Unnatural Allures
Menu

Setting

The world of Unnatural Allures

England, some time between 1880 and 1914: a country house gathering in a society obsessed with respectability.

The Gaslight Era

Blackwood House

You are guests and servants, gathering at an English country house for a Mummy Reveal Party. An ancient stolen corpse is to be unwrapped for the company’s fascination and entertainment. With it, the exploitation of the Empire enters the drawing room and the seeming Curse of the Mummy will affect everyone.

Unnatural Allures is set in the Gaslight Era, the late Victorian and Edwardian period. While a Gothic atmosphere matters more to us than an exact historical date, we still aim for social and psychological realism, shining a light into the suppressed fears and desires of upper class society. There is no supernatural threat to encounter – just the characters’ own dark desires.

A historic photograph of hieroglyph-covered stone walls at Karnak
A historic photograph of the Great Sphinx with pyramids behind it
A historic photograph of damaged columns at Karnak

Societal rules

The façade of good society

The Gaslight Era’s society holds up very high standards: wealth, a respectable family, Englishness, the Protestant faith, education, health and visible self-control. Its gendered ideal expects men to be active and useful, women to be pure and devoted, and both to marry one another. However, every character here falls short in some way.

Privilege permits certain eccentricities, but standing outside the social order carries consequences. What is visible invites judgment; what is hidden risks exposure – and the social or actual ruin that comes with it.

You do not need to master Victorian etiquette to participate. While the members of society gathered here are first ruled by restraint, they soon will fall. As the Mummy is unwrapped, the rules begin to give way.

You play a complex pre-written character with established relationships, a representative of good society and the British Empire at its height. Every life in the house has been shaped by the imperial machinery, through privilege, career, loss or guilt.

While clothing would obviously be incredibly important to these characters, as players you shouldn't worry about the historical accuracy or social relevance of your costume. Atmosphere, self-expression and practicability are always more important. For inspiration for possible looks, styles and mood, feel free to browse our Pinterest Board.

For more information about the characters, browse through the Character Gallery.

Design Document (coming soon)