C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 136

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3C (Part 1: Museum Investigation)

SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC

SCENE 3C – MUSEUM INVESTIGATION
Note: If PCs have already encountered the beby and gained information on the cult of Set, GMs may need to make some adjustments to the boxed text below. While no new information is gained, and the professor also has a copy of the book, the beby is still summoned to protect it. If PCs have already played Final Battle , that scene does not occur again.
It was surprisingly easy to gain an interview with Professor Angelina McKay. She was ‘between projects, you know’. Her office is warmly lit, and has butter-yellow walls, mostly concealed behind bookcases and display cabinets of curious artefacts. “Come in!” she says, looking at you, even though it’s like she’s addressing half the museum. “You want something explained? Let me see if I can help you.”
Give the PCs time to explain what they want, then read, or paraphrase, the following when they show her the disc:
Holding the disc, the professor is surprisingly quiet. She turns it this way and that, before opening her drawer and taking out what looks like the sort of monocle jewellers use to have a closer look at gems. “Curious,” she murmurs. “I wonder where you came from.” Taking the monocle off and putting it to one side, she walks over to a series of shelves and takes down a particularly decrepit-looking tome. “This is the one,” she says, coming back to her desk. Silently, but with many glances at the disc, she turns pages until she reaches one that shows a drawing of the same symbol displayed on the disc. “Here,” she says, turning the book towards you.
At this point a successful Earth (Senses TH2) test allows PCs to notice the disc on the desk next to the book is glowing a strange reddish-orange. If successful, PCs are able to take one action before the following occurs:
Before you can do anything else, a light too bright to see through flares around the disc. It is followed by a thunderous roar shakes the book shelves and Angelina snatches up the book and takes two steps away from the desk, her face full of alarm.
Have players roll initiative, then read, or paraphrase the following:
When the light fades you find yourself staring at a creature that looks like some horrendous cross between a hippopotamus, crocodile and lion. Across the top of the creature you hear Angelina whisper: “Is that a beby?”
Any PC may make a Mental (Knowledge: Ancient Cultures or Mythology: Egypt) test (TH4) to recognize the creature as a ‘beby’, the creature that eats the hearts of those whose hearts fail when judged for entry into the Egyptian afterlife. A TH6 success reveals that the devouring god had animal counterparts in earlier mythic ages.At this point, the beby that has been summoned to protect the disc, and prevent anyone from discovering the identity of the group behind it, attacks.
Battlescape: This room is quite large for an office, but it doubles as Angelina’s work and display space as well. It is about 30 feet long and 20 feet across and, as described before, is lined with book cases and display cases. There are also a few display cases scattered about the center of the room. PCs can draw the creature out of the room, and along several corridors, to the museum grounds if they wish, or they can fight it here. Fighting in this room is difficult because of the small size, and PCs suffer a -1 penalty. This penalty affects all actions, such as dodging, that rely on manoeuvrability for success.
NPC Reactions: The noise (and, possibly, sight) of the battle causes museum staff and patrons to hide from the beby and to call the London Metropolitan Police, one of whom calls LN7. LN7 does not arrive before the battle is over, and the beby has disappeared. Whether they are in time, or able, to note the PCs’ involvement is up to the GM.
Professor McKay: does her best to stay out of the way of the battle, and to not draw the attention of, or to distract the combatants. She does, however, film the battle with her mobile phone, and later posts a number of articles, comments, and video clips to her various social media sites. The beby notices her only if she tries to draw its attention, or if it must move through the space she is currently in during the battle, at which point it takes a quick swipe or bite at her. It will only focus on her if she is the most threatening thing facing it at the time.
Beby
Era: MythicRace: Supernatural AnimalAPL: 4Aspects: Fire 6 (4), Water 5 (4), Air 2, Earth 2 Initiative: 8Health: km; <5 / 10+ / 15+ / 20+ / 25+ / 30+ / 35+ Size/Reach: 1 / 5 ftArmor: 6Taint: 10Stride: 30 ftWeapons: —Bite: 18H—Foreclaw (2): 8M—Hindclaw (2): 12M (Grab ready requirement)—Tail: 8MSequences: RavagerAgg—F9/W6/A0/E2—Power + Power + L Foreclaw Strike + Power +R Foreclaw Strike Skills: Athletics 9, Interaction 2, Melee 7, Stamina 7, Quickness 6, Senses 8, Stealth 4, Will 4Edges: Action Junkie, Aggressive, Brutal, DauntingPowers: UndeterredTraits: TaintedTactics: The beby has only one mission: to destroy all those present when the description of the symbol on the disc was found. This includes Professor McKay, who is most grateful if PCs save her life. If successful, the PCs earn the reward Friend of Professor Angelina McKay.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.

Progress Report: Week 2 July, 2017

Last week saw work continue on Freeman’s Choice to the exclusion of everything else, except the usual round of family activity for school holidays, which kept me pretty busy.

Week 2 Progress
New words produced: 2,424Outlines and Notes: 0Works completed: 1 (flash fiction)Works edited: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 737University Prep and Assignments: N/A
Writing News
Last week’s ‘writing’ consisted entirely the final edit for Freeman’s Choice—which I did not complete.
June-July Challenge: Babes in London
Last week saw no progress on that progress. This week will see that rectified.




















Ingress Updates
This week’s Ingress consisted of the bare minimum, which is hacking while taking exercise and nothing really strategic. I also started on Operation Recon towards the end of the week, and discovered it’s not a bad writing break, as long as you don’t let it take over.
PokemonGo Updates
This week’s PokemonGo was very bare minimum. Daily spin, daily catch, and opportunities taken on the daily walk, in between ingressing.
Other News
In addition to everything else, I came up with another idea that fits the blog and what I want to do with languages. We’ll see if I can get that off the ground.
Priorities for Week 3, July 2017
This week’s priorities are as follows:

Finalise the CreateSpace edition of Freeman’s Choice ;Finalise the delivery of Freeman’s Choice to all ebook platforms for pre-order;Final edit and format for C.M. Simpson: Short Works from 2014, Volume 3 (Fantasy & Urban Fantasy); Reseat Babes in London at the start of the work routine for the day;Reseat writing flash fiction and poetry at the start of the work routine for the day;Reseat writing a blog entry at the start of the work routine for the day; Add study time into the work routine for each day.

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3B (Part 2: University Investigation—Aftermath)

SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC

AFTERMATH
When the battle is over, read or paraphrase the following:
In the silence that follows the battle, the body of the creature slowly begins to steam. With each curling wisp that rises above it, the body slowly evaporates until nothing is left. The same happens to all the blood and gore that came from it.
IF PCS ARE IN THE QUADRANGLE: When you look around, you see no-one and nothing, until your gaze reaches the fifth floor, where Professor Wyman can be seen gazing down at you from the window, her book clutched tightly in her hands.
IF PCS ARE IN THE OFFICE: In the midst of the piles of books scattered about the floor, the desk stands unscathed – and Professor Wyman crawls out from under it to stand, as well, looking slightly shaken and clutching her book and mobile phone tightly to her chest. For a long moment there is silence.
TALKING TO PROFESSOR WYMAN AFTER THE BATTLE: “That,” Professor Wyman says, when she notices you all looking at her. “That was a beby.” She pauses. “That was, I suppose, guarding the meaning of the symbol. I suppose, it only appeared because of the disc. And, I suppose you’d like to know exactly who it is that owns the disc.” She sits down and absent-mindedly gathers the shards of her coffee mug into a neat pile: “My grandmother gave me that.”
To cut a long story short, finding the professor, and the book, reveals the following information: The Cult of Set was a group of people dedicated to serving the god Set and to bringing about his return to the world at large once he had seemed to have left it. In the mythology related to the symbol, the god Set was a renegade god because of his attempt to overthrow Osiris and claim Isis as his queen; he disappeared beneath the desert sands in an attempt to hide after his defeat at the hands of Horus. It proved to be a very effective tactic; Set was never seen again, although his followers do not believe he is dead and will return one day. As PCs make their way out of the university, read or paraphrase the following:
You have just left Kate Wyman’s office, and are walking down the corridor, when the world ‘shimmers’. The overhead lights dim to nothing and you find yourselves making your way through a darkness lit only by lamps set in wall sconces. You are wearing cloaks and, for some reason, have pulled the cowl as far forward as you can so that your face is hidden by shadow. In your hand, you hold a small metal disk in case you are challenged.
GO TO ACT III SCENE 3D: FINAL BATTLE.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3B (Part 1: University Investigation)

SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC

SCENE 3B – UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATION
Note: If PCs have already encountered the beby and gained information on the cult of Set, GMs may need to make some adjustments to the boxed text below. While no new information is gained, and the professor also has a copy of the book, the beby is still summoned to protect it. If PCs have already played Final Battle , that scene does not occur again.
When you arrive at the university, it seems to take a moment for the receptionist at Administration to understand your request, and then it takes a good few moments more (approximately a half an hour, to be exact) before she recommends someone. When she does and you ask to see them, the receptionist looks affronted. “That,” she says, “will require an appointment.” Arrangements for the appointment takes more time – another three quarters of an hour and by now, the receptionist has noticed you becoming slightly fidgety. “The professor can fit you in Tuesday next month,” she says, “or, if you really must, she says she will see you now – but she can only spare you a quarter hour; she has an appointment.”
Give the PCs a chance to respond and then read, or paraphrase, the following:
You get lost on the way, but stopping students or other professors and asking you directions soon sees you standing in front of a door bearing the name plate: Kate Wyman. There’s a bunch of letters after the name but what is most intriguing is the fact that the door is firmly closed and, upon closer inspection, locked. Before you can turn away, however, a trim-figured, petite, dark-haired woman in what could be her mid-forties arrives with a cup of coffee and a large paper bag from the canteen in one hand, and a bundle of keys in the other: “You’re later than I’d like,” she says, looking you up and down. Her gaze sweeps over you like a searchlight and you almost begin to sympathize with her students. “Never mind,” she says before any of you can speak. “Come in and explain what you need. Reception was vague.” Her office consists of a large desk and chair curving out of one corner, and every available piece of wall space except for three five-drawer filing cabinets is lined by bookshelves. There are even shelves behind the desk and under the large window that looks into a hidden quadrangle several floors down. When Kate Wyman has seated herself behind the desk, coffee and lunch bag placed to one side, she gestures for you to take a seat in one of the four seats in front of the desk: “How can I help you?” she asks.
Allow the PCs to explain what they want, then read, or paraphrase, the following once they show the professor the disc.
The professor is fascinated by the disc and turns it over several times in her hand. “I think I’ve seen this somewhere before.” Reaching behind her, she half turns and runs her fingers along the spines of the books. Stopping at a particularly ancient-looking tome, her hand curls around the spine and she carefully lifts it down to the desk. Placing the disc on the table in front of her, she begins leafing through the pages. “Set,” she mutters. “L, M, R… Ah, now here we go.” She turns the book around so that the chosen page is the right way up for you to read. There, on the page before you is the same symbol engraved on the disc but, as you lean forward to read the curling script beneath it, there is a sudden flare of light. For an instant, the light is too bright to see through and, then a thunderous roar shakes the office and Kate lets out a gasp of surprise before disappearing beneath her desk.
Give the PCs time to react and roll initiative, then read, or paraphrase the following:
Under the desk might not be a great hiding place but it might be better than where you’re standing, right now. The creature that has appeared on top of the desk looks like a horrendous cross between a hippopotamus, crocodile and lion – and its attention is squarely focused on you. There is no sound at all from where the professor has disappeared.
A successful Earth (Senses) test (TH6) means the PCs see the professor reach up and slide the book off the desk from behind the creature’s forepaws. (It’s standing on her lunch bag and has crushed her coffee cup beneath one of its powerful hind claws.)Any PC may make a Mental (Knowledge: Ancient Cultures or Mythology: Egypt) test (TH4) to recognize the creature as a ‘beby’, the creature that eats the hearts of those whose hearts fail when judged for entry into the Egyptian afterlife. A TH6 success reveals that the devouring god had animal counterparts in earlier mythic ages.This beby has been summoned to protect the disc, and prevent anyone from discovering the identity of the group behind it. At this point, it attacks.
Battle Space: Battling in the office is crowded. The room is 10-feet wide and 15-feet long. Palatial by professorial standards, but too cramped for proper battle. All combatants suffer a -1 penalty. This penalty affects all actions, such as dodging, that rely on manoeuvrability for success. Note: It is possible to lead the beby to a more open space (such as the quadrangle outside) so that PCs manifest their draconic body to battle it. NPC Reactions: If PCs try to keep the battle contained to the office, they attract outside attention some three rounds in. It requires a successful TH6 Air (Senses) check for any of the combatants to notice the office door opened a careful crack, and the startled face of a student peeking around it, before pulling it quickly shut again. The student calls the police and LN7 is alerted, as described below. If, however, the PCs try to lead the beby to a more open area, university students and professors alike scatter out of the beby’s and PCs’ path, and PCs must outrun the monster down several corridors and stairwells in order to reach the courtyard. NPCs who see them, hide for a good while, and someone calls the police, one of whom calls LN7. By the time LN7 arrive, the battle is over and the creature has disappeared.
Professor Kate Wyman: hides under her desk for the duration of the battle, although she does take the chance to film what she can see of the beby on her phone. She later posts this on her social media pages, including the video collection where she talks about creatures of myth and legend, as well as giving lectures on her other areas of professional interest. She also blogs about the creature, and the disc of Set, which could make for interesting adventure opportunities later.
BebyEra: MythicRace: Supernatural AnimalAPL: 4Aspects: Fire 6 (4), Water 5 (4), Air 2, Earth 2 Initiative: 8Health: km; <5 / 10+ / 15+ / 20+ / 25+ / 30+ / 35+ Size/Reach: 1 / 5 ftArmor: 6Taint: 10Stride: 30 ftWeapons: —Bite: 18H—Foreclaw (2): 8M—Hindclaw (2): 12M (Grab ready requirement)—Tail: 8MSequences: RavagerAgg—F9/W6/A0/E2—Power + Power + L Foreclaw Strike + Power +R Foreclaw Strike Skills: Athletics 9, Interaction 2, Melee 7, Stamina 7, Quickness 6, Senses 8, Stealth 4, Will 4Edges: Action Junkie, Aggressive, Brutal, DauntingPowers: UndeterredTraits: TaintedTactics: The beby has only one mission: to destroy all those present when the description of the symbol on the disc was found. This includes the professor, who is most grateful if PCs save her life. If successful, the PCs earn the reward Friend of Professor Kate Wyman.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3A (Part 2: Library Investigation—Aftermath)

SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC

AFTERMATH


When the battle is over, read, or (if Sir Thomas is dead) paraphrase the following:
The creature’s body lies on the library floor. “Well, I never,” Sir Thomas mutters. “Well, I never… Well, I …” He seems a little overwhelmed. Even more so when the creature’s body vanishes, leaving unexplained bits of gore to slowly dissipate from the bookshelves, desks and carpets. It’s a bit like watching steam rise from an abandoned cup of coffee. “Well, then,” Sir Thomas says, his voice a little shaky. “Well, then, I’ll just get someone to clean this up and we’ll go back to the office and look at what we’ve found, shall we?”
If Sir Thomas has died during the encounter, PCs will have to explain his death. The injuries dealt by the beby direct suspicions away from the PCs. In this case, they are able to attempt to smuggle the book out (Air – Trickery TH2; people are very distracted by Sir Thomas’s death). If Sir Thomas does not die during the encounter, PCs can still try to smuggle the book out but the test will be TH4. (Sir Thomas may be a little distracted by the appearance and disappearance of the beby; but he is very protective of his books.)To cut a long story short, finding the book reveals the following information: The Cult of Set was a group of people dedicated to serving the Egyptian god Set, and to bringing about his return to the world at large. In the mythology related to the symbol, the god Set was a renegade god because of his attempt to overthrow Osiris and claim Isis as his queen; he disappeared beneath the desert sands in an attempt to hide after his defeat at the hands of Horus. This proved to be a very effective tactic, and Set was never seen again, although his followers do not believe he is dead, and have no doubt he will return one day. As PCs make their way out of the library, read or paraphrase (adapting it for the usual alternate forms mythic PCs use when they wish to keep their draconic form a secret) the following:
You have just left Sir Thomas’s office, and are walking down the corridor, when the world ‘shimmers’. The overhead lights dim to nothing and you find yourselves making your way through a darkness lit only by lamps set in wall sconces. You are wearing cloaks and, for some reason, have pulled your cowl as far forward as you can so that your face is hidden by shadow. In your hand, you hold a small metal disk in case you are challenged.
GO TO ACT 3 SCENE 3D: FINAL BATTLE.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3-3A (Part 1: Introduction & Library Investigation)

SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC


How the PCs decide to investigate the disc will dictate which of the following sub-scenes they encounter. If they decide to visit a library of any type, including one at a university or museum, without consulting with an expert, go to Scene 3A – Follow-up (Library Investigation). If they decide to seek a university-based expert, go to Scene 3B – Follow-up (University Investigation). If they decide to seek a museum-based expert, go to Scene 3C – Follow-up (Museum Investigation). Their choice of investigation decides the contact, or contacts, they make during this phase of their investigations.
SCENE 3A – LIBRARY INVESTIGATION
Note: If PCs have already encountered the beby and gained information on the cult of Set, GMs may need to make some adjustments to the boxed text below. While no new information is gained, and the professor also has a copy of the book, the beby is still summoned to protect it. If PCs have already played Final Battle , that scene does not occur again.
Your path has led you to the National Library in London, and then your enquiries led to you this man – Sir Thomas Jamieson, an expert in Egyptian mythology and artefacts. He appears around 50 years of age, and is of a slender, wiry build. His bright blue eyes show a lively curiosity and intelligence, and there is strength in his grip as he shakes your hand in greeting: “Glad to meet you,” he says, “The front desk said you had something rather interesting to show me.” The front desk has said nothing of the kind to you, greeting you with poker-faced formality. “My office is this way,” Sir Jamieson says, turning to lead you through a door marked ‘Staff Only’.
Sir Thomas takes the PCs to his office, where he asks  to see the disc If the PCs show him, he is so excited that his fingers tremble slightly. The PCs need to let him handle it so he can make a more thorough examination. When they agree to do so, read, or paraphrase, the following:
Sir Thomas handles the piece carefully, turning it over twice before fitting a magnifying monocle to his eye to inspect the inscription. “Ah, yes,” he says. “Egyptian, by the looks. Now I seem to remember….” He breaks off, taking the monocle out of his eye, looking thoughtful, as he rises from his seat. “If you follow me, I think we can find it somewhere in Stack Four.” He leads you from his office, and down a set of stairs. “Now, we don’t usually allow this,” he says, “but as I don’t quite know the reference and guess you would be reluctant to let the disc out of your sight… and seeing as Stack Four is under my jurisdiction anyway…” After descending another two flights of stairs, Sir Thomas stops at a non-descript reddish-brown door. “Here we are,” he says. “Now, follow me quietly, if you please. No talking.” He opens the door to reveal rows and rows of book shelves. He navigates these as though he has sought out this book thousands of times before, finally stopping in front of one particular shelf. He hands you back the disc, and runs his fingers lightly along the spines of the books. Finally, he selects one titled “Ye Symbolls of the Anciente Worlde”. “This should be the one,” he murmurs, flicking pages. “Ah, yes,” he says, opening it to a page where a diagram of the symbol on the disc has been drawn. “ We’ll take a closer look at it back in my office, shall we?” Before you can reply, the disc in your hand grows warm, emitting a reddish glow. For an instant, there is a searing pain against your flesh, followed by a light too bright to see through, and then a thunderous roar shakes the book shelves and Sir Thomas takes an involuntary step back towards you. “Oh dear,” he says.
Give the PCs time to react and roll initiative, then read, or paraphrase the following:
Oh dear, indeed. The creature before you seems to be some horrendous cross between a hippopotamus, crocodile and lion. Behind you, you hear Sir Thomas whisper: “Oh my, a beby…”
Any PC may attempt a Mental (Knowledge: Ancient Cultures or Mythology: Egypt) test (TH4) to recognize the creature as a ‘beby’, the creature that eats the hearts of those whose hearts fail when judged for entry into the Egyptian afterlife. A TH6 success reveals that the devouring god had animal counterparts in earlier mythic ages.At this point, the beby that has been summoned to protect the disc, and kill anyone trying to discover the identity of the group behind it, attacks.
Battle Space: It is possible to battle the beby in this space, but difficult. The library stacks are ten feet tall, and spaced three feet (one metre) apart, but there is an open area some twenty by thirty feet (or approximately four by six metres) wide in the centre. Desks and tables are scattered throughout this space providing places for study. PCs who are able to, may choose to manifest draconic traits in order to battle it, however, size is an issue when fighting among the stacks. If PCs manifest their draconic body they gain a -2 penalty when fighting in the stacks, PCs in human form gain a -1 penalty. This penalty affects all actions, such as dodging, that rely on manoeuvrability for success.
NPC reactions: During the battle, librarians and patrons scatter out of the path of combatants and make for the exits, although someone calls the police and both LN7 and the Consortium learn of the encounter. While the Consortium stays away, relying on an informant for the outcome, LN7 hurries to the scene in order to protect the humans. However, they arrive after the battle is over and the creature has disappeared. Sir Thomas Jamieson: is one of the beby’s main targets, but the creature does not attack him unless it crosses where he is standing during the battle (in which case it takes a quick swipe or bite at him as it passes), or unless there is no other opponent that is more dangerous. The professor stays for the fight, but tries to keep at least one PC between him and the beby, at all times, and films the encounter on his mobile phone. He later uploads the video, along with comments and pictures to social media.
BebyEra: MythicRace: Supernatural AnimalAPL: 4Aspects: Fire 6 (4), Water 5 (4), Air 2, Earth 2 Initiative: 8Health: km; <5 / 10+ / 15+ / 20+ / 25+ / 30+ / 35+ Size/Reach: 1 / 5 ftArmor: 6Taint: 10Stride: 30 ftWeapons: —Bite: 18H—Foreclaw (2): 8M—Hindclaw (2): 12M (Grab ready requirement)—Tail: 8MSequences: RavagerAgg—F9/W6/A0/E2—Power + Power + L Foreclaw Strike + Power +R Foreclaw Strike Skills: Athletics 9, Interaction 2, Melee 7, Stamina 7, Quickness 6, Senses 8, Stealth 4, Will 4Edges: Action Junkie, Aggressive, Brutal, DauntingPowers: UndeterredTraits: TaintedTactics: The beby has only one mission: to destroy all those present when the description of the symbol on the disc was found. This includes Sir Thomas, who will be most grateful if PCs save his life. If successful, the PCs will earn the reward Friend of Sir Thomas Jamieson.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.

NEW RELEASE: The Years of Voyage

My latest science fiction short story, The Years of Voyage , has just been released on all my usual platforms - yay!

Someone had to go to the old ship—not because the colony was sick, but because the colony was dying, and the reason why was locked inside the transport’s hulk. Someone had to go out to where the ship had crashed, out into the dark, and past the plaguers. I just wished that someone didn’t have to be me.

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 2B (Part 3: Follow-Up Gehenna Consortium—Other Discussions and Options After)

SCENE 2B: FOLLOW-UP (GEHENNA CONSORTIUM)

OTHER DISCUSSIONS

Alice keeps the discussions limited to the Consortium’s interests with the PCs, and insists on the Consortium’s interest in the girls’ welfare. She reveals nothing about the girls being from a brood of scions, but stresses only that they are ‘special’ in an undefined way to do with the weird happenings in London, and that that they must be protected at all costs.
WHERE TO NEXT?
Once their conversation with Alice is over, PCs have the following options (if they have not already taken them):
try to find mythological references to red boars. Go to Act 3, Scene 3A – Follow-up (Library Investigation); Act 3, Scene 3B – Follow-up (University Investigation); OR Act 3, Scene 3C – Follow-up (Museum Investigation), whichever is appropriate.try to find out what the symbol on the disc and the Red Boars means – without going to Emblae or the Fae of Haverhill. Go to Act 3, Scene 3A – Follow-up (Library Investigation); Act 3, Scene 3B – Follow-up (University Investigation); OR Act 3, Scene 3C – Follow-up (Museum Investigation), whichever is appropriate.go to Emblae (if they have played The Fire Within) to find out what the symbol on the disc and the Red Boars means – in which case the faery identifies the creatures as the Red Boars of Set and gives them the information listed on pp. 36-37;go to the Fae of Haverhill (if they have played The Fire Within) to find out what the symbol on the disc and the Red Boars means in which case PCs receive the information on p. 37contact the Gehenna Consortium if they wish to ignore Alice’s warning, go to Act 3, Scene 2 – Follow-up (LN7).
If PCs have completed the above options, or don’t wish to complete them, they may want to visit Tenson’s Place. In which case, go to Act 4, Scene 1 – Anika’s Refuge.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 2B (Part 2: Follow-Up Gehenna Consortium—Revealing LN7 Contacts)

SCENE 2B: FOLLOW-UP (GEHENNA CONSORTIUM)

REVEALING ANY CONTACT WITH LN7

For a moment the professional mask almost slips, and you catch a glimpse of shocked outrage, then Alice’s face smooths and she replies: “You didn’t say you were working for them. This could put an end to our business relationship. Haven’t you been warned to stay away from that outfit?”
IF THE PCS HAVE BEEN WARNED OFF LN7 PREVIOUSLY
Her face hardens. “Our business is over. Gentlemen, return them to the drop-off point.”
PCs are escorted back to the limousine and deposited at the park, where they will be left. They later discover that any payment they have received has been withdrawn from their accounts – and that their accounts are empty. Attempting to discuss this with the banks only results in PCs being issued with a notice to pay the overdraft within 14 days and an insistence that the withdrawal was made by the PC’s card at the time they were in the meeting with Alice. Neither Alice or the Consortium are contactable and, if PCs manage to find their way back to the house it is empty. For them, the Consortium has vanished and they are unable to find any trace of it. Previously known Consortium businesses will inform the PCs they are under new management (which, even if it is untrue, the informant will believe is the case). This is the only retaliation the Consortium makes at this time, unless PCs start to become a nuisance to the company. PCs are now under Consortium surveillance, especially if they revealed they were dragons.
IF THE PCS HAVE NOT BEEN WARNED OFF LN7 PREVIOUSLY
Alice looks troubled: “You really can’t be involved with that group and with us. While our goals are the same, our methods are different, and there are some aspects of their dealings of which we disapprove. They, of course, believe we are a danger to the community. Groundless fears, of course, but they believe them just the same. You will have to choose who you are working for.”
This is a decision that Alice insists the PCs make immediately. She will not give them a chance to go back to LN7 and negotiate. If PCs decide to work for LN7, go to the section above (IF THE PCS HAVE BEEN WARNED OFF LN7 PREVIOUSLY) and paraphrase the text accordingly. Everything described in that section must now be applied to the PCs, except that the bank balances are returned 48 hours later minus anything they earned from the Consortium. If the PCs decide to work for the Gehenna Consortium read, or paraphrase, the following: Her face lights up: “I can’t say how relieved I am,” she says. “You have no idea what a good decision you have made. The girls must be found before LN7 can get to them. I believe their lives are in danger. You must be swift. Gentleman, take these people wherever they need to go.”
This is a command for the mooks to drop the PCs off at their next point of investigation. PCs can request one destination after leaving the Consortium base and then the mooks then leave them. If the PCs go to LN7 after this meeting, the consequences described under ‘IF THE PCS HAVE BEEN WARNED OFF LN7 PREVIOUSLY’ occur; PCs are now under constant Gehenna surveillance, especially if they revealed their draconic heritage. If PCs do not go to LN7 after this meeting, they will discover an extra £1000 in each of their accounts next time they access them. Inquiries at the bank only reveal that the PC themselves deposited the amount at the same time the PCs were speaking to Alice.
IF THE PCS REVEAL LN7’S WARNINGS ABOUT THE CONSORTIUM
Alice gives a short, sharp little laugh: “Oh you can’t believe everything you hear. They ARE our main rivals and they would say anything to discredit us.”
Alice will deny any rumours the PCs may have heard, and will go so far as to imply that any bad dealings the PCs have had with the Consortium were with another company. If PCs don’t believe her, she assures them she will look into the matter since such behaviour is unacceptable. At this point, if PCs have been warned off LN7 previously go to ‘IF THE PCS HAVE BEEN WARNED OFF LN7 PREVIOUSLY’. If they have not been warned off LN7 before, go to ‘IF THE PCS HAVE NOT BEEN WARNED OFF LN7 PREVIOUSLY’. It’s time for them to make a choice.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.

Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 2B (Part 1: Follow-Up Gehenna Consortium—Main Conversation)

SCENE 2B: FOLLOW-UP (GEHENNA CONSORTIUM)


About an hour after your call, the limo arrives. It takes you, in dark-windowed silence, to a house on a quiet surburban street where a roll-up garage door closes behind it and you exit into a flood-lit parking bay. Alice McIntyre and her usual escort of expensively-suited goons are waiting to greet you. “So,” she says, as you follow her into a white corridor, and then an equally white reception area, “What is it you have to report?”
We think Anika’s parents have been kidnapped:
Could you explain?
She has the PCs explain as best they can, also drawing out as much information about their investigation as she can. What Alice WON’T tell the PCs is that, unlike LN7, the Gehenna Corporation sees a use for the cultists, and will do its best to get them on-side and in their employ. She extract as much information about the cultists from the PCs as she can, and later sets about making contact with the cultists. Alice impresses on the PCs how important such information is to the welfare of the corporation, and offers a bonus for any more useful information the PCs can dig up. She also instructs the PCs to retrieve Anika’s mum and dad ‘at all costs’ rating the corporation’s interest in the little girl more important than any potential new allies that might be found in the cultists. While she will try to balance the two interests, she knows where her company’s priorities lie.
Someone tried to kidnap Leyila’s parents:
Do tell.
Once again, Alice tries to extract as much information as possible from the PCs and, in the end, congratulates them on their success. If they failed, she is disappointed and instructs them to do everything possible to find Leyila’s parents also.
Showing Anika’s Book of Law or Leyila’s Book of Songs:
If PCs show Alice Anika’s Book of Law or Leyila’s Book of Songs, Alice becomes very excited – even though she tries hard to mask her interest, she fails. Asking the PCs all sorts of questions about the book, she eventually tries to keep it if at all possible, using tactics ranging from trying to borrow it for ‘just a few days’ (in which case, the PCs have lost it, because she has no intention of giving it back, and has a whole corporation to hide it in), to trying to convince them that, since it is part of the investigation they have been hired to do the book rightfully belongs to her consortium, to buying it outright for £1000. She will, however, allow them to walk out with the book. (This does not mean she is ready to give it up, just that she needs the PCs too much, right now, to kill them for it; she will organize another group to steal it from the PCs at a later date, however.) If the PCs in any way let Alice take the Book of Law or Book of Songs, they do not receive it as a reward at the end of this Act and do not receive any benefits related to its ownership – it’s gone, unless the GM is willing to run a retrieval mission later for them.Showing the disc:
Where did you get this from? I don’t recall seeing that symbol before.
Once again Alice exudes suppressed excitement. She does not recognize the symbol, but she is intrigued that there is another organization out there that recognizes the existence of dragons. She is also desperate to know who these people might be, as they represent a new set of rivals to her company’s interests. Alice asks the PCs if they might know who these people are; and tries to ferret out every detail of each encounter they have had with the Setites. She also gains authorization (in a private phone call – Excuse me, for a moment. I need to make a call .) to offer the PCs another £500 for information that leads to more details on the group. While the company has more than enough resources to lead them to the identity of the group, they also believe in cross-referencing – and, besides, if they don’t have the records, the PCs are a useful backup.
Setites are behind the kidnapping of the parents:
“I’ve not heard of that group before? Are you sure? How did you find out?
Alice’s response to this piece of information is exactly the same as her response to the disk; she is desperate to gather information on this group of potential rivals (or allies) to her company, and gains authorization to offer the PCs £500 for more information on the group.
Revealing the PCs draconic heritage/incarnation:
Alice pauses. For a few seconds, her body becomes very still, and she looks carefully at each of you. “Is this true?” she asks. “Do you all have the dragon’s gift?”
Alice is most interested in having the PCs sign onto the Consortium’s payroll, but she keeps it well-hidden. While the Consortium would benefit from having dragon scions in its employ, Alice knows many scions would not agree with the way the Consortium runs things. She asks the PCs to complete the task and then come back to her, as there might be ‘other work’ for them. What she is doing, in fact, is giving herself time to consult with Consortium higher-ups while providing the company with a testing ground for the PCs abilities and loyalty.
Someone tried to kidnap the artist David Markovin:
“Now why would anyone want to do that?”
This news is possibly the least interesting to Alice and the Consortium, but it is still interesting. While they are aware of the supernatural inspiration behind David’s unicorn paintings, they are unaware of its source. The Consortium would like to find the source to see if they could somehow tap into it and use it to their advantage. Alice wants to know what other groups might be interested in David as she is always curious about rivals to her company’s interests.
Setites are behind the kidnap attempt on the artist David Markovin:
“Setites? What are they?”
Once again, Alice’s interest is heightened by the fact that she has never heard of this group, and by the fact that it represents a potential rival or ally to the Consortium. She gains authorization to offer the PCs £500 for more information on the Setites, if she has not already done so.
Revealing what happened when PCs investigated the disc at the library, museum or university:
This news evokes the same reaction from Alice as revealing the disk and/or the existence that Setites are the group behind the attacks on the Andrews’ family and/or artist David Markovin. She wants to know more and her company is willing to authorize further payments to the PCs to obtain it. (£50 for all information, with the possibility of greater bonuses depending on the value of the information to the Consortium.) She is also fascinated to know that the reference book exists and makes arrangements for the Consortium to ‘obtain’ a copy without telling PCs.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.