That Chan Guy

Rachel King. She has plenty of experience with 'powered' or otherwise called 'affected' people, despite having none herself. In charge of the team because of her experience and meant to report any affected issues to higher authority. Doesn't unless it jeopardizes the team.

Nick Kay. Not affected. Didn't know anything about it until he was in the military, and sometimes forgets about them. Generally chill with seeing/hearing about peoples affects. First spoke to Rachel because he wanted to know more about them and they grew closer over time.

Nathan Merwin. Not affected. His sister had a minor affection, and later passed away due to health complications. Used to the usual oddness of affected people, despite his abrasive attitude.

Joey/José Gomez. Minorly affected. Has a mild danger sense which is inconsistent but never wrong when it goes off. It feels like somebody has attached a rope to the vertebra in his neck and pulls on it when he is about to be in danger. Extra superstitious because of it, and generally follows superstitions. Despite Merwins attitude, they became good friends and Merwin (usually)knew when to take it seriously. Your Mom jokes were another superstition between them. When Merwin looked back at the helicopter the sense went crazy, and he almost knew that he was going to die.

Clarice Stokes. Not affected. Still getting used to affected people as she has not worked with many, and did not know about them until she was in the military. She is very used to Eric's mannerism of using cardinal directions over any others like 'behind you' or 'on your left'.

Eric King. Averagely affected. Part of his brain is attuned to the Earth's magnetic field, so he has his own internal compass, and can always tell cardinal directions. He can also feel altitude differences. Averages within 5 ft of altitude guesses. (ex. he guesses/can feel that he's around 50 ft below sea level, although he could be a few feet higher or lower than his guesstimation.) While inside of the ark and as they approached it his internal compass went crazy, and almost lost its pull all together. This freaked him out quite a bit.

Jason Kolchek. Highly affected. Capable of teleportation through means of disassembling his atoms and reassembling them elsewhere. It is extremely difficult to do and requires focus. It is also extremely dangerous due to the fact that he can accidentally pick up other atoms along the way, or lose his own(Will not teleport once he knows that he could pick up alien/vampire atoms/cells/DNA). He must consciously put each atom back where it belongs. After practicing, he learned how to keep his cells together to make reassembly easier. He cannot spend longer than 30 seconds without becoming solid again due to the memory issues. His memory slowly fades away the longer he is apart, and he will forget how to reconstruct himself after too long(60+ seconds). At thirty seconds he may forget where he was going, or what he was doing. Memory is restored once he re forms. If his memory was not affected, he could remain apart indefinitely. He can take items with him, but prefers not to unless it is something he is familiar with, such as clothing. Radios and other technology are significantly harder to put back together. Will only use in case of emergency, because he may leave anything extra, like his kit, behind. Will not teleport other people, non-negotiable. Must know where he's going, because he cant risk taking too long to search for his destination.

(TL;DR: Jason can teleport but it isn't safe or reliable, and requires him to know where he's going+rebuild himself and anything brought with him from an atomic level, therefore not useful in escaping the temple.)

Salim Othman. Lightly affected. Unaware. Is normally good with directions, but he can also 'feel' where 'home' is. Knows where Zain and his house are, despite being far away or lost. He chalks it up to military training due to the faintness of it. It is nothing more than a brush, unlike Eric's constant pull or Joey's tug. Otherwise not aware of affects.

Dar Basri. Not affected. Doesn't believe in the affects, or powers, similar to how he doesn't believe in the vampires.

Not sure of the plot yet, but I can't imagine much would change too much in the base game. Maybe they theorize that the vampires came from an ancient affect that mutated? Possibly an argument between Eric and Jason, because Jason refuses to teleport out (For many legitimate reasons). Eric becomes more irritated after loosing his compass because he feels like he's loosing control.

Explanation of affection levels:

Not affected: 0 Affects. affects cannot be developed later in life, but may be dormant until certain criteria are met. (ex. Joey couldn't feel danger until he understood what danger was. Started feeling it around 5-6 years old)

Lightly affected: Very few indicators of affects, easily brushed off or hidden even from the affected. Not likely to be recognized unless the affected knows that it is there.

Minorly affected: Small affects that are usually inconsistent or not very strong. (ex. sometimes Joey knows when he's about to stub his toe, but not when he's about to get shot. He can also miss the sense if he's distracted). Also possible to brush off, but is more prominent to the affected.

Averagely affected: More present in the affecteds life, noticeable difference if it disappears or changes. (ex. the ark disabling Erics internal compass) Usually not shared by the affected once they learn that it is not normal to have. The affected cannot control the affect.

[January 16th 1972/Megan]

Mom and Dad were at it again, like a broken record that plays over and over again... Her attempt at hiding her report card had failed and their reaction sounded bad, Mom was talking about her, Dad was talking about work and both argued back and forth about adult things... Megan tried to talk to her Mom about it but was sent away, she tried to watch cartoons but Dad changes the channel, Dennis bristled over his record collection and everything else as Anthony went to let Tanya in a she came home from work. Mom yelled at Dennis to pack his records away in the attic which made him bristle further and Dad wanted quiet, she considers locking herself in her room and not come out until they forget about her grades but decides against it, going back down stairs and quietly out the back door...

Megan knows she's not supposed to do it but none the less she risks the lesser trouble of playing out on the old tire swing in the backyard at night, moon light reflects off the snow, painfully freezing her bare feet whenever they touch ground as she spins faster and faster, the frozen air chilling her to the bone through her thin pyjamas as she retreats into a world of her own... Her doll sits watch, guarding her from the kitchen, staring out with a smile next to the burner as she falls... but Megan doesn't know, doesn't see as the fire spreads and her home crumbles, deaf to all in this chilling moment...

Everything is numb at the end, red faced and shaky as she staggers towards the house, near deliriously cold, she barely registers as she's scooped up and carried off, drifting away from exhaustion, her face is shielded as she catches a glimpse of Tanya's white shoes... 

...why were they so far off the ground?

__

... she lays sick and tired in her long sleep, Dad had not scolded her for playing outside when she shouldn't, Mom had not checked in on her, her brothers and sister make no sound and her doll... She is gone and a bear has taken her place, a puritan in a bonnet and apronned dress, the room around her is empty of all the things that make it her's... She looks at that bear in her groggy state and she couldn't explain why but she didn't like it. Not at all...

__

[Late January/1972]

Megan stands alone, all alone under stormy skies and black umbrellas, among a forest of dark trees, standing tall and sad faced all about her, limbs brushing down her back, "No one knows why such a tragedy occurs..." He speaks to the mournful gathering as five stones mark the path she cannot follow... Reverend Carson speaks in his teacher's voice to the moving shadows under a dark canopy and she hasn't said a word, not since that night, she can't think about anything when everything is gone...

She has little but this uncomfortable dress, much worse than what she had for Sunday school... when it's over and the shadows dissipate, whispering condolences on the wind, it's just two left but she is still left by herself, "I want to go home." She breaks her silence in the back of the car, he does not look as he drives through the town. "Child... You have no home to return to, you will remain with me now." He says it like she doesn't understand but she's not stupid, she understands... she still wants it...

__

...after a long absence from school she returns to her classes, the teachers go easier on her now, now it's 'not her fault' that her grades are bad but it doesn't matter, Megan still does her work attendance or not, in his house she has many rules and he has none, like a life without Saturdays, school and Sunday school and everything else she must learn... The sad faces of adults the, the meanness of on the swings, they say the papers said that it was her fault, it didn't say that, she read it but they won't listen, no one ever does, not that they did before...

As summer approaches so do report cards and although her other teachers had been lenient and it wasn't good enough for Him, she sat on the floor in front of the fireplace as he lectures like he's giving a sermon about the fires of hell, pacing living room and she doesn't look, holding that stupid puritan bear... Staring into it's shiny reddish brown eyes and digging her fingers into its stiff articulated limbs, the fabric of the bears grey dress crumpled. "...how you do reflects on me..." He impresses upon her but she is deaf to it all, she wants to argue but the words escape her so she puts her head down on the bear, "... you have been coddled long enough..." Megan pulls at the bears limbs, tears burning the edges of her eyes, she tossed the bear in the fireplace. Flames licking at its pale yellow fur, blackening the white bonnet and apron, stares at it until she's yank to her feet and spun to face him. "Look at me!" Carson grasps her by the shoulders, fury overwhelming, "Everyone, everyone in Little Hope has given you so much and you insist on being a feral child." He lets go and steps back, for moment she fears she may be hit, she stands still as he takes a deep breath and takes the charred bear from the fire, smothering the flames, he turns to her anger still evident but much calmer. "I expect better from you, no more games, you hear me?" He trashes the bear, handing her the garbage, "Your grades will improve and you will respect me."

"Yes Sir." She addresses him, pushing herself to speak when not doing so would be worse... She does as she's told, taking the bear out with the rest of the garbage, she looks down the road at the clear, empty night and wonders not for the first time what it would be like to run away...

__

[June 16th 1972/Megan]

For her 12th birthday Megan wanted music, it's what she was good at and all the things she has are not for her, not really, shirts too big, books with writing in the margins and other pre loved things... All the love must have been used up to leave it behind, she still loves what she loved before, she still goes to her house sometimes and imagines herself at the top of the stairs with all the love she has and a box of matches to light the way home... But they don't last, striking brightly and burning fleetingly... It only took one.

She stays home, drowning the wrecked shell of her life in enough tears to swallow up the the beast that swallowed up her family, she starts her day in her room but Mom does not come to wake her like last year, the others are gone from their rooms, they should be downstairs... Waiting for her on her birthday... But there is nothing left of the kitchen which should smell of familiar breakfast and the coffee they wouldn't let her try until she's older... She's older now and they're not here.

She sits on the front porch, her eyes dry and the day still, she doesn't know how long she stays in that memory of the only family photo returned to her from Dad's work but her attention is drawn to the sudden stop of a boy on a bike, Kurt Mathis, he's in her grade and his older sister, Jo, is tutoring her over the summer but she hasn't really spoken to him much, she knew that his brother was friends with her brother, before they both went away... He let's his bike fall to the ground as he comes over to her, backpack in hand and sandy blond hair a mess. She sits up straight unsure what to expect, she's never had to fight a boy for real before. "Megan! I was looking all over for you," He says as he approaches, slightly red faced from riding around in the sun, "When your birthday was mentioned in Sunday school I thought Reverend Carson might... I don't know," he stops not wanting to be mean by pointing out that Megan didn't get a birthday party like normal kids, he pulls a record sleeve out of his bag, which he also drops to the dirt as he holds out the record to her with both hands the cover art is familiar, she thinks Dennis had that in his collection. "My brother was borrowing this before he went away, I figured he can't really give it back... So I thought I'd give it to you for your birthday." He looks at his feet as she takes it, unable to help how her hands shake a little, she can't look at him, can't speak as he says the well practiced. "Happy birthday." 

Carson was very strict about the types of music he allowed in the house, he would not approve, she carefully held this piece of Dennis to her chest, unable to make more tears or more words, she nods and when he asks, "Do you want to go to the park?" She nods again, following beside as he walks his bike and chats about things that don't quite reach her... He encourages her to play on the swings with him and compete over who can go higher, she should have thanked him, Mom and Dad and now especially the Reverend enforce that it's bad manners not to but she couldn't get the words out, for a brief moment it all went away... Even if just for a moment.

__

...she hides the record, playing it only when she's at the house by herself, Carson could not take it if he didn't know about it. Multiple times a week she has tutoring, Jo is a few grades ahead of her, her way of explaining things helps. Sometimes Kurt let's her play in their treehouse after, he shows her how to be real careful on the branch outside his window and that his grandma would have a fit if she knew, Kurt and his siblings live with their grandparents... all of Megan's grandparents are far far away and she's not sure where to find them... But Megan likes Kurt's grandparents, it reminds her that they're a little bit the same and a little bit different.

Carson doesn't know about the treehouse or the record or the fact that Jo's lessons take an hour less than he's paying for but she's not telling him anything she doesn't have to, at the house she is expected to be seen and not heard, keep everything tidy and demonstrate what she learnt. On Sunday she is a reflection of him and his expectations... On other days he teaches other things, like the dangers of the occult and what to watch out for... He must know a lot about witchcraft but she doesn't feel very prepared... Sometimes she goes to her home in secret still, she wonders how many more secrets she will keep.

__

When school starts up again Megan sticks close to her new friends, Jo and Kurt and Jen, the youngest kid in their family, walk to school with her. At fourteen Jo is nice but teenagers, no matter how cool, don't want to hang out with kids when cooler older classmates can do or go anywhere and know adult secrets about the world and how to be liked by everyone. 

Jo holds Jen's hand as they walk, the girl is too little to know much of anything and is ecstatic to learn about everything, new animal facts, a bigger number in math, a new joke she just learnt. Jen was always excited when her and Megan had the same hair, usually pigtails, which happens more often than not, but Jen is five years younger at seven years old and while it's cute for little kids, Carson says Megan's hair is more presentable this way. 

Kurt is her first friend who is a boy, the girls in their grade tease her for it but they were already teasing her for things she had no say in and at least now she's not sitting alone at lunch. He showed her his favourite games and books, the best trees to climb and the quickest shortcuts if she was late to class... Deep down in the most secret part of her heart she sometimes imagines that her brothers and sister are away like his brother is and one day they'll all be finished overseas and come back, it must be nice over there because Kurt said Glenn decided to stay longer... People are always very serious about it on the news but Carson changes the channel or sends her to do some chores or homework whenever it comes up, not that Megan cares about serious adults on the news anyhow.

Her teachers seem happy with her improvement, which gets Carson off her back a little bit, not enough to avoid regular lectures on whatever she did wrong that day or to get any sort of reward but at least he's not telling her how she makes him look bad as much.

__

[Early December/1972]

When winter settled in and the end of the year drew nearer, Kurt's grandmother approaches Carson after the Sunday service, she smiles at Megan warmly as she stands to the Reverend's side only half listening. They speak idly about the topic of this week's sermon before she gets to her point. "...if you've the time in your busy schedule, we would love to have Megan over, she's a delight to have around and being the first Christmas since..." 

She hesitates to say 'since Megan's whole family died in a fire' right in front of Megan but it's not like Megan doesn't already know what she means, Carson nods swiftly to save the kind woman from the awkwardness, "A kind offer, Gladys, I was unaware Jo was so taken with her after her summer tutoring job?"

"Yes, well as you know her and Kurt have formed quite the friendship this past summer." Megan barely has time to think about taking a single step away from the conversation when Carson's hand comes to rest on her shoulder to keep her in place, "Of course, She's a very shy girl, always keeping to herself." He smiles with no trace of the irritation building underneath, she's come to recognise the subtle difference when he's playing the Reverend... "Not at all, the two took to each other like a fish to water, they spent most afternoons playing after her tutoring was finished."

"I see," He says, his grip on Megan's shoulder tightens imperceptibly, she looks at her feet as he glances down at her but general politeness prevents him from outright mentioning Jo ripping him off on the hours he'd paid for, especially when Megan's most recent report cards were positive... "It's generous of your family to open your home to Megan, but I'm unsure if we can accept, there are many considerations at such an important time for our community." The old woman nods understandingly. "I would not wish to burden you in such a busy period, should you reconsider the offer stands..."

Megan didn't really listen much after that or to the various other adults who attempted to strike up conversation after church, Carson never let her have anything nice...

Once the front door to his house shut behind him, he turned to her with an undisguised frown. "You're not going, not after your deliberate deception." 

"I didn't do anything-" She protests and he puts a hand up to silence her, "You have zero consideration for making me look negligent with how you've gone behind my back, do you not think for a single second that it reflects negatively on me if I don't know what you've been up to?" Megan bit her tongue from talking back when he started on the same excuse that he always used to justify taking things away from her, not mentioning that it's not her fault for him being disinterested in how she spends her free time... That would only lead to him making sure she has less of it. Instead she looks him in the eye and tells him a barefaced lie. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

He crossed his arms, clearly not buying her remorse but doesn't call it out, she continues pleading, "Can I please go? You won't have to be troubled by me during Christmas, I'll be good, no one will have anything bad to say about it, I swear." He looks at her unmoved but mind working overtime on how to benefit from it. He speaks after consideration. "You want to go? Fine, but I expect you to work for it."

Megan knows it's a trap, whatever extra chores he'd pile on her would be unbearable but she knows it's not a real choice anymore, she'd be stuck shoveling snoor something equally terrible and there's nothing she could do about it, not until he felt he made his money back... Her face feels hot and she wants to scream but refuses to cry in front of him. She nods without looking at him, "Good, now I don't want to hear another word from you today." He says sternly, walking away to something more worth his time.

Megan spends the rest of the afternoon through the night up in her room, she could not say another word as if he'd cast an evil spell on her, cursing her... Crushing her under the year in his house, she hid under the covers, hot tears streaming down her face as she imagines leaving everything behind, running and running forever until it all fades away...

__

Eventually Henry and Matt have to leave the area and enter back into the horrors. It won’t be long until they eventually run into Elena, Amber and Carlson and all will be relieved to see everyone okay, giving each other hugs of relief. The group will discuss what each of them have gone through and the creatures before Elena explains that she thinks she’s found an exit, she’s found a lot of the hired military boats further out the cave.

If Matt was bitten earlier and Amber has the elixir from Lana, she will notice Matt’s state and give it to him. This will cure him from the infection and stop him from turning. If Amber does not have the elixir and Matt is infected, he will start coughing more and realise what is happening after witnessing what happened to Agatha. Henry will try to comfort him and Matt will shove him away for his own protection. Matt will run away from the group so that they’re not near him when he turns, sealing his fate.

If Matt is not infected, then Amber will give the elixir to anyone injured based on how high their relationship is. Priority goes: Carlson, Elena, Henry, Matt. Matt being infected will give top priority. Elena also has her med kit which can help if more than one character is injured. They will talk more about the sirens and Matt will suggest the idea of looking for anything else that can be used to cover anyone else’s ears such as Henry or Carlson/Elena. Elena will find some bandages and have the option to rip pieces to give to either herself or Carlson as she does not have much.

The group will eventually follow Elena in which Matt and Henry will finally see Skully’s ship. Before anymore any can said, they will be ambushed by Eddie and a few of his men. Eddie does not look in a good state, the occasional cough and his body looking in a similar state to how Agatha looked. Henry and Matt know exactly what’s going on but it’s intense as Eddie is clearly more erratic.

The five will be forced onto Eddie’s boat with the rest of his surviving team as they drive to Skully’s ship, being forced to board it. Eddie explains that he wants them all to see as he takes the treasure. Henry will comment that he’s free to take it, none of them care at this point but Eddie doesn’t believe him. While Eddie is distracted with the treasure, Matt will hear water movement, looking over the boat to see something under getting closer to the ship. He will look over at Henry before carefully and quietly ripping part of his sleeve. He will carefully hand it to Henry and gesture to cover his ears with it. Carefully Henry will rip the small material again and roll it into balls before putting them in his ears.

Suddenly the boat will get hit, causing everyone to shake and it becomes clear that the sirens have knocked a hole into the ship, the boat now slowly sinking and Skully’s crew start climbing aboard. Matt starts yelling to forget the treasure and they need to fight back but Eddie sets his sights on attacking Henry.

Matt will put his headphones on if he still has them before noticing a sword still on the ship which he will grab as a weapon. Carlson/Elena will be the first to potentially be killed as one of the vampires with a sword comes up behind them. They must pass the qte to avoid being impaled. Amber will notice the boat Eddie forced them on with the key still in, and Lana (if alive) hanging around. The section will switch between each character, fighting off the vampires, if they fail a qte, they will have another chance before potentially getting killed. Lana will also be there as another source of protection.

Either Elena or Carlson will be the first to jump onto Eddie’s boat (whoever had their ears covered with the cotton buds). If Elena/Carlson has the bandage in their ears, it will not be hugely secure so if they fail any qte, one will fall out their ear. If this happens Elena/Carlson will have the option to grab the other and take them with them. For example if Elena has the cotton buds, she will notice Carlson trying to cover his ears from the sirens while trying to avoid the vampires. She will have the option to grab Carlson and jump off the boat with him but she must pass the qte’s. Leaving him will lead to Carlson trying to jump off the boat on the other side where the sirens are swarmed and Amber will have to use button mash qte’s to pull him back. Lana will be then used (if passed the button mash) to use her singing to guide Carlson/Elena towards the escape boat instead.

The order will go Elena/Carlson, Amber, Elena/Carlson jumping off the boat (guaranteed now safe) leading to Matt and Henry still remaining.

While Matt is able to take down vampires with the sword if he passes the qte’s, Henry is having a personal battle with Eddie who seems to have taken a personal attack against Henry. Henry failing qte’s will result in Eddie killing him or Henry being thrown off board by Eddie (depending on where the qte’s are failed) and devoured by the sirens. Eddie also seems to be turning by the minute but still seems set on attacking Henry. If Matt turned earlier then vampire Matt will climb onto the ship, kill Eddie before setting his sights on Henry.

One of the pieces of material in Henry’s ears will slide out, now leaving him vulnerable to the sirens singing. But if Matt does not have his headphones then for plot purposes, Henry’s ears will stay protected and the scenario will be similar to the next part. Matt will have the option to jump or save Henry. Jumping will potentially lead to Henry’s death as he becomes victim to the siren’s song and a now vampire Eddie will feed on him. If Lana is alive and Matt jumps, she will almost control Henry with her song and lead him to the escape boat.

If Matt helps Henry, he will have to pass more qte’s to defend himself and get to Henry. This can also lead to more brutal deaths. Matt’s sword will break during this, but if he has the crystal given to him by Henry earlier, he can use this as a weapon on Eddie. If Matt attacks Eddie with the crystal, Eddie will still be ‘alive’ but vulnerable. Henry will come to and notice the wristband on Eddie’s wrist and grab for it. The siren’s song will catch Henry’s attention again once he grabs the wristband and Matt must pass the qte’s to pull him back. Failing will lead to Henry’s death and Eddie getting back up and feeding on Matt as he becomes so focused on the loss of Henry. Saving Henry from jumping aboard will lead to Matt dragging him to the other side and shoving him off the ship and onto the escape boat before Matt jumps too.

If she’s alive, Lana will shove the boat to give it a head start and whoever jumped first will start the boat leading the crew to drive further and further away from the island, watching as Skully’s ship sinks.

——

Ending

It will cut to the survivors back on shore in a busy city at the decks with a community market close by, sitting on a wall while Carlson is pacing up and down on the phone to someone. If any did not survive then it will cut to a character they were most close to quietly reflecting on it all.

Elena will ask Amber what her next plans are and Amber will motion sleeping for days which Elena will laugh in agreement. Amber will ask about her and Elena will state that she’s still got a lot more adventures in her.

Henry and Matt will be sitting together and they reflect how far the two have come. This will include the two asking each other if this is the career they still want to be in. Henry will then state that while this has most likely traumatised him for life, he’s not ready to close the chapter on this part of his life. He will add that he’s looking for a partner if Matt is interested which he accepts. If Henry retrieved Kyle’s wristband from Eddie, he will pass it to Matt who will be surprised and look to be on the brim of tears in relief that he has that final piece of closure as he puts the wristband on.

Carlson will return to the group after finishing his call, telling them that he’s called Nick and that his brother is freaking out but he’s on his way in a helo to collect them. Elena questions if he should have told him the full details but Carlson says that he’s an ex marine so he can handle crazy situations. He adds that Nick said they need to have a serious talk that it has Carlson questioning what Nick knows and the group start theorising what Carlson’s brother secretly knows.