Why skimp when you got much money? Besides, a bigger body is easier to vivisect.
Buy two toads then proceed with plan.
You pay for two toads and then head back to the underground lair.
[2,1]
Despite your best efforts, the attempts to dissect the two frogs go extremely poorly. The first one you attempt to make a shallow cut to open the abdomen but end up jamming the blade straight into the creature's heart and killing it outright. You grimace and go to get the next one. As soon as you open the cage it leaps out and starts making a run...hop for it. You give chase and don't realize quick enough when it stops hopping and stands still for a moment. You stomp on it and bring a squishy end to your dissection attempts.
As the project is completed, a wide grin spreads across Ailn's face. And lingers there for a few more seconds than seems healthy.
"Ahh, good! Now wasn't that fun? I could get used to this!"
Take the dead seagull and put it in the dumpster. Bury it underneath some other trash so that it's less obvious.
"Now, that's an avian taken care of. Probably best not to repeat ourselves, so let's do something different next. I think I might take up fishing~"
Any sporting goods shops that are a quick walk from the university? If so, I'd like to buy a fishing rod and some bait real quick and bring it back to the temple. Don't want to miss the thing with the frogs!
Name: Ailn
Appearance: Wrinkly, frail, and raggedy. She's actually not very old, and much faster than she looks, but certainly has an unhealthy look about her. Dark hair and eyes.
Backstory: Child of wealth, persistent illness, oddly unbreakable will. She left, of course. She doesn't see much use in money, though her family makes sure she has plenty of it. She'd like to be able to cure her illness, and maybe make some sense of this crazy world. Maybe going a little crazy will help, if that's what it takes.
Physical stats:
Strength: d6
Dexterity: d8
Speed: d8
Endurance: d6
Awareness: d6
Guile: d10
Knowledge: d6
Willpower: d12
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: d6
World Stats:
Connections: d4
Possessions: d6
Money: d12
Standing: d4
Inventory:
old messenger bag
coffee mug
pair of dice
key ring
notebook
pen
tools (v. sharp and professional!)
trash bags
spare parts for a bird
$774
You dump the bird and then sit around and watch the frog shenanigans before leaving. Bait is cheap, you can get synthetic or worms but they're both about 3 bucks. The rods are more variable. Children's rods are cheapest, but a casual adult rod is about 45 dollars.
"Huh."
Examine the remains of one or two of the hydrants and the surroundings for any clue as to how they were destroyed. Head up to the first hydrant in the chain; anything special about the location?
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: d6
Endurance: d12
Awareness: d8
Guile: d6
Knowledge: d6
Willpower: d6
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favour: 1
World Stats:
Connections: d8
Possessions: d6
Money: d6
Standing: d8
Inventory:
Murphy's Shotgun (Remington 870, shortened barrel, pistol grip; loaded), pocketfull of shells.
Toolbox (wrench, pliers, jeweler's saw, tire iron)
Kaiser Jeep M715 (dark blue)
Newspaper
$376 cash
The hydrants look like they were literally torn out of the ground. Literally like someone came, grabbed the hydrant with one giant hand, and ripped it up like they were weeding a garden. You see one of the torn off hydrants stuck in the branches of a nearby tree, partially blown apart from the inside. The first one you can find is the one furthest north and, perhaps coincidentally, the one closest to the ocean.
Sacrifice the rats to the Red Scholar via dissection. Take photographs of the process. Allow Alin or any others around to participate. Ask Alin for money for the photo lab + other necessitites.
"Say, Alin, I think this scholar might like it more if we document our sacrifices to it. That said, I really think we want to develop our own photos instead of sending them to just anywhere.. it might attract the wrong type of attention. Could you help me set a photo lab up here? I need about a thousand dollars or so."
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: d6
Money: d6
Standing: d6
Inventory:
$450
Bicycle
Drafting Board
Datsun Maxima
Metal Rod
Green Moth.
3 rats
[11]
You carefully dissect the rats and feel the same elation as the others as soon as you finish [Favor +1]. You snap photos of the whole process.
That done you talk to Alin about getting money for the photo lab.
The next day you start looking for work. [7] You call a PI you know from previous work and he tells you that he needs video of a man entering a particular establishment. He gives you the details of the establishment and the man.
The location is a hotel. A hotel that charges by the hour. It's a U shaped kind of building with a parking lot in the center that lets you see the entire front side of the building. However it also has a smaller lot in back and there's a gas station across the street that has its own small lot. Any of these would probably do for a stakeout though the main lot might be more obvious depending on how observant anyone is.
The information given to you says the target is most likely to be there on Wednesday or Friday, in the evenings. Supposedly this is when he has a bowling league. You have some pictures of the man and a home address, as well as a car license plate number.
So theoretically, all I need to do is record him entering. Howeve I can't resist poking around at least a little bit. So...
First things first, follow the man to the parking lot and find a place to park. Then try to discretely record him exiting his car and entering the establishment.
Then run after him (leave camera in car if necessary or hard to conceal). Enter and pretend to be a customer. Try to see/hear what his room number is. Rent a room, preferably one that is near his. Maybe I can eavesdrop or peek in through the window if there are balconies.
Name: Helen Hywater, though she insists on calling herself "The Recorder" during cult related activities
Appearance: A young girl (that looks more like she's in her late 20s) 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: d8
Inventory:
Clothes
A high-end handheld camcorder with flashlight and infrared nightvision capability
Rented grey sedan (6 days left)
80$
You leave the camera in the car - Too obvious- and head in after the man. He rents a room on the second floor and as soon as he's got his key and is out of earshot you ask for the room next to his. The clerk, a rather disreputable looking overweight man in a wifebeater shirt, looks you up and down and then gives you the key. He tells you not to disturb any of the customers and seems to recognize that you're a PI.
You head up to the second floor, careful to stay far enough behind the man not to alert him to your pursuit. As soon as he enters the room you enter the one next door, as quietly as possible. Best if he didn't realize you were there. The walls are thin, but not too thin. You can hear him talking to someone, probably on the phone, but its very hard to make out what he's saying. His voice is low enough that all you hear is a vague language like collection of noises. You sit down on the bed and wait. A few minutes later someone else comes down the hall and stops outside the room. And then two or three people follow behind that person. And then another set, who sound like they're dragging something.
Nice. Take my bike over to this friend and see what he's got. If it's too far for a bike ride, take public transport instead.
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: 2
World Stats:
Connections: d8
Possessions: d8
Money: d4
Standing: d8
Inventory:
299$
Leatherman multitool
Notebook&Pen
Bicycle
Duct Tape
Flashlight
A bible
unlabeled black leather bound book, some kind of diary
a pencil
a crucifix
about a dozen Morgan Dollar coins
You head over to your friend's home and...well we'll skip the introductions, the greetings, the various social niceties and instead head to the crux of this: In his basement he has 8 preserved human heads. Apparently he took trophies from his time at war. You're not sure how he could of done such a thing, all things considered, but he managed somehow. Thats unexpected.
Since I'm already in the library, try to find a dictionary to translate the old german.
Name: Micolash Cage
Appearance: A man with messy curly black hair and an eternal grin on his face.
Backstory: He used to work as a librarian, in which he found a book about the occult, and decided to join a cult for fun and knowledge. Fascinated in learning and gaining insight of the world and the cosmos.
Physical stats:
Strength: d4
Dexterity: d6
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Awareness: d8
Guile: d8
Knowledge: d12
Willpower: d10
Occult stats:
Corruption: 0
Madness: 0
Favor: 0
World Stats:
Connections: d10
Possessions: d12
Money: d4
Standing: d4
Inventory:
$197
Notebook (Contains part of the german book "Geschichten des roten Gelehrten")
Pen
Flashlight
"Necromancer" Book
Many partly read Books
You find a German/English Dictionary, though considering the age of the german used, it might need some finagling to get it to translate right. But it should work well enough.
Richard smiled as he finished dissecting the bird, happy that the Scholar approves of his handiwork. He turned to Ailn before she left.
"Don't forget that we're having a special guest tonight, so please make sure you and the others are present here by sunset."
Return the eye back to where it was before, then head out and search for promising artists, offer to refer them to an art museum in exchange for a modest fee.
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: d8
World Stats:
Connections: d12
Possessions: d4
Money: d6
Standing: d8
Inventory:
Notebook
Pen
Drawing of the sigil and the visions
Borrowed anatomy and medical books
$694
[7]
You head down to the arts district and run your little scam. It takes several hours but you manage to talk a few of them into giving you some money as "finder's Fee" of sorts. You make 120 bucks out of it.
It is Noon.
Author
Topic: CULT (Read 76500 times)