Sounds like a plan. To the station!
Show them the tape if I can but do not relinquish it unless I get a promise to with together with or at least be included in any follow-up. If that is out of the question, then I'd at least like a proper payment. Edit: though both payment and cooperation would be the best.
Oh, also make sure my name stays out of the report. It wouldn't do to have everyone know my name. At least, not yet.
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$
You head to the station and to the front desk, asking for your friend. They bring out two security guards who lead you down a hall and into what looks like an empty conference room. There are a few people in there, an older man, a middle age lady, and a younger man, but not your friend. The older man is the one that greets you.
"Ah, you're the one with the video." He says, with the slightest hint of cheer, "Do you have it with you?"
Well well, we're going left.
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
"I suppose we can check out the other tomorrow."
Proceed down the scalp-path
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.
You head down the path without the cairn and after a long drive through the wilderness, the road becoming increasingly rough and overgrown, you come to its end. The road ends at the remains of a wooden bridge over a river, now nothing but two tall wooden pillars and a few planks of wood. You look across to the other side and see a similar set of remnant pillars along with something else. They appear to be tumble down wooden forms, the remains of one of the countless ghost towns that litter the former gold rush area, now mostly overgrown and hidden. You notice a glint on one of the distant wooden pillars and look up at the one on your side. Near the top is a brand new looking Nylon rope along with one of those zipline carriages, those boxy metal things with internal wheels to slide up and down a rope. There's a carabiner on the carriage, to clip things like harnesses or baskets onto and then send them across the river.
"It's good that you're here with us then," Alexis said, putting on her warmest smile. "It's not that often that people of different beliefs would come together and do better things than berating each other. We're so unlike those fanatics who'd harassed you the other day."
Looking to the side for a moment, Alexis continued, "I tell you what: why don't you join our little group and we can discover new things together? We can learn from and help each other and just in case those whack jobs come back, we'll have your back."
Convert Bookstore Lady to Red Scholarianity!
Yeah, looks like Rich has this. Try to bail him out if he messes up somehow, but otherwise sit back and look pretty.
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
Explain to the bookshop lady that our cult, just like the Scholar, aims to discover the truth about the world and the universe. Also mention that the Scholar entrusted us with an artifact, and offer to show it to her.
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
[5]
Richard retrieves the eye from its cabinet and brings it to the woman. He hands it to her and she stares into it for a long moment before passing out. She awakens a few moments later and immediately accepts the invitation to join the cult.