At KAZE, two of the Generals are trying to solve the mystery of the Rat-Thing and how a father-son-pair figure in.
Previously, on The Four Generals
A Rat-Thing is stalking the halls of Public Access TV station, KAZE. Turns out Grant may have had nothing to do with this, though his object could have had? Also, Tony Johnson is somehow in on the plot. Eustace, Sarge, and Major are trapped. Back at the Opal, a trio of hitmen are targeting Myrrh.
Content Warning: Language, Smoking, Violence [lots], Gambling, and a tinge of cosmic horror. I will also ignore history, technology, and common sense here or there but no slight is ever intended about the real history, people, or events referenced.
More info, attribution for the tools and materials used— including the splash art — can be found in the About & Credits, below.
The Four Generals Episode 2, Act 3: KAZE in the Membrane
Setting the Scene: Episode 2 | Act 3 | Scene 1.
Chaos Factor: 5 (+2)
Expected Scene: Eustace and the others are about to be disarmed at gunpoint and have some of the plot explained to them.
Scene Test: 2. Interrupt. 44 = NPC Action. Hmm.
Ok, let's go with one of the NPCs on scene. I'm going to add Rat-Thing into it, though, but -Grant. 4,3 = James Johnson. This means we'll do the split view scenes from before, work out what is up with Jimmy Johnson and then flash back to the present.
Actual Scene: We find out how Jimmy and Tony are involved, and THEN stuff breaks loose.
I honestly have no idea how to work Jimmy and Tony into this. I typed up dialogue suggesting that something is up with Jimmy, because his dad seems to be doing this to help save his son, but his dad might be lying or confused.
I think the most fun way for me to do this would be to draw two catalysts from Weird Horror and somehow try and make sense of them:
- {GMAWH31} Inaccurate Maps
- {GMAWH24} A Prophecy Fulfilled
- Is The Object actually important to Jimmy's Plans? (50/50) >> 52 = No, but like, very just barely no. I'd take this as they are aware of it and they think it can be useful, but it's not the cornerstone.
- Jimmy is motivated by seeking love. Jimmy is in love with {Ruth | Jan | Grant | Someone Else (not at KAZE)} >> 4 = Someone Else.
- How will the Rat-Thing impact this? {MM} >> 1,4 Coffee Cup + 2,1 Discussion.
Ok, that took a lot of fishing but I think I have some ideas. We are going "way" back. A day or so. Jimmy has been investigating Jan for someone. We'll say a young woman. A reporter. Who has tracked down Jan but has made a mistake.
- Of what is Jan accused of making? {GMAWH116} Arcane Weapon = one suggestion is mind-control gun. I like that.
- Jan is from {Germany | Netherlands} >> Even = Netherlands.
Ok, it's kooky as hell but I like it. Jan was a young scientist working on techniques with a Dutch agency, let's call it the Nederlands Agentschap voor Militaire Wetenschappen. Aka, NAMW (said as Nam-Wu). NAMW's one project was punishment if the Cold War went to Nuclear Winter. Jan worked with older scientists to create mutant animals capable to tracking down Soviet agents, scientists, etc who were involved.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Jan's mentors and himself were cast out and disgraced for taking science too far. Jan escaped with his own personal pet creation: a chimera between a rat, gorilla, porcupine, and boar. He claimed to be from somewhere in New England and though people noticed his accent, just assumed strong Maine dialect or whatever.
This reporter...
- {GMAWH120} Elaine + {GMAWH93} Albey
...Elaine Albey was investigating mind control techniques used in the Cold War as part of the Alphabet-Soup paranoia. The "real X-Files" type stuff. She found out about an German scientists, Hans Yellar, who had been working at NAMW and building a mind-control gun. She made the mistake that Jan Willard is the same person, and having him show up on her doorstep, so to speak, is making her reckless.
Somehow, she met Jimmy Johnson, the lovesick fitness guru trying to rebuild a broken heart. Jimmy has agreed to investigate Jan. Jan has found out, and now Jimmy is being... something... we can figure that out just a little bit later.
- Were the tapes to teach the Rat-Thing to recognize the Johnsons? (50/50) >> 06 = Exceptional Yes.
This means the plan has been in motion for a second. So we'll jump back a whole week.
- Did Jan work with alien tech? (50/50) >> 05 = Exceptional Yes.
This is why he took the object. He recognized it's inhuman origins. Somehow the rat thing is a byproduct of alien tech the NAMW had obtained.
God I love it when Solo Play oracles go off like this.
Oh, super quick, I need a cafe name...um, TropoBrew. Specializes in fruit flavored syrups and different fresh fruit-based pastries.
Sat, 8 Aug 1998. 16:21. The Outdoor Patio of TropoBrew.
Tea Time with Elaine
The only other people in the gravel-filled "patio" are an older Asian couple and neither seem all that bothered by the immense heat. Sitting on the wicker chairs like the sun is not trying to bake them alive. Smoking and laughing. Drinking their water with fruit pieces.
"Um, El, can't we do this inside?"
"Elaine, please. El is a letter. And no, I told you, Mr. Willard has powerful associates and we never know who is listening."
Elaine Albey is tanned, red-headed, and obviously exercises. Today she is in tourist wear and wearing bright colors, possibly to try and not look like a local. Jimmy Johnson considers her perhaps the most perfect woman to match his general lifestyle and vibe, someone who appreciates appearance as much as he, and most of the time her strong-willed nature is right in line with what he wants. Today, though? Man he is sweating through pores he did not know he had. She, however, seems incapable of breaking a sweat. Their cold drinks are managing to pull every ounce of humidity from the air and then convert it into drips of sweat for her.
Jimmy didn't realize that Las Azaleas had five drops of water to spare.
She glares down at the ash-tray on the table, then at the couple. "I wish Arizona would ban smoking in public places. Like California." She says it loud enough that she is clearly trying to publicly shame the couple, both of which seem to ignore her.
"Arizona is not Cali. We like freedom here." Jimmy doesn't know why he always rushes to defend smokers with her. Sure, his dad smokes a cigar but she is right. Cigarettes smell awful. Around half the guys at his gym take breaks to go out and smoke and it confuses him. Heck, Mesa passed a law about smoking in several places and that's not too far away. He just doesn't know if he particularly wants to be told what to do. Except maybe by her. Now if she would only tell him to ask her out. A real date, not meeting like they have been these past couple of weeks.
She scoffs and tosses the ashtray loudly to the table next to them and then wipes off her hands.
"Are you ready to try and get proof? You at KAZE and me at his home?," she asks him.
"What's this about, Elaine? I mean, if this man is a war criminal or something, let's get proof. I get that. But if this dangerous, we need...authorities." He was going to say "the cops" but after his dad's decade long career of hating on every cop that ever lived, it felt like a betrayal.
She sighs, chews her lip, and then takes a sip a bottled water made fresh in house. At least according to the pre-printed label.
"I think it's aliens. Not Jan but some of the mind-control stuff he was working on. Him and someone like Grant Tinburn being at the same TV station? It just feels...weird." As she says this, she bites her lips and suddenly her eyes look a decade younger. Not for the first time, Jimmy wonders if this "strong and fit" persona is at least partially an act. One maybe designed to get his attention. He pushes the thoughts down. He also pushes down every obvious common sense response to what she just said.
"Ok."
"You aren't going to call me crazy? Storm out on me? Go and call the looney police?"
"No."
She smiles and for the first time James "Jimmy" Johnson is absolutely sure he's seeing the real Elaine "Never just El" Albey. And she is gorgeous. He'd do anything to make her happy.
Setting the Scene: Episode 2 | Act 3 | Scene 2.
Chaos Factor: 5 (+2)
Expected Scene: Tony realizes he can ask for help for his son.
Scene Test: 10.
Actual Scene:As expected.
Now that we know some of why Jimmy/Tony are involved, I think we can update some parameters:
- -Thread about Tony working with Jan and +Thread about Elaine + Jimmy investigating Jan and Jimmy is captured.
- +Character for Elaine Albey.
- A bit minor and more for note-keeping, but +Thread for the Rat-Thing being trained to hunt and stalk the Johnsons.
- +Thread: Jan Willard is working with Alien Tech.
In that light, we can have Tony realize he might have the folks who can help.
- Did Tony shoot Jake "The Jackal"? (50/50) >> 66 [ah] = "No" but let's figure out what this is about in a flashback in a second.
- Is the signal being down directly related to the Rat-Thing? (50/50) >> 75 = "No." Someone else took it offline and that would be {Chris | Sue} >> Odd = Chris.
Ok, now to figure out via flashback what is up with Jake [I mean, he's dead, but why?]
- Random Action Event >> 87 = NPC Negative. Hah. Yes.
- Fine, a couple of symbols from "Maidenstead Mysteries" and we'll riff off that >> 3,5 Magic Trick + 4,1 Magnifying Glass = Jack started investigating what was happening while Jan was doing "a magic trick." Seals make sense.
- Is it all Jake's blood? (Unlikely) >> 92 = Exceptional No. There are multiple people.
- How many? {d6} >> 4. We know Itchy was taken out. Are the other three directly from the radio station? (50/50) >> 29 = Yes. Is Chris still alive? (50/50) >> 64 = No. Itchy, Jake, Chris [after Chris shut down the signal], and... I suppose we know Grant was bled out, maybe Jan just needed a little bit more.
- Why did Chris shut down the signal? {MT: Action} >> 36 Distrust + 98 Weather = "Distrust Weather" is a weird one, but let's take a wide view of weather as something happening in the outside world. He thought that Jan was going to try and broadcast something and use that to manipulate "the climate."
Therefore, Jake was stabbed and some of his blood was collected to seal off more of the building. We have three floors + a (two layer) basement. Maybe one per floor with the third floor being kind of late in the game and therefore a lot of Grant's blood was left.
Sun, 16 Aug 1998. 22:15. The second floor of KAZE
"They Are All Terrible Plans..."
"He stabbed Jake and you are helping him!?," the younger of the two women on the floor screams at the older man holding a gun. Sarge flinches. He's not used to having guns pointed at him and this is twice in two days. More than that. There are a lot of guns at the Church of High Water. He especially doesn't like people getting quite so excitable while said guns are being aimed.
"I'm not helping that weirdo. That rat monster has my son and Jan said he'll kill my boy if I don't keep everyone out of the basement!"
"Ruth?," Eustace asks, looking at the younger of the two women, the one who spoke. She looks in confusion at him. Then it clicks.
"Delmont? Eustace! You made it. I told my uncle but I didn't think anyone would actually help! Wait, you came all this way for me? I don't...," she looks like she might be about to cry. Sarge really hopes she doesn't start crying.
"I have a gun, remember?," Tony asks.
"A lot of people have guns," Eustace says, and Sarge notes the play-acting as a fool is done, "Whoop de do. If you want your son to survive the night, you have about ten seconds to stop aiming at me or my friends. Jan is going to murder Jimmy while you are up here aiming that gun at what I guess are some of the only friends you have ever had."
To keep the plot going, we know that Tony is going to enlist their help. What I don't know if he does it...willingly.
- Does he listen to Eustace? (Likely) >> 01 = Exceptional Yes, the most Exceptional Yes. Dang.
- Is the Rat-Thing watching Tony? (Likely) >> 92 = Very nearly an exceptional no. It's doing something somewhere else.
"I didn't hurt Jake," the old man says. "I may have put you in the room with him but I didn't hurt him."
Tony found Jake already bleeding out. He should have helped but he had a job to do to keep Jimmy alive. At the time, he said he could do anything. Shoot anyone or everyone if he had to. Jan had been specific. Don't let anyone come downstairs. Kill those who interfere. Luring Ruth and Sheila in had been easy. "Help, Jake needs help!" Then he pointed the gun at them as he used Jake's keys to lock the door. They could probably have gotten out. There are windows — Tony does not know about the seals keeping the building closed from the inside — but it seems like they are waiting for him to do the right thing.
Jan said not to worry about the phones. That it was taken care of.
Oh, Gods.
Tony told himself that everyone would understand but now he can't keep it up.
"Can you help Jimmy, then you can turn me in? The LasAzPD would love to get a few hits at me."
"Eh, we'll figure that out, later. First, we need to get down to the lobby in around five minutes. I've done something very clever."
Setting the Scene: Episode 2 | Act 3 | Scene 3.
Chaos Factor: 5
Expected Scene: Eustace has arranged a pizza delivery to open the doors from the outside.
Scene Test: 2, dang it. Random Event: 05 = Action.
Actual Scene: The doors open but the Rat-Thing is going to attack, again.
This is a silly scene but my brain is starting to hurt IRL from all the pollen so let's get some quick dice rolls and then set up for a conclusion next time.
Sun, 16 Aug 1998. 22:22. The Lobby of KAZE
Eustace Did Something "Clever"
The man is knocking on the door by the time they run into the lobby. He looks perturbed. The note was specific: "Knock on glass but do not enter, exactly 10:20pm. Big tip."
He was one minute from thinking it was prank and going to walk away when a fat man runs up and starts gesturing. "He wants me to open the door, what the hell?"
The deliveryman pushes the door just slightly and the fat man grabs it and pulls all the way. "Vegetarian with no cheese? Thanks. Here's cash. There's around $50 in tip for you. Now leave."
"Wait a second...," but the man keeps talking.
"Ruth, Tony, umm...other person...git! Call someone if you need but specify the danger is in a person wearing a rat....wait, didn't I tell you to leave. Thank you for the pizza. What do I mean I didn't take the pizza? Oh, right. A normal exchange like normal people. Ha, good point...sorry, though...goddammit Tony, we are in dire need to get as many people out as...
SHIT!"
Eustace has managed to half-shove, half-cajole both Ruth and Sheila out the front door and was trying to do the same to Tony when the Rat-Thing, possibly sensing the door is open and the seal is broken, comes back from around the corner it scurried into and charges.
- Pizzman runs, right? (Very Likely) 28 = Yep.
The man who had come for the big tip is now desperately running out into the night with the two women. Why didn't he notice the blood on their shirts? What the fuck is going on!
He fails to notice that four of the people did not go through the door. He also fails to notice Eustace shoving the door shut as hard as he can.
- Sarge, Action: (Brawn) 3 + (Fight) 3 + Free ReRolls vs Critical >> Critical + Basic. Hits for 1 Grit but also has enough time to dash over some chairs set up in the lobby to get space to pull out his gun.
- Major, Action: (Nerves) 3 + (Shoot) 2 vs Critical >> Critical = 1 more Grit down, but has to stand her ground.
- Eustace, Action: (Brawn) 2 + (-1 ADR, Sub Know) 3 vs Critical >> Critical = Manages to get the door fully shut before the Rat-Thing can escape (again?).
- REACTIONS! Sarge: (Brawn) 3 + (Stunt) 3 vs Critical >> Critical. Dodges.
- Major: (Brawn) 2 + (Stunt) 3 >> Critical + Basic = Dodges and gets in a better position to shoot.
- Eustace: (Brawn) 2 + (Stunt) 1 >> Nada. He takes 3 Grit in damage.
The door recloses, reactivating the seal, when the Rat-Thing leaps over Tony, knocking him down, and slams into the back of Eustace and Eustace feels blood start dripping down his shirt. At roughly the same time, Sarge punches the creature again and then dives over the chair as Major shoots it in the center of its back.
The creature's tail whips out to strike Sarge, who pulls further back, and then uses the tail to whip a chair at Major. She also dodges. But the creature is right on top of Eustace.
These are going to be a gamble vs Eustace, essentially.
- Major: 6 total vs Critical >> 2 x Critical with no 1s. We can stop there.
Rat-Thing is now missing 5 of its 9 Grit.
Before Major can even shoot, Sarge has squeezed off a round right into the back of the Rat-Thing's head. It staggers from that, then hisses at Sarge and runs back off into the shadows.
Sarge runs over and gets the bleeding Eustace up.
"You ordered pizza!?"
"Heh," Eustace grunts through the pain. He in turn goes to get Tony up. The old man is dazed by the hit. "I used my device," holding up the small strange handheld computer, "to contact Sunny's Pizza Joint. They take online delivery orders. Fancy, right? Told them to deliver at exactly 10:20pm. To knock on the door but not to open it until they say a fat man in a Hawaiian shirt."
"But the doors are sealed, Eu," Major says. She's held out with not smoking for a long as her nerves could take and is now power puffing through a cigarette while leaning on the empty lobby desk.
"We got in so I figured the seal was to prevent folks from leaving. Jan didn't really worry about folks that might come in. They'd be trapped in his..."
"Don't say it, goddammit," Sarge fusses, but Eustace is too far gone:
"...rat trap!"
Doug's Commentary
Things are set-up nicely to finish it up next time with some gusto. At least one more fight with the Rat-Thing. The fight with Jan Willard. Learning what happened to Jimmy and Elaine. I was going to include a scene about what's going on back at the casino but that might be next time or worked in as an interlude.
I enjoyed figuring out the mystery on this one. It's been fun turning this into a Eustace Delmont story. Next one will be more Outgunned for sure.
About The Four Generals
BigBetty.com has placed a bet on Maddy Dwyer's life. People stand to make millions if she is dead within the next two weeks. Maddy's dad, Thomas "Cap" Dwyer has asked three old friends to travel to Las Azaleas and protect his daughter. The group went as The Four Generals in high school but have long since gone their separate ways. Now, the three friends — and Maddy, calling herself Major — have reformed The Four Generals. Their task: to keep Maddy alive. Also, some cults and crazy mega-church leaders are involved.
Credits
The Four Generals is played using Outgunned. Mythic, Gamemaster's Apprentice: Base 2e, and Gamemaster's Apprentice: Weird Horror are used as game oracles. Other tools have been added in.
Art is modified from stock photos and images by myself from various sources, given below. GIMP + G'MIC are used to create the effects. Unsplash is the most common source of stock art.
References to source materials use the following codes [BOLD = Main Sources for campaign]:
- {BRTM} Book of Random Tables: Modern
- {BRTN} Book of Random Tables: 1980s - 1990s
- {GMAB} Gamemaster's Apprentice: Base 2e Deck
- {GMAWH} Gamemaster's Apprentice: Weird Horror Deck
- {MM} "Maidenstead Mysteries" [Tricube Tales] Image Oracle
- {MY} Mythic, 2nd Edition
- {OG} Outgunned
- {OGAD} Outgunned Assistant Director
- {RR} Random Realities
- {TBM} Table Fables, Modern
- {UNE} Universal NPC Emulator
When page or card numbers are given, they will be in the {curly brackets}. {RR1,6} = Random Realities for die roll 1,6.
Part of the Alabama Weird world, though not geographically located in Alabama.
This post is in the standard Doug Alone post style. See Anatomy of a Post for more details.
ART CREDIT AND EXPLANATION
TropoBrew's Patio: Photo by Edwin Petrus on Unsplash.
KAZE Multimedia/FX Lab: Photo by Oompje via CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ruth Carter: Photo by Getty Images via Unsplash+.
The Rat-Thing's Teeth is actually from a tasmanian devil, but it kind of works, eh? Photo by Michael Jerrard on Unsplash.