[Actual Play] Logic vs Insanity

[Tommy Brownell]

Logic vs Insanity

Set-Up: Inspector Cooke has been summoned to Shadowbrook to investigate the mysterious movements of the cloaked figures known as the Order of the Crimson Hand. Anne Marie, a schoolteacher and intellectual herself, has inserted herself into the investigation. Victor Danforth, against his better judgment, has boasted of his “prowess”, intellectual and otherwise, and has been drafted into the effort. Only the mysterious Valeria seems to know what is truly going on, and she enlightens our investigators one evening after a meeting at Town Hall.

Round 1:

Inspector Cooke sets out for The Manor, to speak with the Hanbrooks about Valeria’s revelations.

Victor Danforth makes haste for the Inn, where he is keeping a room.

Anne Marie travels to the Windmill, where she finds no clues, but does find a weapon in the form of a pitchfork.

Valeria trails Victor at a distance. The Horror’s strength grows.

A summoning circle was formed at the Doctor’s Office, and a guardian left behind: One of the Fallen. A wicked storm blew in, but all the Elders held firm. More Fallen appeared, blocking Victor’s intended path through the Bog, appearing in the fields, and attacking Anne Marie at the Windmill! The Fallen made short work of Ms. Anne Marie.

Round 2:

Victor decided to take the long way around Echo Lake, heading for the South Dock. He also discovered evidence that one Dr. Manning is quite evil and trying to summon a vast dark power into our reality.

Anne Marie lay unconscious at Town Hall.

Valeria took her sweet time heading toward The Crossroads.
The servants at the Manor tearfully greeted Cooke, begging him to rid Shadowbrook of the darkness that plagues it. Cooke opted to join the new nightwatch, where he discovered Lord Hanbrook to truly be a hero of the people!

A new circle was formed at the Abandoned Keep, with a Fallen watching over it. Anne Marie recovered, quite annoyed at having lost her pitchfork. Fallen appeared at the Manor, attacking Cooke!

Though it drew first blood, Cooke killed the beast while the nightwatch stared in awe. The fiends marched on Town Hall, with Anne Marie facing another Fallen! Though she did land a good hit, The Fallen trounced her.

Round 3:

Anne Marie recovered at Town Hall.

Valeria appeared at Town Hall, fangs bared to fight The Fallen! The fight was brutal, but as she began to fade she bit into the Demon’s throat and drained its blood!

Cooke headed for The Fields, and found clues from the arrival of The Fallen that was recently there. Disturbingly, he found the remains of a horse who had seemingly been operated on.

Victor Danforth arrived at the Monastery, only to be captured! They set him alight, believing him to be a witch! As he erupted in screams of torment, they realized their error, but not before the damage had been done.

Another circle appeared, this time at the North Dock, with another Fallen guarding it. Victor and Anne Marie recovered, alive but shaken. The darkness swelled in town, and Valeria seemed to feed off of it. A chill wind broke into the town.

Round 4:

Valeria purchased a horse and a torch to help in her endeavors.
Confident at his previous encounter with a Fallen, Cooke attacked the one at the Windmill. With Hanbrook’s help he trounced the Fallen, but went unconscious himself.

Finally arriving at the Inn, Victor Danforth found a book bound in flesh…The Book of Death!

Feeling vulnerable, Anne Marie ran in the only direction in which villains weren’t approaching: Toward the manor.

The manor…where another summoning circle was placed. The darkness infected the town deeper, and Valeria’s senses sharpened. The Order struck out at the Magistrate, but he proved far too tough to kill!

Round 5:

Cooke purchased himself a musket, thinking that might help fend off the chill wind.

Victor Danforth slipped through a passage to arrive in the Manor…and came face to face with a Betrayer! Danforth got carved up.

Anne Marie returned to Town Hall and retrieved the Book of Death from the injured Danforth. However, the chill wind faded with an eerie laughter on the wind.

Valeria moved to Town Hall, making her presence known with an uncharacteristic speech to the townspeople!

The Covered Bridge became the next location targeted for a summoning circle. Danforth recovered. A bizarre storm struck again, and Kroft was driven quite insane! More Fallen appeared, this time at the Abandoned Keep.

Round 6:

Victor Danforth sucked it up and left town, heading to the Covered Bridge.

Anne Marie sought out the Fallen between her and the Windmill, feeling quite confident with the Book of Death. She got quite owned.

Valeria joined Victor at the Bridge.

Cooke summoned the Militia to the Manor. Cooke then investigated LADY Hanbrook, finding HER to be a Hero of the People as well!

The Olde Woods were targeted for a summoning circle next! Anne Marie recovered, but lost her book. The palpable darkness grew, and a summoning circle even appeared on the open roads!

Round 7:

Anne Marie hurried along to follow Valeria and Victor.

Valeria summoned militia to The Keep as she entered the Woods. She felt drawn to a hut…and awoke in a daze, wandering Town Hall.

Cooke, Hanbrook and the Militia ended the Betrayer at the Manor. Then Cooke found something useful: Holy water!

Victor Danforth overhead that Sophie was a lying whore and was about to dispute it, then realized it was kinda true. Searching for Valeria in the Woods, he found a mysterious Charm!

The Magistrate’s Office was the next target…and was swarming with Crimson Hand! A murder was committed at the Forgotten Island, and the Crimson Hand lingered after their sacrifice! Dr. Manning was attacked, but the Investigators weren’t very convinced.

Round 8:

Valeria confronted the Crimson Hand at the Magistrate’s Office! The minor wounds she sustained were healed after drinking their blood. The Townsfolk then actively rose up against Valeria, Victor and Cooke, even harming Cooke and Victor! The Hanbrooks, seeing the Investigators blamed for the darkness, broke ties with Cooke. And then, Dr. Manning became a very unsubtle threat to any near his office.

Cooke began his travels to the Windmill.

Danforth slipped quietly to the Marsh, as Reverend Harding began to fall under the Order’s Influence.

Anne Marie bravely fought a Fallen…each side falling.

The Church became the next summing ritual target. Another bizarre storm swept through town…though no one knew where Dr. Manning was during it. A Betrayer skulked in from the Coast.

Round 9:

Cooke sought clues at the Windmill, and found a trapdoor. He opened it…and got a bizarre, nonhuman chant.

Danforth battled the Fallen at the Keep, but fell very short, even with Militia help.

Anne Marie finally received some good news: A family bible at the Manor.

Valeria rode out to the Bog, seeking more clues.

The Order placed a circle at the Forgotten Island. Danforth slowly recovered. A Betrayer attacked Anne Marie at the Manor! Anne Marie and the Militia opened up on the Betrayer and put it right into the ground. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hand attacked Cooke! Their ambush worked, and Cooke was nearly killed.

Round 10:

Militia were dispatched to the North Dock and the Forgotten Island as Danforth headed for the Manor, fearing the Town lost.

Anne Marie slipped through the passage to the Monastery, finding the Book of Life! At the Monastery, she also purchased the Scroll of Knowledge!

Valeria arrived at the Inn but, sensing ghosts in the hall, quickly fled!

Cooke struggled to recover.

The Marsh was targeted next for a summoning circle. Murder occurred at the Monastery, and Anne Marie stumbled on the murdering Crimson Hand! She killed them, but was struck down herself. Moments later, more members struck again at the Monastery, making a massacre of things.

Round 11:

Anne was quite out of it.

Valeria arrived at the Manor, aiming to stop the Crimson Hand. Valeria attacked quickly and violently…there was much bloodshed, but as Valeria was collapsing, she drank blood to recover. Then she got attacked by The Host. She killed it as well, without too much harm. She rounded out the venture to find that Rev. Harding was a perv, but otherwise harmless.

Cooke opted for desperation…giving Kroft a blood transfusion to bring him back!

Victor Danforth was challenged to a duel…and to his surprise, won!
The Inn became the next target. Anne Marie recovered at the Monastery. Dark Omens swept out across the land, bringing the grip of fear tighter. Bodies showed up at the Crossroads.

Round 12:

Valeria found the truth: The way to the Horror was in the Marsh!

Cooke purchased the Old Map.

Danforth slipped through town and toward the Covered Bridge. Unfortunately, he was struck down when he refused to give up the elders!

Anne Marie ventured into the Suffian Crypt, and came out unscathed…and feeling ready to crush the Horror. She also picked up a guide.

The Blacksmith was targeted next, right under Cooke’s nose. A Betrayer appeared at the Windmill, and Fallen at Town Hall…where Danforth was promptly crushed. A Veil of Darkness fell over the land.

Round 13:

Cooke began interrogating about town as he made his way toward the Marsh.

Danforth was quite down.

Anne Marie headed for the Marsh.

As did Valeria.

A new circle appeared, this one at the South Dock. Danforth was struck back down at Town Hall. The Crimson Hand struck in the Fields. The minions all marched, driving Shadowbrook further into the frightened darkness. Lady Hanbrook’s misdeeds forced the remaining heroes into the Crossroads and cost them Cooke’s map, Anne Marie’s guide and Valeria’s torch. A Dark Omen appeared, pushing people further into hysteria. Anne Marie and Valeria were overcome with madness and did battle at the Crossroads, each wounding the other.

Round 14:

Danforth was still quite out of it.

Anne Marie allowed the Book of Life to heal her, and then entered the rift to fight the Horror, with Cooke and Valeria following, Cooke sacrificing his Holy Water and Valeria her Torch. The Hanbrooks joined them in the battle. Anne Marie’s opening salvo was impressive looking, but barely effective. Valeria and the Lady Hanbrook attacked: The Horror was hurt…but the Lady Hanbrook paid with her life. Lord Hanbrook and Cooke lashed out, sending an unearthly cry from the beast, and Valeria kept Cooke alive. Anne Marie hit again, but the Horror only just stopped short of killing her. Valeria unleashed her full darkness on the Horror, making the Ancient One bleed! In return, the Horror gave Valeria a long-awaited release. Cooke and Hanbrook struck again, and this ancient beast felt death slipping closer than it had ever felt before. It injured the two men, as Anne Marie crept closer once more. She managed to gouge out one giant eye, giving it the sensation of blindness!! Right before it ate her. However, that blindspot allowed Cooke to level a shot…right into the beastie’s brain. It lashed out with a tremendous blow, knocking Cooke’s musket away, but failing to kill the Inspector…as the inhuman horror died, Lord Hanbrook wept for his wife…and helped Cooke find the way back to their home.

Resolution: Valeria found an odd peace in her oblivion. Lord Hanbrook and Magistrate Kroft did not object when Inspector Cooke ordered Dr. Manning arrested, charged with the murders of Anne Marie and Lady Hanbrook. The tale lived on in infamy as Victor Danforth immortalized it all in a play.

[Old Dwarf]

Yes...Gotta Play...Gotta Play:P

"Victor Danforth overhead that Sophie was a lying whore and was about to dispute it, then realized it was kinda true. "
( I guess Victor's time in Shadowbrook,wasn't all work:rolleyes: }

I love the showdown :cool:

OD

[Tommy Brownell]

Thanks...=)

Also, I neglected to mention that the central character in Victor's play was a brave, dashing playwright/actor.

[allenborder]

This is a really great Session Report, in my favorite style: Narrative, but told in such a way that I can really recognize how the game played without the narrative obscuring it!Victor Danforth overhead that Sophie was a lying whore and was about to dispute it, then realized it was kinda true.

[Canadian Pittbull]

Old Dwarf Wrote:"Victor Danforth overhead that Sophie was a lying whore and was about to dispute it, then realized it was kinda true. "
( I guess Victor's time in Shadowbrook,wasn't all work:rolleyes: }

OD

This is freaking HILARIOUS! HEHE!