October 5th, 1945
The world has changed.
The war is over. The music stirs again.
And beneath the moss-draped oaks of Magnolia Hall,
the gates are creaking open.
For nearly a century, the estate stood as a symbol of southern grandeur;
a place of masks and murmurs, champagne and secrets.
But the gala lights dimmed after the crash of 1929…
and for a long while, silence reigned.
Now, after years of closed doors, the widow Victoria Delacroix invites you to step back through the iron gates for one final celebration. A costumed celebration thrown back to a much more roaring and glamorous time.
In memory of her late husband, the notorious and powerful Alistair Delacroix
whose sudden death just weeks ago has left whispers in every hallway
The Magnolia Hall’oween Gala returns.
A night of masked splendor… and perhaps, revelation.
You are summoned family, patrons, old flames, rivals, and strangers alike,
to don your finest 1920’s attire,
raise a glass beneath the gaslit chandeliers,
and dance where ghosts of old secrets still linger.
Come for the glamour. Stay for the truth.
After all, in a house built on legacy and lies…
some masks were never meant to be removed.
The Delacroix Family
And Their Esteemed Guests
Alistair Delacroix
1893-1945
A man who cast a long shadow..
Alistair- debaucherous playboy billionaire
Alistair spent most of his younger years gambling away the inheritance that was left to him as a second born son. Most of his evenings were either spent playing… well losing at cards.. or in the arms of a tradesman’s daughter. Everything changed for him when he and his brother were shipped off to Germany to fight in the first World War. Upon his return 4 years later he was a changed man. Alister had learned the art of strategy, and was ready to use it no matter the cost… to everyone else.
In June of 1926 Alistair’s older brother was killed by a drunk driver. After this unfortunate accident Alistair not only inherited guardianship of his 3 year old nephew, but mysteriously, the entire estate and all it entailed.
Over the next two decades, Alistair’s reach expanded like a creeping vine… through business, through politics, through intimidation. Between his ties to unsavory hitmen who quietly “resolved” his conflicts, and his routine billiards nights with local judges and lawmen at the gentlemen’s club, Alistair soon became an untouchable villain cloaked in wealth. His landholdings grew larger. His enemies grew quieter.
In October of 1941, Alistair proposed to Victoria Hale, the daughter of his old war comrade, Arthur Hale. It wasn’t a love match. It was an arrangement- strategic, political, and profitable. Everyone stood to gain… except Victoria. She refused him.
But Alistair was not a man who accepted no. He wrote to her. He wrote to her father. And by February of 1942, the pressure had done its work. They were married within the week. By year’s end, Victoria bore him a son. Her job, it seemed, was complete.
Alistair’s death in September of this year came suddenly… and some say suspiciously. An apparent heart failure, according to the official report. But rumors swirl like Spanish moss in the wind, especially on nights like these.
And now, on this haunted October evening, his widow has opened the gates of Magnolia Hall once more.
One lingering question remains, haunting the halls of Magnolia:
What truly killed the untouchable Alistair Delacroix? because if it wasn’t his heart… then a killer is among us. Will you find them before they find you?
Born to Baron and Susan Delacroix March 1923
Baron and his younger brother Alistair were both drafted into WWI. After returning to their ancestral home, Magnolia Hall in 1918 after the end of the war, Baron married Susan. Within a few years they were blessed with their son, Chase.
Sadly, only 3 years later both Baron and Susan were killed in a car crash. Many conspirators suspected foul play, as the chauffeur of their car was never located for testimony and everyone else involved in the accident had tragically died. Chase, at only 3 years old, was left under the guardianship of his elusive uncle, Alistair at Magnolia Hall, where they both continued to live. Furthermore, it seemed Baron had left the family home and all of his assets to his brother, leaving Chase to depend on the ever tiring generosity of his uncle.
Chase’s childhood was not one of warmth, but of discipline and restraint. Though his uncle provided, it was never without condition. Surrounded by tutors, servants, and the long shadows of secrets unspoken, Chase learned early that knowledge and control could outlast strength. Summers offered rare reprieve when his childhood friend, Sabrina Voss, came to visit her grandfather at Magnolia Hall. Sabrina's grandfather, Bentley Voss, the family’s estate attorney and Alistair’s confidant, gave Chase glimpses into the unseen levers of influence that held their world together.
When Alistair’s reign over the estate ended, though Chase has not inherited Magnolia Hall, he has been left the intricate web of obligations, alliances, and quiet dealings that came with it. In the weeks since Alistair's death, he has proven himself a master of discretion, a man whose new connections secure him a place in every room that matters, though few speak his name above a whisper.
The boy who once relied on his uncle’s mercy has become a man upon whom others now depend, and a figure whose presence is felt far beyond the gates of Magnolia Hall. And still, the Hall itself seems to breathe with the weight of its history, its windows watching in silence as power continues to change hands within its walls. Will Sabrina come back to Magnolia to find him still her friend, confidant, and alliance? Or will she find him very much changed..
Ms. Virginia Hale-Delacroix
Recent widow of Alistair
The velvet-and-pearls widow of Magnolia Hall, Victoria Delacroix is a vision equal parts tragedy and allure. Two weeks after her husband Alistair’s sudden death, she throws open the estate’s great doors once more, inviting a parade of curious eyes and whispered speculation.
Little is truly known about her. The world remembers her as Victoria Hale, the daughter of a once-genteel family whose fortunes faded in the Depression. They remember her swift and dazzling marriage into the Delacroix fortune, a wedding that left society gasping and gossiping at her luck. And now, they see her, glimmering in black silk, with her 3 year old young son at her side, and a smile that conceals more than it reveals.
Why reopen Magnolia Hall so soon? Some believe she is lonely. Others believe she is bold. Still others believe that in these candlelit halls, draped in silk and shadow, Victoria Delacroix is setting the stage for something more than mourning.
Decorated WWII hero returns
Presumed dead for three long years, Julian Harrow’s sudden reappearance at Magnolia Hall is nothing short of miraculous. Once the golden boy of White Sands society - dashing, witty, impossible not to overlook - he now carries the haunted look of a man who has seen too much war and lost too much time.
Before the war, he was known for his easy laughter, a sharp game of cards, and his whirlwind romance with Victoria Hale, the belle of White Sands. Their courtship was the talk of the town, then silenced in an instant by the telegram that declared him Killed in Action. The world mourned him, and Victoria moved on… or so it seemed.
Now, he stands once more beneath Magnolia’s chandeliers, alive but altered, a man stitched together by scars, secrets, and the will to reclaim what was stolen from him. Guests watch him with awe and unease… was his survival a miracle, or a harbinger of reckoning?
And while champagne flows and masks glitter, whispers ripple through the crowd: whispers of a secret marriage, of betrayal, of a soldier who may have returned not only to claim his love… but to settle a debt written in lies.
Alec Ward is a tradesman by all outward appearances: quiet, composed, and unassuming, with a natural charm that never feels forced. He is also a man with a complicated and unknown past. So much of it cloaked in secrets and never to be revealed now that his mother has died.
After marrying his beautiful wife Madeline he was drafted and served overseas like many young men during the war. He has since returned and looks forward to a modest life in town with his wife, Madeline and their new son Declan.
Unlike most of the socialites, dignitaries, and high ranking officers attending this gala, Alec stands out as a local man of humble background. So when a gilded envelope arrived bearing the estate’s crest and a personal invitation to the Delacroix Halloween gala, he couldn’t help but be intrigued. The sender was anonymous… but whoever they were, they seemed to know quite a bit about him.
Curious and perhaps a little wary, Alec accepted. He has no known ties to the Delacroix family and has never set foot on the estate... until now. What could possibly await him and his young family in a house like Magnolia Hall?
Celestine Ward
Born to Celestine Ward June of 1914
Bentley Voss, is the estate attorney and Alistair’s personal business lawyer. He has been protecting Alistair from himself for years. Shady deals and partially illegal associations have been the name of the game since Alistair became head of the estate. Bentley just didn’t ask questions he didn’t want to know the answers to- and he was paid handsomely for it. As long as what he didn’t know kept Alistair wealthy and what he did know kept him out of prison then he could make peace with it. His association with the estate gave his granddaughter, Sabrina, the chance to grow up in the inner circle. He would do it for her! The only trouble was he didn’t want Sabrina to have to work for someone like Alistair- it wasn’t safe… Bentley would do whatever it took to make sure it was safe before giving her the reigns of a position like his at Magnolia. He would teach her his trade, help her get established, and once Alistair had passed, then he would get out..
Sabrina, the very clever and stylish granddaughter of attorney Bentley Voss, grew up in London with her parents, dreaming all year of her annual trip to Magnolia Hall. Summers at the estate became her favorite tradition, a world of creaking floorboards, candlelit hallways, and whispered family secrets.
She quickly grew fond of her summertime adventures with Chase Delacroix, her lifelong best friend and fellow explorer. The two of them were infamous for their childhood “case files” and the “mystery maps” they drew of the estate grounds. It started as a game, but for Sabrina, solving puzzles became a passion.
After graduating from Oxford Law in June, her grandfather brought her on as a legal intern at the estate. Finally, she could combine her fascination with the Delacroix family legacy and her talent for uncovering truth, all under the same roof.
Now, with Magnolia Hall reopened for the first time in decades… and Alistair’s sudden death still casting shadows… Sabrina returns, not just to assist her grandfather, but perhaps to open a few doors that were never meant to be unlocked.
Alister’s private secretary
Eliza, though her kind demeanor reserved, is sharp as a tac, having a very keen and observant eye. She is always remembered as beautiful, but, when present, it seems she is often over looked. Was she an intentional wallflower? We may never know, but it does seem that the shadows are where she does her best work.
Not much is known about her past, other than her once very close family seems to have fallen off the wagon when her brother died years ago. Her father is often seen stumbling home in the wee hours of the morning from a well known tavern, and her mother keeps to herself, hardly ever leaving their new town home.
Eliza came to live on the estate as Alistair’s person secretary a little over a year ago. He found himself drawn to her quick whit and in need of her observational skills. They were inseparable ever since.
U.S. Army Air Forces, WWII Intelligence Division
A sharp mind wrapped in uniformed charm, Beckett Rhodes served in the Army Air Forces during the war… or so the official record says. Those who know him well, like his old comrade Julian Harrow, know Beckett spent more time behind enemy lines than behind a desk. The two men forged their friendship in the shadows of war, bound not just by loyalty but by survival.
Now, with the war behind them and Julian’s engagement to Virginia Delacroix bringing Beckett to Magnolia Hall for the first time, the question isn’t whether Beckett fits in, it’s whether he’ll unearth what’s been buried here. Though an outsider to the estate, Beckett’s quiet watchfulness and disarming wit suggest he sees far more than he lets on.
When honor is questioned and secrets begin to rise from the grave, don’t be surprised if it’s Beckett who’s already two steps ahead.
Private Detective services, NY City
Deputy assistant
Rex Mallory was not on the guest list. Word of Magnolia Hall’s reopening was enough to draw him out of the shadows, and when Rex decides to be somewhere… no one dares tell him otherwise.
A former policeman in New York City turned private detective, Mallory has a reputation for finding truths people would rather keep buried. Rugged, sharp-eyed, and unyielding, he is the sort of man who collects secrets like other men collect trophies. Some call him relentless. Others call him dangerous.
Tonight, he isn’t here to toast champagne or dance beneath the chandeliers… he’s here to sniff out the rot beneath the marble. And in a house built on decades of scandal, one thing is certain: if Rex Mallory is watching, someone’s sins are about to be dragged into the light.
At his side is Gale Bishop, Rex’s young protégé: quieter, cleaner-cut, and easy to underestimate. But behind his polite smile is a mind that soaks up every whispered detail, every side glance, every slip of the tongue. Where Rex storms the front door, Gale slips through the cracks, gathering the pieces his mentor will later sharpen into a blade.
Together, the pair are an unsettling presence in Magnolia Hall… one the estate’s glittering guests never asked for, and may soon regret.
Chief of Police
Chief of Police Douglas Kellan carries himself with the kind of confidence only a legacy can bring. His father, Michael Kellan, held the same office before him, and for decades the Kellan name has meant law and order in town. Known for his distinguishable Irish roots, and a disarming smile, Douglas seems every bit the stalwart public servant.
Yet behind that polished veneer, there’s a reputation whispered in alleyways and billiard halls alike: where there’s money, there’s Kellan. He may wear the badge, but it’s loyalty to Magnolia Hall that has kept him in power. If Alistair Delacroix wanted something covered up, the Chief made sure it stayed buried.
And with Alistair gone, one question lingers …. who does Douglas serve now?
Photo Journalist for the “White Sand Times”
Vivienne Prescott arrived at Magnolia Hall draped in silk, pearls, and stories from abroad. A long-time friend of Virginia’s from her school days, Vivi is a woman who has always known how to make an entrance, and how to keep the right kind of company. Rumor has it she’s dined with generals, danced with diplomats, and left a trail of broken hearts in her wake.
Now a rising fashion photographer and newly minted photojournalist for the White Sand Times, Vivi adores a secret almost as much as she adores a scandal. And what better scandal than Magnolia Hall? Her dear friend Victoria, the glamorous widow of the state’s most notorious man, is rumored to be announcing something special at the estate Gala mere weeks after her husband’s mysterious death.
With camera in hand and instincts honed for gossip, Vivi intends to capture every glittering smile… and every shadow that lingers in the corners of this house... After all, the story of Magnolia Hall is one everyone wants to read … and Vivi Prescott has just been given the front-row seat.
U.S. Army Air Forces Intelligence Officer
A steady hand in chaos, Theo Calder built his reputation in the war decoding messages that decided battles before they were ever fought. Quiet, even-tempered, and sharply observant, he is the sort of man who notices the word unspoken, the glass half-drained, the door left unlocked.
He came to Magnolia Hall at the invitation of his old comrade Julian Harrow, ready to raise a glass in celebration. Yet war leaves its mark. Even in peace, Theo moves with the wary calm of a man who knows danger rarely announces itself. At Magnolia Hall, surrounded by masks and whispers, his watchful eyes may catch what others miss.
Wartime Radio Host for “War Front, Home Front”
Emory Shaw is the kind of man who fills a room without trying — silver-tongued, camera-ready, always with a line that lands just right. During the war, his voice rang out over radios across America, spinning drama and hope on the airwaves. To most, he’s a performer, a raconteur, the sort of man who turns an evening into a story.
But behind the polished charm is a boy who grew up in the long shadow of Magnolia Hall. His father, once the estate’s trusted comptroller, was cast out in disgrace after accusations of embezzlement that never saw a courtroom. The scandal ruined the Shaw family overnight. Emory left town, his future torn away with his family’s good name.
Now, after more than a decade in exile, he returns to Magnolia Hall on the arm of an invitation from his old friend Julian Harrow. He smiles easily, laughs often, and tells anyone who’ll listen that he’s here to celebrate. Yet the question lingers like smoke: is Emory Shaw here for champagne and old friends… or for something buried far darker in these walls?
Local Judge
Wife to Judge Wagner
With his commanding height and dignified bearing, Judge Wagner is the kind of man who seems born to preside over a room. His handsome but reserved demeanor has earned him a reputation for fairness, wisdom, and a quiet authority that few question. Unlike many of the Delacroix circle, Charles did not inherit his wealth but built it, rising from modest beginnings to one of the most respected judges in the state.
He is rarely the loudest voice at the table, instead, he carries weight by speaking only when necessary. A fixture at the gentlemen’s club, particularly on billiards nights, he moves easily among the elite without ever appearing boastful. Where others flaunt, Charles Wagner simply is.
Those who know him best would describe him as kind but somewhat distant, the anchor to his wife Elaine’s lively presence. Together, they are a study in contrasts: the reserved judge and the social butterfly.
Still, one question lingers behind closed doors: if Judge Wagner truly came from nothing… how did he come to live like old money itself?
Elaine, the vivacious and charming wife of Judge Charles Wagner, Elaine is a fixture at every social gathering worth attending. Elegant and quick to laugh, she floats through rooms with a glass in hand and a compliment on her lips. If Charles is the picture of quiet reserve, Elaine is the sparkle that draws people in. She adores beautiful clothes, fine champagne, and the thrill of being connected to the most powerful families in the county.
Though she isn’t Delacroix by blood, Elaine has cultivated friendships in their circle.. most notably with Victoria, whom she often accompanies on shopping trips or society luncheons. To most, she seems the ideal hostess-in-training, happily riding the coattails of her husband’s rising influence.
But beneath her charming exterior, there’s more steel than anyone expects.
Jazz Singer at “The Velvet Room”
A Velvet gowns, sultry songs, and a smile that promises she knows more than she’ll ever say , Carmen Moreau is no stranger to wealthy company. A jazz singer by trade with reputation for dalliances, she has spent the last several years performing at The Velvet Room, the kind of exclusive club where men of power drink too much and speak too freely.
Though she doesn’t come from money, Carmen wears it well. She has the kind of charm that turns heads and the kind of wit that makes her unforgettable. Few at Magnolia Hall know her well, but many have heard of her.. usually in whispers and always seen in dreams.
Estate Physician
Physician Assistant
The Whitmores are a familiar sight at Magnolia Hall, called upon whenever the estate required its “on-call” physician. Dr. Nathaniel Whitmore is known in town as calm, precise, and deeply professional, while his wife Clara, a trained nurse, is his indispensable assistant.
For years, the Whitmores have been praised as reliable, discreet, and loyal. Whether it was patching up hunting accidents, treating sudden ailments, or delivering timely care after the war, the couple has quietly upheld Magnolia’s reputation by keeping its medical matters private. Clara is also a member of the local ladies’ book club, known for her lively warmth and tireless attentiveness to those around her.
Their presence tonight is hardly surprising.. they were among the last to see Alistair alive, and the first to declare him dead.
Tutor at Magnolia Hall
Governess at Magnolia Hall
Callum St. James once schooled Magnolia’s heirs in Latin and logic, a man whose sharp tongue could cut as cleanly as his chalk. His early retirement, quietly ordered by Alistair Delacroix, left him bitter but not broken.
Tonight, he returns to the Hall not as a servant, but as a guest—a man who has seen the Delacroix children grow, and the Delacroix secrets fester. Charming, silver-tongued, and too clever for his own good, Callum raises his glass with a smile that never quite reaches his eyes. And if pressed, he may reveal lessons Alistair never intended anyone to learn.
For decades, Lenora St. James has been a fixture in Magnolia Hall, guiding the children of the estate with patient grace and a watchful eye. To most, she is a shadow at the edge of family portraits, a constant presence whose loyalty seems unshakable.
Now, as the Hall reopens under a shroud of scandal, Lenora remains ever at Victoria’s side, fiercely protective of the widow and her young son. But in a house filled with whispers, one must wonder: does the governess know more than she lets on… and how far would she go to protect the family she’s claimed as her own?
Personal attendant to Victoria Delacroix
Maisie Clarke was brought to Magnolia Hall to be a ladies maid for Victoria after she married Alistair. But with Victoria so new and so alone within the prison of the estate, Maisie became like a little sister instead. Though she brings Victoria her breakfast in the morning like an attendant, she is also asked to stay and eat with her. Over the 3 and a half years of their friendship, Maisie has become like a shadow of her mistress, making it very rare to see one without the other close by. Where the widow walks, Maisie follows; when Virginia weeps, Maisie is there to catch the tears.
To most, Maisie is invisible. To Virginia, she is indispensable. Maisie’s devotion to her mistress runs deep… perhaps too deep. Because when love for one becomes hatred for another… who’s to say where a maid’s duty ends?
The ever-present shadow of Magnolia Hall, Henry Carter has served as the estate’s butler for over two decades. Tall, crisp in demeanor, and unfailingly discreet, he embodies the silent dignity of old service. From opening doors to orchestrating entire evenings, Henry’s hand has guided the estate’s affairs as smoothly as any master.
Guests may remember him from earlier parties, his calm presence balancing the excesses of Alistair Delacroix and his companions. But while he is polite and professional, there’s an edge of austerity, as though Carter knows far more than he’ll ever say.
It is said that if the walls of Magnolia Hall could talk, they would sound very much like Henry Carter.
Estate Butler
Personal Valet to Alistair
Estate handyman and grounds keeper
Rhett Cartwright has spent most of his life tending the soil and stone of Magnolia Hall. He loved doing it with his father who was the grounds keeper before him. After his father passed, his brother, Alistair’s personal valet, recommended him to replace their father. Since he already knew the estate and was familiar with the work and its needs, they gave him the job. From patching the roof tiles to mending the fences, he is the man who keeps the old estate standing. Unlike his older brother Jesse, Rhett never sought the limelight. He works with his hands, keeps his head down, and speaks only when he has something worth saying.
He is quiet figure moving through the background of the estate, boots muddy, shirt rolled at the sleeves.. seeing and watching everything: comings and goings, arguments on garden paths, whispers in shadowed corners…
Rhett Cartwright may seem like the most unassuming man in the room. But sometimes it’s the quiet ones who know more than anyone suspects.
Jesse Cartwright has been a fixture of Magnolia Hall for most of his life. With his father being the groundskeeper he was able to secure the spot as personal valet rather easily…especially with his natural politeness and easy charm. He quickly built a reputation as the endlessly attentive, ever-faithful valet to Alistair Delacroix. Quick with a pressed suit, a poured drink, or a reassuring word, Jesse is the kind of man who makes himself indispensable without ever seeming to try.
But his devotion runs deeper than simple duty. Jesse speaks of Magnolia Hall with a possessive pride, as though the house belongs partly to him. His kindness is genuine, but there’s a trace of entitlement in his manner, a quiet belief that after years at Alistair’s side, the estate owes him more than wages.
Even with that warm smile, one can’t help but wonder… when a servant believes he deserves more, how far might he go to claim it?
Isaiah Bennett has driven the Delacroix cars for the past five years. Always neat in appearance and reserved in manner, he is the sort of man who fades into the background while still being everywhere at once. Guests may barely notice him until they need a ride or a door opened..and then he’s simply there, reliable as the engine of the Packard he keeps polished to a shine.
Quiet, discreet, and unassuming, Isaiah’s loyalty seems unquestionable. But anyone who spends their life behind the wheel for the Delacroix family inevitably sees more than they should.
Estate Chauffeur