-Nate
Introduction
The American
frontier is home to a diverse group of people, including myriad
ethnic backgrounds, professions, political philosophies and religious
beliefs. The ideal is that they all can live together in harmony;
sadly, reality is often much different. This is one such instance,
when a wicked person attempts to exploit the beliefs of some and
oppress those of others—but hopefully a traveling troupe of
entertainers can foil that foul plot.
Adventure
Synopsis
This adventure
begins when the PCs—a troupe of entertainers traveling by
riverboat—arrive in the frontier town known as The Crossing. On the
surface this place might seem like a devoutly religious little
community, but appearances can be deceiving. They experience a series
of strange encounters, including the arrest of a Native American
visitor, tales of terrible nightmares, a woebegone preacher and an
unexplained death, and hopefully can piece together the clues to
reveal the culprit.
For
the Gun Master
The truth of the
matter is that a powerful bokor, who is masquerading as a revivalist
Christian preacher, has set up shop in The Crossing, and is using his
powers (night terrors) to afflict people's dreams, making them
believe that they're condemned to suffer eternal torment unless they
can find redemption by submitting to his teachings.
Involving
the Heroes
This scenario drops
the PCs right into the middle of the action, as a group of travelers
disembarking from a steamboat at The Crossing. Since it is assumed
that they've been together aboard the steamboat for some time, the
players should introduce their characters and provide any description
and background information that they deem appropriate.
Scene
1—Arrival
The steamboat is
docked alongside the long pier that extends from the shoreline into
the river; the PCs are just making their way onto land when they are
caught up in the growing conflict. Refer to the supplement “The
Crossing Revisited” for a layout of the town.
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Amid the
hustle and bustle of a riverboat landing—that is, steam
whistles, tramping feet, roustabouts shouting and the excited
conversation of the passengers—you hear one voice call out.
“Hey! Stop that thief!”
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This scene takes
place at Location A on the map of the Landing. In addition to the PCs
and the others who are crowded around the pier, Sheriff Gerald
Lawrence and two deputies are closing in on a native brave, Red Hawk,
who is running for the river. It is Lawrence who cried out, and he
points toward the fleeing warrior. With that, it's time to enter
initiative order.
For their part,
Lawrence and the deputies draw their pistols and open fire on the
fleeing Red Hawk, while he heads for the protection of the water.
Hopefully the PCs decide to intervene. While the sheriff is not to
worried about shooting “an injun,” he can be prevented from doing
so if someone raises a concern about the issue. In game terms, that
could be accomplished through a Persuasion check by one of the PCs,
which causes the bystanders to start questioning and grumbling. As
long as they prevent the lawmen from killing Red Hawk, the PCs can
learn the brave's story, including the following details.
- The fleeing man is Red Hawk; he came to The Landing seeking a fellow warrior, Running Wolf.
- Red Hawk is accompanied by a medicine man, Grey Buffalo, who is camped outside of town further inland.
- Running Wolf came to The Landing after he'd spent some time in the wilderness on a vision quest.
- When he came to town, Red Hawk learned that Running Wolf had become a “cuthair,” having donned the white man's clothing and converted to Christianity.
- Running Wolf is currently staying at the local church, where he is assisting the preacher.
- Red Hawk has stolen the Running Wolf's tomahawk, which the converted brave had given to the church as a sign of his seeking a new path in life. Since it is an item passed down by Running Wolf's forefathers, Red Hawk believes it should be given to another family member.
Development
The PCs should be
able to de-escalate this situation through quick thinking and fast
action. Even so, Sheriff Lawrence insists that Red Hawk be arrested
and taken into custody. As that happens, the brave shouts, “There
is something not right in this town!” before he is hauled away.
Scene
2—Around Town
In the aftermath of
this incident, the PCs can do some exploring and find a place to
stay. In doing so, they can learn the following information by
visiting different locations.
The
Jail
If they didn't learn
any of the details of Red Hawk's story, the PCs could visit him at
the sheriff's office (location I) to hear more of the story. Of
course, that brings more interaction with the sheriff, which could
complicate matters for the PCs.
Gerald
Lawrence
The new sheriff of The Landing is a relative newcomer, a man who
wandered into town and then was pushed into power as an ardent
follower of Reverend Bouchard. In truth he is a thief whom Bouchard
has recruited to steal items from unsuspecting victims and act as
legal enforcer.
Attributes:
Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d4, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Climbing d4, Fighting d4, Lockpicking d8, Notice d6, Persuasion d4,
Shooting d6, Stealth d8
Charisma:
--,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
4, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Fleet-Footed
Hindrances:
Greedy (Major)
Gear:
Clothing, Colt Peacemaker (Range 12/24/48, Damage 2d6+1, RoF 1),
Bowie knife (Damage Str+d4+1), lockpicks.
Red
Hawk
This
native warrior is out of his element at The Landing, but worry about
his friend, Running Wolf, has driven him to come here. He suspects
that there is something wrong about the town, but he does not know
just what it is.
Attributes:
Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Fighting d6, Notice d6, Riding d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d6, Survival
d6, Tracking d6
Charisma:
--,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
4, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Alertness, No Mercy
Hindrances:
Outsider
Gear:
Bow (Range 12/24/48, Damage 2d6, RoF 1), knife (Damage d6+d4).
The
Saloon
In the saloon (area
D) there are two people who can shed some light on the situation. One
is Elizabeth Gray, the saloon keeper, who can tell about the rapid
rise to power of both Reverend Bouchard and his deacon, Sheriff
Lawrence, along with the discomforting dream that she had (but only
if asked about it specifically).
The other person
present is Reverend Malachi Smith, the man who has had his position
and congregation usurped by the newcomer. The latter even mentions
that “There's a strange fear of sin, judgment and damnation that
hangs over the people of this town.” Only if the PCs ask
specifically does Gray mention a nightmare that she had recently;
this is detailed in the Appendix, below. Similarly, other locals can
tell about their own bad dreams, if the PCs think to ask the right
questions.
The
Church
A visit to the
church (location E) lets the PCs meet Running Wolf and Reverend
Bouchard. Both are present during the day, while only the prior stays
here at night.
Reverend
Edmond Bouchard
Bouchard plays the part of a pious church leader, but he is in fact a
bokor who is inflicting bad dreams on the locals in order to convince
them that they need to repent their sins in order to be saved.
Because of that he is beloved by the people, and thus commands
tremendous influence throughout The Landing. He acts with a sense of
righteousness, even if his true motivation and purpose at The Landing
remain a secret.
Attributes:
Agility d4, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Fighting d4, Investigation d6, Notice d6, Occult d6, Persuasion d8,
Streetwise d6, Voodoo d12
Pace:
6', Parry:
4, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Arcane Background (Voodoo), Charismatic, Command, Fervor, Power
Points (x2), New Power (x4)
Hindrances:
Overconfident
Special
Abilities
Power
Points:
20; Powers:
Confusion, Divination, Fear, Night Terrors, Speak Language, Spirit
Walk
Gear:
Clothing, religious materials, tomahawk (Range 3/6/12, Damage Str +
d6), conjure bag.
Bouchard plays the
part of the pious preacher, acting as if he loves everyone and wants
to help them lead better lives. If questioned too deeply or otherwise
threatened, however, he becomes brusque and insists that “The
sheriff should be a part of this interrogation.” Running Wolf comes
to his defense if needed, and Bouchard attempts to flee the scene if
the PCs resort to violence.
Running
Wolf
During
his vision quest, this brave saw something that convinced him he
needed to follow the path of the white man (as detailed in the
Appendix, below). For that reason he has come to The Landing and
seeks to learn what he can, even if this place and the people's way
of life feel strange and uncomfortable to him.
Attributes:
Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Fighting d6, Notice d6, Riding d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d6, Survival
d6, Tracking d6
Charisma:
--,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
4, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Alertness, No Mercy
Hindrances:
Outsider
Gear:
Bow (Range 12/24/48, Damage 2d6, RoF 1), knife (Damage d6+d4).
The
Camp
Finally, heading out
to Red Hawk's camp lets the PCs meet Grey Buffalo, the medicine man.
He can explain that he accompanied Red Hawk to this location after
the warrior was concerned about his friend. He can be a valuable ally
for the PCs if are overpowered by the forces in town, or if they need
to go on a Spirit Walk to learn more about the situation.
Medicine
Man (Veteran)
More
powerful medicine men can even begin to explore the world beyond this
one.
Attributes:
Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Fighting d4, Healing d4, Knowledge (local) d4, Notice d4, Persuasion
d6, Survival d4, Tribal Medicine d10
Charisma:
--,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
6, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Arcane Background (Shamanism), Improved Rapid Recharge, New Power x2,
Power Points x2, Rapid Recharge
Hindrances:
Outsider
Powers:
Armor, beast friend, boost/lower Trait, deflection, dispel, spirit
walk; Power Points:
15
Gear:
Trappings, staff (Damage d6+d4, Parry +1, Reach 1, requires 2 hands).
Scene
3—At Night
Perhaps the best
opportunity for the PCs to do some snooping comes in the night, when
most of the townsfolk are asleep and there is the cover of darkness.
Some of the places they might want to investigate include the
following locations.
The
Graveyard
If the PCs have
learned of Gareth Hildebrand's unfortunate death—he died,
apparently from fright, in the middle of the night—then they might
want to visit his grave (in the small cemetery next to the church,
Area E). Those with access to powers such as Grave Speak or
Divination can speak with the dead man's spirit, and therefore learn
of his dream.
The
House
The most important
evidence can be found, of course, in the house (Location G) where
Reverend Bouchard is staying. While most of that establishment is
quite normal, it has a hidden basement; it takes a Notice check to
locate the secret staircase that leads down to it. On one of the two
long tables in the basement there are numerous seemingly innocuous
items—belongings taken by Gerald Lawrence from unsuspecting
victims, which allow Bouchard to use his Night Terrors power against
them. These include a handkerchief embroidered with the initials of
Godfrey Werner; a lock of hair tied with a string taken from
Elizabeth Grey; and a small wooden box that holds a U.S. Marshal's
badge that formerly belonged to Gareth Hildebrand. The second table
holds a metal lockbox, which is filled with $1000 in bills, coins,
and other items of value donated by the pious townsfolk to the false
preacher.
While discovering
these items can provide the PCs with a vital clue, being caught in
the house is a considerable problem. Reverend Bouchard immediately
sounds the alarm, and Sheriff Lawrence—who also stays at the
house—starts shooting and calls for his deputies. What is more, the
fact that so many people in town revere the new preacher means that
they try to help the lawmen subdue and capture people who they
believe to be meddling interlopers. Such a sprawling altercation
leads into the final scene, below.
Scene
4—All In
Revealing Bouchard's
deception and talking down the angry townsfolk requires a Persuasion
check. Having the items from the basement provides a +2 bonus to that
check, and at the GM's discretion good roleplaying could grant a
similar benefit. On the other hand, if the PCs have done anything to
make the locals distrust them, or if they handle the diplomacy in a
bad way, then the GM could apply a -2 or even -4 penalty to the
check. Until they succeed, the lawmen and the preacher continue their
attacks, using more force than is necessary in order to silence those
who can expose the plot.
Once the PCs do
convince the crowd, however, the locals cease their interference.
What is more, success with a raise means that some of them are even
willing to help the PCs. This should still make for a challenging
fight, but one that becomes much more manageable without the entire
town rising up against the heroes. What is more, the deputies can be
dissuaded from fighting if the PCs defeat the sheriff and then make a
successful Intimidate check.
Finally, if they
are being overwhelmed, then Bouchard and Lawrence could make a run
for the livery (Area J in town) and try to steal a couple of horses
with which to attempt a getaway.
Epilogue
In the end, the PCs
can shake up the balance of power in The Crossing, possibly creating
an opening for someone else to take charge. The locals are grateful
for them exposing the truth, and at the GM's discretion, they might
provide goods or services as a sign of their gratitude. The PCs are
welcome to stay as long as they will in town, and perhaps even to
provide a new candidate for sheriff, or until another adventure comes
their way.
Further
Adventures
Detailed below are
just a few of the possibilities for additional business in which the
PCs can become entangled.
- While the events of this scenario lead the PCs to a number of locations through the town, there are plenty more that they might choose to visit of their own volition—and each of these is a chance for the GM to introduce NPCs for later use.
- As mentioned above, the inhabitants of The Crossing could be impressed by the PCs' abilities, and even recruit them to provide a new sheriff and deputies.
- Similarly, the PCs may have earned the trust of Running Wolf, Red Hawk and Gray Buffalo, who in turn could recruit them to help with business for which they require assistance from “city folk.”
- Finally, there is the matter of a cryptic cipher on a piece of paper tucked in the box with Gareth Hildebrand's U.S. Marshal badge—but that is a matter for another adventure.
Appendix—The
Stuff of Nightmares
Detailed below are
the dreams with which various locals have recently been afflicted.
- Godfrey Werner, who owns the warehouse (Area B), saw himself on a steamboat, headed back east; it suffered a fiery explosion and began sinking. He tried to board one of the ship's boats, but was carrying too many valuables, and the boat foundered... As a result of this, Werner's hair has turned grey at the temples.
- Gerald Lawrence, the new sheriff, if asked mentions that he hasn't had any bad dreams recently.
- Reverend Malachi Smith has had no dreams, either, but he is still frustrated about losing his congregation to the newcomer, Reverend Bouchard.
- Elizabeth Gray, who runs the saloon (Location D), dreamt of an earthquake, one that tore open a sinkhold and began swallowing up her establishment. As the walls and ceiling collapsed around her, the booze-soaked earth began dragging her down like quicksand...
- Running Wolf was out on the plains, hunting buffalo. The sun was oppressively hot; a scouring wind arose, blowing dust before it. Animals cried out in pain and tried to flee, but were overcome. He managed to stay ahead of it, but was driven ever eastward, until he had reached the town and saw the church, with its doors open, promising sanctuary...
- One of the recently deceased is an old man, Gareth Hildebrand, who died of fright in his sleep. His spirit, if questioned, reveals his dream: It was back during the Civil War, during the Battle of Atlanta. When the fires started there and burned out of control, he tried to help fight them. In the flames he saw demons frolicking, diabolical figures wearing gray and blue uniforms.
- Finally, if Reverend Bouchard has the time and opportunity to do so, then he might use his Night Terrors power to inflict a terrifying dream on one or more of the PCs.
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