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[PbP] Monster of the Week • Welcome to New Eden - "A Fight at the Museum"
MagicPrime
FiresideWizardRegistered User regular
FiresideWizardRegistered User regular
September 22, 198?, 11:00PM - New Eden, [REDACTED]
For more than a century the Aguillard Natural History Museum has stood vigil in the Gulf city of New Eden. Nestled at the heart of Coast Line Park, the grounds are more than isolated from the hustle of the city. Home to countless domestic and foreign antiquities during its noble tenure.
A young couple are currently enjoying the park’s gentile stone path. They wear matching track suits and walkmans while they jog in step. Reflective stripes on their suits sparkle from sparse lamp light being scattered by live oaks dancing in a gulf breeze.
The path turns in front of the museum's lawn. A large banner hanging from the gate reads, “NEW EXHIBIT GALA - SEPT. 25th” in large block letters. The jogging woman stops for a moment to take a breath, when she notices that she is now alone. Her partner nowhere to be seen. She slides her headphones down and calls out, “Bryan?... Bryan, this isn’t funny… where are you?” Cautiously moving a back up the path, her foot kicks something that rattles up the cobblestone landing in a shaft of light. The silver letters WALKMAN shine brightly and a cassette tape still spins blasting the sounds of WHAM! through the foam ear pads.
A low growl breaks through the wind, and she calls out again - her voice cracking and nearly in tears. “B...Bryan...?” A black shape bursts from the hedgerows knocking her down. For a moment the impact of skull on stone dazzles her perception, as the fog in her mind clears she realizes that something has a hold of her ankle in what feels like a vice. She lets out a desperate scream as she disappears into the hedgerows. *CUT TO BLACK*
https://youtu.be/n614CmvsPLMSTARRING:
@MrTLicious as Absalom "Abe" Jones, The Expert
@AustinP0027 as Michael Cross, The Chosen
@Auralynx as Bariel || The Divine
and introducing @jdarksun as Franklin Night, The Mundane
Exterior - Abe's home. 7:30AM. September 23rd. Abe is setting on the porch of the church's rectory, reading the morning's paper freshly delivered by the neighborhood paperboy. Typical headlines include conflicts between the New Eden Mayor and the City Council, Littering at the Coastline becoming a major issue, an upcoming Estate Sale uptown, and an Article about the Aguillard Museum's Exibit Reveal Gala, happening this Friday. However the front page feature is headlined "Mysterious Animal Attack in Coast Line Park. Couple Injured."
Please everyone establish themselves into the scene, and we will go from there.
BNet • magicprime#1430 | PSN/Steam • MagicPrime | Origin • FireSideWizard
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
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Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Abe was sitting on the porch, reading a newspaper as Michael approached. "Morning Abe"
"I see you're not in any particular rush this morning."
He slides the paper to Michael, folded in such a way that the audience can't help but observe the Animal Attack headline.
He looks down and read the headline, "Animal attack huh? That's no good."
The Blue Star is the church, the red arrow points to the location of the museum:
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
"Abraham, I have a question. What is the proper... Michael. Is something wrong?"
The article raises the question if this will effect the Museum Gala happening this Friday. The reporter quotes the museum curator, one Dr. William Smart, as saying, "This is indeed a tragedy and a dark cloud over our pending event. But we hope with the help of the city animal patrol and police we will find these offending animals and have them put down."
The city's Chief Animal Control officer, Brenda Fillion, is also is quoted. "There's a surprising amount of nooks and crannies in this park, a lot more green space and hedgerows than people really think about. A pack of wild dogs, even large breeds could easily hole up somewhere in here and not be found by officers walking the foot paths. We are making arrangements to increase our over-night duty officers, and the Police are even willing to lend a hand until we get a better idea on what we're dealing with."
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
"So, what are we thinking?" JOSH puts his feet up and takes another bite of oatmeal. "Jersey Devil? Nah, not this far south. The Honey Island Swamp monster? Not another werewolf, right? The fans want something new and exciting!"
"While I certainly would love to spread some comfort to the victims, I think we should first get a better sense of what we're dealing with, which means going to the scene of the attack. The details in the paper have already biased us enough, and the attestations of this poor couple may
Micheal gives a pointed look to Abe and then over to Josh, attempting to indicate that the energetic man shouldn't be involved in visiting the injured couple in any way.
"So then, Josh," he places his hand on Josh's shoulder. "I'm expecting you to be my eyes and ears at that museum. Get all the facts, and let me know what you think is happening."
Abe takes the last bite of his buscuit and jam and heads over to his vinyl-topped '74 Dodge Charger.
"I can drop you off near the grounds on my way to the hospital."
"I will meet you at the museum; I am unlikely to be much help at the hospital."
There's another sound of wind, and he's gone.
Edit: aahhhh typing with thumbs is slow. Josh really would be better at the hospital though, he's got all the charm.
Abe continues on to the hospital. It's relatively early, so traffic is reasonable. Around the time Michael and Josh arrive at the Museum's lawn, Abe is parking the Charger and walking into the Hospital's main entrance. Saint George's main administrative building is historic and beautiful with rich orange brick work, bronze statues of saints that have turned a vivid green with their age, and a even an original working clock tower. However Abe is making his way towards the actual hospital portion of the grounds. An appropriate glass and concrete building. He enters the main lobby and is greeted by the reception desk. Three administrative staff sit behind the chest high counter top, one is on the phone, the other pecking at the keyboard of what appears to be some kind of computerized record system.
The remaining worker is a woman in her mid 30's. She has her hair pulled up in a bun and wears glasses. Her clothes appear standard for the staff, khaki slacks and a dark blue sweater with a white collar shirt poking through the neck. Her name badge reads MALLORY in bold blue letters pressed into a plastic brushed silver tag, below in smaller letters reads "Admittance." She makes eye contact with Abe as he enters the automatic sliding glass doors and greets him with a warm, if not routine smile. "Oh, good morning father. Here to see someone?"
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Michael walks around the outside of the tape, peering at the ground, visually examining the pathway and surrounding vegetation to see if anything is out of place, or any strange markings exist that might have been hidden.
Geth, roll 2d6+1 for Investigate
• What sort of creature is it?
• Where did it go?
As far as where they went. The report mentioned that the victims drug themselves back out on to the walking path before they were discovered by a nightly police patrol, which by what you can tell looks accurate. There are obvious marks in the ground covering that move contrary to the initial drag marks. But there are no obvious signs of where the dogs themselves escaped to. No other disturbances in the hedgerows. What is curious, however, are two distinct piles of sand.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
"Morning, officer. I'm Josh Burke - though you probably know me as Franklin Night. You know, Night Moves? Yeah, you know it, everybody's seen it. I read about what happened in the paper, and I wanted to scope out the scene for some video later - you know, get all the right angles, gotta look my best. You mind letting me and my cameraman through for a bit? But hey, if not, no worries, you could just give me the inside scoop. Don't worry, I don't name sources. Keeps the mystery machine hot. Anyway, this little favor, I could score you some signed 11 x 14 glossy photos of yours truly. Or maybe a Polaroid with the man himself? Your call boss."
Geth, roll 2d6+3 for Manipulate Someone
"Yes, I am here to see the Addams family." (*snap snap*)
"Bryan and Deborah. If you could point me to their location I would be most appreciative."
(Not sure if it's necessary, but in case)
Geth, roll 2d6+1 for Manipulate Someone
"Anything unusual?"
Mallory seems to think for a second. "Oh, well -- the police are being very protective of those two. Seems a little strange since it was just a wild animal attack." She reaches into a shelf and produces a large spiral bound notebook. Inside is a ledger of guests and people being admitted to the hospital as visitors. "They haven't been letting most people in -- but since your clergy I think it'll be okay... I will need you to sign in though, the detective wanted us to be sure we registered all their visitors." She holds out a pen for you to put your name, phone, and address in the ledger, along with the time and whomever you're visiting.
The policeman nearly spits out his coffee, "OH YEAH! NIGHT MOVES! I love your show man. That time you spent the night in a tree, lookin for a rougarou. Man, classic stuff. Wow." He wipes the coffee off his hand on his uniform pants and holds it out for a handshake. "The crime scene guys already took their polaroids and a few things for evidence, they seem to me making a huge deal out of an animal attack -- but it's got the Mayor's attention, so whaddya gonna do? ammirite?" He laughs a bit, still shaking your hand that has nearly reached the point of awkwardness. "HEY! You might wanna go up to the museum and take a look around! They are setting up for that opening, got a whole new exhibit all set up. Something about Egypt, brought in some fancy professor and all. Guy's name you're lookin for up there is Roger Stevens - he's the director. Can't remember what that professors name is though."
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
"There is not enough left of whatever happened here to evoke it and observe."
Geth, roll 2d6+1 for Use Magic
Abe - You exit the elevator and walk past the nurse's station without so much as an awkward glance. There is a chalkboard on the wall with all the patients names and their room numbers. The Addams are in the corner room, a bit down the hall from here. There's only one police officer currently in sight, making a mediocre attempt at hitting on a cute candystriper. He gives you a little nod and smile as you walk by "Mornin' father." You finally make it to the corner room. There are two hospital beds, both occupied. The one closest to the door has a young woman appearing asleep. She has her arm bandaged, and hooked up to an iv and heart monitor, the typical 'doot doot' of a hospital environment.
The bed closest to the window has a man of similar age, who is currently having a somewhat physical altercation with the heavily used remote control for the cheap tv mounted across the room. You can hear the voice of Bob Barker talking about today's showcase. The man doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic for day-time television. He is also sporting an IV in his arm, but his bandages cover a part of his face, and his hand.
"Damn... I wonder if this thing gets ESPN..." (Note from the Keeper -- This guy is pretty much young Biff.)
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
After waiting too briefly for a response, he continues: "My name is Father Jones. I'm here from Our Lady of Perpetual Help to ensure that your spiritual needs are met during your hopefully brief stay in the wards. I've heard that you were brought here by a rather traumatic experience. If you would like to talk it over, or if you have any questions about it, I hope I can be of service."
I'll pause here to see how receptive they seem to this interrogation.
"It was not dogs; something beyond the ordinary happened here, as we suspected. Whatever Abraham learns from the witnesses may help. Perhaps we should go inside?"
None of the displays in the foyer are of Egyptian origin, but the man is hanging the banner over a large set of closed wooden double doors.
The man in the hospital bed looks over at the knock, and notices Abe standing there. "Eh there Padre. Spreading the good word?" he is still clicking through the channels. "You wouldn't happen to know the score of the game would ya? I can't get anything other than soap operas and game shows on this thing."
In the sense of progression, lets all assume that after a beat Michael and Briael also enter into the museum and join up with Josh -- I don't think that needs it's own narration, you see and notice the same things.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
He places his hand on Bryan's shoulder. "Is everything okay? You seem quite frustrated. How bad are Debbie's injuries?"