Meredith Alden Lewis – Game Writing

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Grim Sisters

Story Summary

A third-person tactical RPG with a silent protagonist. The player character is an operative on their first mission for the futuristic private military company (PMC) that owns their labor contract. The nature of the missions, the company, and the player character themselves are all ambiguous and shifting. The tone is dystopian & blackly comedic.

Character Bio: "Handler"

Early to mid-30s. She/her.
Role: Guide / mentor to the player character. Gives pre-mission briefings. Comes on radio during the levels to comment on areas or items of special interest, as well as give updates on mission goals and intel.
Voice: Friendly, maternal, teasing. Inhabits an older sister-like role. Code-switches easily and unpredictably between professional and personal tone, blurring boundaries. Snaps into clipped military lingo when situations on the ground get tense.
Drops hints about the external world, but then refuses to elaborate— it’s outside the PC’s “need-to-know.” Likes to remind PC how young and inexperienced and ignorant they are.
Manipulative. Condescending. Acts like she's the only person truly on the PC's side, and that there’s no one else they can rely on.

Opening Scene

Interior of a bare-bones military helicopter, rattling with wind and engine noise. PC is sitting slumped on a bench, dozing. Handler stands nearby, one hand hooked through a wall strap.
Handler
[ Player name ], wake up. We're about to hit the drop zone.
Handler
Nervous?
Without waiting for a response, Handler ruffles the PC's hair.
Handler
Aww! Well, you're good at hiding it.
Handler
Your VR training will help, of course… but it'll feel pretty different when your boots hit the dirt.
Handler
The good thing is, no one in the insurgency knows your face yet. So you won't be targeted right away.
Handler
My advice? Don't cause hell until you're good and ready.
Handler
Take some time to be a tourist. Blend in with the crowds, wander around. Get used to your new body.
Handler (tapping her wrist)
Your GPS will tell you where you need to go. After you finish planting the first three mines, I'll be on the comm to give you updated intel.
Handler
Good hunting, kiddo. Get ready to jump.
The helicopter doors open, with the landscape drifting & rotating slowly outside. They're a few hundred feet in the air. The PC stands up. Player is given control at this point.

[ Player talks to Handler ]
Handler
Your first time going out on your own! It seems like just yesterday, you were a string of goop in a biotube...
Handler
And now you're carrying a submachine gun. It's a funny old world, isn't it.
Handler
I'll be right there on the comlink whenever you need me. Press [ X ] to pull it up.

[ Player presses X to use radio; Handler told you about radio = true ]
Handler (radio voice and physical voice overlap)
I'm literally standing right next to you! The comlink is for field use. In the field.

[ Player presses X to use radio; Handler told you about radio = false ]
Handler
Good going! That [ X ] button activates your comlink.
Handler
After you land, give me a call to let me know you didn't break your ankles, okay?

[ Player examines mysterious tangle of high-tech stuff strapped to a wall rack ]
Handler
Oh, don't worry about those. They're for later.

[ Player examines pistol laying on bench ]
Handler
Hey, play with your own toys! That one's mine.
Handler
I'll give you my extra magazine, though.
Handler (winks)
For luck.
[ Player receives 1 x 9mm magazine. ]

[ Player examines pilot ]
Pilot
...What.
Handler
Don't bother him! It takes a lot of concentration to fly this low.

[ Player examines open door. There is a spool of rope mounted to the wall. ]

Jump?
➤ Yes
Not yet

[ Player selects "Not yet" ]
Handler
If you're too scared, I can push you. How about it?

➤ No
Absolutely not

Handler
Okay, okay! Just thought I'd ask.