Reality changed in an instant, on national television....
For years, there was talk of banning immigrants. Then, for a while, it became a reality. It seemed as though it was going to become the new normal. All eyes were focused one way for so long that we thought it was going to go on that way until the whole thing bubbled over into a new world war. Until one day, it just stopped. Suddenly, even the most ardent anti-immigrant politicians changed their tune. Their supporters were planning to riot. Maybe they would have if not for an emergency State of the Union address. Well, now we all have a new enemy.
"My fellow Americans. So much has changed in such a short time. I understand that there are doubts. I understand that many of you feel we have betrayed the promises we made when you entrusted us with this, the greatest of responsibilities, the leadership of these United States and even of all the Free World. A great threat has made itself known to us, and the time for secrets is over. We no longer have that luxury. The people of this great nation can and must unite in a way that, until recently, we thought impossible. I understand that these words seem like platitudes. I understand that the American people have heard over and over of the paramount necessity of coming together, of unity and bipartisanship. But the time has come for us to make this new threat known to you, and in so doing, the people will come to understand just how critical a juncture has arrived.
"My fellow Americans, tonight, I am going to make an extraordinary claim. And as such, I am going to support that claim with extraordinary evidence. I have invited scientists, skeptics, and journalists of all stripes here tonight to observe this evidence, so that you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is real, that it is true, and that we must act. Would Justice Hathaway and Senator Taylor of Wisconsin please join me on the dais."
"Over the past years, a cabal of vampires has established and enlarged a foothold in the governments of several Asian states, carefully shaping and directing their actions in preparation to invade the nations of the West, first and foremost the United States of America. These vampires are in many ways similar to the creatures of legend and story, but as is the case in many of those stories, the legends are only half-truths. These vampires are capable of enthralling humans to their will, and we cannot lay blame at the feet of our fellow human beings for the threat that these vampires have begun to pose to us."
We all expected the House chamber to erupt into a riot as the President said these things, but all the men and women of the highest echelons of the United States government simply sat and watched, their faces solemn. They believed what the President was saying. They all did.
"But we are not helpless in the face of this threat. There are among us extraordinary humans, humans with power beyond that of ordinary men and women. These extraordinaries have lived beside us our entire lives, for the entire life of this nation and those nations that came before it. Now, in our hour of need, they have agreed to come forward to help us defend the United States from the greatest threat it has ever faced."
As he spoke, the Justice and the Senator who now flanked the President began to disrobe. On national television. And then, suddenly, on the dais, right there in front of the whole world, was a wolf and hulking bear where the two men had just stood.
"Thank you," he said to both of them. "The legislatures of all fifty States have already unanimously approved an amendment to our great Constitution, which will guarantee protection to these brave men and women who now join us openly to fight this threat. I ask that you treat them as the brothers and sisters to us that they are. We believe this revelation alone will be enough to buy us significant time to prepare for, and indeed prevent the coming storm. But we need you."
"We need you to put aside your differences. We need you to volunteer. In addition to bolstering our conventional forces, I have as of midnight tonight, ordered the formation of a new special operations force. This force will be comprised almost entirely of men and women who have volunteered to become as my friends Justice Hathaway and Senator Taylor. It is a dangerous transformation, and I acknowledge to you now that it will be a great risk. But these extraordinary brothers and sisters of ours are now few enough in number that some of those among us who are young and healthy must join them in order to ensure the survival of our nation. Those who volunteer for this force will be awarded significant bonus compensation. And should these brave souls lose their lives in service to their country, their families will be well taken care of. This is my promise to you."
"My fellow Americans, the state of the Union is tenuous. But tonight, we come together in a new way to make it strong. Thank you."
The press went all out verifying that there had been no trick. That the two men really did change into animals. It took a few weeks, but nobody believes it was hoax any more. And now all of us are preparing for the war. There are already recruitment posters all over town. And boys have started to arrive here from all over the country at the new garrison they slapped together. They can build a military base in a couple of months, but they sure can't finish Highway 78 in a year.
"My fellow Americans. So much has changed in such a short time. I understand that there are doubts. I understand that many of you feel we have betrayed the promises we made when you entrusted us with this, the greatest of responsibilities, the leadership of these United States and even of all the Free World. A great threat has made itself known to us, and the time for secrets is over. We no longer have that luxury. The people of this great nation can and must unite in a way that, until recently, we thought impossible. I understand that these words seem like platitudes. I understand that the American people have heard over and over of the paramount necessity of coming together, of unity and bipartisanship. But the time has come for us to make this new threat known to you, and in so doing, the people will come to understand just how critical a juncture has arrived.
"My fellow Americans, tonight, I am going to make an extraordinary claim. And as such, I am going to support that claim with extraordinary evidence. I have invited scientists, skeptics, and journalists of all stripes here tonight to observe this evidence, so that you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is real, that it is true, and that we must act. Would Justice Hathaway and Senator Taylor of Wisconsin please join me on the dais."
"Over the past years, a cabal of vampires has established and enlarged a foothold in the governments of several Asian states, carefully shaping and directing their actions in preparation to invade the nations of the West, first and foremost the United States of America. These vampires are in many ways similar to the creatures of legend and story, but as is the case in many of those stories, the legends are only half-truths. These vampires are capable of enthralling humans to their will, and we cannot lay blame at the feet of our fellow human beings for the threat that these vampires have begun to pose to us."
We all expected the House chamber to erupt into a riot as the President said these things, but all the men and women of the highest echelons of the United States government simply sat and watched, their faces solemn. They believed what the President was saying. They all did.
"But we are not helpless in the face of this threat. There are among us extraordinary humans, humans with power beyond that of ordinary men and women. These extraordinaries have lived beside us our entire lives, for the entire life of this nation and those nations that came before it. Now, in our hour of need, they have agreed to come forward to help us defend the United States from the greatest threat it has ever faced."
As he spoke, the Justice and the Senator who now flanked the President began to disrobe. On national television. And then, suddenly, on the dais, right there in front of the whole world, was a wolf and hulking bear where the two men had just stood.
"Thank you," he said to both of them. "The legislatures of all fifty States have already unanimously approved an amendment to our great Constitution, which will guarantee protection to these brave men and women who now join us openly to fight this threat. I ask that you treat them as the brothers and sisters to us that they are. We believe this revelation alone will be enough to buy us significant time to prepare for, and indeed prevent the coming storm. But we need you."
"We need you to put aside your differences. We need you to volunteer. In addition to bolstering our conventional forces, I have as of midnight tonight, ordered the formation of a new special operations force. This force will be comprised almost entirely of men and women who have volunteered to become as my friends Justice Hathaway and Senator Taylor. It is a dangerous transformation, and I acknowledge to you now that it will be a great risk. But these extraordinary brothers and sisters of ours are now few enough in number that some of those among us who are young and healthy must join them in order to ensure the survival of our nation. Those who volunteer for this force will be awarded significant bonus compensation. And should these brave souls lose their lives in service to their country, their families will be well taken care of. This is my promise to you."
"My fellow Americans, the state of the Union is tenuous. But tonight, we come together in a new way to make it strong. Thank you."
The press went all out verifying that there had been no trick. That the two men really did change into animals. It took a few weeks, but nobody believes it was hoax any more. And now all of us are preparing for the war. There are already recruitment posters all over town. And boys have started to arrive here from all over the country at the new garrison they slapped together. They can build a military base in a couple of months, but they sure can't finish Highway 78 in a year.
This is the world of Stone Mountain RPG, an alternate reality set in a small, rural town about twenty miles outside of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Our world is filled with humans, shifters and vampires, and like all sentient beings they have their own reactions to how their world and way of life has altered almost overnight.
If you are 18 or over, and would like to join us, please join our Email Group and read this site's information pages to help you create your character. In-character posting is not allowed until your character is approved by the Council.
If you are 18 or over, and would like to join us, please join our Email Group and read this site's information pages to help you create your character. In-character posting is not allowed until your character is approved by the Council.
Stone Mountain News
February 11, 2020: For blessed reasons, and some that are more questionably positive, our members have been pretty much consumed by real life, and the game has gone silent. It's still here, and we're still here, and you're still welcome to join-- but we can't promise when the game will revive again. Thanks for all the fun so far, though!