Browman's Untitled Campaign

Game Master Browman

Mr Aketer is walking down the street of the small village down the road from his mill when something attracts his attention in an alley between stores. When he goes to investigate he is attacked from behind and clubbed over the head with something. He slumps to the ground unconscious.

He wakes an unknown time later for a few moments; tied up, in darkness on a wooden floor, a strange feeling of motion. He fades out again.

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Billy has just left a tavern that he and his friends are drinking in to releave himself in the back lane, as he turns to head back inside he sees an easy mark heading away from him down the back lane. A fat, old man in nice clothes, Billy will lose him if he heads back inside for his friends. But why would he need them, this is an easy mark. He follows and is suddenly grabbed from behind, a foul smelling cloth is pressed over his mouth as he is held down. The vapours overwhelm him and is vision gets darker as it fades to black.

---------

Miles has just gotten off the train with his bag when he sees a coach driver standing on the platform holding a placard with his name on it."Mr Thorne, your uncle has hired me to take you to the farm. The rest of the family is already there."

As he gets into the coach, something strikes him from behind, knocking him out.

---------

As he heads home from work Rory hears someone call out to him from an alleyway, "Mr Dunsirn, HELP." As he turns into the alley he feels a prick on his neck, shortly thereafter slumping to the ground.

---------

You wake up in a stone walled chamber, you think it is underground. It is as if a fog is clearing from your head. A gag in your mouth prevents you from speaking. You have no idea how much time has passed or where you are. The chamber is dimly lit by a handful of candles. It is probably about 40ft by 40ft. The walls are painted with some kind of strange runes and symbols.

You can't really see the floor as you are strapped to a table, secured at the wrists, ankles and knees an additional strap across your chest. Some kind of tube is connected to your left arm.

As you look to see where the tube connects to, you realize that there are 3 others similarly strapped down to tables and a fifth figure, upright attached to what looks like a similar table what you are on, stood on its end and secured to the floor. The four tubes connect back to him, some kind of dark red liquid is slowly making its way down the tubes towards you. The man it is coming from is incredibly pale and looks to be unconscious, he is completely naked and covered in runes similar to those on the walls and ceiling.

Once the liquid reaches you it feels both cold and burning at the same time. A thick sludge that you can feel spreading through your veins. After a few minutes, you hear chanting and can see several masked and robed people have entered the room, as they approach you one of them stops to move a huge switch on the wall Something begins, sparking, arcing its way down the tubes towards you; your body goes rigid. The others stab each of you at the same time. You feel your blood flowing out, being replaced by whatever is flowing out of that tube. The runes on the walls, ceiling and the pale man are now glowing an unearthly red. You scream in pain, the sound muffled by the gag.

Darkness, blissful, painless darkness accepts you.

-----

When you awake the candles seem brighter and the chanting men have left. You feel so thirsty, as if you haven't had anything to drink in 2 days. Your thirst is almost a hunger to drink.

Billy struggles against his restraints, panicked by his condition and unrelenting thist.

Being gagged, his only recourse is to think to himself, What in the hell is going on here? I've got to get the hell out of this bloody place!

Miles starts flailing wildly, or as much as he can, being restrained and gagged.

LETMEOUTLETMEOUTLETMEOUTLETMEOUTLETMEOUT!

His blue eyes are wide with sheer terror.

Henry breathes in and out slowly, That damn bastard, it must be the same one what attacked me just last week who has me trussed up here! If I can just get out...

Henry tries to loosen the bonds on one wrist.

Hearing if not seeing others in the room similarly bound unnerves him but he knows this is not time to lose his head.

Billy and Miles both struggle with their bonds for a few moments before they seem to snap freeing their hands. Their bonds didn't shift or break like that before. They now feel even hungrier.

Both Billy and Miles now know that they have 1 dot of potence. Though they don't really know how to control it yet.

Henry now knows he has 1 dot of celerity. Though like the potence that Billy and Miles have, he does really understand it yet.

All 3 of them free themselves from their bonds around the same time.

Rory had been walking into the alley when he went down. His vision was blurry and unfocused when he awoke, which matched well with his new headache. But quickly he seemed to forget the headache when he noticed that he was strapped to a table. He struggled and he twisted to try to free himself, to no avail.

He noticed he was with a group of others, but he didn't know them. He grunted as he tried to pull an arm free, but it was to tight and he stopped when the pain in his wrist began to become unbearable. It had taken him a solid five seconds before he took notice of the man on the wall and the tube connection them.

His struggle ended swiftly when the men stabbed him and shocked his body. And when he awoke he felt different, something was strange. But what was not strange or different was the unbearable pain in his throat. He couldn't take such pain for long, he knew it might drive him mad.

He looked around at his bonds. Taking time to asses them for a moment. His mind sought anything to focus on, anything to give it a distraction to the burning, cracked feeling, at the back of his throat. He glanced to the others for a moment, perhaps he could see them still?

He craned his head and tried to find them, catching a glimps of them and them seemingly in the midst of freeing themselves he grunted and struggled and tested his wrists bond by turning his wrist over and over trying to slide them lose from the bonds, he just needed to pop his thumb knuckle under the strap and he could pull. It would take almost two minutes of solid manipulating before he managed to pull it to what he presumed he needed, then tried to pull it free.

Miles almost throws himself off of the slab he was tied to in his panicked efforts to get loose.

"AAAH!" He falls on the floor before pushing himself back to his feet. Seeing another man trying to get loose like he did, he starts looking around the room for something--anything--to help cut the man's bonds loose.

I don't have much in the way of strength, I'm afraid... and why am I so bloody thirsty? I had a drink on the train just before I got off!

Perception + Alertness?: 4d10 ⇒ (6, 5, 10, 10) = 31

Rory manages to slip his hand out of the strap, it was moving more smoothly than he was used to.

like Henry, Rory has 1 dot of celerity but he does really understand or control it yet.

Miles looks around after falling on the floor. The pale man in the centre looks to still be unconscious. And there is a solid wooden door reinforced with iron in one of the walls.

Having bust free of his bonds Billy claws at his gag, tearing it away.

"Where's the dirty bastard that drugged me?" he asks no one in particular as he looks around the room.

Seeing the man on the wall, Billy walks over to him. "Can't be this bloke's doing, he looks to be in worse shape than me."

Why in the hell am I so damn thirsty? I just spent the whole bloody night at the bar...

Perception + Alertness: 2d10 + 3d10 ⇒ (2, 4) + (9, 6, 3) = 24

Finally taking notice of the others in the room, he asks "Who the hell are you lot?"

Henry stands up and looks around the room shivering. My guts are on fire, what is going on, some sort of strange ritual. The Devil at work?

"This may be an odd question to ask but do any of you have any idea what has happened to us?"

He looks at each man in turn, "I do not believe I have ever seen any of you before in my life".

Not waiting for an answer or a reply Henry inspects the unconscious man in the center of the room checking his pulse.

Billy realizes that there are runes carved into the floor as well.

Henry can't find a pulse,the man's skin feels cold and clammy. His chest doesn't appear to moving, likely indicating that he isn't breathing.

"My word, this man is cold and clammy, they've killed him!"

"M-Me?" Miles swallows nervously and starts walking over to the door on the wall. "My name's Miles."

"My word, this man is cold and clammy, they've killed him!"

Miles flinches. "Yes, that's tragic and all, but what in God's name did they do to US?"

He presses his ear against the door and tries to listen to whatever's happening on the other side. pleaseGoddon'tletthemcomebackpleaseGoddon'tletthemcomebackpleaseGoddon'tlet themcomebackpleaseGoddon'tletthemcomeback...

Perception + Alertness: 3d10 + 1d10 ⇒ (10, 2, 2) + (3) = 17

Henry shakes his head, "I don't know. I know I don't feel right but unlike this poor fellow we are alive".

Realizing he did not respond to Billy's question he turns to him, "I'm Henry. Henry Aketer. I am from Middlesex, I wonder, are we there now or did these brigands take us somewhere else?"

Rory pulled the ball gag from his mouth and he then began to unbuckle each of the straps and he rolled off the table. He fell onto his knees a she did because his legs were still weak. "I'm Rory" He said with a scottish accent. "What the fook is going on?"

"Great, they killed the poor bastard...let's get the hell outta 'ere before who ever the hell did this gets back." Billy says looking around the room.

"What gives with all the little f*&(in' marks all over the floor?"

Taking note of Henry and Rory's introduction, he says, "Wish I could say it was good to meet you. The name's Billy."

"Billy and Rory. Alright lad, what's your name?" he asks Miles the young man.

"Well whatever your name is, Bill is correct. We should get out of here. Whoever has kidnapped us appear to be a large group of Satan worshipping ruffians and with no weapons laying about to defend ourselves with, we would be in trouble should they return.

You are by the door lad, check and see if it is locked".

"My name's Miles, sir." The bewildered student says as he checks the door's handle... but not before he's certain there's no one on the other side of the door.

Did my roll turn up anything, ST?

"My name's Miles, sir." The bewildered student says as he checks the door's handle... but not before he's certain there's no one on the other side of the door.

Did my roll turn up anything, ST?

You don't hear anything through the door. You aren't sure if there is nothing to hear or if the door is too thick.

But when you try the handle the door is locked.

Rory gets steady on his feet and moved across the floor, his eyes drawn to the runes under it and he shakes his head at this. What madness is this? He looks to the others around him "Is it locked?" he asked and he walked toward Miles "Think the four of us could get it?" he asked again seeing the handle was locked.

Henry looks at Rory and smiles despite the insane situation he finds himself in, "We should bloody well try!"

"Yes, it's locked." Miles groans.

He starts backing up to give himself a running start at the door.

"Agreed. Billy says to Henry and Rory."

Seeing the not terribly physically imposing Miles getting ready to take a running start at the door he says, "Hold on just a minute, lad, don't go hurting yourself."

Billy looks over the door, particularly for which side the hinges would appear to be on. Being a bit more physically stout than Miles, Billy sets himself to take a shot at the door.

"Hey now don't go hurting yourself. Maybe we should all give it a good solid shove?" Rory stated as he glanced over what they had to work with. "Also those men could be on the otherside." Rory didn't seem to pay any mind to the dead figure.

"Fair enough, guv. We'll do it your way." Billy says to Rory.

"Although this wouldn't be the first door I've had to kick in in my life time." he adds with a wicked grin, trying to lighten his own mood if no one else's

"Alright then, altogether now 1... 2... 3!"

Henry pushes hoping his muscle, the little he had overseeing men and women who labored would aid he and his allies in opening the chamber door.

Strength 2d10 ⇒ (6, 8) = 14.

"I didn't hear anything on the other side of the door... though that could just be because the door was too thick." Miles scuffs his boot on the rune-covered floor.

don't think about them just focus on getting out of here

He then joins in on trying to shove open the door.

Strength: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Billy works along with his fellow captives, attempting to escape.

Strength: 3d10 ⇒ (8, 5, 7) = 20

Billy, Miles and Henry heave their weight against the door, which groans and shifts before breaking near the lock. The crack when the door breaks is deafening against the silence. You find yourselves in a stone walled corridor. Stairs going up are visible at the end of the hallway, past 3 doors that open off the same side as the door you came out of.

Edit: Henry also now knows that he has 1 dot of potence, as with all your current disciplines all you really understand is that your physical abilities in that area seem improved.

Rory would find himself unable to really get himself a spot. So instead he would stay close ready to punch or kick whomever was on the other side.

"Well s$*+e, they had to have heard that. Best we shuffle our feet boys."

Rory turns to see if he can spot anything he can use as a weapon. Even a leg off a chair or table would do.

5d10 ⇒ (8, 8, 5, 1, 8) = 30
(Perception 3 + awareness 2)

"Bet your ass, we do." Billy responds, as he keeps an eye on the doors in the hallway.

The only thing in this room that could be used as a weapon is breaking a leg off a table. Maybe some of the other rooms on this floor have something better?

Henry looks at his own hands.

"I feel odd... As if it's hard to put my finger on it. Stronger, faster. I can't quite explain it, perhaps being in this situation, in such danger has my senses more finely attuned?"

Henry steps back into the room with Rory, 'Let's break this table up yes? One club for each of us. It would not be prudent to fight a man holding a dagger with our bare hands".

"That wouldn't be a first either." Billy says, keeping an eye on the hallway.

"That being said, I won't turn down one of those clubs you're makin'."

You break the legs off one of the tables rather quickly.

You can hear someone moving down the stairs to investigate what that noise was.

"Hurry up! Someone's coming!" Miles whispers as he takes a table leg and looks for somewhere to hide.

Oh, I REALLY wish I had a gun right now...

Dexterity for Stealth: 3d10 ⇒ (7, 3, 6) = 16

"Hurry up! Someone's coming!" Miles whispers as he takes a table leg and looks for somewhere to hide.

Oh, I REALLY wish I had a gun right now...

[dice=Dexterity for Stealth]3d10

There really isn't anywhere to hide in this room.

"Miles and we'll give them what for when they try to step in!"

Henry starts breathing heavily nervous about the upcoming confrontation, Henry is no warrior but he will meet his fate bravely if not with some substantial apprehension!

He moves to stand by the door to smack whoever walks in first.

Rory took a club and he peeked into the hall to see if there are any other rooms or infants in the hall. "we could try going down the hall in the direction they aren't coming from?" though he knew they could likely just end up deeper in trouble.

5d10 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 9, 2) = 20(perception+awareness)

"Toss me one of the table legs, and I'll bash one of their heads in for 'em"

Miles meekly swallows.

Henry tosses Billy a table leg, "I certainly do hope you have done this before. I fear fighting is not something I have any experience with though it appears I will have to be a quick study...".

As the footsteps draw closer Henry's pulse quickens, or does it? He is not sweating as he normally does when he is nervous, his breath is not coming in gasps. Odd, very odd indeed. Need to focus for now but odd.

Rory took a club and he peeked into the hall to see if there are any other rooms or infants in the hall. "we could try going down the hall in the direction they aren't coming from?" though he knew they could likely just end up deeper in trouble.

5d10(perception+awareness)

your quick glance down the hallway shows that you are at the opposite end from the stairs. You notice two men in robes and masks heading down the hallway, both with a pistol and a knife.

Rory inhaled sharply and moved to stand beside the door out of immediate sight. "Two, a knife and a gun." he warned holding his club. He stood on the side of the door ready to swing like a batter.

4d10 ⇒ (6, 10, 8, 4) = 28(str+melee)

Miles' hands are trembling as he clutches his table leg and gets ready for a fight.

His eyes are on the mens' guns. I hope they brought ammo too...

Initiative rolls
bad guys: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Miles: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Rory: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Henry: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Billy: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Rory would ready his swing. When the men with the gun entered he would sell for his face (4 successes from last roll against 6. If higher 3)

Round 1: Actions
Run up to nearest gunman and try to knock the gun out of his hand!

A terrified Miles, caught between a metaphorical rock and a very real hard place, decides to throw all caution to the wind in his terror and rushes at the first gunman, swinging his table leg at the man's gun hand.

Disarm (Dexterity): 3d10 ⇒ (10, 10, 1) = 21
Weapon Damage (Strength + 2 Dice): 1d10 + 2d10 ⇒ (9) + (5, 3) = 17

Rory and Miles both strike at the two robed enemies as they enter the room.

Both of them feel a rush of strength through them as they strike at their respective foes.

Miles smashes the hand of his enemy that is holding the gun.

soak: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

The enemy doesn't drop his pistol but it discharges off into the room, you hear the ball ricochet off the wall.

Rory just goes to brain his foe extra dice from celerity: 1d10 ⇒ 3
damage: 6d10 ⇒ (2, 3, 8, 9, 7, 1) = 30
soak: 2d10 ⇒ (7, 3) = 10

He smashes his table leg into the shoulder of the second foe.

At this point all four of you have a dot of celerity and potence. In character you don't know how to control if you use them passively or actively. I leave it up to you guys to manage how that exactly affects your character, but more stressful situations will likely cause you to use the version that requires blood.

The enemies attack back

pistol shot at Rory;dex+firearms: 5d10 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 2, 4) = 18 The round flies wide.

knife slash at Miles;dex+melee: 4d10 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 8) = 16 damage: 3d10 ⇒ (6, 10, 4) = 20 2 lethal damage to Miles as the robed man slashes at Miles torso. He can soak as normal.

Miles will discover that he has also become tougher due to whatever ritual happened to you. He also has 1 dot of Fortitude and should roll that dice for soaking as well.

Miles should also make a self control check to resist frenzy Difficulty 4.

How much tougher has Miles become? Did I gain a dot of Stamina or something?

Soak (Stamina + Fortitude): 2d10 + 1d10 ⇒ (3, 9) + (3) = 15 1 Success, I think!

Self-Control: 3d10 ⇒ (2, 2, 10) = 14 1 Success!

Miles barely feels the knife plunging into his gut, save for a flash of pain.

...

...

...and something else. Rage. Unbelievably powerful rage, clawing at his mind.