Name: Alexis Ledbetter Cromwald
Appearance: Early thirties. Comely appearance and figure. Back-length curly blond hair. Coppery eyes. Wears an apron with pockets on the front.
Backstory: A former teacher who is the housewife of a domineering businessman, Alexis oftentimes fantasized about dealing with her husband Michael in brutal but creative ways. However, murder is social suicide in the age of improved forensics and profiling and divorce is out of the question as her husband provides her 'income' in the form of allowances. However, her chance encounter with the darkest mysteries of the world may very well give Alexis the power she craves... or it could send her plunging into a fate much worse than slaving to her idiotic brute of a husband.
Physical stats:
Strength: d4
Dexterity: d8
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Awareness: d8
Guile: d12
Knowledge: d10
Willpower: d6
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: 0
World Stats:
Connections: d10
Possessions: d6
Money: d4
Standing: d8
Inventory:
$200
Purse
Welcome. Make sure to keep that stuff in spoilers from now on.
"Whatevs. But if we choose some dump in the middle of nowhere, at least make sure it's near like a bus stop or something. I can't walk for like a day whenever I gotta jet. Otherwise I'll be mighty cross with ya."
"Anyway, how about anyone who wants to stays here, the rest go find some place, get back together here in half an hour to look at our options? You down with that?"
((80's slang is so much fun.))
Find a payphone or a phone in some convenience store or coffee place I could use. Make some phone calls to some people I know, use my connections.
Anybody know of a place we could rent cheap-like and turn into a temple? Preferably an isolated office or a bookstore with a basement? Or some place with a basement we could turn into a bookstore? If asked, say it's for a film I'm making. I predict it's going to be a CULT classic!
EDIT: Wait a second! Even better idea! Search for a bar or club to rent! If our rituals make tons of strange noise and attract all sorts of weird stuff, nobody is going to suspect a club, because that already do that without cults being involved!
Once done, get back to the abandoned house and give everyone the places I found.
EDIT2: Can we assume we have exchanged some info and can contact each other if need be? Because some people are already talking about moving away and we haven't even decided when our next meeting is going to be.
Name: Helen Hywater, though she insists on calling herself "The Recorder" during cult related activities
Appearance: A young girl with short dark hair and green eyes. Tends to wear a dark brown trenchcoat and fedora during cult related activities to avoid suspicion.
Backstory: Has a fascination with recording stuff for posterity and specifically cameras. Makes her way through life doing odd jobs and videotaping things, sometimes things she probably shouldn't record. She's even managed to make some short films. She's a bit weird and she knows it but she doesn't care. As for why she's with the cult, she mostly just wants to record stuff and then sell them for fame and loads of momey. Maybe she can make the world's first real found footage film.
Physical stats:
Strength: d4
Dexterity: d6
Speed: d10
Endurance: d8
Awareness: d12
Guile: d8
Knowledge: d6
Willpower: d6
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: d4 (The Scholar in Red)
World Stats:
Connections: d10
Possessions: d4
Money: d4
Standing: d10
Inventory:
Clothes
A high-end handheld camcorder with flashlight and infrared nightvision capability
200$
You walk outside. The morning is chilly, cloudy, the salty sea smelling air blowing in. This building is the remnants of some sort of community center or something like it; shell of concrete sitting in the middle of a failed suburb on the edge of Monterey, California. The road is paved but covered in pale sand from lack of use and there are patches of cleared land in otherwise wild scrub and grass, the footprints of houses that never came to be. There are no phones here, not even a power line, so you walk down the street. You hop a fence, cross the south boundary road, hop another fence, and cross the island of undeveloped land until you hit a dirt road that leads you to a paved one. From there, you get to a payphone; its a about a mile and a half walk in all. That building really is isolated, you suppose.
[5]
You slip in a dollar worth of quarters (-$1) and call up a realtor friend. You ask about both libraries and bars/clubs, doing so in a way you think won't raise any suspicion. She's a little confused as to why you're calling at 6am but after some reassurances she looks things up for you. You can hear her tapping away on a keyboard for a while before she tells you about three properties. One is a used bookstore; the company is changing locations and moving out of the building so nothing is being left behind. The second is a nude club called "The Library". She doesn't really go into any detail other than that the old owner is going to jail for something and that the place is selling for cheap. And the last is a section of basement property connected to the CSU Science building. Apparently they're renting out space to private groups in order to fund some sort of science program.
You thank her and then head back to the abandoned building and tell everyone still hanging around about what you uncovered.
(We'll assume everyone knows everyone's phones and addresses.)
"My husband will be home in a few hours so I can go with you Helen. I need to go pick up some things anyway," Alexis said as she stood up.
Accompany Helen and help her obtain the building. Also, shop for some spices and veggies for tonight's dinner.
You follow Helen and, while she makes her calls, You wander away to look for someplace to get food. The area isn't exactly residential; there's no grocery store for miles so you stop at a 7-11 on the corner not far from the payphone and buy what you can. They have some fruit, but otherwise there's nothing but junk food and gas station fare like hotdogs. You get enough snacks to work as a meal and head back to Helen, the both of you returning together. (-$35)
((Remember to post your character sheet -spoilered- with your actions))
Walton looks at Helen, clearly nonplussed about her "sick burn".
"The last time I ate someone's shorts, it was because Charlie had us half-delirious from hunger and the dead guy's shorts were the only thing that looked halfway edible. But suit yourself, you'll have no more comments from me."
Walton will contact his connections either at work as a city official or with his old war buddies to see if there are any abandoned or currently empy museums/military bases/hospitals/psych wards/libraries/bookstores or other such places nearby, preferably on the edge of town. Focus on those that are supposed to be haunted or otherwise have a mysterious past first.
Once that's done, regardless of outcome, go back to the abandoned house and my cult buddies.
Name: Walton J. Murphy
Appearance: A man of 64 years old. Walton sports a bald head and a grey beard. Not as fit as he used to be. His body is marked with a variety of scars.
Backstory: Walton joined the military when he was 18 years old in 1939, just in time for WWII to ramp up. He has since served in the pacific theater in WWII, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war. It was in 'Nam where he was gravely wounded for the last time, effectively ending his military career. He currently works a desk job for the local government, a fact that does not particularely please him.
He's been in a world war, a cold war, a drug war and a gang war. Now, seeing the appalling amount of respect veterans get from younger generations, he's decided that he wants to add a holy war onto his résumé.
Physical stats: (list in order)
Strength: d4
Dexterity: d6
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Awareness: d8
Guile: d10
Knowledge: d8
Willpower: d12
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: 1
World Stats:
Connections: d8
Possessions: d8
Money: d4
Standing: d8
Inventory:
300$
Leatherman multitool
Notebook&Pen
Bicycle
Duct Tape.
You follow Helen and use the phone once she and Alexis have left. [4] (-$1) You call up some friends from the VA and ask them about abandoned places that fit your need. None of them can think of anything in town but one does say that there's an old church just outside of Soledad, up the road maybe 30 miles from here. Been abandoned for years, fairly good size and rumored to be haunted or the house of satanists or something like that.
You return to the abandoned building with the rest.
"A nightclub is a silly idea. Haven't you paid attention to the visions at all? If you're going to search for a place, then please consult the visions."
Draw the sigil of the Scholar in Red in my notebook, and also draw some schematics of the visions.
Once I'm finished drawing, search for some bookstores near the town centre and inquire about how much it would cost to buy the store. Also ask them about any wishes or dreams of theirs that I could possibly fulfill with the help of my contacts, asking ownership of the store in return.
Return to the abandoned house after I've found a bookstore that can be acquired with either money or with the help of my contacts.
Name: Richard Reed
Appearance: A well dressed man in his mid-twenties, he sports short brown hair and a well kempt mustache.
Backstory: Richard discovered the cult when one of his less prestigious connections informed him about otherwordly beings and of the knowledge these beings possess. Intent to learn this secret knowledge, he set out to join the cult.
Physical stats:
Strength: d4
Dexterity: d6
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Awareness: d8
Guile: d12
Knowledge: d10
Willpower: d8
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: d4
World Stats:
Connections: d12
Possessions: d4
Money: d6
Standing: d8
Inventory:
Notebook
Pen
$400
You scribble down the sigil in your notebook along with your impression of the visions. That done you head out and walk along the boundary road till you find a bus stop. You take the bus into town (-$3) and wander around the old town. There are several bookstores here, all of them packed into white adobe style buildings. Each one is similar; thin, long rooms absolutely packed to bursting with books. The shelves are completely full, there are piles of books on the ground, atop tables, and even more stuffed into claustrophobic second stories. There's little in the way of unused space; no back rooms or basements as far as you can tell.
[10]
You insinuate yourself with several of the shop owners, posing as a customer and speaking with them, slowly guiding the conversation towards their business and their hopes for it, and their life in general. After examining several you come across a shop called "The Serpent's Word" which has a Caduceus as their logo. Its a new age shop selling all manner of metaphysical books, incense, crystals, Tarot cards, and so forth. A dabbler's shop, for aging hippies and wiccans. An older woman runs it, her hair a mess of curly blond and her clothing an equal mess of dyed hemp with a purple shawl with star and moon patterns over her shoulders. She is particularly receptive and when you mention buying her shop to set up a headquarters for your
religious commune she seems quite interested. She doesn't want to sell her shop, per say, but she wants to know more about the cult. You can sense that she is grasping for some new truth, something more than what she's seen. If you can get her into the fold, you might be able to use the shop for free. Maybe even have her give money.
You take a card from her with the shop's number and return to the abandoned building.
"If the visions point to a temple the scholar desires, then my choice is an archive of some kind. It fulfills the spirit of the request, and will provide us with unfettered access to all the information we could need."
Go to the library and apply to be an archivist, claiming it was always my passion before I went into writing.
Name: Thomas Melbourne
Appearance: A man in his late 60s. Well-kept beard, no mustache or sideburns. Balding, but without a ridiculous comb-over. He dresses conservatively.
Backstory: He came to this small town in the 1940s in an attempt to escape his fame. An early novel of his had found surprise success, and prevented him from living the comfortable life he had always envisioned. Now, 40 years later, his idle searching into the occult has lead him to the truth. He's already planning his next book.
Physical stats:
Strength: d6
Dexterity: d8
Speed: d4
Endurance: d6
Awareness: d10
Guile: d8
Knowledge: d12
Willpower: d6
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: d4
World Stats:
Connections: d4
Possessions: d4
Money: d10
Standing: d10
Inventory:
-Notebook
-Pen
-$10,000
[3]
You take the bus into town like Richard (-$3) and head over to the nearest public library. You ask right at the front counter to be an archivist and they turn you down. However, the man working the desk seems to recognize you and tells you that the university library might have a position open. You head over there (-$3) and try again. [3] Again you ask right at the front desk and again they turn you down, at least as an archivist. The young woman at the desk seems to second guess her refusal after a moment and tells you that while there's no archivist job open, there is a job available as a part time librarian.
We don't need a bookstore, we can just find books for cheap. You guys can work on a location, I'll start getting the props.
This abandoned building will do fine as a storage place, until you guys find a better spot.
Go check the newspaper for estate sales.. those are often good spots to find books. Get a couple of cardboard boxes to fill with books, and then cab back to the abandoned building to leave the books inside there.
Name: Sean O'Malley, Phd.
Appearance: A trim, short man in his mid-40s, with a jovial expression and short reddish-brown hair.
Backstory: After completing his doctorate in Philosophy, he found his life unexpectedly limited after promoting some rather nonstandard views, after discovering and investigating some minor secrets. His position was since removed, and he no longer commands the respect he once had among his peers.
Physical stats: (list in order)
Strength: d4
Dexterity: d6
Speed: d8
Endurance: d8
Awareness: d10
Guile: d6
Knowledge: d12
Willpower: d6
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: 1
World Stats:
Connections: d6
Possessions: d8
Money: d8
Standing: d6
Inventory:
$500
Bicycle
Drafting Board
You pedal into town and buy a newspaper (-$1), scanning through it for information on estate sales and yard sales. You pedal around town for several hours, hitting up any sale you can find as well as the public libraries, snatching up the used books they sell for a few cents each. You spend 30 bucks filling four cardboard boxes with books and on two bungee cords to strap them in on the little carrying platform over your back wheel. The ride back is significantly slower and more difficult but you make it, wheezing and sweating.
Realize that we should all get on a plane to a jungle, and find a temple to use as our base
”we should go to a jungle and find a temple, then use that as a base. I think the amazon would work. Ha ha, just messing with ya.”
Ask the Scholar in Red what gender it is, and where it would like to go.
You ask empty air your questions and get no response. You ask the Eye the same question and get no response. It seems the Scholar is difficult to reach.
Much like Lance, Alex had spent much of the conversation still and silent, though for a different reason: something was bothering him. Eventually, he worked out what it was: For the first time since Grenada the pain in his leg was gone. He decided to keep this to himself, for now, until he had had the time to process it properly. In the meantime:
"A bookshop sounds like it might be a good place for now; though buying one wholesale may be a little too expensive. O'Malley may have the right idea; we could just fix up an abandoned store. That should make it easier to find a suitable building and location, as well."
Spend one point of Favour to increase Speed by one.
Name: Alexander Sill
Appearance: A well-built man in his late thirties, who walks with a slight limp.
Backstory: A career soldier, though that career was brought to an abrupt end after the invasion of Grenada left him discharged with a shiny medal and a leg wound which will probably never fully heal. Since then he has struggled along, through a series of short-lived, dead-end jobs, searching for a new purpose in life. He now seems to have found one.
Physical stats:
Strength: d10
Dexterity: d8
Speed: d4 -> d6
Endurance: d12
Awareness: d8
Guile: d6
Knowledge: d6
Willpower: d6
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favour: 0
World Stats:
Connections: d8
Possessions: d6
Money: d6
Standing: d8
Inventory: (2 items)
Toolbox, torch.
$500 cash
You close your eyes and in your mind, you silently will the Scholar to grant you speed. You feel it subtly, a change in your flesh. You can breathe a little easier and your limbs feel just a bit lighter, more responsive, easier to move.
Because many people's actions took hours and everyone returned to the abandoned building, I'm going to call an end to the first day. Everyone eats their dinner of gas station junk food and then spends the night in the abandoned building. They awaken at dawn, chilly and a bit sore, but rested and ready to go.
Author
Topic: CULT (Read 76625 times)