Marchebois: The Night Passenger

November 2020. After long months of confinement, France is exhaling, relieved to finally be able to travel across the country again, albeit uneasily. The Corail night train from Paris to Latour-de-Carol winds its way through deserted stations, misty landscapes and sleeping towns. Around midnight, the passengers fall asleep, when the train inexplicably slows down and stops in the middle of the tracks — even the conductor can't explain it. In the thick silence, the Marchebois prepares to board, wearing the face of a long-lost victim whose blood and soul he has consumed, ready to hover among the tired spirits. Soon after, the train will resume its journey, unaware of the shadow joining it.

Passengers sleep or linger half-awake, fragile in the suspended night. Their small gestures—holding a companion, instinctively retreating, a subtle tension—draw fragile lines between trust and suspicion. The controllers, vigilant despite exhaustion, watch for deviations. Your presence, strange and disturbing, can arouse fear, unease or curiosity... but you can also strike like a vampire, seize a body, devour its soul and slip behind its face. Each reaction—a muffled gasp, a silence too long, a collective shiver—modifies the fragile balance on board, revealing who is united, who is wary, and how far you can go before panic erupts.

Intercity train No. 3715 connects Paris Austerlitz to Latour-de-Carol, stopping at Orléans, Montargis, Nevers, Brive, Cahors and Toulouse. Eleven cars include reclining seats for awake passengers and controllers, and first and second class sleeper compartments. First-class berths are wider and more spaced; second-class compartments have three stacked berths on each side. All compartment doors lock, and each berth is equipped with a night kit. Compartments reserved for women and a two-seater cabin for controllers add structure. Narrow corridors connect dimly lit cars, with a small snack area, toilets and washrooms with sinks. The rhythmic clicking of the rails blends with muffled murmurs, creating a confined and tense atmosphere.

You embody the Marchebois, an ancient spirit who boards a night train at midnight. This adventure is a sandbox: predator or simple presence — the choice is yours. Key power: to take another human form, you must first drain their blood and devour their soul; the victim then disappears into you, their face and memories becoming your mask. Possible actions: haunt a compartment, whisper thoughts, attract a loner, talk to an insomniac, stalk a target or remain as a silent shadow. Constraints: controllers remain vigilant, bright light weakens you, and the sun banishes you. Objective: get through the night as you see fit.