Magnus
(????.??.?? - 1992.03.15)
Banker, coal mine owner. Father of Judy.

Stuart
(????.??.?? - 1991.03.12)
WWII veteran, tank unit mechanist. Husband of Judy. Owner of mechanic shop. Father of David.

Judy
(1928.??.?? - 1992.03.15)
Daughter of Magnus. Stuart's wife. Mother of David.

Jasper
(1920.??.?? - ????.??.??)
Coal mine foreman.

Daithi
(????.??.?? - 1982.02.28)
Miner. Margaret's husband. Catherine's father. Bernie's friend.

Margaret
(????.??.?? - 1982.02.28)
Daithi's wife. Catherine's mother.

Catherine
(????.??.?? - 1992.03.15)
Daithi's and Margaret's daughter. David's wife. Mother of Bernette.

Bernie
(????.??.?? - 1967.02.03)
Miner. Daithi's friend.

David
(1946.??.?? - 1986.03.13)
Judy's and Stuart's son. Catherine's husband. Father of Bernette. Mechanic shop owner after Stuart.

Brad
(????.??.?? - 1992.03.15)
Magnus' protege.

Bernette
(1968.04.15 - ????.??.??)
Catherine's and David's daughter. The last "citizen" of Erusal and the main threat to player's character.

Sam
(????.??.?? - ????.??.??)
Player's girlfriend. Subcharacter.

Dakota
(????.??.?? - ????.??.??)
Player's friend. Subcharacter.

click to expand

Tonight I became a woman! And with a war hero! Stuart came home from war, and had a look in his eye I could not resist! Mechanics sure do have a way with their hands...

Surely he means to make me his wife now. I have read enough to know what sex leads to...but what if he doesn't? Perhaps my body was all he was after since he has been away for so long! No, I must not think that way. The proper thing for me to do now is wait for him to call, and when he does I must fight my urge to press the matter of marriage. It will be some time before I know if the pregnancy takes, after all. I can't build everyone up only to discover that I am hysterical! Yes, I will wait for my beloved Stu to make his move. Then we can begin out lives together!

Judy is pregnant. My hands tremble as I write these words, both out of fear and out of excitement. I was of the mind that my little girl was still just that, but today she came to me and revealed she has become a woman. Seventeen is old enough to have a child, I suppose. Lord knows the miners I employ don't wait that long, so I can be grateful she has kept herself away from them. My reputation may take a bit of a beating, but the fallout is manageable.

The boy himself has gusto. His name is Stuart and he has just retuned as a veteran of the Second Great War. From the stories I have heard he seems ambitious. Perhaps I can turn that ambition to my advantage. He was the mechanic of a tank unit, so perhaps I can start a mechanic franchise through him? He seems passionate enough, and it may be a way to turn this situation to my advantage. The profits from that, the coal mine, and the bank I operate will make me very comfortable indeed. Thinking about it now brings a smile to my face. When I first heard the news of my daughter's pregnancy I was furious, but now I can see the opportunity unfolded before me.

Aw shucks.

As it happens, the night I had with Judy after getting home from The War means she is pregnant. Had I known this would happen, I coulda cooled my hots for her. I better make a respectable woman out ofher. Just like my tank pals used to say, "If the lady starts a grinnin’, take care where your swimmin'!” It's too bad they sent us home so quick, I miss taking care of my tank. I was the best damn mechanic in Uncle Sam's army! My tank, now that was a lady I understood. After every skirmish there was a bolt to tighten or a part to grease. Then Sherrie would purr real pretty. Real women don't sound the same as a M4A1 Sherman tank. They smell different too. Not bad, but different.

I'm going to have to come up with a job, and quick! If only there were a mechanic shop around here, I know I would be a shoe-in for the job. No such luck, but maybe I can work on some sort of machinery in the coal mine. Judy's father Magnus owns that operation, so if he doesn't want to split me open like a nut for touching his child then Old Man Magnus can use a man of my talents.

Life sure is grand. Looking back at my past journal entries, it's amazing how worrisome I was. Of COURSE my father-in-law would invest in a mechanics shop right here in Erusal. It's a dynamite business idea. He sure is a stand-up guy. He reminds me a lot of my tank pal Chuckie. Chuckie always had a plan for the future, whether it was the next position for the tank or the names of his children. Maybe in my down time I could make my own M4A1 Sherman tank right here at the new shop! It may take a while to scrounge together the parts, but it will be the pride of every parade in the county!

Finally, all my work has paid off! At the age of thirty, I have become the foreman of Magnus’ mine. I suppose Magnus sees the value in having a young guy like me up top. Some of the older miners are grumbling pretty loud about their jealousy, but there's a reason I was chosen over them. Magnus can see the value in me. Those fools can keep on grumbling.

I work hard, and I hope my little Cathy will get benefit from it. She is the light in my world, and I will do anything for her to have a better life than I did. My Papa spent all his wages on moonshine. My brothers and I suffered awfully for it, but Cathy will live a better life. She deserves what I never had. That smile on her face when I get home from the mine keeps me going - though Marge's cooking does its share too!

Whatever my feelings for Bernie may be, I will work hard for my family. Bernie and I can have our time together in the dark mine, but above ground - in the light - I belong to my family.

Truly I am the luckiest woman on earth. I am so blessed to have my husband Daithi looking after me and our beautiful daughter, Catherine. Daithi works so hard, I swear he spends more time with the other miners than with me, so he can give Catherine and I all of the things we need to live. We have a roof over our head and food on our plates. What more could a woman want?

Hope Catherine will grow to understand how hard her father works for her. She is getting to that age where the Devil can take hold, so I hope we are raising her right to appreciate the beautiful life that we have.

Mama, Papa, and me sure do have a good life here in Erusal. I love my Mama and Papa. When I get big I'll have a family just like this one, and I'll be happy forever too.

I'll find a boy some day to be just like my Papa, and I will be just like Mama! The boys in school aren't like Papa, though. Maybe they will get like him when they grow up more and work in the mine. All of Papa's friends are miners. Maybe one of them has a son who I will marry one day! He will work in the mines all day to take care of me and when he comes home I will take care of him. That's how it works!

I'm ready to settle down with a husband, but none of the miners are the right age for me. They're all too old, and they got bad coughing fits too! Maybe marrying a miner is not what I should do. I guess I don't have to follow my parents EXACTLY, but I can still end up happy like them.

I've been looking elsewhere for a husband, and I think I found one in David, the mechanic's son. They do good, hands-on work too - just like the miners. I bet a life with David would be perfect! He would work hard to give me and our children the things we want. He's just got to like me enough to marry him. I've seen the way he looks at me when he thinks I'm not looking. All I gotta do is make it easy for him.

Well, I better grow up quick.

Today I found out that I got Cathy pregnant when we ♥♥♥♥♥♥ a few months ago.

GOD
DAMN
IT

I guess I better get myself together. I'm going to be a father now, so I need a job. Babies need clothes and food and I'm going to have to support Catherine and we will have to move in together and get martied and there is

SO
MUCH
TO
DO

♥♥♥♥ I'm going to have to find a job. I don’t want to work in the mine because those guys always have a real bad cough...that can't be healthy...so maybe I could work with my Dad as a mechanic? I'm going to have to spend more time there watching the things he does.

♥♥♥♥

...

It's late, so I better rest up for tomorrow. The rest of my life is starting, after all.

Finally, after three whole weeks of pestering him, my Dad gave me a job. Sheesh, that took a while. I'm his own flesh and blood, and he worries me like that? Whatever, it's all lined up now. I will be a mechanic for a while until Dad retires, and then I will own the business. Then it will be smooth sailing. "Stuart's Mechanics” will become "David's Awesome Auto.” That's a much better name. Then can hire someone else to be the mechanic and ride out the rest of my life

In the meantime, Dad is taking my hunting this weekend. Our hunting trips are pretty fun, but he is probably going to be giving me life lessons and war stories the whole time. Boy, do those get old fast. He was cozy and safe in his tank the whole time, so the stories sound like a history lecture from school. I guess it's good to make my Dad happy by listening to his stories, though. He did just give me a job after all.

Bad news today at the mine. A pair of miners went deeper into the tunnel than we had support beams, and they got hurt in a small collapse. Bernie was crushed by a large chunk of rock coming free, and Daithi was injured too. Those two troublemakers have been doing all kinds of things together lately. With the time miners have to put in, they must spend more time with each other than with their wives and children! I know Marge is going to be fawning over Daithi when he gets home, though. Bless her heart.

Magnus was down at the mine soon after the collapse, and already promised Daithi an allowance to make up for the wages he lost in getting hurt. It must be good to be related to the boss. Let's see, if Daithi's daughter Cathy is married to David, Judy's son...that makes Daithi Magnus’...darn...his grandson's father in law I suppose. I don't know if there's a better way to say that. They're related, is the point, and Magnus isn't completely heartless...or he doesn't want the miners to unionize...or he doesn't want the state or feds investigating the mine...

Confound it Stuart!

After so many years, my mechanic franchise venture has gone no where. Stuart is a self-obsessed buffoon with no drive for greatness! His one shop is barely profitable, and most of the business comes. from servicing the trucks that haul coal from my mine to the train yard. His focus on the past has retarded my ambitions for long enough. Business is just good enough for Stuart, Judy, and their son David to live on, but Stuart does not have the ambition I once thought he had! He STILL talks mostly of the Second Great War and his part in it. I understand his pride, but I do not understand his unwillingness to move forward in his life. Judy's indiscretions have cost me over the years. She should have chosen better.

Perhaps it is time to rack up this venture as a loss. My coal mine is still very profitable, and I need to focus on addressing the town's safety concerns. Working in the mine is perfectly safe, and it keeps them away from the hot sun after all. They should be grateful that I enable all of the cashflow in the town. Without my mine open, they would have to move away from their homes to find jobs elsewhere.

It must be 18 years now since Bernie died and Daithi got his injury, but Daithi still always gets real upset this time of the year. He still misses Bernie I guess. You don't spend most of the day with a friend and then get over them just like that. I hope the Lord can work his love into Daithi's heart a little sooner this year. I hate to see him like this. He seems alright living off of Magnus’ allowance the rest of the year, but we always have trouble on February 3rd. I know he will clear up in time for Valentine's day, though. He always has the sweetest surprises!

Hello I'm Bernette and I got this diary for my birthday and its exciting!!! HELLO DIARY!!! I am seven years old today!!! I'm going to tell you all my secrets ok? But tomorro tho ok. Ok good night diary!

Hey Diary do you want to know whose in my family?! Ok, so my Mom Catherine. Sometimes people call her Cathy. And her parents are Grandma Margaret and Grandpa Daithi. Sometimes, people call Grandma Margaret Marge.

My Dad's name is David. His parents are Grandma Judy and Grandpa Stuart.

l only have one Great Grandparent. That's Grandma Judy's Dad Magnus. I like his name it's funny.

Ok that's my whole family byyyyeee.

Hello Diary,

Today I learned about where my name came from. Grandpa Daithi had a friend named Bernie who died a long time ago before I was born. That means I am named after a boy! Ewwww! I don't want to have a boy's name! Grandpa Daithi got super duper serious after he told me about it though. Maybe he didn't like his friend or something. don't know why they would name me after him though. No one else I know is named after a person who is not the same boy girl thing so its super weird.

Love, Bernette

I can't believe it's all over. I've been on this job for thirty-two years, and I'm now forced into retirement from the mine closing. I guess Magnus is getting tired from all the work over the years he had to do to keep it open. First there was a death, then there was state work-environment investigator people, and now the mine is closed. It's admirable that he was able to keep it open as long as he did, but I guess it's all ka-put now. I don't know what the miners will do. Move away maybe? Wouldn't that be a shame for Magnus and his family. They would be all alone then, but there isn't any work other than the mine in Erusal, so maybe that's what it's going to be.

I'm moving out for sure. There is nothing left for anyone in Erusal.

Terrible news today! The mine has been closed indefinitely by Magnus! What will we all do?! The miners need jobs, after all, but there are no other jobs in Erusal. Maybe Daithi will know what to do. He has not come home yet today, which is odd. Maybe he is out planning the future of Erusal with the miners. God bless him. Even with his injuries he never could be pulled away from the miners. Still, it isn't like him to be away from home so late.

Maybe what looks like a tragedy is actually a blessing from the Good Lord. If we are forced to move to a new town then we can see a bit of the rest of the world along the way. I can't remember the last time I was out of Erusal. I'm certainly not getting any younger. Maybe it is just the right time to start a new chapter in our lives.

I can't take it no more, Bernie. Ever since that day we snuck off into the mine together and you got killed I've missed you something awful. My woman cares for me, but you loved me as only another man could. If I can't make pease with myself after all these years then I never will. I can't take it no more. ll hang myself here in your home so we can be together even sooner. Nothing can take the pain away now that the mine is closed for good. Everytime I hear my granddaughter's name the stake in my heart is twisted just a little more. We thought naming her after you would be a fitting tribute to your life, but for me it is only a painful reminder of your death.

I can feel my memory of you fading away, and I can't take it no more. Our sins brought me too much pain to bear no longer. I hope I can see you soon, and God will forgive us.

To find Daithi swinging here, and his thoughts on this page.

I can't take it anymore either.

We love each other. The mine closing must have jumbled him up good. I'll be there soon too, Daithi. Don't go too far down that dark tunnel just yet. I'm coming to catch your hand.

Dear Diary,

Today was Grandma Marge and Grandpa Daithi's wake. It's super sad what happened. I just saw them on Friday, and now I'll never see them again! It's not fair! They didn't even have the coffins open to see them! I thought that's how funerals were, but not for Grandma and Grandpa. I already miss them a lot.

I love you Grandma and Grandpa

Bernette

It seems Judy has finally figured out that her husband is less than desirable. Perhaps I will introduce her to my protege, Brad. Brad truly has the ambition I once thought Stuart posessed. Linking our families in this way will deepen his loyalty to me, and I want Judy to be happy, after all. If I am to leave my fortune to my daughter, I would prefer that she was with a man who can handle it properly. They are nearly the same age, too. Very convenient.

Stuart's demeaner is weighing on me. Heavily. Nearly forty years have passed in our marriage, but unlike the wine in my glass it has not aged well. He STILL tells his stories of bravado from his time in the service, and with his age it has become a routine. Every time he uses the exact. same. words. I could recite them along with him, and I do so sometimes to interrupt his train of thought and to rile him up. Thank God for father and the company of his friends. His protege, Brad, is a pleasure to talk to. I have seen the way he looks at me, too. What a naughty man. I will see him again tomorrow. There's nothing wrong with seeking out better company than the buffoon I am married to.

Dear Diary,

Is it just me, or is Grandma Judy acting really weird? She is never home when I stop by to say hello. How rude. She used to be there all the time to talk to me about stuff, and now she is always out somewhere. Apparently she is getting super into Great Grandpa Magnus's business. She's spending a lot of time with him and Brad. I thought GG Magnus was going to give his businesses to Brad to handle, but maybe it's going to stay in the family with Grandma Judy? That would be pretty cool I guess. Eventually I could run everything! Dad is doing his mechanic stuff, so maybe Grandma would give it right to me! I still miss talking to her though.

I noticed today how grown Bernette is. I may have to start sitting on my porch, cleaning my gun so that all the boys in town know to keep their hands off my daughter. Both me and Dad got married due to unplanned babies, I won't let that happen to my daughter.

Cathy sure has been good to me lately. She made my favorite dinners every night this week. She has been smiling a lot more, too. I'm glad she is finally out of the funk her parents left her in. It has been four years since they passed away. That seems like a long time to me, but then again both of my parents are still walking around. Dad still has not given me the business, but I'm making a decent amount of money, so it doesn't really matter.

Why, David? Why can't you just act the way you're supposed to? Twenty long years together, waiting for you to mature, and now I can see you'll never get there. You're just like Papa after all. In the end he went and ruined everything because he couldn't just be happy taking care of Mama and me. Why can't you just be how you're supposed to? I work hard to take care of you, but all you want to do is go hunting, or fishing, or take walks without me. There has never been a less grateful husband in all the world! Well, just like Papa you can take your own life. I found some plants in the valley that will put you right to sleep quick, and you will never wake up again. I hope you enjoy your dinner tonight, cause that's going to be your last one.

All I wanted was for things to stay like they were when I was young First my Papa and Mama took themselves away, and now I realize David can't be like he is supposed to. Why can't things just work out for me? Where's the man who will give me everything I deserve? I don't know, but it isn’t David

Diary,

Theres something really weird going on. We just got back from Daddy's funeral, and Mom isn't even crying. It's like she doesn't even REALIZE THAT DAD IS DEAD. What are we even going to do!?! I'm only almost about 19 years old, and I will never see my Dad again! Its like the ♥♥♥♥♥ doesn't even care! Dad, miss you so much!

Grandpa Stuart still spends a lot of time at his mechanic shop, and Grandma Judy hangs out with GG Magnus and Brad so I don't know what I'll do. My family is always busy busy busy. I'll just hang out and read I guess.

Judy sure has been acting odd lately. I still can't understand her motions like I understand the gears in my old Sherman tank. Judy does cook better meals than the army did, though. She has been making more exotic meals recently, with some sort of special ingrediants. They do a good job of filling my belly, even if I do always feel sluggish afterwards. She isn't so bad, I guess. Our forty-five years together could have been a lot worse. I can only hope that David chose better. The shop isn't the same since he passed on. Maybe his home life was happier than mine. I sure do hope so. I think I will go visit his grave again tomorrow. I was just there today, but something about how easy-going the graveyard is settles me. I'm going to have to do some repairs on that bridge soon, though. It creaks pretty aweful when people walk over it. Some day soon it may fail if I don't take a better look at it soon.

Oh Stuart, you foolish man. How readily you shovel your own demise into your belly.

There is something oddly satisfying about the way Stuart has been wasting away over time. The "secret ingredient” I sometimes put in his meals sure does the job well. I can withhold it for a few weeks and see him gain back his energy, of I can give him a higher dose and see him struggle out of bed the next day. I have had quite a bit of fun over the past few months, but itis finally time to end the charade. Stuart will not live to see the sun rise tomorrow, and I can be with Brad as I was always meant to be.

It's funny how life can make my twilight so beautiful. I have nothing but happiness ahead of me. No more monotonous stories for me! Farewell, Stuart. Perhaps we will meet again in the next world, but not until after I can finally enjoy this one.

Diary,

Grandpa Stuart was buried today. I should have spent more time with him at his mechanic shop. Now the shop will close or become a junkyard. Is it usual for a young girl to lose everyone in her life the way I have lost everyone in mine? I noticed Grandma Judy isn't crying, just as Mom wasn't crying after Dad died. Surely that isn't a normal response? My books tell me that death is a sorrowful thing.

“To weep is to make less the depth of grief.” Shakespeare said. What if Mom and Grandma don't feel any grief? That would explain the glaring omission of tears, but what would even cause that? Both of them lost their husbands, and yet neither of them seem to feel any grief. I must be missing something.

Diary,

I still can't believe the contents of all the diaries I have found blatently laying around. It started with going to see Grandma Judy and finding her diary on the coffee table. The way she treated Grandpa Stuart is sickening. Then I find my own mother's diary. In all my studies, I have never found a pair of books so full of sin. At the family dinner tonight it all ends for them, and GG Magnus and Brad as well. They are all guilty of heinous crimes, and as MLK Jr said, "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” This world is too good for them, and I will correct this moral conflict myself. I found the herbs in the valley that Grandma and Mom talked about in their diaries. It will be quite the dramatic irony that they will be killing themselves the same way they made their husbands kill themselves. When all this is over, the cosmos will return to the proper, ordered state.

What a day of work I have had! Four more lumps of earth in the church graveyard, and now I have run of the town. Everyone else left when the mine closed down all those years ago, so I am used to the isolation. It is nice to have an entire town at my disposal, even if it is empty. No one so much as visits anymore, so I will have this entire kingdom to myself. With the world once again balanced I can live out my days in peace as a hermit.

Well Diary, it certainly has been a while since I have leafed through your pages. I am afraid that without a need for it - I have lost track of the date! Instead of dating my entries I will number them from now on. It's nice to find you again, like making contact with an old friend. It will be even nicer to pour my thoughts and feelings into you again forgot how refreshing it was. I feel relaxed already.

Life alone is a little more lonely than I expected. I suppose that is why alone and lonely are such similar words, but I have no regrets.

The bridge collapsed today, Diary. Perhaps I can find another route to the church. I still like to spend some time there, occasionally. In death my family is closer than ever before. Their sins will not be forgotten, however. I have found all of their diaries; they are hidden away in their secret nooks and alcoves no longer. I will spread their pages around the homes they used to inhabit, and in doing so remind their haunting spirits of the misdeeds that sealed their fate. Surely everyone has some sin that could inspire a similar fate? Mine is the murder of my own family. If I can be corrupted like that, surely everyone has that fearful potential.

Hey, It's really important that you read this whole thing before reacting, ok?

I don't know if I can do this anymore. We're moving so fast... don't know if I can keep up. When we are together everything feels great, but when we are apart I feel empty inside. It's so confusing to feel such joy and such pain inspired by the same person.

I feel something holding me back, like a weight every time we are together. know I smile when we are together...because I really am happy!But the sadness I feel when we are apart confuses me. I don't like this part of myself, whatever it is. I know you like me, but I feel so unlovable. I think I need to work on understanding and appreciating this part of me, whatever it is.

I don't think I can keep this up until I sort my feelings out. We should take some time apart to see other people. I need some time with my friends, and I think you should spend some time with yours. I hope that you don't hate me for this. really do care about you, but! need to sort out my feelings

See you around, Sam.

DRAFT
[To: Dakota]
[From: Me]

Wow, ok. I thought you were my friend. I'm going out to the mountains anyway, not that you care.

[To: Me]
[From: Dakota]

Hey...so sorry, but something came up. We'll take our quads out next weekend for sure.

[To: Dakota]
[From: Me]

I'll have to change the oil on mine, but that sounds like lots of fun. Let's go on Saturday. We should look for new trails out in the mountains.

[To: Me]
[From: Dakota]

Hey, forget Sam. If Sam doesn't appreciate you, then that means that we can spend more time together! We haven't taken our quads out together since you started dating.

Let's take them out this weekend!

Diary, we have an intruder today. I wonder what sins weigh down their soul? At the very least they have torn up this sacred valley with their vehicle. I alone, being the purger of sin, have the right to tread here. I will not allow this person to leave. March 15, 1992, was the last time someone left this valley. I will bring them to the church and lay them down with the other sinners. Brad must be feeling quite alone after all this time. He did not deserve a grave next to my family. He can have the company of this stranger.

Erusal is a mining town located somewhere deep, probably, in USA.

Erusal Classic[gamejolt.com]
Erusal Remake

Thanks everyone for checking this guide.