Camp Lore
Camp Uncanny
Rumor has it that strange things happen in Uncanny Valley. The area is remote, and the forest is prohibited to any and all trespassers... with one exception: the campers and staff of Camp Uncanny, the summer camp that has been running in Uncanny Valley for years. Only they have access to hike the trails, explore the views, or investigate the strange rumors of Uncanny Valley. Moreover, campers are only allowed to attend Camp Uncanny once in their lifetime, which has led to much speculation about the mysteries of the Camp.
The Counselors
There are eight camp counselors at Camp Uncanny, one for each of the cabins. Each of the counselors are split between the four Branches, so that each Branch has at least one counselor. Whichever Branch ends up with only 1 counselor changes from year to year, although it's usually Pine.
The Branches
It's an old tradition at Camp Uncanny to split its campers into different factions: Branches, named after trees native to the region. Each Branch's counselors have different priorities and opinions about the ideal camp experience. That said, campers aren't required to stick with their Branches outside of the required check-ins. They can always join in on activities or adventures with other Branches.
Oak Branch
The counselors of Oak like to encourage their campers to be more daring, adventurous, and to seek out thrills. They love to drag campers along on midnight hikes or scary stories around the campfire. Spooky sounds coming from the woods? Go check it out!
Birch Branch
The counselors of Birch love to see their campers tackle a good puzzle. They try to encourage their Branch to tackle solutions logically, and seek out the mysteries of the world. Something weird going on? Get to the bottom of it!
Maple Branch
The Maple counselors insist that camp is all about fun and relaxation. They make sure that their campers have ample opportunities for good times, and really lean into the traditional camp activities. Camp is supposed to be an escape, after all.
Pine Branch
The counselors of Pine are big proponents of the value of interpersonal interactions. Unfortunately, there's a little camp legend that Pine Branch - especially the counselors - is cursed with bad luck. Somehow, the activities these counselors run always seem to involve drama of some sort.
Game Design Note:
Branches are the groups campers are placed in for ease of logistics. They represent four different playstyles:
Maple: Players who want to relax and have light-hearted or hijinx-oriented stories; Birch: Players who want to dig into mysteries and solve puzzles; Oak: Players who want danger and adrenaline; Pine: Players who want angst and interpersonal drama
Player preference will be considered as much as possible when assigning Branches, though for balance some players may be placed with their second choice. Once assigned a Branch, you'll stick with that Branch for the whole weekend (barring exceptions for out of character circumstances). That said, you can absolutely attend any in-character activities that interest you, even if they are run by a counselor of another Branch. Similarly, being in a Branch doesn't exclude you from other styles of play - it merely indicates one that you enjoy.
Each branch will have at least 1 Embedded Role counselor. These counselors will be in charge of specific activities. The assigned counselor will indicate the primary playstyle for the activity. Campfire Sing-Along with the Maple counselor? Exactly what it says on the tin. Campfire Sing-Along with the Oak counselor? Something spooky or dangerous is probably going to happen.
The Camp Director
Definitely kinda shifty, but the owner of Camp Uncanny is a generally laid back guy. Literally. You can usually find him reclining in a hammock rather than doing any work. If he IS doing work, it's probably trying to trick someone into doing the work for him.
Persons in Black
Mysterious people in suits and sunglasses that are definitely not associated with Camp Uncanny, so how and why are they in Uncanny Valley?
