Kids on Bikes: Something Stranger This Way Comes

Game Master Meetch

The Burbs, with another reference that I don't want to spoil for you just yet. So we'll go with "The Burbs +"
Rules


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Steve Dimin wrote:

So it's mid-November in-game?

Early to mid-november, yeah. I looked up sunset times in the mid-eighties in early November in Colorado.

Yes, if you're trying to intimidate vs. charm, it's brawn. Difficulty 4


Female Funny Sidekick | Adversity Tokens 0 | Fight d4+1, Flight d10, Brains d8, Brawn d12+1, Charm d20, Grit d6

$8 in 1982 is $21 today. Ringmaster's driving a hard bargain.

A bit bummed that everyone just assumed she'd be on board with tricking her parents, Maggie struggles between herself before finally deciding to hassle her father, asking for permission.
"Please, please, Dad, half the town'll be there, I'll be with the others and I promise that I'll be back straightaway after it ends, pleeeeease? I'll do the chores for the rest of the week! All of the grown-ups are busy! Come on, I'm not a baby anymore!"
Charm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

And her tactic is not much different with the old professor. "Come on, Mister Wilkins, if I have to carry that old thing here and use it, ten dollars would be more reasonable. I'll throw in a clean-up of the shed, and, uhm, half a tray of hash browns! Mom and Dad's recipe!"
Charm: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

Loooousy rolls. I'll spend 2 Adversity Tokens on the second roll, and try to haggle for the 8 dollars I need.


Mosaic Labels: Danger: -1 Freak: +1 Savior: 0 Superior: +3 Mundane: 0 | Conditions: none
Influence:
Influences: Gallowglass, Psyche, Praetoria, Isaiah. [+b]Influenced By:[/b] Rory, Praetoria, Gallowglass, Isaiah, Horizon
Potential 3/5

Holly slips over to the pinball machine, careful to remain inconspicuous, and quietly slides the door open, just enough to slip her hand into the resevoir, and get the quarters she needed

1d20 ⇒ 6


Maggie

Good point. Let’s say $5, and the extra three is reserved for snacks or games.

The first roll is a hit. Your dad isn’t thrilled about letting you go on your own, but you’ll be with friends so he begrudingly agrees, as long as you’re home by 9. You buy yourself up to the second roll. Mr. Wilkins agrees to pay $10.

His lawn, especially in the back, is a jungle, but you carve your way through pretty quickly. Along the fence line that splits his yard from yours, the mower hits a patch of cigarette butts, maybe a dozen. You didn’t think Mr. Wilkins was a smoker, and this close to your bedroom window you think you’d smell all that smoke.

When you’re done you have just enough time for a quick shower before it’s time to meet up.

Holly
You missed the roll, but not by 5+ so no consequences.

It looks like Louis got around to fixing the pinball machine, but you have enough to get in, at least.

Everyone
Holly, Fatou and Maggie have enough to get in.
Fatou, Maggie and Steve are cleared to go.
Did you work out a plan of where to meet when you have the money?


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10

If it's possible to treat this as planned, I'll take 6. If it's a snap decision:

Brawn: 1d12 ⇒ 3

Apparently a failure if it's a snap decision.


Planned action is fine. You rehearsed looking tough in the mirror. Billy Lepkin, a scrawny 6th grader gives you a clump of singles and runs off.


Scout [Adv Tokens: 3] [ Fight: d6 | Flight: d4+1 | Brains: d20 | Brawn: d8 | Charm: d10+1 | Grit: d12 ]

Yeah, I'll burn one of the adversary tokens to use Treasure Hunter

As Blake's leaving school and heading home to make sure he has permission to go, something catches his eye by the bike rack - a simple leather wallet. Looking both ways briefly, he picks it up, finding no ID, but some bills within it. Pocketing it with a grin, he hops on his bike and pedals towards home.

Bursting through the door to the house he beelines immediately for his mother. "Hey Mom can I go with Maggie to that Circus tonight?"


Give me a diff. 3 charm roll, mostly to keep her from realizing what you’re SAYING vs. what she assumes you mean, namely that you’d be going with Maggie’s family.


Scout [Adv Tokens: 3] [ Fight: d6 | Flight: d4+1 | Brains: d20 | Brawn: d8 | Charm: d10+1 | Grit: d12 ]

Charm (Diff 3): 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Wow. Not off to a great dice-start.


Collect 1 adversity point for the fail.

Your mom crosses her arms and frowns at you. I happen to know that the Taylors are staying in tonight. I’m sorry, Blake, but I’m not going to let you go to a circus without any adult. I have to work late tonight, so if something happened I couldn’t even come help you. I’ll tell you what...I’ll rent you a movie to watch tonight while I’m out? And I’ll pick you up McDonalds before I leave for work.

So you’re not allowed to go, but Mom won’t be home. As long as you’re back before 10, she’ll never know. Right?


To recap

Everyone has the money to get in.

Everyone but Holly (so far) has an opportunity to go.

Where are you meeting and when?


Young Lady Conspiracy Theorist  Ad:  |  Fight d12+1   Flight d10   Brain d20   Brawn d4+1   Charm d6   Grit d8

Fatou arrives at Steve's house as close to 6:53 soon as is possible from the mall. She has her legwarmers back on and buries her hands in her puffy black coat after she hits the doorbell. The fur trimmed hood is pulled back, in case someone other than Steve answers.


Fatou Seck wrote:
Fatou arrives at Steve's house as close to 6:53.

(Steve was super wrong about the sunset time, partially because he was doing crazy math to solve it and part because I wasn’t as clear as I should have been that the game is set in November. Sunset is just before 5 PM. You can retcon that if you want, because I think everyone will be long gone by 7.)


Young Lady Conspiracy Theorist  Ad:  |  Fight d12+1   Flight d10   Brain d20   Brawn d4+1   Charm d6   Grit d8

Well, as soon as she can from the mall then.


Fatou, you arrive at 4:45, still a little wet.

Steve, I know you planned on leaving a note for Mom. Is anyone other than you likely to be home before 5?


Mosaic Labels: Danger: -1 Freak: +1 Savior: 0 Superior: +3 Mundane: 0 | Conditions: none
Influence:
Influences: Gallowglass, Psyche, Praetoria, Isaiah. [+b]Influenced By:[/b] Rory, Praetoria, Gallowglass, Isaiah, Horizon
Potential 3/5

Holly spends an hour or so in her room, listening to Ted and mom play with Tommy and Char, and trying to read the next book. Eventually, she decides it is close enough to dusk, and slips out her window, onto the lawn (she is, of course, on the first floor. second floor sneak-outs are relegated to John Hughes protagonists) And makes her way over to Blake's house.


Holly, please give me a difficulty 4 Flight roll to sneak out of your window quietly, unless sneaking out is something she does often. The first time I tried to escape out my window was a noisy, screen destroying disaster.


Mosaic Labels: Danger: -1 Freak: +1 Savior: 0 Superior: +3 Mundane: 0 | Conditions: none
Influence:
Influences: Gallowglass, Psyche, Praetoria, Isaiah. [+b]Influenced By:[/b] Rory, Praetoria, Gallowglass, Isaiah, Horizon
Potential 3/5

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5


You creep out silently and join Fatou at Steve’s door.


Mosaic Labels: Danger: -1 Freak: +1 Savior: 0 Superior: +3 Mundane: 0 | Conditions: none
Influence:
Influences: Gallowglass, Psyche, Praetoria, Isaiah. [+b]Influenced By:[/b] Rory, Praetoria, Gallowglass, Isaiah, Horizon
Potential 3/5

First time I snuck Out went fine... first time I snuck In... was also the first time I learned that climbing in windows freaks out the dog.


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10

Steve had decided to wait outside his door for the others long before the time he had decided was sunset, mostly because he saw the sun setting earlier.

The first person he spots on the cul-de-sac is Fatou. "Hi Fatto," he says. "You used an almanac, huh?"

I wrote this before the later posts. I'll have to answer the later questions tomorrow.


Young Lady Conspiracy Theorist  Ad:  |  Fight d12+1   Flight d10   Brain d20   Brawn d4+1   Charm d6   Grit d8

Hugging herself through her coat, she shakes her head. "There was not enough time. I came straight here after getting money for a ticket. Has anyone else arrived?"


Female Funny Sidekick | Adversity Tokens 0 | Fight d4+1, Flight d10, Brains d8, Brawn d12+1, Charm d20, Grit d6

I live on the third or the fifth floor, never snuck anywhere...

After the sweat-out at Mr. Wilkins', Maggie showers and listens to the usual endless string of parently advice before kissing her parents and thanking them.

"Ahoy!" she waves hello as she gets to them. "All ready to go?"


I believe we’re just waiting on Blake.

In the meantime, is anyone bringing a backpack? What did you pack in it?


Young Lady Conspiracy Theorist  Ad:  |  Fight d12+1   Flight d10   Brain d20   Brawn d4+1   Charm d6   Grit d8

Backpack:
~~~Physical~~~
Backpack
Five library books (4 non-fiction, 1 fiction)
Casio FX-7000G graphing calculator
Spiral-bound graph paper
Pencils(Ticonderoga), sharpener, erasers(bats)
Ruler, protractor, compass, safety scissors
Stockings (wet)
$12.42
~~~Outfit~~~
Black nightshade dress
Lavender legwarmers
Silver and bone jewelry
Shoes (wet)
~~~Conceptual~~~
Way too young to be here...
Jetsetting executive father
Antisocial/xenophobic mother

I added safety scissors and some notes about her parents.


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10
Meetch wrote:
Steve, I know you planned on leaving a note for Mom. Is anyone other than you likely to be home before 5?

His father is out drinking, and his mother is out working.

He isn't taking anything special, but I did make some small changes to the backpack.

Backpack:

Toy gun
Chicken sandwich
Deck of cards
Notebook and pen
Flashlight
Long stick
Conceptual
Too small
Usually-absent father


Female Funny Sidekick | Adversity Tokens 0 | Fight d4+1, Flight d10, Brains d8, Brawn d12+1, Charm d20, Grit d6

Backpack: Handheld torch, skipping rope, Snickers, bubblegum, a couple more snacks, raincoat, hair bands, band-aids


Scout [Adv Tokens: 3] [ Fight: d6 | Flight: d4+1 | Brains: d20 | Brawn: d8 | Charm: d10+1 | Grit: d12 ]

Before he leaves, Blake takes the phone off the hook - in case his mother called to check in, he could claim to have been on the phone with Maggie or Holly. He barely spares a glance around the rest of the house, thinking he could make it look more "lived in", when he got back. Surely he'd be back early enough.

Grabbing his backpack, he steps outside and sees Holly walking towards his house. With a smile, he says "Any trouble? Ready to go?"


With everyone assembled, it’s time to go. Keeping to quiet streets it should take about an hour. Riding along the Perkins Expressway will cut that by half, but there are a lot more cars. Cutting along the railroad tracks through Passanack gorge will get you there in 20 minutes but it’s an active railway and some kids claim some sort of animal lives out there.


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10

"So you're all coming?" Steve shouts across the block, seeing Blake, Fatou, Holly and Maggie outside. "I'm going through the Passanack gorge. No reason to delay with the sun already setting." He unties his bike from its place and begins to ride.


Mosaic Labels: Danger: -1 Freak: +1 Savior: 0 Superior: +3 Mundane: 0 | Conditions: none
Influence:
Influences: Gallowglass, Psyche, Praetoria, Isaiah. [+b]Influenced By:[/b] Rory, Praetoria, Gallowglass, Isaiah, Horizon
Potential 3/5

backpack:

Coloured pencils
drawing pad
book
indigo jacket
Unremarkable appearance
no real family

no trouble, got enough for me, and a little more Holly says, holding out the coins in her hand to show Blake, but quickly pocketing them again hen she sees Steve.

Yeah, we're all going. She tells Steve, getting on her own bike, but pausing to let the others get on theirs


Female Funny Sidekick | Adversity Tokens 0 | Fight d4+1, Flight d10, Brains d8, Brawn d12+1, Charm d20, Grit d6

"Passanack it is. I'm actually kind of curious if there really is an animal. Just hope it's not a mountain lion, that'd be scary. But the Sheriff would've got the hunters around if there really was a predator. Maybe just a moose."


Young Lady Conspiracy Theorist  Ad:  |  Fight d12+1   Flight d10   Brain d20   Brawn d4+1   Charm d6   Grit d8

Fatou opens her mouth to speak, but is cut off by Maggie, and keeps quiet. All the hippos in America are in cages and eat watermelon for fat tourists. As reassurance, she fishes the bird skull out of her coat and whispers a quiet affirmation to it before kicking off after Steve.


The five of you bike out along the gorge. The sun is setting, casting the whole area in a warm orange glow. The active railroad keeps too many people from hanging out on the tracks, but there's an occasional pile of glass bottles from some kids drinking beers away from prying eyes. There are a few trails leading off the tracks, but none worth investigating...you're in a rush!

The trail is a lot easier than the creek trail, even for Fatou's bike and you arrive at the circus after not too much time.

On the outskirts of town, butted up against the abandoned dog food factory, the circus is enormous, filling out a large section of the empty field. A huge purple and black striped circus tent rises from the center of the circus, and through the chain link fence you can see gaming booths prepping for the night. In the middle of the fence is a wrought iron gate bent into a curling, twisting design. Music is already playing and the air is filled with laughter and excited chatter.

There's already a long line, but it should move quickly enough once the sun sets and the ornate gates opens. You file in behind a family and wait for the sun to finally dip below the horizon.

As you wait, Mike Mulligan and Conrad Dale line up behind you, their arms around Cindy Lewis and Stephanie Krebs. They're two of the older kids that Steve was avoiding last night, and there's no avoiding them this time. They begin to make sniggering comments behind your back. They're clearly trying to impress their date, and it will escalate quickly.

You're all aware that these kids are trouble. What do you do?


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10

Steve feels himself about to blow up from the snickering, but he tries to restrain himself until he can make out what they're saying, in order to respond appropriately.

Should I roll Grit?


Absolutely! Snap decision, obviously.


Female Funny Sidekick | Adversity Tokens 0 | Fight d4+1, Flight d10, Brains d8, Brawn d12+1, Charm d20, Grit d6

Puppet! Scary! Maggie's fear!

Maggie turns her head, looking quizzically at Steve. Oh, I hope his temper doesn't flare.


Mosaic Labels: Danger: -1 Freak: +1 Savior: 0 Superior: +3 Mundane: 0 | Conditions: none
Influence:
Influences: Gallowglass, Psyche, Praetoria, Isaiah. [+b]Influenced By:[/b] Rory, Praetoria, Gallowglass, Isaiah, Horizon
Potential 3/5

Holly stands back from the scene, and grabs Fatou's arm to encourage her to do the same. Steve was about to get in some kind of fight, and she wanted to keep her distance.


FYI, anyone who steps back from this brewing conflict can't spend adversity tokens to help anyone who is in the conflict.

But standing aside will keep you from drawing the mean kids' attention, so you're unlikely to get drawn in.


Young Lady Conspiracy Theorist  Ad:  |  Fight d12+1   Flight d10   Brain d20   Brawn d4+1   Charm d6   Grit d8

Fatou isn't catching on to the situation, as she is trying to figure out how their tickets are going to get paid for. When Holly pulls her aside, she follows. "Do you have enough for your ticket, Holly? We should all check before we get to the stand. They may tell us to step aside if we do not have our money ready."


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10

Grit: 1d8 ⇒ 5

What number is necessary?


I'm sorry! I forgot to give you a difficulty number. Diff 3, so you succeed well. You keep your cool as the bullies snigger and point, not at you (they may not have even registered you) but at Fatou.

Conrad nudges Mike and says Watch this, watch this before making some sort of move toward the back of Fatou's head.

Steve and Maggie, you notice this. Holly and Fatou, moving away from the fight, do not.

What do you do?


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10

I think that Steve is unlikely to want to involve himself to protect Fatou unless Maggie takes the initiative.


Fair enough, but if you do you’ll get a plus three...


Female Funny Sidekick | Adversity Tokens 0 | Fight d4+1, Flight d10, Brains d8, Brawn d12+1, Charm d20, Grit d6

Trying to defuse the situation, Maggie puts up a large smile and speaks loudly enough to be overheard around. "Dale! Mulligan! What a nice surprise! Looks like a fancy circus, doesn't it? Have ya ever been in one?"

Hoping that they won't be obnoxious if someone's looking this way.
Charm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12


A rousing success! The two older boys, shamed by their antics in front of such a polite and friendly girl, mutter quietly and shift away.

After a few moments, the sun dips below the horizon and there is a sudden burst of organ music, huge spotlights kick on and the gate swings open.

The line moves swiftly, and you’ll be there soon. Does everyone have enough money?


Brutish Jock | Adversity Tokens 3 | Fight d12+1 Flight d8 Brains d4 Brawn d20+1 Charm d6 Grit d10

Steve walks forward towards the entrance with the money he got from Billy Lepkin, counting once again to make sure he had gotten enough.

How much does he have? $8, or did he get any extra?


You got away with $8.


Female Funny Sidekick | Adversity Tokens 0 | Fight d4+1, Flight d10, Brains d8, Brawn d12+1, Charm d20, Grit d6

I got ten bu-ucks, I'll buy candy co-otton!

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