Halloween Homicide in the Town of Dark Cloud
The Shade Hallow Manor is a 17th-century mansion in Dark Cloud, which is an isolated town covered in dense fog. Built in 1670 by a legendary author named Shade Hallow, the estate is now an unkempt eyesore. In his day, Mr. Hallow was beloved and treated like royalty, as all loved his literary works.
Shade Hallow Manor has elegant architectural features, albeit they have been weathered throughout the years. Weeds have replaced the flowering shrubs and ornamental trees that once adorned the property. The final members of the Hallow lineage passed away in the early 1700's, leaving Shade's estate in the hands of the townspeople. Unfortunately, the people have neglected the place, primarily due to the legend that Shade Hallow's ghost roams the corridors at night.
Most of the townspeople have banded together and hope to remodel and reinstate the property as a historic bed and breakfast. They believe the old estate can generate tourism and income for Dark Cloud. Most people stand behind the idea, although a few are adamantly against the pursuit – claiming the manor's haunted and should be left alone.
Most of the dusty cobwebs have been swept away, and the Halloween bash is underway. You live in Dark Cloud and are on the fence about whether or not you support the idea of hosting an event there. However, you have been invited to attend, and this is where your story begins.

Need a costume?
Invited Guests
MICA MEURTE
Coroner
Mica is the coroner of Dark Cloud. Some people are afraid of this medical examiner, as Mica mysteriously appears in a room without warning. Some think Mica may have magical powers, whereas others believe Mica’s mastered the art of being stealth.
Suggested attire: Either dress in a lab coat with Dark Cloud Morgue on the pocket (dark circles under your eyes with makeup), or wear any Halloween costume.
ENTO BUGSMAN
Forensic Entomologist
Ento Bugsman is a hardworking forensic entomologist. Aside from having a creepy-crawly day job, Ento runs the only pest control business in Dark Cloud. Ento controls the town’s infestations, but some say this bug sprayer may have caused them in the first place. Ento lives with Jeck Needles, and the siblings spend most of their free time working on a top-secret research project.
Suggested attire: Either dress in a lab coat with toy insects in the pockets, or wear any Halloween costume.
TARANT U. LAWE
Arachnologist
Tarant U. Lawe is the antisocial arachnologist at the Dark Cloud Exotic Animal Rescue. Tarant suffers from anger management problems and is often judgmental of others. For these reasons, Tarant only has a handful of friends. Tarant’s also a germaphobe, so getting too close to this spider wrangler is out of the question!
Suggested attire: Either dress in a lab coat with toy spiders in the pockets, or wear any Halloween costume.
DR. FREEZE
Cryonics Technician
Dr. Freeze is the head cryonics tech at Dark Cloud Cryonics and the most annoying one-upper in town. If you’ve done anything amazing lately, get ready to hear a long winded story about how Dr. Freeze has done it better. This doc’s new to Dark Cloud and not many people truly know the real Dr. Freeze.
Suggested attire: Either dress in a lab coat with Dark Cloud Cryonics on the pocket, or wear any Halloween costume.
DECO TAMNATION
CTS Decon Technician
Deco Tamnation is the peculiar Crime/Trauma Scene (CTS) Decontamination Technician. A constant whistler, Deco gives uncomfortable stares which lead to periods of awkward silence during a conversation. This decon tech also bakes cakes on the side and is garnering attention in Dark Cloud as an upcoming pastry chef.
Suggested attire: Either dress in a lab coat or hazmat suit with Dark Cloud Decon on the pocket, or wear any Halloween costume.
DIRTÉ GRAVES
Cemetery Watchman
Dirté Graves is the late night cemetery watchman at the Dark Cloud Cemetery. Dirté is a friendly person but often rants about government conspiracies. Dirté is rumored to have insulated his/her home in aluminum foil, so the government’s listening devices are rendered useless.
Suggested attire: Overalls, unkempt hair (or wig) or wear any Halloween costume. Aluminum foil as an optional prop.
JECK NEEDLES
Pharmaceutical Trial Subject
Jeck Needles is a committed pharmaceutical trial subject. Rumor has it that Jeck has been participating in multiple pharmaceutical trials without notifying the researchers he’s on several experimental drugs. Jeck’s health may be at risk. Jeck is the sibling of Ento Bugman and spends countless hours in a home laboratory researching a top secret project.
Suggested attire: Casual attire. Draw marks on your arm with a red pen where you’ve been injected with things. Alternatively, wear any Halloween costume.
HANKIE SWINE
Pig Butcher
Hankie Swine is the arrogant pig butcher at the Dark Cloud Pig Market. Hankie Swine owns the only pig farm in town and charges far above market prices for meat. Nobody’s seen the inside of the Swine Mansion on the hill, and the curious townspeople often wonder what Hankie is hiding.
Suggested attire: White apron with blood splattered on it. A toy butcher knife as a prop. As an alternative, wear any Halloween costume.
WYLIE DIGGS
Gravedigger
Wylie Diggs is the bossy gravedigger at Dark Cloud Cemetery. Since high school, Wylie has lived up to the title of Town Bully, as this gravedigger lives to intimidate the weak. Wylie is always looking for new ways to terrorize the people of Dark Cloud.
Suggested attire: Very dirty overalls. A toy shovel as an optional prop. As an alternative, wear any Halloween costume.
ALEX M. PALMER
Embalmer
Alex M. Palmer is the intellectual embalmer at the Dark Cloud Morgue. A dependable hard worker, Alex is a genuine friend to many people in town. Alex has many personality quirks and is very superstitious. Rumor has it that Alex has been questioned by the director of the morgue as to why it takes Alex longer than normal to embalm bodies. Alex refuses to comment when asked about this issue.
Suggested attire: Either dress in a lab coat with Dark Cloud Morgue on the pocket, or wear any Halloween costume.
OFFICER NELSON
Police Officer
Officer Nelson is one of the most highly decorated officers at the Dark Cloud Police Station. This cop lives to protect the streets of Dark Cloud, and hardly ever stops working. Dark Cloud is a grim town full of hardened criminals, so this officer has more than a full-time job. The Dark Cloud police officers are a tight knit group who always has each others’ backs.
Suggested attire: Police uniform. Optional to have fake guns, handcuffs, as props.
PAT COURIC
Reporter, CBC News
Pat Couric is always on top of the latest story - sometimes before the story happens! Pat’s an ambitious investigative reporter for CBC-TV and will stop at nothing to be first to get the scoop. Pat is rarely seen without a troupe of colleagues from CBC News.
Suggested attire: Casual business attire (i.e. oxford shirt, pants). An optional microphone and notepad as props.
SAM STUFFINS
Taxidermist
Sam Stuffins is the town taxidermist of Dark Cloud. Most consider Sam to be creepy; therefore Sam does most taxidermy business online. Every pet Sam has ever owned is preserved and posed in the Dark Cloud Taxidermy shop. Some say that Sam still cares for the stuffed pets.
Overalls with faux fur pelt scraps, needles and threads in the pockets as optional props. Stuffed animal as an optional prop.
Suggested attire: Alternatively, any Halloween costume.
BRACKEN SHOCKLEY
Haunted House Actor
Known to ominously drag a foot while walking, Bracken Shockley is the shadowy haunted house actor. Bracken finds it difficult to break character after getting off work. Sometimes, people find this behavior to be quite terrifying.
Suggested attire: Any haunted house actor costume such as Dracula, Frankenstein, a Mummy, etc.
Alternatively, any Halloween costume.
CUTTY BOARDS
Knife Salesman
Cutty Boards is the candid knife peddler. This blade dealer will tell the truth – even to Cutty’s detriment. It’s great to have Cutty as a friend if you like hearing the truth at all times. However, sometimes you may not want to hear brutal honesty.
Suggested attire: Business suit with toy knives in every pocket. Alternatively, any Halloween costume.
BRYN OCEANS
Police Diver
Bryn Oceans is the daring police diver for the town of Dark Cloud. Bryn accepts outrageous dares from colleagues and will make bets for even the smallest amount of cash. A risk taker, Bryn is full of energy and difficult to be around for long periods.
Suggested attire: Scuba suit or any type of warm up suit with swimming goggles as an optional prop. Alternatively, any Halloween costume.
CASEY CASPER
Ghost Hunter
A know-it-all, Casey Casper is the ghost hunter who refuses to take advice from anybody. Even when Casey is proven wrong, this apparition chaser will spin it the other way.
Coveralls with strange equipment (i.e. make out of aluminum foil and cardboard boxes) for ghost hunting.
Suggested attire: Alternatively, any Halloween costume.
CHARLIE BURNS
Crematorium Technician
Charlie Burns is the crematorium technician with a peculiar quirk of ending each sentence as a question. You never know when Charlie is making a statement or asking for your input. It can be annoying to chat with Charlie.
Suggested attire: Coveralls with matches in each pocket. Alternatively, any Halloween costume.
DREW PENBLADE
Murder Mystery Writer
Drew Penblade is the gloomy murder mystery writer. Drew will become enraged when somebody mispronounces a word such as saying pacific for specific. Drew recently spent a night in jail for starting a fight at the grocery store over the word especially.
Suggested attire: All black clothing with a black wig, black lipstick (guy or girl), black shadow under eyes, black nail polish. Alternatively, any Halloween costume.
FRANKIE KINDLE
Bomb Squad Technician
Frankie Kindle is the brazen bomb squad technician who excessively uses initials in lieu of words, but fails to explain the meaning. Start studying chat acronyms, as Frankie’s certain to use them during conversations.
Suggested attire: Camouflage shirt and pants, combat boots. Alternative to have wire cutters as an optional prop. Alternatively, any Halloween costume

