De Profundis- An Exercise in Horror

[Greystone]

Disclaimer- This is a game, masquerading as a normal thread. If you have any comments or concerns, give me a PM and I'll take care of it.

Alright guys, my name is Greystone and I want to welcome you to my thread. Now I know technically this area of the forums is for games- but the idea is we hide it here and no one bothers us.

Hmm... some rules before we begin- no name calling, if you have a problem come to me, and generally don't pick fights. Other than that- feel free to debate or discuss whatever you want. From new games to politics, I don't mind as long as its all friendly.

How about we start by introducing ourselves- I'm a college student and a political science major, and I am happy to meet you.

[Lord Tyger]

Hey Greystone, thanks for making the thread. I'm a college student as well, English major, though. Anything to get away from math (I kid, mostly).

[Inglenook]

Ah, it's good to have a little "nook" away from the forums-at-large!

Continuing the trend, I guess: I'm a college student, too. Linguistics major, holla! And I'm with Lord Tyger on this one—I'm so glad I scored high enough on my ACT that I didn't have to taken any college math. *shudders*

[Lord Tyger]

Hey historiasdeosos (what're your views on capitalization of your screenname? Some people get particular). Welcome to our secret lounge.

[Greystone]

So far I am sensing a communal dislike of math, especially higher level math. Let me tell you, I am so far into that camp its actually a little sad. Still, I've never needed anything outside of Algebra 2, and I thank god every day that politics is a math light field.

I was worried I would need more math to get on this summer trip to Europe, but thankfully I dodged that bullet. I leave tomorrow for Berlin.

What are your plans for the rest of the summer?

[Lord Tyger]

Mostly I'm just chilling out, decompressing from a kind of stressful school year. If the chance comes up I'd love to take a road trip to the House on the Rock, but I think that might be next year.

[Inglenook]

Hey historiasdeosos (what're your views on capitalization of your screenname? Some people get particular). Welcome to our secret lounge.

Makes no difference to me. If I had my druthers it'd be "stories with bears" but alas, too many characters.

As for the summer, I'm volunteering at a community center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but other than that my schedule is blissfully free. I might be going "urban exploring" sometime next week, which should be pretty fun.

[VonDoom]

Hey guys. VonDoom here. Greystone mentioned this thread and I thought I'd take a look.

I'm usually not one for smalltalk, but I figured I might as well make an effort for once. Unlike most of you college and university people, I work full-time at a bookstore in Vienna.

That's Vienna, Austria, incidentally -- so if you have time for a sidetrip during your holiday in Europe, Greystone, send a message my way and I can show you some of the sights.

And since I would never in my life suggest to meet up with a total stranger, here's a picture:

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That's what all native Austrians look like.

[Griffith!]

Hey. Stumbled on this "nook" while lurking. Thought I might join in, if noone objects.

Name's Griffith!, and mind the punctuation, cuz' it matters, m'kay? I'm from New England, where I was born and raised just down he coast from Essex, Massachusetts. Small town, middle of nowhere. I know, I know, "don't give personal information on the internet," but if you can figure out who I am just from that lot, you deserve to mail-bomb me.

So that's what Austrians look like, huh, Doom?

Sure it's not -

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I kid, I kid.

[Lord Tyger]

Makes no difference to me. If I had my druthers it'd be "stories with bears" but alas, too many characters.

As for the summer, I'm volunteering at a community center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but other than that my schedule is blissfully free. I might be going "urban exploring" sometime next week, which should be pretty fun.

Like abandoned houses and railway tunnels?

[Inglenook]

Well, where I live isn't big enough to have abandoned rail stations, really. But there was a big urbanization boom back in the fifties and sixties that sort of fell flat, so lots of abandoned buildings. Pretty extensive sewer system too, although I never plan on going down there again.

I probably shouldn't say any more, though—I think the forum mods look unfavorably upon the discussing of real-life illegal activities.

ETA: VonDoom, that's like my dream job; always wanted to work in one of those ancient, maze-like used bookstores you see in fantasy movies. Preferably nestled between a café and a patisserie, natch. And the BookPorn subreddit is my favorite thing ever.

[Griffith!]

Small town, like I said - not much of a sewer system to crawl around in, but we do have an abandoned rail station down the road.

But hey, cream o' the crop as far as abandoned places go - we have an old twenties-ish amusement park, rusting away up by the bay. It's been closed for years, but you can still see the carousel up there. Storm winds make some wonderfully creepy noises on what's left of the wooden roller-coasters, too.

Got some great local horror stories too...

Sorry, I'll be back later. Ran out of cigarettes halfway through the post.

[Lord Tyger]

Hell, rural New England, you're in the heart of Lovecraft Country, I'd be shocked if you didn't!

[Griffith!]

What? run out of cigarettes?

Or have horror stories? Nah, not like you'd think. It's not all Elder Evils and great big, tentacly things out here. Mostly just fog and, you know... trees. Lovecraft had some kind of emotional issues.

But local legend does say that there used to be a fish-god cult at the park. That's why they shut it down instead of, you know, the whole general 'rot and wear' thing. Fish cults are much more interesting.

But every town has plenty of horror stories. I'm sure your hometowns do, too.

[VonDoom]

Mmm. Folklore around here seems oddly obsessed with death. Also, Death. You know, the bony fellow? Black cape and cowl, giant scythe?

Either way, I'll have to disappoint you. My workplace is rather mundane. Much less labyrinthine or ancient. Though I admittedly have no idea just what your last sentence is supposed to mean, weird American person. By which I mean historiasdeosos.


Edit: Incidentally, you guys know that Doc Doom has reached a good age of 50 years, right? 50 years of excellence in villainy! And he's still pretty much the top dog all around! Screw Magneto.

[Lord Tyger]

Not so much as you might think. My hometown's in the Adirondacks, and admittedly there's been some dark things that happened there, but it's mostly utterly mundane evil. The body of the knife-selling girl, Dead Baby Beach, the occasional murder-suicide. Not a ghost or a ghoul to be found while I was growing up, though my aunts had some stories (as aunts always do).

[Inglenook]

Though I admittedly have no idea just what your last sentence is supposed to mean, weird American person.

The greatest thing.

[Griffith!]

I like books as much as your next erudite internet scholar, but I'm not sure I like books quite that much.

Used to work in an old bookstore, when I was a lowly college freshman. It wasn't maze-like or interesting. Musty, mostly.

Doc Doom, by the way, has been dropped by Squirrel Girl. Squirrel Girl. No, the true master of villainy in the Marvel 'verse is clearly Charles Xavier. No, don't argue. Don't let the movies fool you. Charles Xavier is a bad guy.

[VonDoom]

So, in more recent years, has Thanos. Squirrel Girl is a satire character. Being defeated by her doesn't count.

And as for Xavier. Nonsense, my good fellow! The premier X-Villain is obviously someone far more ... Sinister.

And that bookporn thing is ... kind of neat, I guess? I'm sort of ambivalent about it. Though I could probably easily submit my own personal library there. But I'd never publish porn on the internet.

[Greystone]

On layover in Newark, thought I would check in before I got back on the plane.

I don't think I'm heading to Austria, Von Doom which is a shame as you obviously have excellent taste in comic characters.

As far as I know my home doesn't have... too many local legends, but my college mates from Waynesborough (Pennsylvania) have tons of creepy tales to tell. Apparently there are these places called 'The Bunkers', a bunch of old bomb shelters from the WW2 era they used to keep ammo in. They were cleaned out and abandoned.

My friends swear that some weird stuff goes on, Satan worship and animal sacrifices and or something. They went to see once... only once. Apparently they saw lights in one of the bunkers and a person began to walk towards them and they bailed. Probably the right idea if they aren't pulling my leg.

Well, I'll be getting in to Germany late this evening, but I will try to get on and say goodnight

EDIT- I have arrived, but I am far to tired to post, hope to see speak with you all soon.

[Griffith!]

So how's the trip? Never been to Europe. Might wanna go some day, who knows?

What happened? We were going good for a bit, and then you guys vanished. I feel all alone in the nook.

... Or maybe not. Anyone still around?

[Lord Tyger]

Yoho- not much interesting happening here, but there's a Farmer's Market in the Park later this evening, and tomorrow I'm off to see at least one ply in a (different) park.

[VonDoom]

It's the weekend. Things are usually more quiet around this time.

[Greystone]

Boy have I had a strange couple of days. I got into Berlin as planned, but it seems I was the only one. My teachers and classmates are no where to be found.

I asked the hotel staff, and he told me a group matching mine was here last week and head off, but no one is answering my texts. After quite of few days of worrying I got a text from Dr. Barns, my advisor. He tells me they are about six hours away from my position. In an hour I get on a bus to meet up with them.

Very strange.

Sorry about my lack of posting, as you can tell I've been quite busy.

[Inglenook]

That's really bizarre. What sort of group is it? Like a class thing?

I be super freaked out being in a gigantic European city by myself; I think the furthest distance I've been away on my own is like two hours from my town. Hopefully you speak German, Greystone!

[Griffith!]

You guys would not believe the week I've had. First my parents practically vanish. My sister says they went up the coast, my aunt says they're in Vegas and my uncles think they're in Europe. Last I'd heard they were looking at some property outside town. Nobody can come to a consensus, man.

We've had some weather in town too. Wind, rain, the works. Rolling brownouts; line patching. Lots of thunder and lightning. Remember the amusement park I was talking about? Ferris wheel got hit. Twice.