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.

Bannunu

Bannunu dreams of his mother. mp3
[This mp3 is designed to be played while reading the box text below;  bits in italics are from the mp3]

You wake, lying in your bed in the inn.  A woman, slightly shimmering stands across the room.

Hello, son.

You are stilled by awe and amazement.  She is your mother, long dead... but... her hair is different.  It's no longer hair, but thin, long spikes, like those on a lizard.

I have never left you.

She drops to all fours as her legs change, her neck, her skin, her face.  That which holds your limbs is no longer awe, but fear, as the green scales rise over her skin, her body swells.

I will never fully leave you.

The tail bursts from under the shattered remnants of her dress; her face stretches, forced by the massive teeth.  Still, your limbs stubbornly refuse to budge, even as the hot breath caresses your flesh, the teeth above and below you, a deathtrap.

I will never, ever let you go.

And she bites.

You wake again in your sweat-soaked sheets, and are glad it's a dream.  Until you see the small pressure
marks where her teeth punctured your skin.

Jallarzi

As you finish snuffing the last candle in the church, finishing the midnight vigil you led, the light still shines from Mamulius' study.  He is there, poring over what appears to be a scrap of paper.  Pes snuffles softly in the trundle bed nearby.  When Jallarzi interrupts, he says:  "Oh, I've... I've just been working on this translation.  It was in with the papers of the priest that founded this church, untranslated.  I think I've got a bit of a handle on it, and it's... fascinating." 

Jallarzi, curious, inquires further, but the priest is evasive:  "Not yet - I'm not ready to share it yet.  It's not ready, not time yet.  Go, get some sleep.  Tomorrow is Inari's night, and young Pes will be quite ready for the treat-or-tricking.  Sweets for the sweet, you know..."

Jimmy

It's last call at the Lucky Whistle, and you're taking a well-deserved evening off - at least from the job Ernesto hired you to do.  As far as your other  job... well, you've got to keep your fingers nimble somehow.

So you're certain the jig is up when a meaty hand lands on your shoulder.
Except that it's Ernesto, with the cowering Uvares nearby.

"So what have you seen, Jimmy?" he says...

When Jimmy is evasive - or at least, Ernesto thinks he's being evasive, Ernesto becomes angry. "Are they dragons, Jimmy?  Are they majick?  Find out!"  A brief look of horror shoots across Ernesto's face - has he said too much?  "I will contact you in two days if you have nothing else for me," tosses down 30 silver, and stalks out, followed by an apologetic Uvares.

Emma

Emma's peace is once again interrupted by Pes arriving on her doorstep, chattering inanely about tonight being Inari's Night.
"Whatcha doin' tonight?  Wanna come with us?  Jallarzi said you'd come with us come with us please and treat-or-trick please??????   Yay!"  (That last is immediately after Emma's long sigh and grudging "Yes", and immediately followed by Pes dragging her into town by the hand).

Outside of the Village
[I had a PC read the "bit part" portion, which is in this PDF, or the bits in italics below]pdf

It is dark in the mountains.  Two dark figures, entirely in shadow, peer at Lirius nestled at the edge of two vast ridges, like east-west and north-south hashmarks on a map.  The lights and preparations for Inari's Night are dimly visible even this far up in the clear mountain air.  One speaks.

He is close, Lord.
    But not close enough.
But if he sees before we move...
    Thanks to your failure.

[A beat of silence.]

I offer my life.
    There is no need.  Those that failed are dead.  Besides, I shall not kill you.  Is not blood thicker than water?  Tonight we strike at the innocents.
Tonight, then.

The leftmost figure rises, and, bowing, makes his way down the hill.  As he is out of sight, two ... things ... hop forward and nuzzle under the remaining figure's hands.

    Blood is thicker than water... and is all the more sweet for it.

The gang gathers at the church - by hook or by crook.  Pes is nearly dragging Emma and Jallarzi, Bannunu and Jimmy should be about.  Mamulius has a surprise for them:  Costumes!  "I took the liberty of getting costumes for all of you from Kambooka, that new costumier, since Pes tells me that you four will be accompanying he and his friends treat-or-tricking tonight." 

Despondency fills the PCs as Mamulius continues:  "Don't be too long, now - the consecration of the night begins about an hour from now!  I'll see you all there!  Sweets to the Sweet!"

The sounds of  treat-or-tricking fill the air as children begin roaming from house to house.  wav

At this point, it's kind of event-based...there are approximately ten houses before things happen.  The last item in each block is what they give the kids.

[I used a program called Non-Player Character Generator by Dale Cunningham to generate the different people.  It was freeware when I got it back in 2000;  I have no idea if it's still available.]

Name: Ingras Age:  Extremely Young  Prof:       Wheelwright Appearance: Long red hair / Green Eyes   Average Build / Average Clothes Traits:     Obstructive / Cruel / Egotist Feature:    Smiles Constantly Yam	Name:      Obielda Age:        Middle Aged Prof:       Cobbler Appearance: Long curly black hair / Blue Eyes       Very Stocky / Average Clothes Traits:     Miser / Honest / Well Mannered Feature:    Beard - Goatee Leather Trinket
Name:       Gallowsker Soakwing  (hobbit) Age:        Middle Aged Prof:       Book Shop Qwner Appearance: Short brown hair / Brown Eyes             Average Build / Wearing Rags Traits:     Wise / Obstructive / Cheat Feature:    Flirts Constantly A feather pen	Name:       Sillai   (F) Age:        In Prime Prof:       Spice Trader Appearance: Long curly brown hair / Blue Eyes             Quite Skinny / Cheap Clothes Traits:     Self Confident / Forgiving / Altruist Feature:    Smells of Spices small bag of imported licorish
Name:     Ubiolia Age:        Old Prof:       Broom/Brush Maker Appearance: Short curly blonde hair / Brown Eyes         Quite Stocky / Average Clothes Traits:     Filthy / None / Very Forgiving Feature:    Walking Stick Apple	Name:       Sonina Age:        Ancient Prof:       Ships Captain Appearance: Short blonde hair / Brown Eyes             Average Build / Cheap Clothes Traits:     Well Mannered / Wise / Cruel Feature:    Eats Nosily Orange
Name:       Helpersallow Ragburn  (hobbit) Age:        In Prime Prof:       Inn Owner  (Inn of Setting Moon) Appearance: Bald Head / Yellow Eyes             Average Build / Average Clothes Traits:     Thoughtless / Wise / Optimist Forgot what tonight was... gives a small thing of tobacco	Name:       Mitsirio de Ernesto Age:        Middle Aged Prof:       Swordsmith Appearance: Skinned Head / Brown Eyes             Very Stocky / Average Clothes Traits:     Phobia - Opposite sex / Virtuous / Cheat Feature:    Big Ears Miniature tin sword
Name:       Baba  Age:        Middle Aged Prof:       Evil Sorcerer of Doom Appearance: Short blonde hair / Brown Eyes             Average Build / Gaudy Clothes and choker Traits:     Abstainer / Wise / Greedy Feature:    Very Muscular Sugarcane	Name:     Irandio Age:        Middle Aged Prof:       Fabric Salesman Appearance: Long curly black hair / Grey Eyes             Average Build / Quality Clothes Traits:     Indulgent / Peacemaker / Humble Feature:    Missing Eye A bit of fancy cloth for a doll's cloak
Name:       Davoll Fleetlove   - recognized by James Age:        In Prime Prof:       Spy Appearance: Short black hair / Brown Eyes             Quite Stocky / Average Clothes Traits:     Forgiving / Egotistical / Phobia - heights Feature:    Accent - Difficult to understand Copper	Name:  Emeresto Age:        Extremely Young Prof:       Scribe Appearance: Short brown hair / Blue Eyes             Average Build / Average Clothes Traits:     Benign / Careless / Flippant Feature:    Pet animal (Normal) Apple

You may have noticed the person with the profession "Evil Sorcerer of Doom".  If you weren't paying attention, I italicized it for you.  If you still didn't get it, I'm mentioning it now.  If you're still clueless... well...

Anyway, Pes starts bugging the PCs:  "Can I have a treat?"  If he would have been told no, he would have snuck the sugarcane anyway - except that Jimmy told him to go ahead and eat the sugarcane (specifically!), making this a moot point.
In a few moments, Pes says "I don't feel well" - then turns into the GoblinKid - still recognizably the child, but with distorted features, pointy ears, bumpy forehead, and sharpened teeth and greenish cast to the skin. (My wife drew a picture of this, but I haven't scanned it yet).

The Goblin Kids - which by this point are a large portion of the children in the town - are primarily interested in mischief than damage, but not above attacking someone who's in thier way.  Movement is roughly doubled.  Can climb at a rate of 10' up regular walls.  They'll  burn out energy in approximately 12 hours and collapse in a faint.  Otherwise will revert when eat a fruit.

• "Nobody mentioned more mug...rug...munchkin" - Emma
  
• "I see something else needs to lose its head tonight" - Banunu

Chaos breaks out.  Emma gets bit, Bannununu (who had a bad feeling about Baba), runs back to Baba's house, coming from the side.  Two goblinkids bite Jimmy's arm as he quickly finds himself surrounded by these ... brats... whom he tries to spank with the flat of his sword.  Bannunu reaches in, grabs Baba by the collar, and drags him out to the street where a brutal pounding begins, the wizard attempting to get a spell or two off, but always having his concentration disrupted.

Meanwhile, there is mass (no pun intended) chaos in the center of town at the ceremony as other kids change.  Our heroes hear Fr. Mamulius yelling for people to go to thier homes.

Jallarzi remembers a proverb:  "Let not the sweets rule the child, for then they'll become unruly and wild.  A half a day a monster they'll be, unless the Lord's Good Food thier diet shall be." From this, she decides to give the kids something nutritious, like an apple... and it works! pdf

After the poundage of Baba, Banununu checked out his house and found this stuff:  A mark of the dragonkin on the sorcerer.  Baba wasn't a good guy to begin with, so no harm no foul there.  This was determined by some of the items in the house:   a skull mug in the back, black candles burning in a back room before a statue of a dragon.  Despite the near-lynch mob outside, Banunu decides to take the sorcerer to the church.  All the party goes with, save Emma, who stays to help the townspeople and kids.

The crowd wanted to lynch the sorcerer, but Banununu kept them from doing so (mostly by walking away, carrying the socerer under one arm).

[see the further DM notes here]

"Cram natural fruit veggies in them now!"  - Jallarzi
"I like oranges." - Jimmy
"Still not gonna sleep with ya." - Jimmy
"Do you have the three other kids?"  - Jallarzi  "No, they're just lying there in the middle of the street." - Jimmy
"Well, yeah, they were trying to eat me and I don't like kids anyway." - Emma
"Have a yam.  You look kind of green." - Emma
"He had made a skull out of a hobbit skull ... er... mug." - Jimmy
"I am SO going to dust you!" - Banunu  "We're not fighting a vampire." - Jimmy "They've got big teeth..". - Banunu
"I shall call him Victor." - Jimmy

Back at the church, Mamulius is being attacked, as these... things... are raiding a box under the altar.  As the heroes enter, Mamulius is being gravely wounded by a Zalune's dagger, and falls in a faint.  In the ensuing melee, a Zalune escapes with the box by turning invisible.  Banununu throws the unconcious sorcerer at the base of the altar, making a nice "squish" when the Zalakk who was holding it up lets go...

The Zalune are with one Zalakk who has just overturned the altar.  The other three are in the PC's way.  The Zalune are primarily interested in getting the artifact from under the altar and getting away.  They're supposed to be a bit overpowering for the PCs...

One Zaluen does drop his dagger, which turns out to to be poisoned. 

Basically, the Zalakk were between the PCs and Mamulius and the artifact.  One Zalune grabs the artifact and flees while the others attack under the instruction of the remaining Zalune.  They'll flee once they're sure the escaping one has gotten away.

"I just got finished with the roof, dammit!" - Banununu
"Jimmy, we get to hang doors tomorrow." - Banununnu
"Because it's Inari's night.  Everything's gotta be dragon-y."  - Jimmy
"Just goes to show that my knee was the last thing on his mind."- Bannunu

Mamulius is *not* dead - but is gravely wounded.  The dagger lies beside him, a small drop of jade-green liquid still on the blade.  Mamulius is falling into unconciousness, saying "Did they get it?  You - all of you ... you must stop...        Brother...."

There is a sheet of parchment in his hand, roughly translated, illuminated by the light of the moon, shining down from where the mountain ridges meet, high above the town.  pdf

[text of PDF]
That halfbreed bitch Inari cast her vile majick.  Byfar struck at her, and her head flew, but the spell was cast.  The wave of majick spread with awful force, and the purebred and many of the kin were banished, dissolving from this world in great agony.   Still, with great wile, Ashnag did make the time slow, and the force of the whore’s spell was slowed.  And with a great majick, Ashnag did conjure a resistance even as his atoms ripped from this world.  Ashnag did realize that nothing is ever destroyed, that all is merely transformed.  And so all the purebred and kin erased in that vile purging were gone from this world, but were recorded in even the very wave of death that swept across them, focused by the mountains and land to a spot far distant.  They are banished in that wave of destruction, embedded in the buried chaos.  Still, Inari failed.  They are not destroyed, merely encoded in energy.  I know not how to bring them back.  Not yet.  But I will .
for that not dead which eternal lie, for in stranger aeons even death may die.

"General icky all over..." - Emma
"It's CURSED!  Don't go in the door to the bad guy's house!  It's CURSED!" - Jallarzi
"We're the only ones here, girl." - Emma
"We can see what shape it was in."- Bannunu  "Too bad it's filled in with body guts." - Emma

 an original adventure by Steven Saus
Loosely inspired by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Halloween"
  Played 12/17/04
  Experience Awarded - 800 xp each

Goblin Kids

Name:  GoblinKid
Motivation: Play Tricks!  Get Treats!  BWAHAHAHAHA!
CritterType:  Transformed Human  CR 0.25
STR: 9    DEX: 18   CON: 11   INT:  10   WIS: 11  CHA: 4
FOR:  2  REF:1     WIL: 0     INIT: 4
AC:  16 (dex+hide)    HP:  5     HD: 1
Special Abilities:  Climb up walls
Maneuvers:
Name        +HIT    DAM    Notes
Hit        +0    d2    Subdual
Throw Rock    +4    d3
Bite        +0    d2

Because there's several different ways this could have gone, here's some additional help for DMs:

 Fr. Mamulius takes any who are interested to study books - and run across a proverb:  "Let not the sweets rule the child, for then they'll become unruly and wild.  A half a day a monster they'll be, unless the Lord's Good Food thier diet shall be."
Notes for other DM's:  Some hints for figuring it out:

• Sugarcane "wrapper" (wrapped in leaves of plant) by just-transformed kid
• Goblinkids shouting "Sweets for the sweet!" and giggling maniacally

The kids are *still* the kids... just temporarily. metaphorphosed.  Killing them kills the kids.

The metaphorphosis is brought on by the candies handed out by Baba. It is, incidentally, ended by feeding the child a bite of uncandied fruit.

 The costume guy, unlike the Buffy episode,  is completely clueless.

Baba's amulet does grant mage armor (and noticeably, too) - but also allows for control.  If a PC's stupid enough to try to put it on, have them make a WIL save vs 15 to avoid being controlled...  It only works if voluntarily put on (though ignorance is no excuse).

If, for some reason, the sorcerer is freed (by destroying the amulet), the townspeople will most likely lynch him anyway.

Statue - worth 1000 gp
Ceremonial dagger - worth 50 gp

back to Act II

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