Brent is a bit of a hard luck case. He's experiencing mental illness, which makes it hard for him to hold down a steady living situation or seek services. But it also means that when he sees things that humanity was not meant to witness, people don't take him seriously and he flies under the radar. You're good at separating the wheat from the chaff, as it were and you can easily figure out what's worth following up on.
When the weather is nice, Brent camps out in the woods by Ashby Manor. The "haunted" house acts as a lightning rod for local teens; why bother him when there's a spooky old house to explore while stoned?
Yeah...yeah. Oh man, it was bonkers! Three, four days ago, this white van drove up to the chain, unhooked it and drove up the road. They made several trips and there was all kinds of commotion up at the Manor. I was worried that the building had been sold and was being redeveloped, so I snuck up there to get a better look. They were setting up generators, carrying lights in. Three or four dudes, I think. It was dark most of the time they were working, I didn't get a good look at their faces. There was one who seemed to be in charge, they called him...uh..."May Sue" or something like that. He didn't talk much but he also didn't do very much work. He'd just sort of sit back and the other guys would do all the lifting. I never saw his face.
He looks a little nervous, shifting his feet and scratching the back of his neck. Sometime Yesterday /a couple days ago there was all sorts of commotion, they got out of there in a hurry. First some kid speeding off in his car, then the van a couple of minutes later. They drove around the chain instead of taking it down. They dropped this on their way out...
He holds up a rear license plate. You want it?
As the can stops for a while, and Tom goes to talk to his friend, Allison fills a brass bowl with a water-bottle, andadds a few odd ingredients, turning the water Jet black. she whispers strange words as she peers into it, invoking the power of the eagle, to see the twon from above
The shadows that were blocking your vision of what happened in the manor remain around the building, but they've started to spread. There's a U-store4Less on Adamont Ave. that's also shrouded in an inky blackness. You can't see what's going on at the location, but they've basically called out exactly where they are. You'll go in blind, but they've narrowed down the spot they're at.
As far as what it's going to do, the aborted summoning is likely still on the table. Something this big would disrupt ley lines for miles around, so you don't think they've done it yet, but it's just a matter of time.
From the sketch of the circle, you can tell that there's a secondary summoning method. This creature can be brought forth in its full glory, but it can also transfer a portion of its power to an avatar. It'll be substantially less powerful, but the rules around anchoring and true names would still apply.
Tom jots the license plate number down on a piece of paper.
"Thanks for the information, but you can keep the plate," Tom answers. He certainly didn't want anything on him that might link him to that group.
He leaves to get back to the others and communicate what he heard, looking all the way way there for a car missing a rear license plate.
He calls back almost immediately. Mr. Metro? So formal Ari, so formal. His laugh is shrill and terrible. You feel icky just speaking to him on the phone. You’re right. Some void cultists are trying to bring a Shadowlord across to our plane. But the summoning spell they’re using will take “three lifetimes” to complete. It’s not our problem, it won’t be the problem of any of the gorgeous babies we make together and it won’t be the problem of our loving grandchildren. So why don’t you just come by Club Nocture in an hour or so? I’ll get us a bottle. We can forget about this nastiness and just give in to the night?
Zell Metro is the worst.
It’s been a couple days of radio silence. If you’re not feeling the game, let me know and we can tweak things to get back on track. In case people are into it, but not sure what to do next:
Cultists are trying to summon a BIG shadow monster
They could also opt to transform themselves into a much weaker (but still pretty scary) shadow monster
The full summoning allegedly takes “three lifetimes” so maybe it’s not a big rush
Except they have hostages that are probably still alive
They’re probably hiding out at a storage locker down town, but you can’t see inside.
They have little shadow goons that try to steal your shadow
If you go too long without a shadow, you age and die, but it can be sewn on with a magic needle
The shadow monster can be hurt or banished by inscribing a weapon with its true name or destroying its dimensional anchor
You PROBABLY know enough to fight the monster outright. You might be able to spot his anchor in the fighting or if you get a good look at the summoning circle someone could learn it’s true name.
Of course, you could also do more prep. Go shopping. Reach out to allies.
Sean flips a coin. "Heads, I'm calling my friends, and no offense to Sunny."
Seeing it come up heads, he makes a call to the members of his crew, asking about the orange roll-up door.
Adge gets back to you first. Yeah, yeah. I know the place. It’s the U-store4less on Addison...no no wait, Atlamont. Good security, but not GREAT security if you catch my drift. I dated this girl once, her cousin worked nights there. Said the cameras were out half the time. A’int hardly worth hitting. You ever see those storage wars shows? My luck, I’d hop that nasty chain link fence in the back where the barbed wire is missing and find a locker full of junk mail or a broken jet ski...
There is time to get your shotgun, flashlights and a new knife.
Sean thanks Adge and tells him he owes him a round, soon. Sean gives Sunny a big, crap-eating grin. "Sorry, Sunny, but my curiosity got the better of me. Your door's in the U-Store4Less on Altamont. One of my mates knew it as soon as I described it. But he'll keep quiet."
He stashes the shotgun behind the van's driver seat and puts the flashlights in the glove box, along with a box of extra shells.
"Shall we take a look?"
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Tom listens to Arianne's report with a bit of relief. Only later does he start thinking more about what she had said.
"Three lifetimes? Wait, if Jessie turned into an old man in a few minutes, and they kidnapped three of them... we may have to hurry."
Tom hops into the van after Sean. "Yes. And quickly."
Yeah... okay, so destroying the dimensional anchor would be lovely... but I'm going to go looking for the demons name, while Arianne finishes investigating.
She slinks away from the group,a dn back to her house while Sean Re-equips, Allison grabs chalk, salt, a few other "secret ingredients"... SHe hatex using Ulfaxries... but
Tell me about Ulfaxris. He’s the patron demon of...what? What earthly object does he love? What does he hate? Who did you betray to learn his true name? How did the last summoning go poorly for you.
"Hmm?" Sunny blinks up at Sean over a bucket of chicken that's mostly bones. "Oh, the picture? No big deal, I didn't want to put you out is all. How are we gonna make them let us in?"
"If they don't have such great security, I'm hoping we can just walk in? Preferably one of you can walk in with a plausible excuse and the rest of us can follow?" Tom asks. As eager as he was to get to the scene, he didn't want to sacrifice his reputation for it.
"We lucked out in that abandoned building, but I wouldn't count on security being lax. Cameras are everywhere these days. Ooo, maybe we can- like- some of us could roll in and demand to see their recordings, and while they're distracted, the others can break into the storage unit."
"We lucked out in that abandoned building, but I wouldn't count on security being lax. Cameras are everywhere these days. Ooo, maybe we can- like- some of us could roll in and demand to see their recordings, and while they're distracted, the others can break into the storage unit."
Relative to the fallen host, Ulfaxris is small-time. The patron demon of youthful drinking, obscenely loud music, and minor property damage. Most of his value comes from the fact that he is a very social demon, and one who causes a fairly minimal amount of damage if he is released, making Allison willing to risk it.
He loves Cheap, Crappy beer. He does not like authority. Cops, Parents... you get the gist.
So, one of the professors at the local UMass Campus (well, 30 minutes down 91 away... that's kinda local) Is a member of the "Magical Community". anyway, Professor MacMillan was an old hand at dispelling and banishing, actually taught her a couple of the tricks to it. But she kept a ledger with the names and descriptions of the entities she banished over the years, and Allison had thought Well, just one little one couldn't do much, could it.
well, about that... it had gone pretty well, until it came time to give him payment. Demons are tricky, and a chalk circle+PBR+A sudden loud noise... he got out. and, while Umass isn't exactly a stranger to ragers, ones lasting a day and a half are rare.
Allison hides in the alley, a 6 pack and a CD stashed to the side, and draws her circle, inscribing the name last.
She texts Sean. Might have a book with that guy's True name. Gonna chase that up. Arianne and Sunny didn't need to know about the demon summoning. They might get the wrong idea.
She says the name, putting enough will in it for it to be hard to resist... as if Ulfaxris would ever resist an opportunity to cross the veil. as he begins to appear, she wills the circle closed, and picks up the items, letting him get a good eyeful of the Miller and DeadMau5 album before she says anything.
Hey Ul, been a while. You seee, I'm in a spot. There's this shadow guy coming into ur world, and I want his name. think you could help me out here?
Ulfaxris appears in a puff of vape fog. On this plane of existence, he appears as a mix between River Phoenix before his death, James Dean immediately after his death and a mayfly. He looks bored, but it’s the affected kind of bored put on by teenagers trying to appear aloof and disinterested. He smells like partially digested orange juice. He’s texting and not looking at you at all.
When you ask him for help, he lets out a quick laugh that sounds like brakes applied a second too late, like the glass of your store window shattering in the middle of the night, like the tinnitus that makes silence deafening.
I might know what you’re talking about I guess. I can’t just tell you its name though. Nothing’s free.
How about these, then. Just one little name, and the Beer and Music are all yours. what do you say? She says, affecting a cheerful tone. can't let demons get to you.
He doesn’t look up from his phone. Booze and tunes first, but I can’t just give you its name. I’ll give you one bullet that’s been enchanted with his name, that’s it. Ok?
You've got a deal. But this better be for the right guy, or I'll bind you to a chair, and leave you in a vice principal's office for a couple decades. she says, placing the 6-pack and music in the circle. as soon as she gets the bullet, she dismisses him.
She returns to the group. Sean, I've got something for your gun. If we can get it in a weak enough state, this bullet should be able to end it. She says.
Anyone else doind anything, or are we gonna do this?
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He takes the beer and CD without looking at them or you and hands the bullet to you. Next time you call me, I'm going to want a little time out of this circle. Kids are vaping, Allison. Vaping. I want in on that.
He vanishes with an incredibly loud pop that leaves you ears ringing a bit.
Is there anything anyone else wants to do before making your way to the storage center?
Sean fills the others in on what Adge told him regarding the security of the storage place. He pulls on his leather gloves, then accepts the bullet from Allison, giving it a long look. He gets his pistol from the pancake holster, ejects the clip, clears the chamber, then empties the remaining 9mm JHP rounds from the clip. He replaces them with the round he got from Allison, chambers it, then replaces the weapon in its holster. He scoops up the rounds he took out of the clip, and puts them in the pocket of his jeans.
He grabs a duffel bag. He puts the box of spare shotgun shells and the shotgun in the bag. He takes out his flashlights, keeping one and offering the other up for use.
He grins at the group. "I'm ready."
"Hey, hey, hold up... Sean. I know this is way from left field here, but... could you give beanpole the gun? I mean, if you've got the gun, we've got one shot at this. If he's got the gun, I can come in an finish the job." Sunny looks up at Sean for four full seconds before elaborating. "I can't touch the thing till the chosen one gets a swing. I mean... I can. I could have beaten this thing into a shadowy pulp from the word go, obviously, it's just the kid's gotta get some wet work under his belt, you know?"
Sean looks at Sunny, then at Tom, then shrugs. He draws the Glock, turning it around and passing it grip first to Tom, then adds a spare clip. "Weapon's hot, Tommy. All you need to do is pull the trigger when the time comes. But once you do, it's empty, so take the spare, just in case. Those are regular rounds, though, so not sure what they'll do."
Not too much later you arrive at the storage center. Are you going in through the front? Sneaking in at the weak part in the fence? Splitting the group?
Tom is taken aback by having the gun pressed into his hand, but he doesn't manage to protest before being whisked away to the storage center.
Once there, he takes Sean aside and hands back the backup gun. "Sean, I've never fired a gun in my life. I guess I'm going to have to fire that one bullet so that Sunny doesn't drive me crazy. But I don't want to get us all killed because I took the gun from the only person here who knows how to operate the thing right."
Upon finishing his exchange with Sean, he will go and look over the entire area before passing the weak part of the fence. "I volunteer to check out any place that isn't pitch dark." He remembered all too well those shadows at the mansion, but he still expected worse things in the dark than in the light.
Okay guys. after we disrupt it with the bullet, I can cast it back into hell, or we can just beat it to death once it's disrupted. If the bullet misses, we need to find and destroy the anchor.
she grabs a work-bag I'll set up a banishment circle. Get him back here if you can.
Sean takes the weapon back, with a sigh and a nod. "Listen, kid. I didn't do that lightly. I know you're not a gunman, and I don't like asking you to be. But whoever shoots, you need to get in on it, because Sunny says he can't until you do. So, whether that means you taking one of my guns, or... whatever, we need you in there swinging. But you're family, and a member of my team. I've got your back." Sean heads for the weak spot in the fence, but holds up for Tom to do his thing, if need be.
You hop the fence without the rest of the crew and make your way to the unit from Sunny's drawing. As you turn the corner, you notice there are two men guarding the door. They're wearing street clothes, but you can see the bulge of a gun in one's jacket.They haven't seen you yet, but they will see you if you get any closer and they might see you if you try to turn around
Tom's heart starts pounding as soon as he sees the men. He couldn't turn around now, lest he alert them even more if he came back with all of the others.
He tries to wish them a "Good evening," as nonchalantly as possible, while walking right past them. He hoped they would assume he worked there.
However, his nervous smile doesn't seem to impress them.