Help Me Populate A Creepy Island

[Sidetrack]

Borrowing obviousy from the creepy hotel thread (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/38795-Help-Me-Populate-A-Creepy-Hotel) and much of the text of the original post :eg:...

imagine a tropical island (well, a small island group actually) stocked with weird characters. They should be strange in a Twin Peaks/X-Files kind of way with a tropical oddball twist- they can be possibly vaguely slightly mystical (but it should never be obviously magic), or they could be vaguely slightly high-tech (in a conspiracy sort of easily-mistaken-for-something-else way), international expat/ex-military/ex-mercenary, or whatever you like. Try to capture the character in a few sentences.

As a little background and flavor for the group:

Living isn't too rough, there is plenty of food to go around, provided you like papayas, coconuts, taro and roast pig; other vegetables are grown but a bit sporadically. A couple of aged ferry/cargo ships bring other goods... sometimes. The main island puts up a nice front for the brief tourist season mostly centered around whale watching, but things get weird and maybe even a little sinister the remainder of the year. Electricity is available on all but the smaller remote islands and cell phone service to most of the group.

There is a small town on the main island with a some cafes and small markets, hotels and hostels mostly owned by resident off-islanders. Town borders a large natural harbor that gets some commercial traffic (very large ships can't negotiate the narrow and shallow entrance though) and private sailors staying over for cyclone season. The airport services local traffic, bigger international flights have to connect from other nearby islands. In general it's a good place to tuck in and hide from the rest of the world, though it does get some outside interest from an Asian country lobbying for whaling rights and a wealthy church denomination that has a goal of converting the entire country.

There is a beautiful brand new church complete with basketball and tennis courts for every village even if none of the villagers attend it and a large modern k-12 school in the main town for children of members (churches of other denominations are also present on the island).

[Sidetrack]

The cultist

Not many people have met, or even know of Alexi but every once in a while an organic farming volunteer will wander in to town with a haunted look on their face. Their stories are pretty similar if a bit vague.

Answering an internet they came to the island Alexi's farm on a small outer island and were made to work long hours (it's always unclear what work was actually done). Alexi was careful to keep them and the villagers on the island separated by suggesting to each that the others didn't like them or were 'bad'. The volunteers complain of odd requests that they make him pizza or ice cream, but his kitchen wasn't stocked to make anything of the sort. Having had enough, the volunteers slip away on a a boat visiting the island. Alexi will make contact and urge them to come back so that he can help them with their 'psychological problems' and threaten to inform the volunteer coordinator of their early departure.

Ted, a charter skipper, seems to remember Alexi's name as someone that was kicked out of Hawaii for trying to start up a new age cult.

If the characters visit the island Alexi is never there, but there is a sweet older American lady named Mary, she originally arrived with Alexi and would really like to leave but doesn't have the money to go and is convinced that nobody back at home would want to see her. There isn't much evidence of a farm other than a small garden plot. Villagers will volunteer that the council once threw Alexi out, but mysteriously he is back and now and Alexi and the villager elders actively discourage anyone from visiting the island.

[AlHazred]

A few members of the crew of a 17th-century galleon (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/50810-Populate-a-17th-century-galleon) might make for good castaways, if they're time traveling (or updated).

[Sidetrack]

Thanks AlHazred, and for the original thread as well. Haven't generated a great deal of response so I hope no one minds if I throw a few more character sketches up here:

The Ventriloquist

Spend enough time around the island and you'll need a haircut, that's when you look up Billy Snips. Billy spends a lot of his time at a beach camping resort that he runs with a couple of friends; they all met when they were circus performers.
As he gives you a trim, at whichever place he can find a chair to sit you down in, he'll regale you with tales of his days as a unicycle champion in his cockney rhyming slang. Just don't ask him about the ventriloquist act. If you do he'll become distracted, nervous and agitated, usually making a hasty exit exclaiming that "Topper is a very bad doll!"

[Sidetrack]

The Bone Lady

She's beautiful and charming with such a lovely name, so why do people refer to her as "Anthrax" or simply "Thrax"?

Thrax's accent is hard to place, if asked she'll talk about the years she spent in Kowloon... or Rhodesia... or Fiji, etc... She owns a shop where she sells jewelry fashioned from exotic bone and is generally adorned with one piece or another. Said piece always looks organically mechanical in a clockwork sort of way, as if it it might be part of a larger device that-- nahhh, ridiculous! Which is exactly what she'll reply, with a wide-eyed indignant look, if you suggest it. Maybe she's protesting just a little too much though.

[BobGreenwade]

The Old Hermit

He lives alone in a little shack near one of the capes, fishing and gathering fruit for himself. About sixty years old with gray hair, he seems to always have a six-day stubble, no matter what day it is. Within his shack, mounted on the walls, is one of the most extensive and varied collection of swords, daggers, knives, and other blades in the world. He speaks slowly, especially when he describes in minute detail the care that he takes in gutting a fish or the occasional rabbit. He rarely makes eye contact with visitors, though when he does he visibly starts to drool.

[Sidetrack]

The Old Dutchman

He acts very young for an older guy, as if he had a new lease on life. Could have to do with his young wife, his true absolute love, or maybe it's being done with work, some bit of nonsense which he says felt like ten lifetimes of drudgery. Now he happily applies his executive skills to community projects like building and staffing the new greenhouse or the traditional sailing vakas that are crossing the Pacific, Polynesian-crewed (there's a sparkle in his eye when he talks about that one).

[IndianaJoe3]

The Dealer

If you want drugs, you buy them from him. His stuff is high quality and potent, so be careful not to get hooked. Rumor has it that he has a plantation on one of the outer islands, worked by junkie slaves or even zombies.

[SKJAM!]

The Major: Lives on a fairly large island out towards the fringe of the area, uninhabited except for himself and his mute manservant. The Major loves having visitors. He'll lay on an excellent dinner, show off his prize tracking dogs, display his enormous collection of the taxidermist's art (all hunted by himself)--quite the host. Just don't stay overnight, because the Major has a thing about going hunting first thing in the morning....

[Sidetrack]

Mystery Ship

From time to time a large square rigged ship shows up in the harbor, it's modern enough in that the hull is painted white but there's no sign of modern equipment to be sighted on board. As a matter of fact there are no people to be seen aboard either, nor will anyone from the ship be found ashore. The characters will never see the ship move, still it never seems to stay in the same place, in the morning it may be just off town while in the afternoon it will be anchored further up the harbor or in one of the outer anchorages. The most explanation to be had from the locals is the name of the ship, Søren Larsen, everyone seems to be totally unconcerned with it.

A person may show up claiming to be a paying passenger looking to get out to the ship, if the characters attempt to hail it for them they will find the radio they use to be broken... the prospective passenger will wander off and not be seen again. The radio will need to be repaired, if it belongs to someone other than the characters the radio will be gone the next day and won't be replaced for quite a while.

[Susano]

The Skeleton

It lies partially in and out of the water. The locals say it's just the remains of a whale that washed up years and years ago, but it's so long! Do whales really get that big? And the teeth! They remind one of a sperm whale's... except they're in both the top and the bottom of the jaw!

[Burrito Boy]

Borrowing obviousy from the creepy hotel thread (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/38795-Help-Me-Populate-A-Creepy-Hotel) and much of the text of the original post :eg:...

As a little background and flavor for the group:

There is a small town on the main island with a some cafes and small markets, hotels and hostels mostly owned by resident off-islanders.



Wouldn't it be creepy if the creepy hotel was on the creepy island? :fear:

[BobGreenwade]

Commodore Chester Beech

This man operates a passenger boat service around the smaller islands. His personality is basically the same as Capt. Clarence Oveur (http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0006136/), but with a much less humorous edge.

[Sidetrack]

That one guy

Mitch is in is his mid fifties and very congenial, he's got a hint of a southern drawl, or maybe a Midwest lilt... East coast? Anyway, Tim is there on business, if you ask him about it he'll start to tell you about his military background, which sounds impressive, but he'll catch himself and deferringly start telling stories about Israeli Defense Force Soldiers, or RoC Marines or other guys that he's worked with.

That Mick is a super nice guy, he's here on some kind of business.

He can sometimes be found doing shots of tequila with an Ex Army Ranger turned restaurateur, reminiscing about a mutual acquaintance that put a bullet in Che Guevara 's head.

[BobGreenwade]

Todd Baker is a night concierge at one of the resort hotels. He's very congenial, friendly, and laid-back in his demeanor, and approaches his job with great professionalism. Occasionally, in conversation, he expresses personal knowledge of someone that he has no way of knowing. This can be anything from a trivial fact like someone's middle name to a profound secret like a history of medical malpractice. These comments are always made casually, though with whatever level of discretion is called for, including helping someone keep a dark secret. He charmingly deflects any questions about how he knows what he knows... though if pressed he can show physical evidence of the person revealing things to him that they have no memory of ever having done.

[Sidetrack]

That one made me laugh out loud, I'm sitting here looking at this boat, Gladiator (http://www.belugadivingvavau.com/imgs/gallery/index1.html), as I read it. A perfect fit I think. Chester Beech definitely goes in my permanent population.

[tkdguy]

The Barkeep and the Cannibals

There is a pub in the island, close to a village the original inhabitants built. The natives don't pay much attention to the tourists, generally minding their own business.

The atmosphere in the bar is generally jovial, but sometimes fights do break out. The manager is always somehow able to calm down the rowdy patrons and asks them to speak with them outside the bar. He returns after a few minutes, without the troublemakers.

A few patrons have heard a mufffled sound when the bartender is outside with the troublemakers. Some think it sounds like a pistol with a suppressor being discharged. Nobody has actually seen the bartender shoot the offenders, but the natives are always having a big feast later that night.

[The Rose]

The Lost Boy:

If one listens closely, they will hear the occasional mention of "the lost boy"; especially after particularly dreadful storms. His name is always brought up in good standing "thank heavens for him..." Its odd, though, if pressed the villages never speak of him to outsiders and will vehemently deny ever talking about him.

If the time should come up, though, that a soul should find themselves lost in the rain, maybe they will happen upon a small boy - no more than 11 in age. He is never close enough to talk to but he always seems to be just in sight and if you follow him, he always seems to know the way to get to to safety. Why he is there and who he is, though, is a secret. Maybe if you managed to get a good enough look, though, you can gleam something from his clothes.

La Rose

[bigbywolfe]

That one guy

Mitch is in is his mid fifties and very congenial, he's got a hint of a southern drawl, or maybe a Midwest lilt... East coast? Anyway, Tim is there on business, if you ask him about it he'll start to tell you about his military background, which sounds impressive, but he'll catch himself and deferringly start telling stories about Israeli Defense Force Soldiers, or RoC Marines or other guys that he's worked with.

That Mick is a super nice guy, he's here on some kind of business.

He can sometimes be found doing shots of tequila with an Ex Army Ranger turned restaurateur, reminiscing about a mutual acquaintance that put a bullet in Che Guevara 's head.
The sad thing is I didn't even catch it the first time I read it...

[Sidetrack]

The sad thing is I didn't even catch it the first time I read it...

That's the thing about Tom

[Susano]

That's the thing about Tom

Guy sounds a devious as Candja

[Cygnia]

The Tiki Bar

This is where the higher-end tourists (usually those on spring break with massive trust funds) like to party and get drunk at. High up on the cliffs, it has a perfect view overhead where the waves crash against the rocky shore. Sometimes, the occasional shark fin darts through the ocean's dark surface. Specializing in cocktails that make Trader Vic's look like a Starbucks, the bar has seen its fair share of mystery as pretty rich white women have occasionally disappeared from its walls (pretty non-rich native women have also disappeared, but no one ever mentions them if the media can help it). The tiki idol carved on the door frame represents Kauhuhu (http://www.nativehawaii.com/legends/shark_god.php), if anyone ever bothered to ask...

[Susano]

The Cave -- on one end of the island is a cave, that runs deep into the ground. The opening is low to the water and covered at high tide. Rumor has it that an octopus of immense size dwells within, and those foolish enough to go deep enough will find it.

[tkdguy]

The Pirate

Nothing seems unusual about this barfly for the most part. He dresses, talks, and acts normally. But every so often, he thinks it's costume night at the bar. He comes dressed in a stereotypical pirate costume, complete with eyepatch, peg leg, and even a hook in place of a hand. And of course, he has a parrot on his shoulder, who sometimes poops on the pirate's shoulder in full view of the other patrons. He is visibly annoyed when he is told about his mistake, but he keeps talking like a pirate ("Shiver me timbers!") Anyone looking closely will notice that the peg leg and hook seem to actually replace a leg and a hand, although he isn't usually missing any limbs.

[BobGreenwade]

Cliff Carpenter

Nobody's sure if it's his real name or not; he's a carpenter, and he lives next to a cliff, so maybe it's a nickname. His face and demeanor suggest that he's of advanced age, but he has a full head of black hair and is built like a Chippendale's dancer. Living on one of the larger "lesser" islands in the group, he takes on whatever carpentry work comes his way.

The thing is, visitors to his personal shop notice that about half the space is devoted to a project that he never seems to finish... nor does it ever get any larger, even though he's always adding to it and rarely if ever removes anything. Nobody's sure what it is; maybe it's a scaffold, maybe it's a small wooden vehicle, maybe it's a portable shed... when asked, he only says that "it's a surprise."

[dmjalund]

The Well: In the most innaccessible part of the island is a well, older than any known colony, but not matching any native architecture. The rumour is that if you sacrifice someones lifeblood down the well, you can receive immortality. Also, anyone who stays overnight in the area around the well, disappears without a trace.

[Sidetrack]

Similar to The Pirate...

The Lycanthrope

Lofi is a very clean cut presentable islander, at least on Sundays. Throughout the course of the week though he gets more and more feral, by Saturday he is barely recognizable; his nails are long, yellowed and hardened, he is hirsute well beyond six days of growth, communicates with growls and grunts and has a disturbingly wild look in his eyes. Yet on Sunday morning he can be seen cleancut and freshly shaved delivering a well received sermon at a local church.

No one else seems to connect the preacher with the wild man on the streets.

[tkdguy]

The Unseen Avenger

The island has its share of crime. Most of the cases are handled by the police. But sometimes there is a crime so terrible that someone or something punishes the offenders. All such transgressors are found dead, with proof of their guilt on display for all to see. The police and several private investigators have repeatedly tried to find out who this unknown avenger is, but all their attempts have failed. The natives scoff at their attempts; they believe their gods or ancestral spirits are behind all this.

[The Rose]

The Unseen Avenger

The island has its share of crime. Most of the cases are handled by the police. But sometimes there is a crime so terrible that someone or something punishes the offenders. All such transgressors are found dead, with proof of their guilt on display for all to see. The police and several private investigators have repeatedly tried to find out who this unknown avenger is, but all their attempts have failed. The natives scoff at their attempts; they believe their gods or ancestral spirits are behind all this.


Did Batman snap and move to this Island? : ).

La Rose.

[tkdguy]

Did Batman snap and move to this Island? : ).

La Rose.

Possibly, although I was thinking more along the lines of The Phantom, since I'm watching it on Syfy.

[The Rose]

The Curbside Vendor:

In an island populated by the odd, unusual, and the darn-out-right-strange, the Curbside Vendor is a welcomed change. "Johny's da name and cookin's da game" is his welcoming quote to all those willing to try some street side Asian cuisine. Johny is a determined individual with a very cheery disposition. He drives up his mobile kitchen to the same block every day, rain or shine. Its can seat 3 people at barstools that pull out and with the help of a portable fridge in his truck, he manages to somehow keep enough food on hand to last the day. Ask him to make something, and he can almost guarantee that he can do it in 5 minutes or less!

To any passer-by, it is pretty clear that Johny is just about as plain as they get for this town. The only odd thing, though, is that no one seems to know where he lives and he always just says "over yonder." The running commentary from some of the villagers is that he sleeps in his truck and over yonder is just wherever he can park for the night.

The one great thing about Johny, though, is that everyone goes to eat at his shop. Everyone seems to feel at ease around Johny, even PCs who have never met him. He's like your favorite bar-keep; you know, the one you always feel like opening up to after a few drinks. It is almost as if his personality is infectious in that no one can seem to resist talking with him about anything and everything.

[quozaxx]

The Nurse:

Eventually you are going to need medical care on the island.

Nurse Gloria Ratchett. She is often mistaken for a man, complete with day old stubble, broad shoulders, and a deep voice. But heaven help you if you ever question her gender. She's built like a linebacker. Her attitude is always gruff and stern. She will often place patients physically on the bed and strap them in - whether they need it or not.

Dr. Phillip Monroe: "Are you in pain? Good. Pain heals." This is his line to every new patient. He is often seen going into a patient's room alone, closing the door, and screams heard ringing from the room. The patients do get better, amazingly. But are often found shaking at the mere mention of the Dr's name.

Dr. Nick Claus. This jolly old man, has a white beard, rosy red cheeks, large belly, and a twinkle in his eye. He works well with kids, but not adults. But from November until January no one can ever find him, and no one seems to know where he goes.

[IndianaJoe3]

The Retired Adventurer

Frequently found hanging out in one of the local bars. He seems to know a great deal about the PCs, but second hand. (If pressed on it, he claims to be friends with the PC's mentor.) He loves telling stories about his past adventures. If the PCs pay close attention, they will realize he is giving them clues about their current adversaries.

[BobGreenwade]

The Retired Adventurer

Frequently found hanging out in one of the local bars. He seems to know a great deal about the PCs, but second hand. (If pressed on it, he claims to be friends with the PC's mentor.) He loves telling stories about his past adventures. If the PCs pay close attention, they will realize he is giving them clues about their current adversaries.He could also be a friend or relative of Todd Baker (see post #15). :)

[Sidetrack]

The ghost crabs (http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Africa/Tanzania/photo74769.htm)

There is a great little beach on the North shore, it's secluded and takes a bit of a hike to get down to it. As with most of the beaches when you approach you catch movement out of the corner of your eye as the ghost crabs dart for their holes. Oddly though, some of them seemed to linger a bit longer, skittering back and forth before disappearing. Underlying the tracks from said skittering there are other tracks that seem a bit too organized, reminiscent perhaps of complicated calculations. In another area where movement was sighted are some washed up pages of text, most of it cyrillic, but it looks like it may be scientific in nature. While on the beach you'll get a distinct feeling of being watched.

[BobGreenwade]

Near the easternmost reach of the largest island there's a nice motel, managed by a very nice young man who lives with his mother in the nearby house that has served as their ancestral home for generations.

36296

[Susano]

On calm, clear nights, on one end of the island, people say a full-rigged clipper ship can be seen passing by. A clipper that is known to have gone down in a storm 100 years ago.

[IndianaJoe3]

He could also be a friend or relative of Todd Baker (see post #15). :)

He could be, but I was thinking ore along the lines that he's very genre-savvy, he really does know the PC's mentor (if only by reputation), and that the adventuring world is somewhat smaller than one might think.

[quozaxx]

The Dentist and his assistant:

Dr. Melvin Grand is one of the best dentist ever! He's great with patients, does wonderful work, and seems to calm the most feared patient. Unfortunately, he's quiet expensive. But don't let that get you down. You see, you can bargain your payment down with teeth. Yes, teeth. Dr. Grand collects them. They don't have to be your teeth, in fact, they don't have to be human teeth. But they do have to be unbroken, whole teeth.... One more thing, Dr. Grand has an unusual smile - it changes every day - literally.

Sandra Mixer. She is Dr. Grand's assistant / secretary / helper. She is often found unconscious next to the "laughing gas" machine. That thing has to be refilled almost daily. Sandra is always smiling or laughing; and she often slurs her words. But has never touched a drop of alcohol in her life.

[BobGreenwade]

Sam and Sandy Pryor

Sam and Sandy are twins, always seen together, always dressing alike, nearly as inseparable as if they were conjoined. They share the same not-quite-expressionless face, and often speak in unison, especially when answering questions. The funny thing is, Sam is a man, and Sandy is a woman... or maybe it's the other way around. (They're in their mid-20s.)

They don't work; they inherited a large fortune when their parents were killed in a freak auto accident. Another freak auto accident happened to one of the state troopers investigating the crash, and still another happened to one of the troopers investigating that one. The funny thing is, each of those investigators had just established that the twins had alibis preventing them from having caused the one before.

[tkdguy]

The Fisherman

He lives away from the rest of the town, coming in only to sell his catch. He seems nice enough, but he's quite reclusive. He's been fishing for so long he even smells like a fish. And what's wrong with his eyes? They don't seem quite right; he always seems to stare blankly at someone or something.

Edit: He originally planned to name his boat Dragon, but a typo resulted in his ship having another name (the r was dropped). He decided to keep the name. He thinks it sounds distinctive.

[BobGreenwade]

The Retired German

He's a very, very old man, known to most people as Johann Schmidt, relegated to a wheelchair, with a statuesque blonde of a nurse caring for him at all times. He doesn't speak English; his nurse translates for him, though even her English is thickly accented. He also doesn't seem to like anyone; though his body is weak, his spirit is full of fire.

And that face... there's something hauntingly familiar. Maybe if he had a toothbrush mustache? Nah.

[Susano]

The Retired German

He's a very, very old man, known to most people as Johann Schmidt, relegated to a wheelchair, with a statuesque blonde of a nurse caring for him at all times. He doesn't speak English; his nurse translates for him, though even her English is thickly accented. He also doesn't seem to like anyone; though his body is weak, his spirit is full of fire.

And that face... there's something hauntingly familiar. Maybe if he had a toothbrush mustache? Nah.

And sometimes his sons from Brazil visit.

[dmjalund]

And sometimes his sons from Brazil visit.and they all look surprisingly similar

[BobGreenwade]

And sometimes his sons from Brazil visit.Not quite -- Argentina.

[Susano]

Not quite -- Argentina.

Uhm... Bob... The Boys From Brazil (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077269/)?

[BobGreenwade]

Uhm... Bob... The Boys From Brazil (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077269/)?Ah, OK. I'm not actually familiar with that film; I was going with the old "You-know-who is alive and well and living in you-know-where" line that was going around at about the same time.

[Sidetrack]

Thanks everyone for the creativity, I'm well on the way to a well populated island, there's a few niches I've yet to fill though. Here's a little madlib to start things off, for those who want to play. Feel free to warp and expand it to fit your needs.

There are plenty of hostel type accommodations for students, volunteers, backpackers and other low budget travelers of assorted nationalities. A backpackers hostel downtown, a dorm in one of the larger hotels, a camping resort on one of the islands, and numerous smaller operations. The producer of the local 'Pirate' label ethanol/rum is even building a few rooms out behind his home distillery.

During high season there is a constant exchange of people and a fair number in the off-season as well. So it's not surprising that there are a few odd characters coming through those places, especially...

The [noun]

[S]he's a [noun] , [adjective] and [adjective] , [adverb] there [verb] ing at [place] . So it's odd that (s)he is so [adjective] . [S]he'll [adverb] be seen [verb] ing near [noun] ...

[The Rose]

The Gift Shop Man:

Andrew Goldmeier may call it a gift shop but that doesn't really sum up what it is. Mr. Goldmeier is the owner of a unique little shop that sells a lot of novelty items to tourists but what really holds Andrew's attention is his collections of masks. Lot of them are personally made replicas of original island ceremonial masks that he puts up for sale to any who want. But the one thing the locals will warn you about, though, is to not ask him about the mask's history because you will never hear the end of it. Mr. Goldmeier knows his island history like few others and a simple question can turn into a a day long dissertation on 15th century tribal ceremonial feasting traditions.

But what is really important about Mr. Goldmeier's shop isn't what he has up for sale, but rather what he doesn't. In the back office, he keeps his private collection of tribal masks. The replicas he has up front are almost identical to the real things he has in the back. But there is one set of masks, though, that are never copied. Never talked about. And almost never seen. Goldmeier always throws the biggest solstice parties; and since they are masquerade parties, he sets up his shop into an almost Halloween costume shop. And if you join his beech party on those nights, you too may be one of the (un)fortunate few to have seen and maybe even wear his private collection.

La Rose.

[tkdguy]

The Savant (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/38795-Help-Me-Populate-A-Creepy-Hotel?p=909512#post909512) from the Creepy Hotel thread can be used here as a beach comber who mysteriously appears to any lone PCs strolling on the beach at night, talks a little while, and disappears.

[BobGreenwade]

The [noun]

[S]he's a [noun] , [adjective] and [adjective] , [adverb] there [verb] ing at [place] . So it's odd that (s)he is so [adjective] . [S]he'll [adverb] be seen [verb] ing near [noun] ...
I'm developing some general ideas, but I figured I'd try playing this first:

The Babe

She's an online college student, young and beautiful, slowly there wandering at the beach. So it's odd that she is so often alone. She'll often be seen carousing near the nightclub. She likes to pick up visiting men on their last night on the island. The next morning, those men can't get off the island fast enough... and once gone, they're never heard from again. By anyone.

[quozaxx]

The Black Widow

Perhaps one of the most beautiful women on the island. She is seductive and sexy. She also likes being married. She's been married 8 times. Not bad for a 23 year old. The worst part is that each and every husband has died. Each husband has died an unusual death (one was struck by lightning, and 2 are still unsolved as the reasons behind the deaths). She has had an iron clad alibi for each death, seen by multiple witnesses at the club she works at. The word is out that she is now looking for husband number 9.

[Drhoz]

The Gilmans - A family, or perhaps a clan, of deeply reclusive people that live in an otherwise deserted village as far from the tourist spots as possible. They avoid visitors. They all have a strong family resemblence - staring eyes, greyish, rough skin, and weirdly deformed, almost webbed, hands and feet. They do a lot of night swimming...

[quozaxx]

The Castaway:

Marooned on the island during a storm, this strange man brought something on his journey. Shrunken heads. He won't say where he got them or what he was doing transporting them, but he sure does have a lot of them. His remains of his ship can be found, and it's hard to imagine such a large ship having only one person on board. But he swears that he was the only one on board.

(Special note: this entry was suggested by my 10 year old son)

[tkdguy]

The Castaway:

Marooned on the island during a storm, this strange man brought something on his journey. Shrunken heads. He won't say where he got them or what he was doing transporting them, but he sure does have a lot of them. His remains of his ship can be found, and it's hard to imagine such a large ship having only one person on board. But he swears that he was the only one on board.

(Special note: this entry was suggested by my 10 year old son)

Heh. That reminds me of a scene from South Pacific:

Bloody Mary: Wanna buy a shrunken head?

Sailor: What's it made of?

Bloody Mary: It's made outta head.

[The Rose]

What does every creepy Island in the middle of nowhere need? A Russian! Maybe he is ex-kgb. Maybe he is actually Rasputin. Or maybe he is just an escaped circus bear. Who knows, but he is definitely there. : ).

La Rose.

[BobGreenwade]

Agatha and Rose Chapman

These two elderly spinsters live together in a small house just outside the city limits of the main island's largest town. Though in their early 70s, they're spry, healthy, and modern, with a power-walk every morning, a weekly game of tennis, and plenty of Internet savvy. They're also friendly to everyone, resident and visitor alike, with a cheerful, almost vivacious manner.

They also seem to be doing well for themselves financially, despite relying mainly on Social Security. At least, they always seem to have some fine cuts of steak in their freezer, which they're always willing to share, especially with visitors.

In fact, if you're traveling to the island alone, they'll be more than happy to invite you over and have you for dinner.

[Susano]

Agatha and Rose Chapman

These two elderly spinsters live together in a small house just outside the city limits of the main island's largest town. Though in their early 70s, they're spry, healthy, and modern, with a power-walk every morning, a weekly game of tennis, and plenty of Internet savvy. They're also friendly to everyone, resident and visitor alike, with a cheerful, almost vivacious manner.

They also seem to be doing well for themselves financially, despite relying mainly on Social Security. At least, they always seem to have some fine cuts of steak in their freezer, which they're always willing to share, especially with visitors.

In fact, if you're traveling to the island alone, they'll be more than happy to invite you over and have you for dinner.

Do they live next to an amazingly attractive female pig-farmer?

[BobGreenwade]

Do they live next to an amazingly attractive female pig-farmer?Another reference that's totally lost me... I actually lifted them from a Doctor Who story, "Paradise Towers." (Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy; one that's generally been panned though it's one of my favorites from his era.)

[Susano]

Another reference that's totally lost me... I actually lifted them from a Doctor Who story, "Paradise Towers." (Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy; one that's generally been panned though it's one of my favorites from his era.)

Amazingly attractive female pig-farmer = Circe.

[kahuna's bro]

Wouldn't it be creepy if the creepy hotel was on the creepy island? :fear:
good idea

[tkdguy]

Maybe the creepy hotel has a portal to the creepy island.

[dmjalund]

...or a creepy hotel chain (it rattles at night)

[Cygnia]

...or a creepy hotel chain (it rattles at night)

It's all a conspiracy set up by the creepy travel website. ;)

[Susano]

Maybe the creepy hotel has a portal to the creepy island.

Based on what's been said to be in the basement of the creepy hotel... I wouldn't be surprised.

[Lucius]

It's all a conspiracy set up by the creepy travel website. ;)

Now we need a creepy airline. With creepy airplanes.

And a creepy cruise ship. Oh, yes, we need a creepy cruise ship.

Lucius Alexander

And a creepy palindromedary

[dmjalund]

Now we need a creepy airline. With creepy airplanes.
Oceanic?

[Susano]

Benthic Petroleum

[BobGreenwade]

A new one just came to me.

Eric and Bethany Heatherton are fraternal twins, brother and sister. They share an apartment at the edge of the island's main town. Each is incredibly good looking -- Eric is a 6'2" major hunk, and Bethany a 5'5" curvalicious babe. And neither is shy about advertising his or her physical assets.

Nor is either of them shy about making use of those assets. Each is quite fond of flirting with members of the opposite sex, and both are well known for their love of sex with strangers -- including, or even especially, visitors to the island. Neither of them, in fact, has ever had anything remotely resembling a long-term relationship.

It's a funny thing, though: nobody can remember ever seeing them both in the same place at the same time... or even in two different places at the same time, for that matter.

Yes, Eric/Bethany is just one person, a cross-gender shape-shifter. This is something that someone who has slept with one of them usually only vaguely begins to suspect -- though it could be a shocker to bed down with one and wake up in the morning with the other.

[The Weapon]

Did Batman snap and move to this Island? : ).

La Rose.

Let's ask that forensic scientist guy, what's his name? Got a boat called "Slice of Life"? Goes out fishing at all hours? Never seems to catch much?

[McCoy]

Captain Quint and the last holdout

On or after the 3rd of each month Captain Quint's small but well maintained boat docks, and he picks up his mail, cashes his social security and Navy pension checks, loads supplies on his boat, then goes to the bar. The next morning he heads back to one of the smaller outer islands.

If you get him talking Quint will tell of his adventures in the area during WWII. Quint will also claim that on the small outer island where he lives there is still a holdout, a Japanese soldier who does not know that the war is over. Quint spends 29 days a month trying to track him down and capture him.

Quint claims the holdout is trying to kill him, but when he speaks of the holdout it is without animosity, he seems sincere in his desire to capture him alive, to rescue him and bring him back to civilization.

Locals will speak of the holdout as an actual person in Quint's hearing, but most suspect Quint lives alone on his island and the holdout is actually a figment of the old captain's imagination. How old is Quint anyway? He claims to be a WWII veteran, and his mail and the framed discharge certificate hanging on the wall of his shack bear that out, but he looks to be in his mid fifties. Guess chasing imaginary Japanese soldiers keeps you young.

[The Weapon]

The caretaker. On one of the medium-sized islands there is an old man locals refer to as "The caretaker", he is fit, healthy but very craggy-looking. If you ask anyone about his age they'll make a guess and try to back in up with obviously specious reasoning everyone around jumping in with their "logical conclusion", including the caretaker. His name reminds the characters of someone, they're not sure who. Possibly someone who disappeared or a historical figure, they're not sure. He is either a fair skinned native or a very tanned white man. Again, asking will only result in tall tales being told by everyone, if the PCs join in this fantasy with humour and originality the locals like them more. The caretakers job seems to be fixing anything important that goes wrong, from the satelite phone tower to the water trough. Locals warn you never to offer him help of any kind. If the PCs comment that he seems to be overworked and deserves a break or otherwise justify giving him help the local make it clear, give all the help you want but NEVER offer. Just do it.

If the PCs or anyone else is in danger from the various things on this or any of the 4 neighbouring islands the caretaker will appear to help them out of the situation. He's doesn't seem to have a magical knowledge of where to be but he hurries to the scene of danger and knows a lot about the area. He seems to know a lot about the various dangers as well, giving valuable tips. Occasionally he'll try to trick one of the PCs into offering to "take care of things until I get back". If anyone accepts they find they can't leave these 5 islands, something always stops them. The caretaker won't be seen again, except perhaps as he waves goodbye from his concealed seaplane/speedboat or other very fast conveyence. The locals give the PC who made the offer the key to the caretakers hut where his diary details the duties of the caretaker. The only way out of this is to get someone to make the same offer the character made. That could take a while, the old caretaker's diaries seem to go back a long way...

[The Weapon]

Lucius[/B] ]
Now we need a creepy airline. With creepy airplanes.


Oceanic?

That's convenient for me, they've got regular flights out of Sydney.

[The Weapon]

Oceanic?

"How often does flight 851 go from Sydney to LA?"
"Almost every time."

[Lucius]

Is Flight 408 the only one going to Canada?

Lucius Alexander

The palindromedary wants to populate a creepy airplane

[Sidetrack]

Now we need a creepy airline. With creepy airplanes.

And a creepy cruise ship. Oh, yes, we need a creepy cruise ship.

Oddly enough the creepy islands that I used as a basis has an airline that just put their WWII era DC-3 back into service just before I left.

Cruise ships aren't that creepy, but the zombies that wander off of them and into port send a chill up my spine.

[Steve]

Gardener and Son

Working as a gardener at one of the small hotels is an elderly Chinese man. He seems somewhat familiar, but the man he resembles died decades ago. A few years ago, a younger man of mixed race showed up, that the gardener introduces as his son. They never leave the island. Ever.