Introduce your characters here when you’re ready!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most of the time, when a child is born with an aptitude for magic, a member of the local magical community takes them into some form of tutelage. of course, most magic users are not born in the arse end of Ireland. Tinure, where Allison Grew up, was small enough that it barely had a grocers, let alone representatives of "the magical community". So no one noticed the weird coincidences, the odd property damage. even the fire was put to smoking teens. She camouflaged well, until 14, when a wizard passing through, by the name of Dr. Neil Edwards.
Dr. Edwards picked up on Allison's talents, after a minor incident involving a possessed cow, 65 ml of nitroglycerin, and the spear Gáe Bulg. Well, probably sometime in the middle of it, but afterward he set up an apprenticeship for her, getting her into his city with a scholarship to a prestigious private school. (And thank god mum and dad hadn't seen my real marks in years, or else they'd never had believed it. she would later quip).
But, she never finished her apprenticeship. two years later, Mum got a very good job, in America . and Allison was taken away from her mentor. She never did find another mentor. She knew enough it wasn't crucial (in her mind), and she just never got around to it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allison is a practicing witch, living in , with a liberal arts/Folklore degree, living in a shitty apartment, chasing spooks and monsters for cash.
On the job, she wears a denim jacket that's more patches than denim at this point, a concert tee underneath, and jeans, with a leather work bag, Hair bound back and contacts in.
off the job, at her apartment or similar, she looks similar, but is likely to be in sweatpants, and doesn't bother to put in contacts or put up her hair, preferring the more comfortable glasses.
Her foci Are an Ash staff, and silver ring
gonna leave room to grow here
Yes, we can be set in America (Assuming everyone else is happy with that).
I like this character a lot. Good job.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
“So there I am, so many lives the number’s all broken, fresh out of space samurai to bust, and this little dude is like: take the pebble from my hand and you will be the master. So I dunk that rock so far out into space I had to mark the territory. Drain the main vein? You know." Sunny whistles for emphasis. "Then--and this is the part that blew my freaking mind--little dude tells me to smell his finger.” The podgy little man in the gold suit leans in, planting a calloused hand on your knee. “Smelled like piss.” The man leans back, pushing his rose gold glasses up the bridge of his nose and nodding conspiratorially. When you met, he introduced himself as Sunny, and handed you a copy of one of those Japanese comics as if it were a business card.
“So I finally figure out this ‘middle way’ thing, get double-super-extra immortal, and then the world will know who’s boss.” Sunny whoops and slaps his knee. The celebration is cut short when he bolts to his feet and flags down an elderly woman with his cane. “This is them. Has to be. Always the odd little old folks.” To the older woman’s horror, Sunny picks up her wig and shouts down into her wig cap. “Can. You. Hear. Me? Earth to Venus, this is Monkey Bro! I found the chosen one! This is definitely the right one! Much less accident-prone than the last one. Good job picking this one out!” The woman wrests her wig out of Sunny’s hand and begins beating him with her purse.
When the carnage ends, Sunny mumbles petulantly from a heap on the floor. “You’re lucky I’m still doing the Buddhist thing.”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tom is fresh out of college (he majored in mass communications, and he likes to sign his name with B.A.). In order to start his career, he signed up as an investigative journalist for The Inquirer based on an ad in the local newspaper.
As he later found out, The Inquirer was only two men strong (now three), its circulation was not much higher than that, and it was not quite the reputable newspaper he had imagined it to be. And, apparently, the role of the "investigative journalist" included going from door to door to sell the paper.
Tom had always liked writing pieces about politics. But when he realized that politics doesn't sell copies, he sometimes felt a need to relax his principles of journalistic integrity, but mostly tried to find the oddest possible stories to publish. Nevertheless, he was passionate about journalism, and hoped to move his way up to better jobs as soon as he could find a better job offer. His current gig is just an uneasy start to his career, at least until he would be able to just write normal articles and be a normal person, as he would like to be.
Tom is friendly and outgoing with other people, but stilted and uneasy when alone. He has become increasingly nervous, ever since his research for his articles about Bigfoot and UFOs turned out a little bit more successful than he had hoped.
Just based on the existing characters (and as the others are introduced we can have more options)
1. You’re the chosen one that Sunny is here to protect
2. You’re Allison’s brother
3. You’re writing a book about a guy who thinks he’s a god
4. You’re writing a book about witchcraft
5. The other hunters come to you often for hooks and you started tagging along and you’re fairly useful so they keep you around
And that’s without the Crooked or the (expert/initiate/professional) who might have a better connection for you.
Don’t forget, you’ll be using 4 of those “history” leads from your playbook and 4 people will use one of their leads on you. Every one of those is a hook to connect you to the group.
Sunny
To whom does Sunny answer to? Who is his “boss?”
“So there I am, so many lives the number’s all broken, fresh out of space samurai to bust, and this little dude is like: take the pebble from my hand and you will be the master. So I dunk that rock so far out into space I had to mark the territory. Drain the main vein? You know." Sunny whistles for emphasis. "Then--and this is the part that blew my freaking mind--little dude tells me to smell his finger.” The podgy little man in the gold suit leans in, planting a calloused hand on your knee. “Smelled like piss.”
in the version My english teacher handed me, Sun Wukong carved his name into the pillars. Weird.
Sunny
To whom does Sunny answer to? Who is his “boss?”
Mostly Guanyin, a Bodhisattva, and occasionally Taibai Jinxing, the light of Venus and messenger spirit of the Jade Emperor. They assign Sun Wukong tasks to keep him too busy to invade the heavens (again). Mostly they contact him through mysterious old folks who disappear in puffs of smoke and light, but they've used all the same 'god in disguise' tropes as the Greek and Abrahamic Gods and angels. They keep telling him he'll reach enlightenment, and cheer him up when he's pouting by giving him empty titles.
“So there I am, so many lives the number’s all broken, fresh out of space samurai to bust, and this little dude is like: take the pebble from my hand and you will be the master. So I dunk that rock so far out into space I had to mark the territory. Drain the main vein? You know." Sunny whistles for emphasis. "Then--and this is the part that blew my freaking mind--little dude tells me to smell his finger.” The podgy little man in the gold suit leans in, planting a calloused hand on your knee. “Smelled like piss.”in the version My english teacher handed me, Sun Wukong carved his name into the pillars. Weird.
I think it's both, but the pee thing was the funnier summary. Dude was way into malicious compliance.
I don't disagree... good intro.
Alright, think I'm settling on the Initiate. I'll have an intro up soon, hopefully.
If you’re playing the Initiate, the rest of you should decide are you ALL part of the sect or is Sbodd a lone member who works with the rest of the hunters.
Yeah, can't say I see Allison being more than a Member in bad standing. But I don't know the Sect yet.
If Tom is a member, he probably doesn't know it.
"I'm 132% sure Tom is the chosen one, but I'm also bad at math. I frequently forget to carry The One."
So we’re just waiting on Sbodd’s initiate and Oni’s crooked and we can do histories!
Oooh, I like it.
I think, given the sect's description. Allison is a member in bad standing, or a sometimes contact of the sect, in exchange for books or bits of magic.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Sorry, didn't mean to hold you all up. I will have him posted shortly. I was still looking at the recruitment thread and didn't realized we'd moved into Discussion. :D
No worries! I’m excited to see what you come up with. We already have an interesting world forming up.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sean O'Halloran comes from an old-school Irish American family, in a run-down suburb of Boston. Five siblings, lots of colorful swearing, the kind of neighborhood where beating your kids was okay, but missing church on Sunday was not.
His father, Michael, was a gearhead, who worked at and later ran a garage/chop-shop for the Irish mob, and he would moonlight as a getaway driver. He taught Sean and his brothers anything they wanted to know about cars, and they all knew how to drive (stick or automatic) by age ten.
Sean and his brother Mick, in particular, took to the lessons, and by the time Sean was fourteen (Mick was sixteen), they could hotwire almost anything and spent many weekend nights boosting and joyriding in cars.
Sean was a good-looking, charismatic lad, and made friends easily. As he spent more time with his dad at the garage, learning about "the trade", he began to understand that who you knew, and who you got along with, could have a huge impact on things. So he worked his charm, and soon had a wide list of contacts.
He finished high school with a C average and a few arrests, and signed up for five years as a mechanic in the Army to avoid time in a cell. He received ninety days hard labor and a dishonorable discharge three years in for stealing and joyriding in a Humvee he was supposed to be working on.
Back in the old neighborhood, he fell in with his old crew. When his dad died (cirrhosis), he was "asked" to take over the garage by Patrick Leahy, the public face of Smiling Joe Hurley, the local boss. After a few years of running the business, he was given a special job... to steal a '55 Rolls Silver Cloud from a collector.
He drove the team for that job to a house in Andover, and they gained access to the property. It was pitch black, so Sean couldn't say for sure what it was that he saw, when asked later... he just knew that something came out of the darkness, fast and hard and angry, and before he knew it, three of the four guys he was with were down. He saw the thing crouched over one of them, when the last guy, Petey Flynn, made it back to the van. He floored it out of there, running quite a few lights on his way back to the shop.
When he called in his report, they sent a few people over to talk to him. One of them, a large man with a thick beard and a gravelly voice, who introduced himself only as 'Miller', asked most of the questions... and they were odd questions. Did he see this thing in his side or rear-view mirrors at all? Who cares? When they'd got everything out of him, Miller handed him a card, and told him to reach out if he thought of anything else. He was told to forget what happened and go back on as if everything was normal. But he knew he wouldn't be able to forget the screams of pain and fear.
Three days later, he called Miller, and said, "So what do you do about these things?" A long conversation followed, in which Miller explained some things that blew Sean's mind, and completely changed his view of the world, and his place in it. He offered his services, as a driver, a hired gun, whatever... and took his first steps into a world with far more shadows than he'd ever known. Miller smoothed things over with "the fellas", because he apparently had that kind of pull.
Sean is not a "good" person, though he's loyal to his friends and won't go out of his way to hurt anyone. But now he knows what is at stake. And he's fighting for his mom, his siblings, the people at his church, his crew... all of the people who remain blissfully unaware.
Here are some history prompts in order of certanty.
Tom has a crucial role in what is to come. I am here to guide and defend him. May the earth shudder at his step, and his enemies flee at the mere mention of his name.
Allison's prayer (or spell?) summoned me. (Or released me from my most recent prison.) Y'know where 'living under a rock' came from? This guy. What would Allison have been looking for that she might have accidentally released Sunny?
Arianne's sect are an abomination, and should be destroyed. Except I can’t. (work out with them why not.) This could totally be something petty like Sunny not liking their logo.
Sean is the person I go to for advice on mortal stuff (e.g sex, food, drugs, television, etc).
Awesome! Now for the world building questions/histories.
Everyone, pick one of the history links from your playbook to share with another player. Everyone should have 4 outgoing and 4 incoming histories.
I'll let everyone hash out if you want to be a traveling group of monster hunters slaying critters around America or if you live in a central area that's especially weird.
I'll have more questions once we figure out how everything connects, but...
I'm assuming based on your move choices and description of your sect that you're also a witch and your organization is related to a legally district hidden world of witchcraft and wizardry. If that's not true let me know and I'll give you new questions.
Is magic use hereditary or is it just a random "gift" you're born with?
Can someone without the aptitude for magic learn how to cast spells or is this a "muggle" situation?
Are you still in contact with Dr. Edwards?
Do you all know where the monsters come from? (note that this is not "Where do the monsters come from", I just want to know if this is an understood phenomena or if this is "Monsters just started showing up")
okay, for history prompts:
Sunny:[b] You thought they were dead, and now they’re back.
What “killed” them?
I think, in the same incident where she unleashed you, something attacked, you took a bad hit while you were still recovering from imprisonment?
[b]Tom: They act as your conscience when the power goes
to your head. Ask them about the last time this happened.
That seem good?
Arianne: A comrade-in-arms. You’ve faced the biggest threats together.
Like I said, I think Allison has been kinda half-in half-out of the sect for a while now.
Sean: Either An old rivalry has turned into a tight friendship. Tell them what you once fought over.
or
They’re an on-again/off-again love interest. Ask them what keeps you apart. Tell them what keeps you together
I'm figuring Allison's parents probably moved to a primarily Irish neighborhood, when they hit the states. If I'm reading your thing right, Sean is only a few years older than her (or less), so either rof these makes a decent amount of sense for them
Is magic use hereditary or is it just a random "gift" you're born with?
Can someone without the aptitude for magic learn how to cast spells or is this a "muggle" situation?
Are you still in contact with Dr. Edwards?
Do you all know where the monsters come from? (note that this is not "Where do the monsters come from", I just want to know if this is an understood phenomena or if this is "Monsters just started showing up") Not hereditary, it's a difficult to predict, part of the reason magic users are supposed to be on the lookout for children with the gift
Anyone can learn, but.. it's like Org-chem, or Differential Equations, unless you've got the knack, it'll be hard and you might not get too far.
How can a potential spell caster be identified or do people just wait until Powers spring up and wisk the kid away?
Also, Sean for Underworld you chose “You worked with someone who was more than they
seemed” but the story you told sounds more like “Things went south on a job—including, but not limited to, running into ...”
Do you want to change either your underworld pick or your backstory?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Awesome! Now for the world building questions/histories.
Tell me a bit more about demons and what they can do.
Introduce us to your crew. Do they know about your extracurriculars?
What is one monster from popular culture that is definitely 100% for sure not real.
Is Miller a wizard?
Demons - Demons are subtle, manipulative, and charming. They usually manifest in a way that would be considered attractive by the person they are attempting to sway. They love nothing more than to talk you into becoming their slaves and/or giving up your soul, and will always try to bargain. It is infinitely more rewarding and nourishing to them if you give your soul over, even under coercion. While they are capable of manifesting in "demonic" forms, it tires them out quickly unless they are in places where something terrible has happened. This effect weakens over time, and is stronger the worse the event was. A single murder? Minor effect. A mass shooting or bombing? Major effect. They like hospitals, because there are often people there who have been subject to violence, and also because sick/injured people are easier to make deals with. As for powers, I'd say those are based on the relative strength of the demon, but within reason, they should be able to affect your life in various ways. Curing disease, providing wealth/power, etc. etc. for your soul.
The Crew
Adrian "Adge" Morse, age 26. Muscle.
"Tricky" Micky Clark - age 34. Planning, B&E background.
Dave "Donuts" Duncan - age 29. Best shot on the team, also their medic.
Jenny Mullane - age 28. Muscle. Former boxer. Attractive. Female touch.
They know Sean is involved in other things, and that he catches no flack from the "the fellas" about it, but so far they don't know details.
Fact or Fiction?
Ghosts are not real. Spirits can be summoned by means of magic for the purpose of interrogating them, etc. after which they go away again. Magic can also be used to simulate the stereotypical haunting. But the popular idea of an incorporeal being floating around the place where it died, continuing to reside there, etc. is fake.
Miller
Miller has access to powers beyond mortal ability, that's for sure. The source and scope of those powers remains unknown to Sean, and Miller strongly discourages discussing the matter. What Sean does know is that Miller discusses historical events (dating back to around the Civil War) in such a way that it seems like he could've been there, or could just be very well read. He always seems to have answers when questions arise, or he can get them quickly if he doesn't know. Is that supernatural, or does he just have a really good network, or both? But he has seen Miller heal gunshot wounds by simply holding a hand over the hole and closing his eyes. He's seen him suddenly appear in places where he was not a moment ago (but never in Sean's line of sight, always behind him, or behind an object, or around a corner).
History prompts:
Allison: This hunter is your moral compass. When you talk over things with them, their advice keeps you on the straight and narrow.
On-again, off-again lovers sounds about right. Despite any good he does as a part of the team, Sean still sees himself as a worthless hood, not really deserving of her. This is what leads them into fights and causes them to split from time to time.
Tom:
This hunter is a cousin or more distant relative. Second or third cousin, far enough removed that they might have only seen each other at family reunions and wakes. But he's still family, and that means something to Sean.
Sunny:
This hunter saved your life when a monster had the drop on you. Now you owe them one. This was on Sean's first job. He was still arrogant and didn't fully believe. So, while he had a shotgun loaded with silver .00 buckshot, he didn't think to raise it and fire when a werewolf came barreling towards him, claws ready to tear him apart, until Sunny stepped in and handled it.
Arianne:
This hunter is your younger sibling or child (possibly adopted). You look out for them. I am focusing more on the second sentence. Sean has a big brother/avuncular feeling towards Arianne for reasons he can't himself fully explain, and so he looks out for her as best he can, whether or not she needs it.
Also, Sean for Underworld you chose “You worked with someone who was more than they
seemed” but the story you told sounds more like “Things went south on a job—including, but not limited to, running into ...”Do you want to change either your underworld pick or your backstory?
You are 100% right. I will change the underworld pick to 'Things went south...'
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Are you the only god running around on earth?
No, but I'm the best. Very kind of you to address me by the totally accurate title I have no doubt earned, and exemplify in all manners and deeds. If I had any criticisms, it would be that the title is maybe a little short. You could try: Number One Best God Over All Heavens and Defeater of the Legions of Hell.
The west is a lot less crowded, as far as gods and what-have-yous. Not that I don't want to visit any of my old friends, with whom I have maintained strong and healthy relationships, but I haven't beaten up all the bird gods here. Yeah. Working on a cape. Gonna bring back capes.
Is this your first time on earth?
While I do spend an awful lot of time under mountains and in jars, I was, er... born here. There was the time I invaded the heavens, but it's mostly cold empty space up there. A lot more people give me the proper respect here on earth.
People are a lot harder to defeat than I remember...
Why is it a big deal if your current body gets hurt or killed?
What? Never. Such a thing is strictly impossible. I have never been- Well, in a fair... uhm. The Monkey King is immortal!
Who imprisoned you? Why?
So, I heard there was this bear dude called Nanook. Tough dude, nice spear, really nice pelt. Turns out he was more sensitive than I thought about the pelt. He got really, just, irresponsibly enraged over the slightest spill. Granted, I should have worn pants, uh, and avoided red wine, but half a century in a block of ice is not my worst stint in time out.
Sunny: You thought they were dead, and now they’re back. What “killed” them?
I think, in the same incident where she unleashed you, something attacked, you took a bad hit while you were still recovering from imprisonment?
Maybe this was really early on in Allison's apprenticeship? Allison thawed Sunny out, huge frustrating magical combat ensues, Sunny takes a Carnwennan to the chest and storms off in a huff. Years later, Sunny shows up at Allison's doorstep complaining about headaches and talking chosen ones?
Awesome! What were the monsters that attacked you?
Also, what is your team’s motivation?
• Ally: subordinate (motivation: to follow your exact instruc- tions)
• Ally: lieutenant (motivation: to execute the spirit of your instructions)
• Ally: friend (motivation: to provide emotional support)
• Ally: bodyguard (motivation: to intercept danger)
• Ally: confidante (motivation: to give you advice and perspec-
tive)
• Ally: backup (motivation: to stand with you)
It’s one for the whole group.
This is starting to come together nicely!
Just need more details from Arianne and I think I’ll know enough to give Tom more fleshing out questions.
This hunter saved your life when a monster had the drop on you. Now you owe them one. This was on Sean's first job. He was still arrogant and didn't fully believe. So, while he had a shotgun loaded with silver .00 buckshot, he didn't think to raise it and fire when a werewolf came barreling towards him, claws ready to tear him apart, until Sunny stepped in and handled it.
It wouldn't have been necessary if Tom hadn't been so lazy. Sunny had to wrestle that werewolf barehanded because Tom dropped his cane through the floor. Again. It's barely ten tons! Boy's got to do some push ups.
Sunny respects Sean as a passable shaman of the 'sploding arts.
Awesome! What were the monsters that attacked you?
Also, what is your team’s motivation?
It’s one for the whole group.
It was a vampire. I am guessing that it was the owner of the estate where they went to steal the car, but I am open to whatever on that.
Team motviation is backup. They are old friends, and have had each other's backs for a long time.
Great! I love what you’ve all put together so far!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tell me a bit more about the UFO story? Are aliens real?
"Well, I can't say they don't exist. There's not enough evidence to say one way or another. What I can say is that I had a run-in with some oddly-shaped creatures who tried to force me into a strange flying vehicle."
How do you feel about being "the chosen one"?
"I've figured out by now that Sunny is the real deal, but he's also sometimes kinda off his rocker. I'm still not sure which category the 'chosen one' thing falls under."
Prompts for others
Sunny: You’re a bit suspicious of them (maybe due to their unnatural powers or something like that). This whole "chosen one" business sounds kind of like those scams I fell for during the brief period when I was trying to invest my life savings.
Arianne: They introduced you to the existence of monsters. Tell them how you feel about that. You summoned a creature of darkness before my eyes (is that something she would do?). That was when I stopped hoping to be able to pull off a mask and find a normal person beneath it.
Sean: They’re your hero, exactly the kind of monster hunter you aspire to be. Tell them why you worship them. He is the proof that you can be a real monster hunter without being weird.
Allison: Initially rivals, you both now respect each others’ talents. We went to college together, and...
Prompts from others
Allison: They act as your conscience when the power goes to your head. Ask them about the last time this happened.
Apart from forcing Allison to be able to explain everything in normal person lingo, Tom tries to remind her of the important logistic considerations, like putting out magical fires she created after she finishes fighting monsters.
Sean: This hunter is a cousin or more distant relative. Second or third cousin, far enough removed that they might have only seen each other at family reunions and wakes. But he's still family, and that means something to Sean.
Aww, shucks. I remember writing you thank-you cards for the birthday gifts you gave me.
Ok, new questions for Arianne!
1. What is your organization called?
2. Are they global or just national?
3. Where do they store the artifacts you collect?
4. Who is your main contact?
And a question for Tom:
1. How does the group learn about new mysteries?
Full group:
Are you based out of a single location like Buffy or traveling the country like Supernatural?
Given Sean's backstory and moves, and personal preference, we might be based in Boston.
Certainly possible! Is everyone else cool with that? I’ve been to Boston once but I can wing it.
I am good with that, but also fine if we travel or relocate. I am not from MA, and I've also only been to Boston once. So everything I threw down in his desc was from some Googling, and a non-fiction book I read once about the Irish mob in Boston.
So I am good with whatever. :)
Never been to Boston.
Purely for the purpose of playing devil's advocate, the beasties tend to need an excuse to be in the area in stationary MotW shows. Buffy's set at the hellmouth. Grimm has the chosen one attract trouble. Charmed has the ley lines plus the chosen ones. Fringe ends up causing most of it's own problems. So are we causing trouble, is there something about Boston, or are we tracking down the troublemakers where they live?
Honestly, Sunny's enough to attract attention.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I accidentally missed Sunny's post earlier.
Tom has a crucial role in what is to come. I am here to guide and defend him. May the earth shudder at his step, and his enemies flee at the mere mention of his name.
"Uh, amen?" Though he plays along, Tom is not quite certain about the prophecies Sunny cites and sometimes doubts if Sunny knows what he is talking about at all.
1. How does the group learn about new mysteries?
Sometimes Tom gets a lead to a new story. Or Arianne is called by the Sect. Or Sean finds out from a contact. Or Allison does research. Or Sunny gets a heavenly vision.
I'm fine with Boston. Where the mysteries happen (in Boston or out) might also be connected to how we find out about the monster.
How about instead of Boston we do a smaller (fictional) city outside of Boston? That will give us all flexibility for setting creation.
Arkham, perhaps?
I think I'd prefer Innsmouth or Dunwich if we're going for Lovecraft Country. Arkham and Salem tend to feel overplayed. (Would we address things like Miskatonic University?)
Though I am loath to give King the credit, Derry and Castle Rock are also classics with an anthology of spoopy monsters associated with them, but King leans on ghosts more than Lovecraft, and as we know, ghosts aren't real.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I was thinking of taking the name and letting us make the setting whole cloth.
How about we just make a new eastern MA suburban city? We’ll call it...Spinethorne!
If that’s cool with everyone we can dive in to our first mystery!
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
every wannabe Gandalf for the last fifty years has made a staff of some sort, for starters.
I resent that! I'm way cooler than him
Allison: Initially rivals, you both now respect each others’ talents. We went to college together, and...
Student council or debate Team don't feel super Allison. But, she was a Folklore and Mythology major (great choice, with this job market, let me tell you) and Tom probably took more than a few of those classes a electives, given his interests. she and He might have squabbled in class over Myths (so amny different versions/interpretations). Probably had a quiet competition around grades. would have driven Tom crazy because Allison was kinda a slacker, who nontheless got superb grades (with sme help from a little fairy or two). and it would have really gootten under Allisons skin when she cheated, and Tom did better anyway.
also, I could get into the castle-rock/Dunwich/Innsmoth/fictitious own in Eastern Mass (or wherever, I just put forward Mass because I know it, and Sean said Boston)
in Mass, it's pretty much either a college town, or a post-industrial town struggling to keep going (exceptions to everything, of course) both have their charms
finally: *Quietly likes Stephen King in the corner*
I don’t know MA very well but I absolutely know struggling post-industrial towns with large Irish populations (I live in the Pennsylvania coal region).
I’m going to move forward with Spinethorn and if there are objections we can retcon.