Buffy Horror!
May. 5th, 2007 07:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
realsorienOkay, here's the last installment of the latest set of the Buffy Horror campaign; it took me a bit, but its finished. I've yet to complete the first writeup of the current Traveller run, but I've got a good start on that- with luck, it'll be done and live Sunday morning. It'll depend on how fried I am at work. :)
When we last left off in the adventure, our heroes had contacted Gene Simmons, the ne'er do well psychic assassin, in Boston at a KISS concert; the chaos-effect by this time had expanded to encompass an area well past the Boston city limits, and things were already getting fairly insane. With Simmons in tow, they proceeded to the parking lot of the concert arena to arrange for some form of transport back to Arkham, as they'd burned out the motor of the Cushman they'd used to get there in the first place.
Seeing as internal-combustion systems were prevented from functioning due to the chaos-effect, and electric vehicle of some sort was required. Greg suggested the acquisition of a hybrid vehicle, one that they could cut the IC systems out of the loop so that it would run purely on the electric motors.
Such a vehicle was quickly located, and Greg and Bill began the process of modifying it for the trip back. However, in the lives of our heroes nothing is so simple. As the pair worked, a trio of almost-stereotypical housewives, moving as if in a pack caught sight of them. Upon seeing Greg one of the group yelled 'Hey look! Skinhead!' and the lot of them began running towards our heroes!
Bill looked to Greg and said, 'RUN. I'll get it started and we'll pick you up!' And so Greg began hauling ass to get away from the chaos-afflicted women. As he'd thought, the women ignored Bill and the rest of the crew, going after their 'skinhead' target. Soon enough, he gets the car running, hops in and heads after Greg and the gaggle of 'Desperate Housewives'.
Greg for his part is having some troubles; he's really not in the best of shape for running, and being a smoker sure isn't helping. He starts to slow down and the women are gaining on him! Bill and company are catching up to the scene when the Housewives suddenly veer off down a cross street, away from Greg! After a moments confusion, its realized that Gene has mentally diverted them. Greg is picked up and the journey back to Arkham is begun.
The trip back is uneventful, especially with most vehicles disabled. Once they reach Arkham again they notice something disturbing- a black limousine is cruising the streets, obviously an IC vehicle, it seems untouched but the chaos effect. They get a look at the license plate: HTH WAY is what it reads... Hathaway? Perhaps not a good thing given revelations concerning the owner of the building Michael worked at...
Bill, not wanting to get involved with ANOTHER complication, attempts to evade the limo; however, it begins following them despite his inexpert attempts; eventually, they decide to just head to the radio station, not having any real way to avoid the potential confrontation. Once there, it just cruises on by, pausing briefly just down the street. Someone notices that the thing doesn't seem to have a driver, and that all the windows are tinted so that the passengers, if any, are utterly concealed.
Our heroes and Gene head into the station, finding things much as they were when they left, save that the intern has tucked Artemis Love/Dr. Beck in on a cot. Gene checks into the minds of Joe and Dr. Beck, and manages to discover that Beck's mind has been captured by something demoniac! Now, he say that he can't go where Beck's mind is held, he CAN send the roommates...
Discussions ensue; Gene discovers that Joe hasn't taught Jackie ANY psychic-combat techniques. He's unsurprised but disappointed by this, and gives Jackie a crash-course on the basic-basics. He explains that he'll be mentally projecting the crew into a place that will be much like his Dreamweb in how it works, and that Jackie is the linchpin, as her psychic abilities are what will hold them together.
Everyone gets as comfortable as they can, and Gene begins...
And they find themselves on a vast, flat plane with a rise off in one direction. Standing just behind them is Gene, in his full faux-KISS outfit. Their direction of travel is towards the rise, but the distances seem vast- Transport is required. With the reminder that this situation is like the Dreamweb, Jackie attempts to get a vehicle, and ends up with a vicious-looking corvette; another attempt ends up with an almost 'Ghost Rider'-like motorcycle, which Greg chooses to ride with Jackie. Bill takes the wheel of the 'vette, and they head off, Gene remaining behind to await their (hopefully) successful return.
After an indeterminately long drive across the plane, they find themselves at a vast wall; it seems to extend infinitely in either direction from where they are. Its made of iron, and is rusted and coated in some oily substance; speculation as to what it is likely not pleasant. In the middle of this is a vast pair of doors with a pair of handles; Greg looks at them and asks for a rope or chain to hitch one of the vehicles up to pull them open- Bill then just walks over and pulls them open.
Past the doors is what appears to be a narrow corridor, about eight feet wide; the floor is oily dirt and the ceiling seems a great distance above. As they enter and walk forward they hear the doors shut with a rather disheartening clang...
Jackie, able to sense somewhat where Dr. Beck's mind is, indicates that it lies somewhere directly ahead; however, the corridor ends in a 'T' intersection. They pick a direction (left), and continue; only to encounter another 'T' intersection, and Jackie still senses Dr. Beck's mind directly ahead!
Different things are tried, based on the Dreamweb-like aspects of the bizarre place; Jackie repeatedly tries to find a way over the walls, summoning ladders and ropes; each time, what she tries for is perverted somehow- the ladder is too short, or its made of solid iron, or the rope isn't connected to the top of the wall... Each of the other housemates make attempts in a similar vein, also facing either a perverted result of their efforts, or nothing happening at all.
Gabriel by this point is getting bored. So, instead of trying to help, he attempts to summon up some entertainment in the form of a french maid; oddly enough, this is perverted too, but not in a way he dislikes. Instead of a french maid, he gets a beautiful blond Austrian woman, who is very interested in his attentions... While the frustration of his newly found friends mounts, he gets involved in... Other interests. Unfortunately for him, he finds he's unable to complete the act, which is not what he'd hoped.
Greg, during this attempts to meditate, to clear his head and focus his thoughts- instead, he seems to become more excited and driven rather than relaxed and focussed, though it does seem to help.
Finally, some progress seems to be made, as jackie senses that they're actually getting closer through their efforts. It may be a maze, but it isn't an insurmountable one. However, she's getting worn out psychically; she lays down to rest, and tries imagining herself in Florida on spring break. She does manage to relax, and then tries to visualize Artemis, the projection-version of Dr. Beck there in the maze with them... And suddenly he IS there!
Unfortunately, he's not all that much help, being chaotic and unfocussed. Jackie gets angry and frustrated, and Artemis wanders off, pouting. However, there WAS the progress that they were making already. Bill suggests that Jackie try focussing within rather than on the external events, and it seems to help; the temperature drops in the area around them, cooling and becoming more comfortable, and more frequent intersections which seems to be an indication of progress.
And then, Jackie KNOWS where he is. In HER.
And so, they have their goal, sort of. They are at another T intersection- in one direction the passage goes on forever; in the other... is a vast circular room. There is a stone platform or altar in the middle of the vast space, and passages are spaced evenly around the periphery. At the doorway directly opposite where they stand something is waiting: Joel, Jackie's former boyfriend! When they last saw him, he'd been with Sue Damos, serving as a demonstration of her power and as an implied threat.
Past him is the way out, or so they think. Bill recalls the myth of the Minotaur, that a golden ball of thread was used by the hero of that tale to find his way out; they think that they see a glimmer of something shiny just past Joel which might be the fabled thread. Jackie tries to talk with Joel, and its obvious that he's on the ragged edge of control. 'Hungry' he growls... He's apparently been conditioned, or requires, human flesh for food. Jackie tries to feed him, using the reality-bending abilities provided by their environment, and succeeds; everyone crosses the room, passing through the doorway past Joel; however, Joel is soon through with the 'food' and is still hungry... And the chase begins.
It becomes fairly apparent that Joel will catch up. Greg, remembering that this IS like the dreamweb, tries to go werewolf; he succeeds, and Joel stops, faced with an actual threat! Jackie follows Greg's lead a moment later, while Bill, as usual, has troubles. Gabriel for his part hasn't stopped running and hasn't seen what has occurred- he DOES hear the growls and howls however, and is convinced to CONTINUE running.
Greg engages Joel, and the tooth-and-claws vs. axe-and-horns battle is joined; Jackie holds back for the moment, and Bill tries once again for a Dreamweb effect, aiming to be the card-image which represented him in the Tarot reading back at the carnival- the Knight of Swords! He gets the sword, at least... Which is strangely light and easy to wield.
Greg in the meantime has been wounded, but seems to not really notice. He gets Joel by the throat, and the taste of blood starts driving him to animalistic extremes; he WANTS to kill, and is HUNGRY! About then, Bill reenters the scene; he runs up Greg's back and stabs at Joel, saying 'I'm sorry...' as he does- he hits, but does little damage.
Things then get ugly. Bill manages to get off of the two snarling combatants just as Greg shreds his opponent, and starts to feed... Bill gets the hell back, knowing that there's little he can do; Jackie tries to intervene, and is first viewed as a rival trying to get at Greg's meal, and then... As his mate. He tries to mount her, and she psychically tries to reach Greg's human mind, finally succeeding almost to late. He comes to his senses, sees what he's done and vomits; moments after, he shifts back to being human, and collapses, horribly wounded and unconscious.
By this time Gabriel has rejoined the group, and he gets the story of what happened. Greg seems to dying; Jackie tries to help him, but nothing she tries seems to be helping. Bill had earlier tried to materialize a can of 'Mach 6'; he got it, but it was labeled 'Bill's Mach 6'. Seeing little other choice, he pours half the can down Greg's throat carefully; with a shudder, Greg starts breathing again, and is bleeding; Jackie tries to psychically heal him and this time succeeds. However, Bill is immediately struck with pain as some of his life-force has gone to restore Greg!
With the battle over, the passage is searched; the thread is soon found and leads almost instantly to a familiar set of huge iron doors. They push through and are once again on the plain outside. The vehicles that they'd had earlier are gone, however. Jackie summons up a replica of her old car, destroyed so long ago in the fight with the Waxwork Man and they make their way back to Gene.
Greg, during the trip is acting unusually hostile; he doesn't seem to see the change in his personality, but the others do and are concerned by it- how has he been affected by his near-death experience in this place? Gabriel continues to play with the reality-changing aspect of the place, summoning drinks from nowhere; he offers a drink to Greg, who sips... and immediately Gabriel feels a sharp pain; the things he's summoning are coalesced bits of himself, just the same as the 'Mach 6' that Bill summoned! He snatches the drink back.
Finally, they arrive back at Gene. He's been waiting for three days for their return, and is bored... When asked by Jackie, he says that there HAS been an affect on Greg, but he can't say exactly what. Moments later, they all begin to awaken; Where most of the crew are as they were on their entry into their quest, Greg is pitched off the chair he was in, and the intern says that he was convulsing!
Everyone gets their bearings, and stock is taken of their situation; they're provided with candy and snacks by the intern, and both Joe and Dr. Beck are restored. When they look outside, they see a line of black vans driving about; the MIBs are moving to contain the situation by altering people's recollections! They quickly shut the door again.
After some final discussions, Gene takes his leave of the group in the modified Prius, while the roommates head off to different places- Greg heads for the shop and the others head back to the dormhouse. Once there, they face a confrontation: a glowing being of unearthly beauty is there, who identifies himself as the Archangel Dominic!
Bill immediately goes to his knees, knowing what he faces; the being demands 'Do you know what you have DONE?' to which they tried to explain... Not that he was listening. He prepares to judge them, which certainly doesn't sound like a good thing, and another being walks in; also unearthly, he has horns and a tail... and Names himself Asmodeus. As it turns out, he is NOT Sue Damos. And he isn't pleased to hear of someone using his name, even as an anagram. Asmodeus gets Dominic to back off, with the truthful argument that the housemates are NOT to blame, simply pawns and victims in a larger scheme.
Dominic departs, and Asmodeus stays for a bit of question-and-answer. Bill gladly tells him everything he knows about Sue, hoping for a significant amount of payback for what she'd done to him and his friends. He also asks Asmodeus about Michael's cross, much to the consternation and shock of his fellows; after looking at it, Asmodeus tells him that 'this can no longer serve you'. Bill doesn't mention what he was thinking or why he did this to either his friends or Asmodeus...
And so the season ends for our intrepid heroes; tune in next season to continue following their adventures!
When we last left off in the adventure, our heroes had contacted Gene Simmons, the ne'er do well psychic assassin, in Boston at a KISS concert; the chaos-effect by this time had expanded to encompass an area well past the Boston city limits, and things were already getting fairly insane. With Simmons in tow, they proceeded to the parking lot of the concert arena to arrange for some form of transport back to Arkham, as they'd burned out the motor of the Cushman they'd used to get there in the first place.
Seeing as internal-combustion systems were prevented from functioning due to the chaos-effect, and electric vehicle of some sort was required. Greg suggested the acquisition of a hybrid vehicle, one that they could cut the IC systems out of the loop so that it would run purely on the electric motors.
Such a vehicle was quickly located, and Greg and Bill began the process of modifying it for the trip back. However, in the lives of our heroes nothing is so simple. As the pair worked, a trio of almost-stereotypical housewives, moving as if in a pack caught sight of them. Upon seeing Greg one of the group yelled 'Hey look! Skinhead!' and the lot of them began running towards our heroes!
Bill looked to Greg and said, 'RUN. I'll get it started and we'll pick you up!' And so Greg began hauling ass to get away from the chaos-afflicted women. As he'd thought, the women ignored Bill and the rest of the crew, going after their 'skinhead' target. Soon enough, he gets the car running, hops in and heads after Greg and the gaggle of 'Desperate Housewives'.
Greg for his part is having some troubles; he's really not in the best of shape for running, and being a smoker sure isn't helping. He starts to slow down and the women are gaining on him! Bill and company are catching up to the scene when the Housewives suddenly veer off down a cross street, away from Greg! After a moments confusion, its realized that Gene has mentally diverted them. Greg is picked up and the journey back to Arkham is begun.
The trip back is uneventful, especially with most vehicles disabled. Once they reach Arkham again they notice something disturbing- a black limousine is cruising the streets, obviously an IC vehicle, it seems untouched but the chaos effect. They get a look at the license plate: HTH WAY is what it reads... Hathaway? Perhaps not a good thing given revelations concerning the owner of the building Michael worked at...
Bill, not wanting to get involved with ANOTHER complication, attempts to evade the limo; however, it begins following them despite his inexpert attempts; eventually, they decide to just head to the radio station, not having any real way to avoid the potential confrontation. Once there, it just cruises on by, pausing briefly just down the street. Someone notices that the thing doesn't seem to have a driver, and that all the windows are tinted so that the passengers, if any, are utterly concealed.
Our heroes and Gene head into the station, finding things much as they were when they left, save that the intern has tucked Artemis Love/Dr. Beck in on a cot. Gene checks into the minds of Joe and Dr. Beck, and manages to discover that Beck's mind has been captured by something demoniac! Now, he say that he can't go where Beck's mind is held, he CAN send the roommates...
Discussions ensue; Gene discovers that Joe hasn't taught Jackie ANY psychic-combat techniques. He's unsurprised but disappointed by this, and gives Jackie a crash-course on the basic-basics. He explains that he'll be mentally projecting the crew into a place that will be much like his Dreamweb in how it works, and that Jackie is the linchpin, as her psychic abilities are what will hold them together.
Everyone gets as comfortable as they can, and Gene begins...
And they find themselves on a vast, flat plane with a rise off in one direction. Standing just behind them is Gene, in his full faux-KISS outfit. Their direction of travel is towards the rise, but the distances seem vast- Transport is required. With the reminder that this situation is like the Dreamweb, Jackie attempts to get a vehicle, and ends up with a vicious-looking corvette; another attempt ends up with an almost 'Ghost Rider'-like motorcycle, which Greg chooses to ride with Jackie. Bill takes the wheel of the 'vette, and they head off, Gene remaining behind to await their (hopefully) successful return.
After an indeterminately long drive across the plane, they find themselves at a vast wall; it seems to extend infinitely in either direction from where they are. Its made of iron, and is rusted and coated in some oily substance; speculation as to what it is likely not pleasant. In the middle of this is a vast pair of doors with a pair of handles; Greg looks at them and asks for a rope or chain to hitch one of the vehicles up to pull them open- Bill then just walks over and pulls them open.
Past the doors is what appears to be a narrow corridor, about eight feet wide; the floor is oily dirt and the ceiling seems a great distance above. As they enter and walk forward they hear the doors shut with a rather disheartening clang...
Jackie, able to sense somewhat where Dr. Beck's mind is, indicates that it lies somewhere directly ahead; however, the corridor ends in a 'T' intersection. They pick a direction (left), and continue; only to encounter another 'T' intersection, and Jackie still senses Dr. Beck's mind directly ahead!
Different things are tried, based on the Dreamweb-like aspects of the bizarre place; Jackie repeatedly tries to find a way over the walls, summoning ladders and ropes; each time, what she tries for is perverted somehow- the ladder is too short, or its made of solid iron, or the rope isn't connected to the top of the wall... Each of the other housemates make attempts in a similar vein, also facing either a perverted result of their efforts, or nothing happening at all.
Gabriel by this point is getting bored. So, instead of trying to help, he attempts to summon up some entertainment in the form of a french maid; oddly enough, this is perverted too, but not in a way he dislikes. Instead of a french maid, he gets a beautiful blond Austrian woman, who is very interested in his attentions... While the frustration of his newly found friends mounts, he gets involved in... Other interests. Unfortunately for him, he finds he's unable to complete the act, which is not what he'd hoped.
Greg, during this attempts to meditate, to clear his head and focus his thoughts- instead, he seems to become more excited and driven rather than relaxed and focussed, though it does seem to help.
Finally, some progress seems to be made, as jackie senses that they're actually getting closer through their efforts. It may be a maze, but it isn't an insurmountable one. However, she's getting worn out psychically; she lays down to rest, and tries imagining herself in Florida on spring break. She does manage to relax, and then tries to visualize Artemis, the projection-version of Dr. Beck there in the maze with them... And suddenly he IS there!
Unfortunately, he's not all that much help, being chaotic and unfocussed. Jackie gets angry and frustrated, and Artemis wanders off, pouting. However, there WAS the progress that they were making already. Bill suggests that Jackie try focussing within rather than on the external events, and it seems to help; the temperature drops in the area around them, cooling and becoming more comfortable, and more frequent intersections which seems to be an indication of progress.
And then, Jackie KNOWS where he is. In HER.
And so, they have their goal, sort of. They are at another T intersection- in one direction the passage goes on forever; in the other... is a vast circular room. There is a stone platform or altar in the middle of the vast space, and passages are spaced evenly around the periphery. At the doorway directly opposite where they stand something is waiting: Joel, Jackie's former boyfriend! When they last saw him, he'd been with Sue Damos, serving as a demonstration of her power and as an implied threat.
Past him is the way out, or so they think. Bill recalls the myth of the Minotaur, that a golden ball of thread was used by the hero of that tale to find his way out; they think that they see a glimmer of something shiny just past Joel which might be the fabled thread. Jackie tries to talk with Joel, and its obvious that he's on the ragged edge of control. 'Hungry' he growls... He's apparently been conditioned, or requires, human flesh for food. Jackie tries to feed him, using the reality-bending abilities provided by their environment, and succeeds; everyone crosses the room, passing through the doorway past Joel; however, Joel is soon through with the 'food' and is still hungry... And the chase begins.
It becomes fairly apparent that Joel will catch up. Greg, remembering that this IS like the dreamweb, tries to go werewolf; he succeeds, and Joel stops, faced with an actual threat! Jackie follows Greg's lead a moment later, while Bill, as usual, has troubles. Gabriel for his part hasn't stopped running and hasn't seen what has occurred- he DOES hear the growls and howls however, and is convinced to CONTINUE running.
Greg engages Joel, and the tooth-and-claws vs. axe-and-horns battle is joined; Jackie holds back for the moment, and Bill tries once again for a Dreamweb effect, aiming to be the card-image which represented him in the Tarot reading back at the carnival- the Knight of Swords! He gets the sword, at least... Which is strangely light and easy to wield.
Greg in the meantime has been wounded, but seems to not really notice. He gets Joel by the throat, and the taste of blood starts driving him to animalistic extremes; he WANTS to kill, and is HUNGRY! About then, Bill reenters the scene; he runs up Greg's back and stabs at Joel, saying 'I'm sorry...' as he does- he hits, but does little damage.
Things then get ugly. Bill manages to get off of the two snarling combatants just as Greg shreds his opponent, and starts to feed... Bill gets the hell back, knowing that there's little he can do; Jackie tries to intervene, and is first viewed as a rival trying to get at Greg's meal, and then... As his mate. He tries to mount her, and she psychically tries to reach Greg's human mind, finally succeeding almost to late. He comes to his senses, sees what he's done and vomits; moments after, he shifts back to being human, and collapses, horribly wounded and unconscious.
By this time Gabriel has rejoined the group, and he gets the story of what happened. Greg seems to dying; Jackie tries to help him, but nothing she tries seems to be helping. Bill had earlier tried to materialize a can of 'Mach 6'; he got it, but it was labeled 'Bill's Mach 6'. Seeing little other choice, he pours half the can down Greg's throat carefully; with a shudder, Greg starts breathing again, and is bleeding; Jackie tries to psychically heal him and this time succeeds. However, Bill is immediately struck with pain as some of his life-force has gone to restore Greg!
With the battle over, the passage is searched; the thread is soon found and leads almost instantly to a familiar set of huge iron doors. They push through and are once again on the plain outside. The vehicles that they'd had earlier are gone, however. Jackie summons up a replica of her old car, destroyed so long ago in the fight with the Waxwork Man and they make their way back to Gene.
Greg, during the trip is acting unusually hostile; he doesn't seem to see the change in his personality, but the others do and are concerned by it- how has he been affected by his near-death experience in this place? Gabriel continues to play with the reality-changing aspect of the place, summoning drinks from nowhere; he offers a drink to Greg, who sips... and immediately Gabriel feels a sharp pain; the things he's summoning are coalesced bits of himself, just the same as the 'Mach 6' that Bill summoned! He snatches the drink back.
Finally, they arrive back at Gene. He's been waiting for three days for their return, and is bored... When asked by Jackie, he says that there HAS been an affect on Greg, but he can't say exactly what. Moments later, they all begin to awaken; Where most of the crew are as they were on their entry into their quest, Greg is pitched off the chair he was in, and the intern says that he was convulsing!
Everyone gets their bearings, and stock is taken of their situation; they're provided with candy and snacks by the intern, and both Joe and Dr. Beck are restored. When they look outside, they see a line of black vans driving about; the MIBs are moving to contain the situation by altering people's recollections! They quickly shut the door again.
After some final discussions, Gene takes his leave of the group in the modified Prius, while the roommates head off to different places- Greg heads for the shop and the others head back to the dormhouse. Once there, they face a confrontation: a glowing being of unearthly beauty is there, who identifies himself as the Archangel Dominic!
Bill immediately goes to his knees, knowing what he faces; the being demands 'Do you know what you have DONE?' to which they tried to explain... Not that he was listening. He prepares to judge them, which certainly doesn't sound like a good thing, and another being walks in; also unearthly, he has horns and a tail... and Names himself Asmodeus. As it turns out, he is NOT Sue Damos. And he isn't pleased to hear of someone using his name, even as an anagram. Asmodeus gets Dominic to back off, with the truthful argument that the housemates are NOT to blame, simply pawns and victims in a larger scheme.
Dominic departs, and Asmodeus stays for a bit of question-and-answer. Bill gladly tells him everything he knows about Sue, hoping for a significant amount of payback for what she'd done to him and his friends. He also asks Asmodeus about Michael's cross, much to the consternation and shock of his fellows; after looking at it, Asmodeus tells him that 'this can no longer serve you'. Bill doesn't mention what he was thinking or why he did this to either his friends or Asmodeus...
And so the season ends for our intrepid heroes; tune in next season to continue following their adventures!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-05 06:34 pm (UTC)scott l
Well...
Date: 2007-05-06 03:21 am (UTC)Re: Well...
Date: 2007-05-11 12:38 pm (UTC)