Stoker: First Blood
8pm: NBA Stoker: First Blood
- GM: Bill White
- Me: Karem Amanoglu
- Cat: George Stoker, M.D.
- Mark: Archibald Forbes
- Daniel Schreiber: Frederick Barnaby
- David Cole: Andrew Crosse
- Darren Miguez: Armin Vambery
- Tab Kichman: Annie Smith Peck
This was Bill White's scenario from the Edom adventures set before and after the past sections of the Dracula Dossier. This is the earliest adventure, set before the events of the 1894 leg of the campaign, that covering the events of the novel.
I think all the PCs except Karem are historical figures. Karem had discovered a cave with disturbing creatures and was guiding the others there, iirc. (I'm still confused, even after having read the published adventure, about exactly how Karem fits into things.)
The cave was full of dead but animated human bodies, including one more animated than the rest. The PCs dealt with them and managed to secure the more animated corpse for Dr. Stoker, despite the arrival of some Russians.
My notes for this section:
Path to the river Russians crossed river Widow Wasting disease Bulgarian Nationalist Sentiment Rebels? Victims of Bulgarian Rebels Has anyone screamed? Well, I certainly have gasped. I will run in the direction of the screaming, for I am <illegible> Dr. Stoker: My prescription is more bullets. Smith -- to me! The rest of you guard the women and scientists! Cigarette -- 1 pt stability Cat -- I'm going to have to remember it for Eternal Lies. And somebody get me the torch The Russians are here -- excellent! Dr. Stoker: They can get me the body! The General Skobeloff
I forget what the PCs knew about the wealthy widow whose husband had died of a mysterious wasting disease, but the group went there, along with the wrapped corpse the doctor had claimed.
Dr. Stoker was frighteningly eager to examine the corpse, and spent much time remonstrating anyone getting in his way, talking to the corpse, and making speeches to imaginary future audiences. Quotes include:
Circumcised? Who knew? You are cutting up my barony! At most, you would be a viscount. We usually do this in Wales. Contain yourself, sir! Morlocks -- I know them all. A lone veiled figure in the graveyards We are Victorians -- we don't think that's weird. The tissue is strangely active. I have conquered death! Oh no, Your Majesty, a duchy is too much! A barony is more than enough! Out of context quote: First in, first out -- That's Armin Vambery!
The widow had a portrait of her late husband in her locket. He had died a year ago. His was clearly the corpse the doctor was working on. And the book the had removed from the cave was his personal copy of the Koran.
My notes say that her son "left" and that she had also had the Wasting Sickness, but had recovered.
Frederick Barnaby tried to console the widow.
Frederick: If you need a moment to yourself -- for your culture...
Frederick's thought balloon: I understand you have one of those now.
The GM called for a Sense Trouble roll at Difficulty 8, which the player made.
GM: She wants to embrace you -- ardently.
Frederick: Oh, that doesn't sound like trouble.
GM: Okay, take your points back then.
Frederick: Do I have to roll Preparedness?
Meanwhile, Annie talked to the Imam.
Annie: I see you've obviously spent a long time in the family's service.
Imam: No, I'm actually quite a young man! (in tears) She stole my youth!
Annie: How?
Imam: Her cursed kisses!
Annie: You're not supposed to be kissing --
Imam: Did you kill the father and the son?
Annie: How does she know?
Imam: We _buried_ them!
I forget the exact context here, but I am guessing it involved Annie and Armin bringing each other up to date.
Get in here. Okay. Here's a sharp stick. So anyway -- Gimme that stick back! You know all the answers -- goodbye Annie?
Meanwhile, Frederick went to "Madame's Boudoir -- food can wait!"
Widow: You're so dashing!
Frederick: I know.
GM: So, I'm just going to roll this die here. (rolls a 6) Let me see your character sheet. No particular reason...
Annie, accompanied by at least some of the others, went to the boudoir, breaking in. Annie charged the widow with a bayonet fixed on her rifle. My notes say that someone got an 11 on an Athletics roll and that the widow had Stony Skin.
George: Well -- I'd better take a note on this -- as soon as I'm not dead -- though that could solve a problem -- Queen Victoria, I'm back from the dead!
Armin's Player: Armin Vambery -- has disappeared. He may appear later with a Preparedness roll for something I will have done.
Someone attacked the widow with a poker, I think impaling and lifting her into the air.
GM: Can you break her heart, Barnaby -- can you?
Frederick gritted his teeth and spent Health for Athletics. My notes say: +12 to roll = 17
Someone, likely Frederick: This is not like Borneo!
Someone OOC: I have a question.
GM: Yes, sir?
Someone OOC: Does she do the Now She Is Peaceful In Death face?
GM: I'm gonna say no.
Someone IC: Bloody mess
Someone, probably George: I'm gonna say in this case, the cure is worse than the disease.
Epilogue -- How many others affected?
George Stoker: I should point out if we blow up this place, we could blame it on the Russians.
Armin's Player: You might notice a flicker of smoke from elsewhere.
Annie retrieved the Imam and horses, and stayed in the area a couple weeks.
Annie: Do we still have Incidents?
GM: Yes.
She stayed to deal with them.
My notes say that Archibald "took notes / entire thing -- book of fiction -- Truth does get out there, and I don't get in a crematorium". I don't know what that.
Karem became an assistant to George Stoker, having a vague idea he might kill the man if George seemed on the side of the undead creatures.
Armin went, disguised, to Mr. Bey, the man who'd asked the PCs to look into matters in the first place, then ran from him.
Armin: The only person I feel I can confide in is Barnaby.
Professor Cross, a little disheveled, decided to emigrate to the Sates, where, he understood, "geology can come in handy". He never spoke of these events again.
Colonel Frederick Barnaby still went on adventures, now working with Annie as his sidekick.
Armin (to them): You can cable me. You'll have the resources you need.
George's Player: The good doctor may be working in Whitechapel. Well, after all, we had to clean up this mess.
Someone: Yes.
Bill asked if we found the scenario balanced and if it worked with 7 players or needed fewer. I think we agreed that 7 was fine, but we could use more background material.
