Buffy Game: Season One - Episode One
Monday night, April 5th, was the first time in approximately five years that I've run a sit-down role-playing game. It was the first session of a three-player Buffy game.
For those who don't care, don't bother looking behind the cut.
First games are always my least favorite as GM. I don't like trying to get a party together. In the future, I will probably make players get together and script their first meeting as part of their backgrounds.
First, let's meet our cast. All are made as White Hat. Two have the Sorcery Quality.
Sasha Calendar: From the same family as the late Ms. Calendar (although he never knew her). Sasha is a warlock in training. He is also a dancer and is very anti-social. He is being tutored by Visara, a demon who also runs a local art gallery.
River Harrison: A child of hippies. River's parents now teach at the local university. River is shy and has only few friends. She is also dabbling in the black arts, but is not as proficient as Sasha. She does, however, have a much more extensive library. In short, she's very Willow.
Jake Denton: A friendly jock, whose dad is a figure in local politics. Jake knows nothing about the supernatural, but that's about to change...
BEGIN EPISODE ONE
Setting: Missoula, MT -- April 2, 2004
TEASER
It's the first Friday of April, and River is on the monthly gallery walk with her friend Tori. Sasha is taking meditation practice with Visara. Jake is driving around town in his truck, looking for Tanya -- his friend's girlfriend who disappeared the night before.
River is crossing the Higgins Street Bridge on foot. Jake is crossing it in his truck. River hears a woman scream from the park below. Jake doesn't hear a scream, but does see a young woman running through the park.
River runs down the stairs at the end of the bridge. Jake guns his engine and drives around into the park. At first River thinks Jake is chasing the girl, until he gets out and calls to her. The girl -- Morgan -- turns and is relieved. That is, until something steps from the shadows behind her.
The shadows are too dark for any features to be seen, but it is tall and big. Jake runs toward Morgan, who stiffens and collapses to the ground. The thing in the shadows steps forward into the light.
It's a demon. It has green-brown skin and long, thin horns. Its jaw is long and features a pair of tusks.
ACT ONE
The demon collects Morgan and turns its attentions to Jake.
Jake is grabbing a trash can to use as a weapon, when he feels something hit the back of his neck. There is a stinging sensation and a little blood, but it doesn't deter him from hefting the trash can and taking a swing at the creature.
At the same time, Tori is calling the police and River has started pitching rocks at the thing.
Sasha is meditating nearby -- but indoors -- and doesn't hear any of it.
After a few swings of the trash can, and a flurry of rocks, Jake hits the demon. Unfortunately, the demon also succeeds in striking back. The demon's tongue lashes out from its mouth, striking Jake in the neck. It makes only a little hole, but Jake suddenly feels weak.
He tries to stay strong, but swiftly collapses.
Faced with a growing crowd of witnesses (who are thankfully too far away to see the demon's features) the demon flees into the night, taking Morgan with it.
ACT TWO
River rushes to help Jake. He tries to speak, but his lips aren't functioning normally. He also can't move his limbs.
The police arrive and an ambulance is on the way.
Sasha finally noticed something is going on, only because his mentor kicks him in the ribs. He goes to investigate.
Jake tries to tell the police what he saw, but his words are incoherent due to the ever-growing paralysis. River covers and tells the police that it was just a big man. The police theorize that Jake's wounds were from a ice pick, or similar piercing instrument. Tori, meanwhile, is near catatonic on a bench.
Sasha keeps his distance, until he notices River, whom he recognizes from high school. They talk about what happened, with River trying to give the same story she gave to the police, but failing miserably, as she repeatedly calls it "a thing" instead of "a man".
The two also find a strange black fluid on the ground. When a light in the park turns on (strangely the only light not working before) the fluid begins to evaporate.
Sasha reveals that he knows about demons. He and River being to have a real conversation about what happened.
Then, Sasha's mentor comes to collect him. Jake is put in an ambulance and taken away. River takes Tori home, where she discovers that the man of her dreams, Porter Lewis, was supposed to be at the gallery that night. She rushes back to the gallery, but is too late. She goes home and begins her research.
ACT THREE
The next day.
Jake recovers quickly in the hospital, although the doctors are baffled as to what caused the paralysis. Jake keeps quiet about what he saw, since River's statement to the police clearly contradicts his experience.
River stops by the gallery, looking for Sasha - whose mentor runs the gallery. The two talk in more detail. River has a name: It was a Tevik demon that took Morgan.
At the same time, Jake hunts down River's phone number, calls he parents and gets her cell number. He then calls her, at the gallery, and asks her to meet him at a local restaurant. She agrees, but she is left with the impression that maybe he likes her. She calls Tori and tells her, and Tori does what any good friend would: endless abuse.
At the restaurant, River is more confused, as Jake asks for a quiet, secluded table, and offers to pay the check. Then the cell phone abuse begins. First it's a call from Tori, asking how it's going. Then, when River says she can't talk, Tori begins a series of increasingly childish text messages. The last two being the old "River and Jake sitting in a tree..." tease. At that point, River turns off the phone.
Meanwhile, Sasha's mentor explain to him the nature of the strange fluid they found. It is a substance filtered from shadow that allows the user to be invisible in poorly-lit spaces.
The group meets again. Jake is confused and refuses to believe it is a demon. He continues his disbelief even after Sasha uses telekinesis to lift both River and River's computer monitor. The group tries to figure out where to go next. (Well, Sasha and River do. Jake tries to find the strings he is sure are attached to the monitor.)
ACT FOUR
The group heads back to the park to find more clues. They find the object that contained the magical fluid the demon used to hide its presence. The object os a glass sphere with the alchemical symbol of Mercury on it.
The group continues along the river, quizzing the local homeless population for clues. They are unsuccessful.
They go back to River's house, where they research the symbol of Mercury. Tori continues her text-message abuse, until Sasha takes the cell phone, calls Tori and joins in the abuse. River grabs the phone and she and Tori have a small fight. River tells her to quit calling and even calls her a bitch. They hang up and go back to the research.
Late that night, they find that the substance the demon used is called "Mercury's Shadow". It is a distillation of shadows that can only be created on nights when Mercury is clear and visible in the night sky.
This victory of research is where the group calls it a night. All go to sleep, intent on meeting again in the morning.
That night, at 3am, Tori's mom calls. Tori is missing.
END OF SESSION ONE
For those who don't care, don't bother looking behind the cut.
First games are always my least favorite as GM. I don't like trying to get a party together. In the future, I will probably make players get together and script their first meeting as part of their backgrounds.
First, let's meet our cast. All are made as White Hat. Two have the Sorcery Quality.
Sasha Calendar: From the same family as the late Ms. Calendar (although he never knew her). Sasha is a warlock in training. He is also a dancer and is very anti-social. He is being tutored by Visara, a demon who also runs a local art gallery.
River Harrison: A child of hippies. River's parents now teach at the local university. River is shy and has only few friends. She is also dabbling in the black arts, but is not as proficient as Sasha. She does, however, have a much more extensive library. In short, she's very Willow.
Jake Denton: A friendly jock, whose dad is a figure in local politics. Jake knows nothing about the supernatural, but that's about to change...
BEGIN EPISODE ONE
Setting: Missoula, MT -- April 2, 2004
TEASER
It's the first Friday of April, and River is on the monthly gallery walk with her friend Tori. Sasha is taking meditation practice with Visara. Jake is driving around town in his truck, looking for Tanya -- his friend's girlfriend who disappeared the night before.
River is crossing the Higgins Street Bridge on foot. Jake is crossing it in his truck. River hears a woman scream from the park below. Jake doesn't hear a scream, but does see a young woman running through the park.
River runs down the stairs at the end of the bridge. Jake guns his engine and drives around into the park. At first River thinks Jake is chasing the girl, until he gets out and calls to her. The girl -- Morgan -- turns and is relieved. That is, until something steps from the shadows behind her.
The shadows are too dark for any features to be seen, but it is tall and big. Jake runs toward Morgan, who stiffens and collapses to the ground. The thing in the shadows steps forward into the light.
It's a demon. It has green-brown skin and long, thin horns. Its jaw is long and features a pair of tusks.
ACT ONE
The demon collects Morgan and turns its attentions to Jake.
Jake is grabbing a trash can to use as a weapon, when he feels something hit the back of his neck. There is a stinging sensation and a little blood, but it doesn't deter him from hefting the trash can and taking a swing at the creature.
At the same time, Tori is calling the police and River has started pitching rocks at the thing.
Sasha is meditating nearby -- but indoors -- and doesn't hear any of it.
After a few swings of the trash can, and a flurry of rocks, Jake hits the demon. Unfortunately, the demon also succeeds in striking back. The demon's tongue lashes out from its mouth, striking Jake in the neck. It makes only a little hole, but Jake suddenly feels weak.
He tries to stay strong, but swiftly collapses.
Faced with a growing crowd of witnesses (who are thankfully too far away to see the demon's features) the demon flees into the night, taking Morgan with it.
ACT TWO
River rushes to help Jake. He tries to speak, but his lips aren't functioning normally. He also can't move his limbs.
The police arrive and an ambulance is on the way.
Sasha finally noticed something is going on, only because his mentor kicks him in the ribs. He goes to investigate.
Jake tries to tell the police what he saw, but his words are incoherent due to the ever-growing paralysis. River covers and tells the police that it was just a big man. The police theorize that Jake's wounds were from a ice pick, or similar piercing instrument. Tori, meanwhile, is near catatonic on a bench.
Sasha keeps his distance, until he notices River, whom he recognizes from high school. They talk about what happened, with River trying to give the same story she gave to the police, but failing miserably, as she repeatedly calls it "a thing" instead of "a man".
The two also find a strange black fluid on the ground. When a light in the park turns on (strangely the only light not working before) the fluid begins to evaporate.
Sasha reveals that he knows about demons. He and River being to have a real conversation about what happened.
Then, Sasha's mentor comes to collect him. Jake is put in an ambulance and taken away. River takes Tori home, where she discovers that the man of her dreams, Porter Lewis, was supposed to be at the gallery that night. She rushes back to the gallery, but is too late. She goes home and begins her research.
ACT THREE
The next day.
Jake recovers quickly in the hospital, although the doctors are baffled as to what caused the paralysis. Jake keeps quiet about what he saw, since River's statement to the police clearly contradicts his experience.
River stops by the gallery, looking for Sasha - whose mentor runs the gallery. The two talk in more detail. River has a name: It was a Tevik demon that took Morgan.
At the same time, Jake hunts down River's phone number, calls he parents and gets her cell number. He then calls her, at the gallery, and asks her to meet him at a local restaurant. She agrees, but she is left with the impression that maybe he likes her. She calls Tori and tells her, and Tori does what any good friend would: endless abuse.
At the restaurant, River is more confused, as Jake asks for a quiet, secluded table, and offers to pay the check. Then the cell phone abuse begins. First it's a call from Tori, asking how it's going. Then, when River says she can't talk, Tori begins a series of increasingly childish text messages. The last two being the old "River and Jake sitting in a tree..." tease. At that point, River turns off the phone.
Meanwhile, Sasha's mentor explain to him the nature of the strange fluid they found. It is a substance filtered from shadow that allows the user to be invisible in poorly-lit spaces.
The group meets again. Jake is confused and refuses to believe it is a demon. He continues his disbelief even after Sasha uses telekinesis to lift both River and River's computer monitor. The group tries to figure out where to go next. (Well, Sasha and River do. Jake tries to find the strings he is sure are attached to the monitor.)
ACT FOUR
The group heads back to the park to find more clues. They find the object that contained the magical fluid the demon used to hide its presence. The object os a glass sphere with the alchemical symbol of Mercury on it.
The group continues along the river, quizzing the local homeless population for clues. They are unsuccessful.
They go back to River's house, where they research the symbol of Mercury. Tori continues her text-message abuse, until Sasha takes the cell phone, calls Tori and joins in the abuse. River grabs the phone and she and Tori have a small fight. River tells her to quit calling and even calls her a bitch. They hang up and go back to the research.
Late that night, they find that the substance the demon used is called "Mercury's Shadow". It is a distillation of shadows that can only be created on nights when Mercury is clear and visible in the night sky.
This victory of research is where the group calls it a night. All go to sleep, intent on meeting again in the morning.
That night, at 3am, Tori's mom calls. Tori is missing.
END OF SESSION ONE