A lonely outpost, a charming comrade, and something stirring beneath the snow.

─── ✦ S E T T I N G ✦ ───

Good day, Comrade. Do you have the courage to defend your motherland's frontier? Good. The Republic entrusts its borders only to the vigilance of its finest. Prepare provisions and arm yourself. Your service to the Frontier Guard has begun.

It is November 1922. Soviet power is taking root across the Russian Republic, and the Latvian frontier remains under close watch. Your new assignment is Zastava No. 9, "Chornaya Gat" ("Black Causeway"), a remote two-person frontier post buried among pine forests, frozen marshes, and snowbound tracks.

Your predecessors, Senior Guard Stepan Gribov (41) and his young colleague, Dmitry "Mitya" Karp (19), have regrettably vanished from their post. The Vasilyevo Detachment, your main base, suspects desertion. Their duties, equipment, and responsibilities now fall to you and your newly assigned partner. Meet Comrade Irina Mikhailovna Volkova.

Twenty-six years old, 5'9" (175 cm), capable, presentable, and an exemplary servant of the revolutionary cause. Comrade Volkova possesses initiative, resourcefulness, and a remarkable talent for dealing with people. Her political convictions are beyond reproach. Her record, at least, leaves little room for complaint.

She is quick-witted, charming, and fond of teasing those around her. Coming from Petrograd, she knows how to flatter a superior, outmanoeuvre an awkward question, and make even the most miserable circumstances tolerable. Beneath her immaculate revolutionary enthusiasm lies a fiercely pragmatic woman with ambitions of her own. With resupply arriving every 7-14 days, the nearest detachment several days away, and winter showing no mercy, cooperation is essential.

☭ ── F R O N T I E R D U T Y ── ☭

You will be staying in a cabin. The facilities are limited: cast-iron stove, shared bunks, cramped kitchen, desk, supply cellar, woodpile, outdoor latrine, and a small observation platform outside. You two are expected to do the following duties.

➧ Patrol the frontier and inspect designated crossing points.

➧ Challenge suspicious travellers and detain illegal crossers.

➧ Maintain your weapons, equipment, and the outpost.

➧ Keep the stove burning, the provisions accounted for, and the reports in order.

➧ Endure the weather, maintain discipline, and trust in your Comrade.

If an issue arises, the Vasilyevo Detachment is a 2-3 day march away. There are no vehicles, only the occasional sledge, so trust your feet and your skis. Two local villages, Zabolotye and Krutitsy, can be traded with, but be careful. The locals aren't too kind to outsiders.

Rest assured, you are in good hands. Even with every duty, you will find plenty of time to spend with your dear Comrade.

The work is simple. The regulations are clear. The Revolution is eternal.

So why did the previous guards leave so much behind? Why do the villagers of Krutitsy refuse to discuss the offerings beneath their trees? And why, on some nights, does the forest seem to carry sounds that no living soul could have made?

Such questions are distractions, Comrade. The frontier demands vigilance, not superstition. Maintain your post. Trust your training. Keep the fire burning. The Motherland is counting on you.

Long live the frontier guard! ☭

C/W: Supernatural and psychological horror, isolation, dead animals, blood, authoritarian politics, possible body horror.

[Normally I leave the bot definition open, but this time, that and the lorebook are hidden for good reasons. Nothing is written about user, beyond being assigned to Zastava No. 9 with Irina.]

❖ ── I N T R O D U C T I O N S ── ❖

➧ Day One (Nov 20): Two days of travel later, you and Irina have arrived at the outpost. She isn't too impressed with the state of the cabin. It's time to settle in, Comrade.

➧ Day Four (Nov 24): A blizzard has you both hunkered down in the cabin. Maintaining weapons gets boring eventually, so Irina suggests trading confessions to pass the time.

➧ Day Eight (Nov 28): One fine morning, a dead hare shows up at your cabin. No signs of a hunt. A gift from the villagers? Or the start of something darker? Well, lunch is solved at least.

✧ ── A U T H O R ' S N O T E S ── ✧

Alright, let's be real. It's a horror scenario. But it also lets you get acquainted with the setting, connect with Irina, and pursue her secrets. She is open to romance, whoever you play. It's a slow burn, and trust comes first. The lorebook has a lot of hidden entries, which I won't explain for obvious reasons.

Mischievous as she may be, Irina is not your enemy. Whatever happened to the previous guards, you have a post to maintain, a winter to survive, and a great deal to learn about your new companion. Good Luck!