on the job. It's so easy to lose yourself and forget who needs you to be their hero elsewhere. 

3 weeks, 2 days ago: Diamond Jasper wrote a Downtime Journal for The Milk Run

Fucking Mirrors

I can't stop looking at myself. I know I shouldn't. It's a distraction. But it's a heady kind of rush, seeing part of me that doesn't change. The only thing that changes is the indicators.

You should keep the mirrors covered. No, uncover them. No, cover them!! Fuck

I don't want you to see what I see and have to deal with the disconnect between them. But it might be worth your while to have them uncovered anyways - creepy crawlies have a nasty habit of wearing the wrong faces. None have followed me home yet. Yet.

I need to get myself together. Assembled, at the very least. Just need more time to siphon off steel from the factory - the electrical components are surprisingly easy to source. The clean room's going to be busy making sanitary ports for a while. I should leave its instruction manual for you. Do you want me to annotate it? Maybe I'll print off a second copy and annotate that so you have the original too. I'll need to make signs for the rest of the setup.

I'm excited to teach you all about them.

3 weeks, 2 days ago: Diamond Jasper wrote a Downtime Journal for Who Done It?

Arms

I have them both now. They're functional, stretchy, and just as dexterous as I'd hoped. It's a good model for you, if you ever decide you need them.

The indicators are online, and I have to say, I'm pleased they work. Just... Always a little anxious when I have to look at them. I'm supposed to be, but it's not their fault the system isn't fully complete.

 

 

 

Okay, I've found a way around that. The Iblis System - it's a long shot, but cloning my consciousness to make it work in redundant parallel should help leave the rest of me for actual brainthink. I can't afford to get distracted right now. Installing it will be a nightmare, but that's what I have Eddie's deal for, eventually. I... oh god I don't remember the command word anymore. Fuck.

I hope she calls me soon.

I love you, Jun.

3 weeks, 2 days ago: Diamond Jasper wrote a Downtime Journal for Monster Hunter: Island

A Party to Remember

After what Eddie said, I made some improvements.

Iblis II is starting to happen. You're realer than you could understand.

But also... I showed everyone your voice. They got to hear you - Cinder, Trinity, Eddie, and Blanche. And they're helping me. They want to help you exist.

I have. Friends now. I have people who want to help me and people who want to help you. Friends who are willing to do some weird things for me. Friends who are willing to let me set up shop in their little nest egg with their wife. Friends who are willing to model for me in weird ways (do NOT open the album "unused" if you don't want to see Eddie and Blanche). Sorry if you come out with only a penis - I didn't figure out how to make you a spare in time, but Blanche would know how to do it. Just find someone who has the pussy you want first, then Blanche and Eddie will help.

I like the idea of not leaving you alone. I never thought it'd be realistic. Maybe it still isn't. But I'm going to make it happen. I'm going to make sure you're in a world where there's no Kings, no moms, no siblings. Just you and the life you want to live. Though, I guess we are siblings at this point - you've even got all my old hand-me-downs! Should I call you brother? Sister? Sibling?

Child? I like daughter more than I should.

Ignore that, you should be what you want to be, not what I think you should be.

Though you're going to have to wait a bit longer, I think I've got the flu, strong smells keep making me puke.

I love you, Jun.

Love,

Diamond

P.S. Is that okay? Is that weird? It feels weird, I'm

3 weeks, 2 days ago: Phylum Moridoc wrote a Downtime Journal for Who Done It?

I Think I Have Covid

I think I might die.

Holy fuck.

My heart is racing. He almost killed me. He - he could have killed me.

Fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck.

I think I'm falling apart - I don't understand what's happening to me, I'm hyperventilating and he almost killed me and yet.

And yet.

I hired some new people - some people to help me get away from my mischief, or at least the consequences of it. They're - they're amazing, frankly, I feel like a moth flying into a fucking campfire.

They don't treat me like I'm special - they treat me like any other person.

They treat me like meat, and it's intoxicating.

When I looked up into that dragon's mouth - when Madame (fuck, I'm thinking of her as Madame now, what is WRONG with me) called me pet over the phone - I almost fucking passed out just from the raw power of it. I need more of this. Not the dying - no, no, no I do NOT want to die - but to be around creatures whose respect I need to earn. Whose fear I need to earn. They are- they're beyond just money. They have what really matters: power. They have agendas, powerful personalities, motives! I need, need to learn from them. I need to get direction for them.

...

I kind of need them to step on me.

...

Fuck. I need a shower.

3 weeks, 2 days ago: Phylum Moridoc wrote a Downtime Journal for The Milk Run

Why... Normal...

I'm bored.

 

I am soooo fucking bored.

 

It's easier now - to get people. The ones that fall into my trap - my squealing pigs - are so much easier to grab. And yet... it's not satisfying anymore. I used to find it vindicating; to take these bastards, so certain that nothing bad could ever happen to them that they actually agree to meet up with someone like me (seriously, I basically have a confession up on the internet. It's so obvious it's inadmissible in court) and thought it would end well, and make them suffer the consequences of that certainty. Show them that, at any moment of any day, they could have everything taken from them. It used to bring me... peace, I guess.

 

Not anymore.

 

I can do more now - I know I can do more. I talked to Sebastian about it: gave him a nice bonus. A raise. Let my finances recover so that he can have an ample resource pool.

 

We're going to do so much good work together, I think.

 

I need to find something better to do, god DAMN.

4 weeks, 1 day ago: Petit Rouge (Izzy) wrote a Downtime Journal for The Demon Cabinet of Mr Long

New Home, New Me

So, I got to talk to Za'id about some...stalking??? That has been going on lately and I was pretty sure it was those Ouroboros people (it was) so she helped me contact them so I could have a proper meet and greet thing going. Simple right? Anyway, she gets it set up, I leave and eventually get there, and it looks like no one is on site, which was super creepy. I go inside after asking Christine to stay put, and there's actually one guy. He's hot in a spooky Adam's Family sort of way I guess, looks like he needs more sleep. His name is Tombe, and he sits me down and we talk. We talk and he shows me some real freaky shit. Like, nightmare fuel type stuff. Awful. I think the first video put me in shock, and the second just hit home. I never realized how bad things were??? But I made it clear I wanted to help, and he had me demonstrate some skills. So I climbed. I climbed and then I bumped into Amie and I got really embarrassed cause now there's TWO attractive people watching me. She saw me drive Christine into a monster and off a dock and I thought I wouldn't see her again but! It's fine! There were more people there too!! I guess I did well enough cause I got to go back to base with Hoshi and my stuff, where I met the Big Boss of the squad (being pansexual is a nightmare) and I went through muster. I uh. I thought it was gonna be really hard, but I guess it's actually. Not? For someone like me at least. I can imagine the average person would just simply die or something. Anyway they got me a cake and I got to blow up my apartment so yay! New friendships!

2 months ago: Phil (or Verona) wrote a Downtime Journal for The Demon Cabinet of Mr Long

It's been a while

I've been trying out some new faces, now that I can. It's been a lot of fun, actually! After getting over the initial euphoria of looking how I want, I've been going into bars or restaurants or what have you looking as different people or ages or body types or any kind of thing. It's been of course a refreshing and educational experience, but it's also been a nostalgic one. I have not had to learn how to negotiate the way people see me and those snap judgments since I was very young, at least not in such a sudden way as this. There are many things that are effective as a tattooed middle aged queer person that don't at all work as a sharp young businesswoman and certainly different behaviors are expected of me when I look like a child. The weirdest things I think have been when I've tried to go into places as an elderly person. I did not realize how much we ignore old people in a sort of benevolent way, might be useful for later. In any case, if I'm going to keep doing whatever this is, I'm going to need to be more prepared, so I'll get myself some weapons to keep with me and some armor to keep around, just in case. I don't want to lose any more fingers.

2 months ago: Jayce Morin wrote a Downtime Journal for The Demon Cabinet of Mr Long

Ruby Rose

I told her. 

I was all fucked up after my last job - my head isn't on right. I'm losing myself and the weight of the world makes me wearier than I can bear. I feel like paper about to burst. I needed someone to talk to.

I told her.

She came out to meet me - it felt... weird. Like she knew something was up. I don't know what she thought my intentions were - maybe like we always do, with too much beer and too little sense and a sleeping bag we don't talk about in the morning. I don't think I knew what my intentions were - after all, you're dead, and I think I'm just starting to come to terms.

I told her.

She didn't believe me at first - I don't blame her. Road ralleys, burning vikings, demon cats: it's nonsense. Then I showed her, and she believed me, and she believed me when I told her how I killed you.

You know what's fucked up?

She said it wasn't my fault.

I killed you, and she said it wasn't my fault, and for a moment she made me believe it.

I could have kissed her then - I wanted to. If she was closer, I would have. It probably would have been a mistake. Instead we just... talked, and she listened, and it was good. I don't know what's going to happen - maybe I'll find you, somewhere. Maybe not. I don't believe it wasn't my fault because if I didn't do what I did you'd be here with me now and we'd be drunk and naked together in a tree watching the sunrise.

As it is, though, I don't mind a friend.

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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

Phylum Moridoc made a Move (Joblerone GMed) 2 weeks, 1 day ago. View Move

GenWyld investors in new talks

Some noise has been rustled up at the top of the GenWyld food chain! The board of directors, headed this year by returning CEO D. Arwen, is even more cloistered than usual this quarter, and rumor has it that they're gearing up for a new set of investors! According to an inside source, the board hopes to court the ever-notorious Drache Cular, the head of the multimillion Sure-Byte Investments, and is looking for outside talent to finally do the trick in attracting an offer. What they hope to develop with the money is anybody's guess at this point, but given their recent launch of fully genome customizable tails, we know it'll be a riot to remember!

Phylum Moridoc made a Move (Joblerone GMed) 3 weeks, 4 days ago. View Move

Felix Thoros finally discovered!

After being missing for the last three months, Felix Thoros has been discovered in his home late Saturday evening. His family are overjoyed to discover he was no worse for wear in the interim - apparently suffering from a head injury, amnesia had left him in the care of a kindly stranger, though he was unable to describe whom when questioned. Said his mother, "I knew he wasn't dead, I just knew!"

Felix, when questioned about this new lease on life, confessed he was "just glad to finally be home, with people I finally recognize." He states that while putting his life (and memory) back together will be difficult, "at least I'm alive to do it." We're wishing him well in his full recovery, and to whoever's been caring for him these past few months, we appreciate you!

Posted by MesmerMara, 1 month ago. Permalink

Actors Jason Momoa, Scarlet Johansson and Keanu Reeves Team Up in New Action Film

The three celebrities have announced that they are collaborating on a new action film later this year during a weekend vacation. 

"We've all done these kinds of movies and really enjoy them," Keanu Reeves states. "I thought it would be fun to do a collaboration incorporating all of our talents to create something wild and something new. More details will be announced when we get started."

Jayce Morin made a Move (MesmerMara GMed) 1 month, 4 weeks ago. View Move

Lavaz Family Opening New Restaurant

Word has been going around that Mrs. Lavaz has a secret project in the works and we just got confirmation of what it is! Francesca Lavaz is a proud entrepreneur here in San Francisco and wanted to show her appreciation for the city and share her love for home cooked meals by opening up a brand new restaurant! The site is still finishing construction, but she is hoping to have it open late summer to share. If you have any plans later in the year to visit San Fran, make sure to add this stop to your list for some breathtaking, wholesome and homemade Italian cuisine!

Petit Rouge (Izzy) made a Move (baeowulf GMed) 2 months ago. View Move

Tragedy in Seattle: Apartment Malfunction Kills Five

In what appears to be a catastrophic infrastructural failure, an explosion in a downtown Seattle apartment this morning has left five dead and three injured. The explosion occurred in the early afternoon - forensic investigation has revealed that it was most likely caused by a faulty oven installation resulting in a gas leak which filled the room. The victims include Sasaki "Izzy" Izumi, 24, the resident of the apartment who is believed to have been killed in the initial blast, and their neighbors Daniel Osmonde, 32, Jacob Osmonde, 30, Lisa Knurt, 28, and Lars Olson, 19, who died of smoke inhalation attempting to enter the apartment before the fire department arrived on scene. The building has been evacuated until further notice as highly toxic compounds have been discovered in the remains of the late Sasaki's apartment, and the oven manufacturer is currently under investigation regarding their use of neoplastics and adherence to consumer safety standards.

Posted by baeowulf, 2 months ago. Permalink

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Warns of Domestic Deer

What at first was a welcome development in the ongoing deer population crisis at Yosemite National Park may be taking a turn for the unusual.

Though initially reassuring after the recent collapse of the deer population at Yosemite, a new migratory trend that shows herds of deer from nearby habitats moving into the forest now has park and state officials alike concerned. "At first, we thought it was a breath of fresh air," says Dr. Sam Bradwardine, an ecologist who's studied the Yosemite region for over thirty years. "Deer overpopulation can be a serious problem due to the historic eradication of keystone predators, but they're still a vital part of their local ecosystems. A sudden collapse in their population of that magnitude could have been just as disastrous to the environment as the elimination of wolves in the 19th century threatened to be, so when we saw other herds flooding into the park to take advantage of suddenly abundant food resources, we were relieved. Now, though, we aren't so sure." While the migratory trend initially showed exclusive influxes of nearby surplus population into the park following available vegetation, recent study shows unusual changes in behavior that imply more deliberate migration behavior.

"We started tagging adult females seen with fawns after the collapse," says Evelyn Spatz, a park ranger and tour guide at Yosemite who specializes in working with the park's herds. "We wanted to make sure that we could keep track of them, since they were going to be responsible for replenishing the herds going forward. It wasn't an immediate cause for concern when we started to notice a few individuals moving pretty far afield from the park; it made sense that following a population collapse, mothers might leave the area to make distance from whatever caused it, but then we started noticing something... weird."

"The individuals leaving the park were coming back, and more importantly, they're doing it cyclically," Dr. Bradwardine explains. "Of the deer we've tagged, there are 9 key individuals who have been leaving and returning to the park on a weekly basis, and each time they return, it corresponds with a new migratory influx. We haven't seen this kind of 'gathering' behavior before, and we especially haven't seen it oriented around what appear to be dominant females like this."

"The tourists love it, but it has all of us worried," Ms. Spatz said when we interviewed her while she was overseeing one of the observation areas in Yosemite. "Ever since this started, the deer have been way more friendly to humans - I've gotten at least a dozen proposals from local tour companies wanting to sell a 'feed the deer' attraction." Despite the lucrative opportunity, Evelyn - and most of her colleagues - are cautious. "Animals don't show drastic changes in behavior for no reason, and prey animals like deer in particular aren't supposed to be this comfortable around one of their primary natural predators. Deer are weird and I love them, but they're also a lot more dangerous than people give them credit for; from what I've heard, it sounds like this new social behavior isn't just local to Yosemite, and it's only a matter of time before someone tries something they shouldn't and gets a hoof through the ribs."

In light of these events, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a formal warning against socializing with California State deer populations in hopes of curbing the recent social media trend of "herd selfies" taking off on TikTok and Instagram, and is establishing a perimeter of volunteers drawn from the Parks service around state borders to monitor any migration across state lines. 

There is currently no news as to when Yosemite National Park intends to reissue hunting licenses.

Posted by indi_a, 2 months ago. Permalink

Local Tech Genius Hosts Dog Birthday Party

The rich and famous... they're just like us! Los Angeles' resident tech genius Chad Liang hosted a very fun night in honor of his pup's birthday party this last week. From the Instagram stories, it seemed to be a blast! His husband Kyle, best known for modeling in the advertisements for Chad's protein powder "Source", was seen being the life of the party and ensuring everyone got a jello shot. The guest list included childhood friends, a few Hollywood stars, and coworkers at various companies under Chad's conglomerate. And of course, no party would be complete without multiple cakes, Dance Dance Revolution and an intense game of fetch! We hope that we can make it to Jenkins' next birthday party!

 

~from a gossip rag the next week~

Za'id made a Move (indi_a GMed) 2 months ago. View Move

San Francisco Museum Burns

the below is a snippet from a San Francisco Times article posted one day after Za'id returned the scroll to the Donna

The San Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum burned down on Friday evening, in a tragic accident that also took five lives. The museum, having closed to the public this last December due to budget cuts, was being maintained by a group of volunteers made up primarily of the museum's board of trustees. The closure, while an indefinite one, was not meant to be permanent; the executive director said in a statement last fall that they were "hoping to restructure and rebuild, but would need to see what the future held for the museum." Unfortunately, while five of the volunteers were holding a Shabbat dinner inside the museum on Friday, the future was decided for the museum when a pair of curtains caught a stray spark, with the fire quickly spreading. The fire destroyed not only the structure and building of the museum, but also the remaining exhibits and items inside. The five volunteers were a prominent rabbi in the local Jewish community and his wife, a pair of siblings who grew up just down the block, and the museum's former Director of Artistic Vision. Their bodies were found just inside the entrance to the museum, having suffocated due to smoke inhalation and having suffered intensive burns. With their phones having been off for Shabbat dinner, and the fire having started deep inside the museum and spreading outwards, the fire department was not activated until after the fire had already reached the outside walls, and therefore they were not able to save either the structure or the people inside. A memorial will be held at the Reform Synagogue, two Fridays from today. The museum's executive director declined to make a statement for this article, however is expected to appear at the memorial. Donations for the victim's families can be made to the Reform Synagogue, who are putting together resources for their shaken community.

Edward "Eddie Odin" Bouvier made a Move (Unifel GMed) 2 months, 3 weeks ago. View Move

Gang Violence in San Francisco Rising Once More!

After the terrible accident in Chinatown that killed someone that has now been identified as a member of the Triads last month, there have been more altercations between the Mafia Families and the Triads active in the area. Eye witnesses have reported that the Mafia members seem like they've lost their fear of injury, getting shot and simply laughing. Some witnesses swear that they see those same men out and about later in the same day, looking fit as a fiddle. When are the police going to do something about this? How much are they going to let slide before they start doing their job?

Jayce Morin made a Move (MesmerMara GMed) 2 months, 3 weeks ago. View Move

Yosemite deer herd found near El Portal

This just in: a small herd of about 10 deer have made their way towards the streets of El Portal all the way from Yosemite! Civilians got a good laugh and many cute photos posing with some of the wild deer, who seemed incredibly calm around humans. They stayed two days in a local park, quietly grazing and watching passerby's on their way to work. The group was seen leaving early this morning back to the park, and with a few extra friends as well! You can find images of the local shenanigans on Instagram under the hashtag #yosemitedeer, and share any moments you were able to catch with the new neighbors online as well for a chance to be featured next week!

View all World Events