NIGHT of the WALKING DEAD (Remix)

[MadStepDad]

After settling in at the motel, the players decided to hit up DERUNO’s GENERAL STORE (the last of their two given contacts) for some new gear. Braving the threatening storm clouds overhead, the three PCs crossed downtown L.A. to the given address. DERUNO – a short, stocky Italian man with a bushy beard (and pure Dwarven bloodlines) welcomed them graciously once their affiliations were revealed. “You’re here for the “eggs and milk” I presume?” he asked. His cache of street-level arms and ammunition was impressive to the players, who – aside from JOHNNY ACID – had never seen or gripped real weapons before the impromptu shootout at VAN RICHTENs pharmacy. He gave them discounted prices due to their connection to ALEXUS, but it still cost LENIENCE every last bit of spending money he had. They were reduced to about $1200 now, all on MARGUERITA’s various credit cards. Amongst the trappings of an everyday convenience store, JOHNNY ACID caught sight of a small stack of bootleg mixtapes for sale at the counter – all featuring LIL’ SMOOTH. He eagerly copped one and the three PCs quizzed DERUNO on LIL’ SMOOTH. A non-rap fan himself, DERUNO knew little of his actual music. All he knows is that copies of the tape sell like hotcakes, and every other week some of his boys come through and drop off more copies. DERUNO doesn’t know LIL’ SMOOTH personally but he knows his type – thugged out Crip gangbangers. He has heard rumors on the street that LIL’ SMOOTH was involved in some real life shootouts, but other than that he can offer no other information. But a copy of that tape was good enough for ACID, and he eagerly popped it into his walkman and let it bump.

Generic gangsta rap is how LIL SMOOTH’s mixtape could be described. Most notable on the tape – the song “Blood Martyr” is a thinly veiled stab at some other unnamed Long Beach crew that LIL SMOOTH sounds obsessed with. He chastises this unnamed LBC rapper as “not being real” and promises to “put one in (his) wig”. This is huge foreshadowing, but the only one who gets it is JOHNNY ACID’s player (a rap fanatic like me). On to more important matters – the TARASCON funeral home. Stake-out begins tonight.

Nothing of note on the first night, but early editions of the L.A. Times newspaper the next morning report yet another gang-related shoot out. Five reported dead. This is “Day Two – Scene of the Crime” as detailed in the original NIGHT of the WALKING DEAD module. That day the PCs were free to do as they pleased. LENIENCE spent the day at the library researching his mysterious headaches, delving feet first into paranormal psychic studies and telekinesis reports. He thinks the explosion that blew him off the telephone pole opened up extra dimensional doors in his mind. MARGUERITA stayed at the motel to practice her flute and keep watch on the TARASCON Funeral home. She is getting to know their routine quite well now. JOHNNY ACID took his backpack full of mix tapes and headed off to the Blue Sky nightclub to peep the scene. The spot didn’t open for hours, but JOHNNY ACID caught the unmistakable odor of rancid, rotten meat permeating the air. He assumed it was coming from the Chinese restaurant nearby… little did he know it was “Night Two – The Odor of Death” creeping up on him! Meanwhile, storm clouds rumble ominously overhead. A car drives by with its windows down, stereo bumping. As it speeds by JOHNNY ACID clearly hears “The over shining sky the of light the dead, shall to all turning fail and gutter red” in a familiar voice emanating from the car radio. Just like that, the car is gone down the boulevard.

BEHIND THE DM SCREEN (Interlude)
The original module has the poor “lost one” LUC TARASCON following the PCs around like a puppy, spouting out twisted versions of HYKSOSAs HEXAD at random intervals. Obviously this was not possible in my game, seeing as “lost one” here translates to “trigger happy madman”. So I had to find a way to keep that original plot line fresh, considering LUC’s last stanza (thus far unrevealed) becomes the most important. So – enter POWER 106, an LA-based Hip Hop radio station.

[MadStepDad]

JOHNNY ACID had seen bus stop ads for POWER 106, so he knew it was the local radio station. After hearing that last bar come through over the car stereo he had to know more about it. So I painted the scenery around the Blue Sky nightclub and put a pay phone in the immediate vicinity… right on the corner of “Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo”… owned and operated by CHICKEN BONE! ACID hits the payphone, calls up the radio station and enquires about that last song. It’s big in rotation now, a new song by a new artist named KILLA TAY – so ACID’s assumptions were correct. That is LUC TARASCON after all. Where can he get a copy of that song? It’s not available to the masses yet (remember it’s 1993 and Napster is light years away). Dejected but enlightened, ACID takes a quick Newport break… and a small, dark skinned man hollers out to him from the darkened interior of “Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo”… JOHNNY ACID is cautious and skeptical when the man asks to read his fortune, but remembers VAN RICHTENs words (about a possible voodoo connection with the TARASCONs). So he accepts the offer and ventures into the dark recesses of the House of Voodoo. Again, dark storm clouds rumble ominously overhead.

As I’m focusing primarily on JOHNNY ACID’s character now, I slip notes to the players of LENIENCE and MARGUERITA. I printed out a page of information on real life telekinesis and how it can be potentially used (for good or evil) and gave it to LENIENCE. For MARGUERITA, I detailed the arrival of a very conspicuous red-suited individual arriving at the door of TARASCON Funeral Home. He stuck out amongst the blue-clothed clientele like a red lion awash in a sea of blue sharks. She wrote back that she wanted to observe this closely, so I kept her dangling in the wind as the red-suited gentleman took his sweet time within the Funeral Home. Back to ACID…

ACID was introduced to CHICKEN BONE, who keeps a very cluttered store. In the back, there are two caged frogs of the largest variety JOHNNY ACID has ever seen (There! I did it!) CHICKEN BONE sits him down and uses the dikesha dice to divine his future (dice from the FORBIDDEN LORE boxed set said to be unique to Har’Akir but I don’t care. I just wanted to use them). Basically, I played out the “Vistani Camp” scene from the opening of the module. CHICKEN BONE tells him “the lost one has called you! The dead will walk with the coming storm and you must find a way to put them to rest. If you cannot, the rain will turn to blood! It will drown you – and all of L.A.!” JOHNNY ACID asked some probing questions about the TARASCON family, and CHICKEN BONE admitted he was familiar with them. When asked about the voodoo process of zombification, however CHICKEN BONE played coy. “A magician never reveals his tricks – and a sorcerer never enlightens a non-believer”. He did recommend a nice book ACID could buy however, and swindled the half-vistani MC out of $12.95 for it. ACID took his book and fortune reading back to the motel to meet up with the other players. Time for “Night Three: The Madman Strikes…”

[MadStepDad]

That night LENIENCE ELDERWOOD volunteered to stay behind at the motel and continue their stake-out of TARASCON Funeral home. JOHNNY ACID on the other hand was eagerly anticipating LIL SMOOTH’s performance at the Blue Sky nightclub. So he asked MARGUERITA (and her perceived Hip Hop credentials) to accompany him there. She complied. The next few scenes race by, bouncing back and forth between the two split PC parties, both scenes unfolding at the same time.

LENIENCE studies his books alone in the sanctuary of their motel room and begins experimenting. Like a superhero movie, LENIENCE is practicing his new found powers. He concentrates on a coca-cola bottle and the glass begins to vibrate. Just like the pulsing windows in and around the busy Blue Sky nightclub. The streets are lined with people, although the dress code is refreshingly conservative. Yet all along the relatively tranquil setting, packs of ravenous wolves prowl the peripheral. JOHNNY ACID and MARGUERITA can feel the tension as if any moment a fight will break out. The unnaturally tangy aroma of PCP can be sniffed in the humid air. ACID and MARGUERITA pay their cover charge and slink into the neon dimness of the Blue Sky. In the background, AARON HALL croons his hit single “Don’t Be Afraid” (from the JUICE soundtrack).

Despite JOHNNY ACIDs accompaniment, MARGUERITA DeVILLE is quickly hit on at the club. A nattily-attired man with a shaved head and large diamond earring approaches her and whispers in her ear. She accepts his request to buy her a drink and the two head off to the bar. JOHNNY ACID is left alone to survey the scene. He notices a crew of rowdy hoods dominating one corner of the hall, scantily-clad women scattered amongst them. Contrast that with the near silence of LENIENCE’s study, as that coca-cola bottle vibrates in various frequencies under his steely glare. Back at the club, I introduced MARGUERITA to “MALIK” a big-boned specimen who had a tendency to color-coordinate his apparel with lots of blood red accessories. A self-described “body guard for hire”, MALIK is enjoying one of his rare off-nights.

MARGUERITA bonded with MALIK as ACID kept a low profile. He stepped outside at one point for a Newport break and another car zipped down the block with its stereo pumping – “The over shining sky the of light the dead, shall to all turning fail and gutter red” it bumped. KILLA TAY’s song on the radio again. At around 1:00 am, it was announced LIL SMOOTH would be soon taking the stage. Just then – LENIENCEs efforts paid off and the glass coca cola bottle he concentrated so diligently on moved itself a quarter of an inch. LENIENCE was marveled – and exhausted. But his night was far from over. He noticed activity over at the TARASCON Funeral Home. LENIENCE had researched LUC, and the twins MARCEL & JEAN so he knew what they looked like. He was clearly witnessing JEAN TARASCON leaving the premises under cover of darkness. So LENIENCE hopped into the PCs rental car and followed JEAN TARASCON into the L.A. night.

[MadStepDad]

JEAN TARASCON drove into a crusty piece of town complete with ramshackle, crowded buildings and ample graffiti. LENIENCE tailed him to a dark alleyway where he parked and emerged to follow JEAN further on foot. JEAN parked his dark purple convertible in the alleyway and removed a duffle bag from the trunk. He was wearing a dark trench coat that nearly obscured his face entirely. LENEINCE wondered what he could be up to when JEAN strode off into the shadows across the street from where a group of blue-clad youths congregated near a series of parked cars (cue “Trigga Gots No Heart” by SPICE 1 from the MENACE II SOCIETY soundtrack). Unbeknownst to the group lingering on the porch and in the streets, JEAN TARASCON crept up on them from the shadows – revealed the contents of the duffel bag (several automatic weapons, handguns and a pump shotty) – and unloaded on them without hesitation. The night sky lit up with gunfire as the entire porch area and several parked cars where littered with bullet holes. Caught unawares, the kids could barely catch their breath before they were gunned down in horrific fashion. In moments it was over. LENIENCE watched on in shock and horror. JEAN TARASCON fled back across the street into the shadows of the alleyway, tossed the remnants of the duffle bag back in the trunk and zoomed off. LENIENCE was too stunned to move, but the approaching sounds of police sirens awoke him from his reverie. He ran back to his own car and headed back to the motel to tell the other PCs what he saw.

[MadStepDad]

The Blue Sky nightclub scene is an unscripted diversion, placed here primarily as a foreshadowing for the ultimate “Blood Martyr” revelation. I wanted to create the image of LIL SMOOTH as potentially becoming this mythic figure in the player’s eyes. How a relatively unknown regional rapper can grow to encapsulate an entire culture is beyond their scope now – they’re still novice players. Suffice to say he is NOT the next coming of the fabled “Blood Martyr”, but he IS a real-life person who plays a real part in the RED DEATH’s next attempt. At the club I introduced the two important NPCs that are involved in this real-life incident – LIL SMOOTH and MALIK. I tinkered with their backgrounds obviously, to fit them into this scenario… but it’s all historical fiction. At the club I had JOHNNY ACID rub elbows with members of LIL SMOOTH’s entourage (and taught the kid some basic Gather Information rolls). Intriguingly, they too repped the “Trey Eight Reborn” set (a gang originally referenced by LUC TARASCON aka “KILLA TAY” in Brockton). LIIL SMOOTH’s single “Blood Martyr” is garnering some regional air play, but nothing like “The Hexad” by KILLA TAY (which ACID keeps hearing snippets of over the radio). But they are not associated with or know of KILLA TAY (the former LUC TARASCON) in any way. Urban legend says LIL SMOOTH came up with the concept for his “Blood Martyr” song after spending a night in the old “Grovetown Cemetary” across town. It is said that although the cemetery was closed sometime in the early 1900’s, it still harbors the bodies of old “Trey Eight Reborn” murder victims (what better place to hide a body than in a cemetery). They also said LIL SMOOTH has a big “future hit” planned.

MARGUERITA on the other hand role played off of MALIK, the suave bodyguard for hire. He admitted to doing some light industry work with some less-established names but was in between jobs now. Most interesting, he knows of the TARASCON brood – particularly missing twin (and older brother to LUC) MARCEL TARASCON – who he worked with on a small job a few months ago. MALIK didn’t get into the details – although MARGUERITA certainly tried to make him – but the odd job he worked with MARCEL had something to do with a public funeral procession the family was hosting. He’s also heard MARCEL talking about a family heirloom that may have been misplaced in the old “Grovetown Cemetary”, but paid it no mind at the time. Towards the end of the night, MALIK was interrupted by a page from his beeper (who he identified as his agent “SIMON”) and parted ways with MARGUERITA. Again, a seemingly throwaway line and reference but it’s actually some heavy foreshadowing – I’m looking 12-15 sessions into the future with that one.

At the end of the night, LIL SMOOTH came out to do his set culminating in the single “Blood Martyr” (where he chastises that same unnamed Long Beach County rapper) and the place got crunk. Midway through that last song however, gunshots ripped through the air dispersing the crowd and sending them stampeding for the exits. JOHNNY ACID and MARGUERITA DeVILLE got swept up into the madness and flushed out into the streets. JOHNNY ACID saw a dark purple convertible screeching away from the scene. By the time police arrived, ACID and MARGUERITA were reunited and heading back to the motel. On the way, they heard another snippet of KILLA TAY's song "The Hexad" blasting from a passing car's stereo.

"Seven doth times rise, cries to an eternity the knave son of suns"...

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Still loving it. You got my frogs in, sweet!

I love the hexad on the radio replacing lost one Luc. Genius.

So, was the body in the funeral procession moving around in the coffin and they just didn't look? Or were you planning on skipping that part?

[MadStepDad]

3:00 am in their seedy motel room and the three PCs are wired. ACID and MARGUERITA detail the near-riot at the LIL SMOOTH concert, and all the pertinent information they gathered. LENIENCE then dropped the bombshell of JEAN TARASCON’s involvement in a gangland mass murder. PCs had no idea what was going on, or how JEAN was connected to LIL SMOOTH or the Hexad – if he was connected at all. MALIK knew MARCEL TARASCON but how did that factor in? Are the TARASCONS attempting to create the “Blood Martyr”? Or is their mission to find the Hexad unrelated to the RED DEATHs pursuit? And what the hell was CHICKEN BONE talking about “the rain will turn to blood”??? Thankfully I had my Q-MONSTAH (aka LENIENCE ELDERWOOD) on the scene to take control of the game. He laid out two potential options for the players – check out the “Grovetown Cemetery” they heard about at the Blue Sky club – or take a closer look inside the TARASCON funeral home. They decided they would investigate the Funeral Home tomorrow morning under the guise of shopping for services. The Grovetown Cemetery could wait till afternoon. Meanwhile, thunder rolls ominously over the LA sky.

The next day, the sky was nearly pitch black with thunder clouds. Humidity swelled in the air and clung to the PCs like a damp blanket. Front page of the L.A. TIMES referenced the shooting spree LENIENCE witnessed the night before. Of course, it was chalked up to raging gang warfare, and even the newspaper warned that retribution is expected. Guess where all those dead bodies are going to wind up? That’s right – TARASCON Funeral Home where business has been booming. All three of the PCs wore their dapper best and entered the TARASCON Funeral Home searching for answers. They got a quick look around the general area, and into the display room before being approached by the Director himself JEAN TARASCON. A skinny Haitian with seemingly permanent bloodshot eyes and impeccable fashion sense and manners, JEAN TARASCON warmly greeted the PCs. He was cordial in every aspect, yet all three of the players got a distinct chill from him. LENIENCE took the lead, saying they were in town for a great-aunts funeral and they were shopping for potential arrangements. JEAN TARASCON cheerfully offered to give them the grand tour.

I kept it strictly business, even when LENIENCE “subtly” brought up the report on his missing brothers. JEAN TARASCON brushed it off like the module says and focused on floral arraignments and coffin prices. In the end the PCs told him they were still shopping around, but they may be back. He gave them his card and that was it. They didn’t learn anything earth-shattering, but had a newfound curiosity about the home when they found out JEAN TARASCON (like most Funeral Directors) lives directly above the Funeral Parlor. LENIENCE suggested a late-night return…

Time for a gang of new angles and subplots.

Waiting for the PCs at their motel was the disgraced DOCTOR BRUCIEN. He looked even more nervous and strung-out than usual. He anxiously told him that word on streets says a group of East Coasters has arrived in LA, and that members of the “Trey Eight Reborn” set have marked them for death! The PCs wondered aloud how their discreet cross-country jaunt could have been exposed, but BRUCIEN explained the remnants of their small airplane that crashed in the Hollywood Hills were found. Now the PCs felt pressured to get some results. Fast.

Meanwhile, cats are talking about LIL SMOOTH getting jacked (robbed) at the Blue Sky nightclub. They say his chain was snatched and one of his boys got shot in the leg in the ensuing fracas. Word is LIL SMOOTH is seeking retaliation, and the robbery may have been a response to his “Blood Martyr” single (where he lampoons that thus-far unnamed LBC rapper). Now the PCs are thinking the RED DEATHs plan to create a new Blood Martyr is in action, and they will need to take the appropriate steps to prevent this apocalyptic catastrophe. All the while, gang warfare seems to be heating up despite a supposed gang “treaty” and the release of a Bloods and Crips compilation record called “BANGIN ON WAX” – that dropped this past March.

First thing the PCs did was change locations. They packed up the motel they were staying at, and moved to a similar inexpensive spot. Next, LENIENCE debated on opening a safe deposit box to hide their copy of HYKSOSA’s Hexad in, but JOHNNY ACID promised he could keep it safe. He had been studying HYKSOSA’s book of rhymes since he acquired it in Brockton, and marveled at the prophetic stanzas and witty wordplay (again – I copied a lot of real-world rhymes that ACIDs player was very familiar with). Now as DM I’m thinking in my head “keep them away from the Grovetown Cemetery for now”. Ultimately that is where the climax will occur – as scripted in the module. So I used the potential TARASCON Funeral Home excursion and the “Blood Martyr” subplots as diversions. And now – with the Trey-Eight Reborn hot on the trail of these East Coast defectors I successfully infused the PCs with a high sense of urgency. The PCs will have to find out who is coming after them for the scroll and why. And they’ll have to do it NOW.

With thick black thunder clouds hanging overhead, the PCs split the party into two and head off in their own direction. JOHNNY ACID and MARGUERITA DeVILLE wanted to head back to the Blue Sky Nightclub to gather more information on LIL SMOOTHs alleged chain jacking, while LENIENCE ELDERWOOD wanted to reach back out to VAN RICHTEN. Neither of these original ideas worked as planned. The Blue Sky Nightclub was temporarily closed after the shooting and LENIENCE was unable to reach VAN RICHTEN at the time. So both parties did something spontaneous. JOHNNY ACID and MARGUERITA were drawn back to the TARASCON Funeral Home late that night after they witnessed that same mysterious red-clothed figure secretly entering the home via the backdoor. This was the same red-clothed figure MARGUERITA had seen entering the home some nights prior – but never saw him leave. JOHNNY ACID volunteered to use his criminal background to pull a B&E on the Funeral Home (“Breaking & Entering”) and MARGUERITA agreed to accompany him. LENIENCE ELDERWOOD on the other hand randomly decided to hit up “Marie Leveau’s House of Voodoo”, the shop owned by CHICKEN BONE that JOHNNY ACID had recently visited. VAN RICHTEN’s previous discussions about a possible voodoo connection between the TARASCON’s were still fresh in LENIENCE’s mind and he wanted to follow up on that lead closer. So while LENIENCE ELDERWOOD crossed town to CHICKEN BONE’s place of business – ACID and MARGUERITA were slipping illegally slipping inside the TARASCON Funeral Home undetected. Time to bring this bad boy to a close…

[MadStepDad]

Once again I ran the next two scenarios simultaneously, alternating back-n-forth between the two split groups. I hadn’t anticipated the player’s actions but figured I could kill two birds with one stone on this. Freestyling as the PCs declared their actions, I figured I could throw in the “Dinner of Ghouls” scene with the “MARCEL as zombie lord” revelation (originally revealed by SHAMAN BRUCIAN in the module, but would come from CHICKEN BONE in my remix). I had seconds to prepare but I need the timing to be perfect. So I began with ACIDs break-in and all appropriate rolls of the die (as LENIENCE taxis across town to the store).

I had printed out generic Funeral Home floor-plans prior to the session and I used those to build ambiance (and logic) into my descriptions. I slowly built suspense by having JOHNNY ACID and MARGUERITA DeVILLE enter the embalming chambers to find all of the coffins and gurneys strangely empty. The muffled voice of JEAN TARASCON himself drew them away from the chambers and onto the second level of the home, where they felt they could continue snooping unabated. Meanwhile, LENIENCE pulls up outside the voodoo store as dark storm clouds grumble overhead. He hustles out of the taxi and crosses the street, where he is surprised to see a dark silhouetted figure standing in the doorway of the store. CHICKEN BONE emerges from the shadows and says “I’ve been waiting for you…” LENIENCE ELDERWOOD got a chill up his spine.

______________

Back at the Funeral Home I gave ACID and MARGUERITA a few cheap thrills, with close encounters of gangbangers who almost blindly stumbled upon their various hiding places. They did find it odd that reputed gangbangers would be on the premises so late after business hours. I then threw them a hook when one of the passing hoods mentioned the name “Nicholas Design” as they walked by (again – “Nicholas Design” is the alias JOHNNY ACID coined for himself back in Brockton). That got the two PCs attention and they moved silently/hid in shadows to overhear more of the conversation. The two hoods led them to a small kitchenette area where I prepared to unleash the ghoul feast upon them. But before I did that, I took the opportunity to fill the players in a little on the TARASCON back story. Primarily the part about older brother JEAN banishing LUC from the abode for his involvement in MARCEL’s “accident” (so now the PCs knew why LUC aka “KILLA TAY” was in Brockton – because he was exiled from L.A. by JEAN). I enticed the players by dropping talk about a hit planned on NICHOLAS DESIGN (aka JOHNNY ACID). This made the PCs continue to spy on the bad guys as they entered the kitchenette area – where the main course for the evening was revealed – a human corpse. The PCs were rightfully disgusted and mildly shocked. Especially since the gangbangers feasting on the corpse were clearly dead themselves! I had to egg the new PCs down the appropriate path by having them role Horror checks. ACID passed – MARGUERITA failed. Her squeamish reaction almost blew their whole cover, but they were able to flee before the ghouls caught whiff of them.

______________

Back at the store with LENIENCE and CHICKEN BONE I built ambiance by sparking some incense and playing by candlelight. CHICKEN BONE was waiting to cast bones for LENIENCE who specifically requested information regarding zombification. I had CHICKEN BONE give him cryptic comments about his burgeoning psionic powers, and how these unnatural gifts could bless or doom him. CHICKEN BONE continued to play with LENIENCE, offering him more of his pay-services but never clearly answering any of his enquiries. Finally CHICKEN BONE told LENIENCE to stop playing games - that he knew he was here for the prophecy. LENIENCE acted surprised but CHICKEN BONE told him his arrival was foretold by the dark clouds building over L.A. There is a disturbance in the natural laws of life and death – and only the chosen one can prevent this catastrophe. “Yes I know the twins JEAN and MARCEL…” CHICKEN BONE began. “I know them perhaps better than anyone. Those fools are cursed! And now their meddling has destroyed not only their own family – but threatens all of Los Angeles under its yoke! The truth is….” Cut back to the Funeral Home where MARGUERITA and ACID wait with bated breath for the results of their escape from the ghouls.

______________

In their horror, the PCs got hopelessly lost within the darkened hallways of the TARASCON Funeral Home as they scrambled to find an exit. As they came to another dead-end corridor with a locked door – they could hear the approaching sounds of what they could only assume was the ghouls. I gave JOHNNY ACID one pressure-filled moment to gather his bearings and attempt to break in to the locked room to avoid detection. He passed his check (all new PCs are getting more comfortable with the game mechanics by now) and the two of them snuck into the darkened room and closed the door behind them. They glanced around to size up their surroundings and found themselves in JEAN TARASCON’s private study. I stupefied them with descriptions of various voodoo accessories, ranging from shrunken heads to chicken hearts. It’s painfully obvious that JEAN TARASCON is into some weird stuff. They poked around a bit further and I laid it out for them as it described in the module. They found the second half of HYKSOSA’s HEXAD – detailing the remaining 7 of his 13 stanzas. They also found a personal diary penned by JEAN TARASCON that details the destruction of his family in further detail (LUC found the scroll, it drove him mad to watch MARCEL eaten by zombies, JEAN banished LUC and promised MARCEL he would find the scroll – but is hiding it from him in a twisted effort to “protect” his now-dead twin brother). The strangest thing about the diary entries – and something I added myself – was the addition of a mysterious person named “Simon”. This “SIMON” character is actually the one driving the TARASCON brothers into madness as it was “SIMON” who brought the scrolls existence to MARCEL’s attention to begin with. I never revealed it – and the PCs didn’t patch it together – but this “SIMON” character is actually the red-cloaked individual MARGUERITA caught glimpses of entering the funeral home. “SIMON” is a real-life person and will become a recurring character. Suddenly – to add even more stress to an already tense encounter – the study door gently creaks inward, as if blown open by an unseen breeze. The two PCs get up in arms…. As we cut back to LENIENCE ELDERWOOD in the back of CHICKEN BONE’s shop.

________________

I gave LENIENCE a tarot reading. A tarot reading – not tarokka. CHICKEN BONE explained that the dark powers that have orchestrated this curse move in mysterious patterns – patterns that can only be discerned by a tarot reading. Of course it will cost money, but LENIENCE is willing to pay. Basically, I used the tarot reading to brief LENIENCE’s character on the TARASCON family background (his player heard it all explained during ACID and MARGUERITA’s scene but his character did not. This allowed LENIENCE to play his character with the appropriate character knowledge). But at the end – as the thunder exploded louder than ever before – the power on the block was suddenly cut out. A real chill descended upon the two of them, the only light coming from the lone candle on the table before them. CHICKEN BONE suddenly lost all illusion of the “voodoo expert” role he was playing and suddenly looked like a frightened old man. As LENIENCE prepared to make his exit, CHICKEN BONE cried out “wait! There is more about this tale then I have let on… and now I fear my own errors may be the doom of me…” LENIENCE slowly sat back down to hear the rest of CHICKEN BONE’s explanation… as we cut back to the Funeral Home.

[MadStepDad]

JEAN TARASCON’s inevitable arrival came with a burst of activity. Seemingly out of nowhere, his huge bloodshot eyes appeared out of the shadows, the whites of his eyes and the white voodoo face paint the only things visible. He blew a handful of red choking dust at the surprised players and we’re off.

Combat ensues.

MARGUERITA failed her save and was temporarily blinded by the powder, so she’s down on the ground for 1d4 rounds while JOHNNY ACID grapples with the crazed JEAN TARASCON. He uses evil villain dialogue to describe exactly what he did for his brothers and what he will do to ACID once he finishes him off. JEAN outmatches ACID in practically every category. He’s more cunning, stronger, faster and knows the lay of the land much better than ACID. He slapped JOHNNY ACID around a little before withdrawing his ceremonial dagger and approaching him with a maniacal gleam in his eye. Finally MARGUERITA sprang to life and instead of immediately running to ACIDs aid, she withdrew her flute and began playing. I gave JEAN TARASCON (and JOHNNY ACID for that matter) equal opportunity to resist the charming effects of her playing but only JOHNNY ACID succeeded. JEAN TARASCON loomed over ACID with his dagger withdrawn, but lost focus when the mysterious music began playing. MARGUERITA is able to control the emanations of her instrument and threw the sound so it appeared to be originating from just outside the second floor window of JEANs study. Like a feline drawn to catnip, JEAN TARASCON moved away from ACID to the window where the ghostly, ethereal sounds of the flute could be heard.

JOHNNY ACID is pissed from the beating he just sustained and rises slowly to his feet, his anger boiling within. As JEAN TARASCON searches futilely for the origin of the mysterious flute he hears, JOHNNY ACID presses his 9mm to JEANs temple – suddenly snapping him from his charm-induced reverie. But it’s too late. JOHNNY ACID squeezes the trigger like it’s the title of an old ICE-T song and spreads JEANs gray matter all over the desk. MARGUERITA stops playing the flute and looks away from the carnage. Within the Funeral Home however, ACID’s lone gunshot reverberates through the entire place – and in seconds JEAN’s army of ghouls is screeching up the stairs towards the study where ACID and MARGUERITA stand over JEAN TARASCON’s dead body. They look out the window to the alley below – and it’s a two story fall. A few parked cars, some scattered trash and graffiti mark the walls. With nowhere else to go, the two PCs take the jump just as the study door bursts open with the bloodthirsty ghouls in hot pursuit. The two PCs make the appropriate checks and use a parked car to break their fall and flee into the darkness. Through the open study windows, the glowing red eyes of the ghouls can be seen watching the PCs flee. Just then – a CRACK of lightning – and the sky opens up with rain. A tremendous and thunderous onslaught of rainfall batters the PCs as they flee back to their motel. They are convinced the man who ordered their hit in Brockton has been eliminated. As that fleeting thought of safety dances within their heads, we head back to the powerless city block where the “House of Voodoo” resides and CHICKEN BONE and LENIENCE discuss CHICKEN BONE’s dark secret…

[MadStepDad]

Originally in the module, “SHAMAN BRUCIEN” – the town cleric – is the one who confides in the PCs about the failed resurrection attempt on MARCEL TARASCON. In my game here – and in every version of NIGHT of the WALKING DEAD that I’ve ever run – CHICKEN BONE is the one who made this critical mistake.

So here, he tells LENIENCE of that fateful night one month ago that JEAN TARASCON brought his (mortally wounded) twin brother MARCEL to CHICKEN BONES shop begging for a remedy. CHICKEN BONE was horrified by what happened to MARCEL, but since JEAN was so generous with the coinage, CHICKEN BONE did what he could to revive MARCEL. But his voodoo ceremony went wrong and something awoke in MARCEL that was pure evil – and from beyond the grave. All of the mysterious events that have transpired – the rash of gang violence, the emergence of LUC TARASCON (aka “Killa Tay” in Brockton), the Trey-Eight Reborn set – all can be traced back to that night. CHICKEN BONE fears that MARCEL is the cause of this nightmare and must be destroyed. Just then – BOOM – thunder, lightning and a downpour that floods the L.A. streets in minutes. CHICKEN BONE looks out the window in horror. “It has happened! The rain of blood that will wipe out the entire city! We’re too late!” LENIENCE darts out of the store into the rain, and runs immediately to the nearest payphone. He must speak with VAN RICHTEN.

In the pouring rain, LENEINCE reaches VAN RICHTEN back in Brockton and hurriedly explains their dire circumstances. VAN RICHTEN was prepared for this possibility, and has taken the proper research precautions. Basically I used some info I pilfered from VRGtWalking Dead and some real-world voodoo knowledge to arm the PCs with some potent monster-hunting knowledge (I think I used salt as some of their main weaknesses). I also threw out another name for the PCs to latch onto – “MCKINLEY LEE”. VAN RICHTEN explained to LENIENCE that he’s been doing some corresponding with his fellow “Fraternity of Fractured Thought” brethren. There is a member of that tight-knit cabal working undercover in L.A. as we speak (the aforementioned MCKINLEY LEE). Unfortunately, VAN RICHTEN has not been able to contact MCKINLEY LEE as he is working deep undercover and is probably using an alias. But if there is any way the PCs can find MCKINLEY LEE he will be an invaluable ally. I never expected the PCs to find him (nor do they have the time) but I am planting the seeds for our final “Blood Martyr” revelation.

Back at the motel the PCs are stationed in, LENIENCE finally comes face to face with a relieved MARGUERITA and JOHNNY ACID. Their relief quickly changes to horror when LENEINCE reveals what he learned at CHICKEN BONEs place of business. Just then – their motel door bursts open and DOCTOR BRUCIEN comes running in. “They’re here!” he cries! “The Trey-Eight Reborn are riding on the city! They’ll kill us all!” he exclaimed! The PCs knew what he meant. “We need to stop MARCEL!” LENIENCE calls out. But where is he hiding??? Just then – a brief power surge knocks out the power in the motel, but it quickly comes back on. When it does – it sparks to life the little clock radio they have in the motel room. Coincidentally – at the same time as the power surges back on – KILLA TAY’s underground single “The Hexad” is playing on the radio. It’s all the way at the end of the song where the hook repeats itself over and over again.

“Where the 6 stars shine…
Where the 6 stars shine…
Where the 6 stars shine…”

Grovetown Cemetery, the spot where LUC TARASCON brought his brother MARCEL to find the scroll – and the site of MARCEL’s untimely demise. The PCs had little time to spare, so they gathered up their arms and bounced in the rental car across town to the Grovetown Cemetery. Popped one random encounter on them during their drive through the torrential downpour – a lowrider filled with Gs blasting recklessly out the windows, not caring what they hit. ACID took the bait and licked a shot back at them, which only spurned them on further. Now I get to lead the PCs on a high-speed chase/shoot out in a blinding rainstorm. These would’ve been the moments AGENT BLOOM was designed for (he was the PC who never showed up to game). He was the expert marksman with all the Driving skills. As it was, LENIENCE was forced to take control of the wheel and only by sheer luck did they manage to evade the gunmen without suffering any mortal injuries. The sudden roar of ghetto birds (police helicopters) soaring over the palm trees comingles with the booming thunder to shake the ground like an earthquake. On the radio newsflashes abound of blood-crazed gangbangers shooting it out in the streets. As the rain pours around them, newscasters conjure up images of the infamous L.A. Riots.

[MadStepDad]

They made it to Grovetown Cemetery and burst thorough the wrought-iron gates with their rental car. The car came to a crashing halt in the muddy marshes. Even with flickering headlights to spurn them on, the PCs could see little in front of them through the torrential rain fall. I ran them through the crypt scenario as detailed in the module (complete with dreaded musical accompaniment). Filled with fear and overdosing on stress, the PCs relied on VAN RICHTEN’s monster hunting advice. Upon entering the final dust-covered chamber, MARGUERITA began to play a funeral dirge on her flute. Just as they suspected, the lingering remains of deceased “Trey-Eight Reborn” killers remained inanimate. As if they were mannequins looming in the shadows, eyes flickering red with murderous intent. But in the chamber ahead, seated on a stone tomb like it were a throne – their master MARCEL TARASCON.

Evil villain dialogue, as detailed in the module. MARCEL TARSACON knows his brother JEAN is dead (at the hands of the PCs) and has sent his waves of undead minions upon the city in response. He seeks HYKSOSA’s HEXAD which will give him untold power. The PCs go back-n-forth with him a little bit, JOHNNY ACID says he will slay MARCEL just like his slew his brothers (one literally – JEAN, one figuratively – LUC in Brockton). But not before MARCEL collapses his minions upon the PCs once LENIENCE revealed they held the scroll (suddenly his zombie cronies are immune to MARGUERITA’s enchantment). Combat ensues. When the PCs seem to be on the losing side of the skirmish, LENIENCE calls out for ACID to read the Hexad aloud (why I have no idea). Coincidentally, it’s time for the eclipse scene as detailed in the module. Through the sky roof they see a perfectly perforated hole in the thick curtain of thunder clouds above. Just beyond that, the full moon being swallowed bite by bite – as if being eaten by a giant monster. Just as ACID gets to the stanza about “The Light of the Blue Sky shining over the dead…” MARCEL and his “Trey Eight Reborn” goons pause awkwardly and stare upwards at the moons transformation. This allows the PCs enough time to disperse the rest of the salt to eliminate the corpses. MARCEL screams as the moon turns blood red and resumes his unholy attack. His is overmatched by the three PCs and in final, dramatic fashion LENIENCE ELDERWOOD severs MARCEL’s head with his final called attack. The PCs quickly make moves to have the corpse burned. As they set the body ablaze and flee from the mausoleum, they now see (under the bright orange glare of the flames) the entire crypt wall’s covered with graffiti. They appear to be tags of various players and gang members, signed with their seal of approval. Through the sickening black plumes of burning body fat the PCs see the most recent entry on the wall – “LIL SMOOTH… By Yerself Hustlers”. The Blood Martyr! On their way out LENIENCE pilfers a small leather-bound manuscript MARCEL TARASCON had in his possession.

Outside of the crypt the world is eerily still. The rain has stopped, leaving a ground of sludge and streets rushing with gutter water. Black clouds continue to stain the sky, obscuring almost everything in sight. The three PCs flee the cemetery and pause under a streetlight to peruse the manuscript they just stole from MARCEL. It appears to be a very disjointed diary, similar to the one they found in JEAN TARASCON’s study. The handwriting gets increasingly erratic as the journal nears completion. It’s a very precise log of the events leading up to LUCs discovery of the HEXAD – which was subsequently stolen by JEAN (to “protect” his twin MARCEL).

The odd part again, is that this mysterious “SIMON” character was the one who led LUC to the scroll in the first place. Not only that – judging by the last bits of writing in the diary – “SIMON” also had something to do with LIL SMOOTH and the “By Yerself Hustlers”. The “By Yerself Hustlers” are an un-affiliated group that does not share ties with the Bloods or the Crips. For all intents and purposes they are freelance. The diary also makes note of LIL SMOOTHs last known whereabouts – an apartment address listed shortly before a meeting was scheduled to occur between LIL SMOOTH, “SIMON” and MARCEL TARASCON (but then MARCEL had to go and get eaten by zombies). Clinging to this last bit of information, the PCs hailed a cab and head to the address listed. They needed to find LIL SMOOTH before the RED DEATH’s evil “Blood Martyr” plan comes to fruition.

[MadStepDad]

The address listed was deep in the hood, in a dilapidated ramshackle building. As DM I tried to cultivate some of those classic RAVENLOFT feelings of dread and revulsion by painting the location as one fraught with danger and death around the corner – shadowy figures lurking, watching with bloodshot eyes – burned husks of cars and the ever prevalent smell of marijuana smoke. As they entered the piss-stained project hallway they were accosted by the sounds of a wailing infant child followed shortly by its crack head mother who offered her “services” to the PCs for cash. Gross and disgusting and the players quickly got that point.

LIL SMOOTH’s apartment appeared to be empty, nobody answered. But the door was unlocked so the PCs gained access. Background music builds to a crescendo as the PCs hit that final apartment room. There, they find an unholy shrine dedicated to one man – CALVIN BROADUS aka SNOOP DOGGY DOGG. As they scanned the huge, cluttered collection they quickly came to see how bizarre and obsessed LIL SMOOTH actually was. There was a date circled on the calendar in blood-red writing (or was it actual blood?) - August 25th, 1993. TODAY’s DATE! The players quickly picked it up without much prodding: this was the “big hit” LIL SMOOTH had been planning! All those disses to that unnamed LBC rapper in his song “Blood Martyr’ now made sense. This mysterious “SIMON” character has been using LIL SMOOTH like a loaded weapon, arming his mind with all kinds of twisted, perverted desires for fame, power and the almighty “juice” (hood respect). LIL SMOOTH is the pawn! The RED DEATH is using him as the tool to create the Blood Martyr! SNOOP DOGGY DOGG will be that sacrifice!

The PCs prayed they weren’t too late. The park at the corner of Woodbine and Vinton was a reputed hang-out spot for LIL SMOOTH and his “By Yerself Hustlers”. The PCs quickly set out for that park. In the meantime, I’m cultivating an intense race against time vibe and I dropped the instrumental for “Deep Cover” in the background. Epic conclusions time. They raced to the park just in time to see the last scene play out…

Just outside the apartment buildings across the street from the small park, the PCs spotted a blue 1993 Jeep Cherokee. The passenger window was rolled down for the occupants to converse with another man who was standing by its side in the street. JOHNNY ACID recognized this diversionary tactic immediately – the man standing in the street talking to the cars occupants was distracting them from an immediate ambush. MARGUERITA DeVILLE recognized the man standing in the street as one of the hoods in LIL SMOOTH’s inner circle at the Blue Sky Nightclub – a crew they now knew of as the “By Yerself Hustlers”. Coming around the corner just up the block, LENIENCE yelled out to the man standing in the street but he paid the approaching PCs no mind. On their run up the block – fresh Nike Airs splashing through muddy puddles – the PCs unstrapped the weapons and called out to the man in the street again. Still no response, and no sight of LIL SMOOTH anywhere. As they ran up to a street corner, a large public bus zoomed by – plastered with ads for POWER 106. By the time the bus zoomed out of view allowing the PCs to cross, LIL SMOOTH had suddenly appeared in front of the blue Jeep Cherokee across the street. JOHNNY ACID called out to LIL SMOOTH, but even from their distance they could see that all-engrossed dead eye stare in his bloodshot eyes and recognize him for what he truly was – one of the Mentally Dead.

The PCs again attempted to fight against oncoming traffic to cross the street. LENIENCE brandished his pistol, but a car skidding to a stop right in front of him caused him to drop it in their near-collision. Once more JOHNNY ACID called out to LIL SMOOTH – but it was too late. LIL SMOOTH reached for the waistband of his pants and suddenly five shots echoed from within the blue Jeep Cherokee in front of him. His accomplice froze in the street as LIL SMOOTH collapsed from the five fatal gunshots – his pistol clattered lifelessly to the ground next to him. Just then – the passenger from the blue Jeep Cherokee (and LIL SMOOTH’s killer) leaned out of the window into view – it was MALIK from the nightclub! MARGUERITA recognized him immediately. The blue Jeep Cherokee then peeled out into a 180 turn and sped off up the block – beneath a baseball cap CALVIN BROADUS (aka “Snoop Doggy Dogg”) could be spotted driving. LIL SMOOTH’s accomplice in the street bent over to the corpse and removed something from his hand (the pistol) and something else from his back pocket (the PCs couldn’t see exactly what) and then darted off into the gray wasteland of Los Angeles. By the time the PCs actually reached the scene, all they were left with was LIL SMOOTH’s dead body between them and the sounds of LA police sirens growing deafening in the background.

http://crime.about.com/od/famousdiduno/ ... gydogg.htm

THE END.

Cue “California Sunshine” by GAME (from “L.A.X. Files” released 2008). A few months later on November 23rd, 1993 SNOOP DOGGY DOGG’s “Doggy Style” album would drop and earn $15 million dollars in sales within the first two weeks. It would be the first rap album ever to hit #1 on the charts in its debut. As public awareness of the LIL SMOOTH shooting continued to grow, the PCs gained further information. CALVIN BROADUS and his bodyguard “MALIK” were charged with accomplice to murder and murder respectively. Both of them would ultimately be acquitted by 1996. “MALIK’s” government name also came to be revealed – McKINLEY LEE. The PCs immediately knew of his affiliation from VAN RICHTEN’s early discussions (about a fellow “Fraternity of Fractured Thought” member working deep undercover). LIL SMOOTH aka PHILIP WOLDERMARIAN was revealed to be an obsessed fan, but his true affiliations where known only to the PCs – the general public was never aware of his demonic connection to “SIMON” and the cursed TARASCON family.

[MadStepDad]

As is typical with all my RAVENLOFT campaigns, at the sessions end I went about sowing seeds for the next big potential plot. I like to give the players an illusion of control.

• LENIENCE ELDERWOOD spoke briefly with VAN RICHTEN shortly after the “Blood Martyr” revelation was exposed. VAN RICHTEN told him that “Fraternity of Fractured Thought” allies had reports of another necklace just like the one LENIENCE owned had recently surfaced. Again, LENIENCE wasn’t sure of the origins of his necklace or what it meant, but thought it may have something to do with the psychic tremblings he had been experiencing. The necklace had been spotted in New York City around the neck of a man named TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR… Can you spell QUAD STUDIOS???? http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archi ... 71502.aspx

• ALEXUS DARKAGNON returned to congratulate the players on their discoveries and to take control of the HEXAD (Johnny Acid was left only with a copy – not the originals). He told the players (JOHNNY ACID in particular) that the Tribe of Hyksosa is expanding their operations and opening up a new chapter of the secret organization down in the Dirty South (New Orleans, Atlanta, Memphis). Again, the Tribe has been following the developments of HYKSOSA’s HEXAD for many years now and believes “the South has something to say…” (That’s an infamous ANDRE 3000 quote).

• VAN RICHTEN also informed the players – MARGUERITA in particular – that her family heirloom may actually be part of a set. Information is still scarce on that prospect, but word is there may actually be another piece of that collection right here in Los Angeles. What that could mean for the players is still unknown, but it’s clear these instruments come with great power… Also we have the longterm effects of MARGUERITA's failed Horror check to deal with. Will this strengthen her resolve to fight the darkness? Or will she succumb to its dark allure?

• In addition to all that, the mystery of “SIMON” remains. Who is he and what are his ulterior motives? Crazy LUC TARASCON (aka KILLA TAY) disappeared from Brockton shortly after MARCEL and JEAN were killed. His whereabouts are currently unknown, which can’t bode well for the players. McKINLEY LEE had his “MALIK” identity ousted by the press but quickly disappeared again after the brouhaha over PHILIP WOLDERMARIAN (aka LIL SMOOTHs) death dispersed. The “Fraternity of Fractured Thought” had been on to the Blood Martyr revelation and sent the right man save the day. But the RED DEATH’s schemes haven’t been derailed – just postponed. The crystallization of this raw power requires human sacrifice, and the RED DEATH will not settle until its plans reach completion. See you again in three years…

[MadStepDad]

My campaign died.

After taking longer than expected to finish this adventure we all came to the rational conclusion that this will just not work. Grown up schedules, responsibilities, family and lack of time all combined to kill a perfectly valid MASQUE of the RED DEATH Millennium Version campaign. The odds of gathering everybody together at the same time are slim to none so our group game has concluded. BUT… RAVENLOFT will never die.

We ALSO all agreed that this is some of the dopest izh we’ve ever run and it would be a damn shame to let it drop now – especially after the newbies have grown so fond of their characters and the initial plot lines. And if you think my Q-MONSTAH will ever let the game go, you’re crazy. SO… I will now be embarking upon a great string of solo adventures to draw our campaign along! It makes much more sense both time wise and logistical, even though it may create more work for me as the GM (something I thrive on). It will also allow me to tell a greater story within the scope of the campaign and do it in far less time, as now I’ll have multiple story threads occurring at the same time. So now instead of the PCs choosing which one potential storyline thread to follow they can chase ALL of them! And that’s just what’s happening as we speak.

* JOHNNY ACID’s player took the Tribe of Hyksosa up on their offer and is relocating to the Dirty South. He is curious about his own vistani bloodlines just as much as microphone dominance and chasing rap glory. For him, I am thinking about an adapted version of THE EVIL EYE like my man GRon suggested – complete with Mardi Gras overtones and MC dog fights.

* MARGUERITA DeVILLE will most likely stay in L.A. to learn more about her musical instrument. I had roughly settled on a modified version of CIRCLE of DARKNESS for her, with some more “SIMON” references. Figuring I can air out the entire Ruthless Records/Death Row wars of the time.

• LENIENCE will return to NYC where he will join up with VAN RICTHEN on the hunt for more info about his native psionicism and the possible material link the city holds for him (remember, a similar necklace was spotted around the neck of TUPAC SHAKUR – who is fated to experience the events of Quad Studio as the RED DEATH continues its global game of mass dominance). For him I had been thumbing through a few of the VAN RICHTEN adventures from “CHILLING TALES” and I’m kind of leaning towards a heavily modified version of “THROUGH DARKENED EYES”.

So these recaps will continue, and with multiple stories going on at once hopefully there won’t be so many delays in between postings.

[Band2]

That was interesting. Thanks for the write-up MadStepDad.