The first time change was whispered of, it was fascinating. That word, change. It meant a world of possibilities. It meant that anything could happen–anything. When governments are overthrown or a new type of energy is discovered or a truth is found, they say change will come. But this change? This change was never what anyone had expected.
Growing up, supernatural creatures were the thing from stories and television shows. They were the things Buffy staked, the things Bella fell in love with, and the things that populated Mystic Falls. Anne Rice wrote about them, Laurel K Hamilton too. They were stories, nothing more.
But then change came. Slowly, at first. A case here, a breakout of the disease over there, and then suddenly neighborhoods were quarantined and demographics of people were becoming infected. How does someone become infected with it? Who does it hit first? Who dies from it? How do you stay safe?
The media had no answers. It was filled with disbelief longer than belief for too long. By the time the rest of us saw what was happening, the government already had a quiet and secret handle on it. Danger zones were erected within our own cities. Walls were made, with limited roads going in an out. The infection had spread. We were all at risk. We could all die. Or worst. Become one of them. For our own safety, they had to be found, rooted out like ebola carriers.
So we complied. We listened to our government and our police, who said to call if something happened, to inform authorities. It didn’t matter if they were your child, your best friend, your partner. They were gone. There was nothing left in them that was human or the person you loved. So we called the numbers.
It wasn’t until decades later we realized we were dancing to the strings of a puppeteer.
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Characters: Can be one of three genetic mutations of human: werecreature (therianthrope), psychic, vampire. You are free to also invent your own cards, and be more specific about your gene types, but please remember that one monster does not a plethora of supernatural make. These are three sections of supernaturals I’ve written into the world. Vampires, therianthropes and psychics are the results of viruses that is part of our DNA. Something happens, and it gets activated, much like how they think Schizophrenia works. That something will be defined once I have the players and we talk about it. It could be similar to zombies in that you are changing because an active form entered into your bloodstream. I’m more prone to people not knowing why they’re changing. Just that they’re changing.
In terms of appropriate ethnicity, a werelion would have some African heritage at some point. Same with werehyena, etc.
The characters should be vulnerable. They can have families, etc, networks of support which will all break down as they become other. They should not be wealthy or have access to large amounts of help that normal people wouldn’t have. They should be activists, artists, queer, of different ethnic backgrounds, impoverished, or otherwise not seen as part of the normal demographic of the middle and upper classes. You can come from that class, as poor students and drug users often do, but you cannot have easy access to its resources.
Themes: Poverty, suppression, hunger, othering, classism, racism, sexism, and government control all take features in this story. You are not powerful and sexy monsters. You are weak, hungry, hunted creatures who are thought to be without human emotion and treated as other, resulting in running away trying to survive.
Synopsis: Welcome to Sibylline Leaves: First Breath. You play people whom have gotten the infection. Your genes are filled with retroviruses and those are becoming active. Some people are immune, you are not. You are changing. You are craving the hunt. There are only whispers in the world now of the paranormal creatures, but revelation of your new nature will result in your removal to a detention center. No one is ever seen from again who goes there. The story covers the transformation and bonding of several people as they struggle to remain hidden in a world struck with first curiosity and then terror.
As there will be external threats, there should also be in character drama, relationships, and the overriding theme of fear and oppression should carry through on those notes. I am not saying you cannot be rebellious and fight back. I’m telling you that you probably won’t succeed, and if you do, it’ll be at a heavy, heavy price.
Hosted and narrated by:
Kate Bullock (Sloom)
Started 10/01/14.
Scenes played: 2
License: Community License
