"Indeed it is, please come in."
Tell the bookshopy lady about the origins of the Scholar, starting with that worship of the Scholar goes back to ancient times and that he was worshipped by ancient healers, supposed necromancers, his connection to Thoth and that the goal of the Scholar is to obtain knowledge.
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
Sedatives
$759
[12]
You bring the woman in and tell her what you think she wants to hear. You give her all the good parts of the scholar, leaving out the stuff about how the cults almost inevitably devolved into human sacrifice and the dreams of self dissection. You think you made a pretty good impression but your enthusiasm was perhaps a bit overblown. She seems friendly and receptive but also sort of "deer in the headlights" and is very reluctant to make any sort of choices or say whether or not she's interested in coming to another meeting or anything like that.
When she returned from the library, Alexis was told that the Scholar is pleased by other things such as forbidden and secret knowledge, not just dissecting things. A bit disappointed, Alexis nevertheless nodded in understanding. Perhaps she can ask for a tour of the hospital tomorrow then. Arching an eyebrow at the New Age bookstore lady, Alexis decided that perhaps she may have friends who would be interested in joining or if there were more to her than the neo-hippie she appears to be.
Time for Alexis to hone her social skills with the good old fashioned art of conversation! Get to know this bookstore lady more with casual chatter, along with a little subtle social manipulation aimed at getting her to let her guard down. Make sure she is comfortable both physically and emotionally. Ask about her life, including any family or friends she may have. Inquire about who she once was before she got into the New Age philosophy and any interesting people she'd bumped into. Learn of her hobbies and plans for the future. If she's gets too defensive, stop for now as excessive questioning will drive her away from the cult. Find something to cook for the group if the conversation ends for any reason.
Nosy Bitch[/s] Inquisitive Conversationalist]
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: 2
World Stats:
Connections: d10
Possessions: d6
Money: d4
Standing: d8
Inventory:
$349
Purse
[9]
You ask enough questions to seem interested without also seeming intrusive. She doesn't tell you much, just some general things about herself like her 3 brothers, dead parents, interest in the new age, and the difficulties of running the shop in the current climate. But you manage to put her at ease in a way that Richard couldn't. She seems more pliable now, more likely to go along with suggestions.
Aww... But I really want to know! Ethics are good and all, but not when they get in my way!
If the detective won't spill the beans, I could simply get someone to do the research for me. Try to sell a copy of the tape to some local news station/newspaper along with the story about dangerous cultists kidnapping innocent people. Maybe I can use my contacts to find someone sympathetic/familiar?
Try to get a name and contact information from the reporter responsible so that I can let them know if I find anything else and we can hopefully work together in our investigation. Hopefully the first step to converting them to the Scholar. After all, reporters like to seek secret knowledge, right?
If they look interested, let them know that I'll be visiting the victim tomorrow and ask if they're interested in joining me or me contacting them later and letting them know how it went.
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)
2 tape copies
165$
[9]
You get hold of a friend that works at the local news station and let them know about the tape you have and whats on it. They tell you they'll talk to the people at the station and get back to you, but that it sounds promising in terms of story material. You get a call back in about an hour and are surprised to hear another person's voice instead of your friends. They tell you to bring the tape to the station right away, so they can get it on the evening news.
Stop and examine that cairn. Is it a thing in itself, or does it just mark a location, like a starting point?
"I don't know if we should fumble around at night. We might get lost. Although one of us could wish for something to help out with that, if we want to get it done now."
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: 2
World Stats:
Connections: d6
Possessions: d6
Money: d6
Standing: d6
Inventory:
$1400
Bicycle
Drafting Board
Datsun Maxima
Metal Rod
Green Moth.
The cairn is 7 stones tall; nothing very elaborate, probably just a path marker if you had to guess.
"Wishing for a little light seems like a waste of this amazing connection we have, don't you think? We can just come back tomorrow, with flashlights."
Look at both forks of the road. Which one feels more "tingly"? Feel it out.
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
$294
You get a tingle for both roads but a different tingle. The one with the cairn tingles in your stomach like a particularly strong "Butterflies in your stomach" nervousness while the other tingles lightly on your scalp.
Author
Topic: CULT (Read 76439 times)