Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Easy enough.

 

Daile doesn't know anything about the supernatural world.

 

SKILLS

Cost Name

4 KS: Necromantic Lore 13-

2 KS: Zombie Movies 11-

2 PS: Cheese-Gore Movie SFX 11-

3 PS: Cosmetology 12-

11 Total Skills Cost

 

 

She's self taught. So...she doesn't know about Hunters, Sanctioning, the Accords, or any of it. She's on the low down because she's not stupid and wants to avoid the usual legal issues, especially after her close call w/ Jimmy, so she's been careful. But, not careful enough to elude those who are Supernaturally savvy.

 

A trail of clues have been left in the wake of the zombie bus apocalypse tour, which the PC's are somehow tapped into or made aware of. If all else fails, maybe the Feds (FBI Section M) ask the local hunters to investigate something locally that leads them to the bus directly or indirectly.

 

 

THe GM and I already established that the main means of up to date info would be a handful of secured web sites; the official one fronted by the FBI Section M that hosts the Most Wanted and Sanctioned lists and some regional Hunter support, and a few unofficial ones with various focuses and usefulness.

 

(Not a real link) http://www.fbismaccords.gov

[Panpiper]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Easy enough.

 

Daile doesn't know anything about the supernatural world.

Actually, that's how I initially envisaged her.

 

(Not a real link) http://www.fbismaccords.gov

Hmm... Maybe we should register that domain? ;-)

 

(Can't register a 'gov' domain.)

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Actually, that's how I initially envisaged her.

 

 

Hmm... Maybe we should register that domain? ;-)

 

(Can't register a 'gov' domain.)

 

The domain is cheap, hosting it is another matter. I could register it and redir it into my site, but I'm not sure if I want to maintain it just for laughs. If we were going to use it I wouldnt have an issue with it.

[Panpiper]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

The domain is cheap' date=' hosting it is another matter. I could register it and redir it into my site, but I'm not sure if I want to maintain it just for laughs. If we were going to use it I wouldnt have an issue with it.[/quote']

If we were running a game company and were creating a world setting that we expected thousands of people to use, I would say definitely go for it and use that as the place to publish adventure seeds. But as we are creating a world setting out of casual interest (no one is going to get 'paid' to maintain it) and at best a few dozen people will actually run games based off of it, it is much more effort than is really justified.

[Panpiper]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Adventure Sheet: First draft

 

Our erstwhile adventurers are checking the www.fbismaccords.gov web site for lucrative bounties when they spot an alert about suspicious activity. They note that the activity has been reported in their area and furthermore, a bounty is available not just for bagging, but also for investigation. The 'Zombie Bus' is coming to a town 'near' to them (note: 'not' the campaign city). The town is somewhat isolated and surrounded by forest.

 

The Zombie Bus and it's motley crew, Zachary Hack, Raven Arkansas, Dorothy Michaels and Peter Arron, are not hard to find, it is itself very obvious and is noticed whenever it rolls into a new town. The players will find the bus and it's occupants engaged in a day of leisure, parked outside of a very appetizing restaurant. Zachary Hak will happily entertain the players, proudly show off his bus and give them a free DVD of the movie. Raven and Dorothy will be doing their job of being pleasant, representing the movie. The players will find nothing untoward, other than these folks being a rather oddball crew, and the bus being cool. No mention will be made of Zombie Daile being with them while the players investigate. This is not deliberate evasion on the part of the Zombie bus folks, they just never think of mentioning it, as Zombie Daile is off preparing for a night time shoot (for the sequel) that they are planning for that evening. The four people the players first meet are entirely unaware of Zombie Daile being anything other than a makeup effects wizard.

 

The players either take their leave or otherwise find themselves having dinner early that evening without the rest of the Zombie bus crew present. They have to prepare for their shoot. The bus has driven off, or drives off to the shoot location. Shortly thereafter, they overhear Jimmy Hunt as he comes into the restaurant, orders a hamburger and asks after the Zombie bus. If the players do not engage him in conversation, he will engage them. The players learn from Jimmy that the truly suspicious character is Zombie Daile, the special effects/makeup wizard. They resolve to go to the shooting set for that evening's shoot to check out Zombie Daile.

 

They arrive while the crew is shooting their scene and Daile has 8 zombies out, 'acting' under her mind control. When Jimmy Hunt shows up, his suppression causes Zombie Daile to blow her Necromantic Lore roll, but before the player's psychic (if any) gets a 'good look' at Zombie Daile. The zombies advance on the camera man, Peter Arron as he is heard to exclaim; "That's great! More of that!" They eat him. Much fuss ensues. Zachary freaks out, Raven runs every which way shrieking, Dorothy tries to save Peter, and Jimmy Hunt is trying to arrest Daile again as 'clearly' she has instigated this atrocity and so Daile is forced to deal with or run from Jimmy, rather than regain control over her zombies. The zombies go off in search of prey and in all the chaos, a few get away from Dorothy (who is heroically trying to stop them) and the players. The zombies with their infectious bites, start a zombie epidemic.

 

Exactly how all this ends depends a lot on the players. All zombies must be put down. But things could get to the point where all that can be done is to try to escape. If the authorities are warned, a military quarantine will be slapped down hard and fast on the entire town and surrounding region. High explosive military strikes on the roads will be made surrounding the town to seal it off, requiring the Zombie Bus to try a great many possible routes to escape, if that is what they are trying to do. As long as there is a chance that the 'operatives' inside the town can contain the infestation, the military will let them do their job. But if it looks to the military commander that the situation is hopeless, the entire town and surrounding area will be napalmed. Forest fires sometimes do serious damage in this world.

 

*

 

By the way, the Zombie Bus export sheet does not seem to display the DEF of the bus.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Good stuff. I'll tweak it a bit, but it'll almost be a direct copy and paste.

 

One thing though, Daile doesn't have to use her Mind COntrol on the zombies she herself "Summons"; she would use the normal Ego / Task mechanism of Summon. The Mind COntrol is for using on other Undead she might encounter.

 

I originally put it on there as a sort of all purpose useful Necromantist ability but now that the full scope of the vignette and her role in it is clear I might end up cannibalizing it and put the points to a "don't freak out about my zombie buddies" power since it begs the question where she would have learned such an ability and what other Undead might she have encountered.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

By the way, the Zombie Bus export sheet does not seem to display the DEF of the bus.

Ill have to look into that. I'm reusing a 5e template; there might be a 6e tag needed.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Also, is the picture for Peter Arron a picture of you?

[Panpiper]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Also' date=' is the picture for Peter Arron a picture of you?[/quote']

Yes. I put part of me into Peter Arron and the better part into Dorothy.

[5lippers]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Hi Panpiper, Shrike,

 

This is a great adventure sheet and I really like the way Jimmy Hunt turned out.

Panpiper, you’re definitely right about collaboration: you always get something better at the end of it! It might be a good approach for future adventure sheets / NPCs as well: someone does the hook, other people produce some character stubs/hooks, etc.

 

5.

[5lippers]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Okay, following on from my suggestion above, here are a few sentences that people can take and run with (if they want to). They’re not necessarily meant to be used together (although they could be) and could be used to inspire an adventure, location, character, etc...

 

A decommissioned nuclear bunker that is now a museum of [something that has absolutely nothing to do with nuclear bunkers].

 

A key that can be used to open/unlock a door anywhere where a door currently exists, or may once have existed. Whenever it’s used something bad happens. Also, it belongs to someone who wants it back.

 

A seven year-old boy from a ‘typical’ modern family. The boy has three imaginary friends: Mister Wormy, Mister Fox and Mister Mister.

 

A small company that deals in arms to a niche market. The weapons and gear that they sell differ from the norm somehow (maybe they specialise in fetishes, charms or some such…) and their clients are commonly described as 'unusual'.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Zombie Apocalypse

 

Its not linked up in the nav yet or finalized, and I need to write up Jimmy Hunt, so more to come.

[Panpiper]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Zombie Apocalypse

 

Its not linked up in the nav yet or finalized, and I need to write up Jimmy Hunt, so more to come.

I can see a lot of players buying up their ammo reserve after this scenario. ;-) That said, I would increase the size of the town to around a thousand. 100 will be too easy if they are only in dribs and drabs.

 

It looks great. Copy/paste, eh? ;-)

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Jimmy Hunt is up, and the Zombie Apocalypse page is linked up in the navigation.

[Panpiper]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

I think we've created something rather nice here. :-)

 

A tweak;

 

On the adventure sheet it is written under the initial introduction of Jimmy Hunt:

"...an obsessed cop in disgrace from a small city the Zombie Bus rolled through a few weeks prior who had a run in with "Zombie" Daile..."

 

Yet on Jimmy Hunt's write up it says:

"He's been following the Zombie Bus for a couple of days..."

 

A minor point, but best not to create the 'Huh?'

 

It makes more sense to me that his obsession has lasted a few weeks rather than a couple of days. A couple of days is not enough to call it an obsession, it's more like an unofficial investigation at that point.

 

Oh, and we should drop the age listed on Raven's sheet. She is pretty much fresh from her high school cheer leading days.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Ill do an editorial pass tonite or tomorrow.

[5lippers]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Hi Both,

 

I really liked the concept that you guys came up with for the whole disbelief / suppression combo and hopefully Jimmy’s going to add a little bit of “unpredictability” to the proceedings. Good write-up too!

 

He’s potentially someone who could act as a reoccurring NPC if a GM was so inclined: after all, assuming he survives, he’s probably going to end up getting suspicious of the PCs but not knowing why ... must be his cop’s instincts again...

 

If I GM'd this, I’d definitely squeeze a memorable car chase/final battle into this adventure somehow: I’m thinking Jimmy Hunt (muscle car) vs. Daile (Zombie Bus) vs. PCs (some other vehicle) vs. Zombies (possibly hanging onto the car, in the vehicles or just shuffling across the roads).

 

5.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Its weird you say that; I originally had given Jimmy a car that I labeled "Muscle Car", but cut it to add a 4th d6 to his suppression so he can beat Zombie Dailes 60 AP effects.

 

If you've ever seen Street Kings, I had an image of Jimmy riding around in a car very similar to Keanu's in that movie.

 

 

Obviously, he can be rolling around in such a mundane car paid for with money, but unlike a paid for w/ points car it wouldn't survive a combat scene unscathed.

[Panpiper]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

An initial concept, offered for feedback before doing more work.

 

Time takes it's Troll

 

A mysterious aging sickness is befalling a certain community. Investigation may reveal that it affects regular commuters who pass a specific route, one that crosses a particularly haunting bridge. A few persons have also gone missing who regularly cross the bridge. At least one person went missing while driving as a couple. The woman that 'survived' has no memory of what happened and is currently in jail on suspicion of murder. If the players do not figure out what is happening, in the process of investigating, one or more of them may endeavor to cross the bridge, encountering the Troll.

 

A Troll under the bridge takes a toll on passers by; a year of their life.

 

The Troll rises before them, terror grips them tightly. (Presence, only for holding for the riddle.)

 

A riddle for a pass: " Everything I tell you is a lie. Am I telling you the truth or a lie? " GM may of course use other riddles.

 

Should they fail, transform into a year older with no memory of the event. (Technically, the Troll steals an XP.)

 

Should they succeed, they keep their age but are still transformed to have no memory of the event.

 

Either way, those who encounter the troll may have lasting nightmares.

 

If the transform fails, the troll will eat whom ever it was that it failed to transform (or in the case of a player, try to), whether they succeeded or failed at the riddle.

 

 

Troll:

 

Invisibility to normal sight (with fringe), only while not moving.

 

Large, stretching, very high presence

 

Fast swimming, tunneling

 

2d6 penetrating killing attack linked to hand to hand 'normal' damage of 6D6. (?)

 

Minor damage resistance but; 1/2 Damage reduction, 3 levels damage negation, lots of body, con & stun. (GM can play the numbers loosly. The troll goes down once the players are scared they will loose.)

 

Regeneration - heal limbs - resurrect (fire to destroy)

 

Supernatural Awareness

 

Decent ego but mental attacks are it's greatest weakness.

 

1 level of miraculous survival (troll melts into the ground shortly after 'death'), but it will not return to 'this' bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lie. It can't be the truth without contradicting itself (and therefore being a lie), but some statements can be lies, and this is one of those statements.

[薔薇語]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

I'm not sure how often you all check out the various other forums, but there has started up a Monthly Adventure group. Here is a link to the Monthly Adventure Discussion group (MAD). We do month to month adventure ideas based on a varied set of ideas for each month. This month's challenge is "Love / Romance"; and is in celebration of Valentine's Day.

 

La Rose.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

I'm not sure how often you all check out the various other forums' date=' but there has started up a Monthly Adventure group. Here is a link to the Monthly Adventure Discussion group (MAD). We do month to month adventure ideas based on a varied set of ideas for each month. This month's challenge is "Love / Romance"; and is in celebration of Valentine's Day.

 

La Rose.

 

Well, I suppose we could submit Zombie Apocalypse. I've seldom read a more romantic and emotionally rewarding tale of lost love and soul mates discovering one another. It's pretty much a shoe in for the win.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Daemonologists is up.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Invokers document is up.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

Backlog: need to keep track of what needs to be gotten to:

 

 

Monsters:

Lord of Flies

Banshee

 

NPCs:

Shannon O'Grady

Alosius Jones

Michael Blaise

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

 

I'm working on a Daemonologist + Cult Vignette in my head. I'm going to do the write up for the Daemonologist first and then post up the adventure seed for collaboration.

 

The meta goal is to showcase Daemonology and provide a template for cultists. All else is secondary to that.