#paranomal

[anim-ttrpgs]

Eureka Mystery Module Pitch: Bottle Mystery

I’m just throwing this out here because God knows our team won’t have time any time soon to make something like this. Anyone can take this idea for a Eureka mystery module and run with it. Don’t worry if you think someone else is already doing it, two people taking this same idea are still gonna turn out with two very different modules. And, that’s two modules. Players can play both.

In this post im gonna lay out all the concepts and ideas that this hypothetical module may entail. I’m making this a regular type of post where I pitch Eureka adventure modules to the fanbase in a sorta stream-of-consciousness kinda way and offer as much scaffolding as I can in the hopes that somebody will make it, because the A.N.I.M. Team is at project capacity, but more mystery modules are always needed, and if we want to play our own game then the modules we play have to be written by somebody else anyway.

Anyone with ideas they think they can contribute on this concept, please feel free to comment and discuss them.

If any of these mystery module pitches im doing inspire you to take the concept in a very different direction than outlined, that's also okay as long as it, like, follows the setting guidelines and stuff.

This concept is so basic and classic, yet has so much potential, that this pitch post will be a little different. It’s not a specific module idea, it’s more like maybe general advice for this kind of mystery module. And we could always use more modules like this. In order for the “out-there” mystery module concepts to truly be “out-there,” Eureka needs a strong foundation of plain ole classic “generic” mysteries.

The difference between pac-manian mystery and a bottle mystery is that in bottle mystery, the killer is not trying to pick off each and everyone else, but both mystery types still take place in isolated enclosed locations.

Hook

Some situation puts the investigators and some NPCs in some kind of isolated location that they can’t easily leave, and there is a murder. They gotta solve this murder.

Truth

What you’re going to need for a good bottle mystery is an interesting cast of characters, and a detailed timeline as part of the Truth.

Also try to come up with some good reason for the investigators to be asleep, out of the picture, or late so that that timeline can happen pre-gameplay without them interfering.

The timeline should be intricate and go through each involved NPC’s actions prior to and immediately after the murder.

NPCs, even the ones who are innocent of the murder, should have secrets they don’t want to disclose to investigators. Guilty characters will of course give false alibis, but some innocent characters may too. Innocent characters may also have no provable alibi and seem very suspicious. That’s a good thing, that’s what makes it a mystery. Eureka investigators have skills that allow them to do the detective work to handle red herrings.

Especially because it is such a small space, the locations need to be pretty heavily detailed. Really consider the space. Honestly you should probably draw the map before anything else, because if there isn’t a map in front of you, you won’t think of things, and it will cause logistical problems later.

The NPCs, since they are likely to be characters the PCs are interacting with constantly the whole time, need to have a lot of guidance for the GM for how to portray them. They need to have a lot of what we call “actionable information” in their character sections. This could and should probably be its own post, but “actionable information” is information that directly informs the GM of how these characters will behave under various circumstances. This is very similar to the novel-writing concept of “show don’t tell.”

If you say “this character is rude” or “this character is empty inside,” that’s character analysis, not “actionable information.” It has to go through a degree of translation by the GM to get to be something the character actually does in-session. You are basically telling the GM to come up with an original rude or empty-inside character on the fly.

Instead of saying the character is rude, or at least instead of just saying the character is rude, you need to tell the GM what specific rude things this character will do when interacting with the investigators. Same goes for motivation. You should state the character’s motivation, but also give examples of the actions this character will do towards that motivation.

Gameplay Concepts

Bottle mysteries don’t always require any Ticking Clock rules, but when they do, they should use Triple Ticks.

You can also get really creative with this concept, because all it needs is a crime, and an isolated location for that crime. It doesn’t have to be a murder, it could be a heist or theft, as long as the thief hasn’t gotten the stolen item off the premises and also it’s a complex enough mystery that it can’t be immediately solved by just strip-searching everyone there.

The isolated manor on a stormy cliff face is a classic, but this could be all sorts of places. It could be on a moving train, which is also a classic, but one that Eureka doesn’t have a mystery module for yet.

It could be on a boat.

It could be on a space station.

[ericshoney]

First investigation ~ Brother!Colby Brock

Summary: You finally get the chance to go with your brother and Sam on a paranormal investigation.

Warnings: usual swearing, ghosts, spirits, crying, targeting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's up guys it's Sam and Colby!"

You smiled watching your brother and Sam introduce the video. You were very excited as this was the first time you were finally allowed to go along with an investigation.

"Today we have a very special guest! Introducing Y/n Brock!" Sam shouted as you jumped into frame and waved at the camera.

"Hey guys! I am finally here for the good shit!" You exclaimed.

"Yes guys, my seventeen year old sister is finally here to go explore with us." Colby said.

"I'm excited." You replied.

"How much of a believer are you?" Sam questioned.

"Like probably a nine." You answered.

"What would make you a ten?" Colby then asked.

"If something spoke directly to me." You replied.

"Well this is an abandoned hospital, let's see what happens." Sam said.

You nodded as you all started exploring. The first couple hours you didn't get much as you were just getting used to being around the place. But once the equipment comes out, you start to feel different. Like someone was watching you.

You stood watching as Sam set up the rem pod, you holding the camera for him and Colby. As you did, you felt something on the back of your neck, making you flinch.

"What?" Colby called, seeing your sudden movement.

"So...Something was on my neck." You replied.

"Like what?" Sam asked.

"Like....a breath. I don't know if it was just the wind." You replied, trying to find a excuse.

Just then, the rem pod went off and nobody was standing near it. You jumped slightly as Colby took the camera from you.

"If there is someone here with us you can go up to any of the devices and give them a touch." Sam said, his words make you giggle slightly.

Then the rem pod went off again, along with a torch you set up. You then felt your hair being pulled.

"Colby get off." You said, thinking it was him.

"I'm not touching you." He said.

You looked at him and saw he had both hands on the camera. You then felt it again.

"Something keeps pulling my hair." You mentioned.

"You can touch any of the equipment around but not us." Sam instructed.

The equipment kept going off all around you, letting you all ask some questions. You then decided to explore a bit more before finding an active spot and doing the Estes method.

"Now since the spirits seem to like Y/n the most, why not have her do the Estes method!" Sam cheered.

"Only if you want too, we can do it if not." Colby said, knowing you had been a target for a bit, his protective side kicking in more.

"I'll do it." You said.

You sat on the floor as Sam tied the blindfold around your head. You placed the headphones on and held the radio. Colby stood behind you as Sam set the camera up in front of you.

"If there is anyone here with us you can talk through this device." Sam said loudly.

It was quiet for a moment, before the boys heard a knock. They looked over and then you spoke.

"Here."

"Who is here with us?" Colby asked.

"Many."

"There are many people with us." Sam said.

"Stay."

"We are here for a bit." Colby responded.

"Her."

"Her? As is Y/n?" Sam asked.

"Yes."

"What about her?" Colby questioned.

"Stay forever."

"No way." Sam gasped and looked at Colby.

"Fuck." You shouted, throwing the headphones off and removing the blindfold.

"What did it say?" Colby asked worried.

"It said my name." You answered, a few tears in your eyes.

"Okay I think that's enough for today. Let's get out of here." Sam said.

You and Colby nodded, your brother wrapping a secure arm around your shoulder. You knew it would be a long time before you even thought about doing another investigation again.

[jenniferleecopping]

Pink Gothic Seeks Same

Gouache, 2025

[anthonygiarrusso]

AnthonyGiarrusso

@AnthonyGiarrusso

7/16/2023 white, misty, and opaque. Distinctive upside-down pear shaped head. Very spindly and had whit light coming from skin or haze around skin. Able to walk. Seen inside parent's house. #God #USA #Paranormal #AnthonyGiarrusso #supernatural #entities #Truth #ghost #alien #demon #humanoids #art

[hallowcryptidstudio]

This page had me struggling~

Phantom Fit: Anime Since moving into her grandma’s place (after Gran’s extended vacation), Beatrice has had… trouble streaming. Finally ready to host a Halloween stream—complete with viewer-picked costumes—things go sideways fast when Gloria decides to lend a supernatural hand.

[mist-spectra]

Our track "EVP in Room II" is part of this v/a compilation released by internet daemon netlabel: "Paranormal Activity" // free download it at: https://archive.org/details/v-a-paranormal-activity

[galaadnight]

Extrait chapitre 11, Fabulam Monstrum

Lorsqu’il regagna la surface, toutes créatures dotées de pouvoirs magiques sentirent que quelque chose s’apprêtait à changer. Lucifer sentit alors que son frère s’était libéré et qu’il était plus puissant que jamais et il se demandait bien d’où pouvait-elle venir et il n’était d’ailleurs pas le seul. Il semblerait que le monde avait désormais une nouvelle menace qui semblait émerger des tréfonds des ténèbres. Pourtant la voix était-elle réelle ou une simple création d’un esprit tordu qui avait sous-estimé sa toute divine puissance ? Rien n’en était moins sûr…

Le nouveau chapitre sera la voie, il sera la clé…

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La clé de quoi ? .... Une mauvaise phase s'annonce....

[thereadingcafe]

REVIEW - SERVANT OF EARTH (The Shards of Magic) by Sarah Hawley "fantastic story"