Introduction

[grimgrinningghosts]

[You wake up in a bed.

A rather comfy bed, but as you open your eyes, you realize that this room is not one you’ve ever been in before. And even the most villainous of you should notice that something is immediately very off by how morbid your room looks. While generally clean, it looked dark and like it was a part of a very old house.

And that “Rest in Peace” throw pillow really isn’t doing the room any favors.

Meanwhile, on the dresser on top of your new notebook, there is also a message:]

When the clock strikes 13 o’clock. You must all meet in the stretching room for a special announcement.

[Well, it would be rude to refuse an invitation, right?

As soon as you leave your room, you notice a stark difference between the bedroom and the rest of the building. It looked like it hadn’t been kept up in ages, and it shows with how everything is caked in dust or covered in cobwebs. But judging by the other bedroom doors, possibly with other people peering out at the same time you, at least you’re not alone in this strange situation.

As you explore the rest of the first floor of the mansion, you’ll come to realize that, besides the bedrooms, the whole place is rather decrepit and dimly lit. While all rooms may provide a great interest in you, the the bios of all your foolish mortals might be useful to you, especially if you enjoy finding out how much your new captor has learned about you.]

Comments

A

[sixfingeredstan]

[Finally, someone else who sees through this whole cheap Halloween aesthetic the same we he does!]

Exactly. I keep expecting there to be a plastic skeleton hanging from the ceiling. You'd think they would have put in a little more effort.

[aboyandhiscar]

Oooh, totally. Surprised I don't see any rubber bats around either! Guessin' they used up the budget on those sweet complimentary pillows.

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford lets out a robust laugh.] Ah, yes. There's nothing like a good bit of morbid embroidery. But what I don't quite understand is the point of all this. Why kidnap strangers to a haunted house?

[aboyandhiscar]

[This is an old man that knows how to joke, A GOOD GUY. Mike shrugs, looking over the decor again.]

My guess it's a prank, ooor they lost a bet of some kind. I'm kinda more interested in how they pulled it off.

[sixfingeredstan]

If it's a prank, it's not a terribly funny one.

[Ford scratches his chin thoughtfully.]

My guess is a combination of time portals and very potent drugs.

[aboyandhiscar]

[See, magic bullshit? Nah. Crazy tech excuses, up to and including time machines? Okay sure, Mike will buy it, WHY NOT. The drugs part sells it.]

Yeah, see, that's a stretch, but I'm leaning into it, cuz from the sounds of it, none of you guys seem like you're from Detroit, or anywhere close to it.

[sixfingeredstan]

Detroit? [Ford scoffs.] Hardly. New Jersey by way of Gravity Falls, Oregon. It seems to me we've all been taken from different places. Although it does seem like a few of my compatriots from home have followed me here.

[aboyandhiscar]

[woah WOAH, city names Mike recognizes?? He lights the heck up.]

Sounds like it, but at least those sound familiar enough! 'Course, last I heard, everything outside of Detroit was a wasteland, so startin' to think that may be an exaggeration.

[sixfingeredstan]

...Huh. [Ford's brow furrows.] It certainly seems that they've taken us from different points in time, because the rest of the United States is certainly not a wasteland. Actually, pardon me for saying so, but from what I hear it's Detroit that's the wasteland.

[aboyandhiscar]

HEH, you're not totally wrong, it's far from the city it used to be. Most folks call it Motorcity now, or Deluxe, depending on where you live.

The more folks talk though, the more I'm guessing the whole time travel thing isn't far off. Pretty sure I'm uh, from the future or something? Cuz this is throwing me off.

[sixfingeredstan]

Well, that makes sense, given Detroit's history as an automobile manufacturing town.

[Ford perks up, suddenly intrigued.]

What year, exactly, are you from?

[aboyandhiscar]

Last I checked, it was--[INSERT UNSPECIFIED YEAR HERE lets go with 80-100 years out]--and no one in Detroit's been outside the city limits in a long dang while.

[sixfingeredstan]

Goodness. I'm assuming we're from different universes, but if not, it would seem things are going to start going to shit in my world quite soon.

[He clears his throat.]

Pardon my language. But anyway, I think the probability of your universe being the same as mine is quite low.

[aboyandhiscar]

Here's hoping, Pops! Not that I don't like my home, but wouldn't wish it on anyone now!

But more relevant, how the heck do you think someone pulled off getting us all here? Drugs aside.

[sixfingeredstan]

['Pops'. It makes him sound so...old.

(You are old, Ford.)]

My guess? Some sort of interdimensional warp equipment. Quite sophisticated, seeing as how it managed to snag all of us without any of us noticing.

[aboyandhiscar]

Yeah, see, the catching us off guard thing is what I'm worried about. Reeeally don't wanna wake up tomorrow and suddenly be in an even weirder set up, you know? Heck, we don't even know how long it's been since we were ganked.

[sixfingeredstan]

It certainly doesn't seem like the most temporally reliable of places.

[Ford frowns, and takes a moment to consider the state of his stomach.]

I'm not too terribly hungry, which makes me think it hasn't been all that long.

[aboyandhiscar]

--huh, guess I'm not feeling too grubby either, if I think about it. Dang, smart way to measure, dude, wouldn't have thought of that!

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford gives Mike a grin that's both smug and grim.]

You pick up a few tricks when you have twelve doctorate degrees.

[aboyandhiscar]

I have like, zero of those, so I'll take your word for it. Got a buddy of mine that's kind of a brainiac, but I don't think even he could figure out what's going on here! Good to know there's some smarties here though.

[sixfingeredstan]

I'm certain that with my intelligence, not to mention the combined skills I'm sure the rest of us have, we'll be able to handle whatever this...this place throws our way.

[aboyandhiscar]

Nice! Not much good for much myself than a scuffle, but I'm down for a group effort.

This place may be old, but it can't be that sturdy against all of us!

[sixfingeredstan]

A scuffle is not a bad thing to be good for! Have you ever tried boxing?

[aboyandhiscar]

A little bit! Got some training under my belt, but nothing too formal. [He's a trained cadet, the little liar, but he's not much for boasting. He shrugs!]

Mostly I get into street fights, but I'm hoping there's no reason for that here.

[sixfingeredstan]

Well, any little bit helps. It's always good to be prepared, just in case.

[Just in case you, you know, get sucked into a portal for thirty years.]