The cat Pes has found has become listless and weak. Will they be able to find out why in time?
(click here for the "story" version)
I've made these notes available for other GM's (especially newer GM's)
so they can get an idea of what a more experienced (and hopefully
halfway decent) GM is thinking and working with when running an
adventure. I decided to include this bit after
another GM on a Buffy the Vampire Slayer list postively commented on
Young Children and Elder Gods (which is written up mostly like
this). Even though this is D&D - Dungeons and Dragons D20,
the concept and framework is purposefully left so that game mechanics
are a minimal portion of the idea. You should be able to adapt
this to GURPS, MERP, or whatever you care to run.
[This episode has much foggier notes, since I wrote it from scratch in a very short period of time. As I note again later, I intended for this episode to be later in the season, but due to extreme job-related stress for me and one of my players that week, I ran this funnier one instead of what was to be episode two.]
Pes shows up at Emmas's with an ill stray cat. Seems anemic. Upon examinations, bite marks are found...
A small wilted flower is found by the front of the church, with a tag saying "Jallarzi" on it.
Jimmy is sent to (joined with) the PCs by Mamulius & Ernesto; Emma shows up shortly thereafter with the ill cat and Pes.
[This was a bit of a kludge - this episode was slated for later in the "season", so I had to work Jimmy in a bit faster and rougher than I meant to. Oh well.]
Some research is needed (spellcraft role) to know *anything* about vampires. Pretty standard Buffy-style fare. They should notice - pretty quickly - that these don't resemble "regular" vamps.
Investigation (one hopes)
- several pet/livestock deaths lately - continuing through last night
- one farmer killed several head of cattle, thinking they were diseased
- another animal can be found drained of blood
- two local troublemakers disappeared shortly after one another, one older one (Cantos) and Tucas, a younger (late teens) (about two weeks ago) Tucas is memorable as a shy kid. He may have actually had a crush on Jallarzi.
- activity in woods S of town (kids being scared, stories, etc)
- reports of spooked animals to S of town
- Pes found cat in S of town
If NOT investigate....
[Well, I had half of my players (the male ones, natch) go decide to terrorize the local bazaar instead, after killing the cat and burning the corpse. Luckily, some investigation happened, as I didn't actually plan what would happen if they did nothing.]
[From here on out, things happened quite differently than I intended... see the story version to see how they played out.]
Another "gift" is found by the front of the church...a poem.
Devoid of Love
the night falls as if slain by the sun, cold and alone are we.
the understanding for which you sacrifice yourself
flares once, then dies,
smothered by a velvet ebon nothingness.
all hope must sicken and die.
your heart desires no more.
how could you not understand?
shadows surround us, crying,
we have lost our light.
REMEMBER - OVERCAST. We're talking "Buffy-style" vamps, here, so overcast is okay.
While investigating in woods, find the clothes of Cantos, the older ruffian (vamp) with a bunch of dust. The clothes look to be about a week or so old in the elements.
ATTACK OF THE VAMPIRE SQUIRRELS!
[Okay, here's the point that you should be going "WTF, Steve? Vampire Squirrels?" Well, yes. You see, Cantos was a ruffian. A Little Bad on his way to being a Big Bad before he got dusted. Thing was, he didn't count on Tucas. A geek (who makes Jonathan look like a social genius) with a big crush on the local priestess. Just as in Buffy, the vamp takes on many of the characteristics of the person who is changed into a vampire. So Tucas is still a klutz, and manages to stake Cantos by knocking him onto a log. Tucas is lost... and really, just is too squeamish (yet) to bite a person. So he goes for small animals and livestock. Until that damn squirrel bit him at just the wrong time (a la Fray)... and hence, vampire squirrel minions.]
Tucas is in the background, egging them on - "I am the Lord of Darkness! Fear me and my squirrel minions!"
(note: the holes in the cat are too big to be the vamp squirrels)
The vamp squirrels dust when killed - staking is actually MUCH harder due to thier size than just causing massive damage
[Ended up having to bring the fight to them. Again. So the squirrels dug in through the thatched roof of Emma's hut. This idea was brought on by one of my players deciding they needed to explain to everyone where "raining cats and dogs" came from...]
At the Lair
[This act didn't happen. The players didn't go there... so, of course, Tucas has his journal on him.]
The lair's walls are covered with more ... poetry. Bad poetry.
Tucas Young vampire - will attack regardless (going "Buffy-style", not "Dracula-style")
- stronger than the squirrels.... but obviously, not a "real" vampire like D&D is used to.
- small journal to explain if they dust him
- if left alive, an animated dead guard will dust him with a wooden arrow after a few clues
(6 hp - 12 AC, will begin shooting at others if left alone).
Older guy - dusted by overeagerness jumping from tree branch onto deer (or bumped by Tucas...)
- had mentioned his "Master" and some task... but no specifics
- they were the only two vamps he ever saw
Postlogue
Where did Mysterious Man come from?
Who is this "Master"?
Vampires of the things of legends - you mean they're REAL???
Poetry.
stolen emotion
what have you wrought?
a miasma of misery as sentiments seep.
once we shared innocence,
innocent and untainted,
but your love vanished.
a clouded vision of agony -
memories follow night, follow pain,
love burnt to ashes.
in a torrent of sorrow,
i see you.
Devoid of Love
the night falls as if slain by the sun, cold and alone are we.
the understanding for which you sacrifice yourself
flares once, then dies,
smothered by a velvet ebon nothingness.
all hope must sicken and die.
your heart desires no more.
how could you not understand?
shadows surround us, crying,
we have lost our light.
The poetry comes from http://www.deadlounge.com/poetry/created.html
Vampire Squirrels
Name: Vampire Squirrels
Motivation: Suck the blood of the living
CritterType: Undead
STR: 12 DEX: 18 CON: 15 INT: - WIS: - CHA: -
WIL: 2 FOR: 3 REF: 5 INIT: 4
AC: 15 HP: 4 HD: 0.5
Special Abilities: Suck blood, cast sleep as spell 1/day
Maneuvers:
Name +HIT DAM Notes
Bite +1 d3 3 hp/rnd bloodsucking
Stats modified from Squirrel Nutkin
Tucas - Young Vamp
Name: Tucas
Motivation: Take over Lirius, woo Jallarzi
CritterType: Undead
STR: 13 DEX: 15 CON: - INT: 13 WIS: 14 CHA: 8
WIL: 6 FOR: 1 REF: 3 INIT: 2
AC: 16 HP: 26 HD:3
Special Abilities:
Maneuvers:
Name +HIT DAM Notes
Bite +4 d4+1 d10 hp/rnd bloodsucking
Claws +1 d4 (2 att/rnd)
Obviously, he's not a "regular" D&D vampire. :) Actually, rather weak even by my standards... but he was already that way, and he's a pure noob. His stats are more like that of a Ghast. He (as can the rest) can be staked - BTVS-type rules. The aimed shot for the heart is MUCH harder (I may even require a rolled crit to succeed), but does 5x damage. Regular (or improvised effectively) stake is a d4+str weapon.
=== 2 - Nuts! ===
[This episode has much foggier notes, since I wrote it from scratch in a very short period of time. As I note again later, I intended for this episode to be later in the season, but due to extreme job-related stress for me and one of my players that week, I ran this funnier one instead of what was to be episode two.]
Prelude
Pes shows up at Emmas's with an ill stray cat. Seems anemic. Upon examinations, bite marks are found...
Act I
A small wilted flower is found by the front of the church, with a tag saying "Jallarzi" on it.
Jimmy is sent to (joined with) the PCs by Mamulius & Ernesto; Emma shows up shortly thereafter with the ill cat and Pes.
[This was a bit of a kludge - this episode was slated for later in the "season", so I had to work Jimmy in a bit faster and rougher than I meant to. Oh well.]
Some research is needed (spellcraft role) to know *anything* about vampires. Pretty standard Buffy-style fare. They should notice - pretty quickly - that these don't resemble "regular" vamps.
Investigation (one hopes)
- several pet/livestock deaths lately - continuing through last night
- one farmer killed several head of cattle, thinking they were diseased
- another animal can be found drained of blood
- two local troublemakers disappeared shortly after one another, one older one (Cantos) and Tucas, a younger (late teens) (about two weeks ago) Tucas is memorable as a shy kid. He may have actually had a crush on Jallarzi.
- activity in woods S of town (kids being scared, stories, etc)
- reports of spooked animals to S of town
- Pes found cat in S of town
If NOT investigate....
[Well, I had half of my players (the male ones, natch) go decide to terrorize the local bazaar instead, after killing the cat and burning the corpse. Luckily, some investigation happened, as I didn't actually plan what would happen if they did nothing.]
Act II
Another "gift" is found by the front of the church...a poem.
Devoid of Love
the night falls as if slain by the sun, cold and alone are we.
the understanding for which you sacrifice yourself
flares once, then dies,
smothered by a velvet ebon nothingness.
all hope must sicken and die.
your heart desires no more.
how could you not understand?
shadows surround us, crying,
we have lost our light.
REMEMBER - OVERCAST. We're talking "Buffy-style" vamps, here, so overcast is okay.
While investigating in woods, find the clothes of Cantos, the older ruffian (vamp) with a bunch of dust. The clothes look to be about a week or so old in the elements.
ATTACK OF THE VAMPIRE SQUIRRELS!
[Okay, here's the point that you should be going "WTF, Steve? Vampire Squirrels?" Well, yes. You see, Cantos was a ruffian. A Little Bad on his way to being a Big Bad before he got dusted. Thing was, he didn't count on Tucas. A geek (who makes Jonathan look like a social genius) with a big crush on the local priestess. Just as in Buffy, the vamp takes on many of the characteristics of the person who is changed into a vampire. So Tucas is still a klutz, and manages to stake Cantos by knocking him onto a log. Tucas is lost... and really, just is too squeamish (yet) to bite a person. So he goes for small animals and livestock. Until that damn squirrel bit him at just the wrong time (a la Fray)... and hence, vampire squirrel minions.]
Tucas is in the background, egging them on - "I am the Lord of Darkness! Fear me and my squirrel minions!"
(note: the holes in the cat are too big to be the vamp squirrels)
The vamp squirrels dust when killed - staking is actually MUCH harder due to thier size than just causing massive damage
[Ended up having to bring the fight to them. Again. So the squirrels dug in through the thatched roof of Emma's hut. This idea was brought on by one of my players deciding they needed to explain to everyone where "raining cats and dogs" came from...]
Act III
At the Lair
[This act didn't happen. The players didn't go there... so, of course, Tucas has his journal on him.]
The lair's walls are covered with more ... poetry. Bad poetry.
Tucas Young vampire - will attack regardless (going "Buffy-style", not "Dracula-style")
- stronger than the squirrels.... but obviously, not a "real" vampire like D&D is used to.
- small journal to explain if they dust him
- if left alive, an animated dead guard will dust him with a wooden arrow after a few clues
(6 hp - 12 AC, will begin shooting at others if left alone).
Older guy - dusted by overeagerness jumping from tree branch onto deer (or bumped by Tucas...)
- had mentioned his "Master" and some task... but no specifics
- they were the only two vamps he ever saw
Postlogue
Where did Mysterious Man come from?
Who is this "Master"?
Vampires of the things of legends - you mean they're REAL???
Poetry.
stolen emotion
what have you wrought?
a miasma of misery as sentiments seep.
once we shared innocence,
innocent and untainted,
but your love vanished.
a clouded vision of agony -
memories follow night, follow pain,
love burnt to ashes.
in a torrent of sorrow,
i see you.
Devoid of Love
the night falls as if slain by the sun, cold and alone are we.
the understanding for which you sacrifice yourself
flares once, then dies,
smothered by a velvet ebon nothingness.
all hope must sicken and die.
your heart desires no more.
how could you not understand?
shadows surround us, crying,
we have lost our light.
The poetry comes from http://www.deadlounge.com/poetry/created.html
Vampire Squirrels
Name: Vampire Squirrels
Motivation: Suck the blood of the living
CritterType: Undead
STR: 12 DEX: 18 CON: 15 INT: - WIS: - CHA: -
WIL: 2 FOR: 3 REF: 5 INIT: 4
AC: 15 HP: 4 HD: 0.5
Special Abilities: Suck blood, cast sleep as spell 1/day
Maneuvers:
Name +HIT DAM Notes
Bite +1 d3 3 hp/rnd bloodsucking
Stats modified from Squirrel Nutkin
Tucas - Young Vamp
Name: Tucas
Motivation: Take over Lirius, woo Jallarzi
CritterType: Undead
STR: 13 DEX: 15 CON: - INT: 13 WIS: 14 CHA: 8
WIL: 6 FOR: 1 REF: 3 INIT: 2
AC: 16 HP: 26 HD:3
Special Abilities:
Maneuvers:
Name +HIT DAM Notes
Bite +4 d4+1 d10 hp/rnd bloodsucking
Claws +1 d4 (2 att/rnd)
Obviously, he's not a "regular" D&D vampire. :) Actually, rather weak even by my standards... but he was already that way, and he's a pure noob. His stats are more like that of a Ghast. He (as can the rest) can be staked - BTVS-type rules. The aimed shot for the heart is MUCH harder (I may even require a rolled crit to succeed), but does 5x damage. Regular (or improvised effectively) stake is a d4+str weapon.
