W H A T
Ravenswood
Masquerade
W H E R E
746 W Bittersweet Pl #3W
Chicago, IL 60613
W H E N
8pm – Midnight
October 20th
MADNESS IS A LOT LIKE GRAVITY.
IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE PUSH.
The isolated village of Ravenswood Falls has always had its share of trouble. Mysterious happenings, strange characters, deadly disappearances, and reported hauntings are all pretty routine for the small town. But when fourteen year old Joey Bordeaux fell from the city’s infamous trestle tracks, it was enough to rock Ravenswood Falls to the core. Business declined, crime escalated, and many left the village behind. But now, after nearly fifteen years, the eccentric Ravenswood family has decided to restart their annual charity masquerade, now in dedication to Joey’s memory. Is it just the anniversary of his presumed death that sparked renewed interest in the event, or is there something more sinister at play? Either way, you don’t want to miss it!
ABOUT
Ravenswood Masquerade is a murder mystery extravaganza filled with intrigue, danger and exciting thrills leading to the ultimate "WHODUNIT?!" reveal.
You’ve been assigned a character to play throughout the evening, and you’ll be interacting with others also playing their roles. It’s important that you stay in character throughout the entire night.
The mystery is separated into three rounds and during each, you will receive clue cards that contain necessary information for your character to interact with other Ravenswood Falls citizens. You will need ask the right questions and pay close attention to everyone’s clues to get the whole picture of events.
WHAT TO WEAR
This year’s masquerade dress code is black semi-formal. Wear what you’d wear to a hip club. Jeans are okay, but no t-shirts please, unless you also have a jacket. Please refer to your character packet for more specific clothing suggestions.
Masquerade masks are mandatory and should fit the personality of your character.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There will be a signature cocktail available, but please bring anything specific that you'd like to drink.
BROOKE
ASHFORD
Brooke Kensington met William Ashford while she was his TA and a spark ignited between the two almost instantly. Although they waited until she graduated to get married, the whole thing did raise quite a few eyebrows around town. Modern and intelligent, Brooke has little time for idle gossip, and doesn’t seem phased by the whispers. Having grown up in Ravenswood Falls all her life, Brooke uses the small town’s storied history as the basis for her series of romance novels and has become very successful in her own right. But are the natives getting tired of being used as fodder for her books? How long before someone recognizes themselves in her pages and decides to take matters into their own hands?
WILLIAM
ASHFORD
As the cousin of Archibald Ravenswood, William Ashford spent much of his childhood at Ravenswood Manor, always in the shadow of a name that was just out of his reach. Extremely bright, William moved to the east coast after prep school and attended Yale to study English. He stayed in the area and became a teacher at his alma mater, but eventually had to return to Ravenswood Falls to be near his aging mother. Taking a professor position in town, William met a young Brooke Kensington and the two quickly married. Now that he’s returned with successes of his own, will he finally shake the specter of the Ravenswood name, or will William make a play for what he feels is rightfully his?
BLAZE
AUSTIN
As the former prep school roommate of Billy Griffin, Blaze Austin has spent much of his life on the outside looking in. A scholarship recipient, he always had to work hard to fit in with the children of Ravenswood Falls’ elite, and seemed to be obsessed with the idea of being one of them. Blaze traveled extensively after college, but is always evasive and non-committal when pressed about his destinations. Now a driven lawyer, he works for the Ravenswoods and other powerful families, handling contracts and other legal matters. Was it his intent to weave himself so seamlessly into the fabric of high society? And what happens when someone pulls on a few of his loose threads?
CLAUDIA
BORDEAUX
Former housekeeper at Ravenswood Manor and co-owner of The Alibi, Claudia is still grieving the disappearance and presumed death of her son Joey fifteen years ago. Claudia has always suspected that there’s more to the accident than was reported, and she’s made it her mission to find the truth. Hardened by grief and distrustful of most people, Claudia’s relationship with longtime boyfriend Cal Cooper is on the rocks. Could the revived Ravenswood Masquerade finally be her opportunity to uncover the facts?
PETER
BRADLEY-JONES
Half of the Bradley-Jones gay power couple, Peter and his husband Paul recently moved to Ravenswood Falls and set their sights on turning the aging Ravenswood Manor into a grand bed and breakfast. But first they have to get the Ravenswoods to sell, and that hasn’t been easy. Naturally charismatic, Peter has used his magnetic personality to quickly make a name for himself in the town’s powerful social circles. How hard could it be to charm the Ravenswoods like he’s done everyone else in town?
CAL
COOPER
Longtime boyfriend of Claudia Bordeaux, Cal and Claudia bought local pub The Alibi about five years ago. Cal hoped that running the bar would give Claudia something to do besides grieve the loss of her son. Although not biologically Joey’s father, Cal raised him as his own. Claudia was never the same after the accident, but Cal kept loving her anyway. Things have been rocky between the two lately, but they’ve managed to keep The Alibi afloat despite constant targeting by Ravenswood Falls mayor, Victor Forrester. An honest man with a good heart, Cal often acts as a shoulder to lean on for the bar’s troubled patrons.
COURTNEY
CUNNINGHAM
As the longtime best friend of Brittany Ravenswood-Price, Courtney Cunningham has always been on the socialite sidelines. Despite coming from the well-off Cunningham family, Courtney has never lived up to her parent’s expectations, and having a brother who’s the founder of his own successful start-up company hasn’t helped. But being the quiet one in the room has its advantages, and Courtney has amassed quite a collection of secrets. Could the Ravenswood Masquerade be the time for this shy violet to finally blossom?
GRANT
CUNNINGHAM
The president of CunningApps, Grant Cunningham is no stranger to wealth and prestige. Although publicly out of the closet early in his career, Grant chooses not to share much of his personal life, believing local gossip to be good for business. Who could the mystery man making late-night calls to the Cunningham penthouse be? Recent delays in city approval for his corporate expansion are hitting his bottom line, so he’s certainly no fan of the Ravenswood Falls mayor, Victor Forrester. How far is Grant willing to go to ensure he gets what he wants?
AIDEN
DEVANE
There is little known of Ravenswood Falls’s newest arrival. Living at the seedy motel on the outskirts of town, Aiden doesn’t seem to be connected to anyone in particular, and keeps mostly to himself. Spotted frequently at The Alibi and other less-than-reputable establishments, Aiden travels around town on his motorcycle and mostly at night. What brought this dark and brooding stranger to town and does he have any ulterior motives?
JANE
FORRESTER
Owner/Editor-In-Chief of the Ravenswood Chronicle and wife of the Ravenswood Falls mayor, Jane has often come under fire for giving only favorable coverage of Victor. She maintains that she only prints fair and balanced news however, and does her best to ignore her detractors. Prior to her husband becoming mayor, Jane aspired to win a Pulitzer for her journalism and it’s clear that she still has a passion for presenting the news. But is it possible that when all is said and done, she’ll be known less for reporting political scandals and more for being part of one?
MAYOR VICTOR
FORRESTER
Squeaky-clean Victor Forrester was elected to the mayor’s office on the promise of ridding Ravenswood Falls of its seedy reputation, and his efforts post-election ensured he made more than his fair share of political enemies. Married to the owner and editor-in-chief of the Ravenswood Chronicle, Forrester launched a crusade on anything and anyone he deemed to be immoral or damaging to his fair city. Porn shops, bars, homosexuals - Forrester has raged against them all. But every politician has skeletons in their closet, don’t they? How long before his own come dancing out?
BILLY
GRIFFIN
Clinging to his fraternity glory days, Billy Griffin has a reputation in Ravenswood Falls for being a notorious womanizer. Following four wild years filled with countless ragers and girls in his undergrad, Billy decided to take the party abroad. After many years, he felt the tug of Ravenswood Falls, and has found his way home. Although he hasn’t changed much, life in town has, and he returned home to find that Brittany Ravenswood, his “one that got away,” had married his rival Davis Price. What happens to guys that peak in college? And how far will they go to regain what they’ve lost?
CORA LEE
HALSTED
As a child growing up in Ravenswood Falls, Cora Lee Halsted was always more than a little intrigued by death. As an adult, she’s parlayed that obsession into a career as the co-host of Murder Mavens, a true crime podcast. In a town with plenty to draw from, the Mavens are never at a loss for content, and Cora Lee’s acerbic wit has catapulted the podcast’s success to the national level. Could her fascination lead to compulsion?
PAUL
JONES-BRADLEY
As the more reserved half of the Jones-Bradley gay power couple, Paul is usually willing to let his husband Peter take the lead in most social situations. A driven designer, Paul has big plans to turn Ravenswood Manor into a hip and grand bed and breakfast once Peter can persuade the Ravenswoods to sell to them. Could this be his chance to finally move his career forward and unleash a dominant, driven personality?
MICK
MAHONEY
Handsome gay playboy Mick Mahoney can often be seen hanging out at fabulous parties and jet-setting all over the globe, despite not actually having a job. Believed by many to have come from family money, Mick’s flirty nature won and broke the hearts of many unlucky suitors when he first breezed into Ravenswood Falls. Where did he come from, and what happens when the gravy train comes to a screeching halt?
JAGGER
MCCALL
Following the death of his childhood best friend, Joey Bordeaux, Jagger began acting out and misbehaving throughout middle and high school. His actions led to a stint in prison for theft, but since getting out, McCall has done his best to turn his life around. Taking a job as a bartender at The Alibi, Jagger has kept his eyes and ears open, hoping to finally crack the case of his friend’s disappearance all those years ago. But what happens when he hears a little too much? Do old habits die hard?
JORDAN
PARKER
As the gossip columnist for the Ravenswood Chronicle, Jordan Parker is no stranger to sensational headlines. Having grown up in Ravenswood Falls, Jordan has always been intrigued by the Ravenswood family and other socialites. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep his readers fully stocked with juicy tidbits about their lives through his weekly column, and incessant tweeting. Utilizing his vast network of sources and social media followers, Jordan is determined to make a name for himself among the rich and powerful. But is he sharing the truth, or has he gone off the deep end?
BOBBIE
PEREZ
As the current maid at Ravenswood Manor, Bobbie Peterson knows more than a few of the Ravenswood family’s dirty secrets. Luckily for the Ravenswoods, Bobbie’s more concerned with making sure her bed is filled than she is with the ins-and-outs of a weird old family that the rest of the town obsesses over. As sexually adventurous as she is non-discriminating, Bobbie spends most of her nights at The Alibi hoping to get into a little trouble. What would it take to loosen her lips
ROSITA
PEREZ
Campaign manager turned executive assistant for Mayor Victor Forrester, Rosita Perez was essential in getting him the conservative minority vote in Ravenswood Falls. Competitive and driven, Rosita zeroes in on her goals and stops at nothing to achieve them. As a conservative catholic, she believes in Forrester’s mission to purge the town of dereliction and depravity, a stark contrast to her sister Bobbie, who’s all about free love. But doth the lady protest too much? Is Rosita really the picture of pristine morality she paints?
DAVIS
PRICE
College golden boy and rising political upstart, Davis Price has it all. Handsome, charismatic, and married into the most well-known family in town, Davis is running to unseat current Ravenswood Falls mayor, Victor Forrester. Backed by many local businesses and favored by folks fed up with Forrester’s ultra conservative judgement of them, it looks like he just might have a chance, too. Looks can often be deceiving, however, and Price may have his own secrets hiding behind that million-dollar smile.
ARCHIBALD
RAVENSWOOD
The family patriarch, Archibald Ravenswood comes from a long line of powerful men. As Ravenswood Falls namesake, the Ravenswoods have always been the backbone of the town, working to shape and guide the town in their own ruthless image. Archibald was once a confident leader, but the pressure of keeping the family estate afloat despite the progression of time and changes in society have taken their toll. Could the rumors of Archibald’s descent into madness be true?
BRITTANY
RAVENSWOOD-PRICE
Daughter and heir to Ravenswood family fortune, Brittany has done her best to right the ship that her parents have taken off-course over the past decade. Spoiled by her father and resented by her mother, Brittany quickly developed into a mean girl in prep school and a meaner girl in college. Now an adult and married to budding political star Davis Price, it was Brittany’s decision to revive her family’s once-famous masquerade ball. The Masquerade was always the talk of the town and raised a hefty donation for charity when she was a child, and Brittany sees it as her chance to officially claim her throne once and for all.
MARION
RAVENSWOOD
Once a regal socialite envied all over town, the Ravenswood matriarch’s shine has tarnished over the years. Despite rarely leaving the mansion these days, the reclusive Marion still has the reputation of being a bit condescending and rude, thanks in no small part to her pinot noir-fueled rants to staff and the occasional visitor. The revived Ravenswood Masquerade could mark Marion’s re-emergence to society, but can she stay off the sauce long enough to make that happen?
DOMINIC
SPENCER
Swarthy handyman Dominic Spencer is one of the few remaining members of the Ravenswood Manor staff. Dominic has lasted all these years since he is one of the few people able to stand up to Archibald Ravenswood and his mood swings. According to town gossips, he may also be sticking around due to a rumored affair between him and Mrs. Ravenswood. Despite being busier than usual, thanks to the upcoming masquerade ball, Dominic has been spotted at The Alibi more frequently lately. Never one to be much of a drinker, what could his motives be?
REGINA
THOMAS
Wild and free Regina Thomas moved to Ravenswood Falls a few years back and became fast friends with Cora Lee Halsted after discovering their shared interest in the macabre. So much so that they teamed up to start a true crime podcast. The only thing Regina loves more than a new mystery to solve is a stiff drink, and so she spends a lot of her free time at The Alibi. Although usually outgoing and approachable, she becomes distant when talking about her past. Could Regina be running from a true crime of her own?
SHERIFF DAVE
TIPPON
Following in the footsteps of his father, Dave Tippon recently became the new sheriff in Ravenswood Falls. Dave knew he would have big shoes to fill when he stepped into the role, but he hasn’t exactly done a stellar job so far. He’s often at odds with the mayor’s super conservative agenda, but crime in town has only increased on his watch. Dave’s is trusting to a fault, and his happy-go-lucky nature is often taken advantage of. Could new girlfriend Cora Lee Halsted convince him that not everything in Ravenswood Falls is what it seems?
RUBY
WAINWRIGHT
Once married to one of Ravenswood Falls’s most powerful men, Ruby Wainwright’s world changed when her husband died after a fall down their mansion’s stairs. Although ruled an accident, the town has always suspected that Ruby had much more to do with his death than she told police. Ruby continued on the boards of many of the city’s charity organizations, immersing herself in work and her strong female friendships. While strict when it comes to upholding societal traditions, she’s also known to enjoy her wine and her’s is one of the few remaining friendships that Marion Ravenswood maintains. Very competitive, Ruby is an avid golfer and can usually be seen driving to the green in her Subaru.
