⛌ bluff ⛌

[SHIVERS]

FILL OUT ALL FIELDS

NAME:
PRONOUNS:
OCCUPATION (IF ANY):
REASON FOR TRAVEL/STAY:

CABIN SELECTION:
 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12
(crossed out numbers are unavailable)

[skinstealer]

NAME: hashtag
PRONOUNS: it/its
OCCUPATION: photographer (amateur)
REASON FOR TRAVEL: finding the next big hit

cabin 3

[palencorgi]

Name: Arcana
Pronouns: xe/xir
Occupation: Gambler (part-time, cards), former Salesperson
Reason for stay: in-between destinations

Cabin 6

[Lilium Mortem]

NAME: Canalave Gausse
PRONOUNS: It/its
OCCUPATION (IF ANY): photo-journalist
REASON FOR TRAVEL/STAY: work, you know, like when your boss says "go down to this ans that place and take pictures for our publication" on short notice but you drop everything anyway because at this point in your life you've lost control of everything except where you point your camera? Yeah that.

CABIN SELECTION: 3

[AceOfNothing]

NAME: Diversion Attentionson
PRONOUNS: They/It
OCCUPATION (IF ANY): Urban Explorer, ReelWorld celeb, DJ on weekends
REASON FOR TRAVEL/STAY: Travel is part of the game. If i cant get to new places how good could I actually be at exploring. People don't want to see the same abandoned hospital every week, and I am here for my people. Besides, don't needs to be tracked down when I find good stuff 

Cabin: 3

[MarxzVulpez]

Name: Anri Swallowtail
Pronouns: it/its
Occupation (if any): photographer (landscape and wildlife), witch artifact identifier repair person and seller
Reason for Travel/Stay: Bad Breakup , Doctor Assigned (but also Much Needed) Medical Leave, avoiding Scrap Storm Season in Home location

Cabin Selection:
6

[knux400]

Name: [incomprehensible scribbling]
Pronouns: They/It
Occupation: Cabin 7
Reason for Travel/Stay: Fun

Cabin Selection: Yes

[ಠ_ಠ]

Name: [incomprehensible scribbling]
Pronouns: They/It
Occupation: Cabin 7
Reason for Travel/Stay: Fun

Cabin Selection: Yes

Seconding this.

[SHIVERS]

NAME: Arcana
PRONOUNS: it/its
OCCUPATION (IF ANY): Photographer





You stare at the second-to-last field on the form.

















Your thumb slides against the opposite end of the pen, over and over;
applying pressure but never quite clicking it.

















REASON FOR TRAVEL/STAY: fun



You circle the first available cabin and hastily slide the form over to the receptionist.



She doesn't take it.



The old dog's staring at you when you look up.
Her cigarette quietly fizzles. It smells like nothing.





You adjust your glasses and clear your throat.



"...You a pockitt?" She asks you.

Your mouth opens, wordlessly at first.

"Um... amerveille.
I get that a lot, though,
since they both have kangaroo morphs, it makes sen--"
"Got any weird body features, anything like that?"

"...ha.
Uh.

 . . .

...why?"
"'Cause if you get hurt I need to know I'm not gonna kill you.
I'm the closest thing to a doctor in about five miles."


"OH.
NO, I'M-
I mean I have regular... organ structure and all that, as far as I know.
I can just tattoo myself a lot easier than most people, that's about it."



She finally takes the form,
reading it in a microsecond before turning around and retrieving a key from the wall behind her,
along with what looks like a pamphlet.









The ruffneck puts both on the counter and unfolds the pamphlet,
which turns out to be a map.


 

"You're in cabin 3, right here." She points to it.
"That means that you and cabin 4 will share a restroom inside.
So, the restroom has two doors. Lock BOTH while you're in the restroom, unlock both when you're done;
don't hog it and DON'T go through to the other cabin. I don't make enough money to deal with people who try that.
Okay?"
"Yes ma'am."

"If there's an emergency, you come here or to the bar.
There's no cell service out here, and me and Bo's have the only working phones."

She points to the phone nearby on the wall.

"Calls here are five minutes max, one call a day unless it's an emergency.
No exceptions.
If someone's not bleeding and not dying, it's probably not an emergency.
And if you're using the phone here, you need to clear it with me first.



The front desk here's open from 8AM to 8PM, same as the Gimme across the street.
Arcade's open 2PM to 8PM, and the bar's open Noon to Midnight.
The museum and the pool are open 24 hours, just don't leave a mess."



She folds up the map and hands it over.
You shove it in your pocket.

The old woman glances over at the clock, then reaches under the counter.
"I give out coupons and other things for the businesses across the street every morning.
I just drop 'em into the mailbox on your door.
You got here late in the afternoon, so you don't get much today."

A ticket and a coupon are placed next to the key in front of you.

"Coupon's for a free dinner at the bar.
Only a few menu options for the free one so take what you get.
And then, the museum--"







She pauses, mentally preparing.



Her voice rolls out of her muzzle in monotone, not a shred of enthusiasm present.



"The Whipsaw Oddity Museum is an unknowable and compelling adventure that's fun for the whole family.
Delve into truths you've never dream-
...dreamt of.

Fantastical.
Mystical.
Supernatural.

What kind of mysteries
will you discover.

Come in anytime. Any day.
Every day.
Fresh oddities are rotated in every 24 hours, so be sure to use your free ticket every day.
And don't forget the gift shop. Show your support for small businesses."



She takes a drag from her cigarette, her head turning as she blows smoke to the side.
It still smells like nothing.



" . . .

...Good to know."



She slides the coupons over to you.
You pocket them.

"Checkout for you is next Sunday no later than 10AM.
...Questions?"

You would very much like to leave.

"No ma'am."
"What's your name?"
"Oh, I. Put it on the card--" "It's all chicken scratch.
Can't read it."
"...ha ha.
Sorry about that.
It's um-
My handwriting's, always-
Name-
Name is Arcana."

She writes something down on a nearby sticky note before peeling it off.











Finally, at long last, she places the key in your paw.
Bronze-colored, with a plastic '3'-shaped keychain attached.

"Thanks for staying at Whipsaw Cabins."

You're already halfway out the door.

"Yep, thank you ma'am."










 

▶ Kinder
Disasterpeace

The swing door slides slowly shut behind you.


Your shoulders rise and fall with a deep breath,
eyes closed.
Your camera swings lightly around your neck from the motion.



god, that was embarrassing

Your paw rubs your cheek.



way too tired after that drive
really need to get in the cabin already










As you turn,
you spot lush, blue mountains off to the north.









The car ride over had been southbound, preventing you from taking in the view.












The afternoon sun hangs low on the horizon.











Forested hills splay out in curves, like waves.















You breathe deep of the living mountain air.


















The perfect place to clear your head.












You raise your camera and focus it, snapping a low effort picture.

The shutter clicks.











It's better than not remembering the moment at all.

























As you lower your arms, you have to catch your bag as it does its best to slip from your shoulder.




okay, View Over
time to get in and pass out











The map is unneeded as you walk the short distance towards the nearby cabins.
They're all numbered, easy enough to find yours.



The space between the two sets of cabins perfectly frames the mountains in the distance,
pausing you as you're fishing for the new key in your pocket.





one more











You raise your camera.







Focus in.







Try to line it all up juuuuuuuuuust right

aiming for symmetry.











Just as your claw nears the shutter button,

a door opens-







A coffee-colored raccoon - likely a masque - in a black sweater
invades the frame,

stepping out of cabin 4

the one conjoined with yours.






Their attention immediately focuses on you
as you aim, technically, at Them with your camera.



fuck




You drop it to your neck in an instant.






"Sorry, haha-
Was,
trying to..."


Their steps resume, taking a quick right turn to disappear behind their cabin,
shooting you a disconcerted look in the process.








You stand, processing the moment.


Stellar.

bedtime




With no further delays, you forget about the picture and find your way into your cabin.
















Inside is

Wood paneling.
Carpet.
Wooden desk. Wood floor.
Wood wood wood.

You don't care to take it in right now.






You haphazardly spread out some of your things,
finding your way out of your jeans and into your pajama pants before dragging your body under the covers of the bed.


You try not to think as the world fades.







































 

⛌ NIGHT ONE ⛌

You awaken feeling clammy, with a stiff neck.

Effort is immediately required from you.
You uncomfortably unfurl yourself from the chaotic pretzel knot your unconscious body had formed between you and the blankets.

Your glasses are lost somewhere in the sheets, taking a bit of digging to retrieve and place back on your face.


You rise,
rubbing sleep from your face.




"...time's it...?" You mutter.

An alarm clock by your bed reads

10:16 PM



"...mm."





Your feet touch the floor as you properly get up.






now what?



It's late, but you're wide awake now.

May as well find a way to pass the time.

















You glance around the room.


You had, somehow, managed to successfully place your laptop on the desk in your exhausted state.
It'd be easy to plug it in and turn it on, but without internet or any sort of signal, there isn't much you can do with it.
You can plug in your camera and look at pictures on it, and you might have a game or two installed by default.
None of that sounds that appealing at the moment, though, unless you find yourself desperately bored.

Your shared restroom doesn't look like it's being used.
Maybe you could relax with a shower?

There's a CRT television perched on a stand in front of the bed.
Easy way to pass the time, and check what the channel setup is like here.





Though, your time might be better spent exploring the area, you think.
And getting out might be nice, even if it's dark out now.



You check the time again.

10:18 PM



what did she say was open again?



right.





The bar. You do have that free meal coupon.
You'd stopped to eat not long before you got here, so you aren't all that hungry.
Still, can't beat free. And it could be worth checking out anyway.

There's also the oddity museum, whatever exactly that means.
It definitely sounds like a tourist trap, but apparently it's open 24 hours,
for
some reason?
You know it'll be underwhelming, but you're infinitely curious, and you do have a free ticket.

Lastly, the pool is open all night as well.
It's probably unmanned, you imagine, which could make it worth checking out.
You think you might've packed your swim trunks on a whim,
but you aren't sure the trunks quite... do the job alone anymore.
You'd been meaning to get a proper bathing suit to fit your chest, too, these days,
but that process alone sounded mortifying.
Still does.

You guess you could go Look at the pool, at least,
and perhaps if it's empty, your trunks and a regular shirt would work fine enough.
You do really miss swimming.





You debate your options.

Show Content

CHECK MAP

[Lilium Mortem]

Oddity museum. It's probably garbage, but at least you won't be left wondering if you go there now, and the walk alone might  be worth it.

[knux400]

Seconding the museum. The bar is right there, so if we get hungry, we can just head over.

Plus it would be a shame for the lady at the desk to have to read out that whole scripted bit just for us to ignore the museum entirely. If anything, we're doing this out of respect for her time.

[skinstealer]

thirding the museum. this is the middle of the woods, how odd could they possibly be.

[MarxzVulpez]

I also think the Oddity Museum is the most interesting option here so far, but I feel like we should take a brief moment and boot up the laptop, back up any other pictures we may have taken today, see if there's any we want to tinker with/ sort/delete etc.

[Ignispark]

...yeah best to get your stuff in order before you start dashing into the unknown.

[SHIVERS]

First order of business:
Back up your photos.
You're glad you remembered.

It's a habit you'd fallen into after your clumsy hands had dropped your previous camera into a river;
something you still haven't forgiven yourself for,
and the reason you ALWAYS wear a camera strap now.



You stretch, finding your neck still sore.

probably going to be sore through tomorrow at least

annoying.

You ignore it, walking to your cabin's desk and shuffling into the uncomfortable wooden chair.
It doesn't take long to plug in your laptop and boot it up.

Or, it wouldn't, if your laptop worked better.

The boot sequence takes far too long, as always, and you find yourself bouncing your leg while you wait.



Eventually it loads up, and you retrieve your camera and plug it in.






Your camera's folder only shows two pictures:

One is the shot of the distant mountain you took right outside the front desk building.
The colors are nice, but it's blurry.
Not your best work.

The second picture is one you didn't realize had actually taken.
Apparently, during the awkward encounter with your cabin neighbor, you'd managed to accidentally snap a photo after all.
You can't see them in the photo.
Or the mountain.
Or the cabins.
Or much of anything save for some of your fingers, and your worn-out sneakers standing in the grass.











You rub your temple.



oh well



Frustration stings at you.

It was a long, scenic drive out here, and this is all you had to show for it.
You could've sworn you took at least a Few other pictures outside of a rest stop you'd parked at along the way.
But, no, you must've done the thing you always seem to do, where you simply Think About taking a picture of something, only to forget entirely.

You find it ironic that one of the main reasons you took an interest in photography in the first place was your memory issues.
Which, now only seem to make you Forget to Remember to take pictures so you'll Remember things.

Oh well!
ohhhhhhhhh Well



You find yourself frustrated that you're this frustrated
over something so small.
You'd love to fix this now, add some pictures to the mix so you feel like you actually do something,
but it's dark outside.



You shut your laptop.



Maybe a little bit too hard.

Your frustration switches immediately to concern.



You double-check your withered laptop to make sure it's alright.
It's old, you do need a new one, but you don't want it damaged.

It's all you've got.



After a brief inspection, it looks no more busted than usual.
You close it again and give it a quick pat.
"Sorry, bud."


















You sigh through your nostrils, moving to other matters.



The museum is worth looking into, you think.
It's the most interesting option, considering you have no idea what exactly it'll be like.

Well.
Maybe some idea. Tourist trap.
You're too curious not to give it a shot, anyway.
Tourist traps can be fun, and you've got a free ticket.

Plus, the bar's right next to it.
You can give the museum a quick look-through, and maybe by then you'll have worked up an appetite before the restaurant closes.

You throw your jeans back on, slip on your colorful windbreaker, and head out the door.






















Your footfalls slow as soon as you're outside.



The area is barely lit at all.

If the moon weren't out,
you wouldn't even be able to lock your cabin door.









You find yourself more unnerved than you should be,
thinking far too much about just how isolated you are out here.





Middle of nowhere.





Only a handful of people.




For miles.





You stop thinking and start walking.
You really should think less in general, you think.











Your footfalls sound louder than usual as you make your way around your cabin.

It's near-silent out here,
something you haven't experienced to this degree in a long time.



You reach the road.

Your neck hurts as you turn it side-to-side, double-checking.
Though, you feel like you would hear any car coming from miles away.











You cross the road.














Just as with the other side, almost nothing is lit up over here either.

The bar is instantly noticeable as there are lights on inside, and faint muffled music coming from its doors.
It's a lot bigger than you imagined;
wider than you feel is necessary for how little traffic it must attract.

The sound and light make you feel a little safer, even from outside.
You know you aren't entirely by yourself out here, at least.



A little smile graces your snout.





You reach the other buildings,
all grouped together in a tiny, messily-paved plaza of sorts.

There's a fountain in the center with sides wide enough to sit on;
about the only place out here to sit that you've seen.
It's currently off, bone-dry.

Most of the buildings don't really catch your attention,
and you don't really feel like hanging around in the dark even longer with how eerie it is out here.

Though, you do hear what sound like faint voices inside the pool building.
Two or three people having a conversation accompanied by occasional splashing, as best as you can tell.
You don't want to pry,
you're just relieved to hear more people, even if you're surprised anyone else is out this late.





More confident than before, you approach the museum.

It's worse than you expected.
The building looks more like a two-story, wooden shack than a proper building, with a tin roof on top.
It doesn't even have windows.
It hardly looks like it should be standing up at all.

It's the only building with a light outside the door, though,
even if it's only a yellow light bulb plugged into a socket just over the door. Small flying bugs are twirling around it.

A simple wooden sign on the outer wall labels the building as the oddity museum,
along with promising it's open 'all day, any day!'





You find yourself more curious than ever, unable to wait any longer.

You grab the door's handle and swing it open, stepping--




You gasp as your foot nearly slips.


























Inside the door




is a long, concrete staircase,
only lit by numerous dim light bulbs plugged in along its walls.





It leads down


and down




and down










much farther than you ever would've imagined for a place like this.




Looking down into it makes your balance unsteady.








You can see a light at the bottom.

















what



Your muzzle is hanging open, paw still on the handle as you stare into it.
You don't know what the hell you were expecting.

It wasn't this.













You think about it too long.

What could possess someone to build this.
How they'd even get the money for it, in the middle of nowhere.
What the shack part of this even is if the front door doesn't lead to it.
Why anyone could
Maybe it's a converted underground shelter?
Still, why would it be out Here of all places?
Why would it be so deep?





The fur on the back of your neck bristles.







Yet
at the same time





you want to see.

You have to see, now.




You know you'll never be able to Stop thinking about it tonight
wondering what's down there


unless you go Now.











You listen, for a few more moments, to the sounds of people nearby.

The faint voices in the pool building just nearby.
The muffled music from the bar.






youre okay.

This place is
Weird
very
very very, very weird

but its fine
its an Oddity museum
of course its weird







stop worrying
stop Thinking

i have to know









A deep breath.











You step inside,
allowing the shack door to shut behind you.





You grip the handrail tight

and begin your descent.




















You try to count the steps on the way down.







Before long, you lose count.

















How far down is this?





Three stories?



Five?







The bottom is maybe about


four stories down, total,

maybe.













You're almost to it.



















Your knees are starting to hurt.

You remember how much you hate stairs.



















You dread going back up.

















Your eyes burn as you reach the bottom step.
It's too bright.
You squint, helping them adjust.




When they do, you





try

to process the room.









 

▶ Forget-Me-Not
Nolan Brewer

The room is expansive
or at least, it feels that way.



The floor
the walls
the ceiling

are all bright white, with no visible seams anywhere.
You can't even tell what material they're made out of, they have almost no visible texture to them.

Expansive. Empty.





Speakers up in the corners by the ceiling are playing some kind of music.

It makes you uncomfortable.
You can't articulate why.

You swear you can almost hear a voice in it, sometimes.









There are no lights, you realize.





This room is
lit up in pure, near-blinding white,


with no visible source.

















Maybe





Maybe the



walls and floor and all that are




glowing?














Maybe they-


You don't know.
You don't want to think about it.








In the center of the room stands a pillar - just as white as the rest of the room - that extends from floor to ceiling.

There's text on it.





 

TONIGHT'S EXHIBITS


ODDITIES OF FILM & TELEVISION
← ← ← Ground Floor - Red Hallway

ODDITIES OF WEAPONRY
→ → → Basement - Yellow Stairs

ODDITIES OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
↑   ↑   ↑ Upper Floor - Green Ramp

You glance in each listed direction, spotting:

The red hallway to your left.

The yellow stairs leading down to your right.

And you peer around the pillar, finding the green ramp leading upward.





easy enough


just
pick an exhibit.





















or-

Part of you wants to cut your losses and race back up the stairs to the entrance.



You could come back tomorrow, couldn't you?



Maybe with
someone- anyone else?


Or maybe you could just talk to someone about it?



Maybe you could just drive off and not come back-


You wring a shaky breath out of yourself.







calm down


why is my heart pounding?
im here

i want to know




itll probably feel more normal the longer im here






You assess the situation.

[skinstealer]

take the green ramp.

hey, maybe you'll find something nice to fix your laptop!

[knux400]

Wait a second. We went down four or five stories' worth of stairs presumably leading deep underground, and the hallway to our left is the ground floor? Someone needs to give the signwriter here a dictionary.

That said, we're already feeling a little unnerved, so I'd vote against Oddities of Weaponry for now. Oddities of Film & TV and Oddities of Computer Technology both sound fun, though!

Between the two, I'd say Film & TV, just to see what these people's wacky definition of a ""ground floor"" is.

Also, regarding the light in this room- check around where the pillar meets the ceiling/floor and around your own body and look for shadows. If you can find shadows, you can point yourself in the direction of the light source in here. You could also use your windbreaker or your hands to create dark spaces and determine the direction of the light that way.

[Lilium Mortem]

Green, laugh at some creepypastas or just check out weird junk, whatever it is it'll probably be less... Haunting, with the strange atmosphere of this place.

Also why isn't anyone there to take your ticket? or hell, even a turnstile? I could get if they just didn't care, but there should at least be an empty desk or something, right?

[ಠ_ಠ]

You're a photographer, take a look at old film stuff!

[palencorgi]

Green. Computers and technology sounds... like it'd be unusual, given this isn't exactly a tech hub of the world. Film and Tv would be a fun followup.