Our Alternate Universe
(First and foremost, you must have seen the movie before proceeding, otherwise you'll be spoiled beyond comprehension. It's a wonderful film, much better than I can ever say, so go watch it now -- if you're lucky (like the GA) and there's an old-esque video place in your area, you might end up paying only 50� for the rental of the DVD version.)
The Premise
It had once been said that Charles and Grace Apling had decided they would have a select group of young children stay at their house in order that they might receive a higher level of education. This was true. They would have done so when planned, but the second World War broke out. Near the end of the war, Mr. Apling left to fight, leaving his wife and two children, Anne and Nicholas, to wait for him in the house that became steadily drearier. Some time later, Mrs. Apling was told to leave him for dead. She could not leave the house to search because of her children's allergy to light. The three relied on their faith and each other to keep themselves going without the head of the house. It was thought that the Aplings' schooling idea would never occur.
Then one fine day Mr. Apling returned. He made trips to nearby cities and back constantly, and finally it was announced that they would go through with their idea to further the education of a few lucky pupils.
This is where our game begins.
The Aplings
Evidently, the Game Administrator has fished the name Apling and, having liked it, used it to name the family that was never given a family name. They needed a name for this game.
Charles and Grace are the headmaster and headmistress (respectively) of this relatively small (non-)institution. Both are elegant, well-mannered, respected members of the community. Their children, Anne (age 12) and Nicholas (age 10), are photosensitive, having been born with xeroderma pigmentosum. Light can, literally, kill them. Wherever they are, the curtains are shut and the only light they have is from oil lamps or candles. You are in BIG trouble if you let any light in where they are.
The House
The day you got there, you encountered fog on the way, but not a dense fog. When you looked back you saw that it had thickened, and the cars that brought you and the others (absolutely no pun intended, the GA assures you) to the house appeared to have been swallowed by it. The house had (and still has) a gloomy look to it; the day was overcast and breezy.
The� Intruders?
From day one, it is easy to see that something is going on in this house. Something different, unnatural. Your questions about the subject will be dismissed. Pursue them further and you will receive a more severe verbal reprimand. As far as you are to be concerned, nothing is going on. Nothing at all. It's just your imagination.
The Children
There are ten students: five boys and five girls, ten (10) to twelve (12) years of age. They are Catholic and have already taken their First Communion. Some are of the higher middle class while some are of the high class.*
Characters (not players, but characters) can send (and are enouraged to) each other private letters, which are just papers put in envelopes and left in the recepient's room, pocket, hand, etc. If your character absolutely cannot deliver the message, he or she may ask a staff member to deliver it. Rest assured that the letters will not be read by anyone save the one who is intended to read it (unless another student intercepts it).
The Staff
There are five staff members, not including the headmaster and headmistress in the count. Two of these are actually teachers; the other three work around the house. These are Mrs. Bertha Mills, Mr. Edmund Tuttle, and the girl known only as Lydia. Of the teachers, one teaches music and the other teaches French.
Staff members may also send letters to themselves if they want to say something that is so private they cannot under the regular circumstances.
Dead or Alive?
For we the players to know and you the readers to find out! *giggle* No, no, I'll tell you -- yes, everyone is dead. Everyone in the house, I mean. That is to say, all the player characters are dead. They just don't know it yet. Will they find out? How long will it take to find out? That, reader, is all in the game. *wink*
*This is not to say there are definite class divisions. You must realize that the characters and their families must have heard of the Aplings' plans via word of mouth. And if that doesn't explain it, it's for plot purposes. So shush. ^_~
The Others is © 2001 Dimmension Films (and, quite possibly, many, many other people/places)